UNILAG shut; no goingback — Jonathan

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61634

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

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Sacked Lagos doctors: NUPENG begins solidarity strike —P.6

Trailer load of arms seized in Onitsha

STUDENTS PROTEST

—Students of University of Lagos hijacking a BRT bus to distrupt traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, yesterday, on the second day of protest against the renaming of the institution. INSET: A n antiriot policeman watches over the protesting students. Photos: Lamidi Bamidele.

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UNILAG shut; no going back — Jonathan

BY BEN AGANDE, BOSE ADELAJA & DAYO ADESULU

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•Students take to streets on Day 2 •The President acted in good faith — Maku

Charles Taylor jailed 50 yrs for war crimes Pg.7

Mr & Mrs

Obasanjo vs National Assembly: Ali Baba and the 40 thieves —P. 17

Jonathan commissions first locally made warship tomorrow —P.6 C M Y K

AGOS—AUTHOR ITIES of the University of Lagos, yesterday, ordered immediate closure of the university following protests by students of the institution Continues on Page 5

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POCKET CARTOON

UNILAG shut, no going back — Jonathan Continues from Page 1 which entered second day over the renaming of the school to Moshood Abiola University. This came as the Federal Government insisted that there was no going back on the decision.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement during his Democracy Day broadcast, Tuesday, renaming University of Lagos sparked off spontaneous protests from the students of the institution. On the second day of the protests, the students and lecturers arrived the Third Mainland Bridge as early as 7am carrying placards of various inscriptions, conveying a message that they don’t want the new name. They barricaded the bridge and prevented motorists from accessing it as they chanted “We don’t want MAU, give us our UNILAG.” The protest led to a traffic gridlock in that axis as civil servants whose offices are situated at Victoria Island and Ikoyi

were unable to get to their offices at the usual 8am.

Motorists were therefore compelled to make use of Ikorodu Road to CMS which is the only alternative route to the Island, as commuters were forced to pay fare that was fifty per cent higher than the normal.

The protesting students vowed not to vacate the roads until President Jonathan reverts the name of the school to UNILAG.

Unilag already has a 50-yr-old name — ASUU chairman Speaking on the protest, Dr Karo Ogbineka, UNILAG ASUU Chairman said: “If President Goodluck Jonathan must honour MKO, he could name one of the newly established nine Federal universities after him.

UNILAG, already has a name that has been in existence for 50 years.

“All over the world, governments build monuments to honour their

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

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O something different. “Dare to challenge the norm! Seek out the truth for yourself. Follow no one blindly. Do nothing without first seeking to understand why. Always keep an open mind.”

“Your assumptions can influence your attitudes and behaviours in a big way and so ultimately influence your future. It is always necessary in any given circumstance to ask the question “why?” before doing or not doing anything.”

“Believe in yourself and the fact that you are different and what you think matters more than what society says.”

TAKE HEART

heroes. The president could as well change May 29 democracy day to June 12 in honour of MKO”.

At Fadeyi bus-stop the protesters hijacked two BRT buses which were used to barricade the two sides of the road causing serious traffic gridlock that lasted hours as some passengers disembarked and walked, while others had to terminate their journey. The protest caused panic and apprehension among residents of the area as many of them scampered for safety.

The situation was almost hijacked by hoodlums but for the timely intervention of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko who arrived the scene and restored sanity in the area. Some motorists who spoke with Vanguard expressed dissatisfaction at the protest and called on government to prevent further occurrence.

In its immediate reaction to the protest, the university authorities in a statement yesterday said: ”In view of the recent developments on our campuses, the senate of the university has directed that all academic activities be suspended forthwith for two weeks. Accordingly, all students are to vacate the halls of residence latest by 11.am today May 30, 2012. The university security has been mandated to ensure compliance”.

No going back—FG

BY ELLA RANDLE

Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own — Robert A Heinlein.

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HE other day I saw an hilarious cartoon illustration about the nature of love, cupid aims the love arrow at the heart of this young man and anyone would expect a smile of joy that love true is about to happen for him, but instead he brought out a weapon aimed right at cupid. He said: “Don’t you dare, the last time you messed up big time!

When was the last time you loved so deeply, so keenly? Sometimes the only time we feel love as deeply as adults, is when we first fall in love – or when we lose someone we love. We may want to ask, why does the heart go numb? Because every time we have a painful experience, we tend to grow a protective layer around our heart. The unpleasant thing is that this protective layer doesn’t just shield us from pain, it numbs all emotions.

How can the heart awaken? There is a natural way of awakening the heart that we all know about.

It’s falling in love. Ask anyone who is freshly in love, and they will rave about how wonderful the person they love is. But there is a challenge… the euphoria doesn’t always last. Fortunately, there is another way of awakening the heart. A way that lasts. And that is through loving-kindness practice.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government declared, yesterday, that there was no going back on the decision to rename the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University as the late acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola deserved the honour.

Addressing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive council meeting, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said President Goodluck Jonathan’s proclamation was only a response to the over a decade clamour by a broad spectrum of Nigerians for Chief Abiola to

be immortalized.

Maku said government does not see the protest as a mark of disapproval and expressed hope that reasons would prevail at the end of the day.

“Yes sometimes government decisions get reactions from the populace, we do not as an administration see this as a disapproval. We just see it as a normal way in every democracy that when you take major decisions definitely sometimes you have public reaction but we should not allow the protest to overshadow the national significance of what Mr. President has done. I think he has shown that he is a true statesman and he truly appreciates the significance of M.K.O’s contribution in the political development of our country and as people who were adults in 1993.

We think that this decision has been long overdue and that, today, Abiola can turn in his grave and say this nation for whom I made a supreme sacrifice for political development has recognized my contributions.

“It is our hope that reason will prevail and that the decision to honor one of our nations’s icons and heroes will be appreciated by all Nigerians including our youths and students who are the future leaders of this country.”

According to the minister, “ if there is any figure that symbolizes sacrifice of self for this nation, that figure is Chief M.K.O Abiola who clearly won the June12, 1993 Presidential election and died in that captivity because he stood for principle, he stood to defend the principle of democracy, and for anyone that is familiar with the development of our politics in the last two decades, there is no event in the political history of our country that touches the hearts of quite a significant number of citizens like the June 12 Presidential election.

“In the last two decades, there has been widespread outcry that this democracy has not given Chief M.K.O Abiola and other heroes who passed on in controversial circumstances their due honour as a result of

File: Pages1&5, MAY 30

what they did to stand for the democratic development of this country.

These outcries have continued to come from citizens spread across the nation. What Mr. President did was to listen to the outpouring of appeals of persuasions by Nigerians across this country that MKO deserved to be immortalised. What he therefore did in his capacity as a visitor to the University of Lagos was to name the University after Moshood Abiola of blessed memory. He did so in the best interest of the country, he did so because any nation that does not honour those who clearly stand out and make a sacrifice as role models for others to follow cannot appeal to the best in its own traditions for citizens to follow. The decision has been made in very good faith by Mr. President and we have seen the reactions by a section of the students of University of Lagos; we have

also seen the outpouring of encomiums by patriots and statesmen who really understand the reasons why the President honoured Abiola."

The information minister said the decision by the Federal government to rename the University of Lagos should “unify Nigeria, those who believe in one country, those who believe in one democracy, those who believe in the reward for sacrifice for the nation and I think that is exactly what the President did.

“I remember that around 1987-88 when one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists and leaders Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed on, the Federal Government renamed the University of Ife as Obafemi Awolowo University. In addition to that also in the course of our history we have had several national institutions named after our past heroes and even living heroes” he said.

President Jonathan did well — Minister

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU BUJA — M I N I S TER of State for Education, Barr Nyesom Wike has commended President Goodluck Jonathan on his decision to immortalise Chief M.K.O. Abiola nine years after he fought for the country’s democracy by renaming the university of Lagos after him.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday, the minister said that President Jonathan did what past administrations could not do arguing that Moshood Abiola deserves to be honoured as a symbol of democracy.

According to him, “This government has also shown commitment

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to take on the challenges frontally, a thing that other previous governments were not able to do. From the decision taken by President Jonathan to name UNILAG after Chief MKO Abiola, this is also a clear signal that the president will right all the wrongs that had happened in the past.

The Minister noted that the criticisms that trailed the one year administration of President Jonathan was rather too hasty, saying “majority of Nigerians dwell more on criticism, rather than proffering solutions to myriad of challenges bedeviling the country”, noting that the education sector is currently witnessing a turn-around owing to changes in policies.”

6—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

PRESIDENCY 2015:

Suit against Jonathan begins June 21 As PDP’s out-of-court settlement bid fails

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — FOLLOW ING the inability of the A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to amicably resolve issues surrounding the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015, an Abuja High Court, yesterday, fixed June 21 to begin hearing on the matter.

Justice Mudashiru Onyangi okayed full-blown hearing on the case after he was informed, yesterday, that the planned out-ofcourt settlement of the case failed.

It will be recalled that the plaintiff, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, who is a member of the PDP, had on April 18, sought time to explore the possibilities of settling the matter without recourse to the court, a request that made the trial judge to adjourn the case till yesterday

to receive a report of settlement from the parties.

However, when the case was called up yesterday, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ugochukwu Osuagwu, told the court that the out-ofcourt settlement deal crumbled.

Consequently, by consent of all the parties, the case was fixed for hearing, even as Justice Onyangi ordered the respondents to ensure that they filed the necessary processes before the adjourned date.

The court added that the substantive suit and preliminary objections raised against it by the respondents would be heard on the same date.

Specifically, the plaintiff had gone before the high court, praying it to bar President Jonathan from contesting presidential election in 2015, contending that he is already completing his second term in office.

Jonathan commissions first locally-made warship tomorrow AGOS — HISTORY will be made tomorrow when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commissions the first locally made warship, NNS ANDONI, constructed by Nigerian Navy engineers.

The commissioning ceremony will take place at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 31m Nigerian Navy Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) was conceived as a research and development project by Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye and Rear Admiral GJ Jonah who were then Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of Naval Engineering respectively.

The vessel, which was to be designed and built locally, was patterned after the river town class patrol craft in the Nigerian Navy which include NNS YOLA and NNS BRASS, albeit with several modifications as decided by the design team.

The keel of the SDB was laid at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard by the then Chief of the Naval Staff in December 2007 while full construction commenced in January 2008.

Between January 2008 and April 2009, the structural frames and shell plating of the hull and super-

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structure were completed while the main propulsion and power generation plants were delivered.

Thereafter, the project was suspended due to funding delays until the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral OS Ibrahim revived the project by approving funds for its completion.

This is in furtherance to the remark by the president at the commissioning of NNPC/MPN Satellite Field Development Project Platforms in Lagos on 17 March 2012 when he said: “Our government will continue to support genuine efforts to uplift the country ’s economy through Nigerian Content Development and we will continue to encourage the investors to encourage the development of local content.”

The vessel was successfully completed through tenacity, ingenious innovation as well as sincere and focussed leadership, despite the previously highlighted challenges.

It is expected that this leap forward in capacity at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard would herald a future of sustained research and development in the Nigerian Navy towards achieving national transformation.

NNS ANDONI, first locally-made warship constructed by Nigerian Navy engineers, to be commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Nigerian Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, tomorrow.

Lagos doctors: NUPENG begins solidarity strike Oyo resident doctors start warning strike As Osun NMA threatens

BY LEKE ADESERI, SOUTH WEST REGIONAL EDITOR, VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG, GBENGA OLARINOYE & OLA AJAYI

AGOS — THE Ni geria Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers, NUPENG, made good its threat of embarking on a solidarity strike in support of the sacked Lagos doctors, yesterday.

A reliable source told Vanguard that there was no lifting of petroleum products in any of the depots in Lagos.

Although the situation has not resulted to fuel scarcity yet as filling stations are still selling the product they have in stock, Lagos residents are apprehensive of what awaits them when the filling stations run out of product.

A cross section of those talked to over the development appealed to the state government and the striking doctors to reach an amicable agreement before the situation gets out of hand.

However, many believed that NUPENG might have resolved to embark on strike just to get even with the state for enforcing the no parking directive on ApapaOshodi Expressway.

An official of NUPENG who spoke to Vanguard

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on condition of anonymity, said the union actually stopped loading products from the depots since Tuesday.

Though Vanguard gathered the President of NUPENG, Mr. Igwe Achese, is out of the country, he had already given directive that the strike should commence Tuesday, on the day the nation’s celebrated 13 years of uninterrupted civil rule.

The official said: “We have begun a solidarity strike in support of the striking Lagos doctors since Tuesday, May 29.

Tankers have stopped loading from the depots and what petrol stations are selling now are the products they have in stock. It is after they exhaust what they have in the filling stations that the impact will be felt.

The strike is only targeted at Lagos where doctors have been sacked by the government. It is aimed at putting pressure on the state government to recall the sacked doctors unconditionally because an injury to one is an injury to the other.”

Though the NUPENG said the strike was limited to Lagos, but 90 per cent of petroleum products in the country are from Lagos. Expectedly, if the action persists, it will definitely cause a

nationwide fuel scarcity.

Osun NMA threatens The Osun State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has appealed to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to prevail on his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to rescind his decision on the sack of the 788 medical doctors in the employment of Lagos State.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, yesterday, chairman of the state branch of the NMA, Dr Emmanuel Ajewole, stated that the appeal became imperative in view of the influence Gov. Aregbesola was believed to have in Lagos State and on Gov. Fashola.

The association threatened that if all options fail, the 0ver 800 medical doctors in the state would be left with no other option than to join forces with other doctors nation wide for sympathy strike.

Oyo resident doctors begin warning strike Meantime, the National Association of Resident Doctors in Oyo State has started a threeday warning strike to pro-

test the sack of 788 medical doctors by the Fashola administration.

While directing all members of the association to observe the warning strike from May 31 to Saturday, June 2, the President, Dr. Wale Ojediran, said at the University College Hospital, Ibadan that the issue was becoming a national crisis.

He recalled that one of the grievances of the medical practitioners was the payment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure which began in September, 2009 and that an agreement was signed in March 2011 that the CONMESS salary should be paid in full to all doctors.

The association condemned alleged undemocratic and unconstitutional action of the Fashola-led government, noting that the action portrayed the government as being insensitive to the plight of the people of the state.

Pledging their solidarity with their counterparts in Lagos, they said an injustice to one is injustice to all.

Therefore, they appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Lagos State Government to prevent total collapse of health sector in the country.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—7

Court dismisses anti-Salami reinstatement suit

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

BUJA — THE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, struck out the suit

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that sought to bar President Goodluck Jonathan from reinstating the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, to office.

Justice Abdul Kafarati,

who dismissed the suit, as grossly lacking in merit, maintained that the plaintiff, one Mr Noah Ajare, lacked the locus-standi to institute the action, saying he

failed to establish the personal injury he would suffer if Salami is reinstated.

Beside the issue of locus, the court held that the plaintiff rendered his

suit incompetent by joining the Judicial Reform Committee that abinitio recommended Salami’s recall, as a party to the suit, noting that it is not a legal person that could sue or be sued.

Stressing that the committee was already dissolved having concluded its assignment, Justice Kafarati said the 2nd defendant, not being a creation of the law, could not be dragged to court.

He said: “The fact that the plaintiff is a member of the NBA is not enough to confer locus on him. He has failed to

show a special legal right or prove to this court that he has greater interest in the matter, over and above every other Nigerian.

“Moreover, the issue of removal or reinstatement of Salami as President of the Court of Appeal can be effectively decided without the appearance of the plaintiff. Having gone through the processes before this court, it appears to me that the plaintiff does not have any work to do. The plaintiff cannot be said to have established any cause of action against the defendants, the case lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed.”

Fuel subsidy probe: Senate subpoenas KPMG Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor, accused of arming Sierra Leone's rebels who paid him in "blood diamonds", listens to the judge at the opening of the sentencing judgement hearing at the court in Leidschendam, near The Hague, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Orders PPMC to make kerosene available at LGAs

BY HENRY UMORU

Charles Taylor bags 50 years in prison Amnesty International, others hail verdict HE HAGUE— THOU SANDS of Liberians, yesterday, heaved a sigh of relief as former President and warlord, Mr. Charles Taylor, got 50 years jail term for committing crimes against humanity in the civil war in the West African nation which spilled over to Sierra Leone.

Thousands of amputees, women, who were raped and children whose parents were brutally killed in the civil war were jubilant that Taylor, 64, will spend the rest of his life in jail house, making him the first former heads of state to be convicted by the International Court for war crimes.

Charles Taylor was convicted for levying war on his country and for helping the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to institute a similar action in Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002.

Taylor played a key role in other bloody West African conflicts, not least the 1989-95 Liberian civil war, but was only indicted in relation to his role in Sierra Leone. The former Liberian leader was convicted last month on 11count charge including

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terrorism, murder, raping women and girls, recruiting child soldiers, enslavement and pillaging the country.

The war in Liberia spilled into Sierra Leone as Taylor tried to frustrate the peace-keeping mission put together by the West African States under the acronym ECOMOG but more importantly the former Liberian leader needed an evil alliance with late Fodey Sankoh, to enable him get access to diamonds from Sierra Leone. This triggered off the so-called blood diamonds as the proceeds from stealing diamond were used to purchase arms.

The special court for Sierra Leone in The Hague which handed the sentence said Taylor has the right to appeal. The prosecutors had sought an 80-year jail term but Justice Richard Lussick said Taylor had never set foot in Sierra Leone but had left a heavy footprint there. He said the effect of Taylor’s crimes on families of the victims was “devastating.”

“The accused has been found responsible for aiding and abetting, as well as planning, some of the most

heinous and brutal crimes recorded in human history,” the judge said. He said the court found when weighing its sentence that Taylor’s abuse of his positions as president and member of the West African regional leadership body, ECOWAS, was “an aggravating factor of great weight.”

Another aggravating factor was his abuse of Sierra Leone for financial gain.

Lussick said that while convictions for aiding and abetting in crimes generally warranted lower prison terms, this was not the case for Taylor, whose leadership role “puts him in a class of his own.”

Prosecutors had sought an 80-year sentence to reflect the central role that Taylor played in the Sierra Leone conflict, while his lawyers rejected claims he played a central part and requested a proportionate sentence. Courtenay Griffiths, one of the defense attorneys, said the sentence in effect meant Taylor would die in prison. His legal team plans to appeal the sentence as excessive.

Rights groups hail verdict Taylor’s conviction has

been hailed by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, as a sign that heads of state cannot escape prosecution for crimes against humanity.

However, many rights groups have called for his prosecution for alleged crimes in Liberia.

Addressing the court earlier this month, Taylor said he had acted with honour in Sierra Leone and claimed he had helped end the civil war.

“What I did was done with honor,” he said. “I was convinced that unless there was peace in Sierra Leone, Liberia would not be able to move forward.”

He did not address the court, yesterday.

Taylor stepped down as Liberian leader in 2003 as rebels opposing him pounded the capital, Monrovia. He was granted amnesty in Nigeria, but was arrested trying to flee the country in 2006 after Liberian authorities requested his transfer to the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He was sent to be tried at The Hague, with fears that a trial in the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, could spark instability.

BUJA — FOR its refusal to appear before the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream, Appropriations and Finance, the Senate, yesterday, issued a subpoena to the Managing Director of KPMG. According to the committee, which is investigating the over N2 billion fuel subsidy scam, the company and its management risk arrest if the invitation was not honoured.

In the letter signed by the chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, the Senate said: "Consequent upon our letter dated May 23, 2012 requesting your appearance and your refusal to oblige, the Joint Committee hereby issue this subpoena.

"By powers conferred on the committee by Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, you are hereby commanded to appear before this Joint Committee on Thursday 31 May, 2012 at 10.00 am in Conference Room 022, Senate New Building.

"Failure to comply with this subpoena will lead to further measures available to the committee to cause your appearance.”

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Kerosene for LGAs Also yesterday, the Senator Abe-led committee mandated the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to put in place a mechanism that would guarantee availability of kerosene at the local government level.

The order was given at a public hearing organised by the committee, even as the company was told that it must deregulate importation of kerosene or issue separate licences to manufacturing and construction companies as that will enable them import their kerosene rather than hijack that, which was already subsidized by the Federal Government.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Haruna Momoh, had earlier admitted that there were sharp practices in kerosene distribution, adding that shortage in kerosene product across the country was due to the activities of manufacturing and construction companies that use the product for road construction.

Momoh who declined information on the amount of subsidy paid on kerosene since 2006, told the committee that it was the sole responsibility of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to import kerosene as well as issue subsidy payments claims.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

UNILAG STUDENTS PROTEST DAY II

Traffic gridlock on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, during the protest by students of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, over the re-naming of the institution after late MKO Abiola, yesterday. Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi & Lamidi Bamidele.

Security operatives trying to maintain order after the protesting students took over Ikorodu Road.

Protesters on a bus ride after barricading the everUNILAG students move out of the campus busy Ikorodu Road at Onipanu, Lagos.

Students being addressed by members of ASUU before embarking on a peaceful protest, yesterday. after it was shut down by the authorities.

Budget implementation: Senate accuses executive of distorting facts

BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, accused the Executive arm of government of not telling the truth that lawmakers made it impossible for implementation of the appropriation bill.

Reacting to statements

by President Goodluck Jonathan during the democracy day symposium, the Senate also stressed that there was no room for excuses by the executive over the implementation of the budget against the backdrop that the National Assembly never altered the appropriation bill as presented by the executive.

Speaking yesterday at a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the erosion control prevention commission, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu however challenged the Executive to go to the Supreme Court or any court over the constitutionality of

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Legislature role in terms of appropriation for the country.

He said: ‘’My advice to the executive arm of government is that in matters like this, we should dialogue and find a common ground rather than shifting blames because making of laws is dynamic. I want to believe that the issues just raised regarding appropriation bill, is a distortion of fact that we tore appropriation bill into pieces and made it impossible for implementation. Certainly that is not true. ‘’I am aware that the 2012 appropriation was returned to Executive the way they brought it. We are challenging them to make sure the 2012 appropriation is intact because we gave them back the way they brought it. Over the years they have always complained that they could not implement because of the inbuilt provisions of the National Assembly, so we expect them to implement

it hundred percent because that is their mission. ‘’At some point he also made reference to how they wanted to go to court, to challenge the role of National Assembly in muddling appropriation bill, that is a welcome development. We want to suggest that the Executive should go to Supreme Court or any

court of their choice to look at the constitutionality of our role in terms of appropriation for the country. We will obey whatever the court says but if the Supreme Court decides otherwise, we will obey. We think these are the things we could discuss ordinarily. There is need for closer cooperation between the parliament and the Executive."

FG moves to domesticate war crimes, genocide, war against humanity laws

BY BEN AGANDE BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government is to domesticate the laws on Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and Genocide as it moves to submit a Bill to the National Assembly to formally put a legislative seal to the statute which Nigeria is signatory to.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who

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....Demands 5-yr subsidy payment records

BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—THE Senate y e s t e r d a y demanded import records for the five year subsidy payments period, just as it mandated that any company unwilling to comply with the directive from the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA should be penalized forthwith.

Giving the directive, yesterday, at the resumed public hearing

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of the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources, D o w n s t r e a m , Appropriations and Finance probing the fuel subsidy funds, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Magnus Abe said: ‘’Give us the final subsidy payments for 2011 because we believe you should have finished computing your data and give us the final figures.

You need to reconcile your present figures with the past figures, forward the details to this committee within two

weeks."

At the hearing both PPPRA and the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, gave conflicting figures on fuel imports, just as the PPPRA gave two sets of figures which angered members of the Committee.

In his presentation, PPPRA Executive Secretary, Reginald Stanley gave only figures which reflected PMS (petrol) figures while that of the NPA included PMS and AGO.

disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting said the domestication of the statute would contribute in addressing the security challenges currently being witnessed in some parts of the country.

According to him, such domestication would also send a strong message to the international community that the government was committed to tackling the various security challenges in the country and to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes to account.

Speaking on the deliberations at yesterday’s meeting, the information minister explained that, the Council approved of the concessionary loan of $89 million from the African Development Fund, ADF, an affiliate of African Development Bank, ADB, Group in support for Kaduna state government water and sanitation project.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—9

Abiola deserves more than UNILAG

Briefly

Subsidy protest: Court dismisses SNG's suit

—Aremu

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & RITA OBODOECHINA

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

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KEJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, dismissed a N100 million suit by the Save Nigeria Group, against the Federal Government over alleged violation of its members’ constitutional rights to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy in January.

SNG had asked the court to declare that the deployment of soldiers to stop its protest on January 16, at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos, was a violation of its members’ fundamental human rights.

It also sought N100 million as special damage against the Federal Government for the deployment of troops.

How to attract foreign investors, by ICCN boss

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS—CHAIRMAN of International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria, ICCN, Mr. Babatunde Savage, yesterday, said building an arbitration-friendly commercial legal structure in the country will support business development opportunities and attract foreign investors.

Speaking at the launch of the 2012 ICCN Rules of Arbitration in Lagos, he said “a nation focused on sustained economic prosperity and peace must encourage an equitable, transparent and fair governance architecture based on sound value system.

“It is the desire of ICC globally to foster trade and investment across nations in an amicable, equitable and peaceful manner. In essence, ICC arbitration is one way to bridge the gap between investors or foreign companies and domestic entities by providing a neutral and independent mechanism for resolving disputes when they arise.''

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From left: Professor Raphael Akinfeleye, Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, at a dinner with Media Executives in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of Gov. Fashola's assumption of office, at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Tuesday. Pix: Bunmi Azeez.

From right, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, President, Nigeria Guild of Editors; Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, Lagos S t a t e Commissioner for Information and Strategy and Mr. Dele Alake, former Lagos S t a t e Commissioner for Information and Strategy, at the event.

NDLEA arrests 5 in Lagos over N2bn heroin import ...Widow excretes 839 gramms of cocaine in Port Harcourt

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, DANIEL ETEGHE & IFEANYI OKOLIE

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KEJA—OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, yesterday, arrested five suspected drug traffickers in connection with a large shipment of heroin worth N2.2 billion from Pakistan at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The agency also arrested a lady, (names withheld) over substance suspected to be cocaine at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.

The lady allegedly ingested 839 grammes of the substance, and was arrested while on her way to board a London-bound Lufthansa Airline. She was taken to the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, where the substance was confirmed in her.

The lady, a mother of six and a widow, it was gathered, had since excreted

the substance weighing 839 grammes.

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, who addressed newsmen, in Lagos, on the shipment, said it was the agency’s first seizure of a large quantity of heroin in collaboration with British authorities.

He said: “The unadulterated heroin weighing

113.49kg was industrially- concealed in three moulding machines imported from Islamabad, Pakistan, in a 20-feet container. The search was conducted at the Ikoyi, Lagos, headquarters of the agency.

“A total of 109 wraps weighing 113.49kg of heroin was imported into the country through the Tin Can Island Port, La-

gos. The illicit consignment was cleared from the Tin Can Port but anti-narcotic operatives working on intelligence trailed the container to Okota, Lagos, where it was intercepted. This is the first seizure made at the seaport this year by NDLEA and the estimated street value of the drug is N2.2 billion.”

AGOS—A Vice-Presi dent of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Issa Aremu, yesterday, said the late Chief Kasimawo Abiola, winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential election, annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida, deserved more than the naming of University of Lagos, UNILAG, after him.

Aremu, who spoke in Lagos, argued that it would have been better for the National Stadium in Abuja and any other institution with national outlook to be named after Abiola because of the supreme sacrifice he paid for the democracy Nigerians are enjoying today.

He also faulted plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to set up a national monument for presidents, urging him to instead make it a democracy monument or museum to keep records for those who fought for democracy in the country.

Aremu, who is also General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, said President Jonathan deserved commendation for the national honour, adding that this was the first time MKO Abiola was being nationally honoured.

He said, “They are planning to build a presidential monument to keep the history and records of previous presidents, a museum of some sort. If it must be a museum, it should not just be for the presidents.

It should be a democracy monument or museum, which should include the records of all those who fought for democracy.''

Fashola woos investors, reassures on rapid dev

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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A G O S — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, said he was committed to the rapid development of infrastructure across the state, adding “it is meant to further woo investors and boost the state’s economy.”

Fashola, who spoke at the conference on African Development, organised by an international maga-

zine, The Economists, said the state will focus its attention on infrastructural development to enable it cope with the growing population, assuring that the plethora of developmental initiatives and infrastructural renewal projects would be executed through Public Private Partnership.

He noted that this was the only way the state can accommodate thw about 40 million people, who will be travelling within

and from outside the country to the state, explaining that population upsurge in the state had provided a lot of challenges for the gov-

ernment.

He urged investors to tap the opportunities provided by the upsurge in population and the state's growing economy.

Osinbajo backs community policing

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE AGOS—FORMER At torney-General of Lagos State, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, yesterday, said state community policing was the only logical

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form of tackling security challenges facing the country. He spoke on the 13 years of the democratic rule in the country, noting that the Federal Government was yet to have full control of the police force in the country.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

CAC sets to resolve 22-yr-old feud

BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN—AFTER 22 years of rivalry within the two factions of the Christ Apostolic Church, a faction led by Pastor Joshua Ogunlade has set up a peace committee to effect amicable resolution of the crisis.

Though, it accused the other faction led by Pastor Elijah Olusheye of being insincere with the peace moves, Pastor Ogunlade said his faction was ready for the peaceful resolution of the protracted crisis.

While speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, yesterday, he prayed that the perpetrators and benefactors of the crisis would repent and give room for genuine reconciliation.

He accused the other faction which he claimed to have resigned from the presidency of his faction, but had planted its stooges in leadership positions to further fan the embers of disunity in the church.

Ogunlade said contrary to media reports that the other faction had initiated peace moves, he told newsmen that there was no official meeting between the General Executive Council and the Supreme Council leaders.

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SUV gift for retiring cleric

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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DO-EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has presented a brand new Toyota Prado Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle to the outgoing Anglican Archbishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Most Reverend Samuel Adedayo Abe, just as the priest admonished governors in the South-West to tackle the miriad of problems in the zone.

Abe is retiring from office on attainment of 70 years of age.

Speaking during a farewell visit to Gov. Fayemi, in his office in Ado-Ekiti, the cleric commended Fayemi for initiating a social security scheme for the aged which is the first in the West African sub-region under which senior citizens were paid monthly stipends.

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Court sacks Ondo Rep over defection

BY DAYO JOHNSON KURE—THE Federal High Court sitting in Akure, yesterday, sacked a National Assembly member representing Akure South and North in the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde for defecting from the Labour Party, LP, for the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Abegunde, who is a governorship aspirant of ACN in the state, was subsequently asked to vacant his seat at the House of Representatives.

Delivering judgment,

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Justice Grace Okeke hinged her decision on the fact that there was no division within the ruling LP before the lawmaker decamped from it to ACN. Abegunde, who is a twoterm member of the House of Representative, had early this year, dumped the ruling LP, the platform on which he got elected to the National Assembly for the rival ACN, alleging that there was crisis within LP. His approach of the court was to halt his recalled by LP, following a motion at the state House of Assembly calling for his recall and the declaration of his seat vacant.

Abegunde, through his lawyer, Mr. Kola Olawoye, ran to the court, seeking for its protection from being recalled, arguing that by the provisions of Section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution and the imbroglio, division and fractionalisation in LP, he was entitled to dump the party.

But, the defence counsel and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, leading the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr. Rotimi Olamide, submitted that since Abegunde had dumped LP and had not proved any

division within the party, he had automatically vacated his seat as a federal lawmaker.

In her judgment, Justice Gloria Okeke said without a political party, no candidate could contest an election since there was no provision for independent candidacy in Nigerian elections.

She cited a Supreme Court decision in Amaechi vs INEC (2008) 5 NWLR Pt. 1080, adding that, “if it is only a party that canvasses for votes, it follows that it is a party that wins an election. A good or bad candidate may enhance or diminish the prospect of his

FAREWELL VISIT: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; flanked by out-going Archbishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Ekiti, Anglican Communion, the Most Revd. Samuel Abe (left); and his wife, Janet, with other clergymen, during a farewell visit to the Governor by Revd. Abe, announcing his formal retirement, in Ado-Ekiti,yesterday.

LG poll: OGSIEC, IPAC caution CNPP against court action

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, has cautioned the state chapter of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, or any group of persons in its efforts to conduct a hitch-free local government election fixed for July 21, vowing not to succumb to distractions from any group.

OGSIEC, in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, in Abeokuta, yesterday, argued that Section 197 1(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, empowered state Independent Electoral Commissions across the country to organise,

undertake and supervise all elections to local governments in the country.

CNPP had in a statement last week by its Chairman, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, Secretary, Biola Lawal and chairmen of 15 other political parties, threatened to drag OGSIEC to court for disobeying a court judgment restraining it from going ahead to conduct the council election.

The OGISEC boss, in her reaction to the threat, said CNPP and other such organisations remained associations “and at best fiduciary bodies which have not been accorded the status of direct political stakeholders even by the

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“It is common understanding that to organise an election.

Guidelines have to be issued in line with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2004, to guide the conduct of such elections.''

party in winning, but at the end of the day it is the party that wins or loses an election.''

Okeke held further that Abegunde could not prove the alleged division and crisis in LP by the virtue of the letter signed by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, that “we are not aware of any crisis or issue concerning dispute in LP.''

Jegede, Mimiko hail judgment While Jegede hailed the judgment as a landmark in Nigerian legal history, the plaintiff ’s counsel, Olawoye, said it was unacceptable and that his client would appeal against it.

Reacting, Governor Olusegun Mimiko described the judgment as a victory for the masses of the state that voted enmasse for the victory of LP at the polls.

The governor, who said this while addressing party supporters in Akure, said: “I want to assure you that nobody can fight God and win. Labour Party is God’s own party. Inasmuch as we are working day and night to see that the living standard of our people improves, there is nothing anybody can do to us. We are not going to look back.”

He charged them to continue to maintain peace which the party is known for and be vigilant and look out for strange faces around them, warning that anyone attempting to cause trouble in the state would be dealt with according to the law.

Mimiko said: “I want to appeal to you to be very vigilant. Some people will surely come to influence you with money. You have to be very watchful of strangers in your midst.

With God on our side, Labour Party will surely succeed.”

Ibadan residents allege extortion

by PHCN staff

BY OLA AJAYI

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BADAN—RESIDENTS of Ibadan have appealed to the authorities of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to prevail on some of its staff to stop extorting money from them before rendering services.

Some of the residents, who preferred anonymity, alleged that in some cases, staff of the

organisation asked consumers of electricity to pay between N600,000 and N1.5 million.

At Harmony Estate, Elewuro area of Ibadan, each house was asked to pay N160,000 for purchase and installation of transformers. Also, at Unity Estate, N35,000 was imposed on each house before any installation is done.

In addition, some of the residents of Oke Alaafia

who have been experiencing power outage for the past two months, said they were asked to pay N600,000 with each house coughing out N14,000.

Reacting, the Principal Manager, Public Relations, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Jide Oyenuga, said there was no complaint from any resident in Ibadan over the alleged extortion.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—11

Ogodo family wins 8-year-old land case

BY GODWIN OGHRE APELE—A DELTA State High Court sitting in Sapele, has dismissed an eight-yearold suit over landed property against 10 members of Ogodo family of Sapele, by one Mr. Andrew Eghrujakpo, also of Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta state.

Trail judge, Justice E. Emudainowho, in her ruling said: “The court, after hearing the submissions of counsel for the claimants and defendants, do hold that the claimant’s claim be dismissed and it is hereby dismissed with N5,000.00 cost awarded in favour of the defendants against the claimant.”

Eghrujakpo had, on February 5, 2003, instituted the suit against the Ogodo family and listed as defendants, Mr. Cyril Ogodo, Okefe Ogodo, Bright Ogodo,George Ogodo, Ejiro Ogodo, Oroloro Ogodo, Ufuoma Ogodo, Keroye Ogodo,

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VISIT: Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (middle) with members of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and some members of the NDDC Management Board, when they paid him a courtesy visit in Government House Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Edo guber poll: PDP accuses ACN of arms build-up ....It's a lie—ACN

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE ENIN—AHEAD of the July 14, governorship election in Edo State, National Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Sam Jaja, yesterday, in Benin, accused the Edo State Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of massive arms buildup.

He also denied rumours that President Goodluck Jonathan was supporting ACN governorship candidate, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, against PDP candidate, Major-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), saying, “The President, as a person, is a member of PDP and product of PDP. For anybody to say that the President would not support his party in any election in this part of the country, that fellow must be telling the greatest lie any person has ever told.”

Jaja, who addressed newsmen in Benin after leading a 19-man special fact-finding delegation of PDP to assess the state of the party in Edo State, said: “In the course of going round, we found out that ACN was building an army they called vigilante groups with a view to destabilising the state.

They had built up arms and ammunition and by the grace of God, they will not see the light of day.”

He accused ACN of planning to use thugs to

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rig the election, adding that people in ACN in the state were only accusing PDP to divert attention from their plans.

However, Edo State ACN Chairman, Mr. Thomas Okosun, has denied the allegation of arms build-up , saying that his party had never believed in the use of arms or force to win elections.

He said: “We believe in fairness to win election; that is why we preach one man one vote. The PDP people are the ones who believe in rigging election and the use of

force. I don’t know where they got that impression from."

Meanwhile, Jaja, explaining why the special committee was constituted by the leadership of the party, he said that the party was worried by the rumour in the state, and that the delegation was mandated by the national Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to ascertain the veracity of allegations that PDP was an orphan in Edo State, and that President Jonathan was supporting Oshiomhole for the July

election.

He said: “The rumour was so peddled that people believed it could be true. We came to find out how it had affected the fortune of PDP in Edo State.”

He insisted that Edo people voted overwhelmingly for PDP in 2007, as the ACN government in the state was the product of the court.

“This is what we want to challenge on July 14. If the people truly voted for PDP in 2007, they will repeat it on July 14.”

Delta community raises alarm over arrest of indigenes by JTF

BY FESTUS AHON GHELLI—THE people of Idheze community, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday, raised alarm over the arrest and detention of their youths by men of Military Joint Task Force, JTF in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, on the alleged order of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC. The community had been at loggerheads with management of the company over non-employment of their indigenes in the company amongst other demands.

The community’s Secretary General, Mr. Felix Oboh, in a statement, said: “Despite huge con-

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tributions from Idheze oil wells to NAOC and the Federal Government, no single indigene is on the employment of NAOC as a direct or even contract staff. The community leadership over the years had series of meetings with NAOC on the need to recruit our indigenes without success. They had from time to time made unfulfilled promises on the issue of employment.

“This led to a meeting of May 22. On arrival at NAOC Port Harcourt Office, the meeting was shifted to May 23. The youth were then lodged

by NAOC in Port Harcourt at a hotel so that the meeting would be held the next morning. But

surprisingly, at about noon, the youth saw a brigade of soldiers, who took over the hotel. They were molested and beaten up in search of the youth leader, Mr Godspower Oregbor.

“However, he was arrested and taken to unknown destination. Idheze people both at home and in Diaspora condemn this arrest in Port Harcourt. Despite of these, we still believe in dialogue, we want the youth president to be released by NAOC on whose order soldiers made the arrest and come to a round table discussion on the employment issue rather than distracting us through arrest,” he added.

Onome Ogodo and Mrs. Lizzy Ogodo.

The claimant had asked the court to declare him the rightful holder of the title of customary right of occupancy to a piece of land measuring 6722.064 square metres, lying on Sapele-Warri Road, by Ajogodo, in Sapele, Local Government Area.

He had also prayed the court to restrain members of Ogodo family from exercising ownership right over the said landed property and had demanded as special and general damages, N1.5 million, for trespass when the defendants entered the land and purportedly destroyed his crops, blocks and other belongings.

Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Bright Ogodo, who spoke on behalf of the family, said the court judgment had confirmed that the judiciary was indeed the last hope of the common man, adding that the judge had demonstrated competence and transparency.

Power, transportation key to N-Delta devt—Amaechi IVERS State Gov ernor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday, said the Niger Delta region can only be well developed, when power and transportation are given priority attention.

Governor Amaechi spoke when Chairman and members of Senate Committee on Niger Delta, led by Sen. James Manager, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.

He highlighted some of the issues reviewed when the Advisory

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Council of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, recently met with Chairman and Managing Director of NDDC. He said: “Two months ago, we sat with Chairman and Managing Director of NDDC and reviewed some of the things they were doing and came to the conclusion that we are tired of all these classroom blocks, one to two to three kilometres of roads; and advised that the key to the development of Niger Delta was power and transportation."

Urhobo for burial R. Emmanuel Urhobo of Okurode Urhobo, Warri, Delta State, is dead, aged 81.

Service of songs comes up today at his residence, 2, Edobor Street, Okurode Urhobo, Warri.

Corpse will lie in state at his residence on Friday, June 1, at 8.00am, followed by funeral service. Interment follows immediately at same venue.

He is survived by a widow, four children, a grand child, and other relations, including Dr

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Evelyn Urhobo, CEO of Morgan Smart Development Foundation.

Late Dr. Urhobo

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

INYC to Kuku: Itsekiri youths didn't resent amnesty programme

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DEMOCRACY DAY: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (right) and the 2012 Democracy Day celebrations guest lecturer, former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa.

DPP condemns deployment of troops in Abraka

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

EMOCRATIC Peo ples Prty,DPP, has condemned the deployment of truckloads of soldiers and policemen in Abraka, allegedly on the orders of Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

DPP, in a statement by its Secretary, Chief Lance Orhierhor, called on the governor to apologise to Deltans over what he described as leadership recklessness.

He said: “Putting Abraka, the home town of our leader Olorogun Great Ogboru, under severe martial siege by truckloads of soldiers and policemen for his personal safety, Dr. Uduaghanyesterday issued a litany of threats to demolish any house.

“This is our unequivo-

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cal response to the governor ’s attitude. No human being, including institution or government, has the power to demolish or do whatever they desire. The unjustifiable

outburst is, therefore, a clear expression of bizarre understanding of political power as a force for perpetual evil,rather than good.

“Finally, we are

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN—THE police in Edo State, yesterday, averted what could have been a bloody clash between supporters of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and those of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo Central senatorial district of the state, following attempts by PDP youths, to take over the five local government

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councils in the district.

The action of the PDP members, it was learnt, was sequel to the judgment of the state high court in Ekpoma, which declared the existence of caretaker committee chairmen in the 18 local government areas of the state as illegal. Edo Central is the domain of the former chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih.

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ALABAR—THREE traditional rulers in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and Director of State Security Service in charge of Cross River State, over their alleged kidnap and Police indifference in

apprehending the culprits.

The traditional rulers are the Muri of Efut Uwanse, HRH, Muri Francis Bassey IV; Ndabu Archibong Effanga and Chief E. Henshaw.

They alleged that “on May 2, 2012 at 10 am, three of them, alongside their driver and a lady, were in the same vehicle travelling on Enebong Avenue in Calabar, when four vehicles suddenly

blocked them with armed young men.

“The men forced open the door of our vehicle and dragged us out.

They collected their money and personal effects.

Then they beat us up, especially Muri Bassey.

“Eventually they forced us into their vehicles and drove off leaving behind our driver and the lady who was with us."

heightened when the youths stormed the council headquarters in Irrua, Ekpoma, Uromi and Ubiaja, saying they were on a mission to enforce the court order by taking over the councils, after they accused the state government of alleged refusal to obey the court judgment.

Meanwhile, the state Director of Publicity of the PDP, Okharedia Ihimekpen, insisted that their action was legal, claiming that “the court judgment said that caretaker committees are illegal. The judgment was submitted to the police and the State Security Service, SSS. Governor Adams Oshiomhole applied for stay of execution but it has not been granted. So we decided to take over as directed by the court.”

But Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, described the action of the PDP youths as the worst form of anarchy, saying: “We will surely prosecute those arrested because what they did was criminal."

President of the group, Mr. David Tonwe, made two documented statements, clearly stating the willingness of disarmed Itsekiri youths to participate in the post-amnesty programme, while presenting the arms and ammunition to the Amnesty Committee.

"Tonwe had said: It is our conviction that Your Excellency will reciprocate our display of such loyalty and sincerity of purpose to your administration and that Itsekiriland and Itsekiri people will benefit from your post-amnesty packages.

“Secondly, it is our hope that when post-amnesty programme comes up for implementation, particularly those aspects of human capital and infrastructural developments, the Itsekiri nation will not as usual be short-changed and precluded from participating from its benefits because of our peaceful dispositions and as a minority within Nigeria’s minority configuration.”

I didn't campaign for Oshiomhole—Osunbor ORMER Governor of Edo State and a former PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, yesterday, denied media reports that he was campaigning for Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the July 14 governorship poll.

In a statement he issued in Benin City, Osunbor said: “My attention has been drawn to a publication with the above caption in the media reports. Variants of

Tension in Edo as PDP youths F attempt takeover of councils

Three Calabar monarchs petition IG, SSS over attempted kidnap

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

pleased that this is happing in the public domain. Those who will demolish or do whatever they desire are very likely to be illegitimate leaders or governments.”

ARRI—ITSEKIRI National Youth Council, INYC, yesterday, denied claims by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, that former armed Itsekiri youths “from the beginning showed resentment to the post-amnesty programme.”

INYC, in a statement by Omolubi Newuwumi, National Vice-President and Isaac Dorsu, National Secretary, urged the public not to believe Kuku’s ‘story’ carried by the media, adding that the story should be corrected, so that the public might not blame former armed Itsekiri youths, who had been “disarmed, demobilised, but denied the opportunity of rehabilitation because they are Itsekiri.”

It said: “The truth is, on October 2, 2009, which was the day the cache of arms and ammunition were submitted by INYC to the then Amnesty Committee, National

Nigerians urged to embrace peace S the Federal Gov ernment makes effort to curtail insecurity in the country, a prominent businessman in Delta State, Chief Ufebe Lawrence, has called on Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and affiliation, to embrace peace and live in harmony.

Chief Lawrence, who was confirmed an Ambassador of Peace on Saturday by the United Nations Peace Federation, said there was need for Nigerians, irrespective of tribe and religion, to live in harmony.

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the same reports appeared in some other newspapers. I am making this clarification in order to put the record straight." He said he did not have any need to canvass votes for Oshiomhole.

Omatseye passes on

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APELE—HUMAN rights activist and 'Commander' of former Niger Delta Revolution Force For Peace, Comrade Babatunde Omatseye a.k.a. Erebeni, is dead, aged 59.

He died on Tuesday, at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, after a protracted illness.

Late Babatunde Omatseye

Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—13

Ebonyi PDP vows not to re-admit decampees Says they are ingrates

BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI— EBONYI State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday vowed not to readmit former members w h o left the party to contest elections in other political parties in the 2011 April general e l e c t i o n s .

State Chairman of the Party, Chief Ugorji Oti who spoke at a briefing, alleged that those members did not only join other parties to contest elections, but also used their resources to cause mayhem during the last general e l e c t i o n .

He described them as ingrates who after they had gained political prominence and wealth decided to fight against the

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growth and development of the PDP at ward, state and national l e v e l s .

According to the Chairman, “the door is shut to those our members who for no just course left the party last year and besides that they left the party, the kind of loss, deaths, destruction that our party members suffered in their hands, is not just what we can forget easily. And that is why we must ensure that they would have cleansed themselves of such inhumane activities .

“People who were nothing before they joined the party and became everything they needed to become and only to use their resources to destroy the party and destroy people.”

Health: Cleric calls for increased budgetary allocation

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA WERRI—THE Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, Rev. Fr. Don Nnagha, has appealed to the federal and state governments to increase the budgetary allocation to the health sector.

Rev. Nnagha who made the appeal while donating a three-colour ultra sound digital machine to Osina Community Hospital, lamented the unnecessarily lost of lives in Nigeria.

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According to him, “It is regrettable that the health sector, which is the life wire of the nation, has not been given the needed attention it deserves. Improved budgetary allocation would help in procuring and distributing modern equipment to the primary and tertiary hospitals.”

The priest decried the state of decay of the once famous Community Hospital and expressed optimism that the equipment would assist the hospital to regain its lost glory.

Igbo group tasks lawmakers on dividends of democracy

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

N Igbo socio- cultural organisation, known as “Ndigbo Unity Forum”, yesterday charged legislators to deliver dividends of democracy to the Nigerian masses by performing their role and keep the executive in check.

In a statement by its Chairman, Augustine Chukwudum, the group urged the National

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Assembly to wake up to their responsibilities by checkmating the activities of the Executive, noting that their (Legislators) being in Abuja is not for jamboree.

The statement read in parts: “Ndigbo Unity Forum demands that our legislators at the National Assembly must wake up to their responsibilities by checkmating the excess of the executive because Nigerians do not send them to Abuja for jamboree".

Son drags 96-yr-old father to court over plans to re-marry MUAHIA—A United States-based Nigerian, Emeka Mazie, yesterday dragged his 96year-old father to court for insisting to re-marry after the demise of his wife eight years ago. The suit with number HU/54/2012 filed before the Umuahia High Court 4, is presided over by Justice Agwu Kalu.

Counsel to the defendant, Miss Ebere Orji, told the court that her client, Chief Israel Mazie, and father of Emeka, had contracted a marriage with Ebere Ndubuka under the Marriage Act. She noted that his children from the late wife (Emeka’s mother) had continued to obstruct the marriage, pointing out that his client was hale and hearty and entered the marriage with his whole mind.

She maintained that the plaintiff and only son of Israel with his sisters was duly informed before the marriage was contracted but regretted that they made a u-turn to stop the union.

Counsel to the Plaintiff, Mrs Ann Uchendu, told the court that Israel and Ndubuka had yet to consummate their marriage traditionally.

She pointed out that the defendants secretly obtained a marriage certificate from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

She also told the court that Ndubuka, 40, had been boosting that she “must marry Israel under any condition”.

Kalu after listening to both counsel asked Israel why he wanted another wife.

He told the parties to explore alternative means of resolving the matter peacefully in the interest of the family.

“I have examined this man (Israel), even though he is old, the papers before me do not show he is either mental nor senile.

“The L.C.M. of this matter is for the parties to return home and find a more peaceful way of sorting out this matter,” Kalu said.

He urged the parties to respect the views of each other, noting that at the plaintiff ’s age he would never wish away his first son or the son abandon the father.

Kalu added that resorting to alternative dispute resolution became

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imperative as there was no serious dispute to judge on the case. He adjourned the matter to October 24 for report on settlement.

Israel told the court that his decision to re-marry was to get somebody to cook and

assist him in keeping the compound clean.

“Since my wife died eight years ago, nobody cooks or assists in cleaning the compound for me. All my children live in America,” he claimed.

The plaintiff told the court that he received with shock the plans of his father to re-marry at his age. He said: “if my father must get another wife, he ought to discuss it with me.”

COCKTAIL—From left: Mr. Solomon Mbadiwe, Partner, The Law Crest Limited Liabilities Partnership; Mr Chulani Narendra, Managing Director, Deli Foods; Mr. Anthony Nwhochei, Managing Partner and Mr Oseinoma Okpeku, Partner during the Law Crest Limited Liabilities, Barristers and Solicitors cocktail to commemorate the firm's transition into a LLP in Lagos. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele.

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Strike paralyses activities in Imo govt offices

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA W E R R I — ACTIVITIES in government offices and parastatals in Imo State were paralysed yesterday, following the full compliance with the indefinite industrial action called by labour leaders in the state.

The story was the same when Vanguard visited government offices located in the State Secretariat along Port Harcourt Road, as well as Orlu Road axis.

A few workers were seen lurking a distance away from their offices discussing the development in low tone.

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BRIEFING—From left: Brand Manager, Coca Cola, Mr Olufemi Ashipa; Ola Bakare; Chris Asekomeh and Head, Corporate Affairs Multichoice, Mr Segun Fayose during a briefing on Big Brother 7 at Planet One, Maryland Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Trailer load of arms, ammunition intercepted in Onitsha

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE Anambra State branch of Importers Association of Nigeria and the National Task Force against illegal importation of firearms and ammunition said yesterday that they had intercepted a trailer load of dangerous arms and ammunition in the commercial city of Onitsha.

Briefing newmen, Chairman of the Association, Chief Emma Nwosu, said the weapons had been handed over to the police, explaining that in view of the development, the association was restrategizing to fight illegal importation of arms and ammunition into the South Eastern states, especially Onitsha.

According to Nwosu, the primary aim of importers and the task force was to ensure that the good image of genuine importers was restored, noting that the importation of contraband goods and dangerous arms and ammunition was denting the image of genuine businessmen.

He said: “We are saddled with the responsibility of restoring the damaged image of genuine importers by the illegal importers who have been importing prohibited goods into the country".

Nwosu decried the level of insecurity at the country’s borders, urging government to strengthen the importers associations and the task force against illegal importation to tackle the menace through intelligence gathering and

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proper surveillance on the movement of goods into the country.

Corroborating, Head of Operations of the group, Chief Alex Igwemma, lamented the high rate of insecurity in some parts of

the country which he attributed to porous borders and called for active participation of stakeholders to curb the menace.

Igwemma said the association was working with relevant security

agencies to arrest the illegal importers of dangerous explosives and other weapons across the country and urged the public to volunteer useful information to relevant agencies.

Anambra set to conduct LG poll As ANSIEC boss appeals for understanding

BY VINCENT UJUMADU WKA—THE Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, announced yesterday that it had begun preparations for the conduct of the local government election in the state.

Commissioner overseeing activities at the commission, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, told newsmen that the state government had been funding the commission adequately, prompting ANSIEC to commence the printing of the voters’ register at the Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Okonkwo, who urged the people of Anambra State to be patience as the commission was doing everything possible to conduct the election, said about 20, 000 copies of materials meant for the sensitization and education of the electorate had been printed, just as voters registers of nine out of the 21 local governments in the

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state were ready.

He said: “We want to appeal to our people to remain calm because it is better to get the exercise right. We know that Anambra people are not violent and we urge them to keep it up. Our commissioners are carefully selected and dedicated

people who have no allegiance to any partisan group and will therefore not favour anybody or group.

Our assurance is that the process has commenced in earnest because we are being funded adequately by the state government and as of now, we are not lacking anything.”

Anambra releases N1bn loan to farmers

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WKA—ANAMBRA STATE Government yesterday released N1 billion loan to farmers in the state to boost food production. Governor Peter Obi announced the release at a meeting with stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Obi restated the resolve of his administration to support farmers as critical agents in the transformation of agriculture to create employment for citizens.

“We want to reduce the volume of food coming into the state from outside drastically through expansion of the agricultural sector to

enhance food security in Anambra State, ” he said.

The governor cautioned those he described as emergency or political farmers to steer clear, insisting that people who would have access to farming loan or any form of support must be real farmers.

In his remarks, Chief Nnamdi Mekor, the state’s Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, described the meeting as fruitful, saying that with the release of the loan, there would be agricultural revolution in the state.

It will be recalled that the current industrial action stemmed from a circular issued by the State Public Service Negotiating Council, Trade Union Side and by the State Chairmen of Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, and Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Coleman Okwara and Dr. Reginald Anyadike respectively and four others.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Obinna Duruji, acknowledged the development and said however that government was already dialoguing with labour leaders over the matter.

Italian engineer kidnapped in Ilorin

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI LORIN—AN elderly Italian construction engineer was on Monday kidnapped in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State as he was monitoring a road drainage contract by the state government along Bishop Smith Street at about 5:30pm.

Name of the Italian was not immediately known but news of his kidnap

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filtered to newsmen last night through a staff of the construction company who craved anonymit y .

He also expressed concern that the kidnappers were yet to make any contact with the associates of the seized Italian three days after he was abducted.

The new Police Public Relations 0fficer in the state, Fabode Olufemi confirmed the incident.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—15

Reps move to regulate siting telecom masts, PHCN lines

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

B U J A — A P PA R ENTLY sensing the danger posed by electromagnetic radiation emitted from transmission lines, members of the House of Representatives, yesterday, unanimously okayed a bill which in part, seeks stricter enforcement of laws guiding the location of telecommunication masts and electricity transmission lines in the country.

The lawmakers at yesterday’s plenary said the indiscriminate citing of the installations close to human habitation had grave health implication on Nigerians.

The bill entitled, A Bill for an Act to provide for the protection of humans from certain levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields and for other matters connected therewith, passed second reading unopposed.

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Nigerians 'll decide Jonathan's fate in 2015, says PDP scribe

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—SENATOR Walid Jibrin, Secretary of Board of Trustees, BoT, Peoples Democratic Part, PDP, yesterday, said that discussions on 2015 elections were diversionary and uncalled for now against the backdrop that President Goodluck Jonathan must first be assessed before the people will decide on whether he deserves to be re-elected in 2015.

While speaking to journalists at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja after the inauguration of a 50man advisory committee, Jibrin also said that PDP was not in a hurry to replace former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, as Chairman, BoT. Jibrin, who noted that Jonathan was barely one year in office, argued that it was like putting the cart before the horse, adding that Nigerians will determine the fate of President Jonathan in 2015 based on his performance during his present tenure.

He said Nigerians should wait until Presi-

dent Jonathan had done three quarter of his tenure, when the outcome of all his programmes and policies would have matured, before they could objectively assess his tenure to enable them measure his performance.

He said: “Let us measure him. If he is doing the right thing, if Nigerians are sat-

isfied with Jonathan I think he should go for it.”

According to the party, Obasanjo’s letter was yet to be discussed to ascertain whether it will be accepted or not by the leadership of the party. Jibrin explained that Chief Obasanjo sent his letter of resignation to PDP’s National Chairman, Alhaji

Bamanga Tukur, and that the issue had not been discussed at any meeting since no such meeting had been held.

According to the BoT scribe, when the former Secretary, Senator Abdullahi Adamu resigned, it took the board over one year before he was replaced by him through an election.

On whether the party will sanction any PDP member

who is raising the issue of 2015 at the moment, the BoT secretary declared that the party was not considering sanctioning those who are leading the debate on 2015 against the backdrop that as BoT members, their roles are only advisory.

He said: “People must be careful and orderly when talking as it is not the right time to talk about 2015.”

CHILDREN'S DAY: Dr. Ayo Iyiola, Group Head, Human Resources, Chi Ltd. (middle), flanked by Mrs. Misan Jekhine, Contract Performance Manager, Oando Plc; and Efua Chima of Golden Noddles Nigeria Ltd, and some children, at Oando Gas 2 Power Company's Children Day celebration in Lagos, Monday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

... as NCC increases operators' fines INEC restructures

BY PRINCE OSUAGWU & LAIDE AKINBOADE

IGERIAN Communi cations Commission, NCC, yesterday, insisted that the four telecommunications operators, Globacom, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat it earlier sanctioned for poor service delivery must not only pay the

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N1.17 billion fine, but also the additional N2.5 million daily fine, respectively, for not meeting the payment deadline.

The Commission made its decision known to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, saying that the additional N2.5 million daily fine for non-compliance had already started counting from

Friday.

Vanguard gathered that before NCC’s decision, the meeting which the regulator had with top executive officers of the four sanctioned telecoms operators, who allegedly requested for a downward review of the fines, was deadlocked.

Addressing journalists after the meeting yesterday, NCC’s director of public affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, said the operators wanted NCC to review the sanctions but, “we refused, insisting that they must pay.

The commission would not enter into any further meeting with the operators until they pay the fines and the default penalty.”

He also warned that the N1.17 billion fines and the default penalty must be paid to NCC coffers and not to consumers, because it was not compensation.

He invoked the portion of NCC Act, which states that fines are paid to NCC while compensations are paid to consumers.

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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BUJA—INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, would undergo further restructuring and reorganisation as part of its preparations to conduct a free, fair and generally acceptable general election in 2015.

This was disclosed, yesterday, by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, while receiving the Senate Committee on INEC which visited the headquarters of the Commission as part of its oversight assignment.

Jega further stated that the Commission would also propose additional reforms of the legal

framework which guides the operations of the electoral body to enable it realise its objective of responding to the yearnings of Nigerians for the conduct of credible elections, adding that the commission had already embarked on the production of permanent voters’ cards for the same purpose.

He further stated that the commission was committed to the prosecution of electoral offenders in all future elections in 2015 to serve as deterrence to others.

He said since the current Board of the Commission was inaugurated barely two years ago, it had been preoccupied with programmes and projects aimed at conducting credible elections in the country.

Jega further stated that part of what the electoral body did to ensure that the 2011 general election was credible was to sponsor amendments of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to achieve the goal of credible election.

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Lawmaker blames election violence on Northern leaders

BY SAMINU IBRAHIM

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USAU—SENATOR Kabiru Marafa, representing Zamfara Central in the Senate, yesterday, said the post-presidential election violence which rocked parts of the North in 2011 amounted to a vote of no confidence on Northern leaders, over their inability to develop the region.

Marafa was elected on

the platform of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, after dumping Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, shortly before the general elections.

He said: “The post-election crisis in the north was a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the region over their failure in the north,” adding that the region was comfortable with a Christian President who would be ‘’just and fair to all.’’

Plateau police smash certificate forgery syndicate

BY TAYE OBATERU OS—PLATEAU State Police Command has smashed a syndicate specialised in forging certificates of tertiary institutions and National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, documents.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dipo Ayeni, disclosed this, yesterday, while briefing journalists on efforts to maintain peace and check criminal activities in four months of the declaration of a state of emergency in four local government areas of the state.

He said the three-member syndicate were found with

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fake certificates of the University of Jos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, NYSC discharge certificates and sealing stamp, among others.

The Commissioner described maintaining security in the state during the period as a herculean task, but noted that the various security agencies had been cooperating to ensure law and order in the state.

He said: “We collaborated and cooperated with other security agencies and stakeholders to make our task of providing security for law-abiding citizens a reality.”

Borno gets 8 new H/Court judges

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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AIDUGURI—GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has appointed eight new High Court judges into the state judiciarytoenhancespeedydispensation of justice across the state.

Speaking at the swearingin ceremony of the new judges yesterday at the MultiPurpose Hall of the Government House, Maiduguri, Shettima said the judiciary remained the last hope of the

common man, adding that without the judiciary there would be no basis for human life and that as such, should be given the attention.

State Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah, said the appointment was done in accordance with laid down procedures by the National Judicial Council, NJC. The new judges are Justices Hadiza Jos, Yaro Gambo, Aishatu Ali, Ashatu Kumalia, Haruna Mshelia, Adamu Mussa,FadawuMohammed and Mohammed Umara.

Yakowa backs Jonathan on Moshood Abiola varsity

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

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ADUNA—GOVERNOR Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, yesterday, said he was in support of the re-naming of University of Lagos, UNILAG, to Moshood Abiola University, MAUL,

by President Goodluck Jonathan. He described it as a wonderful democracy gift to Nigerians.

Yakowa frowned at the political meaning being read into the gesture, saying it was, ‘’unfortunate.’’

His views were contained in a statement by his External Media Consultant, Mr. Emma Ado. He said: “The timing couldn’t have been better.

13 years after the new democratic journey and renaming a great institution like the University of Lagos that matches the status of the late democratic icon, is worthy of commendation.”

The governor decried the political motive being read into a gesture that recognises the ultimate sacrifice made by the late

Chief M. K. O. Abiola. For years, Nigerians have clamoured that Abiola be recognised.

“It is, therefore, sad that now that the President has recognised his con-

tributions, political motive are being read into it.

“If truly the President was going to use it to his political advantage, he would have waited until election time to announce

... as NBA flays him over Salami's recall

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO OKOJA—NIGERIAN Bar Association, NBA, Kogi State chapter, has condemned the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to recall the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami from suspension as recommended by National Judicial Council, NJC, saying the issue did not speak well of the Federal Government’s respect for the rule of law.

State Chairman of NBA, Muhammed Musa, who spoke to Vanguard in Lokoja during the celebration of Democracy Day,

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also regretted that Salami’s suspension did not follow due process in the first place, pointing out that the situation had done great harm to judicial independence.

He said: “NJC has taken the right step by correcting their mistakes. The case was in court when NJC recommended Salami’s suspension to the President and he did not waste time in approving same and then appointed another person to act in that capacity.

“Today that same NJC recommended his reinstatement and he declined, pending the final determination of the

case. That is double standards.”

Musa also said though NJC was wrong to have recommended the suspension of Salami in the first place, they have been vindicated with his recall, adding that withholding authority by the President does not augur well for the image of the country before the international community.

He advised President Jonathan to look at the issue with diligence and clarity predicated on law, saying if he was not familiar with a particular issue, he should always seek good advice that would not mislead him.

Suswam, Al'Makura vow to implement report on Tiv/Fulani crisis lives in the last few solutions to the crisis that

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—GOVERNOR Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Al’ Makura, yesterday, jointly received the report of the Joint Investigative Committee, JIC, on the Tiv/Fulani crisis, vowing to implement the recommendations of the

committee to stem the incessant bloodbath between the two neighbouring states.

The panel was set up last year by both governors to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the frictions between Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen along the Benue and Nasarawa states’ borders which had claimed hundreds of

years.

In his remarks during the ceremony at Yelwata, a border community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Governor Suswam regretted that the crisis had gone beyond disputes over land as they had taken political and criminal dimension.

He, however, assured that the report would go a long way in proffering

has left the people at daggers-drawn.

He said: “There could be political undertone to these fightings and there could also be some elements of criminality in what is happening.

“But the people should be rest assured that we have taken steps to ensure that all the criminals fuelling this crisis are arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

it. The next election is three years away.

“Governor Yakowa stressed that the greatest tribute political leaders owe late Abiola is service to the people.”

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

Do you support change of UNILAG's name?

don’t think it’s proper for a decision like changing the name of a selling brand to be taken without consulting those who made the brand what it is. The government just woke up one morning and gave the institution a new name. I am amazed!—Ms. Kubura Aremu, Model.

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HE institution was established by an Act of Parliament.

I think before anything can be done concerning a change of name, the Parliament that established the institution should be taken into c o n s i d e r a t i o n . — D r.

Onyeka Uwakwe, Lecturer.

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F I have my child in that school, I will just ask him to stay away for now before soldiers occupy the place. The government took a decision it felt was okay, forgetting that there is a way a good deed can be regarded as a bad one.— Mr. Dauda Akintude, Vulcaniser.

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UR government can be funny. Changing the name of an institution that has produced the best persons that have headed, and some are still heading various sectors of our economy. Such an institution’s name to be changed without consultation?—Mrs Adeshola Owolabi, Nurse.

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T is not as if the students or Westerners are not happy with the idea to immortalise Chief M.K.O. Abiola. But there are better ways of doing this rather than renaming a school that has a pedigree and has built a lot of respect for itself. It was done without any consultation.—Mr. Yusuf Olatunji, NYSC Member.

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don’t see any prob lem here and as far as I am concerned, the government will not go back on this decision.

It will just be like the subsidy thing. The name of the institution does not make the people there; it is the product that makes them.—Mrs Sobowale Emilomo, Student.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—17

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A provocative speech

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oy, was that speech made deliberately to stir the hornet’s nest? And it surely did, because so much was embedded in Obasanjo’s deliberately provocative speech. In the first place, was it not curious, that he took his “anti-robbery ”, and “anticorruption” ‘insight’ only to two of the three arms of government, conveniently refusing to ‘see no evil; hear no evil or talk no evil’ about the Nigerian Executive, which by common consent, has metamorphosed into the World HQ of corruption and sleaze?

Why did Obasanjo not make allusions to the monumental corruption that has seen the disappearance of trillions of Naira in recent months, under the Executive’s watch; from the fuel subsidy scam to the pension funds scandal and just as he was literally making the speech, the Malabu funds sleaze? Was Obasanjo taking a pot shot at his old adversaries in the Legislature and the Judiciary?

He was being deliberately provocative as well as licking old political wounds in public.

Obasanjo vs National Assembly: Ali Baba and the 40 thieves Abeokuta, he controlled the v o l a t i l e , politically sophisticated Southwest. A good soldier reinforces the homestead; and from there l a u n c h e s outwards.Obasanjo took that military dictum too literally; goaded by the likes of the exc o n v i c t , O l a b o d e George, that he was the Ex- president Olusegun Obasanjo “founder of modern Nigeria (the height of booth in front of his house in stupor!)”, 1999, suddenly became the lord power-drunk of the Southwest manor. It Obasanjo decided the next conquest was a Third Term Agenda, which would have seen him in Aso Villa for another He got off with a lot of things but twelve years! Delusions do not lost what he wanted most; the come any more frightening than that.

Third Term Agenda! That was But as they say, the rest is history. Despite the huge bribes, why he had to make a final dig at even a normally complicit and his National Assembly thoroughly compromised National Assembly was forced adversaries.It was the old tale of by the national consensus Ali Baba and the forty thieves; against Third Term to dismiss the Quixotic tilting, by the old however, here we certainly have despot. But the man was not done with Nigeria. In a fit of more than forty members of the vengeful fury at being denied criminal enterprise Third Term, Obasanjo inflicted upon Nigeria, a terminally sick Umaru Yar ’Adua and paired from zero, Obasanjo stole into looked too good to be him with Goodluck Jonathan. It a robe of a hero; the man that true!Obasanjo did not only now was head, he won; tail, Nigeria couldn’t even win the polling have a constituency in lost! We are still reeling from Take the statement about the judiciary further; Obasanjo added that: “for election (please read RIGGING!), we now have democracy of the judiciary, substituted for democracy of the people (the PEOPLE? That is coming from Obasanjo’s mouth? Hear! Hear!!). Yet, we do not see anything wrong with that. All these things started happening in this country without anyone sanctioning it.

We took those things for granted and big things started to happen and we are now lamenting…” So the outlines are clearer and the pain is real for our old soldier. Obasanjo has a grouse against the judiciary which bulldozed the house of deceit that he constructed in the Southwest. In a most brazen electoral heist, Obasanjo’s PDP used the old dictator ’s incumbency in the West. So

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DDRESSING a conference of the (rather innocuous, pardon my ignorance) Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies in Lagos, last week, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for the umpteenth time, let loose a cat amongst the pigeons of Nigerian political society. He was quoted as saying that “integrity is necessary for systems and institutions to be strong. Today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly. What sort of laws will they make?” But the old despot was not done; he also fired some volleys at the Third arm of government, the judiciary too: “We believe that the judiciary is the last to be affected by corruption. Now, the judiciary has been riddled by corruption, which has affected other sectors of the country. And if the judiciary becomes corrupt, where is the hope for the nation? Justice is now for the highest bidder. That is what we have now”.

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A week in Borno

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SPENT most of last week in Maiduguri, Borno state, participating in a retreat for political office holders. I have not returned to Maiduguri for a few years, and had that initial eerie feeling on arrival. It is obvious that the Boko Haram insurgency and the counterinsurgency effort are having a negative effect on socioeconomic life. The hours of business have become severely strained and because there is a curfew from seven in the evening, by six, everybody begins to rush in the directions of home. Soldiers are tense and edgy; and not knowing who might be Boko Haram, they behave aggressively. I heard tales of killings by soldiers, especially of young people rounded up, after attacks by Boko Haram. Many people confessed that they feared the soldiers much more than they do Boko Haram. And as we made for the airport on Friday morning, a military vehicle

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driving behind us, overtook and pull us aside; a soldier came out and angrily asked why our driver did not pull out of the way for their vehicle. Our man apologis ed and the soldier and his comrades went back into the road, with every vehicle scampering for the soldiers; it was almost like an army of occupation really, and their indiscretion has turned them to something close to recruit sergeants for the insurgency.

But I also saw soldiers manning checkpoints with decorum and utmost professionalism and I thought that it must be difficult not to be able to gauge who the friend was from foe.

My visit was an opportunity to see from close range the effort being made by the Borno government to deliver governance in the very difficult setting of an insurgency. The governor attended every session of the retreat; he made contributions to lively debates and members of the political

elite were just as responsive to the issues generated during the week-long retreat. But one got the impression that the situation gets to them as individuals. Yet, they maintain a very admirable stoicism in the face of it all. I left Borno more convinced, that the platform that the governor enunciated from onset remains the best way out: peace; reconciliation and development. I saw the ambitious efforts being planned to harness underground water resources for agricultural development; heard of designs for poverty alleviation projects and empowerment programmes for women and the youth of Borno; there are efforts to accelerate the use of IT in the process of governance; they critically assessed low educational standards and how to move things forward, etc.

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ut not much can be achieved if Borno and Northern Nigeria don’t achieve

peace and reconciliation as platforms to implement the ambitious plans discussed last week. It remains curious that President Goodluck Jonathan has not visited Borno and Yobe since the beginning of the insurgency; it is as if these people do not matter. We know that elements within the Jonathan entourage feel it is good, that killings are taking place in the North. Reno Omokri, a presidential assistant, once described Northerners as ‘parasites’. But the President should visit Borno as an act of solidarity with its people and in furtherance of cooperation with the state government to end the insurgency. President Jonathan once stated that dormant irrigation projects in the North would be revamped as part of job creation schemes to eradicate the radicalisation of the youth. Borno should be the heart of such a plan. I am sure he will find a willing partner in the government and the people.

that deliberate act of vengefulness. But if Obasanjo thought he had things his way forever, he had not reckoned with the judiciary; the stolen goods, in the form of the electoral heist of the Southwest, was taken, one after the other, from him. So from control of the Southwest, bar one, Obasanjo became the emperor without a political robe, dancing in the public square, and revealing a grotesque political nakedness.

As the Yoruba say: “iletiafiitomo, iriniowo (a house built with sputum collapses under a mere dew)”! “HumptyDumpty sat on the wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses.And all the king’s men. Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again”!

Desperate kick of a dying horse

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few months out of power, the myth surrounding the old despot began to unravel; he went into a tailspin, back to the beginning, where he started from: Obasanjo has no home base; despite an eight yearpresidency, patronage or the control of the cohesive apparatus of state. Not even the much-vaunted ability as an old bully ensured that he ended as a politician able, at least, to boast of control of his constituency. Yes, Obasanjo came out of prison a nearbroken, near-bankrupt man, as Chief E.K Clarke stressed a few days ago; and after eight years in power, became arguably, one of the richest ex-presidents in Africa. It must be very painful for him, to have lost so much political relevance. He could not even hold on to the redoubt he carefully carved out for himself, as the LIFE chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees.

When reality dawned, the old despot, with tail between his legs, ran, using the surprise of a sudden resignation as cover!

What Obasanjo did last week, was actually the desperate kick of a dying horse. It was an embittered old dictator, confronting political mortality; he had to make a last stand against institutions which contributed in his political demystification.

But it is important to remember that the man calling others armed robbers and rogues, ran one of the most corrupt regimes in recent Nigerian history. The Obasanjo years in power were akin to an elaborate criminal enterprise; national assets were systematically sold to cronies, and the man even openly got shares in some of these choice national assets. The use of bribery became central to the process of governance and members of the National Assembly were regularly induced with money to do Executive biddings. He got off with a lot of things but lost what he wanted most; the Third Term Agenda! That was why he had to make a final dig at his National Assembly adversaries.It was the old tale of Ali Baba and the forty thieves; however, here we certainly have more than forty members of the criminal enterprise. Ali Baba is calling the other thieves by their names: “thieves”! But Ali Baba is the head of the criminal enterprise!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , MAY 31, 2012 THE effort of producing the May 29 presidential address dripped through every line.

President Goodluck Jonathan wanted Nigerians to know how hard he had worked in the past year though many think he hardly worked.

The speech was mostly filled with re-assurances of assurances the President gave when he assumed office a year ago. Some of the achievements were in motions, intentions and expectations. Nigerians want more, which is why they are wondering what the speech was meant to achieve. There are no admissions of the hard times, just as the speech failed to provide concrete instances of how government was tackling the daunting times Nigerians face.

Nigeria’s version of the state of the union address, had only one huge point, the President’s recognition of Chief Moshood Abiola’s martyrdom and re-naming the University of Lagos after him.

Otherwise, the entire speech was celebratory, reeling out the President’s achievements from agriculture to electricity. Education, infrastructure, industrial growth and job creation were areas where the President said he ex-

Jonathan Long On Assurances celled or was making irreversible progress.

“In 2011, our economy grew by 7.45%. As at mid-May 2012, our foreign exchange reserves had risen to $37.02 billion, the highest level in 21 months. We have stabilized and improved our fiscal regime. We brought the fiscal deficit down to 2. 85% of GDP from 2.9% in 2011. We reduced recurrent expenditures from 74% to 71% and reduced domestic borrowing from N852 billion in 2011 to N744 billion in 2012. We cut out over N100 billion of non-essential expenditure and increased our internally generated revenue from N200 billion to N467 billion,” the President sang.

These have not reflected in the lives of Nigerians. How would a budget of 71 per cent recurrent expenditure build an economy? What

aspects of the 2012 budget reflect the benefits, to Nigerians, of doubling internally generated revenue?

Nigerians want jobs. The President speaks glowingly of the number of job summits he supervised. If the issue is electricity, the achievements are roadmaps, high number of MOUs signed and increase in power generation, though the country is practically in darkness.

Are we celebrating cassava export when Nigerians barely have enough for local consumption? Why would government stop involvement in fertilizer purchase, with the attendant hardship for farmers, instead of punishing the criminals who fed off fertilizer contracts?

Security challenges of the past year distracted the President. He should have admitted it as a major reason for his less than satisfactory performance. He worsened concerns about his vision with a speech that appeared written by people who have never lived in Nigeria, particularly in the past year.

Serious economic challenges loom with dwindling investments, poor electricity, and feeble leadership efforts.

OPINION

BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

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T is not common practice to roll our the drums for an administration that has spent just one year in the saddle, yet where so many phenomenal achievements have been recorded, there is always an exception to every rule – written and unwritten. My recent visit to Gombe State turned out to be a study in the art of governance, more so for a state that is second to the last on the table, in terms of resource allocation from the Federal Government. The visit afforded me the opportunity to appreciate how a prudent governor can change the fortunes of his people for better, by utilizing available resources for developmental projects.

Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo clocked one year in office exactly on May 29, 2012, but Gombe State has continually witnessed tremendous improvement in the quality of life of its citizens. In what some analysts will call a “paradigm shift”, the Dankwambo administration on assumption of office ensured that he restored peace and orderliness in Gombe State.

Today, the hitherto restive state is enjoying unparalled peace and unity among its many diverse ethnic groups. People now walk along the streets without any fear of molestation, intimidation or harassment. Restive youths of the state no longer carry dangerous weapons, moving from one office to the other molesting innocent people and instilling fear in them.

In the educational sector, there is total overhaul as most of the primary and secondary schools are being rehabilitated as model schools. Part of the strategy adopted by the state government is to recruit qualified teachers to bring the teachers-students ratio to an acceptable limit. The administration has also gone a step further by rehabilitating the Gombe School of Basic Studies as well as College of Education Billiri.

In the area of infrastructural development, it is indeed marvelous that the Dankwambo administration has started con-

Appraising Dankwambo's one year in office struction of over 51 roads with a view to opening the nooks and crannies of the state to development. What is more gratifying is that the quality of the roads is adjudged the best in the entire North East Zone of the country. Simultaneously, the Gombe Water Reticulation and Expansion programme has commenced, and it is being extended to Kwami, Gadam and Bojude. There is also a plan to reticulate water from Balanga Dam and supply to southern Gombe and parts of Gombe central.

Equally, the administration has started a mini-power project in Balanga which would supply power to the new Gombe South Regional Water Supply Scheme. As the Dankwambo administration is poised to develop all sectors of the Gombe socio-economic life, they are also tackling gully erosion problems in the state; street lights are being installed along the newly constructed Gombe township roads, while the beautification project for Gombe Township has started in earnest.

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ven as traffic lights are being installed at various inter sections, the administration is tackling the issue of environmental cleanliness headlong by acquiring and deploying various types of environmental sanitation equipment to all parts of the state.

As the saying goes, “health is wealth” and in realisation of this maxim, the health sector has been given adequate attention under the Ibrahim Dankwambo administration. Even as the Gombe Specialist Hospital is being totally refurbished, the maternal mortality rate in the state has reduced significantly, while polio which has been ravaging most parts of Northern Nigeria has been completely eradicated in Go-

mbe State. Towards ameliorating the burden of its citizens, his administration has been offering free medical services to pregnant women and new born babies from day one to five years old.

Housing for the citizens has also received the attention of the Dankwambo administration as 450 housing units are being constructed, while a state secretariat is underway.

On agriculture, which is the mainstay of Gombe State economy, the administration has embarked on the process of procuring over 20,000 metric tones of fertilizer for the state farmers, while 35 new tractors have been ordered from Pakistan, and another 25 tractors refurbished for use of the farmers.

Further to delivering democracy dividends to its citizens, the state government has procured and distributed transformers for the electrification of various communities, earth moving equipment for construction of roads, earth dams and such like projects in the rural areas. This is to guarantee that the urban and rural areas are being developed simultaneously.

On youths empowerment, the state government has designed a programme in which over 1200 restive youths are being trained as marshals and wardens at the NYSC Orientation Camp Mallami Sidi, under a programme christened ‘Talba Youth Re-orientation and Rehabilitation Programme’. As the Commissioner for Information put it, “the success of this pilot scheme will see more youths trained in like manner".

He also revealed that 350 youths who had earlier been trained at the Skills Acquisition Centre would receive soft loans of N200, 000 per person to enable them start meaningful business.

What sets Gombe apart from other states is the ability of the administration to accomplish so much in one year, its meagre resources not withstanding. *Mr. Enekwechi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—19

, PDP’s 13 years of poor leadership

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FRIEND of mine always says “anybody who marks his own exam papers will get an A”. That was exactly what the new Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, did in appraising the 13 years since the Party took charge of the affairs of the country from the military. He claimed that the party “has put the nation on the path to sustainable development and steady economic growth as the basis to stabilise and consolidate the nation’s democracy”.

The Party has its good side. One of the greatest points of appeal of the PDP is its detribalised, desectionalised character. In other words, it is truly a national party which no section has succeeded in hijacking even though three leaders from the West, North and South-South have called the shots over the past 13 years. Even the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, which was touted as a “national party” was perceived to be a reformed Northern Peoples Congress, NPC; a party of the Northern political oligarchy.

PDP is, indeed, the largest party in Africa. All its other rivals – the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, are regional parties with very limited national appeal by comparison.

Some of the PDP’s state governors have done extremely well, but based only on the individual leadership abilities of each state’s chief executive. The PDP is an efficient, ruthless election winning machine able to weather the diversities of Nigeria with little stress. Its generally poor record notwithstanding, the PDP does not seem to be in danger of losing its majority status soon, unless some unforeseen social revolution takes place in the political behaviour of Nigerians.

The greatest weakness of the PDP is that it lacks vision, focus and character. There is no sameness of programmatic or ideological reflex noticeable between the PDP Federal Government and any of the states governed by the party.

The PDP’s claim to have put the nation on the path to “steady economic growth” can hardly be justified with concrete evidence; my fear is that we may never be able to do away with the PDP

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Rather, each elected leader simply does his own thing and quits the stage. There is no PDP way of running the economy, the polity and tackling corruption. There was no identifiable common thread between the PDP Federal Government run by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan either on the economic or political fronts.

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basanjo, midway into his eight years, introduced an economic reform known as the National Economic and Empowerment Development Strategy, NEEDS, drawn up by Professor Chukwuma Soludo as the Chairman of the National Planning Commission. The states were supposed to adopt the SEEDS offshoot from the programme while the local councils were to take up the LEEDS. But in the end, not even a single PDP state did so.

The Yar’Adua regime came up with its Seven-Point Agenda which was never even articulated for the lower tiers of government to adopt.

As soon as he died, his successor and former Vice President, Jonathan launched his brand-new National Transformation Agenda, which was also never codified into a PDP charter of engagement.

Even the Vision 20-2020 programme has been regularly sloganeered upon, but with little evidence of how far we have gone in actualising it. The economy has grown in size, yet poverty has spread, with attendant rise in violent crimes and damning human development indices.

Nigeria is always rated among the poorest and war-torn countries in the world. All these happened under the watch of PDP. In terms of political leadership, PDP under Obasanjo dragged this nation through the most lawless governance ever witnessed, with the president being the chief culprit for the instability of the legislature, executive, the judiciary, the PDP and other rival parties and some states in the federation.

Yar’Adua’s period witnessed a cooling of heat as he committed himself to the rule of law. Jonathan continued in the same vein, though many would point to the Justice Ayo Salami controversy as a dark spot. The constitution of an Electoral Commission led by Prof Attahiru Jega helped us in conducting an above-board general election in 2011 as confirmed by international observers. But the post-election violence which trailed the unpatriotic and unguarded statements of the presidential candidate of the CPC, Muhammadu Buhari, went to show that even the opposition was no less desperate for power than the PDP. Despite billions of dollars thrown into efforts to address

nagging national problems, such as the power sector and petroleum products supply little has been achieved. Rather, there are mounting evidences of corruption and sabotage which make progress impossible. The financial sector is in a mess, with bank failures and collapse of the stock exchange a major factor for impoverishment of millions of Nigerians, especially those of the middle class.

Poverty is a major factor oiling the wheels of violent crimes and terrorism, which the current PDP Federal Government seems helpless in addressing.

Corruption, especially in the public sector, has never been as widespread as in the 13 years of PDP rule, and there is little to indicate that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is inclined to tackle it.

In view of all these glaring evidences of rudderlessness and lack of purpose, the PDP’s claim to have put the nation on the path to “steady economic growth” can hardly be justified with concrete evidence.

My fear, though, is that we may never soon be able to do away with the PDP. The other parties are too weak, too localised or too unambitious to stand as credible alternatives. The best they try is to forge alliances, but we know, from Nigeria’s history and political behaviour, that alliances or gangup attempts only favour the ruling party in the end.

Unless something happens, we may wake up, 20 years down the line, to find ourselves still in the grips of PDP with things pretty much the same as they are!

Oshiomhole as agent of change ISTORY repeats itself once in a while.

It has taken almost four centuries for American history to replicate itself in Nigeria, more specifically, in the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. We are reminded of the Biblical case of the rejected stone that later became the cornerstone.

We now know that it takes some stubbornness to propel a revolution. Once upon a time, some apparently stubborn elements existed in England. These could easily pass for today’s opposition. The British authorities needed to get them out of the way so that things could move smoothly. The 102 Pilgrims, as they were called, were bundled into the ship, Mayflower, which set sail on August 15, 1620 from Southampton, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established the first New England settlement in what is today called the United States of America.

These men were not actually sent to the US to prosper. Indeed, if they had perished on the way or got consumed by wild animals in the New Found land, it could have been good riddance to some nuisance.

By comparison, in the particular case of Edo State, the nucleus of the ACN was basically from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which at a time had a perfect monopoly of the political space in the State. The PDP grew so large that the bubble soon began to burst. Like what happened in the British case, some elements within the party were soon regarded as too radical for comfort. The authorities reckoned that if things must move smoothly, these radicals must be sent out.

Whom the gods would kill, they first make mad. The PDP then drove a sharp

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knife across its throat when it called for re-registration of its members. They dispatched about 500 cards to each Ward and in most of the wards, there were already more than 2000 members on ground. The 500 cards went to the loyalists of a particular faction. In the process, we were deregistered.

At first, we attempted to force ourselves to remain in the party, even when we were clearly not wanted. We introduced spiral inflation into the system. Overnight, the Benin printers rolled out millions of the PDP membership cards that could not be differentiated from the ones that were sent from Abuja. The cards became surplus to the extent that some of us had more than 100 of them. We registered everybody, including some big goats around. There was inflation all over the place. I doff my hat and my shirt for these Benin printers.

This was an experience drawn from German history. The Germans came out of World War II totally broke. They went into the press and reeled out billions of Deutschmark. Money became surplus to the extent that, at a point, the bank notes were no longer worth the paper on which they were printed. That was a runaway inflation.

In our case, it soon became clear that we were wasting time. For important appointments and on important occasions, they still had a way of filtering out their members for reward. There was really no alternative to the formation of a political party, which we could call our own.

Essentially, what has today metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, arrived as a child of circumstance. In Edo State, little did we know that God had carefully prepared an agent of change, waiting to drive the

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Resources do not develop a nation, but good human beings do; Oshiomhole arrived Edo at a time when the state had suffered cardiac arrest; he woke the state up and turned it to El Dorado

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system. All the struggles came at a time when Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole had just completed his tenure as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and he sailed smoothly into the brand new party.

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et me say, perhaps at the risk of criticism, that but for the entry of the man, Oshiomhole, into the party at the time he did, the equation would have been totally different. It has been argued that in 2007, people were already fed up with the PDP and anybody in the ACN could have won the governorship election in Edo State. Let me concede that to the power of the unknown, but let me quickly also add that the entry of Oshiomhole made things easier.

We also know from past experience that the PDP would always rig its way through an election. They had always done so with impunity. But when they tried it in 2007, Oshiomhole became a bone across their throat. Who else would have fought so tenaciously the battle that raged for almost two years, culminating, for the first time in the electoral history of this nation, in the restoration of a stolen mandate? Who else would have fought without compromising mid-way? The result of the Oshiomhole revolution has since spilled over to Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and the entire South Western states and the journey has just begun. The Oshiomhole philosophy of "One Man, One Vote" is also spreading across the country like a wild fire in the harmattan.

Resources do not develop a nation, but good human beings do. Oshiomhole arrived Edo at a time when the State had suffered cardiac arrest. He woke the State up and turned it to El Dorado that has since become the model for other states.

Who else could have done this? Our fear as to his possible successor after 2016 may not be justified because this agent of change is also developing human capital all along.

I am casting my vote for the innocent children. The other day, I overheard them playing and they said the ACN has already won the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State. According to them, there are only three candidates in the election: Adams, Aliyu and Oshiomhole.

And going by the lessons of history, sooner than later, the ACN will rule this country!

20 — V anguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 Vanguard,

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 21

LCCI laments harassment of businesses by regulatory agencies

By MICHAEL EBOH & OLAYEMI FOFAH

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HE Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has lamented the high-handedness of regulatory authorities in Nigeria, especially as regards to investors and businesses in the country.

Specifically, the LCCI is concerned about the unwarranted sealing of premises of businesses by regulatory authorities.

LCCI, in a statement, signed by Muda Yusuf, Director General, LCCI, kicked against the actions of operatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) who recently sealed the premises of multinational company and member of the Lagos Chamber in some locations in the country, arresting and detaining the officials of the company, with the support of the police.

According to Yusuf, LCCI is concerned about the unfriendly disposition of many regulatory agencies towards investors in the economy.

He called on the federal government to immediately reduce the burden imposed on businesses by the actions of the regulatory agencies by ensuring that it rationalize their number and streamline the activities of the multitude of regulatory agencies, especially as some of them have overlapping mandates.

He urged the federal government to

Banks chided over moves to impose charge on cheques replacement

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OME current accounts holders have criticised moves by banks to impose charges on customers to get the new cheque booklets with the 10 digit numbers.

A visit to some banks in Lagos revealed that the replacement of cheque booklets was only meant for customers operating current accounts.

The CBN had directed all banks to inform their customers that cheque booklets without the 10-digit account number would not go through the clearing house from June.

Investigations revealed that the banks ‘charges for replacement of cheque booklets with 10 digit account numbers varies from one bank to another.

Mr Akin Ojo, a staff of the Federal Inland Revenue, anaccount holder with First Bank of Nigeria Plc, said that the banks were supposed to bear the burden and not the customers, saying that the fault was not from the customers.

Ojo said that this was part of the abnormally taking place in the financial sector that could discourage customers from making use of the banks for business transactions.

He said that some Nigerians did not know their rights and even if they do, the cost of getting justice was high.

immediately put in place the necessary framework to exercise effective oversight over the regulatory agencies in the economy to curb their overbearing tendencies.

According to him, governments at all levels should adequately fund these agencies as many of them currently depend on fees and fines collected from investors to run their operations.

“This creates the problem of imposition of prohibitive fees and charges on businesses. The private sector has a statutory obligation to pay tax; but not the responsibility to fund

regulatory agencies,” Yusuf stated.

He said the NLRC action was based on the claim that the sales promotional activities by the companies are tantamount to lottery and therefore required statutory permits and payments.

Yusuf contended that after carefully reviewing the situation, LCCI concluded that the “Mandate of the NLRC is to regulate the Business of lottery and not the business of manufacturing or production. In a typical lottery transaction, a lottery ticket is purchased for the sole objec-

tive of winning a prize. This is clearly not the case in this instance and other promotional activities of manufacturers.

“That the Consumer Protection Council is already exercising oversight on promotional activities that involves raffles by companies to ensure the integrity of such exercise.”

He said the federal government should urgently restrain the NLRC from further tormenting and disrupting the activities of businesses.”

From left: Ninti Amand, General Manager, 3G and New Product Development; Emeka Oparah, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR; Deepak Srivastava, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Airtel Nigeria, at the launch of Airtel's Electronic Recharge Card Voucher, in Lagos.

Sustain policy on locally produced goods, textile workers urge FG

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HE National Union of Textile Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN) has on Sunday called on the Federal Government to be consistent with its policies on locally manufactured goods.

Mr Oladele Hunsu, the newly elected President of the Union, said that allowing indiscriminate importation of foreign made textile materials would hinder local production.

“Opening the borders for imported goods in one hand and giving out loans to enable manufacturers revive their struggling companies are contradictory.

“Any manufacturer that succeeds in obtaining a loan to revive a factory will be competing with imported textiles.

It makes it difficult to sustain the business,” Hunsu said.

He said that some local manufacturers could be tempted to start importing textile materials if they were cheaper than home-made ones.

The union president said that indiscriminate opening of the borders

was impacting negatively on job opportunities in the textile industry.

“Many motor cycle operators in various states of the country are workers from textile companies who lost their jobs after the factories were closed.

“I appeal to the government to review the importation policy because about 700 thousand graduates who leave universities yearly are not sure of securing jobs,” he said.

Hunsu said that government should repair the roads and restore electricity to enable manufacturers who collected loans from the Bank of Industry to work.

He said that the union was collaborating with state governments to ensure that dead factories were rehabilitated.

“Without the industries, there will not be workers and without the workers there will not be any industry.

The UNTL in Kaduna which has not fully commenced operation has already employed about 3,000 workers,” he said

166.10

-0.80

2,094.00

-11.00

19.64

+0.06

106.89

+0.34

90.87

+0.21

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA 0.2817 KRONER 26.5721 EURO 197.5055 POUNDS 244.5343 RIYAL 41.2489 SDR 236.1186 FRANC 164.3472 DOLLAR 154.7 WAUA 235.6595 YEN 1.9364 RENMINBI 24.4642

0.2917 26.658 198.1439 245.3247 41.3823 236.8818 164.8784 155.2 236.4212 1.9427 24.5437

0.3017 26.7438 198.7822 246.115 41.5156 237.6449 165.4095 155.7 237.1828 1.9489 24.6232

CBN Exchange rate as at 30/05/2012

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

IOSCO plans stricter monitoring of rating agencies

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE International Or ganisation of Securities Commissions, IOSCO, has announced plans to increase its regulatory oversight of credit rating agencies and ensure that their activities are streamlined in capital market across the world.

In particular, IOSCO, in a statement signed by Carlta Vitzthum, said its

Technical Committee has published a consultation report, titled, ‘Credit Rating Agencies: Internal Controls Designed to Ensure the Integrity of the Credit Rating Process and Procedures to Manage Conflicts of Interest.’

She disclosed that the review of its regulatory functions as its concerns credit rating agencies is engendered by the role of the rating agencies in

events leading to the 2008 global financial crisis.

According to Vitzthum, the activities of the rating agencies in events leading to the financial crisis raised concerns about the quality of credit ratings and credit rating methodologies, the timeliness of adjustments to credit ratings, and, more generally, the integrity

of the credit rating process.

She further stated that it raised concerns about how conflicts of interest are being managed by Credit Rating Agencies, CRAs. She said IOSCO’s increased monitoring of the credit rating agencies is designed to promote the integrity of the rating process and address conflicts of interest, with a view to

From left: Eyidiana, On-Air-Personality, Wazobia 93.7 FM; Mr Adedeji Adeshoga, Regional Sales Manager, Nestlé Nigeria (Rivers Region); Mrs Iyabo Lawani, Presenter of MAGGI Good Food Moments and Mrs Joanna Ewhe, Branded Food Services Manager, Nestlé Professional unveiling the new 800g MAGGI Crayfish Seasoning Powder at the launch of the MAGGI Fast Food Association of Nigeria (MAFFAN) in Port Harcourt.

SEC declares FCSL operations illegal

BY PETER EGWUATU

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HE Securities and E x c h a n g e Commission (SEC) has warned investors not to have any dealings with Financial Commercial Services Limited (FCSL) as its operations in the capital market are illegal.

The SEC noted that a national daily recently reported that FCSL had announced the introduction of four funds into the market, namely: Evergreen Ethical Fund, Beta Growth Fund, Diamond Fund and Beautiful Minds Education Endowment Fund.

Reacting to the development, the management of the commission as stated in its web site said “This is to inform the general public that the said Funds are illegal as neither the Fund nor the Fund Managers are

registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and thus anyone who invests in these Funds does so to his/her own risk.

Investors are advised to consult the Commission’s website for the list of authorized Funds.”

It will be recalled that during the launch of the said illegal product in the market, Mr Lekan Belo, managing director (MD) and chief executive of FCSL, said the firm since its inception 15 years ago, had always believed in the Nigerian enterprise and the Nigerian capital market.

“With the recent dip in the markets, some clients gave up but we believe the market will bounce back again, because the capital market outlook is a long term one, which will give investors good dividends with time”.

Emmanuel Oludayo, analyst with FCSL, said

the investment firms experience in the Nigerian market is a bonus for prospective investors. “We know the terrain well, so we will invest and hedge our risks, and we plan to provide much better returns than the benchmark All Share Index (ASI).”

Meanwhile, some of the companies that SEC had blacklisted in the past include: Sikon Securities Limited, (on suspension since 2009 to till date ) for unauthorized sale of clients shares; Fortress Capital Limited( Unauthorised sale of shares belonging to client since March 2011); Monument Securities & Finance Limited (Unauthorised sale of shares belonging to client since March 4,2011); Midland Capital Market Limited (Failure to pay client return on

investment and part of the principal sum invested) suspended since March 15, 2011; Foresight Securities and Investment Limited( Breach of share purchase and resell agreement entered into with client) suspended since March 4,2011; AAA Stockbrokers Limited (Suspension for Unethical capital market conduct since April 2006); Beachgrove Securities Limited (License revoked) for unethical capital market conduct since 2007.

Others include: Akitorch Securities Limited (License revoked) for unethical capital market conduct since 2007; Midlands Investment and Trust Co. Ltd.( Suspension) for yet to pay penalty for non-rendition of quarterly returns since June 8, 2010.

promoting a better understanding.

“The views of stakeholders and CRAs on these questions will assist the IOSCO with further analysis of the internal controls and procedures used by CRAs,” she said.

Vitzthum also declared that the consultation report is based on an IOSCO review of Credit Rating Agencies, CRAs, that focused on the internal controls established by CRAs to enhance the integrity of the credit rating process and on the procedures to manage conflicts of interest.

She said the internal controls and procedures described by the Consultation Report are divided into six categories. “Internal controls: quality of the rating process; structural support to ensure the quality of the rating process; monitoring and updating and integrity of the rating process.

“The second category

is Procedures, and it involves managing firmlevel conflicts and managing employee-level conflicts.”

Vitzthum, however, disclosed that despite concerns about the performance of CRAs during the crisis, they continue to play an important role in most modern capital markets, especially as issuers and corporate borrowers rely on the opinions of CRAs to raise capital.

She said lenders and investors use credit ratings in assessing the likely risks they face when lending money to, or investing in, securities of a particular entity.

“Institutional investors and fiduciary investors, likewise, use credit ratings to help them allocate investments in a diversified risk portfolio. Finally, laws and regulations use credit ratings to d i s t i n g u i s h creditworthiness,” she added.

Union Bank celebrates 300 young account holders

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NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has hosted a funfair for its 300 selected young holders in commemoration of 2012 International Children’s day celebration.

In a statement by Mr. Francis Barde, Head, Corporate Affairs of the bank, the future leaders are children who are holders of Union bank Future Leaders account, a savings account that allows the lodgment of cheques, dividend warrants, once two referees are in place.

According to Adeosun, the opening balance for prospective customers is just N1000 and minimum daily balance of N500.

Addressing the children, the Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, South, Mr. Adekunle Adeosun, said that the account attracts interest rate of one percent above the prevailing savings interest rate, as well as Accident insurance for parents

and undergraduates up to N250, 000 in case of disability after six months of account operation with a minimum account balance ranging from N25, 000-N 250,000 and above.

Mr. Adekunle said the account also gives access to credit facilities to pay school fees of up to 200 percent of account balance by the parents or guardian backed up by collateral while the children take part in a quiz promo for scholarship award of maximum N100, 000 for two best students who have operated the account for more than one year.

It would be recalled that the Future Leaders Account, is a result of the fusion of former union lifetime accounts namely, Union Kiddies Savings Account, Union Kiddies Term account, Union Teens Account, and Union Graduate School Time Account, the statement said.

APPOINTMENT & PROMOTION

Britain’s Guy Ryder (left) being congratulated by delegates after his acceptance speech at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ryder now ILO Director General elect T

HE international labour organisation, ilo, has elected former general Secretary of International Trade Unions Confederation, ITUC, Guy Ryder as its new Director General, succeeding Juan Somavia, its chief of 13 years.

Briton Ryder is the ILO’s current number two and was widely expected to take over the top spot at the UN agency which draws up and monitors international labour standards.

The former general secretary of ITUC beat eight other candidates including exFrench minister Gilles de Robien who came second in the six-round vote at the ILO headquarters in Geneva.

In a speech after the vote, Ryder said he was “profoundly grateful” to have been chosen and paid tribute to Somavia, describing him as a “giant” in the history of the ILO. Alluding to his union background, he pledged to

promote the views of all the ILO parties, while also pursuing the body’s goal of social justice at a time when the world of work “remains in crisis.”

“Our duty to the poorest and the most vulnerable must be paramount in the journey ahead,” Ryder said.

The ILO reported last week that youth joblessness is almost back at its peak following the outbreak of the 2008 global economic crisis and is unlikely to ease until at least 2016.

Enechi quits ZOOMmobile G

ROUP head, regulatory affairs and company secretary of the Reliance Telecommunications group, owners of ZOOMmobile, (formerly Reltelwireless), Kierian Enechi, has left the organization.

Enechi resigned his appointment last week after 10 years of active service to the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator.

With 25 years of management and consulting experience, he spent the last decade at Reliance Telecommunication group which comprises, African Wireless Limited, Global Custodian Limited, Clemco Industries Limited, Reltelwireless Limited and ZOOMmobile limited focusing on information and communication technology (ICT) with cross functional roles in change management, corporate communications, marketing and legal support for the group’s complex commercial transactions..

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Following the exit of the company ’s expatriate marketing director, Enechi’s commitment and effectiveness at work led to his appointment as the first Nigerian Chief Marketing Officer for Reltelwireless, from 2005 to 2006 where he spearheaded the network’s ambitious project codenamed ‘Operation Gold’ targeted at capturing the niche market segment of call centre operators in and around Lagos metropolis.

On record, he orchestrated profound direct marketing and sales processes (with very limited funds) which led to an all-time unprecedented massive demand for Reltel’s limited mobility phones.

company secretary to singlehandedly handle the acquisition of the UASL for Reltelwireless which enabled it become a mobile operators with national roaming spectrum.

When the Reltel were doubtful of the UASL, Enechi persuaded management to buy into it and solely implemented and secured a concession of about N40 million from NCC.

In 2006, when the Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) became the vogue among telecom operators, Enechi returned to his position as legal adviser and

Kierian Enechi

Vanguard Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 23

The search for a new director general was triggered when Somavia of Chile announced in September last year his intention to bring forward his scheduled departure date for personal reasons.

Somavia, 71, who has headed the ILO since 1998, will end his third term in September instead of March 2014.

Ryder, 56, has held various senior positions at the organisation and has acted as deputy since 2010.

The University of Liverpool and Cambridge graduate was employed in the 1980s as an assistant in the international department of the Trades Union Congress in London.

He joined the ILO in Geneva in 1998, later heading up the office of the director general.

A spell in Brussels followed with the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, ICFTU, and in 2006 he became the first general secretary of its successor, the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, before rejoining the ILO as its deputy.

Under ILO rules the director general is selected by a secret ballot of the 56 members of its governing body - 28 governments, 14 employers and 14 workers.

The organisation, which last week formally welcomed South Sudan as its 184th member, will host its annual conference from May 30 to June 14, when Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will address more than 3,000 delegates.

vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 08033348923

BRIEF

Port & Cargo appoints Corpuz new Technical Manager

P

ORTS and Cargo Handling Services Limited, PCHSL, a member of Sifax Group, has appointment of Eric B. Corpuz jr, as it’s the new Technical manager.

The management of the company in a release said the appointment was part of its bid to improve the state and maintain an uninterrupted functionality of our equipment, to ensure top of the range services to customers.

Corpuz Jr is a graduate of University of San Sebastian, Manila, Philippines.

Eric has cognate experience of almost 20 years in technical services that have taken him to Philippines, Ghana and Nigeria with reputable companies like Kalmar West Africa and Soland Power System in Philippines.

Others are Citi-motors, Mitsubishi in Philippines and KWA Services, Ghana amongst others, from where he joined Ports & Cargo Handling Services limited.

APCON honours long serving staff

A

DVERTISING Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, has honoured 18 some of its staff who have served the council for between 10 and 20 years and some founding fathers in the Nigeria advertising industry.

The event also attended by past Council members and past Registrars and Council Chairmen.

One of the past Council Chairmen, Chief Olu Falomo, a past council Chairman, who spoke at the occasion, advised the awardees to see the award as a blessing from God and put in more efforts in ensuring that APCON was given a better image across Nigeria and the world at large.

Speaking, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, incumbent Council Chairman, congratulated and enjoined the awardees to continue with their hard work and ensure that APCON was taken to a greater height.

Corroborating, Garba Kankarofi, APCON, registrar urged the awardees to continue to work hard for APCON to enable it attain the height it is aiming for.

GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has been nominated for an Honorary Fellowship Award by The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, for his urban renewal efforts in state.

Mimiko get fellowship award Dr Mimiko will be decorated with award at an Investiture ceremony scheduled for Abuja on June 8th.

The town planners remarked that with a little over three years in office, the Mimiko administration has been able to transform the state capital which has also become a tourist delight.

“Roads in the metropolis are well asphalted while major roads in the city are being expanded into four lanes even as beautiful landscaping has emerged.

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

*Protesting UNILAG students

UNILAG community rejects Jonathan’s christening

zVarsity shut, students ordered out

It's UNILAG or nothing —Students, Alumni

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI, EBELE ORAKPO, DAYO ADESULU, LAJU ARENYEKA, AISHA MOHAMMED TIFFIN & EBELE ONUORAH

“

We don’t want MAU!” was the theme song of students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as they adamantly rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to rename the institution, Moshood Abiola University (MAU).

Their stance could not be

mistaken. They took to the streets in their thousands to protest what they described as an “unconstitutional move” by the President on Tuesday.

The President’s announcement on May 29, a public holiday set aside to mark Democracy Day, triggered negative reactions from many Nigerians when he

We waste a lot of ideas in Nigeria – Mr. Frederick Ohiaeri C M Y K

— Page 36

said in concluding his Democracy Day speech that: “After very careful consideration, and in honour of Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s accomplishments and heroism, on this Democracy Day, the University of Lagos, is renamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.

The Federal Government will also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies and Governance in

the University.”

Vanguard Learning gathered that this “careful consideration” did not involve the council of the University Management as the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Rahman Bello said that “management had no preknowledge of the change of name.” Another management staff reiterated this by saying: “It is a crisis period for us as we were taken by surprise. We are trying to calm the students

down to avoid tension. This school belongs to the Federal Government and we expect that before such a change is made, we should be consulted.”

In his reaction, Dr Karo Ogbunaka, UNILAG, ASUU Chairman said: The protest against the renaming of UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University is both for students and lecturers of the institution.

At a time like this when we are sorrowful and aggrieved for our late V-C, President Jonathan is adding more sorrow to us by changing our name. University of Lagos is a big brand. It is the first university established by parliament in Nigeria.”

The angry demeanor of UNILAG students since Tuesday has been in sharp contrast to the calm, sad mood that permeated the citadel of learning since the death of the

Continues on page 25

Senators challenge Beyond corporate Senate’s ban organisations to on ‘miracle fund varsities centres’ — Page 35

— Page 26

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 25

UNILAG community rejects Jonathan’s christening Continues from page 24 Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Tokunbo Sofoluwe barely three weeks ago. Amidst colourful placards, angry crowds and solidarity songs, many of these students aired their grievances to Vanguard Learning.

Reacting to the change, one of the protesting students said:”The name is UNILAG, if the president wants to show his appreciation or respect to the late Abiola, then he should change democracy day to Moshood Abiola Day. I advise him not to major in the minors rather he should concentrate on more important issues bothering the society.”

In his reaction, the former Governor of old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar hailed the decision saying: “The decision by the Federal Government to rename University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University is long overdue. I salute the President for his magnanimity and courage. Thank God common sense has finally prevailed,” he said in a text message to Vanguard Learning.

For Prof. Tony Afejuku, poet and scholar in the University of Benin, it is a thoughtless action taken at a wrong time. Said he: “An action that clearly shows how thoughtless our rulers can be.

Who did they consult before announcing the change of name?

The rioting students? The late Vice-Chancellor? The Senate of the university? The Governing Council? The university’s unions and congregation? Even if adequate consultations were made and the government was given the nod, why the announcement of the change at this time when the university is mourning the sad and untimely death of its wonderful VC whose body is yet to be buried befittingly? How thoughtless the so-called decision-makers of our political affairs can be! And perhaps, in the final analysis, the late Moshood Abiola’s popularity in the South-West is a nightmarish exaggeration after all.

Forget the fact that he ‘won’ a protest presidential election against a diabolical military rule.”

One of the students who didn’t want his name in print said: “It is such a shame that a President can just wake up and change the name of a university without even meeting with stakeholders.

UNILAG was established by an act of parliament in 1962, so if the name is to be changed, it must follow due process.”

Another student who spoke to Vanguard Learning said: “Why has the US Government not named Harvard University after C M Y K

any of its founding fathers? That is the problem with Nigeria. We lack social amenities such as light and water, and he’s there struggling for change of name.”

Many staff and students have classified the sudden change of the name of the 50-year-old university as political

propaganda. The UNILAG ASUU Chairman said: “If he knows he wants to honour MKO Abiola, he could as well choose any of the nine new established federal universities which has not started producing graduates. He is going after cheap popularity.

UNILAG is too big for that.

We will resist it and fight it with our blood, until it is reversed.

University of Lagos is only changed in the head of Jonathan, but remains UNILAG. I can see political undertone in this move, he wants to blackmail the Yorubas, but the Yorubas are too intelligent for that. It is only a foolish man who thinks he can use unintelligent way to blackmail intelligent people." Another student said: “It is a plot against the South-West people, and we are going to refute it.”

Some have even made remarks that the change of name is somehow related to Sofoluwe’s sudden death. One student said: “We will not bury Sofoluwe in this situation. We will take his body to Aso Rock until the name MAU is reversed.”

However, in response to news from the grape vine that Sofoluwe will not be buried until the

President’s declaration is overturned, the acting VC said: “The spirit of Sofoluwe, and the UNILAG in him will not allow such a thing (as the change of name) to happen. That is why we must bury him in peace.

We all hold him in high esteem and it would be a great disregard to our open show of love if his burial activities are stalled because of what has happened.”

The VC, however, advised

the students to air their views peacefully so that the situation does not get out of hand. “Please listen to your leaders,” he said “let such activities be limited to the premises of the University of Lagos alone. We appreciate the mature way you have aired your grievances so far. However, do not do anything that will lead to the closure of the university. All our efforts to retain our name could prove futile if you do so.”

SNG rejects how UNILAG was named after MKO Abiola hile acknowledging the eternal place of M.K.O Abiola in the political history of Nigeria and would want the highest possible honour done to him, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) deplores the indecent manner in which President Jonathan has re-named the University of Lagos after him.

According to SNG’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, “Renaming a university established by law through presidential fiat is an abuse of power which would make even the symbol of democracy turn several times in his grave as he

W

*His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, pacifying one of the protesting students.

died in the process of fighting against arbitrariness and rule of the thumb which the annulment of June 12 represented.

“It is high time President Jonathan embraced a democratic mindset and stop behaving like maximum ruler. We restate our demand that M.K.O Abiola must be given a befitting honour for the sacrifices he made for democracy in Nigeria in a decent and worthy manner.”

Ex-education minister, Obaji, endorses renaming of UNILAG former Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinwe Obaji, on Tuesday, said the decision to rename the school after Abiola was a welcome development.

“I do not see anything wrong with the change because it has to do with what is their brief and so, there is nothing wrong with that.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for instance, has it in the constitution establishing it that the name must not be changed and so it would remain.

A

SSANU opposes name change ut the Senior Staff Association

B

of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Chapter, is opposed to it, describing the renaming as unnecessary.

The association’s Secretary, Mr Ben Anosike, urged the government to revisit the issue.

“We are not against the Federal Government honouring whoever it deemed fit, but what we are saying is that UNILAG does not deserve such change. It is already a brand name that has come to be accepted and recognised the world over.

“It is the university of first choice and the nation’s pride and it should be sustained.’’

Jonathan’s action is right step —Abiola's daughter

By DAUD OLATUNJI

M

eanwhile, MKO’s daughter, Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello has described the renaming of the school after her late father as "a right step in the right direction."

The university authority has in the meantime, closed down the school due to students' unrest.

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Beyond Senate’s ban on ‘miracle centres’

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

S

ADDENED by the rising spate of exam malpractice perpetrated by students during national examinations conducted by examination bodies such as Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the National Business and Technical Education (NABTEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), the upper chamber of the National Assembly (Senate), last Februar y, banned the existence of special centres otherwise referred to as ‘miracle centres.’

Amidst this bold step, investigation by Quadlife last week, revealed that the ban is yet to be enforced by appropriate authorities. A visit to some schools in Lagos, approved by WAEC to conduct the just-concluded 2012 May/ June SSCE, some level of examination malpractice was revealed, perpetrated by students and teachers.

“Despite the presence of WAEC officials, authorities of the school pretended not to have been doing anything wrong, until the WAEC officials left,” disclosed a candidate who does not want her name in print.

Another source who spoke to

Quadlife narrated her experience during the Mathematics examination.

“Students were asked to bring N500 each on the eve of the day we took our Maths exams. On D-day (precisely, April 26 ), students who paid were separated from those who didn’t. When two WAEC officials came in, they suspected foul play due to the haphazard sitting arrangement of candidates, but authorities of the school probably must have cowed them into believing that all was well, as they left the school without a pronounced or visible sanction.”

Meanwhile, even as the 2012 May/June SSCE(s) are over and sales of forms for the Nov/Dec SSCE proposed to kick-off in September have commenced, a visit around Lagos have shown banners, posters and bill boards of tutorial and business centres with inscriptions like “Register 4 GCE 2012 Special Centre;” “Register for GCE NOW and make your papers in one sitting;” “Register for GCE, 7 credits assured.”

Efforts by stakeholders in the education sector to arrest this trend have proved futile, even investigations have revealed that some school owners, including officials of

the various examination bodies, aid and abet examination malpractice.

Following the negative effects of this trend on the educational standard of the country, the Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Wike briefing the Press during the pre-60 th annual council meeting of WAEC in Lagos, made a recommendation for a 10-year ban on illegal examination centres preferred by the students who are desperate to make good grades in public examinations.

At the briefing, Wike argued that miracle centres have become a commonplace in the country because of the absence of adequate penalty against the operators and their centres. According to him, the current two-year ban on such centres does not carry enough weight.

He said: “When you ban a school for 10 years, three things are most likely to happen. Firstly, parents will begin to withdraw their children from such schools.

The second is that the community will not want such schools to stay within the vicinity while the third is that the students themselves will no longer register with such schools. When all these happen, you have invariably

AWARD

*Dean, College of Engineering, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta inm a handshake with Master Olasupo Olalekan of Fountain College, Ota, best student in Mathematics for SouthWest at the American Mathematics Competitions organised by the International Academy for the Gifted Limited, held at Abeokuta, Ogun State. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi sent such a school out of business.”

Even as the Minister assured that government will partner with examination bodies in the country to mitigate the incident of examination malpractice, the pertinent questions remain: when and how? Analyzing this trend, stakeholders who spoke with Quadlife had this to s a y.

Mark Okoh, Principal, Caro Favoured College, Aw o d i - o r a , attributed the existence of these miracle centres to government’s lip-service to improving the standard of education in the country.

“If the government claims there are miracle

being important.’Another meaning of canon is ‘a piece of music in which singers or instruments take it in turns to repeat the melody’.

Examples: The troops returned fire with machine guns and cannons.

Christian women can also be made canons.

Things Fall Apart is a central book in the canon of African literature.

Frequently Confused Words Canon – Cannon Do not confuse canon with cannon. The two words are different in spelling and meaning. A 'cannon‘is a large, heavy, powerful gun; an automatic gun that is fired from an aircraft.’Canon has more than one meaning. A canon is ‘one of the clergy in the staff of a cathedral; a Christian priest.’ A canon is also ‘a basic rule or principle; a generally accepted rule, standard or principle by which something is judged’. It also means ‘a list of the books or other works that are generally accepted as the genuine work of a particular writer or as C M Y K

Flagrant – Fragrant Flagrant is an adjective. Flagrant actions ‘are openly shocking and bad’. It is shocking because ‘it is done in a way that is easily noticed and shows no respect for people, laws, truths etc.’ Blatant is the synonym of flagrant.

Fragrant is also an adjective but it means ‘having a pleasant smell; sweet smelling’. Do not use flagrant when fragrant is intended. The synonym for fragrance is perfume.

Examples: The garden is full of fragrant flowers.

The politician showed a flagrant disregard for the law.

Military regimes are known for flagrant violations of human rights.

The air was fragrant with scents from the sea.

EXERCISE INSTRUCTION:Choose the appropriate word from the alternatives in parenthesis.

1. He was not (explicit/implicit) about what he really felt.

centres, that means they are exposing their weaknesses in managing t h e e d u c a t i o n s e c t o r. I don’t subscribe to the idea that miracle centres just exist like that, rather, the problem is still at the doorstep of government, because they are still paying lip-service to the education sector.

Also speaking, the Principal, Kay ’s College, Surulere, Thompson Ayivor blamed the existence of miracle centres on government, school owners, exam bodies, parents and teachers. His words: “On the part of government, they should ensure that they set up inspectorate teams that will go round schools, public and private on inspection tours.

2. The instructions were not (explicit/implicit) enough.

3. I have (explicit/implicit) faith in Jesus Christ.

4. I have (explicit/implicit) confidence in my son’s ability to study Medicine in the university.

5. Two men were prosecuted for (elicit/illicit) liquor selling at Majidun.

6. Her tears (elicited/illicit) great sympathy from her audience.

7. The Police Officer tried to (elicit/illicit) from the criminal the names of others involved in the (elicit/illicit) activities.

8. The detainee had no (access/assess) to his lawyer.

9.

At the Murtala Mohammed Airport, journalists were denied (assess/access) to the President.

10. Dr. Iwelanka’s papers for promotion were (assessed/ accessed) by three experts in his field.

zCONTINUES NEXT WEEK. Send requests/problems to Gabriel Osoba, Ph.d, Department of English, Lagos State University, Ojo, through Editor, Teach Yourself English, Vanguard Newspapers, PMB. 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or email: editor@vanguardngr.com & gabosoba002@yahoo.co

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 27

BRIEF

CU alumni launches library for correctional home

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

R

ESIDENTS of Special Correctional Facility for Girls, Idi-Araba Lagos, were awestruck at the sight of their newly launched library last weekend.

Hundreds of new books on different subjects, were donated by the humanitarian arm of the Covenant University Alumni Students Association (CUASA).

Members of the humanitarian arm, which is named Helping Other People Excel (H.O.P.E) also painted the library and donated new furniture to the once sparse room. Vice-President of CUASA, Mr. Reginald Bassey explained the need for such an initiative: “This is very exciting for us because one of the things we need to build in this country is the reading culture. It is important that we start building a reading tradition for the next generation and there is no better time to start that than now, with children whose habits are still forming. Great men’s stories are in books and it’s important that children encounter such inspiring stories. It will expand their minds and give them the ability to think outside the box.”

Mr. Tobi David, the leader of the school support group ar m of H.O.P.E said: “Someone once said that the greatest charity is not to give people alms but to teach them how they can of themselves give alms. That’s what we are doing here today by giving them books to read. We don’t just want to give then fish, we want to teach them how to fish. This is empowering them to give to other people in the near future.”

Staff and children at the facility responded positively to C M Y K

Teens learn ‘what it takes’

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

I

*Members of Covenant University Students Alumni Association during the visit. the gesture. Mrs A. A Ajala, fashion, media, and catering these girls are encouraged, a guardian at the facility said: to inspire the girls. The inspired and fired up to take “The event today is a great guests included caterer, on the world. In the next five one. It has inspired the young Morenike Isola, Fashion or ten years, we have no doubt ones to understand that to executive, Oluwadamisi Tayo, that people will stand up and become great in life, you need and Advertising executive, applaud them.” a good reading habit. I want Akimusure Oluwakemi.

Remi Ademiju, an official of to thank the organisers and Akimusure said: “We want H.O.P.E said: “The possibility we trust that God will reward them to understand that talk show was about showing them in abundance.” neither their past, the society them a visual picture of the Prior to the library launch, or even the present situation future. The idea was to bring H.O.P.E conducted a can be compared to what lies people who are involved in such Possibilities Talk Show which on their inside. From their areas and expose them to the featured successful ladies in response and the questions possibilities in such areas.” different fields such as they asked, we could see that

Babcock varsity holds convocation June 3, to launch College of Medicine

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

B

ABCOCK University, Ilesan-Remo, Ogun State, will hold its 12th Convocation ceremony, June 3, 2012. For the first time in the institution’s history, the School of Post-graduate

Studies which began in 2010, will be presenting 60 candidates for the award of the Master's degree, 20 others for the Doctor of Philosophy, including 1,476 graduates.

Meanwhile, on June 1, the university will inaugurate its College of Medicine,

LG boss warns parents on child labour

BY FREDERICK OKOPIE

A

PAPA Local G o v e r n m e n t Chairman, Mr. Ayodeji Joseph, has admonished parents to desist from child abuse by preventing their children from hawking goods by the roadside, thereby exposing them to danger and other risks.

The local government boss was speaking to parents and children from the council’s primary and post-primary schools during the Children's

Day celebration at the council premises.

According to Mr. Joseph, “parents should desist from child abuse, a situation where a child is made to hawk goods by the roadside, thereby exposing them to danger, is wickedness on the part of such parents. It is the responsibility of the parents to fend for their children until they get to adulthood or are independent.

They are to be given education, shelter, clothing, feeding and other essentials of life. These are a part of their fundamental human rights.”

Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine.

According to the Senior Vice-President/Provost of the College, Prof. Iheanyi Okoro, the inauguration will mark the climax of the institution’s zeal for world class health care in the country and indeed, the continent. He further stated that this passion accounts for the choice of the naming of the school after renowned American paediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson (Snr.), who will be the guest speaker of the day.

“The Ben Carson Medical School is designed to honour him as a role model to the students of the school,” adding, “a doctor without competence is a murderer.”

The event will attract top leaders, captains of industry, international researchers and professionals within and outside the country. Already, the 140-bed Teaching Hospital with Anatomy and Pathology laboratories are ready, including a Radio Diagnostic laboratory with the MRI-CT ahead of the inauguration.

N the spirit of Children’s Day, many classrooms in Lagos emptied unto House of Grace Church Lagos to celebrate the 10th annual teenagers conference themed: What It Takes (WIT). The conference focused on inspiring teenagers to become people of influence as well as use the tool of peer pressure to influence their peers positively.

One of the speakers, who is the Vice-Principal of Estee College Lagos, Mrs. Juliet Keshinro charged the young people to imbibe a good reading culture as well as other things that edify and not focus on music alone. She said: “Influence simply means doing. It is in the process of doing that you are called upon and given a responsibility to lead.” Another speaker, Pastor Mike Ugbaja spoke on the secrets of good success.

Apart from the presentations by seasoned speakers, teenagers also presented music, drama and a battle of brains during the quiz competition. One of the teenagers who attended the conference, Omadepo Emmanuel said: “It has been a wonderful experience. I’ve learnt a lot about influence, peer pressure and self esteem.”

Nwogu Akachi said: “We’ve learnt to become people of integrity. To get to a point where people know that our yes is yes, and no is no.”

A member of the planning committee, Miss Nneka Okonkwo said: “We found that teenagers have a lot of challenges. So we decided to empower them socially, economically and with regard to leadership in the society.

We believe that because these teenagers have God within them, they even have a greater power to influence people around them positively.”

Ese Esiri, a teenager who was part of the committee explained to Quadlife the rationale behind the programme: “We did this to empower teens to help them know right from wrong.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

34 professionals inducted into UK post-graduate programmes

L

Thespians hold per perfformance wor kshop ffor or sstudents tudents workshop

BY OYINKANSOLA SADIQ-MABEKO, LASU

E

XAMS are over, it’s time to lighten the mood and purge the atmosphere of the Lagos State University (LASU) main campus of its serious demeanor.

In its effort to achieve this serene atmosphere, the Theatre Arts and Music students, LASU, last Thursday, held a performance workshop featuring musical

performances by students.

Declaring the programme open, Professor A.O. Vidal, Head, Department of Theatre Arts and Music reminded the students that the workshop was not just an examination or a musical performance.

In his words: “We are here to learn a tradition. This performance workshop is a project from workshop class.

For those wondering how the performances were going to be

judged, this project would be examined by a panel of examiners.

Meanwhile, the performances were grouped into two: the first group performed jazz/blues, western chorus, R &B, reggae and traditional, while the second group performed African chorus, hiphop, high life/afrobeat, fuji, apala and juju groups. Tuebi Abidde aka Tuale of Wazobia Fm, a co-compere of the show expressed satisfaction with the workshop.

Awoites as discussions about the courtesy call lasted for hours.

The film-shoot, according to

a source, will take up to two weeks more before its completion.

Movie stars storm OAU, thrill students

BY KEMI BUSARI, OAU

I

T was a week full of events at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), as Yoruba movie stars stormed the campus.

The crew which comprised star artistes like Funsho Adeolu, Ibrahim Chatta, Femi Adebayo, Lala and others, was reported to have been on the campus to shoot scenes in a film titled Omo university.

The presence of these star artistes gave many students the opportunity of getting close to their adored movie stars. Some students took photographs with the actors.

On Tuesday, May 22, the crew proceeded to the famous Awo Hall of the university where they were greeted by a tumultuous crowd who stood in anticipation of taking photographs or shaking hands with them.

The crew entertained the occupants of the hall while the Aw o b o y s a l s o e n g a g e d i n Awoism to show appreciation to the visitors.

At the end of the show, the actors were escorted by C M Y K

EADMODE Resource Centre, a foremost international supported distance learning organisation in West Africa, in alliance with its UK partner universities held its 38 th induction event on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

The induction programme, a professional-focused event, had professionals inducted into various UK universities. It was designed to give the new students the best start to an international standard of knowledge acquisition. They were professionals from different sectors of the economy

- banking, insurance, telecoms, maritime, human resources units, etc.

The new inductees received hard copies of study materials to guide their academic pursuit.

Whilst on the programme, they will enjoy the academic support provided through their various universities and participate in the workshops organised by Leadmode in its various offices (Lagos, Abuja & Port Harcourt) from time-to-time.

This encourages networking amongst the students and creates a platform upon which issues can be clarified.

LBS alumni hold presidential dinner

I

N a bid to encourage academic excellence and celebrate outstanding performance of members, Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) is set to host this year ’s President’s dinner on Saturday, June 2, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island. This annual event of the alumni association is the most looked- forward-to social event of the prestigious school.

According to the President of LBSAA, Mr. Udeme Ufot, “This year’s dinner is expected to be the biggest in the history of the association as we expect

about 1,300 guests to grace the o c c a s i o n . A l r e a d y, s o m e distinguished Nigerians including two state governors have been invited while over 20 corporate organisations are supporting the dinner by means of sponsorship and corporate tables. Top on the list of our sponsors are Stanbic IBTC, Honeywell and Access Bank while more are on line to give their commitments.”

The event is expected to witness the presence of distinguished professionals from all walks of life and captains of industry who are products of the prestigious institution.

KwaraPoly students set to Wema Bank donates form off-campus SUG bus to LASU

BY ADEKUNLE OLADUNNI, Kwara Poly

A

S a result of what they termed the inactiveness of the incumbent Student Union leaders of the Kwara State Polytechnic (KwaraPoly), Ilorin, students who stay off campus are now joining forces together to establish off-campus Student Union Government (SUG).

According to them, the offcampus students have been suffering from lack of electricity, potable water and good security of lives and property, with no one to fight for their rights. These have made them come up with the

plan.

The off-campus students have fixed their elections the same period as the s c h o o l ’s S U G e l e c t i o n s .

Posters and notices of the new off-campus incoming executives could be seen in and around the school.

Expressing his opinion, Ibrahim Babatunde, a Banking and Finance student said: “I’m so happy about the plan because we the off-campus students have been suffering without the school SUG helping us.

Everyday, from 5.00 in the morning, we go about in search of water, without an assurance of seeing water to bathe, we have no light."

BY OLASUKANMI AROWOLO

A

S part of efforts to fulfill its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Wema Bank Plc has donated a brand new 30-seater coaster bus to the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. The event took place at the universit's Senate Chamber, where the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Segun Oloketuyi who led the Wema Bank team, described the donation as a show of commitment and symbiotic relationship with a foremost university such as LASU. Oloketuyi said: “This is a community bank with tremendous presence in all parts

of the country. Our philosophy is to add value to institutions where we operate. This is one of the events, there will be many others we shall celebrate together.”

Commending the bank’s effort, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa said: “Today’s event has further strengthened our hands. I believe together we will succeed in transforming LASU. I want to say a big thank you for this wonderful gesture.”

While cutting the ribbon to officially hand over the bus to the university management, Oloketuyi said that he hopes the bus would serve the purpose it was donated for, saying it was the joy of Wema Bank to donate the 30-seater coaster bus to LASU community. He then handed over the key to the university’s Vice- Chancellor.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 29

C M Y K

30 — V anguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 Vanguard,

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 31 ifychimexs@yahoo.com

Vol 01

No. 10

MAY, 2012

www.vanguardngr.com

We are determined to wipe out bad eggs from the service — Dikko Compliance will enhance trade facilitation Physical examination will remove harmful goods 12,830 officers have been trained

, •CG. Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko

Three years after he assumed the mantle of leadership as the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko in this interview takes a stock of his administration, reforms agenda, challenges and shape of things to come. While admitting that there are bad eggs in the system, he assured that they will be reduced to the barest minimum with the newly world class computer system.

He also spoke on efforts of the service to curb smuggling, revenue and other issues Excerpts: STORIES BY IFEYINWA OBI

Y

OU have been on the saddle of the Nigerian Customs for three years now.

How would you rate the present Customs service to the previous administrations?

Well, I will not blow my trumpet but will allow the populace say where Customs is today. In the first place, I am very happy today that the department or agency is now full with its responsibilities.

The issue of corruption has been managed tolerably. We still have bad eggs, but we are fighting them and will fight to conclusion.

And today I can say the Nigerian Customs Service is ranked among the best in the world, because of the major reforms agenda I rolled out on inception of duty. About 12,830 officers simultaneous-

ly went on training and retraining.

We now have world class computer systems. We just acquired a bullet-proof vessel with gun mounted on it to fight the menace of sea smugglers and in our inland waterways. We have just acquired an aircraft at least to fly over and above where we feel we are vulnerable to attacks along our borders.

We have done very much in the Customs. Now, if you find 10 Customs officers they look very much alike because we have acquired uniforms and given them three pair of trousers so that they will look the same. There are many things I can say we have done and it is worth looking into, and our rating is extraordinary high.

You have an unbeatable mark in revenue generation, what accelerated this collection?

Honestly, I attribute it to

We now have world class computer systems. We just acquired a bullet-proof vessel with gun mounted on it to fight the menace of sea smugglers and in our inland waterways

motivation. You see, most reforms that come are only interested in safeguarding the revenue and how to really improve the revenue generation. But the issue here is that revenue leakages is from the operators.

The operators feel nothing has been done to them. The first thing I did according to my observation, when I assumed duty was that you have to reform and moti-

,

vate the person who is collecting that money, so that at least he would not be envious of what he is collecting.

So actually that is the job and we said we are highly motivated. A lot of incentives have been given to them, so there’s no justification, no reason why they should not be envious or compromise in revenue collection, so that is what you are seeing. Like I would always say, we still

have some bad eggs who have been cheating, but I can assure you we are aiding them out.

Do you think the single window will have a positive impact on the status operation?

Actually, because it is just like one family sitting on the dining table and eating their dinner. Because the food is at the centre that everybody can take from the plate. That is the simple analogy I can tell you.

It is like while we have a general agency operating independently, now we have the Customs which is the lead agency and everybody will have to operate from the Customs quarter, that if you have an interest in a particular issue or consignment you will

Continues on page 32

Nigeria Customs Service rakes N185 billion in First Quarter 2012

A

CCORDING to reports the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected a total of N185 billion from its 30 area commands across the country in the first quarter of 2012, an indication that its N1 trillion revenue target for the year may not be realisable.

The collection for the first quarter of this surpassed that of the same period of last year. Statistical figures showed that the premier Commands in Apapa area one collected the highest revenue of N27billion for the first quarter and was closely followed by Tin

Can Island Customs Command with a collection of N22billion.

For Port Harcourt area one and the PTML commands, N10billion and N7.5billion were collected respectively for the period under review, while the KLT command in Lagos collected N5billion as first quarter revenue collection.

N359million, N10million and N40million were collected by the Abia, Adamawa and Borno\Yobe commands respectively for the same period, as against Bauchi command’s collection of N10million.

Although, no revenue collection was recorded for the Federal Operation Units (FOUs) for the first quarter of 2012 but the commands in Cross River, E d o \ D e l t a , Enugu\Anambra and Kano\Jigawa collected N1.5billion, N4.6billion, N2billion and N350million respectively.

For Katsina\Kaduna command, the sum of N800million was realised as revenue collected for the first quarter of the year while N1billion was collected by the FCT Abuja Continues on page 32 C M Y K

32—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

•CG. Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko: But actually from June, July, August, September, that is when we are going to hit the target. And I’m sure with the volume of import that is coming in and with a lot of checks we have put in place, we are going to meet our target.

We are determined to wipe out bad eggs from the service Continues from page 31 be assessed to the quarter so that at least everyone will be satisfied and operating from the same frequency.

Don’t forget that even the shipping companies are to become online where table to table businesses will be eased out. Also, the terminal operators have to be interfaced so that nobody will be left out.

That is what brought about the 48-hour clearance, so long as authorized economic operators comply. So this is the best thing that will happen so that nobody will feel as if he has been left out.

Trade facilitation Would you say you are satisfied with the volume of economic activities as regards trade facilitation in the suburb region?

Yes. It depends upon the interpretation one gives to trade facilitation. One, trade facilitation is at the level of the operators. If you comply, goods will move smoothly and integrity will be built, so that tomorrow when you come the Customs will always feel that you are the person who has the highest compliance and will ease you and make transactions go easily.

But where people are cutting corners and with the menace of insecurity, we have to do our work to the best of our ability. We propel countries and individuals, where cargoes are coming from or the nature of the cargoes in order no to allow things which bring jeopardy or problems to our nation. So actually, in that aspect, we have to put full weight of our experience on physical examination to make sure that nothing harmful can be brought into the country.

Looking at the revenue generated in the last quarter, what do you think about this year’s revenue?

The beginning is usually difficult and don’t forget that normally January, February C M Y K

up to March, we have a very low level of import because that is the time when people are waiting for any fiscal policy to come. They also wait to see if there would be any changes in tariff classifications or amendments in terms of restrictions and prohibitions. So one will say from April, May, we will be witnessing a little improvement.

But actually from June, July, August, September, that is when we are going to hit the target. And I’m sure with the volume of import that is coming in and with a lot of checks we have put in place, we are going to meet our target.

Stakeholders claim that the 48-hour clearance seems to be forgotten. Do you agree

with them?

Well, from their side yes, maybe because there is low level of compliance. If there is high level of compliance, they are the ones to answer the question. If you bring in your cargo and declare correctly and pay your correct duty, there’s no need for delay, but for those in the school of thought that always want to maximize profit, then I agree with them.

Let’s look at smuggling, especially at the border areas, it has been controversial lately. What actually do you think or what have you laid on ground to tackle this smuggling that has led to loss of lives and goods?

Well, the idea is that you

can’t be a champion in another man’s country, except that country or society accepts you.

What I did in the recent employment was that I employed some communities’ children where we have mostly our borders, so that at least they will be part of the system. And we pay them salaries and they see what type of consequences the border communities allowed to happen to Nigeria.

The issue is that if a member of your family is in Customs and you allow smuggling to be perpetrated that means your whole family will be in perpetual slavery and are smugglers. So we counsel them and we are going to start allowing the border communities to have access to our fa-

cilities and medical care. We have sunk a borehole as contribution to the communities to inform them of what Customs can offer. When we come together to do this job, it is for the betterment of the whole nation. I believe some are following with Customs, even as some are coming forward to give us information on the illegal activities of smugglers.

I think we have started seeing results.

Priority to largest borders It was learnt that the officers serving at the eastern ports have no quarters. Are you looking at that area or you are concentrating on Abuja and Lagos?

I cannot concentrate on Abuja and Lagos alone, because the officers in the eastern borders are mine. Those in Plateau and Benue are also mine, even though much activities are not going on there. They are still my officers.

If you check the budget you will find out that a lot of activities had happened this 2012. Why we mostly give priority to Lagos, Abuja, PortHarcourt, and some of the largest borders like Seme is because of the volume of opportunities that we have there. I want to assure you that even in Port-Harcourt we have started series of constructions and so I think we have done well. We have not forgotten them.

FG procures N1.7bn aircraft for customs to curb smuggling T

HE federal government has approved over N1.7 billion for the purchase of one Cessna Citation CJ4 aircraft for the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) to combat smuggling activities within the country’s borders.

It also gave its nod to the resuscitation of the National Council on Shelterbelt Afforestation, Erosion Control and Coastal Zones Management.

Contract for the acquisition of the aircraft which is expected to be delivered within the next four months, was awarded in favour of Messrs Africair Incorporated in the sum of N1,737,503,898.90.

Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku who gave the hint while briefing State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting alongside the minister of State for Finance, Lawal Ngama and Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia said the aircraft was suited for surveil-

lance to combat smuggling effectively on land and waterways.

This, he said, was to enable the customs survey borders and communicate to one another on air, land and sea, adding that, it was in line with the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan to position the country among the 20 largest economies by 2020.

Also, the Minister of Environment, Hadiza mailafia who submitted a memo on the resuscitation of the Council said the Green Wall would be im-

plemented in eleven states, namely: Adamawa, Bauchi, Kebbi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

It is expected to run from Kebbi to Borno at a distance of 1,500km and 15km wide. She said countries that are participating in the programme are Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

•Okonjo Iweala

Nigeria Customs Service rakes N185 billion in First Quarter 2012 Continues from page 31 command.

The Lagos Industrial area and the Lilypond commands both raked in a total of N3.5billion and N5billion while MMIA an the Niger\Kogi commands collect-

ed the sums of N4.5billion and N30million respectively.

A further breakdown of the figure showed that the Ogun, Ondo and Oyo\Osun commands collected N800million, N25million and N3.5billion as revenue for period under re-

view.

For the Port Harcourt area one, Plateau and Seme commands N4billion, N16.3million and N700million was realised as revenue for the first quarter of 2012.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 33

We raised monthly revenue from N30 billion to N100 billion($650 million) in 3 years — Dikko C

OMPTROLLER-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Abdullahi Dikko has explained how the restoration of the dignity of the NCS has translated into increased monthly revenue collection from N30 billion when he took over office, to the present N100 billion.

According to Dikko, a holistic approach to the wellbeing of the Service, its men and officers was set out and captured in the seven-point agenda he adopted upon assumption of office with a view to restoring the Service’s lost glory.

He said he has also positioned the service to effectively discharge its responsibilities and permeate best practices comparable to what is

obtainable in other countries of the world.

Comparing the current Customs service to what he met when he took over in 2009, Dikko said: “I inherited lowmorale officers – very disorderly and with zero attitude to work. It was like one found himself in a classroom of people who didn’t understand A or B and you had to teach them afresh how to do things correctly.”

Human resources As part of the rescue intervention, he said he immediately requested from the Customs Board, which is headed by the Finance minister, a Department of Human Resourc-

es for workforce overhaul.

In addition, he said, he sought the help of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and other customs administrations, like India, Canada and France to come to Nigeria’s aid, adding that they all gave positive responses.

“Before my appointment, there was no •Seized goods •Seized goods human resource department, but today, out of the able to train 12,830 so far and also looked into the issue of 17,000 workforce, I have been the process is ongoing. We motivation in terms of salaries and allowances, and their salaries were increased by 100 larations that would facilitate per cent to motivate them to faster release and delivery of do their jobs well,” he said.

He added that other incentheir goods, even as he vowed that the command would not tives like provision of uniforms spare any cargo and their im- and staff buses for transporporters caught violating pro- tation to and from work were also provided in addition to a visions of the CEMA Act. Sections 46 and 47 of CEMA, housing scheme for different as amended, prescribe out- levels of officers.

Dikko said the Service has right seizure of goods enmeshed in under-declaration so far purchased 400 Hilux or concealment while perpe- patrol jeeps equipped with trators would be prosecuted communication gadgets and 5,000 AK47 rifles for antiin the court.

Over the years, these sec- smuggling patrol and border tions have been executed by security units. The customs the NCS, as the culprits are usu- boss stressed that technologally issued Debit Note (DN). ical advancement in the SerUpon the payment of the vice such as the e-payment, amount stated in the DN, cul- e-remittance and e-declaraprits take delivery of their con- tion of goods has further •Garko Adamu Yusuf helped in achieving increased signments.

Some stakeholders in the revenue collection. any involvement in the fraud.

According to the CAC, an in- maritime sector of the econovestigation into the possibility my, especially freight import- Increased of any Customs officer’s in- ers and forwarders have attrib- revenue collection volvement in the fraud was on- uted the renewed fight to inHe noted:“You know, before going. As soon as investigation voke the relevant sections of to determine the culpability of CEMA Act as one of the fall- now, the Customs Service was any officer is concluded, they outs of their refusal to embrace synonymous with corruption. the benchmark on valuation My goal was to cut off contact would be prosecuted.

Yusuf appealed to importers introduced by the Customs between the Customs officers to make honest and correct dec- High Command early this year. and the importers such that, from your house, you can make your declaration through the internet, make payments and get your cargo released without seeing the son Uwujaren. some few observations of re- customs officer.”

He said: “I will like to seek cent, especially in the area of Dikko, however, regretted the assistance of the EFCC to bulk cash shipment out of Ni- that some bad eggs in the attack the disease rather than geria. It is becoming a huge Service still drag its name in the symptoms. The person who embarrassment for the country. the mud, noting that some ofbought such cars innocently I know that no single security ficers were yet to embrace the does not deserve the harass- arrangements in the airports new system of doing things. ment being meted out to him can handle such situation. We He recalled a recent incident by our officers. Honestly, such have to come together to han- where five officers were arharassment is illegal.” dle such embarrassing situa- rested and paraded on teleReacting, the EFCC boss, tions which are affecting the vision for breaching laidLamorde promised stronger image of Nigeria.” down rules by attempting to inter-agency collaboration and Lamorde also suggested the extort the sum of N150, 000 support between the Customs appointment of a desk officer from a motorist in the name and the EFCC. to handle relations between the of Customs duty.

He noted: “We have made two agencies.

Apapa command seizes 5 Containers with DPV of N101.5m

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area 1 Command has seized five containers with a duty paid value (DPV) of N101,151, 447.

The seizure of the containers followed the invocation of provisions of sections 46 and 47 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).

The five containers, which include two 20-footer and three 40-footer, were seized because the consignees and his agents falsely declared their contents with the intent to short-pay the accruable duty.

Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, Apapa Area 1 Command, Comptroller Garko Adamu Yusuf, disclosed this while conducting journalists round the seized items at the APM Terminals Limited, Apapa, Lagos.

H

e said that the seized items include one 20footer container of batteries marked MRKU819734822G1 whose importer declared as containing 1,700 dozens of cartons but, on examination, it was found to contain 173,000 dozens of cartons of the batteries.

Also caught violating the provisions of the CEMA Act were one 20-footer container of used engine, one 40-footer container of used Toyota Hiace bus concealed with 75 cartons of deodorant spray and various auto parts and two 40-footer containers of new electronics such as LED television sets, HiFI sound systems, blue ray players which were curiously declared as auto spare parts.

Comptroller Yusuf disclosed that what gave the importers of the seized items away were the irregularities discovered in their documentation where it was found that signatures of releasing officers were forged by the owners of the consignments in their desperate attempt to evade the payment of duty into the coffers of the Federal Government.

The CAC also revealed persons were arrested in connection with the seizure of the items, and added the two suspects would be prosecuted as soon as investigations into the details of the consignments and the consignees are concluded.

Yusuf did not, however, disclose whether any officer of the command has been arrested for

Customs to partner EFCC to tackle smuggling

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OMPTROLLER General of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdulahi Dikko has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to aid the Customs Service in its fight against smuggling in the country.

Speaking while on a courtesy visit to Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde in Abuja, Dikko asked for the assistance of the anti-graft agency in arresting car smugglers, according to a statement by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wil-

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34 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Ogun command destroys N28m seized contraband goods T

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun State Command has destroyed seizures estimated at more than N28million in a bid to decongest the government warehouse in the command.

Addressing Journalists at the Command’s office in Idiroko, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, DC Akande Bamidele explained that the destruction became necessary as the items had already expired and the warehouse where the goods were kept was congested with seizures of different categories.

Responding to a question on why it took the Command so long to carry out the exercise he stressed, “We do not just destroy contraband items seized from smugglers. What we do is to follow the due process of the law to carry out investigation in order to ascertain that certain items are condemned for destruction.

“This is the reason it appears as if we waited for a long time. Some of the goods as you can see here are 117 bags of rice, 419 used tyres, used fridges, tins of baby food and multivitamin capsules.

The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for the goods destroyed is N28million.”

Ajilete checkpoint On why officers had not returned to the government approved check-point at Ajilete community where smugglers attacked customs and burnt operational vehicle recently, he said, “The absence of officers at Ajilete is not detrimental to our operations in any way because we had already re-strategised our operations and the area is very well covered”.

Meanwhile, not less than N1.3 billion has been raked in as revenue in the first quarter of this year by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Command.

The command, which has its headquarters in Abeokuta, also made 230 seizures with duty paid value (DPV) of N153.4 million. It also realised over N362 million as revenue generated from 3,644 vehicles within the first quarter of this year.

These disclosures were made by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, Ogun State Command, DC Bamidele Akande, in a briefing in the command headC M Y K

quarters.

The CAC explained that for the period of January to March 2012 the command made an impressive performance, as it recorded over N1.3 billion revenue as against N730 million realised within the same period in 2011.

His words: “The difference is N613.3 million and we are working tirelessly to achieve our monthly revenue target of N900 million. The strategies we adopted brought about an appreciable N362 million collected as revenue on 3,644 vehicles for the period under review as against 692 vehicles with revenue of N115.8 million generated in the same period last year.

“The percentage difference is 308 per cent and the quantum increase was due to the unrelenting efforts of officers against smugglers in the area. Also in the period under review, we made 230 sei-

zures with duty paid value (DPV) of over N153.4 million as against 320 seizures with DPV of N229.3million, which the command recorded in the

same period in 2011.

“One happened at Ilashe along Idiroko/ Atan Road, where a group of smugglers attacked our officers with dangerous weapons in an attempt to retrieve seizures.

They were overpowered and one of them was arrested with sword and charms.

The suspect by name Mr. Sunday Adisa has been charged to court already.

“Another incident took place at Aiyetoro where a smuggler, in an attempt to escape arrest, knocked down an officer. The vehicle was shot and the bullet hit the smuggler on the

leg. The suspect is undergoing treatment in Customs Staff Clinic Idiroko and will be charged to court as soon as his condition improves. The vehicle found with him was impounded.”

The CAC stated that during the command’s daily operations, a commercial bus smuggled into the country across the border but painted in Lagos colour to escape security checks, was intercepted by officers and men of the command.

Akande also disclosed that another vehicle smuggled into the country with the banner of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) with an inscription, “OPC Squad Yewa, Chief Apena Agbaye of Ijebu Ode” was intercepted by men and officers of the command.

“We impounded smuggled vehicles that were mixed up in the entourage of the governor to escape arrest. We have seizures of second-hand clothes used to conceal Indian hemp”, he said.

Customs solicit sultanate support to fight smuggling

C

omptroller, Nigeria Customs Service in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Alhaji Umaru Kankara, has solicited the support of the sultanate in the fight against smuggling in the area.

Kankara made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, at his palace in Sokoto.

He said that active participation of the royal fathers would enable the Area Command apprehend and prosecute smugglers.

He explained that officers posted to border areas were in dire need of intelligence reports from the communities to enable them put an end to smuggling.

“We can’t be every where all the time. Vital information from our border communities would enable us map out security strategies that would help in arresting the smugglers,” he said.

Kankara called on the sultanate to mobilise traditional rulers at the borders to assist the customs with intelligence report on movements of smugglers.

He said that such move would pave way for the command to put to an end to smuggling for the good of the nation’s economy.

“We are battle-ready to end smuggling as our officers are ever-prepared to meet the smugglers at a battle field.”

Responding, Abubakar com-

mended the efforts of the Comptroller General of the Customs for reorganising and repositioning the service for optimal performances.

He said that the sultanate would continue to support the service to achieve its set objectives.

...seizes second hand vehicles worth N35m

T

HE Nigeria Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone B Kaduna has announced the seizure of assorted second hand smuggled vehicles into the country worth about N35 million.

A statement from the Nigeria Customs Service Deputy Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, said that the Comptroller of the unit, Mohammed Suleiman Bawa, while briefing newsmen on activities of his unit for the past three months said they have also intercepted two trucks fully loaded with suspected fake drugs He said: “Even though there is clearly no NAFDAC number on the packs, we have given the sample to NAFDAC for test to determine whether the detained drugs should be seized.”

Bawa also paraded two men who have been arrested in connection with a trailer load of fake drugs worth millions of naira seized and handed over to NAFDAC last year,adding that the suspects will be handed over to NAF-

• Seized second hand vehicles

DAC for conclusion of investigation and possible prosecution.

He said that the collaboration and intelligence networking among security agencies should be the prime strategy, adding that the Customs was ready to collaborate with any well meaning agency to serve Nigerians better.

The Comptroller warned officers and men of the unit of

dire consequences for breaching comptroller general of Customs order against highway check points and any form of extortion.

“The present management has done a lot in the area of welfare and provision of working tools, there should be no excuse for failure,” he said.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 35

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36 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

W

HILE waiting to go for the mandatory one year service to fatherland, an idea popped into his mind and he decided to run with it.

According to Ohiaeri, it dawned on him that Nigeria produces only two per cent of all the safety matches used in the country and imports the rest so when the idea came, he quit his job and went to do some research on the idea.

“Nigeria produces only about two per cent of the safety matches consumed in the country. Because of that, we are losing in terms of our Gross Domestic Product, because the 98 per cent being imported is imported with foreign currency, money we can save and use in creating jobs locally. Look at the manpower needed to produce safety matches. We are losing in terms of employment for our youths. We use safety matches everyday in all the homes in Nigeria so it is something that can generate real employment. But what are the setbacks?’ he queried.

The idea: “I looked at it this way: What is it that sells the most in this country? Whether you like it or not, it is the recharge card.

But when you pick up this recharge card, you only copy the pin and throw the paper away. Now, the cost of producing that paper that you throw away is the same as the cost of producing two match boxes. For every paper thrown away, two safety matches could have been produced. So why not embed the cost of safety matches in the paper? If the cost of producing the new safety matches which I termed double scratch, is embedded in the cost price of a N100 recharge card, the recharge card (i.e double scratch) would still sell at N100 and same for all other denominations. What we would have succeeded in doing is creating a new product with the same market. Every recharge card bought is an extra portable safety matches earned, an extra job created and foreign exchange saved. In this part of the country, over 50 million boxes of safety matches are consumed daily. If these two products are merged, one might never have any need to purchase imported safety matches for ever again as it is believed that an average Nigerian buys at least one recharge card per week.”

Cutting cost and adding value:

“The colour of Glo Network is green so I designed one for them. If you light the match stick, what you see is green colour. MTN is yellow so when you light the match stick, you see yellow light. At the time I did that, there was one other company that was using red. I designed for them as well.

And then, in front of these safety match boxes, you have C M Y K

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

BY EBELE ORAKPO

It will be almost impossible for Nigeria, as an import-dependent economy, to achieve her Vision 20 20-20. The only way to go about making that dream a reality is by cultivating production culture. It is on record that Nigeria imports almost everything – from electronics, to agric produce, to household utensils. Even the most simple things like toothpicks and safety matches are imported when all the facilities required for smooth production are locally available.

Disturbed by this trend, Mr. Frederick Ohiaeri, a graduate of Medical Psychology from the University of Port Harcourt and the Managing Director of 62:15 Associated Industries and 62:15 Healthcare Limited, got an idea to *Mr. Frederick Ohiaeri....Every recharge card bought is an extra portable safety matches earned, an do something about it. Excerpts: extra job created and foreign exchange saved

the company ’s logo. For instance, what you see in normal MTN recharge card, are the designs you also see on the double scratch safety match boxes I designed but at the back of the box, you have the panel that you will scratch to reveal the PIN number. So when you pick up that safety match box/recharge card for N200, you are actually buying it for N200. The price does not change. The safety match company is willing to purchase bulk N100 denomination of recharge pins at very minimal cost for a start, probably less than the distributor price from the telecom companies. In exchange for the discount, the safety match company is placing the network's advert on the boxes for promotion and identification by customers. The discount would in turn accommodate the production cost of the safety matches. This will cover the entire production cost.

The discount proposed is below N5 per denomination depending on how motivated the telecom companies are.

Security of the pins is strictly the responsibility of the safety match company as pin numbers are outrightly purchased at discounted prices.

“Studies carried out in the course of this research showed that over 98 per cent of mobile phone users preferred the double scratch over the current recharge cards being sold as they all affirmed they had an extra value for their money and commended the portability of the double scratch and its extra value at the same cost,” he said.

Creating jobs and saving foreign exchange:

The emergence of double scratch would increase the demand for safety matches thus exploding the proliferation of small safety matches (i.e double scratch)producing companies. This would completely discourage the importation of safety matches as it would no longer be profitable to sell only safety matches. The proliferation of double scratch-producing

companies would create additional employment for Nigerians as well as save our foreign exchange for better things. If for every double scratch card you buy, you have a box of safety matches, will you ever have any cause to go and buy ordinary safety matches? No! So importation of safety matches will be dead,” he stated.

Mr. Ohiaeri said the safety matches are not in circulation yet. “I have the concept, and what the CBN did was that

they gave me an award.

Towards the end of last year, they sent me a questionnaire.

I filled the questionnaire and sent it back. Ever since then, I have not heard anything from them.

“Of course you know the environment in which we find ourselves, so I am hoping that someday, I might just be able to have enough funds to continue,” he said, regretting that in this country, we waste a lot of ideas.

I can change the world

A

deyinka Oreoluwa Abesan. I attend Comprehensive Senior College, Ikeja. I’m in SS2. I want to be a radio presenter when I grow up. I love radio presenting because I feel that it is more unique than other media. You get to learn and inform people about happenings around you, and people get to hear your voice. My role model is Omotunde, Lolo 1 of Wazobia FM.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 37

SUCCESS RECIPE WITH

UDEME ARCHIBONG udpraise@yahoo.com

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*Block of classrooms donated by the Old Students Association

How mass failure can be tackled — Old Students’ Association …donates 8 classrooms

By DAUD OLATUNJI, Abeokuta

M

ASS failure in the country can be tackled through decongestion of classrooms and instilling discipline in teachers and students.

This was the submission of the Old Students’ Association of the African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta during an interaction with newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The association which condemned a situation where 120 students would cram together in a classroom, however, linked the development to the mass failure witnessed recently in the state and beyond.

According to the National President of the association, Olubodun Oke, congestion of classrooms prompted the association to donate a block of eight classrooms to the state government.

It will be recalled that recently, mass failure was recorded in the country at the Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examination as well as Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Examination.

Oke, who blamed the poor performance of students in the examinations on the unconducive environment, however, lauded the Governor,

C M Y K

who is a former student of the school, saying,” if you are not in a conducive environment, there is no way you can perform better.

“Chief Olabisi Onabanjo (former governor of the state) once said , if you raise pupils under the tree, they will behave like animals. But, if you treat them like human beings, they will behave like human beings.”

“Over the years, the old students have been contributing immensely to the sustenance of the school.

Inspite of these contributions,we still found a situation where a classroom that accommodated 33-35 students in our own days in the school(in the 70s),now seats about 100-200 students,all crammed together with hardly any space for the teacher."

Nigerian student emerges best in Africa at UNICEF World Science contest

BY DAYO ADESULU

A

LL African countries stood still for Oluwaseun Alamu when he emerged best science student in Africa during UNICEF World Science Day 2012 competition.

Seun, 16 who represented Rainbow College, Ogun State, came first in Africa and was awarded a trophy and certificate for excellence. With this feat, he has made a bold statement that Nigeria and Africa are no longer the dark country and continent but that if given the right opportunity, we can be the best.

In the UNICEF World Science contest, Rainbow College succeeded in writing Nigeria's name in the world book of records having

produced the Third Best Science School in the world, Best Science School in Africa, Best Science Student in Africa and 38 ruby awards/ certificates.

By this achievement, high priority is now placed on African education as the breakthrough has enabled Africa take its pride of place in the world.

More importantly, the world is now forced to recognise Africa in the rating of world schools.

The online competition which took place within 24 hours on March 8, 2012, requires a knowledge of facts, quick thinking and Information Communication Technology (ICT) readiness. It covers three key curricular areas which include: Mathematics, Science and spelling in English Language.

REINVENTING YOUR LIFE

HEN an equipment or machinery is not performing at its optimum capacity resulting in low productivity, the overhauling of the machinery becomes vital.

Therefore, when you feel powerless and beaten down by life and you sense that your world is falling apart; the solution will be to overhaul your entire life by the process of re-inventing your life.

Everyone was born into the world with vault of valuables embedded in the four dimensions of man; body, mind, heart and spirit. And we can only access and maximize the success packages found in the vault of valuables through the gift of choice and natural laws or principles given to us by our Creator.

Therefore, our potentials and capacity is infinite. This explains why success is inside-out and not outside-in.

You are who you are, what you are, and where you are today because of the daily decisions you made in the past. And the quality of your future hinges on the quality of your daily decisions in the present. Therefore, you are responsible and accountable for your life. Although we are bombarded with choices every moment of our lives, there are still a couple of things which we cannot exercise the birthright of choice. We did not choose our background or our parents in which we were born to but we can choose what we can become in our lives. We did not choose our physical attributes but we can choose and shape our personality. Neither did we choose our nationality or race but we can choose and expand our sphere of influence. We never did choose our temperament or our talents but we can choose to develop them into a masterpiece.

We cannot choose people’s opinion of us but we can choose the opinion we have of ourselves. We cannot choose people’s attitude towards us but we can choose how we respond to them. We did not choose our upbringing but we can certainly choose our upshot. We cannot choose the weather; if it will be sunny or rainy but we can choose our feelings about the day.

We may not be able to choose all our circumstances or conditions but we can choose what we can do about them. We are able to choose our actions but we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions. Therefore, our choices determine our chances in life.

Our life is the product of our choices. Our genetic composition or hereditary traits; our upbringing or childhood experiences; environmental influences; people or circumstances of life undoubtedly influence us but it cannot determine the outcome of our lives. We are not a product of our condition or conditioning. Our life is determined by our choices. In your hands lie the power to change your life; it is resident in the power of choice. Stephen Covey reveals, “Until a person can honestly say “I am what I am” and “I am where I am because I so choose to be there,” that person cannot say with conviction, “I choose otherwise.”

A successful life is a by product of living in harmony with universal, timeless and self evident principles that governs human effectiveness or the success you seek. Failure in life is a function of ignoring these principles and embracing shortcut; quick-fix approach to life. It is when we think we can manipulate a few techniques or skills in confronting the issues of life. Natural laws or principles govern the consequences of our choices or behaviour through life; we cannot break these laws but we can only break ourselves against it.

Down through the pages of history, the people who have reinvented their lives and gained enduring success had common denominators that were apparent in their lives. Their lives were shaped and patterned, based on certain principles and the right values formed the building blocks of their destinies. These principles determined the way they “saw” life and became the source of the way they thought and behaved. Benjamin Franklin was an evidence of a man who fundamentally imbibed certain principles into his nature. He was a prolific writer, inventor and the first United States ambassador to France. Guess what? He had only two years of formal education. Despite his handicapped background he succeeded at reinventing his life. Benjamin Franklin adopted the principles of temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity, and humility.

He integrated these principles into his character. Therefore, the more awareness you have of these universal principles and how they operate the more you tend to make wise choices.

And when you align your thoughts and actions to these natural laws, the more powerful you will be and you discover that negativity will bow to you.

Therefore, you can reinvent your life by choosing to live by principles that govern enduring success.

38 — V anguard, THURSD AY, MA Y 31, 2012 THURSDA MAY Vanguard

Horror as invading Fulani mercenaries slaughter women, children F

EW months after close to 45 persons were allegedly murdered in cold blood by invading Fulani herdsmen in Sengev district of Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, a similar invasion of the same community has resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 15 persons, including women and children.

Vanguard Metro, VM, gathered from sources that the invading herdmen stormed the Tyoughatee and GbaangeTongov district of Gwer West killing, maiming and burning down farmlands, houses and huts.

Corroborating the story, the Ter Nagi and paramount ruler of the community, Chief Daniel Abomtse frowned at the continuous attacks on his domain as well as the frequent the nonchalant attitude of both the State and Federal governments towards the security of the people.

He lamented that the hinterland of Benue was gradually turning into a theatre of war, while the authorities remain indifferent to the carnage that has left the entire communities desolate.

Chief Abomtse said he had informed the State Government as well as security agencies in a letter dated May 15, 2012, entitled: “Grand Plan to Annihilate Gwer West People

By Fulani Herdsmen and their Mercenaries”. He frowned at the nonchalant attitude shown by the State Government and security operatives to stop the attack.

“Information had it that the Fulani herdsmen intend to invade Gwer West crossing from the Obendo, Ijiwo axis from Akpanaja in Nasarawa State into Tyoughatee and Gbaange/Tongov district of Gwer West LGA at a location between Mbaku communities of Makurdi and invade the whole of the district which stretches 16 kilometres of Makurdi-Naka road and then advance to Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West LGA. “They also plan to attack and burn down my palace and residence with explosives and sophisticated automatic fire arms”, the letter read in part.

He said the attack took place C M Y K

late Saturday night May 19, 2012, when the herdsmen invaded Tyoughatee village, an attack that lasted till dawn and left 10 persons dead with some still unaccounted for, while many unidentified corpses littered the affected communities.

The invading herdsmen, according to the monarch, did not spare several property, including farmlands, after they had butchered several of their victims. The monarch, who wondered at the sophistication of weapons used by the attackers and skilled military tactics employed by them, also pointed accusing finger at traditional rulers in Nasarawa State for aiding and abetting the attack on his subjects.

“Benue Government should be wary of their Nasarawa counterpart who is just playing tricks and hypocrisy.

Something should be urgently done to protect the people from more attacks by these hired Fulani marauders”, Chief Abomtse passionately pleaded.

E

yewitnesses, some of whom lost loved ones in the carnage, recounted their experiences.

According to Elder Livinus Yange, the invaders crossed into the community from the Nasarawa end of River Benue in canoes. “They laid siege on our village and started shooting sporadically. In my compound, they shot and killed four persons, one woman and three children on the spot. All we did was to try and escape while some were chased. And whoever they caught up with was slaughtered,” he said as he fought back tears.

On his part, Igho John, who hails from Tse Kpav village, said it was a brutal experience for the people of the community.

He said the invaders stormed the village and started axing every living thing in sight, including women and children.

“When they discovered that people were trying to escape, they started shooting sporadically as if we were in a war front,” he added.

A pastor of the NKST faith, Joseph Ukpe who hails from the community said the invaders also sacked the church in the community, though the pastors successful fled to safety,

*A scene of destruction in one of the affected communities

*Chief Daniel Abomtse adding that “most of them are now taking refuge in Makurdi town”.

Meanwhile that Saturday’s attack on the community has compelled all notable leaders

,

BY PETER DURU, MAKURDI

*Elder Livinus Yange

T

hey described the blood bath as unwarranted, unacceptable, uncalled for and at best primitive, uncivilised which smacks the height of

In my compound, they shot and killed four persons, one woman and three children on the spot; all we did was to try and escape while some were chased; and whoever they caught up with was slaughtered

,

from the Tyoshin kingdom to convene an emergency summit over the persistent invasion of the community by suspected Fulani mercenaries.

The summit which regretted the unprovoked attack and dasterdly killings in the community by the suspected herdsmen, however warned that the failure of the State and Federal government to check the incessant attacks would compell the people “to resist with all vehemence the Fulani invaders and their cohorts who would want to introduce jihad at the back door to ransack, scatter and leave in ruins Tyoshin land acquired centuries ago by our forefathers”.

incivility and barbarism.

They urged the Federal Government to institute, without delay, an “independent inquiry to investigate the massacre of Gwer West people for the purpose of identifying the culprits and punish same and also compensate us for the losses suffered in human lives and property”.

The summit also called on Ptesident Goodluck Jonathan to to overhaul the security apparatus of Nasarawa State with a view of taking to task the relevant stakeholders, including traditional rulers and political heads who share common boundaries with Benue State and in particular,

Gwer West local government “identifying the persons remotely or directly connected with the massacre of our people for the purpose of bringing them to book”.

They further called on the Benue State government to enforce its decision in suspending grazing activities in crisis-ridden areas in the state and Gwer West in particular as contained in the communique issued on February 28, 2011.

B

enue and Nasarawa state governments were also implored to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the joint committee on communal clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers at the border communities of the two states which was constituted in June 2011.

This is just as they also urged the National Assembly adhoc committee led by Samson Osagie to make public its findings on the Benue-Fulani crisis as it affects Gwer West in particular.

The eminent persons from Gwer West further called on the State Emergency Management Agency and its Federal Government counterpart to forward relief materials to the people of the area who are now refugees in their own land.

Meanwhile, VM noted the heavy presence of security operatives in the affected communities, while Gbaange and Sengev communities have been deserted, with the original inhabitants seeking refuge in Makurdi and other neigbouring villages.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 39

dayobenson@yahoo.com I N S I D E

Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami: Reinstatement or Exculpation? — Pg 40

Counsel Corner — Pg 41

As the bill to amend the Central Bank Act runs into hot water...

— Pg 42

This democracy has not impacted on the lives of Nigerians — SANS

•Prof Sagay, SAN

BY DAYO BENSON, WAHAB ABDULAH & BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

As the nation celebrated 13 years of uninterrupted democracy and one year of President Goodluck Jonathan in office Tuesday, for cross section of Nigerians, it has been mixed feelings on the gains of democracy since the journey began in 1999 and the performance of the present administration so far. Perhaps, what some Nigerians find disturbing is the fact that the political class is already scheming for 2015 when they are yet to feel the impacts of those they elected to power barely a year ago.

In his anniversary's nationwide broadcast, President Jonathan used performance index and gave his government pass mark. However lawyers, including three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, hold a contrary opinion.

The summation of their views is that those who are holding political powers are deploying them for personal benefit rather than for the general good of the people. Excerpts:

G

OVERNANCE has been a means of self acquisition — Prof Itse Sagay SAN, constitutional lawyer The thirteen years of the nation’s democracy, they are all the same C M Y K

•Prof Osibajo, SAN thing. The thirteen years has been by one political party, PDP. It has an abysmal failure in all the indices in measurement of a democratic state that is making progress and achieving progress. If you look at all the indices, going by infrastructure, parameters for development, power, education, health and other various factors, it is a failure. And of course, the area of security, which is the major problem in the country. So in my view, the thirteen years has failed, the party in power has failed the country abysmally and I don’t see any change.

Look at the issue of corruption, it is benumbing, overwhelming. So, the party in power remains at the center automatically. I don’t see any hope of any change; we’ll just continue to deteriorate rapidly as the country has been doing all these thirteen years.

The scheming for 2015, despite the failure, is as a result of political immaturity. People are not guarded by any code or by any form of restrained control, they see the role of governance as a means of acquisition for themselves so there is a total lack of restrain.

They are thinking of 2015 because the idea of the thought of what has been achieved is not relevant to their reasoning but what they can get. Since being in power involves plundering resources that belong to the people, it becomes a permanent constitution for

•Ozekhome, SAN them. That is where the question of “whose turn will it be?” comes in, so that they can continue plundering this Nigeria and make it dry, this is what they are thinking of.

A person who is working hard will not be thinking of three years ahead.

So you see that it has been a situation of “anything goes” that is why they are talking of 2015 despite the fact that nothing has been achieved. What is the present state of affairs in the country? They are not interested in that.

There has been failure of Law and order — Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, former Lagos State Attorney General The truth of the matter is that, at the federal level unfortunately there has not been enough progress. I think, at the federal level, it has been a disappointment from a large number of people in the nation.

One would have expected that the basic infrastructure, power for example, one would have expected that it would have been given greater emphasis. When the Lagos State Government tried it in 1999, to introduce private power, we were only allowed to do the Egbin emergency power. The more important half of it, would have produced 520 megawatts of power then. But this was totally frustrated by the federal government who is yet to add anything to it.

We are in a tough problem which obviously was inflicted upon us and has continued since the taking over of the civilian government in the past thirteen years. That is one.

Second, what is so difficult about building road? What is a single new road, I am not talking of rehabilitation.

In the past thirteen years, we have not seen a single new road built by the government of Nigeria. One would have expected a road network would have been built across the states of Nigeria. I have not even seen a single new road.

Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, a major axis into the commercial nerve center of Nigeria, has been abandoned.

There is nothing being done. How

Continues on page 40

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

40—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami: Reinstatement or Exculpation? •The Real Issue — Tani A. Molajo Esq., SAN T

HE murky waters of the events which culminated in the suspension of Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal in August 2011 continue to be difficult to navigate.

The recent recommendation of the National Judicial Council that Justice Salami be reinstated has met with the overwhelming support of the legal community and indeed the general public. So why has President Goodluck Jonathan not approved the NJC recommendation and thereby heeded vox populi? That seems to be a simple enough thing to do. Or is it?

Justice Salami’s chief traducers appear to be elements within the ruling PDP, evidently still smarting from the Court of Appeal’s reversal of their INEC declared victories at the last polls.

In support of the President’s inaction, the Federal Attorney General has, quite predictably, advanced the argument that the whole matter concerning Justice Salami remains sub judice hence the President, being anxious to respect the rule

•Justice Ayo Salami of law, must do nothing. With much respect to the NJC, it would appear to have painted itself into a corner; it has prosecuted a position from which, sadly, there is no retreat.

Let us recall that in 2011 the NJC set up a subcommittee chaired by Honourable Justice Auta, CJ Federal High Court, to investigate this matter. That

subcommittee decided that Justice Salami had perjured himself and had thereby violated the code of Conduct for Judicial Officers. That decision was the express basis of the subsequent NJC recommendation to the President that Justice Salami be suspended. The unavoidable questions which arise are these - has the finding of perjury been reversed? In any event, does NJC have the power to reverse itself? One further question - if the answer to the first two questions is in the negative, will the NJC recommendation for Justice Salami’s reinstatement not remain a mirage for as long as the basis of his suspension i.e. the decision of the Justice Auta panel subsists?

Again, even if the President were to order Justice Salami’s reinstatement, would the latter, known as he is for his characteristic courage and principled tenacity, find such a course acceptable without the prior clearing of his name from all blame by a reversal of the perjury decision? After all, it is common knowledge that the same Justice Salami firmly resisted the

attempt to ‘elevate’ him from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court in February 2011. Let us not forget that.

Again, it is the absence of the necessary reversal of the NJC decision which gives any weight at all to the ‘sub judice’ argument of the Attorney General because, plainly, if there is full exculpation, the courts will be left with nothing to try. As I was reported as saying in Vanguard of Tuesday August 30, 2011: “In a matter of this nature, an out - of - court settlement would give to the general public the impression that dirt has once again been swept under the carpet. I would prefer that these burning issues be vigorously agitated and decided once and for all in court, after a fully public hearing at which all the facts are revealed and exposed. I think that is crucially essential. We must give this matter a final and public burial, otherwise its ghost will continue to haunt us.”

In the meantime, sadly, the waters remain murky whilst clarity and closure elude us.

This democracy has not impacted on the lives of Nigerians — SANS Continues from page 39 does anybody who look serious about investment, both local and foreign, not build a proper major outreach to its commercial nerve center?

Corruption of course has skied up because of some individuals.

Corruption is absolutely heavy now not like ever before. When Nuhu Ribadu was at the front of fighting corruption in this country, such effort by him was frustrated.

Also on security, it has not been good. You can see there has been security in Lagos, following the very serious approach that the Lagos State Government has taken. When you look at security across the nation, the federal government has failed.

The reason why the federal government has failed in security is because it does not want state community policing, which is the only logical form of policing. I think that when you have a federal government that has full control of the police force, security will not pose a challenge.

One of the things you must admit is that you must not have federal controlled police in the entire nation.

So the federal government has failed in that area and it is getting worse everyday.

And if you look at it because of the failure of law and order, it is easy to kill people. It is easy to kidnap and there will be no report. Any Nigeria now should simply be anonymous because it is possible for the person to get killed and there won’t be any report, nobody will know what happened and there will be no explanation.

The scheming for 2015 has been a problem over struggle for power. It is a struggle for power for power sake.

What one would expect of a positive leadership, from those who aspire to lead, is that they show us a plan and a prospect for the future. Right now, it C M Y K

is just a struggle for power for the sake of power and the familiarity of power, there is actually no desire for the common man.

I think that it is the people of this nation that must change and they must say that they are tired of this kind of political leadership.

We are still at the mercy of political charlatans — Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Human Right Activist and Constitutional lawyer The country is tottering on a dangerous journey to no identifiable destination, held in the excruciating grip of maddening terrorists, political buccaneers, historical revisionists, unrepentant 419ners, insatiable petroleum subsidy racketeers, bloodthirsty ethnic militias, warlords and tribal jingoist, extreme religious bigots, economic vampires and imperious social misfits.

I am very sad at the mountainous layers of abject penury and socioeconomic deprivation currently ravaging the average Nigerian. The leadership of the country should

urgently wake up to the reality that some Nigerians are hell bent on breaking the country up into smithereens on the altar of political; jobbery and power inebriation. They must be stopped dead on their track.

The anti-corruption crusade must be re-invented and re-energized.

Corruption has since assumed a frightening monstrous dimension where billions of naira are now freely stolen in broad daylight to the amazement of Nigerians. It has never been so bad and ugly.

Some years ago, some ministers and a senate president were removed from office over corruption allegations involving less than 50 million naira each. Today, inconsequential public officers fleese the country of billions of naira without qualms, without being brought to book. The leadership of the country appears helpless whilst the anti-corruption agencies appear compromised. We are now a laughing stock in international circles having earlier won the gold, silver and bronze trophies in corruption on the international corruption index. It is the

shame of a beleaguered country a country wobbling on the dangerous precipice of serious crisis of monumental and catastrophic proportions. And to think that politicians are already talking about 2015 when their first unused mandate is still less than one year old!

Incredible and ludicrous! How long can we endure this political debauchery and charlatanism?

This administration not interested in Nigerians problems —Ubani Lagos based lawyer and the incoming chairman of the NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani has said, the present government has not done anything for Nigerians and do not seem interested in making life easier for them “My assessment of government is that they have not fulfilled their electoral promises. There is nothing government is doing, we have not felt the impact of governance at all.

Electricity is worse, nothing is working."

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31 2012—41

Vanguard Law In Pix NIALS holds summit on enthronement of good governance

Wrongful detention I am self-employed. My speciality is aluminum window frame design and fittings. I have been doing this for years and I never had any problem with people I work for. Recently, I introduced a friend to somebody who needed some carpentry work to be done at his building site. After linking the two, I had no idea of what transpired between them.

One day I received a telephone call from the man I introduced the friend to. He asked me to meet him at a particular place. I had no inkling of what was in the offing and I didn’t have any misgivings since I had earlier worked for him.

Unknown to me, a policeman was waiting to arrest me over my friend’s misdeed. I was taken to a police station at Ikeja and detained from morning till late in the evening.

I paid before I was released on bail. My offence was that my friend abandoned the job half-way after receiving full payment. It was a traumatic experience for me. My efforts to get my friend or his family refund the money I paid to bail myself have been unsuccessful. What can I do?

— Akin IT is a pity that you were made to suffer wrongfully for the sin of your friend.

It would have been a different situation if your friend were your agent in which case you as a principal would have vicariously liable for his omission or commission. Your illegal detention by the police was a flagrant breach of your fundamental human right.

You can write a petition to the police authority and if no action is taken, you can sue. On the issue of paying to secure bail, if was unlawful because bail is free.

You should insist that your friend refund the money, at least he was paid for the job he abandoned.

THE Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, recently, held a one-day stakeholders summit towards enthronement of enduring constitutionalism and good governance in Nigeria, in Abuja.

From left: Prof Jerry Gana, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN and Chief Edwin Clark.

Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN (left) and Chairman, Law Reform Commission, Prof. Cyprian Okonkwo.

Chief Ferdinand Agu (left), representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and Director General of NIALS, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN.

From left: Prof. B. Ijeoma, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire and Prof. Ignatius Ayua, SAN.

What is rape?

I will be grateful if you could enlighten me on rape. It is not that I have committed any such act or a related one and I have not been a victim. But I have heard and read about it. So what action constitute rape and who has the capacity to commit rape?

— Adetayo

C M Y K

From left: Mrs Mercy Agbamuche, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN and former Inspector General of CP Bayo Ajileye (left) and Director of Research, NIALS, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye.

Police, Mr Sunday Ehindero.

Rape is an act of sexual assault on the opposite sex. In other words, an act of rape is said to have taken place if a person has unlawful canal knowledge of the opposite sex without that person’s consent. The absence of consent implies that force is applied in the process of committing the act.

So, sexual intercourse between two consenting adults is not rape. Section 357 of the Criminal code, the Laws of the Federation and Lagos give a clear definition of rape.

According to the section “any person who has unlawful canal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false or fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or, in the case of married woman impersonating her husband is guilty of an offence which is called rape.” Furthermore, section 30 of the Criminal Code describes who is incapable of committing rape. According to the section “a male person under the age of twelve years is incapable of having canal knowledge.”

The presumption therefore is that any male person above this age is presumed to have capacity to commit the act.

Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN (left) and Dr. Valerie Azinge.

From left: Mr. Solomon Edojah, Col. O. Taiwo and Maj.-Gen. Agha Okoro, representing the Chief of Army Staff.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)

Mr Ufuoma Akpeh (left) and Head, Information and Public Relations Dept. Nigerian Law School, Mr Chinedu Ukekwe.

Mr Godwin (left) and NAILS Secretary, Mr James Bathnna.

42—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

As the bill to amend the Central Bank Act runs into hot water...

BY AWA KALU, SAN

O

N Monday, 28th May, 2012, a bill to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act came up before an Assembly of Stakeholders for Public Hearing. Held under the joint auspices of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions and the Committee’s counterpart on the Judiciary, the hearing attracted very many eminent personalities from the banking sector, captains of industry, organized labour, civil society groups, eminent lawyers and high level federal government officials. Several memoranda were presented and thought-provoking comments were made. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Eta Enang as well as other very distinguished senators, were in

attendance. On account of the absence of the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President who were otherwise engaged, the hearing was declared open by an eminent lawyer and distinguished majority leader of the Senate, Senator Victor NdomaEgba. His assurance that in seeking to amend the Central Bank Act, the Senate was not embarking on a witch hunt or a fishing expedition was well taken by the well-informed audience.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, arrived later on and gave the same assurances. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking etc, who was also cochairman of the occasion also gave the same assurances and underlined the determination of the National Assembly to approach its task not only with the appropriate dispassionate

•Awa Kalu, SAN disposition but promised to act in the best interests of Nigerians. Exchanges were cordial, frank and friendly.

After the formalities, the Chairman

yielded the floor to a vigorous and well-articulated presentation by the Governor of the Central Bank. The Memorandum, the Governor pointed out, was “submitted following the proposal by the Senate to amend the CBN Act, 2007. The Amendment Bill before the Senate (no. SB 75), seeks to compel the CBN to submit its annual budget to the National Assembly in the course of the annual Appropriation Bill or subsequent thereto.” Having regard to a preponderance of opinion amongst a wide spectrum of stakeholders indicating that the successful passage of the bill would undermine the apex bank’s autonomy, the Governor ‘recharged’ as ever, seized the moment and underpinned the need for Central Bank independence.

To be continued.

Rewane: Discharged suspects demand N5bn compensation

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

T

HREE suspects discharged by a Lagos High Court over their alleged complicity in the murder of Pa Alfread Rewane in 1995 have approached a Federal High court in Lagos asking for N5 billion compensation.

Already, Justice Charles Achibong has fixed June 15,2012, for the hearing of their case.

Joined as defendants in the suit filed on their behalf by Mr. Maxwell Adeniran are the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the Lagos State Government and the state Attorney General.

The Plaintiffs, Lucky Igbinovia, Effiong Elemu and Elvis Erenuwa have dragged the government to court asking for compensation over their alleged incarceration for over 15 years before they were set free last year by the court.

The were arrested in 1995 and charged alongside others in 1996 for alleged complicity in the killing of elder statesman, Pa Alfread Rewane.

They were however discharged by the state High Court last year after a long drawn trial before several judges on the ground that the prosecution failed to produce principal witnesses.

After regaining their freedom, the plaintiffs approached the court

praying it to declare that “the roles played by the government for over 15 years were oppressive, wicked, malicious and an abuse of powers and outrageous disregard of the law.”

To this end, they prayed the court to award a punitive and exemplary damages of N5 billion against the police, the state government and the State Attorney-General jointly and severally in their favour.

The plaintiffs in their action asked for general damages of N1 billion jointly and severally against the

defendants.

They averred that until Justice Williams of the state High court released them from detention on January 17, 2011, “as a result of the unlawful arrest and unsubstantiated legal advice given by the DPP”, they were kept behind bar in spite of their efforts to secure bail which was vehemently opposed by the state.

However, the state Government in its counter affidavit asked the court to strike out the action on the ground that it disclosed no reasonable cause of

Refusal to reinstate Salami is in bad faith — NBA •Says Kaduna’s choice for conference stay

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HE Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has said there is no going back on its earlier decision to hold its 2012 Delegates Conference in the ancient city of Kaduna in spite of the criticisms that have trailed the choice of the venue due to the prevailing security situation in the state.

Rising from its national executive committee meeting held in Lokoja, Kogi State, the body maintained that there will be provision of enough security to guarantee the safety of the lawyers and others attending the conference slated for July.

In a communique signed by its president, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, the NBA also condemned the refusal of president Goodluck Jonathan to recall suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, despite National Judicial Council, NJC recommendation, saying the action was in bad faith.

NBA noted, “NEC considered the recent National Judicial Council recommendation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to recall the Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami back to the office of the President of

‘S’Court judgments on evidence 'll boost justice administrative’

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AGOS-based lawyer and Managing Partner of Alexander Payne & Co., Bamidele Adeleye has described the publication of Supreme Court Judgments on Evidence (SCJE) as a great boost to the nation’s judicial system.

Speaking with Vanguard in Lagos, he disclosed that just like their first major publication-Intellectual Property Law Reports (1917-2011), the new publication will contribute immensely to the quick and effectual dispense of justice in Nigeria.

As Editor-in-Chief of the two publications, he said: “We discovered that Evidence is the root of justice.

Justice should be dispensed in accordance with the evidence provided by the litigants to support their claim.

C M Y K

action and frivolous.

The government said there were enough evidences against the applicants while their trial lasted but their case was frustrated due to the relocation of majority of their witnesses,”it becomes difficult to locate them and the case had to suffer several adjournments.”

The state also argued that changes of Judges hearing the case also contributed to the delay in trial which eventually led to the trial court’s decision to strike out the case.

It is very important for lawyers to know relevant decisions of the apex Court(Supreme Court) on the Evidence Act.” The SCJE in published is 7 volumes covering Supreme Court judgments on Evidence from 1951- 2011.Each volume is 1000 pages. Hardback and thread sewn to enable it withstand vigorous use.”

He continued: “Although the judgments were given under the old Evidence Act, cross-references are made in the Reports to Evidence Act 2011. This will enable lawyers and judges know under which sections of the new Evidence Act the judgments are relevant.

“Response of lawyers and the courts to the publication has been very

encouraging. As a matter of fact, while we were clearing the books at the ports, lawyers had started paying for copies of the Reports. The SCJE is beautiful both in its contents and appearance. It is printed in the best printing press with latest digital technologies,” Adeleye said.

On the impact of the publication on the justice system, Adeleye said since evidence was vital to justice, lawyers and judges alike would find it valuable, adding that it took the publishers five years of hard work to compile the 7 volumes of SCJE, and according to him, “it is compiled for judges and lawyers.

He advised legal practitioners to avail themselves with the opportunity that the publication provides.

the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and condemned the refusal of the President so to do on the pretext of pendency of litigation in court.

“NBA/NEC considered the decision was made in bad faith as there was pending litigation when the original decision to suspend him was taken.

NBA/NEC reiterates its decision reached at the 2011 Annual Conference of the NBA at Port Harcourt calling for the reinstatement of the PCA on the ground that the suspension was done whilst there was litigation on the correctness or otherwise of the disciplinary action of the National Judicial Council.”

NBA stated it viewed the non approval of Salami’s reinstatement “as capable of eroding the confidence reposed in the judiciary by Nigerians.”

Assessing the state of the judiciary and justice sector generally, NBA noted that recent steps by some stakeholders had exposed the judiciary to public odium and ridicule, while advising stakeholders, particularly serving Attorneys-General of the Federation, “who arrogate to themselves the right of interpreting judicial decisions and legislation in such manner that strictly suits the Government of the day regardless of their oath of office, the truth and the lofty standards expected of occupants of such high office”, asking them to desist from doing so in view of the incalculable damage such unprofessional conduct is occasioning on the system.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 43 Edited by MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU 08026350360 E-mail: chimeena@yahoo.com

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IGERIA is a multi-ethnic society of about 140,000,000 people with well over 250 dialects. But sadly, this immensely blessed country has failed to take advantage of her rich endowment in human, cultural and natural resources for the betterment of the people.

The neglect of the culture and its allied industries and the nation’s consistent dependent on oil as a mono economic driver has further weakened foreign income generation for the country.

Failure to properly harness the rich cultural patrimony of the divers ethnic formations has not only made the country to lose huge sums of foreign exchange, but more painfully, created a negative in roads for foreigners to come in and tell the nation’s history with all sorts of distortions.

It is based on this anomaly that Israel Benamaisia, Yaba College of Technology trained painter, last week opened a solo exhibition tagged, Colours of Nigeria, an exhibition of paintings.

The one week exhibition which kicked off at the National Museum, Onikan,Lagos and declared open by Minister for Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke was not just an ordinary exhibition but a special one, as it focuses on the promotion of the different cultures in the land.

Colours of Nigeria, which according to the artist is a metaphor of Nigeria’s diverse culture featured about 43 vibrant paintings in varied media mostly in acrylic on canvas, oil on canvas and plaster of Paris (POP).

With natural stroke and good use of brilliant and fascinating colours, the artist through the body of works graphically reflects on the expansive cultural landscape of the country called Nigeria, especially the various festivals of the people.

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ccording to Ekpo Udo Udoma who wrote the foreword “the figures are rendered with anatomic accuracy and colours represented as seen in nature. No attempts are made to personalize his depictions.”

The exhibition hall was dotted with beautiful works that reflect the culture of the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, from the Nassarawa Drum and Dance, Musicians at Argungu fishing festival, Mai Nunu (Milk seller) etc in the North, to the Benin Chieftain Salute, Izon Royal Wedding Procession, Dancing in the Royal Court of Benin, Izon Fiesta in the South South, down to the Ondo Wedding Procession 1, Ere Oloba Dance (Ekiti State), Eyo (Lagos State)

The artist through the body of works graphically reflects on the expansive cultural landscape of the country called Nigeria, especially the various festivals of the people

,

•Delegates, one of the works exhibited at the show

Navigating Nigeria through colours

By JAPHET ALAKAM from the South West.

There was also Fattening Room Dance 11, Ohola Festival, Royal salute at Ofalla from the South East. Other works displayed includes: Colours of Nigeria, Fishermen’s Stampede, Delegates, Sallah Day Musician, Xylophone and Drums, Bridesmaid, Procession etc. The ar-

ray of works brings to the fore the creative ingenuity of the man who has been in the dark for years but promised to exhibit regularly now.

According to the artist who has been working in the industrial art sector for years, the exhibition is a product of three years of very hard work and research that took him to many festivals held across the country.

In his artist statement, Benamaisia pointed out three good reasons why he organised the exhibition; to contribute his own quota to the promotion of culture and tourism industry in Nigeria, to document the present day cultural performances and costumes for posterity as most of them are on the verge of going into extinct due to modernization and other external influences and fi-

nally, to help the government realize her aspiration to building a non oil economy.

In his remarks, Culture and Tourism Minister, Edem Duke said that the title of the exhibition is the same with the slogan that they intend to use to describe Nigerian culture and tourism brand.

“Our art/culture and indeed the endowments with which God has bequeathed the country is one of the proudest things we should do.” He said, adding that he was delighted by the fact that through the eyes of one person, he has been able to document the colours of Nigeria.

The opening ceremony was attended by many art and culture bigwigs, among them were: Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State, Abdulahi Muku, the DG, National Gallery of Art, Martin Adaji, Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, Frank Okonta, AGAN Chairman, Mrs Ubeku, Nike Oshinowo- Soleye and many other art lovers.

Is Nigeria Nation State ?

By OZAH MIKE OZAH

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MEKA Nwosu’s new book, Nigeria and the Crisis of the Nation Station – Agenda for National Consensus, could not have come at a better time. Apparently a catalogue analysis of major issues and challenges besetting the Nigeria nation, the book should serve as a valuable reference material to those calling for Sovereign National Conference and to students, scholars and interested minds in political science and political philosophy. The book’s cover design of black and flaming red and yellow seem to capture the darkness, insecurity and the clear and present or imminent danger which the issues discussed pose to a nation that has remained on the political, social and economic precipice for too long.

The author’s informed com-

mentaries on various aspects of the Nigeria state and society are food for thought for citizens and nationalists with genuine concern for the survival and sustenance of the Nigeria dream. It is a clarion call for positive renaissance for a better and humane society where governance will be for the good of the governed. The book touches on such important themes in national discourse as politics and leadership, democracy, rule of law, human rights, the national question, the economy, religion, media, ethnicity, corruption, terrorism and national security, the education system, decaying society, infrastructure, values and the environment; issues that have consistently agitated the Nigerian polity often with dire consequences. The Jos crisis (chapters 11, 12 & 46) for instance, which has exploded into Boko Haram terrorism, has held the

nation spell bound for two long now, reminiscing in the older generation the pogrom of the mid 1966. It is only hoped that it will not shove the nation over this precarious precipice and spill into civic disorder.

The author’s style of writing in free flowing prose and his in-depth, lucid and logical analysis commends the book to readers. It is noted however that, like many modern day writers, the computer has tended to influence the author’s spellings thus rendering many words in American English instead of British.

Thus, calibre becomes caliber and centre, center etc. The author also fell for the current trend in Nigerian journalism of referring to published works as “carried”, instead of “published.” I think the trend is un-English.

Journalists have a duty to write in good English because

•Nigeria and the Crises of the Nation State: Agenda for National Consensus, Emeka Nwosu, Adonis &Abbey Publishers Ltd, London, 2012, PP. 234 often their works mould young minds. So, even though it is said that journalists write history in a hurry, they cannot afford to hurriedly present the language in which they write. Emeka Nwosu’s Nigeria and Crisis of the Nation State is a book for all seasons for politicians, political science and philosophy students, journalists and all Nigerian patriots with a genuine concern for a rebranded Nigeria.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Controversial painting, (The Spear)

Jacob Zuma and the truth of Art…

BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU with Agency report

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ecent controversy sparked off fol lowing an exhibition of painting that depicts the genital of South African President, Jacob Zuma at Goodman Gallery , South Africa, has again brought to the fore the power of art as both an instrument of debate, criticism, commentary and social control.

The painting done by Brett Murray, and titled, The Spear has been variously interpreted to mean a whole lot of things. In the imagination of many racially steeped South Africans, the painting is racist and makes mockery of the traditional and cultural ethos and civilization of the black South African.

For the women, it raises gender question about the superiority of the penis over the vagina. As one contributor puts it during a phone in at News Nite of the etv cable programme,” All the vaginas put together is not equal to one penis. What is the hush about the painting of President’s penis? It could have been any person’s penis.

It could even be my fiancé’s penis.

What is the whole of these arguments over Zuma’s penis? It simply means is that the penis is more superior to the vagina because vagina is common and people use it to advertise product.”

But more than that, a whole lot of South Africans are miffed, and so, it is not surprising that they were mobilized by the country’s ruling African National Congress, ANC,decked out in the black, green and gold of the party’s symbol marched about two kilometers (1.2 miles) along one of the city’s busiest roads to the gallery in the upmarket neighbourhood of Park

wood, where riot police formed a barrier between them and the gallery to protest and argue for the removal of the painting from the gallery and its website.

For these protesters numbering about 1000, the painting, which depicts Zuma posed like Russia’s Vladimir Lenin, is noting but offensive and derogatory of the dignity and status of Zuma as the country’s number one citizen.

Given also the cultural differences and practices that shape South Africa’s

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Africans as people without sexual control.

The painting is believed to promote racist stereotypes of black African men and their “supposed” unbridled sexuality. The import of this painting is very controversial that it was defaced by two vandals, an action that was highly commended by the ANC and described as a victory.

The saga surrounding the painting is an indication of the level of racial tension and xenophobia that still shape post Apartheid South Africa.

he painting is believed to promote racist stereotypes of black African men and their “supposed” unbridled sexuality

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society and moral fabrics, and of course, the antecedents of President Zuma as a polygamist, his shown genital is been analysised by scholars in race relation to mean an indictment on black South Painting of Canadian PM, Stephen Harper

“One should not forget that South Africa is a conservative society, despite our liberal constitution. A painting like this could offend people of all races,” said Olmo von Meijenfeldt, an analyst with the Institute for Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA).

In a similar situation, Canadian Prime Minister , Stephen Harper was also last week the butt of a satirical artist, who painted him nude cracking jokes, while pundits crying foul and one federal department reportedly offer him cash.

According to agency report, unlike in South Africa, where Zuma’s exposed genital has sparked off hate arguments and race debate, the nude painting of Harper has only generated humour.

“In Canada, the painting of Stephen Harper has been met with some criticism, but mostly humour. Indeed, the painting, seen here and censored for the rather sensitive Canadian public, is rather funny. But it does make a real political comment.” Says our source.

Continuing, it says , “It is a form of political commentary that has inspired debate and discussion about Harper as PM and the appropriateness of this depiction. The debate has been rather polite, if not genteel, when considering the issue (Harper ’s leadership style) versus the fact that he is a weenie (sorry, will stop now).”

These two paradigms of artistic representations reveal a lot of things about art in Africa as an instrument of debate and healthy discourse. It also makes important statement about the freedom or rather the right of the artist to express him self.

The way it is reported that Canadian society responds to the caricature made of their prime Minister shows the level human and creative freedom that shape the life of Canadian society and its creative agents.

This is unlike in Africa, where everything is subjected to race and ethnic prisms. The action, also of the ANC, which got a court injunction to ban the country ’s City Press newspaper, which covered the exhibition, and also to ban the gallery to remove all public images of the work is seen to curtail the right of creative freedom and expression. This is a serious indictment and a major minus in the continent’s index of democratic growth.

Vanguard, THURSD AY, MA Y 31, 2012 —45 THURSDA MAY

Tribute to motherhood N

BY JOKE SILVA & SHABARA AZMI

O matter where she is from, a mother’s happi ness will depend on her child’s wellbeing. This similarity cuts through all other differences that may exist between mothers living on opposite sides of the world.

It means a mother with a healthy child can empathise with another mother’s pain at watching her child suffering from an illness. It means that a mother laying out a plate of food for her child each day will understand another mother’s heartache at being unable to feed her child the nutritious foods he needs to grow to his full potential.

Save the Children’s new State of the World’s Mother’s Report ranks countries by those which are the best and those which are the toughest for being a mother around the world. In doing so, it shows that, behind the universal nature of motherhood, every mother’s experience is unique. The ranking marks mothers’ access to health care, their child’s access to a nutritious diet and their chances of fulfilling their potential depending on where they live. It paints a picture of a pregnant mother in Norway- the best place to be a mother in the world - who can rest assured that she is almost guaranteed to have her baby’s birth attended by a skilled health worker.

On the other end of the spectrum, a pregnant mother in Niger will be most likely to give birth to her newborn baby alone, or without skilled assistance. Another guarantee about mothers worldwide is that they will all recognise and have their own relationship with the practice of breastfeeding. The desire to bond, and to protect your child's wellbeingnormally translates into wanting to nourish and provide for your newborn; breastfeeding is often the earliest manifestation of that desire.

BYCHIOMA OBINNA

• Participants at the Macleans Milk Teeth event at Shoprite, Ikeja , Lagos organised by GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria to mark the 2012 International Children’s Day

Poor awareness, bane of research in national development — UJAH

Emotional bonding The benefits are deeper than emotional bonding too. Save the Children’s report notes that, if practised exclusively for six months and regularly thereafter, breastfeeding could prevent one million child deaths per year.

A mother's milk provides a child with the essential nutrients it needs and antibodies that can protect it against childhood diseases. It is a globally recognised practice which needs to be practiced more universally.

Sadly, many children, however, are not receiving the sustenance they need in their vital first hours of life, or even before, when in the womb. In Somalia, more than nine out of ten mothers do not exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, often supplementing their child’s diet with camel’s milk, tea or water. In Malawi, meanwhile, 95% of mothers are putting their babies to the breast within an hour after birth; over two thirds are still being exclusively breastfed six months later.

To be concluded C M Y K

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OOR awareness of Nigerians, policy makers and organised private sector on the value of research in national development has been blamed for poor research findings in the country.

The Director General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Prof Innocent Ujah, who made the observation in Lagos regretted that health research in Nigeria had

been relegated to the back ground by policy makers and organised private sector.

Ujah who spoke to pressmen on the institution’s symposium on Emergency Preparedness and Response to Disease Epidemics to mark his second year in office further noted that health research in the country was seriously challenged by poor and miserable funding allocation.

Other problems to research advancement in

the country, the DG noted include; restricted number of research centres, apart from those of Kainji and Maiduguri, non-specific career progression of Research Fellows, which he said, acts a disincentive for young graduates from taking up research as a career.

Noting the importance of research and value placed on it by the international world, he disclosed that grants from donor agencies exceed

• Director General , NIMR, Prof Innocent Ujah and Former Acting DG, NIMR, Dr Philip Agomo, briefing the media on the symposiun on emergency prepardness and response to disease epidemics, last week in Lagos.

the Federal Government budget.

Ujah said NIMR would sustain advocacy to policy makers, stakeholders and private sector on the role of health research in the socio – economic development of any nation.

Strategic plan Presenting the score card for the last two years, Ujah announced the successful completion of the 5- year strategic plan of the institute describing it as a paradigm shift from programme – based research to disease – based research.

He explained that nine research groups were approved and are headed by very senior and experienced researchers.

The nine research groups include; malaria, HIV/ TB, Non Communicable Diseases such as cancers, hypertension, malnutrition and obesity, E m e r g e n c y preparedness and response to such conditions as cholera, meningitis, natural disasters, lassa fever etc.

Others are neglected

Tropical disease such as Schistosomiasisi, lieshemeniasis, brucellosis, Chagas Disease etc, Maternal, Child and reproductive health, vaccinology and immunology, health policy and system research and clinical trials.

He said the plan would not only bring researchers from various disciplines together to brainstorm on research protocol but would enhance development of credible research activities with strong evidence – based outcomes enough to inform policy of government.

“We will continue to sustain the existing peace and tranquility currently exist in the institute for maximum productivity. Strengthen the capacity of research staff in the institute.”

Activities of the week would be graced by Senate Committee Chairman on Health, Dr. Gyang Dantong, the Minister for state for Health, Dr Ali Pate, House Committee Chairman on Health, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and other research fellows across both in Nigeria and outside the country.

46—V anguard, THURSD AY, MA Y 31, 2012 46—Vanguard, THURSDA MAY

A string of parsley provides more than decoration on your plate

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ARSLEY is often thought of as that green vegetable that is used as table garnish. The healing properties of this popular herb are often overlooked in our bid to make our food attractive and pleasing to the eyes. A string of parsley can really provide more than a decoration on your plate.In actual fact, it gives you optimal health!

Parsley houses volatile oils, one of which is myristicin. Studies have shown that myristicin activates the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, which

eatrightconsult@yahoo.com 08091276796

with Funke Oshifuye areas of the body contain rapidly dividing cells. The flavonoids in parsley, espe-

cially luteolin have been shown to function as antioxidants that combine with highly reactive oxygen radicals helping to prevent oxygen-based damage to cells.

This may explain why extracts from parsley can increase the antioxidant capacity of the blood.An excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A (notably through its concentration of the pro-vitamin A carotenoid, beta-carotene), parsley can help in the prevention of many diseases ranging from colds and catarrh to asthma, osteoarthritis and inflammatory polyarthri-

West African health ministers, stakeholders meet in Ghana

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helps attach the molecule glutathione to oxidized molecules that would otherwise damage our body cells. This particular oil has also been shown to inhibit tumour formation in the lungs .The action of parsley’s volatile oils qualifies it as a “chemoprotective” food because it can help neutralize particular types of carcinogens like the smoke that comes from cigarette and the charcoal grill. Further on parsley’s chemo-protective nature is its ability to ensure proper cell division because it is a good source of folic acid. It is therefore vitally important for prevention of cancer in the colon and cervix because these two

INISTERS of Health in the West African Sub-region will next month converge in Accra, Ghana to deliberate on the most suitable systems for healthcare deliveries within the region.

The Ministers would be meeting alongside other stakeholders who will be visiting Accra for the 7th edition of the West African Health Conference and Exhibition, WAH 2012.

Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, and his Ghanaian counterpart, Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin will be leading the discussions.

At the centre of issues to be discussed is the realisation that the government, which represents the public sector in the sub-region and Africa in particular, is no longer able to manage the health systems effectively.

Consequently, the WAH 2012 aims to bring together a critical collection of stakeholders including policy makers, medical equipment and service provid-

ers among others under one roof at the National Theatre in Accra on June 21-22, 2012 to further discuss how best to engage the private sector.

Speaking, Chief Executive Officer, Global Resources and Projects, the organisers of WAH, Dr. Wale Alabi, said: “Most recently, an increasing political drive, external interest and strengthened local capacity has resulted in significant growth in the health sector.”

He noted, however, that the “sub-region is still struggling to harness the various local and international opportunities to see the emergence of a strong, sustainable and profitable healthcare industry.”

“This conference seeks to bring together a plethora of policy-makers, Regional Ministers, health sector project financiers, health sector systems architects, administrators, practitioners and non-profit partners to have dynamic discussions on the journey so far; jointly, engineering possibilities for the way forward,” Alabi said.

tis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that works in the fat-soluble areas of the body. Diets with beta-carotene-rich foods are also associated with a reduced risk for the development and progression of conditions like atherosclerosis, diabetes, and colon cancer.

Parsley is also heart healthy mainly because it is a good source of folic acid. This important B vitamin participates actively in the conversion of homocysteine into benign molecules. Do you also know that parsley can cleanse your palate and breathe at the end of your meal? So the next time you eat out and you see this decorative garnish on your plate, have it in mind that you are enjoying parsley as a store house of nutrients and at the same time improving your breathe!

7th Annual Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Lecture holds June 1

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LL is now set for the 7th annual Olikoye Ransome-KutiLecturewhich holds tomorrow Friday, June 1, at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos by 10am.

The lecture organised by Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, WHARC, and the family of the late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,with the theme:“Preventing Maternal Deaths in Nigeria: Looking Back and Looking Forward” will be delivered by Emeritus Professor Kelsey Harrison, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is expected to chair the occasion amongst other dignitaries.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO sir, my name is Justin. My problem is that I am in love with a girl but recently, I went to visit her in her hostel and saw a picture of her and another guy holding each other! That picture was enlarged! What will I do now? I am really confused - Justin Dear Justin, is this girl your girlfriend or just somebody you happen to be in love with? You see, there is a difference. If you are in love with a girl that already has a boyfriend, then I will advise you to find another girl rather than break up this girl’s relationship. There are girls everywhere and you can always find a nice girl to date. But if this girl is your girlfriend and also happens to be dating another man, then I suggest you confront her and tell her to make a choice. Either she chooses you or him.

But she cannot be dating two people at the same time. Take care – Uche Dear Uche, please advice. There are so many medications out there for erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Which is the best? Can’t there just be one medication for it rather than two?

Which of your products best suits the above and how long does one have to use them? – Sola Dear Sola, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation are two different things and that is why their treatments are different. Just like there is no medicine out there that cures both headache and dandruff, there is no medicine that fixes erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation at the same time. Erectile dysfunction refers to weak erection or no erection at all and it can be treated with a variety of medication such as Enzyte Capsules (each dose works for 24 hours), Cockstar supplement (each dose works for 48 hours) and Xzen 1200 (each dose works for 72 hours) etc. There are many others too. It all depends on what you want. If you consider the three day formulas the best and prefer to take one capsule every three or four days, then go

for Xzen 1200, Libigrow, Virillis or Sex Voltz. These are all 72 hour formulas and are very powerful, natural and safe.

For premature ejaculation, you will need a delay cream and not tablets. Delay creams such as keep it up Delay Cream will enable you last long before ejaculation. A bottle of Keep it up Delay Cream will also last you for one year or more depending on how often you use it - Uche My name is Fidelis and I am more than 25 years old but my problem is that my male organ is like that of a sixteen year old. This has become so embarrassing that I need a fast and immediate solution. I also need an effective product that can stop premature ejaculation – Fidelis Dear Fidelis, there are instant penis enlargement creams that can give you results within hours but these results don’t last. Max Width Cream for instance can make you bigger when you apply it but the results only last for three to six hours. People use it during intercourse when they want to impress a girl. Mia Thickening Cream is also an instant enlarger and lasts for a few hours too. But Size RX lasts the longest and when you use it, the results will remain for up to 24 hours. For premature ejaculation, if you are going to be using any of the above enlargement creams then I suggest you use a penis sleeve to delay your ejaculation. A good penis sleeve for premature ejaculation is the Stud Extender and it makes you bigger and longer too – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard Vanguard,, YOUR LUCK TODAY

GEMINI; Many people are not in the mood to take thing lightly probably because of tension generated by the Moon and Saturn. Thus you’ll need to be prepared to take responsibility of whatever you do and/ or say.

CANCER; Unnecessary argument can not help your cause today, no matter how logical you think you are.

Take domestic issues more seriously than before.

LEO; good results, your mood looks less buoyant.

Whatever this is the wrong time to gamble with matters of the heart.

VIRGO; Since you cant run away from your shadow it is better you face challenges coming your way both at home and in the office. Eventual success’ll be yours very soon.

— 47

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS; It’s important to differentiate between enterprise, gambling and adventure, because you may not go free by unnecessary mistake. Take love very seriously.

THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 31, 2012

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

W

HO is a volunteer?

Simply put, a volunteer is that man or woman who elected to do something without being paid for it. It could be a job, a task etc. And he does it without being coerced.

The truth is that the volunteer offer his services for free but the reality is

Be a volunteer that at the end he gets something. He could be likened to somebody who does a job for you without charging you. And at the close of work, you ask him how do I pay you? And he answers ‘you know you are my leader, I can’t

TERROR MUDA

charge you, anything you give me will do’. Now, do you not reward such a worker handsomely? Examples abound of people who started work as volunteers and ultimately ended up as top paid executives of such firms.

in “Never say goodbye”

Are you still unemployed? Get a place where you can do something, even for free, initially. If for no other thing, at least, you gain experience.

Those that chose to do everything for monetary gain alone, have not yet discovered the secret of successful living. Be a volunteer, today.

By Kola Fayemi

.LIBRA; Although, partnership related issues are becoming seriously, today you will need to rely on your creative mind to get the desired results.

SCORPIO; Similar to yesterday as money continues to dominate issues. This is the wrong time to rely too heavily on friends either for assistance or advice.

SAGITTARIUS; You’ll continue to be relevant in the scheme of things, although you’ll be made to operate under pressure through career/business related affairs but great success indicated for you today. Be stable.

CAPRICORN; It’s your day when good luck’ll crown your efforts. The more secretive you are the better for your cause. Avoid unnecessary argument.

AQUARIUS; Reliable associates of yours may unconsciously disappoint you .Nursing false hope may force emotion to run very high. Be patient please.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

PISCES; If you like to cut-corners you’ll need to prepare for unpleasant surprise as those you least expect’ll disappoint you. Prepare to protect your image.

ARIES; Relying on the element of luck today may fail to give you the desired results. Then it’ll be wrong of you to disrespect the law and/or it’s enforcement agents.

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,

Who am I? Dear Joshua,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Kindly analyse my star and tell me the type of person I am. Because not only other people do misunderstand me I do not sometimes know myself. Please tell me the truth.

Toyin-Benin, Dear Toyin, As you were born when both career-oriented-Saturn and loving Venus were prominent in the heaven, you are giving to both ambition and love related issues.

And with Venus having more powers than Saturn, PEACE, LOVE and harmony will always have final influence whenever you are to take important final decision.

As loving, gentle, caring and good hearted as you are, with your final-dispositor (Venus) at 90th degree apart to rebellious Uranus in Kingly Leo, FREEDOM and JUSTICE must come to play before the said love and peace will get your final approval.

Naturally Cancer makes it’s natives to appear timid and cool headed but another vigorous aspect in your chart is conjunction formed by aggressive Mars and manipulative Pluto when you were born; thus your will-power is very strong, making it difficult for people to manipulate you at will.

To crown it all the Moon (an indicator of sub-conscious-self ) was placed in genius related Aquarius.

Therefore will power strengthened by educated mind will always want to have FREEDOM. With your natal Sun (basic selfhood) and Moon placed in Cancer and Aquarius respectively, you are mainly a Cancer born person and partly Aquarian; meaning that basic characteristics of the two said Star sings (Cancer and Aquarius) are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

48—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

ANPP Chairman harps on free, fair elections

BY SAMINU IBRAHIM

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USAU—NATIONAL Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onuh has said for democracy to be rooted in the country, there must be free and fair election at all levels.

Onuh spoke at the 2012 Democracy Day in Gusau, Zamfara State capital; noting that only free and fair election devoid of guns and knives but concrete programmes was what the country needed to ensure

peace and progress in 2015 general elections.

He said the country was currently facing threats to its unity, however lauded Zamfara State government for taking giant strides in uniting the people of the state, noting that the ANPP was committed to one indivisible Nigeria.

The former governor of Abia added that the party would win Zamfara State election in 2015, even as no party had defeated the ANPP in the last 13 years when the country began started another journey into democratic rule.

Journalists urged to monitor performance of political office holders

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

J

OURNALISTS and civ il society organisations have been charged to monitor performances of political office holders to enable them live up to their responsibilities.

This was part of resolutions arrived at during a discussion by journalists and members of civil society groups to mark the democracy day celebration.

The programme organised by the founder of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun was to evaluate the 13-year

BY NDAHI MARAMA

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CHILDREN DAY—From left: Mrs Ebele Oluwalana, Senior Brand Executive, Honeywell Superfine Foods Limited; Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, Commercial Director and Mrs Irene Iloadighi, School Administrator during donation of food items by Honeywell to Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Akoka, Lagos to mark the Children's day.

of democratic rule in Nigeria and proffer solutions to myriad of problems facing the country.

Fasehun in his contributions said there was no doubt that the present administration led by President Goodluck Jonathan inherited so many problems which he said had contributed to his slow pace in actualising the yearnings of N i g e r i a n s .

He, however, said Nigerians should not rest on their oars by monitoring activities and performance of political office holders to guarantee good governance in the country.

Enugu model for democracy — Chime

Port Harcourt Co-ordinator, Asabe Shehu Yar'Adua Foundation, ASYARF, Mr Grant Ekechi, and members of the foundation distributing gift items to children in Orphanage to mark this year's children day.

E

Climate change: Sultan tasks Nigerians

NUGU State Governor Sullivan Chime has described his state as a model for democracy in the country, saying his administration has rigidly observed relevant principles and p r a c t i c e s .

Chime who spoke to newsmen, pointed out that his administration has since inception, resolutely respected the doctrine of separation of powers-according arms of government the freedom to carry out their constitutional responsibilities without interference.

This was even as workers in the state transport company- ENTRACO have appealed to the state government to pay their two years outstanding salaries and entitlements as most of them were dying as a result of hunger.

They workers said their salaries and other entitlements had not been paid by the government and urged the governor to use the opportunity of the democracy day and approve the payment of the outstanding salaries and allowances.

NBA election: Forum adopts Wali, others

BY INNOCENT ANABA

A

HEAD of the delegate’s conference and election of new national officers for the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, billed for Kaduna, the Eastern Bar Forum, EBF, has adopted Chief Okey Wali, SAN, as its presidential candidate.

Wali and others were adopted following the removal of the clause that prohibits regional and ethnic adoptions form the electorC M Y K

Borno Gov commutes 2 life sentences, frees 44 others

al guidelines.

The offensive clause was removed from the guideline at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the association in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Others adopted by EBF include: Joyce Oduah for Treasurer; Francis Ekwere for 3rd Vice-President; Afam Obi for Publicity Secretary; Uzo Nnaemeka for 2nd Assistant Secretary; Kelvin Ejelonu for Welfare Secretary and Unachukwu John for Assistant National Publicity Secretary.

BY ABDALLAH ELKUREBE

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OKOTO—THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, on Tuesday called for collective action

by Nigerians to mitigate havoc caused by climate change and environmental d e g r a d a t i o n .

The Sultan made call when the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad paid him a courtesy visit.

According to Sultan Abubakar, “Nigerians are stakeholders in curbing this obnoxious menace and all of us must put our hands on deck.

“Nigerians must also be sensitised on the menace and several other formidable challenges currently plaguing the nation like i n s e c u r i t y . ” The Sultan stressed the need for the sustenance of the on-going campaigns by the government for Nigerians to live in peace with one another.

“This problem alongside

the glaring environmental problems and other related challenges should form the core of the enlightenment campaigns of Nigerians,” he added.

The minister had told the Sultan that he was in the palace to pay his respect

and to express the appreciation of the Federal Government for his fatherly role in rebuilding Nigeria.

He also said the government was concerned with the increasing menace of climate change and environmental degradation.

Pensioners drum support for Mimiko's re-election

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ENSIONERS in Ondo State have declared their support for the re-election bid of the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko who received scores of them in his office during a solidarity visit.

The pensioners visted him under the aegis of the Local Government Pensioners Vanguard for Continuity of Iroko’s Good Governance in the State.

Mimiko, who was excited by the spirit of the seniour citizens , assured them of his administration’s determination to continue to provide their legitimate

benefits so as to make them live happily.

The Governor also vowed to take decisions that will benefit the greatest number of the people, stressing that no amount of propaganda f would distract him.

His words “I’m very excited to see our fathers and mothers in their old age coming together to show their support for this government. This is marvellous and I want to assure you that all your rights will not elude you during this administration. I must thank you all for this visit, this is unique and marvellous in our eyes.

AIDUGURI—BOR NO State Governor, Kashim Shettima has granted amnesty to 46 prison inmates, including two persons awaiting execution after a death sentence was passed on them by a court in Maiduguri.

Rebecca Emmanuel and Zakaria Saman were sentenced to death after a court found them guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code, but they will now serve life imp r i s o n m e n t .

This came even as residents of Kawar Maila town of Maiduguri.

There was however no casualty. .

The 45 other inmates serving different jail terms in Maiduguri prisons were freed by the governor with a warning that they become good citizens.

Shettima’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, said the 46 inmates had shown remorse over their conduct, prompting him to release them with a promise of his government readiness ‘’to rehabilitate and re-integrate them into the society through the state’s multi-dimensional empowerment programme which offers vocational training and entrepreneurship to citizens.’’

Bayo Akerele passes on

T

HE death has been an nounced of Mr Bayo Akerele, 58. There will be a Christian Wake keep today at his residence, No 1, Bayo Akerele Street, Abaranje road, Ikotun. This will be followed by lying-in-state tomorrow at the same venue, and a church service at Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Peniel Pavilion, Abaranje road, Ikotun. Thereafter, interment takes place at his residence.

He is survived by wife, Mrs Bosede Akerele and children, Ifeoluwa Adefunke Akerele, Kolawole Akerele and ‘Seunfunmi Akerele.

zLate Mr Bayo Akerele

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—49

Delta: Micro-credit democracy Delta gathered its leading lights to celebrate democracy at a micro-credit level and ponder on the unthinkable: Delta State without oil money

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

OVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan’s unique commemoration of Democracy Day last Monday was obviously a horror for many Deltans. If not, then certainly for those who have been on a roller-coaster on the oil income presently flowing to the state.

Building on the micro-credit scheme success story that has been a unique selling point for his administration since 2007, Dr. Uduaghan gathered major stakeholders from the state for a talk shop that day to ponder the prospects for the state without oil money. Oil revenue from statutory allocation, derivation proceeds and internally generated revenue from oil exploration activities is estimated to account for more than 85% of the state’s income.

The one day seminar with the theme “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as drivers for achieving the goal of Delta beyond oil” paraded some of the most outstanding entrepreneurial success stories from the state. The toast of the day was undoubtedly Mr. Tony Elumelu, the former banker who built one of Africa’s largest banking chains in under ten years. Given the burgeoning unemployment situation in Nigeria many would have been shocked with his remark that one of the first investments he made

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after his disengagement from UBA in Tanzania employs at least 100,000 persons. “We went there because the government provided the right environment,” he said during the panel discussion he chaired.

Besides Dr. Uduaghan, dignitaries at the seminar included the deputy governor of the state, Prof. Amos Utuama, (SAN), Senators James Manager and Patrick Osakwe, Speaker Victor Ochei of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere who is Chairman, Agric and Food Security Commission of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Otti Ikomi, Managing Director of Keystone Bank, leading financial expert and chairman of Delta State Economic Advisory Team, Mr. Bismark Rewane, Mr. Albert Okumagba among others. With global oil consumption put at an estimated 82 billion barrels of oil per day and global reserves being depleted at the rate of 2.1% per year, some findings have shown that world oil production could peak by 2014. That is some ten years earlier than had been projected.

Given that scenario it was indeed remarkable that the Delta State government conceived the idea of planning for a life without oil.

As Governor Uduaghan revealed that day, the scenario was such a frightful one for some of his aides that he had to

change tact by rephrasing the focus of “Delta without oil” with “Delta beyond oil.”

As he took charge of proceedings that day, Mr. Elumelu commended the governor for his concept.

According to him Democracy Day that is normally celebrated with a political slant and parties was in Delta being done with something “fundamental and catalytic.” He also praised the governor’s vision of looking at life beyond oil, especially the focus on micro-credits as he noted that it was his own first time of attending a seminar in the country where the focus was below the usual SMEs and down towards the micro-credit layer.

He was to add that the best way to project democracy is to democratise the dividends at the micro-scale level, a scheme he added, would also tackle the social burdens of poverty and crime.

Delta capitalism Giving his own present pursuit of projecting African capitalism through his present venture, Heirs Holdings, he said that African capitalism entails Africans doing things to help themselves maximally. Nobody he claimed would help Africa better than Africans. He added that Delta State must build into that philosophy of Delta for Deltans or Delta Capitalism as he termed it.

Mr. Elumelu was to further enumerate four points upon which the Delta Capitalism could be built on. The first was that Deltans must take a frontal role

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A dividend of the government’s micro-credit scheme in his hand, Gov. Uduaghan (R) with Elumelu listen as the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Ashiedu explains a point at the exhibition Pix By NATH ONOJAKE

in developing the state economy, second was that investments should be projected on the long run, third was to build in social and environmental considerations, and lastly, that the state government must create a conducive environment for investments.

While noting that individuals must do the first three, he was to highlight the government role of providing a suitable environment for investments with his narration that the proposed plans by Transcorp Corporation to build two five star hotels in Asaba and Warri would have been impossible respectively without the Asaba Airport and the peace provided by the Uduaghan administration. He also used the opportunity to announce plans to build a $1.4 billion fertiliser plant in the Burutu area of Delta State as perhaps his own example of Delta Capitalism that he is now preaching.

Governor Uduaghan in his own comments before the commencement of the panel discussion underlined his administration’s commitment to its three point agenda of peace and security, infrastructure development and human capital development.

Noting the administration’s goal of consolidating on a life beyond oil, he disclosed how he has worked to make the state an investment hub for local and external investors. Besides, he spoke of how he has worked to build on the micro-credit success story towards advancing the industrial base of the state.

“We believe that with our micro-

SME scheme to change the mindset of youths who presently thrive on indolence. As he revealed to the amusement of the gathering, community youths in some sections of the state have formed the habit of extorting what is called “Devve” otherwise called Development Levy from anyone attempting to lay foundation or make any significant addition to a building.Mr. Elumelu was to also note a challenge he faced with his foreign partners just weeks after initialing the agreement for the fertiliser plant in Burutu. “Just after we signed the agreement my mother was kidnapped and my partners were asking, ‘are you really sure Delta State is okay for this investment?’”

Panel discussion At the panel discussion moderated by Channels Television’s Deji Badamosi, with Ikomi, Rewane, Ijewere, Okumagba among others as participants, the place of agriculture in boosting the economic potentials of the state came to fore. Ijewere, a farmer relentlessly asserted that farming could be made a success story but only if encouraged noting how he has sometimes as a farmer found himself isolated among bankers and other professions in the first class or business class cabins of aircraft.

Uduaghan in his contribution also relayed lessons the administration learnt in its first

Delta’s unique celebration of democracy at the micro-credit level is arguably aimed at putting democracy dividends no matter how small in the grasp of all citizens of the state

credit scheme we can get our SMEs and from there get our large industries,” just as he disclosed that the administration is progressively using the microcredit scheme to advance the entrepreneurial spirit of the citizenry. “In the first three years we were dealing with cooperatives but from this year we are moving them up to the SMEs so that they can start exporting.” That would have been welcome news to the many men and women who flooded the seminar venue with the products realised from their productive engagements facilitated by the Micro-credit Scheme presently managed by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation under the leadership of Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu.

Uduaghan further restated his administration’s goal of using the success of the Micro-credit and

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foray into the micro-credit scheme. According to him politicians almost derailed the scheme with the selection of youths who did not have any interest in entrepreneurial activities. According to him after the first disbursement the youths took the money to satisfy their indulgences instead of investing such sums in the businesses they were meant for.

The need for the administration to work out a price stabilisation scheme to ensure that farmers are not discouraged by falling prices was a consensus among the panelists. Delta’s unique celebration of democracy at the micro-credit level is arguably aimed at putting democracy dividends no matter how small in the grasp of all citizens of the state. Not the macro level where a small clique steals the collective patrimony of the state.

50 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

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MAY 31, 2012

NASU wants labour to fight for pensioners over looted fund

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

be no liquidity for people to steal. But if you keep this money lying low, thieves will go there and move them, because they are in several billions, this money should be invested, invested so that people can not have access to them.”

“Government is keeping quite because those people who are stealing this money are government people, why Peters Adeyemi,General Secretary of NASU

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ON-ACADEMIC Staff Union of Educational and Related Associations, NASU, has called on the Labour movement to be the vanguard in the fight against looted pension funds.

General S e c r e t a r y o f N A S U , C o m r a d e Pe t e r s Adeyemi, who spoke in Lagos, said “If it is possible, I will say that the labour people should struggle on behalf of the pensioners to ensure that sanity is restored into the system.”

Comrade Adeyemi who spoke to Pension and You atthe Research and Projects Trade Group Council Meeting, hosted by ICAN chapter, said “We should tell the government what to do if t h e y a r e n o t r e a d y, w e should fight them because these pensioners’ cannot fight for themselves, because we have potential pensioners, if we don’t do something now, they will steal our own money and we will also die on the cue, God forbid. If this money had been properly invested there will

can’t we do some of those things that happened in China, if you are found to have stolen public fund, particularly fund meant for pensioners, you are executed. In developed economy, pension funds are not supposed to be there for people to see. Pension funds are supposed to be invested, this money are supposed to be invested on mass housing, productive venture that will be of great

benefit and of result.”

Talking to the pensioners’ he said, “I don’t want any pensioner to think that they have stolen the money, if they have stolen the money, it is the responsibility of the government to pay.

“Pensioners must collect what is due to them, either the money has been stolen or not it is the responsibility of the government to provide money for them.”

Also speaking, the Lagos State Council Chairman of NASU, Comrade Oye Adeniran said, “Government effort in tackling corruption is not encouraging, in spite of the fact that poverty is do-

•••As Senate gets probe report today T

HE Senate will today receive the report of Aloysius Akpan Etok led Joint Senate Committee on Establishment, Public Service, States and Local Government Administration, that probe the management of the pension’s fund in the country Committee Co-Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who announced this development, explained why the committee’s report was not presented yesterday as earlier planned.

It will be recalled that the Senate Joint Committee for some times now have been probing the management of pension funds where it held public hearings where major stakeholders and players revealed how billions of the funds were looted.

Similarly, a former director of Pension in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Sani Shaibu Teidi, yesterday the total amount of pension funds looted was over N60 billion.

Dr Teidi who spoke in Abu-

ja, however denied a newspaper report (not Vanguard) that he claimed to have given N3 billion bribe to the Senator Etok led panel.

Describing the report as malicious, he said, “the story was malicious and it was calculated attempt to tarnish my image. I never said I bribed the committee. I presentFrom left: Sen. Adegbenga Kaka, Sen. Aloysious Eto, Chairman ed documents to the Joint Committee of Establishment & Public Service and State & Losenate and left. For cal Government Administration, and Sen. Femi Ojudu, during the Leadership to say public hearing on Comprehensive Investgation of Payment of Penthat I told them that I sion and Management/Administration of Pension Funds in SouthWest Zone, Lagos. bribed the committee, it was falsehood. I have asked my lawyers to write Does it mean I cannot own a the documents I tendered at to them asking for a retraction, house in my village? They did the senate showed a fraud of apology and compensation of not take time to investigate over N40 billion. I won’t comh i s . ment further on this because N2.5bilion. I am not the only t person accused of pension “Why committing and convict- the matter is still being invesfraud, but why is it that it is ing in the eyes of the public. tigated by the senate commitalways my name that is being They started by saying that I tee.

From my own records mentioned. I built my house looted N12 billion, later N7 bilwhen I was accountant-gener- lion, and today N4.5 billion. alone, what went out of the al between 2002 and 2003, but And what was involved in the pension funds was more than they went and put the pictures fraud, like I told the Senate N41 billion, and there are othof my house in newspapers. committee, was over N60bn. er records to show that altogether, the fraud was over N60bilion and I the press freedom, but that freedom should not be used to infringe on people’s fundamental rights. I want the leadership to produce any evidence that I Director maritime services who back to the treasury. We are yet granted them an interview. If is saddled with that responsibilto meet with the DG over the they fail to tender an apolomatter, but the question that we ity will have a lot of explanation gy, we have no option to take to make.

There was provision in are asking, are they telling us them to court. I forwarded the that there are no aged dockwork- 2011 to disengaged these aged list of names used to loot peners to be retired in the maritime workers, even as am talking to sion funds to the Office of the industry because if you are re- you, I know that another N50 National Security Adviser to turning the money, there must million has been provided for the president and a commitbe an accompanying note at- the same purpose in order to tee was set up. The media, tached explaining why they are reduce the aged workers to the especially the leadership, did returning the money as unspent barest minimum. If they don’t not report this. Today, even the give us satisfactory explana- pulse I used to train my chilbudget.”

“As we speak, we have over tions, we will take action. dren is being affected. My We will take this matter up to children are at home today. I 1000 Dockworkers that need to the presidency and if it is not leave the industry because they have never attempted to bribe are aged . Why they returned this handle the way we want, we will anybody, not to talk of the Senclose down the ports to draw money we do not know and we ate”. believe that the the Executive the attention of the government.”

Labour raises eyebrow over missing N150M for aged Dockworkers

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ARITIME Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, is raising eyebrow over the where about of over N150 million budgeted for the aged Dockworkers in the nation’s Maritime industry.

President-General of MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted, told Pension and You that organized labour in the sector would go to any length to find out what happened to the money.

According to him, though the issues is not directly under the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, the

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micile with majority of the populace, lack of jobs, heavy taxes and lack of good remunerations are factors militating on it.

Adeniran added that the absence of political wills on the part of those in authorities to prosecute cases to their logical conclusion are also contributory factors to corruption.

Advising its members to embrace peace, he said, “It is commonly applauded that this monster call corruption is a citizen of this country and it rots from top to bottom, leaving no angle untouched, thereby people flourish in it.”

union would meet with him to lay its complaint.

Comrade Nted said “the Executive Director, ED, Maritime Services who is saddled with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Dock workers. We believe that if the government made a budget for the aged Dock workers, last year whether recurrent or capital whatever they call; there was a budget of N1, 000,000 million meant to be used to disengage the aged Dockworkers in the maritime industry. Around February, we heard from a reliable source that the money has been returned

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58—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31,

2012

Palm wine tree

How we drink palm wine P

ALM wine is one of the many brands of native wines drunk in Nigeria. While some other wine types like burukutu, pito and ogogoro are brewed and distilled from either wheat, guinea corn grains or even as a derivative from fermented palm wine, the particular brand called palm wine is got straight as sap from either raffia palm or oil palm trees.

In the Northern part of Nigeria where savannah type of climate does not allow the growth of luxuriant trees like the raffia or oil palm trees, the grain produced wines like burukutu and pito are very popular. Ogogoro brand of wine gotten as derivative from palm wine is very popular in the West African sub region, known and addressed with various rib cracking names like shekwe, ishi enwe, akpateshe, I for don marry. The ogogoro brand is gotten from fermented palm wine or ripe plantain through some local distillery methods.

However, in the Eastern part of Nigeria; and especially in the Igbo speaking area, palm wine known with many names like tombo, palmy, nwoko onye obi ocha (large hearted man), uzunma (epitome of beauty), mmiri Ara umu mbe, (breast milk for the orphan) is the number one brand. Among the Igbo

people of the South East, the word wine no matter which brand of wine is being referred to, immediately translates to manya, which in its literal sense means palm wine.

As stated earlier, this drink brand is got from two tree sources: the raffia and the oil palm trees. While the raffia palm produces manya ngwo (raffia palm wine), the oil palm tree produces the type called, manya nkwu, “up wine.” To produce palm wine takes a process. It is not every raffia palm tree that produces palm wine.

It takes the professional eye of a seasoned tapper to know when a particular raffia tree is ready for tapping.

Arrival of maturity According to Nwafo Nnabuihe, a 65 year old tapper, "raffia palm is like a young girl. It grows through puberty stages.

Like a young girl, it shows signs of maturity with years. In the same way that a little girl attains age of maturity and begins to sprout little bumps on her chase, the raffia tree shows signs of maturity by shooting out certain number of palm fronds (omu) to signal the arrival of maturity. When palm tree shoots up the first bud of palm frond, the tapper will im-

mediately know it is coming of age. When it shoots two palm fronds at a time, it shows that it is at the point of going to labour. Sprouting of three palm fronds shows that the palm has come of age and can be tapped.”

Having been certified ripe for tapping, the tapper climbs up to the top most part of the tree, where he identifies the neck and cuts off ducts with his tapper’s blade. Under the hole made by the removed ducts, a local calabash or mug is fastened with rope and tied to the tree to collect the liquid sap.

Newly collected palm wine is usually very sweet and this sweet type is the favourite of women and children. Old men with the exception of the light brained ones prefer the “hard” brand. The hard wine is the fermented type. Palm wine becomes fermented with the passage of days.

“Naturally, palm wine is a low alcoholic drink. Its alcoholic content is as little three per cent,” says, Dr. Jeff Brown, nutritional dietetics. But fermented palm wine has the potential to breed as high 12 per cent alcoholic content. Besides the natural alcoholic content, which palm wine yields with passage of time there are, however, other traditional chemical mechanisms, which tapers bring into the process to "harden" the brand.

Nnabuihe noted: “It is only natives from coastal towns that drink palm wine straight as it is got from the tree. No, that is not palm wine. We call it mmanya miri (water drink.) A seasoned tapper must apply the necessary herbs on the face of his ducts (ahihia ngwo) and add nche (local yeast) to increase the potency of the wine.

When you place the herbs on

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By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

ter tapping.

Palm wine tapping is both an art and a social activity. So much so is the drinking. The tapper delights so much in his activity of tapping that among little children his activity elicits song of admiration: Mgbe Oku ngwo no elu each time the taper is atop tree Obi ya anuri He is filled with joy Mgbe ono na aku ngwo ya When he is busy tapping the tree Obi ya anuri He is filled with joy Ikpom chiki, ikpom chiki ikpom chiki, ikpom chiki Obi ya anuri He is filled with happiness This song sang by little children, who wait patiently at the foot of the tree with the intention of benefiting from the generosity of a large hearted tapper, who may feel challenged by the beautiful rendition from the children and feast them with cup full of sweet frothing palm wine. Palm wine is so admired by the local population and especially those who can not afford to go to expensive beer parlours to buy brewed beers, costly spirits and English wines. Even rich men and women, who can afford to buy these other types ensure that palm wine is always in the exclusive list of drinks to be provided at every of their ceremonies.

“Palm wine makes us happy.

It is not like beer or spirit that makes you uncomfortable. This is our own holy water,” says, Nnanna Anyanwu, a 90 year old man. In social gatherings like party or funeral, palm wine commands a lot of respect.

There is a popular joke in

Naturally, palm wine is a low alcoholic drink. Its alcoholic content is as little three per cent

the opening made by the ducts and pour grounded (nche) in the collecting calabash, what you get at the end of the day is a ready medicinal and rich nutritional wine.”

However, the other type of wine, the “up wine” takes almost, though not the whole process. The major differences between the two processes are while the raffia palm wine is obtained from a standing tree, the up wine can be got from both a standing or felled oil palm tree. Another significant difference is that while tapping of raffia tree results in the death of the tree, except when an oil palm tree is already felled before tapping, it still retains life and vitality and produces more oil palm fruits many years af-

,

Mbaise part of Igbo land, where it is said that “When Christ went to Galilee for a wedding, he saw that every guest looked moody and without smile on their faces. He asked them: "my kinsmen, why are your faces moody?” They replied: “can you imagine that since morning we came here nobody has bothered to ask us whether we care for a drink.

Not even one person has raised am empty cup of wine to our faces." Christ is said to have laughed and begged them not to be angry and commanded that six jars be filled with water which he converted to palm wine and the people drank to their fill and sprang into song : Continues on page 59

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—59

How we drink palm wine Continues from page 58 Galilee eee Oh Land of Galilee Ebe ndi din so Jere ku paaa Where the Saints have gone to hide Galilee eee Oh Land of Galileee Obodo mara nma Beautiful land Ebe emere mmiri Ghooo manya Where water converts to wine.

Another version of the song says: Manya ngwo Oh palm wine Obi oma in Akpa m The happiness you bring to me Ya so gi Gbalaa Britain If you like, takes exile to Britain Aga m achoro Gi bia I will come after you.

Apart from providing a platform for social interaction, palm wine plays important social religious functions. It is the drink of the gods. In traditional Igbo society, palm wine is the preferred drink used in pouring libations to the gods. In every traditional ceremony be it wedding, child naming ceremony, funeral or memorial, palm wine is the preferred drink.

bags. According to Kalu, a popular palm wine seller, “The reason is to ensure healthy drinking, and also to avoid being poisoned by evil minded people.”

Absence of titled men At occasions, the elderly men and women in the absence of titled men and women are served first. While the men sit comfortably on their seats to drink their palm wine, women as mark of respect, either stoop down or kneel on one leg to have theirs. Each time palm wine is served, the last part of it, called the dreg “ike manya" (bottom of wine or "uroto manya" (dreg of palm wine), is usually given to the oldest man in the midst or the newest married young men. It is believed that the remains of palm wine add potency to the sexual prowess of a newly married young man.

Palm wine is equally used effectively as post natal beverage.

Mama Nkechi, a traditional nurse explains that “it helps newly born mothers to replenish their milk. And for a very suckling infant, little drops of palm wine goes long way in augmenting the infant’s mother to satisfying her babe’s insatiable urge for breast milk."

Medical experts have also revealed that the rich vitamin A

,

It is believed that the remains of palm wine add potency to the sexual prowess of a newly married young man

It is drunk by the old as much as the young. The clergy drinks palm wine as much as the lay man. It has no gender or age barrier.

However, there are traditional ways in which this precious wine is served. It has its own wine cup and special mug for distribution. The traditional wine cup and mug are made from special calabash seed. The calabash mug is cyndrical in shape with a long handle and a hole made on one side of it to serve as its mouth. In between the joint between the cyndrical side of the calabash and its handle, a sponge like filter is inserted to help filter the wine as it is being served into the cups.

It used to be a common sight seeing old men in the villages visit their friends or go to the market where palm wine is sold with their washed calabash cups hung in their raffia hand

Drinking palm wine from the traditional calabash

However, there is a danger in the patronage of township palm wine. The fear is that there is the tendency for the sellers to sell adulterated versions of this drink. This may result from the doctoring of the original palm wine with a certain kind of sweetener called saccharine.

This additive, according to experts, is capable of causing health challenges, which may

result in diarrohea, dysentery or runny stomach. It is even more dangerous with people suffering from diabetics.

Activity in palm wine makes a lot of economic sense. The popularity of the drink and its potential medical and pharmaceutical properties endear it to both domestic and industrial users. It is a brand that has become very popular with bever-

age and alcholic consumers.

This is because the product has the potential to be converted to either form. In the rural areas in particular, the sale of palm wine is a very profitable business and can be relied upon as an activity that can put food on the table.

Given the considerable uses and wide acceptability that palm wine commands in Nigeria today, all that is left to turn it into a national brand that can equally attract huge foreign exchange for the government is to earmark fund for research into the agricultural, pharmaceutical, food and beverage potentials of this essential product with the view to harnessing the result for the over all improvement of palm wine production, storage, packaging and marketing.

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content of palm wine can help in addressing nerve related ailment in the same way that food and beverage industries have benefited from the use of palm wine’s rich wild yeast in bakery and production of groceries.

In recent times, however, palm wine has been under going a kind of transformation. The new generation drinkers of palm wine have found their new way of drinking and heightening the effect of the traditional drink.

Nowadays, they mix palm wine with Stout beer or some spirits.

This new concocted mixture, they call “ bloody Mary.”

Even in the townships, palm has become very popular in drinking circles often called “joints." In these places, it is served with local delicacies like Ugba (oil bean salad}, Isi Ewu (goat head) and pepper soup made either of chicken or goat.

OILY BUSINESS: Automotive Gas Oil AGO being evacuated into drums at the RMRCC jetty at Kirikiri, Lagos, in the night

Drums of the collected AGO being transported to the Kirikiri police headquarters

60— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

Mandela makes rare appearance ORMER South Afri can president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday made his first appearance in six months when he received a symbolic flame to mark the ruling ANC’s centenary at his rural home in Qunu.

A healthy-looking Mandela, seated on an armchair, smiled as the African National Congress chairwoman Baleka Mbete presented him with the flame in an event shown on television. The handle was emblazoned with the party’s colours.

“He was happy and he appeared to be healthy and asked a lot of questions,” ANC spokesman Keith Khoza told AFP. The clips on e-News channel showed the former ANC president Mandela flanked by his wife Graca Machel and grandchildren.

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Images of Madiba, who returned to his childhood village on Tuesday, were last seen in October when he cast his vote in local government elections there.

The revered statesman who turns 94 in July was in February flown to Johannesburg from the village for a medical checkup. His previous hospitalisation in 2011 for a

respiratory infection caused a national panic, following a new blackout on his condition.

His last public appearance was at the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg.

Romney clinches GOP nomination ITT Romney clinched the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday

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•Romney

with a resounding victory in Texas and now faces a five-month sprint to convince voters to trust him over Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 6 election.

Although the race has been essentially over for weeks, Romney finally cleared the benchmark of 1,144 delegates needed to become the Republicans’ presidential candidate after a long, bitter primary battle with a host of conservative rivals.

He will be formally nominated at the Repub-

licans’ convention in Florida in late August.

In a statement, Romney said he was humbled to win enough of Texas’ 155 delegates to secure the nomination.

“Our party has come together with the goal of putting the failures of the last three and a half years behind us. I have no illusions about the difficulties of the task before us. But whatever challenges lie ahead, we will settle for nothing less than getting America back on the path to full employment and prosperity,” he said.

•Mandela

Wikileaks founder loses extradiction appeal ULIAN Assange, founder of the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, has lost his appeal at the supreme court in London against extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual assault allegations.

Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two female.former WikiLeaks volunteers. The judges

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ruled with a majority of five to two on Wednesday that the Swedish prosecutor who issued the arrest warrant was a “legitimate judicial authority”.

The decision means that Assange, 40, can be extradited. But his lawyers immediately requested to be given leave to appeal to reopen the case. The court gave his lawyers two weeks to contest their ruling.

Charles Taylor: End game for the Liberian warlord

BY UDUMA KALU with agency report HE Liberian Civil War, caused by former Liberian President Charles Taylor, described as one of Africa’s bloodiest, claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and further displaced a million others into refugee camps in neighbouring countries.

Young persons were victimized during the civil war of the mid1990s. An estimated 50,000 children were killed; many more were injured, orphaned, or abandoned. Approximately 21 percent of the combatants who were disarmed under the provisions of the Abuja Peace Accords were child soldiers under the age of 17. Many youths remained traumatized, and some still were addicted to drugs. The number of street children in Monrovia and the number of abandoned infants increased significantly following disarmament.

Although the sources of the Liberian conflict are complex, on one lev-

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el it represents an attempt by Americo-Liberians to re-establish themselves as the dominant political force in Liberia.

The war was not about tribes seeking dominance over one another.

Charles Taylor led the invasion into Liberia in the name of trying to right the wrong for the Gios and Manos. This was the motivator for the two ethnic groups who joined the movement.

When the Taylor rebels entered Nimba County, their home, the conflict quickly drew in the Mandingoes, who are mostly Muslims. The Gio tribe soon formed their own separate rebel forces under Prince Johnson, and a bloody three-way civil war began.

Taylor, president and preacher. He was also a mass murderer. When he was a rebel in the early 1990s, controlling most of Liberia apart from the capital, Taylor turned up at a West African regional conference in Burkina Faso in full military combat gear.

His equally well-protected bodyguards jogged

•Charles Taylor alongside his car from the airport to the centre of the capital, Ouagadougou, in a show of strength and loyalty.

When, as president in 1999, he faced accusations from the United Nations that he was a gun runner and a diamond smuggler, he addressed a mass prayer meeting clothed from head to foot in angelic white.

The showman, who at the time was also a lay preacher in the Baptist tradition, prostrated himself on the ground

and prayed forgiveness before his Lord - although he also denied the charges.

Charles Taylor believes he is misunderstood The first, from the then-relatively unknown warlord, announced his invasion of Liberia. In one famous exchange with former BBC Focus on Africa editor Robin White a few years later, Mr White suggested that some people thought him little better than a murderer. Taylor bellowed with a flourish to the effect that “Jesus

Christ was accused of being a murderer in his time”.

Charles Taylor was born in 1948 to a family of Americo-Liberians, the elite group that grew out of the freed slaves who founded the country in the 19th Century.

For what are suspected to be political reasons - broadening his appeal to the indigenous African majority - Mr Taylor added the African name “Ghankay ” in later years, becoming Charles Ghankay Taylor.

Like many AmericoLiberians he studied in the United States. He returned home shortly after Master Sergeant Samuel Doe mounted Liberia’s first successful coup d’etat in 1980. Taylor landed a plum job in Doe’s regime running the General Services Agency, a position that meant controlling much of Liberia’s budget. He later fell out with Doe, who accused him of embezzling almost $1m (£626,000), and fled back to the US. Taylor denied the charges, but ended up in the Plymouth County House of Correction in

Massachusetts, detained under a Liberian extradition warrant.

Charles Taylor led a rebellion to oust Samuel Doe from power in Liberia. Some reports say he managed to escape the prison by sawing through the bars; others that there was some collusion in his departure from Americans who wanted him to play the role he then proceeded to carve out for himself - overthrowing the corrupt, violent and generally disastrous regime of Samuel Doe. Taylor ’s rebellion succeeded partly because of Doe’s incompetence. But it was also the fruit of Taylor ’s building of sometimes surprising alliances. Over the years, his friends included the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, the conservative former ruler of Ivory Coast Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the current President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, and a rogues’ gallery of businessmen, local and foreign, prepared to flout UN disapproval to make money in Liberia.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012—61

MKO Abiola: An honour so long in coming

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy political editor

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crusade, helping to shape the nation’s politics from the Second Republic and dying for the cause of democracy, there is no doubt that Abiola deserved a national honour.

By insisting on the actualisation of his presumed mandate, Abiola was arrested in 1994 and detained by the Federal Military Government. He vehemently refused government’s plea to forgo his ‘mandate.’ While in detention, his wife, Kudirat, who fought with him, was assassinated in 1996 by agents of the government. And Abiola also died in controversial circumstances on July 7, 1998

HIRTEEN days to the 19th anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, dubbed the freest and fairest polls ever conducted in Nigeria, and 39 days to the 14th year ofthe death of the presumed winner of that election, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, the Federal Government, Tuesday, honoured Abiola.

President Goodluck Jonathan, in his Democracy Day speech, renamed the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Moshood Abiola University (MAU). Abiola was a renowned statesman, pillar of sports, philanthropist, business mogul and politician.

Coming after 19 years of unceasing call on the Federal Government to immortalise Abiola, the honour is, however, raising dusts in the polity with UNILAG students embarking on protests to effect a reversal and the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, vowing to go to court to stop the move. And given Abiola’s national and international stature, some have described the honour as a dishonour.

Since the annulment of June 12, the country has had six heads of state: Generals Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (the man who annulled Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola...honoured at last the election); Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo (a civilian ruler for eight years and Abiola’s kinsman); Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Apart from Babangida, the other rulers came to power from the ashes of June 12.

And for 19 years, they ignored calls from the pro-democracy community and concerned stakeholders to immortalise Abiola nationally and make June 12 Democracy Day, which they see as the watershed for Nigerian newfound civil rule as opposed to May 29.

Avalanche of honour By taking the controversial step of renaming UNILAG as Moshood Abiola University, Jonathan has separated himself from his five predecessors, who side stepped the issue. He has also joined the league of South-West state governments, which over the years, have heaped an avalanche of honour on Abiola.

Aside making June 12 a public holiday and holding June 12 commemoration events since 1999, monuments named after Abiola in the South-West include MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta; MKO Abiola Gardens, Ikeja Lagos; and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, etc.

Sad with the manner the Federal Government was handling the issue of immortalising Abiola, one of his children, Jamiu, said last year that the best form of honour the government could give his father was ensuring good governance, banishing poverty (as Abiola promised to do if elected) and delivering the dividends of democracy. He hoped that in future a populist government that would immortalise Abiola would come to power.

For a man who devoted his life helping the needy, developing sports, empowering people through his chains of businesses, fighting for Africans through his reparation C M Y K

during the reign of Abubakar, who took over from Abacha, who had died a month earlier.

Thereafter, Abubakar fast-tracked the return to civil rule. A national understanding that the South-West, Abiola ‘s zone should be compensated paved the way for the three political parties that contested the 1999 presidential polls to field Yoruba candidates: Obasanjo (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) and Chief Olu Falae (Alliance for Democracy, AD/ All Peoples Party, APP). Obasanjo went on to win the elections but could not name any national monument after Abiola, a failure that paved the way for yesterday’s decision of President Jonathan.

However, the decision has elicited outrage from Alumni, lecturers and students of UNILAG and some observers.

An Alumni said the move was a cheeky thing to do because “it divides the academia and people. Why does the government like so much controversy? I would suggest anything in the Federal Capital be named after MKO - the International Conference Centre, National Hospital, National Stadium, even Aso Villa. But at this time, when our universities are struggling for international repute, the least you can do is leave their names as they are.”

Reacting to the issue, Olu Ojedokun, who faulted comparison of renaming UNILAG to that of University of Ife, which was named Obafemi Awolowo University, said UNIFE was renamed by a military regime via a Decree. Since we are in a democratic setting, he said, the President’s renaming of a pre-eminent institution without consultation “dishonours Abiola.”

Indeed, UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, said they would go to court to challenge the decision because “ UNILAG was establish by an act of Parliarment” and any change of name has to be approved by the Parliament, which he said was not done in this instance.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

French Open Watch... French Open Watch

Serena crashes out in epic tie

Life under the microscope isn't easy — Federer

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...As he sets new record A

s the years go by, Roger Federer has little trouble coping with the pressure of playing the early rounds of a grand slam event but it is an altogether different story when it comes to dealing with post-match scrutiny.

Federer dropped a set before earning his record-breaking 234th Grand Slam match victory to reach the French Open’s third r o u n d .

Federer eliminated 92nd-ranked Adrian Ungur of Romania 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3 Wednesday to break a tie with Jimmy Connors for most career wins at major tournaments in the Open era, which

began in 1968.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion is now 234-35 in tennis’ top four tournaments, an .870 winning percentage.

“I think (playing the early rounds) is a bit easier now, just because I have been around for so long that, even though I expect myself to win, I can still manage to do that,” the third seed told reporters.

“Whereas in the beginning when you think you’re good but you’re maybe not that good yet, you suffer many more surprise losses.”

But with fame comes scrutiny.

“The difference to playing a match where you’re the

Federer

overwhelming favourite potentially in the early rounds of a grand slam is you have to (deal with the) press (inquisition) afterwards,” said Federer.

“So you’re talking about a match that

potentially wasn’t that close sometimes or they make a bigger deal out of maybe you losing a set or getting broken a couple of times, whereas maybe at another tournament you wouldn’t talk about that.

erena Williams crashed to the worst Grand Slam defeat of her career on Tuesday when she slumped to a dramatic and thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (7/ 5), 6-3 French Open loss to France’s world 111 Virginie Razzano.

It was the 30-year-old American’s first ever exit at the opening round stage of her 47-event Grand Slam career and her earliest loss at a major since she was knocked out of the Australian Open second round by sister Venus in 1 9 9 8 .

On a night of unbearable tension on Philippe Chatrier Court, Williams saved seven match points in the ninth game of the nerve-jangling d e c i d e r .

“I fought until the end.

You (the crowd) gave me your energy. I’m gonna have to rest. Thank you all for your support,” said a breathless Razzano after a threehour struggle.

Williams had had the late evening match in her hands when she led by a set and 5/1 in the second set tiebreak as she looked set for a routine win.

But Razzano, the darling of the Paris crowd after playing the 2011 French Open just days after the death of her fiance from a brain tumor, then reeled off the next six points of the breaker to level the tie.

Amid rising tension and emotion, Williams, a 13time Grand Slam title winner, appeared to cry as she sat in her courtside chair ahead of the final set.

She then fell to pieces on the court, slipping two breaks down to trail 4-0.

Williams then had to regather herself when umpire Eva Asderaki, with whom she had angrily clashed during her 2011 US Open final defeat against Samantha Stosur in New York last year, ordered the first point of the fifth game to be replayed.

TRANSFER UPDATE....TRANSFER UPDATE Rodgers set for Liverpool S

ky Bet are among several bookmakers to have suspended betting on the next Liverpool manager amid reports Brendan Rodgers will be appointed in the next 48 hours.

Rodgers appears to be edging closer to filling the Anfield vacancy but reports he has agreed a three-year deal have been dismissed as premature.

The 39-year-old emerged on Tuesday as Fenway Sports Group’s first choice to succeed Kenny Dalglish, having moved ahead of Wigan

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boss Roberto Martinez.

Reports began circulating late this afternoon that a threeyear deal had been

agreed but sources at Liverpool told Press Association Sport that was “categorically untrue”.

It seems inevitable, however, that the Northern Irishman will be installed at Anfield and most likely before the weekend.

The Reds will have to pay somewhere in the region of between £4million to £5million in compensation as part of the new contract Rodgers signed at the Liberty Stadium in February.

C M Y K

Scholes signs new deal P

aul Scholes has put pen to paper on a one-year contract

Shanghai upbeat on Drogba hanghai Shenhua remain

hopeful of signing former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

The 34-year-old helped the Blues win the Champions League in Munich to bring the curtain down on a trophy-laden spell in west London.

Ivory Coast international Drogba - signed from Marseille for £24million in 2004 - is now expected to join up with former

extension t h a t keeps the former England midfielder a t Manchester United until the end of the 2012/13 season, the club h a v e confirmed.

Scholes came out o f retirement i n January and produced a number of impressive displays

Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka at the Chinese Super League club on what would be a lucrative free transfer.

New Shanghai Shenhua manager Sergio Batista told reporters: “The people from the club are doing the best things to get Drogba here. I think every coach in the world wants to get Drogba on the team and I hope everything is okay.”

as United were just beaten to the Barclays Premier League title by neighbours Manchester City.

The new deal for Scholes was first announced by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and We d n e s d a y ’ s announcement confirms that formalities have now been competed.

In a statement on their official website, United also confirmed goalkeeper Ben Amos has agreed a three-year contract extension.

Confirmation of Scholes’ deal comes almost a year to the day since he announced his retirement.

Mancini shuns Ibrahimovic

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anchester City manager Roberto Mancini has ruled out a summer move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and has declared himself happy with his striking options.

Reports in Italy have suggested that AC Milan’s Ibrahimovic is a target for the Premier League champions.

Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Bologna

striker Gaston Ramirez have also been linked with the Eastlands club, but Mancini is content with his lot.

“Ibrahimovic is a champion,” Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport. “But I already have four very s t r o n g strikers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012 — 63

Eagles receive Calabar royal blessing HE Paramount Ruler of Qua people in Calabar Municipality, Ndidem (Dr) Ika Ika Qua 11, has assured the national team, that traditional institutions in Calabar, Cross River State and indeed Nigeria are in support of the team for victory in their World Cup qualifier against Namibia on Sunday.

Speaking when a delegation of the Super Eagles led by NFF Director of Technical, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, paid him a curtesy call, Ndidem Qua, said the only thing he is praying for is for clement weather to prevail on match day and assured that the team with the support of traditional rulers will never play any draw or lose in any of its qualifiers in Calabar.

“It’s wise that you people have come to seek my royal blessings, because no matter how bad a landlord is, when you are in his house you must pay him homage.

We wish the team and its officials well and we are certain that after we have appeased the land victory will surely be ours”.

The 72-year monarch harped on the need for discipline within the team as that is the hallmark of all successful

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sportsmen and women in history, assuring that he will give the team a trick he used in his playing days as a footballer, when no one was able to score against him from the penalty spot.

The team which had Eagles Coordinator, Emmanuel Attah, Team Psychologist Dr Robinson Okosun, Media Officer, Ben Alaiya and former Eagles goalkeeper, Etta Egbe, had told the ruler that it came to pay obeisance to him, since apart from being a revered royal father, the environ of the UJ Esuene Stadium and the Metropolitan Hotel where the team will play and is camped fall within his dormain.

Ikpeme assured that since the team still has another qualifier against Rwanmda on June 17th in the city, the NFF leadership led

by Aminu Maigari, will still pay the traditional ruler, who is still an active golf player at his age a befitting thank you visit.

tional team for long, dating back to the time of Berti Vogts.

“Uche has never been like this,” they told Keshi, adding “before now, he was one of the big boys in camp and never showed the kind of seriousness that we are witnessing now.”

Uche was apparently compelled to change following what he saw of others in camp and the competition now posed by the home-based Eagles.

Keshi commented on this yesterday: “This is what we want. The national team must be competitive. They are all fighting to be in the team.

Sometimes they overdo it and I always calm them down to avoid injuries and also to make them play their normal game and not to impress anybody because when they play to impress in training something different happens in a match situation. But I like what is

HE National Stadi um, Surulere, Lagos, will this Saturday come alive as the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club hold the Olympic Day Awareness programme Dr Jonathan Nnaji and Scribe Austin Odijie, Organisers of the event said yesterday that with the Olympic Games opening ceremony holding on July 27 in London, that they were not losing sight of the task of creating the needed awareness that would help to drive home the Olympic message of regular exercise by people.

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•Balotelli

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A R I O Balotelli will walk off the pitch if he is a target for racist yobs at Euro 2012.

happening. Players must be hungry for the national team. Clemens Westerhof did it here and it worked. We are doing the same thing and I know that it will work.

Building a team takes time. That’s why I can’t invite everybody at the same time. Any person who lacks the commitment and who doesn’t show hunger for the national team will be left out even if people see him as a super star. The team we will field against Namibia is shaping up and we’ll get it right before Sunday.”

After Westerhof used home-based players in the Algiers ’90 Nations Cup and won a silver many of the top Europe-based players had to struggle to return to the team and the competition to win a shirt in Eagles marked one of the turning points in the Nigeria’s football.

President of the Nigeria Sports for All Commission, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji and the President-General of the Supporters Club body, Dr.Rafiu Ladipo, both declared that clubs, corporate organisations and captains of industries have been enlisted to participate in the Olympic Day Awareness Nnaji, who is also the 1st Vice-President of the NOC and President of Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria said that the Olympic Day Awareness was designed to sensitize the Nigerian public on the need to keep fit always by exercising regularly.

Governor’s Cup: Delta announces one week deadline for entries Principals and Games Delta will engage in the ECONDARY Schools in Delta State have been directed to enter for the Governor’s Cup that is billed to kick off next school season.

Professor Patrick Muoboghare, Chairman of the Committee set up by Governor Emmanuel Udu-

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aghan to revive football in secondary schools in the state announced this yesterday in Asaba and said the schools have one week from tomorrow to do so.

Muoboghare is also the commissioner for Basic Education in Delta and

Masters of the schools have been directed to send entries to his office in Asaba.

“We will soon come out with the fixtures after we would have received the entries,” Muoboghare said yesterday.

More than 600 schools in

Balotelli threatens to ‘kill’ banana-throwing fans

Keshi Continues from BP

National Stadium comes alive

And the Manchester City star says he would kill anyone who throws bananas at him in Poland and Ukraine.

A BBC documentary highlighted the Euro hosts’ problems with racism and UEFA insist referees could abandon games if there is any trouble.

Italy striker Balo, 21, said: “If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him.

“Racism is unacceptable to me, I cannot bear it. I

hope there will not be a problem at the Euros because if it does happen I would straight away leave the pitch and go home.

“We are in 2012, it can’t happen.”

Balotelli, 21, was subjected to racist abuse from fans during City’s Europa League tie with Porto in February.

But he had it much worse during his days at Inter Milan back in 2009 when he had bananas

Pep Guardiola Continues from BP deciding whether or not to become Chelsea chief.

The new European champions are chasing the ex-Barcelona boss with an £11million-ayear offer.

He has also been promised there will be no pressure on him to win major trophies in his first two years in charge while he reshapes the club.

But Guardiola has not yet been won over, despite a meeting with Blues officials in Spain on Monday.

He has demanded talks with Abramovich himself,

so he can hear the offer from the horse’s mouth.

Abramovich is ready to meet Guardiola, who remains keen on having a year out, and will not take kindly to being snubbed.

A Chelsea source said: “If it takes a big meeting with Abramovich to get the deal done, that’s what must happen.”

It all leaves interim boss Roberto Di Matteo no clearer about his future.

But he is not interested in holding the fort for 12 months while Guardiola enjoys a sabbatical.

thrown at him during a match.

Balotelli told France Football: “These two or three lads were lucky the police came straight away because, I swear, I would have given them a proper kicking. I would have destroyed them.

“I hope that doesn’t happen again.”

Another incident in Italy occurred when Balotelli was on the receiving end of abuse from Juventus fans.

Governor’s Cup. About 450 of them are public schools.

Muboghare had warned Principals that they would lose their jobs if they fielded non students for the competition.

In an address to the Principals at Government College Ugheli, he said that the competition was compulsory to all schools and told them not only to prepare their soccer pitches but also to start training their teams. All schools, he said must register junior and senior teams.

“The Governor is committed to leaving a legacy in sports and reviving secondary school soccer is one of the ways to achieve that,” Muoboghare said, adding “this will surely produce talents who may become stars and foreign exchange earners so it is part of his human capital development agenda.”

SuperSports roll out two 24-hour channels for Euro 2012

BY SOLOMON NWOKE HEAD of the forthcoming 14th edition of the UEFA European Football Champion-ships, Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, SuperSports has rolled out two 24 hour channels for Euro 2012 for soccer loving Nigerians to enjoy clips of Europe’s elite footballing tourney.

The outfit said it would broadcast all 31 games of Euro 2012 across SubSaharan Africa in English and portuguese

A

on Supersports High Definition (HD) three, Supersports three and the two24-hour channels.

Netherlands’ Euro 1980 Captain, Ruud Krol, and England’s Euro 1988 left winger, John Barnes will form part of the Supersport’s world classanalysts who include Kalusha Bwalya, Gavin Hunt, Jomo Sono, Ernst Middendorp, Daniel Amokachi and Efan Ekoku alongside resident analysts GaryBiley, Andre Arendse Shaun Bartlett and Bradley Carnell.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

French Flop! Serena Williams

Keshi explains fight in Eagles

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

The Nigerian striker who plies his trade in Spain, they say, puts on a stronger character, fights and struggles in training more than ever before.

Some of these staff have been with the na

OME staff of the se nior national team have been telling Stephen Keshi their observation in the past two days.

Ike Uche’s attitude in training has changed. CContinues on page 63

S •Keshi

Chelsea get Pep talk P

EP GUARDIOLA wants a face-to-face

meeting with Roman Abramovich before CContinues on page 63

Serena Williams fell at the first hurdle in a grand slam for the first time when beaten by Virginie Razzano at the French Open.

•Balotelli threatens to ‘kill’ banana-throwing fans •Guardiola TODAY'S

GLOBE MOTORS — Chief Willy Anumudu, Chairman Globe Motors (left) presenting a trophy to Chief Thomas Sunday, winner of Globe Tennis.

PUZZLES

YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

•Eagles receive Calabar royal blessing Details inside QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 2 Tally (5) 7 Roster (4) 8 Bureau (6) 9 Element (5) 11 Detective (3) 13 Coach (3) 15 Peruse (4) 16 Club (3) 18 Idol (4) 19 Relegated (7) 20 Smack (4) 22 Direction (4) 23 Refined (7) 25 Flat (4) 27 Owned (3) 28 Overtook (4) 30 Performed (3) 31 Fate (3) 33 Wrath (5) 36 Noted (6) 37 Frank (4) 38 Guide (5)

DOWN 1 Fashion (5) 2 Rug (3) 3 Beverage (3) 3 Weed (3) 5 Astern (3) 6 Scrub (5) 10 Stuff (4) 11 Clothed (7) 12 Harmed (7) 13 Torment (7) 14 Gentlest (7) 16 Cabin (5) 17 Pulled (5) 18 Cut (3) 21 Enclosure (3) 24 Deserve (4) 26 Essential (5) 29 Staid (5) 32 Shy (3) 33 Serpent (3) 34 Solidify (3) 35 Decay (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Mambo 5, Duress 8, Incur 10, Closer 11, Open 14, Polite 15, Spartan 18, Pen 19, Sob 21, Deck 23, Meter 24, Best 27, Den 29, Tea 31, Defence 32, Really 34, Glee 35, Treaty 38, Ached 39, Terror 40, Penny.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Awl 3, Bistro 4, One 5, Drop 6, Reeled 7, Streak 9, Creased 12, Pop 13, Nine 16, Pole 17, Noted 20, Beneath 22, Chic 24, Bereft 25, Teller 28, Recede 30, Ale 33, Year 36, Rep 37, Tan.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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