Taraba Govt crisis deepens

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61957

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

10,000 Olokola LNG workers to lose jobs

9

Young Shall Grow Motors boss shot 7

Taraba Govt crisis deepens •Suntai sacks commissioners, others •Holds secret meeting with lawmakers •Sack of state cabinet illegal — Falana

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & JOHN MKOM

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BUJA—THE po litical crisis rocking Taraba State deepened, yesterday, with the dissolution of the state executive council by the Governor, Danbaba Suntai.

Apart from sacking the cabinet, Suntai also removed the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, and appointed Mr. Timothy Gibon Kataps in his place. Similarly, Suntai fired his former Chief of Staff, CoS, and named Alhaji Aminu Jika

Continues on page 5

•P.25

COLUMNISTS:

Is'haq Modibbo Kawu•P.17 OCHEREOME NNANNA•P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan •P.19

Mr & Mrs

VISIT: Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left), acknowledging cheers from traders at Bodija Market, Ibadan, during his visit to the market.

SHEKAU: Why US hasn't released $7m reward promised — Envoy

9

ANAMBRA GUBER: Court declares Andy Uba PDP candidate 43

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

C M Y K

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C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

IN MEMORY OF GANI—From left: Comrade Ayodele Akele, Chairman, Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG); Dr. JoeOkei Odumakin, President, Women Arise; Prof. Maurice Fan Gnon, Coordinator, Centre for the Defence of Human Rights Democracy in Africa(CDHRDA) and Prince Goodluck Obi of National Conscience Party (NCP) during the World Press Conference on the 4th Year Gani Fawehinmi Memorial held in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Taraba Govt crisis deepens Continues from page 1 as his new CoS. The governor, who made the sweeping changes through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sylvanus Giwa, asked all the affected commissioners and officials to hand over to their respective permanent secretaries

with immediate effect.

Although Suntai explained that the move was aimed at strengthening the administration, analysts believe the recuperating governor wants to take greater control of his government, which has been in the hands of those he does not trust, for about

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

It’s time to give up the blame game, own responsibility for your life, and take back your God-given power to respond to things according to His Word!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

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SE your present moments to activate thoughts that are in harmony with the seven faces of intention creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance, and peaceful receptivity – Wayne Dyer Beware in this moment, if you’re thinking that it’s hopeless at this stage of your life to change the thoughts that comprise your belief system. Do you defeat yourself with thoughts of having had such a long life practising affirmations of scarcity and creating resistance to your success and abundance that you don’t have enough time left to counterbalance the thoughts that comprise your belief system?

Make the choice to let go of that lifetime of beliefs, and begin activating thoughts rights now that allow you to feel good. Say I want to feel better or good anyone tries to convince you that your desires are futile.

If you like, you can repeat this affirmation to yourself when you’re tempted to return to low energy thoughts of disharmony with intention. Eventually your present moments will activate thoughts that make you feel good, and this is an indicator that you’re reconnecting to intention. Wayne Dyer sums it beautifully with this sage words: “Wanting to feel good or better is synonymous with wanting to feel God. Remember, “God is good, and all that God created was good.”

a year.

The undercurrent has exposed the divided loyalty between those in support of Suntai, who returned to the country on Sunday, and his deputy, Garba Umar, who has been acting in his absence in the last 10 months.

While the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Haruna Tsokwa asked the governor to come and address the Housew of Assembly at plenary as a condition for resuming, the Majority Leader, Mr. Joseph Albasu Kunini, asked the governor to start work with immediate effect.

Angered by the controversy generated by the governor ’s resumption letter, the Attorney General of the state, Timothy Gibon Kataps, said Suntai had resumed work since August 26, 2013, a day after he was flown into the state from the United States.

Kataps, who was later in the day named as the new SSG by Suntai, said that there was no need for the lawmakers to debate the letter submitted by the governor just as he was not expected to address them on his intention to resume work.

Kataps said he had to cut short his trip to Calabar, the Cross River State capital, where he was attending the An-

nual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to clear the air on the matter so that the state was not thrown into avoidable crisis.

The new SSG asked the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Haruna Tsokwa, not to heat up the polity by insisting that the governor should address members of the House as a prelude to resuming work. He argued that asking the governor to appear before the members or the members debating the letter sent to them would amount to over-reaching the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Suntai holds secret meeting with lawmakers Meanwhile, Governor Suntai yesterday held a marathon meeting with the leadership and members of the state House of Assembly in a desperate move to break the deadlock over his resumption of duties.

The first leg of the meeting, which started at about 4pm lasted till 7:30pm before the Speaker sent an aide to inform anxious journalists that there was nothing to report to them, as they were continuing late into the night.

Sources at the meeting hinted that the governor was trying to appease the lawmakers to accept his resumption letter in good faith and allow him resume work without passing through the rigours of addressing them.

The governor is said to have also used the enlarged meeting to explain the rationale behind the dissolution of the state executive council, yesterday, and pleaded with them to support him in approving the list of new ones to be sent to them.

The meeting became necessary following the sharp disagreement between lawmakers loyal to the recuperating governor and his deputy.

Many of the lawmakers led by the Speaker, Mr. Haruna Tsokwa, who is backing the Deputy Governor to continue acting, are opposed to the resumption of work

by Suntai until he addresses them.

On the other hand, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Mr. Albasu Kunini, who leads a faction of the

lawmakers, insists the governor had since resumed duties with his submission of letter of fitness to them.

His position was reechoed by the Attorney General of the State, Timothy Gibon Kataps, who said that the law did not require the governor to address the House before resuming work.

It was unclear at press time if the two sides would agree on a common position as those loyal to the acting governor were said to be upset that the recuperating governor has not treated the acting governor fairly since his return on Sunday.

Suntai’s handlers were said to have prevented Umar from seeing him and discussing any state matters with him.

Although many thought Suntai was unaware of his environment, he is reported to have spoken for the first time, yesterday.

Suntai is said to have spoken while inaugurating the new Secretary to the State Government, Timothy Gibon Kataps, who was until yesterday, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

The governor reportedly advised the new appointee to place the interest of the state above all other considerations.

Sack of state executive illegal—Falana Meantime, Lagos Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday argued that the sack of the executive council by Governor Suntai was illegal, since he was yet to resume office officially after his return.

In a statement issued yesterday, Falana contended that the failure of

the governor to report in office for work has rendered his action invalid as well as validating the power of the deputy governor as the acting governor of the state.

To this end, he urged members of the state executive council purportedly sacked to remain in their duty posts, until they are able to meet with the governor.

Falana who expressed fears that the sack may be the handiwork of those he called “governor ’s captors”, said something urgent should be done not to plunge the state into political crisis before it is late.

He said: “In the circumstance, the members of the Taraba State Executive Council should remain on their duty posts and insist on an urgent meeting with the governor with a view to confirming if he had actually taken the decision to sack them.

“On its own part, the House should not screen and confirm the list of commissioners being prepared by the cabal to replace the ‘sacked’ cabinet members.”

He argued that since the return of the governor to the country five days ago, “he has been held incommunicado by those who have held him hostage. All efforts by the Acting Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Director, Department of State Service,DSS, and Commissioner of Police of Taraba State to meet with the Governor have been turned down by his captors due to the fact that he is not in a mental position to recognise anyone. The popular demand of the people of Taraba State that the Governor should address them has also been ignored by the cabal,” he added.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

60-yr-old remanded after pleading guilty to N5m theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS—A 60-YEAR-OLD man, Olajide Julius, was yesterday ordered to be remanded in prison custody after he pleaded guilty to a seven-count charge of conspiracy, breach of the peace and stealing preferred against him by the police.

Julius was accused of stealing N5 million belonging to Oba of Isashi, Iba, Oba Kamoru Adams after he was alleged to have conspired with others at large to damage property belonging to the monarch by breaking into his palace.

He was docked before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo of an Ikeja Magistrate Court.

The defendant who said he did not understand English, except Yoruba language, however pleaded guilty to the first count charge read to him in English and translated to Yoruba.

Thereafter, Magistrate Fabamwo ordered that he be remanded in prison custody.

Man gets 90 days in jail for robbing church

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BUJA — AN Abuja Magistrate's court, yesterday, sentenced Awwalu Ali to 90 days imprisonment for stealing a toilet door at the Calvary Faith Baptist Church, Life Camp, Abuja.

The magistrate, Mr Abdullahi Illela, who convicted Ali, said that it would serve as a deterrent to others.

Illela, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N2,500.

Earlier, prosecutor Simon Emmanuel told the court that one Adebiyi Laniyan of the Calvary Baptist Church reported the crime at the Life Camp Police Station on August 24.

Emmanuel said the convict broke into the church compound and removed the door to the toilet, but was arrested before he could escape with it.

The 20-year-old Ali of Pape village pleaded guilty to the charge and urged the court to pardon him.

“I am a family man with a wife and two children; they will starve to death if I go to jail, please, have mercy on me, my Lord,” he said.

32-yr-old man rapes 70-yr-old grandma to death

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA— A 70-year-old woman and mother of four, Mrs. Cecilia OgidiOkereke, of Ibom village in Arochukwu, Arochukwu council area of Abia State was last

Sunday reportedly raped to death by a 32-year-old man whose name was simply given as Ochu.

According to a source, Cecilia was said to have gone to a nearby bush to get some leaves for her goats around 5

pm on Sunday. Ochu was said to have trailed her to the bush and raped her to death.

Ochu, the source said, is believed to be a drug addict and was fond of raping women in the area.

The source said Ochu aban-

doned the deceased and ran away after taking her body to a nearby footpath to enable villagers see it.

He was, however, arrested, Monday afternoon, in Ohafia, a neighbouring community, as he was trying to escape.

Agony, as protesting students block Niger bridge

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SABA — MOTORISTS plying Asaba-Benin highway were stranded as protesting students blocked the road by the Asaba-end of the bridge, thus causing a gridlock that lasted several hours, yesterday morning.

The scene was similar to the protest staged by physicallychallenged persons sometime ago on the same stretch of the highway.

National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Coordinator in the South-South and South-East, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, expressed worry that the students are feeling the brunt of the strike following the failure of the Federal Government and Aca-

demic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to fully reconcile their differences.

He said: "We are appealing to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, that since the Federal Government has been able to release N100 billion for infrastructural development and N30 billion for allowance, they should go back to classroom and continue their negotiation or agitation.

This is our prayer and wish.

“We are giving them one week to open the schools or be ready to face corrosive consequences in form of nation-wide demonstrations and riots. We are ready to mobilise for that and it will be operation occupy Nigeria.”

Panic over attempted bank robbery in Osun

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — RESIDENTS of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State were, Tuesday, thrown into a state of confusion over alleged attempts by a gang of robbers to rob a branch of a new generation bank.

According to sources, the development forced the three commercial banks in the town to halt operations, making it impossible for customers to transact business.

However, the prompt intervention of security agents, including men of the Police Mobile Force and officers of the state Rapid Response Squad, prevented the robbers from getting into the bank located at new Inisha road area of the town.

It was gathered that the robbers had earlier, on Monday, struck in one of the banks in the town where they carted away an undisclosed amount of money.

It was further gathered that security personnel who mounted surveillance in strategic locations in the town succeeded in sending the robbers away from the town.

The incident, however, caught the people of the town unawares as most people hurriedly left the

bank premises when the news of the presence of robbers in a part of the town filtered in.

Protesting National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B South-South/South-East led by Cordinator, Comrade Chinonso Obasi, barricaded the Benin-Asaba expressway by head bridge, Onitsha over the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, strike, yesterday.

Photos: Nath Onojake

Female Poly student baths lover with boiling water

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO — A BIRTHDAY party organised by a student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, weekend, went sour as a 19-yearold female student of the institution simply identified as Yetunde allegedly poured boiling water on her lover, Adelana Niyi, also a student of the institution, causing body injuries.

It was gathered that Yetunde allegedly poured boiling water on Adelana, a Higher National Diploma, HND, student of the polytechnic when a disagreement ensued between them a day after Adelana’s birthday.

Yetunde, a National Diploma student of the polytechnic, was said to have disagreed with her lover (Adelana) before his birthday ceremony, a situation which made her to shun the ceremony.

The incident, according to findings, happened at the Miracle Hall, close to the Baptist High

School where Yetunde and Adelana reside.

It was gathered that Adelana celebrated his birthday with other friends, mostly ladies, a situation that did not go down well with his lover (Yetunde).

It was gathered that the chest, neck and right hand of Adelana were severely affected and he was rushed to a private hospital in the town.

The Police in the area were said to have arrested Yetunde along with her father who are assisting the police in their investigations.

Contacted, Media Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Tope Abiola, said the incident took place outside the campus of the institution, hence the management could not do anything about it.

He said: “It’s very unfortunate and we sympathise with the victim and his parents. It’s a criminal act; the school does not have power over it. It all happened in

Iree town, so there is nothing the school can do about it. Notwithstanding, we urge the law enforcement agency to investigate the matter.”

Police smash

By ERIC UGBOR

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BA — TWENTY suspected criminals are now in detention in Aba following a raid, yesterday, by the Police from Ariaria Division of the city on two Indian hemp spots said to be haven for notorious criminals within Ariaria International Market.

The arrest came barely one week after the Police from the Area Command in Aba raided a hotel which allegedly serves as criminals hide-out in the city centre where no fewer than 20 suspected criminals were apprehended.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—7

Young Shall Grow Motors boss shot zPolice escort, driver, 2 assailants killed

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — CHIEF Executive Officer, CEO, of The Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, narrowly escaped death, Tuesday night, after he was attacked by gunmen in Festac Town, Lagos.

However, his driver and a Police escort were shot dead by the gunmen.

Policemen from Area ‘E’ on patrol were said to have swooped on the gunmen and engaged them in a gun battle during which two of the gunmen were killed while others escaped.

Vanguard gathered that Chief Obianodo was returning from work at about 9 p.m. when the gunmen, numbering five, who drove in a Sport Utility Vehicle intercepted him on 22 Road and opened fire.

Other road users who were alarmed by the gunshots hurriedly made u-turns.

His Police orderly, identified as Ngozi Chijioke, was said to have attempted to match the gunmen fire-for-fire. Unfortunately, he was killed.

Corporal Chijioke attached to Patrol and Guards of the Lagos State Command reportedly died on the spot.

One of the bullets from the gunmen was said to have hit Obianodo’s driver in the chest, after a futile attempt to wriggle his way out of the fire line.

Obianodo, on his part, was said to have been hit in the left arm by the gunmen’s bullet before policemen arrived the scene. The bullet was reportedly aimed at his chest but hit one of his hands.

He was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital where the bullet was extracted. According to Police authorities, he is responding to treatment.

Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said AK-49 and AK-47 rifles with

400 live ammunition and 10 fully loaded magazines abandoned by the fleeing gunmen were recovered at the end of the shootout.

However, the attack on Obianodo was widely speculated as an assassination attempt but Braide said investigation was ongoing. She said efforts were on to arrest the three fleeing gunmen, whose operational vehicle was riddled with bullets.

According to her, “his vehicle was double-crossed in a lonely area around 22 Road in FESTAC town and the assailants opened fire and killed his driver.

“We lost one of our men too.

Some policemen who were on patrol heard the sound of the gun and moved to the scene and there was serious exchange of gunfire during which two of the suspects were killed.

“Their Highlander SUV was perforated with bullets while the other suspects who escaped in it sustained bullet injuries.

“AK-49 and AK-47 rifles with 400 live ammunition and 10 fully loaded magazines were recovered from the suspects.”

She, therefore, appealed to members of the public to avail policemen information on anyone

with bullet wounds. She called on doctors and native doctors to also be at alert.

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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Chief Vincent Obianodo

Married at 13, now 20, woman seeks divorce zHusband demands N300,000 marriage expenses

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ASARAWA — AISHA Haruna, 20, of Uke in Nasarawa State, Tuesday, at a Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, maintained her request to be divorced from her husband of seven years.

Aisha had on May 29 filed a suit seeking separation from her husband, Hussaini Haruna, 27, of Gurku village.

At the resumption of hearings, she told the court that she and her husband could not resolve the matter after the last adjourned date on August 19.

The husband, who spoke through his counsel, Nuru Mua’zu, demanded Islamic pro-

Police nab 2 abductors of Bayelsa dredging workers

cedure of divorce.

He said: “This is an Islamic matter and there are procedures to follow before a wife is granted her wish for divorce.

“One of the procedures is that the woman has to pay what is known as ‘Kuli’.

“Kuli means, paying back some of the expenses the husband made in the course of marrying the wife.

“Though I don’t have the document here, but the total expenses is around N300,000.”

He told the court that Aisha was eight months pregnant for Haruna.

Mua’zu applied for adjournment to enable him bring the document containing the list of expenses.

The presiding judge, Mr Musa Danjuma, granted the counsel’s application and adjourned the case to September 2.

The wife had earlier told the court that her parents gave her out in marriage at the age of 13 without her consent.

The mother of one said she stayed in the marriage for seven years, adding that she had lost interest in the marriage on the ground that she was a child at that time the marriage was contracted.

ENAGOA — THE po lice in Bayelsa State have arrested two persons suspected to be part of a six-man gang that kidnapped five dredging workers at Opuama in Southern Ijaw area last Friday.

The suspects were identified as Desmond Sunday and Izekemi Thomas.

Also arrested was one Naomi Bassey said to be the lover of the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping, identified as Inemor Worikuma-Lemec.

The suspects were arrested, yesterday, by men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the state Police Command.

The operation, it was learnt, was led by an undercover operative simply identified as Chris.

It was gathered that a tracking device was inserted in the bag used in carrying the ransom handed over to the kidnappers, Monday, to facilitate the release of the abducted workers.

N6 million ransom was reportedly paid the kidnappers of which the police recovered N1.45 million when they swooped on the kidnappers' hideout through the aid of the tracking device.

A source told Vanguard that the initial plan of the security operatives was to swoop on the kidnappers at the point of ransom collection but the men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Police tracked them to Sabageria community in Nembe council area and nabbed the two suspects with a share of the ransom.

Family doubts diocese’s position on death criminals hideout in Aba, arrest 20 of Catholic priest

The spots identified as ‘Black Kingdom’ at Samek by Old express road and ‘Snow White’ at Bakassi were all located near Ariaria International Market.

It was gathered that before the police raid, ‘Black kingdom’ was one of the areas where drug addicts in the city relocated after they were dislodged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, from their former location at ‘York’ at Park road.

It was further gathered that most criminals who operated within the commercial city usually gather at the two locations not only to

smoke, but also to hatch plans on how to unleash terror on residents.

The operation was carried out in conjunction with policemen mobilised from other divisions in the Aba Area Command which led to the arrest of 20 suspects alleged to be members of robbery gangs which have been terrorizing the city of late .

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna described the raid as a proactive measure taken by the Police Command in the state to ensure that the state was free from all forms of criminality.

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN CITY — CRISIS is brewing between the Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Edo State and the family of the deceased Parish priest of St Thomas Moore Catholic Church, Sobe, Owan West Local Government Council, Rev. Father Peter Ayala, who was found dead in his room last Sunday.

While the church believes that the Rev. Father was killed while cleaning his gun that Sunday morning, the family told Vanguard that the church was too hasty in reaching such conclu-

sion, asserting that somebody may have murdered their son.

A family source who does not want his name in print, told Vanguard yesterday that “the church has not helped matters. Wherein that police investigation is still ongoing they are saying that it could be suicide and it was pasted on the website of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi. The story they told us, the family members, does not look straight to us.

“What we have been told is that they found him dead with the gun by his side, then there was a spanner beside him, which looks like he was servicing the gun.

The question is that: if you shoot

a gun does it not vibrate? So if the Rev Father was servicing the gun and it actually went off then that gun should not be found by his side. So the whole thing looks fishy. We are still asking the question: what killed him? The story they are giving us does not make sense to us.

“Remember, nobody was there, nobody has said he was there when it happened. So we are only creating scenario that this is the possibility. But beyond everything, should the church pronounce before the police that he was killed by the gun when the police is yet to investigate the case?"

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

FG seeks advisers for $100m Diaspora bond

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IGERIA is looking for an international bank and a local lender to act as financial advisers for a $100 million Diaspora bond to be issued by the end of the year, the Debt Management Office, DMO, said yesterday.

It said that the advisers will coordinate investor road shows and support the bond’s registration with the United State of America and British authorities.

The DMO expects to offer a coupon of around 350 basis points above the five-year U.S. treasury bond for the issue, with a five-year tenor.

Meanwhile, according to Western Union, Nigeria received $10 billion in remittances from citizens abroad last year, out of $40 billion sent back into the continent.

Nigeria is the world’s fifth-biggest destination for international remittances after China, India, the Philippines and Mexico, with five million Nigerians living abroad sending money back to relatives, according to Western Union.

The Federal Government is also increasing the amount it borrows overseas to 40 percent of all debt over the next three to five years, from 12 percent, seeking lower funding costs.

It issued a $1 billion Eurobond last month and plans to raise an additional 80 billion naira in global depository notes this year.

Bids for the diaspora bond adviser role are due on September 26.

Citibank and Deutsche Bank acted as advisers on the Eurobond, which was four times oversubscribed.

Why I sacked Youths Devt Minister— Jonathan

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & BEN AGANDE

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, gave reasons for the sack of Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir as Minister of Youths Development, saying that he mismanaged elections into the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN. Meanwhile, Abdulkadir’s sack is being flayed in some sections of the North, who claim that the administration failed to use the extensive network of the former minister in cutting deals with Northern leaders.

Abdulkadir, who was sacked as minister by the President on Tuesday, was the pioneer Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and was believed to have formed an extensive network of contacts across northern Nigeria in that position.

Responding to what it claimed were misrepresentations in the media on the sack of the minister, presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday, gave reasons for the removal of the minister.

The media had been awash with reports that Abdulkadir was sacked for his supposed close relationship with some alleged political foes of the president, prominent among whom are Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.

Other reports had attributed the sack to the former minister’s alleged deliberate attempt to undermine the election of a supporter of President Jonathan as the new NYCN president.

Abdulkadir was fired for “failing to ensure that a ProJonathan candidate emerged as President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN. “We wish to assure the general public that nothing could be further from the truth.

President Jonathan regards all Nigerian youths as his wards and constituents.

“Claims that he had a preferred candidate in the NYCN elections are completely baseless and without justification as there was absolutely no reason for him to prefer one candidate over others.

“President Jonathan remains sincerely and unwaveringly committed to doing all within his powers to promote the credibility and integrity of the electoral process at all levels in the country.

“He firmly believes that a culture of free, fair and credible election must be constantly nurtured and encouraged amongst Nigerian youths and all other sections of the country.

His ‘sin’

“In point of fact, it was Alhaji Abdulkadir’s regrettable de-

viation from this presidential commitment in the management of the NYCN elections that led to the decision to relieve him of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.

“President Jonathan was very displeased with the mishandling of the NYCN elections in Makurdi and Minna by the Ministry of Youth Development, which resulted in the unfortunate fractionalisation of the youth council.

“The President found the Ministry’s failure to provide appropriate leadership towards open and transparent youth council elections unacceptable.

“President Jonathan is sincerely committed to doing everything possible to ensure that the Nigerian youth, on whom the country’s aspirations for a bright and prosperous future depend, are given the best possible upbringing and orientation.

“The President, therefore, expects all officials of his administration to exhibit greater rectitude and sensitivity on issues related to youth development, and comport themselves at all times in a man-

ner worthy of emulation by Nigerian youth.”

‘He's an asset’

Meanwhile, there was concern, yesterday, that in sacking Abdulkadir the administration let off one of the most experienced and knowledgeable persons in the administration on issues about the North.

As pioneer secretary of ACF, Abdulkadir was said to have developed an extensive network of friends and contacts in the North through whom the administration could have articulated its political and other objectives.

A government official told Vanguard, yesterday: “There are very few persons around with the kind of network that Inuwa has.

“In his position as ACF secretary, he developed the kind of contact that crossed all ethnic and religious divides in the North as he worked with people like Sunday Awoniyi, Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari in the setting up of ACF. “It was somebody like Inuwa that was needed to reach out to Boko Haram and Northern leaders, but he was left hanging out.”

The statement

The statement said: “While many media outlets erroneously attributed the Minister’s sacking to his disloyalty or closeness to a particular governor or governors said to be opposed to the President, the most disingenuous and malicious speculation was by a national newspaper, which claimed that Alhaji

PDP CONVENTION C'TTEE: From left— Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Deputy Chairman; Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and Secretary; and Professor Jerry Gana, Chairman, all of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention Planning Committee, at a meeting of the Committee in Abuja.

Nigerian-born Gambian judge is being persecuted —Family

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

F

AMILY of the Nigerianborn former Chief Justice, CJ, of The Gambia, Justice Joseph Wowo, accused of requesting bribe over a land issue, has said the judge was being persecuted on account of his nationality.

In a document made available

to Vanguard in Lagos by his elder brother, Godwin Wowo, he claimed that the bribe story was a “bunch of falsehood” orchestrated by powerful forces in The Gambia, who did not want a foreigner to be appointed CJ of their country.

Godwin claimed that his younger brother ’s problems started when he was invited by The Gambia’s former Attorney-

General and Minister of Justice, Lamin Jobarteh, to help settle a dispute.

The dispute concerns a land matter in which Justice Wowo, as a High Court Judge, had delivered a judgment in favour of a German, Bernd Dietrich, against 12 trespassers, including one Andre Sape Van Klaabergen, who was the former Minister’s client be-

fore his appointment as Attorney-General.

According to Godwin’s account, the said meeting was attended by parties to the land suit, who were also accompanied by their lawyers.

He said that the ex-Attorney-General had offered to pay D500,000 as compensation to the German on behalf of his client.

He said the German, through his counsel, Mr. Christopher Mene,refused, maintaining that he wants nothing less than D1.5 million for the land.

He said that his brother could have demanded bribe at the meeting that held at the former minister’s house before over 12 people, saying a judgment of the court had been delivered on the issue.

Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013— 9

JAMB completes first admissions round

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

FEC MEETS: From left— Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources; Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Minister of State for Works; Chief Mike Onolememen, Minister Works, and Mr. Mohammed Adoke, AttorneyGeneral and Minister of Justice, during the Federal Executive Council, FEC's weekly meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: Abayomi Adeshida.

Boko Haram: Why US hasn't released $7m reward promised on Shekau— Envoy

BY UDUMA KALU & VICTORIA OJEME, with agency reports

A

BUJA—THE UNITED States of America, USA, yesterday, stated why it was yet to release the $7 million bounty it placed on the head of the leader of the Boko Haram Islamist sect, Abubakar Shekau.

This is coming 10 days after the Joint Task Force announced that the sect leader had died from gunshot wounds he sustained in an encounter with the task force on June 30.

In June 2012, the US Department of State had designated Shekau a terrorist and froze his assets in America, while offering a $7 million reward for his capture.

Explaining why the US was yet to redeem its pledge on the reward for killing the Boko Haram leader, outgoing Ambassador of the US to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, told newsmen shortly after his visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, in Abuja, that his country was not fully satisfied with Nigeria’s war against terrorism.

He said: “I can say you are talking about the Reward for Justice Programme, which indeed offers a reward for help in apprehending the leader of Boko Haram.

“But I can’t say that the United States has been very satisfied with the work that has been done in helping to counter the threat of violent extremism in the region.

“But we certainly salute the

work that Nigeria has done as a regional leader to contain the spread of violent extremism.”

He assured that fight against violent extremism would continue not only in Nigeria but any country or region that is faced with the menace.

McCulley said: “We have strongly criticised the violence perpetrated by Boko Haram and we have called for measures targeted at checkmating this threat.

“And we express our hope that going forward, the government of Nigeria will be able to contain the threat posed by Boko Haram.”

Residents to sue FG

Meanwhile, Borno State residents have threatened to sue the Federal Government and its security agencies for detaining their relatives and making them inaccessible.

The residents, through a human rights group, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, led by Sheu Sani in Kano, said security forces in the state were carrying out night raids in residential neighborhoods.

According to AFP report, distraught relatives have, therefore, asked the army, the police, intelligence services and government officials where the arrested people were to no avail and that no one even knows, or is saying, how many people have been detained.

The rights group said it

had received about 3,000 calls from people across northern Nigeria, that loved ones had disappeared after being arrested by the military or police in the past three years.

Sani said: “If we go to the police, the police will say that they are not with them but may be with the military. The military will say they must be with the intelligence service.

“The intelligence service say they don’t keep detainees — even though they do— that they hand them over to police.

So there is this cycle of confusion. The conditions in which people are being detained is very secretive.”

“My 3 children missing”

One Habiba Saadu said his

two sons and her daughter were taken on August 3 by soldiers that went from house to house in a night raid in Maiduguri, accusing them of participating in the Boko Haram uprising.

“Up to now, I have never seen my children,” Saadu said.

Saadu said her visits to police stations, the army barracks, the intelligence services and local politicians gave no clue to the whereabouts of her children.

Asked about the disappearance of the suspected Boko Haram members, the Joint Task Force spokesman, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, told The Associated Press that “if they are arrested, then they are being held.”

In its half-year report published last month, the Federal Prison Service said it was holding 202 Boko Haram suspects by the end of June.

BUJA—THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, announced, yesterday, that it had concluded the first round of admissions into degreeawarding institutions.

A statement by JAMB, signed by its Head Public Relations, Mr. Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja, said all candidates that made degree-awarding institutions their first choices or most-preferred are enjoined to check the Board’s website and print their admission letters.

It said: “This exercise was decided at a combined Technical Committee Meeting on admissions into degree-awarding institutions for 2013/ 2014 academic session held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“The meeting had 109 degree-awarding institutions in attendance and 76 out of these institutions made submissions (list of admitted candidates) to the Board.

“The second round of admissions will be conducted between September 23 and 27, at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State.

“It would be solely for admissions into polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education and Innovative Enterprises Institutions. All admissions into the nation’s tertiary institutions are expected to close by October.”

10,000 Olokola workers to lose jobs

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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IGERIA’S unemployment situation is set to worsen as the fate of about 10,000 workers in the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas project, OKLNG, is currently on the line, following the pulling out of Chevron and Shell, which threatens continuation of the project.

The workers, currently employed in the construction phase of the project, risk being disengaged, as Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, yesterday, confirmed its withdrawal from the OKLNG project, blam-

ing it on the lack of progress on the project, eight years after its inception.

Vanguard had, last Friday, exclusively reported that Chevron and Shell had pulled out of the project, citing non-commitment on the part of the Federal Government to pursue the completion of the project and the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Shell has refused to confirm its pull-out as Chevron did, thereby raising questions as to the reason for the secrecy.

Likewise, the word is mum at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the principal partner in the project, which had

been informed on the oil majors’ decisions, and had over the years seconded a lot of its staff to the OKLNG project.

However, after almost a month of taking the decision, Chevron, in a statement by its General Manager, Policy, Government & Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said that the company effectively pulled out of the project on July 31.

It added that efforts over the last eight years to mature the project had not resulted in a final investment decision, FID. The statement also confirmed that Shell pulled out of the OKLNG project on July 31.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Cleric calls for prayer to avert air disaster

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R. Ebenezer Oyeyemi, a cleric of the Oasis Christian Centre, Egbeda, Lagos, has called on religious leaders in the country to pray fervently in order to avert a major air disaster.

The cleric told journalists during the annual crusade of the church that God had revealed to him when he was on a prayer mountain that an airplane would crash in the country.

Oyeyemi, who is the General Overseer of the church, said God told him in the vision that Nigerians should pray fervently to avert the crash.

He, therefore, called on religious leaders, both in the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, to organise prayer sessions and pray to God to avert the disaster.

He said that in his revelation, the air crash happened in the outskirts of a village at a building site.

Search for Africa’s first X Factor singer ends Sept 17

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HE search for Africa’s first X Factor singer will come to an end on September 17, when winner of Globacom’s N24-million-prize money and Sony Music’s recording contract will be announced in Lagos.

X Factor is the world’s biggest singing reality TV show, and it berthed in Africa for the first time on the shores of Nigeria, courtesy of national operator, Globacom.

The prize package is considered outstanding as the cash prize is the biggest offered by any singing reality show in Africa, while the Sony Music recording deal is the first express commitment to a recording contract for the winner of a singing reality show by a major recording label.

Globacom said in a statement in Lagos that the grand finale would be attended by high profile personalities.

DINNER: Brazilian Representative of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in the Afro-Identity International Conference, Sir Joe Monteiro, presenting a bulk of compact discs to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, during a dinner party organized by the governor. Also present were Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Osun State Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye (middle) and Dr. Felix Omidire (2nd right), at the State Government House, Osogbo.

Why we terminated Lekki-Epe deal with LCC —LASG

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—LAGOS State Government, yesterday, said it terminated its concession agreement with Lekki Concession Company, LCC, the concessionaire handling the 49.63 kilometer Eti-OsaLekki-Epe Expressway, “to save motorists from paying exorbitant toll tariff on the ever busy road.”

This came as it announced that the last phase of N87.5 billion out of the N275 billion fixed rate bond would be out for prospective investors in the fourth quarter of the year, to finance the acquisition right and take control of the toll regime on the road.

The termination came seven years after the commencement of the 30-year agreement between the state government and LCC, for the upgrade, expansion and maintenance of the road estimated to gulp N50 billion.

It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly had, on Tuesday, at a special plenary session, approved N7.5 billion supplementary budget to accelerate the transfer of ownership of the road to the state, leaving the state with wider policy option with regards to that important road infrastructure.

Reason for govt’s action

Giving the reason for government’s action, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, said: “As provided for in the concession agreement between the parties, the con-

cessionaire, (LCC) can increase the toll tariff based on the inflation rate in the country, among other things every quarter. The risk is that when an agreement was reached between two parties to negotiate on a contract, whatever the year, one cannot envisage the entire challenge that will arise later. The dynamics of the Lekki project did not envisage that there would be devaluation of the country’s currency, between 2008 and 2013 from N118 to N160. This impacted on their cost which they will attempt to pass to the common man on the street, because of the inflation ad-

justment.

“For instance, if the state government had not come up with this plan last July, the concessionaire would have increased the toll fee for cars from N120 to N144 while drivers of SUVs will have to part with N180 as against the N150 cost they are still enjoying. This is because the concessionaire would have added 20 percent. The government felt that this would be difficult to push to the residents at this time. And of course, at every anniversary, it was meant to go up by the inflation rate plus five percent.

And we should not forget that

this is the first Public Private Partnership, PPP, agreement reached by the state government.”

On

N85.5bn

bond

The commissioner said “Our application has been filed with Security Exchange Commission, SEC, and other aspects have been handled. Our best estimation is that by the early fourth quarter of this year, we will be able to access the cash from the transaction.

Out of the bond issuance of N275 billion, the state government has issued three series of the bond totaling N187.5 billion.”

Rising insecurity threatens African maritime industry —FG this conference. I am happy to

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—THE Federal Government has raised alarm that the economic opportunities in African maritime industry are being threatened by the rising insecurity in the continent’s waters, calling on littoral states to defend their maritime sector against criminals for exploitation of the resources.

The government spoke in Lagos, through the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, at the ongoing international maritime Offshore Patrol Vessel, OPV, Conference organised by the Nigerian Navy in partnership with the International Quality and Productivity Centre, IQPC. The three-day programme, ending today, is being attended by Chiefs of Naval Staff

from different African countries and maritime stakeholders across the globe.

According to the minister, the OPV conference with the theme: Delivering Maritime Security to Africa, signified the feasibility of a potent strategy and civil-military synergy required to confront the increasing vulnerability in African waters.

She said: “Regrettably, as we are all aware, the economic prospects are threatened by the common challenge of rising insecurity in our collective maritime domain. It, therefore, makes sense to posit that any initiative by the Nigerian Navy to build credible capacity that will guarantee our maritime defense, must be encouraged.

It is based on this premise that President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the hosting of

note that this conference will also broaden the discourse on protection of crucial offshore oil and gas infrastructure in Africa.

In his address, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, said: “Whereas the desired end state is essentially defined by the ability to emplace robust and effective domain awareness capabilities and patrol missions for enhanced maritime security, thus providing the enabling environment for socio-economic growth and development of African states, regrettably, the increasing necessity of policing operations, particularly within the past decade has revealed the huge capability gap of African navies and coast guards in their ability to efficiently discharge their constitutional mandate.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—11

We're not threatened by lawmakers’ defection—Ogun APC

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State, has said that it is not threatened by the decision of some of the elected officials of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state to defect to the Labour Party, LP. The party, in a statement in Abeokuta, yesterday, by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sola Lawal, described the three law makers, both at the state and the federal levals, who defected from the party as "habitual renegades who are renowned political prostitutes.”

No fewer than nine lawmakers, including four who were members of the defunct ACN, reportedly defected to Labour Party in the state.

Reacting to the defection, the party said: “As far as our party, APC, is concerned, the purported defection is of no consequence. We are bold to say this because these characters have long lost their reckoning in our defunct ACN. When last did any of them attend even ordinary ward meeting in their constituencies? Since they have contributed nothing to the party in the first place, their defection is only a flight

of fancy.

“In the typical manner of the prodigal, they have only gone back to their vomit. Remember that they came from PDP. Now they are back to the camp of their erstwhile traducer, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

“The lawmakers who have joined the LP have simply returned to where they belong: the camp of deceitful

and selfish politicians who have nothing to show for the long years they held public office.

“The APC is the needed tonic, not only to tone up the tempo of infrastructural development in states controlled by the defunct ACN, but also the overall socio-economic development of the country which has been battered by the Peo-

ple’s Democratic Party, PDP. “The APC was painstakingly conceived by like-minded Nigerians and groups in all geo-political zones in the country who have, for the first time in the nations political history, shed their political and ethnic interests and united to salvage Nigerians from the cruel jaws of the poverty-induced PDP.”

CONFERENCE: From left: Chairman of occasion, Professor Siyan Oyeweso; Retired Professor of History, Professor Akin Olorunfemi; Director, IFRA Nigeria, Dr. Gerard Chouin and convener, Prof. Tayo Adesina, at a conference in honour of ProfessorOlorunfemi, in Ibadan, yesterday.

Ifeanyi Uba clinches Anambra LP guber ticket

BY ENYIM ENYIM

T

HE Labour Party, LP, yesterday, in Anambra State, gave its ticket for the scheduled November 16 governorship election in the state to Dr Ifeanyi Ubah.

Presenting the party's flag to Ubah, national chairman, Mr. Dan Nwanyanwu, said the party issued forms to three aspirants but only Ubah returned his form to the national secretariat of the party.

According to him, the provision of the party empowered him to give Ubah the ticket by affirmation since two of the aspirants, Peter Nwosu and an unidentified aspirant did not

return their forms.

He said: “We gave forms to three aspirants but only Dr Ifeanyi Ubah paid the necessary fees and returned his form while we have not received forms from the other two aspirants even as I am talking to you now.”

Announcing that there were 137,000 at the primaries, he said the LP government, if voted to power, would give good governance to the people of Anambra State who had not in the past enjoyed full dividends of democracy.

He said it was unfortunate that Anambra that had been the first in all endeavours was now crawling behind other states because they were promoting mediocres in govern-

ment. He added: “We will no longer allow people who are not interested in your welfare to be in government. The time has come for change.”

State chairman of the party, Mr. Sam Oraegbunam, appealed to the people of Anam-

bra to support the party's candidate in the governorship election for good governance.

He said the LP government would tackle, headlong, the vexed issues of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes in the state.

Don't drag me into political battle with Bode George —Oni

F

ORMER governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has warned controversial businessman and self-appointed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leader in Ogun State and the South-West zone, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, not to drag his name into his (Kashamu's) “messy political battle,” with former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George and other credible PDP leaders in the South-West.

Reacting to comments credited to Kashamu in some newspapers today, that Bode George was the one who instigated him (Oni) to file the suit against the conduct of the party ’s South-West zonal congress, the former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Lere Olayinka, said: “He does not need anyone to

fight for his rights through the instruments of the law.”

Olayinka, who described Kashamu’s comment as unfortunate, added: “Those who genuinely love the PDP in the South-West would be interested in the resolution of all issues affecting the party not the installation of their stooge through a pre-determined congress.”

He reiterated that the zonal congress that produced Oni as the National Vice Chairman of the PDP was the brainchild of notable leaders of the party in the zone, with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in attendance, pointing out that; “Buruji Kashamu’s manipulations that led to the nullification of the zonal congress was a direct affront on the leaders of the party."

Ogun plans $150m cancer centre

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Government said it has concluded plans with the United States of America-based cancer experts to construct a cancer institute worth over $150m in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abeokuta, said the government would ensure that a stream of qualified specialists are brought to the institute in order to improve cancer services in the country.

Dr. Soyinka explained that the government is planning to locate the institute at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, to facilitate academic affiliation and enhanced relationship between the tertiary institution and the cancer institute.

He added that the state intends to make some of the cancer services available to the poorer patients through a community-based health insurance scheme.

Azebamwan passes on

M

RS. Franca Azebamwan, nee Akinsanya, a successful business woman and community leader, is dead, aged 51.

A statement by Chief E. W. Edmund stated that a Christian wake keep will hold at her Olaitan Street residence, Ibafo, tomorrow.

Until her death, Azebamwan was a devout Christian. She is survived by her widower, children, brothers and sisters.

Late Mrs. Azebamwan

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

2015: We’ve 11 PDP govs romancing with APC, says Tom Ikimi

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA — FORMER Foreign Affairs Minister and National Vice-Chairman South-South of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Tom Ikimi, said, yesterday, in Asaba that APC was already creating waves as no fewer than 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, family have found it as a veritable platform to decamp to.

Consequently, he sounded a note of warning against any sanction the leadership of PDP might take against those governors.

He spoke at the inauguration of state officers that will oversee the affairs of the party in Delta State.

His words: “Democracy in Nigeria is now assured because of the APC, some governors in PDP can now breathe fresh air.

Five governors are moving around now and I am challenging them (PDP), they can do nothing to them (decampee governors) because they have alternative. They are coming to us. Don’t say I told you, it is a secret, it is a secret (laughter).

“Don’t worry, we have today 11 progressive governors, that 11 would soon be 15; it will be soon be 17, it will soon be 19, it will soon be 21 and then we shall be majority.”

On the Delta Central Senatorial election, he said, “I am in touch with our members in that senatorial district, the leadership of our party is in touch with the leadership of that senatorial district.

“We must do nothing that will stop us from taking that seat which belonged to our late member, Senator Pius Ewherido.

“When the time comes, we will be selected democratically and whoever that candidate will be, once he has been se-

JAF denies ASUU participation in protest to save education ...accuses FG of sponsorship

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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ALABAR — JOINT Action Front, JAF, yesterday, debunked reports in a section of the media that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU Cross River State, participated in Wednesday’s protest to save public education in Nigeria.

JAF said the reports were not only mischievous, but Federal Government-sponsored.

A statement by JAF Secretary, Comrade Abiodun

Lamnalco, militant group flex muscles over sack of 30 oil workers

BY EMMAAMAIZE

W

ARRI — THE alleged dismissal of over 30 oil workers of Lamnalco Nigeria Limited in the last six months has pitched the company against a militant group in Niger Delta, Coastal Revolutionary Forces, CRF. It was learnt that officials of two industrial unions, NUPENG and PENGASSAN, were fuming over the development.

Among the recently fired workers were Capt.

James Yangaboi, Victor Urevbu, Benard Amadi, Canbi Opeme, chair-

lected democratically, we shall all file behind him.”

Earlier, former Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Dr. Olisa Imegwu, in a welcome address, said: “We are here this afternoon to welcome our leaders, elders and other stakeholders here present.

“We are thanking you all for your visit here and we are telling you that Delta State is solidly behind the party and we are ready to take over Government House by 2015.”

man, secretary and treasurer respectively of Lamnalco branch of NUPENG, Dennis Zifa and Nelson Usilo.

Some of the affected workers who had served for upward of 15 years, were sacked for allegedly failing alcohol and drugs tests.

Doctors/laboratory scientists were ferried to conduct different tests on the workers.

An angry worker said: “We are surprised, Lamnalco’s vessels are not known to have experienced mishaps, arising from drug or alcohol in-take by captains and crew members.”

Aremu, insisted that ASUU neither organised the ongoing nationwide protest that started in Lagos nor participated in the Calabar protest, arguing that there was no ASUU banner or leaflets at the protest march.

The statement read in part: “There was no ASUU banner or leaflets at the protest march. The JAF’s banner was the main protest march banner and was complemented by the banners of Nigerian Students’ Rights Movement, NSRM, and Education Rights Campaign, ERC. “The over 20,000 leaflets circulated throughout the protest march was mainly authored by the JAF. “JAF leadership represented by one of its principal officer – Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Secretary of JAF, was clearly in the leadership of the protest from the beginning when he declared it opened at the Freedom (Botanical Garden) Park at about 9.35a.m. to his closing remarks at about 3p.m.

“Comrade Aremu addressed the rallies at all the major points and his statements were communicated in Efik language to the people.”

Mr. Oku Ita spoke in Efik at the Calabar Watt market and at Etim Edem Central Park, with traders and transporters coming around for leaflets and declaring their support for the protest.

Vanguar THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—13

Delta guber: Politicians in Ika South support Obielum

LECTURE: From left, Dr. U.E. Okolocha, Chief Mike Nwielaghi, Chairman, Ogoni Economic Forum, OEF; Mr. Abuka Onalo, President General, United Middle Belt Youth Congress; Apostle Macdavid David, Founder, House of Grace Mission International, and Senator Adego Eferakeya, Chairman of the Memorial Lecture and Book Launch to mark the 72nd Posthumus Birthday, in honour of late Ken Saro-Wiwa, in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye & Bunmi Azzez

Delta at 22: Tremendous progress made by state —Lawmaker …. No, we’re on slow motion — opposition

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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SABA — CELEBRATION of 22 years anniversary of the creation of Delta State which was marked last Tuesday, has been greeted with mixed feelings.

Deputy majority leader of Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Johnson Erijo, told Vanguard that the state had made tremendous progress in all sectors.

He said: “If I have to use Asaba as a reference point, you

can even feel the level of development that is currently being witnessed in Asaba. You can see the airport, it’s a novel.

“The economic impact of that airport at this moment, is not being felt; at least with time, I know it will be one of the busiest airports we have around

Ozekhome: Group urges families to shun ransom demand

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY — AS anxiety over the abduction of human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) heightens, the Chairman of Edo State-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Reparation for Africa, George Enereba, has advised his family and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Athanasius Ugbome, not to accede to the demands of the kidnappers.

The kidnappers had demanded payment of N150million and N100million respectively as ransom for their release.

Enereba called on Nigerians to resist caving in to such demands, saying it would encourage those behind the act to continue in their heinous trade.

The suspected kidnappers, who seized Ozekhome, his driver and Ugbome on BeninAuchi Road last Friday, reportedly made contacts with relations demanding the ransom payment for them to be released.

Enereba, said: “I think it (kidnap) is a very sad devel-

opment in the history of this country, more especially that (Ozekhome) is a legal practitioner and he has been fighting for the rights and freedom of the down-trodden.

“It is a sad moment and it has to do with our economy that is not well planned, I see it that way.

“The issue of ransom being paid is trying to encourage kidnapping. I remember the time the mother of the Minister of Finance, Prof. OkonjoIweala, was kidnapped, ransom was paid. If it could be

discouraged and there is what is called crack investigative police journalism, these people could be trapped. At the time ransom is being paid, they are being encouraged.”

While reports on social media indicated that Ozekhome’s abductors, on Tuesday, contacted his family and demanded N150million ransom and three days ultimatum for payment, Ozekhome’s elder brother, Pius was reported to have told a confidant that no member of the family had been contacted.

this area.

“In infrastructure, you can see the level of work on our roads, drainage system. I am just using Asaba for instance.

“I have witnessed how Asaba has grown so fast within this period of stable democracy because fortunately I was among those who came into Asaba in 1999, you can know what Asaba was and what Asaba is at the moment.”

However, state chairman of Labour Party, Mr. Emeka Nkwoala, said the state had not witnessed much progress in its 22 years history.

“We are on slow motion. There are some improvements in the area of health care delivery but so much is left undone.

“Twenty two years of existence as a state is no joke. We must resist the temptation of ethnic divide and political divide so as to be on the same page to stand up against discrimination of all sorts, injustice and corruption.”

On his part, a taxi driver, who gave his name as Andrew, said “we need improvement on the roads. The roads are bad.”

Bayelsa govt abolishes stringent laws on businesses, factories

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — BAYELSA State government, yesterday, announced the abolition of stringent legal provisions required for the establishment of private businesses and factories in the state.

The move, according to the government, is aimed at removing the bottlenecks and obstacles associated with establishing new businesses in the state.

Director-General of Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency,

BIPA, Ms Freda Murray-Bruce, stated this in an interview in Yenagoa.

She said the new system of business operation will establish a one stop shop where investors could process all the necessary documentations under a single roof and make the state well positioned for the establishment of industries for large scale manufacture of salt.

According to Murray-Bruce, the decision was reached due to the abundant and readily available raw material for the

production of salt for both domestic and industrial purposes.

Her words: “There were already existing artisanal salt production facilities which could be mechanised to achieve greater efficiency as they produced for household use. ”There were several industrial applications for salt which compelled manufacturing concerns in the country to import the commodity. The establishment of a salt production facility in the state would curb capital flight and create jobs.”

PROMINENT POLITICIANS in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State have urged Chief Godwill Obielum to contest the governorship of the state in 2015, saying he is a credible and mature person to govern the state.

At a meeting of Delta Progressive Movement, Ika South Local Government Chapter held at Abavo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Mike Eku argued that “Since 2007, Chief Obielum has been involved in the building of our party.

Religious house defies quit notice in Delta

BY EMMAARUBI

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ARRI— A Christian worship house in Effurun, Delta State, has refused to vacate a rented apartment, in spite of court notices.

Owner of the property, Chief Temi Akporono, had approached an Effurun Magistrate Court requesting it to issue a quit order to the religious house, which it had declined to obey all court processes duly served it.

Naval College, Sapele, graduates set

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HE NIGERIAN Naval Engineering College, Ogorode–Sapele, yesterday, graduated 30 officers from her Officers’ Application Course Twelve, OAC-12, and Special Duty Post Commissioning Training Course 7, SDPCTC 7, departments, in the 2013 academic session.

Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral AI Ajuonu, represented by the Chief Staff Officer of the Command, Commodore M.A. Adeoye, who officially graduated the officers, said the college courses had, since 2003, been accredited by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, to award ND and HND certificates in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Andy Uba, Chris Uba, others shun PDP As PDP gives Nwoye certificate of return for disciplinary c'ttee zAnambra guber

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Senator Andy Uba, yesterday shunned the national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as he failed to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.

A PDP stalwart in Anambra State and brother to Andy, Chief Chris Uba, a factional chairman, Ejike Oguebego; Chief Benji Udeozor and Mrs. Tonia Nwankwu were also not at the party’s secretariat to honour the summon by the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party.

The national leadership of PDP had last Tuesday,

through the acting National Publicity Secretary, Tony Okeke, summoned the winner of party primary election conducted by one of the factions, Senator Andy Uba, his brother, Chris Uba and three others.

According to the party, Andy Uba and others were alleged to have conducted a parallel congress contrary to the one carried out by the national secretariat, with Governor Ibrahim Shema

of Katsina State as chairman of the electoral panel.

It also stressed that Kenneth Emeakayi was the recognised state chairman and not Ejike Oguebego, who conducted the congress where Andy Uba emerged.

But when Vanguard contacted Andy on phone, he simply said he was not available.

Meanwhile, the

recognised candidate of PDP, Comrade Tony Nwoye, yesterday, stormed the party’s secretariat where he was presented with his certificate of return by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and vowed not to go to the tribunal should the November 16 Anambra election be adjudged by Civil Society Organisations, CS0, international and local observers as well as the media to be free and fair.

FG approves $200m loan for Fadama project

BY BEN AGANDE

A

BUJA—THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, granted approval for the country to borrow an interest free loan of $200 million from the International Development Agency to accelerate Fadama III projects across the country.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the meeting, said the council also approved a draft bill to detect, prevent and control cyber-crime in Nigeria; as well as contract for an integrity check on Third Mainland bridge.

Maku, who was joined by his counterparts in the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, Dr Akinwumi Adeshida and Dr Yerima Ngama respectively, said the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala brought a memo seeking approval to obtain an International Development Association, IDA, credit facility in the sum of USD200 million as additional financing for the Third National Fadama Development project.

He said: “The Project Development Objective, PDO, for the additional financing is consistent with the on-going Fadama III project which is to increase the incomes for users of rural lands and water resources within the Fadama areas in a sustainable manner.

“The proposed additional financing will scale up the project’s achievements and strengthen the development effectiveness of the highly performing Fadama III by aligning it more closely with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, ATA, of the present administration.”

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Adeshida, explained that with 24 million hectares of Fadama land all over the country, it was imperative to optimise the use of the tracts of land, which predecessor, Fadama II was evaluated by the World Bank and found to have improved the beneficiaries’ income substantially.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—15

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, gave the Federal Government the nod to extradite an alleged Nigerian Al-Qaeda leader, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, to the United States of America, to face charges bordering on terrorism.

After the court gave its ruling, the United States government issued a statement saying it was awaiting extradition of the 33-year-old Al-Qaeda member over his indictment by the Federal Court in Brooklyn, on Tuesday, on the allegation of having a link with the terrorist group.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, while granting an application filed against the alleged terror suspect by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, said he was satisfied that Babafemi had a case to answer before the United States District Court

C M Y K

Court okays extradition of alleged Nigerian al-Qaeda kingpin to US of the Eastern District of New York.

Justice Mohammed said: “I have carefully listened to the application from the Attorney General of the Federation. I have also read necessary and relevant documents attached in support of the application as well as an affidavit deposed to by one Aputa Pius Okena, a principal state counsel .

“With the respondent not countering or denying the facts of the proceeding and since there is no form of objection from the respondent, this court is satisfied that the application for extradition is proper and in order.

“Therefore, an order is hereby made that the respondent be extradited to the United States to face the charge against him.

“It is hereby ordered that the respondent shall be surrendered to officials of the United States not later

than 15 days from the issuance of this order. In the meantime, the respondent should be remanded in custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, pending his surrender to the United States.”

Prior to the ruling, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Muslim Hassan, relied on eight separate documents and urged the court to order that the respondent be handed over to the government of the United States for trial.

Among the documents the Federal Government submitted to the court was an original copy of letter of certification with the seal of the USA, dated March 28, 2013, and signed by the US Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry.

Two other letters from the US Department of Justice, signed by its Attorney General and another letter by an associate director in the office of the department

of international affairs in the US, Mr Jeffery M. Olson, both letters dated March 27, were also submitted.

In his response, counsel to the respondent, Mr Aje Olori, urged the court to reflect in its ruling that his client had been in custody of the DSS for over 24 months, co-operation by the respondent with local authorities in Nigeria and the respondent not contesting the application for his extradition, saved the time of the court and tax payers money.

The Federal Government had maintained that Babafemi, who until now was based in the US, fled to the country upon realizing that he was to be arrested by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI. Documents filed by the Federal Government before the Abuja court further revealed that the US

authorities are of the view that Babafemi is a kingpin of “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)” an affiliate of al-Qaeda.

Babafemi was said to have admitted, upon interrogation that he was paid about $8,600 by the AQAP to return to Nigeria and recruit some English speaking individuals to work in AQAP’s English language media organisation.

Justice Mohammed who declined to release them on bail adjourned till September 17 to commence their trial.

Meanwhile, the United States government has said it was awaiting the extradition of the 33-yearold Nigerian, Lawal Olaniyi Babafemi, to the country over his indictment by the Federal Court in Brooklyn, on the allegation of having a link with the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.

An indictment was

unsealed at the court in New York, charging the defendant with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation, Al-Qaeda, in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and using highpowered firearms in furtherance of the crime.

The US, which is currently seeking the extradition of Babafemi, also known as “Abdullah” and “Ayatollah Mustapha,” from Nigeria, acknowledged the continued cooperation and assistance of the Federal Government in terrorism matters affecting the two countries.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the US Embassy in Abuja, the U.S. government noted that its Nigerian counterpart had commenced extradition proceedings against the defendant in July 2013 at its request.

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

SURE-P earmarks N230bn for projects in 2013

Niger gov seeks review of retirement age in civil service, Army

BY WOLE MOSADOMI

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—THE Chair man, Committee on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade yesterday said the committee would spend about N230 billion on projects across the country this year.

SURE-P as an intervention mechanism of the government is intervening in various programmes, ranging from infrastructure, health, education, transportation, ecology to entrepreneurship.

Kolade, who made the disclosure at a briefing in Abuja noted that the subsidy fund was shared among the three tiers of government with 41 percent going to the Federal Government; 54 per cent, state and local governments; and the remaining four per cent, ecological projects.

He explained that the committee spent N87 billion of the N180 billion budgetary allocation for 2012, adding that the remaining N93 billion would be added to this year’s budget.

Lagos relaunches STM

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO AGOS—LAGOS State Government plans to formally relaunch the Special Traffic Mayors Corps STM, of the state Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, as part of its efforts at ensuring free vehicular movement on the roads.

This came as the government reiterated its zero tolerance to street trading in the state, saying “it has adopted a new strategy to stem the pattern of trading.”

It will be recalled that STM was established by the state government in 2008 to complement the efforts of LASTMA and to avail residents of the opportunity to be part of the change that the government was clamouring for.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, would re-launch the Corps on Tuesday, September 3.

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INNA—GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State yesterday called for immediate review of the Nigerian Army regulations and the civil service rules dealing on retirement age.

Aliyu said this became necessary because of increasing retirement of active young men from the civil service and the Nigerian Army.

He spoke in Minna when the new Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Commander, Major General Shehu Usman Abdulkhadir who will be retiring from the Nigerian Army next year despite his young age visited him.

The governor said: “Now that we are producing educated people in all disciplines, there is a need for us to review the conditions of service of people in the military and the civil service.

“We should find a way to retain those who are 60-65 years of age up to 70 years unless they retire voluntarily.”

The governor said there must be synergy between the military and the civil society to guaran-

tee peaceful coexistence and promised to assist the Nigerian Army to renovate some parts of its barracks in the state.

Earlier, Major General

Abdulkhadir commended the peaceful atmosphere existing in the state. He said “Government policies and programmes have assisted to achieve the situation.”

He expressed appreciation to the Niger State Government for intervening in the rehabilitation of the barracks and for providing boreholes for soldiers and their families.

PRESENTATION: Gbenga Asabe of City People Media Group (right), presenting a copy of the book "Nigeria:Beyond Divorce" written by former Science & Technology Minister, Major Gen. Sam Momah (rtd), to Niger State governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu in Abuja.

... lauds Jonathan on Youth Devt Minister, NPC boss

BY WOLE MOSADMI

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INNA—GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu, of Niger State, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for sacking the Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Turaki.

Aliyu said, yesterday, in Minna that the action of President Jonathan “is what is expected of a national leader that does not want any of his officials to cause disharmony among the people.”

Receiving the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. Kennedy Opara, Governor Aliyu declared, “I am happy that the President queried the National Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC. Please thank the President for me for what he did to the Minister of Youth Development.”

Explaining why he supported the President’s stance, he said the former Minister of Youth Development did not show enough understanding of his job claiming that that the sacked Minister did not present the actual facts to the President after the botched election in Makurdi, Benue State.

According to Governor Aliyu, while Nigerian Youths Council did

not hold election in the Makurdi gathering, but set up a transition committee, the former Minister and his aides allegedly presented a list of new executive members of the council to the President.

On Odumegwu, Aliyu said people put in position of authority must be aware of the sensi-

tive nature of their offices and what their utterances could cause to the polity.

Aliyu said: “Census is very critical in Nigeria and people must always watch whatever they say or do about the exercise in order not to cause unnecessary crisis in the country.”

He praised President Jonathan for agreeing to be part of the delegation of Nigerian pilgrims to Israel for this year’s Holy pilgrimage which would include pilgrims from Niger State, saying “Niger State people are very happy with this gesture.”

Health workers suspend strike

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—FEDERAL health workers yesterday returned to their duty posts after an agreement with government on how to address their grievances prompting the suspension of their five days old strike.

Leaders of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, had last Thursday directed members in the five unions that formed JOHESU to begin an indefinite strike until government addressed their grievances especially implementing the National Industrial Court, NIC, judgment delivered on Monday, July 22, 2013.

The agreement was reached

after a two-day meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, attended by Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, HCSF, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, Dr. Clement Illoh among other Federal Government officials Presidents of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Abdulwaheed Omar and Bobboi Kagaima and leaders of JOHESU. According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, deliberations were held in two categories, namely, non-implementation/status of implementation of agreed issues and matters referred to the National

Industrial Court, NIC The meeting agreed that that the NIC ruling should be implemented in the absence of any order of stay of execution and constituted an implementation committee headed by the HCSF, with the following members: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, one representative from each of the five unions comprising JOHESU, one representative of TUC, one representative of NLC, Chairman of Assembly of Health Care Professional Associations, Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Director -General, Budget Office and Director, HRM, Federal Ministry of Health.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013— 17 central issue was always that there was money to throw at whatever emerged as a problem in the inter-elite rivalries which dominated the better part of Delta’s politics from 1999. This was the background that conditioned my understanding of the developments in the state in the past few years.

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S

Delightful Delta State

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RETURNED to Abuja on an afternoon flight from Asaba, the Delta State capital, last Sunday. We had been attending the 9th Nigerian Editors’ Conference; an occasion which climaxed with a gala night of music, featuring D’Banj; Omawumi; the Delta State cultural troupe and some of the leading comedians that made Delta the capital of Nigerian stand up comedy.

These events happened on Saturday night, and it was at the same occasion that I was inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. As I wrote last week on this page, it was that level of peer recognition that one doesn’t lobby for; it was indeed a recognition of the years of toil, pain and pleasure that made us the rounded professionals we evolved into.

In a most emotional and human sense therefore, I associate that moment in my life, with Asaba and Delta state in general.

But more fundamentally, is the fact that by being given such an honour in a state other than the one that I was born into, and away from the North, that I am so much identified with, I felt and still do feel a strong sense of connection with the beauty that is this incredibly diverse and rich country that is our Nigeria!

But apart from my personal emotional response to the award that I got in the settings of Asaba and Delta state, there was the aperture that opened into the efforts being made to develop what is a very complex state and one that reflects very much, that incredible tapestry of Nigeria: vibrant cultures; quarrelsome

But contrary to that picture, I saw an airport that was still very much an on-going project in certain areas such as the runway, some areas of the terminal building; the exterior landscaping

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elites; a hardworking population of often very poor people; a huge population of young people searching for a place under the sun and a mix of the positive and negative, almost in an equal measure.

When I found out that our conference was set for the state, I was naturally curious to see how much work has been put into the process of development there. The feeling is understandable, given that Delta is Nigeria’s highest revenue earner but has also been one of the most

disturbed in the years of militancy; theft of oil; kidnappings and internecine fights between various communities in the state.

The last time I visited Delta in 2002, I was General Manager of Kwara State Television and was actually driving through to attend the National Council of Information in Owerri, Imo state. Not much was visible in terms of development and in the years after, what one read about the state depressed rather than uplifted. It seemed

Governor Uduaghan

that the elites of Delta behaved very much true to type; they went on a spending spree as oil money freely came into the coffers of the state and there was so much to indulge the excesses of the contending elite groups from various ethnic backgrounds. The political class seemed adroit at buying off and playing groups against themselves; and the

President Jonathan's peculiar pattern of political statements T

HERE is a peculiar pattern to Goodluck Jonathan’s political statements that should worry us all. While declaring open the 53rd annual general conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), in Calabar, Cross River State, President Jonathan said some persons and sections of the country are threatening the nation’s unity, because of their desperate attempt to wrest power from him. Jonathan did not name the “certain individuals and sections of the country”, but he added that they were creating divisions and hatred in the polity. It seemed to President Jonathan that treasonable statements made to support his retention of power by the Niger Delta exmilitant, Asari Dokubo and presidential aide, Kingsley Kuku, didn’t threaten national unity nor created division and hatred.

The Calabar statement was the latest in a series of unpresidential political statements.

Goodluck Jonathan once told an Igbo audience that votes he got in the North in 2011 could only have come from Igbo residents in Northern Nigeria. He also has the knack of making sensitive political statements either inside churches or while receiving delegations of the Christian Association of

Nigeria (CAN). I cannot recall other Nigerian leaders, Muslim or Christian, who did that in the past. It seems central to presidential political strategy, under Goodluck Jonathan, that ethno-religious and regional fault lines must be consciously manipulated to consolidate the President’s position. And as the nation heats up ever more frighteningly, in the lead to 2015, the knuckles are becoming barer in the fight for political advantage. The emergence of the PDM as a political party has upped the ante, because it is being interpreted as Atiku Abubakar ’s fallback option.

PDM’s emergence seems to rile PDP’s fixer-in-chief, Tony Anenih.

He argued, disingenuously, that PDM was not expected to become a political party. It was a movement tucked firmly under the PDP’s umbrella, except that Atiku’s associates have a different view of things, with its registration. Tony Anenih wants to politically bury Atiku completely, but a political corpse’s limb is sticking out of the cemetery of politics, with PDM’s registration.

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f Tony Anenih was worried about PDM, there is another potential political dam burst, with rumour that

A minister's sack and the gander's sauce

E

ARLY this week, President Jonathan sacked Minister of Youth development, Inuwa AbdulKadir. The reason officially canvassed was that there were petitions against the minister. I know Abdulkadir very closely as we live together in Kaduna and socialise very well. The media is awash with more plausible political reasons that led to his removal. But let us take official words at face value. If the minister left a “non-juicy” ministry like Youth Development, allegedly because of petitions that government received, we are obliged to ask why nothing has been done to Diezani Alison-Maduekwe, against whom there have been legions of petitions, yet she superintends Nigeria’s “milch cow ”, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. It is important for President Jonathan to continue exercising the new sensitivity to popular feeling; we are awaiting Diezani’s sack. Let the goose’s meal befit the gander too!

Emmanuel

PDP’s five rebellious Northern governors are putting finishing touches to the emergence of a new party called Voice of the People (VOP). There are dangers ahead, because the PDP’s strategy of “ winning” elections hinges on control of executive power in states. The rebellious governors will be joined by Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers and Abdulfateh Ahmed in Kwara.

There are distinct possibilities that by 2015, Jonathan’s PDP will face adversaries in APCcontrolled states; the VOP seven, as well as party insiders smarting from PDP’s lingering crises. It won’t be a tidy way to face the defining 2015 election. The political uncertainties must also be weighed against the backdrop of perceptions of presidential incompetence and uninspiring leadership!

This is where Goodluck Jonathan’s peculiar politically divisive statements must be put in context. The presidency needs to divide its political foes and as in war so it is in politics: all types of weapons can be freely deployed to subdue opposition and win victory. President Goodluck Jonathan is not naïve. No. He makes those peculiarly divisive political statements because they are central to his overall strategy for the 2015 elections!

o when I landed at the Asaba airport last Thursday morning, I was very surprised that this airport which became the butt of innuendo and cruel jokes on the internet in the past one year or so. Opponents of the state governor successfully labelled the project as the typical white elephant, through which millions, even billions of naira, was funneled out of the state. But contrary to that picture, I saw an airport that was still very much an ongoing project in certain areas such as the r unway, some areas of the terminal building; the exterior landscaping, to mention a few. But there is no doubt, that on the basis of what is on ground, the Asaba airport, even now, is one of the best in Nigeria today! During a session of our conference, I actually mentioned it to Governor Uduaghan; I expressed pleasant surprise at what I saw at the airport. In the next two days, we went round Asaba to discover that a lot has been put into infrastructural development, and most impressive was the huge investment put into the renewal of educational infrastructure by the government of Dr. Uduaghan.

Primary schools in the state, and we saw a couple of them inside Asaba, have been turned around in an incredible manner, just as much as the renewal of facilities in secondary schools. We were told and shown pictures and records of investments in many areas of development in the state.

Of course within a visit of three to four days, there is not much that we can see and I don’t want to write with the arrogance of “parachute” journalism, which Western journalists have often been accused of when they visit developing countries; but in those four days in Delta state, I was struck by the friendliness of people and the open-heartedness to visitors from different parts of the country. If there was fear about militancy, I got a feeling that the post-militancy period has become rather more hopeful in the state. In Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the governor, I found a most welcome and an incredible level of modesty and levelheadedness; and the fact that he stayed through and actively participated in most of the sessions of our conference, spoke volumes for his leadership style. I found Delta state very delightful indeed and it is a place that I will forever associate with a most triumphant point in my professional life. I will certainly go back to Delta to understand its people better and to take in more closely its hopes and aspirations. These were the thoughts I turned around in my mind as we checked in at the Asaba airport on the way back to Abuja, last Sunday.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 LATE Lt Col Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, Military Governor of the Western Region, is on his way to official recognition, 47 years after he gave up his life in service to his country. On August 24, while his widow, Mrs Eunice Fajuyi, was being laid to rest in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Government announced that it had perfected preparations to institute a public holiday in honour of one of Nigeria’s finest military officers.

Born on 26 June 1926, Fajuyi joined the Royal Nigerian Army in 1943 as a noncommissioned officer. After assisting to crush a mutiny, he was awarded the British Empire Medial in 1951 and sent for training at the OCS, Eaton Hall in Britain. As a commissioned officer in 1961, he earned the Military Cross for his gallantry in rescuing his unit from a deadly ambush during the United Nations military campaigns in Congo.

On returning to Nigeria, after a brief stint as the Commander of the First Battalion in Enugu, he was appointed by Nigeria’s first military ruler, General Johnson Thomas

Ekiti Honour sF ajuyi Honours Fajuyi Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, as the Military Governor of the Western Region.

Fajuyi earned his eternal place in the pantheon of chivalry when, after the crises trailing the first coup, Gen Ironsi, on a nationwide tour to calm frayed nerves, landed in Ibadan to address a conference of traditional rulers and leaders of thought.

The propagators of the counter-coup, led by then Major Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, demanded he gave up Gen Ironsi for elimination. Fajuyi, in the true cherished African tradition of protecting one’s guest, offered to pay the supreme price rather than betray Ironsi. Both were killed, and remain among the least sung of their generation of officers.

Nearly 50 years after this unusual act of bravery, self-sacrifice and exemplary patriotism, Fajuyi’s memory is green in the minds of individual Nigerians and Africans as an exceptionally brave officer. Official recognition eluded him.

Fajuyi could have taken the easy path, handed over his leader and guest and probably gone ahead, after the war, to become one of the oil well owners and multi-billionaire generals who descended on Nigeria’s oil wealth like swarming, rapacious vermin.

We applaud the gesture of the Ekiti State Government. It is important to encourage Nigerians, especially the youth, to serve this nation with all their strength as Nigerians would in time remember the sacrifices. It is one of the ways of restoring the fading value accorded patriotism.

One day, we expect that Fajuyi will be given his rightful place among genuine architects of a Nigeria that would never mind that “tribe and tongue”, as old our national anthem stated, may differ. We are still waiting for that reality.

OPINION

BY ROMANUS UWA

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HE recent commissioning of Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital, Umuahia, which was the first of its kind in the South East zone is already achieving its purpose with patients trooping down there to receive one renal treatment or the other.

A visitor to the hospital, situated along Aba Road, will not miss the beehive of activities within the hospital and its environs. This is a pointer that the project was well conceived by the Abia State government and actualised in partnership with a private organisation.

The establishment of the hospital is another milestone in the numerous achievements of the state government, especially in health sector that was hitherto in shambles.

Before now, such haemodialysis facilities are known to be few in Nigeria and almost absent in the South East zone. It was in 1981 that the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, established its own centre and it took more than a decade before the University College Teaching Hospital, UCH, Ibadan did the same. For Abia State University Hospital, ABSUTH, it was in 2013.

Today there are over 20 dialysis centres across Nigeria serving a population of over 160 million people. Most of the centres are concentrated in the South

Abia Specialist Centre as another milestone West with a handful of them in the South East.

Even then, the dialysis machines at the centres are grossly inadequate such that some patients who require haemodialysis treatment sometimes die on the waiting queue before it gets to their turn.

Statistics show a global figure of 50 million persons suffering from renal disease annually. And here in Nigeria the figure is alarming as 37 million Nigerians are said to be battling with various stages of renal disease with 15,000 new cases annually.

I

t is also worrisome that records indicate that 3 to 8 per cent of medical admission is due to renal diseases with most of the cases reported as being among the poor in the society who cannot afford treatment abroad.

Today Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital is gradually turning the state to a medical tourists destination. Inside the hospital are a total of seven machines.

One of them serves as standby spare, another for HIV patients, while hepatitis patients have one to themselves. The remaining four are left for other patients to avoid complications which may result from contamination of blood.

In addition, the hospital offers a high variety of health package, never seen

before, involving Bio-Chemical and radiological diagnostic investigations.

Also in the hospital is a mammography that can scan the female breast and detect cancer at the earliest stage.

Computed Tomography, CT scan for short, is a medical technology that uses x-ray and computer to give threedimensional images of the human body.

Also available is the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, medical diagnostic technique that combines strong magnetic fields, radio waves and computer technology to create images of the body using the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance for total scanning.

With this feat, coupled with numerous others in the health sector, government has shown its total commitment to adequate healthcare delivery in state.

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ot resting on its oars, the state government has made fund available for the establishment of an ophthalmology centre within the specialist hospital to cater for visually impaired patients. It has also commenced plans for the construction of 100-bed capacity hospitals in nine council areas of the state in addition to renovating general hospitals that need attention.

The state government has also equipped and up-graded one hospital in every

senatorial zone into a referral hospital for specialist treatment and diagnosis. It has undertaken a massive re-equipping and modernisation of the Amachara General Hospital as the pilot hospital for Abia Central Senatorial Zone and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba to serve the people of Abia South Senatorial Zone, while the Umunnato General Hospital is to serve as the Specialist Hospital for the Abia North Senatorial Zone.

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hese were not only done, they are functional and serving the purposes they were built for by the government. So one should not be surprised by the numerous awards so far conferred on the state governor by different health organisations.

Health staff members in the state are among the best paid in the country today.

That is why they hardly go on strike as being witnessed in other states. With the remarkable giant strides of the state government in the sector, most private hospitals in the state which were then having field are facing low returns as patients prefer government hospitals that are well-equipped and affordable, courtesy of the state government’s quick intervention. *Uwa, a medical doctor, wrote from Aba, Abia State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013— 19

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OLLOWING on the heels of the recent “deportation” saga, another, perhaps more dangerous, storm that could threaten interethnic relations in Lagos is brewing. I call it the babaloja controversy. Babaloja, in Yoruba, literally means “father of the market” just as iyaloja means “mother of the market”.

I am made to understand that all over Yorubaland, it is usually the traditional ruler that controls markets in the cultural sense. The iyaloja and babaloja are agents of the oba, the traditional ruler. They are said to be spiritually grounded as members of local cults associated with the traditional institutions of the locality of which the oba is the head.

When Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the mother of former Governor Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State, was alive, she was known as the Iyaloja General of Lagos.

She appointed one Alhaji Abibu Oki as the babaloja of Ladipo Motor Spare-parts Market, a bustling trading zone heavily

dominated both in numbers and quantum of investment by Igbo merchants. When she died recently, Bola Tinubu, who is now the primary political principal in South Western Nigeria, appointed his sister, Mrs Folorunsho TinubuOjo, as the new Iyaloja General.

Igbo traders in Ladipo Motor Spare-parts Market kicked against the imposition of Oki as the leader of a market in which Yoruba traders and artisans form the obvious minority. They insisted that the leadership of the market must be determined by democratic elections, and whoever wins should preside over its affairs for a determinate term of office.

The Chairman of the Mushin Local Government Area, Mr Olatunde Babatunde Olapitan, in reacting to the rejection of Oki by the Igbo traders, urged them to “admit the culture of Yorubaland”, as the babaloja is the person on ground to liaise between the traders and the local government under whose purview the market is placed by law. Apparently, the

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babaloja helps in the collection of government revenue and carrying out of certain directives in the markets.

We may have a big crisis in our hands unless this matter is handled with the care it deserves. Already (just as the deportation hoopla did) it is stoking great tension between Igbos and Yorubas both within and outside the market. We are faced with the typical challenge that crops up when a society begins to transit from a mono-cultural setting to a multicultural, modern one.

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ere in Lagos, it manifests in many ways, thus leaving people struggling to figure out how to deal with it. For instance, should a city like Lagos rapidly transforming to a world class metropolis still tolerate the

When a teacher cannot read

E

VIDENTLY, we are not listening enough to Albert Einstein (18791955): “Life is like a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”. We keep increasing the level of rationalisation in our society, in the process of which we get fixated at offering excuses for our failure.

At the mention of the poor performance of our children in English Language tests, we quickly point at the direction of the Short Massage Service, SMS, as a major distraction, whereas the SMS has always been with us. In the past, they were called telegrams and we used them quite often.

The fact that a student sent a telegram home, “CONDITION CRITICAL X SEND MONEY” did not prevent him from writing the best letter in his English language class the following day.

The Holy Books make it clear that there is nobody that God did not endow with particular talents. The only difference is that while some discover their God-given talents early enough; those who do not discover theirs force themselves into areas where they do not belong.

That teacher who could not read her own affidavit of age declaration could as well have been a huge success in some aspects of merchandising.

Elsewhere, assisting people to discover their talents is a major function of the education system, starting from very early in life.

We all make mistakes sometimes. In an unplanned society like ours, luck plays a role in straightening us out. I have sometimes strayed into areas where I did not belong but I did not wait to be disgraced out. In our secondary school days, I once found myself in a dance club but I quickly bounced out after cutting some shoes of my dance partners. I was clumsy. In fact, I had two left legs. But by

the time I moved into the literary and debating society, I became the one to beat.

That was how I found myself in a tennis club. I quickly got out when it became clear that the only direction I could play was aiming at the sky.

Rather than mitigate the problem, society helps to aggravate it. You can imagine if I had forced myself into becoming the one to teach our young ones to dance or better still, if I had bought my way into becoming the one to prepare our tennis players for the next Olympics. That would be a total disaster and that’s exactly what we are doing to ourselves and our nation in virtually every field.

We are largely a bunch of sadists, even to ourselves. We entertain ourselves with ludicrous events, the amount of venom we release into society, notwithstanding. In this Edo State, we once had a Commissioner who couldn’t spell “Commissioner”. For her, the word must shed weight by force and the only way to do so was to eliminate the double letters and she came up with “Comisioner” as her own version of the word.

We were pleasantly entertained on television but that did not prevent her from being picked as a Commissioner, even where some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, and other seemingly more qualified nominees had to be screened out to make way for her. In other climes, some citizen action groups would have stopped that appointment! You can imagine what type of Commissioner we had in “Mrs Comisioner”.

Let no one be deceived. That teacher who could not read is not alone in that category.

They are many. Whereas our system is still relatively able to sift the “Commissioners” from the “Comisioners”; and whereas the teachers who can read and those who

excesses of oro, a festival of the local people that demands that women and non-initiate men and non-indigenes must vacate the streets at dusk or risk just about anything, including loss of life?

How do you achieve a 24-hour economy mega-city while at the same time, allowing the locals the right to preserve their prized cultures?

With regard to this babaloja/ iyaloja issue, my own view is that it is best to allow the traders elect their own leaders. The leadership is there to protect their interests, including representing them adequately before government. I do not think the babaloja can suitably represent the interests of the traders before the government since, according to Olapitan, he is an agent of the government. We are in a democracy, and a democratically elected government has no right to impose a leader on the traders.

Government has the power to make and implement lawful policies for the cleanliness, development and good governance of the markets.

The traders, irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, have an obligation to comply with lawfully made policies and pay their taxes and rents to government and whomsoever it may concern.

They also have a duty to recognise the cultural sensibilities of the locality and be willing to apply themselves to harmonious coexistence with the locals. For the hands to be clean, the right hand must wash the left hand, while the left hand washes the right hand, our elders say.

The leadership in Lagos must rethink this apparently growing tendency to make policies or take actions that divide or create tensions between the indigenes and

cannot are not in short supply here, the differentiation should be made by sound personnel practice at that point of recruitment. But where is that entry point?

When a chief executive wants to engage

,

The Lagos babaloja impunity

Some of these policies can lead to a change of party in power in the state; the non-indigenes have enormous voting power and can launch it to protect themselves from what is rapidly becoming a hostile and oppressive regime

We have now arrived at that dangerous point where there are teachers who cannot read and these are the people in whose hands the fate of our future leaders lies

,

any particular person, even a stubborn legislature can hardly stop him. For example, Prof. Borisade Babalola holds the clear record of being tossed between the Executive and the Legislature close to five times before his nomination was finally confirmed. Again, the initial rejections of that ebullient Professor were not because he was found wanting but the murky politics of Ondo State had an axe to grind with him.

O

ur Education Boards have always paraded some of the best and most experienced brains. But while a Board may spend its entire tenure without officially appointing a single teacher, letters of appointment of teachers are “hawked”

other residents of Lagos. The new singsong of “Leave Lagos if you don’t like it” is a waste of time and effort because no one is going anywhere except they want to go.

Every Nigerian citizen in Lagos is equal before the law, and the law enforcement agents are there to implement the law whenever it is breached, whether by an indigene or settler. The situation in Jos should be an object lesson that when hatred is sown between indigenes and settlers to a breaking point both sides will equally bleed.

We don’t want this in Lagos or any part of Nigeria. We can’t make progress this way.

My suggestions are as follows.

If the babaloja and iyaloja must be in all markets, let their cultural duties be spelt out. Let the traders still be able to elect their leaders.

The traders’ union executives can still work together with these government agents to maximize the advantages of cooperation.

The Lagos State Government should have regular meetings with the leadership of the Igbo, Hausa and other major non-indigene groups to explain some of their policies and resolve sticky issues before they result to ethnic friction.

The political leadership in Lagos should also bear in mind the potential political consequences of some of these new controversial measures that deny people’s citizenship rights, such as imposing this babaloja thing on people who do not understand what it is all about.

Some of these policies can lead to a change of party in power in the state. The non-indigenes have enormous voting power and can launch it to protect themselves from what is rapidly becoming a hostile and oppressive regime.

progressively at the market place, under the candle light, with perhaps some insider collaboration. Between Boards, such illicit appointments get regularised.

True, Rome was not built in a day. We have now arrived at that dangerous point where there are teachers who cannot read and these are the people in whose hands the fate of our future leaders lies. These people did not suddenly find themselves unable to read. Once blocking starts, it never ends. They even block their way through the PhD. Sadly, the loudest critics of any system are to be found in this category. But luckily, too, even where the thief has every day, the owner still has his single day.

That woman also got her share of infamy: had she fallen into a pit toilet, a sachet of N20 detergent would have cleaned her up; had she been diagnosed for some serious ailment, by now she would have been completing her medication; but in split seconds, her inability to read had incurably destroyed her for life, particularly when she involuntarily relinquished her “Ekiadolor papers” to Oshiomhole – “Who is now the teacher?” “You are the one, Sir”.

Shall we return to Tai Solarin who once opined that the only way to sanitise Lagos was to bomb down the entire place and begin to rearrange it? More than four decades after, Solarin is still waiting to happen, but it has taken some extraradical steps to begin to turn Lagos around. Essentially, Nigeria is still possible. Just pray and hope!

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 — 21

FG to designate national shipping line Speaking in similar vein, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said that with the acquisition of the vessels, hope has been restored for Nigeria to go back to international shipping.

He explained that with further acquisition of ten of such vessels, the issue of capital flight will be reduced by

By GODWIN ORITSE

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HE Federal Government has concluded plans to designate Ocean Marine Tankers as a national shipping line following the application it received from the company.

Speaking at the commissioning of two tanker vessels in Warri, Delta State, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi said that the management of Ocean Marine Tanker has applied for a national carrier status so as to lift the nation’s crude oil.

Akpobolokemi stated that the agency will work around the clock to ensure that approval is granted as soon as possible.

He explained that NIMASA is pursuing the application with vigour so as to encourage other players in the industry to emulate the example of Ocean Marine Tankers with a view to putting Nigeria back into international shipping.

“We need more of the likes of Ocean Marine Tankers in the maritime sector to grow the national economy “We see Nigerian firms dominating every sector of the economy particularly the oil, gas and maritime sectors in no distant future..

“The issue of capital flight occasioned by foreign involvement in lifting of Nigerian crude is gradually disappearing” Akpobolokemi stated.

DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Labour demands N1.7bn workers’ entitlements from Arewa Textiles

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From left: Mr. Seni Adetu, Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Chief Edmond Okafor, Guinness Nigeria’s Best Overall Distributor (National) and Managing Director of Edinho Nig. Ltd (Abuja), and Afeez Ajibowu, Sales Director, West Region, Guinness Nigeria Plc during Guinness Nigeria’s Distributors Conference tagged ‘Celebrating Great Partnerships, in Lagos.

Money laundering: NFIU to sanction financial institutions over non-compliance

BY MICHAEL EBOH

-0.20

2,426.00

+6.00

16.44

+0.16

109.92

-0.23

104.65

-0.46

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL

said that it is the vision of the firm to domesticate the associated services hitherto provided by foreigners.

He disclosed that the Ocean Marine Tankers has been moving crude oil to the Warri and Kaduna refineries in the last 18 months, adding that no accident or spill has occurred during the periods.

“Our involvement in this lift-

By VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

T

11.30

$300million adding that such huge savings will further add value to the Nigerian economy.

He said “The vision is to ensure that 50 per cent of the nation’s crude oil is lifted by vessels flying Nigerian flags and also owned by Nigerians.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Ocean Marine Group, Captain Idahosa Okunbo,

ing of crude for this period of time without recording any accident or spill is an indication that Nigerians can also lift crude to any part of the world,” he said.

SELLING

154.76 155.26 155.76 240.8994 241.6777 242.456 206.9141 207.5826 208.2511 167.4892 168.0303 168.5714 1.5689 1.574 1.5791 0.2953 0.3053 0.3153 234.2687 235.0256 235.7825 25.2776 25.3597 25.4418 41.2638 41.3971 41.5305 27.7382 27.8279 27.9175 235.2971 236.0573 236.8175

CBN Exchange rate as at 28/08/2013

HE Nigerian F i n a n c i a l Intelligence Unit, NFIU, yesterday, threatened to sanction financial institutions in the country, following their non-compliance with certain anti-money laundering provisions.

Speaking at a regional training for financial and regulatory institutions on the revised Financial Action Task Force recommendations, organised by the the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, Ms. Juliet Ibekaku, Director, NFIU and GIABA National Correspondent of Nigeria, said it has received a number of reports from financial institutions in the

country, and that the reports are not impressive.

According to Ibekaku, who was represented by Mr. Daniel Iseye of the Financial Institution Training Centre, FITC, this calls for urgent improvement as the NFIU will not hesitate to recommend sanctions within the provisions of extant laws.

He noted that meting appropriate sanctions to defaulting institutions is the only way to ensure deterrence and to protect Nigeria’s financial system.

She emphasised the need for Nigeria’s financial system to be safeguarded from criminals, so as to attract the much needed foreign direct investments that will help grow the economy.

She said, “All hands must be on deck to ensure that the AntiMoney Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism, AML/CFT, programme in Nigeria is

evaluated favourably both in terms of policy frameworks and effectiveness - given that effectiveness is now a cardinal principle in FATF mutual evaluation process.

“The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit will continue to render full support for initiatives and programmes designed to enhance best practices and increase capacity in the area of AML/CFT in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Mr. Shehu Abdullahi, Director General, GIABA, represented by Mr. Buno Nduka, Director, Programmes and Projects, disclosed that financial institutions in Nigeria and other West African nations are performing poorly with regards to compliance to AML/CFT standards, adding that this is adversely affecting efforts to tackle money laundering and financing of terrorism activities in the region.

ATIONAL Union of Tex tile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has asked the owners and management of Arewa Textiles Plc, closed since 2005, to pay workers their N1.075 billion entitlements.

The union in a statement detailed its efforts at making the owners of the company to pay the entitlements since 2005 including legal action, where Union Bank Plc joint receivers’ pleaded to settle the issue out of court.

NUTGTWN in a statement

by Chimezie Sylvester, its Deputy General Secretary, , lamented that both parties could not reach an agreement, saying in the course of the Federal High Court’s proceeding, the trade dispute declared against Arewa Textile Plc in May 2004 came up for mention on 14th February 2006 and 25th April 2006. On the above dates, the Union had its memorandum prepared and submitted to the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and the court summoned the Receivers to appear before it and they did.

“The Receivers having gone through the Union memorandum which prayed the IAP to have its member’s terminal benefits paid with union dues deducted, requested verification of the claims and details of individual computation of entitlements. The court granted this request and advised that the computerised individual benefits of members in the employment of the company with union dues should be submitted to the IAP on June 12, 2006.

“At the resumed sitting, the Union intimated the Court that the details requested could only be possible if the Receivers could open the company for the Union representatives to access the staff files. The Receivers initially agreed to the request but later failed to open the company and staff records could not be accessed.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

19TH ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Privatisation of agriculture, critical to economic diversification — Phillips

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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EXT week, economic experts, business leaders and government officials will gather for the 19th edition of Nigeria Economic Summit. The Summit, which is jointly organized by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Ministry of Planning, will for the first time focus on only one sector of the economy-Agriculture. In this interview, Chairman of the Board of the NESG, Mr. Foluso Phillips explains the rationale devoting three days of economic discussion to Agriculture, and the benefits for Nigerians.

There has been so much buzz about and around agriculture in recent times. So why is it the focus of the Summit?

Yes there is a lot of buzz about and around agriculture and this is deservedly so. If there is one unifying collective action that Nigerians can take today to fight poverty and redefine the future of this country, it will be through a renewed and structured focus on Agriculture and its related Agri-business. As a nation, our true value proposition to the global community and even to our people has never been oil and gas - quite the contrary; Oil and Gas have been the source of our problems today.

Oil has made us rich, yet Agriculture would have made us wealthy.

We want to show the people who truly drive Nigeria’s economy, the business possibilities in Agriculture and that is why our 19th Economic Summit is titled “Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria’s economy”. This is the first time in the 20-year history of the Summit that we focus on one particular sector. We acknowledge the importance of this sector.

The NESG has been consistent over the past 20 years in focusing on policy formulation and advocacy on behalf of the private sector for the benefit of Nigerians. We have succeeded, after all these years, in getting our government to appreciate that, it is a private sector driven, free market economy that will emancipate our people and provide a platform to exercise that entrepreneurial spirit that drives us all today.

Whilst so much more needs to be done in the actualisation of

From left: Mr Foluso Phillips, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of National Planning and Mr Frank Nweke, Director-General, NESG at a world press conference on the forthcoming 19th Nigerian Economic Summit with the theme: “Agriculture as a business to Diversify Nigeria’s Economy”” in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. this free market philosophy, the fact that the intention of government seems to be there is a major win for us.

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e now want to show how the ‘privatisation’ of agriculture can lead to the diversification of our economy, through which every Nigerian can connect to our national Vision. We also believe that in locking in to agriculture, we will awaken this economy in ways unimaginable for now.

This Summit is about connecting everyone to the potential possibilities of agriculture and its role in Nigeria’s industrial development.

What is NES 19 offering to the Nigerian people - the man on the street? Why should he be excited that NESG is talking about agriculture?

There is a huge debate raging out there about the trickledown economics of our GDP growth over the past years. As positive as the data presented is, there is still doubt as to how these empirical growth figures are translating to food, health, education, security, jobs and hope for the man on the street.

NES 19, is going to show how 10 litres of crude oil only enriches a few, whilst the same quantity of Palm oil, produced from a farm, with a retinue of

Nigerians (and therefore families) engaged in its planting, nurturing, growth, harvesting, processing (into over 100 possible finished products), transporting, branding, advertising, packaging, financing, distribution and much more is what offers greater value. Producing 10 litres of Palm Oil will offer greater value than 10 litres of crude oil. Our message at this summit is clear - Agriculture must become the business of Nigeria This Summit is going to show that Agriculture is not for the faint hearted but for those who are ready to work and apply their talent to productive use.

It will show how everything and everyone is interrelated and interconnected when it comes to agriculture. It will show what value chains really mean and how every person, professional, labourer, organisation and governments can and must work together to make a success of it.

As our oil revenues begin to get challenged and the effect slowly hits our local economies, it will only be the states and regions that have embraced this agriculture paradigm that will survive. Revenue received but not earned turns to naught, as we can see with some states, which, without a monthly oil revenue allocation are paralysed. They, over the years, have lost the art of creating a reproductive economic system. To think that in our infant years as an independent country, the three old Regions funded the Federal government - all through the proceeds of unprocessed agriculture!

With this encouragement and practical focus on agriculture at this summit, the NESG seeks to attract and encourage investments into the whole business of agriculture. This can only auger well for the man on the street because it will create jobs - homegrown and engaging jobs. We will be able to feed ourselves and save huge sums of money spent on second-rate food imports; and focus our expenditure on health care and education and build schools that our children can attend because their parents have jobs to pay their fees.

BRIEFS

Bankers, experts gather for CIBN conference

NIMC, ALGON collaborate on NIN enrolment

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D

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers Of Nigeria (CIBN) is set to host entrepreneurs, Corporate Chieftains and government functionaries in Abuja during the 7th edition of the annual Chartered Institute of Bankers Conference to engage in discourses aimed towards Nigeria’s socioeconomic advancement.

The Institute declared that the two-day conference holding at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja from September 10-11, this year, will be specially celebrated because it coincides with the golden jubilee (50 years) anniversary of the Institute.

According to a press statement signed by the PR Agency on the Conference, the Chairman of the committee for the 2013 CIBN Conference, who is also the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that the theme for this year’s conference is ‘Upholding Professionalism in the Financial Services Industry: Supporting the Economy,’ adding that to brainstorm on this topic, “A total of four sessions, two for each day, will hold.

IRECTOR-GENERAL of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Barrister Chris Onyemenam has called on the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to support, partner and cooperate with NIMC to enable the Commission establish enrolment centres in the 774 local governments in the country for effective grassroots NIN registration exercise.

Barr. Onyemenam, who was speaking at the Pre-Summit meeting of first Local Government Areas (LGAs) Summit on the National Identity Management System (NIMS) held with ALGON members in Abuja, said NIMC was in a hurry to set-up enrolment centres and commence local government NIN registration quickly, hence the need for this collaboration. “We are established by Act No. 23 of 2007 to foster on orderly development of an identity sector and build a modern identity management system for Nigeria, we do four important things, the first has to do with the creation of National Identity Management Database, Manage Identity Authentication and Verification Service Infrastructure, Establish Registration Centres in every state capital and with your cooperation and support in every local government area, and then we can begin to talk of issuing National Identity Card”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY , AUGUST 29, 2013—23

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Warri por w ship call portt user userss dif difffer on lo low STORIES BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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ORT users in Warri have blamed the low patronage of the port on high charges by Intels and the wrong impression that the port is being managed by the company after the concession exercise This came as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) blamed low throughput on the shallow draft of the port.

An importer in Onitsha market, who spoke to

Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, explained that the general impression among importers is that Intels is incharge of the port.

According to the importer, although there are two concessionaires in Warri, (the other one is Julius Berger), Intels’ dominance is discouraging them from shipping their goods through Warri port.

A stakeholder in Warri told Vanguard that it is true that Intels do charge more. The stakeholder pointed out that goods for

which Julius Berger would charge N15 million, Intels would charge N62 million.

Another operator in Port Harcourt told Vanguard that the same thing is happening over there where one of the concessionaires is being prevented from handling any consignment that is oil and gas related because of a perceived agreement with government for such cargoes to be handled at Onne port.

However, General Manager in charge of Public Affairs of the NPA, Capt

Iheanacho Ebubeogu, attributed the lull in business at the Warri port to the shallow draft which makes it impossible for bigger vessels to call at the port.

Ebubeogu noted that the situation is being worked on to ensure that the channel is dredged to about 10 meters.

In his words: “It has the element of development that we are trying to embark on now. We are working at dredging it (Warri port channel) to 10 meters, fill in break waters and so on.”

This view is shared by the National Financial Secretary of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Val Johnbull Oribhabor, who said that shallow draft of the channel and lack of political will on the part of the state government were

responsible for the present situation of the port in Warri. Oribhabor said that another hindrance to vessels calling at the port is the fact that ships that call there presently do not get cargoes to load on their return trip. He pointed out that there is need for the state government to properly market the port to make it attractive.

Firm laments alleged NDLEA ’s harassment NDLEA’s

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

A

PAPER manufactur ing firm based in Onitsha, Anambra State, Sambons Paper Mills Limited, has decried seizure of its paper consignments by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA in Lagos.

Vanguard gathered that the containers were seized along with some members of staff of the company, since August 20, 2013 The company’s agent, Patrick Okafor, who spoke to Vanguard about the seizure at the NDLEA headquarters in Lagos, said the firm still remained in the dark as to why the consignments were confiscated by the NDLEA authorities after they had passed through the regular examination at the port.

“What happened was that the two containers were cleared and loaded onto the trucks that headed to Onitsha.

We did not know that some operatives of the NDLEA were trailing the trucks. So they met the trailers just few kilometers after they left the port and said they wanted to search the containers, that they got intelligence report that the containers carried contraband.

“The drivers had to stop for them to conduct the search and when they finished, they declared that they had seen nothing but that the containers must get to their office for their boss to see them.

And that was how the containers ended at the NDLEA headquarters with three of our staff detained as well,” he explained.

“As I am talking to you now there is no one who can tell exactly why they have seized the contain-

ers. We followed all the due process in the port before the containers were brought out. All the regulatory authorities in the port including officials of NDLEA saw the containers during the clearing process which was the normal thing,” he said.

“I don’t understand why NDLEA followed up on the containers and arrested both the drivers and sized the containers. They said they suspected the containers for carrying contraband but they have searched the containers and seen nothing,” he added.

However when contacted, NDLEA principal officer, Media Relations, Mitchell Ofoyeju said the containers were seized due to private intelligence gathered that the containers carried contraband but that the containers would be released as soon as investigations are concluded.

“We arrested seized those containers based on intelligence reports we gathered that they carried contrabands. We have started investigations and we will release them as soon as we conclude investigations,” she said.

But Okafor said, there was no fear for contraband since the containers were only carrying the consignments which included paper reels used in making envelopes, adding that even the company, Norse paper, brazil which shipped the consignments are also here in Lagos and could be contacted by the NDLEA authorities if they doubt that the containers did not carry contrabands.

He therefore appealed to the NDLEA authorities to expedite actions on whatever investigations they are carrying out and facilitate the release of the containers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 — 25

•From left: Prof S. Bandele, former VC, USTI, Ifaki Ekiti; Mrs. M. Olatunji, Registrar, The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Prof.

Olusanya, DVC, Tai Solarin University; Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan, MD/CEO, Executive Trainers; Prof Oka Obono of the University of Ibadan; Dr. J. Faniran, Registrar, Osun State University; and Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, Chairman, Executive Trainers, at a recent training in Dubai.

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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n the eyes of an undergraduate who has lost 60 days of his academic calendar due to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), N130bn is a lot of money. To the parents of such a student, N130bn should be enough to settle whatever grievances ASUU has. So why then has ASUU refused to put an end to the strike despite Federal Government’s disbursement of N130bn? In this report, Vanguard Learning seeks answers to these questions, and delves into the root causes of the ASUU strike.

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HE Federal Government recently asked striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to get back to their classrooms and resume work while all contending issues are being resolved as it had disbursed N130 billion to their governing councils.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim in Abuja ordered the striking lecturers to return to their duty posts saying that the Federal Government has “shown enough commitment to ending the strike but that the lecturers are being inconsiderate with their demands.”

The 2009 Agreement/2012 MoU For the lecturers, the word “demand” might not be the appropriate term for this situation. The National treasurer of the union, Dr. Ademola Aremu, while speak-

ASUU strike: Much ado about N130bn? ing to newsmen recently said: “When we come for negotiations, each side comes with their own charter of demands.

That is what both ASUU and the Federal Government did.

For two years, we were nego-

tiating, until we came to a middle ground and arrived at the agreement. The agreement was not our original demand, but as a result of compromise on both sides.”

In 2001, the FG entered into an agreement with ASUU aimed at resuscitating the university system in Nigeria and saving the system from total collapse. The agreement

provides for re-negotiation every three years for impact assessment and its implementation.The agreement was due for re-negotia-

Continues on page 26

Students get busy as ASUU/FG battle rages

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

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S the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have refused to end the 60-day-old strike, students in public Nigerian universities have taken matters into their hands by engaging in various activities to keep themselves busy.

Though most of the students that

UBEC unveils plans for South-East, South-South out-of school children

— Page 28

spoke with Vanguard Learning prefer studying for their forth-coming examinations, others have delved into catering, book editing, music, web designing and modelling, among others.

Blessing Agagaraga is a 400 level student of Education Administration and Policy Studies (nursery and primary education), Delta State University, and has been assisting her fa-

ther in his business café.

“The idle mind is the devil’s workshop, and since I don’t want to be the devil’s workshop, I started assisting my father in his business café. I also bake and do small chops which I do whenever there are orders.”

For Samuel Bright, a 400 level student of the Department of English and

Regenerative medicine will drastically change lives —Ola Orekunrin

ISI alumni decry erosion of reading culture — Page 30

— Page 35

Continues on page 30

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

SCHOLARSHIP

A

sia Exchange Scholarship for international

students is funding five scholarships for international students to study in Asia. Scholarship is offered twice a year for students from target countries and covers tuition fee for one semester program in one of Asian partner universities.

The scholarship is tenable at Indonesia, Thailand and China. Successful applicants are notified two weeks after the application deadline. Send your application online by October 1st, 2013.

Eligibility : Asia Exchange scholarships are awarded twice a year for students from our target countries and are open to anyone, who is at least 18 years old and has completed high school or similar.

Duration of award (s): Asia Exchange scholarships are awarded for one semester and will cover the tuition fee of a study abroad program in one of their Asian partner universities for one semester.

Notification: Students who are awarded the scholarship will be informed of the decision two weeks after the application deadline on October 1st, 2013.

How to apply: w w w.scholarshippositions.com

Harkness Fellowship in healthcare policy and practice

F

or 2014/2015 academic year, Commonwealth Fund offers Harkness Fellowships mid-career professionals—academic researchers, clinicians, managers, government policymakers and journalists to conduct one year research study on critical issue on the health policy agenda in both the USA and applicant’s home country. The citizens o f Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and UK are eligible to apply for these fellowships.

Total 16 fellowships are awarded worth of U.S. $119,000.

Study Subject(s): The fellowships are offered in Health Care Policy and Practice discip l i n e .

Course Level: The fellowships are offered to mid-career professionals — academic researchers, clinicians, managers, government policymakers and journalists to apply for a unique opportunity to spend up to 12 months in the US as a Harkness Fellow.

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From right: Head of Marketing, LearnAfrica Plc, Mr. Allwell Nwankwo; Mrs. Yetunde Aina, Member, Board of Directors, Learn Africa; and Publishing Director, LearnAfrica, Mr Gbola Ayedun.

ASUU Strike: Much ado about N130bn?

Continues from page 25 tion in 2004 but government reneged and it didn’t take place until 2007 and lasted more than two years to produce the 2009 agreement, which was freely entered into

by ASUU and government.

Out of the 10 issues agreed on in 2009, two have been implemented. Of the eight remaining issues, none has caused more ruckus than the funding requirements for the revitalisation of Nigerian universities as well as the payment of Earned Allowances.

The 2009 Agreement stated that funding requirement provides that all federal universities would require a sum total of N1.5 trillion spread over three years (2009-2011) to address rot and decay in the universities. Three years lapsed without any action in this direction. However, in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Union and the Government in 2012, the Federal Government decided to extend the gesture to include both federal and state universities. Instead of N1.5 trillion, the government would infuse a total of N1.3 trillion into the universities over four years. In an open letter to ASUU, the permanent secre-

tary of the Federal Ministry of Education, relayed the details of the MoU signed by the Secretary to the Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as well as the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Labour and Productivity.

It read; “Government reaffirms its commitment to the revitalisation of Nigerian universities through budgetary and non-budgetary sources of funds. Government will immediately stimulate the process with the sum of N100 bn and build this up to a yearly sum of N400bn in the next three years.” The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Isa Faggae said; “By our own estimation, the MoU should have fetched the Nigerian public universities a total of N500bn now if Government were to faithfully implement the understanding reached with ASUU in 2012. A continuation of that process would have yielded a revitalisation fund of N1.3 trillion by the year 2015.”

In spite of this, ASUU reported that at the first meeting called by the Government after the July 1, 2013 strike commenced, the SGF denied the existence of the MoU on the annual release of N400bn for three years as

intervention for public universities. cope of FG’s 130bn disbursal, and the Needs Assessment report It would be easier to understand the scope of the Federal Government’s N130bn disbursal if it is segmented into two: N30bn for the payment of earned allowances to lecturers and N100bn for the revitalisation of the universities.

Speaking to the Press on earned allowances recently, the SGF said; “Traditionally, universities pay this to deserving staff but because of the amount which ASUU now claims as arrears, government has decided to assist the university councils to pay as government did not receive any computation of amount involved until February 2013. By this computation, ASUU is claiming N92 billion as arrears for three year’s payment based on percentage range of between 15 and 20 per cent of personnel cost.”

The ASUU chairman, speaking on the issue of earned allowances said; “Government has declared that it will not pay university academics their earned allowances which have accumulated from

S

2009 to 2013. Rather, it is talking about providing N30bn to assist various Governing Councils of federal universities to defray the arrears of N92 bn owed to all categories of staff in the university system." Continuing, he said: “ASUU team was particularly amused that government believed that what our members are looking for is just money to spend. Why else would government, through the Minister of Finance dangle N30bn as if it was a dole out when, in fact, that amount of money was unrelated to the agreement and the work of the implementation committee. Our members have earned their allowances by working for them. They are not begging the government for crumbs. They are owed by the Nigerian government and they deserve to be paid. Government officials are collecting much more from our economy than they are contributing to it.” The ASUU President’s claims do not seem farfetched. Reports say that 109 senators put together earn about N19.6 billion a year, while N51.8 billion is spent on members of the House of Representatives for the same period, with a total cost of N71.4 billion. N71.4bn is about 17.8 per cent of the N400bn yearly intervention fund recommended

by the Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian universities.

Faggae opined; “All the Government is gloating over now is N100 bn which is nowhere near the scientifically arrived congruent sums in the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MoU and the 2013 Technical Report on the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities.”

The union is also worried that government plans to divert the yearly allocations to universities by TETfund to make at least 70 per cent of the N100bn. The ASUU Chairman said; “This is unacceptable to ASUU; it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul, since the idea of revitalisation took cognizance of the intervention role of ASUU ab initio.”

Other issues Beyond the payment of earned allowances and the funding requirements for the revitalisation of Nigerian universities, other issues include: Federal Government assistance to state universities, establishment of NUPEMCO, Progressive increase in Annual Budgetary Allocation to education to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020; transfer of government landed property to universities etc.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—27

FUTA holds capacity-building workshop for corps members

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

T

HE Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Centre for Gender Issues in Science and Technology (CEGIST) has organised a capacity-building seminar for National Youth Service Corp, NYSC members serving in Ondo State.

While declaring the seminar open, the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Ajayi stated that NYSC was one of the good things to have happened in Nigeria and had brought togetherness to Nigeria as a nation. She added that many youths in the course of serving their nation had mixed with other tribes and some in the process got married to people from other parts of the country and fellow corpers. She, therefore, enjoined the corps members to rediscover themselves by bringing out the best in them in the course of their service year.

The State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Isiaka Olanrewaju Kuoye who was represented by Mr. Olu Fadairo thanked FUTA management and CEGIST for putting in place a capacity building seminar. He stressed that the seminar would open the eyes of NYSC members to self-development. He however advised them to treasure what FUTA has given to them and use it to develop themselves and for the progress of Nigeria.

While delivering a paper titled Self Promotion, Dr. Omotayo Dairo, the

Chief Executive Officer of Quintal Energy stated that they ( corps members) should work very hard to be celebrated rather than celebrating others as it was their skills, passion and dreams that could make people seek them as people of influence in the society. He stressed that they should endear themselves to people in their communities of service through values, intellectual capability, emotional stability, physical

strength and spiritual development.

In her lecture entitled: Finding Love during the Service Year, Professor (Mrs.) Ibiyinka Fuwape, Dean, School of Sciences stated that it was with love that mankind could live together as one and in it that a nation could grow. She stressed further that “love is selfless and long lasting as it could not be pigeonholed.”

Educationist calls for enforcement of law on exam malpractice

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

S students device various means of promoting examination malpractice, one of the foremost educationists in Nigeria and board member of Thames Valley College, Shagamu, Ogun State, Mr. Tunde Kolade has called for trial and conviction of people who violate the law on exams malpractice.

He said; “We have law on examination malpractice and nobody has been convicted under that law.

That has emboldened parents to finance examination malpractice for their children and also lubricate the system by paying those who want to do it over time.”

According to him, we may not be able to catch and convict all students and lecturers that engage in exams malpractice, however, few of them could be made a scapegoat, adding, ”just use five lecturers as an example and everybody will sit up.

Kolade who spoke during a press briefing to intimate Nigerians with what Thames Valley College is out to correct in the sector said quality education is not all about the physical structure but in quality of learning.

He said, “Our greatest showcase of the school is not in the physical building but in the quality of education. Good as an infrastructure may be, you cannot graduate an empty headed person from it.”

Bowen varsity appoints new VC

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE Senate of the Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, has approved the appointment of Professor Matthew Akintunde Ojo, as the institution’s new Vice-Chancellor.

An erudite scholar, Ojo, started his academic journey at the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Osun State, where he bagged both his first and second degrees B.A. Hon. English and Religious Studies and M.A in Religious Studies respectively.

A thorough bred professional, the new VC started his teaching career at the OAU as a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, the same department where he passed through both as an undergraduate and post-graduate student.

Ojo has headed and chaired many associations as well as served in several others in administrative and managerial capacities. In addition, he was a member, Senate, OAU from May 1990 to January 1997 &1998 to date; Coordinator, Department of Christian and Religious Studies, Oyo State College of Education, Oyo Campus November 1981 to September 1982.

He has also had a career in universities across Nigeria and beyond as he was a Visiting Professor, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University, Cambridge USA in July 2002; Head, Divinity Department, Rogent University College of Science and Technology, Accra Ghana, 20072008 and April 2009.

28—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

UBEC unveils plans for South-East, South-South out-of-school children

BY DAYO ADESULU

W

HILE nine million Almajiri (Itinerant Qu’ranic School Pupils) of N igerian out-of-

school children are presently receiving attention of the Federal Government, the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has reiterated its commitment to implement boy-child out-of school education in the SouthEast and South-East states of Nigeria.

Speaking at the ninth quarterly meeting of UBEC management with executive chairmen of SUBEBs held in Minna, Niger State, its acting executive secretary, Professor Charles Onocha said; “Following the inauguration of the National Implementation Committee on the Integration of Out-of-School children from the South-East and South-South states into the Basic Education programme, the committee has commenced its activities and has undertaken development of operational framework and action plan for implementing the intervention.”

He said the purpose of the meeting of the major stakeholders was to review their activities and collectively agree on the way forward in improving Basic Education delivery in the country.

Onocha who lamented that the Nigerian out-of-school children pose tremendous challenges to the attainment of Education for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) said, UBEC has set up relevant subcommittees including Advocacy and Education sub-committees with emphasis on stakeholder mobilisation and curriculum development.

He added that they will also participate in a ministerial visit and partnership drive to prospective foreign technical partners.

According to him, the commis-

sion has concluded the Needs Assessment Survey in the South-East and South-South zones, saying that the assessment involved advocacy visits to government functionaries critical to the success of the programme.

Moreover, he disclosed that there were consultations with stakeholders to elicit reasons for the out-of-school boy-child syndrome and what these out-ofschool children are currently engaged in.

Other areas of intervention as disclosed by the UBEC boss were the establishment of the core vocational activities that are relevant to the out-of-school boys, which would form the core of the subject offerings in the vocational schools to be established in the two geo-political zones.

Meanwhile, Professor Onocha disclosed that nine million Almajirai have been integrated into the UBE programme as initiated by the Federal Government.

He said there are stakeholders’ meetings with the 25 states that are

benefitting from the on-going Almajiri Schools Project adding that the SUBEBs had been directed to commence the process of recruitment of teachers and enrolment of pupils into the schools.

According to him, arrangements have been completed to pay advocacy visits to six states by members of the National Implementation Committee to interact with the state governors.

His words; “In the implementation of the Almajiri Education Programme, states are expected, among others, to: Adopt and replicate the programme, including the construction of Almajiri model schools, recruit and deploy teachers to those schools, integrate alarammas/mallams/proprietors into the programme, adopt appropriate mechanisms for the enrolment of Almajiri into these schools which include; provision of school uniforms for the enrolled pupils and feeding as a retention strategy, maintain the infrastructural facilities and ensure the

sustainability of the school.

On girl-child education, Onocha pointed out that the initiative is a strategy to address the sociocultural sensitivities usually expressed by communities on the up-bringing of the girl- child.

He noted that the commission has constructed 13 model girls’ schools in 13 affected states stressing that the Technical Committee has been set up to advise the commission on the programme and activities of the schools.

Onocha who noted that the completed schools will be handed over to the host states to manage, disclosed that arrangement has been concluded with a time line and activities for the hand-over of the schools to the respective SUBEBs.The Commission has commenced arrangements for the enlistment of teachers into both the primary and junior secondary school components of the Federal Teachers’ Scheme. It is anticipated that the successful teachers would commence service at the beginning of the 2013/2014 academic session.

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

member serving A in Akwa-Ibom State, Oluwakayode Ajomole, has corps

emerged winner of the second edition of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Essay Competition and symposium, organised by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN).

Six finalists were considered to be the best in the essay contest with the topic: Integrity: Panacea for Socio-Economic & Political Challenges in Nigeria, among thousands of corps members that put in for the competition.

Ajomole, a former student of University of Ilorin, scored the highest mark to beat Eyitayo Abiodun and Sani Deborah, who ranked second and third, respectively.

Speaking at the ceremony, the former General Secretary/CEO of BSN, Dr. Fred Odutola advised Nigerian youths to be the change that the nation is clamoring for by saying the truth and shunning all forms of immorality.

UK Chevening awards 11 Nigerian students scholarship

By VERA SAM-ANYAGAFU

E

Participants at the ninth quarterly meeting of UBEC management with executive chairmen of SUBEBs, in Minna, Niger State,

Examples: With regard to your eye problems, you should see an ophthalmologist.

As regards you request, it cannot be granted now.

It is wrong to say ‘With regardsto…’.

Proof

Regard -

Winner emerges in BSN NYSC essay competition

Regards

Let’s note the difference between regardand regards. Regard as an uncountable noun, means ‘admiration; respect’ as in ‘Medical doctors are held in high regard in the society’. It also means ‘formal attention or consideration that is shown towards someone or something’ as in ‘All children must have access to free and quality education without regardto their parents’ social class or State of Origin’ Regards, (usually plural) is used to express ‘good wishes to someone or when ending a short letter or massage’. Examples: wife sends her regards.

Regards, Ade! With regardto… in regardto… as regards…are expressions meaning ‘ relating to a particular subject’. Note that you use regardwhen it is preceded by the preposition ‘ with’ or ‘in’ and regardswhen it is preceded by ‘as’.

-

Prove

Proof and proveare liable to be confused by anyone who does not care about the grammar and spelling of English words. The two are different grammatical forms of the same word distinguished by different orthographic representations. Proofis the noun form of prove. Provebelongs to the word class, verb. Proofmeans ‘evidence that establishes the truth’; proveis ‘to show that something is true by proving with facts, information’.

Please pay attention to the grammatical form and spelling of each word. It is written as ‘proof’ when used as a noun and ‘prove’ when it functions as a verb. Proveis the past tense and past participle of provein British English.

Examples of the noun form, ‘proof’: *You’ll need your passport as proof of identity. *These results are a further proof of his outstanding ability. *The proof of the pudding is in the eating. *There is no proof that the document is authentic *I’m living proof that Jesus saves sinners.

Examples of the verb form, prove: *He cited an example to prove his point. *You’re wrong and I can prove it. *He failed to prove his innocence before the court.

Do not use proofto replace prove. Use the one that is appropriate in the context of your sentence.

Though the error of substituting one for the other may not damage meaning/ communication, it can mar a good piece of writing.

Proven is an adjective and it means ‘tested and shown to be true’. Note that provenusually comes before a noun.

Examples: *Kanu Nwankwo is a player of proven ability. *It is a proven fact that the earth is spherical. *Pajero has a proven track record of reliability.

Note also that proven, especially in American English is a past participle of prove.

LEVEN Nigerian students have been awarded scholarship in various fields of study through United Kingdom Chevening scholarship scheme for the year 2013 to 2014.

The scholarship programme which is all about Brain Gain would provide beneficiaries with quality education in a range of fields, such as Medical Research, International Law and Finance and Accountancy.

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations, the programme grants awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at various universities in the UK. The students on completion of their study, are expected to come back and contribute to the development of Nigeria, and so far, over 1,050 Nigerian students have benefitted from the scholarship and are in positions of leadership across the country.

The programme which celebrates 30 years of its existence has developed into a prestigious international scheme, attracting a wealth of high-calibre applicants from over 116 countries worldwide.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013— 29

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Dufil boosts 2,500 teachers with ‘interpersonal’ training

BY DAYO ADESULU

I

N line with its commitment to positively impact education in the society, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has recently organised a training session for 2,500 teachers drawn from the South-West.

Speaking during the event tagged Effective Interpersonal Skills, a Tool for Success’ held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, explained that the effort was geared towards creating a better future for children and equipping teachers with the needed skills that would make that plan of a better tomorrow a reality.

“Indomie identifies teachers as the core influencers of children whom our brand values very much. So we believe that by empowering them with effective interpersonal skills, we are indirectly touching the lives of the younger generation who are vital to the future of our nation Nigeria,” he explained.

Also speaking at the occasion, the honourable Commissioner for Education in Lagos, who was represented by Mrs. Kofoworola Alli, Director, Ministry of Education, noted that education was the most powerful weapon to effecting positive change in the world and would always remain the bedrock of human capital de-

velopment across civilisations.

“With this in mind, the Lagos State Government has continued to exploit the enormous potentials inherent in our children so that they are adequately prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century”, she assured Alli continued by lauding the efforts of Dufil Prima Foods for what she termed its immense support for education in the state. “We also like to appreciate the management of Dufil Prima Foods Plc for their tremendous support and immense contri-

bution towards the success of the Lagos State Spelling Bee competition, an annual programme aimed at exhibiting the intellectual and mental talents in pupils and students of Lagos State public schools,” she said.

One of the high points of the event was the presentation of gift items to the winners that emerged from the Lucky Dip session. Speaking amid the thrill of the moment, one of the winners, Mrs. Beatrice Ugochukwu, a teacher from M-Dav Tenderdays Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu expressed her appreciation to

Dufil Prima Foods for the gift of a Toaster and more importantly for organising the training programme, which has over the years had a positive impact on them and the pupils.

It should be noted that Dufil Prima foods has organised and supported other educational initiatives such as the Lagos State Spelling Bee, through which the annual One-Day Governor emerges.

The company has also organised the Annual Indomie Teacher’s Seminar for the 5th year running.

Organisers and participants of the Exposure Robotics Academy (XRA), an initiative of Nigerian Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at a recent training of students in robotics.

Students get busy as...

Continues from page 25 Literary Studies, Lagos State University, LASU, the strike has brought his latent talent to the fore. “I have started a new business - book editing and presently working on one. The strike made me to develop this dormant talent. This is my strike-timony!”

Uche Oragui, a year two engineering student of the University of Lagos and Ayodeji Ayeni, a 400 level medical student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, have decided to focus on their studies by reading and researching.

While Oragui is on campus reading because of the peace and quiet on campus, Ayeni, on the other hand, is at home conducting researches and attending seminars to broaden his knowledge in medicine

C M Y K

and other fields.

For Dami Saromi, a 400 level petrochemical student of Tai Solarin University of Education, the break from school doesn’t mean break from studying as he said he is studying for his examinations and to also be abreast of happenings in his field of study.

A budding artiste and student of University of Abuja, who simply gave his name as Dami, said he has devoted his free time to improving his music by investing in some studio time and attending music classes.

Olayinka Taiwo is a final year student of LASU who says she doesn’t have to wait for ASUU to call off the strike before she makes meaningful use of her time.

According to her, “I have always been interested in web

designing and decided to use this strike period to undertake a training programme that would broaden my knowledge so as to prepare me for the work world.”

Realising that the strike may last longer than he thought, a final year student of the University of Lagos, Obiaraije Elvis, said; “I keep myself busy with my project essay and I’m also learning how to play the piano. I am appealing to the striking lecturers and the Federal Government to please think of what they are doing to Nigerian students with the prolonged strike.

Yusuf Busari, a final year student of English and Literary Studies LASU, said “ waiting for ASUU and government to reach an agreement might be waiting for Godot, I decided to make

good use of my time by becoming an on-air-personality with City FM 105.1 by hosting a jazz music show every Sunday.

For Daniela, a final year Theatre Arts student of University of Ibadan, catering and events planning have kept her occupied and also boosted her finances.

The ongoing strike, which commenced on July 1, 2013, was as a result of an agreement government reneged on. Despite the Federal Government agreeing to release N100 billion for development of facilities in the 61 universities and N30 billion to pay the earned allowances for the striking lecturers, the wait still continues as ASUU insists there is no going back till the initial agreement is implemented.

ISI alumni decry erosion of reading culture

By EDIRI EJOH AND WILLIAM JIMOH

T

he Alumni Association of the International School Ibadan, ISI, has decried eroded reading culture among Nigerians, describing it as one of the general maladies that has crept into the nation’s education sector.

Speaking during a media parley in preparation for the school’s 50th anniversary this year, president of the association, Mr. Tive Ekpere, who stated this noted that there is a need for all concerned authorities to amplify efforts in making Nigerians and most importantly, its youths to realise the crucial importance of cultivating a good reading habit.

“It is something we must not relent on, because achieving knowledge and improving a child’s creativity as well as widening their understanding depend greatly on how they are brought up, thus the need for us not to neglect reading, for whatsoever reason.”

Expressing the intention of the association to renew some lost glory of the school, Ekpere noted that the 50th anniversary of the school will be marked with the homecoming of former students and teachers now resident in different parts of the world, adding that they have complete plans to raise an Infrastructure Trust Fund of N1 billion for the school.

“This is the first time the association is having a grand reunion of this type on the school grounds and it will be one to remember for a long time to come because the anniversary means a lot to every one of us. The school has given us a lot, which has brought us thus far, the event, is therefore one we had looked forward to, as it will afford us the opportunity to give back to the school and humanity.

The theme of the anniversary is “Bring back the glory” for ISI happens to be one of the top schools in country, with a rich culture of academic excellence, diverse nationalities and a set of unique social and extra-curricular activities. However, like every other institution in Nigeria, some of those outstanding attributes have been eroded. The alumni movement therefore has resolved to assist the school return to its position as one of the best schools for academic excellence in Nigeria,” said Dr. Jaiye Doherty, chairman, Board of Trustees.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013 — 31 ifychimexs@yahoo.com

Vol 01

No. 18

AUGUST, 2013

www.vanguardngr.com

Nigerian trade hub to promote corrupt free environment —Dikko

•OKONJO IWEALA

•CGC Dikko

T

HE Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi has said that the capacity building project would help the country achieve a new regime of trade facilitation in a corrupt free environment.

The NCS boss who stated this at the launch of the Nigerian Trade portal said that the use of the portal would help to improve Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

According to him, the new Portal and the accompanying Process Manual would serve as invaluable guide and reliable reference tools for traders wishing to conduct legitimate and compliant businesses in Nigeria.

Global trading community He said: “We have benefitted immensely from the inputs made by our stakeholders. Now we have a world class portal which we are putting up at the disposal of the global trading community, particularly those doing business with Nigeria.”

Classification Tool, Currency Converter, Tax Simulator, Web link to other Government Agencies, 24/7 Online Accessibility, Availability on Mobile Apps and Interactive and intuitive Features, according to him are the major features of the new portal.

The CGC noted that for a long time the trading Community had yearned for information to promote transparency in the conduct of business.

He added that with the

development of the hub, information was now placed at their disposal in a fast, convenient and cost-effective manner.

Single Window Environment: Meantime, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has said that the launch of the information phase of the Nigerian trade hub would facilitate the next phase, which allows for end-to-end transaction in a Single Window Environment.

The Minister said at the launch of the portal that Nigeria’s business environment has often been described as poor, unfriendly, uncompetitive and uncoordinated. He noted that the contribution of customs processes, procedures and port clearing system to this negative image was quite significant.

Aganga said:“However, given the major role that trade plays in the attainment of the Transformation Agenda, the “Nigeria Trade Hub ” project could not have come at a better time. The ‘Nigeria Trade Hub‘ is a veritable vehicle needed to drive our trade cycle to the next level of development.

Facilitation of framework for improved business climate: “It meets the trade facilitation framework for improved business climate as articulated in the blue print of Vision 2020.”

According to the Minister, the benefits of the first phase of the programme will include the following: *Reduction in human touch points, meaning that there will be fewer instances of human

intervention within the process. *Transparency and predictable environment for the trading community *Cost and Time efficiency: Reduction in the time and cost of doing business in Nigeria, which will help Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings among others.

He said that the international trade facilitation was all about simplifying import and export regulations and procedures to make trading more predictable and sustainable.

The Single Window, he said

•OLUSEGUN AGANGA

,

Stories by Ifeyinwa Obi

The ‘Nigeria Trade Hub‘ is a veritable vehicle needed to drive our trade cycle to the next level of development. It meets the trade facilitation framework for improved business climate as articulated in the blue print of Vision 2020

,

was a useful tool for optimizing the fulfillment of these objectives, adding that it would provide the platform for reliable data

collection, collation, retrieval and dissemination.

Reduction in processing Continues on page 34

Okonjo-Iweala lauds Dikko’s performance C

OORDINATING Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service after a meeting of the board of the NCS in Abuja on Monday.

She said that in a few months the Service would take full charge of all its responsibilities.

She said: “I think from what I hear that it’s going relatively ok, it’s not easy. I don’t think there’s any organisation that goes through a transition period without some pains. I think the Customs is handling itself fairly well and I count on the CG to ensure a smooth transition. And it’s only a couple more months, two three more months and Customs is in charge. So I am sure that everybody is gearing up.”

Media reports had claimed that the outsourcing of destination inspection was a sore point in relations between the minister and the CG. Dismissing speculations over a possible postponement of the planned handover of

Destination Inspection to the Nigeria Customs Service, the minister said she did not waste her time on propaganda.

She said:“I don’t spend my time on that. If you open the newspapers, everyday there are articles saying finance is doing this, they are blocking that trying to postpone and all kind of false stories, I am not focused on that, I don’t work that way. I just do my job and when the time comes the evidence will show for itself.”

Commenting on the revenue drive of the organization, Okonjo-Iweala said, “We are really looking forward to everybody being charged up to take care of this revenue issue so that we can be on the upswing again. So the CG is going to be working on it full time.”

Other stakeholders have also commended the reforms carried out under the watch of Dikko. They maintained that considering the current programmes initiated by the Dikkoled administration, continuity of leadership

Continues on page 34

32 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013

Compliance level of importers in ETLS encouraging— Compt. Dosunmu WITH the smuggling activities in the Idiroko border reducing to the barest minimum as a result of dedication consistency and lack of compromise by the Customs men on the road, the Area Comptroller Ogun State command Prince Ade Dosunmu in this interview with Customs Watch discussed a number of industry issues especially the compliance level of importers in ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) which he admitted has been encouraging.

He said the objective of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme is to establish a Customs Union among all member states aimed at the total elimination of Customs duties and taxes of equivalent effect, removal of non-tariff barriers and the establishment of a Common Customs External Tariff to protect goods produced in Member States.

issues before it degenerate to something else and this is very important in conflict resolution, we are happy about that.

Our relationship with other security agencies of government in Nigeria, I must say has yielded good dividends too. We work in collaborative manner that has brought a synergy which makes us not to see ourselves as distinctively different from others.

We see ourselves as the same, and as brothers of the same father. We work together and this

,

The compliance level there too is quite high. I must say that we have been able to establish an enabling environment for business to thrive. Our officers are happy and I’m happy too

S

IR, it seems the smuggling activities in your Command have drastically reduced. Can we get an insight into the smuggling activities, how far you have tackled it head on, and what really motivated you in going this far Thank you very much, I must say that when I came in here, following the directive from the Comptroller General of Customs, and having imbibed the six point agenda, we actually went to the field. I led my men, motivating them and ensuring that they are encouraged to do the needful and a lot of seizures have been recorded in that regard.

Of course, because of our consistency, the smugglers have seen that there’s no room for such in our Command. Equally, because we have demonstrated that we are not going to compromise with their filthy base.

Spectacular seizures We have made spectacular seizures in the North and for those that are daring, they have met their Waterloo. I’m sounding this note of warning again that any time they choose to use Ogun as their base they will meet their Waterloo.

What is your revenue profile like?

So far, last year and this year comparatively, we have N2 billion. Between January and June this year, we recorded N2, 211, 446, 339.18 billion, that is N2.21 billion was collected as revenue as against the N1.6 billion recorded same time last year.

This is an appreciable increase of over 60 per cent. And this year in our operation, if you compare it with the one before my coming in and that of last year, between

you can talk about institution of international best practices, where the integrity of officers is very high. Imports are scanned and we have not had any issues or problems with anybody. We ensure that those that pass through this end are given prompt attention in terms of facilitating their trades. That is the legitimate truth. The Idiroko border axis is where the 24-hour mandate is working.

Cargo-base is actually working.

If you go to our factories today, you will find out that our officers that are there are given the best service expected of a professional Customs officer. That is why you hardly notice them being around, but three quarters of our revenue is derived from ETLS. And our free trade zone, when we came in here, was at zero level of activities. But today, the

•PRINCE ADE DOSUNMU January and June this 2013, we recorded 645 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N618 million as against 536 seizures with DPV of N297 million same period.

The seizures include motorcycles, jeeps, SUVs, rice, frozen poultry products, used tyres, apparels, second-hand clothing, petroleum products, Indian hemp and various other seizures.

As we speak, this morning, we have made a seizure of more than 5, 000 cartons of frozen products loaded in trailers and about three trucks and three buses. They are waiting condemnation and destruction in Abeokuta axis.

I must also report here that with the welfare package put in place, our officers are highly motivated. One school has been renovated; provisions have been made for new hall; laboratory, clinic stocked with better drugs and we also have xray machine there which was not there before.

There is a better working environment and better tools to work with. We thank the Headquarters for their support because this has highly motivated the officers to give their best. You must understand that the training and retraining capacity embarked by the Headquarters for officers of this Command has greatly enhanced their service delivery.

Again, we have been able to partner with the community where we work, where they see us as friends. Although, I’m not saying it has been that smooth, but we have been working on it

and it has yielded good dividends.

The International community too, for the first time are partnering with us. All the agencies in Benin Republic have been partnering with us here and we too have been able to lead other security agencies in Nigeria to provide a better platform for understanding the nature and our environment.

You can see that a Secretariat was recently established here in Nigeria, where the two countries usually meet regularly to resolve

has brought this cooperation. The army, the police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, Health officials, the Governor and his government; even local government officials, and others, we all work as a team.

What’s the compliance level of importers who bring in ETLS, since you are in-charge of it The compliance has been super.

It’s 100 per cent. Our ETLS here is based on rules of origin and the size in which we are insisting as stipulated by the service providers is what United Nations and WCO are working with. It’s what we also work with here.

Not just ETLS, all our importers here have been complying with rules and regulations.

I must say the compliance level is high and this is the only place

,

free trade zone alone generates revenue alone in terms of the service charge we impose on them.

When I came in here, the place was at zero per cent level of activities. But today, we have been able to employ over 1, 800 staff and with the GDP which runs into billions of naira.

Customs as per the dictates of its acts of establishment always charges for service, we only collect our service charge. We always ensure that they follow regulations. The compliance level there too is quite high. I must say that we have been able to establish an enabling environment for business to thrive. Our officers are happy and I’m happy too.

Tincan Command records N127.34bn revenue in six months ••records N428bn seizures

billion in comparison to N17.11 HE Tincan Command said it billion in the corresponding raked in a total of N127.34 billion period of 2012. as revenue for the six months Further breakdown showed that ended, June 30, 2013, as against the it garnered N17.64 billion in the N120.9 billion it realized in the same month of June, as against N18.33 period of 2012. billion in 2012, while the sum of Comparative analysis of the report N20.43 billion was generated in issued by the Command, showed July, 2013 compared to N17.396 that there was N6.43 billion billion in 2012. increment over the figure generated A total of 139 seizures last year. amounting to N428.14 million Comparative analysis of the report were made in the first six months CAC Tin can issued by the Command, showed (January – July), 2013. This Comptroller Jubril that N16.34 billion was generated involved 81 40 ft containers, 45 in January 2013, as against N14.58 20ft containers, two unpacked billion recorded in equivalent period of 2012. vehicles and 11 others.

In the month of February of 2013, the The seized items include: tissue paper, Command also recorded N16.27 billion compared furniture,soaps, vegetable oil, soft ddrinks, used to N19.27 billion in 2012; N17.56 billion raked in cloths, generators, used tyres, lace materials, March, 2013 as against N19.00 billion in 2012. television stand/sets, automotive batteries, The figure went up to N19.18 billion on April mosquitoe coil, expired frozen fish, used shoes, from N15.21 billion in 2012. For the month of glass, printed was, cartons of whiskey, bales of May, the command generated a total of N19.90 second hand clothing, bags of basmati rice, etc.

T

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013 — 33

Remarkable exploits It said: “Our remarkable exploits on suppression of smuggling generally follows the strategies which the Controller initiated in this campaign as well as our resuscitated collaboration and synergy with all the critical stakeholders, particularly the Military, Police, Para-Military, the various associations in the Maritime Industry as well as media.

Anti-smuggling report: Accordingly, he said in the report

•Concealment of frozen food

•Comptroler Nuhu , CAC FOU Zone A IKEJA

Toe line of sanity, FOU warns smugglers •seizes goods worth N445,040,080 that the unit recorded one thousand four hundred and eighty seven (1,487) various contraband goods between January 2013 – 18th May 2013, valued at Four hundred and forty five million, forty thousand and eighty naira (N445,040,080) with a payable duty of Eighty one million, six hundred and seventy nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty one naira (N81,679,951) and a duty paid value of Five hundred and twenty six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand and thirty one naira (N526,720,031).

Seizures: Out of these figures, he said the unit seized and destroyed Twenty three thousand, five hundred and sixty two (23,562) cartons of assorted Poultry Products valued at Eighty-two million, four hundred and sixty seven thousand naira (N82,467,000), a payable duty of Sixteen million, four hundred and ninety three thousand, four

hundred naira (N16,493,400) with a duty paid value of Ninety eight million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, four hundred naira (N98,960,400) Similarly, according to him, the Unit recorded Eighteen thousand, five hundred and fifty (18,550) bags of 50kg parboiled Rice valued at ninety two million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N92, 750,000), with a duty of Nine million, two hundred and seventy-five thousand (N9, 275,000) and a duty paid value of one hundred and two million, twenty five thousand naira (N102, 025,000).

These figures, according to him represent more than 50 per cent increase when compared with the report of the corresponding period of last year.

Volatile areas: Consequent upon the ban on Rice Importation through the land borders, the command, according to him beamed its

searchlight on some volatile areas, particularly along the waterways which have been identified as flashpoints with a view to blocking all loopholes and supply chains. “ The same strategy was also adopted in case of frozen Poultry

,

THE Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja unit has warned smugglers to toe the line of sanity with a view to completely eradicating the menace from the system.

The Unit in its latest report on anti-smuggling activities further warned that smugglers should keep away from smuggling , noting that the Federal Operations Unit will continue to deal with anybody or group that might want to test its will.

This is even as it recorded a total of 1,487 (One thousand four hundred and eighty seven) various contraband goods between January to May 2013, valued at N445,040,080 (Four hundred and forty five million, forty thousand and eighty naira).

Payable duty: Accordingly, this follows with a payable duty of Eighty one million, six hundred and seventy nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty one naira (N81,679,951) and a duty paid value of Five hundred and twenty six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand and thirty one naira (N526,720,031).

While assuring all genuine stakeholders of the Command’s cooperation and support in terms of legitimate trade facilitation, the CAC Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja., Nuhu said the report covers the giant strides of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in enforcing very strictly the ban on importation of Rice through the land borders.

The unit has put modalities in place to ensure that impressive results are achieved, particularly with the number of operational equipment made available to FOU ‘A’ by the CGC

Products and all of these strategies provided the unit the necessary impetus to up the ante in anti-smuggling activities over the period. Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its wisdom placed this ban on frozen Poultry as a proactive measure to protect the investments of our local farmers who have invested heavily on Poultry farming and other Agro-

Customs arrest Mali, Guinea nationals for smuggling

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested a Malian and two Guinea nationals, who attempted to smuggle 17 wraps of elephant tusks, hand bangles and other ivory products into the country.

Accordingly, the NCS, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Ikeja, has handed over the three foreigners to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for prosecution.

The NCS said in a statement on Wednesday that the items were concealed in two bags by the Malian. The Guinean nationals were arrested with eight suitcases, containing 43

elephant tusks, 443 ivory bangles and 360 ivory sticks, which they attempted to bring into the country.

“All the three suspects were handed over to the National Environmental (Standards) and Regulations Enforcement Agency for prosecution.”

The statement identified the Mali national as Diakite Mamadon, with passport number BA0640102, while the two Guinea nationals were identified as Messrs Kaba Aboubacar, with passport number R0239865; and Sidime Yacouba, passport number R0275919.

The statement quoted the Customs Airport Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Thelma Williams, as saying the

prohibited items found their ways into the country against the worldwide practice of

allied Industries. Also the issue of job creation for our teeming youths made it more imperative for the service to enforce the ban.

“Beyond this also is the need to safeguard the Health of the nation in view of the understanding that these imported frozen poultry products contain chemical substances that are injurious and detrimental to health” he explained.

Report on security, escort and protocol: During the period under reference, the unit, he said, has regularly played host to a number of VIP’s including ministers, foreign partners of NCS, members of the National Assembly, COWA Executives, for the recent foundation laying ceremony of proposed COWA International Secondary School in Seme as well as the Skill Acquisition programme for the Award of Certificates to COWA Members who went for various vocational trainings.

Future plans: During the first meeting between the Controller and all Unit/Sectional head, the Controller he said tasked all the officers to surpass the achievements of the previous year. Though the unit is not a revenue generating command, he added that its role in enforcing compliance with the Federal Government Policy in terms of trade remained very crucial. The unit will not relent on this statutory

protecting these endangered wildlife species from extinction.

,

responsibility.

With this, he said that the Controller has regularly reiterated the operational readiness of the unit as it is now better positioned more than ever to confront these hydra-headed monsters of smuggling both in this year and beyond.

“The unit has put modalities in place as highlighted earlier to ensure that impressive results are achieved, particularly with the number of operational vehicles, arms/ammunition, etc, graciously made available to FOU ‘A’ by the Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management team” he added.

Group lauds Dikko over reforms

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

GROUP the, Good Corporate Governance Watch, GCGW, has applauded the Comptroller General (CG) of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, for the on-going reforms in Customs Service just as it urged President Goodluck Jonathan to extend his tenure as the CG to ensure continuity.

According to the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Mukhtar Mukhtar, the reforms embarked upon by Dikko in the last four years have impacted positively on the Service as the reforms have led to the transformation of the Nigerian Custom Service, NCS, aligning it with global standard. The service through the initiative of the current CG has been restructured in line with global practices and best

customs operation.”.

Mukhtar added that Dikko has transformed every aspect of Customs operations, citing increasing revenue generation as an example.

He explained that presently, customs generates over N100 billion monthly for government in contrast to about N30 billion the Service used to generate prior to the current CG’s appointment.

The (GCGW) boss also noted that the present reforms of Dikko has brought about respect for the Service as it enjoys better perception from Nigerian populace contrary to what used to obtain, adding that internationally, people now view NCS as a standard organisation’

34 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013

Customs Consultative C’tte visits Zone ‘A’ FOU

... Reiterates commitment to facilitating legitimate trade

T

HE Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) has reiterated its commitment to facilitate legitimate trade.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),

Thursday, Chairman of the Committee, Assistant Comptroller- General Victor Gbemudu, said that the purpose of the visit was to parley with the Controller and other personnel of the unit, to help address complaints raised by the trading

L-r: The chief launcher and Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga and Abdullahi Dikko Inde Comptroller General of Customs at the launch of the portal

public on why operatives of the unit still intercepts consignments that have exited the ports, among other issues.

Represented by the CCC Secretary,and a chieftain of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Sir Jude Maduka, Gbemudu, who is Zonal Coordinator, NCS Zone ‘A’, noted that, for genuine trade to be facilitated, the trading public needs to be enlightened.

“The traders have issues which they really need to streamline with us. Most times you find out that goods cleared from the ports are being intercepted outside the ports. And sometimes, even when these goods get to the market, Customs still intercepts them,” he said.

Ogun command achieves 1-hr cargo clearance at Idiroko T

HE Ogun State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) may have achieved an outstanding feat in streamlining the period for clearing cargoes through the Idiroko Border Post, keeping this under an hour.

This is a great improvement on the previous time-frame of about one week it usually took to complete the process of taking imports out of the Command, which links Nigeria with Benin Republic, to other West African countries, and further afield.

Checks at the Command revealed that most consignments, especially vehicles, bearing correct declarations through selfassessment by importers or agents for payment of import duties, are promptly processed by the Customs personnel through the Automated System for Customs Data Plus-Plus (ASYCUDA++).

It was gathered that, once a particular cargo has been valued, scanned and the correct import duties recorded as having been paid on the consignment, and where no discrepancies are detected during the examination process, the cargo is then immediately released to the consignee or the agent.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Ogun State Command, Comptroller Ade Dosunmu, explained that the effective use of ASYCUDA++ and the cargo scanning machine facilitated the improvements recorded in goods clearance at the Command.

Idiroko Border Post, according to Dosunmu, is the only one out of similar outposts in Nigeria, where you can make your correct self-assessment and have your documents processed, for the clearing of your goods within an hour.

The CAC posited that the encouragement given the personnel by the Command since his assumption of office as the CAC served as an impetus for them to be more committed and effective in doing their jobs.

He said they have justified the increases in their salaries and improvements in their welfare, as well as other incentives, by the Comptroller- General of Customs Dikko Inde Abdullahi.

Dosunmu said the fact that he has keyed into the seven- point agenda of the Customs chief has made it possible for him to ensure that the Command’s operations were carried out at a faster pace, to encourage more importers to use the border post and thus increase the revenue accruing to the Federal Government from imports.

The CAC assured that, once an agent or importer does the self assessment correctly at the

Okonjo-Iweala lauds Dikko’s performance Continues from page 31 was crucial to the successful complet ion of a number of the projects. National president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA ), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said, “Dikko has done wha t others didn’t do; that has earned him more enemies than friends. I will advise tha t gov ern me nt giv es him mo re tim e to see the digitalisation of Customs processes and international trade to a reasonable conclusion.”

Katsina Command records N2.3bn revenue

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HE Kaduna/Katsina Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said it collected N2.3 billion as revenue between January and June 2013. The Area Controller, Alhaji Yerima Abubakar, announced this at a mid-year news conference in Katsina on Thursday. He said the revenue represented 57 per cent of the command’s annual target, adding that it was optimistic of meeting the target by the end of the year.

Abubakar also said the command seized various goods valued at N330 million during the period under review.

He listed some of the seized items as rice, vehicles, motorcycles, spaghetti, among others. Abubakar said the revenue record was achieved through the collaborative efforts of officers of the command; the Federal Operations Unit and the Customs Task Force.

He explained that any revenue collected by the Customs Service was used by the government for the good of the people. The controller urged importers to pay the appropriate duties on their shipments instead of engaging in smuggling. Abubakar added that the doors of the service were opened to the public to facilitate legitimate trading.

Idiroko Data Trade Input (DTI), with a view to paying the right import duty on the cargo, there would be no basis for any delay on the part of the Command in ensuring that the consignment is promptly cleared.

He pointed out that while the Customs personnel have the requisite up-to-date training and are more committed to their work, the new strategy to enhance clearing of goods that has been introduced would certainly enable goods to be cleared within an hour at the Command.

Dosunmu disclosed that, since officers have been warned against

undue delays in attending to documents, while bottlenecks militating against speedy clearance of cargoes have also been eliminated, the Command was already working towards completing the clearing processes in less than an hour.

He commended the Customs chief for the improvements recorded by the Command in its operations, noting that the provision of adequate logistics by the Customs Headquarters facilitated these, even as he appealed that the Area needed more encouragement to enhance its performance.

Nigeria trade hub to promote corrupt free environment Continues from page 31 times:The Minister further said it would improve collaboration among the different operating entities (public and private) which can now exchange data electronically; and would reduce trade-related costs through online processing of information and will shorten processing times.

He said: “The application of the single window would help in the modernization and simplification of the processes and procedures of international trade (imports and exports) in Nigeria.

“An efficient application will help in creating a competitive and enabling environment for

cross-border trade in terms of reducing processing times and costs; hence enhancing regional economic integration. As a modular system, the single window can accommodate different modules under a single platform for all the participants in the entire trade cycle, including the Nigerian Customs Service.”

The Minister noted with optimism that the Nigerian Trade Hub will provide the required solution to problems and challenges experienced by the trading community in the past.

To sanitize the Nigerian international trade environment: He commended the Nigerian

Customs Service and its leadership for the foresight and the resources committed to the introduction of the platform that will sanitize the Nigerian international trade environment and bring us at par with the most efficient and comparative economies in the world such as Singapore, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mozambique, Panama, Qatar and Saudi Arabia where the single window systems have been successfully introduced.

The launch of the Trade Hub, according to the Minister was a demonstration of the openness and readiness to make the project a success.

“The manual is rich, educative

and provide clear guidance not only on the operations of the Single Window, but more importantly, it serves as a reference material to national and international players trading with Nigeria and those contemplating to do so in the near future” he explained.

For the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigeria Trade Hub was similarly a useful step towards improving trade facilitation in our economy.

Reduce delays associated with cross-border trade: She said:“This initiative will create the right environment to simplify, harmonize and

standardize procedures for cross border transactions in Nigeria.

As a result it will further reduce delays associated with crossborder trade and enable us attain our goal of 48-hour cargo clearance time at our ports.”

Regulatory information: For both importers and exporters, she informed that the Nigeria Trade Hub provides an integrated environment where appropriate services may be obtained.

This system, she added would greatly facilitate commerce across our borders, and reduce costs for businesses operating in Nigeria.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—35

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Regenerative medicine'll drastically change lives —Ola Orekunrin ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

V

ery soon, patients with hitherto incurable or hard to cure ailments will rejoice if reports from researchers on stem cells is anything to go by. In this chat with Vanguard Learning, Dr Ola Orekunrin, a medical doctor trained at the Hull York Medical School in England and the Managing Director of Flying Doctors Nigeria Ltd, speaks on her research work in the field of regenerative medicine while on the prestigious MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship in 2008. This field of medicine, she believes, will begin to change people’s lives in a very drastic way in the next decade.

Excerpts: ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

By EBELE ORAKPO

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TEM cells are described as mother cells that have the potential to become any type of cell in the body such as blood, heart, bones, brain, skin and muscle cells.

Regenerative Medicine: "It is a very vast and fast moving field and I think that it is a field of medicine and research that in the next decade, will begin to change people’s lives in a very drastic way.

Pluripotent stem cells can evolve into specialised cells that ultimately can replace diseased cells and tissues.

How it works: "If someone has leukemia, you can take cells from any part of his body and re-programme them to become stem cells like they were before.

Once they are stem cells, they now have the potential to produce any kind of cell that is needed in the body. So let us say they lack white blood cells, hopefully, when the research is completed, those stem cells, ie their own cells, will be able to produce the white blood

cells that they need or if they are very anaemic, these reprogrammed cells will be able to produce red blood cells that they need etc. So that is what we are trying to do and hopefully, by the end of the research, it could work for burn patients. Let’s say for example, a patient sustained third degree burns, lost all the skin epidermis and dermis, it could now re-programme skin cells to start growing new skin for the person. The research has not got that far but that is where we are aiming to get to.

Reverse Innovation: “An important part of this is that I did not think it is something that necessarily has to be developed abroad. I think that these healthcare renovations I am talking about, are things that can be developed by African people to meet challenges in Africa. I have been speaking a lot with a few people from the World Health Organisation about a concept I call reverse innovation. I have also gotten a few articles published about it. Reverse innovation is really when developing countries come up with ideas that are low-cost and very creative to solve problems in their own communities rather than the situation we have now where we hear that one hospital in America is doing something and we copy it or that one hos-

,

The Research: “When I was in Tokyo some years ago, I was working with induced pluripotent stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine. So what we were doing was basically taking a normal cell, like a cell from the skin and then turning the clock back and inducing it to become a stem cell again.

All of your cells started off as stem cells and instead of trying to culture stem cells directly, we were working to taking normal cells and induce them back into what they formerly were as stem cells and then culture them so that we could start making personalised medications for people; so we can start using people’s own stem cells to treat them.

For instance, in the case of a patient that perhaps has leukemia (cancer of the blood) and have had radiotherapy, with low amount of blood-producing cells in the bone marrow, we could now reintroduce blood cells into the body through regenerative medicine.

•Dr. Ola Orekunrin

Pix:neurosciencenews.com

Reverse innovation is really when developing countries come up with ideas that are low-cost and very creative to solve problems in their own communities

pital in Germany is doing it and we try and copy it. Copy and paste is not going to work for Nigeria. The reverse innovation movement wants to end the era of copying things directly from the western world and trying to just put them in Nigeria and thinking that they will work. The problem is that these countries that we are copying have a host of health-

,

care problems that they are not even coping with so why do we think that the right thing to do is to copy these approaches instead of developing our own?

I believe that we as Nigerians, as Africans, really can develop home-grown solutions to our own problems and that they will be such powerful solutions that we will actually

start exporting them to the West and they will have to copy and paste from us.

I believe that there are bright minds, creative doctors, researchers and healthcare workers all over Africa that can look at our unique issues, our population, poverty, poor infrastructure and develop innovative, creative solutions that tackle all of these problems and they will be solutions that can even be applied in the West.

Let me give you an example, in mobile money, there are companies within Nigeria that can now allow you to go to the market like Oshodi or Balogun and transfer money with just a text message. Market women are beginning to trade using mobile money. This service is not available in the best malls in the UK and America.

So, in this tiny field, we have become leaders in this kind of technology and actually, you see western countries trying to adapt this kind of technology for their own malls and trading arenas. I think that if we can lead in the area of mobile technology, then definitely, we can lead in the area of healthcare and it is about promoting the concept of reverse innovation and giving people the confidence to save and work towards a goal and then moving forward with their concept.

Africans must arise: "I think we have been so robbed of confidence as Africans.

We’ve been told so many times that we cannot do it, we are not capable, that our accent is wrong, our packaging is wrong, our hair is wrong, our skin colour is wrong and when you’ve been told that over a period of decades and centuries, you begin to believe it. We have internalised that. I think it is time for the African to rise and start developing solutions and ideas that are exportable."

Promasidor boosts student-journalists

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU & JONAH NWOKPOKU

M

anaging Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Chief Keith Richards, has said the addition of the ‘Future Reporter’ category in its annual Quill awards for journalists is to encourage students and aspiring journalists to grow their interest in the profession.

Richards stated this at a press briefing to call for entries for the second edition of the awards

which would commence by September 9, 2013.

He said the award was inspired by the need to appreciate the critical role that journalists play in the society, encourage discipline in information reportage and helping to deepen competence in the process.

“The aim is to encourage some degree of discipline in information reporting and improve the quality of reporting and increase in professionalism.

We also believe that the media is not appreciated enough and this award provides us with the

opportunity to identify that segment of the society that is challenged in terms of appreciation.” he said.

Also speaking at the briefing, Head, PR and Legal, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Andrew Enahoro said, “Promasidor Quill Awards is committed to setting the pace on rewarding journalists based on merit for their work and not a self-seeking approach to get accolades, but a professional platform of assessment, recognition and reward for outstanding journalistic work.”

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

SUCCESS RECIPE

Firm prepares undergraduate girls for employment

By DAYO ADESULU

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ultiChoice in conjunction with South Africa have broadened the chances of Nigerian girl undergraduates getting jobs after graduation with the introduction of Take a Girl Student to Work project. It is an annual social corporate investment to positively contribute to the global efforts to address challenges faced by young women, particularly African women and ‘the girl-child.’

The Take a Girl Student to Work project is conceived as a day when young female students from institutions of learning from the Federal Republic of Nigeria are exposed to the reality of the workplace.

Speaking during an interactive session with the girls held at MultiChoice Head Office in Lagos, Mr Segun Fayose, Head of Public Relation, MultiChoice Nigeria said; “ The goal of the Take a Girl Stu-

dent to Work project is to “deepen the thinking of the young female student with regards to her boundless roles in society, enhance her self-esteem, inspire and motivate her to reach her full potential and through exposure to diverse careers and positive role models to assist her to prepare for the world of work.”

According to him, the project

would impact the recipients positively leading to shared experience with the wider community as she moves on in life.

He explained that with the initiative, young female students will get the opportunity to spend a day at work by visiting corporate offices, government departments, and many other businesses across Lagos State.

•Undergraduate girls during interactive session with the media at a programme organised by MultiChoice Nigeria to prepare them for job after graduation.

Laureates College students win Howard varsity scholarship

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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WO students of Laureates College, Aviation Estate, off Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Lagos, have been awarded provisional scholarship to study Electrical Engineering at the prestigious Howard University, Washington DC, USA following their impressive performance in the month long international students development summer programme of the university which also sponsored their participation in the programme.

The two students, Bright Egbubine and Mark Emenyonu, both aged 15 years and just promoted to SS3 class of the college and who were selected among competing schools in Nigeria, some African countries and the USA, were very impressive in their projects exhibition and were thus promptly rewarded with the scholarship and accorded the status of international students by the university's Electrical Engineering Research Department, which incidentally is headed by a Nigerian, Prof. James Momoh.

Specifically, a Smart Box Electrical Connection by Bright Egbubine and Electromagnetic Connection

by Mark Emenyonu were so impressive which prompted the department panel of

professors to grant them the provisional scholarship.

However, the commencement of the study would have to wait till the duo acquire the International Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score of 1400 points.

According to the Bright and Mark, “We shall surely triumph in the SAT Examination.”

On his part, Chairman of the

Board of Governors of the college, Engr. Foluseke Somolu believes the students attained that international height based on the broad based curriculum which the school operates.

He said:“We have tried as much as possible to prepare our students to meet any challenge headlong. So, I am not surprised that they were able to attain that feat.”

LG boss inspects new classrooms FREDRICK OKOPIE

T

he Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, recently, inspected a storey building of 12 classrooms built at the compound of Ijora Primary school at Ijora Oloye. With a foundation laying stone at the Araka Barracks Nursary and Primary school in Apapa.

According to Mr. Joseph, he said that education tops his administration priorities, that he will fund education directly or indirectly. Directly in the sense that the local government has to fund the schools in the council and indirectly is through the assistant of corporate organization.

The council boss said, “we are going build the same structure of a storey build of 12 classrooms in all the eight primary schools in Apapa by the end of this year.”

At the foundation laying at Araka Barracks Nursery and Primary

school, the old decapitated building was brought down to pave way for a new storey building of 12 classrooms.

He informed journalists at the school premises that the project cost the local government the sum of N73 million to erect a befitting 12 classrooms with other facilities inside the building.

The head mistress of Araka Nursary and Primary school, Mrs. Dada Florence Anike, said thus, “it very joyful for me, because I have been yawning so long for this kind of structure, there is non. Let say there is no good structure in this school, but. Mr Ayodeji came to savage things together. He has brought smile into the faces of the teachers, pupils and parents by given us this 12 classrooms and some toilets. It is not not my school alone that has

benefited from this, other schools in Apapa.

WITH

Udeme Archibong successrecipe2009@mail.com

The image of champions

O

nce upon a time, a little girl nurtured a dream of becoming Miss America. In the pursuit of her dreams, she contested for the Miss Florida pageant and won the title of the first runner-up. She contested again the following year and won the same prize; the first runner-up.

After two discouraging contests, she decided to move to a different environment in which she contested for the Miss Kansas pageant and won the title. In the same year she lived out her dreams; she was crowned Miss America.

The young lady was interviewed after the pageant and was asked about the secret of her success.

She revealed that after experiencing two losses at the state-level competitions she had been tempted to give up but rather than giving up she decided to rent dozens of videos of local pageants, state pageants, Miss Teen, Miss Universe and Miss World. She rented hundreds of videos of various pageants and watched them repeatedly.

As she watched those videos, she pictured herself winning the contest. Seeing herself as a winner, said she, was the key to her success. Another reporter asked her if she was nervous walking down the runway in front of millions of people watching on television and with the announcer singing the famous Miss America song. Tara Holland’s gave an illuminating response, “No, I wasn’t nervous at all. You see, I had walked down that runway

Your mental picture of what you are and what you can do create the actual picture of your life’s experiences. thousands of times before.”

Until you see it, you can’t become it. Your mental picture of what you are and what you can do create the actual picture of your life’s experiences. The quality of your mental picture determines the quality of your performance in the game of life.

Tara Holland realized that before she can lay hold of her dream of being crowned Miss America, she had to rid her mind of the image of Miss Runner-up and create a new image of being crowned Miss America.

Self-image is the “inner picture” of yourself which controls and directs your behaviour and your entire personality. It is your personal evaluation of your life both in the present and in the future. I love the way Hebert Harris defines self image, “it is the mental and emotional picture you hold in your own consciousness of whom you are, what you are and what you represent”.

Self image is the heart of success, without it success is dead. It is the hallmark of every accomplishment.

Everything in life revolves around your self-image; your behaviour; your choices and your experiences.

Champions create their mental picture by imagining and visualizing themselves performing at their best. Hence, their thoughts, words and actions align with their mental picture which produces peak performance.

Brian Tracy reveals, “All improvement in your life begins with an improvement in your mental pictures. Your internal images influence your emotions, behaviours, your attitudes and even the way other people respond to you.” Our personality is shaped by our mental picture. Our behaviour is controlled by our mental picture.

When you look into your “inner mirror” what do you see?

Do you see a winner? Or do you see a loser? In the game of life, you have all the time to win and you have no time to lose.

Our self-image which is a product of the way we see ourselves and think about ourselves is an offshoot of all our interpretation and responses to our past experiences and the information and ideas we have accepted as true which creates our belief system and our belief system dictates our expectations through life which culminates in shaping our reality. Our self-image is the perception of what we are and what we can do. Therefore, the key to creating the image of a champion is to perceive you as a champion in the game of life.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 —37 2013—37

Can your friend keep a secret?

OU thought she was your well wisher. You thought she was your confidante.

You thought she could stay by your side forever.

Best friends share everything, from clothes to each other’s secrets.

But is it safe to share all the details of your love life with your friend?

Can best friends become enemies?

Can you trust your friend with all your secrets?

Remember that life comes with its own share of good and bad. Historically, in most cases, when it comes to love life, girl pals often tend to show their bitter side of being duh! You can’t expect every friend to be a huggable and understanding girl all of the time.

No doubt she’s close to you, but once you have a man in your life, your best friend can change overnight.

All of a sudden, friendships become topsy-turvy and you find yourself trying to find out if your best friend is your best friend or worst enemy. In no time, things can get really nasty when you and that girl are merely an inch away from getting at each other ’s throat. Then you also feel like she is the root cause for most of the unfortunate events in your life, especially in events concerning your man.

And that’s when you look at her and would see iniquitous eyes and two evil horns threatening to knock you down any moment.

Sharing all your little dirty secrets with girl pal is not always in your best interest.

Girls are well known to be thoroughbred bad secret keepers.

For instance, share this little secret about your quick shag in the office, or your kiss with another girl’s man with your girl pal. And bang!

The next day, you walk into your workplace and you find out that everybody is either talking about you or cracking some dirty jokes and sniggering in sign languages. You know how it feels.

All a friend would do is tell another friend and ask her to keep it a secret and this goes on and on.

If you want your friend to keep a secret, it may not be possible and there’s no point in complaining later. Honestly, girl pals are a sure disaster if you want them to keep that little girl talk of yours hushed.

Girls are very nosy about their friend’s actions, dates, accessories, clothes and even her guy’s friends and what he gifted you for your birthday.Girl talk is like a daily dose of entertainment but somewhere down the line, these talks start blowing out of proportion often times.

Girls often tend to get very judgmental and give out comments or unnecessary solutions to various issues when it is least expected.

A girl can remember the time her guy told her that he needs a break for sometime.

And when she tells her friends about it, immediately, she will start getting various responses that she had never even thought of.

Comments like “I need a break. I want to take some time for myself ” may be interpreted in to various ridiculous ways. Your friends could come up, with things like “He doesn’t like you anymore; he’s just hinting that he wants to leave you”.

“He said that? What is wrong with him? He can’t just take off like that and come back whenever he wants!”! ”They do this all the time, just find someone else and dump this guy.” This whole session of commentary will make you feel miserable. Girls are very judgmental and often expect their pals to approach them for their so called connoisseur counsel.

Just remember that secrets are best kept when no one else but you knows about it.

and so stayed with me at the office till closing time. We chatted freely and make little joke about our relationship before she got married. She insisted she must meet my girlfriend and we agreed to a date for it. I gave her N10,000 but she turned it down until I insisted it was a gift to her daughter. On our way to her house, she sat with me in the back seat as I had a driver. I didn’t know what got into her head.

Suddenly, she just moved closer to me and placed her hand between my thighs and began fondling my manhood. I was shocked and thrilled at the same time as my body responded for a few minutes. Then, I became scared when I realised she was somebody’s wife. I politely told her to

stop as the driver could be watching us. A few minutes later, I pretended that I had an important memo I had forgotten to write and which would be used at a crucial meeting the next morning. So, I asked the driver to turn around and drop me back at the office before going to drop her at her house. I promised to get in touch with her and that my driver would come to pick her for our planned visit to meet my girlfriend. I have not set eyes on her again till date.

We receive greetings through our mutual friends, but we deliberately stay out of each other’s way.

I am just too afraid to be in her presence again.

Concluded

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Behind closed doors (5) H

Even as I speak, she is married I, WE have all experienced it at some point. That rush of with at least two children and I adrenalin when we are engaged in something exciting or am still single after six years. So, dangerous. Some people live by it and sometimes allow it to take the affair continued. over their sense of judgement, staking everything they stand for.

However, we were forced to stop How far will you go for a quick rump in the sack? How much will about a month to the wedding ceryou stake for a few minutes of pleasure? Do you really know when emony. She had promised that we to call it off when things begin to get out of hand? It is assumed will do it even on her last night at that most people would cheat on their partners at some point or her parents’ house. It was her grandmother that put a stop to our another, it is those who allow themselves to get caught that do not affair. The old woman had know how to play the game. obviously been watching and Our opening story featured the secret affair of a young, married monitoring our movement and lady with the husband of her older friend and benefactor. The cat concluded that there was somewas let out of the bag when the older woman mistakenly took her thing unholy going on between husband’s mobilephone out for the day. So, while the treacherous us. young friend thought she was chatting with her friend’s husband, Before then, she had been tellthe messages where actually being received by her friend seated ing me that the grandmother does next to her. not seem to like me anymore and Don’t forget that you can also be a part of this column by has been complaining about our relationship. Then, one evening sending us your contribution if you or someone you know of, have as I arrived their house for my been through a similar experience. Feel free also to send in any “shift”, I met the old woman by story of your choice so long as it is based on a true life experience. the entrance to the corridor of the Happy reading! three years to still play around. house, leading to her room. She Sam, (32), Personnel Manag- In fact, she was about the only answered me very coldly and iner, reveals his secret affair with girl in our group at the time to be formed me that she was not at a young lady who was way out talking about marriage and we home. I knew she was lying and of his league at the time. In what assumed that it was because her just didn’t want us to be together. way, you may ask? He concludes boyfriend was much older than I first thought of arguing with his story today. her but reasoning prevailed that her.

Living was pretty rough and I The affair had been on for about I would only cause more disafcould not afford to keep a steady six months then and I too had se- fection. I pretended that I did not girlfriend as it was bound to cost cured a job at a small company notice her coldness and also that me some money. Her boyfriend though the salary could barely she was lying and left a message knew me as a very close neigh- meet my needs. And though the with her. It was that moment I rebour and one of her group of other benefits still flowed, I was alised how dangerous our little friends, so he suspected nothing. not really taking money from her game had become. Since I was On several occasions, she had again. not ready to marry the girl, why also sent me on errands to his On hearing about the news, I allow our little rump become a office to collect stuff, mostly felt both sad and relieved at the stumbling block to her getting money for her. same time. One because I would married. Even if she didn’t reaThat was how the affair started. have to stop seeing her and the lise the futility of what we were We would have sex two or three other because I would no longer doing, I did and so, had the retimes a week at most and she will have to feel so guilty. Besides, sponsibility of forcing her to know give me food and money. Sever- there is this saying about when it too. al times, her boyfriend had ar- you sleep with another man’s I was not surprised to find her rived shortly after we might have wife, someone else would surely at our house with my meal that finished having sex. I will just I didn’t know what got into her head, suddenly, wait and discuss with him for she just moved closer to me and placed her sometime before I excuse myself.

What usually amused me then hand between my thighs and began fondling was the way she managed to mamy manhood, I was shocked and thrilled at the nipulate the whole situation. It same time as my body responded for a few gave me a different persception minutes, then, I became scared when I realised about the wiles women are she was somebody’s wife capable of.

Nothing seemed to catch her sleep with yours somehow, someunawares. It was as if she had day. Even at that time, the night. She asked why I did not the answer to almost everything thought that it could happen to come over and I had to explain around her. She would always me always scared me. And even what happened between myself play the perfect, faithful lover in though she was not officially mar- and her grandmother. To my surthe presence of her boyfriend and ried to the man, I still felt a sense prise, she came up with the idea our other friends. No one suspect- of guilt because they were already that we would have to change our ed that anything could possibly considered a couple and it was venue to my place. That was the be going on between us. In fact, just a matter of fixing a date for most inconvenient arrangement anyone could think up since I did if someone were to catch us at it the wedding ceremonies. not own a room to myself and or suspect us, I am sure her boySo, I told her that we had to stop anyone could burst in on us. That friend and our other friends would sleeping together. But she would deny it and even stand by us. She not hear of it. She insisted it was was how I managed to gain my freedom from her and the sexual was that good. safe and that she knew what she We had been going steadily at was doing. I was forced to agree part of the relationship died off. our little game when she informed with her because I did not want We were all at her wedding and me that she would soon be to hurt her feelings. I realised that many people teased me that margetting married to her boyfriend she had fallen in love with me. riage had finally put our friendas her grandmother and father However, even if I did love her ship asunder. I really missed her were already complaining about in return, I was not in the posi- a lot after she left, but life had to her continuous single status. Ac- tion to offer her anything serious go on.

Three years later, she walked cording to her, they did not know or even a promise of anything for why she was stalling when the that matter. I still had a long way into my office when she heard that man was more than ready to to go in terms of my dreams and I had finally secured a more luperform the wedding rites. She aspirations while she was already crative job at a finance institution. was about 24 at the time and per- old enough for marriage and She’d had a baby girl and had sonally, I thought she was still could not afford to wait for an in- put on some weight but was still quite pretty. She told me she was young and had at least two or definite number of years. on her annual leave from work

,

Y

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38—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

I 'll make another history — Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

M

ANY had in the past dismissed Governor Peter Obi as a kindergarten politician with no fighting fiber or political presence in the politically charged Anambra theatre. Purveyors of such claim have for long asserted that the governor lacks the capacity to hand over to a successor.

It was, however, a different Obi that many saw last weekend after the APGA governorship primaries when the governor boasted of his readiness to ensure the party prevails in the forthcoming governorship election.

His boast followed the

•Obi: I will shock many success of what many believe to be his personal candidate for the office, the former

banker, Chief Willie Obiano.

Noting his political feats in Anambra, the governor said: “I was the first person to pursue his electoral mandate for three years and eventually got it. I was also the first governor to be impeached and the impeachment reversed by court.”

“Again, I was the first Anambra governor, both in old and new Anambra, to complete two terms and, by the grace of God, I will be the first Anambra governor to hand over to his party ’s candidate after completing two terms.”

According to Obi, the forthcoming governorship election is crucial to APGA,

Who wants Ngige out?

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HE APC is yet to hold its governorship primaries, but some folks in Anambra are apparently not waiting for the primaries to tackle the party’s presumptive nominee, Senator Chris Ngige.

Ngige’s chances of picking the APC ticket brightened last week after his major rival and predecessor in the Senate, Senator Annie Okonkwo agreed to step down for him following strong persuasions by Governor Rochas Okorocha. In fact, Senator Okonkwo followed his decision by collapsing his own formidable political machinery into Ngige’s campaign and agreeing to become the campaign manager for Ngige.

Now, even before the formal endorsement of Ngige as the APC candidate, a civil society group, the Conference of Nigeria Registered Voters has petitioned INEC, over what it claims as the system adopted

by APC in picking its governorship candidate for the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Jezie Ekejiuba, in the petition addressed to the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega said APC has hot followed the provisions of the Electoral Act in selecting its flag bearer for the election.

He said: “It may interest your commission to know that at the time of this petition, APC has not no interim state executive of state chairman of the party recognized by your commission. Also, the party

has not conducted any congress or primary at the ward and local government levels and has not issued nomination forms for the three governorship aspirants of the party.

“Besides, it is improper for Governor Rochas

•Ngige: APGA presumptive nominee

Okorocha of Imo State to announce to the whole world that the party primaries of September 2 would be a mere formality because the party already has a candidate in the person of Senator Chris Ngige.

“The adoption of Ngige is a clear violation of the provision of Section 87 of the Electoral Act (as amended, which provides for nomination of governorship candidates of political parties where there

are two or more aspirants.”

According to him, APC has, in addition to Ngige, two other aspirants namely, Mr. Godwin Ezemo and Mr. Hyger Igwebuike.

Ekejiuba threatened to lodge his petition at the Federal High Court under originating summons to seek the interpretation of the provision of the Electoral Act relating to the nomination of governorship candidates.

reminding members of his party that the journey to enthrone another APGA government has just begun.

The first move, he said, is to bring everybody together,

Obiano is spotless — Menakaya

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

T

HOSE who have questioned the propriety of APGA choosing a political greenhorn to fly the party’s flag in the election can now be assured of one plausible reason the party machine moved towards Willie Obiano.

The chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tim Menakaya has disclosed that Chief Ralph Obiano’s victory was informed by the party’s resolve to present a candidate with an unquestionable record.

Menakaya, who said this in a chat with Vanguard in Akwa, also dismissed claims that those who stepped down for Obiano were forced to do so.

His words: “His emergence is an asset to the party because he is clean and has got good background. He represents a new dawn. That was why he was elected. He emerged because he will continue the good work the

T

HE PDP candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye who was yesterday received by the national leadership of the party has been going out of his way to repair damages and hurt sensibilities that preceded his emergence.

But even more than that, the former student activist is also reaching out to established

political interests in the state who took the posture of “siddon look” in the run up to the primaries.

As party chairman for about three years, Comrade Nwoye obviously hurt many political chieftains in the state, especially given the impression that he was at that time an associate of the then powerful presidential aide, Andy Uba who has now turned a senator. Indeed,

•Obiano: Spotless party accordingly.”

He further said, “People should stop peddling rumors and learn to appreciate a good product. No body was forced to step down. Those who did that acted on their own and in the interest of the party. At the end we are happy that are presenting a good candidate.

What is left is for Obiano to go out there and win the election for the party.”

...He is no weakling — Obidigo

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

C

HAIRMAN of Anambra East Local Goverment Area Mr. Chinedu Obidigbo has debunked claims that the APGA candidate, Chief Willie Obiano is a weakling who

Nwoye seeks peace with past enemies

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

including those who aspired to be governor, but could not make it.

“For us to win the medal, we must work as a team,” he concluded.

Senator Uba emerged as governor of Anambra State under Nwoye’s watch as party chairman.

Following his emergence as the party ’s candidate, Comrade Nwoye it was learnt has been making a tour of many of those he may have hurt to appease them. Where not, Nwoye has equally been making phone calls to soothe frayed nerves of political chieftains.

would be eaten raw by the candidates of the two major other parties, Chris Ngige of APC and Tony Nwoye of PDP. He also dismissed assertions that Obiano has no structure in the state as he affirmed that with Obiano, APGA is certain to claim victory in the forthcoming election.

“What do they mean that he has no structure? What manner of structure are they talking about? Those claims are baseless and hold no weight. The party has spoken by presenting its best.”

“So the question of him being weak only exists within the imagination of the people making the claims.”

“I am saying this for the umpteenth time that there is no chance for any political party in Anambra State. APGA has done creditably well to deserve continuation. So what we are looking for now is consolidation”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—39

You can count on me for Jonathan — Tafawa-Balewa D

R. Abduljhalil Tafawa-Balewa is a son of First Republic Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Abduljhalil, a medical doctor, who holds a PhD in Nuclear chemistry and spent 49 of his 56 years outside the country, in this interview asserted that President Goodluck Jonathan has renewed confidence in the country through repair of infrastructure and empathy to northern interests and the dignity of women. He especially commended Dr. Jonathan’s affirmative action on women, which he said has promoted women to the highest level of governance as never before. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HAT is your assessment of developments in the country?

I think this government has done wonderfully well. I am not saying that everything this government is doing is optimal.

Those who are criticizing this government are those who were in government before. And it seems the way to become relevant in Nigeria is that just leave government so that you can criticize it.

These were the people who

devil always finds jobs for idle hands. So, we need to start engaging these idle hands.

Prominent Northerners have been agitating for power shift in 2015. What is your position on this?

Democracy is about education. It is not about right.

What the constitution of PDP says is that if the party wins presidential election, other positions will be zoned to people of other geo-political zones. And constitutionally, President Goodluck Jonathan as a citizen of Nigeria has every right to run for a second term.

•Tafawa-Balewa: Let the best president win

,

Today, the Nigerian currency is getting stable and stronger and foreign reserve is rising up, I think the President should be given kudos I will vote for him

were in government and nothing worked. They fleeced the government and there was no transparency, nothing worked. Now these sets of people are the ones crticising government.

Remember that it is the first time that a President will say, "No, there must be no junketing again for ministers and high government officials to mark birthdays and host weddings of their children outside the country at very extravagant ways". It was President Goodluck Jonathan that put his foot down on that.

What would you say about the state of insecurity in the North-East?

There is no river without a source. This unrest has many factors to it. Many of our youths lack access to opportunities and jobs. The

,

Against the background of his performance, does he deserve a second term and will you vote for him?

You can count on me. I will vote for him. There has never been any Nigerian President since independence until now, that has done so well in appointing women who constitute half of our population to (positions) in ministries and embassies across the world.

Terrorism as many people don’t seem to notice often takes a long time before it is calmed down. Take a look at Iraq, Syria, Philippines of old and even Ireland where you can say there were long ethnic crises and you will see that Nigeria’s case is improving.

Of course Nigeria is in dire need of peace and not only in the Northeast, but also the

South as well. Today, the Nigerian currency is getting stable and stronger and foreign reserve is rising up. I think the President should be given kudos. I will vote for him.

Recently, a group of northern leaders stated unequivocally that the presidency should return to the North by 2015?

In democracy, there is freedom of speech. It is expected of any regional political party or group to state what they want. There is nothing wrong with that.

I mean there is nothing wrong with somebody standing up here in Lagos to insist that the next governor of the state should come from Ikeja. So, I really don’t see any reason why we should lay more emphasis on that.

So, for clarification purpose, are you saying the Elders Forum that has been agitating for power shift to the North is not speaking for the entire North?

I haven’t said that. What I’m saying is that the Elders’ Forum has actually been

speaking for its members.

Nigeria is a country of many ethnicities and that is why when you read our newspapers, every ethnic group thinks they are marginalized because we have over 240 ethnic groups or so.

As a northerner, what is your assessment of voters in that part of the country?

Well, I can tell you that an average northerner is more political savvy than you think.

You can imagine cattle herders coming from Maiduguri or Kano, they will have their radios plastered to their ears.

They will listen to VOA, BBC among others. They are more current about what is going on in the world than you think.

And unlike the south where people appear to be so immersed in commerce and other things, an average northerner is politically savvy and needs to be convinced what your intentions are because they have sharp imaginations.

But I’m not saying the southerners are not. But it is instructive that what we should be talking about is Nigeria and not whether Northerner or Southerner.

Maybe because I have lived as an alien in other parts of the world, I really don’t like this idea of configuring one’s psyche to be a Northerner or Southerner.

Since you will be supporting the President’s re-election in 2015, will you be advising the North to wait till 2019?

No, I won’t. In democracy, every election deserves to be fought with all vigour. And let the best president win.

Somebody like me as a core northerner but at the same time, I have root in the South.

It is high time we do away with this North and South dichotomy. If any man or woman who is qualified to contest wishes to, so be it.

40

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

•Seven of the eleven contenders for the prestigious NLNG Prize for Literature present at the event

A literary feast with contenders for NLNG’s $100,000 prize AST week, the Committee for Rel evant Arts (CORA) in collabora tion with the sponsors of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) organised a Book Party in honour of the 11 shortlisted poets for the prestigious Nigeria prize for literature. It was an evening that many book enthusiasts eagerly waited for and the day afforded them another opportunity to partake in the literary intellectual and stimulating feast.

An analysis of the 11 Books shortlisted for the 2013 Nigeria Prize for Literature which focuses on Poetry, largely shows how unique this year’s edition of the Prize is. Out of the 11 poets whose works made the initial list, three; former Vanguard Art editor and Columnist, Obi Nwakamma; Afam Ake and Ede Amatoritsero are Nigerians in the Diaspora while the rest; Nnadi Amu,Iquo Eke, Ogochukwu Promise, Egbewo G'ebinyo, Gomba Obari, Tade Ipadeola , Launko Okinba and Raji Remi are local writers which is an eloquent indication that writers based in the country are not doing badly after all.

Another interesting point in this year ’s Prize is that a student (Prof Remi Raji) is competing with two of his teachers; Prof Egbewo G’ebinyo who taught him in the secondary school and Prof Femi Osofisan (Lanko Okunba) who was his lecturer at the University.

Very unique is the point that poems by this year’s contenders all make useful contribution to addressing the challenges that the nation is facing. As was the case in 2009 when the Prize was not given to any poet as the advisory board decided that none of the works

submitted, possessed the prerequisite for winning the award, this year based on the quality of the works a winner must surely emerge.

Also worthy of note is the fact that out of the 11 shortlisted poets, only two female poets; Iquo Eke and Dr Ogochukwu Promise, made the initial list. And with all that, the 2013 Nigeria Prize for Literature appears more competitive than the previous ones The book Party kicked off with a performance by Aduke and Friends while the actual party which was moderated

by Deji Toye, commenced with each poet, reading two poems from his/her collection which was later followed by

,

L

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

Tade Ipadeola said that a poet can’t depart from existing tradition. The most important thing, he stressed, is truth, beauty and the ability to tap from one’s culture. Gamba on his own disclosed that he drew inspirations from works of Achebe and other writers. "We should domesticate global knowledge, by so doing, our contributions as a people to the world becomes a global heritage exchange.", Gamba said.

Asked if living abroad influenced the writings of the diaspora citizens, Afam explained that exile is not what one chooses to write about but comes from experiences. “Our generation of

Very unique is the point that poems by this year’s contenders all make useful contribution to addressing the challenges that the nation is facing

an interactive session. Interestingly, poets in the Diaspora were not left out of the party as they communicated live on digital video via Skype.

The main point of documenting experiences relating to exile, topped the subject in most of the works and Deji wasted no time throwing questions bothering on the subject.

M

arsh Boy Egbewo G’ebinyo noted, has literary relevance in pursuance of struggle for Niger Delta; "Farm lands have been destroyed by oil spillage, people are sick because of gas flaring, the average man from Niger Delta believes in arms struggle and except the problem is addressed there might be full blown war."

,

writers are largely influenced by the social media and ‘Letter Home and Biafran Nights’ is my first collection since living outside Nigeria which also contains reminiscences from home.

For Ede Amatorisero, the issue of exile “ is a generational thing.

Having lived outside Nigeria for two decades, writing about exile becomes relevant as I try to capture issues relating to disillusionment, bad governance, and youths scattered all over the world. Its good to show that situations forced many of us out. Exile is a broad theme because we were separated from Nigeria even before we travelled.”

Ogochukwu Promise , “I thought of

•Obi Nwakanma, one of the contenders for the prize leaving at some point but chose to stay behind and help solve the problems of the nation. In as much as there are so many problems, there are beautiful things about Nigeria. so, I believe we can put resources together and fix it”.

R

aji Remi, “ I never left or stayed in Nigeria, but I have taken what is good about Nigeria and made good use of it. Global encounter is found in my poems, which is the sixth collection."

At this juncture, Afam expressed disappointment that Ogochukwu implied that writers in the diaspora only run away from Nigeria’s challenges, pointing out that diaspora citizens only end up contributing heavily to national development, adding that "most of us chose to stay outside Nigeria just to stay alive."

In defence of the re-occurrence of traditions in her poems, Iquo Eke explained that she draws from the traditions of her people as it is filled with sayings and proverbs that help in developing a people. She however pointed out that considering the situation Nigerians find themselves, it is not fair to think that going back to traditions only, can solve Nigeria’s problems so, government individuals and groups must be truthful to what we need to do rather than being disillusioned so that we can move forward.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013—41

Community leader warns against court cases

Ambassador Ibie is dead

F

T

HE CHAIRMAN of Egbema/Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Chief Michael Johnny, yesterday, advised members of oil bearing communities in Gbaramatu and Egbema kingdoms to stop taking the foundation to court.

Chief Johnny who made this known during a familiarization visit to Chevron Nigeria Limited host communities of Opia, Adagbrasa, Ogbudugbudu, Opuama and Tsekelewu in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, stated that any amount of money spent by the EGCDF would be deducted from the affected person's community project.

He stated that the foundation had spent over N50 million on court cases April 2 this year, adding that had those who took the foundation to court adopted dialogue, the amount spent for lawyers would have been channeled into good projects that could have affected members of the communities positively.

1,000 ex-militants to get Samsung job offer

N

IGERIAN subsidiary of Samsung Heavy Industries, Bradama International, has offered to train and employ 1,000 Niger Delta ex-militants, as part of the company’s way of keying into the Federal Government’s amnesty programme.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Chief Bibopere Ajube, disclosed this in Ondo while conducting officials of Samsung Industries in inspection of the company’s facilities.

Ajube, who was part of the Niger Delta struggle said: “We were in this struggle together and I was spending every kobo I made to build this facility for my brothers from the creek and because I realised they needed to have livelihoods. So, I built this hostel to help them focus and have what to do with the rest of their lives.”

The ex-militants were mostly trainees at Bradama International, one of the few vocational centres recognized and accredited by the government.

From left: Grover Anil, Dr. Faith Ejegi, Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, and President of Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria, OSN, Dr. Regina Morgan, during the opening ceremony of the 38th AGM/Scientific Conference of OSN in Asaba, yesterday.

Lawmaker blames commissioner's attack on deplorable East-West road ...urges Orubebe to expedite action on repair work

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT—DEPUTY Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, has blamed last Sunday’s gunmen attack on the state’s Sport Commissioner, Fred Igwe, on the deplorable state of the East West road.

After visiting the wounded commissioner who is recuperating in an hospital, the lawmaker urged Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to expedite action on the East-West road to save lives of road users in the region.

Kwanee said the gunmen would not have had their way in shooting the commissioner at the spot the incident occurred if the road had been in good condition.

He said: “From what I learnt from the commissioner, the gunmen trapped and attacked him at a very bad spot on the road and many have been victims of the bad road either on armed attack or road accident.”

He recalled the death of the mother of wife of the President along the same road and the fatal Okogbe tanker explosion, stressing that such ugly

avoidable incidents now happen almost on daily basis on the road.

He said though the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs did not like being criticized about the road, “we must say the truth, as more South-South people are either dying or being maimed as a result of the state of the road.

“Every responsible citizen of the South-South should condemn the slow progress on the road because we are feeling the pinch. Roads in other parts of the country are receiving serious attention. What is our own offence.”

ORMER Nigerian Representative to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, Mr. Cromwell Osamaro Ibie, is dead, 79.

Born in Benin on September 29, 1934, Ibie, who died peacefully in his residence in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, August 22, 2013, was also Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, appointed by then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd.) in 1975.

An economist trained at the London School of Economics, the deceased was also Nigeria’s representative to the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, 1976-1980. He retired from public service in 1980 and veered into private business spanning manufacturing and auto dealership.

He was also an author and a columnists for several national dailies in Nigeria, where he spared his thoughts on national issues, especially with regards to the economy.

He was a member of many social clubs, including Ikoyi Club, Lagos.

A statement issued by the family in Benin said the burial programme would be announced later.

Mr Cromwell Ibie is survived by wives, children and many grand children.

Delta guber: We 'll support Ochei's candidature in 2015 — Ijaw group

I

JAWS, under the aegis of Ijaw Action Group for Change, yesterday said they will support Delta North senatorial district for governor in 2015 only if it presents Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, as a consensus candidate.

Spokesman of the group, Lucky Oweimieotu, who made this known to the Delta Force Group, DFG, at Burutu, Delta State, thanked members of the DFG, for campaigning for Ochei.

He described the DFG as a group of erudite and dedicated members who other gubernatorial aspirants in the state could not cajole with money.

Oweinieotu also described Ochei as a successful leader in business, politics and a man with impeccable character, with strong finesse for success.

According to him, Ochei has the competence and leadership quality to build on the legacy of Governor

Late Ambassador Ibie

Emmanuel Uduaghan should he become governor of Delta State in 2015.

He said: “Many of them

campaigning now will drop out before the real business but we know that Victor Ochei will be in the race to the end."

Legislator denies decamping to APC

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HE MEMBER representing Udu, Ughelli South and Ughelli North Constituency in the House of Representatives, Austine Ogbaburhon, has refuted claims of his decampment from the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, to the newly registered All Progressives Congress, APC. A group, Crusade for Democracy and Good Governance, CDGG, has claimed that the lawmaker had decamped from the DPP.

But Ogbaburhon, in a statement he personally signed yesterday, dismissed the claim, saying he was still a bona fide member of the DPP, and not APC. He said: “I am still a very ardent member of the DPP in Delta State, I have never in any day discuss with anyone of my intention of decamping from the DPP to APC. The DPP is a party I respect so much and I am still flying its flag in the National Assembly."

Group makes case for audit commission

BY FESTUS AHON

U

G H E L L I — ASSOCIATION of Public Service Auditors of Nigeria, APSAN, has urged the Federal Government to grant the office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation an audit commission to enhance effective delivery of its constitutional functions.

It advised that the audit commission should now be given the mandate to audit public accounts, employ, train, discipline and promote staff for the Office of the Auditor- General of the Federation.

42—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

C'River First Lady for int'l NGOs' confab

Rivers commissioners to PDP C'ttee: Show evidence of our attendance

W

IFE of the Cross River State Governor and Founder/Board Chair of Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation, POWER, Mrs. Obioma Imoke, will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon of the Conference of the International Association of African NGOS. Mrs Imoke is expected to speak on The Role of NGOS in the Economic Development of Africa, at the conference scheduled from September 5 to 7 at the Hilton Hotels and Resort, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—SIX commissioners in Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s cabinet, who escaped expulsion by Felix Obuah’s faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, said, yesterday, that they did not appear before the Performance Evaluation Committee of the party to have escaped expulsion.

This came as the 27 proAmaechi lawmakers described the expulsion of 14 commissioners in the state by the Felix Obuah’s faction as an act of political rascality.

It would be recalled that Felix Obuah’s faction of the party had expelled 18 top aides of the governor for refusing to appear before its performance evaluation committee, including 14 commissioners in the state cabinet.

The party had also alleged that the other commissioners escaped expulsion because they allegedly made representations to the committee.

Edo pool promoters to get ID number

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State Board of Internal Revenue has concluded plans to adopt a compulsory Tax Identification Number, TIN, for all registered pool promoters and agents in the state to discourage unregistered and fraudulent investors.

This was part of the resolutions reached at a meeting between the internal revenue service and stakeholders in the pool betting business in Benin, yesterday.

The Chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Oseni Elamah, said the TIN would be marked on every coupon sheet to protect stakeholders from undue extortion and create the enabling environment for investors.

The commissioners

Meanwhile, the seven commissioners, who spoke yesterday were the Commissioner for

Transport, Mr. George Tolofari; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker; Employment, Dr. Ipalibo Harry; Youths, Sir Owena Wonodi; Education, Alice Nemi and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Chamberlain Peterside.

The Commissioners, who took turn to address the media, challenged the Obuah-led faction of the party to show proof that they appeared before its committee or made any form of representation.

They said the whole game plan behind why the party spared them was to create disaffection and bad blood in the state cabinet.

They further pledged their

loyalty to Governor Amaechi as their leader.

‘It's political rascality’

Meanwhile, 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers have described the expulsion of the 14 commissioners as an act of political rascality on the part of the party.

In a statement issued yesterday by the lawmakers, they said some of the 14 commissioners expelled by the party were not even members of the party.

They said that they were brought into the state cabinet on account of their professional

Parties condemn media campaign over Itsekiri attack T

HE Association of Registered Political Parties, ARPP, in Delta State has described as unnecessary, undue and reckless the “ceaseless media campaign by some concerned Itsekiri leaders, youths and

stakeholders over the alleged attack on some Itsekiri villages in Warri North Local Government Area.”

A statement by the group of 16 political parties said the media hype had only suc-

Delta APC chieftains warn against discrimination

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HIEFTAINS of All Progressives Congress, APC, have warned against any form of discrimination against new members. They advised members to welcome people into the party.

Speaking at an enlarged meeting of APC at Ovu, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, the party chieftains, Chief Philip Eyagomare and Chief Anthony Erukeme, said the party was doing everything

possible to woo new members into its fold and not to discriminate against them.

Eyagomare, who said the party was still waiting for a directive from the national body on formation at the state, local government and wards levels, advised members to see themselves as people of one family and imbibe the culture of unity to ensure that the party attained its desired height in Delta State.

He pointed out that APC was

ready to take over the mantle of leadership from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at all levels.

Eyagomare said: “We should not discriminate against anybody, but we should be watchful so that PDP do not infiltrate the party.

“We can only succeed in our mission to win all our elections if our numerical strength is worth the game. So let us embrace peace and work together for one common unity.”

ceeded in causing anxiety in the country and abroad. It said the reports tended to portray to the world that the Ijaw and Itsekiri were on the brink of war.

While applauding the efforts of Mr. Michael Diden, Chief Ayiri Emami and Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, in managing the crisis, they faulted the stance of Dr. Alex Ideh, who was a Commissioner for Housing.

ARPP said: “The constant use of words like ‘genocide,’ ‘fratricide’ and ‘infanticide’ is quite alarming and should be controlled in a world laden with so much emotion over the murder of innocent children and women.”

It said the efforts of all well meaning Itsekiri should be geared towards peaceful talks, prevention of re-occurrence and rehabilitation of the affected people.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

integrity and acumen.

The statement further said the party lackedtheconstitutionalpowers to expel the commissioners.

They said: That the Obuah led faction in their unwarranted desperation for power do not have any idea of the constitution or membership of Peoples Democratic Party, hence their unguided pronouncements.

“Their reasons, methodology and procedure are not only unconstitutional by reasons of Article 21(4)(5)(6) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, but also a continuation of the undue political rascality and abject impunity that is detrimental and injurious to the character of our party and democracy.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On drama in Taraba State

T’S a shame that we have no Constitution in Nigeria. This is especially when issues that are connected to Oga at the top are to be addressed. It's a shame that Nigerian leaders and politicians alike don’t learn from past experiences.— Miss Chimezie Nnenna, Student.

I

HOSE people are simply heartless for packaging someone that is not strong enough for their selfish interest.

These people, including the wife, are heartless.

What is worth more than a human life? These sycophants are inhuman.— Mr. Jerome Samson, Businessman.

T

HE very shameful charade taking place in Taraba State is the latest indication of what Nigeria has steadily deteriorated into— a failed state under the decadent, thieving and reckless Peoples Democratic Party misrule of 14 years.— Miss Ijeoma Aniefiok, Student.

T

don’t know why we choose to deceive our selves in this part of the world. If the wife and kids love him, they should prevent him from stress. Now there is no way he won’t be stressed, considering the experience he went through.— Mr. Obioma Nwosu, Customer Service Agent.

I

E feel for Suntai.

He is very unfit to rule except through forged letters, emails and documents purportedly signed by him. This is another fraud against the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. — Mr. CeeCee Ohaeri, SelfEmployed.

W

HE House must invite Governor Suntai to their chambers, as stakeholders with constitutional powers, to inquire into his diagnosed ailment, treatment received and what his present condition is. He must be cleared by a physician.— Miss Chizoba Mary, Student.

T

43—Vanguard , THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

LG autonomy: NULGE threatens to resume strike

BY ENYIM ENYIM

O

NITSHA—THE Ni geria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, has threatened to resume its suspended strike should the National Assembly fail to approve local government autonomy at a conference of the two legislative chambers yet to be fixed.

President of the union in Anambra State, Mr. Jerry Nnubia, said in an interview, yesterday, that the three-day warning strike was suspended because of the intervention of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who assured the union that their demand would be met.

The Senate had at its plenary, voted against the controversial issue of local government autonomy, while the House of Representatives voted in favour.

Following the development, the National Assembly is expected to meet at a conference yet to be fixed to resolve the matter once and for all.

Kalu gets Justice Advocacy award

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ORMER GOVER NOR of Abia State and Coordinator of Njiko Igbo, Dr. Orji Kalu, will tomorrow be conferred with the 2013 Advocacy for Justice Award in the United States of America.

The award is to be bestowed on Kalu by NdiIgbo in Diaspora, which operates under the aegis of Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation USA, Inc. Kalu is being honoured for his laudable contributions to the cause of Ndi Igbo in particular and Nigeria and Nigerians in general.

According to a statement

by Messrs Geoffrey Nzeadibe and Felix Okereke, the National Chairman and Secretary of the association respectively, similar awards had been conferred on late literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe; former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief S.N. Okeke; Senator Onyeabo Obi; and former Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akinyuli, among others.

Angry reactions trail abortion law in Imo O

BY CHIDI NkWOPARA

WERRI—ANGRY reactions have started trailing the legalisation of abortion by Imo State Government, as many people were seen yesterday, discussing what they described as an obnoxious law.

Some clerics and social critics that spoke to Vanguard on the issue, described the abortion law as “inhuman, immoral and against the will of God.” A social critic, Mazi Damian Nze, who reacted angrily to the abortion law, said: “Legalising abortion in Imo State is a moral absurdity and a sure proof that our lawmakers have amply shown that they do not have any serious business in the legislature.”

He reasoned that a careful watcher could readily observe that Imo might turn out to be the only state that had given legal stamp to the procurement of abortion by any woman at will.

In her own reaction, Lady Tina Onyegecha said the legalisation of abortion in the state was inhuman, immoral and a sharp departure from the will of God. She said: “Life is sacred. It is inalienable. It should not be toyed with. If the mothers of todays protagonists of the abortion law were aborted by their mothers, they would not have been alive to pass this Bill into law.”

Speaking also, a former commissioner for information, Dr. Kelechukwu Okpalaeke, said that Imo State was basically a Christian dominated state, adding that legal-

ising abortion was against everything the people believed in.

“Imo is basically a Christian dominated state. Giving legal authority to abortion in the state runs counter to everything the people believe in.

“For such a thing to be legalised in Imo State is most embarrassing.

Concerned citizens are already expressing palpable fear that this am turn ou to be a prelude to legalizing same sex marriage in the state”, Dr. Okpalaeke said.

He said there was no consultation whatsoever before the law makers passed the Bill, which was later signed by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Similarly, the Chairman, Catholic Medical Practitioners Association, Dr. phillip Njemanze, also reacted angrily to the Law, arguing that “the law is anti-God, dehumanizing and totally unacceptable to the Association.

“The Law is devastating. With

its signing into law by Governor Okorocha, abortion has been legalised in the state and anybody, just anybody can now ask for abortion as of right in the state.”

While recalling that the National Assembly had earlier rejected the Bill, especially as it is against humanity, Njemanze equally reasoned that the law would encourage human egg trafficking.

SEMINAR: From left: Leadership expert and business coach, Mr. Brian Tracy; Head, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Bidemi Ladipo and Head, High Value Event and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ebi Atawodi, at the remarkable leaders’ conclave and seminar tour with Brian Tracy in Lagos: Photo: Akeem Salau.

Assassination plot: Police nab 2 over alleged false information A

BY ERIC UGBOR

BA—ABIA State Police Command has arrested two persons, Mr. Ndubuisi Anumoka and Ozioma Chinaka, for allegedly giving the Police false information of a phantom plot by four transporters operating in Aba, the commercial city of the state, to assassinate chairman of the Abia State Task Force on Environmental and Allied Matters, Capt. Awa Agwu (rtd).

The task force had been having running battle with the transporters over the insistence of the former that the latter should relocate to government approved motor parks, which led to protests in the city last weekend.

Apparently acting on this development, the arrested men, said to belong to a rival motor union, RTEAN, and who it was gathered has been mounting pressure on the task force to ensure that all motor units, including mass transit operators relocate to the main motor park, on August 24, called Awa on phone to inform him that the four transporters, namely, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Anele, Nchekwuba Eusebius, Marcel Amadi and Victor Ezeriwe

plotted to kill him.

Based on the strength of the information, the task force chairman was said to have reported the matter to the police who arrested the four transporters.

On interrogation, the four men denied the allegation, saying it was a set up by their detractors who were hell bent on pitching

them against the state government.

Determined to get to the root of the matter, men of the State Investigation Bureau, SIB, Police Area Command, Aba, traced the informant to Mr. Biggs, Azikiwe Road, where he was arrested.

When he was questioned by the police, the suspect admitted

passing the information he claimed was given to him by Ozioma Chinaka to the task force chairman, but did not know it was false.

The suspects were also said to be behind the allegation that the four transporters planned to cause riot in Aba on August 27 to disrupt Abia day celebration on that day.

Anambra guber: Court declares Andy Uba PDP candidate

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT—JUS TICE H.A. Nganjiwa of a Federa High Court in Port Harcourt, has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to accept the result of the primary election conducted by Ejike Oguebego’s faction of PDP in Anambra State which declared Senator Andy Uba governorship candidate for the party in the November 16 elec-

tion.

The court held “that the 1st and 2nd defendants are to forthwith comply with the order of this Honourable court made on August 6, 2013.

“That the 1st and 2nd defendant are to accept the results that emerged from the plaintiffs’ ward and state congresses pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction or pending the hearing and determination of the motion to set aside the in-

terim order “That 1st and 2nd defendants are hereby restrained from accepting the wards and state congresses results from Ken Emeakey-led PDP executive from Anambra State, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction and the motion to set aside the interim order made on August 6, 2013” Justice Nganjiwa adjourned the matter to August 30.

44 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

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AWARD: Engr. S. Owolabi of Chemotechnics Ltd, receiving Distinguished Award from the President, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr.

Mustapha Shehu, at the 2013 Dinner/Award Night organised by the NSE, Jos Branch, in recognition of his consistent commitment to engineering professionalism in Plateau State.

INVESTITURE: From left, Mr. Tay Kay Luan, CEO, Institute of Bankers, Malaysia/Guest Speaker; Mr. Segun Aina, OFR, FCIB, President/ Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria, CIBN, and Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, OON, FCIB, Deputy Governor, CBN, during the 2013 CIBN Investiture, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

CONFERENCE: From left, Mrs. Charis Onabowale, member of Board of Trustees; Chief Peter Okwara, Vice President; Mrs. Bose Ayeni, President (displaying membership logo); Mrs. Ololade Adeniji, Publicity Secretary, Planning Committee, and Mr. Obika Augustine, Treasurer, all of Association of Fast Food and Confectioners of Nigeria, AFFCON, during media briefing on Inaugural National Conference in September, by AFFCON, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

SPONSORSHIP: From left, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Mr. Folusho Philips; Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, Uto Ukpanah, and Director General, NESG, Mr. Frank Nweke, at the MTN sponsored Dialogue on Global Guide on Sports Sponsorship, organised by United Nations Global Compact, in Lagos, yesterday.

CAMP:The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Nike Animashaun (right), inspecting Astronomy Telescope for star-gazing during year 2013 science camp; with her, from left, Mr. Tokunbo Fashola, Consultant to Governor Fashola on Software Testing and Hardware Configuration, and Mr. Adeniji Director, Policy and Programmes, Ministry of Science and Technology

PRESENTATION: From left, Mrs. Onome Odili, Marketing Manager; Dr. David Okpan, Human Resources Director, all of SC Johnson Ltd; Mrs. Oluwatoyin Akinyombo, who won N500,000 SC Johnson Ltd promo; Mr. Kwame Wiafe, MD, SC Johnson Ltd; Mr. Bukola Ogunsakin, who won N500,000; Mr. Demeji Osinguwa, Director, Sales, and Mr. Segun Oludare, Product Supply Manager, both of SC Johnson Ltd, during the presentation of cheques to winners of the SC Johnson Scratch your Way to Millionaire promo, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

SEMINAR: From left, Ogho Emore, Executive Director; Stephen Ojji, Chief Operating Officer, both of Brimass; Brian Tracy, Chairman, Brian Tracy International, and Head Pastor, Elevation Church, Pastor Godman Akinlabi, at the Max Achievement seminar organised by Brimass, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Rotimi Oyesiji, Category Manager, Skin Cleansing, Unilever Nigeria; Mrs. Adebiyi Oyesiji, N1 million Lux promo winner; Mr. Anil Gopalan, Vice President, Operations, Unilever Nigeria, and Mr. Olumide Aniyikaiye, Brand Manager, Lux, at the prize presentation of the first millionaire in the ongoing Lux Gold Search promo, in Lagos.

BRIEFING:From left, Mr. Charles Igbinidu, Managing Director, TPT International; Mr. Keith Richard, Managing Director, Promasidor; Andrew Enahoro, Head, PR/Legal, and Mr. Anders Einarsson, Director, Statistics, during a press briefing on Promasidor Quill Award 2013/2014, in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola

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need to engage our national politics in such a way that workers entitlements are not threatened by factors of bad governance which include corruption. This is where the recent NLC scorecard is low especially given the standards that it is known for. NLC’s voice on matters related to our political development as a nation has been very remote. Partly as a result of that, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had at the TUC Conference on June 21challenged organNigerian workers protesting poor wage ised labour “to stand up and be counted”.

Union organisation and their political roles on matters of governance are important in this respect. Somehow, it would appear that This is the concluding part of the article by Comrade Salihu Lukman, a former Nigerian trade unions, including the assistant general secretary with the Nigeria Labour Congress on the inclusion of the NLC have vacated National Minimum Wage on the concurrent rather than the exclusive list as it is now. their political roles The first part was published on August 1, 2013. and in the circumstance their capacity vision such as the provision of item 34, to correctly assess national realities and SALIHU MOH. LUKMAN Part 1 of Second Schedule of the 1999 intervene based on rational considerHE point is, elementary analy Constitution. ation is weak. In so many ways, Nigerisis would caution about the As it stands, item 34 of Part 1 of the an trade unions and NLC are very lucky consequence of adopting a bandwagon Second Schedule is not is not sustain- to have rich reservoir of history and pubframework for minimum wage legisla- able and could only expose Nigerian lic goodwill on account of which currently tion that is not informed by economic workers to greater risks and danger. leadership seems to be very relaxed. indices that are related to work output. Being conversant with internal logic inIn summary therefore, the message to Such a framework can only result in ei- fluencing leadership thinking in Nige- NLC and all Nigerian trade unions is ther shortchanging workers in high-rev- rian trade movement, it is quite worri- that they need to wake up and reconenue states/areas or over-stretching some that NLC is approaching these nect themselves with their historic reemployers in low-revenue states/areas. matters less objectively. It has never sponsibilities. This calls for good initiaCertainly, a review of wage fixing theo- been the case that workers will get jus- tives towards organisational strengthenries would highlight these challenges tice on matters of employer/employee ing, conscious effort to produce knowland perhaps dangers. relations bordering on pay and entitle- edgeable leadership with high integrity It needs to be stated emphatically and ments with simple unequivocally that although there is in- reference to the It has never been the case that creased revenue which has resulted in law. Had that been workers will get justice on matters of improved financial profile of especially the case, there states and federal governments in the would be no need employer/employee relations country, it has not favourably altered the for unions. The bordering on pay and entitlements structure of government finances. business of unions will always be to with simple reference to the law International develop strategies and carry out actions that can result in and above all high moral standing. Chaloil market improved working conditions and bet- lenges facing Nigerian workers today The main predictable reasons would ter pay. These are issues bordering on go beyond legal provisions. It is more a be factors of corruption. Besides, given workers input to the process of revenue capacity issue in many respect. A situacharacteristically unstable international generation. The big worry is when mat- tion where the main business of unions oil market, current levels of oil revenue ters of pay and benefits are delinked is only strikes with hardly no voice on are hardly sustainable and therefore to from these factors, which appears to be national policy and governance issues plot them as determining variables for the logic of the NLC argument with re- will at best project unions and their price indices such as minimum wage spect to national minimum wage legis- leaders as pedestrians and opportuniswith long term implications would be lation in Nigeria. tic, which over the years they have Of course it could be argued that this proved not to be. almost suicidal.

Be that as it may, there are certainly has been the case, perhaps since the Nigerian unions and NLC in par challenges that need to be addressed. 1970s. That it has been the case does ticular have always been source of hope The challenges border on ensuring that not make it right. What has been the tra- for our country at very trying period. So there is in truth “enormous resources” dition of NLC and Nigerian trade far, Comrade Omar and his team in NLC to guarantee higher levels of wages in unions is the courage to campaign for can do much more. Their intellectual, the country, in the context of which is- what is right especially in relation to political and organisational capacity can sues of minimum wage can be correctly workers benefits and welfare. It is a provide much more than what they are computed, taking all indices into account. matter that requires good measure of in- give the nation today. The danger is that NLC should approach this based on a tellectual and political capacity. The po- current leadership of NLC and Nigeristrategy of strengthening its own organ- sition of NLC with respect of minimum an trade unions may be presiding over isational capacity and not look for easy wage fixing in Nigeria is weak intellec- the systematic demobilisation of Nigequick-wins that are not sustainable, tually and politically unfounded. rian workers. They need to consciously Part of the political imperative is the prevent that from happening. which include a faulty constitutional pro-

NLC and Minimum Wage: The Task Ahead

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Bits Labour reaffirms April MOU with DLA in Delta

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RGANISED Labour in Delta State, has reaffirmed the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding,MOU, reached in April 2013 with the management of the state Direct Labour Agency, DLA, and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, unit of the agency on some labour issues.

State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Williams Akporegha, said this was part of a communiqué reached last week after a meeting of labour leaders in the state, the management of DLA and the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme. He said it was at the meeting that a directive was given to DLA workers to suspend their industrial action and resume work immediately.

According to him, leaders of NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, AUCPTRE, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, and the Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme, attended the meeting.

Industrial peace The NLC Chairman said the meeting called on the State Government to urgently step into the matter to check the drift towards a total breakdown of the present atmosphere of industrial peace and harmony in Delta State.

In the communiqué, “the labour leaders reaffirmed the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached on the 15thof April 2013 with the DLA management and AUPCTRE unit of the agency concerning the issues. The labour leaders nullified the purported dissolution of AUPCTRE unit of DLA as well as all acts of alleged victimization through transfers, demotion and queries by the management of DLA arising from the crisis that was resolved on April 15 2013. “ “Accordingly, the labour leaders directed the immediate suspension of the current industrial strike by AUPCTTRE unit of the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) and called on the State Government to urgently step into the matter to check the drift towards a total breakdown of the present atmosphere of industrial peace and harmony in Delta State.”

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54

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— VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013

The NBA and imperative of a successful Bar Conference

Quality of lawyers determines quality of Judges — Page 56

— Page 55

At AGC, lawyers X-ray nation's problems, proffer solutions

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AW, leadership and challenges of nationhood in the 21st century Nigeria, which is the theme of the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, annual general conference in Calabar, Cross River State, took the centre stage of deliberation with Professor Jonah Elaigwu, raising concern over the selective enforcement of laws and order in the country.

Prof Elaigwu, President of Institute of Government and Social Initiative, Abuja, who was the key note speaker, cited the anomalies in the practice of the country’s democracy and funny enforcement of laws and other.

He also gave the instance of the Nigerian Governors Forum, where a faction of 16 governors claiming to represent the forum as against the 19 governors majority.

He also noted as a challenge to the country, a situation, where the police cannot enforce a court order against the Federal or state governments.

Apart, he recalled the five lawmakers impeaching a governor in Plateau State; the quartering ofAnambra State lawmakers in Asaba, Delta State to impeach the Anambra State governor and the movement of Bayelsa State lawmakers to Lagos State to impeach D.S.P Alamieyeseigha as obvious signs of the abnormal system sanctioned by the authorities in Nigeria at the time because it suited it.

Speaker Tambuwal

Gov. Imoke

Ndoma -Egbea(SAN)

Speaking in the same light, NBA the rule of law connotes not only that President, Mr Okey Wali, SAN, said the judiciary is independent but that “one of our greatest challenges of judicial orders and judgments of nation building is the challenge of courts are obeyed and enforced. This institution building. In Nigeria, we all is more so when only the courts of law know where we are coming from but are mandated to state with finality the we may need to examine where and position of the law as it governs the how we want to go and the role of the affairs of the society and the nation. law and the Bar Association in all this.

"Amidst the controversies that attend ”Law plays a very strong role in the political rivalries and contests within society, so lawyers As we prepare to celebrate 100 years are always concerned with of nationhood, we must continue to public issues,” he have faith in the ability of the law to added.

In his regulate our conduct both in public contribution, and private spheres and serve as a Attorney General of the Federation and mechanism for resolving disputes Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed and outside political parties; in the Adoke, SAN, on his part, said “There course of evolving sustainable is no doubt that any society, which constitutional principles for our desires to bring about social justice, democracy and in the face of security and development will ultimately address the functionality and centrality challenges, the courts have dispensed justice according to the law and our of law. In my respectful view, social constitutional evolution has benefited justice and a developmental immensely from their interventions. perspective to nation’s legal system ”As we prepare to celebrate 100 requires that the rule of law must be years of nationhood, we must continue sacrosanct. This fundamental concept to have faith in the ability of the law to entails that rights (including economic rights) are protected and that arbitrary regulate our conduct both in public and private spheres and serve as a powers of the State are curbed by the mechanism for resolving disputes.” prescription of rules and codes that Further, he said “Democracy and regulate and sanction. liberalism that it engenders in the ”By the same token, in a political space have also brought about constitutional democracy like Nigeria,

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•Okey Wali, SAN

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its own challenges especially to the unity and corporate existence of our nation. The freedom of expression, association and freedom of thought and conscience guaranteed by the Constitution, have unwittingly become tools in the hands of politicians and their associates to promote division, hatred and discontentment in the polity. The quest for power and determination of certain persons and sections of the country to wrestle power from incumbent political office holders have led to the issuance of all manner of threats with grave implications for our national unity.

Continues on page 56

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013 — 55

The NBA and imperative of a successful Bar Conference

BY FRANK AGBEDO

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HE on-going Annual Bar Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), reputed as the largest assemblage of lawyers in black Africa, with a staggering population of over 10,000 members in attendance, from every part of the country and even beyond, at the prestigious Tinapa Resort in Calabar, Cross River State, under the audacious theme, “ Law, Leadership and Challenges of Nationhood in the 21 stCentury Nigeria”, with Prof. Jonas Isawa Elaigwu, an erudite Professor of Law, as the Keynote speaker.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is the umbrella organization of all lawyers admitted to practice law in the country, whether in public or private practice, the membership being automatic, by virtue of having been first called to the Nigerian Bar, after

the bitter prescription for a failed state, a situation never wished for but which comes as a natural direct consequence of the choices we make as a nation.

It is therefore without doubt that the aspirations of the Association should be a reflection of those of its founding fathers, particularly, that of the first Nigerian lawyer, Late Mr. Alexander Christopher Sapara Williams, enrolled as a lawyer, in 1888 and died much later in 1915, and who had poignantly and classically posited that, “A Legal Practitioner lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the cause of his country.”

The official bar is the conscience of the nation and as such should effectively deploy the instrumentality of the law to stimulate, drive and galvanize social change in the society no matter whose ox is gored and especially

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We, as the voice of the voiceless, defenders of the poor and powerless, as well as the agents of change in the society cannot get tired of appraising the status of governance in Nigeria passing the rigorous fitness test, set under the guiding ethos and intellect of the founding fathers.

At the core of its aims and objectives is playing a leading role as the vanguard for the promotion of the rule of law, democracy and good governance, as critical factors for growth and sustainable socio-economic and political development in Nigeria, and the absence of which would be

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so under a civilian democratic dispensation.

The above critical role could only materialize under a courageous, honest, vibrant, independent, industrious, united and knowledgeable bar association and not one that totters and grovels under the apron strings of the executive.

An honest review of the state of the nation reveals a country in need of urgent deliverance, occasioned by

Frank Agbedo unrelenting depletion in values, massive corruption in high and low places, and which has orchestrated deep crisis in all critical sectors of the economy, particularly, the criminal Justice system, leaving behind on its trail, brazen violation of human rights, large scale poverty, moral decadence, communal and ethnic rivalry, religious and political bigotry, the growing spate of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, youth restiveness, armed insurgency and acts of brigandage witnessed across the country on regular basis.

Any effort towards real human and economic development without consideration for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights of the people results in utter deficiency and therefore would amount to progress made in reverse order, or motion without movement.

A depressing cumulative effect of the government’s failure and inability to make meaningful progress in governance is clearly attributable to its lack of commitment to the rule of law and the advancement

of the rights of the citizens.

The slant of this intervention is primarily to interrogate the role of the official bar, so far, in addressing these pertinent challenges facing the profession and the entire nation in general, with an eye to drawing its attention to the necessity of an urgent remedy and immediate action.

The other day, a friend of mine told me that very soon the people’s wrath and frustration over the abysmal state of affairs in the country, would be turned against the lawyers, for the simple but sensible reason that, as the last hope of the common man and also the conscience of the nation, we should bear the brunt of their anger, for failing to call the government to order and redress the inglorious decent to perfidy. This is must be food for thought for all of us attending this conference.

We, as the voice of the voiceless, defenders of the poor and powerless, as well as, the agents of change in the society cannot get tired of appraising the status of governance in Nigeria despite the fact that we

have a semblance of civilian democracy in place, as the issue of good governance, have remained relevant and in the front burner of public discourse both under the military and not any less now, in the light of our current deplorable and progressively diminishing human development record among the comity of nations, where we claim to assert our membership.

As you read this, hundreds and thousands of citizens (mostly the poor) are daily clamped into Police cells for minor or even in some cases, no offences at all, without bail, despite their right to bail under the constitution.

Prison population Recent statistics released by the human rights committee of the N.B.A. Lagos branch, show that there are well over 70,000, prison in mates (constituting about 80% of the entire prison population), currently being incarcerated as suspects and accused persons in various jail houses, across the country, awaiting trial, for different offences allegedly committed by them, ranging from simple offence to acts of misdemeanor, some for offence not known to law, and are mostly forgotten.

What has the NBA done in this regard?.

Without doubt, the instruments of law, remains, the greatest bulwark against the perpetration of these acts of injustice and all other forms of vices and obnoxious practices in any society. It is only a society governed by rule of law and due

process that can guarantee life and personal liberty of the citizens.

The leadership of the Bar had not clearly risen to the expectations of the people for a better deal from the leaders, arising from their inability to proactively engage the present administration, through advocacy and even public interest litigations, to protect the citizens and ensure a just and equitable society for the people where law and order would reign supreme, and expectedly, the results have been uninspiring-ly poor , not just because of absence of commitment on the part of the official bar, to drive the process to its logical ends, but more importantly, due to virtual lack of political will on the part of the government to “walk their talk”, as far as respecting the rule of law and constitutionalism is concerned.

There is therefore an urgent necessity for the Association to buckle up and rejuvenate the human rights agenda, by fully leveraging upon the provisions of new Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, which has liberalized access to justice for all, irrespective of one’s status in life thereby curing the defects of the former 1979 Rules, that constituted a stumbling block to effective justice delivery, through the restrictive interpretation of the doctrine of locus standi .

The NBA must at this point in our national history, read the Riot Act to the present administration, led by a President that is not averse to constructive criticisms, by making specific demands, coupled with definite time lines, for confronting the depressing human rights situation, failure of public infrastructure, particularly in the electricity, health and educational sectors) mass unemployment induced poverty, mindless avarice and looting of public treasure, pervasive corruption, frightening insecurity, garrison politics, as well as, other thorny issues tearing apart the social fabric of Nigeria, and also to set up strong machineries for effective monitoring and implementation of the terms of engagement.

CHIEF AGBEDO, Lagos based Legal Practitioner, is Former Chairman, Human Rights Committee, NBA, Lagos, and Author of the book, “Rights of Suspects and Accused Persons under Nigerian Law”

56 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Quality of lawyers determines quality of Judges — Olofinlade at 80 DR. Olu Olofinlade, is a legal practitioner, who has practiced law for 43 years. He turned 80 years on Tuesday, August 27. In this interview he spoke about his career as a lawyer and politician. Though, according to him, he is no longer going to court, however he talked about several cases he had handled as well as some legal and national issues. Excerpts:

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

S a senior member of the bar, would you want to say something about yourself for the benefit of the younger ones?

I am Dr. Olu Olofinlade, I was born on August 27, 1933, in Ekiti State, and I am a legal practitioner.

Practicing law in Lagos in 1970. Along the line, I got involved in local politics in my home town, at Ido Ekiti You handled several cases when you where in active practice, what was your experience like?

I was a general practitioner, I handled several political and criminal cases some of which were the Kudirat Abiola’s case, Pa Abraham Adesanya and Daudu case and many others and I had the opportunity of working with late Chief Bola Ige as a team in Lagos High court, I also handled land matters, civil matters and criminal matters up to the higher courts, and some of them were reported in the law reports.

What is your assessment of the legal profession and in what areas will you want to see improvements?

The lawyers nowadays are struggling hard, especially in Lagos.

Impact in profession They are making more impact in the profession, than when we came out from the law school in 1970, they are more aggressive compared to that time. That time it was really difficult to get law report. In the judiciary, like in the past, we were thought that you have to do your work and leave the rest to the court, but now, the game is different. I never solicited with any judge or visited any of them for my cases.

Lawyers should be more industrious because the quality of lawyers breeds the quality of judges, when the judges knows that the lawyers will not take it from them, then they will sit up and write good judgment.

You have gathered so

much experience, what is your piece of advice to upcoming lawyers?

My piece of advice to them is to be hard working.

In law there is no fast rule to it, except hard work.

When you are given any little brief, work hard on it.

After my graduation from Unilag, I didn’t go for masters, but the University of Marquis Giusepp Scicluna , International Foundation affilatted to Albert Einstein International Academy Foundation looked at all

Dr Olu Olofinlade my activities and awarded me with honorary doctorate of laws degree in 1989. came from Is there any of your children that is a lawyer?

Yes, I have two children who are lawyers, one is based here in Lagos and the lady who was initially a

legal officer with Wema bank, had since joined her husband in the UK. She came out with second class upper from Unilag.

You clocked 80 years on Tuesday, how will you describe your life?

But you know that I am very sick because I have

eyes problem, which was as a result of glaucoma and cataract but I leave a very simple life.

What of the book that is going to be launched in your honour, as part of the birthday celebration?

I titled it ’Politics as a Social Service in Nigeria’, because I see that when you are in politics, you help the people in your country and constituency, that is how it should be.

That is why when I was in local politics I made sure that I covered all parts, and that is the way I have been doing it unconsciously because all those political cases that I took up, I didn’t ask for any money. I have handled two cases for chairmen in Agege. I handled a case of AlMustapha when Kudirat was killed, late pa Adesanya, Dawudu and two others before the Lagos High court. Chief Bola Ige was the leading counsel in

those cases.

With your contributions to the legal profession one would have expected that you would have been awarded the rank of Senior advocate of N i g e r i a ?

I didn’t apply for SAN, there was no reason, but it is not everybody that pushes for it, I didn’t push for it because, if you want to be something you must push for it. Some people are saying that before you become a SAN you must know big people I didn’t know any thing about that because I didn’t push for it.

2015 election is fast approaching, how would you rate the nation’s preparation for the poll?

Well, I think that we would succeed, but it may be difficult, because of the interest our politicians placed on acquiring wealth. Eventually we would succeed. The prediction that Nigeria is going to break up will not come to fruition.

At AGC, lawyers X-ray nation's problems, proffer solutions Continues from page 54 ''Another major challenge to our nationhood is how to improve on the living conditions of our people.

Our constitution clearly provides that security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. While successive governments since independence, have grappled with the economic problems of the country, there are still noticeable incidences of poverty, hunger and disease, unemployment and poor infrastructure which have continued to impact negatively on the well being of the people.

Although, this administration has unveiled a programme of action to deal with these issues, it is obvious that success can only be achieved with concerted efforts from the public and private sector to deal with these developmental challenges. “ The 21st Century has also brought about globalization -the shrinking of national borders and frontiers. This poses challenge for governance, as Nigeria can no longer afford to be insular in its policies and programmes.

Nigeria must therefore position herself to take advantage of the liberalization of global economies to compete favourably with other countries for the attraction of investments and market penetration, as well as, limit the disadvantages associated with the integration of global financial system such as the recent financial crises that engulfed Europe and America.”

Senate President, David Mark, in his speech delivered by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, said

“The law must provide the framework not only for our social order but also for us to meet our challenges, and indeed our aspirations. "Consequently, our legal philosophy and the end of law must go beyond maintaining the status quo which in our situation is undesirable, to being an active agent for delivering social justice, change and providing life’s basics to the weakest among us.

“Our laws must induce competitiveness, ensure equal access to the opportunities and resources of our land to all irrespective of gender, tribe or religion, it must ensure rectitude, accountability and responsibility in every sphere of our lives especially the public space."

Security challenges Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State, who spoke on “Challenging the Giant: 100 years of building a Nation,” raised concern over the ability of the police as it is presently operated to meet the security challenges of the country.

He said, “At the federal level, the police are fighting terrorism and at the state level, they are fighting to maintain law and order and in the villages, it is their duty to apprehend the person that stole my goat. I am one of those that will not accept the excuse that state police will be abused because we should jointly address the issues raised about state police and not an outright rejection of same.”

He also noted that the clamour

for resource control was misplaced without the country playing a leading role in the oil and gas sector in terms of taking active part in the exploitation and exploration of the resources.

Speakers, House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, in his contribution, said Nigeria faces serious challenges of Nationhood now than ever before is not in question.

Crass insecurity of the proportions which in yesteryears was news from other lands, and which then sounded to us like fiction, now threatens to tear apart the very foundations of our nationhood.

“We started off consciously as a nation of cultural, geographical and ethnic diversity, a conglomerate of Nationalities and geo-territories. These attributes which ought to be our strength are yet to be galvanized , harnessed and properly channeled into fulfilling the dream of our forefathers in building a prosperous nation.

"We have played games with tribalism and ethnicity, we have patronized the chess board of regionalism, sectionalism and now geo-political zonealism We have allowed these negative “Isms” to pull a wool that obliterates the reality that we are indeed a Nation, however constituted, thereby denying ourselves the joy and benefits of oneness and unity.

“In the face of stupendous wealth, resources and potentials with which we could build a united nation of prosperous people we are indirectly but gradually building two nations in one: A nation of prosperity and affluence on the one hand and

another nation of poverty and squalor on the other, yet our desire and expectation is nation building.

We once complained of the inequity in amalgamating regions of unequal sizes but the sizes of the two nations we build today with intention to consolidate our nationhood bear the gravest attribute of inequality – A small nation of prosperity and a large nation of poverty.

“We are, no doubt, a people divinely gifted with intellect and wisdom, but the receiver of a gift is at liberty to apply it in the manner he chooses. It would appear that as a people we have thus far applied our intellect and wisdom in aid of our destruction.

I am not in doubt, just as I am sure we all aren’t, that if we had deployed this intellect and wisdom in good governance over the years, we would not be suffering today from the challenge of mal governance, from the challenge of poor infrastructure, from the challenge of insecurity, from the challenge of poverty and squalor, indeed the challenge of abject poverty of the majority.

“When we look around us and behold how bountifully we are blessed as a nation, we cannot help asking the question: Is it in our stars? I am confident that this conference with the apt theme you have chosen will help in unraveling these posers as you have placed your search lights beyond the superstition of gazing in the stars.

“As for our body of Laws they compare reasonably with those of the nations blazing the trail yet there is every benefit in inquiry.

Are our laws inadequate ?

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 — 57

War in Syria Military strikes on Syria may begin tonight •Allies may not wait for UN •US spies intercept calls from Syrian chemical weap ons unit boss •Al Qeada to join rebels

BY UDUMA KALU with Ki-moon said U.N. inspectors need more time agency reports to assess whether the F the divided UN forces of Syrian leader which met Wednesday Bashar Assad used poifails to take action on Syr- son gas in attack last ia, US and its allies' strike week that opposition on Syria may begin to- groups say left hundreds of civilians dead. night.

US is confident that SyrSyria’s opposition coalition said that the Syria's ia was behind the deadly forces dropped bombs chemical weapons attack and napalm gas on civil- after intercepting a phone ians in rural Aleppo on call from a Syrian defence chief demanding an exMonday.

Also, an al Qaeda af- planation from its chemifiliate threatened a ‘Vol- cal weapon military unit cano of Revenge’ for the action, according against Syrian govern- to new claims.

U.S. and its allies have ment security and military targets in retaliation laid diplomatic groundfor a suspected poison work for military strikes, attack near Damascus, which officials in Washthe SITE Monitoring ington said could begin as Group reported late on early as Thursday night.

NATO Secretary-GenerTuesday.

Syria could be hit with al Anders Fogh Rasmusthree days of missile sen said information from strikes, perhaps begin- a variety of sources pointning Thursday, in an at- ed to President Bashar altack meant more to send Assad’s forces being rea message to Syrian Pres- sponsible for the use of ident Bashar al-Assad chemical weapons in Syrthan to topple him or crip- ia. Australia, incoming ple his military, senior chair of the U.N. Security Council, has endorsed U.S. officials said. retaliation The five countries with possible permanent seats on the against Syria over the use council held a prelimi- of chemical weapons, nary meeting at the U.N. even if the council fails to to talk about a resolution agree on action.

There was speculation drafted by Britain that would condemn the use that the U.S. might wait of chemicals and autho- until after the U.N. inrize “necessary mea- spectors are out of Syria. sures” to protect Syrian They are not expected to civilians. Russia and Chi- leave until Monday. But na, which have veto pow- one senior U.S. official er, have warned the Unit- said that the strikes could ed States not to bypass the easily be carried out withU.N. and strike Syria. out putting the inspectors Secretary-General Ban in danger.

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On Wednesday, large crowds of Israelis lined up at gas-mask distribution centers in anticipation of a possible Syrian attack on Israel,raising speculation that Syria might retaliate with an attack on Israel.

“Britain has drafted a resolution condemning the chemical weapons attack by President Bashar Assad and authorizing necessary measures to protect civilians,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said on his official Twitter feed.

“We’ve always said we want the U.N. Security Council to live up to its responsibilities on Syria.

Today they have an opportunity to do that,” Cameron added.

Pentagon officials said Navy destroyers, two American and one British submarine, were in position in the Mediterranean Sea and ready to launch Tomahawk missiles if President Barack Obama gives the order.

A fifth Navy destroyer has entered the Mediterranean on a scheduled swap with one of the four other destroyers but is not expected to take part in the missile strikes.

However, Ban ki Moon, the secretary-general, said inspectors should be given time to determine whether Assad used poison gas against civilians.

“It is essential to establish the facts. The team needs time to do its job,” he said Wednesday at The Hague.

Greece joining Euro was a mistake: Merkel

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REECE should nev er have been allowed to join the euro, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, as she tries to lay the blame for the eurozone’s debt crisis at the door of her political opponents.

Campaigning for reelection next month, Ger-

many’s center-right leader said her Social Democrat predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, had been wrong to support Greece’s membership and agree to relax strict budget rules designed to underpin the currency.

Greece should never have been allowed to join

the euro, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, as she tries to lay the blame for the eurozone’s debt crisis at the door of her political opponents.

Campaigning for reelection next month, Germany’s center-right leader said her Social Democrat predecessor,

•Peeled body of a Syrian chemical weapon victim. Below UN inspector taking chemical samples.

US marks Martin Luther King ‘I have a dream’ speech

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HE United Sates of America, yesterday commemorated the 50th anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom, the civil rights rally at which Martin Luther King Jr made his historic “I have a dream” speech.

President Barack Obama marked the occasion in Washington DC with an address from the same spot.

Members of the King family and veterans of the march will also be present.

Obama, the first black US president, has described the 1963 protest as a “seminal event” in American history.

The march was consid-

Thousands of people have gathered in Washington DC to commemorate the historic march ered a catalyst for civil rights reforms in the US. President Obama delivered his address at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall just after an organised ringing of bells by churches and other groups at 15:00 local time (19:00 GMT),

to mark the exact time that Martin Luther King spoke on 28 August 1963.

Mr Obama joined joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as prominent African Americans.

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUG 29, 2013

Why vegetarians live longer than meat lovers S

CIENTISTS in California have found that vegetarians are less likely to die from any cause or from cause-specific reasons, except for cancer, compared to those who eat meat.

"Certain vegetarian diets are associated with reductions in all causes of death as well as some specific causes including heart disease, kidney-related deaths and endocrine diseaserelated death such as diabetes," said lead researcher Dr. Michael Orlich, a preventive medicine specialist at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda. The big question is why, and the study wasn't designed to answer that, Orlich noted.

"Reductions in meat in the vegetarian diet may be part of it, but it may be due to higher quantities of plant foods," he added, although it is also possible that vegetarians may lead more healthy lives.

A report published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine showed that over the fiveyear study, vegetarians were about 12 percent less likely to die from any cause than their meat-eating counterparts. And the survival edge seemed to be stronger in men than women.

In addition, the researchers

• Cutting out meat and adding more vegetables and fruit to your diet can significantly lower risk of heart and kidney disease and diabetes noted that vegetarians tended to be older and more educated, exercised more and were less likely to drink alcohol or smoke than their carnivorous counterparts.

The study also did not pinpoint which type of vegetarian diet provides the greatest survival benefit because the vegetarian diets were compared to non-vegetarian diets only, not

to one another.

The research team now plans to look at the patterns of food consumption seen in each vegetarian diet.

"We want to see what they eat more or less of, and then investigate the effect on mortality or associated with specific foods," Orlich said. "Are there particular foods that account for most of this apparent associa-

tion. Is the lack of meat the big issue, or is the amount of plantbased foods responsible?"

Some scientists believe fibre in vegetarian diets may be what's driving the survival edge. They say it's not just fruit and vegetables, but all types of fibre [including whole grains] that seems to really reduce health risks.

The new study pushes the lit-

erature that science is building about the impact that whole grains and fruits and vegetables can have on health.

A nutritionist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, noted that plant-based diets can be beneficial only if they are done right. "You need to make sure that you have a good nutrient balance despite omission of certain or all animal products," she added.

For example, she said, some vegetarians may overdo the carbohydrates and fats, which can lead to weight gain and its associated health problems.

This research follows a British study released in January that showed vegetarians had about a third less risk of hospitalization or death from cardiovascular disease than meateaters did.

The study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included nearly 45,000 people from England and Scotland, about a third of who were vegetarians. And the research showed that the vegetarians had a 32 percent lower chance of being hospitalized or dying from heart disease. They also typically had lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

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59 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Kidnappers lay siege to Delta varsity zOver 20 lecturers kidnapped in 2 years zDr. Mercy Mokobia’s whereabouts still unknown five months after kidnap zWe have arrested suspects—Police

BY EMMAAMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH

A

BRAKA—THERE has been palpable tension in Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Delta State in the past few months over the wave of abduction of lecturers by suspected kidnappers.

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi told Vanguard that lecturers were particularly disturbed, as educators are not millionaires, but the gunmen keep attacking them.

In the last two years, he said over 20 members had been abducted, but what has troubled the academic community more in recent times, was the kidnap of a lecturer of Department of Science Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Mokobia, from her nuptial home in Obiaruku, since April 9 without trace by the Police.

Indeed, during his visit to the university, some months ago, the vice-chancellor, Professor Eric Arubayi, told Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, that the university was under siege.

Mordi said in most of the previous kidnap cases, it was demand for ransom by abductors, after which the victims regained freedom.

However, in Dr. Mokobia’s case, they demanded, it was paid, yet, she was not released.

He said: “Lecturers have their hearts in their mouths because we do not know who will be kidnapped next and nobody is comfortable doing his work here.

“As a matter of fact, the academic staff of DELSU are demanding the release of their colleague; we are going to embark on a fresh strike after the current nationwide strike action to protest the failure of the police to secure her release.

“We are not safe here if some gunmen can come to the home of our colleague and kidnap her and for almost five months, the police have no answer to her whereabouts, that is our plight, we are lecturers, we are not politicians, our duty is to teach students and do research, why are kidnappers after us.

“Academics are not money bags but law abiding, knowledgeable citizens who sacrifice day and night, all their comfort to impact

knowledge and skills to Nigerian youths so as to equip them to become useful members of the society who can perpetuate human civilization.”

FESTIVAL: Deputy Governor, Cross River State, Mr. Effiok Cobham (right), Chairman, Yakurr L.G.A., Chief Ubi Itam Ettah and his wife, at the MTN supported Yakurr Leboku international festival in Ugep, Cross River State.

How gunmen abducted Mokobia other kidnap case; the police Gunmen kidnapped Dr. (Mrs.) Mokobia, whose husband, Prof.

Mokobia, is also a staff of the university, between 12.00 am and 1.00 am, Tuesday, April 9, in Obiaruku.

They broke into their residential apartment.

The couple was reportedly sleeping when the hoodlums struck in a commando style and took away the female lecturer. They contacted the family two days after the incident through a close associate demanding N20 million ransom for her release.

According to Dr. Mordi, “They robbed the family after which they took her along on foot to an unknown destination. Her whereabouts has since remained unknown “Until her kidnap, there was a lull in the kidnapping of our members and their spouses, which gave lecturers at DELSU a false sense of security.”

Suspicion A security source said: “It is either an insider or somebody that knows the family was involved in the kidnap because they robbed the family and still abducted her.”

The source stated: “In fact, an artisan who has worked for the family before is believed to be working with the kidnappers.”

“Some 12 hours before the incident, some motor cycle, popularly known as Okada riders were seen near the vicinity of the Mokobias discharging some unidentified passengers,” our source added.

Following security report on the activities of kidnappers in the area, who found it easy operating with motorcycles, the state government, after the incident, banned the use of Okada for commercial transportation in Abraka, Kokori and other parts of Ethiope East Local Government.

Police not sleeping on the matter Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told Vanguard that he understands the plight of the lecturers and like any

were not sleeping on the matter.

He said the police spread their dragnet but the kidnappers initially went underground and the police did not get useful information.

Vanguard gathered that when police got information that the kidnappers had told the husband of the victim to pay ransom, they marked the money and urged him to play along.

His words: “The Special AntiKidnapping Unit and tracking team tracked the gang to a house at Uremu Road, Ozoro. The suspected kidnappers upon sighting the squad, opened fire and in the hot exchange of gunfire that ensued, one of the suspects later identified as Vote Michael suffered fatal gunshots, while three female suspects were arrested.”

Two persons, including the kingpin of the gang escaped on that day, while police recovered the N1.2 million ransom, a locally made pistol and 50 rounds of cartridges.

Police trailed and arrested the fleeing leader of the gang in Kogi State, as well as a pastor, but none could tell her whereabouts.

At a stage, about 11 persons, including a pastor, were seized in connection with Mokobia’s abduction. Nevertheless, nobody would say where she was or what happened to her.

In keeping with the anti-kidnapping law of the state government, the building in which the gang was believed to have detained Dr. Mokobia before she was moved to an unknown location was demolished.

Aduba told Vanguard that the husband of the kidnapped lecturer was around when the police was asking one of the suspects, a pastor, the whereabout of his wife, but he said nothing.

The police chief said his comment that police were not magicians, which was misinterpreted by some persons, was borne out of the fact that the police have done a lot in the matter and was

investigating the incident, up till date, yet some persons are accusing security agents of non-performance.

“Yes, we are still investigating the matter; we cannot sweep it under the carpet. Sometime ago, I heard that ASUU people in Abraka were saying something about not understanding our role.

I visited the university and took time to explain to them what we have done, including how we traced the ransom to a suspected kidnappers den in Ozoro and arrested some persons.”

Not satisfied ASUU chairman, Dr. Mordi, who urged the gangsters to release the woman and for the Obiaruku community to take more than a passing interest in the matter since Mokobia was living in the community prior to her kidnap, insisted the Police should produce the lecturer, dead or alive.

He said it was not the duty of the union or the family of the victim to tell the police the whereabout of Dr. Mokobia and was, therefore, surprised the Police were saying the lecturers and family were not giving them adequate information.

His words: “We do not know where her abductors took her to, we are citizens and the police are supposed to protect us, how do they expect us to know where the kidnappers took her to, if we know, we would have done everything no matter the cost to bring her out.

“Each time we ask the Commissioner of Police about our colleague, he tells us he is not a magician. The Commissioner came to visit ASUU when we were about to embark on strike some time ago, they made some arrest quite all right, but we still do not know where our member is, for about five months now. His best is not enough.

“He must tell us clearly and unambiguously what has happened to Dr. Mercy Mokobia and where she is. If she is dead, we

want to know and her remains must be found, if she had been sold into slavery and taken to another country, we want to know also.”

Dr. Mordi said he had the privilege of meeting a top government official in the office of the National Security Adviser, Abuja, and was not impressed with what government was doing to stem kidnapping, saying, “All they are concerned about is Boko Haram.”

He accused the police of compromise in the several cases of kidnapping involving lecturers in Abraka, saying, “We even now see ourselves as endangered species, as kidnappers target lecturers, who are non-indigenes of the area.

“Lecturers do not have money, we impact researched knowledge to develop students, kidnappers should leave us alone, police and other security agencies should do their job well by providing security.”

He alleged that in the case of Abraka, security agents and vigilance groups were colluding with kidnappers and appealed to government to equip police to fight criminals.

“The other day I went to the office of the Commissioner of Police in the state, I find out that even the Close Circuit Television in his office is not working, I found out that the funding for the police is about N3,000 per police station in the country, this is disturbing.

“Besides, Mrs. Mokobia and several other cases, Dr. Ugochukwu Uzuegbe was also kidnapped in Edo State in May 9, this year, and only regained his freedom after paying ransom,” he added.

We need information –Police

Commissioner Aduba told Vanguard he did not want the kidnap of Dr. Mokobia to turn into a war of words between him and ASUU, Abraka, saying the reality was that the Police were not getting helpful information.

60 —

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Ho w D’Tiger s crushed C AR 1 12-75 Ozil dismisses Madrid How D’Tigers CAR 11 exit talk

•Ready for Senegal C

OACH Ayo Bakare, Head Coach of D’Tigers has expressed happiness at his team’s victory over Central African Republic (CAR), a team the D’Tigers defeated 11275.Bakare told newsmen in Abidjan that he resolved with his team not to underrate any team in the competition, but to approach every match as it came.“ We will not underrate any team. No team in the competition is a push-over, but I think the result of the game against Central Africa Republic showed that the boys listened to my instructions.“We are going to remain focused in the games ahead. I must say that it has been a good one for us,” he said.

The D’Tigers progressed unbeaten since they began their campaign in the tournament. In the three matches played in the first round, the Nigerians defeated Mali 7459, Congo 93-75 and Cameroon 91-84.With the defeat of Central African Republic, the D’Tigers will be playing Senegal in the quarterfinals.

Earlier in the second round matches played on Tuesday, Senegal defeated Rwanda 67-60; Cape Verde beat Congo

R

EAL Madrid mid fielder Mesut Ozil has denied suggestions he could be set to leave the club before the end of the transfer window next week.

Premier League duo Manchester United and Arsenal had been linked with Ozil who is starting his fourth season at Los Blancos after joining from Werder Bremen in 2010.

However, he insisted his future lies in the Spanish capital.

“I have a contract until 2016, I feel very good here and get on well

Tonight’s Europa League Fixtures

CHALLENGE..... D'Tigers skipper Olumide Oyedeji (l) checkmates an opponent during a game.

67-60 while Egypt beat Tunisia 77-67. The Nigerian team stands a chance of winning the World Cup

ticket, if they qualify for the finals of the continental championship. However, a loss in

the semi-final would still offer them an opportunity to pick-up the third ticket if they merely win a third place match.

Uplift team intensify training in Italy T

HE Uplift Football Team have been undergoing good training session at the Bruseschi Centre beside Udinese Stadio Frivli located in Udine in Italy.

The training session for the team, which was conducted by Coach Cinello Gianfranco and Athletics Trainer, Bastiancig Daniele, exposed the players to new drilling skills in the game of soccer.

Coach Gianfranco commended the players, explaining that the players are full of potentials. “The players are still very young and energetic. They are very talented and we would do our utmost best to

with my teammates. For me it is an honour to play here with this team,” he said at a promotional event on Wednesday.

“I want to succeed here. There has been a lot written in the press, they have spoken of interesting options, but I have a contract and I am staying at Real Madrid.

The German cut a frustrated figure as he stormed down tunnel after being substituted by new boss Carlo Ancelotti in Madrid’s 1-0 win over Granada on Monday.

Tottenham v Dynamo Tbilisi 20:05 Braga v Pandurii Targu-Jiu20:30 Real Betis v Jablonec 20:30 Rubin Kazan v Molde 16:00 Spartak Moscow v St Gallen 16:00 Dila Gori v Rapid Vienna 17:00 Dynamo Kiev v FC Aktobe 17:00 FC Astra Ploiesti v Maccabi Haifa (Isr) 17:00 FC Nordsjaelland v IF Elfsborg 17:00 Stuttgart v Rijeka 17:00 Trabzonspor v FK Kukesi 17:30 AZ Alkmaar v Atromitos Athens 18:00 Apoel Nicosia v Zulte-Waregem 18:00 Sheriff Tiraspol (Mol) v FK Vojvodina 18:00 Slovan Liberec v Udinese 18:00 St Etienne v Esbjerg 18:00 Besiktas v Tromso 18:30 FC Petrolul Ploiesti v Swansea City 18:30 FC Thun v Partizan Belgrade 19:00 Genk v FH Hafnarfjardar 19:00 Nice v Apollon Limassol 19:00 Skenderbeu v Chernomorets Odessa 19:00 Dnipro v Nomme Kalju 19:30 Eintracht Frankfurt v Karabakh-Azersun 19:30 FC Pasching v Estoril 19:30 Standard Liege v Minsk 19:30 VMFD Zalgiris v Red Bull Salzburg19:30 Slask Wroclaw v Sevilla 19:45 Feyenoord v Kuban 20:00 Fiorentina v Grasshopper-Club Zurich 20.00

Eaglets shock Akwa United 1-0

I

Members of Uplift Football Team in training session at the Bruseschi Centre beside Udinese Stadio Frivli located in Udine in Italy give them better exposure,” he said.

The training session was witnessed by the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State,

Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, who expressed her satisfaction at the football skills displayed by the players. She urged the players

not to relent on their efforts, adding that the onus lies on them to prove tothe world the qualities they possess.

T was a gusty play on a rainy evening but the Golden Eaglets eventually kept intact their winningstreakonthedomestic front when they beat the reserve team of Glo Premier League side, Akwa United 1-0 at the Uyo Township Stadium on W e d n e s d a y .

The Golden Eaglets started the game on a bright note immediately referee Mfon Akpan signalled the kick off and they kept the mom e n t u m

despite the poor condition of the pitch.

In fact, Chidiebere Nwakali would have given the Eaglets their first goal of the match as early as the 5th minute of the match when his pile driver from outside the box was touched away by goalkeeper Ukeme Oscar in goal for the home team. Some two minutes later, Jacob Njoku was almost lucky from the same spot as Nwakali’s when his shot went straight into the net amidst sea of legs only for the referee to rule offside to the dismay of everyone.

61 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

'Mikel going nowhere' M

IDFIELDER John Mikel Obi will not be leaving Chelsea, at least not during this transfer window, according to his agent John Shittu.

Mikel, 26, has been heavily linked with Turkish club Galatasaray throughout the summer, with Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala and Italian side Napoli also emerging as late entrants for his services.

But Shittu told KickOffNigeria that the Nigerian is going nowhere.

“He loves this club, the manager knows him and likes him and he will not be going anywhere during this transfer window,” he insists.

Shittu admits that there had been interests in the player, but all suitors have been rebuffed by Chelsea and he denies that it was ever a question of the club’s valuation not being met.

“Some clubs came in and expressed their interest but that is where it stopped.

They were never allowed to get to the point where we could even begin to start talking about valuation or negotiation.”

L

SANDWICHED: Omo Johnson of Dolphin sandwiched by Ugonna Uuzochukwu and Ousmane Sane of Enugu Rangers FC at the NPL Match between Dolphin of Port Harcourt and Rangers of Enugu. The two clubs are sponsored by Harp. Dolphin won 2-0

$121, 212 to travel to Nigeria .

FAM had spent most of its annual allocation on participating in the regional Cosafa Cup held in Zambia as well as World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia.

“We don’t have the required amount of money. Government has indicated the funds that were used during World Cup qualifiers against Kenya and Namibia were part of the 2013/14 national budget,” FAM general secretary Suzyo Nyirenda was quoted by Nyasatimes.com.

“We were not aware of this arrangement, we have been taken unawares because, to us, expenses that were incurred prior and after Kenya and Namibia games were settled with funds allocated within the 2012/13 financial

IVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers will increase his efforts to land Victor Moses on a season-long loan from Chelsea after Jose Mourinho brought in yet more competition for his place in the Blues team.

Chelsea are set to leave Moses out of their travelling squad for Friday’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich in Prague, increasing speculation the Super Eagles forward could head north to Anfield this season.

Mourinho revealed he does not want to sell any of his players with the transfer window closing on Monday, but admitted some could leave on loan deals.

Anzhi winger Willian has completed his £32m

NOC hails NBBF, NTTF leadership

BY BLESSING OKUDO

T

HE President of the N i g e r i a Olympic Committee, Engineer Sani M. Ndanusa has heaped plaudits on the Nigeria

Malawi Continues from BP

Liverpool step up loan move for Moses

year which ended on June 31, 2013.”

He, however, pointed out that the future regarding the Flames’ trip to Nigeria will be known this Friday.

Meanwhile, FAM has canceled plans to send an “advance party ” to Nigeria ahead of the match due to unavailability of funds.

This development means the Flames will be unable to camp for four days in Botswana where they had been scheduled to play a friendly match against the Botswana national team.

If they are unable to travel, they will forfeit the three points on offer to Nigeria and may also be punished by Fifa. However, officials remain optimistic that government will come to the team’s rescue.

Malawi released a list of 23 players that will take on the Super Eagles last week.

Basketball Federation for qualifying to the ongoing Afrobasketball quater-finals in Ivory Coast as he also praised the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation for successfully attracting 12 countries for the ongoing International Table Tennis Classics in Lagos.

A highly elated NOC President said “it is a very good omen for Nigeria for the onslaughts of Basketball in Abidjan. They have sent out warning signals to their remaining opponents”.

He noted that Nigeria is now a force to be

reckoned with in th egame of basketball.

Engineer Ndanusa who is also the President of Nigeria Tennis Federation also commended the NBBF President Tijani Umar for taking Nigerian basketball to a greater height.

Speaking on Table Tennis, Engineer Ndanusa said that he was not surprised with the impact Barrister Enitan Oshodi has created in the game since coming on-board as its Presisident.

“Oshodi is very passionate of the game

Yobo

Continues from BP ing.

The Turkish side had been due to go into the Europa League following their defeat by Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers but will now be excluded from that and also from all European competitions next year.

Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv ’s appeal against a one-season exclusion from Uefa’s club competitions – also for match-fixing – has also been upheld by Cas. Uefa welcomed the

Cas decisions and will hold a meeting on Thursday to decide which club will take Fenerbahce’s place in the Europa League group stage.

Uefa said in a statement: “Uefa welcomes the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) rejecting the appeals made by Fenerbahce SK and FC Metalist Kharkiv against the Uefa Appeals Body decisions of 15 July 2013 and 14 August 2013 respectively.

of Table Tennis and has once again lifted Nigeria high by hosting this high-ranking Classsics. This is a turning point for us because it is an indication that the PingPong game would take its rightful place in Africa and also at the oncoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

move to Chelsea, while Mourinho is set to land another wide-man in the shape of Porto’s Christian Atsu.

And that looks set to threaten the chances of first-team football for Moses, who has been heavily linked with Liverpool in recent days.

Bet9ja to expand fan base

I

N a bid to ensure that it takes its products closer to the consumers, Bet9ja plans to open a new outlet at 15, Lagos road, Ikorodu Lagos, even as many others are being planned for other areas in the city.According to the CEO of Bet9ja Ayo ojuroye,”As part of our expansion plans, we have concluded plans to open another outlet in the Ikorodu axis in addition to the already existing ones. This is to provide our customers with an opportunity for a conducive betting environment. The shops will be opened daily from monday to Friday with customers giving the chance to take bet in football, horse racing and greyhound. We are happy to note that lot of interest has been generated as a result of the opening of this new outlet. We hope our customers will enjoy our world class state of the art facilities”

•Ndanusa

Blatter Continues from BP “For years, he has dominated speed events,” said the FIFA President. “I’m very proud that this great gentleman is here today.

He also showed again recently that the 4 x 100m is very important to him, which proves that he is a team player, just like in football.”

Bolt was pleased to visit the Home of FIFA for the first time. “For me, it’s an honour to be here today,” he said. “I follow football and today I saw the World Cup Trophy for

the first time.”

During the press conference, Bolt took time to answer questions from FIFA Facebook users, like Kevon Gordon from Montego Bay in Jamaica, who asked the six- time Olympic gold medallist which team he is tipping to win the FIFA World Cup. “I’ve been watching a few matches this year and I’m impressed by Brazil,” was Bolt’s response.

“They have a young team and can win it at home. A lot of teams have figured out how to win against Spain.”

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Vanguard, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 , 2013

Blatter invites Bolt to 2014 W/Cup •As sprint star says ‘I’m impressed by Brazil’

T

HE fastest man in the world Usain Bolt who holds the world record for both the 100 and 200-metre sprints, yesterday paid a surprise visit to FIFA headquarters in Zurich.ahead of the IAAF Diamond

2014 World Cup qualifier:

League-Weltklasse Zurich meeting on Thursday evening at the Letzigrund Stadium.

The Jamaican, a huge football fan who has often flirted with the idea of playing professionally after he retires from Continues on Page 61

Malawi in financial ‘Mikel going •Cancels advance party to nowhere’ — P61 mess Nigeria M

ALAWI might be unable to prosecute their final Group F 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria on September 7 due to lack

of funds.

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) told media that the Flames require about Continues on Page 61

Yobo, Emenike’s club banned 2 yrs

F

ENERBAHCE have been excluded from European competition for the next two years after losing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against a Uefa sanction for match-fix

•Yobo

Continues on Page 61

TAKE THIS: FIFA President, Sepp Blatter hands the No.9 jersey to Usain Bolt in Zurich yesterday.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Bisect (5) 7 Impel (4) 8 Greedily (6) 9 Respond (5) 11 Spoil (3) 13 Odd (3) 15 Paradise (4) 16 Sailor (3) 18 Gala (4) 19 Relegated (7) 20 Frozen (4) 22 Ashes (4) 23 Doubtful (7) 25 Stretched (4) 27 Expire (3) 28 Nothing (4) 30 Performed (3) 31 Fellow (3) 33 Series (5) 36 Slur (6) 37 Midday (4) 38 Drilled (5)

DOWN 1 Trample (5) 2 Girl’s (3) 3 Meadow (3) 4 Consume (3) 5 Pinch (3) 6 Defy (5) 10 Stuff (4) 11 Deserved (7) 12 Ebbed (7) 13 Diminished (7) 14 Remark (7) 16 Lukewarm (5) 17 Rascal (5) 18 Dined (3) 21 Defective (3) 24 Greasy (4) 26 Pool (5) 29 Automaton (5) 32 Era (3) 33 Taxi (3) 34 Dog (3) 35 Finish (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Banal 5, Suburb 8, Tease 10, Rented 11, Rang 14, Finale 15, Unusual 18, Let 19, Nut 21, Deal 23, Occur 24, Flap 27, Err 29, Vim 31, Embargo 32, Adored 34, Wane 35, Inmate 38, Belie 39, Divest 40, Prior.

DOWN: 2, Awe 3, Attest 4, Lee 5, Serf 6, Banned 7, Befell 9, Advance 12, Ail 13, Gate 16, Nail 17, Lucre 20, Turmoil 22, Agog 24, Feared 25, Avow 26, Pirate 28, Hammer 30, Men 33, Debt 36, Nip 37, Too.

TWO WEEKS TO LIVE 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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