FG links Boko Haram to 2015 elections

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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VOL. 25: NO. 62132

N150

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

700 sentenced to death in Egypt

59

BOOK SERIAL Why are southern Nigeria ethnic nationalities disunited? Why did Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe seek election into Western House of Assembly and what were his interests in Western Region?

Did Zik’s NCNC really win the 1951 elections in Western Region? How did Chief Awolowo’s AG secure the majority at the expense of NCNC? ….Find out in our irresistible and explosive book serial on Pages 28 & 29

FG links Boko Haram to 2015 elections

BY UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT

•To recruit more soldiers to fight insurgency •Working on Marshall Plan for North-East •FG has failed us —Chibok elders, parents

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AGOS—THE Fed eral Government, yesterday, linked the Boko Haram insurgency to the 2015 presidential election, saying that this was because people fought for power each time elections were around the corner.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made this known in an interview conducted in her car with Reuters in Abuja as she headed to the airport en route New York on Sunday.

“There is no war... there is an insurgency.

We are not in a Colombia situation,” she added, rejecting comparisons Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST: Murtala Nyako should be removed 17 as P. • Governor

Mr & Mrs PROTEST—

Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, protesting at the Lagos State Governor's office in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, over the abduction of 234 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

OGUN APC: Genesis of 2 congresses, 2 26&27 state executive councils

40 firms licensed to import 1.8m 8 tonnes of fuel

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POCKET CARTOON ister, Nigeria had earlier halted insurgencies like attacks on oil facilities by Niger Delta militants in the past decade, noting that Boko Haram did not pose the same threat as the Biafran War that split the country from 19671970.

Abducted school girls

MEETING—From Left: Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chairman, Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Amb. Emmanuel Imohe and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, at a meeting with diplomatic corps on Nigeria's preparedness for a safe 2014 World Economic Summit in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

FG links Boko Haram to 2015 elections Continues from page 1 with Colombia which has, for decades, battled a major left-wing insurgency that often affected large swathes of its national territory.

Democracy in raw form “We tend to notice that when the electoral cycle comes in, all these things heat up. What we are going through now is democracy in raw form, because people are fight-

ing for power and they will use anything to get there ... and to win the election,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

She said Boko Haram, which has raided schools, churches, government offices and security posts in their bid to carve out an Islamist enclave, mostly affected around five percent of the nation’s territory, the North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

But she acknowledged Boko Haram had shown

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step— Martin Luther King.Jr.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

The measure of intelligence is the ability to change —Albert Einstein Marcel Proust, a great thinker and philosopher surmises inspiringly, that often we believe that we can change the things around us in accordance with our desires— we believe it because otherwise we can see no favourable outcome. We do not think of the outcome which generally comes to pass and is also favourable: We do not succeed in changing things in accordance with our desires, but gradually our desires change. The situation that we hoped to change because it was intolerable becomes unimportant to us...but life has taken us round it, led us beyond it, and then if we turn round to gaze into the distance of the past, we can barely see it, so imperceptible has it become.

There is an exact law of life that brings about better changes for the individual who has learned to yield and be flexible, for throughout your life what you do will change and shift. In fact, the changes can occur from hour to hour in each day of your life. Your purpose is not about what you do, it’s about your beingness. In the words of Wayne Dyer, affirm both in writing and in your thoughts that you are here on purpose, and intend to live from this awareness at all times.

it could strike further south. A bombing at a bus station this month killed at least 75 people in Nyanya, on the outskirts of Abuja, which is hosting a World Economic Forum on Africa next week.

The minister however, said that the Federal Government was working on strategic plans to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

According to her, the plans include recruitment of more people into the Armed Forces, increased spending to tackle the sect’s threat and a Marshall Plan for the northeast aimed at lifting the area out of poverty and underdevelopment.

She further said Boko Haram was receiving “cross-border” backing from supporters in Cameroon, Niger and Chad, pointing out that there were plans to cut off its financiers from other militant Islamic groups in the Sahel.

“We need to look at the source of this financing,” she said, stressing that President Goodluck Jonathan was working to obtain regional cooperation to remove Boko Haram’s support from Jihadi groups in the Sahel.

She said that although the impact of the fiveyear Boko Haram insurgency had cut half a percentage point off Nigeria’s GDP last year, it could be contained.

According to the min-

A mass abduction of teenage schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, by suspected Boko Haram gunmen this month has outraged Nigerians and raised fears that the insurrection, coupled with persistent inter-communal violence in the Middle Belt, could strain Nigeria’s unity.

However, the Minister said: “We recognize that this is an inclusion problem ... the fact that the human development indicators in that part of the country are among the lowest,” and hoped that politicians would heed President Goodluck Jonathan’s appeal for unity.

“Everybody has now come together and said this is ridiculous, crazy, unacceptable, for our children to go to school and be sleeping in their beds at night and for some people to come and abduct them,” OkonjoIweala said, referring to the schoolgirls’ abduction in which hundreds are still missing. Nigeria as a nation will overcome this,” she added, even as she stressed that the government was working to obtain backing from donors for the programme.

Boko Haram’s attacks have stopped farmers from growing crops. Several thousand people were killed in the insurgency last year and at that rate it could hurt Nigeria’s GDP in 2014, which is estimated to grow by nearly seven per cent.

“We think we can absorb it, but of course, if like last year, it continues, then we have to make an estimate of the impact,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

She added that investors are looking more closely at Nigeria since a GDP rebasing last month made it the continent’s largest economy ahead of South Africa did not appear to be turned off by the security challenges.

“Nobody who is making an investment has so far said they will not make one, that we know of,” she said.

FG has failed us — Chibok parents, elders Parents and elders of Chibok community in Borno State whose 191 abducted schoolgirls are still being held in the dreaded Sambisa forest said, yesterday, that the Federal Government has failed them over the government’s inability to rescue the girls more than two weeks after they were abducted.

Leader of Chibok Elders Forum (CHEF) Dr. Pogu Bitrus, who spoke with newsmen, yesterday, in Maiduguri, said that 43 girls managed to escape from their captors, while over 100 others were still being held in the forest by the insurgents.

Bitrus said: “We are not aware of any serious effort by the Federal Government to secure the release of the girls. We heard that the military moved troops to the forests some days ago but we don’t know what they are doing. All we know is that 234 of our daughters are in captivity. The Federal Government is supposed to provide security and welfare of its citizens but it has failed us in that respect since it has failed to rescue our children.

“We started having hope when the President hosted the expanded Security Council meeting where they said they were all committed to seeing that the girls were released but up till today (yesterday) nothing has happened. We are still waiting and we have surrendered everything to God but the government should know that it has the primary responsibility to its citizens to secure the release of the girls and return them to their parents.”

He continued: “Gov-

ernment has not provided succour to the parents. It is very disappointing when I read in the papers that America is trying to assist. What is wrong with Nigeria?

We have a lot of unanswered questions and as parents we are still waiting for what government will do for its citizens. It is getting to two weeks now when these poor girls were kidnapped from their school.

APC hails suspension of PDP rally in Adamawa

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the reported suspension of the PDP rally scheduled for Adamawa State today, in line with the prevailing mood of the nation, especially the abduction of school children in Borno State.

In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party called the suspension the very right decision to take under the circumstance.

It said the suspension of the rally has shown that President Goodluck Jonathan is beginning to hearken to the voices of his compatriots on important national issues.

"As we said in a statement we issued on April 24, it smacks of insensitivity, inhumanity and indecency for our President and other leaders to be engaged in any celebratory venture when we do not yet know the fate of the school girls who were abducted from their school and taken to an unknown destination. ‘’We also said the President should not repeat the same mistake he made by flying to Kano to dance at a political rally even as the smoke was yet to clear from the scene of the Nyanya bus park bombing. We are delighted that good sense has prevailed this time,’’ APC said.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

8 charged for robbery, granted N100,000 bail each

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — EIGHT per sons have been arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate's court in Lagos for allegedly robbing one Otunba Kehinde Adeosun of N150,000, and unlawfully inflicting injuries on his body.

The accused who were arraigned before Magistrate A. F.O. Botoku are: Prince Adedipe Adegesin (aka Ewenla) (35), Gbadamosi Michael (65), Olusola Saheed (23), Kayode Akotipopo (27), Kazeem Lawal (35), Abiodun Adeosun (47), Wasiu Alarape (23) and Akinwande Olanrewaju (24) alongside others now at large.

According to the charge dated April 24, 2014 and signed by the Police prosecutor, Ubanwa Kenneth, the accused persons were said to have on March 3, 2014 at 103, Agbe Road, Egba, Lagos conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and accordingly committed an offence punishable under Section 6(B) of the robbery and firearm (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Vol. 14 LFN 2014.

When the charge was read to the accused persons, they, however, pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Botoku granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties in like sum and directed that the sureties must have landed property within the state.

A cross section of The Muslim Vanguard and Committee of Ifelodun Plank Market Central Mosque protesting against planned demolition of their mosque in Demurin, Ketu, in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Abandoned newborn baby dies after being rescued

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS — A NEW born baby abandoned by her mother was recently discovered in a swampy dump-site around Great Aduke School, Victory Estate in Iba area of Lagos.

However, the baby finally died after being rejected by two public hospitals.

Vanguard gathered that the baby girl was discovered inside a carton by a young man (names withheld) who had gone to inspect his building site in the estate.

According to him, "on getting to my site, I started hearing an unusual sound. I kept moving towards the direction of the sound. As I moved closer, I discovered a baby inside a carton soaked in blood, still attached to the placenta.

"Immediately I saw the baby I raised alarm and people gathered. A woman among the crowd carried the baby to her house to clean up while I reported my finding at the police station."

The delivery

Vanguard reliably gathered that the young mother allegedly took

labour inducing drugs to terminate her seven-month-old pregnancy.

According to the source, when the pains became unbearable the girl's friend, in the middle of the night, took her to the house of a nurse on the street, who refused to attend to her.

"However, her friend eventually took delivery of the baby at the roadside close to the nurse's house," the source said.

Recalling what possibly transpired in the night of the incident, one of the landlords adjacent to the scene of the delivery, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: "That night at about 2 am, we couldn't sleep as we heard voices calling on the nurse that lives in that building.

"The shout was so intense, disturbing the serenity of the community. It was dark, nobody could come out because of the activities of oil bunkerers.

"In the morning, I went outside only to find blood everywhere especially at the scene of the delivery but I was not sure of why there was so much

blood everywhere until a man found a new born baby girl dumped at his site."

According to one of the residents of the area, Iya Abosede, "The girl is from a good background. Sincerely, I do not know what went wrong. Although she tried as much as she could to hide the pregnancy, the entire community knew she was pregnant outside wedlock. But we didn't know she was capable of abandoning the baby after birth."

Moves to save the baby

Police on patrol from Adolf Police post took the baby to

El-Shadai Hospital for first aid.

The doctor at the hospital after administering first aid referred the baby to Igando General Hospital but she was not admitted for lack of bed space.

From there the police took the baby to Isolo General Hospital where she couldn't also be admitted for the same reason.

At this point the baby needed life support to survive, so the police carried it to Mercy Hospital at Adeniji Adele, where she was finally admitted and placed in the incubator. Unfortunately it was too late and the baby died.

Two in court over milk theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A SECURITY of ficer and one other were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja magistrate’s court, for allegedly stealing 12 cartons of Three Crown milk, valued N19,200, from Wampco Nigeria plc.

The defendants are Aliu Jubril, 30 and Ikediuwa Azubike, 32.

The duo, who have no fixed address, are facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing, preferred against them by the police.

The Police prosecutor, Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that Jubril, a security officer with Halogen Security Company, Ogba, in Ikeja and Azubike, who is unemployed, conspired together to steal the said cartons of Three Crown milk.

He said the incident took place between April 23 and 25, 2014 at about 11pm at Wampco Nigeria Plc, in Acme Road, Ogba area of the state.

Nurudeen said the defendants stole 12 cartons of the milk N19,200 belonging to the said

company.

According to him, the offences contravened section 409 and is punishable under section 285 (7) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The defendants, however, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Magistrate Abimbola Oshod-Makanju granted the duo bail in the sum of N50,000 each with one surety each in like sum.

She adjourned the case till May 15, 2014.

Nifemi Sefiu, nursing mother (right), one of those released from Agodi prison by Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, during her visit to the prison, yesterday.

Photo: Dare Fasube.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 7

Landlord’s son docked for spraying tenant’s apartment with faeces L

AGOS— A 23-year-old son of a Lagos landlord, Lukman Alausa, was yesterday brought before an Igbosere magistrate's court for allegedly pouring faeces in a tenant’s apartment.

Alausa, a bricklayer, of 13, Adebowale Road, Epe, Lagos is facing a two-count charge of disorderly conduct and perpetuating harmful acts.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Babaje Ishiaku told the court that the accused committed the offences at 7.30 a.m. on April 23 at his apartment.

Ishiaku said Alausa also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by chasing one Ms Jennifer Ani, his father’s tenant, with a machete during an

altercation.

He alleged that the accused polluted the premises by emptying a bucket of faeces at Ani’s doorstep and passage.

According to the prosecution, the offences violate Sections 164 (a) and 166 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The the accused may be sen-

tenced to three years imprisonment on conviction.

The accused, however, denied the charges.

The Magistrate, Miss Oluwatosin Fowowe, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with a surety in like sum.

The case was adjourned till May 15 for trial.

Disengaged PHCN staff protest over N100bn allowance in Abeokuta

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BEOKUTA — HUN DREDS of pensioners and disengaged staff of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, in the South-West, yesterday, protested the alleged non-payment of their estimated N100 billion pension and gratuities arrears by the Federal Government.

The protesters, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Pay our Senior Citizens’;’Haba! Retirement entitlement last paid in 2009', ‘Don’t give excuses of non-performances on electricity workers’, ‘IBEDC management means no well for electricity consumers in the zone’ and ‘PHCN workers or investors’ and ‘Service/fixed charge on billing is corporate stealing’.

Policemen, however, restricted them from gaining access to the company premises located along Moshood Abiola Way in the town.

The protesters vowed that they would not end the protest until their outstanding benefits are paid, lamenting that some of their colleagues that were retained by the new management of the company were being enslaved.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Chairman of the union, Adegbenro Adesanya, accused the Federal Government of illegally disengaging some of their colleagues after failing to adhere to the agreement of six months probation reached between them and the investors.

Also speaking, the South-West Organising Secretary, Richard Kedee, declared that the union would not compromise over members' rights and would ensure that all their entitlements were paid.

Leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Oyo State and members of Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights during the picketing of the head office of Ibadan Eletricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over some union issues, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube

Celestial church members storm court over demolition

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN —HUNDREDS of members of Celestial Church of Christ, Onala Parish, Ibadan, yesterday, stormed the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan over a suit filed against the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over demolition of their church.

The Board of Trustees of the church and Evangelist Kolawole Olakanmi are claimants in the suit.

Before adjourning the case, which was stalled due to the absence of the defence counsel to the state government, Justice Olusegun Olagunju wondered why the counsel did not appear before the court.

Counsel to the claimants, Mr. Ade Fajemiroye, had told the court that the plaintiffs had complied with the directive of the court by filing all the relevant documents and that the information was contained in forms 17 and 18 including issues for determination at the pre-trial conference.

Fajemiroye said Mrs. Sotolu was in court in last adjourned day and she too had complied with the court directive.

It would be recalled that the

demolition of the church was done despite the earlier court injunction.

After the demolition of the exercise, the Shepherd and nine other members of the church were later arrested and taken to the Secretariat Police

Station.

Speaking with newsmen after the case was adjourned, Olakanmi said: "I showed them the copy of the court injunction, but their leader told me that the order was from the governor."

Bizman arraigned over $45,000 theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS — A-32-year-old businessman, Chukwuma Eze, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja magistrate’ s court for allegedly obtaining $45,000 from his business partner.

The defendant, who resides at 15, Aye Oye, in Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, obtaining and stealing preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, ASP Samson Ekikere, told the court that the defendant and others at large conspired to commit the alleged offences on October 20, 2011.

He said the defendant fraudulently obtained the said sum from one Udoka Chinedu, who is his business partner.

Ekikere also alleged that the defendant stole the money for his personal use.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened section 409 and is punishable under sections 312 and 287 (1) and (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2011.

If found guilty, the offender is liable to 15 years imprisonment.

Earlier, the defendant had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case till July 10, 2014.

Officials of Anambra Transport Authority fighting with a car owner at Arroma junction in Awka, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

CPC to sanction airline over passengers' rights

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

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HE Consumer Protection Council CPC, yesterday, gave a 90-day deadline to Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria to review and submit its Crisis Management Manual to it, in line with the Passenger Bill of Right, PBR, or face sanction.

This deadline is as a result of reports gathered by the council on November 10, 2013, that passengers of flight AJ132 belonging to Aero, scheduled to leave Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to Lagos by 6:00pm on November 8, same year, were left stranded overnight at the airport and subjected to inconveniences and hardship.

Director-General of CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, told newsmen that the said flight was delayed for 15 hours between 6:00pm and 9:00am, and that the affected passengers were not catered for during the period of delay.

This, according to her, is contrary to the provisions of PBR, which requires that passengers under such circumstance be provided with refreshments, free phone calls, among others.

Atoki said the company was informed of the allegation via a letter dated November 14.

40 firms get licences to import 1.8m tonnes of fuel N

IGERIA has granted licences to 40 companies to import about 1.85 million tonnes of fuel by the end of June, as the country takes measures to avoid fuel shortages, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and oil industry sources revealed.

Industry sources said some of the winners for the second quarter included MRS Oil Nigeria, Conoil, Total, Oando, Forte Oil, Mobil Oil, Masters Energy, Techno Oil, Folawiyo Oil & Gas and NIPCO. Oando, Total’s local unit and Folawiyo, in which global commodity house Glencore is a minority stakeholder, also won allocations in the first quarter.

Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer, but relies on fuel imports because its refineries work at a fraction of their capacity due to poor maintenance and old age. Africa’s most populous

nation suffered fuel queues in February and March, prompting state oil firm NNPC to release stocks.

“The Petroleum Minister has approved the allocation of 1,854,314 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit, known as petrol, as supplementary volumes for first quarters 2014 and second quarter 2014 June only delivery,” NNPC said in a statement last week and confirmed by importers.

Import allocations, typically done on a quarterly basis, have been delayed due to disputes between the government and traders over a backlog of subsidy payments.

Nigeria belatedly issued its first quarter gasoline allocation at the end of February. In an attempt to get the calendar back on track, it has issued its second quarter allocation in two parts.

Some 750,000 tonnes have been allocated as “supplementary volumes” for the first quarter, whilst

another 1.1 million tonnes have been designated for June- only delivery, the NNPC statement said.

“The idea of June only is to revert to the normal quarterly sequence, i.e JulySeptember and OctoberDecember,” said Ohi Alegbe, a spokesman for NNPC. Alegbe said the first quarter supplement was designed to cover “any under-delivery by marketers due to unforeseen financial challenges.”

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority, PPPRA, Nigeria’s downstream regulator, has inserted a provision in the allocation document, which allows volumes to be deducted from a seller ’s subsequent allocation in the event of any default or slippage into July.

Traders welcomed the attempt to get the issuance cycle back on track, but noted that the total volume allocated for the second

quarter were significantly down on the 3.1 million tonnes that were allocated for the first quarter.

“It’s good to see us revert back to the old sequence of April to June, July to September and October to December and not the February to May, June to August we shifted to two to three years ago,” one trader said.

“That helps with simplifying the planning of imports,” he added.

He suggested that the lower volumes could reflect the fact that NNPC still has a lot of fuel in storage but supply chain issues are likely to be restricting adequate supplies into the market.

He said: “We also note the increase in the number of importers from 27 in Q1 to 40 in Q2. This could, again, be due to the view that marketers are likely to have adequate capacity to deliver smaller volumes as against sharing large chunks to a few players.”

SERVICE: From left— Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State; his wife, Margaret; President Goodluck Jonathan; his wife, Patience; wife of Bayelsa State governor, Rachael; and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State at the commendation service of late Pa Salo Memein, Alamieyeseigha's father.

Labour shuts 7 DISCOs, as sack letters arrive nationwide

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, OLA AJAYI, DAYO JOHNSON, GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE & KUNLE KALEJAIYE

O

RGANISED Labour, yesterday, crippled activities of electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, and power plants in seven states over alleged extortionist tariff without power to Nigerians, among others.

This came as investigation revealed that the DISCOs and

generation companies, GENCOs, across the country since last week dispatched sack letters to over 60 percent of workers they allegedly plan to disengage from tomorrow.

It would be recalled that labour had last week threatened to shut down Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC; Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC; Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC; Jos

Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC; Transcorp Electricity Ugheli, Egbin Power Plc; Geregu Power Plc, and Olorunshogo Power Plc. Other grievances of labour are perceived de-unionisation of workers by the management of the DISCOs and victimisation of labour leaders by the new investors.

At the kick-off of the labour action against the DISCO and power plants, IBEDC, BEDC and Olorunshogo Power Plc, were targeted.

While some other DISCOs

and power plants will be affected from today, it was gathered that Eko Electricity Distribution Company, EKEDC, and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IEDC, will be paralysed next week by labour and its civil society allies.

Yesterday's action was concentrated in Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states.

Delta and other SouthSouth states will begin theirs from today.

The picketing is being

coordinated by state chapters of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and civil society allies of labour.

In Oyo State, the onslaught against IBEDC was led by the state Chairman of NLC, Mr. Bashir Olanrewaju, and as early as 7am the protesting members of NLC and their allies barricaded the gate of the IBEDC office.

The aggrieved workers chanted anti-government slogans and displayed placards with various inscriptions.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 —9

Vanguard hosts Editors Lab Hackdays T

HE much-anticipated Nigeria’s edition of Editors Lab Hackdays by the Global Editors Network, GEN, begins today at Vanguard Newspapers, Lagos.

Journalists, web designers, developers and other media practitioners from top media houses, including ThisDay, Daily Trust, The Nation, The Nigerian Tribune, Channels Television, TVC, Tell Magazine, The News, Leadership, The Sun

newspapers, Nigerian Info Radio and Premium Times will participate in the two-day event.

Participants are also expected from the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University and the Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos, UNILAG. The event, sponsored by Google, will gather around teams representing a variety of media platforms (print, digital, broadcast), to develop digital tools for journalists on the

theme New Ways to Cover Elections Online and Through Social Media.

According to GEN, each team will include a journalist, a developer and a designer, who will strive to build a working prototype of news application or digital service during the event.

According to the organiser, no previous work or preparation is needed for participating in the event to be hosted by Vanguard.

The Editors Lab is a worldwide series of hackdays hosted by some of the world’s leading newsrooms, which ends in an international twoday final Hackathon at the GEN Summit, on 11 to 13 June in Barcelona, Spain.

It aims at addressing the need for more collaborative innovation in newsrooms and facilitating the generation of new ideas, while providing best practice mentoring from industry leaders.

DONATION: From left— Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State; Dr. Bem Melladu, Head, Special Duties, Dangote's Gboko Plant; Engr. Joseph Makoju, Special Adviser to the President/ Chief Executive, Dangote Group; and Dangote Cement's Company Secretary, Mr. Ityo Ukpi, during the presentation of 12 trailer loads of relief materials to the Government of Benue State from the Dangote Group in Markurdi.

STATE OF EMERGENCY: Govs Gaidam, Nyako blast Clark, Akpabio

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

I

JAW leader, Chief Edwin Clark and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State have incurred the wrath of the governors of Yobe and Adamawa states for asking President Goodluck Jonathan to dismantle democratic structures in the North-East to pave way for a full military takeover.

The two governors, Ibrahim Gaidam and Murtala Nyako, said Clark and Akpabio, who are supposed to be democrats, threw caution to the winds by advocating the removal of the elected representatives of the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and replacement with sole administrators.

In a joint statement released in Abuja yesterday, Gaidam and Nyako berated Clark and Akpabio, accusing them of attempting to sabotage the nation’s democratic march for their parochial political interests.

The statement was signed by

Abdullahi Bego, Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and Ahmad Sajoh, Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Murtala Nyako.

The governors described the advocacy by Clark and Akpabio as ill-advised, provocative, unfortunate, diversionary and totally out of sync with democratic norms and values.

They pointed out that the contemplation of the removal of the North East governors and replacement with ‘sole administrators’ is a ‘constitutional aberration, which cannot be found in any of the 320 sections of the 1999 Constitution’.

The statement said: “Mr. Clark’s comments (and indeed Mr. Akpabio’s) therefore smack of fascism and are clearly a veiled attempt at sabotaging our nation’s democracy which should be resisted by all and sundry.

“Curiously, both Clark and Akpabio are beneficiaries of constitutionalism and

democracy in Nigeria. It is therefore mind boggling that the two would seek to put both constitutionalism and democracy in jeopardy on the altar of their personal interests.”

They said that Clark made a fundamental error by comparing the situation that led to the declaration of emergency rule in Ekiti State by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and the current security scenario in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, saying that the two cases were not the same.

They noted that as a former Senator Clark should know that the meaning of the provisions of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives the President the power to declare a state of emergency in all or parts of the country, does not necessarily apply to security situations.

The two governors allege that by his suggestion, Clark did not wish the President well and was out to scuttle the

nation’s democracy.

The governors noted: “That Mr. Clark would gladly and blindly ignore overriding legal opinion and historical contexts and suggest something that goes against the letter and spirit of our Constitution as a democratic nation, go to show that not only is he not wishing Mr. President well.”

The governors also said Clark demonstrated crass ignorance and insensitivity to the plight of people in the North-East by suggesting that the missing Chibok school girls would not have been kidnapped if Borno State was under a ‘total state of emergency’.

They said: “Is Clark not aware that over the past 12 months, there was all manner of security presence in the three states when we witnessed some of the most heinous and despicable terrorist attacks on our schools in Mamudo, Buni Yadi and Gujba and on our towns and villages from Izge to Baga?”

WORLD SAFETY DAY: ILO advocates cooperation

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

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S Nigeria joins other members of the International Labour Organisation, ILO, to mark this year ’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, the organisation has advised government, employers and workers to join hands in making the work place safer.

In a statement from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, ILO urged the three social partners to “focus on what each of us can do to make a positive difference in workplaces, small and large.

“Let us commit to decent work strategies that respect human dignity and the dignity of work by protecting the right of all workers to a safe and healthy working environment.”

To succeed, ILO advised the social partners to cooperate as “success requires commitment and consultation.”

In 2002, over 50 Nigerian workers in a textile firm in Ikorodu, Lagos, were burnt to death.

The Ministry of Labour and Productivity blamed the death of the workers on inadequate safety measures in the workplace.

To mark this year ’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work, ILO is focused on safety issues in chemical plants.

ILO advised social partners to refer “to laws and regulations to risk assessment and the control and elimination of risks as well as inspection and information sharing” and other avenues” for protecting workers and supporting sustainable e n t e r p r i s e development.”

ILO Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder, said: “Chemicals are integral components of many processes and are key ingredients of products that have come to be part and parcel of daily life.

“Yet chemicals may also entail significant risks for workers, workplaces, communities and the environment.”

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

FG should stop imposing minimum wage on states — FASHOLA

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday asked the Federal Government to stop imposing the national minimum wage on states, saying, “Central wage policy should be done away with.”

Fashola spoke during a courtesy visit by the participants of the 36 course of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS at Alausa Ikeja.

According to him “Asking state governments to pay civil servants a certain wage fixed at the centre is like asking everybody to wear the same shoe even when size varies. States don’t generate the same revenue. I think the best is to allow the states fix and pay wages according to their capacities.”

Ambode, Lagos ex-Accountant General honoured

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AGOS—FORMER Accountant General of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was honoured for his contribution to the development of Lagos State for the past 27 years at the 17th City People Awards.

The award was presented to him by the First Lady of Lagos, Mrs Bimbola Fashola, who was named the first lady of the year.

He was accompanied to the ceremony by 30 local government chairmen in Lagos led by Bariga Local Government Area chairman, Mr.Akeem Sulaiman, who is the chairman of Conference of Local government chairmen in the state.

Ambode, who retired from Lagos State civil service two years ago thanked the management of the magazine for recognising his modest contribution towards the development of modern Lagos.

He dedicated the award to the All Progressive Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whom he described as the pathfinder of modern Lagos.

Abducted students: Borno youths storm Fashola’s office

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—YOUTHS, under the aegis of Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria, KYAN, yesterday, stormed the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to protest the continued abduction of 234 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok Local Government, Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents and called for their immediate release.

It will be recalled that about three weeks ago 234 female students were initially abducted by the Boko Haram group and taken to the dreadful Sambisa Forest, Borno State, while some escaped in the process.

The aggrieved indigenes of Chibok council, Borno State living in Lagos, stormed Lagos House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, to condemn the abduction of the innocent students after attacking their school in Chibok community.

The protesters, clad in black attire to express their concern over the abduction of the girls, and called on the Federal Government, state governors and the military in the country to get the girls released forthwith as well as end the insurgency immediately.

The protesters displayed placards with different

inscriptions, such as: “Education is not a crime, we want our girls back; Bring our sisters; Where are our sisters; Bring back our girls; hear our cries; we love our siblings; 234 innocent lives is too much to ignore; Rescue the 234 Chibok girls now and others.”

The leader of the youths, Mr. Moses Zakwa explained:

“Though we are in Lagos enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the state, however, our hearts bleed over this tragedy that has befallen these innocent young girls whom are our sisters, cousins, mothers of the unborn generation and future leaders of the country.”

Addressing the protesters,

Fashola said; “Your coming here today shows sense of brotherhood and passion for your fellow human being especially children and the Lagos state government is also concerned about the abduction of these girls.

“We are really shock as to the resort to the abduction of innocent young children in our country.

Whatever grievances the abductors have, hostage taking is dehumanising.”

PRESS BRIEFING: Mrs Sola David-Borha, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings (centre) briefing the press on the forthcoming World Economic Forum at the Stanbic IBTC HQ in Lagos, yesterday. With her were Mr. Victor Williams, Head, Corporate and Investment Banking and Mrs Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Head, Marketing Communications. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

Lagos APC berates PDP over call for Tinubu’s arrest BYVICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—LAGOS State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has berated the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for its call for the arrest of the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over his statement that those planning to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti and Osun states would be roasted.

APC, in a statement yesterday

by Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, wondered why the PDP always grew paranoid whenever the issue of punishment for election riggers came up.

According to it, "What Lagos PDP is publicising is the readiness of the party to continue to tow the line of electoral criminality through shamelessly stealing in every election and subjecting the country to the scourge of corrupt, unaccountable, unelected leadership. From its childish reaction to Asiwaju’s warning, it is apparent that PDP as professional shameless vote robbers are getting

paranoid that any action against election riggers is an action against it.

"It is apparent that by this impudent way to offer safe ground for election riggers, Lagos PDP and indeed the entire PDP is planning to continue stealing election mandates and employ same to wreck the country the same way it had been doing for the past fifteen years, but we warn

them that their days are over.

“We are not surprised that it is the PDP that has come in defence of election rigging when we know the history of the party and when its name has become synonymous with fraud, not only in elections but in all facets of life.

“That a state chapter of a party that has been ruling the country for the past fifteen years can come out and call for

Asiwaju’s arrest for warning against election rigging shows that Nigerians have not witnessed the last of PDP’s bizarre electoral frauds, which is the foundation upon which the PDP rests.

“We therefore warn Nigerians to be on their guards as the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections approach and as the critical 2015 election draws nearer.”

Agbakoba calls for retention of zoning in NBA elections

BY INNOCENTANABA

F

ORMER President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, yesterday, called for the retention of the zoning formula in the election of national officers of the association.

He insisted that though zoning was not in the NBA’s constitution and since the arrangement had been accepted by all, it was the turn of the South West to produce

the next president to take over from Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, whose tenure expires in August this year.

He said “I regret that the 2014 NBA Presidential election is getting out of hand and I fear there will be dire consequences. We must not allow the elections become a “do or die” matter. We are not politicians. That is why when I was President, I adopted the inclusion policy, so that all zones have the opportunity to produce the President.

“We all know that by the zoning convention, it is the turn of the South West region to produce our president. I appreciate the concern and disappointment of the Midwest that it has not been included in our zoning arrangement. This is why when I was President, I set up the inclusion committee to review this at our National Executive Council, NEC meeting in Maiduguri, Borno State, but unfortunately this has not materialised."

Vanguard , TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—11

Ekiti 2014: Fayemi, Fayose trade words over plans to manipulate polls

Sen Lanlehin’s defection, a good omen — OYO APC

BY GBENGAARIYIBI

BY OLAAJAYI

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DO EKITI – FORMER Ekiti State governor and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in June 21 gubernatorial election, Mr. Ayo Fayose, and the state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday traded words over plans to infiltrate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with a view to manipulating voters' register.

While Fayose, through his campaign organisation, Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation, AFCO, accused the All Progressives Congress, APC and Governor Fayemi of plotting to influence INEC to manipulate voters' register, the governor, through the Director of Media, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, said Fayose had once again revealed the works of his inner mind and his party's plot to rig.

AFCO at a briefing yesterday by its Director General, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, said “We have incontrovertible evidence of the effort being made by the APC to manipulate the voters' registers and we are also aware of frustration and stiff resistance they met while trying to buy up the leadership of INEC.” The organisation equally described the statement credited to the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that the

I

OYO APC CONGRESS: Newly-elected Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke (left) looks on as Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi exchanges pleasantries with Engr. Sola Akinwumi, Chairman, Congress committee at Oyo State APC congress held at Lekan Salami sports complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Saturday. Photo by Dare Fasube. election will be “rig and roast” as outburst of a frustrated man.

According to it, “we make bold to say that Ekiti people have rejected him and his stooge. We only advise him to wait till June 21 venting his anger and frustrations. We are not unaware of the clandestine moves of the APC leaders to infiltrate the INEC.'' On the alleged orgy of violence witnessed in recent time, Anisulowo said, “It is only an unpopular government that

engages in this crude and barbaric politics. If the APC is popular, as it has always claimed, why is it that they are the ones attacking opposition?”

Dismissing Fayose's allegation, the Director of Media, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Dimeji Daniels, said “We are tired of all this scare-mongering by the PDP candidate. Let him be a man of honour for once. We challenge him to come out with the so-called incontrovertible evidence that he has. Fayose is

fond of screaming blue murder when he is the one guilty of same offence. We have incontrovertible evidence of how in 2011 he approached INEC and offered one of the officials N10 million.

When the man declined and Senator Babafemi Ojudu walloped him in the election, he turned around to say it was ACN. “We make bold to say that Ekiti people have rejected him and his stooge. We only advise him to wait till June 21 before venting his anger and frustrations.''

B A D A N – FOLLOWING the defection of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin representing Oyo South Senatorial district in the National Assembly to another party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has described it as a good omen, not only to the people he represents, but to state in general.

The party, in a statement

by Senatorial Chairman of Oyo South Senatorial district, Prince Adefuyi Adekanye and the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun, stated that the action of the senator was not a surprise at all. ''Senator Lanlehin neither registered as a member of the party nor participated in the recently-concluded congresses from ward to the state level. Two days ago, he denounced his membership of APC, but did not state which party he would pitch his tent.

There is a rumour that he would move to Accord led by the former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja,'' they said.

Call Omisore to order, appointees appeal to Ooni

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO – POLITICAL office holders from IleIfe, Osun state have called on Federal Government and the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, to call

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate for the August 9 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to order over alleged plans to unleash terror and implicate All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders in murder cases before

the election.

The group, speaking in Oshogbo yesterday, also warned two serving Ministers against intimidation and harassment of APC members in Ife federal constituency as a result of the death of a leader of

Osun spends N10bn on roads

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO – GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola has declared that his administration has spent N10 billion on road construction in the state, in its efforts to improve the living condition of the citizens.

Aregbesola, while commissioning the Osogbo metropolitan roads project, yesterday noted that he was not perturbed by the huge amount of money committed into the road projects, because the roads would have unquantifiable benefits on people.

He insisted that at the inception of his administration, it had a vision of progress for Osun, of which road infrastructure development was a vital component.

According to the governor, “when we started these roads, our traducers scoffed and mocked the project, claiming that we would never have the funds or the presence of mind to see them through. But to the glory of God and their eternal

shame, we have delivered on our promise.

“We are not resting on our oars; our greater vision is to tar every road in the state since we cannot conceive of a beautiful environment without good roads.

"We will, therefore, continue to convert our visionary road map for Osun into concrete and enduring legacy of asphaltic surfaces for the engendering of socio-economic development, progress and prosperity for our people.”

He averred that, as the state capital, Osogbo township road development project stands out as a product of a visionary road map intentionally aimed at making Osogbo the truly modern state capital it deserves.

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the town, Pa Taiwo Ogundele.

Reacting to the allegation, Omisore through his Media Aide, Prince Diran Odeyemi, Omisore Youth Support Forum had been an independent youth organisation that had been in existence in Osun State for over four years. According to him, “it is a programme designed for youths from the state to empower them so that they can be self employed. So why is APC raising eyebrow because of the coming from election? The allegation is unfortunate particularly coming political leaders who are of the APC extraction from Ile Ife. Our expectation is that as learned people, they ought to have investigated the activities of the boys. It is purely a philanthropist organisation empowered by Senator Omisore.”

However, briefing on behalf of the group, Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial district in the National Assembly, alleged that APC members in Ile-Ife and its environs were daily being harassed and arrested over Ogundele’s killing.

New Ondo APC boss vows to reposition party

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—NEWLY elected Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Isaacs Kekemeke, yesterday promised to reposition the party and make it a formidable opposition in the state.

Kekemeke, who was the former Secretary to the State Government and Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, also assured that all factions would be accommodated.

The new chairman floored his closest rival with two votes. While he polled 499 votes, his rival, Engr Ade Adetimehin from Ondo Central-Idanre Local Government Area polled 497 votes.

Kekemeke hails from Ese Odo in Ondo South Senatorial District area of the state.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Uduaghan to FG: Always involve states in wage negotiations

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA—DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday called on the Federal Government to always involve the states while negotiating wages and allowances with the organised labour, so as to forestall industrial disharmony.

The governor, while receiving members of Senior Executive Course 36 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, who were on a courtesy visit in Asaba, said that the call had become necessary because oftentimes, most states do not have the financial capacity to pay, thereby precipitatiing strike actions.

He said: “The Federal Government goes into negotiations with labour leaders in Abuja without involving the states and reaches agreements which are expected to be binding on all. Most states do not have the financial capacity to implement these decisions and this has led to frequent strike actions and disharmony in the affected

states.”

He noted that if federalism was practiced to the letter, the states should be allowed to be part of the negotiations with labour and pay agreed wages and allowances in line with their capacities.

Leader of the study team which comprises 16 Nigerians from different sectors of the economy, Ambassador Adamu Abbas, said that they were on a study tour of the state.

He said that the study

with the theme Industrial Relations, Labour Productivity and National Development, was to proffer solutions to recurring strike actions by the organised labour that was affecting growth and productivity in the country.

VISIT: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) welcoming the Directing Staff of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Ambassador Adamu Abbas (middle) and Commodore Mohamed Garuba of the Nigerian Navy (left), to Government House, Asaba, when the participants of the Senior Executive Course 36 visited him in Asaba.

Photo: Henry Unini.

Oil spills: ERA calls for environmental tribunal

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—TO ensure environmental justice in Nigeria, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, has called for the establishment of an “Independent National Environmental Tribunal” for speedy resolution of environmental disputes in the country.

Executive Director, ERA/ FoEN, Dr. Godwin Ojo, made the call, yesterday in Warri, Delta State, at a two-day workshop to empower civil society groups and communities to achieve justice over incidents of environmental disasters in their environments.

Blaming the rampant gas flaring and frequent oil spills in the operating environment on impunity by oil companies as well as ignorance and sometimes connivance on the part of oil host communities, Ojo stressed that the Nigerian judiciary also shares the blame as most of the cases, even when dragged to court, are hardly resolved conclusively with the impacted communities hardly gaining justice.

He said: “That is why you notice that in recent times, im-

pacted communities with the support of ERA and other civil society groups now explore the option of foreign courts. You remember the case of five fishermen from Bayelsa State versus Shell in Netherlands. One of the plaintiffs won against Shell in Hague.”

He said that the regular courts had failed in playing their role of discouraging the

destructive spills because of the delayed justice system as well as the challenges of pervasive corruption in the country for which the judiciary is no exception.

The ERA boss proposed an “independent National Environmental Tribunal, specifically tailored to concentrate on environmental disputes to resolve all pending cases

with dispatch as justice delayed is justice denied.

“There are about 10,000 oil spill sites in the operating environment and not one spill has been adequately cleaned up. This has resulted in severe degradation of farmlands and pollution of water bodies which the people depend on for sustenance and livelihood.”

ACF, APC condole with Sambo over brother’s death

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN

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HE Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has described the late Capt. Sabo Sambo, brother of Vice-President Namadi Sambo, as one whose good deeds to humanity would be remembered for a long time.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has also condoled with the Vice President on the death of his brother, expressing shock over the incident.

Sabo Sambo, brother of the vice-president died on Sunday in an automobile crash in Abuja.

The ACF, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, commiserated with the Vice President

on the development, saying that the late Sabo proved himself as a diligent person in all his activities.

Ibrahim said: “It was with grief and shock that ACF learnt of the death of Capt Sambo. He was on his way to Abuja International Airport for a national assignment to pilot the Nigeria Police Aircraft when he had an accident and died.

“From God we come and to Him, we shall all return.

Death is the ultimate end of every mortal and life is equally transient. However, the good deeds and service to humanity done by each person shall continue to live after him.”

The APC, on its part, in a

statement in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, expressed shock and sadness at the death of such a vibrant personality in such a tragic circumstance.

"Death is never easy to accept, and when it is so unexpected, it adds to the grief. But the sweet memories and good deeds of the departed will always be a balm to sooth the indescribable pain of death. ‘’We sincerely sympathise with the Vice President, the immediate family of the departed as well as his extended family. We pray that God will strengthen and comfort them all in this difficult time," it said.

Olu of Warri's coronation anniversary kicks off May 1

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ARRI—ACTIVITIES to mark the coronation anniversary of the Olu of Warri,His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, CON, will kick off May 1.

According to Dr. E. Tetsola, the Olubajaje of Warri Kingdom, who doubles as the Chairman, Coronation Planning Committee, praise worship and gospel message will take place on Thursday, while the main activities come up at Ode-Itsekiri with traditional dances and payment of homage to His Majesty, the Olu of Warri on Friday. The Olu will then address the Itsekiri nation.

May 3 is the cultural day, featuring an exhibition, payment of homage, traditional dances, free health care and lawn tennis, at the Warri Club.

On Sunday, there will be anniversary thanksgiving service at the Four Square Gospel Church at the Olu's Palace, to be followed by prayer for the Olu and Itsekiri nation.

The four-day event will also feature lectures by Dr. Tetsola, and Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, Chairman, Publicity SubCommittee.

Ogiame Atuwatse II, CON

Community Chair bags award

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HE Chairman of Otonyatsere Community in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, Dr. Austine Arieja, has been honoured with an award of “A Distinguished Niger-Delta Personality in Youth Empowerment and Community Development” by members of the National Association of Niger Delta Students, NANDS, because of his humanitarian service to the people of the NigerDelta.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 13

BPP prosecutes 156 firms for allegedly forging contract documents

BY EMMA UJAH

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HE—DIRECTOR-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said in Abuja, yesterday, that 156 companies were being prosecuted for allegedly forging procurement documents to bid for contracts.

Ezeh spoke at the Bureau’s Annual Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers, CCSP, Forum of Federal Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments, in Abuja.

He said 80 per cent of contractors who do business with the Federal Government tender forged documents. The DG who frowned at the ignoble practice said that the worst culprits were local contractors.

His said: “Many contractors, especially 80 per cent of the local ones, are notorious for submitting fake documents when biding for contracts. We see all manner of fake documents such as false Tax Clearance Certificates, PenCom Certificate of Compliance, false claims of

personnel, false audited accounts and use of fake addresses and submission of fake bank statements.

“Currently, there are 156 companies being prosecuted because of this. We do not have enough space in our prisons to accommodate all these fraudulent activities by contractors, so this has to change.”

Ezeh said the unscrupulous contractors were depriving the nation of value-for-money service.

He told the contractors that

although his office will encourage local contractors to bid for public jobs, he will not do business with any fraudulent company.

The Nigerian public, according to the BPP boss, deserved the best of services.

He urged honest contractors to come forward and participate in the bidding processes, especially as the Federal Government was determined to ensure an effective implementation of the 2014 federal budget.

Bayelsans urged to cooperate with police to boost security

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kemesuode Wodu, yesterday, tasked people of the state to have a change of attitude towards men of the Nigeria Police for better security of lives and property.

He said though criticism of the conduct of some police personnel was necessary for correction and improvement on security issues, the operations of the force deserve commendation where necessary and not unwarranted criticism that could dampen the morale of personnel.

Amaechi to FG: Step up security to achieve peace

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to step up its security operations and conflict resolution strategy to achieve enduring peace in the country.

Amaechi spoke when he played host to a delegation of diplomats led by the United States Assistant Secretary of State of Bureau for Conflict Stabilisation and Operations, Washington D.C., Rick Barton and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwinstle, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

He also called for creation of empowerment opportunities for youths in the country.

He said: “The Nigerian Government needs to do more to reduce conflict. For me, the way to reduce conflict is not just equity, but the ability to provide opportunity for those who don’t have, because lack of opportunities increases conflicts."

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Senate promises to prioritise PIB, Electoral Act, Constitution Amendment

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA — AS the Sen ate re-sumes today after the Easter, the leadership has assured of passage of critical pending bills, especially the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. Others include the Constitution Amendment Bill, and the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Senate Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, who spoke on the expectations of the public from the Senate, assured Nigerians that critical bills pending would be given urgent consideration.

The urgent considerations

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of pending bills for passage were in view of the limited time it had for the end of the legislative session.

Investigations revealed that majority of Nigerians are not happy over the snail speed in passing bills in the Senate and also the feared that the international oil communities had been making efforts to ensure that some of the pending bills were passed, particularly the PIB. Some Nigerians had argued that the passage of the PIB would revolutionise the oil and gas sector.

It was observed that the Senators would embark on a two week recess in June to end the current legisla-

tive year and upon their return, go for their annual eight-week summer recess which will end in September.

Consequently, going by the time table released by

the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the process of electioneering for the 2015 polls would have commenced in earnest, with senators returning to their constituen-

cies for serious politicking.

But Enang explained that the leadership of the Senate had concluded arrangements to prioritise the pending critical bills before it, and was aware that the remain-

ing time available for its legislative activities, in the face of termination of its annual recess in September when political parties would be expected to start their primaries.

Ohanaeze tasks South East govs on Uwechue’s burial

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

T

HE APEX Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged governors of the South East geo-political zone to participate actively in the burial of Amb. Ralph Uwechue, its immediate past presidentgeneral, who died on March 13 at 79.

Making the appeal, Ohanaeze spokesman, Chief Tony Oganah, said there was need for all Igbo to give the late Uwechue the honour he deserved.

The burial activities for the late ambassador will kick off on May 5 in Abuja, ending on May 9 and 10 at his home town, Og-

washi Uku, Delta State. ”We are not pleased by the response of some Igbo leaders to the planning of activities to mark the final burial rites of this great Igbo son, who served the Igbos meritoriously,” Ohanaeze stated.

Noting that some of Igbo leaders, including some of the governors were yet to give the needed solidarity towards the planned burial, in spite of several attempts to reach them, Ohanaeze said there was need for Ndigbo to give the late ambassador a befitting burial.

The group urged all lovers of the Igbo cause and nation to come out en masse and give the former Igbo leader a befitting buri-

al.

“Uwechue remains the only Ohanaeze leader to

have led the organisation for four years, the group said.”

SEPA blasts Okorocha

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — THE South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of high-handedness, impunity and imposition of acolytes as party executives of All Progressives Congress, APC. The group, which made its position known in a statement by Okorocha’s former media aide and SEPA’s President, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, also noted that the governor’s excesses led to the shocking resignation

of the state chairman of APC, Prince Marshal Okaforanyanwu.

He said as a socio-political organisation deeply committed to promoting good governance, democratic values, as well as championing harmonised Igbo political interest, SEPA was sadly disturbed over noticeable inconsistencies between well known democratic ethos and recent actions carelessly exhibited by Governor Okorocha, who they earlier thought was a democrat.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 15

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO

Former Military President, Gen. Badamasi Babangida (2nd right) flanked by former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; Vice President Namadi Sambo (right),Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, and Alhaji Suleiman Ndanusa (left), arriving for funeral prayer/burial of the Vice President's late younger brother, at the National Mosque, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Vice President Namadi Sambo (r) receiving former CBN Governor, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido.

From left, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Senate President, Senator David Mark, and Vice President Namadi Sambo, during condolence visit.

Vice President Namadi Sambo receiving the Chief Imam, National Mosque, Ustaz Musa Mohammed,

Vice President Namadi Sambo, receiving former Minister for Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, his wife, Mrs. Nnaji (left), and Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero.

CJN wants guber election petitions to end at A-Court ...backs 70 years compulsory retirement age for Judges

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — As part of her input into the ongoing National Conference, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, yesterday, called for an amendment of the 1999 Constitution to make it pos-

sible for governorship election petitions to terminate at the Court of Appeal.

The CJN, who canvassed the position when the National Conference Committee on Judiciary paid her a courtesy visit, stressed that the situation where all kinds of governorship election disputes

find their way to the apex court, caused unnecessary distractions.

The 25-member committee, which was led by Professor Awwalu Yadudu as its Chairman, said the purpose of their visit was to seek the views of the CJN on grey areas of the constitutions that should be amended, with a view

to enhancing speedy dispensation of justice in the country.

Professor Yadudu, who spoke on behalf of the committee, told the CJN that they resolved last week to seek her views on some provisions they felt ought to be amended in the 1999 Constitution.

Corruption, stealing killing Nigeria — Enugu speaker

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — SPEAKER of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odoh, said yesterday, that corruption and stealing have assumed an endemic height in the country, noting that the vices had permeated the entire public and private sectors.

Odoh spoke in Enugu during the 2014 Pre-May Day Lecture/ Award Ceremony organised by

Okiro loses mother

T

HE CHAIRMAN, Po lice Service Commission and former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, has lost his mother, Madam Bessy Okiro, aged 96.

A statement from Okiro's media adviser, Supreme Ibitomi said funeral rites will be announced later by the family.

the Trade Union Congress, Enugu State council.

He stated that trade unions as “social partners in national development must lead the crusade for transparent and accountable governance.”

He pointed out that embarking on strikes over disagreement at negotiating tables as a tool to press home some demands for welfare packages for workers was not enough.

His words: “One major role which trade unions need to play which it has been actively shirking in its responsibility is in mobilising Nigerians to fight corruption.

"Today in Nigeria, corruption and stealing have assumed an endemic height and have pervaded all levels of public and private sectors, reaching up to an unprecedented level in incidence and magnitude. ”Trade unions should lead the campaign for probity in public of-

fice, ensuring public demonstration of culture of respect for dignity, integrity and transparency so that public officer could resign over public outcry against provable misdemeanour in office as is the practice elsewhere in developed democracies."

“Trade unions must also seize the initiative to let politicians or

political office holders know when to step aside from public office over proved allegation of corrupt practices. Trade unions as a social partner in national development, playing their historic roles properly must lead the crusade to show the way for transparent and accountable governance in Nigeria.

In her response, Justice Mukhtar noted that the immediate past CJN, Justice Musdapher, earlier constituted a stakeholders’ committee, following a similar memorandum sent to him by the National Assembly.

He said: “Let me seize this opportunity to present to you a copy of that Stakeholders Committee Report which is already before the National Assembly as our own input to the constitutional debate.

"That committee brainstormed on some constitutional provisions and came up with some sections we proposed before the National Assembly for amendment.

“Personally, I am particular about Section 233 of the 1999 Constitution that deals with appellate jurisdictions of cases before the courts for adjudication."

STRIKE: ASUP, COEASU and civil society groups embark on street protest today

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA — ACADEMIC Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, are set to embark on a street protest today to pile pressures on Federal Government to respect the agreement reached

with both unions.

Addressing the press in Abuja, ASUP President, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha, and his COEASU counterpart, Ahmed Lawal, said the unions could no longer tolerate government’s inability to address the remaining two of the four critical points it promised to speedily tackle to ensure early call off of the industrial action.

Dr. Asomugha recalled that during an earlier meeting with government, the unions were assured that four outstanding issues, including the appointment of the governing councils, release of the white paper on the visitation panels, implementation of CONTISS 15, and the setting up of the NEEDS Committee, would be addressed within two weeks.

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 17

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ICE-ADMIRAL Murtala Nyako is the Governor of Adamawa State. He was once Governor of Niger State. He was formerly Chief of Naval Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also formerly Deputy Chief of Defense Staff.

All this suggests he is a man with enough pedigree to occupy the highest echelons of government in Nigeria. However, his memo to the Northern States Governors’ Forum of April 16, 2014 and his other recent public pronouncements now indicate otherwise. Going by these, Nyako is no longer fit to be governor of Adamawa State, or any state in Nigeria for that matter.

Nyako’s diatribe In his memo, Nyako redefined Nigeria, creating a new country out of it which he referred to as “the North.” Therefore, he addressed his broadside to “Fellow Governors and Citizens of the North.” Nyako insists: “Northern Nigeria is on its own.” But we may well ask the governor when the North became a country by itself. Having conferred statehood on the North, Nyako asks his Northern compatriots: “should we not... consider a declaration of Northern Nigerian Amnesty to the culprits (of the Northern insurgency) and consequently squarely address all other matters connected with the Amnesty and Boko-Haram syndrome?”

In effect, Nyako usurps the prerogatives of the Federal

Murtala Nyako should be removed as Governor of Adamawa State terrorist activities in the North as: “induced calamity by the Federal Administration.” He even goes as far as deny the very existence of the Boko Haram itself. He refers to the terrorist group as the “so-called Boko-Haram” and insists they are a “phantom,” meaning they don’t exist.

Therefore, he argues that many of the explosions in the North attributed to the Boko Haram are fabricated by the Nigerian government.

Nyako declares the Boko Haram innocent and the Federal Government guilty. Hear him: “We no longer accept let alone believe that our prominent Mallams in the Mosques in Kano and Zaria have been killed by ‘innocent’ Boko-Haram members or Christians in the North, nor do we believe that the killing of the Pastor and other wor-

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People like Murtala Nyako are dangerous for this country; they should not be treated with kid’s gloves

Government and attributes them to the Northern country of his creation. He then presents the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a mortal enemy of this so-called Northern country. His position is that the Jonathan administration: “is bent on bringing wars in the North between Muslim and Christians and within them and between one ethnic group and another or others in various communities in the region.”

In detailing some of his unsubstantiated alleged atrocities committed by the Nigerian government against his Northern country, Nyako says: “There have been attempts to assassinate the Senate President (Northerner) in Imo State, two Executive Governors of States in the North (the Governor of Benue State and my humble self), two of our most prominent Traditional leaders (Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano), Senators and others too numerous to mention, all from Northern Nigeria.” These alleged assassination attempts are all laid at the doorstep of the Federal Government.

Phantom Boko Haram: Nyako maintains the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria is bogus. He describes the

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shippers in the Christ Apostolic Church in Jimeta-Yola was done by any Muslim or BokoHaram members.”

Who then are the perpetrators of these atrocities? It is the Nigerian government, according to Nyako. He insists these incidents are orchestrated by “the Hitler-like evil-mindedness” of the government of President Jonathan. Says Nyako: “the Administration has hired militia from all across especially North Africa who have been deceived into accepting to come because they were made to believe that they would be fighting infidels.” “Fulani communities in parts of the North who have been in their locations for over 100 years are now being raided and uprooted by paid killers within the Nigerian Army for the satisfaction of the Federal administration.”

Nyako says furthermore: “It is a well-known fact that virtually all the soldiers of Northern Nigerian origin recently recruited to fight Boko-Haram have been deceived in that aspect.

They are being poorly trained, totally ill-equipped, given only uniform and are killed by their trainers in Nigerian Army training centres as soon as they ar-

rive in the Nigerian Army camps being used by so-called Boko-Haram insurgents.” He alleges the government “deliberately recruited murderers embedded in our traditional Defence and Security forces/organisation.” As a result, he says “virtually all the Nigerian Army soldiers killed/murdered in these operations so far are of Northern Nigerian origin.”

Treasonable statement Murtala Nyako is an angry and a dangerous man. He is one of those Northerners who have been threatening that if Jonathan runs for re-election there would be civil war in Nigeria. He now seems to be upping the ante by trying to provoke civil strife. In a press briefing entitled “Govenor Murtala Nyako: Desperate Agent of Destabilization,” a coalition of Northern civil-society organisations, including the Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice, Transparency Centre Network, Northern Emancipation Network, and Arewa Transformation Advocacy Movement, took great exception to the governor’s incendiary statement.

They said: “By accusing the Federal Government headed by a Christian from the Southern part of the country of the grave crime of promoting and sponsoring genocide, Nyako’s memo was patently intended to be a call to arms by the Muslim population in the Northern part of the country.

He also said President Goodluck Jonathan was from the same South Eastern part of the country who during the early 1960s, joined hands to kill sons of the North, including their revered leader, the ‘Sardauna’, an issue many have interpreted to mean that Governor Nyako is trying to instigate a civil war.”

If Nyako had not been a governor, and thereby protected from arrest and prosecution under the immunity clause of the Constitution, it would have been necessary to arrest and prosecute him for his memo, especially since he is unable and unprepared to substantiate his allegations.

I met the governor many years ago at a conference in

NIPSS, Kuru. He made a big impression on me then. The “young Turk” Nyako that I remember was “an officer and a gentleman.” He was extremely intelligent, highly articulate and very forthright in expressing his views. Something seems to have gone wrong with him somewhere. His memo is more than an error of judgment.

It is a letter written by a closetenemy of Nigeria; a sectionalist as opposed to a citizen of Nigeria. In many regards, it is a treasonable document designed to divide the country along regional and ethnic lines and to incite Northerners against the Federal Government.

Nyako’s removal Nyako’s call-to-arms against the Jonathan administration has found no takers. Instead, he has been roundly condemned by all and sundry, including the expanded meeting of the nation’s Security Council. As a result, Nyako has had a 365 degree somersault, now describing President Jonathan as “a superb leader.” However, Nyako should not just be given a slap on the wrist. He should be removed as governor of Adamawa State. Should he remain as governor, he will constitute a clog in the wheel of the security operations in the state. As it is, the military can no longer trust the governor. Neither can they expect his cooperation after this kind of invective.

The Adamawa State legislature could do the state and country a favour by impeaching the mischievous governor. Barring that, the president should remove Nyako under the emergency rule proclaimed in the state and a military administrator should be appointed to replace him.

Section 305(c) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to take recourse to ‘extraordinary measures to restore peace and security’ where there is ‘breakdown of public order and public safety.’ Under that provision, the governors of Ekiti and Plateau states were relieved of their positions under President Obasanjo.

Northern cop-out: Certain

elements in the North promised that if a Northerner was not elected president in 2011, they would make Nigeria ungovernable. Well, Nigeria has not become ungovernable, but certain parts of the North have become ungovernable. In short, the threat of some Northerners has backfired. Whatever kind of limited insurgency they sought to promote against the Jonathan administration out of disenchantment that a non-Northerner from the South-South is now president of Nigeria has gone out of control.

A statement credited to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State in this regard is very telling. At a one-day general meeting on the security situation in the North held in Kaduna, the Governor said: “The situation has gone beyond the normal pattern that we gave to Boko Haram and I think we need to really appreciate the gravity of the situation.” This implies that, at one stage, the Boko Haram and certain elements in the North were in cahoots. Indeed, a spokesman of the Boko Haram once alleged that they used to be on the monthly payroll of Northern governors. Instead of decrying the murderous activities of the insurgents, some Northern elements like the NEF have been attacking the government forces fighting against them.

President Jonathan is responsible for bringing Northern insurgency under control.

However, it is people like Nyako, a two-time governor of two Northern states, who are responsible for the emergence of the insurgency in the first place.

Boko Haram apparently means “Western education is a sin.” If Northern leaders had paid more attention to the education of the people as opposed to their pockets, the insurgents would not be so incensed against education. But while governments in the South were promoting free and universal education, whole swathes of Northern youth were allowed to languish and wallow in poverty and neglect.

Limits of opposition Governor Nyako is an example of those Northerners who are implacably opposed to a Southerner being president.

This opposition has reached such level that some are even prepared to politicise the nation’s security and to use it to score points. Even more ominous is the determination of these people that they would rather have a divided Nigeria than have a Southern president.

This position should not be tolerated. People like Murtala Nyako are dangerous for this country. They should not be treated with kids’ gloves.

18 Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 APRIL 14, terrorists abducted school girls from a government school in Chibok, Borno State. We are still debating how many they are. The rescue efforts were futile enough for the parents of the victims to dare Sambisa Forest, on their own. National life is bustling; except for the parents, little else is being heard. Boko Haram, accused of taking the young girls, has been slaughtering students, bombing anywhere they want, robbing banks and simply appropriating parts of the country.

April 16, a South Korean ferry bearing more than 500 passengers, mostly high school students and their teachers on a trip from Incheon to the holiday island of Jegu sank. Only 174 survived with the rest presumed dead though rescue operations continue. On Sunday South Korean Prime Minister, Chung

BY JOHN UDUMEBRAYE

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OOKING back into our national history, the last time a top government official engaged in an act of sedition and rebellion against the Nigerian State was in 1967. That was when LieutenantColonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, then Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, proclaimed the region as an independent “Republic of Biafra.”

The rest, as they say, is now history.

Suffice to say that the regrettable consequences of that rebellion are still with us, although many would prefer that the lingering pains of that experience should be permanently sealed in the inner recesses of our collective memory.

It is sad that the governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, is bent on dragging us into another bitter experience. That is the obvious conclusion that flows from the governor’s hate letter of April 6, 2014, addressed to the Northern governors. What could have been the intention behind the letter? Not many Nigerians who have followed the governor’s activities since he ventured into the political scene, would be surprised at the venom and bitterness contained in the letter in which he expressed his disdain, hatred and contempt for the person of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and disloyalty for his administration.

Personally, I have had, prior to the letter, reasons to doubt the governor’s emotional stability. His physical appearance hardly recommends him as a model for Nigerian youths and his moods, utterances and C M Y K

Children – In Nigeria, In Korea Hong-won, resigned in response to criticisms of government’s slow reaction to the accident.

The Prime Minister was not the owner of the doomed ferry. He was neither the Minister of Transportation, nor was he the captain of the ferry. He was captain of a larger enterprise, the nation, of which a ferry that sank was a part. He was held responsible for failing to keep the lives of his people safe. He accepted responsibility. He made no excuses; he blamed no one else.

“Keeping my post is too great a burden on the administration,” Chung said in a brief

announcement. “On behalf of the government, I apologise for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster. “ There are too many irregularities and malpractices in parts of society that have been with us too long and I hope those are corrected so that accidents like this will not happen again.”

Bereaved families are not placated. Some want President Park Geun-hye, who became South Korea’s first female president in 2013, to resign. She has the most power in government.

OPINION Mur tala Ny ak o's seditious hat e songs Murtala Nyak ako's hate idiosyncrasies have always reminded me of Professor Wole Soyinka’s prescription that Nigerian politicians should undergo certain personality tests, before election or appointment into office.

In spite of my reservations about Nyako’s personality mien, I still find it difficult believing the contents of his letter, which I had to read over and again.

His choice of language and level of indecorum are, to say the least, embarrassing to the core. More shocking is the volume of venom he is able to spill out in just one letter. Is this the same man who was once the nation’s Chief of Naval Staff and who retired as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, the second topmost position in the land? How sad, that a man, who had served this country at such a high level, would suddenly decline to the pitiable situation in which he (Nyako) now finds himself.

Although the governor has never pretended to be a friend of President Jonathan or his administration, nobody expected that he would go as far as trying to cloak him with the devil’s hood. Most of the governor ’s accusations against Jonathan are anchored on the on-going military campaign to check the atrocities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North Eastern States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

In the crudest language, Nyako accused Jonathan of using the military to wage a war of “genocide” against the North; he claimed that Northerners were being

“massacred” by federal forces and that it was Jonathan’s plot to eliminate Northern elite. He was even specific in saying that there had been attempts to eliminate such Northern leaders as Senate President David Mark, two Northern governors, the Shehu of Borno and Emir of Kano. Nyako said that Boko Haram activities – bombings, killings and kidnapping of school children - were parts of a grand design by the Jonathan administration to destroy the North.

The most dangerous assertion in the governor ’s letter was the connection he made between the campaign against Boko Haram and the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-70, claiming that Jonathan, being from the defunct Eastern Nigeria, was merely continuing the agenda of the Igbo against the HausaFulani, thereby calling him the “Adolf Hitler ” of Nigeria.

Totally unbelievable!

One is almost tempted to describe the mentality displayed by Nyako in his letter, as infantile, but that would be unfair to infants. What we must not do is to ignore the potential dangers of the letter for what they are. Not many Nigerians would be impressed by the response of the Presidency which merely described the governor’s utterances as “irresponsible”.

No. Nyako’s hate songs are inciting and capable of creating uprising among the populace. They are, in fact, an open invitation to Northerners to attack other

South Korea is in a sombre mood as the dead are interred. Applause has been banned at baseball games. Television comedy shows are suspended. A nation feels the lives of its people - now its young ones - count.

We may not be South Korea. We may not have a culture of accepting responsibility. We may find power too attractive to ponder leaving it. We may have every defence for doing nothing.

Are we saying that nobody has responsibility for keeping us safe?

Does the oath to obey the Constitution mean nothing? Have the welfare and security of the people (Section 14 2b of the 1999 Constitution) ceased to be the primary purpose of government?

The wailing of the abducted young girls in Sambisa Forest judges our security, especially the commander-in-chief, the President.

Nigerians living among them and a call on people to embark on an insurrection against the State. To that extent, Nyako’s letter is seditious, treasonable and criminal, such that it must be treated, accordingly.

Another reason why Nyako’s letter must not be taken lightly is that the governor is one of those Nigerians acting the script of some international mischief makers who have predicted that Nigeria would break up in 2015.

We pray God that will not happen. It is curious that the letter in question was written by a trained professional soldier who rose to the peak of his career. Military men at such a high level are usually known to speak in measured terms, with respect and decorum. How Nyako derailed is a matter better left for medics to resolve.

A final reason why Nyako must face the full wrath of the law is that in spite of Government’s commitment and the efforts of the military, it appears obvious that Boko Haram has members/supporters, not only in the Military but also among top Government officials. Jonathan said it long time ago that the insurgents had infiltrated all the arms of government. To any discerning mind, therefore, Nyako’s letter amounts to a confession, inadvertently and openly, made before Nigerians. The onus is on him to prove otherwise. *Mr. Udumebraye, a commentator on national affairs, wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—19

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OME of our brothers have turned the country upside down. Fear stalks citizens like long lazy shadows. Abuja, in particular, is as nervous as a virgin. If it’s not Boko Haram today, then it’s herdsmen who also happen to be experts in directing helicopter drop-offs and are equally smooth in their use of semiautomatic weapons. I suspect most of their sponsors have lost control of the boys. The violence seems to have taken on a life of its own and co-ordinating its stoppage is proving damn near impossible at the moment.

It has become too painful to hear about the regular, unchecked and unnecessary loss of lives. The abduction of the young girls from a secondary school in Borno State and their unimaginable fate is simply too depressing. We have finally confirmed our membership of that exclusive but ignoble club of mad primitive countries where repression seem their only raison d’être.

I mean, look at the North East.

Boko Haram is close to shutting down education and social life there. And you cannot find a

decent party to attend there anymore. This was why Jonathan had to boogie-woogie in the relative comfort of the North West last week.

Easter Sunday was a burst for most churches in Abuja.

Pentecostal pastors were especially unhappy. Private jets and four-wheel drives on order would have to wait a little longer.

Continuing fuel shortage and the Nyanyan bomb blast mean that most motorists don’t go anywhere in their own vehicle.

Comprehensive vehicular insurance is a tricky business in Nigeria, so cold rationalisation is setting in. Folks are beginning to think that it would be altogether a bad thing to lose one’s life and one’s vehicle in a single incident.

And the police are back on the streets. Every other vehicle with tinted glass is pulled over, not to check its interior for safety reasons, but to demand to see the tinted-glass registration papers.

Inevitably, disappointment climbs onto the face of the officers when the correct document is produced.

Mistrust is rearing its ugly head again amongst neighbours.

Homeowners are beginning to reinterview their gatemen. You don’t even want to hear a

It is now incumbent on every person to be conscious of his or her immediate environment; it behoves us to be extra vigilant at this time and to be very securityaware

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motorcycle or a car backfiring on your street. Everyone’s nerve seems on edge. Female education might become negatively impacted in the North East in the short-term, and NYSC postings of female graduates to any part of that region at this time would seem a cruel and morbid assignment.

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nd some miserable people are beginning to exploit this unhappy situation for their own gain. T B Joshua recently pulled a tasteless stunt when he paraded a man he claimed was a Boko Haramite sent from Adamawa State to Lagos to bomb his church. Rather than hand the socalled terrorist and his so-called accomplices to the police, Joshua was parading the man in his

On the brink of destiny

BY ADEYEMI ATILADE

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HESE are trying times for the Church of Jesus Christ in Nigeria and heaven demands of leaders, to provide sound and credible spiritual leadership for the church. The final outcome of the present crisis confronting the church shall be determined by the decisions that leaders of the church take. A lot is expected of us, primarily by the Lord who called us and gave us grace to represent Him before His people. In addition, every Christian in Nigeria is looking up to us to chart a way out for the Church from the present quagmire in which we have found ourselves.

The Nigerian church is under an intense attack by forces that are clearly opposed to Christ, and the intensity of the attack does not seem to be abating.

Rather there seems to be an ever increasing tempo of the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. In the northern parts of this nation, churches are burnt, Christians are killed, and the business locations of our brethren are willfully and ruthlessly destroyed, while all sorts of discrimination and intimidation are unleashed on followers of Christ in the northern zones. In the southern parts of the nation, we are beginning to witness subtle, but consistent discrimination against Christians by the existing government structures. While human lives are not yet lost in the South, it is clear that Christians are deliberately discriminated against and more pressure is being brought on churches and on Christians.

The most glaring example in recent times is the unwarranted demolition of the premises of Word of Life Bible Ministry in Victoria Island, Lagos. A number of reasons make the demolition of the premises significant.

1.It was carried out about a week after we convened a Press Conference on 13th January, 2014, in Lagos, protesting the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. At the Press Conference, we also canvassed a shift in the political structure of Lagos State to accommodate more Christian

participation in governance.

2.The ministry that was affected in that exercise belongs to the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. The significance of that act and its timing should not be lost on us.

3.There was no justifiable reason for the Lagos State Government to have carried out that demolition exercise, since it was clear that the State Government was in the breach, and not the ministry.

4.If the ministry of the leader of the church in the country is demolished in a questionable manner, which ministry is safe in Nigeria?

Whether in the North or South, we keep receiving confirmed signals that the church is under attack. Our conscience is clear, we are not the aggressors; neither have we done anything to precipitate these unwarranted attacks on us and on our places of worship. However, one thing is certain–we are under attack. The question now is, are we going to fold our arms and wait for the church to be destroyed, or we are going to arise and “contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints”.

There is need to point out right from the onset that I am not afraid of Islam. Even though, I do not for a moment underestimate the capacity and ruthlessness of Islam to inflict maximum damage on the Nigerian Church, my primary fear is what Islam can do. I am not afraid of what Islam can do; my main fear is what the church will not do. If we fail as the church to take the right steps, we shall unwittingly guarantee the success of Islam in its conspiracy against the church.

1.I am afraid that the Church in Nigeria may not genuinely repent before God and return to the narrow path.

2.I am afraid that the Church in Nigeria may not unite. The division within the house of God is unimaginable.

3.I am afraid that the Church in Nigeria may not become militant in spiritual prayers to drive back the forces of hell that have risen against the Church of Jesus Christ.

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BY MICHAEL EGBEJUMIDAVID

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Security operatives in Nigeria

Synagogue Church.

A nation without security is no serious nation. A nation that cannot protect its own citizens, especially within its own borders is not a serious country. But that is the bad news: It is very easy (and right) to sometimes blame the lacklustre nature of the current government. Also, it is only human to think that our security operatives are not protecting us adequately enough – especially in light of past reports of Army personnel caught collaborating with the insurgents. But it is not all bad news. There are also good interceptions and foiling of potential violent or terror attacks by both security personnel and vigilant citizens.

Recently in Wadata Market, Markurdi, a female ‘beggar’ was caught with a bomb under her wheelchair. Also, a tattered looking fellow who looked like a scavenger was nabbed by security agents in Abuja. He turned out to be a Boko Haramite on reconnaissance. Another was caught with a bomb in his possession. Yet another who looked like a destitute was intercepted with a bomb in a wheelbarrow near a mosque in Abuja just this week.

In Kaduna, security operatives intercepted a group of Boko Haramites as they were puttting finishing touches to their plan of attacking a police station in

Christians must consciously begin to think of dominating the Seven Mountains of Influence that govern the human society; these are Government, Education, Economy, Family, Media, Arts and Culture, and Religion

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he leaders of the church should therefore agree on a responsive and practicable agenda that will ensure the survival and well-being of the Church. For those who are not aware, a lot of work has been done by those opposed to Christ to marginalise and eradicate the church in the nation to the extent that the Constitution of Nigeria has been skewed in favour of Islam and the total exclusion of the church. The worrisome implication is that constitutionally, the church does not exist in Nigeria.

In view of the foregoing: 1.The leaders of the church need to agree on a course of responsive action to the present challenges. We should be able to articulate clear steps and directions for the entire body of Christ in Nigeria. The stamp of authority and veracity of these proposals to the church should not be difficult to convey to the Christians in Nigeria.

2. We need as leaders of the church, to call for prayers of repentance and revival all over the land. Our nation has the unenviable record of being one of the most corrupt and lawless nations on earth.

3. The Church in Nigeria can no longer afford to stand aloof from governance. For years, the attitude of Christians have been that politics is a dirty game and Christians should not get involved. However, the

Kwanan Dangora. Items recovered from the miscreants included improvised explosives devices, a machine gun, AK 47 rifles, fully charged magazines, 66 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and a jerry can of petrol. How much were these criminal elements paid to carry out the aborted dastardly act? All of N17,000 in total.

In Lagos, security operatives reported quietly nabbing some 54 suspects in the last few months. All suspects reportedly had some sort of explosives and AK 47 riffles stashed away when they were caught.

I am sure that there are many more cases of terror prevention by some vigilant citizens and hardworking security operatives that go unreported for obvious security reasons. We have to applaud those folks where they have excelled. It could not be an easy job at all. So, kudos.

However, those little but significant victories weren’t obtained without vigilance. It is now incumbent on every person to be conscious of his or her immediate environment. As citizens, it behoves of us to be extra vigilant at this time and to be very security-aware. This situation won’t last forever of course, but it is the hand we have been dealt by our fellow brothers. We must do all we can legally to protect ourselves and our properties.

*Dr. Egbejumi-David, a medical practitionner, wrote from London, UK.

reality of the present situation demands that if politics is a dirty game, Christians should enter and clean it up. The easiest way to ensure that the machinery of governance is not utilized to destroy the church is for credible Christians to get involved in governance.

4. There must be mass mobilization of Christians all over the country to register for election and ensure that they exercise their constitutional right of voting on Election Day. The prevailing attitude of Christians is to stay at home on Election Days in the nation. That attitude must change. Not only must Christians vote, but they must be trained to vote for those who will protect the church and ensure justice, fairness and equity in the nation.

5. Christians must consciously begin to think of dominating the Seven mountains of Influence that govern the human society.

These are Government, Education, Economy, Family, Media, Arts and Culture, and Religion. Apart from the mountain of religion, Christian influence is no longer felt in the other six mountains.

Even in the families, the traditional Christian values that used to run homes are fast eroded in our societies.

6. To achieve the point above, there is the need for the church to commence intentional and deliberate training and discipleship programmes for Christians to understand what is expected of them in whatever sphere that God has placed them.

It is very unfortunate that the few Christians who have been given opportunities to serve in government have not been fully reflective of the nature and standard of Christ.

We need to train our people to occupy the mountains of influence in the nation.

At every level in the Church, emphasis must be on raising genuine DISCIPLES. 7. We must commence practical steps to foster unity in the body of Christ. Even though our mode of worship may differ, the fact remains that we have the same Lord and the same Bible. Therefore, let us rally ourselves on the consent. It is my hope that Christian leaders would come up with credible suggestions and proposal that would repair and enhance the unity of the body of Christ in Nigeria.

*Archbishop Atilade is Chairman, CAN South West zone.

20--Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, APRIL 29 , 2014

Puzzle over ‘dead man’ withdrawing N2.5m from bank account •Family petitions AIG Emotionally devastated Delta family petitions Police AIG, Zone 5 to explain how their missing brother could have withdrawn N2.5m from own account nine days after the CID, Delta Police Command said he was killed by robbers while in police custody.

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, WARRI

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AN a dead man person ally draw cash from his corporate account nine days after men of the Delta State Police Command affirmed he was shot dead by armed robbers while in police custody? This is the poser the Odumosor Family of Beneku Village, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta has submitted to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, while asking the Delta State Police Command to provide answers to the disappearance of Chief Beedorf Odumosor, a member of the family since 2012.

In a 13- paragraph petition by the family counsel, Choice Umode, the Udumosor Family accused the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, of fabricating facts to cover up what they consider as “extra judicial murder ” of Chief Odumusor in alleged conspiracy with perceived political enemy of the missing Beedorf.

According to the petition, the family ’s worry began on December 30, 2012 when they

lice to produce the said Chief Beedorf Odumosor in court within 48 hours”.

Upon service of the court order on the Police Commission, rather than produce the suspect in court, the petitioners said, “One Sgt Adama Emmanuel on the 15th May 2013, deposed to a counter affidavit alleging that he was reliably informed by Sgt. Robinson that Chief Beedorf (supposed suspect) was shot dead by armed robbers along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale Expressway”

Prominent politician Sgt Emmanuel’s affidavit, the petition noted, further revealed that a prominent politician in Ndokwa East provided the information which instigated the police arrest of Chief Odumosor.

The said politician “swore and promised to deal squarely with Chief Odumosor after he emerged winner of a major elective office in the 2011 general elections in Delta State, a threat the missing Chief Odumosor never took seriously.”

,

The Odumosors are strongly of the view that the allegation by the CID, Asaba that Beedorf was shot dead by armed robbers same December 30, 2012 he was arrested cannot be true received a report that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the State Criminal Investigation, Delta State Police Command had arrested Chief Odumusor along with his Toyota 4-Runner jeep number plated ABH 415 AA. The police team was said to have been led by one Sgt Julius Robinson attached to the Anti-Kidnap Section of the Delta Police.

Sgt. Robinson, the family noted, refused to grant them access to the detained Chief Odumosor. It took a court ruling to force the Delta Police to respond to the family request to see their arrested member following a fundamental rights application by the family heard on May 2, 2013. According to the petition, the court ordered “the Delta State Commissioner of Po-

C M Y K

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In its call on the AIG Zone 5 for thorough investigation of the matter, the Odumosors are strongly of the view that the allegation by the CID, Asaba that Beedorf was shot dead by armed robbers on same December 30, 2012 he was arrested cannot be true. “In that Chief Beedorf Odumosor personally made a withdrawal of N2,500,000 (Two Million Five Hundred Naira) from his corporate account, Chief Beedorf Odumosor & Sons, with Ecobank Plc, Asaba on the 8th of January 2013”, a copy of the bank statement, the petitioners attached to their complaint and made available to Vanguard Metro, VM. The petitioners further asked the AIG Zone 5 to discountenance the confessional statement police allegedly

*The late Chief Beedorf Odumosor extracted from the missing Odumosor which he was said to have thumb-printed. The statement, the family noted, “cannot be true or correct as

Chief Odumosor is literate and can read and write and also sign his signature, which fact can be evidenced by his signing cheque leaves of his current

account which he operates with Ecobank.”

The petitioners suspect foul play, stressing that the CID, Asaba, particularly Sgt Robinson and the Ndokwa East politician who pushed for his arrest, have a case to answer. “The fabrication that Chief Odumosor was shot dead in December 2012 without his family being allowed to identify his corpse or collect same for burial from the police is indefensible when the same person walked into a bank and personally withdrew cash from his own account nine days after.

Even more baffling is the fact that the Toyota jeep belonging to Beedorf is still being held by the CID, Asaba.

The petitioners who accused the CID Asaba of perpetrating a “great deal of injustice” concluded that findings of their demanded investigation of the department would reposition public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.

When contacted on the matter, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, DSP Celestina Kalu said she was not in position to provide any information on the matter as it began long before she came into office aside the point that the petition is before the AIG Zone 5 in Benin.

When contacted the AIG Zone 5, Hashimu Salihu Argungu, affairmed receiving the petition and assured that the matter was still under investigation.

2015: Fear over transition from analogue to digital transmission

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BY LAMIDI BAMIDELE

PART from general elections, there is an im portant issue which should engage the attention of Nigerians as the count down to 2015 gathers momentum: It is a paradigm shift in the area of transmission technology. By June 2015, most Nigerians who are on analogue television receivers will no longer receive signals on their television sets as broadcasting stations will be transmitting on digital.

At the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, conference held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2006, a total of 123 countries, including Nigeria, signed a treaty which set a June 17, 2015 deadline for African, European and Middle Eastern countries to migrate from analogue to digital television. This date is generally viewed as an internationally mandated analogue switch-off date.

Digital migration is the process of converting television broadcast signals from the current analogue format to digital technology. It is also called the digital switchover or analogue switch-off. This migration became necessary as a result of developments in technology which enable more efficient use of radio frequency spectrum as well as better quality pictures and sound.

While some countries like UK, India, China are implementing the process of switchover, setting up separate dates for each region to switch off accordingly in order to meet up with the ITU directive, Netherlands switched off all analogue services on December 11, 2006.

With this order from the ITU, it has become imperative for Nigeria and other countries in their category to join others that have already concluded their switchover process to avoid signal interference between digital and analogue, from country to country by the year 2015.

The implication of this new development is that Nigerians could be cut off from the international scene by international bodies if Nigeria fails to meet up with the 2015 deadline as set up by the ITU, since it will be practically impossible to stream digital contents to the country which may still be on analogue.

The digital switchover to an average Nigerian seems not to be an issue in focus now. According to Mr Ike Okorie, a banker, this digital switchover can only be an issue if it will help politicians in winning elections in 2015. “An issue such as digital transmission switchover cannot be in the agenda of our government now”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 21

Minister advocates collaboration on job creation policies

By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE Supervising Min ister of National Plan ning, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, has called for strategic collaboration between federal and state governments towards initiating appropriate policies and programmes for job creation and equality income distribution.

Ambassador Yuguda made the call at the weekend during a meeting of the National Council on Development Planning, NCDP, in Bauchi State.

The minister noted that federal government’s effort towards addressing unemployment is focused on multiple strategies including substantial investment in technical and vocational education as well as improving the business environment.

“It is clear that the task of ensuring inclusive growth, job creation and equity is a very enormous one. We need to jointly initiate appropriate policy towards creating job employment for the teeming Nigerian youths and ensuring equality in income distribution. “There is the need for cooperation among all tiers of government in order to achieve our desired vision,” said the minister.

According to him, significant employment is not created by large companies, but by numerous small and medium sized enterprises.

Nigeria loses $2bn to piracy annually — Utomi

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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F the United Nation’s report that says for every Nigerian film sold there are nine pirated copies sold is true, Nigeria could be losing over $2billion to piracy every year,” said Professor of Political Economy and Management Expert, Pat Utomi.

Utomi who stated this while addressing participants at the second edition of the Nigerian

Entertainment Conference, NEC, in Lagos, described piracy as a distribution challenge that currently threatens the growth and development of the industry.

Speaking further on the theme, “Creating Path Ways to the Future” he noted that this problem has persisted over the years due to poor state of infrastructures, weak support of intellectual copyright and low level of awareness of the

masses on the issue of property right.

According to him, it is important for all and sundry to learn the role of distribution in entertainment, adding that without it, the industry will fail.

“It is achievable for Nigeria to dominate the world not through oil but by the talent of its young people, he added.

Recognising the federal government’s contribution to the growth of the industry,

From left: Mr. Ladi Ojo, Head of Oncology, Business Franchise, Novartis; Vera Nwanze, Country Group Head, Norvatis Pharma Services, and Professor Sulaiman Akanmu, Chief Consultant and Head of Haematology Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital at the Novartis Community Partnership Day/Blood donation drive in LUTH, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Utomi said current efforts to improve on the distribution predicament is not enough since the industry is yet to take its rightful position in driving economic policies in the country.

“It was clear that when the American government supported their entertainment industry, they understood the dynamics of the industry and has a goal to turn the industry into a foreign exchange earner for their country.

“One would have thought that all the funds coming from the government would be making impact by now. If for nothing, such funds would have been deliberately used to set an effective distribution structure rather than requesting stakeholders to access the fund which has become difficult for them to access,” he added.

He said that in line with Center for Values in Leadership (CVL) mission, they had a programme at Lagos Business School that brought some Nollywood stakeholders together, adding that they have always had interest in finding solution to some of these challenges.

“Our idea was to set up an alternative distribution structure that will better serve the interest of both content owners and consumers. So we set up Exodus Entertainment with the sole aim of effectively distributing Nigeria entertainment products (CD, DVD and Magazine) to all of Nigeria.

“We started by carrying out extensive research and since late last year, we have been operating the platform,” Utomi said.

Brent rebounds from biggest loss in 3 weeks

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RUDE rebounded from its lowest price level in almost three weeks as the U.S. said it will toughen sanctions on Russia, the biggest energy exporter, over the Ukraine crisis.

Brent crude was steady as Libya lifted force majeure at one of its ports. Futures advanced as much as 0.9 per cent in New York. The U.S. will impose new sanctions on people and companies close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, President Barack Obama said.

Among those that may be targeted are Igor Sechin, chief executive officer of OAO Rosneft, the country’s biggest oil producer, people familiar with developments said.

Libya’s National Oil Corp. will lift a suspension of exports at

the port of Zueitina, previously under rebel control, from today.

“The price is being supported by uncertainty as to the breadth and impact of sanctions taken against Russia,” Christopher Bellew, a senior broker at Jefferies Bache Ltd. in London, said by e-mail. “Another important consideration is how Russia might retaliate against sanctions.”

Crude for June delivery rose as much as 92 cents to $101.52 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded for $101.17 at 1:47 p.m. London time. Prices dropped 1.3 per cent to $100.60 on April 25, the lowest settlement since April 7.

The volume of all futures traded was about 8.5 per cent below the 100-day average for the time of day.

Brent for June settlement pared gains of as much as 62 cents to $110.20 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, trading for $109.62 at 1:49

-5.45

207.0 p.m. London time. The contract closed at $109.58 on April 25, down 0.7 percent, the 2,943.00 -25.00 biggest decline since April 7. The U.S. benchmark crude was at a discount of 17.11 -0.01 $8.46 to Brent on ICE. It ended the April 25 session at $8.98, the widest based on closing prices in six weeks.

EU Talks 109.55 -0.78 Representatives of the 28 European Union nations will meet today to widen 100.82 -1.12 a list of people subject to asset freezes and travel bans, an official from the bloc CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING said over the weekend, asking not to DOLLAR 154.73 155.23 155.73 identified because of the sensitivity of the POUNDS 259.8845 260.7243 261.5641 matter.

EURO 213.9606 214.652 215.3434 “L ater today, there will be an FRANC 175.2917 175.8582 176.4246 YEN 1.5103 1.5152 1.5201 announcement made, and I can tell you CFA 0.3074 0.3174 0.3274 that it builds on the sanctions that are WAUA 239.1355 239.9082 240.681 already in place,” Obama said today in RENMINBI 24.7583 24.8387 24.9192 the Philippine capital Manila. “We are RIYA 41.2569 41.3903 41.5236 KRONA 28.6505 28.7431 28.8357 going to be moving forward with an SDR 239.6768 240.4513 241.2258 expanded list of individuals and companies that will be affected by CBN Exchange rate as at 28/04/2014 sanctions.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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E is well versed in information technology and has worked in an I.T company or I.T department of a bank or financial institution at some time. He has been responsible for creating codes and programmes for the operations of e-payment channels like ATM and web platforms. He is the one behind most of the e-payment frauds that have robbed many of millions of naira.

The public may not be aware of this, and the regulators and banks may not want to acknowledge it publicly, but the truth is that the average e-payment fraudster is an insider!!!

The global financial crisis and the banking sector reforms that followed in Nigeria led to the retrenchment of many people in the financial sector. Many of these retrenched staff left with a lot of knowledge about the inner workings of information technology, online-real time operations etc. After the retrenchment, and with no job forthcoming, they decided to deploy the

E-payment fraudsters revealed!

knowledge to defrauding unsuspecting people through electronic payment platforms.

There are also those still working either in banks or in an electronic payment firm, who succumb to the pressure of making extra income through illegal means, and hence exploit the system to perpetrate electronic fraud.

Most of the e-payment related frauds are perpetrated

by these ‘insiders’, and the authorities know but they don’t want the public to know, because it might cause them to lose confidence in the security of e-payment platforms.

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ecently, a bank with headquarters on Victoria Island lost millions, when one of these ‘insiders’ discovered a loophole in its

system, and exploited it along with his friends to defraud the bank.

However, the ‘insider’ factor is not peculiar to e-fraud.

Most of the other types of fraud in the banks are perpetrated by or with the help of ‘insiders’, even including bank robberies. In addition to this is the fact that any system operated by human beings will always be

Top 10 performing stocks The top 10 performing stocks were shares of Costain (West Africa) Plc, P.Z Cussons Plc, Livestock Feeds Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Skye bank Plc. Others were Unilever Nigeria Plc, Eterna Plc, Courtville Business Solution, CBS Plc and .T Briscoe Plc. Costain Plc, a building and civil engineering company listed on structure/completion/other sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, rose by 13.91 percent or N0.16 to close at N1.31 from N1.15. Costain has consistently fallen below the NSE’s post listing re-

quirement rules as it has failed over the years to deliver its financials which is one key determinant of health of a company. The NSE had in 2012 imposed financial sanction on the company for failing to release its 2010 and 2011 full year financial statement. As it is, the most recent news on Costain is the liquidation of its debt to First Bank of Nigeria for which the later appointed receivership over the company. Analysts are of the opinion that Costain and other companies in its category that have not been

releasing periodic financial performance, could be witnessing price rally as a result of possible take over bid.

“It is possible that some people are interested in the company and are therefore buying the shares in order to have controlling interest that will warrant a take-over bid or it could be that top management staff and directors of the company are simply moving the shares to create false impression of activity on the share,” said a stockbroker who preferred anonymity.

P

.Z Cusson was the next with 10.61 percent or N3.55 price appreciation to close at N37.00 from N33.45 per share. A household name in body care and baby products, PZ Cusson this year warmed its way into shareholders’ heart with declaration of interim and special dividend for 2013 financial year. For the year ended June 30, 2013, the company declared an interim dividend of 19.91k kobo. The interim, which was the first in the history of P.Z was followed with N1.30 special dividend. According to analysts at Chapell Hill Denham, the

(To be continued)

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

special dividend paid by the company highlight strong revenue reserve.

The chairman, Prof. Emmanuel Edozien, had at the 2012/2013 annual general meeting assured shareholders that the strategic focus of the company would be on improving shareholders’ value through management of the cost base, and driving economies of scale from suppliers through its procurement vision. Available financial statement for half year ending November 30, 2013 showed that it achieved 4.7 percent growth in revenue to N32.46 billion from N31 billion in 2012. Profit before tax rose by 53 percent to N3.1 billon from N2 billion, while profit after tax went up by same margin, rising from N1.515 billion to N2.317 billion.

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vulnerable to insider fraud.

However, it is important to know that some of the guys operating the system or had operated it before are also exploring means to defraud you.

It makes a whole lot of difference.

Three factors are critical to attempt and success of ‘insider’ fraud via e-payment channels.

These are ignorance of the customers, carelessness on the part of customers or co-workers, and lastly, weakness or loopholes in the system.

The ignorant customer is good for the e-payment fraudster because he will most likely not know how to secure himself/ herself from the risks of such fraud. Also he/she may not likely quickly notice that fraud has been perpetrated or have the confidence to defend himself/ herself.

Unfortunately, such customers usually discover how ignorant they are, when they go to their bank to complain and they are confronted with barrage of questions, which they find difficult to answer.

ivestock Feeds Plc appreciated by 7.84 percent or N0.24 to emerge the third on the list. It closed the week at N3.30 from N3.06. The only company quoted on the livestock/animal specialties sector of the NSE, Livestock Feeds has in the last one year been enjoying investors’ patronage. In 2013, UAC of Nigeria acquired 51 percent stake in the company, a move that was believed to be capable of strengthening Live-

stock’s activities and positioning if for further growth. The company released its first quarter report and accounts for March 2014, which showed 20 percent increase in revenue from N1.327 billion in 2013 to N1.592 billion. The profit after tax rose by 16 percent to N57.843 million as against N49.705 million. The profit after tax rose by the same margin rising from N33.799 million in March 2013 to N39.333 million in the review period.

S

tanbic IBTC Holdings went up by 7.68 percent or N1.64, rising from N21.36 at the beginning of the week to N23.00; FBN Holdings Plc appreciated by 7.50 percent or N0.92 to close at N13.19 from N12.27; Skye Bank advanced by 6.63 percent or N0.23 to close at N3.70 from N3.47; Unilever followed with 5.12 percent or N2.29 price appreciation to close at N47.04 from N44.75; Eterna advanced by 4.99 percent or N0.18 to close at N3.79 from N3.61; CBS rose by 4.48 percent or N0.03 to close at N0.70 from N0.69, while R.T Briscoe chalked up by 4.17 percent or N0.05 to close at N1.25 from N1.20 per share.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK

Shareholders welcome Whistle Blowing, seek further enlightenment The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, recently launched a Whistle Blowing Portal called XWhistle.

The X- Whistle is meant to expose information that is harmful to the growth of the stock market.

According to the Exchange, the NSE X-Whistle is a programme that empowers a whistle blower (an employee, an investor, a compliance officer, an issuer, a stockbroker or any member of the public) to report possible violations of the rules and regulations of the Exchange, the securities law and fraud related activity within the market. It

is an important aspect of the NSE’s investor protection strategy designed to encourage those with information about misconduct to report it and to provide all stakeholders with the means of expressing their concerns in a responsible and effective manner without being hurt. Speaking with Vanguard Investors Forum, some shareholders speak on what it means to them and how they think it is going to work among other related issues. Excerpt:

By WILLIAM JIMOH Binuyo Safara, member, Global Shareholders Association of Nigeria:

T

he introduction of the whistle blowing portal by the NSE is long overdue because somebody like me has been waiting for it.

This is a policy that will favour every enlightened shareholders. It is another good step toward development of the Nigerian capital market since it is not necessary that you begin to look for the address of your companies before you can make your mind known to them or report fraud being perpetrated by the company to the regulator.

I witnessed the launch of the programme at the NSE and I understand what it is all about.

I want to appeal to the NSE to make sure that as they have launched the programme in Lagos, they should also take the good news to other states of the federation because it will make people to be aware of what is happening in the market and how they can go about solving issues regarding their investments in the capital market.

•Yekini Adisa

•Binuyo Sarafa

Yekini Adisa, Governor, Focus Shareholders Association of Nigeria:

X

- whistle as introduced by the NSE means that when we discover that certain things are wrong with any company, or when we see that the market is going downward, we should raise alarm by telling the authority, regulators and the managers what they need to watch out for so that we do not go back to where we found ourselves six years ago.

On whether the shareholders are currently making use of the platform as expected, I will say not really, but we believe that gradually we will get the understanding and make the best use of it. But I am very sure that to get the understanding, it will not take time since the leaders of various shareholders' associations are aware of its existence.

In our association, we know what is going on and we are not ignorant of this too and since we already have time when we interact

with the shareholders on issues like this, spreading the message will be accelerated so that we will achieve the objective of the initiative within the shortest possible time.

As an individual, I have not had any cause to make use of the XWhistle platform since it was launched because currently, everything is going on smoothly and the market has been improving. One very important benefit shareholders will derive from this is that, it is going to reduce the number of times we visit the company secretaries of our companies whenever we have issues that needed to be clarified.

This is because previously, we always go to the company secretaries to talk with them on some issues and they will explain to us the whole matter. In order words, we use to visit companies where we have shareholdings whenever

we need clarification on issue and if the explanation we get from them is not positive, we advise them and they do consider our advice. For instance, recently we visited a particular company’s secretary because they have not held Annual General Meeting for long, and she told us their plans and what the problems were, after which we gave our advice, though they have not held a meeting yet, but we understand their case and we look forward to them calling a meeting very soon.

On a last note , what X-Whistle means to shareholders is that henceforth, we do not need to go personally to companies to pass information about something wrong, rather we just blow the whistle (via writing ) and they will know that we are talking to them and the regulators will also know how to drive the message home.

MARKET NEWS

Afromedia appoints new directors

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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S part of strategies for a positive leap in corporate performance, Afromedia Plc has adjusted its Board of Directors, with the appointment of four non-executive members.

The four new Board members have been strategically selected and appointed to fill in the vacancies created by the former non –executive board members, who for unavoidable and urgent personal interest left the Board recently in pursuance of other endeavours It will be recalled that Afromedia has been suffering major setback in its operating environment since 2011.

In a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, Afromedia Group Managing Director, Akin Ire Olopade, said that the company ’s new visionary and dynamic Board of Directors, was appointed based on the need for the company to reinvigorate its Board for enhanced corporate performance.

He added that the four new nonexecutive directors comprise visionary Nigerians from various walks of life who have enviable track records of achievements and professionalism.

The new members of the Board are as follows Mr. Idowu O. Iluyomade, a distinguished lawyer and an entrepreneur, bringing his wealth of experience in corporate governance and entrepreneurship to bear on the strategic direction of Afromedia. He is the new Chairman of the Board; a position formerly occupied by Dr. Onaolapo Soleye who resigned late last year to pursue his other interests.

Othes includes; Engr. Patrick Osita Nwabunie, the new Vice Chairman Board of Director, a longtime member of the company and its retired Deputy Group Managing Director, as nonexecutive directors, Ernest C. Ebi MFR, FCIB, a distinguished banker and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Ibrahim Isiyaku (SAN), a distinguished legal luminary.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATION

Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with (any company stockbrokers, registrar company etc) write to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com OR 07043855187. We will INVESTIGATE AD REPLY.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

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ESPITE the availability of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, some filling stations in some parts of Lagos continue to sell the product above federal government’s approved regulated pump price of N97 per litre, investigation revealed.

Lagos and most parts of the South West and Abuja, have always enjoyed buying petrol at the regulated pump price, while the rest of the country continue to purchase the product at exorbitant prices depending on the whims of the marketers.

The development is one of the reasons government is pushing for the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum subsector, to allow marker forces determine price as well as eliminate the endemic corruption pervading the sector.

Notwithstanding the price paid by motorists, these filling stations still display N97 on their meters as a disguise, but coerceNigerians into paying between N110 and N200/litre depending on the location of the station.

It was gathered that the practice in Lagos started during the fuel scarcity that rocked the country in the first quarter of 2014, when marketers sold petrol above the regulated pump price in the open market in protest of the non-payment

PMS sells above N97 per litre •as FG approves Q2 import allocations Operation, Mr. AdekunleSoyebo, said the objective of the exercise is to check the hoarding, under-

,

The reason the major marketers still sell at N97 is because they have bulk purchase agreements with NNPC, and they can also load from the Ejigbo Depot .

of subsidy claims by government. The major culprits of these sharp practices, which also include under-dispensing and hoarding of products, are the independent operators, as outlets of the Major Oil Marketers Association, MOMAN, which include Total, Conoil, Mobil, MRS, and Forte Oil, still sell petrol at N97/litre. *Enforcing compliance To check the malpracticesand enforce strict compliance, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR swung into action to shut down some of the outlets in Lagos, and also threatened to have their licences revoked.

Among the outlets sanctioned during a recent routine inspection by DPR in Lagos was Rain Oil at Okota for under dispensing of fuel. Feroselina Oil also at OkotaIsolo was penalisedfor hoarding of product and selling above N97/ litre.

Commenting on the exercise, DPR Lagos Zonal Head of

,

dispensing and selling above the official regulated price.

Despite the clamp down, many retail outlets are undeterred but continue to sell above the regulated price.

Among the outlets are those located in Ojo, LASU-Iba Road, Badagry, Ikoroduareas of Lagos. *Reasons for malpractices Explaining why some petroleum outlets persist in selling fuel above N97/litre, a depot official in Kirikiri who pleaded anonymity, said before the approval of the Q2

importation allocation, some oil marketers imported petrol at high international price.

As a result, he said marketers needed to recoup their investment since the funds are borrowed, especially with the talk of the removal of subsidy.

He asked, “Why won’t they sell above N97 when the premium to import is high?The product is imported based on international price, and this is why DPR is limited.

“The reason major marketers still sell at N97 is because they have bulk purchase agreements with NNPC, and they can also load from the Ejigbo Depot,” the source said.

Another source in the ApapaDepot argued that by refusing to pay subsidy claims of those who genuinely imported petrol, the federal government is not creating an enabling environment for importers and marketers.

He criticized that government wanted to use the excuse of products scarcity, “to sell the refineries to their cronies at giveaway prices. “Nigerians should reject this type of blackmail, and government should do the needful by encouraging local refining of the products by carrying out Turn Around Maintained, TAM on the refineries while ensuring that they have adequate supply of crude.

He also charged marketers to put “national interest above personal interest ones by genuinely engaging in due process of products importation instead fraudulent practices.”

To forestall a repeat of the recent acute fuel scarcity caused by the late release of the Q1 2014 import allocation, the Government has releasedtheQ2 allocations for NNPC and private Oil Marketing and Trading (OM &T) companies.

The Q1 allocations, which ought to have been released at the end of December 2013 or the beginning of January 2014, to enable NNPC and marketers import products, was delayed till February 21, 2014, causing months of scarcity and hardship for motorists and other users petrol.

NERC approves interim rules for TEM, NESI

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has approved and signed into law the rules for the Interim period between the completion of privatisation and the start of the Transitional Electricity Market, TEM. The law, which was signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, provides for regulation which shall apply to energy produced and delivered as well as associated services during the interim period.

The rules are in line with the exercise of the powers conferred on the Commission under Section 96 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act(2005).

Amadi explained that the Interim Rules are intended to cover all electricity taken from the transmission system by the distribution companies,DISCOs, with

adjustments made to the account for any bilateral arrangements between generation companies, GENCOs, and DISCOs. “The existing arrangements shall be maintained save to the extent that they are modified by the order of the Commission,” he added.

Furthermore, the objectives of the rules are to establish a framework to govern trading arrangements during the interim period.

This is because during the interim, Power Purchase Agreements, PPAs, between the GENCOs and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, NBET, on the one hand, and vesting contracts between NBET and the DISCOs on the other will not be effective.

The rules are also to manage the probable revenue shortfall in the industry by determining the revenue allowable to participants and service

providers during the interim period.

The objectives also include the establishment of payment arrangements and flow of funds from the DISCOsthrough the market operator to all beneficiaries, and to establish the sources of funds required to ameliorate the probable shortfall in the revenues collected by the DISCOsin the interim.

“The market operator shall ensure the DISCOswith invoices for their allocation of energy delivered and available capacity regulatory charges and services provided in each month during the interim period,” Amadi said.

Furthermore, in the event of disputes arising during the period between participants and service providers, it shall be resolved in accordance with the disputes resolution provision of the market rules.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 25

NNPC urges Nigerians to embrace cooking gas

By SEBASTINE OBASI

T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said it is ready to reinvigorate and increase the domestic consumption of the liquefied natural gas, LPG,also known as cooking gas across the country.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, stated this at the combined graduation ceremony of Chief Officers Management Development Programme of batches 069 to 072 at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

Yakubu stated that as part of efforts to reduce the pressure on kerosene consumption, the NNPC is refocusing its strategy to encourage and grow the consumption of LPG which

provides a cleaner and cheaper energy alternative.

“NNPC’s footprint in the domestic gas market has attained unprecedented growth.

With the commissioning of the NPDC’s 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, Oredo gas processing facilities and the acquisition of the new assets, NPDC is now the biggest producer and supplier of gas into the domestic market, contributing over 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day,” he said.

He explained that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, is being repositioned to become a medium-sized independent exploration and production company with a production capacity of at least 250,000 barrels per day by the Year 2015.

According to him, NPDC assets base has grown with the assignment of new oil mining leases, stressing that the management under his watch is determined to further pursue new strategies to grow production to the target of 250,000 bpd by 2015 from the current level of 130,000bpd.

The NNPC helmsman said that in line with the strategic direction to support the Federal Government to increase national crude oil reserve and productivity to 40 billion and 4 million barrels per day, respectively, there is aggressive exploration campaign in offshore, onshore and the inland basins of Chad, Anambra, Benue, Bida and Sokotoand Dahomey.

“We are as well carrying out infield developments which have resulted in increased reserve and with the intensified approach, including the expedited action on new projects like Egina, the reserve and production targets is realisable,” said Yakubu.

The GMD also said that over 1,000 square kilometres of seismic data have been acquired in the Chad Basin in spite of the security situation in Borno State.

According to him, revamping of the Corporation’s critical downstream facilities such as the refineries, depots, pipelines and jetties have remained the focus of the management stressing that these spirited efforts will ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

FG charges producers to bridge gas to power shortage

BY CHRIS OCHAY I

A

BUJA: The Minister of Power, Prof.Chinedu Nebo, has challenged stakeholders in the gas sector to regard issues of power as a national emergency, which deserves all patriotic instincts in the provision of workable solutions.

Nebo spoke at a forum organised to provide a platform for identifying and resolving the root causes of the incessant interruption of gas to the nation’s gas fired electricity plants in Abuja.

The retreat, tagged Gas to Power Brainstorm, organised by the Power Ministry, had in attendance key players in Oil and Gas sector including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR; Shell;Seplat; Nigerian Gas Company, NGC; and Nigerian LNG Ltd. Others include Petrolog, BCS

Energy and Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria, GACN. Nebo decried that vandalism has worsened the existing situation, wherein Government is doing all it could to ensure the full utilisation of the nation’s abundant gas resources.

The minister said that enormous resources are involved in the deployment of heavy duty equipment, adding that difficult terrains are some of the reasons for delay in effecting repairs on the damaged pipelines.

He also cited pipeline vandalism for gas supply shortages leading to the existing wide gap between the installed capacity and actual power generation. He said, “We have the capacity to now generate over 6,000 megawatts, MW, but sadly, we now produce a little over 4,000MW.This is not the case in other climes.”

Emphasizing on the importance of energy in the socio economic life of the nation, Nebo

said, “we want the economy to be revamped, this magic can only be made manifest if we are able to produce enough power that will drive a double digit growth.”

He challenged the stakeholders to brace-up to the unfortunate scenario created by the abysmal lowlevel of power generation when compared with countries like South Africa and Brazil.

The Minister noted that although significant improvement of about 50 percent has been achieved in gas flaring trajectory, further deployment of technology will guarantee full utilisation of gas hitherto flared by the domestic market and power plants. He expressed optimism that Mr. President’s expectations for gas to power and the overall achievement of the Transformation Agenda in the sector will soon be realised.

Oil & People •CHIJIOKE NWAOZUZU cnwaozuzu@gmail.com

Developing gas pipeline infrastructure:

Who is responsible?

CHIJIOKENWAOZUZU Continued from last week Costs of developing gas pipelines,infrastructure Natural gas pipeline construction costs vary between US$ 800,000 per km to US$ 2 million per km (for large diameter projects over rugged terrain). Examples are: the 24 inch Yucatan Peninsula gas pipelines, completed in 1999 and running 432 miles from the Mexican State of Tabasco to power plants in the Yucatan province cost US$266 million. The 460 km line completed in 1996, from La Mora in Argentina to Santiago in Chile cost US$360 million. The 3,700 km pipeline from Bolivia to Sao Paulo in Brazil cost US$1.8 billion. A typical LNG project may require more than US$10 billion of investment and lead time of 6-10 years from conception to completion. LNG tanker ships cost about US$200 million.

Who should develop the infrastructure The Nigerian power sector will perform efficiently only to the extent that they have a secure supply of natural gas. Considering the high cost of natural gas pipelines, which entity should develop this infrastructure? Should the responsibility fall on the International Oil Companies (IOCs), or the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), or a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Arrangement? The magnitude of costs involved would preclude the PPP- type option.

So why have the IOCs not placed a higher priority on investments in natural gas infrastructure? A number of plausible reasons come to mind! Gas infrastructure development generally costs substantially more than oil development (4-30 times as much) and takes much longer time. Gas infrastructure investments may leave international investors more exposed to politically-inspired violence or generally to the risk of expropriation.

Inspired violence Most importantly, the IOCs may be averse to investments in gas infrastructure because gas is sold in a local market rather than an international market (except LNG). Thus, investments in gas infrastructure are likely to be regulated by a national government as public utilities. This may result in a relatively low rate of return and income generation in local currencies. So, the IOCs would rather invest in LNG projects.

On the contrary, governments derive revenue from the sale of natural gas to domestic industries. For governments holding significant shares in some end-user plants, it also derives revenue from value-added associated with the export of the finished products.

Governments and its citizens also benefit from increases in employment and the multiplier effects on their countries’ economies that come from increases in natural gas development. For example, a major project such as LNG, methanol or fertilizer plants mobilizes local labor for construction work and can create local businesses to provide services to the new projects (material suppliers, engineering contractors, hotels, restaurants, transport services, etc). Natural gas utilization for power generation can effectively transform a country and put it on the path of industrial revolution, social and economic stability.

Looking Forward The foregoing would suggest that the responsibility for developing effective gas transportation infrastructure rests squarely on government shoulders. The international financial institutions are currently sympathetic to funding ‘green’ projects. As a major gas country, there should be little difficulty in obtaining ‘resource development loans’ from the Breton-Wood Institutions (World Bank and IMF).

DrChijiokeNwaozuzu, a petroleum policy expert wrote in from the Emerald Energy Centre, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Email: cnwaozuzu@gmail.com, Tel: 070 6874 3617 (SMS Only).

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Map of Ogun State

OGUN APC:

Genesis of 2 parallel congresses & 2 state executive councils national leadership had made provision for appeal at the end of the congresses. The meeting had yet to be concluded at the time of writing this report. Political watchers in the state are now of the opinion that Adesegun had been proved right by the events which attended the conduct of the congresses in the state.

The two factions of the APC in the state have had to conduct parallel congresses and produced parallel executives at the ward, local government and state levels owing to their inability to harmonize their positions.

By SEGUN OLATUNJI Abeokuta

T

HE current storm trou bling the Ogun State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress is far from settling. With each passing day the intra-party crisis assumes a fresh dimension. In fact, the APC in the state has assumed the status as the hotbed of intra-party crisis in the South West and it is not in the least abetting. The crux of the matter is the battle for the control of the party structure in the state and the two major contenders remain loyalists of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the National Assembly members believed to be loyal to a National Leader of the APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

The genesis of the current crisis were the events that emanated from the aborted meeting of the APC state Harmonization Committee in January.

Harmonisation committee Suspected thugs believed to be loyal to the state government had invaded the APC state secretariat in Abeokuta to stop a meeting of members of the Harmonization Committee scheduled to hold there. The suspected thugs believed to be members of the Ogun State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers Union unleashed terror on journalists and residents of Leme, Abeokuta during their invasion of the APC secretari-

at.

Scores of residents of the area were also seriously injured by the thugs who wielded various dangerous weapons and attacked all members of the community in sight. They also vandalized the State Secretariat of the APC. The members of the state Harmonization Committee led by Senator Gbenga Kaka had to relocate to the Iwe Irohin Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists after escaping the wrath of the suspected thugs.

The incident generated controversies resulting in the exchange of letters published in newspapers between Governor Amosun and the National Assembly members. Since the incident, things practically fell apart in the APC in the state and the centre could no longer hold as Governor Amosun and the National Assembly members seem no longer to see eye to eye on issues concerning the party in the state.

The division between the governor’s loyalists mainly made up of the members of his SIACO group and the National Assembly members believed to be loyal to Osoba again played out during the last natiowide membership registration exercise of the APC in the state. The governor was alleged to have favoured the SIACO group during the registration exercise at the expense of the National Assembly members believed to be loyal to Osoba. However, the foundation for the current crisis rocking the party in the state is believed to have been laid by the violation of the party

Parallel congresses

Chief Segun Osoba

guidelines for the conduct of the congresses.

The indication to this first emerged when the state Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, faulted Preparations for the APC Ward Congresses. Adesegun’s observation at a stakeholders’ meeting held a day before the ward congresses caused a stir amongst party leaders, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun present at the Gateway Hall venue of the party stakeholders’ meeting.

Stakeholders' meeting The deputy governor had contended that due to time factor, some of the provisions in the APC guidelines for the ward congresses were no longer obtainable. He noted that the names of those who would conduct the exercise at the 236 wards had not been published for party members to identify.

Adesegun added that such lapses could undermine the arrangement for the congresses.

Earlier, the Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Mr. Ope Salami who presided over the meeting had read out provisions of the guidelines for wards, local government and state congresses of the APC for party members. According to the party guidelines, any venue so identified for any congress must be announced 72 hours before the conduct of the exercise. Salami added that elections at ward level shall be by open ballot.

”The electorate shall queue behind the candidate of their choice or his/her picture or poster.” The SCC chairman also stressed that aspirants for all ward offices must make payments for purchase of nomination forms into the accredited bank accounts of the APC. ”The fees shall be paid through the accredited banks and deposit tellers shall be evidence of payment and will be required for the collection of forms. All completed forms must be returned at least 48 hours before the conduct of the election,” he said.

However, before Salami could respond to the deputy governor’s observation which elicited mixed reactions amongst

The ward congresses were marred by logistics problems and other irregularities. However, parallel congresses were conducted in many of the wards across the state by the loyalists of Governor Ibikunle Amosun on the one hand and the supporters of the National Leader of the party, Chief Osoba. This further generated controversies, accusations and counter-accusations between the loyalists of the governor and the supporters of the National Assembly members.

And in less than twenty four hours to the conduct of the scheduled local government congresses, the National Assembly caucus of the party

,

•Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun

The two factions of the APC in the state have had to conduct parallel congresses and produced parallel executives at the ward, local government and state levels

party chieftains in the hall, Governor Amosun quickly intervened. Amosun called for a voice vote on whether or not to allow journalists seated inside the hall to continue to be part of the meeting. At this juncture, majority of the party members voted against the continued stay of the journalists inside the hall. The media men were then asked to leave the hall.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that Salami later explained that the lapses identified by Adesegun were applicable to the party chapters throughout the country. He said that was the reason the party

,

called for the cancellation of the ward congresses in the state.

The Ogun APC National Assembly also demanded a fresh conduct of the ward congresses. The National Assembly Caucus in a statement signed

by Senator Adegbenga Kaka said that last Ward Congresses were preceded and fraught with “various breaches and violation of all known rules of the game.”

Kaka representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly added that since the State Congress Committee had failed to address the Continues on page 27

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 27 was said to have then become charged when a member of the National Assembly, Hon. Olumide Osoba allegedly abused Egbetokun.The lawmaker has however denied this. In the heat of the exchange of hot words, the Chairman, Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Dare Ogunde belonging to the governor’s faction was said to have suddenly engaged in fisticuff with a former member of the National Assembly, Hon. Deko Onamusi.

Onamusi who was injured in the fight with the council boss was later hospitalized.

Appeal committee

Chief Segun Osoba (2nd right) with other stakeholders at the unveiling of APC's name in Abuja

Genesis of 2 parallel congresses & 2 state executive councils complaints and petitions which arose from the ward congresses of the APC in the state, the committee should not go ahead with the conduct of the local government congresses. The Ogun APC National Assembly Caucus’ statement reads: “The attention of the worthy members of our great party All Progressives Congress (APC) is hereby called to the shenanigans of congresses going on in Ogun State. We observe and believe that the unbridled breaching of party guidelines on the congress is capable of truncating the aspirations of our party faithfuls.

Various breaches and violations ”The Ward Congresses of Saturday, April 5, 2014; were preceded with various breaches and violation of all known rules of the game. ”Petitions were written from Wards, Local Government and State before and after the stipulated time for the conduct of the exercise and handed over to the Congress Committee Chairman for onward transmission to the State Congress Appeal Committee. ”The 48 hours time space for appeal hearing and disposal lapsed without treatment of any appeal. Even the illegally proposed re-run was eventually cancelled by the Chairman of the Congress Committee. ”According to the Party guidelines, all the Ward Executives to be produced by April 5 congress and elected five-local government delegates are to form major planks of delegates for the April 12th Local Government

Congresses, following the laid down guidelines. ”Without resolution of any of the matters arising from the inconclusive April 5 Ward Congress, it is curious that the Chairman of the State Congress Committee could attempt to go ahead with the Local Government Congress. A case of building something on nothing and expecting it to stand. ”This is against any known logic and law, and we regard it as an exercise in futility. Rather, all those that duly made the requisite payment and presented themselves for election at the Ward Congress should be duly declared as returned unopposed or the entire process from Ward level should commence de-novo following to the letters, the guidelines issued by our National Secretariat. We, therefore, call on our faithful party members to denounce the enthronement of dictatorship. We implore all the faithful members to remain calm and believe that justice shall be done.

Protests from stakeholders ”Protests from other stakeholders also trailed the ward congresses. Some aggrieved members of the party from Sagamu protested at the Oke-Mosan office of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs against alleged injustice in the election of wards leaders.

Some of the protesters threatened to ‘deal’ with the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Funmilayo Efuwape for allegedly manipulating the list of the

ward leaders in the council.

The aggrieved party members warned Efuwape against returning to her office in Sagamu.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo who however intervened appealed to the protesters and assured them of getting justice in the matter. Addressing newsmen on the protest, Oladipo said that the results of the ward congresses in the council were being harmonised.

He added that there were no serious problems in the council. Reacting to the lawmakers’ claims, the Chairman of the state Congress Committee, Mr. Ope Salami described the allegation as false.

Salami disclosed that the committee was in possession of documentary evidence atrocities perpetrated by a faction of the party. He, however, said that the committee would only recognise the names on the approved nomination forms, stating that the committee would release the results on Wednesday.

Salami dismissed insinuations that members of the committee had been bribed, stressing that anyone with proofs should present it. But in spite of the protest and demand by the National Assembly caucus, the congress committee went ahead with the conduct of the local government congresses which ended up being a repeat of the ward congresses. The two groups in the twenty local government areas of the state held parallel congresses and produced two different executives in each of the councils.

Efforts to resolve the problems arising from the conduct of the ward and local government con-

gresses however failed.

Infact, the perennial crisis rocking the party worsened last Wednesday as members loyal to both Governor Amosun and the National Assembly members clashed during the sitting of the Appeal Panel on the already conducted ward and local government congresses. The Appeal Panel which sat in the

,

Continues from page 26

Speaking shortly after the free-for-all, a member of the Osoba faction who pleaded anonymity said, “It is so shameful that what happened today could have happened. We are of the view that if there is any dispute, the best way to resolve it is to go in a legal way as a civilised human being. ”The Appeal Committee was set up and we presented our case. Only for Tunji Egbetokun to raise an objection. I have never seen a place where you will raise an objection in an appeal committee. Before you say Jack Robinson, they started beating a former honourable member, Hon. Onamusi and some other people who were there. Honestly the mayhem of today is something that is uncalled for.”

In his reaction, one of the gov-

Some aggrieved members of the party from Sagamu protested at the Oke-Mosan office of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs against alleged injustice in the election of wards leaders

Gateway Hall, Abeokuta and headed by Alhaji Ikra Bilbis was listening to the grievances of the Amosun and Osoba loyalists when the commotion began.

The commotion resulted in a free-for- all and fisticuffs when Senator Gbenga Kaka took the stage and accused Governor Amosun of allegedly hijacking the whole process. Kaka accused the governor of denying members of the Osoba group the forms for the congresses.

Hijacking of party He further accused Amosun of being self-centred and hijacking the party for himself and his loyalists at the expense of the other members. But a former speaker of the state House of Assembly and Senior Special Assistant to Amosun on Political Matters, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun interrupted Senator Kaka and raised a point of order, saying, “Senator Kaka you dare not accuse Governor Amosun like that”.

The atmosphere in the hall

,

ernor’s loyalists and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo, said, “One of Osoba’s group members shouted ‘no’. I think that was Olumide Osoba, who shouted ‘no’ to a point of order. Point of order in any parliamentary setting conotes that you give such a person voice to make his submission. Whether negative or positive and from there the whole thing went up.”

Also speaking with newsmen later on, the Chairman of the Appeal Panel, Ikra Bilbis disclosed that the panel had so far received five petitions concerning the conduct of the ward and local government congresses already conducted.

Bilbis assured that the report of the Appeal Panel would be ready before the state congresses of the party. He said that the current crisis within the party in the state would be resolved amicably. And just like it happened during the two previous congresses, last Saturday’s state congresses of the party produced two state executive committees of the Ogun APC.

28—Vanguard,TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

VANGUARD'S EXCLUSIVE BOOK SERIALS ZIK, NDI-IGBO AND THEIR SOUTHERN NEIGHBOURS:

Charting a new political direction for Nigeria

BY UCHENNA NWANKWO

P

REFACE: Sometime in the middle of 2012, a certain Igbo group published an advertorial in a national daily newspaper in which it inter alia made snide remarks on the person of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, accusing him of actions and inaction that compromised interethnic relationships between Ndi-Igbo and the eastern minorities.

The write-up also contained presentations on Zik’s political exploits in the western part of the country that have had farreaching effects on Igbo-Yoruba relationships. Most of the claims were of course false and unresearched; a malicious conjecture. The offending part of the advertorial ran thus: "••having been ousted by Awolowo from becoming the first Premier of the Western Region in the famous carpet-crossing saga [of 1952], Azikiwe went to the East and ousted Eyo Ita, an Eastern minority element who led the party to victory and who ought to have been the first premier of Eastern Region. The bitterness generated by that single stroke of political injustice was at the root of the attitude of the Eastern minorities in the

misinterpretation of history. I disapproved of the group’s mindless and unwarranted castigation of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and other implied misrepresentations, and strove to set the record aright.

Of course being a concise newspaper article, the rejoinder failed to cover all aspects of the issues raised in the offending lines of the advertorial.

Consequently, I have been inundated with calls from close friends and associates to provide further details and insight on the central theme of that rejoinder.

This book is therefore provoked by these calls and inquiry, and of course the need to reach other Nigerians who are not privileged or near enough to make personal contact with me and hence to have their curiosity satiated individually. It is hoped that this effort will help reshape opinions and attitudes and therefore help ameliorate existing cleavages across the country. The Igbo say: ‘onye amaghi ebe mmiri bidolu mawa ya, adighi ama ebe ono wee kwusi’; literally, one who does not know at what point the rain caught up with him would hardly remember where and when the pounding stopped. In other words, we must understand the

,

Tensions arising from cultural disparities were bound to have exerted very strong influences in the olden days when these groups were first coming into contact with one another bloody disputes of 1966-7 which became war. This bad blood became the biggest undoing of Biafra when it mattered most but the first blame must rest squarely on Azikiwe and his henchmen of that time who triggered it all.

We still live with the relationship to date at great costs in blood and material."

The group went further to apologise ‘on behalf of our fathers to the people of the Niger-Delta for that wrongdoing that ruined the brotherly relationship we had from time immemorial . . .’

In my short rejoinder, published shortly afterwards, I noted and appreciated the obvious burning desire of the group to establish or nurture cordial relationships between Ndi-Igbo and the South-South peoples of Nigeria, but went further to opine that such cordiality should not be founded on falsehood, outright misrepresentation and

,

nature of a problem before we can transcend it.

There may be people who would feel that this work is a raking up of muck, an attempt at bringing to the fore matters that people want to forget about; issues that ought to be swept under the carpet for the sake of societal wellbeing and cordial inter-ethnic relationships. But the question is: To what extent has 70 years of silence over these matters helped to douse interethnic tension or helped to bring the groups involved any closer, politically at least? I can understand that many may wish that these details were never written, or even retold, so as not to agitate consciences. But conscience, according to Uthman Dan Fodio, is an open wound that can only be healed by truth.

I happened to have read online the newspaper reports of the resolutions of the recently held meeting in Ibadan of the Yoruba

•Obafemi Awolowo (left) Sir Ahmadu Bello and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe during the struggle for independence National Assembly. I also took time to go through the comments from readers that appeared at the bottom of the newspaper stories.

To say the least, I was shocked to the marrow by what I saw. The comments were chilling. The commentaries and brickbat from Igbo and Yoruba commentators to the Yoruba Assembly’s call for true federalism and regional autonomy actually set me wondering whether the situation, the animosity between the two groups, is redeemable.

All the age-old hurts, real and imagined, between the two groups were on display. The bitterness that poured forth is unforgettable. They hurt, and can disillusion even the greatest optimists who hope and earnestly believe that these differences will soon be forgotten and that the attendant cleavages associated with them will soon abate. One notable fellow, an Igbo I think, put a little humour into his own commentary when he wrote that the moment he heard of the then impending Yoruba National Assembly Conference, he knew that there was no way the conference would not talk about the Igbo; meaning that the old Igbo-Yoruba conflict, face-off or rivalry would somehow be revisited or featured at the meeting. And he added with remarkable aplomb that he was not disappointed.

Remarkable aplomb

Of course he was referring to a contribution by a certain Yoruba chief who charged at the conference that since Enugu has become a State, the Yoruba must insist that Ibadan must be made a State as well, or words to that effect. Apparently, the poor chief imagines that Enugu State is a city-state!

But more importantly, I noted that the commentators, whoever they were and whatever their

ages, do not or did not quite understand what actually happened or what caused the subsisting Igbo-Yoruba political conflict. They practically all spoke from bias and half-truths they have been fed with from the rumour mills and from sheer falsehood transmitted over the decades by rote.

The experience steeled my resolve, in fact suppressed my doubts, about the need to write this book and to tell the truth as I know it, for I believe that education is the enemy of prejudice, narrow-mindedness and hate. If hiding the facts could not diminish the intensity of emotion on the subject over a period of seven decades; if it couldn’t bring the two groups any closer politically, or have indeed deepened the animosity people feel over the past, perhaps exposing the truth and talking about our sore collective past will have the opposite effect, I hope.

Inter-ethnic animosities

There is no gainsaying the fact of widespread and persistent tribal or inter-ethnic animosities both at Nigeria’s country-wide level and more deeply among Southern ethnicities in Nigeria.

The roots of these divisiveness and disunity can be traced to a wide variety of factors that have been at play right from the time the different groups began to have contact with one another from pre-colonial times. These factors include social and cultural disparities among the groups, economic intercourse and developmental attainments, education, religion, temperament and influences from the emergent political elite.

Tensions arising from cultural disparities were bound to have exerted very strong influences in the olden days when these groups were first coming into contact with one another.

But one imagines that over the centuries, the groups must have been understudying and adjusting to one another ’s cultural peculiarities, temperament and even mannerisms, and should therefore be coping with their different strands by now.

On the economic front, it is obvious that economic intercourse have contributed immensely to the growth of integration and interdependence among the groups. However, economic factors could also be a source of tension as culturally induced disparities in levels of economic acquisitiveness and pursuits, even at individualistic level, may pose difficulties based on enviousness and feelings of or charges of mitigated or undue scruples. More importantly, at the collective level, areas of differentials in modern economic development also stimulate separatist tendencies of even greater political significance.

Also the characteristic attitude of the educated and prosperous groups and subgroups who had earlier contact with Europeans was one of contempt, amusement, condescension, or veiled hostility, depending upon the individual relationship. This impacted negatively not only on inter-ethnic relationships, but also at the intra-ethnic levels.

Trans-tribal bond

At the religious level, one can say that Christianity and its missionaries have played very integrative role in that they provided the initial trans-tribal bond uniting individuals of different and formerly hostile traditional societies in Southern Nigeria. However, with the Nigerianisation of the Christian missions especially in postindependence and post-war Nigeria, the contest for leadership and office in the orthodox churches have produced squabbles and bad blood among inter-ethnic groups in heterogeneous cities especially in the Southwest and the South-south. But I think that the one single and overriding factor that have influenced matters for the worse in terms of poor interethnic relationships among Nigeria’s southern ethnicities has been the role of the emergent political elite whose duty it was/is to organise the chaotic public will or to synthesize and forge sometimes isolated and festering differences into concrete blueprints and grounds for collective attitudinal responses and political action.

To this extent, given the overriding role of politics in the shaping of human affairs, we are Continues on page 29

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—29

VANGUARD'S EXCLUSIVE BOOK SERIALS

Charting a new political direction for Nigeria Continues from page 28 going to concentrate effort at highlighting and explaining some of the evolving relational differences between the Igbo and their Southern neighbours primarily on the impact of politics and the roles played by leading political actors of yesteryears.

The matter will be discussed under the different periods of Nigeria’s political developments, starting with the colonial era.

The 1951 Western Regional Election and Its Aftermath Until the emergence of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (also known as Zik of Africa or simply as Zik) on the Nigerian political scene, Igbo contact with their neighbours was more or less limited to interpersonal contacts and exchanges among borderline communities. Although Zik was a Nigerian nationalist to the core and always tried to mobilise and act from the standpoint of national interest and consensus, his actions and inaction, by the nature of things, still rubbed off on his native Igbo people.

Independence struggle The Igbo, even at interpersonal levels, paid a price for Azikiwe’s leadership of Nigeria’s independence struggle especially at the hands of our British colonial masters. In fact, different sections of the Nigerian society tended, in part, to reward or punish the man and by extension, even if inadvertently, the Igbo according to their respective perception of Zik’s mission in Nigerian politics.

Those who believed or thought that Zik was out to effect or work for “Igbo domination” in the Nigerian polity took steps to stop him and in the process caused the Igbo to pay a price for that perceived ambition.

On the other hand, those who sided with Zik and saw him as a genuine liberator, consciously or

unconsciously extended those positive attitudes to the Igbo people in general.

Of course there were people who knew that Zik was genuine but because of class interest and inter-personal differences with the man chose to oppose and call him names as a means of establishing a niche for themselves in the Nigerian political firmament. In the final analysis, the aggregations of these personal and organised collective attitudes began to influence and define the levels of relationships between the Igbo and their neighbours.

Of course this is not to say that the social, economic and political behaviours of other Igbos in their different walks of life did not nor do not play vital roles in this regard.

Brand of politics In Lagos (and Western Nigeria) which became Zik’s political base from the thirties to the early fifties, his activities did generate a counter reaction which in the end pitted the Igbo against the Yoruba politically. Those who did not like his person or brand of politics or did not, for one reason or another, want to work with the man hastily raised counter-groups or parties to challenge the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), originally Nigeria National Council, a national party which was inaugurated on 26 August 1944 with Herbert Macaulay as President and Nnamdi Azikiwe as Secretary.

According to James S. Coleman, membership of the NCNC in the first few months of its formation was organizational and included the following: 2 trade unions, 2 political parties (Nigerian National Democratic Party and Young Democrats), 4 literary societies (for example, the

Youths’ Literary Improvement Circle), 8 professional associations (for example, the National Herbal Institute of Medicine and the Society of Native Therapeutics), 11 social clubs (for example, Zik’s Athletic Club and the Merry Rose Club), and 101 tribal unions (for example, the Ibo Union and the Ijebu National Union).

Because Cameroonian associations in Lagos desired to affiliate (that is, the Bamenda Improvement Association, the Bakweri Union, and the Cameroons Youth League), the name of the movement was changed to National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

In September 1951 the NCNC decided to have individual members, while organisations became non-voting members.

Between 1944 and 1957 the NCNC was the leading allNigerian nationalist organisation.

Distinguishing features Its distinguishing features should therefore be noted. First, until 1952 when the decision to register individual members began to take organisational form membership was restricted to organizations.

In the early post-World War II period, all but a few of these were Lagos bodies. Moreover, the majority of the hundred-odd tribal unions were not tribal at all, but were town, clan, or linage unions; and even in some of the genuine tribal unions the leaders of the Lagos branch were the most active participants. Yet the affiliation of an organization with the NCNC was a subtle but powerful means of awakening political consciousness among individuals in the provinces by the filtration technique.

Cultural unions Groups like the Edo Union, Urhobo People’s Union, Tiv Union were part of this build-up, to mention but a few. However, nobody can say with any degree of certainty where the respective loyalties of the smaller political groupings or cultural unions in Western Nigeria lay after the birth of the Action Group and on the eve of the 1951 regional elections, given the ethnically charged atmosphere of the time and Action Group’s philosophy of Yoruba ethnic nationalism and exclusivity.

Actually, there were claims and counter-claims from both the AG and the NCNC as to which of

the five Lagos seats in direct elections, beating the AG candidates by wide margins.

The horse-trading that gave AG majority: Given that some of the elected parliamentarians were undecided or could be persuaded to defect, the stage was set for horse-trading in which the two dominant parties, the NCNC and AG, had to struggle to obtain the support of majority of these ‘independents’ and ‘quasi parties’ in order to form the government of the Region.

Each of the elected independents then had to choose what party to identify with. It is now history that in the mundane wheeling and dealing manoeuvre that followed, the NCNC lost woefully to the AG, paving the way for Awolowo, as leader of the AG—a Western Region based party at the time— to become Head of Government Business in the Region, in keeping with parliamentary traditions.

Of course, it was highly plausible that the NCNC lost out in the election or the said horsetrading largely because it was feared, indeed canvassed, openly and secretly, that support for the NCNC was tantamount to a support for Zik, a non-

,

•Chief Obafemi Awolowo (centre) with his supporters during one of his canmpaigns with a helicopter

The election: The Action Group (AG), a political protrusion of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a Yoruba cultural organisation founded in 1947 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo (also known as Awo), and was inaugurated as a western regional political party in March 1951, eventually became the strongest and the most vociferous counterforce to the NCNC in Southern Nigeria.

By December 1951, the stage was set for a test of strength between these two and the other minor socio-cultural/political groupings which chose to field candidates in the 1951 regional elections in the Western Region.

Many of these groupings, it must be pointed out, were allied to the NCNC before the birth of the Action Group. Indeed, the NCNC had established such alliances nationwide.

Actually, there were claims and counterclaims from both the AG and the NCNC as to which of them had working alliances with most of the fringe groups or individual candidates in the run up to the election

them had working alliances with most of the fringe groups or individual candidates in the run up to the election.

But in reality, the 1951 regional elections were strictly held on party basis through direct voting only in Lagos and Calabar, the two ‘politically advanced’ areas in Nigeria of the time; in the hinterland, individuals contested as independents in indirect elections through the Electoral College system, though many leaned towards one party or another. Chief Obafemi Awolowo himself was elected as an independent from Ijebu, where he was nearly defeated in the second phase of the threephased indirect election. Like Awolowo, many Action Groupers and NCNC stalwarts left the cities and went to their respective towns and villages to contest the elections in the different electoral colleges.

In Ibadan, the Ibadan People’s Party (IPP), a quasi-political group, held sway, winning the six Ibadan seats. Azikiwe, Prince Adeleke Adedoyin, Dr OlorunNimbe, H P Adebola and T O S Benson all of the NCNC, won

,

westerner, to head the Western Region Government.

Zik's interest in Western Region: But unknown to most of the parties or individuals involved, Zik never wanted to assume the position of Head of Government Business in the Western Region in 1952 as alleged. Evidence abound that all that Zik wanted was to entrench his party, the NCNC, in the Western Region and then proceed to the central (national) Legislature in Lagos, as decided by the NCNC national executive committee, to lead his party in Parliament.

TOMORROW Find out how Chief Awolowo successfully mobilised the support of majority of the minor ‘parties’ and the ‘undecided’ for the Action Group, how NCNC's electoral mistake and nonchalance aided the AG and the testimony of Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani, who observed proceedings at the Western House of Assembly. Don't miss it!

30— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 31

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32— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

By Theodore Opara

The Dodge Journey is here W

E S T S T A R Associates Nigeria Ltd, authorised general distributors of Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands in Nigeria has taken the Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, segment by storm with the introduction of world class products from their stable.

The company which recently unveiled the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee (one of the world's most powerful SUVs) into the Nigerian market has followed up with the introduction of the all new Dodge Journey, a powerful sports utility vehicle with amazing fuel efficiency.

The smart-looking Dodge Journey is loaded with array of features that could make other sports utility vehicles in its class envious. Designed with an interior that is master of storage and amazing degree of versatility, the Journey welcomes you with the kind of luxury that is only found in high-end luxury sports utility vehicles.

Available in Nigeria with two petrol engines, a 2.4 litre DOHC 16-valve Dual Variable Timing, VVT, engine and a 3.6 litre DOHC Pentastar VVT V6 engine, the Journey delivers high performance with fuel efficiency at its highest level.

High per formance

The 2.4 litre engine version of the Journey churns out a powerful 173 horsepower, while the V6 engine, mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic, delivers 283 horsepower.

The Journey’s exceptional blend of high torque, low emissions and first-rate noise, vibration and harshness control help keep the cabin quiet. It can tow 2500 Ib of weight with ease.

Standard Trailer Sway Control helps maintain control of the load being pulled.

The power to explore all terrains by the Journey comes from available all-wheel drive, AWD, and the efficient powerplants. The system makes easy work over difficult terrains, no matter how challenging.

For instance, when the system senses wheel slippage, it immediately responds with a transfer of power to the rear wheels for a very noticeable uptick in driving performance.

The technology in the Journey is ahead of its time both in performance and comfort. The seven-seater SUV can transform to cargo hauler in a jiffy.

To accommodate, journey’s interior easily transform from people mover to cargo carrier.

With flexible five or sevenpassenger seating, the second C M Y K

row reclining 60/40 split folding seatbacks and inventive storage everywhere, Journey is ever ready.

This interior indulges with

stadium seating dual-zone temperature control and soft touch surfaces. The seats feature either premium cloth or available leather trim.

The cockpit of Journey is designed to be intuitive, comfort and desired. Starting with the keyless Enter’n Go, the doors unlocks with a simple touch of

the handle as long as the fob is with you. The engine awakens with press of the brake pedal and a push of the dash-mounted start button.

Ten-way power driver’s seat with four-way power lumber adjust, heated front seats and full-circumference heated steering and wheel for a greater sense of luxury put Journey in its own class.

Uconnect bring a range of communication and entertainment services straight to your journey.

Journey comes with many safety features expected of a typical high-class American top car model. Electronic Stability Control, ESC, Antilock Bake System, ABS, Parkview Rear Back-up camera, Parksense Rear Park Assist, Seven Standard airbags, Sentry key, Frailer sway control, TSC, All-wheel Drive, AWD, and tyre pressure monitoring system.

Honda named Best Overall Brand

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OR the second consecutive year, new car buyers voted Honda “Best Overall Brand” in Kelley Blue Book’s annual Brand Image Award study. The company also took the “Most Trusted Brand” honour for the third straight year.

Honda’s win was not a big surprise as the company boasted the highest average scores among all 12 Brand Watch factors, including affordability, “cool” factor, driving comfort, driving performance, durability/reliability, exterior styling, fuel efficiency, interior layout, prestige/ sophistication, reputation, ruggedness and safety.

Strong consumer perception of the

Accord, Civic, CR-V and Odyssey helped drive Honda’s success in earning the top honour among all automakers, Kelley Blue Book, KBB, said.

“Considering Honda has also won the award for Most Trusted Brand among non-luxury shoppers three years in a row, this win is not a huge surprise,” the publication noted.

Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda automobile division for American Honda, in a statement, side: “A brand is really built over the long haul through consumers’ experiences with its products, and Honda is committed to delivering class-leading

vehicles that provide lasting enjoyment and value to our customers.

“Honda simply embraces the challenge of being a brand that people can trust.”

In the luxury category, Mercedes-Benz captured the sales crown from BMW. Mercedes obtained the top average Brand Watch factor scores among all luxury makes and was “highly regarded with its strong lineup and performance AMG variants,” KBB stated.

Ford reclaimed the top spot among truck shoppers, ousting last year’s winner, Toyota, from the Best Overall Truck Brand category. Ford has won five out of six times since inception of the award.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 33

By Theodore Opara

Nigerian-born Nissan Patrol arrives T

HIS is the first Nissan Patrol to be built in Nigeria. It rolled out from the Nissan Plant in Lagos last week and it has everything a typical Nissan Patrol, built anywhere in the world can boast of.

Nissan made a promise last year that the Patrol will roll out before the end of April 2014 and has kept to the promise. The Nigerian-born patrol arrived a week ahead of schedule at VON plant, Lagos.

A statement from Nissan South Africa said that more Nissan vehicles will roll out from the Nigerian plants in few months to come.

According to the statement, the inaugural vehicle, a black Nissan Patrol, rolled off the production line at the Lagos assembly plant last week, marking a key milestone in the company’s continued wave of •The first Nissan Patrol assembled in Nigeria expansion into the high-growth stimulating development of the Africa’s most populous Now we are once again at the markets. securing for ourselves firstauto industry in the country. forefront of manufacturing in country is pivotal to Nissan’s In addition to the Patrol, mover advantage.”

“We are grateful to the mid-term growth plan, which Africa, this time in Nigeria Nissan also plans to produce the Nissan South Africa Nigerian government for where we see huge potential. We seeks to double sales on the Almera and NP300, starting in Managing Director Mike implementing automotive want to play our part in the continent by FY2016, up from early May, followed by mass Whitfield, who also heads up legislation that is conducive to economic growth of Nigeria and 110,000 units at the end of production in August. With Nissan’s Sub-Sahara Africa investment and instrumental in FY2012.

Africa.” these three models, Nissan aims region, is delighted with the our decision to open an Nissan’s growth strategy in The rollout of the first Nissan to be a significant player in the successful launch of the first assembly plant in partnership Africa gained momentum with vehicle comes shortly after Nigerian automotive sector.

Patrol. with the Stallion Group, already confirmation that Nigeria’s the introduction this year of Nissan is targeting significant He said: “Nissan was a our exclusive distributor in Nigeria’s new Automobile booming economy has now growth in Africa as the company pioneer in the foundation of the Nigeria,” added Whitfield. overtaken that of South Africa. Industrial Policy, aimed at builds momentum towards car industry in South Africa. achieving its Power 88 goals, a commitment to reach 8% profitability by the end of fiscal year 2016.

Elsewhere in the world as part and visitors to maximise the result of our guided intention According to the AGOS State Governor, of the high-growth markets benefits derivable from the fair. to enhance the development of Babatunde Fashola (SAN) progammers, Lagos Motor Fair strategy, plants have been will lead other dignitaries from remains the unparalleled “This edition will bring out all cottage industries in the spare opened in Mexico and Brazil the public and private sectors to gathering of established brands the potentials and investment parts sub-sector of the automotive with projects underway in declare open the 9th edition of as well as new entrants, ranging opportunities that abound in the business sector of the economy Indonesia, Thailand and China. the Lagos Motor Fair & 3rd from passenger busses, cars, Nigerian automobile industry, with the attendant multiplier Last year Nissan announced it Autoparts Expo Nigeria. The trucks, spare parts, accessories, which we know are very effects on the economy of the will be the first manufacturer to Fair which kicks off on Thursday, lubricants, financials and many attractive so that the existing and nation. build cars in Myanmar, after the June 1st, at the Federal Palace more; adding that the potential stakeholders will “Our target is to attract many opening up of the economy in Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, importance of continuously utilise the opportunities offered reputable original equipment the south-east Asian country.

by Lagos Motor Fair to get the manufacturers of spare parts Victoria Island, Lagos, will staging the show cannot be overbest. from across the globe to parade over 70 companies from emphasised as all hands must Vehicle assembly “Strategically, just like in the participate in this edition as well be on deck to promote and Nigeria and abroad. past two editions, we are laying as in subsequent ones.

The first “built in Nigeria for Disclosing this during a media support investments into the emphasis on the spare parts Nigerians” Nissan Patrol follows briefing, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu sector, as it occupies a strategic “In conjunction with our sector in this edition. This is as a the signing last year of a Agwu-Chairman of the position in enhancing the Continues on page 34 Memorandum of Understanding Organising Committee of the e c o n o m i c for vehicle assembly in Lagos Fair said that the event which is development of between the Renault-Nissan organised by BKG Exhibitions Nigeria.

Mr. Agwu said: Alliance and West African and SENEXPO International conglomerate Stallion Group.

Fairs Inc of Istanbul, Turkey, “As part of our in Since then, preparing for underscores the seriousness of efforts production in Nigeria to global the Lagos State Government in p r o m o t i n g production standards has been encouraging and supporting all investment into the achieved at a rapid pace, setting good efforts geared towards automotive sector, a new benchmark in developing the automotive all strategies have responsiveness and industry in Nigeria. been deployed to organisational agility.

Mr. Agwu, who is also the ensure that the fair Takashi Hata, Nissan Senior Managing Director of BKG more than ever Vice President and Chairman for Exhibitions Limited, noted that before receives the the Africa, Middle East and India the presence of the governor will needed attention region said: “For Nissan, Africa go a long way in reinforcing the from participants, is our strategic growth driver. aims and objectives of the show institutions, trade, Demand for cars is growing which is fast tracking the professionals and quickly in African markets as development of the automotive individual buyers as demonstrated by the first model sector of in Nigeria. well as visitors.

“We have being produced a mere seven His presence, according to the months after the announcement Managing Director, would give packaged a show of the new Automotive Policy. could From left: Ayodele Babatunde, Country Manager, Hertz; Zuriel Oduwole, Curathe needed encouragement and that “By acting quickly to begin boost to existing and potential effectively be used tor of the Dream up, speak up, stand up project, and Hertz Brand Ambassador, Andrew Otike-Odibi, Executive Director, C&I Leasing Plc., at the unveiling cereproduction in Nigeria we are investors in the industry. by the participants mony of the Hertz Brand Ambassador in Lagos.

Fashola to flag off Lagos Motor show and Auto part Expo

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34— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

By Theodore Opara

TNL unveils automatic transmission Toyota Hiace T

OYOTA Nigeria Ltd, TNL, has added the automatic transmission version of the Toyota Hiace to its lineup with the aim of capturing more share in the highly competitive mini-bus vehicle market segment in Nigeria.

The automatic version of the Hiace is mated to the Toyota Hiace 2.7 litre petrol engine which is referred to in the minibus vehicle segment as a workhorse.

The 2.7 litre dual overhead camshaft multi-valve petrol engine of the Hiace

•Toyota Hiace with automatic transmission delivers 111kw of power at 4800 rpm and 241 Nm of Torque at 3800 rpm.

The Hiace comes in three versions, including

the high roof, medium and standard roof.

Unarguably, the most copied vehicle in the automobile world, the

Hiace has dominated its segment in the last decade with its solid design and overall performance.

According to a Toyota

Nigeria source, the introduction of the automatic version of the Hiace is another way of raising the bar in the segment as well as offering their customer more varieties to chose

from.

The Toyota Hiace has remained a pacesetter in its class since its launch in the international market in 1967. Now in its fifth generation, the Hiace has improved in terms of power, fuel efficiency, space and safety to the envy of competing brands.

Standard airconditioning system, anti-lock brake system, wide-body and high comfort seat are hallmarks of the Hiace.

Lagos Motor show Continues from page 33

foreign partners: SENEXPO International Fairs Inc of Turkey, we have reached out to many of such companies and happily the response has been tremendous .

“Our intention in bringing them to Lagos, which is the hub of automotive business in West Africa, is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in auto spare business work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in the manufacture of auto spare parts.

“These relationships which can come in the form of sole agencies, distributorship, manufacturers’ representatives amongst others, will ultimately boost their businesses.

“It would save them the troubles of going abroad to seal such business deals and most importantly it will bring these foreign companies into the country, resulting in increased activities in the sector, more productions and increased products lines and qualities; which will in both the short and long runs rub off positively on the sector.

“Virtually all the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are taking part.”

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—35

DELTA 2015: Battle for Ochei's seat at fever pitch

Council boss backs Oshiomhole on APC control

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BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA— THE battle over who will represent Aniocha North constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly come 2015 has reached fever pitch as Vanguard gathered that the governorship hopefuls in t he state are scheming to ensure that they produce the next Assembly man to represent the area.

Aniocha constituency seat, which is presently occupied by the immediate past Speaker of the House, Mr. Victor Ochei, parades the like of the member representing Aniocha/ Oshimili federal constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, who is also running for the governorship; a political kingmaker, Chief Nkem Okwuofu, and Victor Ochei, himself who is also running for the governorship, among others.

On the line up to contest the seat are the Head, Delta State Science and Technology, and Senior Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Information and Communications Technology, ICT, Mr. Sunny Ofili; Mr. UZ Idabor, a close associate of former

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

E N I N — FOLLOWING the crisis in the Edo State All Progressives Congress, APC, as a result of the congresses, chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Momoh, has said that those fighting the structure of the party with Governor Adams Oshiomhole were making a big mistake.

He said: “As the leader of the party in the state, the party’s constitution gives the governor the power to take charge of the party’s structure and nobody should struggle that with him.”

Momoh, who was reacting to the seven-day ultimatum issued by the loyalists of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu after they called for the cancellation of the ward and council congresses, distanced himself from the rumour that he was leading a faction working against the interest of the governor and that he may soon dump the party for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

governor, Chief James Ibori; state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu; Commissioner for Special

U

GHELLI— PROVOST of the Delta State School of Health Technology, Ofuoma, Ughelli, Delta State, Mr. Ben Oghenerhoro, has warned

those he described as unscrupulous persons against the incitement of the institution’s students over their monthly stipends.

Speaking during the 19th matriculation of the school,

ARRI — NEWLY-elected President of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, Mrs Alero Tenumah, has promised that her leadership will not tolerate the sale of job slots meant for Itsekiri graduates to nonItsekiri, noting that the issue of unemployment among Itsekiri youths will be tackled headlong by her administration.

Tenumah, who spoke in Warri after the inauguration of the new executive to run the

affairs of the body for the next two years, said her leadership will work to ascertain the actual number of unemployed Itsekiri graduates.

She also felicitated with the Olu of Warri on the celebration of the monarch’s 27th coronation anniversary, noting that NAIG was not factionalised Earlier, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Festus Etuwewe, described the election conducted April

Ports police vow to end pirate attacks

BY IFEYINWA OBI

T

HE Commissioner of Police, Western Ports Command, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, has promised to put an end to the incessant pirate attacks that have crippled the businesses of Nigerian trawler owners.

Aderanti gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to four

Oghenerhoro said the decision to pay stipends was that of the state government, adding that “payment is handled by the appropriate government agencies in Asaba and not the school.”

fishing companies at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT, in Lagos as part of his familiarisation visit.

The fishing companies are Karflex Fisheries Limited, ORC Fishing and Processing Limited, Barnarly Fishing Company and Atlantic Shrimpers all located within phases one and two of KLT. He said the marine unit will support the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association, NITOA, in fighting their adversaries on the high seas, assuring them of his Command's readiness to interface with the fishing companies and relevant government agencies to put an end to the incessant killing of seafarers and the stealing of their commodities.

19 as free and fair.

He said 93 delegates from across NAIG branches in Warri, Sapele, Koko, Benin, Port Harcourt and other cities participated in the election, while 22 candidates contested for 12 vacant positions.

Those elected include Edema Oritsetimeyin, Vice President; Okpeyeaghan Toju, General Secretary; Kpogho Eyidoyoritse, Treasurer; Okpaghoro Collins, Financial Secretary.

Others are Mene Dennis, PRO; Odobiken Iwere, Assistant Secretary; Eden Prince, Organising Secretary; Ekpoto Thomas, Research Project/Director; Adefemi Toritseju, PRO 2; Mebije Wilfred, PRO 3 and Atse Omagbe, Provost.

Nigerian food fiesta gets boost

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Z Wilmar vegetable cooking oil brand, Mamador, is supporting the inaugural edition of the Nigerian Food Fiesta in Lagos.

Ndidi Ezeudeuyi, a brand management staff of PZ Wilmar, said food festivals are a key part of the cultural life of vibrant and successful economies.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

as to who is in control of the area.

“What we are seeing is dicey as the contestants themselves are playing safe to know where the pendulum will eventually swing, as it will also affect their chances.”

NAIG assures on Itsekiri job slots W

Health institution warns against inciting students

BY FESTUS AHON

Duties (Project Monitoring), Mr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, among others.

A top politician from the area said, yesterday, that “the battle is hot because these politicians are flexing muscles to assert themselves

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On kidnapped girls

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Y sympathy goes to the abducted girls and their families.

I condemn this barbaric act totally. With the menace of Boko Haram, I have read times without numbers that people have been asked to be securityconscious.— Ms. Ijeoma Mba, Student.

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I

wonder why Nigerians are going about as if “all is well”.

Is it that we are heartless or have we lost our soul? Killing people, all in the name of not wanting a Christian and a Southerner to be the President!— Mr. Mustapha Alaro, Carpenter.

N

O one blames anyone other than Boko Haram for this wickedness and evil. But what I personally blame Jonathan’s government for is having very little strategy or comprehensive solution to this problem.— Mr. Iyoke Emmanuel, Businessman.

W

ELL, I do not blame the politicians, I blame Nigerians. The people who can come out in hundreds of thousands to apply for NIS job, cannot or will not mobilise themselves and protest en masse against poor leadership.— Mr. Promise Pizzy, Student.

I

fear for the poor girls and their parents. How can they live with this situation? It is so sad. The truth is that the system is peopled by powerthirsty individuals who do not know how to deal with this menace. Our leaders lack initiatives.— Mr. Qudus Mumuni, Lawyer.

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U R P R I S I N G LY , people are still insisting that there should be elections in those states in 2015 and I begin to wonder about the state of mind of some Nigerians. A place where people are killed like animals.—Ms. Nenye A y a m b u b a , Businesswoman.

36— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

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V anguard, TUESD AY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 37 Vanguard, TUESDA

38— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

HE weeklong colourful Black Heritage Festival organized by the Lagos State Government to showcase the cultural heritage of the state ended on a sad note on Monday.

The 2014 and fifth edition of the festival with the theme: “Lasgidi” was held at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos Island, amid pomp and ceremony.

As the ceremony was being brought to an end, street urchins, popularly known as “Area boys” went on attacking spree, dispossessing everyone on sight of their valuables.

Also, innocent young girls and ladies, trapped in the unfolding melee were molested and raped in the process.

The bid of some spectators at the terraces to flee from the danger zones led to a stampede as some fell from the terraces to the ground floor. Though, no life was lost, many of them sustained varying degrees of injuries. One of the victims, at press time, was said to be receiving medical attention at the Lagos Island General Hospital.

Government officials An eyewitness, Mrs. Funmi Olaleye, said the “problem started when most of the government officials and organizers had left the venue.

The Area boys, apparently, took advantage of the fact that most of the security men at the time had also left the arena.

“As I was struggling out of the crowded area, I saw a young girl being attacked by two miscreants at a corner, I was helpless I had to leave the place immediately because I could be attacked as well by the invading Area boys.

“The situation could not have degenerated, if the security apparatus had stayed behind to ensure that every visitor or

Paritipants at the carnival

Lagos carnival ends on sad note •Stampede, rape mar one-week colourful event •We’re not aware – LASG Mr. Disun Holloway, whose ministry was in charge, denied any knowledge of stampede or rape after the event.

“There is no carnival in the world that has the kind of attendance the Lagos carnival had last Monday. Whenever such large people gather at a particular place, there must be one infringement or the other. In the last three, in order to prevent any hiccup at the carnival, we held several meetings with security experts in the state to ensure that there is adequate security.

“In previous carnivals, 600 police officers were deployed to the scene but for this year’s carnival, we had a Joint Task Force to provide security at the

,

,

There is no carnival in the world that has the kind of attendance the Lagos carnival had last Monday

participant had vacated the venue because the incident happened inside the arena and not outside.”

Another witness, Mr. Emannuel Akinola, said: “People were falling from the terraces like pack of cards. I have never seen a scene like that before. I saw miscreants holding all kinds of dangerous weapons attacking the victims. They collected cash, wristwatches and mobile phones, etc. We later heard that several female underpants littered the ground, an evidence of rape.”

Lagos reacts: However, the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations,

carnival. There were over 1,500 personnel, the officers were deployed across the Lagos Island and the carnival premises-Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS. This is evidence that we care so much about security. The only issue I know was a private security officer, who sustained injury and when he was rushed to the stationary LASAMBUS, an ambulance, the officials directed that the victim be taken to the general hospital, where he will receive adequate treatment, due to the injury he sustained.

“On this year’s carnival, we held a meeting on how it can get better in future. We have come to certain

conclusion on security but I will not disclose this for certain reasons. Security was the major issue discussed before the commencement of this year’s carnival, and this was due to the number of spectators and participants.

Spectators and participants “One of the measures we took was that 500 meters to the carnival point, no one was allowed to sell any alcoholic beverage or bring bottles into the carnival arena. For those that brought bottles into the premises, they somehow smuggled it into the TBS. Spectators were frisked before they were allowed to enter except at Pavilion ‘B’ where the gate was too small and there were a lot of spectators, who wanted to gain access through this gate.

The security personnel frisked men but women were allowed into the premises without going through such process; there were hundreds of people waiting to gain access into the arena.”

Indeed, soldiers, bomb squad from the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, DSS, Mobile Policemen and Civil Defence Corps among other security agencies were on hand to ensure protection of lives and property and security was tight in and around the venue, as visitors and fun seekers were frisked from the entrance gates.

The ceremony was witnessed by many guests from all walks of life and youths who watched with excitement as different groups

and floats representing different areas and groups participated.

The carnival which is a beautiful recreation of the age long tradition of Brazilian Lagos as pioneered by Brazilian returnees Emancipados was given added impetus through a colourful display of music, dance and procession by various groups.

The various contingents of the participants had earlier gone in a procession through different

routes like Bourdillon Road – Giwa Barracks- Falomo Roundabout-Awolowo RoadKing George V Road- Igbosere Road- Campos Square- Catholic Mission Street and - Tafawa Balewa Square in a road show which was characterized by beautiful leg works and display.

Guests at the event included: Governor Babatunde Fashola, Tourism Minister, Mr. Edem Duke, members of the state Executive Council among others.

Lagos fights

By DOTUN IBIWOYE & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

H

ARD times now await hoodlums and criminals in Lagos, as the state government has commenced biometric capturing of offenders and suspects in the state. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeola Ipaye, disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing to mark the seventh year in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, weekend.

Ipaye explained that the Crime Data Register (CDR) is an electronic repository of information about suspects and offenders who pass through any of the prisons in Lagos State. “The CDR involves the participation of all key prosecution actors in the criminal justice process: the Lagos State Judiciary, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Prison Service.

According to him, “currently, the CDR is a robust system in terms of its IT infrastructure and functionality.

As at the end of January 2014, there are now 62,789 unique records in the system, of which about 40,000 have biometric and fingerprint details.

The Chairman of the state Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement)

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Council, traders disagree over demolition of 40-yr-old mosque T

RADERS at the Ifelodun Plank Market, Ketu, and the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA are in disagreement over whether the market mosque is lawfully sited or not.

The council is insisting on the removal of the mosque from the land it considers illegal, while the traders are insinuating witch-hunting. The mosque in question was started 40 years ago at the inception of the market.

Sources told Vanguard that the council officials and the traders representatives held several meetings over the issue that were deadlocked.

Planned demolition He added that the disaffection between the traders and the council chairman, Mr Monsuru Durosimi, got to a peak when the idea to demolish the market mosque was mooted.

The traders actually protested the planned demolition on April 24th, 2014. They jettisoned their Friday Jumat prayers, taking to the streets instead. The angry protesters later marched to the seat of power at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, to register their grievances with governor Babatunde Fashola..

The traders who were armed with placards chanted several anti-government songs to

express their displeasure.

Some of the placards reads: “Do not sell our market; We are hungry, Fashola save us; Do not demolish our mosque; we are ready for peace and not war; Fashola save our Soul and others.”

The angry traders argued that the proposed plan by the council could lead to religious crisis, which they were trying to avoid. The leaders of the protesters, Mr. Murtado Oloke said “We had several meetings with the council chairman, Monsuru Durosimi, and at the meeting; we pleaded that he shelve the plan to demolish the mosque but he declined.”

The Chief Imam of the Mosque, Alh. Abdulfatai Olore lamented that he has been receiving several threat messages from unknown persons, since the controversy

over the siting of the mosque started. According to him; “The authors of the messages are all demanding that I allow the demolition of the mosque.

“Earlier in 2013, the mosque extension was demolished by the Lagos state government officials due to the fire incident that engulfed the plank market.

The inferno affected a section of the mosque extension. And they demanded that we pull down the structure. We adhered to this and the structure was pulled down.

“Also, the state government demanded that the remaining section of the mosque must undergo structural stability test and the result was positive. Two weeks after the result of the test was released, the council issued a notice on April 6th, 2014 and sent several soldiers to demolish the mosque.”

A worshiper in the mosque, Mr. Lawal Olaseini said that the land which was used for the construction of the mosque belongs to the Omo Onile and it was leased to one Alhaji Abdulsalam Giwa who is now dead, adding, “When he was alive, the council never raised such objection.”

Another trader, Mr. Adetayo

Council boss reacts Speaking to Vanguard in an interview, the council chairman, Durosimi said; “The mosque doesn’t have the approval of the council. What the council intend to do was to transform the entire market into a modern one that will suit the megacity status of the state.”

The council chairman noted that the land belongs to the council and the certificate of ownership was signed in 1991

by Colonel Raji Rasak, the then military governor of the state.

,

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

— 39

The state ministry of Justice has written to their (traders) lawyer asking them to vacate the land

Ajani said; “If we had known that this is the plan of the council, we wouldn't have waited till now. Few weeks after the last inferno, we would have gone to the seat of power, to know the plan of the state government on the land.

The 40-year-old mosque planned for destruction.

,

According to him; “The state ministry of Justice has written to their (traders) lawyer asking them to vacate the land.

“But rather they have decided to protest over the issue. I have the letter from the ministry. The council is the owner of the land and not the traders.

“I and the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, met with their lawyer. Kuye asked if they had the C of O to the land, which they replied in affirmative, but when asked to present the document, they couldn’t present any document.

“Our plan is to rebuild the entire market to a modern one.

The plan for the new market is out but the reason we haven’t started the construction was due to the action of the traders.

They have resulted to protesting rather than accept the plan by the council,” he added.

s crime with biometric capture •Captures 62,789 offenders, suspects’ data unit, Mr. Bayo Sulaimon, in an interview with Vanguard, lamented that due to in adequate register, some suspects and offenders change their identity, especially their names.

Sulaimon noted that previously, due to the poor state of data management in the country, there was no way they could categorically identify suspect, adding “but these miscreants have studied how the law on

community service works, they go back to the same place to commit the same offence.

“Meanwhile, because the law states that second offenders in non-custodian law will get higher punishment, the miscreants will change their identity especially their name. And due to the poor state of data management in the country, there isn’t any way they can be identified. And we are working hard to ensure that we end this,” he added. So far, Ipaye said that 2,595 offenders have been sentenced in the last one year. “Between April 2013 and March 2014 a total of 2,595 offenders were sentenced to various terms of community service across the 12 Magisterial Districts of Lagos State.”

At the event marking the 2,500 days of the current administration, the government said 1,015 offenders had been sentenced to various community services in the previous 100 days.

According to the Attorney-General, “this number represents those who would have been otherwise incarcerated in prisons with consequential disruption of their economic, social and family lives” especially since “many of the offenders are Some criminals and their weapons being displayed. between the ages of 20 and 40, and are mostly

male. In effect, we have succeeded in lowering the prison population without compromising the criminal justice administration system.

Ipaye noted that the community service initiative was part of the state government’s effort to reform the Justice Sector in the state adding the “Directorate of Public Prosecutions is also committed to speedy trials, especially so that suspects are not detained for too long awaiting trial. “In one year, of the 1440 police investigation files sent to the DPP’s office for legal advice, the unit has already completed work on 1369 while judgments were delivered on 76 cases. However, the DPP is currently prosecuting 950 criminal cases,” he added He also disclosed that the Directorate for Citizen’s Rights has successfully processed 2, 232 petitions out of the 2,801 complaints received, while the sum of N5.9 million was recovered from some people within a year.

Ipaye said that the Office of Public Defender within the last one year had handled over 8, 106 matters in various courts on behalf of indigent Lagosians at no cost and those matters cut across labour cases, civil matters, criminal cases, Coroner ’s Inquests and fundamental rights cases adding that the Office was able to recover N57.984 million on behalf of various complainants.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

•Akpabio: God's will, will be done again in 2015

Akwa Ibom 2015:

•Umana: We don't deserve what we're witnessing now

It's PDP vs PDP

•Stakeholders oppose zoning, threaten litigation •Let God’s will be done again — Akpabio

W

ITH virtually all electoral slots from the wards, the state and the national levels in the kitty of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State can arguably be described as a core and complete PDP state.

And with the massive achievements of Governor Godswill Akpabio in the state, which he has dubbed ‘uncommon transformation,’ the PDP, ordinarily, is not expected to have problems retaining its electoral laurels. At least, not from the opposition parties, which have a very high hurdle to scale, if they were to make any appreciable inroad into the state christened ‘Land of Promise.’

Intra-party squabble However, the PDP may not have it easy, if the brewing intraparty squabble is not amicably resolved ahead of the election.

Currently, what is panning out as PDP versus PDP electoral battle may present the opposition with an unexpected electoral gift.

Currently, some elders, stakeholders and founders of the PDP in Akwa Ibom are at daggers drawn with Governor Akpabio over the control of the PDP structure and zoning of electoral offices ahead of the election.

Free and fair primaries: While the governor and his supporters are in favour of zoning to ensure fairness, the stakeholders are

against zoning and want free and fair primaries open to all aspirants at all levels.

They are now threatening court action, if any qualified member of the party is excluded from the primaries.

The cracks and fissures on the walls of the Akwa Ibom PDP manifested penultimate week after the governor rounded off his town hall meetings in the 10 federal constituencies of the state in furtherance of his participatory governance approach, the need to brief the people on his administration’s achievements so far and get feedback.

The town hall meetings started at Eket Federal Constituency on March 5, 2014 and ended at Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency on April 4, 2014. The town hall meetings were preceded by on going commissioning of about 5000 ‘lives-touching’ projects executed in 2013/2014 in the 31 local councils of the state.

Power shift theory: Some monarchs and leaders, while commending the governor, threw their weight behind his “power shift theory” and promised to back his Ikot Ekpene senatorial ambition.

Alleged to have anointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Obong Emmanuel Udom, from Eket, as his successor, Akpabio’s critics in the PDP are also not happy that he is angling to occupy the Ikot Ekpene senatorial seat in 2015, which they argued should be occupied by the Abak Federal Constituency.

PDP stakeholders move against candidate imposition: A

week after the governor’s town hall meetings, some elders and stakeholders of the PDP, drawn from the 10 federal constituencies of the state, which included founders of the party in Akwa Ibom and the three serving senators, pooh poohed the town hall meetings and opposed Governor Akpabio’s alleged plan to impose his anointed candidate on the party in the name of zoning or power shift.

Real town hall meeting A, that they dubbed “the real town hall meeting’, which was chaired by former Environment Minister, Dr Ime Okopido, leaders, who spoke included Senator Effiong Bob, who was represented by Dr. Chris Ekong; Sen. Ita Enang, who was represented by Engr Uwem Umoh; Otueknong Sunny Jackson; former Member House of Representatives, Bernard Udoh; Former Member House of Reps, Emmanuel Obot; Wife of former Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Imo Isemin and former Secretary to the State Government and governorship aspirant, Umana O Umana.

Others are former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Iyanam; former Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Uwem Udoma; Chief Ukata Akpan; Obong Okon Uwah; Enefiok Ekefre; former Speaker Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Nelson Effiong; and Chief Sunny Udom. The allegations of the elders against Governor Akpabio

are as follows: his long-term scheme to anoint a successor made him unilaterally pick current ward, local government and state executive committees in 2012; he withdrew his friend, Mr. Paul Ekpo from the state cabinet and made him the PDP chairman; he also made his younger brother, Barr Ibanga Akpabio the state PDP secretary; his special assistant on Youth Mobilisation, Mr. Emmanuel

,

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

Therefore, they urged the national arm of the party and President Goodluck Jonathan, whose re-election they unanimously endorsed, to “take necessary steps to rescue the party in Akwa Ibom from the stranglehold of Akpabio, his brothers and cronies and hand same back to our elders and founding fathers whose input should be paramount in the running and administration of the party.”

Rising from the meeting, the elders and stakeholders, in a communiqué signed by 100 persons, also condemned alleged resurgence of insecurity and threats to life in the state and called on the Inspector General (IG) of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), to investigate cases of threat to life, kidnapping and politically-motivated murders in Akwa Ibom State.

They called on all aspirants to different political offices to carry on their activities with dignity and respect for others, while disavowing violence in any form or utterances that can cause disunity in the party and Akwa Ibom in general.

Constitutional provisions: They vowed to collectively uphold and defend the dignity and the sanctity of PDP Constitution (along with its manifesto and programmes), the country’s electoral laws, and the extant constitutional provisions.

Speaking at the meeting, Umana O Umana charged other aspirants who are presently in government to stop hiding under the governor’s shadow and come out openly to tell the people that they are interested in the 2015 governorship polls and their

Currently, what is panning out as PDP versus PDP electoral battle may present the opposition with an unexpected electoral gift

Ekpenyong became the youth leader; crucial party matters are now handled by the Akpabio brothers-Emem, Ibanga, Nsetip and Prince; he relocated state party secretariat to Ibanga’s private residence; and excluded critical stakeholders from his town hall meetings, which was meant to endorse his anointed candidate.

Consequently, the elders said contrary to the claims of the governor, the PDP runs the risk of disastrous outing during the 2015 general elections, if the internal crises in the party were not resolved. Urging the PDP national leadership to “rescue our party from imminent collapse”, they warned that “it will be at the party’s peril if our leaders take for granted the fact that Akwa Ibom has been a PDP state by failing to forestall Governor Akpabio’s attempt to destroy the party at the end of his tenure.

,

plans for the state, if elected.

Umana said: “I am contesting for the office of the governor in 2015 and I have come out to tell the people of Akwa Ibom State that I am interested. Other people should also come out, whether they are in government or not, to tell Akwa Ibom people that they are contesting.

He recalled that as Commissioner under exgovernor Victor Attah, members of the state executives never met to decide for the people of Akwa Ibom state. “I want to say that we should go back to our glorious past. I was a commissioner in the administration of Obong Victor Attah and we never met as a college of commissioners to decide for the people of Akwa Ibom state who should be the governor. Even if the governor then had a preference for a particular candidate he did not come out to harass or intimidate Continues on page 41

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—41

Delta: Now it's Hunger Insurance!

The administration in Delta State has consolidated its leadership position in micro-credit financing with the launch of a micro-insurance policy to protect small businesses supported by the government.

W

HOEVER asked the question of an insurance policy against hunger may have pulled it as a joke at the gathering of budding entrepreneurs from across Delta State in the Government House last Wednesday.

However, given the kind of distrust many people look at insurance policy marketers, it was not surprising that a top player in the sector, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi rose up to clear the air.

“The bible says that a man that does not work must not eat, so even before you do hunger insurance you still must get some money,” Mr. Ogunbiyi, managing director of Mutual Benefit Assurance told the hundreds of people gathered in the Unity Hall of the Government House for the launch of the Delta State Micro-Insurance Scheme.

“So, there is nothing like hunger insurance. Work is the basic insurance against hunger,” he added for emphasis.

The launch of the DMIS follows the state’s leading position in the area of micro-credit financing which has seen the state cart home the top prize in competitions organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for the states.

In venturing into the area of micro-credit insurance, the state administration claimed it was motivated by the desire of

keeping the gains thus far acheived through the microcredit financing scheme that has seen the state facilitate several business start-ups through the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who flagged off the scheme was understandably so enthused about the successes so far acheived by the micro-credit scheme that on the launch day he dragged some international guests presently in the state to assess the state’s readiness to attain the Millenium Development Goals, MDGs to join him in witnessing the event.

Micro-credit finance The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu in welcoming both local and international guests to the programme had recounted the challenges posed to the sustenance of the micro-credit finance programme through natural disasters and other forms of force majeure.

“The greatest challenge for rural and urban poor entrepreneurs has been how to continue their business in the event of an act of force majeure such as crop failure, permanent disability, natural disasters, accidents, death etc.”

She particularly cited the flood episodes of 2011 and 2012 as incidents that ravaged several businesses facilitated by the

LAUNCHING: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State along side with the insurance team and the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu inspecting the products of the Micro Credit Scheme during the launching of the Delta State Micro Credit Insurance Scheme held in Government House, Asaba, Wednesday. Photo: Henry Unini

state’s Micro-Credit Programme.

The flood episodes, she said, led to the introduction of a pilot insurance scheme for some businesses supported by the DMCP before the final decision to open up the insurance programme to all clients and businesses supported by the state administration.

However, for Gov Uduaghan, the sight of many of the young men gathered in the hall with the desire to promote their businesses pointed to the fact that government and society can reduce tension in the land by empowering idle hands.

The governor in his remarks at the occasion put a nexus between

Akwa Ibom 2015: It's PDP vs PDP Continues from page 40 the people of Akwa Ibom state.

In Akwa Ibom of today, we don’t deserve what we are witnessing.

Today if you don’t agree with the governor on certain issues nobody serving under the present government is ready to take your call or have anything to do with you.”

Where my successor comes from is immaterial, let God’s will be done — Akpabio As if mindful of the grievances of the elders, Governor Akpabio had answered some of their questions and allegations at the town hall meetings especially at Uyo and Ikot Ekpene.

Stating that where his successor comes from was not his headache, Akpabio, who said he had actualised operation zero pothole on roads in Uyo, which he started in 2007, said the

challenges before him and Akwa Ibom citizenry were to “protect what we have done and ensure we do not lose our legacy.

In 2015, I want my legacy to be protected by my successor. 2015 is very crucial. We must do everything to ensure social cohesion. Look at what is happening in other states, where they are having crises; ethnic harmony is the key. There is no price we should not pay for peace.

I don’t have interest where my successor comes from. Uyo can produce the governor; Ikot Ekpene can produce the governor; Eket can produce the governor but we must discuss and reassess the agreement we had in 2007. In 2007, we said let God’s will be done in Akwa Ibom.

In 2011, we said let God’s will be done again. In 2015, God’s will, will be done again.”

He also admitted that due to dwindling resources, some of the promises he made cannot be

fulfilled by May 29, 2015 when he would be leaving.

We need binoculars to look for my successor: He wondered why many governorship aspirants are not on the prowl, recalling that in 2007 when he ran for his first term they were 58 aspirants. He also defended himself against allegations that he did not build industries as he claimed that 14 industrial projects were being built.

On allegations that he has not built industries to create jobs for Akwa Ibom youths, Akpabio said: “I am doing infrastructure because we need to open up and develop the state. If I had seen infrastructure, I would have done industries. Nevertheless, 14 industries are being built in Akwa Ibom to create employment opportunities for our youths.”

All said and done, will the feuding camps allow peace to prevail in PDP and God’s will to be done in the Land of Promise?

Only time will tell.

poverty and terrorism saying:”One of the things that people seem to stress is that over the years, we have ignored poverty, over the years we have not paid attention to people at that lower end and what has happened, is that today, a lot of those youths becasue they are not doing anything, they have become a pool of people who are easily recruited to carry arms and ammunition either as criminals, armed roobbers or terrorists.”

“So, one of the genesis of the terrorism that we are experiencing in Nigeria today is neglect of a lot of people in society.”

“It is not a problem we can solve in one day, it will take us some time to solve it but we must start somewhere and for us one of the routes we are using is this micro-

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

and in a month some may spend N10,000 or N20,000 on drinking beer alone. Even for smoking, there are chain smokers who can finish a pack of cigaratte a day and I dont want to say other things,” he said to a burst of laughter from the audience.

“We spend money on those things because we have access to money.

I can tell you that just N10,000, that you can dash out and give out can change the business of an akara seller,” he said as he commended Dr. Ashiedu on her devotion to the success of the scheme.

He subsequently announced the payment of N6.5 million as premium to MBA to cover the beneficiaries of the DMCP involved in the programme.

The governor was quite

It is not a problem we can solve in one day, it will take us some time to solve it but we must start somewhere and for us one of the routes we are using is this micro-credit scheme which we are using to reach a lot of lives

credit scheme which we are using to reach a lot of lives.”

Asserting that some of the beneficiaries of the scheme could have otherwise turned to violence, he said”there are a lot of them who instead of coming here today could have been standing on the road with AK 47 after taking hard drugs waiting for you and I.” The governor was to tease the audience when he noted that many Nigerians expend huge sums of money on socialising and other indulgences that would ordinarily have helped push some out of poverty.

“Some of us here drink beer

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delighted announcing some landmark achievements of beneficiaries of the scheme. He was particularly excited by the feat of one of the beneficiaries, whose spices are found in many foreign countries and is marketed at Shoprite stores in Nigeira and abroad.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel in lauding the scheme urged insurance companies to give good account of the industry through prompt payment of claims.

He expressed delight that MBA had resolved to make payments within three days.

42— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 43

C M Y K

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 45

2015: Youths endorse DTHA Dep Speaker for House of Reps

Protest: Police nab 20 Oghara poly students

BY EMMA AMAIZE

O

GHARA—NO fewer than 20 students of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe, Oghara, have been arrested by the police for allegedly protesting against the school authorities and breaching the peace in the institution.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest, said that the students were nabbed by policemen at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Oghara, who received a distress call that they were on rampage.

The police image maker said the students, who were protesting against the school’s policy of ‘no school fees, no examination,’ set bonfires at strategic positions, destroyed property worth millions of naira, disrupted on-going examination at the Engineering Department, as well as caused breakdown of law and order.

She said: “Discreet investigation is going on and those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law while effort is on to arrest other fleeing perpetrators.”

2015: Activist backs call for riverine gov in Rivers

BY GBENGA OKE

A

N activist and President of Rivers Liberation Alliance, RLA, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, has thrown his weight behind the clamour for the emergence of a riverine governor in Rivers State, come 2015.

He also said that what the riverine people were asking for in 2015 was equity and justice having supported other governors from other ethnic groups in the state.

Speaking to Vanguard, Tariah said: “I am an advocate of the principle that the best candidate should emerge in a democracy, but Rivers State has a peculiar situation given its geo-political and cultural configuration that has over the years seen political power revolve around the upland/riverine dichotomy."

BY FESTUS AHON

U

CORONATION ANNIVERSARY: From right: HRM Lucky Ararile Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom; Emir of Borgu Kingdom Dr. H. Dantoro Kitoro III; Dr. Festus Okubor, Chief of Staff, Govt. House Asaba, and Mr. Joseph Oshevire, member, Delta State House of Assembly, during the second coronation anniversary of Avwaeke of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, at Oria-Abraka. Photo: Nath Onojake.

Labour, APC supporters defect to PDP in Edo North

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—FORMER members of Labour Party, LP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, in their numbers, from Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at a well attended rally in Auchi.

One of the leaders of the defectors and a member of the Labour Party in Edo North senatorial district, Alhassan Momoh, at the rally, described the defection as historic, adding that the entire leadership and members of LP had collapsed its structure into the PDP. “I am leaving my position as a senatorial district chairman of

the LP and joining the PDP as an ordinary member,” Momoh said.

He added that the alliances his party formed with the APC in the past did not work out because of the insincerity of APC leaders in the state, adding that they could no longer stand the deceit of APC. Also, former Edo State House of Assembly candidate for Labour Party in Estako 1 constituency, Mr. Hussein Garuba, said that he was leading thousands of his supporters into the PDP as a result of the organisational structure of the party.

Reliving his experience during the alliance with the APC, he said that it was harrowing, adding that all the promises

made to them by the leadership of the APC were never fulfilled.

Similarly, Lance Momoh, who led the APC defectors from Estako Club 3, made up of Awian, Aviele and Jagbe clans, said: “We are not actually decamping, we are only returning home.”

Pointing out that the Etsako people only supported their son to become governor, he said: “Instead of one man, one vote that they preached, what we experienced was one man, no vote.”

Receiving the defectors, state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, described the defectors as wise men and women, who could see ahead and make good decisions.

We're not protecting kidnappers, rights group tells Delta CP

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—FORUM for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, has faulted the statement credited to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, that some human rights lawyers and judges were allegedly aiding and abetting kidnappers in the state.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a statement, yesterday, told the CP to purge himself of the statement, which he described as “highly irresponsible and most reckless.”

Ikimi said: “Our attention has been drawn to the recent state-

ment credited to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aduba, to the effect that some human rights lawyers and judges in the state are aiding and abetting kidnappers.

“We condemn the said statement as highly irresponsible and most reckless of a senior police officer. We have patiently waited to no avail for the Police boss to name and give full particulars of the erring human rights lawyers and judges. We, therefore, challenge the Police boss to substantiate his allegations by publicly naming the rights lawyers and judges who are aiding and abetting kidnapping in the state, failure of which he himself would be

guilty of aiding those he had alleged were abetting kidnapping in the state and better still a chief accessory to the crime of kidnapping in Delta State.

“We want to remind the Police boss that the use of blackmail is an unconventional way of fighting crime and urge him to make his command more public friendly by stamping out acts of extortion, harassment, unlawful arrest and detention, among others, from the command in a bid to boosting the confidence of members of the public at giving vital information to the men of his command to check crime in the state."

G H E L L I — AHEAD of the 2015 general elections, youths and women from Bomadi and Patani Local Government Areas of Delta State have endorsed the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, for the House of Representatives, to represent Bomadi/Patani federal constituency.

The endorsement came at a reception organised by the youths in honour of Ganagana in Patani, headquarters of Patani Local Government Area of the state.

Mr. Favor Akpodiete, who spoke for the youths, said the reception was to appreciate the selfless service of Ganagana, adding that “he has attracted over 100 functional and people oriented projects to Patani constituency, provided employment for youths in the area and has given support for the educational advancement of our people.”

Delta community lauds Bomadi LG boss

B

OMADI—THE crisis-torn host community to Agip Oil Company, Ekameta Federated Community, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, has commended the caretaker committee Chairman of the council, Mr. Collins Olorogun, for his commitment to fulfilling Governor Uduaghan’s agenda of peace and security, in ending the over one year communal crisis which tore the community apart.

Ekameta community was plunged into crisis last year over leadership tussle between the community’s executive council and the community development committee over the operations of the oil firm in the community.

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Six indigent widows get new homes in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—SIX indigent widows, including a mentally challenged woman from Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, have taken possession of new homes built and furnished for them by the wife of Imo State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha.

Commissioning the homes built under her pet project, “She Needs A Roof Project,'' SNARP” located in the six different communities, where the widows were located, Mrs. Okorocha linked the increasing cases of mental disorder to extreme poverty and suffering.

“A person’s condition affects his emotional or mental health. This situation could give rise to mental and emotional instability,” she said.

She called on well-to-do individuals to change their attitude towards earthly possessions, stressing that priority should not be placed on political party membership but on the welfare of the people.

Trader docked for defiling 5-month-old

BY CHINYERE ABIAZIEM

L

AGOS—A trader, Ifeanyi Ukpha, has appeared before an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged defilement of a five-monthold by inserting his fingers in her private part.

According to the prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, ”The accused went to the room of the victim’s mother to greet her, and was left alone with the baby by the mother who went to have her bath.”

The prosecutor said that while alone with the baby, the suspect inserted his fingers into the baby’s private part, which caused her to let out a scream due to the sharp pain she felt.

He said on hearing her baby’s scream, the mother quickly dashed out and saw blood coming out of her daughter’s private part.

The suspect is said to be a neighbour of the victim’s parents at 7, Adewale St, Ilaje, Ebute Metta, where the incident happened on April 21, 2014.

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Confusion over failed contracts in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—WEEKS after Governor Rochas Okorocha ordered the arrest and prosecution of no fewer than 17 contractors for allegedly collecting huge sums of money and failing to deliver on the projects, none of them has been arraigned in court.

Okorocha had ordered their

arrest while touring the 27 local council areas of the state to personally verify the extent of work done on rural roads.

Already, some concerned citizens have started reacting angrily to what they called continuing waste of government fund on phantom projects by the Okorocha’s administration.

Former Attorney-General and

Commissioner for Justice, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, opined that the administration was yet to tell Imo people the whole truth about the failed contracts.

He said: “We are yet to be told the whole truth about the failed contracts. The governor would not have any need to run after any contractor if he had extracted performance bond from the contractors. It is even doubtful if

government ever entered into contractual agreement with the contractors and it would be interesting to know who ordered payments for jobs not done.”

Okorocha’s former media aide, and President, South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, queried “Why did he subject contractors to execute government projects with borrowed funds only to dump and deny them at the point of payment?

Another civil servant, who craved anonymity, reasoned that some top government functionaries obviously played prominent roles in the alleged fleecing of Imo people’s money.

Turkish govt donates warship to Nigerian Navy

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

AWARD: From left—Former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe; the guest lecturer & Managing Director, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji; Group COO, Globacom, Mr Mohammed Jameel and the Editor-in-Chief, Nigeria Communications Week, Ken Nwogbo, at the Beacon of Information Communications Technology lecture and awards held at the Eko Hotels and Suite, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.

SEPA blasts Okorocha

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, has accused Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha of high-handedness, impunity and imposition of his acolytes as party executives of the All

Progressives Congress, APC. The group, which made its position known in a statement by Okorocha’s former media aide and SEPA’s President, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, also noted that the governor’s excesses led to the shocking resignation of the state chairman of APC, Prince Marshal

‘Why Anambra topped 36 states in WAEC, NECO exams'

BY IKENNAASOMBA

A

NAMBRA STATE Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenugha has said that the state came top ahead of 36 other states, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT at the 2013 national examinations conducted by the West African Examination Council, WAEC and the National Examination Council, NECO, as a result of the holistic infrastructural and academic facelift given to primary and secondary schools and the return of mission schools to their rightful owners by the administration of former governor, Dr. Peter Obi. Speaking to Vanguard at her hometown in Nnobi, Anambra State, to unveil her programme,

Omenugha who lauded Obi’s administration, noted that the current administration of Dr. Willie Obiano is poised to continue the tradition.

She said: “To a great extent, the past administration of Dr. Peter Obi used the return of mission schools to their rightful owners as a formular to thrust Anambra State education higher above its peers. Even now, If you go to those schools that were returned, you will see a lot of differences, a lot of changes. You will see the beauty of education and the morals on the part of the children.

“We had about 68 per cent to come top in WAEC and NECO examinations last year, beating other states and you can see that there is still a lot of work to do.

Our target is to have 90 per cent

Okaforanyanwu.

“Okaforanyanwu merely received his own dosage of the toxic concoction of Okorocha’s use and dump politics, which many that equally worked to secure his first electoral victoryin 2011, had taken before deserting him,” the SEPA boss stated.

He said as a socio-political organisation deeply committed to promoting good governance, democratic values, as well as championing harmonised Igbo political interest, SEPA was sadly disturbed over noticeable inconsistencies between well known democratic ethos and recent actions carelessly exhibited by Governor Okorocha, who they earlier thought was a democrat.

Although the group stated that it has no intention to join issues with the governor over the continued exodus of political actors and thousands of their supporters, SEPA, however, expressed regrets that Okaforanyanwu’s revelations were worrisome, particularly when placed side- by-side with the governor’s “wide-mouthed boast” to secure a better political placement for Ndigbo under his newly found APC. While recalling that former close aides and associates of the governor had previously taken their dosage of the bitter pill before now, SEPA reminded those still hovering around the governor that they would definitely receive theirs after Okaforanyanwu.

T

HE Turkish government has donated a warship to the Nigerian Navy and other defence personnel in Lagos, as part of measures to boost the nation’s security on water and protection it’s territorial integrity.

Amidst fanfare and military ceremony at Apapa Ports, venue of the presentation, associates of Turkish government, especially the facilitator, Shitta-Bey’s family, were present to support the Turkish Maritime Task Group to deliver the warship to the Naval authorities.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Mustafa Pulat, explained that the initiative was to support the Nigerian Navy to ensure optimum security on water and also give the Nigerian government the opportunity to put in place certain security measures to overcome varying challenges.

Pulat said the friendship that existed between Nigeria and Turkey was a good testimony that had reflected positively on major areas in both countries.

According to him, the Turkish government will continue to explore all avenues to ensure that there are positive effects on all sectors of the Nigerian economy through the existing cordial relationship between the two countries.

Patriarch of the Shitta-Bey family and an astute politician, Chief Adewale Rasheed Shitta-Bey, expressed gratitude on the occasion, saying the blossomed relationship between the Shitta-Bey family and the Turkish government was a sign post for good things to come in the near future.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 47

VISIT: Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu (left), presenting SON plague to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, during the DG's working visit to the Governor, in Akure.

SESSION: From left, Mr. Kashim Ajiya, Area Comptroller, Enugu-Ebonyi-Anambra Command of the Nigeria Customs Service; Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc; Mr. Victor Gbemudu, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Excise, Free Trade Zones and Industrial Incentives, and Mr. Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, during the Nigerian Breweries Plc/Nigeria Customs Service Interactive Session, at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu.

CLINIC: From left, Olu Gabriel, Golden Boot (Male); Ridwan Adeleke, Best Goal Keeper (Male); Kafayat Shittu, Most Valuable Player,MVP, (Female); Obinna Aniche, Director, Marking & Brands, Airtel Nigeria; Emeka Oparah,Director, Corporate Communication and CSR Airtel Nigeria; Joy Falegan Golden Boot (Female), and Augustina Boniface,Best Goal keeper (Female), and Wisdom Uforo,MVP Male, at the send-forth for the six ARS 3 most outstanding players, who are billed to participate in a week long football Clinic with Arsenal Fc in Rwanda, at Airtel Head Office, Banana Island, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau

SCHEME: Rotarian Kingsley Gborhohwo, President, Rotary Club of Effurun GRA (4th left); Gilbert Uti PHF (4th right), Rotn Clement Aboderin PHF, incoming president; Rotn Edoja Sowho, Secretary RC of Effurun GRA, and business women beneficiaries of interest free micro credit scheme, in Effurun and environs.

OPENING: Project Consultant, Keskese Limited, Mr. Tade Adekunle; Deputy Director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate of the National Agency For Foods, Drugs Administration and Control , NAFDAC, Mr. William Effiok; Managing Director, ARESVEEPEE Limited, Ms Kemi Koyejo, and the Executive Director, Nigeria Food Fiesta Limited, Mrs. Yinka Oguntokun, during the opening of the Naija Foods and Drinks Exhibition, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

FORUM: Registrar/CEO, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, CIPM, Sunday Adeyemi , Fellow, CIPM; Vice president, CIPM, Anthony Arabome, Fellow, CIPM; President/Chairman of Council, CIPM, Victor Famuyibo, Fellow, CIPM, and MD/CEO, Leadership Beyond Limits, Ohio, USA, Thomas Rausch, guest speaker, during the 6th Special Human Resource Forum, in Lagos.

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DINNER: From left, Doyin Owolabi, immediate past president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN; Akinwunmi Ambode, former Accountant General, Lagos State; Professor Eddy Omolehinwa, University of Lagos, and Kabir Alkali Mohammed, 49th ICAN president, at the ICAN 2014 Annual Dinner & Awards, in Lagos.

VISIT: From left, Mr. Frank Nweke, Director-General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG/Head of Nigerian Secretariat of World Economic Forum Africa, and Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/CEO of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, during the former’s courtesy visit on the CEO, to discuss the forum slated for May 7 – 9, 2014, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

DEFECTION: From left, Chairman,Organisation and Mobilisation Committee, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-West, Prince Buruji Kashamu; Ogun State PDP Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye, and party chieftain, Alhaji Agboola Alausa, during the defection of over 2,500 members of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, to PDP, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, weekend.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Why new ID card launch is delayed —NIMC

Kaura emerges Zamfara APC chairman

BY SALISU MARADUN

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USAU — ALHAJI Lawali Kaura has emerged as the new chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Zamfara State chapter following his unanimous endorsement by the delegates to the state congress of the party, weekend.

Kaura who served as the chairman, caretaker committee of the party was said to have won the hearts of the delegates due to his dedication and efficiency.

The congress which was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere also saw Alhaji Lawali Bala emerging as the deputy chairman with Alhaji Sani Mono as the secretary.

Others also elected during the congress included Alhaji Abdullahi Alfa, treasurer; Alhaji Sani Gomna, publicity secretary and Alhaji Nasiru Dankulu, vice chairman II. In his remarks, the new chairman, Alhaji Kaura, said that he would work hard for the party as he did when he was the chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP.

Kebbi trains 336 women on skills acquisition

B

IRNIN KEBBI — THE Kebbi Government, yesterday, said it trained 336 women on skills acquisition in the past 15 months.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Gulumbe, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Birnin Kebbi.

Gulumbe said the women were trained on tailoring, soap, perfume, computer and knitting, among others.

She said the training was part of the government efforts to improve the socio-economic status of the less privileged.

The commissioner said the state government had also given deep freezers to 1,000 women and 4,000 spaghettimaking machines to widows and destitutes.

“The ministry has established a rehabilitation centre for drug-addicts in Zuru Local Government Area and build a recreational centre for the physically challenged in Argungu Local Government Area,” she said.

She added that N45 million was spent on the treatment and rehabilitation of the Psychiatric Hospital in Jega Local Government Area.

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BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

From left: Chairman, Aiyepe Muslim Community, Alhaji Musibau Oyefeso; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Muhammad Abubakar III; Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, and Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government Council, Hon. Olawale Shittu at the official commissioning of new Aiyepe Central Mosque at Aiyepe, Ogun State, yesterday.

NSGF, ACF, APC commiserate with Sambo over brother's death L

AGOS — THE All Progressives Congress, APC, and Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, have condoled with Vice President Namadi Sambo on the death of his younger brother, Capt. Sabo Sambo, in an auto crash along the Abuja International Airport road, Sunday.

Also, the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, has consoled Sambo over the death, asking him to take heart and be strong as God gives and takes life at His own will.

In two separate statements yesterday, both the APC and ACF expressed shock and sadness at the death of such a vibrant personality in such a tragic circumstance.

The APC in a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said: "Death is never easy to accept, and when it is so unexpected it adds to the grief. But the sweet memories and good deeds of the departed will always be a balm to sooth the indescribable pain of death.

"We sincerely sympathize with the Vice President, the immediate family of the departed as well as his extended family. We pray that God will strengthen and comfort them all in this difficult time.’’

Also, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim said: "It was with grief and shock that ACF learnt of the death of Capt Sabo Sambo.

”From God we come and to Him we shall all return. Death is the ultimate end of each mortal, life is equally transient, however, the good deeds and service to humanity done by each person shall continue to live after him.

On its part, the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF, described the death of Sabo as "unfortunate."

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in a statement signed by his Chief

Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo urged the vice president not be discouraged by his younger brother ’s untimely death, but continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan in providing good leadership to Nigerians.

The forum emphasized that although late Captain Yusuf lived a relatively short life having lost his life in an auto clash, he brought about changes not only to his immediate family but the aviation industry where he had worked as a pilot for many years.

Kaduna secures N22.56bn Islamic bank loan for infrastructure

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

ADUNA — THE govern ment of Kaduna State has secured a $141 million (about N22.56 billion) loan from Islamic Development Bank, IDB, for the provision of infrastructure in health, education and water supply sectors of the economy.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director General, Media and Publicity, to the Governor, Mallam Ahmed Maiyaki.

Maiyaki said: “The loan is broken into $81 million for the construction of Transmission Mains and Service Reservoirs at the Zaria Regional Water Supply Project. "$43.13 million for the provision

of modern equipment at the 300 bed-space Specialist Hospital at the Millennium City which is presently at 67 per cent completion and $17.32 million for the construction of four new Science Secondary Schools to be located in the New Kaduna City, Koreye in Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Areaand Manchok in Kaura Local Government Area. ”The actual total amount of $141.45 million is contrary to reports by some media outfits erroneously putting the total IDB loan at $300 million.’’

He said Governor Mukhtar Yero reiterated his administration’s commitment to completing all projects it inherited from his predecessors.

Judge's absence stalls suit challenging Olotu's sack

A

BUJA — THE absence of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court, yesterday, stalled hearing in a suit filed by retired Justice Gladys Olotu, challenging her compulsory retirement by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Olotu sued

the Federal Government following her compulsory retirement after a recommendation by the National Judicial Council, NJC. Joined in the suit as co-respondents are President Jonathan, the NJC, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Attorney-

General of the Federation.

NAN reports that the court did not sit yesterday because the judge was absent and the hearing was, therefore, stalled.

No reason was given for the court’s inability to sit and no date was fixed for the next hearing in the matter.

BUJA — The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, said, weekend, that part of the reasons why the launch of the new national e-identity card was delayed is to allow Nigerians distinguish, understand and appreciate the difference between the National Identification Number, NIN and the National ID cards.

Director, Corporate Communications of the commission, Mr Anthony Okwudiafor, who disclosed this said the long awaited new National Identity Card would soon be launched.

He said the cards were ready and that plans had been perfected for a formal launch

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said: “Part of the reasons why we delayed the roll out of the cards is because we deliberately meant to separate and distinguish between the National Identification Number (NIN) which is a person’s identity in the strict sense of the Universal Identification Infrastructure and the National ID cards which will carry the National Identification Number, NIN.”

50,000 youths for Lagos Shift 2014

BY OLAYINKA LATONA & WILLIAM JIMOH

L

AGOS — THE Shift Ini tiative, a faith-based organisation seeking positive attitudinal change in Nigerian youth, has disclosed that over 50,000 youths are expected to participate in 2014 Lagos Shift auditioning exercise.

Pastor Charles Kpandei, Chairman 2014 Shift Committee, who stated this during a press conference ahead of the event which comes up next month, said the programme was aimed at providing a platform for youths across the state to showcase their imbedded ability in dance, music and comedy.

According to Kapandei, the programme tagged, “Innovative Personified” is targeted at every young person regardless of religion, race or social status.

According to him, it will impact positive change in the life of every participant. He also gave reason why Tafawa Balewa Square was chosen as the venue of the event and not a religion place.

He said Lagos was divided into seven auditing zones from where 2 contestants each will emerge who will also perform at the grand finally on May 1.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—49

Transporters promise Fayemi smooth ride

BY DAPO AKINREFON

D

R. Kayode Fayemi has been endorsed for a second term by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Ekiti State Youth Traders Development Association.

During a visit to motor parks in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the drivers urged the governor to discountenance the claim by opposition candidates touting the support of the drivers’ union, stressing that drivers are not ready to go back to the days of disunity.

According to the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Adebayo Adeyeye, members of his union were not allowed to ply the Akure route during the PDP administration.

“I was one of those who fought to change that and because of that, the PDP administration declared me wanted. When the APC government led by Dr. Fayemi came on board, that changed.

He settled the rift and told members of the two unions in plain terms that we could only make meaningful progress when there is peace.

“RTEAN members now ply all routes and there has not been

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

•Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, praying for Governor Kayode Fayemi during the latter's visit to his palace in Ado-Ekiti over the weekend.

crisis between the two unions since Fayemi became governor,” Adeyeye said.

“We have neither gold nor silver to give the governor. The only thing we have is our votes.

Our members are registered voters and have obtained their permanent voter’s cards. Those in the opposition lying about drivers’ support will be shocked on June 21 when we re-elect Dr. Kayode Fayemi.”

Mr. Toyin Jimoh speaking on behalf of the NURTW, said drivers are impressed with the

good works of the governor and have decided to re-elect him.

In his remarks, the DirectorGeneral of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Bimbo Daramola, said as stakeholders, it is imperative to solicit the cooperation of drivers in the struggle to ensure that Ekiti does not go back to the days of one week, one trouble.

Daramola said “as stakeholders, we will bear the brunt most if Ekiti does not continue to move forward as we have been doing in the last three

and a half years. Those outsiders beating the drums of war in collaboration with fifth columnists will not be here.”

The campaign train had earlier had a meeting with members of Ekiti State Youth Traders Development Association at the Erekesan market in Ado-Ekiti.

The Director-General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation told them that trading was only possible in an atmosphere of peace which the Fayemi administration has engendered since it came on board.

Fayose flashes red card to thugs, drunks

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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R. Ayo Fayose, the PDP candidate has threatened to disown and hand over to the police, any of his supporters that runs foul of good behaviour during the campaign.

Speaking at Ipoti, Iloro and Ijunrin Ekiti in Ijero Local Government, Fayose warned miscreants and party thugs

within the party to stop their acts or else be thrown out.

The gubernatorial candidate noted with dismay some of the anti-social behavior exhibited by the thugs in his public outings as he said that he had enough official security and would not hesitate to throw them out.

“I want to urge you to stop any act of thuggery while following me. Some of you are in the habit

of drinking your self to stupor or drinking different brands of alcohol. l don’t want you to kill yourselves or injure people because of me,” the PDP candidate further warned Speaking further, Fayose condemned Fayemi for encouraging capital flight in the state ,saying most of the contracts awarded in the state went to persons from Lagos State."

”The situation in the state is so pathetic. Ekiti workers can no more cope with the sharp economic reality in the state, they are really suffering, they are being treated like a second rate citizens by the present government in the state,” he further declared

••As demoted teachers give Fayemi yellow card

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EFORMS embarked by Governor Fayemi in the education sector may cost him some votes given the vow by some former school principals in the state to stop the incumbent in his re-election plans.

The former principals who claimed to have been unfairly demoted by the Fayemi administration, surfaced during a campaign stop by Mr. Fayose at Ikoro Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State last Sunday.

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APC is the one attacking us — LP

According to a press statement issued by Fayose’s spokesman, Mr Idowu Adelusi and made available to the press in Ado Ekiti, Mr Fatuase alleged Fayemi demoted them using political criteria ,noting that their removal from office happened minutes after they finished a confirmation examination.

He said that many of his colleagues subsequently developed permanent health challenges.

Mr Fatuase said the teachers

in Ekiti State have seen the June 21 governorship election as a day to free themselves from Fayemi’s bondange and hostile attitude to the teachers.

Pledging support of the teachers and school principals in Ekiti State for Fayose, Mr Fatuase said that the Ekiti teachers have absolute confidence in Fayose because his former administration raised the status of teachers in the state.

•Fayose

HE Ekiti State chapter of the Labour Party has restated its earlier stand that the party remains a peaceful party as far as the governorship election campaigns are concerned.

The party, however, put the blame at the door of the All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing it of carrying out attacks on its members.

Making the clarification, its Media and Publicity Secretary, Bolanle Olatunde-Bruce narrated the ordeal of its members.

“On Thursday April 24, 2014, the Labour Party Campaign Train was attacked by APC thugs at Ilupeju Ekiti.”

According to Labour, one APC activist confirmed by the party to be an APC member “led other hoodlums brandishing guns and other dangerous weapons to disrupt our rally.”

“We had to take refuge at the palace of the Apeju of IlupejuEkiti, Oba Emmanuel Oniyelu and this can be verified from the palace of the Apeju.”

..As Mimiko, Nwanyanwu storm Ekiti for Bamidele’s mother of all rallies

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N continuation of its campaign across towns, villages and settlements, the Labour Party in Ekiti State shall play host to Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, its national chairman, Mr Dan Nwanyanwu and other chieftains of the party today at a mega rally in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mrs Bolanle Olatunde-Bruce, the party said the state chairman of the party, Mr Akin Omole would be the chief host.

The statement read: “the event which starts at 9am and promises to be grand shall have in attendance dignitaries from all over the country including the National Chairman of Labour Party, Mr Dan Nwanyanwu, members of the national working committee of the party, chieftains of the party in the South West including Governor Rahman Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Ondo State House of A s s e m b l y members, Commissioners and Special Advisers, Afenifere chieftains as well as other stakeholders.”

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Festac Town, Lagos

Why Festac, Shagari housing schemes failed —Expert

By JUDE NJOKU

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ESTIVAL Town popularly called Festac in Lagos and the Shagari housing schemes built all over the country, failed as a result of poor sites selection.

This view was canvassed by a housing expert, Prof Timothy Nubi.

Prof Nubi who oversees the Centre for Housing Studies at the University of Lagos, Akoka, spoke to Vanguard Homes & Property at a two-day training/ workshop on Real Estate Packaging and Infrastructure financing organised by the Centre last week. The workshop was the maiden outing of the Centre which was inaugurated in January this year. Nubi posited that some private developers who invested billions

of Naira into housing projects, have little or nothing to show for their efforts today, simply because they failed to do thorough feasibility studies to determine the suitability of the site chosen for such schemes.

Buttressing this assertion, the don said; “Festac for instance, failed right from site selection.

We selected a site that is below sea level to build a town. At that time, Nigeria still had money, so they said, the waste cannot flow into the water treatment plant and we said no, we will use pump to pump it. We were using pump to pump. But when Nigeria started running into electricity problems, the pump packed up and Festac is today what it is.

Festac’s failure is right from site selection. So, a real estate development can fail if you chose

a wrong location. Shagari housing schemes failed not because the houses were not good but they were built in wrong places, far outside people’s reach. You can develop your estate in a place that is too far from where people can live and nobody will buy it. So, Shagari Estate wasted”.

The Professor of Estate Management described housing education as the missing link in the quest to provide affordable housing to the millions of homeless Nigerians.

“One thing we have found out is that we have housing problems in this country and we have tried so many means and government policies but you find out that the missing link is actually housing education. Housing education is lacking. Many of the developers

Developer seeks Govt’s intervention over cement price

By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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LAGOS-based luxury estate developer, Mr. Tayo Sonuga has decried the high price and unavailability of cement in the country. Sonuga who is the CEO of Haven Homes Limited, has therefore called on the government to step in to put an end to this ugly scenario. The lifestyle homes developer and promoter spoke recently at the unveiling of the company’s new Lekki Show Home.

He lamented that the price of cement has not only become too exorbitant but the commodity has also become difficult to find. “I

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really think the government should do something drastic and urgent about the cement market.

In December 2013, a bag of cement sold for N1,650 but now it is selling for N2,200 per bag and yet we cannot even find it readily to buy. This is clearly not acceptable. So, I would like the government to do something urgent about it”, he said.

According to him, “if any positive steps are to be taken towards meeting the housing needs of Nigerians, the easy availability and affordability of a commodity as important as cement cannot be over

emphasized. He maintained that if the government at the Federal and State levels are truly sincere and determined in their resolve to address the housing problems of Nigerians, they should come up with measures to make cement not only cheap and affordable but also readily available.

“The enabling environment should be created for manufacturers of cement to source easily the ingredients they need to produce cement. They should be encouraged so that they will in turn produce cheaper and more affordable cement products, “ Sonuga said.

are doing trial and error so you find out that many of them have wasted so much money. They go into projects without really understanding what it is all about.

Nigerians know so much about stocks and agriculture but we don’t know much about housing investments,” he lamented.

The Centre for Housing Studies, according to Prof Nubi, will “drive the housing sector to capacity building at different levels”.

“The people that are attending this course are investors in real estate, they are Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, REDAN members. They have invested into real estate, money running into billions of Naira. But when you see the estates, you know that they have really tried but it is almost costing them their lives because they went into it without proper training and grounding in it. That is the gap that the Centre wants to fill. We are going to train people on feasibility studies as well as site and land acquisition,” he said.

Prof Nubi made a strong case for urban regeneration. “Real estate investment is not only on new sites. Investors also invest in Makoko, Ajegunle. The Lagos State government’s project going on at Ijora Badiya today is on Ijora slum. So, this government is championing it, the developers when they see the opportunities there, will come there. It is a developer that developed Oluwole. 175 families were relocated at Shasha and Oluwole is today a very big estate,” he said.

Declaring the training open, the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences at UNILAG, Prof K.T. Odusami enjoined the participants who were drawn from different parts of the country, not to be deterred by the myriad of challenges facing the housing sector, but to borrow a leaf from countries which have conquered such challenges.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 51

ENVIRONMENT WATCH

Stakeholder initiates measures to check influx of substandard doors into Nigeria

By JUDE NJOKU

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IGERIA is fast becoming a dumping ground for fake and substandard building and home furnishing materials. These substandard materials are usually imported from China and other Asian and European countries by unscrupulous Nigerian businessmen and their foreign collaborators. The rising occurrence of buildings collapse and fire disasters in the country, are directly linked to the utilisation of these fake or adulterated building components.

Gone are the days when people changed the doors of their houses because the designs are outdated and they want to install more modern doors. What happens today is that people spend huge sums of money to buy doors for their homes, only to replace them a few years later, because the doors are substandard.

Against this backdrop, a global player in the woods and furniture industry, Messrs Emelinks Nigeria Limited, has launched a campaign to curb wastes usually incurred by people who use fake

or substandard doors in their homes. .

The founder of the company, Mr Solomon Chukwuemeka Nwadiogbu told newsmen in Lagos last week, that his company is offering premium but highly affordable and durable doors to Nigerian home builders.

He explained the campaign against wastes was informed by what millions of Nigerians who utilise fake and substandard doors and windows go through on daily basis. The campaign tagged “kick against waste”, according to Nwadiogbu, is aimed at eliminating low quality doors and windows because they drain the pocket of buyers without value for money.

“The kick against waste

campaign is aimed at eliminating structure finish of low quality doors and windows which tends to be a drain on the buyers’ pocket. The campaign seeks to bring to the fore appreciation of quality, presenting the very best of wood finish thus ensuring value for money,” he explained.

“We are passionate about the quality of materials in the country and the pain buyers go through in the process of replacement, hence the campaign. We hope we would be contributing our quota to rid the country of substandard doors and other building materials” he said.

Emilinks according Nwadiogbu, designs, constructs and sells doors and windows, with particular emphasis on solid

wood doors. The company has classic solid wood doors, windows, wardrobes, office furniture, fully fitted kitchens and designer products in brushed steel and aluminum.

“Our range of products includes solid wooden doors, windows, wardrobes, beds, office furniture, sanitary and fully fitted kitchen.

We are a professionally managed company that believes in profit-

able, sustainable and enjoyable long-term relationships with our key stakeholders – including employees, customers and suppliers. Emilinks continues to maintain and exceed standards that are demanded in the world.

We have taken a straight forward approach to the furniture business by starting with developing furniture with class and prestige in mind.

EJN trains 15 Nigerian reporters on data journalism

BY EBUN SESSOU

M

RS Ebun Sessou of Vanguard was among 14 other Nigerian journalists who were trained on data journalism and digital tools by the Earth Journalism Network, EJN, an environmental reporting network.

The Coordinator of the workshop, Mr. Michael Simire said it aims at building the capacity of the journalists that cover environment related issues on the use of data and digital tools to enhance the quality of their reporting.

Simire said the workshop will assist reporters to present stories in a better way using digital tools such as maps and charts.

He regretted that most Nigerian editors are not only ignorant of environmental issues but also ignorant of the use of data in presenting articles. His words: “It is imperative to know that data journalism goes a long way especially in reporting political issues in a more effective way. I believe we will get there”, he said.

Coordinator of Budgit, Mr Seun Onigbinde who trains journalists on budget analysis said, database journalism is evidence base.

According to him, a lot of people are going beyond narrative to use data in their story telling because you need people to see things empirically for themselves. So, there is need to tell the story with data and visualise it. His words: “Data journalism does not duplicate journalism but it is telling the story in an interesting way. It also uncovers story, better explain it and provide additional context to the story. There is need to train our webmasters on this course”, he said.

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V anguard Vanguard anguard,, TUESDAY, APRIL 29 , 2014 — 59

Egypt sentences 700 Muslim Brotherhood members to death A

N Egyptian court yesterday sentenced Mohamed Badie,the Supreme leader of Muslim Brotherhood and 699 members of the Islamic sect to death, for their role in the murder and attempted murder of several policemen during pro-Morsi riots that swept through the country last year.

Judge Saeed Youssef who first handed down the initial sentence to 528 defendants on March 24, reversed 492 of those 529 death sentences as he commuted most of the earlier sentences to life imprisonment and confirmed the 37 death sentences among the first batch of 529. The sentences passed on the second batch brought the to 700, including Badie, who was charged along with his supporters for the same crime.

But Mohamed Badie, was defiant yesterday saying he would keep pursuing his cause. In a messaged posted to the Face-

book page, Osama Mursi, son of the deposed president, he said: “If they executed me one thousand times I will not retreat from the right path,” Young Mursi, who is a lawyer, attended one of his trials in Cairo.

The death sentences are part of the nation wide crackdown on members of Muslim Brotherhood who are the backbone of deposed President Mohammed Morsi’s Justice Party.

Yesterday’s hearing in the southern province of Minya comes amid a brutal crackdown on Morsi supporters and the Brotherhood since the military overthrew him last July amid massive protests calling for his resignation.

The death sentences came against the background of the country’s preparation for the presidential election on May 2627 election. The country’s former Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win easily, which

is,” said one woman, whose son was among the 529 sentenced to death in March.

The rioting last August 14 erupted as news spread that police had killed hundreds of Morsi supporters

while dispersing two protest camps in Cairo. Yesterday’s session would be the second for the around 700 defendants, after an opening hearing in March which Sabry adjourned to announce the verdict.

Russia condemns new U.S. sanctions Relatives and families of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi react in front of the court in Minya, south of Cairo, after hearing the sentence handed to Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and other Brotherhood supporters yesterday. the supporters of the deposed president have threatened to boycott. Mursi was deposed by Sisi after mass protests against his rule last July, 2013.

The court has come under the spotlight after the same judge in March sentenced the 529 defendants to death in just two sessions. That verdict is open to appeal, but has outraged

the United Nations and human rights groups.

Relatives of the defendants waited outside the heavily secured court on Monday to awaiting the latest verdicts. Several said family members had been unjustly convicted or placed on trial.

“My son does not even pray, he does not even know where the mosque

A

SENIOR Russian diplomat sharply criticized a new round of U.S. sanctions yesterday, saying the measures were illegitimate and uncivilized and that restrictions on high-tech exports from the United States marked a return to Cold War practices.

“We decisively condemn the series of measures that has been announced in an attempt to put sanctions pressure on Moscow,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in comments posted on the ministry’s

website. “Unilateral extraterritorial sanctions are by nature illegitimate.

They do not just fail to correspond to the norms of civilized interaction between states ... they contradict the demands of international law,” Ryabkov said.

He said the U.S. decision to impose sanctions was based on an “absolutely distorted” view of events occurring in Ukraine and “ will not improve the chances for a constructive solution to the problems that have arisen.”

60— Vanguard, TUESD AY, APRIL 29, 2014 TUESDA

Cleric seeks physical, divine intervention against malaria

By SOLA OGUNDIPE A MINISTER of God, Revd.

Vincent Asuquo of the Methodist Cathedral of Unity, Zone 3, Wuse, Abuja, has called on Nigerians to seek divine assistance in addition to the physical interventions put together by the Federal government and the Roll Back Malaria Partners in Nigeria.

Asuquo, who led other Ministers of God during the special Church service and advocacy visit by officials of the

Federal Ministry of Health and the RBM Partners, as part of this year ’s World Malaria Day activities in the country, delivered a sermon that dwelt on the impact of malaria on Nigerians and the need to take measures to combat the scourge.

In his presentation, Asuquo called for divine assistance to defeat malaria and that malaria war has been taken to the spiritual arena, in addition to the physical interventions put together by government and the RBM partners.

•National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, during the Church service.

In a statement, National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP,

Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, noted that the This year’s theme "Invest in the Future:Defeat Malaria" and

slogan "Together We Can", was timely and appropriate.

Ezeigwe noted that malaria is caused by the germ called plasmodium falciparum and transmitted from one person to the other by the female anopheles mosquito, is preventable and curable and so it is painful that it is killing people.

She admonished the congregation to always sleep inside Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets and always keep their surroundings clear of stagnant water bodies, while pregnant women should access the Intermittent Prevention Treatment programme, IPTp, during antenatal visits.

LLINs were distributed to pregnant women who were instructed on the correct way to use the nets correctly.

.

...As Reckitt Benckiser plans prevention strategies for 500,000 mothers

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•Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Oguzhan Silivrili presenting gift items to mother of the baby born on World Malaria Day at the General Hospital, Ajeromi, Apapa, Lagos recently

O stem the scourge of malaria in Nigeria, Reckitt Benckiser, through its insecticide brand, Mortein, weekend unfolded plans to reach 500,000 new mothers with series of awareness and education programmes that could help them to be free from the disease Speaking during the commemoration of the World Malaria Day at Tego Barracks open field, Marine Beach, Apapa area of Lagos, the Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, said the intervention became necessary due to the alarming death rate among children under the age of five and pregnant women as a result of malaria.

Siliyril noted that malaria has become a global health concern because millions of deaths occur annually due to malaria while in Africa alone, over 3,000 children have been reported to die daily from

malaria. ‘‘As I speak to you, millions of people are suffering from malaria all over the world and 3,000 kids in Africa reportedly die daily from malaria’’, he said. He said the Mortein Anti-Malaria Campaign was launched in Nigeria and across some other African countries two years ago as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“We began the anti-malaria campaign two years ago and we have made significant progress, and now we are taking it to the next level this year. So, we are going to 500,000 new moms to educate them because our idea is not just giving the fish, but also educating the people how to fish.’’

The Marketing Director added that combating malaria required a collective action both by government and the private sector. ‘‘So we will have to educate people on how to prevent malaria instead of curbing it.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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NEED your advice sir. My wife and I are searching for the best form of birth control. She used to take pills but it has made her add a lot of weight, infact, she has being diagnosed with obesity and she is at risk of becoming diabetic. There is hypertension and diabetes in her family. We have also tried to only have sex during her safe days but it did not work well. Twice she has gotten pregnant now and we have four children already and do not need more – Ademola Ademola there are different types of birth control out there with varying success rates but it is best to consult a physician for guidance on what to use. I can run down the list of options for you but you still need to see your doctor because most of these contraceptives can only be administered by a doctor.

One option is the use of a contraceptive injection. It is very common as well but it also leads to weight gain so you will not want it. Other forms of contraceptives include the Contraceptive Patch, Vaginal Rings, Spermicides , Hormonal Shots/Implants , Intrauterine Devices, Diaphragms, Condoms, Tubal Legations and Vasectomy. Tubal Legation, also known as tying the tubes and Vasectomy are two of the most effective birth control options out there and have the least side effects. The use of condoms is quite popular, although married men and women do not favor it because it deprives them of the natural feel of skin tissue. In any case, condoms are the most effective when it comes to disease prevention. So see you doctor for details on all your options and then you can make the best choice – Uche I am a 68 year old diabetic with very weak erections and for the past two years, I have not been able to perform. My wife is still sexually active so I feel bad that I cannot satisfy her – Shehu Although you are diabetic, there are a few solutions that will work well for you. The use of natural aphrodisiacs such as the Exploding Thunder Supplement will help you. Exploding Thunder helps

direct more blood to the erectile tissues of the penis to enable men regain very hard erections. It also helps them perform at optimum capacity several times and one capsule of it works for three days – Uche Please I suffer from premature ejaculation and I have pains in my penis periodically with drops of blood. I can only last with a woman for just some seconds - Tunji Tunji did you say that you bleed once in a while?

You should go and see a doctor as this has nothing to do with premature ejaculation. You have an illness that requires medical attention. As for your premature ejaculation, there are many options you can choose from. You can use a numbing ointment to last longer.

They are commonly referred to as delay creams, examples of which are the Forever Yours Delay Cream and the Prolonging Delay Cream. Pasante Delay Condoms are very effective too. So you have many options – Uche I am a 42 year old mother with no passion for sex.

I hardly even think about it but my husband needs it - Pat Get the Max Desire supplement. Take it daily for best results and it will restore your sex drive – Uche I bought Repro Aid and I have finished it. My sperm count grew by 60%. Do I need to take more? Secondly, is there anything my wife can take as well to improve our chances of getting pregnant? Okey Okey that is good news. Keep taking Repro Aid until you finish having children. It is basically a multi vitamin for fertility and vitamins are taken daily. There is also Repro Aid for women so you can get that for your wife. Soon you will have reason to smile – Uche That’s it for today.

Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08171912551 or 07086754515 for help or visit www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers all over Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com. Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 — 61

It’s a huge lie — Lulu •I don’t know Wilson Raj Perumal and we never met him

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O R M E R President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu has denied allegations of fixing matches ahead of qualification for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. In a reaction to the allegations made by Singaporean matchfixing king Wilson Raj Perumal that he was at the centre of Nigeria’s qualification for the 2010 World Cup, Lulu said, “There was no match that the Super Eagles played that I was not aware of its organisation. If he

(Perumal) did anything, I am not aware.

“What I know is that we qualified because we worked hard.”

The former NFF boss who spoke exclusively with Sports Vanguard challenged the Singaporean to show proof of his claim. :”Let him bring out evidence of any transaction he had with the NFF if any,” Lulu said, adding, “no government agency could have done anything of the sort without the consent of the NFF. Let him bring evidence of the transaction he had with

Match fixing Continues from BP friendlies as well as part of the money FIFA pays to help teams prepare for the tournament.

Perumal, a self-confessed match-fixer who was part of a syndicate that has been placed at the heart of a sophisticated network responsible for fixing hundreds of matches around the world, also claimed in the new book that he also assisted Honduras in reaching the World Cup through his activities.

Perumal’s book, written in conjunction with the investigative journalists Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano, details the huge sums of money he won and lost – up to 3m euros in a single night – and the huge reach of the match-fixing syndicate.

He details a meeting with a football official in which he promised to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup in return for free rein in organising three warm-up matches and a cut of the money Fifa provides for hosting a training camp during the tournament.

First, he claims to influence three players on his payroll to help Nigeria to victory in one of their qualifiers.

Then he claims to C M Y K

have promised the Mozambique FA a $100,000 bonus if they were able to hold Tunisia to a draw and so stop Tunisia leapfrogging Nigeria and seizing automatic qualification. Mozambique secured an unlikely 1-0 victory.

“My plan had worked and I was the unsung hero of Nigeria’s qualification to the final rounds of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa,” writes Perumal.

“Ferrying Nigeria and Honduras to the World Cup was a personal achievement. I got two teams to qualify for the World Cup but I cannot tell anyone.’”

Perumal had already admitted to being part of a syndicate that fixed a string of international friendlies by bribing corrupt officials and compromised players, but this is the first time that he has claimed to have influenced World Cup qualifiers.

Perumal was arrested in Helsinki in 2011 and sentenced to two years in prison.

He agreed to co-operate with the authorities and implicated his fellow Singaporean Dan Tan, alleged to be at the heart of the fixing and gambling ring that placed bets on illicit Chinese markets.

Perumal, who served

any body.”

Lulu said, “I followed due process in everything. We did and the three friendly matches we had before the World Cup were against Austria in Saudi Arabia, played against Columbia in London and finally against Korea in South Africa before the World Cup. In fact we paid Columbia $100,000 because we needed the match dearly.

“In all the cases, we never met anybody called Wilson Raj Perumal. I don’t know him,” Lulu said.

a year of his sentence in Finland after promising to co-operate with the authorities, claims to have had a hand in or profited from fixed matches all over the globe, from Latin America to Serie A. They included two occasions on which he is alleged to have arranged for bogus African teams to play official friendlies and deliver the required result.

Last year Europol alleged that more than 380 professional matches in Europe and more than 300 matches played in Africa, Asia and central and South America were under suspicion as the scale of the activities of match-fixing gangs from Eastern Europe and Asia became clear.

He also claims to have attempted unsuccessfully to bribe referees at the World Cup itself.

•Okagbare

•Frazer-Price

Okagbare ready for Frazer-Price in Jamaica

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FRICAN sprint Queen, Blessing Okagbare will ignite her hunger to beat the best on the tracks as she renews her rivalry with Shelley Frazer-Price in the forthcoming Diamond League competition holding in Jamaica on Saturday, May 3rd this year. Frazer-Price will lead a star studded Jamaican contingent as well as other high profile international athletes to the Jamaican meet.

It portends to be a busy Diamond season as Okagbare, who aims to upset the Jamaican team captain to the London 2012 Olympics in her home country, will proceed from Kingston, Jamaica to Doha on the 9th of May and from there to China 8 days later.

Speaking from her base in the United States of America, Okagbare enthused that she is never afraid

IG releases Akinsola for okpekpe security •To work with Edo State Command

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HE Inspector Gen eral of Police (IGP) Mohammed Dikko Abubakar has released Assistant Commissioner of Police Gideon Akinsola to take charge of security during the second edition of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres road race which is biled to acquire International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF’s) gold label tag after the race on

May 3.

Disclosing this to the media in Lagos yesterday, Okpekpe road race’s Director of Organisation Zak Amodu revealed that Akinsola, who is presently serving at the Kogi State Police Command as AC operations has been through this exercise before having handled the security aspect of the first edition last year.

Maigari Continues from BP ing the draw that housed Nigeria in the same pool with South Africa, Sudan and the winner of the two preliminary rounds among Namibia/Congo Brazzaville and Libya/Rwanda.

The qualifying phase starts in the first week of September, and, unusually for qualifying campaigns for major competitions, all six matches will be played

of competing with the best but rather see it as a challenge to raise the bar. The African 100 metres record holder stated that, “Jamaica is a country of champions.

Everyone knows about their prowess and their enviable success on the tracks, but I’m determined to compete on the big stage and prove myself.” Adding that, “I believe it is doable (beating Frazer-Price in her native country)."

over two-and-half months between Se tember and November.

This is as a result of the decision by the Confederation of African Football to move the tournament to odd years, and the African Nations Championship to even years, with the immediate CHAN coming only a year after the first oddyear AFCON (South Africa 2013) and headlong into the FIFA World Cup

finals. ”We are presently focused on making a major impact at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil in the summer,” Maigari, also a member of CAF’s Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, said.

“But I tell you, by the time the qualifying series for Morocco 2015 starts, the Super Eagles will be super ready.”

•ACP Akinsola According to Amodu: “ to show the seriousness and committment to the race, the IGP has graciously approved the release of ACP Gideon Akinsola to coordinate and work with the edo state Police Command. ”We are very grateful for the stroing interets shown towards the competitionsince it started last year by the IGP. Indeed, the IGP has in addition to Akinsola’s release for the race ordered the release of the police mobile bikes to assist in the traffic coordination and effective policing.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

Ronaldo, Bale’re Bayern’s bogeymen A

LBTRAUM is the German word for nightmare. Pep Guardiola, who has picked up the language well, could have been using the word more than ever over the past few days, maybe thinking about the possibility of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale playing together against Bayern.

Ronaldo and Bale will head up the squad which landed in Munich yesterday, where one of the two sides will end up qualifying for the Champions League final. Real Madrid have never won there, but if their latest results are anything to go by, they could knock Pep’s side out.

It is almost one month since Bale and Ronaldo last played together in a match.

That was in the quarter final first leg against Borussia Dortmund, when both of them scored and Madrid won 3-0. So it is not surprising that Bayern might be trembling a little. If there were any German spies at the Madrid - Osasuna match this weekend, they will have seen Bale’s magnificent winning goal in the cup final on the video scoreboard, and of course Cristiano Ronaldo’s two live goals.

After their analysis of the first leg match, Bayern’s coaching team will have a dilemma. To attack Real Madrid in desperation is certain suicide. To concentrate players in the opposing half and have the ball without finishing moves off is also suicide.

Bale and Ronaldo between them have scored 19 goals in the Champions League.

And if you add the third prong of the attack, Benzema, the total is 24, and all three will be at the Allianz stadium.

But if Pep would like to have Karim in his side, that would still be fine, as it is Bale’s and Cristiano Ronaldo’s speed behind his defence that he fears most C M Y K

Ancelotti: Winning Champions League would be ‘incredible’

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BOGERYMEN••• Gareth Bale (L) and Christian Ronaldo ready for Bayern

ARLO Ancelotti talked to ‘Champions Matchday’ magazine about the importance of ‘La Décima’ for Real Madrid and the thrilling prospect of leading ‘Los Blancos’ to glory in his first season at the Bernabéu: “It’s a very important competition for this club, especially because if we win it this season it will be the club’s 10th European Cup. That would be really special for everyone. And the sooner we win it, the better. It would be incredible if we did it in my first year here”.

I know all about Real’s ‘Décima’ obsession – Robben

A

RJEN Robben looked back on his time at Real Madrid during yesterday ’s press conference, commenting on the club’s prolonged pursuit of a 10th European Cup: “I played for Real and I know all about their obsession with ‘La Décima’. I know how much it means to them, but they ’re still waiting”.

Echoing Karl-Heinz Ru m m e n i g g e , he sought to gee up the Bayern fans by vowing that Real are in for a tough test at the Allianz Arena: “We can promise that Real

aren’t going to have it easy here”.

“They are in high spirits and brimming with confidence. They are having a great season, but they know they aren’t going to have it e a s y h e r e . We c a n promise Real that we aren’t going to roll over for them. I don’t buy the idea that they think the job is done”, the Dutchman stated.

•Ancelotti

Guardiola: Real think they’re already in the final

P

EP Guardiola reit erated that the pace of Real Madrid’s frontmen makes them “impossible” to stop

Ramos, Alonso walk the tightrope

S

•Robben

ERGIO Ramos and Xabi Alonso will have to tread carefully in Munich. The centre back and the midfielder are both one yellow card away from missing out on a hypothetical Champions League final.

In a game as fast-paced and important as the one promised at the Allianz, there will not be much time for the Madrid players to take their own fates into consideration.

Although they are players who are used to dealing with this type of situation and playing in big games, the reward awaiting them after the match is too sweet to ignore the issue of whether they will be eligible to play in the final.

once they get into full flow. Instead, the Bayern Munich coach appealed to his players to show heart and sought to motivate them by suggesting Real believe they are already in the final.

On Franck Ribéry, he said: “It makes me very happy to see him playing well. He should have been named World Player of the Year this year and we’ll need him at his best to knock Real Madrid out”.

As for the different threat posed by Isco and Bale, he noted that “If Isco plays we’ll be wary of certain things and if Bale plays, then we’ll be mindful of others.

•Guardiola

Vanguard, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014—63

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

We fixed Nigeria's 2010 World Cup — Singaporean •It's a huge lie — Lulu A

convicted Singa porean match-fixer has shockingly claimed that he helped Nigeria to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa through his match fixing shenanigans.

In a mind-blowing revelation published in a book that will send shockwaves throughout the football world, Wilson Raj Perumal, claims he influenced results to help the Super Eagles to qualify.

In a shocking claim, the match fixer said that Nigeria football authorities promised him the right to organise their pre-2010 World Cup

Morocco 2015: No fears for Eagles -Maigari

•Maigari

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HE Super Eagles of Nigeria will be very much ready when

Continued on Page 61

the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations begin in September, so says President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Maigari, who was at the Draw Ceremony for the qualifying series held in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday, insisted that

the defending champions have all it takes to not only qualify for the finals in Morocco, but to successfully defend the trophy won in South Africa early last year. ”We are in Group A and we will come out with an ‘A’ grade,” Maigari started, follow Continued on Page 61

Ronaldo, Bale're Bayern's bogeymen — Pg 62 Time: 7.45pm

•Sani Kaita at the 2010 World Cup

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Beat (6) 5 Plant-study (6) 9 Consumer (5) 10 Reiterate (6) 11 Frisk (6) 12 Lawful (5) 14 Always (4) 17 Lair (3) 18 Gala (4) 20 Now (5) 22 Publicised (5) 23 Trace (7) 24 Number (5) 26 Senior (5) 29 Parched (4) 30 Beer (3) 32 Fruit (4) 33 Slumber (5) 35 Animal (6) 36 Sooner (6) 37 Satan (5) 38 Lower (6) 39 Evaded (6)

DOWN 1 Objective (6) 2 Knocked (6) 3 Stop up (4) 4 Loathed (5) 5 Started (5) 6 Spoken (4) 7 Walker (6) 8 Shouted (6) 13 Non-Jew (7) 15 Elector (5) 16 Ranted (5) 18 Sphere (5) 19 Principle (5) 21 Longing (3) 22 Era (3) 24 Holy (6) 25 Practicable (6) 27 Darted (6) 28 Bred (6) 30 Change (5) 31 Weird (5) 33 Team (4) 34 Shroud (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Sport 7, Struck 9, Cur 10, Ten 12, Rifle 13, Edam 15, Posed 17, Distil 19, Edge 20, Scene 22, Sot 24, Deleted 27, Nil 28, Aided 31, Mess 33, Nearer 35, Crest 37, Diva 38, Store 39, Sow 41, ASP 42, Molest 43, Adept.

DOWN: 1, Assess 2, Arcuade 3, Act 4, Sure 5, Pride 6, Relegate 8, Kept 11, Noiseless 14, Mind 16, Slot 18, Seen 21, Cemented 23, Tear 25, Line 26, Died 29, Driven 30, Dearth 32, Scrap 34, Atom 36, Rest 40, Won.

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: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. 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.