Full-scale war against terror on — JONATHAN

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62155

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FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

2015: FG releases Rivers' CHIBOK GIRLS SIGHTING: aircraft as Jonathan's Jonathan soft-pedals >>9 friends woo Amaechi as Badeh explains >>8

Full-scale war against terror on — JONATHAN ‘I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil. I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done’

•Says terror threatens democracy •Offers amnesty to willing insurgents •Lauds peace-keeping records of Armed Forces •Says they face new challenges at home

BY BEN AGANDE

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BUJA—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, vowed to wage a total war against terrorism and do everything to rescue the more than 200 abducted schoolgirls in Borno state.

The President in a broadcast marking 15 years of democracy in the country, also promised to rid Nigeria of terrorists. He, however, said his government was willing to keep its doors open to the terrorists for dialogue and reconciliation, ‘if they renounce terrorism and embrace

NOLLYWOOD FOR CHIBOK GIRLS—Nollywood celebrity Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, pleads for the release of the more than 200 abducted Chibok school girls in Lagos, yesterday, during a demonstration by civil society groups and celebrities of the film and entertainment industries. Inset: Nollywood star, Chinedu Ikedieze, aka Aki, and others during the protest march. Photos: AFP.

Gunmen kill bizman in Lagos

Ex-Gov Ladoja loses son in Lagos auto crash

>>7 >>6

peace’.

He said: “I am determined to protect our democracy, our national unity and our political stability, by waging a total war against terrorism.

The unity and stability of

Continues on page 5

COLUMNIST: Donu Kogbara

Outsourcing governance •P.17

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 5

POCKET CARTOON

DEMOCRACY—President Goodluck Jonathan closely followed by

Vice President Namadi Sambo; Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; SGF, Senator Pius Anyim and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan as they departed after the Special Day with Young Leaders of Nigeria to mark the 2014 Democracy day Celebration at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Full scale war against terror on —JONATHAN Continues from page 1 our country and the protection of lives and property are non-negotiable. I have instructed our security forces to launch a full-scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.

“I have also authorized the security forces to use any means necessary under the law to ensure that this is done. I assure you that Nigeria will be safe again, and that these thugs will be

driven away – it will not happen overnight, but we will spare no effort to achieve this goal.

“I have no doubt that, with the support of Nigerians, our neighbours and the international community, we will reinforce our defence, free our girls and rid Nigeria of terrorists.”

Blames foreign elements President Jonathan also blamed foreign elements who collaborate with citi-

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

When you encounter rejection, shake it off and move on. Sooner or later you will succeed if you don’t quit. Don’t personalise it; because someone rejects what you have to offer doesn’t mean you are being rejected.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness and the state of joy is ever lasting when it comes from within— Take Heart Quotes

U

NHAPPINESS lies in that gap between what we have now and what we think we need. But the truth is, we don’t need to acquire anything more to be content with what we already have. We don’t need anyone else’s permission to be happy. Your life is magnificent not because someone says it is, or because you have acquired something new, but because you choose to see it as such. Don’t let your happiness be held hostage. It is always yours to choose, to live and experience.

And from the experts of wisdom notes, Mack and Angel Hack comes this beautiful saying. “As soon as you stop making everyone and everything else responsible for your happiness, the happier you’ll be. If you’re unhappy now, it’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your own unhappiness, and you will instantly gain the ability to be happier. Stop seeking in vain to arrange conditions that will make you happy.” Simply choose to appreciate the greatness that is yours in this moment, and the right conditions will start to line up around the contentment you seek.

zens to unleash terror on the country.

According to him: “It is a sad fact that as I address you today (yesterday), all the gains of the past 15 years of democratic governance in our country are threatened by the presence of international terrorism on our shores. Our dear country, Nigeria is facing a new challenge. A war has been unleashed on us.

Extremist foreign elements, collaborating with some of our misguided citizens, are focused on an attempt to bring down our country and the democracy and freedom we cherish and celebrate today.

“The despicable abduction of school girls from Chibok in Borno State has brought to the awareness of the entire world, the heartless brutality of these terrorists, who want to instigate a descent into anarchy and balkanize our nation. In recent years, terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of several of our compatriots, many have been injured or maimed, whole villages and communities have been destroyed and the economy of some of our states is in jeopardy."

FG ready for dialogue The president, however, appealed to the terrorists to renounce violence and embrace peace, saying his government was ready for dialogue and reconciliation.

He said: “For our citizens who have joined

hands with Al Qaeda and international terrorists in the misguided belief that violence can possibly solve their problems, our doors remain open to them for dialogue and reconciliation, if they renounce terrorism and embrace peace.

“My government, while pursuing security measures, will explore all options, including readiness to accept unconditional renunciation of violence by insurgents, and to ensure their de-radicalization, rehabilitation and re-integration into the broader society.”

The President likened the terrorist activities in Nigeria to “the same warped and ferocious world view that brought down the Twin Towers in New York, killed innocent persons in Boston and led to the murder of defenceless people in the Southern Russian city of Volgograd. Terrorist activities have brought war and pains to Mali, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

These agents of evil continue to brainwash and incite ignorant young men and women to attack the innocent. We cannot allow this to continue”.

He paid tribute to the security services in the country whom he said were gallant and recorded successes in liberating nations and in peace-keeping, from Liberia to Sierra Leone, Congo, Sudan, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and many places in Africa and beyond.

“Today, they face a different challenge, an unconventional war by terrorists. They are adjusting and are being equipped to tackle the new menace of terrorism.

We must show confidence in their ability”, the president said.

He said despite the multifarious challenges his administration has faced, the country has witnessed high national economic growth rates, steady improvements and expansion of national infrastructure, including airports and roads, the restoration of rail transportation, the efficient implementation of a roadmap for improved power supply, a revolutionary approach to agricultural production, as well as advances in education, sports, youth development, healthcare delivery, housing, water supply and other social services.

“In the oil and gas sector, our promotion of a sustainable local content policy, continues to guarantee equity and better opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and skilled personnel.

Significant increase in

mobile telephone and national broadband penetration, making Information and Communications Technology (ICT) one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. We have also developed strong financial markets and regulatory institutions.

Our banks now have regional and global footprints.

“Nigeria has also gained recognition as the largest economy in Africa, the most preferred investment destination in the continent and in terms of returns on investment, the fourth in the world. We are pleased that the world has noticed, as global leaders converged on Abuja early this month for the World Economic Forum in Africa.

“Furthermore, under this administration, we have made consistent progress in improving the standard of elections in our country to ensure that they are ever more credible and truly representative of the people’s free choice. The National Conference we initiated to deliberate and make recommendations on the best ways of resolving our current political and socio-economic challenges is ongoing. It is our expectation that its outcome will help to further consolidate the gains we have made from democracy in the past 15 years, and place our dear nation even more firmly on the path to greatness”, the president noted.

He charged the citizens to remain united to win the war against terrorism.

He said: “Christians, Moslems, farmers, fishermen, herdsmen, teachers, lawyers, clergy or clerics, the rich, the poor and Nigerians from all sections of the country must work together with our security agencies and armed forces to overcome the terrorists who now threaten all that we hold dear.

The war against terror may be difficult, but the days of peace will come again. Terror is evil; nowhere in history has evil

endured forever. The menace of Boko Haram will surely come to an end. I believe that because of your prayers, your courage, hardwork, faith and sacrifice, we will ultimately prevail over the terrorists and all other evil forces.

“We are a strong, resilient and courageous people. We will continue to partner with the civilized world, to confront international terrorism and every other challenge that comes our way with patriotic zeal and determination. We have challenges but we will surely overcome. Nigeria is our country. Nigeria is blessed. We will all collectively protect, defend and develop this country for ourselves, and our children”.

Amnesty for Boko Haram

Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna , yesterday, re-echoed President Jonathan's statement that the Federal Government has an amnesty proposal for members of Boko Haram, who renounce violence and lay down their arms.

The minister disclosed this while giving an overview of youth position in the administration’s transformation agenda at a special event tagged “A day with young leaders of Nigeria” to mark Democracy Day celebration.

He said:”Series of integration programmes have been lined up for the members of the sect who would surrender their arms and embrace peace.

“Let me use this opportunity on behalf of the Federal Government, to call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to embrace the government’s gesture and key to amnesty programme.”

Haruna said 30,000 Niger Delta youths have benefitted from the programme which has seen beneficiaries transforming from militants to wealth creators, employers of labour and skilled citizens.

6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Police nab 5 over ex-FRCN director's murder in Kogi

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

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OKOJA—THE Kogi State Police Command has arrested five suspects in connection with the gruesome murder of the former Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Isa Edime, who was also head of Ojikpada Egume village, in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

Also murdered was the head of the vigilance group, Mohammed Wada.

Disclosing this to journalists in Government House, Lokoja, yesterday, Governor Idris Wada described Edime's murder as unfortunate and vowed that no stone would be left unturned to bring the perpetrators to book.

Wada, during an address to mark this year's Democracy Day, called for a minute's silence in honour of the former broadcaster, who on Tuesday night was dragged to the road where he was shot dead by his assailants.

According to Wada, "on the unfortunate loss of Chief Isa Edime, I just want to tell you that the Police have made several arrests and in due course will pick more suspects that will lead us to unravel the death.”

Sources close to the Police confided in Vanguard that those arrested included a prominent traditional ruler in the area and that they are already making useful statements to the Police.

The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the suspects were arrested around 8am yesterday. "He (the traditional ruler) has been arrested.

He was arrested in complicity with Edime's murder."

Contacted, state Commissioner of Police, Sa'idu Madawaki, declined to confirm the arrests, saying investigation is still ongoing.

"We have not finished our investigation. If we finish our investigation I will call you," he said.

Ex-gov Ladoja loses son in Lagos auto crash

BY EVELYN USMAN &

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OLA AJAYI

AGOS — SON of former Oyo State governor, Rasheed Ladoja, Adebola, yesterday, lost his life in an auto crash that occurred on Eko bridge, Lagos.

The incident, as gathered, occurred at about 3.30 p.m after a DAF truck with registration number, JJJ 59 XA, said to have lost control, skidded off its lane to the median of the bridge and in the process, rammed into Adebola’s Golf saloon car with number plate AKD 107 CJ. He was reportedly alone in the car and was driving towards Lagos Island.

Eye witnesses said late

Adebola would have survived had help come on time. Rather than rush him to the hospital, it was gathered that motorists who stopped immediately the incident occurred were debating on what step to take to save the victim’s life, while others were taking shots of the scene.

But they were said to have held on to driver of the truck, one Justice Osaghai, alleged to have attempted to flee the scene. But for the timely arrival of policemen, the driver would have been lynched by a mob.

Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, reportedly arrived the scene to ensure free flow of

traffic.

Spokes person for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident said: “The victim died on the spot. The corpse has been removed to the Lagos Island General Hospital mortuary for autopsy while the truck driver has been arrested.”

At Ladoja's residence The Bodija residence of the former governor Ladoja was devoid of the usual political activities that characterised the place, yesterday evening.

His teeming followers were said to have been on break since he went for the National

Conference in Abuja.

When Vanguard called on the chairman of his party, Accord, in the state, Architect Lawal Bashir, he said he was yet to hear anything concerning the politician's son's death. Another media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, also said he was yet to hear the news.

He said: “The former governor is not at home. We expected him at a youth programme but we did not see him. He was to attend the eighth-day fidau prayer of the mother of his chairman.

He must be in that place now.”

I want justice for my son ‘murdered’ in UAE — Falode

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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BUJA — TEARS flowed freely from the eyes of ace sports commentator, Aisha Falode last Wednesday as she narrated how her son was allegedly murdered in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora.

The grieving Falode, who was accompanied by her lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo and Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin of Women Arise Initiative, told the lawmakers how her son, Toba Falode, was murdered by the son of a wealthy Saudi business mogul, who has been able to sweep the matter under the carpet using his influence in the UAE. She said: "My son whom we believe was murdered in Dubai was thrown down from the 17th floor of his apartment at Manchester Towers in Dubai.

"When I got the call, I went there and requested to see the casefile of how my son died.

It took three months for us to get a response. So, I went again with my lawyer and we met with the people who gave some verbal evidence and from what we gathered, he didn't die a natural death and his death was being covered up.

"I came here to get justice as a mother. I'm pleading with the Nigerian government to help me get justice for my son and to prevent another Nigerian family from experiencing such."

Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa told the mother of the deceased boy of how passionate her committee is about putting an end to issues of Nigerians being killed abroad with impunity.

She said: "This committee in pursuit of this matter tabled a

The late Toba Falode motion on Thursday, March 19 on your son and other Nigerians who were victims of such evil. If our children are not safe in Nigeria and they are also not safe abroad, then where’s the hope?

"For your son, we have obtained some documents from the Nigerian High Commission in Dubai and we must follow up to ensure that those responsible are brought to book. I assure that it will not be swept under the carpet."

The family lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in his contribution said: "I’m giving some insight into the circumstances surrounding the case and why the Dubai authorities are covering up the murder and shielding the culprit.

Facts of the case

"I'm only concerned about the facts of the case. We need to briefly recount the facts.

The mother took her son to a school in Dubai. There is a certain Arab boy whose father has substantial investments in Dubai.

"It’s a fact that the boy has been getting away with so many violent and criminal

Aisha Falode conduct. On that fateful day, he was seen walking Toba’s girlfriend out of his, Toba's, house, saying that she had no business being there even when he, according to evidence, wasn't living there.

"Later, Toba and two of his friends (a Nigerian and a South-African) went to the club and they met the same boy who was seen making gestures at them. Later that night, they came back and met the same boy and the white girl on the 17th floor in front of Toba’s apartment with the girl crying.

"According to the witnesses, they started arguing the moment Toba went into his apartment, the Arab boy and the white girl ran back into the room some minutes later and said Toba fell.

"There was blood on his shirt as well as an injury on his knuckle. The boy gave a confessional statement telling the boys that they shouldn’t worry, that he would only spend 25 years in jail and come out.

"Police took all of them, separated them and charged the others to court for drink-

ing except Faizal, who was asked to go home.

"The police report never indicated any wrong doing by the Arab boy. And there's no room for a private prosecution in Dubai."

According to him, his office had sent a petition to the office of the Public Prosecutor asking that the case be removed from that police station.

We are for justice

The Coordinator of Women Arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, in her response said: "We suspected fraud by the Police. We are for justice. That's why we sent a letter to the committee as well as the President, who minuted on it and sent to the Foreign Affairs Minister.

"We can, by that approach get justice from all angles.

We want to send a message that our green passport is respected and we demand to know why private prosecution is not allowed. It’s up to our government to take it up."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—7

Gunmen kill businessman in Lagos on First Avenue, ‘V’ Close, some sympathizsers were seen outside the gate discussing the development with the gate locked.

Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, failed as her telephone rang severally without response.

However, Police sources told Vanguard that some arrests had been made, adding that it was too early to give details of the incident as investigation was on-going.

BY EVELYN USMAN & ESTHER ONYEGBULA

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AGOS — A businessman identified as Chief Bright Igwegbu, was yesterday shot dead by unknown gunmen at Mile Two area of Lagos.

It could, however, not be ascertained whether the gunmen were robbers or assassins, as the Police said they had commenced investigation into the killing.

The late Igwegbu popularly known as Aku or Bruzel, who hailed from Imo State, was reportedly driving in his ML 450 Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, when his assailants were said to have emerged from nowhere and shot him in the neck and head.

Vanguard gathered that the graduate of Economics from Ogun State University, whose family is based in Houston, Texas, was billed to visit his family next week.

It was also learnt that before the tragic incident, Igwegbu, on two occasions, had close shave with death. The first incident, according to family sources, occurred six weeks ago after some gunmen suspected to be robbers attempted to attack him, but he managed to escape.

The second incident occurred three weeks ago after he was involved in a fatal motor accident.

14 die in Edo road crash

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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The late Bright Igwegbu Family sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "Three weeks ago, he went to a pharmacy in Festac Town to get some drugs and was inside his car when all of a sudden, a car hit his vehicle. He escaped death by the whiskers and that was the second time."

Meanwhile, back in Huston Taxas, news of the tragic incident was broken to his family by some close friends.

When Vanguard visited the deceased’s apartment

Police arrest prophetess, 4 other kidnap suspects in Asaba

BY EMMAAMAIZE

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SABA —THE Police in Delta State have arrested five suspected kidnappers, including a self-acclaimed prophetess, Deborah, who reportedly threatened to kidnap the daughter of one Mrs. Caroline Nnakwe if N1.5 million ransom was not paid.

Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Charles Muka, in a statement, yesterday, said the alleged prophetess and owner of the GSM line used to threaten Mrs. Nnakwe were arrested by detectives, who commenced action as soon as a report was made on May 22.

DSP Muka said the other three suspected kidnappers were nabbed in Asaba, on May 27, when the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad, SAKS, swooped on them along West End by Zenith Bank, Asaba, as they were trying to steal a car parked on the premises of the bank.

His words: "Following a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, dated 22/5/2014, by one Mrs. Caroline Nnakwe, 'f', that some persons were threatening to kidnap one of her daughters if she fails to pay N1.5 million.

ENIN — NO fewer than 14 persons, yes terday, lost their lives in an automobile accident which occurred in Ewu on the BeninOkene-Abuja highway in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.

Vanguard gathered that the accident, which involved a 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus, belonging to the Edo City Transport Service, ECTS, and an articulated vehicle, occurred when the truck smashed the bus against another truck following brake failure.

It was further learnt that the bus driver over took the truck and was in-between the two trucks.

An eyewitness, who observed the incident, disclosed that the truck behind suddenly smashed the bus against the other truck, resulting in the instant death of 14 occupants of the bus, including the driver.

Corpses of the victims have been deposited at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, ISTH, mortuary, Irrua, Edo State, just as those who were injured are receiving treatment in the same hospital.

At press time, men of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Iruekpen, were making efforts to clear the gridlock caused by the accident.

Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in Edo Central, Mike Odiahi, who lamented the frequent accidents at the spot, advised motorists against careless overtaking, urging them to always obey traffic rules and regulations.

He called for the introduction of compulsory driving school for all road users as a way of reducing road accidents, just as he appealed to public-spirited individuals to assist the Red Cross with ambulances to ease rescue operations.

"Detectives commenced immediate investigation and through modern scientific policing, one Mrs. Deborah, 'f', a self-acclaimed prophetess and Mrs. Nkem Onyia, 'f', the owner of the GSM line used were arrested. Meanwhile, investigation is in progress."

On the three suspected kidnappers, he said: "The Police attached to Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS) received information that four suspected kidnappers, operating with a Toyota Camry with number plate, RSH173HY, attempted to kidnap one Idah Moses, 'm', along Nnebisi Road, West End, Asaba.

"Based on the information, detectives went diligently in search of the said Toyota Camry. On 27/5/2014 at 1310hrs, the said Toyota IGAWA — Tsada village of Camry was sighted along West Dutse Local Government End by Zenith Bank, Asaba Area is15 minutes drive from while the occupants were trythe state capital. It was there ing to steal a car parked within that a 45-year-old man, the bank's premises.

Malam Nura Ahmed Jigawa "Consequently, the detectives swooped on them and Tsada was apprehended by arrested one Frank of Ibusa, members of the public and Moses of Kwale and Lucky of handed over to the Police last week for committing sodomy Obiaruku.

"The suspects have confessed with a 10-year-old boy.

The presiding judge, Justice to the crime, while one Mr. Ubale Ahmed Taura, said the Idah Moses, earlier attacked 45-year-old man has conby the gang, had identified fessed to the crime which the suspects." made the court sentence him "Item recovered from them is to 12 years in prison to serve the aforementioned Toyota as a lesson to others.

Camry. Investigation is ongoAccording to the judge, the ing. The suspects will be made court jailed him based on to face the full wrath of the facts gathered and his confeslaw."

45-yr old man gets 12 years in jail for sodomising 10-yr-old boy

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sional statement in court.

The judge explained that the sodomy case went against Section 284 of the Jigawa Penal Code, adding that the court has observed an increase in rape and sodomy cases reported to security agencies in the state.

The convict however has the right to appeal the judgment within three months.

In another development, the Jigawa State government has pardoned 14 inmates, 10 out of them with cases related to fighting, while the remaining four were people with criminal cases that have to do with robbery who were sentenced to death by hanging.

Court remands 10 over attack on Ogun monarch

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA — A magistrate's court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, Wednesday, remanded 10 persons for allegedly attacking Oba Afolabi Olaleye, a traditional ruler in Saala, Ayetoro, in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The accused persons, Aremu Faleye, 40; Lekan Kudaisi, 30; Tunde Ojelabi, 35; Yekini Akintola, 40; Bashiru Fatade, 40; Ayinde Bamigbade, 40; Olusegun Omitola, 47; Olayiwola Lamidi, 33; Ogunshina Monmodu, 42; Shola Jenfa, 30 and Ijadu Rafiu, 30, were said to have committed the offence on April 6, 2014 at 9.50 a.m. at Saala’s quarters Ayetoro.

They were accused of invading the monarch’s house and damaged iron door, window glass, side iron door, padlock, wooden door and four Honda Odyssey bus tyres all valued at N165,000.

They were also reported to have stolen a gold chain valued at N150,000 and poured petrol on one Yekini Salami, thereby causing a breach of the peace in the community.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Banji Sangotokun, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Sections 517, 249(d), 249(9), 451(b) and 351 of the Crinimal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

All the accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the five- count charge bordered on breach of peace, damaging, stealing and assault levelled against them.

Counsel to the accused, Sola Koleola, prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons in most liberal terms.

The magistrate, Anthony Araba, ordered that all the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

He, however, adjourned the case till May 30, 2014 for consideration of bail application.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Microsoft unveils first phone after Nokia acquisition

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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ICROSOFT’S first outing on mobile devices after its acquisition of Nokia Devices and Services business, last month, is the release of Lumia 630 smart phone in Nigeria.

The device is the first dual SIM Windows smart phone from Microsoft devices.

Unveiling the device Wednesday night in Lagos, the technology giant stated that the Lumia 630 dual SIM with Windows Phone 8.1 delivers an unrivaled smart phone experience.

Head of Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile, Debbie Shepard, noted that all across the world, millions of people were switching to Lumia Windows phones because of its innovation and affordability.

CHIBOK GIRLS SIGHTING: President soft pedals as Badeh explains zHe told Jonathan it was to boost military's credibility— SOURCE

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

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B U J A — T H E Presidency has reportedly softened its stance over revelations by Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, that the military had located the over 200 schoolgirls taken from their school in Chibok, Borno State.

Badeh, who made the claim last Monday, reportedly incurred the wrath of the President over the matter, which was viewed as a breach capable of hindering the recovery of the children from their abductors.

However, competent sources told Vanguard last night that the CDS had taken time to brief President Jonathan on why it was necessary for the

Nigerian military to make the announcement before other countries to give the assurance that it was capable of tackling the rising wave of insurgency.

The source said: “If the Americans had made the breakthrough, it would have been the end of the Nigerian Military and the President, as Commander-in-Chief, knows that he must show and have confidence in the capacity and competence of his troops.”

Counter moves to boost morale

According to the source, the administration had been battling all kinds of rumours aimed at discrediting and creating confusion within the rank and file of the military.

The source said: “Last week, there was a report of a second mutiny in the 7

Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri. It took vigorous counter moves before those behind the falsehood gave up.

“The President is aware that Badeh, as the number one military officer, owes it to the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces to defend their professionalism, which of late has been subjected to serious questioning.

“As you know, there had been doubts about the competence of the Nigerian Armed Forces and unproven allegations of corruption by a section of the Nigerian public and countries like the United States.

“Badeh had to do what he did, without giving away anything.”

According to findings, it was due to the explanations made by Badeh that the

Presidency authorised one of his senior media aides, Doyin Okupe, to make further claims that the military had sighted the missing girls.

Okupe, in the CNN interview monitored in Abuja, said the girls had been located but did not say where they were.

US anger

This came on the heels of new development that the Americans, which are providing air surveillance and logistics support, were angered by the revelation made by Badeh as they would prefer to bring out the girls before making any statement.

The source further said that the President was not unmindful of the effect of the positive development on the morale of the Nigerian military.

Etisalat claims 45% of porting subscribers

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU

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TISALAT Nigeria has claimed that it inherited about 45 percent of porting in Nigeria since the Mobile Number Portability was introduced by the N i g e r i a n Communications Commission, NCC, last year.

The network also said that nine percent only ported out of its network to others.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Mathew Wilsher, announced it, Wednesday, in Lagos to unveil its new portability campaign.

Buttressing his argument, Wilsher said that the network was on the 15 million subscriber mark when NCC introduced number portability, and that the system had helped it grow its subscriber base to about 19.3 million.

BENUE VARSITY: From left— Wife of Benue State Governor, Mrs Yemisi Suswam; Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani; Governor Gabriel Suswam; Senate President, David Mark, and his wife, Helen, inspecting one of the lecture rooms of the Faculty of Law, Benue State University, after the inauguration of the Law Complex in Makurdi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

‘Senate has final say on alleged missing $20bn’

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA— FORMER governor of Kaduna State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said yesterday that the last may not have been heard of the alleged missing $20 billion, as the Senate would have a final say on the matter.

He told newsmen in Kaduna: “I will not want to say that our report is the final report because certain recommendations in the

report are interim ones.

There is an ongoing forensic audit and we said that will consider the outcome of the forensic audit.

“Where there was dispute was between the figure of $20 billion and $10.8 billion.

Even that dispute was not that it was really missing. What has been done with that money? Nobody said at that time that the money was missing.

“Out of the $20 billion, over $5 billion was spent on payments for petroleum products. We tried to find out

whether that money was appropriated; we checked the budgets of the relevant years and we found out that the National Assembly appropriated the money and it was expended.

“So if the National Assembly appropriated the money for it to be expended, you cannot talk of money missing.

“A party alleged that the money was not remitted to the federation account. If it was not remitted to the federation account, it can be hanging in one account or

the other. We were to find out where that money was. We took the larger figure of $20 billion, not $10.8 billion to see what happened to the money.”

On insecurity, Makarfi blamed the growing rate of unemployment, saying that the twin problems posed serious threat to the country’s democracy and the nation itself.

The former governor said it would be wrong for anybody to think that Nigerians were happy with the present state of things.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 —9

Nigeria has reasons to celebrate —CAN

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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VISIT: From left— Chairman, MainOne, Mr. Fola Adeola; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, and Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke, during a courtesy visit to NCC in Abuja, yesterday.

FG releases Rivers' aircraft as Jonathan's friends woo Amaechi

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & KENNETH EHIGIATOR

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major political drama in the nation’s political landscape began to unfold yesterday with the revelation that close associates of President Goodluck Jonathan had advanced moves to woo Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State back to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Consequently, Vanguard learnt yesterday, the Federal Government decided to release the Rivers State governmentowned aircraft grounded by the federal authorities last year over alleged illegal entry into the country.

The Rivers State government is, however, to pay N11 million as fine for the alleged offence.

Abuja, it was learnt, has also approved that the Rivers State government should bring in two armoured helicopters procured by the administration in Port Harcourt to enhance security.

Should he take the bait, Governor Amaechi, it was learnt, would enjoy the benefit of influencing the emergence of his successor in office.

Sources privy to the development told Vanguard last night that the deal could also allow Amaechi to remain in All Progressives Congress, APC, but support the President’s reelection bid in which case, the Presidency would push to ensure the emergence of his chosen successor.

The moves to make peace between the Presidency and the administration in Port Harcourt, Vanguard learnt, was

spearheaded by close mutual associates of Jonathan and Amaechi, who had been working round the clock since the two men parted ways almost two years ago.

An aide of the governor contacted for confirmation on the development claimed ignorance of the release of the plane and other gestures from Abuja.

“You know, this one is well above me and it is not something I can confirm to you,” the senior aide of the governor told Vanguard last night.

However, a non-political associate of the governor with independent ties to Abuja who was privy to the development confirmed it.

The source said: “Take it from me, the plane has been released and it is now in the

custody of the Rivers State government.”

The plane, a Bombardier BD 700 Global Express Jet, arrived Nigeria in October 2012 and was grounded in April 2013 by aviation authorities over allegation of irregularities in its registration and operations in the country.

Aviation authorities, however, claimed ignorance of the development saying they had not been properly briefed on the issue.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Ojeme Hastings, claimed ignorance of release of the aircraft, saying he was on his annual leave and could not, therefore, confirm the story for Vanguard. He, however, said he should be given up till today to confirm.

Similarly, General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, said he had no information about the aircraft’s release.

A month after the grounding, Amaechi was suspended from PDP, following his refusal to work with the John Obuah-led executive that was empowered by the courts to take the place of the state executive loyal to him.

The move to woo Amaechi back to PDP, Vanguard learnt, may not be unconnected to the strategic electoral value of Rivers State in past presidential elections.

The state, since the days of the Peter Odili’s administration, has continuously harvested two million votes for PDP.

War against terrorism 'll be won— COAS

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BUJA— THE Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Kenneth Minimah, said yesterday that the war against terrorism in the country would be successful.

Minimah said this at an event to mark the 2014 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, IPCR, in Abuja.

The COAS, who was represented by Brig. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, Director, Peace Keeping Operations, Army Headquarters, expressed the optimism that the government’s counter-

insurgency efforts would bring peace, stability and progress.

He said: “I would like to emphasise the commitment of the Nigerian army to uphold and support the ideals of the United Nations, especially on the issues of peace keeping and global stability.

Minimah said Nigeria was the fifth largest contributor worldwide for peace support operations and that it is not surprising as the country had challenges which made it able to provide some expertise in the field.

He said: “We believe and

are committed to ensuring that the outcome of countering terrorism in Nigeria would be successful and would result in peace.

“We have the support of our legislators. We also have the goodwill which the Nigerian Army has been enjoying from you, who pay the tax for us to be in uniforms today.”

He said more than 120,000 personnel, at different times since 1960, had served in Peace Support Operations, PSOs, globally, adding that more personnel, especially women, were recruited in the peace building process.

B U J A — THE President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, said the country has reasons to celebrate, as she still remains indivisible in spite of insecurity challenges.

He noted that what the citizens should do to put to shame those who are beating the drum of division and violence is by uniting against terrorism.

Oritsejafor, who stated this in his message on the occasion of the 2014 Democracy Day celebration reminded “Nigerians of the need to be hopeful and remain faithful to our great country.”

A statement by the CAN President, in Abuja, stated “that we have a lot to celebrate as a democratic nation despite the setbacks occasioned by the menace of insurgency.”

15 yrs of democracy good for economy, says LCCI

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, yesterday, hailed the 15 years of stable democracy in the country, saying the economy had hugely benefited from it.

In a statement in Lagos, LCCI President, Remi Bello, said investors were better disposed towards an uninterrupted democratic environment and this, among other factors, had made Nigeria a major investment destination on the continent.

The Chamber cited growth in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, averaging about six percent, as one of the positive gains of democracy over the last fifteen years.

It said: “This is good compared to growth conditions in most economies of the world.”

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Nigeria Railway Corporation targets elite, unveils new services June 2 BYJONAHNWOKPOKU

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AGOS—NIGERIA Railway Corporation, NRC will effect from June 2nd, unveil new train services in its Lagos route to enhance and strengthen existing services.

The new services come with a minimum of ten air conditioned coaches of each train and will run eighteen trips daily.

Assistant Director, Public Relations, NRC, Mr. David Ndanusa told Vanguard that this move would ease the menace of congestion that had consistently plagued the Lagos intra_city route.

According to him, the newly introduced Diesel Multiple Units, would run eight trips per day at a fare of N750.00 while the standard service would run ten trips per day at N230.00 with stops at all stations.

The new train service is also expected to run six trips on Saturdays.

Ndanusa said the authorities believed that the introduction of the additional train services would help reduce congestion on Lagos mass transit trains and provide the public with an improved, efficient and reliable train service, especially during peak period.

Fashola challenges Lagosians over 2015 polls ...Says Jonathan has betrayed the people

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI, MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO & IKENNAASOMBA

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AGOS—AHEAD of the 2015 Presidential election, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday urged Lagos residents to be mindful of whom to vote for, claiming the incumbent President had betrayed the trust bestowed on him in the 2011 general elections when he canvassed for Lagos support.

He spoke during the hand-over of the newly-reconstructed Yaya Abatan Road,in Ifako-Ijaiye Lo-

cal Council Development Area, LCDA, to the people of the community, pleading with the community to take ownership of the road as it was built with tax payers’ money.

Speaking on the 2015 general elections, Fashola said “At this instance, is democracy good?

Which party do you belong to?

We will come back to discuss this later. I discover you are already expecting us. Very soon, we will get back to you. Ifako-Ijaiye has become small London.

“Our opponents criticised us that we are running an elitist government. They said we work

for people living in Ikoyi and Lekki alone. Even if we are working for the elite alone, both the rich and poor are complaining and suffering under their government.

“They do not fix power problem. They are not bothered about insecurity in the country. They are just generating revenue for themselves. The media asked their leader about the state of the nation. He said everything was okay and that the country had a billionaire. He said people now own a lot of private jets. They do not remember Lagos residents. But they are coming back to seek your

The Sun editor, Wabara’s case adjourned

BY INNOCENTANABA

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AWARDS: Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adebisi Sosan, (middle) receiving presidential merit certificate from Education Secretary of Ajeromi- Ifelodun Local Government Area, Alhaji Adewale Adeogun. With them are teachers and students of Christ Assembly Primary School, Araromi-Ajegunle, during a courtesy visit and presentation of 2013 Presidents / teachers and schools excellence awards won by the school to Sosan in her office, Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

JAF berates Police for attack on protesting students, others BYVICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

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AGOS—CIVIL society groups under the aegis of the Joint Action Front, JAF, have berated Lagos Police over Wednesday alleged brutal attack and arrest of over 100 students and activists, protesting the continued closure of the nation’s Colleges of Education and Polytechnics due to lecturers’ strike.

JAF, which is the umbrella body for pro-labour civil society groups, insisted that the repression of the peaceful protest was unnecessary because it was organized against the commercialization of education in Nigeria.

JAF in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Oladipo Fashina and Mr. Abiodun Aremu, respectively claimed “The peaceful procession of students and activists under the leadership of the National Coordinator and National Secretary of COSATEC – Comrades Usman Oloyede and Dada Idris drew thousands of students from Yaba College of Technology, Federal

votes. Will you give him? Please, do not give them your votes.”

On the 2.9kilometre length road with seven connecting inner-city roads, covered drains, pedestrian walkways, speed breakers and streetlights, the governor said the project was in redemption of his electoral promise to speed up development in all parts of the state.

Earlier, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the road was a testimony of democratic dividends, saying the road was strategic as it linked the area to places like IjuIshaga, Ogba and other adjoining locations.

Hamzat said 987 jobs were created during the construction of the road, adding that the project provided empowerment to others.

Polytechnics’ students from Ede, Ilaro, Offa, and Federal Colleges of Education from Akoka_Lagos and other states across the country, kicked off

with remarks by the leadership of COSATEC and the Secretary of JAF – Comrade Abiodun Aremu; demanding that the FG should implement

agreements reached with ASUP and COEASU in order to ensure the return to academic normalcy for the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education students.

Lawyers kick against plan to tax churches, mosques

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AGOS—SOME promi nent lawyers in Lagos, yesterday kicked against plan to tax religious organisations in the country, as being recommended by the ongoing national conference.

Delegates at the conference had on Wednesday voted in support of taxing both churches and mosques.

The lawyers told reporters that the move by the conference was a clear misplacement of priorities.

A human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, said the delegates should focus on important issues that would foster the unity and development of Nigeria.

Aturu said it was the duty of the National Assembly to promulgate

such laws, adding that the nonpayment of taxes by religious organisations was not an issue in Nigeria.

“For me, it is a misplacement of their priorities and they are only going to create more controversies which may make their report unacceptable at the end of the day,” he said.

Another lawyer, Mr Wale Ogunade, said the conference should address issues such as unemployment, poverty, corruption and national unity.

Ogunade said: “This is just a diversion because there are more pressing issues. The government has not exhausted the money being generated from oil and other mineral resources.

“The delegates should be concerned with how to make the government accountable to Nigerians on how our resources are being spent. By doing this, many Nigerians, including churches and mosques, will voluntarily start paying their taxes”.

On his part, Mr Uche Edeh, a Lagos-based lawyer, said taxing religious organisations could lead to crisis because it would be difficult to enforce.

Mr Adebamigbe Omole, a former Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, however, supported the recommendation of the conference, saying. “I am in total support because some of the religious centres have been commercialised."

AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos, has adjourned till June 16, the hearing in an objection to a suit by Mr Ebere Wabara, Associate Editor of The Sun newspapers, seeking to enforce his fundamental rights against police brutality.

Wabara and his colleague, Chuks Onuoha, in the suit, through their lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, are alleging violation of their rights as enshrined in the constitution.

He said he was arrested while still on his underpants from Lagos, handcuffed and taken to Umuahia, Abia State.

He is contending that he was subjected to dehumanising conditions at the police station in Umuahia, adding that he was eventually released on bail on March 29, with Onuoha standing as surety.

Respondents in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police, the Abia State Chief Magistrate, Mr John Ukpai and the Attorney-General, AG of Abia State.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Wednesday, the Abia State AG, Mr Kalu Umeh, SAN, who appeared for himself, informed the court of his preliminary objection to the suit, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Meanwhile, counsel to the applicant, informed the court that although he had been served with the processes of the respondent, he had yet to file a response and prayed the court for a short date to enable him regularise.

Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang in a short ruling adjourned the case to June 16, for hearing.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—11

Ogun APC crisis: Osoba loyalists reject harmonisation ...Ex-gov hints of mass defection

BY SEGUN OLATUNJI & DAUD OLATUNJI

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

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B E O K U TA — L OYAL ISTS of former Ogun State governor and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba, yesterday rejected sharing of party offices with Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s faction of the party.

Also, Osoba ruled out the possibility of working with Governor Amosun and his faction of the APC in the state, but hinted of the possibility of a mass defection of his loyalists to an unnamed political party. He directed loyalists to compile a new members’ register in the 236 wards across the state.

The APC chief said the crisis in the ruling party in the state had got to a point of no return.

Osoba, who spoke while addressing party members who thronged his residence at the GRA, Ibara, Abeokuta for a second consultative forum, declared that he and the party executive members had reached an agreement not to negotiate with anyone or group with regard to the ongoing crisis in the APC in Ogun.

According to Osoba, who spoke largely in Yoruba, “you know we have been together since 1988, sooner than later everything will

Kashamu disowns guber campaign posters

BY DAUD OLATUNJI & SEGUN OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA–CAMPAIGN posters announcing the alleged governorship ambition of the Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West, Prince Buruji Kashamu, have flooded parts of Ogun State.

Some of the posters, which has the portrait of the politician with PDP logo, had inscription of “the man Kashamu for governor 2015”.

The posters were also reportedly sighted at few places in Abeokuta just as some handbills were also reportedly distributed to passengers mostly in Ijebu-Igbo, Kasamu's hometown.

However, disowning the handbills and posters, Kashamu in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta, described the development “as the handiwork of some mischief makers and failed politicians, who are bent on disrupting the peace in the state chapter of PDP and sow the seed of discord in the party.

Amosun weeps over prisoners’ condition, frees 15

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OSOBA ADDRESSES LOYALISTS: Chief Segun Osoba, All Progressives Congress, APC, Leader in Ogun State (left) addressing his loyalists at his Ibara Housing Estate residence in Abeokuta, yesterday. with him were (from left); Chief Olu Agemo, Chairman of Osoba faction; Senator Gbenga Kaka; Alhaji Bimbo Awofeso and others. Photo by Wumi Akinola. be settled. Henceforth, at every ward meeting, please, be keeping register because the one they presented are fake ones. Go and open register at every ward. So, at the next meeting, I expect all the 236 wards to have their registers and send them to their various local governments. Don’t listen to any hearsay, if you have anything that is not clear to you ask your executive members.

“Your executive members came to me, they said they don’t trust me again, they said they don’t believe in me, that I will soon forgive and say everything has been settled. They said I will tell them that some Obas have appealed to me. I was shocked and asked them what led to this, they said they have concluded and their decisions are, one, that everyone should go on his or her way; Secondly, they said they are not ready for any harmonisation, even, 70/ 30; 80/20; 95/5, is it true or not,” Osoba asked his supporters who answered in affirmative.

“Our people here are original party members, you are not dubi-

ous, you have tellers, you said you don’t want to associate with those that do not have tellers.

You are the one who collected the tellers with your hard earned money and not government money; you followed the party procedures and did not criss-cross. Where we are now, there is no room for harmonisation or reconciliation. I then told them that, if it has got to that, it means we have drawn two parallel lines. I asked them again if they have fully concluded, after which we all went into an inner meeting

Eulogies, as GOK Ajayi is buried

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE remains of late legal icon and foremost human rights activist, Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole, GOK, Ajayi, SAN,were interred at his Igbeba residence in Ijebu Ode yesterday amidst tributes and eulogies from prominent

Nigeria'll survive present travails its challenges would soon — MIMIKO

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday expressed hope about the future of the country as Nigeria marked 15 years of democracy.

In his democracy day message in Akure, Dr Mimiko said “Nigeria, our country would survive its present travails and triumph over its internal and external enemies.”

He said though the country appeared to be tilting towards the precipice, it was indeed at its turning point for good as all

where I vowed to them that I will not forgive or reconcile with anybody.

“As I stand before you, I swear before God and Jesus Christ, my Lord, I promised you all that the issue of forgiveness is no more. If you stand firmly as a warrior that is enough for me; if you are ready, there is no more room for reconciliation. If thousands of people prostrate, it is what you want that I will do, it is what you say that I will say, I will stand where you stand, I want to appeal to you, don’t be distracted.”

become history.

“We are at that point where our greatest challenge is before us and the moment we surmount it, we'll move forward as a country.”

Dr Mimiko said the manifest destiny of Nigeria as a strong, prosperous and united nation would be fulfilled as soon as the scourge of insecurity and the predisposing conditions awere addressed.

"With continued delivery of democracy dividends here and there", the governor said, "the portents are for true, tangible inclusive growth and development in our country.''

personalities.

The funeral service was well attended by dignitaries, including clergymen, lawyers and other guests at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijasi, Italowajoda, Ijebu Ode. Earlier, the Bishop of Ife Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Rt. Reverend Oluranti Odubogun, in his sermon described GOK Ajayi as a perfect gentleman who was exceptionally brilliant in his chosen profession.

Odubogun also said the deceased lived a selfless life, adding that he had time to serve God, and contributed to the development of the church. He prayed for the widow, Olayinka, children and grandchildren for God to comfort them.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, in his tribute, described GOK Ajayi as legal titan,”who used his profession to identify with the masses.”

On his part, Tunji Ayanlaja, SAN, who said he learned under the legal icon, noted that his legacies would endure for generation yet unborn.

B E O K U TA — GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State yesterday broke down in tears over the poor condition of prisoners at the New Abeokuta Prison, Oba, in Obafemi Owode local government area of the state.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun who had earlier granted amnesty to 15 prisoners at Ibara Prison in Abeokuta could not hold back his emotions when he got to the Oba prison where 492 inmates were on awaiting trial .

Vanguard gathered that most of the inmates on the awaiting trial have spent as much as 7 years in prison with no case file.

The Governor, who said he was ashamed of being a governor under such condition, explained that the conditions of prison in the state and the country made it difficult for rehabilitation of prisoners.

He however, ordered that some sick prisoners be given adequate medical attention immediately.

Transition

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R. Agboola Omotayo Nee (Abiodun A B COLA) of Ijero quarters, Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East L.G.A, Ekiti State,is dead,aged 42.

The late Omotayo, who died May 28,2014, was buried yesterday, May 29, at his residence opposite Elite Secondary School, Ikare Road, Omuo Ekiti, after funeral mass.

Late Mr Omotayo was survived by his aged mother, widow, three children, brothers, sisters and in-law.

Late Mr Omotayo

Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 —12

Edo APC warns against heating polity zSlams alleged plot to impeach Oshiomhole, others zWe 'll impeach the governor if... says PDP lawmaker

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN CITY—THE leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, yesterday, warned that it will not fold its hands and allow any attempt to destabilise the peace in the state by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following reports of alleged plot to impeach Governor Adams Oshiomhole, his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe.

But the four APC lawmakers, who recently defected to the PDP, distanced themselves from the alleged plot, noting, however, that they will not fail to exercise their constitutional responsibility if an impeachable offence was committed by Governor Oshiomhole.

It was alleged that the lawmakers who recently dumped the APC for the PDP were working in tandem with top leaders of PDP to impeach the governor, his deputy and the Speaker of the House.

But former governor of the state, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and the Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, said the PDP’s alleged desperation in the state will not work because the “people will resist them.”

Reacting, one of the

lawmakers who defected to PDP and member representing Orhiomnwon constituency 11, Mr. Friday Ogierakhi, said they were not aware of any plot to impeach the governor, adding that they left the APC due to what he described as the dictatorial leadership style of Oshiomhole.

He said: “I believe that first, it is just the lamentation of the guilty. If an impeachable

offence had been committed, of course we will exercise our constitutional responsibility if there is any. Nobody can intimidate or stop us from raising alarm. If an impeachable offence is raised, we will discharge our responsibility in line with the constitution. But we cannot do that where of course nothing like that has been put on the table.

“So, I can tell you that I am

not in any plot to impeach Oshiomhole, his geputy or the Speaker.

Our disagreement with our former party is about the deceit, treachery, arbitrariness and all forms of political misbehaviour introduced into the running of the party. Again, I can tell you that there is no iota of truth that we collected money. It is only the work of mischief makers. I was not given any money."

SCORECARD: Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (5th left), his wife, Obioma Liyel-Imoke (5th right), wife of the Speaker of the CRHA, Mrs. Eneyi Larry-Odey (4th right), Deputy Speaker, CRHA, Itaya Asuquo (left) and others, during the presention of the Governor's Scorecard 2007-2014, an account of his stewardship, at a town hall meeting to mark this year's Democracy Day in Calabar, yesterday.

Nigeria loses $20bn annually to crude oil theft —Rear Adm Oyagha BYEMMA UNA ALABAR—NIGERIA loses over $2 billion (about N320 billion) yearly in revenue to oil theft, said Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha, Chief of Training and Operations, Nigerian Navy, Abuja.

Rear Admiral Oyagha, who spoke yesterday in Calabar, Cross River State, during the Navy Week, on the topic: Harnessing Surveillance Technology in Support of AntiCrude Oil Theft Operations in Nigeria, said that the aim of the paper was to help explore ways of harnessing surveillance technology towards enhancing Nigerian Navy anti-crude oil theft operations.

According to him, Nigeria is an emerging market and one of the world’s largest exporters of crude oil with a daily production capacity of 2.5 million barrels currently.

His words: “In 2013, losses from crude oil theft were estimated at an average of

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about 55,210 barrels per day or monthly average of 1,656,281 barrels. Thus, Nigeria oil losses due to crude oil theft translate to almost $2 billion yearly in deficit to Nigeria’s economy.

“These loses do not only undermine Nigeria’s economy in terms of foreign exchange deficit, they also pose a threat to national security for Nigerians.”

Rear Adm. Oyagha said that the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the media, had found out that crude oil losses in Nigeria were primarily due to pipeline vandalism and operation of illegal refineries.

“The Nigerian Navy anticrude oil theft operations are particularly demanding and difficult due to thousands of oil pipelines that traverse the

swamps and creeks in the Niger Delta region from which crude oil is stolen. Thus, the Nigerian Navy has continued to explore ways beyond the deployment of its ships and helicopters to support her anti-crude oil theft operations,” he said.

He advocated an integrated surveillance system for anticrude oil theft operations with features to detect, monitor, track and display activities in all weathers.

Jonathan, Amaechi rift avoidable —Tonye Princewill

BY JIMITOTAONOYUME ORT HARCOURT— CHIEFTAIN of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, yesterday, said that the problem between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan was avoidable.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Princewill who said he interacted with both men at

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separate times over the issues, said that the problem started shortly after the last elections, adding that one of the parties did not manage the issue properly.

He said: “It was not the Governors' Forum that brought about the problem between Amaechi and President Jonathan.

It started before 2012. That problem could have been avoided.

The finger of blame can be pointed at any direction.

“Amaechi was very close to

Jonathan when he was Vice President. I am aware that Jonathan nominated commissioners in the cabinet in the first term of Governor Amaechi. We must understand that there is a difference between the President and the Presidency.

There are things that may come out of the Presidency that may not have the hand of the President. If it was a problem between Amaechi and the President it would have been easily resolved.”

Okotie-Eboh urges FG to dredge Warri Port

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ARRI—THE CHAIRMAN, Itsekiri Development Congress, Mr. Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh, has called on the Federal Government to include the Warri Port in sea ports it intends to dredge across the country to facilitate calls by bigger vessels.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government recently approved the dredging of ports channels in Lagos, Bonny and Calabar to also facilitate calls by bigger vessels, but Warri Port was not included.

Okotie-Eboh in a statement appealed to the Federal Government to take adequate measures to save the Warri Port from collapse, adding that the Warri Port, which used to be a beehive of commercial activities in the past, had almost gone extinct due to prolonged neglect by successive governments.

He said that members of the IDC had in recent times appealed to successive governments of the need to dredge the waterways leading to the Warri Port to revive the dwindling economic activities at the port.

Rep rejoins PDP

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE ENIN—A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, has formally rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under which he contested the House of Representatives seat in 2003 before leaving for the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in 2007.

The re-unification with his former party took place in Auchi.

Momoh who contested election into the lower chamber of the National Assembly in 2011 under the platform of the defunct ACN now APC, said that he was returning to the PDP which he co-founded in 1999 and on which platform he was at the Edo State House of Assembly between 19992003.

Among those who left the APC for the PDP were the former state deputy chairman of the APC, Alhaji Usman Shagadi, former Senatorial Woman Leader, Mrs. Bekilas Imieva, three former local government chairmen from Etsako, among others.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 13

LG boss urges Ogboru to support Delta Gov on devt

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RANSITION Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Sunday Onoriode, has urged Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, to join hands with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to develop the state.

Onoriode, while reacting to the Supreme Court decision, dismissing Ogboru’s appeal,challengingUduaghan’s election, said that the governor’s victorywasatestimonyofhisgood works.

Heexpressedconfidenceinthe administration of Dr. Uduaghan, notingthathisadministrationhas transformed the entire state, adding that his developmental projects have given a face lift to the entire state.

Thecouncilchairmanurgedall Deltans to rally round the administration of Dr. Emmanuel UduaghanandcalledonallDelta South people to give Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan their maximum support in his senatorial ambition.

Boko Haram: Stop buck passing, Uduaghan tells Northern leaders A

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

SABA — G O V E R N O R Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has called on the leaders in the country, particularly Northern leaders to stop buck passing and take full responsibility in the battle against the activities of Boko Haram, insisting that there was no way it could be said that the members of the sect are faceless.

The governor went into details of his efforts at ensuring that the militants ceased fire during the Niger Delta struggle.

He spoke in Asaba, yesterday, as part of the Democracy Day celebration, which was marked with an inter-denominational church service, where prayers were offered for the peace, unity of the country, and for the release of the abducted female students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The governor said: “I appeal to every Nigerian, especially our brothers and sisters, who

are from the Northern part of the country to take responsibility, we cannot say we don’t know somebody who knew somebody who knew them (members of Boko Haram), and that these people are not faceless.

“We cannot stay in the country and allow some people to overrun the country

and we stand aloof. We all have to be involved to solve the problem of Boko Haram, leaders have to take responsibility at the national and state levels rather than passing the buck.

“Leadership comes with responsibility, decision making and engagement with the people. There are leaders

in those areas (Northern part of Nigeria), yet, we hear people say, we do not know them (Boko Haram) or we cannot engage them.”

He urged leaders in the country especially those in the northern part of the country to be personally involved in seeking lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace.

Kuku to MEND: Stop distorting N/Delta history

BY SONI DANIEL BUJA—THE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has warned the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, to desist from distorting the history of the Niger Delta struggle for its selfish interest.

Kuku, who claimed to have played a prominent role in ending the Niger Delta crisis, also warned the group not to drag the name of President

A

Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, into the mud because of pecuniary interest.

Kuku told journalists in Abuja that he could not understand what MEND wanted to gain by trying desperately to change the history of the Niger Delta struggle and denigrate the persons of Jonathan and his wife, who also risked their lives to bring about peace in the region.

MEND at the weekend, criticised Kuku over his

comments in a televised interview on Boko Haram’s insurgency in the North-East and the role of some individuals in the Niger Delta agitation prior to the Federal Government’s offer of amnesty to former militants as a way of ending the restiveness in the region.

Kuku wondered when MEND became Boko Haram’s mouthpiece as to know the real reason the terrorist’s group spurned the government’s offer for dialogue.

Name Asaba airport after Osadebey —ASDEV great democrat and we

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BY EMMA UJAH

BUJA—ASABA indigenes under the aegis of ASDEV ’81 Club, have appealed to Governor Emmanuel Udgahan of Delta State, to immortalise former Premier of the Mid-Western Region, late Chief Dennis Osadebay by naming the Asaba International Airpaort after him.

The Abuja coordinator of the Osadebay Lecture

Organising Committee, Ogbueshi Fred Okonta, said in Abuja, yesterday that Chief Osadebay was the only foremost indigene of the era, who has not been recognised like his peers in the country.

He said: “Chief Osadebay should be given the same recognition that had been accorded others like him.

No monument at the national or state level has been named after the

believe that he deserves to be so recognised.

“He was the first Senate President of this country and even acted as president on behalf of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, when the latter was not around in addition to being the first and only Premier of the MidWestern region. A man of that status should be recognised, even if posthumously.”

...holds Osadebey memorial lecture

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EANTIME, the club will hold the first Dennis Osadebay Memorial lecture today, at the Nnebisi Hall, Grand Hotel, Asaba, Delta State at 12 noon prompt.

ASDEV 81 is a club of professionals and businessmen residing in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

It has, since 1996,

organised annual seminars and lectures focusing on current developmental and political issues in our country.

The topic for this inaugural Dennis Osadebay lecture is: “The Minority Question, Some Thoughts on Identity, Justice and Incorporation in

Nigeria” and it is to be delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah.

Late Chief Dennis Osadebey, GCON, COS, was the first President of the Nigerian Senate and Premier of the former MidWest Region.

PMAN slams Boko Haram over abduction of school girls unconditional release of the

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—DELTA State chapter of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria, PMAN, has condemned the spate of bombings by the Boko Haram sect and the abduction of over 200 girls

of Government College, Chibok in Borno State.

PMAN in a statement by its Governor, Quincy Tebite, said it was painful that the girls, who are “harmless, innocent and future Nigerian leaders, who went to learn for better tomorrow could be abducted.”

Calling for the

girls, Tebite said: “While Nigerians were still battling to put behind the emotional trauma unleashed on us by the Islamic sect over the Nyanya bomb blast which claimed over 70 lives, the sect on April 14, again unceremoniously abducted our girls."

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Road users lament bad state of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Rd

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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MUAHIA — MOTORISTS and other road users of the busy Federal Government-owned Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road are lamenting the massive dilapidation of the road.

The entire stretch of the road from Ikwuano in Abia State to Ikot Ekpene is in very sorry state and has been causing motorists sleepless nights.

Incidentally, the road is the only one linking Umuahia and Ikot Ekpene to Uyo and Calabar, except AbaIkot Ekpene route, which is a much longer stretch.

Last year, Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, did some work on the road which had since been washed away, subjecting road users to serious hardship.

Because of the bad state of the road, articulated trucks conveying cement from Calabar to some parts of the East usually fell, and worsened the situations.

There were even occasions when people in communities along this busy road had to abandon their vehicles overnights.

“We can’t believe that this is a federal road, a very busy one for that. Look at what we are going through in a nation that has enormous resources” a commuter, Asuquo, who was on his way to Abuja from Uyo lamented."

Sir Tony Okolo goes home

S

IR TONY Okolo, who recently passed on, has been laid to rest, in his country home at Eziora, Agbaja Abatete, in Idemili North LGA, Anambra State.

He was interred after a requiem high mass presided over by 11 priests, with Rev. Fr. Bartholomew Nnakwe as the Chief Celebrant at the Church of the Most Holy Name of Mary, Abatete, with members of the Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba in attendance.

Late Sir Tony Okolo

COAS says war against terrorism would be successful A

BUJA —THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said on Thursday that the war against terrorism in Nigeria would be successful.

Minimah said this at an event to mark the 2014 Inter-

national Day of United Nations Peacekeepers organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in Abuja.

The COAS, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, Director, Peace

Keeping Operations, Army Headquarters, expressed the optimism that the government’s counter-insurgency efforts would bring peace, stability and progress.

He said: “I would like to emphasise the commitment of

the Nigerian army to uphold and support the ideals of the United Nations, especially on issue of peace keeping and global stability.

Minimah said Nigeria was the fifth largest contributor worldwide for peace support operations and that is not far to fetch considering the fact that the country had challenges which made it able to provide some expertise in the field.

“We believe and are committed to ensuring that the outcome of countering terrorism in Nigeria would be successful and would result in peace.

“We have the support of our legislators. We also have the goodwill which the Nigerian Army has been enjoying from you, who pay the tax for us to be in uniforms today,” he said.

The army chief recalled that more than 120,000 personnel at different times between 1960 till date had served in Peace Support Operations (PSOs) globally.

He said more personnel, especially women, were recruited in the peace building proces, adding, "we are getting more involved and redefining it.

“We apply best practices in peace support operations even COMMISSIONING: Enugu State governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, flanked on his left by the here in the country and we reaManaging Director of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, ESHDC, Chief Ikeje lise that the process of peace buildAsogwa, during the formal commissioning of 384 blocks of 2 and 3 bedroom flats, at the ing is more practical when we have women involved.”

Maryland Estate, Enugu.

A-Court acquits Momife over Siemens bribery scandal

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has discharged and acquitted the erstwhile Chief Executive Officer of M-Tel, Mr. Edwin Moore Momife, who was charged with three others for allegedly receiving bribes from a multinational German company, Siemens Limited.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision, held that Momife had no case to answer, noting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, charged him under a non-existing law.

In the lead judgment which was read by Justice Tinuade AkomolafeWilson, the appellate court also main-

tained that the anti-graft agency failed to prove the ingredients of the allegations it levelled against the appellant.

It observed that though EFCC charged Momife with conspiracy, it said the commission failed to charge any of Seimens officials fingered in the conspiracy, despite the fact that none of them was at large.

In the circumstance, the court held that the accused person could not have conspired with himself.

The court further held that even though the accused admitted receiving flight tickets from Siemens, there was no relationship, business or otherwise between Siemens and the accused and, therefore, the offence of receiving bribe without value consideration was sustainable.

S/Court judgement: Debtor appeals against sale of property

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

ONITSHA — A judgement debtor and clearing agent, Paschal Nwabufoh, has again headed to the Court of Appeal in Enugu to challenge an order of an Onitsha High Court asking him to sell his landed property at No. 114 Cameroun Road, Aba, Abia State, and compound house at Akezi village, Awkuzu, Anambra State, to satisfy a Supreme Court judgement.

The five-member Supreme Court judges had in their unanimous judgement delivered on June 24, 2011, ordered Nwabufoh to pay N26,767,820 to one G. N. Nwolisah for breach of

contract.

In response to the Supreme Court order, an Onitsha High Court, presided over by Justice Pete Obiora on December 20, 2012, granted a motion authorising the sale of Nwabufoh’s landed property in Abia and Anambra states for the servicing of the Supreme Court judgement debt.

But in a reaction, Nwabufoh headed to the Appeal Court, asking it to set aside the High Court order authorising the sale of his two landed property to pay the Supreme Court judgement debt because, according to him, he was not the owner of the property, but his mother-in-law.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—15

Niger political class bent on making money in politics —Gov Babangida

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — CHAIR MAN, Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, disclosed yesterday that one major challenge he had to contend with when he came on board, was the fact that he inherited a political class with a mindset that saw politics as a profession and an avenue for making money.

In his keynote address yesterday on the 7th years of his stewardship, organised by Civil Society Alliance of Nigeria in Abuja yesterday, Governor Aliyu noted that the attitude was very retrogressive as it encouraged indolence, parasitic tendencies (maula syndrome) and discouraged industry and productivity among the teeming youth.

“We have, however, been able to move away from that mindset as every politician now has something to offer and adds value to the development process,” he said.

Represented by his deputy, Ahmed Ibeto at the event, the governor said that with Vision 32020 he has laid as foundation for good governance in Niger State. He envisioned the state to be among the top three most economically developed states in Nigeria by 2020 (Vision 3-2020).

He said: “It is significant to highlight that the Vision 3-2020 document has since laid the foundation for good governance in Niger State, within the wider context of our overall development aspirations. ”The vision has remained our guiding principle and the barom-

eter with which we measure our programmes and projects in every sector with the aim of improving the quality of lives of the people we serve.

”Indeed, not only has the Vision 3-2020 law been passed by the State Legislature to ensure sustenance of development projects even beyond our tenure, other

APC behind Chibok girls’ abduction protests— Sen. Enang

BY JOSEPH ERUNKE

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CELEBRATION: From left, Commercial Director, Grand Oak Ltd, Aare Fatai Odesile; representative of Alaafin of Oyo, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, and Chairman, Lexcel Group, Mr. Ola Rosiji, during Seaman's 100 years celebration in Nigeria, at Grandeur Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor

Minister, WAEC never warned against conducting exam at Chibok, Borno SSG challenges Muazu BORNO STATE Government, SSG, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, has faulted claim by the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Muazu, that both the Minister of State for education and the WAEC, had written to the governor not to allow exams go on in Chibok, but that the governor insisted.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, Jidda, who showed the reporters the purported letters from both the minister and WAEC, challenged Muazu to produce the letters which asked the state government not to conduct exams at Chibok.

The SSG showed the reporters the letter the state government wrote to the Police, asking it to provide security on daily basis, to all exam centres, including the school in Chibok, based on the request made by WAEC. He said, “there was no where in the letters where they asked us not to conduct exams in Chibok. In any case, the minister does not even have the locus standi to direct the governor on such matters. We provided logistics as requested by WAEC. We wrote the Police too, to provide security on daily basis, as per the request from WAEC. “But let me reiterate here that at no time did we receive any letter either from the police,

WAEC or even the minister, advising us not to hold the exams in Chibok. At any rate, as at the time of the exams, Chibok was considered as one of the safest locations in the state.

“In actual fact, the minister’s letter only asked that security be

SSG, added.

On the claim by Muazu that the governor was not in the country at the time Jonathan was to visit Chibok, Jidda again said, it was not true.

He said: “The governor went to London for a different purpose and not just to grant interviews.

However, as soon as we got information that the President was on his way to France, and would make a stop over in Chibok, my governor She said the quest for Internally Gen- cut short his trip to reerated Revenue, IGR was distracting the turn to Borno. And parastatals from doing beneficial re- while we were waiting to receive the searches.

“There are certain I have seen that I President, we got the think we should address in today’s information that the meeting. The first I noticed is that our President’s visit has quest for Internally Generated Revenue, been called off."

IGR is hampering our vision for doing researches that are innovative”, she said.

At the bi-monthly ministerial meeting, the minister also accused the DGs of abandoning the Science and Technology Innovation, STI policy which contains how to marry research outputs with industrialization using public private partnership.

“Our prioritization of capital projects over research: building more offices, building schools and acquiring this and that. All these things to me do not add up; it is simply going beyond our core mandates…

“But upon all these we have a very little link with the industry; and that should really give us a big concern,” she added.

provided for WAEC officials in Federal Government Colleges in Borno State. The letter did not request that security be provided for students, let alone Chibok students. So, I see Muazu’s claim as not only ridiculous, but one that smacks of mischief”, the

Don’t abandon research for business venture, Minister warns

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

A

BUJA — THE Supervising Min ister of Science and Technology Dr. Omobola Johnson yesterday warned the Directors-General of all the parastatals in the ministry not to sacrifice the nation’s interest in research and development for commercial venture.

The Minister gave the warning in Abuja at a meeting she held with the DGs. Apart from embarking on commercialisation of their research results, she also warned them to steer clear of setting up industries.

“Let me be frank with you. You don’t have to be in business. Don’t say you want to commercialise your research outputs; you don’t really have that mandates.

“Is not that you can’t make money through your research outputs, you can but through patenting and intellectual property; not by going into commercialization of those outputs, not by setting up businesses that we don’t really know how to do”, she told the DGs.

BUJA — SENA TOR Ita Enang has attributed the continuous protests in Abuja against the April 14 abduction of over 200 girls from Chibok, in Borno State by members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect, to All Progressives Congress, APC. Enang said the protesters were picking daily bills from the party, which was bent on ruining President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in the buildup to the 2015 general election.

He wondered why the protesters had not deemed it fit to direct their actions against Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who, he noted, defied security reports prior to the girls’ abduction.

The senator, who spoke yesterday when he received executive members of Akwa Ibom community in Abuja who paid him a courtesy visit, insisted that the demonstrators were wrong in blaming President Goodluck Jonathan for the abduction, saying the Borno State governor should be held responsible since governors were the chief security officers of their respective states.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

2014 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY

From left, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Deputy Members of Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State, during a Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alo- Democracy Day rally, in Lagos ma Mukthar; Vice President, Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan, and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during Democracy Day celebration, in Abuja, yesterday.

Cross section of participants, at the Democracy Day exercise, tagged, ‘Fit for Life,’ Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (right), presenting organised by G&M Place in Ikorodu, Lagos, yesterday. Photo; Akeem Salau QUICK WIN letters to some of the beneficiaries, during Democracy Day celebration at Government House, Ilorin

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his team, on a Skill acquisition trainees, during Democracy Day in Bauchi. visit prison to prisoners in Ogun State, giving amnesty to some, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, in handshake with HRM Obi Efeizomor Obi of Owa Kingdom, during 2014 Democracy Day and 3rd anniversary of Governor Uduaghan's 2nd term inter-denominational thanksgiving service, fasting and prayer, at Delta Convention Centre, Asaba, yesterday.

Democracy Day in Uyo.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 —17

Outsourcing governance you land in Naija and take up any senior job, your relatives and family friends will pounce on you, demand positions and contracts they are not qualified for, expect you to solve all of their financial problems, push you to contribute funds to every burial and hassle you to pieces if you dare to treat folks

, AST week, I expressed the view that Ni L geria can only move forward in the near future if certain government functions are

outsourced to top-class foreigners.

I’m not saying that we should be recolonised by Caucasians. I am seeking freedom from prolonged failure rather than slavery and racial oppression!

I just want us to admit that good governance is not one of our talents, get rid of most members of the current ruling elite and hire honest and highly skilled foreigners of all hues – Black and White Americans, Europeans, Asians, etc – to run our economy and transform Nigeria into the great nation it will become if the right kind of people are invited to bail us out of the mess we are in.

If I had the power, I would recruit an army of formidable professionals from overseas, but not Nigerians who live overseas because Nigerians, as a general rule, can only be sufficiently effective when they are not working in Nigeria!

I wouldn’t even hire myself within this context, even though I grew up in London and was well-trained by the British and have an Oyinbo-ish mindset.

Why? Because it is much more difficult to be emotionally detached and ruthlessly efficient when you are a son or daughter of the soil.

Even if you were brought up abroad and have not hitherto been prone to tribalism, ethical lapses and incompetence, the minute

If I had the power, I would recruit an army of formidable professionals from overseas, but not Nigerians who live overseas because Nigerians, as a general rule, can only be sufficiently effective when they are not working in Nigeria!

,

from all corners of Nigeria equally.

Relatives and family friends will constantly distract you from your duties and mock or berate you if you attempt to live on your salary. Relatives and family friends will never quit urging you to do things that will undermine economic growth, damage institutions, encourage corruption and promote mediocrity.

It is almost impossible to coldly withstand such emotional blackmail, so better to hand the reins over to those who have no emotional ties in Nigeria!

What I have in mind are individuals who do not have a drop of Naija blood in their veins and are known to possess integrity and have successfully managed key sectors and important organisations in enviable devel-

oped countries.

They’d be paid employees rather than imperial masters. They’d have to report to our President and take orders from him or her. They would only stay for five to ten years and would be instructed to create jobs and build indigenous capacity.

To make this experiment fly, we would have to acquire a Head of State who doesn’t have time for local nonsense and is totally committed to progress.

Here are some comments Vanguard readers sent to me when I mentioned this idea last week: From: Ifeka Okonkwo <ifekaokonkwo@yahoo.com> Donu, our politicians and civil servants have brought our country down on her knees with their insatiable greed . If foreigners are allowed to manage our resources from now henceforth, our country will become a paradise on earth. The British could have developed our country like South Africa if our founding fathers did not drive them away prematurely in 1960!

From: Henry Ajenu <hajenu@gmail.com> We all share your frustration ! The most disappointing part is that people who have seen how things work abroad do not perform when they get a chance to serve at home and sometimes end up worse than the local breed...The Petroleum Minister, I hear, went to Oxford or Cambridge. The crux of the problem is the absence of the rule of law. We need just ONE SERIOUS leader to save this country.

While I voted for GEJ for religious reasons, I knew in my heart that Buhari would be better for Naija. I was hoping for some miracle that will transform GEJ,..but alas!

From: Cyril Edor <cyriledor@gmail.com> Dear Donu, I am 100 percent in support of hiring foreigners in critical areas in Nigeria.

Surely this country is going under. The best

are left out of governance deliberately due to greed…The masses are too feeble minded to do anything about it. In fact, only the Yoruba have shown any inclination to suing for good governance.

A South-South man is the president of Nigeria but has made no impact in the zone. +234806094596 Fidelis Nwagwu It would never fly with such corrupt environment like ours. These foreigners are also corrupt if given opportunity to operate in a corrupt environment. We should make our system and rules uninhabitable to corrupt people. We must get it right one day. +2348036373731 Kalu Omokorie I am very apprehensive about your suggestion. It is not giving monkey water that is the problem but to retrieve the cup…. +2348055939013 Anonymous Donu, your piece on foreign intervention was interesting….The leadership has failed woefully. Those clamouring to take over from the present inept leadership are no better either.

In support of your piece, I am of the opinion that we hand over the Presidency for five years to UK or USA at first instance. Thanks for your good work. +2348067135823 Anonymous I don’t think you know what it took before independence was given to us. Think wisely.

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 OR 0811 675 9752 (texts only).

PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED, WITH YOUR NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS ATTACHED.

OPINION

BY KAYODE OJO

I

F there is one thing that terrorist organisations crave most, it is the publicity their violent actions generate. When the media, in analysing their activities, unduly shift blame to their victims as is the case with Nigeria, it greatly furthers their cause. As with most terror groups, so with the Boko Haram sect whose activities in recent times have been for Nigerians, a nightmarish experience.

The abduction of 276 school girls from Chibok may not be the most horrendous of their actions. In the timeline in which the sect has terrorised Nigerians, the Christmas bombing in Madala, the January 2012 coordinated assaults in Kano, the midnight roasting of students in Buni Yadi, the massacres in Konduga, Gwosa, GamboruNgala and Baga and recently, the twin bomb explosions in Jos, have been the most dreadful.

However, there is no doubt that Chibok was the turning point which aroused the international community by its sheer humanitarian dimension. Not only has the rash of public commentaries following Chibok been largely negative, it has portrayed Nigeria and Nigerians in the most despicable manner. Urged on by mostly opposition elements or those Nigerians who hug the public space, the international media painted our President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in the worst possible portrait so far: utterly incompetent or insensitive, or both.

Political leaders in US and Europe took President Jonathan to the cleaners over what they perceived, wrongly I dare say, as

Boko Haram, Jonathan and the blame game sluggishness in handling the crisis. While the rabble-rousing US Senator John McCain and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made highly contentious and undiplomatic statements about the Nigerian leadership, several publications like New York Times, the Economist and The Guardian of London wrote reports and editorials that were equally uncomplimentary.

Cost of the insurgency is enormous; an ongoing disaster by public relations standards, but it rankles that few of the foreign commentators seem not to appreciate the complexities of our version of the terror war and the factors that have come to play since it broke out in 2009. Are they fair to simply brand the Jonathan administration –on the spur of the moment --as incompetent without properly analysing the underlying issues?

While it is understandable that political leaders in the US and Europe and their publications who may be poorly informed of our circumstances, took the line they chose, it is arguable whether they would have done so without taking a cue from the negative comments by local opposition elements. The All Progressives Congress, APC, is certainly guilty of this. At a point in recent times, even the President’s party, the PDP, openly accused them of using the crisis to score political points, a charge it lamely defended itself against.

The APC is not solely the problem, though. one of our illustrious citizens did not flinch any bit in making those sordid remarks about our President and the First lady

whom he routinely referred to as “that woman.” Her sincere efforts to enquire into the circumstances of the girls’ abduction were ridiculed to no end in the social media; till today, so many sing-songs are still weaved around her speech at that meeting with the Chibok stakeholders.

The level of complicity by people in positions of authority has itself introduced a new dimension to the problem. From the way otherwise illiterate Haramists have accessed government’s security details suggests that there exists around government, fifth columnists who are sympathetic to the sect and are willing to monitor and sabotage government.

Examples abound in the police headquarters bombing which has all the elements of an insider job, down to its timing. The curious escape of Kabiru Sokoto, suspected mastermind of the Suleja Christmas bombing that killed at least 39, appears to be a clear act of insider complicity, down to his curious recapture in –of all places – the Borno State governor’s lodge in Abuja.

Yes, President Jonathan may not have kept his promise of bringing the violence under control, the truth is that he may never completely do so with the prevailing cynicism and lack of solidarity. Not even with the international assistance in intelligence sharing, more so since we have also started talking down our military and exposing their failings to public ridicule.

More is needed if the fight will have any

teeth, and this has little to do with Jonathan.

Before those foreign commentators get Jonathan drowned, they should appreciate the nature of Boko Haram’s activities which present a more profound challenge. It has religious connotation which makes it complicated in a country where religion evokes extreme sentiments. According to former US Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, terrorist acts in the name of religion and ethnic identity are the most threatening. All over the world, where terror is a major issue, suicide terrorism or martyrdom is more easily organised but are extremely difficult to counter. Where governments have sought retaliation against suicide attacks, the group's sense of victimisation and commitment to adhere to doctrine, are further increased.

Boko Haram says it wants strict Sharia law implemented in the country, a tall order I dare say, but their fanatical rhetoric appears to have been inspired by, or attracted followers from, the political front.

This is valid considering the political angle which many have failed to fully appreciate: their actions appear to reflect concerns by the Northern elite that Jonathan’s presidency has greatly harmed Northern political interests, hence prominent Northerners openly threatened, shortly after Jonathan emerged the presidential candidate of the PDP, to make the country ungovernable. *Mr. Ojo, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 WE are already in danger of not appreciating the enormity of the loss of lives that Nigeria has witnessed, with varying intensity, since 2010. The statistics flummox us. We strip them of the stories they tell.

Lives are at stake, the future of the country is tangled with the outcome of operations in the North East, which many under-estimate because of distance and longlasting indifference with which Nigerians treat matters affecting parts of the country where they do not reside. We see the issues as “their challenge”.

Few words aptly capture the perilous situation in the North East. Efforts to reduce the operations to releasing the abducted Chibok school girls is another misunderstanding of the depth of the challenge and issues that would follow after the girls are

BY GODDY CHUKWU

C

HIEF Theodore Ahamuefule Orji assumed office as governor of Abia State in May 2007, just 17 years after the creation of the state from old Imo State, a period military administrators were in-charge of governance for eight-years, while their civilian counterpart held sway for nine years. Within this period also, the state received monthly federation allocations and generated Internally Generated Revenues, IGRs, that ran into billions of naira, but unfortunately there were little or nothing to show for it terms of infrastructural, economic and social development.

Those who presided over the affairs of the state for the 17 years of the locust and their allies were never brought to book till date.

Maybe it was because of the docility of the people or the compromise syndrome that characterised the era at the expense of the good citizens. During this era, the state hemorrhaged and decayed in all ramifications, while the looters smiled to the banks, and even ploughed the loots into the state politics in 1999 to hijack the democratic process. They took charge and decided who got what. By the time they were leaving in 2007, there was no concrete or solid foundation, as the state was laid comatose.

That was the sorry state of affairs in Abia State in 2007 which one Mr. Uche Igwe in his article in the Punch Newspaper of May 21 titled “The Struggle to succeed failure in Abia State” refused to acknowledge. What is evident is the ulterior motive behind the write-up, which is running down the Abia State governor, his government, family and the First Lady of

They are Lives, Not Statistics freed.

When bombs went off in Jos, last week, there was hardly an appropriate response from either security or civil authorities. The concentration of efforts on the North East means that other troubled spots have been forgotten.

Jos added to the daily statistics of deaths, destruction of trust and obviously the spread of panic. The statistics are treated as cold figures, fit for the records, and for addition to the figures that originated from similar incidents.

We have run out of rebukes for the criminals who have vowed to keep our communities unsafe. They

2015

maintain their killing and destruction of people’s confidence in the ability of the state to protect them The daily death of people, human beings of all ages, who had plans, a future, and who could have contributed to Nigeria’s development is abhorrent.

Circumstances of people change in seconds for the worse. Widows, widowers, orphans and childless people are created within moments of a blast.

Our security people are dying daily in more numbers than at any time since the civil war. These concerns are not captured in the figures we publish. The hardships

OPINION polls: Abia's succession

Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan ahead of 2015 general elections. It is often said that a man who was not around when a corpse is buried would definitely exhume it from the head. I do not know when last Mr. Uche Igwe came to Abia State before engaging in his fictious article.

For instance, he claimed that it took him three hours to move from Port Harcourt to Aba. Many Nigerians must be familiar with the Enugu/ Aba/ Port-Harcourt Expressway, a major federal road that has suffered severe neglect by successive governments in the country, but has been receiving adequate attention since President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office.

Several portions of the road have been removed completely and asphalted afresh, thereby making it accessible.

The Aba axis of the road such as Osisioma junction which was an eye sore for several years before now is wearing a new look today with a well-flowered garden and streetlights courtesy of the present government in the state. The same effort has been extended to major intercity roads and federal roads in the commercial city of Aba and environs, a city that was once made a pariah city by rampaging kidnappers for months. The present government expended billions of state resources in tackling the kidnapping menace which brought about the restoration of peace and security in the state. If such funds were channelled into developmental projects, it would have gone far, but there will be no development in an unsecured environment.

For Igwe to pontificate in his article that

nothing is happening in Abia State in terms of infrastructural, economic and social-cultural development is the height of hypocrisy and cynicism as there are so many verifiable ongoing and completed legacy projects across the state today. Examples include the Ubani Ibeku Modern market, Amuba Housing Estate, Isieke Housing Estate, Abia Diagnostic Hospital, Abia Eye Centre, Amachara General Hospital, Ohiya Power supply, International Conference, New Government House, 250 health centres in rural areas, 350 kilometres roads constructed and rehabilitated, radical reformation of the state civil service, intervention in the education sector with the building and rebuilding of state-owned public schools and tertiary institutions and other achievements. These legacy projects were non-existent in the state before 2007.

So the question should be, what happened to the state funds for 17 years before the present government came into office in 2007. It is in the public domain that some individuals who are still walking freely today had during their time in office impoverished the state. he reality is that despite being initially hamstrung by undue godfather interference during his first three years plus in office, the Orji government has continued to turn the state around with massive infrastructural development to the admiration and acknowledgement of the people, and the disappointment and envy of the cabal who had always wanted status quo to remain. The likes of Igwe and other armchair critics of the present state government have failed to realise that the

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families are going through cannot be seen in the litany of deaths and destructions the terrorists are imposing. They seem normal, almost like a way of life that hundreds of our people are counted dead every month.

Abuja, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, the major centres of these deaths affect all parts of the country. It has become more important that Nigerians rise against their attackers without considerations for religions or regions.

The instability the attacks centred in the North East are causing, has set the country back for decades. We cannot keep quiet when our opportunities are being dispersed by those who think the only way to express their positions is by killing others. Enough of the killings.

theories government has since 2007 been using state fund to address the ineptitude and failure of successive governments in the state. Igwe’s allegation in the article that Governor Orji’s son is one of the major contractors in the state is part of the 'Pull-Him-Down' syndrome orchestrated by known enemies of the state. It could be recalled that a rumour was once peddled in the newspaper owned by the former governor of the state that Governor Orji nominated one of his sons to be appointed Minister. Till date no such thing happened. It is quite unfortunate that in these days when Freedom of Information, FoI, Act has been signed into law, people still peddle fiction on the pages of newspapers.

Clearly and expectedly, all these sponsored allegations against Governor Orji and his family is not unconnected with the 2015 elections and who succeeds him in office. To douse unnecessary tension and political acrimony among the party stakeholders in the state, Governor Orji who also doubles as the state leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after due consultation announced that his party will be zoning the governorship seat in 2015 to Abia South senatorial zone. A good student of the state political history since 1999 will agree that the PDP’s decision in that direction is equitable and justifiable, considering that Abia South is the only zone that has not produced governor of the state since 1999. *Mr. Chukwu, a cleric, wrote from Bende, Abia State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014— —19

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THNIC and religious kill ings started in Northern Nigeria with the Maitasine uprising in 1980. Their targets were Igbos and Christians. The lacklustre and tainted handling of those incidents in the North by affected states and the Federal Government encouraged the continued spread and growth of violent Muslim groups in the North. From Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa to Borno states, violent groups sprang up and developed under the watchful eyes of governments.The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, says that over 30,000 persons were killed between 1930 and 2010 in the North!

In 2011, some Northern politicians saw these jihadists as agents to help them snatch power from the Niger Delta-born President GEJ. They threatened that they would make the nation ungovernable should they fail in the elections. Unknown to these men, other international terror groups had hijacked the jihadists; this gave birth to Boko Haram.

Even then, many of them still continued in their day-dream, demanding from negotiation, cessation of hostilities against the insurgents to outright payment of ransoms to them, till the abduction of the Chibok girls

about 43 days ago. The involvement of international forces caused them to make a half hearted u-turn, calling for action against the insurgents.

Today, we have groups who support Boko Haram, some who want them wiped out, while there is sabotage in our Army. The image of our military, police and SSS has been compromised, and the opposition party does not seem to care about the future of Nigeria.

People now arrange GEJ’s phantom movement to Chibok, and when he does not turn up, opposition will use this against him.

Our elders and leaders use international media to settle political scores, denigrating the person of GEJ, forgetting that the same people would be discretionary in pouring invectives on their own home government where terrorism or their national security is at stake. Nigeria is indeed a nation in turmoil.

In 1966, Ndigbo asked for secession, but did not get it. In 1993, during the June 12 struggle, the Yoruba demanded to be left alone, but the ruling North quickly placated them by handing over power to one of theirs in 1999.

Now the North seems to be asking to go because by an act of God, GEJ, a Niger Deltan became President, and they would rather

We need to come together as Nigerians to pray for Nigeria; the war experiences of Biafra should bring us back to our senses

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break up the nation than accept it.Their reasons may well be that power can only reach them naturally by 2035 if things are allowed lo go smoothly. They therefore want the nation to go up in flame!

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merica’s game in this may well be to locate their joint operations base against insurgency outside Nigeria to monitor and ensure that we do not break up violently and constitute impossible refugee problems to the region and the world at large. It has become difficult to trust anyone now due to deception and corruption.

The conducts of many ethnic delegates at the National Confab suggest frustration and desire to part ways.

Nigeria is in a precarious and trying moment, and our fragile unity may snap should a bomb

Why celebrate Children's and Democracy days

BY ALEX AKPODIETE

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S is always the case with politics, many things are done for eye-service or what we believe others expect. However, the mark of a great leader is the ability to go against the grain. The band-wagon effect is very dangerous, but common place.

The bandwagon is not for visionary leaders, but rather the crowd that follows the leader’s dictates.

Since the kidnapping of the over 200 girls in Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, there has been several protests. Some have been well-intended, while others were clearly motivated by a desire to be in the limelight, especially by those enemies of the President who see it as a political opportunity. Anyway, sometimes opportunity in the midst of tragedy is symptomatic of politics of negativity.

To me it was appalling that the National Union of Teachers, NUT, went on strike to protest over Boko Haram when they knew that one of the main gravamen of Boko Haram’s complaint was Western education.

It is like biting off your ears to spite your face.

It is my position that we should celebrate Children's Day (May 27) and Democracy Day (May 29) this year. The method of celebration is left to various governmental entities, but the celebration must be visible to all, especially our detractors. Some people may wonder why celebrate these two days in the midst of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls and the precarious security situation in Nigeria. First, we should look at the history of both celebrations which are just two days apart.

Democracy Day is meant to celebrate the return to democracy after years of military subjugation and punctuation of all attempted civilian regimes since independence from Britain in 1960. Yes, some clamoured for it to be June 12 based on the emotion surrounding Chief MKO Abiola’s supposed victory in the 1993

presidential election. Others felt that it should be kept as part of October 1 lndependence celebration.Nonetheless, it is a day that represents our decision to shake off the shackles of dictatorship and never allow the military to return to power. The classic definition of democracy is government of the people by the people. It means a collective government of choice, not imposition. Boko Haram by virtue of everything they stand for oppose democratic ideologies and would prefer to impose their views on the rest of us, by any means possible. That is essentially what terrorism represents because it is defined as “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.”

Unlike Democracy Day celebration of May 29 which is a Nigeria phenomenon, Children’s Day is not limited to Nigeria, but rather an international celebration. The difference is that the day is celebrated on different days in different countries. Nonetheless, all countries have the same purpose behind the celebration, which is children’s well-being. Historically, Children’s Day was meant to honour children globally and was first established by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925, following the Geneva Declaration of the Right of the Child of 1924. Note that there is also a story that Children’s day is traceable to the archives of the pastoral church in Salem, USA in 1791 relating to the trial of children accused of witchcraft. Its counterpart, the International Day for Protection of Children, observed in many countries as Children’s Day on June 1 since 1950, was established by the Women’s International Democratic Federation on its congress in Moscow on November 22, 1949. Thereafter, Universal Children’s Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954 as a day for the benefit of children that should take place annually on November 20. Some credit V.K. Krishna Menu for first suggesting the date. Variants exist in countries around the world with Nigeria celebrating children on May 27 annually. In

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BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

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GEJ, let Nigeria pray

explode in any city in Southern Nigeria because of reprisal attacks that could erupt. Or if anything happens to GEJ to stop him from running in 2015.There is fear and tension arising from threats of bloodshed during the 2015 elections.

One sure way now is to go back to God who created Nigeria and put GEJ in power, knowing whom he is. Rather than protest all over the place, we need to come together as Nigerians to pray for Nigeria. The war experiences of Biafra, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Liberia, should bring us back to our senses and to that God we worship, because we need each other to remain in a better One Nigeria. We must do everything to avoid war.

GEJ is a praying man, with good testimony of what God can do. Our situation now calls for God’s intervention. Let GEJ declare a National Prayer where he will pray with known Generals of God, and all former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria.

GEJ should invite the following men who should eschew religious pride to a National Day of Prayer over Nigeria: Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor WF Kumuyi, Pastor Daniel Olukoya, Bishop Ayo Oritsejafor, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Rev.Umar Ukpai, Prophet T B Joshua, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kuka, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, Bishop Grace Idahosa, Pastor Emmanuel Kure, Pastor Gbile Akani, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and other Christian men of God selected to

The Chibok situation is a confluence of challenges to democracy and challenges to children; the actions of Boko Haram and their supporters are meant to scuttle our democracy

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Nigeria, primary and secondary school children usually engage in celebrations, including “March Past Parades” at government fields.

Two documents are significant as they concern children’s welfare. They are the “Declaration of the Rights of the Child” that was adopted by the UN General Assembly on November 20,1959 and the “Convention on the Rights of the Child” signed 30 years later on the same date. The Declaration of the Rights of the Child contains 10 enumerated rights, but the preamble states: “THIS DECLARATIONOFTHE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD to the end that he may have a happy childhood and enjoy for his own good and for the good of society the rights and freedoms herein set forth, and calls upon parents, upon men and women as individuals, and upon voluntary organisations, local authorities and national governments to recognise these rights and strive for their observance by legislative and other measures progressively taken in accordance with the following principles". So it is a clarion call on parents, upon men and women as individuals, and upon voluntary organisations, local authorities and national governments.

Child Right number 2 states that: "The child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal

represent all the states of Nigeria.

On the appointed day, GEJ should also pray with known Champions of Islam in Nigeria, but separately. He should pray with Christians from 9am to 12 noon, and move to join the Muslims to pray from 1- 3pm same day.

It should be a National Day of Fasting and Prayer by all. Nigerians must be in their Churches and Mosques from 9am till 3pm, worshipping, praying, and crying to God. All shops and offices must be shut, with no movements anywhere in Nigeria, including the war zone’s of the North East.

Those caught flouting the no movement order should be arrested and taken to any nearby Church or Mosque, where they must join in the prayers till 3pm.

Let us ask God together to forgive our sins against Him in dealing unfairly with our brothers in many forms, and for the innocent blood we have frequently shed over the land.

Let God heal the evils, corruption, and the many vices plaguing our nation and make us a greater nation than our enemies could imagine or think.

If we fail to cry to our God now, it may be loo late for us, and we have ourselves to blame. We lose nothing if we pray, and I suggest June 17, 2014, as Nigeria’s National Day of Prayer for peace and calmness. A prayerful nation shall remain a powerful nation. *Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In the enactment of laws for this purpose, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration”. We have failed in guaranteeing these rights as there are clear atrocities still being committed against children globally. Children are still brutalised, denied education, kept away from school, forced into early marriage, sent to bed nightly without food, subjected to torture and manual labor, used as sex-slaves, denied shelter and accommodation, and taken through other unmentionable hardships. Should we stop celebrating ‘child hood’because of all the wicked people?

The Chibok situation is a confluence of challenges to democracy and challenges to children. The kidnapped girls are children and the actions of Boko Haram and their supporters are meant to scuttle our democracy.

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elta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has asked for fasting and prayer on both days based on our current political and security exigencies.

This should not take away from our collective resolve to protect and honour children, but should rather strengthen us.

Jesus in Matthew 17:21 emphasised that certain demons (Boko Haram) cannot be dislodged except first by prayer and fasting.

When His disciples could not cure the epileptic son of a particular man, Jesus answered His disciples’ inquiry as to the reason for their inability to cure the young boy by telling them that ‘’this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasiing". We are further encouraged by the promise that “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chr. 7:14).

So, let us fast and pray, and thereafter take strong actions to kill off Boko Haram. We should never give in to the enemy.

•Prof. Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Land dispute Pastor, industrialist in fight to the finish

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO,ONITSHA

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HE land dispute between Pastor Sylvester Agu of Adonai Synagogue Church of Nigeria, Onitsha branch and Managing Director of Best Aluminium Manufacturing Company, BAMCO Limited, Chief Pius Nweke,assumed an alarming climax at the weekend, following the demolition of Pastor Agu’s residential house at the GRA, Onitsha, Anambra State, by the agents of Chief Nweke.

Some vigilante operatives, court officials and a policeman led by Nweke’s agents had stormed Agu’s compound at Plot 16/17 Extension to Magazine Layout, GRA, Onitsha at about 7.30 a.m. and allegedly pulled down Agu’s three-room apartment and a kitchen, thus rendering him and his entire family members homeless.

The demolition exercise, according to sources, was the second of its kind. The first was on Saturday, December 21, 2013 when only Nweke’s agents stormed Agu’s premises at about 7 am and allegedly demolished the building, after some policemen earlier swooped on his premises at about 5 am, searched all nooks and crannies for incriminatingobjects but could notfind any.

It was gathered that even when the policemen did not find any

had reached an advanced stage at the ministry, a combined team of a policeman,vigilanceoperativesand others who identified themselves as court officials numbering up to 15 entered the compound and allegedly pulled down the structures there, after moving the Pastor’s house-hold effects outside.

Reactingtothedevelopment,Agu told newsmen inside the premises that they came with a certified true copy of a court order as a warrant to carry out the demolition exercise, adding that they equally destroyed his electronic gadgets and poultry farm housing about 200 birds, killed so many of the birds and allowed others to fly away.

He further disclosed that he was yet to recover from the demolition of his house, when they re-appeared the next morning and carted away the zincs of the demolished house which he had used to cover some of the house-hold items against rain fall, adding that two days after, they came back and commenced erection of a fence round the land.

According to him: “I bought the land in 2007 from Justice Francis Nwokedi (retd), a prominent Onitsha indigene and one-time Chief JudgeoftheoldAnambraStatewho issuedmewithagenuinedocument of ownership. When I went to the Ministry of Lands, they verified and

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A combined team numbering up to 15 entered the compound and allegedly pulled down the structures there; they equally destroyed his electronic gadgets and poultry farm housing about 200 birds, killed so many of the birds

weapon or incriminating object on him, they still whisked him off to Area Command Headquarters, Onitsha for interrogation and detention, based on an alleged petition to the police by Nweke that Agu is a suspected leader of the MovementfortheActualisationof the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB. It was gathered that after the demolition exercise, Pastor Agu rebuilt the house some days later and continued residing in it, while waiting for a Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, which he said he is still processing at the Anambra State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development.

But last weekend, while still waiting for the C of O which he said

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assured me that the land was vacant and had not been allocated to any one else and the officials even advised me to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy which I did and which they are processing for me at the moment”.

He argued that Nweke could not have acquired the land since 1999 as claimed because if he did, he would have seen me moving into the compound in 2007 when I acquired the land.

He, however, noted that he had gone to the Ministry at Awka and alertedtheofficialswhodirectedhim to write a petition and forward to them so that they would commence investigations into the matter with a view to ascertaining the true posi-

*Pastor Agu’s residential apartment pulled down by an eviction team

••Some of his household effects thrown outside during the operation tion on the matter.

He also noted that he had reported the matter to both the Central Police Station, CPS, Onitsha and Area Command Headquarters, for prompt action, even as he expressed disappointment with the lukewarm attitude of the police so far in the matter.

The Police Area Commander for Onitsha, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP who spoke to newsmen in a telephone chat, said Nweke’s group initially brought the court document to his office for assistance but he refused and asked them to go and get a written permission from the state Commissioner of Police, adding that they had just come back with the CP’s written authority.

Demolition exercise He, however, denied assigning any policeman to assist the court officials or the Nweke group, adding that the policeman who accompanied them to the demolition exercise was not sent by him. Meanwhile, the Onitsha zone of Anambra State Urban Development Board, ASUDEB had visited the compound and ordered astop-work

on the erection of the fence. The stop-work order followed a directive from the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Mr. Douglas Mba and some other officials of the ministry when they visited the scene on the invitation of Pastor Agu. Mba and his team had visited the scene, asked some questions and directed Onitsha Zonal ASUDEB to stop the Nweke group fromerectingthefence,pendingthe the outcome of investigations by the ministryastowhoistheactualowner of the land.

In his own reaction, Chief Nweke told newsmen that he acquired the land as far back as 1999 from one Joshua Daniel who the land was allotted to by a one-time Military Administrator of Anambra State, Group Captain Rufai Garba.

He said Joshua Daniel issued himwithaPowerofAttorneyin1999 with a Survey Plan No. ANO (A) 176 tracing No. ANS-N-448, adding that he would have developed thelandsincethen,butfortheblockage of a track road leading into the compound. He explained that the only entrance road leading to the compound was blocked by a fence built by Justice Joe Iguh (retd) and all his efforts to persuade Iguh to remove a portion of the fence to en-

able him create an access road to the compound proved abortive as Iguh refused to obliged him, until such a time when the Ministry officials intervened and demolished Iguh’s fence.

Nweke recalled that when the ministry demolished Igu’s fence for the first time, he re-erected it, but for the second time, the ministry demolished it and he now came for negotiations which entailed him (Nweke)having to pay for the carving out of the entrance road and to repay Iguh for the demolished fence and gate.

He said he spent over N3 million for this purpose beforetheentrance road to his own land was then created in 2013. He added that it was afterthecreationoftheentranceroad to the compound, last year, that he discovered that an illegal squatter in the person of Pastor Agu was residing inside the compound in a thatched house.

Alternative residence He said he had sent his agents to approach Agu several times since that 2013 to find an alternative residence for himself and vacate his land but he would not listen, which prompted his decision to obtain a court order to throw him out.

He, however, admitted that the ministry officials have intervened in the matter and asked both parties to produce their documents with which they are basing their claims to the ownership of the land.

Insisting that it was the lack of entrance road that prevented him from developing the land over the years, Nweke advised Agu to beware of con men who pose as ministry officials and who are extorting him in the name of processing a C of O for him, adding that he should quietly park his belongings and leave the premises as he (Nweke) is determined to assume rightful ownership of the land.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 21

Nigeria’s retail sector has bright future — Oduoza

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hillips Oduoza, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, says that Nigeria’s retail sector holds huge potential for growth. Oduoza said this in a keynote address at the 2014 ‘Retail Leaders Conference held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

The UBA boss, represented by the bank’s Director of Consumer Banking, Mr. Ilesanmi Owoeye, listed several factors driving the growth of Nigeria’s retail industry. These factors include; the ongoing reforms in key sectors of the Nigerian economy aimed at bridging infrastructural gap, reducing unemployment levels, improving literacy level and improving access to funding by SMEs, which will significantly impact the level of disposable income and effective demand in the near future, affording the sector unprecedented growth opportunity.

He also identified increasing technology penetration in Nigeria as another factor driving the growth of the retail sector as this is giving retailers access to valuable market information about purchasing trends as well as segment preferences, making it increasingly easy to adapt sales and marketing approaches and improve consumer experiences. Another factor is the increasing penetration of the informal sector by retailers.

“Without doubt, the continuous rise in mobile technology will be pivotal to the next stage of the retail market development, fuelling its integration with the global retail trade economy and significantly increasing its ease of doing business. This prospect is already becoming evident in the rising trend of online retailers are increasingly gaining traction and matching the emerging sophistication of Nigerian consumers’ changing demand and payment patterns.”

Oduoza said.

From left: Head, Women Banking, Access Bank Plc, Titilola Familoni; Founder, Kudirat Abiola Initiative for Democracy, Hafsat Abiola-Costello; and the Managing Director, 100% Nigeria Limited, Adaobi Alex-Oni; at the Role of Women in Emerging African Democracies (ROWEAD) Conference 2014, in Lagos.

CBN warns banks on appointment of chief compliance officers

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned banks to stop flouting its directive on the appointment of Chief Compliance Officer (CCO).

The apex bank gave this order via a circular, titled, “Status and Reporting line of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks”. The circular, which was signed by Mr. K.O. Balogun for the Director of Banking Supervision department stated, “Information available to the CBN has revealed that Chief Compliance Officers of some banks and discount houses are below the grade of General Manager without prior approval of the CBN. Equally worrisome, is the fact that most of them do not report directly to the Board of Directors. This is a flagrant disregard

Group embarks on entrepreneurship programme to fight poverty, unemployment

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he Ambassadors Initiative for Development and Empowerment, a civil society organisation (CSO), says it is running an entrepreneurial training programme to fight poverty and youth unemployment in the country.

The organisation’s Programme Officer, Mr Yusuf Goje said in Abuja the programme was to empower a lot of young people. He said such an empowerment would help them to engage in entrepreneurship initiatives.

“Basically, as an organisation, we have a centre which is a vocational and technology institute and through this centre we give women and youths scholarships to acquire various skills.

We are also running a programme

called ‘Global Partnership for Poverty Reduction in Nigeria’, because we believe that the fight against poverty and unemployment cannot be left in the hands of government alone. Civil society groups and the private sector must come in to help in addressing the problem,” Goje said.

Goje urged the three tiers of government to involve Nigerian youths in the process of policy formulation and implementation “One of the major issues is that youths have been marginalised in terms of policy formulation and implementation.

The youths are always used as instruments to achieve ulterior motives and not for their own interest.

to extant laws and regulations on the subject. “ For the avoidance of doubt: The CBN circular ref BSD/2/2002 dated 8th August, 2002 and FPR/DIR/GEN/ 001/022 dated 18th July 2013 directed that banks and discount houses should designate Chief Compliance Officers, not below the grade of a General Manager to , among other things, apply the provisions of the relevant Acts and circulars on money laundering at various levels of their institutions; and Section 9(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended) also requires them to designate, at management level, Chief Compliance Officers in their Head Offices and branches, who have the relevant competence, authority and independence to implement their institutions AML/ CFT Compliance Programme.

“Paragraphs (I) and (II) are reinforced by sections 7(1) and 7(2) of the CBN AML/CFT Regulation, 2013 (as amended). IV. Section 7(2) of Central Bank of Nigeria (AML/CFT in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria) Regulations, 2013 stipulates that the Chief Compliance Officer shall be appointed at management level and shall report directly to the Board on all matters under the Regulations.

“On the basis of the foregoing, all Deposit Money Banks and Discount Houses must ensure: that no Chief Compliance Officer in their institutions is below the grade of General Manager without the CBN prior approval; that he/she reports to the Board of Directors with dotted lines to the MD/CEO without interlocking roles. Accordingly the particulars of

all current CCOs with evidence of the CBN approval of same and reporting line should be forwarded to the Director Banking Supervision within 1(one) week from the date of this letter.

“The CBN also observed with concern the lack-lustre attendance of CCOs to the monthly meetings of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria (CCCOBIN), resulting in the inability of the forum to form the required quorum necessary to take vital decisions pursuant to its mandate. Going forward, CBN will monitor the attendance by CCOs at the monthly meetings of the CCCOBIN and will not hesitate to take the appropriate regulatory action to stem the unsatisfactory attendance at this important forum.”

181.55

0.2

3,023.00

+22.00

17.45

0.07

110.34

-0.20

104.18

-0.17

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

154.73 260.6272 211.0981 172.8441 1.5183 0.3025 237.7674 24.7968 41.2547 28.2756

SELLING 155.23 261.4694 211.7803 173.4026 1.5232 0.3125 238.5358 24.8773 41.388 28.367

155.73 262.3116 212.4624 173.9611 1.5281 0.3225 239.3041 24.9579 41.5214 28.4584

CBN Exchange rate as at 28/05/2014

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Julius Berger shareholders oppose planned N7.2bn capital raise … Petition SEC

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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hareholders of Julius Berger Nig. Plc have kicked against the proposed N7.2 billion capital raising exercise by the company, saying that the company is in good financial position and hence, does not require fresh capital injection.

A copy of the 2013 annual reports and accounts mailed to shareholders showed that Julius Berger is seeking to raise N7.2 billion fresh capital through Private Placement to core investors.

According to the company, the fresh capital to be raised will be used to strengthen the working capital, and the shareholders are expected to approve the new capital at the next Annual General Meeting on June 19, 2014.

However, the shareholders, under the aegis of Renaissance Shareholders Association, queried the rationale for raising meager N7.2 billion, saying that the Board and mangement must be pursuing a hidden agenda.

They, therefore, called on the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC to intervene by stopping the planned capital raising.

In a petition to the Board of Directors of the company and Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, titled “Our Observations/Objection: Raising of New Capital & Inefficient Management of

SFS Capital targets 12% annual return

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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From left: Mr. Emomoti Agama of Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC; Mr. Kolawole Balogun, representative, Director of Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN; and Mr. Bola Onadele KoKo, MD/CEO, FMDQ OTC Plc, at the maiden licensing ceremony of FMDQ’s dealing members, in Lagos.

Financial Resources – Julius Berger Nig. Plc” signed by the association’s president, Amb. Olufemi Timothy, they noted that there is every indication that the company is not being prudently managed.

They noted that the proposal if not stopped, may jeopardize the interest of ordinary shareholders who are the highest risk bearers in the chain of stakeholders, adding that the Board of Directors and the management if allowed to go ahead with the capital raising will simply squander the

proceeds through inefficient management.

The petition read in part, “Having gone through the financial statements/position of our company for the period ended 31st December, 2013, We, the shareholders of Julius Berger Nig. Plc under the aegis of Renaissance Shareholders Association Inc .observe that our company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc requires no new/ additional capital, whatsoever, as proposed by the board, management. It is a need for mismanagement, fraud, vested

IST settles cases worth N351.9bn in 19yrs

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

BITS Briefs

he Investment and Securities Tribunal, IST, has settled cases worth over N351.9 billion from the time of its inception in 1995 and now, says Mr. Wale Ojo, Head, Lagos Zonal Office, IST. The Tribunal has also handled over 600 cases within the period and has successfully dispensed of many.

Ojo, who spoke at a press briefing ahead of Finance Week West Africa, being put together by Montgomery West Africa from June 5-6, 2014 in Lagos, said it takes the Tribunal maximum of three months to dispense of cases brought before it.

According to him, the quick resolution of cases has gone a long way in engendering confidence in the securities market, adding “investors now believe that the era of impunity has gone; you now have a court where you can ventilate your anger, where you can come up and seek reprieve. I believe the tribunal is a trust mechanism put in place to make people have stronger confidence in the market.” .“This has allowed us to judiciously and timely resolve matters. So, if a matter is filed, we know that by time we sort out the preliminary, within the first one month, we will begin the trial and after the trial, within three

months, we will conclude the matter,” he said.

Saying that IST has been receiving acclaim from other international securities market regulators, Ojo stated that all stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market have been happy with the Tribunal’s activities.

“All the stakeholders have always been happy about the activities of the Tribunal, talking about stockbrokers, investors, registrars, issuing houses. In fact, you see investors that are so happy that they could get their money back. People are very happy with the Tribunal,” Ojo stated.

Also speaking, Dr. Wura Abiola, Managing Director/Management Transformation, Montgomery W/A, said the company intends to contribute to the development of the region by empowering and connecting financial leaders across West Africa through the event.

“This leading conference mapping West Africa’s finance developments will discuss strategy, innovation and share knowledge on best practices where new technologies can be evaluated and new age business intelligence strategies explored to attract investment,” she stressed.

“With the country firmly at the heart of many multi-nationals African expansion plans, the formation of a national sovereign wealth fund designated to secure the benefits of oil revenues for future generations, and the strong

interest, self seeking and or deliberate attempt at distorting the balance sheet of the company.

The new capital being proposed may be squandered through inefficient management. The present state of the financial position of our company, to the best of our knowledge, is stable and solid unless proved otherwise. What we need is management efficiency and prudence.

Making reference to the 2013 audited financial statement to be approved by shareholders at the upcoming annual general meeting, they observed that the company’s total equity as at year ended December 31, 2013 stood at N21 billion; retained earnings was N18 billion, while amount due from customers (debors) stood at N21 billion. Total assets (equities & liabilities) for the same period, according to them, stood at N227 billion, while cash and bank balances rose to N20 billion, saying “ with this state of our balance sheet, an efficient finance manager would know that our company does not need fresh capital, at least for now.”

“Examining this balance sheet, as posted, very well, in accordance with internationally accepted financial prudential guidelines and economic management of resources point of view of any construction company like ours, we are of the opinion that Julius Berger Nig. Plc is not being prudently managed, as it is now,” they stated.

FS Capital Nigeria Limited said it is targeting a minimum of 12 percent return-on-investment per annum using its recently launched SFS Fixed Income Fund.

The investment product is a collective investment scheme registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, and has a top rating of AA (Double A).

According to the Prospectus, all investors that subscribed to the fund would be entitled to the return irrespective of time of entry and exit provided funds remain with the fund manager for at least one month. Exit from the investment takes maximum of five days after a request is made.

The investment product invests exclusively in fixed income products such as Federal Government Bonds and CBN Treasury Bills (with ‘AAA’ rating) and blue chip corporate bonds and commercial papers with a minimum of ‘A’ rating.

Other parties to the fund include: Skye Trustees (Trustees), Skye Bank Plc (Receiving Bank), Securities Africa Financial Services (Stockbroker) and Stanbic IBTC Plc (Custodian).

AFC’s Andrew Alli wins African Banker Icon Award 2014

T

he African Banker has awarded Andrew Alli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) with The African Banker Icon of the year, 2014.

The ‘Icon’ category is awarded to an individual or institution for their outstanding contribution in the field of business, banking and finance.

They were chosen by the African Banker awards selection committee, which noted excellence in AFC’s area of expertise - infrastructure financing, its role in helping to change the perception of Africa, and, its contribution to the establishment of best global practice in the continent.

The award Committee highlighted Andrew Alli’s significance in putting infrastructure investment in Africa on the map, having successfully led AFC through another landmark year of high returns, improved shareholder value and establishing infrastructure investment as a true asset class in and of itself.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 23

Agriculture should be treated as business —Experts

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

E

xperts from the agricultural sector in Africa emphasized that shift in mindset is paramount in breaking the problem of low production of both food and cash crops on the continent.

The experts agreed that although Africa has a large labour force in its agricultural sector, comprising 57% of the working population, it still heavily relies on food imports.

“This means that farmers are simply not producing enough food to feed the continent’s surging population estimated at one billion people.”

In an interactive session titled “From Farm to Market” at the just concluded Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Kigali, Rwanda, the experts brought to light solutions to persistent challenges in the agricultural sector.

“Despite the fact that Africa has a rich biodiversity and most of the people are engaged in farming activities, production is still very wanting. Africa imports US $25 billion worth of food each year, with only US $1 billion coming from Africa.

It means that we are not fully exploiting the opportunities in this important sector,” Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina, said.

“It is high time we realized that agriculture can no longer be treated as a social activity or a normal development program. It

must be treated as a business and managed as an enterprise because it is the future of Africa’s socio-economic development.”

He said that mechanization and irrigation programs must be emphasized throughout the continent, while governments must concentrate on finding more incentives to farmers.

“We must think of mechanization; irrigation activity in Africa’s arable land is still as low as 3%, while farmers still predominantly use hoes to till their gardens. We need to use production methods that are

adequate, that add value and volume to the produce coming from farms,” he said.

“Governments should ensure that farmers’ products have ready markets. They should also register all biometrics about the farmers in their countries, so that they follow them up and know all their challenges.”

According to the founder of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF), Philip Kiriro, Africa’s youthful population should be trained to develop agri-business models that not only create jobs but also contribute significantly to the continent’s food basket.

Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Lanre Bisiriyu; Commissioner for Agric, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Opebiyi during the 2014 ministerial press briefing to commemorate 3rd anniversary of the government.

IFDC complements FG’s farmers registration exercise

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

T

HE International Fertiliser Development Centre, IFDC, has further complemented the registration of farmers under the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, GES, with ‘GES Touch And Pay’, GES-TAP. The FCT Coordinator, GES-TAP, Mr. Bisi Ilebani, said the organisation deemed it necessary to embark on the registration exercise of farmers in the FCT and Sokoto State, following complaints from farmers who could not access fertiliser and seeds under the GES. According to Ilebani, IFDC had employed a sophisticated technology that makes it easier for smallholder farmers to have access to farm inputs and to weed out corrupt practices perpetrated by some persons who claim to be farmers, and also protect genuine farmers and agro-allied dealers, including banks that gave loan to agrodealers.

Ilebani said: “In the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, we noticed series of challenges, the major one was the issue of mobile networks in some villages. We were on the field and we saw all these challenges, where some agro-dealers could not get their money on time after the supply to farmers. As we looked at it we decided to introduce GES-TAP. “The GES-TAP is a programme funded by DFID but implemented

by IFDC, and was approved by the federal government. The way GESTAP works is the farmer is to come with the following means of identification, international passport, driver’s licence, old or new national I.D card, and voters’ card.

At least 95 per cent of rural farmers will have INEC voters’ card.

“We have registered 106, 000 farmers in FCT, and since the government launched the GES such number of farmers had not been registered.

“We have 250 enumerators on the field across the FCT, and 25 supervisors. The enumerator at the registration centre request the farmer to provide his or her means of identification then the farmer is snapped with the ipad for his or her passport photograph, and also his or her information is captured, then a green electronic TAP card is being issued to the farmer.

“When the time for redemption comes the farmers will use the TAP card issued to him or her at the designated redemption centres to get their farm inputs and also make payments. We will suspend farmers found to be fraudulent.”

Ilebani said the challenge so far on the registration of the farmers in FCT was distance from some farmers to the registration centres, which IFDC through GESTAP had proffered some sought of solution.

“The major challenge during this exercise had been the distance some farmers have to cover to get to the registration centres, and we feel worried about how can they be able to even redeem their inputs.

Quarantine Service eases process of certification

By RICHARD UDOFIA

T

he National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) has come up with structures that will ease the procurement of necessary documents for agriculture produce export and import.

Mike Nwaneri, co-coordinating director, NAQS, speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Lagos weekend disclosed that when the new process is fully lunched, stakeholders will need to log onto the service website from the comfort of their homes to process import permits and certificates.

While acknowledging that securing documents at present come with some challenges, he said the service is worried that Nigeria’s export market is facing serious challenges from international trade partners due to some agricultural exports leaving the country with forged certificates.

“These commodities are usually intercepted by importing countries. Exporters have lost millions of dollars through this illegal and unwholesome process. This has been a source of frequent embarrassment to our country. It is hoped that this web based process application will eliminate all these.”

According to him, NAQS focuses on facilitating export just as import, saying “ when we ask people to submit the agricultural items they want to export for inspection, screening and certification, they look at it as a means of delaying their business transactions or introducing bottlenecks.

“But the fact is that no country in the world wants pests and diseases to be brought from another country into their country and they would do everything possible to ensure that unless an agricultural item meets their specifications, it is not allowed into their country.”

Apart from the poor image the rejection of food in the international market gives to the exporting country, the exporter also loses a lot of money when the items get destroyed.

Mike Nwaneri disclosed that quarantine bodies globally ensure commodities and materials for exports undergo some form of treatments before they are qualified for certification, adding that they are equally adopting the use of service providers to carry out this function.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Chef training is like war zone — Chef Wisdom

Songhai Rivers built for eco-tourism

He started his journey as a chef from the bottom of the ladder as a Trainee with Transcorp Hilton Hotel after his secondary education in Ilorin, Kwara state.

Today, Chef de Partie. Raji Ayodele Wisdom is number four in the Transcorp Hilton hotel’s kitchen hierarchy after further Kitchen management courses with The Hague Hilton University.

In this interview with JIMOH BABATUNDE, the father of four opens up on his profession saying training to be a professional chef was like working in a war zone. Excerpts:

O

n why he chose to be come a professional

cook.

It’s primarily because I love food and I have passion for cooking. Also, cooking runs in our family as my father was an accomplished baker.

On his training and what it was that like.

I did my basic kitchen traini n g a t Transcorp Hilton Abuja. I have also been to a few places to acquire knowledge and I have worked with different Executive Chefs and other chefs from different countries like China, Spain, Italy and most recently, Korea.

Training to become a professional Chef is like working in a war zone- you either survive or you quit. On a personal note though, it has been fun being a professional Chef.

On the challenges.

Sour and Sweet but thank God I scaled through because of the interest and passion I have for cooking.

If giving another chance, would you do it again.

I am now a trainer but learning is a continuous process in life, you have to keep updating your knowledge continu-

ously in order to meet the changing expectations and preferences of the guests.

On best cooking tip for a novice.

SPAGHETTI A LA RAJI is boiled spaghetti with chopped cherry tomatoes (baby tomato), basil leaves ( curry leaves), soya oil, salt, diced red pepper, diced onion and clean dry Cray fish and garlic.

On advice he would offer a young person interested in getting into the culinary industry.

Believe in yourself, don’t be discouraged or distracted at the beginning and know that a light awaits you at the end of the tunnel.

On favorite gadget to work with.

Kitchen Knife and Phone.

On funniest kitchen incident.

A young chef was asked to clean cooked eggs and to chop it after cleaning. He got it cleaned and ate it all. When asked by the senior chef why he ate the eggs, he replied ‘ you asked me to chop it after cleaning and I have done that sir ’. The senior chef asked again ‘where are the chopped

By CHRIS ONUOHA

T

Raji Ayodele Wisdom eggs?’ ‘In my stomach sir’ the young chef replied.

On favorite food to cook with.

Sauces, seafood and steak in a new way.

On importance of food culture to Nigerians today and if they are still handing down traditional recipes to the younger generations.

Every Nigerian loves and holds traditional food in high esteem both at home and abroad. Each native food car-

ries its traditional identities anywhere it’s being eaten.

For example, if you attend any party and you see Amala, you will know that the host is a Yoruba. So it is gratifying to note that our eating culture is still intact and the interested younger generation will continue to live with it, grow with it and get the necessary training as well.

On what he eats at home.

I eat any of my wife’s specials.

Centenary celebration:

NIHOTOUR plans food fair

By CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA - IN a bid to promote Tour ism Sector in Nigeria, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has planned to host food fiesta to showcase African dishes to the world. The conference with the theme; ‘One Hundred Years of Food, Culture and Hospitality in Nigeria’ is to market Nigerian food varieties.

Director General of NIHOTOUR, Dr Munzali Dantata said there some eateries

or restaurants in the country that their foods project the name of continent they come from, therefore, they want to use Nigerian foods to project the country.

Dantata disclosed that the food fair that will hold next month will provide a platform for organizations that run hospitality businesses to promote their brands.

According to him, “the fair is focused on the best international standards and practices taking into consideration our cultural values,

customs and traditions, so as to ensure that the target audience and participants are satisfactorily informed, entertained and educated.”

The Board Chairman of NIHOTOUR, Kanayo O. Kanayo said the fiesta is to bring transformation in the food sector of Nigeria. ”We should set agenda in the food sector, we can create employment. As we celebrate the food fair, we should view it as part of the transformation agenda, we should help in marketing it.”

HE Songhai Rivers Development Initiative Farm (SRSDIF) that sits on a 314-hectares of land in Ogoniland was built with eco-tourism in mind by the government of Rivers state.

The coordinator of the farms, Tammy Jaja, who disclosed this in a chat said the government is interested in keying into the domestic tourism agenda as the farms holds lots of attractions for people.

“The Farm is being developed strategically as an integrated farm that would serve as one of the State’s agricultural development initiatives as well as tourist centre.

“The Songhai Farm is modeled to serve as a centre for training, research and development of sustainable agricultural practices which combines livestock, arable farming, fisheries, snail farming and poultry with an ambiance for ecological tourism.”

Tammy Jaja added “ what we are doing here is implementing an agricultural production side by side with eco-tourism. As you visit Songhai farm, you avail yourself the opportunity to see our plant, animals and our environment and how they all relate. It is purely a different environment.

“The ambiance is cosy enough to allow people all over to come here for a retreat; families, newly wedded couples, company executives on conference or research and anyone who wishes to have a quiet and relaxed time out. You will be coming here for eco-tourism. Government put this in place to encourage Agricultural production and ecotourism.”

He disclosed that there is plan in place to have a three star hotel on the farm as the project is already in the third phase, adding that on completion that the hotel with other facilities on ground will meet the hospitality need of visitors.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—25

13% Derivation: We won't ignore Obasanjo It was blackmail —Briggs

•Gbemi: Back in the fray

The Sarakis and Kwara:

Sibling rivalry S

ENATOR Bukola Saraki had until recently reigned supreme on the political landscape in his native Kwara State, easily shifting the political machine of the state from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Now, his immediate younger sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki has taken control of the rival PDP in an unfolding game that will amaze many.

S

ENATOR Bukola Saraki’s political dominance had become indisputable after the demise of his father, Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki, the only Nigerian to have raised two senators from his household.

Senator Gbemi Saraki who lost the 2011 governorship to the candidate handpicked by his brother had following the election taken a leave from the political field until recently when Bro. Bukola and his supporters including the governor decamped from the PDP. Since then, Gbemi who is said to have the ears of the national

The investors’ delight

— Filani, PDP S-west Chair

•Bukola: Kwara Political leader

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

Great Nigeria:

chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and some in the presidency, is believed to be strategising on means and methods to overthrow her brother’s political machine in the state.

The ministerial appointment for Kwara which insiders claimed was initially slated for Gbemi was reportedly scuttled by other stakeholders in PDP who, it was learnt, did not feel comfortable with Gbemi getting the plum position just weeks after rejoining them in the party.

Other stakeholders who are reportedly being considered for the slot include the Chairman, Federal Character Commission,

Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulrahaman , Deacon John Dara, and Engineer Sunday Adebayo Babalola among many others.

The grouse of those opposed to giving Gbemi a ministerial appointment and with it the leadership of the PDP in the state was that they could not after serving the late Oloye, serve his son and proceed now to serve his daughter.

But with the political horse trading and intrigues that dogged the state congress of PDP held on April 14, 2014 which produced the current state executive under the chairmanship of Akogun Iyiola

Oyedepo, a renowned lawyer, its has become clearer who is in charge of PDP in Kwara State.

Gbemi who was a member of House of Representatives for eight years and Senator for four years gave a political master stroke in that congress underlying correct tutelage under her late father.

Gbemi according to impeccable sources was able to get the majority of the executive

,

I N S I D E

submission and pledge loyalty to the winners after some little protest about alleged irregularities.

Oyedepo has since moved to assert the determination of the PDP to reclaim the state.

Briefing newsmen recently, he said issues that had in the past divided the stakeholders including the recent congress have been put behind.

“The great assignment of the rebranded PDP is to democratically capture political power in the state in year 2015 general election,” he said.

“We are on a rescue mission and the vision is to provide good governance for the depressed and oppressed people of Kwara State”.

“We equally have a mission to use the instrument of government to provide a platform of unity, love, fairness and justice in heterogeneous community of Kwara State” he stressed.

But in a swift reaction, the Kwara State chapter of the APC dismissed the PDP and its plans saying that a party that ‘lacks capacity’ to conduct successful congresses cannot govern a state successfully.

The APC in a statement by its publicity secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari berated the PDP for displaying a glaring dearth of capacity to comprehend government achievements, including comprehensive welfare packages for workers in the state.

It described the much talked about re-branding of the state PDP as a failed attempt to deceive the people of the state.

“For the unlucky PDP, the

The grouse of those opposed to giving Gbemi a ministerial appointment and with it the leadership of the PDP in the state was that they could not after serving the late Oloye, serve his son and proceed now to serve his daughter

including the chairman, Oyedepo, the secretary, Alhaji Alhassan Bamu and the state woman leader, Hajia Nimota Suleiman Oba Wankasi in an election the elder statesman Chief Barnabas Gemade and his team from the national headquarters of PDP supervised and declared as free and fair.

Though a rival group in the party had proposed Mr. Bode Ojomu for the chairmanship under the aegis of what they dubbed the Freedom Group, the group, however, came to

,

people of Kwara State who PDP intends to hoodwink by claims of re-branding, do not need Mr Iyiola Oyedepo (the state chairman of PDP) to address any press conference before they know the true state of PDP. “Kwarans are well informed, no amount of non-existing claims or distorted figures or both can deceive them.

As the two political parties buckle under the eagle eyes of the Sarakis,the electorates again will decide where the pendulum will swing when the time comes.

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

13% Derivation: It

was blackmail —Annkio Briggs

MS Annkio Briggs, an environmental activist from the Niger-Delta region and a Federal Government delegate to the National Conference, in this interview speaks on the controversy trailing the recommendation of the Committee on Devolution of Powers for the retention of 13 per cent derivation. Excerpts:

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

H

OW would you assess the three weeks work of your committee on Devolution of Powers?

The Devolution of Powers Committee is a very hot committee. Ironically, it is number one on the list of committees. I don’t know why that is so. But it is a very strong committee because of the issues that we had to discuss.

We had to discuss fiscal federalism, resource ownership. On the list, we called it resource control but we from the South-South call it resource ownership. We had to discuss revenue sharing formula, derivation, etc. And I think derivation is the most critical of them all.

Issues about onshore/ offshore, NDDC, Ministry of Niger-Delta and Amnesty were also brought to the table.

The issues were used, if you like, by the people who are against our asking for increment of the 13 per cent derivation to 50 percent.

Those issues were used as a platform for what I call now blackmail because if you look

Niger-Delta were proposed to the Niger-Delta people as means of trying to calm down the agitation at that time for justice, for the Federal Government to actually begin to address the issues that led to the armed agitation.

In my committee, those were used as a threat to say that if you insist on 50 percent derivation, then we are going to insist on arguing on the offshore/onshore, removing the Niger-Delta Ministry, NDDC and amnesty. But these are things that are backed by law.

Was that why the committee witnessed a lot of stormy sessions?

In that committee, we were talking about the resources that come from Niger-Delta and the pain and anguish we the people of Niger-Delta are suffering because those things are being exploited in the Niger-Delta and that on top of these sufferings, they have nothing to show for it except the 13 percent derivation that we are getting.

So, it was a very stormy session. It was a divide, if you like, right down the middle.

,

That we wanted 50 per cent was never discussed. It was put on the table and withdrawn. I refused to withdraw that position. I refused to withdraw the demand by my people, my people want 50 per cent at the issue of onshore/ offshore dichotomy, this thing has gone to court. It has reached the Supreme Court and the National Assembly also has dealt with it. The Ministry of Niger-Delta is an agency that was put together for the people of Niger-Delta based on the agitation of the Niger-Delta people against injustice, lack of development and environmental degradation.

Then if you look at the issue of amnesty and the Ministry of Niger-Delta, during the late Yar ’Adua’s time when there was armed agitation for justice in the Niger-Delta, which in anyway I do not accept to be compared to what Boko Haram is doing. These are two different things. The amnesty and Ministry of

,

It was the North speaking against the South in terms of what they want and the South against the North in terms of what they want. It was very stormy. It was abusive. There were abuses and name calling.

But that is to be expected as far as I am concerned. The point was that I personally want it to be on record that I was able to stand for what my people had shown and indicated and have always wanted which is an opportunity to say what we want.

What is your take on your committee’s retention of 13 percent derivation?

My people want the issue of derivation to rise to 50 percent.

Now, what we are actually

•Briggs: We don't agree on the issue of derivation. saying is, it should go up to 50 percent or we control the resources and pay not less than 50 per cent tax to the Federal Government.

So whichever one is acceptable, it is okay by us.

But where I found myself highly disagreeing with the rest of my committee members is where they said that the status quo remains. It was not the issue of derivation.

That we wanted 50 percent was never discussed. It was put on the table and withdrawn. I refused to withdraw that position. I refused to withdraw the demand by my people.

50 per cent derivation My people want 50 percent and as a matter of fact, they have emphasized now that it is either 50 percent derivation or we get our resources 100 percent and pay not more than 50 percent tax to the Federal Government. Now, the fact that I found myself standing alone in that committee does not surprise me and it doesn’t bother me at all.

What would have bothered me was if I was not able to stand on that which is what my people want and I have stood by my people and I have said it. Now, however it turns out and the reaction that may or may not follow it will be determined by my people and

not by me.

Are you saying there is still no love lost between the North and the South after the work?

We are human beings. We are in the same committee. We don’t hate ourselves. But we definitely do not agree on the issue of derivation.

I don’t see how anybody can say we agree when I am saying no and the rest of the committee is saying yes including all the other southerners and even SouthSouth people. I am not the only South-South person.

There were four others including me. But I am the one from the South-South who is resisting that.

Should the recommendations of your committee sail though without your approval, what will you do?

In committees like this when there is a dissenting voice, that voice must be heard. I think on that basis, I have no worries and fears. At the very least, I will be able to present why I have chosen not to agree with my committee on the issue of derivation.

There are speculations that the conference is subtly promoting the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan...

As a delegate, nobody has told me to secretly fight for Jonathan to finish his tenure

and then to have the opportunity to serve another tenure between 2015 and 2019.

It is entirely up to the Nigerian electorate to decide whether Jonathan can come back or not. The PDP will decide whether they will give the ticket to Jonathan or not.

Killings and kidnapping But I, Annkio Briggs, have the sole right to decide for myself who I want to support and I have never made secret of the fact that I support Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a President of Nigeria not just because he is from the SouthSouth but because he has done a good job as the president of this country since he was elected into office in 2011 till now.

He is turning out to be the best president Nigeria has had. But people don’t have to agree with me. I don’t expect them to agree with me. That’s my own opinion.

If people are canvassing that then we also should be allowed to canvass the fact that what is happening in Nigeria today, the killings and the kidnapping of the little girls and the killings of Nigerians all over Nigeria are being perpetrated to stop Jonathan from being president of Nigeria in 2015; it is being done to even stop him from finishing his first tenure.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—27

We won't ignore Obasanjo — Filani, PDP S-West Chair CHIEF Ishola Filani is the chairman of the South west zonal caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The status of the committee was recently revalidated by a Federal High Court. In an interview following the court pronouncement, Filani, a long standing senior party apparatchik spoke to Vanguard on his plans to restore the ascendancy of the party in the Southwest.

Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HAT does the court judgment reinstating your executive mean for the PDP in the Southwest?

It means that the gap had existed since August when the congress was supposed to have been held and officers elected has now been filled and party activities in the Southwest will commence just like any other zone.

Given the history of factionalisation of the party in the zone, how confident are you about bridging the differences with the other camp?

I don’t know what you mean by the other camp.

You have people like Engr. Oni and their supporters.

Engr. Oni has left the party. So, we have no issues and when we (exco) were there we were bridging all the gaps and we succeeded in it and whatever little problems that are now arising and as far as we are concerned we are up to it and with the assistance of the state chairmen who we have been working with, we will be able to manage the affairs of the Southwest.

Affairs of the south west The important thing is for us to win the elections in Ekiti and Osun which will show how much progress we have made. So, as far as we are concerned most of our people are now together and it is our duty as the zonal executive to ensure there is no problem between them any longer.

So how do you hope to achieve reconciliation with members like President Obasanjo who said he is not going to partake in the affairs of the party?

We are going to talk to everybody, we are going to make them realize that as far as we are concerned, we do not want anybody to leave our party. We want unity among our leadership, unity amongst the members and leadership of the party in the six states that form the Southwest geopolitical zone.

We want a situation where all of us, particularly those of our

members and elders who we know have achieved so much in life, that we cannot afford not to bring back into the fold. Our executive is on a peace making mission and we are going to give everybody the opportunity to help us build the party. Take somebody like Obasanjo, he has been the head of state twice in this country, we cannot afford to lose him because of his wisdom, because of his experience and because of all the good things he can bring into the party. We would exploit all avenues to ensure that those who are still in the party and those who are going to help us build the party are brought together and we are not going to in any way discriminate. Our focus is to win the southwest and we have two elections now, one next month, the other in August.

So we have no time for any pettiness and we are imploring everybody, all our leaders, all our leaders in all the states and all our leaders who have been helping us to rebuild the party.

We are going to consult with all of them.

Our major intention now is that whoever says he is not happy, we will make him happy, total reconciliation and to ensure that there are no fallouts, that will disenable us in the June and August elections. So, everybody is welcome. We appreciate the worth of everybody. I want to say that from our father, Obasanjo to the last man in the party we are going to make sure that we all work together.

How are you reconciling your

•Filani: Our focus is to win the southwest party members who lost out in the gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti and Osun?

All the aspirants that contested are now working together. God has given us the wisdom to be able to manage that affair. It is the making of God, it is not our making. Everybody was expecting that because the 13 aspirants were on one side and Fayose who eventually became the candidate was on the other side, everybody was expecting that we were going to have serious issues. But fortunately for us by the intervention of party elders, national executive, the president and everybody we have been able to obtain maximum cooperation from all the other candidates. Everybody has put behind him their own personal interests and what is important to them now is how we can work together now and the same thing is happening in Osun.

Given the background of your candidate who was impeached from office, some wonder whether he was the best your party could produce?

Well, the particulars of the impeachment are not known to me. What constitutes the impeachment, I do not know.

The fact that you are impeached by the House of Assembly does not mean that you have committed any offence either against the party or against the law. If you read the provisions of the law relating to impeachment it is not a criminal issue, and that is why this impeachment thing must be reviewed because it gives the exclusive power to the House.

The question we ask ourselves is in most cases, have these Houses not abused the power?

When 25 people come into the House and now review what the totality of the registered voters in the state did all because of one animosity or the other between them and the governor, that has challenged the feelings of the people, the authority of the people who voted and it could be for personal reasons.

It would have been another matter if the impeachment had features of criminality, then he would have been handed over to the police and tried on the offences that constitute the reason for him to have impeached him.

But nothing like that happened.

To the best of my knowledge I do not think Fayose was impeached because of an offence that was

criminal in nature.

What are your expectations in the election?

Our expectation is that we would win. Some people are saying that we are fighting an incumbent and all that. The issue is that in Osun Aregbesola did not win any election. In Ekiti, Fayemi did not win any election.

I am a lawyer and I can tell you that an election can be annulled by technical reasons and that was what happened in these two states. In terms of numerical strength we have always been more than the ACN and now APC and we are still more in Ekiti and Osun.

Governor Fayemi has said that the only way Fayose can win is through rigging and that that is what you are planning.

You know the propaganda of the APC is very high. Rather than propagating ourselves on the pages of the newspaper, what we do is that we sit down and plan, we work hard.

Sitting down to plan Fayose and members of our party don’t sleep, they are always on the streets, touring every ward in Ekiti and the same thing Omisore is doing in Osun.

The whole world that all that the APC is interested in is noise, noise, noise. Whatever they want to do, they will start accusing you that you are the person who wants to do it. So, as far as they are concerned so that the entire world would take their eyes of them, that is why they are making the noise they are trying to rig.

Are you not bothered that the two immediate past governors in Ekiti and Osun who are from the PDP are fighting against your quest in the elections?

The reason that they are doing that is obvious. The two of them their election as national vice chairman and national secretary were voided by the courts.

But Oyinlola was reinstated No he was not reinstated, the court said his removal was wrong! There is a difference between that and reinstatement.

Insecurity 'll worsen without credible polls — Ikunna BORN in England in 1966 where he spent the first 10 years of his life, Joseph Chukwuka Ikunna, an entrepreneur with exceptional management skills and the founder of the Joseph Chukwuka Ikunna (JCI) foundation, has recorded impressive achievements in the business world as well as in humanitarian services. As an entrepreneur, Joseph Ikunna sits atop various businesses which cut across oil and gas and general commerce. An active member of ‘Ndi Igbo Lagos’, he was one-time chairman of the labour Committee of ‘AkaIkenga’ and also a member of the Nigerian Institute of marketers. In this interview, Ikunna, shares his aspirations and dreams of a more prosperous Imo State.

BY UJU MBANUSI

W

HAT inspired the JCI foundation?

Being a strong believer in the concept of giving, I have always

believed that if God blesses you, you must share those blessings with people who have less and who don’t have the same opportunities as you.

Accumulation of

wealth is therefore not important; we should strive for a positive legacy, by positively impacting and influencing the lives of the people around us through our deeds.

Understanding this and witnessing the level of poverty around me, in 2009, my wife and I decided to start the JCI foundation.

In what ways has the foundation impacted on the lives of the people of Orlu Senatorial zone and Imo State?

In Orlu zone, we’ve rehabilitated impassable roads, installed street lights in some communities, which are powered daily by our generators, provided water in communities that do not

Continues on page 28

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

T

HAT Nigeria is a great country is axiomatic; that the Nigerian economy (with all its imperfections) is the greatest in Africa has now been widely accepted through the rebasing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigeria is so great that it is often described as the ‘Giant of Africa‘.

Many celebrated apologists of the Federal Government including of course, the paid officers of the nation (ministers, advisers and assistants) have continued to render sonorously the chorus of ‘Stability of the Economy‘ to anyone who cares to listen. In fact, the elegant statistical figures are there to support the joyful mood of an economically strong nation.

Recently, the sturdy Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Okonjo Iweala, who also bears a romantic acronym, Coordinating Minister for the Economy asserted that inspite of Boko Haram bombs all over the places, the new 25 investors would prefer only the maintenance of economic stability. Here is a scenario where political instability and insurgency are no longer factors affecting the flow of foreign investment into a country. It is also true that in certain peculiar circumstances, foreign investors would not care about the present (temporary) impediment but would be concerned mainly about the future yields (prospects) of their investments. Nigeria is adjudged lucky if such ‘godly‘ investors are still lurking around in the world.

But as it is often noted and agreed in some quarters: Let the Truth be told. By statistical figures, macro-economic stability is claimed to have been achieved in the Nigerian economy. In 2013, the rate of growth (GDP) was 7.3 per cent (one of the highest in the world); Inflation rate was kept below 10% (between 6% and 9%); foreign exchange reserves figure was about $40 billion (9 months import coverage); foreign exchange rate hovering between N155 to N172 to one dollar about two weeks ago. And worse of all, the Naira (the Nigerian currency) is always under

Great Nigeria:

The investors’ delight

pressure at the foreign exchange market every day, that experts expect eventual devaluation.

It should not be assumed that the band boys of economic stability have been bewitched to the extent that all the respected band leaders are getting away with economic misdemeanors.

The apologists of macro-economic stability often confess that though stability has been achieved, there are strong challenges in areas of unemployment and inequitable distribution of national income. The growing wealth of the country is unevenly distributed to the extent that extreme wealth and abject poverty grow side by side and unabated in many parts of the country. Also, little or no attention to rural areas has led to mass drift to urban centers which by civilized standards, lack tolerable living conditions.

It is also to be noted with considerable regret that the country‘s macro-economic stability is being achieved at the expense of full employment. The country‘s unemployment rate is estimated at about 30 per cent of the working population with young graduates, the unfortunate victims. It is like the slogan in the precolonial days, ‘we prefer self-government with danger to freedom in servitude‘. To the curious but rich supporters of the present management of the economy, it is, we prefer macro-economic stability to

attract foreign investments to deepening poverty and stunted manufacturing growth at home. The price is clear – unrest and social disorder.

The highly acclaimed macro-economic stability has been built on a punitive foreign exchange rate of more than N160 to one US dollar and a callous bank lending rate of over 20 per cent (MPR is 12 per cent). Rational economic thinking demands that an oil rich nation with good agricultural land (good prospects for export) should adopt a strong currency with low interest rates for domestic industrial expansion.

It is unbelievable, if not unthinkable, that an import dependent country like Nigeria, would continue to operate a devalued currency and high bank lending rates at home in the interest of ‘shaky-shaky‘ foreign investments and elusive inflation.

There is no doubt that the persistent adherence to the policy of devaluation (low value of Naira) has affected local industrial production and expansion which is necessary to counter inflation.

Importation of costly necessary capital equipment, spare-parts and raw materials would certainly affect domestic cost of production and prices – giving room for importation of cheaper goods and smuggling (incentives to manufacturers notwithstanding).

A more disturbing aspect of the foreign exchange market is the increasing role of

Insecurity 'll worsen without credible polls — Ikunna Continues from page 27 have, empowered women and youths with funds for training and to start up small businesses. We have also encouraged women through our breast and cervical cancer tests, of which a major round of testing will commence within the next couple of months. We’ve assisted organizations in building youth centres; donated exercise books, text books, chairs and desks to schools, embarked on youthfocused computer literacy training and also given out laptops and used clothes to youths and children. The foundation organises a number of sports competitions annually as a way of exposing grassroots talent to the state, country and the world.

In fact, there are a whole range of things we have done to empower our youths and women to a certain extent but there’s still a long way and a whole lot more that needs to be done.

So far, has the foundation received support from any organizations?

No, not at all because I have not solicited for that yet.

What is your advice to politicians on the 2015 elections?

Can we please have free and fair elections in 2015? Let there be no rigging, let INEC do its job properly. If we do not have free and fair elections, I fear that the security issues in this country will increase and more people will lose their lives.

While I say that we have to keep on fighting over and again for our democracy, I think 2015 is a time and a year in which the people of this country must fight more than ever before to protect our democracy, if not, the country Nigeria in its current form might not exist beyond 2015.

What is your thought on serving your people if called upon to do so via elections?

I have not made up my mind whether I want to contest for an elected position or what that position would be. However, if that opportunity arose and I see that it is feasible and the conditions are right, and it is at the request of the people that they want me to serve them in a particular capacity, after due consultation with my wife, I will probably consider it positively.

But it’s not something I will want to think about at this stage because we are still serving the people in different ways.

Electoral positions There has been a lot of speculations that I may be about to declare for certain electoral positions but those speculating do not understand how flawed our democracy is at the moment and what it takes to win.

Popularity and ability is not enough to win an election in Imo State today. You need a platform, and you need those that

•Ikunna: I have not made up my mind were there before you, to give you their blessing, otherwise one risk wasting the good will people have for one.

Are you at the moment affiliated to any political party based on their ideology?

I am not so sure that political parties in Nigeria are based on ideology. Most people go into politics today for what they want to gain and benefit. So when it comes to pure and strict ideology, I’ll tell you that, that political party has not yet been set up; and if it has, it has not been registered.

If I have to get involved in politics, I will have to join any of the existing parties; I have been a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) card-carrying member for a number of years now, so I think if I was going to

foreign oil companies in the supply of dollars – foreign oil companies sell dollars to relieve pressure on the Naira. It is known that the Nigerian crude oil is sold in dollar, and paid into the Central Bank.

The Central Bank pays the Nigerian recipients in Naira denomination at its own determined rate, instead of the ‘dollar certificate‘ often canvassed by Mr. Henry Boyo, a Vanguard Columnist.

However, the local foreign oil company also receives its sale of Nigerian oil in dollar, keeps a junk of it at home, and sells a small part to us at a rate of about N160 to a dollar.

What a bonanza to a foreign oil company which seems to be living free and bearing substantial cost of its operation from its profit derived from the exchange of dollar to Naira. The Nigerian receiver of oil money in Naira (States, Local Govt, etc) would have to purchase its needed dollar at higher price when the need arises.

The ideal policy for an import dependent country with oil is to adopt a strong currency in order to be able to have access to cheap imported materials. With a strong Naira, Nigeria will be able to import necessary capital equipments, spare-parts and raw materials at comparative cheaper prices and thus, should be able to produce cheaply at home for domestic consumption and exports.

Some countries pursuing common-sense economics, multiple exchange rates which would favour importation of certain necessary products and punish consumption of luxury goods. Many are suggesting an exchange rate of about N80 to a dollar or even less. It is a pity that Nigeria at the moment, because of low value of the Naira could only import second-hand goods while necessary goods can be brought in at enormous cost not available to many Nigerians.

Many patriots argue, and justifiably so, that what Nigeria needs is macroeconomic stability with tolerable inflation and mass employment.

get involved in politics, that’s where I will start from, not because of their ideology or anything, but to see what changes I can make to the society.

Above all, I will like to see a political party that encourages more young people and more women. We should have Senators in their 40’s, we should have governors in their 30s, and we should have people going to the Federal House of Representative in their 30’s. Look at the setup of the current confab and ask yourself whether it’s a reflection of the society in general, the answer to that is ‘no!’

A particular group of people that do not represent the statistics of the country as a whole have been sent to deliberate on matters that are very important to us all.

What is the average age in the confab and what is the average age in Nigeria?

When you look at its set up, you are forced to ask yourself, can these people possibly come up with what the entire society of Nigeria needs?

Our government is a poor reflection of the society. I am sure that if there had been more women in the Senate, they wouldn’t have been able to pass the bill on under-age child marriage.

I am sure that if the Imo state House of Assembly had between 30 to 50 percent of women, there would be a strong fight against female genital mutilation which goes on in Imo State today and has harmed the lives of thousands of women.

This is something I am very much against. We need strong legislation to protect our girls from rape, and strong punishments for perpetrators.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 29

I would have been playing for Barcelona FC if not for music –Praiz

By ANOZIE EGOLE

P

raiz needs no introduction in the Nigerian music scene as he shot himself to limelight after winning MTN sponsored Project Fame some years back. Just last year, the R&B singer joined the big league, when he was endorsed by the telecommunications giants as one of their ambassadors.

In this revealing interview, the handsome dude whose latest single, Mercy, has been enjoying massive airplay, talks about his forthcoming album, dropping in June and his nomination for the World Music Award.

What are you working on right now?

Nothing much, just working on the video for my new single, Mercy which was premiered recently. I am also working seriously for the release of my debut album and the introduction of the brand Praiz, which is set for June this year.

So, when is the album due to drop?

The album is due to drop June this year.

What’s the idea behind Mercy?

Basically, Mercy is a song about a girl called Mercy. She is very beautiful and I composed the song to show my appreciation, trying to tell the world how she drives me crazy.

Was music what you had in mind while growing up?

No. I loved Soccer, I was a huge fan of football and I play well too. I studied Computer Science in the university. I had this dream that I was going to be a big soccer star. I was dreaming to play for Barcelona FC because that has always been my club. I have played in several football clubs in the country back then in the North. For me, being an entertainer was something I never thought or dreamt of. But as nature has it, in everything we

I have played in several football clubs in the country back then in the North.

For me, being an entertainer was something I never thought or dreamt of

AMAA magic moments

Jim and Nadia have not broken up — Jim Iyke’s manager

are doing, God has another plans for us. He knows where to place you and how to use you to inspire people.

So, you stumbled into music?

Well,I would say that I started liking music because of my environment. Before I went into the higher institution, I had this friend who used to be a music producer. So most times, I used to go to the studio with him and from there, I learnt how to do many things. I learnt how to make beat, and how to produce some sounds. For me, my love for music started developing from there.

That is what I can say about my

adventure into the music world.

When you went to audition for Project Fame, did you have in mind that you were going to win?

Well, it is over 12 years now since I won the competition. I have been part of most music competitons in the country before I won that event. I have tried in different competitions but never went through. So, finally, I decided

Continues on page 30

Your phone is your health: See how

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Continues from page 29 to go for the audition of that season’s Project Fame. I travelled from Kaduna where I was staying with my parents to Abuja for the auditioning. In the first stage of the auditioning, I came third and proceeded to the final stage of the show. From there, I would say, my journey into the music industry begun. It was not easy at the beginning because you needed to take yourself away from some kind of people and pursue your dream.

How many tracks are contained in the album you are about to drop?

It’s about sixteen tracks but we have not made the final decision.

How many artistes did you feature in your album?

Quite a lot of them. We have the likes of Sound Sultan, Timaya, Sean Tizzle and some South African singers too.

Praiz is a brand in the Nigerian music industry, what do you think is the secret?

I owe everything to God and His grace. I love people that understand my goal. I know I do great and world class music and a lot of people would be wondering how this guy has been able to do it. I always tell them that I owe all gratitude to God. He has been everything to me. My second gratitude goes to my family, I don’t joke with my family and their prayers kept me going. To Xtreme music, the record label I am signed to, I am also very grateful to them, they are doing lots of good music. Even when nobody believed me, they have been there for me.

I am also very thankful to my fans.

help. I can go the extra mile to help.

I am a down to earth and simple dude who hates trouble so much.

Tell us about your background and your growing up I was born in Lagos in early 80’s.

Later my daddy was transferred to Kaduna because of his job, so the whole family had to move along with him in 1992. He was the regional manager of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria. So, when he was transferred to Kaduna, my mother did not think it was wise for him to be travelling back to Lagos every weekend to see the family, so we all decided to travel and stay with him there in Kaduna. I would say that growing up was great, especially, being very close to caring parents.

You bought your mother a brand new car when you were endorsed by MTN as one of their brand ambassadors, does that mean you are closer to your mother more than your father?

Not really, but you know that boys are usually attached to their mothers. But trust me, I love my father so much. And I appreciate him a lot right now. I think right now, I understand the pressure that is involved in raising kids, the love I have for my dad now is much.

I would have been playing for Barcelona FC if not for music

What is the craziest thing a female fan has ever done to you?

She asked for an autograph on her private part.

Did you sign the autograph?

I don’t know but that was the craziest thing a female fan has ever asked for from me. Maybe it was signed or not.

What is that part of you that people do not know?

People do not know that I am a big philanthropist. I love helping people especially, when I am in a position to

Aside music, what do you think you would have done better?

Aside music, I think I would have been a good footballer. I would probably be playing for Barcelona FC.

Have you played before?

I am a good footballer, I played for my department when I was in higher institution. I played for Kaduna Polytechnic, I also played for Highlander FC in Kaduna as well.

That was the same club some big Nigerian players like, Celestine and Emmanuel Babayaro among others played for. It’s just that I grew up listening to music. What you have in mind that you want to do might be different from what God plans for you.

How did you come about the World Music nomination?

I don’t know. I did not apply for anything. I was even shocked. I just went to the World Music Award and I saw my pictures everywhere.

Lancelot Imasuen, Uche Iwuanyanwu and OC Ukeje

Africa Movie Academy, Bayelsa commend Glo’s support for arts

By AYO ONIKOYI

T

he Africa Movie Academy and Bayelsa State Government have commended Globacom for its robust support for African arts, especially music and theatre practitioners.

The commendation of Globacom resonated throughout the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State last weekend. From the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), who represented the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson to the AMAA Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Peace AnyimOsigwe and the Director General of Bayelsa State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, the applause for Globacom, flowed in torrents.

The Deputy Governor stated in his special remarks at the AMAA, sponsored by Globacom and held at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, that corporate organisations on the African continent should emulate Globacom by investing and promoting key sectors of the economy in countries where they operate.

He added that this was a needed impetus to grow the movie industry.

The Deputy Governor particularly praised Globacom for engaging African actors and actresses as brand ambassadors.

Welcoming guests earlier, the CEO of AMAA, announced that she would be assuming the new role of Founder and Executive Chairman to enable her concentrate on creative endeavours. She applauded Globacom and other sponsors for

making the 10th edition of AMAA a glamorous event.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah won the Best Actress Award in a leading role for her performance in Emem Isong’s ‘Apaye’ while Patience Ozokwor won the Best Actress Award for a supporting role in “After the Proposal” and Bob Manuel Ndokwu bagged the Life Achievement Award.

Other winners include “Dialemi”

The deputy governor particularly praised Globacom for engaging African actors and actresses as brand ambassadors

which won the best short film award, “B for Boy” which won the best film (African language) award and “Hamu Beya” and “Portraits of a Lone Farmer ” which jointly won the best documentary award among others.

About four thousand celebrities attended the star studded event and they were thoroughly entertained by a panoply of stand up comedians and musicians. They include Glo ambassador cum ‘nabania’ crooner Flavour and velvety-voice King of Soul, Timi Dakolo who thrilled with his popular track “Great Nation”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—31

Stories By AYO ONIKOYI Pictures by Oscar Ochiogu

AMAA magic

moments L

ast Saturday was a special day for African movie in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State as the best Thespians across the continent gathered for the 10th edition of African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA. As usual it was a night of glamour and the talking points that keep reverberating is about what who wore to the event. The night saw the beautiful, the bold and even the bizarre.

Joselyn Dumas: See no evil Enthusiastic Ghanaian actress, Joselyn came with a lot under her arm, at least expecting to clinch the statuette of the Best Actress in Leading Role but came up creek with no paddle as Clarion beat her, Uche Jombo and Chioma Akpotha. But she was never outdone on the red carpet with her see-through black dinner gown. Hear her “ I like to wear what makes me comfortable”, even though it was the bust she was trying to sell, her trademark backside was the special attraction.

Ibinabo Fiberesima: Really at home

She has once told Vanguard secrets of her evergreen beauty, which includes, right diet, plenty of sleep, exfoliation and the whole works. The reigning Best African actress from the movie, Apaye, came baring some flesh to show age isn’t the big monster we all feared.

No doubt Madam President was home and there was no other way she could drive it home than making sure she had her hands on the tempo of things.

She did with her speech, which captured the very essence of the award, even some came afterwards to throw a few stones at her.

Desmond Elliot: Looking too well-fed?

Rita Dominic: Busting loose?

Bob ManuelUdokwu: Polished Top Nollywood actor has got some swag about him these days and the lanky dude has some air that is fast become un-Nollywoodish, more like a government man with much aura of confidence. The newly appointed Senior Special Assistant on Entertainment, Anambra State got away with Special Jury Prize.

On what the prize means to him: “It means reward and recognition for me for years of steadfastness and professionalism in the movie industry.It also means more responsibilities because I have to constantly live above board as a highly respected veteran of African movies.Im very happy about being chosen as this year ’s recipient of d award.Im also grateful to AMAA for this honour done me.D show must go on bc d best is yet to come!I will step up my game now.

Clarion Chukwura: Stole the Night ?

As effervescent as ever and just as sexy Rita, glamourise the red carpet full of life and vigour. Though Rita threw the all neckline and bust to the air, it was her skin that did the most trick. Hasn’t she said it is her skin that is her selling point. It Remember must have bought delectable Uche her more fans on the Iwuanyanwu who night! featured in the movie Cheaters? Here, she is not cheating anyone but listening to the small fashion voice from her within.

“First my stylist Nicole of Lajoie fashions suggested three different colours including black and she advice I accessorize with silver. Personally, I went for that dress because it was black and also very daring.

Nigeria as we stand, needs a lot of daring personalities and I literally expressed it through my outfit for the AMAA Awards 2014/10th year anniversary” she said.

Uche Iwuanyanwu: Dared to be daring

Belinda Effah: So different Up and coming actress, Belinda Effah, one of the cast of Emem Isong’s Apaye,has got a fashion sense but many thought she got it all wrong last Saturday. But Belinda was only toeing same line as Jim Iyke and Pharrel.What she said about her dress? I just felt the need to look different and hey, its good to know it got people talking?

Mr Denziot Productions, Desmond Elliot is probably the busiest director in Nollywood right now.

Since the guy has moved from the screen as an actor to behind the scene as a director and producer, things have been looking up and somewhat rubbing off on him robustly. Once trimmed Desmond came for AMAA, all chubby with some paunch to show.

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY MAY 30, 2014 — 33

34

— Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

N

othing says party in the front, business in the back more than the highlow style. The trend first showed hem about five years ago, when fashionistas approached it with caution and wore it tentatively. Now, the trend shows no sign of going anywhere. The variation in length says, ‘I’m classy and sophisticated, but I’m young and hot too!

It’s no longer for the brave of heart- it’s a staple.

Do it high; do it low!

Asymmetrical With the most common style of high low dresses having either a halter or strapless neckline they are great for exposing the cheeky collar bones too. Aside from the halter neck and strapless look, why not keep up with the asymmetric feel and choose a dress with a one shoulder style? Be careful as the one shoulder look can alter the entire image of the high low dress.

The high-low skirt It’s a fun way to wear a maxi skirt and still show off your legs. Also, for those who love drama the skirt billows when you walk and it’s the ultimate way to make a statement as all eyes turn to you when you enter the room. Style with huggy chunky top, simple jewelry and average heels or chunky heels. Try doing chiffon to bring on more sexy. When styling a printed maxi, it’s ultra important to keep the other pieces simple to avoid creating an over-the-top ensemble.

Day to Night Fashionistas thought only the shift had the versatility of seamless transition from day to night. Surprisingly, can pair lots of different things with the high low dress, plus it can be worn both formally and casually so you can get a lot of use out of it, which is especially great. The rules are similar- jacket for day, different accessories for night. High low dresses also look stunning with an additional bolero, try not to choose a larger or longer jacket or coat as they can drown the dress and change the style and flow of the hemline.

The high-low top Not only is the high-low top super comfy (some fashionistas swear it’s the most comfy way to travel), it allows you to pile on the glam with your jeans.

Put on ankle boots and they will not be out of place.

Boho Chic In general, the high low is the stylish base for creating virtually any look you desire.

The bohemian appears to be the most favoured look. Pay particular attention to your hair (braided is better), jewelry, shoes and belt. Be consistent.

Celebrating Maya Angelou

L

ONG before The Colour Purple or Johnson Sirleaf, long before Lupi ta’s failing bid to foist short black hair on us, there was Maya Angelou, telling and convincing the black female of her innate worthiness.

But when news of her demise hit the globe this week, there was not as much mourning as celebration of a life that was about as inspiring to the black race as Nelson Mandela. Her death has not broken our hearts; it has reaffirmed it.

An acclaimed American poet, storyteller, activist, and autobiographer, Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. Angelou has had a broad career as a singer, dancer, actress, composer, and Hollywood’s first female black director, but is most famous as a writer, editor, essayist, playwright, and poet. As a civil rights activist, Angelou worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She was also an educator and served as the Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. By 1975, wrote Carol E. Neubauer in South-

ern Women Writers: The New Generation, “Angelou had become recognized not only as a spokesperson for blacks and women, but also for all people who are committed to raising the moral standards of living in the United States.She served on two presidential committees, for Gerald

Ford in 1975 and f o r J i m m y Carter in 1977.

Angelou’s most famous work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), deals with her early years in Long Beach, St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas, where she lived with her brother and paternal grandmother.

In one of its most evocative (and controversial) moments, Angelou describes how she was first cuddled then raped by her mother’s boyfriend when she was just seven years old. When the man was murdered by her uncles for his crime, Angelou felt responsible, and stopped talking. Angelou remained mute for five years, but developed a love for language.

One source of Angelou’s fame in the ear-

ly 1990s was President Bill Clinton’s invitation to write and read the first inaugural poem. Americans all across the country watched as she read “On the Pulse of Morning,” which begins “A Rock, a River, a Tree” and calls for peace, racial and religious harmony, and social justice for people of different origins, incomes, genders, and sexual orientations.

Angelou’s poetry often benefits from her performance of it: Angelou usually recites her poems before spellbound crowds. Indeed, Angelou’s poetry can also be traced to African-American oral traditions like slave and work songs, especially in her use of personal narrative and emphasis on individual responses to hardship, oppression and loss.

In 2000, Angelou was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., by President Barack Obama. Angelou was awarded over 50 honorary degrees. She was 86.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

— 35

Ms. Iheoma Obibi, Executive Director at AFA

Alliance for Africa advocating economic empowerment for women using comics

A

S

part

of

activities

commemorating Africa day

2014, which iscelebrated May 25, every year, Alliance for Africa ( A FA) Alliance for Africa advocating economic empowerment launched and presents to the public for the first time the Breadwinner an original comic book published under its new publication grab the chance comic series.

The breadwinner comic is one of a

Maya Angelou, like every great, was also famous for her wise sayings. Everybody has favourite Maya Angelou quotes. Here’s our top ten: Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

I speak to the Black experience, but I am always talking about the human condition — about what we can endure, dream, fail at and survive. I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. There’s a world of difference between truth and facts.

Facts can obscure truth.Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.

series of products designed by AFA to promote women’s right and offers Africa the opportunity for Africa states to focus on the implementation of gender frameworks and treaties. It is pertinent that agriculture and its roles in economic development are highlighted in the comic.

According to Iheoma Obibi, Executive Director at AFA, the comic which was presented to the general public and members of civil societies, gender activist researchers working in development human rights lawyer, media and representatives of art community was produced under a project titled: using comics for economic and social justice advocacy with support from AWID in Canada and co-founded by African women’s development fund, Ghana,” explained.

Aimed at raising awareness about the link between the economy and violence against women and girls as well as drive support for gender equality and women’s right, Alliance for Africa has employed its seed grant from Association of women development in 2013 to create an engaging, eye-catching and educative tools for advocating for economic empowerment for women and calling for an end to violence against women.

In a graphy method, the breadwinner advocates economic independence or women in Africa that has been ravaged by wars, incessant conflict, poverty, food security and health challenges which all hamper development and makes it difficult for families to feed and live a fulfilling life. Involving women in economic activities ensures that women with men corporate to break the cycle of poverty and lack of

money should definitely not be an excuse.

The launching of the comic advocacy coincides with the one y e a r posthumous birthday celebration of Sindi Medar Gould a f o r e m o s t feminist and women’s rights activist who spent the last 25 years of her life in Nigeria fighting for the advancement of Nigeria’s w o m e n ’ s right, especially the right of women living under Islamic laws. Sindi was remembered for her persistent advocacy against discriminatory practices against women and girls right and promoting female leadership through capacity building.

Piloting an innovative tool using comics for economic, social and gender justice advocacy in Nigeria, the printed copies of the inaugural edition of grab the chance comic series, the bread winner is been distributed widely i n Africa and beyond to targeted policy makers who decide e c o n o m i c policies and laws affecting social and gender justice. Capacity building for partners and beneficiaries on using the comic f o r advocacy would be carried out under the project.

Speaking at the launch Osai Ojigho Deputy Executive Director, Alliance for Africa lamented that, Chibok abduction of about 324 girls is a threat to the progress and gains made in girl child education. It highlights the importance of creating and securing safe spaces free of violence for our girls and women.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 37 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

Your phone is your health: See how

By LAJU ARENYEKA

H

ealth is wealth. For years, many have argued in favour of this age-old maxim. No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy health.

But with the sky rocketing advancement in technology, you can come close by buying health apps that could save your life. Amazingly, many of these apps are free! This week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top 13 health apps published by healthline.com.

Pocket First Aid & CPR The Pocket First Aid & CPR is available on the android and Iphone platforms. It is an easy-to-use emergency guide that includes information on

First Aid Basics, CPR, automated external defibrillators (AED), and medical, injury, and environmental emergencies. It can be purchased on various online platforms for about N320.

Symple Symple is available only on the iPhone, and can be bought on iTunes N478; A small price to pay for an app that can track those times when you experience pains in your back and neck. Symple lets you track up to 20 symptoms at once, keep daily notes and photos, and record medications, exercise, and other factors that influence how you feel. The app also has an easy export option, so once you’ve gathered enough information you can pass it along

to your doctor to review.

Drugs.com The internet is not usually the best place to get dependable information, but Drugs.com is reported to be in a class of its own. This app is free on android and iPhones.

It helps you personalize your own drug list to keep track of what medications you’re taking and receive relevant medical information. You can use the search tool to browse through the extensive drug database. And identify unknown pills by entering their imprint, shape, or color.

Garmin Fit Available for barely N160 on iPhone, and Android, Garmin fit is your own personal fitness coach. With Garmin Fit you can keep track of how long you’ve been running, how far you’ve traveled, your speed, and calories burned. This training tool also saves your running history, so you can look back on where you’ve recently run and when. Being able to see your progress mapped out on your phone is good incentive to keep at it.

My Diet Coach My Diet Coach, free on Android and iPhone, is just as its name implies. When you take on the challenge of a new weight loss plan, it’s easy to get discouraged at first. Upload photos and notes that inspire you, reminders about what you want to eat and avoid, and weight loss and fitness goals. You can even keep a food and exercise journal, and receive virtual prizes when you meet your goals.

How tech gadget enhances quality of life I n this internet age, increased connectivity has enabled us to become more and more exposed to quality. As a result we are partial to products that are leading the way in combining smart technology and health.

However, Body fitness, home hygiene, food and environment are some of the factors that contribute immensely to our daily sustenance because our homes are our refuge from the bustle and travails of everyday life. However, even at home, we face hidden risks from germs and other microscopic elements. Ensuring food freshness is one key area. A recent study by LG revealed that in most homes, the refrigerators are opened approximately 80 times per day – often by family members looking for one item or the

other.

LG’s Door-in-Door feature makes it possible to find needed items without having to open the refrigerator’s main door which invariably leads to reduction in cold air loss as much as 41 percent. By ensuring the refrigerators compressor is kept at maximum efficiency, the product also helps to cut

down on user’s supermarket spending by keeping food fresher for a longer period of time.

LG,also believes that real-time health measurement is a hotbed of debate and innovation among technologists right now. New connected devices with great potential for empowered consumers to measure, monitor and improve their health are prolif-

‘London’ to speak in Nigeria at Strategic Communication Confab

E

mmyAward-winning CNN correspondent and commu nication strategist, Gina London will speak at the “Find Your Edge” Strategic Communication Conference on Wednesday, June 18th 2014 in Lagos.

The conference is designed to drive senior management professionals in media, politics and corporate industries to open their eyes to the emerging opportunities in today’s media cluttered world.

Companies can also benefit from in-house training sessions tailored by London to suit individual company needs. “Our expectations of Gina are very high,” said Ayoola Jolayemi, Managing Director of SwiftThink Limited, the idea development and management company organizing the conference.

She added that the summit is designed “to help leaders and communications specialists within the business, media and political terrain position themselves to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in today’s media cluttered world and leverage them for sustainable relevance. It will also cover a wide range of critical issues relating to communications in business, media and politics with a view to help attendants hone time critical communication skills that will give them and their organizations the edge in an ever competitive world.”

Gina London’s experience spans CNN, CNN Radio, CNN International, C O N U S Wa s h i n g t o n and 250 CNN London affiliate stations in the United States and internationally.

As a trainer, consultant & communication strategist, her client portfolio includes: Hill & Knowlton, Deloitte, Wachovia Bank, M&T Mountain Bank, First Mariner Ban, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, Chase Manhattan; First Savings and Federal of Baltimore, The World Bank, JCPenney Corporation, Walmart Stores Inc., Stanley Black & Decker and The Bradley Group.

.

erating everywhere with brands ranging from sportswear icons, global technology giants and healthcare specialists all looking to get in on the act. LG’s Lifeband Touch, available in Uk market since April 2014, features an OLED touchscreen, tracks key workout stats, and links up with apps like MapMyRun and Runkeeper. The product also allows users to control their phone’s music player. Complementing this, is LG’s Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) earphones, announced earlier

this year.

The in-ear fitness buds attached to the product helps track the user’s metabolic rate and maximum oxygen consumption and relay it back to an Android or iOS Smartphone app via Bluetooth, whilst also allowing users to physically hear how fast their heart beats.

Both devices can be used separately or together. Much of this move towards more sophisticated forms of healthcare technology is rooted in the maturing buzz around wearable technology so prominent at CES and MWC. Allergic reactions to prevalent airborne dust and pollen particles can make life a misery for many people who experience symptoms such as sneezing and itchy eyes during the peak allergy season. To help combat this, products such as LG’s SteamWasher and Dryer Combo with Allergiene cycle have evolved to use optimized washer and steam technology to breakdown and wash out allergens - without harming fabrics..

38 — VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

By ISHOLA BALOGUN

M

uslims all over the world have been crying out loud and clear that the activities of these daredevils Boko Haram are not in sync with islam and there are not the handiwork of Muslims. Recently, the Grand Mufti and one of the leading Imams in Saudi Arabia not only condemned the act but went ahead to say these people perpetrating these acts are not Muslims.

Islamic law doesn't preach the killing of non-believers (or the infidels) indiscriminately. Force or any kind of coercion is not acceptable in Islam.

Muslims are to live harmoniously and to deal justly with non-Muslims. This is confirmed in Surah alMumtahinah (60) verse 8. It is also very well documented in Islamic History that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sent ambassadors to the nonMuslims to invite them to Islam. Islam did not fight any war except those initiated by the unbelievers and they responded only after Allah had commanded them to defend themselves.

Again, the permission to go to wars that is after all avenues and mechanism for peace have been exploited have strict codes and rules.

You don't hurt any un-armed person, including children and women. Where in Quran is the killing of un-armed person, women or abduction of children is allowed? Where is raping and forceful marriage of young girls encouraged in Islam?

Islam doesn't accept the killing of innocent people, as Al-Mu’minaat Social Advocacy Project (SAP) Coordinator, Mrs against what the unbelievers Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade (4th right); Al-Mu’minaat Lagos State who call themselves Boko Amirah Mrs Aisha Elias (4th left); school proprietors, Mrs Monsurah Yunus (2nd right); Hajia Zaynab Ahmad-Taiwo (3rd left) Haram. In al-Ahzab, verse 58 and others during protest on the abduction of Chibok girls at Govstates: "And those who hurt ernment House, Alausa, Lagos. believing men and women is compulsory as exemplified read and recite the Quran or undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of by the saying of the Prophet: speak Arabic language does slander and plain sin." The "tolabul-ilimi faridotun ala not make them Muslims. Most fact that Muslims and non- kuli-l-Muslimeen" meaning; importantly, their background Muslims have been victims of the pursuance of knowledge as people who read the Quran these evil shows also that it is is compulsory for all Muslims. has no any iota of impact on not supported by Muslims and It does not refer only to them. The devil (Iblis) before Islamic knowledge as he cited he revolted against Allah was Islam.

Nevertheless, the activities China (albeit philosophically) knowledgeable and devoted in of Boko Haram is anti-Islam as limit to obtain knowledge. the worship of Allah. Only because the obligatory need Of course the perpetrators of recently we heard of a nonfor education in Islam is not these heinous crimes know Muslim who asked his accepted by the ignorant they are not representing members to dress up like terrorists. Knowledge in Islam Islam. The mere fact that they Muslims with the customary

BOKO HARAM: The Shaytan of our time

From left: Sheikh Najimudeen Sulaiman;Ustaz Sulaimon Anthonio Sheikh Abdul Mojeed Owode; Sheikh Ishaq Olasunkanmi Sanni, Arikehuyo 1, Founder of Nurus-Salam Islamic Foundation with Sheikh Abdul Qadri Muhammad Hashir and Sheikh Shamsudeen Badrudeen Olokuta during Maolidu Nabiyy celebration of Nurul Salaam Islamic Foundation, at Iju Ishaga, Lagos.

Muslim turban and attack a church using some fireworks in Ikofin, Osun state. They were apprehended after the act and upon interrogation confessed to the act. Muslims and Islam would have been indicted or crucified again.

The Boko Haram group are the offspring of satan who despite their ability to recite the Quran revolted against what they read in pursuance of their ulterior motive. What else could have been more devilish in killing over 5000 innocent people; abducting over 200 minors; forcing them into marriage to themselves and

their cohorts and causing undue pain to their parents than these? It is satanic and huge crime against humanity.

In so far as you cannot follow the ordinances of Allah and the hadiths of the prophet, you are not a Muslim. The Glorious Qur'an says: "Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger" ( 4:59) The Glorious Qur'an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur'an and the Sahih Hadith.

INSECURITY: Don’t cause religious disharmony in Nigeria —Rahmat warns

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

A

n Islamic Group, Rahmat Islamiyya Association has raised the alarm over plan by some religious group to take advantage of the insecurity in Nigeria to cause religious disharmony, using subterfuge to smear one religion against the other.

The group warned that any attempt to smear one religion against the other would further aggravate the insecurity in the country especially in regions that are safe from Boko Haram attacks.

The National Chairman of Rahmat Islamiyya Association, Dr. Abdullahi Awelenje while reacting over a recent religious incident in Osun state where a pastor allegedly used subterfuge to smear Islam, at a press briefing held at the Association’s headquarter, Ikeja.

According to him “on May 18th, 2014 in a church in Ikonifin, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area, Osun State, a pastor allegedly instigated certain members of his congregation to disguise as Muslims and lit firecrackers during a vigil.

“If these perpetrators had not been caught, the entire South West of the country-Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and others-would have been thrown into panic that the Boko Haram group had infiltrated the region,” he added.

Awelenje said this would have led to disaffection between believers of existing

religions in the country, saying “Thus promoting religious disharmony in Nigeria.”

The National Chairman of the group however appealled to all religious leaders to allow peace and harmony reign, urging Nigerians to desist from using subterfuge in the battle for religious supremacy.

Islam on its own is tolerant of all religions.

On how to address the insecurity in Nigeria, Awelenje said “Vigilance is the price for liberty. The security of the nation begins with everyone becoming vigilant, adding that this is the only way Nigerians can unite in defending the image of Nigeria.

He said that the foreign countries cannot proffer solution to the insecurity in the country because they also have their own local challenges. The solution lies within the country.

The national Chairman of the group said that some of the solution is the recruitment by the Nigerian Army Forces. But he said “the recruitment should center on merit.”

Speaking on the abduction of the over 200 school girls from Chibok Community, Borno State Awelenje urged the Federal Government to adopt all strategies in securing the release of the girls.

His words, “Our immediate concern is to bring back our girls safely. It is our opinion that all options available should be exploited. If you want to catch a monkey, you may have to behave like one.

Our security personnel should be tactical to rescue the children alive.”

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 39

Fidau ffor or Alhaja FFatima atima Oresan Oresanyya

MSSN vvo ows tto o continue hijab struggle in Lagos ...as court fixes June 18 for hearing

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HE Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has said that the issue of Hijab in the state is yet to be resolved.

The group said the declaration became necessary in view of the recent claim on a radio programme by a group of individuals laying claim to the leadership of the organisation that the MSSN has settled the issue with the State government and that there was no more victimisation and molestation of Muslim sisters in public secondary schools in the state.

It said: “On the programme “Waasi Jimoh” aired on Bond FM 92.9 on Friday 9th, May 2014, the said individual dished out a lot of misinformation and lies aimed at not only diverting the attention of Nigerians to confine the issue to oblivion but also to ensure ultimately that the right of Muslims are permanently denied them.”

“These individuals, we firmly believe, are being sponsored by some

disgruntled politicians. You would recall that at the height of the crisis in 2013, the same set of people appeared on the same programme to confuse the Muslim public on the Hijab issue.”

The group stated the victimisation of Muslim sisters still persist in the states public schools, adding that most of the cases go unreported in the media.

According to the group, the court has fixed June 18th, 2014 for the commencement of hearing on the case.

“Let us reiterate that the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN Lagos State Area Unit, under the leadership of Kaamil Kalejaiye, shall not be deterred by blackmail, propaganda and misrepresentation of facts by those bent on destroying (with no reason) our humble sacrifices towards the reformation of the society.”

Maenwhile, the society urged Nigerian students not to be deterred in pursuing

their academic goals and desires.

This statement was made by the Amir, Kalejaiye at the Annual Youth Conference organised to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.

Kalejaiye in his address said these are hard-times for Nigerian youths, and he associated it with various challenges faced by Nigerian children.

According to him, “ you will agree with me that being a youth in this country at this moment is not just tough but thorny considering various challenges youths are facing especially unemployment which has turned many of our so called future leaders into future killers” Some of the guest speakers who spoke from the Area Councils that hosted the event charged the students to remain focussed and not be derailed especially in their academic pursuit and to spend less time on the internet.

From right: Alhaji Nurudeen Yemi Oresanya of Globacom Limited, Mr Oduniyi Adebola and Mr Dele Oresanya during the 8th-day Fidau held for late Alhaja Fatima Oresanya in Aiyepe, Ogun State recently.

From right: L. A Oresanya; Hakeem Oresanya; Mr Kunle Oresanya and Mr Adebola Oresanya (children of the desceased) at the event.

Hajj: Gombe secures accommodation ffor or 1 ,95 4 1,95 ,954 intending pilgrims

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HE Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (MPWB) says it has secured a befitting accommodation to its 1, 954

intending pilgrims for the 2014 Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Alhaji Usman Gurama, Executive Secretary of the board, disclosed this to

Ask Your Imam Women making up fast I will like to know if a woman’s fasting is allowed for the next year, if she has not fasted for the days missed from the last year (due to menstration and illness) I have not done those missed fastings for last year Ramadan.

Answer: The situation of pregnant and breastfeeding women is no different to that of sick people and travelers, so they have to make up the fast only.

When a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding and if she fears for the health of her child; in this situation it is better for her not to fast, and it is makrooh (undesirable) for her to fast. Some of the scholars

stated that if she fears for her child, it is obligatory for her not to fast and it is haraam for her to fast. Al-Mirdaawi said in alInsaaf (7/382): So, go ahead make up for the days you have missed from previous years due to menstruation and illness. You can do it anytime of the year but endeavour to do it before the next Ramadan so that you dont lump them together or continue to carry them over.

You may fast for the missed days all at once, or you can make-up for them intermittently now before Ramadan. However, it is always better to finish them as soon as you can. Thank you.

God knows best.

newsmen in Gombe recently.

He said the facility acquired was close to Muharram (Holy Mosque) in Makkah According to him, the accommodation is the one used in the last two to three years by the pilgrims from the state.

“We renew our contract, the house we have been using for the fast two to three years is still the house we occupy, it will accommodate everybody including our officials.

“It is only 900 metres away from the Muharram,” he said.

Gurama commended the intending pilgrims for their full cooperation during their screening and the ongoing induction course and urged them to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

He called on the government to continue with its support for the success of the pilgrimage.

The secretary said that intending pilgrims who could not secure a slot this year would be given priority during the 2015 Hajj.

From right: Mr Kunle Oresanya, Mr Adebola Oresanya; Mrs Moji Lawal (children of the desceased) and Asiwaju Ganiyu Sadiq (Uncle).

Alhaji Nurudeen Yemi Oresanya of Globacom Limited, (Son of the desceased, left) and Hon.Wale Shittu, Chairman, Odogbolu Local Government Area at the event.

40—V anguard 40—Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, MAY 30 , 2014

President Museveni’s hypocritical attack on Nigeria

BY FEMI FALANA, SAN

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RESIDENT Yoweri Museveni attended the grand finale rally for the National Resistance Movement woman flagbearer, Mrs. Rebecca Nalwanga at Kalanga in Uganda last week. In condemning the Opposition in Uganda the President said that “some people have turned politics to a game of lies and un-seriousness”. In his characteristic manner, President Museveni took advantage of the local campaign to launch an unwarranted attack on Nigeria.

In criticizing the maladroit handling of the War on terror by the Goodlock Jonathan Administration President Museveni boasted thus,”I have never invited the United Nations to guard our security. Me, Yoweni Museveni to say that I have failed to protect my people and I call in the UN...I would rather hang myself. We prioritized national security by developing a strong army, otherwise our Uganda would be like DRC, South Sudan, Somalia or Nigeria where militias have disappeared with school children. It will be a vote of no confidence in our country and our citizens if we can’t guarantee our security. What kind of persons would we be?”

It is interesting to note that the people of the Nubian community in Uganda saw through the “lies and unseriosness” of the ruling party in Uganda. Hence, they rejected the candidate of his party at the polls by voting for the 28 year old Ms Brenda Nabukenya of the Democratic Party. I have

President Museveni of Uganda

March 24 this year, the United States government was reported to have deployed “military aircraft as well as an increased number of of troops to Uganda to assist in the hunt for Joseph Kony, the fugitive Ugandan leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).”

Of course, that was not the first time that foreign troops had been dispatched to Uganda following the inability of President Museveni and his “strong army” to guarantee life and property in Uganda. Or is President Museveni not aware that Joseph Kony has gone underground because he and his army commanders have been declared wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), an organ of the United Nations? Yet President Museveni would never call in the United Nations to take part in the mainIn the renewed fight on terror in Nigeria tenance of internal sein the armed forces should wipe out terrorism curity Uganda! The garruand not behave like Uganda by driving lous Ugandan leader also boasted that he them to neighboring countries would not allow his just been informed by a Ugandan human country to descend to the level of insecurirights colleague that President Museveni ty that obtains in Nigeria where school is pained by the fact that the electorate in children have disappeared. Has President Luweto Constituency voted for a rooky Museveni quickly forgotten that the LRA politician who was born the very year he invaded St. Mary Secondary Gramseized power and assumed the presiden- mar School on October 1996 where they cy of the Republic of Uganda. abducted 150 girls. It is on record that it Like other world leaders, President was not the strong army of Uganda but Museveni is perfectly entitled to berate the the vice-principal of the school, Reverend Goodluck Jonathan Administration for its Sister Faresa who rescued 109 of the abfailure to contain the Boko Haram sect. But ducted girls. Several years later, President it is the height of hypocrisy on the part of Museveni wrote a letter to Mr. Kofi Anan, the Ugandan leader to attempt to ridicule the then Secretary-General of the United Nigeria in the ongoing war on terror. The Nations to intervene in respect of the abUgandan leader should not be allowed to ductees who were still in the captivity of get away with “official hypocracy”as he lacks the terrorists. the moral competence to Involvement of teach any les- Ugandan army son on how to end the atrocWith respect, President Museveni’s unities commit- complimentary remarks on DRC and South ted by terror- Sudan are equally uncalled for having ists in any regard to the involvement of the Ugandan part of Africa. army in the destabilisation of the Lake reMore so that gion. In Communication No 227/99 (2003) Uganda with filed at the African Commission on Hua “prioritized FEMI F ALAN A, SAN national secu- man and Peoples Rights by the DemocratFALAN ALANA, ic Republic of Congo it was established rity” has not been able to defeat the rag that the national armies of Uganda along tag Lord’s Resistance Army led by Joseph with Burundi and Rwanda were indicted Kony for over two decades. for the massive infringements of human Even though President Museveni would rights in the DRC. Specifically, the Comnot invite the United Nations to provide mission found that “the killings, massasecurity for his country he has never hesi- cres, rapes, mutilations and other grave tated to call on the United States and other human rights abuses were committed” Western countries to provide troops, arms while the Respondents States’ were still and ammunition as well as funds in con- in effective occupation of the eastern provtaining the menace of the LRA. Just on inces of the complainant state contrary to

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their obligations under Part III of the Geneva Convention.

With respect to the reckless looting of the resources of the complainant State the Commission confirmed the allegation that “Rwanda and Uganda took over control of fiscal and customs revenue collected respectively by the Directorate General of Taxes.” Since President Museveni could no longer rely on the illegal exploitation of the vast resources of the DRC his government has had to depend on foreign aid to fund the annual budget of Uganda.

According to the Overseas Development Institute, Uganda received $1.6 billion in 2011, making it the 20th world’s largest aid recipient. Comrade Tajudeen Abdulraman, the respected pan African of Nigerian extraction who worked closely with President Museveni in Kampala until he breathed his last in 2009 must have turned in his grave over the unprecedented reliance of Uganda on foreign aid to fund its annual budget.

It is indisputable that the record of

atrocities of LRA is by far worse than that of the Boko Haram sect. It is common knowledge that the abduction of children and women is the hallmark of the LRA. From the account of the Human Rights Watch between 1987 and 2006 “at least 20, 000 Ugandan children were abducted. More than 1.9 million people were displaced from their homes into camps and tens of thousands of Ugandan civilians died.

Nearly the entire population of Acholiland was displaced due to a combination of LRA actions and the Ugandan government’s forcible resettlement of people in camps. Living conditions in the camps were horrific, and for years communities were largely cut off from basic necessities. The death toll from cholera and other diseases was often higher than from the conflict itself.”

Last week, the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Thisday newspaper, Mr. Segun Adeniyi noted that “it is over six years since LRA wreaked any havok in Northern Uganda...”. While that is an irrefutable statement it ought to be pointed out that the LRA has only been pushed into DRC and South Sudan where it has linked up with other criminal gangs to continue its atrocious attacks on the people of both countries.

In the renewed fight on terror in Nigeria the armed forces should wipe out terrorism and not behave like Uganda by driving them to neighboring countries. That will not guarantee regional peace which is badly needed for the development of a continent that has been raped by imperialism and its local lackeys who parade themselves as African leaders.

Policing the Nigeria of our dream (4) The third part of this piece was published in Tuesday's edition of Vanguard

T

By SAM IGBE

HE police organization must work out an urgent plan to redeem itself. As it is, the police is a strong obstruction to the fight against corruption, their place at the vanguard of the battle at present being vacant, and with them joining the corrupt enemies of Nigeria. The Nigeria of our dream very sincerely needs the services of the police of our dream, which would be corruption-free and would be an example of loyalty and patriotism There has been some controversy about the type of policing system suitable for Nigeria with views expressed as to whether the system should remain unitary or whether the autonomous state command system should be adopted. The first public thinking on the subject seems to be in 1978 when views were expressed in the Daily Times of Nigeria proposing the adoption of the State police command system. There were then about two rejoinders in disagreement and their reason was that State Heads of Governments were likely to use state police to oppress their political opponents.

It is surprising that today, after thirty six years since this suggestion was first made, people are still giving the same excuses without adverting their minds to operational suitability of the systems, or even the possible idea of ensuring that what they fear can be stopped or that such perpetrators could be punished. It is perplexing that some Nigerians could argue that a good law should not be enacted just because it could be breached, and have based their views on the fact that some fifty years ago some politicians used the police to oppress their opponents, forgetting that police in those days were either colo-

nial or local, and that they essentially worked for their masters. It is backward, and even at times dangerous to live in our yesterdays. There is the hazardous result of having to be left behind by the rest of the world.

In regard to the activities and use of the police in Portharcourt in recent times, it has become clear that either system is vulnerable to bad use, and one should be advocating adoption of the one that will give the nation better policing, all things being equal. In the quest for better and more useful police coverage of the Nigeria Federal democratic structure, we should be thinking of improved police state commands and not one national force which could become uncontrollable.

With the population of Nigeria now hovering around one hundred and seventy million, and a police force with a strength of about three hundred and seventy thousand, and still fighting shy of the United Nation’s average policing formula of one policeman to four hundred people, the Nigeria police force is still growing. The United Nations did not provide for police use as status symbols in arriving at the formula, and one would be surprised if police personnel details posted to cover individuals to make them feel bigger and better than the rest of us are less than ten thousand men and women who ought to be walking their beats.

The truth of the matter is that the population has grown, and is still growing larger every day. When this writer joined the police force in 1956, the strength of the Lagos police was just over ten thousand, even as the most populous command. The States have since increased from three to thirty six states with three hundred and eighty nine ethnic nationalities spread across them, and each state with its own government.

To be concluded

,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 41

YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS; Monetary Venus makes an ingress into your Star sign with good luck to you. Financial success is closer to you than you can imagine. Give it a big push.

GEMINI; Here is a good day when influential personalities around you will be willing to assist you but you will need to take the initiative. Take good advice.

CANCER; This is your day. The more ambitious you are along your career line the better for you. And friends are willing to give the needed supports.

LEO; Your mind is truly active and if you’re more practical about it success’ll crown your efforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

VIRGO ; Coming of monetary and loving into a positive angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a day like this the more ambitious you are the better. It’s good to be loving

By Richard Eromosele

W

HICH is the most common thing in our environment today?

Is it joy or sorrow?

Do you rejoice that your neighbour is experiencing joy?

Do you share in the joy of the moment

Rejoice with.... with everyone rejoicing and when it comes sorrow you easily take your bow allowing your neighbour to bear alone the burden and the weight of the sorrow?

TERROR MUDA

Do you wish you were the one experiencing the joyful moment instead of your friend? Do you also wish your friend should be experiencing the

in “Never say goodbye”

sorrow rather than you?

My dear, rejoice with those rejoicing so that you may experience joy some day. Mourn with those mourning so that some day your burden will also be lightened for you.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA; The more willing you are to listen to your partners and/or spouse the better for you today. Friends are trying to convince you that the are reliable.

SCORPIO; The more push-full you are along your career/business lines the better. Embrace new method at work. Don’t neglect your love life.

SAGITTARIUS; Here is a day you are not meant to ignore new ideas that come suddenly. It’s good to take matters of the heart more seriously. Listen to your spouse please.

CAPRICORN; Monetary and romantic Venus is joining mighty Sun at positive angle to your Star and bringing you good influence. Be more ambitious.

AQUARIUS; Although your being co-operative can enhance your scope, your personal ideas and initiative are guarantee for a bigger do.

PISCES; Those of you who are more consistent will have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary issues will enhance your finances. Be more family minded.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

ARIES; Entrance of monetary and romantic Venus into a positive angle is meant to enhance your finances.

The more willing you are to take good advice the better.

Be loving.

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

Dear Joshua, I am a regular reader of your work since you were with The Punch Newspapers. I want you to please tell me my lucky dates and dates to beware this year (2014). More ink to your pen.

Joshua O.A., Aba. Dear Joshua O.A, On your lucky dates try to maximise your gains on one hand and or the other hand, try your best possible to avoid trouble and/or loss during those dates to beware of. But take note that there is nothing to worry about concerning dates to beware of because, they are mere warnings. However the lucky dates are for real.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

YOUR LUCKY DATES THIS MONTH June – 9, 14, 19 & 28.

July – 2, 11 & 16 August – 3, 8, 13* & 22.

September –3/4, 9, 23 & 27*.

October – 2*, 7*, 16* 20, 25 & 30.

November – 4, 11, 13***, 17, 21** & 26.

December – 1***, 10, 14, 23 & 28.

DATES TO BEWARE OF June – 16* & 30 July – 21 Aug – 10 & 24 Sept – 7 Oct – 18 Nov – 1 Dec – 5 &15

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

DAY 46

We are all working with Nigeria to bring our girls back —Wendy Sherman THE abduction of over two hundred school girls from Chibok by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram and the response of the Federal government to their release has taken an international dimension. Recently, The United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, both declared the stand of the United States Government, during a meeting convened by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the horrific abduction of over 200 young women from their school in Chibok, Nigeria. Excerpts;.

•Wendy Sherman,United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

W

HY the meeting?

When President Hollande called the meeting with not only Nigeria’s head of state but heads of state of the surrounding countries, he did so to have both the short-term goal of coordinating all of our efforts to, I say these days, bring our girls home, because I think now these young women have become the girls of the world, not just of Nigeria. He also brought everyone together to look at the mid term and the long term to ensure that there was coordination in the region and coordination globally to bring all •President Jonathan of the assets to bear to deal with None that I am aware of. the horrific terror of Boko Haram, There’s been a lot of emphasis to try to secure the borders in the during this meeting on region, to ensure that these kind coordinating information to of acts don’t occur, and to ramp up the development in the sub- localize these girls, but there has region so that there is not a also been strong criticism of the Nigerian army and the way they breeding ground for terror. handled the situation in Nigeria.

Isn’t there a contradiction in Breeding ground giving information to an army for terror that one does not trust to be able to carry out a job?

It was an excellent meeting. I No decisions have been made think it’s quite extraordinary that yet because first we have to find there were five heads of state as out where the girls are. And well as representatives of the where they are will certainly United States, the United dictate how, in fact, one can get Kingdom, and the European them home, and there are many Union, and it was a very focused ways to do that. This is – if there meeting. Conclusions of the were to be a rescue operation – summit have been published, so there may be other ways to bring I don’t need to run through them them home, but if it were to be a for you and take up the time with rescue operation, that’s a very that. And the United States is specific skill set and not every very glad to be part of this. As army in the world has that skill you know, we have deployed set. I know that there are some assets to Nigeria to help find the training that has been on with girls and to bring them home, and units of the military in Nigeria to we are also helping the Nigerians build those skills, in other words out in every way we can. We’ve Special Forces skills. Whether had a long presence in Nigeria they’d be able to attempt a rescue, and a very robust, multifaceted I think it would just depend on engagement with the Nigerians. the circumstances.

Is it true that the Nigerian Do you think it could be a way president first asked the U.S. and to bring back the girls? then the UK to host this summit Well, it’s certainly a way. As I before he asked France, and said, there are many ways. And both the U.S. and UK declined?

I should say Linda Thomas-

•President Obama

Greenfield is our Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, and Ambassador Kaidenow is our Counter terrorism Coordinator.

And I want to encourage each of them, if there’s something they need to add because they know a heck of a lot more than I do, to feel free.

Are you optimistic about finding these girls?

I don’t – what I can say is that all of the countries that were at the table today are very focused on coordinating all of their information, all of their intelligence, all of their resources. And there are countries like Canada and Israel who weren’t at the meeting today who also are providing assistance. So everybody is focused, and usually when you have that many – you have everybody pulling in the same direction, you can find your way to finding the girls. But I don’t think we know yet.

Can you describe those entire assets that the U.S. would deploy? And it has been mentioned by President Hollande that Boko Haram had links to other terrorist organizations. Which terrorist organization? Can you be a little bit more specific?

So what I would say on the latter question is Boko Haram is its own terrorist group, and the United States has designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In this day and age, there is probably no terror group that does not have some links somehow, even if tenuous, to some other organization. But for the most part, we treat Boko Haram as its own terror organization.

Secondly, in terms of assets, we have a multidisciplinary inter agency team that has been deployed to Nigeria. I think you also are aware that we are flying ISR. That’s surveillance reconnaissance. And I met with the national security advisor of Nigeria while we’re here and I’m confident that all of that is proceeding forward as it should.

One more question also sort of related to that. Hollande can talk about the weapons for Boko

,

BY VERA SAM ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

attention that’s being focused on Libya as well.

There was a Quint meeting in London this week that Secretary Kerry participated in talking about a number of items. Libya was one of them. And we have a very focused, coordinated effort going on with close allies and the Libyan Government to try to do whatever we can, and with countries in the region to try to deal with border security, which is a constant concern throughout a great deal of the sub-region.

Just to make sure that I understood the answer you gave previously, you were saying that you – at this stage you cannot exclude that there would be a Western and U.S. participation in a military operation to secure the release of the girls?

Let me be clear. What I’m saying is there are many ways to bring this horrific situation to a close. When and if we know where they are, then the Nigerians will have to decide how to proceed. Right now, as our President has said, we are providing intelligence assistance to them. He has said we are not putting boots on the ground.

What would be the next step?

Do you expect a new meeting soon?

There was, in fact, a discussion about a follow-up meeting happening soon, and my guess is that will be worked out in the next days, just as people coordinate schedules.

It’s not my decision. This is also really driven by not only the Nigerians but by Benin, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Really, this is African led. This is not Western, U.S., UK, EU, France led. We have the resources that we can bring to bear, and that’s our responsibility to do so and to support Africa, but this is African led.

Just to connect the dots a bit between my colleague’s

We have deployed assets to Nigeria to help find the girls and to bring them home, and we are also helping the Nigerians out in every way we can

Haram coming from Libya, in which there’s been a known flight of heavy weaponry. The training, to an extent, came from Mali when Mali was under attack. And then he said it’s still being looked into where the funds are coming from. Does the U.S. have any sense or any particular idea where the funds are coming from?

I think some of this information is not information that I would talk about publicly in terms of what we know the connections are, how things get done, where they are today. I think that the arms flow out of Libya is a well-known story. There is nothing secret about that anymore, and if there ever was a secret about the arms flowing out of Libya, and great concern and international

,

question here about whether Western military might be involved, it sounds like Obama has ruled that out for now. So seeing as how that’s not a possibility, how concerned are you about sharing intelligence with the Nigerian army the moment that the girls are located?

We are all working together, so it’s not like we’re over here and we’d see something and the Nigerians would know at that second and they’d decide what to do. We are working as a team.

And so decisions are going to be made in a conscious and thoughtful way with all of – we have laws in our country. We have ways that intelligence can be used when we share intelligence with other countries.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 —43

Okorocha commends Orji for reinstating sacked Imo indigenes

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—IMO State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has expressed delight over the recall of 2,700 of the 4,000 of the state’s indigenes earlier disengaged by his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji.

The governor’s position was made known through a release signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo.

“The government of Imo State has received with delight the report that the Governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji has, in his wisdom, reinstated the non-indigenes of the state, who were sacked from the state’s civil service some time ago,” Okorocha stated.

Commending his Abia State counterpart for the gesture, Okorocha said Orji appreciated the concern of most Nigerians, especially the Igbos, over the sacking of the non-indigenes from the state’s civil service, with all those affected coming from the other states in the South-East.

“Those who spoke against the action when it was taken, didn’t do so out of malice or hatred, but out of the concern that such initiative could give others the wrong

impression about the unity of Ndigbo and their ability to love themselves,” he said.

The governor expressed joy that Governor Orji had realized the implications of his action, both in the short and long run, and had act-

ed in the spirit of conviviality.

Okorocha recalled that his comment then on the incident “was innocent and never meant to impugn the Abia governor because two of them, under normal scenario, should be working very closely, not minding their political differences.”

He said it was important to

appeal to the Abia State governor to complete the good works he had begun by reinstating the remaining ones.

“He has acted well by reinstating 2,700 out of the total of 4000, but his action would be speaking louder to the glory of God, if he reinstates all the remaining ones.

AWARD: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Smile Communications, Lee-Ann Cassie (right), receiving the Best Internet Service Award from the Executive Director, Stakeholders Management, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Okechukwu Itanyi, on behalf of Smile Communications, at the Cyber Innovation Awards held in Lagos...recently.

NCC tasks GSM providers on quality service

BY ANAYO OKOLI

A

BA—THE Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has challenged GSM service providers in the country to provide functional and accessible customer care help lines which

would enable customers to effective lay complaints on services rendered by them.

Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mrs. Maryam Bayi, threw the challenge at the 63rd edition of consumer outreach programme of the commission in Aba,

Checkpoint introduces SDP security architecture for firms

O

NE of the world leading firm in securing the Internet, Check Point Software Technologies Limited has introduced Software-defined Protection (SDP), a revolutionary security architecture that can protect organizations in today’s fast-evolving IT and threat landscape.

The software solution offers modern security that can effectively protect against tomorrow’s threats, through a design that is modular, agile and most importantly, secure.

SDP is a three-layer security architecture comprised of enforcement, control and management layers. This framework decouples the control layer from the enforcement layer, enabling robust and highly-reliable enforcement points that obtain real-time protection updates from a software-based control layer.

Speaking on the solution, Amnon Bar-Lev, President at Check Point Software Technologies said;

“The threat landscape has become far more sophisticated while at the same time, enterprise IT environments have grown in complexity. Enterprises are looking for advice on how they can become more secure, but in a way that is manageable and simple to use.

SDP is today’s security architecture for tomorrow’s threats; it is simple, flexible and can robustly convert threat intelligence into real-time protections.

For Dan Meyer, Vice President of technology at Carmel Partners, “Check Point’s new Software-defined Protection is a sound blueprint to architecting security that just makes a lot of practical sense.”

According to Charles Kolodgy, research Vice President with IDC Security Products team, “Security attacks have changed radically over the years, and SDP represents a very smart shift forward in protecting organizations of all sizes in a pragmatic, modular and secure approach.”

Abia State.

According to her, this will enable the service providers receive and solve their customers’ complaints with dispatch, thereby encouraging healthy customer-service providers’ relations h i p .

Speaking on the occasion, with the theme, “Customer care help lines: a veritable platform for effective service delivery”, Bayi, represented by the Deputy Director, Mr. Femi Atoyebi, reminded the service providers that customers were the greatest assets of any organization without which they would not exist.

According to her, a survey con-

ducted by the commission revealed that customer care help lines of the service providers are either not easily accessible or working, and charged them to improve on this.

“Even in situations where the help lines are accessible, the waiting time for a consumer who opted to speak to a live agent remained unending and most often results into drop call.

“And more worrisome are difficulties experienced by the rural consumers who reside in remote locations where there are no provisions for walk-in customer contact centres by the service providers,” Bayi lamented.

Chibok girls: NIMR offers post-release medical assistance

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

S

CIENTISTS at the Ni gerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, yesterday said they will offer medical assistance to the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by members of Boko Haram sect after their release to wean them off the psychological effects of the incident.

The scientists, who spoke at the 2014 Children’s Day Symposium organised by the Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health Research

Group of the Institute, noted that it was difficult to expressly quantify the negative impact of the violent act being experienced by the teenage girls and the unimaginable effects of the violation of their reproductive health and sexual rights.

In his submission, the Director General of NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah, who condemned the criminal and inhuman act, described the action of the Boko Haram members as violation of the rights of other female gender.

Terrorism: FG urged to carry out audit of security agents

BY EVELYN USMAN

T

HE Society for Secu rity Practitioners of Nigeria, SSPN, has advised the Federal Government to carry out thorough personnel audit on operatives in all security agencies in the country to fish out infiltrators and saboteurs militating against the war on terrorism.

The advice, which is coming on the heels of the worrisome dimension insurgency had assumed in the country, was given yesterday in Lagos.

Briefing journalists on the current security challenges bedeviling the nation, SSPN’s President, Mr Davidson Akhimien, suggested that the audit of security personnel could be done through funds/finance tracking, mails/communication intercept and personal and electronic surveillance.

ICAN vows to sanction corrupt accountants

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

T

HE Institute of C h a r t e r e d Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, has threatened to deal with any chartered accountant involved in corrupt practices, even as it inducted about 402 new members, who it urged to adhere to transparency and accountability at all times.

Speaking at the 53rd induction ceremony in Lagos, ICAN President, Alhaji Kabir Mohammed, said the prevalence of corruption and sharp practices in low and high places in the nation accounted for the slow pace of development.

He noted that financial improprieties by persons in position of trust had been a recipe for underdevelopment, increased suffering of citizens, unemployment, hunger, anger of the poor and insecurity for all.

“There is a direct relationship between a nation’s value system and its level of economic growth and development," he said.

44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Akpabio signs Pension Bill

DPP chieftain cautions DSIEC

z Says it's been misinterpreted

G

OVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has signed into law the Amended Pension Bill for Ex-Governors (spouses) and Ex-Deputy Governors (spouses) in the state, which is to take effect June 1.

Governor Akpabio, who accented to the bill at Governor ’s Office, Uyo, said: “The essence of the law is to streamline and avoid excesses of finances and to be prudent in the management of our resources.

“The Constitution has empowered us to make laws. So, we have today made the pension law for exgovernors and ex-deputy governors.

“This law was made in 2000. It was amended in 2006 and is now amended again in 2014. The essence of this amendment was because staff such as cooks, drivers, among others were hired by the ex-governors and exdeputy governors with a non-financial benchmark.

A

chieftain of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, Prince Edafe Onokpite, has charged Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, to be transparent and conduct credible local government polls come October 25.

The DPP chieftain, in a statement in Abuja while reacting to the credibility of the members that constitute the commission, said that Deltans now have the awareness and will not allow the ruling party rig the opposition political parties out.

He said: “DSIEC has promised to be fair but if it decides to go do otherwise, every political party and their agents will be there to see things for themselves. Let us give them the benefit of doubt and assume that they will not fail Deltans.

“I know that members of the commission are people of high repute.”

Breakdown

“All staff of the exgovernors should not earn more than N5 million

Delta community appeals to govt over jobs in Uvwie market

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI— THE people of Ugbolokposo community, Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, have appealed to the state government to keep them abreast with government’s commissioning and employment arrangements for the Uvwie Modern Market, Ugbolokposo.

The community, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Stanley Atumu, reminded the state government of unresolved issues about the market, but commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his deputy, Professor Amos Utuama for their efforts towards solving the problems.

zMakes provision for cooks, drivers

annually and all staff of the exdeputy governors should not earn more than N2 million annually.

“No ex-governor can spend more than N100 million in a year for medical expenses and no ex- deputy governor can spend more than N50 million for medical expenses, because

we are making sure that we cover all the loopholes of financial wastage.

“Widows of ex-governors will receive a minimum of N1 million monthly for medical expenses and N500,000 medical expenses for the widows of ex-deputy governors.”

Delta industrialist tasks investors on agriculture

BY EMMANUEL OKOLIE

A

GBOR— TO boost employment in Delta State and strengthen the state’s economy, an industrialist, Dr. Philip Okwuada has urged well-placed Deltans to invest in agriculture.

Okwuada, who is the

Managing Director of PhedBreeder Farm and Hatchery Nigeria Ltd., said that investment in agriculture remains the surest way to help government achieve its job creation objectives.

He spoke during the visit of participants of Senior Executive Course 34 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPS, Kuru, Jos, to his farm in

Agbor, Delta State.

He said Delta’s investmentfriendly climate was an added advantage investors should take advantage of.

He called on “genuine investors” outside the state to see agriculture as a key sector in the actualisation of the Delta Beyond Oil objective of the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's administration.

Chibok girls may not be found if... —NAIG

W

ARRI— THE National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, has called on the Federal Government to ensure the release of the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram, warning that if the spate of organised protests and politicisation of the abduction were not properly managed, the girls may not be found.

President of the association, Miss Alero Tenumah, in a chat with Vanguard, said that should the release of the abducted girls be further delayed, the girls may continue to undergo trauma that may affect their psyche even when they eventually regain freedom.

Tenumah said: “While the Federal Government should sharpen its intelligence machinery in the fight against terrorism, the security agencies

should make sure that our territorial borders, especially the ones with Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic are properly protected.”

Sen Manager lauded

A

group, Ogbein-Ama Political Forum, OPF, has commended the Senator representing Delta South senatorial district, Senator James Manager, describing him as a man whose developmental strides have transformed the Ijaw nation and beyond.

The group, in a statement by its chairman Mr. Preye Ekpebide, said that Manager had used his position to attract federal projects not only to the constituents, but to all

parts of the Niger Delta region.

OPF said that the ongoing Gbaregolor-Esanma Bridge, Gbaregolor-Ogria-gbene Road, Ogriagbene-Torugbene Road, the canalisation project at Ogbein-Ama and Ekperemo Bou walkway projects in Bomadi, Burutu and Ughelli South Local Government Areas of the state, attracted by the Senator, have transformed the areas, thereby opening the host communities for more commerce.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

Akpabio hinted that the law also covers those who served in the old Cross River State, adding that the law was to streamline and to bring sanity into state finances, which he said had been misinterpreted by the public and resulted to a lot of bashing in the social media.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On Chibok schoolgirls' saga

P

EACE at the cost of thousands of Nigerians killed and maimed for life? These satanic men must be defeated so that nobody or group will ever think of doing the same.

Negotiation with former terrorists led to this.— Mr. Olayeni Akinsulie, Worker.

N

EGOTIATION has never been an option but we are in a critical position with our girls in their hands. But the conditions of the negotiations must be made public also. If they had bombed the girls would we be negotiating?— Mr. Samuel Ndubuisi, Student.

S

ICKENING as it sounds, the idea that blatantly unreasonable people, who have the decadence of mind to behead their victims, can be engaged in a rational discussion is a d e l u s i o n a l proposition.— Mr. Darlington Ehondor, Businessman.

W

ILL negotiation end insurgency?

Who will pay for the thousands of innocent blood already wasted? I think a holistic action must be taken. We don’t need peace at any cost, but we need to end BH at any cost.—Mr. Akinwande Azeez, Worker.

B

OKO Haram reacted very violently the last time Obasanjo tried to mediate. They killed and burnt down the entire household of Alhaji Ibrahim, the father inlaw of Mohamed Yusuf (the founder of BokoHaram) for hosting Obasanjo.— Mr. Saidi Adekunle, Engineer.

N

E G O T I AT I O N would merely give the terrorists a golden opportunity for greater hubris— the irrational elongation of their unscrupulous menu of “demands”. Obasanjo should steer clear from Boko Haram and the Chibok girls.— Mr. Ademola Tunde, Worker.

45—Vanguard , FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Defection: Edo North alleges marginalisation

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

E N I N — DEFECTORS from the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Edo Central senatorial district of the state, have attributed their decision to leave the party to the total neglect and marginalisation of Esanland by the current government in the state.

They contended that Edo Central senatorial zone, which produced the likes of Chief Tony Enahoro, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi, and late Professor Ambrose Alli, B.IG, Ewah, late Dr. Christopher Okojie and others was relegated to the background by the curret administration, as they were fed with crumbs that fell from the master’s table.

At a senatorial meeting of the members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogwa, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, the convener of the meeting and former Edo State chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Prince Tony Omoaghe told delegates from the five local governments that make up the zone that the Esan people must take their destiny in their hands, if they are to survive.

Insecurity: Immigration arrests 10,000, repatriates 268 illegal immigrants in Delta

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA SABA—OVER 10,000 persons were arrested in Asaba and Warri axis of Delta State, following a mop up exercise of black spots and criminal hideouts by security agencies.

The exercise was carried out by men of the Delta State command of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, in collaboration with other security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. Our reporter who monitored the exercise reports that after the screening of those arrested, which took place at the command’s headquarters, Nigerians and regular immigrants were released while 268 persons declared as illegal immigrants were repatriated in six luxury buses to their respective countries.

The 268 undocumented/ irregular immigrants of African extraction were repatriated to their countries of origin.

A

An unidentified official of the NIS was heard saying “even though Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services as well as residency rights,

U

INEC: Voters' registration, card collection, measures to strenghten electoral system — Gov Dickson

BY SAMUELOYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—BAYELSA State governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson has described the ongoing nationwide voters’

to key into the educational policies of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration.

He also donated over 10,000

....As council scribes laud Gov, Speaker

A

BRAKA—SECRETARIES of the 25 local government areas in Delta State under the aegis of Forum of Local Government Secretaries, FLGS, have commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Onwusanya, for the progress recorded in the development of infrastructure in the state.

FLGS in a statement after its meeting in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, by its chairman,

Comptroller of Immigration Service, Mr. Isiaka Hamad, yesterday, proved abortive as he was said “to be very busy in a meeting sorting out the deportation arrangement.”

CELEBRATION: From left: Chief Sunday Dibia, Chief Uzondu Chinedu and Eze Goodluck Okoro, during the celebration of the Appeal Court victory by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the inauguration of 10-man executive of GDI and PDP, in Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

registration and card collection exercise as part of measures by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to strengthen the country’s electoral system.

Lawmaker tasks Deltans on Uduaghan's education policies

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—A member of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Rufus Akpodiete, has urged Deltans

immigrants must enter the country with a valid travel document and through an authorised port of entry and not to sneak into Nigeria without any identification.”

Efforts to speak with the state

Mr. Isaac Atikueke, said: “We as a body wishes to use this medium to thank our governor, Dr. Uduaghan and the Speaker, Onwusanya for their collaborative efforts in ensuring that critical infrastructure in the state are developed to make life easier and more meaningful for all Deltans.”

The secretaries urged all Deltans to continue to support the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led government to bring more dividends of democracy to the people.

note books to primary school children in the constituency and inspected classroom blocks built at Odja Primary School, Uwheru, Otovwodo Primary School in Ughelli; Ediagbon Primary School in Ododegho; Ezomo Primary School, Eruemukohwarien and Agbarho Grammar School in Agbarho as part of his constituency projects for 2013.

During the presention of the books to the schools, the lawmaker said that the donation was his way of celebrating the 2014 children's day with the pupils.

Akpodiete said: “We all know that the only skill, weapon and instrument that any government, parent, authority or any institution can use to improve a nation is to empower the children by giving them knowledge to survive in the society through good education."

He also observed that the success of the exercise will promote democratic practice in the country, as it was intended to widen the level of participation of the citizenry in future elections.

According to a statement, the governor, shortly after he and his wife, Rachel, collected their permanent voters’ cards, PVCs at the Oruere 005 polling unit in his hometown, Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of Bayelsans for the exercise.

He urged the people especially those, who recently

attained the statutory voting age of 18 years to take the exercise more seriously.

He said it was for this reason that the state government declared Wednesday a work-free day to enable workers and others participate in the exercise to ensure its success in the state.

Commenting on the challenges of the exercise, as indicated by preliminary reports at his disposal, the governor urged those, who turned up, but were yet to get their permanent voters’ cards not to despair, assuring that relevant government agencies would take appropriate measures to address the shortcomings.

Harassment: Residents commend IG on peace

I

KORODU—THE OkeAgbo community in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, has commended the Inspector- General of Police, IG, for restoring peace to the community by the deployment of a team of Special AutiRobbery Squad, SARS, from Abuja, which arrested the hoodlums, who were intimidating and harassing the residents.

The village, it will be recalled

was invaded by gunmen wielding Ak-47 assault rifles, pistols, cutlasses, charms and other dangerous weapons, following which the villagers petitioned the IG for him to intervene.

Consequently, the police boss sent a team of SARS, from Abuja to deal with the situation.

The police arrested five suspects with guns and other dangerous weapons and transferred them to Abuja, where investigation is still ongoing.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Katsina ready for council polls, says Gov Shema

K

AT S I N A — GOVERNOR Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has said the state government had concluded arrangements to conduct local government elections.

He announced this in Katsina in his Democracy Day message yesterday.

The 34 local government councils are being run by caretaker committees since the expiration of the tenure of elected councils in 2011.

Shema, however, did not disclose the date for the elections.

He said: “Next week, you will hear all arrangements about the conduct of the local government polls.”

He added that the election would provide an opportunity for the electorate to chose credible people that will provide more dividends of democracy at the grassroots.

Shema also said that his administration would continue to initiate policies and programmes aimed at improving the living condition of the people and move the state forward.

Transition

VISIT:

From left— Managing Director, PharmaPlus Nig Ltd; Director-General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Dr. John Isemede; High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, Muhammad Saleem and Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Abiodun Oyede, during the ambassador's visit to NACCIMA in Lagos.

DEMOCRACY DAY MASSACRE:

Fulani herdsmen kill 12 in Taraba z As refugees reject relief materials

BY JOHN MKOM

J

ALINGO— THE Democracy Day celebration was marred in Taraba State, yesterday, following the killing of seven people, including two policemen and five civilians in the renewed hostilities between the people of Nahuta in Bali Local Government Area of the state and suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Five other people died at a refugee camp near the Legislative Quarters in the same area, bringing the number of casualties to 12.

The suspected herdsmen also burnt down MarokaDaban, Agotorough, Yorose and Nahuta, leading to the displacement of about 1,500 villagers.

Survivor's tale

M

RS. Bamgboye Abimbola Abeni (nee Lawanson), aged 64, is dead. She was the wife of the Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna, Dr. Olusanjo Bamgboye.

She will be buried tomorrow at the Commonwealth Cemetery, Kashim Ibrahim Rd., Kaduna after a funeral service at the United English Baptist Church, 13, Borno Road, Behind Markarfi Motors, off Independence Way, Kaduna at 11a.m.

An eyewitness, Mr. Peter Fayum, who spoke to Vanguard said the suspected Fulani herdsmen were more than a hundred and used sophisticated weapons.

Peter said: “My brother was ahead of me while we were running. He was shot and he fell. I had no option than to run for my life. I do not know if he survived.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State Command, ASP Joseph Kawaji, confirmed the incident, adding that property worth millions were destroyed.

He also confirmed that when the police divisional headquarters in Bali received information about the attack, a patrol in the area was mobilised to curb the situation, but that the Fulani herdsmen killed two

policemen on the patrol.

He said: “For now there is calm in the area and our men are at serious work to ensure that arms are recovered and those who committed the act are brought to book.”

Meanwhile, five people died of different ailments in Bali refugee camp, while thousands of the remaining refugees rejected Taraba State government relief materials, saying they want security, not food.

The refugees, who became homeless as a result of Tiv/ Fulani crisis from southern and central Taraba State, are

mainly farmers.

‘Give us security, not food'

Speaking through their spokesman, Mr. John Hungwa, they said: “For how long would the state government continue to feed us? We want to go back to our villages to farm.

“The security arrangement is a responsibility of government and feeding is the responsibility of herds of families, therefore, government should take its own responsibility rather than playing to the gallery.”

Northern Nigeria a failed region— AREWA YOUTHS

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

N

ORTHERN youths have described that part of Nigeria as a failed region, heading for extinction and characterised by a high level of hypocrisy and bad leadership.

The youths, who met under the aegis of Arewa Youth Forum, AYF, in Kaduna, Wednesday, to review the state of the nation as part of the activities marking the 2014 Democracy Day, noted with dismay that majority of the northern people had been subjected to constant fear arising from persistent killings and tension.

The youths noted with disappointment that apart from a few of the 19 northern states, the rest were marked by low quality and purposeful governance with an astronomical rise in the embezzlement of public funds

by their leaders.

According to a communiqué by the President of AYF, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, and made available to Vanguard yesterday, the failure of governance in most parts of the region has led to the collapse of the education and health sectors with insecurity holding the entire region to ransom.

They said as a result of rising insecurity, economic activities that once thrived in their local communities had since collapsed, while the level of hatred and animosity between Northern Christians and Muslims had risen.

They also noted that if the security threat to farmers in the area was not immediately arrested, there would be serious food crisis in the region in no distant time.

They asked the government to put a halt to what they called the ‘manipulation of major religions in the country’.

2015: Southern Plateau wants governorship slot

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

J

OS— THE Southern Zone in Plateau State has once again called for the zoning of the governorship slot to the area in 2015 for the sake of peace and fair play in the state.

The Zonal Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Saidu Musa, said this at a meeting of party big wigs in Shendam Local Government Area, yesterday.

Those at the meeting included members of the state and National Assembly, local government chairmen and other chieftains and supporters from the zone.

Musa asked the PDP leaders to live by example and promote unity in the party.

In his welcome address on the occasion, Musa said: “The Southern zone appeals to other zones in the state to allow the Southern zone to produce the party’s flag bearer in the next general elections, as a matter of respect for one another, fairness and equity.

“We are not asking as of a right, but in the spirit of brotherliness.

We appeal to the northern and central zones to give us a chance.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—47

Jigawa asks FG to refund N27.5bn spent on projects

BY TINA AKANNAM

D

UTSE — THE Jigawa State government has appealed to the Federal Government to refund the N27.5 billion it spent for various developmental projects in the state.

Governor Sule Lamido, who made the appeal in Dutse, the state capital, said President Goodluck Jonathan had promised to refund the money in 2011, but this was yet to be done.

Lamido spoke while rendering the account of his stewardship in the past seven years to the people.

His words: "President Jonathan made a commitment that the Federal Government will release N18 billion to the state as ecological fund, but till date, no kobo has been released to us for it.

"The Federal Government also pledged to give the state N7.5 billion as its contribution for the construction of Dutse International Cargo Airport but the promise is yet to be ful

Gaidem calls for prayers, reflection

DEMOCRACY DAY:

BY NDAHI MARAMA

D

AMATURU — GOVER NOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has called on the people to offer prayers for the restoration of peace and unity in the state.

Gaidam spoke against the backdrop of the lingering insecurity of lives and property occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, during the Democracy Day celebrations in the state, yesterday.

He noted that this year’s celebration came at a time of great

uncertainty among many Nigerians about the future of the nation, in relation to public safety and security.

In a statement signed, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, Gaidam said: “At this time of great loss, Gaidem's thoughts and those of his government are with the grieving families. And, like many other incidents before it, BuniYadi is once again a reminder of the serious threats posed to our collective security by Boko Haram and the need for the entire country to come together to

address them. ”The governor urges the people of Yobe State, as he does at every possible opportunity, to trust in the Almighty God and to continue to pray in homes, mosques and churches for divine deliverance from the myriad challenges that we face as a nation.

"The governor has also urged the people not to waver in their support for our security and law enforcement agents. With prayers, support to security agents and communal vigilance, the prevailing security challenges will be met and addressed.”

Yero solicits support for peace, unity via SMS

K

ADUNA— GOVERNOR Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State, yesterday, solicited the support of political and religious leaders as well as journalists among others in the state through Short Message Services, SMS, towards peace and unity in the state.

In the SMS, Yero asked the people to use the opportunity of the Democracy Day celebrations to cement their differences by living in peace, irrespective of tribe or religious divide.

Yero’s SMS came against the backdrop of the tension generated by several incidents of clashes between suspected Fulani herdsmen and farmers in many communities leading to the killing of hundreds of people in the last few years.

The governor’s text message read in part: "I wish to extend my warm regards and felicitation to the entire people of Kaduna State and Nigerians on the occasion of the 2014 Democracy Day celebration.

"On behalf of the government and entire people of Kaduna State, I wish you peaceful celebrations. I urge you all to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of our diversities."

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (left) interacting with pupils of Jubilee Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, at the Ilorin airport, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Ahmed woos investors to Kwara with conducive environment

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

I

LORIN — GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State says he has made the state conducive for business and enterprise to thrive within the last three years and asked investors living within and outside the state to come and set up their businesses in the state.

Ahmed expressed his determination to rid the state of abandoned projects syndrome by blocking leakages in the system.

He spoke, yesterday, during the commissioning of Ijara IsinIsanlu Isin Road at Isin Local Local Government Area of the state as well as the rehabilitated Oro-Ijomu-Oro Road in Irepodun Local Government Council area respectively.

The governor said his determination to improve the living standard of the people was informed by his pledge to complete all the projects started by his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The governor said most on-going projects in the state were be-

ing implemented through multiple financing windows due to the current financial situation in the country.

At Isin, home to the only senator in the state still with the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Simon Ajibola, the governor said the road project, which was started by Saraki, indicated the non-partisan approach of this government to leading the people.

Almakura presents special purpose vehicles worth N748.4m to monarchs, LG bosses

L

BY ABEL DANIEL

AFIA — GOVERNOR Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State, yesterday, presented 29 Prado SUVs to second and third-class traditional rulers (emirs) and 13 Toyota Corolla salon cars to the newly elected local government chairman in the state.

The vehicles were worth N748.4 million.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony at the Government House, Lafia, Almakura commended the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state for their roles in restoring peace in the various communities that witnessed crises from 2012 till date.

He said: “Opportunists gave room for the violence we have experienced in the state since 2012 till recently, but thank God for the effort of our traditional rulers who worked tirelessly, using their personal resources to build mosques and churches where the need arose and created the atmosphere for peaceful co-existence in the communities.

“Nasarawa is now a new state because of the decision unanimously reached by both Benue and Nasarawa States’ traditional rulers and citizens towards ensuring peaceful coexistence among citizens in both states.

“It is on this basis and the tireless effort of our royal fathers that we decided to empower and encourage them with this Special Purpose Vehicles, SPVs, to assist them in carrying out their responsibilities effectively. The first class emirs’ SPV shall be ready in a week’s time.”

MTN-sponsored pilgrims depart for Jerusalem

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

L

AGOS — THE over 20 pil grims sponsored by the leading ICT and telecommunications company, MTN, have departed for Jerusalem for this year’s pilgrimage. The initiative is part of the company’s commitment to uplifting the spiritual life of its subscribers by helping them to be better in their Christian journey.

The pilgrims, who departed Murtala Mohammed International Airport, in the early hours of Wednesday, will spend 10 days in the holy land.

The participants could not hide their excitement and the rare privilege MTN has given them.

They were full of praise to the telecommunications company for

not just sponsoring them on an all-expenses paid trip, but for also giving them an opportunity to fulfil a life-long desire.

Senior Manager, Segments, MTN, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, admonished the pilgrims to put the country in prayer in view of the challenges facing the nation at this time in its history.

Speaking on the electronic selection process of the customers, she explained that subscribers were selected based on the Valued Added Service (VAS) they subscribed to.

In her words: “The selection was based on the daily devotionals, Bible quotes, sermons, songs, prayers, hymns, religious callertunez and other spiritually uplifting and faith enriching content, they subscribed to. It is as

reward for their dedication to the service that we decided to appreciate our customers and express how important they are to us. We will keep going the extra mile to show just how much we care.”

Corroborating Lawal-Mohammed’s view, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Kola Oyeyemi and Manager, Mass Market, Tosin Agbelusi explained that the strategic focus for this initiative is to show support to MTN Christian subscribers and also ensure they become better in their Christian faith.

However, the recipients were unanimous in declaring that it was ‘a dream come true’ for them.

48

— Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

CONFERENCE: From left, President DMS Retail West Africa, Joseph Ebata; Managing Director L’Oreal Central West Africa, Idy Enang; Chief Executive PARLEY: Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, Senior Manager, Segment, MTN (right), Officer, Ruff ‘N’ Tumble, Adenike Ogunlesi; Director, Consumer Banking congratulating one of the sponsored pilgrims, Omoregie Monday (middle); Group, UBA, Ilesanmi Philips, during the Retail Leaders Conference, at SherTosin Agbelusi, Manager, Mass Market, MTN(left), at a media parley to offi- aton Hotel, Lagos. cially send forth 21 customers to Jerusalem, sponsored by MTN, for this year’s pilgrimage

COMMISSIONING: From left, Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Kwara State Governor; Hon. Moshood Bakare, Chairman, Committee REVIEW: From left, Special Assistant, Media, to Nigerian Institute of Public Relaon Works and Energy, Kwara State House of Assembly, and Airtel Nitions, NIPR President, Dr. Grace Achum; Chief of Staff to the President, NIPR, Mr. geria’s Regional Operations Director, ROD, West, Segun Macaulay, at Willy Ogbidi; President, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, and Liaison Officer to Senate the commissioning of a new Airtel Showroom in Ilorin, Kwara State.

President,Hajia Rabi Mohammed, during a media review on the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State, by the NIPR, in Lagos.

FUNFAIR: From left, Sade Abiola, Senior Brand Manager, Snacks; Moji Bakare, Brand Manager Snacks; Damilola Folaju, Brand Manager, Dairies & Beverages; Dr. Tawanda Mushuku, Managing Director; Joan Ihekwaba, General Manager, Marketing, and Tosin Dada, School Channel & Corporate Activation Manager , all of UAC Foods Limited, cutting cake with children, at the 2014 UAC Foods Children's Day Funfair, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: Second runner up winner, Miss Alice Sam-Aghedo (centre) with her mother, Mrs. Oluwemimo Sam-Aghedo flanked by Mr. David Okeme, Brand Building Director (rirght), and Mr. James Inglesby, Category Manager, Skin Care and Deodorant, both of Unilever Nigeria, during the emergence of winners of Pears Baby of the Year Unilever Nigeria Promo and presentation of prizes, at the Unilever headquarters, in Oregun, Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye

FINALE: From left, Assistant Brand Manager, Dark and Lovely, Iretiogo Etsaghara; Beautiful Beginnings Mum & I Pageant Princess, Precious Olatunde; General Manager, Consumer Products Division, L'Oreal Central West Africa, Sekou Coulibaly; Human Resources Director, Enitan Ashley-Dejo, and Group Marketing Manager, Ogbemi Kesiena, at the grand finale of Dark and Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Mum & I Beauty Pageant for School Children, in Lagos.

MEETING: From left, President/Chairman of council, Nigeria Association of Small & Medium Enterprise, Alhaji Garba Ibrahim Gusau; Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Director, representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, and National President, Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists, NASSI, CELEBRATION: Ecobank staff celebrate Children’s Day with MyFirst Mr. Chuku Wachuku, at the meeting of UNIDO with organised private sectors, OPS, Account Holders, in Ikeja,Lagos. in Lagos.

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 49

50 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 51

52 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—53

DAY 46

Presidential C'tee visits Chibok, raises hope on girls' return

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

T

HE Presidential Fact-find ing Committee on the Abducted Chibok schoolgirls, yesterday, visited the Chibok community in Borno State, where the students were abducted from their hostels by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014.

A statement from the Member/ spokesperson of the committee, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor, said the committee was received on arrival at Chibok by the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Chairman, Chibok Local Government Area, five district heads of the surrounding communities, Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSS, Chibok, the Principal, wailing parents of the abducted girls as well as some of the students who escaped from the insurgents.

Also present were the vice principals, matrons of the hostels, as well as security guards and cooks were earlier debriefed by the committee in Maiduguri among several others. The receiving parties were said to have conducted members of the Committee round the burnt structures of GGSS. The committee, according to Osadolor, had earlier left Maiduguri, the state capital, Sunday, after spending eight days in the first phase of its interactions with

Boko Haram holding 219 girls—Officials THE Islamic terror group, Boko Haram, is still holding 219 of the abducted school girls after four of them were released by the Islamic sect, Borno State officials have said.

The sect has also killed 500 Nigerians since the abduction of the girls, Reuters said of its count.

The girls were taking exams at a secondary school in Chibok on April 14 when the Islamist gunmen surrounded it, loaded 276 of them onto trucks and carted them off, according to official figures.

Fifty-three escaped shortly afterwards, said authorities in Borno state, epicentre of Boko Haram’s insurgency. Education commissioner Musa Inuwa said the four had been reunited with their parents since then, but he declined to give further details of their escape or say when it happened.

A senior Borno State official said it was not clear when they escaped, and it may even have been several weeks ago. The parents had not contacted authorities when the girls returned. “It was a little after the initial escapes but we doubt it was a recent escape,” he said.

Borno stakeholders, with a promise to return shortly to interface specifically with Chibok communities.

Osadolor further said the committee later held an interactive session with the Chibok communities on the school premises. At the meeting, Chairman of the Fact-finding Committee, Brig.Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, rtd, said: “the Committee came, first, to sympathise with the parents and other community members over the havoc of the insurgents,” assuring the people of President Goodluck Jonathan’s

concern about the fate of their abducted children.

Sabo pointed out that Jonathan was having sleepless nights over the matter and urged the people to be calm and patient in the face of a multifaceted approach to resolve the abduction saga. ”As we gather here today to see you wailing, by the grace of God, we will also gather here to dance and rejoice with you when the girls regain their freedom,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Mr Bana Lawan, praised the Committee for visiting and bringing

messages of succour and hope to members of the communities. He berated those who had claimed that the mass abduction was a political scam.

“The greatest fact your committee can find are the biological parents of some of the students who were abducted,” he said.

The Commissioner for Education, Musa Inuwa Kubo, also expressed happiness over the visit by the committee and urged the members to convey to President Jonathan, the people’s hope and belief that the girls would be found and reunited with their families.

Insurgency: We need security trust fund —Jemibewon •Suggests military training for NYSC members

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

F

ORMER Police Affairs Min ister and Military Governor of defunct Western State, General David Jemibewon (rtd), has called for the creation of National Security Trust Fund to cater for the needs of troops and arms training for National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members to boost the war against terrorism and insurgency.

Jemibewon, who is disturbed by the rising waves of insecurity in the country and acerbic remarks directed at the military wondered what he would have done if he was still young and in the army.

The retired general spoke to select reporters at Ado-Ekiti, Wednesday, where he chaired the sensitization workshop for stakeholders in Ekiti State governorship election organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi. Rather than criticisms, he said the troops combating the Boko Haram insurgents need the support of all Nigerians to succeed because this is not a conventional war and instead of being rescued the over 200 abducted Chibok school girls might be killed if full force was applied.

Asked how he would want Nigeria to tackle the insecurity and insurgency challenge, he said: “I have sat down to look at the insurgency critically. If we all believe that what is happening is a national tragedy, something that every Nigerian should be concerned about then we ought to make an effort at the national level to support our security men. I deliberately didn’t use armed forces but security men - the Army, Navy, Airforce, Civil Defence, DSS, police, etc. During the Nigerian civil war, some people came up with the Troops Comfort Fund and it encouraged us. The fund raised was applied in many ways, providing food and other

needs.

“So, I advocate the setting up of Security Trust Fund. All those involved will know that the Nigerian society sympathised with them and know how this money will be used. Now, many of our troops including the police may come back with amputed legs and hands. This money can be ploughed into a central medical centre for the rehabilitation of those who would have been maimed during this crisis. And the fund will be such that every Nigerian who believes that what we are facing now is a big tragedy for us will contribute to the fund. We need a National Security Fund to assit our security men in this operation particularly if you believe that this a national problem and needs the support of everybody.

“What is happening in the country today is very sad. I just imagine if I were still in the army as a young man, what would I have done? I think it’s unfortunate but we must understand that conventional war is slightly different from the situation we have today. It’s not exactly a total war because in

a war, you know your opponent and your opponent knows you.

Even by the uniform he wears and by the weapon he carries, you will know your opponent. When you hear the sound of a gun, by your experience, you can almost say this is the calibre of gun that is being shot. But now, you won’t know who is a member of this group. To say that our soldiers are not well equipped and not well armed are not appropriate statements. But I can understand that many people who do the writings or who make the statements never had any form of military training and this is why in some societies they advocate compulsory military training. If everybody had gone through military processes, they will know that this is not total war and that makes it more difficult to fight.

"In fact the National Youth Service Corps should be introduced to basic military training. They should be taught how to handle weapons and through that you move the nation from a general level to reasonable level of general knowledge and understanding in the handling of weapons.”

Activists shun ‘Bring back our girls' rally in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO—THE much publicised Bring back our girls campaign suffered a major set back in Kano, yesterday, as notable activists in the city shunned the rally. The protest rally that was scheduled to kick off by 10 am was delayed for two hours due to the absence of top members of the civil society group.

By 10 am, the Race Course venue of the protest march was virtually empty as a handful of those who made it to the venue were faces that are not into activism in the state.

Similarly, SUV cars painted with “Bring back our girls” insignia dotted the venue, while supersonic public address system provided entertainment. However, a team of policemen drafted to watch proceedings at the venue maintained a respectful distance.

Commenting on the development, one Nura Maaji told Vanguard that the delay was connected to Democracy holiday, adding “exercise restraints we would start soon”.

Sequel to the low turnout, handful of those present at the venue staged the rally and called on the Federal Government to initiate positive move that would bring back the girls safely.

In his speech, Rev. Andy Uba enjoined Nigerians to unite in the struggle to bring back the girls, stressing that what happened was a Nigerian nightmare that citizens must confront collectively .

Pupils of Crescent College, 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos,Penckers Schools Isolo and Iman College Isolo Jazaks in collaboration with Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA), on Bring Back Our Girls in Lagos.

Photo: Akeem Salau

54—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Police conspiracies with Fayose, Bamidele:

Fayemi cries out

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN AND GBENGA ARIYIBI

G

OVERNOR Kayode Fayemi has cried out to the police to come to his aid in the face of what he claimed as separate conspiracies between his two major rivals, Ayo Fayose and Opeyemi Bamidele and the police to intimidate him and his supporters.

Alleging clear bias on the part of the police, the governor in the petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 8, also fingered Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo State and the AIG Zone 11, Osogbo who he accused of going outside his territory to foist illegal police orders in Ekiti State.

The petition dated May 27, 2014 authored on behalf of the governor by the All Progressives Congress, APC chairman in the state, Chief Olajide Awe cited several acts of intimidation by Opeyemi and Fayose against the APC and its candidate and as such listed 18 persons to be interrogated on the issues.

The petition titled: 'Complaint against incessant attacks on APC members and property in Ekiti State by agents of the PDP and LP candidates', read thus: "We write to intimate you about the political developments in Ekiti State in the build up to the gubernatorial elections on June 21. You will recall that Ekiti State under the watch of Governor Kayode Fayemi has remained relatively peaceful in the last 42 months that he has been in the saddle.

The peace of the State has however suffered a serious breach since the beginning of politicking from candidates and

•Fayemi agents of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and that of the Labour Party, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele.

We also wish to intimate you with the fact that the APC successfully concluded its campaign across the 131 towns in the state without recording any incident of violence. The Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State, and as a lover of peace, is always preaching peace wherever he goes to campaign.

Unfortunately, as the Governor strives as much as possible to ensure peace before, during and after the election, the aforementioned candidates have been frustrating his efforts.

They have resolved to make the State ungovernable and present an artificial state of insecurity in the State. Our members have been attacked in many towns where the PDP and Labour Party

Candidates held their rallies.

The style of the PDP and LP candidates is usually the same.

Once they are in a town, the thugs that always accompany the candidates who are mostly from outside the state would work with local thugs to unleash terror on

•Fayose

Pray for Jonathan, Bamidele urges

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ERHAPS drawing inspiration from the recent injunction of First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan that Nigerians should support her husband in all respects, the Labour Party candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele has called for prayers for the first family in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Opeyemi in a statement to mark the country’s Democracy Day called for sober celebration in the face of the security challenges in the country.

In the message issued by his Media Assistant, Ahmed Salami in Ado Ekiti yesterday , Bamidele also urged all Nigerians to pray for the quick return of the more than 200 girls captured from the Government

•Bamidele Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. ”Much as we (Nigerians) continue to remember our past heroes especially those who laid down their lives to institutionalise democracy; I urge everyone to do this with

sober reflection in view of prevailing circumstances “this becomes more imperative as those Nigerian youths kidnapped last month in Chibok Borno State are yet to return home; into the waiting hands of their traumatised parents and the loss of lives around the affected areas””I call on all Nigerians not to cease praying for Nigeria, for those innocent girls and for a change of mind for all anti-democratic forces fighting against our collective spirit of nationhood” “Also, let us also pray for the number one family headed by Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his wife at this critical time for God to direct the course of his actions with divine wisdom to pilot affairs of Nigeria well”

any APC member in sight. Joints would be visited where APC members converge and would disperse them with hail of bullets.

Billboards will be destroyed and our members would be maimed and sent out of town.

We chronicle below, instances where our members have been attacked, including a State Commissioner, who is over 65 years of age.

The petition also copied to the Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director, Department of State Security ended with the following prayers: 1.We want you to use your good offices to prevail on the Ekiti State Police Command to be more alive to its responsibility and be fair to all parties. A situation where a State Commissioner was almost murdered in the presence of an Area Commander who looked the other way does not augur well for the image of the

Nigerian police and can lead to a breakdown of law and order where the people would be forced to defend themselves.

2.To call the police authorities in Zone 11 in Osogbo to order because they are in the habit of clandestinely releasing policemen to the candidate of the Labour Party through the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Raman Olusegun Mimiko. The AIG of that zone is also in the habit of sending policemen to harass APC officials in Ekiti-State even though the state does not fall under his jurisdiction.

3. We want your command to appeal to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to stop using the policemen in his convoy as cover for thugs and other miscreants who are not licensed to carry arms but do so regularly. They are the thugs that have been terrorizing the State from their Akure base. A prominent commander of the thugs is Ade Basket whose name has featured prominently in this petition.

E-Eleven opposing Fayose for selfish reasons — Ekiti Group

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PPOSITION by E-Eleven to the PDP candidate, Ayo Fayose is a selfish desire by the members of the group to secure their patronage under the incumbent administration, the Ekiti State Development Union (ESDU) has said.

According to a release issued in Ado-Ekiti today, by the ESDU and signed by its Chairman, Pastor Yemi Olayinka and Secretary, Mr Foluso Oguntoyinbo, the group said “reasonable Ekiti indigenes don’t take E-Eleven serious because the group cannot point to anything that it contributed to the development of the State since inception.”

The ESDU which urged Ekiti people to ignore the E-Eleven and its “anti-Ekiti development” antics added that; “In the last

twelve years, these people in EEleven have done nothing other than evil to Ekiti and its people.

“They were the ones who waged war against Otunba Niyi Adebayo when he was governor, they waged war against Fayose when he refused to hand over the State treasury to them. And when Segun Oni was governor, the same elements in E-Eleven waged war against him, despite that they were instrumental to an agreement between Governor Kayode Fayemi and Oni that whoever that emerged as governor between the duo will be supported.

“Ekiti people must begin to ask these E-Eleven people what happened to the ‘Head or Tail’ agreement entered into between Oni and Fayemi.

Fayemi to clear teachers’ pension arrears

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HE incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi apparently would not want anything to count against him, and certainly not the disfavour of the old.

Kayode who is the APC candidate has thus moved to clear the nine months pension arrears of primary school teachers totaling N181 million which accrued between January and September 2002.

Governor Fayemi who made the pledge during a meeting with Pensioners in Ado- Ekiti also disclosed that government had this month earmarked N150

million to pay gratuity despite the recent shortfalls in the federal allocations to the state.

The Governor stated that the burden of gratuity owed the retirees is not unrelated to the fact that all the workers employed during the creation of the old Ondo State in 1976 have retired in the last three years and this has increased the financial responsibility of government towards the retirees.

He added that arrangement is ongoing to off-set the gratuity owed some people who retired in 2013.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014—55

Will National Conference produce People’s Constitution?

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EFORE the Federal Government accepted that convocation of National Conference was imperative, there had been strident calls from various quarters to that effect.

Indeed, the twin issue of political restiveness and the yawing monster of insecurity across the land threatening to consume all made the need to talk more compelling.

Obviously, the voice of Senate President, Senator David Mark gave a fillip to the calls when he also acknowledged that Nigerians needed to talk. It was against this backdrop that President Goodluck Jonathan set up the Presidential Advisory Committee on the national conference October last year. Led

by Senator Femi Okunronmu, the committee which aggregated the views of geo-political zones and other interest groups to guide the conference submitted its report December 2013.

Among other things, the committee recommended mode of representations at the conference and its duration.

According to the committee “the National Conference itself shall have the responsibility of setting out the said legal procedure and options for integrating its decisions and outcomes of its deliberations into the constitution and the laws of the nation.”

The import of this recommendation is to ensure that the conference does not turn out to be an effort in futility at the end of the day. This is hinged on general sentiment; that the ultimate aim of the national conference is to produce a brand new people’s constitution that contains inputs of various interest groups and one that is acceptable to all.

Unlike the subsisting 1999 Constitution which many describe as a document that tells

lie against itself in its preamble, when it says, “We the people”.

Whereas it is a military imposition. While inaugurating the national conference March 17 in Abuja, President Jonathan articulated the basis for the exercise, issues to focus on, skepticism expressed by some and expectations of most Nigerians.

His words “. And I am in full agreement with our people. The power we hold is, without question, in trust for the people.

Sovereignty belongs to the people. Their voices must be heard and factored into every decision we take on their behalf.

He stated further: A deeper look will reveal that the challenges we faced before each of the preceding national conferences were different. The challenges of 1956 are certainly not the challenges of 2014, and definitely not the challenges that the nation will face in years to come.

Yesterday's solutions It makes sense, therefore, that as the challenges before us evolve, we must be constant and proactive in our search for fresh solutions. We cannot continue to proffer yesterday’s solutions for today’s problems. “ The phrase in the preamble that says “we, the people,” has been variously criticised as being misleading because, according to the critics, the constitution was not written by the people.

There are also those who believe that the constitution is not our problem but the political will to faithfully implement it for the peace and progress of Nigeria.

“This conference is open for us to table our thoughts and positions on issues, and make recommendations that will advance our togetherness. The

issues range from form of government, structures of government, devolution of powers, revenue sharing, resource control, state and local government creation, boundary adjustment, state police and fiscal federalism, to local government elections, indigeneship, gender equality and children’s rights, amongst others.

President Jonathan added, “ Some of our compatriots also believe that because we have held several conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one. I do not share that view at all. I know the task before you is onerous; but there must be only one winner, and there can only be one winner if we do everything right, and that winner

,

BY DAYO BENSON

of natural resources. Earlier, the north had demanded a reduction of the current 13% derivation to 5%. However, there is the recommendation that states where mineral resources are found should be partaking in exploration of such resources.

But those who are opposed to it insist such a venture is the exclusive preserve of the federal government citing the 1999 constitution as the basis of their position.

In a reaction to this, a delegate at the conference, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite said some people are arguing at the conference that certain resources do not belong to the zone where they come from.

The controversial issue before it is a suggestion to turn geo-political zones to regions and the need to devolve more powers from the centre to the regions

must be Nigeria.”

Even as the duration of the conference had been extended by four weeks, its committee had since gone to work and some of them have been submitting their reports which would be debated at the plenary.

One of the committees that have gone through stormy session is the committee on devolution of power. The controversial issue before it is a suggestion to turn geo-political zones to regions and the need to devolve more powers from the centre to the regions.

Additionally, existing states are to remain under the regions which are expected to develop at their own pace. Ancillary to this is the recommendation of only two tiers of government that is, Federal and states only.

If the recommendation sails through, local government areas will exist under states. Equally contentions is the issue of control

,

“They are arguing that the resources belong to the country as a whole. And when you ask them how they come to their conclusion, they will cite the 1999 Constitution. I responded that this conference to our understanding is called to bring about a people’s constitution.

“We have come to the conference to tear the 1999 constitution because it does not reflect the aspirations of the people of the country. It is not a constitution that was agreed upon by the people, it is a military imposed constitution. You can now see the serious flaw in their argument.

The reason for convoking this conference is to produce a new constitution that reflects the genuine aspirations of the people. There are certain negative influences that might defeat the altruistic and desired outcome of this conference.”

56 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, MAY 30 , 2014 — 57

Ukraine helicopter downed in fresh fighting

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Ukrainian military helicopter has been shot down in Slovyansk, killing 14 people including an army general, as rebels and government forces fought fierce battles in the country’s east.

Also yesterday , a convoy of pro-Russian separatists was reported to be heading towards the Donetsk airport which government forces had recently recaptured.

The airport was the scene of heavy fighting that killed at least 50 pro-Russia fighters earlier in the week.

The government claims it has taken control of the site, but the separatists have taken the road leading to it.

“Clearly that convoy was heavily loaded with weapons and ammunition,” Al Jazeera’s

The helicopter had just taken off after transporting soldiers to a Ukrainian base David Chater, reporting from Donetsk said. “So, they are ready for a fight here.”

In Kiev, acting Ukraine President, Oleksandr Turchynov, told parliament that pro-Russian groups using surface-to-air missiles shot down the helicopter, which had been

ferrying servicemen including General Serhiy Kulchytskiy, who was among the dead. The Interfax news agency said Kulchytskiy had once served in the Soviet army and was in charge of combat training for Ukraine’s National Guard.

Obama outlines US foreign policy vision

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ARACK Obama has outlined his vision for the country’s foreign policy for the rest of his presidency, saying that the country will still lead, but will show more restraint before embarking on more military missions abroad.

In a speech on Wednesday, the US president insisted that his country ’s reliance on diplomacy over military intervention was working to resolve global crises such as Ukraine and Iran, and he pledged to increase support for Syria’s opposition.

Speaking at the US military academy at West Point, New York, Obama said he had made the decision not to intervene militarily in Syria.

“As president, I made a decision that we should not put American troops into the middle of this increasingly sectarian war, and I believe that is the

•Obama right decision,” he said.

“But that does not mean we shouldn’t help the Syrian

people stand up against a dictator who bombs and starves his own people.”

Obama said the administration would work with Congress to increase support for groups who “offer the best alternative to terrorists and brutal dictators”. More resources would be given to Syrian neighbours Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq as well.

Iraq probe reaches deal on Bush, Blair records

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HE long-delayed results of Britain’s inquiry into the Iraq War has come a step closer to publication after a deal was reached on how to use notes and phone call records between then prime minister Tony Blair and former US president, George W. Bush.

On Thursday, the

investigation, called the Chilcot Inquiry, announced that a deal had been reached between it and the British government on the disclosure of communications between Blair and Bush, previously cited as one of the big stumbling blocks to publication of its report.

African migrants storm into Spain

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ORE than a thousand African migrants have stormed a border fence in Spain’s North

African coastal enclave of Melilla, with many managing to scale the barrier and cross,

Congo slams UN comments

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O N G O BRAZZAVILLE has slammed the UN for being “ rude” over accusations it treated foreign nationals badly.

Bienvenu Okiemy, the c o u n t r y ’ s communications

over

minister, said on Wednesday that his government was “surprised by these rude comments” that alleged Congo forcibly returned tens of thousands of people to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Morocco’s government has said. Dozens of others were beaten back by police on both sides of the frontier on Wednesday.

The Moroccan government said 1,500 immigrants rushed through the fence at five different points, ignoring warnings to stop and hurling stones at security forces. At least 500 people made it across the border, shouting with joy as they dashed through the streets to an official accommodation centre.

58—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

NGO brings succour to Isawo community

By OLAYINKA LATONA

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S part of its corporate social responsibility, a non-governmental organisation, Grace and Mercy is proposing a multi-million naira project in Isawo Igbo-Olomu, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The organisation, established in 2008, used the occasion of the unveiling ceremony to graduated some women in Isawo who had completed taining on craft work, catering amongst others in addition to a series of medical check-up and treatment for the people.

Explaining reason for Grace and Mercy Programme 2014, GAMP 2014, the visionary, Pastor Atinuke Adesanya, the founder and senior pastor of Grace to Grace Ministries, Dogenham, UK said the organisation has doctors and nurses coming from abroad to run checks on people.

Adesanya added that many people die because they are afraid to go to hospitals for medical checks while some don't have access to much needed medical facilities.

In her words: “Abroad where

there are facilities, people are just afraid to do checks because they don’t want to hear any bad news. But what they don’t know is that what you know, you can fight and prolong your life.

“White Americans have higher vulnerability to cancer but they detect early and work round it. But blacks do not care.

That is why it kills more blacks.

"We are focusing on Isawo, Igbo Olomu and Agric communities in Ikorodu. We check their blood level, cholesterol and train them on computer appreciation. We have free laptops that we want to give out to outstanding students among our trainees.

Guest speaker at the occasion, Member House of Representatives, Ikorodu Federal constituency, Hon. Abike Dabiri acknowledged the benefits of the programme to the people of Isawo community.

The General Overseer, Holy Ghost Christian Center, Pastor Amos Fenwa advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of giving, explaining that the country is facing lots of challenges because very few Nigerians give back to the society.

*Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (Ikorodu Federal Constituency), flanked

by Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor(Mrs.) Atinuke Adesanya; chairperson of Ikorodu West Local Development Community Area (LCDA), Princess Olajumoke Jimbo-Ademehin and others, cutting the tape to commission the Grace and Mercy Programme of Grace to Grace International Centre in Isawo.

CRC remembers Baba Aladura after 10 years

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

CHRISTIAN Assembly of the Christ Redemption Church, Shomolu, Lagos on May 10, 2014, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passing on of the church founder, Baba Aladura John Aiyebiewu Jemilugba amidst fanfare.

Jemilugba, for 45 years, oversaw the church affairs which he founded in 1959. The grand finale of a one-week anniversary attracted members and organisations under the Unified Church of the Cherubim and Seraphim featured a short service and a thanksgiving service at the church auditorium in Shomolu.

In an interview with our correspondent, his son and general overseer of the church, Head Apostle Mathew Abayomi Jemilugba, spoke on what was unique about his father, saying: “In relating to others he was a

patient listener and brings great wisdom to bear on all decisions, especially as it relates to the church. He was a prophet and continually foretold things. That way we were able to pray to avert such calamity.”

On the relationship with their immediate community as well as the church’s contributions towards finding solution to the nation’s challenges, the Head Apostle said: “We have the affairs of our immediate community at heart. We organize revivals and other programmes to impact on their spiritual lives. We organize prayers for peace to reign in the country, especially as we are approaching another elections next year.

“We preach against corruption especially among our members and the larger body of Christ. We as Christians should endeavour to lay good examples in the society even though evil has permeated the society.”

INSECURITY: Braithwaite urges Christians to remain steadfast

By WILLIAM JIMOH

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He prophesied; "the formidable army, troublemakers and enemy of the nation that you see today, you will not see them any more before long."

He, however, admonished Christians on the importance of living righteously while keeping hope alive.

In his lecture tagged; “Nigeria, Limited Access for the Underprivileged and the Escalation of the Incidence of Mass Poverty: An Initiative for Positive Change,” the Director General Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Professor Bola Akinterinwa drawing inspiration from 1 John 4:20 stressed the need for Christians to always lend a helping hand to the less privileged in the society, saying this attracts greater blessing from God. “What justify our own existence is that you must service your own people created by God,” he added.

Wilson Badejo Foundation, is a nongovernmental organ-ization, NGO, is drawing attention of the general public to the plight of the less privileged in the society.

LDER statesman and a delegate to the ongoing National Conference, Dr. Tunji Braith-waite, has urged Nigerian Christians to be focused and steadfast in their commitment to God, saying there is still hope for the nation despitre the various challenges.

Dr. Braithwaite assured that God will surely surprise the world by upholding this nation because Nigeria remains His own, in spite of the various challenges including corruption, insurgency, confusion, mutiny, among others.

He stated this while giving a keynote address at the seventh annual lecture of Wilson Badejo Foundation, WBF, in Lagos, adding that Nigerian Christians, in no time, will see the fruit of their service to God. His words: “I bid you to remain steadfast because the Lord your God knows what you are going through for His own sake. Therefore you should not let the enemy discourage you.

“There are sufficient people of God in this land, so many churches and mosques almost on every street especially in the southern part of the country and people are saying we are not seeing the fruits. I tell them don't worry, God moves in mysterious ways, we may not see the fruits but they are certainly there.

“And just as a woman forgets the pain of her labour soon after delivery, we will soon forget the pain that we experience today. We are going through difficulties but by the time Christ has exhausted the enemy of righteousness in our mist, this will be a different place all together and L-R: Pastor Festus Peter-Aseni; Pastor Helen Adesanya; Pastor that is why our prayer should Teresa Ayanru and Pastor (Mrs.) Siju Iluyomade, convener, Arise always be that God grant us Women, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); at the Arise Women Medical Outreach, RCCG Lagos Province 4, held in Apapa, the grace to see the time," he Lagos over the weekend. added.

PFN flays continued detention of Chibok girls

waste of innocent lives and unwarranted shedding of the blood of Nigerians. We are without any doubt whatsoever, that the evil they have continued to perpetrate will find them ENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria out, and they will be made to face justice soon," (PFN) has expressed disappointment Omobude stated. over the continued detention of about 275 According to him, PFN is saddened by the young children adopted by Islamic militant barbarism being exhibited by this group, addsect, Boko Haram from their dormitory in Goving "we are alarmed at the recent upsurge of ernment Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in criminality and terrorism by this group. We spite of global appeal for their release. call on the government to do more in A statement by PFN's national president, Dr. addressing this monster at all levels, by Felix Omobude said the umbrella body of Pendeploying all necessary resources to tackle the tecostalism in Nigeria strongly condemns "this problem head-long. We also call on both the callous act on the part of these rogue elements Federal and state governments to increase who claim to be motivated by a desire to foist their level of cooperation." on Nigeria their own perverted ideology.

The Christian group, however, saluted the "They should be ashamed of their wickedness courage of the nation's Armed forces, some of and desist forthwith from this meaningless whom have made the ultimate sacrifice in the process of fighting terror.

"We enjoin them to re-dediHE annual celebration of Apapa Family of The Redeemed cate themselves to this cause, Christian Church of God tagged EXCEL comes up on and expedite action in ensurJune 1, 2014. Theme: SIGNS OF CHANGE. The focus this year ing the safe return of our girls," is on the activities and efforts of the organisation as signs of posi- he further appealed, noting that PFN remains resolute that tive change in society.

Ministering is the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch evil shall not overcome our Adejare Adeboye. Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square and music will land. "We categorically mainbe supplied by Wale Adenuga, Nathaniel Bassey, Freeborn and tain that there is no place in NiTony Adoki. The Excel celebration of the family has become a geria, and there will never be, reference point in Christian social responsibility in Nigeria where for such anachronistic and retmembers of the family in Europe, USA, Oceania and Asia chap- rogressive philosophy," he stated. ters will be in attendance.

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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RCCG Apapa Family initiates Signs of Change

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Vanguard, FRIDAY,

MAY 30 30,, 2014— 59

PathCare Lab heralds new blood test procedure in Nigeria

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

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•Cross section of children at the 2014 celebration of the ‘World Water Day” organised

Pros and cons of disposable food containers

BY YINKA LATONA

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HE practice of purchasing and consuming food packed in disposable and takeaway containers including black polythene bags has gained prominence among Nigerians irrespective of age or status. It is commonplace to observe people relishing hot food items like rice, beans, fried plantain, spaghetti, and assorted fish or meat, packaged in these containers But health experts have warned that food items packed inside such containers for long periods is likely to be source of serious health challenges including cancer.

Of particular interest is the use of ready-to-go-Styrofoam containers and thin black plastic bags to serve hot cooked foods and drinks. Styrofoam containers are made from polystyrene, a petroleum based plastic which gained popularity because it is lightweight and offers good insulation properties.

The thin black plastic bag is often offered free while the Styrofoam pack comes at a price. Many consumers use these items for their convenience not knowing the health implications involved.

Oluwatoyin, a housewife been using nylon for sometime now because it is convenient for her and she cannot be bothered to be carrying plastics all over the place. Chinyere, a student, believes the N20 container is very handy while Uche, an automobile mechanic, explained that he started using black thin nylon and gradually stepped up to using Styrofoam containers to pack food to his workshop. They are completely

oblivious of any associated potential danger.

Scientists attribute the use of Styrofoam containers as a huge problem. Studies show that these products leach chemicals into consumable items especially at high temperature.

Food Contamination

When Styrofoam containers are used to store food, chemicals injurious to human health especially the reproductive systems can leach into the food. The risk is heightened when the food is reheated while still in the containers. Health experts note that there is migration of

styrene (a colourless oily liquid that leach when eating foods packed in a polystyrene container.) if you drink beverages from polystyrene cups four times a day for three years, you may have consumed about one foam cup’s worth of styrene along with your beverages.

Styrene short term levels of exposure can cause eye, nose and throat irritation while the long term levels of exposure can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of consciousness, trouble in concentrating, memory problems, brain damage, fertility impairments,cancer and death among others.

EDICAL diagnosis through blood tests in Nigeria is set to recieve a boost as an International Research Project to determine the normal measurable blood values of Nigerians, takes off, based on ac tual figures obtained from Nigerians.

Currently, blood values used to interpret blood tests in the country are obtained from research carried out on a foreign population.

Disclosing the development in Lagos last week, Managing Director, PathCare Laboratories, Lagos , Dr. Pamela Ajayi , revealed that the new research, would enable normal values that will serve as a true representative of the Nigerian population to be determined. On the long run, this would strengthen the practice of evidence based

•Dr. Pamela Ajayi

GSK re-launches Horlicks drink

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OREMOST consumer healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc, has re – launched its high quality health food drink, Horlicks even as it seeks to improve the general wellness and nutrition of Nigerians. The event which took place in Lagos, witnessed a high turnout of health and nutrition experts.

According to the Brand Manager, Horlicks,Mrs. Adebimpe Osanyintuyi, the health food drink is a delicious and nourishing beverage fortified with 23 vital nutrients that help to give families SSH i.e. strong bones, sharp minds and healthy bodies.

Reiterating the company’s commitment to helping more people to do more, feel better and live longer, GSK’s Africa Marketing Director-Family Nutrition, Mr. Lampe Omoyele said launching Horlicks among

nutrition experts, doctors and nurses who are care givers, is a giant step in encouraging all Nigerians to take good care of their diet, ensuring they get the required daily nutrients requirement.

“Horlicks can be taken by the whole family daily and at anytime of the day as part of regular balanced diet”, Omoyele added.

Endorsing Horlicks,a Professor of Nutrition, Ambrose Alli University,Ignatius Onimawo,stated that recent studies show that children between ages 6 – 12 years who are regularly exposed to nutrients offered by products like Horlicks have steady growth and develop faster.

“We encourage Nigerians to reduce the rate of malnutrition amongst children and adults with the intake of proper nutrients. Horlicks has been certified to contain needed

daily nutritional requirements and we as experts are endorsing it for the nutritional benefits, fitness and alertness it provides when consumed” Onimawo advised.

medicine in the country.

Ajayi, who said PathCare Labs has been selected to represent Nigeria in the blood testing procedure billed to commence in July, 2014, said past blood values may not necessarily represent the exact situation among the Nigerian population.

“The study will be conducted on Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 65 years. It is critical to the success of this landmark project that only healthy persons are enrolled.

“Those ineligible as volunteers for the research include persons with High Blood Pressure, diabetes (blood sugar), any other health conditions for which medication is currently taken, health conditions for which one has been hospitalised in the past two weeks and blood donors within three months and blood recipients.

“Others who will not be admitted as volunteers for the study include, People Living with HIV/AIDS, people with chronic Hepatitis B or C; pregnant women or women in labour less than a year ago; persons with alcohol intake of more than five glasses a day; the obese (body mass index of more than 31 kg/m2); underweight persons (body mass index of less than 18.5 kg/ m2) and persons who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day.”

Ajayi urged interested volunteers to complete an informed consent form and questionnaire, and have their vital signs as well blood sample will be taken. Volunteers will obtain a medical report freeof-charge upon completion of a comprehensive panel of tests.

Other countries participating in the study are South Africa and Kenya.

•L-R: Brand Manager, Family Nutrition,Horlicks, Adebimpe Osanyintuyi; Chairman, Scientific Endorsement Committee, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Dr. Barthlomew Brai; Global Expert Marketing Manager,GSK, Ms. Jaya Mathai; Medical Commercial Manager, GSK, Chinyere Chima and Immediate Past President, NSN, Prof Ignatius Onimawo during Horlicks experts launch in Lagos.

60 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard CLASSIFIED CHUKWUEDO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mary Ifeoma Chukwuedo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mary Ifeoma Eziuno.

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ANWO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwakemi Adetoke Anwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwakemi Adetoke Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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EMAGBEWOVIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. G a b r i e l Emagbewovie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Gabriel Mamuzo Emas. All former documents remain valid. Intels Nig Ltd and general public please take note.

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IKRUMALE—I, formerly known and addressed as (1)Mr. Omuye O. Ikrumale, (2)Miss Phillo E. Ikrumale, (3)Miss Orowo U. Ikrumale, (4)Mr. Othuke Ikrumale, (5)Miss Efe F. Ikrumale, (6)Miss Rita O. Ikrumale, now wish to be known and addressed as (1)Mr. Omuye O. God'spower, (2)Miss Phillo E. God'spower, (3)Miss Orowo U. God'spower, (4)Mr. Othuke God'spower, (5)Miss Efe F. God'spower, (6)Miss Rita O. God'spower.

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Okoku, Keshi, GTCF celebrate world hunger’s day

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HE Greater T o m o r r o w Foundation, a charitybased organisation has flagged off its operationfeed the children campaign with a feeding session for pupils of St Paul’s Primary School in Costain, Lagos.

The feeding session which took place yesterday at the school’s premises saw the foundation donating a variety of food items, comprising noodles, sphagettis, fruit juice drinks, biscuits and snacks saw the pupils being handed their own gift packs by the school’s head teacher cum head

mistress, Mrs Grace Jalekun, who presented the gifts on behalf of the foundation, founded by Paul Okoku, with active support of Eagles coach Stephen Keshi.

Speaking before handing out the items to the joyous kids, Mrs Jalekun said that the Greater Tomorrow Foundation made the donation in commemoration of Children’s Day on May 27 and World Hunger ’s Day on May 28, which fall under the purview of the organisation’s mission to help feed less-privileged kids in the society.

Why I celebrate Children’s Day — Rufai

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ORMER Nigeria international Peter Rufai yesterday marked the 2014 Children’s Day with scores of school pupils from primary schools around Surulere.

The event which was backed by the Lagos State Government, the National Sports Commission, Procter & Gamble Nigeria (P & G), among others witnessed the kids play various games including football, sack race, etc.

After speeches by the organiser, Peter Rufai, Francis Gbiri who represented the DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission,

Honou-rable Gbenga Elegbeleye and Olatomiwa Akande, the C o m p a n y communications Manager for P&G. Rufai explained that he felt ever indebted to the country that provided him a platform upon which he became what he is today. “The Dodo Mayana Children’s Day celebration 2014 is a vision conceptualised to create a platform where children can be celebrated. It is my own modest way of saying thank you to a country that has been so kind to me from when I was a youth to date,” Rufai said.

Milo African Championship Kicks off at Campos Square

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LL three teams participating in the 3rd Milo African U-13 Championship arrived Lagos yesterday for the tournament which starts today at the Campos Square Stadium on Lagos Island.The contingents of 16 kids and five adults per team were received at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport by officials of Nestle PLC, makers of the Milo food drink.

The first contingent that touched down yesterday was the Team Ghana that arrived aboard an Arik Air flight at 10.05am. Team Kenya followed on a Kenya Airways flight at

11.25am while Team South Africa were the last to hit town at 2.

55pm aboard Arik Air. All the teams were driven in competition branded 30-seater buses to the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island under tight security and traffic escort.

Mrs Doja Ekeruche, Category Business Manager, Beverages, Nestle Nigeria PLC and who was on hand to welcome the contingents at the hotel, expressed satisfaction with the arrangements that have been implemented towards ensuring a successful championship.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 61

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 — 63

Match against Scotland was boring — Akpoborie •Picks Nwofor as Nigeria’s man-of-the-match F

ORMER Nigeria international Jonathan Akpoborie has picked super sub Uche Nwofor as the only Eagle that impressed in Wedneday’s World Cup warm-up against Scotland.

The African champions forced Scotland to a 2-2 draw at a jammed Craven Cottage in London on with Nwofor coming off the bench to save Nigeria from defeat with his third international goal on the dot of full time.

“The only person who performed well in that game as far as I am concerned was Uche Nwofor,” said Akpoborie, who is now a television pundit.

The former Vfb Stuttgart striker said the game may come rather late but still served the purpose for the coach to

have a look at the team’s fringe players for a possible place on the final World Cup squad.

“The game served the purpose for which it was organised. I think a lot of people might just be over reacting at this time,” he stated.

“I feel that playing a game with fringe players towards the World Cup was an exercise that should have been done long before now.

“By now, I expected the first team to be playing friendlies to strike an understanding and get full fitness because a lot of them did not get regular playing time at their clubs.

“Anyway, the game was horrible. The game was not about result, it was about making decisions on who will be going to the World Cup.

THE PATRIOT . . . A Nigeria fan holding a placard is embraced by a Scotland fan before kick off

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FTER the Super Eagles pulsating 22 draw against the Tartan Army of Scotland at the Craven Cottage in London on Wednesday, players of the World Cup bound team have started to take stock of what may be in the coming days with many of them saying they don’t envy Coach Stephen Keshi at this very difficult period.

Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, said at the post match conference that if he was the coach he will

find it difficult to drop any of the players that is presently in the 30-man squad. “Nigeria is blessed with talents and that is why I think all the players here merit to be in Brazil, even when we have some other very good ones still hanging out. If you watch the game against Scotland, you will know that the ‘Big Boss’ needs to be pitied over dropping players and picking those who will make the final 23. It will be tough.

AYG:Team Nigeria surpass Morocco feat, garner 15 gold when they earned more others namely Diana 76 kg category while gold medals to increase Osmond, Sunday Yusuf Oyakojo Muideen Ojo

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EAM Nigeria y e s t e r d a y consolidated their position on the medals table at the 2nd African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana

their haul to 15, eight more than the seven they won at the inaugural edition held in Morocco four years ago.

They now have 15 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze medals to place third behind South Africa and Egypt with a day left for curtains to be drawn on the Games.

One of the two gold medals yesterday came from the unexpected field of golf where Anita Uwadia beat all the contestants in the Girls’ single and also led three

Continued from B/P

L-R: Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing and Retention, MultiChoice Nigeria; Nomsa Mazibuko, SuperSport Marketing Director and Felix Awogu, General Manager, SuperSport, West Africa, during the SuperSport launch of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Campaign tagged “WE ARE BRAZIL” held Continued from B/P at The Marque, Pent House, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island yesterday.

Keshi said: “It’s something ridiculous.

We’re not gamblers, we are football players. I Continued from B/P must start to imbibe this don’t even know where the gift in the presence type of gesture” he that is coming from, we don’t know what of Team Administrator, declared. happened, match fixing He added that Dayo Enebi Achor and Media Officer Ben someday he would find or no match fixing.

“This is the first time Alaiya he was shocked an opportunity to I’ve been a coach or reciprocate.

“Imagine a to the marrow and been a player and the fellow coach branding wished he could first time I’m hearing reciprocate the gesture my name in a drink. It this, match-fixing.

I immediately. “This is has never happened in don’t think it had my entire life, please true friendship in football and we all, help me thank him” an anything to do with our build-up or the game.” especially Nigerians emotional Keshi said.

Ejide

Strachan

Eagles say Keshi will sweat to pick final squad

were denied victory by substitute Uche Nwofor’s stoppage-time strike.

Ex-international, Peter Rufai who reviewed the match yesterday with special focus on goalkeeper Austine Ejide prayed that nothing happens to number one goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama at the World Cup to warrant the coaches calling Ejide to duty for the Eagles. ‘’We pray that nothing happens to Enyeama to warrant a change’’, Rufai said at ‘’We are Brazil’’ conference by Supersport in Lagos yesterday.

Ejide, who before his calamitous outing on Wednesday had been rated higher than Vincent Enyeama put

and Tokunbo Pedro, son of former Lagos state Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro to win silver in the Team event.

The other gold came from another female athlete, Favour Debeiyen who won in the C1 Canoe Sprint event and also got bronze in the K1 Sprint while Gbamire Goodluck Blessing took the C1 Sprint silver in the Boys’ category.

Earlier, boxing produced a gold medal through Agwu Celina Ezinne in the Girls’ 69-

Enyeama up a below average performance that at one point, he palmed the ball into his own net with Scotland 1-0 ahead in the first-half. Thanks to referee Lee Probert who disallowed the goal for a supposed push.

Apparently not wanting to crucify the goalkeeper, Rufai pleaded for time assuring that ‘’there is no cause for alarm’’. ‘’It happens in football. Ejide is a fine goalkeeper.

All goalkeepers go through that at one stage or the other ’’, Rufai said recalling how jittery he used to be when called to take over from number one goalkeepers in his club.

Also looking at the Super Eagles opponents in the World Cup, Rufai

and Isiaka Kazeem got bronze and silver in the Light Fly weight and Heavy weight categories respectively.

Karate got three bronze medals in the Team Kata event as well as -76kg male and +59kg female through Odoemenam Divine Favour and Nwankwo Caroline Ujunwa respectively while Taekwondo which began competition on Wednesday got a bronze in the -63kg Girls’ category through Esther Godwin.

confessed that he dreaded meeting Argentina in his days. ‘’Argentina play different football from what obtains in Europe.

They always have outstanding players who move zig-zag to confuse their opponents. ‘’Once they hold the ball, they will come to you in a zig-zag formation. I will be marshalling orders to the defenders but those ones will be confused because they move in a zig-zag formation’’, he said to a sporadic laughter.

But he noted that coach Stephen Keshi was up to their tricks in the World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria will face Iran, Bosnia-Hezergovina before their last match with Argentina in the group games.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014

Ejide’s comical ‘own goal’ against Scotland goes viral

F

Brazil World Cup:

We pray nothing happens to Enyeama — Rufai •Dreads Argentina’s zig-zag formation

OOTIE fans around the world are lapping up an internet clip of Nigeria keeper Austin Ejide’s bizarre own goal against Scotland.

Hundreds of thousands have viewed the footage which shows the goalie appear to throw the ball into his own net as Scotland defender Grant Hanley challenged him.

English referee Lee Probert then spared the keeper ’s blushes by ruling that Hanley had fouled the Super Eagles goalkeeper during the incident in the 2-2 draw

at Craven Cottage.

The build-up to the friendly in London had been overshadowed by the news the SFA had been warned the match could be targeted by match fixers, following an alert by the National Crime Agency.

There is no suggestion of players being involved in any potential scam but the timing of the incident was unfortunate.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi later issued an angry defence of his players’ integrity.

Continues on Page 63

Strachan stuns Keshi with customised brandy

BY TONY UBANI

S

UDDENLY, the raging optimism of the Super Eagles winning the World Cup in Brazil hit all time low on Wednesday after their 2-2 draw with Scotland at the Craven Cottage, London.

The Super Eagles came from behind twice to force the Tartan Army to a 2-2 draw after goals

by Charlie Mulgrew and Azubuike Egwuekwe’s own goal,

S UNCONVINCING: Goalkeeper Austin Ejide in an aerial tussle with Scotland player during the international f r i e n d l y We d n e s d a y.

The match ended 2-2

Continues on Page 63

C O T L A N D Manager, Gordon Strachan caused a stir in the Super Eagles dressing room moments before the game against his side in an international friendly,

when he presented his Nigerian counterpart, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, with a branded brandy, with the name ‘Famous Keshi’.

When Keshi received

Continues on Page 63

INSIDE: 8 pages of Sports Vanguard

Match against Scotland was boring — Akpoborie •P.63 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Mistake (4) 4 Uncooked (3) 6 Be gloomy (4) 9 Wonder (3) 10 Peeled (8) 11 Close (4) 14 Edge (3) 16 Relaxed (5) 19 Seemed (8) 21 Measuringdevice (5) 23 Harmful (8) 24 Capture (5) 27 Allow (3) 31 Press (4) 33 Gap (8) 34 Epoch (3) 35 Stagger (4) 36 Youth (3) 37 Pant (4)

DOWN 2 Tardy (4) 3 Settled (4) 4 Mended (8) 5 Broad (4) 6 Madness (5) 7 Be indebted (3) 8 Calm (5) 12 Confusion (5) 13 Jet (5) 14 Butt (3) 15 Alloy (5) 17 Of sound (5) 18 Condescend (5) 20 Insane (8) 22 Rodent (3) 25 Tally (5) 26 Waterway (5) 28 Murder (4) 29 Boast (4) 30 Go by (4) 32 Mineral (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Slight 5, Outlet 8, Attitude 9, Laid 10, Yes 12, Steed 15, Eel 17, Moo 18, Run 19, Ace 20, Blame 21, Dud 22, Ave 23, Age 24, Nor 26, Rated 29, Don 33, Tarn 34, Tenacity 35, Hectic 36, Ignore.

DOWN: 2, Lithe 3, Gain 4, Trust 5, Obese 6, Talk 7, Elite 10, Yearn 11, Smear 12, Sober 13, Exact 14, Dread 15, Ended 16, Laden 25, Ovate 27, Attic 28, Ennui 30, Outer 31, Knot 32, Scan.

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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