ALLEGED LOCATION OF CHIBOK GIRLS: Presidency, US slam Defence Chief

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62154

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

N150

$49.8BN OIL FUND: Sanusi lied — Senate Our democracy at a •Seeks abolition of subsidy regime 5

crossroads

ALLEGED LOCATION OF CHIBOK GIRLS:

Presidency, US slam Defence Chief •We have no information to support claim — US •Jonathan angry over Badeh's comment — Source

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BY SONI DANIEL & UDUMA KALU, WITH AGENCY REPORT BUJA—THE A United States said, yesterday, that it

does not have information to support the claim by the Nigerian military that it knows the whereabouts of the more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh said on Monday that the military knew Continues on page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Provisioning our military for •P.17 successful counter-insurgency

EK Clark, titan at 87•P.19

•P.19 In the De-worming of Edo State APC (1)

Mr & Mrs

STUDENTS PROTEST—Policemen keep watch as students protest Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) 10month-old strike, yesterday, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Jonathan, Ihedioha condole with Vanguard Publisher over mother's death 8 C M Y K

Terrorists kill 51 in Borno attacks 8

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 3

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4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

NEW YORK— Students from Midreshet Shalhevet High School for Girls, protest outside the Nigerian consulate, yesterday in New York City for more action to be taken to rescue the school girls kidnapped by the Boko Haram April 15. Photo: AFP.

$49.8BN OIL FUND: Sanusi lied — Senate A

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

BUJA—THE Sen ate, yesterday, said that the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi lied by saying that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, misapplied $49.8 billion accruing from crude oil sales. It said that only $20 billion or N3.26 tril-

lion was missing.

It said that it could not see how Sanusi arrived at his allegations that the money was missing.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, PDP, Kaduna North, who made this known yesterday, said that contrary to Sanusi’s allegations, there was nothing like any unremitted $49. 8 billion.

This was contained in the report submitted by the committee at Senate

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Is it possible your dreams are the result of who your parents think you are? Who others think you are? Who you wish you were? Or are they the result of who you really are and what God meant you to be?

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit— Napoleon Hill

T

O be aware, you must be present, so that when changes come along and they take place, instead of being in a state of surprise, you can step back and look at it and say, “oh my gosh!” And get down on your knees or be open in your heart and be in a state of gratitude for the pain that you’re experiencing right now, for the depression, for the anxiety, for the stress. Whatever it might be – saying thank you and, “I’m listening,” and whatever it is that I have to learn from this, I’ll accept. This brings you to enlightenment.

Wayne Dyer in his writings surmises: “Enlightenment is like getting out in front.” You get to such a place that your intuition is so polished and so firm and you have such a trust in your connection to your source that you know, as it says in A Course in Miracles, if you knew who walked beside you at all times on the path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.

plenary, yesterday.

Makarfi said that his committee made rigorous investigations into the allegation, but could not see how Sanusi arrived at the missing money.

“The committee could not see how the figure of $49.8billion was arrived at by the (former) CBN Governor in the first instance,” the Committee added.

It noted that the total crude oil liftings between January 2012 and July 2013 was $67 billion and not $65 billion as the suspended CBN Governor alleged.

“There was nothing like unremitted $49.8 billion.

All the agencies-CBN, NNPC, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources had agreed after reconciliation meetings that $47 billion out of the $67 billion had been credited to the Federation Account. The amount to be accounted for, therefore was $20 billion,” the committee observed.

Sanusi had claimed in his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that $49.8 billion from crude oil revenue was missing, prompting nationwide outrage.

However, the Makarfi Committee’s report cleared the NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum of any shady deals and directed the NNPC and the Ministry of Finance as well as other relevant agencies to reconcile another $300 million.

The committee observed that $ 5.254 billion PMS subsidy claims certified by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, as part of the $20 billion to

be accounted for was adequately covered by the Appropriation Acts of 2012 and 2013.

The committee’s report further noted that the “CBN Governor at the first hearing had put forward the figure of $12 billion as monies to be reconciled and changed his position to $20 billion at subsequent hearing.

In the conclusion of his written submission, that it could be $20 billion, $12 billion, $10.8 billion or anything in between, the CBN Governor orally or in writing never outrightly submitted that monies were missing but that monies were not re-

mitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC. The report further recommended the immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke continues to sanitise the industry.

It equally recommended the abolition of subsidy regime, saying, “there is the need for the subsidy regime to be totally discontinued with.

“All stakeholders should be consulted and carried along as much as possible before abolishing the subsidy,” it added.

CHIBOK GIRLS: Presidency, US slam Defence Chief Continues from page 1 the location of the schoolgirls, abducted by the Boko Haram Islamic sect on April 14.

Badeh’s claim has also reportedly incurred the wrath of the Presidency.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, yesterday, that, "we don’t have independent information from the United States to support that statement.

We, as a matter of policy and for the girls’ safety and wellbeing, would not discuss publicly this sort of information regardless.”

Five U.S. and European security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had no credible information on the location of the girls and were skeptical that the Nigerian government knew where they were. The five officials said the United States and some European allies had provided technical intelligence, including information from spy aircraft and satellites, to Nigerian authorities, who lack such intelligence capabilities.

But the officials said that as far as they knew, technical intelligence systems had not produced precise or credible

information establishing the girls’ location.

The five officials said that if the Nigerians had obtained such information from informants on the ground, it has not been shared with U.S. and allied agencies.

One impediment to finding the girls, the officials said, was that since their abduction, they had been divided into small groups. Boko Haram is also believed to be hiding them in densely forested terrain where it would be hard for modern technical intelligence systems to gather information.

Presidency angry with CDS

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, has reportedly incurred the wrath of the Presidency over his claim that the military has sighted the 270 schoolgirls seized from their dormitories in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists last month.

President Jonathan, it was learnt last night, was unhappy with the claim by the defence chief, which he considered as a breach of military tactics capable of hindering the move to free the chil-

dren, who have been in the kidnappers’ den since last month.

Meanwhile, Air Marshal Badeh declared, yesterday, that the military was now fighting a bigger battle with the international terrorist organisation known as Al Qaeda with networks in North and West Africa, noting that the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency war has gone beyond Boko Haram A top Presidency source told Vanguard last night that Jonathan considered the CDS’ claim on the missing schoolgirls as an unnecessary outburst, which could frustrate ongoing efforts by the multinational team currently in the country to rescue the girls.

Counter-productive

The source, which did not want to be quoted, said President Jonathan was still at a loss as to why Badeh made the statement at a time he was expected to be more cautious over the contentious issue, which is generating interest across the globe.

“Indeed the President is really upset over the claim and we do not know what will happen,” the source said but did not give further details.

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6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Man, 25, docked for raping 18-yr-old girl

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — A 25-year-old man, Nurudeen Sulaimon, was yesterday, arraigned before an Abeokuta magistrate's court sitting in Isabo for allegedly raping an 18-year-old girl.

The prosecutor, Sunday Eigbejiale, told the court that the accused and others at large, reportedly raped the victim and then snatched her N20,000 as well as a Nokia handset valued at N7,000.

Eigbejiale also said the offence was committed at 4, Ita Bayingbo Junction, Ijemo, Abeokuta on May 18, 2014, adding that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Sections 516(a)(1), 357, and 390(9) Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun State, 2006.

The Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case, Bukola Odewunmi, attached to the state Criminal Investigation Department at Eleweran also informed the court that the victim was forcefully taken on a motorcycle to the accused’s house in collaboration with others at large and raped the victim.

Odewunmi added that the victim’s parents told her that their daughter was still in the hospital receiving treatment.

The accused person, who is facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, rape and theft did not have his plea taken by the magistrate, Martins Akinyemi.

Counsel to the acussed, however, prayed the court to grant bail to his client in most liberal term, saying the others who are at large are the prime suspects.

The prosecutor did not object to the application.

Magistrate Martins Akinyemi granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till October 10, 2014.

Confusion as traffic officers, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC, personnel struggle to arrest a commercial motorcyclist at popular Aroma junction in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Jos blasts: UNIJOS students mourn departed colleagues

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS — STUDENTS of the University of Jos, UNIJOS, yesterday came out in their numbers to mourn their colleagues who lost their lives in the twin bomb blasts at Terminus area of Jos, last week.

The students, who had declared the day lecture free, dressed in black, carried placards and walked round the main campus of the institution singing dirges and in tears, urged those in authority to do all that it takes to put an end to bombing, insecurity, kidnapping and terrorism plaguing the country.

Addressing the students, Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths and Students Matters, Jude Imagwe, who is also an alumnus of the institution, sympathised with the students over the losses and urged them to continue praying for the nation.

Imagwe, who was in the institution as a representative of President Jonathan, described as unfortunate the incidents which claimed the students’ lives.

Remain calm, be united

He, however, appealed to the students to “remain calm, be united” and continue praying that the efforts of the President in bringing terrorism to an end be fruitful.

The SA also urged Nigerians to have faith in the military and give them every support needed in fighting the war against “these enemies of Ni-

Some students of the University of Jos, yesterday. geria.”

However, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, who also addressed the students, said the entire university community mourns the death of the students.

According to him, “ we are concerned with the students’ welfare and we are all mourning as a result of this incident.

We call on all citizens to be united and patriotic so that the country will progress. We should keep praying for the government to succeed in bringing this evil to an end.”

Earlier, the President of the Student Union Government, SUG, Comrade William Lar, said the students were sad at the loss of their colleagues at the time their parents were

looking forward to reaping the fruits of their labour.

Lar called on the students to bond together, focus on their studies and trust God that none of them will be victim to the senseless termination of human lives again.

Group condemns bombings

Similarly, the Jos Forum of the Centre for Human Development, a Swiss-based non-governmental organistaion, has condemned the various bomb blasts in Jos. In a statement in Jos and signed by Messrs Bankole Falade, Chairman, Yoruba Steering Committee; Zacch Nwankpa, for Ndigbo; Mr. Isha Nyam, for Afizere; Aminu

Agwom, for Anaguta; Dr. Jonah Madugu for Berom, and Salim Musa Umar, representing Fulani Steering Committee, the group enjoined all communities to remain calm and desist from any acts that may disrupt the peace the state had enjoyed for the past two years.

The statement said: “The forum condemns in strong terms the senseless bomb blasts in the Terminus market in Jos that led to the loss of lives and left many injured. The forum expresses its deepest sympathy to the government and people of Plateau State and extends its heartfelt condolences to those families who have lost relatives, friends and loved ones."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 7

Lagos task-force arrests 200 SURE-P federal task-force officials

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS — NO fewer than 200 officials of the Sure-P Federal Task Force have been arrested by the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences in their training ground at the old Lagos toll gate and taken to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja.

According to reports, officials of the Lagos Task Force tried to arrest a vehicle plying the BRT lane at Ketu area but the driver diverted the vehicle into the premise of Federal Task Force on the way to Alausa.

In the process of trying to get the vehicle back, officials of the Federal Task Force allegedly mobilised and attacked the policemen with planks, bottles and beat up the few officers, inflicting injuries on them.

The Lagos State Task Force, led

by Chief Superintendent of Police Bayo Sulaiman, went for a reinforcement and stormed the area with armed policemen, leading to mayhem. The policemen used teargas to disperse and overwhelm men of the Federal Task Force, leading to arrest of over 200 of them.

We were attacked with bottles

Speaking to newsmen, Sulaiman said the Federal Task Force attacked his men with dangerous weapons, stressing that there was no way a taskforce could take over the function of the Police.

He said: "They beat up our men and held them hostage. We will not allow them to take over our function. We arrested close to 100 of them. If we allow this to go unchecked, it will be worse next time."

He said his men were attacked with bottles as one of them was beaten with plank and serious injuries inflicted on him while other officers were also wounded.

When interrogated, the driver of the vehicle that sparked off the trouble, Timothy Uko, said he did not know any member of the Federal Task Force but that he decided to park close to their office and beg the Policemen who arrested him in order not to create traffic snarl.Uko was allegedly beaten up by the Policemen for fuelling the crisis.

One of the Federal Task Force officials, who was on queue, collapsed and was rushed to the hospital by the taskforce officials.

Most of the federal taskforce officials, who spoke with our reporter, said they were wrongly arrested and that they were not among those who attacked the policemen.

One of the leaders of the federal taskforce, Aminu Kazeem, C M Y K

AREPO EXPLOSION: Police dispatch search teams for missing Policemen

BY EVELYN USMAN

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A cross section of the arrested Sure-P Federal Task Force, yesterday. said he was inside the premises when the policemen stormed the area and arrested him and his colleagues, but could not tell if some of his men attacked police-

men.

Mr Adeyemi Adeshina, an engineer, who claimed to be the Deputy Director in the Federal Road Maintenance Agency,

FERMA, and working at the taskforce yard, said he was inside when the Policemen came and arrested him.

Man dies after fight with lover's husband

A

BA— TRAGEDY struck at Umuode community in Osisioma Ngwa council area of Abia State when a middle aged man identified as Hanson Jacob lost his life four days after his lover's husband attacked him with an iron rod.

The incident, which took place at 49, Umuode Road, Aba, was said to have led to some neighbours fleeing the area for fear of Police arrest.

It was gathered that Mr. Aro Frank, who hails from Ishiagu in Ebonyi State, has been suspecting his wife, Chika, and the deceased of having extra-marital affair which became a common

gossip in the neighbourhood.

Frank was said to have warned his wife on several occasions but the latter denied having any affair with the deceased.

A resident of the area told our correspondent: "It is like Frank has been monitoring his wife and her lover. It was also possible that somebody alerted him. That day, he suddenly returned home unannounced and caught his wife and her lover in the room making love.

"The man attacked Hanson with an iron rod and inflicted several injuries on him. Hanson was heavily hit that he couldn't walk and was later taken to the hospi-

tal while the husband and the wife handed themselves over to Police at Osisioma Ngwa Division after the incident."

It was further gathered that Hanson, who was admitted at the Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), died four days later.

Contacted, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim, who confirmed Hanson's death, added that Frank and his wife were already in police net.

He disclosed that Police were still investigating the incident.

AGOS — THE Police, yes terday, began the search for their men who were declared missing, weekend, during a crossfire with pipeline vandals at Arepo area of Ogun State.

This came as the Police faulted claims that the men were dead, challenging those who are of that opinion to provide the corpses as proof for their claim.

As at yesterday, some policemen, according to the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, were currently combing the creeks where the incident happened for the missing men, explaining that rescue operation was initially hampered because of the inferno.

Vanguard gathered that the fire went off yesterday on its own, four days after the pipeline was shut down by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. It would be recalled that some policemen attached to the Inspector-General of Police Task Force on Anti Pipeline Vandalism, who got wind of vandals' operation in Arepo, stormed the area apparently to effect their arrest.

But the vandals said to have sighted the Policemen from afar, opened fire which was repelled by the operatives, in the process of which bullets were said to have penetrated the steel frame of the pipeline and resulted in an explosion.

Four policemen were said to have been rescued while the whereabouts of others are still unknown.

The Force Headquarters, as learnt, will issue a statement on the incident today.

Police arrest protesting Poly, COE students in Lagos

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BY LAJU ARENYEKA

AGOS — STUDENTS of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education embarked on a protest in Lagos, yesterday, to bemoan the prolonged strike by their lecturers.

The protest, however, turned sour when policemen fired shots into the air, beat up and arrested some of the protesters.

The placard-carrying protesters, about 1,000 in number, gathered under the aegis of the Concerned Citizens Against Education Commercialization, COSATEC, consisted mostly of students from Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, and Federal College of Technology, FCE, Akoka, members of the

Education Rights Campaign, ERC, and other concerned youths.

According to Tola Femi Ogunleye, one of the protesting students: "The grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, are not at all unreasonable.

"They are for the betterment of the educational system. This is why we are calling on the Federal Government to meet those demands. We condemn the Federal Government's lackadaisical attitude towards resolving the strike."

Dada Idris, General Secretary of COSATEC, told Vanguard: "I just graduated but I cannot

commence my National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, until the strike is called off. It is just so sad that government is spending billions on Boko Haram but has totally forgotten the leaders of tomorrow."

Beginning as a small gathering at about 10.00 a.m at the YABATECH gate, the crowd grew speedily during their sojourn, chanting solidarity songs like "Education is our right" and "Solidarity forever."

Within the space of two hours, the crowd had brought traffic in the Yaba environs to a standstill, with hundreds of commuters spending as much as an hour on a typical 10 minute drive. It was then that Policemen intervened.

Olusoga Oderinu, a student of Yaba College of Technology told Vanguard: "There was no reason for the Police to arrest us.

We were in a peaceful procession trying to leave Yaba for Third Mainland Bridge when policemen accosted us around Adekunle bus stop.

"They said we were blocking the road and started shooting into the air and throwing teargas canisters at us. They beat us with their batons and arrested about 50 of us, including some journalists and ordered us into a Black Maria. Some of my friends are bleeding from the rough handling."

However, none of the protesters was detained as those arrested were later released.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

ILO seeks decent jobs for 232m migrants

F E MEETING :

BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE

W

ITH about 232 million migrant workers crossing borders in search of jobs, the International Labour Organisation, ILO, member countries, including Nigeria, have taken steps to guarantee decent work even as the organisation called for an end to forced labour.

Nigeria hosts a number of migrant workers, especially in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the 103rd session of the organisation's conference with the theme Building a future with Decent Work, which opened in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday, ILO Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder, said although migration has “the potential to contribute very considerably to growth and development, it continues in too many cases to be associated with unacceptable treatment and abuse of some of those who are the most vulnerable women and men in our labour markets.”

He noted that forced labour “is big business“ with its profit estimated at about 150 billion US Dollars annually.

“There are today 21 million victims of forced labour in the world,” he added.

The conference is also focusing on unemployment and its social consequences.

Nigeria’s Labour and Productivity Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu, who is leading the government delegation to the conference is also expected to speak on Nigeria’s migration policy.

In his message to the conference, Pope Francis said: “The sheer number of men and women forced to seek work away from their homelands is a cause for concern.

“Despite their hopes for a better future, they frequently encounter mistrust and exclusion to say nothing of experiencing tragedies and disasters.”

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From left— Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke; DirectorGeneral, Bureau for Public Procurement, Emeka Eze; Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, and Minister of State, Power, Mohammed Wakili, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Terrorists kill 51, injure 12, raze village in Borno attacks

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI— BOKO Haram Islamist sect, yesterday, killed 51 persons and injured 12 others in separate attacks in Borno State.

In one of the attacks on Gurmushi village in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, the terrorists killed 42 persons and set the entire village ablaze, leaving many of the villagers displaced and taking refuge in Cameroon.

Marte is a border community with Chad and Cameroon, which had witnessed deadly attacks in recent times, including the military offensive on some terrorists camps along the Lake Chad Basin, where many of the terrorists were killed last year.

Marte is north and about 160 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Residents' accounts

A resident, Mallam Abacha Umar, said: “Gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists, invaded our village (Gurmushi) killing over 40 people, while 12 others sustained injuries. They also set the village on fire.”

Another resident, who does not want his name in print, told newsmen on phone that the gunmen stormed the village in the early hours of yesterday and started shooting sporadically, killing dozens of people and setting houses ablaze.

He said: “I counted over 40 corpses, while the village was razed down completely and most of us ran into the bush for safety.”

Another resident, who spoke to the BBC Hausa Service monitored in Maiduguri by 3p.m. yesterday, said she fled from the village to neighbouring Cameroon, adding that 42 people were killed, while the 12 injured people were

receiving treatment at a Cameroonian hospital close to the border.

She said they had all fled the village to Cameroon for fear of another attack from the Boko Haram terrorists as, according to her, they have intensified their attacks in the area in recent times.

Efforts to get the spokesman of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col Muhammed Dole and Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jibrin, for confirmation did not yield any result as their phones were switched off at press time.

The terrorists also carried out another attack yesterday morning on Amuda and Arbokko border villages killing nine people, before torching dozens of houses and shops.

The invasion

Boko Haram members were said to have stormed the villages in Toyota Hilux

President Jonathan, Ihedioha condole with Vanguard Publisher over death of his mum

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, condoled with the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka, over the death of his mother, Mrs. Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, and the Chairman of National Conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, who lost his wife yesterday.

The President, in his condolence messages

prayed that “God Almighty will comfort both families and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of the matriarchs who played very commendable roles in improving the lives of their family members and communities.”

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, also condoled with the Publisher and the entire Amuka-Pemu family on the passing away of Mrs. AmukaPemu.

He said: “Mama lived an exemplary life and the best way to honour her is to uphold her legacy of virtuous living as a loving matriarch, community heroine and a devout religious faithful, who impacted positively on so many lives in her generation and those after her.”

Jonathan also commiserated with Governor Ibrahim Dankwan-bo and the people of Gombe State over the death of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar.

vehicles, motorcycles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier.

This is coming barely few hours after Cameroon deployed about 1,000 troops to border communities in North-Eastern Nigeria.

The two border villages are about 128 kilometres SouthEast of Maiduguri, the state capital.

Eyewitnesses say the gunmen came through the 16-kilometre Kughum Pulka border road by 2a.m., and stormed the two neigbouring villages, firing gunshots at residents who fled into farmlands and bushes at Mandara mountains.

‘They're after males'

Pirda Takweshe, a resident of Amuda, who escaped to Pulka yesterday said: “I cannot imagine how I escaped last night’s attack.

“It was God that saved my life; otherwise I would have been shot dead in my burnt house.

“The gunmen are after male who try to challenge them in what they claimed to be ‘ work of God’.

“Two of my neighbours were shot in the back and leg, while they were fleeing their houses.”

Another eyewitness from Arbokko also told newsmen that most of the villagers fled into the hill, but that some were shot dead as they attempted to prevent the attackers from razing their houses with petrol bombs and explosives.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation at press time, but a top security source confirmed the two incidents.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 —9

Four more Chibok girls reappear

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief & LAIDE AKINBOADE

F

OUR of the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Chibok, Borno State, over a month ago have reunited with their parents.

The state Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo disclosed this when he made a presentation before the Presidential Fact Finding Committee on Chibok attack last week in Maiduguri.

Kubo, who appeared before the committee on Friday at its sitting in Maiduguri, said the four girls were discovered after Governor Kashim Shettima directed the Ministry of Education to open data pages for families of all the girls, which should include names and pictures of the girls, class, age, including the pictures of parents.

It was during the data capturing and visits to parents that it was discovered that four girls, who were among those declared missing, had reunited with their parents but the parents failed to inform the school authority.

The commissioner was said

to have been furious with the parents for keeping the government in the dark.

The four girls are believed to be amongst those that escaped into the bush and lost direction during the attack.

Still missing

Kubo told the committee that with the discovery of the four girls, 219 were still missing.

He informed the committee that after the April 14 attack on the school, the state government had made series of announcements calling on parents whose daughters might have ran home, following the attack, to bring them back so the government could take record to ascertain the number of missing girls.

Many parents brought back their kids, while others that escaped from captivity were also returned to the school.

276 girls were initially said to have been attacked based on reports by the Borno State Police Commissioner and the State Director of Department of State Services. Of this, 53 were found and 228 were missing.

However, with the four girls

found, the number of those missing stands at 219, while the rescued ones are 57

Abduction not pr e-arranged

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Mr. Bana Lawal, insisted yesterday that the abduction of the girls was not pre-arranged as insinuated by some people.

The local government boss, who spoke through his representative, Mr. Musa Kolo, at stakeholders validation meeting of draft Humanitarian Response Plan for Chibok, in Abuja, yesterday, said that the abduction “though it sounds unbelievable, was not prearranged as alleged in some quarters.

“It was not pre-arranged.

The whole village of over 100,000 people cannot lie.

The terrorists have trucks, lorries and they move in a large number of over 2,000 at time.”

‘Location of girls not news’

The council boss also said that the location of the girls was not news as the vigilante

had earlier told the public that they saw the girls, but could not rescue them owing to the insurgents' sophisticated weapons.

He said: “There is no secret about the location of the girls. Everybody knows that the girls are in Sambisa forest and a lot of people have spotted them.

“It is not news, but the security fear is how to rescue them without any collateral damage and who is going to take responsibility if anything goes wrong.”

He admitted, however, that the Nigerian security forces were doing their best but that they were being hampered by several factors, including misinformation and the number of the Boko Haram fighters.

He said: “The security agencies are trying. Any time we call on them, they respond. At times there were false calls and they have been ambushed and killed.

“So the security put lot of things into consideration before they move.”

He said the community that lost two parents of the abducted girls has continued to wait for the girls' safe return.

2016 census to cost N100bn

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA— NATIONAL P o p u l a t i o n Commission, NPC, yesterday, disclosed that it would need about N100 billion to conduct the 2016 national population census.

Chairman of the commission, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, also insisted that insecurity would not disrupt the conduct of the exercise.

Duruiheoma, who revealed this in a press conference on the imperative of the census, in Abuja, said the money would cover the pre census, census and post census exercises.

He said: “We are still working on the cost, but I can tell you that from what we are looking at, about one hundred billion naira (N100 billion) is realistic for the 2016 census.

“The exercise will not only be done on the ground, but also in the air.”

36 defected APC Reps petition NJC

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

TRIBUTE: From left— Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Lady Doja Otedola, widow of late Sir Micheal Otedola, former Governor of Lagos State, at the state's tribute for Sir Otedola in Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTOS: Akeem Salau.

A From left— Real Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ojuolape Ojora, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, Mrs Nana Otedola and Mr. Femi Otedola at the event.

INEC to extend deadline on issuance of voters card

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

A

BUJA—THE Senate has directed Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend issuance of permanent voter cards by two weeks.

This was its resolution yesterday, following a motion sponsored by Senator Ita Enang, PDP, Akwa Ibom NorthEast and 107 other senators.

The motion, tagged Distribution of Permanent Voters Cards by Independent National Electoral Commission in Selected States and Matters Arrising, drew the attention of the Red Chamber to what he referred to as preferential C M Y K

treatment of the national electoral umpire in the distribution of voters’ permanent cards.

Presenting the motion through the Deputy Majority Leader, Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, Senator Ita Enang explained that INEC conducted the distribution of the permanent cards in some states between the 23rd and 25th of May 2014, but lamented that the process was faced with series of problems.

Enang, in the motion, listed corruption of the central processing system by virus which resulted in the exclusion of the names of

some voters from the published voters list and the non-production of the cards for them as major problems to the smooth conduct of the 2015 poll.

Enang said the motion was brought to Senate because of the experiences of last weekend.

He said cases of data loss were recorded in Enugu, Benue and Akwa Ibom states, adding that everybody captured in the affected system were not issued cards because their names were not there, saying it should not be concentrated in the state capital but a continuous process.

He observed that the time given for the distribution of the cards was too short and that the publicity given by INEC for the distribution was not sufficient.

He observed that most of the voters do not live within the areas where they registered for the card and were not able to collect them within the limited time and that those that were not distributed within the period had been returned to local council headquarters.

He added that about 200,000 registered voters in Akwa Ibom and 600,000 in Benue states, respectively, could not find their cards.

BUJA— THE 36 former members of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the House of Representatives, who moved to All Progressives Congress, APC, on December 18, 2013, have submitted a petition against Justice Adeniyi Ademola of Federal High Court, Abuja, to National Judicial Council, NJC. A copy of the petition obtained by Vanguard indicated that the document, signed by the lawmakers, was submitted to NJC on May 13, 2014.

According to the petition, Justice Ademola was dragged before NJC for acts of judicial misconduct while adjudicating on suit FHC/ABJ/CS/4/2014 filed by PDP to challenge defection of its former members in the House of Representatives.

10 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Lagos denies placing ‘total embargo’ on employment

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

AGOS—LAGOS State Government yesterday said there was no total embargo on employment into the state public service, saying between 2013 and now, about 2,589 persons were employed by the state government.

Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams, at a briefing in Alausa, said the 2,589 employees were in the internal auditor cadre, the teaching service, medical service among others, as special areas of dire need to render service to the general public.

She said the public service reform was ongoing in the state as the state was collaborating with the United Kingdom, Department for International Development, DFID, through its partnership for accountability, Responsiveness and Capability, to drive for professionalism as articulated through the public service management to transform the department of Finance and Administration, into Human Resources and Administration department.

Valedictory session for GOK Ajayi

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS—THE bar and the bench yesterday, in Lagos state, held a valedictory session for legal icon, and foremost activist, late Chief Godwin Ajayi, SAN, extolling his qualities.

Speakers at the session recalled his progressive ideals, apart from defending several individuals and groups on pro bono.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos state Mr Ade Ipaye, said Ajayi, fought in defence of human rights and upheld societal ideals.

He said GOK, as he was fondly called, fought a remarkable fight in defence of progressives and progressive ideas.

According to him, GOK was at one time or the other, a counsel to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief MKO Abiola, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Alhaji Shugaba Darma, and General Zamani Lekwot.

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Fashola, Tinubu, Jakande, Dangote, others eulogise Otedola...My father was honourable till death – DAUGHTER

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & JONAH NWOKPOKU

L

AGOS—AS the preparation for the final burial of former Governor of Lagos State, Sir, Micheal Otedola, began yesterday, his daughter, Mrs. Lola Idaho, described her late father as a trustworthy and honourable man, till death.

This came as Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, disclosed that one of the sons of the deceased, Mr. Femi Otedola, in collaboration with the state government, would institute a scholarship scheme for indigent students with a N1 billion take-off grant, aimed at enhancing educational development in the state.

Lola Idaho, spoke on behalf of the children of the deceased, at ‘A day of Tributes’ in honour of Sir Otedola at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, which had in attendance immediate former Governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, represented by Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, a former deputy governor of the state, among others.

Also, in attendance were former

...Son pledges N1bn scholarship scheme military administrators of Lagos State, Brig-Gen Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, rtd, former governors of Lagos and Ekiti states; Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Mr. Niyi Adebayo, respectively, Deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former deputy governor of the state, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Senator Gbenga Ashafa among others.

Sir Micheal Otedola, the second executive governor of the state, ruled between 1991 and 1992. He died on May 5th, 2014 at 88 years, in his hometown, Odoragushin, Epe Local Government Area.

He will be buried tomorrow, Friday May 30th, 2014.

Speaking, Idaho said “My Daddy was a father, a friend and that was why we have anchored our tribute today on ‘Father.’ My daddy was a ‘friend, he was very attentive to all his relatives and children. He was a good listener. He had a wealth of wisdom. He always had a word to say to every

Ambode, a bonafide Epe indigene — LISA OF EPE BYDAPOAKINREFON

L

AGOS—THE controversy trailing the indi geneship of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Lagos State for the 2015 elections, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, was yesterday, laid to rest by the Olisa of Epe, High Chief Korede Kareem Alaolu, who insisted Ambode, was a bonafide Epe indigene.

The Olisa at a briefing in Lagos said the clarification became imperative following reports claiming Ambode was not an Epe indigene and, therefore not qualified to contest for such a political position in the state.

He spoke at the event attended by the Oresanya family of Epe, which included Pa Lateef Anifowose (Baba Ogunnde), the Olokun of Epeland; Chief Kayode Lateef; an uncle of Ambode, Mr. Johnson Ademola Oresanya, among others.

PENGASSAN suit adjourned

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in La gos, yesterday, adjourned till June 5 for hearing in a case against the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Lagos zone, over alleged denial of members’ rights.

John Nwanosike and Jonathan Omare, both members of the Chevron branch of the association, instituted the suit by an affidavit of urgency on May 26.

They are praying the court to restrain the defendants from holding any delegates conference, pending the hearing of the substantive suit before the court.

Other defendants in the suit are the Chevron branch of PENGASSAN, Mr Esanubi Frank and Mr Ayanate Kio. When the case was called yesterday, counsel to PENGASSAN, informed the court of a pending motion of preliminary objection to the suit.

one of us. He was very trustworthy, anything committed into his hands, one was assured that it was safe. He was honourable even till death.

On N1bn scholarship scheme

Speaking on plans to continue with late Otedola’s legacy, Fashola, who explained that the programme was organised to celebrate the achievements of late Otedola with a view to drawing inspiration to further move the state forward, noted that Femi, his son had committed a sum of N1 billion to ensure that his philanthropist gesture live after his death.

Tributes

On the exemplary leadership of the deceased, Fashola said he was a great leader who did so much to promote the interest of the state and its people, saying “The late Otedola`s strong convictions even in the face of uncertainties made him even more remarkable. In my view, it is the idea behind his foray into politics that endures be-

yond his physical contributions, an idea that every generation must borrow from.The idea that nothing is impossible and that convictions and hard work can make dreams possible.

“His choice of the sobriquet 'Centre of Excellence' for the state when he was governor reflected his hunger for excellence.”

Fashola expressed appreciation to his widow, Lady Doja, and the rest of the family for allowing the state government to be part of what ordinarily should be a family funeral programme.

On his part, Alhaji Jakande, described Otedola‘s demise as a great loss, “we can never forget his immense contributions to the development of Lagos State.”

For Alhaji Dangote, the deceased was a man of dignity who did so much to touch the lives of Lagos residents.

Other activities continue today, with the lying-in-state at his Epe, Odoragunshin residence, from 2.40 p.m, while Christian wakekeep will hold at the same venue from 4.00 p.m. same day.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 11

Ogun clarifies debt profile, says it owes N37.9bn

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

A

B E O K U TA — O G U N State government yesterday said the debt it owed banks stood at N37.9 billion, contrary to the report that it owed over N200 billion. It equally said it had accessed only N5 billion out of the N29.3 billion the state House of Assembly approved as loans that

could be accessed in this year’s Appropriation Law. The government, however, said it had achieved a budget performance of 61.87 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

Commissioner for Finance, Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and Planning counterpart, Oluwande Muoyo spoke at a joint press briefing.

According to Adeosun, the state’s bank debt and obliga-

tions had risen from N35.66billion as at December 2013 to N37.9billion by the end of March this year, saying “The management of our debt to comply with debt sustainability recommendations of the World Bank and other policy makers is a key objective of this administration. In the interest of consistency, I shall restate the figures presented to the House of Assembly in January

Ogun APC crisis: Osoba, others host loyalists

BY SEGUN OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA —FOR the second time in a month, former governor of Ogun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba and some party chieftains will today hold a consultative meeting with his loyalists on the crisis rocking the ruling party in Ogun State.

Osoba had early this month upon his arrival from London, met with his supporters and for the first time since the APC in the state conducted parallel congresses, opened up on the crisis in the ruling party.

The former governor had also used the occasion to clear the air about certain allegations leveled against him by Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his supporters.

The parallel congresses had produced two State Executive Committees of the party with either of them loyal to the governor and Osoba, respectively.

Vanguard gathered that during today’s consultative meeting, Osoba, other party leaders and his supporters would review the last APC National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja where the issue of the parallel congresses conducted in the state was discussed.

The Osoba group is also expected to reach a consensus today on the next line of action pending the action of the committee set up by the APC NEC to look into the parallel congresses conducted by the party in the state.

The consultative meeting is also expected to serve as a platform for the APC leader to react to recent claims by Governor Amosun that he had done so much to please him.

The State Publicity Secretary of the Osoba faction of the APC, Clement Adeniyi confirmed today’s consultative meeting with the former governor.

of this year which was bank debt of N35.66bn as at December 2013. This has increased marginally to N37.9bn as at March 2014.”

The finance commissioner however, assured that the state government would not “materially increase borrowings” this year, adding, “In the 2014 appropriation law, the House of Assembly approved that the government can source N29.3billion in loans.

To date, we have accessed just 5billion of this as contractor finance obligations.”

She lamented that the persistent drop in federal allocation had constituted a strain on the finances of the state government, noting that the funds accruing to the state from the Federation account reduced by 26 per cent, falling from an average of N5.01 billion in September last year to N3.83billion as at March 2014.

The finance commissioner however said but for the increase in the state’s internally generated revenue of N4.64 billion which exceeded N4.11 billion Federal Allocation, the state would have found it hard to “ weather the current challenging financial climate better than would have otherwise been the case.”

Aregbesola assures Osun workers of job security

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—Osun State government yes terday, again, restated that Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in the state, had no intention to sack or retrench workers despite the paucity of fund being witnessed across the nation.

It insisted that it would rather embark on training and retraining of all categories of workers in its service.

Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, spoke in Osogbo while declaring open a Train-theTrainers workshop with the theme Project: Water Education for Teachers, WET, organized for some selected public school teachers in the state by the Osun State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB in conjunction with Nestle Nigeria Limited and Starbright Nigeria Limited.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, who said the state government had placed teachers’ welfare among its priorities, said prompt payment of workers’ salary, including teachers, remained the hallmark of the present administration.

According to her, the state government would not relent in providing infrastructure and teaching aids in schools.

Earlier, Chairman of SUBEB, Prince Felix Awofisayo, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the board, Mr. Fatai Kolawole, commended the efforts of the state government in uplifting the standard of education in the state.

... approves N108m for plantain mills Meanwhile, the state government has approved over N108 million for the construction of three plantain mills to boost productivity, an official said yesterday in Osogbo.

The Director of Produce, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply, Mr Joseph Adeniyi, said Governor Aregbesola had given approval for the establishment of the mills.

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Lagos swears in 12 new magistrates

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS—TEN women were among the welve magistrates sworn in yesterday by the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayoola Philips at Ikeja.

The new appointment increased the number of magistrates in the state judiciary to 119.

As it is now, there are 88 women magistrates in the bench of the lower level of the state judiciary, as against their 30 male counterparts.

In her remarks, the Chief Judge said the appointment became necessary to augment existing magistrates in efforts by the government to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, as well as decongest the courts.

According to her, “Your appointment was done to decongest the courts and ensure speedy and prompt dispensation of justice especially in relation to inmates awaiting trial in our prisons.”

Expressing her confidence in the magistrates, she said, “I believe you would excel at your duty having been selected from the best crop of learned minds who applied.”

Ondo Assembly extends tenure of LG chiefs

A

KURE—ONDO State House of Assembly yesterday extended the tenure of 18 local government Caretaker Chairmen by six months.

The motion for extension was moved at plenary by the Majority Leader in the Assembly, Mr Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, who represents Ondo West Constituency II in the assembly.

The motion was seconded by Mr Banso Adeyinka who represents Akoko North West Constituency I. Akinsoyinu said the motion for extension followed the request from the governor for the extension of the tenure of interim caretaker chairmen in the state.

He said the extension of the tenure of the chairmen became imperative given its expiration yesterday.

12— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Robbers kill 2 policemen, 2 others in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—TWO policemen and two staff of a new generation bank were killed, yesterday, at Igwuruta Roundabout in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State by some heavily armed robbers.

Confirming the incident, the Assistant Police spokesperson in the state, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the two civilians were the driver of the vehicle in which they were killed and a senior staff of the bank.

She said the vehicle was

heading to the Port Harcourt International Airport with the policemen on escort duty when they were attacked.

She said: “Two policemen, the driver of the van and a

senior staff of the bank were those killed by the robbers.

They were on their way to the airport from a bank when the incident happened. We are investigating the incident to

track down those behind it.”

Eye witnesses said the gunmen laid ambush for the vehicle which was conveying cash. According to some of them who spoke to Vanguard, the

gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, thus making it impossible for any of its occupant to escape.

The eye witnesses said the gunmen fled with a bag containing unspecified sum of money.

Boko Haram, world's deadliest terrorist group —Former US Counter Terrorism Bureau chief

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME ORT HARCOURT— FORMER Head, Counter Terrorism Bureau of the

P

United States, State Department, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,

described Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati WalJihad, commonly called Boko Haram as the deadliest terrorist group in the world, noting that it killed at least seven persons in each attack in the North eastern part of the country.

Speaking at the 2nd International conference on democracy and good governance in Port Harcourt, Ambassador Benjamin said that the Taliban in Afghanistan was next to the dreaded Boko Haram in rating of terrorist groups at the moment.

Benjamin who spoke at the programme organised by the Rivers State Government, said Boko Haram had

become a major problem in the country and some other neighbouring countries, adding that the situation was not as bad as it is in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said: “By 2012, Boko Haram was the second most deadly terrorist group in the world after Afghanistan’s Taliban as Taliban killed more people than Boko Haram.

Presently, Boko Haram is the deadliest terrorist group, killing at least seven persons per attack. Boko Haram has already become a major menace to countries such as Cameroun, Niger, as well as Chad. They are well funded and well armed.”

Professor Pat Utomi, at the event, harped on the values of democracy, saying that it confers legitimacy on political leadership.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi on his part called on Nigerians to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in coming elections, stressing that it was the only way the country could overcome some of its challenges.

Workers protest planned borrowing of N150m by council chairman

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — ACTIVITIES at the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, were yesterday, grounded as workers of the council thronged the streets of the Ughelli metropolis, protesting the alleged plan by the council chairman, Chief Friday Akpoyibo to borrow N150 million from a new generation bank (names withheld).

The workers, who matched from the council secretariat to the bank premises, called on the bank not to grant the loan, noting that the Chief Akpoyibo-

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led administration would soon come to an end since council elections would be held in October this year.

Led by the chairman of the council's Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Omohwo Ijolo, the workers lamented that they had not been paid salaries in the last three months.

Calling on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to come to their aid, the workers described the council chairman as being insensitive to their plight.

Efforts to reach the council chairman proved abortive at press time.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 13

Otokutu land crisis: Elders back community leader

BY EGUFEYAFUGBORHI

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ARRI—THE tension in Otokutu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State over the controversial seizure of public school land by the community leaders appeared to have died down as the council of elders has declared support for the community ’s President General, Chief Stephen Okonedo.

It will be recalled that tension heightened after a segment of the community accused Chief Okonedo of encroaching and selling communal land allocated years agotoOtokutuGrammarSchool and appropriating the proceeds for personal use.

In a statement by Maj. Obadatite Koveyan (rtd), the oldest man and six others, the Otokutu elders described those angeredbyOkonedo’sroleinthe Otokutu Grammar School land saga as bent on causing conflict to tear the community apart.

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Ize-Iyamu to Oshiomhole: PDP does not need to rig elections in Edo

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu group, which recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, assured Governor Adams Oshiomhole that the party will not rig next year’s elections, adding that there will be no need to do so as the party was solidly on ground to win elections in the state without resorting to rigging.

Ize-Iyamu, who addressed journalists at his campaign office in Benin, said in reference to the warning that those thinking of rigging next year's election should have a re-think because of its dare consequences, said: “The PDP does not need to rig the 2015/2016 elections as alleged by the governor. What we want is implementation of one man one vote.

“The same way we worked for him to win as governor in 2007 and 2012, is the same way we will work for PDP to win in Edo State.” He noted that the best way to secure political power was to develop the environment, hence their choice of the PDP. He also explained that their

decision to leave the APC for the PDP was due to lack of internal democracy in the party as well as the deceit and autocracy that characterised its leadership style.

On the visit of his group to Abuja while the ultimatum it gave to the governor had not elapsed, he said: “Our visit to Abuja was

not a secret. We went with the full knowledge of the governor and all that mattered in the state.

There was also the media in Abuja but we choose not to speak with them at the end of the meeting because we were still waiting for the governor.

“When we came back, we went

to the governor and he appealed to us to exercise patience and give him time to sort out our grievances. We gave him time and it will interest you to note that till date, we have not heard from the appeal panel that was set up to look into the various complaints.”

Edo youths protest non-appointment of representative into NDDC board

BY SIMONEBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY—PROTESTING Bini youths, yesterday, stormed the venue of the Edo State stakeholders meeting of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC in Benin City, Edo State and disrupted the event.

The youths, who have been protesting the non- appointment of the state representative on the board of the NDDC by President Goodluck Jonathan, stormed the venue of the meeting at 11a.m., forcing the participants to take to their heels.

Some of the participants, who

feared that they might be lynched by the youths, had to beg to be allowed to leave the venue unharmed.

However, the youths turned the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, venue of the event upside down.

The youths also stormed the Benin office of the NDDC after they left Bishop Kelly Centre and grounded activities in the complex. Staff of the commission were chased away before the gates were locked.

Iyamu Culture, who led the protest, argued that the stakeholders had no business meeting when NDDC

Commissioner was yet to be appointed for the state.

His words: “What we expect the stakeholders to do is to call on President Jonathan to appoint an NDDC representative for Edo and not to gather to speak about what will not be of benefit to us.

They are supposed to know that our state has been losing out when it comes to the development of the oil producing communities.

NDDC recently promised bumper packages for Niger Delta youths, but our youths cannot benefit from that package because we have no body representing our interest in the NDDC."

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Abakaliki Rice Mill Company sends SOS to Jonathan

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI — THE current leadership of Abakaliki Rice Mill Company has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps to address the illegal intrusion of Ebonyi State government into the affairs of the company to save it from extinction.

It should be recalled that Governor Martin Elechi had in a press conference to mark this year’s Democracy Day in the state, reiterated that his administration would not relent until it drove out the rice millers from their present location.

But in a statement issued in Abakaliki, chairman of the company, Deacon Joseph Ununu, who agreed that they were ready to implement the relocation order by the state government, insisted that they would act accordingly, only if the state government paid them adequate compensation commensurate with the magnitude of their individual and collective investment at the Rice Mill.

He stressed that the reason they were calling on President Jonathan to intervene in the matter was because of his good disposition to farmers and their pains, that a company which had contributed immensely to the growth of agriculture in the country was gradually fading away because of Governor Elechi’s insensitive posture to the plight of the people.

The statement read: “I want to use this medium to inform you, Mr. President that should anything happen to me from this date, Ebonyi State government and her illegally appointed four-man committee should be held responsible; security agencies in the country are hereby notified too. ”That on May 8, 2014, the four-man committee illegally appointed by the state government, hired cultists who invaded our company and caused destruction of property.

“That on May 24, 2014, the Nigeria Police from Ebonyi State police command, vide our petition, arrested a total of 14 armed robbers who perpetrated the act," among other accusations.

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Umeh blames insecurity on inordinate ambitions of politicians

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU — NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday, attributed the increasing level of insecurity in the country to the inordinate ambitions of some faceless politicians.

He said it was wrong for people to assess the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan using the current terrorism by the Islamist group, Boko Haram, as a yardstick, saying some Nigerian politicians instigated the ugly development to bring the country to negative global view.

The APGA Chairman, who reviewed the 15 years of uninterrupted democracy, told newsmen in Enugu that it was not the best of time for the country, following the threat to stability by the activities of insurgents.

He said: “There is no doubt that the various threats to security in this country are driven by inordinate ambition of faceless politicians in the country.

"We cannot forget completely that in 2010, before the general elections in 2011, some prominent politicians in this country threatened that if Jonathan ever became the President of this country, they would make the country

ungovernable.

"And since Jonathan became President in 2011, that threat has become a reality, the country is being destabilised, the President is hugely being distracted from pursuing his transformation agenda.

“As people try to associate Boko Haram with religious bigots, I have always seen it differently, that the spate of terrorism in this country is the handiwork of disgruntled politicians. It may be possible that some elements may

have been recruited to do that, but it has been a joke carried too far.

“We in APGA are calling on everybody for soul searching, sober reflection and sparing thoughts on what the future of the country portends. We are lucky to have had 15 years of uninterrupted democracy but certainly the signals are not encouraging.

"People have used their personal interests to drive public actions and this is not the way it is

done in civilised societies. When people’s personal interests are not guaranteed, they threaten the corporate existence of the nation.”

Umeh, however, urged politicians to accept that they had failed the country and unite with President Jonathan to find ways of moving the country out of its present challenges.

He noted that Nigerians would not continue to take excuses when very important issues that could unite the country were being trivialised with politics.

From left, Kachikwu Kandozie, Principal Accountant, Consumer Protection Council, CPC; Awoyera Peter, Lagos/South-West region grand prize winner; Asoanya Jerry, South-South/South East grand prize winner; Tony Okpanachi, Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Ltd; Aliyu Yelwa, Federal Capital Territory/North region grand prize winner; and Mayowa Okuyiga, Senior Executive Officer, Legal, Lagos State Lotteries Board, at the presentation of prizes to winners, during the Ecobank Card 4 Prizes Promo Grand Draw, in Lagos, yesterday.

Menace of herdsmen: Enugu group demands security summit

BY TONY EDIKE

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N U G U — U z o Uwani Professionals Association has called on the chairman of the local government, Cornel Onwubuya to as a matter of urgency convene a security summit in the council in order to find lasting solutions to criminal activities in the area.

Arising from their meeting, Wednesday, the group said the rate of armed robbery and frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and the natives had become very worrisome.

In a communiqué by its President and the Secretary, Chris Ezugwu and Okechukwu Enechi, respectively, the group lamented the number of persons the council had lost due to armed robbery and herdsmen attack.

The group said: “One Isaac Okoro, a hard working bus driver from Nkpunator was mindlessly gunned down at close range by men of the underworld. ”Eyewitnesses recounted that Okoro never challenged the robbers nor did he pose any threat to them when they pulled the trigger.

“He only followed his human survivalist instinct and at-

tempted to run away on sighting them. But those sons of hell, who have decided to bring darkness upon us, pulled the trigger on him.

“This horrific and senseless killing of Isaac Okoro brings

to the fore again our continued appeal to the relevant authorities to provide enough security on the roads. ”In the letters we wrote, we enjoined the police to increase police presence on the

road. We also identified black spots where these robbers usually carried out their nefarious activities and requested that the police put their men on pin-down on those spots."

...another urges Jonathan to wade into alleged disenfranchisement of voters

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—THE Nsukka Democratic Awareness Forum, NDAF, yesterday, called on President Gooduck Jonathan to direct the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to conduct proper voter’s registration in the state.

According to the group, the essence is to ensure that the people of Enugu North (Nsukka) senatorial zone are not disenfranchised in future elections.

It also demanded the immediate removal of the state Resident Electoral Commission, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, for allegedly failing to meet the expectations of the people in the voter’s registration.

It noted that Enugu North, which is one of the largest populated areas in the country, had suffered neglect in terms of the

number and quality of federal and state appointments in recent years.

“We, the Enugu North People, are feeling marginalised and that the tragedy of the lost voters register has compounded our woes,” Eze Williams Ezugwu, Eze Og-

bozara III of Opi Kingdom, said at a news briefing, yesterday.

He said every strategy to enfranchise the zone was being applied, knowing full well that the zone was currently agitating for the governorship position of the state come 2015.

New UNIZIK VC showers praises on Governing Council

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — THE newly elect ed vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, yesterday showered praises on the Air Vice Marshal Larry Koinyanled Governing Council which on Monday elected him, promised to follow due process in the discharge of his duties.

Ahaneku’s position ran counter to the argument of one of the contestants to the exalted

position, Professor Greg Nwakoby, who, on Tuesday, accused the Governing Council of bias, alleging that some council members demanded N60 million from him, despite the fact that he came first in the interview.

Speaking when members of the UNIZIK branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, paid him a courtesy call, Ahaneku promised to carry the entire university community and the stakeholders along in carrying in the discharge of his duties.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—15

AfDB fines Dutch firm N912m over NLNG bribery scandal

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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HE AFRICAN Development Bank, AfD, has imposed a fine of $5.7 million (N912 million) on a Dutch firm, Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. for its alleged involvement in bribe payments for Nigeria Liquefied Nat-

ural Gas, NLNG, contracts.

The fine was announced in a statement by the Bank Group, yesterday, entitled, 'ÁfDB charges Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. US $5.7 million in monetary sanction for corrupt practices.'

The Bank said, “Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. admits to cor-

rupt practices from 1995 until 2004 by affiliated companies in relation to the award of AfDB-financed services contracts for liquefied natural gas production plants on Bonny Island, Nigeria.

“The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on May 28, 2014, announced the conclusion

of a Negotiated Resolution Agreement with Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. following the company’s acceptance of the charge of corrupt practices by affiliated companies in an AfDB-financed project. A "As part of the Negotiated Resolution Agreement, the Bank’s

Atiku warns military, civilian authorities as Nigeria marks 15 years of democracy .Anenih says PDP's looking beyond2019

BY EMMANUELAZIKEN, Political Editor & HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — NIGERIA’S is marking 15 years of uninterrupted democracy today, the longest stretch of civilian rule since independence 53 years ago.

The celebration is, however, being marked on a sombre note across the country today on account of the spate of the insurgency waged by the Boko Haram Islamic sect which has killed more than 12,000 persons since 2009.

More than 200 school girls kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State are still under the custody of their abductors in a case that has showcased Nigeria

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However, despite the gloom, the political class was bouncy on Democracy Day eve with exhortations to Nigerians to hold on and hope for better days.

Among them were former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar and the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

While Atiku in a statement urged the political and military authorities to go the extra length to protect the country’s democracy, Anenih on his part affirmed that the country’s democracy would survive the current spate of insurgency.

Anenih equally said the ruling PDP was also looking beyond a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan ending in 2019.

Atiku in a statement issued by

his media office encouraged Nigerians to emulate the examples of statesmen and women like late MKO Abiola, Bola Ige, Kudirat Abiola and Gani Fawehinmi, whose lives were fully committed to democracy in Nigeria. All four persons died in the struggle for democracy.

“The responsibility for our country’s democracy lies with each and everyone of us,” Atiku said.

“We must participate actively in the process of governance, and ensure that the constitution and the rule of law are upheld at all times,” the former Vice-President said.

He described as pitiful, a situation where the government and the armed forces debate critical issues bordering on national security in public.

“Relations between civil-military authorities should be managed with care and maturity to safeguard our democracy.

"Some of the issues being discussed in public are not matters for the market square,” Atiku emphasised.

Anenih on his part said that in the nation’s political history, President Jonathan’s turned out to be one leader with the most visible opposition.

Anenih, in the statement entitled, 'Nigeria is stronger than it has even been,” issued in Abuja said: “May 29, 2014 marks 15 years since Nigeria returned to democracy. I congratulate all Nigerians on this important occasion, especially since our nation is now well into her longest running democratic dispensation

Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, IACD, levies a financial penalty of US $5.7 million against the company.

“The funds will flow into AfDB projects preventing and combating corruption in the Bank’s Member Countries on the African continent.

"In total, the AfDB has collected US $22.7 million in fines from four companies, including Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V., involved in bribe payments in connection with the liquefied natural gas production plants project on Bonny Island, Nigeria.

“In addition to the payment of a monetary sanction, the Negotiated Resolution Agreement foresees the debarment for a period of three years.

"These companies are eligible for cross-debarment under the April 2010 Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions entered into by the African Development Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank Group.

"The Portuguese entities affiliated to Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. played an active role in funneling bribes to public officials.

16— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 THE trite debates about its importance apart, May 29 frightens politicians – it annually reminds them of how close they are to leaving office or worse still, the nearness of the mandatory renewal of their electoral mandate.

Being in the best position to know how well they have not done, politicians dread May 29 for the constant memories it casts of the eclipse of their office. For those outside the power loop, it is the day of hope. They aspire to power to corner their piece of the common wealth.

For administrations that have failed to engage with the people, May 29 is a frightening reminder of the unfulfilled promises they made, swearing to the Constitution on inauguration day.

How many of them still remember they swore to the oft-forgotten Section 14 2(b), possibly the most profound section of the Constitution?

BY BOBSON GBINIJE

“Gold is a wonderful thing But if you are not enough without it/You can never be enough with it” (MALCOM X).

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HE principles of Benthamism and Aristotlelianism posit that “the prime and cardinal purpose of any good government and patriotic leadership is the pursuit of the greatest good for the largest member”. But does the solipsistic proclivities of Nigerian legislators who wallow and luxuriate in unspeakable corruption, prebendalism and graft betray this truism?

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) under chapter V section 47 provides for the establishment of a National Assembly for the Federation which will consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. In part II section 90 it provides for the establishment of a House of Assembly for each state and spells out their legislative duties, powers, regulation of procedures, establishment and authorisation of expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and other oversight functions.

These are, no doubt, very onerous and herculean responsibilities that call for patriotism, discipline, accountability, honesty, integrity, fear of God, love and uncommon dedication to the fatherland. A

Memories Of May 29 Section 14 2(b) states, “ The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Do politicians act as if the people’s security and welfare is the purpose of government? Which actions of governments have shown the importance of the people? How do governments relate to the people?

Has democracy improved lives of Nigerians? Is the country more democratic today than it was in 1999?

Ordinarily, May 29 should be more than the selfishness many politicians have wrapped round it.

On this day, 15 years ago, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed

over power to an elected civilian administration. Ever since, Nigeria has managed 15 years of uninterrupted civilian administration: two and half times the six-year duration of the postindependence civilian administration, and almost four times longer than the 1979-post military government of President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.

The apparent structures of democracy apart, our governments, in most matters, have assumed the authoritative nature of the military. The separation of powers the Constitution intended is a mirage.

In most States, Governors act with

imperial finality. They are addressed as Executive Governors, a title that is alien to the Constitution. When they embark on their frequent travels, they shut down their States. The organs of government stall in their absence. They are accountable to nobody as the State Houses of Assembly depend on them.

One of their most decisive actions is the death of local governments, which governors executed by conducting elections when they wish, and determining candidates. The Presidency is not different. It invests its powers in more politics than governance; it has been the rule since 1999.

Politicians in executive positions have promoted undemocratic imposition of party officials in their bid to control their parties and manipulate the “democratic process”. The ordinariness of May 29 results from undemocratic practices of the past 15 years.

OPINION Confab: Part-time lawmakers and jumbo pay kind of patriotism that borders on self-abnegation and a form of political, socio-economic and nationalistic Zeitgeist. President John F. Kennedy captures the scenario in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. He said: “And so my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man”.

Very few Nigerian legislators can hold their heads high today because of lack of patriotism and corruption.

In the furtherance of its reckless and murderous whimsicality and psychotic desire to bastardise the Nigerian Constitution and economy, members of the National Assembly unilaterally allocated to themselves grotesque perks which far outweigh what was approved for them by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, the only body that is constitutionally obligated to fix public officers pay.

But the lawmakers unilaterally allocated to themselves as allowances N27,000,000 per quarter or N9, 000,000 monthly for each House of Representative member and N45,000,000 or

N15,000,000 per month for each senator, in addition to the amount approved by the RMAFC. It is public knowledge that they are now seeking to raise their allowances even harrowingly higher.

It is a truism that with this illegally- approved sums of money, each senator will pocket N720, 000,000 in four years, while each House of Representatives member will get N540,000,000. These sums do not include that approved by RMAFC, which they also collect.

When these humongous allowances are added to that of the principal officers in both chambers of the National Assembly, it becomes unquestionably obvious that the Federal budget is used to service the greed of a horde of legislative buccaneers luxuriating in legislative owambeism.

Hence, the dividends of democracy will continue to remain a will o’ the wisp, a mirage and a Barmecidal-dish to the poor masses of Nigeria who live on less than $1 a day, because our legislators are busy feathering their nests. These legislative monsters and their cohorts are on a scorch earth escapade. Wherever you turn in Nigeria, the urgent and imperative need for the ‘people’s power’ to manifest, unity of the oppressed and solidarity on all fronts not only stare you in the

face, but also cry very loud for the most devoted attention. They have resolved to delete from the Constitution sections 66, 107, 137 and 182, provisions that disqualify those indicted for fraud from contesting elective offices. What a shame!

After over 52 years of independence we have no light, no good roads, no houses, no drinkable water and behemoth graft has bedraggled and befuddled the totality of our leadership. Educationally, economically and technologically Nigeria remains one of the most backward Nations on earth. We remain anthropoid apes as Hitler once called Africans.

Our leaders and their surrogates have cunningly and forcibly expropriated the larger and richer portions of our lands and relegated the people to the status of permanent subordination and unmitigated drudgery of the political and economic affairs of their own fatherland.

All the choicest parcels of lands in Abuja have been commandeered by them and all the oil fields and yields from the Niger Delta have been corruptly mismanaged and allocated to their advantage. Yet they still want to asphyxiate us by their Machiavellian acrobatics of increasing their salaries and

allowances arbitrarily. The sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo observed in his book, The Travails of Democracy thus: “Corruption by public officials and corporations will never decline in Nigeria, as long as many who are known to have participated in and profited by them can be patted on the back and paraded as the nation's archangels, once they make the right friends and have the right connections”.

The legislators proposed a dastardly selfish allocation of N1.9 trillion in the 2010 budget for themselves. The delegates in the on-going national conference must come in and the RMAFC must call the recalcitrant legislators to order. We must entrench integrity into the legislature.

The Kabu-Kabu Representatives who fight at will must be checkmated by Nigerians come 2015 via the ballot box. I see the triumph of the human spirit, the collapse of the forces of inhumanity and the emergence of the glorious effort, finally, to free Nigerians from senseless, inhuman and greedy exploitation, destruction and degradation by our so - called legislators. ‘PARTTIME LAWMKERS’ IS NOW OR NEVER. *Chief Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 17

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AST week, I made a case for Nigerians to support our armed forces as they confront the greatest security challenge facing the nation since the Nigerian Civil War. I illustrated my narrative with examples drawn from my years of encountering our valiant soldiers in far-flung areas of the world. No Nigerian who encountered the NIGBATT in Nyala, South Darfur, that would not have been impressed with the organisation of the camp; the general cleanliness and order; the deployment of modern communication gadgets and the innovative spirit in the field. I saw the practical deployment of our forces during a Route Assessment Patrol that took us several kilometres from the camps of Nyala. Nigeria’s army prided itself on its regimental tradition and was always conscious of its leadership role amongst other armies in Africa. I received testimonies to that effect from other African soldiers.

It is therefore a source of worry that the army that received plaudits from around the world has arrived at the critical juncture today when soldiers are refusing to engage insurgents and are even being court-martialed for mutiny. There are serious underlying problems to deconstruct, for the army’s sake and of the country’s. Unfortunately, these issues are out in the open. Appearing before the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs last Wednesday, Sarah Sewall, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, noted that corruption is hindering Nigeria’s efforts at ending the Boko Haram insurgency. The military “must overcome entrenched corruption and incompetence” to be able to rescue the abducted Chibok Girls.

Despite Nigeria’s $5.8 billion security budget for 2014, Sewall

We must insist that our troops are properly provisioned to be able to carry out their duties of securing Nigeria and Nigerians effectively!

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said: “Corruption prevents supplies as basic as bullets and transport vehicles from reaching the frontlines of the struggle against Boko Haram”, adding that: “Morale was low and (…)desertions were common among soldiers in the 7th Army Division fighting the insurgents”.

If that is a view from outside, Nigerian newspapers also reported lamentations by the military, of “the negative impact of inadequate funding for military operations”, in the North East. The disclosure came from Major General Abdullah Muraina, Chief of Accounts and Budget of the Nigerian Army, at a training programme in Jaji, Kaduna State.

The General said: “Ethno-reli-

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Provisioning our military for successful counter-insurgency gious crisis and terrorism has left serious financial demand on the Nigerian Army”. The Nigerian Army was “enmeshed in the bureaucratic bottleneck for funding approvals for military operations”. The “budgetary allocation for the military is inadequate to meet the contemporary security challenges and also cater for the welfare of the Nigerian Army”.

To explain the magnitude of the problem, General Muraina said: “This year N4.8 billion was allocated for capital projects for the Nigerian Army. Of this amount, because of security challenges, the army decided to buy ballistic

helmets and fragmented jackets (two items) for 20, 000 soldiers, at a cost of $1500, it will amount to N3 billion. Meanwhile, about nine items are needed for the soldiers”. The sum of N3 billion is more than 50% of the capital budget of N4.8 billion, and as the officer noted, that is just only an item of expenditure.

It gets even more curious, to read in LEADERSHIP newspaper of Saturday, May 24, 2014, that the Ministry of Defense, MoD, washed its hands off allegations of corruption related to underfunding or ill-equipment being alleged in the military, because

the military “receives its capital expenditure direct…while the Presidency releases money to the military without the involvement of the ministry ”. An unnamed source added that: “The ministry knows little or nothing about how the military spends its capital votes…We know next to nothing

about how the military spends its money…The military purchase their arms and ammunition by themselves and, as we are talking now, some of them are in Turkey shopping for APCs”. The anonymous source was asked about underfunding by the Presidency, he answered that: “We may not know here; probably the military is in the best position to say this”. Well, THE NATION newspaper of the same day had the answer. Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, confirmed that: “The military received N130.7 billion between January and April, 2014, while another N3.8 billion had been

approved…but was still being processed…”.

The N130 billion Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she released in the first four months of 2014, obviously piqued the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, a retired General himself. Addressing an event last weekend, the Sultan said to his audience: “If you have been reading newspapers recently, the Minister of Finance…said over N130 billion was given to security agencies in four months.

Now where is the money? These are questions we should be asking ourselves”. And just in case there are people about to question his position on this, the Sultan reminded that: “I spent most of my life in the military”! There are too many sordid details that are not clear to us in respect of provisioning of our troops and the spending of budgeted monies. A combination of acts of corruption, impunity, crass irresponsibility and gross incompetence are rubbing negatively off our fighting men and women. Those in charge must be held accountable for the opprobrium that is being visited on our armed forces today. We must insist that our troops are properly provisioned to be able to carry out their duties of securing Nigeria and Nigerians effectively!

Chibok girls, Israel and Iran: A gift horse's mouth I T is instructive that the abduc tion of the young girls from Chibok has unleashed a worldwide offer of assistance to Nigeria. These offers came from the United States which made good its pledge by deploying officers in its Abuja-based Embassy to commence intelligence cooperation with Nigeria; overfly with intelligencegathering aircraft, and by the beginning of the week, it located a military group in Chad as part of the assistance to break the abduction logjam.

The British also weighed in, while France hosted a regional meeting in Paris, of Nigeria and its neighbours: Cameroun, Chad, Niger and Benin, to develop a collective security strategy against the Boko Haram danger to the West African sub-region. Even China offered satellite-based intelligence to Nigeria’s security forces as a show of solidarity.

The international groundswell of feeling also touched hearts in Israel too, because they have also offered assistance. The fact is that Israel has been embedded within the Nigerian security system in the past three decades or so. At a point when Nigerians were beginning to wonder why we have never bothered to deploy drones to assist in the aerial surveillance in the Sambisa forest, especially after a prototype drone was allegedly developed by Nigeria’s army, in December 2013, VANGUARD newspaper of Wednesday, May 21, 2004, reported that such drones that Nigeria purchased from Israeli company, Aeronautics Defense Systems “ years ago”, according to the report, “have been left ground-

ed due to poor maintenance”.

The newspaper quoted a Marketing Officer of the company, Tsur Dvir, who confirmed that Aerostar unmanned aerial vehicles “to the best of our knowledge, these systems are not operational”. Dvir, in the normally secretive pattern of Isreali military engagements in Nigeria, refused to confirm the number of such vehicles they supplied to Nigeria, but “aerospace industry source(s) said they each would have been worth between $15million and $17million.

So not only that Israel has been enjoying these huge profits from Nigeria, in the supply of military equipment that end up “grounded due to poor maintenance”, it recently offered assistance to help in the Chibok abduction case.

However, it also decided to exploit its geopolitical rivalry with Iran within the Nigerian situation. VANGUARD news-

paper of Friday, May 23, 2014, reported Israeli Ambassador, Uriel Palti, at a reception in the Chinese Embassy, of having said that “Boko Haram…AlShabbab in Somalia, etc, are all part of the arms of Iran; the influence of Iran, Al-Qaeda influence”. It was obvious that the Ambassador of Zionist Israel was deliberately setting out to confuse Nigerians with his statement, because Iran has never been accused, even by its worst enemies in Western Europe and the US, of being a supporter of Al-Qaeda. So the link he made was absolutely preposterous and an obvious attempt to cash in on the Nigerian need for assistance.

The Israelis see Iran as their greatest remaining threat in the Middle East, after they engineered the end of Saddam Hussein’s nuclear facilities and getting the US to topple the regime. Syria is also being sys-

tematically dismantled with the raging civil war; removal of its biological weapons and the complete degradation of its armed forces. Israel is the only nuclear power in the Middle East, possessing over 200 nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and the most powerful regional forces.

Those weapons are not under IAEA control, since Israel is not signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, NPT. Yet, it continues to shout aloud about Iran’s alleged efforts to develop nuclear weapons. It is thatbitter rivalrywith Iran that Israel is attempting to project into the effort to assist us to solve the Chibok abductions. We should carefully look at the Israeli gift horse in the mouth in this case. We must not be drawn into the geopolitical agenda of Israel or any other country for that matter. Boko Haram is not an arm of Iran. No!

Professor Shehu Jimoh: Intellectual, broadcaster, decent man

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AST week Monday, Profes sor Shehu Ahmad Jimoh, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, died at the age of 70. Shehu Jimoh was also a retired Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Ilorin. His death has robbed Ilorin of an outstanding intellectual and the quintessential community person. I served with Professor Jimoh on the board of the Adisa Bakare Educational Endowmnet Fund, ABEEF, which is a scholarship fund endowed by the late General Abdulka-

reem Adisa. From 1998, we have offered scholarships annually to indigent students from Kwara and other Nigerians resident in the state. It has been a very well managed scholarships scheme that has outlived General Adisa and the work has largely been effective because of Shehu Jimoh’s commitment, long after many of us located to other cities, away from Ilorin.

Most people, especially the younger generation, probably don’t even know that Shehu Jimoh was a pioneering newsreader with us at Radio Nigeria, Ilorin and then Radio

Kwara, during the 1970s and 1980s. I fondly remember his high quality microphone voice and the fact that he always arrived from his schedules as a lecturer, to read his news, unfailingly. He was married to my cousin, and I recall all those early years of their courtship, when he was regularly visiting our family house. It was from those early years that we became close and we kept the mutual respect, till his death.

We have lost a very decent man, with the passing of Professor Shehu Ahmad Jimoh.

Allah ya jikansa. Amin.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014— 19

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I wish Chief Clark longer life and good health; but I hope that future Ijaw leaders will correct his shortcomings by their readiness to share the pains and joys of the Niger Delta together, rather than become the new overbearing overlord of fellow minority groups

EK Clark, titan at 87 N August 2000, Prof Jibril Aminu celebrated his 60th birthday. In appreciation of his contributions to their community, the authorities of Eti Osa Local Government Area named a street after him close to his Parkview Estate twin mansion, and yours sincerely was an invited guest. In his acceptance speech, Prof Aminu said since the Biblical age limit for man was 70, "my 60th birthday means that I have now obtained my boarding pass and will sit at the departure lounge until my flight is called". Over the weekend Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, at 87 deployed a similar allegory saying he was now at the departure lounge waiting for the call for his flight to eternity, and he would go "with joy and peace".

Chief Clark has been blest with longevity. At 87, not only is he more active than many people decades his junior, he is still intellectually sound and alert. He is still very articulate. The Ijaw chief is easily the oldest person at the ongoing National Conference. EK

is obviously still very active in other MANLY ways as evident in his recent marriage to a matured woman more than 30 years his junior. His memory is still very nimble. I can only think of one other person of his age bracket, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, who has the clarity of mind and rhetoric to rival EK. It is really a special blessing for which he should be grateful to our Maker.

The normal trajectory of life is for human beings to begin a downward trending physically, intellectually and mentally as from the age of 36, the period when the sap of youth begins to dry up. EK is a man who has grown bigger and stronger with age. He has been a Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Information, Senator of the Federal Republic and owner of a chain of cinemas between the 1970s and 1980s; a path that Mr Ben Bruce, Chairman of Silverbird Television, is now treading on a digital template.

He appeared to have retired from active public limelight until the Warri wars erupted as from 1996 between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri. It

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was this communal conflict that Clark used as a platform to re-launch himself to the public eye. Though he was already years into his seventies, Clark, a domineering character and master of propaganda, modelled himself strictly as the leader of an Ijaw nation angling to position itself as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria; the heart and soul of the newly-created South-South zone.

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t coincided with a volatile stage in the agitation of the Southern Minorities of the Niger Delta for the control of their oil and gas resources and ultimately the politics and development of their home zone.

Ferment had gathered around the zone, with proliferation of arms

In the De-worming of Edo State APC (1)

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HE more things change, the more they remain the same. In those days, our parents certainly knew what they were doing. Before and after major ceremonies, the children were thoroughly de-wormed. This cleansing process involved the administration of simple purgatives on the children for improved appetite and healthier growth.

Wittingly or unwittingly, that same process is being re-enacted in the life of Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in what appears, from a distance, like an exodus of some elements from the party.

Essentially, nothing has changed in Edo State APC. By the time the profit and loss account of this de-worming process shall be prepared, the party shall have cause to smile at the enhanced net profit. Like in every virus, infection is endemic in professional decampees. Many of the people they drove away have now stationed themselves to return home to APC. Similarly, many good people in the PDP who are clearly incompatible with the decampees are also set to come into the comfort zone of the APC. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, by the time the PDP will conduct its congresses and primaries, and these power mongers find themselves on the bare floor, they will realise that “Khaki no be leather”.

Shamelessly, they will come crawling back to APC. Incidentally, politics remains one of the rare fields where nobody is rejected for, on the final day, every vote, even that of the mad man bears the same weight. So, during the harvest season, the APC will also dance its own “Azonto” and “Kokoma” to usher in its share of defectors.

The defectors are not all bad. They have their strengths and their weaknesses. For

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a thorough understanding of the journey thus far, a senatorial segmentation of the current analysis will be helpful. We see a lot of rabble-rousing in Edo South. We intend to deal with that in the next series. Again, charity could sometimes begin from abroad.

Abubakar Momoh went with them. We miss him and a few others like him. Let no one attempt to convince us that such have no electoral value. For a man to have been able to win election as chairman of his local government; proceed from there to become a two-time member of the House of Assembly; and thereafter, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, he is not a paper weight. We might be willing, though, to buy into the argument that the Kukuruku land is not in short supply of such excellent fellows.

We miss a few friends, a few grassroots politicians among them. For instance, there is no escaping the inevitable conclusion that the leadership qualities of Tony Omoaghe, the digital chairman, are immense. Through thick and thin; in good weather and in bad, he pulled everybody along and we hardly realised that we were barely thriving on “Ize-Oko”, pepper rice, which was the cheapest we could rag together in those difficult days.

Even in their squealing capacity, the Okafis of that era, cannot be easily wished away when it comes to real mobilisation.

Hardworking people! Beyond this point, there is no point. We are consoled in the words of Dina Ross and the Supremes, “Someday, we’ll be together”.

In Esan land, an attempt may have been made to put water in a pot that is already full. The land is predominantly PDP. Apart from a few scattered instances, the PDP has always won the elections there. The defection of more people to the PDP in Esan land will

not significantly alter the equation.

This is where we think that the defections are more protectionist than anything else. When the ACN members had a poor outing at the 2011 general elections, Comrade dealt them a serious

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ensuing from the Warri wars, the arming of cult groups and youth rednecks by the new political class which, as from 1998 fought to dominate the politics of their states and the zone at large. It was from there that the Niger Delta militants started targeting the oil and gas infrastructure and personnel in that area. The Ijaws formed the major part of this effort.

Clark went into the forefront and became the father figure to all the militant and political groups, giving them verbal covering fire as the struggle experienced its ups and downs.

Clark, indeed, is a tribal titan. At a summit organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and some of its international partners in Port Harcourt in December 2001, he made it known that he is an Ijaw leader, simpliciter.

"I am not a nationalist," he declared, "I am an Ijaw man; an Ijaw leader".

Here is one man who never pretends.

When then Vice President Dr Goodluck Jonathan's father died in 2008, Clark was the man who gave a vote of thanks to the guests that came from all over the country to Otuoke, during which he declared the militancy against the Nigerian state "over". Earlier, it was Clark who sabotaged the South-South People's Assembly, SSPA, with the late Dr Matthew Mbu as Chairman and Dr Raymond Dokpesi as Secretary. SSPA had gone into alliance with the South East to work towards the presidential ambition of Dr Peter Odili in 2006/ 2007.

But Clark discredited Odili, saying he was an "Igbo man", adding that the South-South was asking for the presidency and not for an "Igbo man" to take the turn of

By the time the PDP will conduct its congresses and primaries, and these power mongers find themselves on the bare floor, they will realise that khaki no be leather

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blow from which many have not recovered up till now. They were relieved of their appointments and pleasantly humiliated. In fact, no self-respecting man would want to suffer such humiliation a second time. So, the current movement provides an opportunity for them to “borrow leg” and join the winning crowd.

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nknown to them, however, there is a crop of young Esan men led by the Oibos, the Omofumas and the Inegbenekis who are taking the struggle to integrity and are ready to spring surprises and turn the table around. They will present a formidable force in preventing the power erosion in Esan land. It is to be seen.

A glimpse at the empty vessels that are

the Southern Minorities through the back door. Clark is an expert in manipulating the pull-him-down (PHD) syndrome to upstage his political enemies. So far, it has worked for him, except in the singular instance where he failed to stop Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, an ethnic Itsekiri, from getting elected and re-elected as Governor of Delta State. He was able to get President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop Odili and give the Vice Presidency to his tribesman, Goodluck Jonathan. He employed the same tactics to stop Dokpesi from being appointed Chief of Staff to President Jonathan only recently. He and Mujahid Asari Dokubo, have wrestled with Arewa regional Rottweiler, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, fire for fire Clark is at the Conference as the leader of the South-South caucus, but his extreme pandering to Ijaw interests is chiefly responsible for the Ijaw occupying majority of the slots that should have been shared among groups in the South-South under the Jonathan presidency.

Clark believes that the Ijaw, being the "majority" group in the SouthSouth, have the birthright to take the lion's share just as Igbo, Hausa/ Fulani and Yorubas had called the shots in the defunct regions. The question arises: If Clark condemned the Majorities only to behave worse than them when his group assumed dominance, what was the justice in his agitations against the Big Three?

I wish Chief Clark longer life and good health. But I hope that future Ijaw leaders will correct his shortcomings by their readiness to share the pains and joys of the Niger Delta together, rather than become the new overbearing overlord of fellow Minority groups.

being celebrated in the name of defection: Saint Thomas is the last man standing. IT is apparently stranded. While he was yet struggling for the animal’s leg at the national level, his disciples at home had bolted away to the PDP. It is doubtful if this Abacha apologist can ever define for himself what he really wants. He represents an empty sack that can never stand erect. His spirit is in PDP while he is bodily in the APC. Put differently, he is APC during the day and PDP at night. Otherwise, which leader would go public with the type of trash he issued recently in which he was openly advertising his powerlessness to deal with the problems of the APC in the SouthSouth geopolitical zone, in a tone that seemed to suggest that he wanted a separate constitution for himself? This arch-tribalist will go anywhere that has an Esan governor on the front burner. He has no other agenda.

A man must look the role he wants to play. That is what the late Fela RansomKuti was referring to when he asserted: “Tailor wey dey do like carpenter, na swegbe”.

For our man, politics is 99 percent inspirations and one percent perspiration.

For him, every season is harvesting season, no planting! He eats the tuber and the seed yams. A lot of noise still surrounds the defection of such.

We have gone to this great length to show that nothing has changed in Edo APC, all the empty noise we are hearing, notwithstanding! Edo South is next.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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Nigerian business leaders set up development council

By OMOH GABRIEL, Business Editor

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HIRTY-ONE Nigerian company chief executives and business owners have set up a platform that will enable them jointly promote sustainable development across the country. This was the outcome of a round table discussion held in Lagos weekend.

The Companies are Accenture, CocaCola, Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Etisalat, First Bank, Flourmills of Nigeria, Heirs Holdings, Intel Corporation and Interswitch. Others are Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever, the First Bank CSR Centre, BusinessDay newspapers, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, MTN Nigeria, Guinness, Oando Gas and Power, UBA Group, Seplat Petroleum, Chevron, Stanbic IBTC, Afren Nigeria, Access Bank and Nigerian Breweries.

The 31 business leaders agreed on the establishment of a common platform that will enable them to jointly promote sustainable development initiatives and programmes across the country. At the roundtable in Lagos, the CEOs decided to set up a council for sustainable development which will be affiliated to the Geneva-based World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The proposed council will work to arouse the interest of the Nigerian business community towards taking collective action for a sustainable future for society.

The Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, hosted the roundtable to introduce the idea to the CEOs. He said: “There is no doubt that Nigerian companies support sustainability programmes in their respective areas of influence quite adequately, however,

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

181.55

0.2

3,023.00

+22.00

17.45

0.07

110.34

-0.20

104.18

-0.17

BUYING 154.73 260.6272 211.0981 172.8441 1.5183 0.3025 237.7674 24.7968 41.2547 28.2756

SELLING

155.23 261.4694 211.7803 173.4026 1.5232 0.3125 238.5358 24.8773 41.388 28.367

155.73 262.3116 212.4624 173.9611 1.5281 0.3225 239.3041 24.9579 41.5214 28.4584

CBN Exchange rate as at 28/05/2014

no platform currently exists for businesses across all industries to share experiences, best practices, and advocate for business positions that transform lives and communities from what they are today to the greatness they can be, tomorrow. If there is one area we do not need to compete as businesses, it is in the goodness of our heart to our society and environment.”

Managing Director and CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, described the idea as innovative and desirable. “It is important that the organised private sector show interest in the challenging operating business environment.” Also speaking

at the roundtable, Chief Keith Richards, Chairman, Promasidor Nigeria Limited said, “We look forward to contributing and devoting our time and energy in actualising the goals of this intervention which will impact Nigerians positively and sustain business development.”

His remarks were echoed by Engr.

Wolfgang Goetsch, Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria who said “I am looking forward to a business council that works, through proper management and commitment by members.” A lecturer at the Lagos Business School, Sir Chris Ogbechie had earlier made a presentation in

which he outlined the justification and modalities for setting up the council.

The gathering agreed that there would be a governing council to oversee the organisation, comprising CEOs of member companies and reputable international business figures which will be committed to driving a positive sustainable future for society and the rapid development of the economy. Rabab Fayad, Regional Director of the WBCSD, said “We are committed to supporting this Nigerian vision, as it is our goal to establish vibrant networks on sustainable development across the globe.”

From left: Managing Director/CEO, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon; Director, Consumer Banking, UBA Plc, Mr. Ilesanmi Owoeye; Executive Vice President, DMSRetail, Mr. Matt Parmaks; and President, DMSRetail, Mr. Joseph Ebata, at the Retail Leaders Conference, in Lagos.

Nigeria’s cocoa output rising less than expected C OCOA output in Nigeria, the world’s fourth-largest pro ducer, is expected to rise less than expected as heavy rains in the southern growing belt are seen cutting production, according to Cocoa Association of Nigeria.

There should be a “small increase” in output for 2013-14 from an estimated 250,000 metric tons last year, Lagos-based Robo Adhuze, a spokesman for the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, said. He said production would be lower than the January forecast for a 10 percent increase and declined to be more specific.

Nigeria’s recent measures of distributing fertilizers and early-maturing, high-yielding, disease-resistant beans led the association to expect a bigger crop this year. Heavy rains, which increase the risk of disease

spreading, are cutting expectations, Abang Neji, a farmer and association board member, said in an interview from Ondo.

“The rains are becoming heavier in southeast, with the risk of spreading blackpod,” Neji said. “Output is lower for the mid-crop.” Blackpod, which thrives in wet, humid conditions, rots cocoa pods and is the most destructive disease for the country’s cocoa trees, Neji said. The government plans to begin distribution of fungicides next week to help farmers deal with it, Neji said.

In the southwest Ondo state, which accounts for as much as 40 percent of Nigeria’s cocoa, “there are stable rains and sunshine,” and farmers are expected to harvest more than last year, Adhuze said.

“Support from the government,

good weather in the southwest and improved earnings by farmers are helping,” Adhuze said. The farmgate prices for cocoa beans increased 12 percent to 470,000 naira ($2,892) per ton from 420,000 naira in January, which enables more farmers to buy agrochemicals to protect their crops, Adhuze said.

Nigeria’s main crop begins in October and ends in January, while the smaller mid-crop season usually begins in March and ends in June. The start and end dates of the seasons may vary each year depending on the weather.

Africa’s biggest economy ranks behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia as the world’s largest cocoa producer, according to the Londonbased International Cocoa Organization.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 The first few years of business startup can be hard on family life. It’s important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time

Is entrepreneurship for you?

I

n business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight.

Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business.

Carefully consider each of the following questions. Are you a self-starter? It will be entirely up to you to develop projects, organize your time, and follow through on details.

How well do you get along with different personalities?

Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers, and professionals such as lawyers, accountants or consultants.

Can you deal with a demanding client, an unreliable vendor, or a cranky receptionist if your business interests demand it?

How good are you at making decisions? Small business owners are required to make decisions constantly often quickly, independently, and under pressure.

Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business?

Business ownership can be exciting, but it’s also a lot of work. Can you face six or seven 12-hour work days every week?

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Success in business is never automatic... It depends primarily on the owner's foresight and organisation

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How well do you plan and organize? Research indicates that poor planning is responsible for most business failures. Good organization of financials, inventory, schedules, and production — can help you avoid many pitfalls. Is your drive strong enough? Running a business can wear you down emotionally. Some business owners burn out quickly from having to carry all the responsibility for the success of their business on their own shoulders. Strong motivation will help you survive slowdowns and periods of burnout.

How will the business affect

your family? The first few years of business start-up can be hard on family life.

It’s important for family members to know what to expect and for you to be able to trust that they will support you during this time. There also may be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk in the short-term.

Why Small Businesses Fail Success in business is never automatic. It isn’t strictly based on luck although a little never hurts.

It depends primarily on the owner’s foresight and organisation. Even then, of course, there are no guarantees. In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure: Lack of experience; insufficient capital (money); poor location; poor inventory management; over-investment in fixed assets; poor credit arrangements; personal use of business funds; and unexpected growth. Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book: competition and; Low sales Starting a small business is always risky, and the chance of success is slim. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, over 50 per cent of small businesses fail in the first year and 95 per cent fail within the first five years.

These figures aren’t meant to scare you, but to prepare you for the rocky path ahead. Underestimating the difficulty of starting a business is one of the biggest obstacles entrepreneurs face. However, success can be yours if you are patient, willing to work hard, and take all the necessary steps.

On the Upside, it is true that there are many reasons not to start your own business.

But for the right person, the advantages of business ownership far outweigh the risks: You will be your own boss; hard work and long hours directly benefit you, rather than; earning and growth potential are far greater; a new venture is as exciting as it is risky. running a business provides endless challenge and opportunities for learning.

Source: US Small Business Administration

BUSINESS NIGERIAN NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES Date 5/26/14

Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N) 154.73 260.6272 211.0981 172.8441 1.5183 0.3025 237.7674 24.7968 41.2547 28.2756 238.5318

Central(N) 155.23 261.4694 211.7803 173.4026 1.5232 0.3125 238.5358 24.8773 41.388 28.367 239.3026

Selling(N) 155.73 262.3116 212.4624 173.9611 1.5281 0.3225 239.3041 24.9579 41.5214 28.4584 240.0734

S

tarting and managing a business takes motivation and talent. It also takes research and planning. Although initial mistakes are not always fatal, it takes extra skill, discipline, and hard work to regain the advantage. Take time beforehand to explore and evaluate your business and personal goals, then use this information to build a comprehensive and thoughtful business plan that will help you reach these goals. Developing a plan will force you to think through some important issues that you may not otherwise consider. Your plan will become a valuable tool as you set out to raise money for your business, and it will provide milestones to gauge your success.

Getting Started List your reasons for wanting to go into business.

Some of the most common reasons for starting a business are: Selfmanagement; financial independence; creative freedom; full use of personal skills and knowledge Next determine what business is right for you.

Ask yourself these questions: What do I like to do with my time? What technical skills have I learned or developed?

What do others say I am good at? Will I have the support of my family? How much time do I have to run a successful business? Do I have any hobbies or interests that are marketable?

Identify your business niche.

Research and answer these questions: What business am I interested in starting? What services or products will I sell? Is my idea practical, and will it fill a need? What is my competition? What is my

Starting a Busin Start-Up Basics business’s advantage over existing firms? Can I deliver a better quality service? Can I create a demand for my business?

The final step before developing your plan is the pre-business checklist. You should answer these questions: What skills and experience do I bring to the business?

What legal structure will I use? How will my company’s business records be maintained? What insurance coverage will be needed?

What equipment or supplies will I need? How will I compensate myself?

What are my resources?

What financing will I need?

Where will my business be located?

What will I name my business?

Your answers will help you create a focused, wellresearched business plan that

will serve as a blueprint for business operations, management, and capitalization. Once you have completed your business plan, review it with a friend or business associate. When you feel comfortable with the content and structure, review and discuss it with your banker. The business plan is a flexible document that should change as your business grows.

Working from home There are three real problems with home working, and employer trust isn't one of them. A new study in the UK suggests that we now have four million people working from home in some capacity – full time, part time, they’re doing it. In a country whose entire population was just heading to 64m in December, and whose

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—23

Today, 95 per cent of milk consumed in Nigeria is imported, and it is difficult to achieve 10 per cent local content which shows that a huge investment opportunity exists in the sector

& YOU COMMODITIES (27/5/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 103.91

Change ($) - 0.44

% Change - 0.42

Natural Gas

4.48

+ 0.07

+ 1.66

Sugar

17.02

- 0.35

- 2.01

Coffee

180.35

- 1.55

- 0.85

Cocoa

3,027.00

+ 5.00

+ 0.17

ness: s

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Once you're in the habit of working from home, escaping the commute and the hassle, the temptation to work after hours is considerable

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working population is generally estimated to be around half the total, you can see this is a significant percentage. So on the radio this morning a presenter was reporting on the new statistic and asking: doesn’t working from home mean people will be watching TV, attending to household chores, and won’t there be a lot of ‘home working’ when the World Cup soccer tournament starts in Brazil? Employers don’t really trust a workforce they can’t see, do they?

Funnily enough, when interviewing people for my last book I found precisely the reverse to be true. Let’s establish one thing: most employers trust their employees to be

Overworking: Once you’re in the habit of working from home, escaping the commute and the hassle, the temptation to work after hours is considerable.

People find their families suffer, they find their fatigue levels increase and so do their stress levels.

People need training and support to switch off, not to switch on. They know what happens if they don’t produce the goods.

Colleague support: The person employing a home worker knows they’ll go and work. The people remaining in the office, sitting next to an empty desk, may not be so sanguine. A lot of bad feeling can arise because Steve is ‘working from home’ when the World Series is on, or when his daughter has a sporting event at her school.

Flexible working needs to be in the DNA of an organisation and colleagues all need to buy into the idea that work is being done, whether on site or elsewhere.

Source: Entrepreneur

Investment potential in dairy farming State, that the Federal Government is committed to improving livestock production and increase achieve 10 percent local local dairy. He said the content which shows that a partnership between his huge investment opportunity ministry and WAMCO is part exists in the sector. of the national efforts at According to the Minister of strengthening the local dairy State for Agriculture, Bukar industry under public Tijani, Nigeria spends about private partnership N100 billion yearly to import initiatives. dairy products. To reverse this “Over 9,000 smallholder and thereby conserve the dairy farmers/pastoralists nation’s scarce foreign have so far been registered exchange, he said there is and mobilised into producer need to deploy innovations groups. Over 36 kilometre and technology to raise the access roads around milk production capacity of collection centres have also livestock in Nigeria been rehabilitated to Chief Audu Ogbeh, facilitate milk collection in Chairman, Efugo Farms, said the Wasimi Grazing Reserve cattle in Nigeria are made to in Oyo State as part of our mandate under the Dairy Nigeria Development Programme spends about (DPP),” he said.

WAMCO has also concluded N100 billion plans to establish a milk yearly to collection centre in Yewa area of Ogun State, with import dairy 15,000 litres per day milk products collection and delivery, thereby providing a ready walk thousands of kilometres market for dairies. Managing for grazing, whereas in other Director of WAMCO, Mr Peter parts of the world grazing Eshikena, said the company lands are provided for cattle was committed to and they are not made to go developing dairy farming in through any stress to graze. the country and to increase “In Nigeria, a cow produces local contents. “We started an average of 1 beer bottle of the collection in Kwara State milk in a day; a cow in in August 2010, resulting in Uganda produces a daily the supply of a few thousand average of 12 beer bottles, liters per day, of excellent whereas, in Israel and USA, a quality. Today, the reception cow produces an average of of fresh milk has increased to 30 litres of milk per day.” over 15,000 litres,” he Minister of Agriculture, Dr added.

Akinwumi Adesina, said Ogun State government has recently at the launching of a promised to deploy resources Dairy Development to assist investors in cattle Programme (DPP) by rearing and milk production Friesland Campina WAMCO in Yewa area of the state.

Nigeria Plc in Iseyin, Oyo There are local dairy PROJECTED FINANCIALS OF 500 CROSS-BRED COWS DAIRY IN 3 YEARS communities in some S/N COST YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 parts of Abeokuta North, 1 Capital Cost N93,000 N153,000,000 N273,033,000 Y e w a 2 Variable Cost N743,820 N812,130,000 N1,032,240,000 South and Y e w a 3 Gross Income N1,311,000 N1,359,000,000 N2,010,000,000 N o r t h L o c a l 4 Net Profit N474,180 N393,870,000 N704,727,000 Government Areas in Source: Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture the state.

D

airy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk – mostly from cows or goats – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned with the harvesting of milk.

There are around 250 million cows producing milk across the world. The European Union is the largest milk producer and has about 23 million dairy cows. This compares with 10 million in North America and over 6 million in Australia and New Zealand. Milk production is also on the increase in SouthEast Asia, including countries not traditionally noted for their milk consumption, such as China, which now has over 12 million cows producing milk.

Over the last fifty years, dairy farming has become more intensive to increase the amount of milk produced by each cow. The HolsteinFriesian, the type of dairy cow most common in the UK, Europe and the USA has been bred to produce very high yields of milk. Around 22 litres per day is typical in the UK. The average yield in the US is even higher at over 30 litres per day.

Milk production per cow has more than doubled in the past 40 years. If they were producing just enough to feed their calves, as nature intended, this would be about 3 or 4 litres a day.

Today, 95 percent of milk consumed in Nigeria is imported, and it is difficult to

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE

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productive when working away from the office.

They’ve grown up, they assume their colleagues have done the same.

Two issues There are actually three issues you need to look at if you’re going to have employees working from home (we’ll take it as read that an IT professional has provided all the necessary equipment and security and that the employee has a decent environment, although these things need checking), and we’ll add another side issue at the end:

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24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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people are employed simply because of who they know.

This affects the caliber of people in the universities and the kind of graduates we churn out. Normally, you cannot be appointed an academic staff if you don’t have a first class or second class upper degree but nowadays, getting that caliber of graduates is difficult. Even when you have such graduates, lecturing job is the last thing they want to take up because it is no longer attractive," said Sajo.

*Pupils during celebrate the 2014 Children's Day at Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Dearth of academic staff: Stakeholders proffer solutions

By EBELE ORAKPO

T

here is the raging controversy that the standard of education in Nigeria is falling.

Proponents of falling education blame the decline

‘We are confused' ...Students bemoan prolonged strike Pg. 59

Who will teach economics in the North-East?

Pg. 59

17-yr-old beats 15,000 JAMBites to win Most Brilliant Student Pg. 60 C M Y K

on underfunding of the sector, poor infrastructure and high student-lecturer ratio . There is also the issue of brain drain where Nigeria’s academics prefer to seek greener pastures abroad leading to dearth of lecturers in the sector. In this report, Vanguard Learning sought the views of stakeholders and the way forward for education, unarguably, the bedrock of development in any nation.

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Reasons: rofessor MacDonald Idu of the Dept. of Plant Science and B i o t e c h n o l o g y, University of Benin (UNIBEN), agreed that indeed, there is dearth of academic faculty in Nigerian universities due to insincerity, lack of collaboration and vagueness of the curriculum.

Speaking in the same vein, Dean, School of Agriculture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Prof.

Abdu Sajo said poor salary, lack of accommodation and bias in appointment of lecturers were some of the reasons for dearth of lecturers in the universities.

“In Nigeria, we are not really sincere. We cover up so many things. For instance, at the University of Abuja where

I am currently on sabbatical and my department at UNIBEN, we are grossly under-staffed. Although, we have employed several persons but, if you look at the employment status, getting senior lecturers and professors has been difficult.

They are not just there. So what we do is to employ graduate assistants and assistant lecturers (Bachelor ’s and Master ’s degree holders) and train them.

"But when you train them, many of them don’t come back no matter how you threaten them, they just melt away,” said Idu. “One of the reasons is that lecturers are poorly paid. A professor in Nigeria collects less than $3,000 a month, less than $36,000 in a year so he does not earn up to a trainee in the oil/gas sector, therefore, people no longer want to go into lecturing.

"Again, the Federal Government no longer provides housing for lecturers. You cannot, for instance, bring someone from Lagos to Yola to teach because when he comes, he may not find accommodation. Funding is another issue. It is so poor that some universities use part of their internallygenerated revenue to pay

salaries, so they cannot attract as many academic staff as they need.

"Another problem is that appointments are biased. You find that some unqualified

More schools, less lecturers: "The Federal Government has opened so many new universities without making prior arrangement for more lecturers. So, they are competing with the existing ones and with private universities. Some private universities even pay better than public universities. The condition of service is poor.

There are many reasons why we are experiencing dearth of academic staff in our universities,” Sajo stated.

Way forward: Proffering solutions to the problem, the stakeholders called for inter-varsity collaboration, overhauling of the curriculum, use of ICT, and better funding of the sector.

Inter-Varsity collaboration: Said Idu: "There is no interuniversity collaboration in Nigeria where A is training of

Continues on page 58

LASU crises: Lagos Assembly wades in

By EBUN SESSOU

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agos Assembly has resolved to put to rest all the challenges facing the Lagos State University, LASU, following the increase in the institution's fees which has posed serious problems to students and parents.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji disclosed this during a courtesy visit by members of the executive of LASU Alumni Association, who are seeking for prompt intervention of the House in the crises rocking the university.

Ikuforiji expressed happiness over the recent rating of the Law Faculty of the 30year-old institution as the best in Africa and 14th in the world.

He said he was impressed with the way the Alumni executive took it upon themselves to find lasting solutions

to problems of the institution.

According to him, "One of the attempts made by the House to sustain the institution was how the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) was convinced by the House not to de-accredit some courses in the institution including law.

"We had to send a delegation led by the current Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. (Hon.) Musibau Kolawole, to NUC office in Abuja, when they de-accredited eight courses in the institution, and even promised to go back there in two weeks to de-accredit more courses.

"Our intervention worked as the NUC Secretary was impressed with our intervention.

We later approved a sum of N3 billion for development purposes in the school," he said.

The Speaker, however,, add-

Continues on page 58

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

LASU crises: Lagos Assembly wades in Continues from page 57 ed that a visitation panel set up by the Governor later recommended increase in the fees being paid by the students of the school, which he said has also led to many crises in the generation university.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Governing Board of LASU Alumni Association, who led the delegation to the House, Mr. Fatai Sonoiki, intimated the House of how they have been intervening in the issues affecting the school including convincing various labour unions in the school not to go on strike.

He further said that the association decided to come to the House of Assembly to prevent another round of strike action by unions in the school such as Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU).

"The incessant strike actions in LASU are affecting the image of the school. We want the authorities to do something about the impending strike actions by the labour unions in the school. The House can call a meeting of LASU Governing Council, led by the Pro-Chancellor, university authority, led by the Vice-

Chancellor and the unions in the university. The alumni association too can be invited to

the meeting. The goal is to find a lasting solution to the instability in the school," he said.

AUS to recruit Nigerian Students

A

DMISSION counsellors from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), based in the Middle East, will between May 24 and 31, be in Nigeria to engage with high school counsellors, senior high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the institution and its academic programs. The institution’s Acting Chancellor, Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, said its re-

gional setting and the excellent quality of teaching makes AUS a top choice for students, parents and employers.

The university, he noted, offers a wide range of grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to help them finance their education to ensure that qualified students get the best education without finance being a hindrance.

From left: MD, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Governor Babatunde Fashola and a representative of Lagos contingent during the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of South-West Secondary School Games, in Lagos.

Fashola emerges most preferred guest speaker at CIAPS

BY DAYO ADESULU

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OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has been selected as the most preferred guest speaker at the upcoming inaugural Outcome-Based Education (OBE)Programmes to be held at the Lagos based Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS. Fashola emerged as the most preferred guest speaker in a survey conducted amongst students, graduates and friends of CIAPS. Other nominated speakers that gained a lot of votes during the survey include Ms. Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Yemi

Osibanjo, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Prof. Pat Utomi.

The OBE lectures will start June 3, 2014 and the theme to be treated by the selected speaker, Governor Fashola is Ethics, Education and Employability.

The CIAPS OBE Programmes, according to Prof Anthony Kila, the Centre Director; “are outcome based educational programmes built on research and input obtained from dynamic organisations about their recruitment needs as well as their employment and development strategies”.

A major aim of the

programme is to address the employability of many graduates and young people.

Rather than focusing on just theory and academic curriculum, CIAPS is working with businesses and various kinds of organisations to establish the kind of graduates they need, the skills and knowledge these graduate should possess.

That way graduates will be training for real jobs and careers rather than just for certificates.

The programmes will also help young people and graduates familiarise themselves with the working environment as a

Dearth of academic staff: Stakeholders proffer solutions

Curriculum: "Our curriculum is too vague and nobody wants to admit that the reason we are having high unemployment is because of our curriculum.

Canadian curriculum is tailored towards the industry.

We are not tailoring ours towards the industry. We don't prepare students towards specific industries.

In Botany for instance, you look at areas that are relevant to industry and tailor your curriculum towards these areas. What we have now is someone coming from overseas, saying he

specializes in a course that is irrelevant to our economy. He goes on to raise a unit and starts grooming students up to post-graduate level. Now, where would they work?" queried Idu. "There are so many things that are not relevant to the industry in our curriculum," he noted.

He said that applied

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Continues from page 57 students in certain areas and in staff exchange. Having this collaboration, especially in areas of strength, would help to marshall out sufficient staff. I was discussing with the ViceChancellor of University of The Gambia when I was in Benson Idahosa University on how we could do staff exchange. Unfortunately, professors are so few so they cannot train post-graduate students. He said they were already working with some UK universities.

teachers are over-worked.

This under-staffing could have been nipped in the bud if and only if we sit down and decide on the kind of curriculum we want to run.

"The curriculum should be designed to meet national needs. Everybody now tailors himself or herself towards that particular goal."

Functional education:

This under-staffing could have been nipped in the bud if and only if we sit down and decide on the kind of curriculum we want to run; the curriculum should be designed to meet national needs

aspects of subjects are underrated while upholding the traditional aspects. "When you uphold the traditional aspect of a subject and leave out the applied, how do you expect the students to cope at the end of the day? So it might not even be that we are understaffed in number, but because of the way our curriculum is open-ended, we have become under-staffed because the kind of courses we are taking are vague, the number of students are vague so most of the

,

"Our educational system must be functional so that a graduate can do something for himself. We now have graduates that cannot write job applications," said Sajo, adding: "For funding, we just have to abide by UNESCO's provision that 26 per cent of a country's budget must be given to education."

"What we have now are people picking courses just to get a PhD that may not be relevant to the nation's development. This year, I

picked a PhD student and trained her in a very specific area of plant anatomy that does not yet have a specialist. When I injected Phyto medicine into our postgraduate programme in Botany, I was trying to build a niche for myself but with a vision.

"The vision is that any student that goes through this training and comes out with a PhD, will not have to look for a job. He should be able to have his own health practice and do his own formulations.

"One of my students was able to formulate a mouthwash that is better than all the mouthwash in the market. He can start his business on mouthwash and he will be making his money," Idu enthused.

Use of ICT: For Mr. Amed Demirhan, Director of Library Services at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, the solution lies in the use of information and communications technology.

Citing a recent study comparing faculty pay in 28 countries by Center for International Higher

fundamental part of their study at CIAPS will be their work-experience, workplacements and other various kind of internship.

Many of the companies working with CIAPS on these programmes are eager to employ but cannot find the right people, many of the graduates they find are not ready for the work environment. CIAPS’ plan through its fast track programmes is to bridge this gap by providing very practical training for graduates and help them reach employers. The scheme aims to generate over a 100 jobs.

Education, at Boston College, and Laboratory for Institutional Analysis at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, in Moscow, he said Nigeria ranked above 15 of the 28 countries including Russia, China, Mexico, Japan and Brazil.

"This is good, so if we start implementing serious ICT with video/audio media teaching in real-time, Nigeria can recruit faculty from around the world especially those countries where the faculty salary is lower than Nigeria’s. It will be much easier to find more qualified people and a larger pool for selection."

Speaking on the gains of video conferencing in teaching, Dr. Agatha Ukata, Assistant Professor of African Literature at the AUN said: "Video conferencing creates an enabling environment for students to rub minds with other students in other parts of the world academically. It breaks the barriers of inaccessibility of persons talking on a one-on-one basis, using audio-visual tools. This collapses distance and other logistic bottlenecks and takes

Continues on page 60

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 59

‘We are confused’ ...Students of Colleges of Education bemoan prolonged strike

By LAJU ARENYEKA

T

HE campus of the Federal College of Education, (Technical) Akoka, is very much like that of its counterparts across the country. On a cursory look, the campus looks full. But about 90 percent of the campus population at the moment does not consist of FCE students. There are hopefuls writing the Computer Based Test of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, students of the Federal University of Technology, FUT Minna, who use the school facility, some members of staff, vendors seeking to make their daily bread-but very few students.

Since the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, began its strike more than five months ago, the Colleges are bereft of students. The few who are on ground portray the frustration of the thousands who remain at home.

Akegbeyale Ibrahim, a 200 Level student of Building Technology Education sits in the canteen with his friends.

His plan was to round off his National Certificate for Education, NCE, programme by August 2015, and begin pursuing his BSc in September. "We are confused and we don't know what to do. We don't know whether to move unto other things or to just keep waiting. I'm at a cross roads as to whether or not to begin a professional computer training course which is to last for six months. What if I start and the strike is called off? On the other hand, I'm just tired of hanging around and

doing nothing. It seems like my entire life is hanging in the balance. Some of us are even writing this present UTME." Okwara Stanley just resumed school in 100 Level when the strike began.

He has been a student for more than five months but has not attended any classes since he gained admission.

"Tell President Jonathan to call off the strike," he pleaded, "I have no idea what I am doing here. All I know is that I paid fees but there is nothing going on at all."

Chairman, COEASU FCE, Mr. Olayanju Taiwo told Vanguard Learning: "We haven't seen anything tangible from the Federal Government so far.

We have a meeting with them this week, but the success of the meeting will be determined by whether or not the Minister of Education, Sen. Nyesom Wike, attends the meeting and is forth coming about our demands."

Another COEASU Official who did not want his name in print, also put the blame at the feet of the supervising minister for education. "It's seems like Wike does not really care about what goes on in the sector. He did not attend the last meeting the union had with the house of representatives, and he was supposed to be the chairman."

The lecturers interviewed seem to be taking the 'no work, no pay' policy in stride. "We were already prepared for it, and we will continue until our demands are met," the COEASU FCE Chairman said without any qualms.

India to establish teacher training varsity in Nigeria

By LAIDE AKINBOADE

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O boost the teaching profession in Nigeria, India has concluded arrangements to establish a teacher training university.

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ajjampur Rangaiah Ghanashyam, stated this while declaring open the Indian Education fair recently in Abuja, Ghanashyam said the idea came as a result of several discussions he had with top government officials who have longed for the return of Indian teachers in the country.

According to him, “This new initiative is not aimed at belittling the Nigerian C M Y K

teaching profession but a way of improving upon it that could make it at par with world standard. Indian teachers of those days greatly impacted on the nation's education system.

"We may not have the money to come and build fancy buildings and make luxurious apartments and hotels, but we want to come to Nigeria to establish schools and help in educating your children. “If you speak to anyone in Nigeria who is in his 50s and 60s, he would tell you that his mathematics or science teacher was Indian.

"Those people who thought your parents and that generation, taught from the heart, so they are still remembered.”

Who will teach economics in the North-East? (1) “Only 18,667 out of the over 1.6 million candidates who applied for this year ’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, are seeking admission to the nation’s private universities…

PUNCH, April 29, 2014. p 49.

T

he story by Niyi Odebode and Charles Abah listed the number of applicants to private and public universities in the country, in general, and the North-East, in particular. Not surprisingly, the American University of Nigeria, AUN, owned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had the largest number of applicants among private universities in the zone. Other universities, as well as Colleges of Education, Science and Technology had as few as four applicants. Some universities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states had no applicants at all.

Even the formerly, very popular University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID, had only 20,428 applicants among candidates – not all of who will qualify to be admitted or show up if offered admission.

The low number of applicants to various institutions of higher learning in the North-East, which had traditionally been the least favoured, among all the six zones, was understandable, the precipitous decline in number of applicants, given the insurgency in the zone, has raised a lot of issues for those in charge of education, or indeed, all concerned Nigerians to start thinking about.

Scarcity of students, like all cases of scarcity of service receivers, invariably results in loss of service providers for several reasons.

Enrolment is directly variable with revenue; the higher the enrolment, the more revenue the institution can generate internally. Low enrolment obviously means low internally generated revenue and the need for subsidy by either the proprietor (in the case of private institutions) or governments (where public institutions are concerned). At the moment, both the owners of private universities and the public sector are being called upon to dip their hands in their pockets, more than they ever envisaged, in order to keep their institutions afloat. Unfortunately, that will be the situation for years to come – even if the insurgency ended today.

Feelings of insecurity don’t disappear immediately the terrorists agree to a ceasefire. It will take years after the last bomb had been exploded, the last shot fired and the last hostage taken before students will again confidently apply to those institutions.

Sad as the low enrolment is, it had

created an even more dispiriting situation – the scarcity of lecturers, tutors and instructors. The question raised — ‘Who will teach economics in the North-East?’ — could be asked about any subject. Economics had merely been used to serve as proxy for other disciplines such as the sciences, engineering, law, mathematics etc – because I am an economist and because it is one matter that binds the whole world together.

The mightiest and the tiniest nations are united in what has now become known as the Global Economy. It also underlies all activities from the ward

,

From left: Mrs Gbolahan Dawodu, SUBEB chairman; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mrs Mosunmola Junaid, Director, Lagos State Model Nur/Pry School; Miss Janet Lawrence, new registrant and Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, Commissioner for Education, at the unveiling of Spirit of Lagos/Registration of pupils in Lagos public primary schools as part of Children's Day celebration in Lagos.

Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Sad as the low enrolment is, it had created an even more dispiriting situation – the scarcity of lecturers, tutors and instructors

,

levels to Local Governments, States, the nation, the ECOWAS region and the world. Even the Boko Haram insurgents, who want ‘Western education’ eradicated, are caught up in the universal economy – somebody pays for the arms they use and pays for the food they eat. Till eternity, Napoleon, 1769-1821, will prove to be correct when he declared that: “An army marches on its stomach.”

Feeding all those Boko Haram stomachs, on the move now, is subject to the basic principles of supply and demand.

As students are fleeing from the zone, instructors, lecturers, tutors, administrators, bursars, games masters, etc, are also moving away — leaving whole departments of institutions without teachers. A reader/friend who just returned to Lagos, after securing an appointment with a school, after spending over 20 years in the North-East, where he had a house, as well as a thriving business, abandoned everything when his wife and kids were slaughtered in a church attack. That he failed to drop everything and flee, when other tutors were leaving two years ago, was his major regret.

To be continued next week

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60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

17-yr-old beats 15, 000 JAMBites to win Most Brilliant Student award

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HROUGH dint of hard work, focus, determination and mother luck, 17-year-old, Caleb Uzuegbunam of Unique Tutorials, Ikotun, Lagos, last Thursday, carted home a Nissan Starlet car, after beating over 15, 000 schoolleavers to come top at the 2014 Most Brilliant Student in Nigeria (MBSM) competition held at the Indoor Sport Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

The mind-pulsating threephased intellectual test, which was organized by the Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO) and solely sponsored by Fidelity Bank Plc, saw Uzuebgunam beating four other finalists in the third round of the competition that initially kicked-off with over 15,000 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidates (Jambites), drawn from various tutorial academies across the country.

Meanwhile, Situ Otito of Pass4Sure Concept, Lagos and Funmilayo Ajala of Bachel Academy, Akoka, who came first and second runners-up, bagged a oneyear ATSO scholarship and Galaxy Tablets respectively.

Speaking at the event, the Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Akoka Branch, Wale Badmus said: “Fidelity Bank Plc decided to support this brilliant initiative because they say, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

Considering that there is a transition period between when a student graduates from secondary school and when he gets admitted into the university or any other tertiary institution, we discovered that these section of people are presently being neglected. So, while waiting at home, if they are not meaningfully engaged, their minds go into so many things.

“We have been having the Beauty Pageants, where we celebrate the most beautiful girl in Nigeria and so many other awards, but not in the academic line. That’s the reason why we decided to support this initiative for the Most Brilliant Student in Nigeria.

"We believe this will encourage our youths while they are waiting to be admitted into tertiary institutions, to continue reading at home and not engaging in various social vices. Events like this, if sustained, will definitely

prepare them and keep them busy, while they await admission into the university.”

T

he Ag. President, ATSO, Mr. Sodunke Michael said: “the essence of the competition is to encourage and bring back majority of our youths towards the pursuit of academic excellence, as it has been observed that majority of them are tilting towards music, acting, football and entertainment in general.

They believe that if they are not beautiful or handsome, they can’t become a star. So ATSO, realised that no one has given attention to our students and youths that are brilliant.

“What we did was to go to tutorial academies across the six geo-political zones of the country to pick the best students after testing them.

We were able to get over 15, 000 students, who were further tested to arrive at the 3,000 students.

"In the second round, 50 best students were chosen, which further downsized to five finalists. But at the end of the day, just one student took home with the Nissan Starlet car,” adding “it is unfortunate that the standard of our education is on the decline, but it is not dead.

"So, we believe that government and corporate bodies could actually help us.

With this kind of programme, you will to a large extent see serious change in the level of the decline.”

U

zuegbunam, who applied for Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan (UI), however, expressed optimism that “through dint of hard work, focus, determination and mother luck, I am going to be admitted this year at the University of Ibadan. Going away with this coveted prize

of a Nissan Starlet shows that I’ve prepared adequately for this competition, my UTME Computer-Based Test and the forthcoming UI Post-UTME. With this new status, I will always represent ATSO as a good ambassador wherever I find myself.”

Some of the tutorial academies that participated in the competition were Pathfinder Tutorials, Surulere; Way to Campus Tutorial, Akoka; Pass4Sure Concept, Lagos; Bachel Academy, Akoka; Career Builders Academy, Iwaya, among others.

British Council partners Virgin Atlantic on entrepreneurs

T

HE British Council, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways, has announced a competition tagged Enterprise Challenge in a bid to promote the development of entrepreneurial skills in Nigerian youth.

Enterprise Challenge is an online competition which seeks to give young, brilliant entrepreneurial minds the opportunity to further develop their skills in this area and bring their innovative ideas to the fore for possible future development. It will be a battle of the best minds.

The competition is designed to test a range of consumerist skills and will take place in three task cycles over a five week period. Participants will compete for the opportunity to win flight tickets to the UK on Virgin Atlantic Airways and an opportunity to meet and be mentored by one of UK’s foremost entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson.

The competition is open to Nigerians currently domiciled in Nigeria and those studying in the UK who fall within the 18 to 35 year age bracket.

Grace Sch. reiterates commitment to students' scholarship

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RACE Schools Gbagada, has underscored its commitment to provide qualitative education to indigent and less privileged in society. The Administrator of the school, Mrs Tokunbo Edun says the school is committed to providing educational scholarship to indigent students in order to support parents who are financially incapacitated to sponsor the education of their children.

Edun who said the annual indigent scholarship award was instituted in 2004, noted that it is the desire of the school to meet the needs of the affected students where it matters most. The scholarship scheme since inception 10 years ago, has produced several students some of whom were sponsored to higher institutions.

The scholarship scheme was named after the school’s founder, Deaconess Grace Bisola Osinowo whose poor background informed the desire of the school to support the less privileged.

The educationist also added that the school equally provides eduC M Y K

cational resources such as tables, chairs, computer, textbooks etc., to support some public schools. This is part of the corporate social responsibility of the school to contribute its quota to the development of education.

The indigent students scholarship scheme is open to students who have finished JSS class with traits of academic brilliance and they must come from government public schools and also from a less privileged home.

The scholarship is open to three students annually and the school has committed millions of naira to provide full scholarship including boarding to the students.

Mrs. Edun urged well meaning Nigerians to focus on alleviating the sufferings of less privileged families who have no financial means to support their children.

This, according to her, is the only way to develop the nation as such students will end up as misfits in the society if they are not supported.

Grace school, founded over there decades ago has remained a focused educational institution, exposing students to current trends and dynamics in academic development.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 61

62—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY DAY SPECIAL:

Our democracy at a crossroads

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

I

t is now fifteen years since the military withdrew and Nigeria returned to full democratic rule. By Nigerian standards, it is a new record.

The immediate post-independence democratic era lasted for only five years and three months (October 1, 1960 to January 15th 1966). It was characterised by parliamentary rule. The military stayed in power for thirteen years and finally inaugurated a renascent democracy in 1979 under a presidential constitution. The second period lasted for only four years and three months and the military came back to stay in power for another fourteen years and five months (January 1, 1984 to May 29th 1999).

That our latest experiment in democracy has endured this long can be traced to three factors. The first was the masterstroke delivered in June 1999

by President Olusegun Obasanjo as soon as he assumed power. He retired some 93 military officers who had tasted political power and thusly broke the network of conspiracies that tended to see the military as the easy alternative to take over the reins of governance and eagerly waited to cash in on any easy

excuse to do so. The second was that Nigerians were tired of military rule, as its abuse by some regional hawks was threatening the unity of the country. The international community, after the fall of the former Soviet Union, evolved a new world order where democracy became the main selling political mantra and military rule became anathema.

The third and most important factor preserving our democracy was the movement of the seat of power from Lagos to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja in December 1991. The Lagos environment, with a radical press and vulnerable seat of power made it easy for any group of military conspirators to walk across the street from any of the military barracks, seize power in Dodan Barracks, Victoria Island, and plug a martial musical tape on Radio Nigeria. The new seat of power in Abuja was specially designed by Israeli experts to make it difficult to carry out a coup.

Two ripe opportunities have presented themselves for the military to change the government and yet it did not happen. The first was when General Abacha suddenly died in May 1998. The second was when civilian President, Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua, was brought back to the country after a protracted illness and

stay at a Saudi hospital. He was smuggled into Abuja by night. Miraculously, a military coup was averted even when some regional hawks were intent on bypassing the Vice President and keeping the presidency in the North. The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, had to

,

Prologue

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, had to invoke an unconstitutional “Doctrine of Necessity” in February 2010 to ensure the transfer of power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan before Yar’ Adua eventually died

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invoke an unconstitutional “Doctrine of Necessity” in February 2010 to ensure the transfer of power to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan before Yar’ Adua eventually died.

A major trend in these past fifteen years had to do with the changing fortunes of the party system in Nigeria. The military registered three political parties: the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) the party with the widespread national appeal; the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which drew majority of its faithful from Western

Continues on page 66

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—63

Pending political permutations

week. The rescheduled date passed yesterday and the event did not hold, and as at press time no date has been fixed for the event.

T is an unusual suspense that With the spate of insecurity and many political stakeholders may an estimated 276 Nigerian girls not have bargained for. That is, under the captivity of the Boko the inertia that has suddenly gripped Haram Islamic sect, political the Nigerian political class nine months to a decisive presidential momentum is inevitably being dictated by the group. It is no election.

The most visible aspirant and surprise that some have said that Dr. incumbent office holder, President Jonathan is in government, but Boko Goodluck Jonathan has himself cut Haram is in power.

With worldwide scathing criticisms off his covert political consultations of the president and his delayed and mobilisations framed in the form response to the abduction of the of zonal rallies of his party, the Chibok girls, it is not surprising that Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Dr. Jonathan is now devoting every Sense it seemed, was crystallised on the party with the outpouring of ounce of his energy to find the girls.

Returning the Chibok girls alive condemnations that trailed the party’s and ending the insurgency would be crucial in determining Returning the Chibok Dr. Jonathan’s viability girls alive and ending as a candidate in the f o r t h c o m i n g the insurgency would be presidential election. crucial in determining It is not as if that Dr. Jonathan’s viability would doom his chances of winning the as a candidate in the party ’s presidential forthcoming presidential ticket. With the exit of election the five former PDP governors and former last rally in Kano on April, 15 just 24 Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to hours after a motor park in Nyanya the APC last November, only was bombed, and hours after more Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa than 276 girls were kidnapped from State had looked like a rival to the Government Secondary School, Jonathan for the PDP ticket. But Lamido has recently backed out Chibok, Borno State.

It was as such remarkable that affirming earlier this week that he when the All Progressives Congress, did not “see a conducive APC flagged off its gubernatorial environment to declare my campaign for the Ekiti State aspiration.”

Also, suggestions that Dr. gubernatorial election penultimate Jonathan may drop out of the contest Thursday, that the PDP threw back the words of insensitivity at the in deference to critics who say he has underperformed or breached opposition party.

President Jonathan who was agreement on the rotation of the supposed to hand over the PDP flag presidency may be far-fetched, but to its candidate in Ekiti, Ayo Fayose not impossible.

It is as such generally assumed the day before the APC flag off, that he remains the presumptive pulled back and forced the campaign candidate of the ruling party. event to be pushed forward by one

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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However, the APC which many expect to provide the strongest opposition to Dr. Jonathan or the PDP is itself now gripped in serious birth pangs.

The party is set to hold a national convention in two weeks time with the election of a new set of national officers. The influx of five former PDP governors into the party has changed what was previously considered a good working political partnership between the party’s national leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The APC governors who between them control 16 states were able to muscle one of their own, Governor Aliyu Wamakko to lead the Convention Planning Committee, CPC and another of their former colleague, Senator Chris Ngige as secretary despite the earlier permutations of Tinubu and Buhari.

Indications are that the governors and the pair of Buhari and Tinubu are moving towards a convergence on the choice of a national chairman which may paper over whatever differences they may have for now.

However, when it comes to the issue of the presidential ticket, it could well turn into another high stakes game.

Though associates dismiss it, Buhari and Tinubu are alleged to have an agreement to run on a joint ticket, which if it true could seriously stretch the enlarged opposition party.

How the opposition party manages the different political aspirations of its major stakeholders for ascendancy would in no small way prove the capacity of the party to fight off the PDP in the main presidential election.

Already to the advantage of the PDP and its presumptive nominee, Jonathan, is the timetable for the election as released by INEC. The timetable has placed the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14, 2015 ahead of the gubernatorial and state assembly elections on February 28, 2015.

64—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Shape, colour of political opposition (1999 to 2014) F

IFTEEN years ago, precisely on May 29, 1999 General Abdulsalami Abubakar supervised the transition that heralded the Fourth Republic which made the former military leader Olusegun Obasanjo the new p r e s i d e n t .

Suffice it to say that out of the many political associations that evolved at that time, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stood out save at the regional levels where the Alliance for Democracy, AD, and the then All Peoples Party, APP, enjoyed ethnic support.

However, today, the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, faces its biggest threat in 15 years, after a newly formed opposition coalition was given the green light to contest the presidential election due next year.

On July 31st, 2013 the electoral authority approved the merger of the three leading opposition parties—the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the All Nigeria People’s Party and the Congress of Progressive Change, CPC. The All Progressive Congress, APC, as the new mega-party is known, will face a weakened PDP, which has held power since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999.

The merger is the most committed effort to date by the opposition to form a united front. In theory, power is within reach.

To give credence to the assertion, President Goodluck Jonathan, has inspired little confidence since taking the reins in 2010. He has struggled to contain an Islamist insurgency in the north and oil theft is at an all-time high: $10.9 billion has been lost to oil pilfering in two years, with senior government officials rumoured to be involved.

He also has problems within his party, which has shown signs of stress for close to a year now. In-party squabbling indicates that some in the PDP do not want the president to run again in 2015.

That is to say the history of Nigeria’s

political dispensation is replete with weak opposition that over the years could not engender any positive c h a n g e .

Coupled with rampant corruption, nepotism, insincerity, and ethnic bias, the political class had been overwhelmed by elements bereft of viable political ideology to anchor the nations’ political future and offer a desired constructive opposition.

In fact, many believe that Nigeria at best can boast of compromised opposition parties who for material benefit have long abandoned their traditional role as peoples watchdog, ensuring checks and balances on the ruling government and resorted to scouting for pecks of office.

That also explains why in Nigeria individuals that constitute the opposition view it as an opportunity to warm themselves into the heart of the ruling party for recognition.

Indeed, Nigeria’s opposition parties seem to have no plans, no programmes, no value added and lack credibility to challenge unpopular government policies.

It goes without saying, therefore, that bankruptcy in ideology and vision reduced party politics in Nigeria to bread and butter game. Monetisation of the political process has become the bedrock of loyalty and support, a situation that erodes the objective of the democratic process anchored on supremacy of popular will.

Even when members of the political class in realisation of their lame-duck approach to opposition initiated the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Nigerians welcomed the move as the most robust in the nation’s history of political opposition devoid of ethnic, elitist and parochial sentiments. But that was not to be.

Allegations mounted that some CNPP leaders compromised their positions for material benefits in form of physical cash or juicy appointments from the ruling parties in their states.

Unlike the first and second republics when ethnicity dictated the actions of the AG and UPN opposition, the present democracy, though better in ethnic orientation has suffered severe degradation owing to inability of the political class to adhere to the rules of the game. Apart from the ACN with some remarkable efforts, genuine opposition seems to be missing in action in Nigeria.

Apparently, the tragedy of the opposition in Nigeria presently, is that there is no difference in party ideology and structure between the PDP and the so-called opposition. By all intent and purposes they are the same and therefore considered as really not having much to offer.

The opposition parties should cease to bemoan their fate and blaming their dismal electoral outing and concentrate

,

BY LEKE ADESERI, SOUTH-WEST REGIONAL EDITOR

The merger is the most committed effort to date by the opposition to form a united front. In theory, power is within reach

,

on being resourceful and proactive in strategic politicking.

Previous attempts to rally the opposition against the PDP have failed amid infighting and the competing ambitions of party leaders. The success of the new coalition will depend on its big personalities being able to put their egos aside and carefully choose a presidential candidate.The ACN, a Yoruba-majority party with roots in the south-west, and the northern, Muslim-dominated CPC may seem like unlikely bedfellows, but they may be able to choose a candidate with broad national appeal, something which has eluded opposition parties in the past.

Some believe they may put forward a northern Muslim, with a Christian running mate from the oil-producing south.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 65

The burden of insecurity on the Nigerian economy

BY OMOH GABRIEL

product catapulted it past South Africa to number one in Africa by igeria’s nominal Gross far, notwithstanding Boko Haram’s Domestic Product, GDP, now depredations. stands at $509.9 billion, “Opportunities abound in making the nation’s economy the Nigeria’s rapidly expanding largest in Africa and the 26th in the market. The government is set on world, according to the results of the building core infrastructure, rebasing exercise of the federal particularly energy, railroads, and government. The GDP is the market roads. Modernisation programmes value of all final goods and services are being implemented in fields as produced within a country in a given diverse as agriculture and customs. period. It is an internationally The population, while still poor, is recognised indicator for measuring the expanding rapidly, along with u r b a n i s a t i o n .

The official ones are relatively Consequently, consumereasy to navigate; the unofficial facing industries such as ones are extortionate retail are attracting enterprises. The government is substantial attention and reportedly introducing investment. legislation to remove the official “Accordingly, many senior barriers, but this could face a business people I spoke to complex political economy there regard the Nigerian passage through the Nigerian growth story as one they parliament have to be part of. Nigeria

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size of an economy in a given period of time.

The rebased estimates indicate that the nominal GDP for Nigeria was much higher than previously estimated. In 2010 the estimate was $360. 644 billion; in 2011 it was $408.805 billion; and 2012 $453.966 billion. The growth rate is driven by the services sector with it contributing about 51 per cent of the GDP. The rebasing exercise on the Nigerian economy which also saw the Per capita rising to $2, 688, covered 2010 to 2013. Nigeria has moved on the per capita scale from 135 to 121st position.

Mr. Peter Draper a senior research fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs who attended the World Economic Forum’s Summit on Africa in Abuja earlier this month summarized the Nigerian economic growth situation and the challenges facing the nation thus “The accolade was the crowning glory of a year in which Nigeria’s rebased gross domestic

,

is the African market of the future.

But consider the environment in which business has to operate. I moderated a session on trade facilitation, or customs procedures.

Apparently it takes 141 signatures to move a container through the Lagos Port complex, a figure I informally verified through subsequent personal interactions with logistics executives. Imagine the corruption opportunities this implies, and the associated border delays. Internal borders apparently abound. The official ones are relatively easy to navigate; the unofficial ones are extortionate enterprises. The government is reportedly introducing legislation to remove the official barriers, but this could face a complex political economy passage through the Nigerian parliament.

“Evidently, one of the key motivations for constructing railroads is to avoid these internal barriers. But obtaining permission

to construct railroads, or other infrastructure, is a daunting proposition. In one private conversation, I was told that during a certain healthcare reform, one government department resorted to bribing another simply to secure the necessary permissions. Perhaps this is apocryphal, but my confidant did not think so”.

Apart from the internal trade barriers erected by the various governments, internal trade is also now being hampered by the activities of criminals in most parts of the country. In the North East, Boko Haram is holding sway while in the South-South and South East kidnapping is an every day thing.

In the last few years manufacturers in the country have been licking their wounds over streams of losses as a result of built up finished inventories of goods in their warehouses they cannot sell.

This is as a result of the insecurity in the Northern part of the country that has taken away part of their market. Many company chief executives said the north is important to their business as the region accounts for more than 30 per cent of the Nigerian market. Though the manufacturers see the market as huge, distribution of goods and services to this region is being hampered by security challenges in the affected states. This has led to significant reduction in turnover, reduction in sales force/ sales outlets; layoff of production staff by companies operating from other parts of the country due to high unsold inventory.

From multinationals to small and medium size firms, the story is the same.

Speaking on the issue, PZ Cusssons Plc Chairman, Professor Emmanuel Edozien, said its sales dropped by 1 per cent from N72.2 billion to N71.3 billion. In a review of the company’s performance for the financial year ended 2013, he attributed the drop in the company’s revenue to: “The social unrest in the Northern part of the country and the impact on the consumers’ spending power subsequent to the reduction of the fuel subsidy which exerted considerable pressure on the top line throughout the year.”

Martin Woolnough Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria Plc said “The marketing of our products in the north is being hampered,” He described the state of insecurity in some parts of northern Nigeria as “A stress on the economy”. We can’t get our sales team up there. That’s likely to impact the middle to long term brand equity in the future.

Distribution, administration and other costs rose five percent from a year earlier to N17.5 billion because of an increase in marketing spend,” Woolnough said. Woolnough, who noted that the company has about 140 sales staff in the country, said Nestle, the largest food company in Nigeria, temporarily withdrew about 10 of its sales staff from the three states for a week.

66 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Our democracy at crossroads Continues from page 62 Nigeria, and the All People’s Party (APP), which had most of its adherents from Arewa or the Muslim North. AD and APP went into an alliance in 1999 to try and tackle the PDP for the Presidency but lost. Since then, the AD changed to Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) and again quickly to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The APP became the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and the Muhammadu Buhari faction split to form the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Meanwhile, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a South East-strong party that was refused registration in 1998, eventually got registered and at a point had control of two states. The ACN, CPC and ANPP about a year ago, came together to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), the strongest opposition party in the land. Meanwhile, the PDP

has remained impregnable, mainly because it has retained control of the federal government and majority of states and local councils since the dawn of this renascent democracy. Today, Nigeria can be described as a dominant two-party system, even though the strength and staying power of the APC will be tested in the polls that come up early in 2015.

Our democracy has had its own fair share of vicissitudes. Right now, it is generally smooth sailing, with occasional verbal exchanges between the ruling PDP and the opposition APC seeking to upstage it come next year.

But in the early years when General Obasanjo was crowned as president of Nigeria, there was much turbulence, as the president used raw dictatorial strategies to unsettle other realms of the state, especially the federal legislature, causing it to

frequently change its leadership to suit the president’s political interests. Obasanjo also caused many governors to be removed and he frequently declared states of emergency, removed governors, suspended states’ legislatures and appointed interim military administrators while the emergency periods lasted. But since his immediate successor, President Umar Yar’ Adua took over till date; there has been a healthy dose of respect for all the arms and tiers of government, which has greatly improved the quality of our democracy, including state and federal elections.

In our fifteen years of return to democracy, the nation has been greatly challenged by a series of armed struggles by militants and insurgents.

The new dispensation was inaugurated just after the Warri communal crisis in Delta State, which later blossomed into an armed

struggle for resource control by militants in the entire Niger Delta. They targeted oil and gas infrastructure for destruction and kidnapped foreigners. The economy bled profusely despite the best efforts of the military, through the Joint Task Force (JTF) to stamp out the rebellion.

It took a well-packed amnesty deal to bring the militancy to a dramatic close in October, 2009.

Meanwhile, another, even bigger challenge to the territorial integrity of the nation was germinating in the extreme north east of Nigeria. Boko Haram, an Islamic sect that forbids Western education and seeks to enthrone strict Islamic rule in the North, clashed with the security agencies and its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was captured alive and killed in police custody.

Thus started the insurgency that has attracted the Al Qaeda global terrorist network to pitch tent with their Nigerian Salafist movement

in a bid to establish a new Caliphate known as Sahelistan, which will cover most of the semidesert zones of West and Central Africa with spiritual headquarters in Maiduguri.

Boko Haram’s real strength lies, not only in the steady supply of fighters, weapons and logistics from enemies of Nigeria abroad, but also enemies of Nigeria within the country. Some of these politicians, who have been frustrated in their inability to snatch power through regional gang-ups, had threatened to make the nation ungovernable for President Jonathan. Many people share the view that without the sabotage within and outside the military by sympathisers of the insurgents, and also the steady flow of funds from moneybags and politicians in the North, Boko Haram would have been a thing of the past.

Right now, following the abduction of the schoolgirls of Chibok by the Islamists, the world has thrown itself at the disposal of Nigeria, offering all forms of assistance to ensure the girls are rescued and the terrorists brought to heel.

There are, indeed, fears that unless great care is taken, our democracy is heading towards uncertain waters in the coming few months. There are loose talks about indiscipline in the army and an alleged mutiny, which was quickly arrested in Maiduguri.

Media reports have it that despite the huge sums of money devoted to security in the federal budgets last year and this year, the military is too poorly funded to roundup the insurgency in the style typical of the Nigerian army everywhere it has gone since independence.

Experience in Mali has shown that when the military confronting the enemy of a nation feels it is being denied what is required to defeat the enemy; when it begins to suffer avoidable reverses and stands in danger of losing out to the enemy, it turns around to terminate democracy. That was what happened in 2012 when General Ahmadu Haya Sanogo, after a series of defeats at the hands of Tuareg and Islamist insurgents in the north of the country, he brought a company of his troops to Bamako and toppled President Amadu Toumani Toure. It took efforts by African leaders, with Nigeria providing the military muscle and finance, to rush the Malian military junta into handing over to the interim government now working towards a quick return to democracy in Mali.

Something must be done to avoid this turn of events in Nigeria, and nothing short of the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls and total defeat of Boko Haram will suffice to remove the fears for our democracy.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Benefits of a Veg diet: Longevity

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EOPLE are vegetarians or vegans for many reasons, including concern for personal health, the environment, economic and world hunger concerns, compassion for animals, belief in nonviolence, food preferences, or spiritual reasons.

People may become vegetarians for one reason, and then later on adopt some of the other reasons as well. Personally, I started with health reasons and later realised how important a non-meat diet is for the sustainability of this planet.

Somehow interestingly and hard to explain, my relationship to animals changed also. While in recent years it appears that the main driver in Western countries for people to go vegetarian or vegan is based on ethical grounds mostly because of the cruelty of meat production, in developing countries it seems to be so far much more personal health related.

Countries like Mexico, Kenya and Nigeria have a similar story.

As more people climb up the economic ladder and have more money to spend on food, many of them simply just buy more of the same food they ate before. Their lifestyle is not yet changing.

Consequence are that the excess calories lead to overweight and sickness. There is a whole range of diseases wrong food can cause.

In the following weeks we shall explore more on that. However, the holy grail of health obviously

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com patterns with lower mortality is: longevity.

Last year, at Loma Linda compared with the nonUniversity in California – founded vegetarian dietary pattern,” the

by Seventh-day Adventist researchers wrote in the study.

Church which follows mainly a Specifically, vegans had a 15 pesco-vegetarian diet - percent lower risk of death, lactoresearchers found that overall ovo-vegetarians (vegetarians who vegetarians had a 12 percent consume milk and eggs) had a 9 lower risk of dying over a six-year percent lower risk of death, pescoperiod, compared with non- vegetarians (vegetarians who eat vegetarians. “These results fish) had a 19 percent lower risk demonstrate an overall of death and semi-vegetarians association of vegetarian dietary had an 8 percent lower risk of

• Jim Morris, 78-year-old Vegan bodybuilder.

death. The study included 73,308 Seventh-Day Adventist men and women.

However, it’s important to note that people in the study who are vegetarians tended to be more likely to be married, have higher education levels and be older and thinner. They were also more likely to exercise, to not smoke and to not drink. Researchers noted that all of these are also factors could play a role in their lower risk of

— 67

death.

Michael F. Roizen, author of New York Times best seller The RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger with What You Eat does not only give his readers a probability in percentage but numbers the years a vegetarian gains through this diet: “If you switch from the standard American diet to a vegetarian diet, you can add about 13 healthy years to your life.” That leaves us with only one question: Why do you not add some years to your life?

Board reads riot act to managers of federal health institutions

BY HENRY UMORU

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HAIRMEN, Boards of Federal Health Parastals across the country have warned that it will no longer be business as usual for staff, even as they vowed to put an end to the spate of avoidable problems which have become recurrent problems in the institutions.

These were part of resolutions at the end of a meeting of Forum of Chairmen of Boards of Health Parastatals in Nigeria held in Abuja last week.

In a Communique, Forum Chairman and National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, South East, Col. Austin Akobundu, Rtd., the forum said noted that the central theme of deliberations was evolving ways to drive the transformation Agenda of the President

Goodluck Jonathan administration in health institutions nationwide.

“Towards the above, members agreed and created committees to ensure that such problems off dirtiness, out- of- stock syndrome, long- waiting and neglect syndrome and incessant strikes in the sector among other things are significantly curtailed or out rightly eradicated.

The statement observed that the forum therefore directed to get the boards out of the boardrooms and move them into the hospital in their genuine attempt to achieve the goals. It directed boards to leverage on available institutional mechanisms to improve health care delivery in their institutions, noting that it had been decided that it will no longer be business as usual in the health institutions.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO everybody and welcome. This week features the third installment of our new product discussions. The first of these products to be discussed today are novelties that enhance our vital sexual features to create sex appeal and boost our self-esteem. As you may know, the way we look affects our sexual confidence and the way we feel about ourselves. That is why looks are important and every adult out there must be committed to taking care of him or herself.

So first in line of our new products for today is the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel for women. No matter how beautiful a woman’s breasts look, they are bound to develop wrinkles and sag with pregnancy and age. That is why breasts need to be taken care of and the Pheromone Firming Bust Gel does that. This pheromone infused gel tones the skin and makes the breasts firmer. It also makes the breasts appear younger by removing wrinkles and smoothening the skin. And of course, it is a sexual attractant as well because it has pheromones in it, so women will love it.

Like they say, bigger is better. So today, we have two new penis pumps for men. They are the Machismo Pump and the Precision Pump with Erection Enhancer. Penis pumps essentially do two huge things for men. They enlarge the penis and facilitate greater blood flow to the penis to ensure a firm erection when a man needs it. So in the two above products, men everywhere will find solutions to penis enlargement and erectile dysfunction (men suffering from a lack of erection or an erection that is too soft for penetration).

Next on the list are products that enable us get the best out of our love lives. By this we are talking about novelties that aid sexual satisfaction. There is no man anywhere that is happy to experience premature ejaculation, because it affects his ability to enjoy intercourse and satisfy his female partner. For this, we have a sex toy for stopping premature ejaculation called the

Cock Xtender Sleeve. It is the best looking penis sleeve I have ever seen. It is thick, realistic and brown like the color of our skin, is reusable and prevents quick ejaculation. The Cock Xtender Sleeve also adds three inches length and some considerable width to the wearer to make him appear much bigger than he actually is, and it stretches to fit most adult men. So this is an important and exciting new product for the men.

And for the women, we have new vibrators that will leave big smiles on their faces after use because of their quality.

They are the Cyberskin G Spot Buzzer and My First Jack Rabbit Vibrator. Any woman who claims not to enjoy intercourse is one who has never used a good vibrator. These two top of the range vibrators offer women unparalleled pleasure and multiple orgasms when used. This is a big deal because the value of sexual satisfaction cannot be quantified. But we all know how good it makes us feel and what it does for our relationships.

Let us now answer a few questions from our readers.

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What happened to you can happen to anybody. Only luck can bring the right person into our lives. My advice for you is to date a woman who already has a job. That way, she wouldn’t need to depend on you for money. It is easier that way to know if a girl really likes you or your money – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08171912551 or 08027901621 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.

68 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Imo traditional rulers reject Okorocha’s cars

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, was yesterday stunned as royal fathers defiantly rejected the Toyota Sienna vehicles presented to them by the state government.

Most of the traditional rulers, who spoke angrily to Vanguard on the issue, said nobody consulted them before they went into the market to make the purchases.

One of the aggrieved royal fathers, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity for fear of victimization, said: “It was a gratuitous insult for the administration to, on its own, buy and force us to use Sienna vehicles. “it is most uncharitable for the administration to announce to the world that the governor is distributing vehicles free of charge to Imo royal fathers, when in actual fact Okorocha would be deducting N50,000 from our monthly stipends for the next three years.”

While insisting that each traditional ruler was expected to

cough out a total sum of N1.8 million at the end of the threeyear deductions, the monarch also opined that “the entire arrangement was deceitful and most embarrassing”.

Another monarch recalled with grief, how the governor ordered each traditional ruler to present two jars of palm wine for the

Freedom Day celebration.

“The order was very humiliating. I am not too sure any traditional ruler from either the Yoruba or Hausa communities could be given such directives,” the royal father lamented.

Vanguard’s last check before going to press has revealed that most of the traditional rulers

MEETING: From left; Dr Camara Bilali, Country Representative, UNAIDS; Madam Onyeka Onwenu, DG, National Centre for Women Development; Dr Zipporah Kpamor, Country Representative, Management Sciences for Health, Nigeria and Dr Ibrahim Umoru, Leader Network of People Living with HIV, Lagos Nigeria and Communities delegation to the Global Fund recently at Friends Africa - Africa Health Innovation meeting in Abuja.

Oko Poly’s denies OPU’s accusations

BY IKENNAASOMBA

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HE Rector of Oko Polytech nic, Anambra State, Prof Godwin Onu, has denied allegations by Oko People’s Union, OPU, that he was at war with the Oko community, saying he never sponsored thugs to destroy the palace of the traditional ruler, Prof Laz Ekwueme.

In a statement signed on his be-

half by the Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr Onuchukwu Obini, Onu said: ‘’It is laughable to say that the Rector hates Oko community. Oko indigenes constitute about 65 percent of our entire workforce. The OPU president, who signed the petition was among the last set of Oko indigenes employed by the current administration and up till now, he is still our staff, bitting the

Chibok girls: Abia govt cancels Democracy Day celebration

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA—ABIA State government has cancelled all activities slated to mark this year’s Democracy Day, in sympathy with the over 200 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram in Borno State.

The government rather urged all Abia citizens and residents to devote the day to prayers and fasting for the safe release of the girls.

According to the government, the present mood of the nation calls for a sober moment and reflections to the many problems facing the country.

A government special announcement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji, Charles Ajunwa, said: “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has cancelled all activities lined up for the celebration of 2014 Democracy Day in sympathy with the over 200 Chibok school girls in Borno State abducted by Boko Haram.

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have withdrawn the documents they signed for the collection of the proposed vehicles.

Spirited efforts made to get the Commissioner for Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Val Mbamala, for his comments failed as his mobile line could not be reached at press time.

“The governor directs that all citizens and other residents of Abia should devote this year’s May Day to prayers and fasting for the safe release of the Chibok school girls.

finger that feeds him. ’’Priority has always been given to the community during admissions. On his own without application, the Rector employed 20 indigent widows from the community, donated vehicles to the community to improve vigilante services. He opened the ultra modern medical centre of the institution to the community at subsidised rates.

"He introduced the first Dr Alex Ekwueme Annual lecture to honour and immortalise our founder, even while alive. Homage is regularly paid to the traditional ruler, Prof Laz Ekwueme. In terms of appointment, up till recently, an Oko indigene occupied the sensitive position of a Bursar for 10 years. The entire old Aguata Union is adequately represented in the appointment

of

management staff. ’’It is very disheartening that the community led by Igwe is not calling for the Rector’s removal because of poor performance or corruption but for selfish reason of who becomes the Rector. Nobody talks about what to do to improve the standard of the institution which the rector has selflessly continued to do. We thank Mr President for recognising the hard work by Professor Onu and his intention to transform the institution.

"The President General of OPU and their legal adviser went to the media houses to justify their expenditure because we learnt that each village was tasked to contribute some money to support their battle. We have done nothing wrong except that we blocked some exhaust pipes to ensure we generate enough Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, to develop the institution.

Local content: NLNG, HHI kick off building training programme for young Nigerians

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IGERIA Liquefied Nat ural Gas Limited, NLNG, and Hyundai Heavy Industries, HHI, have in Bonny Island, Rivers State, kicked off a two-year ship building training programme at the NLNG-owned Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC).

The company in a statement signed by Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, said 120 young Nigerian technicians would acquire requisite competencies and skills in ship building, as part of Nigerian content development agreed between Bonny Gas Transport Limited, BGT, a wholly-owned NLNG subsidiary, and HHI as contained in the con-

tract for the construction of two new LNG carriers for Bonny Gas Transport.

Declaring the training open, the General Manager for Shipping at NLNG, Capt. Temi Okesanjo, who was represented by Manager, Commercial Shipping, Capt. Hambali Yusuf, said: “This training is one of the deliverables set aside for local Content development which was discussed and agreed by all parties involved, i.e., the Nigerian Content Development Board, Bonny Gas Transport/ Nigeria LNG, the respective shipyards and in this case Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

“These deliverables were firmed up in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and we are delighted that this major achievement has been flagged off.”

“Earlier, as part of the MOA, 60 technicians had departed Nigeria for South Korea on a threemonth ship building programme, 28 of whom will stay back and join in the construction of the two new carriers."

“Another 20 technicians are currently being trained at International Energy Services Limited (IESL) in Lagos on a ship design programme, seven of whom will also participate in the construction of the new carriers."

Corruption: Jonathan urged to create Treasury Ministry

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

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ICE-CHAIRMAN, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the SouthWest, Engr. Adedeji Doherty, and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Dr. Babatunde Fowler, have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to create a Treasury Ministry.

They spoke at the 2014 Hall of Grace, HOG, dinner/awards, a 4-year-old initiative of two-time former Minister, Chief Alex Akinyele, which is being managed by Mr.Rupert Ojenuwa, where Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Dr. William Fowler and Nnamdi Ezeigbo, CEO of Slot System and others, were honoured as Governor of the Year, Man of Excellence and Businessman of the Year, respectively in Lagos.

The duo argued that the creation of a Treasury Ministry remained Nigeria’s most viable means of salvaging itself from the cesspit of corruption which had greatly hindered the country, especially in the battle against terrorism.

Democracy Day: Remain steadfast, senator urges Nigerians

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS—THE sena tor representing Lagos East senatorial district, Gbenga Ashafa, has advised Nigerians to remain hopeful, despite the insecurity challenge facing the country at present.

Ashafa made the remarks in his message on the occasion marking the 2014 Democracy Day today, at his constituency office in Ketu, Lagos.

He said: “Today marks another milestone in our democratic journey as a nation.

“Today has met us all at a time that can best be described as trying. We are a people and a nation in need of change, restoration, healing, reorientation and many other good things that are the hallmark of a progressive nation.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—69

Plot to impeach Oshiomhole, Odubu, Speaker thickens

2015 guber: A'Ibom in diaspora make case for credible candidacy

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

lawmakers to back the plot.

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‘They’ll fail’

ENIN— THE crisis rocking All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State is becoming messier, as an alleged plot to impeach Governor Adams Oshiomhole, his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi Igbe thickens.

Vanguard gathered that the plot is being masterminded by members of APC, who recently defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, including their lawmakers and few leaders of PDP in the state.

The plot, Vanguard learnt, is to cause crisis in the state so that PDP can win majority in the state House of Assembly and National Assembly elections come 2015.

In spite of the recent defection of four APC lawmakers to PDP, the party (PDP) is still in the minority with eight lawmakers against APC’s 16. But Vanguard learnt that there are moves to induce more

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S the 2015 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State draws near, a group, New Breed for Sustainable Development and Continuity, NSDC, has pledged to support a candidate with credible economic and developmental programmes.

The group, in a statement after its inaugural meeting at Union City, California, USA, by its President, Mfon Umo, said: “We have watched with keen interest the unfolding event in our beloved state of Akwa Ibom.

“There is a need for continuity and sustainable development and human capital development at all strata in Akwa Ibom State.

“Therefore, we have decided to extend an invitation to Elder Udom Emmanuel, as a leading gubernatorial hopeful, to address a cross section of professionals, academics and business groups here in California.”

However, the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Philip Shaibu, who reacted to the allegation, said: “We are aware of their plots. But they will fail.

“My joy is that we have lawmakers here who believe strongly in the developmental strides of Governor Oshiomhole, so they cannot ever be part of such plot to impeach the governor.

“We are aware of the moves they are making to destabilise the state, to ensure that the governor does not continue

MEND backs prisoners-for-Chibok schoolgirls swap deal proposal

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME & SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ORT HARCOURT— MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, has called on the Federal Government to give in to demand by Boko Haram that its men in prison custody and other detention centres be released in exchange for the freedom of the abducted Chibok schioolgirls.

It noted that using force to free the abducted girls will be counter-productive.

Spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo in a statement, said that the swap was the best option that will guarantee enduring

peace in the North-Eastern part of the country.

The group said: “MEND supports a prisoner exchange initiative with Boko Haram towards the release of the Chibok schoolgirls as the only viable and safe option and the threshold towards maintaining contact, further ceasefire and eventual longterm peace and security in that region.

“From our experience, it is impossible for any forceful commando-type rescue in forests or creeks to be successful.

“The Israelis encouraging such a move should understand that Sambisa

Anniversary

Seplat empowers 80 women in Delta community

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AMB Christian Centre has celebrated the 3rd anniversary of Lamb Empowerment Summit and opening of the Lamb Christian Library in Lagos.

Senior Pastor of the church and Founder of the summit, Pastor Kayode Obembe, said that the vision of the ministry is to build exceptional leaders, hence the need for a world class library.

S part of its corporate social responsibility, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Ltd, has empowered 80 young women from one of its host communities, Okirighwre community, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State with sewing and hair dressing equipment.

Fifty women, who trained in hair dressing, got one hair drying machine each,

while 30 that trained in sewing got two sewing machines each.

Base Manager of the company, Dr. Chukumah Igelenyah, represented by the Community Relations Manager, Mr. Lucky Obiuwevwi, who presented the items to the recipients, said the gesture was to encourage the women to be self-employed in their chosen career, adding that the donation was the first phase of the empowerment

Forest is a different kettle of fish from Entebbe International Airport.

“MEND also wishes to commend the government for the release of our former Commander, Mr. Tamunotonye Kuna, a.k.a.

Commander Obese, and 53 fighters under his command held at the Port Harcourt Prison without trial since December 2010.”

programme.

Okirighwre community, represented at the ceremony by its Chairman, Chief John Eritobor and other executive members of the community, appreciated the gesture and charged the company to extend similar gesture to the male youths of the community, particularly those who have trained in the areas of welding and vulcanising, to reduce unemployment.

EPF exco dissolved

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EADERS and youths of Egbema kingdom in Warri North Local Government area of Delta State have resolved to constitute new executive to pilot the affairs of Egbema Political Forum, EPF, a socio-political and economic pressure group established to pursue the promotion of the well being of the Ijaw speaking people of the area.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the leaders and stakeholders of the community following the dissolution of the former executive committee.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

in his developmental efforts.

But they are wasting their time.

“The problem with some people is that they now think like God, they act like God but what they fail to understand is that when the majority of the masses are with the governor, God will always protect him and his administration.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Chibok schoolgirls' saga

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do not know why information about the discovery of girls should be made public.

Are these not supposed to be classified information? If our security agents have really located them, so what? How many did they rescue?— Ms. Chike Dike, Student.

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HE zoo called Nigeria should for no reason negotiate with Boko haram! They should be flushed down to hell. By the way, can anyone tell me what the Americans were waiting for all the while? Or am I missing something?— Mr. Transcase Deminok, Businessman.

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HE government should be held responsible if anything happens to the girls since they refused the insurgents’ condition for release. Why not accept the condition and perfect other strategies to hit Boko Haram?— Mr. Charles Ohosman, Worker.

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HE Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, needs some brushing up on how to organise and handle press conferences. The whole world is saying “Bring Back Our Girls” and they should be brought back alive and healthy.— Mr. Nosa Olotu, Worker.

I

T is like the case of a tsetse-fly perched on the testis. If you strike hard, you burst the testis and we all know the importance of that part of the body to a man.

The ball is now in President Goodluck Jonathan’s court.— Mr. Obim Nwosu, Public Relations Man.

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F they have really located the girls, it is good news. We pray their release be soon. By not just engaging the sect in fire-for-fire war, this government showed respect for the lives of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.— Mrs Ibimonia Har ry, Businesswoman.

70 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

NASRDA to develop, build Nigerian satellite by 2018

Publishers ask govt to relax tariff, duty regimes on books

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BUJA—THE National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, is to develop and build a Nigerian satellite by 2018, its Director-General, Prof. Seidu Mohammed, has said.

Mohammed announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Abuja.

He said the agency was working on the legal framework of the Nigerian space programme with a view to enhance the nation’s Space Science and Technology Administration.

He said that the legal framework would set the foundation for the erection of systematic space science and technology in Nigeria.

He said: “The policy document for the actualisation of the Nigerian space programme indicates that 2011 is meant for Nigeriasat II and X, while in 2015, the training of astronauts will commence.

“The agency is expected to achieve the development and building of made-in Nigeria satellite in 2018, while 2025 is for the development of rocketry/ propulsion system,” he said.

CBN to partner Education ministry on financial literacy curriculum

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BUJA — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said it would partner with the Federal Ministry of Education to develop a financial literacy curriculum.

Director, Consumer Protection Department in the bank, Hajiya Umma Dutse, said this at a news conference in Abuja.

Dutse said the bank would also collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to develop the curriculum that would be adopted at all levels of the educational system.

She said: “The curriculum, which is expected to be developed before the end of this year, will articulate appropriate financial topics that will be taught in schools. This will improve the financial literacy levels of the students."

Dutse said the bank was committed to enhancing the financial literacy of Nigerian youths to achieve a robust financial inclusion in the country.

She added that enhancing the financial literacy was also an effort in ultimately attaining the objectivity of the Financial System Strategy by 2020.

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From left: Counsel to Aisha Falode, Festus Keyamo; Aisha Falode, mother of murdered Toba Falode and counsel to Better Nigeria for the Nigeria Women, Dolapo Awosika, during Aisha Falode’s meeting with House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora on the murder of her son, Toba Falode, in Dubai at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Gunmen kill 4 in Jos midnight attack

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG with agency report

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OS — THE Plateau Police Command has said that four persons were killed by unknown gunmen, Tuesday night, at Wat village, Kuru, in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent Felicia Anslem, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos, yesterday, said the village was attacked by unknown gunmen when the people were asleep, adding that four persons were killed while others were injured.

She said investigation into the killings had commenced and called on members of the community to remain calm.

Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, Media Officer of the Special Task Force in charge of security in Plateau, also confirmed the attack but declined to give details.

PIDAN lauds Plateau youths This Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives, PIDAN, has commended youths in Plateau State for displaying decorum in the face of the recent challenges being faced by the state, following renewed insecurity of lives and property.

PIDAN noted that youths in the state did not resort to taking the laws into their hands by attacking innocent people even as it sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones during the recent twin-bomb attacks in Jos. Public Relations Officer of PIDAN, Stephen Musa, who made this known, described as barbaric and devilish, the bomb blasts which left scores of people dead and many injured and urged security agencies to ensure that

the perpetrators were fished out and dealt with accordingly.

A statement signed by Musa, however, asked the residents of Jos to “remain calm, law abiding, alert and to promptly report any suspicious movement or element within their environment to the respective security agencies. ”It is unfortunate that the incidents came at the time the state was enjoying relative peace. The Plateau State government must immediately ensure that traders

are moved to designated markets as well as clear major streets of illegal traders, ban street and highway trading and hawking in our cities to create enabling environment for effective security surveillance.”

Similarly, the South-South Indegenes Association in a statement signed by its President-General, Mr Smart Irabor asked Plateau indigenes not to be despondent but perpetually vigilant while praying for God’s intervention and forgiveness.

INSECURITY: Yero asks Nigerians to stop blame game

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ADUNA — Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State has asked Nigerians to stop the blame game over the state of insecurity in the country and join hands with the leadership to defeat the country’s common adversaries.

This was contained in the governor’s Democracy Day message to the people of the state.

He said: “In our case, we are presently facing insecurity and it is the responsibility of all of us to join hands in defeating those bent on truncating our progress as a people. This is not time for blame game as disunity will only serve the interest of our common adversaries.

"Let’s continue to give support to our leaders and the security forces in this fight because united we shall win.”

The statement was signed by his Director General, Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki in Kaduna, yesterday.

According to Yero, "the last 15 years of democratic stability in the country is a testimony that our great country is on the march towards entrenching an enduring democratic culture as the only means of exercising power by popularly elected rep-

resentatives of the people. ”We have never had such a long period of uninterrupted democratic governance in our history as a nation and this calls for celebrations while we continue to trudge on in the face of our current challenges. We must not despair as a people because better days are certainly ahead of us.”

Yero insisted that every nation the world over had its own peculiar challenges, just as we had insecurity as the major problem currently facing the country.

He, therefore, called on citizens of Kaduna State and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day to pray for peace and stability of the country, even as concerted efforts were being made to end insurgency and other crimes in the country.

The Governor however asked politicians to desist from promoting the culture of political indiscipline and use of abusive languages as the country approaches the 2015 general elections adding that the attitude of ‘’do or die politics’’ would take the nation nowhere.

AGOS — AS part of con certed efforts to ensure the survival of books and build capacity in the book industry in Nigeria, the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA) has asked the Federal Government to relax policies such as the recent introduction of tariff and duty regimes on books.

This was made public at the recent summit organised by Nigerian Publishers Association, a forum through which publishers meet and deliberate on various issues affecting the publishing industry and the book trade at large.

According to the Executive Secretary of the NPA, Mr. Banji Aladesuyi, "the purpose of the mini-summit was to examine critically the survival of the publishing industry and the effect of a number of current practices and nuances of government and individuals on the publishing industry.

"Such government policies include the sudden introduction of the tariff and duty regimes of 50 per cent on school books. Although this has been put in abeyance till September 30, 2014 – end of school year, following an all round condemnation."

Adamawa trains 105 visually impaired persons

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OLA — THE Adamawa State government trained 105 visually impaired persons in various skills last year, the state branch of the Nigeria Association for the Blind has said.

The chairman of the association, Mr Abubakar Gombi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Yola.

Gombi said the beneficiaries were trained under the state government’s local apprenticeship scheme, adding that the government also offered employment to 49 physically challenged persons within the period.

He stated that the association had established committees to promote its activities, seek employment for the members, create educational opportunities and facilitate sporting activities among them.

Gombi appealed to the state government and other publicspirited individuals to assist the association to better the future of its members.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 71

CONFERENCE: From left, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Arvind Mahamuni, Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, representing Ogun State Governor; Mr. Femi Balogun, Zonal Chairman, Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Lagos Zone, Mr. Folorunso Oginni, and representative of the Lagos State Governor and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Mrs. Regina Iyabo Obasa, during the 4th Triennial Delegates’ Conference of PENGASSAN, Lagos Zone, with the theme: Oil and Gas Companies and Unionism in Post PIB Era, at the Mobil Pengasus Club, Apapa, Lagos.

GRADUATION: From left, Dr. Kayode Ogungbuyi, FITD President, Nigeria Institute of Training and Development, NITD; Rev. Tunde Salawu, FITD, 1st Vice President NITAD; Mrs. J.I.K. Jolaosho, FITD, 2nd Vice President, NITAD; Barr. Femi Kolajo, FITD, immediate past President, NITAD; Chief S.O.Dada FITD, Chairman, PGD Committee, and Dr. Olufemi Akintayo, MITD, Vice Chairman, PGD Committee, at the 1st graduation ceremony of the Professional Post Graduate Diploma, PGD, of NITAD, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: Mrs. Funso Adegboola, proprietor, Vale College, Ibadan, and sponsor of Bola Ige Scholarship competition, presenting the scholarship letter to Master Basit Ganniyu of Community Primary School IV, Aiyekale, Ibadan, one of the winners of primary school category in the 2014 edition of the competition, in Ibadan.

ENDORSEMENT: Front row ( from 2nd left): Ade Abiola, Monsuru Adebola, Femi Awoniyi, Isaac Atibioke, and Segun Ojo and some of the more than 150 participants, at the meeting convened by the Ekiti Diaspora Europe 2014 in the German city of Frankfurt, during the endorsement of the candidacy of Governor Kayode Fayemi for the June 21 election, by Ekiti indigenes in Europe, last Saturday.

COMMISSIONING: From left, CEO, Imperial Holdings, Mark Lamberti; MD, MDS Logistics, Solomon Aigbavboa; GM Warehousing, MDS Logistics, Taiwo Ajibola; CEO, Imperial Logistics Africa, Dougie Truter, and CEO, Imperial Logistics, Marius Swanepoel, during the commissioning of MDS Logistics’ ultramodern auto workshop, in Lagos.

CHARITY: From left, Rotarian Ade Adegbite; Rotarian Mba; Sister MarianTherese Imegbu, Protocol Officer, Pacelli Home for the Blind; Rotarian Samson Omodara, President, Rotary Club of Ogba; Rotarian Tony Eloh, Rotarian Kola Okunola, and other members of the club, during the donation of noodles and pasta to the home, in Lagos.

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CONTEST: Nigerian Idol finalist contestant, Evelyn Zibili (Evelle); Deputy Managing Director, Tantalizers Plc, Mr. Gbolahan Ladunjo; other finalists, Idowu Odugbemi (Eye-D); Ejiro Elvis (Elvis Jay) and Managing Director/CEO of Tantalizers Plc., Mrs. Grace Ayeni, during the Tantalizers' parley with three finalists of Nigerian Idol contest season four, at the company's outlet, Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Dr. Iyabo Tijani, President, Lagos, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN; Mr. Kalpesh Palmer, Customer Marketing Director, Unilever; Dr. Valerie Obot, National President, MWAN, and Mr. Emmanuel Inoma, Puriet Manager, Unilever West Africa, at the presentation of 100 Pureit Devices to selected hospitals nationwide through MWAN. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

DINNER: Austine Alegeh, SAN, principal partner, Alegeh & Co; Uyi Akpata, senior managing partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, Nigeria, his wife Obosa, and George Etomi, principal partner, George Etomi & Partners, at a dinner in honour of Uyi, to mark his 50th birthday, in Lagos.

Artistic exploration of freedom, humanity via WoodHood

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

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FTER successfully pulling through his historic first solo exhibition, Ambivalence in 2012, Emmah Mbanefo, penultimate week at the National Museum Lagos, opened WoodHood, to the admiration of art enthusiasts.

In the endotelic exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, the artist whose works in over three decades of practice have enjoyed encouraging prominence in public and private collections, is exhibiting a total of 60 works produced between 2012 and 2014.

WoodHood parades works that embody both cause and effect as natural law that operates relatively. A prefix that brings forth a thousand joy and a thousand ills.

In exploring WoodHood, the work explores and sifts through searches for the good; the spirit of humanity.

According to the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, artist who majored in sculpture and textiles,“WoodHood is a sequel to my first solo Art exhibition “Ambivalence” – that which makes man intrinsically human,

not good, not bad but both, in accordance with the foundation that is pre-ordained by nature. The clause “out of the woods” means free at last, of trouble and danger.

Perhaps, independent and emancipated; particularly, of the opposition of art and commerce.

WoodHood is directly the opposite. Both ‘danger’ and ‘trouble’ are of a foundation (cause) whose superstructure (effects) are far from goodness.”

The Sculptor who has developed a reputation for producing bold and imaginative works, exhibited titles such as Ndidi

,

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72 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

guage.

Explaining why titles of works are in Igbo Language, Mbanefo stated that “I am a Nigerian and an Igbo man. Igbo Language is one of the basic languages in the country and I am proud of it. My exhibition is holding at a time when we all are clamouring for the restructuring of the nation. It is important that we uphold the use of our indigenous languages. That is not to say that I am only using Igbo titles, I have works titled in Yoruba and if I have my way, in the near future, I will title all the works in an ex-

,

WoodHood parades works that embody both cause and effect as natural law that operates relatively

(patience), Eze Ocha (Justice and fairness) Ozi (Lyrics of the royal Drum), Anase meaning first wife.

Anase according to Mbanefo, means that the first wife should be respected as the foundation of the family. The role of the first wife he said is crucial in holding the family and society together, or the family crumbles. Notable about the exhibition was that all the works are titled in Igbo Lan-

hibition in Yoruba and other languages.”

He further explained that "the exhibition is focusing on three major areas; Creative enterprise, Artistic morality and Personal psychology."

Employing diverse titles that interrogate humanity and his environment, the gifted artist pointed out that, “No man can

Lagos explodes with another Jazz extravaganza tourism brand with the potential to boost the

By JAPHET ALAKAM FOR two days May, 30 and 31,2014, jazz lovers in and around the city of Lagos will be treated to another jazz explosion as Inspiro productions, organizers of the Lagos International Jazz Festival have perfected plans for the Jazz fiesta. This was disclosed by Ayoola Sadare, Inspiro CEO and festival director. According to him, This year’s lineup Jazz promises to be engaging as over 30 Nigerian and international jazz musicians will ignite three activated stages at the Freedom Park, Marina, Lagos. They include jazz music stars like Victor Masondo (SA), Beat Kaestli, Bright Gain, Tee Mac, Eko Brass Band, Fadabasi, Daniel Bankole, Dotun Bankole, Ara, Ruby and a host of others and the venue will be the Nation’s Cultural hotspot Freedom Park, Lagos.

Sadare who stated that they are still committed to positioning the event as Nigeria’s Premier Jazz Festival designed to offer visitors and residents in Lagos world class entertainment, said “the festival is also poised to become a major event

image of the country, and add to the GDP of the state and Nigeria as a whole when properly developed.

We see it as our social responsibility project for our dear nation Nigeria.”

He also indicated that ‘”This year’s lineup has a few international acts but we have also chosen a significant number of the Megacity’s authentic Jazz and Jazz * Tee Mac, one of the stars to perform musicians. We chose on the Nigerian Tourism calento bring a few international mudar and will attract jazz and sicians to Lagos not to the detcontemporary music lovers to riment of our home based muthe country. Our long term goal is sicians who put the Nigerian to establish Lagos as a Jazz Tourflavor into the genre. This is ism destination alongside cities what tourists want to see when like Cape Town, Montreal, Monthey visit a destination city to treux, New Orleans, London and attend festivals. It also is a good Tokyo among others which are sigplatform to spot future stars in nificant on the global Jazz touran organic setting and have ism calendar and have hundreds them interact with their interof thousands of people visit each national peers”. The festival year and experience the cities and will also have the following adenjoy good music. Lagos as a Megjunct value added events like acity is not going to be left out and Jazz & Music Workshops (muwill surely become a Jazz and sic business management), music Mecca in the near future.”

Master Classes, Jazz PhotogHe stated that “ The Jazz Festiraphy Exhibition. val is not just another show but a

* One of the works displayed at the exhibition

continue doing the same thing, the same way all the time and expect a change, change being constant. Man is mind, and mind

is the master power that moulds and makes what he wills with the tool of thought. Yet, the greatest battle of life is fought in the mind.

Maya Angelou, celebrated US poet dies at 86

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HE celebrated poet, author and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou is dead. Acclaimed author and poet passed away on Wednesday in her North Carolina home at age 86, according to officials at the city of WinstonSalem mayor’s office. Her son Guy B Johnson confirmed the news in a statement. He said: “Her family is extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a loss of acuity or comprehension.

“She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace.

The family is appreciative of the time we had with her and we know that she is looking down upon us with love.”

Johnson said Angelou “passed quietly in her home” before 8am on Wednesday.

A statement from Wake Forest University in WinstonSalem, where she had served as a professor of American Studies since 1982, called Angelou “a national treasure whose life and teachings inspired millions around the world”.

Angelou’s failing health was

reported as recently as Tuesday, when she canceled an appearance honoring her with a Beacon of Life Award because of “health reasons”. The ceremony was part of the 2014 MLB Beacon Award Luncheon, in Houston, Texas, part of Major League Baseball’s Civil Rights Games. Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson, in St Louis, Missouri, in 1928. She is perhaps best known for her 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

She wrote seven autobiographies, and was a playwright, director, actor, singer, songwriter and novelist. In 1993, she read On the Pulse of the Morning at President Clinton’s first inauguration, a performance that made the poem a bestseller.

* Maya Angelou

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 73

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74 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Stakeholders pledge to uphold free and fair polls •8 police commissioners to supervise polls

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE AND GBENGA ARIYIBI

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TAKEHOLDERS including governorship candidates, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, promised to ensure that the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State is free and fair.

While the candidates promised to play according to the rules and shun acts of violence, the INEC said it would ensure a level playing field while the Police said in collaboration with other security agencies, they would provide water-tight security during polls.

They spoke yesterday during a sensitisation workshop organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi in Ado-Ekiti.

Ekiti State Governor and candidate of the APC did not attend the workshop.

Chaired by General David Jemibewon (rtd), speakers at the event such as Obi, Jemibewon, Mr Kunle Fagbemi, Dr Eddie Iroh, Robina Namusisi (Country Director, IRI), Dr Mourtada Deme (Project Director, UNDPDGD), US Consul-General, Jeff Hopkins among others urged the stakeholders to make the polls the best election ever and pave the way for credible polls in 2015.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Felix Uyanna has promised to adequately police the state, as no fewer than three policemen will man each of the 2,195 polling booths in Ekiti State.

He said about 12,000 policemen, aside other security operatives would be deployed to the state to ensure security of lives and properties during the election Uyanna, who claimed that the three leading political parties, APC, PDP and LP were responsible for the series of violence currently witnessed in the state, disclosed that the police had mapped out strategies that will check the activities of those, who would want to rig or foment trouble during the election.

According to him,the command is expecting 8,000 policemen from various units in different parts of the country, aside the 4,000 policemen on ground to man the security of the state.

The police boss equally disclosed that no fewer than 8 commissioners of police,2 AIGs , 15 superintendents and 25 visiting mobile units are expected to work hand in hand with the police in the state.

Uyanna further disclosed that two police helicopters would man

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•Fayose

•Fayemi

•Bamidele

the air during the election ,adding that the police deployed to the state would stay behind for at least one week after the election.

The police boss ,expressed disgust that despite all the efforts of the command that politicians in the state still circumvent the police in doing their job by causing mayhem in the state The PDP gubernatorial candidate,Mr Ayo Fayose had earlier in his goodwill message advised the police to leave up to expectation in manning security of lives and property of the state.

Accusing the APC governement of putting the state under siege and planning to rig the polls , booking in advance most hotels in the state, he wondered why police who curb the excesses of armed robbers may find it difficult in curbing the excesses of politicians.

Fayose urged the police to

•Obi invite leaders of the various political parties to mention some of the flash points where there are likely to be crisis in the state.

The PDP candidate who assured that he will play by the rules said any of his followers caught fomenting trouble should be

•Ajayi prosecuted.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, who was represented by Professor Lai Olorode, decried the spate of violence he said had

trailed campaigns in the build up to the Ekiti election.

Describing the violence as frightening, he said: “INEC reads with trepidation what happens at campaigns in Ekiti and we are not happy that there is violence. There must be secured environment for elections.”

He said Ekiti had been termed a state with highest literacy rate in the country but noted that “if truly you have the highest literacy rate in the country, then let it be proven on June 21 because literacy and peaceful conduct of election must go together.”

He called on electoral stake holders in the state to support INEC and charged them to ensure that “the gains made in the past electoral process must not be reversed.’

Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, said the workshop was the fourth in the series after those in Edo, Ondo and Anambra elections, and added that the main thrust of the Ekiti workshop was “to replicate the success achieved in Edo, Ondo and Anambra states governorship elections through deliberations and exchange of ideas.”

Obi expressed the hope that “all political parties would join hands together to provide an environment appropriate for economic development and growth in the country, leading to sustained wealth creation and poverty reduction.

Ekiti indigenes in Europe endorse Fayemi

BY ETOP EKANEM

E

KITI State indigenes living in Europe have endorsed the candidacy of Governor Kayode Fayemi for the June 21 election in the state. The decision was made in Frankfurt at a meeting convened by the Ekiti Diaspora Europe (EDE) 2014, a coalition of groups from all parts of Europe that have come together as a result of their concerns about the coming governorship election in their state.

The Frankfurt forum, in a statement signed by Femi Awoniyi and Isaac Atibioke, said: “In view of the sterling performance of Governor Fayemi and the many positive changes witnessed in the state since his inception of office we consider him to be the best candidate to continue to lead the state for the

next four years.”

The EDE 2014 meeting, attended by more than 150 participants from across Europe, said its decision to back Fayemi was also predicated on the need for the consolidation of the many policies, programmes and projects of his government which are creating a basis for the sustainable economic and social development of the state.

The EDE 2014 also praised Dr Fayemi for bringing peace back to the state after more than seven years of political violence and instability. The group therefore called on the other governorship aspirants to carry out their campaign activities peacefully because the political environment is key to economic growth and development, explaining while it is concerned about the news coming from Ekiti about violence

and fears of election manipulation.

The Frankfurt meeting appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan “as the chief custodian of national security to ensure that the election takes place in a peaceful atmosphere.” It warned

that any attempt to manipulate the Ekiti election would increase the security troubles of the President and undermine his capacity to build the national and international coalitions necessary to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.

Accord Party picks former gov’s daughter as running mate

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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OVERNORSHIP candidate of Accord Party, Mr Kole Ajayi has replaced his deputy governorship running mate, Mr Akin Adeolu.

In a statement by Director of Publicity, Kole Ajayi Campaign Organization, KACO, Iyaniwura Ifedayo said the running mate to Ajayi is a daughter of former Governor of old Ondo State,

Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua.

Mrs. Bolanle OlumiluaOyesanya, who is a lawyer by profession hails from Ikere-Ekiti, in South Senatorial District.

The Accord Party candidate explained Adeolu’s nomination was withdrawn for personal reasons adding that her nomination has since been forwarded to INEC in Abuja, May 7, 2014.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014—75

recommended the establishment of what it called Religious Equity Commission (RECOM).”

“The committee stated that the commission would have the statutory mandate of advocacy, enforcement of constitutional religious rights such as freedom of religion, freedom to acquire land for religious purposes, among others. While some of the delegates said the National Human Rights Commission should be empowered to handle such issues, others believed the new commission would serve useful purposes”, he stated.

Besides, the committee “envisaged the RECOM to serve as a platform that would bring individuals of the major religions in Nigeria to interact and crystalise ideas that would foster unity and tolerance; as well as monitor and investigate and expose cases of religious discrimination and violation.

Religious extremism *Cross-section of participants at the ongoing National Conference

Delegates mourn Kutigi’s wife •Adjourn plenary until Monday

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HE leadership and delegates at the on- going National Conference, yesterday adjourned plenary until Monday next week following the death of Hajiya Maryamu, wife of conference chairman, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi (rtd).

Maryamu, aged 70, died at the National Hospital in Abuja at about 2 am on Wednesday and was buried same day according to Islamic rites.

Delegates had arrived at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, venue of the conference ready to continue deliberations on the report of Religion Committee and with possible voting for the Tuesday controversial issue of scrapping boards of Pilgrims board as a follow up to the unanimous agreement that Federal and state governments should no longer fund Christian and Muslim pilgrimages.

The conference was forced to adjourn abruptly on Tuesday to come back yesterday because of the storming session witnessed when the issue of scrapping Pilgrims Welfare Boards came up, forcing the presiding officer and Conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi to call for a motion for adjournment.

At yesterday ’s resumed session, Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Professor Akinyemi, who presided over a brief conference session and announced the death of Kutigi’s wife, told delegates that it was

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only proper that the conference be adjourned to enable delegates participate in the burial.

Delegates, who readily and unanimously agreed to the proposal for adjournment expressed shock at the death and the fact that Kutigi could still preside over proceedings until the last day of sitting, while the wife was in the hospital.

Akinyemi described the late Maryamu as a pillar of strength to the Kutigi and regretted that she had passed on at a time the retired Justice was handling a critical national assignment and needed her closeness and wise counsel.

He said that it was in demonstration of his deep sense of patriotism and commitment to the affairs of the country that Justice Kutigi continued to preside over the Conference throughout the period the wife was lying ill in the hospital.

People in leadership Akinyemi said, “distinguished delegates, it is with a sense of deep sorrow that I announce the death of Hajiya Mariamo Idris Kutigi, the wife of our honourable Chairman. She died at 2 O’clock in the hospital this morning. And that the chairman in spite of the fact that his wife has been in the hospital for this time, had been attending sessions every day is indicative of the sacrifice that people in leadership make. The

burial ceremony will be at Gudu Muslim cemetery at 11 O’clock.

You will agree with me that it is only proper and human to adjourn our sittings so that we can attend this ceremony. It is my understanding that you don’t wish to meet tomorrow which is a public holiday. That was the feeling from the hall. If that is right, we will then adjourn until 9. O’clock Monday Morning.”

Continuing, he said “this conference will stand adjourned until 9 O’clock, Monday morning. Thank you.”

Delegates adjourn But in a statement by Conference Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, the leadership of the Conference said, “before the adjournment on Wednesday, delegates had earlier in the week agreed not to have plenary session on Thursday May 29 which has been declared a public holiday by the Federal Government in celebration of Democracy Day. The statement read: “It was agreed that proceedings at the plenary will resume on Monday June 2 with deliberation on more reports of committees and adoption of recommendations contained in the reports. Before the immediate adjournment of sitting on Wednesday, Conference had indicated its readiness to conduct debate on the report of the Committee on

Public Finance and Revenue headed by Senator Adamu Aliero with Senator Azu Agboti as deputy chairman.

“Also slated for resolution on Wednesday were issues arising from previous committee reports that were put in “bracket” by the principal officers of the conference due to objections raised when they came under consideration.

“Such issues include the recommendation by the Committee on Land Tenure and National Boundaries that the

,

BY HENRY UMORU AND LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

The body was also meant to monitor cases of religious extremism - both in ideology and practice - and formulate counter narratives that are balanced and tolerant to neutralise such extremism.

“It would have equally served as a watch dog and enforcer of religious rights of all persons, thereby creating confidence and trust in every Nigerian no matter their religious affiliations while also monitoring and investigating cases of hate speeches and utterances meant to incite religious tension and prosecute persons responsible.”

“When arguments for and against could not be resolved before close of session on Tuesday, the presiding officers decided to put it in abeyance till the next sitting. Also put in abeyance was the recommendation by the

Delegates, who readily and unanimously agreed to the proposal for adjournment expressed shock at the death and the fact that Kutigi could still preside over proceedings until the last day of sitting, while the wife was in the hospital

Land Use Act be expunged from the constitution for easy amendment of the Act for the benefit of the people.”

Also, he said “some of the delegates were opposed to the recommendation while others applauded it; a situation that forced the presiding officers of the Conference to put the issue in “bracket” and appoint some delegates from every section of the country to meet and resolve the impasse.

Another of such issue placed in “bracket” by the presiding officers surfaced on Tuesday during deliberation on the report of the Committee on Religion that

,

Committee on Religion for the scrapping of the Pilgrims Welfare Board or its movement to the Foreign Affairs Ministry following the adoption of the recommendation for nonsponsorship of pilgrimages by government at any level.

“Some of the delegates were of the view that scrapping the welfare body would hinder preparation for pilgrimages while others believed retaining the board would be counterproductive since government’s non-involvement in pilgrimages had already been resolved and adopted”, he stated.

76 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Williams wipeout!

•French Open

T

HE No 1 seed and favourite was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by her Spanish opponent Serena Williams was given the worst beating of her Grand Slam career in a sensational upset at the French Open yesterday when she was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by 20 year-old Garbine Muguruza.

The six-feet tall world No 35, of Spanish and Venezuelan heritage, took advantage of windy and cold conditions to blow away the top seed in the second round and keep the shocks coming at Roland Garros.

The women’s draw has been blown wide open as, for the first time in the Open era, the top two seeds are out before the third round following Li Na’s early demise.

Ronaldo’s extra bone makes him a marvel Continued from back page written by Luis Miguel Pereira and serialised in the British Sun. A course of physio sorted the extra bone out without the need of an operation.

Fitness has always been a fascination for Ronaldo, who was caught using Sporting Lisbon’s gym late out of night without permission.

A security report stated at the time: ‘We hereby wish to inform you the athletes Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Semedo used, without permission, the main fitness and bodybuilding gym where they were found at 11.30pm by the security guard.’

Youth coach Luis Martins said: ‘I explained to Cristiano that he couldn’t go further than what was prescribed to him because that would be harmful for his body and health.’

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Liverpool fans commend Standard Chartered Bank

N

LABOURING IN VAIN ... Tennis star, Serena Williams labours in vain as she crashes out of French Cup

Nigeria release World Cup timetable N

IGERIA have re leased a comprehensive timetable ahead of the World Cup, which covers their three warm-ups matches as well as destinations in the United States of America as well as Brazil.

According to Nigeria Football Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire, logistics for all friendly matches, hotel accommodation, international flights, local flights, movements to and from airports and hotels, feeding and conducive environments have all been dealt with to the letter.

•Maigari

•Keshi

“I can tell you that the NFF is on top of the situation and not taking anything for granted. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest project there is in football and as far as the present NFF is concerned, every detail is important.”

He disclosed that on Wednesday morning, two assistants of NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon departed London for Philadelphia, USA to prepare ground for the Super Eagles’ arrival on Thursday.

It is a seven hours’ flight

Indomitable Lions to get N16.64m each Continued from back page progress in the competition is being utilised.

In an interview with Mboafootball.com , Eto’o said: “What is the quota for players who work for this money that goes into the coffers of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot)?

This is the question.

“We hope the government will help us get our due and clarify

the situation.”

The problem of fees resurfaced during the Indomitable Lions’ training camp in Austria, where they are preparing for their World Cup matches against Mexico, Croatia and hosts Brazil in Group A. Rumours started that the players were demanding up to FCFA 150m from the authorities.

Cameroon coach

Volker Finke has distanced himself from the situation because he feels it is an issue for the authorities and the players.

“I concentrate on football, fees are between the players and the authorities, I am not concerned by this issue,” he said.

“I am hopeful it will not affect the harmony in the group and the training ahead.”

from London to Philadelphia.

After Wednesday night’s clash with Scotland at the Craven Cottage, the Nigeria delegation, led by NFF president Aminu Maigari, will on Thursday morning fly to Philadephia aboard a British Airways plane, and then driven by bus to The Westin Philadelphia Hotel.

After playing Greece inside Philadelphia Union Stadium on 3rd June, the Eagles will move to Jacksonville, Florida where they will stay at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront on East Coastline Drive.

IGERIAN fans of Liverpool FC who finished second behind winners, Manchester City in the just concluded English Premier League have commended Standard Chartered Bank Plc for making the 2013-2014 season worthwhile as the bank activated a number of events to liven up their season. One of the special events took place on the leagues’ final day as the fans watched live when they took on Newcastle United at Anfield.

During the event tagged: “This is Our Home Ground” which took place simultaneously at two viewing centres in Lagos – on the mainland (Bheerhugz) and Island (Get Arena), guests were thrilled with comedy, Music, quality refreshment and rewarded with LFC branded gift items. There were raffle draws where lucky winners went home with autographed Liverpool footballs and jerseys.

This campaign is in continuation of the bank’s effort to identify with the aspirations of its customers who are football fans while further penetrating the retail space.

The LFC “This is Our Home Ground” Campaign represents an offering in the industry where existing customers with dormant or zero balance accounts who reactivated their accounts received LFC branded gift items like face caps, drawstrings bags, key rings etc.

AYG: Team Nigeria bags 12 gold Continued from back page most especially athletics which began yesterday evening. Kenya is also expected to give Nigeria a run for her money as a strong force in athletics in the continent.

From the results gathered yesterday’s afternoon Team Nigeria has won three more gold medals and more silver and bronze in the sports as follows: The three additional gold medals were won by

Deborah Ukeh in the Girls’ and Adesokan Ajoke in the Badminton mixed doubles while Ajoke Adesokan also emerged gold medalist in the Badminton Girls’ single and Team Nigeria also won their third gold medal of the day in the Girls’ C1 Canoe Sprint while Nigeria also won bronze in the boys’ C1 Canoe sprint.

Other events where Team Nigeria won silver included Badminton Boys’ single won by Nelson Kingsley.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 77

Rangers officials, players owed N247m

BY JACOB AJOM

G

LOBACOM Premier League contenders, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have been hit by acute financial crisis that can affect the club’s current league campaign unless urgent steps are taken to arrest the situation..

We gathered that the poor financial situation has started affecting the performance of the once dreaded Flying Antelopes who were held to a 3-3 draw by Gombe United last weekend.

Sources from within the club confirmed to Sports Vanguard that monies owed players and officials include the 2012/2013 sign-on fees totaling N247 and some arrears in form of match bonuses.

Apart from the huge debt that has weighed down morale and

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motivation in camp, the players and officials were yet to start enjoying the new enhanced salary structure approved by the state Governor.

“It was not difficult to understand how a team that was leading 2-1 at half time and 3-1 early in the second half could collapse so easily to Gombe United and ended 3-3 at the end of the match.

“It is unfortunate that the financial situation is beginning to tell on the performance of the team,” our source said, adding, “This has had a very negative effect on the players as some of them have started going out for personal loans.”

Sports Vanguard, however, gathered that efforts are being made to ensure the debts are settled as soon as possible.

“We gathered that the

General Manager has been assured that government doing every thing to ensure outstanding debts to the players and officials are paid before their weekend match with ElKanemi

•Uzoenyi

78 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014 — 79

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

Result: Nigeria 2

Scotland 2

Williams wipeout! *French Open — Pg76

Ronaldo’s extra bone makes him a marvel

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RISTIANO Ronal do has an irregular extra bone in his ankle - a condition that only affects 10 per cent of the population.

The discovery was made when the Real Madrid striker, who has been talismanic for the Champions League holders, received treatment on an injury five years ago.

Ronaldo went to doctors after suffering a knock while playing for Real against Marseille in 2009, as revealed in a new book CR7 - The Secrets of the Machine,

World Cup 2014: Indomitable Lions to get N16.64m each C

AMEROON’s Football Federation and the country’s government have agreed to pay FCFA 50m (US$104,000) to each player in the final 23man World Cup squad.

The figure was arrived at after lengthy negotiations but falls short of the FCFA 80m-100m ($166,000-207,000) reportedly sought by the players.

It is, however, a raise of FCFA 5m from the amount paid at the previous World Cup in south Africa in 2010.

The players had wanted to ensure money coming in was being fairly divided.

Captain Samuel Eto’o believes the players are entitled to know how the money being earned by their performances and

Continues on Page 76

14 days to go

Continues on Page 76

HULK — Ronaldo

AYG: Team Nigeria bags 12 gold

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Michael Uchebo (C) celebrates scoring the equalising goal during yesterday’s match between Nigeria and Scotland at Craven Cottage in London. Match ended 2-2 Photo: AFP

EAM Nigeria is fighting hard to emerge overall winner of the 2nd edition of the African Youth Games (AYG) as the Nigerian team increased its gold medals’ hauls to 12 .

Nigeria is currently placed 2nd on the over-

all medals table with South Africa leading having won 13 gold medals in swimming alone but the Nigerian Team is poised to overtake South Africa with envisaged gold medal haul from boxing and

Continues on Page 76

Nigeria releases World Cup timetable - P76 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Slur (6) 5 Vent (6) 8 Position (8) 9 Deposited (4) 10 Aye (3) 12 War-horse (5) 15 Fish (3) 17 Low (3) 18 Manage (3) 19 Expert (3) 20 Censure (5) 21 Defective (5) 22 Greeting (3) 23 Years (3) 24 And not (3) 26 Assessed (5) 29 Fellow (3) 33 Lake (4) 34 Obstinacy (8) 35 Feverish (6) 36 Disregard (6)

DOWN 2 Supple (5) 3 Win (4) 4 Believe (5) 5 Fat (5) 6 Converse (4) 7 Chosen (5) 10 Long (5) 11 Daub (5) 12 Staid (5) 13 Precise (5) 14 Fear (5) 15 Finished (5) 16 Loaded (5) 25 Egg-shaped (5) 27 Garret (5) 28 Boredom (5) 30 Exterior (5) 31 Tangle (4) 32 Scrutinise (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Used 4, Rip 6, Mien 8, Pimple 9, Tinder 10, Key 12, Sleep 14, Grant 15, Tenor 18, Allege 20, Impale 24, Tiger 26, Sneak 28, Timid 30, Ply 32, Future 33, Elapse 34, Free 35, Tap 36, Ever.

DOWN: 2, Still 3, Deplete 4, Reek 5, Pity 6, Minor 7, Eternal 11, Ego 12, Spa 13, Peg 16, Net 17, Rig 19, Languor 21, Met 22, Private 23, End 25, Ill 27, Amuse 29, Issue 30, Pest 31, Yelp.

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.

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