FUEL SCARCITY: Senate summons Kachikwu

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62904

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N200

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

How Braithwaite died at 82 —Son •Buhari, Ambode, others mourn

16

•Late Tunji Braithwaite

FUEL SCARCITY: Senate summons Kachikwu

By Sebastine Obasi, Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

•We’re working with IPMAN, oil majors to remove obstacles — NNPC •Enough of blame game; live up to promise of change — PDP senators •Say situation very bad, unacceptable 2016 BUDGET PROVISON IN TRILLION NAIRA

Power drops further to 2,620 MW 9

2016 BUDGET PROVISION Total budget N6.06 trillion: Recurrent expenditure: N2.6 trillion Capital expenditure: N1.5 trillion Deficit: N2.2trillion Debt service N1.4trillion Statutory transfers N351 billion National Assembly: N115 billion; Universal Basic Education: N77.110 billion; National Judicial Council: N70 billion; INEC: N45 billion Niger Delta Development Commission: N41.050 billion Public Complaints Commission: N2 billion National Human Rights Commission: N1.210 billion.

Group life insurance for all MDAs N14,690,036,516: Armed forces enhanced retirement benefits of Cdres N1 billion Severance benefits of Delta Steel coy/Pension pay-off; N2.795 billion Military retirees NHIS N2,544,110,811 Admin and monitoring of OHSCF Group Life; N36 million Pension verification and administration; N200 million Entitlements of former Presidents/Heads of State and Vice Presidents/Chief of General Staff N2.3 billion Public service reforms N1.5 billion Domestic Debts: N1,307,400,000,000; Continues on Page 5 C M Y K

NIGER DELTA VOICE Shrines, tombs, miracle houses spring up along road project in Akwa Ibom See Inside COLUMNIST: P.17

YINKA ODUMAKIN

Boko Haram has bombed ‘Great' out of our Iife

A

BUJA —WORRIED by the unending nationwide fuel scarcity, the Senate, yesterday, summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to appear before it today.

The development came just as senators of the Peoples Democratic Democratic Party, PDP, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately take charge

Continues on Page 5

Fayose, threat to national security —APC 7 Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 3

C M Y

4 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29 , 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

LECTURE: From left, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, Governor

Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State/Guest lecturer and the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, during the convocation lecture of Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

FUEL SCARCITY: Senate summons Kachikwu Continues from Page 1 of the country and live up to his campaign promises, which they noted, centred on positive change for the country.

Kachikwu was summoned by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), after the committee carried out on-the-spot assessment of the crisis in major filling stations within Abuja metropolis.

Members of the committee were angry that many filling stations were not selling the product due to alleged lack of supply from the NNPC depot at Suleja, leading to long queues of motorists waiting under the scorching sun for the nonavailable product.

The committee’s Acting

Chairman, Jibrin Barau, alongside two other members, said the Petroleum Minister must definitely appear before them today to explain what led to the situation and possibly proffer a lasting solution.

Barau, who addressed journalists after the assessment of some filling stations, described the situation as not only pathetic but also bad, stressing that it must be urgently arrested.

He said the development made the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to call on the committee to swing into action as a way of bailing Nigerians out of the crisis.

He said: “This situation is very bad and unacceptable, hence the need for the minister to

IT'S UP TO YOU

C

BY AYO ADIO

OMMITTED people believe they can achieve their goals. They can visualize and are confident of crossing the finish line. It’s up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

As we express our gratitude, we must remember that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them —John F Kennedy

G

RATEFUL people have a higher sense of selfworth. I think that’s because when you’re grateful, you have the sense that someone else is looking out for you. Once you start to recognize the contributions that other people have made to your life, once you realize that other people have seen the value in you, you can transform the way you see yourself. Just because gratitude is good doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Practicing gratitude can be at odds with some deeply ingrained psychological tendencies but if we focus on gratitude, we’ll attract our heart desires.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE NO one carries a sick man on his back when going to war

appear before us tomorrow (today), and unveil his plan of a way out to us. Even if he doesn’t have any plan yet out of the lingering problem, the Senate President and the entire members of the committee are more than ready to rub minds with him for that needed purpose.“

Live up to promise of change, PDP senators tell Buhari On his part, Senate Minority Whip and a member of the committee, Senator Philip Aduda, who said he was speaking for PDP senators, called on the Federal Government to arrest the situation fast by making fuel available to Nigerians, adding that what Nigerians needed was fuel and not blame game.

He tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his campaign promises of delivering change to Nigerians.

According to him, what Nigerians are passing through at the moment is unacceptable.

His words: “The government should look for petrol and ensure that it is given to the people.

It is unacceptable, we are Nigerians and it will be bad for us to continue remaining on queues. If the APC leaders like, let them blame themselves, that's their problem but the most important thing is for us to have fuel in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That is what we are looking for and that is what we want. We want to see all these queues disappear.’’

Meanwhile, petrol

marketers at various stations visited lamented that lack of supply and in adequate supply of petroleum products from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in recent time , resulted in product scarcity being witnessed across the country.

Manager of Oando Filling station, Zone 4, who identified himself as Isa Friday, disclosed that it had been long the station got supply from NNPC depot at Suleja.

Also, the manager of Forte Oil , opposite Transcorp Hilton in Maitama District, said only three fuel tankers were being supplied daily now, against the previous five or six.

NNPC calls for calm Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said yesterday it empathized with the difficulties Nigerians were going through due to the current fuel situation and assured that it and the government were not taking their patience for granted.

According to the Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Garba Deen Mohammed, Nigerians should continue to be patient because difficulties being experienced as a result of the situation will soon be alleviated.

He said: “We would like to assure all Nigerians that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources/ Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and everybody else associated with this situation are working round the clock to ensure relief is brought to Nigerians.

“Our immediate concern is to make petrol available through the interventions and processes put in place so that the queues will

disappear within the next one to two weeks. We have enough products lined up to ensure that the supply gap which created the problem is bridged.

“In order to ensure effective distribution, we are working with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), oil majors and over 1,000 NNPC staff nationwide to ensure we overcome the obstacles in the distribution of the products.

“While not resorting to excuses, we would like to re-emphasize that the present management of NNPC and, indeed, the government inherited huge and complicated problems with respect to importation, distribution and pricing of petroleum products.

“Nigerians would recall that N522,258,934,505 meant for payment of fuel subsidy, covering the last

quarter of 2014 (October to December) and the entire 2015 was approved by the Senate in December 2015 in order to pay for subsidy arrears inherited by this government.

“For long term solutions, the NNPC and the government are working to put in place machineries to ensure that our refineries are fixed and working optimally, while the pipelines which have been under attack for some time now are repaired.

“The Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement for crude would commence in the first week of April and all these, coupled with the fact that the President has given his support to increase the crude supply to NNPC to ensure local sufficiency of products, will go a long way to solve the problems in the short and long term.”

2016 BUDGET PROVISON IN TRILLION NAIRA Continues from Page 1 Foreign Debts: N54.480 billion Sinking fund to retire maturing Loans: N113.440 Interior Ministry: N451,942,552,070 Education: N367,734,727,223 Defence: N312,213,355,618 Health: N221,412,548,087 Youth & Sports Development: N72,297,326,595 Petroleum Resources: N54,336,926,923; Foreign Affairs: N39,440,096,249; Information & Culture: N38,729,446,483; Works, Power & Housing: N422, 964,928,495 Agriculture: N29,632,584,416 Science & Technology: N25,554,038,310.

Presidency: N21,676,277,888; NSA : N56,791,291,063 SGF: N45,890,745,817; H o S of the Federation: N6,270,657,023; Justice: N17,389,782,636; Environment gets N14,515,408,468; Transportation gets N13,667,122,591; Water Resources gets N7,219,056,441; Solid Minerals gets N9,402,106,704; Industry, Trade & Invests: N10,410,294,458; Finance gets N9,994,990,976; National Planning gets N7,737,100,536; AGF gets N2,480,584,708; Labour & Employment: N7,735,604,366; Niger Delta: N1,261,723,837; ICPC: N5,029,989,359; Communication & Technology: N9,885,909,120; ICRC: N838,569,623; FRC: N320,198,366; Special Duties SGF: N65,604,713 Women Affairs: N1,216,723,837

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MARCH 29 , 2016

Lekki Gardens building Structural Stability Test ready

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

L

AGOS State Government has completed the Structural Stability Test, aimed at ascertaining the strength of the existing structures at Lekki Gardens in Eti-Osa Local Government.

Vanguard learned that test was completed on Thursday, barely a week after the government commenced the exercise.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, had on March 15, directed that test be conducted on the structures and that the result would determine the fate of the structures.

Speaking exclusively to Vanguard on the collapsed building, Mr. Rasheed Balogun, an engineer and Acting General Manager of Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, LSMTL, said the agency had completed the exercise.

According to him: “During the exercise, we did not only conduct pundit test, we also conducted geo-physical and geo-technical survey to confirm the condition of the soil to ascertain if it was good for such structure or not. The result of the test conducted on the existing structures will be known in one week after the completion of the exercise.”

Vanguard gathered that the result would be handed over to the Commissioner to Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, who will later present the result to the Governor, at the weekly Executive meeting.

Balogun noted “We have conducted Structural Stability Test on several buildings in the state, while some passed, others also failed. And for those that failed the test, the owners of the structures have been told what to do.”

The acting General Manager however warned that “henceforth, we would be visiting construction site to test materials used in the construction of the buildings, even as we would also test existing structures.”

Buhari, Amosun, Fayose hail Tinubu at 64

By Rotimi Ojomoyela, with Agency report

P

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose, have congratulated the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he clocks 64 years today.

They described the former governor of Lagos State as a political colossus in the country, who has contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political developments of the country.

President Buhari in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, noted that the rising political profile of Tinubu since he was elected a Senator in 1992 was “a testimony to his forthrightness, diligence and doggedness.”

He said these qualities had also endeared him to the electorate and given him all-round success as a private sector worker, a businessman and two-term governor of Lagos State.

The President described Tinubu as one of the pillars of the APC, who successfully created a formidable opposition that worked vigorously within a short period to oust a party that had been in power for 16 years.

He commended the visionary leadership style of the Asiwaju of Lagos, who is also the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom in Niger State.

President Buhari assured Tinubu that his patriotism and commitment to democracy and good governance, and his generous spirit would always be remembered and appreciated by generations of Nigerians.

He prayed that the Almighty God would grant the Asiwaju “long life, good health, wisdom and prosperity as he steadfastly supports efforts to promote the development of Nigeria.”

Also, Governor Amosun, in a statement said: “On this occasion of your birthday, I join you and your immediate and political

COMMISSIONING: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), cutting the tape to commission an electrification project connecting 67 Communities in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

With him are Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo (middle) and Oba Aladeshonyin of Noforija Kingdom, Epe, Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja. families in celebrating the abundant grace of God on your life. Your life has been an eventful one dotted by numerous achievements and accomplishments. Nigeria has benefitted immensely from your fountain of knowledge, wealth of experience, political sagacity and leadership acumen. The remarkable impact you have made in all spheres of human endeavour remains a reference point.”

Governor Amosun prayed that the Almighty God would preserve Tinubu for many more years, in good health.

“This is so that you can

L

A G O S — E S S O Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, has said it has spent over N5 billion to support education in Nigeria.

Chief Medical Director, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria, Exxon Mobil affiliate, Dr. Bello Aliyu, disclosed this during the handing over of a sick bay to Victoria Island and Kuramo Secondary Schools, alongside a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial Foundation (DOFAM).

only in Yorubaland but in Nigeria.

“He is a great politician, who takes well-calculated political steps. I and the good people of Ekiti State join millions of Nigerians and Asiwaju Tinubu’s friends and supporters across the world to rejoice with him on this auspicious occasion.

“Asiwaju Tinubu is a good case study when one talks about political resilience and doggedness and no wonder he now ranks among the leaders of this great country. I pray that God gives him the grace to witness many more years in sound health in the land of the living,” he said.

TUC accuses employers body of promoting slave labour it to embrace international labour According to the statement:

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

T

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday, berated the employers' body in the country; Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, for promoting perceived primitive policy of slave labour and urged

Esso spends N5bn on education in Nigeria

By Onozure Dania

continue to make significant contributions to the overall development of our party, in particular and our nation, Nigeria in general,” Governor Amosun said.

Similarly, Governor Fayose in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said the national leader of the APC had over the years proven to be a great political figure in the country.

“I heartily felicitate with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he clocks 64 on March 29.

Whether one likes it or not, Asiwaju Tinubu has become a political pillar and leader not

Aliyu who was represented by Dr. Babatunde Adekunle, a senior physician of ExxonMobil, said the company was involved in the provision of the sickbay as part of the foundation’s “Health is Wealth” project, explaining that the company was interested in the development of Education and health, not just among students but Nigeria as a whole.

Aliyu noted that the sickbay facility would provide reliable heath care services to the students in Victoria Island group of Schools, and that students would be able to seek first aid treatment in the facility before going to a proper hospital.

best practices, to halt increasing confrontation with organised labour.

TUC, in a statement by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, claimed NECA had the worst record in Africa of enslaving workers in the private sector by not providing conducive working environment, encouraging casualization, and payment of peanuts as wages, leading to picketing of many NECA members by the unions.

Kaigama was reacting to a statement credited to NECA Director-General, Mr. Olusegun Oshinowo, where he was quoted as saying the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment was ineffective by allowing unions to be collecting check-off dues and thereafter start calling out members on strike.

Kaigama urged NECA hierarchy to familiarize itself with the historical development of Nigerian trade union movement and the evolution of automatic check-off dues.

He recalled that the main reason for the 1978 restructuring of the trade unions was to make them formidable and financially viable in line with the recommendation of Michael Abiodun Committee.

“Prior to the restructuring, the trade unions in Nigeria depended largely on donations from foreign labour centres and political parties in the country and these posed grave national security challenges.

It was to check this threat and ensure that trade unions are financially independent that the then military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo accepted the recommendation of Michael Abiodun Panel that the trade unions should be granted automatic check-off dues.”

Continuing, TUC argued that since the enactment of Decree 22 of 1978 that gave effect to the present trade unions, including NECA, there had been a great deal of stability in the trade union movement with its attendant positive impact on the economy.

It claimed that in the civilized worlds of America, Europe, and Asia, trade unions had the right to embark on strike to drive home their demands, saying: “At any rate, if Oshinowo and others in NECA have engaged in international labour best practices by paying living wage, providing conducive working environment, stop casualization of workers, etc, trade unions in the private sector will not be embarking on strikes.''

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 7

Fayose, threat to national security — APC

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State, has described recent conduct and utterances of Governor Ayodele Fayose, as constituting a serious threat to national security.

APC, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, claimed Fayose’s perceived unguided statements had exposed him as fighting for selfish motives in order to create instability in an already tottering economy.

The party, which cited Governor Fayose’s death wish for President Muhammadu Buhari at a rally held at Fajuyi Square, Ado-Ekiti, to welcome a member of the House of Assembly detained by the Department of State Service, DSS, Akanni Afolabi, to the state capital, lamented that, besides the allegedly incitement of Ekiti people against the operatives of DSS, he had also for umpteenth time, threatened to bring Buhari’s government down if any attempt was made to probe sundry alleged crimes against him.

According to the statement: “We have heard of reports of Governor Fayose inciting the people to stone the operatives of the DSS anywhere they are seen. This is besides saying many unprintable things about the President, such as that he (Buhari) would soon die, and declaring the DG of DSS, Lawal Musa Daura personal non-grata in Ekiti State. It is regrettable that Fayose cannot separate his personal views as a man constantly at war with the Nigerian law from the views of lawful Ekiti people, who are ready to submit themselves to the Nigerian law where the rule of law and good governance flourish.”

The party accused the governor of running a government built on his

Party asks security agencies to put gov under close watch personal image, noting that this misconception had “robbed Ekiti people the quality leadership with the right mindset to see governance beyond the prism of self-glorification.

“This failure to see governance beyond personal appeal of the governor is costing our state good governance for the development of our people and her deserved place of honour in this country.

That is why the governor is wasting state resources on helicopter charter to ferry an accused person, Akanni Afolabi, from Abuja to Ekiti after which he took six pages of several

N

ATIONAL Union of Lottery Agents and Employees, NULAE, has threatened to cripple the operations of Premier Lotto, also known as Baba Ijebu, over alleged unfair labour practices.

This came as the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, NLRC, wrote the company to rescind every action against members of NULAE especially agents and report any grouse with such agents to the commission.

NULAE which had earlier handed a 7-ultimatum to Premier Lotto, said in a letter

crime in this instance because you can only give what you have and gold is usually sold to the person who knows its value. That is why Fayose would prefer to celebrate thugs and roughnecks to celebrating the Ekiti golden boy that has put Ekiti State on the map of academic honour at the University of Lagos.”

Olatunbosun called on the Federal Government not to take Fayose’s threats lightly or as an empty boast, urging security agencies to pay more attention to the governor by putting him under close watch to forestall his threat to Buhari’s government.

HONOUR FOR LATE OONI SIJUWADE: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (centre) pulling a rope to unveil the new name for Oba Okunade Sijuade Memorial Hall during the official renaming of Ife City Hall after the late monarch by Ife Development Board yesterday. On the Ooni's right is Prince Tokunbo Sijuade and Professor Muibi Opeloye, President, Ife Development Board (left.)

The role Late Oba Sijuade played in my ascension — OONI ...As Ife City Hall is named after late monarch

By Gbenga Olarinoye

O

SOGBO—THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has paid glowing tributes to the role played by his predecessor, late Oba

Labour tackles Baba Ijebu over unfair practices

By Prince Okafor

newspapers on frivolous adverts to publish court records on the accused’s bail application and topped it with the donation of a new car to same Akanni, who is still under investigation over several criminal cases.

“Governor Fayose is overwhelmed with promoting cloudy characters with several alleged crimes hanging on their necks far above Ekiti academic pride of the century, Ayodele Dada, who bagged the best graduating student award at the University of Lagos with a record 5.0 GPA. We are not surprised at the governor’s beatification of

by its General Secretary, Olatunji Gregory, to the Chairman of the company, complained of alleged illegal and unlawful blocking of parameters belonging to principal officers and other members of the union because of their union activities.

After detailing alleged offences of the company, it claimed that on “Wednesday March 2016 9, your management sent bulk SMS to all agents of Premier lotto against the union for embracing lottery agents data capturing which is a directive of Federal Government through the Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission as a measure to sanitize the Industry and build confidence to both investors and stakers.''

Okunade Sijuade in his ascension to the throne.

Speaking yesterday at the renaming of Ife City Hall after the late Oba Okunade Sijuade in Ile Ife, Oba Ogunwusi recalled his fond memory of the opportunity of meeting with the late Ooni.

The event which saw the three wives of the late Oba Sijuade making a public appearance within Ile Ife for the first time since the completion of his funeral rites in September last year, was also witnessed by the eldest son of the monarch, Prince Adetokunbo and some of his siblings.

Oba Ogunwusi said his predecessor played a major role in his becoming monarch through prayers, saying on few occasions he had opportunity of close interaction with Oba Sijuade, the late monarch in his prayers lauded his progress in life.

According to him: “Oba Sijuade is not just our revered father, he was a special creature and demonstrated his ability to foresee future on few occasions I had interaction with him. I can confidently say he played a role in my ascension. On those occasions, he usually prayed from

his heart for me. The honour we are doing him today can never be at par with his contributions to the development of this land.

His contributions to even this structure we are naming after him today was huge. Ife will continue to remember him for his great contributions to our development.”

Earlier, President, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Oba Sijuade was being immortalised in recognition of the role he played in developments of Ife and empowerment of its people.

Opeloye recalled that the late monarch initiated the project and contributed immensely to seeing it to fruition and commended the chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare, for contributing N12.5 million for the project.

Responding on behalf of Sijuade’s family, Prince Aderemi Sijuade, thanked the community for recognising the role Oba Sujuade played in putting Ife on world map and promised that the family would always be ready to contribute to the development of the town.

CAN PRESIDENCY:

Otubu elected OAIC candidate

D

ELEGATES of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) yesterday elected Professor Joseph Otubu as candidate of the bloc for the forthcoming presidency of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Otubu, who is the General Evangelist of the Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide (MCSCW), defeated former vice president of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh with four to three votes.

The primary election held at the international headquarters of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church (ESOCS) in Surulere, Lagos around noon.

The national secretariat of the apex Christian body had given a deadline of March 31 for its five blocs to submit names of their elected candidates for the general elections slated for June.

The contest for CAN presidency has been narrowed down to the OAIC and TEKAN/ ECWA blocs with the former highly favoured to get the nod.

OAIC leaders confided last night that Otubu’s name would be forwarded to CAN secretariat today ahead of the deadline for submission of blocs’ candidates.

It was learned that Okoh, who is the international president of OAIC, surprisingly indicated interest in the top CAN job at the last minutes, a development that made the primary keenly contested.

Olori Oshinloye goes home April 1

T

HE royal families of Oshinloye and Gbadamoshi have announced the death of Olori Adeline Abiola Oshinloye, who passed away on November 25, 2015, at Ode Remo in Ijebu, Ogun State.

She died at the age of 84 after a brief illness.

According to one of the children of the deceased, Wale Oshinloye, the late Olori Oshinloye would be buried on Friday, April 1 at the Christ Anglican Church, Ode Remo, Ogun State, Wake-keep takes place on Thursday, March 31, at 17 Ajelogbo Street, opposite Seapon filling station, Oke Ola, Ode Remo.

“We are really glad and proud that our mother lived a very good life. She was a prominent person in the Church even at her age until her death.

We give God the glory,” Wale Oshinloye said.

Olori Oshinloye is survived by children and grandchildren.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Agatu crisis: Idoma, Fulani communities agree on ceasefire ...Plan peace football match in Abuja

By Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—THE crisis rocking Agatu Community of Benue State which had in recent time resulted in killings of over 500 natives, allegedly by Fulani herdsmen, appeared to have come to an end as Idoma Community, yesterday, reached a common ground with its Fulani counterpart to a cease fire.

This was the fallout of a town hall meeting held in Abuja, at the weekend, at the instance of the two communities.

Addressing the press after rising from the meeting, representatives of Idoma community, under the aegis of Idoma Initiative and the Fulani, under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, said they had resolved to put everything behind them and live

once more in peace and harmony.

To this end, the meeting resolved that the national leadership of MACBAN will direct its Benue and Nasarawa states chapters to immediately direct all Fulani herdsmen carrying out grazing activities in Agatu to withdraw and move to Nasarawa State while dialogue towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict was ongoing.

In the same vein, the meeting resolved that all Agatu youths should desist from patrolling the river bank until a better understanding was sought between the two parties.

Reading a communique of the town hall meeting to newsmen, Idoma representative, Barr .

Paul Edeh, and that of MACBAN, Alhaji

Muhammadu Kiruwa, said participants for the town hall meeting were drawn from ‘“our respective organisations and other major stakeholders in the Agatu and Fulani communities. ‘’At the meeting, we discussed the steps necessary to be taken both at the federal and state levels, to ensure a lasting and enduring peace between the Idoma community in Agatu and the Fulani herdsmen. ‘“We have agreed to work closely with our various communities, government of Benue and Nasarawa states, the Federal Government and all willing partners towards fostering peace and mutual cooperation, security, and sustainable development that includes strengthening our collective desires to promote cooperation and help to prevent

future conflicts and resolve same if it ever arise again.

It said:” A peace football match should be organized between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and a joint team, comprising the Idomas and the Fulanis. The Football match should be played at the National Stadium, Abuja, and organised in conjunction with NFF. “The match should be aimed at raising awareness of the peaceful resolution of the conflict and to raise funds towards the reconstruction of the properties destroyed in the crisis."

The meeting also urged the Federal Government to immediately set up a high power committee that will include the leadership of the Idoma Initiative and Miyetti

FG must account for recovered loot, court insists L

AGOS —Federal High Court, Lagos has insisted on enforcement of the judgment ordering the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to publish widely the spending of recovered stolen funds since the return of democracy in 1999.

The details of the judgment are contained in the certified true copy sent by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to Abubakar Malami (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The 69-page judgment, dated March 24, 2016 and signed by Justice Mohammed Idris, read in part: “Transparency in the decision making process and access to information upon which decisions have been made can enhance accountability.

“Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the Constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a constitutional democracy like ours, this is meant to be the norm.

“I am of the view that on receipt of SERAPrequest,thegovernmenthad

VISIT: From left, former provost, Cathedral Church of Christ, Rev. Yinka Omololu; widow, Mrs. Grace Braithwaite; Mrs. Taiwo Mayuku, and Vicar, St. Paul’s Church, Breadfruit, Lagos, Ven. Akinwande Godwin-Odubena, during a condolence visit to the family of late Tunji Braithwaite in his residence in Lagos, yesterday. the duty to respond to same. If it does hold the information it must supply it within seven days from receipt of the request. Where a decision to withhold information is taken, the government/relevant authoritiesmustinformtheplaintiff

of its reason. In respect of the SERAP reliefs on recovered stolen funds since return of democracy in 1999, the government had kept mute. Let me say that they have no such power under the law.

“There is public interest in public

authorities and high-profile individuals beingaccountable for the quality of their decision making. Ensuring that decisions have been made on the basis of quality legal advice is part of accountability."

Forex: Foreign airlines’ blackmail won’t fly —CBN

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria has said that the seeming blackmail by foreign airlines over their demand for foreign exchange would not fly.

Reacting to threats by foreign airlines to sack about 2,000 workers over their inability to source enough forex for their operations, CBN’s spokesman, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said the CBN had been selling forex to airlines

through the Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, but that it should be recognised that there were other competing demands for the same forex from other sectors.

According to him, the scarcity of forex is being professionally managed by the monetary authorities in such a way that priority is given to the sectors that drive growth in the economy, especially manufacturing industries which is public knowledge.

He said: “That claim is not true. CBN has been selling forex to the airlines through their banks. We are going through a period of forex scarcity. Part of our strategy has been to identify key sectors and industries that will drive growth and curtail excessive forex demand. Airlines have been buying through their banks at the interbank rate.

“I am sure if you go through the published statements of sale by the banks, you will find this.

What is not possible now,

however, is for CBN to meet the demand by some of these airlines. But look at the advertised their airfares.

“Is it not curious to note that some of them have their business class fares as low as about N600,000, while others put theirs at close to N2millon?

Can you imagine that? ‘’We all need to understand that there’s no way we will collect all our reserves to satisfy just few businesses, while other ones suffer.

Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria MACBAN, to comprehensively look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis with the view of finding a lasting solution.

Attack on Kachikwu: You can’t always have your way, NYCN tells Tinubu

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—THE NATIONAL Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, yesterday, took a swipe at former governor of Lagos State and leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for attacking the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, saying he could not always have his way.

According to NYCN, Tinubu should not distract the Minister and the petroleum sector because of the reforms the minister was initiating in the sector.

NYCN National President, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said it was clear that the essence of Tinubu’s statement was not to help in any way to solve the problem, but cast Mr. Kachikwu in bad light and put pressure on Mr. President to sack him.

He said: “Bola Tinubu vehemently opposed the appointment of Mrs. Onikepo Animashaun as the General Manager of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company NPDC, by Mr. Kachikwu. ‘’The appointment was in Tinubu’s view done on the recommendation of Pastor Tunde Bakare and with the blessing of Babatunde Fashola who is believed not to be in Tinubu’s political structure.

“The attention of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has been drawn to the massively sponsored statement by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu lambasting the Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.

“Bola Tinubu vehemently opposed the appointment of Mrs. Onikepo Animashaun as the General Manager of NPDC, by Mr. Kachikwu."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016—9

Insurgency: Obasanjo commends Buhari on actions in N/East

Power drops further to 2,620.90MW Sebastine Obasi

M

ILLIONS OF Nigerians had their Easter celebrations in darkness as power generation yesterday dropped further to 2,620 megawatts.

While focus has been on the fuel shortages, it appears Nigerians have taken for granted the daily drop in power outages, without explanation by the supervisory agencies.

Out of this, Ikeja Electric got 393.14MW, Abuja was allocated 301.40MW, Eko Electricity Distribution Company got 288.30MW, Benin Electricity Company and Enugu Electricity Company got 235.88 each.

Allocation to other distribution companies are as follows: Ibadan, 340.72MW, Jos, 144.15MW, Kano, 209.67 MW, Kaduna, 209.67MW, Port Harcourt, 170.36MW and Yola, 91.73MW. While focus has been on fuel scarcity for some time now, power generation has continued to drop without any cogent reason from the supervising agencies.

The deterioration incidentally has continued since President Muhammadu Buhari made the pronouncement that the country will achieve 10,000MW of electricity by 2019 or over 3,333MW. Apart from the President, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had also promised that power generation would increase this year by 2,000 megawatts. Fashola who stated while defending the Ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Power and Mines, added that a lot had changed in the management of power.

OBJ would have rescued Chibok girls if he was in office—Gov Shettima

...Laments Jonathan only called him 19 days after kidnap

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Ndahi Marama

M

AIDUGURI—FORMER president Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari on his efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

Obasanjo lauded Buahri’s efforts during a visit to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State at Government House, Maiduguri.

“I know that he (Buhari) is very, very concerned about the insurgency. He has got it right that first of all, there must be military ascendency over the insurgents,” he said.

This came as Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, poured encomiums on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him as a man with rare courage committed to national unity and development, saying he was convinced that Obasanjo would have rescued the missing Chibok girls if he were the president at the time the insurgents seized the 279 girls from their hostels.

Obasanjo expressed optimism that the insurgency would be over soon, going by the successes recorded by the military in recent time.

He said: “I do travel a lot in Africa and outside Africa. Where I have gone in recent times, what the people wanted to know is how Nigeria is coping with the situation of insurgency. I think we are not out of the woods yet, but it appears we can see the light beyond the tunnel.

“There is no doubt that with the combined efforts at the local level, at the state level and at the federal level, even at the community level, that our security forces are on the ascendency over the forces of destruction and the menace of insurgency that we have experienced for almost six years now.”

He expressed joy that socioeconomic activities had begun to pick up in Maiduguri after many years of the insurgency.

“My experience from the airport to Government House is that what I experienced in 2011 is different from what I experienced today.

“There is evidence that things are changing, the situation is improving. We pray that by the end of this year, no one will be in the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp again,” Obasanjo said.

He condoled with the state government over loss of lives and property to the insurgency.

“I must commiserate with all our C M Y K

people in the state, and indeed the North East, who have been victims of the insurgency in the way that we have never experienced in the country before.

“There is no family in this state that had not really suffered in one form or the other. Please accept my condolences and that of my entire family.

“We pray that the souls of those who have lost their lives will be with their God,” Obasanjo said.

He appealed to political and opinion leaders in the country to educate Nigerians on the true situation in the North East by visiting the area frequently.

“I think the more we have men and women of goodwill within and outside Nigeria coming here to show that the situation is gradually getting to normal the better it is for all of us,” Obasanjo asserted.

In his remarks, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, poured encomiums on Obasanjo, describing him as a man with rare courage committed to national unity and development.

Shettima said he was convinced that Obasanjo would have rescued the missing Chibok girls if he were the president at the time the insurgents seized the 279 girls from their hostels.

But the governor regretted that former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in charge when the girls were taken, only phoned him 19 days after the seizure of the innocent children.

The governor said the former President neither sympathised nor empathised with his government over the abduction of the girls.

He recalled how Obasanjo fought gallantly for peace during

his tenure, vigorously interacting with stakeholders, including governors, traditional rulers and other peacemakers in troubled regions in search of peace.

The governor said: “In our own case, Your Excellency, after the Chibok abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in April, 2014, it took 19 days for me to receive a call from the Presidency.

“I brought this mainly to show the difference, because we will only appreciate scenarios when we make comparisons,’’ Shettima said.

The governor also recalled a statement credited to the current Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbe, who he said made glowing remarks about Obasanjo long after they had changed their political parties.

MEETING: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, with some of the attendees to the town hall meeting during the visit of Hon. Abike to the United States of America.

Yushau Shuaib resigns as chief consultant to FOSSRA ...says Jon Ode Panel misleading Buhari with biased report

By Kingsley Omonobi

T

HE CHIEF Media Consultant to the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies, FOSSRA, Mr. Yushau Shuaib, has resigned his appointment after three years of serving as an intermediary among all the major security and response agencies and the media in Nigeria.

Shuaib, who was engaged by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to serve as media consultant to military, security, intelligence and response organisations under a unified

platform, had as his core mandate the responsibility of positioning the agencies for desired public perception and changing the negative narratives regarding the war against terror.

In his notice of resignation served the chairman of the forum and Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, Shuaib said he could no longer continue to serve FOSSRA which is under the auspices of Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA, because of what he termed “misleading reports by presidential committee under the same ONSA” for

unjustly accusing almost all institutions and individuals that served the office without fair hearing.

Shuaib said: “The retired AVM Jon Ode-Presidential Panel under ONSA is merely criminalizing critical institutions and indicting groups and individuals in the media without being arraigned in the court of law where the accused could prove their innocence.”

He queried the rationale behind empowering a Panel of Procurement of Arms that was composed of retired and serving military officers to also be saddled

with probing contracts and services that had nothing to do with arms and ammunition.

He pointed out that “while the Jon Ode led-panel deliberately refuses to acknowledge successes recorded by previous administration in the war on terror, the team has only succeeded in misleading the President with its biased reports that create unnecessary anxiety in the polity.”

Efforts to get Presidency's reaction failed as calls and text messages to the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, were not replied.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

ABDUCTED COLONEL: Army increases reward for information

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—THE Nigerian Army has increased the cash reward it promised to give anyone with useful information that would help in the rescue of its abducted officer, a Colonel, from N500,000 to N1 million.

This information is contained in a statement issued yesterday by spokesman of 1 Division, Kaduna, Col Abdul Usman.

He said the cash reward was increased to mobilise more support from the public for the rescue of the abducted officer.

He urged the public to contact the Army or security agencies with useful information that could lead to the release of the officer.

Usman added that the Army would give adequate protection to anyone with relevant information and promised to treat such information with utmost confidentiality.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria Army, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the abduction of Col Samaila Inusa, a serving officer at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

It noted that he was kidnapped at Kamazo in Chikkun Local Government Area, near NNPC Junction, Kaduna State.

It added that his abductors dropped his wife “and left with him in his car, and headed towards Abuja.”

Man conceals 480g of heroine in letter

By Daniel Eteghe

L

AGOS—OPERATIVES of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, arrested a 33-yearold man with a letter laden with 480 grammes of heroine in Lagos.

The suspect, Mr. Yunusa Amusan, was apprehended in connection with the heroineladen letter, which was sent from Bengaluru, India, on Express Mail Service, EMS, and was addressed to him in Mushin, Lagos.

Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr. Mabo Olugbenga, affirmed that the suspect was apprehended following surveillance report on his illicit drug activities.

Mr. Olugbenga stressed that the suspect was arrested after collecting the letter, adding that the illicit smuggling of narcotic drugs under the guise of letters was reported and closely monitored by officials of the agency, which led to the arrest.

He said: “The illicit smuggling of narcotic drugs under the guise of letters was reported and closely monitored by the agency. It was confirmed that Mr. Yunusa Amusan was recruited by his uncle, who lives in India, to take delivery of heroin concealed in letters.

“The suspect was arrested after collecting the letter and further investigation is ongoing.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (rtd), said that the arrest was recorded following the diversification of the agency’s operations.

He said: “The operations of the agency have been diversified to cover mail services. Drug control is an intelligence-led operation and NDLEA, under my dispensation, will spread its tentacles to all possible areas

Drunk driver kills one, injures four in Lagos

By Angela Okpe

T

RAGEDY struck, yesterday, at Amukoko area of Lagos State, when a drunk driver ran over five persons with his Mercedes Benz190, number plates EPE 471CD, killing one and injuring others.

A policeman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the man was drunk and an alcoholic drink (name withheld) was found in his car.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the story, saying a driver rammed into five persons. She said one of the victims, Mariam Raji, died while four others were still

receiving treatment at the General Hospital.

She said: “One Azeez Raji of Alafia Street, Amukoko, reported that one Eugene Nweke, a driver of Mercedes Benz, I90 with number plates, EPE 471 CD, lost control and ran over five victims.

“The victims are Mariam Raji, Angel Anusiem, Mahammed Sani and Kafayat.

They were rushed to the hospital where Mariam Raji gave up the ghost. Her body has been deposited at the morgue.

She said the driver was drunk, adding “ we are continuing with investigations into the cause of the accident.”

The ‘letters’ from India. of narcotic smuggling.

“We will not relent in taking deliberate and sustained efforts towards preventing drug trafficking under any guise in the country; be it by air, land and water.”

Abdallah emphasised that the agency was prepared to prosecute the suspect and any other person linked to the case.

I only run errands for my uncle—SUSPECT

The suspect, Mr. Amusan, who is a technician, said he has been running errands for his uncle who lives in India.

He said: “I run errands for my uncle. He used to send money and letters to me to give to his wives and friends.

Sometimes he will ask me to buy foodstuff and send to him

and in return, he gives me money to take care of myself.

“I am single and a native of Ogun State. After my Junior Secondary School, I could not further my education. I learned how to repair television sets but could not rent a shop.

“The letter was opened in my presence and it was found to contain heroin.”

Cultists kill 9 in Imo; monarch arrested over lunatic's death

By Emeka Mamah

O

WERRI—FOR allegedly killing one of their members, a cult group went on rampage in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State weekend, as they killed nine people in retaliation.

It was alleged that the Deewell cult group reportedly invaded Assa Awara community and killed eight men and another woman at Obitte community.

A source in the community told Vanguard that the killing of the nine persons was carried out by Deewell against the Deegbam cult group, which was alleged to have killed one of their members in the area recently.

Police sources, which confirmed the story, said that armed security operatives had been deployed to the troubled spots to fish out the culprits.

Meanwhile, a traditional ruler and two of his accomplices have been detained in Owerri, Imo State capital, for allegedly killing one Joseph Ihueze over a parcel of land.

Police sources disclosed that the deceased, who was insane,

inherited a large portion of land from his father, but the traditional ruler and two other persons killed him so they can take over the land.

The incident irked youths, who revolted against the monarch, causing tension.

UNIPORT student shot dead

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARCOURT— UNKNOWN gunmen, on Easter Sunday night, shot dead a student of the University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, in a hotel at Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The hoodlums, suspected to be a cult group, invaded the hotel around 11p.m., killing one Mr. Clinton Opribo-Amos.

At press time, the state Police Command‘s Public Relations

Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, told Vanguard that the command had not been briefed on the killing.

However, a source, who related the incident to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said every effort to reach the security operatives during the shooting was futile.

It was learned that OpriboAmos of the Department of Linguistics and Communications was killed while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Man steals church's power generator in Aladja

By Akpokona Omafuaire

A

26 years old man, Edirin Tudarho, who allegedly stole a generator belonging to a Church, was yesterday arrested by Aladja Community Vigilante in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The suspect was said to have succeeded in stealing the generator from one of the new branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, at College Road, Aladja, owing to the recent intercommunal crisis between the community and her neighbouring Ogbe-Ijoh, which

drove many from their homes.

He was arrested while on his way to selling the generator in Warri.

A resident, who spoke to Vanguard said the suspect burrowed a hole at the back of the church, which is still under construction before stealing the power generating set.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 11

C M Y

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Onojie of Uromi confers Adolor title on Onolemenmen ...shuns protest from Enahoro family

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Onojie of Uromi, HRH Zaiki Edenojie II, yesterday, conferred the title of Adolor of Uromi on the former Minister of Works, Chief Mike Onolememen, despite protests from the family of late Chief Anthony Enahoro.

While the family insisted that the title of Adolor was hereditary, therefore, it would be wrong to confer it on Onolemenmen, the Onojie, who conferred the title on Onolememen at his palace, disagreed with the family, saying that the title was not hereditary but an honourary one which he (Onojie) can bestow on any one who merits it.

But the Enahoro family, through an advertorial by Peter Enahoro, had advised the former minister against accepting the title of Adolor of Uromi, which, according to him, was a hereditary title bestowed on the late nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro.

According to the statement, “The Enahoro family respectfully and most emphatically appeals to those invited to the Easter Monday event not to inadvertently

give support to the ceremony.

“I continue to urge all who, by text messages and emails, have pledged their support, that it is our intention to counter this initiative with a peaceful resolution. We know also that there are political elements in the issue whose approval is predicated on their belief that only by erasing the memory of Chief Anthony Enahoro can their own legacy enjoy a lease in Uromi.”

However, HRH Edenojie II, who cleared the air during the conferment of the title on

Onolememen, explained: "Adolor title is not hereditary, it is an honorary title and this is the second time we are giving that title to somebody after Chief Anthony Enahoro.

“As the Onojie, I have the power to bestow it to anybody who merits it. It is at the discretion of the Onojie and palace chiefs, that is what we call the Uromi in Council. Because of the personality of late Enahoro, it was difficult for us to give it to somebody since then.

But today, we have found somebody who can fit into the

Rivers re-run: Army to handover 46 political thugs for prosecution

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— THE Nigerian Army is to hand over about 46 suspects, arrested in connection with the last re-run elections in Rivers State to the state Police command today.

A top security source who disclosed this to Vanguard, said some of the suspects were

arrested in Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state a few days to the re-run elections.

Vanguard gathered that they were allegedly recruited as political thugs for the elections, while the Army, acting on a tipoff, swooped on them at their hideouts.

The security source said that the action of the soldiers

Gbaramatu killing: Ijaw group threatens legal action Wants killer arrested

By Akpokona

Omafuaire

W

ARRI—THE Ijaw P e o p l e ’ s Development Initiative, IPDI, has threatened to petition the Chief of Naval Staff over alleged extrajudicial killing of one Pius Bernard, a native of Tebujor community in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State, should they fail to unmask the trigger-happy naval personnel.

According to IPDI, the deceased, said to be a sand scooper, met his untimely death while at work.

IPDI said he was killed at a jetty at Tebujor, Okpeleama community, unprovoked by a trigger happy naval rating.

Tension heightened as angry relations and sympathizers threatened to avenge Bernard's killing if the government failed to fish out the naval personnel responsible.

Speaking with Vanguard, IPDI National President, Austin Ozobo, said there was no justification for the extra-judicial killing of Bernard, and that the Chief of Naval Staff should C M Y K

shoes, somebody who merits the title of Adolor.

“We decided to give it to Onolemenen because he bears the same attributes as Chief Enahoro.

He has contributed immensely to the growth of Uromi and we urge him to continue. This title is in recognition of his contributions to the growth of Uromi and Nigeria as a whole.”

Onolenmene, who expressed joy for the honour done him, thanked the Onojie for the confidence reposed in him and promised to continue to do his best for Uromi community and Nigeria.

institute an inquest to get the perpetrators, who should be made to face the wrath of the law before indigenes resort to selfhelp.

He said that on no account should the Navy, which is suppose to protect innocent citizens and property in the country, resort to barbaric killings, warning that the act was a plot to provoke the kingdom in order to provide a ground for the military to bombard the kingdom again.

In his reaction, Moses Yabrade, Tebujor / Okpelama community chairman, told journalists that the late Bernard was scooping sand at the jetty when a naval officer, he identified as Kenneth, led other naval personnel to the area and shot at their son unprovoked, who in turn fell into the river and died.

The chairman explained; “The incident happened at 10p.m., Thursday night.

Bernard was scooping sand and it is a normal commercial activity at such quiet time when fishermen also ply their trade.

“The victim was alerted by folks that his sand boat on a 40 horsepower engine at

the Jetty was drifting.

“He then rushed back and was pulling it back ashore with another boat. That was the point Kenneth patrolled in with other colleagues in a gunboat. After shooting and killing him, he moved into the community bragging about the act and threatening to shoot another person if he did not get gratification.”

Peace returns to Iguomon community in Edo

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—PEACE has returned to crisis-hit Iguomon community, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, with the election and inauguration of leaders of Iguomon Youth Association, who have vowed to ensure the sustenance of unity amongst the people.

The leadership crisis in Iguomon had led to deaths and destruction of property.

Among those elected to pilot the affairs of the youth body were Johnbull Owenaze (Chairman), Stanley Osadiaye (ViceChairman) and other members of the executive.

prevented whatever sinister move the alleged thugs planned to prosecute on the election day.

“The Army was proactive with the arrest, because it was clear the suspects would have wreaked much havoc during the re-run elections,” the source said.

Some of those arrested were alleged to be from other states.

It was also gathered that some of the suspects were also arrested in Etche area of the state.

Wike laments frequent changes of security heads in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has blamed the security problem in the state on the frequent changes of heads of the various security agencies in the state.

Governor Wike, yesterday, in a television programme monitored in Port Harourt, pleaded that heads of security bodies should be allowed time to implement security strategies they develop, stressing that the frequent changes were disrupting security plans of the state.

The governor said his administration was determined to tackle security challenges in the state with the support of the various security bodies, stressing that he had continued to give the various security bodies the necessary support to enhance their operations.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016—13

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Controversy trails Shekau’s ‘new’ video, Chibok girl female suicide bomber

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

T

HERE were indications last night that the latest video purportedly released last week by

FG earmarks N3trn for projects in 2016 — Presidential spokesman

G

ARBA Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Sunday said that the Federal Government had set aside N3 trillion for projects in 2016.

Shehu disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of a dinner held to celebrate the child dedication of Paul Ibe, the Head of Atiku Media Office in Abuja.

According to him, the Buhari's government would ensure contractors are mobilised and paid for executing jobs.

He urged Nigerians to be patient with the All Progressives Congress, APC, led government, saying it would deliver.

He said: “Unlike what we had in the past, this government will award contracts and back them up with money to ensure their conclusion. Nigerians will be happy in a short while; let us just have a little more patience.”

Shehu, who said he attended the event to identify with the celebrator, a long standing companion, noted that the Federal Government had saved more than N3 trillion in the Treasure Single Account, TSA. On her part, Titi Abubakar, wife of the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, said the hardship being faced by Nigerians at present would not be long.

Responding, Ibe said the reason for the gathering was to give thanks to God for wiping away his tears.

He said God had renewed his commitment to mankind -that if man remained consistent, his words would be fulfilled.

Ibe said he had waited for long for a child, adding that with persistence, God would always show His glory to those who trusted in him.

C M Y K

the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, might not have emanated from the Boko Haram leader after all.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that the video, in which Shekau was said to have said that the end of the sect’s campaign was near, was shot about two years ago.

The source said the video was actually given out by Shekau to a delegation sent by a top Islamic sect leader, Darun Sijjirah, when he pledged allegiance to the Boko Haram leader.

According to the source, it was

not possible for Shekau, leaders of the Islamic State for Africa to have released such a document at this moment.

“The video is a fake one intended for ulterior purposes and does not emanate from Shekau,” the source said.

Responding to a question, the source also disputed the claim by a female suicide bomber arrested by the Cameroonian authorities that she was one of the Chibok girls taken by the Boko Haram sect since April 14, 2014.

“The truth is that the female suicide bomber arrested in

Cameroun is not one of the Chibok girls,” the man said.

Vanguard learned that the release of the video, which the Nigerian military had since dismissed as a possible diversionary tactics by the sect, was causing disquiet in the camps of the sect leaders.

This, coupled with the claim by the female suicide bomber arrested in Cameroun, is believed to have compelled the leadership of the sect to contemplate releasing a statement disputing the two issues and to ‘put the records straight’.

It was learned that the group close to Shekau might issue a disclaimer on the two issues within the week, given the erroneous impression and the controversy they had generated within its camps.

Boko Haram has killed over 13,000 persons and abducted many men, women and children in its sixyear-old campaign against the Nigerian state, which is seeking to end the activities of the group.

Nigeria has also dispatched a group to Cameroun to ascertain if, indeed, the female suicide bomber in its custody belongs to the missing Chibok girls.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 15

KILLINGS: IPOB berates military, Police over

alleged collaboration with Fulani herdsmen

By Chidi Nkwopara & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—THE Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOB, has berated the Nigerian military and the police for their alleged collaboration with Fulani herdsmen in killing people only to turn around to claim they are fake soldiers and police men.

In a statement issued after its meeting in Nnewi, signed by its Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, IPOB said Nigerian soldiers have displayed their cannibalism of not caring for innocent human lives when they massacred IPOB members in churches and streets while praying and protesting for the release of their leader Mr Nnamdi Kanu.

“Their recent denial of taking part in the killing of people in Agatu, Enugu State and other Biafran lands and claiming that the people that did the killings, and raping of women and girls were fake soldiers, fake police and their Fulani herdsmen collaborators was idiotic and an after thought because of the condemnation their action has received from Nigerians and the international community.

“Nigerian solders and Fulani herdsmen collaborated in ravaging, killing, maiming and raping of women and girls at Awgu community in Enugu state and other parts of Biafra land. Their claiming it's fake soldiers and police is only diverting attention to escape the bashing of Nigerians and international community over the heinous crime.

“IPOB strongly believes and in unmistakable terms insists that the Nigerian military are working in collaboration with Boko Haram members in the name of Fulani herdsmen to exterminate the life of Biafrans, but let them be informed that their plans will work,” he said.

According to IPOB, “that is a very dangerous task for the Nigerian Army to get involved in because its consequences will be suicidal and we will not condone it any longer. It will not be easy for them to kill all Bifrans in one day but it will be a suicidal task to kill Biafrans.

“IPOB also condemns the

attitude of the government in Enugu state that has allowed its subjects to be suffering and refused to fight for the people that voted them in. IPOB is asking the South East Governors to sit up as they owe their people the duty of protecting them” he said.

Biafra, an ill wind

Meantime, Ndigbo have been advised that resurrecting and animating the ghost of Biafra is an ill wind powered by godfather-induced adolescent rascality.

A public affairs commentator, Sir Andrew I. Ajaero, who stated this in a press statement titled: “Resurrecting the ghost of Biafra in the Nigerian political cobweb: An ill wind”, also accused the leaders and protagonists of Biafra of pepping up their loyalists with hard drugs, tempting cash and promises of adequate settlement in an utopian El-Dorado state, when Nigeria succumbs to concessions.

“These youths, who have lost their autonomy, surrender themselves to the whims and

caprices of their satanic leaders and with bravado, fearing no man or God, go berserk and are mercilessly mowed down by superior bullets during violent demonstrations”, Ajaero said.

While saying that Ndigbo should give peace a chance, Sir Ajaero also said that some leaders of the current agitation, know absolutely nothing about Biafra.

“Some leaders of the current agitation know nothing about Biafra, as many of them were not even born then”, Ajaero said.

CONGRESS: Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta (right) Chairman, Commonwealth ITU Group, Dr. Bashir Gwandu (middle) and Dr. Henry Nkemadu, Deputy Director, NCC, at the Mobile World Congress in Spain.

O

NITSHA—TENSION is mounting in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State over the leadership crisis that has engulfed the town’s main market, with the traders calling on Governor Willie Obiano to intervene before the matter assumed a dangerous dimension.

Trouble in the market was as

C M Y

MASSOB wants Gov Ganduje to compensate Igbo traders

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

A

BA—MOVEMENT for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has called on the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje to compensate Igbo traders who were victims of the recent fire incident which gutted the Sabon Gari market in the state.

It will be recalled that over 4,000 shops were on Saturday, razed in a midnight fire at Sabon Gari Market, Kano.

MASSOB’s National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, in a statement made available to Vanguard, lamented that Igbo traders have always been at the receiving end of market demolition and fire incidents inNigeriaandurgedtheKanoState government to ensure that the victims are compensated to mitigate their losses.

The MASSOB spokesman urged Igbobusinessmentoinvestathome, stressing that if the Igbo could establish 30 per cent of their businesses in their home states, the SouthEastwouldbemoredeveloped than Abuja and Lagos cities.

Anambra govt mediates in lingering Adazi-Nnukwu town neighbouring town by Enernuoh union crisis •As ATDU election ends in fiasco to ensure that the election did not

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA— THE town union leadership crises rocking the people of AdaziNnukwu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state took a dangerous dimension at the weekend following the alleged refusal of the out-going President-General of AdaziNnukwu Town Development Union, ATDU, Chief Benedict Enemuoh to vacate his seat and appoint a returning officer to conduct an election that would have ushered in a new set of town union leadership.

According to eye witnesses,

trouble started when Enemuoh after delivering his valedictory speech to the crowd in the presence of some officials of the state Ministry of Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters, ordered every body to leave the town hall and go outside for an accreditation of voters.

But as he was ordering everybody out of the hall, the crowd refused to leave the hall and insisted that having delivered his valedictory speech, he should have dropped the union documents and appoint a returning officer to conduct the election, instead of trying to do so by himself.

His refusal to vacate the seat and their refusal to obey his instruction to go outside and queue up for an accreditation resulted in a near physical combat between his supporters and the rest of the natives, which forced the visiting government officials to hurriedly announce the postponement of the election till the next day.

Sources said on getting to the town hall the next day, the natives discovered to their chagrin that the town hall was not only under lock and key but also surrounded by some unknown persons suspected to be vigilante operatives allegedly imported into the community from a

Leadership tussle tears Onitsha market apart

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

KANO MAEKET FIRE:

a result of the alleged sacking of its chairman, Mr. Dozie Okeke and members of his executives by an Onitsha Magistrate Court presided over by Uche Amaechi.

Following the development, the market has been polarized into two factions with one loyal to the sacked chairman and supported by the leadership of the Amalgamated Market Traders Association, AMATAS,

while the other is led by Mr. Malachy Nwabudu, who obtained the court judgment.

Nwabudu is also backed by some past and present zonal leaders of the market.

The traders said weekend that only Governor Obiano’s intervention would avert the breakdown of law and order at the market.

According to the traders, the

sacked chairman has refused to vacate office several weeks after the judgment, adding that the leadership of AMATAS was also aiding the crisis by instigating the sacked chairman to continue in office.

“The governor should prevail on the leadership of AMATAS to ask M.r Okeke to vacate his seat as directed by the court to avoid bloodshed,” they said.

hold.

However, some youths of the community who were aggrieved by the development, chased away the vigilante operatives and went round the town to announce that the seat of the President-General is vacant and called on government to give directive on the next line of action.

Some of the aggrieved natives of the town, like Chief Emmanuel Chukwuma, one of the Igweship candidates in the area and his elder brother, Kenneth, decried what they termed as Enemuoh’s autocratic attitude in the area and called on both the state government and the police to intervene and call Enemuoh to order before a revolution commenced in the area.

Meanwhile, sources told newsmen that the state government has summoned a meeting between the two factions with a view to hearing from both parties and finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to get in touch with Enemuoh proved abortive but from his valedictory speech, he confirmed that the tenure of his administration elapsed on Friday, March 25, 2016 being the date for the scheduled election that could not hold.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29 , 2016

How Braithwaite died —Son •Buhari, Ambode, others mourn

By Clifford Ndujihe, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu, Wahab Abdulah & Gbenga Oke

L

AGOS—SECOND Republic Politician, Dr Tunji Braithwaite is dead.

He died yesterday, aged 82 after a brief illness.

His son, Olumide, said the legal icon and activist politician fell ill in the early hours of yesterday and was rushed to St Nicholas Hospital where he died at 5.55 am.

Family sources said that Dr Braithwaite fell from a thread mill a few weeks ago and had been ill since then.

The illness was said to have worsened yesterday morning when he had breathing problems prompting his being rushed to the hospital, the source added.

Olumide, who is yet to reconcile himself with the fact that his dad is no more said the family was sad about the death of his father but they are also happy about what he stood for while he was alive.

His words: “I believe if Nigeria has a minimum of 10 fearless personalities who are fighting for the masses like my father did all his life, Nigeria would have been a better country today.

“My father stood for integrity, steadfastness, uprightness, courage, bravery and the voice for the masses of Nigeria. In his early 40’s, he contested against the known names in the political annals of this country which include, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the great Zik and Shehu Shagari. I can say without being immodest that his name also opened a lot of goodwill for the children and family anywhere we found ourselves.”

Braithwaite’s regrets

Asked if his father had any regrets, Olumide said: “Anybody who knows my father knew that he was an enigmatic personality and he had so much hope for this country and that was why he sacrificed all he had and was never seen being bought over throughout his entire struggles.

“His greatest regret in life was that after fighting all these battles, the masses in Nigeria are yet to be free and emancipated from the political shackles of this country.”

Indeed, if his mien and the thoughts he shared with Vanguard during his last interview with the national newspaper are anything to go by, the late Second Republic politician, lawyer and philanthropist died with one major regret and an unfinished assignment.

Braithwaite had not completed the book he was writing on the politics of Second Republic, to capture the men and factors that shaped that era as well as the politico-legal and social relations between him and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He made eradication of corruption (clearing rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches) the fulcrum of his presidential campaign in 1983 when he ran on the platform of the Nigeria Advance Party, NAP, he founded.

Born on September 13, 1933 as the youngest son of eight children, Braithwaite was educated at the C.M.S Grammar School, entering the school’s Preparatory Section in 1946 and completing his education in 1953. He proceeded to sit for his A Levels at the London University at Kennington College in 1955 and

Military seeks speedy passage of DSA bill

A

BUJA—TO ensure a better service delivery in its operations, the Nigerian Military is seeking a quick passage of the Defence Space Agency Bill currently before the National Assembly.

The Director-General of the AgencyAVMTommyUdo,made the appeal, when he led the management team of Defence Space Agency on a working visit to the Minister of Science and Technology,Dr.OgbonnayaOnu. The minister, who justified the importance of science and technology to the improvement C M Y K

of military operations, said the Federal Government would do everythingpossibletosupportthe DSA and put all the necessary structures in place to encourage the space sector because of the relevant role it could play in the development agenda of the present administration.

Withthepopulationadvantage of Nigeria, coupled with the highest economy in the continent, he noted, the decision to pass the bill establishing the agency would turn the agency around and bring in dynamism and ensure adherence to world best practice in their operations.

enrolled in 1957/58 as a Law student at the Council of Legal Education, London.

He was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn that same year and graduated as a barrister in 1960.

As a lawyer, Braithwaite made his mark in company law. He was also one of the lawyers, who stood behind Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his travails in the early 60s.

Buhari mourns

PresidentMuhammaduBuhari has commiserated with the immediate family, friends, professional colleagues and political allies of the elder statesman and pro-democracy activist, Tunji Braithwaite, who passed away yesterday.

The President believes the passingawayofthelawyer,author and politician came at a time his wisdom, intellectual depth, vast knowledge and experience were sorely needed by the country.

Lagos has lost a great son— Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, expressed shock and sadness over the demise of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

InastatementbyhisChiefPress Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, AmbodesaidBraithwaite’sdemise was a great loss to both the state and the nation.

Ambide,whodescribedthelate nationalist as a detribalized individual whose example was worthy of emulation, said Braithwaite was a man of the people,atypicalNigerianwhowas consistent in saying things the way they were, not caring whose ox was gored.

He fought for a progressive Nigeria —Adebanjo

A chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba socio-economic organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said: ‘’His death is a very big loss to Nigeria. He was one of those who fought for an independent Nigeria and a restructured nation along progressive lines. We were both at the National Confab and hestuckhisneckouttomakesure that most of the resolutions were taken.”

Alegeh, Uranta Nigerian Bar Association, NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, said: “The Bar mourns one of the legal icons in the country.

He has gone but we are consoled that he has gone to a better place.

Hisnamewouldbewritteningold for the good work he did and he wouldberemembered.”

Executive Secretary of the NigerianNationalSummitGroup, NNSG, Mr Tony Uranta said : “The NNSG mourns the passage of one of its Guiding Lights, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite! Dr. Braithwaite was a key actor in Nigeria’spoliticalhistoryofthelast half a century and more. We pray that Nigeria will soon become the dreamland that he and his ilks have strived to see it become."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29 29, 2016—17

Boko Haram has bombed 'Great' out of our Ife

A

FTER close to 30 years I found myself entering offices at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and I returned with a broken heart seeing what the original Boko Haram (Western civilisation is sin) has done to a once national headquarters of authentic intellectual culture and a hotbed of progressive activism.

I speak of the Great Ife of yore where many of us honed our radical engagement, the place Prof. Jubril Aminu, one time National Universities Commission, NUC, Secretary and later Education Minister called "Ife fortress".

It was a fortress of radical and progressive ideas. I recall some 29 years ago (I hope the meanspirited,venomous bully and insufferable windbag quarreling with "thirty years" history read this!) when King Moshoeshoe of Lesotho was visiting Nigeria and the then Head of state General Ibrahim Babangida ordered the authorities of the University to award him a degree. The letter to the Vice-chancellor got into the union's hands and Mr. Dele Momodu who was under going a Masters study in Ife then and working with African Concord magazine came around. As the PRO of the students union,I gave him a copy of the letter with a promise that we would not allow the king to take a degree from Ife because of his pro-apartheid stance.

Certificate printing company Nelson Mandela was still in prison then and we were campaigning for his release .

We also had some ANC cadres who were schooling in Ife then with whom we shared ideas regularly on the South African struggle. The story made the front of African Concord magazine with the headline "Give The King A Degree: Awo varsity Students Say No". The story carried my exact words viz"We will not allow our university to be turned into a certificate printing company where every Tom, Dick and Harry can pick a degree at a dictator's request".

Power of Ife: Immediately the publication was out, the late Ooni of Ife,Oba Okunade Sijuwade invited Messrs Fred Adegoke and Yemi Adegbite (Secretary and President of the students union) and I to his palace and passionately C M Y K

of Awo. First Philsophy dept: I also stopped by at Professor Yunusa Kehinde Salami's office. He is the Head of Philosophy Department whom I knew as Post-Graduate student in our undergraduate days. I asked him about the whereabout of perhaps one of the phenomenal teacher in the history of that department, Dr. Dipo Fashina popularly known as "Jingo". His response was a reminder of all that is wrong with us as a country. He told me Dr. Fashina had retired from Ife and he is starting the first Philosophy

today, one cannot but remember the Queen city of the western Sudan and the intellectual nucleus of the Songhai Empire called Timbuktu. The greatest days of Timbuktu came about in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. At this time African scholars enjoyed a renaissance that was known and respected throughout most of Africa and in parts of Europe. The University of Sankore in Timbuktu was the educational capital of the western Sudan.

On this grand university, author Felix Dubois in his book Timbuktu the Mysterious remarked: “The scholars of Timbuktu yielded in nothing to the saints and their sojourns in the foreign universities of Fez, Tunis and Cairo. They astounded the most learned men in Islam by their erudition. That these Negroes were on a level with the Arabian savants is proved by the fact that they were installed as professors in Morocco and Egypt. In contrast to this, we find that the Arabs were not always equal to the requirements of Sankore.”

Prosperous city of Timbuktu

Boko Haram suspect captured by Nigerian troops in Sambisa forest pleaded with us to allow the university to confer the degree as Babangida had promised to give some special grant on account of the conferment. We politely told Kabiyesi that if Babangida were to give the entire budget for the year to our school we would still not allow the award because Moshoeshoe was pro-apartheid.

That was the end of the whole attempt as Babangida had to approach Prof. Grace AleleWilliams to dole out the award at the University of Benin.

That was the power of Ife. A citadel of learning where the Buhari-Idiagbon military regime became uncomfortable with COBRA which was the least serious students magazine on campus in those days. That not a whimper comes from that institution these days in the face of the many challenges facing our country is a befitting

When one looks at what has happened to our universities today, one cannot but remember the Queen city of the western Sudan and the intellectual nucleus of the Songhai Empire called Timbuktu

tribute to the Boko Haram ideology that reared its head against the culture of true learning in our country from the middle of the 70s.

When I returned to our Ife last week, it was a famished environment. There were still essentially the same structures ( a few new structures here and there) but mostly weather beaten. A lot of the students seen around were not so radiant as you would find in those days with many dressed in secondhand clothing.

My first point of call was the office of Prof.Gbemi Adeoti, an old classmate who is now Dean of Faculty of Arts. His secretary told me he was in a meeting that has been on for long.I left the papers I wanted him to sign and my card so I could go to the Senate Building to sort out a few things. When I returned he was on the corridor talking with some colleague-professors who were heads of departments. The little I heard them saying communicated to me that they had been meeting over non-functional toilets!

From his office I went to see Prof. Alade Fawole in the Department of International Relations. The Faculty of Administration though neat has also lost its shine of yore. The Professor in the course of our discussion called my attention to the fact that the Senate Building at Ife remains the tallest building in Osun state and it is doubtful if a taller building can be found in neighbouring Ondo and Ekiti states. This showed that we have put nothing on the vision

department in a northern University at Ahmadu Bello University, ABU. First Philosophy department? He explained to me that from Unilorin down to Unisokoto, there is no Philosophy department. And that in the rest of the South outside Southwest, Philosophy is taught as a combine course in most universities.

Regional universities That was the moment to remember General Olusegun Obasanjo who started the process of the original Boko Haram agenda against university education in our country . It was under him that the regional universities were taken over and placed under a Federal Government formed out of clash of civilisations. Then Naval Captain Akin Aduwo was removed as Governor of Western region because he dithered over Obasanjo command to surrender Ife to the Federal Government.The Aminus took over the reins of universities and began the process of uniformity of docility.They flushed out "lecturers who were teaching what they are not paid to teach",pulling down the "fortresses" and firmly erecting a future of universities that are not relevant to the community.The whole process of "almajarisation" of our university system is now complete.

When one looks at what has happened to our universities

This ended in 1591 when whole of the western Sudan was devastated by the invading Almoravids.The prosperous city of Timbuktu was plundered by the army of freebooters.The University of Sankore which had stood for five hundred years, was destroyed and the faculty exiled to Morocco.

Ahmed Baba, one of the greatest Sudanese scholars at the time, was amongst those exiled. Baba was a scholar of great depth and inspiration. He was the author of more than forty books on such diverse themes as theology, astronomy, ethnography and biography.

His rich library of 1600 books was lost during his expatriation from Timbuktu.

In 1591 and 1593 the final blows were delivered by the Arabs, Berbers and Tuaregs from the north. They showed no mercy and the total devastation put an end to the West African Golden Age. That is where we are today as I left Ife in sadness. But still I salute the Adeotis, Adewoles and Salamis who are hanging in there as a connect to that rich past. This land will rise again!

...Biafra on ECOSOC

T

HE Economic and Social Council,ECOSOC, one of the six organs of the United Nations at its session in May 2015 granted a consultative status to the representative of Biafra in the person of Miss Megan Adaobi Clement.

Peradventure the Nigerian government is not aware of this development, here is calling on it to realise that it has to adopt a different posture to the struggle for selfdetermination. God bless Nigeria.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 AS the economic situation drives deep welts into the flesh of Nigerians, there is a growing air of melancholy and despair as the Federal Government appears lost for options to bring succour to the people in the near future.

The economy is biting hardest in the areas that impinge directly on the people’s material and social wellbeing, with steep drops in the supply of electricity and petroleum products, thus threatening the resilience and ability of Nigerians to survive. Both sectors are undergoing some of the worst and most prolonged stretches of scarcity.

For instance, in March 2016, power supply dropped to unprecedented low levels between 1,580 megawatts and 2,841 megawatts just before the Easter holidays, barely hours after President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to add 2,000 more megawatts into the national grid by the end of this year

Power scarcity, fuel scarcity•• while aiming to top off to 10,000 megawatts by 2019.

Most parts of the country have endured lack of power supply in the past three months, and yet the Federal Government supported plans by the electricity distribution companies to jack up prices in spite of poor services; an action that brought Labour and civil society groups to the streets in protest about two weeks ago.

Usually, when power supply virtually disappears, most citizens turn to their generating sets for comfort, which means sinking a large portion of their income on petroleum products, such

as petrol and diesel. The situation was compounded, however, by the scarcity of petroleum products, which has also held sway on and off for over four months.

The fuel scarcity is blamed chiefly on the inability of independent marketers to raise foreign exchange to import fuel due to the strict policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to protect the Naira and the nation’s foreign reserves.

The careless talk of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe

Kachikwu, that he did not have a magic wand to restore full supply within the immediate future, sparked angry calls for his resignation.

The fact that the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Power are manned by President Buhari/ Kachikwu and Babatunde Fashola, who operate at the highest level of executive function of the Federal Government makes this bout of petroleum and power scarcity seem beyond the capacity of the Federal Government to grapple with.

We demand that the Buhari government does something to alleviate the plight of Nigerians. It must come up with solutions as soon as possible. This is the time to translate the “change” that the people voted for from negative to positive.

Nigerians need immediate relief, not apologies or flippant talk from those in leadership.

OPINION Brussels and Chibok (2) Continued from yesterday

By Patrick Cole

E

RUESE’S mother knew what was going on, even if she did not encourage it. She put her daughter in harm’s way and is complicit in the so called abduction. Her father is less than useless if he did not know what was going on in his house: he should have. With Eruese, shameless potentates, Governors, Deputy Inspector General of Police – an endless stream of publicity seeking inconsequential lightweights unashamedly want to take photographs with her; the courts have jumped into the act, with a N3 million bail for an okada rider – where were all these people during and since Chibok?

The girls of Chibok came from different States. What have their Governors done? What has the police done in Chibok? Some ask what can they do? They could have done a lot. And we could have sent a deluge of security people to Chibok, interviewing any and every body? Did the security people collect forensic evidence in Chibok?

What are the answers they received from their investigation? Who is heading the Chibok inquiry, who is in his team?

9. Boko Haram has continued its mayhem in Sokoto, Kano, Abuja,

Nasarrawa etc. Our Governments are proceeding as usual – business as usual; our legislators, who earn US$ 1 million a year, have not mentioned Chibok in over 15 months. The Governors of Nigeria instead are buying bullet proof luxury cars at nearly N2 million a pop.

10. Are the girls of Chibok not our children? What do I expect? I expect simple investigation to, gather evidence, if we do not have the expertise, we hire them before the trail got cold: if we can hire forensic auditors to look into NNPC’s lost money, why can’t we hire forensic detectives whose job that really is – 246 people do not disappear into thin air without leaving a lot of evident. Even if they are married, as some claim, does that justify criminality? They may have been sold off or as sex slaves of Boko Haram – the more excuses I hear the more my blood boils with shame at how callous and insincere our people really are.

11. At 9/11, fire teams came from all

Our soldiers tell us they could not fight Boko Haram because they had no weapons yet the military bosses stole billions

over the United States, detectives also came, sifting every particle to find evidence which they compiled and which has helped in being better prepared in case some other vermin terrorists were to attempt to terrorise the people. Every lead was followed; they knew where the Saudis went for training, when they came; they knew their parents, every safe house they stayed from the day they arrived: they plotted their every move that day etc.

They knew their DNA, their modus operandi etc.

12. In London within hours they knew where the terrorists lived, when they entered the bus or subway etc. They picked up every scrap of information, sifted them until they had a composite of the perpetrators, their backers etc.

They have since 9/11, and 7/7 gone after those and killed them. They did this by investigation which was helped by the people who kept giving them information. They knew which school the terrorists went to, who their imams were etc. In the terror attacks that followed in Paris, Germany, Spain, Brussels, and also in New York, in Nairobi, Mumbai citizens came out in their hundreds of thousands, left notes, and flowers, kept vigil – all to show solidarity and to send a powerful message to the terrorists – we remain strong and we will beat you. In Brussels, it was the taxi driver who took them to

the airport who provided the vital link.

13.In Chibok we were told the terrorists came in three trucks – so somebody saw them! But we had no vehicle license plates, no description of the trucks, it would seem that Chibok was all a bubble of its own, unconnected by roads, families, no post offices, no petrol stations, how did they feed themselves and 246 girls – that number of girls passing through villages, staying somewhere – no tents, slept under trees, - no natural functions or did they clean up after themselves. What did the teachers and their parents say? Do Boko Haram not study the terrain or make preparations – and no one saw anything?

14. The most criminal of all the negligence was failure to bring in experts. Even in a war situation specialists still operated. In any case, was there war in Chibok?

15.Who has been there? No Okada riders; if it was deserted soon after, surely it is not still deserted. Our soldiers tell us they could not fight Boko Haram because they had no weapons yet the military bosses stole billions with no conscience for 246 girls. Are we to assume that Boko Haram is still operating in Chibok?

Continues tomorrow

*Dr.Cole, OFR, a former ambassador, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 19

Nigeria’s democracy: Three steps backward

By Sunny Ikhioya

D

E M O C R A C Y ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’- has generally been accepted as the best instrument of perfect governance all over the world. The challenge is that; it has so many shades. It can be manipulated for good and for evil.

For example; a perfect democracy demands that every voice be heard, be the minority. The views or sentiments of the minority must be heard and noted, even if they do not conform to that of the majority.

What we have witnessed so many times in our case is the tyranny of the majority or, if you like, tyranny of those who have been fortunate to be in control of government. A perfect democracy assumes that the three arms of governmentExecutive, Legislature and Judiciary- must operate independently and without bias. It must also be seen by all to be so. Is this playing out in our present government? I do not think so.

When President Muhammadu Buhari was reading out his speech on the day of swearing-in, May 29, 2015, he talked about improving and strengthening the electoral process, highlighting the fact that he had been a victim and therefore will not allow the abuse to continue. Ten months after, has

the electoral process improved? I do not think so.

Everyone- including the international community- agreed that the country made progress in terms of the conduct of its elections under the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. He gave INEC under Professor Jega a free reign to operate, even if the decisions by INEC do not seem to favour his or party's interests. To the displeasure of his party’s position, Jonathan allowed Jega to run INEC the way he deemed fit.

Some say because he is soft, but the softness was good for our democracy, as the opposition was allowed a field day, with all sorts/ kinds of propaganda and the nation’s democracy was enriched.

Freedom of speech, freedom to demonstrate and freedom to insult the President at will by the opposition. Does this atmosphere exist today? I do not think so. The opposition is being hounded left and right by the EFCC and DSS and those who were shouting then in the opposition are now quiet.

We shouted Ekitigate, in an election that Ayo Fayose won clean and square and till date, then gentleman has not been allowed to concentrate on governance to the general good of his state. If the Fayose governorship election was a fluke, how do you account for an election conducted under the present regime. After Buhari’s election was over, the PDP swept

the whole House of Assembly seats in Ekiti state. It must clearly be noted that in a democracy, it is not every time that the best man wins but the ability to mobilise the grass root and check mate the opposition.

That is why a George Bush became the President of the United States.

A good democracy exists when the opposition accepts the results in good faith. Even in its own government, the APC is acting as if it is still in opposition. They have supervised three elections in ten months and all three were inconclusive. It is like the country has taken a step forward with change and three steps backwards in terms of our democratic advancement. Why was Kogi election declared inconclusive?

Why was so much violence and intimidation by official security men allowed in the election of Bayelsa state? And, why was Rivers state allowed to burn, even with the presence of the army, police and other security

If we do not institutionalise justice and fair play today, it will haunt the generations of tomorrow the present government cannot be there for ever

Benin roads: Promises made, promises kept

By Dan Owegie

W

HAT Edo people will always remember Governor Adams Oshiomhole for is the urban renewal programme of his administration. On assumption of office, he assured Edo people that he was going to fix the roads in the state since they were in deplorable conditions and the drainage system in Benin city was poor. Whenever it was rainy season, residents told tales of woe.

Water took over many residential apartments in most parts of the city.

The administration started with the removal of illegal structures on the right of way, which generated initial furor , but Oshiomhole displayed rare courage by bringing all illegal structures down.A feat no administration in Edo had been able to achieve.

Many people affected by the exercise, even though painful to them or their businesses openly lauded government’s initiative as it is appreciated as an exercise being done in utmost good faith.

The Ring Road, now known as King Square was where he had to start from. It was originally designed to be a master piece of historical, cultural and social attraction which was reduced to insignificance by the attendant chaotic situation and the presence of miscreants as a permanent but embarrassing feature.

However the story is different today as government has cleared the Ring road, beautified, transformed and reformed it into a beautiful place and the pride of Edo State.

Today, that part of the city looks pretty much better than the way the PDP led government left it. The National Measuem is now a beehive of activities during festivities. Other chaotic roads cleared by the Transport ministry which are also in the beautification plan include Sakponba, Mission, Akpakpava, Siluko C M Y K

Road, Second West, Isinoro, Airport and Oba Market roads among several others.

The beautification project is quite novel to Edo people as all roads constructed are provided with covered drains, street lights, sidewalks, and beautiful lawns in some cases.

It wasn’t long into the life of his administration when the ministry of works within the framework of urban renewal embarked on and completed the rehabilitation of the following roads within Benin City alone: Akenzua Street, Dawson Road, Wire Road, Aideyan Street, Ben Oni Street, Boundary Road, Uwa, Giwa Amu Road, Jemide/Akhionbare Streets.

Others are College Road, Agadagudu, Universal-Oghobaghase-Technical College Roads, Ihama Road, New Lagos Road by Eghosa/Okhoro Junction, Okhoro Road, St. Saviour Roads etc.

In addition to the above mentioned roads that have been rehabilitated and put into good use, it is a common knowledge that the government also embarked on the Benin Water Storm project to fight perennial flooding in Benin City. Others are Siluko roads which has been constructed and dualised with drainage structures and sidewalks at the cost of over N2.5bilion .

Also, the Costain Isonorho road was designed and constructed with drainage structure including the adjoining 3rd, 4th and 5th Guobadia Lane and Oni Lane

Given this development, Oshimhole has raised the stakes for the next governor of the state

personnel? Do we take recourse to blaming Jonathan again for all of these? I think it all about ego. Some people believe that it is not possible for them or their candidates to lose when they are in control of the security aparatus and this is very injurious to our democratic process.

We can never fight corruption effectively if our electoral process are fraught with fraud. A leader who comes in by imposition or through other fraudulent means cannot rule transparently. The beginning of a transparent government is a free and fair election and if President Buhari cannot guarantee that, he might as well forget his corruption fight.

It is what the people see that they will react to. You cannot be shouting corruption and be seen to be doing the opposite and you expect the people to take you seriously.

By now, with the good standard left behind by Goodluck Jonathan, free and fair election should be the norm in this country, unfortunately, we are regressing deeper and deeper into the pit of infamy and we say we are making progress.

INEC has not been able to conduct elections successfully in one state since this government came in, how are they going to cope when the general elections come up in 2019. Incidentally, this failure was foretold by many critics in the manner the present government choose to handle INEC at inception; first by appointing an acting INEC head that was tainted with controversy, who was allowed to hold sway despite the many protest

for the sum of N422.9m. The Five Junction Contract included the study, design and construction of flood control structures as well as upgrading of the roads, with the provision of street lights and beautification works at Five junction

by Uselu-Lagos Road, Mid-West Street, Iheya Street, Iheya Lane 3rd Cemetery Road, Ivbiye Lane and Uwa Street in the affected basin for the sum of N2.5billion.

All of these have been completed and commissioned.

Akpakpava road currently wears a new look as flowers and street lights have given an unimagineable look to the area. The dualisation of Upper Mission Road and adjoining roads up to Aduwawa has greatly improved movement of people and goods in the area and residents are quie pleased with government's efforts.

Residents of Costain Street in Benin heaved a sigh of relief following the conversion of the Costain Refuse Dump by the Oshiomhole administration into what is now known as Costain Green Park, a job executed by the Ministry of Environment. Foul-smelling stench that oozed out of the refuse dump site which sent so many residents to their early graves, with some abandoning their houses and ran away while a good number battled with different illnesses and reptiles before government's the intervention efforts. The Costain Green Park is now a beautiful place to behold today and currently serves as a recreation ground.

All adjoining roads have been constructed and asphalted with street lights and renamed Gani Fawehinmi Layout.

One of the major reasons attributable to the flooding of Benin City is the issue of blocked drains. The Edo State Ministry of Environment during the period under review embarked on general clearing of all drains in a most unprecedented manner. All side drains were opened up, even the Benin Moat in some areas such as the popular Five junction were also opened up to allow for free flow of flood water in Benin. That exercise has largely contributed to the deflooding of the state.

In fact, there has been no loss of life to flood water as was the case in past years when flood water will move into people’s homes

by concerned citizens and the hurried manner the present head was appointed.

The question that I am putting forth here is; where are all of those concerned human rights critics who were so vocal under the Jonathan administration? All have gone to sleep or are waiting for appointments as compensation for their efforts in bringing the present administration to be. It is also important for all of us to note that what happened in the house of the chicken is equally applicable to the goat.

If we do not institutionalize justice and fair play today, it will haunt the generations of tomorrow the present government cannot be there for ever- maximum for Buhari is seven years from todayso they can choose to hound the opposition as they like but they should note that it will be their turn one day. Nobody expected the PDP to disintegrate so quickly but their downfall started with the display of such arrogance as we are witnessing now. Elected officials should respect and have regards for the citizens and not to lord it over them, not when the citizens have risked their lives, comforts and all to ensure that the change take place.

The conduct of the present regime towards democratic change has not been impressive, they should look into the mirror and ask themselves, what has gone wrong? *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

killing the aged and children.

It will also be recalled that as a first step, and to have some quick intervention in some critical areas, government established and inaugurated the Rapid Response Agency on the 29th of July 2009. The mandate of the agency includes the following: Emergency maintenance of roads and drainages, Emergency provision of potable water and electricity.

Others are: Emergency reconstruction and rehabilitation of public infrastructure (Movable and immovable), Emergency provision of shelter as well as Youth Employment through the Youth Employment Scheme.

This agency has been working round the clock fixing most roads in the city centre.

Between 2015 and 2016, it has fixed a number of roads in the Government Reserved areas of Boundry Road, Ihama, Benoni, Adesuwa, and several others making them motor able.

Lately, the dualisation of Upper Siluko Road by Teachers House and Second East circular roads with sidewalks, covered drainages and street lights tells the story of a promise made and a promise kept.

Previous administrations had told Edo people that there was an evil spirit preventing the construction of Upper Siluko Road by Teachers House which is the way that leads to Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas.

Oshiomhole has been able to dislodge the evil spirits and fixed the road for use.

These roads are in Edo South Senatorial district alone. Several other roads have been constructed in other Local Government Areas of the district outside of Benin, and many more in the other two Senatorial districts in the State Given this development, Oshimhole has raised the stakes for the next governor of the state. Clearly, the next governor will not start from the King square as Oshiomhole did, but he must follow the good example set in terms of the quality of roads such as the six lane roads in Airport Road and Ugbowo among others be a priority.

*Mr.Owegie, is a chieftain of the APC in Edo State.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 21

C M Y K

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Sterling Bank reversed previous year growth in loans & advances to record a 7.1 per cent decline y-oy in 2015

,

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

T

HE banking industry last week continued to report mixed fortune as Sterling Bank Plc turn in impressive results, the first amongst tier-2 bracket and the seventh in the industry.

Though Skye Bank, FCMB, Diamond Bank and First Bank of Nigeria Plc were yet to announce their full year results, the nine-month interim results and the profit warnings coming from them already indicated bad scorecard in the full year results.

With these announcements it has become clear that the economy headwinds which the bad results were blamed on had cut across the tier-1 and tier -2 banks.

This form the industry background to the appreciation of Sterling Bank Plc audited full year 2015 result. The result showed that the headwind notwithstanding the bank recorded positive growth in both top and bottom lines, the first tier-2 bank to publish its full year 2015 earnings, and also the first among its piers to show such dexterity.

We had seen similar impressive performances in the results rolled out previous week by United Bank for Africa (UBA), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB) and Zenith Bank Plc, all belonging to the

,

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

Sterling Bank: Tier-2 banks can also beat headwinds Investors’ look foward to better 2016 tier-1 group of banks.

Credit risk strengthened earnings

Sterling Bank sustained its fine form since the acquisition of Equatorial Trust Bank in 2011 to record another positive year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in FY:2015 despite the unsettled operating environment. The bank’s gross earnings at N110.2 billion in FY:2015 show a 6.3 per cent y-o-y growth against N103.7 billion in FY:2014.

This was on the back of impressive growth in net trading income (income from bonds trading up 2,652.3 per cent to N4.1billion in FY:2015) and other operating income, resulting to a 13.7 per cent yo-y rise in non-interest income in FY:2015. One of the outstanding features of all the banks’ results so far was a significant drop in fourth quarter (Q4:2015) earnings, as they all effected a massive cut back in risk asset growth due to the worsening economic headwinds. Sterling Bank appeared to be doing the unconventional but which turned out positive as the bank recorded 6.0 per cent

growth in its Q4: 2015 gross earnings and this is attributable to the 21.6 per cent rise in loans and advances in that quarter.

Lower tax helped up profit

The bank recorded a 2.8 per cent and 14.4 per cent y-o-y

The bank’s board has proposed a dividend of 9 kobo in FY:2015 as against 6 Kobo in 2014, resulting to a dividend yield of 5.2 per cent at N1.73 share price (21/03/ 2016)

rise in profit before tax (PBT) and profit after tax (PAT) to N11.0 billion and N10.3 billion in FY:2015. The huge variance between growth rates in PBT and PAT was due to significantly lower effective tax rate.

A huge 58.5 per cent drop y-o-y in income tax expense was traceable to the utilization of unrelieved losses brought forward (about N2.1 billion) in 2015 resulting to an effective tax rate of 6.6 per cent in FY:2015 from 16.2 per cent in FY:2014.

On a Q-o-Q basis, the bank recorded an inspiring quarteron-quarter (Q-o-Q) growth in Q3:2015 at 40.2 per cent and Q4:2015 at 29.4 per cent to reverse the poor performance in Q2:2015 (-61.3%).

Also, the bank’s PBT and PAT margins settled at 10 per cent and 9.4 per cent in FY:2015, 0.3 per cent lower but 0.7 per cent higher than previous year respectively.

The higher PAT margins was obviously helped by lower tax.

Slight improvement in cost management

Sterling Bank’s Cost to Income Ratio, CIR, improved to 72.2 per cent in FY:2015 from 73.6 per cent in 2014 due to a marginal drop of about 1.9 per cent y-o-y in operating expenses, OPEX, as operating income closed flat.

The bank’s net interest margin, NIM, and cost of funds, CoF, reflected the competitive environment in 2015 as interest expense surged 18.5 per cent y-o-y.

Consequently, NIM deteriorated to 5.7 per cent in FY:2015 from 6.9 per cent in the preceding year while CoF spiked to 6.3 per cent in FY:2015 from 4.9 per cent in 2014.

Risk assets down, cost of revenue up

Sterling Bank reversed previous year growth in loans & advances to record a 7.1 per cent decline y-o-y in 2015 which management linked to the restructuring of State Government loans. As a result, net loan book closed at N407.5 billion in FY:2015 resulting to a rise in loans to deposits ratio to 71.6 per cent, significantly lower than recommended regulatory limit of 80 per cent, from 68.3

C M Y K

per cent in FY:2014.

Also the bank’s impairment charges rose 10.3 per cent yo-y to N8.2 billion in 2015 relative to N7.4 billion in the corresponding year.

Consequently, cost of revenue increased to 1.9 per cent in FY:2015 from 1.6 per cent in FY:2014. Sterling Bank’s total deposits dipped to N590.0 billion in FY:2015, 9.9 per cent drop y-o-y as against 15 per cent growth in 2014. This development is attributable to implementation of Treasury Single Account, TSA, policy in Q3:2015 as a decrease of 8.7 per cent was observed qo-q.

However, worthy of note is the significant improvement in Sterling Bank’s capital adequacy ratio, CAR, from 13.6 per cent in FY:2014 to 17.5 per cent in FY:2015.

The bank’s board has proposed a dividend of 9 kobo in FY:2015 as against 6 Kobo in 2014, resulting to a dividend yield of 5.2 per cent at N1.73 share price (21/03/ 2016). Closure and payment dates have been fixed for 4th April 2016 and 19th April 2016 respectively.

Sterling Bank’s 2016 outlook

Financial analysts have positive perspective of Sterling Bank’s business.

Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa, a Lagos based investment house said on the back of a clearer fiscal policy in second quarter 2016, “we forecast a 10.9 per cent and 8.7 per cent y-o-y growth in gross earnings and PAT in FY:2016 relative to initial projection of 5.2 per cent decline and 9.4 per cent increase respectively.

“We also project a 10.1 per cent and 5.5 per cent y-o-y growth in loans & advances and deposits on the back of base effect and a stronger second half 2016. “We expect earnings per share and dividend per share to settle at N0.39 and N0.11 respectively in FY:2016 .

“Consequently, we raised our 12-month target price marginally to N2.27 from N2.02 presenting an upside of 31.1 per cent based on share price of N1.73 (21/03/ 2016). However, we maintain our “BUY” Rating on the Bank”.

PAGE 24

Life has been unfair to me, Udu bullion van PAGE 25 accident victim cries out

VOL. 1: No. 86

PAGE 25

99-year-old monarch who read without glasses

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

•One of the phoney structures.

•Another house whose owner refused to relocate after receiving compensation.

I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E: Shrines, tombs, miracle houses spring up along road project in Akwa Ibom

By Tom Moses

I

K O N O — T H E indiscriminate erection of phoney shrines, graves and miracle centres by some unscrupulous persons along the right of way of ongoing road projects in Akwa Ibom State is now a source of serious concern to the state government, which is currently embarking on road construction across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that the surprise emergence of the shrines, tombs and miracle centres among others on the roads is an indication of the growing desperation of some individuals, who believe the government would settle them to evacuate those bogus structures for construction to take place.

They are said to see the government presence in their communities as a lifetime opportunity to get empowered, C M Y K

hence, the rush to put up anything on the road where construction or expansion work is on going.

But the government, it was gathered, sees the emergence of these impediments on the roads as a deliberate attempt by some to obstruct development and provision of infrastructure to advance the course of transformation of the rural areas to modern towns and cities to attract investors to the communities and the state in general.

To this end, the state government last week ordered the demolition of these annoying structures on roads under construction in Ikono Local Government Area.

The demolition order was given during an inspection of the 4.6 km Mbiafun Nkwongo-Nung Ukim road by the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang.

Inyang warned that what the government required from the people at this austere time was

cooperation and not armtwisting so as to enable government provide all the nooks and crannies of the state

They are said to see the government presence in their communities as a l i f e t i m e opportunity to get empowered, hence, the rush to put up anything on the road where construction or expansion work is on going

with developmental infrastructure and dividends of democracy.

Also, no fewer than 1,417 illegal structures including those whose owners had received compensation but refused to relocate to allow contractors handling the dualization of the 91.7 kilometre Uyo-Etinan Road and the 39.4 Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road in Etinan Local Government Area stretching to Awa-Iman in Onna Local Government Area to do their work, were demolished penultimate week by the AkwaIbom State Government with the support of youths from the respective local government areas.

Many of the erections, Niger Delta Voice learned sprang up immediately the government awarded contracts for the construction, expansion and modernization of the roads.

It was further gathered that even when the government became

magnanimous and mobilised Estate Valuers to value the houses on the affected roads to compensate their owners, more phoney structures still sprang up after the Estate Valuers had completed the evaluation exercise. Also, some of them refused to relocate after they were paid compensation for their property thereby preventing the contractors from carrying on with their job.

Speaking while supervising the demolition exercise, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-Eyen lamented that the people of the area were invariably trying to obstruct development by refusing to relocate their houses after receiving compensation for them.

He said, those, who rushed to erect structures after the evaluation of the original houses on the roads were not sincere and as such would not be compensated.

The Commissioner said if these people, he described as "enemies of progress" are allowed to have their way, then, the government's predetermined development projects would be stifled just as the contractors will not be able to deliver their jobs

Continues on page 25

24 —

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

Life has been unfair to me, Udu bullion van accident victim cries out

By Perez Brisibe

U

DU—FOR MRS. Onome Akporode, a victim of the bullion van accident, who is now confined to a wheel chair, after undergoing seven painful surgical operations at the Delta State Teaching Hospital, DELSUTH, Oghara, this is not the best of times.

Onome, a former teacher and mother of four, started having issues on July 13, 2015, when her legs were crushed by a Mercedes Benz 911 tipper while trying to avoid a bullion van and a Mitsubishi escort vehicle conveying cash said to belong to a branch of First Bank along Udu road, allegedly driving against traffic.

Welcoming Niger Delta Voice to her scantily furnished onebedroom apartment in company of her husband, Mr. Michael Akporode, Onome, the bread winner of her family narrated with pain her struggle since the unfortunate incident.

“I have had seven surgeries on the stump (amputated leg) and the left leg and I have three more to be done,” Onome said.

While many persons following the incident had thought the parties involved in the accident had taken over the treatment and recuperation of the victim, Onome’s immediate family have been left to shoulder the burden with support from good spirited individuals and corporate bodies.

Laments predicament

Regretting her inability to prepare herself for the future, she said: “As a Christian, I would say am doing fine but the only challenge I have now is money. I have more surgeries to embark on, but I cannot because I don’t have the needed fund.

“It has not been easy, I wish I was given the opportunity to plan for this while I was still with

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa C M Y K

Mrs. Onome Akporode receiving medical attention at DELSUTH last year Pix by Peez Brisibe

What is left of Onome’s left leg. my two legs but it is so sad that I never did.”

Lamenting the role played by others allegedly involved in the accident, she said: “First Bank and Stirling Trust Security Company said they are not legally responsible for the accident, hence we are presently in the court. For now, I am stranded and facing a

tough time.

Kids out of school

“As a teacher before I had the accident, you should know the value and importance I place on education, but as I speak with you, my kids are out of school because even to feed is a tough challenge. The treatments I have embarked on

Mr. Akporode and his wife exiting the Udu High Court premises on Thursday Photos: Perez Brisibe. have been successful as a result of the assistance from the general public.”

Onome, who appealed to the Delta State government to come to her aide, said doctors have assured that her condition could be managed depending on the completion of her surgeries adding that a prosthesis would be needed for her left stump to aid her getting back on her feet.

Bank denies alleged involvement

Meanwhile, the management of First Bank of Nigeria Plc has asked the High Court in Udu to dismiss the suit filed before it by Onome Akporode against it describing it as “frivolous and unfounded.”

The bank while denying its alleged involvement in the accident stated that its officials were neither in the bullion nor escort vans, hence did not control the vehicles and could not have rendered any available assistance to the victim.

But the victim through her counsel, Oghenejabor Ikimi in her statement of claim, described the incident as a wrongful act stressing that the N500 million suit against the defendants was due to the grievous body injuries caused to the person of the claimant by the vehicles, drivers and personnel of the defendants which resulted in the amputation of her left leg.

Continues on page 25

Fear of job losses grip Cross River teachers as assembly okays SUBEB verification

BY IKE UCHECHUKWU

C

ALABAR—CROSS River State House of Assembly, CRSHA, has resolved the rift between the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT and the State Universal Basic

Education Board SUBEB and directed the latter to continue with its personnel audit of teachers in the state primary school sector.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon John Lebo, had penultimate week set up a special committee headed by

Hon. Okpechi Friday to reconcile the warring NUT and SUBEB. Niger Delta Voice learned that as part of the committee’s resolution, the Board was mandated not to hesitate to demote teachers with verified fake certificates, who may have

CBN donates Science, Home Economics Laboratory equipment, books

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—AS part of its social responsibility and to encourage the study of science in public secondary schools, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Asaba branch, weekend, donated Science and Home Economics Laboratory equipment and books worth millions of naira to Ebu Grammar School in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking during the formal presentation of the laboratory

equipment and distribution of books to the management and students of the school, the Branch Controller, Dame Elizabeth Agwu, stressed the need to direct the focus of students towards the study of science subjects.

Lamenting that students, particularly girls were shying away from the study of sciences, she attributed changes in the world today to breakthroughs in the sciences.

Agwu explained that the laboratories equipment were provided through personal

contributions of members of staff of Asaba branch of the bank, adding that they were giving back to the land that had been a blessing and given much to them.

In her remarks, the Principal of Ebu Grammar School, Mrs. Joy Atisele, thanked the Management and staff of CBN Asaba for coming to the aid of the school through the equipping of her laboratories and promised that the students would work hard and make good use of the equipment to achieve set goals.

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE enjoyed promotions over the years, back to their original level of first appointment with genuine results while those with fake certificates should face outright dismissal.

The exercise, it would be recalled had already been conducted in nine out of the 18 local governments covering the Northern and Central Senatorial districts of the state and had “uncovered over 200 hundred teachers with fake certificates, ghost teachers, dead teachers as well as house to bank teachers,” before it was suspended by the assembly.

The committee chaired by Hon Okpechi Friday, last week, ordered as part of its resolutions that SUBEB should go back to the field to complete the work it started. It also declared that all issues that provoked the rift between the NUT and SUBEB had been resolved.

Continues on page 25

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 25

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

FUPRE reveals construction of mini refinery

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

HRM Owhorode of Olomu kingdom.

HRM Owhorode of Olomu kingdom, driving himself and others to church for a thanksgiving service on his 99th birthday.

99-yr-old monarch who reads without glasses ...still drives himself

DELTA… FINGER OF GOD

BY PEREZ BRISIBE

U

GHELLI—INDIGENES of Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State have every reason to celebrate their revered monarch, HRM Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon OgoniOghoro I JP, the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom.

Interestingly, the Ohworode, the oldest educated monarch in the state, who turned 99 years in January is so blessed that he still reads without glasses, walks unaided and displays the strength of a horse.

The monarch in company of his immediate family recently caused a stir when he drove

himself in a black Lexus jeep to St. Andrew ’s Anglican Church, Ogoni- Olomu for a special thanksgiving service.

Secret of longevity

Acknowledging God as the secret behind his longevity, the monarch urged all Nigerians, especially Urhobos to turn to God in solving her problems stressing that no human effort can permanently eradicate the problems plaguing the country.

According to him, “God has been magnanimous to us as a people, yet we are crawling and sleeping. Am urging every one of us to learn how to give our hearts and soul to God as this is the only way we can

Fear of job losses grip Cross River teachers as assembly okays SUBEB verification Continued from page 24 While calling on SUBEB to announce new dates and time for the continuation of the personnel audit exercise in the remaining LGAs, the committee cautioned that teachers should be given fair hearing adding that their respect and dignity should be accorded them during the exercise.

It further directed that the SUBEB Chairman should return seized original certificates to their rightful owners.

“Sufficient and timely radio/ television announcements should be made to inform teachers of the requirements necessary for the smooth conduct of the exercise and the panel should not request for school fees receipt as prerequisite for screening,” the committee stated.

The Okpeche led committee also told the SUBEB chairman to immediately constitute a fresh screening panel to include NUT, ALGON and the Ministry of Education. It also called on SUBEB to announce soft landing for those with fake certificates to

surrender them or face dismissal.

“The board should announce amnesty or give a time frame for fake certificate holders to surrender such certificates to the screening panel or face the consequence of dismissal if the panel on its own verifies that such certificates tendered are forged,” it noted.

On his part, the Commissioner for Education, Hon Goddy Etta lauded the thorough job so far carried out by SUBEB adding that all hands must be on deck to move the educational sector of the state to its rightful position.

“We must give our children the platform and foundation to compete favourably with their peers from other parts of the country. Supervision and monitoring is paramount to achieve success in our school system, I am asking the governor to declare a state of emergency in our educational sector because our ranking and performance is really poor,” he said.

succeed in life.”

Speaking on the secret of his longevity, the monarch said: “God is the secret of my longevity and that is why at my age, I can still drive.”

An epitome of God’s gift

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa described the royal father as an agent of change while presiding over the activities of his people for the past 28 years as Ohworode of Olomu kingdom.

The governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Sir Fidelis Tilije a grand reception by the Urhobo Social Club, Lagos in honour of the monarch at Olomu, stated that as an epitome of God’s gift to Nigeria as a nation, all Deltans should emulate the leadership qualities of the monarch, adding that as an agent of change, there are lessons to be learnt from his life and times.

Radiates excellence

On his part, president of Urhobo Social Club, Chief Simeon Ohwofa while giving reasons for the honour bestowed on the monarch, said: “The Owhorode as a king, radiates excellence in his leadership for the past 28years on the throne and this excellence is what the club stands for, hence we have decided to celebrate him.”

In his paper presentation titled, “The progressive leadership in a traditional setting,” the guest speaker at the reception, Prof. Samuel Ibodje, described the monarch as a colossus whose image transcends the frontiers of Urhobo into the international arena while remaining visibly endearing to his people as their monarch for the past 27years.

Dignitaries present at the event include the Olu of Warri, Obi of Onitsha, Pere of Seimbiri Kingdom, government officials and Ivie from the various Urhobo kingdom.

ARRI—THE Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta says it has reached an advanced stage in the construction of a minirefinery in response to the difficult challenge of fuel supply facing Nigeria.

Vice Chancellor, VC, at FUPRE, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, disclosed this at the 9th Matriculation of the institution where 715 intakes took the oath and sign the matriculation register as new students.

According to him, the minirefinery sited in the school’s premises is near completion and awaiting the nod of the industry regulator, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. He said the project when completed, would also serve as a legally acceptable alternative to discouraging the environmentally destructive illegal refineries.

To the matriculants, Prof Ibhadode said: “You must demonstrate sound academic aptitude to provide technical answers in line with societal quest. You must weigh consequences of your individual and collective actions.

“You should be on guard to resist any attempt to lure you into cultism. Cultism is evil before God and man. The school will not condone destruction of its property or any unruly behaviour.”

The 9th Matriculation of FUPRE also featured for the first time since its establishment in 2007, the rendition of the varsity ’s anthem reportedly produced by a committee led by Dr. Chinelo Nwokolo.

Shrines, tombs, miracle houses spring up along road project in Akwa Ibom Continued from page 23 on time.

"There were many miracle houses that sprang up along that road map and government discovered that if it was to go ahead and pay those kind of compensations, the actual sums meant for the roads would have been lost and this government is not prepared to tell the people of Akwa-Ibom any story.

That informed the reason why I went on air to announce to Akwa-Ibom State people that those illegal structures that are being erected along

Ekpene Ukpa, Awa Ntong, Mbioto, Awa-Iman, IkotAkpan Eshiet up to Mkpok would be demolished.

"I have invited you to come and witness this exercise so that nobody will wake up tomorrow to cook up spurious stories. What we have done so far, affects the magic and miracle houses, while the old buildings that government have not paid compensation are left. Now that we have taken away the magic houses, government is going to make efforts in the next two weeks to go back and pay the genuine property owners as

we have always done," the commissioner explained.

However, some of the persons whose property were affected during the demolition exercise said they were not aware of the planned demolition.

Mrs. Grace Okon, a business woman and one of the affected persons said she was not notified by the government of its intention to demolish their houses even as she lamented that compensation had not been paid to her by government for encroaching on her land and property.

C M Y K

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Businessman brings welding institute to Irrua

Angry youths barricade ExxonMobil gates over oil spill

BY TOM MOSES

E

AKWA IBOM…

KET—ANGERED by the delay in payment of compensation to Eket, which was affected by an oil spill in 2011, the youths from Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom last Thursday barricaded the gates of Mobil Airstrip and Housing Estate and paralyzed activities at the facilities.

The youths numbering over 100 carried placards with inscriptions “ExxonMobil Release our Money ’, ‘ExxonMobil Enough is Enough’, ‘Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna have been paid why Eket?’, ‘We will not leave until our money is paid’ among others.

The protesters barricaded the entrance of the airstrip with plant suckers and traditional injunctions to prevent staff and visitors from entering or going out of the premises.

The Eket Youth Leader, Mr. Godwin Nduaesa told Niger Delta Voice that their action became necessary because the three core oil communities of Ibeno, Onna and Esit-Eket had been paid their oil spill palliatives since 2015 while Eket was left out.

LAND OF PROMISE “The youths are going to remain here until the money for Eket community is released,” Nduaesa stated.

He noted that for several months, Mobil has been deceiving their paramount ruler with promises that the money would be released without any precise the date.

“We cannot continue to allow such an affront to the sensibility of our paramount ruler and the people of Eket,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr. Donatus Samuel, Community Leader from Okopedi, where Mobil airstrip is located, said the sum of N1.17 Billion was expected to be paid by ExxonMobil to the Eket community.

Meanwhile, the authorities of ExxonMobil could not be reached for comment as the youths did not allow anybody access into the premises even as those who could be contacted on telephone referred NDV to headquarters of the company in Lagos.

EDO…

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

HEART BEAT OF THE NATION

I

RRUA—ATTEMPT by the various tiers of government in the country to stem rural/ urban migration especially of unemployed and qualified youths into the cities in search of non-existent jobs has received a boost with the establishment of a welding institute in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State by a Port Harcourt-based businessman, Mr. Sunny Eromosele.

Irrua is the home town of former Nigerian Military VicePresident, late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu and other notable Nigerians who have done the country proud.

The institute, Mudiame Welding Institute, Niger Delta Voice learned, is one of the approved training bodies in Nigeria to run the International Institute of Welding Diploma Programmes in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Welding as an authorized national body.

Impressed by what he saw on ground during the foundation laying ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu urged the private sector to partner with the government in the provision

Mr. Sunny Eromosele. of quality technological training that would drive reforms in science and technology education.

He said such partnership will help the country to surmount challenges in energy, agriculture and telecommunication.

Onu, who was represented at the foundation laying ceremony of Mudiame Welding Institute in Irrua, Edo State by the Director, National Centre for Energy Commission of Nigeria (NCEE), Prof. S.A. Ogbonmwan, said technological innovation reinforces a country’s ability to create collective wealth and is also a key impetus to individual success.

“This is a laudable project that will contribute to empowering our young entrepreneurs and groom talents through technological education for a fruitful future for

NIGER DELTA PHOTO PANORAMA FLAG-OFF CEREMONY FOR POLIO ERADICATION AT AGBOGIDI PRIMARY SCHOOL AKWUKWU-IGBO, DELTA STATE

BY HER EXCELLENCY DAME EDITH OKOWA, WIFE OF GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, PHOTOS: NATH ONOJAKE.

From right- Dr Nocholas Azinge, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dame Edith Okowa, wife of Delta State Governor and Mrs Ebi Otuaro, wife of Delta State Deputy Governor.

Dame Edith Okowa, immunizing a child during the programme

DELTA STATE DIRECT LABOUR AGENCY’S VISIT TO ORPHANAGE HOMES IN ASABA

Engr. France Enekorogha, Director General of the Agency, presenting some gift items and Rev. Sister Agnes Effiom, Matron, Mother of Divine Grace Orphanage Home, Asaba.

C M Y K

From left: Engr. Blessing Enamutor, Director Central, Engr. France Enekorogha, Director General,Smart Meka, Director North and during the presentation of gift items to the Pro Labore Dei Orphanage Home, Asaba.

all. This is an unprecedented achievement for Edo people. I see a strategic importance of the institution, economically, technologically and scientifically.

It will contribute extensively in training engineers who know how to apply what they have learned and turn their knowledge into commercial products.

“It will also be the home for the wise and innovators. With the profound impact, this institute will bring to our teeming youths, I envision the development of both human and material resources,” he said.

Earlier, Managing Director of Mudiame Welding Institute, Mr. Sunny Eromosele, said that the establishment of the Institute would contribute to the actualization of the Nigerian Local Content Act and increase the level of local competence in the field of engineering technology in the country.

On why he decided to bring the institute to his home town Irrua, he said, “I see the need to establish this institute in Irrua, first to open up my community and if you look at other local government headquarters around us such as Ekpoma, Uromi and others, they are very developed, but Irrua is not. We have nothing and our educated and other able bodied young men are doing nothing. Secondly, I have to establish the institute here so that we can develop our youths that are very intelligent and make them realize that they can be self employ and also employ others after their training here.

He said further, “We want to set up a research development centre where we can train our children on how to build cars, ships, aero planes, computers, fabrication of equipment like agricultural machines, industrial machines among others. This will put a stop to the challenges of Nigerians facing endless struggle and rejection in the hands of other nations of the world in the quest for such training” The institute, he said will commence its inaugural session in 2020 and its first phase will be completed in three years An indigene of community, Barrister Kelvin Usifo who was full of praises for Mr. Eromosele said the establishment of the welding institute in Irrua will provide jobs and technical knowhow to the people and alleviate their sufferings.

“If more businessmen could bring such development to our people, our community will be developed,” he said.

President of the Nigerian Institute of Welding, Chief Solomon Edebiri who also spoke on the occasion said with the coming of Mudiame Welding Institute, the nation by 2020 will no longer depend on foreigners for her welding needs.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 27

,

S FORUM O

N the heels of its moderate results for the financial year 2015, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, GTBank, last week put up a conference call to explain the figures and the future of the business.

Profitability had inched up against macroeconomic headwinds that pushed some competitors into negatives.

Profit before tax was up by 3.7 per cent and with reduced tax helping profit after tax up higher by 5.3 per cent year-onyear, y-o-y.

There was also improved margin as indicated by Net Interest Margin, which came in higher to 8.26 per cent y-oy on the back of higher yields on securities.

However, the sustained growth in impairment charges by 74.8 per cent further reflects the macroeconomic challenges in the Oil and Gas and

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, closed upbeat despite earlier bearish trading sessions. The overall market performance measures, NSE All Shares Index, ASI, and market capitalization, climbed week-on-week, w-o-w, by 80 basis points to 25,899.91 points and N8.91 trillion respectively.

The NSE Banking Index and NSE Consumer Goods Index were the growth drivers increasing by 1.37 per cent and 4.96 per cent to 238.46 points and 639.12 points respectively.

Meanwhile, total deals, transaction volumes and Naira value increased by 23.14 per cent, 86.97 per cent and 43 per cent to 14,994 deals, 1.55 billion shares and N10.45 billion

,

Notes on GTBank Investors' Conference Call

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor Manufacturing sectors . This has consequently deteriorated Non Performing Loan, NPL, posture as revealed by NPL ratio of 3.21 per cent against 3.15 per cent, though, this is still comfortably within 5.0 per cent regulatory benchmark.

Nevertheless, we commend the improved operating efficiency outlook as cost-toincome ratio, CIR, moderated at 44.4 per cent against 44.8 per cent recorded in previous year comparable period.

Key takeaways from the 12 months earnings conference call as presented by the management of the bank includes:  Scarcity of foreign

Equities Review (March 21 -24)

T

Also, profit taking activities on specific stocks that appreciated in the previous week may weaken performance w-o-w

respectively.

The steep decrease in trading activities was as a result of normalization of trading activities following preceding week’s block trades on some stocks.

Alongside trading activities, major homecare and personal care goods manufacturer, Unilever Nigeria Plc announced its full year 2015 results, recording a 6.22 per cent y-o-y increase in turnover to N59.22 billion; however, profit after tax fell by 50.57 per cent to N1.19 billion.

The decline in bottom-line was mainly attributed to a 66 per cent increase in finance cost to N3.17 billion.

exchange remains one of the key challenges that impacted commerce and trade, and hence the bank’s performance;

Liquidity environment  Tight environment

liquidity negatively

GTB CEO Agbaje

Scarcity of foreign exchange remains one of the key challenges that impacted commerce and trade, and hence the bank’s performance

impacted the cost of funds;  Customers’ deposit remain stable above N1.6 trillion despite full implementation of TSA in September last year;  Improved operating efficiency (CIR) despite consistent rise in AMCON and NDIC charges in the year;  E-banking offering helped cushion the decline in COT income;  The bank targets more retail lending going forward;

 Exposure to manufacturing and downstream in Oil and Gas sectors impacted NPL;  The bank targets return on equity, ROE, above 25% for the 2016 financial year;  Healthy contribution from subsidiaries across board; 

Contribution from retails sector drives deposit base significantly;  Exposure to upstream, downstream and manufacturing sectors are under control;  Exposure to upstream is down to 19% from 24% in first half 2015; and  Capital adequacy ratio, CAR, is comfortably above regulatory threshold of 15%.

WEMABANK Plc FY:2015 result — Financial Highlights (NGN Billion)

Stock Market Outlook (March 29 – April 05)

A

S

majority of the Bellwethers in the market have released their results, there is little left to stoke investors’ confidence in the interim, hence market dealers expect the market to continue to trade sideways in the sessions ahead.

This week, the dealers expect to see bargain hunting activities particularly on stocks with attractive dividend yields.

Earning releases, corporate actions and other announcements would continue to drive market performance this week as dealers expect results from tier-2 banks to begin to filter in.

Also, profit taking activities on specific stocks that appreciated in the previous week may weaken performance w-o-w.

Dealers said they believe marginal uptrend observed in the last two trading days of last week may not be sustained as fundamentals remain weak.

On a balance of factors, the dealers believe that a combination of further unimpressive earning releases/profit warnings, profit taking as well as the impact of the new monetary policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria last week may continue to depress the market in the week ahead.

C M Y K

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Budget reduction not an issue — Petroleum experts Express concern over investment/production ratios

By Clara Nwachukwu

P

ETROLEUM energy experts have said the reduction of the 2016 budget by as much as N17billion is no big deal as long as the budget is passed to stimulate economic activities.

They argued that the passage of the 2016 budget by the Senate yesterday is germane, as many sectors of the economy, particularly the productive and infrastructure sectors are begging for attention.

Commenting on the state of the economy vis-a-viz the passage of the budget, the experts, who spoke to Vanguard on the telephone, insisted that the current economic situation, devoid of investments is very worrisome more so as the investment ratio does not match the production ratio.

The Managing Director, International Energy Services Ltd., IES, Dr. Diran Fawibe, said: “Whether the budget was increased or slashed, the most important thing at this point in time is for government to inject money into the economy, spend the money through appropriations and reflate the economy. Government needs to get things started through the ministries and MDAs and get more Nigerian’s into productive activities.

Productive activities He added that “Whatever shortfall thereafter can be taken care of through supplementary budget when fortunes improve.

If we have the money we can work on it.”

Similarly, the President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, Mr. Nosa Omorodion, expressed concern over the depletion of the foreign reserves.

According to him, “We are depleting our reserves at a much faster rate than we are adding.

This means that our investment ratio does not match our production ratio and that cannot mean well for any economy.

He argued that rather than dwell on the delay in passing the budget, government ought to move beyond the challenges that have stagnated the economy by addressing the salient issues.

Investments in petroleum Omorodion insisted that government should focus more on stimulating the economy and attracting fresh investments into various sectors, particularly infrastructure and petroleum.

To this end, he urged

C M Y K

government not to toy with the cash call obligations to stimulate investments in the petroleum sector, adding that if more money is put into areas like power, roads, hospitals and other social infrastructure, government would have gone a long way in

fixing most of the ailments troubling the economy.

Specifically, to attract more investments into petroleum, the bedrock of the economy, he said NAPE had advised government to do one of two things with regard to settling the backlog of

cash call obligations for the joint ventures, JVs. He said: “NAPE suggested that government could sell some of its shares in some of the JVs to the public to ease the cash burden or they can go out and look for alternative funding for the JVs.

“This will automatically release enormous funds to government, which can be deployed into areas like power, practically the whole nation has been in darkness for a while now; roads for ease of transportation and movement of goods and services.

Budget benchmark: Although it appears that Nigeria may have got a away with the budget benchmark of $38/barrel, however, Fawibe called for caution, saying that the excess should be deployed into good use.

He noted that oil prices shoring up is a good development, as government will have more money at its disposal to plough back into various economic activities.

Omorodion on his part argued that notwithstanding that it may be too early to celebrate increase in oil prices, government must be prudent in handling whatever excesses there are, as the current $40/barrel mark may subsist.

•Dam

Electricity supply: GENCOs, DISCOs plead for more time Identify weak transmission network as hindrance

By Sebastine Obasi

G

ENERATION and distribu tion companies in the country have asked for more time and patience from Nigerians to improve electricity supply.

Their plea came as they identified weak transmission network as a major hindrance in the attainment of the 10,000 megawatts target set by President Muhammadu Buhari to be achieved in 2019.

The Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, Mr. Sunday Oduntan, believes the President’s target is achievable, even though it was targeted at the twilight of this administration.

According to him, “It has nothing to do with the tenure ending in 2019. It is the timeline which it can be achieved. It shows that the government will be constructing new transmission and distribution networks. It is about improvement in the value chain.

“I am not pessimistic about it.

We must remember that it was in public hands, now, it is under private hands. The scenario is different; and the environment is also different. There is determination by the new owners to improve so as have return on investments unlike in the past when vested interests subverted government’s plans to improve the situation.”

The Chief Executive Officer,

CEO, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Robert Dickerman, believes that for government to achieve its target, “there must be new capital to pay for new generation.”

Weak transmissions However, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, owners of Geregu Power plant, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, said that weak transmission network has been affecting the generating capacity of the plant. “It does affect us because everybody has to go through the control centre where the power that is generated is been shared.

Without doubt, there is urgent need to upgrade the transmis-

For the power sector to make progress, investments in transmission infrastructure must outpace investments in other segments of the value chain

sion infrastructure in Nigeria, to be able to cope with the level of generation that is being anticipated or even being generated at the moment. However, the good thing about us is that we have a dedicated transmission line to Abuja. That is where the advantage of investing in Geregu Plant lies,” he told Vanguard.

Dilapidated transmission infrastructure has remained the weakest link in the electricity value chain as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has increasingly demonstrated lack of capacity to evacuate any additional supply arising from improved gas supply to the generation companies.

Vanguard gathered that TCN has transmission capabilities of about 6GW. Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure is said to be made up of approximately 6,680 km of 330 kV lines, 7,780km of 132kV lines, 330/132kV substations with installed transformation capacity of 10,166 MVA and 132/32/11kV substations with installed transformation capacity of 11,660MVA. TCN is still plagued with high non-technical losses and low infrastructure coverage of the country, as less than 40 percent of the country is covered by the existing transmission infrastructure.

According to an energy consultant and CEO of New Hampshire Capital Limited, Mr. Odion

Omonfoman, the transmission segment of the electricity value chain is lagging behind. “Very little investments have come in since the power sector reforms and the challenges faced by TCN continue to hinder the realisation of reliable and stable power supply envisaged by the reforms.

“For the power sector to make progress, investments in transmission infrastructure must outpace investments in other segments of the value chain.

Private sector ownership With an annual investment requirement of US$1billion for the next ten years, there is an urgent need to seek creative, private sector ownership and funding of transmission projects and infrastructure using the PPP model,” he said.

Efforts made to get the reaction of Clement Ezeolisa, spokesman for TCN were not fruitful, as he neither picked his calls, nor did he respond to text message sent to him.

DISCos are optimistic: The General Manager, Public Affairs, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, said the distribution companies, DISCOs, should be given more time to improve as the infrastructure they met at the time they took over from the defunct PHCN were dilapidated.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 —29

Kachikwu is misunderstood — Depot operators Many independent operators have criticised recent pronouncements by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on petroleum products distribution. They accused him of instituting monopolistic policies by favouring some players over the rest.

However, Dapo Abiodun, the Managing Director, Heyden Oil and Gas Ltd., and Chairman, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA, told Vanguard that the minister is highly misunderstood, saying that based on the plans most of the downstream challenges will soon be over and attributed most of the problems to the scarcity of foreign exchange. Excerpts:

By Clara Nwachukwu Europe, when it’s winter time N minister ’s recent they don’t drive as much so comments on petroleum much refineries are focused on blending petroleum products for products distribution?

It is the press themselves that the West and other African subare causing all the panic buying regions that are warmer, so a lot by their misinterpretation of what of petrol come this way. But between mid-March and April, the minister said.

Basically, what the minister was that changes because they now trying to explain was that when go into the summer months and he said the issue of supply of the demand for petrol increases petroleum products will linger for in those countries.

You suddenly see a shift from a bit, he didn’t mean that what you see today will linger for a very those who used to bring petrol long time. He was referring to a to Nigeria suddenly take the point when the problem will be petrol to North America, Europe resolved in the entire country, in etc. also, you know that our specs every nook and cranny of the are different and they begin to nation. This means that from blend the specs for those areas Lagos to Port Harcourt, to thereby reducing the volume Maiduguri and just resolving that comes to West Africa and them in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Nigeria is the largest consumer Kano and Kaduna only but for the in this region. That I the first problem to be resolved in every factor he (minister) talked about village where there is a filling station. That was what he was referring to, but you will find out that over the next two week, about 80-90% of these problems will be solved.

The reasons for what you see The biggest presently are very simple; there problem we have is what we call the summer and winter months in petroleum had up till now is template. The government also because there is no has tried to shift from what obtained in the past to something foreign exchange. that identifies with the change This is the origin of that the president promised us, which is predicated on prudence. the problems itself In the temperate part of the world like the North America,

O

• Chairman, DAPPMA, Dapo Abiodun

between the months of March and April.

Coupled with the fact that the minister has now changed the dynamics in terms of getting refineries to actually come and bid for crude and bring back refined products through the DSDP. When you look at the new process starting from April 1, coupled with the summer and winter trading of petroleum products, the combination of effects is what you see in everything happening. That explains why if you look at Africa, there are no ships carrying petrol to the region, but by the end of the last week in April, a lot of ships will begin to arrive.

Strategic storages The minister has also put in place moves to have national strategic storages to keep petroleum products because if you have them or if the previous administrations had done that we would have been able to ride the storm during this period when we don’t have mush supply, we fall on our reserves. So with this strategic storage, even if anything happens like this again for one

month there will be enough petrol to consume without anybody feeling it. Indeed, it’ll be difficult to have this kind of situation again for one month…

But we’ve been in it for months now…No, no, no, it’s just been epileptic. But the end is at sight.

I can guarantee that by the second week of April we will begin to get some reprieve.

It’s good to hear you say such glowing things about the minister’s plans for downstream petroleum. However, your colleagues, especially the independent operators are not so enthusiastic. They believe the minister is ignoring the independents and focusing only on the majors.

No, no, no, that’s absolutely false; they’re just ignorant of what is happening. In downstream marketing, you have the majors, depot owners and the independents. The independents only own filling stations, while the depot owners and the majors bring in the products.

This is what the minister has done, beginning from January 1, he decided to incentivise the independents. How did he do that? Because the independents own more of the filling stations,

Nigeria earns N1.94trn from crude export in 3 months

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA earned N1.94 trillion from the export of crude oil and other petroleum products in the fourth quarter, Q4, of 2015, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS. The NBS, in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the Fourth Quarter of 2015, disclosed that Nigeria’s total exports in the period under review were dominated by petroleum products export.

On the other hand, Nigeria spent N288.625 billion on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol in the period under review.

Specifically, Nigeria, according to the report, exported crude petroleum oil and oils obtained from bituminous minerals valued at N1.674 trillion, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export was put at N226.226 billion, while the export of other petroleum gases stood at N18.726 billion.

In addition, Nigeria earned N8.772 billion from the export of liquefied butanes, N7.53 billion from Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons; and N4.86 billion from the export of liquefied propane.

The report further put the value of Nigeria’s total exports at N2.077 trillion in the period

under review, representing a decline of N256.5 billion, or 11 per cent, over the value recorded in the preceding quarter.

It noted that on an annual basis, total exports from Nigeria stood at N9.729 trillion at the end of 2015, representing a drop of N6.575.2 billion or 40.3 per cent over levels recorded in 2014.

The report said: “Notwithstanding a steep decline in crude oil exports by N4.946 trillion or 41.6 per cent in 2015, the structure of Nigeria’s exports is still dominated by crude oil exports.

“The contribution of crude oil to the value of total domestic export trade amounted to N6.945

trillion or 71.4 per cent in 2015.”

The report explained that the largest product exported by Nigeria in 2015 was Mineral products, which accounted for N8.574 trillion or 88.1 per cent.

“Other products that contributed noticeably to Nigeria’s exports include vehicles, aircraft and parts thereof; vessels etc. and prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco, whose values stood at N681.6 billion or 7.0 per cent, and N167.1 billion or 1.7 per cent respectively, of the total exports of Nigeria for the year,” the report said.

he said he will make more money available to the retailers on the PPPRA template, so they tweaked the template in favour of those who own filling stations.

The cause of all the distribution problems we have in Nigeria is because we don’t have enough retail outlets. If you look at Lagos Island, Ikoyi for example, how many filling stations do you have there? You have a few on Awolowo Road, One on Kingsway Road and that’s it. How many are in V.I.? Very few also.

But if you go to other countries like London, you have a small filling station on almost every street. In Dubai, you’ll see filling stations in every other place. But our cities were not designed to have enough filling stations to cater for the emerging population; the population has grown much more than was originally planned for. That is part of the major problems that we have.

What the minister did, and I’m not being patronising, because I am one of the captains of the industry, we speak to him and he listens; he has shown good faith till date. So the minister decided that, even against what some of us believe in, he decided that the transporters and the retailers must have the benefits more than the importers so that more people can go and invest in filling stations.

So they tweaked the template and increased the transporters margins because they were complaining about the margin and saying they will not move products. He asked them why they said they were not making money; the depot owners were making more money.

Transporters on the template So he increased their margin, and right now, it is better for you to have a filling station and that is why many of us are now investing in more retail outlets because that is where the money is. If a minister has come in and has increased the allowance of transporters on the template, he has increased the allowance of the retailers by incentivising them, how can the independents be complaining? I really don’t understand and that is why I said that some people are not informed.

Really, the biggest problem we have had up till now is because there is no foreign exchange.

This is the origin of the problems itself. Normally, they give us allocations we go and import. But they gave us allocations and we can’t import because the ones we imported before, we have the Naira we can’t find dollar to buy.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Tinubu and the verdict of history

By Mobolaji Sanusi Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so - Charles de Gaulle

T

HERE is a thoughtprovoking puzzle that many politicians currently in and out of power across the country have found a hard row to hoe.

That conundrum is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu - the Jagaban of Borgu land, Asiwaju of Lagos and former governor of Lagos State. Today, the enigma clocks 64; yet, he is still waxing stronger within the nation’s political firmament as an astute political strategist and unfaltering torchbearer of progressive politics.Without any deliberate attempt, this man with large appetite for politics is impulsively etching his name indelibly on the sands of time.

Without sounding conceited, it would not be out-of-place to state today that he remains the mostsought-after politician and perhaps, one of the few most significant of the progressive hue in modern-day Nigeria. The reality, even amongst those that hate to love Tinubu, against the dictate of their conscience, is that he has become a veritable political brand that can be ignored at one’s peril in the political landscape of the nation.

Political landscape At a point in the history of this country, the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, was the issue.

Even after the great man’s death 29 years ago, most politicians in the south-western part of the country still use his name to deceive the electorate during electioneering periods.

Momentarily, Bashorun MKO Abiola appeared on the political horizon, but was cut short by the feudal military oligarchy that denied him his electoral mandate by sending him into an early grave. Most politicians in our present day deploy the Tinubu political brand name to win grassroots support during elections.

Since the passage of Awo and, perhaps Abiola, one doubts if there is any Nigerian that has taken the political emancipation of his people from the yoke of democratic tyranny seriously as much as Tinubu has been doing.

The political ignoramuses might deride him; the grovelers of centrist conservative elements are used to impugning his character, but that is the man still standing like the rock of Gibraltar. Asiwaju has the power of political liberation; he is imbued with a rare economic skill, being a shrewd accountant with vast international experience. This man of unquantifiable knack for philanthropy has this uncanny nerve for discovering a talent,

which was reflected in the membership quality of his mostly well-endowed cabinet team that he assembled during his eightyear rein as governor of Lagos State.

The man turns 64 today, but many people prefer to criticise him, out of sheer envy of his result oriented political track record; others do simply because they could not rival his steadfast commitment to finding solutions to political and other challenges facing the country. Tinubu thinks Nigeria, dreams Nigeria; he lives Nigeria and sleeps Nigeria.

From the north, east, west and south, people call him at random to seek his help or input on intractable political quagmire.

These men and women are not necessarily members of the political elite class; this is because the former governor is also at home with the downtrodden whose interests form the thrust of his concern for a better country.

Some, out of steep spite of his large-heart and enormous goodwill, will query his source of wealth: And simply because the man is doing what they cannot ever do or are not privileged to do since they are not in a position to do it, they harbour the ache in their bellies.

Some see him as being immoderate. But Benjamin Disraeli had an answer for the Tinubu-phobia when he said: ‘Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men, and to console undistinguished people for their want of fortune and their lack of merit.’ There are empirical examples of Nigerians, irrespective of tribes and especially among the Yoruba, the man’s cradle, that have benefited immensely from his political and monetary largesse. But sadly, these same people still hypocritically relish speaking ill of him. Surprisingly, Tinubu relishes welcoming such backstabbers back to his fold.

Most of us see this as a weakness but he sees that to be one sacrifice of greatness that he must pay.

One can only hope that this inclination of taking back backstabbers would not turn to be his undoing later in life.

Whoever doubts Asiwaju’s progressive credentials needs to embark on historical excursion.

At a time that the Yoruba states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Osun and Ekiti were falling to the gangsterism of dethroned

The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others predict doom

Pe o p l e ’ s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2007, it was only Asiwaju’s Lagos that stood to absorb the heat of conservatism •Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before eventually launching, single-handedly, the talked-about political superiority worthwhile battle that liberated complex does not mean the former western region but haughtiness, although it might Ondo, from the grips of appear to be so in the eyes of the rampaging agents of feudal mischievous among politicians politics. The giant progressive who want to see it so. Tinubu feels strides that the nation is a higher esteem over the witnessing today are a obstacles he desires to surmount consequence of Asiwaju’s and he is blessed with the rare political acuity. This gives courage of overcoming them, credence to Walt Whitman’s with enough energy reserved for statement: ‘Produce great men, any eventuality.

The positive roles of Tinubu in the rest follows.’ the successful political merger of the opposition parties; the Possession of outcome of the 2015 general political mind elections in favour of then Progressivism is indeed taking opposition and the fact that a firm root in the country today precedent has been set that because of the great political makes it impossible for a ruling mind possessed by Asiwaju. party, especially at the centre, to Indeed, Charles de Gaulle was take others for granted in the right by saying: ‘Nothing great political space have become a will ever be achieved without burden of envy in the minds of great men and men are great most politicians that see Tinubu only if they are determined to be as a threat. Rejection of Tinubu’s so.’ Tinubu is indeed and political ingenuity is nothing but always politically determined to a deliberate creation of avoidable succeed. And it is this uncommon amphitheatre of perfidious determination to be great and to politically liberate the masses from the yoke of reactionary politics that compelled him to take with zeal, progressive politics, since year 2014’s merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with other opposition parties - far beyond the west and to all parts of the country. This gave birth to All Progressives Congress (APC) that today controls the seat of power in Abuja.

The move at that time generated s p i t e , covetousness as much as cynicism from those who always see impossibility rather than possibility in T i n u b u ’ s laudable political initiatives. The difference between Tinubu and the rest in the political arena is that he sees possibility where others predict doom.

His often-

hypocrisy.

Despite the sleaze of political mudslinging by mostly beneficiaries of his political largeheartedness, Tinubu’s democratic scorecard remains very glittering and unassailable.

The current firm control of the centre by erstwhile opposition, hitherto considered as impossible, and the invaluable role played by the Jagaban of Borgu land in bringing it to fruition merely confirmed him as the definitive contemporary political leader of the progressives in the country.

Like Awolowo during his lifetime, Tinubu has, in contemporary Nigerian politics, become a thorn in the flesh of conservative/progressive politicians with lesser candour.

This unjustifiable kvetching syndrome by some of the current political elite class against Tinubu has become a catalyst that gives him more inspiration to surpass his present enviable feat.

But for a politician like Tinubu, it would most likely have been impossible for Nigerians to have the golden opportunity of looking back and saying today: We are free at long last from the shackles of democratic feudal that see power at the centre as their birth right! This writer wishes Asiwaju, plenteous happy returns of today in sound health and continuing political relevance. Happy birthday to you sir. And as the Yoruba would pray: Igba Odun, Odun kan!

•Sanusi is MD/CEO of LASAA

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 31 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 AQUARIUS; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Unless you are more careful matters-of-the-heart may cause avoidable trouble the way your career/business can suffer temporarily.

PISCES; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; It is important you don’t exhibit aggression unnecessarily. Here is a day when secret love is capable of bringing serious pressure. Try to be very diplomatic.

ARIES; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Your concentration level is not perfect and if you take bad advice from friends you would be misled. The more practical you are the better for you.

TAURUS; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Unnecessary aggressive approach on your part along your career/business lines will back-fire more than you imagine.

Graceful expression is what you will need.

GEMINI; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Happenings within your working arena can bring minor provocation but it is just a passing trend. Travelling for love will bring more challenges than expected.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Limiting Your Expectation

By Richard Eromosele

R

ECENTLY, a journalist acco sted me and wanted to know from me what my expectation is concerning the new government. My answer simply is:

I expect nothing special. Before you crucify me, let me ask you. Haven’t we been having new governments

TERROR MUDA

in Nigeria? Government come and go but our problems don’t just remain, they get bigger and bigger.

in “Scavenger Elite”

Over the years, I have learned not to expect much from government as well as individuals. My policy is: blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall not be disappointed.

By Lanre Kehinde

CANCER; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today; Male members of this Star sign will need to watch their libido while female must not ignore their sex-life. Beware of joint ventures with those you don’t know.

LEO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; It is not compulsory you take to aggressive re-action to those within your base of operation who are not as perfect as you. Protect your spouse.

VIRGO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Watch what you eat and drink today. This is the wrong time to engage in unnecessary heated argument.. Romance at work may bring disappointment.

LIBRA; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; Trying to influence matters-of-the-heart with money will not give you the desired result. Any way it is a day you will need to be more careful with money.

SCORPIO; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today ; It is important you are more careful while trying to pass judgement on people within your base of operation because you too may be wrong.

SAGIT TARIUS; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis; today ; Taking a pleasure drive or movement may bring more than anticipated responsibility. Keep away from whatever can not be placed above board today.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN; Full-Moon across Leo/Aquarius axis today If you allow friends to force their ideas on you financially or on matters-of-the-heart, you would be the loser. Express yourself gracefully.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What should I know?

Dear Joshua, Kindly tell me where the Moon was placed when I was born and other things I should know about my star.

Mohammed, Ibadan.

Dear Mohammed, What space can take will be given here-under. Your natal Moon was in Aries.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Preponderance of cardinal quality in your chart is an indication of GREAT LEADERSHIP QUALITY together with innate ability to attain prominence on one hand, on the other hand, exaltation of intellectual related Mercury in Aquarius at positive angle to both lucky Jupiter and Uranus (the planet of genius) in Libra pointed to a person with higher pitch of intelligence.

Action loving Mars as the final depositor of your horoscope ( that’s most influential planet at home when you were born) will most times induce you to strongly desire importance with likeness for quick results; actually long promise without concrete action will bore you easily. Equally 60 percentage of pushfull influence in your chart means that the best for you is to go after your needs and wants.

Combination of all the placement and aspects formed within the planets when you were born are pointers to you as a person with balanced personality with little bias for good spiritual life. And you believe in disciplinarian life style.

Placement of your natal Sun and Moon in compassionate Pisces and self conscious Aries respectively are indications of your being mainly a Piscean and partly an Arian, however as Aries is also your Stellium sign, both basic characteristics of Pisces and Aries are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

C M Y K

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Muslim leaders allege forceful detention by Okowa's aide

By Godwin Oghre

S

APELE—SEVEN Muslim leaders in Delta State have petitioned the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, alleging that they were forcefully imprisoned by his Executive Assistant on Religious Matters, Bishop Nmalagu Greatman, for over 30 minutes, when the latter invited them to a meeting in his office.

They are demanding N10 million compensation and an apology from the governor’s aide, in three national newspapers within 14 days or risk legal action.

The petitioners are Alhaji Abubakar Mumakai-Unagha, Alhaji Wasiu Udi, Alhaji Jubril Jenje, Alhaji Mohammed Kiti, Alhaji Ibrahim Miphoro, Alhaji Yusuf Eregbene and Alhaji Muhammadu Okotie.

They alleged in the petition that, “For over 30 minutes, we were locked up and despite pleas, we were kept in the office against our fundamental human rights to freedom of movement, association, liberty and dignity of life, under

section 33, 34, 35, 40 and 41 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Article XIII and XX of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and we hereby demand N10 million from the governor ’s aide or we will take legal action

against him, 14 days from today (yesterday).”

They alleged that, “When eventually the door was opened, some of us had collapsed and fainted due to suffocation and trauma which we passed through and those of us who fainted

were subsequently rushed to a nearby clinic for medical attention.”

Efforts to reach Bishop Greatman for comment were unsuccessful at press time.

His mobile phone rang several times and was not answered.

BRIEFING: From left: Mr John Ehiguese, President, PRCAN; Mrs Obo Edet, State Chairman NIPR; Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association and Kate Henshaw, Ambassador for African Public Relations Association, APRA, during the press conference to unveil APRA Calabar 2016 conference, in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Edo 2016: Edebiri assures on functional education

By Onozure Dania

A

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Edo State, Dr Solomon Edebiri, has promised to ensure functional education which will impact effectively on the lives of the child in Edo, if he becomes the next governor of the state.

The PDP governorship aspirant for the 2016 governorship election in the state, who, at meeting with a group called PDP Reformers Diaspora Movement, PRDM, in London, said that the present style of education operational in the state does not allow for an all round reformation of the child.

He said: “My desire is to introduce an educational system that will make the individual truly functional both to himself and the society. Our current kind of education in the state and country has not effectively assisted our development bid.

“The curriculum and structure of our educational system only allows the individual to be helpless in the event of structural tension thereby rendering him useless both to the state and to himself. This is one of the key factors contributing to our underdevelopment as a nation despite our huge potentials, natural and human resources.”

Chief Edebiri who is an industrial marine welding

engineer, said for example a functional educational system should be able to create an outlet for students who have inclinations towards technical

training which should run side by side with the existing non- technical curriculum.

“This will equip the student to help the state in the highly

needed industrial and technological evolution and also help him to be self-reliant when there are job shortages,” he added.

We’re ready for change —Edo PDP Rep

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Joseph Edionwele, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was ready to chase the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led All Progressives Congress, APC, out of the state's Government House in the coming governorship election.

Edionwele, who represents Esan West/Esan Central/ Igueben federal constituency of Edo State, claimed that the nonperformance of the APC government in the state had contributed in making the governorship election in the state an easy task for the PDP. Speaking with Vanguard in Abuja, the lawmaker said: “It is not an issue of how prepared we (PDP) are. In Edo State, we are ready for change. We have passed through a lot of pains and troubles. PDP will certainly take over in September.”

Explaining why he was

exuding such confidence, Edionwele said: “The confidence is that Oshiomhole has not done anything.

Nothing has changed. Take it sector by sector. In roads, nothing has changed. In the health sector, nothing has

changed. There is no legacy the governor is leaving behind.”

He said that he believed the PDP will bounce back in Edo State because the people were suffering untold hardship due to over taxation imposed on the people by the APC government.

Delta monarch commends Okowa on infrastructure

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE traditional ruler of Igbodo Kingdom in Ika North-East Local Government Area, Delta State, Obi Ikechukwu Osedume I, has commended the state government for building sustainable infrastructure across the state.

Osedume, who made the commendation during the 2016 annual conference of Igbodo Development Union, IDU, praised the efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa towards fulfilling his electioneering promises to Deltans.

The Igbodo monarch was

represented by the Iyase of the kingdom, Dr Ifeanyi Unomah.

Osedume at the conference which saw the election of new members of the Central Executive Committee of IDU, Worldwide, appealed for quality government presence in Igbodo and charged his subjects to remain committed to the peace and development of the community.

Deacon Matthew Okwaje, emerged as President-General of IDU, worldwide, while Mr Martins Okocha and Azuka Monye were elected first and second Vice President-Generals, respectively.

Rector assures on academic, infrastructural devt in Delta Poly

By Fredrick Okopie

D

ELTA State Polytechnic, OtefeOghara, has denied allegations against the rector, Dr. Clara Sogbaike, faulting her commitment to the development of the institution.

Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mr. Wilberforce Ofotokun, in a statement, said: “Dr. Sogbaike has remained irrevocably committed to the academic and infrastructural growth of the polytechnic since her appointment as rector of the institution,” adding that she has successfully piloted the affairs of the polytechnic to a higher pedestal with the active support and cooperation of staff and management.

He urged the public to be wary of detractors whose covert activities are born out of frustration, malice, envy and jealousy, reiterating that Sogbaike cannot be intimidated but remains determined, and focused more than ever to bring to fruition, her vision for the institution in line with the education policies and programmes of the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in the state.

Rep empowers constituents with N4m for skill acquisition

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—IN fulfilment of his electioneering campaigns, a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Michael Enyong, has donated 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses, tricycles and generating sets to his constituents.

Enyong represents Uyo/ Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan federal constituency of Akwa Ibom State.

Other items donated include motorcycles, sewing machines with standing grinding machines among others, as well as a cash donation of N4 million for 40 women to boost small and medium enterprises managed by women in his constituency.

Speaking on the occasion, Enyong, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it was in fulfilment of his campaign promises and part of his poverty alleviation and skills acquisition programme for his constituency.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016—33

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29 , 2016

C M Y

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 35

BOKO HARAM: Army kills 29 terrorists, rescues 72 hostages

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—TROOPS fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the North East have killed 29 terrorists in several clearance operations, while 72 innocent citizens taken hostage, including women and children, were rescued.

The clearance operations took place at Iza general area and BitaMadube, Ciki-Njubul axis A statement confirming the rescue of the hostages, signed by Col Sani Usman said, “Troops of 151 Task Force Battalion, 21 Brigade have cleared remnants of Boko Haram terrorists from three villages in Iza general area, killing 25 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered some weapons.

“The cleared villages were Mballeri, Shuari 1 and Shuari 2.

In addition, the troops also rescued 18 persons held captive by the terrorists. They comprised of 2 men, 7 women and 9 children.

The rescued persons have been moved to the Brigade’s headquarters for further screening and care.

“Unfortunately, one Civilian JTF accompanying the troops fell off

a vehicle and sustained some injuries. He has however since been evacuated to the unit’s Regimental Aid Post for medical treatment and he is in stable condition.

Continuing Usman said, “Troops of 114 Task Force Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade, in conjunction with some

vigilantes in their area of operation, have carried out clearance operation of reported remnants of Boko Haram terrorists along Bita-Madube Ciki-Njubul axis.

“During the advance, 2 soldiers unfortunately stepped on a buried Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that seriously injured one of the soldiers.

“Nevertheless, the troops continued the advance and had

contact with the terrorists and cleared them out of Madube Cikin, killing 4 insurgents, destroying 2 vehicles and 2 motorcycles belonging to the terrorists.

“The troops also recovered 2 cylinders, 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 boxes of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 2 bicycles and bags of grains.

“The troops also rescued 54 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists'.''

EASTER SUNDAY: From left: Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Justice Babasola Ogunade; Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. (Dr) Olushola Odedeji; his wife, Lydia and Dean of Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Venerable Abel Ajibodu during the Easter Sunday Celebration at the Cathedral GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo by Diran Oshe.

Corruption in civil service killing Kogi — BELLO

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—KOGI State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has reiterated his determination to sanitise the state’s civil service and make it more result-oriented.

The governor in a statement

by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, said the corruption in the civil service had clipped the wheels of development in the state, vowing that his government would address the issue holistically.

Bello in the statement said the

civil service was top-loaded with ghost workers whose over-bloated wage bill has been depriving legitimate workers of their wages.

He said: “Our administration is guided by the New Direction agenda to ensure that the change Kogites voted for became manifest in the way we

5,000 to benefit from Dogara’s free medical service programme medical service programme, the programme was anchored by

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI—NO fewer than 5,000 patients from the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State are to benefit from a free

initiated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

The speaker, who officially declared the programme open at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, said

Mrs Mark, NGO give succour to Agatu crisis victims health facilities outside the camp

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI—WIFE of former Senate President, Mrs. Kate Mark, in collaboration with Live Healthy Organization, LHO, a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, at the weekend commenced free medical services for over 1,500 victims of the Agatu crisis camped at the Central Primary School Ugbokpo, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State.

The medical programme availed the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, treatment for various ailments, while those with serious health conditions were moved to C M Y K

for further attention.

Speaking on the initiative, sponsor of the programme, Mrs. Mark, who decried the condition of the women and children in the camp, said the outreach was her modest contribution to the wellbeing of the IDPs. She lamented that children in the camp were malnourished due to poor feeding and proper medicare and pleaded with public spirited individuals and organisations to come to their aid.

Mrs. Mark, who said she was moved by the condition of the IDPs to undertake the outreach programme promised to sustain the exercise till the inmates returned to their ancestral homes.

50 medical doctors drawn from an association known as Doctors on the Move Africa and will offer free medical services to people suffering from various heath related challenges in the state.

Represented by a member of the House of Representative, Ahmed Yerima, the speaker said that patients with diseases such as eye problems, diabetes, lassa fever, hypertension and other related health challenges would be attended to by the team of medical personnel at the teaching hospital for eleven days.

He called on the people of the state to seize the opportunity by coming out to be tested and treated, noting that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the plights of the people, particularly those who cannot afford the cost of such treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, the team leader of the Doctors on the move Africa, Haruna Kigbu, said over one million Nigerians had received short term medical services, while 350,000 patients had been operated on diverse heath issues in 18 states.

meet the yearning of the people and the way government conducts business.

“To achieve our noble objectives, we need a corruptfree and efficient civil service to help us drive our change agenda. We cannot afford to fail thousands of Kogi people who defied all odds to choose the All Progressives Congress.

“As a realist, I am aware of the irrefutable fact that we cannot certainly continue this way. It is socially, morally, economically and politically unwise to service 39,000 workers with our total allocations. We need to first ascertain the actual strength of our workforce.

“I wish to also reiterate my pledge to the people of the state that our government will ensure that no legitimate civil servant loses his or her job. My promise to the people is to create jobs. We won’t take away jobs from the people.

“But we remain unwaveringly committed to ensuring that ghost workers do not benefit anymore from our commonwealth. Our strategy is to save funds from a hitherto corrupt payrolls and also improve on our revenue generation in order to build roads, improve on our healthcare structures and empower the people”. Bello promised to vigorously pursue the entrenchment of an investment conducive environment in the state to create more private sector jobs, said his long term agenda is to make public service less attractive to the youths of the state.

Bello cries out, says Kogi yet to secure bailout fund

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O K O J A — GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has dismissed insinuations that the state government has secured the N40 billion bailout fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The governor, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, however, said his administration was making effort to secure the release of the fund and access every other measure that will ameliorate poverty among the people.

The statement read: “Kogi State has not secured bailout fund from the Central Bank as insinuated by some mischievous characters who lack the art of objective opposition and syllogistic positioning on issues that affect the state.

“It is spurious to say we have secured the bailout fund meant for the state from the Central Bank of Nigeria. As soon as we receive the fund, we will announce to the whole world as part of the policy of my administration to run a government that will be in touch with the people.”

“This is the time to bond together to subjugate and conquer our common challenges as a state. It is not the time to spread falsehood that could dampen our progress.

The sponsors of the rumour have failed in their attempts at diminishing the growing acceptance and popularity of the Governor among the people who have shown tremendous appreciation to his policies, especially on public service reforms and cleansing”.

The governor, who also urged politicians to desist from “playing politics with the welfare of the people,” assured the workers of the state of his irrevocable commitment to improve their welfare and productivity, “It is not right to turn down the truth for political gains. It is the height of indifference to the yearning and aspirations of the civil servants who have been eagerly awaiting the release of this fund. We are following the procedural processes to ensure we play our own part of the deal”.

Bello, who also described as wanton falsehood, claims that the non-release of the fund is political, expressed confidence that the processes leading to the release would soon be over.

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016—37

TUNJI BRAITHWAITE 1933-2016

Braithwaite on Buhari, Awolowo •Speaks on Buhari's unusual agenda •His unknown political dealings with Awolowo •Nigeria not yet free of military opportunism RAT and cockroach chasing politician and activist who died yesterday at the age of 83 was unknown to many Nigerians a very close associate of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In his last interview with Vanguard last September, Braithwaite unveiled the nature of the relationship he had with the late Awolowo just as he gave an unusual ideological insight into President Muhammadu Buhari’s politics.

Excerpts of the interview were first published last September.

•Braithwaite: My analysis is that Buhari is thinking of the military

By Clifford Ndujihe, Deputy Political Editor

O

N what informed his closeness to the Awolowo family It was primarily from Law. When he was in trouble before the trump-up charge, I was a great supporter of his when they were doing the Coker Inquiry.

This, unfortunately, has been the bane of Nigerian politics. If you have courage that they don’t expect you to have they will soon set up some form of inquiries tilted against you.

That was why I started supporting to Chief Awolowo to his own surprise. He said to me and my mother: ‘how could a young man like Tunji stick out his neck for a man they considered finished?’

Those were his words. He said ‘how could a young man just starting law practice stick out his neck for me?’That was we became close to encourage one another. Papa would say: ‘Tunji, be careful, this people are wicked. I appreciate what you are doing for me.’

You were part of the legal team before he went to prison...

Yes, even before they formally charged him when he was going through the Coker inquiry with his trusted friends like old Maja and Chief Shonibare. They were the three principal targets.

You were close to Pa Awolowo.

Why did you run against him in the 1983 presidential election?

I ran against him not because we fell out. I gave the reason to a journalist recently but he did not get it. I was approached by people from the Middle Belt, late JS Tarka’s people came here.

They knew I was very close to Chief Awolowo. That was in 1978,

when General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military regime was preparing to handover and called for formation of political parties.

Before then, some young northern fellows, one of them was Dasuki, I think Ibrahim was his first name, was a middle level civil servant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs at Ikoyi when late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was the permanent secretary. It was Awoniyi that I knew very well.

In my professional capacity, I used to go there. I had many corporate clients and the issue of business permit and expatriate quota was a major part of any corporate lawyer. For instance, I registered Julius Berger in this country.

So, to get expatriate quota for my foreign clients, I would go to see Awoniyi because his ministry handled such things at Alagbon, Ikoyi here because they had not created Abuja. This young Dasuki was the one who would

It shows that Nigeria is not yet out of the woods when it comes to military opportunism and he wants to clear his backyard first.

process it. He got to know me and he used to visit me when I was living at South/West Ikoyi.

This Dasuki was one of the young Turks for Malam Aminu Kano in the North. And I was close to Chief Awolowo. So we started talking. They knew my politics, I was writing articles attacking northern hegemony.

Still they came to me. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Mohammed Gusau were also part of the young Turks for Aminu Kano. And I was for Awolowo together with Alao AkaBashorun, Olu Onagoruwa, etc.

I was the leader of the young Turks for Awolowo.

Leader of the young Turks So, when the military said they wanted to return the nation to politics, the two sides said why can’t Awolowo and Aminu Kano team up to lead the country?

These boys asked if I could introduce them to Chief Awolowo. I was the person who took Babangida and Dasuki to Parklane, Apapa where Pa Awolowo lived and introduced them. The plan was Awolowo as the president and Aminu Kano as the vice president should work together for the 1979 election.

Meanwhile, Tarka, the United Middle belt Democratic Congress (UMBC) people who were associates of the Action group (AG) in the First republic approached me said: ‘Dr Braithwaite, this return to civil rule is fraught with danger.’

I said, ‘how’?

They said they had been victims of oppression for many years in the North, and that was why they teamed up with the AG in the First Republic but it did not help

them much. I was reporting what they said to Chief Awolowo every time they came. He too found it interesting and he said, ‘all right, continue to listen to them.’

They wrote papers and I was delivering everything to him.

I was not convinced at first and I was reporting to Awolowo.

Meanwhile, Chief Awolowo’s inner core of the AG was forming the UPN. He didn’t keep me out of such meetings. I took the young socialites like AkaBashorun there. Then after some time, Chief Awolowo said, ‘Tunji, be careful that these people were not out to rip you off.

The people convinced me that if this country would realise its economic and political potential, the next dispensation must be revolutionary. They said, these military boys must be watched.

The people from the Middle belt knew the military boys, some of them were also living in Kano.

They said, ‘Tunji, we want a young fearless person like you, a lawyer to form a distinct party.’

They turned out to be right.

They said they knew the military boys that the boys were deceiving the Nigerian public. I told Pa Awolowo. He asked what I meant.

I said there were many things that needed to be changed in the Nigerian Constitution. He said that would be too dangerous to them (AG), that they would see us. Pa Awolowo was the only one whose outlook came relatively closer to what those boys wanted.

Then we had a number of young university lecturers of socialist bent. Pa Awolowo could not go half as revolutionary as we wanted. When he said he could not, we formed the Nigerian Advance Party (NAP).

Our complexion was made clear,

that we wanted revolution. We will sweep out the corrupt element. We will probe. That was where clearing the rats and cockroaches came into it. We said we will deal with the military and all the people who had been involved.

That was why the military registered the First republic parties in their new names. They registered UPN, which was AG. They registered Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), which was the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). They registered National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which was the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). They also registered Aminu Kano’s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Dismantling our operations In 1979, they did not register us deliberately even though the PRP came to me the night before and said they were sure that NAP had met all registration requirements. Aminu Kano and SG Ikoku came to this house and said, ‘ you are likely to be registered, should we form an alliance?’ I said, ‘yes’ because they were the nearest to us.

NAP was finally registered in 1983, what happened?

We had gone to civilian rule then. Before the handover, the military asked us to dismantle our operations. We said no. they harassed us but we did not dismantle. We had structures because from 1978 to 1983 we did not stop operation. We were going through the entire universities and polytechnics. We were pretty strong and given our socialist and revolutionary bent,

Continues on page 38

38—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

TUNJI BRAITHWAITE 1933-2016

Nigeria not yet free of military opportunism — BRAITHWAITE Continues from page 37

they had no choice than to register us in 1983.

We were going strong.

And we knew that something would happen to that regime. In fact, President Shehu Shagari sent Alhaji Umaru Dikko to me to say that the information was that if he was declared the president after the election, the military would intervene.

And that he was advised that if he invited NAP, PRP and the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) there was a possibility that the military would not intervene. I met him oneon-one at the State House.

We declined. There were a few offers made to us. We declined. Given our socialist revolutionary bent •Braithwaite we were not ready to form an alliance with these bourgeois neo- Falae’s kidnap is an indictment on the colonialist groupings. current government. What is your Didn’t Awolowo feel betrayed? Did he assessment of the President Muhammadu give his blessings?

Buhari administration, four months after?

He was not betrayed at all. In fact, what I spoke on a TV programme where he said was that he did not know that I people asked me questions on the latest was that serious a politician. He thought appointments that he made – chief of staff, our relationship was based on law because secretary to the government of the I was passing briefs to him. He said he federation, etc, whether they were not did not realise I wanted to do politics that slanted to the North. he only saw me as a man for justice, I said may be so but I have other insight human rights activism. to the latest appointments because I know Buhari very well and he knows me. I said forget about the northern slant and look at Human rights other more significant things. The date of activism the announcement of those appointments I can’t tell you many things, they will was significant. The announcement was appear in my book but certainly, he did made on August 27, which was the not feel betrayed. I reported everything to anniversary of the Babangida coup that him. I reported everything to him. He told toppled Buhari in 1985.

I said people should think about that. me to encourage them to be talking and I was giving him every information. That Why would he make such pivotal was why we remained friends. He said announcement on such an anniversary?

People should think. We should not take he never ate things on face value. So, it is clear to me anywhere but we had that, Buhari for the moment, is not thinking dinners here and of about North and South. My analysis is that course we had dinner Buhari is thinking of the military. He wants in his house many to do something about the Nigerian times. military. If you looked at his latest I don’t want to appointments, two of the appointments disclose this yet. Pa were his former military fellows. It shows Awolowo regretted that Nigeria is not yet out of the woods that I was not in the when it comes to military opportunism and UPN because he said he wants to clear his backyard first. some those who were Much noise, no action against graft governors were not as body language, may be. But what useful to him as Tunji It is clear weHis got all this time is military news. To me, would have been. he wants to make sure that military Mama HID Awolowo to me that, opportunists, military looters, who are still still sent such Buhari for very much around in the control and message at my 70th administration of this country directly or birthday through a the lawyer, Awoniyi, who moment, is through their proxies are adequately handled. worked in Awolowo’s not My analysis is he wants to make sure chambers. So, there his rear is safe. How many people have was no question of thinking been charged for corruption? Nobody. One betrayal. Pa Awolowo about military fellow, Sambo Dasuki, the former felt he should go with NSA has been taken to a Magistrates’ North and his old friends in AG. Court. Put your two and two together if you I was not in AG. South are a thinker.

You said Chief

Mr. Obama and Fidel’s brother President Raul Castro during his visit to Cuba.

FIDEL CASTRO TO OBAMA: We don’t need your presents

F

IDEL Castro responded Monday to President Barack Obama’s historic trip to Cuba with a long, bristling letter recounting the history of U.S. aggression against Cuba, writing that “we don’t need the empire to give us any presents.”

The 1,500-word letter in state media titled “Brother Obama” was Castro’s first response to the president’s three-day visit last week, in which the American president said he had come to bury the two countries’ history of Cold War hostility. Obama did not meet with the 89-yearold Fidel Castro on the trip but met several times with his 84-year-old brother Raul Castro, the current Cuban president.

Obama’s visit was

intended to build irreversible momentum behind his opening with Cuba and to convince the Cuban people and the Cuban government that a half-century of U.S. attempts to overthrow the Communist government had ended, allowing Cuban to reform its economy and political system without the threat of U.S. interference.

Fidel Castro writes of Obama: “My modest suggestion is that he reflects and doesn’t try to develop theories about Cuban politics.”

Castro, who led Cuba for decades before handing power to his brother in 2008, was legendary for his hours-long, allencompassing speeches.

His letter reflects that style,

presenting a sharp contrast with Obama’s tightly focused speech in Havana. Castro’s letter opens with descriptions of environmental abuse under the Spaniards and reviews the historical roles of Cuban independence heroes Jose Marti, Antonio Maceo and Maximo Gomez.

Castro then goes over crucial sections of Obama’s speech line by line, engaging in an ex-postfacto dialogue with the American president with pointed critiques of perceived slights and insults, including Obama’s failure to give credit to indigenous Cubans and Castro’s prohibition of racial segregation after coming to power in 1959.

Belgium frees Brussels bombing suspect

A

MAN known as Faycal C, the only person arrested and charged with involvement in the Brussels attacks, has been released for lack of evidence.

Belgian media gave his name as Faycal Cheffou and said he was suspected of being the mystery third man seen in CCTV footage of the bombers.

Tuesday’s attacks on the airport and the city’s metro

system killed 35 people and injured more than 300.

The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Police have blocked off a Brussels square, Place de la Bourse, which saw clashes between police and nationalist protesters on Sunday. Officers told the BBC there was a “security issue”.

People were allowed to stay in the square, where

mourners have placed candles, wreaths and messages for victims of the bomb attacks. Of the 35 victims, seven have still to be identified, the country’s crisis centre said on Monday (in French).

At least 12 of the victims are foreign nationals from the US, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and China, it said earlier.

Mali arrests two in connection with Ivory Coast al Qaeda attack

A

UTHORITIESinMali have arrested two men believed to be linked to an al Qaeda attack on a beach resort town in neighbouring Ivory Coast that killed 19 people earlier this month, military officials said on Sunday.

Gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming into several hotels inthetownofGrandBassam, 40 km (25 miles) from the commercial capital, Abidjan, on March 13.

“The information concerning the arrests of two suspects in the north of Mali is true,” said LieutenantColonel Modibo Nama Traore,amilitaryintelligence officer who said they had been picked up by gendarmes and the intelligence service. Ivory Coast announced last week it had detained 15 people in connection with the attack, which was claimed by al Qaeda in the Islamic

Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamistgroup’sNorthAfrican branch. Ivorian officials named the suspected ringleader as Kounta Dallah, but said he remained at large.

While Traore gave no further details of the arrests in Mali, a second intelligence officer said the two men were arrested separately on Saturday and Sunday in the townsofGoundamandGossi in the northern Timbuktu region.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016—39

L-R: Mr Vikram Gopal, Samsung Mobile Business Head; Mr Navpreet Singh, HR Manager, M-Store; Mr Gagandeep Lakhanpal, Technical Head, M-Store; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State(right) in a chat with the Catholic Bishop of Mr Chidera Ejiofor, Service Network Manager, Samsung Electronics West AfNsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof Godfrey Igwebukie Onah on the occasion of Easter Lunch rica; Ms Morohunfolu Seton, Public Relations Executive, Samsung Electronics for leaders of Nsukka Cultural Zone at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu State, on West Africa; Mr Karthik, Factory Manager, PAN Nigeria; and Mr Anil Khera, CAC Manager, at the launch of the Samsung service centre, Opebi, Lagos Easter Sunday.

Ntel set for full return of SAT-3 submarine cable

N

ATCOM Development & Investment Limited, trading as Ntel, yesterday, announced the successful repair and return to service of its SAT-3 submarine cable.

SAT-3/WASC/SAFE or South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable is the longest submarine communications cable in the world with 17 landing points linking Portugal and Europe to South Africa, with connections to several West African countries along the route. It forms part of

C M Y K

the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE cable system, where the SAFE cable links South Africa to Asia. The SAT-3/WASC/SAFE system provides a path between Europe and Asia for telecommunications traffic that is an alternative to the cable routes that pass through the Middle East. SAT-3 provides access to global markets and enables “seamless and diverse” connectivity to the rest of the world.

In a statement announcing the successful repair and return to

service of the SAT-3 cable, Kamar Abass CEO of ntel said “the repair of SAT-3 is fantastic news for data-hungry consumers and corporates in need of superfast and abundant broadband carried over a robust fibre network with significant capacity and low latency. SAT-3’s 17 landing points and intermediate branches incountry and abroad provide for connections all the way to the Far East, thanks to our alliance with SAFE.”Potential customers of SAT3 include Nigeria’s GSM and

LTE operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), major international companies, private telecom operators, content/ hosting operators, infomedics/ infomatics operators, the judiciary (for the execution of real-time online matters), banks and the military as well as airline operators.

SAT-3’s repair also included the cable’s physical diversion away from shipping lanes in the approach to the Port of Lagos. In the past, the dropping (and

dragging) of anchors by such traffic had been associated with disruptions to the cable. With the repaired system’s activation, the system’s Upgrade IV will also be implemented. This boosts its throughput capacity from 420Gbps to 920Gbps in the northern segments and from 340Gbps to 800Gbps in the southern segments. SAT-3 Nigeria is now positioned to better address Nigeria’s need for superfast internet connectivity, datahungry applications, high-quality video-on-demand and increasing social media usage, thus enhancing customer experience.

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

By Theodore Opara

Toyota sets up plant in Nigeria T

HE Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, TNL Chief Michael Ade Ojo has disclosed that the newly completed Toyota Nigeria Limited assembly plant will soon be unveiled.

Chief Ade Ojo who was speaking during the company’s awards/customers night held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, said that the commissioning will take place when all administrative and logistics issues were concluded with the relevant authorities.

It should be recalled that the Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade Ojo had earlier in the week showed the motoring press a video recording of the assembly plant and

the first Toyota Hiace produced from the plant.

The assembly line according to Kunle Ade Ojo is a two line assembly plant for passenger cars, mini bus and pick-up production.

The plant, located in Lagos can assemble between 20,000 to 30,000 vehicles annually according to the Managing Director, who added that the investment in the new plant cost the company millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Toyota, Nigeria Limited has promised that despite the economic downturn in the country, his company would continue to offer quality products and services. “In spite of the precarious

situation of the economy and the enormous challenges it portends, I wish to re-assure you that *Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo MD, Toyota Nigeria Limited posing with the first Toyota Haice, we as a corpo- to roll out from Toyota Nigeria plant. rate organisation are detertest the market could not meet mined more than ever to put in meet the needs of its customers, the demands of the customers. place measures that will allevi- by adding new models that Describing the new Toyota Conate that adverse effects of these match the tastes of their customquest as affordable with Toyota unfriendly economic realities on ers in terms of quality and comDNA of unmatched quality, duthe business to the benefit of all petitive price. rability and reliability, Chief Ade Chief Ade Ojo disclosed that customers and other Ojo noted that they would conrecently the Toyota Conquest was stakeholders,”he said. tinue to strengthen their after According to him, TNL will added to their product line up in sales network to meet expectaNigeria, and it sold like hot cake continuously improve their prodtions of their customers. ucts and services offerings to as the first 100 units brought to Speaking on the Award, Chief Ade Ojo stated “As one of our key customer service initiatives in Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, this particular occasion affords the opportunity to recognise and reward the contributions of our very best customers in the year gone by. As usual, we dedicate our modest success of the year under review to you our customers for believing in us even when it was becoming increasingly difficult to do so.

Business ethics and integrity We also give big kudos to our dealers for their professional conduct and dedication to business ethics and integrity. I make bold to say that as a group, we have always set the standards for others in the industry to follow.”

He commended the motoring journalists for partnering with them in the development of a robust automobile industry by consistently and objectively reporting developments in the industry and Toyota activities.

He said “In view of the unalloyed support we have received from our customer over the years, it is only logical that we would continue to offer superior quality products that will give you value for your money and excellent customer service inn our daily offerings. "This we will continue to do notwithstanding the increasingly challenging business climate in the country. Without any iota of doubt, the present horrendous state of our economy has created a lot of concerns amongst the citizenry, with particular reference to our industry.

The full impact of the auto policy manifested last year." The execution of the policy has generated a lot of worry and created uncertainties in the industry.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 41

By Theodore Opara

T

HE Founder ofa Elizade Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade Ojo has described the new automobile brand addition to the Elizade Group, the JAC brand, as “the diamond in the rough today that Toyota was over 40 years ago.”

Chief Ade Ojo who was speaking recently at the official launch and opening of the multi-million naira head office of the JAC brand in Lagos, said that history was about to repeat itself this time around through JAC brand.

Comparing JAC to Toyota brand, when he took and nurtured the Japanese brand in the ’70s, Chief Ade-Ojo said: “Toyota, you can say, was like a diamond in the rough back in the 70’s. But today, everybody know that the rough is totally removed and the diamond is now etched in perfection."

Continuing, he said, JAC reminded him of how Toyota started long ago, making cars that were affordable and cheaper than the rest, but without sacrificing good performance.

The Elizade boss, who used the opportunity to tell his success story with Toyota, said that he would work together with JAC to remove the rough and etch the diamond until it is perfected and the brilliance is there for all to see to the satisfaction of the customers.

Promising to bring the reputation he had built for Elizade brand to bear on the JAC brand, Chief Ade-Ojo explained that his company has in the last two years, carefully evaluated the JAC brand. He said: "With such

Elizade discovers another rough diamond in JAC a solid reputation in the market, the last thing that I would do is to disappoint my customers who have come to rely on us and trust that we would offer them nothing but good vehicles and a reliable service that can keep them happy and contented."

With this in mind, the founder said: “We examined the performance, ruggedness and durability of these vehicles for two years because we wanted to satisfy our conscience that the brand can indeed perform up to the level of expecta-tion of what our customers know us for.” He explained that their customer have such level of confidence in them to the extent that if a customer should buy even bread from Elizade, he

would believe that they were buying something of superior value not to talk of buying another brand of car from them since this is what had earned them such a strong reputation in the first place.

To this end, he noted that the introducing JAC into the Nige-

IPI hails FG on auto policy, begins assembly of Tata trucks

T

HE National Auto motive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) or automotive policy has the potential to catalyse the development of the

Made in Nigeria Peugeot models shine at Enugu Trade Fair

F

C M Y K

RONTLINE auto assembler, Kaduna based PAN Nigeria Limited is showing a strong presence at the on-going 27th Enugu International Trade Fair holding in Enugu. The company is thrilling exhibitors and participants with outstanding products assembled in Nigeria at the fair.

Zonal Sales Manager, South East, PAN Nigeria, Mr. Gerald Ikejiofor said PAN is at the fair to showcase the locally assembled automobiles, including the new 508, 301 and the Expert Tepee.

According to him, the various models of cars on display are attracting high traffic to PAN Pavilion. Many participants at the fair trooped to Peugeot stand to catch glimpses of the new products on display. Also on display along with the various models of cars, are genuine spare parts and after sales service advisory which Peugeot offers to their clients across the nation and beyond.

The manager revealed that PAN has put everything in place and working round the clock to achieve the target of 60,000 annual output, under the agreement signed with PSA on the 301 CKD (Complete Knockdown) production which commences soon. Ikejiofor thanked the Enugu Chamber of Commerce,

Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ENCCIMA) for the opportunity to showcase the new Peugeot products which are currently competing favourably with an edge in the market. The Zonal Manager called on prospective customers particularly the low income earners, to embrace the Peugeot Vehicle Acquisition Finance Scheme (PVAFS) currently going on with Access Bank, FCMB and JAIZ Bank to grab a life time opportunity of owning brand new Peugeot cars. It would be recalled that the PAN group had taken some innovative steps to present some technical skill acquisition programmes available at the PAN Learning Center, which is a subsidiary of PAN

rian market, therefore, was a very serious matter that warranted them to do everything possible to satisfy their customers.

He therefore noted that he was looking forward to the day the JAC brand will be ranked at the top alongside with brands like Toyota.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of Elizade Nigeria Limited, Mr. Demola Ade-Ojo disclosed that the company had invested two million dollars in the brand and intends to further develop more facilities across the country with the aim of positioning the brand in the Nigeria market.

Reiterating the founders remark about the JAC brand, Mr. Ade Ojo said that the company introduced the JAC brand to provide the most cost effective solution to the auto needs of their numerous customers.

Mr. Ade-Ojo noted that the reason behind the delay in launching the JAC brand into the Nigerian market was that they wanted to be sure of the quality of the product before unveiling it to Nigerians. “We needed to be absolutely convinced that the JAC vehicle brand will not be a disappointment to Nigerians willing to use it for their everyday vehicular needs," he said.

group.

The 27th edition Enugu international trade fair with the theme; “Diversification of the Nation’s Economy from Rhetorics to Coordinated Action” was declared open on Friday, March 25, by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah who was the Special Guest of Honour.

The Minister who was represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Investment, Chief Sam Egwu, assured participants of government’s continuous support in business activities through a strong partnership and providing conducive atmosphere for commerce to thrive.

*Peugeot 508 assembled in Nigeria.

nation’s automotive sector into a major base for the country’s economy, if the provisions are effectively implemented.

The NAIDP, popularly known as the automotive policy, also has what it takes to make Nigeria the hub of the continent’s automotive industry.

These were the views expressed by the Director of Operations, Iron Products Industries (IPI), Lagos, Mr. Davies Obinna Ikegbula, while conducting a section of the motoring press round the company’s chain of production facilities in the Ikotun area of Lagos, where commercial vehicles of various brands, including Tata, are built and assembled.

Ikegbula remarked that a timely execution of the policy which seeks to revitalise the auto industry by discouraging vehicle importation and encouraging local production, can help boost activities in the industry and lead to the production of affordable,

but top quality vehicles for the local market and export.

According to him, existing auto plants like IPI, Innoson and PAN, as well as new original equipment investors attracted by the NAIDP, have the capacity to meet the nation’s vehicular needs, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles (like pick-ups, light and heavy duty trucks), and special purpose articulated vehicles like haulage tankers and trailers.

He, therefore, implored the Federal Government to introduce incentives and policies that will help the local industry to thrive, in addition to addressing the challenges which have militated against progress in the industry, including the problem of power, FOREX and high exchange rate.

Structural steel works Described as the clear leader in the structural steel works and steel fabrication industry in the country, IPI’s main factory on Ikotun-Egbe road, Ikotun, Lagos, was busy like a beehive when the visitors arrived to witness sundry heavy duty truck bodies in various stages of construction.

At work were a wide range of high precision equipment, including cutting and bending machines that were fabricating steel frames and metal sheets for the construction of underground tanks (for fuel stations), heavyduty trailers, tankers, and bottle carriers for the brewing and bottling companies.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

‘Quality of your sleep determines who you are’

By Sola Ogundipe

D

O you know that in order to obtain adequate sleep an average of 6-7 hours of restful slumber, your mattrress is the first step of the sleep equation? Are you also aware that the better the quality of your sleep, the better you are as a person?

Experts say getting a good night’s sleep depends on a number of factors including comfort, stress level, room temperature, but to get it right, you need to start with the basics and your mattress is the first building block to a restful slumber.

Findings by Good Health Weekly of the sleep habits of highly successful people attests to the importance of sleep and good health.

For instance, one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates; the CEO of Apple Inc., Tim Cook, and American President, Barrack Obama, all managed to get up to an average of seven hours sleep daily.

Recently, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s World Sleep Day with the theme “Good Sleep is a reachable dream".

Speaking on the importance

of adequate and quality sleep on regular basis, the Chief Medical Director, Caribbean Health Limited, Dr Patrick Ijewere, remarked that an adult requires an average of six to eight hours sleep everyday while younger ones should sleep longer.

Ijewere, who was guest

speaker at a forum organised

by Vitafoam Nigeria Plc., to mark the World Sleep Day, argued that people often misconstrued the concept of sleep, assuming that they regard the time they wake up as the beginning of the day rather than when they sleep.

"Our company's motto is

health is by choice. Every animal on earth has a circle of sleep. But the concept of sleep is underestimated. Your day starts when you sleep. The quality of your sleep determines who you are the following day. If your sleep is good, you are a better person,” he argued.

WORLD SLEEP DAY - From left - Group Corporate Services Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tunji Anjorin; Managing Director, Caribbean Health and Nutrition, Dr. Patrick Ijewere; Vitafoam's Group Managing Director, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi; and Group Technical and Development Director, Mr. Abbagana Abatcha, during the 2016 World Sleep Day in Lagos recently.

MTN Foundation set to reduce hearing impairment in Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna

I

RKED by the plight of Nigerians with hearing impairment, MTN Foundation will next month commence distribution of 1,500 top of the range hearing aid devices, under its Hearing Aids Support Project (HASP), to successful beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom, Benue, Lagos, Bauchi, Katsina and Anambra.

The HASP is designed to provide hearing aids to hearing impaired persons, including children from six months old.

Speaking at the inspection of the devices, the Country Director, International Centre for Prevention of Deafness and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired Persons (ICPDRHIP), Dr. Eneche Audu, said the distribution of these devices to beneficiaries in these states will no doubt bring succour and enable them live a normal and more fulfilling life.

Eneche further said from recent data from the WHO, over 5 percent of the world’s population – 360 million people – have disabling hearing loss (328 million adults and 32 million children).

“We, at the ICPDRHIP, are happy to contribute our resources in conjunction with MTN Foundation and the Government of these six states to help reduce the number in the little way we can.”

Also speaking, the Executive

Secretary, MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, said, “MTN Foundation is immensely committed to the inclusion of hearing impaired people into the society and enhancing their participation in social and economic activities. We are really pleased

to champion this project as it enables us to compliment government’s efforts to help restore hearing to people with hearing disabilities across Nigeria.”

The Hearing Aid Support Project is one of the initiatives that provide appliances and aids

to persons with disability.

Others are the Disability Support Project (DSP) that provides wheelchairs, crutches, Braille machines and other mobility aids to persons with disability across Nigeria.

This year, the Foundation has

Also speaking at the forum, the Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi said good sleeping habits were essential for promoting healthy living.

With reference to the Mckinsey quarterly report of February, 2016, that states: "The organizational cost of insufficient sleep" shows that sleepawareness programmes can produce better leaders, Adeniyi said Nigeria's current economic challenges which can be traced to years of bad leadership, would have been averted if the nation had better sleep awareness programmes for the public.

"This is why Vitafoam Nig. Plc will continue to support World Sleep Day in creating awareness for sleep and also provide quality products that enable Nigerians achieve a good night's sleep, in order to produce better leaders for our beloved country Nigeria," Adeniyi stated.

Continuing he said,“Our spring mattress is posturpedic, orthopedic and therapeutic, this mattress help to support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature while your buttocks, heels, shoulders and head are supported in proper alignment.” distributed hearing assessment forms and is set to conduct audiometric tests for shortlisted potential beneficiaries. Following this test, devices will be distributed to the successful beneficiaries.

NAPharm mentors young pharmacists on good practice

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

E

LDERS in pharmacy practice have stressed the need to mentor upcoming pharmacists with a view to ensure the development of the practice and ensuring that the profession is at par with other professions.

The older pharmacists under the auspices of Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, NAPharm, also charged upcoming pharmacists to standout by exploring other areas such as politics.

The pharmacists who are mainly Fellows of the profession spoke at the launch of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy's Young Pharmacists Mentoring Programme in Lagos with the theme: "The Next Generation Pharmacist, Poise, Pizzazz and Panache."

In his presentation, the

President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi said pharmacists must take care of its younger generation in order to have an insured future.

The former Minister of Health noted that mentorship became necessary to the group as the future of pharmacy would be handed over to the younger generation. "Mentoring will help to develop young talents and reposition the pharmacy profession."

Pharmacist Minister

Adelusi-Adeluyi, who expressed concern that no other pharmacist has assumed ministerial position in the country since he left as a Minister of Health decades ago said: "Before me, there was none and after me, there have been none, and that is not good enough. He tasked

the young pharmacists to strive for excellence because nobody will like to mentor a failure who does not have an aim.

He advised young pharmacists to open their mind to opportunities as the mentoring programme was an effort by the older and more experienced generation of pharmacists to help the younger generation to realise their potentials in the profession.

He said the mentoring programme intends to reach about 10,000 young pharmacists nationwide, each to be provided a mentor for a period of one year.

The President of the Academy, described the profession as the only science-driven field that has a commercial window, "in other words, with the pharmaceutical agenda, you can have a commercial window, thus retail pharmacies."

The President, Pharmaceutical

Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm.

Ahmed Yakasai, stated that the mentoring programme was in the right direction as pharmacy students only learn the rudiments of the training in the university but the actual skills are learnt outside the university.

"We are redirecting them, to think of patients, public health, so people can understand we are thinking about safety as well being the essential member of health care team."

Also speaking, the Chairman, Planning Committee, Pharm.

Jimi Agbaje, said mentoring has become a way of bringing up the younger ones and is not limited to pharmacy.

He said each year, Nigeria has a shortfall of 2000 pharmacists, he explained that the profession is trying to formalise mentoring in a way that is better organised for the younger pharmacists.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 43

C M Y

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Egypt v Nigeria: Winner takes all T

ONIGHT, in far away Alexandria, Egypt, two African giants, the Super Eagles and Pharaohs of Egypt will clash at the Borg El Arab stadium as they aim to qualify for the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon.

Hector Cuper ’s men struggled to a 1-1 draw in Kaduna on Friday, with Nigeria enjoying the majority of the possession.

Moreover, Coach Samson Siasia and his officials were less than pleased with how Egypt equalised,as they felt the Egyptians should have knocked the ball out of play after a Nigerian player went to the ground with an apparent injury.

The unpleasantness should trigger plenty of emotions in Egypt, and an already intense – and crucial – match in Alexandria will definitely be affected by such a charged atmosphere.

A win for Egypt would all but seal their qualification to the tournament finals in Gabon next year, and would signal the end to Eagles’ hopes of progression; Chad’s withdrawal from Group G means that the second-placed team will not be qualifying under any circumstances whatsoever.

Should Nigeria pull off a win, however, they will be the favourites to finish at the top of the standings, and will go into the final matchday with a one point lead over Egypt, with Tanzania visiting the former team at home in September.

The Pharaohs are not leaving anything to chance with the interior ministry now allowing for 40,000 fans to watch this rematch after the

Cuper Continues from B/Page

CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The return is set to see the Pharaohs hosting the Super Eagles in Alexandria today at the back of their 1-1 draw in Kaduna last Friday.

“We will have an attacking approach in Alexandria,” Cuper said.

“We will try to create more goal scoring opportunities and to be better than Friday’s game, as we are only looking only for a win.”

The Argentine added that playing in front of a home crowd could be an added advantage with the officials allowing up

More world champions‘ll come from Police –Arase

By Jude Opara, Abuja

T

HE Nigeria Police Force (NPF), have assured that it will continue to produce quality sports men and women who will represent and win laurels for the country in international championships.

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase gave this assurance over the weekend in Abuja while declaring closed the 11th biennial Police Games which took place at the National Stadium.

Arase noted that his officers and men have been in the forefront of developing sports in the country by producing elite athletes that can match their counterparts from anywhere in the world.

While congratulating the entire NPF for a successful championship, the IGP said every effort must be sustained to keep the sporting tradition of the officers and men of the Force.

“The successful hosting of the event is a clear testimony to the determination of the leadership of the Force to sustain the sporting tradition of the NPF. It is also reflective of our commitment to encourage officers of the Force to explore the virtues of physical and mental alertness. We are also convinced that the event has thrown up new sporting talents with the potentials of making an impact at the international stage.”

Yellow house wins Coastland Chikki sports meet

Y

*Ahmed Musa attempts a short after displacing Egypt captain, Abdallah El-Said in the first leg of the 2017 Afcon qualifier at the Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna. The match ended 1-1

crowd bans since the tragic incident in 2012 when 72 fans died at the Port Said Stadium.

They are also expected to be a lot more adventurous than they were on Friday, when they generally stayed put in their own half of the pitch only really opening up to chase the game after the Oghenekaro Etebo opener on the hour.

The Nigeria defence will be fully stretched today as Mohamed Salah, Mahamoud Trezeguet and Ahmed Hassan ‘Kouka’ lead the home team’s attack again. Coach Samson to 40 000 supporters to attend the match at Borg El-Arab Stadium.

“The presence of the fans will give us an edge. It will be different in Alexandria than in Kaduna,” the coach added. “We are only focusing on Nigeria’s game.

That is more important for us.”

Meanwhile, it is also reported that the ex-Valencia coach is not concerned by the withdrawal of Chad.

Chad’s results have been annulled after they withdrew due to financial difficulties and leaders Egypt now have four points, two ahead of Nigeria and three clear of Tanzania.

Siasia may well recall experienced Monaco defender, Elderson Echiéjilé to man mark Roma attacking pearl, Mohammed Salah as Stanley Amuzie struggled against the mercurial Salah in the first encounter. The Eagles will be without firstchoice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who has missed training due to a stomach problem, and it is expected that South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi will start in goal.

Nigeria will be boosted with the return from a three-match ban of Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi for Etebo to play

a more attacking role in midfield.

Samson Siasia’s teams love to attack and are always capable of scoring goals, but the coach would also have to take a second look at his strike force – should Victor Moses start or should another striker lead the attack other than Watford star Odion Ighalo, who was largely ineffective in Kaduna.

“We will take the game to Egypt in front of their fans,” declared Celtic defender Efe Ambrose.

“We need all three points in Egypt. It’s a tough task, but we’re capable,” added Akpeyi.

Siasia

appointed in temporary charge of the Super Eagles last month after the shock resignation of Sunday Oliseh.

“We have to encourage the boys so that they could play for Nigeria.”

Turkey-based forward Umar Aminu made his full international debut for the Eagles as a second half substitute and he said Egypt were lucky to get a draw in Kaduna.

“We’re going to Egypt to win. They were lucky to get an equaliser (in the first match), but we have learnt from this experience,” he said.

The Eagles departed Abuja Monday morning for Alexandria on a chartered flight.

Continues from B/Page

CON 2017 campaign back on track after they were forced to a 1-1 draw at home in the first game.

Nigeria have their backs against the wall even more after Chad pulled out of the AFCON qualifiers citing financial constraints as only one team could now qualify for Gabon 2017 from this three-team group with Egypt in pole position having two points clear at the top of the standings “We can still make the difference in Egypt,” said a confident Samson Siasia, who has been

ELLOW house (Onabanjo) emerged victorious at the Coastland Schools 1st Biannual Interhouse sports competition sponsored by Chikki instant noodles.

The champions won nine gold medals, eight silver medals and six bronze medals, while second placed red house (Uwagboe) garnered seven gold, three silver and eleven bronze medals. Blue house (Akinseli) placed third with six gold, eight silver and four bronze medals. In fourth placed is Green house (Odedina) that popped up from the rear with five gold, eight sil-

ver and five bronze medals.

Sponsors of the event, Chikki instant noodles said in addition to increasing the exposure of its product to consumers, the sponsorship of events like this would enable the company contribute its quota to the development of kids.

More than 20 events were competed for in the event which was held at the sports ground of Strong Tower Academy, Ikorodu, Lagos. Parents turned out in large numbers to supports their wards who started off with ballet, karate display and a colourful march past.

Amuneke

and I’m not surprised the game will be played in Alexandria in order to guarantee maximum support,” Amuneke told CafOnline.com “The game will be different from last Friday’s (in Kaduna) where we unfortunately conceded a late goal. It’s going to be tougher.

“We would have to apply a lot of wisdom and cannot afford some of the mistakes we made in Kaduna. I wouldn’t subscribe to the notion that we were tactically naive against Egypt in Kaduna because that was a match we would have won with some luck,” he added.

Continues from B/Page

Egypt warned that the Pharaohs backed by the home crowd will come out hard against the Eagles, but was hopeful that the Eagles can carry the day, if they learn from their short falls in the first leg in Kaduna, where they allowed Mohammed Saleh to score a late minute goal to tie the game. The Super Eagles need to win, if they are to stay in contention for the AFCON 2017 tournament in Gabon.

“From experience, Egyptians are very passionate about football

Today's Fixtures Angola Namibia Ethiopia Egyp Uganda South Africa Morocco Sudan

v v v v v v v v

RD Congo Burundi Algeria Nigeria Burkina Faso Cameroon Cape Verde Cote d’Ivoire

5pm 5pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 7pm 8pm 8pm

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 45

C M Y

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Mikel bashes Mourinho again

S

UPER Eagles captain John Obi Mikel said former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho did not believe in him during his second spell as Blues’ coach.

Mikel has enjoyed a rich vein of form under interim coach Guus Hiddink and it was reason Nigerian coach also felt that he has a vital role to play in the Super Eagles.

“I think confidence is everything, if a manager doesn’t believe in you, trust me there’s no way you can

Zenith Bank WBL: Dolphins remain invincible, beat AHIP Queens 52-38 •FCT Angels, Oluyole Babes finish with wins

succeed,” he told Goal.com.

“Even if you do things right he would always make sure he finds fault.

“He didn’t have the belief that he had in me before, which is fine because every manager has the player that they have trust in.

“It is a tough business, football, so when a manager comes in he wants to have people he believes in. If he doesn’t believe in you he doesn’t play you. And I think it’s all about a manager giving a player confidence.”

D

Adebayor makes Togo U-turn

C

RYSTAL Palace striker Emmanuel Adebayor will lead Togo’s charge for 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification with the burly forward to start against Tunisia on Tuesday.

The Sparrow Hawks will be desperate to return to winning ways when they host the North Africans with three teams currently locked on six points in Group A after three rounds of fixtures.

C M Y K

Togo, Tunisia and Liberia have managed two wins apiece with the Lone Stars set to face Djibouti in Monrovia on the same day.

Defeated 1-0 by the Carthage Eagles in Monastir on Friday, Adebayor will return for the reverse fixture in Lomé.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City striker, who turned down his initial call-up to the national side, reconsidered his decision at the request of the countries football officials.

Back up... Jose Mourinho used Mikel mostly as substitute during his days at Chelsea.

EFENDING champions Dolphins continued their excellent form at the first phase of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League in Abuja, by defeating AHIP Queens of Kano 5238 to complete a clean slate of 9 wins from the same number of matches.

Rookie Mistura Subair top scored with 13 points for the Dolphins who rested their starting 5 for the last 8 minutes of the game. Power forward Aderinsola Idowu added 11 points and 7 rebounds to join Mistura as the only Dolphins player to score double figures.

Head coach of Dolphins Ochuko Okworogwu after the game said in spite of the win her team had not

Rijkaard’s my favourite coach, Messi reveals

L

IONEL Messi has singled out the most important coach of his career so far, and perhaps surprisingly it’s Frank Rijkaard rather than Pep Guardiola.

Messi is currently on Argentina duty ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Bolivia

coming up today, The Barcelona forward, who got his professional start under Rijkaard, highlighted the Dutchman’s impact on his career as the most significant.

“All the coaches I had at first left me things, but I think the most important thing in my career was Rijkaard,” Messi told MBC.”

“If he had not decided to get me in the first team to train and play perhaps I had never reached the first team.”

“I always said [Riikaard] was, for me, a very important person because he trusted me,” Messi added. “He made me play in the first team.”

been impressive but praised the level of competition.

“We are going back to work hard for the 2nd phase, we were very slack at the defence in Abuja. We can’t afford to continue to play that way if we want to retain our crown”.

“Teams have really improved but the sponsors and the Federation still need to give more support to the teams financially,” she added.

AHIP, who gave an improved performance from last night had Chinwe Okah and Victoria Ofiri as top scorers with 9 points apiece in the loss.

Wilson Idanwenkhai head coach of AHIP believes his team will be stronger for the second phase of the league next month.

“We started like this last season because we had little time to jell and we are just getting into rhythm. We won’t go home to rest and I know we will come up blazing just like we did in last season’s second phase and hopefully secure a place in the playoffs.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016 — 47

C M Y

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016

Amuneke foresees tough times in Alexandria S

UPER Eagles as sistant coach Emmanuel Amuneke has

predicted a very difficult game as the Super Eagles take on Egypt this

evening in the second leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Alexandria.

Amuneke who played briefly for Zamalek of Continues on Page 44

Egypt v Nigeria: Winner takes all Kick off 6pm

Details -P.47

TODAY’S FIXTURES Malawi Niger Togo Lesotho Rwanda Liberia Gambia

v v v v v v v

Guinea Senegal Tunisia Seychelles Mauritius Djibouti Mauritania

2:30pm 3pm 3pm 3pm 3:30pm 4pm 4:30pm

Continues on Page 44

We’ll make up in Egypt

—Siasia

*A PAT ON THE BACK: Oghenekaro Etebo (m) being mobbed by teammates after scoring against Egyt in Kaduna. The match ended 1-1.

Photo: Olu Ajayi

S

UPER Eagles coach Samson Siasia has said he still believes his team can win in Egypt tonight to get their AF Continues on Page 44

We’ll attack Eagles —Cuper

E

GYPT national team coach Hector Cuper remains confident of beating Nigeria as they get set to play their 2017 Continues on Page 44

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

MONDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Clever humour (3) 3 Walked up and down (5) 6 Inconveniences interrupted (9) 7 Float on a breeze (4) 8 Move very slowly (4) 11 Apropos of (2,7) 12 Material used in making soft shoes (5) 13 Method (3) DOWN 1 Black venomous spider (5) 2 Unit set up for a specific purpose (4,5) 3 Purplish fruit (4) 4 Workers on a plane (5,4) 5 Compact device that can store a fulllength movie (inits) (3) 9 Rapid or rash (5) 10 Frightening giant (4) 11 Beast of burden or Fool (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 5, Flea 6, Echo 7, Numberone 8, Chip 10, Robe 12, Covernote 15, Plea 16, Gilt.

DOWN: 1, Plough 2, Daub 3, Terror 4, Chin 9, Pretax 11, Bottle 13, Oily 14, Nags.

How to Play Sudoku

P

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

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

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

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.