Obasanjo moves to free abducted Chibok girls by Vanguard Media Limited

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62153

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Obasanjo moves to free abducted Chibok girls •Re-opens contact with mediating lawyer •Explains why his earlier peace moves failed •Children write Jonathan over abducted girls

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

BUJA—FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a move to free the more than 200 girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST:

Insurgency as Nigeria's boil of •P.19 anguish

He says all he wants is love making •P.40

CHILDREN'S DAY—

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan being assisted by members of the National Children's Parliament to cut a commemorative cake to mark the 2014 Children's Day at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

14 soldiers, 11 policemen, 10 others killed in Borno, Yobe >9 Arepo: Vandals abduct 9 policemen

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 3

C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

AWARD—Andrew Alli, CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, (right) with a representative of AFRICAN BANKER after receiving the African Banker Icon award at the eighth edition of African Banker magazine’s African Banker Awards during the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s Annual Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.

Obasanjo moves to free abducted Chibok girls Continues from page 1 State. Obasanjo, who confirmed this to Vanguard last night, however, dismissed reports credited to a foreign news agency that he held talks with representatives of the sect in his Ota farm last weekend. He nevertheless confirmed that he was set to open explorative talks

with the Islamic sect, having re-established contacts with a lawyer who mediated his discussion with the sect three years ago. Chief Obasanjo, however, regretted that efforts he made to end the insurgency at that time came to nought after President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed the conditions and capacities of the group.

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Try as you may, you will never fulfil a dream that is not your own. Stop and think about your personal history. How have your plans, goals and desires been influenced by others?

TAKE HEART BY ELLA RANDLE

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do — Pope John XXIII

OUR subconscious mind has been programmed to believe that you’re ordinary, that there are limitations, that there are things that you can’t accomplish. These are called “memes,” and you’ve been hearing these memes from the time that you were a little boy or a little girl about what is possible, about what women can do, about what men can do, about how much money you can make. Wayne Dyer has written almost 50 books and his first, sold over a hundred million copies. He wrote about his life: “I went into the profession of teaching. It was something I just adored and wanted to do, and I had an uncle who’s just so good at it. And often many people tell me, “well, you can’t go into teaching – there’s no money in teaching. You can’t make any money doing those kinds of things.” And I’m still teaching. I’ve just got a bigger classroom and a bigger audience and so on. Indeed! Wayne Dyer is a very successful individual.

President Jonathan’s dismissal of the group’s capacities, he said, was despite the willingness of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to do all that was required by the sect for peace to reign. Obasanjo, who has been globally acclaimed for his role in peace mediation especially among troubled African countries also played down claims that the insurgency would not have reared its head were he in power. The foreign news agency had reported, yesterday, that Obasanjo held talks with representatives of the insurgents in his farm at Ota, Ogun State last weekend. Asked to confirm the veracity of the report yesterday, the former president said: “Three years ago I tried to reach out to Boko Haram to find out what their problem was and if there was a leader one could talk to. “I got a lawyer who provided the link between members of the group and I. They told me what the government should do to stop insurgency.” He said that he subsequently passed on the conditions set by the insurgents to Governor Shettima who pledged his willingness to do all and more of what the insurgents required.

“He told me he was willing to do all that was stipulated and even more, but that his fear was that once he implemented those conditions he would be accused by the president and his people of being a member of Boko Haram,” Obasanjo quoted the governor to have said after the initial talks three years ago. The former president, however, did not disclose the conditions laid down by the insurgents. The former president said that following his discussions with the governor of Borno State that he followed up by briefing President Jonathan who he claimed, played down the capacities and conditions laid down by the insurgents. He said that at that point he withdrew as he lacked the executive powers to proceed further. Obasanjo said that given the present situation, the need to resurrect talks with the group had become expedient. “In this instance, there are now two issues involved, the insurgency and the kidnap of the girls and I want to find out if the same lawyer

would still mediate,” the former president said. He said that having confirmed that the lawyer is alive, he had now set machinery in motion to reach out to the group towards releasing the kidnapped Chibok girls and thereafter ending the insurgency. Asked if the insurgency would have risen to the present stage were in power, Obasanjo said: “My friend go away, go away, go away." Obasanjo’s secret talks is besides a secret effort by the administration to engage the Boko Haram group through three individuals reported to be close to the group.

A national newspaper, yesterday, quoted presidency sources as disclosing the enlistment of a former journalist Ahmad Salkida; a Tiv, Benue State born former adherent of the insurgent group, Aliyu Teshaku and an Australian negotiator Steve Davies to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government. The government’s decision to negotiate for the release of the kidnapped girls is reportedly informed by fears of a possible harm to the abductees in the event of a full scale military onslaught to effect their release.

FG to build longest gas pipeline — Alison-Madueke A

BUJA—AS part of efforts at ensuring steady supply of gas to meet up with growing market demand of the product, the Federal Government is planning to construct the longest pipeline in the country from Calabar through Ajaokuta to Kano State. This was disclosed by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani AlisonMadueke while delivering a paper titled: “Encouraging Investment in Gas Production, Supply and Consumption” at a three-day National Conference on Gas Resources organized by the Senate Committee on Gas Resources in Abuja. “By the end of the year, we will be commencing, via Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, the nation’s longest pipeline from Calabar via Ajaokuta to Kano State,” AlisonMadueke stated. Represented by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Yakubu, the Minister said that at present the Federal Government was construct-

ing the strategic EastWest pipeline while the Lagos end segment of the Escravos to Lagos Pipelines System (ELPS) is nearing completion. She explained that almost 500km of new gas pipelines have been completed and commissioned, including the doubling of the capacity of the ELPS between Escravos and Oben and the extension from Oben to Geregu and River Imo to Alaoji respectively. The Minister said that by the end of 2018, the backbone pipeline infrastructure for gas would have been delivered, concluding an initial phase of over 2500km of gas pipeline infrastructure development. She said that government was strategizing to leverage on the full potential of gas to achieve massive impact on the economy and the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “We are focused on jumpstarting gas supply to enable usage in gas to power, gas based industrialization, compressed natural gas for transportation and commercial

usage, cooking gas for domestic usage and regional pipeline for gas export,” the Minister stated. She said that for government to support the aggressive short term demand growth in the power sector, a domestic gas supply obligation regulation which mandates a certain amount of gas supply for the domestic market pending the full maturation of the market was introduced. She expressed confidence that the market will ultimately drive itself for supply growth, adding that the long run expectation is for less dependence on supply via obligation. In order to boost investor confidence in natural gas in the country, she said government has reviewed the contractual framework for gas through the development of world-class standardized gas supply agreements in addition to Network Code which governs the flow of gas across the nation’s pipeline network and provides rules for open access.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Man jailed four-and-half months for theft BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA— A 32-year-old man, Gbenga Oyebode, was yesterday, sentenced to four-and-half months imprisonment over theft of N254,000 belonging to twin brothers. The suspect was arranged before an Abeokuta magistrate's court sitting at Isabo for stealing the money belonging to Taiwo and Kehinde Ojo. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of theft levelled against him. He was initially granted bail in the sum of N200,000 by the presiding judge then, Anthony Araba. The prosecutor, Sunday Eigbejiale, had said the offence is contrary to Secton 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Vol. 1 Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria, 2006. In his judgement, Magistrate Abiodun Akinyemi, who took up the case from Magistrate Araba, said the acussed had been found guilty and thereby sentenced him to imprisonment with an option of N300,000 fine.

Driver arraigned for killing pedestrian

AGOS — A 35-year-old driver, Segun Akindele, who allegedly killed a pedestrian through reckless driving, was yesterday, arraigned before a Tinubu magistrate’s court in Lagos. The accused, who lives at 56, Ipoaun St, Epe, is being tried on a two-count charge of careless driving and driving in a dangerous manner. The prosecutor, Cpl. Francesca Okere, said the offences were committed on May 10, about 6.45 p.m., along Lekki-Epe Expressway by Doren Juncfion, Ajah. According to the prosecutor, the accused, in a Mazda commercial bus, with number plate AKD 553 XF, drove in a reckless manner and hit one Yaya Tairu, who was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead later. She explained that the offences contravened Sections 19 and 20, Vol. 45 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, 2012. The magistrate, Mrs Olaitan Ajayi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till June 6.

Court dissolves 7-year-old marriage over violence I

BADAN — A Mapo cus tomary court in Ibadan, yesterday, dissolved the seven-year- old marriage between Niyi Ogunwole and his wife, Janet, for inflicting machete cuts on her. President of the court, Mr Ezekiel Ogundipe, held that Ogunwole was evil and shameless for always resorting to using the machete on his

wife at the slightest provocation. He said: "It is even wrong to use machete on anybody at all, let alone a woman. "You are a barbaric human being and I don't think that you should marry in the first place. "I put an end to the union between both of you before you kill Janet." The court president ordered

Ogunwole to pay a monthly feeding allowance of N5,000 for the upkeep of their three children. Earlier, in her evidence before the court, Janet said her husband (Ogunwole) often resorted to using a machete on her at the slightest provocation in the house. She said: "Ogunwole chases me around the house with ma-

chete and sometimes stabs me with broken bottles, evident from all these scars on my body. "On two occasions, our church pastor pleaded with me but I can no longer cope because he keeps ringing it in my ears that he will kill me very soon. He is also a deadly Indian hemp smoker and beer drinker." All Ogunwole said in his defence was that his wife was always returning home late. He, however, pleaded with the court not to separate them. "In fact, we still had sexual intercourse in the last few days, Ogunwole said. Ogunwole is a commercial bus driver and has three children with Janet.

Driver docked for stealing employer’s car BY ONOZURE DANIA

Motorists wading through flood during an early morning rain in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Woman drugs lover, steals gold necklace

AGOS — THE Police in Lagos, yesterday, arraigned a 23-year-old woman, Florinda Asiaka, who allegedly laced her lover’s drink, with a substance suspected to be hard drug. Asiaka was also accused of stealing wrist watches, a gold necklace and N142,000 from the lover, Mr Oluwaseun Idowu. The prosecutor, Cpl. Mary Ajiteru, told the court that the drug made Idowu sleep for 10 hours. Ajiteru said the offence was

committed at10p.m. on March 23, at 1, Oluseun Idowu Street, Aleke, Parafa, Ikorodu. She told the court that Idowu woke up in the night to discover that Asiaka, who was with him, had disappeared and that some of his valuables were missing. She said the offences contravened Sections 241 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, who was charged with stealing and malicious administration of

poison with intent to harm, however, pleaded not guilty. Section 241 prescribes 14 years imprisonment for malicious administration of poison. According to Section 285, anybody convicted of stealing will be jailed for three years. The Senior Magistrate, Mr W. B. Balogun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. Balogun ordered that the sureties must reside in Ikorodu and adjourned the case till June 19.

Police foil bank robbery in Asaba, arrest 3 BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA — THREE men were, yesterday, arrested in the premises of a new generation bank in Asaba for attempted robbery. The incident which occurred at about 10 a.m. caused a traffic jam as anxious motorists, passers-by, including bank customers struggled to catch a glimpse of the suspects. Details of their mission were still sketchy at press time as there were two accounts of the

foiled robbery. One account said the suspects were about to steal a Camry car parked in the bank premises while another said they were about robbing the bank but were arrested by the security men guarding the bank. Meantime, the Police have also dislodged a three-man suspected kidnap gang. State Police Command spokesperson, Celestina Kalu, said the incident happened last Thursday when a Police

team sighted a Volkswagen Golf car occupied by three young men. She said: "Suspecting the occupants to be either armed robbers or kidnappers, the Police team gave them a hot chase up to Mariere junction, Agbor where the suspected hoodlums were forced to abandon the vehicle and escaped. "Investigation into the development is in progress while efforts are on to arrest the suspects and equally locate the owner of the vehicle."

AGOS— A 39-year-old driver, Ayodele Adeleke, yesterday, appeared before an Igbosere magistrate’s court in Lagos for stealing his employer’s car. Adeleke, who resides at 199, Sagamu Express Road, Odogunyan area of Ikorodu, is facing a one-count charge of stealing. The prosecutor, ASP Charles Odii, told the court that the driver committed the offence on December 8, 2013 at 11, Unity Drive, in Akowonjo area of the state. He said the defendant, stole an unregistered Honda CRV car valued at N1.3 million belonging to his employer, one Iseoluwa Elkana. Odii further stated that Adeleke stole the car on the pretext of cleaning the car, at the residence of his employer and absconded with the vehicle. According to Odii, the offence is punishable under Section 285(10) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. Section 285(10) prescribes a jail term of seven years for anyone found guilty of stealing a motor vehicle. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. Magistrate E. Kubenje granted the defendant bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate adjourned the case till June 18.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—7

Court jails woman, 2 others for fake chieftaincy title

Gridlock on Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos as VIOs check vehicle papers, yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU.

Arepo: Vandals abduct 9 Policemen •Police confirm report, deny figure BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA — SOME Police men attached to the Inspector-General of Police Special Anti-Vandalism team are still being held hostage by vandals, 72 hours after the gun battle between them and the vandals at Arepo pipeline, Ogun State. A security source, who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said no fewer than nine policemen had been kidnapped by the pipeline vandals. Two members of the Police team were reportedly shot dead while two were said to have been kidnapped by the vandals. But, Vanguard was told by the security source that Police authorities did not want to disclose the actual number of missing Policemen so as not to discourage their colleagues and aggravate the security situation in the country. He, however, said that though four were said to be missing, the situation has shown that no fewer than nine Policemen were missing. Contacted on the figure of the missing Policemen, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the actual figure. He said: “A lot of our men have been trapped in the incident, but I cannot confirm the figure to you. I am not the one that led the team. So, I cannot tell you if they are nine or not.” Meanwhile, officials of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and security operatives, yesterday, disagreed over situation report in the area.

NEMA, NSCDC disagree

The Information Officer of NEMA in the South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye told newsmen on phone that the fire had been put out. But the Public Relations Officer of National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ogun

State Command, Kareem Olanrewaju, disagreed sharply with the NEMA official, saying the fire was still on as at 4.30 pm, yesterday. “I can tell you authoritatively that the fire is still on but burning at a very low level and nobody has been able to access the scene because the situation is still very tense and dangerous,” he said.

Meeting

While giving the situation report, Olanrewaju confirmed that a security meeting presided over by the Ogun State Commandant of the corps, Aboluwoye

Akinwande, was held at the scene with other security operatives including Police and DSS officers in attendance. The state Assistant Commissioner of Police identified simply as AC Oyekan was said to have co-ordinated the report of the meeting. The PPRO, however, declined to give the details of the meeting, citing security reasons. But according to a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the purpose of the meeting was to find a lasting solution to the problem in Arepo which has been recurring and becoming

deadly since 2010. The source said: “We observed that the incident has been recurring and had become more deadly from 2010 till date. It was also observed that the terrain is too dangerous for effective policing due to uneasy accessibility. “We also agreed that the erection of the pipeline on the surface of the water makes it more attractive to the vandals. It also has a valve around the place, they will just make an opening and have their way."

4 monarchs, councillor, 10 others arraigned over theft of voters' cards BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

OKOJA — THE Kogi State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned four traditional rulers and 11 others for allegedly carting away some permanent voters’ cards being distributed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state. The traditional rulers are Mallam Ibrahim Mamud, the Okatama of Jamata and a third class chief; Alhaji Jubril Idris, the Ogidiga of Ohono; Mallam Musa Abu, the Ohiho of Iziho and Mallam Shaibu Momoh, the Ohiho of Gbaude Others are Hon. Musa Adekeke, Musa Amodu, Gambo Audu,Yakubu Alli, Salisu Musa, among others. The suspects were charged for trying to truncate the 2015 general election, criminal conspiracy, screening offender, and theft contrary to Sections 97(e), 167 and 287 of the Penal Code Law. Police prosecutor said one Buki Ezekiel of the 'B' Police division, Lokoja reported that the

suspects attacked one INEC official by name Onwajeheri Gabriel, who was issuing permanent voters' cards to members of the public at Ijiho Primary School and in the process conspired and forcefully carted away a carton containing some permanent voters’ cards. The Police prosecutor, who prayed the court to deny the accused persons bail owing to the weight of the offence and the fact that the Police have not concluded their investigations, said only 433 have so far been recovered from the accused persons while 535 cards are still missing. All the 15 accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty.

Bail application

Counsel to the accused, Moses Enwerem, who appeared for the first to the sixth accused persons and one M. J. Samuel who appeared for the 7th-15th accused persons, both opposed the submission of the prosecution, saying the offence was not a capital offence. Samuel specifically said the

traditional rulers were never arrested by the Police at the scene but were only picked up when they volunteered to make peace in their respective domains. He said they were at home at the time of the incident and were the actual persons who retrieved the stolen voters’ cards from their subjects who ran away with the carton of voters’ cards only for them to be arrested and detained. He also said the councillor went to bail the traditional rulers when he too was subsequently detained. The trial judge, Levi Animaku, who in his ruling said bail was a constitutional matter and the right of the accused persons, noted that the court was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the traditional rulers were men of integrity most of whom he said are advanced in age. He, therefore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N30,000 each with a surety in the like sum. He adjourned the case till June 23 for further mention.

UBA (FCT) — AN Upper Area Court in Zuba, FCT, yesterday sentenced two men and a woman to four months in prison each for attempting to deceive a trader with a fake chieftaincy title. Those sentenced are Munir Muhammadu, 30; Aisha Kabir, 52, and Kamal Abdulmumuni, 25. They were charged with two-count of criminal conspiracy and attempt to cheat. Malam Aminu Sa'ad, the presiding judge, sentenced them after they pleaded guilty. Sa'ad, however, gave the convicts an option to pay N25, 000 each as fine. Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Haruna Danlami, told the court that they confessed on May 22 that they planned to swindle a trader, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani of Dei-Dei, Abuja of an undisclosed amount of money. Danlami said the convicts approached Sani with the intention of deceiving him to part with some amount of money on the pretext that they could arrange a chieftaincy title for him. He said the complainant did not agree with them and immediately alerted the Police.

Housewife docked for calling woman prostitute

WAGWALADA (FCT) — THE Police, yesterday, arraigned a housewife, Chidinma Okonkwo,35, in an Upper Area Court at Gwagwalada in the FCT, for calling one Peace Oledingwa a prostitute. Okonkwo was charged on two counts of criminal intimidation and defamation of character. The prosecutor, Cpl. Iliya Maji, told the court that the accused intimidated and defamed the character of Oledingwa. Maji said Okonkwo had accused the plaintiff of having an affair with her husband, one Sunday Okonkwo and threatened to disgrace her in public. The prosecutor said the case was reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Gwagwalada by Oledingwa. The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty. The presiding judge, Alhaji Alhassan Kusherki, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in like sum.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Children write Jonathan, Boko Haram over Chibok schoolgirls BY TONY EDIKE, BEN AGANDE CALEB AYANSINA, LAIDE AKINBOADE & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

IGERIAN children, yesterday, celebrated this year’s Children’s Day in grief and tears as they embarked on prayers for divine intervention to bring back the over 200 schoolgirls of Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted 44 days ago by Boko Haram terrorists. The children, who held prayer sessions across the states in the country, also wrote two letters: one for Boko Haram and another for President Goodluck Jonathan on the abduction of the girls.

Enugu school children weep

In Enugu, thousands of primary and secondary school children wept openly, while praying for the safety and speedy release of the abducted female students. The children roused the audience at the Michael Okpara Square venue of the event with the passionate words of prayer they voiced while raising their hands towards an imagined direction of Sambisa forest (where the Chibok girls are believed to be held) beseeching God to send His angels there to rescue the schoolgirls. They also carried placards denouncing the abduction of the school girls and called for their immediate release, demanding an end to the harassment of school children and their teachers in the northern part of the country. Led in the prayers by the state Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Rev. Godwin Madu, and the state Secretary of Christian Association Nigeria, Rev. Emeka Ejim, the children emphasised that there was no need for celebrations of this year ’s event since their abducted colleagues were still going through the horror of captivity in the custody of the terrorists.

‘God's angels watch over them'

Amidst tears, Miss Precious Ede, who prayed on behalf of the children said: “We did not come here to celebrate. Rather we came to express our anguish at the continued plight of our mates in the hands of the Boko Haram people. “We came to seek God’s intervention so that they can be freed because just like us, they committed no crime by going to school. “We are confident that God

IT SHOULD BE OUR DAY: Celebration of Children's Day in Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. will answer us because even as we are praying, we know that His angels are already at work in Sambisa Forest or wherever our mates are being held.” The traditional march past by schools in the state, however, took place after the prayers. Presenting the address of President Jonathan on the occasion, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State denounced the abduction of school children and the rampant bombing and burning of schools leading to the closure of some schools and colleges in the North-Eastern part of the country.

Children pray in Abuja

Children from different schools in the nation’s capital, Abuja, embarked on prayers for divine intervention to bring back the abducted girls. In an interview with some of the students at the unity fountain in Abuja, they told Vanguard that it was only God that could fight for the country. Gloria Timothy, from Junior Secondary School Galadimawa, Abuja, said that they gathered to say no to Boko Haram and fight against terror through prayers. She said: “We are praying to God to bring back our girls and let the Boko Baram change and live a good life so that Nigeria will live in unity.” Also speaking at the prayer session, the Convener and the Secretary General of Grand Alliance Against Terrorism, GAAT, Ariyo

Atoye, urged Nigerians to unite against terrorism.

Letters to Boko Haram, Jonathan

The children also submitted two letters: one for the Boko Haram sect and another for President Goodluck Jonathan. The contents of the two letters, which were presented to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan were not made public though she promised to deliver the President’s letter to him. The First Lady, who hosted children at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, enjoined Nigerians to stop abusing President Jonathan but to join him in the fight against the

Boko Haram sect. She said: “Let me thank the children that gave me letter to give to Boko Haram. I have received your letter, but I am not the one to give it to Boko Haram because I do not know Boko Haram and I have never seen Boko Haram. “But I will give it to the National Security Adviser or Chief of Defence Staff who will submit your letter accordingly. “To my children parliament, thank you for your letter. Thank you for your deliberation. I have received what you gave to me. I will make sure I pass it to the President because it is

addressed to him.”

Fashola begs

In Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola appealed to the sect to safely release the schoolgirls, saying it was unfair for the group to continue to hold the girls captive for agitations they knew nothing about and for demands they could not meet. This year’s Children‘s Day celebration was held at the Police College Ground, Ikeja, which was devoid of its usual fanfare. The pupils, rather than wear their uniforms, were dressed in red T shirts with the inscription ‘Bring Back Our Friends Alive’.

Criticisms hit planned hike in electricity tariff BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, MICHAEL EBOH & SEBASTINE OBASI

RITICISMS have trailed the planned increase in electricity tariff, scheduled to commence June 1, as organised labour and other respondents, yesterday, said the increase is anti-people, a ploy to further defraud Nigerians and worsen the poverty situation in the country. The Federal Government had on Monday announced an increment in electricity tariff by 8.36 percent, from N13.75 to N14.90 per unit. The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Sam Amadi, announced the development at a media briefing in Abuja. Some of the respondents, who spoke to Vanguard,

condemned the planned increase, wondering why government is not concerned about ensuring stable supply of power, but instead is focusing on increasing tariff. Mr. David Adonri, an economic expert and Managing Director, Lambeth Trust and Investment Limited, said: “In my area in Bajulaiye Road, Shomolu, we have not had electricity in the past two months, not even for one second. “If the electric power industry has been deregulated and privatised, government has no business in fixing price. “Consumers need to take a class action suit against NERC to forestall this illegality.” Despite the anger generated by the planned increase, electricity distribution companies in the

country have announced their preparedness to commence the collection of the new tariff at the take-off date. Mr. Pekun Adeyanju, Head Public Affairs, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, said the new electricity tariffs will be carried out accordingly. He said: “As our regulator, we have to go by the guidelines given by NERC. We cannot go against them.” Reacting to the planned increase, organised labour in the power sector said it was not surprised by the increase in electricity tariff, saying it had earlier warned Nigerians about it before the privatisation of the assets of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN. The National Electricity Employees, NUEE, said Nigerians should expect more as the private sector is all about profit maximisation.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 —9

POLYTECHNICS ON STRIKE: ABOVE: Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike (left) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, at the meeting between the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the House Committee on Education, on the over 10month strike of ASUP at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. LEFT: Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, President (left) and Mr. Uman Nda Umar, Secretary General, both of ASUP, at the meeting. PHOTOS: GBEMIGA OLAMIKAN.

14 soldiers, 11 policemen, 10 others killed in Borno, Yobe BY NDAHI MARAMA & BALA AJIYA

OKO Haram terrorists, yesterday, killed 35 persons comprising 14 soldiers, 11 policemen and 10 civilians in separate attacks in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State and Chinene village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The Divisional Police Officer of Bunu Yadi Division, Superintendent Hassan Thlama, was among the policemen killed, while many others sustained gunshot injuries. In the attack, the palaces of the Emir and the District Head (names withheld), a police station and some military posts were completely destroyed, while in the Chinene attack, two Churches, shops and residential houses were set ablaze. Buni Yadi is about 55 kilometers South of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital that had witnessed several attacks, particularly the attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, which claimed the

zInsurgents asked residents out before razing palaces

z Hoist flags in Borno lives of over 55 students while they were sleeping in their dormitories. Chinene village is South-East and a border community with Cameroon and about 130 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Four-hour reign of terror

It was gathered that a large number of suspected terrorists invaded Buni Yadi at 5p.m. on Monday. They came in Hilux vehicles with military camouflage uniforms, improvised explosive devices, IEDs, petrol bombs and rocket-propelled launchers. The attack, which lasted till 9p.m., targeted security formations. Many government structures including the Magistrate Court, and vehicles were destroyed. A top security source in Damaturu, who confirmed the incident said: “The gunmen

took all the security operatives in Buni Yadi unawares and wreaked havoc on mostly policemen and soldiers. “Apart from 11 policemen and 14 soldiers killed, two persons suspected to be civilians, who were caught up in the crossfire, also lost their lives.” A resident of Buni Yadi, Mallam Jubrin Usmanu, told Vanguard in a telephone interview that the gunmen only came for security operatives as they did not attack residents, but that civilians who died might have been hit by stray bullets. He said the gunmen also burnt down the palaces of the emir and the District Head of Buni Yadi “ without killing anybody as they first asked the residents in the palaces to leave before they set the places ablaze,” Usmanu added. Another reliable security source said the dead bodies

2015: Kwankwaso, Nyako, Wamakko meet BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

HEAD of next year ’s general election, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and his Adamawa State counterpart, Murtala Nyako, have begun moves on how to stop President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from victory at the polls. To achieve the objective, the two politicians held a marathon meeting last night in Yola to strategise on how to win the majority of northern votes for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, the aircraft conveying Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, could not land at the Yola International Airport, due to bad weather. He was, however, said to have shared his views with the other governors on the phone. Vanguard learnt that the meeting, which was at the instance of the Kano governor, was to find ways and means of repositioning APC in the north to defeat PDP. A source at the meeting said it stretched late into the night, and also deliberated on attempt by some lawmakers in the Adamawa State House of

Assembly to move against Governor Nyako and cautioned against such move. The source said contrary to the impression that the governors were in the state to intervene in the face-off between the lawmakers and Nyako, the governors actually came to Yola to work for the overall interest of their party. Although the details of their deliberations were not made public, it was learnt that the governors used the platform to map out plans on how best to make APC and its manifestoes readily accepted by the majority of the electorate in the north.

of their colleagues killed in Buni Yadi were evacuated to General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu, before conveying them to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Mortuary for identification by their relatives on yesterday, while the injured ones are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals in Damaturu and Maiduguri. The spokesman of the Military operatives in Damaturu, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus was contacted on phone several times, but there was no response at press time. In a related development eight people were killed when some suspected terrorists riding in motorcycles and armed with AK47 rifles stormed Chinene village of Chikidr Joghode Kaghum ward of Gwoza council in Borno State.

Flags up

The insurgents, according to sources also hoisted their flags in Ashigashiya Ward and other hilly border villages with Cameroon and were celebrating what they now claimed as their strongholds. A resident, Mr. Joshua Jidda, said the gunmen invaded Chinene at 2a.m., yesterday, and opened fire on sleeping residents killing eight people, including an old woman in her 80s. He gave the names of some of the victims as Bulama Dajiba, Bulama John, Haruna Kwatha, Haruna Wadda, Births Kurma, Haruna Waruda and Shaibu Galva. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, could not be reached as his phone numbers were switched off. A top police source confirmed the attacks and the number of casualties.

INEC ready to challenge ‘APC’ suit BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, expressed its intention to challenge the suit seeking to nullify the registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Therefore, the electoral body persuaded the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to grant a short adjournment to enable it to file a composite counter affidavit in opposition to the suit which was entered by a political group, the African Peoples Congress, APC. Besides, INEC which, through its lawyer, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, denied the allegation that it had deliberately frustrated hearing on the suit, insisted that it was rather the plaintiffs that stalled the determination of the matter “through u n n e c e s s a r y distractions”. INEC said: “My Lord, we are ready for this case. All our papers are ready. So far as we are concerned, there is nothing to be afraid of in this matter as the electoral body followed the due process of the law in the registration exercise. “We are determined to take all the applications in this matter as they come. The truth is that all the processes in this matter have since been filed. “It was the filing of unnecessary applications by the plaintiffs that had stalled the matter.”

10— Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

FirstBank, Access tango over Tejuosho market

Ex-Lagos council officials protest unpaid salaries, allowances BY OLASUNKANMIAKONI

BY INNOCENTANABA

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, disregarded the protest submission of First Bank’s lawyer, Kemi Balogun in the legal battle over control of new Tejuosho Ultra Modern Market, Lagos. First Bank and Access Bank are in court over the control of the market. Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, struck out the contempt proceeding initiated by Access Bank against the Managing Director of First Bank and the Legal Secretary of the bank, for being incurably defective and incompetent. Justice Abang had also struck out the preliminary objection by First Bank against the contempt proceeding, and fixed June 16, 2014 for hearing of other pending applications. But Balogun, who said he was reacting under protest, urged the court to record his submission after the ruling because the judge had immediately after the ruling, passed the case file to the court registrars without consulting counsel on both side on the next adjourned date.

PENGASSAN holds delegates conference despite court order BY INNOCENTANABA

AGOS—THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Lagos zone, has allegedly held its delegates conference in Lagos, despite an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, directing parties to maintain statusquo. The conference was allegedly held at Apapa area of Lagos, yesterday. Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang had on Monday, restrained the association zonal branch from holding the conference, and maintain status quo, pending the hearing of a motion notice by two members of Chevron Nigeria Ltd branch of PENGASSAN, John Nwanosike and Jonathan Omare.

AGOS—HUNDREDS of former political office holders from various councils in Lagos, yesterday, stormed the state House of Assembly, Alausa, demanding immediate

payment of their nine years salaries and allowances amounting to at least N700 million. The House of Assembly, had earlier at its plenary session ordered the payment of outstanding salaries and

allowances of former political office holders of the 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state. The protesters, who gathered in front of the Assembly complex, urged members to

CHILDREN'S DAY: From left, Mrs Gbolahan Dawodu, Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, Lagos State; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mrs Mosunmola Junaid, Director, Lagos State Model Nursery/Primary School, GRA, Ikeja; Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State and Master Gbenga Bethel, being registered at the Unveiling of Spirit of Lagos/Registration of pupils in Lagos Public primary Schools as part of Children's Day celebration in Lagos yesterday. Photo Lamidi Bamidele.

prevail on government to release the money owed them. Mr.Tijani Ojo, alias, “Ota”, former Secretary to Local Government, Odi-Olowo LGA, who led the protesters, claimed they were being deceived by both the legislators and the executive arms on the matter, as there was no concrete effort to pay the money in spite of several appeals to both arms of government. According to Ojo, “We served Lagos State meritoriously to sustain the controversial 57 local governments, despite the withholding of the monthly allocations by the Federal Government. “During the period we sacrificed for party members to sustain the councils at the trying periods. “We did not collect salaries for 23 months and they only paid for six months. But with many appeals from our leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who promised that after the payment of the next tranche of the withheld allocation we would be paid our outstanding salaries and allowances amounting to over N700 million for 753 former political officers. “We have written several appeal letters to the lawmakers and Governor Fashola without positive response. They were just giving us empty promises, hence we decided to take our destiny in our hands by taking the protest to Asiwaju’s residence on Democracy day. “We will not leave the place until he meets our demands. Some of our members have died in the course of this struggle. This is eight years after, we have explored all avenues, engaged in dialogues, met party leaders, governor, speaker all to no avail."

Subsidy trial: Court admits exhibits against prosecution BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

AGOS—JUSTICE Lateefat Okunnu of an Ikeja High Court yesterday admitted two exhibits at the instance of the defense in the on-going trial of N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud charge against Abdullahi Alao and four others. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had proffered 8-count charge against Mrs. Opeyemi Ajuyah and her company, Majope Investment Limited alongside Abdullahi Alao, son of Ibadan based business mogul, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, his company, Ax-Energy Limited and Olanrewaju Olalusi, a worker with Sterling Bank Plc. At the resumed hearing, the first and second defendants tendered exhibits, including a petition from Falana and Falana Chambers to the EFCC on behalf of Mrs. Ajuyah and Majope Investment Ltd, the first and second defendants, respectively in the case. Also, the statement of one Mr. Adelakun Abolade Saheed, the

surveyor from General Marine Oil Services Limited at the Lister Terminal where petroleum product was discharged by a vessel, MT Brave was also tendered and admitted as exhibits. No objection was made by the

EFCC counsel, Mr. Seidu Atte on the admittance of the documents. While being cross examined by counsel to first and second defendants, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, EFCC witness, Effa Okim, who has been in the witness box since Monday, told the court

that the petition from Falana Chambers dated August 17, 2012 was received in the course of investigation into the fraud. Okim admitted that Sterling Bank exercised control of the product from the point of purchase till the time it got to the off-taker.

Organisations co-operate to improve school enrolment BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

AG O S — H U N T E R’ S Media, a firm specialising in motion picture production, has entered into partnership with Command Guest House, Lagos to drive school enrolment among children. The firms hosted over 500 school children at a party to mark the Children’s Day in Lagos. The children, drawn from eight schools in Lagos, included: Heritage Nursery/Primary School, Command Children School, Nigerian Navy primary School and Sacred Heart Nursery/primary School.

Speaking to Vanguard at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Hunter’s Media, Seyi Hunter said, “Our ultimate aim is to continue to help drive children enrolment into school. We understand that Nigeria has a huge number of out-of-school children, so what we intend to do is to get partners in the future, who will help us sponsor some of them in school. This is because education is very important in life and we intend to sponsor at least three children yearly.” Hunter, who regretted that special kids had been excluded from the programme because of her inability to communicate with them, said her firm intended to

organise a more encompassing one in the future. “The focus of this party is supposed to be on special kids, like the deaf and blind, but due to my inability to communicate with them, we decided to shift our attention to the regular school kids. This is because if I must organise a party for them, I must be able to communicate with them, without a third party. This is the maiden edition and from next year, we will be featuring the special kids together with the regular kids,” she said. She explained that the party is to help inspire children to learn and focus on their dreams for the future while having fun.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—11

Pension contribution hits N4.3trn BY EMMA UJAH

BUJA —OVER N4.3 trillion has been accumulated by 6 million pension contributors under the current Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, in the last 10 years. Managing Director of Sigma Pensions Limited, Alhaji Umar Modibo, disclosed this, in Abuja, yesterday, at the briefing on the forthcoming World Pension Summit slated for July, in Federal Capital City. According to him, “at present we have 6 million pension contributors out of a population of over 160 million. The amount accumulated so far is about N4.3 btrillion, which is 5 per cent of the rebased GDP”. Alhaji Modibo said with the larger proportion of the nation’s population yet to join the scheme, there remained a lot to be done in the industry and expressed optimism that the summit would open new opportunities of increased compliance. In her remarks, the Acting Director-General, Mrs.

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said the decision to host the pension summit was to create greater awareness among Nigerians on the benefits of CPS and to share ideas with professionals on global best practices in the industry. “It is good to showcase the fact that Africa is maturing in

pension matters”, the D-G said, adding that the last 10 years was a period of consolidating the reform in the sector and that the gains of the work done within the period would boost activities in the sector in the years ahead. According to her, “Many

African nations are experiencing strong economic growth. As a result, the role of the pension industry in providing a stable consumer savings vehicle for Africa’s growing middle classes, and the investment of capital from its pension funds is very important."

RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State acknowledging cheers from his supporters after paying homage to the Ooni Of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, during the flag-off of his re-election campaign, at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, yesterday.

Ogun APC crisis: PDP woos APC rep, 10 lawmakers BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

BEOKUTA —AHEAD of the 2015 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State has started wooing a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade of the All Progressives Congress, APC and his supporters. Also, no fewer than 10 members of the Ogun State House of Assembly from APC have concluded arrangements to defect to the PDP in the state. Akinlade representing Yewa

South/Ipokia Federal Constituency on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was last year endorsed by the Labour Party in the state as its governorship candidate. The State Executive Committee members and chieftains of the Ogun State PDP led by the State Chairman, Chief Bayo Dayo on Monday evening in Ota held talks with Akinlade in a meeting attended by the lawmaker ’s supporters in the LP and the APC in the state. The meeting which was held in

Akinlade’s Ota residence had in attendance chieftains of the Buruji Kashamu-backed PDP, including the State Secretary; Semiu Sodipo, South West Zonal Secretary, Pegba Otemolu; Ogun West Senatorial Chairman, Leye Odunjo; a former commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Mary Ogunjobi; Boye Adesina; Kayode Ogunyemi. On the side of Akinlade were LP and some PDP chieftains, including Lai Taiwo, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Olusoji; Kamoru Oduntan; a serving member of the Ogun

Aregbesola flags off re-election campaign BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO—GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday in Ile-Ife, flagged off his re-election campaign, declaring that the August 9 governorship election would be a total victory for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing party’s supporters from all the 30 Local Government Areas of the state including the Area office, Modakeke, Aregbesola said APC had defeated the PDP roundly in the last two previous elections. “In 2007 governorship election, our mandate was stolen but God restored it back to us. Also, in 2011 general election, we recorded 100 percent victory. This time around, the August 9 election would put the final nail on the PDP coffin”, he said. Speaking at the rally held at Ife

Technical College, Ile-Ife and attended by leaders and supporters of the party from Lagos and Osun states, Aregbesola said he embarked on series of developmental projects to satisfy yearnings of Osun people for a better society. He declared that Yoruba people had never been part of reactionary government since Independence and urged people of the state to vote for APC to allow it execute its other life-changing programmes for the benefit of the people. Earlier, chieftains of the party all urged people of the state to vote for performance and not sentiment, assuring of better performance if Aregbesola was re-elected for another term. The state chairman of the party, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, said achievements of Governor Aregbesola since assumption of office had made it easy for APC to

record victory in the August 9 poll and charged party members to collectively work and convince members of opposition parties to support Aregbesola’s re-election bid in the interest of the state.

State House of Assembly, Samson Onademuren, Adesegun Banmulu; Fatai Bodunrin; a former member of the House of Representatives, Kamoru Oduntan and other Labour Party and APC chieftains. Addressing the meeting, the Ogun PDP chairman said that because of the influx of new members into the party in the state, the leadership had already opened a discussion with the National Headquarters in Abuja regarding the possibility of working out a waiver to accommodate new defectors. Dayo said such a waiver would enable defectors into PDP surmount the hurdles placed on the ways of new members' eligibility to contest for political positions. He assured Akinlade and his supporters of a level-playing field with the older aspirants.

LP asks IGP to probe alleged plot to bomb Govt House BY GBENGAARIYIBI

DO EKITI—THE Labour Party LP, in Ekiti State, yesterday described as misplaced the allegation that it was planning to bomb the Government House ahead of June 21 election. It called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, to invite the All Progressives Party, APC state chairman, Chief Jide Awe, to

substantiate the allegation. Chief Awe had at a briefing in Ado Ekiti, alleged that the LP and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were planning to bomb the Government House. But, LP governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Opeyemi Bamidele, while reacting, said it would be a great security threat and abandonment of one’s responsibility should the police fail to investigate such a weighty allegation.

Aregbesola signs 2014 budget into law BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

SOGBO – GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, has signed the 2014 state budget into law, warning all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, local governments and tertiary institutions in the state to strictly follow and comply with the budget implementation guidelines as approved for them. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Bade Adeshina, in a statement in Osogbo yesterday, the budget was planned for all MDAs to deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizens. The Special Adviser commended Governor Aregbesola for the prompt attention given to the approval of the year 2014 budget by quickly assenting to it as soon as it was passed by the House of Assembly. He also enjoined all contractors handling projects in all MDAs including local governments and tertiary institutions to execute quality jobs that would meet the standard and expectation of the governor.

Ondo gets first female speaker, 38 years after BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—THIRTYEIGHT years after its creation, a female Speaker, Hon. Jumoke Yetunde Akindele was yesterday elected for the Ondo State House of Assembly. Akindele, who represents Okitipupa Constituency II area of the state polled 13 votes to floor two other male members of the Assembly, Soji Akinkurolere Okitipupa 1 and Hon Aladetan Oyebo Ilaje 1. While Aladetan scored nine votes during election on the floor of the House, Akinkurolere had no vote, as even he did not vote for himself.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

SERAP flays N100m pension bill for A-Ibom gov BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has described the N100 million pension bill just passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as immoral, unfair, unconstitutional and a rip-off on the people of the state. SERAP, a civil society group, in a statement, also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to swiftly investigate the spending of public funds under the watch of Governor Godswill Akpabio and also punish any suspected corrupt practice. According to SERAP, “Akwa Ibom must be the only place on the planet where such pension scheme exists. The governor must now put Akwa Ibom ahead of his personal bank balance by immediately withdrawing this grotesque bill.” It argued that Nigerians should not be “made to subsidise these bloated pensions and clearly undeserved perks. The governor obviously views disadvantaged Nigerians and

poor pensioners according to Orwell’s Animal Farm dictum: ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.” It added that signing the bill into law amounted to a fundamental breach of the governor’s constitutional oath declaration to serve the interest of justice, common good, transparency

and accountability. “This so-called proposed legislation means that millions of Nigerian, who continue to suffer from years of pervasive corruption and impunity of perpetrators will have to fund the massive and unjust pensions for Governor Akpabio and his deputy and others that will come

after them. “SERAP is appalled by this apparently unfair and discriminatory law. There is absolutely no justification for such law at a time when the pensions systems across the country are in poor shape, and pensioners continue to be denied the fruit of their labour.”

VISIT: Elder Godsday Orubebe (right) being blessed by traditional rulers of Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta State, during a consultation visit to the monarchs.

Jonathan lauds Oghiadomhe on transformation agenda BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

E N I N— P R E S I D E N T Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government fully appreciated the role played by his former Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, in the formulation of government policies, especially the “transformation agenda,” which he said was the groundnorm of his administration. The President, who was represented by the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolemhenmen, at a reception and thanks giving mass organised by the people of Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, in honour of Chief Oghiadomhe, said that his former Chief of Staff in the last seven years marched through the corridors of power like a colossus. “Mr. President, the Federal Executive Council and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria fully appreciate the services rendered by Chief Oghiadomhe to the nation. We only hope that he will make available his services to

his community, the state and the nation when called upon to do so.” In his address, Edo State governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, described Oghiadomhe as a worthy son of Edo State, who went to Abuja “came, saw and

conquered,” adding that his services to his state as a deputy governor propelled him to the position of Chief of Staff in the Presidency. Saying that Edo people appreciate God for using him the way he did, Oshi-

omhole said that the lessons to be learnt from the rousing reception for Chief Oghiadomhe, “is that we will be obliged to come home one day after our services abroad.”

Niger Delta youths berate Attah on 13 percent derivation that states shall pay not abrogation of the Land Use

OUTHS in the Niger Delta, under the aegis of South-South Network for Change, SSNC, have expressed shock over the defence of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah on the retention of the 13 percent derivation by the national conference committee of Devolution. SSNC, in a statement by its Executive Director, Oghenetega Onoriode, insisted that they stand by the entrenchment of the principle of derivation on the basis

more than 50 percent of proceeds from mineral resources to the Federation Account as tax; abrogation of Section 44 (3) of the Constitution;

Act and full Implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme report on environmental assessment of Ogoniland.

Delta monarch lauds Orubebe on East-West Road

HE Ovie of Ughelli, Del-ta State, Oharisi III, has commended the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and governorship aspirant in Delta State, Elder Godsday Orubebe, for the execution of the East West Road. The traditional ruler made the commendation yesterday on behalf of other traditional rulers in Ughelli North Local Government Area during Elder Orubebe’s consultation tour in pursuance of his governorship ambition. The traditional ruler noted that one of Orubebe’s achievements as a local government chairman was the Urban Renewal Act for the development of cities in Delta State adding that the former minister spent seven years in office because he was an achiever who took his brief seriously. He expressed confidence that as governor of Delta State, Orubebe would continue to excel. In his address to the monarchs, Elder Orubebe declared that it is time for Deltans to come together and work for the progress of the state irrespective of where they hail from as the state has special needs that only the versatile and vastly experienced can take it to the next level of development. He said that he is propelled to seek the office of governor because he is convinced that he has a lot to offer the state in terms of practical development.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—13

Bayelsa children protest non-passage of child rights bill

Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, Vanguard Publisher's mum dies at 109

NOSDRA partners communities in oil spill disaster risk mgt

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

ENAGOA—HUNDREDS of school children, yesterday, staged a protest at Bayelsa State Government House, over non-passage of Child Rights Bill as the state government announced cancellation of the 2014 Children's Day celebration in the state. The protesting children, who converged at the State House of Assembly complex in the early hours of the day, were received at the entrance by the Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson. The Speaker told the protesting children that though the state Assembly had, under the administration of Timipre Sylva, passed the Child Rights Bill, same remained unassented to before the end of the administration. Benson urged the children to prevail on the state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson to send back the unsigned bill to the House to re-pass it for signing into law.

Vandalism, illegal oil bunkering our challenges —EGCDF

HE Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, has said that pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering are the greatest security challenges facing the foundation. Chief Johnny, at town hall meetings of the 17 EGCDF communities in Benikrukru and Opuama communities, Delta State, said that those who indulge in pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering were doing so for their personal gain, advising that personal benefits should not overshadow general interests. He explained that any time a pipeline was vandalized, Chevron Nigeria Limited deducts cost of repairing same from money meant for the EGCDF.

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Late Madam Amuka-Pemu

109. She is survived by four children: Sam, Godfrey, Israel Amuka; and O'chuko Aminaghan. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

ADAM Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, mother of Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka, has passed on. Madam Teshoma died in Lagos last week at the grand old age of

ENAGOA—THE National Oil Spill Detector and Response Agency, NOSDRA, yesterday, said it will engage communities in its disaster risk reduction plan for oil spill management in the country. Director General of the agency, Sir Peter Idabor, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at a town hall meeting on the dangers of pipeline vandalism and resultant effects of environmental pollution, said: “This programme is to integrate active community engagement into the DPR Plan for oil spill management in Nigeria with a view to achieving community driven, monitored, evaluated and sustained system of environmental protection.” The meeting, which had in attendance lead-

My problem with Ize-Iyamu,others —Oshiomhole BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

ENIN—THE Edo State All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday held its state congress with Governor Adams Oshiomhole, explaining that his problem with Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu was that the latter wanted him to unilaterally endorse him as governor of the state in 2016. Oshiomhole, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, while addressing APC delegates, also said he learnt about alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to rig the 2015 and 2016 polls in Edo State, warning that such attempt would be resisted as “Edo people are not animals that will be captured.” Apparently responding to claims by Ize-Iyamu on a private TV station in Benin City, that Oshiomhole promised to give him the governorship ticket of APC on several occasions, the governor insisted that those who left the party did so after he refused to endorse them either as governor, chairman of APC or Woman Leader. He said: “Those that left the party were people who insisted that I should unilaterally decree

them as the governor of Edo State. There is no way they can fit into the logic of APC. Those who insisted that I should appoint them to lead APC because they were chairmen before, should know that there is no way they can fit into this democratic setting. Those who insist that I should make them woman leader, whether or not the women want them, know they cannot fit into the logic of change. “Those who insisted that

because they cannot get what they want, then they can move on. It is important that we assist them to move. Those who insist that no man is God who now affirmed that man is God, may man continue to be their God. Let me remind all of you that my fight to liberate Edo people is not a personal fight. Indeed, those who have moved on, they started fighting not on the basis of Edo people but over their personal ambition."

ers and members of Ikarama and Kalaba communities in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was organised by the agency in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP and the state Ministry of Environment. According to him, the programme, which was

Oboro tasks women on commitment to PDP BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—A MEMBER of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Evelyn Oboro, has charged women of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State to remain steadfast and committed to the growth and stability of the party in the state. She advised the women to shun politics of bitterness, backbiting and blackmail, saying “it is universally acknowledged that women are good administrators, good managers and they are good in human resources management.” Oboro spoke at a meeting of grassroots politicians of PDP in Delta Central senatorial district, which featured the inauguration of Elders/Advisory Council, Delta Central, Local Government Areas and Ward Coordinators.

Edo royal fathers blast Orbih over comments on Enigie’s visit to Oshiomhole BY SIMON EBEGBULEM Congress, APC, members defected to the PDP, where ENIN—ROYAL fathers they described the action of from Edo South senathe defectors as selfish. But torial district of Edo State the chairman of PDP in the have faulted comments by state, Chief Dan Orbih, dethe People’s Democratic Parscribed their visit as an atty, PDP, in the state, accustempt by the governor to ing Governor Adams Oshidrag the royal fathers into omhole of dragging the trapolitics. ditional rulers into politics. Reacting, yesterday, It will be recalled that royyounger brother of the Oba al fathers from Edo South of Benin and the Enogie of senatorial district had visitObazuwa, Prince Edun ed the governor shortly afAkenzua, said Orbih’s comter some All Progressives

ment was an insult to the Enigies and advised him to tender an apology to them immediately. Prince Akenzua, a former chairman of the Council of Enigies, said: “When we read the remark that we are being dragged into politics, I was shocked. That was an insult. As traditional rulers, we know we are not politicians, we don’t need any body to advise us on that. We are not partisan."

14 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

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CHILDREN'S DAY CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan being assisted by other dignitaries to receive a Students of one of the various schools, parade and rally to cele- banner from members of the National Children's Parliament, during the solemn events brate 2014 Children Day, at Police College, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi to mark the 2014 Children's Day Celebrations at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida Azeez

Display of placards 'Bring Back Our Girls' by children from various schools in Delta State. Photo: Henry Unini

From left, Alhaji Tijani Gbajabiamila, Alfa Agba of Lagos, and other people, during joint special prayers by Christian and Muslim faithful for the release of Chibok Girls, organised by Women for Peace and Justice in conjunction with Fatimah Tinubu Child Foundation, at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, inspecting a march-past by students, in Benin City.

Primary and Secondary Schools Children in Enugu State praying for the release of the abducted Chibok girls.

Little Miss Favour, praying for the Rivers State Governor and his wife, Chibuike Rotimi and Dame Judith Amaechi, during a Special Prayer Session, at the Civic Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, for the abducted Chibok School Girls, yesterday, in Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

Celebration in Ogun State.

Governor Godswill Akpabio receiving an award from the representative of Akwa Ibom Young Professionals during the 2014 Children's Day in Uyo Township Stadium.

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014— —17

18â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

T is possibly only in Nigerian elections that opponents and proponents of candidates proudly offer threats and counter threats as the only selling points of their candidates. We see more threats as politicians jostle for relevance, ahead of elections. Attention is usually on the presidency. We have forgotten our local governments, created as the base for nation-wide development. States, normally demanded as centres of development, no longer improve the lives of Nigerians. The irony of true federalism is that those who fervently demand it make minimal efforts to strengthen governance at the local levels. The lower expectations from local governments and states have resulted in unfulfilled expectations in the past 14 years of civilian administrations. Worries about who becomes president in 2015, to some, appear more important than what happens

Threats, Simply Not Acceptable in 2011? Have the rules changed or are certain people permitted to threaten Nigeria while others are criminals if they do? The duplicity in treating issues creates precedents that make sanctions unjust and unjustifiable. Nigeria must protect itself from these threats. The responsibility lies with the leaders, aspiring leaders and all those who have risen to such prominence that the public takes them seriously. Their words are capable of misleading their followers and causing more troubles. Every Nigerian has a right to contend for power within the laws for the contest. Every Nigerian has

to the country. The damaging threats that preceded the 2011 elections are being re-issued. There were threats of the country being made ungovernable if certain people did not win the elections. Have we not witnessed mayhem that descended on Nigeria after the 2011 elections? The crisis has continued. Politicians are carrying on with their ambition, apparently unappreciative of the enormity of challenges the country faces. Life, for them, is about elections. There are lessons on precedents, which we must quickly learn from these incidents. Was it acceptable for people to threaten the country

rights to enter into legitimate alliances to access power; the constitutional provisions on freedom of association permit it. What we must avoid is being so consumed about leading Nigeria that we threaten to set the country on fire, if we cannot actualise the ambition. Nigeria should be accorded more importance than our individual ambitions. Laws guide our country. Those who aspire to lead â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and their supporters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; must eschew threats in their ambitions; they should promote law and order. They should be telling Nigerians what qualifies them to lead the country and how their leadership would improve lives of Nigerians. They are better options than threatening more crises on a country that has been soaked in blood since 2010. Nigerians should not reward those who threaten its peace by electing them.

C M Y K

OPINION

NNPC and legistative inquistion agenda BY ALEXANDER IFEANYINCHUKWU

T says a lot about the disconnect between the House of Representatives and the state of the nation that at a time of tense concern about threats to internal security and territorial integrity, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal can only think of resuming the petty inquisition against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, that has ridiculed the legislators' sense of purpose. While delegates to the National Conference have been coming up with ground-breaking proposals on several unresolved issues of national interest, the lower chamber is pre-occupied with probing the rumoured hiring of a jet for the Petroleum Minister for N10bn, cost equivalent to the purchase price of a fleet of executive jets. No wonder, serious minded patriotic Nigerians have since switched off the legislators pedestrian proceedings to focus instead on the mature and meaningful discussions at the National Conference.

From all indications therefore, the circus of legislative victimisation of ministers whose portfolios are of pecuniary interest will be far removed from public attention for glaring reason of irrelevance. The legislators' reputation for vindictive vendetta will be highlighted only within their chambers as Nigerians are generally sick and tired of what is obviously a witch-hunt disguised as oversight that has consistently fizzled out in a fiasco of falsified figures and discredited informants. It is too soon to forget how the legislators surrendered their onerous responsibilities to the ulterior motives of former CBN Governor SanusiLamidoSanusi to fling mud at NNPC's management, until it backfired embarrassingly with the "whistle blower" apologising for dishing out misleading figures. Rather than redeeming their compromised chambers by retrieving their oversight duties from charlatans, the legislators succumbed to renewed partisan manipulation to promote a ridiculous rumour of N10bn bill on

hired jet to the order paper for their attention. What is not a rumour but verifiable fact, however, is that Speaker Tambuwal himself has been hopping around the country with chartered jets for his extra-parliamentary political engagements since he came into office but has managed to block any probe into the murky matter of his refusal to utilize the presidential fleet as he is entitled to and instead blow billions of naira on chartered jets without appropriation. The National Assembly Staff Association has been gavelled into silence after repeated alerts about the denial of their due entitlements while legislators indulge themselves in an array of frivolous expenditure on their comforts. In the appalling aftermath of the legislators' scandalous probe into the issue of fuel subsidy, no right thinking Nigerian will fail to see the probitypursuing-pranks of the House of Representatives as nothing but diversionary mischief. The real billion-dollar question the legislators

should be answering is why has there been no tangible positive outcome of their probes, several of which have no reports to justify the effort? There can be no argument against instituting a culture of transparency and accountability in all aspects of governance. The NNPC has always attended to the incessant and often unnecessary summons from the House of Representatives which, regrettably, have rarely been well-intentioned inquiries about addressing numerous formidable challenges facing the nation's petroleum sector and the NNPC. The posture of the legislators in relating with the NNPC can only be compared with the prejudiced stance of a predator towards a prey! In this case it is a prey that is already at the mercy of the predator, because the legislature's oversight functions are constitutionally backed. However, the tendency to adopt a hostile attitude of fault-finding, public ridicule and presumptuous guilt is contrary to the principle of fairness and due process, particularly involving two institutions of government, not friend and foe! *Mr. Ifeanyinchukwu, a journalist, wrote from Enugu.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014— —19

, insurgency. Red and swollen with pus from long neglect and impunity, the boil must at this point either burst and bring relief or it becomes gangrenous and grows into something more terrible. The cup of insurgents that has been gradually filling with murderous impunity is now full and spilling over. Although mass murders, abductions and rapes have for long been the insurgents’ trademark, the latest series of atrocities heralded by the abduction of the Chibok school girls makes it all clear that their long career of terrorism is about being terminated. Either now or we are doomed for a long time to come. They wanted attention and are getting it right now beyond anything they could have imagined. Having become a terror powerhouse operating on their own terms without much interference from the government of the day, the abduction of the Chibok girls was just another routine operation that could have gone without a whimper.

insurgents’ reign of terror with anything worse than threats. The insurgents therefore had nothing to worry about from the Nigerian state or the rest of the world. Nothing at all until Chibok came into the picture to change all that. And that too only by chance. But the tide of terror is nowhere close to being stemmed. The terrorists are yet having a field day. They are obviously enjoying the attention that is coming their way given the way they have carried on. No day goes by now without report of another act of murderous impunity. It is either bridges linking communities are being blown up or whole towns are being sacked and their inhabitants either killed in the most gory fashion or their women are taken into slavery. The Kano explosions were hardly over before the terrorists struck in Jos that until the latest attack had been out of the news. The invading hordes from Sambisa forest and environs have been widening their field of operation in a manner that

suggests they are ready to take on anyone or force from any part of the world. Not even the hurried assemblage of support from the United States of America, France, China, Israel or Britain has done anything to stem the activities of the mostly ragtag zealots riding motor bikes to run over towns and villages. For so long has the Jonathan administration neglected its responsibility in taking on the insurgents when it should have that the insensate brutes have apparently now bought into the idea of their own invincibility. The fact of their unhindered march into town after town abducting and raping women; detonating bombs in major cities across the North and sending hundreds to their untimely death in one fell swoop should have and has definitely convinced them that the Nigerian state is no match for them.

n no time at all, and except something is urgently done to contain the insurgencies, it would be difficult to deny that Nigeria is at war, another civil war, started and prosecuted by Islamic

America’s doomsday prediction: How McCain, Hillar ong Hillaryy go gott it wr wrong BY COLINS EAKYN

NE of Africa’s greatest figures, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, coined the term ‘neo-colonialism’ to encompass the yoke of expectational burdens imposed on developing countries by elements from advanced countries or former colonialists. Neo-colonialism is the idea that, even though the actual occupation and overt control of a country may have ended, some economic and political fingers of imperialism still seek to influence life in what is derogatively tagged the Third World. Elements of this continue to manifest in Nigeria’s engagement with the international community despite the lip service being paid the supremacy of the sovereign status of Africa’s largest economy and the biggest gathering of Black people in the world. Those who have followed this trend of events since most nations in the continent regained their freedom from colonialists and started a process of self-rediscovery readily argue that the journey to full economic, political and cultural independence would not, by any means, be without challenges. Of course, the greatest threat to this vision is the negative effect of neo-colonialism. It is, therefore, not surprising that while much of America and people in other parts of the world continue to stand in solidarity with Nigeria, especially in the battle against a devious sect of terrorists called Boko Haram, Senator John McCain, “some guy” from Arizona who made a failed bid during the 2008 United States presidential election, tends towards being one of such odious fingers. In an interview with the Daily Beast newspaper, McCain rightfully spoke of supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorists but he went

overboard by advocating arbitrary raids on Boko Haram without regard for Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty. Truly, McCain inexplicably discountenanced our nation’s pains to reveal his utter contempt for Nigeria, America’s largest trading partner in Africa and Nigeria’s President whom he described as “some guy called Goodluck Jonathan”. Former United States Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton is another such finger. Without doubt, the gaffes from McCain and Clinton do not represent the prevalent opinion in America about Nigeria and its anti-terrorism efforts. Nigeria has cause to really appreciate Americans’ solidarity and empathy with the abducted school girls and their families. President Barrack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, US Congressmen, celebrities and countless other American citizens have been actively supporting us by tweeting, making telephone calls, supporting the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign. Conclusively, most Americans have demonstrated the oneness of true humanity in the face of unusual adversity.

ut could anyone in America have given McCain’s statement any regard if it was the other way round, coming from a failed Nigerian presidential aspirant who seeks to deprecate the American people and their president? Back home in Nigeria, the past few years have witnessed heinous terrorism acts which some have described as a coded message being conveyed to President Jonathan – “Quit while you still have life”. Any leader who quits in the face of such unjustifiable blackmail risks

renegades in the Northern part of Nigeria. The presence of foreign forces should not deceive the Jonathan administration into thinking it can dump its responsibility on others as it seems to be doing. Parts of the North East are now as lawless as Iraq after the exit of the US and its allies. Bombs are detonated at will and without anyone being held for it. The ongoing war in Syria started in this manner. By the time an opposing force that controls parts of a country engages a state in a nowin battle for long and it becomes clear it cannot be dislodged, such a force has to be recognised as the de facto authority over the parts it controls. Nigeria cannot claim to be in charge of parts of the country now under the outlaw rule of insurgents. In fact, the country seems to have ceded authority of certain no-go areas, no matter how small or large, such as Sambisa forest to the insurgents. In the same way Nigeria cannot be said to be in control in those parts of the country routinely sacked and/or taken over by the insurgents for many hours at a time. The insurgents are enjoying the attention they are getting, I repeat, given the precipitate increase in their activities. There is no doubt too that they are getting immediate support from powerful forces in the same manner that the Jonathan administration has turned to foreign forces and countries. Which is why Nigeria (one cannot expect the foreign forces to do this) has to increase its intelligence gathering operations in the country. The insurgents surely have local sponsors living right in the midst of everyday Nigerians. They might even be among the very people detailed to hunt for them. The Jonathan administration might wish to

Insurgency as Nigeria’s boil of anguish The Jonathan administration IGERIA certainly now carries a terrible boil of clearly had no mind to change its N anguish in the form of Islamic tired tactics of responding to the

With bombs going off in built-up areas under curfew and emergency rule, is it not reasonable to imagine that the insurgents or their supporters are right in our midst, living in our neighbourhoods?

We should help in rallying others to wake up and not fall prey to some mischief-making characters, keen on ruining us and our collective potentials

being judged harshly by posterity. Just few years ago, several doomsday predictions asserted with pseudo-divine finality that Nigeria’s house will fall by 2015. Although Nigeria has passed through several unnerving turbulent times, including a Civil War, it has remained a resilient nation, forging ahead in spite of many odds stirred mostly by mischievous political forces. It becomes even more disappointing when political elites who constitute opposition forces carry their quarrels with President Jonathan too far. Of course, like any other country on the face of the earth, Nigeria has its own problems. Challenges notwithstanding, Nigeria is still a country of destiny. A May 21, 2014 headline in PUNCH newspaper’s online publication reads: “Africa investors looking beyond negative headlines, saysWorld Bank”. The news story under it opened with: “Investors in Africa are increasingly able to see beyond negative headlines of violence in nations like South Sudan, Nigeria and Kenya…”. According to the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Michel Wormser, most investors in Africa now had enough sophistication to discern long-term opportunities despite a flurry of negative news, ranging from civil war in the

apprise Nigerians what it has done or is doing on the issue of highly placed Nigerians that have been directly or indirectly linked with the insurgents. Some of them or their wards, relations or associates, in Abuja and states most affected by the insurgency, have been fingered in the activities of the insurgents. What has Jonathan done about them? What is the latest on these individuals? President Jonathan may be averse to going to Chibok, he may be wary of coming face to face with poorly resourced, mutinous soldiers that take arm at their commander- he may not see any reason in his going to Sambisa forest. But what has he done with those directly under his nose in Abuja or in Borno and environs? Has he taken his eyes off these people believing they are not capable of the mischief they’ve been linked with? With bombs going off in built-up areas under curfew and emergency rule, is it not reasonable to imagine that the insurgents or their supporters are right in our midst, living in our neighbourhoods, worshipping in the same places and going to the same markets as the rest of us? Are we to accept that those who killed hundreds of Nigerians, now turned mere statistics, in the market in Jos came straight from Sambisa forest; that the killers that operated in Sabon Garri, Kano, rode on a bike from Chad or Cameroon? What is Jonathan doing about these people right in our midst? Or is he waiting for his foreign supporters to look for them or leave before he starts asking these questions, in case he remembers at all? While our military complain of inadequate resources, their commanders draw up a list of unattended grievances, the insurgents increase in strength. What is Jonathan doing about the enemies within?

world’s newest nation, South Sudan, to bombs by suspected Islamist militants in Kenya and the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria by Islamist group Boko Haram. “There is more understanding of the riskiness and more ability from investors to distinguish between what is media hype and what is the reality on the ground, and the likeliness of their investment to yield what they expect,” he added while describing Nigeria and some other parts of Africa as “a land of great opportunities.” Now, could it be the same Nigeria that McCain and Hillary had chosen to take to the cleaners as some jungle without any working system or any potential for the future? Clearly, that is far from the truth. It will be utterly mischievous for Nigeria’s opposition to continue exploiting every little piece of potential disinformation to misinform citizens and stimulate further anxiety across the land. A McCain’s rant or a Hillary diatribe on corruption and flagrant abuse of privileges by those who know little or nothing about our terrain shouldn’t be flashed as adverts to denigrate a government that was duly elected into office through majority vote. There are laid down processes of removing such government without helping those who predicted a 2015 break-up to realise their wicked agenda. In our haste to embrace the utter gibberish from these fellows, we appear to ignore the bigger picture. Anarchy or a failed Nigeria will have serious negative implications for all. For all conscious citizens, we should help in rallying others to wake up and not fall prey to some mischief-making characters, keen on ruining us and our collective potentials. It is a sacred duty for all of us, as true citizens of Nigeria, to make sure that the doomsday predictions never come to pass for our dear country, Nigeria. *Mr. Eakyn, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Boko Haram members in the armed forces? BY EBELE ORAKPO

‘I

*Scene of a recent bomb blast in Jos

AFTERMATH OF JOS BLASTS:

Fear grips Bauchi residents BY SUZAN EDEH

UST when everybody thought that the spate of bomb attacks in the North-East part of the country was gradually fizzling out, residents of Jos in Plateau State were once again rattled by two fresh bomb attacks in less than a week. In the first incident which happened on the May 20, 2014, two bombs exploded one after the other at a business-busy area packed with commuters and traders, leaving at least 118 people dead. The second explosion occurred on a Saturday along Bauchi road, close to a football viewing centre by

be improvised explosives were concealed in a bag. When an alarm was raised in the market that a bomb was about to explode, everyone took to his or her heels. This, however, later turned out to be a false alarm as it was discovered that the suspected items were three kerosene stoves and not explosives devices. It took the intervention of the security agents dispatched in the area to restore law and order as rumours spread fast in the state metropolis that Boko Haram had invaded Bauchi town. In fact, some residents in the state metropolis who spoke to VM about their fears, said government should intensify security checks

I thought the bomb attacks have ceased, but from what I’m seeing now, Bauchi may be the next target

University of Jos. Eyewitnesses said the bomber approached the viewing centre while sports fans were watching the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, but could not get there before his car exploded. However, with the frequent occurrences of bomb attacks in some targeted parts of the North, most neighbouring states close to Plateau State are constantly living in fear of the unknown as nobody knows which state is the next target. This is presently the case in Bauchi State as everybody has become extra security conscious in response to the ugly experiences of bomb attacks. Just last week, there was a bomb scare at a shopping complex in Wunti market where items suspected to

throughout the state. A Tailor at the Wunti market, popularly called Amaka Chidibere said she has been contemplating relocating from the North completely, adding that her husband prevailed on her to tarry a while to enable them gather enough capital to settle in his state, Anambra. According to her: “I thought the bomb attacks have ceased, but from what I’m seeing now, Bauchi may be the next target”. An Indigiene of Bauchi State from Dass local government, Garba Maigani, said that he has nowhere to run to because Bauchi is his home state. He said: “Where am I going to run to? This is my home state and I can’t say that I want to relocate my family because of insecurity. The way out of this challenge is for the Federal

and state governments to rise to the occasion; if not, we are all going to perish”. Ali also said that fervent prayer at this perilous times is what is needed because security agents can no longer provide security of lives and property. However, security has been beefed up in Bauchi as the war against the Boko Haram intensifies. Just last week, the Nigerian military bombed Boko Haram camps located in parts of Bauchi State, local and security sources have disclosed. As early as 6 ‘O clock in the morning, locals said that they heard loud sounds of explosives in the forest where insurgents camps were reportedly located. It has been reported that a sizeable number of gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect are operating in the Balmo forests in Darazo, Burra in Ningi, Soro in Ganjuwa and Yugda between Zara-Miya. Another camp is believed to exist around the Bauchi –Gombe border in Alkaleri. Some of the locals in the forest communities who pleaded anonymity, for security reasons, said the vibration shook their houses to their very foundation, adding that shortly after the explosive sounds were heard they saw military aircraft bearing Nigerian flags hovering in the sky. A reliable security source in the state confirmed that the army has started operation in the forest but did not give details of the operation, adding that the exercise was carried out without creating panic among the inhabitants of the forests.

HAVE no doubt anymore that we have peo ple in the armed forces who are loyal to the Boko Haram insurgents and are sabotaging the nation's efforts at curtailing their outrageous activities," said Tony this wet Tuesday morning as the debate on whether the government should yield to the demands of the insurgents to exchange the girls for their members being held in various prisons by the government raged. "Na today? It is a well known fact. Remember the President alluded to that some time ago when he said his government has been infiltrated by Boko Haram members?" quipped Nike. "Didn't you hear that some of the arms and ammunition they use were from our armed forces? How did they get them and yet, we say they are more equipped than our military," asked Amaka. "It stands to reason that Boko Haram members in the military hierarchy were the saboteurs, supplying arms to them and sending soldiers under them to certain death," said Joe. "Pure wickedness! Nemesis will catch up with them. I wonder why the soldiers in Maimalari Barracks did not succeed in killing their General Officer Commanding, GOC, who, as far as I'm concerned, was bent on sacrificing them to Boko Haram," said Tony. "I heard that was even the third mutiny since the guy was sent there in February," noted Nike. "Hmm, and the ogas at the top still left him there until the third mutiny before they removed him and replaced him with another officer. The soldiers have also mutinied against the new boss," said Amaka.

Village close to Chibok "Of course! Why wouldn't they? They complained about their pay and the fact that they are not well equipped to go into battle so they had no other option than to protest. One of them even told BBC that they watched while a village close to Chibok was being attacked but their commander asked them not to repel the attack as an aircraft hovering over the village was there to attack the insurgents. But of course, nothing happened until they accomplished their mission, leaving about 300 people dead. He said he was heart-broken," said Joe. "I am still pondering over the conspiracy theory - the US angle. Some people are of the opinion that the US is fuelling the crisis because it is afraid of Nigeria's growing influence in Africa. They want to pitch the Moslems against the Christians so as to start a religious war and fragment Nigeria to their advantage." "Abeg forget that. So the US trained Osama Bin Laden to split the US? I don't think so. I think it is just the last days we are witnessing," countered Amaka. "The mode of operation of the guys has changed. Now they cart away food items and valuables after raiding a village. Seems their sponsors are no longer giving them enough or that some of their sources have dried up so they are hungry now," noted Tony. Replied Nike: "I doubt if those ones are Boko Haram insurgents. Some evil-minded people will hide under the cloak of Boko Haram to perpetrate evil.They are the ones. Remember Chibok girls? After taking the girls, they carted away their food stuff before setting some of the buildings ablaze," said Tony. "I think government should yield to their demands so these girls can be freed. As trained security and intelligence agents, they should know how to handle the issue," said Nike.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 21

Report indicts BATN over promotions of tobacco consumption By JONAH NWOKPOKU

report released by Lagos based anti-tobacco group, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, NTCA, has indicted British American Tobacco, Nigeria, BATN over its promotions of tobacco products in the country. The report alleged that, “BATN has undertaken several promotions using methods that are attractive to the youths, including several international concerts featuring local and international artists. Other promotional strategies it adopted between 2001 and 2005 included; St. Moritz fashion and Style, Wild and Wet, Loud in Lagos, Experience IT, Buy One Get One Free Campaign, Experience Freshness and a host of others.” Presenting the report before journalists in Lagos, the interim national coordinator of NTCA, Lanre Oginni said, “The goal of the report is to monitor and report on tobacco industry’s so-called Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR and other activities aimed at thwarting legislative efforts towards passage of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Bill.” He said that since 2001, BATN has tried to influence tobacco control policies in Nigeria, “The investigation by NTCA has revealed that many government agencies which may play a part in the implementation of the tobacco bill are still hobnobbing with the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry has exploited its CSR to weaken government’s resolve of effective tobacco legislation,” he said. The report noted that BATN’s promotions have encouraged tobacco consumption and addiction in the country, especially among the youths and encouraged recruitment of replacement smokers through

CURRENCY US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA

181.55

0.2

3,023.00

+22.00

17.45

0.07

110.34

-0.20

104.18

-0.17

BUYING 154.73 260.6272 211.0981 172.8441 1.5183 0.3025 237.7674 24.7968 41.2547 28.2756

SELLING 155.23 261.4694 211.7803 173.4026 1.5232 0.3125 238.5358 24.8773 41.388 28.367

155.73 262.3116 212.4624 173.9611 1.5281 0.3225 239.3041 24.9579 41.5214 28.4584

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/05/2014

From left: Ms Deola Oyegbade, Divisional Head, SME Mainland, GTBank; Mr Nnamdi Ezeigbo, MD, Slot; Ms Lola Odedina, Head, External Communication and Public Affairs, GTBank; Funmi Faloye, MD, World 'n' Travel Land and Tope Olagbegi, MD, Sixth Sense at the GTBank SME Trade Finance Workshop, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. advertisements.The report was an outcome of an NTCA’s monitoring activities carried out in Abuja, Lagos and Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. It sought to get a better understanding of the tobacco industry’s presence, operations and tactics in Nigeria, identify its forces, including entities and allies and take inventory of the products on the market by each company. It also sought to determine the range and target of industry activities and tactics and take inventory of tobacco control policies and their strengths and weaknesses. The report noted that, “Though there exists an Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON’s directive in 2004 prohibiting any form of tobacco advertising on billboards, print and

electronic media, BATN has employed indirect advertising as a tactic for reaching the youths with its products. Subtle advertising of tobacco products is carried out in brand colours and logos displayed on shopping bags, umbrellas, face caps, school bags, shirts, key holders, and even cigarette lighters.” The group explained that, “In the course of the tobacco industry monitoring activity, NTCA observed that BATN has extended its subtle adverts to places frequented by guests of all shades. For instance many hotels in Lagos, Ilorin, and Abuja now display ‘no smoking signs’ with bold logos of BATN and its colours. Some of the hotels where these were found include Princess Suites and Tourism Limited, Ilorin, Excellence Hotels in Lagos,

Gracepoint Hotel in Abuja, among others. Several bars and drinking spots in Lagos also have Refuse Bins in BATN Benson & Hedges colours.” Oginni therefore advocated the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill as the way to go, for effective tobacco legislation in Nigeria. He said Nigeria will not make any appreciable progress towards the eradication of the tobacco control epidemic and reduction of addiction without the signing into law, the Tobacco Control Bill. “NTCA therefore appeals to the National Assembly to expedite action on the repackaged bill which the Federal Executive Council has transmitted to it for consideration and passage,” he said.

Payment for PAAR issuance: Banks should defend themselves — Customs By GODFREY BIVBERE

HE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has challenged banks to defend themselves over allegations that they collect money from stakeholders in the name of helping them to facilitate quicker release of their Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, PAAR through the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS. Speaking with Vanguard in Houston, Texas, at this year ’s Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, Deputy Controller of Customs in charge of ICT Ruling Center, Bashir Yusuf, said the Service does not charge money for processing PAAR and therefore no one should

give money for that purpose. Responding to allegation that banks collect money from importers to facilitate PAAR issuance through the Customs, Yusuf said, “Well the banks should defend their actions, I know that PAAR is free today in Nigeria. Customs is not charging a kobo to process PAAR. The chances are that we have pulled many people out of business, those who are not genuinely supposed to be in the port. “Generating the PAAR is free of charge, assessing the Nigerian Trade Hub is free of charge, unlike other things that you pay for but if there are people collecting money on behalf of anyone to process the PAAR, then every Nigerian should resist them.”

On whether it is possible for any Customs officer to facilitate PAAR issuance by collecting money, Yusuf explained that Customs gives the banks assess to the platform. You know the way PAAR is done is that importer will go to the bank for form ‘M’. Once he seeks for the form ‘M’ the banks will approach Customs for approval. “If Customs approves the form ‘M’ they notify the banks and the importer as well. Once he is notified importation starts, whatever document the importer has he gives to the bank which in turn uploads it on the PAAR platform; you know that before they use to bring it to us (physically).

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

INSURANC Getting your business to the next level By TOM TAULLI

OR a startup, an advisory board can be extremely helpful with boosting your operating team. “Advisors often have more scar tissue and can help avoid land mines,” said Ranjith Kumaran, who is the founder of PunchTab. “But they can also broaden strategic thinking and certain advisors have access to market data that is otherwise hard to come by.” Yet many startups make the mistake of stacking their advisory board with big-name people. The thinking is that this will pumpup a company’s credibility. “You want advisors who can spend time with you,” said Vineet Jain, who is the CEO and cofounder of Egnyte. “It’s not about getting resumes to increase your credibility. This often backfires because VCs can see through this.”

Increasing credibility So how can you put together a solid advisory board? Well, let’s take a look: Size: In the early stages, keep it manageable – say three to five. You want to make sure you have enough time to spend with your advisors. Compensation: It should be in equity, in the form of a stock option. The rule-of-thumb is that vesting is over a two year period. In terms of the amount of equity granted, this depends on how active an advisor is, with the range going from 0.1per cent of the company’s outstanding stock to as much as 1 per cent

Criteria For Selection: “I like to find advisors that are living what you’re living,” said Ranjith. “And I think it’s important to keep them close to the company; they are the ones who will keep you sane and remind you that you are not alone.” It also helps to look for advisors that can help fill holes. For example, Jay Srinivasan – the CEO and co-founder of Appurify – looks at the following categories: Start-up/founder coaches, mentors – generalists who have gone through the journey before and weigh in Industry experts/connectors – folks that are senior in the industry that you’re selling into (either as executives, or well respected technical leaders) Technical advisors – technical experts in your field Sales/marketing advisors folks that will help you build out an enterprise sales process/team/ hiring, or the same with marketing for consumer focused companies Investor /fund raising advisors - folks that will help you fund raise Opportunistic advisers - folks that don’t fall into any of the above categories, but can help you with a large deal/partnership Interacting With Your Advisory Board: Many startups will have periodic meetings, say every quarter. But some do not. Instead, the advisory board is called on when needed. But whatever approach you take, it is important to keep your advisors updated on any new developments. Tom Taulli (@ttaulli) is an advisor of tech companies and author of books on venture capital, M&A and IPOs.

From left: Manager, Corporate Affairs, Goldlink Insurance Plc, Omobolanle KolaBalogun; Executive Director, Mrs. Moore Olufunke; Managing Director, Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo; Financial Secretary, National Association of Women Journalists, Mrs. Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe; and Publisher, Businesstoday Newsonline, Ms. Nkechi Naeche, during the award ceremony by Businesstoday to Goldlink as the insurance man of the year.

How govt and insurers can collaborate against terrorism By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

OKO Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria has left more than 12,000 people dead since 2012. Some years back, nobody believed that terrorists’ attacks will become a regular occurrence in Nigeria. Insurgency was viewed as a menace peculiar to the Middle East and some other places but not Nigeria. It was therefore a huge surprise when suicide bombings as well as other terrorists’ attacks became a daily occurrence. Since then, the wanton killings and destruction of lives and property by the Boko Haram sect and other terrorists groups have continued unabated. So far, the federal and states government seemed overwhelmed by these attacks and most times, the victims are abandoned to their fate. Where these governments have offered assistance to the victims, such assistance doesn’t go very far to rehabilitate them. It is in this wise that experts have called

on government to consider creating an insurance intervention fund for victims of terrorism going forward. Terrorism insurance At present, the insurance industry doesn’t have the capacity to cover risks associated with terrorism. Because the risk is sure to occur, leaving the insurance industry to take up all the cover could wipe out the balance sheet of the sector. This is where government can come by subsidizing premium for terrorism through creation of an intervention fund. According to the Assistant Director (Inspectorate) of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Mr. Sam Onyeka, premium subsidy can help make cover available and increase demand while maintaining fundamental principle of riskbased premium even as public risk mitigation can make risk insurable and cover available. According to Onyeka, a good example is the US National Flood Insurance Programme where the State offers

Premium pension has extended

From left: Wolfgang Kollermann, Financial Director, Julius Berger; Tawanda Gumbo, Transitional Leader, Deloitte Nigeria; Iko Bulus, Principal Manager, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Jean-Pierre Labuschagne, Associate Director, Corporate Finance, Deloitte South Africa, at the infrastructure and capital projects strategic dialogue, organised by Deloitte, in Lagos.

HAIRMAN of Premium Pension Limited, Mr. Aliyu Dikko said that the company has expanded its horizon in terms of funds under management and number of Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs). The Chairman made the statement in the company ’s annual report which is to be presented to shareholders today at the 9th Annual General Meeting at the company’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.

He said “Our company has continued to maintain its enviable position as one of the leading PFAs in Nigeria, despite the declining employment opportunities that negatively impacted our business generation drives. Managing Director of the company, Mr. Wilson Ideva said that the company and by extension the

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 —

CE & YOU insurance capacity and insurance is distributed by private companies while some policies are subsidised by government. Onyeka said, “Nigerian government must subsidise premium in an economy as ours. If we have the kind of USA arrangement, it will help us because we need insurance to sustain development.” According to Onyeka, for the victims of terrorism to be fully rehabilitated, premium subsidy by government through the creation of an intervention fund is the last resort. “Recall that government established the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, after the Nigerian capital market suffered the massive meltdown in 2009. Government need to set up an intervention fund and come up as reinsurer that will partner the insurance sector in emergency situations,” Onyeka said. According to him, state governments also can provide reinsurance facility for insurance companies that want to venture into terrorism insurance and make sure that they comply to international standard. The question then is, are the insurance companies ready to partner with government to provide cover for terrorism?

Cover for terrorism Affirming the readiness of insurers to rise up to the challenge, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, said that underwriting companies have risen to their responsibility of doing insurance the way it should be done which led to an impressive rise in the volume of claims paid in the last financial year. For Managing Director of FBN Life, Mr. Val Ojumah, the insurance sector should begin to accommodate terrorism cover because it is considered as political risks which can scare away investors. Ojumah said, “Political risks are a major challenge for insurance companies. Most international investors coming into this economy do require political risk insurance but it is not available locally. But we have had circumstances where we have to buy that risk from international insurance market.” Role of insurance in combating terrorism Before now the insurance sector was considered a weak link in the Combating Financial Terrorism, CFT chain; however the sector has changed for the better. According to Onyeka, insurance companies detect and report suspicious transactions to the appropriate bodies, stating “The way to protect themselves is to send alert because there could be problem someday.” Onyeka said that any insurer that is not ready to abide by the directive should close shop stating “For so long in Nigeria we have left what we are supposed to do. We cannot continue to wait. We have to leap frog so that we can do other things.” According to experts, the country is much likely to attain a sustained economic growth and development if it can adapt its insurance industry with innovative ways that will bring on board the generality of the country’s population.

d horizon — Dikko industry has virtually overcome its teething challenges, stating, “We are now striding to great heights.” Premium Pension Limited is one of the pioneer PFAs in the country that started immediately after the promulgation of the Pension Reform Act, 2004. It now has over N330 billion under management and has so far paid almost N63.2 billion as retirement benefits while 13, 350 retirees receive pension every month through the company.

How to invest for retirement I

By MARKET WATCH

NVESTING for retirement is more complicated than most workers would want to admit. In fact, according to a survey by Charles Schwab of people 50 and older, nearly one in three say they find investing for retirement a bigger challenge than dealing with expenses or saving money. And no wonder: Pensions have mostly given way to so-called defined contribution plans which have placed the burden of investing to provide for a steady income on your shoulders. Go to the max. The government sets annual contribution limits on retirement accounts. Contributory pension in Nigeria for instance for workers in the public and private sector. Do your best to take advantage of them. Save even more. Any extra savings for retirement should go into a taxable brokerage, certificate of deposit or bank account. A common goal is to save at least 20 per cent of your income each year, more if you’re way behind. Pay attention to “asset location.” For people who have both taxfavored retirement accounts as well as brokerage accounts, it can be a challenge to figure out in which accounts to put which investments.

Portfolio performance Two recent studies conclude that you should put a higher percentage of stocks into your taxable accounts, while taxable bonds are better off in your tax-favored retirement accounts like your IRA. Additional resources: Check out the Pension fund administrators Community for details on these plans; figure out how much you need to save to meet your retirement goals with the Retirement Planner. Focus on asset allocation. One key study shows that 91 per cent of a portfolio’s performance is determined by allocation of assets, not individual investments or market timing. Age rules. Some financial advisers recommend stock market or equity exposure equal to about 120 minus your age. If you’re 55, at least 65 per cent of your portfolio should be in stocks, regardless of which types of accounts you are using to invest for retirement. Fixed income matters. The remainder of your portfolio should in so-called fixed-income investments like bonds, bond funds or CDs, which generate annual interest income. Additional resources: Test whether your asset allocation is in line with your goals. Pick the right investments.

Mr. Aliyu Dikko, Chair man, Premium Premium

Mr. Wilson Ideva, MD, Premium pension

Misguided investment choices can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Fees add up. Investment fees come in many forms, including expense ratios on mutual funds, commissions for stock or ETF trades, and account fees from advisers. Fees should be no more than 1 per cent of your total portfolio. Diversify. For the stock portion of your portfolio, consider index funds and mutual funds and get exposure to domestic and international markets, as well as small, medium and large cap stocks; for the fixed income portion of your portfolio consider bonds, bond funds, CDs or possibly real estate or commodities. Ask for help. A financial adviser can help you pick low-cost investments to help you meet your retirement goals. Be mindful, however, of how that adviser gets paid. Additional resources: Select a range of investments for optimal diversification. Find a financial

adviser. What not to do. Think rationally, not emotionally. Don’t try to time the markets. A study by Morningstar found that people who try to time the markets end up with significantly lower returns than those who buy and hold. Don’t tinker too much. Don’t change your investments on a whim; instead, once a year, make review your portfolio, either on your own or with an adviser. Investors who rebalanced their $100,000 portfolios once a year ended up with roughly $31,000 more over a 20-year period than those who didn’t rebalance and nearly $20,000 more than those who rebalanced monthly, according to a study by T Rowe Price. Don’t assume you can make up for lost time. Many people delay maxing out their retirement account contributions, assuming they can make up for lost time later on. But it isn’t as easy as it looks.

Custodian & Allied boss gets recognition

HIEF Executive Officer of Custodian & Allied Insurance, Mr Wole Oshin, was honoured at the Businessday Top 25 CEO Award, as one of the top twenty five distinguished Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Top 25 CEOs Award is a yearly event which is meant to appreciate the contributions of the 25 CEOs who contributed the most to the growth of the capital market in a particular financial year. The Top 25 CEOs were honoured for having contributed 68 per cent of the gains in the capital market capitalisation in 2013. They ensured that their companies’ share price outperformed the All-Share Index (ASI) of the NSE which closed the year at 47 per cent. Their contributions amounted to 58 per cent of the nation’s

budget in 2013. Custodian & Allied Insurance was among the only two companies in the insurance sub sector that contributed to this achievement. The company worked tenaciously in 2013 to increase shareholders’ profit to N4 billion. Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer, Custodian and Allied Insurance, Mr. Wole Oshin said “This is an encouraging development. I am truly elated to receive this award. I would like to state that this achievement would not have been possible without the support of the Board, Management and Staff of Custodian, who worked as a team to get us to this level. We are glad that Custodian is contributing her quota to the GDP of the Nigerian economy and towards the improvement of the insurance sub sector” C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—25

DIARY z z Critical Communications World 27-29 May 2014 BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand

zCisco Connect Sun City, South Africa Nov. 2 - 4, 2014

Preview

New inventions shaping life and living

Instagram Chameleon Shoes

ne of the largest social media sites, Instagram, has created a huge following, and now there are many applications that allow Instagram users to print their digital pictures onto cards, magnets, and stickers. Soon, Instagram enthusiasts will be able to take their pictures to a new platform — their shoes Adidas has just announced the release of a new application that will allow users to customize their sneakers with their own Instagram photos. The Adidas Photo Print App will allow customers to personalize their Adidas ZX Flux shoes and is set to launch in August 2014 for iOS and Android devices.

I N S I D E C M Y K

Electricity supply app from Nigeria wins Ericsson’s 25,000 App Awards prize

Uncertainty trails Nigeria’s digital broadcast migration •NBC laments lack of funds •Stakeholders decry government's indifference BY PRINCE OSUAGWU & EMEKA AGINAM

S the clock ticks towards the International Telecommunications Union, ITU’s 2015 deadline for countries to switch over to digital broadcasting, there is palpable fear among stakeholders in Nigeria over the possibility of the country to meet the deadline. This is following skepticism from the two important stakeholders in the process- the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC and the B r o a d c a s t e r s . While NBC reminds that a whole lot of funds, which it does not have at the moment, was needed to pull the switching

through, broadcasters doubt government’s sincerity about the whole project, since many states and federal government establishments were still ordering for analogue equipment, few months to the migration date. At a Digital Migration Summit, in Lagos, organized by the NBC, Director General of the Commission Mr. Emeka Mba s t a t e d categorically that switching to the digital platform of broadcasting is not a tea party but a process that requires several billions of Naira to accomplish. He however

NIMC captures identity of 3m Nigerians, deploys over 200 new enrollment centres

regretted that the commission does not have the kind of funds needed at the moment to accomplish the task, stating that despite the obvious consequencies of failure, heavens will not fall if the country does not meet the migration deadline. Although Mba was not making case for failure, he played down on the impression that any

The heavens will not fall if Nigeria fails to meet the deadline

‘Africa needs lots of ICT parks, incubation centres’

country that does not meet up with the deadline may lose her right of place in the scheme of things. “The heavens will not fall if Nigeria fails to meet the deadline. Yes, there are implications like signal interference, missing out on new business opportunities that may spring up due to digitization and the country not being able to compete strongly in the global digital arena, but we will still move on as a country. “Even if everything were to be in place as we hope it will be, switch off will not happen until we are sure there is near equal penetration of digital broadcasting to the current analogue system. At least 80 percent of homes will get the digital set boxes before we switch off permanently. If we do not get this till the due date, we may run a simulcast system where

Continues on page 27

26—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

‘4G mobile broadband can grow Africa’s GDP’ BY EMEKA AGINAM

f Nigeria and indeed Africa harness the ubiquity of 4G mobile broadband, the continent’s Gross Domestic Projects, GDP among other things will greatly improve. This is the position of Huawei Global Vice President, Charles Ding, at the just concluded World Economic Forum held in Abuja. Ding said that mass deployment of fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband can help bring more Africans online, grow her Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) and job creation. AddressingPresidents, ICT Ministers, Economic experts and resource persons during a panel discussion on new solutions to bring all Africa online at WEF, he told the gathering that there were several advantages of making a strong case for building LTE networks in Africa. For him, “fixed-line infrastructure in most African countries is limited and underdeveloped. For instance, ITU rates fixed broadband penetration in Africa at only 0.3%. “Therefore, upgrading from existing fixedline infrastructure will be more costly and less effective. Second, building mobile networks can significantly enlarge broadband coverage to people living in rural and underprivileged urban areas, because LTE users are always connected wirelessly to fast, responsible, and reliable data network. “Constructing LTE networks can make effective use of existing equipment and technologies, and therefore lower the cost of initial investment and LTE-enabled devices become increasingly more affordable.

TD unveils mobile innovation in Abuja BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

Electricity supply app from Nigeria wins Ericsson’s • 25,000 App Awards prize T

HE age-old sage that necessity is the mother of invention played out positively for a group of Nigerian app developers, Team SOP, who out of the poor electricity situation in the country, developed an app that competed and won in Ericsson’s App awards competition. The team grabbed the first prize in Company category for its app that monitors electricity supply. Meanwhile, South Africa’s

Digital literacy critical to successful broadband penetration — Ndukwe

echnology Distribution Limited, TD, last week in Abuja, showcased its latest mobile innovation, called TD Mobile to its distribution partners. TD Mobile is an innovative product that aids communication and efficiency in every business activity. Other products unveiled by TD at the event included Lenovo mobile 400, Dell projector; HP 360 Microsoft 365 and APC 50 among others. This innovation according to the company was informed by the 10 million smart devices sold in Nigeria in the last financial year and to meet the demand, it became necessary to come up with a home and office friendly device like the TD Mobile that would fill the existing gap. Unveiling the product, Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, said the TD Mobile was introduced in response to the growing need for smarter and smaller devices in the market, adding that the new products are only accessible to their distributors. She said some of the products coming will run on the window platform for seamless transmission from home to office and vice versa. According to her, the company had perfected plans to boost its distribution channel in the Northern region with the planned opening of 25,000 trucks capacity ultra modern warehouse in Abuja in June. “What we have done is to partner with the best OEMs in the world and as part of the strength of the TD, we were able to negotiate and get the best prices because the key mission of TD is to ensure that our goods are affordable, available and of good quality.

Team WorkMode also won first prize in Student category for its collaboration app that helps workers see the real-time work context and tasks of colleagues. In a ceremony held at the Ericsson Studio in Kista, Sweden, Ericsson said the teams were selected in competition with 300 teams from more than 63 countries from all over the globe. The semi-finalist apps were reviewed by a panel of global representatives and they decided on the two winning teams that

would each receive •25,000 in prize money. Outlining reasons for choosing SOP, the Judges said: “Team SOP presented a strong case of using technology in a way that anyone could value and invest in. They cleverly combined consumer, society and business benefits around lifting transparency of power delivery in a well designed package.” Also on the student category winners, the judges said: “We felt that Team WorkMode showed strong business potential, and their focus on design and usability helped them when it came to innovation and addressing the theme of Apps for working life.” Expressing his joy, Toks Ogun of Team SOP said that “this award means we can continue to expand and develop our app, which monitors electricity supplies. We can see a market in parts of North America, in South America and in India and we will continue to develop our idea” he added. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Ericsson, Bina Chaurasia said: “We would like to offer our congratulations to both teams, who faced hard competition from all over the world. At Ericsson we often talk about the Networked Society and how mobile and digital technologies are increasingly expanding into more areas of society, business and our private lives. The winning apps strongly reflect this trend, as well as this year’s theme of ‘Apps for Working Life.’ We wish our winners every success in the future.”

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

ORMER Chief Executive Officer of N i g e r i a Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe has said that digital literacy is a necessary ingredient for successful deployment of broadband services in Nigeria. He stated this while delivering a speech at the Mobile West Africa conference held in Lagos last week. He said broadband is an essential and critical digital infrastructure and that digital literacy and appreciation of value of broadband is important to drive value from its penetration in Nigeria. According to him, “10 percent increase in broadband penetration yields 1.13 percent to the gross domestic product. So, it is important to stimulate demand and improve access to devices that are smart. This is

because it will be disastrous if after deploying the broadband and people are deploying it for services only.” Speaking on ‘Driving universal broadband access in Nigeria to usher in the next wave of telecommunication revolution’ he said broadband services plays essential role in today’s global economy and that despite progress made with voice services, it will be impossible for Nigeria

to advance economically without deepening its broadband penetration. “Broadband is the main thing in the world today. We can be happy with how much we have done with voice services so far, but the truth is that without adequate supply of broadband services, it will be difficult for Nigeria to claim to be an advanced country and that is what we are aiming to be.

“I was actually in the committee drafted by the president to draft the national broadband plan. That has been done and we set some target for the country for us to achieve a certain landmark in the next five years. Currently, the broadband penetration hovers between six and eight percent in terms of people who actually have access but we are hoping that in the next five years, this will go up to 40 percent. And I think there is a chance of even getting it higher than that if the regulatory institutions and other stakeholders do their bits including the private operators,” he said. He further explained that, “There is a lot of demand for broadband service. This is because, when you look at the population of Nigeria, you will realize that it is made up of a lot of young people. We have over 70 percent of young people in this country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—27

NIMC captures identity of 3m Nigerians, deploys over 200 new enrollment centres By PRINCE OSUAGWU

HE National Identity Man agement Commission (NIMC) seems to be working round the clock to meet up with the December 31, 2014 presidential directive to roll out the new national identity cards. Last weekend, the commission announced the addition of over 200 enrolment centres across the nation, to help it capture more data in addition to the three million identities of Nigerians already on its database. Announcing the new development, Director of Operations, Mrs. Cecilia Yahaya also disclosed that the commission has immediately commenced enrolment exercises for the National Identification Number (NIN) in these Enrolment Centres in the last 10 weeks. According to her, NIMC was committed to ensuring that the deployment of all enrolment infrastructures based on global best practices was done expeditiously to enable it meet the December 31, 2014 Presidential directive. Yahaya said some of the Enrolment Centres are located in Local Government Areas in Lagos, Anambra, Cross river, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kano and Bauchi states among others. In Lagos state, the centres are located in Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Lekki, Agege, Army Barracks Ojo and Ipaja.

In Cross River state, there are centres in Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Biase, Ogoja, among others in the state. In Adamawa, there are some centres in Gerei, Minchika, Song and Mayobelwa. Other Centres in the north included Kano Municipal, Madoni, Kura, Wudil, Gezawa Tarauni, in Kano State and Alkaleri, Dass, Toro, Katagun in Bauchi state. In the South East, Anambra state got centres in Nnewi North, Onitsha North and South, Anaocha, and Ogbaru, while Ivo, Ishilu, Izzi centres, serve Ebonyi State. She however noted that a number of Enrolment Centres have also

been opened in more Tertiary Institutions nationwide, including University of Ilorin, IBB University Lapai, FUT Minna , University of Benin, University of Calabar, Maritime Academy, Covenant U n i v e r s i t y, Crawford University, University of Kastina, K aduna Polytechnic, Federal Po l y t e c h n i c Birnin Kebbi, Federal polytechnic Ibadan, Ladoke University of Tech, ABU Zaria. Meanwhile, Yahaya said that the Commission has captured the data of close to 3 million Nigerians, and hinted that the newly deployed enrollment centres will spurn aggressive attempts to grow the number of enrollments from 60,000 a day, to 100,000 a day. This was needed to boost the scheme which targets to protect Nigerians from identity theft and fraud by providing a simple, reliable, sustainable and universally acceptable means of confirming someone’s identity at all times.

…as NOA makes case for mass enrolment into national database

n cheering the works of NIMC, Director General, National Orientation Agency ,NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, last weekend called on Nigerians to massively enrol into the National Identity Database to get the National Identification Number. Omeri, at the flag off ceremony BY RICHARD UDOFIA

HE long awaited Lumen Christi television network, LCTN, a catholic TV station in Lekki metropolis is in operation now. The chairman of the Station, Prince Robert Soji, was on ground to commission the operation of the television station in Lagos, recently in company of many serving and retired Catholic leaders and faithful. The Chairman said, setting up this station is a dream come true, revealing that he had always dreamt of doing something big to express the universality and uniqueness of the Catholic Church. According to him, “forty years ago, an Irish Priest and mentor, Late Rev. Fr. Richard Fitzgerald asked me, as a

of an enrolment Centre, at the NOA National Headquarters in Abuja expressed gratitude to NIMC for deploying enrolment equipments to the NOA office premises. He noted that “with the current state of unrest in the country, the National Identity Management Systems

(NIMS) project has become an urgent quest which must be supported and keyed into by all Nigerians. “It is now for all eligible applicants to get enrolled, because creating a unique National database and means of identity verification and authentication will provide a platform for boosting the national security and economic development” he added.

Lumen Christi TV Network is born

• Pope Francis young altar boy if I would like to become a priest one day when I grow up. My reply to the question was ‘I do not know’. Before I could cor-

rect whatever wrong impression the non-definitive answer could have created, the priest said, Robert, I’m not 100% happy with your response, but I am pleased with the childish innocence that you exhibited”. “There and then, I gave him my word that if I do not become a priest, I will always do everything possible to support the priesthood and make their work easy. This is the type of background I come from and establishing Lumen Christi Television is one way of supporting the priests as they labour unceasingly to win souls for Christ” he added. He described the television station as standing for truth, equity, justice and progress, promising that an editorial board will be put in place shortly to ensure transparency and Continues on page 28

Uncertainty trails Nigeria’s digital broadcast migration Continues from page 25 the digital and analogue systems operate simultaneously” He hinted that the Commission was making some alternative arrangements to muscle funds necessary to push the project, hoping that things would work out at the end of the day. However, despite hopes Mba relieved, other information that unfolded at the event, created additional fears that the road may not be smooth, after all. For instance, when confronted on the issue of appropriating requisite funding for the commission to carry out a smooth task, deputy chairman, senate committee on information, Senator Bello Tukur, expressed concerns that the national assembly was not doing anything currently towards appropriation of requisite funding to support digital migration process. He categorically stated that “the 2014 appropriation bill has not been signed into law and there are lots of reasons for the delay. We budget on the basis of what we have and the revenues we earn. “But, for the digitisation project, it depends on how you present your case to the house. You can still make representations even if it means going through special funds.” As if that was not enough heart- break, deputy chairman, Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Mr. Sunday Olu Jetro, reminded the audience that “even as we speak, there is no legislation backing the digitisation process in the country. I have my reservations about government’s sincerity towards actualising the digital migration. State governments have not made commitment to digitization; in fact, many state governments are still placing orders for analogue transmitters. I think we should also take another look at the dangers of switching over without the enabling law in a country yet to distinguish between politics and governance.” Despite these perceived setbacks, there were some real inroads the Commission seemed to have made so far towards achieving the mandate. Chairman of the digiteam- a body formed by the commission, to oversee processes to digitization, Mr Edward Amana, hinted on a white paper on the digitisation process which stressed the use of NTA as signal carrier for transmission. To that extent, he informed that the Commission has created a new NTA which would transmit digital contents of all operators equitably without discrimination and at a price to be regulated by the NBC. He also stated that as a caution, the commission has also decided to later license more two content carriers to ensure that NTA does not operate like a monopoly. Amana also revealed that the commission has concluded plans to license a signal distributor which already, 19 companies have expressed interest. According to him, nine out of these 19 have been prequalified, out of which only one will emerge as signal distributor. Earlier, Mba had hinted that the NBC was planning to set up a broadcasting fund to drive content development in the sector, adding that NBC was weighing the option of multi-lateral funding agency at single digit interest rates to help stabilize the sector. Meanwhile, he called on all broadcasters to dismiss fears and support the digitization process, saying that the digitization pilot scheme which is billed to happen in Jos June 5, 2014, will determine how far the reinvention of television in Nigeria through digital transmission will go.

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Lumen Christi TV...

BY EMEKA AGINAM

ARTICIPANTS at the just concluded Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos last week called on African governments to show greater commitment to the establishment of ICT parks, incubation centres, as well as frameworks and policies for seamless broadband connectivity. The forum which brought together highly cerebral ICT practitioners, stakeholders, regulatory and policy makers, security agencies, students and ICT enthusiasts from across the globe afforded the participants the opportunity to discuss among other things, global technology trends, the business of technology, ICT as catalyst for development, software development and entrepreneurship, financing digital innovation as well as case studies and success stories. Running simultaneously with the 19th edition of the World Electronic Forum, the event with the theme, “Towards Digital Singularity in Africa attracted speakers from Africa, the US, Europe and Asia Participants at the conference unanimously agreed that African countries must leverage on their membership of international economic blocs to explore all aspects of ICT and intelligence in readiness for the emergence of the machine intelligence era. Warning on the avalanche of threats in the cyber space, African governments, societies and the big corporations, according to the forum must not only forestall and manage the risks associated with this trend but develop security policies and procedures in addition to formulating cyber security strategies that include people, process and technology. Communiqué reached after the event, identified software production as the best entry point for Africa into the IT production complex and decried the trend whereby Africa’s local developers are not receiving appropriate patronage and support to build and maintain their software. However, participants, according to the communiqué called on countries with weaker institutions to support patent protections and copyright laws to step up efforts in innovations and opening up of markets in order to enable them participate in the global competitive stage. The conference also called on African countries to show greater commitment in the establishment of ICT parks, incubation centres, frameworks and policies, as well as ensuring seamless broadband connectivity. Participants, among other things agreed that the domestic use of software technology is perhaps the most important driver of software industry growth for emerging economies

Continues from page 27 strict adherence to the doctrines of the catholic body. He however stressed that the vision, mission, content, coverage and policies were fashioned in line with the principles and doctrines of the church. In view of the astronomical costs of establishing/ running a modern TV network, he urged the various diocesan social communication and media departments to be the chief correspondent in their respective Dioceses, reiterating that they are free to send their productions for broadcasting at no cost. Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Prof. Francis Ogunmodede, said that he observed that the Television

DIGITAL VERDICT:

‘Africa needs lots of ICT parks, incubation centres’ and urged African governments to promulgate laws that would encourage and promote patronage of local software products. The conference urged the technologically advantage d economies in Africa to help accelerate Africa’s technological infrastructure by transferring technical know-how and business

models, influencing technology policies, and by forging marketing and other ties with developed environments giving the Silicon Valley as an example. While welcoming the efforts of African governments in the promotion of local content in various African countries, the forum prayed that more efforts should be geared

towards promoting local content policies in the continent; The conference while appreciating the surge in mobile technology penetration and the opportunities it has created in Africa, admitted that it is not yet Uhuru but just a development that has only set off an era to catalyze change for a better continent.

Network is set up to propagate the preaching of the catholic faith in Nigeria. “If my information is right, this is going to be the first private catholic Television network in Nigeria, and Africa. Words are inadequate to express my joy realizing this dream which the whole of catholic hierarchy in Nigeria have been dreaming for a very long time, but have not been able to accomplish”, he said.

Chairman, Catholic Social Communications, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, said the network is designed to bring good tidings, preach peace across the nation, and give youths and viewers an alternative viewing experience from what is obtained outside, waring them not to infiltrate and corrupt the purpose for which the station is established.

ECOWAS seeks inclusive development via digital post BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

key topic of discussion of Post Masters at the meeting of the West African Postal Conference, WEPCO, last week in Abuja was the need for coordination of postal activities and operations in the subregion. The idea aims at finding lasting solution to myriads of challenges affecting the provision and qualitative services to West African people through a digitalised postal services. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said that WEPCO was an unequivocal statement by West African States that the sub-region was in step with global objectives of regional development. She said that by repositioning the Post office for better performance postal outlets could become venues of social, financial and digital inclusion and governments worldwide would stand a better chance of achieving a more inclusive form of development. Given the huge material and mineral resources in the sub-region, Johnson said West Africa has the capacity and population to power growth with its advancement in cooperation and movement of goods

and services as well as the common eternal tariff policy. According to her, all these objectives would not make much impact, if the long neglected postal sector is not repositioned for inclusive growth in the sub-region and stressed the need for all Ecowas countries to knit together for the common goal. “Let us not forget that the post is part of the infrastructure that keeps citizens, people, families, businesses, customers and consumers together. We move messages, documents, parcels, produce and distribute medicines and finance across the sub-region. It remains an universally accessible

channel through which economic, social, financial and digital opportunities can be extended to the broadest range of the population, particularly in the rural areas. The success of the Post, fuels success in other sectors,” said the Minister. She however, insisted that by repositioning the post for better performance and utilization as venues of social, financial and digital inclusion, government in West Africa stand a better chance of achieving inclusive form of development. For her, in repositioning the post for a better performance, its mantra must change from business as usual, because the economy is being driven by the evolution of digital communications technology. She listed non-tariff barriers; human capital development; as other areas WEPCO must explore as means of improving the quality of postal services in the sub-region. She lamented that Africa had lagged behind in the use of internet and used the opportunity to invite her counterparts in all Ecowas states to the African Internet Governance Forum, which the Nigerian government is cohosting with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in July this year.

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014— —31

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 33

BR AZIL 2014 COUNTDOWN BRAZIL

Okocha joins Eagles!

TODAY’S INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES Korea Republic vs Tunisia 12noon Nigeria vs Scotland 8pm USA vs Azerbaijan 3am vs Morocco 6pm Angola Denmark vs Sweden 7:15pm

he Nigerian national team the Super Eagles, kicked off in earnest their preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a first training session at Fulham FC Mortspur Park training centre. The players who looked quite cool in their new kit with a sponsored logo at the front of green top and black shorts, were watched by former Nigerian world cup skipper Austin JJ Okocha. The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain Okocha who was accompanied by his elder brother and former Super Eagle Emmanuel. said he was there in a private capacity but the players looked boosted by his presence. They shook hands and joked with him before training started. When asked by this reporter if he was having itchy feet and want to be at the world cup JJ replied “no way, how many world cups will one person play in”? Big Boss Stephen Keshi stood apart watching and bellowing instructions and encouragements to the players as the players were taken through their paces in drills led by Daniel Amokachi. The players look very fit but most clearly is that they are very focused. Absolutely determined to do themselves justice before the final squad is announced. Returnees Osaze Odemwegie and Joseph Yobo looked properly at home, heavily involved in the banter before the proper work started.

uper Eagles begin a set of pre-World Cup friendlies when they battle an in-form Scotland at Craven Cottage in London today. Stephen Keshi’s side –

crowned champions of Africa last year – are confident of progressing from a tough Group F in Brazil that also contains Argentina, Bosnia-

Ameobi, Moses draw inspiration from coach

everal members of the Super Eagles have identified the influence of head coach, Stephen Keshi as one of the main reasons the team have recorded remarkable successes in recent years. Since taking the reins from Samson Siasia in 2011, Keshi has overseen an admirable change in fortune of the Super Eagles. Nigeria won the 2013 Afcon under the astute management of Keshi, after failing to qualify for the previous edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012. The Super Eagles then qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with relative ease and stars of the team like Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses have now identified Keshi as the man who makes things happen. “Even before I made my

Murray storms through first set

Ambrose, Brown face-off today C

Keshi’s Eagles meet Strachan’s side in World Cup warm-up

FRENCH OPEN :

debut (for Nigeria), I had heard all about him (Keshi). He’s a legend and one of the best coaches I have worked with,” Shola Ameobi told Fifatv. Chelsea winger, Moses described Keshi as a “father figure” who commands the respect of all of the squad. “He’s a huge figure. He’s very inspirational as a manager and that’s how he was even as a player. “I remember watching him at the 1994 World Cup. He gave everything he had whenever he wore that green and white shirt. “He’s a father figure to us. We are happy to play under him because he never stops encouraging us,” he said. Keshi is humbled by the kind words directed towards him by his charges and insists he will always make sacrifices to protect and guide his players.

“Whatever I can do to encourage them (players), I will do that. “We must always help each other. If they see me as a father figure, that’s nice but I see it as a duty to always help my players whenever I can,”

he said. Nigeria will compete in Group F of the FIFA World Cup alongside Iran, BosniaHerzegovina and one of the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina.

Herzegovina and Iran. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama confidently declared his side could reach the showpiece’s semifinals last week – a view winger Victor Moses echoed in the build-up to the clash against the Scots. But first they must focus on finding rhythm and form against Scotland, Greece and the United States. The friendlies provide an opportunity for Keshi to take a final look at his squad and one of the decisions he must make is whether to break up the defensive partnership of Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona that has served him so well. Experienced campaigner Joseph Yobo is waiting in the wings after returning to the squad from an extended absence. The 33-year-old has not played since his side won the Africa Cup of Nations in February last year. Oboabona knows Yobo is likely to come in – increasing the importance of his performance against Scotland. “The World Cup is a place to showcase true skills,” he said on Monday.

“And I will do everything within my powers to be part of the final 23-man list.” Yobo is not the only experienced player returning to the fold, with Stoke City forward Peter Odemwingie also in the mix again. Enyeama, Moses and John Obi Mikel are all expected to be involved on Wednesday and the trio will play key roles in Brazil. Nigeria sit 44th in the FIFA rankings, 22 places behind Scotland, despite the failure of Gordon Strachan’s men to reach the World Cup. A five-match unbeaten run – that has included wins over Macedonia, Croatia, Norway and Poland – has helped Scotland surge up the rankings. They are the second-highest ranked team not to feature in Brazil, but will be using the match as preparation for the start of their UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Derby County striker Chris Martin – who qualifies through his Scottish-born father – could make his debut for Scotland. Ikechi Anya, who has Nigerian ancestry, could also play a part for Scotland.

eltic FC captain Scott Brown will face 2014 World Cup-bound teammate Efe Ambrose when Scotland and Nigeria play each other in an international friendly at Craven Cottage tonight. Ambrose, who was key to helping Nigeria win last year’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy, and Brown have been having friendly banter about tomorrow’s fixture. “I’ve been having some banter with Efe and it will be good to see him as we have had 10 or 12 days off since the end of the season” said Brown, in an exclusive interview with Celtic View. “I might just play against him and get a bit of banter from him and see what he gives me! “But it will be good to get a game for Scotland as it’s a while since I’ve played for my country and to get a team like Nigeria is great. “They will be going to the

World Cup and getting ready for it, while we want to see how good we are as we’ve had some great results lately and we want to continue that,” he told Celtic View. Nigeria are in World Cup Group F along with Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina for June’s world showpiece in Brazil.

Nigeria vs Scotland: Expect fireworks in London – Rufai By JACOB AJOM Former Nigeria goalkeeper Peter Rufai has observed that the encounter between Scotland and Nigeria at Craven Cottage tomorrow presents a perfect stage that will bring out the best in the Eagles. In a chat with Sports Vanguard, Rufai said although the match is only a friendly that will give Coach Stephen Keshi a better view of what he has in store for the bigger task ahead of him, it

will be an interesting encounter. “Basically,” Rufai started, “the match will help Keshi see his team, evaluate the players he wants to take to Brazil. He will also use the match to see a little bit of what he needs to do in the team before Brazil.” Rufai said. “Because some of the Eagles players will view the match as their last opportunity to impress and fight for places on the Brazilbound flight, they are going to give their all. Expect fireworks from some of these players tomorrow.” However, the USA '94 and France '98 World Cups veteran said, while some players will be struggling to impress, for some others, they have nothing to prove anymore as they have already cemented their spots.. “Yes, that is the picture of what I foresee,” he said. “Some of them are already sure of their places, but they should not take things for granted, because a player is as good as his last performance. The match tomorrow could count in Keshi's final decision. I don't know.”

ndy Murray made a fast start on his return to the French Open as he won the opening set of his firstround clash with Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev in 34 minutes. The Wimbledon champion did not allow his opponent to hold serve once, taking it 6-1 in cool conditions on Court Suzanne Lenglen. It was the first set Murray had played at Roland Garros since his 2012

quarter-final loss to David Ferrer after missing last year ’s tournament with back problems. Murray had won both his previous two matches against Golubev easily, but the world number 53 is a flashy player who last month beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the Davis Cup. Murray made the perfect start, breaking the Golubev serve in the second game, his quality and consistency proving too much for the Kazakh.

Li suffers Paris upset, Ferrer eases through Li Na, the Australian Open champion, followed her male counterpart Stan Wawrinka out of the French Open in the first round

when she lost 7-5 3-6 6-1 to local favourite Kristina Mladenovic on Tuesday. The second seed from China, who won at Roland Garros in 2011, admitted she had handed victory to the Frenchwoman through her own failings on another chilly day in Paris. “I think it doesn’t matter who plays today against me, I always lose the match. Today I just gave it away,” said Li. “Nobody says if you’re No. 2 in the world you have to win all the matches. “The problem is myself, I don’t think I’m doing well on the court. I didn’t think totally what I should do, like especially I didn’t follow the game plan. In my mind I didn’t have any idea how to play the match.”

Haas out with injury T ommy Haas’ bid to become the oldest man in the French Open’s second round since Jimmy Connors in 1991 has ended because of pain in his right shoulder. The 36-year-old Haas, who was seeded 16th at Roland Garros, stopped playing while leading 5-2 in the opening set of his firstround match against 335thranked Jurgen Zopp of Estonia on Tuesday. Haas reached the quarterfinals at last year ’s French Open. The German is a four-time Grand Slam semifinalist

and reached a career-best ranking of No. 2 in 2002, but he missed all of the following year and part of 2004 because he twice needed surgery on his right shoulder.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 33

BR AZIL 2014 COUNTDOWN BRAZIL

Okocha joins Eagles!

TODAY’S INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES Korea Republic vs Tunisia 12noon Nigeria vs Scotland 8pm USA vs Azerbaijan 3am vs Morocco 6pm Angola Denmark vs Sweden 7:15pm

uper Eagles begin a set of pre-World Cup friendlies when they battle an in-form Scotland at Craven Cottage in London today. Stephen Keshi’s side –

crowned champions of Africa last year – are confident of progressing from a tough Group F in Brazil that also contains Argentina, Bosnia-

Ameobi, Moses draw inspiration from coach

Murray storms through first set

Ambrose, Brown face-off today C

Keshi’s Eagles meet Strachan’s side in World Cup warm-up

FRENCH OPEN :

he said. Nigeria will compete in Group F of the FIFA World Cup alongside Iran, BosniaHerzegovina and one of the pre-tournament favourites, Argentina.

Li suffers Paris upset, Ferrer eases through Li Na, the Australian Open champion, followed her male counterpart Stan Wawrinka out of the French Open in the first round

and reached a career-best ranking of No. 2 in 2002, but he missed all of the following year and part of 2004 because he twice needed surgery on his right shoulder.

34 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—35

I made my business capital in 4 hours —Tolulope

Aladesuyi, Chief Executor, Esoara Int’l

UST with the seed capital of N15,000, Tolulope Aladesuyi has built her costume jewelry business into a sought after enterprise in South West Nigeria. Two words describe her: vivacious and visionary. She is a young Nigerian woman whose tale will inspire you to yearn for greatness. A graduate of Crop, Soil and Pest Management from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, she kicked off her venture, in 2011 during her national youth service. In this interview, she opens up on how she made her business capital back in 4 hours, 30 minutes, how women can make their mark in the society and lots more. Tell us about your venture? he Eso-Ara brand is associ ated with excellence and we are carving a unique niche in the beauty industry in Nigeria. Primarily we run an outfit that deals in the sales of fashion accessories and costume-jewellery as well as a growing chain of distributors who deal in the same products. Beyond sales, we have a plush sense of beauty and unmatched customer service delivery; these things are responsible for our growing customer base and influence. Our business also powers the Make-A-Future initiative for teenagers. Apart from the Esoara brand, I also run the MAKE-A-FUTURE (MAF) initiative - An initiative targeted at building visionary teenagers that will affect their world positively. Our vision at MAF is delivered through skill acquisition, peer mentoring and experience sharing. These teenagers will in turn become youths very soon and I believe what we are doing at MAF is very profound in that we are imbibing the right ideals in our teenagers. We have taught over 200 teenagers in 2 cities of Nigeria three different skills ranging from cake making to snacks making and Ankara accessories training. We are currently planning something bigger this year to impact more teenagers.

What drives you? think the question should be

‘Who?’ God drives me. God is my main drive, the fact that I do not just want to live for me alone. The fact that the nation I live in is termed a third-world nation and there is a lot l can do to make her a better place. Am aware that there is nothing, I have- either tangible or intangible- that I haven’t been given and this makes me feel obliged to leave everyone better than I met them. The passion to be the change I seek is what drives me basically. How can woman make their mark in the society? Women can make their mark known in the society by first discovering themselves and knowing that there is something new they bring to the table. I personally believe womanhood is a

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

in the oil and gas and also the banking sectors. Conducive and well equipped environment for learning is also important.

...the business capital I started with has grown in multiple folds and the business is empowering others few years after it was initiated

blessing to the world. The woman is blessed with the power to intuitively discern and see with a deeper meaning what others will just see casually. I believe the renaissance we seek in our nation will first start in the homes which will be championed by women with the support of men who love them. Women should know their place and stay there relevantly. Yes am aware that women overtime have been seen as second-tier citizens and been placed in such positions and that’s where the place of discovery comes in. Women must consciously decide that they will do something different in their own sphere of influence regardless of their background or status. Do women have limited opportunities? It’s a yes and no answer for me. Yes, because the traditional society believes that the role of a woman should start and end in the home and even sometimes the organizational role she plays stems from her home making

skills . Some women have no societal contribution or anything that puts them in the fore-front asides the home. This has affected the rate at which women ex-

plore new grounds. NO, because despite the odds the female gender is faced with, we can now see that women are achieving great heights and we have a few we can point to in our today. We have women who are giants in their fields and are doing amazingly well and also making meaningful impact. A big “Thank you” also to those fighting for women rights and empowerment, its outcome is evident in the role women play in our society today. Howbeit, it’s really about the way an individual views it. Opportunities are everywhere and unlimited for everyone who chooses to see it that way, women inclusive. What steps can the government take to curb unemployment? As I said in a recent inter view when asked a similar question- A primary way the government can curb unemployment is by putting more active policies in place as regards the educational sector. Entrepreneurial skills and capacity building trainings should be included into the curriculum of our secondary schools. This would allow innovation set in and open up other new sectors. It’s obvious that what the present day education gives which is just ‘book knowledge’ is not enough to sustain people in real life situations. Entrepreneurial skills at secondary school level would allow people discover themselves early and will reduce pressure

Tell us about your giant strides as an entrepreneur? here are few testimonies which are memorable to me. The first one being that I made my business capital in 4hours 30minutes on my very first outing. As at then, I knew little or nothing about the business. I am an employer of labour and I have so much more time to impact teenagers through our NGO, and do so other things. Another significant one being that the business capital I started with has grown in multiple folds and the business is empowering others few years after it was initiated. I have God to thank and all my special mentors and friends.

What is your take on the NIS recruitment exercise? The NIS recruitment only brings to the fore the irritating and unfathomable present state of unemployment in our nation. However, I have heard it being said overtime that our challenge is not even unemployment but “unemployability”. The present day job seekers have been termed unemployable by employers because job seekers do not have the right skill set to perform excellently in the work place. This is what is responsible for the usual invitation of expatriates into our nation to take up jobs that should be ours. I honestly will like to stop here and just conclude that there is a space for everyone only if we position ourselves rightly.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

V anguard anguard,, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 , 2014—37 still the facts that •the police are servants rather than the masters of the people they serve. • humility costs nothing but buys everything. It can only help to be humble in performing their duties. They should seek to record the sour aspects of police duties and ac-

Policing the Nigeria of our dream (3) The second part of this piece was published in yesterday's edition of Vanguard

By SAM IGBE

NE may ask why they would not refuse to part with their money as bribes to police officers. Perhaps if they do this, the road sides would be congested with parked vehicles, and the police stations would be crowded up with people who would have been ordered to wait or park, in which case there would be reactions, either from the supervising officers or from the public. In defending one’s right, one needs to make some sacrifice even if it results in wasting some time. Without attempting to hold brief for the police, it is necessary to bear in mind that their general activities are clear manifestations and reflections of growing negative norms which are obvious indications of collective societal failure. If the Nigeria Police must improve, therefore, the authorities, nay the society, must take a hard look into all aspects of its administration with the aim of putting things in their right perspective. Society must realize that in our circumstances, the police is, if you like, a necessary evil. It would require sincere and adequate funding for the provision of welfare and training needs, and for all necessary working equipment if it must be run as a productive police force worthy of its name. These necessities must be met irrespective of the fact that policemen do not appear friendly to the public. The authorities of society who enforce laws and implement regulations are not generally friends of those on the receiving end of the laws, yet they must be enabled to do their jobs properly. The image of the police has been created from its infancy, and it seems to worsen. Today, the approach to their duties is bad, their uniform is unattractive, even in-

es investigation of cases, and to carry out regular tours of police formations and their barracks, to assess hygienic situations and welfare needs, are a far cry from the necessary official requirements. Township and community patrols for first-hand knowledge of daily incidents and happenings around cities and towns are nearly dead, and junior officers are left to their whims and caprices. These functions must be revived if high standards of policing must be achieved to enhance police reputation. Having regards to their attitude to, and understanding of their duties, there are a few core issues which must be dealt with. The first, a sore matter, is the constant breach of the law and instructions regulating the grant of bail to suspects in police stations. The working of these rules in police stations makes nonsense of bail instructions, including the notice regarding the granting of bails on station bill boards that bail is free. It is really not the suspects or their relations that need this information in the circumstances.

Dereliction of duties

It is the station personnel that should have the law and instructions forced down their mentality. One wonders at the brazen disobedience of the law and instructions regarding bail, and cannot but think that command and divisional officers themselves encourage station officers in this blatant and serious dereliction of duty. Hard and expensive bargainings for bail are regular actions in police stations and would require strong proactive measures to terminate them. This requirement is urgent. To the general public, it is doubly offensive for the police to deliberately promote, through the performance of their duties those offences which they are emThe police must purge itself of the ployed to, and are crime of corruption and purge the rest therefore expected to prevent. A comof us of it mon example occonsistent, and, they are corrupt and un- curs quite often when a police officer stops trustworthy. Their working vehicles even a vehicle on the highway and after precreate a bad image. Fellowship with mem- tending to have inspected the vehicle, modbers of the public reveals that criminals ishly proceeds to ask for some gratificasometimes get informed about channels of tion for a perceived offence. A passenger information about them and this endan- interjects that he is wasting their time but gers lives of informants. No wonder the he insists that unless they pay up, he is lack of trust, and the reason why the pub- not about to let them go. When the paslic would rather not offer any information senger attempts a glimpse at his number to the police, and why they would appear or his name plate, he gets nearer, and not to appreciate their work. pushing his chest forward requests him to They nevertheless, need to appreciate take his name or his number and report to that the police cannot serve them fully and Jonathan. properly without their collaboration Such so-called public servants are actuthrough the offer of information. They must ally getting more notorious for their anhelp the police to help them. However, it noying show of impunity and lack of reis crucial and essential that police author- spect for the job that feeds them. In view ities should do something about these of the fact that the basic necessary behavcomplaints. The image must change even iour of the young officers seems to recede if they have to consult professionals to in arithmetic progression, one would like launder the image, and do a complete re- to suggest that the police authorities may branding of the police force. find it necessary to include the following Before taking on this repositioning job, points in the basic training and their onhowever, the senior officers need to do a the-job lecture programmes: proper evaluation of their own duties and •An exclusive and generally patient apensure that they tighten up on the perfor- proach, and a definite knowledge of what mances to encourage the junior officers to to say on the first duty encounter with a perform theirs without fail. There appear member of the public. to be apparent lack of the necessary daily •Framing the required questions, and supervision exercises. All round routine coming up with the caution of a suspect visits to police stations by senior officers when it becomes necessary. So when for regular inspection of daily records to does the caution become necessary? The ensure proper administration of incarcer- position appears lost. ation cells, to look at crime reports and ass•At what point does a police investigat-

ing officer arrest and or charge a suspect for an offence? •When, and for what reasons do you detain a suspect? •What are the purposes for road blocks, and when are road blocks necessary? The Nigeria Police already works with a public relations department. It would appear, however that they are almost always engaged in denying public accusations and defending police actions. This should be done only when it promotes police image; and the department should be strengthened to promote and enhance good working relations with the public. The department should institute principles to in-

tivities and what the people say about the police, and formulate remedies within police actions and activities to ameliorate the situation. It would appear, but the reasons are not quite apparent that the police authorities have gradually phased out the uses and importance of the police pocket note book. It appears to me about time to return it to its proper prime position in the performance of police duties. The character and the ambience of Nigeria have unfortunately been polluted with corruption, no thanks to the present understanding of politics. The police which, to all intents and purposes, should be the nation’s holder of the recipe against this odious phenomenon seem to generally out-do the rest of their country-men in its practices. Corruption is a crime, and like all crimes, it is a ruinous and degenerating influence on the national psyche. The police must purge itself of this crime and purge the rest of us of it. To be concluded

Nigeria and quest for entreprenueral revolution (2) The first part of this piece, published in yesterday's edition of Vanguard focused on the initiative to create wealth from waste. BY AYO AKINOLA

NTREPRENUERAL revolution: The entrepreneurs in these societies are creating new wealth and generating income-yielding opportunities for so many with their vision, daring, sense of innovation and passion for results. Even in the United States, which has been the world’s leading economic power for so long, the new creators of America wealth are the young entrepreneurs in the realm of information technology There is, you see, a valuable lesson here that we should never miss. The most effective way to get closer to the threshold of prosperity and to be removed farther from the weight of poverty is through an entrepreneurial revolution. Yes, an entrepreneurial revolution. Such a revolution requires a point of convergence when and where a great number of entrepreneurs will set into motion an irreversible chain reaction of productive ventures outside of the limits of cynicism and fear.

Successful revolution Of course, as true of any successful revolution, no radical changes happens overnight. No society can leapfrog from a stage of being a mere supplier of raw materials to one capable of orchestrating great tasks and events. There are no shortcuts. To develop a nation of entrepreneurs, there must be a multi-sectoral, multi-level and multi-phase undertaking that begins with a collective resolve to get out of the old mould of doing things. We need passionate promoters of the entrepreneurial spirit that can inspire others. This is what the Transformation Ambassadors are engaging in. We appre-

ciate that government, too, is equally entrepreneurial in its outlook and in overall economic policy framework, and is creating an atmosphere that inspires and makes it easy for ordinary Nigerians to start their own enterprises, large or small. Such an entrepreneurial revolution can make winners of everyone. Think of what you can do for yourself and the country and not what the country can do for you. With the help of TAN, we can go and together we will win. Putting into practice this vision for entrepreneurial development in Nigeria, TAN will establish cottage industries like turning waste to wealth in the six geo-political regions of Nigeria. This is aimed to eradicate poverty by empowering citizens with the right skill, and through the development of an entrepreneurial spirit. TAN believes that the present economic problems and restiveness in Nigeria can be significantly addressed by growing the numbers and strengthening the capabilities of local entrepreneurs who pursue the business opportunities available in our country. This entrepreneurial development will create self-employment and grow the labour market helping to alleviate poverty and social unrest. For example, there is a strong potential for developing new niche markets of the 21st century – green, organic, fair trade, our overseas communities. In order to widen private-sector employment opportunities, we must improve the access of rural and low income women and youth to business development resources; improve the abilities of entrepreneurs to manage their business and market their goods and services; grow agriculture-based rural business pursuing opportunities for value-added processing, and expand government assistance programs for MSMEs. Ayo Akinola, arpa, writes this piece on behalf of TAN. He may be reached via dolam2005@yahoo.com

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the Governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor; (300 percent of the deputy governor ’s basic salary is N6, 336,645). “Provision of furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four years; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy)

Severance gratuity

Akwa Ibom’s pension plan THE amendment of the Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law has stirred controversies but only outside the state. The unions and opposition parties are apparently not bothered by the enhancement of the perks and privileges of former governors and deputy governors of the state. BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

OME have argued that the provision of a reasonable pension would be an effective bulwark to governors stealing their states blind while in office. That was an argument that was passionately put forward two years ago when the Rivers State House of Assembly put forward the pension bill for the state’s governors and deputy governors. The bill was given support by some Riverians at that time on account of what they considered as the unparalleled achievements of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in such sectors as education, healthcare and agriculture among others. “By guaranteeing the incumbent governor a juicy life outside office, the governor would not be tempted to steal,” those who supported the bill at that time said. It looked apt for Amaechi who at that time was not known to have any landed property within or outside the

country. The reservation that followed the reception of that bill pales to the outrage that has followed the enactment last Monday to an amendment bill to the Akwa Ibom Pension Provisions for governors and deputy governors. The pension bill entitled Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill, 2014 is an amendment to the original bill first passed during the days of the immediate past governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah. Besides the provisions of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMFAC which is empowered by the constitution to make provisions for all entitlements for public office holders, the bill adds certain provisions into the bill that would in a year add almost put N200 million annually in comfort allowance to former governors of the state per annum. The amendment bill follows the original bill first put forward in

2001 by Governor Attah. Attah it was learnt was moved to push forward that bill at the instance of his deputy at that time, Obong Chris Ekpenyong. Ekpenyong according to sources was moved by the living conditions of the former governors of the state, particularly the first civilian governor of Akwa Ibom, the now late Obong Akpan Isemin. Under the provisions of the bill the governor and the deputy governor are entitled to 100 per cent of their current salaries for life, the governor is entitled to a new official car and a utility car every four years, a personal aide and security to be provided for by the state for life.

Medical allowance The governor is also entitled to N5 million monthly as allowance for domestic aides, while his deputy would be entitled to N2 million. Besides the governor is entitled to a medical allowance of N100 million per year for himself and his wife while the deputy would get a medical allowance to a limit of N30 million per annum. The bill also provides that all former governors of the state should be entitled to ”a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom maisonette in either the Federal

•Akpabio: Akwa Ibom former governors should be comfortable

“Provision of severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; (Another N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly utility allowance of 100 percent of annual salary; (with the governor taking N2, 223,705 while his deputy takes N2, 112, 215) “And provision of entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary; (Another N2, 223,705 for the governor and N2, 112, 215 for the deputy).” The passage of the bill has been flayed in several quarters. A move by the Nigerian Labour

animals are more equal than others’. Signing the bill into law will amount to a fundamental breach of the governor ’s constitutional oath declaration to serve the interest of justice, common good, transparency and accountability.” “This so-called proposed legislation means that millions of Nigerian who continue to suffer from years of pervasive corruption and impunity of perpetrators will have to fund the massive and unjust pensions for Governor Godwill Akpabio and his deputy and others that will come after them.” “SERAP is appalled by this apparently unfair and discriminatory law. There is absolutely no justification for such law at a time the pensions systems across the country are in poor shape, and pensioners continue to be denied the fruit of their labour. The governor cannot lawfully give to himself a steady stream of public funds for life at a time millions of pensioners including in Akwa Ibom face cut to their pension schemes and remain in poverty without any state support. This initiative obviously undermines the professed fight against corruption by the President Goodluck Jonathan government,” the organization also said. Dr. Amadu Atai, state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in his reaction to the passage of the bill distanced

Ekpenyong according to sources was moved by the living conditions of the former governors of the state, particularly the first civilian governor of Akwa Ibom

Congress, NLC in Akwa Ibom State to mobilize the public against the bill before the passage last Monday fizzled out. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) was vehement in its opposition to the bill describing it “as immoral, unfair, unconstitutional, unreasonable, and a rip-off on a massive scale.” “Akwa Ibom must be the only place on the planet where such pension scheme exists. The governor must now put Akwa Ibom ahead of his own personal bank balance by immediately withdrawing this grotesque bill,” SERAP said in a statement issued yesterday. “Nigerians should not be made to subsidise these bloated pensions and clearly undeserved perks. The governor obviously views disadvantaged Nigerians and poor pensioners according to Orwell’s Animal Farm dictum: ‘All animals are equal but some

himself from what he called as nasty comments against the governor concerning the bill. “It is not for Akpabio, it is for all the governors and deputy governors of the state and it is made to protect our leaders after they have served. When you see our leaders not doing well after they have left office, it is not something to be desired,” Atai said. He, however, questioned the provisions for the governor against the provisions for the deputy governor and the benchmark of three years provided for in the bill which stipulated that deputy governors must have served for at least three years. The APC chairman’s assertion was against the background of suspicions that the bill was targeted to fence out the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Mr. Nsima Ekere who served for two years before he voluntarily resigned.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—39

Rivers State 'll flow well under CONFAB: me — Walson-Jack 2015:

MR. Nimi Walson-Jack, a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State was the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) between 2004 and 2006 and recently served as an Electoral Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). In this interview, gives reasons on his plans and prospects ahead of the gubernatorial primaries. BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN & DOTUN IBIWOYE HY did you choose to run on the platform of the PDP given that you worked as a commissioner in the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and knowing how close you were to the governor; why did you chose to run on the platform of the PDP, when your friend, the governor has defected to the APC? Well, first, let us say that membership of a political party is a personal decision and so, I have my views, ideas, and position on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Indeed, I was a fan, not member of the PDP in the sense that even when the present and past political leadership of the state, wanted to start partisan politics, they were not really members of the PDP.

Partisan politics I sold the PDP to them and they moved over from the APP then to the PDP. So, I have had a long interest in the PDP; this interest is not a fancy interest, it is rooted in the foundation of the PDP and so, if the governor decides with some of his associates to go to another party that is their decision, I remain a member of the PDP. Not few Nigerians agree that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has performed well in the state in the provision of people-oriented projects, in the area of education, health, and transport. If elected governor of Rivers State in 2015, do you intend to continue from where Amaechi will stop? Okay, let me address one issue, which I may have over-looked, but you raised it when you said close to Amaechi. My relationship with Amaechi dates back to the days of NRC. We were all members of the National Republican Convention and then, eventually, we served the Ada-George/Odili administration as special assistants. I was Special Assistant I, and he was Special Assistant II; we shared the same office.

Yes, like many others, we have come a long way. Most people in Rivers State know that I was not part of the subsequent Odili administration; for eight years, I was not part of the government. Now, when Amaechi became governor, he asked groups: civil society organisations, NBA, the academic staff union, to nominate members to be appointed into an electoral commission he wanted to be independent. I was nominated by the civil society organizations; Governor Amaechi did not nominate me, but he accepted my nomination by the civil society organisations and forwarded to the House of Assembly, which approved the nominations. So, I worked with other individuals, who were equally nominated and our achievements in the electoral commission are there; they speak for themselves. We changed the face of elections; we did not look like people who were influenced in any way and I am sure the

•Wilson-Jack: Rivers people are my god-fathers two reports we wrote are all there for anybody to challenge our achievements and our assertions. I also had the privilege of chairing the education summit, which developed the blueprint for the education sector in Rivers State and I am proud of this. Beyond that, I am sure you will not find my name in any other thing and so, I don’t want to deny our friendship. You are aspiring to be Rivers governor, what do you think you can do differently? Given the current divisive state of the polity, it has become

obvious that except we have a strong, inspiring and transformational leadership to unite our people and improve their economic well being, we may wake up one morning to find that everything we held dear as a State has slipped through our hands. That’s the reason I commit to providing the leadership that will take us from where we are to where we want to be as a people and as a State. I am talking about the kind of leadership that would create the platform to build a new economic class that will guarantee individual and collective prosperity for all.

War drums in Adamawa THE mutual suspicion between the Governor Murtala Nyako and the State House of Assembly is degenerating. BY UMAR YUSUF

HE on-again-off-again cordiality between Governor Murtala Nyako and the Speaker Umaru Fintiri led State House of Assembly seems to have taken a dive for the worse. Even more remarkably, word of an impeachment plot against the governor is in the air with a number of possible replacements being mentioned as being scrutinized to take over from Nyako. Controversy beckoned on Governor Nyako when he circulated a blistering memo to northern governors in which he accused President Goodluck Jonathan of leading the Federal Government to commit genocide against the Northerners and secretly fueling the insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The memo attracted nationwide condemnation, especially from the ruling political party and its allies. Even fellow governors from the region drew back from the memo. It is now alleged that the impeachment process is Abuja’s own response to the Adamawa governor. The threat gained some credibility when three All Progressives Congress, APC lawmakers in the House decamped to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP making it that all 25 members in the House belong to the PDP. Still yesterday, the State House of Assembly issued a two month ultimatum to the government to pay two months salary arrears to civil servants in the state who were not paid during a strike by civil servants in September and

•Nyako October, 2012. The legislators also directed the executive arm to pay civil servants in the state their deducted allowances for the month of May, 2014 within this week. Failure, on the part of the executive to meet the two ultimatums, the assembly said it will term it as a contempt of the legislative proceedings. But that is as much as the verified facts can be proved. After that are so many tales. One tale circulating in Yola is that the lawmakers were invited

The need to change the way Government business is done is another reason. I want to bring on board a new and better template for the administration of Government Service. I am an ardent believer in the Civil Service. I believe that a strong Civil Service remains pivotal to good governance. Also, I am aware that some level of improvement has been done to our educational facilities but we need to move beyond that to achieve the level of formal and informal education that improves our level of competence, skill and character to make our people globally competitive. Specifically, Content and Structural issues will be visited so that our public schools can return to their pride of place. For it is only on the basis of excellence in education that there is no discrimination. One thing going for the Rivers people is their early interaction with the European missionaries. Our administration will pursue programmes that will bring back civility, compassion and personal integrity. In this aspect, we will lead by exemplary conduct. Who is the godfather behind you? I am the candidate of the Rivers man and woman requiring much more of service than is currently available. Rivers people are my god-fathers and mothers and it is not new. God-fatherism is prevalent in all aspects of human life, from Christian baptism to participation in politics. In politics, godfatherism runs through the gamut of party membership to contesting for public office.

by the influential governor from the Niger Delta who handed over N10 million to each of the lawmakers. However, along the way the middle man between the said governor and the lawmakers shortchanged the lawmakers by deducting N2 million from each of the lawmakers. Another tale is that a number of politicians have been penciled down to step in when Nyako is removed. Among them are Awwal Tukur, son of the immediate past National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo, Dr Umar Ardo, Mr. Markus Gundiri, Mr. James Barka, current Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tunisia, and the former Lagos State Military Administrator, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), who recently dumped Nyako’s APC for PDP

WEDNESD AY, MA Y 28, 2014 WEDNESDA MAY

Can I ever forgive my son’s indiscretion?

He says all he wants is love making

Dear Lillian, It’s not surprising that you’ve created this dilemma for yourself when you’re on the verge of making a serious commitment. It sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it— though if you get it, it might not taste so good! If you’ve decided to settle down, you’ve got to make sure you’re committed. You can’t keep going back to your

ex for cheap sexual excitement. For instance, if you end up having kids, would you still be playing the field because

The only way to start trusting these over-exuberant teenagers again is to give them responsibility and see how they cope. Crack the whip too hard and they become rebellious and see you as an enemy they must attack

Isn’t oral sex unhygienic? Dear Bunmi, How on earth can oral lovemaking be hygienic? We’re constantly reminded to wash our hands carefully, after using the toilet. Now lovers indulge in it on the spur of the moment, without washing up first. How can something like that be harmless?

Is his request unusual? Dear Bunmi, Whenever we’re making love, my husband of eight years always asks me to stroke round his bottom. He says it really turns him on. I’ve tried it a couple of times and this really drives him wild. The problem is, I’ve asked around and none of my friends have ever heard of a man who liked this sort of anal play. They thought it was peculiar to gay men. Is this true and should I be worried? Saudat, by e-mail. Dear Saudat, It’s a fact that we all have sensitive nerves around our anus so we all have the potential to get turned on there; your husband has simply realised that. You should be pleased for he is not only being aware of what gives him sexual pleasure, but communicating it to you. Being gay isn’t about where you like to be C M Y K

it is convenient Make sure you tell your ex it’s really over between you or every time you run into him he’ll put you to the test.

Dear Bunmi, My current boyfriend and I are seriously discussing settling down and starting a family. I am 26 and he is in his early 30s. Recently, I ran into an exlover who is a happy-golucky man. We sort of drifted apart when we had new relationships. He now wants us to continue where we left off. I told him of my current partner and he told me he was not offering marriage. All he wanted was to give me a mind-blowing fling before I settle down. He’s really sexy and a bit mad, but I’m awfully tempted. Should I go for it knowing I might not have another chance once I’m married? Lillian, by e-mail.

touched— it’s about who you like to be touched by! And you have absolutely no reason to be worried— if your husband gets turned on by you and you alone, then he certainly is not gay.

I’m in my early 20s and in love. My boyfriend hasn’t pressurised me into giving him a blow job. But if he does, I intend to say no! Bose, by e-mail. Dear Bose, If it is something you really hate, then don’t do it. It is as simple as that. Since you have not tried it yet, only give it a go knowing it must be because it brings you both pleasure. Then and only then could you try washing before hand as this might help you relax. If your partner does not wash up naturally, ask him to. Or, better still, you could give him a warm towel bath, as part of foreplay!

He is too clingy Dear Bunmi, I’ve been married to this wonderful man for close to three years and we have a daughter. The problem is that he won’t stop touching me. Wherever we are and whatever we’re doing, he has to be in contact with me all the time. We’re now the butt of jokes with our friends. I have tried telling him that his constant touching me really irritates me, but he just felt very upset. What can I do make him stop? Evelyn, by e-mail. Dear Evelyn,

You and your husband need to reach a compromise on this one. You can negotiate a deal where you maybe cuddled up in the sofa together each evening, but at other times of the day, he doesn’t pounce on you. In return you need to give him plenty of reassurance in other ways. He obviously thinks the fact that you don’t want much physical contact means you don’t care, so give him emotional contact: kind words, little loving gestures, texts, email and you will find him more willing to accept less touching.

Dear Bunmi, A few weeks back, my husband and I had to attend a social event in our town and we decided to sleep over and return the next day. Our last child, who was 19, was left alone in the house with the help. Unfortunately, I became unwell and we had to return fairly late the same day we travelled. As we arrived home and drove to the house, I saw people spilling out of our front door, into the garden and on to the street. I was aghast. We rushed inside to find beer cans, bottles and cigarette ends everywhere. One of my favourite pictures had been spattered with some slimy stuff and there were couples in some of the bedrooms and vomit in the bathroom. It took us days to get the house back in order and I used the money set aside for a new laptop for him to pay for some of the damages. We also stopped him from using any of the cars and cut off some of the luxury he took

for granted. What more do you think I should do to make him understand that he could no longer be trusted? Aisha, by e-mail. Dear Aisha, It is understandable you should be angry with your son’s thoughtless behaviour even though you knew in your heart of hearts he meant no harm. You’ve handled the situation well, but you need to let him know that as angry as you are with him, he needs to earn your trust again. Now that you’ve knocked most of the props from under his feet, try giving him a little more freedom. If he deals with it well, he can be allowed to invite one or two friends over, or have the use of the car once in a while. The only way to start trusting these over-exuberant teenagers again is to give them responsibility and see how they cope. Crack the whip too hard and they become rebellious and see you as an enemy they must attack.

40— VANGU ARD, ANGUARD,

He obviously thinks the fact that you don’t want much physical contact means you don’t care, so give him emotional contact

He has a semi-nude girl in his phone Dear Bunmi, For a couple of years, I had a good relationship with my ex but got fed up with his philandering that I ended the affair. I recently ran into him at a party and discovered I still love him. He apologised for hurting me and we went back to his flat together. We’re now back together. Recently, I scrolled through his mobile and found the image of a semi-nude pretty girl. When I showed it to him, he said she was someone he went out with when we broke up. That she meant nothing to him. I find it difficult to believe this judging by his cheating in the past. Wura, by e-mail.

Dear Wura, It is understandable that you feel insecure about your man if his cheating caused you to split up first time around. But if you are to make the relationship work this time, you need to leave the past behind and give him the benefit of the doubt. You have no real reason to think he’s telling you anything other than the truth. So believe him or your suspicious mind will end up ruining your relationship. He obviously didn’t lead a chaste life when you were apart, but it’s now that counts. Trust him, unless he does something to destroy that trust.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

MAY 28 28,, 2014 —41

Community pharmacists seek rights to drug validation BY CHIOMA OBINNA

•Cross section of participants during the NSE Corporate Challenge Walk/Run in Lagos recently.

Optimism as NSE rolls out campaign against cancer BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, in partnership with key public quoted companies, kicked off its battle against cancer in Nigeria in support of the BIG WAR against Cancer in Nigeria, with the maiden edition of the NSE Corporate Challenge - a highly competitive and funfilled five- kilometre walk, run and jog competition to promote and support the tenets of teamwork, company pride and corporate wellness. Over 390 runners from 50 companies participated in the event. Head of Corporate Services Division at The NSE, Mr Bola Adeeko, in a statement, described the corporate challenge as a platform for enhancing employee-employer

private sector organisations including the Lagos Island Central Business District, First Bank of Nigeria, Unilever, Unity Bank, Nestle Nigeria, Malta Guinness, First City Monument Bank and others. “The Corporate Challenge is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Exchange, aimed at promoting the health & wellbeing of our operating community which will also present a platform for teamwork and networking. The initiative will enhance the concept of volunteerism within participating companies.” Addressing the development, the CSR Lead at The NSE, Mrs. Cima Sholotan ssid proceeds from the competition will be donated to support the national drive aimed at providing Mobile Cancer

of “Taking Cancer Prevention to the Grassroots” with the specific goal of acquiring the 37 Mobile Cancer Centres. This takes advantage of scientific evidence that a third of all cancers are preventable, another one-third curable and the last third can have good quality of life with appropriate care,” said Sholotan. Non-commercial organisations at Federal, State and Local Governments, Quasi-Governmental Organisations, Educational Institutions and NGOs also participated.

O M M U N I T Y Pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, are demanding an effective system that would put the validation of drug products in their hands. The call is coming barely one month to the expiration of the deadline of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to manufacturers of antimalarial drugs and antibiotics in the country to ensure their products are compliant with the Mobile Authentication Service, MAS, initiative. Speaking in Lagos, National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Adebayo Olufemi Ismail noted that presently, the MAS which is currently used in Nigeria was structured in such a way that it has put the community pharmacists in the court of the consuming public. Professionals: “As responsible professionals, pharmacists are seriously interested in ensuring that quality drug products are provided to our patients at all time and we will go to any length to ensure that this is so,” Olufemi- Ismail stressed. He explained that ACPN is seeking a workable system to empower their members but would also allow the pharmacists validate drugs from the wholesale level to retail level. “We were not carried along during the implementation of MAS. We were not empowered to check before we put these

drugs on our shelves and this has been causing a lot of problems for our members. We have made it known to NAFDAC and other service providers that before we put these products on our shelves, we want to ascertain too and have that as a back up so that at the end of the day, if a patient now scratches the card if anything happens, we will now have something to say that we have done this test or the other.

Our complaints “We have made our complaints known to NAFDAC. They agreed that there must be a test to be done at any level of the channel of distribution of drugs. There must be a test done at each level to confirm that this product is from company A, before you put it on your shelve even at wholesale level, the wholesaler can send information of a particular carton of a product to the web sites of the company and that will return as genuine product. Ismail said sometimes patients wrongly scratch or send a wrong number that returns a fake drug message. Speaking on the forthcoming annual conference June 2-6, 2014 in Ilorin, Kwara State with the theme, Evolving Best Practices in Community Pharmacy Practice”, explained that for better healthcare delivery service, pharmacists need to evolve from compounder of drugs and medicaments and dispensers to providers of quality drugs with patient – centred care.

The corporate challenge is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Exchange, aimed at promoting the health & wellbeing of our operating community relations. “The inaugural NSE Corporate Challenge is a professionally organised and volunteer-driven initiative involving over 350 companies listed on the Exchange and support organisations from the capital market community.” Towards this objective, the NSE is working in close partnership with public and

Centres across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. in partnership with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, CECP. “The partnership with CECP was entered into on February 25, 2013 during the commemoration of the International Corporate Philanthropy Day with the aim

•L-R: National Treasurer ACPN, Pharm Christy Ediomo-Abasi,National Chairman Pharm Olufemi Ismail, Chairman CPC, Pharm Edith Nwachukwu, and National Assistant Secretary Pharm Gbolagade Iyiola briefing the press in Lagos on the Association’s forthcoming 33rd Annual National Conference.

42 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: BETTER than yesterday as you will be at a more comfortable place today and suddenly discover that your hope is alive. Venus bring you money GEMINI: ROMANTIC Venus at positive angle may bring matters-of-the heart related temptation through friends. But your best bet now is moderate ambition. CANCER: The best bet for you is to consolidate on progress you made yesterday and look for best way to pacify your new friends. LEO: EVERYBODY needs other people’s co-operation just like you today but you will not be compelled by situation to dance to others’ tune; meaning that you can do things your own way and rightly expect success VIRGO: THOSE of you willing to give others the needed co-operation will be in better position to consolidate on progress you have made recently. Don’t allow sex to distract you.

By Richard Eromosele

HERE are two basic religions in this world – they are the positive religion and negative religion. Therefore, every religion has its own adherent who chose to do the

The True Religion creator ’s work for Him. Before becoming adherent of any religion, a man is first and foremost bad or good. If he is good everything

TERROR MUDA

about that religion will be portrayed as good. Conversely, if he is bad, he also gives his religion the tag of evil. There are bad Moslems, there are bad

in “Never say goodbye”

Christians. There are good moslems and there are good Christians. Every religion claims to profess the truth. The challenge therefore is knowing the truth of all the truth. By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: WATCHOUT for minor and avoidable but costly mistake within your working arena, especially if you are in charge of other people’s money. If you develop new romantic liaison today, it may not last. SCORPIO: AS the saying goes “time waits for nobody” it’s important you guard against unnecessary procrastination capable of putting you at tight corner tomorrow. Be loving. SAGITTARIUS: IT’S better you conclude what you’ve been doing for a while rather than starting something new you don’t know when to finish it. Be more family minded. CAPRICORN: IF careless remarks are made by you today, it would back-fire at resumption of work tomorrow morning. Those who are eager for romantic attention will have their dream coming true. Be more loving AQUARIUS: IF you wait too long before an important (financial) decision is taken, you may find yourself keeping date with what you don’t bargain for. PISCES: Placement of the Moon influences your associates to become more self-assertive. If you take good advice you’ll fare better. However, it’s important you don’t forget your tomorrow with others.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES: BETTER than yesterday and luckily for you, opportunity to rectify mistakes made yesterday may come today to the betterment of your finances. Don’t try to buy love with money.

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 about me? Dear Joshua, You have done many people’s horoscope; what about me? I want you to kindly analyse my star and tell me everything about my self. Please take note that I value my health and career than any other thing. Sam, Lagos. Dear Sam, What space can take will be given to you hereunder. Scorpio and Libra that hosted both your natal sun and moon are members of very strong star signs-health wise. Scorpio, in particular, has unusual survival ability. That is to say, even when health related challenges come, your survival endowment will always see you through. Your major challenge is from your constant worries about too many things, especially on career related issues. Business miscalculation can be another source of health related challenge. You will agree with the fact that both constant worries and business miscalculation can affect one’s circulatory system. Other things to watch-out for include: Urinogenital organs, minor accident (fire), bones dislocations, a few other times, skin infections and, ofcourse, fever. Always take care of the stomach. Please take note that all these are mere warnings as there is nothing fatalistic about them; a good guard, though. Oil related Neptune was the closet heavenly body to the sun when you were born at positive angle to Pluto in Leo. Thus, having things to do with oil along your career/business lines is not by accident. Then preponderance of water element and fixed quality in the distribution of the planets when you were born are favourable to commercial involvement with anything liquid.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014—43

Confab rejects special court for environmental issues, endorse resource democracy A

BUJA—APPLAUSE and knocks greeted the report of the Committee on Environment when it was presented to the plenary of the on-going national conference in Abuja on Monday. In particular, the committee’s recommendations demanding the removal of the Land Use Act from the 1999 Constitution and the establishment of a special court to deal with environmental issues received mixed reactions from various delegates, depending on which tribal grouping they belong to. Retired Justice Abdullahi Mustapha said it was appalling to realise that every agency of government wanted establishment of special courts to handle its issues. He was of the opinion that existing courts had the capability to handle such issues if reformed and properly situated. During the clause-by-clause consideration of the report and its recommendations, this suggestion was voted out. Another recommendation that was hailed by some and condemned by others was the suggestion for resource democracy which the conference described as the right of the people to own and manage their resources by prospecting for and developing

BY ANAYO OKOLI

OBSEQUIES: From left—Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Alabo Graham Douglas during the burial of Late Mrs Bessy Mgbogo Okiro, mother of former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, at Egbema in Ohaji L.G.A Imo State ... weekend. such resources in their territories. This recommendation, in spite of the knocks it received from a section of the delegates, was retained by the committee during consideration of recommendations, through a voice vote. While presenting the report, chairman of the Committee, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, had said every decision arrived at was exhaustively researched and debated, while experts in various areas of environment-related disci-

plines were invited for professional inputs and suggestions. All the same, some of the delegates found faults in areas covered by the committee, while others as Ledum Mitee from Rivers State, pointed out factual errors and inconclusive analysis in specific areas. Chief Edwin Clark, who turned 87 on Sunday, said there was nothing new about most of the recommendations of the committee; explaining that what was

Students behind high crime rate in Imo — OKOROCHA BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has accused students of being the brains behind the high level of crime and criminality in the state. Chief Okorocha, who stated this

yesterday in his pre-democracy day press briefing in Owerri, also disclosed that over 60 percent of criminals in the state were students. Although the governor fell short of giving details of how he arrived at the figure but he was insistent that the level of kidnapping and

NDLEA sets up symbol, drug-free club BY EVELYN USMAN

ATIONAL Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, as parts of effort to address the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking among Nigerians youths, has launched a Substance Abuse Awareness symbol and Celebrities Drug-free Club. At the launch in Lagos, the agency said it was aimed at promoting youth- oriented programmes that would provide alternative activities to drug involvement. Speaking at the launch , Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the inauguration of the club, which members comprised celebrities in the entertainment and movie industries, would among others, “encourage youths to resist drug use , identify those who use and encourage them to seek help, as well as increase understanding of the dangers posed by alcohol,

Abia re-engages 2,700 sacked non-indigenes

tobacco and other drugs.” Represented by Mr. Baba Hussaini, the agency’s Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Giade who noted that the use and abuse of drugs/ substances was the preserve of adult males in the eighties, lamenting that it had today, cut across all socio -economic class, sex and age.

prostitution had gone down since his administration floated the free education programme. “The level of kidnapping has dropped. The level of prostitution has gone down. Of the criminals in the state, 80 percent of them are students ause of money. When you help them out with money, their needs drop,” Okorocha reasoned. On prison congestion, the governor said he would not like any criminal to be set free or an innocent man incarcerated, adding that he would soon reactivate the State Prerogative of Mercy Committee. “What I don’t want to do is release a criminal that ought to serve his punishment and I don’t also want to see any innocent man in prison.

lacking was the political will on the part of the leaders to accept suggestions and have them implemented. He said: “We in the riverine areas, live on top of water but we have no water to drink. We cannot farm. We cannot do fishing. The vegetation has changed. The committee had in its analysis pointed out that climate change has already led to serious desertification in northern Nigeria, affecting at least 11 states with the serious implication of dislocation of populations and livelihoods. It observed that southward migration of pastoralists in search of grazing grounds could well be one of the key factors leading to conflicts with farmers in other areas. It recommended dedicated actions to save Lake Chad from complete disappearance while forest reserves should be established, protected and properly maintained by the both the federal and state governments. The committee stated the need for government to encourage communities to imbibe the culture of tree planting, strict regulation and enforcement of logging activities and creation and proper funding of a reforestation and a forestation agency to handle all anti-desertification projects.

NHIS gives out scholarship, as health insurance kicks off in Kogi community The lucky beneficiary is Au- palpable poverty that confront-

HE National Health In surance Scheme, NHIS, has launched a health insurance programme for members of Emoriko Mutual Health Association, Emoriko, a rural community in Olamaboro local government area of Kogi State. An indigent student of the community was also awarded a scholarship by the Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. ‘Femi Thomas, during the launch event.

gustine Sunday, a 16-year-old SS 2 student of Emoriko Secondary School. He was described by natives as a brilliant child of great hope, whom the community looks up to for succour and glory. The scholarship is up to the university level. The scholarship was an unscheduled dimension to the formal flag of the insurance scheme, as officials of NHIS led by Dr Thomas, were touched by the

ed guests as they trooped into the community for the event. Dr Thomas was overwhelmed with emotion as similar conditions of his own childhood came flushing back to him. He told the story of his humble early years at Ikoro Ekiti, in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, when circumstances set him up for a wrestling match against financial and physical lack, even though he was gifted with impressive intellect and lofty promise.

MUAHIA—ABIA State government has formally re-engaged 2700 non-indigenes sacked from its workforce in October 2011 and directed them to resume work at their various offices next Monday. The government, however, charged them to be of good behaviour and loyal to the government of the day. The reabsorbed workers were among the about 4000 workers from various states of the federation, with fellow South East states being worst affected . Imo State has the highest number of workers sacked in the exercise. Issuing them with their letters of re-engagement, the State Head of Service, Mr. Godson Adiele, said the exercise was on-going, and advised those yet reabsorbed to exercise patience. According to Adiele, Governor Theodore Orji was touched by the hardship they were going through hence his directive that they be reinstated to stop their sufferings.

Cleric accuses northern govs of persecuting Christians BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA— PRESIDENT of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Rev. Jeremiah Gado, has accused northern governors of running a policy of persecuting Christians in their states to restrict their freedom of worship. Gado appealed to Governor Theodore Orji to use his office as the Chairman of South East Governors Forum to reach out to his northern colleagues and preach against the alleged policy. Gado spoke in Umuahia when he led a delegation of the church leaders on a courtesy visit to the Abia State governor. According to him, unlike in the South where every religion operates freely, Christians in the north are being denied their rights to practise their faith.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

DEMOCRACY: We've delivered— DELTA GOVT

Lagos guber aspirant identifies solution to ethnic, religious crisis

zThere's nothing to celebrate in Delta — OPPOSITION BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—AS the nation marks another Democracy Day tomorrow, the Governor Emmanuel U d u a g h a n - l e d administration in Delta State has scored self high in delivering dividends of democracy to Deltans, but the opposition insisted that there was nothing to celebrate. Speaking to our reporter in Asaba, the Senior Political Adviser to the governor, Chief Ighoyota Amori, said: “We are matching forward under the leadership of Dr. Uduaghan in all fields of human endeavour. We are matching forward and finishing strong.” However, the state Chairman of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Chief Tony Ezeagwu, disagreed, saying “there is nothing to celebrate in Delta State as dividend of democracy except the democracy itself, which we have to join other Nigerians to celebrate. “Deltans will only get dividends of democracy when they are allowed to vote and their votes count.” Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah, said “the state had witnessed great progress like never before under this administration.

BY DAPO AKINREFON

LAGOS State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Owolabi Salis, has said that a diversity-based democracy will help address ethno-religious conflicts in the country. In a statement, yesterday, Salis said that the proposal, if adopted by delegates to the ongoing National Conference, will lead to restructuring of the country. Salis said: “One best solution is to practise a form of democracy called equitocracy; an equity based system that helps to reduce and or eliminate all the above vices at the same time. “With this system, Nigeria will assume the name Federal Equity Republic of Nigeria or Equity Republic of Nigeria. “Nigeria’s diversity is shaped by ethnicity and religion. We have witnessed many conflicts because of these two diversities. Voters tend to vote for their ethnic or religious group instead of voting for ability to perform.” He added that the first step towards a diversitybased democracy is to conduct “diversity intelligence of Nigeria.”

“Our three-point agenda of human capital development, infrastructural development and peace and security as our strategy has turned our economy into one of the fastest growing economies in Nigeria, while our initiative of Delta beyond oil is culminating

into the industrialisation and diversification of our state into a truly modern state with multiple streams of revenue.” State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Chief Frank Igwebike, on his part, said: “Democracy

‘Insurgents can't stop foreign investment’ BY ONUZURE DANIA

HE current state of insecurity in the country caused by the Boko Haram sect will not hamper the free flow of foreign investment in Nigeria, ECOWAS consultant on Multi-National Companies, Dr. Moji AfolabiTimson, has said. Afolabi-Timson, who spoke to newsmen with the President of Socio-Cultural Integration of African Youths Organisation, SCIAYO, Mr. Slyvester Ejarkaminor, in Lagos, about the seminar on procedure on how to obtain ECOWAS Trading Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS, and the importance of integration for regional development, coming up in Ivory Coast early next month, said terrorism was not peculiar to Nigeria. He said: “At the moment, over 27 countries are doing business with us. Japan, China, France and other big

economies are daily making enquires on opportunities to expand their flourishing trade relationship with ECOWAS states. “Forget the issue of Boko Haram, Nigeria remains one of the biggest players, where products make remarkable growth.” Ejarkaminor said SCIAYO and Moje Group Pharmaceutical are promoters of

HE Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, has expressed disappointment over the non-inclusion of surveyors in the ongoing National Conference, saying no meaningful decision can

be reached on the issues of lands and boundary adjustment without the contribution of surveyors. The newly-elected National President of NIS, Mr. Ben Omo-Akhigbe, spoke shortly

HE Director General, House to House Campaign for Democracy, Mr. Ben Ogidi, has commended Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State for his laudable projects in the state. He spoke as the state hosted the first investment forum, with focus on wealth creation. The forum intends to serve as a platform for

after the 49th annual general meeting of surveyors in Benin, saying it was not late to include surveyors since President Goodluck Jonathan had extended the conference byone month.

Bayelsans, Nigerians and the world at large to convene, discuss and collaborate towards building the economy of the state and contributing to the growth of the nation’s economy. “All these demonstrate the governor ’s commitment and the importance he attaches to the development of the people of the state,” Ogidi said. He noted that Dickson had set unprecedented records in the state in the areas of i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l developments, attracting investments and creating investment opportunities, pointing out that this was the first time the state was experiencing such developmental gestures.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

regional entrepreneurial and cultural integration. He said that the two groups, in partnership with Ivorian Ministry of African Integration and Nigeria’s Ministry of Commerce and embassy of Nigeria in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, were organising the seminars on how to obtain ETLS and business ventures within ECOWAS countries and international award night.

Dickson lauded on projects

CONFAB: Surveyors condemn non-inclusion

in Delta State is moving forward in as much as there is hope for change in 2015. “Are Deltans enjoying the benefits of democracy? Yes. There is pipe-borne water in all parts of the state and there is free and qualitative education for all.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Chibok schoolgirls' saga

F Boko Haram would disturb Jonathan’s administration because of his religion, then what is the chance of those of us that are Christians to rule this country in the nearest future. Goodluck must still win in Jesus name. Amen.— Mr. Ojonugwa Ademu, Worker.

HIS abducted girls’ issue is creating more harm from these Boko Haram insurgents. Villagers should be vigilant and let the government live up to its expectation because so many lives have been lost and property destroyed.— Mr. Kalesco Timmy, Commentator.

AY God the Almighty forgive our leaders for all the wrongs they have wreaked on this country and show us mercy. God is the solution to all circumstances of live. However, the Chibok schoolgirls need to be brought back.— Mr. Peter Ikena, Manager.

E have to do something about this Boko Haram and the northern governors have to be arrested. Sometimes we do not have to politicise every issue or view it from ethnic angle, otherwise we will never get things right.— Mr. Enato Osazie, Businessman.

ORTHERN elders, you can see that what goes around comes around. They have finished with innocent Christian, now is your turn. Soon and very soon, none of the northerners, especially the politicians, will have a hidden place.— Mr. Osuji Kelechi, Student.

have read so many comments about the sect. This is neither a religious nor political fight. Are they bombing Bayelsa State? When the supposed moderate Muslims start to turn on their brothers and sisters, then we will recognise a difference.— Mr. Elijah Daniel, Worker.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 45

Group flays Delta govt over demolition of illegal structures

Ogoni urges FG to implement UNEP report BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY FESTUS AHON

GHELLI—COORDINATOR of Citizens’ Rights Advocacy Network, CRAN, Mr. Peter Igbru, has described the ongoing demolition of structures in Warri and its environs by the Delta State Government as cruel, saying that the action had plunged helpless, and impoverished Deltans into further hardship. Igbru, in a statement, yesterday, said that there would not have been any cause for alarm if the demolition exercise was limited to structures that truly obstruct traffic, free flow of drainages and constitute environmental hazards. “The proliferation of temporary structures in the streets is an inevitable characteristic of a very poor and slow developing country like Nigeria, where people manage to eke out a living. It is sickening to see someone whose only means of livelihood is destroyed not by natural disaster, but by someone who should be protecting same. Why plunge your people into misery in the name of beautification? “Has government considered what will become of those whose only means of livelihood have been destroyed?"

MIPAN holds patrons day

HE Media Independent Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria, MIPAN, will hold the second edition of its patrons day, May 29, at the Archbishop Vinings field, Oba Akinjobi Road, Ikeja, Lagos. A statement by the association’s Assistant Publicity Secretary,Yinka Adebayo, said the objective is to bring all staff and management of registered media agencies in the country together with the patrons as special guests of honour. The statement added that the focus of the event will be sports and games where there will be active participation by staff of all media agencies.

PRAYING FOR CHIBOK GIRLS: From left: Engr. Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor; Governor Rotimi Amaechi, his wife, Judith and Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, during a special prayer session at the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, for the abducted Chibok school girls, in commemoration of the 2014 Children’s Day, in Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Edo PDP tackles Oshiomhole over alleged health sector neglect BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ENIN—EDO State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a swipe at the state government over what it described as the “reckless abandonment of the health sector in the state.” State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, spoke in Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, in continuation of his visitation tour of the party’s state Working Committee to all the 18 councils in the state. Orbih, who formally received some defectors from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to PDP in the town, noted that it was depressing that while pregnant women in neighbouring Delta State get free medical care, those in Edo State pay

and don’t get services for the their money. He noted that training of nurses and midwives in statehospitals stopped in January, 2013, after the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN, withdrew their operating licence owing to what he described as poor training regime and inclement training conditions. He said while the NMCN recommends a ratio of 10 nursing students to one instructor, the practice in Edo State dropped to as low as 78 nursing students to one instructor, promising that a PDP government will ensure that the licence was returned when voted into office. Welcoming decampees from the APC, including Mr. Isaiah Osifo and Pastor Joseph Osagiede, Orbih said PDP will be

willing to receive the state deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, who is from Orhionmwon Local Government Area, back into the party by the time he serves out his tenure. Pointing out that over N300 billion had been received by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole administration and N2 billion was being received every month as Internally Generated Revenue, he lamented that there was nothing to justify the money received so far. “We will not allow Edo people to be deceived again. We will not give Oshiomhole the privilege of picking a successor. Our people must know that we need a governor who will relate with the Presidency to fast-track development in Edo State,” Orbih said.

Industrial Court dismisses Bellview's objection challenging suit over 2005 crash The suit was filed in repreBY INNOCENT ANABA

HE National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Lagos, yesterday, dismissed a preliminary objection by Bellview Arilines Limited, challenging the suit by family members of late Captain Lambert Imasuen, the pilot of Bellview aircraft Boeing 737-200 that crashed on October 22, 2005. The family members had dragged the airline before the NIC over non-payment of the compensation due to their late father. The aircraft was on its way to Abuja from Lagos when it crashed at Lisa Village area of Ogun State, killing all 117 persons on board.

Trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, in his ruling, yesterday, assumed jurisdiction, and dismissed the objection of the airline challenging the power of the court to adjudicate on the matter. Justice Lifu held that the NIC was the proper court with jurisdiction to entertain and determine the case, being a matter connected with, pertaining to, and indeed incidental to the contract of employment of late Captain Imasuen, who died in the course of his employment with Bellview Airlines. The judge held that the case involved issues of unfair labour practices, adding that the NIC, under the constitution, had the jurisdiction to entertain same.

sentative capacity on behalf of the family members by Imuwahen Lenita Imasuen, who is the eldest child and administrator of the Estate of late Captain Imaseun. Other defendants are Kayode Odukoya, Tunde Yusuf, Gabriel Olowo, Emmanuel Ombu, Abisoye Mohammed, Kola Sobande, Chimara Imediegwu and Alex Iheuwa - all directors of the airline. The family is urging the court to compel the airline to pay $90, 000 and N82 million damages, as well as the cost of the action and other benefits and entitlements accruing to the Estate of late Captain Imasuen both as air crash victim and staff of Bellview Airlines.

ORT HARCOURT—THE Federal Government has again been urged to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, on Ogoni. UNEP, among other things, had recommended three years ago, a clean up of oil pollution in the area. Speaking under the aegis of Ogoni Youth Rescue Foundation, president of the group, Mr. Goodnews Ndonake, said it was sad that several years after UNEP released its report on Ogoni environment, nothing had been done by the Federal Government to resolve the challenges of pollution facing the people. Describing the delay in the implementation of the report as an embarrassment, the group accused some frontline political leaders from the area of poor representation of the interests of Ogoni people.

Boko Haram's insurgency won’t make Jonathan resign—NDLF BY EMMA AMAIZE

ARRI—THE Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, a group of ex-militants in Delta State, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan would not be frightened to resign from office because of the bombings and killings by Boko Haram insurgents. Spokesman of the group, Mr. Mack Anthony, in a statement, said: “President Jonathan will not be intimidated or scared to resign from office over Boko Haram's killings and bombings. “Boko Haram may bomb or kill the entire North, it will not scare Jonathan from re-contesting 2015. Whether the Chibok girls are released or not, it will not force President Jonathan out of office."

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

CEMENT MINIMUM GRADE

Dangote tasks SON on enforcement

PRAYERS FOR THE NATION: From

left— The Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammad and other Imams, during the prayer for peace and security at the National Mosque in Abuja, Sunday. INSET: From left— Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Shehu of Borno, Umar Garbai Elkanemi; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, at the prayers.

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

GAINST the backdrop of controversy surrounding the standardisation of cement production, Dangote Cement Plc has called on Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to implement the 42.5 grade certification it had recommended for cement manufacturers in Nigeria, in line with international standard. Reacting in Lagos, yesterday, over an advertorial by Lafarge Cement Plc kicking against the 42.5 grade certification for cement manufacturers in Nigeria, Mr. Elkanem Etim, a director at Dangote Cement, said his company is calling on SON to implement the recommendation because all the cement manufacturers in the country have the capacity to upgrade. Faulting Lafarge that the minimum cement grade certification should be 32.5, Mr. Etim said “why should we lower cement standard in Nigeria? 42.5 should be the minimum grade. “Lafarge, as were all cement manufacturers in the country, was a party to the decision to make 42.5 cement grade in Nigeria the minimum.”

Burutu PDP appeals to Muazu

HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Burutu Local Government of Delta State has appealed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to prevail on Mr. Peter Nwaboshi, the state Chairman, to swear in Mr. Korokorosei Sagbegha as PDP chairman in the council. The Federal High Court, Warri, had ordered the reinstatement of Sagbegha as chairman-elect. A statement by Mr. Asheta Oyabebeta, PDP leader in Burutu, pleaded with Muazu to intervene and prevail on Nwaboshi to respect the court judgment in Suit No: FHC/ WR/CS/189/2013 in the Warri Judicial Division.

Female students protest incessant rape in Benue Varsity BY PETER DURU

AKURDI—FEMALE students of Benue State University, BSU, yesterday matched to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Charity Angya, in protest over alleged increasing cases of rape and armed attacks against them in the university. A female student of BSU who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said in Makurdi that no fewer than 15 female students were allegedly attacked on campus by men suspected to be cultists in the last few weeks. She said: “Just last Sunday, some suspected cultists invaded the female hostels and raped and robbed students of their valuables. “The latest incident was the third in the last one month. About a week ago, a female student was raped by a group of four young men while returning from where she had gone to read at 9 p.m. “Three weeks earlier, a 100 level female student of the Psychology Department was also shot on campus by unknown gunmen who snatched her iPad, phones and cash just as another female student who went to read, but was caught up in the rain, was raped by four boys and left unconscious until security men in the school discovered her and took her to the school clinic for treatment. She has refused to return to school. “It was due to these ugly developments that we decided to protest to the office of the Vice Chancellor to seek an explanation.” Sources said the Vice

Chancellor who promised to beef up security on campus, also followed the protesting students into their hostel to see things for herself, while about seven students who were

reportedly wounded in the last attack were taken to the school clinic for treatment. The Dean, Students Affairs, Professor Armstrong Adejoh, confirmed the

developments saying however, that it was an internal security issue. He added that measures had been put in place to check security lapses in the school.

Women demobilise Boko Haram insurgents in Borno

AIDUGURI— RESIDENTS of Attagara and Kawuri villages in Gwoza and Bama local government areas of Borno State, respectively, repelled attacks on their community by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. A resident said the attackers invaded the village Monda on motorcycles but met some women, adding “they wanted to hit the women with sticks but when they raised the

sticks, their hands refused to descend. “Three of the insurgents fled, but seven were not lucky as the women alerted the people,” and the vigilante group in the community rushed to the scene, disarmed the seven insurgents, who were later lynched. Attagara, a border community with Cameroon is about 10 kilometres South-East of Pulka District

in Gwoza Local Government Area of the state and about 130 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. Also, scores of gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram were killed yesterday through the combined efforts of members of the vigilante youths, otherwise known as Civilian JTF, and the military in Kawuri village, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Adamawa Assembly summon Commissioner, Accountant General over workers' salaries BY UMAR YUSUF

OLA—THE Adamawa State House of Assembly, yesterday, summoned the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General of the state to appear before it and explain what the house described as indiscriminate

deductions from salaries of workers in the state. The lawmakers also directed the executive arm of the government to as a matter of urgency refund the deductions made from the May salaries of workers on or before Friday, May 30. Furthermore, the Assembly

also asked the government to pay newly recruited teacher who were being owed 19 months arrears of salaries within the next few weeks or face drastic action. They accused the state government of indiscriminate deductions of salaries through “an unacceptable tax regime.”

... as Onuesoke seeks support for Jonathan against insurgents the country. He added that to win this war

S the fight against the scourge of Boko Haram insurgents heightens, Country Director of Network for Good Governance, N4GG, Sunny Onuesoke, has called on Nigerians to back President Goodluck Jonathan in the struggle to end the scourge in

Onuesoke, who made the call after arising from N4GG Directors meeting held in Kaduna, Kaduna State, said the scourge of violence, deaths, wicked practices and atrocities being perpetrated against the Nigerian state and her people by the terrorists is war on humanity.

against terrorism, all Nigerians irrespective of religious, political or ethnic affiliations must be united under one purpose against Boko Haram. He said the President, as an individual, cannot stop the carnage without the collective effort of Nigerians.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 47

Borno restates commitment to boost fish production

AIDUGURI — THE Borno State Government, yesterday, restated its commitment to boost fish production in the state and create job opportunities for youths. Commissioner for Animal and Fisheries Development, Alhaji Umar Sandabe, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri. He said the ministry had trained scores of youths in fish farming with a view to boosting its production in the state. Sandabe said that the state government had provided new facilities at the Fish Hatchery Complex to enhance favourable and suitable environment for the production of fish. “We have hatchery machines capable of producing ten thousand fingerlings as well as seven concrete fish ponds, a bore hole and overhead tank as well as 18 fish ponds constructed to boost the production of table size fish for sell.”

Northern govs intervene in Nyako, Adamawa House rift BY UMAR YUSUF

OLA — A delegation of the Northern States of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NSNGF, met Monday night with Governor Murtala Nyako and members of the Adamawa State House in a bid to settle the rift between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in the state. The delegation of the governors, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and his Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Magartada Wamakko met with Nyako and the legislators behind closed doors at the Government House, Yola. Governor Wamakko could not attend the meeting as his chartered aircraft had to return to Abuja

due to bad weather. Sources said the governors were unhappy with the frosty relations between the two arms of government and pleaded with the legislators to retrain from any move that could further widen the gap between them and the governor. According to the sources, the NGF was particularly bitter with the legislators for starting a quarrel with the governor at a time the state was grappling with the activities of insurgents. The sources added that the governors advised the legislators to take into cognizance the prevailing economic situation in the state occasioned by the prolonged state of emergency and close ranks with Nyako to reduce the sufferings

of the people. However, Governor Kwankwaso told reporters after the meeting that he was in Yola to hold consultation with Nyako on issues that were beneficial to the two states. “I am in Yola to see my elder brother. We have met and discussed a lot of issues that are of common interest to us. I do not need to be sent by anybody before I visit Yola to see Governor Nyako,” Kwankwaso said. Members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Umaru Fintiri, declined to speak to journalists. Fintiri, in an attempt to avoid the anxious journalists, who barricaded the entrance to the venue of the meeting, sneaked out through the back door.

LG earmarks N15.5m to boost water supply

IRNIN KEBBI — BIRNIN Kebbi Local Council in Kebbi has earmarked N15.5 million to boost water supply in rural settlements of the area. Chairman of the council, Alhaji Musa Danillela, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi. Danillela said the project involved drilling of bore holes and hand pumps in rural communities to enhance potable water supply. He said: ’’The council would ensure that water is available to the people,’’ adding that the benefiting communities were Gadongwaji, Ambursa, Gulumbe, Kola Tarasa and Makera.

ADUNA — THE Kaduna State Government, yesterday, said that it would distribute assorted agro-chemicals to more than 40,000 farmers in the state at subsidised prices. Assistant Director, Extension Services, Kaduna Agricultural Development Project, KADP, Alhaji Ya’u Kaseem, announced this yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Kaduna. He said: “The intervention we are receiving here include agro–

BYBOLUWAJI

OBAHOPO

OKOJA—MANAGING Director/Chief Executive Officer of Kogi Savings and Loans, Mr. Abdulaziz Suberu, has called on the Federal Government to revive the National Board for Community Banks to enable the micro finance institutions in the country deliver efficient services to the people. Suberu spoke in an interview with newsmen, yesterday, in Lokoja, saying the scrapping of the board and the merging of all the community banks activities with the CBN department had weakened the activities of micro finance banks. According to him, “for microfinance banks to function properly and effectively, the Federal Government should revisit the scrapping of the board which statutory responsibility was to control the activities of the community banks in terms of regulation and legislation. ”The current situation and regulation do not favour community banks. The Federal Government has not helped matters because the type of regulations established for mega banks are extended to smaller banks and they cannot work because of their low financial strength,” he said. Suberu further said the pri

Transition

From left: Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Dr. Marianne Treschow, Director-General, Swedish Post and Telecoms Agency and Professor Tim Unwin, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, CTO, at a telecoms summit in Barcelona, Spain.

I'm not interested in 2015 Presidency —Gov Lamido BY ALIYU DANGIDA

UTSE — GOVERNOR Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, yesterday, said that he was not interested in contesting the 2015 presidency, laying to rest, insinuations that he would heed to the call by the former President, Chief

Kaduna govt distributes agro-chemicals to 40,000 farmers

Bank MD urges FG to revive National Board for Community Banks

chemicals from the state government; we have some special activities which the African Development Bank is funding. “But in this one, the state government is imitating the African Development Bank in order to continue assisting the farmers.” He said government bought chemicals to give out to farmers at 40 per cent subsidised prices. He said 15,000 farmers benefitted in 2013 from the government’s intervention.

Olusegun Obasanjo, to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan for the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, ticket. Members of the National Assembly from the state, among other personalities from all walks of life, had asked Lamido to vie for the highest political office in the land, citing his achievements as governor of his rural state as reasons for their campaign for him to heed their advice. In an interactive session with newsmen in Dutse, the state capital, Lamido said he felt flattered by the call from eminent Nigerians for him to run for the election in 2015, but said that the atmosphere was not conducive for him to contest. He said: ”I must say that I am impressed with the support these people are giving me. I feel flattered that of the 170 million Nigerian population, I was chosen by some people to occupy the

number one seat in the country. “I still do not see a conducive environment to declare my aspiration, but I thank them sincerely for their care and concern,” he said. On his performances in office as governor, he said: "Jigawa State deserves the best and I gave the maximum I can in the last seven years because I sustained development and built strong institutions in the state.” He said the collective efforts of Jigawa indigenes, resource persons and other stakeholders gave him the courage to execute developmental projects in the state. The governor said his government carried out the projects without borrowing a single kobo as loan from either banks or anybody and commended the people of the state whom he described as good ambassadors and partners in progress for their support and cooperation.

RINCESS Victoria Oyenike Olasoji, nee Oyewole, is dead, aged 70. The late Mrs Olasoji who died May 9, 2014 will be buried, Friday, June 13, 2013, at her 9, Obabunmi-Thomas Street, Abule Taylor, along LagosAbeokuta expressway. A statement from the family said funeral arrangements include service of songs at her residence on Wednesday, Christian wake-keep at St. Leo’s Catholic Church Hall, Toyin Street, Ikeja and requiem mass at the same church on Thursday. Outing and thanksgiving service will take place at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday, June 15, 2014.

The late Princess Victoria Oyenike Olasoji

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

VISIT: From left, Jeffrey Spears, Senior Advisor, Corporate and Investment Banking, Access Bank; Jeffrey Hawkins, United States Consular General, Lagos; Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank; Obinna Nwosu, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank; United States Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzer, and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Executive Director, Access Bank, during the US Secretary of Commerce visit to Lagos.

***AWARD: From left, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education; Mr. Zomelo Samuel, Head Teacher; Hon. Adewale Adeogun, Education Secretary, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Education Authority and Chairman, Conference of Education Secretaries in Lagos State, and John Asiemo (Daddy Showkey), during the presentation of the 2013 President's Teachers' and Schools' Excellence Award won by Christ Assembly Primary School, Ajegunle, in Abuja.

VISIT: From left, Dr. Nelson Uwaga, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered); Chief Gabriel Mabiaku, Iyasere of Warri Kingdom, and Mr. Grant Orugbani, National Treasurer, during the Institute's visit to Chief Mabiaku, at Warri under its 'NIM We Care initiative,' weekend.

PRESENTATION: From left, Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo; CEO/ Co-founder, Zaccheus Onumba Bibiaezue Memorial Libraries, Mrs. Ifeoma Esiri, and Trustee, Zaccheus Onumba Bibiaezue Memorial Libraries, Mrs. Ayo Obe, at the presentation of books by Stanbic IBTC Holdings to the Zaccheus Onumba Bibiaezue Memorial Libraries 4,000 Children’s Book Drive, in Lagos.

GRADUATION: From left, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; his Special Adviser on Commerce, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo; Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Bisi Yusuf; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB, Mr. Akinwunmi Gasper; both receiving an appreciation award from the President, Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisans, Chief Bola Sanusi, during the grand finale of 5th Tradesmen and Artisans Week and graduation, in Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

PRESENTATION: From left, winner, Miss Boluwatife Michael, From Iganmode High School, Ota, Ogun State, receiving a prize from Managing Director, Leading Edge Consulting, Dr. Ije Jidenma; and Executive Director, Leoplast Foundation, Mrs. Sanjana Daswani, during the presentation at the Leoplast Foundation, in Lagos.

AWARDS: From left, Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 1 of First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Oliver Opara; Nigerian actor, O.C Ukeje; FCMB’s Regional Director for South-east/South-south, Mr. Okey Ezeala, and the Bank’s Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 2, Mr. Chime Aliliele, at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, in Bayelsa State, weekend.

From left, Alhaji Azeez Owoyemi Balogun, representing Baba Oja Mushin Market; Mr. Olajide Akinola, Mushin, Market master; Alhaja Abibat Atoke, Iya-Oja Mushin Market; Hon Hakeem Sofela, Committee Chairman and Senior Special Adviser on Special duties to Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, and Mr. Adio Olalekan, representing the developer, during the inauguration of a committee to determine genuine traders/ shop owners in the markets in the local government.

ROUNDTABLE: From left, Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director, Shell Petroleum; Mrs. Onari Duke, Country Director, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, and Paul Gadebo, Group Managing Director, Flour Mills Nigeria, at the Business Leaders Roundtable to discuss sustainable development, at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

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BY GBENGA ARIYIBI AND DAPO AKINREFON

DO-EKITI literally stood still for several hours last Wednesday for Governor Kayode Fayemi and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was a day APC national leaders converged and presented one of their own with their party flag as candidate for the June 21 election. It was also an avenue for Dr Fayemi to unveil his manifesto for the people of Ekiti State. Party supporters from all the 16 local councils of the state, youths, the elderly and young people stormed the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium venue of the mega rally. Aside this, the town witnessed an influx of visitors and personalities from different parts of the country, especially states controlled by the APC. The stadium was filled to capacity and hawkers and food sellers had a field day. Major streets in the state capital, especially those linking the stadium were not only locked by traffic, but were guarded by fierce-looking security agents. Trade associations, students’ groups and artisans appeared in Ankara, vests and fez caps with “Kayode Fayemi for Second Term”, “JFK: Ko duro soke” and the APC’s logo boldly imprinted on them.

Combined security On hand was a combined security of Policemen and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the State Security Service (SSS) and the state owned traffic agency who were at their best to control the crowd at the stadium. Roll call: Dignitaries present at the event include former Head of State, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu. Others were Governor Rochas Okoroacha (Imo), Governor Raji Fashola (Lagos), Governor Tanko Al-Makura (Nassarawa), Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Governor Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), Governor Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Governor Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Governor Geidam (Yobe). Also present were former governors of Ogun, Bayelsa and Ekiti States, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Timipre Slyva, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Engineer Segun Oni, the deputy governors of Osun and Ekiti

•Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy-governorship candidate of the LP, Alhaja Maryam Ogunlade and Governor Segun Mimiko dancing at a mega rally held recently in Ikere Ekiti.

When APC flagged-off Fayemi States, Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori and Professor Modupe Adelabu, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief Tom Ikimi, Sen Osita Izunaso, Sen Femi Ojudu, Sen Jide Omoworare, Sen Olorunnimbe Mamora, Aminu Masari, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje and Mr Rotimi Akeredolu. A minute silence for bomb blast victims Also available to thrill the people and lend their support at the event were popular actors, actresses, musicians and comedians but it was not to be. The party ’s leadership decided to cut short the fanfare in honour of not only the abducted Chibok girls but the bomb blast victims who lost their lives in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the previous day. * The national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told the gathering why they decided to hold the rally a day after the Jos bomb blast which claimed scores of lives. He said the party was handicapped in putting on hold the programme because INEC had already given approval for the programme to be held on that day. Aside this, he said the party has decided to abridge its programme for the day as a sign of solidarity for the Jos victims.

We’re proud of Fayemi —Buhari

In his remarks, Gen. Buhari urged the people of Ekiti state to cast their votes for Fayemi’s second term saying the governor has performed well. He said “I am truly impressed with the mobilization and the response, not only by Ekiti people, but

people all over Nigeria. I congratulate the governor for his capacity to move and deliver because we have seen what he has done in the last three and the half years. I also thank the members of Progressives Governors’ Forum for giving him the support he deserves and the leadership of the party. We are proud to have a competent person in the saddle. We pledge full support to the governor.”

APC is cure for ineptitude —Tinubu

On his part, the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Tinubu appealed to Ekiti people not to sell their votes. Tinubu said “APC is the cure of ineptitude, the cure of the security problem, the cure to poverty, the cure to unemployment. The party is the cure, Fayemi is the doctor. I do not have to sell Fayemi to you again. We thank all of you for your presence but your presence can only materialize in the sustenance of developmental programmes of this state and the south western states.” He further enjoined the people of the state not to be intimidated by security personnel saying “Do not sell your votes, make sure on the day of the election, do not fear. We pay the salaries of the police and the army because we are their employers and they are supposed to protect us. Do not be afraid, demand your right because you may not have this opportunity again until after four years”. While the governor of Imo State,Owelle Rochas Okorocha who spoke on behalf of the Progressive Governors,and his counterparts in Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Governor

Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, said their supports for Fayemi was borne out of the solid and enduring legacies he has laid in Ekiti in the last four years Okorocha, who condemned the level of carnage in the Northern part of the country, said “Nigerians must reject the PDP in all elections. When the wicked are in power, the people will suffer but when the righteous are there, the people rejoice. “If not for the fact that Fayemi has identified interest to be Governor of Ekiti State, he is qualified to be Governor anywhere in the country”, he said. Endorsing Fayemi: The 12 APC governors present, took turns to hand over their endorsement forms to Dr Fayemi, reassuring him of their support for his second term bid. Oni got the day: One person,

who got a standing ovation from audience was the former governor of the state, Engr Segun Oni. Oni who spoke with emotion, appealed to the people of the state to cast their votes for Fayemi. Being his first public outing after leaving office, Oni said a vote for Fayemi amounts to vote for total transformation of the state. Ekiti is moving forward— Fayemi: In his speech, Fayemi said although the state has witnessed massive change in the last three and half years, that he was motivated to present himself for re-election because of the need to build a society where all Ekiti people will be partakers of a collective prosperity. The governor officially unveiled his manifesto for second term which was tagged “Roadmap to Rapid Economic Growth and Development” otherwise known as the Ekiti Agenda.

Accord Party loses chairman to LP BY DAPO AKINREFON

HE Accord Party in Ekiti State suffered a huge setback over the weekend when its state chairman decamped to the Labour Party. But the party has urged its members not be deterred in its quest to win the governorship seat of June 21. The party stated its resolve to be steadfast and unshaken in the present political revolution being embarked upon by the platform. In a statement signed by the State Secretary, Mr. Lanre Fasuan, the party expressed concern over the “covetous and

lilly levered attitude of some of its members who do not belief in sacrifice for revolution.” Fasuan stated that Accord as a party is vehement in pushing the homebased agenda which is very key to the people of Ekiti more so that they are currently wallowing in abject poverty and economic decimation and according to him the only solution is a non violent and intellectual political revolution which Accord has embarked upon. Fasuan reminded the people that Accord Party remains the only platform that is with obvious messages that move in a spirit like a wild fire and permeates the body fabric of Ekiti people.

54 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Delegates vote to tax churches, mosques •Stop state sponsorship of pilgrimages •But split on scrapping of pilgrim boards •FG, State governments to stop sponsoring Pilgrims BY HENRY UMORU, JOSEPH ERUNKE & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

ELEGATES at the ongoing National Conference yesterday voted to enlist churches, mosques and religious organizations into the tax net. The delegates in their deliberation on the report of the committee on religion also voted that federal and state governments should stop the sponsorship of Islamic and Christian pilgrimages. However, a move to scrap Islamic and Christian pilgrims boards sharply split the delegates yesterday leading to an uproar and forcing the conference leadership to move the vote on the issue to today. The decision to make religious bodies pay taxes came up when a delegate representing Civil Organisations, Mallam Naseer Kura in his contribution to the debate on the report observed that religious leaders were making much money and should be taxed. Also in his contribution, a delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Isaac Ighure frowned at the situation where according to him pastors and heads of churches make too much money with some of them owning private jets. “Some people buy private jets when people in their churches are suffering and living in abject poverty, they should be made to pay taxes,” he submitted. At the resumed session after break, the issue of payment of tax by the churches, Mosques and other religious bodies came up and delegates unanimously voted for it and it carried that if the recommendations of the Conference sails through at the end of the exercise when presented before the National Assembly for ratification, leaders of religious bodies will now be subjected to paying of tax like other Nigerians, business men, government organisations and enterprises. Reject Fridays as work-free days Delegates however rejected setting aside Fridays as free working days when the matter came up for voting. There was however a very storming session yesterday and near a free for all when the issue of scrapping Pilgrims Welfare Boards came as a follow up to the decision that governments should no longer sponsor pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, just as shouts of no enveloped the hall, forcing the presiding officer and Conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi to abruptly adjourn the meeting till today where the issue would be voted on. A delegate representing Kogi State, Chief Olusola Akanmode had moved a motion that since the house had agreed that no government should sponsor pilgrimages and as a rider, all Pilgrims boards should be wrapped and he was seconded by a delegate representing Edo State, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN. Soon after the motion was moved and seconded, there was a counter motion by a delegate representing the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Charles Ibiang and supported by Senator Saidu Dansadau with explanations that the boards must remain as they travel to Mecca to make arrangements for accommodation,

transportation and other welfare for the pilgrims. Following two motions on ground, Prof. Akinyemi then called for a voice vote in which the nays prevailed. Trouble then started when former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed called for division of the house since according to him, there was no consensus, but his suggestion was greeted by shouting by other delegates thereby creating a rowdy session with shouts from delegates that we will not agree, learn to accept defeat, we voted here that churches should pay tax and we all agreed, even as some delegates shouted and told Akinyemi not to be intimidated by any body. Following the rowdy session and some minutes to the close of session, Prof Akinyemi tried to Control the Delegates, saying that with the ensuing atmosphere, no serious business could take place and called on a delegate on the platform of Elder statesmen category, Erelu Olusola Obada and seconded by Aisha Aliyu and the session ended with delegates expressing comments of disappointment. They will reconvene today to vote on whether the Pilgrims Boards should remain or be abolished.

Pilgrimage sponsorship

he religion Committee had recommended that the Federal government and state governments must not adopt any religion as state religion. The Religion Committee which has Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as Co- Chairmen, along side 19 other members also listed areas of discrimination to indigenes in States like granting of land for places of worship and cemeteries; opportunities to education; employment, promotion and admission; pilgrimage sponsorship, among others. Religion Report: Earlier, a delegate, Prof. Yusuf Turaki had blamed both Northern political and religious leaders for allowing Boko Haram insurgents to fester in the region. “Mr. Chairman, the question I have to ask is, why have the Northern Muslim Umma, the traditional rulers and the political class allowed Boko Haram to grow from insignificant religious movement into a militant religious force that has overwhelmed them?” Turaki, who spoke while making his contribution to the debate on the report of the conference Committee on Religion at the plenary on Tuesday, warned that Northern Nigeria is at the brinks of collapse and ruin solely on account of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry. Also contributing, a delegate from Benue State, Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado, suggested that delegates should observe a three-day fast to seek the face of God concerning many sins being committed by those in authority, including past leaders some of whom he said were part of the ongoing conference.

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•The rubble of what was once Okechukwu Amasiatu’s house

Operation Kpochapu: When Anambra moves against kidnap suspects •Bulldozers reduce houses to rubble

T is no longer in doubt that the Joint Task Force, JTF set up by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, shortly on assumption of office on March 17, is doing well to combat crime in the state. Yet there aremixedreactionstrailingtheiroperations, particularly when it comes to demolition of the suspected or confirmed kidnappers’ landed properties. Similarly, three branches of a hotel were sealed up at Nkpor, near Onitsha. The issue of demolition of kidnappers’ properties dates back to former Governor Peter Obi’s era. At that time, a hotel in Onitsha and a private buildings at Oraifite were demolished. When Obiano took over the mantle of governance, he applied what looked like a reinforcement of Obi’s crime fighting strategy by setting up the JTF comprising the Army, Navy, Police, Department of Security Services, DSS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with the State Vigilante operatives serving as background informants. The JTF, on assumption of duty, raided many suspected criminal hideouts, arrested some suspects

and recovered both arms, ammunition, charms and Indian hemp (Cannabis Sativa). Impressed by their performances, Obiano nicknamed the team: “Operation Kpochapu” (Operation wipe out) and procured more operational vehicles for them.

Questions being asked Since then, Ndi Anambra have since witnessed relative calm and reduction in crime in the state. But the question on the lips of some people is whether the suspects so far arrested by the JTF were properly investigated and tried by a court of competent jurisdiction? Another question on the lips of peace-loving people of Anambra is whether the JTF members would notcatchacriminalandcollecthuge amounts of money as bribe from him and let him off the hook? Apart from these questions bordering on the credibility of the investigations, the third and perhaps the most important question is whether the on-going demolition of landed properties belonging to suspected kidnappers should have first been subjected to litigation. Response/ explanations: On the credibility of the investigations, the

State Commissioner of Police, Usman Gwary told a delegation of OnitshaChamberofCommerce,industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, led by its President, Dr. Tim Anosike that once the JTF isalertedontheiremergencyphone number which is 112, the team would spread their dragnet and apprehend the suspects first and thereafter hand them over to the appropriate agency. Gwary explained that if a suspect is arrested with Indian hemp, he would be handed over to NDLEA. Similarly, if it is a kidnap, robbery murder, crude oil theft, treasonable felony, they would be handled by the appropriate agency concerned. According to him, every suspect wouldbearraignedbeforethecourt. The Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment,NigerianArmy,Onitsha, Col. Auwal Jibrin Fagge, claimed that human rights abuses are always put into consideration during interrogations of the suspects. He described such credibility questions as the handiwork of enemies of peace and security. Fagge who also received in audience in his office a delegation of ONICCIMA, assured law-abiding citizens that hence forth, business activities would return to the state as the JTF would not rest on its oars

until all the criminals are fished out from all nooks and crannies of the state.

JTF storms Obiano’s home town

Recently, the JTF in what looked like a commando operation, demolished three buildings belonging to suspected kidnappers in Aguleri, Governor Willie Obiano’s community. Residents of the community were in jubilant mood, hailing Obiano and his JTF team. The operation was led by the Anambra State

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO , ONITSHA

of N50 million was paid. The suspects also confessed to have kidnapped the brothers of Chief P. N. Emerah, a transport magnet and Chief Godwin Okeke, Chairman of GUO Motors Limited, from which they collected ransom of over N80 million. Ngwueche, while speaking to reporters, said the gang’s first ransom of N165 million was collected in 2011 after the kidnap of a White man. Other members of the gang, according to the suspect, include Wyna, Onyeka and Chigozie, all of who are on the run. Briefing newsmen after the exercise, the State Police Public relations Officer, Emeka Chukwuemeka said the 17 persons arrested by the police during the week were dare-devil robbers and kidnappers. Two of the suspects were arrest-

The most important question is whether the ongoing demolition of landed properties belonging to suspected kidnappers should have first been subjected to litigation Police Commissioner, Gwary; the Onitsha Army Commander, Col Fagge and Navy Capt. M.G. Oamen, Commander, Navy, Onitsha. Also on hand to witness the demolition were the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Chikodi Anarah and the Senior Special Adviser on Media, James Eze. The suspected kidnappers, Ogochukwu Ngwueche (aka-Nwa Jesus), Onyeka and Chigozie, were allegedly involved in the kidnap of the brother to the owner of Orange Drugs Limited, in which a ransom

ed at Okpoko near Onitsha, while another person who arranged the kidnap of his sister and her son at Nnobi was also arrested. Chukwuemekadescribedthearrestofthe suspects as a result of the synergy between the state government and the security agencies in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Usman Gwary, said the police authorities have made a decision to destroy any building found to belong to any kidnap suspect in the state. According to him: “We will not be Continues on page 57

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Operation Kpochapu: When Anambra moves against kidnap suspects Continues from page 56 distracted by somebody who does not see any good in the good work happening in the state between the Governor and the security agencies”. A victim of the suspects, Chief Jerome Nnechi, told newsmen that the Governor’s community Aguleri is seen as a den of kidnappers. Three houses belonging to dreaded kidnappers, including a N17millionbungalow,weredemolished under the supervision of the JTF. Three leaders of the kidnap gang allegedly contributed money to build the houses to serve as a depot for their victims. The leader of the gang, Mr. Ogochukwu Ngwueche (aka Nwa Jesus) who hails from Oghe in Enugu State, told newsmen that three of them(himself and Onyeka and Chigozie) from Ogidi in Anambra State decided to build the six-bedroom house with proceeds from various kidnappings to serve as depot for their human cargo (victims). Harvest of demolitions: Two other bungalows linked to a kid-

ading as a supplier of sand and stones. They commended the government’s determination to eradicate crime in the State and assured of their total support. Other buildings demolished at Aguleri included a four-bedroom bungalow and a storey building still under construction at Ezi Agulu, Aguleri. The property was owned by one Onyeamuma from Nsukka in Enugu State who was killed in a gun battle with the police at Otuocha sometime ago. The JTF also knocked down another house at Agu-Owele, Enugu Aguleri built by a consortium of kidnappers who used the building as a hide out for their victims. A female occupant of the house was arrested by the police. A shrine called Arobinagu was also uncovered behind the house. Another four-bedroom apartment was also pulled down at Umuaneri Aguleri. The building belonged to a kidnap suspect called Anamako who allegedly kidnapped the Prime Minister of Enugwu-Ukwu and one Iroko. Kidnappers’ buildings must

The buildings had over the years been used by various kidnap gangs to hide victims while waiting for ransom; in addition to demolishing the buildings, government had equally revoked and taken over the land

nap suspect, Emeka Ezekude were equally demolished by the State Government at Umuihepune, UmuatuVillageinIhialaLocalGovernment Area. The demolition followed the arrest of Emeka Ezekude and recovery of arms and ammunition hiddenundergroundinplasticcontainers in his premises. Among the items recovered were one rocket grenade, three grenade propellers, two AK 47 rifles, six zero rifle, 27 AK 47 magazines, 120 rounds of live ammunition and nine chains used in restraining kidnap victims. Some members of the community who identified themselves as Mr. Ambrose Ezekulie, Nnamdi Mbenobi and Juliana Elendu, disclosed that Ezekude was masquer-

go down: The Special Adviser to the Governor on security, Chief Chikodi Anarah, who supervised the operation said that Governor Obiano had directed that all buildings funded with proceeds of kidnap or armed robbery and buildings used for the same purpose in any part of the state must go down. Anarah explained that the buildings had over the years been used by various kidnap gangs to hide victims while waiting for ransom. He disclosed that in addition to demolishing the buildings, government had equally revoked and taken over the land. A kidnap victim, Chief Jerome

*Amasiatu’s house before it was demolished

*Nonso Mgbe’s house after the excavators moved in Mmechi from Aguleri commended Governor Obiano for his political will and courage to stamp out the evil. Governor Obiano in his reaction said the demolition was a signal to kidnappers and armed robbers and their cohort that they have no safe haven anywhere in the state. The governor sent a

warning note to all landlords to be wary of activities going on in their property or risk losing them. However, a legal practitioner, Chris Ajugwe, said there is need to review the operations of the JTF in view of the seeming upsurge of kidnappings in the state. JTF, he said, should be po-

sitioned to respond to distress calls by way of providing communication gadgets that will enable the policemen have effective network to foil crimes and arrest the criminals. He recommended that the local vigilante operatives should be properly equipped and paid a living wage of at least N50,000 per month.

How kidnap suspect was nabbed inside aircraft

SUSPECTED kidnap kingpin, Okechuk wuNnaegbo was recently nabbed aboard a South African Airways flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. Nnaegbo who was said to have confessed to being the shadowy figure behind recent high-profile kidnap cases in the state was on his way to South Africa to evade the current onslaught against criminals in Anambra State when a crack team of detectives from the Special Anti-robbery Squad from Anambra in collaboration with their Lagos State counterparts and the help of airport security operatives pounced on him inside the aircraft. Nnaegbo who hails from Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state is believed to be the ring-leader of a gang of armed robbers and kidnappers that had made life miserable for Ndi Anambra until the recent launch of Operation Kpochapu, a special anti-crime task force, by the two-month-old Obiano administration. Announcing his arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Usman A. Gwary revealed that the suspect was already aboard the Johannesburg-bound flight when he was picked up by his men. Nnaegbo’s arrest came as a closing montage to a week of successful counter offensive against kidnappers in Anambra State that saw the members of Operation Kpochapu demolish two impressive buildings that once belonged to dreaded kidnap suspects in the state. The two buildings that were reduced to rubble belonged to one Nonso Mgbe, a 25-year-old notorious kidnap suspect from Azia village in Ihiala Local Government Area. Nonso Mgbe is believed to have been responsible for the death of a former Commander of the Special Anti-robbery Squad, SARS, among numerous other high-profile kidnap cases. As Mgbe’s impressive single story building that sat on a large expanse of land bowed down to the rumble of an excavator, the on-looking villagers shook their heads in disbelief as it dawned on them that violent criminals hardly have a happy ending. It was also far from a happy ending for OkechukwuAmasiatu of Ezinifite village in Nnewi South Local Government Area as his

nine-bedroom bungalow was reduced to rubbles by the men of Operation Kpochapu. Amasiatu is alleged to have been behind the kidnap of many highly placed indigenes of the state but more importantly the brazen mowing down of five policemen at the famous Emeka Offor Junction in Oraifite, Nnewi. While Amasiatu walked the streets in freedom, Ndi Anambra walked in fear. Sources from his Ezinifite village revealed that Amasiatu lived in Lagos but choose his village and the surrounding towns as easy targets for his criminal designs. They also revealed that there was something uncanny about Amasiatu whose his elder brother, Chimaobi, was gunned down by the police in a shoot-out following a tip-off on the activities of his gang.

Arrest of suspect Speaking on the arrest of suspect Nnaegbo and the demolition of the houses of kidnappers by Operation Kpochapu, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano explained that his administration was determined to rescue Anambra from the grip of cut-throat criminals who had cut short the freedom of the people. “I am going after their weapons supply line. I am pulling down their warehouses where they keep their victims and I am going after their command and control centres. We have warned them to desist from crime because my administration will not back down on this war till I leave office,” Governor Obiano declared. He restated his promise bring back night life to Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka. I want Ndi Anambra to go to sleep with both eyes closed. We have put in a lot of investment in this battle and we shall not come out of it in defeat,” he assured. The governor also used the opportunity to reiterate his administration’s bold, revolutionary effort to discourage the youths of Anambra State from a life of crime by compiling a comprehensive data bank on them in preparation for job placements.

58—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

DAY 44

Psychologist canvasses counselling for abducted girls vices for the rehabilitation of the girls psychologically and emotionally. Briefing newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, PSYCHOLOGIST, Mr. Lanre Olu Olusola said that the girls should be sola, has urged the Federal Government not to abandon the abducted Chi- made to pass through post-traumatic rebok girls when they are eventually found, habilitation. He said, "Everyone is talking noting that efforts towards bringing them about bringing them back physically but no one is talking about bringing them back psychologically should start now. Olusola also noted that the Life Coach- back psychologically and that is where I ing Association of Nigeria together and want to focus on. "So we want to re-postion ourselves and some psychologists, therapists and coachwe are supporting the government and es have concluded plans to provide serwith the international support we are getting, to bring back the girls physically first. "There is a lot of noise and a lot of attention on the AMEROON has armoured vehicles were Chibok girls. It's deployed some deployed three days unfortunate but it has 1,000 troops and earlier, he said. already occurred. armoured vehicles to its “Their mission will be to Everyone is saying bring border region with carry out reconnaissance back the Chibok girls but, Nigeria as it steps up its and be ready to respond my position is with this military presence to with enough fire power,” saying that ‘you can get the counter a rising threat Badjeck said by monkey out of the jungle from Boko Haram telephone from Yaounde, but it is difficult to get the Islamist militants, a adding, “They are jungle out of the monkey’. defence ministry patrolling in northern "Secondly, you can get spokesman said, region at the moment.” the prisoner out of prison yesterday. Badjeck said the but that prisoner is still in Boko Haram, which has deployment was part of prison in his mind’. So what outraged international Cameroon’s effort to is most important for me opinion with the increase its military with the Chibok girls is we abduction of some 200 presence in the border need to get them back but schoolgirls in northern region. It had already we need to get them back Nigeria seven weeks ago, deployed an additional psychologically and has also carried out 700 troops under a joint emotionally. These girls for several attacks and regional effort to fight over a month have been kidnappings in northern Boko Haram, announced held captive and Cameroon. Lieutenant in March. everything about their lives Colonel Didier Badjeck Nigeria’s military said, have changed this period said about 1,000 Special Monday, it knew the and as we speak, these Forces of Cameroon’s whereabouts of the more girls will be rapid intervention than 200 abducted traumatized,psychologically brigade (BIR) left the schoolgirls, but it ruled broken and emotionally capital on Monday. out using force to rescue destroyed." Several new generation them. BY CHARLES KUMOLU

Cameroon sends 1,000 troops to Nigerian border

Gordon Brown flags off safe school initiative IT will take a delicate operation to secure every of the Chibok girls back to their home, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, has said. Brown, in his story, ‘Update from Nigeria: Launching the Safe Schools Initiative’ on his Huffington Post page, welcomed the Nigerian military statement that it had located the girls. Calling on the international community to play a vital role in making education a reality for all Nigerian children, Brown said this week, his outfit, along with the Nigerian government, will flag off what he called Safe Schools Initiative aimed at making schools more secure for Nigerian children and to help end a situation where 10.5

million Nigerian girls and boys do not go to school. The aim of the initiative, Brown said, is to ensure that young people are not

only safe in going to school, but to also provide an environment ripe for learning, growth and development free of fear.

Take responsibility for Boko Haram, NAF tells Shettima BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

BUJA—THE N o r t h e r n Alternative Forum, NAF, has taken a swipe at the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on his recent outburst on CNN against the security operation in the North East and blame on the federal government for the abduction of school girls in the State owned Secondary School, Chibok. NAF which spoke at a press briefing by its chairman, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim, accused the governor of making the

ongoing military operation in the North East a subject of self-exoneration of responsibility in the crisis of the abducted girls, rather than blaming his government for its failure to protect them, even after promising to offer them protection on the advice from the Minister of Education and WAEC to relocate them. The group, however, urged the governor to swallow his pride and take the responsibility for the emergence of Boko Haram and their damages, which have now turned the state and the region into a theatre of war.

Ukraine unrest: Dozens die as Donetsk airport retaken

KRAINE’S interior ministry says the military is now in full control of the airport in the eastern city of Donetsk after a day of bloody clashes. More than 30 pro-Russia separatists were reported killed after an attempt to seize the airport early on Monday. New President Petro Poroshenko vowed to tackle the eastern uprising in hours, not months. Russia has called for an immediate end to military action. Meanwhile, the OSCE says it has lost contact with a monitoring team. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in

Europe said four of its monitors were on a routine mission east of Donetsk when they were stopped at a checkpoint at about 18:00 (16:00 GMT) on Monday. A spokesman told the BBC the monitors, all male, were Turkish, Swiss, Estonian and Danish. Danish trade minister Mogens Jensen said it was believed they were being held by armed separatists. In April, seven international military observers linked to the OSCE were held captive in eastern Ukraine for a week. US President Barack Obama had telephoned Mr Poroschenko on Tuesday to congratulate him on his vic-

tory in Sunday’s elections and offer him “the full support of the United States”, said the White House. Back in February, when pro-Russia separatists launched their incursion in Crimea - which led to Moscow’s annexation of the peninsula a month later - the airport was the first key installation they took control of, so Kiev was committed to clamping down on that. Ukraine’s new president gave a speech on Monday saying he would not negotiate with “terrorists”, as he put it - and clearly you see the impact of that around Donetsk airport.

Egypt election extended amid low turnout

OLLING in Egypt’s presidential election has been extended for a third day after low turnout. Polls were due to close at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) yesterday , but have now been extended to Wednesday, the Egyptian election commission said. The scale of turnout is seen as key to legitimising the winner. Former military chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is the clear frontrunner. He is standing against only one other candidate, left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi. It is the second presiden-

Egyptians have begun voting for their third president in as many years, in a race largely expected to be won by the country’s former army chief. tial election since the 2011 revolution which toppled Hosni Mubarak. The previous elected President, Islamist Mo-

hammed Morsi, was deposed by Mr Sisi in July 2012 following massive opposition protests.

Flight MH370: Malaysia releases raw satellite data leased includes the hourly nications satellite that led

HE Malaysian gov ernment has released the raw data used to determine that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 crashed into the southern Indian Ocean. The data was first released to relatives of passengers, who have been asking for greater transparency, before copies were also provided to media. The document released yesterday comprises 47 pages of data, plus notes, from British firm Inmarsat. Flight MH370 went missing on 8 March as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. There were 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, on board. No trace of the aircraft has been found, nor any reason for its disappearance. The satellite data re-

“handshakes” between the plane and a commu-

investigators to conclude that the plane ended its journey far off Australia.

Thailand coup: Ex-minister Chaturon Chaisaeng arrested

OLDIERS have de tained a prominent minister in the ousted Thai government who emerged from hiding to criticise last week’s coup. Shortly before he was held, Chaturon Chaisaeng told the BBC he believed the coup would be a disaster for Thailand. But the former education minister said he had no intention of going underground or mobilizing resistance. On Monday the coup leaders consolidated their legal hold on the country after receiving

the endorsement of the king. The military seized power in the South East Asian nation last week, saying it planned to return stability to Thailand after months of unrest.

•Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 59

How I escaped Jos blasts — Onazi

GENYI Onazi says he feels fortunate to be alive after he narrowly avoided last week’s bombings in the city of Jos. The blasts at a crowded bus terminal and market killed at least 118 people. Onazi, 21, who was born in Jos, had just left the popular Jos Main Market last Tuesday, when the first blast rocked the area. The midfielder, who plays for Italian Serie A side Lazio, said: “I am very, very lucky, just by the grace of God.” Onazi is now with the Super Eagles squad in London as they prepare for today ’s friendly against Scotland and he says he has been struggling to erase the memories of that dark

Continues from B/P it is stated in his official documents. Officially 29-year old Yussuf came to Dynamo Kiev in 2003. He spent almost his entire career with the Ukrainian team, except short-term loans to Orduspor and recently finished to Metalist. Yet his age was never part of a public debate, but finally team’s doctor decided to share his opinion with local media. When asked about Yussuf ’s age Mironov answered: „This is a little-known, but much more than declared in official documents. If you prefer, you can check this, it is elementary.” - as quoted by Football.ua. So far there are no consequences of his words, but if they were true Yussuf could be severely punished, as it would be the violation of FIFA rules. His papers however were also aproved by Nigerian and Ukrainian Football Federations. Interestingly Yussuf is

Continues from B/P investigates serious and organised crime, are understood to have asked FIFA to issue an alert over potential attempts to rig the game. The football match is one of a sequence of friendlies that serve as a warm up for the World Cup in Brazil next month

day. Recounting his lucky escape, he told BBC Sport: “It was just like an ordinary day. Happy faces and friendly warmth that makes you feel happy to be back home. “We had gone to the railway market to get something. I think it was 15 minutes later when we heard the loud blast from the place. And suddenly, people were just running. “There was chaos and pandemonium. There was smoke, I was confused, lost and just wondered what had happened. I had no idea what was going on and it was scary. “All my life I have never heard a bang or boom like that.” The second blast killed some of the rescue

Ayila known in Ukraine as „Grandfather Yussuf ”, but this nickname was never created as an insult or as a metaphor of his age. It was simply used by

workers who had rushed to the scene, which was obscured by billows of black smoke. A week later, far away from the city where his parents are based and preparing for his first World Cup with the Super Eagles, Onazi insists the unrest back home has made it difficult to focus on football.

•Onazi

younger players of Dynamo, because for them Yussuf has been in the club as long as they can remember. Ayila Yussuf hasn’t yet commented on those accusations.

Anya Continues from B/P Anya, who has a Nigerian father, but was brought up in Scotland said that Scottish national team was always the only choice for him. “My love of football developed when I was in Scotland so I was always going for that. “For me it was always going to be Scotland,” Anya said, adding, “that was where I started playing football at school and where I learnt everything. That was one of the main reasons I chose Scotland when I knew they were interested. “When I was really young I was in Nigeria but I cant remember it. I appreciate the Nigerian side from my father and

the Romanian side of my mother but that is them and I chose Scotland. “My dad is a typical Nigerian man, he’s all about education so football-wise it was really just my mum when she knew Scotland were interested she was very happy for me. “My dad has taken more of an interest now because obviously his son is a footballer so he tries to support me. But he’s a big academic, my brother is a doctor and he tried to put me down that route but I tried football and luckily it worked out.” Anya, who plays for English side Watford, has made five appearances for Scotland since September 2013 and scored one goal.

British Police and is due to be played at Craven Cottage, the home of Fulham Football Club. It is understood that the Scottish Football Association have been liaising with the NCA over the weekend after the game was “ red

flagged”. Premiership footballers are expected to play at today’s game, including Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Liverpool’s Victor Moses and Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher. There is no suggestion that any of the players are involved.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Eagles in war-like training Oduamadi arrives S •

UPER Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi, his assistants Dan Amokachi, Hyauondonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu on Monday evening took the team through a rigorous training session that was adjudged needful by most of the players.

Assistant Captain, Vincent Enyeama, said the team need such a regime because some of the players have been off action for up to a week and need re-awakening. “You don’t play the World Cup every year and time”, he said of the session that lasted from

7:10 to 9:20pm. Central defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe says the World Cup has effectively started for him. “My brother the training was tough and good”, he said of the event that was held at the Fulham training ground under very chilly conditions with temperature reading 13 degrees celcius and the

rain drizzling throughout the duration of the training. All the players seemed determined to convince the coach that they were ready for Brazil, but homebased winger, Ejike Uzoenyi shown like a million star, same for Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Victor Moses, while the regulars did not fail to

impress with skipper Joseph Yobo showing that he was still the commander in the defence line. Keshi said after the training that the players needed such a session to re-energise them and get them ready for the task of playing against the best in the world at Brazil 2014. He said the World Cup is not for kids nor is it a tea party and the fittest players only will be selected for the Mundial.

Team Nigeria win soccer gold

IGERIA’S U-15 football team at the on-going African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana have lived up to the charge given to them in Abuja May 15, 2014 by the Minister of sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo that the country expects nothing short of the gold medal from them. Dr. Danagogo had during his unscheduled visit round the camps of Team Nigeria at the Abuja National Stadium met with the football team at the FIFA Goal Project and charged them that Nigeria being a force to reckon with in youth football expects nothing short of the gold medal from the team. The coaches and players responded to the minister ’s charge by assuring him that they were happy with the preparation they had received and that they will surely return with the gold medal to which the minister said that he would be happy to take them and all the other winners at the Games to the president who he described as “ a sports loving president”.

Seedorf to be replaced by Inzaghi

C Milan are set to fire coach Clarence Seedorf and replace him with youth team coach Filippo Inzaghi, according to reports from Italy. Seedorf is only four months into a two-and-ahalf year contract and has overseen a considerable improvement in results, but rumours about the Dutchman’s future have been rife for several weeks. His dismissal would leave Claude Makelele as the only black manager in a major European league, with the former Chelsea midfielder taking up the post at French club Bastia just last Saturday.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 61

C M Y K

62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 — 63

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Today’s matches Nigeria USA Korea Republic Angola Denmark

Scotland vs Nigeria Kick-off: 8 p.m.

vs vs vs vs vs

Scotland Azerbaijan Tunisia Morocco Sweden

You ‘re older than you claim — Team doctor tells Ayila

British Police probe friendly P

OLICE have launched an investigation into attempts to fix a World Cup friendly between Scotland and Nigeria that is due to be played

YNAMO Kiev defender Ayila Yussuf, who spent last season on loan in Metalist Kharkiv was accused by doctor Leonid Mironov for being much older than

Continues on Page 59

No regrets choosing Scotland over Nigeria — Anya

C O T L A N D international of Nigerian descent, Ikechi Anya has admitted that he does not regret

Continues on Page 59

•Ayila

in London today. Officers from the National Crime Agency, Britain’s equivalent of the FBI which

playing for Scotland instead of Super Eagles. Twenty six-year-old

8:00 p.m 3;00 a.m. 12:00 noon 6:00 p.m 7:15 p. m.

Continues on Page 59

FRIENDLY FIRE: Scotland's (from left) Leigh Griffiths, Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and Ikechi Anya in their ranks, trained at Harrlington on Tuesday ahead of tonight’s friendly against Nigeria.

Okocha joins Eagles Pages 32 & 33

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Employed (4) 4 Tear (3) 6 Bearing (4) 8 Spot (6) 9 Firewood (6) 10 Clef (3) 12 Slumber (5) 14 Permit (5) 15 Singer (5) 18 Maintain (6) 20 Transfix (6) 24 Animal (5) 26 Skulk (5) 28 Shy (5) 30 Layer (3) 32 Forthcoming (6) 33 Pass (6) 34 Liberated (4) 35 Faucet (3) 36 Always (4)

DOWN 2 Stationary (5) 3 Exhaust (7) 4 Smell (4) 5 Compassion (4) 6 Lesser (5) 7 Everlasting (7) 11 Self (3) 12 Spring (3) 13 Fix (3) 16 Entrap (3) 17 Equipment (3) 19 Faintness (7) 21 Encountered (3) 22 Secret (7) 23 Finish (3) 25 Sick (3) 27 Entertain (5) 29 Outcome (5) 30 Plague (4) 31 Yap (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Swear 7, Broth 8, Petal 10, Aided 12, Sew 13, Begin 15, Dissent 17, Adored 19, See 20, Discard 23, Disc 25, Tear 26, Eastern 30, Lei 31, Novice 34, Recited 37, Timed 38, Cab 39, Digit 40, Hurry 41, Cable 42, Level.

DOWN: 1, Breed 2, Stair 3, Whined 4, Aged 5, Dessert 6, Tawny 9, Tee 11, Discern 13, Bawdy 14, Gorse 16, Sea 18, Dirtied 21, Denim 22, Greed 24, Calibre 27, Set 28, Notice 29, Recur 32, Vital 33, Cello 35, Car 36, Dice.

How to Play Sudoku

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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