Buhari, Jonathan are Vanguard personalities of the year 2016

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62662

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Buhari, Jonathan are Vanguard personalities of the Year 2015

N150

Happy New Year To Our Numerous Readers

New Year message: I know Nigerians are in pains — Buhari, others 9 A-Court sacks Ikpeazu, returns Taraba gov •P.14&16 COLUMNISTS: P.19

OWEI LAKEMFA

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, emerged Vanguard’s Personalities of the Year 2015 because of their persistence and strength of character.

In particular, President Buhari was considered worthy because of his unrelenting political struggles which were reminiscent of a similar struggle by a former American President, Abraham Lincoln.

On his part, former President Jonathan was deemed worthy because he turned out to be a man in possession of a rare strength of character which is alien to Nigeria, by accepting his loss at the polls and conceding victory to Buhari.

The flow into 2016 P.17

DONU KOGBARA SWEET & SOUR

New year reflections and resolutions

Mr & Mrs

See details on pages 28 - 34 & in Sunday Vanguard.

CAR LOANS: NASS tackles Buhari •President overstepping his powers — Senate •He is misinformed about car loans — Reps

By Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie & Joseph Erunke

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B U J A — MEMBERS of the National Assembly, yesterday, picked holes in President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments that members of the House of Representatives Continues on Page 5

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 , 2016—5

POCKET CARTOON

NSE—From left: Mr. Dipo Omotoso, Head, Product Management, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mrs. Favour Femi-Oyewole, Head, Information Security, NSE; Mr. Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE; Omotola Ekeinde, Nigerian Actress, Singer & Philanthropist; Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, and Mrs. Yetunde Ojo, Head, Technology, NSE at the 2015 Year End Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange, yesterday.

CAR LOANS: NASS tackles Buhari Continues from Page 1 collected loans to purchase exotic cars and that he would not allow the National Assembly to go ahead with its purchase of cars worth N50 billion naira as being proposed.

During his maiden Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, Buhari said senators had been given car loans and they should be satisfied with that. He said: “I can’t see the National Assembly paying 4.5 Billion naira to buy cars after collecting transport allowance. I will revisit that story. I have had a

closed-door meeting with the National Assembly regarding the cars they are trying to buy. I hope they haven’t bought them yet. They can’t buy cars for themselves and also take money in car loans.”

Describing Buhari’s comments as false, the Senate disagreed sharply with his assertion that it plans to spend N4.5 billion on cars, saying the upper chamber had no such plans.

In a statement by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OU have not lived until some persons can say that if not for you their life would have been worthless. It’s up to you.

Y

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

A problem is a chance for you to do your best —Duke Ellington

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HE hardships you face are not things to run from. It isn’t that we are looking for a hard life, but when difficulties come despite our best efforts, it could be an indication that life is telling us to look on the other end of the scale. You may find that the degree to which you are having outer hardships matches the degree to which you’re unfolding in a much higher level in life. Remember, doing the best at the moment puts you in the best place for the next uplifting experience.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A woman whose children die often, pinches anyone that falls asleep.

Senate said that while it was contemplating purchasing cars, it does not intend to spend anything close to the various figures of N4.5bn, N6bn or N50bn as being bandied about.

According to the Senate, shortly after getting the management team and the Senate services committee to commence the due process for the purchase, certain contractors who bidded for the supply of the vehicles but felt their bid would not scale through began sponsoring media propaganda against the project and even leaked the recommendations of the body working on the proposed project.

He said: “Since the claim in an online medium that we are planning to purchase vehicles, we have not taken any further action on the issue. We are surprised that a proposed purchase became a subject of controversy and several figures that are far from our projections have been bandied around.

“While an online medium put the figure at N4.5 billion, another one said N6 billion and now the President on national television was talking about N50 billion. These are outrageous figures.

Once the debate on the 2016 budget begins, Nigerians will have the opportunity of knowing

how much we voted for purchase of cars and how we intend spending the vote.

“This is a responsible and responsive National Assembly. We really need project vehicles to facilitate our work. We will, however, follow due process when we choose to take decisions on the purchase. We will also take into consideration the views, feelings and mood of the nation in taking the decisions. We will not be profligate or extravagant when what is apparently needed in our country is moderate and frugal spending.

“We, however, call on all Nigerians to be patient with us, and not jump the gun or rush into conclusions, particularly when no decision has been taken.

The way the issue is being presented is as if we have ordered the car or have paid for it.”

You don’t have right over NASS — Senate Speaking on the issue, Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Abiodun Olujimi, who spoke in a telephone interview with Vanguard, warned President Buhari not to arrogate what she called “unnecessary powers to himself.”

Though she said she

was not standing in for the Senate President, Olujimi said the National Assembly was not disturbed by Buhari’s outburst, saying it would proceed with its plan to purchase the cars unhindered.

“He does his things as head of executive arm of government and we don’t interfere, why is he interfering in our affairs. I think he is unnecessarily going beyond limit and we will meet as a legislature to address that. For us, we are not disturbed and I can categorically tell you that he lacks the constitutional powers to stop us from what we intend to do, “she said.

The National Assembly had proposed to spend N4.5 billion to purchase 120 units of Toyota Land Cruiser 2016 model, full options, for senators.

Buhari misinformed about car loans for lawmakers – Reps On its part, the House of Representatives, denied collecting any form of loan to purchase exotic cars as alleged by President Buhari during his media chat on Wednesday.

The president said that the National Assembly requested for N47.5 billion to purchase state of the art cars.

Spokesman of the House, Rep Abdulrazaq Namdas, debunked the president’s claim any member of the 8th House has collected loan to purchase vehicles.

According to him, the number of units of the vehicles to be purchased has not been decided by

the House, insisting that nobody has got any car loan since the inception of the 8th House.

Speaking in the same vein, Rep Emmanuel Ekon, PDP, Akwa Ibom, told Vanguard that “in the 7th House it was statutory for each member to have one utility vehicle to carry out his oversight functions. The president should remember that Nigerians are aware of the fact that the newly appointed ministers got official cars and a car loan”.

He added: “The cars in question are Peogeot cars that can never be described as exotic cars and Mr President is already screaming.

May be we should buy the locally assembled ones here to make him happy.”

Rep. Nanna Igbokwe, Ahiazu Ezinitte Mbaise Federal Constituency, Imo State on his part said the provision for the cars was contained in the 2015 supplementary budget that the president forwarded to the National Assembly, which was passed into law.

He also said vehicle loan was not an issue of law as it is approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC and that the president cannot change it through a mere media chat.

Maintaining that the issue of allowance of government officials is fixed, he said the money was a loan that was supposed to be paid back within a four year period.

Rep. Igbokwe said the president needed to be briefed properly by those who prepared the supplementary budget he presented to the National Assembly.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

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Five years after, Police nab suspected serial killer L

By Esther Onyegbula

AGOS—OPERATIVES of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FEDSARS, Adeniji Adele annex, have arrested a notorious gangster allegedly responsible for the killing of several innocent people in Lagos.

It was gathered that the suspect, Alayode Idris Abiola aka Aloma reportedly wreaked havoc in the Mushin, Fadeyi and Oshodi areas , maiming and killing several innocent people.

It was also reported that the arrested suspect was also responsible for the death of a nine-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, who was killed in front of her house in Fadeyi while returning from an errand on December 9, 2010.

Vanguard learned that prior to the incident, Aloma and his gang had consistently threatened and terrorised residents of Fadeyi because he had

issues with a resident identified as Toba, a member National Union of Road Transport Worker.

Recounting the incident that claimed the life of his little niece, 34-year-old Wasiu Lateef, who witnessed the murder, said: ‘’We were outside the house when she was sent on an errand, outside the compound. Less than five minutes after she left the compound we started hearing gunshots. The shots were so close that we had to scamper for safety but from where I was, I saw her coming towards the house innocently, even as about seven gunmen wearing black T-shirts were behind them shooting sporadically.

"From where I was hiding behind a bus, I beckoned to her to come because I didn’t want her to be caught up in the crossfire before she entered the house.

Unfortunately, as she hid where I was, Aloma instructed his men to open fire that someone was

The suspect, Alayode Idris Abiola. hiding beside the bus. As they opened fire one of the bullets hit her face and chest.

"On realising that they shot a minor he ordered his boys to move out. He said ‘Mopol movement let’s go.

Immediately they left, I carried her, shouting at the top of my voice, as her parents rushed out."

Mr Saheed Lateef, the deceased’s father said: “As I heard my brother’s voice I

thought he had been hit by a stray bullet but when I ran out I saw him carrying my daughter with her clothes soaked in blood. First we took her to Redemption Medical Centre, Fadeyi but they rejected her so we decided to take her to L a g o s

University Teaching Hospital LUTH, as she was already gasping for breath, on our way to LUTH but she died at LUTH’s gate.

Mother of the deceased speaks

Narrating how she felt at the time, Jumoke Lateef, mother of the deceased, said: "At that time I was depressed, inconsolable, I actually went to Toba house to cause

trouble. I told him to leave the community, because his continued stay in the community was bringing death to many people who were victims of senseless attacks.

“I miss her so much, watching her die in the pool of her own blood for a crime she knows nothing about was heartbreaking. Aminat was our first child; she was a primary five pupil of Ola-Emmanuel Nursery and primary school. If Aminat Lateef was alive today she would have been 15-year-old and in secondary school. But her promising life was snuffed out when she was only nine by suspected hoodlums led by Aloma.

“I have not stopped praying for the long hand of the law to catch up with those responsible for the death of my daughter, Aminat. It took five years for the police to arrest the man who led the gang. It shows how our system operates. If not for God who is using policemen

from Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad, FEDSARS, Adeniji Adele annex Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FEDSARS, Adeniji Adele annex, the case would have been dead and buried. If people can kill others and get away with it, it means they have become demigods.”

It was gathered that some members of his gang were arrested and charged to court while Aloma went into hiding for five years before he was arrested by Operatives of Federal SARS.

Suspect's account

Denying the allegation, 42year-old,AlayodeIdris,whohails from Owu in Abeokuta South Local Government, said he had no hand in the death of Eniola Olayemi but he heard the news of incident.

According to the Aloma, who was the deputy Chairman of NURTW, Mushin Ajina branch, before his arrest, ‘’It was from AkeemakanocasethatIreceived the news of Muritala’s arrest. I belong to the same gang with Ramoni Lawal aka Tanfiani, IK , and Lukmon who was earlier on chargedforthemurderofAminat a nine year old girl."

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

By By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

FG'll create 1m jobs in 2016 — Osinbajo

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BUJA — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, were, last night, locked in a verbal conflict over President Muhammadu Buhari’s Wednesday Media Chat with the opposition party claiming the parley exposed the President as a dictator.

The PDP said the parley showed the president’s “undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.”

The PDP was immediately dismissed by the APC which accused the PDP of ranting as it accused the party of insulting the personality of the President.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday, also said the President confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

Metuh said: “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler ’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive. We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sentiments against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.

“Following from the foregoing, therefore, it may be necessary to suspend the application of our constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.

On Chibok girls

“On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information

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VISIT: From left, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; Acting Chairperson, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-George; NDLEA State Commander, Mrs. Omolade Faboyede; and Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Mrs. Victoria Egbase, during a visit to the Governor's Office, in Ibadan. Photo: Oyo State Government.

PDP, APC in face-off over Buhari’s media chat President has exposed himself as a tyrant— PDP You are ranting — APC on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard. Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on this issue and should, therefore, apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.

“On the issue of devaluation of the naira, there is an obvious conflict between the budget speech wherein the President stated that the government is assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during the media chat that the Naira would not be devalued.

We invite Nigerians to note that the President obviously does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the Naira (laugh out loud).

‘Difficult lot’ “Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labelling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.

“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation, who has remained unrelenting in de-marketing his country through unguarded statements, is indeed a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image.

Consequently, we reject this negative labelling of our citizens and reiterate our confidence in them, especially the millions who remain honest, hardworking and credible.

“Finally, Nigerians must take copious note of the fact that the President gave no inspiring answers to questions pertaining to his campaign promises, the fight against insurgency and rescue of the Chibok girls, the poor state of the naira, sudden plunging of the economy under his watch, and the gradual loss of democratic rights and freedom.”

You are ranting — APC

Reacting, the APC took exception to what it referred as the unwarranted abuse on President Buhari by the PDP and its members, warning that it may not condone such act anymore.

The party specifically told the opposition party and its members that being in opposition or critic was not a licence to denigrate the President or his office.

APC National Chairman, John Oyegun, in a statement, through the party’s Assistant Director, Media and Publicity, Edegbe Odemwingie, condemned what it called the “Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) unprovoked insults and unguarded statements on President Muhammadu Buhari and other members of the APC.” The statement, released to newsmen, read: “In the aftermath of Wednesday ’s widely-acclaimed presidential chat, PDP’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh, in a statement issued on Thursday amongst others called President Buhari an “unrepentant tyrant” and “fascist.” In other baseless allegations, the PDP accused ministers and APC members of corruption while further accusing the president of a selective anti-corruption fight.

“The APC is worried by PDP’s

inciting statements. Respect for the office of the President or heads of government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws. Being an opposition party or critic is no licence to issue abusive, intemperate and slanderous statements on government officials; most especially the President of the country.

“The PDP has proven that it is not a party to be trusted or taken seriously. Only recently, the PDP said in a December 24, 2015 statement: ‘we urge that Nigerians should not recourse to hauling insults on the President’.

“For the umpteenth time, the APC urges Nigerians, who see merit in the war that the President Buhari-led administration is waging against corruption, not to be distracted by the PDP and their agents of corruption to discredit the war. For the records, the ongoing war against corruption is not selective.

Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law.

“If the PDP has any proof of corruption against any APC member or minister as alleged, we advise that they approach any of the anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases.

“PDP’s rant suggesting a selective anti-corruption fight by the present administration should be seen as a plot meant to distract the citizenry from the successful ongoing war against graft.

“The PDP does not have the luxury of dictating how the present administration carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters, as long as it conforms with the rule of law.”

BUJA— THE Federal Government will create no fewer than one million direct jobs in 2016, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

A statement issued by Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, quoted Osinbajo as saying that another one million poor Nigerians would benefit from the first phase of the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme.

The statement, released to newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja, said the Vice President made the remark during an interactive session with a cross section of Nigerian Community in Burkina Faso.

Osinbajo was in Burkina Faso to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the inauguration of the newly elected President of the country, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

He said President Buhari had announced job opportunities for 500,000 graduate-youths to be engaged as teachers.

He added that an estimated 500,000 non-graduate unemployed people would be trained as artisans.

Osinbajo explained that the Conditional Cash transfer Scheme was intended to utilise the thrift system to grant loans to market women to enable them improve their businesses and earn decent living.

He said the homegrown school feeding programme would not only provide adequate nutrition to school children, but would also boost agriculture, create jobs and wealth locally.

Osinbajo assured the Nigerian community that the fight against corruption was a continuous one.

He said that the Buhari administration would not only prosecute those involved but also recover all the loot that had been traced.

“We will go after Nigeria’s fund wherever it is found and we will recover it,” he said, saying “our country is bound for greatness.”

In his remarks, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Burkina Faso, David Bala, described the one million Nigerians resident in the country as "peaceful and law abiding" people.

Michael Adeyanju, the leader of the Nigerian Community in Burkina Faso, thanked the Federal Government for attending the inauguration of the Burkinabe President.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—9

New Year message: I know Nigerians are in pains — Buhari Says 2016 is year of change

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — TAKING note of the hard times in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said becoming president had not removed him from the pains of the people, promising that 2016 would be the beginning of the change in the country.

While noting what he claimed as unforeseen circumstances and distractions since his inauguration, President Buhari reassured Nigerians that the difficulties were temporary, saying he was determined to fulfil the promises he made prior to the election.

In his 500-word New Year message, the president said he remained committed to his promises, saying he has in the last seven months laid the foundations for the change as promised.

He said: “Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of change in our beloved nation. I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

“When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people’s hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring change.

“I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader.

Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.

“In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the change you voted for during our historic presidential election.

“Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socioeconomic issues that are of current concern to our people.

War on terror

“One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast,

have already begun to experience major change is in the war on terror.

“I commend our Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria over the past few years.

“However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

“This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

On corruption

“Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and

showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.

“There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

“We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy.

And we must do all we can to promote job creation.

“Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.

“So too is our confidence in God.”

Last minute shopping for New Year at Iyana-Ipaja market, Lagos yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Dasukigate: EFCC arrests serving colonel

By Ben Agande

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BUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Monday night, arrested a serving colonel in the Nigerian Army over his alleged involvement in the sharing of money from the office of the National Security Adviser under Colonel Sambo Dasuki .

The arrest saw the anti graft agency deploying over two truckloads of armed security personnel, who cordoned off the the residence of the colonel in the Apo district of the Federal Capital Territory where the operatives had to bring down the fence to gain entrance into the sprawling complex.

Vanguard gathered that the colonel (names withheld) served as a Special Assistant to the former National Security Adviser in charge of liaison with the Nigerian

Army.

It was further gathered that upon arrival at the complex, the army officer locked himself up in one of the buildings while the EFCC operatives laid siege until about 10pm when he was moved to the EFCC headquarters for interrogation.

Although the serving army officer had earlier been arrested by the EFCC and questioned, it appeared he was released on bail before he was picked up again and detained by the anti graft agency.

Vanguard gathered that when operatives of the EFCC went back to the house to effect a search on the property, the officer resisted and barricaded the gate, forcing the operatives to bring it down before taking him away again to their facility for detention.

On Wednesday evening,

the officer was again taken to his house where a search was reportedly conducted.

But when the officer was asked to open one of the safes in the house, he refused to oblige, forcing the operatives to force it open before taking away some vital documents.

A senior official of the commission, who spoke with Vanguard, confirmed the arrest of the army colonel, saying the arrest was in connection with the on-going investigation into arms deal by the former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

“Yes, we have in our custody a serving army colonel who was a Special Assistant to the former NSA. His name featured in several deals and want to find out his role in the arms funds. He is still in our custody,” the source, who declined to be named, told Vanguard.

Buhari assents to 2015 supplementary appropriation act Extends financial year to March

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the 2015 S u p p l e m e n t a r y Appropriation Act, just as he extended the 2015 financial year to March 31, 2016 The implication of the extension is that the 2015 budget would be effective till March 31, 2016, after which the implementation of the 2016 budget can begin.

The Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N465.64 billion, which the president submitted to the National Assembly on November 8 for consideration, was passed by the legislature on Tuesday, December 22, before it embarked on the on-going break.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matter (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, who disclosed this in a press statement, in Abuja, however, did not state the day the president acted on the s u p p l e m e n t a r y appropriation act document.

Enang said he decided to issue the statement in view of several enquiries and calls by legislators, institutions and other relevant bodies.

The statement, tagged: “2015 Appropriation Amendment Act assented to,” read: “Further to several enquiries and calls by legislators, institutions, et al on the subject, we deem it appropriate to issue this release.

“His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President, C-in C- has assented to the 2015 Appropriation Amendment Act passed by the National Assembly.”

Buhari had submitted the appropriation bill along with a request to borrow N2.103 trillion for the financial year, 2015.

He expected that a deficit arising from the above would be financed by additional borrowing of N1.601 trillion through the debt management office.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 , 2016

Lagos Assembly approves N662.588bn 2016 budget

By Ebun Sessou

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AGOS—THE Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law the N662.588 billion Year 2016 Appropriation Bill presented by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on December 17, 2015.

The Appropriation Bill, tagged “The Peoples Budget,” is the highest in the history of the State and it was an improvement on the N489.69bn appropriated for year 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The House unanimously approved the budget after members deliberated on the report of House Committee on Budget which scrutinized the Bill as proposed by the Governor.

The report was presented by Chairman of the House Committee on Budget, Hon. Rotimi Olowo on behalf of members of the Committee.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, in response, commended members of the Committee for expeditiously working on the budget to ensure its passage before the new fiscal year.

Obasa recalled that members of the Committee worked even on holidays, adding that they had indeed shown their love for the people of the state.

Governor Ambode had, while presenting the budget, put the Recurrent Expenditure at N278,909 billion while Capital Expenditure stood at N383,678 billion, explaining that the Capital to Recurrent ratio is 58:42 as against 51:49 in 2014 and 2015.

Governor Ambode also put the total revenue estimate for 2016 fiscal year at N542.873 billion saying the balance of N119.714 billion would be funded through deficit financing constituting 0.41 percent of the state GDP based on 2016 budget alone and a cumulative debt to GDP ratio of about 3 percent.

DINNER: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (middle); his Deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule (left) and the outgoing Chairman of Civil Service Commission, Dr. Olujobi Ayodele Ososanya, during the dinner in honour of Outgoing Chairman and members of the Civil Service Commission at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

Pray for Buhari, Governors, Clerics tell Nigerians •Urge Nigerians to Sacrifice

By SAM EYOBOKA, HENRY UMORU, OLAYINKA LATONA

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he Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF in its New Year message urged Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and other Nigerian leaders this year In a statement by NGF Chairman, and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, the forum called on Nigerians to remain united and continue to pray for God’s guidance and wisdom for the country’s leaders in 2016.

He, however, added that the

cooperation of the people was needed to help government fight corruption and enthrone good and purposeful leadership at all levels of governance, even as he promised that governors on their part, would continue to ensure the security of lives and properties in their domain and go the extra mile to ensure that they delivered more democracy dividends to the people in 2016.

Oritsejafor, Adeboye, sue for peace In their separate messages, National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye urged Nigerians to pursue peace and virtues that would strengthen the nation’s existence.

Pastor Oritsejafor, declared the new year, 2016 a year for all Nigerians to put aside their ethnic, religious and all other differences and work with relevant authorities to move our country forward.

“The year 2015 tested our resolve as a nation to forge

ahead in spite of the daunting challenges. Unarguably, the true Nigerian spirit was tested in the course of the year and the rest is now history,” he said, and urged Nigerians “to reflect on the challenges that impeded Nigeria’s progress with a view to tackling them. “Let us put the wrongs of the past behind us and move on as a nation. Nigerians must fight to defeat ills that have retarded the growth of this country and promote those positive virtues that are capable of prepositioning its economy,” he maintained.

Two arrested over stolen 33,000 litres of petrol

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS—TWO suspected vandals, Moshood Jibril and Joseph Friday, were yesterday arrested, by men of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism, in Lagos while a tanker truck with 33000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, commonly called petrol and a Toyota Corola saloon car were recovered.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects, who were intercepted at Isolo area of the state, after siphoning PMS from a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Commission, NNPC, at Ijedodo-Ikotun area of the State, were heading to Ibadan Oyo State when they were apprehended.

The suspects told Vanguard during an interview that they were mere errand boys who buy and deliver the products to Ibadan.

Joseph Friday, the tanker driver told Vanguard that he was promised N300,000 for the trip to Ibadan.

According to him; “ this is the first time I will be called for this job and I was promised N300,000.

It was one Bayo who called me for the job, but they didn’t tell me that it was product of illegal bunkering. ‘’They said I was going to trans-

load products from a faulty truck in that area. But when I got there, I saw a long hose connected to a pipeline. ‘’ I told Bayo and a woman, known as Anna, who was loading me, that I was not going to carry such product but they told me that some soldiers were involved and

they were going to provide protection for me. ‘’With that, I allowed them to load the truck and after loading, they asked me to drive out of the area and when I got to Isolo under bridge, the police stopped me and asked for the loading documents of the products in my

truck and I told them it was with Moshud who was to escort me down to Ibadan.”

Meantime, Moshood who was arrested earlier before the truck was intercepted, was caught with four different ATM cards belonging to one Ashiru Rasheed Adewale.

Ambode re-appoints 3 Civil Service Commission members

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday announced the re-appointment of three of the outgoing members of the State Civil Service Commission for a fresh tenure of five years.

Governor Ambode, who made

this known at a dinner organized by the State Government in honour of the outgoing Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission, said the reappointment was in line with the resolve of his administration to always reward excellence, hard

work, and dedication.

Those re-appointed are Pastor Israel Folorunsho Alagbe, Hon. Tolani Wasiu Odeyemi and Engr.

Oladimeji Oshinowo. Other outgoing members of the Commission are Comrade Rasaq Folorunsho and the Chairman, Dr. Ayodele Olujobi Ososanya.

Nutritionist advocates fortified cassava consumption

By Iyabo Aina

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BADAN—THE Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Dr Paul Ilona, has said that yellow cassava varieties have the advantage of increasing nutritional quality of food products.

He disclosed this during a press briefing in Ibadan, saying

the yellow root cassava which is among the newly released Vitamin A fortified varieties could reduce the cost of production since there would be no need to add palm oil to give ‘garri’ a yellow coloration.

According to him, the yellow cassava variety is preserved better as it eliminates

the rapid rancidity that results from palm oil addition.

“The high pro-Vitamin A varieties were developed through conventional breeding and did not involve the use of biotechnology.

“Our goal is to make sure that Nigerian farmers and households are able to grow and eat more nutritious cassava that is richer in Vitamin A.’’

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 11

Ekiti APC tasks Fayose over N1.4bn arms cash •Submit your proof to EFCC — GOV T

HE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has challenged Governor Ayodele Fayose to tell the people of the state how much he got from the N1.4 billion allegedly collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser by a former minister from the South-West, now at large, to prosecute the

NSCDC arrests 250 suspected vandals in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—NO fewer than 250 persons have been arrested for alleged vandalism of pipelines in Ogun State in 2015 .

The Ogun State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Aboluwoye Akinwande stated this, yesterday, in Abeokuta, during the end of year press conference .

The State commandant said between January and December, 2015 , the command was able to carry out 1,997 major operations and apprehended 250 suspects.

He said, the 250 suspects were apprehended in the course of antivandalism operations while 12 suspects were allegedly involved in illegal private company issues.

According to him, the State command of the NSCDC has been able to carry out 950 disasters management and rescue operations in different parts of the state. Such operations cut across suicide, drowning fire, motor accidents among others.

controversial Ekiti governorship election of June 2014.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said it was clear that Fayose collected part of the arms cash that was mindlessly diverted by former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to prosecute the last fraudulent governorship elections in the state.

But in a swift response, the governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi said if the APC is sure of what it is saying and has a very clear evidence, it should submit it to the EFCC instead of making noise about.

According to Olatunbosun; “We are aware that Fayose at that time acquired a N750 million building

in a choice area of Abuja from the proceeds of this fund.

“We are equally aware that Fayose submitted a bill of N30 billion to the then President Goodluck Jonathan as the amount he would require to unseat then Governor Kayode Fayemi.

“A certain amount was approved for the project out of which the soldiers, who were used to rig the election, were paid as well as INEC officials who released the soft copies of sensitive materials to Fayose to enable him have advantage over other candidates,” Olatunbosun explained.

“We are demanding that Governor Fayose should come out and tell Ekiti people how much he received from the Armsgate money and the property he acquired with

the fund while we also call on the EFCC to beam its searchlight on Fayose to know how much is traceable to him and a governor in a neighbouring state who coordinated the disbursements of the funds with which the Ekiti election was rigged with the connivance of the military.”

In the governor’s response, he said; ‘’Let it be known to the APC that nothing can stop Governor Ayo Fayose from criticizing the misrule and archaic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari. ‘’Fayose is prepared more than ever before to continue to represent the voiceless Nigerians and we cannot watch it and allow Buhari to turn Nigeria into a fascist state.''

FREE TRAIN RIDE: Passengers scramble to board the train from Lagos to Osogbo in the Free Train Ride programme organized by the Osun State Government in celebration of New Year, 2016, at Ido Railway Terminus, Lagos State yesterday.

IRATE AIRFORCE CADETS: NAF vows to discipline concerned personnel

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—THE Nigerian Airforce, yesterday, confirmed that the two cadets that were accosted by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state in Ketu area of Lagos, Wednesday, while manhandling an artisan, who allegedly broke their car windscreen, were its personnel.

Consequently, it vowed to carry out disciplinary measures against the airmen identified as Cadets Peters O. Solomon and Abdullahi Fahad, whenever the Police released them.

They were alleged to have beaten an artisan identified as Dahiru Lawal to a pulp for breaking their car windscreen, locking him up inside the boot of the car, a Chrysler Stratus with registration number KRD 267 DV, when the governor ’s convoy showed up.

As at yesterday, the suspects were said to be at the Police headquarters, Ikeja, following their arrest. But the Police kept mum on the outcome of their investigation when asked. The command’s image maker, Joe Offor, simply said he was unaware of the incident , when contacted on phone.

But the NAF in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos and signed by

the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Muhammed, stated that the personnels conduct was contrary to ethics of the NAF. The statement read in part; “Our preliminary investigation revealed that the accused persons are serving Nigerian Air Force personnel.

2016: Sen Adeleke, Ogunwale ask for prayers

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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S O G B O — T H E first executive governor of Osun State,Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has called on Nigerians to seek the face of the Almighty God as they enter a new year – 2016, so as to continue to live together in peace and harmony.

Senator Adeleke in his new year message by his media aide, Mr

Olumide Lawal assured Nigerians, that members of the senate will continue to cooperate with executive arm of the government to make life worth living for all.

The Senator, representing Osun West District, called on the people of Osun State to join hands with the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in his efforts to accelerate the social – economic development of the state.

Oyo rep appoints 43 legislative aides

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—THE National Assembly member representing Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency of Oyo State, Mr Olatoye Temitope, aka Sugar, has appointed no fewer than 43 people as legislative assistants in his constituency.

While presenting letters of appointment to the legislative assistants at the end of the year ceremony held at the party ’s secretariat in Ejioku, Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmaker stated that out of the new appointees, 33 of them were legislative assistants while the remaining 10 were given senior legislative assistants appointments.

About 2,000 APC leaders and members from both Lagelu and Akinyele Local Government Areas of the state were in attendance.

Gift items worth millions of naira were distributed by the lawmaker.

Justifying the appointment of such a large number of people that would work in his constituency, Olatoye noted that he decided to have as many as 43 legislative assistants because of his desire to always be in touch with his constituency members.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Edo community petitions Buhari over alleged siege by military Alleges brutality, destruction of property

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—ODIONWERE of Iguomon community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa David Uwagboe, elders, youths and residents of the area have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call to order the Commander and men of the 4 Brigade of Nigerian Army in Benin, who they alleged had laid siege to their land, demolishing property, manhandling and inflicting severe injuries on some of their people.

In an open letter to the President, also copied to the Chief of Army Staff, National Security Adviser, the Commander, 4 Brigade Benin, National Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, the community, through their counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, accused the 4 Brigade Commander and his men of acting the script of a retired Army officer, who wants to change the customary procedure and tradition of the people to seize power through brute force by laying siege to their community.

Describing the action of the soldiers as a violation of their fundamental human rights, they also appealed to President Buhari to order an injury into the brutality and continued occupation of their land by the soldiers as well as the role being played by the retired military officer.

However, reacting to the alleged

siege, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade, Benin, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, said that the Brigade was not aware of such an invasion or siege.

He said: “We are not aware of such situation and the Brigade Commander has not seen any petition to that effect. If he has the petition, we will investigate the allegation and do the necessary thing.

“The military cannot invade a community and lay siege to it.

Our duty is to protect the people and not to destroy their lives and property. ”

On the details of the crisis in the area, the community said that sometime in 2013, a group of individuals led by one David Omoregieva and one retired Navy Commander (name wtthheld), stormed the community purportedly using their connections within the rank and file of the Nigerian Army in Benin and attempted to seize the existing leadership structure in the community which was accepted by all in the area.

The community leaders said similarly in October, 2015, another group of soldiers raided

the area, tampered with their property and arrested some of its leaders that were opposed to their choice of leadership in the area, maltreated them and detained them at the 4 Brigade headquarters for seven days without any offence against them.

They alleged that the latest assault on the community by the soldiers was on December 18, 2015, when they stormed the area, demolishing a four-room building under construction in the pretext that the land belonged to the self-imposed elder of the community.

WEDDING: From left: Groom's mother, Mrs. Ngozi Sangotade; bride's father, Mr. Frankie Goka; Damilola Sangotade with his wife Delali; mother of the bride, Mrs.Funmi Goka and groom's father, Major-General Adeniyi Sangotade (retd.), during their wedding at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Let’s build on our successes in 2016 —Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that 2016 presents the people of the state with the opportunity to elect a credible candidate who will build on the successes recorded by the current government in the past seven years.

In his New Year message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said: “As a government, we are proud of the remarkable achievements we recorded in the past seven years and we remain thankful to the people for the trust and confidence reposed in us to conduct the affairs of the state.

“As we enter another election year in the state, I enjoin our people to work assiduously to ensure the success of the election and ensure that only the candidate who has the interest of the state and the people at heart emerges to ensure the continuation of the remarkable successes recorded by this administration on schools, roads, hospitals, water and energy, security and indeed the provision of a conducive environment which has attracted multi-billion naira investments in

different parts of the state.

“Of course, in the election year, there will be tension, acrimony, rumours and counter rumours, but I assure you that we will remain focused on the job and in all we do, we will put the interest of our state above any other consideration.

“On my part, I assure that this administration will finish strong and continue to work hard till its last day. To this end, all projects started by this administration will be followed up with all due diligence and vigour to ensure their timely completion. We will deliver

more schools with red roofs in each of the 18 local government areas of the state; complete ongoing road projects across the state; complete, equip and put the 200-bed Central Hospital to use and even initiate new projects which we find critical to the development of the state."

I’ll give Urhobo better representation at Senate —Omo-Agege huge challenges and the future

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — S E N AT O RELECT for Delta Central senatorial district, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, yesterday, promised to offer responsive representation at the National Assembly, to uplift the Urhobo nation and restore the dignity of its common patrimony.

Omo-Agege, in his New Year message, said: “As we enter 2016, I want to wish everyone in Delta Central senatorial district and all around Nigeria a happy and healthy New Year.

“With every new year comes greater challenges, and 2016 will not be different. But it is a year of promise and possibility. I am hopeful that it will be a better

year because of what we achieved together in 2015, when despite all odds, we recovered our mandate which was forcefully taken from us.

That victory brought us hope and joy.

“As we prepare to assume this divine mandate with great pride in the new year, we should be hopeful that brighter days are ahead. I am full of confidence that we will record greater success in our battle to free Delta State. All we need to do is to work together to build on the progress we have made in our effort to create an even brighter future. So, let us begin this new year with a sense of hope and possibility.

“There is no doubt that we face

seems bleak, but there is no need to worry or be discouraged. The worst time is now behind us. We have turned the tide too. With a little more courage, faith and greater effort, we will overcome all of the hurdles that they will bring our way and achieve our promise of a better future.

“The Urhobo nation has never been so marginalised in the political history of our great country. Let us make 2016 the year when the Urhobo nation starts to rise.

“The confidence and trust of the Urhobo people will motivate me to provide the desired leadership, values and precepts that would place our land on the path of unprecedented prosperity.”

Sports Minister denies clash with Plateau gov

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INISTER OF Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, has denied that there was a clash between his supporters and those of the Governor of Plateau state, Mr. Simon Lalon, in Shendam, Plateau state, during the Christmas break.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Nneka Anibeze, Dalung said the story was not only a media fabrication but also an attempt to generate confusion and erode confidence in the minds of the people against the current leadership.

“I read with serious concern, stories making the rounds about a purported clash between my supporters and those of the executive governor when I honoured him at a festival of Gemai ethnic group in Shendam. I was at a function with the governor and it not only went smoothly but was also very cordial. Fabricating such a story may be the handiwork of idle minds who benefit from crisis of political differences.”

The minister added that Lalong was not only a close friend but also a colleague, who, like every other governor in the present dispensation, has common challenges like paucity of funds and huge debt profiles. This, he said, had slowed down drastic change in the state.

Abe calls for violence-free re-run polls in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— SENATOR Magnus Abe has called for a violence-free re-run election in his Rivers South-East senatorial district.

Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said he was drumming up the need for a violence-free election in his constituency, expressing the hope that the era of impunity was over.

He said that the financial challenge facing the nation occasioned by the drop in the price of crude oil was enough reason to vote for credible and patriotic leaders who would focus on building every aspect of the country.

“My new year message is simple. Our country is going through challenging times, the drop in the price of crude oil has created a challenge for us as a nation.

At this time we need patriotic leaders," he said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 , 2016

TARABA POLL: A-Court voids Gov Ishaku’s sack •Says tribunal has no power to declare Alhassan winner which no tribunal has the or State High Court.

•APC heads to Supreme Court jurisdiction to entertain”.

The appellate court said

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, yesterday, reversed the verdict of the Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election victory of Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a unanimous judgment yesterday, a

five-man panel of Justices of the appellate court, held that Ishaku validly won the April 11 governorship election in the state.

The appellate court maintained that the Justice Musa Danladi Abubakarled tribunal, “grossly misdirected itself ”, when it not only nullified governor Ishaku’s election, but went ahead to declare the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator

Aisha Jumai Alhassan, winner.

Justice Abdul Aboki, who read the lead judgment yesterday, said the tribunal acted outside its jurisdiction when it invalidated Ishaku’s election on the premise that he was not validly nominated by the PDP. The appellate court stressed that the issue of nomination of a candidate by a political party “is clearly a pre-election matter

According to the court, neither the APC nor its candidate, Alhassan, had the requisite locus-standi to query the outcome of the PDP governorship primary election that produced Ishaku.

It emphasised that under section 87(9) of the Electoral Act, only those that participated in the said PDP primary election, has the statutory right to challenge its outcome at the Federal High Court

contention on whether the PDP rightly or wrongly conducted its governorship primary election, did not fall within matters that could be entertained by an election petition tribunal.

“There is no dispute whatsoever in this case that the 1st and 2nd respondents (Alhassan and APC) have not said that the appellant is not a member of a political party. From the pleadings and facts, it is obvious that the appellant

is a member of the PDP. “The most important question to be asked here is, was the appellant a member of a political party or sponsored by a party to participate at the election?

“All evidence before the tribunal pointed to the fact that the appellant was duly sponsored by the PDP and INEC duly received his nomination. INEC did not at any time queried his eligibility to participate in the election.

“Both oral and documentary evidence before the tribunal clearly showed that the appellate was a member of the PDP and was validly sponsored.

Meantime, lead counsel to the APC, Mr. Mahmud Magaji, SAN, yesterday, said his clients would contest the judgment at the Supreme Court.

It will be recalled that the Justice Abubakar led Tribunal had on November 7, declared Senator Alhassan of the APC as the bona-fide winner of the April 11 governorship poll in the state.

The three-man panel tribunal which conducted its sitting in Abuja, said it was satisfied that governor Ishaku was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the election.

The tribunal said there was overwhelming evidence that the PDP in Taraba State, sidelined the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, and the 1999 constitution, as amended, when it decided to hold the primaries that produced Ishaku as its candidate in Abuja instead of Jaligo the Taraba State capital.

It held that the purported nomination of Ishaku for the election, without a valid primary election monitored

by INEC, was in breach of sections 85, 87 and 138(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as well as section 177 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

The tribunal stressed that the governorship primary election PDP held at its National Headquarters in Abuja on December 11, 2014, was not known to the law and was therefore invalid It held that PDP failed to give cogent and verifiable reason why it decided to hold the said primary election in Abuja without the consent of INEC.“I hold that the 1st and 2nd respondents have no right to challenge the primary election at which the appellant emerged as none of them is a member of the PDP.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 15

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16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Appeal Court nullifies Gov Ikpeazu’s election, declares Otti winner O WERRI—THE Governorship Election Appeal Tribunal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has nullified the election Governor Okozie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

The court also declared Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections.

The five-member panel, headed

by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, annulled the election on the grounds of substantial non-

compliance with the electoral law.

Delivering judgment in an appeal filed by Otti, the court said that the APGA candidate scored 164, 444 valid votes to defeat Ikpeazu who scored 114, 444 votes.

The court declared that Otti was the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections in Abia State.

Omoleye said that the cancellation of the elections held in three LGAs of Obingwa,

Osisioma Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa by the returning officers after the results were uploaded to INEC was wrong.

“In the Electoral Act, the Returning Officer has the right to only declare results of elections and not to cancel elections.

“This panel discovered that the earlier results uploaded to INEC headquarters correspond with the correct valid registered voters in the three LGAs, while that awarded to the respondent, shows over voting and therefore

N1.04trn fine: We expect no operation disruptions for not paying fine —MTN ...as NCC threatens fresh action Monday

By Prince Osuagwu

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TN NIGERIA has said it did not expect any service disruption on its network as deadline for payment of N1.04 trillion fine, later reduced to N780 billion by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, expired yesterday.

The fine, which according to NCC, was against the inability of MTN to disconnect about 5.1 million subscribers allegedly not properly registered on its network in August and September 2015, was meant to be paid on or before December 31, 2015.

However, the Commission, also yesterday, said it would take fresh decision Monday, after C M Y K

confirming that MTN did not pay the N780 billion fine before the close of work on deadline day, December 31, 2015.

The Commission said: “I can confirm to you that MTN did not pay the fine before close of work today (yesterday) and so the Commission will take a fresh decision on the issue Monday.

“The telecom operator actually went to court to challenge the fine and the Federal Government has also lined up very respectable lawyers, who also counter-sued the company.

"Both cases did not invalidate the fine, which means that MTN should have honoured the payment deadline. But having not done so, we are going to come up with a new decision on the

fine by Monday.”

Reacting, MTN Nigeria’s Public Relations Manager, Mr. Funso Aina said that “when a case is in court, there is a limit to the comments that could be made, suffice it to say that based on the lis pendens rule (pending legal action) all parties are enjoined to restrain from taking further action until the matter is finally determined.

“Notwithstanding the lawsuit, we will continue to engage with the Nigerian Authorities to try and ensure an amicable resolution in the best interests of the company, its stakeholders and the Nigerian authorities. We urge our customers not to panic as we do not envisage any disruption to our operations."

null and void.”

Omoleye had while reviewing preliminary objections and issues raised by both parties, struck out the preliminary objections by Ikpeazu’s counsel to the effect that the appeal lacked merit.

She also turned down the objection raised by the Peoples Democratic Pary, PDP, that the members of the panel were wrongfully constituted and affirmed the arguments of Otti’s counsel.

The appellate court maintained that the lower tribunal erred by not handling all the issues raised.

“It was wrong for the court to insist that because the appellant failed to appear in person, his matter will not be given due attention.

“For not appearing in person, the first appellant did not abandon his case,” she said.

After nullifying the election, the court insisted that there was no need to call for re-run because the results of the April 11 and 25 polls clearly present Otti as the genuine winner of the exercise.

The court therefore, directed INEC to issue Certificate of Return to Otti and swear him in as winner of the election.

In his reaction to the judgment, Mr Oracle Nwali, a lawyer in Otti’s legal team, described the victory as “an end of the year gift to APGA,” saying Otti would not disappoint Abia people.

On his part, Mr. Charles Esonu, the PDP scribe in Abia, said that party and its candidate would study the judgment and decide on the next line of action.

Mrs Okowa celebrates Xmas with orphans

By Tare Youdeowei

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ARRI—AS part of her efforts to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society during this yuletide and in line with her pet project tagged O5 Initiative, the wife of the Delta State governor, Dame Edith Okowa, celebrated Christmas with orphanage homes.

The children’s Christmas party, in Warri, at the residence of the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, saw many children from all the orphanages in Warri and environs entertained, and given items such as school bags, bags of rice, toiletries, packets of Indomie noodles, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Dame Edith Okowa, represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Deaconess Ebierin Otuaro, expressed appreciations for these orphanage homes: St. Ann’s Orphanage Home, Heart of Delta Orphanage Kings of Kids Compassionate Home, Porters House Church Orphanage Home, Under His Wings Daughter/Son Orphanage Home, and Little Saints Orphanage.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 —17

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APPY New Year to all Vanguard readers and their families!

I used to write for Vanguard when I was a twentysomething youngster.

In those days, my weekly column was known as “Londonline” and mostly focused on UK issues.

Then, having taken a LONG break from Vanguard while I was growing up, I returned to my beloved Uncle Sam Amuka’s team in 2007 as a middle-aged woman. And it was decided that my column should be renamed “Sweet And Sour ”.

Sam Amuka owns Vanguard and he is a great boss, the distinguished doyen of the Nigerian media scene, a precious surrogate father and a very dear friend.

When I was kidnapped in August, the leader of the gang that abducted me called him several times; and he tried to reason and plead with the guy and expressed so much pained concern for my welfare that the guy developed a fondness for him and told me, in a very impressed tone of voice, that “ you have a very kind Oga. He no talk like normal wicked Big Man who no give damn for person wey work for am.”

The day after I was released, despite being in his 80s and very busy, Uncle Sam took the trouble to fly from Lagos to Port Harcourt, to make sure my mother, sister and I were OK. May God shower blessings on him throughout 2016.

Anyway, this is my 400th Sweet & Sour column. And I like to think that it is significant that I’ve reached this special milestone at the beginning of a brand new year and hope that you will continue to peruse the comments that appear on this page and share your thoughts with me, even when you don’t agree with me.

At this time of the year, it is customary for people to make resolutions about ways in which they can improve C M Y K

New Year reflections and resolutions themselves and make life better for those around them.

I’d love to hear Vanguard readers’ resolutions, so please email or text yours to me!

In the meantime, here are some of mine:1.I intend to eat less, regularly visit the gym and lose weight because slim folks look better (in my opinion), because exercise is good for the heart and the body in general and because excess fat is bad for one’s health and can trigger off Type 2 diabetes and a bunch of other unwanted ailments.

Nigerian journalists deserve considerable criticism for not meticulously researching as many dysfunctional scenarios as possible, in order to expose powerful miscreants and facilitate social, political, economic and moral reform

2. I intend to be less selfish and do more for the Needy.

I also feel that my profession as a whole needs to resolve to undertake more investigative journalism projects in 2016. There are so many scandals to uncover in this country; and we need to make serious efforts to uncover them…and acquire the courage and integrity to publish findings that will disgrace various VIPs. For example, a couple of weeks ago, a reader (who didn’t want to be named) wrote to me, to complain about local government malfunctions, which he largely blamed on arrogant and corrupt governors. I published his letter earlier on this month. Let me repeat his last two paragraphs, in case you didn’t see the original letter: “A strong Local Government (LG) system is the ideal foundation for the type of society we all yearn for. And we all share in the blame for the rot. Our collective silence, ignorance and nonchalance over the years has emboldened the main culprits (Governors) to continue to exploit LGs, knowing that hardly anyone will query them.

The media, as the fourth estate of the realm and a supposed watch-dog, is perhaps largely to blame for the impunity that Governors enjoy. The day journalists wake up and decide to do an expose on the management of LGs in Nigeria, I suggest that they start with Anambra. The revelations will knock us over

but reawaken us.”

Interestingly, another reader, Ifeka Okonkwo, also mentioned Anambra when he contacted me to respond to my claim that most Naija Local Governments are lousy: “Donu, what is the essence of Local Government Areas when those at the helm of their affairs do not take responsibility for refuse collection or construct roads or dig boreholes or build housing estates or provide electricity and healthcare services to those who voted them into power?

For example, Orumba North Local Government Area in Anambra State where I come from and which was created in 1991, is yet to carry out these essential services to our people.

Due to the abysmal performance of Local Government Areas, they should be scrapped and their staff absorbed by state governments that provide these services that should have been carried out by Local Government Areas at the grassroots level!

It is very shameful that those at the helm of the affairs of our Local Government Areas enrich themselves at the expense of their people instead of rendering selfless service to them.

It should be noted, sadly, that the problems of our Local Government Areas have been compounded by some State Governors who tamper with Local Government funds, thereby hindering their services, with none of them being sent to jail to serve as a

deterrent to others since May 29, 1999 till date.”

I often shake my head in wonderment and disappointment when I watch senior public servants being interviewed on TV or when I read the interviews they grant newspapers and magazines.

Too often, they are asked ridiculously tame questions and allowed to get away with blatantly dishonest or evasive self-serving answers.

We journalists are always sanctimoniously criticising others for doing - or not doing - x or y. But we rarely go far enough and hardly ever dig deep enough to provide concrete evidence of the widespread wrong-doings and incompetence that are preventing this so-called “Giant Of Africa” from fulfilling its potential.

Nigerian journalists deserve considerable criticism for not meticulously researching as many dysfunctional scenarios as possible, in order to expose powerful miscreants and facilitate social, political, economic and moral reform.

We need to up our game and I sincerely hope that we will do better in 2016!!!

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

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 AS 2016 begins, people have high expectations. They dream their New Year ambitions. It is an annual ritual that helps brush aside failures of the faded year. The beginning of every year affords deep reflection on the past and the future. Some call these New Year resolutions.

To achieve required changes demand serious planning, concentration, focus and sacrifices.

Many want to begin a New Year on a fresh slate. Great support is required from government policies for people’s plan to translate to reality.

It is the duty of governments to ensure that right policies and programmes are formulated and implemented.

Governments should ensure the enabling environment for the healthy growth of the nation and its inhabitants. These are high hopes.

Security would be a critical consideration throughout the year.

Happy new year There would be thousands of spots requiring protection.

The New Year is charged. security challenges persist and governments’ anxiety over collapsed oil prices is palpable. The predictions are dreadful.

Last year was not particularly one that helped the realisation of citizens’ potentials as most government policies were lost in the morass of the security challenges. Other policies were at most pendulous.

The economic situations has compounded the problem forcing President Muhammadu Buhari to

apologise to Nigerians at the National Assembly while presenting the 2016 budget over the continued fuel scarcity being experienced across the country, blaming the long queues that have returned to fuel stations on the activities of speculators and those resistant to change. ‘’Government profoundly apologises to Nigerians for this prolonged hardship and misery. It is as a result of market speculators and resistance to change by some stakeholders. Government is working very hard to end these shortages and

to bring fuel to the pumps all over the country...

I know the state of our economy is a source of concern for many. This has been further worsened by the unbridled corruption and security challenges we have faced in the last few years. From those who have lost their jobs, to those young people who have never had a job, to the people in the North East whose families and businesses were destroyed by insurgents, this has been a difficult period in our nation’s history, lessons that we must not forget or ignore, as we plan for the future.’’

Vanguard hopes that indeed, 2016 would mark a new beginning for Nigerians and there would real change in their fortunes. We expect the government to honour its words and implement policies that will turn the economy around around.

We wish our readers happier and more prosperous New Year.

OPINION

Will an agency defy Buhari on judicial corruption?

By Akeem Ogunlade

A

PPARENTLY miffed by the delay in the dispensation of justice and the corruption that it breeds, President Muhammadu Buhari recently made a case for far-reaching reforms in the country’s judicial system. Such reforms must include the reviews of laws, institutions, processes and procedures that hamper the speedy delivery of justice.

Speaking during the opening session of the All Nigeria Judges Conference in Abuja, the President lamented that Nigeria was fast losing trust and esteem in the eyes of the citizens due to unnecessary delay tactics employed by lawyers, in collusion with some judges, to stall trials, especially high profile corruption cases.

In addition, the President frowned at the unwholesome practice of appealing interlocutory decisions, a practice, he said, encourages unending litigations and miscarriage of justice.

Without making the appropriate reforms, it would be difficult for government to effectively tackle corruption and attract the desired level of investments the country needs for socio-economic development, President Buhari stated.

The President’s admonition readily brings to mind the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, an agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. The body, which

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has recently come under heavy scrutiny for unsavoury reasons, is currently challenging, via an interlocutory appeal, the orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos which barred it from interfering in the business or operations of Stanbic IBTC Bank pending the outcome of the suit filed at the Federal High Court by the bank. It is strongly believed that FRCN’s action would potentially prolong the process; keeping stakeholders on edge for as long as the litigation lasts.

FRCN had on October 26 announced the outcome of its investigation of Stanbic IBTC for alleged infractions claimed by minority shareholders of the company, fronting as the Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, TSAN. According to FRCN, there were discrepancies in Stanbic IBTC’s financial statements and general financial reporting for 2013 and 2014. Among sanctions an-

Without making the appropriate reforms, it would be difficult for government to effectively tackle corruption and attract the desired level of investments

nounced by FRCN was a fine of N1 billion on Stanbic IBTC and restatement of the financial reports for 2013 and 2014. As it turned out, FRCN acted without fair hearing from Stanbic IBTC or even consulted the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN even when the rules and regulations stipulated that FRCN can only sue Stanbic IBTC if the latter disagrees with its interpretations.

FRCN clearly lacks the legal powers to impose a penalty on Stanbic IBTC. Nonetheless, Stanbic IBTC denounced what it described as inaccurate allegations against it and the manner FRCN chose to make them was procedurally defective.

Subsequently, Stanbic IBTC challenged FRCN’s action in court, resulting in Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos asking FRCN to stay action pending the final determination of a suit against the agency by Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in a report personally signed by its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, punctuated practically every argument advanced by FRCN. In rejecting a request by FRCN to sanction Stanbic IBTC, CBN said it does not see enough grounds to advise or compel Stanbic IBTC to re-issue the statements or comply with the sanctions meted by FRCN. The apex bank said FRCN failed to consult it throughout the process of its investigation, noting that the pronouncements by the FRCN on Stanbic IBTC was not only capable of eroding investor confidence, but also very inimical to financial system sta-

bility. Not satisfied, FRCN fired a response to CBN in which its Executive Secretary, Jim Obazee, revealed details of meetings with the Chief of Staff to the President. The primary objectives of the FRCN, just in case its Executive Secretary has chosen to ignore them, are well spelt-out. These include protecting the investor and stakeholder interest, giving guidance on issues relating to financial reporting and corporate governance, ensure good corporate governance practices, ensuring accuracy and reliability of financial reports and harmonizing activities of relevant professional and regulatory bodies.

Imposing fines and arbitrary sanctions are outside the remit of FRCN; only the law courts are empowered to do so. What makes its current moves very unacceptable is the FRCN’s seeming disregard of the President’s counsel by choosing to pursue interlocutory appeals rather than to wait for the speedy determination of the real issues that are the subject matter of the suit, as promised by Justice Buba. And whose interest does FRCN seek to serve by attempting to destroy an institution that employs thousands of Nigeria and is often cited as a symbol of corporate governance?

As the current administration continues in its efforts to steer the country to safer ground, the least it expects are distractions, moreso from an agency of government, after well-intentioned interventions to calm frayed nerves and restore an ideal environment for businesses to thrive as well as attract the much needed inflow of FDI into the country.

Mr Ogunlade, an economic analyst, wrote from Abuja

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

The flow into 2016 T

HE gallant Iraqi army and special forces backed by the awesome Western air power, delivered a beautiful New Year gift with the recapture of Ramadi last week. It was a significant victory that some 400 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) fighters who stood to fight, were defeated by thousands of Iraqi troops and air strikes mainly by American jet fighters.

Ramadi was partly destroyed seven months ago when Iraqi troops fled before an ISIS advance, abandoning huge military hardware. Now, a city pulverized by the latest take over, is the prized possession of Iraq whose central government did not take part in the fight. As television footage showed Ramadi, not even a stray dog or goat was in sight; what met the eyes was utter destruction.

As the victorious forces set their sight on the recapture of Fallujah and Mosul, the issue of who rebuilds Ramadi does not appear to be on the cards. What however seems certain is that it would be run by tribal chieftains not the central government which remains sectional.

The wars in Iraq and Syria

have relegated other 2015 wars to the background. The Ukrainian civil war which has claimed 5,665 lives including the 298 on board the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 shot down over Eastern Ukraine, is fading into memory. The conflict in Egypt which momentarily made the headlines following the October 31 downing of a Russian airline with 224 souls on board, is almost forgotten. The brutal war in Yemen does not seem to make the headlines any more, even when civilians are being bombed by both sides in the Sunni-Shiite proxy war.

The concern of some is not the human carnage, but the gaining of ground by international Islamist militants. That is also the concern in Libya.

Looking back at 2015, I am tempted to name the senseless killing of blacks by the American police as the main event of the year, or the Blacklivesmatter movement as the organization of the year. But I am not sure that made as much international impact as the attempt to evangelise and sell homosexuality as the core human right issue facing

humanity.

Perhaps, the quake in Europe following the rise of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader might rival the homosexuality drive.

But doubtlessly the restoration of ties between the United States and Cuba after over half a century, is a more serious political break than the Corbyn matter. In fact, can we be talking about Corbynism when Donald Trump is entertaining the world in a farcical drama that exposes some Americans love for anything or anybody that reminds them of their Hollywood heritage?

However, the prospect of civil war in Burundi should qualify for the most stupid political drama in 2015 which makes the Trump tantrums an amateur footage. The United Nations Climate Change Conference which proclaimed a genuine concern for our universe should

The greatest danger to humanity is not ISIS or the terrorist; it is poverty; poverty pushes people into desperate actions, extremist organisations and terrorist cells

Our hope shall rise in 2016

By Clement Udegbe

2

015, has come and gone forever, with its risks, lies, cheatings, manipulations, deceits, and deaths, and leaves us with many issues to continue to grapple with. Many may not indeed know how we got here, but I know, that if it were not for God, we won’t have made it.

We entered 2015, with some fears for disintegration as a nation, which made us to pray, and work, to avert a blood bath, and we made it, landed into a change in government, the precipitate of which we must deal with hopefully with same gusto that brought us here if not more.

2015, brought the challenges of climate change closer to us, but we were too preoccupied with elections and its aftermath, to pay good attention. Many leaders at the states level did not seem to understand and create the time for the effects of climate change, but we must grapple with them or remain in a precariously dangerous environment. Simply put, while increased desertification means more exposure to hunger, disappearance of farm lands, higher wind effects like blindness, fire out breaks etc, in the northern Nigeria, more water into the earth from the Ice countries, means too much rains and water in the southern Nigeria, with increased erosion activities, flooding and loss of farming plains and crops, bringing increased hunger and poverty. Adding the impending economic crunch to these hazards of our time, makes it compulsory that we must learn from our mistakes of 2015.

Part of our mistake was to keep squandering all our financial resources in pursuit of political power and change,

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when oil prices were preparing to crash, and now that the crash has come, we must grapple with it, without blaming another, for we all jumped into this boat ignoring all the signs and tale tales of impeding global rough economic times that was imminent.

2015, took us as a nation to the height of religious and ethnic interplay in almost everything we did. Much earlier in the 1990s, a northern military Muslim Head of State, took Nigeria by the nose into the Organisation of Islamic Conference, OIC, and nothing happened. In 2015, another northern ex-military President on the saddle, in spite of our democratic setting, intends from his body language, to take Nigeria into the Arab league, in a fight against a terrorist group that was born from purely Muslim thoughts and acts of governance.

How other non-Muslim religions in Nigeria will take this, given the frail nerves from the mostly Christian South

Our hope is that Nigeria will be set on the path to her greatness during the leanness of this New Year, and that will in reality depend on whether the very agents of our backwardness, can also somersault and become agents of growth and development

have the trophy as the most significant achievement of humanity in the old year. But to do so may rob the Kurds as the most courageous people of the period. A people with a contiguous geographical area; a single culture and language but carved into tiny bits across five countries; the Kurds against all odds beat ISIS to recapture the terrorists prized town of Sinjar where minorities including the Yazidis were being enslaved. The Kurds achieved this while simultaneously fighting the Turkish bullies.

But clearly, the tragedy of refugees braving the rough seas to escape devastating wars in Syria, Iraq and Libya tops the list. Over 2,600 were claimed by the seas while about 400,000 managed to cross. In one incident on April 27, at least 800 were killed trying to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa while on August 27, over 600 died trying to cross from Libya. The refugee upsurge also witnessed unprecedented human suffering on the world stage as victims trekked across various European countries trying to reach Austria and Germany.

What triggered most of this refugee crisis is the brutal war waged against humanity by terrorists, symbolised by ISIS. The level of bestiality displayed by the terrorists including executions and beheading of victims, puts ISIS in a class of its own. The group was responsible for mass deportation, enslavement and forced marriages. So brutal are their tactics, that many prefer possible death in the seas than to be captured, or live under ISIS rule.

ISIS and those pledging allegiance to it control portions of countries like Syria, Iraq, Mali,

East and South South and the increasing agitation for Biafra under this administration will again depend on how righteous and forth right our South Western Christians are willing to be.

2015, in rounding up, made us see religious procession by the Shiites Muslim sect, used to provoke high violence and extra-judicial killings, in the north, and while the Arab world would want to drag Nigeria into their Sunni – Shiites fights, peaceful protest for self-determination by pro-Biafran groups in the South East were shot at and killed extra-judicially in their tens, with no blink of the eyes by the government in power, an action which has surreptitiously ignited support and sympathy for the pro-Biafra groups.

How we made a mountain out of a mole hill in this country, by the share insensitivity of this government remains baffling to many, and may help many Nigerians irrespective of their zone, to resolve never to allow any person who has low premium for their lives to govern them in the future. Whether religion will be a force for peace or war and conflict, will depend entirely on how this government deals with us in this New Year.

2016, will therefore be a year in which only hope can see us through in dealing with the challenges 2015 has thrust upon us all. Hope in the ability of increasing number of Nigerians to resolve to give no rest to all the wicked in power and leadership positions be they political or otherwise. Hope that Nigerians will develop the capacity to detect divide-andrule traits in our leaders and resist it, to create a better society.

It is obvious that the continued fall in the world oil price, will spell hardship for all oil exporting nations including Nigeria.

It should therefore be unacceptable to have our political leaders approve fat salaries for themselves, or continue in their present levels of emoluments and

Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan and Philippines. Beyond these, they have struck in various countries including Lebanon. Its most devastating blow in Europe was its November 13 attacks in Paris in which 129 were killed and 349 injured.

Despite its extremist ideology and bestiality, the group continues to attract new recruits from various parts of the universe making it a rainbow coalition of terrorists which include Saudis, Tunisians, Turks, Americans, Germans, Chechens, French, Britons, Canadians, Israelis, Iraqis, Syrians and Norwegians.

The attempt to smoke ISIS out of Syria almost resulted in an international conflict when Turkey brought down a Russia aircraft. Undoubtedly, 2015 was the Year of the Terrorist.

Ultimately, the world will get rid of ISIS, but what will happen to its adherents who survive? Will they disappear, evaporate, end up in jail or simply melt into various societies? Or will there be a mutation into some other body as the Afghan Mujahedeen transformed into al Qaeda and some alQaeda elements coalesced into ISIS? If we win the war against ISIS, who wins the peace?

Yet, the greatest danger to humanity is not ISIS or the terrorist; it is poverty; poverty pushes people into desperate actions, extremist organisations and terrorist cells. With one percent owning about half of global wealth and Oxfam saying some 85 persons own as much wealth as 3.5 billion persons, the rich is simply getting richer, and the poor, poorer. Like a placard I read at a protest in Abuja proclaimed: ‘One day, the poor will have nothing to eat but the rich.’

allowances, as we have for the Senate and NASS etc, budgeting and appropriating huge sums just for food alone as we have seen in the Federal Government 2016 Budget where over N1.7 Billion will be spent on Aso Rock food alone, while they preach austerity to us.

Our leaders from the Presidency, Governors Lodges, to Local Government Chairmen, should start leading by example from henceforth, or they should be given rough times, before they are rejected.

Our hope is that Nigeria will be set on the path to her greatness during the leanness of this New Year, and that will in reality depend on whether the very agents of our backwardness, can also somersault and become agents of growth and development, which I think will be very unlikely, because these same agents would have been too corrupted, polluted, and compromised to help us now. There is a need therefore for something new, a fresh air, a renewing of the mind, and possibly a complete over haul of how we did things to this stage.

This is why Nigerians must take this fight against corruption to the next level in the new year, such that search lights will be beamed on the electric power sector, the past and serving state governors, who displaced Local Governments, cornered the federal allocations and left most rural roads undone, and the communities very poor.

We hope that Ndigbo will find greater peace and unity among themselves, accept their zone and work to make it the best it can be, while building greater bonds of brotherhood with their South South and Yoruba neighbours, to set all political prisoners free in this New Year, our year of HOPE.

*Mr Udegbe, a lawyer, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

— 21

Transportation Minister pledges to tackle cargo clearance delays

By Godfrey Bivbere

M

VISIT: From left; Mr Kelechi Nwosu, President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN; Mobolaji Sanusi, Managing Director, Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, LASAA; David Okeme, President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria, ADVAN and Mrs Ediri Ose-Ediale, Executive Secretary, ADVAN during a courtesy visit of ADVAN executives to LASAA Managing Director, in Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: AKEEM SALAU.

Oil sector: Kaduna, PTDF partner on manpower devt

By Michael Eboh

G

OVERNOR Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has given the commitment of the state government to support the immediate completion of the National Institute of Petroleum Policy and Strategy being developed by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in the state capital.

The PTDF in a statement in Abuja, stated that the Petroleum Policy and Strategy Centre will on completion serve as a onestop institute for training senior management personnel in oil and gas companies and agencies in Nigeria and abroad in the form of refresher courses with a three week to six month duration.

$124. 85

1. 20

$3,211.00

-18. 00

$15.40

0. 25

$36. 50 0. 04 $36. 53 -0. 07 CURRENCY SELLING

US DOLLAR 196 290.2368 POUNDS 214. 692 EURO 197. 6404 FRANC 1.6267 YEN 0.3056 CFA 270.7026 WAUA 30.1868 RENMINBI 52.1971 RIYAL 28.6948 KRONA 271.8128 SDR

BUYING 196.5 290. 9772 214.7156 198.1446 1.6308 0.3156 271. 3931 30.2643 52.3302 28.768 272.5062

197 291. 7176 215. 2619 198. 6488 1. 635 0.3256 272. 0837 30.3418 52.4634 28.8412 273.1996

CBN Exchange rate as at 31/12/2015

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The PTDF further stated that fresh graduates in oil and gas disciplines would be expected to undergo vocational and technical internship training in the institute to gain hands on experience that will prepare them for engagement in the industry.

The Governor who received the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Femi Ajayi on a courtesy visit at government house, Kaduna, appreciated the Fund’s commitment towards the speedy completion and take off of the institute, a development he said would be of immediate benefit to the state.

He said, “I have been very much interested in seeing to the completion and takeoff of the institute as well. In fact I have been thinking of how we can collectively ensure maximum utilization of it.

“The two adjoining projects, that is, the National Teachers Institute (NTI) and the International Trade fair complex are underutilized, so NIPPS is a very important project to us and I am very happy with the effort being demonstrated by PTDF to make it a reality, you can be rest assured of our support” El-Rufai directed the state ministries of Works, Land and Water Resources to form a committee that will work with PTDF to formalize the disbursement of compensation and other matters affecting the completion of the institute.

He promised that the state will assist in completing the access roads, water and electricity facilities.

The committee will examine the problems militating against the completion and take off of the institute and recommend ways of overcoming them to the state government.

Speaking in the same vein, the Executive Secretary PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi thanked the governor for his support towards the completion of the project.

He said the visit is to formally hand over to the state government the instrument for the payment of compensation to property owners whose lands were appropriated to accommodate some project expansion on the site of the Institute.

“The purpose of our courtesy visit is to essentially present a compensation of N105 million to the land owners/allotees of the revoked parts of the land at the NIPPS Site. PTDF will appreciate the timely disbursement of the compensation to enable the completion of the affected components of the project, especially the perimeter fence and security of the site,” he explained.

He said the vision of the Fund is to utilize the facilities in the institute to domesticate some of its training programs incountry, establish a Centre of Excellence in welding and fabrication as well as an alternative energy research and development centre among other initiatives.

He said, “It is pertinent to note that the vision of the Fund is to utilise the facilities in the institute to domesticate some of our training programs in-country; establish an Alternative Energy Research and Development Centre to drive research in Renewable Energy Resources given the current drive for alternative energy as well as the abundance of raw materials for bio energy production around the location of the institute, intensify on-going efforts towards oil prospecting in the inland basin and establish a Centre of Excellence for Welding and Fabrication training.”

He said that a Centre of Excellence for welding and fabrication training will serve as a benchmark for other welding training centers in the country given the fact that, indigenous manpower in advanced welding competencies is not only grossly deficient in the country but non-existent in

INISTER of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the ministry will work closely with all the relevant agencies to ensure reduction in cargo clearance time to discourage shipment of Nigerian bound goods to neighbouring country’s ports.

Speaking in Lagos at the conclusion of his working visits to parastatals under his ministry, the minister said to this end, the ministry will work at tightening security at the border post to curb the influx of smuggled goods into the country from the land borders.

He also noted that they will focus on streamlining of all the agencies in the maritime sector to ensure that the potential of the sector is fully harnessed. He said the intention is to ensure that each of the agencies focus on their area of core responsibilities.

He said that in the New Year, efforts will be made to link the port in Lagos to the planned coastal rail line that will run through Cross Rivers, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Lagos. He also explained that the Northern corridor rail line from Lagos to Kano will also be worked on but said that these plans will be dependent on the availability of funds.

Similarly, he explained that indigenous ship owners will also be encouraged to access the funds for ship acquisition He noted that government will work at establishing a national carrier that will be private sector driven between foreign investors and Nigerian ship owners. He said that the Nigerian ship owners would be allowed to access the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF. Similarly, he explained that indigenous ship owners will also be encouraged to access the funds for ship acquisition also.

On the problematic traffic situation around the port city of Apapa and its environs, the minister said that there is a combined effort of his ministry, the ministry of works, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and the Lagos State government to deal with the traffic congestion at the port.

He said that the situation as it is presently, is unacceptable and expressed hope that a permanent solution to the problem will be found as soon as possible.

He further noted that the only way out was for the holding bay being constructed at Apapa to be completed for the trucks and trailers, noting that is where the ministry of works comes in.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

MoneyGram launches account deposit into Nigeria's $21bn remittance market M

ONEYGRAM has announced that it is the first money transfer company to offer customers in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain a way to send money to most Nigerian bank's accounts within minutes at competitive exchange rates.

"This is a significant milestone for us. With the addition of Nigeria, MoneyGram now offers bank account deposits through our network into five of the world's largest remittance receive markets - Nigeria, China, India, Mexico and the Philippines," says Herve Chomel, MoneyGram's regional vice president for Africa.

"Account deposit is a fast and secure way to send and receive funds between loved ones and we are proud to offer the service for our customers in Europe and Nigeria."

Customers can send money to most of the personal accounts held at banks that are members of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System network including First Bank,

UBA, Ecobank, Fidelity, and Zenith Bank from MoneyGram agent locations in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain.

This marks an important innovation for the remittance

industry in Nigeria.

By integrating into the Nigerian Inter-Bank Payment System, MoneyGram customers are able to send money into most bank accounts in Nigeria, almost in

real time*. Receivers do not have to undertake any action as the funds are automatically deposited into their account and can be accessed via ATM's or online, without the constraint of a physical overthe-counter visit.

From left: Divisional Head, Operations, Fidelity Bank, Martins Izuogbe; Treasurer, National Association of Business and Management Students, Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja, Adeyemi Adedokun; President of the Association, Raimot Laminot; Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kevin Ugwuoke and Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, Richard Madiebo at the Prize Presentation ceremony of the Rent Support category of the Fidelity Save4 Shelter Savings Promo in Lagos.

Presco surges despite harsh economic business environment

By Jimoh Babatude

P

RESCO Plc has revealed that the company did better than it projected in this financial year in terms of profitability despite the harsh business environment experienced by businesses in the country.

The Managing Director, Presco Plc, Mr. Felix Nwabuko, said the company has not done ?badly compared to its projections, saying that in terms of revenue, it achieved a 97 per cent increase out of its growth projections.

Speaking with Vanguard, Mr. Felix Nwabuko said going forward in 2016, the company

is already seeking ways of generating foreign exchange to finance its businesses, maintaining that next year, the company is planning to increase its Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) to 200,000 metric tonnes.

"We have been putting our heads together to be able to do that. But in terms of our business, we are hopeful that we will continue to grow upwards. For instance this year, in terms of what we produce from our plantations, we are hoping to do roughly 180,000 metric tonnes but in 2016, we project that we will do 200,000 metric tonnes of FFB," he said.

"This translates into more oil,

more revenue. We do not expect a crash in market prices considering all the dynamic policies that are in place.

Government has a duty to also ensure that local industries are seriously protected. That is one thing that we want from the government. Our borders must be secured against dumping,

We do not expect a crash in market prices considering all the dynamic policies

Dizengoff Nigeria appoints Antti Ritvonen Country Manager

D

izengoff Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr. Antti Ritvonen as Country Manager. Antti takes over from Richard Hargrave, who will now become the Company's Strategic Adviser on Government matters. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Ritvonen was the Finance Director, Valtra EAME, AGCO Corporation.

A seasoned financial professional and administrator, Antti brings to bear his over 25 years of work experience, working in Asia and Europe.He joined Dizengoff in November 2015 from AGCO Corporation. With this appointment, Antti will continue to provide strategic leadership and direction for the

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Nigeria business.

Mr Ritvonen is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Tampere Finland.

Dizengoff Nigeria is a member of the UK owned Balton CP Group, a British multinational with 8 subsidiaries across SubSaharan Africa and with over 1000 employers. Dizengoff is one of the leading Communication and Agriculture companies in Nigeria, providing customers with the best Innovative solutions in Irrigation, Greenhouses, Tractor & Implements, AgroConsumables, Cyber-Security, Radio Communication, Home land Security, IT Infrastructure and Turnkey projects.

so that local businesses like us will be able to do our businesses and do it properly" he added.

He said the year 2015 has been quite challenging in a number of ways, pointing out that it has been a year where the nation witnessed quite some significant movements within the business environment.

"We had our own fair share of the external shocks that impacted businesses. We saw movements in the exchange rates and of course the change in government was quite significant and until recently when ministers were appointed not much was happening in the public sector and all these have impacted on businesses," he said.

He added "Thankfully, we have surmounted it successfully. It impacted on our business in some ways. We have also seen quite some policies being rolled out, particularly by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its management of the economy as a fall out of the dwindling revenue that comes from petroleum. For instance, we have seen the 41 items that were delisted by the CBN from sourcing foreign exchange.

"In that respect as a business and in our business, we are satisfied with the step being taken by the apex bank.

UBA unveils advanced Mobile Banking platform

U

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has unveiled the new U-Mobile, a more advanced and user-friendly mobile banking platform than the previous one.

"The new U-Mobile is an entirely new platform. It is not just an upgrade of the old but a new application with enhanced features that easily sync with a range of mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, Android devices, or BlackBerry.

The aim is to offer quick and easy banking at your fingertips, no matter where you are or the time of the day" said Yinka Adedeji, Divisional Head, Digital Banking.

One of the key features of this new platform is the market place, which allows small businesses to own a virtual store. Cardless transactions will also be introduced to ensure that U-Mobile customers can withdraw money from UBA ATMs even without their payment cards.

Some of the other new features of the improved UBA UMobile include; capacity to validate beneficiaries of cash transfers before a transfer is made, ability to create favourite beneficiaries' list to ensure that details of frequent beneficiaries are automatically listed, and easier log-in and sign-up screens to improve user experience.

Another significant addition in the new U-Mobile is increased number of billers that can be paid directly from U-Mobile to include schools, universities, colleges, organisations.

The new U-Mobile is also enabled to allow customers hotlist cards, set transaction limits, request or stop cheques, and print ministatements through a Bluetooth printer.

"A lot of effort has been put into developing the new UMobile. It is very user-friendly and will transform your banking habits in ways you never imagined possible" Mr. Adedeji explained.

The new U-Mobile which is already available for download on App stores compliments U-Direct, UBA's advanced internet banking platform which also has the self enrolment capability.

Both applications run on the bank's recently upgraded banking platform "Finacle 10x" launched in April 2015 to address the need of customers for efficient, secure and a fast banking platform.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 23

Why we're investing in local rice production — Pulkit Jain

By Jimoh Babatunde

W

ITH an estimated amount of N356 billion spent on importation of rice annually, Nigeria is currently the second largest importer of rice in the world, and the largest net importer in Africa.

Based on these facts, many Nigerians have bemoaned what the country spends every year on the importation of rice which they believe the country has no reason to do as it has capacity to produce the commodity locally and even export.

Under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the previous administration, tremendous achievement in rice production went beyond what could be wished away as millions of additional metric tons of food were added to local supplies and with rice experiencing a significant increase.

The present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the nation’s quest for selfsufficiency in rice production will soon be realised going by the by the standard and quality of rice locally produced as well as level of commitment and vision demonstrated by local rice farmers and millers.

One of the local companies that is giving hope to the realisation of the self sufficiency in rice is Pearl Universal Impex Limited, a major importer of rice in the country that has now invested in local rice production and milling in Niger state.

The chairman of the company, Pulkit Jain, disclosed that the company has been a major importer of rice in the country with imports of 350,000 metric tonnes of rice annually in the past, but chose to invest in cultivation and milling of scientifically tested, high yielding varieties of rice in order to achieve the Federal Government’s target of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production.

He said to underline their commitment that the company in June this year started a pilot scheme to determine the variety of rice most suitable to the region at a 500 hectares of land in Saminaka, a community situated around Swashi Dam in Borgu local Government Area of the state.

The Pearl Universal Impex model, he explained , combines a commercial farm with a programme that works with nearby farmers, called outgrowers, allowing the company greater control over its

Chairman, Pearl Universal Impex Limited, Pulkit Jain; Independent Director, Pearl Universal Impex, Kamal Pandey; Emir of Borgu, Muhammed Sani Haliru Dantoro; and Mr. Vaibhav Sinha, Accountant, Pearl Universal Impex at the first rice harvest ceremony of Pearl Universal Impex Limited in Saminaka, Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.

product while still leaving room to foster and train local small-scale farmers in rice production.

To this end, Jain revealed that $100million (N200bn) will be committed to the cultivation of 7,500 hectares of rice farm and construction of two rice mills in the state in the next three years.

He said the move was predicated on the successful rice yield of seven metric tonnes per hectare at the trial phase of the project, adding that the

company will now move to another 2000 hectares of land for cultivation this December.

Jain added that the firm’s focus will be primarily on dry season farming as it was easier to manage, even as the company intends to grow rice three times a year on the land.

While pointing out that the equipment for the next phase of the project had already been shipped and would berth in the shores of Nigeria any time in January 2016, Jain explained that the com-

pany has not spared any effort in training the local farmers on the scientific method of cultivating rice in order to get a better yield, adding that at the moment, there were 100 workers in the company ’s employ that have been well trained.

Speaking during a visit to the new Emir of Borgu, Mohammed Sanni, the company’s boss commended the new Emir for the harmonious relationship between the company and community. Jain

informed the monarch that the local farmers using their leased land for farming purposes had never been forcefully ejected from the place, but that it was a deliberate policy of the company to employ and train them instead of out rightly asking them to give up the land whenever there was the need for the company to use more land for cultivation.

Jain said the company has challenges in the areas of access road to its farm and also the near- absence of network services for effective communication and the technical know-how of the community.

He therefore called on the government to intervene adding that support from government in terms access to loans from banks like the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry (BoI) would greatly help to speed up development in the area.

Reacting, the the new Emir of Borgu, Mohammed Sanni, urged the government to support rice farmers and millers in order to realise the value chain on the commodity, while commending the PJS for the project in his domain.

“Many firms came here and indicated interest in thought commitment. This PJS came and indicated stronger commitment and went into action immediately. We want the Government to support firms like PJS that goes out of their way to invest in agricultural backward integration policy," he said.

Why we need integrated rice mills running — Owoeye

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to conclude arrangement on the ten integrated rice mills initiated by the previous government in order to increase food security in the country as well as create employment.

The President of the Elephant Groups, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, who made the call in Lagos , said the capacity of each of the rice mills is about 35,000 tonnes per annum, with the processing capacity of the ten integrated rice mills totalling 350,000 tonnes.

He said with about 350,000 tonnes added to the country’s rice paddy that it will create more employment and reduce the pressure on foreign exchange.

Mr. Tunji Owoeye said to increase food production in the country , there is need to have investment in storage facilities across the country.

While tasking the government to also take a look at the funding of inputs like fertilizers, Tunji Owoeye said the policy of the Growth Enhancement Scheme introduced by the last government was laud-

able but lack of proper funding affected it.

Owoeye said agriculture export should be given attention beginning with focus on agriculture value chains.

He said Nigeria can be an exporter of rice, if the government set the priority right by focusing on agriculture as alternative to oil which the government has promised to do.

Owoeye said the government should boost research in

The issue of smuggling is a hydra-headed monster, not only in rice but in all commodities. You will find the same problem in vegetable oil, sugar, auto

agriculture as well as extension programes which will take cognizance of the problems affecting farmers in the country like the review of land reform. “Without land reform there can be no increase in food production.”

Speaking on local rice production, the Elephant Groups boss said as investor in the rice sector that they have started discussing with government on how to eradicate smuggling.

“The issue of smuggling is a hydra-headed monster, not only in rice but in all commodities. You will find the same problem in veg- etable oil, sugar, auto, cement and other commodities. I think that in as much as government is sensitive and proactive, we will get the results and that seems to be the case.”

He said they are happy with the appointment of the Custom boss by President Buhari and that in the process of addressing the issue of smuggling came up with the policy of duty payment at the boarder posts, “ but smugglers have taken advantage of

the policy by playing on documents to bring in rice . We have made this known to government. We are going to work with custom on this.”

Owoeye said as a company that they set up out-grower scheme in communities they operate as some of the rice they market are from their outgrowers “Some of the rice we market are from our out-growers , we have in Oyo, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

"We have also started operation in large scale production of paddy . We have started 10,000 hectares in Niger state,” he added.

While noting that there is a demand gap in rice in the country as no miller has not been able to meet the demand of rice in the country, he disclosed that they are working three rice mills and holding discussions with some state governments on some moribund rice mills for paddy processing, “ by mid 2016 two rice mill will join the one we have to increase our capacity and we are looking at 150,000metric of processed rice.”

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Sugar town laments moribund states of factory We have deployed equipment to fast-track devt —BUA

By Demola Akinyemi & Franklin Alli

R

ESIDENTS of Lafiagi community in Edu local government area of Kwara state have expressed concern over the moribund conditions of the sugar factory fifteen years after it was bought over by a local company.

Investigation conducted by Vanguard, reveals that Lafiagi Sugar Company was established as a joint venture between the Federal Government and Mehta Group of India. The Indian firm eventually pulled out of the technical agreement in 1985 leaving the Nigerian government as the 100 percent owner of the company.

Over time, however, production declined in the factory due to the poor technical and financial performance of the company. This led the federal government to privatise the company in 2000.

The privatisation exercise was carried out by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) through a guided liquidation strategy to ensure its assets were sold en-bloc and to a single buyer who would continue the business of sugar refining and BUA group emerged as the preferred private company to take over the company.

However, some of the inhabitants of community told Vanguard that since the takeover by the new buyer 15 years ago, the company is yet to operate and impact significantly and positively into the lives of the people in the community.

A retiree of Edu local government and a native of the community, Mr. Saliu Musa, recalled: “When the company was operational, older and younger ones no fewer than 500 were employed. The company was working very well then. But since the take-over by the new management, they have sent the staff away and most of them have resorted to doing any menial jobs available. ‘’When the company stopped working, all those working were sacked and had nowhere to go. Some went back to farm, others joined Okada riders and many went into petty trading among others.”

Similarly, Kayode Buraimah, a youth leader in the area expressed utter disappointment that the new owner have not done much to revive the company since it bought it over.

“We were happy when the company was sold to BUA thinking it will be brought back to life soon. But contrary to terms and conditions upon which the federal government sold the company, we are yet to see the turnaround. We the youths are jobless and yet we have an avenue for job here wasting away.

“We all submitted our CVs , even recently to the emir as instructed so that we can be employed but since then, it has been one story or the other,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the management to do everything within its means to ensure that Lafiagi Sugar Company is returned back to its glorious days so that it could offer more employment opportunities to the teaming youths of the area and thereby enhance the nation’s economic development.

It will be recalled that the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) recently criticised the new owner to have taken advantage of the federal government’s concessions designed to help sugar importers transform into integrated sugar producers, with-

*A section of the sugar factory out actually making tangible effort to begin to produce locally.

The Executive Secretary of the council, NSDC, Dr. Abdullatif Demola Busari, also recently lamented that “By now, it supposed to have over 400 hectares of planted sugar cane in the site. It is supposed to have brought in its machineries by now. That is, by March 2015, it is supposed to have imported it’s machineries but nothing like that has happened,” Busari said.

BUA reacts Reacting to this development, Mr. Isiaku Samuel the General Manager of the company in Lafiagi, stated that despite the challenges faced in taking full ownership of the site after BUA purchased the company through a privatization exercise, BUA

Director, Technical NSDC, Mr. Muhammed Jika and Director, Policy Planning, Research & Statistics NSDC, Mr. Hezekiah Kolawole.

“After an inspection of equipment and ongoing work, being carried out to ensure compliance with the government’s backward implementation policy, M r.

Jika commended the management of BUA Group for investments in Lafiagi Sugar Company and encouraged the company to sustain the pace of ongoing work at the plantation. We are satisfied with what we have seen on ground. Whilst the ongoing work is commendable, we expect BUA to sustain the current pace of work at Lafiagi into the future so that Nigerians can start to benefit fully from the backward implementation policy of the Federal Government,” he stated.

Those opposing SONCAP have something to hide — SON

By Godfrey Bivbere

S

Production declined in the factory due to the poor technical and financial performance of the company, this led the federal government to privatise the company in 2000

has gone ahead to mobilise manpower and equipment to kick-start the once-moribund facility.

This, he said is in addition to acquiring an additional 50,000 hectares in Bassa Local Government of Kogi State for sugarcane farming.

“We have made considerable efforts in developing a sugarcane nursery and land development activities for the next planting season; we have also deployed additional manpower and equipment to fast-track the development of the plantation,” he said.

According to him, the interministerial National Sugar Roadmap Implementation Committee (SURMIC) of the Federal Government recently visited the Lafiagi plantation specifically on Monday, December 7, 2015, to verify ongoing work at our facility.

“The team was led by the

TANDARD Organisation of Nigeria, SON, has said that the campaign against its (SON) Conformity Assessment Programme, SONCAP, is being carried out by those who have something to hide.

SONCAP as a scheme requires an exporter to provide evidence that the product being shipped to Nigeria meets the applicable quality requirements as mandated by law.

Head of Inspectorate and Compliance Directorate of SON, Bede Obayi, said that the introduction of some policies by the standard regulator has greatly reduced the importation of substandard goods into the country.

According to Obayi, “those who have skeletons in their cupboards should indeed not be comfortable with the

agency ’s recent policy direction aimed at stamping out illegal, fake and substandard products in the country.

“The integration of SON’s processes and certificates into the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System, NICIS, recently, was primarily aimed at reducing to the barest minimum, the incidence of substandard products circulation in the country.”

Some operators have called on the federal government to urgently intervene and stop SON’s policy of Conformity Assessment Programme or scrap it entirely as it has increased additional burden on importers. He point out that genuine importers should avoid exporters who are unwilling to have their products tested and certified.

Nigeria should not be allowed to become a dumping ground for rejected and unwholesome

substandard products, while consumers must be allowed to have value for their hardearned money. “Äs a matter of fact, SON is right now not operating at the ports. What we have insisted upon is that all products and (services) within and outside Nigeria must conform to quality and standard requirements,” he noted.

Manufacturers in the country have stressed that over 80 percent of substandard products existing in the country are imported from abroad by unscrupulous Nigerians who are bent to make profits at the detriment of the safety of lives of common Nigerians and consumers.

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, through a Circular referenced TED/FEM/ FPC/GEN/01/018 of 22 nd September 2015, had directed all operators and importers to key into the system latest by December 1, 2015.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—25

By Charles Kumolu

D

EVELOPMENTS in the later part of the last year predicted that 2016 would substantially be momentous in every sense.

With so many unresolved fundamental national questions spilling into the New Year, the polity is poised to be awash with tension, anxiety and vaulting expectations that had characterised the previous year.

It would especially be so given the high expectations from Nigerians on President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his key promises on security and the economy.

Findings by Vanguard reveal that issues that could have reverberating effects on the polity in the year being previewed include budget benchmarks, subsidy removal, Supreme Court verdict on governorship elections, ruling on Kogi State governorship conundrum, ongoing probes/ Dasukigate and President Buhari’s performance.

Others are Biafra agitation, national convention of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo and Ondo states governorship elections, payment of N5000 electoral promise, Bayelsa State governorship supplementary poll, volatile exchange rate and unsteady oil prices among others.

Expected Supreme Court verdicts With the verdict of the Supreme Court on Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba states governorship elections being expected in the first quarter of this year, it is envisaged that whatever becomes the outcome would alter the political configuration of the affected states.

In Akwa Ibom, a victory for the All Progressives Congress, APC, can simply set the stage for an epic governorship contest in a state assumed as politically volatile. Same stroke could amount to a boost for the PDP’s acclaimed spread in the state.

Nearly same scenario may play out in Nyesom Wike’s Rivers State in the aftermath of the expected judgment.

Following yesterday’s Court of Appeal reversal of the tribunal judgment that earlier sacked Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, a final judgment from the Supreme Court would put an end to the issue.

Kogi Governorship C M Y K

•Wike

•Udom and 32 in the international market.

According to the latest report of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, oil may further sell at $20 per barrel thereby increasing the likelihood of more difficulties for the Federal Government funding budget 2016.

Going by IMF’s predictions, Nigeria would generate $44 million per day in 2016, amounting to $16.060 billion in the year.

That implies that the projected N820billion oil revenue and production of 2.2 million barrels of crude oil per day may not be realized.

NIGERIA:

Key issues that’ll shape 2016

A forecast of key events in critical sectors that could alter national configurations in reverberating scales.

•President Buhari trillion budget with non oil revenue.

While the proposed annual expenditure pegged the price of crude oil at N38$ per barrel, the commodity currently sells between $31

•Bello

•Falake

conundrum The legal confusion created by the demise of the governorship candidate of APC in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu in the middle of an election, may either be resolved or accentuated by the eventual verdict on the court cases filed by Audu’s running mate, Mr. Abiodun Faleke.

Like in the past when

judicial pronouncements on governorship election cases in the state, modified Nigeria’s electoral calendar, the finality of the matter may create an awkward precedent.

Budget benchmarks: Despite being benchmarked mostly on non oil revenues, there are concerns on how the government could fund the Federal Government’s N6

It is feared that if crude oil prices fall in line with IMF prediction, none of the critical sectors aforementioned could receive the exact appropriated funds

Oil revenue and production There are also fears over the feasibility of the budgeted N433.4 billion for Power, Works and Housing, N396 billion for Education, N294 billion, N221.7; Defence, Health; N202 billion and N145 billion for Police/ Interior.

It is feared that if crude oil prices fall in line with IMF prediction, none of the critical sectors aforementioned could receive the exact appropriated funds.

Subsidy removal: The much talked about plan to remove subsidies on importation of petroleum products, would certainly be a big issue this year.

Indeed, the government’s renewed resolve to carry out the threat is already unsettling the detente between the Buhari administration and labour. If the government also

Continues on page 26

26—VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Continues from page 25 rescinds its decision and oil prices rise, the payment of subsidy claims to marketers would have a lethal impact on country ’s already lean finances. In fact, the bleak financial prospects of the year indicate that payment of such claims may not be sustainable this year.

Performance rating: President Buhari’s performance rating is a matter that would prominently take the centre stage all year round.

Of course that is as a result of the high expectations from the man, who campaigned for the presidency on the mantra of change.

Already, the question of whether the administration has made remarkable impacts six months after inauguration is a subject of intense public debate with many claiming that change is yet to berth.

Same could play out in no small measure as the year progresses, particularly against the backdrop of the fact that the prevailing cash crunch may further make the administration struggle to attain parameters of the change agenda.

NIGERIA:

Key issues that’ll shape 2016 •Kanu

•Dasuki

Ongoing probes/ Dasukigate The ongoing probes into alleged pilfering of public funds by highly placed Nigerians would certainly climax this year. This is given the commitment of President Buhari to curb corruption.

Definitely, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would go after more suspects, while there is the likelihood of having further mindboggling revelations regarding the looting of the commonwealth.

One of the cases that would not fail to make screaming headlines, is the ongoing prosecution of a former National Security Adviser, Lt Col Sambo Dasuki, retd, and others over alleged embezzlement of $2.2 billion.

In fact, Nigerians are waiting anxiously for what could become the eventual outcome of the prosecution.

N5,000 stipend for the unemployed: This year the administration is expected to start implementation of the its key campaign promise of paying N5000 to vulnerable Nigerians.

It is an issue that may earn the Federal Government more knocks than kudos, given the belief that embarking on the scheme amid uninspiring economic realities, amounts to misplacement of priorities.

Already the government has said that the project is to be financed from monies saved from plugging of revenue C M Y K

•Dickson

•Mimiko

leakages and other ancillary sources.

"We believe that the money for this project will come from savings, budget and prudent management. And also we are going to have support from multilateral organisations especially in the area of cash transfer. Again some of these projects are not just recurrent, they are also capital in a way,” the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed exclusively told Vanguard.

However, whichever way the programme is handled, it has •Oshiomhole

President Buhari’s performance rating is a matter that would prominently take the centre stage all year round

become one of the parameters for measuring the success and failure of this administration in 2016.

PDP convention: In March, the PDP is expected to hold its National Convention for the election of a new national executive. The exercise would climax the ward, local government and senatorial congresses that are expected that are also expected to produce new executives at those levels.

State Congress are slated for March 12 after which the Zonal Congress would take

•Dickson place on March 16 before the March 19 National Convention.

For a party that lost its 16year grip on power through overwhelming defeat at the last general election and yet, still bogged down by internal crisis among its National Working Committee, NWC, members, the convention would present another opportunity for self reinvention.

The emergence of a new National Chairman is surely going to be the high point of the event, since the party needs a generally accepted chairman to pilot its affairs on the path of redemption. But the prospect of a hitch free exercise appears threatened by the perceived frosty relationship between the National Executive Council, NEC, and NWC. Edo State governorship election: The question of who succeeds Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the end of his tenure on November 12, 2016 would further attract national attention this year.

Oshiomhole, whose tenure ends on November 12, while setting the prerequisite condition for those aspiring to succeed him, recently said that someone who believes in

the state with the capacity to govern it would emerge the candidate of the APC. The high standard of performance created by the incumbent is such that the Edo electorate would not settle for the less among the aspirants, who have indicated interest.

Interestingly, the contest promises to be hotly contested between the APC and PDP on account of the latter ’s somewhat strong presence in the state.

Those believed to be interested in job from the ruling APC include , Kenneth Imansuangbon Dr. Pius Odubu, Osaridion Ogie, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Don Pedro Obaseki.

Others in the PDP are Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Solomon Edebiri and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

Ondo State governorship election: The state would conspicuously be in the national consciousness as a result of this year ’s governorship poll.

Drawing analogy from the last two exercises in the state, which were hotly and bitterly contested by the APC and PDP, analysts foresee a repeat.

Being one of the two bastions of the PDP in the South-West geo-political zone, the party would be seen putting its best at ensuring that it retains the governorship seat.

Estimation of observers In the estimation of observers, the PDP may be relying on the popularity of the incumbent governors, Dr Olusegun Mimmiko while the APC stakeholders would be looking up to Abuja.

Bayelsa supplementary election: Undoubtedly, the January 9 scheduled supplementary election in Bayelya State would be the first major event of the year that is capable of arousing so much public interest.

The election, which is a fallout of the violence that marred the December 5 exercise in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, LGA, is certainly going to hold in same area and 112 polling units in an atmosphere of fear.

Instructively, the LGA with about 120,000 registered voters holds the ace in determining who becomes the next governor of Bayelsa.

Whichever party the result favours in the final analysis the outcome would either amount to a consolidation for

Continues from page 27

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 —27

C M Y K

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

BUHARI:

as we know of it today. It was under Buhari that the nation’s proverbial cash-cow, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was established, along with the Kaduna Refineries.

He also set up the network of pipelines and 21 fuel storage depots that distribute refined products to all parts of the country. The pipelines from Port Harcourt Refinery to the Bonny Terminal was also put in place during this dispensation. It was under this regime that the oil wealth of Nigeria was made a truly national resource, as opposed to being a subject of “resource control” as Niger Delta activists are pushing for.

After the military handed over to civilians on October 1st, 1979, Buhari returned to full military duties and demonstrated his no-nonsense disposition in 1983 when Chadian force strayed into Nigeria and occupied territories in today’s Borno.

It pays to persist

By Ochereome Nnanna Chairman, Editorial Board

I

F the policy of one couple, four children that General Ibrahim Babangida lamely tried to introduce (and became the first to violate) in the late 1980’s to tackle population explosion were operational in Nigeria back in 1942, Muhammadu Buhari, son of Zulaihat and Adamu, would not have been born.

He was the 23rd child of his family. It was from the bottom of that heap of siblings that God selected a man who now presides over the 170 millionstrong black nation on earth as an elected president.

Buhari is only the second person dead or alive, that has ruled Nigeria as a military officer and later got elected by popular mandate.

Born in Daura on 17th November 1942, Muhammadu’s father died when he was four years old, and the boy had to be raised by his widowed mother.

The young lad with a tall, straight, gangling bearing received his primary education in Daura and Mai’Adua before proceeding to Katsina College.

Struggle for supremacy It was while he stayed in Katsina that he made contact with Yar’ Adua family and got acquainted with two sons of the family who were later to play front line roles in the evolving history of Nigeria – the late General Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua and late President Umaru Yar’ Adua.

The family’s patriarch, Alhaji Musa Yar’ Adua, was a high ranking chieftain of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) who later became Minister for Lagos Affairs.

Yar’ Adua personally named the Bar Beach ocean front after Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, an event that has deep roots in the struggle for supremacy among the founding fathers of Nigeria.

Reports have it that in the period shortly after Nigeria’s independence, there was a massive drive to recruit and enlist as many young, vibrant and able-bodied senior C M Y K

Occupied territories

President Muhammadu Buhari students in secondary schools across the North in the Army and Police.

Buhari was caught in this scheme, and he was already in the military school in 1962 before his Cambridge West Africa School Certificate was issued.

Beyond the fact that, as a young officer, he fought in the civil war that erupted after the

coups and counter-coups of January and July 1966, very little was heard of Buhari until 30th July 1975, when he had become a Lieutenant Colonel.

He participated in the coup that ousted General Yakubu Gowon, the wartime head of state who ruled Nigeria for a record nine straight years.

Buhari was appointed as the Military Governor of Nigeria’s largest state about a fifth of the size of the entire country, the North Eastern State, which today has been split into six states (Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States).

the Federation, Mr David Babachir Lawal.

When General Mohammed was assassinated during the Col Bukar Suka Dimka failed but bloody coup and General Olusegun Obasanjo became the Head of State in 1976, Buhari was appointed as the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources; a position that enabled him to lay the foundation for the oil industry

Buhari, then as the General Officer Commanding the Third Armoured Division, Jos, mobilised soldiers to run the invaders out of the country and deep into Chadian territory, defying President Shehu Shagari’s orders to stop. The Chadians lost over 100 troops and Buhari returned with many prisoners of war.

He thus sent a message to neighbouring countries that Nigeria was off-limits for any foreign military adventurists.

Unfortunately, Nigeria could not do the same for the Bakasi area in the South, where the Cameroonian armed forces and gendarmes continued to Continues on page 30

Foundation for the oil industry

It was under this regime that the oil wealth of Nigeria was made a truly national resource, as opposed to being a subject of “resource control” as Niger Delta activists are pushing for

Buhari obviously put down enduring roots in that section of Nigeria, where he returned to years later to combat crossborder raids, and in 2015, won some of his largest volumes of electoral votes.

The people of that part of the country also occupy prominent positions in his government.

These include his National Security Adviser (NSA) retired Major General Babagana Monguno; Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai and Secretary to the Government of

President Muhammadu Buhari (r) with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—29

2

By Jide Ajani

015 Doomsday scenario: The Niger Bridge at Onitsha has been bombed.

Igbo are being slaughtered in some states of the North. The militants have taken over 10 oil platforms at the last count and Nigeria is now only able to produce about 250,000 barrels of crude per day.

Banks have not opened for business for three weeks now and may not open very soon because of looting and street wars. The USA, Britain and about 40 other countries have stopped their citizens from visiting Nigeria until a travel ban is lifted. Protesters are being killed on the streets of Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Uyo. The whereabouts of President Jonathan is unknown.

Muhammad Buhari and Attahiru Jega of INEC have gone into hiding.

The remainder of the 2015 elections can no longer hold.

Schools have been shut, universities closed. Three newspaper offices have been petrol-bombed while two broadcast stations have been on fire since yesterday.

All these making the headlines between March 31 and April 4 after the March 28, 2015, presidential election results were disputed by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. But perish the thought. God forbid. These never happened. Nigerians are living in peace and moving on because Jonathan conceded victory to Buhari.

Immense strength Who says you cannot draw immense strength from weakness? At a time when destruction, carnage and mayhem were listening with rapt attention and waiting for possible orders, orders whether there would be incitement and call to arms, or equanmity; whether brashness, or good sense, would prevail; and, whether disapproval would give way to concession, former President Jonathan, a man described generally by many as weak, did the not-toofamiliar in this clime: He conceded victory to Buhari.

But that, in the warped estimation of some, can be termed a manifestation of weakness - not being able to ‘fight for it’; or, lacking the will to make it a ‘do-or-die’ matter, as those before him had declared.

With what happened to Jonathan on election day when the card reader failed to identify him, and the changing of the rules mid way in the presidential election he had good cause not to concede.

Yet, some have even poohpoohed the gesture as not amounting to much because Nigerians would have forced him out any way. True. But, C M Y K

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

JONATHAN: Drawing strength from weakness at what cost?

Psychologists would have to carry the burden of unravelling - or, better put, deconstructing - the type of persona Jonathan really was as President and Commander-in-Chief on the one hand; while, at the same time, attempting a clinical psycho-analysis of the ordinary boy from the dingy, sleepy backwaters of Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Both ways, he would come across as a classical guineapig. The boy who wore no shoes to school and who used to put his books on his head was Nigeria’s President for about five years.

Grace and good luck don’t

But for Jonathan, a man on whom many negative expletives were heaped during the presidential campaigns, he turned out to be one in possession of a rare strength of character which is alien to Nigeria

come any easier! He was a simple, very simple man by nature and the story of his ascendancy is too familiar to be retold here. He was born on November 20, 1957.

But we can, as well, continue to take it for granted - the tranquility of the moment, that is. In a polity of contentious and unimaginably clashing socio-political and economic interests, it does not take long to ignite the fire of hate, acrimony and general disturbance of peace.

General disturbance of peace It does not take long to incite the public and call out people who quickly transform into a mob. It happened just after the declaration of results of the 2011 presidential election because the loser let loose on the polity, his acolytes who did not agree with the result of the election.

But for Jonathan, a man on whom many negative expletives were heaped during the presidential campaigns, he turned out to be one in possession of a rare strength of character which is alien to Nigeria, by accepting his loss at the polls and conceding victory to Buhari of the then opposition All Progressive Congress, APC. For the first time in the history of Nigeria the one who lost an election called the winner to congratulate him.

For the first time in Nigeria,

a sitting President accepted defeat.

In fact, the telephone conversation between Jonathan and Buhari, even before the last batch of results were announced, went thus: Caller: Your excellency, sir.

Hope I’m speaking with General Buhari, sir. President Goodluck Jonathan would like to speak with you, sir.

Receiver: Yes. Okay, hold on.

Jonathan: Your Excellency Receiver: Hold on, sir.

Buhari: Your Excellency Jonathan: Your Excellency, how are you?

Buhari: I’m all right.

Jonathan: (Laughter) Congratulations Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency.

Jonathan: So, how are things?

Buhari: Well, I’d congratulate you more because you….

Jonathan: In a few days find time to come so that we can sort out how to plan the transitional period.

Buhari: Alright, Your Excellency. Thank you very much Jonathan: Okay, congratulations Buhari: My respects, Your Excellency. Thank you.

This gesture was followed with uncommon candour, when Jonathan told a palpably anxious nation in a broadcast that “I promised the country free and fair elections.

“I have kept my word. I

Continues on page 31

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

BUHARI: It pays to persist Continues from page 28 harass our people and forcefully occupy their land until Bakasi was fully conceded to them by President Obasanjo in 2001.

By 1983 after the general election, the economy took a nosedive, amidst widespread corruption under the Shagari government, and Buhari, now a Major General, returned to the “business” of coup making, by participating in the conspiracy that showed the Shagari government the door in a bloodless coup. (Though he denies being party to it, available evidence flies in the face of this).

On 2nd January, 1984, Buhari was appointed as Head of State, and he picked Brigadier (later Major General) Tunde Idiagbon as his Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, or in a simpler word, second-in-command.

It was also the first MuslimMuslim, Fulani-Fulani and Northern-Northern presidential pairing in our history which is characterised by delicate geopolitical, ethnic and religious balancing to give every section of the country a sense of belonging.

Repressive regime Both Buhari and Idiagbon were soul mates of sorts. The defunct legendary Newswatch Magazine aptly referred to them as “the Dour Duo”. They mounted a very austere, repressive regime, detained many politicians and civil servants without trial, jailed politicians after kangaroo military trials.

One politician, Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo, the former civilian Governor of Kano State, received a 300-year jail sentence. No need to worry – the man died in 1989. Goods disappeared from the shelves due to the severe economic measures, and the regime cracked down on the media and civil liberties with draconian military decrees.

Buhari and Idiagbon who shared power like identical twins prosecuted a very effective War Against Indiscipline (WAI) aimed at restoring discipline, shunning corruption and entrenching ethical orientation.

That regime was flushed out, once again, in a coup in which a major protagonist of the December 31st 1983, Major General Ibrahim Babangida, personally directed.

Buhari was humiliated after his downfall in August 1985 after 20 months in power. He was kept in detention in Benin until 1988 before he was allowed to go home by the Babangida regime. When he gained his freedom, he retired C M Y K

into a quiet, reclusive life and General of the National never made official public Agency for Food and Drug appearances or media Administration and Control (NAFDAC). When Abacha statements.

Buhari, however, returned to died and the civilian regime of the public life when General Obasanjo was about to be Sani Abacha shoved aside the sworn-in, Buhari got wind of Chief Ernest Shonekan-led his planned scrapping of the Interim National Government PTF and resigned on May on 17th November, 1993. 28th, 1999. He went back to his Abacha never hid his liking quiet life, but not for long.

After the Sharia riots that and admiration for Buhari, particularly his reputation as swept the far North in 2000, a man of integrity and Buhari suddenly became exemplary personal carriage. politically active. With many When Abacha set up the predominantly Muslim states Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) in in the North adopting a fuller 1995, he made Buhari the version of Sharia than the old Executive Chairman and gave established personal laws, him the cart blanche to run and use it to change the broken state of the infrastructural and social sectors. Most Nigerians applauded Buhari as discharging his job competently, even though there were complaints that he unduly favoured the North in the appointment of top staff, consultants, award of contracts and distribution of projects.

It was Buhari that “discovered” one of Nigeria’s most outstanding President Muhammadu Buhari ladies in public service, the late Professor Dora Buhari became increasingly a Akunyili, whose track record of symbol of the desired competence and integrity as leadership the lower classes of the South East Zonal Secretary the North yearned for. of the PTF launched her into Encouraged by their former President Obasanjo’s enthusiastic response, Buhari government as Director surprised many by not only joining the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), he also emerged as its presidential candidate in 2003. Many writers in a section of the media that supported President Obasanjo who was running for a second term in office took on Buhari.

Surprisingly, some of them turned around to promote his candidacy in 2015.

A dogged fighter, Buhari went to court on each occasion he lost, believing he was unfairly rigged out, but on each occasion, he also lost at the Supreme Court

Section of the media They mocked him for joining politics after repressing politicians. They teased him for becoming part of the democratic process after truncating democracy.

They dredged up all manners of dirt from his past, including the rumoured $2.8 billion “missing” from the NNPC, as well as the N25 billion “stolen” from the PTF under his watch. Incidentally, Obasanjo himself later on

cleared Buhari of any culpability on both issues.

But Buhari soldiered on. He lost the 2003 poll by 12.5 million to the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Obasanjo’s 24.1 million votes. In 2007, he plunged once again into the quest for presidential power.

He lost woefully to his fellow Katsina kinsman, late President Umaru Yar’ Adua of the PDP, garnering 6.6 million votes compared to Yar’ Adua’s 24.8 million, though the latter admitted in his inaugural speech that the election was “compromised” and vowed to

institute electoral reforms.

Undaunted, Buhari, who later fell out with some leaders of the ANPP (especially some of the governors) formed his own Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and mounted on it to challenge PDP’s flag bearer, President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 polls.

By now, several elements in the North had become desperate to have power come back to the region, and despite their best efforts, Buhari still lost, scoring 12.2 million compared to President Jonathan’s 22.5 million.

A dogged fighter, Buhari went to court on each occasion he lost, believing he was unfairly rigged out, but on each occasion, he also lost at the Supreme Court.

He was so embittered that he vowed not to contest elections again. In fact, when a group of his supporters paid him a visit in his Kaduna, he broke down and wept, but later succumbed to their pleas to come out again in 2015. He, however, warned that this time, if the election was rigged “both the monkey and baboon will soak in blood”.

Continues on page 32

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—31

Jonathan: Drawing strength from weakness Continues from page 29 have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure. Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress. As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else…”

This, at a time when some hawks in the leadership cadre of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, his political party, did not want him to relinquish power.

Up till the last moment Jonathan called Buhari, some leaders of his party and government did not want to concede.

More, the embarrassing and frightening public spectacle of a former minister, one Godsday Orubebe, who attempted to stifle the process by enacting a show of shame in the full glare of klieg lights and the world press, shouting and attempting to draw the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attahiru Jega, into an altercation, while results were being collated, sent the signal that, perhaps, Jonathan would not accept defeat.

The emotional intelligence deployed by Jega, doused tension as he was unmoved by Orubebe’s provocative dramatisation of frustration.

Provocative dramatisation In an interview with Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and former Director of Publicity for Buhari’s presidential campaign organisation, after the inauguration, he disclosed that the apprehension in the opposition camp bordered on whether Jonathan would accept defeat or not.

Now, in the book ACTION LEARNING , Reg Revans argues that there is a solution to a puzzle, it only needs to be found out but the solution to a problem needs to be worked out.

However, Nigeria, ever so negatively inventive, had created a problem of transition since early elections after independence because the one who lost an election would not agree and, therefore, pursue litigation, whereas, the solution, like that of a puzzle, existed.

But why would an individual who lost an election not be C M Y K

ready to concede victory to the winner? Good question even to the incumbent President who had lost elections three times before but never agreed with the result and challenged, through the courts, the outcome.

In Daniel Goleman’s E M O T I O N A L INTELLIGENCE, we learn that “the ability to control impulse is the basis of will and character”. Under immense pressure, Jonathan was able to let go.

With revelations coming out about the wanton waste of public funds from the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, under the last President, why should Jonathan be worthy of any mention per personality of the year?

Interesting question.

Historic inauguration But no other individual appreciated the concession of Jonathan than the beneficiary, President Buhari.

At the historic inauguration on May 29, 2015, Buhari had this to say of Jonathan: “I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the

He made flashes of statesmanlike conduct by expanding the political space and allowing the opposition to blossom in a country where his predecessors had practically emasculated and muffled the voice of opposition

outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.”

Jonathan’s tenure from 2011 to 2015 would raise many questions about his choice as Personality of The Year. He made flashes of statesmanlike conduct by expanding the political space and allowing the opposition to blossom in a country where his predecessors had practically emasculated and muffled the voice of opposition. While some hawks around him wanted toughness and brute force, Jonathan opted for conciliation. But there are those who would argue for him; while many would argue against him so much so that the air of status quo was so repellant at the time of election that some just wanted anything but Jonathan.

This is 2015 and Nigerians

the main legal instrument that would allow you vote. It did not matter that just a week to the first presidential election date of February 14, about 40% of PVCs were yet to be received (not collected as INEC would want Nigerians believe because you collect what is ready for collection).

The postponement made the contest all the more fierce.

Post election doomsayers predicted that whatever the outcome, crisis would follow.

The international community lent its voice to the need for calm after the results are announced. The Washington Post Bestseller, ‘POWER PLAY, Win or Lose – How history’s great political leaders play the game’, written by Dick Morris, Fox News Channel Political Analyst, is a compelling read for those who may not appreciate the last humble act

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan are still living in peace because one man conceded power.

He cannot be held responsible for the insurgency and the activities of Boko Haram but he can be blamed for the way he handled the abduction of the over 200 Chibok girls.

True, there may have been political undertones at the commencement of the insurgency but when the presidency was quick to splash the tar of politics on every act of insurgency, it belied the fundamental issues which were related purely to a lack of capacity from the seat of power.

Lack of capacity Yes, he was not perfect. In fact, were perfection to be a factor in the choice of Vanguard Editors, the toxicity of Jonathan’s mention would have had an annihilating effect on the senses. An example was laid bare in February by otherwise intelligent people, largely in the opposition, who chose to look the other way in the face of a shambolic preelection distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs,

of Jonathan as President.

Examining 20 leaders as “early as Abraham Lincoln and as recent as Junichiro Koizumi, George Bush and Tony Blair”, Morris looked at “how Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) and Winston Churchill succeeded and Lydon Johnson failed in mobilizing their nations at a time of crisis”, noted that “politics is the pursuit of power and history is the story of that pursuit”, and insisted that “there is nothing new in politics; there are only ingenious reinventions of the wheel”.

Pray, former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon (postponement of handover date), Ibrahim Babangida (June 12 annulment) and civilian President Olusegun Obasanjo (Third Term pursuit), in spite of all they achieved while in power, lost all because of the charming yet potentially destructive lure of power and a determination not to know when to allow a process of transition manifest.

At each turn, doom loomed.

The over 500,000 lives lost in Rwanda can be traced to the latent power struggle that Continues on page 32

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

BUHARI: It pays to persist Continued from page 30 The auguries worked well towards Buhari’s eventual victory. Many people had become disenchanted with the Jonathan regime due to his perceived loose attitude to corruption, the spread of Boko Haram insurgency and the general state of insecurity in the country.

Rancorous campaigns Secondly, the ruling PDP had in its ranks a large number of disenchanted leaders who deplored internal processes that threw up candidates for powerful offices. Encouraged by the internal ferment in the PDP, the opposition parties embarked on another attempt to create a merger to try and upstage the PDP. Buhari brought his CPC into merger with Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the ANPP. In February 2013, these three parties and smaller splinter groups from other parties formed the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In November 2013, the fate of the PDP as a ruling party was sealed and consigned to history when five of its governors – Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, who constituted the Abubakar Baraje faction

known as the “ new” PDP, joined the APC. Months later, a large section of federal legislators from the PDP, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, decamped to the APC. Majority sections of the North and South West were in the APC, while a minority section the South West and the vast majority of South East and South-South remained in the PDP. At the March 28th 2015 presidential election, Buhari finally triumphed with 15.4 million to President Jonathan’s 12.8 million votes.

Even before the final results were announced on April 1, 2015, Jonathan called Buhari, conceded victory to him and congratulated him. Thus was peacefully concluded a democratic process which was characterised by rancorous campaigns that led many to

Buhari brought his CPC into merger with Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the ANPP

Buhari

believe in the imminence of violence outbreak. The nation was given a new chance to continue to exist as a united entity unlike the prognosis from several quarters that foresaw a possible breakup after the polls of 2015.

Both President Buhari and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan contributed in a very large measure in the successful conduct of the 2015 elections that witnessed the first transfer of power from one regime to another across political parties in the history of Nigeria, a great African example for which Jonathan is being

JONATHAN: Drawing strength from weakness Continues from page 31 went out of hand. There was Samuel Doe who refused to relinquish power in Liberia Liberians are still recovering from the war that followed almost a quarter of a century later. Zaire, Central Africa Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone are countries that have gone through needless wars because of power struggle.

Nigeria should by now have become a more stable, prosperous democracy had the June 12, 1993 presidential election not been decidedly made controversial by the military junta that refused to relinquish power.

22 years after, the nation has not fully recovered from that hurt. Lives were lost during the struggle to return the country to democracy. There was the Peace Committee that ensured that both Buhari and Jonathan signed a deal that would ensure that the outcome of the election would be accepted by either man. It had no legal backing. So, it could C M Y K

Jonathan have as well been a fool’s errand.

Jonathan, with a demure demeanour, verdant and unacquainted, for sparing Nigeria and its over 180,000,000 people the chaos, war and loss of many lives, things that had been predicted to happen after the 2015 general elections, as well as

the possible dismemberment of the country - not forgetting that a chaotic Nigeria would have meant an unstable West African sub-region - and by conceding victory to Buhari in a presidential contest, we have chosen him as Vanguard’s cowinner of the Personality of The Year. His joint winner is President Buhari.

honoured all over the world.

Buhari’s contributions to it were obvious.

He wholeheartedly participated in the two peace pacts signed between the two leading candidates brokered by the National Peace Committee led by retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Though Buhari’s supporters frequently harassed Jonathan’s campaign in the North, he chided them and dissociated himself from the dastardly acts.

Even when the Federal government suddenly postponed the presidential election earlier on fixed for 14th February to the end of March, Buhari and the APC complied though they complained it was a ploy for PDP to perfect its act.

Political struggles Buhari’s political struggles were reminiscent of a similar unrelenting pursuit by former American President, Abraham Lincoln who never gave up after losing so many elections until he was elected president of the USA. It is uncommon for a former military dictator to invest so much hope in the democratic process in spite of the feeling that he was not fairly treated.

For a man who was rumoured to live only on his military pension to be able to contest presidential elections four times is also something that intrigues many about this man.

Certainly, Buhari is a man about whom lots of stories are waiting to be told even long after he has had his time on earth: from his humble backgrounds through his travails to his ascent of the presidential seat (twice).

And 2015, being the year he declared to the media: “I am fulfilled”, will go down as the year he helped make, for the better, for Nigeria.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 33

Tinubu: A skilled political strategist as Hero of Democracy

By Adekunle Adekoya, General Editor

P

RECEDENTS in the nation’s political history indicated that the All Peoples Congress, APC, a coalition of some opposition parties will not succeed in its bid to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Afterall, in the First Republic, the United Parties Grand Alliance, UPGA, failed to dislodge the ruling NPC (Northern Peoples Congress) in the 1964 parliamentary elections.

The NPC, was the ruling party and dominant party in the Nigerian National Alliance, NNA, and its partners were the Nigerian National Democratic Party, the Midwest Democratic Front, the Dynamic Party, the Niger Delta Congress, the Lagos State United Front and the Republican Party. UPGA was a coalition of parties like the NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons), Action Group (AG), the Northern Progressive Front, the Kano People’s Party, the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) and the Zamfara Commoners Party.

NPC won 162 of the 312 seats in contention, while the larger NNA won a total of 198 seats.

UPGA had failed.

Chance of success Similarly, the Progressive Parties Alliance, PPA was formed in the Second Republic to tackle the ruling National Party of Nigeria, NPN. The strongest party in the alliance was the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, led by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Great Nigerian Peoples Party, GNPP, led by late Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, and the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, led by late Alhaji Aminu Kano.

The NPN itself was in partnership with another party, the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, led by the country’s first president, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, in what is known as the NPN/ NPP Accord. In the elections of 1983, the PPA could do little to dent the NPN’s armour; Alhaji Shehu Shagari was reelected.

Given these, very few people gave the APC, a coalition of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, the Action Congress, AC, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, much chance of success. But by the time campaigns began, and crowds started thronging

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu APC’s rallies, it became clear that the precedents may not matter in the 2015 elections.

There is general agreement that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu is the driving force of the alliance, indeed, the cobbler that put the

coalition together.

A tree maketh a forest not; Asiwaju Tinubu was, of course, not working alone. The desire to upstage the ruling party from power was widespread among the power elite in the opposition, but elements of the PDP itself who were disgruntled with the status quo became the grease that oiled the works.

Tasking enterprise

APC’s victory marked the very first time an opposition party would wrest power from the ruling party in Nigeria, just like it happened in neighbouring Ghana

From disaffected members of the PDP that became the newPDP (nPDP), to the five governors that defected, politicians of disparate persuasions were persuaded to come under the same umbrella, united in their determination to hold sway at the centre.

It was a tasking enterprise, but the former Lagos State Governor was in his elements, recruiting even the most unlikely allies. One of such was former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, with whom Tinubu had a running

battle over creation of more councils.

Nobody ever thought the day would come when A s i w a j u Tinubu would go to Ota Farm to see Obasanjo.

T i n u b u h i m s e l f remarked that his being in Ota was indicative of the fact that “in politics, there are no permanent enemies, or friends, only interests.”

Pessimists garnered more fillip when G e n e r a l Muhammadu B u h a r i emerged APC presidential candidate.

Nobody gave them any chance; the widely held position was that a Tinubu and a Buhari are oil and water that don’t mix.

Even the intrigues and power plays that preceded the nomination proper was believed to have tested the strongest links in the alliance called APC. It was not all smooth sailing though, the convention that produced Chief John OdigieOyegun as the party ’s chairman again tested the foundations of the coalition, as one of the cobblers, Chief Tom Ikimi alleged exclusionist power plays and pulled out.

But APC survived, and went ahead to win the elections.

The pattern of voting which had remained the same for a very long time was radically altered, no thanks to the political coalition put together by the man fondly called Jagaban.

Not only that, APC’s victory marked the very first time an opposition party would wrest power from the ruling party in Nigeria, just like it happened in neighbouring Ghana. By this, the maturity of the nation’s democratic experience, re-started in 1999, is assured. The Jagaban as lead actor, has the credit for this.

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

JEGA: Phenomenal academic, activist, administrator

By Charles Kumolu

S

INCE his birth in the agrarian community of Jega on January 11, 1957, in the defunct Northern region Prof Atahiru Jega has certainly been a big story.

His footprints on the paths he had walked are as constant as the northern stars.

Be it in academia, activism, or public office, Jega’s trajectory is indeed a notable narrative.

Admired and perhaps misunderstood with same measure, he meant different things to different people at different times.

With a blend of ideology, resoluteness and intellectualism, he simply comes across as a modern political scientist with an urbane understanding of the dialectics of governance.

At some critical junctures in the nation’s life, providence had consciously thrown Jega up resulting in him becoming one of the protagonists of such times.

To prepare him for such defining roles, the young Jega bagged his First School Leaving Certificate at Sabon Gari Primary School, Jega in the present day Kebbi State between 1963 and 1969. He then proceeded to Government Secondary School Birnin Kebbi.

Political evolution Rather than securing employment as was the fashion for secondary school leavers of that era, he proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, (Bayero University College) where he studied Political Science.

Armed with a Bachelor of Science, B. Sc degree, Second Class Upper Division, at the completion of his studies in 1979, the man, who would later become one of the renowned political scientist, secured a teaching appointment at Bayero University Kano ,BUK. A fellowship at the North Western University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1981 provided an opportunity for his doctorate degree in Political Science, which was completed in 1984.

Afterward, Jega returned to BUK to commence a lecturing career at the Department of Political Science, where he would later play critical roles in the nations’s constitutional and political evolution.

As the President of Accademic Staff Union of Universities ,ASUU, during the regime of former Head of State, Gen Ibrahim Babangida ,retd, , the ideologically leftist Dr. Jega as he was then known, led the progressives in the fight

Prof. Attahiru Jega against military dictatorship.

Despite the burden of other national concerns of that era, Jega’s leadership impacted in salutary ways on his immediate constituency, the academia.

He was credited to have been the brain behind the promulgation of Decree 7 of 1993 which established the Education Tax Fund to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.

Also worthy of note at that time when ASUU was mostly proscribed, was the signing of a critical agreement with the Federal Government which resulted in improved wages and working conditions for university lecturers.

At other times, he was a visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, between March 1992 and March 1993 and visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Political Science,

When the books would be written, Jega the activist, academic and public administrator would stand out as a high impact contributor to Nigeria’s steps to nationhood

University of Stockholm, Sweden.

Prof Jega’s proficient intellectual and administrative capacity saw him becoming the Deputy Vice-chancellor (Academics) of BUK in 1995 and subsequently Director, Centre for Democratic Research and Training of same institution in 2000.

In 2005, his robust career in the academia, peaked with his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of BUK, a position he held until his appointment as the Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission ,INEC, in 2010.

As the Vice Chancellor of BUK, Jega brought to bear, the experience garnered as a labour leader resulting in the laudable changes the institution witnessed during his tenure.

At a time when INEC was challenged by integrity crisis, then President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him the head of the commission.

This appointment came after he participated at the Justice Mohammadu Uwais-led Electoral Reforms committee.

Succeeding his predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu, who perhaps was perceived to have through omission or commission earned INEC a partisan reputation, came with burden of expectations.

From inception, Jeja’s INEC left no one in doubt about its determination to represent a fundamental departure from the nation’s sordid history of election management.

The novelty of his stewardship at INEC was evidenced in the introduction of the Automated Finger Print Identification

aimed at putting an end to incidents of multiple registration.

There was also the practice of using Vice Chancellors of Universities and other academics to superintend elections, a development adjudged to have added up to the credibility of the electoral process.

Electoral process Under his watch, the Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, and Smart Card Reader, SCR, were introduced to further curb the rate of multiple voting and other forms of all electoral malpractice. The Continuous Voter Registration ,CVR, exercise he had introduced, led to the registration of 68.8 million eligible voters at the end of the exercise.

These innovations which were reflective of his resilience and avowed commitment to making sure that the elections were credible largely influenced the credibility of the two general elections he conducted in 2011 and 2015 respectively.

The globally acclaimed credibility of the 2015 exercise, which culminated in the peaceful transfer of power from a defeated ruling party, to a victorious opposition simply placed Jega’s name on the positive side of Nigeria’s history.

Thus, when the books would be written, Jega the activist, academic and public administrator would stand out as a high impact contributor to Nigeria’s steps to nationhood.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—35

heard and under-represented via a mobile phone notification and survey platform.

In 2013, Rasheeda founded Nasara Tech Ltd, a technologyfocused company that creates solutions to problems identified in local communities, and accordingly can be applied worldwide. She has led and managed the development of Nasara Tech’s two in-house products, Nasara Mobile and The Nasara Voting System, as well as custom application projects for specific client needs.

Lily Kudzro

Queen Baboloki

Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza

Ukinebo Dare

Four women who made Africa proud at the Future Awards 2015

By Esther Onyegbula

F

OUR brilliant and beautiful women have made Africa proud at the just concluded 10th year anniversary edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) which was held at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos last year.

Of the 11 outstanding young achievers rewarded for their excellent work across the continent in different fields ranging from science and technology, business, entertainment, politics, to education these four women did Africa proud.

Gender equality These women include, 25year-old, Queen Baboloki from (Botswana) won the Future Awards Africa Prize in Advocacy & Activism, Queen Baboloki, 29-year-old Lily Kudzro from (Ghana) won the Future Awards Africa Prize in Education, 25-year-old, Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza from (Ghana) also won the Future Awards Africa Prize in Technology, while Ukinebo Dare won Ford Foundation Prize for Youth Employment Category.

Queen Baboloki (Botswana) has made significant strides in the field of gender equality.

She works at the vanguard of a movement to stop gender violence in Botswana. Starting in 2009, Queen began mentoring vulnerable students through the Face the Nation Program in Botswana. Baboloki saw firsthand the impact of gender-based violence. As a counsellor, she helped young

girls cope with violence experienced in the home. She taught those vulnerable students life-skills and reinforced their value as people.

Building on that work, Baboloki became a University of Botswana Peer Counselor focusing on young women who had experienced violence. Her work combines counselling with educational guidance, mentorship and career decision-making.

By integrating these concepts together, battered young women become psychologically as well as financially independent.

Lily Kudzro (Ghana) is the CEO of Devio Arts Center. A social entrepreneur, Kudzro believes that children and

young people can create and inspire their own future and can become change-makers in their communities.

She makes use of creative and imaginative ways to introduce students and schools to practical visual arts application. A strong advocate for attitude and policy change towards improving the overall quality of STEAM education in African schools, Kudzro hopes to impact 100,000 African students within the next 5 years. With a passion for

With her keen knowledge of technology and programming, she has also built computer games such as Buju Hunt and Sphere Attack and has developed desktop applications, including the snapso shutdown manager and web browser as freewares which can be found on softpedia.

Ukinebo Dare won the Ford Foundation Prize for Youth Employment category. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Poise’ Graduate Finishing Academy, she beat other nominees: Kabiru SeiduDankata, Eze Ifedy-Ralph, Olamide Adeleye, Ifeanyi Aniagoh, Olajide Kabir-Tosin and was awarded 5000 as well as media inventory valued at $20,000.

Proper implementation of VAPP Act our priority — FIDA

By Funmi Olasupo

A

As a counsellor, she helped young girls cope with violence experienced in the home. She taught those vulnerable students lifeskills and reinforced their value as people

creative arts, Kudzro recognized the sincere gap in the educational structures of Ghana for children to explore and realize their artistic potential.

Rasheeda Mandeeya Yehuza (Ghana) is passionate about technology and how society can apply it to improve development in Ghana and Africa at-large. Yehuza currently works as a software engineer at VOTO Mobile, which provides a platform to amplify the voice of the under-

Knowledge of technology

BUJA — I N T E R N AT I O N A L Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Abuja Chapter says it is committed towards the proper implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 especially in the FCT and its environs.

This was revealed during the popularization of the VAPP Act at the Gomo’s palace in Kuje Area Council, Abuja.

Fielding questions from journalist, Chairperson, FIDA Abuja chapter, Mrs. Amina Agbaje a Barrister at Law maintained that the VAPP Act is a law that is available for implementation in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and its environ but it is not yet known to the people.

She said, FIDA is committed to the

implementation of the VAPP Act not only within the FCT but to also make it operational in the remaining 36 states of the federation.

“The VAPP Act is a law that is available for implementation in the FCT, and a law that is available and not known to the people is as good as not having a law.

“What we have come here today to is to sensitize the people of the provisions of the Act, one of them said he had issue where a very matured man of 33 years of age raped a 3 years old little girl and he was a given a 3 years sentence.

“This VAPP Act has taken care of situations like that, you could see that in the revised law now an offender is sentenced to a minimum of 12 years to life imprisonment. So what we are doing now is to sensitise the people to the provision of this Act and implementation will

normally follow its cause.”

Mrs. Agbaje explained.

Responding, His Royal Highness, the Gomos of Kuje, Haruna Jubril expressed delight towards FIDA’s sense of reasoning to bring such sensitization to the council at the very time it was needed most.

His RH Jubril explained that cases such as rape and other immoral act are sometimes more pronounce in the grass root.

He said, “The responsibilities of traditional rulers in Nigeria and the law varies, which cannot be over emphasis, because some of these cases are more pronounced at the grass root and as such as traditional rulers make use of our and the provision of the our custom to dispense such case, but if the police are involve then the right place to go is court and we don’t interfere.”

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

I'll not demean myself to corrupt practices —Joan Ayo, FCSC boss

By Favour Nnabugwu

IF

ever the world sees a time when women shall come together purely and simply for the benefit and good of mankind, it will be a power such as the world has never known.” A 19th century poet Matthew Arnold believed that women can change the world. He was prophetic. At this critical time in history, many are seeking alternatives to the traditional ‘command-andcontrol’ models of leadership.

Personality is almost as significant as intelligence when it comes to women’s ability to perform work tasks efficiently despite the myriad of diverse factors that contribute to leadership performance in both women and men, including an individual’s personality traits, thinking and feeling styles, values, motivations, childhood experiences, and cultural milieu.

The chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Joan Olatoyosi Ayo, says the commission under her leadership was determined to uphold the traditional core values of civil service in the country.

Sustainable development She vows to ensure an efficient civil service that is patriotic, highly cultured and committed to the sustainable development of the country in line with the President’s Transformation Agenda.

Ayo points out that the commission has not been shy in its responsibility to uphold its vision and mission, especially the insistence on the strict adherence to the measures put in place to increase the number of vacancies.

Along with her executive social skills, are her remarkable services for networking, collaboration, empathy, inclusion, and sharing of power even when the men tend to cast themselves within hierarchies and view power as rank and status, Deaconess Ayo’s mien recognises that there is more than one way for employees to contribute effectively which is to give them room to prove that.

“Based on what I am preaching, therefore, there is no way I can involve myself in any form of corruption. Moreover, I comport myself well before the

commissioners, again, based on my posture for discipline and official relationship with the commissioners, I will not demean myself by colluding with anyone of them for corrupt practices, indeed, in the Commission, we have zero tolerance for all forms of corrupt practices.”

The FCSC boss while addressing the 173 ex-Corp members who got Presidential awards in Abuja clearly restates her position when she says their appointment has not political influence from any quarter.

Political influence “You appointment or recognition has been based on merit and that is why it has nothing to do federal character distribution. You will find out that in some states they have more than in other states; you have individually earned what you are receiving today and that is what we call merit or meritocracy.”

“Your selection has been purely without any political prejudice. So it is not that somebody somewhere said she must be chosen or he must be brought in, it is devoid of political influence and that is what we call political neutrality.”

“It is not just that you did it out of compulsion, you have behaved naturally and it is your natural behaviour that as singled you out for this award because you cannot feign a character for 24 hours, 7 days of the week and 365 days of the year; if it were possible to stay

character for so long then every other ex-|Corp members would have been here today.”

The FCSC boss promises to ensure “a civil service that will take its r i g h t f u l position and contribute to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria; t h a t embraces normal core value, job efficiency, discipline a n d professionalism in their attitude to work.”

“These are what we have been yearning for, most importantly a civil service that is well trained and globally competitive, because we don’t want to see ourselves as an island doing our things in differently from the global practices,” she added.

Ayo argues that the Commission is better than what it was before the arrival of her team. That, she notes is

because of the high regard that the current leadership has for the Civil Service Core Values.

She re-affirms the commitment of the Commission under her leadership to meritocracy, political neutrality and impartiality in the implementation of its mandate which include recruitment, promotion and discipline.

Ayo states that the

Commission derives its powers from Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is vested with the power to appoint, promote and discipline officers in the Federal Civil Service.

She assures that in carrying out those duties, the Commission will strictly adhere to the rules, regulations and guidelines governing them.

SWOFON pushes for equal opportunity of land ownership by women

By Funmi Olasupo

S

By educating, building capacity and skills, especially for adult women, there will be increase in women’s negotiating skills and this will help them to build their savings and improve their lives

Dcn Joan Ayo

MALL Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) has pressed for the need for government to accord small holder farmer equal opportunity of land ownership to women following the enormous challenge faced by women farmers on acquisition and ownership of land.

This came on the heels of a launch of a programme tagged ‘referral pathway on women’s rights in Nigeria’ organised by Actionaid in collaboration with Federation International De Abogadas (FIDA), SWOFON and Heinrich Boll Stiftung

Nigeria.

Fielding questions from Journalists yesterday in Abuja, First Vice President, Rural Women Farmers Forum, (RWFF) covering over 14 African countries Mary Afan lamented that the issue of women owning land particularly in Nigeria is most challenging.

According to her, “ T h e controversial issue of women acquiring land in Nigeria has been one of our major problems, even when we meet at the regional platform the story of women with regards to access to land and ownership is the same.”

She disclosed that women contribute about 80% of the total food foods consumed

globally adding that if only women farmers are given equal opportunity to own land like their male counterpart the issue of poverty would have been a thing of the past.

She further revealed that in the quest to bridge the gap, advocacy visits as well as media campaign will be strategically carried out with a view to bridge the gap.

Earlier in his address, Director of Acquisition and Valuation in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Rev. Olurotimi Onabanjo however said that the Federal Government was yet to have a land policy saying that plans are underway to put the measures in place.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—37

New Year: Remain united, peaceful, Okowa urges Deltans

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has called on the people of the state to remain united behind the cause of developing the state irrespective of ethnic and party differences.

Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, felicitated with all Deltans as they stepped into 2016 and expressed gratitude to God for the grace granted Delta and its citizens in 2015.

Praying for unity and peace in the state, which, he noted “is the bedrock of meaningful development in any given society,” he expressed the hope that 2016 will be a year of fulfilment.

He said: “Given our strides in the past seven months in office, I have no doubt that with the same level of cooperation from the good people of Delta State, your government will achieve more in all facets of governance.

“My optimism is driven by the support I enjoy from the legislature, the judiciary, the civil service, my team of political appointees, agencies of government, both at the

federal and the state levels, as well as multilateral donor agencies.”

Noting that as one of the first states to form a cabinet after the swearing-in, he said he was prepared for the task of governance which made him to hit the ground running from day one.

“This has given me and the

state the advantage of early starters, both in the appreciation of what Deltans expect from their government and in the development of solutions to meet such expectations.

“Despite the continued shortfall in the revenue projections, we have been doing our best to ensure that the developmental needs of the

state are attended to by applying the level of prudence and ingenuity that the present challenges demand,” he said.

He appealed to all Deltans to look up to the New Year with the same zeal of a people with a capacity to excel even in difficult situations noting that “Delta people have always been identified for their creativity.”

FESTIVAL CALABAR: From left: Mrs. Onari Duke, Director, UBA and former First Lady of Cross River State; Mr. John Gaul-Lebo, Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly; Prof. Ivara Esu, Deputy Governor, Cross River State; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, and Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Directorate Head, Public Sector, UBA, at the Calabar Stadium, venue of the international carnival, sponsored by UBA.

....As Olu of Warri urges Nigerians to rededicate lives to God, mankind

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ARRI—THE Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, has called on the people of Warri and all Nigerians to rededicate their lives to the service of God and mankind.

Ogiame Ikenwoli, in his New Year Message, yesterday, at the Olu’s Palace, Warri, said that the people must see service to God and man as a duty and take pride in the dignity of their labour, emphasising that any shortcut to success could only be temporary.

He advised that the people must go back to their roots in terms of promoting agriculture, fishing and fish processing, mat weaving and other arts and crafts for which the riverine people were renowned, and as a panacea for tackling unemployment and earning a reasonable and steady income.

The Olu sued for continued peace and development in the three Warri local government areas and advised the people to focus on the things that unite them and not on divisive tendencies.

The monarch prayed that

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the incoming New Year would bring peace, plenty and progress in the land, which

should engender an enabling environment for government at various levels to bring the

much desired development to the people and their various communities.

2016, year of new beginnings —Sylva

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Bayelsa State and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, has told Bayelsa people and Nigerians generally, to see the New Year as an opportunity to make a new start in their individual and collective quests for development.

Sylva, who stated this in his New Year message, yesterday, sued for peaceful coexistence among the people and urged them to eschew divisive tendencies.

In the statement through his media adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, Sylva said: “As we welcome the New Year, we should also embrace the new hopes, new opportunities, and new vistas it opens for us as Bayelsans and Nigerians to stand out and fulfil our personal and collective destinies.

“Let us sincerely rededicate ourselves to the fond hopes and expectations of our founding

fathers and steadfastly endeavour to uplift the welfare, peace, and security of our people. We have a perfect opportunity to reboot and rebuild.

“We have come a long way as a state and as a country. We have crossed the bridges over many

rivers. And it has pleased mother nature to keep us together, despite our fault lines.

So it behoves us to focus on issues that would sustain and strengthen our togetherness – rather than those that would destroy it."

Tompolo's refusal to honour EFCC's invitation not an offence —Rights group

By Emma Amaize

A

SABA—FOUNDATION for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, yesterday, said that exmilitant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, did not flout any law by not honouring the recent invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. FHRACC, in a statement by its National President, Alaowei Cleric, said Tompolo’s reason that he was already in court with the commission was tenable, adding, “The subsequent arraignment of Tompolo over some trumped-up

charges is a political witchhunt by agents of the Federal Government. The action of the anti-graft agency can be best described as a ploy to use the government’s institutions to carry out political execution of their perceived enemies.

“In critical assessment of the EFCC's motives in carrying out this provocative act, we can infer that the commission has already convicted its assailant without trial, a practice not known in our jurisprudence.

“The EFCC, as a responsible anti-graft agency, should rather ensure that justice is done in any given case."

A-Ibom assures on medical doctors' welfare

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO—AKWA Ibom State Government has expressed its commitment to the welfare of medical doctors in its service and urged them to drop their proposed strike action and use dialogue to draw government attention to their needs.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, who made the appeal on behalf of the state government, yesterday, during an interaction with the leadership of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Akwa Ibom State chapter in his office, said that government had already met their needs by approving and paying their December salaries and outstanding allowances of house officers.

The leadership of the NMA in the state had last week threatened to withdraw their services if the state government failed to pay the 14 months salary owed the newly recruited doctors, saying that it was not proper for the state government to employ and post 61 medical doctors to various hospitals across the state without paying them.

Ukpong added that unpaid salaries of the newly recruited doctors would be paid this month.

Delta Dep Speaker assures of a promising year

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EPUTY Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, has called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and hope for a better year ahead.

In his New Year message in Asaba, Delta State, Osanebi urged Nigerians to enter the New Year with confidence despite the trials endured in recent times, assuring that good things will come to the nation and its people this year.

He assured that the year 2016 offers all Nigerians a golden opportunity for a new beginning, urging the leaders and the generality of the people to change their ways and work for the betterment of the citizenry.

Osanebi said that the country cannot overcome its challenges if the people lose faith and deride the good values that sustain its unity and progress.

He prayed for God’s blessing on the nation, its leaders and the entire citizens in the new year.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 , 2016

Ugwuanyi promises better deal next year

2016 Budget: No basis to borrow N2trn —Gbagi

By Clifford Ndujihe

F

ORMER MINISTER of State for Education, Oloogun Kenneth Gbagi, has faulted the Federal Government’s proposal to borrow N1.8 trillion to fund the 2016 N6.08 trillion budget.

Fearing that the move could plunge the nation into avoidable doom, Gbagi, who urged immediate reversal of the move, said Nigeria did not need to bor row, if President Muhammadu Buhari recovers half of the country’s looted funds.

On Buhari’s N6.08 trillion budget and whether it would boost Nigeria’s economy, Gbagi said: ‘’With regards to the N6 trillion budget, we are yet to be told the basis. From the way it sounds, we are going to borrow that money.

My worry therefore, is where does that take us? Once you borrow, you are now at the mercy of your lender. It was what almost finished the American economy when they were borrowing to eat their breakfast from China.

China got to the extent that you go into the White House, inscriptions and directions were written in Chinese. But

By Francis Igata

E

N U G U — GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has promised that the New Year will witness remarkable developments that would impact positively on the lives of the people of the state and Nigerians at large, urging them to remain focused and committed to things that will promote peace, unity and progress of the state and the country.

The governor in his New Year message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Louis Amoke, said, that there was every reason for the people of the state and Nigerians to thank God for the New Year and appreciate His mercies and kindness to mankind.

He noted that through prayers, absolute faith in God and commitment, the nation’s efforts towards revitalising its precarious economic situation would be achieved in 2016, emphasizing that the New Year was symbolic and critical to the economic survival of the nation.

Ugwuanyi added that the New Year offers the country the opportunity to re-direct itself to things that please God and impact positively on the lives of the citizenry, who he described as true heroes of democracy.

The governor while wishing the people of Enugu State and Nigerians a happy and prosperous New Year, thanked the people of the state for their prayers, and unalloyed support.

that is a country with all the systems in place. ‘’In our own case, I don’t see how they want to rouse the economy where we now have oil at $20 per barrel.

Remember that successive governments abandoned all our other sources of generating revenue for oil alone.

"If we borrow N2 trillion in 2016 for N6 trillion budget, in 2017, we will borrow N8 trillion of a N12 trillion budget and in 2018, we will borrowN15 trillion of a N20 trillion budget. We are heading for doom. ‘’So, it is too soon for a government that is largely not on its feet, that is not cohesive

Nigerian project: Clerics, royal fathers express divergent views

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

W E R R I — A S Nigerians join their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the New Year, some clerics and royal fathers in Imo State, have expressed divergent views on the Nigerian project.

While the Chancellor of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi and royal father of Obinugwu autonomous community, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, appealed that “the diversity in religion, culture and language among Nigerians should be used to the comparative advantage of the country,” the Catholic

Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, however, wants Nigerians to determine if “ we are truly a nation and whether we genuinely want to be one nation.

“As we thus look forward to the 102nd anniversary of our cobbled nation since 1914, in the face of continuing bloodshed, inter-ethnic tension, uneasy public relationships, suspicious and subtle moves and manoeuvers, it is necessary to ask ourselves whether we are truly a nation and whether we genuinely want to be one nation.”

Saying that Nigerians would

Etisalat, Traffina take maternal healthcare to 16 communities

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VER 600 women have benefited from a maternal healthcare delivery programme sponsored by Nigeria’s telecommunications operator, Etisalat, in partnership with frontline non-governmental organisation, NGO, on maternal and child health, Traffina Foundation for Maternal Health.

The women, mainly pregnant mothers, were drawn from 16 communities in Edo, Delta,

to think of plunging the country into that indebtedness when, in fact, we have over N20 trillion, which I think given my expectation of the President, we should have recovered 60 per cent of the stolen wealth of this nation by now.’’

Cross River, Imo, Anambra and Enugu states.

The programme, which held between December 7 and 10 in the beneficiary states was designed to help prevent cases of maternal death and infection during child-birth resulting from ignorance, carelessness, errors from untrained medicare givers and patronage of traditional midwives.

It featured key presentations on maternal health by experts as well as distribution of free

Safe Birth Bags, which contained basic child-birth tools that enhance safe and infectionfree child delivery.

Speaking at the flag-off of the programme in the beneficiary states, Head, Government and Community Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Mohammed SulehYusuf, said the company ’s involvement in the initiative is a direct function of its belief in quality partnership and support for on-going efforts towards producing a healthy citizenry.

generally answer in the affirmative that we are a nation, the cleric, however, opined that “our body language, our political, religious, ethnic, social and local preferences and intrusions often deny what is affirmed.

“The repeated constitutional sittings and national conferences up until the year 2014 and the present uprisings in the North and South of Nigeria are clear indications that Nigeria has not been truly unified, neither have Nigerians become unified in the sense of patriotically upholding their personal identity within Nigeria’s macro-identity.”

Arguing his position, Eze Ilomuanya, who is also the Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers said: “It should be our strength rather than a divisive phenomenon, though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we must always stand.”

Continuing, the royal father explained that leadership was not an easy task, especially in a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, stressing that constructive criticism rather than destructive inclinations would be better appreciated by the current administration in the country.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

Can Buhari make naira equal to dollar?

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hen President Buhari said he will make dollar equal to naira, he forgot that international experts were listening. They were actually indirectly saying to Buhari, “okay, let us see how possible this would be?” -Mr. Julius Akuma, Teacher C M Y K

P

MB making the naira have more value is not just going to happen like a miracle. A whole lot of economic situations have to be handled. We all know that if corruption leaves, then every other thing will start falling into place. -Mrs. Loveth Chekwube, Fashion Designer

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know that this administration has avision for Nigeria and by God’s grace it shall all be achieved. It is not about whether or not if President Buhari is an economist, it is more about doing the right thing first - kill corruption. -Miss Judith Ekwu, Presenter

H

ow can he do that? He is promising Nigerians what he cannot do. We are in trouble in this country. I want Nigerians to know that God is in full control. Better time is ahead of us in 2016. We will have cause to smile. Mr Peter Fowoyo, Journalist

I

will keep praying and hoping that they achieve it for the country because their failure is our collective failure as a people. Irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity or religion, let us support him. -Mr. Bright Odigwe, Businessman

H

ow possible is it for President Buhari to make naira equal to dollar? These are two different countries with different economies, but he is positioning his government for a successful tenure. -Miss Victoria Kelvin, Student

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 39

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40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

DINNER: From right: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his Deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Chief of Staff, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, Engr.

Oladimeji Oshinowo, and Pastor Isreal Alagbe, during the dinner in honour of outgoing Chairman and members of the Civil Service Commission at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja.

AGM: From left: Dr. Michael Ayeni, Company Secretary, Major General Sansadeen Awosanya (retd), Chairman and Engr. Abayomi Akindele, Managing Director, all of Pera-Beam Limited, at the Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

PROMO: From left: Joy Njoku, winner of Dubai Trip in Airtel Red Hot Promo, Nnamdi Oji, Head Mass Segment, Airtel Nigeria, Oladipo Jolaosho, and Cynthia Edokwe, during the welcome gathering held for the winner on return from Dubai in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

CONFERENCE: From left: President, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Oladele Hunsu, Director, Michael Imoudu National Institute of Labour Studies, MINILS, Ilorin, Kwara State, Mrs. Omolara Folorunsho, Barr. Sola Iji, and Mrs. Joyce Damachi, of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, during the just concluded National Delegates Conference of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, in Lafia, Nassarawa State.

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END OF THE YEAR PARTY: Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (middle), his wife, Olukemi with some children, at the Ondo State end of the year children's party, at the Government House, in Akure.

LAUNCH From left: Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Jide Egunjobi (middle), Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola (left) and Corporate Social Value Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mrs. Abosede George-Ogan, at the launch of Samsung’s second Engineering Academy in Nigeria, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

BIRTHDAY: Alhaji Ahmed Onibudo, celebrant (3rd left), joined by friends and family members, during his 77th birthday ceremony at his Ajah Estate residence in Lagos. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

COMMUNITY HELTH: From left: Etisalat Nigeria’s Community Relations Officer, Mr. Tochukwu Okafor, Anantigha traditional leader, HRH, Muri Joe Edem, Chairman, Calabar South LGA, Hon. Majorie Eyo Asuquo, Specialist, Government Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Abdulwahab Umoru, and Health Supervisor, Calabar South LGA, Dr. Henrietta Henshaw, during the Etisalat-Traffina Community Maternal Health Platforms programme at the Council Secretariat, Calabar South, Cross River State, yesterday.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 41

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42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 43

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44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Compiled by Richard Okotie 11 6759 759 081 6759759 08

These five sisters did a photo shoot to thank their parents for paying for all of their weddings

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T costs a lot of money to pay for one wedding, let alone five. That’s why sisters Lindsay, Becky, Kelly, Cassie, and Jamie, all née Walitsch, decided to thank their parents for their support with a surprise photo shoot of all of them in their dresses.

Cassie (second from left), suggested the idea to her wedding photographer, Rachel Blackwell. Blackwell was also the photographer for Jamie (second from right) when she got married last June.

“She pitched me the idea about six months before Jamie’s wedding, and we put the shoot on the calendar for one week after, like the day after she came

home from her honeymoon,” Blackwell told BuzzFeed Life.

Blackwell knew the shoot had to happen immediately, because the odds of none of the five sisters being pregnant at the same time were pretty low.

In fact, four of the five of them did get pregnant in the months right after the shoot, Blackwell said.

On the day of the shoot last July outside San Jose, California, they got their hair done together in the morning and made sure to wear their wedding-day shoes.

“They all helped zip each other up and were talking about their own wedding days,” Blackwell said. “They were having all kinds

of fun, while the husbands hung out at the house they got ready at and watched all the children. “ They also toted along framed photos from their wedding days.

Blackwell said they specifically wanted to re-create this classic couch scene from Friends. All of the sisters wanted photos taken on this vintage truck.

And at a local Starbucks, where they could show off their rings.

Blackwell said the photos were a hit with the sisters and with their parents. “The mother of the girls loved them. She ordered some big prints for her house,” she said. Cassie told BuzzFeed life that the shoot was intended to be “a small and fun way to

A groom bailed out of his wedding...

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HE caring family of a bride-to-be treated a city’s homeless population to a gourmet feast – after her fiancé got cold feet and bailed out of their wedding.

Quinn Duane, 27, was due to marry Landon Borup in Sacramento, California, on Saturday in a lavish £22,500 ceremony.

However, Landon had a change of heart and called off the nuptials with less than a week to go.

Quinn’s parents decided not to cancel the swanky hotel venue and catering, generously inviting homeless guests to the wedding C M Y K

banquet instead.

Among the guests were babies, young children and the elderly.

The lucky diners – who were fed culinary dishes served up by the Citizen Hotel’s four-star Grange restaurant – were overwhelmed by the Duanes’ generosity.

Rashad Abdullah, who attended with his wife Erika Craycraft and their five children, said: “When you’re going through a hard time and a struggle, for you to get out to do something different with your family, it was really a blessing.”

Erika added: “To lose out on

something so important to yourself and then give it to someone else is really giving, really kind.”

thank our parents for supporting us and our marriages over the years.”

Blackwell’s favorite photo of the bunch? This one: “It’s nothing

special, just a clean classic image of all the girls hugging. I would want that image if my daughters did a shoot for me like that.”

‘Virgin’ sheep gives birth to twin lambs as farmer hails ‘Christmas miracle’

S

HIRLEY the ewe hadn’t shown any sign of mating with a ram and a recent ultrasound scan gave no indication she was pregnant. A farmer believes he has witnessed a Christmas miracle after his ‘virgin’ sheep gave birth to twin lambs.

Shirley the ewe hadn’t shown any sign of mating with a ram and a recent ultrasound scan gave no indication she was pregnant .Staff at White Post Farm in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, were stunned to discover the two newborn when they arrived for work on December 23.

Anthony Moore, from White Post Farm, said: “It is a Christmas miracle. “The ewe hadn’t been marked and the ultrasound was negative so it was a surprise to everyone.

“There was no evidence she was pregnant so it was pretty unusual. Both lambs are doing really well.

“The farm is buzzing with new life and festive cheer at the moment and this is the icing on the Christmas cake.” Staff had

marked crayon onto a male they were attempting to mate Shirley with in an attempt to monitor their progress.

When the male mounts the ewe the crayon rubs off onto the females back, making it clear to the farmer which sheep have mated. But Shirley has remained spotless - leaving workers stumped as to how she fell pregnant. Both lambs are said to be healthy but have yet to be named after their surprise arrivals.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—45

Group berates Muslim mothers over insensitivity to children

By EBUN SESSOU

Rabiul-Awwal 20, 1437 A.H.

A

Maintaining Family Ties: A non-negotiable obligation

By Abuu ‘Aasim Muhammad Bin ‘Uthmaan, Kano Shaykh Muhammad Bin ‘Uthman, is the Chief Imaam and Khatiibto Sahaabah Masjid, Kundila- Kano. He delivered this paper at a quarterly workshop organised by Lekki Muslim Ummah(LEMU) Lekki, Lagos, themed “Family Affair”recently.

I

N the name of Allah, The Ever Gracious The Ever Merciful.

Blessings,merciesandfavoursofAllah are on His chosen Servant, the EmbodimentofpietyandtheLeader ofHiscreatedservants,Muhammad the son of A ‘ bdullahi, members of his blessed family, his righteous companionsandallthosewhofollow them in goodness till the end of the hour.

Beyond that, I send my heartfelt message of best wishes to LEMU or LekkiMuslimUmmahfororganizing suchworkshopsquarterlyforthesake of enlightening members of the Ummah on their religion being the arguableguaranteefortheirsafetyand salvationhereandhereafterifpracticed the way and manner it should be preserved and maintained.

Additionally,Ithankyouforextending your invitation to me in the spirit of Aayah2Suurah5 “….Help one another in good deeds and piety, do not help one another in sinfulness and transgression, fear Allah for Allah is sterninpunishment” MeaningofFamilyanditsvalue.

Asourcedefinesfamilysaying,with aslightmodification: “Family (is a) basic social group united through bonds of kinship or

marriage, present in all societies.

Ideally, the family provides its members with protection, companionship, security, and socialization.Thestructureofthefamily and the needs that the family fulfills varyfromsocietytosociety.Thenuclear family—two adults and their children—is the main unit in some societies. In others, it is a subordinate partofanextendedfamily,whichalso consists of grandparents and other relatives. A third family unit is the single-parentfamily,inwhichchildren live with an unmarried, divorced, or widowedmotherorfather”.

Whilethemajorpartofthisdefinition of family from this source is a good one and acceptable, the concluding partthereof,preciselytheunderlined part is not. It says: “A third family unit is the singleparent family, in which children live with an unmarried, divorced, or widowed mother or father”. This cannot be admitted in true Islamic scholarshipaslegitimacyisdeniedto childrenbornoutofwedlockalbeitthey have neither share of blame on the zina that occurred nor consequent punitive measure- al-Hadd- to be carried out on the irresponsible duo purportedly referred to as ‘single parent’

All of the Ummah of Islam firmly believes that the “one soul''

In Islamic legal system authentic marriageisoneofthethreecausative agentsofinheritance.Impliedly,such a child cannot even inherit his socalledfatherasnomarriagetookplace prior to his birth. Says al-Imaamur Rahaby in his ar-Rahabiyyah : The value of family is easily discernible in the fact that it is a basic socialgroupunitedthroughbondsof kinship or marriage present in all societies as previously read and understood.

This natural phenomenonisprevalentinallcreated entities both those known and unknowntous.SubhaanalLaahi!!

Glorious Qur’aan All of the Ummah of Islam firmly believesthatthe“onesoul”mentioned hereisnootherthanAdam(AS)while “its mate” refers to our Mother Hawwa’u or Eve (AS).This is a fact that no one denies it.

That is why the Glorious Qur’aan in a number of its verses refers to humans as Banii Aadam or sons of Aadam, which is his family. The Hausamancallsamalehumanbeing’ dan-Adam’ while the female counterpart is called ‘yar Adam’. On the other hand, human beings generally are called: ‘yan Adam’.

These are indications culturally that AdamandHawwa’u(AS)areindeed origin of all.

Commentary: TheAayahestablisheslinkbetween human races as a family and their origin being one regardless of their geographies,linguisticheterogeneity, socio-cultural and other related diversities.

To be concluded

From left, Chairman Board of Trustees of NASFAT, Alh. AbdulLateef ‘Wale Olasupo; NASFAT President, Engr. Kamil Bolarinwa; Secretary General, National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Ishiaq Oloyede; Chief Missioner NASFAT; Alh. Abdullahi ‘Gbade Akinbode ; Member, NASFAT Council of Elders, Alh. Yunus Olalekan Saliu at the 3rd Biennial General Conference of NASFAT held at Multipurpose Hall, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.

non-governmental organization, NGO, Hopewell Initiatives for National Development, HIND has berated the insensitivity of some Muslim mothers towards adequate parenting of their children.

This was made known during a one day seminar organized by HIND at Multipurpose Hall, Lagos State Secretariat Central Mosque, Alausa Ikeja recently.

In her welcome address, the Founder of the NGO, Alhaja Bilquees Aiyepola said the theme of the seminar was meant to educate Muslim women on their responsibility in the dynamic society, saying many women have lost focus due to intricacies in the society.

The theme of the seminar according to the founder, ‘Nigeria Muslim Women in the Era of Change,’ focused on equipping Muslim women to compete and strive

effectively in the era of change, so that they can be equipped to take leadership position and responsibilities.

While appealing for support from philanthropists, Aiyepola stated that her NGO has trained not less than 780 children on the usage of fire extinguisher among others.

In her keynote address, former Lagos State Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,WAPA, Alhaja Risikat Akiode urged Muslims women to seek knowledge, adding without knowledge it would be difficult to take their rightful position in the society.

Another speaker who spoke on the topic, “Muslim in Leadership Role and the Task Ahead”, Alhaja Fatima Folashade Gawat said, Muslim mothers, should get their priorities right, adding that many broken marriages were due to failure on the part of mothers to train their children adequately.

NASF AT urges w omen tto o be upright NASFA women

T

HE President of NasrulLahi-L-Fatih Society, NASFAT, Engr. Kamil Bolarinwa has said that the moral bankruptcy and value degeneration in Nigeria would drastically reduce if women were morally upright.

Engr Bolarinwa made this assertion while delivering a keynote address at the 2015 edition of the annual dawah training course tagged “Trainthe-Trainers” organized by the Women`s wing of the society, held at Taqwa Private Schools, Agege, Lagos recently.

In the same vein, deputy Chief Missioner of NASFAT, Sheikh AbdulAzeez Onike while delivering a lecture strongly admonished the

women on their obligatory roles at home which he said was essential ingredient in reforming the society.

The Women Affairs Secretary of the society, Alhaja Samiat Mumuni expressed joy at the increased awareness of the need for knowledge amongst women. She remarked that the enrolment for the programme which stood at 60 per cent last year increased by about 250 per cent this year.

The society however resolved to consolidate its efforts in ensuring that all women in the society are maximally engaged in the acquisition of Islamic knowledge moral, ethics and practices.

From left: NASFAT Empowerment Secretary, Alhaja Suweebat Kupolati, former Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade, Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Samiat Mumuni; Lagos Zone 2 Women Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Rekiat Ajao and Children Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Ganiyat Babalola at the Annual Women Dawah Train-the-Trainers Programme in Lagos recently.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Vanguard CLASSIFIED EDEZOR—I, formerly known and addressed as Florence Imuetinya Edezor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Florence Imuetinya Esuola. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

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Correction of Name This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly spelt as Nwachy Joseph, instead of Nwachukwu Joseph. I now wish to be known and addressed as Nwachukwu Joseph.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—47

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YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL, 79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA. CALL: 08028289689, 08035449960, MURPHÝ'S PLAZA, 27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND. CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 49

C M Y K

50 —Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

•Revelers from Gov. Ayade's Carnival Band.

•Nollywood stars Patience Ozokwor and Kenneth Okonkwo

Glamour, colour as Carnival Calabar ends in grand style

•Members of the Belize Carnival Band at Carnival Calabar. *.

*Gov. Ayade flanked (m) by his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu and wife, Linda, dancing excitedly at the 2015 Carnival Calabar.

By Benjamin Njoku

T

HE 11th edition of Carnival Calabar, Africa’s foremost street party came to a spectacular close Monday, with glittering costumes, displays and a dazzling riot of colour that have increasingly made the Cross River State capital a favourite destination for fun seekers during Christmas.

The street party held exuding its usual seductive ambience of glitz and glamour as revelers turned out in numbers to participate and witness the annual ritual that is said to attract millions of spectators.

Colourful costumes All the usual five registered competing bands put up performances at the 12 kilometer dance walk event, but it was Passion-4 band that emerged overall winner of the 2015 edition of the event; Seagull came second while Masta Blasta came third. The grand finale was awash with thousands of colourful costumes as performers danced and paraded their way down the Calabar Stadium.

The event was not only the gathering of beauty queens drawn from across Nigeria’s C M Y K

*Revelers from the Freedom Band performing

*Gov. Ayade leading the Bikers to catch a glimpse of the extreme pageant industry, it also attracted riders. popular Nollywood acts Offering insight into the new including Patience Uzoku; Keneth addition to the already well Okwonkwo; Shan George; Joseph packed carnival content, Benjamin among others who hit Governor Ayade said the concept the streets of Calabar in style for a was aimed at introducing a 12 kilometer dance trek business angle to the annual commenced at the millennium fiesta which currently enjoys park through Calabar Mariam huge domestic participation. route to the UJ Esuene Sports According to him, “We need Stadium, where the five competing bands: Passion 4; Master Blaster; Freedom; Seagul and Bayside band would slug it out in a final battle for the band that will emerge best at the event.

The carnival also played host to over a thousand extreme motor bikers drawn from Nigeria, China, Canada, Australia Germany, the US, Philippines, Togo, Ghana and Benin Republic, in the maiden edition of Calabar Bikers’ Parade.

Led by the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, in a 12 kilometre ride, the bikers performed different types of stunts to the admiration of ecstatic crowd that lined up along the carnival route •Patoranking

to encourage tourists that have the capacity to spend. So the bikers’ parade creates a platform for those who have the wealth to buy expensive classic bikes like the ones on parade today.”

Meanwhile, performing the flagged of the 2015 edition of Carnival Calabar, the governor hinted that the idea of using beauty queens to constitute his

band was his wife’s idea of his wife, Dr. Lydia Ayade adding that she has keen interest for beautiful young girls and hopes to take some of them overseas to actualize their various dreams.

This year’s carnival, with the theme ‘Climate Change’ also witnessed performances from other international quarters in addition to the all most controversial Vai Vai Samba Brazil,HENAN Acrobatic of China; Flamenco of Spain alongside other very interesting side attraction.

Patoranking, Dj Xclusive to headline Kiza Dubai new year concert

By Kehinde Ajose

D

UBAI’s first authentic Nigerian owned restaurant and lounge Kiza, is set to host dancehall sensation and award winning DJPatoranking and Dj-Xclusive as special celebrities that will be headlining it’s new year concert.The concert will be held at the Dubai’s financial district; Emirates Financial Towers, DIFC which recently launched in October 2015.

The attractiveness of the Kiza brand comes from its vision to be market leaders in celebrating and promoting the true African culture and entertainment to a global level. Since its inception in 2012, KIZA has hosted Africa’s top personalities including musicians like; D’banj, 2Face Idibia, Psquare, Wizkid, Ice Prince, Davido, Mi Casa, Sauti Sol,to mention a few. The fans of Patoranking and DJ Xclusive are gladly anticipating this new year groove

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016—51

Inside story of Olamide’s Live in Concert

By Kehinde Ajose

R

OADS to Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, were busy last Sunday, as fans made their way there for the highly anticipated Olamide Live In Concert 2 (OLIC2).But except for a few hitches here and there, the show, from all indications lived up to its billing.

Years back, if anyone had told Olamide that he would organize an all-night a concert, where the hall would be filled to the brim, he probably would have raised an eyebrow. But last Sunday was a testament to his rising profile.

As early as 8 pm, the Eko Hotel venue of the event was already crammed with activities. Indeed, if you were there at that time, you ought to have seen fans crowded at the entrance, struggling to purchase tickets for the show.

The sound, the stage and the general ambiance of the place was hyper as lots of music was dished out by rising acts like Bash, Seyilaw, Niniola, Tjan, Skuki who warmed up the large crowd of fans. It was really a party mood as the fans waited for the concert to kick off officially.

Adekunle Gold changed the “Rhythm” Orente crooner was the first

notable act to set the ball rolling.

But before then, the atmosphere was one of boring , following the lack luster that greeted the performances of the the curtain raisers. His appearance set the stage on fire as he put up awesome dancing skills. Clad in his trademark blue adire outfit, Adekunle delivered a splendid rendition. He blended effortlessly with the live band performing songs like Sade, Orente and his new song Pick Up. You could feel the excitement on the faces of the large crowd.

Olamide‘s royal entry Shortly after his performance, Olamide took the stage and all hell broke loose. He started out with the boys brigade, playing his popular tune Anifowoshe and blending it with the fireworks that heralded his entrance. Olamide stepped out like a king as the crowd surged forward with some standing as well as seating, all in the bid to catch a glimpse of the selfproclaimed Baddo Sneh .

Interestingly, the host, Olamide mounted the stage for the second time, it was with unprecedented passion. He was dressed in an orange Agbada accompanied by his band members. He performed songs like “Lagos Boys.” The audience went wild clapping and

Slow Dogg thrills fans at Ogbunike Cave Carnival

R

AP artiste, Slow Dog yesterday headlined this year’s Ogbunike Cave Carnival (OCC) which opened Wednesday, with a one day Five-Aside Football Tournament. The rapper performed during the Ada Ogbunike Beauty Pageant which held ob the New Year Day, at the Ogbunike Town Hall, Ogbunike, Oyi LGA, Anambra State.

Known for fusing his native Igbo rhymes with English, the witty indigenous rapper treated guests to the best of his recordings at the event that witnessed the crowning of first ever Ada Ogbunike.

Before the D-day, the Eungu based- rapper urged fans and music lovers to keep a date with him at the carnival. He said, I would be in Ogbunike for the Ogbunike Cave Carnival; we’ve just signed an agreement with the organisers. For my fans in Anambra, this is an opportunity to entertain you all; I’m looking forward to the event,” he said.

First hosted in 2013 by 90 Degrees Entertainment, Ogbunike Cave Carnival (OCC) is a three-day festival centered on Ogbunike Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Billed to C M Y K

open on December 30, 2015 with a one-day Five –Aside FootballTournament,whichwillsee eight teams slug it out for the carnival trophy. There will also be a Sport Parade, which will see football fans, clad in their different club jerseys, parade to the market s q u a r e (Oyeolisa Market) with a traditional ogene

Slow Dog

music leading the train. The daytwoeventwhichheldonDecember 31, featured Ogbunikewalk4life (Street Carnival). The carnival float took off from the Ogbunike Town Hall, through the usual routes, to the Round Palace of Igwe Ogbunike,HRHJohnOsitadimma Umenyiora, where guests paid homage to the King. From the palace, the train moved to the Cave, where visitors and tourist had the opportunity of exploring the tourist destination that has put Ogbunike community on the world map. The day was wrapped with the Carnival Concert/New Year Countdown, at the Town Hall, with different musicians and comedians on parade.

On New Year Day, Ada Ogbunike Beauty Pageant took the centre stage. The event, which saw pretty Ogbunike ladies contested for the Ada Ogbunike crown, will be spiced with musical and comedy performance. This year, the carnival, which has the blessings and endorsement of His Royal Highness Igwe John Umenyiora, his Cabinet, and the Ogbunike Progressive Union (OPU), will honour some deserving individuals, who have contributed to the success of the project in the last three years.

cheering when he performed the song of the m o m e n t , “Shakiti Bobo.”

The hall literally turned into a dancing floor with everyone showing off their own Shakiti Bobo dance steps.

Rounding off the show, Olamide was given a special recognition by the Boys Scouts Association of Nigeria. He was given a guard of honor and also presented with an award for being an excellent ambassador of the association.

Emergence of the YBNL ‘Bandits’ Suddenly, Olamide’s protégé, Lil Kesh and Chinko Ekun emerged from the blues and dazzled the fans with animated performances that left them yearning for more. While Lil Kesh performed “Efejoku” and Gbese,Chinko Ekun took a different route, displaying his ability to freestyle, they performed their songs with ecstasy and full of audience control. They both appealed to the audience and showed they have mastered their craft.

All in all, the YBNL maestro once again revealed that he is the king of the streets.

The winning quartet The quartet of Burna Boy, Falz, Phyno and Reminisce once again showed that their star status isn’t a fluke .They brought in a new dimension into the show, performing their songs with ecstasy and full audience control .Burna Boy who has been condemned for his dwindling star

power proved his critic wrong by giving his fans an electrifying performance. The lawyer -turned musician, Falz also gave a good account of himself. He connected to the audience and the audience couldn’t help but sing along while he performed.

Vector becomes a chief The Shiga rapper Vector, shocked his fans when he mounted the stage dressed like a chief. He was clad in a blue flowing agbada which got the audience screaming. He performed songs like King Kong and Shiga.

Orezi and Eva failed to shine Everyone knows Orezi and Eva are talented artistes, but this time around, they failed to dazzle on the OLIC stage. The Shuperu sensation, expected to get an ecstatic reception from the audience, but he unfortunately didn’t get it. At a point in his performance, he paused to do an acapella of the song Shuperu.He couldn’t hit the right notes and his voice became hoarse For Eva, she played up a boring theatrical performance that couldn’t delight the audience. “She ought to have performed one of her hit songs” one of her fans expressed in dissatisfaction.

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

How I defied my dad’s advice to become a chef Chef Primorac Kristijan grew up in Germany watching his parents running their restaurant, though the father wanted him to go into other professions but not cooking. The father thought he will not be rich if he becomes a chef, but the he said he did not listen to the advise as he is happy being a chef today and married to one too.

Here is the story of the 39 year old Croatian who is the Executive Chef at Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos as he shared it with JIMOH BABATUNDE. Here is an excerpt .

O

N how he came into the profession I am 39 years old. I have been with the Radisson Blu for five years. I was born 39 years ago and grew up in Germany. My parents are from Croatia. I was born into this industry as my parents have their own restaurant which they have been operating for over 45years.

Though my father advised me not to take up the profession believing that as a chef I will not make money as well as have time for my family. So, he said I should look for something else to do.

But, I did not listen to him as I am in the profession today.

On why he didn’t listen to his dad If you grow up in a restaurant like I did growing up in my parents restaurant then for you everything is normal in helping to set up the kitchen, assist in cooking and helping out generally at the restaurant. So, it was something I know and feel comfortable with and so it was normal decision to want to become a professional chef.

Comfortable in the kitchen My father was head waiter and my mum was head chef in their restaurant, I started as a waiter and discovered I was not having fun outside as I felt more comfortable in the kitchen.

Why was he comfortable in the kitchen Growing up, I was always in the kitchen watching and eating as my mum cooked lot of local Croatian food, so most times I was there with her chopping and helping her.

Outside the kitchen, my dad was short of people so I do help him as a waiter. So my decision to help was a normal one as I was familiar with the kitchen. I know how to cook. So it was a nice decision at the end.

On formal training as chef Yes, in Germany you have three years training in a school and hotel. Five days in the kitchen, one day in school and a day off.

During the training , I was alC M Y K

ways saying after school let see how far I can go. I had high hope of graduating and start working for big companies like Hilton Hotels. I worked first in a small private hotel, French cuisine, a high level restaurant in Germany. Then I said it was time to work in a bigger hotel to see big operations.

To cook in a small hotel is different from working in a big hotel, for me it was interesting to see what was going on there, so my first work was with Hilton in Dusseldorf with ball room for 10000 people, one fine dining restaurant, one banquet and a restaurant with buffet. From their I met lot of good people, I had a head chef that gave me space to grow and cook what I liked.

Though you need to follow the hotel policy, but he gave me space to experiment. He always says Kristen do it, if fine great, but if not do it again to make it better.

Before moving to Radisson, I worked in a fine dinning restaurant for a year and another private restaurant and after German I moved to Croatia with Radisson Blu. Then you have choices of where to work, to have taste of different kitchens and to work with different people from different countries. I spent six years with Hilton Hotel and now six years with Radisson Blu Hotel.

This is the second hotel I am opening with Radisson Blu in Nigeria and my second time here

Chef Primorac Kristijan in Nigeria On how it has been in Nigeria Africa and Europe is completely different. I have never been here before . The food here is very spicy. Nigerians like very spicy food unlike Germans or Croatian. It is completely different On his food philosophy: I am from a Mediterranean country, so I work a lot with herbs, different kind of olive oil, this is where I grew up and what I learnt, but here in Nigeria it is completely different, So I like to put all, Germany, Croatia and Nigeria, together. I find a way to put together what the different people like , like adding different chillies and pepper .

On his favourite dish I have two. First I like chicken pepper soup. My mum used to cook chicken soup for us at home, but not in the same way with what you have here in Nigeria, where you have lot of pepper.

But I do tell my guys here that when you cook Chicken pepper soup for me, please, add less pepper. I also like chicken suya and beef suya with a star beer.

Funniest experience in the kitchen: I have lots. My first time here at Radisson Blu in Lagos. I had my cutting board ready for preparing my breakfast. I had my tomatoes, cucumbers and toast.

Tomatoes, cucumbers and bread One of my staff was also coming. She brought chillies to cut on the board while I stepped out.

Then took his stuff off the board and went away. When I returned I started with same knife on same board to cut my tomatoes, cucumber and bread.

With same knife spread the butter on my bread. You can imagine a European in Nigeria for the first time eating such hot food as the pepper cut on the board found its way to my food. My mouth was burning. I could not shout.

The best food he enjoys cooking It depends on where I am. If in Croatia, I like to put the fish in a charcoal grill with olive oil, potatoes and a good beer. In Germany, red cabbage, potatoes and a

good roasted beef.

On what guests should look for in terms of food at Radisson Blu I have to cook large. Nigeria likes snails, spicy pepper inside.

I think I can make same but not spicy and used same base of tatase, pepper, fish, snails combined. I like to fuse food of two countries as this defined my philosophy of combining the two ingredients in one plate.

During the yuletide season, the biggest buffet in town will be here. As we will be serving Nigerian cuisine and international favourites, If he cooks at home My wife is also a chef. So, in most cases she cooks. If I need to cook, it means she cleans the kitchen for two days, so she tells me to sit while she cooks so she can clean the kitchen easily.

When I cook at home, I don’t know when I start cooking some specialities bringing in different spices, but my wife tells me I spend too much time in the kitchen. She cooks, so I don’t have problem with that.

eria — official ig N in st e b l, a iv rn a C r Calaba Though my father advised me not to take up the profession believing that as a chef I will not make money as well as have time for my family. So, he said I should look for something else to do

troupe in the Oyo HE Head of the cultural Mr Bolajade AdegState Ministry of Culture, labar Carnival as Ca the boyega, has described boyega, who made the the best in Nigeria. Adeg the cultural exhibition assertion on the sides of carnival in Calabar on and parade as part of the no rival. had Wednesday, said that it o cultural troupe was in Oy The director said the acknowledge the imporCalabar to showcase and te and to show solidarity tance of culture in the sta nival. with the Cross River car re to participate in the “We have always been he have been inviting us all Calabar Carnival; they honouring it. along and we have been very high, higher than “I rate Calabar Carnival

T

en say that CalaAbuja Carnival; I can ev r and father of bar Carnival is the mothe Abuja Carnival,” he said. Government te He said that the Oyo Sta ble to sustain ssi po ng was doing everythi people, adding the cultural heritage of the the richest culthat the state had one of tures in Africa. culture and this “Oyo state is very rich in by participating is one of the things we do als all over Nigerin various cultural festiv e of our culture. nc ia to ensure the sustena troupe doing ral ltu cu r “You can see ou are doing everywhat they know best. We e that our culturthing in our state to ensur egboyega said.

Ad ,” al heritage does not die

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 53

‘World’s worst team’ offers Mourinho job H

E may have been ditched by Chelsea just before Christmas but it looks like Jose Mourinho isn’t going to be struggling to pay the gas bill for too long, with job offers flooding in from around the world.

Among those offers is a tantalising proposal from Brazilian team Ibis Sport Club, who currently ply their trade in the second division of the Pernambuco regional league.

Ibis pride themselves on the fact that they are semi-officially the worst team in the world, having set a world record for most matches without a win (55) back in the 1980s.

As such, the team want Mourinho to come in and revitalise their fortunes, offering the Portuguese a lucrative two-and-a-halfyear contract in return.

According to the

Shock Offer ... Jose Mourinho wanted in Brazil. scanned image circulating on social media, the contract includes a monthly food hamper, win bonuses and a wage increase every time Ibis are heavily beaten.

Further proving that they take the whole ‘worst team in the world’ thing deadly seriously, there is also a clause that states Mourinho would be automatically sacked

should he manage to secure promotion.

Meanwhile Mourinho has reportedly rejected the chance of a return to Real Madrid.

With Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United without a win in eight matches, Mourinho’s been tipped for a swift return to management by taking over from the Dutchman at Old Trafford.

Enrique demands improvement despite stellar 2015

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UIS Enrique has urged his players to keep improving as Barcelona prepare to take on local rivals Espanyol in their first game of 2016.

The Catalan giants ended a stunning 2015 on a high by beating Real Betis 4-0 on Wednesday to cement their place at the top of La Liga and cap a year in which they won five major trophies out of a possible six.

Their head coach is not getting carried away, though, and wants to do even better in the year ahead.

“I don’t dwell on memories and 2015 is in the past,” Luis Enrique told the Barcelona website.

“Now I’m interested in

Iniesta... Barca player C M Y K

2016 and being the best again. That’s what professionals do.

“Everyone can get better. The players, the coaches, and all the people that form part of this club.

“There is very little difference between Europe’s

big clubs and we have to keep working hard.”

As ever, much of the focus for Saturday’s encounter will be on Lionel Messi, who made his 500th appearance in all competitions for Barca against Betis, marking the occasion with his 425th goal.

H

AVING pick up an injury in West Brom 1-0 win over Newcastle, Victor Anichebe is struggling to be fit for Saturday’s home game against Stoke City.

The 27 - year - old put up one of his best displays in a West Brom jersey on Monday night with the Baggies fans giving him a standing ovation when he was substituted two minutes from time.

“He was fantastic. We hope his hamstring injury isn’t too bad, we could use him. We’ve got a number of options up front and, obviously, it’s been difficult for him to

Anichebe doubtful for Stoke City clash come in, “ said his team mate Gareth McAuley.

“He’s a little bit sore, so the medical people will look at that hopefully.

There’s a game just around the corner so, hopefully, we can wheel him out again.”

Anichebe, who starred for the Dream Team at the 2008 Olympic Games, has netted 9 goals for the Baggies since he joined the club from Everton in 2013.

Anichebe...

Osaze regrets QPR transfer drama Super Eagles striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie said his attempt to force a transfer from West Brom to Queens Park Rangers on the transfer deadline of 2013 was regreatable.

In what has become arguably the most famous transfer deal never to be completed, Osaze now with Stoke City drove drove the 120 miles from Birmingham to London in an attempt to speed up a late move to QPR. The striker was seen signing autographs outside of Loftus Road and was also interviewed by Sky Sports News, telling reporters from his car that he was ready for “a new chapter”. But the move couldn’t be complet-

ed before the 11pm transfer deadline, with then QPR manager Harry Redknapp claiming “ wires got crossed”, leaving the striker having to make the trip back to re-join the West Brom team-mates he’d already said goodbye to.

Reflecting on that evening three years on, Odemwingie told Sky Sports News HQ: “I didn’t even know what to think; I was laughing and almost crying at the same time! I believed it was done, I had nothing to hide.

“When the cameras came, I didn’t feel awkward to say ‘yes, this is where we are’.

Unless you see it on paper nothing is done, so that’s why I said it’s a 90 per cent

done deal.

“They (West Brom players) were confused a bit and they knew I believed the deal was done. But then it was tough of course with the fans. “(After the move collapsed) I said I’m going to play a song from Akon, Lonely, and drive home. I wish it all didn’t happen, but that’s life.”

He didn’t start another game for West Brom and was disciplined by the club for acting “wholly unprofessionally”, making just seven further substitute appearances before making a Deadline Day switch to Cardiff City in September.

Ranieri wants Vardy, Mahrezin Leicester

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LAUDIO Ranieri is hopeful he can keep Leicester City ’s star performers at the King Power Stadium in the upcoming transfer window after a stellar first half to the Premier League season.

Leicester sit joint-top of the Premier League trailing Arsenal on goal difference - having gone into 2015 bottom of the table under Ranieri’s predecessor Nigel Pearson.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been the stars of the show, boasting 28 league goals between them, while the likes of N’Golo Kante and Kasper Schmeichel have also impressed.

Ranieri refused to

confirm reports of a new deal for Vardy but expressed hope for the upcoming window.

“My focus is on [Saturday’s opponents] Bournemouth,” he stated. “But I think nobody goes from Leicester [in January].

There’s too much speculation. We want to fight, build with me the chairman and fans.

“We can say ‘start to win the title’, but it’s not our job. Our job is to win the next match.

“We made a fantastic half-season.

It’s unbelievable. We must continue building to fight at the top.”

Vardy shook off an illness to feature in the goalless draw against Manchester City on

Monday with Ranieri not hit by any fresh injuries ahead of the weekend clash with Eddie Howe’s strugglers.

“I hope [Vardy is 100 per cent]. He had a fever but he’s in full training now,” the Italian added.

Reality Check... Peter Osaze Odemwingie in action

CAS throws Bility out of FIFA race

T

HE Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed Musa Bility’s appeal to overturn his exclusion from

Bility...

the FIFA presidential election.

Bility, who is from Liberia, failed to make the field after failing an integrity check.

FIFA’s election monitoring panel ruled the Liberian soccer federation president ineligible last month.

No reason was publicly given, but Bility said a previous criminal allegation

against him was dismissed by a Liberian court.

CAS says it will release the grounds for its decision early next year.

FIFA has approved five candidates for the election to be held on Feb. 26.

Michel Platini, who has been handed an eight-year ban but still hopes to run for FIFA presidency, is also expected to appeal to CAS.

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

Basketball: The year Nigeria finally hit the summit I

F there is a basketball country that fully understands the meaning of the words patience, resilience and focus, it’s Nigeria.

At least when it comes to the men’s national team that for so long pretended to be the best at the sport in Africa but simply never proved it.

Time and time again, Nigeria flirted with greatness on the continent, only to collapse when the going got tough.

In 1997, Nigeria travelled to Dakar intent on winning after finishing third two years earlier at the AfroBasket in Algeria but instead fell flat in the Final and crashed to a 69-48 defeat to hosts Senegal. The team made a run to the Semi-Finals for a third straight time in 1999 in Luanda but again came up short in the Final against the host nation, this time Angola, losing 79-72. Then in 2003, Nigeria headed north to northeast Africa and again made it to the title game, only to lose to Angola once again. With Gabe Muoneke pouring in 21 points, this Nigeria team routed Senegal in the Semi-Finals and looked hellbent on capturing a first title yet against Angola once

again in the championship game, D’Tigers crashed to defeat, 85-65.

Nigeria had the unwanted nickname of the ‘Nearly Men’. They teased their fans with talented players and spectacular performances yet never finished the job.

In both 2005 and 2011, the team again finished third and in 2013, buoyed by a first-ever Olympic appearance, Nigeria were unbeaten when they fell 64-63 to Senegal. Ben Uzoh had an opportunity to win it in the closing seconds but saw his runner bounce off the rim to set off celebrations on the Senegal bench.

It just never seemed to work in the big games of Africa for Nigeria. Until this summer. Under American coach Will Voigt, Nigeria at last realized their dream of an AfroBasket title. Though they were far from perfect, losing in a rout to hosts Tunisia to end the Group Phase, Nigeria defeated two of their nemesis when it counted to lift the title. First, they won an overtime thriller against Senegal.

Next, they finally put paid to Angola in the title game. The contest had some tense moments, yet the final score, 74-65, masked how

Better results Continues from BP is seen as a group-decider, double-dose against the Pharaohs of Egypt in March, while the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to be staged in Russia, begin in October 2016.

“I make bold to say that year 2016 will be even better. We are looking to see the Eagles B win the African Nations Championship, the Super Eagles qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and starting the race to Russia 2018 on a sound footing, and also planning for the women teams to excel at their various international championships.”

The Super Falcons expect to qualify for the African Women Championship in Cameroon, while the U-20 girls have already qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea and the U17 girls are looking to C M Y K

reach the U-17 World Cup in Jordan.

“I also want to add that going forward, the best option will be for us to have Clubs that are independent of government control; Clubs that are owned by communities and individuals. We will inter-face with the Governors’ Forum to kick-start this process.

“We know it will not happen in a month or two, or even in a year.

But our objective is to have Clubs that are properly run, and stadia that are so friendly that whole families can go and watch football matches without any anxiety.”

On Wednesday, Pinnick stated that the plethora of awards being bestowed on his person and the NFF in general is testimony that the present administration is steering the Nigeria game in the right direction.

The Edo State Football Association honoured

Al-Farouq Aminu outjumps an Angolan opponent during the final match of 2015 Afrobasket in Rades, Tunisia. comprehensive the victory was.

Imagine what it must now feel like for the Nigerian basketball players. While they won plaudits and hit an emotional high at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament when snatching one of the three places up for grabs for the London Games, they still had him as the ‘Football Personality of the Year ’ at their Awards Nite that took place in Benin City same day. It would be recalled that leading national newspapers, The SUN and VANGUARD, have differently announced Amaju Pinnick as their ‘Sports Personality of the Year,’ at award ceremonies to take place in the new year.

unfinished business in Africa.

That was especially true after the 2013 defeat to Senegal.

The big difference two years later was Chamberlain Oguchi.

Ruled ineligible just before the continental championship held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in 2013, he returned with a vengeance in 2015. He was the AfroBasket MVP

and put on a remarkable performance. He led Nigeria in scoring at 16.6 points per game and also made 30 of 68 (44.1 percent) from behind the arc. In the decisive games, he was excellent, averaging 23.5 points and hitting a combined 11 of 23 (47.8 percent) threepointers.

“It is just a testament that hard work pays off, and

Pinnick

we are confident he will be back soon as he is still undergoing therapy. All he needs is a good rest,” Pinnick said. Oliseh has been away for treatment in Belgium since leading the home Eagles to a 20 win over Chad in Port Harcourt in CHAN qualifier.

He couldn’t lead the team to N’Djamena for the second leg as he was flown to Belgium for treatment. From all indications, Oliseh could be in the dugout when the Super Eagles face Niger at the 2016 African Nations Championship on January 18. NFF supremo Amaju Pinnick expects Sunday Oliseh to get well before then.

The Super Eagles have started preparations for the tournament in Rwanda, with the team expected to jet out to South Africa tomorrow for a training camp in the coming days without Oliseh.

Continues from BP

getting better. He is human and anybody can break down any time.”

Pinnick assured that the coach would soon return to his duty post as he has shown a lot of passion for the job.

“I speak directly with the doctors and

*Super Eagles players celebrate victory

dreams do come true,” he said. “My absence was one of the reasons for our failure...At the time [2013], we promised that we would do everything in our power to win the African Championship because Nigeria is the best team in Africa and it was about time to show it.”

So now, Nigeria are the undisputed best team in Africa, a mantle they will carry to Rio de Janeiro for this year ’s Olympic Games.

CHAN: Eagles depart for S/Africa tomorrow

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HE Super Eagles will leave for South Africa tomorrow to begin a training camp ahead of the African Nations Championship kicking off January 18 in Kigali, Rwanda.

While in South Africa, the team which will jet out without influential captain, Gbolahan Salami will camp in Pretoria.

They are expected to play friendly matches against Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and some local clubs to fine tune their strategies ahead of the tournament.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 — 55

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016

I’m in touch with Oliseh’s doctors MSN: Europe’s deadliest attack

B

ARCELONA set a new record for goals in a calendar year by a Spanish team after hammering Real Betis on Wednesday night - and they have also finished 2015 as the most prolific outfit across Europe’s top five leagues.

The Catalan club, led by their ferocious ‘MSN’ attack, notched an incredible 109 times in La Liga across the

last year, giving them a goals per game rate of 2.86 (a figure no side in England, Spain, Italy, Germany or France can match).

PSG were a not-so-close second, still 0.16 goals per game behind Barca, while Manchester City were the highest-placed Premier League side, with their 2.07 ratio out-stripping that of

current table-toppers Arsenal (1.84).

U n s u r p r i s i n g l y, Barcelona also top the charts for goal difference per game in 2015, with Bayern Munich this time taking up second spot, while Borussia Dortmund sneak into the top five after a stunning year under first Jurgen Klopp and then Thomas Tuchel.

– Pinnick P

RESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has said he is in constant touch with doctors treating ailing Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday on Channels Television programme, Sports This Morning, the NFF boss said, “Oliseh is

Continues on Page 54

•Oliseh

...Says Nigerians should expect better results in 2016

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*GOAL MACHINES: (From left) Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi have scored 125 goals between them so far this year

FF President Amaju Pinnick has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

The qualification series for the 2017 Cup of Nations (to be hosted by Gabon) will be concluded in September 2016, but the Eagles have what Continues on Page 54

CHAN: Eagles depart for SA tomorrow -P.54

•Ighalo

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Scour (5) 5 Method (6) 8 Peer (5) 10 Nuptial (6) 11 Greedy (4) 14 Gift (6) 15 Decorate (7) 18 Beverage (3) 19 Sailor (3) 21 Cart (4) 23 Leaf (5) 24 Grasped (4) 27 Colour (3) 29 Fish (3) 31 Sickness (7) 32 Conquer (6) 34 Wise (4) 35 Astounded (6) 38 Apportion (5) 39 Wave (6) 40 Cabin (5)

DOWN 2 Vehicle (3) 3 Unfastened (6) 4 Snake (3) 5 Chair (4) 6 Dirty (6) 7 Predominantly (6) 9 Swagger (7) 12 Tank (3) 13 Expensive (4) 16 Fever (4) 17 Loathed (5) 20 Fundamental (7) 22 Unfortunately (4) 24 Restrict (6) 25 Minus (6) 26 Item (6) 28 Discussion (6) 30 Stage (3) 33 Breed (4) 36 Crowd (3) 37 Newt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Ensure 5, Used 8, Count 9, Rue 10, Boon 11, Deep 12, Steep 13, Critic 16, Turn 18, Gain 20, Ash 22, Sad 23, Old 24, Rite 25, Twee 28, Ravage 30, Crime 32, Riot 33, Anti 34, Ire 35, Weird 36, Kiln 37, Agency.

DOWN: 1, Enrich 2, Seediest 3, Rabbit 4, Contender 5, Undergo 6, Step 7, Dupe 8, Cos 14, Customary 15, Bid 17, Raw 19, Alsatian 20, Ail 21, Hearten 26, Eating 27, Remedy 29, Trek 30, Cowl 31, End.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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