Senate stops CBN on 5000 naira note

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61697

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Cynthia's killers docked, remanded Shameless people — Onlookers hurl insults at suspects

•SUSPECTS—Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (L) and Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka.

•Orji Osita and Nwadiokor Chukwunonso, who sold drug to the suspected killers.

•P.4

•Above: The suspects discussing with their lawyer . Photos: Lamidi Bamidele.

Senate stops CBN on N5,000 notes •Warns apex bank to be careful •Senate yet to be briefed, says committee

I'll Surprise my critics by 2013 •P.5 — Jonathan ...says Nigeria not ripe for state police C M Y K

—P.6

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA —THE Sen ate, yesterday, warned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi

Why I Son dies resigned pursuing —P.14 as PDP father's abductors BOT chairman — OBJ —P.10

State police and scare mongers •P.17

Lamido Sanusi, to, as a matter of urgency, stop his proposed introduction of N5,000 denomination.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, said that it

Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 3

4—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUG@UST 28, 2012

Four suspects arraigned over Cynthia's death

zAs onlookers hurl insults at suspects zTo be buried Sept 7

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—FOUR suspected killers of the only daughter of General Frank Osokogu (rtd), Cynthia Osokogu were arraigned yesterday at a Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos on an eight-count charge of felony, conspiracy, murder, robbery and rape.

The four accused persons, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (33), Ejike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka (23), Orji Osita (32) and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25), who were brought from the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, yesterday morning in hand and leg chains were verbally assaulted by the crowd that came to witness their arraignment.

Before the court sitting, there was a mild drama as newsmen scrambled to get shots of the suspects, particularly the first and second, who had been avoiding the camera.

For more than 30 minutes, the accused struggled to dodge the cameramen as members of the public hurled abuses on them.

“You are ashamed, abi.

Why should you be ashamed when you are terrible human beings who deserve to die?” one woman shouted as the two suspects kept their hands tightly on their faces.

Some even denounced them as “faces of shame”, who have committed crime against God as the drama continued before the magistrate’s arrival.

The eight-count charge of conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, rape, “unlawful administration of obnoxious substance” and “forceful administration of obnoxious substance” with a view to causing bodily harm were read to them.

However, their plea was not taken. The Magistrate only asked if they understood the charge after it was read to them, to which they answered ‘yes’.

The suspects were eventually ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi prison by Magistrate O. S. AkaBashorun pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP’s

C M Y K

Eight-count charge The eight-count charge against them read: Count 1.That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’ Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka ‘m’, Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, between the hours of 21.00 of 21/7/2012 – 12.00 hrs of 22/7/2012, at room No C1, Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count II: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka ‘m’, Orji Osita, ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Cynthia Osokogu Udoka ‘f’ aged 25 years by administering her with obnoxious substance known as “Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets” via a Ribena fruit juice drink, binding her hands with chain, padlock and cellotaped her legs, neck and mouth with cellotape, giving her first blows all over her body, giving her several human bites, tortured and strangled her to death and thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count III: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka ‘m’, Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count IV: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka ‘m’, Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the

aforesaid Magisterial District, whilst armed with obnoxious substance and other offensive weapons did rob Cynthia Osokogu Udoka ‘f’ (deceased) of her valuable property to wit: (a) 1(one) Blackberry handset, bold 5 model, (b) International passport wit No. A01249397 dated 3/7/2009, ( c) National licence with No. GRE0002AA dated 15/3/ 2010, (d) pair of shoes (e) hand bag, (f) Artificial sex toy vibrator, (g) jewelry pack containing three wrist watches, four rings, three pairs of earrings, one pendant, one necklace, hand chain (bangle) and a single earring, value of property robbed are yet to be ascertained and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 295(1) (2) (a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count V: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike IlechukwuOlisaeloka‘m’,Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Rape and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count VI: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike IlechukwuOlisaeloka‘m’,Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Cynthia Osokogu Udoka ‘f’ (deceased) without her consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count VII: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike IlechukwuOlisaeloka‘m’,Orji Osita ‘m’, Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid MagisterialDistrict, withintent to facilitate the commission of felony did unlawfully administer an obnoxious substance known as “Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets” purchased at Oxpharm Pharmacy, at 32

Road, Festac Town, Lagos on Cynthia Osokugu Udoka ‘f’ (deceased) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 237 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count VIII: That you, Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo ‘m’, Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka ‘m’, Orji Osita ‘m’,

Maduakor Chukwunonso ‘m’ and others at large, on the same dates, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, with intent to harm did unlawfully cause an obnoxious substanceknownas“Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablets” to be administered on Cynthia Osokogu Udoka ‘f’ (deceased) against her consent

and caused her grievous harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 241 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Meanwhile, late Cynthia’s family has announced that she willbeburiedonSept.7atBebe, Ovia Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta.

Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (right) and Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka, suspected murderers of Late Miss Cynthia Osokogu Udoka covering their faces at the Yaba Magistrate Court, Lagos yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Sierra Leone raises alarm over Nov elections ...urges Nigerian govt's intervention

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF BUJA—SIERRA LEONE has raised concerns over possible return of violence and anarchy as it prepares for its Presidential elections in November, this year.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Henry Olufunmi Macauley said his home government is concerned, particularly, given the violent antecedent of the Presidential candidate of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party, Gen. Mada Bio. His words, “ we are looking forward to elections in November and in the opposition, we have a candidate who was twice a military coupist and known for war crimes. The UK and the US are investigating him

A

on war crimes and extrajudicial killings, as well as corruption during the dark days of his military adventurism .

“We are concerned that somebody with this kind of antecedent may not be somebody who will like peace. We, therefore, implore the Nigerian government and the Nigerian people to keep their eyes open and make sure that nothing goes wrong in Sierra Leone.

"We all know that Nigeria is the big brother in the region and if anything goes wrong anywhere, Nigeria is morally bound to go in.

That is why we appeal to Nigeria to keep her eyes open so that the hard-won peace she has helped us to achieve can be sustained.

“This is important because if we are to achieve sustainable development in Africa, we need peace and stability and we have to bear

in mind that whatever affects one part of the subregion affects others.

“Sierra Leone cannot afford to slide back into violence that left over 500, 000 casualties; Nigeria cannot afford to have Sierra Leone slide back to strife; the international community cannot afford to have Sierra Leone slide back into war.”

The High Commissioner explained that of the two political parties in his country, the opposition party has made Gen. Mada Bio (rtd), its flag bearer.

“There are two parties in Sierra Leone: All People’s Congress, APC, and Sierra Leone People’s Party, SLPP, which used to be the one in power before the ACP came to power with the inauguration of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma as president in 2007. LPP was the party in power before the series of coups in that country".

Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 28, 2012—5 TUESDA AUGUST

POCKET CARTOON

Senate stops CBN on N5,000 notes Continues from Page 1 had become imperative for Senate to put a halt to the new CBN arrangement because a project of this kind required parliamentary approval, adding that the upper legislative chamber was never briefed prior to the announcement of the soonto-be introduced note.

"As a committee, we should do our work. This morning there is a burning issue that is going on in our country and there is need for us, as a committee, to comment on this topical issue. I am the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Currency and other financial institutions.

"We have also read in the papers just like you about the currency restructuring that the CBN embarked on. I believe that a project of this nature requires parliamentary approval because there are numerous and fiscal implications on the entire economy," Senator Otu said.

The CBN governor had on Thursday, last week, announced the introduction of a new currency series where the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1,000

will be redesigned and a new note of N5,000 introduced.

According to Sanusi, the front face of the new highest denomination will be adorned with the pictures of three women activists - late Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Kuti and Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, while the back side would have the National Assembly structure.

Speaking further, Senator Otu warned the CBN to be very careful in taking some decisions that would worsen the nation’s economy and send wrong signal that Nigeria’s currency was valueless. He stressed that the country did not deserve this policy since the nation was not in a major crisis.

According to him, "this type of action is only taken where there is a major crisis and the CBN must be very careful in order not to send a wrong signal or message to households, domestic sector and even the external ones that the Nigerian currency is valueless, which I believe it is definitely not, and that for every unit of value they need to carry a large quantity of cash.

"The CBN in 2008 and 2009 came up with a proposal to re-denomi-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

D

O good now and always lay a foundation for doing good, the good things you do today are seeds of greatness for tomorrow.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. Or, put another way, the humps we can’t help but seeing in others are a lot like the humps others see in us.

Or, perhaps they are like the humps we see in ourselves— Carl Jung

S

TEVE Goodier sums it aptly: “So, what would happen if we’d look at other people’s faults and humps as a gift? After all, they’re teaching us about ourselves.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t spend a great deal of time worrying about how I appear to other people. I know I’m not perfect. Far from it. But I figure that there is an upside to my own flaws, faults and imperfections: For one thing, they seem to bring joy to others. Maybe that’s reason enough not to over-polish.”

Maybe it is just easier to spot the flaws in others.

It’s like the camel. An African proverb states: “The camel never sees its own hump, but that of its brother is always before its eyes.” I probably don’t see my own humps ver y clearly. Or, as writer Margaret Halsey once said, “Whenever I dwell for any length of time on my own shortcomings, they gradually begin to seem mild, harmless, rather engaging little things, not at all like the staring defects in other people’s characters.” Such is the irony of life, but it is best to see the good in others.

nate the currency, that was even to take off the zeroes. This was just 2008 and 2009 and here we are in 2012 we are seeing a kind of policy somersault even though we understand the dynamics of the sector very well. I believe that we have to be well briefed on this.

"Also in 2005, the CBN undertook a major currency restructuring which ran into billions of Naira.

"Till date, a proper value has not been done to know its costs to the Nigerian tax payers and the extent of the benefits and in that 2005 coinage, I think it did not work at all because both the goldsmiths and the blacksmiths converted the coins to moulding bangles, earrings, etc.

"So, we believe that the coinage works very well where there is infrastructure to take it like a half, probably like a parking where you go and put it, etc. We have not developed that real basic infrastructure and those coins, most of them, are nowhere really to be found.

"The CBN will have to prove that the policy is not a clear contradiction or at variance with cashless society, which they are even yet to justify and whether this is the popular economic way to go. We are asking and we are sending a letter to them to stop all further actions on this until the senate of the Federal Republic is properly briefed."

Asked if the CBN informed the Senate prior to the decision, Senator Otu said: "Well, we have not been properly briefed yet, so I would not know. We do not know the reason for it, even though at the moment we do know that inflation is a problem, but I don’t think that they have used all the mechanisms to tackle it and it is not really out of hands.

"There has not been any meeting with the CBN yet. This is a major policy issue and there is no way this kind of thing can go on without us knowing everything about the details in order to know how it will affect the people of Nigeria."

On what section of the constitution the Senate was relying on, he said:

"We are not really going to rely on laws per se, what we are trying to do here is what is best for the Nigerian people.

The Senate is not really against the independence of the CBN, but what we want in place is proper check and that there should be checks and balances in all these things that we do.

"So, I believe that at some point we will be able to sit down together and look at the merits and demerits, but till date we do not know

anything about it and we do not know what the people stand to gain and

until that is properly put through, we say everything about it must stop."

I 'll Surprise my critics by 2013 — Jonathan A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday he would prove critics of his administration wrong by 2013, when the dividends of new policies introduced begin to manifest.

Jonathan said this while declaring open the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja. He said he was the most criticised President in the world at the moment because his critics failed to understand that the country’s current challenges predated his administration.

He assured that his critics would have cause to praise him at the end of the life of his administration, when his Transformation Agenda would have yielded the expected dividends.

“I think I am the most criticised president in the whole world, but I tell this noble audience that before I leave, I will also be the most praised president.

“I have experienced that before in my governorship journey in Bayelsa State. In fact, people who were close to me will tell you that even after the election, I told them that in my first 12 months please cover your ears because you will hear all kinds of things. But as we progress, you will see (changes).

“We are working very hard to stabilise power.

We are working very hard to resurface our roads. We have security challenges, which we are also working very hard to bring to reasonable control. It is not easy; we don’t have the magic wand, except the

miracle worker who with the wave of the hand, probably will help to throw all these challenges away and prosperity will appear. But in pure governance issues, it takes time.

“Sometimes, even people who have held offices in government criticise me to the extent of personal abuses. Sometimes I ask, were there roads across the country and Jonathan brought flood to wipe out these roads? Or we had power and I brought hurricane to break down the entire infrastructure?

“If they say Boko Haram is because of poverty; were there massive irrigation projects in the North where agriculture can thrive and massive farms, and Jonathan brought drought to wipe out these farms? Under two years, is it possible?

"Well, time will tell.

What I can tell Nigerians is that let those who criticise continue to criticise.

“We will do our best and as we progress, Nigerians will know the truth and we’ll see that we are committed and will surely transform this country,” he said.

Jonathan said his administration considered the NBA as a partner in progress and commended the association for choosing a topical theme for the conference. The theme, “Nigeria as an Emerging Market: Redefining our Laws and Politics for Growth”, according to him, was in line with the public-private-partnership-oriented policy of his administration.

He urged the association to review its rules of engagement, which he said, barred its officers from directly getting in-

volved in day-to-day governance either in an advisory or participatory capacity. He disclosed that he had appointed the outgoing President of the NBA, Joseph Daudu (SAN), as Honorary Legal Adviser, but he (Daudu) declined the offer based on the rules of engagement of the association.

Jonathan said he was still willing to appoint the incoming President of the association to the position if the rule could be reviewed.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN), in his goodwill message, said the theme of the conference took cognisance of the synergy between economy, law, government and the private sector. Adoke noted that the position of Nigeria as an emerging market in the globe was not in doubt but there was the need to review the country’s business laws to attract investments. He said his office had taken various initiatives toward making relevant laws that would make Nigeria the favourite investment destination for investors.

Guest speaker at the conference, Very Rev Matthew Kukah, berated the media for portraying Nigeria in bad light using negative reportage, which he said, could discourage investors.

Kukah, a Catholic Bishop, in a speech titled “Nigeria, an Emerging Democracy”, agreed with former CBN Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, that Nigeria was an economic miracle waiting to happen.

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Nigeria not ripe for state police, Jonathan declares zNBA, Okorocha disagree; Oshiomhole supports

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, maintained that Nigeria was not ripe enough to operate the “State Police” system, saying “if there is state police and the governors manipulate their state police the way they are manipulating their state electoral commissions, the instability that it will create even what we are witnessing will be a child’s play.”

President Jonathan who bared his mind on the contentious issue while declaring the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, open in Abuja yesterday, said he had already sought the opinion of former presidents of Nigeria who he said warned him against approving such system in view of present realities in the country.

He said: “On the issue of state police, everybody knows I have been Deputy Governor and Governor in Bayelsa State. There was a time we were frustrated and we felt that we should have our police, that we would be able to manage criminality in our state better because of our local environment.

“Police from other parts of the country find it difficult to go into the waters, but for us who were born near the riverside, even in the night we can enter ordinary canoe to go to anywhere and we feel that if we have our local police it will be better for us because our police can reach everywhere in our state.

“When I discussed the issue of state police with former presidents before a State Council meeting, they said it’s a good idea, that probably one day we’ll get there, and that is the emphasis I want to make, one day we’ll get to that point. But presently we have to be careful on how we go about it.

“Experiments have been made, there was a time when the police came up with a policy that police officers from the rank of inspector and below should be posted to their states of origin as a way of testing whether police familiar with

the environment will make changes, but it was realized that when police officers from the rank of inspector down were posted to their state of origin, it was worst off to manage the situation so the police had to discontinue that policy.

“We also considered the way the governors are handling elections in their states with the state electoral commissions, where opposition parties hardly win even councillorship elections.

“So, if there is state police and the governors manipulate their state police the way they are manipulating their state electoral commissions, the instability that it will create even what we are witnessing will be a child’s play.”

Meanwhile, the NBA disagreed with President Jonathan, stressing that “Nigeria is overripe for state and community police.”

Speaking through its outgoing National President, Mr Joseph B. Daudu, SAN, the NBA warned that “the state of insecurity has assumed a very alarming dimension,” noting that “apart from terrorism, crimes like kidnapping, violent robberies, wanton murders, economic and white collar crimes, e.t.c have become rampant.”

Dauda said, “opponents of state police only cite one constraint which is that governors would use their respective state police to perpetuate their political interests in the run up to elections. Cogent as that misgiving may appear, it is not an obstacle to the proper policing that state police will provide, it must be said outright that a police force is not created for political objectives or for the sole benefit of politicians who are less than two per cent of the population, a police force is created for the maintenance of law and order, to ensure free movement for the conduct of economic, social and cultural activities within the state, to deal with issues of border infiltrations by persons who do not have good intentions for the nation.

“It is really saddening that retired Inspectors General of Police are viewing the matter from the protectionist

position of their former offices. May I respectfully reiterate that Nigeria is not occupied by politicians alone and how the police was used by the regional political chieftains in the 40’s and 50’s when there

support of allowing states to operate their own policing system.

Oshiomole said: “I am not for state police. If created, it would become instruments of state powers.

Unless there is good

he said has continued to perpetuate “economic Kwashiokor.”

“We cannot harness effectively, the abundant natural resources in our land, until we decentralize the powers concentrating at the centre to allow for the practice of true federalism,” Okorocha argued.

Ikeja NBA protests Meantime, aggrieved members of the NBA led by executives of the Ikeja Branch stormed the International Conference Centre, venue of the conference to protest

what they described as “oppressive high conference fee charged by the Daudu-led national executive of NBA.” Brandishing placards bearing messages like “NBA is not a Plc”, “No to arbitrary and oppressive Bar conference fee,” among others, the protesters who sang and danced at the entrance gate to the venue of the conference, called for the immediate probe of the outgoing national president of the association, Daudu, SAN, over alleged financial recklessness.

BONI YAYI VISITS PRESIDENT JONATHAN—President Goodluck Jonathan (right) introducing some of his aides to the visiting President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi yesterday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Photo: State House.

was not much enlightenment is of little moment in today’s Nigeria.

“The truth is that insufficient policing is affecting the economic wellbeing of over 98 per cent of Nigeria yet the IG’s and their supporters want us to look at politics as the only determinant factor of survival in Nigeria. It appears as if some states don’t want state police, to this I say that it is not compulsory and no state should be compelled to have it if they don’t see the need for it. But states that desire it being component units of the federation are entitled to it.”

Likewise, Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, who were special guests at the occasion, equally joined the debate, with the two governors expressing conflicting views regarding the issue of creating “State Police” system in Nigeria.

Whereas Okorocha called for the immediate adoption of the system which he said would help the Federal Government to curtail the increasing spate of crime and violence in the country, Oshiomole on the other hand, said he was not in

governance and responsible leadership in Nigeria, this country will continue with the current circle of lamentation.”

He said with the abundant natural resources, without good governance and responsible leadership, the country will continue in poverty.

Oshiomhole makes case for review of revenue formula Oshiomhole, however called on the Federal Government to review the revenue formula, to allow both the states and local governments, control 70 percent of the nation’s resources against the current percent accruing to the two tiers of government.

“The Federal Government does not need more than 30 percent of the national income to run its affairs. The majority of developmental challenges lie with the states and local governments which should get more funds to develop the country,” he added.

Aside advocating the state police system, Okorocha also called for a total over-haul of the current revenue sharing formula in Nigeria which

Insecurity: Buhari blames insincerity, corruption

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

A D U N A — PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the last general polls, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) said yesterday that lack of sincerity on the part of Nigerian leaders was responsible for the security problems confronting the nation.

He added that the Federal Government, since the administration of Gen Ibrahim Babangida till date was responsible for the “high level of corruption and destruction” in the petroleum industry.

The former military ruler said these while receiving leaders and members of CPC led by House of Representative representing Funtua/ Dandume Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Dr. Mansur Abdulkadir who paid him a visit ahead of the forthcoming local government election in Katsina State.

Said Buhari: “for Nigeria to move forward and realise

its quest for development, its people must come out with trusted leaders to steer the affairs of the nation.

There is no country in the world, where impunity strives like Nigeria.

“The biggest challenge of Nigeria is for adequate security to be in place and fashion out ways in which we can protect the wealth of this country and provide job opportunities for the youths, so that we can build more industries as it was before.

“Inability of these industries to work has brought mistrust and corruption to Nigeria.

Therefore, our leaders have to be sincere and lead with the fear of God and carry all along for Nigeria to be a better place.

“All leaders should stand and keep promises to the people. We cannot move forward if things that are supposed to be put in place are not done. The money which was siphoned in the recent pension scam and the petroleum industry scam must all be brought back into the government’s coffer for good leadership".

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 7

ANNIVERSARY: UN Country Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure (right) with other Heads of UN Agencies observe a minute silence to honour victims of the UN House bombing at a meeting of management and staff of the UN System in Nigeria to mark the 1st anniverssary of the occurence in Abuja.

Photo:Abayomi Adeshida.

From left: Dr. Anagha Ezikpe, Chairman, Abia Advisory Council, Sir Emeka Ananaba, Abia State Deputy Governor, his wife, Lady Nene Ananaba and Mr. Ude Oko-chukwu, Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly during a church service to mark Abia State at 21 in Umuahia.

Son dies pursuing father's alleged kidnappers zKidnapped father yet to be released

BY VINCENTUJUMADU

A

WKA—A YOUNG man in his early twenties, Mr. Junior Egbunike, was, yesterday, confirmed dead following injuries sustained while pursuing his father ’s kidnappers at the commercial town of Onitsha.

Mr. Amulunanma Egbunike was returning

home with his wife and son simply known as Junior after the day’s business at the weekend in Onitsha and as they got very close to their house at the Onitsha Inland Town, hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers blocked his car and dragged him into their own car and drove off.

His son, who was driv-

ing his father ’s car, pursued them with his mother also in the car.

But barely 400 meters away, the car got involved in a head on collision with another car and both mother and son sustained serious injuries.

Junior, who had been in coma since the incident, gave up the ghost

yesterday at a hospital in Onitsha, while his mother had been discharged from hospital.

With the death of Junior, the Egbunike family has lost the only child left, having lost the family’s only daughter some years ago.

Meantime, the kidnapped Egbunike is yet to regain his freedom.

....As gunmen abduct Imo dep gov's aide

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

O

WERRI—PRINCIPAL Secretary to Imo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Emenike Ihekwoaba, an architect, has been abducted by unknown gunmen at Amaraku Junction, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state.

Vanguard gathered that Emenike, on Sunday was on his way to his Nkwerre country home with his wife and driver before he was ambushed and whisked away to unknown destination by the armed hoodlums.

Confirming the kidnap,

Auction

A

SPECIAL auction of 15 photographs of different sights of the Sahara Desert taken by the ace photographer Kelechi AmadiObi, will hold on Wednesday, August 29, at Didi Museum, Victoria Island, Lagos, It will kick off by 6.00 p.m.

The 15 photographs on auction were carefully selected from the over 5,000 shots of Kelechi Amadi-Obi during the Third Expedition across the Sahara by the inimitable Dr. Newton Jibunoh who led a new team of Desert Warriors.

the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media Affairs, Chief Onyema Opara, said his boss was not only worried about the incident but making frantic efforts to secure his release.

Onyema claimed the hoodlums reportedly forced the huge Principal Secretary into their vehicle’s booth and zoomed off.

Opara said that government was not only

worried by the development, but had employed everything within its reach to trace and release Ihekwoaba from his captors.

Speaking on how the victim was picked up, he said that not long after the Principal Secretary alighted from his car to buy a few things at Amaraku Junction, the hoodlums struck.

According to him, “you can imagine how massive the man is. They

held him and put him in the vehicle’s booth. His wife and driver ran away. I think from the way it happened, they actually came for him.”

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, proved abortive but Chief Onyema confirmed that government had reported the matter to both the State Security Service, SSS, and the police, stressing that they are working.

Anambra Labour Party crisis deepens

BY VINCENTUJUMADU

A

WKA—THE leader ship crisis rocking the Anambra State branch of the Labour Party, LP, has deepened as the embattled chairman of the party, Comrade Jude Ezenwafor is threatening a N1 billion court action against some members of the party over alleged defamation of character.

It would be recalled that some LP chieftains led by Mr. Sam Oraegbunam last week announced the sacking of the chairman for alleged misappropriation of N6.5 million belonging to the party.

The Publicity secretary of

the party, Mr. Rich Onuorah, while briefing newsmen also announced the ratification of Oraegbunam as the chairman of the party in the state.

But addressing reporters in Awka, counsel to Ezenwafor, Mr. Clems Ezike, said his client had concluded plans to institute a N1billion suit against those who purportedly sacked the chairman over fraud allegation.

Ezike said: “We have the instruction of the state chairman of the Labour Party to issue a 14 -day notice of intention to institute a legal action against those involved. The state LP lead-

ership under Jude Ezenwafor is still valid and subsisting”.

According to him, there was no state congress of the party during which those involved signed any document to take over the leadership, noting that by their action, the reputation and image of his client was lowered before right thinking members of the public.

However, Oraegbunam who was named state chairman of LP, dismissed the threat by Ezenwafor, arguing that a committee set up by the party to investigate the allegations against him invited him to appear before it, but he failed to honour the invitation.

Jonathan to inaugurate crude oil firm in Anambra

A

WKA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will, Thursday, inaugurate the first crude oil production from an inland basin in the country by Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, OPR, at Aguleri Otu in Anambra State.

A statement by the oil firm said the inauguration follows the grant of a licence by the Federal Government for the firm to construct a petroleum refinery at Nsugbe-Umuleri in 2005, after which OPR conducted extensive due process of investigations and obtained the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, Certificate for its refinery which it said is the first refinery in the country to receive such an EIA Certificate.

The statement added that

OPR had also obtained from the FGN in early 2012 the EIA Certificate for its Seismic, Drilling and Production activities in its OPLs 915 & 916.

Orient Petroleum Resources Plc, OPR, is a private company, conceived and set up by its promoters and wholly owned by its shareholders,fromallpartsofthecountry including Rivers State Government, Anambra State Government and the 21 Local Governments in Anambra State, who hold minority interest in the company.

The two oil blocks, OPLs 915 & 916, awarded by the FGN to the company to provide feedstock for the Orient Refinery, cover an approximate area of 2,158 sq. km, lying predominantly in Anambra State but extending into Enugu, Kogi, Edo and Delta States.

We 'll not negotiate with detractors —Orji

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State Government, yesterday, said it would not negotiate the future of the state with people it called detractors, saying discussing with them “will be tantamount to mortgaging the destiny of Abians with the same group which held it hostage in the recent past.”

It said no amount of mischief could deter the governor from his determination to build a new Abia for the present and future generations, through measures aimed at eradicating poverty, unemployment and restoring the commercial status of Aba In a statement by Mr. Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communication, government flayed what it regarded as “dissemination of

falsehood against the people and governmentofAbiaState,”byAll Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, regarding the development of Aba roads, saying they were only seeking the attention of the governor.

He said: “The man who doubles as the spokesman to a few discredited politicians who have unwillingly shut themselves into political isolation are now struggling to wriggle out of oblivion where they have been deposited.

The governor just as any Abian is well aware of the enormity of work left behind by successive governmentsforwhichreasonhe has since turned Aba and Abia in general to a huge construction site. The task of rebuilding Abia, politically, economically and socially is not a child’s play and as such the governor has refused to be distracted by those whose expectation he had surpassed.”

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan bidding farewell to the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, while the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (second left); Justice Minister, Mr. Bello Adoki (second right) and the Youth Development Minister, Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-Kadri (right) watch after the President declared open the 52nd Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

FG vs Delta: Court hears argument over Ibori's bribe money tomorrow

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, ordered the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to appear before it tomorrow to

argue over who ought to inherit the $15 million bribe money allegedly offered by convicted exGovernor James Ibori in 2007.

The money was allegedly offered with a view to persuading the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission, EFCC, to stop investigations into allegations of corruption against Ibori.

Justice Gladys Olotu fixed the date consequent upon a request by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Delta State, Chief Charles Ajuya,SAN. Ajuya prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him serve fresh hearing notice on the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, SAN and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It would be recalled that Delta State had on August 13, argued that the jettisoned bribe money legitimately belongs to it, even as it urged the high court to issue an order, remitting the fund to the Delta State treasury.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had on July 24, filed an ex-parte motion before the same court, wherein it sought to take possession of the money.

The FG, which disclosed that the cash was received by officers of EFCC from an undisclosed agent of the exgovernor, told the court that the commission under its then chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, deposited the money into the strong room 1 of CBN, on April 26, 2007.

It, however, noted that Ibori has since denied giving the cash to either EFCC or any of its officers.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—9

Briefly

Lagos councils for probe

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

KEJA—THE Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Account has commenced this year’s first quarter consideration of the Auditor-General for Local Government report on the accounts of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas in the state.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Dayo Fafunmi, representing Ifako-Ijaye Constituency I, noted that the exercise was to review the financial returns to all councils in the state.

He directed all councils were to forward their bank statements, vouchers and other documents relating to contracts being awarded and contracts yet to be executed.

Okada riders' protest new Lagos Traffic Law

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—HUNDREDS of commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, in the early hours of yesterday, barricaded the Lagos-

Abeokuta Expressway to protest against the Lagos State Government’s new Road Traffic Law, part of which restricts their operations on major roads across the state.

The protesting Okada riders were said to have

by 8 a.m,stormed the Abule-Egba area, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, one of the restricted routes for Okada riders.

This resulted in a gridlock as they disrupted free flow of traffic.

Vanguard gathered that

the Okada riders were protesting the ban on their operations along the axis as well as the harassment of their members by security agencies.

It took the intervention of the state security outfit, Rapid Response

From left: Mr Demola Akinlabi, C h a i r m a n , Photojournalist Association of Nigeria, PJAN; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, newly PJAN Life Patron and Mr. Remi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, at the conferment of Life Patron Award on Gov. Fashola by PJAN at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Group flays calls for Jonathan's resignation

BY GBENGA OKE

L

AGOS—A group, Southern Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Alliance, SNENA, has stated that calls for the resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan over the insecurity situation in the country is naïve and failed to address the nation’s fundamental problems.

The group maintained that the challenges facing the nation goes beyond individuals because they were fundamental problems which cannot be solved wholeheartedly by half-baked and self-serving measures.

At a briefing in Lagos, yesterday, Deputy Coordinator of the group, Mr. Akin Adesokan, said the group which comprises various ethnic nationalities from the Southern part of Nigeria had come together as one body to address the frightening situation occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram and to condemn in strong terms senseless killings, destruction of human lives and the conscious attempt to cause anarchy in Nigeria by Boko Haram.

GRIDLOCK: Aftermath of Okada riders protest at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Leke Adeseri.

Lagos govt warns residents over Meningitis

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & OLASUNKANMI AKONI

I

KEJA—FOLLOWING Federal Government’s directive to states to mobilise their health workers against possible outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis, CSM, in the country, the Lagos State Government has enjoined Lagosians to report any suspected case to the nearest public health facility.

The Federal Ministry of Health had in its alert message by its Chief Consultant Epidemologist, Dr. A. Oyemakinde, described CSM as “a major epidemic prone-disease which poses a serious public health problems in

the country.”

However, no case of CSM has been reported in Lagos yet.

In a statement, yesterday, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, explained that the alert was to notify the public to the seasonal occurrence of the disease and the need for the residents to protect themselves against it.

Idris said: “CSM is a dangerous and a lifethreatening disease that affects the thin layers of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord of an infected human person and it is caused by bacteria.”

He explained that, “Though, Meningitis belt covers mostly the north-

ern part of the country; however, in view of the phenomenal climatic change as well as the high human migration, it is not impossible that outbreaks can occur in any part of the country, Lagos inclusive.”

He noted that meningitis is an epidemic

prone-disease that spreads from person to person through contact with discharges or droplets from nose and throat of an infected person through kissing, sneezing and coughing, especially among people living in close quarters, hotels, refugee camp,etc.

Squad, RRS, the police, Federal Road Safety Corps and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, to restore normalcy on the road.

One of the protesters, Mr. Aliu Abubaker, who spoke to Vanguard, noted that if government should carry out the order it would send them into serious hunger as many of them would be deprived of their means of livelihood.

“Where do they want us to go? I have been operating along this route for the past two years. I have no other job, this is what I use in feeding my family. ''The government should have a rethink, at least they can give us some period of grace to operate and not total ban.”

An official of the state Ministry of Transportation, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the protest, saying the situation was immediately put under check with no arrest made as the protesting Okada riders retreated accordingly.

Meantime, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, yesterday, disclosed that the government has added 15,000 road signs in addition to the existing 10,000.

Opeifa said the massive installation of the signs would enable road-users to be conversant with the signs and their significance, adding that it would also assist roadusers to know the restricted routes for motorcycles and tricycles, designated bus-stops, among others.

He implored the residents to inform the government through GSM number 08174616936 on locations where they felt that traffic signs are needed.

He, however, warned “recalcitrant” Okada riders and tricycles also known as “Keke NAPEP or Marwa” in their own interest, to desist from plying the restricted 475 routes as anyone found violating the law would be appropriately sanctioned.

2 docked for impersonation, manslaughter

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

KEJA—A 35-year-old ex-soldier, Mohammed Awa, was, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court for impersonation as NDLEA official.

Also, a 45-year- old man, Olalekan Salami,

was arraigned before another magistrate's court, for manslaughter.

Awa, was on a threecount charge of impersonation, forgery and unlawful possession,to which he pleaded guilty.

The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Barth Nwakaoye,

told the court that the accused unlawfully forged and had in his possession an NDLEA identity card, which he had been using to parade himself as an official of the organisation.

Nwaokoye said the accused committed the offence on August 25 at Abattoir area of Agege.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Why I resigned as PDP BoT Chairman,

by Obasanjo

Aregbesola scores self high zConstitution review a fraud — Ojudu

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

A

B E O K U TA — FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, weekend, broke his silence on why he resigned as the party’s Board of Trustees Chairman, claiming that he did it so as to concentrate on international issues.

Obasanjo said his resignation was “to attract business opportunities to Africa in general and Nigeria, in particular, in view of the happenings in Europe and America.”

Reacting to the crisis bedeviling the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, the former President declared that he had no grudge against exgovernor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the party ’s financier, Buruji Kashamu and other aggrieved members of the party.

Obasanjo, who spoke during a stakeholders' meeting in his Hiltop residence in Abeokuta, urged party executives to open its doors to everybody ‘regardless of their antecedents.’

It would be recalled that the party has been enmeshed in leadership crisis which had polarised the party into four factions with Obasanjo, Daniel, Kashamu and Jubril Martins-Kuye leading the factions.

O Sympathisers and relatives of a middle-aged woman, identified as Mrs. Oluwabunmi Oluwafemi, who was discovered hanging on a tree inside a bush beside Odo-Ona, Apata Bridge, yesterday, waiting for traditionalists to remove the body. Photo: Dare Fasube

S-West PDP cautions against Yoruba confab in Ibadan zAkinrinade explains need for Yoruba Assembly

BY DAPO AKINREFON

I

BADAN—THE South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has cautioned Yoruba leaders against any agenda capable of further causing disunity among the people.

The party described the conference, scheduled for Ibadan, on Thursday, as a direct attack on the Yoruba Unity Forum, YUF, meeting convened by Yoruba leaders last Thursday at the Ikenne country-home of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

However, a former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), has said that the planned Yoruba conference will provide the people a common platform to push for a Yoruba agenda.

In a statement, PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kayode Babade, argued that “since there was a meeting of YUF last Thursday, at the instance of Yeye Oodua, Chief HID Awolowo, holding another meeting eight days after is suspicious.”

According to PDP, “Although we have a lot of respect for Gen. Alani Akinrinade, convener of

Sacked Ondo monarch replaced

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—THE sack ing of the traditional ruler of Igburowo, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Akinfesola Adewola, weekend, by the youths of the town took a new turn yesterday as a new regent has been appointed to act in his stead.

Also, the police in the state said the Oba is at present under its custody to avoid a clash by the youths and his supporters.

The people of the community appointed the Lisa of the town, who is also the second-in-command to the monarch, Chief Festus Ogunsesin, as the regent and warned the removed Oba not to return

to the town.

It would be recalled that the youths on Sunday invaded the palace of the monarch and forcefully ejected him over allegation of high handedness.

The youths had as early as 6.30 a.m. marched to his palace and forced the monarch out to the entrance of the town to express their grievances against his alleged high handedness.

He was said to have been forced to trek several kilometres and was led to another community while the palace was locked.

The action of the youth was said to have followed a protest letter send to the government and signed by 21 members of the town representing various interest groups over alleged

atrocities that had brought the town into disrepute.

It was gathered that the regent is expected stand in until a new Oba is appointment.

the meeting, we, however, hasten to warn that any agenda by shadowy politicians in Yorubaland capable of causing further disunity among the Yoruba people will not be supported by PDP.” While it dissociated itself from the conference, the party stated that the only person whose voice was respected as that of the Yoruba nation was the late Awolowo.

Akinrinade convenes Yoruba Assembly Meantime, Akinrinade, who is convener of the planned Yoruba Assembly, explained that the conference is aimed at uniting people from the South-West region.

He also added that the conference would proffer solutions to the problems facing the region and country.

While he harped on the need for unity in Yorubaland, he said: “We are hoping to form some common front for the Yoruba to re-establish the agenda and revalidate it and then present it, not for our people but to Nigeria as a way forward. ''We hope that other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria will discuss among themselves, we will have the opportunity to put the discussion on the table so that everybody will be heard. ''We will be able to reach certain decisions to move this country forward. It is not good to say that nothing is negotiable. We don’t want Nigeria to unravel in this kind of messy way.”

While advocating the need for autonomy of each ethnic nationalities, he warned that the predicted break-up of the country was inevitable if urgent steps were not taken.

Ogun residents decry state of roads

A

BEOKUTA—RESI DENTS of Ijoko, Abule, Itoki and Agbado areas of Ogun State, yesterday, decried the poor state of roads within their communities and urged government to come to their rescue.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria, in separate interviews that the roads in their area had been neglected and abandoned for years.

Mr. Mukaila Ahmed, a commercial bus operator,

said the road had been in deplorable condition for years.

He said: “The road has caused a lot of damages to our vehicles; many of our union members have relocated their buses to other area because of the condition of the road.

“The road has not been given attention that it deserves, may be because prominent politicians and government officials are not residing in the area.

“People don’t patronise

commercial buses, they complain of body pain, so they prefer to take ‘Okada’ because it can always find its way.”

According to him, motorcycle operators do not find it easy navigating their way through the road.

Mr Femi Bankole, a banker and resident of Abule community, said that for the past one year he had not been going to work with his car because of the state of the road.

SOGBO—OSUN State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said that his administration had within two years in office outdone the wrongs of his predecessors through the re-branding of the state.

In a statewide broadcast to mark the 21st anniversary of the creation of the state, Gov. Aregbesola, who highlighted the achievements of his governments since assumption of office, singled out Colonel Segun Ajiborisa and Chief Bisi Akande as his predecessors who achieved greatly since the creation of the state 21 years ago.

He, however, attributed the achievements of his administration to determination and support his government enjoyed from all category of people in the state, just as he commended the founding fathers of the state for their vision and dreams for the state.

Meantime, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, yesterday, declared that the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly is a fraud that will not serve the people of Nigeria any purpose.

He also asked all progressive Nigerians to join the ongoing battle to ensure a national transformation that will lead to the writing of a new constitution by the people of Nigeria and not the one currently in use imposed by the military.

The lawmaker, who spoke in Osogbo, at a public lectureto mark the 21st anniversary of the creation of Osun State, noted that “a constitution that starts with “we, the people” without consulting the people, such as the current one is a fraud.”

He said: “Only imposters write such constitution and only a people without pride and freedom will allow such a constitution to last. Therefore, as soon as possible, a constitution of the people for the people and by the people must be written and adopted.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—11

IPMAN decries fuel scarcity in Edo, Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

LEBOKU FESTIVAL: Governor Liyel-Imoke of Cross River State (middle), his wife Obioma (right) and Mr. Kester Osahenye, Regional Marketing Manager, South-South, MTN, during the 2012 Leboku Festival supported by MTN.

Ex-Delta Speaker, Igbrude, slumps, dies in hospital

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—FORMER Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Daniel Igbrude, allegedly slumped and died in a hospital yesterday afternoon.

Igbrude, who became the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly June 3, 2003, was reported to have taken his child to St Luke’s Hospital in Asaba and while the treatment of the child was going on, he demanded to use the toilet and reportedly slumped and died there.

A close source who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the death, sayng: “This is a great blow. We are all devastated by this (death). He was hale and hearty when he went to the hospital.”

He was said to have died at about 2pm.

Igbrude, who was a

staunch member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had decamped to DPP due to party differences, but in March last year staged a come back to PDP, with some of his

followers.

On that occasion, the former Speaker formally announced his return and that of the other DPP members to the PDP when Governor

Kidnappers of Bayelsa monarch demand N50m ransom

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—KIDNAPPERS of King Richard Seiba, the Ibedaowei (clan head) of Okordia Kingdom, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have demanded N50 million ransom to effect his release.

The 70-year-old monarch, a second class ruler, was seized at gunpoint in the early hours of Saturday by four unknown gunmen at his palace.

The whereabouts of the monarch had remained unknown since his abduction.

It was, however, gathered that the hoodlums established contact with the family on Sunday night.

Attempts to speak with the monarch's wife, Mrs. Evelyn Seiba, who witnessed the abduction of her husband, proved abortive but a family source who did not want his name in print told Vanguard: “The kidnappers have called and they

Prevail on Police to obey court order, Ugolor begs Attorney-General

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

E N I N — D E TAINED Executive Director of African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, has again called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke, to prevail on the police to obey court order.

Emmaunel Uduaghan paid a reconciliatory visit to his country home at Owhelogbo in lsoko North Local Government Area of the state.

Ugolor was arrested over his alleged involvement in the murder of the Private Principal Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

It would be recalled that Justice Esther Edigin of Benin High Court ordered the Inspector General of Police to release the applicant unconditionally from their detention anywhere they had kept him in the country to enable him attend to his fail-

ing health, pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice.

In a reminder letter yesterday in Benin to the Attorney General by the detained activist and copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) through his counsel, Afolabi Olayiwola, Ogolor said: “Your office is the only one that can properly and legally advise the Inspector General of Police to obey lawful court order."

are demanding N50 million.”

Though the state government and security agencies had waded into the matter, the source added that “our community folks are also not relenting as they have organized a search party and are combing the adjoining forest with a view to tracking down the kidnappers.”

The state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had on Sunday, dispatched a high powered delegation to the troubled IkaramaOkordia clan to sympathize with the people and assure them of government’s assistance in ensuring the quick release of their monarch.

Contacted on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunwa (DSP), said the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, has set up a high-powered team to ensure the quick resolution of the m a t t e r .

The police image maker said he also heard of the kidnappers' demand for ransom but could not confirm the authenticity of the claim.

ARRI—INDE PENDENT Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Midwest zone, has condemned the current scarcity of petrol in Delta and Edo states, calling on the Federal Government and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to come to the aid of petroleum marketers to guarantee steady supply.

IPMAN’s zonal chairman, Mr. Austin Irabor, at a marketers' extra-ordinary meeting in Warri, Delta State, yesterday said: “There is no fuel in Delta State. Only six

trucks of fuel are supplied to the state daily, which is inadequate. Most of the filling stations are without fuel and the situation is getting worse.”

He said that only the urgent intervention of the Federal Government and NNPC would save the situation.

IPMAN Delta State Chairman, Chief Akpovire Edafevwotu, on his part, said the association was unhappy with alleged indiscriminate levies on marketers by the Delta State Government.

He threatened that the marketers would drag the state government to court, if the levies were not stopped.

Rural women graduate from NDDC/Shell training programme

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—1, 620 rural women have graduated from a partnership training programme organised by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Speaking, weekend, in Port Harcourt at the graduation ceremony, Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Christian Oboh, said the programme was aimed at building capacity among rural women in the nine member states of the commission.

Oboh, who was represented by the Head, Human Resources of the Commission, Dr. Princess Ogan, said the skills acquired during the exercise would help women participate actively in income generation, adding that it would also assist them organize themselves into cooperative societies to

enhance industrialization. He urged the graduands to make use of the skill acquired during the programme.

Passage

P

A MOSES Imangbenekalo Aigbiremon, 84, of Ewohimi/Onitsha Road, Idumeka, Igueben, Edo State, is dead.

There will be a funeral mass on Friday, September 7, at St. Joseph’s Catholic church, Igueben.

Interment follows immediately at his residence. He is survived by a widow, Mrs Esther Aigbiremon, children and relations, including Osaide Cletus.

Late Moses Aigbiremon

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Okorefe I installed monarch of Agbarha kingdom

BY FESTUS AHON

U

INSTALLATION: Mr. Victor Gotevbe, Admin. Manager Vanguard Media Limited, (2nd right) and his wife; HRM, Okorefe I, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom (2nd left) and Mr. Francis Ukpedesivwe of Vanguard Newspapers, during the installation of the monarch, at Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.

Murder victim's family alleges threats by suspected killers

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—RELATIONS of Mr. Eugene Orlu-Orlu, of Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, who died recently in the hands of suspected kidnappers, have sent an SOS to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Police in the state over alleged threats to their lives by the suspected killers.

The family, which disclosed this at Ubima last weekend, said those who allegedly killed OrluOrlu, a retired head teacher, had been sending repeated text messages threatening lives of other members of the family.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Luke Orlu-Orlu, stressed that one of the suspected killers informed some fam-

ily members of determination to kill the first son of their brother after government declared the suspects wanted.

He said: “Governor Amaechi, who is a son of Ubima, must not relent in ensuring the arrest of all those connected with the death of our brother.

It is strange that those of them still at large have the boldness to threaten the killing his first son.

“The young man is barely recovering from the murder of his father.

The governor must hear this and act fast.”

Thanking the governor and Police for earlier interventions which resulted in the arrest of some of the kidnap suspects, Luke urged security agencies not to relent until the prime suspect, believed to be sending the death threats, was

Why I shunned Edo PDP disciplinary c'ttee —Iduoriyekemwen

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—FORMER Edo State representative on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Mr Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, week-

end, gave reasons why he shunned the invitation extended to him to appear before a disciplinary committee of the party over alleged anti-party activities.

He explained that members of his group in the state PDP no longer recognized the Chief Dan Orbih-led executive of the

Militants offer to help Delta citizens view the offer fight kidnappers with suspicion, as they

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI—NIGERDELTA Liberation Force, NDLF, a militant group in Delta State, weekend, pledged to support Delta State Government in the battle against kidnapping and armed robbery.

The group, founded by a former militant leader, the late 'General' John Togo, which made the offer in a statement by its

apprehended.

It would be recalled that Orlu-Orlu, a retired School Head in Ikwerre Local Government area, was abducted recently by gunmen who demanded his retirement gratuity as ransom.

The victim, who is reportedly diabetic, died in the hands of the kidnappers before he was found by the police and family members.

spokesperson, Mark Anthony, expressed revulsion at the high rate of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.

NDLF said it was interested in working with the Delta State Police Command, Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger Delta, codenamed, Operation Pulo Shield, and other security agencies to checkmate criminals.

However, concerned

see the militants as people of the same hue with kidnappers and armed robbers they want to confront.

The statement said: “The leadership of Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, condemns the high rate of kidnapping/ armed robbery in Delta State and pledges to partner with the Delta Police Command and the Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat the menace."

party due to the failure of the leadership to win an election in the past two years, including the just concluded governorship election in the state.

Iduoriyekemwen and others had called for the immediate resignation of the entire state Exco of the party led by Chief Orbih, following the failure of the party to win any of the 192 wards in the state during the governorship election.

But to counter the rebellion in the party, the leadership set up a disciplinary committee to try the affected members who it equally accused of working for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during the election.

Iduoriyekemwen asserted: “ If they said because we worked for Oshiomhole that was why we lost, also ask them in their own individual units did they also work for Oshiomhole that led to them losing their units?"

G H E L L I — PA S SAGE rites for the late monarch of Agbarha kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM John Amrohworiemure Okorefe, Ebelle II, yesterday came to a highpoint, weekend, with the installation of HRM Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle, Okorefe I, as the new king of the kingdom.

HRM Okorefe I is the first son of the deceased monarch, HRM John Amrohworiemure Okorefe, Ebelle II, whose passage rites began last week Tuesday.

The installation ceremony, which was witnessed by prominent indigenes and friends of the kingdom, was performed according to the traditional rites of the people of Agbarha king-

dom.

Speaking to Vanguard at the palace shortly after the installation ceremony, first civilian of Governor of the State, Olorogun Felix Ibru, said: “The installation ceremony is grand and peaceful as you can see.”

He also described the passage rite of the late monarch as peaceful and successful, adding that the installation ceremony was a clear manifestation of the Agbarha succession system of hereditary.

Ibru said the new king had been installed by the people of Agbarha awaiting his recognition and presentation of staff of office by the state government which, according to him, would be done in due cause.

Admonishing the new monarch to listen to the people whom he reigns over as a king, Ibru wished him long life and a peaceful reign.

UPU eulogises late Agbarha monarch

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — U R H O B O Progress Union, UPU, has described the late monarch of Agbarha kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM John Amrohworiemure Okorefe, Ebelle II, as a great king who was vast in Urhobo tradition.

Speaking on behalf of UPU during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased monarch and the people of the kingdom, second Vice President General of the union, Chief Gabriel

Ofotokun, described the sudden exit of the monarch as shocking and painful.

According to Ofotokun, the late monarch carried the people of Agbarha along in his rulership of the kingdom.

He added that the late monarch would be greatly missed by the people of Agbarha kingdom, the Urhobo and people of the state at large.

Urging the people of the kingdom to be peaceful and united, Ofotokun told them not to allow the demise of the king to distract them.

N5,000 note: Call CBN gov to order, Owie urges FG

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AS Nigeri ans from all walks of life continue to react to the planned introduction of a N5,000 currency note, two prominent Edo citizens have expressed their opinions on the issue with the former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Roland Owie, advising the Federal Government to call the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to order before it is too late.

However, former gover-

nor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said there was nothing wrong with the introduction of the N5,000 currency note, noting that it would makes it easier and more convenient for individuals to carry bulk money.

Owie said: “I said it about two years that Nigerians should tell Sanusi that the CBN is not Kano Emirate.

“If he has exhausted all the ideas in his head and now wants to destroy the country finally, he should please, thrown in the towel. Enough is enough."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 —13

Boko Haram: Adeboye, Oritsejafor, Oyedepo, others pray for Nigeria

BY OLAAJAYI

I

BADAN—GENERAL Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, National President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Ayo Oritsejafor and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo are among eminent ministers of the gospel expected in the Oyo State capital, Ibadan to pray against the insurgence of the violent Islamic sect and for the peace of the country.

This was disclosed yesterday in Ibadan by the presiding bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke while briefing newsmen on the church’s 30th annual Holy Ghost convention.

The bishop announced that the above-named men of God would be in Ibadan for the convention which is expected to be another platform to pray for an end to the ignoble activities of the Boko Haram which had left hundreds of innocent Nigerians dead.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Bishop Oke warned against the dire consequences of the introduction of a single N5,000 note as proposed by the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at this crucial time of the nation’s political evolution.

He posited that the proposed introduction of N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria can be counter-productive, he said since the CBN governor came on board, he had involved himself in so many misadventures.

Oke cleric averred that the

move would further compound the economy of the country.

On the Federal Government proposal to dialogue with the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, he said it would be improper for the government to enter into any form of dialogue with

NUPENG slams Okonjo-Iweala over comment

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-

YOUNG

L

AGOS—NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday, dismissed report credited to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, describing NUPENG as antiNigerians.

In a statement by its acting General Secretary, Mr. Aberare, the union,

said she should hide her head in shame and resign as the economy is still in the doldrums, since her World Bank policies are to further pauperise the downtrodden.

It will be recalled that Okonji-Iweala, in the wake of NUPENG’s threat to embark on nationwide strike over nonpayment of subsidy claims to verified oil marketers, which NUPENG said made members not to be paid in the past

five months, allegedly labeled NUPENG as anti-Nigerians.

NUPENG however commended the maturity displaced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, "who painstakingly looked at the issues involved and proffered solutions and an amicable settlement which led to the suspension of the strike and agreed that our members owed five months salary should be paid."

US pledges to strenghten bilateral relations with Nigeria

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AGOS—MR Jeffrey Hawkins, Consul-General to the US Embassy in Nigeria, yesterday, said his country would assist Nigeria in solving some of its challenges, including insecurity and environmental degradation.

Hawkins,who said this in Lagos, noted that this was to promote and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.He said this at the 2012 International Partner Forum, organised by the Commercial Service Department of the Embassy.

He said: “Business between Nigeria and the US

businessmen is important to both countries’ bilateral relations.

“We need to explore the markets and improve the existing bilateral relations between us.“ The Envoy said the US government was prepared to support Nigeria in solving environmental challenges and problems, as well as ensure security of lives and property.

Hawkins said Nigerian government should create an enabling environment for investors in order to promote trade and investment between both countries.

Youths tasked on free, fair poll

BY EMMAARUBI

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ARRI—YOUTHS in Ifie-Kporo community inWarriSouthLocalGovernment Area of Delta State have been warned against any unruly behaviour during the forthcoming election.

Chairman of the community, Mr. Monday Agbeyi, gave the warning,atEjokiIkengbuwahall while addressing the youths on the need to maintain peace in the September election.

Agbeyi who told the youths

that the Trustee and elders of the community would not interfere in the internal democracy of the youthswarnedthemtodesistfrom all criminal acts to allow for free andfairelection,astheywerevery interestedintheconductofacredible election geared towards moving the community forward.

The newly inaugurated Agbeyi–led executive has already ensured the provision and installation of 2-new transformers to service the community that had been in perpetual darkness for a long time.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 14

Vanguard , TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—15

FG to rebuild UN House with N2.6bn

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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BUJA—ONE year af ter the bombing of United Nations office in the country, the Federal Government has committed N2.6 billion for the rebuilding of the UN House and

also promised to refund $580,000 spent on treatment of victims.

Disclosing this at a memorial ceremony for the victims in Abuja yesterday, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, who said the UN House bomb-

ing was a wake-up call to make Abuja a safe and secure capital city, assured that the government had risen up to the occasion.

He said: “Federal Government provided N3.2 billion to rehabilitate the UN House, made up of N2.6 billion to start rebuilding

and N600 million for temporary accommodation.”

The Minister said Federal Government considered it paramount in its duty and responsibility to reconstruct the UN building.

He assured the UN and the international commu-

Jega raises alarm over illegal voters' registration in Ondo

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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HAIRMAN of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday, charged security agencies to apprehend and prosecute those he alleged were behind an ongoing illegal voters registration in Ondo State, ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

Speaking during a strategic retreat to prepare the commission’s senior officials for the 2015 general elections, Jega said even where the culprits involved

in the illegal registration in Ondo were not caught, they would not be able to breach the existing data base of the commission.

Jega pledged that the commission was ready to ensure that the forthcoming Ondo gubernatorial election is an improvement of the one conducted in Edo State.

He said: “Some sort of registration is taking place.

But it is not INEC registration. We are not doing any registration in Ondo State and we do not know the purpose for which that registration is being done.

“In any case, even if peo-

ple are doing fraudulent registration, of course the security agencies should be able to apprehend them and prosecute them successfully.”

The retreat was facilitated by the Democratic Governance for Development, DGD, project of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, in Lagos.

Jega also disclosed plans by the commission to commence the issuance of permanent voter’s cards this year.

The DGD Project Director, Dr. Mourtada Demeat, while commending recent progress in the conduct of elections, charged the election monitoring body to re-

main focused on improving its processes and procedures.

Present at the retreat, yesterday, were INEC national commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, directors and civil society election stakeholders drawn from across the country.

Assuring that the fake registration would not compromise the existing voters’ register, he said: “I want to assure you that there is no way that anybody can do any registration and put that data into our data base.

“We have a data base in Ondo State, but we have an exact replica of that base in the headquarters.”

nity of a safe environment to carry on their businesses as special security arrangements had been made to secure the city.

Senator Mohammed also revealed that the Nigeria government was ready to refund the $580,000 medical cost of overseas treatment expended on non-UN staff, which was borne by the UN. On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, reiterated Federal Government’s determination ‘to handle terrorism head-on.’

Ashiru said: “Terrorism is a crime against humanity. We stand as one with the UN and the international community to condemn the act.”

In his remarks, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative said: “Our spirit has not been dampened; our resolve is firmer in working with the government and people of Nigeria to deliver human development dividends to the people.”

‘Perpetrators of Okene attack must be punished'

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—SENATOR Nurudeen AbatemiUsman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Kogi Central, yesterday, warned that perpetrators of the massacre of about 20 innocent worshippers at Deeper Life Bible Church and two soldiers in Okene, Kogi State, must not go unpunished.

Senator Abatemi-Usman, who spoke on Sunday when he paid a condolence visit to the headquarters of Deeper Life Church and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim in Okene, however, appealed to the people of the area to remain united regardless of their religious inclinations and clan differences.

In a statement by his media assistant, Michael Jegede, yesterday, the Senator expressed joy that the architects of the odious act had been apprehended.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Defiant SA miners regroup for protest

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BRIEFING: From right— Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo, Regional Operations Director; Mr. Inusa Bello, Chief Sales Officer; Linda Umeh, Delta South Zonal Business Manager, and Mr. Obinna Amiche, GM, Brand Assets, all of Airtel Nigeria, during a press conference in Warri, Delta State. PHOTO: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Flood kills 15 in Jigawa as Cameroon releases water

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA—NO fewer than 15 bodies were reportedly washed ashore on the banks of River Benue as flood completely submerged some parts of Adamawa State due to the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in the Cameroon.

However, the state government confirmed only two dead.

Secretary to Adamawa State Government, SSG, Mr. Kobis Thimmu, told newsmen, yesterday, that the flooding in the state had assumed a crisis dimension as almost half of the state had been submerged.

He named the affected areas to include Lamurde, Numan, Yola North, Yola South, Fufore, Demsa, Girei, Mayo Belwa, Guyuk and Shelleng local government areas. The SSG said the magnitude of the flood was so enormous that the state government could not cope with the challenges and appealed to the Federal Government for urgent assistance.

The state government, according to Thimmu, was given short notice by the Cameroonian authorities for the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam, saying the government nevertheless, alerted those residing at the river banks.

He lamented that though the state government was not prepared for the disaster, it had given an assurance that everything humanly possible would be put in place to provide relief materials to those so far evacuated from the flood-prone areas.

He said: “The enormity and casualty of the flood

is beyond the scope of the state government. Such flooding was last experienced in the state in 1958.

“We appealed to both

the Federal Government and the Cameroonian authorities to quickly come to the aid of Adamawa State.”

Trigger-happy Police dismissed in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—KANO State Command of the Nigeria Police has dismissed Sergeant Laminu Adamu, who allegedly shot dead an 11-year-old boy two weeks ago within the Gwale Divisional Police of Kano.

Addressing newsmen in Kano, the Police Public Relation Officer, Magaji Musa Majia, said: “The dismissal was a product of robust investigation by the police through its internal mechanism that found Laminu Adamu guilty of murdering a teenager

with his official assault riffle.”

Majia said that the police authority had also initiated a criminal proceeding against the dismissed officer in a civil court, explaining that he was been charged for culpable homicide.

It would be recalled that Sergeant Adamu had, two weeks ago, while on a patrol vehicle with other officers on duty near Gwale Division, allegedly fired a shot that hit the young boy in the head.

The boy died on his way to Murtala Muhammad Hospital Kano for medical attention.

IBB commends Lamido's policies on education

BY TINA AKANNAM

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UTSE—FORMER military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida(rtd), has described Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State as an epitome of educational development worthy of emulation.

Babangida spoke in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, while commissioning the newly constructed ultra-modern Dutse Model School. He said he appreciated the way Governor Lamido’s administration was dedicated to improving education in the state.

During the commissioning of projects to

mark the state’s 21st anniversary, Babangida said: “I am optimistic that Governor Lamido will surpass his current political ambition in life, especially with the way he transformed education within these period.

“The projects executed by his administration between 2007 till date are impressive and a clear indication that he enjoys the cooperation of the people of the state.”

He noted that Governor Lamido was one of few governors in this country with good initiative and also patriotic.

He called on other governors to emulate Lamido's leadership style.

UNDREDS of defiant miners have regrouped for a protest near the spot where South African police killed 34 of their colleagues, as platinum giant Lonmin said less than a quarter of employees had shown up for work.

“Preliminary figures are 13 per cent average attendance across all shafts this morning,” said Lonmin in a statement yesterday. This comes as Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president, is under increased pressure to manage the situation amid calls from some sectors that he should not be re-eleted to the head of the country’s ruling party in December.

Strikers gathered yesterday in an open space, just metres from where police shot dead 34 of their colleagues on August 16. Earlier strike violence in the area had claimed the lives of 10 other people, including two policemen.

Police in armoured trucks kept a close watch over the crowd, as tensions and fears remained high following the deadly unrest. “There have been incidents of intimidation towards bus drivers overnight as well as intimidation of... workers this morning, preventing them from coming to work,” Lonmin said, after a high of 57 per cent of workers reported for duty at the weekend. “We are aware

South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma visits one of the injured miners in the hospital that some people have gone back to work, we have noted that behaviour, and we need to come up with a

plan to deal with them,” Alfonso Mofokeng, a miner from Lesotho told the AFP news agency.

Talibans behead 17 Afghan civilians

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group of 17 civilians -15 men and two women - have been killed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Though initial reports of yesterdays’s killings say the 17 victims were beheaded for taking part in a mixed-gender party in the southern Helmand province, officials now say the deaths may have been the result of a rivalry between two Taliban commanders over the two women in the troubled Musa Qala district. “As a result of the two Taliban commanders clash, 15 innocent

[civilians] were killed and after the killing of the civilians the commanders, as well, killed the two women for whom the Taliban commanders fought with each other,” Helmand’s Provincial Media Office said in a statement on yesterday.

Meanwhile, Taliban leaders have denied reports that the operational commander of the Haqqani Network, the group behind some of the most high profile attacks in Afghanistan, may have been killed in a US drone strike, Pakistani and Afghan intelligence sources have said.

Tropical Storm Isaac lashes GOP convention siana, Mississippi and

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ROPICAL Storm Isaac churned across the Gulf of Mexico yesterday, disrupting U.S. offshore energy production and threatening to hit Louisiana on the anniversary of devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The storm swiped south Florida on Sunday before moving into warm Gulf waters, where it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane. On its current track, Isaac was due to slam into the Gulf Coast anywhere between Florida and Louisiana by Tuesday night or early Wednesday, the seventh anniversary of Katrina hitting New Orleans, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

“The weather is going to go downhill well in advance of that and that’s why today is the day of preparation,” said NHC director Richard Knabb.

Speaking in an interview with CNN, Knabb said coastal flooding or storm surge up to 12 feet was the biggest threat posed by

•Romney Isaac, with mandatory evacuations possible across southeastern Loui-

Alabama. The governors of all three states have declared states of emergency as a hurricane warning went into effect for the northern Gulf Coast from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. That included New Orleans, devastated when Hurricane Katrina swept over the city on August 29, 2005, killing more than 1,800 people and causing billions of dollars of damage along the coast.

Syrian rebels down Army helicopter

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Syrian military heli copter came down under fire and in flames in Damascus yesterday as President Bashar alAssad’s air force strafed and bombarded rebelheld districts in the capital and in Aleppo.

State television confirmed a helicopter had crashed in Damascus but gave no details. Opposition activists said rebels had shot it down. Opposition video footage showed a crippled aircraft burning up and crashing

into a built-up area, sending up a pillar of oily black smoke. A day after his enemies accused Assad’s troops and sectarian militia of massacring hundreds of people in the town of Daraya near Damascus, the possible shooting down of the helicopter, the latest of several such successes claimed by lightly armed rebel fighters, bolstered morale.

But, witnesses said, even more intense army bombardments followed.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—17

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PART from the arm-twisting tactics of the sadistic proxies of the thieving oil marketers and the blackmail by the National Union of Electricity Employees, whose years of corruption and incompetence kept us groping in darkness, no debate has arrested the attention of the nation like the issue of state police. But unfortunately, the debate about the desirability of state police to complement the efforts of the Federal Police is following the familiar road of Nigerian debate: shoot it down even before a debate; if the South is in favour of it, then the North must willy-nilly oppose it; and to scare everybody off the debate, throw in the ultimate dissembler: “it will break up the country ”! The scaremongers never tell us how state police will break up the country, except to dredge up the hackneyed charge that state governors will use the police against their political opponents!

I wonder why people resort to this cheap blackmail every time they want to hold tight to a status quo that works only for them!

I know that Nigeria is greatly decelerating and is plagued by institutional fear, but is the country so cheap that the only thing some people can add to a serious debate is that “it will break up the country”?! And if you thoroughly examine those who parrot this mantra of break up, you will discover that they are those who believe that they cannot coexist in a truly federal Nigeria and their daily activities to keep Nigeria under a stifling central command are seriously gnawing at the thin ligature that binds this country!

In the first place, should it be a Forum of ex-Inspectors General that must recommend to us the type of police that can serve our needs in the 21st century? Not even our chronic national amnesia can make us forget that the tenures of some of these ex-IGPs were some of the worst in the history of this country. Some of these yesterday men could not manage even a change of uniforms for the Police; some were made to chaff under the collar by Lawrence Anini, the infamous Robin Hood of Benin City; some presided over a Gestapo Police during some of the most deranged dictatorships in this country. Pray, why did we not invite Tafa Balogun to recommend for us the type of modern police we want? Should it sur-

must not centralize the concept itself. In other words, the Constitution must provide that any state which so desires and can afford it can establish a state or even local government police.

Nothing says all the 36 states must have state police. That will amount to another centralization!

T

State police and scare mongers

•IGP M.D. Abubakar prise anyone, that what these men are doing is to defend their turf by preserving the status quo?

T

he case for state police can not lead to the break up of this country! We must know that there is always a way to do things. The fear being expressed and the argument against state police, when not politically motivated, simply feed on fear of fear itself. We have not asked the question: How can we do it? It is only when we try to answer this question that we can problematize and interrogate the fears. But some people have deliberately tried to obfuscate the debate and foreclose it with “state police will break up the country”. Truth is, the very problems we are try-

ing to sweep under the carpet are stressing the country to the point of breaking up!

One deliberate misconception in the debate is that state police is a substitute and not complementary to the Federal Police.

State Police does not imply abolition of the Federal Police. The demand is not even to decentralize the existing Nigeria Police.

It is also a wrong assumption that the states would just set up police without laid down criteria for recruitment, training and delineated jurisdiction. I have not heard of any intelligent reason for opposition to state police except the jaded excuse that state governors may misuse it.

Does the Federal Government not misuse the Police? In any

case, Nigeria has since moved on from the type of politics of the fifties that necessitated the collapsing of regional police into the Federal Police. Pray, why do people think that it is more important to put politics and politicians above everything else? So once politicians take care of themselves, Nigeria is okay? Why is this fear of abuse by state governors not expressed about state judiciaries? For 50 years we have insisted on a formula that has not worked for us.

It will not work even if we insist on it for another 100 years!

Soon after the return of democracy in 1999, the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, led then by Dr Kayode Fayemi, incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, facilitated several workshops on constitutional reform. One of the thorny issues was State Police. Some geo-political zones were in support while others were opposed to it.

That was democracy at work.

But it did not discourage us. We now had a reconciliation workshop (indeed a mini-National Conference) in Abuja to address the fears of those opposed to State Police. Resource persons were brought in from countries with similarity to Nigeria and who have state and local police.

What emerged was that more geo-political zones signed up for State Police.

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hat we need to do is to create an inclusive forum to hear those opposed to state police and address their fears. I think such fears can be addressed if we prescribe qualification, set up criteria for recruitment and training, and delineate jurisdictions for state and Federal Police. In trying to devolve power and authority, we

hose who question the abil ity of states to fund state police are simply playing the ostrich. Today the resources some governors invest in supporting the Nigeria Police commands in their states and yet without getting results, are enough to fund a State Police of 20,000 to 30,000 people, pay them well and kit them adequately. Twenty to thirty thousand youths out of unemployment queue is itself a great stride in reducing youth crime in any state. The funds going to sponsoring of pilgrimages and thousands of political aids can fund a 10,000 unit state police. Money stolen from the system can fund state police.

In any case, many states currently operate quasi enforcement outfits and vigilante groups that have not been used against political opponents. My point is that we cannot just dismiss the idea of state police based on fear of what is still imaginary abuse. Such abuse, if any, can be addressed. Those who easily jump out to tell us that we are not ripe for anything are themselves not ripe to lead this country. It is unfortunate that such people have been allowed to bestraddle positions of leadership in the past.

A culture of arm-twisting

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eports from many parts of the country in the last one month attest to marked improvement in power supply. I have enjoyed uninterrupted power supply for all of three weeks!

This has not happened in the last 30 years! We have to rally behind the Power Minister, Prof Bath Nnaji and his team to sustain this effort in the face of the nuisance of National Union of Electricity Employees. For how long shall Nigerians allow a few selfish workers to hold the nation to ransom? It is time to stand up to all those who want to sabotage the transformation of this country.

OPINION Continued from page 18 One of the greatest problems in Nigeria is that there is no longer ‘trust’ among the people and ethnic groups. In other words, people of different ethnic groups no longer trust one another and consequently look suspicious at each other.

This brought tribalism, nepotism, godfatherism, godmotherism, injustice, etc, to the highest level and things continue to fall apart and the centre can no longer hold because Nigerians want to relate with people of their ethnic groups rather than from people of other ethnic groups. The situation has become so bad because since the inception of the democratic structure on May 29, 1999, all efforts failed to yield a fruitful

Relevance of public relations in Nigeria’s crisis management effective information flow and tained effort to establish and result. Rather the rate of violent crises continue to increase at a very alarming rate. The aforementioned militant groups have had several bloody clashes with one another or with security agents and even with the members of the public at various times.

The worst of all the groups is the Boko Haram, whose members, I think are faceless. Members of this sect group have caused havoc through killings, maimings, bombings, etc, of innocent souls and even trying to make the country ungovernable.

God forbid! The return of peace and unity in the country depends on the implementation of

creation of mutual understanding among the people which in turn will definitely establish and sustain mutual coexistence among different groups in the country. In order to effectively achieve this, there is need for professional public relations practitioners to assist in the management of crises in the country.

If PR professionals are assembled and given the needed support to implement necessary PR policies, within a very short space of time, Nigeria will heave a sigh of big relief. This is because the Institute of Public Relations, London in 1964 defined “Public relations as the deliberate planned and sus-

maintain mutual understanding between an organization and its publics.

It seems to me that effective PR policies will also encourage free flow of information among the various ethnic groups and as such each group will know the intentions of one another. In this connection, there will be trust and cordial relationship among them. When there is two-way communication between the government and the public there will always be peace. In other words, government policies and the reasons behind such policies will be known to the public. The response of the relevant publics to government policies will also get

to the government.

In conclusion, I want to borrow the following voice of wisdom from Wilcox, Ault and Agee (1992) as quoted by Ajala (2001:183): "A corporation may operate in a completely legal, technically sound and financially efficient manner, yet find itself viewed by segments of the public as cold, greedy and heedless of cherished social values" As a result, the public relations practitioner's job is to see that this does not happen. He must work within the company to foster constructive, socially aware behavior and outside the company to convince the public that the firm is a worthy, caring, corporate citizen.

•Mr Soeze, a mass com scholar, wrote from Effurum, Delta State

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 T the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, August 22, 2012, the ministers were made to queue up and sign what was termed “performance contracts” with President Goodluck Jonathan. The President assured the ministers that this was neither a precursor for a cabinet shake-up nor witch-hunt but a fulfillment of his inaugural speech in which he expressed his determination to run an accountable and result-oriented government.

Since the ministers were the ones who drew up their own targets and strategies for achieving them, the contracts if properly monitored and assessed every six months as planned will accelerate implementation of government programmes perhaps more than ever before. What it means is that by February 2013, just about a year before another heightened season of electoral politicking the federal cabinet will be in a position to know how effective those appointed to help the President govern are.

This is a step in the right direction. Target setting and strategies for attainment are

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FG’s performance contracts some of the ways by which the private sector is able to leapfrog to great achievements and profitability. It is a viable means of assessing performance and capability of officials. We recommend it as the fundamental consideration for keeping government officials on the job or sending them home; the second consideration being ability to perform transparently and above corruption.

Officials who are able to meet their targets and the expectations of Nigerians should be kept on the job for as long as they continue to perform. It will save this country from the dysfunction occasioned by high rate of turnover of ministers, often based on political considerations alone. In some countries, highly efficient officials serve on

their duty posts for years after which they are promoted to serve on even higher and more challenging posts. Ministers will now know that they hold their own fates in their hands and there will be healthy competition across board.

However, we are displeased by the President’s insinuation that the media are “politicised” and can no longer be depended upon to assess fairly. We call on the Presidency to make available to the media and the public the parameters designed for this assessment of ministers.

The media and the public must actively participate. Leaving it to politicians in the presidential cabinet alone will not be in the nation’s interest because the cabinet itself is even more politicised than the media.

Politicians are fond of awarding themselves pass marks, boasting they have done “creditably well” without concrete proof.

The Nigerian public is the ultimate examiner and assessor of the President and his team. After all, they are the ones to affirm their verdict with their votes when the time comes.

OPINION

BY CHARLES IKEDIKWA SOEZE

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UBLIC relations, PR, is a term that is widely mis understood and misused to describe anything from selling to hosting, when in fact it is a very specific communications process. Every company, organisation, association and government body deals with groups of people affected by what that organisation does or says. They might be employees, customers, stockholders, competitors, suppliers or just the general population of consumers. Each of these groups may be referred to as one of the organisation's publics. The process of public relations manages the organization’s relationships with these publics.

Importantly, governments, companies and organisations know they must consider the public impact for their actions and decisions because of the powerful effect of public opinion. This is especially true in times of crisis, emergency, or disaster. However, it is just as true for major policy decisions concerning changes in business management, pricing policies, labour negotiations, introduction of new products, or changes in distribution methods. Each of these decisions affects different groups in different ways. In other words, efficient and effective administrators can use the power of these groups opinions to bring about positive changes.

It is crystal clear that the purpose of everything labelled public relations is to influence public opinion towards building goodwill and a positive reputation for the organisation and or nation. For example, the PR effort might be to rally public support; to another, to obtain public understanding or neutrality, or in still

Relevance of public relations in Nigeria’s crisis management another, simply to respond to inquiries, well-expected public relations is a long term activity that molds good relationships between an organisation and its publics.

Whatever the case may be, the essential point in crisis management is good management which means being prepared. Crisis public relations, as is sometimes called by professionals, has become a specialist area.

It seems to me that organisations, particularly those in the specific areas like health, food and drug manufacturing, transportation (air, land and sea power), leisure and sports as well as governments should have well-prepared policy of emergency action.

It is appropriate to say that crises are either violent or non-violent. That is to say, a crisis can be an act of nature, an intentional event or an unintentional accident. Truly speaking, a crisis is an unexpected development which very often embarrasses a nation, an organisation, frightens the relevant publics and puts company’s credibility and decency under intense scrutiny. In some worst situations, a crisis creates the threat of death and loss of property. Crisis, therefore, is a period of heightened uncertainty that increases the need to plan, and a point in time in which external or internal pressures change objectives and operational practices of an organisation.

Crisis threatens the high priority values of a nation or organisation, presents a restricted amount of time in which a response can be made and is unexpected or unanticipated by the organisation or nation. A crisis need not be a disaster such as crashed aeroplane or an

explosion in a factory. The fact is that most threats to company stability are rarely so dramatic. To this end therefore, these threats can have disastrous effects on a company but the effects may be minimized.

Anne Dunne (1990) as quoted by Ajala (2001:175) listed 11 causes of crises in government, company or organisation. These are industrial relations, market changes, product failure, managerial incompetence, regulation and deregulation changes, impact of world events, financial difficulty, outside attack, misdemeanor, sabotage, and environmental conflict. Dunne further explained that environments of crisis are internal (within an organisation), external (outside an organisation), which the organisation may be unable to control within the community (e.g. civil disorder); political environment (e.g. disagreement between the legislative and the executive arms of government on an issue which has impact on the organisation, and financial (e.g. cash flow crisis, falling stock prices).

For quite sometime, Nigeria has been entangled in different shades of violence like bombings, maimings, killings, kidnapping, corruption, etc.

These are, of course, threatening the national stability and security of our nation. With the establishment of several militant groups such as Oodua People’s Congress, OPC; Arewa People's Congress, APC; Ijaw Youth Congress, IYC; Egbesu Boys, EB, among many others, including the deadly and faceless Boko Haram in the North.

Continues on Pini's page •Mr Soeze, a mass communications scholar, wrote from Effurum, Delta State

Vanguard, TUESDAY,AUGUST 28, 2012— 19

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ECENT publications in the press about administrative lapses in the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called to question, the public expectations ascribed to the Commission Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. In some recent media publications he has been portrayed in his leadership decisions as swinging from oneman-show dictatorship, totalitarianism to irredentism.

Since none of these characterisations quite fit into the public image which the political science professor was acclaimed with upon his assumption of office as the chairman of INEC, it is pertinent to appraise what may have gone wrong with Professor Jega’s leadership of INEC.To assess what may have gone wrong with Jega’s leadership at INEC, one may be tempted to compare him with Professor Humphrey Nwosu his academic peer who delivered what is acclaimed as the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigerian elections, and the most acceptable election to all Nigerians except former President Ibrahim Babangida and his famous three factors. But, since Professor Nwosu is considered to be in a class of himself, it will, therefore, be appropriate to compare Professor Jega’s stewardship with his immediate past predecessor Professor Maurice Iwu. To use objective criteria, four dimensions of their leadership, namely peer leadership, structural preferences, operational competence in political ambiance, as well as delivery on mandate, are reviewed.Using these criteria, objective observers affirm that Professor Iwu had a collegiate approach to peer leadership of the Commission, carrying along national commissioners in key

decisions in important national and state elections, although they also point out that despite such decisions, Iwu often sometimes had his own set goals in implementation of such decisions.

On the other hand, observers are keen to point out that while Professor Jega started out very well in a similar collegiate style as the first amongst equals, he insidiously gravitated to a totalitarian approach where he became the top dog and only allowed the other national commissioners to tag along with decisions that he had already reached with his elite circle of commissioners and aides.Some observers are of the opinion that such narrowing of the decisional space at the top management of the Commission may have led to vision tunnelling which has led to policy somersaults and questionable decisions that led to the type of decisional outcomes which have resulted in criticisms being directed at the Commission recently in the media. For instance, some publications in the press point to situations where deputy directors are appointed as departmental heads over and above their senior directors who are then made to report to them, a very de-motivating development for career civil servants, in addition some have questioned seriously the fiasco and suspicion of Jega’s decision to print run-off presidential election materials in the April general elections when ballots for the main election had not been printed, attributable to a possible sectional projection or a failure to consummate or take advantage of the institutional memory of experienced INEC top directors and experienced national commissioners.

Assessing the dimension of structural preferences, observers again return to the issue of deputy directors posted above their seniors, considering this a

How can you have a critical body like INEC structured in a manner that the whole of the South and partly Middle-Belt would be onlookers in key decision making processes?

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negation of the line of authority.

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oreover, the observers insist that the bypassing of most national commissioners in key decisional processes, has de-layered the Commission's structures such that some aides now act with impunity ahead of some national commissioners and are often more privy to the Commission's policy direction than many national commissioners. In this regard, such observers insist that under Professor Iwu, national commissioners did not have to endure such denigration. Yet, it is also pertinent to ask, how national commissioners who in most cases have had illustrious careers in different fields could have abdicated their constitutional obligations of acting as peers in decision making and allowed themselves to be subordinated, because it takes passive or inactive peers to enthrone totalitarian leaderships.In a recent response to accusations of lopsided and ethnically biased structural decisions, a spokesperson for the Commission, blamed the skewed structure of the Commission on Professor Iwu, and the accusations on ethnic chauvinists outside the Commission, yet it does not address key points raised by the media publications; for instance, even the list of national directors published by the Commission confirmed the

Onshore/Offshore dichotomy and North’s dance of shame “You can fool some people sometimes; you cannot fool all the people all the time.” –Bob Marley

BY ABDULRASHEED MOHAMMED

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IGERIA, with its peculiarities and challenges never ceases to have in stock some amusing developments from time to time. Sometimes, one is forced to wave off some issues even when they arise with the potency to shake the polity to its base because this is Nigeria, where huge jokes are couched in political toga; Nigeria that outlives all issues no matter how serious.

But I have been confused about how to treat the recent attempt to reopen the onshore/offshore brouhaha which was part of the nation’s political controversies until 2004 when the law was abrogated. The effect of that abrogation, one must acknowledge, has been conspicuously pronounced in the last eight years—the owners of the lands where oil is extracted have a little more access to the wealth which has brought them untold hardship in the past.

While a part of my mind says it is a needless effort from some jesters from the North,

my region—the region has hundreds of jesters as leaders in any case; another part says it is more serious than a joke given the vehemence with which some of them have talked about reviewing the revenue sharing formula.

The region seemed to have let loose its agents who despite the unrest and poverty in the region, had no clues for peace but were capable of spewing yarns that could lead to disharmony and acrimony in the land. These leaders have chosen no other period but now to reopen the already forgotten onshore/offshore issue which had brought about crises in the polity for decades, as my very good brothers, Niger and Kano states governors, Babangida Aliyu and Rabiu Kwankwaso, among other governors; former Yobe State governor, Senator Abba Ibrahim and countless other leaders have been haranguing Nigerians about the sacredness of the need to review the revenue sharing formula.

Attempts were made to discredit the 2004 abrogation of the onshore/offshore law by the National Assembly, a move that could not have been made without the North’s support as the region had and still have the majority in the legislature. Maybe the Northern oligarchy were asleep when they supported the abrogation, maybe some things

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BY ADEYINKA JOSEPH

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Iwu vs Jega regimes: How much progress for INEC ?

accusations that the whole of the South West had four directors whereas some states alone had nine. Hence, many observers question how Oyo State, for instance, where the first university in Nigeria is located has no director, just as Ekiti State, reputed to have the highest number of elite academics, is unrepresented in this cadre bracket. It, therefore, reinforces the claims of the media accusations which asked how Professor Jega could have perpetuated such inequities, even if he inherited it. How can Jega exhibit this type of crass insensitivity towards the feelings of other parts of this country and expect any rational human being to take him seriously for adopting same, having been in office for over two years now heading for a third year ? How can you have a critical body like INEC structured in a manner that the whole of the South West, South East, SouthSouth and partly Middle-Belt would be on-lookers in key decision making processes given that with the Chairman, Secretary, Directors of Logistics in charge of printing ballot papers,distribution, finance, auditor, legal, to mention but a few, coming from only one section of the country, and can consequently take valid operational key decisions without other representatives from other parts of the country? Regarding the dimension of operational competence in political ambiance, many observers still credit Professor Jega with asserting the autonomy of the Commission by distancing himself from obvious partisanship; this dimension is one of the areas in which many point to the weakness of the professor Iwu regime.

Nonetheless, there are some who now question if Professor Jega is actually non-partisan insisting that he may have a well veneered hidden agenda. For instance, a recent publication in the press point to a regional bias in the appointment of key officials of the Commission in favour of a regional posturing for 2015. In addition, some observers point to the fact that whereas Professor

The tomfoolery of Northern governors in this matter has only exposed them— they cry for review of revenue sharing because they want to share more for their pockets

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changed hands, maybe not but it is sad that the region has begun to cry foul over a matter that is dead and buried. I am really sad and disappointed by the recent position of our supposed leaders. It is noteworthy that the Presidency has condemned the fresh attempts to reopen the case.

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s a Northerner, I am indifferent to the region’s arguments about whether 13 per cent derivation should be given to littoral states (no matter how few they are!) from oil extraction far away from their territories. The technical words such as Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone, Coastal Zone, Coastal Basin and so on which make up the discussions on onshore/offshore are way beyond the head of an average Northerner (I doubt if most of the leaders understand them too!). What the people want and have failed to get from their leaders are

Iwu followed the body language of the Olusegun Obasanjo regime which had a strong preference for command and control, with a tight control of the resources required by INEC to deliver, the Jega regime had the advantage of a laissez-faire regime under President Goodluck Jonathan whose administration has been very generous in providing the Commission with most of its required resources.On the final dimension of delivery on mandate, the core criterion in this dimension being the delivery of publicly acceptable elections by voters, the Jega regime is also placed on a higher pedestal in this regard. Observers have noted that although a few elections conducted by the Jega administration were controversial; in this, they point to a number of states like Edo where the voting public’s confidence and trust was shaken until the size and will of voters compelled compliance by INEC. Many observers still concede that the administration was an improvement on the Iwu regime, which was characterized by patently unreliable voters registers, clearly inflated election results and thinly disguised partisanship. Despite these differences, such observers believe that the initial acclaim with which Professor Jega was received by the public was on the decline, particularly with his adoption of the skewed and unfair structure claimed to have been inherited but which he has also continued with, by the appointment of an assistant over substantive Directors from Rivers and Delta states, respectively, and by sending these directors from the South packing from Abuja, wherein they now find themselves being bossed by their junior from the North. The INEC Chairman and his national commissioners need to reflect deeply and take steps urgently to correct this suspicious structure as well as other significant criticisms leveled against the Commission if they intend to restore the confidence of the public in the Commission's ability to deliver on its mandate.

Dr. Joseph, a public analyst, wrote from Abuja.

access to education, potable water, health facility and infrastructure but the language our leaders understand is sharing—which must be why they are fighting over the oil in faraway places rather than develop agriculture which used to be the mainstream of the region’s economy in the past.

Call me a bastard, I agree but the question is, the dichotomy which the Northern leaders are now demanding, are the Northern states the only ones affected? If claims are being made that a few littoral states are collecting huge revenue because they get 13 per cent from extraction hundred miles away from their territory, are those hundred miles closer to the North than some South-East and South-West states? How come the governors of these places have not been crying wolf? The tomfoolery of Northern governors in this matter has only exposed them—they cry for review of revenue sharing because they want to share more for their pockets!

The late Sardaunan Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who appeared to be the last caring leader the region has had, must be weeping over the crop of leaders that the North have today, a disgraceful generation of wealth-grabbers who have no thought for the people. It was no surprise when I read how the region’s leaders have cornered the oil wealth of the country in the Mirror Newspaper recently; of course Nigeria and its wealth belonged to the region for decades with nothing to show for it by the people.

Continues on Ahmed's pg tomorrow

•Mr. Mohammed a public analyst wrote from Kaduna

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

A TIME TO BE WARY IN OWERRI:

As criminals devise new tricks

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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N Imo State, things are not rosy for both the police and the citizenry. At various times, they had been faced with petit stealing, armed robbery, advance fee fraud, kidnapping, car snatching, human trafficking and many others.

Each new act attracts police attention and they keep cracking. Today, some criminals now prefer to abduct ladies, possibly drug them, take them to unknown destinations and do whatever they like with the unfortunate ladies. These criminals now make use of tricycles in carrying out their nefarious acts. A few examples will suffice.

Ngozi, a mother of one, whose husband is an Owerri-based contractor, almost fell into the trap of a tricycle operator. She sells her wares near All Seasons Hotel, Owerri and was carefully followed by a Keke hoodlum. Once she became conscious of the young boy’s looming presence, she quickly

along Aba-Owerri Road.

Continuing, the badly traumatized girl said she was bound hands and feet in captivity and on the fourth day, somebody tapped her and asked if she knew where she was. The man, who was clutching a sharp knife turned out to be her saving grace. He brought the girl to safety and paid her fare back to Dreamland Hotel Roundabout, where she reunited with members of her family and friends.

Eighteen-year old Chinenye Ukaegbu is yet another victim of this class of criminals. She told Vanguard Metro, VM, her story and it is reproduced here with her consent and that of her aunt, Mrs. Catherine Njeri.

“The sad event happened August 4, 2012. I was going for morning class that day because we had lecture at 9am. On getting to Dreamland Hotel Roundabout, I flagged down a commercial tricycle. There was a man already seated in the tricycle and a short distance away, he stopped and picked a younger male passenger.

“As we went on, they started speaking a language I could not comprehend. Not long after, I did not know what happened to me. The place I later saw myself was in the bush. They tried to bind my hands but I started struggling with them and started running away when I noticed an opportunity. They ran after me. ”I ran for a long time before I saw a main road. I moved away from where I entered the road, walked a long distance before I saw a woman coming in the opposite direction. I asked the woman where I was and she said she had no idea of the name of the place.

“I was stunned when the old woman asked me what I was doing in the place at that odd hour. I explained my ordeal to her and she asked me to follow her. The time was between 7pm and 7.30pm. I was naturally very afraid to follow her but she

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Not long after, I did not know what happened to me; I later saw myself in the bush; they tried to bind my hands but I started struggling with them and started running away when I noticed an opportunity; they ran after me

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invited a soldier but the suspected criminal escaped before the soldier arrived the scene.

Another girl, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, was another victim of this brand of criminals. She sells fruits at Dreamland Hotel Roundabout with her mother.

She was said to be going for extra mural lesson at an educational outfit in Owerri penultimate week but got lost thereafter. She spent about four days in the bush before regaining freedom and told her story.

According to her story, two people were already seated in the tricycle she flagged down on her way to the educational outfit and did not know what happened to her thereafter but on regaining consciousness, she found herself in a bush

*Chinenye....Narrowly escaped from abductors said I should choose between staying there and getting killed or following her into safety and return safely the next day to my people. I followed her to her place.

“In the morning of the following day, she brought me to the road, stopped a commercial bus and paid the transport fare.

That was how my journey back to Owerri started. The bus stopped me at Wetheral Road Roundabout and I trekked from there to World Bank Estate where I am staying with my aunt.

“I stayed one night away from home. They robbed me of all I had. They stole my N4,000. I came back with only one of my textbooks. Others fell off while I was struggling with the men and when I was running away through that un-tarred road,”

she narrated.

When asked what she saw in her place of captivity, Chinenye said one of the signboards read Okigwe, adding that she was not raped by her captors.

Mrs. Caroline Njeri confirms Chinenye’s story. “My cousin, Chinenye, came back from Lagos to look for admission in any of the tertiary institutions in the state. She registered for extramural classes. Usually, she moves from World Bank Housing Estate where we live to the Warehouse Junction.

“On Saturday, August 4, 2012, she boarded a commercial tricycle at about 8am but instead of stopping her at Warehouse Junction, they took her to an unknown destination. When she did not come back as was usually the practice, I looked for her all day and hardly slept

that night.

“I informed my neighbours about my predicament. I cried all night. Chinenye’s mobile telephone was not connecting.

That made my pain worse. The next day (Sunday) at about 12 noon, she returned and told her near ugly story. She looked largely shabby and unkempt. I thank God that she came back safely,” she said.

Concerted effort made by VM to get the police reaction failed as the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Vitalis Onugu, a deputy superintendent of police, DSP, neither picked his phone nor returned the call as at the time of going to press.

Truth is that a new wave of crime has crept into Imo and except the security agencies step into it now it may spread like a harmattan wild fire.

Expert offers solution to fire outbreak

By BOSE ADELAJA

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IGERIANS have been called upon to invest in fire-fighting equipment in order to curb fire outbreaks in the country.

Speaking with Vanguard Metro in Lagos, Chief Executive of FlameShield Fire Training Olugbenga Shobande, lamented that fire outbreak is on the increase in some parts of the country simply because some fire fighters do not have modern apparatuses such as oxygen pack to fight fire outbreak.

Shobande, a graduate of Microbiology from Ogun State University, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun state, also called for private organisations to complement government’s effort to fight fire. “Sincerely speaking, the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, is trying his best but we need private organisations to come in too. The state government cannot do it alone. We need private individuals to step in and complement government service efforts. Again family members should train their wards and children to put out fire before it gets out of hand.

Sadly enough, many companies don’t train their employees on the rudiments of putting off fire. It is a pity Nigerians take so many

risks, and it costs us so much in lives and property,” he said.

Speaking about his passion for the job, he said: “One day, I saw people crying that a woman had her son trapped in a building which was burning and nobody could go inside to rescue the baby. I ran upstairs with a fire extinguisher and started spraying chemical on the sitting room that had been inflamed. I dashed into the room where the baby was lying crying and brought him out alive. Since then I vowed to do the little I can to assist humanity,” he explained.

Going down memory lane, he said: “I remember when Law Union and Rock building at Alago Meji, Yaba went up in flames sometime ago and the fire fighters could not enter the building because they did not have enough apparatus like oxygen pack which I provided. The situation would have been worse if not for the oxygen pack,” he noted.

He also called on individuals and organisations to invest in staff training. “We should guard against fire outbreak in many ways, especially with the electrical appliances which can cause an unexpected spark from our electrical connections, or an explosions from gas cylinders,” he added.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—23

Experts call for increased collaboration to checkmate e-fraud B

ANKING experts have called for increased collaboration among electronic payment services providers and with stakeholders to forestall incidences of electronic fraud.

Speaking at the August monthly meeting of the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF), the experts said there is the need for collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the j u d i c i a r y .

“Collaboration is critical among all stakeholders as the various parties come together to provide the platform for electronic transactions. Issuers, Acquirers, Switchers and Processors all have to integrate to provide service to

the public. A chain is as strong as its weakest link”, said Mr. Phillip O d u o z a , Managing Director/Chief Executive, United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc. He was represented by the

by Femi Olaloku, Executive Director, Operations and Information Technology.

“It is important that we learn from other environments and if possible establish affiliation with other global bodies/organizations to understand global trends and emerging threats in electronic fraud,” he said.

He said in addition to

increased collaboration, compliance to standards on information security is critical.

He said, “Industry standards (card schemes, third parties, acquiring devices, systems among others) are an imperative to manage technical and operational complexities and fraud risks. Compliance to these standards must be monitored and sanctions for non-compliance must be i n s t i t u t e d . ” He said that, “Cashless Nigeria and the drive to migrate payment transactions to electronic platform create great opportunity for the banking industry and the

Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, Governor, Ogun State (right) presenting souvenir to Mr. Segun Aina, President/Chairman of Council, CIBN during the Institute’s stakeholders dialogue with the Government of Ogun State in Abeokuta,

Nigerian economy but also come with the threat of electronic fraud.

Fraud not only translates to operational risk losses to banks it erodes the confidence of the public in electronic platforms/ systems as a channel for transacting business.

As customers demand more convenience and technology responds with innovation, new threats and fraud risks emerge that must be contained. If you are secure today, it does not imply you are secure tomorrow as new risks emerge c o n t i n u o u s l y . ” On his part, Mr. Osioke Ojior, Chief Risk Officer, Interswitch Nigeria Limited said that though incidences of electronic fraud have declined significantly on some electronic payment channels, it is still significant on web based channels. He said this means that there is still a lot of work to be done to forestall incidences of fraud in the c o u n t r y .

He said these include improved collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. He said there also the need for banks and electronic payment service providers to increase investment in fraud management vis-à-vis people and process and also on measures to enhance cardholders’ awareness.

Ojior said there is also the need to define standards for security of information on electronic payment transactions that addresses the peculiarities of the Nigerian environment.

First Bank to list holding company October

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IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc, yesterday, said it plans to list its holding company — FBN Holding, on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, October 3, 2012.

This, however, according to a statement signed by Folake AniMumuney, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank, is subject to securing the approval of its shareholders for the proposed holding company, designed to consolidate its operations into a group structure.

She said the listing of the shares of FBN Holding will be subsequent upon the delisting of the shares of First Bank of Nigeria Plc from the NSE. According to her, the EGM, scheduled to hold, September 24, 2012, is a statutory exercise that is central to the realisation of the

new structure and will culminate with submission of an application to delist First Bank shares from the Nigerian Stock Exchange and listing of FBN Holding shares on October 3, 2012.

Ani-Mumuney disclosed that existing shareholders of First Bank will be migrated to FBN Holdings in the new structure.

She said, “In line with this proposal, all ordinary shareholders of First Bank as at the terminal date would be migrated to FBN Holdings via a share-forshare exchange between the shareholders of First Bank and FBN Holdings.

“Also, First Bank’s shareholdings in each of the Holdco Subsidiaries and the Associated Investments will

be transferred to FBN Holdings while First Bank’s shareholdings in each of the Investment Banking & Asset Management, IBAM, subsidiaries will be transferred to FBN Capital Limited, which in turn will be owned by FBN Holdings.

“The proposed restructuring will not alter the current beneficial shareholding structure of the FBN Group.”

Also speaking, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank, said the holding company structure is designed to enhance the Bank’s competitiveness, streamline and coordinate various operations across nonbank financial services, and further exploit opportunities for synergies between

FBN sponsors NLI parley on leadership

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IRST Bank of Nigeria, FBN, Plc is sponsoring the Nigerian Leadership Initiative, NLI, forum, which will feature former President Olusegun Obasanjo addressing associates of the NLI and other key stakeholders in the Nigerian economy on leadership challenges confronting Nigeria.

The forum which is scheduled to hold, today in Lagos, according to a statement by the NLI, will see the group hosting Obasanjo in its guest speaker series, a forum that provides opportunity for political and corporate leaders to exchange views on governance issues.

The NLI said the forum will serve as a platform for the public to join a former president to review the success story of Nigeria project, adding that Obasanjo’s recent public statements on how to tackle challenges affecting the country, including the state of insecurity, are expected to replay at the interactive session.

The NLI stated that guest speakers at past series held in Abuja, Lagos and London include Dr. Christopher Kolade, Bishop Mathew Kuka and Prof. Oba Nsugbe.

Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, Chief Executive Officer, NLI, said, “Through the series, future leaders gain experiences from seasoned guest speakers who have had to tackle critical issues and take tough decisions in their past leadership roles.

M&T Bank to buy Hudson in $3.7bn deal

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…Seeks shareholders’ approval for new structure

BY MICHAEL EBOH

B-R-I-E-F-S

subsidiaries.

He said the new structure will also align the ownership and operation of the bank’s subsidiaries and businesses with current Central Bank of Nigeria’s CBN, regulatory requirements issued under the new CBN regulations in 2010.

He said the CBN regulation requires the separation of commercial banking business from other financial services businesses.

He said, “The overall strategy is to create an operating model that will profitably grow the bank’s presence in the market for commercial banking and nonbanking financial services in order to achieve the aspiration to be the dominant financial services group in Sub-Saharan Africa.

&T Bank Corp said it would buy Hudson City Bancorp Inc (HCBK.O) in a deal valued at $3.7 billion, expanding its franchise in the eastern United States.

The deal is worth $7.22 for each Hudson City share based on the price of M&T stock on Friday, representing a premium of 12 percent to Hudson City shareholders.

Hudson City shares rose as much 13 percent to $7.30 in premarket trading on Monday; M&T shares rose as much as 1.3 percent to $87.

M&T expects to gain about $25 billion in deposits and $28 billion in loans from the merger, before adjustments, the Buffalo, New York-based bank said.

The transaction is expected to immediately boost the combined company’s capital ratios, as well as its GAAP and operating per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 21

Insurance sector is selfishly segmented— CIIN DG …Institute to hold professionals forum

By ROSEMARY ONUOHA

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he Director General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Mr. Adegboyega Adepegba has decried the segmentation of the insurance profession by some practitioners for selfish interests.

According to Adepegba, all players in the insurance sector must first see themselves as insurance professionals before classifying themselves as underwriters, reinsurers, brokers and loss adjusters.

The DG said that it would be a new beginning for the Institute if all insurance professionals in mainstream insurance practice and those engaged as risk managers in government parastatals such as NNPC, NLNG as well as oil companies, manufacturing companies and banks operate as a team.

Accordingly, Adepegba urged all the professionals to attend the 2012 Professionals’ forum of the Institute which will hold in Ibadan from 12th September. “We want to see a new beginning for us if all the professionals are able to storm the forum,” the DG said.

The 2012 forum will focus on the theme “Beyond Professionalism: Making a Difference.” President of CIIN, Dr Wole Adetimehin, said the forum theme is a clarion call on professionals in insurance and the larger financial services sector, requiring them to brace up for emerging challenges facing the global economy. Adetimehin said that professionals should be better

equipped in order to exhibit competences which are over and above mere professional qualifications. “The need has arisen for professionals to be further equipped both as risk managers and change agents through effective control of their business and positive transformation of the organisations under their trust”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Adepegba said that it

is becoming increasingly necessary for all insurance professionals to attend the forum, stating that it is the only way they can key into the Institute’s Professional development agenda.

The CIIN DG regretted that attendance at the annual fora has been below expectation, especially in an era when other professions are maximizing such opportunities without compulsion.

T

he annual professionals’ forum, according to a statement from the Institute, is engendering the body ’s contribution to the upliftment of service delivery, skills sharpening and the acquisition of fresh insights by the professionals in global best practices and international standards.

The Institute, by virtue of its statutory powers vide Decree 22(now Act) of 1993, is charged with the responsibility of determining the standard of skill and knowledge required by insurance professionals for the effective and efficient discharge of their services as risk managers.

162.45

+0.65

2,438.00

+38.00

20.36

+0.65

113.78

-1.49

95.77

+0.17

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR POUND EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONER

154.8 245.0948 193.6393 161.2164 1.9717 0.2748 233.7636 24.3571 41.2756 25.9958

155.3 245.8865 194.2648 161.7371 1.9781 0.2848 234.5186 24.4362 41.4089 26.0798

155.8 246.6781 194.8902 162.2579 1.9845 0.2948 235.2737 24.5154 41.5422 26.1638

CBN Exchange rate as at 27/08/2012

L-R: Manager, National Lottery Commission, Mr. lta Calix; Group Head, Liability Products, Sterling Bank, Mr. John Makinde; Head Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs Obidike Ngozika; and Asst Director, National Lotttery Commission, Mr. Obi Iregbu,at the Sterling Bank Savers’ Promo draws in Lagos at the weekend

Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, AGRA President task African leaders on food security T

anzania’s Minster of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Honorable Christopher Chiza and President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Jane Karuku has announced that Tanzania will host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) from September 26 to 28, 2012. The meeting is the next milestone in developing African-led food security solutions.

At the recent G8 Summit, global leaders including 21 African countries and 27 private sector companies committed $3 billion to a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launching the next phase of the global food security effort to raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years.

AGRF 2012 sets the stage for Africa’s leaders to drive the initiative by promoting investments and policy support to increase agricultural productivity and income growth for

African farmers. During the forum, hosted at Arusha’s Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, global leaders will tackle leadership policy, revolutionizing African agricultural finance models, strengthening markets, and transforming African agriculture through innovative partnerships.

“Tanzania has long known farming is at the centre of our economy,” said Minister Chiza. “We are pleased to welcome leaders from across the continent and around the world to find new ways to scale the success we’ve seen in our own agricultural breadbasket.”

As the host nation, Tanzania’s recent agricultural growth represents a case study of what is possible. In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, the yields for maize have recently increased for some smallholder farmers from 1.5 to 4.5 tons per hectare; the yields for rice have

increased from 2.5 to 6.5 tons per hectare.

“The goal of the government is to transform Tanzania into a middleincome country by 2025, fuelled, in a significant part, by growth in its agricultural sector,” Chiza added.

The forum brings together African Heads of State, ministers, private agribusiness firms, financial institutions, farmers, NGOs, civil society organizations and scientists to discuss and develop concrete investment plans for scaling agricultural development success in Africa. Tanzania will welcome notable guests including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture the Hon. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, World Food Prize Laureate Prof. Gebisa Ejeta, and Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole Haslestad.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

IFRS geared towards investors’ confidence — ICAN boss

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

he President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi has said that the drive behind the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standard ( IFRS) was geared towards restoring investor ’s confidence into the nation’s capital market.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Professional Accountancy Students’ Society of Yaba College of Technology, Owolabi said “As a capital market-oriented system of financial reporting, the main goal of IFRS is to sustain the confidence of the investing public in the financials of corporate entities such that they can make efficient investment decisions.”

To this end he said, “As

a country desirous of rapid economic development, the financial statements prepared by companies in Nigeria on the basis of Statement of Accounting Standard (SAS) were not comparable to what obtained in other advanced jurisdictions, hence to be able to compare these figures, great cost was often incurred in the process in addition to the time the conversion processes also take. “The nation needs

to attract foreign investors by putting in place regulatory and operational practices that will encourage them to come and invest in Nigeria.

Part of the incentives was the improvement in the quality of financial reporting by companies operating in Nigeria.

“As the effect of globalisation continues to impact the financial and capital markets, all nations are welcoming the prospects that the

major financial and accounting reporting barriers are being removed by the deployment of IFRS as their local financial reporting standards.

“The absence of a single financial reporting and accounting standard impacted on the international financial markets where investors had the challenge of additional translation of financial statements for consolidation purposes.”

Business community He described as heartening, to note that as a worthy member of the global business community, Nigeria, in line with the recommendations of the Roadmap Committee on Transition from SAS to IFRS, has embraced a phased-implementation of IFRS as the framework for financial reporting in the country.

Accordingly, he said that with effect from January 1, 2012, all entities listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and other public interest entities were required to prepare

From right: Mr. Walter Drenth, Marketing Manager, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, Marketing Manager-Lager, NB, Plc and Hon Indongesit Ntekper, Chairman, Obot Akara LGA, Akwa Ibom State at the press briefing heralding Gulder Ultimate Serch 9 at Oriental Hotel, Lagos. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

Flour Mills acquires controlling interest in Thai Farm

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

F

LOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc said it has acquired controlling interest in Thai Farm International Limited (Thai Farm).

The move according to notice filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), obtained by Vanguard, was in furtherance of the company ’s drive to expand its business interest in the Nigerian Agricultural sector.

The company further added that the acquisition confirmed its unalloyed support for the Federal Government’s A g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda, saying that it has already commenced major agro-allied investments in rice

cultivation and milling, sugar growing, milling and refining; maize and soya beans, growing; palm oil cultivation and refining, as well as production of animal feeds.The company said, “Flour Mills believes that additional investment is urgently required to increase

Thai Farm’s capacity in order to meet the growing need for HQCF by flour millers in Nigeria. Thai Farm will be provided with strong support to enable it diversify into the production of other value adding items like starch and sweeteners.

“More importantly, this

backward integration investment is a demonstration of Flour Mills’ belief in the Government’s a g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda and a firm commitment to the creation of jobs for the teeming youths of Nigeria and enhancement of values for farmers.”

German gloom pressures shares, central banks eyed

A

gloomy assessment of the business climate in Germany kept European shares under pressure on Monday, but moves were capped ahead of a meeting of central bankers at the end of the week which could point toward fresh stimulus measures.

The latest Ifo index, which is compiled from a survey of some 7,000

German firms on economic conditions, fell in August to its lowest level since March 2010 as the euro zone crisis and a slowdown in China took their toll.

“It looks as if the German economy will, at best, be treading water in the coming months,” Carsten Brzeski, senior economist at ING. The euro zone’s blue chip Euro STOXX 50 index

.STOXX50E was down about 0.1 percent after the Ifo data at 2,431.10 points, although volumes were thin as the British market, Europe’s largest, was shut for a public holiday.

The main German stock index .GDAXI was little changed, recovering some of its earlier losses, as some of the Ifo institute’s findings were not as bad as many feared.

and present their financial reports based on IFRS. Also, all significant public interest entities will adopt IFRS by January 1, 2013 while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will key into the initiative by January 1, 2014.

“By implication, all SMEs will statutorily be required to issue IFRSbased financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2014.

All entities that do not meet the IFRS criteria for SMEs, shall prepare and issue their reports using SMEs Guidelines on Accounting (i.e., Tier 3 or Micro-GAAP) issued by the Genevabased United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

“This strategy will no doubt enhance Nigeria’s perception by foreign investors, reduce its risk profile as well as provide a reliable comparable basis such that the country remains one of the best investment destinations on the African continent,” he said.

Winners emerge in Sterling Bank’s Savers’ Promo

T

HE first set of winners in the ongoing Sterling Bank’s Savers’ Promo have emerged with four of the bank’s customers winning N500,000 each during a draw held in Lagos at the weekend.

The winners are Dada Ayodele, Aniagolu Kelvin, Omar Aiyelabegan and Eddy Borha.

Other 10 customers won five refrigerators and five home theaters to bring the total number of winners in the July edition to 14. The winners are Adetoye Taiwo, Opara Jerome, Bede Alozie, Egweh Joseph among others. All the winners emerged from 22,691 qualified entries pooled using electronic draw.

The bank’s Group Head, Liability Products and Bancassurance, John Akingbade explained that the promo which started on May, 1, 2012 will run through December 31, 2012 and is meant to promote financial inclusion in the economy as well as reward the bank’s

customers. “We are trying to ensure that the unbanked populace estimated at about 56 million is captured. They require banking services which they do not have access to. The promo is an avenue to bring them onboard and reward them accordinly,” he said.

Akingbade said that for the bank, balance sheet growth is a secondary consideration, as it is primarily focused on ensuring that the unbanked segment of the population are included in Nigeria’s fincial system.

“We are reaching out to the informal segment of the population like barbers, mechanics, technicians, tailors, and other small retail outlets that have been excluded from banking services,” he said.

Group Head Corporate Development, Shina Atilola, explained that the promo has been structured to accommodate all categories of customers.

24—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Coca cola kicks off Africa happiness manifesto STORIES BY PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

C

OCA-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) has announced the launch of its continental campaign dubbed the ‘Africa Happiness Manifesto’, which celebrates Africans.

Femi Ashipa, Brand Manager (Colas), CCNL, made the announcement at headquarter of the company when he said that d the Africa Happiness Manifesto is a collection of the positive and inspirational stories that Africa has to tell the world about it-

self.

“There are over a billion people that live in Africa, he said, hence there must be a billion different reasons to believe in Africa and the company is providing an avenue through this campaign for the people of Africa to tell their unique stories of optimism and happiness.”

“The world may choose to see Africa as dark, hopeless and a home to war, famine, corruption, poverty and disease, but we at Coca-Cola choose to see this beautiful continent through a fresh and colourful lense”, he said.

“Coca-Cola has operated on this continent for several decades with footprints that extend to every country. We know, understand, live and breathe Africa; hence we can influence positive attitudes amongst Africans by providing a beacon of optimism. Although negative news sells, we are increasingly witnessing a positive shift in every facet of the continent and have chosen to celebrate those things instead.”

Noting the vast improvement that Africa has made in the last decade in the areas of sports, music, business,

arts, technology, politics and fashion, the brand manager said The Coca-Cola Company is looking to promote unique individuals, creations and innovations that have excelled in their fields.

Explaining, he said, “CocaCola believes that anyone with the proper African attitude can overcome hurdles and achieve success. So, we are prepared to recognise excellence in the fields that directly impact the lives of the African man, woman, and youth. We want to see Nigerians collectively share their Billion Reasons to Believe in Africa.

From Left: Deputy Governor of the State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye- Tomori, outgoing Head of Service, Elder Segun Akinwusi,his wife, Yinka Akinwusi, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and former Head of Service/Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Foloruso Abiona at the celebration of the retirement of the outgoing Head of Service in Osogbo.

Brand Extension: Indomie now in 210g D

UFIL Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Noodles has expanded the brand’s portfolio with the addition of two new SKU’s; Oriental Fried Noodles (OFN) and the new 210 grams of the regular chicken tagged “Hungry Man Size.”

According to Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, said the introduction of the new brands of Indomie Noodles is to further expand the varieties for consumers and give the more options in the company’s continued zeal to satisfy its esteemed customers.

Ashiwaju disclosed that the birth of the two new SKU’s is a result of the company ’s huge investment in research and development and deep consumer insight which revealed that consumers of Indomie crave for new innovative product both in terms of the flavours and seasoning as well as size.

“We conducted extensive research into the areas of trend need of consumers especially young adults either in the Universities or young Business Executives and the

results reveal that many Nigerians seek to enjoy the exotic taste that comes with the noodles served in high profile restaurants and so we came up with the Oriental Fried” he said.

On the new 210 grams pack tagged ‘Hungry Man Size’ introduced for the regular

chicken flavour, Ashiwaju declared that research also indicated that the consumers still yarn for a bigger pack to the 120 Grams pack otherwise known as the Super Pack. He noted that the hungry man size was produced for consumers with a relatively huge appetite.”

“We believe that the addition of these two new SKU’s will further affirm the leadership position of our brand through innovation to achieve consumer satisfaction as well as helping consumers to differentiate their favourite Indomie brand from others in the market” he said.

Pr of iliant sales summit goes global Prof ofiliant T

HE Sales Performance Summit, (SPS) which started in Nigeria in 2008, and organized by Profiliant Development Resources has gone global.

The Summit which is organized by Profiliant Development Resources, Nigeria’s sales and business development consultancy, in collaboration with her international partners, now holds on all the continents of the world, with the European edition already held in Barcelona, Spain.

The US Edition will be held later this year, while the AsiaPacific Edition in Sydney, Australia, and the UK edition

will happen in London with the theme “Understanding the CEO Mindset - How Executives Make Buying Decisions” and will feature a line-up of internationally acclaimed speakers.

Mr. Oliver Nnona, CEO of Profiliant, said: “We took the program global purely in response to market needs. A conference of this caliber is now considered a necessity for professionals in sales and marketing roles globally.

We’re really excited to be able to have a conference which started with very modest beginnings in Nigeria now becoming something that the

whole world is celebrating, purely built out of a consistent but effective strategy of being a specialty conference.”

In 2011, over 1000 delegates from different industries and sectors in Nigeria and other West African countries participated.

Unlike many conferences that have a generic focus, the Sales Performance Summit takes a deeper look at Business-To-Business (B2B) marketing, with practical tips that sales professionals and sales leaders can apply with ease when back at work.

Euro Global introduces 19ltr Aqua Euro Water

E

URO Global Foods and Distilleries Limited has extended the product sizes of its brand of packaged drinking water by introducing 19 litre jar of Aqua Euro Water into the market.

Speaking on the product, Mr. Felix Aighobahi, Director Sales, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Ltd said, “Most homes, offices and institutions across Nigeria use the 19 litre drinking water jars with dispensers both for health and convenience reasons. We decided to ensure that the wholesome goodness of Aqua Euro Water is available to users in this category as part of our commitment to helping to meet the demand for good, clean and purified water.”

Continuing, he said, “The hazards of drinking impure water cannot be over-stated in view of the fact that majority of diseases are caused by drinking impure water that may have been contaminated by bacteria, virus, and toxic chemicals.

Aqua Euro meets the highest possible standards and will continually deliver superior value and satisfaction to health conscious consumers. It is wholesome, affordable and fresh.”

Air Safety: NLI launches Safer Sky to create awareness

N

IGERIAN Leadership Initiative, (NLI) has launched Safer Sky initiative to enhance awareness on issues with regards to the Nigeria Air transport system.

Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, NLI CEO, said “one of the reasons for organizing the forum is to show NLI’s sympathies and also create awareness on issues regarding Nigerian air transport, place maximum pressure on airline authorities/operators, improve overall air safety and ensure that the families’ rights are fully enforced following the tragedy.

Ase Taidi, Coordinator of the Information, said the Safety Initiative aims at advocating for improved air travel safety, providing welfare for the families, Trauma and psychological counselling, Financial planning advisory and Legal counselling and support.

Dr. Femi Olugbile, a consultant Psychiatrist who also spoke at the forum dealt comprehensively with the differences between grief, bereavement and healing; identifying the meaning and impact of each, and identifying clear strategies for the ways in which people might deal with each stage.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—25

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Nigerian firm plans N500m LED lamp factory …450 new jobs to be created G

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ealth preservation, 91% tariff slash Expatiating more on the Led lamps, the Managing Director of Gloryland, Mr. Mike Adegun, who is also the Chairman of the China-based, Dyode Limited, a firm established by Nigerians in diaspora to manufacture the WonDDalite LED lamps, said the use of the lamps is Nigeria’s answer to wealth and energy conservation.

He argued that the country stands to save about $548billion if at least 10 million of the 60-watt incandescent lamps, ICLs, are exchanged for the LED lamps. He added

Alison-Madueke, Nnaji, Sanusi for NAEC confab

T

CLARANWACHUKWU

LORYLAND IM Limited, the sole representatives of Dyode Limited, said it plans to set up a N500million factory that will be producing LED lamps in Nigeria. The lamps are currently being produced by outside the country.

An LED lamp (or LED light bulb) is defined as a solidstate lamp that uses lightemitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of light. Such lamps also offer long service life and high energy efficiency, but are usually more expensive than the fluorescent and incandescent lamps in use in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the company, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos recently, said the factory which is expected to be completed within two years, between 2013 and 2015 will also create about 450 new jobs.

He said, “The N500million is only for the first phase of the factory, and it will employ about 450 technical staff, which will be increased to 1,000 within one year of becoming operational. When it resumes manufacturing fully, we will need about 5,000 direct workers and this will lead to a multiplier effect in terms of suppliers and other services required.” He added that some of the components for the lamps can be sourced locally.

Ohuabunwa further disclosed that the factory will be located between Lagos and Ogun states, adding that the management was currently in the process of delineating the market before the factory takes off.

BRIEF

L-R: Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu; inister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Pius Anyim Pius, during the Federal Government/labour dialogue to call of the proposed strike by the junior petroleum workers, NUPENG, in Abuja, last week.

that not only do the LED lamps have a 15-year life span, they can also effectively reduce electricity consumption tariff by 91 percent.

By his calculations, the exchange of 10 million 60watt incandescent lamps of 600 mega watts, MW of power for 10 million 5.2 watt LED lamps will save up to 548MW of power, as only 52MW will be utilised, thereby diverting the preserved energy for industrial use.

According to him, “548MW is more than the power generated by the Kainji Power Plant, and more than double

the capacity of the Sapele Power Plant.”

Citing the example Ghana, he said that without expanding generation capacity, the Ghanaian Government, being the first African country to undertake such a measure was able to save 1,200MW daily or from the exchange of six million ICLs for compact fluorescent lamps, CFL. “The interim report of the Government shows that by applying this measure, Ghana saved $3.3million per month and $39.5million per year (assuming an oil price of

$120/barrel),” he said.

H

ealth and environment safety Adegun also noted, the LED lamps part from being more energy efficient with 5.2watt output compared with the 60 watts of incandescent bulbs and the 13 watts of the compact fluorescent lamps, CFL, are also more ecofriendly. The LED lamps do not emit heat unlike the ICLs which emit 95 percent heat and carbondioxide, C02; they also do not contain mercury which is poisonous to the body like the ICLs.

South African investors seek ties with NNPC

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contingent of businessmen from Bloemfontein, South Africa are billed to visit Nigeria shortly to engage the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC in areas of mutual interest and cooperation.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the NNPC Towers, Abuja last week, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, said the proposed visit is informed by the need to further strengthen economic ties with Nigeria in the spirit of African brotherliness and economic integration.

The High Commissioner, who was received by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Andy Yakubu, noted that it is very important

for the two African nations to look inward and work together so as to harness the abundant mineral and human resources in the continent in order to develop Africa and its people.

“With the economic crises in the European countries, it is high time we came together and strengthened our economic relationship for the benefit of the continent,” the High Commissioner enthused.

Speaking on the various interactions the Corporation has had with South African government and companies, the GMD said the NNPC is always ready to work handin-hand with them, stressing that the mutual relationship would ultimately impact on the growth of Africa.

Yakubu stated that the time has come for the two

countries to leverage on their strengths in the areas of abundant mineral resources, human resources and cutting edge technology to reposition the continent for rapid growth.

“We have come a long way and with the abundant natural resources, human resources and cutting edge technology in our countries, I am optimistic that when we bring all these potentials together, we would be able to form a formidable force that could compete favourably with any other continent in the world,” Yakubu submitted.

He added that as a Corporation, the NNPC is willing to share its technical expertise in the area of exploration and exploitation of mineral resources.

HE ministers of Petroleum Resources and Power, Mrs. AlisonMadueke, and Prof. Bart Nnaji, and other industry chief executives as well as the lawmakers and other stakeholders, are expected to brainstorm on the ongoing reforms in the petroleum and power sectors.

The conference, scheduled for Thursday, is being organised by the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) is expected to provide a veritable platform for the government and the industry operators to rub minds on the reforms and the anticipated transformation and how best to apply them for the benefit of all stakeholders and the economy.

The conference theme is “Energy Industry Deregulation: Prospects and Challenges to the Economy,” and will take holistic look at government’s reform policies in the petroleum and power industries and the stand of various key stakeholders on these policies as well as the way forward.

The Keynote Address will be delivered by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, while the lead paper will be delivered by Mr. Andy Yakubu, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Minister of Power will speak on “Gains of the Power Sector Deregulation,” while the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Mr. Austin Avuru, will speak on “Oil Industry Reforms: What Prospects, Challenges for Indigenous Independents.”

The Managing Director, West African Gas Pipeline Company, Mr. Charles Adeniji, will deliver a paper titled, “Prospects and Challenges of effective Gas Distribution within the West African Coast Region,” and the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), MallamSanusi Lamido Sanusi will talk on the “Role of CBN in the Energy Sector Reforms.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—27

NEITI reports set pace for oil, gas reform — Jonathan

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI, ABUJA resident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the Nigerian oil, gas and mining sectors.

The President, who gave the assurance last week while inaugurating the new Board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, in Abuja, noted that the agency has performed commendably over the past decade and has contributed to the robust reforms within the industry.

According to Jonathan, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the government was committed to the full implementation of global best practices in the extractive industry as exemplified by the EITI principles, towards ensuring that Nigerians reaped the full benefits of the natural resources.

“I wish to state the unequivocal commitment of the Federal Government to the full implementation of transparency and accountability as enshrined in the NEITI Act, and the principles and criteria of the global Extractive initiative Industries Transparency Initiative,” he noted.

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T

he President explained that the work of NEITI through its independent reports “is therefore coming at a time that the work of NEITI in the extractive sector has set the pace for the Federal Government to embark on massive reforms of the sector especially the oil and gas industry to ensure that revenues from the industry support the transformation agenda of this administration.”

“The Petroleum Industry Bill now before the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law is a testimony of government’s determination to reform the sector to conform to NEITI principles and objectives of transparency and accountability in all business transactions in the extractive industry,” he further stressed.

T

he President identified as priorities to the new Board to include making NEITI Audit reports regular, current and user friendly;

implementation of NEITI’s five year development plan; human capacity development; effective communications; expanding NEITI activities to states and local governments; coordinated legal framework and building better inter agency alliances as well as priority to NEITI compliant programmes.

He advised the Board to maintain the highest ethical standard expected of a board supervising anti-corruption agency like NEITI. Responding, the Chairman of the NEITI National Stakeholder Working Group (NSWG) Mr. Ledum Mitee, promised to take NEITI principles of good governance, transparency and accountability to all nooks and cranny of the extractive industries.

M

itee pledged that while focusing on the oil and gas sector, NEITI under his leadership will also expose, explore and expand the potentials in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through a coordinated programme built on EITI principles.

Other members of the new NSWG include, Hajia Mariam

•An oil rig operating offshore

Ladi Ibrahim; Dr. Kate Okparaeke; Mr. Isaac Boyi; Mr. Patrick Udonfang; Mrs. Abiola Enitan Edenaike; Mr. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud; and Mr. Musa Nashumi.

Others are the Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, (Rep. of Extractive

Industry Companies); National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay in Nigeria (Rep. of Civil Society); and President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN (Rep. of Labour Union).

Also on the Board is Mr.

Dominic Nwachukwu Member, Mr. Bassey Ekefere Member, Group Managing Director (NNPC) - Member, and the Executive Secretary of NEITI Mrs Zainab Ahmed - member and Secretary to the Board.

NCDMB, NNPC to deepen local content in downstream A

renewal of the partnership between the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will deepen integration of content development in downstream operations in the Oil and Gas industry.

Focus area is on the turnaround maintenance planned for the nation’s three major refineries within the next two years.

This was agreed when the Board received the top management of NNPC led by the Group Executive Director, Refineries and Petrochemicals, Mr. Anthony Ogbuigwe at its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently.

Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Ernest Nwapa charged operators in the downstream sector to comply with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development (NOGICD) Act. This, he said will engender job creation, spur local equipment

manufacturing, retain spend, transfer technology and deliver other benefits of implementation.

He noted that appreciable progress had been achieved in the upstream subsector of the industry where the Board set up an effective process for interfacing with operators and service companies to positively influence their activities. He also pointed out that a similar model was needed to be worked out for the downstream.

To achieve this, Nwapa said institutional synergies must be enhanced at strategic levels, where the Board will be able to obtain the subsector’s long term plans. He said that this will assist the board to identify opportunities, devise programmes and interface points that will best grow Nigerian Content in the downstream without disrupting operations.

He further explained that certain capacities the Board had grown in the upstream subsector could be utilised for downstream operations. Some of these include the turnaround maintenance of

refineries, but this could only happen if the Board is endowed with the subsector’s strategic and operational plans.

The Executive Secretary also said that due to upstream operations demands, the Board had successfully attracted original equipment manufacturers like Siemens, ABB, Endress & Hauser, General Electric and GCA, Neway and others to set up plants in Nigeria. He added that Shell had already announced strategic support to some of the OEMs.

A

ccording to him, three pipe mills being planned for Nigeria by WSP, Yulong and Vigeo were entering into construction phases while SCC, the existing pipe mill in the country is now being patronised by the operating companies.

He further charged the NNPC team, which included the managing directors of the three existing refineries and other top management members to work out the demands of their

companies for heat exchangers, valves and other components needed for regular maintenance of the refineries and petrochemical plants.

N

wapa explained that such demand will strengthen the business case the Board had built for the establishment of manufacturing facilities and other capacity building efforts to support industry operations.

He noted that this was the first time that top NNPC management was formally engaging the Board in Yenagoa since the enactment of the Content Act, adding that this collaboration was essential to achieving content aspirations which were spearheaded by the NNPC. He said, "Under the leadership of the Hon Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, it is important to demonstrate to the industry that all stakeholders on the Government side are united in the pursuit of Nigerian Content implementation.

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

BRIEF

Power supply: ‘Don’t rest on your laurels’

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE AND ADA ONWUNALI

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he Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji has urged workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, not to rest on their laurels following the recent increase in power generation.

The country achieved a new high in power generation earlier in the month when it recorded for the first time in history 4,307.7 Megawatts plus 170MW which serves as spinning reserve, bringing the total quantum of power to 4,477.7MW. The new peak exceeds previous level of 4,237MW achieved on Monday, August 6, by 240.7MW. While praising the staff of the agencies under the Ministry for their hard work, commitment and patriotism even in very challenging circumstances, Nnaji urged them not “to rest on their laurels yet because power development still has a long way to go in our dear country.”

While comparing the two largest economies in Africa, the minister noted that South Africa, with a population of 47 million produces 40,000MW while Nigeria, with some 167 million people generates less than 5,000MW.

H

e urged both the PHCN and NIPP workers not to be carried away by public adulation in the wake of a remarkable improvement in electricity across the nation since last month.

“The only time any of us can rest is only when the 167 million Nigerians can take constant and quality power for granted, as it is the case in many countries of the world, he asserted.”

Nnaji recalled that when the plants generated 3,800MW for the first time in August 2010, “the system collapsed within a few minutes because the transmission infrastructure was poorly maintained.”

Speaking on the new generation feat, Mr. Simeon Atakulu, a former PHCN executive director and erstwhile chief executive of the Egbin Power Station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, described the new record as significant.

“It is significant that the new record in generation has been set, even with the 1,200MW Egbin plant, the nation’s flagship power generator, doing only 600MW because it is undergoing routine maintenance.

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HE Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, has set up an eight-man panel to investigate pension matters in the power sector.

Inaugurating the panel in Abuja last week, the minister gave the terms of reference to include: Investigate the status of Pension in the Power Sector vis-à-vis the Pension Laws.

Identify officers involved in any act of misconduct.

Review the Report of Agary Committee on Pension Matters.

Recommend measures to guard against occurrence of similar incidents in the future as well as sanctions to be taken against culprits.

Mr. Joseph Ajiboye, former Auditor General of the Federation is the Chairman of the panel, while other members include: Mr. Vesley A. Zafi, Director Pensions, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation Alh. Babayo Shehu, Director Funds, Office of Accountant General of the Federation Mr. Abbo Mamman, Assistant General Manager, National Pensions Commission Mr. John O. Chukwu, Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Works

Power minister probes workers pension Hon. Nicholas O. Agbo, Labor Adviser & SA to Hon. Minister of Power Mrs. Adetutu A. Shoetan,

Legal Adviser, Federal Ministry of Power, and, Dr. Samuel J. Agbogun,

MD/CEO Nigeria Electricity Liability Mgt Ltd/gte, as Secretary

• Electricity transmission cables

Manitoba pledges to work with existing TCN staff

BY OSCARLINE ONWUEMENYI, ABUJA

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O enhance a peaceful takeover and management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) the new Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the company, Mr. Don Priestman said his management will work closely with the legacy TCN staff, particularly during the transitional months.

He said this at a familiarization meeting convened by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in Abuja. He was accompanied by other senior management staff of the TCN. According to him, the new management’s experience and technological wherewithal will be brought to bear in the management of the TCN, adding that the company expects to work with the skilled workers to deliver an efficient transmission system for the country.

He said, “We are assuring the staff of TCN that we are committed to the growth and development of the company, using the most modern technology to bring the vision of government towards efficient power transmission to

millions of Nigerians.

“Our experience over many years in power systems management would certainly come to bear on the management of TCN, and we are more than ready to keep the promises we made on expanding power transmission infrastructure to provide Nigerians with more reliable power.”

Meanwhile, Priestman presented a diagnostic of TCN that will focus on the inherent manpower levels and skills gap deficits and succession planning.

He also presented a proposal for steps that will be taken towards full TCN unbundling and ring fencing of Transmission Service Provider (TSP), System Operator (SO) and Market Operator (MO) functions by way of sufficient sustainable TCN revenues and capital budget approvals, staff training, skills development and succession planning and strong enforcement of Market Rules by NERC, to name a few.

The Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act of 2005 requires that TCN be made up of two entities namely System Operations and the Transmission System Provider. Market Operations

which is domiciled in System Operations, is also to be ring fenced.

Ring fencing refers to separation that translates to financial and operational autonomy. It is believed that the separation of these entities will lead to reduction of bureaucracy and ultimately enhance efficiency.

Chairman/CEO of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, told the new TCN management that the Commission wanted to see an efficient transmission system, and promised to work closely with them to realize this.

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anitoba Hydro International recently won the management contract on April 3, through a bidding process conducted by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). They assumed operational control of the company on July 30, 2012.

The TCN is one of the companies scheduled for Management Contract deal to transform it into a financially sustainable, self-sufficient and market-driven player in the power sector.

Manitoba, which is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada, currently operate 15 interconnected

generating stations and has more than 572,000 electric power customers and over 263,000 natural gas customers. Its world-class technical and organizational capabilities have enabled it to perform power sector works in over 60 countries.

Within Manitoba Hydro’s system, there exists a total of 9,089 km of transmission lines throughout the province of Manitoba, spread across a wide variety of physical terrain, including swamps, permafrost and bedrock.

TCN is one of the 18 successor companies carved out of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN.) It combines the functions of a transmission services provider, a system operator and a market operator, all of which are central to the sustainability and development of the electricity sector.

Following unbundling, TCN emerged as one of the successor companies of PHCN and was scheduled for a Management Contract in order to transit the company into a financially sustainable, stable, self-sufficient and market-driven company.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—29

BRIEF

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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OURTEEN of the 25 oil marketers have been indicted by the AigImoukhude subsidy committee for several infractions in the subsidy payment. The committee had during the submission of its report on July 24, erroneously announced that 21 companies were indicted.

However, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala last week released the list of 25 oil marketers that violated the subsidy scheme.

The 25 oil markets list was confirmed by the Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of Fuel Subsidy Payments According to the notice circulated last week by the office of the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, most of the companies were cited for a single infraction each, some of them had several.

Six out of the eleven Oil marketers cited for single infraction could not provide evidence for subsidy payment for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed at the time of transshipment.

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ccording to the notice circulated by the Minister of Finance, Brilla Energy LTD, Brilla Energy LTD, Caades Oil and Gas LTD, Ceoti LTD, Majope Investment, Menol Oil and Gas LTD, Ocean Energy Trading and Services LTD, Pinnacle Contractors LTD, MRS Oil & Gas Plc, Sifax Oil & Gas Company, Tonique Oil services LTD were cited for single infraction.

The notice went further to state that the above listed companies were cited for either subsidy payment for which mother vessels were not found in locations as claimed at the time of transshipment or there was no evidence of sales proceeds in

Heritage Oil to fund Nigeria deal

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From left:Consultant, Remark Consulting Ltd, Mr. Emie Onwumere; Chairman, Gloryland IM Ltd, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; and Managing Director, Mr. Mike Adegun, at the unveiling of WonDDalite LED lamps in Lagos.

14 oil marketers indicted for multiple infractions … 11 for single infraction

banks.

According to the notice, Brilla Energy LTD was indicted for subsidy payments for which mother vessels were not found in locations claimed.

MRS Oil and Gas Plc was indicted for subsidy payment for which there was no shipping documents or evidence of payment for the products in foreign exchange.

In the case of CEOTI LTD, the notice stated that the company specially mentioned transactions with various infractions. However, the transactions were discovered to be bills for collection

transactions but as at the time of the review, it was discovered that the shipping documents evidencing arrival of the products had not been submitted to the respective banks for payment to provide letter from their bankers confirming that they financed the transaction.

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apital Oil and Gas Industry LTD, Alminnur Resources LTD, Conoil Plc, Capital Oil Plc, Downstream Energy Source LTD, Enterna Plc, Eurafric Oil and Gas LTD, Lumen Skies LTD, Master Energy Oil and Gas LTD,

Matrix Energy Limited, Mob International Services, Nasaman Oil Services LTD, Naticel Petroleum LTD and Top Oil and Gas Developemt Company LTD are among the 14 oil marketers indicated for multiple infractions.

The notice revealed that Capital Oil & Gas Industry Limited had five infractions totaling almost $8.9 billion; Matrix Energy Limited, five infractions totalling $6.23 billion; and Nassaman Oil Services Limited, four infractions totalling $3.86 billion.

Shell commends SoDA for injury free operation T

HE Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu has expressed deep satisfaction over five million injury free operations achieved by SoDA. SoDA is an acronym for a portfolio of SPDC Project covering the Southern Swamp Associated Gas Solution (AGS) Projects, Domestic Gas Supply and AG Solution Projects targeted at domestic gas supply and implementing flares-down solutions on some C M Y K

existing facilities where associated gas being flared.

In his congratulatory message, Sunmonu said, “this is an excellent achievement that we should be proud of.

“A big thank you to everybody, let’s be happy and celebrate this achievement, let it be a motivation for continued Goal-Zero attainment in the SoDA Projects.”

SoDA has worked since October 2006 without losing time to injury or fatalities. The team has been working on Associated Gas Solution Project

and pipelines extending over challenging terrains of the Niger Delta in both brown and green fields. It has achieved over five million man-hours lost time injury-LTI/ fatality free as of February 2012.

However, Project Manager, SoDA and Domestic gas, Wolter Wienlenga added that, ”This is a noteworthy achievement when you consider that the team is made up of over 400 regular and contractor staff, as well as community semi-skilled labourers has worked from October 2006.”

But he also cautioned all the staff to focus on improvements through strict Health Safety Security and Environment (HSSE).

Wienlenga attributed the team’s achievement to site behavioural safety programmes such as Injury free club, proactive safety campaigns and improved frontline supervision. He also added that consistent visible HSSE leadership played a big role in motivating the staff to doing the right thing.

ERITAGE Oil Plc will sell part of a gas block and borrow money from Genel Energy Plc to raise $450 million, easing concerns about how it will fund oilfield purchases in Nigeria.

Heritage Oil shares jumped 15 percent after the company said it will sell a 26 percent stake in Miran Block in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region to Genel and will take a $294 million loan from the company.

The cash will partly fund Heritage Oil's acquisition of a stake in Nigeria's OML 30 oilfield assets announced last month.

"Miran sale price is attractive, but the cash is more welcome," BMO Capital Markets' Al Stanton said.

Heritage Oil earlier planned to fund a portion of the OML 30 deal through a rights issue.

"There is no need to proceed with the rights (issue), and any capital raising is dropped," Heritage Oil Chief Financial Officer, Paul Atherton told Reuters.

The company will sell the Miran Block stake and an interest in a related joint operating agreement for $156 million, which would increase Genel's holding in the block to 51 percent.

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eritage Oil can repay the loan by transferring ownership of its unit Heritage Energy Middle East Ltd, which currently operates the Miran Block, to Genel.

"After we've completed the acquisition of OML 30 ... either party has the right to exercise this option, and we would expect to complete the same, by way of cancelling the loan in exchange for the remaining rights in Miran," Atherton said.

Heritage Oil, which also operates in Tanzania and Russia, will have no presence in Kurdistan after exiting Miran Block.

Conceptual engineering design studies have focused on the potential for early production of between 80 million and 180 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) at Miran for local markets beginning in 2013 , according to Heritage Oil's website.

This will be followed by an appraisal and full development of between 560 and 750 MMscfd in 2015 for gas export.

30 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

highest denomination was 1,000 pesos. This rose to 5,000 pesos in late 1976, then to 10,000 pesos in 1979 and rose further to 1,000,000 in 1981. As this trend became clearly unsustainable, a series of currency reforms followed. In 1983, the currency was re-named peso argentino, one unit of which was exchanged for 10,000 pesos.

This did not curb the inflation. In 1985, another name change occurred, and a unit of the new currency austral, was exchanged for 1,000 pesos argentinos. Finally one new peso was exchanged for 10,000 australes.

Economic history

•Specimen of the new N5,000 currency

New notes'll ruin the economy, kill cashless policy (2) Omoh Gabriel in this second instalment argues that the new N5,000 note will fuel corruption in high places and money laundering.

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HE situation in the country where many Nigerians are down on the poverty line as a result of unemployment and rising inflation is bad enough; adding additional burden of price increase will hurt more. The president should understand that he is the person answerable to the electorate; the CBN governor is answerable to him. His performance on the economy front will be judged by the people not

by CBN policy, what ever will make the situation worse for the people should be avoided at all cost.

Nigeria is at present facing mounting security challenges, corruption in high places and money laundering. The proposed currency restructuring will help facilitate corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing for it will be much easier to carry bulk money with the N5,000 note than ever before. The CBN despite its policy of know your customer has not been able to arrest financing of terrorism.

Cash culture of Nigerians Those throwing bombs at us are being financed daily and most of these transactions pass through the financial system. This policy is clearly a wrong move as it signals the interment of all the currencies which are to be turned into coins and will no doubt induce inflation. The cash culture of Nigerians and our history with such actions point to these facts.

The sad thing is that the CBN does not seem to learn from the facts of history.

Perhaps what the CBN sees as the positive side of the review is the lower cash processing cost, which is not enough justification for the introduction of the policy.

What about the real value of the naira that will decline when inflation sets in? Nigeria policy makers are very good at making reference to what happens in other economies when it please them but when it is not in their interest they remain silent. The

CBN can not point to any economy that is not suffering from hyper inflation that has higher currency denomination. In the US the base currency is the dollar, and is printed on bills in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. However at one time, the U.S. currency included five larger denominations. Notes in the denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 were printed for general use, and a $100,000 note was printed for certain internal transactions.

High denomination currency The high-denomination currency was prevalent from the very beginning of U.S. Government issue (1861).

Interest-bearing notes of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 were issued in 1861, and $5,000 and $10,000 United States Notes were released in 1878. These highdenomination bills were issued in 1929 in the smaller size that remains the format to this day.

The designs were as follows:$500: William McKinley; $1,000: Grover Cleveland; $5,000: James Madison; $10,000: Salmon P. Chase; $100,000: Woodrow Wilson. All were printed in green, except for the Series of 1934 gold certificate, which were printed in orange on the reverse. These Series 1934 gold certificates (of denominations $100, $1,000, $10,000, and $100,000) were issued after the gold standard was repealed and gold was compulsorily confiscated by order of President Franklin Roosevelt on March 9, 1933 and thus were used only for intra-government transactions and not issued to the public.

Of these, the $100,000 is an odd bill in that it was printed only as this Series 1934 gold certificate.

This series was discontinued in 1940. The other bills are printed in black and green. Although they are still technically legal tender in the United States, highdenomination bills were last printed in 1945 and officially discontinued on July 14, 1969, by the Federal Reserve System. The $5,000 and $10,000 effectively disappeared well before then. Of

the $10,000 bills, 100 were preserved for many years by Benny Binion, the owner of Binion’s Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they were displayed encased in acrylic. The display has since been dismantled and the bills sold to private collectors. Also, there is one large-size, 1800s-era $1,000 bill in the Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona underneath the glass counter top.

The Federal Reserve began taking high-denomination bills out of circulation in 1969. As of May 30, 2009, there were only 336 $10,000 bills known to exist; 342 remaining $5,000 bills; and 165,372 remaining $1,000 bills.

Due to their rarity, collectors will pay considerably more than the face value of the bills to acquire them. Some are even in other parts of the world in museums.

For the most part, these bills were used by banks and the Federal Government for large financial transactions.

This was especially true for gold certificates from 1865 to 1934. If the US with its level of economic activities and the number of billionaires there can disperse with higher denomination, it is surprising that in an era of electronic payment, which every government department in the

country has embraced, the CBN is thinking of introducing a higher denomination. The question is to serve what purpose? If higher currency denomination was any helpful to an economy, the US certainly would have issued million dollars denominated notes.

Electronic money system The introduction of the electronic money system globally has made large-scale cash transactions obsolete. When combined with concerns about counterfeiting and the use of cash in unlawful activities such as the illegal drug trade, it is unlikely that any government will allow large denomination currency now and in the near future, despite the amount of inflation that has occurred since 1969. According to the US Department of Treasury website, the present denominations of our currency in production are $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Neither the Department of the Treasury nor the Federal Reserve System has any plans to change the denominations in use today.

A cursory look at economic history showed that in Argentina at the beginning of 1975, the

Economic history shows that Bolivia had a similar experience between 1984 and 1987. Before 1984 Bolivia’s highest currency denomination was 1,000 Bolivian pesos which rose to 10,000,000 Bolivian pesos by 1985. In the inevitable currency reform that came in 1987, the currency was renamed Boliviano, a unit of which exchanged for 1,000,000 Bolivian pesos. Nicaragua’s inflation episode was from 1987 to 1990. In early 1986, the highest denomination in Nicaragua was 10,000 cordobas which rose to1, 000,000 cordobas by 1987. In that country’s 1988 currency reform as a result of inflation,one new cordobas was exchanged for 10,000 old cordobas.

By 1990, however, the highest denomination was again one hundred million new cordobas.

Finally in another currency reform in 19991 one new cordobas was exchanged for 5,000,000 old cordobas. Is this the road Sanusi want Nigeria to travel in, certainly it is not worth it.The introduction of higher denomination naira notes in Nigeria would no doubt lead to increased illegal/criminal, drug related, illegal oil bunkering, and terrorist activities, as well as money laundering which are known to be facilitated by large scale cash transaction.

The choice is for Mr. President to make, he may decide to allow this new policy and further ruin the economy or stop it and consolidate on the little gains that has been made. Mr. President the choice is yours.

Much ado about very little Continues from yesterday A visit to the open markets, Shoprite, Park n Shop, or a car dealer will prove to any doubters that most shoppers still carry heavy wards of N500 and N1,000 notes – just to buy grocery. It costs the CBN billions of naira just to print these notes. The cost of providing currency notes will be vastly reduced if the nation prints less. It is surprising that none of those raising their voices in opposition even found any merit in this new initiative. It is certainly a step in the right direction and one which has not gone far enough.

Addressing our social habits: It is important at this stage to admit that some social habits will act as obstacles to the policy change. Some have pointed to corruption and increased money laundering, etc. There is insufficient time to address all of these. But, one thing is clear. Corrupt people will always find a way to defraud irrespective of whether the largest denomination is NI0 or NI00,000. And people

reject coins because the smallest note is N5.

Lift that to N20 and, all of a sudden, nobody will reject it.

What more needs to be done? At the moment, Nigeria parades eight currency notes - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000.

That is about four too many. At least four were introduced for sentimental reasons. Granted the CBN proposes to coin some existing notes.

But that is still not enough. We can do better.

Here is how. Three notes - N100, N200 and N500 can be compressed into one note.

Instead of having one currency for Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Azikiwe, why not produce one note with all three on it? Similarly, Tafawa Balewa and Murtala Mohammed can be on another note. In the end, we can have N5,000 (Awo, Ahmadu Bello and Zik); N500 (Balewa and Mohammed, NI00, N20 and coin NI0 and N5. The savings sought by CBN will be generated and there will be no inflation attributed to currency change.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—31

do not waste your money on products that you will need to replace after installation. If you are operating on a budget and can not buy high quality wood products from Europe and America, then meet the local carpenter to construct them for you, ‘’ he stated.

Nwadiogbu, whose firm specialises in the design, construction and sale of doors, with particular emphasis on solid wood doors, further said, ‘’the Chinese do not believe in anything longevity and creativity. They believe in copying and producing massively. And when you copy, there can not be originality in the product.

That is why Nigerian market is flooded with fake products.’’

Low quality wood products

Doors made from Nigeria wood

Nigeria, dumping ground for substandard wood products •Loses N93bn monthly on substandard doors

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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KEMBA Chidubem has every reason to count himself fortunate, given that within his five-year stay in Lagos, he built a three bedroom bungalow in Lagos and a five-room duplex in his town in Anambra State.

The 38-year old auto parts importer wanted to use the house warming ceremony to showcase the beauty of of his country home to his business associates who were coming for the occasion from various parts of the country.

HIGH POINTS •Inferior wood products especially from China have flooded Nigerian markets.

•Nigeria loses over N90 billion to fake wood products monthly.

•Nigeria is blessed with high quality wood.

•Developers should patronise local wood products because they are more durable.

But his joy was short-lived as harmattan wind which swept through the community, wrecked havoc on the building. On his arrival, he discovered that the entrance door to the apartment had been replaced with another one, thereby making it different from other doors on the ground floor.

Dissatisfied and angry with the situation, Chidubem decided that guests would not be taken round to inspect the house during the commissioning. He later vowed to report the company that supplied the doors and other furniture products, to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria,SON.

Chidubem, is just one out of many Nigerians, who waste fortune on substandard wood products.

Perhaps, it is against this backdrop that the DirectorGeneral of SON Dr. Joseph Odumodu lamented recently in Lagos that Nigerians are loosing over N50 billion annually to fake products. ‘’In our estimation, Nigeria is losing over N50 billion to fake and substandard products utilisation yearly.

This is prevalent on all products,’’ he stated.

Odumodu said that the organisation was worried by the growing patronage of substandard products

imported into the country.

He warned that patronage of substandard products could lead to domestic and industrial accidents, thereby leading to death.

However, experts are not leaving this campaign to SON alone, as there is a current war against the importation and patronage of fake wood products in the country by concerned professionals.

Speaking on this move, the Director of Emilinks, Mr. Solomon Nwadiogbu regretted that Nigeria’s wood market is flooded with poor quality doors sourced locally and internationally. ‘’Do not be fooled so that you

His position was further corroborated, by a professional builder, Mr.Matthew Akinloye, an Engineer, who noted that Nigeria has become a dumping ground for low quality wood products. ‘’This campaign is worthy and we would see it to a logical end, because the waste is becoming unbearable. The income in this country is very low, so we as experts should not encourage people wasting hard earned money on fake wood products.

I learnt that Nigerians are losing about $600m (N93bn) monthly to substandard doors because imported door sellers at the Orile area of Lagos alone do Letters of Credit worth about $200m monthly,’’Akinloye added.

Another expert, who is an Architect, Dr. Shola Sofodu, stated that it was high time the government placed a ban on use of fake wood products, in view of the overwhelming dangers they constitute. ‘’We are in this campaign for the sake of everyone, because the dangers are enormous.

Our lives are not safe, while our pockets are being affected by the amount we waste on fake products.

HAZARDS

How to prevent termites, roaches, other pests C ertain areas are prone to different pest problems because of climate, architecture and local industry. Carpenter ants are usually found in the moisture of roof boards. Termites are only identified when they swarm in the spring. Don’t stack firewood up against your house; you’ll welcome the carpenter ants in. Here are a few tips on how to keep the pests at bay: • Repair any water leaks or dripping outdoor faucets.

• Remove or elevate all wood that is in direct contact with soil (like firewood).

• Repair or cover all foundation vents with insect screening ($3 a foot).

• Caulk your home’s exterior to fill all the cracks ($10 for a tube).

• Replace white light bulbs, which attract insects, with yellow or pale-amber ones in your outdoor fixtures • Store pet food in airtight containers, then the pests can neither smell nor eat your pet’s dinner.

• Get rid of boxes and paper mess. Roaches like eating cardboard more than food.

If these things fail and the invasion happens anyway, you will want to hire a professional exterminator.

C M Y K

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Developer unveils plans to build N1bn international trade centre at Asaba

Building materials watch Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,800.00 Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block---N130 9 inches vibrated per block---N150 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90 Sand Soft per tipper load ---N13,000 Sharp double tipper load---N23,000 Gravel double tipper load---N25,000 Gravel single tipper load---N18,000 Granite per tipper load----N120,000

•The model of Asaba International Trade Centre

BY KINGSLEYADEGBOYE

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CONSORTIUM of firms comprising Asaba Mega Market Limited, Delta State Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Kanma Property Development Company Limited have concluded plans to flag off the construction of an ultra modern business hub that will boost trade in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.

Christened Asaba International Trade Centre, the massive project to be built on 40 acres of land along Kilometre 17, Benin-Onitsha Expressway, and one kilometre after Asaba International Airport, will comprise 5,000 business spaces of various sizes and a parking space for 2,000 vehicles. The estimated cost of the centre which will be developed in four phases is put at whopping N1 billion.

The ground breaking ceremony of the first phase of the project which is billed for completion in 18 months, will take place in December.

A total 300 shopping units would be built in the first phase.

Phenomenal shopping experience The Managing Director of Kanma Property Development Company Limited, said the centre is planned to provide a phenomenal shopping experience for both buyers and sellers who will do business there.

The centre, he said, has provision for large warehouses for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers who want a depot or distribution point close to buyers of their goods.

Provision has also been made for smaller shops where retailers can display samples of their goods.

Continuing, the Kanma CEO said the centre will provide a peaceful and conducive atmosphere as well as adequate space for future expansion.

The centre will be a place C M Y K

where commerce, entertainment and business will flourish; it is a place where people can come to shop and expect to enjoy themselves.

Asaba International Trade Centre is to boost trade for those who own shops in it. It would be a landmark business destination brand for the Niger Delta Region. The trade centre is a place where fairs and exhibitions can be organised on regular basis because of the vast and expansive parcel of land reserved to make regular exhibitions and trade fairs possible”, Kanma said.

Explaining that the centre is targeted at prospective shop owners, banks, cooperative groups, professional firms such as law and architectural firms as well as major distributors of goods, the developer said his firm is

already talking to these categories of organisations to come and buy shops and warehouse at the trade centre.

Kanma who disclosed that shops and warehouses will be sold outright, said those who are buying or making purchases now will have advantage over those who will be making purchases later when the project would have been completed. The sales arrangement shows that investors can pay in four instalments. While shops cost between N2 million and N6.1 million, warehouses cost between N6.1 million and N25 million.

On funding, he stated that there is collaboration between the developers and Diamond Bank, Zenith Bank, Abbey Building Society and Delta Trust Mortgage Finance.

Experts renew call for Construction Industry Board

BY KINGSLEYADEGBOYE

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HE seven professional bodies in the Nigerian built environment have renewed the clamour for the establishment of a Construction Industry Development Board without further delay. They say the board if established by the Federal Government, will engender sustainable transformation of the Nigerian construction industry.

The call was part of the resolution reached by the professional bodies at their just concluded seminar on building collapse and way forward in Lagos. The professional bodies were: Nigerian Institute of Building,NIOB, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Nigerian Institute of Architects, NIA, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, and the Nigerian Institution of Estate

Surveyors and Valuers.

Others are the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS and the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP. In an eight-point communique at the end of the seminar, the built environment experts stated that there cannot be genuine national transformation in the built environment sector

Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton ---N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton---N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton---N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton---N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton---N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12---N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12---N800 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece---N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece---N1,500 Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre------------------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre----------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre---....N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre---------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre-----------------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre-------------N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre-------------N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------------N170 25 mm diameter---------------......N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length ----------------------------N120 25 mm diameter per length--------------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

without the well articulated inputs of builders, who are statutorily responsible for the management of building construction process.

The document stated that the transformational agenda

of the Federal government, if properly executed, will not only engender sustainable development of key sectors of the economy, but will also minimise the issue of corruption in the country.

IFC to invest $124m in Persianas Group

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FC, a member of the World Bank Group, and IFC African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund have announced their intention to invest $124 million in the Persianas Group to support its growth strategy in the rapidly expanding retail and commercial property market in Nigeria. The investment package consists of up to $74 million in equity provided by IFC and IFC ALAC Fund, and $50 million in debt

provided by IFC. Persianas, developers of the Palms Shopping Mall, West Africa’s first internationalstandard retail mall,will use the funds to further develop three or more retail and mixed-use centers in commercial cities in Nigeria, and establish a fully integrated design, property development, and asset management firm.

TayoAmusan, Chairman of

the Persianas Group, said, “IFC’s investment in Persianas demonstrates a commitment to supporting Nigerian entrepreneurs and is critical to preparing Persianas for our next phase of growth. This investment will help real estate development contribute to more jobs in businesses offering safe and healthy consumer products and services.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—33

Dry toilet confab holds in Finland

ENVIRONMENT WATCH

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•Kuramo Beach after demolition

Ocean surge: Experts canvass implementation of EIA

BY JUDE NJOKU & KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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HE best strategy to prevent occurrence of ocean surges is to retreat and relocate thereby leaving enough buffer between water’s edge and all future permanent structures. This view was canvassed by civil and environmental engineers who spoke to Vanguard homes & Property following the ocean surge that ravaged the Kuramo beach last week. The experts blamed the surge on the distortion of the Kuramo Lagoo.

Meanwhile, displaced residents of the beach have rubbished claims by the Lagos state government that they are illegal occupants.

Evacuation of occupants Mr. Afolabi Adedeji, a civil engineer, stated that the state government has taken the right decision by evacuating the occupants of Kuramo Beach and demolishing the shanties at the ever bubbling spot for fun seekers.

He however said it is not just enough to level the spot to prevent people from going back to the beach. To put an end to the persistent ocean surges on Lagos beaches, he said the government needs to bring to the front burner the importance of Environmental Impact Assessment EIA, reports on coastline projects embarked upon by the government. Such projects include the land

reclamation at Osborne Foreshore and the proposed Eko Atlantic City. He said such reports must include public hearing where all stakeholders must be allowed to air their views.

Adedeji noted that the flow of storm water after heavy rainfall into lagoons has been altered to some extent, by sand filling and land reclamation projects in the area. He pointed out that a good EIA study will reveal the likely extent of these man-made distortions and whether the effect can be adequately mitigated. The EIA will also proffer advice on whether such projects should be continued or abandoned.

Adedeji who called for the establishment of Coastal Engineering Units in the Department of Civil Engineering in Nigerian Universities, said the Institute of Oceanography at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island should be

strengthened to be able to meet the modern day challenges of coastal communities.

Also reacting to the surge, an environmentalist, Mr Chike Chikwendu, an engineer, described the surge as an annual phenomenon that has nothing to do with rainfall. He however attributed the surge to the distortion of the Kuramo Lagoon Chikwendu who is the General Secretary of the Friends of the Environment, FOTE, stated that nature provided the Kuramo Lagoon to act as a reservoir for such overflow of water from the ocean, but regretted that human interference with the lagoon and the massive developments around the beach, must have played a key role in the ocean surge.

According to him, water from the ocean would have been “ warehoused” by the lagoon when there is a tidal wave but

noted that the distortion of the Kuramo lagoon, has made it impossible for water to percolate there.

“The surge is part of human interference with nature. I can not also exonerate the ongoing development at the EkoAtlantic City. But by and large, this is a natural phenomenon that happens every year,” he said.

No! We are not illegal occupants In another development, displaced occupants of Kuramo Beach have rubbished claims by the Lagos State Government that they were illegal occupants of the ever busy spot for fun seekers. The residents were sent packing by bulldozers belonging to the government on Sunday following the ocean surge that swept through the beach. No fewer than 16 lives were lost in the incident.

New UN climate fund must work for the poor — NGOs

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EADERS of a U.N. green fund meant to channel billions of dollars to help developing economies cope with climate change met for the first time last week after months of delays.

The 24-strong board which met for three days in Geneva, has been advised by civil society groups to manage the funds in a way that is transparent and accountable to poor communities likely to be hit hardest by climate change.

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International TI, urged the Green Climate Fund’s board to give citizens a much bigger voice at its meetings, as it begins to work out how to administer up to $100 billion a year to help developing nations adapt to a warmer world and curb their greenhouse gas emissions.

“We need a balance between the urgency to achieve results and the due diligence required to protect climate money and

ensure its effectiveness,” said Lisa Ann Elges, head of TI’s climate governance integrity programme.

The proposed arrangements allow just two civil society observers to participate actively in board meetings, one each from the developed and developing worlds - the same level of representation allotted for the private sector.

Guidelines say an active observer may speak but not vote.

OW could sanitation services be provided for residents of coastal communities where the high water table impedes construction of pit latrines?

In the same vein, how do we provide safe toilet facilities to residents of rocky or mountainous areas where excavation of top or sub soil (rock) is difficult or almost impossible?

These and similar posers are being discussed at the 4th International Dry Toilet Conference which commenced in Tampere, Finland,on Friday.

The two day conference has as its main theme “Drivers for ecological dry toilets in urban and rural areas”; and issues being discussed include the ‘Cultural, gender and social aspects of dry toilets’, ‘Technological options and urban applications’, ‘Economy, profitability and marketing of dry toilet’, ‘Sustainability and promoting of dry toilets’, ‘Operation and maintenance of dry toilets’, and ‘Sanitation in extreme conditions’.

Global experiences Delegates to the meeting are expected to discuss global experiences in the use of dry toilets and how it could be upscale and sustained ”Water closet does not have to be the only option and a status symbol’, said the Mia O Neill, Chair of the Global Dry Toilet Association of Finland, organisers of the conference. There are around 2.5 billion people in the world without any safe toilet; in slum areas it is a very common habit to poop into plastic bags which are then thrown as far as possible; climate change is causing droughts and floods and it will alter the height of groundwater; and how we to deal with sanitation issues during a water shortage? , said Mia. Speaking at the opening ceremony in the University of Tampere, this morning, keynote speaker, Guy Mbayo, Chief, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEF Rwanda country office, said:’ecological sanitation is a viable option for sub Saharan Africa in its quest to achieve the sanitation targets for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’.

‘There is still open defecation in most parts of the world with almost 2.5 billion without access to safe sanitation’, said Mbayo; Adding ‘but with this simple technology called ecological sanitation, you can reach out to these people who presently lack access’. He however, admitted that further studies need to be conducted to overcome the cultural, gender, and social barriers that may impede use of ECOSAN latrines by men, women, children and adults.

C M Y K

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Volkwagen Amarok ready to rock market V

O L K S WA G E N Centre, distributors of Volkswagen brand of vehicles in Nigeria has explained reasons why its pick-up, the Amarok, has not taken over the one ton pick-up segment in Nigeria yet.

The Amarok pick-up was introduced into the country late last year, and is yet to give the Toyota Hilux pick-up and Ford Ranger a good challenge.

Speaking shortly after a test-drive of some European models under the Stallion Stable recently, Mr. Amit Shama, Marketing Director, Volkswagen commercial vehicles in Nigeria, said the worldwide demand for the hardworking Volkswagen pick-up has been responsible for the slow take off of the award winning Amarok in Nigeria.

Said he, “demand has been quite high all over the world and we couldn’t bring in enough to compete in the highly competitive segment.” He added that very soon, the problem would be solved as Volkswagen AG is putting up a plant in Hanova, German to meet with the demand.

The Marketing Director described the Amarok as best-in-class in terms of built-quality, fuel efficiency, emission standard, comfort, safety, engine performance and drive quality.

The Amarok, he explained is powered by a 2.0l litre turbo charge engine which outperforms competitor ’s because of the advanced Volkswagen technology.

“Where other reach their limits, the Amarok makes its way without compromise. It unites cross-country mobility, flexibility and efficiency like no other pick-up,” he said.

Unlike other pick-up in

•Hyundai Elantra

its segment, the Amarok apart from the six speed manual gearbox comes with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and permanent 4motion allwheel drive upon demand.

Three choice of engines are available on the Amarok line-up, including 2.01 BiTDi (132 kw), 2.0l TDI diesel (103 kw) as well as the 2.0l TSI petrol engine with 118 kw. These powertrains can take the toughest terrains with ease with the 4motion all wheel drive. Also available on the Amarok line-up are two different leaf spring versions. You can settle for the heavy duty leaf spring version if your Amarok is for tough jobs or the comfort leaf springs if you desire to use your Amarok for leisure and private.

The Amarok boasts up to 3.2t trailer load capacity that can handle all kinds of challenges. It is built for work and leisure.

Perhaps Volkswagen wanted to build a pick-up that could handle tough task and at the same time offer the comfort of a sedan in the Amarok, hence, the interior and finishing are well ahead of competition.

Ergonomic design, h i g h - q u a l i t y workmanship, low interior noise for outstanding driving comfort are the hallmark of the pick-up.. It can best be described as a pickup with special extras.

Hence, it comes with premium 16 inch alloy wheels, while the door handles, mirror housings, front bumper with chrome applications are painted in the colour of the vehicle. Two fog lights are integrated into the bumpers as standard.

Inside, the passenger compartment, the seats

•VW Amarok

New Traffic Law:

Lagos appeals to all T

The Interior are upholstered with fabric ‘trail’ – available in anthracite or buffalo. A centre armrest provides added comfort.

The radio system “mid” with blue-tooth handsfree kit and four loud speaker as well as the clametic air-conditioning

system, which are semi automatically regulates the temperature inside the vehicle are standard.

HE Lagos State Com missioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa has urged okada riders and passengers to comply voluntarily with the provisions in the recently signed Road Traffic Law of Lagos State.

Opeifa, who gave this warning in Alausa, Ikeja during stakeholders’ meeting with the transport unions and operators of the informal public transport in the state, said that in spite of the sign-

Continues on page 35

Hyundai launches new global brand campaign

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YUNDAI launched a new worldwide brand campaign called “Live Brilliant” as part of its efforts to reinforce its brand management

activities and fulfill its vision to become the most beloved automotive company in the world, rather than the largest.

Hyundai, which first launched and focused on enhancing awareness of its new brand direction “Modern Premium” and its accompanying slogan, “New Thinking, New Possibilities” last year, now aims to illustrate how “Modern Premium” is expected and delivered in customer ’s everyday lives.

Unlike Hyundai’s previous campaigns that

were executed regionally, the “Live Brilliant” campaign is the company ’s first worldwide brand campaign with one single communication applied to all major markets to build up a consistent image as a global brand. The new campaign, based on Hyundai’s enhanced status, is expected to help global customers have a unified image of Hyundai and get a better understanding of the company’s “Modern Premium” values which aim to provide more

customers with new experiences and values beyond their expectations, in Hyundai’s innovatives ways.

In the campaign, this “Brilliant” concept is expressed by not only showing Hyundai’s excellence to make customers’ lives brighter, but also depicting shiny visuals through sunshine or moonlight.

The short film-style consists of four episodes, whose themes are Self, Love, Friendship and Family.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—35

Lagos appeals to all on traffic law Continued from page 34

ing of the new law by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, and the massive enlightenment campaign embarked upon by the government, it was disturbing that okada and motorcycles below 200cc still ply the restricted routes, including bridges and highways with impunity.

He noted that many innocent lives that could have contribute meaningfully to the development of the state, and the nation had been wasted as a result of motorcycle accidents, adding that many children had become orphans, while many wives and husband had become widows. According to him, traffic congestion and delays had continued to be compounded by the menace of Okada riders.

To this end, the commissioner said that it was necessary for the operators, riders and passengers of motorcycles to voluntarily comply with the law stating that both riders and passengers could be culpable if found to have contravened the

Range Rover takes a leap, gets bigger sleeker, faster T

O many people and auto freaks, there is nothing more to add to the iconic Range Rovers.

But Range Rovers feels otherwise. You can make a good car better and better. This, however has necessitated the introduction of the new Range Rover which is now bigger, lighter, sleeker with more power packed under the hood.

It is a complete model change but unmistakably a Range Rover with improved luxury. Many thought the new Range Rover would have borrowed a leaf from the award winning Evoque, but the British car maker decided to retain the identity and characters of its flagship.

The new Range Rover

is built with aluminum body which made it lighter than even the Range Rover Evoque.

Even its new V6 diesel engine delivers more power than the outgoing V8 engine because of the new technology which was aimed at reducing the weight of the Premium SUV. Richer materials were used to enhance the luxury level of new Range Rover, while the longer wheel- base

Nigerian Railway refurbishes rolling stock

T translates to imroved rear legroom.

However, an optional four seat layout with the centre console extending right through the cabin

will win Range Rover more new converts.

The new Range Rovers is more aerodynamic with new rear and headlights that

completely distinguishes it from the out-going model, while at the same time enhancing its beauty.

Kia, IBTC partner for easy vehicle acquisition

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N a bid to make the acquisition of automobiles easier for its numerous customers, kia Motors, has entered into a partnership with Stanbic

IBTC Bank for a friendly car financing scheme.

The scheme covers all Kia models including the trendy Picanto, Rio Cerato Optima sedans as well as

the Sleek Sport Utility Vehicle models like the Sportage, Sorento and Mohave.

According to Mr. Sandeep Maholtra, Kia chief commercial officer, the scheme was aimed at giving kia customers the opportunity to own any Kia vehicle of their choice without stress.

“This new initiative affords KIA lovers the opportunity to sign up and get their brand new KIA models immediately with ease while paying for them in installments over a period of time ranging from one (1) to four years,” Maholtra said.

Continuing he said “Our customers are core to us and we aim to do all that

is required to keep them satisfied. Recognising the various needs constantly competing for our customers’ attention, we have partnered with Stanbic IBTC to make it easy and flexible for them to get the best right here and now. KIA customers under this arrangement can now drive a brand new Kia car and pay over a period of time.

On how the scheme works Mr Sandeep Maholtra explained that all customers to do is simply obtain an invoice for his choice of choice Kia car from any of our showrooms nationwide and take it to any Stanbic IBTC Bank branch for processing.

HE Nigerian Railway Corporation has commissioned the rolling stock which it refurbished by direct labour. The commissioning was to guarantee efficient and effective passenger train services that guarantee comfort, affordability, mass carriage, and safety to the commuting public.

This initial roll-out of phase one of a planned rehabilitation of the entire rolling stock in the system will be utilized on MinnaKaduna-Minna Mass Transit Train Service while in another few weeks, coaches of mass transit trains in Lagos, Ilorin, and Kaduna will be withdrawn systematically for rehabilitation without any disruption to passenger train services.

The rolling stock refurbished at various locations of the Corporation includes twelve economy class coaches, one restaurant, one business class coach at Zaria Workshop; one canteen coach, two sleeper coaches, six parcel vans, two power cars, and one business class coach at Lagos Workshop.

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Re: Tales from tenants (4) I,The problems associated with landlord versus tenant relationship are innumerable. From indiscriminate hikes in rent to molestations over how occupants manage the premises. In extreme cases, landlords and tenants have had to trade punches or taken their grieviances to the courts of law.

Almost every tenant has a story or another to tell about their landlords, from the bizzare to the hillarious. Stories of greed, jealousy and hatred and of course, kindness and love.

A couple of weeks ago, we published stories from two respondents who narrated some perculiar tales. According to Amune, he strongly suspected that his wife of barely four years was killed by his landlord who disliked her from the first day he brought her into the house. The old man he said, wanted him to marry one of his young daughters.

Amune’s wife was considered as the clog in the wheel of his plans, so she had to go, at least, that was what Amune said his mother was told by some spiritualists. Today, we bring you some of what our readers have to say on the issue.

Dear readers, we will still love to hear from you on this topic. Share your views/opinion and contribution with us by sending them to our address: The Human Angle, Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. or e-mail us via: humananglepage@yahoo.com

Cheers!

Dear Yetunde, Alhaja as she was called started on a very good note with me right from the onset, especially after she learnt that my mother and her were from the same place in Ijebu.

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not think much of it because of the what Alhaja had said about our common Ijebu background.

So, I thought of her more like a sister or a friend.

Sometimes, Alhaja would encourage me to allow her to assist me

It is just unfortunate that one cannot carry a house from one place to another, otherwise, I will not be a tenant in Lagos

So, she would call me her son. She informed me about the tenants, those she liked and those she did not and what she expected of me in the compound. Though, I had a very tight schedule at the time, my weekends were free and I used to have lots of friends over. So, we bought loads of drinks from Alhaja along with other stuffs. She had a sepearate account book opened for me where she will just update what I was owing her and I will pay up.

Alhaja had four children, two boys and two girls. The older girl was at Ire Polytechnic and Alhaja would always refer to her as my sister or wife. I never thought much of it initially, but after a while, I got the message.

Whenever the girl was around, my apartment was almost like her hide out. She and her sister would sometimes sleep there during the day time and even entertained her friends. She also served as a messanger between myself and her mother, bringing me the bills and taking money to her. I did

,

with cleaning and cooking, but since she and sometimes her younger ones also had access to the same food, it was no big deal to me. I came from a big family where you have cousins and even friends coming in and going out together, so, it was nothing strange to me. But I was soon to realised that Alhaja had another agenda.

My girlfrend at the time was an Ibo girl I had been dating from the University. Though we both knew that nothing permanent could evolve from the relationship because of our tribal difference and the fact that my parents had made it clear to us that they will not accept a foreigner as inlaw, we still had a lot of affection for each other.

However, the girl always had something negative to say about Alhaja and her children whenever she visited. And same went for Alhaja too.

There was no love lost between them. But I did not want to offend my girlfriend because of Alhaja, afterall, I was not her son, neither was I

owing her money for the rent or goods sold to me.

So, I was forced to tell Alhaja to back off.

That led to a face off between us and it eventually led to my packing out of the place and moving back to Ikorodu with my parents. This was because, after my face-of with Alhaja, she called my mother whom she had become acquinted with in the course of her visits to the house and gave her a full account of my activities, especially my finances. Alhaja told my mother that I spend money on women, smoking and drinking almost on a daily basis. That every weekend, I bring home friends who sometimes would not leave until midweek. By the time she showed my account books to my mother, there was nothing I could say to clear myself again.

But Alhaja made a big mistake when she told my mother that she had introduced me to good girls in the area, including her own daughter, but that I had rebuffed them and stuck to an ugly Ibo girl.

With this, I convinced my mother that Alhaja only became antagonistic when I refused to accept her daughter for marriage.

I did not finish my rent before my mother came to pack my things. I got a similar treatment at the next place I rented when the woman, a widow, started manipulating her daughter to entice me.

This time, I was older and wiser. I had my way with the girl and dumped her before they even knew what hit them. After that, they stayed clear of anything that had to do with me. I have learnt that to be a tenant in this Lagos and perhaps any other place, you just have to shine your eyes as they say, or you will fall prey to the manipulations of the landlord and even other tenants.

A. M. Akinlabi Lagos Asisited by Onozure Dania

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Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

How to Handle Rejection

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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ejection is inevitable.

You will be turned down at various points in your life.

You may get rejected when applying for a job, making a marriage proposal or asking your boss for a pay raise.

Rejection is not a nice experience to have, but thankfully it is possible to learn how to handle rejection without letting it destroy you.

Rejection can be an uncontrollable situation, so the best thing to do is to take the rejection and move on. Discover how to handle rejection by asking what is being rejected.

Rejection may be unpleasant, but you can handle it and you may even see rejection as an opportunity for personal growth.

Expect rejection, accepting that it will happen at some point prepares you for the sting.

Expecting that you might hear “no” can also help you put forward your best to fight off the rejection, while preparing you mentally for a disappointment.

Think about the rejection as an opportunity to do something else. Perhaps that job you didn’t get wasn’t your dream job after all.

Don’t look at the rejection as a step back, but allow it to be a chance to pursue a life long dream such as starting your own business. Use the rejection as a learning moment.

If you didn’t get the job or the promotion, ask why.

The response you get may show you what you can do to improve your performance and avoid rejection the next time.

Keep the faith in yourself and your abilities. You should improve and move forward in a positive way.

Think about your past successes and know that you can move forward and succeed again. Don’t give up, be tenacious and p e r s e v e r e .

Don’t think too much about the bad news or ruminate, replaying the scenario over again won’t make you feel better and it won’t help you move forward.

Find something that you enjoy to take your mind off the rejection. Meet up with a friend for a movie or read a book.

Concentrate on a task you e n j o y. R e l a t i o n s h i p rejection is another aspect of rejection. It can be a nasty by-product that comes along with dating.

Most of us don’t have skin thick enough to completely ward off the effects.

We are only human after all. However, when one person tells another that they aren’t a good match, politely or otherwise, you can’t help but feel the pain of rejection.

This isn’t the soft pain that you associate with asking someone out and them saying no. This is relationship rejection and it comes after feelings have been seriously committed.

When this happens, keep the following tips in mind: Every romantic approach for a man should be viewed as a learning experience and rejection should not be an option.

Learn to handle romantic rejection, yes, it hurts to hear it, but the truth is, you will get over it. Realise that this person, no matter how much you like him or her, is not likely to reciprocate accordingly. You can’t make a person love you.

And you can drive yourself crazy trying.

You deserve a partner who respects you and cares about you. You want to feel secure and valuable, right?

Remember this. At first, you will experience denial, it’s not really over, you tell yourself.

Now tell yourself that it’s not your fault. You could have been this or that but you weren’t. Don’t dwell on your imagined shortcomings.

Don’t try to get him or her back by making drastic improvements. Most times, its not worth it.

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Vanguard,TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012—37

pound with his wife and a child, said his boss had not returned home for the past three months.

The parents of the owner of the house were also said to be residing in Enugu and had not come home for a long time.

A neighbour, who is a retired Railway staff and an uncle of the owner of the building, Chief Christian Obidike, who came into the compound on noticing the presence of the governor and security operatives, confirmed that kidnap suspects were arrested last year in the compound by a joint police and military team, but said that no such incident had repeated. According to him, one of the kidnap suspects was identified as a trader occupying a shop close to the compound.

Gov. Obi goes tough on kidnappers in Anambra ..threatens to demolish houses used by kidnappers

BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi’s administration in Anambra State has adopted a new approach to the fight against kidnapping with the policy of sealing off any hotel or house where suspected kidnappers operate from. Already, one hotel located at Nkpor near Onitsha and two houses at Nri in Anaocha local government area have been sealed by the governor.

It all began when security operatives, after a long period of investigation, traced some people to the hotel and on interrogation, discovered that they were using the hotel as a base where they kept their victims while negotiating with members of the families.

The police promptly arrested four suspected kidnappers there and went after its owner, who was traced to Enugu where he was also arrested. They are still helping the police in their investigations. The police gave the names of the four persons suspected to be kidnappers as Chinedu Eze, Obumneme Madugha, Okezue Chukwuemeka and John Okoro.

According to the police, the ar-

rested persons made confessional statements that helped the police to rescue two kidnapped victims whose names were given as Mr. Augustine Emeka, operations manager of Zenith Bank at Nkpor and Sir Vincent Ohiagwu from Uga in Aguata local government area. Both men were kidnapped on July 29, 2012.

As news on the arrest filtered into Government House in Awka, Governor Obi led security operatives to the area where he announced the sealing up of the hotel and stressed, during the operation, that his government would continue to work round the clock to prevent the resurgence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

Mansion under construction Barely six days after the hotel was sealed, the governor again took off with his security aides and destination was Nri in Anaocha local government area. The first port of call was an expansive, but a lonely compound housing a bungalow and a one-storey mansion under construction. The only occupants of the house were a

•Gov. Peter Obi sealing buildings used to keep kidnapped victims at Uruorji Village, Nri, security guard, Mr. Banarbas Nasamu, from Adamawa State and his wife with their only child.

Last year, security operatives had raided the compound during which suspected kidnappers and their victims were found.

Obi said the decision to visit the house was because there were reports that it was still serving as a base for kidnappers after last year’s incident and he promptly announced that the compound had been sealed. He again moved to another village in the community where another bungalow just being completed was fingered as another base for kidnappers and equally announced that it would also be sealed off.

According to the governor, the houses and the hotel suspected to be a hide out for suspected kidnappers in the state would be demolished and the land converted to government use if investiga-

tions proved that kidnappers were actually using them. The one-storey mansion, with a pent house under construction belonging to one Jude Asuzu said to be residing in Lagos and the bungalow belonging to Patrick Okoye, said to be working in Awka, had one thing in common as nobody was residing in them at the time of the visit.

He said he decided to personally lead security agencies to seal the hotel and the houses to drive the message home to all those engaged in, or aiding and abetting kidnapping, that Anambra was no longer a safe place for them. He also gave an indication that the exercise would continue until the state was rid of kidnappers.

The owners of the houses were not available during the visit, but a security guard at the one-storey mansion, Mr. Barnabas Nasamu, who lives in the large com-

Obeagu village At the bungalow at Obeagu village, also in Nri, a cousin of the owner of the house and a native doctor, Mr. Sunday Okoye said a nephew of the owner of the house; one Mr. Okwudili Okoye had been on the run since security operatives visited the house on the suspicion that he was involved in kidnapping. He, however, said that the owner of the house which was under lock when the governor visited, resides in Awka and returns to the village once in a while.

Obi said security reports confirmed that the two buildings were linked to the heinous crime of kidnapping and announced that they would henceforth remain sealed in line with the policy of the state government on kidnapping, which provided that any building used for the purpose of kidnapping would be sealed off and, if the allegation was proved, the affected house would be demolished.

We did not protest against crime in Mushin —Traditional ruler, residents

By EVELYN USMAN

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AST week, about nine per sons , led by one Alhaja Silifatu Olomowewe converged in front of a building on Ojo street in the densely populated Mushin area of Lagos to protest the alleged detention of the Alhaja’s son by operatives of the Federal Special anti-Robbery Squad.

However, next day, news filtered round that the residents were protesting against incessant crimes in the area, thereby necessitating Crime Alert to visit there..

This reporter’s first port of call was Alhaja Silifatu’s house ,where she disclosed that her son, Monsuru Babatunde was arrested two months ago,while on his way to work. Her 28-year-old son according to her, was alleged to be amourer of a warring faction that has been terrorizing the area

before the situation was checked by the Lagos State Police Command. On that day, I was at home when I heard he had been arrested over claims that he was the one supplying arms to a warring faction. Since then, we have visited Federal SARs where we were asked to bring N1 Million before he would be released. As I speak, he is at Ikoyi prison” That was why I came out last week pleading to my people around to help me appeal to the authorities concerned . Some of them joined me and we carried placards .We only staged the peaceful protest in front of my compound here. We did not walk round the street”, she clarified.

From there, this reporter visited the palace of the Oba of OdiOlowo, Oba Fatai Adisa Irawo Ogunsi,where he extolled the effort of the Police in Lagos for its

Alhaja Silifatu Olomowewe

Oba Oba of Odi-Olowo, Oba Fatai Adisa Irawo

ability to restore peace in the area.

According to him, Mushin has been calm for a very long time .

There is no problem in Mushin,neither did my people protest over any crime. . As far as I am concerned, none of my people reported any act of violence or even two fighting before, dur-

ing or after Salla. There was no act of lawlessness in any part of the area, or even two fighting. In fact, I can say that this has been the most peaceful end of Ramadan we have ever witnessed..

For instance, no single child was lost . Before now,people would come naturally to say their chil-

dren are missing. This is a pointer to the fact that there are better things ahead in terms of security in Mushin in particular and Lagos state in general. All we employ the police to do is to keep up with the tempo” Crime Alert investigation revealed that the seeming calm in the area could not be unconnected with the strategic measures put on ground by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko on assumption.

It was gathered that he detailed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to take the issue of security serious in their respective domains. In some crime prone areas of which Mushin was among, the CP was said to have instructed the area ‘D’ commander and all DPO to map out security strategy aimed at nipping activities of hoodlums and social miscreants in the bud.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

AUGUST 28, 2012

Edited by Ogbonna Amadi amadi_o@yahoo.com

Wizkid on ‘Thrill of a lifetime’ I

T wasn’t long ago when Ayodele Balogun a.k.a Wizkid arrived on the music scene and since that intrusion in a collaboration with M.I on

Tom Cruise to pay divorced wife no money

“Fast Money, Fast Cars” on the Talk About It album in 2009 things have started happening for the Lagos Island born Young man who is singing his way into the heart of the international music lovers.

Though he is currently on tour of the United States on the wings of EME with Banky W. and Skales yet things are happening for him back home.

On Sunday while he was reliving the ecstatic feeling of taking on the Washington D.C crowd In the United States of America where it is said, he put up a superlative performance

the Future Awards holding in Porthacourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, was singing his name and put up his name in gold as the ‘Musician of the Year’.

Just on Saturday, Vanguard published an article ‘Nigeria’s Reigning Superstars of Twitter’ and it was same Wizkid who reigned supreme to be followed by the Kokomaster.

His recorded reaction to winning Future Awards ‘Musician of the Year ’ has been “I’m just what you made God!..Blessed!” on Twitter.

The ‘Pakurumo’ crooner and his crew are expected to stay

back until September 2, 2012 when the tour will be wrapped up. Before the end tour, they will cover nine states in North

America including Chicago and Atlanta. They will also perform in Toronto, Canada. The tour will wrap up on September 2, 2012 with a performance in New York.

..and Banky W goofed N

•Tom Cruise

H

E has a $240million fortune but Tom Cruise will not give Katie Holmes a penny on their divorce.

A pre-nuptial contract means the actor will only pay for their daughter Suri – to the tune of $340,000-a-year. Days after their divorce was settled, details were revealed in court papers.

Cruise, 50, will not hand over any ‘spousal support’ but must pay $32,000 a month for Suri, six, until she turns 18.

The bill for the star of Top Gun and Mission Impossible will top $4.5million as he will also pay medical, dental, insurance, education and other costs.

Katie, 33, stunned Tom by filing for divorce in July after five years of marriage amid rumours she feared his devotion to the Scientology religion would take over their

O doubt Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W is having a swell time in the United States along with Wizkid, Young Skales and the other EME crew, at least most of his Tweets is a clear attestation to that, where the top-gun R&B show-stopper has quipped excitedly and repeatedly until the singer, after the Sunday show, cast an air of gloom on the whole joyride when he claimed someone stole his phone.

He was so sure his phone was stolen that he tweeted “When you have had a great night but somehow, someone steals your phone. Argh” and he wasted no time in telling the whole world what losing his phone means to him by adding “ The most depressing thing about it isn’t even the lost contacts. My entire new album is on that phone. Ideas, melodies, lyrics, etc”.

But he was only to eat his words some hours later when the phone was found. Banky W

was so full of thanks but he never cleared the air on whether the phone was actually stolen in the first place or misplaced, all we knew is h i s thank-you tweet “Biiiiig thank you to the kind person that found my phone and got it back to me. All is well with the world”

•Wizkid •Banky Wi

Katherine Jenkins denies affair with Beckham

K

•Katherine Jenkins

atherine Jenkins has strongly denied she had an affair with David Beckham via a rather long winded Twitter rant.

Rumours surfaced this morning on Twitter that Katherine had an affair with David behind Victoria Beckham’s back however; the Welsh opera star has confirmed that the stories are untrue.

Taking to Twitter, Katherine

said how she did NOT have an affair with David, the pair have only met a couple of times and warned her lawyers are watching.

She said: “Dear Twitter friends, I’ve read some horrible rumours on here & want u 2 know I absolutely deny I’ve had an affair with David Beckham. The rumours are very hurtful, untrue & my

lawyers tell me actionable.”

Katherine Jenkins continued, saying that the pair have only met twice by chance, have never arranged to meet up and it are could hardly even say they are friends.

She says: “I’ve only met David twice: once at the Military Awards in 2010 & on a night out in the West End in

Feb 2012. We were out in a group of friends & it was just a normal fun evening out.

“Just so we are clear I have never been on my own with him and never arranged to meet up.”

Despite Katherine’s denials, rumours are still rife on Twitter and show no signs of stopping just yet.

David Beckham is yet to comment, so we can’t wait to hear his side of the story.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 39 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

CANCER: Mercury has started going on backward motion in your Star sign, therefore you will need to reexamine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by others. Be family minded.

LEO: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

VIRGO: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

LIBRA: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

SCORPIO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Better grooming

By Richard Eromosele

G

ROOMING simply means the things you do to keep yourself neat and clean. These include keeping your clothes clean, keeping your hair neat, clean and tidy, cutting your finger nails etc.

I can hear you ask; how do you practice better grooming?

The truth is that there are no hard and fast rules as to what constitute better grooming.

However, there is a

TERROR MUDA

general perception about the right form of grooming among people of different communities such as — biological community, ethnic, social, religious etc.

Like the saying

in “Never say goodbye”

goes, dress the way you want to be addressed. Same thing with grooming. Let your hair be neat and clean, let your clothes be thoroughly clean etc. In all the moderate.

By Lanre Kehinde

SAGITTARIUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

CAPRICORN: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

AQUARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

PISCES: Your creativity quotient is enhanced today and if you demonstrate this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

ARIES: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

GEMINI: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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 does future have for me?

Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Bola Ibadan

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Bola, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES

CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Anambra industrialists task Jonathan on 2nd Niger Bridge

BY ENYIM ENYIM

A

INDUCTION: From left: Chief L. E. A. M. Aimiumu, President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; Dr. Rotimi Oladele, and Chief Sylva Emeokpere, Vice President of the Institute, during the presentation of a fellow's certificate to Dr. Oladele, at the induction of fellows in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: L-R: Director, Solar Application, Dr. Joseph Ali; Director, Renewable Energy, Prof. E. J. Bala both of the Energy Commission of Nigeria; representative of the Minister of Environment and Ag. Director, Climate Change Department of the Ministry, Dr. Adejuwon; and others at the official commissioning of the Energy Efficiency Retrofit of Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN, Headquarters building, in Abuja.

H E A D of President Goodluck Jonathan’s one-day visit to Anambra State on Friday, industrialists in Onitsha Industrial Layout, weekend, called on the president to expedite action on the proposed second Niger Bridge and the provision of internal Dry Port in Onitsha, to boost industrialisation of the commercial city.

Speaking to newsmen on behalf of industrialists in the area, Managing Director of Krisoral and Company Limited, Chief Chris Chidume, whose company is expected to be commissioned on Friday by the President, said there was the need for the second Niger Bridge if the industrial sector in Anambra State must function properly and contribute to the economic development of the country.

He also said that the provision of an internal dry port in Onitsha would, to a greater extent, alleviate the problem of industrialists in the South East and South

NCAT Zaria, not on sale —FG

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR

T

HE Federal Gov ernment has dismissed insinuations that it was putting on sale the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria.

Special Assistant (Media) to Aviation Minister, Mr. Joe Obi, who disclosed this, said government had never contemplated selling the premier aviation institution, stressing that rumours around the purported sale was a figment of the peddlers' imagination.

He said government’s plan for the school was to enhance its capacity to train pilots and other airline crew and not to sell it.

He said: “The Federal Government has no such plan, and has never contemplated selling off the Nigerian College of Aviation Technolgy, Zaria as is currently being speculated.

“Those circulating this malicious rumour have

ulterior motives that are not in tandem with the current administration’s desire and determination to reposition the college as a premier aviation training institute on the African continent.

“The speculation is only intended to malign and distract the management of the college from its clear objective of repositioning the college as a veritable source of manpower development and recruitment for the

aviation industry in Nigeria.

“From the inception of the current dispensation at the aviation ministry, government had always stated its desire to enhance the capacity as well as improve the revenue base of the college by embracing and entering into partnerships and collaboration with other reputable training institutions across the world.

“Government does not intend to depart from this

goal as it sees such partnerships and collaboration as the necessary ingredient for the repositioning of the college as an aviation training hub on the continent.”

Obi reiterated government’s determination to make the college the hub of aviation training on the continent, adding that efforts were on to enter into a collaborative venture with reputable training institutions across the world.

South in clearing their consignments and reduce the pressure at the Lagos ports.

He said: “We ask Mr President to see the need for the second Niger Bridge. The Niger Bridge as it is today services the entire South Eastern states and the South-South states. I know the government can do it if they show the

Rotary President laments prevalence of polio in Nigeria

BY LAJA THOMAS

T

HE new President, Rotary Club of Gbagada, Dr. Olubayo Windapo, has said it was unfortunate that Nigeria was still one of the polio endemic countries in the world.

He stated this at the installation of President and Board of Directors of the Club in Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday.

Speaking after his installation, Dr. Windapo said: “This is an emotional occasion for me as it marks my 51st birthday in the year when Rotary itself is 51 years in our country. Rotarians have continued to lend their hands and voices to challenges relating to hun-

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State, weekend, inaugurated the Nibo-Nise water project which gulped N250 million.

He said, during the ceremony, that it was the first of 27 small water projects being executed by the state government in parts of the state.

While urging the Nibo

community to take full ownership of the scheme to ensure its sustenance, Obi said the state government would take over its maintenance in the next six months in line with international best practices.

Commissioner for Public Utilities, Water Resources and Community Development, Mr. Emeka Nwankwu, in his speech, said the inaugu-

ration of the scheme was a milestone towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Anambra State under the present administration.

Nwankwu recalled that all water schemes in the state collapsed before Obi assumed office and commended the governor for making the provision of water a priority in the state.

ger, literacy, conflict resolution, water and sanitation and very prominently, polio eradication, to which billions of dollars have been committed. Despite this, Nigeria still remains endemic.

That is why we need to step up efforts.”

While reiterating the importance of eradicating unemployment, Dr Windapo said: “Our focus is mainly on the empowerment of youths. Everybody has been talking of finding a lasting solution to unemployment. On our part, we want to empower people this year.

We have decided to renovate an abandoned vocational centre in Surulere and that is one of our major projects."

Crisis rocks Delta DPP

C

RISIS is brewing in Democratic People's Party, DPP, in Delta State, following the dissolution of the national executive of the party by an enlarged meeting of members, stakeholders and leaders of the party.

Executives of the party in Delta State and the local councils in the state were also dissolved.

The sacked executives were accused of constitutional breaches. An interim committee has been

set up to run the affairs of the DPP at the national level as well as Delta State and its local councils.

According to a statement signed by 44 members of the DPP enlarged body, the sacked executives failed to convene any congress or convention of the party. The enlarged body alleged the expiration of the national and state exco, illegal sale of nomination forms to aspirants and dwindling fortunes of the DPP.

Ajayi passes on

Obi inaugurates N250m Nibo-Nise HIEF Julius Ajayi, C a veteran photogwater project rapher, is dead, aged 88.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

will.”

He said the internal dry port, if sited in Onitsha, would not only save the life span of the road from Lagos to the East as a result of the heavy trucks that ply it but would reduce the pressure at the Lagos wharf as industrialists would be clearing their consignments in Onitsha.

Born to the family of Pastor and Mrs Abraham Arunmole Ajayi, the late Chief Ajayi had his primary education in Kogi State and his secondary education in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He proceeded to Austria in 1962 to study Photography at the Innsbruck College of Technology where he graduated with the first division in 1965. In the same year,

he obtained a Diploma in Colour Photography from School of Career, London. He was confered with the title of AgbaAkin of Ereland by the Elere of Ereland. He is survived by his widow and many children.

Late Chief Julius Ajayi

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 41

42—V anguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 28, 2012 42—Vanguard, TUESDA AUGUST

Unmarried women most at risk of physical violence in Nigeria — SURVEY

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

A

SURVEY of attitudes in the community toward domestic violence in Nigeria, attests that the most frequent victims of violence usually turn out to be unmarried women in the southern states, with figures as high as 70 percent in some places.

Data from the study, published recently in a British Council, Nigeria report entitled “Gender in Nigeria Report 2012: Improving the Lives of Girls and Women in Nigeria, Issues, Policies, Action” notes that women in the “never married group” are more likely to have suffered physical violence than women who have been married or are married.

Information on the physical violence women experience and public attitudes towards such violence, reveal that the level of gender-based violence against women in Nigeria as revealed by the 2008 DHS data shows that in the South West,47.5 percent of 15-24-year-olds who have never married, experienced violence, compared to 43.7 percent of those married at one time or the other.

Corresponding figures for the South South are 33.4 percent and 28.8 percent respectively The survey also shows that 91.0 percent of women in the SouthWest, who have ever been married, and are aged 15-24 years, think wife beating is completely justified, compared to 6.0 percent among women who have never married and 6.8 percent among all 15-24- year-olds in the region.

Figures for the South South are 93.5 percent, 2.6 percent and 3.5 percent respectively.

The Report says further investigations are desirable to explain the trend, while revealing that the highest proportion of women who experience physical violence

is in the South-West and SouthSouth regions while the NorthEast and North-West report relatively fewer cases of domestic violence.

The Gender In Nigeria Report, showcases how tolerance of physical violence against women in Nigeria is generally higher in the regions where the highest number of women experience the violence, and reveals that a surprisingly high number of married women tend to say wife beating is justified.

“Up to a third of women in Nigeria report that they have been subjected to some form of violence, including battering and verbal abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, marital rape, sexual exploitation, or harassment within the home,” the Report noted.

Physical violence Observing that one in five Nigerian women has experienced some form of physical violence, the Report which exhibits data originally captured in the 2008 National Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, observed that much of the violence experienced by women range from physical, sexual and psychological violence that occur at the hands of family members, especially husbands, partners and fathers.

These are women who are married or have been married at one time or the other, and are resident in the South-West and South-South regions of the country.

According to the Report, the National average of women who have ever married and are aged 15-24 who think wife beating is completely justified, is 16.5 per-

•Report says women in the “never married group” are more likely to have suffered physical violence than women who have been married or are married. cent, compared to 7.8 percent among women who have never married and 22.8 percent among all 15-25 year-olds.

The Report, which recognised that certain forms of violence are institutionalized, said much of the blame is on the plural legal

systems in the country. It noted that organisations such as the CEDAW, an NGO Coalition, laments that the law as currently constituted, does not offer women and girls adequate protection from violence.

While progress has been made,

for instance, the Violence against Women Prevention, Protection and Prohibition Act 2002, only Ebonyi, Jigawa, Cross Rivers and Lagos states have enacted domestic violence laws against Female Genital Mutilation, FGM.

FG scales up special sickle cell centres nationwide

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

S

ICKLE cell centres in the six geo-political zones of the country are to be scaled up following plans by the Federal Government to step up sickle management and care in the country.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu who disclosed this in Lagos at a book

• From left: Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, Barrister Mrs. Philomena Nnej President, Gender and Childcare Advancement initiatives, Mr. Wale Aboderin, Chairman, Punch Nig. Ltd; Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe ,Author and pastor Ighodalu Ituah Chief Launcher during the launch of the book Sickle Cell Disorder: Early Warning Signals in Lagos recently. Photo: Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria.

presentation entitled "Sickle Cell Disorder:Early Warning Signals”

by Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation in collaboration with Genotype Foundation and the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, HEWAN, said the scale up was part of strategies to holistically tackle the burden of Sickle Cell Disorder, SCD, in Nigeria.

Chukwu who was represented by a Desk Officer for Sickle Cell Disorder in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Alayo Shopekun, explained that the centres would be dedicated to the management, control and prevention of SCD. Lamenting the plight of people living with the disorder, Chukwu said SCD is associated with poverty, maternal mortality, newborn and child mortality and HIV& AIDS particularly in those with history of frequent blood transfusion, stigmatisation, and bias in terms of job selection amongst others. "The foregoing picture for this hereditary disorder therefore calls for urgent attention,"he added He announced that a national guideline on the control and management of the disease was in advanced stage to ensure that care provided at the health facilities are informed and conform with international best practice.s

The special centres for SCD have been provided with variant machines to ensure that diagnosis of the disorder is accurate and that suspected newborns are screened for the disorder and interventions and follow up could be instituted to ensure survival and improved quality of life for such children.

A

lso, a database on the disorder is expected to be set up to provide information for effective planning and policy decision on the disorder.

Earlier, writer of the book and Chairman, Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation, Pastor Emmanuel Ibekwe said Nigeria accounts three quarters of live births into the disorder in Sub_Saharan Africa, which is equivalent of 150,000 out of every 200,000 births in the region shows the stark reality of the disorder and the need to urgently address it to save lives as well as reduce related ailments.

Ibekwe opined that his practical ordeal of victims of SCD influences his emotional connection to his writings to fight against the disorder.

"We are here to launch a book that reveals why victims of the disorder keep wiping tear Continues on Page 44

Vanguard, TUESD AY, A UGUST 28, 2012 — 43 TUESDA AUGUST

Spinal cord injury patients urged to keep healthy ...As NUGA Best Miracle Bed debuts

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

MEDICAL Equipment Consult ant, Dr. Hilary Chukwuma has advised Nigerians with spinal cord injuries to pay special attention to their spinal cord development and nourishment by giving the body organ, the necessary medical attention it deserves as all other organs of the body including respiratory, reproductive and entire blood metabolism revolves around the spinal cord.

Speaking in Abuja at the flag-off of the spinal cord correctional and health massage equipment known as ‘Nuga Best Miracle bed' produced in South Korea, the Consultant noted that since health is wealth, it would be wrong for the populace to neglect their health as a result of the high cost of living presently being experienced in the nation.

Chukuma said regardless of the challenge coming from the on-going world economic recession, it is important to take cognizance of adequate care for the body medically because it is only the healthy could help in bringing the economy out of the woods “It is widely believed that the threat to long life nowadays include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney problems, etc. All these diseases are preventable if we could be taking

proper care of ourselves and even where we have them, they are curable and this is what we are out to achieve.”

He said the NUGA Best healing massage bed was brought to Nigeria to compliment the health for all programme at affordable cost.

Mrs. Yaar Kim, from Germany said when she arrived Abuja, she had an impression of a great country that would soon come out of her present economic and political predicament.

“Nigeria would soon become a world player on the economic world map. You have what it takes; I could see the potentials of greatness wherever I turn to. My only appeal is for the people to open the country to investors that are ready to invest in every facet of your economy.”

• From left: Guest of Honor Pharm. Olumide Akintayo Chairman of Occasion, Pharm. Dr. John Nwaiwu, Chairman Lagos State Branch of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Akintunde Obembe, National President PSN; Pharm.

Okwor Azubuike, during the 2012 Pharmacy Week and Seminar on the PSN Role in Achieving Vision 20: 2020 by Lagos State branch, in Lagos last week.

ACPN tasks FG on drug sales, distribution

T

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

HE Federal Government has been challenged urged to decisively intensify efforts to ensure adequate control, distribution and sales of medicine products with a view to ensuring safe use of medicines in Nigeria even as pharmacists under the auspices of the Association of Community Pharmacists, ACPN, begin public campaign on use of medicines as part of

activities to mark the 2012 Pharmacy Week.

Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Association Pharm.Yinka Abdulsalam Aminu who made the call during an Awareness Walk/ Enlightenment Campaign at Ojota Motor Park in Lagos, blamed the alarming indiscriminate use of medicines

by Nigerians on the arbitrary sales of drug products in the market places.

Aminu who stressed the need for medicines to be sold and handled by trained

Okigbo takes free medical health to Anambra

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE A TEAM of doctors and medical as sistants from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical School in Nnewi, Anambra State, was recently in the Ojoto Community of the State. to provide free medical services to the residents.

Led by Dr. Chinelo Okigbo, a health practitioner at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA, the team con-

ducted tests and treatment for prevalent yet silent killer diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity. There was also counselling on malaria prevention, hygiene and healthy living. Over 1,000 persons benefitted from the free medical programme that was facilitated by Mr. Patrick Okigbo III, Principal Partner of Nextier Advisory and brother to Dr. Chinelo Okigbo.

The programme is part of the outfit’s commitment to community development,

Okigbo noted. Nextier Advisory, a leading public sector advisory and investment firm based in Abuja with specific focus on agriculture, power and petroleum industries, is committed to funding grassroots humanitarian efforts in healthcare, education, and enterprise.

In a chat, Okigbo said free medical programmes have become a critical effort by his firm. The current one, was the second in series in Ojoto after the debut in 2008.

The firm collaborates with committed individuals and groups in a community to identify the best form of intervention that will yield the most impact.

O

• The medical team from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical School, Nnewi, Anambra State, during the free medical exercise sponsored by Nextier Advisory in Ojoto Community of the State. Inset is Mr Patrick Okigbo.

C M Y K

nce decided, Nextier Advisory con tributes a percentage of the programme cost while their community partners contribute the balance. Ojoto Akanasato Union under the leadership of its president, Prince Amobi Adirika (former Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service), took care of the logistics for the visiting medical team. Essence of the programme is to foster a sense of community ownership.

One of the beneficiaries, Madam Gladys Okeke, prayed for commitment and resources to sustain the programme while another, Mrs. Ego Nnoluka, who was diagnosed with high blood pressure, said she had learned how to manage her condition.

Ms. Vivian Egbuna, Matron of the community health centre however expressed need for a resident doctor at the health center noting that “Even a Youth Corper doctor would be a great help to this community.”

In her view, Dr. Chinelo Okigbo, a speContinues on Page 44

and licensed professionals warned that drugs should not be seen as any other item in the market that can be sold and used by anyone without proper counselling by a professional.

"If the environment is controlled appropriately and people who are trained and license to give out these drugs are in charge, many lives will be saved and the alarming indiscriminate use of drugs will be reduced.

"But if these drugs are available in the market places like any products then anybody can use these medicines without the attention of the health professionals concerned and as a result, the health of the people would be endangered.

Aminu frowned on Nigeria beingthe only part of the world, where medicines are advertised in buses, markets and motor parks. "Due to easy access to these medicines, many of these drugs are no longer effective because many people have developed resistance especially for anti malaria drugs caused by inappropriate use of the medicines over time."

"We are saying that for the future of this country, these things should be check properly. We as an association we are ready to join forces with the agency that regulates this area of our health to ensure that the country is rid off of counterfeit and fake medicines as well as save Nigerians from unnecessary exposure to drugs they do not need," Aminu added The public enlightenment campaign was to educate people on the dangers of indiscriminate use of medicines without consulting the professionals and the need to identify the right place to go for their drug needs.

Former Chairman of the ACPN branch, Pharm. Felix Anieh, said patients should always look out for original pharmacy emblems. "Drug abuse is dangerous to health and damages vital organs in the body, if you abuse drugs, your kidney is endangered, your liver will be compromised and when such things happen you cannot have good health," he added.

COMING ATTRACTION! THE CONSULTING ROOM. A place where individuals, couples and groups can obtain free but comprehensive counseling on health issues from a diverse team of experienced medical experts. COMING SOON!

44

—

Vanguard, TUESD AY, AUGUST 28, 2012 TUESDA

ABCs of exercising N

O, I’m not trying to insult your intelligence, the ABC stands for Adapting Behavioral Changes. The last four questions on the questionnaire all relate to lifestyle and behavior.

Do you participate in sports as question 7 asks? If you ask why, here’s another question – what is healthier, playing sports or watching sports? Nigeria, like the US has a plethora of sports to choose from, real sports not computer games.

Whether choosing football, boxing, lawn tennis, basketball, or even dancing, participating in sports burns fat and keeps you fit, both effective cancer fighters.

I used to think the answer to question 8, do you think if you are thin, you are in good shape? was an overwhelming yes.

But here is something to ponder: it’s not so much important that you are thin, it’s how you got thin.

Some of us are naturally thin and will stay that way no matter what we eat, but

that doesn’t mean we are healthy. On the outside we may look healthy, but on the inside – well that’s another story. Others may look a little thick but are in better health than the skinny folks.

Everyone’s body is different and being in shape is a matter of getting your body to the point of getting maximum output with a minimum of input, no matter what you look like.

One can be 6’ 3’’, 180 lbs., looking good but riddled with cancer due to a poor diet or be 5’10 180 lbs., looking stocky, but because of a stellar diet loaded with ample fruits and vegetables could be the healthiest person on the block.

Do you smoke? If the answer to this question 9 is yes, quit and right now is the best time to start. Let’s face it, smoking causes many types of cancer and it can kill you. Smoking can also harm all parts of the digestive system, contributing to such common disorders as heartburn and

FG scales up SCD centres Continued from Page 42 drenched faces daily not knowing where and when the pain shall come to an end due to the complications.

"Many go into crisis and all of a sudden their health takes a drastic turn around for the worst."

"We are appealing to stakeholders to support education through adoption of

schools and libraries, providing books on our experiences as instructional materials for public enlightenment and awareness among other things," he added He called on the federal government to develop and encourage the non-for-profit social sector with a view to reducing the burden of the disorder.

In his presentation, President, HEWAN, Mr. Azoma Chikwe, said the Association's participation is to "re-dedicate commitment to addressing sickle cell anaemia.

As health writers, our impact must be felt in the environment we live."

According to him, HEWAN's partnership with Dabma would go a long way in disseminating needed information on how to prevent or manage the disease to a large, scattered and heterogeneous population of the Nigerian community.

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

peptic ulcers.

Smoking increases the risk of Crohn's disease, and possibly gallstones. All these intestinal maladies contribute to intestinal cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and other organ cancers.

In response to question 10, do you drink alcohol? Here is a quote from my book, Chronicles of a Cancer Survivor, where on pages 31 – 32 I pointed out the following: “Have you seen the often contradictory reports on alcohol and cancer?

In her Responsible Drinking Education Programme teaching module (USAF,2006), nationally-certified Master Addiction Counselor Margaret Kohut, MSW, told me that it’s healthier to avoid grain-distilled alcohol entirely, but at a minimum, we should limit consumption

to no more than one drink per day for woman and two per day for men.

Red wine is a safer choice than distilled alcohol. Still, excessive alcohol use of any type has been shown to raise estrogen levels and decrease the body’s ability to use folic acid, an important B vitamin linked to cancer prevention and neurological damage.

The limit of “one drink a day” consists of twelve fluid ounces of beer, five fluid ounces of wine, or one and a half fluid ounces of eighty-proof distilled spirits.

Margaret also gives a strong caution against excessive alcohol use and smoking – a fatal combination of carcinogens.”

Next week we will look at what it takes to do mental gymnastics. Until then – stay healthy!

Okigbo takes free medical health to Anambra Continued from Page 43 cialist in maternal and child healthcare, confirmed that most of the deaths in the local communities were from preventable ailments that, if detected early, could have been prevented with lifestyle changes.

She promised to analyse the data collated from this and other Nextier-funded medical efforts to develop a policy paper on new approaches to medical intervention in local communities.

The Nextier Advisory CEO acknowledged that the free medical programmes are not the sustainable solution to healthcare delivery in Nigeria, but ad-

duced for sustained intersection of good public policy and concerted action from the private and the public sector.

Hence, Nextier Advisory has committed to continuing their interventions in the local communities.

He acknowledged that the bulk of the solution is with the public sector and its policy choices; however, he affirmed that there is a lot that can be done by individuals. “When a small group of thoughtful, committed people apply themselves to a problem, miracles begin to happen. I believe there are enough of us to change Nigeria.”

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

M

Y man does not call or text me. I do all the calling and texting. He doesn’t care about me.

He has never spent on me before but I spend on him.

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Now I want to let go but I cannot get him out of my mind and I think he is planning to break up with me. What do I do? I still love him – Grace Dear Grace, it seems to me that you are in love with a man who just wants a casual relationship. Some people are like that. They just want a girl they can hang out with when they feel like it without getting too close. That is why he keeps you at a distance. But you want more. You want a proper romantic and loving relationship.

It is up to you to decide if you are going to settle for what he wants or what you want. Personally, I suggest you leave. I believe there is someone out there who can treat you better and be in a full relationship with you just the way you want. If you don’t leave, he will end up leaving you just like you said so there is no difference.

I know that leaving him will be difficult for you because you love him, but it must be obvious to you by now that you have no meaningful future with him.

You are a woman and time is not on your side. You will find someone else. Take care – Uche I have been using the Xzen 1200 supplement you recommended and my erections are stronger. Thank you - James You are welcome – Uche Is it true that there is a cure for AIDS? How many years can an AIDS victim live up to? Bola Dear Bola, I have never heard of any cure for AIDS. I read some months ago that the American government has approved a drug that prevents HIV infection called Truvada. Bola if you suspect that you have HIV/AIDS, go to the hospital and do a test.

Only a proper test can answer your questions. If you are HIV positive, there are good quality drugs now that will boost your immune system and keep you from falling sick and dying of AIDS. Good luck – Uche There are times that I can have sex four or five times before day break and the next week, I can only manage to have just one round. I want to be ready at any time, 24/7 – Andrew from Kwara state Dear Andrew, you sound okay to me. It is not every time that one will have the energy to indulge in marathon sex. But if this is what you want, drink Libigrow Libido Shots or Mojo Boost one hour before sex. They are both high quality performance enhancing drinks that can keep you having super sex all through the night. They are natural supplements and have no side effects - Uche Sir thank you for your help. I am taking Max Desire now and my libido has improved. Please can you recommend something to enable me have an orgasm as well? I have never had one. I will like a movie too.

Thank you – Adaobi You are welcome. To become orgasmic, you will need three things: An orgasm gel (Liquid Sex Orgasm Gel), a rabbit vibrator ( Stormy Delight G-Spot Rabbit) and the education film Guide to Female Ejaculation. For the adult film you asked for, I recommend Jesse Jane’s Babysitters. These are good quality and affordable novelties that will change your sex life for the better – Uche And that’s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Zee Virtual Media closes for a short break on the 26th of August and reopens on the 3rd of September, 2012.

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Email: custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 45

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Lagos airport radar shut to avert disaster •To protect the system following power outage

BY LEKE ADESERI, South West Regional Editor & DANIEL ETEGHE

T

HE Lagos airport radar was shut down on Saturday by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, to avert a total collapse that would have plunged the aviation industry into crisis.

One of the General Managers in the Engineering Department of the agency that pleaded anonymity, confirmed yesterday that the action was taken in the best interest of the industry.

According to him, a total failure of the radar would have plunged the aviation industry into a big crisis situation.

The General Manager pointed out that it would have been difficult for the Air Traffic Controllers, ATC, to effectively monitor the various aircraft in the air in the event that the radar system was allowed to shut down completely.

He said; “ It is true that the

you have to see their altitude as well” he added.

The source further stressed that NAMA on no occasion shut down the radar intentionally adding that any mistake by any engineer in the event of carrying out his duty may lead to an air crash where such a person could lose his relations just like in the Dana air crash that happened recently.

NAMA confirms shut down Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has confirmed that the Lagos radar was shut down briefly to protect the system from technical defect following power outage at the site which affected the Automatic Mains Failure (AMF) switch.

An airport surveillance radar (ASR) is a radar system used at airports to detect and display the position of aircraft in the terminal area.

The Digital Airport Surveillance Radar, DASR, which is in use at the Lagos airport is a new

Lagos airport radar. INSET: Murtala Muhammed international airport radar was shut down briefly because of power redundancy. But if it had completely shut down, definitely we would have had a

BY BOSE ADELAJA crisis in our hands.

“It means if you have aircrafts enceforth, there will be that are sequence on their final no hiding place for corlap, that is about landing and then everything suddenly goes rupt officials of Kick Against Inoff. You may not know the num- discipline, KAI, as Lagos State ber of aircrafts and the spacing government has promised toughbetween one another, their er sanctions against erring perflight levels and so on, so that sonnel of the outfit.

The development is as a result can cause problem” of corrupt tendencies of some of“This is what is called proceficials who used to collect bribes dural air navigation- you need to see what the aircraft is do- from pedestrians who prefer to ing, you want to talk to an air- dash across expressways instead craft, you need to know the of using overhead bridges. The flight level and sequence them story was reported by Megacity on landing, you need to see spotlight.

Speaking with Vangauard, KAI them and see their performance,

•Abandoned Oremeji Primary School, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government terminal air traffic control radar system that replaced the analog system with new digital technology.

The older radars, some up to 20 years old, are being replaced to improve reliability, provide additional weather data, reduce maintenance cost, improve performance, and provide digital data to new digital automation systems for presentation on air traffic controller displays.

The Automatic Mains Failure switch connects or disconnects the mains or generator and vice versa depending on availability.

The breakdown of the switch over the weekend was caused by incessant power outage at the airport, forcing the agency to deploy an emergency procedure to save the system from colossal damage.

How drug addi teachers, pupil •Churches use part as worship centres BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

D

RUG peddlers and ad dicts have sacked teachers and pupils of Oremeji Primary School, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government and turned the school into their

full time joint.

When Vanguard visited the school at the weekend, the school building which is one of the State’s millennium schools has since become a shadow of its old self.

Adewale Olaitan, a pupil of

No hiding place for corrupt KAI officials — Meigeri

H

Marshal, Retired General Danjuma Meigeri, said he has set up a monitoring team against likely officials.

Meigeri who called on members of the public to report any act of extortion by any KAI official gave out a GSM number through which reports can reach the authority for disciplinary actions.

Through the number, 08023682254, any offended person should contact him to report any KAI official who is found wanting.

He said the Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola has been doing well and the KAI Brigade

will not in any way drag him back. ‘’We have asked the provost department to start setting their trap and we shall not tolerate erring officials no matter how well connected he or she is.’’ he said.

Speaking further, Meigeri said; ‘’I shall be very happy to catch an example, you see, crooks are very clever but my eyes are clear, ready for eventuality no matter how connected the culprit may be.

“The public should produce circumstantial evidence, name tag and time and text it to the above number. I shall not allow anybody to dent the governor’s image because KAI’s purpose is to wage war against indiscipline,”

Lagos State governor, Raji Fashola

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012— 47

others.

Vanguard observed that land speculators have also encroached on the school land, prospecting for buyers apart from building some shanties there.

drugs, particularly marijuana, used to envelope everywhere.”

Olaitan noted that they had endured the challenge for long. But few months ago, the Govt is aware – Comschool authority had to relocate the pupils to avert any missioner Responding to enquiries on health effect.

According to him, “the head- the development, Commismaster had no option than to sioner for Information and relocate us to Oluwa Primary Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogschool, for us to continue our ba said that government offistudies. Oluwa is closer to our cials have gone to inspect the school and at Oluwa, we had school and they have discovno option than to adapt to the ered that land squatters have situation we found ourselves.” encroached on the land.

According to Ibirogba; “Very According to our sources, the immediate effect of the merg- soon, we will be sending our er of the two schools is over- enforcement team to the school population particularThe headmaster had no option ly when than to relocate us to Oluwa two schools have to Primary school, for us to conmanage fatinue our studies. Oluwa is cilities meant for closer to our school and at Oluone.

,

Strange neighbours “Immedi-

cts sacked s from Lagos school the school said that they were sacked by the drug sellers and addicts who consistently

thronged the school premises during study hours, adding “their presence used to disturb

us a lot to the point of distrupting our classes because the odour oozing out from their

,

wa, we had no option than to adapt to the situation we found ourselves

ately they vacated the building, the drug sellers and addicts took over the ground floor of the building.

They also have strange neighbours in some mushroom churches who now use the first floor, as their worship centres,” our source added.

Some of the churches who now occupy part of the two-storey building with 15 blocks of classroom are: The Door of Life Deliverance Ministry, Key of David Christian Centre and

to halt further encroachment and evict those who have trespassed on our land. The structures erected on our land are shanties. And we all know that the state government does not give approval plan for erection of shanties.

“After we reclaim our land, we will send a team that will consist of experts from the state ministry of Physical Planning and Urban development and Environment to commence work on the land,” he said.

Do you know that... ?

L

AGOS is the most populous conurbation in Nigeria with over 18 million estimated population. It is the most populous in Africa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa (7th fastest in the world), immediately following Bamako.

Formerly the capital of Nigeria, Lagos is a huge metropolis which originated on islands separated by creeks, such as Lagos Island, that fringe the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon, protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits such as Bar Beach which stretch up to 100 km east and west of the mouth.

From the beginning, Lagos has spread on the mainland west of the lagoon and the conurbation, including Ikeja and Agege, now reaches more than 40 km northwest of Lagos Island. The city is the economic and financial capital of Nigeria.

History Lagos was a Yoruba settlement of Awori people initially called

Oko. The name was later changed to Eko (Edo: “cassava farm”) or Eko (“war camp”) during the Kingdom of Benin occupation.

The Yoruba still use the name Eko when they speak of ‘Lagos’, a name which never existed in Yoruba language. It is likely that the name ‘Lagos’ was given to the town by the first Portuguese settlers who navigated from a coastal town of the same name in Portugal.

T

he present day Lagos state has a higher percent of Awori, who migrated to the area from Isheri along the Ogun river.

Throughout history, it was home to a number of warring tribes who had settled in the area. During its early settlement, it also saw periods of rule by the Kingdom of Benin.

Lagos was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 up to 1991; it was stripped of this title when the Federal Capital Territory was established at the purpose-built city of Abuja. However, most govern-

Victoria Island of old as seen from one of the harbours ment functions (especially the head of state) stayed in Lagos for a time since Abuja was still under construction. In 1991, the head of state and other government functions finally moved to the newly built capital in a mass

exodus.

Portuguese explorer Ruy de Sequeira visited the area in 1472, naming the area around the city Lago de Curamo; indeed the present name is Portuguese for “lakes”. Another explanation is

that Lagos was named for Lagos, Portugal - a maritime town which at the time was the main centre of the Portuguese expeditions down the African coast and whose own name is derived from the Latin word Lacobriga.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

him. We used to have this argument that what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was doing was dealing with the headline issues, the major problems. It didn’t deal with the humiliation that the man on the street felt as a result of the apartheid system. A man who is stripped naked at 4 a.m. in front of his family because a young 18 year old policeman said he might be hiding some arms in his house. Who is going to reconcile that person?

And my argument was that if there is no retribution between truth and reconciliation, there can never be any reconciliation.

And in South Africa, there has been no retribution.

That is, the whites have not come out to say apartheid was wrong. I taught at the University of Stellenbosch, which was the bastion of the apartheid system, that is where most of their Prime Ministers and Ministers were produced and anybody who has been to Stellenbosch will tell you this is not part of Africa.

Previous nonsense

*Omotosho: Corruption is not the problem in Nigeria

There's no way ACN can win Ondo — Kole Omotosho •Unpunished corruption is our problem PROF. Kole Omotosho, the Nigerian-born but South Africa based celebrated activist, author and academic in the course of a recent visit to Nigeria visited Vanguard during which he shared experiences with Vanguard Editors on a wide range of issues including his experience of South Africa’s transition from apartheid enclave to nationhood, Governor Segun Mimiko’s bid for a second term in office as governor of Ondo State and the problematic image of Nigeria and Nigerians in South Africa. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & LAZARUS IBEABUCHI

H

IS South African experi ence and lesson for Nigeria WE are in a situation where a new word has come into the South African vocabulary which is called tenderprenuers. Not entrepreneurs but tenderprenuers, people who make their money out of tenders from government and they are mainly members of the

ruling party. I stopped teaching at the university level about two years ago. I got tired of marking papers and teaching students who don’t want to learn anything.

I am tired of people, who see certificate as an end rather than what can train their minds. In that period, I tried to work with different universities on specific projects and I found that we were not producing post graduate students.

And if you are not producing post graduates, it meant that

the universities would still have to depend on white intellectuals, white teachers either from within or from outside. In the meantime, thousands of graduates from the black universities are released into the community and they have no work to do.

It has led to a situation where the African National Congress, (ANC) on the occasion of 100th year of founding, because it was founded in 1913, as a response to the Land Act, which was passed that year by the

white minority government. On that occasion, they started talking about the need for a second transformation. But the transformation that took place in 1994, which was purely political, has not naturally produced the economic transformation that was needed.

Economic transformation It was Nkrumah, who said seek ye first political freedom and all other things would be added unto you.

But you know that nothing was added unto you in spite of your political power. In the case of South Africa, there was a Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was set up to look into its history. I happened to have been very lucky to know Archbishop Tutu because my wife worked with

Unlike Nigeria where we have each government piling up its own nonsense over the previous nonsense to the point where we don’t even know where to start cleaning the nonsense, in their own case, it is a case of not doing anything to undo what the apartheid system did.

Yes, I can go anywhere, I live in the suburb of Fourways in Johannesburg, my neighbours are all whites, but down the road in Soweto, about 20minutes drive from where I live, things are bad. At Alexandria, things are worse.

And people are beginning to demonstrate.

O

n a Monday, you could hear on radio ‘if you are coming in to Johannesburg or Pretoria don’t take this particular way because there is a protest taking place.’

It is usually done by putting tyres on the road and throwing stones at people's cars. The system is trying to deal with it.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with it is the public protector’s office. It is an office that has existed since about 1994 but until two years ago we didn’t have an effective person to run it, that is somebody who didn’t have any respect for the politicians.

Recently, we had a woman at the head of it and it is very interesting how this woman has dealt with the ANC leadership without any respect to anybody. And this has led to the fact that the first black commissioner of Police is in prison serving a 15year term for taking bribe from a mafia boss.

Continues on page 49

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 49

There's no way ACN can win Ondo — Omotosho Continues from page 48 Another black man has just been sacked because he approved a block of offices for the police without going through the process. And the newspapers are very effective although they are being cowed.

About six weeks ago, there was an exhibition and there was this portrait of Zuma (South Africa’s incumbent president) with his genitals exposed. Now that picture divided the country. There were people who said no, you can't do this, and others who talked about freedom of speech and all that. Now two people, one white, one black and it wasn’t coordinated, came and destroyed the painting.

Marching to an isolated cell Interestingly, they sat the white guy down, they gave him tea and discussed with him why he did it? The black guy was assaulted, pinned down and marched off to an isolation cell. They did the same thing but were treated differently and the persons who assaulted them happened to be blacks.

But I don’t think that things will get as bad compared to

that idea of an alternative situation.

A few years ago, I was at the airport in Akure waiting for a flight to Lagos and he (Mimiko) was returning from Abuja. And he saw me and said ‘Prof I want you to do something for me.’ Within two weeks I got a call from him. That led me to come back to give a lecture in Akure and he drove me round the things he was trying to do.

It was after seeing that, that I decided I wanted to do a book on him and I am working on that book now. That has brought me back to the details of how I grew up in Akure though I went to King’s College here.

To go back to see those places changing, places that haven’t seen any government intervention for decades except when there is about to be election.

So I asked myself if I was really going to come back to this country, do I want to buy generators? No! I am not going to buy generators, I am not going to bring solar panels.

And my friends in Akure said ‘ you are not ready to come here’ and I said (yes) And how many of us are saying ‘I will not use generator in this country’ because the reason the

,

Corruption is not the problem in Nigeria, but it is the unpunished corruption that is the problem of this country, when you punish corruption something will happen

other countries in Africa. And I don’t think it as a result of white people, but it is as a result of black people who are beginning to say ‘having a good life does not belong to white people alone.’

It is not a European thing to live well and have a clean environment. It is simply a human situation, therefore they found themselves opposing the ANC with all its ‘struggles’ credentials.

On Mimiko and the Ondo Election: Mimiko was a student when I was teaching at Ife. Although he was a medical student, he used to attend all our lectures, demonstrations and plays at Oduduwa Hall. Remember this was at a time when people like Wole Soyinka, Biodun Jeifo, we were all at Ife trying to create

,

government has failed to do anything for us is because we do these things ourselves.

And we are quite happy to do it. And we have no problem with it. Anybody who grew up in the Western region during Awolowo’s time would remember the sense of belonging because you got something out of it.

It is happening in Ondo State.

You have a Mother and Child Hospital where you pay nothing and that hospital has been going on for three years.

About 20percent of the people who use the hospital come from outside of the state.

What I am saying is this, we take on large issues and we seem to ignore small things.

And it is these small things that matter at the end of the day.

Nigeria's battered image in

*Omotosho: There is no way ACN can win that state

South Africa? I happen to be lucky to be part of what you call the new South Africa. Before me, there was no prominent black person in any advertising campaign. But what is interesting is that many South Africans will tell you that Kole Omotosho is from Zulu land and not a Nigerian!

We have not looked enough at the psychology of oppression. The psychology of oppression is an underdeveloped study in most of our societies. Where people are oppressed, they tend to oppress themselves.

It has taken 18 years but it is happening and people are beginning to demand…and for instance, the ANC cannot take it for granted that it is going to win an election. The Democratic Alliance, which has been basically white organized is getting a lot of black members. The ANC cannot do what the ZANU PF did in Zimbabwe which is that ‘we brought you freedom, therefore you must keep us in power for ever ’. The ANC cannot get away with that.

Modern attitude If you go to Soweto, they will tell you that their lives have not changed, nothing has happened. More and more people are becoming desperate for a change. Nothing has changed in the lives of the black people. There is a modern attitude for a positive change. You cannot be negative if your commitment is to modernization. You cannot be

irrational if your idea is to modernize. Not obeying rules cannot make management possible.

Not only that there is a great anti-intellectualism going on in South Africa. You remember what happened to us here during the military? When you would go to a class to teach and you wouldn’t know which of your students was from the security agency?

Successful politicians How can Nigeria be a failing state and all our heads of state are hailed as successful politicians? It is only in this country that people, who have led this country to failure are being hailed. Look at Obasanjo and Babangida saying that the country must not be allowed to fail. Really? Why shouldn’t we allow it to fail? What did they do when they were there?

Corruption is not the problem in Nigeria, but it is the unpunished corruption that is the problem of this country.

When you punish corruption something will happen. And those of us who thought that a new generation was coming, now found that the children of the corrupt ones have now taken over.

On progressivism in the Southwest: I am still a very crazy leftist. Among my colleagues, I am possibly the only one, who spent time in the Soviet Union, spent time in Cuba and I have no apologies about my left leaning attitudes.

But those left leanings are expressed at the level of

welfarism and caring for people.

If being progressive is destroying Makoko and sending people without any alternative place to stay, then I don’t want to be that kind of progressive. And I don’t think Mimiko will want to be that kind of progressive. What Mimiko is doing for Ondo State is basic to the people and there is no way Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) can win that state.

Mimiko had his own revolution in the spirit with a father who cared very much. In his growing up, he had a father who cared because he was the first Manger of a Sawmill in 1954.

And that is where Mimiko was born, in the Sawmill. I wrote a piece that Awolowo in 1954 in a letter to Action Group said that you don’t have to belong to the same political party to have the same vision.

So the same applies now. Why must we have one party system in South West?

Hostility from South Africans: One of the problems Nigeria had with South Africans is that the Cape Town gang stars were complaining that the Nigerian gang stars have taken up their turf.

Another reason is that the White people also object to the presence of Nigerians. I met a white guy who said ‘we have our black people. But the way Nigerians walk down the street as if they own it, our black people will now be copying them.’ What a Nigerian needs do is to move on with his life, that is self celebration.

50 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EUROPEAN SOCCER SHOW

Mourinho: Real deser deservved to lose

H

EAD coach Jose Mourinho has lambasted Real Madrid labelling his side’s performance as ‘unacceptable’ in a 2-1 loss to Getafe.

Sunday’s result leaves Madrid two spots above La Liga’s relegation zone after two games with only a draw so far this season. ”It was an unacceptable game, in this match for me it is not a frustrating defeat,” Mourinho said. ”We totally deserved to lose. There are things that a coach cannot discuss with the press. ”I haven’t talked to the players. They have no feedback on what I think and what I have analysed. ”I have to talk to them.

(The margin) could be six if we had lost the first

Stosur

City should have beaten Liverpool — Mancini

Stosur romps into second round S

AMANTHa Stosur has made a sizzling start to her US Open title defence, blasting her way into the second round and barely breaking sweat.

Stosur needed only 51 minutes to storm past Croatian Petra Martic 61 6-1 in an awesome display of power tennis.

Australia’s seventh seed was the first big gun through to the second round at Flushing Meadows.

In a spectacular opening, Stosur looked on track to record a rare “golden set” as she won the first 19 points of the match, hammering down five aces in the process.

The Queenslander closed out the contest on her first match point and, all up, clubbed 22 winners to Martic’s seven and committed just 11 unforced errors for the match.

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Serena happy to be NY favourite FTER her golden summer in London, Serena Williams is happy to embrace her status as the hot favourite to lift the US Open title. Serena may only be the fourth seed in New York but there is no doubt she is the one to beat, and the 30-year-old said: “You’ve got to embrace it whether you’re the favourite or the one to beat or whether you are not.

“And I embrace it. In Wimbledon I wasn’t the favourite, I embraced that. Hopefully I can do my best. I don’t feel pressure. My dad said the only pressure you have is the pressure you put on yourself. If I win, that would be great. If I lose, I realise I’m going to go home and be devastated.

But there’s always tomorrow.”

Djokovic plays down personal problems

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OVAK Djokovic has dismissed concerns over reported “personal problems” affecting his game, insisting he is feeling stronger ahead of this

ANCHESTER City ’s Roberto Mancini believed his team could have wrapped up the match in the opening half hour against Liverpool. ”I think we played very,

A

Serena

year ’s US Open than when he won it 12 months ago It was suggested, by Djokovic’s first coach Jelena Gencic, that he was

not 100 per cent due to personal issues. However, that is a suggestion the Serbian rejects.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean any harm. Every-

game.

But we are five (behind Barcelona) which is too many points when only six have been contested. ”Today was a different match. Against Valencia we did more to win, (however), today, we fully deserved to lose.”

body has problems,” Djokovic said. “My problems are much smaller than an average person’s problems. I cannot complain about my life.”

very well in the first 30 minutes and we had three or four chances,” Mancini said. ”I think in that moment you should score if you want to win a game here in Liverpool because it’s Anfield so the game is always difficult, instead we conceded a goal on a corner and the game was changed. ”We want to win - it’s clear,” Mancini said. ”Every team wants to win but we went down 10 down, 2-1 down. ”We didn’t deserve to lose this game because we played well and in the end it was a good result.”

Hernandez happy to learn from RVP strikers in particular,”

J

AVIER Hernandez is looking forward to working with Robin van Persie, insisting the competition for places is healthy for Manchester United.

The Mexican stated that he is always keen to learn from his team-mates and that Van Persie, who scored his first goal in a United shirt in his home debut against Fulham on Saturday, will give everyone a boost. ”I think in life you never stop learning, no matter what age you are. I try to learn from all my teammates, but obviously it’s great to watch the other

Hernandez told the club’s official website. ”They have all helped me a lot and I know I will learn a lot off Robin because he is a world-class striker who has a lot to give to the team and a lot to teach us all.”

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Hear tland Coac h ttargets argets Conf ed Cup Heartland Coach Confed

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BY JACOB AJOM

NEW line up of multinational companies have signed up as event supporters for the Soccerex Seminar Lagos 27-28 September 2012.

The Seminar Lagos is the first international football business event in Nigeria and will provide Pepsi, Virgin Atlantic, Standard Chartered, Fourteen and Spier Wine with a unique and unrivalled opportunity to develop their brands in West Africa through football.

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OACH Ndubuisi Nduka who led Heartland of Owerri to a successful defence of the Federation Cup they won last year, has promised a more improved squad that will give the country a credible representation in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup. Speaking after the pulsating final which Heartland defeated hard fighting Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1, Ndubuisi said, “We are going back to Owerri and sit down to review what we have done, see what we have and what we need to do before the Confederation Cup. “What I can tell you now is that preparations for the continent will begin as soon as we get back to Owerri.”

The coach who took

Javelin kills athletics official Continues from B/P

JUBILATION ••• Heartland captain Chinedu Efugh lifts the Federation Cup as his colleagues celebrate the victory. over the club mid-way into the season said the preparations will be based on how to reinforce the team with the desired personnel and funding. “We will talk about everything,” he

said, expressing optimism that the club will better their performance the last time they featured in the continent when they lost to TP Mazembe in the final.

“We hope to win the

Confederation Cup and give Nigerians cause to smile. I am happy for my players. They really showed great fighting spirit and it paid off.”

I’ll play anywhere for Chelsea — Moses S

UPER Eagles for ward, Victor Moses has vowed to Roberto Di Matteo that he is happy to play any role for Chelsea after making his £9million switch from Wigan.

Moses admitted that he was surprised when he first learned of the Blues’ interest in him after securing transfer Moses had been on Chelsea’s radar since his sparkling form at the end of last season helped keep Roberto Martinez’s team in the Barclays Premier League.

And he was outstanding for Wigan during their 2-0 defeat by Di

Matteo’s side at the DW Stadium in the Premier League curtain-raiser.

And now that he has finally confirmed his switch to Stamford Bridge, he want his boss to know he’s happy to start just about anywhere on the pitch.

He told chelseafc.com: ‘Growing up I used to play centre-back in a Sunday league team but I had the feeling I could play further forward.

When I was scouted by Crystal Palace I started playing in centre-midfield. Then I ended up playing as a striker, left wing, on the right - ev

Nigeria Bankers Game:

Players in mind games

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MIND game has been set off by players of Fidelity Bank and United Bank for Africa ahead of the start of the football events of the 2012 Nigeria Bankers Games with Kayode Agajala and Emeka Udegbulem setting the tone for the offfield battle.

Fidelity Bank’s Kayode Agbalaja fired the first salvo in the mind game ahead of the opening matches on Sunday when he declared that the bank is out to add football to the chest of

More corporate bodies identify with Soccerex

medals they will be presenting to the Management this year. Fidelity Bank finished runners-up in the football event last year, losing to Skye Bank but emerging tops on the overall medals standing.

In what seemed a quick response from the bank that boasts to be Africa’s biggest, UBA’s Udegbulem warned other teams to forget the football event and pointing at the bank’s record as the most successful in the football event of the Bankers Game.

He was rushed to hospital, but died from his injuries.

Emergency services reported that the judge had started moving out to measure the javelin before it had landed, but that either a sudden gust of wind or a tragic misjudgement caused it to

strike him.

The man, identified only as Dieter S under Germany’s media privacy rules, was reportedly a highly experienced international javelin judge, whose 18-yearold granddaughter Fiona is due to compete in the event at the German athletics championships in three weeks’ time.

Modric real deal Continues from B/P of the transfer window remaining, agreeing a deal worth around £30million.

And Levy said: “Luka has been a terrific player for us and, whilst we preferred not to part with him, we are pleased that it is to Real Madrid.”

Spurs have also announced a ‘partnership agreement’ between the two clubs, although it is unclear what this means.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez Rodriguez said: “The strong relationship and affinity between our two clubs has resulted in the cementing of a longerterm partnership and the successful transfer of Luka Modric.

“We are delighted to welcome Luka and look forward to working closely with Tottenham in the coming years.”

Modric made 160 appearances for Spurs, scoring 17 goals.

Federation Cup winners travel by road to Owerri Continues from B/P

UNVEILING ••• Victor Moses being unveiled by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Sunshine qualify for Semi-finals Continues from B/P nisian club following the crowd trouble that led to the abandonment of a home fixture against Esperance on August 18. This action eliminated Etoile from the competition and erasing their results with immediate effect and as a result, Esperance and Sunshine Stars with six points each on the table have now qualified from Group B. In a statement CAF referred to “missile throwing, stones, bottles, firecrackers and pitch invasions” that occurred during the match

in Sousse, which was played in front of Etoile supporters only.

Fans invaded the pitch twice and police used tear gas to disperse people before the referee was forced to call off the game on 69 minutes with Esperance 2-0 ahead.

Tunisian football has largely been played behind closed doors since the revolution in the country last year, mainly due to fear of crowd violence.

Sunshine and Esperence are billed to play a grudge game on September 2 in Tunis that match will now be mere of a formality.

present to witness their all-conquering performance in Lagos.

“I wish we had won this cup under another chief executive,” he said, recalling that events during the match pointed to what they got.

“During half time, the Governor came to our dressing room looking cheerful and visibly happy that we were on course. He would not make any promise, obviously aware that the many promises he made last year were not fulfilled. He only shook hands with us and encouraged us to play well.”

According to one official, when the club won the 2011 Federation Cup, Governor Okorocha promised the players and officials N1million each. He only

paid the players leaving out the officials.. He also promised to replace the bus of the team. They remain empty promises.

The players wondered how they could have traveled to Owerri if they had given their bus to the supporters club as directed by the Governor.

“I do not know if we would have gone on foot.

We do not know whether there will be a reception or rewards for us.

The joy is that we played for ourselves and achieved the desired result.”

He recalled the year they won the league at the expense of Kano Pillars. “Remember, Pillars who were runners up were rewarded with cars, but we got nothing.

We’ve won again. This is one bitter-sweet victory.

We’re at lost on what awaits us’’, some of the players chorused.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 53

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012 — 55

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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UKA MODRIC has finally sealed his transfer to Real Madrid by signing a five-year contract.

The midfielder, 26, will have a medical in Madrid today before he is unveiled at the Bernabeu.

Modric has been a target for Jose Mourinho’s side all summer but Tottenham were reluctant to let him leave on the cheap.

But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has finally caved in with four days Continues on page 52

Ja Javvelin kills athletics of ficial official A

N athletics official has been killed in a horrifying javelin accident at a junior meeting in Dusseldorf.

The 75-year-old was

FAN GONE WILD ••• General Manager of Heartland FC, Fan Ndubuoke ran amok at the end of the Federation Cup final when his team successfully defended the trophy by beating Lobi 2-1. Ndubuoke’s no doubt, has brought his magic wand to Heartland. Photo.... Sylva Eleanya

hit in the throat by a javelin thrown by a competitor, instantly severing his carotid artery.

Continues on page 52

CAF Champions League:

Sunshine qualify for Semi-finals S

UNSHINE Stars of Akure have earned a free ride to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League after group A opponents

S-H-A-M-E!

Etoile du Sahel were kicked out of the competition by the continent’s soccer ruling body.

CAF expelled the Tu

Continues on page 52

Federation Cup winners travel by road to Owerri ...Players, officials grumble

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WELVE hours after lifting the Federation Cup, players and officials of Heartland TODAY'S

Football Club of Owerri left Lagos by road for a long trip to Owerri, the capital of Imo State. And

ANSWERS

this did not go down well with the Federation Cup champions who have won the trophy back-to-back.

Although the players YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

were excited with themselves for their heroics, they were still bitter over the treatment meted to them by the state government under Governor ACROSS 2 Devil (5) 7 Tendon (5) 8 Pass on (5) 10 Bet (3) 12 Entrap (3) 13 Inlet (5) 15 Rule (7) 17 Dislike (6) 19 Of us (3) 20 Unbiased (7) 23 Cradle (4) 25 Final (4) 26 Cautious (7) 30 Because (3) 31 Flavour (6) 34 Fine (7) 38 Lubricate (3) 39 Hue (5) 40 Viper (5) 41 Beneath (5) 42 Avarice (5)

Rochas Okorocha.

One of the players who craved anonymity said that the mood among them was low because they never expected

they would travel by road to Owerri, particularly, as the number one citizen of the state was Continues on page 52

DOWN 1 Head-dress (5) 2 Drain (5) 3 Arouse (6) 4 Mimicked (4) 5 Mid (7) 6 Ragged (5) 9 Meadow (3) 11 Turbulent (7) 13 Verify (5) 14 Moral (5) 16 Dog (3) 18 Fault (7) 21 Lariat (5) 22 Prick (5) 24 Confused (7) 27 Fish eggs (3) 28 Alliance (6) 29 Sullen (5) 32 Correct (5) 33 Attack (5) 35 Free (3) 36 Row (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS CROSS: 2, Table 7, Stow 8, Recipe 9, Older 11, Pew 13, Bus 15, Away 16, Pet 18, Mete 19, Married 20, Lied 22, Tout 23, Runaway 25, Used 27, Nil 28, Wife 30, Rod 31, Nor 33, Befit 36, Snooze 37, Only 38, Gripsy.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Strew 2, Two 3, Bud 4, Err 5, Act 6, Spout 10, Ewer 11, Palour 12, Wavered 13, Bedounin 14, Setter 16, Pagan 17, Trial 18, Met 21, Dud 24, Wide 26, Sound 29, Folly 32, Woo 32, Beg 34, Fog 35, Toy.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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