G7 govs, others chased out of nPDP meeting

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62001

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

BAD ROADS: FG to reintroduce toll gates P.8

AWARD: Fromleft, President,UN World Summit Awards (WSA), Professor Peter Bruck; Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Mr Foluso Phillps, Chairman/CEO, Phillips Consulting, Management Consultant for Opon Imo as Nigeria wins two awards at WSA Global Congress in Sri Lanka.

G7 govs, others chased out of nPDP meeting • As Police invade Sokoto Gov's lodge venue of meeting • Lamido, Amaechi, Nyako, Kwankwaso, Aliero, Baraje, Oyinlola, Adamu, Shettima others present • We've become endangered species — G7Govs, Baraje • Say security agents are after their businesses

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA— CRISIS rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took another turn yesterday, as the Police stormed the Sokoto Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja where the Abubakar Kawu Barajeled new PDP, including opposition governors were holding a meeting and chased them out. A few hours before the

Continues on page 5

Cabotage fund: Stakeholders worry over •P.17 failed objectives

COLUMNIST:

•P.44

Mr & Mrs

A DAY WITH JESUS—President Goodluck Jonathan (M) cutting a cake with the Presidential Pilgrimage Team after an Interdenominational Church Service tagged "A Day With Jesus For Nigeria in Israel," in Jerusalem, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

ARMOURED CARS: Jonathan bars Oduah from BASA signing ceremony

13 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

6—Vanguard , MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Medical practitioners in court over consultancy

ACCIDENT :

A container-laden articulated truck, with number plate KJA-381-XB, fell on a car with number plate EKY246-BH at Ojo-Oba Bus Stop, Abule-Egba, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Road, Lagos, yesterday . PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

INSET: Another articulated vehicle, with number plate EDO XA 847 AGB, somersaulted, killing the driver ’s assistant and damaging vehicles at Ikire, Ibadan-Ife Expressway .

PHOTO: Dare Fasube.

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

M

EDICAL and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has urged the Abuja division of the National Industrial Court to nullify the appointment of non-medical doctors as consultants.

It could be recalled that a panel of three judges of the labour court presided over by its president, Justice Babatunde Adejumo had, on July 22, granted an order clarifying that some of the non-medical doctors can also be consultants.

MDCAN, in its postjudgment application, dated October 9, prayed the court to declare the judgment as “null and void.”

In the application by its counsel, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, MDCAN argued that failure to join it as a necessary party in the suit leading to the judgment, rendered it invalid and amounted to denial of fair hearing.

It hinged its applications on Sections 6(1), 6(6)(a & b), 36(1) of the Constitution and Sections 12 & 14 of the National Industrial Court Act, 2006; Order 5, Rules 2(1 &2) and 3; Order 15, Order 19, Rule 18 (1&2) and Order 25 Rules 4 & 6 of the NIC Rules, 2007.

The body argued that the labour court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit because the reliefs sought bordered on “appointment of non-medically qualified health professional as consultants in Federal Government institutions and the rights of such appointees to receive specialist allowances.”

Their application is supported by an affidavit deposed to by Dr. O.S.A. Oluwole.

Police rescue 2-yr-old kidnapped by uncle

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE— DETECTIVES in Ondo State have rescued a two and half years old boy, Modupeoluwa Saka, who was kidnapped by his uncle, Taju Ayuba, at Ijebu-Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state.

Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, said the operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, rescued the victim from the kidnappers’ hideout after five days in their den. He said no ransom was paid.

The boy was said to have been tied to a chair in an uncompleted building along a road that leads to a popular private university in the town, when he was rescued.

Ondo State Police Command has sent its men to search for and arrest the principal suspect, Ayuba, who was said to be on the run.

Two of the kidnap suspects, Ganiyu Oseni (29) of 43, OkeIjebu Owo and Oderinde Joshua (18) of Owaluwa Street, Owo, have been arrested by detectives.

During interrogation, the two suspects reportedly fingered the victim’s uncle (Taju) as the person that masterminded the kidnap.

Father of the victim, Hassan Saka, who is a proprietor of a popular school in Ijebu-Owo, is half-brother to the suspect.

Police source said that the

three suspects invaded the residence of the victim’s father at about 9p.m., stole N50,000 and also forcefully took the victim from the mother.

The kidnappers escaped on a motorcycle and after some hours put a call across to the

HE Ogun State Government, weekend, donated N2 million to ailing Nollywood actor, Mr. Kayode Odumosu, popularly called Pa Kasumu, for his medical treatment.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, who made the donation on behalf of the government, said

Governor Ibikunle Amosun was moved when he learnt of the health condition of the actor and decided to extend the lifeline.

Adeoluwa said in Lagos: “There was no formal request for help from the Governor of Ogun State. Like everybody else, we heard about Pa Kasumu's sickness on the tel-

pect, Oderinde, who was feeding the victim at their hideout, was arrested.

Ogodo said Oseni and Oderinde confessed that they kidnapped the victim in the presence of the mother at gunpoint and collected her money.

Crude theft: Navy arrests 3 Ghanaians, 9 Nigerians

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA— THE Central Naval Command, yesterday, announced the seizure of an oil vessel, MT Frankesen, and arrest of 12 persons over alleged theft of crude oil along the Akassa waterways in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Three of the suspects were identified as Ghanaians, while the others were Nigerians. The seized vessel, according to the Navy, is owned by a Port Harcourt-based businessman.

Parading the suspects before newsmen in Brass on Saturday, the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi-Ali Usman, said though the vessel’s movement log showed evidences of previous voyages to Ghana, the arrest of the vessel and the crew was carried out by Naval operatives attached to the Forward

Ogun donates to ailing Pa Kasumu

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victim’s father, requesting for N4.5 million as ransom to release Amos.

The case was said to have been reported to SARS and the operatives swung into action.

Vanguard gathered that during investigation, a prime sus-

evision.

“The governor instructed us to go and find out his exact state of health. It was during the investigation that we discovered that he is from Ogun State.

“We learnt you are from Odogbolu Local Government Area. The governor did not even know you are one of us.”

Operating Base of the Navy, FORMOSO. He said: “The vessel was loaded with products suspected to be stolen crude oil from Akassa in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“The crew of the vessel consists of nine Nigerians and three Ghanaians.

“On interrogation, the Captain, Adeyemi Akinleye, confessed on video that they were

instructed by the owner of the vessel (names withheld), residing in Port Harcourt, to load stolen crude oil from two barges around Akassa and proceed to Tema in Ghana, where the product would be disposed off.

“The captain revealed that a local pilot was used to navigate the vessel into Nun River, while one Mr. Destiny was the agent that supplied the product.”

Lagos lawyer sues FG/ASUU over strike

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Daniel Onwe, has dragged the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over violation of the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students, who have been out of school following the union’s strike.

The suit, FHC/CS/1360/13, was brought pursuant to Section 46(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, Order II of the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Article 5 of The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. 10,

LFN, 1990.

Onwe is asking the court for a declaration that the indefinite strike leading to the closure of government-owned universities across the country violates the fundamental right to the dignity of person of the affected students guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.

He is seeking for an order directing the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve their differences and forthwith reopen universities, including an order mandating ASUU to call off their ongoing strike action and resume their job of lecturing in the said universities immediately.

Hearing on the suit, before Justice Ibrahim Buba, is on November 13.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013—7

N255m cars: APC accuses Jonathan of shielding Aviation minister zSays Jonathan may become an accessory to corruption zReturn cars to place of purchase, Tax Payers Association tells Oduah

BY HENRY UMORU

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, has said President Goodluck Jonathan may become an accessory to corruption if he continues to shield Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, from the consequences of massive corruption and abuse of office over the purchase of two armoured cars at an inflated cost and without following due process.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it reached that conclusion after juxtaposing the evidence that have come out on the scandal against the actions so far taken by the President.

It said: "It has now emerged that the money spent to purchase the armoured cars was not appropriated, which is a violation of the Nigerian Constitution; that due process was not followed in buying the cars, as the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, has testified, and that the Minister - who was said to have approved the purchase - violated the law by approving an expenditure over the N100 million limit.

"These revelations make the Oduahgate a straightforward case that should have been summarily dealt with by the President. Instead, he has engaged himself in a rigmarole by setting up a diversionary administrative panel in what is now looking like an orchestrated ploy to buy time, hoping this issue will die down and the minister will escape being sanctioned.

"Unfortunately for Mr. President, Oduahgate is not just another scandal, but a referendum on his administration’s fight against corruption, and on the legacy he intends to leave in this critical area."

APC also accused the President of thumbing his nose at Nigerians, who have expressed outrage at the action of the minister, by approving for her to travel to Israel as part of his entourage.

The party said: "No one believes the dummy that is being sold to the public, that the minister was denied access to the President in Israel. The egregious act of putting the minister on his entourage, at a

JONATHAN IN JERUSALEM—President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left) praying with other Nigerian pilgrims at the side of River Jordan, the place where Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist, weekend.

time she is at the centre of a terrible scandal, calls to question the President’s sense of propriety and commitment to the war against corruption.

"This indecorous action of making a minister who is under investigation for monumental corruption and abuse of office, one of the faces of Nigeria in a foreign land, is an embarrassment to the country and its people, and a further dent on the poor image of the Jonathan's administration.

"We condemn it most wholeheartedly. We now understand why corruption has grown wings under the Jonathan Presidency, and why the administration may well go down as the most corrupt in the country’s history."

It said through his body language, President Jonathan is sending a signal to his ministers that it is alright to be corrupt, wondering whether the President is aware of the joke making the rounds that there are five 'Super Ministers' in his cabinet whom he can neither sanction nor remove, irrespective of their actions, because they are the ones ferreting funds into his war chest for 2015.

In other words, any of his ministers whom he perceives as key to his re-election can even loot Aso Rock and get away with it!

APC said, "we do not know whether this is true or not, but we do know there is no smoke without fire, and that the seeming

attempt to sweep Oduahgate under the carpet lends credence to the joke."

The party noted that because of the President’s waffling in dealing with what is a straightforward case of corruption, misguided people have now resorted to crowd hiring to protest against the growing calls for the minister to be sanctioned over the scandal - a very sad case since those being hired for such disgusting protests are the real victims of the mindless corruption that has permeated the land.

It said, "these sponsored protests are just the beginning. Next, they will either engineer or hope that a spectacular violent attack, a la Boko Haram, will occur to take attention away from the scandal. They may also charge some out-of-luck folks to court over the scandal and then say they cannot act on the issue anymore because it is subjudice."

APC said, however, that the party, as well as other concerned groups and citizens, are closely following the developments on Oduahgate, and will not allow it to be swept under the carpet, in the interest of the millions of Nigerians who have been consigned into the lowest rung of existence by a rapacious administration.

TAPAN ask Oduah to return cars to place of purchase

Meanwhile, an association under the aegis, Tax Payers Association of Nigeria, TAPAN, yesterday, urged the embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah who is alleged to be involved in the purchase of two BMW bullet proof cars at N225 million, to as a matter of urgency, roll them to the place of purchase, just as it condemned the action, describing it as mind-boggling and a national embarrassment.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, National President, TAPAN, Mr Philip Thomas Ilukholo said, “if such a huge sum of money could be used to purchase two vehicles, it is a pointer to grand connivance between some public officers and unscrupulous contractors to loot the nation’s treasury. To this end, we call on the Minister of Aviation to roll those vehicles back because the distance from where the vehicles were purchased to the Ministry of Aviation is less than two kilometers. To us, we see that those vehicles have not be driven within two kilometers. Therefore, the way they rolled them to the Ministry of Aviation is how they should roll them back.

This is our position.”

Jonathan 'll remain in office after 2015—Tukur

BY HENRY UMORU

A

B U J A — CONTROVERSY surrounding the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 general election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was laid to rest yesterday as National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur disclosed that the President will remain in office after 2015, after re-contesting same year and finally end in 2019.

Bamanga Tukur has, however, boasted that President Jonathan will in 2019 hand over to a younger member of PDP, stressing that the future of Nigeria belongs to the youths.

Speaking when members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Anambra State branch paid him a visit at his Wuse residence, Tukur said that with the foundation already laid, it would then become very easy for Nigerian youths to spearhead the political and economic engineering of Nigeria, pleading with them to take the advantage right away rather than sit on the fence.

Reps to probe donor funds on climate change

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA—APPALLED by poor state of the Department of Climate Change which was carved out of the Ministry of Environment, the House Committee on Climate Change is set to investigate utilisation of funds donated to the department by international donors.

Speaking during an oversight to the Department of Climate Change , weekend, Chairman of the committee, Eziuche Ubani ,PDP, Abia, said the probe became apparent to forestall a situation where the donors would visit the department and withdraw their assistance due to poor management of the funds they have been offering the department since inception.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Why N-Assembly hasn't received 2014 budget, by Sen Enang

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, yesterday, gave reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan was delaying presentation of the 2014 budget, saying it was because the National Assembly had not passed the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF. Enang, who represents Akwa Ibom North East on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, explained in an interview with Vanguard that the President was awaiting the passage of the MTEF by the National Assembly before acting on the 2014 budget.

He said the National Assembly cannot expect presentation of the budget now, since it had not passed and forwarded the MTEF to the President. He explained that the MTEF would guide the executive in the preparation of the budget.

He said: “We will expect the 2014 budget after we have passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and forward it to Mr President which is going to be the basis for preparation of the budget.

“I think ordinarily, that is what it is supposed to be. We will expect the budget when the President shows any indication to present it but as at now, we have not had any indication as to when it will come. On our part, we ought to prepare and pass the Medium Term Expenditure Framework which will be the basis for preparation of the 2014 budget.”

Senator Enang denied that the delay of the President was as a result of the absence of the Special Adviser to the National Assembly, insisting that it had nothing to do with it.

Enang said: “It has nothing to do with absence of Special Adviser to the National Assembly. Mr President can decide to present the budget himself if he so wishes, it must not be presented through his Special Adviser on National Assembly.”

Recall that President Goodluck Jonathan, had on September 17, submitted to the Senate, the 2014-2016 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP.

Bad roads: FG to reintroduce toll gates

BY JUDE NJOKU & KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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GAINST the backdrop of deteriorating Federal roads nationwide, the Federal Government may have decided to reintroduce tolling on its highways, to raise money to fix the roads.

A policy document on the reintroduction of tolling may be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council by Works Minister, Mike Onolememen, for approval and implementation.

The policy document is known as Green Paper: Federal Roads and Bridges Tolling Policy for Nigeria.’

The Director, Public, Private Partnership, Federal Ministry of Works, Babatunde Ekusinmi, who disclosed this to newsmen noted that “Nigeria had operated some toll roads for several years, but they were abandoned in 2004, due mainly to legal disputes, revenue leakages and unmet maintenance of the tolled roads. With tolling once again being considered as a policy option, Nigeria has the advantage that it can assess successfully and execute tolling to develop, build, manage and maintain roads”.

The Green Paper proposal claimed that tolling policy would foster the improvement of Nigerian roads and bridges. “Tolling would generate the revenue needed to recover cost to the private investor of the construction, rehabilitation, financing, maintenance and operation of the road and bridge, and to achieve reasonable returns for that investor; the Federal Government would enter into toll concessions only where such concessions are financially viable and forecast traffic volume is high (unless there are strong economic or social grounds).

The Paper also said the Federal Government would permit tolling only for specific roads and bridges where the related investment results in significant improvements for road users and toll payers; the Federal Government would ensure that tolls are ring-fenced and dedicated to defraying the costs of rehabilitation, upgrading, maintenance and operation of such roads; the Federal Government would introduce mandatory public consultations prior to tolling any road or bridge in Nigeria, to provide users with critical information in advance of the tolling being introduced.

The Federal Government would give preference to tolling by established and reputable private firms; toll rates would distinguish between vehicle classes to reflect the cost of providing road space to a class of vehicles and their relative usage impact on road pavements; tolls should be fixed during the length of a concession, subject only to periodic increases which are agreed in the contract and are based on an adjustment formula which takes account of inflation

and other variables.

Ekusinmi said it would be necessary to empower concessionaires to appoint officers with powers to stop vehicles and verify toll payment, and such powers would be clearly specified and circumscribed to avoid potential for abuse.

He said the Federal Government would speedily implement institutional reforms to clarify responsibilities for implementing and overseeing road and bridge tolling; the Federal Government would ensure it has sufficient capacity to oversee the implementation

of toll concessions – initially through the Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, and subsequently through the establishment of the proposed Federal Roads Authority, FRA. He emphasised that the application of Public-Private Partnerships, PPPs, with the use of tolling, provides Nigeria with an excellent strategy to improve its roads and bridges for the benefit of Nigeria’s economy, businesses and communities.

Projects, he said were already progressing rapidly and that “it is essential that the policy framework is in place to support

and facilitate such progress. A tolling policy will establish the enabling environment in which tolling is applied appropriately, and investors and the public can be confident in the future.

“The intent of the Tolling Policy Green Paper is clear. Tolling and private investment should be used to achieve substantial improvements to Nigerian roads and bridges. The Green Paper objective is to improve the proposed policy, and the Federal Ministry of Works looks forward to constructive engagement, feedback and comments from all stakeholders,” he said.

CONFAB—From left, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, President, NIFST, Professor Lateef Sanni, and Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Clem Ugorji, at the 37th Conference and Annual General Meeting of Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Parties seek inclusion as Confab C'ttee visits Benin City today

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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S the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference/Dialogue storms Benin, the Edo State Capital, South-South geo-political zone, today, in continuation of its zonal visits in search of inputs to fashion modalities for the proposed national conference, it has been urged to include political parties in the exercise.

Making the appeal, Dr Yunusa Tanko, national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, an umbrella body of the 25 registered political parties in the country, said attempts to exclude the political parties would hurt the confab because the parties are key drivers of democracy.

Chairman of the confab modality committee, Senator

Femi Okurounmu, said recently that political parties could always corrode the process and bastardise it and “ we (committee) don’t want to give room for that.”

Tanko, at a speech last week, during sensitisation of parties and stakeholders in Anambra for the November 16 governorship election, said the political parties were in support of the conference but warned that failure to consult the parties would not augur well for the dialogue.

His words: “The idea of a national dialogue is an indispensable project for Nigeria if we are to squarely address issues like nepotism, favouritism, corruption, institutional decay, insecurity, political problems, lack of trust among ourselves, achievement of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and very

importantly the issue of true federalism.

“The political parties are the primary institutions and key drivers in any democratic society like ours, therefore, adequate representation should be accorded political parties in the dialogue bearing in mind that all other social vices in the country would be addressed when we are able to fix our political systems. It is vital that those who are in-charge of political parties should be fully involved in this project as this will ensure adequate implementation of all political recommendations during the dialogue.

"While we ask for focus on the improvement of welfare, security and development in all aspects of our nation, fairness, equitable distribution of our common wealth, peace, stability, self-leadership and credible electoral process, where one person one vote counts, political parties must be consulted."

Vanguard , MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013—9

Anti-confab agitators are selfish, says Braithwaite L

AGOS — DR. Tunji Braithwaite, Conference, yesterday, described those Coordinator of the Southwest opposing the planned National ConferConsultative Forum for the National ence as selfish.

President Goodluck Jonathan October 1, set up the National Conference Advisory Committee, naming Senator Femi Okurounmu as its chairman.

The committee was to facilitate the convening of a National Conference by the Federal Government.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos after a closeddoor meeting of the group, Braithwaite cautioned politicians speaking against the planned

dialogue.

“The interest of those opposing the planned conference is to seize power for political gains.

“The advocates of National Conference are not calling for the breakup of Nigeria, but a dialogue to redefine the basic existence of the country.”

He said that all Nigerians should embrace the dialogue as it would give birth to a new Nigeria with equal opportunities for everyone.

“The timing of this conference is divine because next year is the

100th anniversary of the Nigerian union.

“The dialogue will strenghten the continued union of the nation on the terms of Nigerians.”

D r. B r a i t h w a i t e commended President Jonathan for buying into the idea of a national conference.

“President Jonathan by this conference has taken a very big step. If the conference is well managed, the President would have succeeded in writing his name in the sands of time.’’

He, however, said that

the forum had its reservations, regarding the outcome of the dialogue.

The forum coordinator suggested that the outcome should be subjected to a referendum and not to the approval of the National Assembly.

“The purpose of the conference is to give Nigerians a new nation and a people’s constitution.”

He, however, urged the advisory committee to ensure that all ethnic groups and nationalities in the country were recognised for representation.”

Kuku, Gani Adams, others mourn Omojola

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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ANNIVERSARY: From left, Alhaja Bintu Fatimo, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Governor; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor, and Mr. Wale Tinubu, during the 10th anniversary Fidau Prayer, and Ground Breaking ceremony of Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu Memorial Mosque, yesterday, at Samuel Manuwa Street by 1004 Flats, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

AGOS — The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku; National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Otunba Gani Adams; publicity secretary of the PanYoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, among other leaders of Yoruba movement groups, yesterday, described the Baba Oluwide Omojola as an apostle of modern activism.

They stressed that the present crop of activists cut their teeth of learning from his rich background experience.

FAAN deploys new security equipment at Lagos Airport

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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AGOS — The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, said it has deployed a nextgeneration security system at the International Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

The deployments are at nine different passenger checkpoints in the newly expanded “D” and “E” Departure Halls of the Terminal, and the new security system is part of a large-scale upgrade of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos entire security measures.

In a statement yesterday, Mr. Yakubu Dati, Coordinating Spokesman, Aviation Parastatals, said: “Known as Advance Threat Identification XRay (aTiX), the system

consists of explosives detector and high performance walkthrough metal detector to check passengers and their hand luggage for explosives, illegal weapons, contra-band, narcotics and related items thereby enabling safer air travels.

“A major difference from the currently used system is the ability to detect explosive materials and potential threat items real time with the

lowest rate of false alarms.

Other advantages of the new system include the ability to capture multiple views of hand luggage in a single pass, high speed image resolution, reduced inspection, and improved passenger experience.

“This is not only a major boost to MMA safety and security rating but also to passenger confidence. The choice of state-of-the-art security

system re-affirms President Goodluck Jonathan Administration’s commitment to making Nigeria’s aviation sector compliant with international standards and best practices.”

Dati also said Murtala Muhammed Airport is the first in the country to switch to the Advance Security System. And that other airports across the country are expected to key-in to the new system soon.

.... NCAA debunks claims of air fare hike

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HE Ni-gerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, says it has not authorised any airline to increase its airfare.

A statement issued by the NCAA, Sunday, signed by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, advised travellers to ignore

any misleading information on fare hike.

It attributed the speculated increase to the activities of touts, warning passengers to desist from patronising the touts.

It stated that any increase in airfare without the authorisation of the agency, should be re-

garded as null and void.

“They (passengers) should also lodge any complaints of attempt by anybody to defraud them in the purchase of tickets, with our consumer protection desk/counter, nearest to them at the airport,” it said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

through the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed. They were also said to have discussed how to receive new governors who plan to join the group.

We are endangered — G7 Govs, Baraje

CONFERMENT—From left: Proprietor, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prince Bola Ajibola congratulating Dr. Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group after his conferment with Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Banking and Finance (Honoris Causa) by Crescent University.

G7 govs, others chased out of nPDP meeting Continues from page 1 group assembled at the Sokoto Governor ’s lodge, it had cried out that the government had started a clampdown on the businesses of its members as well threatening their lives.

Having been prevented from holding their meeting at the Sokoto Governor ’s lodge, members of the group reassembled at the Kano State Governor ’s lodge where the meeting eventually

held.

The meeting was first of its kind since the Federal High Court upheld the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee as the authentic one as well as the endorsement from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Present at yesterday’s meeting were governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto State; Musa Rabiu

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Don’t envy the signs of happiness in any man, because you do not know the secret grief he is experiencing; an average man has a grief unknown to most. Happiness is the capacity to carry life experiences well!

TAKE HEART

I

BY ELLA RANDLE

T isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it —Dale Carnegie Anthony De Mello wrote that happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the follies of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don’t you experience it? Because you’ve got to drop something.

You’ve got to drop illusions. You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels- Abraham Lincoln sums it aptly: “People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

Kwankwaso of Kano; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, just as governors Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Aliyu Babangida of Niger were absent.

Also at the meeting were former governor of Kebbi State and ex- FCT minister during late President Umaru Yar ’adua's administration, Senator Adamu Aliero; former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje; former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; chairman of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; the group’s Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; PDP National Vice Chairman, North West, Ibrahim Kazaure; Alhaji Kassim Shettima, among others.

There was neither a press briefing nor statement at the end of the meeting, just as the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze promised that a communique will be issued today.

A source disclosed to Vanguard that the group discussed the Abuja High Court judgement, INEC recognition of Tukur-led PDP, and clampdown on members’ property in Abuja by the government

Meanwhile, the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP members had earlier cried out that its members have become endangered species with series of clampdowns on them, their offices and businesses.

The Presidency was also alleged to have concluded arrangements to go after all senators and members of the House of Representatives who are members of the group using the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC under an operation code-named, “Operation Coerce Them Back to Tukur”.

Also as part of clampdown on the members, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar was said to have ordered the immediate withdrawal of security aides attached to former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) and former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central).

A statement signed by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka said: “It has become necessary for us to cry out in view of the war declared on the New Peoples Democratic Party (NPDP) and its members by certain agents and henchmen of the Goodluck Jonathan administration who have embarked on a mission to intimidate and overawe us, using various unconstitutional means to achieve their selfish goals.”

Giving a chronicle of experiences of members of the Baraje-led PDP, Eze said: “The past few weeks in particular have witnessed the implementation of a well coordinated and systematic plot to traumatise, annihilate and cripple us economically and politically in flagrant disregard of Chapter IV Section 33 to 45 of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantees our fundamental human rights as Nigerians. A few examples of the excesses of these agents of confusion and enemies of democracy would suffice: “Contrary to provi-

sions of Chapter IV Sections 42, 43 and 44 of the Constitution which guarantee our right as Nigerians to acquire and own property in any part of the country, our National Secretariat and most of our State Secretariats have been sealed up by the Police on the orders of those in power.

This is despite the fact that we still have a court case against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his National Working Committee (NWC).

“Two weeks ago, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in its over zealousness to please President Jonathan marked and sealed our National Secretariat for demolition on the laughable excuse that it was originally approved as a residential building. Yet this property was being used as the National Secretariat of another political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), before New PDP acquired it – and the same FCTA kept mute! At that time, the FCTA did not realise that it violated land use but it now wants to demolish the building in a hurry simply because the authorities perceive the new owner (New PDP) to be anti-government! What is more, the Adamawa State Lodge, also in Abuja, which we were using as temporary National Secretariat, has also been sealed off on the flimsy excuse that the area is not for commercial activities!

“This invidious crackdown has been extended to individual leaders of the New PDP. The legally acquired Abuja property of His ExcelDr. Rabiu lency, Kwankwaso, the Governor of Kano State, has been revoked by the tyrannical Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed. The same treatment has been meted to Senator Aisha AlHassan from Taraba State, whose event centre, A-Park Gardens, which has been in operation all these years,

has suddenly been revoked by the FCTA and slated to be demolished at any time from now.

Information available to us indicates that property in Abuja owned by other New PDP leaders may suffer the same fate.

“Today, the security details attached to Senators Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje, former Governors of Kwara and Gombe states respectively, have been withdrawn; so, too, the security details attached to our National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

Of course, Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State was the first victim and now operates without an ADC and a CSO in order to pave way for his kidnapping or assassination if peaceful ways of removing him from office fail. The police orderlies of the Rivers State SSG and those of Amaechi’s Chief of Staff have also been similarly withdrawn without any cogent reasons.

“The use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hound our members is no longer news. His Excellency Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, and Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki are two foremost examples. We understand that the worst is yet to come as this unserious organ masquerading as an antigraft agency would soon be unleashed on all our key members in both the Senate and House of Representatives in an operation code-named “Operation Coerce Them Back to Tukur”.

Meantime, competent police source confirmed that the security details of former governors of Kwara and Gombe states, Senator Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje were withdrawn four weeks ago on the orders of the InspectorGeneral of Police. The source however did not give reason for the action.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Last batch of Ogun pilgrims back home

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BEOKUTA — THE last batch of 212 Ogun pilgrims to Saudi Arabia returned to the state Saturday.

This is contained in a statement signed by Alhaji Qudus Kafidipe, Information Officer, Ogun Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, in Abeokuta.

The statement said the pilgrims, led by the Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, arrived Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in a Medview aircraft at 8.34a.m.

It also said that this signified the final transportation of the 1,232 pilgrims from Ogun state back to Nigeria.

The statement described the exercise as hitch free and one of the best in recent times.

It thanked Gov. Ibikunle Amosun for the support and encouragement toward the completion of the pilgrimage. he statement noted that the lessons learnt from the exercise would be improved on during preparations for 2014.

It quoted a member of the Board, Alhaji Iskieel Lawal, as saying that report on the Hajj would soon be submitted to the governor.

Adeyeye accuses Fayemi of squandering Ekiti funds

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FENIFERE CHIEFTAIN and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has accused the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of squandering the state funds on his second term ambition, saying, “Ekiti people will make Fayemi to account for every kobo of their funds when the time comes.”

The governorship aspirant, who alleged that over N50 million is being spent to produce a movie as part of the governor’s second term bid, added that, “no amount of cooked up stories produced as home videos can make Fayemi rule Ekiti State beyond October 16, 2014.”

Speaking through the Director General of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, PAAM, Mr. Bisi Kolawole, the PDP governorship hopeful alleged that more than N1 billion state funds must have been wasted on the governor’s second term ambition.

ASUU faults Mark on comments against Onosode

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN — THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, University, ASUU, of Ibadan has asked the Senate President, David Mark to apologise to the leader of Government negotiation with ASUU, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode over alleged disparaging comments.

This formed part of the resolutions of the union at the end of a congress in the institution, weekend.

The resolution was signed by the chairman of the ASUU at the university, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye.

The lecturer stated that instead of the senator condemning the

leader of the government delegation in 2009, the elder statesman “deserved respect as a man of proven integrity, and impeccable character,” because of his pedigree.

While advising the Senate to be concerned with the plight of Nigerian masses and teach the youth the sanctity of obeying agreement, the union recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan as the then Vice President had instructed the government team to sign the agreement.

The Senate President, was quoted to have said: “For those who negotiated on behalf of the Federal Government with ASUU in October 2009, the facts made

available to us today by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije, showed that they are people who do not know their right from their left and, in the process, put the Federal Government into the problem it is facing today, because when the agreements were read out, I thought they were mere proposals, only for Chukwumerije to confirm that they signed the largely unimplementable agreements characterised by payment of all manner of allowances.”

The union alleged that Senate President acted ignorantly on the true position of the 2009

CONDOLENCE: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, signing condolence register, at the residence of the late nationalist and activist, Pa Oluwide Omojola, in Lagos, weekend.

FGN/ASUU agreement even as a sitting Senate President at the time.

According to ASUU UI: “The vituperation of the Senate President shows the character of those leading us as unpatriotic and foreign to happenings within the country”.

Incessant transfer of judges delays justice — NBA

BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — NIGERIAN Bar Association in Oyo State has complained that incessant transfer of judges in the state is delaying quick dispensation of justice.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Oyo NBA, Mr. Adekunle Babalola, at a special court session where six newly-appointed judges of the state were honoured.

The transfer of judges, according to him, had taken its toll on many cases.

He made particular reference to transfer of judges from Oyo town, Ogbomoso and other parts of the Oke Ogun area of the state.

He said within six months, a particular court had four different judges which resulted in many cases being started afresh.

Osun's Opon Imo, Okonjo-Iweala’s son win awards in Sri Lanka T HE OCEANIC city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, erupted with a digital climax after a week-long United Nationsbacked World Summit Award Global Congress on e-Content and creativity

Saturday night as the Opon Imo, Osun’s Tablet of Knowledge was recognized as one of the best 4 e-learning devices across the world.

Africa’s leading representative, Nigeria, won two awards in eight categories, at the grand finale of the ceremony.

The award ceremony was

BY DAUD OLATUNJI the climax of the week-long BEOKUTA — THE Chairman of annual assembly of the Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Oba Otudeko has world’s most innovative eurged members of dreaded sect Boko Haram in content initiatives in the folthe north to emulate Muslim fellows in the South lowing categories: e-GovWest in the area of peaceful cohabitation with non- ernment & Open Data, eHealth & Environment, eMuslims.

Otudeko stated this weekend shortly after he re- Learning & Science, e-Enceived honorary doctor of Science (honoris Causa) tertainment & Games, ealong with the Chairman of the Presidential Com- Business & Commerce, emittee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Se- Culture & Tourism, e-Mecurity Challenges in Northern Nigeria, Sheikh dia & Journalism and e-InAhmed Lemu and two other prominent Nigerian clusion & Participation.

The august event was inbillionaire businessmen from the Crescent Univeraugurated by Mr. sity, Abeokuta.

The university during its fifth convocation con- Mahinda Rajapaksa, Presiferred on Lemu, Otudeko, Chairman , CFAO Ni- dent of Sri Lanka.

The winning projects, geria Plc, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the BUA Transparent Nigeria (eGroup, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu honourary doc- Government & Open Data torate degrees in Public Administration, Banking category), pioneered by Mr. and Finance, Accounting and Business Adminis- Harvard-based Uchechi Iweala (son of Nitration, respectively.

Boko Haram should emulate Yoruba Muslims

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geria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala), and Opon Imo Tablet of Knowledge (eLearning & Science category) from Osun State, triumphed over 421 other innovations for the 2013 Awards vetted by the grand jury of global eminent experts.

The World Summit

Awards (WSA) is a project of the International Centre for New Media, which is organised among 190 UNmember States and runs within the United Nations (UN) framework of the World Summit on the Information Society. The World Summit Awards has been an on-going activity since 2003

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013—11

Court vindicates Ibori on $15m bribe allegation, says Kpateghe

Utuama, Oyovbaire, laud Delta MDGs’ achievements

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BY EMMA AMAIZE

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G H A R A — FORMER Commissioner for Special Duties, Delta State, Chief Champion Kpateghe, has said that last Friday’s judgment by a Federal High Court, Abuja, that the $15 million purportedly offered by former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, to exChairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, be forfeited to the Federal Government has vindicated Ibori.

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu had claimed that Ibori offered him the amount to escape investigation and prosecution when he was head of the anticorruption agency.

Chief Kpateghe, however, told Vanguard: “The ex-governor has consistently maintained that he neither stole from Delta State government coffers nor did he offer the alleged bribe, as claimed by Ribadu.

From the judgment, it has become obvious that Ibori did not steal from Delta State. The money always belonged to the Federal Government and the judgment as expected has confirmed it.”

COMMISSIONING: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, in a boat, addressing members of NURTW and the riverine people during the commissioning of 130 executive passenger boats to boost the Riverine Mass Transit Programme, in Asaba. Photo: Henry Unini.

N-Delta youths threaten to resist appointment of non-indigene as NDDC boss

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—YOUTHS from oil producing communities in Niger Delta states have kicked against the appointment of a non-indigene of oil producing communities as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, by the federal government. They also insist that other sensitive positions in the commission must also be filled by persons from the communities.

The youths, at the end of an emergency meeting in Warri, Delta State, between representatives of oil producing communities from Edo State, notably Obozogbe-Nugu, Ikobi, Oben and Iguelaba, (OBIKOBIG), Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) and Ijaw youths, warned that they would shut down oil wells and flowing stations in the region if their warning was not taken seriously by the authorities.

In a communiqué at the end of the meeting, by Chief A.M

Bubor-National Chairman (HOSTOM), Alfred Enofe (Grand Patron OBICOBIG), John Osazuwa- Iguelaba, Vincent Amadin-Oben, Chief Friday Omoragbon- Oben, Victor Enoma-Ikobi and others, the youths appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark, the Senate Committee on NDDC, and others who believed in the peace and unity of the country, to appoint the right persons from oil producing communities into sensitive positions in the Commission to avoid chaos and anarchy.

Delta launches climate change policy

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BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA—DELTA State Government has launched its Climate Change Policy and Integrated Territorial Climate Change Plan, thereby making history as the first state in the country to develop its own climate change policy and programme.

Governor Emmanuel Uduagha Uduaghan, who was represented by his Deputy Prof.

Amos Utuama (SAN) at the launch, said the policy document would eventually be submitted to Delta State House of Assembly to be passed into the Delta State Climate Change Law. He said: “It is noteworthy

that Delta State is the first state in the federation to develop its own climate change policy and p r o g r a m m e .

We have invited some states to learn from our readiness and responses in developing a low carbon and climate-resilient economy and to promote exchange of ideas in climate change issues in Nigeria.”

Amnesty: Urhobo ex-militants vow to attack oil installations

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—EX-MILITANT leaders of Urhobo extraction have given the Ferderal Government a 14-day ultimatum to release their “fair share” of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme or face attacks on oil operations in the area.

The group, under the aegis of Coalition of Urhobo Ex-Militant Agitators, CUEA, claimed that members were aggrieved that they were misled by ex-militant war-

lord, Isreal Akpodoro, to surrender their arms to the Joint Task Force in 2010 on the understanding that President Jonathan had agreed to extend full benefits of Phase II Amnesty to them.

In a statement by its leader, Okposio Andrew, the group lamented their being completely abandoned, arguing that, “little did we know that we were being fooled and misled by Akpodoro, the agent of government, who was hired to disarm our camps. At the expiration of this ultimatum, if

the authorities fail to accord us as much benefits as other ethnic nationalities presently enjoying the amnesty, we have no option than to reduce the country’s earnings from the sale of crude oil in the international market.”

The group listed the Utorogu Gas Plant, Afisere Flow Station, Warri Refinery and Kokori Flow Station as well as other oil installations spread along Urhobo waterways among their targets of attack if their grievances were not addressed.

ELTA State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, and former Minister of Information and Culture, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, have commended the Commissioner in charge of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, Queen Mother Ikenchuku, for the MDGs projects on poverty alleviation.

They made the commendations in separate visits to the MDGs stand at the 2013 Delta State Trade Fair. They said the commissioner was touching poor communities with projects such as primary health care centres, maternity wards, solar and motorised boreholes, and provision of equipment to aid maternal and infant mortality, among others.

Utuama, who declared the fair open on behalf of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, re-echoed government’s commitment towards provision of infrastructure in the rural communities of the state.

Youths laud Delta LG boss

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HREE Niger Delta youth groups have thrown their weights behind the Transition Committee Chairman of Bomadi Local Government council Mr. Olorogun Collins, for his policies and programmes that have positively affected the lives of people at the grassroots since his assumption of office.

The groups are Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Ogoeze Youth Movement, OYM, and Concerned Youths for Positive Change, CYPC. In a joint statement by the President IYC, Mein chapter, Mr Jeremiah Ebiowei; President of OYM, Mr Okilo Jack and the Chairman CYPC, Christian Talbot, the youths commended the efforts of the Bomadi council chairman, maintaining that the Collins-led administration, within a short time, had succeeded in enhancing the lives of the people.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Ogboru, Akinola support National Confab

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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HREE-TIME Delta State gubernatorial candidate of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Chief Great Ogboru, yesterday, in Lagos, threw his weight behind the proposed national conference.

Speaking during a special choir festival of songs at Ikate Baptist Church, Surulere, Lagos, they called for a moral rebirth on the part of Nigerians, just as the Bishop of Rhema Christian Centre, Ota, Ogun State, Dr. Taiwo Akinola, berated Nigerians opposed to the proposed national dialogue, arguing that “they should be grateful to the President for the opportunity to dialogue.”

Addressing newsmen ahead of his church’s national convention beginning on November 3, Akinola said the nation would be great if politicians embraced the opportunity to dialogue over the several challenges and come up with solutions for the diverse

problems confronting the nation.

Lamenting the state of Nigerian democracy and other challenges confronting the country, Chief Ogboru insisted that the present democratic dispensation was better than military rule, noting: “There is need for concern about the whole issue in the country because this is not what we had in mind when we are agitating for democracy. We fought for democracy on the grounds that Nigerians would be helped but we find that after several years of trying to keep up the concept, most things did not work out. Our people are still suffering, there is need to address these issues.

I am worried because we cannot continue like this.

“If the way out of all the national malaise is a national conference then let it be, so that we can address all these lingering issues. It will be an opportunity to address the issues.” He added that “the type of democracy we have today is not the one our found-

ing fathers fought for.

However, the worst form of democracy is better than the most benevolent military rule.”

In a related development, Secretary, of the National Democratic Coalition, NDC, Chief Ayo Opadokun, has called on Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands and stop suffering in silence. Chief Opadokun, who said that President Goodluck Jonathan would be committing a political suicide if he dared to confront the scourge of corruption, said military intervention was not a solution to the nation’s multi-dimensional crisis. He argued that rather, Nigerians should stand for what was right.

He said: “The Aviation Minister has caused a lot of havoc in Nigerian aviation industry. The latest one is just the only one that people have recorded. How can she use the money that is dedicated to the industry for something else?

She ought to be in jail by now but unfortunately she is enjoying herself.”

Accord Party threatens legal action against PDP over Edo LG by-election result

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—THE Nation al leadership of Accord Party, AP, has described as illegal, the result allegedly announced by the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, as the authentic result of the just concluded Esan NorthEast Local Government election, describing same as fake. It, therefore, threatened to drag the party to court.

The party, which participated in the election, accused the PDP of distorting the number of votes polled by its candidate during the election, regretting that ‘’ rather than misinform and deceive the public, the PDP should have conceded defeat or gone to court.”

In a communiqué after an emergency meeting of the party in Benin City, by the National Secretary

of the AP, Dr. Samson Isibor, it frowned at what it described as the alleged use of Mobile Policemen from Lagos and Abuja to manipulate the election in favour of the PDP, and regretted that “even after their efforts to rig failed, the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Orbih, went on to announce and publish fake results as if he was the Chairman of Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, that conducted the election.

“It is the duty of the electoral body (EDSIEC) to conduct the local government election, declare the results and announce winner. In the light of the foregoing, Accord Party has, therefore, resolved to take PDP, Edo State chapter, to court over the misleading and fake parallel results it purportedly declared.

“Accord Party frowns at

some Abuja-based politicians loyal to the opposition party who converged on Uromi, the administrative local government headquarters of Esan North- East Local Government Area of Edo State, during the election with a barrage of armed policemen from Abuja and Lagos State, to intimidate defenceless voters at some poling units.

“These Abuja politicians were said to have also held hostage some presiding officers who were reportedly threatened to announce fake results in favour of the PDP candidate. The PDP should not cause tension in the state in order not to disrupt the democratic dividends we have been enjoying in Edo State. We advise them to go to court and contest the result of the election as we are contesting Orbih’s announcement of result as if he is now the EDSIEC Chairman.,” it stated.

Vanguard, MONAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 —13

Imo Assembly summons officials over SURE-P funds O

BY CHIDINKWOPARA

WERRI—IMO State House of Assembly has directed the State Accountant General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance to appear before it on November 7, 2013, to give detailed account of monies accrued to the state from the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Employment Programme, SUREP. The directive was sequel to the motion by the member representing Isiala Mbano constituency, Chief Simeon Iwunze, and supported by 24 lawmakers, during the last sitting.

Speaking after the adoption of Iwunze’s motion, the Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, explained that the invitation of the two principal officers of the state government would help the lawmakers have correct information about the amount and ways of disbursing same.

Meanwhile, the House has confirmed names of commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Rochas Okorocha for screening and approval.

The House equally confirmed the chairman and members of Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, as well as that of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPA-

DEC. Equally confirmed were the chairman and members of Local Government Service Commission, as well as the non-statutory member of the State Judicial Service Commission.

The House, however, disqualified Chief Charles Onuoha as a

member of ISIEC because he allegedly “failed to present himself for screening,” while deliberation on Ugochukwu Nwokeoma, who was nominated as a member of ISOPADECwassuspendedtoallowthe member representing Ohaji/Egbema constituency to make an in-depth investigation about him.

CAMPAIGN: Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State flanked on his right by the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Vita Abba and Igboetiti L.G.A. Chairmanship candidate, Mr. Festus Ozoemena, left as he shakes hands with the Councillorship candidate, during the governor’s local government election campaign tour to Igboetiti L.G.A, yesterday.

Armoured cars: Jonathan bars Oduah from BASA signing ceremony

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North & ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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MBATTLED Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, will not be taking part in the historic signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement, BASA, with Israel today, Vanguard investigation has confirmed.

Oduah, who had left Nigeria for Israel ahead of Jonathan, is facing a twin-prong probe from the Presidency and the House of Representatives over her role in the acquisition of two overpriced armoured car valued at N225 million.

Oduah is said to have gone to Israel with the hope that she could use the opportunity of

the visit to explain her position on the controversial car deal to Mr. President and take part in sealing the air deal with the country.

Competent sources said that the President had not given the minister any opportunity to discuss the issue with him since his arrival in the Holy Land last Wednesday.

The source explained that the Nigerian leader decided to keep the minister out of the signing ceremony because he did not want his visit to be overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Oduah.

One source said last night that it was in a bid to keep the minister away from the limelight that she was not given any visibility since Jonathan

arrived in the country.

Competent Presidency sources told Vanguard that President Goodluck Jonathan was uncomfortable with the public outrage arising from Oduahgate and would not want to be seen as condoning corruption with the embattled minister on his side.

One source said: “The President is mindful of the fact that he has to project Nigeria as a country, which does not condone any form of graft and will not bring a tainted official of his administration to Tel Aviv for a serious event as the BASA signing ceremony.

“Before leaving for the Holy Land, the President had made it clear that the circumstances surrounding the purchase of

N255m car deal: Group defends Oduah

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BY DANIELGUMM

ARRI—THE Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has defended the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, over the controversial N255 million bulletproof cars, warning the House of Representatives not to contemplate arresting her, just as it condemned the panel set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to investigate the purchase of the cars.

The House of Representatives had threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the Avia-

tion Minister, Princess Oduah, if, by tomorrow, she failed to appear before its Committee on Aviation to respond to the two controversial armoured BMW cars said to have been bought for her by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The group in a statement by its President, Nelly Emma; Secretary, John Sailor and Public Relations Officer, Mukoro Stanley said the Aviation Minister did no wrong and held that Nigerians were too much in a hurry in condemning the minister over the purchase of the bullet-proof cars.

The group said: “Our Checks revealed that the bullet-proof cars were bought so that they can be used by the Aviation Ministry when the country hosts dignitaries from IATA, ICAO and other international bodies and it was through lease financing.

“Princess Stella Oduah has changed the face of airports across the country. She is going out of her way on a daily basis to bring our airports to international standard and should be applauded rather than be crucified.”

the two armoured cars for the minister must be thoroughly investigated and a detailed report made for him to assure Nigerians and the international community that he does not tolerate any form of financial impropriety.”

The Oduahgate has split both the Presidency and members of the Federal Executive Council given the prime position of the minister in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Both groups are divided on whether Jonathan should offload her from the administration or allow her to remain with the scandal triggered by the car deal imbroglio.

Sources said many ministers, who are apparently fed up with Oduah, are pushing for her removal from the cabinet, while those in her support think otherwise, blaming political enemies for her ordeal.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has said it has no documents regarding the purchase of the two controversial armoured cars purpotedly bought for the use of the nation’s aviation industry.

NCAA’s position was contained in a three paragraph letter adressed to the Falana and Falana Chambers in response to the request by the law firm asking for detailed information about the purchase of the cars.

Anambra polls: Candidates, parties vow to shame pessimists

BY CLIFFORDNDUJIHE WKA—SOME candi dates and parties taking part in the governorship election holding in 19 days time have vowed to shame critics who deride Anambra as the hot-bed of vote rigging in Nigeria by supporting and upholding free and fair election.

They spoke at the sensitisation workshop for political parties and stakeholders organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

They proffered suggestions on how to make the polls violence-free and credible and promised to observe the code of conduct jointly fashioned by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC. Among those who promised to uphold the rules of the game include National Chairman of the All Progressives Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh; Action Alliance, AA, Chairman, Chief Tunde Salami; Citizens Popular Party, CPP, Chairman, Chief Sam Eke; Kowa Party Chairman, Alhaji Umaru Mustapha; National Conscience Party, NCP, Chairman, Dr Yunusa Tanko; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Secretary, Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima and Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, Secretary, Hon Peter Ameh among others.

Candidates who bought into the non-violence and credible election deal are Willie Obiano, APGA, Okeke Chika Jerry, AA, Chukwuemeka Nwankwo, ACCORD, Ifeatu Ekelem, Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD, Mr. Tony Anene, ACPN, Mr. Aaron Igweze, Alliance for Democracy, AD, Chief Anayo Arinze African Democratic Congress, ADC, who was represented by Pastor Don Chijioke, Senator Chris Ngige All Peoples Congress, APC, who was represented by Ben Oranusi and Austin Nwangwu , CPP. Others include Godwin Ezeemo, PPA, Ifeanyi Ubah, Labour Party, LP, who was represented by his runningmate,BasilOnyeachonamand LadyObiageliEzema,SocialDemocratic Party, SDP, Pastor Simon Okafor (Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP. The vow came after Major Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, who chaired the event, urged the stakeholders to make Anambra people proud and shed the cloak of election manipulators.

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14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 15

TUC warns of imminent collapse of education system

BY VICTOR AHUIMA-

YOUNG

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BUJA—TRADE Un ion Congress of Nigeria, TUC, weekend warned that Nigeria’s educational system was facing imminent collapse and called on the three tiers of governments to urgently address the problems confronting the sector before it became too late.

Speaking at a national summit/dialogue on Education, Good Governance and National Unity organised by the Unity Schools Old Students' Association, USOSA, in Abuja, TUC president, Bobboi Kaigama, said: As I speak to you today, the educational system in Nigeria from primary to secondary and to tertiary levels has virtually collapsed and left at the whims of private entrepreneurs.

"You are also aware that the Federal Government has been reluctant to implement the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, since 2009 to improve facilities in the Ivory Towers leading to the current strike by university teachers which has lingered on for more than four months."

N-Assembly shouldn't ratify confab outcome — Gen Momah Says sovereignty resides with Nigerians, not lawmakers

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL

EDITOR, NORTH BUJA—AS the debate over the conduct of the proposed National Dialogue intensifies, former Science and Technology Minister, Major-General Sam Momah, has warned against subjecting the report of the conference to the National Assembly for endorsement.

Momah, who spoke with Vanguard, argued that the idea of subjecting the outcome of the discourse to the NASS was wrong and inconsistent with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The former minister pointed out that there was no need to send the outcome of the dialogue to the NASS as sovereignty of Nigeria resided with the people, who elected the lawmakers to their represent posts.

The pioneer Commandant of the Nigerian War College said: “I think the issue of giving the final outcome of the dialogue to the National Assembly does not arise. I don’t know why that opinion came forth because the National Assembly is not sovereign.

“It is only the people of Nigeria that should determine what they want and not the representatives of the people of Nigeria in the National Assembly. It is the Nigerian

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masses who have that power and not the few representatives of the people in Abuja.

Momah also argued that it did not matter whether the conference was ordinary or sovereign as long as it provided a conducive platform for Nigerians to sit down and talk about their future and that of the nation.

He said: “It does really mat-

ter whether it is constitutional conference or sovereign national conference. We know that the aim is to better the welfare of Nigerians and the future of this country.

“So whatever we call it, I think the ultimate aim in is to gauge the opinion of the people of this great country.

I am happy that the President did not immediately give it a name but merely raised an advisory committed to work out the details.

“I truly support what Mr. President did and congratulate him for that initiative, which I think will solve a lot of problems rearing their heads now.

GOVERNOR'S CUP: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (left) and the Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, during the grand finale of the Governors's Cup, Lagos Tennis tournament, in Lagos.

Jonathan promises better electoral process J

ERUSALEM—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, in Jerusalem promised to stabilise Nigeria’s electoral process.

Jonathan, who made the promise at an interdenominational service for 2013 Nigerian pilgrims, said the current process was better than the previous ones.

“We promise that we must do a number of things differently, we have challenges in our electoral system but at least it is better than what it was yesterday.”

He said although the country was experiencing challenges, Nigerians had been privileged to pray to God at this period.

“Let me reassure you that even though our nation is passing through challenges, God has made it possible for us to pray at a period like this.”

He decried the high level of vandalism of petroleum pipe-

lines and electric poles by criminals in the country.

The president who said his administration would continue to improve the living condition of Nigerians enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray for the country, saying that evil forces would never succeed in their evil ways.

“I assure you that things will continue to improve for the better as Nigeria will no longer be the same.”

He expressed gratitude for the Yitshak Rabin Family Award for Good Leadership, conferred on him and for the naming of the Yitshak Rabin School in Port Harcourt after him.

Jonathan said Nigeria and the state of Israel would continue to be friends.

Mr. Jonh-Kennedy Okpara, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, said over 30,000 Nigerian pilgrims were currently transported to the Holy land

annually, compared to 4,000 pilgrims transported five years ago.

He advised pilgrims to see pilgrimage as a time for spiritual rebirth and a divine encounter with God. Mrs Josephine Zinder, President of Tailor Made Tours, said that the company had deco-

rated 50,000 Nigerians as Jerusalem Pilgrims, JP, in the past seven years.

Tailor Made Tours is an Israeli tour company, based in Tel Aviv.

The high point of the occasion was the decoration of Jonathan with the JP title and the conferment of the

Yitshak Rabin Award for Good Leadership Award on him.

Other dignitaries, who were decorated with the JP title include Governors Gabriel Suswam of Benue, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Liyel Imoke of Cross River and Jonah Jang of Plateau, among others.

Group slams Tukur over Anambra PDP guber candidate

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU BUJA—A Coalition of youths, Nigeria Youth Leaders Assembly, NYLA, weekend, accused the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, especially the national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur of working against the success of the PDP in the election by allegedly supporting a candidate that did not have the support of the people.

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The group also said that the Anambra State governorship election will serve as a litmus test for President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition in 2015.

According to the group, if nothing was urgently done to salvage the situation, it would affect the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan winning overwhelmingly in Anambra State in the 2015 general elections.

NYLA, in a statement in Abuja, by its national leader,

Mr. Onyeka Chilota accused Alhaji Tukur of hobnobbing with a candidate that does not command the respect of the entire Anambra people.

Chilota said the PDP at the primaries was parading credible candidate that had made their marks either in the legal profession, in business or at the national level especially in law making and wondered why the party chairman decided to pitch his tenth with a candidate that lacked character and style.

16— Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 SSUES around the lopsided appointments in the Independent National Electoral ComI mission, INEC, have been long lasting, and also long-ignored, but they persist because they are not simple matters. They would not go away by being ignored.

For more than two years, groups have been drawing attention to the anomaly. It advertised messages that the North occupied 11 of INEC’s 16, the South has only five. National Commissioners heading INEC’s key committees are from the North. A nine-man Strategic Planning Committee has only two from the South.

Section 14(3) of the Constitution states, “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

The Constitution created the Federal Character Commission, FCC, to ensure implemen-

INEC’s lopsided appointments tation of fairness in the allocation of federal appointments. INEC does not have a coherent response to the petitions that have gone to the National Assembly.

INEC’s best defence is that its chairman Professor Attahiru Jega did not make the appointments. The other is that the appointees were civil servants posted to INEC. None of these reasons suffices for subverting the law and the silence of the two FCC committees of the National Assembly.

The responses are appalling. They are unacceptable. The issue should be addressed. INEC is too strategic to be immersed in controversy.

It should not be distracted by the issues that pre-dispose it to credibility challenges.

Is there a State today that cannot produce qualified officials from the same civil service poll INEC gets staff? How does INEC explain the lopsidedness in its top staff? Why would INEC chairman, secretary and officials manning major positions be from the same zone?

Even if the officials are people of integrity, would that be reason enough to break the law?

Most other federal government agencies are in the same position. They should be addressed.

The resolution of the lopsided appointments INEC is critical to improving INEC’s rating ahead of the 2015 elections.

We may also ask what FCC really does. We expected that its radars would be scanning federal agencies for compliance with the law. Aguments that the appointments at INEC have stood for years indict FCC and leaves the organisation with little option than to act in line with its constitutional responsibilities.

A healthy respect for the law would build healthy institutions.

OPINION

BY SUNNY OSAZE

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URING a recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Kenya, he implored African leaders to get rid of policies that are capable of obstructing intraAfrican trade and the unity of the continent.

At a joint press briefing with his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, he faulted those angling for the trial of President Kenyatta by the International Criminal Court, ICC, in The Hague, saying it would further compound the political crisis in the country.

Few weeks afterward, in an address at the Extraordinary Session of African Union Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Jonathan said African nations are ‘disappointed’ with the ICC over African affairs. He therefore called for an amendment of the laws governing the International Criminal Court, ICC, to allow serving African leaders to enjoy immunity from prosecution for war crimes, genocide, and war against humanity.

Two serving African presidents, Sudan and Kenya, have been accused of war crimes by the ICC. The President, who expressed Nigeria’s support for the existence of the ICC, said: “While the work of the International Criminal Court is immensely useful for the achievement of a world without crimes against humanity, genocide and other acts of impunity, it would be fair to say that in Africa today, the wave of democratisation has engendered greater commitment to the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights.”

The ICC has opened investigations into eight cases, all of which are in Africa, including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC; Central African Republic, CAR; Darfur, Kenya, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Five of the eight cases were referred voluntarily by the African governments in question, two through a UNSC resolution supported by all but one African member in the council at the time and the Kenyan case was opened at the ICC prosecutor’s request.

Criminal Justice: Between AU and ICC On his own Kenyatta blasted the ICC of “bias and racehunting as it has been reduced into a painfully farcical pantomime, a travesty that adds insult to the injury of victims. The court, according to him, has stopped being the home of justice the day it became the toy of declining imperial powers, performing on the cue of European and American governments against the sovereignty of African states.

While urging the AU to unite in the face of a “divide and rule” policy, he said: “Africa is not a third-rate territory of second-class people. We are not a project, or experiment of outsiders.”

Meanwhile, the Sudanese foreign minister said that the meeting had drawn strong support for a withdrawal from the ICC, including from his own government. However, he added that while some countries expressed a readiness to pull out, they believed the time was not ripe for such a move.

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here have been many opposition to the clamour from Africa itself. In the forefront is Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa who said granting such immunity would mean giving permission to African leaders to commit war crimes.

Most countries not only in Africa, have constitutions or laws that provide immunity from all kinds of prosecution while in office. While the work of the International Criminal Court is valuable for the achievement of a world without crimes against humanity, African leaders should not be targeted by the ICC but also so-called superpower leaders with UN veto-power who arbitrarily invade weaker nations. We are living witnesses to how some powerful nations annexed and terrorised poor and weaker nations with

impunity, where thousands of innocent souls are killed and their leaders not only humiliated but are killed in most embarrassing carnage in modern history.

Notwithstanding the ICC’s universal jurisdiction, it devotes more energy and to the prosecution of cases from Africa, while ignoring other powerful leaders who commit worst crimes against humanity against other citizens. Even though some Africans are in the ICC, the allegation of bias is so glaring and yet it never deem it fit to allay the fears and sentiments of other nations. International organisations were created to resolve problems rather than compounding them, especially in developing countries.

The fact is that African nations under the umbrella of African Union share common principles on war crimes and crimes against humanity with ICC. African leaders should maintain the unity of the continent and speak with one voice on issues affecting any of the countries. They should intensify efforts in strengthening the capacity of national and continental judicial systems.

The meeting ended up calling on the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, to defer the trials of Bashir and Kenyatta under Article 16 of the court’s Rome Statute which allows for a delay of up to one-year subject to renewal. The African leaders also declared that no sitting African head of state should come before any international court or tribunal.

The positions of African leaders reinforce the importance of the ICC even as they didn’t withdraw. A resolution for withdrawal could have been reactionary, but a clear message has been sent that Africa desires to be treated fairly and justly not as inferior continent.

•Mr Osaze, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 41

42 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

FUNERAL FOR MCPHILLIPS NWACHUKWU, LATE VANGUARD'S ART EDITOR

Mrs. Augustina Nwachukwu,Widow (centre) and daughter, Miss Adaeze Nwachukwu, flanked by Mrs. C . Ugochukwu and Mrs. Patricia Nwaokocha, both relations, Cross-section of Udu Club, Lagos. during the funeral mass for Macphillips Nwachukwu, late Vanguard Art Editor, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church, Umuhu Okwuato, Ahiara Diocese, in Imo State, weekend. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye & Hill Ezeugwu

Cross-section of late Nwachukwu's 1994/95 sets at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Cross-section of Vanguard staff

2013 ADVAN MARKETING EXCELLENCE AWARD

From left, Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina (left), receiving 2013 Marketing Excellence Award from Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya, President, MIPAN, during the 2013 ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence, at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

From left, Mr. Niyi Babatunde, member, Board of Trustees of Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN; Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, Chairman, APCON; Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, 1st Vice President of ADVAN, and President of ADVAN, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, addressing members of the Association.

From left, Mr. David Okeme, ex-offico, member; Mr. Lampe Omoyele, 2nd Vice Pres- Mr. Tokunbo Adodo, Marketing Manager, Lager, Star & Goldberb ident, ADVAN; Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, 1st Vice President of ADVAN, and Mr. Kola Oyeye- (left), receiving 2013 Marketing Excellence Award, Dr. Ify Uraih, mi, President of ADVAN. Chairman, NIMN.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 43

CONSTITUTION REVIEW:

Who disenfranchised Enugu East zone? (2) BABALAKIN AND EFCC:

In defence of truth and justice (2) This is the second instalment of this disourse which was first published last Friday and was

BY ABIODUN OSOFISAN concluded without HE circumstances any fanfare. Is this surrounding the filing of the man who the charges in Court are simply would now too irresponsible and launder money? questionable. These include the Maybe I would following: have found the Babalakin declared wanted: story easier to From the day Wale Babalakin left fathom if I had the Lagos University Teaching been told that Hospital, LUTH, and till the day Babalakin gave the matter came up in Court, he out the money made himself available to the alleged as a gift.

EFCC every 48 hours as In the course of punishingly prescribed by the •Wale Babalakin these years, Wale EFCC. Babalakin was in contact Babalakin built an with the EFCC the evening enough evidence, why did you 80-bed hostel in Ilorin in honour before arraignment. It was charge him to Court? of his father. He built another 80agreed with the EFCC that he Babalakin has been invited bed hostel in honour of his mother will be in Court at 8:30am the twice by EFCC after he had been in Ibogun in Abeokuta. He built next morning. This was the charged to Court. I gathered he a 500-seater auditorium in position as at 6:00pm on January was invited as recently as October Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in 17, 2013. At 6:30pm, EFCC 8, 2013. How can we continue to honour of his mother. All these through its lawyers were served bend the rules and scandalize the were done without any fanfare. I papers appealing against the nation all in an effort to nail a can list over 30 major charitable ruling of the Federal High Court, man whom we have no evidence gifts of this magnitude that he has which although, had upheld all against? undertaken and delivered and the submission of Babalakin’s Who is actually behind this yet he does not carry himself with Counsel but failed to grant the desecration of the Nigerian the toga of a philanthropist. restraining order against EFCC prosecutorial system? In any Foray into education: ASUU on a technical ground. other part of the civilized world, has been on strike for over three On receiving these papers, these two blatant violations of the months. For four years, Babalakin EFCC declared Wale Babalakin rights of an accused person was Pro-Chancellor, University of wanted. I wonder how this could would have led to the striking out Maiduguri; Chairman, Council happen in any civilized Country. of the Suit and the prosecuting of Pro-Chancellors of Federal How can you declare a man you authority would be liable for Universities; Chairman, Federal spoke to and agreed with, at malicious prosecution. In Government/ASUU Agreement 6:00pm, wanted two hours later Nigeria, it has passed largely implementation Committee; simply because he sought to unnoticed because the elite have Chairman Federal Government/ exercise his rights by failed. There is nobody to teach SSANU Implementation challenging your actions in the those following behind the Committee; Chairman, Federal Federal High Court? Was this elementary principles of law.

Government/NASU designed to cow him? Is this a Allegation of N4.7 billion: On Implementation committee and legitimate use of police power? examining the charge, I searched Chairman Federal Government/ Is this not a monumental in vain for the N4.7billion NAAT Implementation scandal? Can a body that is this alleged money laundering that Committee.

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How can we continue to bend the rules and scandalize the nation all in an effort to nail a man whom we have no evidence against?

Who is actually behind this desecration of the Nigerian prosecutorial system?

cavalier about the right of a citizen organize a fair trial for that citizen?

EFCC invites Babalakin for interrogation after arraignment: I have watched with complete disillusion how EFCC has placed the laws of prosecution upside down. It is presumed that at the time you file charges against an accused person, you have completed your investigation of the case.

You have moved from investigation to prosecution. How could you then invite an accused person for discussion or interrogation when you have already submitted the matter to the Court? At this stage, it is only the Court that has jurisdiction over the accused person.

What are you trying to do? Are you trying to gather more evidence? If you did not have

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has been reported widely in the news media. I could not find any N4.7billion. I found that a total of N600million was alleged to have been paid by Dr. Babalakin.

This is now N4.7 billion. Where did N4.7 billion come from? Just a hype. A lower figure would not have created the sensation that was needed to blackmail the gentleman. Is EFCC about blackmail or facts?

The essential Babalakin: Why am I so irritated? I am irritated because I know Wale Babalakin, and I have no doubt whatsoever that he could not have laundered any money or commit any crime.

Between 2005 and 2006, I was part of a team preparing an Agreement in his office, when his company lent N25 billion to a state government.

I was bewildered at the size of the transaction. Yet it happened

Resolution of academic issues In these four years, there were no ASUU strikes. He committed himself completely to resolving the academic issues in Nigerian universities. Is it not strange that within a year of his leaving office everything collapsed between the Federal Government and ASUU? ASUU President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, while delivering the welcome address at the 17th National Delegates Conference in June 2012 stated as follows: “Last but not the least, the Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Dr. B. O. Babalakin SAN, who is also the current Chairman of the FGN/ ASUU Implementation Monitoring Committee, for unprecedented understanding and passion he has shown for the University cause for which he is now nicknamed ‘Chairman of ASUU’, we say thank you and God bless.”

To be concluded

This is the concluding part of this disourse which was first published last Friday

BY EJIKEME UDEH

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ND supposing his facts are unassailable as he imagines, why did he not make a graphic presentation of what transpired on the floor of the senate? Instead, he has found it politically expedient to embark on a propaganda make-over in the newspapers to cover up his very clumsy tracks. Amid the cacophony, I will not be surprised in the least if the vote meant for the public hearing exercise has not been returned to the public treasury despite his admission that the event failed to hold as scheduled.

Beyond cheap sentiments, I am of the view that the disenfranchisement of the people of the zone in the Constitution Review exercise is neither a happenstance nor an isolated incident. On the contrary, it fits into a peculiar streak of idle and indifferent representation that is neither proactive nor reactive.

Denuded of any iota of imaginativeness, this form of representation can at best be described as siddon-look. It may be pertinent to ask at this juncture what contribution Nnaji and his colleagues from the zone in the House of Representatives made at plenary or committee stages to the on-going Constitution Review.

Diligent search A diligent search at the National Assembly yields no available records of their contributions at any stage of the on-going exercise. This is a classical case of crass incompetence borne out of intrinsic intellectual limitations on their part which have all but consigned them to hapless onlookers and spectators at the National Assembly. Without gainsaying, therefore, there is a nexus between the botched public hearing on the Constitutional amendment exercise and the vacuous representation that has become the lot of the long suffering people of the zone.

Let it be understood that Senator Nnaji has never been bothered about credible representation. His preoccupation has always been self aggrandizement, hence the issue of public hearing rings hollow in the calculations of a man who has consistently elevated self and family over and above the people he purports to represent. At any given opportunity, he has always lived out his true colours. Surely, if the issue in question touched on political

privilege, Nnaji would have accomplished it with utmost dispatch. Six years ago, he had the privilege of nominating a candidate for the chairmanship of his council, Enugu East, and he promptly settled for his cousin and civilian orderly, Marthias Anike. Under Anike, Senator Nnaji elevated prebendalism to a new height when among other relatives; his twelve year old son was made a special adviser to the chairman on a monthly salary of N200,000 for the duration of Mr. Anike’s four year tenure! Similarly, he nominated his mother-in-law as special assistant to the Governor of Enugu State, while his younger brother, Cornelius Nnaji is currently the Chairman of Enugu East council. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communication, the only senior employment opportunity he was requested to fill was given to his wife who up till this moment, still draws her salaries and allowances from the State Post Primary School management Board, her previous place of work prior to the recent appointment. Yet, his constituency is replete with unemployed highly qualified graduates whose elevation would have impacted more positively on his constituents.

In the absence of any requisite skill or acumen that equips them for legislative duties, the likes of Senator Nnaji have had to rely on raw native intelligence and street wisdom garnered in the course of almost twenty unbroken years as a political careerist. We are all living witnesses to the palpable limitations of native intelligence and street wisdom in contemplating complex national issues.

They can never be a substitute for intellectual skills, legislative acumen and even budding enthusiasm for public service beyond the quest for lucre. To all intents and purposes therefore, the hue and cry over public hearing is a calculated smokescreen designed to cover up somebody’s hollow political footprints. Come what may, the responsibility was his to discharge and it is no longer news that he failed this test woefully. In any case, no serious-minded constituent of Enugu East, except the hawks that are afflicted by the castration complex bug, could in good conscience, have trusted that Senator Nnaji would drive a crucial national assignment like a public hearing on Constitutional amendment in the zone.

•Udeh, a legal practitioner, wrote from Enugu

44 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

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NDEPENDENT Nigeria was meant to be a country of unity in spite of diversity.

It was supposed to be a country where, “though tribes and tongue may differ in brotherhood we stand” as our former National Anthem posited. The earliest political parties formed in the Lagos area, including the Nigerian National Development Party, NNDP, the Nigerian Youth Movement, NYM and the National Council for Nigerian and the Cameroons, NCNC, all had the same vision of an independent Nigeria united by a strong common bond of citizenship.

The NCNC, in particular, which had Dr Herbert Macaulay as it first National President, and was later succeeded by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, was the most prominent national political party with members drawn from across the country. That was the situation until Chief Obafemi Awolowo formed the Action Group, AG, with a view to controlling his tribal enclave, Yorubaland, and moving from there to attempt to annex other parts of the country in his ambition to emerge as president.

The Action Group single-handedly dismantled the NCNC’s grand nationalist vision through the historic “Carpet Crossing” incident in the Western Regional House of Assembly in 1952. It was from Awo’s successful tribal card, which he used to seize power in his ethnic locality from a national movement that other emergent local elites in all parts of the country started

Confab: No to tribal delegates (1) Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, decided to shun the national movement (NCNC) and create a political party specifically dedicated to his grandfather’s empire (Northern Nigeria).

The North maintained the attitude of isolating itself from the rest of the country until it was sufficiently empowered to take over the entire country and run it, more or less, as an Islamic state. In other words, the North’s original and subsisting basis for peace and national unity is that it must be in control.

That is why Northern politicians and elite behave the way they do: what some people describe as “born-to rule mentality”.

The Awoists introduced tribalism into Nigerian politics. But the Arewaists came with Islamic imperialism dressed up in regional garb. Arewaism hotly forbids tribalism, even though it is driven basically by tribalism since the Muslim Fulani tribe,

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The tribes are no longer the landlords of Nigeria; rather, they are now the subjects of Nigeria; Nigeria owns the tribes within it; no tribe can assert its independence on Nigeria or defy its statutes

copying in the name of asserting their “ethnic nationalities”, a fad that is very popular in oil-rich Rivers and Delta states.

The second leg of the grand conspiracy to derail the common bond of the nation took place in the North. Northern Nigeria was founded ideologically as an Islamic empire by Sultan Uthman Dan Fodio. When the British colonialists overpowered the Caliphate, it allowed the empire to continue to run along its ideological principles and structures under the royal commission of the British Crown.

It was not surprising, therefore, when the Northern political elite led by the Sardauna,

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with their ideologically annexed Muslim Hausa sidekicks, insists on being in the driver’s seat both in Arewaland and Nigeria as a whole. So, to Arewaism, the open mentioning of tribe is abhorred the way a cult group strictly forbids the open disclosure of its core, guarded secrets.

With the nationalism of Nigeria beheaded at the altar of Awoist tribalism and Arewaist Islamic imperialism, Nigeria was reduced to rubble of ethnic fiefdoms slugging it out in the internecine tussles for the economic and political wealth of the nation.

Today, it is normal for a Southerner to tell you (for example): “I am an Ijaw man before

being a Nigerian”. But a typical Arewa person will not put it quite that way. He would castigate the Southerner for being an ethnic jingoist, forgetting that his own Northern fundamentalism (Islamic imperialism) is no better. Both are simply two sides of an ugly coin because they are inimical to the emergence of a united Nigeria.

A Nigerian is a Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Tiv or Arewa Muslim and others, before being a Nigerian, but that is only to the extent that before Nigeria was amalgamated, they existed in those forms. If Nigeria disintegrates, those identities will remain.

But since Nigeria was amalgamated, won independence from colonial Britain on the same day, came under one federal constitution (and therefore common citizenship), speak the English language as the common lingua franca, use the same currency (Naira and Kobo), live under a single flag, National Anthem and National Pledge; are under the rule of the same laws; are maintained from the same oil-fed Federal treasury and have fought a war costing millions of lives to remain one Nigeria – the old argument in favour of tribal or regional primacy is soundly defeated.

Nigerians are now first of all Nigerians before being whatever they were born or indoctrinated into.

The reasoning is simple. If you commit murder, you will be arraigned in court and sentenced to death. The judge will not ask whether you are an Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or Muslim/Christian because the Constitution and legal system, which bind us all, do not know anything like those.

Nowhere in the Constitution are the tribes of Nigeria recognised for any purpose

whatever. The Constitution only recognises our states and local government areas. It does not see us as Muslims, Christians or animists. It does not care what “ethnic nationality” we ascribe to ourselves. The time that the tribes were the landlords of Nigeria vanished with the British conquest and imposition of their imperial rule on their colony, which they christened Nigeria.

The tribes are no longer the landlords of Nigeria. Rather, they are now the subjects of Nigeria. Nigeria owns the tribes within it. No tribe can assert its independence on Nigeria or defy its statutes. The Nigerian army will come knocking if the Nigeria Police is unable to dissuade such adventurism.

We must approach the up coming National Conference armed with this knowledge of the relative irrelevance of tribes and religion and choose our delegates based on viable and constitutionally acceptable criteria. That is what we will address in the second part of this essay next Thursday. It will dwell on how to choose the conference delegates.

Oduah: What a pity!

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T is so sad seeing one of the best ministers in the President Goodluck Jonathan cabinet at the mercy of a lynch mob due to avoidable indiscretions. How I wish this scandal did not crop up! Oduah’s tenure in the Aviation Ministry has been unrivalled by any since Nigeria’s independence, in terms of vision which has driven the structural reform and modernisation of our airports.

Whatever happens to her, I will never forget Stella Oduah’s magic touch which compares only to the assets that Economy Minister, N g o z i OkonjoIweala; former P o w e r Minister, Prof Barth Nnaji; A g r i c Minister, Oduah Dr Akinwunmi Adesina and Investment Minister, Dr Olusegun Aganga, have brought to transform the nation.

OPINION

Why Stella Oduah must be punished (2)

BY ORE KINGSLEY Continued from Friday Viewpoints

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WO major associations in the sector, the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association, ATSSSAN and the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, have fought and won many wars, so they are feared in the industry.

So their leaders became very powerful; whenever they needed money they would call a press conference and attack one agency or another or the existing Minister.

They would be placated, of course with “gifts” to keep them quiet for some time.

This shameful trend has continued to this day.

That was why a wise former Director General of NCAA decided to keep an ATSSSAN president permanently in his payroll. He allegedly gave his wife a job in NCAA; bought him a car and many times a year sponsored him to overseas training with large estacode. He fully bought his loyalty. The same ATSSSAN president capitalised on the labour feuds with airlines and agencies to fix his other siblings at one of the airlines.

So the major problem of Oduah is that she left this group of people in the lurch.

There is the Airline Operators of Nigeria,

AON, whose officers are permanent because for over 12 years it never conducted elections. The Assistant Secretary General of the association had used that platform to sustain his life in the industry. He became a propagandist. This became apparent when he and others in AON fought against Arik Air in favour of Bi Courtney, when Arik Air insisted that it was not going to operate from MMA2, the new terminal built by Bi Courtney. Curious people then were asking: Is OAN fighting for the welfare of the airlines or that of Bi Courtney. Many journalists who were shocked by that shameful act did not write the story. Today, it has ceased to surprise anybody because the man is unpretentious that he is a paid propagandist. As he campaigned against Oduah today, he can campaign for her tomorrow.

Stella Oduah underestimated this force or she had pre-empted them. But she must have believed that she would win most of them over by her development strides. In under two years Oduah changed the face of many airports in the country. She rebuilt many and expanded others. She completed what remained of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria, provided the most sophisticated weather reading equipment for the Nigeria Meteorological

Agency, and acquired low level wind shear many people who talk about development equipment, the weather Doppler radar and in the aviation industry are really not low level wind shear alert system which interested in development; they are have been installed in all the airports. interested in their pockets. And as she had These equipment ensure that accurate closed all the doors against them to make weather data are given to the pilots. money from “their industry” what does Recently the Minister acquired modern she want them to do? Clap for her for equipment for the Accident Investigation improving the airports. In fact, Captain Bureau that in less than one week after the Dele Ore in his anger and frustration, said Associated flight crash the preliminary she must go now; that the armoured car bought for her “ will not save her.” That report of the accident was out.

The Minister expected to be praised by was a veiled threat. That also showed how these “activists” who must love the industry desperate they are!

There are two issues that must be too much to have spent most of their years there, but they derided her. They described pointed out. If Stella Oduah is removed it her remodelling of the airport terminals means the old, status quo which is antias mere paint work. They said she has not development has triumphed and it can be done anything in the industry and predicted that as the airport terminals concentrated in describing slippery tiles where work is going on presently are, so as her only legacy in the industry. Above they will remain for many years to come. all, they accused her of “chopping” alone. It has happened in the past. If Oduah is That is the crux of the matter: She left to do her job, this attack will continue “chops” alone. That is also the grouse the but at the end Nigerians will have better members of the National Assembly: the airport facilities and improved air Minister of Aviation is “chopping” alone. transport sector to show for her efforts.

They believe that for awarding all these contracts for the remodelling of airport Concluded facilities that so much money must have accrued to her. Who will question that when it has always been the trend in Nigeria? *Capt. Kingsley, an aviation stakeholder, Oduah must have realised by now that wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 45

S

INCE the President, Good luck Jonathan, announced some days ago his decision to give the Nigerian people- what they have been demanding over the years-the opportunity to dialogue over the Nigerian state, the true colours of statesmen and pretenders have started to unravel. For years, some politicians have shot into national limelight masquerading as democracy activists and using every available platform to demand national dialogue among the ethnic nationalities that constitute the Nigerian state. But from the knee-jerk reaction and decided opposition of yesterday’s advocates of sovereign national conference to the idea today, the definition of politics in our society as “going left when indeed signalling right” is more than apt.

The former Lagos State governor, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has been one of the strongest voices calling for the convocation of a national conference to discuss the basis of our collective existence as one country over the years. He was a member of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, led by the late elder statesman, Anthony Enahoro, and the group’s ready-made answer to any problem in our polity, especially in the post-June 12, 1993 presidential election annulment, was a “Sovereign National

Conference”. Yet the same Tinubu is all over, everywhere now, rejecting the convocation of the conference to discuss Nigeria. If the former leader of the ethnic party, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, is not directly granting interviews opposing the national conference, he is vicariously fighting through his foot soldiers in the media. Has the senator lost his voice? Why is he now afraid of his own voice?

“Jonathan’s ‘Jebu’ Conference and Tinubu’s Higher Logic” by a certain Olusegun Samson Akinlabi in ThisDay of October 14, 2013 and his master’s position in a news report, “Tinubu urges adoption of Obasanjo’s constitutional review on conference...S’East forum, Anglican cleric set agenda” along with the full text titled “National conference too critical to be left to presidency” in the Guardian of the same day fit well into the pattern of orchestrated campaigns by selfish politicians to blackmail the idea of the national conference. In the piece, Akinlabi sought to idolise Tinubu. That is not anybody’s problem. He has the right to even worship him; after all, ours is a secular nation. But to elevate the former governor as the repository of all knowledge is very dangerous for us as a people.

When Akinlabi argues that Tinubu’s position on the conference “resonates across the country,” I ask, which country? Even in Tinu-

What really do these people want from Jonathan? In what other way do Tinubu and his supporters want the President to prove his sincerity on the national conference?

bu’s South West, genuine advocates of Sovereign National Conference, SNC, have welcomed President Jonathan’s decision to set up the advisory committee for the conference and are already putting their heads together to agree on the issues and agenda for discussion. If Tinubu and his minions are in any doubt, let them ask the Yinka Odumakins and Tunde Bakares of this world as well as other genuine pro-democracy activists. If genuine patriots in the South West, in the East and of course in the North insist they are ready for the talks, why is Tinubu deluding himself as the voice of Nigerians?

When Tinubu indicated in the Guardian report that he will discuss with his party on the issue of the national conference although he has made up his mind that the idea is a “Greek Gift”, what does he take Nigerians for? Of course it is common knowledge that Tinubu is not a democrat; he has no culture of dialogue. Whatever he says in his party-whether the provincial ACN or the newly coupled

Let us fix governance the ‘Nudge' way

BY SUNNY IKHIOYA

T

HE advanced countries recognise that change is inevitable. New ideas are tested and experimented on a daily basis, a constant jigging and re-jigging in the process of governance to keep up with the pace.

There is a deliberate attempt to find cheap, shrewd and local solutions to problems associated with governance; the latest of which is the setting up of behavioural insight teams.

There is the belief that: ‘’Behavioural sciences can be used to help design public policies that will work better, cost less and help people to achieve their goal ‘’. Such policies which - encourage behaviour subtly rather than outright require it - have come to be known as nudges, after a book titled, Nudge

by Cass Sustein and Richard Thaler. The goal is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government by using scientifically collected evidence to inform policy designs.

The nudge squad of Great Britain had been in place for sometime now and has successfully carried out experiments that influenced positive government policies. The United States of America is already putting its own in place, while such countries as Sweden and Saudi -Arabia are toeing the line. It is interesting to note that in doing this, they have not relied on the core professionals; instead they have gone for behavioural scientists to help factor in the behavioural tendencies of the people in their responses to government expectations.

Working in sub-groups, they have been able to reduce cost to a reasonable level.

In localising it to our own country, Nigeria, C M Y K

,

we should be looking at the reasons why Nigerians love to waste resources, why there is no strong sense of patriotism towards our nation, why are public utilities not handled with care? Why should government properties - like PHCN cables - be vandalised and stolen? Why do Nigerians disobey laws with recklessness? Why should our representatives in the National Assembly appropriate a large chunk of the national budget to themselves? Why do civil servants divert government money to their private pockets? Why do Nigerians disregard tax issues? And so on.

The totality of these negative behaviours is a big drain to our nation’s resources and until it is settled correctly, our country will remain in the doldrum.The nudge concept assumes that there are certain traits that fuel such behaviours. It is the responsibility of the team, therefore, to identify such traits where they exist, highlight the causes and put in place corrective measures. The logic is to place attitude as the drive to our behaviours, if we can fix attitude, then the rest is easy.

The government has different agencies and sub-agencies to which nudge teams are to be assigned. Why, for example, is bribery so prevalent in our Customs Service? What are the factors that make it manifest and fester?

Is there another way we can make the officers perform their duties effectively without recourse to bribery? Which are they? What reward system should be put in place? Does their training adequately cover good work ethics? How can they be re-trained? Is there a sub culture that encourages bribery and such behaviours? How can this be redirected? This is our focus. Now take this

APC- is law. If Tinubu is against the convocation of the national conference, then it’s no brainer that APC will ultimately oppose the idea. That is tinubucracy.

In opposing the idea of the conference, Tinubu and his gang have been harping on the timing of the conference. What is really wrong with the timing of this conference?

Only unpatriotic citizens and power mongers whose eyes are permanently fixed on the next election can be blind to what has happened to us as a people in the last two years. The very basis of our corporate existence has been severely questioned by such threats as the Boko Haram insurgency in the North, and the militant uprising in other places like Nasarawa, the killings in Plateau and Benue, the tough-talking of resurgent militants in the creeks of the Niger Delta and the supressed demand for self-determination in the South East by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. Even in Tinubu’s Lagos, there are pressures arising from the unconstitutional and forceful deportation of Nigerian citizens in their own country to the South East and various parts of the North. All these occurrences have seriously questioned the basis of our national existence, even more than the civil war of 1967-1970.

L

et Tinubu and his hatchet writers be told that Nigeria is too big a country to be held back by the unfounded fears, whimsical suspicion and selfish interests of one man. Any politician who believes that his/her quest for power overrides every national

down to small brackets: The presidency, ministerial team, different units in the ministries, government parastatals and such agencies, every unit of government.

What is being proposed here is not a tea party as it borders on behaviours that have formed an integral part of our lifestyles for decades but as they say in management ‘’Attitude Is Everything ‘’. If we cannot fix our attitude to reflect in positive behavioural patterns, we will not be able to get out of the woods. To make it work, therefore, we must set measurable standards for change, taking it from the unit levels for easy monitoring.

For example, a unit in the ministry of works, what is the present level of performance?

,

BY UCHE UGBOAJAH

,

National Confab, Tinubucracy and the rest of us

aspiration certainly cannot be a statesman. And talking of suspicion about the intention and integrity of President Jonathan with regards to the national conference, how best can such fears be addressed (assuming they are real) than by appointing the very people who doubted the President ab-initio to the committee to work out the modalities for holding the conference? What is more, unlike in the failed attempts at conferencing in the past, President Jonathan has not imposed any no-go-area on the conference committee. What really do these people want from Jonathan? In what other way do Tinubu and his supporters want the President to prove his sincerity on the national conference?

Why on earth should this Akinlabi man insult highly respected citizens like Professors Ben Nwabueze and Itsay Sagay, Senator Femi Okurounmu, the Asagba of Asaba and other eminent Nigerians who are in support of the national conference by insinuating that “it is about money and the opportunity to be part of the Abuja crowd”?

They can’t even hide their creeping jealousy of Jonathan. Remember, when the president decided to honour MKO Abiola, these people opposed it simply because Jonathan wanted to do what they had failed to do even after riding on the back of Abiola to limelight. The truth is that they cannot stand and watch the President score yet another goal in the transformation of Nigeria! *Mr Ugboajah, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

From the smaller units, we can then extend to a larger coverage like divisions or zones, right up to the top. At each level, performance standards will be measured, collated and then sent to a central processing unit, from where analysis will be done and observations made public. It is the responsibility of the nudge team to create the right atmosphere for positive behaviours to be exhibited, to make for the attainment of the set standards.

In fixing behaviour, it must be noted that it is not all a matter of propaganda, we must identify factors that encourage positive behaviours and put them in place. Our leadership at all levels must begin to set

Our leadership at all levels must begin to set examples of hard work and good work ethics; positive behaviours and meritorious productivity at work should be properly noted and compensated; discrimination and oppressions of any kind must be eliminated

,

What is the present level of efficiency? In examples of hard work and good work ethics. which area can waste be eliminated or Positive behaviours and meritorious reduced? Under what time frame can it be productivity at work should be properly achieved? What is the performance target? noted and compensated. Discrimination and It goes on and on like this for every unit or oppressions of any kind must be eliminated, department or ministry, until it gets to the while training and re-training must be a bigger structures where the over all is constant. Furthermore, negative behaviours collated. must be properly sanctioned and everyone In summary, this is what is proposed: A made to see that it is no more business as breakdown of the structure (federal or state) usual. into small measurable units and departNigeria can be fixed. Fix the structure ments. Set performance standards for each mores, laws, customs, habits, etc -fix the sysof them based on their current performance tem. I have written in a previous article that: and what they feel they can attain. “The structure is like the foundation of a Measurement could be in the form of saving building. It is relatively permanent, while cost, avoiding wastages, increased efficiency you can keep shaping and re-shaping the in terms of duration of work and also the building”. quality of work done; that is, in terms of finishing. Every department or unit must *Mr Ikhioya, a commentator on nationhave their own standard of measurement. al issues, wrote from Lagos

46 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 47

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Aides fight over Ngige on Facebook

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

M

R. Chuks Akunna was Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Chris Ngige in his time as governor of Anambra State between 2003 and 2006. Mr. Akunna left the government with acrimony six or so months before Ngige was

forced out by the courts in 2006.

Yesterday, Mr. Akunna one of the deepest political reporters in the country took a pot shot at his former boss on Facebook accusing the APC candidate of being cantankerous, malicious and vindictive to family and

friends including his wife.

It was an allegation that immediately raised response from known and unknown associates of the APC candidate with some accusing Mr. Akunna of betrayal and bad blood.

Mr. Toni Icheku, an Abuja based journalist like Akunna

but presently embedded in the Ngige campaign headquarters in Awka, has been particularly vicious querying Akunna’s professional standards.

Others sympathetic to Ngige have also blasted Akunna forbeing a mole while with Ngige. In the tit for tat spat

on Facebook, one particular comment has been outstanding; to wit, to what extent the electorate or media should pry into the private lives of the candidates.

Should the electorate be bothered whether Dr. Ngige is on speaking terms with his spouse or not?

one indivisible political party despite the tussles that preceded the determination of the party ’s governorship ticket.

He insisted that PDP has not lost any ground in terms of the campaigns, adding that the party has been campaigning even when the governorship contestants were in court.

“We have already launched operation deliver your booths for every member of the party and we are working hard to ensure that. We believe that Anambra is a PDP state and we cannot afford to make another mistake of losing the state to another political party during the forthcoming election,” he stated.

Anambra waits for Nwoye

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

LL is set for the second coming of Tony Nwoye to resume his governorship campaign in Anambra State following the Court of Appeal ruling in his favour in the matter brought against his candidacy by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu.

Immediately following the court ruling last Wednesday top officials of Tony Nwoye Campaign Organization invited all the 326 ward chairmen of the party during which they were directed to begin mobilization of party members immediately for the expected flag off campaign of the PDP candidate.

Though no date has been chosen for the flag off, it was learnt that every official of the party is prepared to hit the ground running immediately to be able to cover lost ground in the campaign.

Chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the PDP, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi told Vanguard that PDP remains

Obi also has a deportation stigma — Igbokwe Lagos APC spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe in this interview reflects on the party’s chances and candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Anambra State. Excerpts

I

N what way has the deportation saga affected the APC campaign?

A sound and patriotic policy not targeted at any particular ethnic group just to make Lagos liveable, clean and decent has been grabbed by ethnic chance takers and miserable politicians to score cheap and dangerous political points. The plan of these political nitwits and dwarfs is to use the so-called deportation to bring Ngige to their level. These clowns know that they are not in the same political page with the former governor, Senator Chris Ngige and therefore their devilish plan is to beat down Ngige from his towering height to their miserable level by engaging in primordial sentiments and ethnic preoccupation.

Dangerous politics It has failed and it will remain so. It is dangerous politics that may rock the boat and put to danger the cordial and wellrespected relationship between Igbo and Yoruba that dates back to 1970, if not properly handled.

The chance takers and peddlers of misinformation will fail. In 2011 Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State deported 29 Akwa-Ibom State and Ebonyi State indigenes on the pretext that they were begging in Awka and Onitsha and heaven did not fall. About the same time Governor Orji of Abia State sacked over 3,000 indigenes of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, and

Ebonyi States from the Abia Civil Service and sentenced tens of thousands of Igbo men and their families to untimely death, eternal poverty and degradation, yet heaven did not fall.

As at today, Lagos still hosts more Anambra people than Anambra State. Anambra people generate more wealth in Lagos than in Anambra so who loses in the devilish plot to use 14 destitute victims of poor, timid and rural governance in Anambra, who were chased into Lagos to live under the bridges for primitive politics in the end?

But, as I said, the Igboman is not foolish and will like to know why a government feels its citizens are better off living as destitutes under the bridges of Lagos than in their home state.

Was the APC rally held on ofala day not a political miscalculation?

That, again is another dangerous politics to reduce the towering image of Senator Ngige. If reality is to prevail, Ngige Campaign organization had extensive discussion with the palace Secretary on the matter and the campaign organization was asked to go on since the Ofala festival in Onitsha is always conducted without asking people to close shops or markets because Onitsha people are civilized people who practise their well-respected tradition with grace, respect and profound dignity.

Unfortunately by the time the campaign organization was talking to the Palace Secretary our own HRH Igwe (Dr) Alfred

•Igbokwe: Obi also deported!

Achebe was in retreat (the normal tradition before the Ofala Festival) I am sure the palace Secretary did not get the nod of His Royal Highness before he asked the campaign organization to go on.

This is the mistake. Senator Ngige is a traditionalist who understands Onitsha tradition very well, and he could not have ignored the highly revered Obi of Onitsha. Beyond all these, however, it speaks of the depths and the height of depravity some people have taken Anambra politics to, for them to believe that such issues, and not the general welfare of the people will count in the coming election.

They will be in for a shocker at

the end of the day because the common masses who know the intricacies and conspiracies between the present APGA government and the PDP federal government which wants to sell APGA as a knockdown carcass to the PDP f e d e r a l government.

How are you addressing the issue of power shift agitation to Anambra North?

In Anambra State we do not believe in the doctrine of power shift because we do not celebrate mediocrity. Only the best is good enough for Ndi Anambra, Ndigbo and Nigeria. Four years is too much for a vibrant and a very important state to lose in the name of zoning.

In Anambra State we believe that if need be to form a football team for the state, only the best is good enough.

If eleven players come from Nnewi North, so be it. Zoning breeds incompetence, mediocrity, and backwardness in governance. You fall back to such compromise considerations when you have failed in governance.

When Dr Chris Ngige was governor between 2003 and

2006, every corner in Anambra felt his impact. He didn’t need to appeal to primitive sectionalism that breeds such factors as zoning to leverage his tremendous transformative powers in all nooks and crannies of Anambra.

Can you briefly give an insight into what he has in stock for Anambra people?

The taste of the pudding is in the taste. Anambra has tasted the Ngige pudding and needs no other factor to know he remains the best among the lots.

Senator Ngige is coming back to reposition and retool Anambra State. Insecurity in a cash-driven state like Anambra is the biggest problem. Ngige will bring security to Anambra State the way he did it before. Our people must travel home to enjoy their mansions without being harassed by kidnappers, armed robbers and petty thieves.

What makes you feel that Senator Ngige is better than others?

A good product sells itself.

Ngige opened the eyes of Anambra people to know that governance goes beyond paying salaries and pensions. Ngige revolutionalized road construction in Anambra. Ngige proved beyond reasonable doubt that leadership goes with responsibility in Anambra State.

Ngige proved that leadership is not measured by might. Ngige does not believe in wealth without work, Ngige believes that a government must be responsible and responsive.

Ngige is a super brand.

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 —49

Governance is being with the people — Gov Fayemi GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi is in the third year of his stewardship of Ekiti State. His ascension to office in 2010 was upon the affirmation of the courts that he was the winner of the 2007 election. Ahead of the gubernatorial election next year, the governor in this interview in Ado Ekiti, responds to concerns over potential effects of increasing political tension on governance among other issues. Excerpts:

BY DAPO AKINREFON

you want to impress your political leaders or masters in Abuja, you want to give them the impression that you are the one in charge and you go to Abuja and the people say to you: but there is nothing happening, the place is peaceful there is no problem in Ekiti, how do you think you are going to challenge this man if the place is this quiet?

But I am determined to ensure that we have a peaceful state even if it means bending over backwards to bring in all of the people to agree to a code of conduct - a code of ethics that binds us. Maybe we would call all our elders in Ekiti so that is not seen to be partisan or the governor dictating his position to them. How else do you want to explain a state that had six governors in seven years.

How do you explain that? We have had too many problems here.

A

year to the next governorship election in Ekiti State, to what extent is the jostling affecting governance?

Government is not just about the governor and I think that is something we have to get away from. We still have an authoritarian mindset in Nigeria because of our military past. I’m one governor who is on the road a lot and governance does not suffer when I’m not in Ado - Ekiti.

So, the fact that I’m on the road should not mean government is suffering.

I’m spending the entire November, for example, as I normally do every year, touring the communities because we do that in preparation for the budget. So I’m spending 30 days in November going round about 150 communities in Ekiti. So, does that mean government will suffer because I’m not sitting in this office (Governor’s office)? That is governance for me. That is what government is! When I’m with the people I’m governing.

Then you are also campaigning?

I’m not campaigning. I’m preparing for budget 2014. But you know this is not the first time I’m doing this. I do it every November. So, you cannot associate it with campaign.

I’m not campaigning.

Are you going to run?

Yes, I will.By Dapo Akinrefon

•Fayemi: Yes, I am running we were going to use the bond for are specific. They were identified. If you look at the bond book they are listed there.

The 10 projects were listed. You can just google Nigerian Stock Exchange website or the Security and Exchange Commission, you can access the information there. We took N20bn, we were going to do roads, we were going to revive our moribund brick factory at

,

APC membership registration has not taken place. It is taking place in November.

So, we would know if Opeyemi Bamidele is a member of APC in November

Your critics are making an issue of your sourcing of bonds for projects?

Their challenge is: What are we going to use to campaign against this man? Since there is nothing to use to campaign against him, and since we are politicians, there must be something. Yes, we may not have anything to take to EFCC or ICPC about him, but we must find something against him. And the best they could find is the bond.

Yes, we went to the bond market. It was public information. We took N20bn bond in December 2011 meaning about 18 months ago and the projects that we said

Tenure of office

,

in Ire; we were going to redevelop Ikogosi; we are going to build a Government House; you can see it on the top as you drive around Ekiti and you will see what we are doing there.

There is not a single project that we took bond for that is not being implemented. So the issue is not that we took bond, the issue is whether we have worked with the bond.

The last government that ever did anything in this state that you can refer to as concrete evidence based legacy was the Adebayo government.

Adebayo government took a N4bn bond in 2002; Ekiti House in Abuja that was built in 2002 for N700m; we have

just done revaluation, and the Ekiti House is now worth N4.7bn. So these are trade offs.

We took N20bn in December 2011 as at today, as I speak to you we have paid N9bn out of that because it is ISPO; it is deducted automatically from our FAC account. The second issue for me, which I think ought to interest our colleagues is: are there obligations that this state had that are not being met because we have taken bond? Are we owing salary? Things that were not done when we didn’t take bond under Fayose and Oni administrations, we are doing now- social security, housing loan, car loan - these were things that were not there before and we have increased salary.

Corresponding increase When I became governor the salary in this state was N7,500 minimum wage, we took it to N13,500 and now N19,300 and we have not had a corresponding increase in the FAC allocation to Ekiti.

These are calculations that can be easily done but for mischief makers they would just sell all sorts of silly things about us. Yes, we know he is

working but he borrowed money.

Are you worried by the challenge from Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, a member of your party?

As far as I am aware, APC does not even have members yet in Ekiti State. APC membership registration has not taken place.

Membership registration It is taking place in November. So, we would know if Opeyemi Bamidele is a member of APC in November.

So I don’t want you to jump to that conclusion.

What is your relationship with Bamidele and how do you respond to issues of betrayal since he appears to be aggrieved?

To the best of my knowledge, he is my brother and he is representing this organisation, but what you should know is that in politics you don’t even need excuse to have ambition.

What would you blame for the increase in violence in the state in recent times?

You know we politicians are attention seekers by the nature of the business we are in and that is part of the problems.

If you are a politician and

That already tells you the instability we had. When we had the pension law for exgovernors it was only two people that qualified; Niyi Adebayo and Paul Alabi, because they were the only people- governor and deputy governor that completed their tenures of office.

On Peace Corps and the opposition’s fear that it was designed as a parallel police force?

Somebody has asked me recently why are we starting the Peace Corps; is it a back way of starting a state police?

And the answer is no. Our Peace Corps is largely community based. Of course I’m an unapologetic federalist.

People know my views about multi-level policing. I don’t talk about state police, I talk about multi-level policing, which does not rule out federal police but it makes a distinction between their roles.

There are crimes that are federal and there are state based crimes and it should be clear as to who takes responsibility for what crime.

In every federal setting I know around the world this is what happens, and I don’t see any reason why ours should be different. It is interesting times in Ekiti State.

50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 51

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SAGAY—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sandra Gbone Sagay, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sandra G. Wolly-Sagay.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

EFEKODHA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Efekodha Elo Laura, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Itua Elo Laura. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SAVI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Savi Eliane Olabunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eliane Olabunmi Ojarigho. All former documents remain valid. General pubilc please take note.

OLISA—I, formerly known and addressed as Olisa-Isitua Juliet Amaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Isitua Juliet Amaka. All former documents remain valid. Delta State School of Midwifery Agbor, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

ILOH—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Kate Chukwualasula Iloh, now wish to be known and addressed asMrs. Kate C. Edeki.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYEKEZINI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyekezini Chiosa Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ideh Chiosa Joy. All for mer documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ESIOBISE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Esiobise Okeoghene, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omagbemi Okeoghene.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGEDEGBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Ogedegbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Alaribe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOTIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Marian Okotie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Marian Omatseye All former documents ramin valid. General public please take note.

Spygate Germany sends team to Washington

G

ERMANY is sending senior intelligence officials to Washington, amid outrage over claims that the U.S. National Security Agency monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone for over ten years. The German Intelleigence team will include the heads of Germany’s foreign and domestic intelligence services and the coordinator of the federal intelligence services, the government’s press office said.

The trip comes amid a series of reports that have challenged relations between the two long-time allies. Germany’s outrage has been fuelled by reports of bugging of Ms Merkel’s phone by the NSA prompted it to summon the US ambassador for the first time in living memory.The United States may have bugged

•Angela Merkel Angela Merkel’s phone for more than 10 years, it has been claimed.

Der Spiegel magazine said the German chancel-

Syria complies with OPCW plan

S

YRIA handed over a detailed plan to destroy its chemical stockpile on time, international watchdog OPCW said yesterday.

“On 24 October 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic submitted to the OPCW

...Rebels reject Geneva peace talk

A

RMED opposition groups in Syria have said that they will not attend the Geneva II peace talks, saying that negotiating with the government of Bashar al-Assad would be an act of betrayal.

The powerful opposition group’s statement comes yesterday as fighting rages on near the border with neighbouring Iraq and in the central city of Homs. The Geneva peace talks set to take place on November 23 have been repeatedly postponed amid wrangling among

the Syrian opposition, and a dispute over which countries, including Iran, should participate.

Meanwhile, in a hopeful turn, Assad’s government has handed over on time a detailed plan on destroying its chemical weapons stockpile, an international watchdog has said.

A move in line with USRussian deal reached last month that headed off threatened military strikes on Syria and triggered the initiative for peace talks staged in Switzerland next month.

YOU CAN B O O K Y O U R A D V E R T S AT OU R L A G O S I S L A N D O F FI C E — VA N G U A R D MEDIA LIMITED (LAGOS OFFICE) K I O S K 4 8 E A S T PAV I L I O N T B S , L A G O S .

its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapons programme,” the watchdog said in a statement, adding that Damascus had had until yesterday to do so.

Damascus was required to submit the destruction plan under a US-Russian deal agreed last month that headed off military strikes on Syria.The accord also gives Syria up to mid-2014 to destroy its chemical arsenal.

President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has already handed over an inventory of its chemical weapons and facilities, and international inspectors are already busy inspecting and destroying them.

The OPCW said a first monthly report of the international inspectors, covering their work on the ground since October 1, is ready and will be sent to the UN Security Council

by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Mozambique: Renamo denies attack

M

OZAMBIQUE’S former rebel group Renamo has denied responsibility for the armed attack on the country’s main highway which killed one and injured ten amid tensions with the government.

Renamo, which announced last week that it was no longer party to the peace deal it entered with the Frelimo government following a raid on its leader’s base, said it had investigated and established it was not responsible.

“Renamo distances itself from the attack in Muxun-

gue,” said Fernando Mazanga, the group’s spokesman.

“We carried out our investigations and came to the conclusion that it was not carried out by Renamo,” Mazanga told the AFP news agency.

The president’s office had blamed Renamo for the at-

T

HE UN says there are now more refugees than at any time since 1994. Thousands of asylum-seekers, mainly from Afghanistan and the Middle East, head to Indonesia each year to make the dangerous voyage across the Indian ocean to Australia.

tack on three civilian vehicles in central Sofala province early on Saturday morning.

Armed men attacked the main north-south highway near the coastal city Beira, a stretch of road where Renamo fighters have been targeting civilian vehicles over the past six months.

Abyei votes in Sudan's referendum

S

OUTH Sudan’s Ngok Dinka tribe is holding a unilateral referendum to decide whether oil-rich Abyei, a district they inhabit and is under dispute between the Khar-

UN raises alarm over refugee figures VANGUARD'S LAGOS OFFICE

lor ’s mobile telephone had been listed by the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Special Collection Service (SCS) since 2002 and was still on the list weeks before Barack Obama visited Berlin in June.

The same database indicated the United States was spying on many others in Berlin’s political district, at least up to when U.S. President Barack Obama visited Berlin this year, Der Spiegel reported.

They are seeking a new life, fleeing war, political unrest, and poverty.

The influx of asylumseekers is a major political issue both in Indonesia and Australia, particularly as Indonesia has not signed up to the 1951 UN Refugee convention and does not have to accept refugees.

toum government and South Sudan, joins either of the two nations.

Reports said yesterday that the referendum results were expected on October 31. The exercise was proceeding peacefully, said Luka Biong, spokesman for the Abyei Referendum High Committee, a civic group that is organising the vote.

The quarrel over Abyei is one of the main unresolved disputes after the 2005 peace agreement between Sudan and South Sudan, which ended a civil war and led to the independence of South Sudan.

52 —

Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 28, 2013

Iheanacho: My goals will come again G

OLDEN Eaglets star Kelechi Iheanacho iskeeping a cool head ahead of tomorrow’s FIFA U-17 World Cup round of 16 match against Iran at t h e Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain City.

Iheanacho netted four goals in Nigeria’s 6-1 demolition of Mexico in the opening match and fired blanks in subsequent games against Sweden and Iraq as the Eaglets progressed to the knockout stage as group winners with seven points.

And as the three-time champions square up against the Iranians tomorrow for a place in the quarterfinal, Iheanacho, who finished second highest goals scorer at the African Under-17 Championship in Morocco, said that he was not weighed down with his inability to net after a chart-bursting opening performance.

“I am calm over our next match and I believe that the goals will

L-R The Managing Director FCMB, Ladi Balogun, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the winner of Futures two, Ante Pavic of Croatia and the Director of Strategies, Etisalat Nigeria, Ndidi Okpaluba at the final presentation of 13th Governor’s Cup, Tennis tournament in Lago

soon come. But the major thing for me is that

the team are doing well.

If it is good for the team, I am happy because we are here to win”, Iheanacho told Sports Vanguard, after the match against Iraq.

The absence of Success Isaac has added more pressure on Iheanacho to step into the shoes left by Isaac, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury sustained in the match against Sweden.

N5.8m up for grabs at Lagos Int’l Swimming Classics

I

N continuation of the series of events lined up for the Lagos Sports Classics, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) has staked over N5.8milion for the four-day Lagos International Swimming Classics.

The swimming classics is expected to commence on November 7 to 10 at Teslim Balogun Stadium with athletes competing

in the open and schools categories.

According to the Chairman of MOC, Wahid Oshodi, the classics is being organized to expose athletes to international standard and also to attract top athletes to the tournament.

“The swimming classics is also one of the series of events line up for the Lagos Sports

Ugbade

Continues from B/P

Nigeria to win the trophy in 1985.

“The Iranians are a good side no doubt, but with all modesty, we should be able to cope well against them.”

Ugbade said the Golden Eaglets are not being carried away after an impressive first round performance, where they scored an impressive 14 goals in

three matches including a 6-1 thrashing of defending champions Mexico.

“Of course, we are getting better since we defeated Mexico and the boys did well against Iraq on Friday with a 50 win, but I have no doubt that we would overcome the Iranians if we can correct some specific lapses we have noticed,” he noted.

Classics and we hope to stage another world class event just we had done during the table tennis and chess tournaments,”

he said.

Over 300 swimmers are expected to jostle for honours at the championship.

Nigerian fan

Continues from B/P after suffering cardiac arrest after the game against Sweden in the bus conveying the Nigerian fans contingent back to Dubai.

Sports Vanguard was informed that after the heart attack the deceased, who until his death, a businessman here, was rushed to Dubai hospital for treatment, where he had been until he passed on in the early morning of yesterday.

A close friend to the deceased said that his remains were still in the morgue of the hospital.

Efforts to reach the hospital failed as at press time and when

Sports Vanguard tried to contact the Nigerian Embassy here, we were told that the officials were not available to comment.

One source said last night that the deceased was one of the vocal supporters of the Golden Eaglets since they started their fourth chase for the FIFA U-17 World Cup here on October 19 against Mexico.

Eaglets play Iran tomorrow in a round of 16 match at the Al Ain City, the same stadium, where the deceased was last spotted supporting the three-time world champions.

Stars sparkle at Nestlé Milo football clinic

F

ORMER Captain and coach of the Super Eagles, Chairman Christian Chukwu, Rangers International of Enugu legend, Stanley Okoronkwo, Akeem Ashiru and Nollywood star Diewait Ikpechukwu were among the star-studded dignitaries who brought sparkle to the Enugu leg of the Nestlé Milo Football clinic that was held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, at the weekend.

Chukwu, a paragon of football was so moved at the Nestlé Milo Clinic anchored by ex Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai that he told the kids that they were a blessed generation to have Milo behind them.

“We never had any opportunity like this during our days. You people are lucky and should be grateful to Nestke Milo for this wonderful and scientific football training. You are also lucky to have a legend like Peter Rufai train you.

Rufai did not only play at the zenith of football, he also played with some of the best clubs in the world”, Chukwu said.

He was not alone.

Stanley Okoronkwo, Akeem Ashiru(the first non Ibo indigene to play for Rangers), and Nollywood star Diewait Ikpechukwu all gave plaudits to Nestlé for the revolution they have embarked that would make Nigeria become the Brazil of world soccer.

“This is awesome. This is how to raise future world champions”, Diewait an ace football commentator before he veered into the glitz of acting said.

Speaking at the end of the Clinic, Enugu Regional Sales and Performance Development Manager, Chibuzor Ogunka said that the fourth edition of the clinic which theme is “ Let’s Build Champions”, was designed not only to coach the children with world class football skills but also to equip and teach them the five core values of live Determination, Discipline, Confidence, Respect and Team work.

“We’re particularly delighted that these children are equipped to face the future with sound mind in sound body, physically fit, and intellectually sound”.

At the end of the colorful Enugu leg of the clinic, Team A which beat Team B on penalties after drawing 2-2 at regulation time went home with certificates, balls, medals, trolley bags and N40,000 bursary scholarships each while team B got N20,000 scholarships and the attendant Milo goodies.

The novelty match was as electrifying as it was full of fun that Ralph George said “ watch out for these boys. They’re are destined to shine.

All spectators who thronged the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium shared in the glory of taking Milo products home.

Keshi Continues from B/P match to begin preparations for next year ’s CHAN in South Africa.

Keshi has handed a chance for several new comers like central midfielder Olayinka Oyeleke of promoted Crown FC to stake a claim for places in his CHAN squad.

He said he has been satisfied with the fitness level of the players.

“The performance is okay. They are really pushing hard to be there. It’s not easy, some of them are new and it’s their first time, so I ex-

pect the early panic I have seen from them,” he said.

“But in all, I am impressed at their fitness level. We will continue to do our best but it’s just that the time is too short for us to do anything before the Jordan game.”

Nigeria are expected to open training camp for CHAN in December.

They are drawn against hosts South Africa, Mali and Mozambique in the first round of the tournament strictly for players featuring in their various local leagues in Africa.

Vanguard, MONDAY OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 53

B

Going back to Africa, prepared

,

EFORE last week end, I told one of my colleagues that in all the years I have associated with football, I have never come across a situation where, in any league in the world, over ten teams were available for the drop with just one match to spare.

That was the situation in Nigeria, one that was as electrifying as it was exciting, fueling even speculations of match fixing! Let me quickly bring out the example of the Kwara teams and the belief that the Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission was not going to allow the Kwara teams go down!

A day before the matches, there was an intelligent piece in the Sun Newspapers by George Aluo, citing the hopelessness of ABS, against a Warri Wolves team that surprisingly found itself needing three points to stay afloat. Kwara United did not believe they needed any help. Playing at “home”, with 49 points, against an Akwa United team that had 50 points, Kwara believed they could pull off a win easily.

What Kwara United did not know was that Lokoja was not HOME. What was not added in the equation was the fact that Akwa United was desperate and aware that just a point was enough to survive the drop and with over one hundred thousand bucks for grabs as “survival bonus” the gallant Uyo boys went for broke and stayed alive!

Elsewhere, Wikki Tourist had the battle of their lives in Port Harcourt against a Dolphins side that also needed to stay afloat, rubbishing the theory that a king pin of the NFF was going to throw a life line to the NFF President to allow a team from his State stay afloat.

In all of these, I feel proud that the days of states hosting AGMs to overturn league tables are over. I am happy that today we have leaders who are honest, disciplined and focused not getting themselves involved in messy situations that posterity will record negatively against them.

Credit must also go to the organisers of the league and the officials. In the past, teams like Akwa United will never go to Warri and Lokoja and win under such difficult circumstances.

But for cases, a lot of cases of unimaginable differences between the Organising and Disciplinary Committee and the Appeal Committee in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations of the

...everything must be done to ensure that the enviable place Nigeria occupies in Africa is not rubbished

league, it will be safe to say that this league ran its course.

And this brings us to one of the primary motives of doing well in the league which is to represent this great country of ours in the continent. Last year was a nightmare as ALL the clubs but one survived the first round . Rangers that got as far as the group stage fell victim of organizational maladroitness.

I pause therefore to congratulate Pillars of Kano, Enyimba of Aba, perhaps the best club this year ( won Federation Cup and came second in the league) Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves who will fly our flag in the continent next year.

During a visit to Congo Brazaville, Dolisso, for the CAF Champions League match between Leopards and Orlando Pirates, I was told how Pillars played very well and earned the respect of all, only to fall by a last minute goal despite a 4-1 first leg advantage in Kano. Pillars are going back to Africa realizing that even such a result at home is not a guarantee for success. Enyimba are the Nigerian masters of Africa. Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United are no strangers either, yet everything must be done to ensure that the enviable place Nigeria occupies in Africa is not rubbished. Apart from engaging a sound technical bench and contracting quality

Fashola to flag off ‘We Run Race’ Nov 16

S

PORTSWEAR giants, Nike has concluded arrangements to organise the maiden edition of “Nike We Run Race” series in the country. The 10 km race which will hold in Lagos on November 16 is expected to attract more than 2000 participants and will be flagged off by the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, from the Onikan Stadium with the race going through the Eko Bridge and terminating at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Disclosing this to the media during the official unveiling of the race logo, Head of Nike Operations in Nigeria, Keit Lewins, noted that the race will make Lagos the 16th city to organise the race out of 26 cities slated to host it as well as help to connect runners around the world and forge a new global community of athletes

through Nike’s most connected race series spiced up with innovative Nike technology.

According to him, participants can expect a unique and memorable experience as they will be running against the back drop of some Lagos iconic landmarks just as he promised that the first 100 athletes to get to the finish line will be rewarded with a free pair of Nike shoes, while there will be musical performances by

,

a leading musical group at the end of the race.

Lewins while announcing that registration for the race is free and will commence on November 1 with collection of race pack for successful registered participants between November 11-14, advised intending participants to register at the numerous Nike stores at Ikeja Shopping Mall, The Palms, Lekki and Adeniran Ogunsanya Mall, Surulere, Lagos.

M

OROCCO and Cote d’Ivoire meet in an all African derby in the round-of-16 of the ongoing FIFA U17 World Cup. The encounter comes up tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In the group stage that ended Saturday, Morocco scored 7 goals and claimed two wins and one draw while, Cote d’Ivoire recorded

players ( Not registering all at the same time )These clubs must as a matter of urgency engage the services of consultants , well placed to advise them on issues like food, weather, playing surface, flight bookings, strength of the opposition and the culture and politics of playing in Africa, issues that make a difference between the Domestic league and the Continental one.

The NFF can also lend a helping hand by bringing all the clubs under one roof to look at what went amiss last year for the purpose of moving forward this year ( After all the NFF benefits a percentage of whatever monies the clubs make in Africa ! ) This league has been worthwhile, the champions are good enough to dominate Africa. I know.

I saw Iran The Golden Eaglets are up against Iran in the knock out stage of the competition, a stage where a fluke goal is enough to send you packing no matter your pedigree. I saw the Iranians against Austria and I am happy size does not play football. Ask the Swedes. Not only are the Iranians bigger, stockier, they play with so much power and speed….going directly to goal.

The Eaglets handlers must therefore find a way to protect our fragile defense line against the bulldozing Iranians who in strength make up for what they lack in skill. Semi final here we come.

The tormentor called Moyes I refuse to repeat what has been said already about this cousin of Sir Alex who has given us so much psychological torment that the mere mention of his name sends shivers of fear down our proud spines.

I don’t look forward to week ends any more as the dreaded Old Trafford has become the Theatre of Expectations and Hope for teams like Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke……just imagine.

Tired of being the laughing stock of my friends, I sent out some text messages last Saturday saying win, lose or draw, I refuse to have anything to do with the so called Moyes of a man!

See you next week.

U17 WC: Morocco, CIV to clash in round-of-16 the next stage. one win, a defeat and a draw with 4 goals.

Various teams representing Africa qualified for the knockout stage but the performance cannot be repeated here as it is certain that either Morocco or Cote d’Ivoire would not reach

Meanwhile, Tunisia and Nigeria respectively confront Argentina and Iran also tomorrow.

NASCOM charges Eaglets to remain focused

W

ITH the Golden Eaglets having a date with Iran tomorrow in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup, National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) has charged the players and the coaching crew to remain focused in their quest to lift the trophy Speaking through its

chairman, Yemi Idowu, NASCOM commended the team for berthing in the second round of the championship, while urging Nigerians to rally behind the team.

“I am very happy with the attitude of the team and coaches. They are all well behaved and they get on very well. They are well-

prepared and very fit. I wish Issac Success good health and a fast recovery becuase he is a very pleasant boy. I have tried to give the best wishes from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and NASCOM wherever we can. We are grateful to the Minister and NSC for the support they gave to

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the team. We should also thank Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke and their Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe,” he said.

He added: “My advise to the team is that they need to be ready to surprise the next opponents by playing a wider game ."

•Kelechi

54 — Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Vanguard, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 — 55

VANGUARD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013

Premier League Top 5

Eaglets will run over Iran — Ugbade

Team

GP W

D L GF GA GD PTS

Arsenal

9

7

1

1 20 9

11 22

Chelsea

9

6

2

1 16 6

10 20

Liverpool

9

6

2

1 17 8

9

20

Tottenham

9

6

1

2 9

5

4

19

S/thampton

9

5

3

1 10 3

7

18

Keshi expects tough battle from Jordan

N

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi has said he expects Jor-

G

OLDEN Eaglets assistant coach Nduka Ugbade has said his team will outclass Iran in a U17 World Cup Round of 16 clash in Al Ain on Tuesday.

The Eaglets have won the U17 World Cup three times, while Iran are making only their third appearance at the competition.

And Ugbade said he believes the experience and pedigree of the Golden Eaglets will come in handy on Tuesday evening.

“We have been keeping tabs on all our likely opponents and I paid so much attention to the game between Iran and Austria on Friday which they won by 1-0,” stated Ugbade, who captained Continues on Page 52

Nigerian fan dies in Dubai U-17 W/Cup:Today’s Matches A

Continues on Page 52

GOAL BOUND: Fernando Torres is pursued by Manchester City’s Javi Garcia in the EPL match played yesterday at Stamford Bridge. Torres scored the winner as Chelsea won 2-1. Photo: AFP

PUZZLE

N unidentified Nigerian soccer fan living in Dubai has died after watching the Golden Eaglets hold Sweden to a thrilling 33 draw at the Kalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in AlAin City.

According to eye

Italy Japan Brazil Honduras

v v v v

Mexico 2 p.m.

Sweden 2 p.m.

Russia 5 p.m.

Uzbekistan 5 p,m.

witness reports here, the fan, whose name is yet to be confirmed from the

Dubai police and hospital, died yesterday Continues on Page 52

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

dan to give his team of local league players a tough match today.

Jordan will use today ’s friendly to prepare for a 2014 World Cup final playoff against Uruguay.

“Jordan has been together for a while and they play Uruguay in the World Cup playoff, so we are playing a very strong team and it would be a difficult game,” Keshi warned ahead of the first-ever clash between the two countries at this level.

Nigeria will use this

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Take in (6) 5 Squeamish (6) 8 Tongue (8) 9 Talon (4) 10 Cunning (3) 12 Rock (5) 15 Chop (3) 17 Tune (3) 18 Born (3) 19 Spasm (3) 20 Avoid (5) 21 Hatchet (3) 22 Possesses (3) 23 Help (3) 24 Speck (3) 26 Fashion (5) 29 Still (3) 33 Gala (4) 34 Unload (8) 35 Adorned (6) 36 Hatred (6)

DOWN 2 Skirmish (5) 3 Revel (4) 4 Cheeky (5) 5 Suppress (5) 6 Every (4) 7 Urbane (5) 10 Located (5) 11 Boat (5) 12 Ridge (5) 13 Entertain (5) 14 Massage (5) 15 Impetuous (5) 16 Wrench (5) 25 Fat (5) 27 Circular (5) 28 Illustrious (5) 30 Expel (5) 31 Frail (4) 32 Clip (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Aged 4, Fib 6, Duff 8, Bazaar 9, Aboard 10, Met 12, Spree 14, Flout 15, Craft 18, Neuter 20, Affray 24, Miner 26, Abyss 28, Deign 30, Bet 32, Damage 33, Wigwam 34, Jerk 35, Run 36, Tier.

How to Play Sudoku

DOWN: 2, Grasp 3, Dialect 4, Form 5, Brat 6, Drool 7, Formula 11, Elf 12, Sin 13, Ere 16, Arm 17, Tan 19, Embrace 21, Fed 22, Freight 23, Yen 25, Ice 27, Swank 29, Graze 30, Bear 31, Twin.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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