Ekiti Gov poll, a coup —Aluko, ex-PDP scribe

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50 killed, 70 injured Judiciary, my main headache in anti-graft as Boko Haram war — BUHARI 7 attacks Borno 14

Ekiti Gov poll, a coup —Aluko, ex-PDP scribe

•Alleges that Presidency gave Fayose $35m for campaigns •I am sorry for bringing Fayose, he begs Ekiti people •Aluko not worthy of response from sane minds —Fayose’s aide

By Henry Umoru & Rotimi Ojomoyela (with agency report)

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BUJA—THE former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged that the June 21, 2014 governorship polls in the state that led to the emergence of Chief Ayodele Fayose as governor, was never an election but a coup against the people.

Claiming that the state was under siege and federal might was fully deployed, Aluko, who, apologized to the people of Ekiti for being one of

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Zika virus: We're conducting tests on mosquitoes — FG 7 Mr & Mrs MUGABE MEETS BUHARI—President Buhari exchanging compliments with President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe at the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, weekend.

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OWEI LAKEMFA

Nigerians contented with little C M Y K

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HEBRY BOYO

Sensible path to stronger Naira, economic prosperity

COLUMNISTS:

Gbaramatu schools, health centres shut as soldiers continue siege

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ALLEGED N1TRN RAIL CONTRACT SCAM:

Reps invite Amaechi, NRC MD, others

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POCKET CARTOON

FUNERAL SERVICE—From left: Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose;

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; their Cross River and Akwa Ibom states counterparts, Professor Ben Ayade and Udom Emmanuel, during the funeral service of the mother of Abia State Governor, Late Deaconess Bessie N. Ikpeazu, held at Governor Ikpeazu 's country home in Umuobiakwa Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

Ekiti Gov poll, a coup —Aluko, ex-PDP scribe How Fayose got

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those who played major roles in bringing Fayose, his friend of over 40 years as governor, said what took place in the guise of election was a high level manipulation.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, weekend, Aluko, who was chairman, Security and Intelligence Committee of Fayose Campaign Organisation, is now full of regrets for being part of the Ekiti Project, which was the major campaign point of the PDP that had been jettisoned by Governor Fayose.

Aluko opened a can of worms and gave an insider's account of how the military was allegedly used to rig the election that Fayose won under PDP. Aluko, who was the

Chief PDP agent and signed the results for the election, also disclosed how former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly gave Fayose $37 million cash to prosecute the governorship election.

Aluko had also testified in camera before the military panel that investigated the role of the military in the Ekiti election.

Aluko, who said he was part of Fayose’s inner cycle during the election, alleged that Jonathan initially gave the incumbent Ekiti governor a first tranche of $2 million in March 2014 for the primary election, noting that this cash was collected at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja and taken to Fayose’s private house in Abuja before it was moved to Ekiti.

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO EEK to become an excellent planner in all you do. Note what is obtainable; set what is achievable, planning will help you connect the dot.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

With gratitude comes the realization that we get more than we deserve —Take Heart

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BEAUTIFUL aspect of gratitude is figuring out where that goodness comes from. We recognize the sources of this goodness from life. It didn’t stem from anything we necessarily did ourselves in which we might take pride. We can appreciate positive traits in ourselves, but I think true gratitude involves a humble dependence on something greater. We acknowledge that other people or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset, enables life’s bountifulness to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE The way the bitter kola sounds in the mouth is not the way it tastes.

money for polls

“Immediately after the primary election, we collected. another $35 million from Jonathan on June 17, 2014. The money was brought to us by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

“We all assembled at the front office of Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, owned

by Fayose. Thereafter, the cash was taken to a Bureau De Change in Onitsha where it was converted to N4.7 billion,” Aluko added.

Aluko further alleged that Fayose received about N3 billion cash from a serving senator from Ogun State to revive the PDP in Ekiti State.

Giving account of how the military was used to win the election, he said: “The former President agreed with Fayose and summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the election.

Those at the meeting were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; then Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimmah; and former National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

"Others included Fayose, Senator Iyiola Omisore, then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Obanikoro.

At that meeting, the former President made it clear to the ex-Chief of Defence Staff that Fayose would stand for him (as Commander-In-Chief) in terms of providing security for the election”.

Aluko alleged that Fayose, relying on Jonathan’s directive, approached the former Commander of the Army Brigade in Akure, Brig.

Gen. Dikko, to take charge of the election for the PDP. Dikko alledly refused to cooperate and was replaced after a petition was filed against him.

“But Gen. Dikko did not give us audience. He stated bluntly that he would not be available for such operation. So Fayose sponsored a petition against him which led to his replacement with Brig.

Gen. Aliyu Momoh who was amenable to our plans”.

Aluko alleged that 64 PDP stalwarts, who had knowledge of their local governors were picked to help with information on opposition members.

“They gave detailed information regarding names and locations of opposition members in all the local governments, the various routes, areas of strength and weaknesses of the PDP in the 16 local governments.

"Today, most of these 64 hatchet men are members of the Senate, House of Representatives, state House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, special advisers and the rest.”

He continued: “We went into the election with 1040 recognised soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognised soldiers brought from Enugu by Senator Andy Uba. In addition, we raised 44 special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux buses from Abuja and Onitsha. We made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team and black hand bands for each of them.

“Each strike team was made up of 10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS operatives and Civil Defence corps. They were detailed to attack and arrest prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments. We set up anchorage, mainly residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members collected their welfare and other allowances. To encourage the strike team members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay their hands on in the houses of APC chieftains they raided.

“Then we set up detention camps, mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained. Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us. We let them off after the election was over.

“A day to the election, we used the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented APC chieftains, including former Rivers

State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi from coming into Ekiti. So we ensured that no APC chieftain was in sight on election day. We provided polling agents for the APC in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election results in the units.

“All the local and foreign observers that described the election as free and fair only witnessed the voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the voting”.

He added: “If Koli hadn’t spoken out they would have taken this to Osun State and then Fayose betrayed Omisore again because they were now fighting for who will become the South west leader. This Mua’zu that Fayose was abusing gave us N20 million for Fayose’s primaries. That was why Mua’zu was saying he should stop talking or he will spill the bean. He started attacking Mua’zu after the party won because there was another N500 million he released for court cases which was supposed to be for the whole nation but Fayose thought it was for him alone so he went to meet Mua’zu for the N500 million. He actually reported to Jonathan twice until Mua’zu explained in the presence of Jonathan and that was the beginning of the Fayose and Mua’zu problems.”

On why he was coming up with the revelations, Aluko said: “Before the election, Fayose, Femi Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula after we must have won the election. We agreed that Fayose would be governor, Bamishile his deputy and I Chief of Staff. But the moment he got into office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch. More worrisome is the fact that Fayose has derailed from the original Ekiti project we envisaged”.

It would be recalled that early this month, the high powered board of Inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate

petitions and allegations of unprofessional conducts by some officers and soldiers during the 2014 Ekiti and Osun States gubernatorial elections, submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff General Yakubu Buratai.

Aluko not worthy of response from sane minds — Fayose’s aide Reacting to the allegations, Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, described Aluko as a new distraction from the APC in Ekiti State, saying he did not deserve response from sane minds.

Olayinka said Aluko was beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.

The governor ’s aide who said it was shameful that the APC had refused to accept a scandalous electoral defeat they suffered 19 months ago, asked whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.

He said: “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.

“If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the Election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after, is an admittance by Aluko himself that he is not a stable character."

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

26-yr-old arrested over attempt to blackmail Abiola's wife

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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26-year-old man, Caleb Nzube, who attempted to blackmail the wife of late Chief MKO Abiola of $5,000, was last week arrested in Anambra State.

Nzube allegedly hacked the Twitter handle of Mrs Tinu Abiola, downloaded her picture and designed a web page showing the woman carrying a human skull.

He then threatened to expose the web page to the world if the woman does not pay $5,000.

Traumatised Mrs Abiola, it was learned, petitioned the Inspector General, Solomon Arase, who directed a combined team of the Inspector General Monitoring Team and the Intelligence Response Team to track down the suspect.

He was arrested when the operatives stormed his hideout in Obosi.

It was gathered that Mrs Abiola was not the suspect’s only victim, as a serving Senator and two others were also being harassed by him on the social media.

Delta queen expelled over allegation of infidelity

By Julius Oweh

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SABA—THE expulsion of a queen from the palace in Idumuje-Ugboko community of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State over allegation of infidelity levelled against her by some palace chiefs, is causing a major rumble in the community.

However, the Queen Mother, Her Royal Majesty Okwukwe Nwoko, has said that those behind her plight were people who want to usurp the functions of the king, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, who is indisposed and threatened to use legal

I'm ready for oath-taking, DNA; they want to usurp the throne—QUEEN We're following tradition—PRINCE means to secure her legitimate position.

Speaking to reporters at Idumuje-Ugboko, she claimed that she was unjustly ejected from the palace when she was seven month pregnant for her husband, the king, adding that as a faithful African woman, infidelity was strange to her nature.

The Queen added that she was ready to subject herself and the child in question to DNA test or the traditional oath taking to

prove her innocence.

She claimed that her love for the royal majesty was so strong that she could not do anything that will bring disgrace or shame to the king or the palace.

She appealed to the Obi-inCouncil, opinion leaders and the people of Idumuje-Ugboko to allow her go back to the palace and take care of her husband.

In a swift reaction, a member of the royal family, Prince Obi

Nwoko, maintained that the Queen Mother was found to be pregnant outside wedlock and was consequently sanctioned according to the tradition and custom of the people.

Iyase reacts

However, the Iyase of IdumujeUgboko and a former editor, Chief Chris Ogwu, disclosed that the Obi-in-Council was yet to address the matter, adding that the 90year-old traditional ruler was not happy over the exit of his spouse.

6 Britons nabbed over quota abuse

By Omeiza Ajayi

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BUJA—FOLLOWING a tip-off, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has arrested six Britons for allegedly breaching immigration regulations regarding Nigeria’s Expatriate Quota.

The offence was reportedly committed at the instance of a Nigerian company, GMT Energy Resources Limited, a marine logistics/ procurement support service provider in the oil and gas sector.

Immigration sources said the six expatriates are in the employ of Tilone Subsea Limited, a marine contracting and sub-sea inspection, maintenance and repair company with head office in Port Harcourt.

When contacted, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kings Epedeme, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspects were undergoing further interrogation in Abuja.

DEMOLISHED: Images of Olupese Shopping Complex, Oshodi, demolished by Lagos State Government, Saturday.

PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

IG directs Lagos CP to arrest kidnappings in Festac

By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—THE Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed the Lagos State Police Commissioner to arrest the spate of kidnappings in Festac Town in particular and Amuwo Odofin in general.

It was further learned that operatives of the IG Special Intelligence and Response Team would be drafted to Lagos to checkmate excesses of kidnappers in the area.

This move would not be unconnected with the series of kidnap of businessmen residing in Amuwo Odofin. Information at Vanguard’s disposal had it that between January 2015 till

Families scared as kidnappers of Amuwo bizmen refuse to make contact date, 10 businessmen had been kidnapped with ransom running into millions of naira paid for their release.

Vanguard gathered that most prominent businessmen in the area have gone into hiding, following the ugly trend.

Meanwhile, family members of Francis Umeh, the businessman that was kidnapped last Thursday in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, have not heard from his abductors.

Vanguard gathered that when the incident occurred last Thursday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, summoned the Area ‘E’ Commander.

This is just as relatives of Cosmos Ojukwu, another businessman who was abducted a week earlier at 21 Road, Festac Town, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, have described as false reports that they paid N100 million ransom to the abductors.

Rather, the relatives told Vanguard that they were yet to hear from Ojukwu’s abductors.

Umeh, an auto parts dealer at Aspanda Market along Mile Two/Badagry Expressway was kidnapped at about 7.30p.m., in front of a filling station opposite his house.

The kidnappers rammed into his car from behind and when he alighted to ascertain the

level of damage to his car, five gun-wielding occupants clad in military camouflage dragged him into their vehicle, shooting, and zoomed off.

When Vanguard visited Umeh’s residence yesterday, the gate was still under lock and key as the family members were said to have fled their abode.

A family member, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said: “The silence on the part of the kidnappers is heightening the already tensed situation. If they contact us, it would ease the tension and also give us assurance that our bread winner is hale and hearty.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—7

Nigerians were killed,” he said.

The President also said the proposed budget would focus on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies.

He added that the recovered assets of the country would also be used to reduce the budget deficit.

Buhari orders review of railway projects

COLLOQUIUM: From left, Prof Pat Utomi, Founder, Centre for Values in Leadership, CVL; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations; Prof Anya O. Anya, the celebrant and his wife, Inyang, during the 31st CVL Leader Without Title (LWT) Leadership Tribune Colloquium in honour of Prof Anya to celebrate his 79th birthday, in Lagos.

Photo: Akeem Salau.

Judiciary, my main headache in anti-graft war —Buhari Promises to overhaul the judicial system Decries oil theft in Niger Delta Judiciary should be monitored —SERAP

By Dapo Akinrefon & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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DDIS ABABA — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the judiciary remained his main headache in the fight against corruption.

According to him, corruption is so pervasive in the country that it requires the strong support of the judiciary to effectively fight.

This was even as he showed his anger to the tribal claims and theft of oil by some individuals in the Niger Delta.

The President, who stated that he needed the support of the judiciary to win the anti-graft war, recalled that corruption in the judiciary stalled his presidential ambition for years.

He also promised to overhaul the country’s judicial system.

President Buhari, who spoke at a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, said: “On the fight against corruption vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.

“If you reflect on what I went through for 12 years when I wanted to be the President, I attempted three times and on the fourth attempt through God and the use of technology, it was possible for Nigerians to elect an APC candidate as President.

“In my first attempt in 2003, I ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months I was in court. The second attempt in

2007, I was in court close to 20 months and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in court for nine months.

“All these cases went up to the Supreme Court until the fourth time in 2015, when God agreed that I will be President of Nigeria.”

President Buhari, while defending the N6.077 trillion 2016 budget, which is now before the National Assembly, also stated that the budget would be financed from non-oil revenue.

Decries oil theft

in Niger Delta

He regretted that the international oil market had collapsed, resulting in poor income for the country. The President, however, said that he was not happy with claims and theft of oil resources persisting in the Niger Delta.

“The theft of the oil market by some Nigerians that happen to live there who feel that the oil belongs to them and not the country is an irritating thing for those of us who participated in the civil war for 30 months in which at least two million

A statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, from Addis Ababa added that President Buhari had ordered a review of several railway transport projects signed by the previous administration with the Chinese government.

This, according to the statement, is to boost urban development and social infrastructure.

Adesina added that the President, who regretted that the previous agreement with Chinese government did not yield any positive results, had, however, directed the Ministers of Transportation, Finance, Power, Works and Housing to revisit the agreements and explore ways of re-approaching the Chinese government for assistance.

He said the Chinese government had indicated interest to assist Nigeria on project financing through its Export-Import Bank.

He said: “The Chinese government was very generous to Nigeria on the projects signed with the previous government because they agreed to pay 85 per cent of the project.

But the Nigerian government was unable to meet up with its counterpart funding of 15 per cent, so the Chinese government was unable to make any impact on the project.”

Judiciary should be monitored —SERAP

In his reaction, Executive Director of the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, advised the President to monitor the judiciary but was quick to add that the judiciary should not be intimidated by the executive.

Mumumi said: “Like our organisation suggested, the judiciary must be seriously monitored and whatever amounts to a violation of the penal code of the land, must also be visited with the same amount of punishment.

"Some retired judges have been dismissed for corruption. If the old cases are opened, that will make the current members of the judiciary to sit tight. The judiciary should not be jittery over what the President has said, they should do their work without fear or favour.

“We know that the rot in the judiciary is monumental, there is no doubt about it but that should not be his (Buhari’s) headache. The President leads the executive arm of government and every other agency of prosecution are under him. What he should just do is to allow them do their work independently. The judiciary should not be intimidated by what the President has just said, they should be seen to do their work fair according to the dictates of the law.”

Zika virus: We're conducting tests on mosquitoes —FG WHO holds emergency meeting today As German scientists develop detection test

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

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AGOS — As part of preventive measures against possible outbreak of Zika virus, the Federal Government says it has put measures in place to ensure that the virus is not transmitted by mosquitoes in the country.

This is coming as the Director General of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan is convening an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus today in Geneva, Switzerland, to ascertain whether the Zika virus outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

Meanwhile, German

researchers say they have developed a diagnostic test that can accurately detect the Zika virus in humans. Previously, there was no way to diagnose the illness apart from appearance of the distinctive symptoms.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard, the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Prof Abdulsalam Nasiru, said already the Federal Government has put in place mechanisms to stop the Zika virus from entering the country.

Part of the measures includes conducting epidemiological tests on mosquitoes to ensure they do not carry the virus.

According to him, as a follow up, there has been regular monitoring already and a meeting of stakeholders comprising experts on public health among others would

be convene on Wednesday in Abuja.

Over the weekend, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, issues a travel alert to pregnant women from Nigeria not to travel to Brazil and other Latin American countries.

Briefing the WHO Executive Board during its 138th session, Chan said the level of alarm as extremely high. The Director General noted that WHO is generally worried about the rapidly evolving situation and decisions are expected to be taken at the meeting to step up international efforts to fight the threat.

The Zika virus has been tied to severe birth defects, including babies born with brain damage to infected mothers. There is no vaccine

that can prevent the infection and very few tests available to detect it.

Worse still, people in most countries have never been exposed to the virus before, so there’s very little natural immunity to the virus in the general population.

The mosquito that carries the Zika virus, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is the same mosquito that spreads the Chugwuniya fever and the yellow fever diseases, and is found in most parts of the world including Nigeria. A species of the same mosquito carries Dengue fever.

In recent times, public health officials around the world have expressed concern about the fast-spreading Zika virus Speaking on the Zika threat, Assistant Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Bruce Aylward, said 3-4 million Zika infections in the Americas over the next 12 months.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Alleged N1trn rail contracts scam: Reps invite Amaechi, NRC MD, others

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.

The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow during the investigative hearing.

Chairman of the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed that all the stakeholders had been duly informed and were expected to show up unfailingly tomorrow.

Asked why the Minister of Transport was invited, despite the fact that he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said: “The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office but you know government is a continuum.

“This 8th House is 100 per cent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.

“We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed although as you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.”

It would be recalled that during the last investigative hearing on December 10, former chairman of the NRC board, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had denied that during his tenure,

no contract was awarded by the board he chaired.

Tukur, a former chairman of PDP, had told the adhoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts.

“The Board which I chaired, was never involved in any contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of contract award of financial disbursement,” he said.

He said throughout his stay as the Board Chairman of the NRC, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded by the Board.

Another Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, also a former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the adhoc committee that he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the railway projects.

According to Baraje, all the paraphernalia and indices that would assist him carry out his work were all gone.

“We only played the role of inspection because the procurement act excluded the board from participating in any contract,’’ he added.

He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation system had suffered neglect, in spite of playing critical role in the development of the economy.

Baraje said more attention should be given to the 25-year railway modernisation plan to boost transportation in the country.

Also speaking at the hearing Senator Ladan Shuni, another former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board that lacked the capacity to oversee the award of contracts.

The investigative hearing is expected to unravel how over N1 trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts and materials for NRC.

Bola Ajibola to Buhari: Form two c'ttees for anti-corruption, governance As Sharafa Ishola okays President’s anti-graft fight

By Bashir Adefaka

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AGOS— AS President Muhammadu Buhari is set to touch ground today in Ogun State on a two-day state visit, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), has lent his voice on how he will achieve success in anti-corruption fight and governance.

Ajibola spoke in Abeokuta just as former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sharafa Tunji Ishola, threw his weight behind the President’s anti-corruption fight but urged him to form economic team and appoint a competent economist to head it.

In an interview with Vanguard in his Abeokuta home, Bola Ajibola said President Buhari’s government had got a lot on its hands to fight corruption and at the same time ensure good governance.

To achieve both concurrently, he advised the President to urgently set up two committees to work on both sides of the administrative projections.

He said: “He should set up two bifocal committees, one to work under his supervision on anti-corruption fight and the other committee to work under his supervision on governance.

"Even though anti-corruption is enough to occupy an entire tenure of an administration, the situation of present day Nigeria requires that while corruption is being killed,

INAUGURATION: Governor Nasiru el-Rufai of Kaduna State (3rd right); his deputy Barnabas Bantex (2nd left) and other members of the Commission of Inquiry on the recent Army/Shiite clash in Zaria during the inauguration at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House,Kaduna.

Photo: Olu Ajayi. governance should also go along with it so that people can have social amenities to live a fresh and truly changed life.

“Therefore, it behoves the government to ensure that on the list of its priority, is not only the corruption issue but also security of the nation and safety of the people.

"That is important because without that, the situation could be worse because everybody is looking for means of defrauding the nation or grabbing anything

from anybody.”

In his submission, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sharafa Ishola, though a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, threw his weight behind the President’s anti-corruption fight, and advised him to form his economic team and find a competent person to head it.

His words: “As a former minister of the Federal Republic, I should not be seen in partisanship. I am and will continue to be on the path of progress in matters of national

interest. That is why I will continue to give my word to President Muhammadu Buhari on things he should do to succeed.

"He should, therefore, form his economic team and find a competent economist to head it. If he does it well and Nigeria is better, it is not only Buhari, it is not only APC people, it is not only Hausa people that will benefit. All Nigerians, including members of PDP and other parts of the country will benefit.”

Senate backs suspension of NITDA boss

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA— THE Senate has thrown its weight behind the suspension of the Director General of Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, by the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, over alleged employment and contract scams.

Reacting to the development, Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Communications, Senator Solomon Adeola, APC, Lagos West, said the director-general must be further investigated for the period he had held the position as head of the information technology development agency.

He noted that doing otherwise might lead to total mess up of the agency established by the NITDA Act of 2007.

Adeola said Jack refused to answer to audit queries issued by the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, AuGF, in performance of his constitutional duties as the audit-general, adding that the non-response to such queries raised serious questions about the integrity of the DG as a public officer.

He said: “What most commentators and groups demanding reversal of the suspension do not know is that the issue goes beyond employment racketeering and breach of procurement processes.

"It also involves the issue of implementation of the constituency projects of legislators at the National Assembly as well as flagrant disobedience to legitimate directives of his supervising ministry in contravention of Section 31 of NITDA Act.” Adeola in a statement signed, yesterday, by his Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro, said it was only after a thorough investigation of the agency under the leadership of the incumbent director-general that a determination could be made on rescinding the suspension or relieving him of his position.

He stressed that doing otherwise would definitely imperil the government’s well intentioned policy on information technology development in Nigeria.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—9

C M Y K

10 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 , 2016

Sand miners dissociate selves from attack on govt official

By Jane Onozure

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AGOS—MEMBERS of Lagos State Sand and Laterite Miners Association have expressed their support for the state government and disassociated themselves from recent media reports attacking top official of the state Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

A group, Joint Lagos State Miners Association, had recently described a recent “Stop Work Order” issued by the Ministry as “unacceptable” and had accused some top officials of the ministry of wrong doing on pages of national newspapers.

In a statement by its Chairman of Board of trustees, of Ibeju-Lekkei/Epe Sand and Laterite Miners Association and patron of Sand Miners Association of Nigeria, SMAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Ibuoye, described the Joint Lagos State Miners Association as an Illegal association and urged the state Ministry of Energy to ignore the publications.

“It has to be stated that we were not consulted before the offensive publications and we are not aware of any association called Joint Lagos State Miners Association.

The publications were sponsored without the approval of the entire members of the association.

“We express our support to the government and people of Lagos State. As law abiding citizens, we have no choice than to comply with the stop-work order of the state government,'' he said.

Lagos medical doctors protest police harassment ...Police keep mum

unconditional and immediate release of Dr. Olafisoye, and any other doctor that may be

By Chioma Obinna & Lekki, Lagos has left them with case to the Police who came to in the custody of the Police in Gabriel Olawale no alternative than to draw the arrest Dr. Odunayo. The doctor similar manner in Lagos State attention of the public and spent about two weeks in and across the country.

A G O S — M E D I C A L relevant agencies to the incessant detention and was eventually doctors under the arrest of doctors for carrying out released on bail with the condition to report periodically to the auspices of Association of their legitimate duties.

Arigbabuwo explained that one Elemoro Police Station.

General and Private Medical “Barely three weeks after the Practitioners of Nigeria, of their colleagues who operated AGPMPN, Lagos State Chapter on a female patient with Pre- bail, he was rearrested by another yesterday raised alarm over Eclampsia, in December, last year, set of Police officers purported to alleged frequent harassment of but lost the patient after surgery be from Abuja on the instructions following complications of of the Inspector General of Police. medical doctors by Policemen.

Expressing their grievances surgery was treated like common What we found vexatious and SOGBO—GOVERNOR in Lagos, the Association’s criminal in the area where his demeaning of the arrest was the Rauf Aregbesola of Osun method employed in arresting practice is located and in the full Chairman, Dr. Adeyeye said the state would invest more him; he was handcuffed in the Arigbabuwo said that the recent glare of his patents. in cocoa and other agricultural “Following the death of one full glare of his patients as if he incident involving one of their produce to improve its internallycolleagues, Dr. Olafisoye Mrs. Juliet Williams, the relations were a common criminal.” generated revenue profile.

The association demanded for felt aggrieved and reported the Odunayo of Awoyaya, Ibeju Aregbesola, who stated this at a meeting with cocoa producers in Osogbo yesterday, said 60 million “active” cocoa trees had been identified ‘for the production of “Cocoa Omoluabi” in the state.

He said that revenue from cocoa and other produce would help in turning the economy and fortunes of the state around if pursued with vigour.

The governor also disclosed that the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, to boost its cocoa production.

The agreement, according to him, involves releasing of 204.39 hectares of land in Ago Owu Farm Settlement to IITA for the purposes of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms VISIT: From right; Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Speaker of the Nigerian Youth for best farming practices.

He added that a commodity Parliament, Ayodele Obe, Deputy Speaker Mariam Murtala-Abas and Former Speaker, Hon Abbas board would be established with Wasiri during the Parliament's team visit to the Government House, in Akure, at the weekend. the responsibility of ensuring that the state ranks among the best cocoa producers in the country.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in mishap have been discharged Mr. Hassan Balogun, said the Osun, Chief Raheem Adeniji,

By Bose Adelaja from the hospital. step was necessary to stated that the association was Seven victims were admitted commiserate with the affected ready to partner and cooperate AGOS—TWO victims of the last Saturday’s into various hospitals within Ijede families and seek ways to with government in its bid to Ijede-Badore bound boat and its environs but three died forestall future re-occurrence. revamp cocoa farming in the state. while on admission while two have been discharged.

A source in Ijede General Hospital who pleaded anonymity FCMB’s net interest income for told Vanguard yesterday that the Wale Oluwo, said the gesture was the period ended September remaining two were responding in response to the plight of the 2014 stood at N48.7 billion, as to treatment.

Four bodies were recorded against N49.1 billion for the

By Olasunkanmi Akoni residents via a newspaper publication in which they same period prior year. immediately after the boat mishap Operating expenses was up 3% while three of the earlier survivors AGOS—AS part of the appealed to the Ikeja Electricity ongoing Light Up Lagos Distribution Company (IKEDC) to Year-on-Year (YoY) to N50.5 died in the hospital putting the billion, for the nine-months casualty figure at seven while four initiative, Governor Akinwunmi come to their aid to replace their ended September 2015, remained in the hospital but two Ambode at the weekend, aging transformers.

The transformer at Palmgroove compared to N48.9 billion forthe of them were said to have been donated a 500kva transformer to same period the previous year- discharged as at the time of this residents of Palmgroove Estate in Estate, according to residents, a slower growth rate than report.

Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local was installed in 1958 and had The hospital management were Council Development Area of become obsolete and problematic inflation rate, underscoring in the last ten years, leading to FCMB’s successful cost saving unwilling to comment about the the state.

The governor also donated weekly electrical fault. development when Vanguard initiatives.

Oluwo, in his remarks, said transformers to two communities First City Monument Bank called.

Meanwhile, the boat operators in Alapere and Ijegun Ambode was of the view that if Limited, the commercial and retail banking subsidiary of have suspended operations respectively, to boost electricity the electricity distribution companies were not making the FCMB Group Plc, continued to pending the time those supply in their localities.

Ambode, who was represented right investment, the people validate its leading position as hospitalised are discharged from a helpful and inclusive lender the hospital and the casualties are at the handing over ceremony by would wallow in darkness, hence, the Commissioner for Energy his administration is poised to by increasing loans and buried accordingly.

The Chairman of the jetty, and Mineral Resources, Mr. alleviate the suffering of residents. advances to customers.

L

O

BOAT MISHAP: Two victims discharged from hospital

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FCMB grows revenue to N109.3bn

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AGOS—FIRST City Monument Bank, FCMB Plc has reported increased revenue of N109.3 billion for the nine-months ended September 2015, an increase of 2% from N106.7 billion for the same period in 2014.

The financial institution also recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of N2.6 billion for the period, as against N16.8 billion for the ninemonths of 2014.

FCMB Group Plc, the financial holding company, comprises of First City Monument Bank Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, CSL Stockbrokers Limited and CSL Trustees Limited.

Going by the unaudited International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-compliant Group results, which include the Bank’s audited results for the same period,

Why we are investing in cocoa production — AREGBESOLA

Ambode donates transformers to communities

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Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 — 11

What I learnt from Fayose — IKPEAZU

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI—ABIA State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has listed some virtues to include courage, identifying with the people and how to handle intricate political issues as some of the things he has learnt from the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, which are helping him in his political life.

The Abia governor, who spoke at the weekend during the burial ceremony of his mother which Fayose attended, noted that he had visited Fayose twice in the last seven months and gained some insight as far as leadership and holding political power are concerned.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by Governor Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Ikpeazu said, “Governor Ayodele Fayose is a courageous man, a voice for the voiceless, a defender of the weak and defencelss, a brother, a leader, a friend and a leader of the people.

“A consistent man known for speaking out the truth all the time.

He told me few things that worked for me perfectly in this state. He is a man I love and respect so much and I salute his courage .

“He has been governor twice and he is far experienced. He has encouraged me in deed, character and in words. I pray t hat God will give me the opportunity one day to be able to show my appreciation to him and how I feel about him.

He is a man I love and respect so much and I salute his courage,” Ikpeazu said.

In his remarks, Fayose described the Igbo people as not only industrious, but dogged. He said he named one of his sons Chukwuemeka many years ago to show how much he appreciates the Igbo people.

On the politi cal situation in the country, he said that nobody could silence or cow him, “The nation should resist dictatorship otherwise this democracy is doomed. Those that are applauding dictatorship now will soon end in the belly of the dictator,” he opined.

Fayose said he was certain of Ikpeazu winning at the Supreme Court and that he would return to Abia soon to celebrate with Ikpeazu.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State

A

KURE—NO fewer than 26 projects are to be commissioned by Governor Olusegun Mimiko to mark the 40th anniversary of the state and his administration’s seventh year.

Also, a former United States of America Envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Walter Carrington is billed to deliver a public lecture to mark the anniversaries.

The chairman of the planning committee Mr Akin Adaramola and the Information Commissioner Kayode Akinmade said this at a press conference to herald the anniversaries.

Adaramola said that the public lecture will hold on Thursday 25th at the international and Cultural Event Centre, the Dome in Akure.

The chairman said that the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko will criss cross the three senatorial districts of the state to commission

services for unemployed people as well as those earning below the minimum wage with particular reference to women, widows, children, students, the physically challenged and citizens above the age of 60.

In his remarks, the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, lauded the efforts of the state government to protect the rights of indigent people in the state.

FOUNDATION LAYING: From left; Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; Primate of the Anglican Church; Chief Wole Olanipekun, donor of Vice Chancellor's Lodge, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo; Rt. Rev. Dapo Asaju, Vice Chancellor and Mr Toyin Okeowo during the laying of foundation of the Wole Olanipekun Vice Chancellor's Lodge of the varsity in Oyo, weekend.Photo by Dare Fasube.

OGUN AT 40: Amosun urged to prioritise agriculture

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—FORMER Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Jasper Peter Akinola, has advised the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to give youth employment and agricultural development priority.

…Ondo to commission 26 projects

By Dayo Johnson

Government has assured indigent citizens in the state of adequate legal representation and fairness in their quest for justice and equity.

The Executive Secretary of the Office of the Public Defender, Mrs. Modupe Akinbolawa, who gave the assurance in Ado-Ekiti during an advocacy visit to the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, noted that her office has been mandated by the State Government to provide free legal

the projects and inspect others on Tuesday 9 through Monday 22.

Governor Mimiko is to also hold a special interactive session with Special interests groups while the governor will make a special broadcast to the people of the state.

Other programmes to mark the anniversaries include a photo exhibition to rekindle the nostalgic experience of the past as it links with the present both for elders, adults and younger generation.

The commissioner pointed out that the photo exhibition will” equally tell the story of our strides, leadership succession, trajectory of development, political emancipation, socio-economic transformation and the links.

Wife of the Governor Oluwakemi Mimiko will be visiting people with special needs on February 22 while a special women's programme tagged “Gbebiro” will hold on the 23 February.

A Jumat service will hold on February 26 at the Central Mosque, Akure.

Akinola spoke at the 40th anniversary thanksgiving service in commemoration of the creation of the state held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, yesterday.

The cleric lamented that the state has invested heavily in infrastructural development to the detriment of agriculture and youth employment.

According to him, the attention given to infrastructure in the state should to have been spread out among other major sectors.

He advised the governor to generate adequate resources to cater for the needs of the people, urging him to follow the footsteps of the late sage,Chief Obafemi Awolowo in engaging the youths in things that would make them productive to the society.

Primate Akinola said, “Let us thank God for the past and present governors that have contributed to the development of the state,especially Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the unprecedented infrastructural development in the state.

“This celebration gives us opportunity to take stock. How have we fared so far? In terms of giving,God has blessed us naturally and human resources.

How do we judge ourselves as we take stock of what we have achieved in the last 40 years.

“We must as a people begin from today to generate adequate resources to cater for our needs.

The oil money is fast disappearing. Ogun must begin to gener-

ate adequate resources to cater for the people.

“Today, we have assembly of youths who are jobless. If these unemployed youths come together to fight their cause, they will bring down this nation. The state has invested heavily in infrastructure but much still need to be done in other areas”.

In his remarks ,governor Amosun acknowledged the issues raised by Primate Akinola , promised that his administration would address them in the overall interest of the state.

He said the celebration is not just for felicitating what his administration had recorded as achievements in the last four and half years.

Ex-gov Adebayo, Bamidele reconcile against Ekiti PDP

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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DO-EKITI—A member of the seventh House of Representatives and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that genuine reconciliation of all the factions within the Ekiti state chapter of the party would not only incapacitate the influence of Governor Ayo Fayose but would also return the state to the party come 2018 governorship poll.

The former federal lawmaker said this in Iyin Ekiti at the weekend during a unity meeting held by APC members in the two wards in the town.

Bamidele, in a statement by his media aide, Ahmed Salami yesterday, expressed confidence that with genuine reconciliation and unity in APC, that PDP, being led by governor Ayodele Fayose, can’t retain the state during the 2018 governorship poll.

Bamidele, said the crisis that engulfed the party, leading to his defection to Labour Party, where he contested against exGovernor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21, 2014 governorship poll, was over, saying his reunion with the party was a natural thing that should not be a surprise to anybody.

He particularly praised his kinsman and former governor of the state, Niyi Adebayo, for his leadership role, promising that he would continue to rally support for his leadership in Ekiti APC, for the party to rise to reckoning in the coming elections.

AKINTOLA: 50th memorial lecture focuses on anti-corruption themes

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—SEVERAL sons and daughters of Yorubaland gathered weekend at a memorial lecture held in honour of a former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola who died fifty years ago.

The lecture entitled, Corruption and Nigeria’s Search for Purpose 50 Years on, was organised by one of the

children of the late statesman, Justice Ladiran Akintola at the University of Ibadan.

While presenting his lecture, the Provost, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission,ICPC, Prof Sola Akinrinade, said to check the mind-boggling corruption in the country, something extraordinary that goes beyond arrest and imprisonment of culprits must be done.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Kidnappers still holding 96-yr-old Delta monarch

By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

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L O M O R O — KIDNAPPERS of the Odio-Ologbo of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM, Josiah Aghaza I, who demanded N50 million ransom before releasing the monarch, are still holding the 96-year-old monarch, 48 hours after they took him hostage. He was abducted on January 29.

Enraged traditional rulers in the state, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, called on the state government to provide them adequate security, noting that government was not doing much about their safety.

The Delta State Traditional Rulers Council, led by the Obi of Owa Kingdom, had last week, slammed the state government for the poor security for royal fathers and asked the state government to guarantee their safety.

Also, Deltans in the United States, speaking through Dr. Isioma Okobah, also called for improved security for traditional rulers.

Onitsha expressway.

An indigene of the community told our reporter on phone: “As far as we are concerned, we do not believe that the state government and the security agencies are doing enough to bring our monarch back to us. It is the duty of government to provide security and you know this was how they watched, claiming they were working and Fulani herdsmen killed the Obi of Ubulu-Uku kingdom.”

Also, the paramount ruler of Siembiri Kingdom, HRM Charles Ayemi-Botu, said government was not serious with

the security of royal fathers.

“After the hijack of a Bayelsa State monarch by kidnappers from Kokori in Delta State in 2013, the then governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, directed that local governments in the state should be responsible for the security of royal fathers in their areas by providing at least two police officers for them.

The Chairman in Burutu Local Government Area at the time implemented the directive, but his successor cancelled the arrangement in 2014 and I am sure this is the situation in other local governments in the state."

“The monarch urged

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to enforce the directive or provide funding to the councils to implement it if that was the problem.

The royal father said that during the time of Uduaghan, the governor, security chiefs in the state, council chairmen and traditional rulers met quarterly to discuss security situation and also implored Governor Okowa to re-establish the forum.

Also, the traditional ruler of Akugbene Mein Kingdom, Bomadi council, HRM S.P. LukeKalanama VIII, said: “We feel very bad about this development and call on the governor to check the ugly trend.”

Tension

Meanwhile, tension heightened, yesterday in Olomoro, as youths in the community, not satisfied with the assurance of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Usman Alkali, who visited on Saturday to douse tension, have threatened to shut down the flow station in the area and barricade the Asaba/

FUNERAL SERVICE: Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (right) with Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, during the funeral service of the mother of Abia State governor, late Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu, conducted by Seventh Day Adventist Church, Umuobiakwa, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

Chevron committed to improved education —Haastrup

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—GENERAL Manager for Policy Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Deji Haastrup, has reiterated the commitment of Chevron to improve the standard of education in the country through annual national and community scholarship programmes.

He called for part of the funds provided by the Chevron/NNPC joint ventures to the Regional Development Committees, RDCs, under the company’s Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, in the communities to be channelled to education.

Haastrup, who spoke at the 2016 Award/Prize Giving Ceremony of the Chris Ikomi Memorial Essay Competition sponsored by Chevron/NNPC joint venture in partnership with the Delta State Government for Junior and Senior Secondary School categories, said that education was one of the core areas of social performance, adding that government alone cannot bear the burden of providing quality education for Nigerian youths.

Represented at the event by a

Senior Staff of the company, Mr. Esimage Brikinn, Haastrup commended winners of the competition for their excellent performance and enjoined them to see their prizes as the beginning of higher challenges

to excel both in academics and other life endeavours.

Also speaking, Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, commended the Chevron/NNPC Joint Venture

for partnering the state government in developing the education sector.

He said, “This competition is aimed at immortalizing late Mr. Chris Ikomi, a very dedicated staff who was murdered during the Warri ethnic crises in 1999."

Ogbe-Ijoh market in Warri burns again

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Akpokona Omafuaire

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ARRI—OGBE-IJOH market in Warri, Delta State, notorious for destructive fires, went up in flames again, yesterday, with property estimated at millions of naira consumed.

Many shop owners were still in church when news broke at 2p.m., that a wing of the market which experienced a similar fire barely six months ago, was on fire again.

The expansive market which flows into the Ogbe-Ijoh River shoreline is popular for general sales of wares, ranging from foodstuff, motor and boats spares parts, to tailoring materials, clothes, fishing gears, among others.

Chairman of the traders

association, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alex Kimaki, blamed the inferno on a spark in electricity supply in the market, but other eyewitnesses ascribed the incident to sabotage by unknown persons.

Kimaki, while urging government to assist victims who lost property to the latest

fire, called for proper equipping of the local fire services to rise to such occasions, saying that a lot could have been saved if the fire service was ready for emergencies.

Men of the fire service in Warri said, to have arrived late were further handicapped by shortage of water to fight the fire.

Ayade bags 2016 UNESCO Award

By Ikenna Asomba

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ROSS River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has been conferred with the Award of Excellence by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, for his leadership and foresight in improving the lives of the people of the state.

Presenting the award,

Executive Director, Centre for Peace and President/CEO of USUNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, Mr. Guy Djoken, said: “In appreciation of your leadership and foresight in the manner you are improving the lives of the people of Cross River State and Nigeria, we have decided to encourage you with this to boost your morale for more result-oriented initiatives.”

Harriman denies Dubai property

By Emmanuel Aziken

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LL Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Temi Harriman, has dismissed claims of her ownership of a property in Dubai, saying she has never been to the Middle East country or made any investment there.

Reacting to an online publication quoting her as being among a group of prominent APC chieftains who own property in Dubai, Harriman dismissed the report as the brainchild of amateurish internet purveyors lacking direction and content.

She said: “It was at first easy to dismiss the report about my being among some prominent Nigerians who own real estate investments in Dubai as I had never before heard of the internet medium that carried the false news.

“However, repeated enquiries by concerned friends, associates and supporters have made me to formally respond to this hogwash framed by some charlatans.

“I have never been to Dubai, I do not have any investment in that part of the world and I for the records affirm that the entirety of the story as concerning me is totally untrue and should be ignored.”

Ijaw salute Gov Dickson at 50

By Tare Youdeowei

T

HE Ijaw have described Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State as a blessing to the Ijaw in particular and the Niger Delta in general.

In a congratulatory message to mark the governor’s 50th birthday anniversary, the Ijaw said they “salute the visionary leadership of the governor despite the economic hardship facing the nation as a result of the embarrassing oil price in the international market and the declining value of the naira.

“Our governor truly epitomizes hard work, perseverance, doggedness, diligence and patriotism.

These are the virtues of the true Ijaw man.

“Our eternal Governor– General of Ijaw nation, late Chief D.S.P Alamiesegha is celebrating in the world beyond because your electoral victory has added honour and glory to him because his last wish on earth was granted by Ijaws worldwide that you should be re-elected like what Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu requested from the Igbos of Anambra State over former Governor Obi before his death that was also granted by the Igbo nation.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—13

Pipeline bombing: Gbaramatu schools, health centres shut as military continues offensive As Warri S-West LGC sets up inquiry

CEPEJ cautions against use of military might

By Emma Amaize & Tare Youdeowei

Government is doing is what the United States is doing to Russia, wanting to weaken the Russian government because of its oil. Equally, the Nigerian government wants to weaken the Niger Delta region because of its oil,” he added.

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ARRI—SCHOOLS, both secondary and primary, as well as health centres, in Okerenkoko, Oporoza, Kurutie, Kunukunumam, Egboba, Benikurukuru, Egwa, Abitte, Tebijoh and other Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, have been forced to shut down following the over twoweek siege to the riverine communities by soldiers hunting for pipeline bombers.

Teachers and health workers have also fled the communities and vowed not to return until peace returns to the kingdom.

In addition, churches have also dispersed.

Also deserted were Okerenkoko Grammar School, Okerenkoko; Oporoza Grammar School, Oporoza and primary schools in all the mentioned communities, as well as health centres in Okerenkoko and Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Four sick villagers collapsed at Opudebubor community on Friday, and there were no medical personnel to assist them because of the prevailing situation. Relatives of the victims tried to convey them to Warri more than 12 hours after the incident.

Meanwhile, residents of Sandfield I and 2, Ogbogbene and other Ijaw villages in Warri overside, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, and Committee for Rural Development have raised alarm over indiscriminate shootings by security operatives in their areas.

Warri S-West LGC sets up enquiry

Also, to assist the Federal and Delta State governments to track down perpetrators of the recent bombing of crude and gas pipelines in Warri South-West council, Chairman of the council, Mr George Ekpemupolo, has inaugurated a seven-man panel of inquiry to ascertain”the immediate and remote causes of the heinous crime.”

The committee, which has Chief Godspower Ebenekama as chairman and Mr. Jimmy Faka as secretary, is also saddled with the responsibility of ascertaining, “the effects and level of damage and proffer solutions to forestall future re-occurrence.”

Also, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, has advised the Federal Government to tread softly on the renewed attacks on pipelines in the creeks of Delta State by

Stop random shooting —IYC

INAUGURATION: From left: SP Umar Dugu, Mr. Emmanuel Adun, Chief Wellington Bobo, Mr. George Ekpemupolo (Chairman, Warri South-West LGA); Mr. Blexons Omadoye (Vice Chairman, Warri South-West LGA); Mr. Jimmy Faka, Chief Godspower Ebenekama and N.J. Ufot, during the inauguration of a panel of inquiry to ascertain the perpetrators of the recent bombing of pipeline and oil facilities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. suspected militants, so as not to stoke up embers of a fresh crisis in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The advice is coming against the backdrop of plans by the Federal Government to send the military to attack riverine communities hosting oil facilities which have already heightened tension resulting in people leaving their communities in droves.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Sheriff Mulade, the group advised the military against going out of its rule of engagement in its hunt for the masterminds of the attacks on the oil pipelines.

Chairman of Warri SouthWest council, Ekpemupolo, while inaugurating the board, weekend, at Warri South-West Council Secretariat in OgbeIjoh, described the recent bombing of pipelines in the area as “a worrisome and unwholesome act, which should not be condoned,” adding that no plausible reason can justify the “dastardly act,” which “is an economic sabotage and threat to the lives and property of the people of Warri South-West council.”

He said that “the criminals, who perpetrated the abominable act are domiciled in our communities.”

Other members of the sevenman committee which has two weeks from the day of their inauguration to submit their report are: Vice Chairman of Warri South-West council, Mr. Blexons Omadoye, Mr. Emmanuel Adun, Chief Wellington Bobo, S.P Umar Dugu and Mr. N. J. Ufot.

We’re also facing food crisis—Gbenekame

The Bebenemowei (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Gbenekame, who spoke to Vanguard on the closure of schools and health institutions in the kingdom, said: “Since the onset of the military manhunt, our schools and health centres have been closed because the teachers and health workers fled for fear of being killed.

“You see, most of the workers are not from the communities and nobody will hear that soldiers want to invade the place and remain when the natives are also running away. So, that is the situation. Our schools and health centres are not functioning because of the military siege.

“Besides the closure of academic and health institutions, we are also facing severe food shortage in Gbaramatu Kingdom now.

There is no food because of problems of transportation.

There is fear everywhere and the military has also embargoed the kind of horsepower engines that can be used on speedboats.

“This has totally crippled social life in the riverine communities. There is no more social life as people are hiding not knowing when the military will strike. Even water to drink is a problem because there is no transportation to bring sachet water like before.

“Gbaramatu Kingdom has turned into a refugee camp, what is remaining is for government to open Internally

Displaced People's, IDP camps for the refugees,” he added.

National President of IPDI, Austin Ozobo, who condemned the closure of schools, health centres and churches, said, “Government is not showing adequate concern over the plight of the people.

It needs to build confidence in the people and not stay aloof; you can imagine that food supply is restricted.

“Although Gbaramatu is the oil belt of the nation, there are only two secondary schools and few primary schools in the area. As we speak, all the teachers have fled the kingdom, parents and students have also fled for fear, as the security operatives continue the blockade to the area.

“The only source of livelihood in the area is fishing and because of the heightened tension and military presence in the region, fishing business has automatically crumbled.

“All workers of the few health institutions have also taken flight. Movement is being restricted, hunger and suffering is everywhere. How long shall the people run from tneir homes? The government is only interested in their oil.

“What the Nigerian

The Ijaw Youth Council, in a statement, yesterday, by its spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, called on the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Dan Ali, to prevail on military officers, especially those attached to Naval Base, Warri, Delta State, to immediately stop the indiscriminate shooting into Ijaw communities directly opposite the Warri Naval Base.

“For some time now and for no reason, military officers attached to the Naval Base, Warri and those patrolling the Warri River have been indiscriminately shooting into Naifor Island, Desemor Island, Oroupa Island and other Ijaw communities directly opposite Warri, especially late in the night on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“This has led to cases of injuries to those running for safety and many residents moving out from Ijaw communities to other places.

There are reports that the military will soon raid the Ijaw communities. We see no reason for this sudden unprovoked attack on Ijaw communities around Warri and its environs.

“The military authorities must immediately call on the officers concerned to stop this unwarranted attack on innocent Ijaw people and communities.

The Ijaw people and communities around Warri have lived in those places for centuries without constituting any security threat.

“We are amazed that military officers that ought to protect the lives of citizens are now the security threat to the citizens that they are supposed to protect. We call for an investigation into this show of indiscipline and unprofessionalism and officers responsible should be punished to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 , 2016

Sen Orji cautions APGA over campaign of calumny

Ugwuanyi restates committment to people’s welfare

T

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has reassured the people of the state of his administration’s commitment to deliver on his campaign promises by providing physical infrastructure and other people-oriented programmes that would impact positively on their lives.

The governor, who gave the assurance in Nsukka while inspecting the on-going road projects told the elated crowd that gathered to hail him during the inspection, that he personally embarked on the unscheduled visits to all the sites to see things for himself and feel the impulse of the people on how the contractors have been performing.

Governor Ugwuanyi after listening to the assessment by residents of the area over the state of work assured them that he would take necessary action to ensure that quality work was delivered.

He urged the people to continue to offer special prayers for positive improvement in the nation’s economy for his administration to do more, assuring them that the roads will be completed within the stipulated period agreed with the contractors.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of Obimo community in Nsukka Local Government Area, Chief Spencer Ugwoke, who was on ground to welcome the governor, commended him for his kind gesture to visit the sites to see things for himself and make objective assessment of the progress report on the road projects.

PRESENTATION: From left — Past District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Dr Kamoru Omotosho; past President, Rotn. Susan Omotosho; President, Rotn. Remi Akinterinwa, both of Rotary Club of Ikoyi; Executive Secretary Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Modupe Olaiya; Dr. Adetoun Agbe-Davies and Rotn. Oladele Ojogbede, during the presentation of cheque by the club to support the blood transfusion body in Lagos.

Over 50 killed, 70 injured as terrorists attack Borno Boko Haram embarrassing my govt — BUHARI

By Kingsley Omonobi, Levinus Nwabughiogu & Ndahi Marama

A

B U JA — MI L I TA RY sources have confirmed that over 50 persons were killed by scores of Boko Haram terrorists armed with AK 47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons in the attack on Dalori village, about 4 kilometers away from Maiduguri.

President angered by sect

This came as President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja said that Boko Haram sect was embarrassing his government with renewed onslaught against the people of the north-east.

The attack and wanton destruction of lives and

Labour issues 7-day strike notice to NIMET President of the union,

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

A

BUJA—ORGANISED labour is threatening a show down over alleged nonimplementation of agreement reached with the management of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET and has issued a 7-day strike notice to the agency.

Operating on the platform of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, AUPCTRE, labour said the ultimatum was contained in a letter sent to the Director General of the agency in Abuja, last Friday.

Solomon Adelegan, said the ultimatum was sequel to the inability of the N IMET’s management to respect and implement the agreement reached with the union at a meeting in December last year.

According to him, some of the critical iss ues raised, discussed and agreement reached at the meeting include,” Commencement of full implementation of the recently approved Condition of Service/ Addendum for NIMET workers: Effective date of 2013 Promotion: Mandatory Training for would be Retirees: Staff Quarters occupied by officers who have retired from NIMET and Payment of 2015 Ex-Gratia.”

properties including livestock and cattle in Dalori village, came despite repeated government claims that Boko Haram insurgents had been degraded and no longer had the capacity to assemble or carry out such large scale attacks except through suicide bombings It was gathered that the military on learning of the Boko Haram attack on Dalori on Saturday night, dispatched troops to engaged them, resulting in a fierce gun battle.

The terrorists were said to have inflicted heavy carnage on Dalori and another village of Walori, for close to two hours before the military arrived.

The source said the villagers who had always been on the alert, were deceived by the fact that the insurgents came in Hilux Vans and were dressed in camouflage hence the villagers mistook them for troops on patrol.

Bodies of those killed, it was gathered, were evacuated to the Borno State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

“Several others whose numbers were estimated at 70 who received gunshot, machete injuries, etc, were also evacuated to the two hospitals”, the source said.

Insurgents more desperate now— BUHARI

Meanwhile, speaking against the backdrop of plethora of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Persons’ IDP, camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State in the passing week, president Buhari said that the insurgents had become more desperate,

saying that the recent bombings were attempts to gain public sympathy and attention having suffered terribly in the hands of Nigerian military.

According to President Buhari, the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dolari and IDP. The President also noted that the materials for making the Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, were locally sourced by the insurgents and urged Nigerians especially residents of the northeast region to be more vigilant and circumspect.

Air Force pounds Sambisa

In the mean time, as part of efforts to soften the ground for troops, the Nigerian Airforce, NAF, has sustained aerial bombardment of Sambisa Forest with over 280 operational sorties conducted against terrorist’s targets in the last one month.

The Deputy Theatre Commander Air of Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, who made this known at a briefing in Maiduguri, said the air strikes and bombardments were conducted by the Air Component of the Operation Lafiya Dole in the North-East.

Amao explained that the sustained air operations and surveillance within the Theater of operation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, were intensified between December 2015 and January 2016 towards ending the Boko Haram menace.

HE immediate past Governor of Abia State,, Chief Theodore Orji has condemned attacks on his person and dragging of his name in the mud by the Abia State All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Dr Alex Otti.

Reacting to a documentary allegedly aired by Abia State APGA governorship candidate for 2015 election, the Media Adviser to Chief Orji, Mr. Don Norman Obinna in a statement in Lagos, said Dr. Otti and his allies concertedly dragged the distinguished senator into his election adventure.

Obinna said Chief Orji would have “disregarded the documentary meant to manipulate the psyche of some gullible Nigerians to accept as factual Otti’s fictitious and contemptible allegation of intimidation and massive rigging in favour of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared winner, Governor Okezie Ikeazu but his allies have refused to desist from campaign of calumny.”

“For the records, Senator Orji, who was the then governor of Abia State was with Chief Olisa Metuh in his residence when he got information of an imminent breakdown of law and order as a result of the announced cancellation of Obingwa Osisioma and Isialangwa North Local Government Areas by the INEC returning officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.''

Gov Bello denies social media accounts

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—NEWLY swornin governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has denied all the facebook and twitter accounts bearing his name; saying he does not have, or operate any social accounts.

The governor, who stated this through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, said it became imperative to let the public know not to fall victim of fraudsters pretending to be the governor.

He said: “We wish to inform the press and indeed, the public that the governor has not opened any facebook or twitter account. This announcement is imperative in view of recent floating of fake social media accounts in the name of Governor Yahaya Bello by unscrupulous individuals to defraud the unsuspecting public.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 , 2016—15

Imo monarch kidnapped

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—PALPABLE fear has gripped the family of the traditional ruler of Nguru Nwe-Afor Ajala, Eze Oswald Anyanwu, following his kidnap by unknown persons.

One of the stories weaved around the kidnap had it that the royal father, who lives in New Owerri, was on his way to pick his wife from one of the hair dressing salons in the area when the hoodlums struck.

It was also gathered that the dare devil gangsters shot at his vehicle tyre, puncturing it in the process and forcing the man to stop.

According to the story, the hoodlums quickly picked the man and forced him into their vehicle and sped away.

Uneasy calm now reigns in the autonomous community as the subjects are anxiously waiting for the return of their monarch.

One of the villagers, who spoke to Vanguard on strict grounds of anonymity lamented that insecurity was becoming the order of the day in the state.

“These are not the best of times. People are picked up with ease in the state, while the state government feeds the rest of us with false stories about the secured nature of the state,” the villager lamented.

All efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, on his mobile line before going to press failed, as it could not be reached.

Why I play politics of devt —Ekweremadu

E

The kidnapped Royal father

Woman, 7 children die in Ebonyi fire disaster •Properties worth millions of Naira destroyed A

By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—EIGHT family members in Ohufu village, Ogboji community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State weekend lost their lives in a fire outbreak that occurred at 3am in the community.

Those who lost their lives following the fire disaster include a woman and her seven children while the husband, Sylvanus Nwefuru and one of their children, Ukamaka Nwefuru survived the inferno.

The fire outbreak razed two thatched houses where the family members were sleeping as properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed by the inferno.

Sylvanus Nweferu, an 80year-old man who told Vanguard that he heard a loud noise while deeply asleep noted that he woke up suddenly and saw his place of abode on fire.

One of the survivors,

Ukamaka Nwefuru revealed that her mother who rescued her and went into the fire to save another member of the family was caught by the inferno where

she unfortunately lost her life.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ishielu local government area, Henry Eze called on security agents to

investigate the cause of the inferno and solicited more cooperation among the people in the community to avert future incident.

BURIAL: Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (right) Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife, Nkechi, during the burial of Dr. Ikpeazu's mother at Umuobiakwa, Obi-Ngwa LGA of Abia State.

S-COURT JUDGMENT: Chris Uba warns brother Andy, Oduah,

others to step down

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA—A key member of the Ejike Oguebego faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State, Chief Chris Uba, has warned his brother, Senator Andy Uba, Ms. Stella Oduah and others affected by the Supreme Court judgment of last Friday, to stop parading themselves further as Senators and quit the National Assembly.

Uba said in Abuja yesterday that with the judgment, the affected senators and House of Representatives members in Anambra State had lost their seats and had no right whatsoever to cling on to their seats.

To prove his seriousness over the judgement, Ubah indicated his resolve to storm the Independent National Electoral Commission today to demand for their Certificates of Return so as to put an end to the refusal of the former lawmakers to comply with the court order.

It will be recalled that both Andy Uba and Oduah had faulted the Supreme Court judgment, insisting that they were not party to the suit which basically had to deal with issues of leadership crisis in Anambra PDP. Chris, who described himself as “Senator representing Anambra South” while speaking with reporters in

Abuja said he was shocked that those who should be conversant with the laws of the land could be deceiving the public regarding their true status after the Supreme Court failed to recognise the dubious way through which they got to the Senate.

He said: “The time for substitution had passed and we were busy doing our campaigns when, one week to the election, the Andy Uba faction went to the Court of Appeal and set aside the judgement of the High Court.

Based on that, they took the judgement to INEC and their names were used to substitute our own. We cried foul then, insisting we were not party to the

suit but INEC insisted that our names were initially published based on an earlier court order and that we should go on appeal.

“We appealed to the Supreme Court and the verdict on Friday clearly vindicated our position as the Supreme Court set aside that judgement of the Court of Appeal, agreed with the judgement of the High Court and even granted all our five prayers.

“Now, they (Chris Uba and Oduah) went on air and issued pressstatementstodeceivethepublicthat the order from the Supreme Court did not affect them because they were not a party to the suit. The question is: when our names were removed by INEC and replaced with theirs, were we party to the suit? Now they are shouting and trying to misinterpret a clear judgment that has removed them and given us victory."

NUGU—THE Deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said that he plays politics of development because of his desire for the speedy development of human resources, towns, and villages.

He made the disclosure, weekend, while playing host to some of his constituents from Ezeagu Local Government Area, led by the State’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Enugu State, Mr Charles Ndukwe, who were in his Enugu residence to pay him a thank you visit.

Ekweremadu noted that human resources development remained pivotal to the overall development of any society, adding that any politician who does not think along this line is not worthy of his calling.

“If I am asked to summarise my type of politics, I would say that I play politics of development because that is the whole essence of being in politics.

Development, in the sense that I would like to see human resources development; we have to develop our villages and we have to put infrastructure like water, road and electricity in place; we have to also develop our economy; any politician that is not thinking along this line is not worthy of his calling” the Deputy President of the Senate, declared.

According to him, Public Service is about service to the people, explaining that politicians must always strive to leave behind legacies that would stand the test of time.

While paying glowing tribute to the people of Enugu West for maintaining unity and brotherhood in the District, Ekweremadu recalled that in 2003 when he started representing the District, Enugu West was known to be speaking with discordant voices, with pervading mutual suspicion.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Charles Ndukwe,expressedappreciation to the Deputy President of the Senate, for the empowerment of the people of the District

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBUARY 1, 2016 Governor Nyesome Wike, of River state last Wednesday got a reprive at the Supreme Court which upheld his victory in the April 11 2015 governorship election. The seven-man panel at the apex court in a unanimous decision read by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, returned the embattled Wike as the valid winner of the poll as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In arriving at the verdict, the Supreme Court Panel which was led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said the three separate appeals filed by Wike, the People’s Democratic Party PDP and INEC were meritorious. It consequently quashed the judgements of the River state governorship election petition

Gov Wike’s victory at the Supreme Court tribunal and Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. The latter had on December 16, 2015 dismissed Wike’s appeal which sought to reverse the tribunal’s judgement which voided his victory.

With the judgement, the Supreme Court has stated the position of the law on the issue of card reader usage in the last year’s general election. As the final arbiter in all legal dis-

putes, its judgment is the law and that is what it is in the instant case.

More importantly, the judgement has again brought to the front burner the conflicting and inconsistent nature of appeal court decisions . In dismissing Wike’s appeal, the appeal court said his election failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act as

laid down by INEC. The apex court judgement has affirmed certainity of the law, ignoring the massive rigging perpetrated by some politicians who wanted to win by all means, by following its decision in the case of Buhari vs Obasanjo. The ratio in that judgement is that where there is a conflict between the Constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, the former must prevail.

Why the judgment has provoked shock wave and disbelief across the nation, but jubilation in the Governor Wike camp, judicial purist have commended the Supreme Court for restating the law as it is in the River’s governorship election dispute regarding the use or not of the card reader machine.

OPINION

Rivers State Police Command:: The Mbu legacy

By Adio Ajeniya

R

ECENTLY, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) commissioned an imposing edifice at the premises of the Nigeria Police Sports Complex, along Olumeni Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The impressive structure towers above the nearby one storey Police Officers Mess building. It completely dwarfs the secretariat of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), just a few metres from it. This two-storey master piece has six bedroom flats. It was built by the NDDC, and will now become the official quarters of three Deputy Commissioners of Police and three Assistant Commissioners of Police in the Command.

The story of this edifice is not complete without mention of the Commissioner of Police who initiated it: Mbu Joseph Mbu, NPMC, psc+, now an Assistant Inspector General of Police and Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos. CP Mbu, as he then was, had a stormy time in Rivers State for being his own man.

He was pilloried for insisting on doing his police duties as his conscience led him.

Now the dust has settled, Mbu has traversed other police formations, and it is becoming clear he was never anybody’s lackey.

That much was proved in Lagos, where the Crime Reporters Association of

Nigeria inducted him, into the CRAN Hall of Fame on, May 3, 2015 for supervising the most credible and only violence free election in Lagos State, since 1999. Mbu was the Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone 2, covering Lagos and Ogun States. Before the elections, a section of Nigerians had expressed apprehension that the top flight cop was posted to the Zone to act a written script.

He proved them wrong.

According to a police officer who met Mbu for the first time in Lagos: “From a distance, Mbu is the enfant terrible. On a closer contact you will be disarmed by his humility and sense of duty”.

Another officer at Rivers State police command enthused: “Mbu talks about the Police with passion. He makes it clear to anyone who cares to listen that he has no other job than the Police. He drops his signature of projects wherever he is posted”.

AIG Mbu is known for his discipline and zero tolerance for corruption and he is very frugal with public funds. As commissioner

Officers and men at the Rivers State Police Command speak of Mbu with passion

of Police in the FCT, he saved N10 million from funds given to him and purchased two Mercedes Benz 1418 buses for Police welfare in the FCT command. On another occasion, he had returned N20million, out of N50million given to him for guber election in Edo State. And no officer on that election duty complained they were not well taken care of, rather they sang his praises for making them have their due.

Officers and men at the Rivers State Police Command speak of Mbu with passion.

They say no Commissioner of Police, before or after him left the kind of imprints he left behind. This police officers quarters is one of them.

A police officer recalled the genesis of the project. According to him, on assumption of duties in February 2013, Mbu had visited other sister security agencies. He said Mbu was particularly impressed with the NDDC projects he found in the military formation and had said to the hearing of his entourage: “if NDDC can build this for the army, they equally can build it for the police.” He got back to the office and arranged a meeting with the NDDC. He wrote for the project and followed up. The rest is now history.

The police are particularly excited about this structure which has solved their accommodation problem. Mbu is equally credited for completely rehabilitating the official quarters of the Commissioner of Police, along Forces, Avenue in Old GRA.

He also rehabilitated six Armoured Personal Carriers abandoned for several years in the Command before his arrival.

He repaired over 26 vehicles that were left to rot, one of them now serves as Ambulance at the Police Hospital, along Bank Road, behind the State Judiciary complex.

According to a Senior Police Officer at the Command headquarters, Mbu carried out massive renovation works at Moscow Road, headquarter of the Rivers State Police Command, among several other projects.

Yet, he was the only Commissioner of police who did not canvassed for juicy placements for his relations in Oil Companies in Port Harcourt. He was the only Commissioner of Police who served for one year in Rivers State and did not owe landed property in the choice GRAs or anywhere else in Rivers State.”

Ironically, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the NDDC boss who commissioned and finally hand over the property to the police was the state’s former commissioner of information, the ring leader of the Mbumust-go-choir. She did all that on behalf of her boss, then Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Today, both Amaechi and Mbu have left the Rivers State stage for higher duties.

Amaechi as Transport Minister and Mbu an Assistant Inspector General of Police and Commander Police Staff College Jos. Ultimately, it’s what we leave behind that counts.

*Mr. Ayeniya, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—33 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Nigerians contented with little AM not a fan of Kaduna State state of origin. Finally, it sealed Executive Governor, Nasir El- the fate of many private schools IRufai.

I find him rather brash. by introducing free feeding in Even with some of my friends serving in his government, I did not think highly of administration. Then last week, I got a call from a close friend.

He said his extended family in Kaduna who run a private school is thinking of phasing out conventional education and taking a different course. The reason is that most of its students have moved en-mass to public schools. But he says his family school is not the only private one limping; a number of others are tottering at the point of collapse for the same reason.

After many years of having faith in private schools and paying exorbitant fees, what persuaded parents to become such proselytes? First in a number of schools, the El-Rufai administration took back school lands and restored their environmental sanity. Then it began the renovation of schools, bought new furniture and embarked on the recruitment of teachers irrespective of their

public schools.

So for parents, the standards in public schools have risen sharply with good teachers, better learning environment, free feeding for their children, and money they used to pay in private schools, saved. This I think is the primary reason for increased enrolment in public schools. The government will then need to embark on a sustained enrolment drive.

The El-Rufai education policy reinforces my basic position that the primary duty of government is service not a worship of market forces, waste of public resources or lamentation. In Kaduna State, parents can see in practice what some of the state resources are being used for; the education policy is impactful and the citizens are benefiting directly.

Contrast this with the building airports some states have embarked on; this can be beneficial to only a handful of elite; but investing in education and basic peoples welfare like

affordable mass housing will be beneficial to the majority.

What is going on in Kaduna State reminds me of the Nigeria of my childhood when the best schools were the public schools.

Those were the days when the competition to be admitted into public schools was so stiff that the family of any child that fails, is thrown into mourning. It meant that such a child may have to spend a year at home. The alternative was for the child to go to a private school which was not only inferior, and in the case of Lagos State “unapproved” but parents will also have to pay costly school fees while the public schools were virtually free.

Same was the case for tertiary education. In fact, there were virtually no private institutions.

Although public, the standard of

I commend the enlightenment campaign that Nigerians should cover their food so rats will not eat from them and thereby spread Lassa fever; but why should we cohabitate with rats in the first place?

Governance and crisis management

By Patrick Cole

O

NE way to deal with economic crisis is to isolate the main elements and deal with them or go after those who caused the crisis in the first place. The worldwide economic crisis of 2007-8 (Black Wednesday) which still remains unresolved fully, caused by several factors but mainly by banks who sold products and derivatives to people who clearly would be unable to pay or took advantage of regulations to make maximum profits in unorthodox ways such as leveraging the LIBOR rate etc. The banks sold prime mortgages to clients who had no way to pay because the mortgages had US Federal Government (Freddie May) guarantees. In some cases Governments borrowed far beyond their capacity to pay etc.

The intentions of Federal Mortage guarantees were noble since it helped the common man to buy his own house. But in order to raise the portfolios of the banks, many sold to people who could in no way redeem the loans. Mr. White is living in a US$200,000 house in a middle class suburb. A housing development company has recently developed a new gated estate with gardens, swimming pool etc. going for US$400,000. Mr. White is now told that this new development was available to him at “nearly the same mortgage rate” if he agrees to move. He does so. His US$200,000 house is sold to someone who in reality can only afford a US$100, 000 houses.

But all these mortgages are federally guarantees. The banks portfolio has quadrupled; the bankers have received their normal large bonuses for “improved performance”. The developer had also C M Y K

borrowed money and he too has a seemingly profitable business.

Then oil prices spike. Chinese goods flood the market. Mr. White cannot pay his mortgage. His company which cannot compete with Chinese prices is unable to retain him. He loses his job, but still has to pay for his car which he cannot. The car is repossessed.

The government has to borrow more – sell more bonds. Mr. White cannot meet the monthly payment of his car, credit cards etc. similarly, the whole country is in economic meltdown. Many of the banks have done worse than the useless papers they have. Should the banks be allowed to fail? No. To meet these crises the West comes together. The Governments seize percentage of the shares of the banks, only to find out that the government itself cannot pay its health bills; the merry round continues. What to do? Japan had the same problem.

The governments could round up all the bankers who made money, earned bonuses etc. They could round up the developers, thus create more unemployment. Or they could start inquiries to find out whether the houses were not over inflated in prices, jail a few bankers, investors etc.

For a Government committed to change, the paucity of its handling its image is incredible.Running a country is more than a gladiatorial show

our education was so high that we competed favourably with the best schools in the world. With a strong economy and currency that was when the dollar was equivalent to 68 Kobo – our universities attracted some of the best academics in the world. Our education standards were so high that the government in the late 1970s advised Nigerians not to go to American or Indian universities which were considered inferior; their degrees were adjudged to be the equivalent of the Higher School Certificate (A-Levels) My dream is for us to return Nigeria to those glorious days.

Another hope I have is for the return of sanitary inspectors and for government at all levels to resume their responsibility of cleaning our roads, drainage and returning public refuse bins and incinerators to our neigbourhood. I recall in days not too far gone when sanitary inspectors visited households, ensured good environmental sanitation especially where food for the public was sold. People may snigger that I am asking governments that are owing Minimum Wage, to employ sanitary inspectors; but this will be far cheaper than fighting Lassa fever.

I commend the enlightenment campaign that Nigerians should cover their food so rats will not eat from them and thereby spread Lassa fever; but why should we cohabitate with rats in the first place? As the largest economy in Africa and the continent’s giant, is it not disgraceful that following the Lassa fever resurgence, some 1,400 rats were killed in one market alone? Why must our markets, motor parks, drainage and streets be haven for

Instead – they freeze interest rates at %.

They hunkered down to produce polices that would grow their economy- i.e. get out of the mess through growth. They pumped more money into the economy; propped up the industries etc. They banned all gas guzzler cars; recall all cars over 10 years old and give incentives to their owners to buy new cars and forced the manufactures to make better cars, with less fuel consumption, etc. Encourage modernisation of ship yards, manufactured planes that are quieter, faster engines and encourage airlines to buy new fleet. They kept inflation low at about the same rate as interest rates. They outsourced- did all things possible to cut cost, increase efficiency and grow Where and how does Nigeria fit? - Old cars and planes not for the West end up in Nigeria the dumping ground of all Europe’s rejects, including clothing, refrigerators, broken down computers etc.

Without a proper analysis of our problems- do we chase the bankers, the looters etc. or do we put our economy right by growing out of our crises?

The President must convince all politicians from local Government, State to Federal levels that the fight against corruption is a serious sustainable battle.

At the moment only the members of the past administration are feeling the ill wind of, according to them “persecution” misnamed corruption.

Almost all politicians were motivated by the need for self aggrandizement. At the local Government level the Chairmen of the local Governments simply- take the money for their personal use; some money gets to the councilors. At the moment most Local Government Chairmen are appointed. They do nothing. Political office holders are proceeding as usual, nothing has changed. They still openly demand gratifications and complain that they invested their own money to get to where they are now. And that they contributed to

rodents?

Abuja is said to be very clean, but that is just the city; its satellite towns like Nyanyan tell a different story; the story of neglect and abandonment. I chuckled last week when the Bwari Area Council suggested a return of monthly sanitation to counter Lassa fever. That is a Council that cleans no streets, provides no public bins or refuse incinerators. In its areas of jurisdiction, like from Ushafa through Pambara to the National War College Camp, refuse overflow, occupying half of the road. In those places, rodents can be seen playing World Cup matches.

We do not need to wait for Lassa fever before eliminating rodents; it should be taken for granted that our rivers, cities and villages should be clean. Didn’t they say that cleanliness is next to godliness?

I long for the olden days when our country was innocent. But of course not all of the past. When I was young, many did not use the banks; to them, banks were meant for the elites and the rich.

Things have changed for the better and we thank God. But with the growing uncertainties about our financial policies including the imposition of new taxes like stamp duty, I fear many Nigerians may return to pillow banking; keeping their hard earned money under their pillows and beds. My favourite German writer, Bertolt Brecht advised that before you go forward, first go back to seek direction. Nigerians are not asking for the moon; they will be contented with little gestures like standard, free and accessible education for their children.

the success of the party at the election. If you remind them that they were put in office to serve, you may as well be whistling in a strong wind. Houses are still being bought by the corrupt public holders;. In the universities, President Buhari’s change philosophy has not hit any responsive nerves. Ask any student who is registering or trying to finalise graduation arrangements.

But the pursuit of corrupt people cannot be the salvation of a sagging economy. If we have to grow agriculture, where are the plans? Are we sure we are getting value for money in our purchases? Do we have conditions for peace in the Niger Delta to allow unimpeded exploitation of our natural resources?

The President and his cabinet will do a lot of good to themselves by going and staying in the area where the golden goose resides. No one dears the source of his wealth unattended and unprotected.

This Government is broke. It must live within its means – that means the politicians and the Governors, National and State assembly must cut down expense by at least 50% to 60%. No more freebies. Salaries of all who work in Nigeria must be in Naira; how people source for forex is entirely their business.

We cannot run four parallel economies – one for the super rich, one for the rich, one for dollar earners, another for the normal people and even a fifth for the underclass.

The President and all APC and PDP must join in the effort of national redemption.

A major public affairs effort that can communicate effectively with the people must be undertaken. For a Government committed to change, the paucity of its handling its image is incredible. The tardiness and complacency mind boggling. What is everybody waiting for?

Running a country is more than a gladiatorial show.

*Dr. Cole, a former ambassador, wrote from Lagos.

34—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

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Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—35

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36—Vanguard, MONDAY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Ohworode’s day of glory

By Francis Ewherido

S

ATURDAY, January 16, 2016, started with suppressed excitement in OgoniOlomu, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

But the weather was dull, as if it was going to rain. The mood of the weather that morning, however, failed woefully to foretell how the day was going to pan out, especially for the Ohworode of Olomu, Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon Ogoni-Oghoro 1.

On this day, foremost Urhobo socio-cultural group, Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, rolled out the drums to honour the highly revered monarch in a grand reception for his exemplary life and leadership. It was a day that had royalty in abundance from near and beyond. Almost all the monarchs from the 24 Kingdoms of Urhoboland were present in their royal splendour. Monarchs from Delta State’s two other senatorial districts, Delta South and Delta North, were also present in their numbers to honour the Ohworode.

Royal presence Very significant was the presence of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwole 1, who came in with much fanfare and razzmatazz with many of his palace chiefs. It was a very pleasant sight to behold. Also lending his royal presence to the ceremony was the tall, elegant and supremely handsome Obi of Onitsha, Dr. Alfred Achebe, who arrived with his very good friend, Olorogun Moses Taiga, President-General of Olomu Kingdom and the chairman of the occasion.

Members of Urhobo Social Club and their spouses, led by the club president, Chief Simeon Ohwofa, also came in their numbers, so were traditional chiefs and prominent sons and daughters from the 24 kingdoms of Urhobo land and beyond. Also

present were the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) interim President-General, Chief Gabriel Ofortokun and other members of his interim executive. Politicians from the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, including federal and state lawmakers and other government officials, were also present.

The event proper started at about noon when the royal monarchs who had been reclining in the inner chambers with the Ohworode joined other dignitaries at the palace ground, venue of the grand reception. The opening prayers were followed by the rendition of the National Anthem and the Urhobo Anthem.

In his welcome address, the President of Urhobo Social Club, Chief Simeon Ohwofa, flanked by his first and second vice presidents, Chief Chris Umukoro and Prince Austine EnajemoIsire, welcomed everybody to the ceremony. Ohwofa described the Ohworode as “an embodiment of all we wish for and prayed to be at 99 years of age: excellence, good leadership, humility, royalty, spirituality…alertness, agility and longevity.” Very fitting words for a monarch whose dentition is still intact at 99, reads without glasses, walks unaided and travels all over the world unaccompanied and unassisted.

Professor Samuel Ibodje of the University of Port Harcourt delivered a lecture, titled:

Some of the old people present could not recall the last time an Olu of Warri attended an Urhobo event in such style and panache

•Chief Ohwofa presenting a certificate of excellence to the Ohworode “Progressive Leadership in a Traditional Setting” in honour of the Ohworode. He described the monarch as “a colossus whose image transcends the frontiers of Urhobo and Nigeria onto the international arena.”

Great jubilation Prof. Ibodje said even though the Ohworode was of royal stock, he had to do menial jobs to see himself through school. He started school in 1936.

Commenting on the Ohworode’s first day in school, Ibodje wrote: “He was of such an age when he started school that his first day at the CMS School, OkpareOlomu, witnessed a great jubilation among the pupils of the school who had thought that he was a new teacher posted to their school. But they were greatly disappointed when he was handed over to the infant one teacher to be enrolled into his class” at age 19!

Ohworode’s quest for further education took him to various teacher training colleges. In 1948, he gained admission into St. Michael’s Teacher Training College, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State.

He continued his teacher’s training at St. Mark’s Teacher Training College, Awka, Anambra State, in 1952. He was also at Rural Education College, Anwai, Asaba and Headmaster’s Institute, Benin, an affiliate of the University of Ibadan. He started work as a teacher in 1944 and retired as a teacher in 1980.

•The Ohworode and his queen (middle) flanked by members of Urhobo Social Club C M Y K

Lecture over; it was time for presentation of gift. The club president, assisted by the chairman of the board of trustees of the club, Chief Johnson Modika Barovbe, presented a gift, a plaque and a certificate of excellence to the monarch amidst cheers from guests and onlookers. In his remarks, the Ohworode said it was an exceptional honour and privilege to be celebrated while he was still alive in a colourful and grand style in the presence of royalty and other distinguished personalities. He thanked Urhobo Social Club, chairman of the planning committee, Olorogun Edoreh Agbah, and others for the honour done him

Peaceful coexistence One remarkable thing about the reception was that it was the first major outing of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwole 1, since his coronation on December 12, 2015. Some people present recalled his promise of peaceful coexistence with neighbours after his coronation. Some saw his attendance with the full complement of royal chiefs as a new era in Urhobo/Itsekiri relations.

Some of the old people present could not recall the last time an Olu of Warri attended an Urhobo event in such style and panache.

There was joy within a section of the Urhobo Social Club for making this happen. The two neighbouring nations of Urhobo and Itsekiri have had patchy

relations, characterized by mutual suspicion, in the past, even though their sons and daughters regularly and freely mingle and intermarry.

Inner chambers The event also witnessed the grand performance by the famous Ema Dance of Ughelli, Olomu Cultural Troupe, Okpan Aribo amongst other performances. An obviously elated Ohworode smiled and nodded in agreement for much of the ceremony with entertainment continuing after the withdrawal of the Ohworode to his inner chambers and the departure of other royal fathers and guests. It was a fitting prelude and honour for the monarch who turned 99 four days later, January 20, 2016.

Ovie Ogbon is the 12th Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom.

He was born into the family of Akpoduado Ogbon on January 20, 1917. He ascended the throne of his forefathers on March 12, 1988. He is currently the Chairman of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Council. He is also a royal canon of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, a faith he embraced since 1936 when he gave his life to Christ. He is a recipient of many awards among which is the Officer of the Order of the Niger, conferred on him by former President Goodluck Jonathan on September 29, 2014.

•Francis Ewherido is an insurance executive and a Saturday Vanguard columnist

Chairman of the occasion, Olorogun Moses Taiga, President of Urhobo Social Club, Chief Simeon Ohwofa and Chief Johnson Barovbe, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Urhobo Social Club

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—37

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38—VANGUARD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

The conspiracies against Buhari by Odigie-Oyegun

EVERYONE IS NOW CAREFUL OF BUHARI — AKEREDOLU

•How Ekwunife lost out ALL Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has had an eventful experience in Nigerian public life. A former federal permanent secretary, Odigie-Oyegun became the first civilian governor of Edo State in 1992 and served until the truncation of the Third Republic in November 1993.

On the return of democracy in 1999, he became a member of the All Peoples Party, APP and was nominated in 2011 as the running mate to Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau in the presidential election of that year. He was elected national chairman of the APC at the first elective convention of the party on June 13, 2014. He spoke on issues of national concern and the unexpected challenges that have conspired against the federal administration led by his party in an interactive session at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

O

N the economy Our party is very aware of the hardships that the misgovernance of the last 16 years has plunge this country. We are very aware of the hard and tough times that a lot of Nigerians are going through.

Apart from the party, let me also say that it is the main concern of Mr President. He is fully aware of the tough times that people are going through. And I want to give the assurance that everything is being done to better the economy and ameliorate the deprivation that people are going through.

I think that many Nigerians understand why things are the way they are and that the Buhari administration has inherited a prostrate economy.

Prostrate economy Not just that, nobody envisaged that there will be a near total collapse of the price of crude and when you juxtapose that with our consumption habit, when we tend to import everything in quantity from toothpicks to the choicest champagne, all these products do put pressure on the foreign exchange stock of the nation and all of this has given rise to all the issues that are being dealt with by the president’s team.

But one needs to emphasize that as a nation, we got used to excessive consumption. We are not a producing nation. Virtually everything we have is imported, there is even a joke that some of our elites order pizza and such other things all the way from London.

So, all these things come from the same stock of foreign exchange that we have and they are quickly depleting given the collapse of crude oil.

We have to turn from a consuming nation to a producing nation. We consume because oil was there at a hundred plus Naira per barrel so money was all over •Odigie-Oyegun: The president inherited a collapsed economy the place but that is no longer the situation and so we must All I can say also is as a party, have to adjust to the new reality requirements had been followed, we are prepared for every as a people and as a nation. the process threw up Barr Sharon contingency in the Kogi situation.

The president inherited a Ikeazor as the candidate for the So, whatever happens we are collapsed economy. You cannot party in that election and that is ready for it and there is no start rebuilding a collapsed an issue that has since been question and doubt about that. economy without clearing the decided.

I am not to pre-empt what may debris and what we are doing I don’t understand this rather happen, that is for the legal today, is clearing the debris and excessive concern of respected authorities. at the same time; because when Senator Uche Ekwunife she is a I don’t want to go into the we listen to the radio, they say loyal party member, she went details of what is likely going to that all that is being done is war through the processes, it is in the happen, that is still between against corruption, but at the constitution of the party to have INEC and legal authorities. same time, the work of rebuilding procedures, screening processes, On party funding and reconstruction of the Nigerian primary committees all of these There has been this talk in the economy is rapidly in progress are there. media but that goes to tell you and I want to assure you that there that just like the economy, the will be plenty of successes in the Screening party too is suffering from the next few months. processes stresses and strains of funding But I keep underscoring this that just like every institution in our there is no quick fix, there is no It happened that there were polity. That also goes to tell you automatic solution but the project two ladies of stature vying for that that we are not a party that are being concluded and things position, she has just come into withdraws money from security will get better in the next few the party straight into the process votes or from any government months. of nomination. Whether it was in agency. We are working on plans The party is aware and very the party ’s constitution to to raise money from members. conscious and sympathetic but it disqualify her? Of course it is there That plan has matured and will is a situation we did not create, it otherwise, we won’t have soon put it into operation. I saw is a situation the government is procedures, screening and reports that we have written to the managing but the good news is appeal committees, it just president to rescue the party. that there will be smiles tomorrow happened that she was just That is not part of his national but we must be able to put up with coming into the party and those duties and he has no intention current deprivation which has who processed the nomination because there are no funds from become inevitable. had their score chart and we had which he can draw from.

On the party’s Anambra a cut off mark of 51 percent and The party has to come up with Central Senatorial candidacy she happened to score less than fresh and innovative ways as to It has long ceased to be an issue that. how to raise resources for its because the party after due On Kogi state deputy operations and that, we have process of our constitutional governorship Continues on page 39

AKEREDOLU

The president inherited a collapsed economy. You cannot start rebuilding a collapsed economy without clearing the debris and what we are doing today, is clearing the debris

VANGUARD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 — 39

The conspiracies against Buhari

by Odigie-Oyegun Continues from page 38 done. The plan is ready and will go into operation in the next one month or two.

On the ‘missing and found’ Federal Government budget I will want to say here that the issue about the budget was t o t a l l y overplayed, the budget was never missing , the main document was totally intact •Odigie-Oyegun: You cannot join the APC without and when the subscribing to its goals President presented the budget given the nature of the load of work nothing other than probe of corrupt officials they have to do and in the circumstances but as I said earlier, a lot is happening at which they were done they were likely that will bring cheers to Nigerians in the to be a few corrections to be made in this next few months. process and all Mr President effected were People say it is only PDP that this the necessary corrections at this point in government is probing but for 16 years, time.

PDP was in control, are you going to come There may still be more corrections as and arrest me in Benin over contract issues the process continues in the National when I was not in any way near Assembly. I just see the criticisms government? surrounding the budget as one by the Let me say this clearly, if we want to clean opposition to take a bash at the government, this country, then we must be serious about what happened is nothing more than it, wherever the train goes, we must be suggested corrections to the addendum to ready to go there, all these attempt to divert the budget that had earlier been presented. attention from the reality will not just work.

On mass defections to the APC The mere fact that the current leader is It is freedom of association and I think investigating what happened before his everybody is free to join. The essential time is a clear indication that he is unlikely fabric of APC is strong enough to withstand to repeat the same mistake as the next any attempt by anyone to undermine it government will investigate the current from within. administration too. We must be ready to put up with the inconveniences and moral decadence this administration is trying to Corrupt get the country out of. officials When people start to make diversionary statements, I just laugh because this is not In any case, you cannot join the APC without subscribing to its goals and the time for this, we are investigating objectives and when you join the party yesterday, let tomorrow investigate us that today, you do not expect to take over reign is how this country will get out of this rots.

On whether ex-president Goodluck of power because there are people there already, you still have to prove yourself Jonathan should be called for questioning It is not my job, it is the job of EFCC, that you’re loyal and reliable member of the party, you cannot just come and become wherever the train leads to, so be it. a leader of the party in one day, you have to earn your way to become trusted with leadership and control, you cannot transfer you status in the party you were coming from into APC because when you come, you are meeting people who are occupying the leadership positions.

On constitution of the party’s Board of Trustees, BOT When people There is no issue surrounding that, it’s just that there has been so much to do and start to make the president wants to personally diversionary participate in it, a date has been scheduled statements, I for all organs of the party to meet.

On alleged ‘selective’ anti-corruption just laugh fight because this is I don’t know where to start, but I feel it’s a judicial matter and the party absolutely not the time for has no role in the matter. People give this this impression that this government does

40—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

BIAFRA: IPOB UK faults bail denial for

Nnamdi Kanu •Says Justice Tsoho's judgment is biased, and must be overturned by A-Court •MASSOB accuses FG of playing politics with Kanu

By Chimobi Nwaiwu & Ugochukwu Alaribe

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NEWI—THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, United Kingdom branch has faulted the reasons given by Hon. Justice John Tsoho of the Abuja Federal High Court Abuja for not granting the bail application of leader of IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Similarly, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign States of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused the federal government of playing politics with the detained activist.

In a statement signed by the spokespersons for IPOB in United Kingdom Mr. Emma Nmezu, a lawyer, and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, IPOB said Justice Tsoho premised his judgment for not granting bail to Mr. Kanu on three reasons.

Reasons for continued detention

“The reasons according to him are: that Mazi Kanu was a threat to national security, secondly, that if released, he might commit the same offence again and thirdly, that there was a probability that Nnamdi Kanu might jump bail because he possessed dual citizenship.

“While the first and the third reasons are very clear, but unsustainable statements, we are at loss with the second reason and do not know exactly what the Justice meant by “might commit the same offense again.

“To the best of our knowledge, Mazi Kanu has not even been tried in the court , let alone talk of being convicted. Therefore, we do not understand the offence he was found guilty of committing and for which he will likely commit again if released, according to Justice Tsoho.

“Is it a possibility that the Justice Tsoho misspoke or that he never actually uttered this travesty of a statement. On the first reason adduced, we are yet to get detailed information on what the Judge meant by “threat to national security” because we know that Mazi Kanu is not associated with Boko Haram or any terrorist organization. Again, we are pushed to believe that Justice Tsoho misspoke,” said IPOB. “We are however shocked on the third reason, to hear that a denial of bail will be based on the accused person’s dual citizenship.Even though the Judge did not mention the other country to which Nnamdi Kanu is a citizen, we know he was referring to Britain.

“But we also know that there is extradition agreement between Nigeria and Britain and extraditing Mazi Kanu to Nigeria,

APC alleges manipulation in Fr Mbaka's transfer

Nnamdi Kanu in court. should he flee to Britain will not be a problem for the Nigerian government. Therefore, we conclude that the judgment of Justice Tsoho is inappropriate, biased, wrong, and must be overturned by an Appeal Court Judge."

Similarly, the IPOB Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful has faulted the denial of bail to Mr. Kanu, describing it as a systematic denial of the entire South East Nigeria of their right.

He said that every day, the present administration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with its leader, President Muhammadu Buhari keeps exposing itself to the world that it has no respect for the rule of law and order of a competent court of law.

He wondered why in a country like Nigeria, people will not be allowed to engage in peaceful demonstrations and protests, wondering whether it will be better for them to engage in violent demonstrations and protests; carrying guns and throwing bombs like the Boko Haram insurgents.

“We are being pushed to the walls, our members who were engaged in peaceful protests in Aba, Abia State and Port Harcourt Rivers State were shot by the Army and taken to military barracks in Afikpo, Ebonyi state and Bori camp in Rivers State with bullet wounds.

“The victims are undergoing torture and other inhuman treatments, as they bring them out every morning, torture and engage them in all manner of hard labour and ask them about their missing guns as if IPOB members carry guns.

“We do not carry guns and do

not intent to carry in the nearest future. We are therefore calling on Amnesty International, all human rights organizations and the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government to respect the rule of law and the order of the courts.

At the last count, our members arrested in Aba are 25 while those in Port Harcourt are 18 in number, totaling 43 people detained in the two Army barracks in Ebonyi and Rivers states respectively” he said.

Playing politics

In a similar vein, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has accused the federal government of playing politics with the detained activist.

In an interview with Vanguard in Aba, National Director of Information, MASSOB, Chief Sunny Okereafor, lamented that Kanu’s detention has assumed a political dimension where the federal government appears determined to jail him at all cost.

According to him, “How can the federal government continue detaining Nnamdi Kanu when he has been granted bail? What is the difference between the first bail granted him and now the one denied him last week by Justice Tsoho? It is all about politics. There is no doubt that the federal government is playing politics with his detention. But MASSOB wants to let them know that they are playing with fire.

“How can Nigeria claim to be practicing democracy in this prevailing situation where a court of competent jurisdiction will grant bail only for the federal government to disagree? Since they don’t have evidence to prosecute him, they should set

him free. Is it because he is of Igbo stock?

“During the trials, did you not see the discriminatory treatment being given to suspects where people like Olisa Metuh and Nnamdi Kanu were handcuffed while Sambo Dasuka, Jafaru Isa and even the terror suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, were allowed to walk freely? In Biafra, people’s rights will be respected.

Nobody will be detained unnecessarily. There will be total obedience to court orders.”

Okereafor contended that the continued detention of Kanu has created problems for Nigeria and warned that the federal government is playing with fire.

“The detention of Nnamdi Kanu has been creating more problems. You can see that all cities and territories of Biafra; Asaba, Ijaw land, Ogoja, Aba, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, Ogoni and others are calling for his release. They should release him. It is just one of the many instances that Ndigbo have been reduced to second class citizens and not wanted in Nigeria.”

Uwazuruike as a father On allegation that MASSOB founder, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike is envious of the IPOB leader, Okereafor said: “Chief Ralph Uwazurike is a father. He brought up Nnamdi Kanu and other pro Biafra activists including expelled members like Uchenna Madu. So, how can Uwazuruike now turn around to fight his children? He cannot stoop so low?”

By Francis Igata

NUGU—THE south-east geopolitical zone of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, expressed displeasure over the traditional routine transfer of fiery Enugu-based Catholic priest,Fr. Ejike Mbaka, alleging that unseen hands acted on Bishop Callistus Onaga’s discretion that culminated in the decision.

Fr. Mbaka was affected in the routine transfer of over 1,000 priests in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu with effect from January 30, which saw him leave Christ the King,CKP, GRA, where he had been the Parish Priest for over a decade to Our Lady Parish Emene.

The cleric had in nostalgic remark while leaving the CKP premises for Our Lady Parish Emene, last Saturday lamented that,”this is a calculated move to make me suffer by a certain leader of the church. I know we are going to suffer within now and few months to come. I am going to suffer and suffer; I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration ministry’s assets. I know I’m going to suffer.”

While reacting to Fr. Mbaka's predicament, spokesperson, South-East APC Caucus, Osita Okechukwu said:”Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfer as Mbaka’s case suggests.

Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak the truth will be punished to the detriment of the society.

“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the down trodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing. We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing.

“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault and unpleasant commentshurledagainstFr.Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections. Even the church did not spare him; he was called unprintablenames,yethisprophecy came true. We are happy that Fr Mbaka was vindicated."

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—41

PDP CRISIS: Dankwabo’s 2019 presidential ambition threatens PDP’s convention He's yet to express interest —Spokesman As North East meets tomorrow to select chairman

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — AHEAD of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, slated for March this year, strong indications have emerged that the alleged endorsement of Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State as the Presidential candidate of the party was at the moment causing strong division in the party, especially in the North East geo-political zone of the country.

A source told Vanguard that following the recommendation of the PDP post-election assessment committee headed by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, recommending that the north should produce the Presidential candidate for 2019, which was immediately endorsed by the National Working Committee, NWC, some powerful stakeholders of the party with Dankwabo were said to be pushing for the north, especially the North East, not getting the position of national chairman.

According to a source, Dankwabo may be pushing for the Deputy National Chairman and acting National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to retain the party chairmanship.

Meanwhile, leaders of PDP in the North-East will meet in Gombe tomorrow to endorse a new national chairmanship candidate to replace the former National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, from Bauchi State, who resigned following the defeat of PDP at the presidential election.

According to a source, Governor Dankwabo is said to be kicking against the idea of a northerner becoming the party national chairman because of its possible consequences for his 2019 presidential ambition.

It was learned that tomorrow’s meeting in Gombe is expected to determine the fate of the party organs’ meetings, including the national caucus, BoT and National Executive Committee (NEC) slated for this week to discuss the forthcoming national convention, may end up being a platform for Dankwabo to begin mobilization for his ambition.

The NWC has fixed its national convention for March, awaiting for approval by the National Executive Committee, NEC, where new members of its NWC would be elected.

According to the source, the Gombe governor is said to be expressing doubts about a northern chairman agreeing to step down to clear the way for a northerner to emerge as the presidential candidate against the backdrop that having a party

chairman and its presidential candidate from the same region will go against the zoning policy of the PDP. “He is not sure whether if a northerner is chosen as the chairman, be it temporary or not, if that person will agree to step down. He does not want that to scuttle his ambition,’’ the source said.

According to the source, Secondus is not insisting on remaining in office as acting national chairman but is being

kept on by Dankwabo because he was more comfortable with him.

Fears were now being expressed within the PDP that the fate of the convention now rests with what Governor Dankwabo decides to do.

But in his reaction, spokesman of the governor, Junaidu Usman, who spoke on phone, noted that Dankwabo was yet to express interest in the 2019 race, but was more concerned about rebuilding a viable PDP.

According to him, even though the governor has the credentials to be president, given his outstanding performance as governor which earned him a re-election in the face of Muhammadu Buhari's “tsunami” in the north, he has not told anybody that he would run for the post in 2019.

He said: “All I know is Governor Dankwambo, Talban Gombe, is among the leading figures who want the best for PDP. Talban Gombe wants it to stand up to its responsibility of a sound and formidable opposition party."

VISIT: From left: Mr Sidney Ogodo, Registrar, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) (left); From 3rd left: Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, President, NIMN; Mr David Okeme, Advertisers' Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) President; Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, First Vice President, NIMN; Mrs Ediri Ose-Ediale, Executive Secretary, ADVAN; Messrs Ibraheem Awelenje and Owubanmwen Osemede, ex-officios, ADVAN and Mrs Oluwayomi Ifaturoti, member, NIMN Council, during a courtesy visit to ADVAN EXCO.

NLC seeks probe of road contracts

BY Victor AhiumaYoung

L

AGOS — THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, weekend in Lagos, urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to be deterred by the fight back of corrupt persons but extend probe into road contract awards in the country.

According to the NLC, most of the road networks are death traps, causing wanton destruction of lives and property.

In a communiqué at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, Ayuba Wabba faction of the labour union, called on all elder statesmen linked to the $2.1 billion arms scandal to apologize to Nigerians for their shameful act and return the money, instead of trying to rationalize their involvement.

The communiqué, signed by Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter OzoEson , read in part: “The congress continues to express its strong and unalloyed support for government’s war on corruption.

Corruption is not just a national malaise that afflicts virtually every fabric of our national life, it has all but crippled the nation

and accordingly requires a national action.

"Congress observes that the list of the corrupt as expressed in the $2.1 billion arms contract scandal underscores the extent of the rot in the system.

Congress notes that this could just be the tip of the iceberg.

“Accordingly, Congress resolved that those on the list of $2.1 billion scandal should apologize to Nigerians for their shameful act.

"In spite of the fact that corruption is fighting back, government should explore all lawful means to ensure that the looted funds are recovered and the culprits prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Congress also resolved that government should beam its searchlight on other sectors of the economy such as road contracts etc., with a view to recovering every kobo not accounted for."

Killings in Africa must stop now —Buhari

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

DDIS ABABA — P R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari said, yesterday, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that the African Union, AU, must ensure that the proliferation of guns that had resulted to wanton killings in Africa stopped now.

Speaking at the 26th AU Summit, President Buhari decried the use of scarce resources in Africa on armed conflicts rather than economic and social development of the continent.

Specifically referring to the civil unrest in South Sudan and Burundi, Buhari urged African leaders to ensure they worked to bring the conflict to an end, adding that exterminating the scourge of terrorism from African continent would help to realize the noble goals of Agenda 2063, as espoused by the AU. He said: “We have all shed blood for Africa to be free, but the irony is that, today, we are now killing each other. Rather than facing the developmental challenges confronting us, we are spending our scarce resources killing our children and inflicting unspeakable horrors and unimaginable hardship on our brothers and sisters.

“That is truly a tragedy and it must stop. Enough is Enough!

Within the framework of the African Union, we have to, as a matter of urgency, reach a consensus on how to silence the guns. Not by 2020 but now. Why must we wait? We must say no to wars and conflicts on our continent.”

President Buhari, while reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to surmount terrorism and bring the war against Boko Haram to an end, also stated that the country would continue to partner with other member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, and Republic of Benin, through the Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF.

Logistics firm, Emfrica empower 600 youths on cargo handling in-line with the plans of the

L

By Lawani Mikairu

AGOS — ABOUT 600 youths have been given five days intensive training on cargo handling by Greater Washington Logistics as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, CSR, to reduce the high unemployment rate in the country.

The training was organized in partnership with Emfrica, an NGO responsible for empowering youths, and was cosponsored by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited.

Managing Director, Greater Washington Logistics, Mrs.

Adenike Brown, told aviation reporters that the youths, who were trained for five days at the conference hall of the BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited, BASL, were exposed to the rudiments of cargo business in Nigeria and how to source for business opportunities in the aviation industry.

Brown said the training would enable some of the youths to be self-employed and be able to set up their own franchise companies in the future, adding that it was also

Federal Government to reduce unemployment rates in the country.

Also commenting, Regional Head, Empowering African Youth International Organisation, EMFRICA, Mr. Babajide AkinThomas explained that no fewer than 5,000 youths applied for the training, but only 600 were eventually shortlisted for the final training programme.

Also, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Services and Admin, Mr. Bright Aghogban said that the company had always taken safety and training as a very key objective that must be met by all.

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 Vanguard, MONDAY

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Harvest of deaths in Rivers communities as suspected cultists kill 20

By Jimitota Onoyume

A

LL is not well in the garden city of Port Harcourt as persons suspected to be cultists last week,(Wednesday) at Ula-Upata in the Ahoada East Local Government Area murdered about ten persons in cold blood.

Frank Alabi, a resident of the area narrated to the Vanguard Metro VM how the mindless killers operated that black Wednesday. According to him, he was sleeping in his room when suddenly he was woken up by gunshots. “ This was about 12.05 am because I looked at the time as I peeped from my window and saw about five men heavily armed,” he explained.

According to him, three of the men had AK 47 riffle while the other two carried Pump Action. “ I sensed they were evil men and quickly sneaked out of the room and fled into the bush,” Alabi said, adding that from where he hid himself in a nearby bush, he monitored every move and action of the killers, how they went round the community murdering people in cold blood.

Sponsored assassination “First I called the Police before I called the JTF in Ahoada. The assassins operated for close to one hour unchallenged,” he alleged.

For Alabi, it was a clear case of sponsored assassination. “ From what I saw in the bush, I believe they were paid assassins, not cultists as alleged by the Police,” he said, Another community source who simply gave his name as Kingdom said the rampaging cultists also extended their chilling act to Ubeta, Ihubuluko, Oyigba and Ogoda communities where they killed about seven more persons, thus making the number of those murdered that night alone about seventeen. Continuing, he said that while the assassins were busy murdering their targets in cold blood, vigilante groups in several communities quickly mounted barricades at some points which resulted in the arrest of one of the assassins who was later handed over to security agencies.

Confirmation by Police: Meantime, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad confirmed the death of eight persons when contacted for comment on the ugly development.

According to him, it was largely a fall out of a cult-related crisis.

“The incident was more of cult related heinous activity at Ula Upata community, Ahoada East Local Government Area. Eight persons were killed. Quick intervention by our men stalled the situation from escalating. One of the suspected cultists was arrested and an English pump action gun recovered

Eze Robinson ... Cries out for from him. Investigation is right now ongoing,” he said.

Cult- related killings: Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche wept as he spoke to VM on the sad incident. He charged the Police and other security operatives to do more to secure lives and properties in the area.

Traditional ruler of Ekpeye land, His Majesty, Eze Robinson O. Robinson also lamented the upsurge of cult- related killings and crime in the area. He said about 56 persons have so far been murdered in cold blood in cult related circumstances while the hoodlums have kidnapped about 40 persons.

Crippled social life: “At the last count, over 56 persons have been murdered in cold blood by these criminals with over 40 kidnap cases. Ahoada metropolis is taking the lead. Our social life has been crippled,” he said.

According to the monarch the security situation had become so bad that women avoided their farms for fear of being raped by the hoodlums.

“Our wives are being raped by these miscreants in the presence of their husbands. Our daughters were also abused by these criminals. In fact, our women no longer

The incident was more of cult related heinous activity at Ula Upata community, Ahoada East Local Government Area.

Eight persons were killed. Quick intervention by our men stalled the situation from escalating

go to farms to fetch food but whenever they do they go in groups for fear of rapists and cultists who have invaded our bushes.” the traditional ruler said.

The monarch who appealed for increased security presence in communities in the area enjoined communities in his domain to unite against the senseless acts of cultism ruining the area. “I invite yo all to join me in the battle against criminality. Join me to protect lives and properties of our people,” he said Cultists kill another three in Isiokpo: The dust generated by the callous killing in Ahoada help.

East had hardly settled down when suspected cultists again stormed Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, killing three persons .

Eye witnesses said the rampaging killers shot dead three persons unchallenged before they fled. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad confirmed the ugly development but said details were sketchy when he was contacted. The killers who allegedly set houses ablaze, were said to have operated in military uniform.

Doctors protest incessant kidnap: Still on the insecurity, members of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA Rivers State chapter have protested frequent abduction of their members. Marching peacefully on the streets in Port Harcourt to denounce incessant kidnap of their members by hoodlums, the doctors said they were worried because they (doctors) have become target for abduction.

Protesting doctors The protesting doctors assembled at the premises of the Department of State Security on Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, displaying several placards with inscriptions condemning attacks on their members in various hospitals. They were also joined by the Rivers State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation.

Dr. Ibitorukuemi Kurubo who spoke to newsmen during the protest said 11 of their members were taken hostage within one month, adding that 21 of them were taken hostage last year.

The doctors enjoined security agencies in the state to secure their lives.

They also marched peacefully to the headquarters of the Rivers State Police command on Moscow Road. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Musa Kimo expressed sympathy over the plight of the doctors, assuring that the police will continue to do its best to guarantee their safety.

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

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Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 — 45

Lagos City Marathon: 150 elite athletes, over 20,000 runners for race

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HE inaugural edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is looking good as close to one hundred and fifty local and international elite runners have signed on for the race.

As at close of work on Sunday, over twenty thousand runners have submitted their entry forms, while half of that number have collected their running numbers, race day information and other materials.

Yusuf Alli, General Manager, Lagos City Marathon organizer of the

Musa week, which was an improvement on the original offer of $21.6m.

However, Musa will still be able to move in the summer.

“I leave everything to the club, I would not even comment there is nothing.

Let CSKA decide, everything will happen as decided by our leadership, “ Musa said to R-Sport .

“If they agree on something, I will move on, and if they consider that I

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2016 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon said the response is good.

“I am delighted about the response of local and international elite runners.

High Altitude Athletics Club of Jos alone is sending about 30 elites runners, marathoners are coming from all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

We have athletes from Kaduna, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Ilorin, and other parts of Nigeria. As at Sunday about sixty elite athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Uganda, India, Cameroon, Asia,

Continued from B/P stay, I will stay with pleasure. Of course, I am very pleased to hear that.

“Of course, I would like to try myself in a strong championship, but it will happen when it should happen. English League.

They show a style that I play.”

Musa had also attracted the attention of other top English Premier League teams and has a $32.5m (£22.8m) buyout clause in his contract, which runs until 2019.

Europe and America have entered for the race, this is

very good ,” he said. Alli said the response of fun runners, those running for one charity or the other, and even volunteers have been very encouraging.

Go Round/SWAN Athletics Championships: MOC receives buses, as competition begins

A

THLETES and officials of the maiden Go Round/SWAN Rivers State Secondary School Athletics Championships, which begins today, were ecstatic yesterday when three vehicles meant to convey them to and fro the venues of the competition were delivered to the organisers.

The sole financier of the competition, Felix Obuah, donated the three fully air-

Wenger England have missed because he plays for Nigeria now. He should play for England.

“I don’t think he has played in a competitive game for Nigeria. I remember I turned him down for an U-23 friendly tournament. But then Nigeria called him up for the first team to force him to go.

“But it’s a massive football country. 180 million

conditioned buses to the Main Organising Committee, led by Honour Sirawoo.

Presenting the buses to the MOC, Special Assistant to Obuah, Prince Anselm Chukwu, charged the organisers to ensure a successful competition, while pledging the sponsor’s resolve to ensure the comfort of the participants.

Continued from B/P people, a big history.

Okocha is a top legend there, Kanu, Okocha, big stars there.

“I think he has shown everybody that he is a good football player, again. I find him personally very interesting. His decisionmaking is spot on. His awareness is very interesting. He’s very clever. I like his game.

Iwobi is a nephew of former Nigerian legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha.

Bullet donates equipment to Boxing federationdoubles as chairman of all

B

OXING equipment worth millions of Naira were donated to the Nigeria Grassroots Boxing League at the weekend by Bullet energy drink.

Representative of Bullet in Nigeria, Nonso Ojide who presented the equipment to the Kwara state Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem who

Directors of sports in the country, said the step was a part fulfilment of his organisation’s overall plan for the development of boxing in the country. “We signed a 4-year multimillion naira deal with the boxing body to develop the sport at the grassroots level,” he said, adding, “this is just the beginning.”

Djokovic

has played, four of them against Djokovic.

The Scot becomes only the second man - behind his former coach Ivan Lendl at the US Open - to lose five finals at the same Grand Slam since the open era began in 1968.

Continued from B/P Laver on 11 Grand Slam titles.

Second seed Murray, 28, has now lost all five Australian Open finals he Continued from B/P competition will have an opportunity to alter their 25man squads for the knockout stages next week and Iheanacho, who missed the cut for City’s group-stage campaign, further pushed his case with an FA Cup hat-trick at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The 19-year-old has eight goals across all competitions in an increasingly impressive debut season and appears to be an obvious choice to bolster Pellegrini’s

Iheanacho attacking options ahead of the tie against Dynamo Kiev, with Kevin De Bruyne (knee) and Samir Nasri (hamstring) definite absentees and fellow striker Wilfried Bony nursing a calf problem.

“It’s a decision we are going to take during this week before the set date that we can do it. But of course he pushed a lot,” Pellegrini said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

46 — Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

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have been told that Coach Oliseh has attributed the loss in Rwanda to the non-payment of allowances to players and officials.

A reader disagrees.

Blame it on the white jerseys that the players wore on the day. Before you laugh off this belief, how can you explain the fact that we triumphed against Niger and held Tunisia to a one goal draw wearing green jerseys and when we had to play Guinea wearing white, we fluffed?

I know a lot of Nigerians who swear that when it comes to white as the colour for the national teams, we are doomed to fail. No amount of statistics, of the number of times we have triumphed wearing white will sway them.

During the Nations Cup in South Africa, I was approached by some officials who wanted my intervention in getting our recommended white jerseys changed to green since it did not clash with the opposition.

Last Tuesday as the match was going on, I got a mail from Nigeria from a reader of this column, wondering why we were using white. My reply was simple, that all we needed was a draw, that Guinea will not stop us from progressing and besides the myth about white jerseys does not hold water with me.

I wonder why Felix Ukpong has not written back to reinforce his “ white theory” in an “I told you so manner” Let the above serve as a distraction as we settle down to more serious issues.

Another reader F. Chigbufue (08033236649) sent a text. “ Paul in Vanguard yesterday you refused to accept this team as Team B. Do you still maintain that stand? I am sure we could have done better. I hope you (?) qualify for Nations Cup.” I replied that we were horrible and did not deserve to win.

He sent another text “ well, it would appear you were a bit hasty in your judgement yesterday.

However Amaju and his board have their hands full and now the foreign based boys will bluff. I pity Oliseh” Yes Oliseh has to be pitied from the point where he was to use this competition to discover talents in an era where there is lack of quality out there, talking about “foreign boys” Pity Oliseh, and indeed Nigeria who needed this

CHAN? Blame the white jersey! competition to shore up enough FIFA points to increase our ranking, going into the draw for the World Cup qualifiers etc.

Big, big disappointment, if you ask me. It is foolhardy to expect a team to win always. It is the manner of defeat that is key. Last Tuesday the Eagles did not do anything to deserve even the point we were talking about. The Guineans were hungrier.

They probed, they fought, they jumped, kicked and contested every ball especially in the second half in which we thought the Eagles will come out with the full realization of what was at stake.

Let us look at this bonus issue.

How can a serious team , how can professional players say the non-payment of bonuses affected their form on the field of play?

After the match against Tunisia, I went to the Eagles dressing room where Coach Oliseh drew me aside and discussed the bonus issue and how the boys have been going on without any payments from the Federation.

I told him it was unfortunate, that we will work on it, but that for now he should let the boys know that results on the field were key, more so, when other Nigerian teams have gone on to do well and win trophies under the same circumstances!

We also discussed the need to keep it away from the media as they were likely to blow it out of proportion and he promised to do so. You can therefore imagine how surprised I was when I heard that not only did the coach tell the media this much, but attributed our failure to the non-payment of bonuses and allowances to the boys.

Let us get one thing clear. The sooner we learn from the disaster of Brazil, the better. Why for God’s sake should we pay players bonuses in the thick of competition? Here is a team whose transportation, accommodation and feeding, ( three square meals in a five star hotel) is guaranteed for the four weeks that the competition will run. Here is a team that got $10,000 dollars from the League Management Committee. If I may ask, Bonuses, for what? The LMC appreciation was enough to complement what ever they needed outside the basic requirements.

How can a serious team , how can professional players say the non-payment of bonuses affected their form on the field of play? I wish they had complained that the NFF did not create an enabling environment for them to prepare for the competition.

Oliseh should realize that his boys let him down on the day, period. And since coaches collect all the accolades when their teams excel, and carry the can when they fail, he should just accept blame and move on.

In a country where millions of workers are groaning under the weight of unpaid salaries, this bonus and allowance excuse is weird, queer, untenable and unacceptable. The NFF was quick enough to apologise to Nigerians. Oliseh and his boys should do the same. We will accept and forgive them and move forward.

The NFF, Barrister Chris Green and his “new” technical Development Committee and Coach Oliseh should however realize that this is a call to action if we must qualify for the Nations Cup and the World Cup. Henceforth all hands must be on deck. This is about Nigeria and we owe this great football playing country a dignified and sustained place on the podium of continental and global football activity.

See you next week.

City to unveil Guardiola in China Yesufu wants Trust Fund set up for Angel M

Guardiola

Henry: Mourinho should replace LVG

T

HIERRY Henry thinks that Manchester United should pull the plug on Louis van Gaal’s reign as manager. The Dutchman has come in for a huge amount of criticism over the last few months, with fans and pundits alike growing frustrated with the football being played by United.

“No one can question Van Gaal’s pedigree as a coach. But he has failed to get his message across at United and the players C M Y K

don’t know what is expected of them. He doesn’t appear to know his best team or even his best formation.”

The answer, in Henry’s view, is Jose Mourinho .

The Portuguese is available after leaving Chelsea in December and has long been linked with the United job.

“The club are crying out for success and Mourinho guarantees that, in spite of everything that happened at Chelsea this season.”

ANCHESTER City reportedly hope to unveil Pep Guardiola as their new manager while on a pre-season tour of China this summer.

The Spaniard is expected to join City at the end of the season after announcing his intention to manage in England when he leaves Bayern Munich in May, to be replaced at the Allianz Arena by Carlo Ancelotti.

The Manchester club are planning to visit China as part of the £265m deal which saw China Media Capital purchase a 13% stake last month. According to the Daily Mirror, Guardiola is central to their strategy to break into the Asian market.

Despite Manuel Pellegrini expecting to leave in the summer, the Chilean’s side still have ambitions towards winning a quadruple this term. City are still in the Premier League title race, through to the knock-out rounds of the Champions League, safely into the fifth round of the FA Cup and set to face Liverpool in the Capital One Cup final.

By John Egbokhan

Yesufu Worried by the seeming lack of help for bereaved Nigerian junior tennis champion, Angel Macleod, a board member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Bala Yesufu has called for the setting up of a Trust Fund to guarantee the tennis career of the distraught teenager.

Nearly four months have passed since a trigger-happy Mobile Policeman guarding a guest house in Victoria Island, allegedly shot and killed Beauty Nwankwo, leaving behind untold hardship for Angel, whose deceased mother was the

pillar of her growing tennis success.

The killer cop is standing trial for the murder of the late Nwankwo, whose daughter wants maximum punishment meted out to the person who snuffed life out of her mother.

As the waiting game continues over when justice will be served out to the killer cop, there is a growing fear that Angel’s future may drift into troubled waters as a result of her mother’s demise.

And moved by the conditions that Angel is facing now, Yesufu, a leading tennis stakeholder, has called on real lovers of tennis in the country to rise and be counted in getting Angel’s career back on track, with the setting up a Trust Fund.

Speaking in an interview with Sports Vanguard, Yesufu, the brain behind the now rested and highly successful Heineken Tennis Futures also urged the Inspector General of Police Force, Solomon Arase to offer

a Scholarship up to university level to Angel as a token of compensation for the gruesome murder of her mother.

According to Yesufu, “the tennis family should set up a Trust Fund for her. I doubt if the government will want to take care of her. This Trust Fund will be managed by people of impeccable character and the purpose is to drive her career to the highest level because she has a lot of potentials and if well managed, she can be top ten player in the world in the next six years. ‘’The Nigeria Police, whose officer killed her mum should be made to take care of her.

In fact, the Inspector General of Police Force should give Angel scholarship up to University level and enlist her into the Force when she comes of age. This can be accomplished via the Police Academy”, added Yesufu, who is the Director, Government and Corporate Affairs at Cadbury, West Africa.

Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016—47

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Vanguard, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

CHAN: West Africa dominates as Mali, Guinea sail into s-finals

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ALI yesterday came from behind to beat Tunisia, who topped Nigeria’s group at

Wenger blames England for losing Iwobi to Nigeria A

RSENAL manager, Arsene Wenger has said England might have missed it when they allowed youngster Alex Iwobi to star for Nigeria.

Wenger believes Iwobi, 19, has a big future in the game after he shone in their FA Cup win over Burnley.

Gunners boss Wenger said: “I think he’s one

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ANCHESTER City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said the club will take a decision this week on Kelechi Iheanacho’s inclusion in City ’s Champions League squad.

Teams in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club

Ahmed Musa resigns to CSKA fate

S

Continues on page 45

from Mali served their secret as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and ending the campaign of the Carthage Eagles, winners in 2011.

In the last quarter final match,Guinea, Nigeria’s nemesis in the group state, played out 120 minutes with Zambia but no goals and had to settle for penalties. Goal keeper Abdoul Aziz Keita needed to tuck in his sudden death kick to give his side the semi final ticket.

Iheanacho to get Champions League chance

Continues on page 45

UPER Eagles captain Ahmed Musa said he has gotten over his botched move to the English premier league with Leicester City.

CSKA Moscow rejected Leicester City’s bid of $26.5m for the fast attacking forward last

the on-going African Nations Championships, 2-1 in Kigali to book a historic place at the last four as another west African side, Guinea needed penalty kicks to stop Zambia 5-4.

Abdoulaye Diarra, who emerged Man of the Match, scored the winner on 80 minutes after Aliou Dieng had canceled Mohamed Ali Monser first half opener after the break.

An inspired second half performance

Continues on page 45 •Kid on the Gun...Alex Iwobi, Arsenal striker doing great things with the ball. Arsene Wenger has tipped him for greatness.

Djokovic wins 6th Australian Open title

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ORLD number one Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in straight sets to win his sixth Australian Open title and condemn the

Briton to a fifth final defeat.

The Serb, 28, won 6-1 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to claim his sixth Melbourne title, tying the record of

Australia’s Roy Emerson.

Djokovic also draws level with tennis greats Bjorn Borg and Rod

Continues on page 45

•Iheanacho

RESULTS FA Cup

Carlisle MK Dons

CHAN

Tunisia Guinea (5-4 Pen) Cameroon Rwanda

0 1

Everton Chelsea

3 5

1 0 0 1

Mali Zambia CIV Congo DR

2 0 3 2

QUICK CR OSS WORD CROSS OSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

Across 1 Meat-pin (6) 5 Labour (4) 8 Harmonium (5) 9 Strive (3) 10 Idol (4) 11 Scrutinise (4) 12 Swim (5) 13 Decayed (6) 16 Record (4) 18 Deadened (4) 20 Scuttle (3) 22 Vegetable (3) 23 Animal (3) 24 Rod (4) 25 Final (4) 28 Knocked (6) 30 Impression (5) 32 Learn (4) 33 Assistant (4) 34 Horse (3) 35 Compel (5) 36 Victim (4) 37 Atelier (6)

Down 1 Harsh (6) 2 Poll (8) 3 Resounded (6) 4 Scatter (9) 5 Cleansing (7) 6 Formerly (4) 7 Ruler (4) 8 Sphere (3) 14 Tact (9) 15 Bird (3) 17 Ocean (3) 19 Shut (8) 20 Virago (3) 21 Ruin (7) 26 Gift (6) 27 Slowly (6) 29 Vessel (4) 30 Secure (4) 31 Confusion (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 3, Asked 9, Exhort 10, Riddle 11, Trend 12, Idea 15, Nice 17, Sitting 20, Tot 21, Grand 23, Edam 25, Trod 26, Saver 28, Asp 30, Despond 33, Beat 35, Ever 36, Koala 38, Trivia 39, Epire 40, Trade.

Down: 1, Aegis 2, Sheet 3, Art 4, String 5, Erne 6, Did 7, Admit 8, Beret 13, Diverse 14, Atlas 16, Condone 18, Greed 19, Ant 22, Drape 24, Mat 27, Reeled 28, Abate 29, Panic 31, Ovoid 32, Dried 34, Sour 36, Kit 37, Axe.

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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