Jonathan congratulates Buhari, concedes defeat

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62374

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Judiciary won't be used to change election results, CJN assures

8

Jonathan congratulates Buhari, concedes defeat •Abdulsalami hails President for congratulating Buhari •Nobody's ambition worth the blood of Nigerians, says Jonathan “I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.

That is one legacy I will like to see endure....As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. ” — President Goodluck Jonathan, in his concession speech, yesterday.

FINAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS State Ekiti Ogun Enugu Kogi Osun Ondo FCT Oyo Nasarawa Kwara Kano Katsina Kebbi Gombe Sokoto Jigawa Kaduna Anambra Abia

Jonathan 176,466 (54.51%) 207,950 (34.05%) 553,003 (89.76%) 149,987 (26.00%) 249,929 (36.58%) 251,368 (40.67%) 157,195 (45.64%) 303,376 (28.25%) 273,460 (48.58%) 132,602 (28.74%) 215,779 (9.13%) 98,937 (6.27%) 100,972 (14.92%) 96,873 (21.03%) 152,199 (18.24 %) 142,904 (12.39%) 484,085 (27.73%) 660,762 (85.32) 368,303 (83.23%)

Buhari 120,331 (37.17%) 308,290 (51.82%) 14,157 (2.30%) 264,851 (45.91%) 383,603 (56.15%) 299,889 (48.52%) 146,399 (42.50%) 528,628 (49.23%) 236,838 (42.07%) 302,146 (65.48%) 1,903,999 (80.53%) 1,345,441 (85.23%) 567,883 (83.88%) 361,245 (78.43%) 671,926 (80.54%) 885,988 (76.81%) 1,127,760 (64.59%) 17,926 (2.32%) 13,394 (3.03%)

State Akwa Ibom Imo Plateau Ebonyi Niger Lagos Bayelsa Cross River Rivers Yobe Bauchi Adamawa Zamfara Benue Edo Taraba Delta Borno TOTAL

Jonathan 953,304 (92.68%) 559,185 (69.75%) 509,615 (47.33%) 323,653 (88.94%) 149,222 (18.34%) 632,327 (43.80%) 361,209 (97.17%) 414,863 (92.08%) 1,487,075 (94.99%) 25,536 (5.33%) 86,085(8.44% 251,664 (39.57%) 144,833 (19.03%) 303,737 (44.45%) 286,869 (57.32%) 310,800 (53.62%) 1,211,405 (95.55%) 25,640 (5.11%) 12,663,950

Buhari 58,411 (5.68%) 133,253 (16.62%) 429,140 (39.85%) 19,518 (5.36%) 657,678 (80.83%) 792,460 (54.89%) 5,194 (1.40%) 28,368 (6.30%) 69,238 (4.51%) 446,265 (93.21%) 932,598 (91.40%) 374,701 (58.91%) 612,202 (80.44%) 373,961 (54.73%) 208,469 (41.66%) 261326 (45.08%) 48,910 (3.86%) 473,543 (94.35%) 15,405,928

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Clifford Ndujihe

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BUJA — ERSTWHILE Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, was, yesterday, returned to power in a historic election that saw the first defeat of an incumbent

Continues on page 5

I woke up to find my boss in my bed! •P.40

Mr & Mrs

Of the 36 states of the country as announced by INEC, Jonathan got at least 25 per cent of votes in 25 states and FCT while Buhari scored at least 25 per cent in 26 states and FCT.

I'll surely go on exile —Bode George

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2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

DISRUPTION: The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Agent and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe (left), disrupting activities of Presidential collating centre in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

Jonathan congratulates Buhari, concedes defeat Continues from page 1 president in the history of democratic rule in post-colonial Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hours later conceded defeat and put a call to Buhari at about 5.15 p.m. with only Borno State yet to return its results. At that time, Buhari was already leading by 14,932,385 to the 12,638,310 votes scored

by Jonathan.

Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated President Goodluck Jonathan, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by 15,405,928 votes to

12,663,950 votes, according to final results declared by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega.

The triumph of the 72year-old Buhari followed sweeping victories in all but one of the six SouthWest states and all but two of the North’s 19 states. The endorsement of Buhari was, however, tempered in Jonathan’s South-South and the South-East states where the President won massively.

With the eyes of the world focused on Nigeria after the Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections, Jonathan put a foot in a personal march towards international

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

When you embrace meaningful change…Your life experiences will be fuller —Take Heart Quotes

C

HANGE will always happen, and though we may resist, it does anyway, you either learn to go with the flow or be dragged along its axis. If have experienced the latter aspect of change, then you do understand that what is comforting is often not what is best for you.

Leaving your comfort zone can create a tremendous feeling of euphoria and self-respect as you learn what you are truly capable of doing and creating, which is far greater and more expansive than you ever dreamed.

Pushing past your limits helps you find the fulfillment, excitement, and meaning you have been searching for in all the wrong places.

If you never leave your comfort zone you are likely sabotaging your chances for lasting success and happiness. Don’t be afraid to try something new in any aspect of your life. You will find you are more resilient, capable and courageous than you once believed, and as you rise to these challenges, more exciting ones are waiting in the wings.

statesmanship when he conceded victory to Buhari once the trend of the results put Buhari in an unassailable lead yesterday evening.

Shortly after the President made the call, he received a high powered delegation of statesmen led by a former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who came to congratulate him on his worthy example.

The routing of the PDP also went beyond its hold of the presidency as the party was, according to trend, also on its way to losing control of the National Assembly. The party which had since 1999 always won control of the National Assembly in every National Assembly election lost control of the Senate and the House of Representatives to the APC. Buhari won in 22 of the 36 states and achieved 25 per cent of the votes in another three states, all of them in the North and the South-West. The outgoing president won in all the South-East, South-South states and also picked Ekiti in the South-West and Taraba and Plateau in the North.

Orubebe accuses Jega of being selective

The compilation of the results of the election at the International Conference Centre, Abuja was, however, not without its drama. Just

after proceedings commenced yesterday, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, alongside a number of chieftains including a top security aide tried to stop proceedings on the allegation that Jega was biased in his conduct.

Orubebe particularly accused Jega of investigating the petition filed by the APC on the alleged breach of election guidelines in Rivers State by the PDP and at the same time sidestepping petitions filed by the PDP against alleged irregularities supposedly committed by the APC in five states in the north.

He said: “We have lost confidence in what you are doing. You are very selective, you are partial and selective, we don’t believe in you anymore.

You have compromised, and we will not take it from you.

“We will not allow you, we will not allow this, Nigerians will not allow this, we will not allow this until something is done.

“Jega is partial, we will not take it. Let Jega set up a committee to go to Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna to investigate our objections with the elections there as he did to Rivers State where the APC raised an issue.

Jega has nothing to say here, he has nothing to say, let him go back to his office,” said an angry Orubebe, who even

refused to allow Jega explain what happened.

Jega, however, subsequently dismissed the petition by the APC on Rivers allowing the state to return 1,487,075 votes for Jonathan. That was, however, not enough to bridge the gap that had already been established by Buhari.

Wild celebrations

by APC supporters

As the news of the president’s concession filtered in, wild

celebrations spread across the country with supporters spreading into the streets.

Buhari in a terse statement issued shortly after, however, called for restraint from party supporters, saying anyone celebrating with him would not be involved in the wild celebration that included the harassment of opponents.

“He or she is not with me, whoever does that,” Buhari curtly said.

Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian — JONATHAN Being text of President Goodluck Jonathan's concession statement, yesterday.

"I thank you all for turning out en-masse for the March 28 General Elections.

“I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.

That is one legacy I will like to see endure.

“Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress.

“As I have always affirmed, nobody ’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.

The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.

“I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going through the process of the March 28th General Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was d e m o n s t r a t e d nationwide.

“I also commend the

Security Services for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violencefree.

“To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning.

We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.

“For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation.

“Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism.

“I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.”

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

9 vehicles burnt, as fuel tanker explodes in Port Harcourt

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT—A tanker conveying about 33,000 litres of petrol suddenly went up in flames at Ada George Road area of Port Harcourt, yesterday.

About nine vehicles were consumed in the inferno that caused tension and panic in the area.

Fire fighters from the state government and Agip company battled for several hours to put out the fire.

Vanguard gathered that the driver of the articulated vehicle was on speed when he suddenly lost control, skidded off the road and the tanker fell.

It reportedly spilled its content into the drainage before bursting into flames.

Eyewitnesses blamed the driver of the tanker for the accident.

20-yr-old man docked for stabbing another with knife

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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20-year old man, Sunday Afolabi, has been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly inflicting wound on one Badmus Taiwo by stabbing him on his chest with a broken knife.

Afolabi, whose address remains unknown, was arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawfully inflicting wound on a man.

The accused was said to have committed the offence at 15, Agbojime Street, Agege area of Lagos.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Eranus Nnamonu, informed the court that the offence is contrary to Section 244 (a) and punishable under Section 244 (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe granted the accused bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties that are to be blood relatives and must show evidence of three year tax payment.

Five buildings razed in Calabar fire

By Ike Uchechukwu

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ALABAR—NO fewer than five buildings on Asuquo Abasi Street, Calabar, Cross Rivers State were, yesterday, razed by fire, destroying property worth millions of naira.

Vanguard gathered that the fire, which started at about 1:30p.m., was due to an electrical fault from a structure on the street, which later spread to other buildings.

An eyewitness, Mrs. Grace Bisong, told Vanguard that they noticed smoke from the building when power was restored to the area.

She said: “It was when the fire grew that we discovered it was coming from Ette’s house. But it was already too late, so we started making calls because no one was in the compound when it started.

“No one had the fire service number. It was one University of Calabar, UNICAL, student that called the father, who then alerted Quick Intervention Squad, QIS. “We still thank God that nobody died although nothing was brought out of the building where the inferno started from. The timely intervention of QIS helped the other people living in other affected houses to bring out some of their property.”

One of the victims and a student of UNICAL, Miss Veronica Ndifon, told Vanguard that it was by God’s grace that they brought out their things.

She said: “We thank God the QIS came in record time.

It would have been worse than what you are seeing now.”

Meanwhile, owner of the house where the fire started, Ette Fidelis, was still in shock when our reporter visited the scene as neighbours were

trying to console him for his loss.

A tenant in one of the ravaged houses, Mrs. Ngozi Ibeamalu, appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to come to their aid as they no longer had a place to lay their head.

She said: “I have three children, including my husband. As I speak, I have not been able to get him on the phone.

“He does not even know what is happening because I am just coming back from bush market, only to discover that our house is gone. Please government should come and help us.

“Two of my children went for holiday in my parents place, while this one I am carrying is the last.

“I am just confused right now. I am happy that they travelled. Otherwise only God knows what would have happened.”

The fire was, however, brought under control by men from Quick Intervention Squad.

Above and below are some of the houses.

NYSC denies death of 2 members in Gombe

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA—THE National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, yesterday, denied a report of the death of two corps members, who served as ad hoc staff in Gombe State at the just-concluded March 28 presidential and the National Assembly elections.

In a statement by the NYSC Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, in Abuja, the scheme clarified that the two names broadcast by Channels TV were INEC ad hoc staff.

He commiserated with the families of those that lost their lives.

The statement read: “The attention of NYSC management has been drawn to a misleading

news story featured by Channels Television on the death of two corps members in Gombe State, during the attack on some parts of the state.

“Management categorically wants to state that no corps members in Gombe died

during the said attack by the suspected insurgents.

“The two names carried on Channels TV as corps members, who lost their lives, were INEC ad hoc staff and not corps members as reported.

“The NYSC, however, commiserates with families of those that lost their lives.

“NYSC management wants to reassure all Nigerians that we are indeed committed towards the security and safety of corps members nationwide.”

Auto crash claims one in Lagos

By Bose Adelaja

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RAGEDY struck, yesterday, at Ogudu area of Lagos when a woman died in an auto crash which occurred around 7.15a.m.

At the time of filing this report, the cause of the incident could not be ascertained as the road was free of traffic gridlock.

There were no traces of collision at the accident scene and this left people wondering what could have caused the crash.

Vanguard gathered that the accident occurred when the lone occupant of the black Gulf car with number plate FFA 902 XA was approaching Alapere pedestrian bridge, but nobody

could ascertain the cause of the accident.

Eyewitnesses said the woman was coming to Lagos from Offa, when the accident occured.

Sympathizers were said to have removed the body from the car and laid her on the culvert, after which they contacted her relatives who rushed to the scene.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—7

POLLS CELEBRATION GONE WRONG: Lamido's aide kills one, injures 4 with car

By Aliyu Dangida

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UTSE—SPECIAL Adviser on Religious Affairs to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Alhaji Isah Ahmed Duniya Bahutu, Monday, knocked down and killed an ex-soldier (names withheld) and injured four others in Birnin-Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The accident occurred when the special adviser was returning from Kiyako, his village, a few kilometres away from the headquarters of Birnin-Kudu Local Government.

Vanguard gathered that the governor ’s aide ran over a group of youths, who were celebrating All prpgressives Congress, APC’s senatorial victory, having barricaded the main road.

Bahutu, a former state chairman of Jigawa PDP, ran

into the gathering, lost control and hit the deceased, who died instantly.

Four of the youths, who sustained injuries, were rushed to the hospital.

It was gathered that

immediately the special adviser noticed what had happened, he took to his heels to avoid being lynched by irate mob that had gathered.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the special

adviser did not deliberately hit the youths, saying he did all he could to dodged the crowd but to no avail.

At the time of filing in this report, the special adviser was nowhere to be found, but the

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abdul Jinjiri, said they did not receive any information concerning the issue.

He promised to get back to this reporter, which he had not done at press time.

Children fetching water at a public tap, as water scarcity bites harder in Suleja, Niger State. NAN PHOTO.

Late Katsina CP buried in Hadejia

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A D E J I A ( J I G AWA ) — THE remains of late Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Hurdi, have been buried in Hadejia, Jigawa.

Hurdi, 52, died at a hospital in Egypt after a brief illness.

The late police commissioner was buried after a funeral prayer at the palace of the Emir of Hadejia.

Hundreds of people including the Emir, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Ibrahim Hassan, attended the burial.

Until his death, Hurdi was the Commissioner of Police in Katsina State.

He is survived by two wives and five children.

A vehicle with Lagos State number plate, MK 799 BE, that crashed in Akpajo axis of East-West Road, yesterday. PHOTO: Nwankpa Chijioke.

INEC office torched in Delta; documents, PVCs burnt

By Perez Brisibe

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EW days after the presidential and National Assembly elections in Delta State, suspected arsonists have set ablaze the Isiokolo office of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, damaging files and other

sensitive items within the building.

According to an eyewitness, the building, sited opposite Agbon Secondary School, was newly constructed for the operations of the electoral umpire and was set ablaze between the hours of 6 and 7pm, Monday.

The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the suspects stormed the premises through the back fence and broke into the office after chasing out the security guards and immediately set the building ablaze.

Though details of the damage could not be

ascertained when Vanguard visited the premises, it was gathered that an unspecified number of Permanent Voter ’s Cards, PVCs, were burnt while part of the roof was also affected.

Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, denied the

incident.

“It is false and I wonder who is carrying such rumours,” the police spokesman said.

Ethiope East is one of the areas in Delta Central Senatorial district which results is being questioned for alleged irregularities by the Labour Party, LP.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Judiciary won’t be used to change election results, CJN assures Nigerians

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday, assured that under his leadership, the judiciary would not subscribe to any plot to change the outcome of elections through the instrumentality of the court.

The CJN, who stated this while swearing-in Justice Ishaq Bello as the new Chief Judge, CJ, for the Federal Capital Territory, said he was aware that “Some unpatriotic citizens may wish to use the courts to stop the electoral process”.

He said: “Permit me to use this opportunity to again assure all Nigerians that, under my leadership, the Judiciary remains resolute and committed to do its constitutional duty during this election period. “ We will not be swayed or distracted from the course of justice in any election matter that is before or comes before the justice system. “ It bears reminding to all heads of courts that you are primarily responsible for the preservation of our nation’s democracy. I strongly advise all judicial officers not to allow any party or politician to use the courts to truncate our nation’s democracy.

“We are aware that some unpatriotic citizens may wish to use the courts to stop the electoral process and I wish to warn in clear terms that we shall not be used as a tool for the breakdown of law and

order in our beloved country”, the CJN added.

Meantime, the CJN, while congratulating the new CJ for the FCT High Court, Justice Bello, used the occasion to lament on the rising number of corruption cases in the country.

According to the CJN, “As your Lordship takes the oath of office and the oath of allegiance, it bears reminding that this oath is not to a man only but is: “A solemn appeal to God”.

“It is therefore to God that you will be ultimately responsible. It is from this oath that your duties and responsibilities spring forth and has a binding effect. It is an ethical undertaking to do Justice as well as uphold the Rule of Law in our Courts.

“As such, my Lord, yours is an especially onerous position, but one which I believe that you are eminently qualified and capable of excelling in.

“My Lord, as you are aware,

your immediate predecessor is the first Chief Judge of the FCT to retire and benefit from a valedictory session. I urge you as the incoming Chief Judge to see this as a challenge and aim to serve and retire with honour.

“To re-iterate, yours is a position of utmost responsibility. This means that in all that you are going to do, you are liable to be called upon to account. Full responsibility is an enormous challenge to take on, and it can

COLLATION: Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC collation officer for Rivers State, Prof. John Etu-Efeotor, handing over the results sheet of the presidential election in the state to INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at the national collation centre in Abuja, yesterday.

feel overwhelming. However, I am confident in your ability and desire to excel.

“It is important to emphasize that in leadership, certain indispensible qualities must stand out. Your lordship must be thoughtful, considerate and temperate in judgment. You must be aware that you are now in the dock, as it were.

“As a leader, you are responsible for everything that happens in your Court, and you may, quite rightly, be held accountable for everything that happens, good or bad. I therefore urge you to be thorough and diligent in the administration of the courts, knowing full well that praise or condemnation is largely determined by your conduct.

“I note with particular concern the number of corruption cases that are pending before the FCT High Courts and the number that have been returned by the Supreme Court to the trial courts. It bears reminding that posterity does not wear a human face in its judgment.

“I counsel you to ensure that your work remains like sterling silver that becomes more valuable with age. I therefore urge you to be proactive in seeking out ways to improve justice delivery especially as pertains to the case disposal rate in the FCT High Court of Justice”.

Justice Bello is taking over from the former CJ of the FCT high court, Justice I.M. Bukar, who bowed out of active judicial service yesterday having clocked the 60 years mandatory retirement age.

Earlier, a valedictory session was held in honour of the retiring CJ, Justice Bukar by the FCT high court.

Senate adjourns over lack of quorum, to resume April 14 zPDP's loss, consequence of imposition —SENATORS zWe've deposed most corrupt party in Africa — SEN ADEYEYE

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE senate on Monday adjourned plenary for lack of quorum to reconvene after the governorship and state assembly elections as well as the Easter break. The senate will resume plenary on April 14.

The senate had resumed for plenary after about two weeks break for the Presidential and National Assembly elections but on resumption, members that attended the plenary were less than thirteen which made the Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, PDP, Cross River Central to call for adjournment.

Meantime, with the results of the National Assembly election that was held last Saturday show that the All Progressives Congress, APC, now has the majority number with 63, while the Peoples Democratic Party that used to dominate is now in the minority with 46 Senators.

Senator Ndoma-Egba said that “I have taken stock of Senators and I doubt if we have formed quorum. I call for adjournment till April 14 for members to participate in the governorship and state assembly elections and for the Easter break.”

Speaking before the adjournment, the Senate President, David Mark, who presided over the plenary said, “We are all glued to the TV at the moment, I think it is going to be difficult for us to form a quorum the whole week.

“But in any case, because of the various political activities and the normal Easter break, I think it is only appropriate for us to resume the first Tuesday after the gubernatorial and States Assembly elections. I think that is the bases on which the senate leader made the proposal.”

Briefing journalists after the adjournment, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba

explained that “By our rules the quorum is made up of one-third of the membership and we didn’t have the numbers today and I believe the reasons are obvious.

“We are in the middle of very intense political activity. Elections held a few days ago, results are still being announced, quite a number of Senators participated and they certainly couldn’t be here. So, we didn’t have the numbers and without the quorum, you cannot take any decisions including approving the votes and proceedings.

“So, we have to quickly adjourn to enable members go and listen to the outcome of the presidential and other elections. And immediately after that is Easter and followed by the next line of elections. So, practically, it will be impossible for Senate to reconvene before the April 14.''

The Senate Leader advised Nigerians to be lawful in their conducts and not to take the laws into their hands, adding that

election was a process, no matter the outcome, after the process, there will still be further processes to be followed in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, some of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senators have claimed that the loss the party was subjected to in some states was self-inflicted problem, the consequences of impunity.

A PDP Senator from the North Central that spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said that because the party surrendered its structure to the state governors, there were anger and frustrations among party members and the only way to express it was through protest votes which the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, was the beneficiary.

“The Senator said, “Watch, the worst results are about to be announced. This is to put a stop to the impunity.”

We’ve deposed most corrupt party in Africa —Sen. Adeyeye

Speaking in an interview, Senator Sola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central who was fuming that the Senate President denied him the opportunity to contribute during the debate on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and the 2015 Appropriation, said he was happy to now belong to the largest party in Africa.

He said, “I am a member of the largest party in Africa and we have just deposed the most corrupt party in Africa. The South west has shown itself again.

From 1951, the South west has never been monolithic. The only time that the Southwest came close to being monolithic was 1979.

“In the 50s, the Southwest was split between the Action Group and the NCNC. When you look at the votes return from the zone, you see the only place in the south where there is pluralism of choice. When you get to where you find in the south - East and South-south where 90 percent are voting, for one party, you ask yourself, what kind of democracy is this?''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 9

I'll surely go on exile — BODE GEORGE L

AGOS—FORMER Deputy National

(ABOVE LEFT) MEETING: From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Chairman, National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; members of the committee, Air Comodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd); Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Catholic Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan after the declaration of the 2015 Presidential results, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Photos by Abayomi Adeshida.

(LEFT) General.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, with members of the National Peace Committee briefing State House reporters after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock, Villa, Abuja.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George says he may be going on exile following the victory of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Maj-Gen Muhammudu Buhari (retd).

George had said in an interview that he would proceed on exile if the APC wins at the federal level.

Speaking with Vanguard, on the PDP’s defeat at the polls, the PDP chieftain said “What will I be doing here? I can decide to go and live anywhere. Look at everyone surrounding him (Buhari). ''So, I am not joking about it, what will I be doing here?

At 70, what will I be doing here? All we have been doing to restructure the country has been lost. We have been trying to ensure balance in the polity but all that has gone. What else will I be doing here?”

APC PETITION: Why we didn’t cancel Rivers election — JEGA ByDapo Akinrefon & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, yesterday, explained that the decision of the commission not to heed the petition of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by cancelling or rescheduling the presidential election in Rivers State was because the petition lacked merit.

Speaking yesterday at the collation centre in Abuja, Jega specifically said the allegation was not substantial to warrant cancellation or rescheduling of the presidential poll in the state.

“We do not believe the allegations are substantial enough to require the cancellation/rescheduling of the elections in Rivers. Sunday morning, I received a petition from the All Progressives Congress ,APC, demanding the cancellation and rescheduling of elections in Rivers State. I circulated this memo to the Commission. We reviewed it and set up a three- man Committee to Rivers and returned this morning with their observations.

There were a number of points as to why the Commission should cancel/reschedule elections: on the grounds of no elections, no result sheets or substitution of officials,’’ he said.

He added: “We cannot establish any cancellation or substitution of results and we sent a list of collation officers to

the state. Officials failed to show up to work for several reasons and it is up to the REC to substitute from the pool of officials they have “We do not believe the allegations are substantial enough to require the cancellation/rescheduling of the elections in Rivers. The decision of the Commission is that we will take the results of the elections in Rivers state. We have taken measures to make sure that there is no reoccurrence in the future” Meanwhile, immediately the commission reconvened yesterday to commence the collation of results from the states, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, protested the decision of INEC to investigate the petition of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. The party particularly accused the commission’s chairman,Prof.

Attahiru Jega of not only being bias but also partial, selective and tribalistic in his handling of the collation of presidential election results across the states of the federation.

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Col. Bello Fadile, who represented the party as agents at the Presidential Election Results Collation Centre,at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, accused the INEC boss of secretly working for the APC. Elder Orubebe, who led the protest,wondered why the

INEC chairman constituted an investigative panel and sent same to Rivers State to look into the petition from the APC, while he failed to act in like manner on their petition against elections in seven states of the North.

The states,according to him are Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi,Gombe, Katsina and Sokoto.

The PDP representatives, whose open protest temporarily halted proceedings at the collation centre, said the party had lost confidence in both Jega and his INEC,and demanded expeditious treatment of its petition against the elections in some states of the North. The action of the duo took people by surprise.

Waving a piece of paper, the former minister said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had already published the result of the election on its website which tallied with the one being presented by INEC. Orubebe said, ‘’Mr Chairman we are beginning to see that you are very selective and partial. We have lost confidence in what you are doing. If we can send a protest to you and you cannot take it, then why are we here? The essence of sending you the letter of protest is to enable you look at the matter and see whether it has merit or demerit.

“We have lost confidence in you because you are partial and selective. We don’t believe

in you any more and we cannot go on the way you are going.

You have compromised and we cannot take it from you.

“Until something is done to our letter or protest the way you did with APC we will not continue with you.

“You are tribalistic, you are selective and you are partial, we will not continue with you,” Orubebe added.

Orubebe however vowed not to allow the collation process continue until INEC took a decision on the party ’s complaint but it took the intervention of other agents and other stakeholders to allow Jega to respond.

But in his response, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, said it was not true that he was partial as he had not officially received the PDP complaint.

Jegas said his Personal Assistant came to meet him on Monday after the 4 pm. recess with a document that Dr Bello Fadile, the Representative of PDP said he instructed him to give it to his Personal Assistant (PA).

Jega said that he immediately instructed his PA to return the document because he did not give such instruction. ‘’Subsequently Dr Fadile sent me a short message saying that there are petitions and he wants to submit them, I told him we don’t collect petition on this platform when we are collating results.

“Fadile said I should have left

my office opened so that they can submit such petition in my office.

“I said that the secretary to the commission is in the office to receive petitions; if they are important enough she will bring it to me here. Fadile acknowledged the reply by replying okay, that he would see what he could do. I interpreted to mean that he was taking the petition or whatever document to the commission secretary. As I talk to you now, I have not received any thing from the secretary of the commission,” Jega said.

On the election result allegedly published by APC, Jega said he had not seen it and never gave result to anybody.

“The results announced formally by INEC were results that were declared here. We have warned everybody to be careful and be sure that they do not declare result that we have not publicly announced. So as far as I am concerned I have not given anybody any result,” he said.

Jega added that it was unfair for Orubebe to engage him on such issue saying “I think it is not fair to me. I have not seen any result and how can I speak about something I have not seen. ''Mr Orubebe you are a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you are a statesman in your own right, so you should be careful about what you say or allegation you make.

“Certainly you should be careful about your public conduct,” he added.

10— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Lagos PDP calls for cancellation of presidential election results L

Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS—THE Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cancel results of the presidential elections for Lagos State just as it accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of manipulating the exercise.

Addressing a press conference at its party secretariat, the state chairman of the party, Mr Tunji Shelle accused INEC officials of collaborating with the APC to manipulate outcome of the elections, saying it affected the chances of the party.

He, however, alleged that figures were “brazenly manufactured and conjured to favour the APC.” Shelle, who rejected the outcome of the exercise, said “we hereby reject outright all the established manipulated results and the concocted victory given in favour of APC in Lagos State. We demand immediate justice and the prompt cancellation of all concocted APC kangaroo victory and the immediate restoration of all genuine and untarnished results from the various polling units as nothing else will do.”

“We are protesting in the strongest terms the deliberate and unconscionable complicity of INEC officials with the APC in Lagos State to thwart and reverse the popular will of the people of Lagos

State in the presidential and parliamentary elections.”

The party chairman alleged that INEC officials were compromised especially in the distribution and allocation of the Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs. According to him, the distribution of PVCs was

“skewed in favour of the stronghold of the APC in Lagos and beyond to the detriment of PDP. Non-indigenes in Lagos were openly disenfranchised and denied the right to collect their PVCs, hence majority were unable to vote.”

He also lamented that

“virtually everywhere we won a clear and verifiable victory, presiding INEC officials openly colluded with the APC to sabotage and deny PDP candidates victory. Among the local government areas where anomalies were recorded are Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa and Apapa.”

CELEBRATION: From left, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, celebrating Gen Mohammadu Buhari's victory in last Saturday's presidential election in Lagos, yesterday.

Buhari's victory has rescued Nigeria —Aregbesola

O

SOGBO—THE Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, described the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), as the best thing to happen to a country that has endured 16 years of misrule at the centre.

He said Nigeria has finally been rescued from the jaws of death after 16 years of social, political and economic strains.

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, congratulated Nigerians for the doggedness, perseverance and commitment to voting out a party that had held them hostage for 16 years.

Describing Buhari’s victory as the best thing that could happen to a nation under political and economic strains like Nigeria, the Governor said the overall results of the elections and the general conducts of the electorate demonstrated that Nigerians really wanted change in the country.

He also charged all other political parties to take the results and final outcome of the election with the

spirit of sportsmanship, saying the people have spoken through their votes.

According to him, “I congratulate Nigerians for their steadfastness and commitment to a better Nigeria in the way they have come out

right from the collection of permanent voters cards, which gave them the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibilities; their turn out during the election and their peaceful conducts.

“The victory of the APC in the

general elections should, therefore be seen as the triumph of democracy in Nigeria borne out of the people’s will and aspirations rather than the showing of strength of any political party or individuals.”

Lagos begins issuance of new taxi licences

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—THE Lagos State Government, yesterday, presented provisional taxi licenses allocation letters and badges to taxi operators in the state.

Commissioner for Transportation, Kayode Opeifa said the 2012 road traffic law also include the operation of taxis hence, the need for the new taxi policy.

He said the provisional allocation letter will among others, enable the state government pursue the transformation in the public transport industry, enhance professionalism, ensure standard and safety of lives of people in the state.

Opeifa explained that the provisional allocation letters

were issued to only taxi cab operators who had earlier done accreditation with the state government through the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, offices and captured on the data base of the Lagos State Public Transport Management System.

He noted that with the commencement of the new taxi system, only license holders with the state colour of green, yellow, blue and red stripes on their cabs will be able to operate taxi business in Lagos.

Earlier the permanent secretary in the ministry, Oluseye Coker, urged the taxi drivers to utilize the license for the purpose it was issued, noting that it would create opportunities for them

to expand their businesses and build an effective taxi operation system in the state.

President of Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association of Nigeria, Prince Tajudeen Adetoro, in his reaction, commended the state government for initiating the new taxi policy in the state.

Adetoro said the initiative would in no little measure enrich taxi operation in the state.

Also, the chairman of Cabs Operators Association, Adeboye Ajakaiye said: “The initiative will help to make the industry viable, robust, investment friendly and operator friendly, creating easy access to funds to procure new vehicles.”

APC sweeps 3 Lagos senatorial seats

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

A G O S — CANDIDATES of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the three Lagos senatorial districts, Senators Gbenga Ashafa, Oluremi Tinubu and Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, emerged winners in the last Saturday's National Assembly elections.

Ashafa won with about 60 per cent of the total vote.

According to results announced by the INEC’s returning officer, Ashafa polled 181,221 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Olabisi Owolabi-Salis, who scored 126,350.

Ashafa won in all the five Local Government that made up Lagos East Senatorial District-Epe, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Ibeju Lekki and Shomolu.

In Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola aka Yayi of the APC was returned as the winner.

Adeola polled 429,765 votes to beat his rival, Segun Adewale of the PDP, who polled 372,421 in the nation’s largest senatorial district.

BUHARI'S VICTORY:

Soldiers patrol Abeokuta streets

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — S E C U R I T Y personnel of the OP Mesa formation, yesterday were seen patrolling some major streets of Abeokuta to quell any likely crisis that may arise from the declaration of Gen. Muhammad Buhari as the President-elect of the country.

Soldiers were seen blowing siren during the patrol of some major roads in the state capital such as Oke-Ilewo, Abiola Way, Sapon Omida among others.

In the same vein, hundreds of supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, took to the major streets of Sagamu to celebrate Buhari’s victory.

The party supporters thronged the party secretariat in Ewusi Street around 6pm with brooms to celebrate the victory of their presidential candidate.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 —11

Ibadan residents celebrate Buhari's victory with fireworks

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN—THERE was wild jubilation in Ibadan yesterday as residents in Sabo used fire crackers to celebrate the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari at the polls.

At the time they were jubilating, INEC was yet to announce the results from three states of Borno, Delta and Sokoto.

The crowd in their hundreds stormed the streets chanting “Sai Buhari.”

They carried some of the posters of the General and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Traffick gridlock

As a result, there was a traffic snarl in the area which extended to Mokola Roundabout.

Also, other people

commended the role played by the electoral umpire led

by Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Mr. Oyebanji Oyewale, a welder, said: “It was a good result because this has never happened before.

Prof. Jega made everything open to all to see. The election that produced late President Umaru Yar'adua was not as transparent as this. Even though they have not announced all the results, it is glaring now that the General has won. ‘’Go to Sabo now, everybody is happy because for the first time, the incumbent President was unseated through transparent electoral process.”

Mr. Luke Oriire, a research officer, said; “APC is leading and the margin is okay. We demanded for something and we got it. We needed change and we got it.

Oyo APC lauds voters

In the same vein, the All

Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State described the electorate in the state as worthy 'Soldiers of Change' who deserved to be celebrated for their contributions to the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

The party recorded a total of 528,620 votes in favour of Gen. Buhari as against the 303,376 scored by the incumbent president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who emerged the overall second placed contender at the poll.

The party through its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, expressed its satisfaction saying, “whatever victory the APC recorded at the polls was made possible by God and the patriotic electorate who defied all odds to cast their votes for all the candidates presented by our great party. Voters in Oyo

State have demonstrated their resolve to assist the cause of Change which the APC is championing.

“As a party with record of performance in the state, we are indeed grateful that voters found virtually all candidates worthy of their respective mandates and we can assure them that none of those elected from the state on the platform of the APC to make laws at the federal level would disappoint owing to the fact that they are all competent, committed and passionate to perform well.

“However, we further urge electorate in Oyo State not to rest on their oars by completing the task of nation building.

The best way to this is by electing only the candidates of the APC at the next tranche of this year’s general elections.

"At the next polls, our party’s governorship and 32 House of Assembly candidates would be standing for elections and we urge our people to entrust them with their respective mandates."

ELECTION: Fayose urges Nigerians to accept result zAs Ekiti APC congratulates Nigerians

By Gbenga Ariyibi

A

DO EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of the Saturday presidential election in good faith, saying; “the election result is the will of God and Nigerians, and all lovers of peace, progress and development of Nigeria must accept it.”

Fayose, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, hailed the resilience and commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan and General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd).

The governor said the election results should not been seen as victory or loss for any political party, adding; “To me, Nigerians and democracy won.”

He praised Nigerians for believing in the democratic process, saying; “By this election, Nigerians have shown that democracy has come to stay in the country.

“I salute Nigerians, especially the great people of Ekiti State.

“I salute President Jonathan for laying the most solid foundation for democ-

racy in Nigeria. And I salute Major General Buhari (rtd), for being a dogged fighter.

“I urge Nigerians, irrespective of their ethic, religious and political affiliations to respect the outcome of the election in the interest of peace, progress and development of the country.

“Nigeria as a country is greater than any individual or group and it is my plea that no one should do anything to rock the boat of peace in the country.”

Ekiti APC congratulates Nigerians

Meantime, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has congratulated Nigerians for their peaceful conduct in the Presidential and National Assembly elections that returned the party’s candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the winner of the election.

According to the statement issued in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taiwo Olatubosun, commended members of the party for their support to the party’s presidential candidate.

He said despite provocations, inducements, harassments and infractions on their rights by the force of state powers to vote PDP’s candidate, APC members, supporters and people of Ekiti State still managed to record that remarkable votes that shocked PDP leaders.

Senator-elect begs Ogun people on Amosun's behalf

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — T H E Senator-elect for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Prince Lanre Tejuoso has appealed to the people of the state to support the Ogun State governor, Senator, Ibikunle Amosun in his second term bid.

Tejuoso who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, defeated the incumbent Senator, Senator Gbenga Obadara who was the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Bisola ClarkSodipo at the just concluded national assembly election.

In his appreciative message signed by his media aide, Akin Alade, Tejuoso pledged to fulfil all the campaign promises he made, urging the people to vote for APC for all elective positions in the forth coming governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

He said: “An overall victory will no doubt take our state to a greater height and to enable us continue the mission to rebuild.‘’

...Amosun expresses confidence in Buhari’s leadership qualities

Meantime, the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has congratulated the President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), for his victory at the just concluded presidential elections.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun described the election as a demonstration of the Nigerian people’s confidence in General Buhari’s strong leadership qualities.

“The people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes, their confidence in the ability of the president elect to pull the nation out of its present economic woes,” he said.

....Fayemi congratulates Buhari Fayemi who hailed Buhari’s victory over the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a victory for democracy and the Nigerian citizenry.

Fayemi in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said that going by the outcome of the election, Nigerians have demonstrated to the entire world their ability and readiness to tow the path of greatness and oneness.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Why we protested Delta Central results, by Ogboru, Omo-Agege

By Festus Ahon, Perez Brisbe & Ochuko Akuopha

are collating rubbish and we littered all over the Central not who he claimed to be. He are insisting that they must do Bank of Nigeria premises. was procured to do a dirty job, the proper thing, they must “What are governorship so for that reason, we are bring all the materials with result sheets littering at actually asking Prof. Attahiru G H E L L I — which they produced the Central Bank of Nigeria for? Jega, the Chairman of INEC GOVERNORSHIP results to back those results up Why are they not in the cartons to change all these persons candidate of Labour Party in before they are announced. or packages in which they before the governorship Delta State, Chief Great “I also use this opportunity were brought? As we speak, election so that we can have Ogboru, has alleged the to tell members of the press we took serial numbers of some semblance of credibility. doctoring of results of the that even as we speak, the those result sheets and we We condemn all those result National Assembly elections in governorship election results took photocopies of the result sheets that have been sent to Delta Central senatorial in Delta State are being sheets and we have Delta State for the district, saying that the results tampered with, because when complained to the Resident governorship election and being collated were not backed we were doing the sorting of Electoral Commissioner, REC. urged them to bring fresh by empirical materials. the materials for the The truth of the matter is that result sheets because those Advancing reasons why he Presidential and National most of the people who were ones have been scanned accompanied the party’s flag Assembly elections last week, used for this election in Delta already. What you are seeing bearer in Delta Central it became crystal clear that State are fraudsters. there is just a shadow; they senatorial district, Obarisi Ovie those materials had been “In Ethiope East, it was have scanned all of those Omo-Agege, to protest the tempered with because we saw proved that somebody posing result sheets and they are results collation at the Delta the governorship result sheets to be a Returning Officer was using them to prepare results."

Central collation centre in Ughelli, Ogboru said that what was being collated were not the results that emanated from the elections that took place on Saturday.

He said: “I called the attention of the Returning Officer to the fact that in 2011 when we conducted elections in the state in the same constituencies, by 5p.m., that same day, 90 percent of the results were already collated and by the following day results had been declared.

“This is running now for 72 hours in a localized election of this nature. It is taking 72 hours because the results that are being collated are those that had been doctored and I am being specific about the senatorial and House of Representatives elections. So, we came here to make that complain and to tell them that we need due process to be BRIEFING: Olorogun O'tega Emerhor (right) with the representative of Delta INEC Resident followed because when you Electoral Commissioner and INEC Senior Admin Officer, Mr. Thomas Ongele, as the duo collate results not backed by empirical materials then you answers questions from journalists at INEC Secretariat in Asaba.

U

APC protests presidential results in Delta

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—DELTA State All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, yesterday, stormed the office of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, office, Asaba, calling for the cancellation of last Saturday’s Presidential election result in the state.

Emerhor, who led over 3,000 of his supporters on the peaceful protest, accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state of inflating the results in the state, alleging that the results as collated at the polling units did not tally with the results collated at the state level.

Wondering why the result in the state was not announced over 72 hours after the

presidential election, he said: “The results from Ughelli North, Ethiope West, Warri North and Isoko North Local Government Areas were doctored and inflated."

This is unacceptable to us,

we of the APC will not accept this act of fraud being perpetrated by the PDP.” Emerhor said that the results being collated by the state INEC do not reflect the wishes of Deltans.

Insisting that the PDP will use Delta State result to bridge the gap between it and the APC, Emerhor said that they will take the protest to Abuja if their demand was not addressed.

Food prices in Edo rise after polls

P

RICES of some major foodstuffs have increased in Benin, Edo State, four days after the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country.

Some of the affected foodstuffs include beans, tomatoes, meat, yam, pepper, tin tomatoes, wheat, onions, ogbono, fish, melon, palm oil and vegetable oil.

The prices had gone up few days to the elections before this

new increment.

At Oregbeni Market at Ikpoba Hill, a major market in Benin, a basket of tomatoes which sold for N13,500 before the election had gone up to N15,000.

A bag of wheat now sells for between N12,000 and N15,000; a basket of pepper from N4,000 to N7,000, and a carton of frozen fish from N12,000 to N15,500.

A big bag of beans has gone up to N17,000 up from N11,500.

Others are: N1,700 for a carton

of tomatoe puree as against N1,200; a bag of rice from N7,500 to N8,500 while a tuber of yam goes for N300 from N150.

Mrs Faith Edosa, a tomato seller at Ikpoba Hill market, said that the development was due to the elections, adding “Most customers came to buy in large quantities before the election and most food distributors have not brought their goods to the market.”

APC candidate calls for cancellation of Edo Central senatorial result

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO Central senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, has called for the cancellation of the National Assembly elections in the area, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, used soldiers to intimidate and harass APC members and carried out illegal thumb printing of ballot papers.

The PDP candidate, Mr. Clifford Ordia, was returned winner of the senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Addressing newsmen yesterday, Inegbeneki accused the PDP of rigging the election in the area.

He said, “Apart from the fact that they were inducing our people with money at the polling units, soldiers were used to chase away APC members and arrested some of them in the areas. In most polling units in Uromi, Irrua and Ekpoma, the PDP was giving people N5,000 some N10,000 on the queue to vote for them."

Tolani passes on

M

R. Tolani Nuga, a final year student of the University of Lagos, is dead, aged 30.

He died on December 27, 2014.

Tolani, who celebrated his 30th birthday a week before his death, was involved in an auto crash on the Third Mainland Bridge. He was buried on Wednesday December 31, 2014.

Late Tolani Nuga

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—13

Anxiety in Bayelsa as Buhari clinches presidential poll

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—UNEASY calm yesterday, pervaded Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital and its environs, as the results of the presidential election were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, showing the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari in clear lead.

Most of the commercial banks shut their doors to customers at midday as the final results of the election were announced.

The move, it was learned, was a safety measure against likely attack in case of outbreak of violence over the outcome of the election.

A source in one of the banks said: “It was a precautionary measure taken due to the tension in the air over the

outcome of the presidential poll. We have since closed for the day but we will open for business in the morning.”

Also, Youth Corps members have expressed concern over the development, especially with the text message allegedly from the authorities of the NYSC being circulated, urging them to vacate their lodge or relocate to military barracks close to them as well as not to put on their uniforms

in public for fear of attack after the announcement of the presidential results.

Meantime, the prospect of President Goodluck Jonathan leaving the Aso Rock Villa on May 29 has soberred thousands of Bayelsans, who had believed he would be given the chance of a second term.

All over Yenagoa, anxious Bayelsans were glued to television sets at home and in

public places watching with keen interest as the developments unfolded in Abuja.

But Police spokesman in the state, Asinim Butswat, said there was no cause for alarm.

He said on phone that though some non-indigenes had left, “We do not encourage anybody to leave.”

Butswat assured that the Police were at alert to deal with any trouble maker.

POLLS: Leo Ogor, Mutu, Nwokolo return to House of Reps

By Festus Ahon, Egufe Yafugborhi, Perez Brisibe, Ochuko Akuopha & Theresa Ugbolu

A

SABA—DEPUTY Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor and the lawmaker representing Bomadi/ Patani federal constituency, have won the National Assembly elections held in their constituencies last Saturday.

Ogor, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, polled 79,052 votes as against 6,626 secured by the All Progressives Congress, APC. On his part, Mutu of the PDP polled 67, 462 of the total votes to secure his return to the House of Representatives.

Announcing the results, the Returning Officer of the Bomadi/Patani federal constituency, Dr. Roy Ureigho, said ADC polled 2,932 while APC and PDM scored 53 votes respectively.

Also, the member representing Ika federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Vitcor Nwokolo of the PDP, scored 63,918 votes to beat his closest opponent, Mrs Doris Uboh of Accord Party.

C M Y K

BRIEFING: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwankwo (right) and National Coordinator, Independent Election Monitoring Group, Mr Festus Okoye, during a briefing on the presidential election in Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Court adjourns Tinubu’s case against Army Chief, Minimah, to April 20

A

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till April 20, a fundamental rights’ enforcement suit by former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah.

Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had sued Minimah over the deployment of soldiers to lay siege to his No. 26 Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos home, between February 9 and 11.

Trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, had on March 26, granted an interim injunction, banning the military siege on Tinubu’s home and stopping any possible arrest or detention of the applicant during the period of the general elections.

After granting the order, the judge adjourned to hear the substantive suit.

At the resumed hearing, the applicant’s counsel, Mr Chukwuma Onwuemene, was

in court.

However, Minimah was not represented.

Onwuemene, however, prayed the court for a short adjournment for the hearing of the substantive suit.

Justice Tsoho recalled that the

applicant had already secured an interim injunction shielding him from arrest and intimidation by the military, adding that the court could not give any date before the Easter vacation. He, therefore, adjourned till April 20 for hearing.

PRESIDENTIAL POLL: APC chieftain denies signing result sheets in Rivers

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARCOURT—A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Steve Worgu, has distanced himself from the allegation that he was among those who signed the presidential result sheets sent to Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State.

Worgu, while reacting to the said allegation by the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dame Gesila Khan, said that he was not among those who signed Presidential result sheets

in Ikwerre council.

He said the accusation was baseless, false and a strategy to cover up the fraudulent acts on Saturday’s election in the state.

The APC chieftain threatened to take legal action if the REC does not apologise.

“I did not sign the presidential result sheets from my local government as claimed by REC, Dame Khan, and published in the media.

“I am not an official of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to sign those result sheets," he said.

DTHA 2015: Group rallies support for Olise

T

HE Ndokwa Youths Vanguard, NYV, has urged all Ndokwa East indigenes at home and in Diaspora to come out en-mass and vote for Charles Olise of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to represent Ndokwa East constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly come April 11.

Addressing newsmen in Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, spokesman of the group, Henry Obinna, said the decision to endorse Olise, against the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmaker, Mr. Friday Osanebi, was based on his track record.

The group added that the PDP lawmaker had failed the area, in what they described as wasted opportunities and broken promises.

“What they call dividends of democracy and empowerment in their party is actually dividends for their pockets, mere propaganda that the member representing the area is actually empowering the people.”

Edo declares public holiday to celebrate Buhari

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO State Government has declared a work-free day in the state today, to celebrate the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in Saturday’s presidential election.

The state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, also invited the people of the state to a victory party which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City, starting today.

Top artistes, including Davido, Patoranking, Osayomore Joseph, Young Bolivia, among others, will perform at the party to celebrate Buhari’s victory.

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

APC celebrates in Abuja as Buhari wins

Alhaji Lai Muhammed, National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, and a female member of the party, celebrating at Party Secretariat in Abuja. Photos: Joe Akintola, Kehinde Gbadamosi,Dare Fasube, Olugbemiga Olamikan, Olu Ajayi & Akeem Salau.

Female supporters, celebrating at party Secretariat, in Abuja.

Mr. Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State (middle,) and other members of APC

Dancing and celebrating with 'brooms'.

....Jubilates in Ibadan

Supporters displaying billboard and poster

Jubilating on bike

APC supporters in roadshow of joy at Ibadan

Supporters, even children, jubilating\

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—15

APC celebrations galore in Lagos, Kaduna

From right, Abiola Ajimobi, Bola Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon, others.

National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (middle), with Governor Babatunde Fashola (left), and Governor Abiola Ajumobi , during the celebration of their victory in the presidential election at his Ikoyi residence yesterday. Photos: Joe Akintola, Kehinde Gbadamosi,Dare Fasube, Olugbemiga Olamikan, Olu Ajayi & Akeem Salau.

From left. Mr Dele Alake, Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Lanre Rasakand others.

Jubilation at Ajegunle, Lagos

All Progressives Congress, APC, supporters, jubilating on the streets of Kaduna.

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People at newstands, checking presidential election results at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, yesterday

...at Obalende Lagos

...on the streets of Kaduna.

16 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 17

W

E have all heard, time and time again that Nigerians are bad, greedy, selfish people, people who stand for nothing and believe in nothing. We’ve all heard the saying “black man, black heart”, a testimony to our self-loathing, inherited from our colonial past.

In reality, although things in this country are far from perfect, it is my firm belief that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the average Nigerian.

If what seems like a majority of people do behave badly, it is simply because of the climate of lawlessness which many of our politicians have perpetuated.

As social experiments around the world prove, people behave badly when they believe they can get away with it.

Rather than any innate goodness or moral compass, the average person is guided by fear of the “long arm of the law”.

If the US, or the UK’s judicial system was as chaotic as ours, undoubtedly, people would not shy away from embezzlement or any other crimes, knowing the odds of their case appearing in court are slim.

If their media was as compromised as ours is, like us, they wouldn’t fear the court of public opinion, because not only would the citizenry be unaware of half of what really goes on, politicians could sponsor articles to negatively influence people’s thoughts, which is why it seems Nigerians have completely lost sight of right and wrong.

Poverty, a lack of education, •President Goodluck Jonathan where solid, moral values are taught as part of a civics programme are part of the reasons behind so many of our elected officials are accountable country’s issues. History isn’t to their constituents. Therefore taught in most classrooms so we governments are created to work have no unbiased knowledge for the public good. Locke in of Nigeria and stories change particular, defended the right to depending on who is doing the revolution as in extreme cases, telling. governments who fail to work in the interest of all can be forcefully Parties and removed: freedom comes at a price. President Obama is sitting interests in the White House today Most of our opinion leaders or even religious leaders are compromised, beholden to parties and interests. However, it is really the average Nigerian I want to talk about, not the elite or the high flyers.

A human being’s predisposition is for chaos not order.

At his core, Man is more emotional than rational. That societies gradually evolved into states where law and order prevail and where rationality and fairness supersede sentiment and injustice is a choice humanity made rather than a de facto arrangement.

According to 18 th century European “enlightenment era” philosophers, Locke, Rousseau Whatever happens and Hobbes, the “social contract theory” describes the contract next, it will not be societies formed to end the business as usual hardship and oppression which is the law of nature, or the law in Nigeria; Man abides by in his natural Nigerians have state.

Therefore governments exist great expectations because people consent for which must be met them to exist: citizens are responsible, in democracies, for by our leadership voting them in and in turn,

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

There is nothing wrong with Nigeria or Nigerians!

C M Y K

till the very end: I believe in peace but I also believe in change, for fairness and justice for all, even those who don’t exactly pray like me, look like me or speak the same language. We are all Nigerians. We cannot allow anyone or any government to overrule our conscience; no one can make us agents of injustice without our consent. We can resist any oppression without violence if we believe our actions are justified but we do not have to cooperate with any system, if we believe it is wrong. Apathy is a great evil that we are beginning to shake: there is nothing wrong with Nigerians.

Many of us still believe, as a Yoruba proverb says, “because we want to eat meat, we will not resort to calling a cow, sir”.

Conformism to wrongdoing isn’t obedience to the law. We can have a country again, if we are willing to take it back.

Manipulation of results

•Muhammadu Buhari

because countless activists died fighting for the colour of his skin to be disregarded and for Black people to have equal rights in America.In Nigeria, we don’t fight for the things that matter.

We fight each other over religion and ethnicity, while our leaders sit and dine together, oblivious to these man-made differences.

We outnumber our would-be masters, but we accept anything and everything they say, no matter how wrong or ludicrous.

We must have the courage of our convictions, if indeed we want change in this country. Violence is one thing, civil disobedience is another. We are on the cusp of something great, I felt it at the polling units I visited.

Different walks of life I met people from different walks of life and so many spoke to me of change, of the new Nigeria they envision for their children. I met Aisha, who moved to Lagos from Bauchi.

She came to the polling unit with her whole family: husbands, brothers, sisters and children.

They left the North due to security concerns but miss their home dearly.

I met a young man, also from the North who told me he wanted to farm but that government kept the fertilizer for the politically connected. I heard so many stories, tales of wasted lives and opportunities; the elite in

Nigeria often have the impression that every “poor man” is a criminal in waiting.

This isn’t so: all most people want is a decent life, to send their children to school without fear, to see them grow and to be happy. People’s desires are quite simple; all over the world, we want the same things, to feel that we are a part of something, that people care about us. No matter where we are from or how much we have in our pockets, we all want to be regarded with dignity and to live fulfilling lives.

My new friends passed oranges round. We bought water for each other. We were there 14 hours. Despite the discomfort and the initial issues with the card readers, I saw resolute, determined people. Young LASU engineering graduates who had been forced to become security guards due to lack of jobs: how could they not yearn for change, for something new, grand and different in their country?

How could they not but hope that opportunities in the new Nigeria they were to vote for would be fairly awarded, not simply because one is a big man’s child? I saw what some would call uncharacteristic orderliness. Whatever happens next, it will not be business as usual in Nigeria.

Nigerians have great expectations, which must be met by our leadership. Let us have the courage of our convictions

The PDP alleges that the results released on social media by various people from their individual polling units are fake, possibly even sponsored by the APC in a bid to cause confusion and set the stage for violence.

So many of our politicians have such poor, badly tainted reputations.

Some have court cases pending, others are regarded by large segments of the population as inept. How do we get better candidates? The pool that recruits them needs to be widened or Nigerians won’t get the best. We wouldn’t even be talking about manipulation of results if politicians were sure of themselves and their records: they would coast to victory.

The amounts spent on “rigging and counter-rigging” would be pointless if politicians simply did the work they were elected to do. Unfortunately, the delegates who choose candidates are themselves mostly poverty-stricken and beholden to the party moneybags; so they don’t choose the best. One can’t help but chant “change”, especially when one thinks of the brave, peaceful women protesters in Rivers State who were mercilessly teargased.

Global Rating agency, Fitch, has negatively reviewed Nigeria due to the political uncertainty relating to the elections. This makes me think of the widespread challenges an incoming administration will have to face: what is in fact, left in the state coffers after all that has been spent to “woo” the electorate? This election has been incredibly divisive: we must come together again as a country.

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 THERE is something about the brand of justice ordinary Nigerians get that requires attention, if our society recognises equity as an essential ingredient of justice. While we preach equality of all before the law, we must admit that one of the challenges of treating all equally, is that our laws rate us differently.

Yet equality in this context, though a mirage, should at least be applied from the bases of fair hearing, fair treatment of suspects, and speedy access to justice.

The poor, the weak, and the voiceless – all those who have no contribution in making the law – bear the brunt of the harshness of our laws. Justice seems to tilt unfairly towards ordinary Nigerians.

The latest case which many could have missed in the midst of the attention on the elections is that of Vincent Okwekwu, a 24-year-old sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery, which the judge was magnanimous enough to reduce to “robbery”.

Okwekwu stole a mobile telephone and N10, ooo cash. His two accomplices

Justice FFor or The W eak Weak escaped. On the public’s scale of justice, people would be wondering why such “minor” robbery would be punished with death. Our laws, made at the heat of the challenges armed robbery posed, prescribe death for armed robbery. If the suspect bore a gun, a cutlass, a kitchen knife or a toy gun, he is deemed armed and fit for the sentence on conviction.

The law is law. We expect our laws should, in the fullness of their fairness, review sentences for offences such that other “robberies” some with more devastations than the telephone and N10,

000 that Okwekwu stole, could get appropriate punishments. We are not making excuses for armed robbers; we are asking that harsher punishments be extended to crimes by the high and mighty.

At 24, Okwekwu spent a quarter of his life in detention, awaiting trial. He was arrested at 18. He was “lucky” to get “justice” so soon, armed robbery suspects could spend more than 10 years awaiting trial – bails are not available for their offence, while the mighty, whose theft of billions of Naira – which result in deaths through poor public facilities that the money would have redeemed – enjoy liberal bail terms.

There was no doubt that Okwekwu committed the crime. He voluntarily admitted his role in a statement he made in 2009. In court, he recanted, but the evidence against him nailed him. His likes are unlikely to have resources to pursue their appeals to the Supreme Court, a ploy the mighty use to stall their trial; they appeal every ruling. Our nation cannot be built on laws that afflict the weak and ignore the crimes of the mighty.

OPINION

By Obaro Avae

M

AJORITY of Deltans have come to see the emergence of Olorogun Otega Emerhor as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the most salutary thing to have happened to Delta State since 1999. Their optimism about Emerhor’s political stance and fortune derives from the stark reality of underdevelopment which successive governments foisted on Delta State and Deltans.

Since the emergence of the current political dispensation one question that has been a constant refrain on the lips of Deltans is ‘’why are we so unfortunate in matters of governance?”. However, the coming of Emerhor as the flag bearer of the APC is fast altering the frightening scenario. The lament cum question has now been replaced by an incurable optimism regarding the popular, progressive and pragmatic vision Emerhor is bringing to bear on governance as from May 2015 once Deltans entrust him with the mandate to govern the state.

Otega Emerhor is best known as Nigeria’s most successful business turn-around guru and corporate angel who has given life and verve to many hitherto failed enterprises. Thus, when Deltans got wind of his C M Y K

Emerhor and the imperative of progressive governance governorship aspiration they heaved a sigh of relief knowing and trusting that a political redeemer was around the corner. Emerhor is an astute manager of men and his management acumen is what Delta State needs right now to break loose from the vice grip of what has become perennial misrule engendered by those who have had to hijack the people’s electoral mandate.

What further boosted the people’s confidence is Emerhor’s choice of political platform, the APC which is unapologetically progressive in words and indeed.

Those with a good sense of history are

Emerhor came into the race fully prepared

also aware that of all the states that once belonged to the progressive old Western Region, only Delta and Ondo States are presently out of the ruling fold of the politically progressive APC. The two states are fishes out of water and it has reflected in their arrested development. When Delta was part of the old Bendel State and the Western Region it enjoyed the monumental infrastructural and educational development which the progressive ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo brought to bear on the space under his political control be it during the era of the Action Group (AG) or the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

A critical evaluation of the states under the control of the APC will reveal a trend that can be described as quantum leap in terms of development. The governors of the APC states seem to be in tune with the ideals of politics and governance which revolve round making life better for the people. The monumental achievements in Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Edo states among others speak volume for the developmental mindset of those in the APC. It is this fold that Otega Emerhor wants to take Delta State into. Most Deltans

irrespective of age, religion, gender or ethnic affiliation have resolved their electoral choice for Emerhor come 11th April 2015 when they shall have the opportunity to speak with their ballot.

Emerhor came into the race fully prepared. His is a progressive ideology anchored on people centred development. As a development thinker Emerhor has articulated what he christened ‘’Ten Cardinal Points” to frog leap Delta State on the path of rapid development and bring government closer to the people.

Those who know development politics and economics are settled on the fact that Emerhor’s ‘’Ten Cardinal Points” will do for Delta State what the Marshall Plan did foe Europe. The highlights of the ‘’Ten Cardinal Points” include the provision of empowerment access point to youth, women and small and medium scale enterprises, provision of social benefits to the elderly, creating an enabling environment of peace and security, to get Deltans back to work so that they can earn a decent living, to upgrade and renew critical infrastructure to boost the state’s economy, state wide industrial revolution based on resuscitation of ailing industries and foreign investors led industrial regime.

•Mr. Avae a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—19 —19

Nigerian politics and the 2015 election campaigns

A

S I write this about 2pm on the 28th day of March 2015, millions of Nigerians across the country have been out for several hours participating in the process of electing political office holders in an election that has been described by many as perhaps the most keenly contested in the years since Nigeria attained independence.

Although the election is as well for members of the National Assembly as it is for the presidency but it has been read mainly as a presidential contest involving the candidates of the two leading parties in the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with their respective flag bearers, Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. Up until the beginning of this year, the election was expected to be a nocontest between the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari who had run for the office of president on three previous occasions without

success. He had not been expected to make any real impression beyond his stronghold in the north.

The PDP did not appear to be losing any sleep over the candidature of Mohammadu Buhari. Indeed, the party had clearly hoped to campaign on no greater issue than the apparent political baggage that had held Buhari down and made him unattractive beyond the north on his previous attempts at the presidency. This was the general perception, based on very solid grounds, that he was an arch hegemonist bent on ensuring the dominance of the Islamic north in Nigerian politics. Buhari was notorious for his advocacy of sharia and advice to the northern electorate to vote for nobody that is not a muslim. His name had ever since been anathema in political circles outside the north. The steep rise in the activities of the terrorists in the north which culminated with the abduction of hundreds of school girls in Chibok about a

year ago compounded his case with the Nigerian electorate outside the north.

It was with this heavy baggage that he went into the primaries that eventually produced him as the candidate of the APC. Even this, his emergence as his party candidate, did nothing to change his political fortune. The PDP was still expected to trounce him without breaking a sweat. This was still the case until the dramatic events that sidelined Bola Tinubu as a potential vice presidential running mate to Buhari, and the subsequent enlistment of Yemi Osinbajo into the race. At this point, Tinubu brought into play his political machinery that bestrides a huge part of the South-west. The race to Aso Rock that was supposed to be a mere walkover for the PDP was never to be the same thereafter.

The party suddenly realised that it had a problem on its hand.

It suddenly saw that its famed

But what cannot be in doubt is the fact that the 2015 election was the most keenly contested since 1999

Life after election defeat

By Eric Teniola “Politics are almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times”, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill.

XCEPT the August 6, 1983 Presidential election, every Presidential election in Nigeria has ended in the courts.

That of August 11, 1979 was worse.

On August 15, 1979 the returning officer in the Presidential election, Chief Fredrick Louis Menkiti announced the results of the Presidential election. In the results, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (90) of the NPN scored 5,668,857 votes while Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987) of the UPN scored 4,916,951 votes, Dr.Nnamdi Azikwe(1904-1996) of the NPP scored 2,822,523, Alhaji Aminu Kano(19201983) 1,732,113 votes and Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri 1,686,489 votes. After the results were announced Chief Awolowo challenged the results with Chief Abraham Adesanya as his lead counsel while Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide (84) defended Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

I covered the tribunal and the Supreme Court judgment for THE PUNCH 36years ago. At theSupreme Court, delivered just few days before the inauguration, Justice Kayode Esho (1925-2012) gave the minority judgment in favour of Chief Awolowo while the majority judgment was delivered by Mr. Justice Atanda Fatai Williams (1918-2002) in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

But in the August 6 1983 Presidential election, it was a different ball game; Alhaji Shehu Shagari scored 12,081,471 while Chief Obafemi Awolowo scored 7,902,209 and Dr.Nnamdi Azikwe 3,557,113, Alhaji Aminu Kano 968,974

E

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Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim of the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) 646,806 and Mr.Tunji Braithwaite (82) of the Nigerian Advance Party scored 271,524.

Chief ObafemiAwolowo decided not to challenge the result insisting that if Nigerians needed him they know where to find him. He thereafter settled in Ikenne his hometown and on May 9 1987, he answered the final call. In the words of Thomas Jefferson “I have no ambition to govern men. It is a painful and thankless office”.

In the February 27 1999 Presidential election, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiolu Obasanjo of the PDP had 18,738,154 votes as against that of Chief Olu Falae of the Alliance for Democracy who scored 11,110,287 votes. Chief Falae did not accept the result of the election. The regime of General Abdusalam Abubakar who wanted to quit government in time had to summon the traditional ruler of the Akure Kingdom where Chief Falae comes from,Kabiyesi Adebobajo Adesida the then Deji of Akure to Abuja to persuade Chief Falae to withdraw the suit. He refused and for his refusal till today both General Obasanjo and Chief Falae are not on speaking terms. The enmity between both men still lingers.

In the April 19 2003 election, General Olusegun Obasanjo scored 24,456,140 votes while Major General Muhammadu Buhari scored 12,710,022 votes and the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Chukemeka

Things may not have turned out as you wanted or even as I wanted

dominance of the Nigerian political landscape was in fact limited to the south, and at that to the south-south and the southeast in the main. While these are important strongholds, they are quite limited in terms of their electoral value for a potential president. To win the race convincingly, the PDP would have to extend its spread in the South-west. Same logic applied to the APC. Thus, the transformation of the south-west into the ‘beautiful bride’ of both leading parties and the battle ground for the 2015 campaigns.

The PDP relocated its campaign office to the south-west and Goodluck Jonathan became an honorary Yoruba man, as he traversed the nook and crannies of every hamlet in search of votes. What was supposed to be a walkover has suddenly changed into a nail-biting, edge-of-thechair campaign that took on the taste of gall. It was a bitterly fought campaign, mostly on the part of the PDP that stood to lose the most. Ever since political campaigns entered the ‘digital’ age in 1993 with the serious mobilisation of the mass media, the 2015 election is no doubt the election for which the leading parties relied the most on technology to drive their campaign. It is not by any stretch of the imagination the most intellectually rigorous or the best planned campaign in terms of strategy and tactics (on these scores it failed royally), but it was the most technologicallydriven with millions of cyber warriors and ethnic champions engaging one another in mostly crude name-calling and trading of insults.

Odumegwu Ojukwu of the All Progrssive Grand Alliance (APGA) had 1,297,445 votes, Jim Nwobodo of the UNPP scored 169,609 votes, Chief Gani Fawehinmi of the Conscience Party 161,333 votes, Sarah Jubrin of the Progressive Action Congress 157,560 votes, General Ike Nwachukwu of National Democratic Party 132,197 votes, Chris Okotie of Justice Party 109,547 votes, Alhaji Balarabe Musa of the Redemption Party 100,765 votes, Arthur Nwankwo People’s Mandate57,720 votes, Emmanuel Okereke of All People Liberation Party 26,921 votes, Kalu Idika Kalu of the New Nigeria People’s Party 23,830 votes and Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf, former Inspector General of Police of the Movement for Democracy and Justice scored 21,403 votes. General Buhari went to court to challenge the results of the election. The Supreme finally decided in favour of General Olusegun Obasanjo.

In April 21 2007 Presidential election, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua of PDP had 24,638,063 votes as against General Muhammadu Buhari/Edwin Ume-Ezeoke of the ANPP who scored 6,605,299 votes.

Both Alhaji Yar’Adua and Major General Buhari are from the same Katsina state.

It was the first time in the history that both candidates are from the same states.

The Presidential disputes ended in the Supreme Court with Chief Wole Olanipekun as the lead Counsel for Alhaji YarAadua.

In the April 9 2011 election, the duo of Jonathan Goodluck/Namadi Sambo had 22,495,187 votes while the duo of Major General Muhammadu Buhari/Pastor Tunde Bakare scored 12,214,853 votes.

General Buhari challenged the outcome of the results and it ended in the Supreme Court.

The results of the March 28 election are now being released. It is on record that no incumbent President has ever lost any election in Nigeria. But there are examples in Africa. In the April 1991 Presidential election in Republic of Benin, President Mathieu Kerekou (82) lost to Nicephore

The campaign ante was raised precipitously by the PDP which succeeded in securing an extension of the electoral date ostensibly to allow for wider distribution of electoral materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This extension gave it room to rejig and energise its campaign that had practically lost steam.

With a huge war chest of slush funds to spend lavishly, the PDP was able to come back into reckoning. Otherwise, there is little doubt that it would have lost the election by a wide margin had it gone ahead as originally planned on 14 February 2015.

To what extent the extension it got was able to help it would only be known after all votes have been counted.

But what cannot be in doubt is the fact that the 2015 election was the most keenly contested since 1999 when Nigeria returned to civil rule. Going by historical precedent, the PDP had been expected to win easily. That it was not doing so going by projections before the electionthat it was suddenly gasping for oxygen only weeks to the election got it thinking fast. The result was the shift in the date of the election. And to be on an even keel with the APC it brought all it could muster by way of what money could do into its campaign- from a more robust technologically-driven campaign, to open bribery and intimidation of opponents, the PDP was ready to give the election what it took. The APC on the other hand, despite waning energy due to both financial and physical fatigue, was not about giving up its lead.

Soglo. Also in 1991, President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia lost to Frederick Chiluba. Just last September Michael Suta of Zambia defeated the Multi Party Democratic (MPD) who has been in power for 20 years with President Rupia Banda conceding defeat. All eyes will definitely be on Nigeria before and after the election.

It is to be seen whether the Presidential election will bring peace or chaos to Nigeria. So much has been written about the forth coming Presidential elections in Nigeria-the anxieties, the alarms and the innuendos. Definitely one must lose and one must win. Defeat can be injurious but definitely there is life after defeat. Nothing pains a politician more than to lose an election.

When I think of Presidential election the one that comes to mind is the 1968 Convention of the Democratic Party in the United States in Chicago.

After withdrawing from recontesting the incumbent President, Lyndon Johnson became so unpopular that he was not even invited by his party to the Convention. He thereafter lamented” I’ve never felt lower in my life. How do you think it feels to be completely rejected by the party you’ve spent your life with, knowing that your name cannot be mentioned without choruses of boos and obscenities? How would you feel? It makes me feel that nothing’s been worth it. And I’ve tried. Things may not have turned out as you wanted or even as I wanted.

But God knows I’ve tried. And I’ve given it my best all these years. I woke up at six and worked until one or two in the morning every day, Saturdays and Sundays. And it comes to this. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

Presidents too have their own lamentation. They are not invincible.

They are like the rest of us. Power belongs not to the individuals but to the people.

The people in their wisdom have to choose whom they are to endow the power with.

•Mr. Teniola, a former director at the presidency, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Who’s afraid of soldiers?

By Ebele Orakpo

Confusion in Ogun community over abandoned baby

By Bose Adelaja

T

HE birth of a baby usually elicit joy and celebration, especially if it was delivered safely, without any problem to it or its mother. But the mother of a baby born and dumped in a bush at Opo Noah community in Sagamu local government of Ogun State obviously does not share this sentiment. Her action has since thrown the community into an uproar, especially after her baby was found and recovered from the bush. This is even as frantic efforts are being made by some concerned individuals to get to the root of the matter.

The new born, a female, was found soaked in blood with her placenta dangling on a tree as at the time she was abandoned by its yetto-be-identified mother around 11am of Saturday March 21. It was her cry that attracted sympathisers, some of whom rained curses and abuses on the mother as they gazed at the hapless baby.

According to eye witnesses’ account, the baby was very weak and almost running out of breath due to the cold weather and a downpour the day before.

Initially none of the sympathisers was ready to touch the baby until the arrival of a petty trader popularly called ‘Iya Ibeji” who has been childless after 10 years of marriage.

Emotional state On sighting the baby, she was moved with pity and in this emotional state, questioned God why He should bestow such a precious gift to a woman who probably did not appreciate it. Iya Ibeji immediately picked up the baby and sent for a nurse who separated the umbilical cord from the placenta before proceeeding to give it its first bath. It was after this that the sympathisers realised how beautiful the baby was and were moved to donate clothes for its upkeep.

While this was ongoing, one of the sympathisers suggested that the development should be incidented with the Ogijo Division of the Nigeria Police C M Y K

*The abandoned but later recovered baby Force. The sympathisers taken, most of the sympatrooped en mass to the thisers were all for organstation, not minding the ising and contributing to a downpour. naming ceremony schedBeing a weekend, the uled for Saturday March policemen on duty had 28. The “new mother”, on released the baby to the her part, called her hussympathisers who decided band, a tanker driver, to there and then that the baby intimate him of the develbe kept in the custody of ‘Iya opment and the residents’ Ibeji’ who was only too glad expressed decision that at the decision and they become the baby’s demonstrated this by surrogate parents. immediately going Thereafter the new born shopping to provide all that was given the best was required to take care of treatment, both medical and the baby. otherwise. While the baby Once this decision was girl is enjoying this new lease of life, residents have been up and about combing everywhere to locate the real mother. News of the discovery of the baby has since spread to neighbouring communities with people trooping out enmass to catch a glimpse of the baby. But the joy of Iya Ibeji and the residents A vehicle was short-lived.

The following Monday, without a number Iya Ibeji got a call from the plate drove into Ogijo Division requesting the baby’s presence, an the Division; the order which was driver alighted immediately obeyed.

Vanguard Metro, VM, from the car and gathered that about four the baby was families have also signified handed over to their interest to secure the custody of the baby. A worhim

ried Investigative Police Officer had drawn the DPO’s attention to the development. The latter had ordered that necessary papers be prepared and the baby was transferred to an orphanage in Ogun State.

Meanwhile, the Police action had not gone down well with the residents many of whom threatened fire and brimstone, while alleging that the baby had been sold by the police. “Some of us hid at the other side of the station to see what becomes of the baby. Few minutes later, a vehicle without a number plate drove into the Division; the driver alighted from the car and the baby was handed over to him,” alleged some of the residents. They also claimed they have visited all the orphanages in the area and could not locate the baby.

VM intervention, however, saved the situation as some of the residents were tutored on the procedures to adopt a baby.

When VM visited the Division, the DPO refused to comment on the development but a source at the Division said the baby has been taken to an orphanage.

I

NEC we hail ooo. So they have succeeded in denying people their right to vote!” commented Francis, a commuter in the CMS-bound bus as another commuter by name, Tony, lamented that the electoral body deliberately disenfranchised him and many others even with the six weeks extension.

“It’s abracadabra, the more you look, the less you see,” said Tony. “I couldn’t get my PVC after doing all I was supposed to do. It was a waste of time and money. It’s very unfair!” “Please stop blaming INEC, nobody is perfect and nobody has ever gotten it 100 per cent,” said Joy in defence of INEC. “We are not asking for perfection but at least, let us see that INEC is not trying to favour one party over another. As at weekend, people were still complaining of not getting their PVCs for an election that will take place in a few days,” said Francis.

“INEC was ready for the election and the chairman, Jega said so. It was President Jonathan and the PDP that forced the poor man to postpone the election under duress,” said Yinka. “Oh really! Can you with a clear conscience and in your heart of hearts say Jega was ready for the election on February 14 with millions of Nigerians yet to get their PVCs, INEC staff yet to be trained on the use of card readers, card readers yet to be tested and millions of PVCs yet to be printed?” asked Vicky to which Yinka replied thus: “Jega is the umpire and I believe he knew what he was saying. That is what counts. I believe the powers-that-be forced him to change his mind because defeat was staring them in the face.”

“How can you stand logic on its head? This election has shown how shallow and sentimental most Nigerians are. Legitimate voters are deliberately disenfranchised and you see nothing wrong? How did we get to this level where we have allowed politricians (politicians), to pull the wool over our eyes?

The foolish ones quarrel, fight and kill for politicians who don’t really care about them. Honestly, some people’s stupidity no get part II,” said Francis.

“We always look for people to blame. Many of the so-called disenfranchised people simply refused to go and collect their PVCs,” said KC.

Distribution of the cards “That is not true. They tried several times without success. Many of the cards have not even been printed and some people complained that INEC officials were not at the centres to distribute the cards. Some complained that polling centres were denied PVCs. A man said he was told at their centre that all those whose surname began with D and U cannot get their cards. Another said he was told that non-Lagos indigenes will not get PVCs, while some people have two PVCs or more; all kinds of stories. In some streets in Mafoluku area, no single person collected PVC; so is that not deliberate?” asked Vicky, adding: “The card readers disappointed in some places, and INEC did not bring the incident form so people could not vote.” “All these things you are saying cannot be true,” said KC. “No need to argue. Go and find out yourself,” replied Vicky.

“Rigging is already going on and that is why soldiers must be deployed to man the polling centres to ensure more rigging does not go on,” said Tony. Continuing, he said: “All those minors who registered and have PVCs can only be stopped from voting with the presence of soldiers and that is why some politicians are vehemently against deploying soldiers for the elections.” “No wonder! It’s all very clear now. Those opposed to use of soldiers say their presence will scare away their supporters. For heaven’s sake, if you have no mischief or evil plans up your sleeves, you have nothing to fear. A clear conscience fears no accusation. Their presence will only scare away mischief makers,” said Vicky.

Replied Yinka: “Use of soldiers is unconstitutional, period! And that is why the courts have stopped the FG from deploying soldiers.”

“That na story; they want Area boys and other miscreants to have a field day stuffing and snatching ballot boxes and killing and maiming? No way!” said Vicky.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

— 21

GTB shareholders caution directors over regulatory penalty •Commend N1.75 dividend

By Peter Egwuatu

S

HAREHOLDERS of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc have cautioned its executive directors over regulatory penalty, just as they requested the bank to accept dividend warrant to be paid into savings account as permitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The shareholders at the GTBank’s 25th Annual General Meeting, AGM held yesterday commended the management and Board of Directors over the bank’s performance for the financial year ended December31, 2014.

Speaking at the AGM, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, Sir. Sunny Nwosu said “We commend the management and Board for the progressive result being approved today despite difficult operating environment. However, we thank the board for the N1.75 dividend being declared today, even though the increase is small when compared to the previous year. Our gross earnings grew by 12 per cent from N242.6 billion to N278.5 billion; Profit After Tax grew by 9 per cent from N90 billion to N98 billion; Loans and advances grew by 28 per cent to N1.275 billion. This is a good result, however, we also caution our directors over penalty payment to the regulatory bodies; this should stop or else we will ask the directors to pay such fines from their personal account.

Personal account The money that could have gone to our investment is taking to pay regulatory bodies like CBN, AMCON and Financial Regulatory Council, FRC, in addition to the fees and levies the bank pay. Also, our bank should allow dividend warrants of other companies to be paid into the savings account of GTBank’s shareholders as permitted by the CBN. “In their comments, Chief Timothy Adesiyan, President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, Mr. Boniface Okezie, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN said “We thank the bank for its impressive performance and for declaring N1.75 dividend considering the difficult operating environment it operated upon. The bank needs to do more on savings to improve the deposit base beyond what it recorded in the year under review. We are also not happy with the fines that the bank pays to the CBN as it also affect the returns on our investment.”

Responding, the Managing Director/ CEO, GTBank Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje commended the shareholders for their support and loyalty to the bank. According to him “We will continuously do everything within our power to grow the bank and reward shareholders accordingly. Our dividend policy has been to pay maximum of 60 per cent of our earnings taking consideration of our plans to grow the bank.

C M Y K

From left: Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, Past President Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC); Mrs. M.R. Adetutu Adeleke, Past President NBCC and Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, President NBCC at the NBCC ExtraOrdinary General Meeting held in Lagos, on Thursday March 26, 2015 to present the 2013 Annual Reports and Financial Account of the Chamber.

Maritime operators tackle SON over inspection fees

By Godfrey Bivbere

O

PERATORS in the maritime industry have disagreed with the management of Standard s Organisation of Nigeria, SON, over the imposition of inspection fees at the ports.

The Operators noted that while they are not opposed to the collection of money for testing of goods imported into the country, they are however accusing SON of embarking on Post Clearance Audit, PCA and back dating collection testing fee as far back as 2012.

The National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, accused SON of collecting the fee from importers and their agents at the port while also deploying its personnel outside the ports to enforce payment of the back dated inspection fee collection.

Deputy National President of NCMDLCA, Uchu Block, said that SON has resorted to impounding containers outside the port and taking them to their office at Ikeja. Block pointed out that there have been cases where the SON officials go beyond their brief to impound containers even when they are properly cleared from the port.

He explained that SON office at Ikeja is filled up with impounded containers relating to the controversial back dating of inspection fees.

According to him, “The Ikeja office of SON is now like a mini terminal where importers and their agents are forced to another round of clearance. At a time when Customs is calling off their men from the road, SON is deploying theirs.

“Government must as a matter of urgency look into this situation as SON

which is supposed to ensure standard is beginning to constitute hindrance to trade facilitation.”

When Vanguard visited the SON office about two weeks ago, about 27 trucks laden with containers were impounded there.

When Vanguard contacted ] the Public Relations Officer, PRO of SON, Angela Okisor, said her boss was out of Lagos and that she cannot comment on the issue.

Vanguard had earlier called the officer in charge of Apapa office, S.A Isa, who signs issue documents on behalf of the Organisation’s Director General, saying that he does not have the authority to speak with the press and assured Vanguard that he was going to send the contact of the PRO which he never did.

However, an invitation letter from SON to a firm, (name withheld) read in part, “I am directed to inform you that we are conducting post clearance verification of all imports of SON regulated products

The Ikeja office of SON is now like a mini terminal where importers and their agents are forced to another round of clearance. At a time when Customs is calling off their men from the road, SON is deploying theirs

from 2012 to date and you are hereby invited for a meeting at the SON office, 3/5, Burma Road, Apapa.”

The firm, according to the letter, is suppose to pay N56, 000 for 8x40footer containers imported in 2012 but that they are given 50 percent concession and therefore had to pay N28, 000.

The letter stated that the company is to pay N56,000 for 8x40footer containers imported in 2013, N112,000 for 16x40footer consignments for 2013 import and N21,000 for 3x40footer consignments brought into the country in the first two months of this year.

$135.60 $2,692.00

12.09

.3.25 -3.00

-0.69

$55.11

-1.18

$47.99

-0.69

CURRENCY

BUYING

CENTRAL

DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

196 196.5 197 290.0408 290.7807 291.5206 212.6404 213.1829 213.7253 203.4884 204.0075 204.5266 1.6351 1.6393 1.6434 0.3052 0.3152 0.3252 271.0154 271.7067 272.3981 31.5738 31.6548 31.7358 52.2458 52.379 52.5123 28.4685 28.5411 286138 271.166 271.8578 272.5495

CBN Exchange Rate as at 31/3/15

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

When claim is settled, promises are delivered

,

INSURAN

,

African Alliance rewards marketers for distinguishing themselves

A

FRICA Alliance Insurance Plc has given out a star prize of a brand new car, other valuable prizes as well as cash prizes of one million naira and above to various marketers who distinguished themselves in 2014.

While celebrating the marketers at the company’s annual sales award and agency Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the company, Mr. Alphonse Okpor said that the company made over N10 billion premium in its business outing adding that this was made possible through the efforts of its agency system and marketing team.

He also said the company’s culture of appreciating its agents on annual basis with lots of fabulous gifts and reasonable cash prizes act as motivating factor.

The Managing Director also stated that his company which is a life underwriting specialist is making impressive outing in the sale of various life assurance products through its agency system.

According to the African Alliance boss, the annual sales award ceremony in 2013 saw the company giving out four brand new cars and lots of valuable gifts to its various agents in appreciation of their efforts in distributing products of the company in different parts of Nigeria.

However, Okpor attributed the apparent boom in life insurance sales to fast disappearance of community life among Nigerians as well

People have learnt that the best way to care for their families is to put insurance in place C M Y K

as failure by social organisations to fulfil their promises to dependents of their deceased members.

According to him, before now, people don’t bother to provide for their dependents through life insurance because they hoped that at their death, their relatives will take up the responsibility of caring for their dependents.

The African Alliance boss recalled that in the past,most Nigerians form various social organisations like social clubs into which they contribute money with the agreement that at their death, members of the clubs would pay huge amount to their dependents for their up keep.

He observed that all these have severally failed such people whereas the few who were wise enough to take life insurance covers had their dependents well compensated at their death.

Okpor said having realised this ,Nigerians are now relying on life insurance policies as a sure way of providing for their families for the rainy day.

“Initially we lived community life and if there is problem, your relations will take over the responsibility of caring for your family, but now, it is not like that again. People have learnt that the best way to care for their families is to put insurance in place.”

He said from the response of the market, insurance future is very great and Nigeria will soon meet countries like South Africa in their insurance market growth.

Also speaking, marketing manager of the company Mr Vincent Emezi said the award has been a motivating factor for the company’s agents.

According to him, it motivates those who didn’t do well in one particular year to do better the coming year.

He said the annual award has been encouraging healthy competition among the company’s marketers and agents and has been so helpful in growing its premium income and profit that it cannot afford to stop it.

From left: Ganiyu Musa, Group Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance Plc; Sunday Thomas, Director General, Nigerian Insurers Association; Gus Wiggle, Managing Director, Linkage Assurance Plc; Segun Balogun, General Manager, FBN Insurance Limited and Adeyinka Olutungase, Chief Finance Officer, Goldlink Insurance Plc during the burial ceremony of Sunday Thomas’ mother in Ogidi, Kogi State.

How insurers can improve on claims payment

By Rosemary Onuoha

P

eople insure their lives and assets so that in the event of a loss insurance will settle the claims so that the insured can continue with their lives.

When claim is settled, promises are delivered.

Therefore, if promises are to be delivered, then timing and amount paid will be great factors to be considered.

However, claims payment in the Nigerian insurance industry has always been a thing of controversy. If a claim

is not tagged fraudulent, payment could be delayed until the claimant becomes weary of the attitude of insurers.

However, insurance operators are of the opinion that claims payment can be better than what is obtainable in the industry now.

Managing Director of Prorisk Insurance Brokers, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Olawoyin said that claims payment goes beyond presenting the cheque to the insured but also centres around timeliness and turn-around time.

Olawoyin said, “Claims payment encapsulates what we sell. We can still improve on whatever successes we have recorded. Although we have moved from where we used to be but we can still move further.

Some underwriters are doing very well in terms of turn-around time in the area of claims settlement but others still have areas to improve on.”

According to Olawoyin, insurance is a contract and it is the responsibility of practitioners to educate the

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

public on what they are selling and what people are buying because the insuring public have the right to know.

He said that insurance is a contract and for every contract there are terms and conditions that bind the contract. “The evidence of the contract of insurance is the policy document. In That policy document all the terms and conditions upon which that particular contract or purchase of insurance is made is already tied in. So, when there is a claim, which is the crystallisation of the risk, the claim should be settled. Claim can occur under whatever circumstance and whatever the circumstance, the policy document has already envisaged it and various terms and conditions have already been set up to take care of whatever circumstance there

It is in times of claims that many insurers run into trouble waters because that is when the insured will start hearing such words as ‘small prints

may be. Therefore, at the time of claim, the insurer will move into the interpretation of the terms and conditions of the policy vis-a-vis the circumstance that gave rise to the claim. However, the question is, how long does it take the insurer to interpret the terms and conditions as contained in the policy vis-avis the circumstance that gave rise to the claim,” Olawoyin said. According to Olawoyin, it is in times of claims that many insurers run into trouble waters because that is when the insured will start hearing such words as ‘small prints’.

He said, “My advice is that the insuring public should deal with registered insurance brokers. It doesn’t matter how smart I am, if I have a case in court, I cannot represent myself. Brokers are your advocate when it comes to insurance matters. Brokers are expected to be groomed and know the intricacies of these terms and conditions. Prior to the occurrence of claim, some brokers will have to contend with insurers and ask them to expunge or amend some of the terms and conditions so as to ensure that it is not burdensome on clients.”

Olawoyin stated that clients may not see the burdensomeness of an insurance contract until the risk crystallises, adding, Some of these burdensomeness would have been taken care of by your advocate who should be a broker prior to the occurrence. When the risk eventually crystallises, the broker will push to ensure that the claim is resolved in good time.

Olawoyin said that he views delays to settle claims as more of inefficiency on the part of insurers. He however said that companies have internal

processes in place and there is a need to comply with these internal processes. “Without an internal process in place, an organisation will be open to all kind of things including fraud. Insurance industry is exposed to fraudulent claims.

The cost of fraudulent claims is high in advanced world.

Therefore there is a need to balance and prevent fraudulent claims. So, internal control is in place to cross the ‘Ts’ and dot the ‘Is’, he said.

Olawoyin said that be that as it may, insurers can cut out inefficiencies as it could affect the image of insurance operators.

“We should be aware of our image and do every thing possible to improve on it.

Efforts are being made to reduce these incidences because it is a satisfied customer that talks about you in a positive manner. A dissatisfied customer will not be willing to be your representative going forward,” Olawoyin said.

,

CE & YOU

Some underwriters are doing very well in terms of turn-around time in the area of claims settlement but others still have areas to improve on

A

when the plane crashed.

According to A.M Best, the total insurance loss will comprise passenger liability claims and physical damage to the aircraft. Passenger liability claims will be covered as part of aviation “all risks” policies and will represent the majority of the overall loss. The level of liability costs are uncertain but will be linked to the nationality, earning potential and family status of the passengers and crew.

The rating agency also said that there is more certainty

,

Cyber poses credit risk to insurers who offer it

W

hile cyber insurance has been touted as a key growth opportunity for the global insurance industry, with a compound growth rate of 38% annually between 2009-2014, Fitch Ratings has flagged what they call ‘the dark side of the golden opportunity’.

The global rating agency has stressed the extremely high aggregation risk associated with cyber-attacks which it says raises the question of insurability, according to its report, “The Rise of Cyber Insurance: Growth Opportunity Paired with Incalculable Threat.”

“Growing cyber threats could pose a credit risk to Fitch’s rated insurance companies entering this market,” the report said.

“Cyber risks today have features that make them very

difficult to price with traditional actuarial methods.

“Damages from cyberattacks differ from traditional insurable risks in that their scale and consequently the financial loss associated with them could be significantly higher and more widespread than any other risk insured today.

“The interconnectedness of today’s technology makes it possible to spread a computer virus within seconds around the globe.

In addition, consequences such as loss of reputation and other intangible damage can be very difficult if not impossible to insure.”

Also, it said the increased popularity of cloud services had exacerbated the problem of interconnectedness of software and IT infrastructure.

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Oyeyemi (left) during a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Mr. Fola Daniel.

Germanwings crashed flight to be absorbed by Lloyd’s, global insurers .M. Best has said that majority of the loss of the Germanwings Airbus A320 plane Flight 4U 9525 will be absorbed by the Lloyd’s market, as well as a number of global insurers and reinsurers.

Recall that on March 24, 2014, a Germanwings Airbus A320 plane Flight 4U 9525 crashed in the French Alps on route from Barcelona to Düsseldorf. There were 150 people on board the plane, the majority citizens of Spain and Germany. All were killed

— 23

around the ultimate cost of physical damage. The aircraft is valued at USD 6.5 million.

Early assumptions have indicated that the cause of the crash may be the result of deliberate pilot action. If this is correct, the insurers that underwrote the airline’s hull war policy, rather than its all risks policy, are likely to be liable.

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has been cited as the lead insurer of the Germanwings aviation all risks policy covering the flight.

Given the diversified nature of business underwritten by these entities, A.M. Best does

not expect to take any rating actions in response to this single large loss.

Germanwings is 100% owned

by Deusche Lufthansa. A.M. Best currently has a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of “A” on Delvag Luftfahrtversicherungs-AG (Delvag), the insurance captive of Deutsche Lufthansa-AG. Delvag’s exposure to aviation hull and liability losses is materially reduced by a comprehensive reinsurance programme placed with reinsurers rated A- or above.

This loss follows a series of high-profile aviation losses in 2014, notably the

disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-370, hull claims due to fighting at Tripoli airport and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17. A.M. Best noted there has been an unusually high incidence of aviation losses in its briefing “A.M. Best Comments on Impact of Virgin Galactic Crash, Antares Explosion”, published Nov. 5, 2014.

This recent Germanwings loss may put further pressure on the beleaguered aviation war sector. Premium rates for this business did rise in 2014 in response to claims activity.

However, the level of increase was disappointing given the magnitude of losses, and upward momentum stalled towards the end of the year.

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Diamond Bank records N28.1bn profit before tax

By PETER EGWUATU

D

iamond Bank Plc has recorded N28.1 billion Profit Before Tax,PBT for the year ended December 31, 2014 as against N28.1billion in 2013 It recorded growth in some key financial parameters,as the group recorded a growth of 27.3 per cent in total assets from N1.52 trillion recorded in the previous year to N1.93 trillion in the year under review.

The growth was driven by a 23.8 per cent growth in deposit liabilities year-on-year, demonstrating the bank’s strong ability to generate cheap deposits from the retail and middle market segments. Deposit from customers grew from N1.21 billion in 2013 to N1.49 billion as at December 31, 2014.

Speaking on the results, the

Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Uzoma Dozie stated “We at Diamond Bank are pleased to announce continued success in implementing our strategy across the group, following another year of strong top line growth and an asset base that grew from N1.5 trillion to N1.9 trillion in 12 months”.

Gross earnings increased by 15.0 per cent from N181.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013 to N208.4 billion in 2014, driven by efficient growth in the volume of business represented by increase in loan book, and investment securities following the impressive growth in customer deposits.

According to the CEO, “Amidst regulatory headwinds that characterized the industry, and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, growth was recorded

in operating income although our profit before tax declined by 12.5 per cent from N32.1 billion in 2013 to N28.1 billion during the year under review. For continued growth and profitability in 2015, we will continue to vigorously drive the implementation of our alternative banking channels including digital banking; this will help to drive down operating costs as well as capture a significant share of new and existing bank account holders as well as a large portion of the unbanked. We are encouraged by these positive results and sustenance of our business growth, and affirm our commitment to continue delivering healthy shareholder returns in 2015 and beyond.”

From left: Mr Segun Agbaje, MD, Guaranty Trust Bank PLC; Mrs Osaretin Demuren, Incoming Chairman, GTBank; Egbert Imomoh, out-going Chairman and Olutola Omotola, Company Secretary during the 25th Annual General Meeting of the bank in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele

CAP grosses N6.99bn, declares 85kobo dividends

By Nkiruka Nnorom

C

hemical and Allied Products, CAP Plc, has announced gross earning of N6.99 billion in its financial year ended December 31, 2014.

The figure represents 13 percent growth over N6.6.2 billion posted in the same period in 2013.

Following the impressive performance recorded, the Board of Directors is recommending 85kobo per share dividend to the shareholders, which will be approved at the next Annual General Meeting, AGM, in June.

Highlights of the company’s financial statement and account released Monday on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, showed that C M Y K

it grew profit before tax by 17 percent to N2.44 billion as against N2.09 billion reported in the previous year.

Similarly, its post tax profit grew by the same margin, rising to N1.66 billion in December 2014 from N1.42 billion in 2013, while its basic earnings per share rose to 237kobo compared to 202 kobo posted in 2013, indicating 17 percent increase.

However, the cost of sales and distributionand administrative expenses were up by 11 percent and 10 percent respectively.

While the cost of sales rose to N3.39 billion during the review period from N3.04 billion in the previous year ’s distribution and administrative expenses went up to N1.37 billion from N1.24 billion in the previous year.

The Chairman, Mr. Larry Ettah, had assured

shareholders at the last AGM that the company would leverage innovation with the support of its technical partners to grow and reinforce the equity of the brand.

“We will leverage innovation with the support of out technical partners to grow and reinforce the equity of our brands. Our distribution channels will be geared towards reaching the under-served retail end by opening more Dulux Colour shops to make the brand more accessible to aspiring consumers across the country.”

“We will also focus on and invest in plant efficiency to improve customer service delivery and reduce operational costs,” he added.

Coping in times of uncertainty (3)

O

ne of the things we Thunder, that he had two must do after the government appointments. The elections this Saturday is to first was as Chairman, National make arrangements such that Broadcasting Commission in the President’s time and work 1992 during President effectively address the key Babangida’s tenure at which issues and problems before time the Minister of the Nigerian population.

Information indicated that Mr. President Jonathan recently Enahoro was not the Minister’s requested before a meeting at choice but higher authorities the Nigerian Stock Exchange prevailed. For his second for nominations for the appointment in 1996 as the position of the Director- Sole Administrator, Daily Times General, Securities and of Nigeria, Mr. Enahoro had to Exchange Commission, SEC. meet with General Abacha, the The effect of President Head of State. With the Jonathan’s request for uncertain state of General nominations is that if there Abacha’s health, government are, say, 20 persons interested ministers had to resort to writing in the position each of these letters to the Head of State to persons must find a sponsor obtain decisions in respect of who could get his credentials government business. to the President’s desk. Thus, President Obasanjo was in there would be twenty office between 1999 and 2007 sponsors seeking to meet with and it became routine that if a the President at government his Aso Rock ministry/ office and department residence. This wanted to post could The successful initiate a readily have candidate policy/ been advertised project, a should identify letter in the print would the projects and be written to m e d i a internationally, a p r o g r a m m e s the President. selection process that reflect the After the carried out with President’s needs and approval the results being the aspirations of policy/project presented to the President for his the Nigeria details would decision. be developed people We must and sent to the understand that President. essentially all the Again, the work of the Federal President would approve before Government, FGN, is placed other procedures that would before the President for his bring the policy/project to the approval. If as described just Federal Executive Council above 20 persons would seek commences. to meet with the President in We no longer use national respect of the SEC post, there development plans for working must be a multitude of out the projects .We should persons who would wish to execute and the priorities of meet the President with these projects. The election respect to FGN business at campaigns have taken the any point in time. All presidential candidates to government business/ several locations across the contracts have come to be country. The successful regarded as patronage. candidate should identify the During President Shagari’s projects and programmes that tenure between 1979 and reflect the needs and 1983, the President, the Vice- aspirations of the Nigeria President some Ministers, the people, place these projects National Assembly leadership and programmes in a budget, and the ruling party ensure that financial resources leadership had regular are made available for the meetings to discuss matters projects/programmes and travel related to government across the country to ensure that business/ contracts. With the the projects/programmes are military administrations from executed. Once the President 1984, government business leads by example, his ministers revolved around the Head of would be expected to ensure State and his deputy in the that once a project is started, it government set-up. Mr. Peter must be completed within set Enahoro indicated in his targets. book, Then Spoke the TO BE CONTINUED

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, ARIL 1, 2015 —25

DIARY z Bluetooth World Silicon Valley, USA April 14-15, 2015 z ICTEL Expo 2015 Lagos, April 15-18, 2015

Preview Illuminated Nightspur attaches to shoe

President Jonathan using ICT in governance

How we deepen transparency in governance through ICT — Johnson

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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IF you're a keen runner or cyclist, especially when the sun has set or yet to rise, you will understand the importance of visibility to other road users. This is where the Nathan's LightSpur comes into play, a small gadget that clips on to your heel, lighting up both bulbs as it grips to the shape of your heel.

There are two settings; a flashing light and a constant light. The LightSpur is waterproof and weighs in at 34g (1.2 0z), powered by a CR2032 watch battery offering over 100 hours of flashing light use.

C M Y K

INISTER of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has said that her ministry is driving transparency and accountability in the running of the nation’s economy, using the information communication technology, ICT deployment.

Johnson, who expressed the Federal Government’s commitment in ensuring total automation of all government businesses and establishments, said deployment of ICT infrastructure has become inevitable if the ongoing revolution and transformation agenda of the present administration would be realized.

The Minister who disclosed this to journalists at the

I N S I D E

weekend, explained that with the deployment of ICT infrastructure, and automation of government systems and agencies, lots of leakages have been blocked in terms of reducing corruption and stealing in government. “We are deploying ICT in government to drive transparency and accountability for technology based government. The way we do our budget and payment now are fully automated system, we have done same in ministries.

“I am not saying we are there yet, but we are looking on how we can leverage ICT to support transparency and accountability, introducing technology based government.”

“In the past, there were a lot of leakages using cash, as a result of using physical cash.

You can imagine when people were giving cash but we said know, and asked all ministries to adopt ICT. “When you talk about transparency and

We are deploying ICT in government to drive transparency and accountability for technology based government

No security What people don’t support for about Windows 2003 know after July, says NIPOST Microsoft

accountability in government, the best way to accomplish that is through online payment.

Today, we don’t make payment again with physical cash, it is transfer, bank to bank transfer, online transfer, even payment from CBN to agencies, payment to ministries.

“What that means is that we have blocked many leakages in governance and that is a major push that is going on in government right now and that is a platform that is bringing transparency right now,” she added.

Master Plan On the master plan, the Minister stated that the ministry is working on making all states in the federation become smart states with three major ICT master plans that comprised: the ICT Policy, the Broadband Continues on page 28

Airtel, Lumia join hands to drive internet penetration

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, ARIL 1, 2015

SOCIETY & SOCIAL MEDIA

By Agbolade Omowole @iamagbolade

Ponder on these, before saying ‘I do’ on the net

W

HO says finding your heartthrob online is a taboo? If you order products and services online, communicate online and get almost anything you want at the click of the mouse, then searching for a life partner should not be an exception.

Online dating is ideal for people who are introverted. Once you have made up your mind to marry someone you met online, then you have to ask these 10

Computer hacker

simple things Do I know her - The average person will only post all the good things about her online. Ideally, people do create false impressions online. Do you know her ugly past, her family, her closest friends, her values, her strengths, and her weaknesses?

How do I meet him in person - While a romantic relationship can start online, it cannot be sustained online. Judge him according to how he looks in person and never believe everything you see online.

Do I know her background Understand that the internet is just for introduction and nothing more. Google her full names, date, etc. of birth and phone number.

What if he is a fraudster? - The first sign of fraud is just a feeling that something is not quite right. If he tells you sob stories on Facebook or complains about material things a lot, then you may be chatting with a fraudster. If his stories sounds too good to be true, watch out.

Could she be a liar? - The last thing you want to do is date or marry someone who is not trustworthy. To know if she lies, watch out for inconsistency in her story line. Look for contradictions in what she tells you.

Is he a sadist? - A sadist is someone who enjoys hurting other people. If you end up in the house of a sadist, he will one day, turn you to a punching bag and beat you like crazy. If he enjoys hurting you or feels unconcerned about your pains, he is probably a sadist.

Am I approaching this with lots of caution - I have read sorrowful stories of people who have met fraudulent people online who go as far as duping them, kidnapping them and even killing them.

Some of these stories are true.

Do we share a common vision? - The essence of a relationship is to help each other to achieve your goals. First, you need to determine you goal, then you can check if her goal harmonizes with yours.

No security support for Windows 2003 after July, says Microsoft I

By Emeka Aginam

T'S barely four months to the end of security support of Windows server 2003 and software giant, Microsoft, has warned that there would be no back up for customers who fail to upgrade to the new windows 2012.

Microsoft had announced that its support of Windows server 2003 will come to an end on July 14th, 2015, with a warning that there is nothing a customer can do to technically mitigate known security issues, should they arise, in unsupported software Although over 20 vulnerabilities were identified in Windows Server 2003 in 2014, the end of security support means that customers will no longer receive security patches or updates.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has also hinted users that it is pretty difficult to predict when the next exploit will happen and once exploited, older servers could be used by hackers to extend into organization.

Speaking recently in Lagos to highlight implications of vulnerability after end of support date, Microsoft Nigeria Business Group Director Cloud and Enterprise, Mr. Alarape Oluyomi told Technology Journalists that support for this version of Windows Server will not be extended beyond July 14th, 2015.

This date was determined based on Microsoft’s lifecycle support policies.

No exception to the policy will be made for Windows Server 2003.

Conversely, Windows Server 2003 instances will, of course, continue to run after end of support, however, running unsupported software carries significant security risks and may result in costly compliance violations. As you evaluate security risks, keep in mind that even a single unpatched server can be a point

of vulnerability for your entire infrastructure.

“This is not a message of doom but a caution for customers to migrate to new windows. Any enterprise that fails to migrate will incur more cost for their organizations. They will not be able to leverage on competition predestination to 2012.

“We do not want organizations to run without security. This is the time to begin to upgrade. We are not going to shift the date."

Some areas where IT professionals add significant business value to organizations by upgrading, according to him include: consolidating servers and virtualization stacks with Hyper-V built into Windows Server 2012 , updating applications to enable new mobile scenarios not possible 10 years ago, using Office 365 for Email or SharePoint, using Microsoft Azure virtual machines to host web sites, or applications and using Microsoft Azure to create new SaaS applications.

Microsoft had announced that its support of Windows server 2003 will come to an end on July 14th, 2015

According to him, one single unpatched server can put an entire infrastructure at risk, adding that virtualizing instances or running them in the cloud does not eliminate this risk.

Warning on the implications of not migrating, he added that various regulatory bodies require organizations to run current operating systems, which presents compliance challenges for those that remain on Windows Server 2003.

Systems vulnerabilities Although compliance violations are expensive and can hinder a company’s ability to do business, Alarape urged customers to upgrade now as a result of system vulnerabilities. In the US for instance, PCI and HIPAA regulations both require that customers run operating systems with current patches.

As a result of this, the Homeland security had issued a security alert that described the significant security risk associated with running operating systems that are no longer security patched.

Throwing more light on how the software firm is sensitizing its customers ahead of the date, Olayinka Oni, Microsoft Technology Officer said that Microsoft had already held a meeting with the apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in helping to create awareness.

“The reality is that exposure to risk level will increase after the end of support. Transition will be very easy without pains. But for big enterprise, it may take up to 100 days to migrate. The opportunities it brings are enormous from compliance and productivity perspective” he explained.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, ARIL 1, 2015 —27

ITU, ETSI agree to unfold new assess standard for energy efficiency in mobile networks

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

Moribaba, NIPOST DG

'What people don’t know about NIPOST'

By Emmanuel Elebeke

M

INISTER of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, has said that her vision is to make the Nigerian Postal Services, NIPOST, not just a mail delivery agency of government but a super-agent that will drive the Central Bank’s financial inclusion strategy.

The Minister disclosed this in an interview when she spoke on the way forward for the moribund federal government owned postal service.

Johnson said that the federal government sees the agency as a Super-Agent because of the number of braches it has across the country needed to drive the financial inclusion plan in the economy.

She explained that the agency had since gone beyond a letter delivery organ to a dependable agency for deepening the penetration of e-commerce, especially among the underserved population in the rural areas.

She said: “We are looking at NIPOST as a super- agent, because of the number of branches it has. When you want to get some cash, you can go to NIPOST as your bank and get that cash out. Through this, we are trying to use NIPOST to deliver financial services.

“Even, if you use mobile money, there will be a time you will need physical cash, either you want to load money onto your phone or you want to pick cash for whatever reason.

“What people don’t know is that NIPOST is no longer just a letter delivery agency. All over the world nobody posts letters anymore with the

coming of social media, but NIPOST will be a critical asset for the actualization of ecommerce strategy.”

The Minister noted that lots of people are still buy things online and they are delivered to their homes and as such, NIPOST is seriously undergoing transformation to be re-launched in a manner that it can actually become a Super-Agent for the cash transaction.

She cited University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka as one of the institutions where the pilot scheme had been perfected, with students actually taking the large part in the revolution, buying things online and are getting the delivery, assuring that the scheme is going to be replicated in many universities, where Nipost

services are delivered to people.

“NIPOST has very large logistic infrastructure everywhere in Nigeria and they have a very unique and universal obligation. So, we are also going to use that logistic part to encourage e-commerce in Nigeria because the banks are not everywhere.

“In terms of financial inclusion, CBN is the custodian financial inclusion strategy but we want to move from analogue post to digital platform,” she said.

According to her, seven to 20 per cent of Nigerians who are financially excluded will be brought into the financial inclusion plan and that a lot of that will be done through the electronic means, mobile

money or mobile financial services.

The Minister while quoting a study carried out by the ministry, said it was discovered that banks are quite far from a lot of people, hence the decision to make NIPOST a retail platform of banking services.

To make the plan work, she said: “we are going to establish a bank in all the NIPOST branches for banking services using NIPOST infrastructure. The business study has been done, we are now working on selecting the banks and network operator, or whoever it is that is going to work with us to deliver this financial services over the NIPOST infrastructure.”

Digital Africa forum to expand continent’s capacity for digital technology

T

By Emeka Aginam

HE Chairman of Digital Africa Global Consult, Dr. Evans Woherem has said that the 2015 edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DA 2015) would expand continent’s capacity for digital technology.

Addressing newsmen recently in Abuja to unfold details of the capacity building forum that will attract leading industry regulators and ICT promotion agencies from across Africa, he said that the summit would specifically address broad range of topics aimed at broadening Africa’s ICT capabilities.

Slated to hold this July in Abuja, he said that the conference holds a lot of opportunities for mobile App developers and people looking for trending apps in the marketplace.

“With the advent of various smartphones,

most notably, the iPhone and Androids, the demand for different kinds of applications has skyrocketed giving App developers a venue to market their applications to a wider demographic society. Digital Africa Apps Marketplace is therefore, the right place for those looking for an option to observe and market their products. “ It will be the platform for Africa to explore the emerging possibilities in the consumer electronics market,” Woherem explained.

He said whereas the global entertainment industry is now totally dependent on the use of technology, the reach to the global audience in the first place was possible due to technological advancement, such as in graphics technology and animation.

He added: “DA 2015 is also the place for technology startups with high growth potential to unveil their innovations and begin to gain market and mind share."

HE International Telecommunication Union, ITU, and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, ETSI, have agreed on a new standard to measure the energy efficiency of mobile radio access networks, RANs, the wireless networks that connect end-user equipment to the core network.

The standard is the first to define energy-efficiency metrics and measurement methods for live RANs, providing a common reference to evaluate their performance. Its application will build uniformity in the methodologies employed by such evaluations, in parallel, establishing a common basis for the interpretation of the results.

The new standards applicable to live radio access networks.

The ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, said: “Improving the energy efficiency of ICT has become central to all fields of technical standardization at ITU. ETSI Director General, Luis Jorge Romero, said: “ETSI has a track record of developing market-driven standards and specifications to deliver improved energy efficiency in telecommunications networks and equipment. We are particularly pleased by the result of this cooperation, which has produced ITU-T L.1330 and the technically equivalent ETSI ES 203 228.”

Dell breaks new ground with creation of META business region

I

N bringing together people, capabilities and strengths into one business, Dell has created a more scalable organization where its specialist resources can operate across the entire region.

The development is expected to combined its business in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa to create one new business region: META (Middle East, Turkey and Africa), which will be led by Driss Elougmani.

Seeing significant growth across the burgeoning economies of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Dell recognises that many organizations throughout the region face similar challenges and demand greater levels of advice and support as they expand their businesses.

The enhanced organisational structure will enable Dell to be even more focused on the needs of customers and partners, making best use of its regional hub and product centre in Dubai.

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, ARIL 1, 2015

to 2GB data bundle instantly and thereafter enjoy 100 percent data bonus on activation of data bundles from 200MB to 1GB, for 12 months.

Speaking at the media launch of the campaign in Lagos, today, Maurice Newa, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, explained that the distinctive value proposition further affirms Airtel’s vision to be the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians.

Rewarding experience David Umoh, Senior Manager, Data and Portals; Maurice Newa, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel, and Nitin Anand, Vice President, Data Products & Services, at the Airtel Smart Network media launch in Lagos.

Airtel, Lumia join hands to drive Internet penetration

By Laju Iren

A

IRTEL Nigeria, has unveiled a new data campaign tagged “Join the Smartphone Network” which seeks to reward customers for

their patronage, and also drive internet usage and penetration.

As part of the benefits, customers receive instant data bonuses on activation of smart devices with100 percent bonus on data recharge and 25 percent

discount on Microsoft Lumia 535 smartphone purchased at any of its stores across Nigeria.

Customers who buy any smart device and activate it with an Airtel SIM will get up

According to him, “this campaign was conceived to delight our customers. We want to connect with them in more smarter and rewarding ways, to fulfil their communication needs in a manner that makes it almost effortless and affordable.

Indeed, we are giving our customers more reasons to stay on our network.”

He pointed out that as an innovative company, Airtel will continue to redefine the telecoms landscape with revolutionary products and services that will provide a

rewarding experience for customers.

He said: “the introduction of this offer is an attestation of our commitment to enrich customers with value proposition tailored to create comfort and a rewarding experience.”

The offer is also applicable to customers who purchase Dongles and Mifi from Airtel or partner stores. On activation, they will get a bonus of 2GB and 4GB data plans respectively, while the purchase of Routers attracts an instant data bonus of 8GB data plan.

This category of customers will further enjoy 100 percent data bonus on activation of data bundles ranging from 200MB to 1GB, for 12 months.

The campaign is targeted at every customer who buys a smartphone or smart devices from Airtel and authorizedretail partners. To activate the instant benefits of the campaign, customers will be required to text “JOIN” to 141.

The campaign, which is also aimed at promoting the use of internet, will provide customers wider opportunities to connect with friends, family and business associates.

How we deepen transparency in governance through ICT Continues from page 25 Policy and Local Content Policy.

Through the ICT policy, she said, the idea was to bring all government ICT plans into fruition as regards the basic technology applications and drive efficiency in every activities of government.

“We have a master plan, we have three major ICT master plans articulated in the last four years. First is the ICT Policy, which focuses on basic technology. This is the first time in this country that we have an ICT policy that really implements government intents as far as ICT is concerned and brings efficiency ICT system into place.”

“The broadband policy not only reveals how we are delivering broadband to the majority of Nigerian citizens but it also has a master plan on how we are going to and the kind of broadband we are going to deploy for the connectivity and the kind of connectivity Nigerians should expect in collaboration with the industry.

“In the third plan, which is the local content plan, we expect that we should grow very fast. The sector was dominated by multi-nationals and we thought that we have

to create a level playing field, where many more Nigerians can participate in this sector; hardware, software, skill development, services and all that. So, in local content policy, we articulated how we could create the level playing field and enable many more Nigerian companies and Nigerians potentially participate in everything that take place in the sector.”

Job creation On job creation, Dr. Johnson said in the ongoing liberalization of the ICT industry, government is not going to create jobs but provide the enabling environment for the private sector to operate and unleash the needed job opportunities and open the space for Nigerian entrepreneurs to maximize their potentials.

Her words: “This ministry actually launched National ICT intervention programme for entrepreneurs; we have started the programme in the country and there are tremendous opportunities for people who need such opportunities such as engineers, software developers, skilled people, all this are geared towards job creation.

“For us, it is an accelerated intervention hub, where we have encouraged young

Nigerian software developers to come into those hubs with software ideas and then take those ideas through mentorship they will not be able to afford and support the idea into a full commercial reality. Nigerians are good out there in the world. So, our job is to pick up that idea and start developing it locally.”

For her, working in these hubs will amount to taking ideas into commercial value, transforming the ideas into realities.

We need to free the right of ways because the fibres are going to be laid on it side by side with rail lines

NITD Fund Similarly, the Minster also noted that through the National Information Technology Development Fund, NITDF the industry is being developed to achieve its potentials.

The fund, according to her apart from being used to develop the IT industry, through NITDA it is also being used to fund the rural IT centres all over the country, which brings services to underprivileged Nigerians.

“We understand that in terms of economic strength, not every Nigerian can afford a phone.

So, we allowed these IT centres in different parts of the country for people to come and learn ICT in the rural areas. We have used it to support universities, where they now have access to computers. We also use it to support research in ICT industry; we give research grants as well.

“We deploy that fund to support computer labs; research in universities and to Nigerian students who want to further their degrees in ICT world; utilized the fund for the kind of things we have in Yaba and Calabar ICT hubs,” Johnson said.

Right of Way Given the ongoing talks with the state government, the Minister said the future of

broadband connection in the country is bright that it will possibly lead to ubiquitous connectivity across the country.

She said that industry had completed about 35,000 kilometer coverage in fibre optic deployment hoping to expand it when the issue of Right of Way, RoW, is finally addressed.

Her words: “In the last two to three years, we have been working very hard to ensure that is achieved. In fact, about 10 terabytes have been added in what we call city diligence.

The industry has done about 30 to 35,000 kiometers in Nigeria and what we are trying to do right now is to create a rapid deployment.

“We need to free the right of ways because the fibres are going to be laid on it side by side with rail lines. We need to first of all secure the RoW and also get approval to use that RoW. Everything seems to have taken too long, and we are still working with state and local governments to create that RoW by bring down the price because many state governments are using ICT to deliver so many services and we tell them, you cannot deliver these services without infrastructure in your states. I hope we will soon have very ubiquitous internet connectivity across the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 29

C M Y K

30— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 31

Why death penalty should be abolished in Africa

By Oluwatosin Poppoola

C

AMPAIGNING for an end to death penalty is often an uphill task. At Amnesty International, we have done so for decades, since we consider the death penalty to be the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment - and a violation of the human right to life. Every execution we fail to prevent takes its toll.

Thankfully, in the darkness there is always some light to be found. This week, Amnesty International is releasing its annual report on the use of the death penalty worldwide, and if there is one region that stands out as a beacon of hope for ridding the world of this abhorrent punishment, it is SubSaharan Africa.

In 2014, 46 judicial executions were carried out in the region, compared to 64 in 2013 – a reduction of more than a quarter. It is also striking that these executions happened in only three countries – Equatorial Guinea, Somalia and Sudan – showing just how isolated those states are in the region. Progress towards ridding sub-Saharan Africa of the death penalty is not just found in statistics.

Last year several governments took small but significant steps towards abolition. In September, the government of Chad adopted a penal code aimed at abolishing the death penalty.

of civilians in the wake of the horrific Taliban attack on a school in Peshawar last December. Seven people were executed in less than two weeks at the end of 2014.

The government also pledged to execute hundreds of people on death row who had been convicted of terrorism-related offences. China, Iran and Iraq were among countries that execute people for “terrorism” last year.

In a year when abhorrent summary executions by armed groups were branded on the global consciousness like never before, it is appalling that governments are themselves resorting to more executions in a knee-jerk reaction to terrorism. Other states made use of executions in similarly flawed attempts to Historic address – or appear to address - crime milestone rates. Jordan ended an eight-year moratorium in December, putting 11 In December, Madagascar’s parliament murder convicts to death, with the adopted a bill abolishing the death penalty government saying it was a move to end a completely – this now just need’s the surge in violent crime. In Indonesia, president’s signature to become law. When authorities announced plans to execute that happens, Madagascar may become mainly drug traffickers to tackle a public the 100th country in the world to fully safety “national emergency ”. The remove the death penalty in law – a historic authorities implemented these plans in milestone surely worth celebrating.

January 2015 executing six people.

The world is slowly but surely consigning The simple fact is that governments using the death penalty to history, and it is the death penalty to tackle crime and heartening to see that Sub-Saharan Africa security threats are deceiving themselves at the forefront of this trend. However, it and the public; in some cases cynically was not all good news last attempting to look effective year. A dark trend was starkly by executing people. The evident across the world – death penalty is not a governments using the death particular deterrent to crime penalty in a misguided and terrorism. The evidence attempt to tackle crime, – from UN and other terrorism and internal studies – is that the death instability. Sadly, despite the penalty is no more effective progress in Sub-Saharan in preventing crime than Africa, a small number of other punishments such as countries took regressive terms of imprisonment. steps.

Countries that still carry In Nigeria, the number of out executions are an death sentences rose isolated few. Just 22 states significantly from at least 141 executing people last year. in 2013 to 659 in 2014. Most of When the United Nations the death sentences in Nigeria was created in 1945, only were for murder and armed eight countries had robbery but 70 death sentences abolished the death The were imposed by military penalty, but today 140 countries that courts against soldiers for countries have done so conspiracy to mutiny and either in law or practice. still retain the mutiny in the context of the The countries that still retain death penalty armed conflict against Boko the death penalty in SubHaram.

Cameroon’s Saharan Africa must realize in Subparliament voted in favour of that they are on the wrong Saharan a bill that provides for the death side of history, and need to penalty for acts of terrorism. join the vast majority of Africa must The use of the death penalty countries that have realize that to combat crime and terrorism abolished the ultimate cruel was starkly evident elsewhere they are on punishment. in the world. In Pakistan, the Popoola is an Amnesty the wrong government lifted a six-year International Death side of history Penalty Expert moratorium on the execution

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Pillars’ll overcome Tetounane on Saturday — Galadima •As Enyimba, Wolves play on Sunday

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IGERIA’s flag bearers in continental competition return to action this weekend, with elite division champions Kano Pillars staring down the barrel of a huge task at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

They host Moroccan side, Moghreb Athletic Tetouane with a whole four goals deficit from the first leg at the Stade Saniat Rmel on March 21.

Chairman of the Pillars’ Champions League Campaign Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima has expressed confidence that the Nigerian champions will overcome the huge setback and sail into the next round.

Nigeria’s other CAF Champions League representatives, Enyimba FC will depart the country on Friday for their return leg clash with Smouha FC of Egypt, scheduled for Sunday. They will travel aboard Egypt Air from Lagos.

A letter from the Egyptian Football Association has informed the NFF that the match will be played at the Alexandria Stadium in Egypt’s second city, starting from 5pm Egypt time. Enyimba won the first leg in Aba by a lone goal.

Pascal: Eagles will soon hit form S

UPER Eagles team coordinator, and former Nigeria international, Pascal Patrick has said that despite the team’s recent poor run of form, they will improve and get better. The Super Eagles suffered a shock and embarrassing 0-1 loss to Uganda in a friendly in Uyo last Wednesday, and could only manage a 1-1 draw with South Africa in another friendly last Sunday.

But the poor form notwithstanding, Pascal says the Eagles will rediscover their form and become a team to reckon with on the continent again.

“I think we are just going through a phase, a bad phase but we will come back to form, it’s just a matter of time,” he said. “These things happen in football and we should be used to them by now.

“But I understand the feelings amongst Nigerians and I feel bad too but we have to be patient with the team".

Wolves restate commitment to CAF Confederation Cup W

ARRI Wolves, the Nigerian representative in the CAF Confederation Cup, has reassured its fans on the club’s commitment to the African club competition.

The media manager of the Warri based club, Moses Etu informed that the Seasiders plan to honour the return leg of the Confederation Cup against Dedebit in Ethiopia after a 2-0 win in Warri.

According to Etu, there are reports that the team may not be able to honour the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup in Ethiopia and may end up the way of Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt.

“I wish to state it clearly that the Government and those in charge of the Club are working seriously to see that the team leave the shores of this country as planned,” Etu stated.

“The players, 20 in number have been moved to the Club Camp in Warri since Monday morning to prepare their mind for the journey as the team

is expected to leave Warri tomorrow (Thursday) morning and will spend the night in Lagos before flying to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday morning.

“However, we wish to assure our fans and the general public that we have a dynamic Sports Loving Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has remained a source of inspiration to the Club and I am sure will not allow such thing to happen,” Etu insisted.

“It is pertinent to point out that we also have the Chairman of the Sports Commission in Amaju Pinnick who incidentally is the President of the Nigeria Football Federation. He has done more than enough to sustain the tempo in Warri Wolves and will not close his eyes to see such thing happen to the Club".

I’m ready to be Eagles first choice keeper — Akpeyi

Daniel Akpeyi, who had an impressive game in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in a friendly last Sunday, has said he is ready to become Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper.

The 28-year old saved a penalty and had an impressive game against the Bafana Bafana in the absence of captain Vincent Enyeama, and vice-captain Austin Ejide, and he says he is ready to be the Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper if given the opportunity, saying the team need time to blend..

“I have always been ready to be Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper,” he told the Nigeria Football Federation Website.

“And I would say it was a great privilege to be in goal for my country last Sunday and it turned out to be the way it was.

“I’m only doing what I’m supposed to do as a goalkeeper and surprisingly I heard people congratulating me for having such a good game.

“But anytime any day, I think I will always prepare my mind to be ready for such occasion again,” he stated.

But despite having a great individual game, it wasn’t the best of games for the team and the 28-year old says it will take some time for them to gel since some new players are only just coming through.

“Football is not an individual game, it’s a team sport and when you have new players coming together, it will take some time for them to blend,” Akpeyi said.

AMOKWE EXPLOSION:

VOL. 1 NO 27

How I cheated death, by native

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

PAGE 2

Why ‘things fall apart’ for Enugu first families E

NUGU—THE Enugu Government House is popularly known as Lion Building and the governors who occupy it at each dispensation are known as Lions, especially by security agents.

However, the Lion Building has become notorious for two major things. Most of the lions who occupy the den go in either as divorcees or end up divorcing their spouses while there, save for Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Nwodo was drafted into the governorship race and he went ahead to become the first civilian governor of old Enugu State, when his elder brother, Dr. Joe Nwodo was disqualified from the race along with his main challenger then, Rev. Hyde Onuaguluchi, during the General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime. He lived with his wife, Dorothy at the Lion Building during his short tenure in office.

Apart from divorcing or separating from their wives, such governors have also ended up

quarelling with their political godfathers.

The first elected governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo rode on the back of the former President of Nigeria and

Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was known to have had similar problems with marriage.

Ojukwu was known to have used and dumped several of his former heartthrobs before he married Bianca, whom he spent the rest of his life with

Owelle of Onitsha, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe during the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, to power at a very youthful age.

Nwobodo was separated from his then wife, Mukaosolu, before he was voted into office.

Although, he was popular because of his people-oriented programmes, rumours of ladies struggling for his attention were rife.

He later married a new wife, Patricia, who was his long time friend after serving for one term as governor. It was also said that

Jim as he is popularly known later quarreled with his political godfather Zik, to the extent that he later collected the keys to a building he bought for Zik in London from him. Zik’s wife, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, was once quoted as accusing Jim of abandoning her husband even while on the hospital bed at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu during his last days on earth.

However, even before Jim’s tenure, the former Biafran leader and Eze Igbo Gburugburu, late Chief Emeka

Odumegwu-Ojukwu was known to have had similar problems with marriage. Ojukwu was known to have ''used and dumped'' several of his former heartthrobs before he married Bianca, whom he spent the rest of his life with.

Late Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh popularly known as CC (anine-fungwu) Onoh who succeeded Chief Nwobodo in a highly flawed election in 1983 was also known to have not run his short-lived administration with his wife, Caroline as the first lady.

Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani also

Continues on page 4

ALSO IN THIS EDITION

How we survived fifty years of marriage

Aba NBA marks 60th anniversary

— Ichie Felix & Rita Obiakor PAGE 4

PAGE 8 C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

AMOKWE EXPLOSION:

How I cheated death, by Eze

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU—THE explosion that rocked the home of a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Mr. Tony Eze, at Amokwe, Udi, Local Government Area of the state sent jitters down the spines of natives even as several persons were wounded in the incident.

The incident which occurred on March 16 at about 5 pm literally brought down the apartment of Eze, while frightened neighbours scampered for safety.

The police, however said that the incident must have occurred due to the storage of fire crackers in the house. A fire cracker is a small explosive device primarily designed to produce a large amount of noise, especially in the form of a loud bang even as any visual effect is incidental to this goal. They have fuses, and are wrapped

in a heavy paper casing to contain the explosive compound. Firecrackers, along with fireworks, originated in China.

What the Police said Reacting to the explosion, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu, said, “The state command through its operatives have commenced full scale investigations into an incident of explosion at Amokwe, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State with a view to finding out the possible cause of the sudden explosion.

“Some of the injured have been taken to the hospitals just as men of the Explosive Ordinance Department, EOD, of the command have cordoned off the place with other operatives.

“Meanwhile, instant analysis of the incident by the operatives of the EOD at the scene of the explosion revealed that it was occasioned by high calibre

•Scene of the explosion at Amokwe in Udi

•IGP Suleiman Abba

pyrotechnics, fireworks, in a large quantity packed in the house of the owner that exploded.”

Survivor speaks A native of Amokwe, Amobi Beluonwu, told South East Voice that he escaped unhurt through the skin of his teeth.

Some of the injured have been taken to the hospitals just as men of the Explosive Ordinance Department, EOD, of the command have cordoned off the place with other operatives

“In fact, it was by God’s grace. When the explosion occurred, it shook our building. Part of the roof that it blew off was falling towards the direction I was seated in our house.

“I had to dodge even though I sustained minor injuries on my arm. We have never had such experience.

Security agencies should redouble efforts to check individuals who stockpile these type of high calibre explosive materials in their residential houses.

“We are hoping that the culprit will be punished as he had been in this business for quite some time now. It is bad that people should place their neighbours lives in harms way all in a bid to make money.”

Nsude monarch cries out over erosion menace

By AUSTIN OGWUDA

E

NUGU—THE traditional ruler and Agunecheibe II of Nsude Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Igwe Ken Amaechi Onyia, has cried out over erosion menace in his community.

Lamenting that “the problem is a big problem in his community,” Igwe Onyia spoke during the inauguration of work on the control of Ajalli Water Works gully erosion estimated to gulp over N250 million. The job is being executed under the World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP. The Ajalli Gully Erosion site, which is eight - kilometre long is the second largest among the 25 selected erosion sites that NEWMAP packaged for execution in the state.

Onyia who mobilized his subjects to the site, when the Enugu State Commissioner C M Y K

for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, led the team to his community drew their attention to the Okpuno Erosion Site which, he said,

The 21 bore holes that used to supply water to Enugu and Nsude are located just down here and forms part of this Ajalli Erosion site.

Part of the reason why they have not been functional for over 15 years now is due to erosion at the site

“poses more danger to my November last year in people than the Ajalli Erosion partnership with the Enugu Site”. According to him, “the State government and the 21 bore holes that used to World Bank.

It has the mandate to supply water to Enugu and Nsude are located just down permanently address the 25 here and forms part of this major devastating erosion Ajalli Erosion site. Part of the sites in the state, out of which reason why they have not been the following were placed on functional for over 15 years now is due to erosion at the site.

So we have been buying water from tanker owners ever since then.”

E a r l i e r , Commissioner Chukwuone had asked the contractors handling the project to be diligent in his job adding that the project was dear to the state government because of the location of the water works from where pipe bone water was distributed to Enugu metropolis.

NEWMAP was •The team at Ajalli gully site, Nsude launched in

priority list. They include the Udi-Ozalla road erosion site, Udi; 9th Mile Corner gully erosion, Ameke Ngwo; Ajalli Water Works; Nsude, Agbaja Ngwo, Okwojo Ngwo as well as the Enugwu-Ngwo and Ngwo Asaa Gully Erosion Sites.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 3

Abia community appeals to Orji over ‘bad condition’ of secondary school •Says students now learn under trees, leaking roofs

BY FELIX OGBONNA

N

D I A K A T A — APPARENTLY buoyed up by the various modern primary and secondary schools being built by the Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, the natives of Ndiakata community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State have appealed to the state government to save their dilapidated secondary school from total collapse by renovating same.

They said that the school which was constructed in 1979 with modern facilities is now a shadow of itself as many parents have withdrawn their children for fear of untoward incidents. The school which used to have a student population of over 500 now has less than 200 as students only enroll into the school for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, believing that it was a safe haven for

examination malpractices.

South East Voice’s visit to the school revealed that the five buildings including the staff offices, library, dormitories, laboratories as well as toilets were at various stages of disrepair, with some having their roofs completely blown off as a result of neglect by past administrations in the state.

South East Voice observed that no learning can take place in the school whenever it rained as the classrooms and administrative blocks were flooded even as teachers and students searched for spaces to avoid being drenched.

A cross section of the people of the area who spoke to South East Voice blamed past administrations for allowing the school to decay to the extent that students now learn under trees and leaking roofs.

Elder Godwin Dimkpa who spoke on the issue said, “I do not know why the government

The dilapidated school.

Before now, Ndiakata Secondary School was the centre of learning for neighbouring communities. It is regrettable that the school had been left to decay

allowed a modern school like this to rot away. Before now, Ndiakata Secondary School was the centre of learning for neighbouring communities. It is regrettable that the school had been left to decay. Students now learn under trees and dilapidated buildings. With this situation, what type of learning do you think will take place here?”

Asked if the community has drawn the attention of the government to the pitiable state of the school, Dimkpa said: “The government is aware of the situation. We believe that they will do something. Some schools have been renovated through SURE- P, we are calling on them to look in the direction of Ndiakata secondary school. We would have done it by ourselves but the

funds are not there.”

Another native of the community, Kingsley Uwanna who said he had his secondary education at the school, recalled the good old days when the school had teachers in all subjects and produced the best result in public examinations in Aba zone.

He lamented that due to its dilapidated buildings, teachers posted to the school usually reject such postings while those who accept only come to school once or twice a week, alleging that the state ministry of Education had failed in her supervisory roles on the school system. Attempts to speak with the Deputy Director, Aba zone, Secondary Education Management Board, failed to yield fruit as he was said to be away.

Search for ‘elusive’ peace begins at Oko Poly

...no alternative to peace — Rector

O

KO—THE rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Prof.

Godwin Onu has sued for calm among the polytechnic community saying “there is no alternative to peace”.

Onu made the appeal at separate interactive and reconciliatory sessions with staff and students of the polytechnic at the polytechnic convocation arena.

According to him: “We are disposed to peace, because without it we cannot move forward. War is an ill wind that blows no good to anyone and added “it is important that we have peace here.”

It was gathered that the move was in line with the directive from the Federal Ministry of Education to reconcile every warring group in the polytechnic.

Onu also set up a five man reconciliatory committee headed by Venerable Chukwudi Osondu, Chaplain, Chapel of the Light, in the

•Rector, Oko Polytechnic, Prof. Onu

•Oko Polytechnic main gate institution, which according to him was part of the peace process.

Other members of the committee include Priests of Anglican Chaplaincy, Pentecostal Chaplaincy, Catholic Chaplaincy, former Rector, Prof. Uba Nwauba, with the former Registrar, Mr. Ben Okechukwu as secretary.

He asked the committee which had started its work to entertain matters of

misunderstanding at all levels in the institution.

He said: “In our last meeting at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, the minister directed us to return home and reconcile all crisis situations.

There is no alternative to peace; war is an ill wind that blows no good to anyone. It is better to jaw-jaw than to warwar. It is important that we have peace here for a conducive academic

environment.”

He then urged the staff to take the students as their own, adding, “let us take these children as our own. If you know what you can do to your own children, do it for these students. If there are no students here, we all won’t be here. It is because of them that we are here. Extortion of students in any form is bad.

Those involved in extortion should retrace their steps. We

are going to make here second to none. Currently we are rated third in the country and we won’t rest until we become number one. I want to implore you to cooperate and support the management. We need your support to move the polytechnic forward.

“I have heard the appeals of all unions and I have forgiven any one who in any manner offended me and the institution but let them realise that they have been forgiven for their own good,” the rector further pleaded.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU, Oko Polytechnic, Comrade Ikechukwu Ezenwankwo had in his contribution urged the rector and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, to sheathe their swords.

Ezenwankwo further urged the Rector as the father of the polytechnic community to forgive anyone who had sinned against him to ensure Continues on page 4 C M Y K

4 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 1, 2015

Aba NBA marks 60th anniversary *Visits orphanage, prisons

BY FELIX OGBONNA

A

BA—THE Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Aba chapter has marked its 60th anniversary in the city.

The anniversary celebrations witnessed a road show along the Aba –Owerri and Okigwe roads, novelty football match between male and female lawyers, free medical checks, lecture, dinner/ Award night and an inter denominational service at Winners Chapel, Aba. It also, featured other activities including visits to motherless babies home, the prisons as well as a town hall meeting/ political debate for candidates vying for positions in the 2015 general elections.

Speaking on the celebrations, Chairman of the branch, Chidozie Ogunji said the celebration marked another milestone in the annals of the association.

He said: “This branch is among the oldest Bar branches in Nigeria. NBA Aba has been noted for its doggedness in the pursuit of rule of law and insistence on ethical best

practices. It had over the years produced national officers of the NBA dating from the 1970s to the present time.”

Ogunji recalled that the NBA Aba had produced many legal luminaries and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN’s, including Chief Nnoruka Udechukwu, Chief Emman Akwiwu, Chief Chris Uche, Chief Obiora Obianwu, Chief Donald Udogu, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu and Chief I.N. Umezuruike, who was its former chairman and first SAN. South East Voice gathered that the branch had also contributed to the Bench as some of its members and judges had served as administrative judges of the division as well as occupied judicial positions in other parts of the country. They included former Supreme Court Justices like Uche Omo, Chike Idigbe, Udo Udoma, I. F. Ogbuagu and P. K. Nwokedi.

Other members of the branch who also retired from the Court of Appeal included Justices S.A. Nsofor and O.A. Otisi among others.

Ogunji added that the NBA, Aba had through her various committees continued to

•Members of NBA Aba during a road-show

propagate the rule of law.

“These committees include Human Rights committee, Judiciary monitoring committee, Legal Aid

This branch is among the oldest Bar branches in Nigeria. NBA Aba has been noted for its doggedness in the pursuit of rule of law and insistence on ethical best practices

Committee among others. The branch has over the years done all within its powers in line with its avowed values to seek a fair, just and egalitarian society,” he added.

During the visit to the Aba Prisons, the NBA promised to assist awaiting trial inmates who had spent more years than what their jail terms if convicted as well as the Joy-Rita Motherless Babies Home, where they donated cash and other item like toiletries and clothes.

While making his closing remarks at the political debate organized by the association and graced by candidates of the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance, PPA, All Progressive Congress, APC, among others, Ogunji said the engagement had afforded the residents of Aba the opportunity to jettison their

prejudices or ethnic leanings to assess the candidates based on their capabilities towards moving the state and Aba forward.

The branch also used the opportunity of the anniversary celebrations to further condemn the continued closure of courts in the state as a result of the strike action embarked by Judiciary workers.

“Our worry over this closure of courts is not just the denial of lawyers their livelihood but the hardship foisted on dependants, but the shock that an arm of government, aptly termed the last hope of the common man is shut down. We do hope that the day never comes when that proverbial common man decides to seek alternative modes of justice.

On that day, even the just will not be safe.”

Sear or ‘elusiv e’ peace begins at Ok oP oly Searcch ffor ‘elusive’ Oko Poly Continues from page 3 lasting peace.

He however, commended the exploits of the rector on infrastructural development and urged him to remain firm and not be discouraged in his developmental strides.

Speaking further, his counterpart in the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic, SSANIP, Comrade George Okoye also reiterated the need for the community to give peace a chance.

He urged the members of the management and that of the polytechnic community to be wary of people who seek favour by castigating others and peddling rumours on campus.

According to him, the bane of the institution was people who spread false information against others so as to curry favour either from the management or the unions on campus.

Highlighting projects mapped out for execution, the C M Y K

rector said the virtual resource centre which would be commissioned soon will be the biggest in the entire south east, adding that the new polytechnic auditorium was almost completed even as the next interactive session would be held there.

Onu disclosed that his institution has secured the high impact intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETfund, to the tune of N1 billion, adding that once the money was received by the Public Administration Department, Agricultural Technology Department and School of Arts and Fashion Design would be built at the extension site.

He said the skill acquisition centre was on course and would be commissioned in three months time.

Onu maintained that the present School of Arts and Fashion Design has been pencilled down for demolition while a contract for an

international conference centre, which will be a three storey glass building has been awarded in its place.

Commenting on the Computer Based Test Examination, CBTE, the rector said it was one of the best things that has happened to the polytechnic, adding that

there was no going back on the digitalization process of the polytechnic.

He said that for lecturers to set 100 questions of multiple choices for CBTE, it showed that the person had covered his scheme of work and for students to pass CBTE also showed that they had read in

between lines and were prepared for the examination.

He also warned the students not to be carried away by the negative influence that they would be exposed to on the internet and the social media while using them to improve their skills with such knowledge.

Why ‘things fall apart in Enugu first families Continues from page 1 became the governor riding on the back of his townsman, Jim Nwobodo, also had marital problems.

Apart from literally chasing Nwobodo into political oblivion, Nnamani had his own share of marital problems with his first wife, Nenna, whom he returned from America with to contest the governorship election and later married the daughter of Kate Ene, aka Ada Nkanu.

Nnamani almost single-handedly made Sullivan Chime the governor while leaving office. He was said to have stopped other aspirants who were campaigning to succeed him and chose Chime, whom he thought would be pliable. However, both godson and godfather quarrelled even before the swearing-in of the new governor. It is not known if they have reconciled ever since then.

Chime was said to have been separated from his

first wife before he became the governor and was said to have been pressurized to take a new wife. The lot then fell on Clara Chime whom he has since separated from. Although, Clara had publicly appealed to her husband for forgiveness, it is not known whether anything of sort would happen.

Chime who will leave office on May 29, has also, anointed Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi as his successor. Ugwanyi is married. It is yet too early to speculate on what would happen between the godfather and his godson. Only time will tell.

Okey Ezea who is a formidable candidate in the All Progressives Congress, APC, is not associated with any particular godfather. Time will also tell what would happen to him, if he is the successful candidate.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 5

Fears as erosion threatens Amikwo community

By VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—WITH the rains setting in, fear has gripped the residents of Amikwo in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State as gully erosion is threatening buildings in the area.

Many streets in the area have been cut off and the residents no longer drive into their houses as roads have become impassable. Even the popular Keke NAPEP and commercial motorcycles no longer ply the area and those who have vehicles have parked them and resorted to trekking to the nearest safe place to board transport to their various destinations anytime they want to go out.

Streets mostly affected include Rebecca Nwobu, Evans Ebbe Close, Comrade Obi Ochije Close and Annunciation Road. Some operators of shopping malls in the area have abandoned

them and flood often empty into their shops, destroying their goods.

South East Voice found out that due to the sloppy location of Amikwo, flood channels from various parts of Awka Metropolis empty into the area and because the flood does not find escape route, it flows into people’s houses, flooding the streets, sometimes up to knee level.

For instance, most of the flood channels through which water should flow out of Amikwo, including the ones along Zik Avenue, Sammy Sparkle Plaza at Obunagu, Meniru Nwobu Street and Ogbalingba market, are completely blocked, while flood from Amawbia town empty into the streets in the area. It was also gathered that officials of the state ministry of environment had visited the area many times, but nothing has happened.

The councillor representing Amikwo in Awka South local government, Mr. Kelue Dike said he has made several

•Rebecca Nwobu Street devastated by erosion efforts to attract the attention of government to the area, adding that his people were

I want to make a humble appeal to our amiable Governor Willie Obiano to come to the rescue of my community, which is part of the commercial nerve center of the state capital

•Another street, Evans Ebbe Close

still expecting response.

He said: “I want to make a humble appeal to our amiable Governor Willie Obiano to come to the rescue of my community, which is part of the commercial nerve centre of the state capital.”

Dike said he had also written several letters to the chairman of Awka South local government over the matter, adding that the chairman has been complaining of lack of funds to tackle the project.

Another resident of the area, Comrade Obi Ochije also made a passionate appeal to the state government to come to the rescue of the people living in Amikwo, adding that what gully erosion has

Protests rock Agulu community over land

By OBIALUNAMMA NWADIOGBU

E

K W U L O B I A — THOUSANDS of people, mostly widows, weekend protested at NneOgidi Village, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State over what they described as forceful possession of their lands by a native of the area, Osita Ezechukwu aka Mgbedike.

The villagers who carried placards with different inscriptions marched through the areas in dispute located between the West African Examination Council, WAEC, and National Agency for food, Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, offices in Agulu.

Some of the demonstrators wept profusely as they marched and chanted solidarity songs while urging the Anambra State government to intervene urgently on their behalf.

They villagers lamented that the said Mgbedike and another man from a neighbouring village, one Mr. Anthony

•Some of the protesters Oguejiofor were involved in the alleged forceful take over of their lands. According to the demonstrators, the accused persons had reportedly sold over 100 plots of lands belonging to different individuals and kindreds and clans in Nne-Ogidi Agulu.

They revealed that they have also invited security operatives to the site to see for themselves what Mr. Osita Ezechukwu had done to some of their construction works on the lands.

The women who are mostly widows urged government to urgently look into the matter and also ensure that their

•Another group of protestersin the community children who were arrested and locked up by these men

The women who are mostly widows urged government to urgently look into the matter and also ensure that their children who were arrested and locked up by these men over issues bothering on the land were released to them.

over issues bothering on the land were released to them.

However, when contacted, Chief Anthony Oguejioffor known as Agidigbo speaking for himself and Osita Ezechukwu among others denied that they were involved in forceful takeover of the lands, as according to him, the matter went through the court processes until the Supreme Court gave its verdict in their favour.

Oguejiofor, wondered what the demonstrators wanted to achieve by embarking on the protest, as according to him, their action amounted to contempt of court.

already done to the streets with only two rains this year, there is the likelihood that many houses would be submerged when the rains become heavy, if nothing is done to check the menace.

He said that he had spent a lot of money to control the menace, but argued that it is not something an individual could handle.

REACH US DO you have any news of neglect or abandoned projects or your representative at the local, state or federal governments are not representing you well?

Do you have unique cultural activities coming up or any community news to tell us?

Emeka Mamah (Editor) 08033218645 Austin Ogwuda 08037136440 Francis Igata 08033387069 Vincent Ujumadu(Awka): 08035804090 Anayo Okoli(Umuahia): 08034046839 Chidi Nkwopara(Imo): 08033391108 Peter Okutu (Abakaliki): 08032680756 Chinenyeh Ozor (Nsukka): 08185664011 Nwabueze Okonkwo (Nnewi): 08037794782 Or: e-mail us at: easternvoice@yahoo.com

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

FRSC marshals embrace ICT-based duty operations in Anambra

BY OBIALUNAMMA NWADIOGBU

E

KWULOBIA—ABOUT 303 Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Special Marshals have undergone training on the use of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, devices to ensure efficient service delivery.

This was even as the FRSCSpecial Marshals have donated safety items worth N500,000 to FRSC Sector Command and commercial motorcycle riders in Anambra State to ensure safety of road users.

The items donated included fire extinguishers, crash helmets and thousands of fliers and leaflets containing graphic road safety enlightenment messages.

However, the 303 marshals received written and practical lectures on the use of ICT devices for e-booking, e-picturing and e-reporting of incidents at a seminar tagged FRSC E-Ticketing for

Special Marshals, held at Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The Anambra Coordinator of Special Marshals and Partnership, Mr. Ben Osaka, told newsmen that the FRSC was full of innovations meant to bring out the best as well as check wastages and delays in its operations.

“The Special Marshals, which are part of the corps, have now undergone the training, which the regular marshals have undergone.

“This is because, we feel that it is important; very important to enable us know how to use the tablets (ICT tablets) in enforcing road traffic crimes.

“It is quite handy and time saving because everything is computerized.

“So when the tablet is there, just key into it; fill the offence and everything will roll out and give the person ticket.

“Unlike the system used before, you fill several forms until you are tired,” he said.

Osaka, however, lauded the Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, for approving the

•Cross section of the special marshals during the training seminar and providing the instructors and materials for it. In a remark, Anambra FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi, advised special marshals to learn as

So if the regulars marshals who are employed are moving from paper to this computerbased booking, they special marshals too must know how to use the computer

much as they can since the corps would soon be 100 per cent technology-driven in order to meet the challenges of the 21 century crash reduction.

“The FRSC is a group that is made up of three tiers of enforcers and the special marshals are part of these enforcers.

“And they (special marshals) are of a large strength; so we also rely on them even though they are volunteers for enforcement.

“So if the regulars (regular marshals who are employed) are moving from paper to this computer-based booking, they (special marshals) too must know how to use the computer.

“Not only using it (for booking) on the road; there are so many things that happen, when we need at least

pictorial representation of RTC (Road Traffic Crash) on the road. We can always use the tablet to get the pictorial RTC. “We still use it when we go out for sensitization and training,” Ajayi, who was represented by Assistant Sector Commander, Mr Olusegun Akinola, said.

Meanwhile, receiving the items donated by the Special Marshals in Awka, the state capital, the FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Sunday Ajayi, said, “When someone is working and sees someone who partners or encourages him or her; there is challenge to do more.”

He said that the issue of road safety was ‘’a shared responsibility,” hence the need for co-operation with all facet of the society.

Anambra raises hope for survival of Igbo language, culture A WKA—THE one-day cultural fiesta, organized by the Anambra State Ministries of Education and Information, Culture and Tourism in collaboration with the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Service Commission, ASPPSSC, and the State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, for school children came to a colourful end last Wednesday.

Even though participants at the event blamed the decay in Igbo cultural system to lukewarm attitude of Ndigbo towards promoting their heritage, they were however, visibly impressed by the performances of the school children as they glamorously carried out exhibitions promoting ancient Igbo ways of life.

It was against this backdrop that they expressed hope that predictions that Igbo language and culture would soon go into extinction would not materialize.

Commending the efforts of being made by the state government, they also urged Anambra people to rise to the challenges of ensuring that Igbo language and culture regained their rightful

•Community leaders at the event positions.

At the cultural fiesta, which took place at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the school children from the six education zones in the state added colour to the event through exhibitions of ancient Igbo ways of life such as farming, fishing, palm-wine tapping, traditional dances and masquerade displays.

They were adorned in various Igbo traditional attires, including the royal regalia of the “Ezes, Igwes” and “Lolos” (traditional rulers/ chiefs and their wives).

Present on the occasion were

•Cultural display at the event.

the deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke and other top government functionaries, the National Chairman of APGA and the party’s Central Districts Senatorial candidate, Chief Victor Umeh, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in the promotion of Igbo language and culture.

Addressing the gathering, the deputy Governor, Dr. Okeke pointed out that the Igbo cultural system which was an embodiment of moral values had over the years driven the ingenuity and dignity of the Igbo man. He noted that

promoting Igbo language and culture in schools would bring back the children to their roots.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Leo Imoka, commended the state government for approving the fiesta which he noted had the prospect of ensuring the sustenance of Igbo language and culture.

Earlier in his address, the chairman and founder of Otu Suwakwa Igbo Nigeria Initiative, Professor Pita Ejiofor, attributed the decay in Igbo

cultural system to lukewarm attitude of the people towards promoting their heritage and urged government and the people to rise to the challenges of ensuring that Igbo language and culture regained their rightful positions.

At the end of the fiesta, Otuocha, Ogidi and Onitsha zones took the first, second and third positions respectively in the primary schools category, while Awka zone came first with Ogidi and Otuocha zones emerging as the first and second runners-up respectively, in the secondary school category.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 —7

Parents lament alleged multiple levies in Enugu schools E

NUGU—PARENTS and guardians of students in public secondary schools in Enugu State are groaning under multiple taxation and levies in the state.

Investigations by the South East Voice revealed that although the state introduced free education at some levels of education, the state Ministry of Education had continued to impose various levies on students ranging from sports to scratch card levies for online checking of their internal results.

All the Juniour Secondary school students were allegedly forced to cough out N900 each for a book on Reading Culture about eight

months ago, but they were yet to collect them as at last week.

Also, all the over 360,000 students of post primary schools were asked to pay N800 each amounting to about N288 million for online checking of their results.

This was even when most of the schools were located in rural areas where there were no internet services.

Some principals of secondary schools who spoke on the issue said that they were ashamed of asking their students to pay one form of levy or the other as directed by the state ministry of education. ‘’We are really in trouble.

Each time they ask us to

We are really in trouble. Each time they ask us to impose such levies, I dodge going to the morning assembly and direct my vice to do the announcement. ‘’We have all manner of levies ranging from sports development to internet checking of results

•Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uchechukwu Okoro impose such levies, I dodge going to the morning assembly and direct my vice to do the announcement. ‘’We have all manner of levies ranging from sports development to internet checking of results. Students results are prepared for the parents or guardians of students. Most of the students in the rural areas have never seen a computer and hence do not know what it looks like. ‘’How can you ask a student who has never seen a

computer to check his or result on the internet. In any case, the results are not even meant for them but their parents or guardians.

How can you ask an illiterate parent or guardian to check his or her wards result on internet?,’’ he asked.

Officials of the state ministry of education told South East Voice that those opposed to students checking their results on internet were speaking from the point of ignorance.

How homeless octogenarian died in Imo

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

U

M UA M A R A — T H E octogenarian, Elder Francis Nwokorie, who narrowly escaped death with his wife, Martina in November, last year, when his mud house collapsed at Umuamara, Umuawuchi in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of the state is dead.

Nwokorie died following head injuries he allegedly sustained when he missed his step and hit his head on the ground. He was returning home from Umudaku Ward, a distance of about 22 metres away from their house, at about 6.45 pm last weekend.

The deceased who had no house when he died had narrowly escaped death late last year when the mud walls of their modest but dilapidating house collapsed on them midway into their sleep.

Narrating how she lost her husband, Mrs. Martina Nwokorie said that, “he fell

down having missed his steps on a track road and had a head injury. He hit his head on the ground but did not report the incident to anybody before going to bed. At about 2 am the next day, he started bleeding profusely from the nose and ears and lost a lot of blood in the process.”

She also said that the old man could not be rushed to hospital because there was no vehicle

He hit his head on the ground but did not report the incident to anybody before going to bed.

At about 2am the next day, he started bleeding profusely from the nose and ears and lost a lot of blood in the process

•Elder Francis Nwokorie and his wife when their mud house collapsed to take him to the nearest medical centre which was several kilometres away from Umuawuchi Community.

The villagers lamented that the home of the poor old man and his wife was not rebuilt by any philanthropist or good Samaritan before his death.

“It is sad that death has finally snatched our brother away from us. This came barely three months after we all jubilated over his miraculous escape

from the falling walls of his house,” Nze Julius Nwokorie said.

For the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Uboma Central Parish, Umuawuchi, Rev. Canon Okeke, the demise of Elder Nwokorie had proved that the rural communities needed serious attention by government.

The Anglican cleric recalled that when the walls of their house fell on them, he urged

good spirited individuals to assist the old man and his wife, stressing that it was better to show him love then that he was alive than throwing sumptuous party now that he was dead in the name of funerals.

“With the possible exception of a woman, who was deeply touched by their plight and donated clothing materials, the sordid situation of husband and wife remained pitiable,” Okeke lamented.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

How we survived fifty years of marriage — Ichie Felix & Rita Obiakor

By CHIOMA GABRIEL

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DAZI NNUKWU—AT a season when stories of broken marriages and relationships abound, there are still some couples who are out to prove that marriage is an ordination of God and will remain so for centuries to come. Their own marital stories are different and cheery.

One of such couples is Ichie Felix Obiakor of Adazi Nnukwu in Anambra state and his beautiful wife, Rita who have been married for 50 years.

For the Obiakors, not every man a woman meets is meant to be his wife and not every relationship must end up in marriage because there are husband materials and friends materials but when people end up marrying those who ought to be just friends, they would end up having all manner of marital problems. But when a man marries his real wife, ordained for him by God and a woman marries a man ordained for her

by God, even if they encounter problems along the line, they always overcome because God has purposed them to be together.

They couple opine that what some young people usually look out for in marriages may not be what God has purposed for them. “ All that glitters is not gold.

The most beautiful woman is not the most marriageable just like the most handsome man is not.

Sometimes what God desires for a man or woman may not be what

they desire for themselves and that is why in Igboland where we come from, we ask questions about the background of the persons we want to marry to know their family history and whether such a marriage will be positive. You do not just meet a man or a woman and jump into marriage and sometimes too, God approves of our choices for ourselves when the love is too strong.”

Speaking about his wife of fifty years, Ichie Obiakor said, “ In 1962 while I was working in the Ministry of Justice Enugu, l was transferred to Umuahia.

Coincidentally, I was living at No 21, Item street with late chief Charles Azaka who then worked in P & T dept Umuahia. It was at that time that a little angel was visiting the family.

Good wife material l later learnt she was his niece and that she was working at Shell Hospital in Port Harcourt as a nurse. As God would have it, l was transferred to Port Harcout in 1963 and that gave me the opportunity of being closer to her and I found that she was a good wife material.

In 1964 l was transferred back to Umuahia but was in contact with her. “Her decency and humility attracted me so much that I made a marriage proposal which she accepted.

I finally wedded her on the 9th of January 1965 at St Finbarrs Catholic Church Umuahia. God has been good to us throughout

•Mrs Rita Obiakor the years and blessed the marriage with more than half a dozen children and over 20 grandchildren. “ The choice of a good wife is though and hard but with God, It is easy. My choice fell on Rita(Decency) the queen of peace. God is love and to marry in love means to marry in God. We are ever grateful to God for leading us through these five decades of married life especially in those years when a woman’s place was believed to be in the kitchen but she was educated and had a career. She didn’t let that get into her head.

She was humble and has remained so even all through the years. It was too long ago that she retired and she remained a pillar of strength which is a rare virtue in many relationships.

Also speaking about her experience, Mrs. Rita Obiakor said, “I graduated from school of Nursing at Holy Rosary Emekuku Owerri, in 1962. After school of nursing, I took appointment in Shell Hospital in Port Harcourt. I worked there till 1963, and visited my uncle, Charles Azaka and his family

•Ichie Felix Obiakor

at Umuahia during my vacation.

A young man, Felix Obiakor was also living in the same compound with his brother Stephen. I did not see him during my trip but he saw me. Then he started making inquiries about me from my sister Felicia Azaka, who told him everything about me.

“However, after my holiday, I went back to Port Harcourt and one day, he came to my hostel in Port Harcourt with his friend asking of me. When I came out, he introduced himself and said that he was looking for me. I told him I don’t keep boyfriends, and he said he was looking for a wife, not girl friend. I told him I cannot marry him because he was too handsome, that throughout my life, I did not fight or quarrel with anybody and as such cannot fight over him. He left and came back after some weeks and continued asking me to marry him. My roommate at that time Patricia Anyanwu advised me to accept his proposal and I accepted.

Of all the suitors that came to me, he was the only one I accepted, because I loved him so much.

We started courting then and

in 1964, we went to Onitsha to see my people, my uncles late Fidelis Azaka, late Ben Azaka and my senior brother, late Godwin Azaka for introduction.

Later he came with his family members for the traditional marriage and after that, we had our wedding on January 9th 1965 at St Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Umuahia.

“After the wedding, we experienced challenges associated with marriage . We had our first set of twins, Nnaemeka and Chinyere, then Chijioke, another set of twins Jane and Jude before Chinedu and Ngozi came along. During this period, we went on transfer to Onitsha, Aba and then Lagos in 1977.

We watched our children move from one primary school to the other and then to secondary Schools, University and then graduation. “ We nurtured them all through these years until, they started working. Today we have about 21 grand children.

Fifty years have gone past and we are still living together. It is not easy but to god be the glory.”

Orji commissions mother, child ward, administrative block at ABSUTH ...builds 750 health centres

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BA—ABIA State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that his administration has so far built 750 health centres, including the diagnostic hospitals in Aba and Umuahia dialysis and eye centres to ensure that the people of the state were healthy.

Speaking during the commissioning of the mother and child ward and the Administrative complex built by his government at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba, Orji said that it was only a healthy person that can appreciate the dividends of democracy just as nothing can be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity.

He stated that the two

structures will add value to the health sector, adding that his government was also building an amphitheatre in the teaching hospital.

According to him, the attention being given to ABSUTH was to make it become a place where all facilities would be located under one roof.

He urged Aba people to patronize the facilities at the hospital instead of quacks.

Earlier, the Chairman, Local Government Sure-P, Chief Joseph Ogwo, said the projects would enhance service delivery in the hospital and thanked Orji for distributing dividends of democracy to all sectors of the economy.

•Gov Theodore Orji inspecting the clinic during the commissioning

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 33

It’d be an honour to play for Man United – Coentrão F

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arry Kane is better than Angel Di Maria and worth £100 million (•147m), according to former England striker Rodney Marsh.

Tottenham forward Kane has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season and netted less than a minute after coming off the bench to make his international debut against Lithuania last Friday.

Roy Hodgson has revealed the 21-year-old will make his full debut against Italy in Turin and Marsh is tipping him to become a more potent goalscorer than former England captain Alan Shearer.

The ex-Manchester City man also feels Kane is worth a world-record fee given some of the sums Premier League clubs have paid in recent years.

“I reckon he is worth £100m, I honestly do,” he told talkSport. “If I was a chairman of a football club, that is what I would pay for Harry Kane.

“I think he is going to go on and be a bigger and better player than Alan Shearer.

“Manchester City paid £32m (•47m) for a relatively untried young player called Eliaquim Mangala. If Mangala is worth £32m, Harry Kane is worth

‘£100m Kane is better than Di Maria’ £100m all day long.

“Angel Di Maria cost Manchester United £62m (•75m). I think Harry Kane is a much better player than Di Maria, in the Premier League.”

Chrisantus assures of his scoring abilities

Podolski’s move to Inter not the best – Heynckes

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4 year old Macauley Chrisantus of AEK Athens, winner of the 2007 FIFA Under17 golden boot, says he was not bothered despite not scoring in his first five games for his new side.

The Kaduna born forward last scored a competitive goal on his debut for his former side Sivasspor a 2-1 loss to Galatasaray on the 26th of September 2014.

Chrisantus ended a six month wait to score a competitive goal after netting the winner for the team he joined in January in a

F

•Podolski

ormer Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes believes Lukas Podolski made the wrong decision to leave Arsenal for Inter.

The Germany international opted to make the move in Serie A in the January transfer window in an attempt to get more playing time after failing to earn regular first-team football under Arsene Wenger.

He has been struggling to make an impact at Inter, though, and Heynckes - who worked with the attacker at Bayern in 2009 - feels Podolski and his agents should have given the transfer more thought before they made a decision.

ábio Coentrão has admitted that he’s not featuring as regu larly as he’d like under Carlo Ancelotti and stressed that Manchester United are a club that appeals to him.

“I hope to get more game time at Real Madrid. I hope the coach puts more faith in me, which hasn’t always been the case”, the left-back told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo.

Asked about the possibility of moving to Old Trafford, Coentrão suggested he’d be happy to pack his bags for the Premier League. “I’ve expressed interest in going there before. Manchester United are one of the top clubs in the world and I have a great deal of admiration for them. It’d be an honour to play there”, the 27year-old noted.

Coentrão also declared his undying love for Benfica, claiming the Estádio da Luz is his home while downplaying the idea of a return in the short term, since he still has four years left on his Real Madrid contract.

•Fábio Coentrão

2-0 win over Kallithea, but according to him he knew it was coming.

“I arrived in Greece from Turkey where I went through hell and both physically and mentally I wasn’t ready, not until two weeks ago,” he said.

“Although I didn’t score I knew the reason so I wasn’t bothered as I know myself and believe in my abilities.

“I knew I was close to my best in our penultimate game against Iraklis Psachna and expectedly goals will come when you are at your prime fitness.”

•Chrisantus

Bale is world’s fastest player •as Lennon beats Walcott in top 10

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Jurgen Damm is second to Bale with ormer Tottenham star Gareth Bale 35.23km/h. is the world’s fastest player with the Valencia’s United team-mate Wayne ball at his feet, according to a study by Rooney is eighth on the list having reached Mexican club Pachuca which has been a top speed of 31.2 km/h, while the rest of endorsed by FIFA. Bale, who joined Real the top 10 is made up of Madrid’s Cristiano Madrid for a world record £86million fee Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, Barcelona’s in 2013, reached a top speed of 36.9km/ Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich’s Frank h, which is unmatched in world football Ribery.

And current Spurs player Aaron Lennon occupies fourth spot in the top 10 having reached a •Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) 36.9 km/h speed of 33.8km/h in possession. •Jürgen Damm (Pachuca) 35.23 km/h The 27-year-old, who is cur- •Antonio Valencia (Manchester United) 35.1 km h rently on loan at Everton, is •Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur) 33.8 km/h ahead of Arsenal flyer Theo •Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 33.6 km/h Walcott, who is ranked sixth on •Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 32.7 km/h •Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 32.5 km/h 32.7km/h.

Manchester United’s Antonio •Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) 31.2 km/h Valencia is third with 35.1km/h, •Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich) 30.7 km/h while Pachuca’s young winger •Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) 30.6 km/h

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is the world’s fastest with the ball at his feet, while Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott also make the top 10 (Pictures: Getty)

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34—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,APRIL 1, 2015

Aisha Noble Mustapha

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reaking blogosphere last week was the sad news of the murder of a female Silverbird staff, Aisha Noble, who was gruesomely killed in the streets last week. All kinds of allegations are being made in social media, particularly with respect to prime suspect of her murder, a gentleman caught with her bloodied phone and identified as Chima. Every commentator agrees it was a dastardly act.

Dieziani Allison Madueke

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Gbemi Saraki

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he high princess of the Ilorin Saraki dynasty had has also trended in the last week, as the Kwara State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) revealed on Monday that they would gladly receive her, should she decide to defect from the PDP to the APC. Kwara APC Publicity Secretary had said in an interview that Saraki’s defection would be a welcomed development for his party.

Although the move has not been made official yet, rumours have been circulating that the PDP Senator will soon defect.

PDP Secretary Alhaji Hassan Razaq has revealed, however, that the ruling party is trying its best to prevent Saraki from defecting. Razaq does not feel that the move would be good for Saraki’s career, given the time and energy she has invested into the ruling party.

Josephine Ugwu

T

he airport cleaner who had been hitherto hailed for returning a passenger’s luggage containing local and foreign currencies to the tune of N12m has been rewarded with a N7,200 salary increment.

Ugwu was on a monthly salary of N7,800 before the incident. The National Diploma graduate now makes N15,000 a month.

Blogosphere expresses disappointment that such act of uncommon integrity was not noticed by the government, considering that twice, she returned passengers’ luggage with huge sums of money in them.

Ugwu, however, said she had no regrets for what she did, but would not mind being compensated.

Gracious as ever, she reportedly said, I believe that a good name is better than riches. This incident has taken my name far and wide and I am happy that it is for a good cause.

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s electioneering comes to a head, particularly in the Nigerian cyberspace, Nigeria’s first female Petroleum minister Dieziani Madueke has been in the eye of the storm yet again. But the pretty lady has emerged to defend herself, saying NNPC was not indicted in the missing oil revenue saga.

She also defended the lease of an aircraft, saying: As we speak, NNPC should actually own at least two major long distance helicopters for offshore activities. I’m ashamed to say that if I have to go on an inspection of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility. I have to borrow a ride from ExxonMobil or Total or Agip. I don’t think that kind of thing happens anywhere in the world, not even in small Angola!

Now when I came in as Minister of Petroleum Resources, NNPC did not have any jet on ground because the one it had was about 30yrs old and I recall that Ajumogobia, when he was going had advised that I should not for my life enter that jet and that he almost died in it when the thing dropped out of the air one day. I couldn’t just even go to the Federal Executive Council for them to approve $30m to go and buy a jet. So based on what we considered as the tradition in the industry now all over the world, we went for a lease arrangement with the same company that Shell and other multinationals were using.

Dilma Rousseff

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undreds of thousands of Brazilians have joined demonstrations against President Dilma Rousseff, with many asking for her impeachment and saying the president must have known about a corruption scandal in the state oil firm, Petrobras.

The political opposition say much of the alleged bribery took place when she was head of the company, but Ms Rousseff has been exonerated in an investigation by the attorney general and denies involvement.

Most of the politicians accused of taking bribes in a kickback scheme come from the governing coalition.

After the protests, the government promised a series of measures to combat corruption and impunity, while Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said the government saw the rallies as an “expression of democracy”.

Police estimated the number of participants at one million, based on aerial photographs of the area, while commentators on the Nigerian cyberspace wish or such expressions of democracy on our own political space.

DJ Cuppy

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hrilling blogosphere to no end last week was the talented daughter of millionaire oil mogul Femi Otedola, who announced she would be dropping her own album. The young DJ’s latest release is titled Love House Hip-hop Music, a compilation of house music and hiphop. DJ-Cuppy might have only recently come on the scene, but she is the preferred DJ for some of the biggest gigs in Nigeria currently and boasts immense popularity, judging by the reaction of blogosphere.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—35

I’ve got my eyes on mass production – Grace Mark, CEO, Grace Hats

By JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

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race Mark is one of the few entrepreneurs who have remained in the business of hat-making despite decline in demand for the hitherto must-have fashion piece in Nigeria. The Chief Executive Officer of Grace Hats, she has done nothing else but designed and produced hats in the last 35 years. In this interview, the renowned hat-maker reveals how she has sustained her business all these years and declares hatmaking God’s purpose for her life.

Unlike a decade ago when people couldn’t do without hats, most people these days hardly remember hats; how has this trend affected your business?

Hat is something that complements your outfits and it makes you look elaborate. I wouldn’t say people are not putting on hats now, but there are still people you cannot catch without a hat on. Those wearing hats are not few and that is why we are still in business. Business is still good; but you can’t compare it to those days when Nigeria’s economy was viable.

You went into hat-making 35 years ago; tell us how it all began?

When I started making hats 35 years ago, hats were not in vogue. My sister then came up with the idea when she saw how patiently I was doing my needlework after I wrote my Secondary School Certificate Examination. She told me I could venture into the business of making hat and when I did, I soon realised it was God’s plan for me. When she told me that, I didn’t have anything. But I tried my hands on something

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and after a while, I came up with something that looked like a hat.

Was it that you didn’t undergo any formal training?

I have never attended any training on hat making. When I travelled abroad in 1990, I decided to look at what a lady who makes hat in London was doing and she allowed me into her shop just for two days. It was then I discovered that she uses everything I use in Nigeria.

Tell us exactly how you got the ball rolling?

Tr u l y, everything big starts small.

I c o u l d remember I m a d e three hats for myself when I started and I wore the three

hats to church for three consecutive Sundays.

Somebody came to me and asked if I import my hats, because, they were beautiful and unique. She couldn’t believe it when I told her that I could make for her. She asked for my charges and I told her I could make her three for N30. She gave me the money

I have been passionate about hats and that passion overwhelms me daily.

The profit is not what gives me joy. What gives me joy is the fact that I can produce something someone else likes

and that was how I started. Instead of eating up my profits, I re-invested it into the business. My siblings also stood by me as they give me suggestions, which I always worked with. When I got married, my husband pumped in more money into the business.

Diligence also played a very important role in my success story. I leave my house at 8.15 am daily and I still take care of my home before I set out daily. I’ve continued this way over the years and I don’t close until 6.pm. You can’t rule out diligence and integrity if you really want to be successful in life.

What actually gave you the impression that you would succeed in this business?

I didn’t even know what fear was then. For 35 years, I have been passionate about hats and that passion overwhelms me daily. The profit is not what gives me joy. What gives me joy is the fact that I can produce something someone else likes.

35 years is a long time; what has kept you in business and do you have any other profitable venture outside hat-making?

My unwavering trust and faith in God has kept me in this business. I didn’t learn this, but God has sustained me over the years. If not for God, I would have closed this place and probably looked for a white-collar job. God is so faithful that he keeps revealing new designs to me everyday and I don’t need to copy from anyone. God has also blessed me with customers.

I do not do another thing aside this.

I, however, love making clothes but do not make for people because hat consumes my time and this is where my passion lies. If I really want to go into dress making for commercial purpose, I have to go for training and that means my hats will suffer. I also make accessories like beads but hatmaking is my major calling.

Do you sometimes wish you work in a corporate organisation?

Not at all. I studied Co-operative Economics at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State and did my compulsory one year National Youth Service at the National Development Bank in Kaduna State. After that, I was told to come and take up a white-collar job which I rejected it. I simply told my parents I wanted to go fully into hat making.

Do you intend to retire from hat making?

Presently, I am working on doing mass production where I don’t have to do many hats myself as I am doing now.

•Grace Mark

Lastly, tell us how you’ve combined this with personal life over the years?

I’ve been married for 24 years and I must say God blessed me with a very understanding and accommodating husband. He met me doing this and he encourages me always. He has been very cooperative and supportive. I have been able to manage my business with my home because my husband is very co-operative. He helps to take care of the children when I am not around. I actually travel abroad most times to exhibit my hats.

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

We make N30 - N50,000 daily selling Indian hemp — SUSPECT

By Chinenyeh Ozor, Nsukka

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HEN detectives attached to Nsukka Area Command in Enugu State recently went on a routine investigation in a remote community, Umuogboagu in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, little did they anticipate trouble.

Though, they were reportedly battle-ready for any eventuality, they were shocked at the magnitude of trouble that ensued.

Attack by family

Crime Alert gathered that no sooner had they entered one of the compounds on which they earlier received a tip-off that the family members were all engaged in the cultivation of Indian Hemp, than they were attacked. Police sources said the entire family of nine, armed with dangerous weapons, descended on three of the detectives.

They reportedly made futile efforts to snatch their rifles armed with cutlasses, matchetes, axes and other weapons at the same time, boasting that they have a superior power to subdue and suppress the law enforcement agents.

Call for reinforcement

Sources said the family members were so dreaded to the extent that their neighbours watched in awe as they unleashed terror on the detectives who also fought gallantly and succeeded in escaping from the scene to call for reinforcement.

The Area Commander incharge of Nsukka zone, ACP Haladu, reportedly swung into action and mobilized a team of policemen that rushed to the scene, about 45 kilometres from Nsukka main town, and ended up arresting the patriarch of the family, Michael Ezeja, 65, while the remaining members of his family disappeared into thin air.

Suspect opens up

The suspect, Michael Ezeja, reputed to be engaged in the sale and cultivation of Indian hemp in the vicinity for over C M Y K

20 years, on interrogation, told detectives that he became a wine tapper after his return

The family members were so dreaded to the extent that their neighbours watched in awe as they unleashed terror on the detectives who also fought gallantly

calming my children down to wait and know the mission of the policemen, thinking that it was business as usual but the tune changed when I discovered that the three police men came from the Area Command, Nsukka, then it dawned on me that the cat had been led out of the bag,” he explained.

Looking unruffled, Pa Ezeja continued; ‘’I am married to only one wife, Augustina Ezeja, with nine children but it was only three of the children that attacked the police.

They are; Oforma, Ebenezer and Chidera. The rest of my children are; Amaka now married, Obioma, Ibekwe, Asebe and C h i n a s a E z e j a .

Ebenezer

was the first person to attack the police.’’

Plea for leniency

While pleading for leniency, he disclosed that he is an addict user of the substance because he trades on it but denied that none of his children smokes.

All of them, he however asserted, are engaged in the sale of the Indian hemp to t h e i r

home from Yoruba land in 1992 where he had cultivated cannabis.

Explaining that he worked on an Indian hemp farm in Yoruba land when eventually they were chased out and he returned home and continued with the business together with his family, he stated that he took to the trade because he has no other business outside the cultivation and sale of cannabis which he learnt in the part of the country where he spent a greater part of his life, adding that he makes a good amount of money from the trade daily, between N30,000 to N50,000.

Attack on Police

‘’I took to the business to make money and train my children in school and it has been moving well for the family since we started it years back. I w a r n e d members of The suspect, Pa Ezeja, with his deadly articles of trade. my family not to touch the police but they wouldn’t listen to my shouting when the three policemen invaded my compound. I was

numerous customers.

He affirmed that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had, in January this year, arrested his wife Augustina, over the same offence but regretted that they did not learn their lesson from the incident as they found their way out of the drug net and continued the trade which they know better. He vehemently denied that he has an Indian hemp farm in the community as the land is not fertile for the cultivation of cannabis weeds.

Praises for Police

As at the time of filing this report, all his children were still at large while the compound has been deserted by both the residents and customers.

A competent police officer who pleaded anonymity praised the efforts of the three police officers who stood their ground to prove their mettle by not allowing the family to overpower them and snatch their guns from them, adding that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—37

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38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

•The roads remained mostly traffic-free while the elections lasted

The thrills, tragedies of an election The much-awaited and once postponed 2015 general elections kicked off on Saturday with Nigerians from all walks of life trooping out in the 36 states and Abuja to cast their votes. So far, it has been a case of mixed fortunes for the contestants and the participating political parties. But while the winners and losers of the presidential and national assembly elections are either celebrating or counting their losses following the declaration of results, it has since emerged that the exercise was characterised by the good, the bad and the ugly.

By Mike Ebonugwo, Charles Kumolu, Chidi Nkwopara, Bose Adelaja, Marie-therese Nanlong, Gabriel Enogholase & Suzan Edeh

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N their numbers they arrived the various polling units aided and unaided. Hardly shielded under the scorching sun and the rain, they waited patiently for hours for the commencement of what turned out as Nigeria’s biggest election in its 54-year-old history.

From Epe to Badagry, Igando to Iyana-Ipaja, Mushin to Ikorudu, these senior citizens, who had seen the glorious and darkest phase of Nigeria’s journey towards nationhood, turned out in commendable

numbers to exercise their inalienable right.

From their countenance, it was obvious that no amount of frustration occasioned by the late and non-arrival of sensitive materials could stop them from participating in the exercise.

Not even the drama, violence and tensions that characterised the polls could deter them from exercising their inalienable right.

They were obviously bonded by a common determination to participate in what turned out to be Africa’s biggest election in the 21 century. For a political process with a record of voter apathy, this impressive turn out of elderly people, was remarkably rare and symbolic.

It was an outing that shattered myths, punctured stereotypes and broke

primordial boundaries about political participation in the country.

Elderly people excited in Lagos: The amazement regarding the motivation behind the large participation of senior citizens, was better explained by Pa Adeleke S. O, who voted at Polling Unit O37 Ijegun-Egba Nursery and Primary School, Satellite Town.

The 90-year old Adeleke who worked with the then Customs & Excise Department, said: ‘’I am happy to be participating. I am glad I am voting”.

Determination to vote Apart from Adeleke, there were other elderly persons at other polling units in the area, who told Vanguard Features, VF, that their involvement was borne out of their love for Nigeria.

For 87-year-old Mrs. Margaret Omonigho, coming out to vote was something she looked forward to. Unlike Adeleke, she said the need to secure a better future for her children, grand children and great-grandchildren, informed her determination to vote. ‘’My children deserve the best. It is their right to live in a

society where they can achieve their dreams without the kind of unnecessary challenges we have in the country presently.

The sight of old men and women, who queued to exercise their right, was obviously common in this ancient city. From polling unit 06, 07 to other polling units in the town, elderly people were significantly present. The zeal to vote was manifested at Igando where most senior citizens complained about the non- arrival of voting materials, which eventually disenfranchised many of them.

Their participation elated the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem.

From Epe to Badagry, Igando to Iyana-Ipaja, Mushin to Ikorodu, these senior citizens, who had seen the glorious and darkest phase of Nigeria’s journey towards nationhood, turned out in commendable numbers to exercise their inalienable right

Mixed bag for senior citizens in Bayelsa: In Bayelsa State, the smart card readers which failed to work, disenfranchised most elderly persons.

At polling unit 1 in Yenogoa, it was a mixed bag of feelings for elderly voters. 87-year old, Pa Monikumo John arrived to cast his ballot only to find out his name was not on the list.

“It is sad to note today that I am deprived of my right to vote. This is the first time I am experiencing an incident like this in my life. They, INEC, said I don’t have a PVC, but I was duly registered and voted in the 2011 polls. It was not my fault,” he grumbled.

Medical condition Albert Otokolo, 81, a retired teacher, who suffers from arthritis, was also unable to cast his vote.

He said:”My mobility is severely impaired due to my medical condition. However, by the time I got to the polling station with my PVC, I was not allowed to vote, because, according them, accreditation was over”.

Scientific isenfranchisement: Whereas over five million voters were registered by INEC in Lagos which is unarguably the most populated state in the country, only about 1.6 million were actually accredited to vote in last weekend’s elections.

Many of the electorate said they were scientifically disenfranchised by the presiding officers who arrived very late

Continues on page 39

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 —39

The thrills, tragedies of an election Continues from page 38 with card readers that hardly functioned. In Igando, it was alleged that 12 polling units were merged into one, thereby making it practically impossible for many of the eligible voters to cast their votes.

Bizarre incidents: A bizarre incident took place in the Ejigbo area of the city when a pregnant woman allegedly stabbed her husband to death over a disagreement over who would emerge the winner between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The woman who was simply identified as Onyinyechi, allegedly stabbed the husband with a knife on the chest. The accused who was picked up by the police, was described by tenants in the yard as a friendly and peaceful person who had never quarrelled with anyone since she moved into the building.

Chairmanship candidate Also in Lagos four passengers on board a private boat drowned when the boat which left Marine Road to Mahusa, capsized.

Those who lost their lives included the operator’s son, the APC chairmanship candidate in Epe, Mr. Muiz Bello and the Olu of Epe’s son, Prince Kunle Adewale.

Women protest in Rivers, Plateau: In Plateau State, women and youths in Jos, alleged that the PDP rigged out a female candidate for the Plateau North Senatorial seat on the platform of the APC, Mrs. Eunice Sambo.

The women and youths maintained that the APC candidate won the Senatorial seat but was rigged out in favour of the PDP candidate who is the incumbent governor of the state, Group Captain Jonah Jang.

The women and youths took to the streets to protest the results.

They blocked the entrance of the collation centre after the governor was announced the winner of the election.

The timely intervention of security operatives saved the day as the Senatorial Returning Officer, Prof. Rotgak Gofwen, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Olivia Dazyem, journalists, INEC officials and party agents were held hostage.

The women and the APC agent, Mr. Santos Ayuba,

rejected the result, saying there were irregularities in the result sheets from Barkin Ladi local government area.

They argued that the figures of the collated result did not tally with the entire result but Jang was eventually declared winner as he scored 234,445 votes while Mrs. Sambo got 221,274.

In a similar development, APC women in Rivers State took to the •Women protesters expressing their disenchantment in Rivers State streets to protest the alleged rigging of the agent on the spot to identify the elections in Rivers State. The fraud and insisted that all scores police allegedly used tear gas to be cross-checked and rectified.

News made the rounds that disperse the protesting women and this led to the declaration of Governor Rochas Okorocha a 24-hour curfew in the State by camped about 250 students of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Rochas Foundation College in the Ogboko campus of the Amaechi.

Owerri: New style of rigging institution, preparatory to nipped in the bud: Although the deploying them to vote for the Presidential and National Governor’s preferred candidate.

Assembly elections in Imo State Security men got wind of this and have come and gone, some rushed to the scene and incidents that can rightly be prevented them from leaving the called “side attractions”, will school compound until the next linger for awhile, especially as a day when the electoral process new style of rigging reared its was over. Every effort made by Okorocha to free the children •Pa Adeleke, a senior citizen, displaying his PVC before casting ugly head in the state. his vote In one of the incidents, an ad- from ‘bondage’ failed.

Similarly, some serving hoc staff of INEC, suspected to be an in-law of a sitting members of the State Executive incident. well with the APC and this transition committee chairman, Council and the Senior Special The National Chairman of sparked off mass protests by was allegedly caught changing Adviser, SSA, to the Governor on APC, Chief John Odigie- youths who headed to the INEC Matters, Mr. the figures scored by a particular Security Oyegun was said to have lost his office, despite the curfew, to party and crediting it to a rival Okechukwu Okorocha, were polling unit to the PDP. In fact, prevent any attempt to tamper party, without necessarily picked up for varying offences.

Chief Oyegun has never won in with the results. altering the total figures scored. the polling unit, even in The gubernatorial candidate of It took the eagle-eyed party Bigwigs previous elections. the APC, Mohammed

lose in Edo

For a political process with a record of voter apathy, this impressive turn out of elderly people, was remarkably rare and symbolic

In Edo State, the Presidential/ National Assembly elections recorded some ugly and humorous incidents. At least one person was reportedly shot dead at Obagie in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area following a clash between two factions.

The victim who was identified as Igie Osayande, was said to be the Chairman of Uvbie Community. He was reportedly shot with his brother, Igie Obafuedo who was allegedly taken to hospital for medical treatment. The incident, sources said, occurred during the election. Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased have been deposited at Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin.

When contacted, the Edo State Policeman Spokesman, Mr. Joseph Edoigiawerie, DSP, said he was yet to be briefed on the

Another casualty was the House of Representatives Minority Whip, Mr. Samson Osagie, who was defeated in his Uhunmwode Local government.

He lost to the PDP candidate, Mr. Matthew UrhOghide.

In the same vein, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Uyi who sought to represent Oredo Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, lost in his ward.

He lost to new comer, Omoregie Ogbeide- Ihama of the PDP. Insurgents attack some polling units in Bauchi: Some polling stations in Alkeleri, Kirfi and Tafawa Balewa areas of Bauchi State were attacked by insurgents hence the electoral process was truncated in those areas. The development made the state government to impose a dusk to dawn curfew in the state.

This situation did not go down

Abduallahi Abubakar, a lawyer, said the imposition of the curfew was an attempt by the government to change the results.

Despite the mass exodus of non-indigenes to their states, apparently due to fear of the unknown or to cast their votes, most of the polling booths witnessed large turnout of voters who were yearning for a change of the status quo. These voters were confident that the use of the card readers would reflect the actual vote cast. Although the materials for the elections arrived late, it did not discourage the voters as they waited patiently for the electoral officers.

Mrs Saratu Ahmed who is nursing a two-month-old baby, waited patiently in the sun for the electoral process to commence. She told VF that she will not go home unless she exercised her franchise.

40—V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD AY, APRIL 1, 2015 40—VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

I woke up to find my boss in my bed!

My nice mother-in-law is too interfering Dear Bunmi, I have a lovely mother-inlaw who helps us all the time, especially financially. As a widow and the only wife, she inherited most of her husband’s property though provisions were also made for the two children of the family.

My husband is the eldest and his sister lives abroad.

Because my mother-in-law retired a few years ago, she’s always around our place almost every day! She even grumbles of being neglected whenever my mum comes to visit, which isn’t often.

We got married four years ago and a second child is on the way. In spite of my fulltime job, this woman still pops in bringing with her pots of stews and presents we don’t really need. I’ve hinted we needed more privacy but I might as well be talking to a wall. My husband won’t take my side in insisting she needs to back off, especially when the new baby arrives and I could be lumbered with her.

I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but if she goes on the way she now does, I’ll pack up my bags when the baby’s here and go and stay with my mum!

Jade, by e-mail.

Dear Jade, A lot of wives have one

problem or the other with their mother-in-law, and may feel unsupported by their partners over the issue. The bond between mother and son can be very strong, and a man can feel torn between the one he loves as a partner, and the one he loves as a parent.

Your case becomes a bit complicated with a new baby on the way because you dread your mother-in-law taking total control. You obviously don’t want your child to be born into such a stressful situation but would it be fair on your husband and your child if you did a runner?

Becoming a dad for the

second time may mean your husband feels more bound to you and starts to loosen the ties with his mum. Subtly, she may come to realize that her son’s loyalty is shifting.

However, you need to tell your husband how you feel, I bet he doesn’t realise how at risk your marriage is. Once he does, he would want to support you more.

You need to involve your mother-in-law from time to time, though. You could agree for her to visit once or twice a week and when she does, make her welcome and let her really enjoy time with her grand children.

The benefits of alcohol Dear Bunmi, My best mate drives me up the wall sometimes. He hates alcohol and makes drinkers like me feel as if we’re committing a mortal sin. He says all these stories about red wine doing you good are garbage. He agrees that one glass of wine cleans your arteries, but so does vinegar.

I mean, what would you rather drink, wine or vinegar?

I told him booze had other benefits and he asked me to name some. Can you help?

Onome, by e-mail.

Dear Onome, Pick up your glass for a congratulatory toast! It’s been proved that people who drink up to two tipple, a day are much less likely to develop dementia.

Dutch scientists carried out a six-year study of 8,000 people over 55 years old. They found that light to moderate drinking reduce the risk of all types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, by 42 per cent. Alcohol is thought to have a beneficial effect in the part of the brain involved with memory and learning.

The trick here is not to abuse it.

They all left after we had slept together Dear Bunmi, I think that too much emphasis is placed on sex these days and I’m a bit cynical about relationships.

This worries me a lot. I am a 28-year-old girl and have lost count of the number of men I have slept with.

Most of these men I would ordinarily not sleep with but you discover that once you are left alone with a man in a room, he wants to sleep with you at all cost.

And the lies these men tell!

Majority of them make me believe I was the type of girl they’d always been looking for as a wife. As soon as I get pregnant, they didn’t want to know. I had a few abortions as a result, as I don’t believe in a single parent family.

Now I’m completely off sex and it worries me. I think I am a bit cynical about relationships now and it

worries me also to be this way.

Diana, by e-mail.

Dear Diana, I think you are a bit depressed as a result of all the disappointments you’ve had in the past, hence the cynicism and indifference towards sex. It takes two to have a meaningful relationship and it shouldn’t make you feel guilty you’d been let down in the past.

I advise you to take things easy and be less eager to trust every man professing to be in love with you. At your age, you should be matured enough to know what you want from a relationship and to discourage opportunists.

In the meantime concentrate on simply enjoying life with friends and relations until a serious man shows up. When he does, take time to know him better before committing to him.

At your age, you should be matured enough to know what you want from a relationship and to discourage opportunists

Dear Bunmi, I am a P. A. to the Managing Director of a big company and whenever we have the Annual General Meeting, we often book rooms into the venue of such meetings for effective coordination. A few weeks ago, we had last year ’s AGM and a few of us got a bit drunk as the meeting went rather well.

You can imagine how shocked I was when I woke up the next morning to find my boss in my bed! He’d been flirting with me for months even though I told him I wasn’t interested.

I don’t know if anything happened between us as he looked really smashed too and I still had some clothes on. I’m currently on leave and I’m terrified of going back to work as I have developed an itchy discharge. How can I convince my boss I’m not interested in him sexually and let him know I might have infected him? My job is on the line here!

Shade, by e-mail.

Dear Shade,

It’s a known fact that too much alcohol and loosening of normal working restraints compels many employees to let their inhibitions go a little too much at the office party.

Before the night is over, normally sensible, reserved people are letting too much hang out and getting into the kind of scrapes they’re usually lecturing their irresponsible teenagers to avoid. The office party should be viewed as an extension of the working environment and the same rule should apply.

Your boss appears to have behaved as badly as you did and is not expected to give you too hard a time when you get back to the office.

However, you need to sort out this discharge you now have, no matter how embarrassing you find it. The symptoms you describe could be due to the common infection called thrush, probably brought on by the stress of the situation you currently find yourself.

Whatever you do, let your boss understand what happened between you two, shouldn’t happen again.

I feel guilty for feeling happy he died Dear Bunmi, I was married for over 20 years but my husband died towards the end of last year.

Before he even fell ill, he had got himself a girlfriend who was pregnant for him. As a result of this, he made life almost unbearable for me and the children.

He was making plans to make her a second wife when he fell ill and was hospitalized. He had even warned that I should look for a place to live with my children as he meant to move to the new house with this woman. On paper, the house belonged to him though I gave him all the financial support I could when he was building it.

To cut a long story short, he died suddenly, and God forgive me, I was ecstatic when I learnt of his death. I shed no tears for him at his funeral and people believed I was still in shock. I knew better. It was more of good riddance to bad rubbish. I felt guilty though, that I couldn’t even cry for a man I had spent the best years of my life with and with whom I had four children. I am a good

Christian and I would want a way to get over the bitterness of thinking that if he hadn’t died, my children and I would have been almost destitute.

Laraba, by e-mail.

Dear Laraba, It could be really harmful when dreams you have had over the years become rubbished. As hard as this sounds, you have to remember the good times you shared with your dead husband. Can your church help? Sometimes, speaking to a priest in your church could bring the relief you never suspected you could have.

The man is now dead and is immune to whatever bitterness you harbour.

In the meantime, you should learn to move on with your life. Even if he hadn’t died, you would have discovered that you wouldn’t be destitute. At least, some of your children are now grown and might be in a position to help. In the meantime, think only positive thoughts. Believe me, you will eventually get over your resentment. You just have to be willing to let go of it.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

oboka

com m Ey B y S ab o k a @ g m a i l . .eyo

sam

PALM SUNDAY: Christians pray for peace, unity

By Olayinka Latona

C

HRISTIANS across the country Sunday joined other faithful around the world to mark the feast of Palm Sunday with calls on Nigerians to embrace peace and work assiduously for the unity of the nation.

Unlike in the past, in keeping with mood of the nation, some of the Palm Sunday processions were held around the church premises to guarantee the safety of worshippers.

Presbyter, Methodist Church of the Trinity Tinubu, Lagos, Very Rev. Stephen Adegbite explained that Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, in preparation for his suffering and death on the cross.

He added that the period was necessary for sober reflection and prayers for the peace and sustenance of the nation’s democracy, calling on all Nigerians to remain steadfast, put their trust in God and be their brothers’ keeper notwithstanding religion or tribe.

Adegbite prayed that the result of Saturday’s general elections will bring good tidings and development to the masses, enjoining those who will emerge winners not to fail to deliver the divi-

dends of democracy to the masses and fulfill the promises they made in their campaigns.

In his words: “The essence of Hosanna in Nigeria today signifies that some people shouted Hosanna years ago and definitely Nigeria will be delivered, God will save us, Nigeria will not go to war and there will not be crisis or pandemonium. Nigeria will stabilize”.

According to him, the result of the presidential and National Assembly elections will bring good tiding to the masses and whatever party that wins, we must all support and Nigeria will remain one indivisible entity by the grace of God. “Nigerians should not be weary, unite, allow the love of God to reign in their lives, be their brothers’ keepers not withstanding the tribe or religion. We should wait upon on God, and I believe that God will save and deliver us as a nation.

At the Holy Cross Cathedral, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, in his homily, advised Christians to imbibe humility, selflessness, peace and love for neighbours, as exhibited by Jesus Christ in his passion and death.

*President of Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor being accredited by an Electoral Officer in Warri during last Saturday's presidential elections. PHOTO: AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE.

He said Jesus Christ’s passion and death on the Cross was a perfect example of God’s love for

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—41 man in spite of man’s disobedience.

At the Cathedral Church of Christ, Anglican Communion, Marina, Lagos, Rev. Canon Niyi Agesin urged Christians to always be guided by peace, “which is the true lesson of Jesus passion and death on the Cross”, adding that Nigerians should surrender to the God of peace.

CAN raises alarm over attacks on Christians

By Caleb Ayansina

T

HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), weekend, raised alarm over the frequent attacks on Christians, who are living in the northern part of the country.

On March 20, 2015 at about 2:30 p.m., two unidentified arsonists set ablaze a branch of Living Faith Church popularly called Winners Chapel in Giwa, headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The burning of the church came a few months after the reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the founder of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

Reacting to the attack, the Christian body described it as one of many examples of what to come, if government and security forces failed to take action.

The president of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (rtd) and the Director of National Issues, CAN, Mr. Sunny Oibe in a joint statement, in Abuja, called on security agencies to act fast to avoid violence in the area.

According to them, Christians in the North, particularly the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking Christians, who are indigenes in these states and live within and among their kith and kin “are in serious jeopardy.”

The duo in a statement titled: “Presidential Elections 2015: Signs of what to expect”, explained that “the church was razed to the ground and nothing was saved from the church including the building.

L-R: Baale of Langbasa, Chief Fatai Adeboye Pelujo, his wife, Mrs. Pelujo; Pastor-in-charge of Province, RCCG, Lagos Province 23, Gbagada, Pastor Brown Oyitso; Pastor Ade Omokorede and Pastor Bola Koku, during the commissioning and donation of storm-water drainage system by RCCG Lagos Province 23 to Langbasa community, Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos.

“This action surprised the Christian Community, especially the church members, as there was no tension between Christians and Muslims in the town.”

They maintained that the level of hostility against Christians in the area was so obvious, in spite of the fact that they all speak same language.

“It is, however, a known fact that the people of the local government have not been friendly with the Christian Community even though over 90 per cent of them are of the same Huasa-Fulani indigenes.

“The incidence actually became more worrisome when no effort was made by a passerby to assist in putting out the fire," they stated.

PFANN cries out over violence

By Bose Adelaja

P

ARTNERSHIP for a New Nigeria, PFANN, a non-governmental organisation, has cried out over the rate of violence rocking the nation just as it called on politicians to guard their utterances as they head for the polls.

PFANN, who blamed political parties for the crises rocking the nation, said the rate of propaganda has reached an alarming stage---a situation which has raised tension in the country, inciting youths.

Head of the group, Evangelist Elishama Ideh, who spoke in Lagos at a press symposium on the state of the nation organised by the group in Ogba, urged the electorate not to sell out at this point in time.

She urged them to seek the unity of the nation, adding, "the volume of propaganda being aired on radio and television is to frighten people during the elections, a situation which is detrimental to national peace.

"Election is not about personal interest. Our nation is one and we should unite against the spiritual forces bedevelling the na-

Lord's Chosen holds Easter crusade

T

HE Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries has con-cluded the plans to hold this year’s annual 2-day power packed Easter programme entitled, "…God's Covenant of peace and blessing", on Saturday and Sunday at the Chosen Revival Ground, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, by Ijesha, Bus Stop, Lagos at 8.00 a.m. daily.

The crusade is going to be a spiritual solution that will douse the political anxiety that has pervaded the country. It is never the will of God that the entire nation should remain under any affliction or despair. Nigeria must be delivered and shall have peace. A new experience of peace and joy will come the nation's way.

Free transport arrangement has been made by the ministry to

convey people to the venue from different locations within the Lagos metropolis. And provision has been made for a digitalized security measure that will address any breach of order.

The General Overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka says the programme is special because it is divinely inspired to help us bring to mind the significance of Easter which symbolizes the victory of Jesus Christ over death and which by extension is the victory over hopelessness and anarchy, for Christ’s resurrection ushered us a new hope for peace and blessing.

"The nation is advised to use the opportunity to foster peace and love in the country, as this is the only way we can acknowledge and appreciate what Jesus has done for humanity," he stated.

*Elder Olusanya Amos, a national elder with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, (sitting 2nd right) while waiting for INEC officials at the Unit 17, Ward 02 at the Redemption Camp, Obafemi Owode Local Government area of Ogun State. PHOTO: LAMIDI BAMIDELE.

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

US supports Nigerian women entrepreneurs to boost economy

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

T

actualize their business ideas. “It is important to identify areas of shortcomings and develop avenues to surmounting them, thereby accomplishing successful entrepreneurship vision”, she said, adding that “although there is no definitive profile on what makes one an entrepreneur, it is worthy of note that successful entrepreneurs could emerge from various walks of life, age, gender and race.”

She, therefore, urged women to endeavour in efforts towards actualizing the entrepreneurship dreams, stressing that determination is extremely necessary.

HE US government has declared strong commitment towards supporting Nigerian women in their efforts to grow and maintain entrepreneurship principles.

The declaration came following the need for Nigerian women to break the typical entrepreneurial mould and come up with new and better ideas.

Speaking at an entrepreneurship workshop at the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate, the US Public Diplomacy Officer, Rhonda Watson, urged Nigerian women to keep looking for a much wider value to their businesses.

She said that entrepreneurship is a necessary ingredient to stimulate economic growth and employment opportunities in every society, stressing that the US government is fully committed to assisting Nigerian women in the pursuit for a better Nigerian economy.

“You should always search for transformation and quickly respond to it, for the fact that transformation has proven to be one of the Women entnrepreneurs at the confab crucial attributes to a better entrepreneurship approach. A good number of you can begin with either doing home improvement projects bodies.

By Prisca Sam-Duru and or pairing/partnering Speaking on the event, to actualize a vision.

T R I C T L Y Strictly Entertainment Entertainment Music founder, Ike Prospective Music (SEM) in Onuorah said, “They say entrepreneur collaboration with UK Trade knowledge is power - if that & Investment (UKTI) be the case we at SEM Although it can be Nigeria, weekend, believe TAER has a very difficult for a prospective launched The Afrobeat significant role to play – for entrepreneur to Educational Roadshow the last two years we’ve determine what products (TAER) in Lagos. TAER been championing the or services to provide, which was launched at the agenda of African owned one vital point is the Mìlíki Private Members creative businesses in the willingness to want to Club, Victoria Island, UK fully getting to grips push harder and Lagos brought together with understanding the further”, Rhonda added leading industry experts in business they are in, their Also addressing music and film from both position within the African participants, the the UK and Nigeria who & Western markets as well President Inspiring Girls addressed key issues that as their potential Now in Technology affect the progress of the bargaining power. In Evolution (IGNITE), creative industries. return we have had a lot of Chichi Okafor, said that Working in conjunction interest & support from the women should overlook with UK Trade and emerging African scene the misconception that Investment (UKTI), the and mainstream industry! entrepreneurs are lead government Working with UKTItraditionally men. Saying organization in the United Nigeria to bringing TAER the age long perception, Kingdom that supports home to Lagos could not statistically, is becoming bilateral trade, the happen at a better time and less true.

Nigerian edition of TAER we both share a common According to the was aimed at further goal – Improving bilateral IGNITE President, “I am developing such dialogue trade between Nigerian & optimistic from my point between both countries.

UK creative businesses of view, that the more Following a successful whilst empowering the women can do to elevate five seasons of the Afrobeat current and next other female Educational Roadshow in generation of creative entrepreneurs, the better the UK, TAER is the business professionals. Its off women will become.” foremost networking time to be in the business She also pointed out initiative in Britain for of creativity as oppose to that the workshop is African entertainment just being creative’s. We’re necessary to providing entrepreneurs, and aims to real excited about this trip prospective Nigerian bridge the gap between and can’t wait to meet the entrepreneurs mentors industry professionals and industry building new and tools expected to commercial and governing relationships”

UK partners SEM to promote creative business

S

Vanguard, WEDNESD AY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 43 WEDNESDA YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Although matters-of-the-heart may give you cause to smile broadly, if care is not taken, you would cause friction that can’t help you r case at work. This is the wrong time for unnecessary scheming within your working arena.

GEMINI: Those of your who are red-blooded for romance may have an exciting and satisfying day. Happenings within your social circles must be taken more seriously.

CANCER: Confrontation may come your way in the circle but the heavens are working favourably for you. Some doses of romance is not too much for you on a day like this.

LEO: Provided you don’t allow your innate ability to be as diplomatic as necessary desert you, things work favourably for you to the betterment of your finances.

VIRGO: Many of you will be in sentimental mood and exhibit strong romantic desire openly. But then, if care is not taken, you may be carried away to the detriment of your finances. Serious minded lovers are in for happy day.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

The Beauty Without

T

HE inner cup and the outside, which is more important? I mean the contest of the cup and the cup itself, which is more important?

This question becomes pertinent be-

cause of the way we are going about our re-branding project.

Can you reform evil?

Can you start the process of reformation without? Can the

TERROR MUDA

body be well when the head is sick? Look at the motor vehicle truck/trailer, when on the reverse, the other body stands still. This is so because the

in “Never say goodbye”

head give direction to the body. Nigeria is like a trailer.

We don’t need to waste billions on rebranding. All we need is the right leadership. When the leader does the right thing, Nigerians will do the right thing too.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA: Whatever anybody says or does, you will have both your say and way. Venus and Jupiter may tempt some of you to embrace illicit (or secret) romance within your base of operation.

SCORPIO: Venus and Jupiter at positive angles may tempt you to join some of your friends who are already onboard of merry making train. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS: Good luck will smile at many and induce love of luxury merry making and romantic liason. Genuine lovers will need to be on guard against deceit from new admirers.

CAPRICORN: Both financial success and emotional satisfaction are closed to you than before. Those of you travelling because of maters-of-the-heart are in for an exciting romantic day Those ambitious career-wise will succeed after few struggles.

AQUARIUS: Many members of your opposite sex will go out of their ways to attract your romantic interest. This is the wrong time to engage on unnecessary argument.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

PISCES: If you priority is love, much of it would come your way as desired. But here is a better day for more ambitious in the business world. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you over money.

ARIES: Those of you with secret admirers within your working area will have the needed opportunities to make the needed moves. Resist the temptation to deceive others.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

What’s my horoscope?

Dear Joshua, I am a middle aged lady born on November 10, 1960. Although I am fairly successful, I want you to give me my comprehensive horoscope, especially what my special gift is. Which day of the week was I born? Where were my natal planets and their meanings? Who am I? Fatimah, Abuja.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Fatimah, There is no space for comprehensive horoscope but what you’ll have here -under is answer to your questions/ You were born on a Thursday and your special gift is LEADERSHIP quality.

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA Date of Birth: Thursday, September 13, 1962 Sun Sign: Virgo: Sun in 20th Degree of Virgo Moon Sign: PISCES: Moon on 10th Degree of Pisces Mercury in 16th Degree of Libra Venues in 5th Degree of Scorpio Mars in 13th Degree of Cancer Jupiter in 6th Degree of Pisces Saturn in 5th Degree of Aquarius Uranus in 2nd Degree of Virgo Neptune in 11th Degree of Scorpio Pluto in 10th Degree of Virgo North Node in 6th Degree of Leo South Node in 6th Degree of Aquarius Quality and Element Cardinal and air star signs hosted two planets each fixed and earth three each, no planet in fire while mutable and water star signs hosted five planets each.

Push-full influence = 20% Non- push-full element = 80% Final dispositor = Lucky Jupiter General Analysis Just 20 per cent of push-full influence in your chart can deceptively present you to others as a soft (or even timid) person but practical Virgo that hosted nothing less than three heavenly bodies when you were born and Astrological aspects between Mercury (mental focus) and aggressive Mars in you r chart are pointers to the contrary.

Yes! You are highly intelligent and your mind works the same way detective’s minds do. It is true, there are little contradictions between your inner self and your emotional being as indicated quality, water element and Virgo characteristics.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Subsidised maternal, child care on the horizon, says NHIS

By Damilola Akingbade

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ROSPECTS of health insurance coverage for 40 percent of Nigerians by the end of 2015 are growing impressively, given the ever-increasing nationwide clamour for the CommunityBased Social Health Insurance Programme of NHIS. The latest expression of this was the recent flag-off of the programme for the people of Gwiwa Sire, in the Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Addressing the community at the occasion, the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, boss, Dr. ‘Femi Thomas stressed the commitment of the Scheme to further ease access to effective healthcare for Nigerians, by providing subsidy for the Community Based Health Insurance Programme (CBSHIP), through payment of premium contributions for all registered pregnant women and children under five years of age, for a period of three years.

Thomas said the NHIS has cumulatively expended over N1.2 billion to provide care for pregnant women and children below five years of age, under the NHIS-MDGs Maternal and Child Health project since 2008 in six benefitting Local Government Areas of Sokoto state, namely Kebbi, Yabo, Binji, Tangaza, Sabon-Birni and Isa. Thomas emphasised that the programme has also facilitated significant improvement in infrastructure and quality of service delivery for the benefitting communities.

While assuring that the NHIS/Sokoto state partnership would further yield positive results with the flag-off of Gwiwa Sire Mutual Health Association CBHI, the NHIS focal person commended the State

Heritage Bank donates to children with cerebral palsy

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•From right: Supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan being guided through the process of registering for health insurance on the National Mobile Health Insurance platform by the Executive Secretary, NHIS, Dr. 'Femi Thomas (middle) and GM, ICT, Mr. Femi Akingbade, at the Presidential National Launch of the National Mobile Health Insurance Programme, NMHIP, in Abuja.

The NHIS has cumulatively expended over N1.2 billion to provide care for pregnant women and children below five years of age

Government for its efforts in promoting the health status of the indigenes, through its pro-active measures at addressing health issues in the state.

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Gwiwa Sire Mutual Health Association, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Basakwace commended the management of NHIS for its effort towards the take-off of the programme, stressing that the overwhelming support of the Scheme at various stages has resulted in the successful launch of the programme in the state.

By Chioma Obinna

N furtherance of its determination to improve the standard of living among children living with Cerebral Palsy, Heritage Bank, recently donated a brand new Hyundai vehicle to the Cerebral Palsy Centre at Bode Thomas, Surulere Lagos.

At the official presentation, Group Head, Cowry Banking, Heritage Bank, Mr. Davidson Regha said the gesture was part of the commitment to the activities of the Centre in taking care of children with the disability.

“We have been associated with the Centre since last year, as a bank, we became committed when they had their awareness programme. We would see how we can adopt the centre as our corporate social responsibility to the society, so this is part of that commitment,” Regha stated.

The Director of the Centre, Mrs. Nonye Nweke, expressed gratitude, said Heritage bank had made their dream come true. “This why we run this Centre for free, so that anybody affected can be taken care of. We have written to the government, they know we exist, because they gave us an approval to run the home, but they made it clear to us that they will not give any support.

‘This is our fifth year and our greatest challenge is to get parents to come out into the public, but because of our society, parents with affected children do not want to come out.

“And because of the way it manifests, people feel it is not a medical issue. First you have a child that is okay, then from 3 to 4 months you begin to notice differences, sometimes, it comes as late as seven months after birth,” she said.

CPP? No, not the political party C

HRONIC pelvic pain is pain from below the bellybutton, and between the hips, that has lasted up to six months.

Its causes are multitude and often impossible to find.

Its consequences can be debilitating and devastating.

It is estimated that one third of all women will experience chronic pelvic pain in their lifetime.

The pain can be constant or intermittent, sharp or cramping. It may be a feeling of heaviness or pressure or a dull ache inside the pelvis.

Chances are high that the woman may experience pain during intercourse, while urinating, during a bowel movement or even after prolonged sitting.

Causes A whole book can be written on the causes of chronic pelvic pain. This is beyond the scope of this brief article; especially since, in many situations, the causes may be multiple, they may be psychological or we simply do not know the cause.

Because of the complexity many investigations are usually necessary to try to determine the cause or causes of this pain. A surgical procedure may be required to "look" into the pelvis.

The pain itself can also be caused by multiple surgeries within the pelvic cavity.

Treatment may not be complete without visits to a number of specialists: your family doctor or doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the female reproductive tract (gynaecologist), a doctor that specializes in the digestive system (gastroenterologist), a specialist in urinary and gynaecological, problems (urogynaecologist) or a specialist in pain management adept in injecting nerves and managing strong pain

medications.

I have treated a few women with CPP in the last few years. Spousal support is an absolute must; between the spouses and support by the care providers for the patient's spouse. These women may have been treated with strong pain medications and develop a troubling drug dependency. In addition, some have undergone numerous injections and nerve blocks before presenting to me.

The consultation is tense. "What else can this doctor offer me? More drugs, more needles?"

They cannot sit still because of vaginal pain.They may be cathectic because they wouldn't eat......because bowel movement is painful. The visit is almost always punctuated by bursts of tears. The despair in the spouse always evident.

Chronic Pelvic Pain in Men! Oh...it affects men as well.

We may not have a uterus and ovaries like women, but we have a prostate gland, a bladder and muscles that form our pelvic floor.

These can be a source of the same symptoms.

Its consequences can also be debilitating and devastating in men.

Discomfort and pain occurs in: the pelvic floor, perineum, rectum, coccyx (tail bone), prostate, penis, testicles/scrotum, groin, thighs, lower abdomen, and low back. Sometimes it is difficult to describe exactly where the pain or discomfort is, especially if it feels deep inside the pelvis.

On Sept. 12 2013, the American Board of Obstetrics

doctor@lagospainclinic.com and Gynaecology posted on its website a newly stringent and explicit statement of what its members could and could not do. Except for a few conditions, gynecologists were prohibited from treating men. Pelvic pain was not among the exceptions.

Any Gynaecologist found treating men with chronic pelvic pain stood the risk of losing his/her certification.

Pelvic pain is poorly understood and in men is frequently misdiagnosed as prostate trouble. Major nerves and muscles involved are the same in men and women, so some gynecologists began accepting male patients.

Patients say the pain can be excruciating, and constant.

A 34yr.old man who had pain for years before finding treatment that helped, said, “I never would have been an end-my-life kind of person, but if I got run over by a car I wouldn’t have been that disappointed.”

Treatment may involve physical therapy, daily medication, nerve-block injections, counseling, lifestyle changes and, as a last resort, surgery. It can take months, or longer.

Chronic pelvic pain is a treatable but very complex condition. If worried, consult your doctor early and have him/her refer you as early as possible to experts that can manage the pain.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—45

Nwaoboshi wins Delta North senatorial seat amidst protest

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—DELTA North senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, was Wednesday night declared winner of last Saturday ’s senatorial election after polling 156,604 to beat his closest opponent, Mr Victor Ochei of the Accord Party, who scored 67,580 votes.

He was declared winner amidst protest from Ochei who alleged that the results were manipulated in favour of the PDP candidate.

Declaring the results, the Chief Returning Officer for Delta North senatorial election, Prof. Sunday Akparovie, in the presence of party agents and security personnel, said: “The candidate of the PDP, Chief Nwaoboshi, having satisfied the provision of the electoral law, is duly declared the winner for the Delta North senatorial seat.”

Similarly, the incumbent member representing Warri

FUPRE VC POST: Group warns FG against excluding Urhobo nation

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HE Urhobo G r a s s r o o t s Mobilizer has warned against any attempt to exclude the Urhobo nation in the appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, Delta State.

The group’s president, Dr. Joe Akpomreyare, in a statement, yesterday, noted that the selection process for a candidate to fill the vacant post of FUPRE Vice Chancedllor was now in progress but regretted that information reaching the Urhobo leadership revealed a ploy by a strong faction within FUPRE's Governing Council to prevent any Urhobo candidate from being appointed into the position.

The post became vacant when the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. J.O Etu-Efeotor, an Urhobo, was forced to step down on health grounds after serving for barely one year. The group warned that the Urhobo nation strongly frowns at the ploy to short-change the Urhobo.

C M Y K

federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Daniel Reyenieju of the PDP was re-elected, polling 136,243 to defeat Omasan Duro of All Progressives Congress, APC,

who polled 9,722 votes.

Also, the incumbent member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency in the National Assembly, Mr Ossai Ossai of the PDP was also re-

elected, having polled 48,309 votes to defeat his closest opponent of the Accord Party, AP, with 12,315 votes and APC, Mr Eugene Okolocha, who got 7,883 votes.

UNVEILING: From left: Mr Larry Ettah, GMD/CEO, UACN Plc; Mrs Omolara Elemide, MD CAP Plc; Mr Joe Dada, ED, Corporate Services,UACN Plc and Mr Abdul Bello, Chief Finance Officer, UACN Plc, at the official unveiling of Dulux Colour of the year 2015 COPPER ORANGE by the UACN Plc, in Lagos yesterday Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

DELTA ASSEMBLY POLLS: LP candidate alleges plans by rival to terrorise voters

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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ARRI—CHIEF Evans Ivwurie, Labour Party, LP, candidate for Ethiope East Delta State constituency in the April 11 elections, has alerted security authorities in the state of plans by a rival candidate to employ violence in rigging the elections in the area.

Ivwurie told Vanguard in Warri that “A particular party has always thrived in employing violence in rigging elections in this area. They know they stand no chance

against me and the LP in this election and I have it on good authority that they are recruiting thugs to create fear in populace before the elections.

“The candidate of this particular party did not allow a free and fair primary election to pick his ticket. On the day of the primaries, he used thugs to scuttle the event and before a rescheduled date would be announced, he had been declared the party's candidate.

From all indications, he is set to employ same tactics in the general elections.

“The plan is that a day or two to the elections, criminals recruited from other places will terrorise the populace with robberies and mayhem so that on the day of election, voters will be scared to come out and they will write results and declare same.

“We got wind of this plan and promptly alerted security operatives to ensure free and fair elections. And as I speak to you, flashes of these threats are already being carried out in Ethiope East. Relevant authorities must ensure these people do not terrorise Ethiope East.”

Edo senator-elect dedicates victory to God

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HE Edo North senator-elect in the just concluded National Assembly elections on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Francis Alimikhena, has dedicated his victory at the polls to God. He attributed his victory to the love, dedication and support of the Edo North people, adding that by his victory, the coast was now clear for rapid development in Edo North.

Alimikhena spoke at his constituency office in Auchi, when he played host to heads and leaders of various union and institutions across party

lines, who came to congratulate him on his landslide victory at the polls.

He thanked the people for looking beyond party to vote for credibility.

He however, appeal to those who defected to the PDP and SDP to return back to APC before the next election for the state House of Assembly. “I am ready to received you people back home so that we can all join our hands together to deliver all our House of Assembly members in Edo North in particular and Edo State in general so that we all can be part of the benefit that is about to break forth in the

next few months.

“Some people think they have wounded us by defecting from APC but I am glad to tell you today that APC is waxing stronger, better, more democratic and transparent.

Don’t be ashamed, we will welcome you back. APC is the most united party in Africa.”

On his electoral promises, the senator-elect reiterated his commitment to every of his electoral promises.

He assure the elderly present at the gathering that he will ensure he pursues a bill to ensure proper care for the elderly and less fortunate in the society.

Ndokwa group alleges marginalisation

by Urhobo

By Simon Adewale

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HE Ndokwa Peoples Forum, NYF, has moved against the Labour Party, LP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants over what it termed the marginalisation of the minorities in Delta State.

In a lecture by President and council Coordinator of the group, Mr Kenneth Ojimiwe, in Ukwuani Local Governnebt Area of Delta State, said: “Since the creation of Delta State in 1991 from the old Bendel State, the Urhobos have ruled the state for a significant number of years and so for the purpose of fairness, equity and justice, peace, wisdom demand that our Urhobo brothers should support Delta North in this thick and thin period.”

He added that the only way Deltans can coexist peacefully is when the people tolerate and understand each other’s feeling and called on all Ndokwa youths, male and female, not to only vote massively for Okowa, but also to organise themselves in groups to deliver Dr. Okowa in the governorship election.

Madam Ebunuwele passes on

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Lagos-based media practitioner, Elvis Elimihele has lost his mother-in-law, Madam Rose Ebunuwele, aged 88, in her home town, Idumebo Ekpoma, Edo State.

A service of songs takes place April 3, at her compound, Idumebo Ekpoma, while a memorial service holds at St John’s Anglican Church, Idumebo Ekpoma, on April 4 followed by interment.

She is survived by many children, grand children and grand children.

Late Madam Ebunuwele

46—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NASS: Imo Speaker, Deputy, Majority Leader lost out

Don't be discouraged, APGA tells voters

By Chidi Nkwopara

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HE All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has urged the people of Anambra not to be discouraged by what it described as “massive rigging” in the National Assembly election held last Saturday.

Governor Willie Obiano, who is also the national leader of the party, told newsmen in Awka, yesterday, that the manipulation of the electoral process, which occurred during the election, would not be allowed to repeat itself.

The governor, who was represented by Chief Tony Onyima, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said the results released by INEC was not a true reflection of the votes in the exercise.

He said that the results from various polling booths across the state clearly indicated that APGA won the last election in the state with a wide margin.

Obiano said the party had formally protested to INEC, adding that if INEC failed to take action, it would seek redress in the appropriate quarters.

He said: “What happened in the last elections will not happen again on April 11 during the state House of Assembly election.

“People should not be discouraged, but should come to finish the job they started by voting massively for APGA.”

O

WERRI—PALPABLE calm has engulfed Imo

State House of Assembly, following the failure of the three principal officers of the Assembly to clinch their

dream seats in the National Assembly.

While the Speaker, Mr. Benjamin Uwajumogu, was gunning for Okigwe senatorial seat, his deputy and Majority Leader, Mr.

‘No electoral fraud against APGA in Anambra State will stand’

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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NEWI—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has berated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for alleged constant use of Anambra State to test “their vaccine of electoral fraud.”

Speaking with journalist in an interview over the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which he said his party won convincingly, but was given to PDP by INEC, Chief Umeh said: “No electoral fraud against his party will stand in Anambra State.

“PDP has made Anambra State where they test their vaccine of fraud; it is very wicked and irresponsible for a political party to be doing all kinds of undemocratic things anytime we come for election in Anambra State.

“PDP contested the election with four candidates in my senatorial zone in the state, and all of them campaigned on radio up to the last time allowed for campaigns.

“Dr Obiora Okonkwo campaigned as PDP candidate, Sylvester Okonkwo campaigned and claimed that he was a candidate, Uche Ekwunife campaigned and Ani

Okonkwo campaigned that he was a candidate up to the last minute.

“They contested election with multiple candidates in clear breach of the electoral act and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and apart from the fact that they lost the election they were not validly nominated in the said election, as required by the electoral act and the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As if that was not enough, PDP used Army and police after losing the election to change the result of the

election, is unfortunate this is happening this time and age in Nigeria life, so the INEC declaration of PDP candidate’s winners is unfortunate and unacceptable.”

The APGA national chairman said Anambra State was not new to this type of situation, adding that in 2003, the same rigging was unleashed on the people of the state by the PDP, using soldiers and policemen to intimidate people and then announce fraudulent results that had no relationship with the true result of the election.

PDP chieftain restates Uduaghan's support for Okowa, as DDA launches door-to-door

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Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, has said that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was fully in support of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa's candidature.

He spoke at a meeting of PDP members and supporters in Warri, saying Governor Uduaghan had told PDP stakeholders from the 25 local governments of the state that it would be madness “for him not to support the flag bearer of our great party.”

Mr. Alam Oreyekwa,

President of Edo Progressive Union, who spoke on behalf of Edo people in Warri South, said they would vote for all PDP candidates.

Meanwhile, a group, Delta Democratic Alliance, DDA, has launched a door-to-door campaign team for Senator Okowa.

At a ceremony in Warri, the group hosted Senator Okowa, who was represented

by Chief Fidelis Tilije and Mr. Festus Agas.

According to the DirectorGeneral of DDA, Sunday Onyewonsa, the door-to-door

N my area, election was relatively peaceful and the electorate came out in their numbers to cast their votes for their preferred candidate. Security was intact and there was no case of harassment or intimidation from the security agents.

—Mr. francis Iwuchukwu, Blogger.

C M Y K

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team was put together to shore up the support base for Senator Okowa at the grassroots level and ensure victory for the PDP candidate.

The team, according Onyewonsa, is saddled with the responsibility of going from village to village across the state to “harvest souls” for Okowa.

He said: “For us in DDA, we have decided to take our destiny in our own hands by ensure a landslide victory for Okowa. We shall go from door-to-door, preaching the gospel of Okowa to Deltans and we are sure of victory for our candidate.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

I

Donatus Ozoemena and Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma, respectively, were eyeing the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC. When Vanguard visited the Ikemba Ojukwu Convention Centre, which acts as the temporary site of the State Assembly, the place looked deserted.

A handful of the workers were, however, seen discussing in hushed tones, bemoaning the abysmal failure of their principals.

While Chief Athan Achonu of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stopped Uwajumogu in his bid to win the Okigwe senatorial seat, the former Speaker of the House, Chief Goodluck Nanah Opiah of PDP, also scuttled Ozoemena’s dream.

The Majority Leader, Mrs. Ihuoma, lost to the incumbent, Chief Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as another All Progressives Congress, APC member of the House, Mr. Stan Dara, lost to Chief Jerry Alagbaoso of PDP.

What is your view on Saturday’s election?

HE election was fair ly conducted. However, most INEC officials arrived at my area in Orile Iganmu around 10:30am with their materials and accreditation started at 10:45am. So that shows that Saturday’s election was not really bad.—Mr. Ojinnaka Onyewuchi, Journalist.

I

wish whosoever wins the wisdom to rule this country right. All I wish is for a good leader that can move Nigeria forward. By and large, the election was free and fair, and to an extent credible.

So we should look ahead and pray for the country.— Miss Bidemi Olowofela, Student.

S

ATURDAY’S election was peaceful and I am thankful for that. I just hope that events will be allowed to follow its natural course, without any further hitch. Whoever emerges winner does not really bother me at all as long as there is peace.— Miss Judith Eshemitan, Worker.

I

think Saturday’s elec tion was fair, and for the fact that people exercised their rights peacefully despite the initial tension expressed by contestants. Now it is obvious that Jega and INEC know what they are doing. Kudos to them.—Mrs Titi Joseph, Self-Employed.

I

noticed that during Saturday ’s election there was late arrival of INEC staff, which they claimed was as a result of poor transportation logistics to enable easy movement of their vehicles. INEC should improve on that in other elections.—Mr. Chinedu Chinweoda, Student.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—47

Celebrate victory with decorum, Plateau Police command tells parties

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS — THE Plateau State command of the Nigeria Police has urged residents of the state to celebrate the victory of their parties with decorum so as not to disturb the fragile peace in the state.

It also warned politicians and their supporters against the use of weapons and offensive language as the command had perfected security strategy to deal decisively with any mischief maker under any guise.

In a statement signed in Jos yesterday by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Abuh Emmanuel, members of the public were further urged to cooperate with the police and other security agencies for peace to reign.

The statement read, “The Plateau State police command wishes to commend the good people of Plateau State, the electorate, politicians and their supporters for high level of patriotism and maturity exhibited during the last Saturday presidential election.

“However, members of the public and party supporters while celebrating the victory of their parties as results are being announced must do so with high level of maturity and decorum...

“Apart from that, members of

the public and party loyalists while celebrating must desist from the use of any weapon and offensive language bearing in mind that the victory of any party is a victory for all Nigerians and the command has the capacity to

protect lives and property of the people.”

It however, urged members of the public to go about their legitimate businesses as the command was set to deal with mischief makers.

PRESENTATION: Adebola Williams of StateCraftInc, presenting communication feed-back and numbers from polling units to All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in Daura, Katsina State, weekend.

Sen Gaya retains Kano South seat

K

ANO — SENATOR Kabiru Gaya of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has retained the Kano South Senatorial District in the Saturday’s National Assembly election.

The INEC Returning Officer for

the Senatorial zone, Prof. Auwalu Arzai, announced the results at the collation centre in Rano Monday.

He said that Gaya polled 488, 528 votes, to defeat Alhaji Sani Rogo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 145, 923

votes.

Arzai, who described the election as peaceful and transparent, commended the voters for their peaceful and massive turnout.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that with this result,

the All Progressives Congress has won all the three senatorial seats in the state.

Meanwhile, the APC has also won the 24 House of Representatives seats released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Suswam lost for owing civil servants backlog of salaries — CNPP polled 118,603 votes. months salaries of workers in a and taught him that no single

By Peter Duru with agency report

M

AKURDI — THE Benue State Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan has stated that residents of Benue North East senatorial zone rejected Governor Gabriel Suswam’s senatorial bid because he had much money to run his campaigns but refused to pay backlog of civil servants’ salaries.

Agan said yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, that the governor caused his own defeat by Senator Barnabas Gemade of the APC, in the senatorial district.

He spoke even as Suswam has vowed to challenge the results of the Benue North East Senatorial polls released on Monday by INEC in court on grounds of electoral malpractices.

Gemade polled 140,715 votes to defeat Suswam of the PDP who

He told Vanguard that Suswam ought to have seen his defeat coming.

Agan said: “Suswam actually prepared the grounds for his own defeat and the routing of the PDP in Benue State because he failed to do the needful.

“He ought to have seen his defeat coming, because in the first place, he rejected himself from the onset, or how can a serious minded Governor embark on electioneering campaigns when he is owing over five

purely civil service state like Benue?

“Our people were being owed salaries but Suswam had so much money to throw around in his campaigns.

“Perhaps he took everyone for granted but failed to realize that the women, traders, students, workers, pensioners at both the state and local government levels were deeply aggrieved and the only way we could openly vent our anger was by stopping him.

“Our people rejected his money

Late CP Hurdi buried

G

USAU — THE remains of the late Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Hurdi, 52, who died at a hospital in Egypt after a brief illness have been buried in Hadejia, Jigawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the late police commissioner was buried after a

funeral prayer at the palace of the Emir of Hadejia.

Hundreds of people, including the Emir, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Ibrahim Hassan, attended the burial.

He is survived by two wives and five children.

individual is bigger than our state; and the earlier the likes of Suswam realize this, the better for our prospective leaders.’’

Meanwhile, addressing newsmen in Makurdi, Suswam’s agent in the election, Solomon Wombo, accused the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof Istifinus Dafwang, of partisanship.

Wombo, who is also the Special Adviser to the governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said the REC displayed obvious partisanship when he excluded the PDP in most decisions during the election.

He accused the REC of allowing the APC to convey result sheets to Makurdi without agents of the PDP, thereby allowing them the opportunity to manipulate figures. “ When the the REC took the decision to change the collation centre for the constituency from Katsina-Ala to Makurdi, he never told the PDP but relayed the decision to the APC.

Bishops' group congratulates Nigerians for peaceful polls

A

BUJA — THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, Monday, congratulated Nigerians for conducting themselves peacefully during the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday and Sunday.

The President of the conference, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and Bishop of Umuahia Diocese Lucius Ugorji, made the commendation in a statement issued in Abuja.

The association said in the statement that the results would reflect the true choices that Nigerians had made.

It also expressed concern over the unauthenticated results being posted on social media and urged Nigerians to exercise restraint as this could lead to confusion, if the final results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, did not reflect same.

They called on the two major parties to accept the result as declared by INEC and not resort to violence and enjoined their followers to keep the

Margaret Adinnu passes on

T

HE FAMILIES of Gilbert Adinnu of Akamili Umudim Nnewi and Ogwurumba Ngobili of Ihiala, both in Anambra State have announced the passing on of Mrs. Margaret Adinnu, (nee Ngobili), aged 69.

She will buried on Friday, April 3, at Adinnu's compound in Nnewi, after funeral rites at Mount Zion Faith Miracle Church on April 2. Outing Service will be at the same church, on Sunday.

Late Mrs. Adinnu

48—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

AWARD: Secretary to the Ogun State Government, SSG, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa (middle), receiving the City People Award of Excellence as the best SouthWest Governor of the year 2014 on behalf of Governor Ibikunle Amosun from Dr. Miuz Banire, while Mrs. Abiola Atanda looks on.

BRIEFING: From left: Alhaji Biliaminu Badmus, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ward Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, and Chief Jegede Logun, APC Chairman, Ikosi-Ishri LCDA, during the briefing by Sen. Ashafa on his re-election victory at Magodo, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Winner of the Kaduna Central senatorial election, Comrade Shehu Sani of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with party supporters, after collecting the result from the Returning Officer in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

DONATION: Benue State PDP governorship candidate, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor (3rd left) in a handshake with the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Wilfred Anagbe, after donating N5 million worth of essential drugs to the Catholic Mission in the state.

PRESENTATION: From left: Special Adviser to Senator Ganiyu Solomon on Constituency Matters, Alhaji Yinka Kazeem, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Chairman, Governing Board, Mushin General Hospital, Dr. Ade Omosule, and Medical Director/CEO, Mushin General Hospital, Dr. Catherine Adelaja, during a presentation of ambulance to the hospital by Senator Ganiyu Solomon in Lagos.

BRIEFING: Mr. Tunji Bello (middle), Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Adenekan Adebayo, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, and Mr. Dayo Erinle, Director, Drainage Construction and Dredging, during a briefing on year 2015 seasonal rainfall prediction in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

UNVEILING: From left: Zonal Head, Edo/Benin, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Ltd, Mr. Chinedu Ogosi, Financial Secretary, New Benin Market Traders Association, Edo State, Mrs. Doris Eboigbe, Chairman, Mr Samson Ojo, and Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Felicia Osarhuorhuomwan, at the unveiling of FCMB Personal Business Account with N1 million free insurance cover for business owners and traders in Benin.

ELECTION: Members of Church of Nigerian Anglican Communion, CONAC, Election Observer team lead by Bishop of Badagry Diocese, Bishop Babatunde Adeyemi (middle), during election observation at EC 30 A 1, Iworo-Ajido, Badagry, Lagos.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—49

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

Like Buhari, unlike Obasanjo

By Ikeddy ISIGUZO, Chairman Editorial Board

T

HIRTY years after he was ousted in a military coup, Nigerians have decided that Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the man who over threw the democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari, would be their President. It was an emphatic decision. Is there something about the Nigerian political circle and retired generals?

General Olusegun Obasanjo was released from prison and elected President, again, 20 years after he left office as a military Head of State. Unlike Buhari, Obasanjo, in 1979, handed over to a civilian government, the one Buhari over threw.

The similarities may just end

there in what could be tagged the return of the Generals; it would seem at the instance of civilians.

It must be clear that the military conducted the 1999 election which Obasanjo won.

Obasanjo, who ran Nigeria for eight years, with a huge appetite for more (remember the third term imbroglio) was the military’s choice to stabilise a polity that was torn to shreds after the cancelled June 12 elections of 1993. Obasanjo spent a good part of those years demilitarising the polity.

His successes are as controversial as the man.

Controversy could have been another name for Buhari, a political figure who started making rounds of the presidential elections from 2003, failing in past three attempts, and retreating to his

shell after each effort. His fourth attempt at the presidency was the subject of multiple jokes, but he was on his way to victory,

Unlike Buhari, Obasanjo, in 1979, handed over to a civilian government, the one Buhari over threw. The similarities may just end there in what could be tagged the return of the Generals

possibly under-rated until it was too late, or his opponent did not understand that the battle was not against the General, but allied forces, mostly visible, and others in the shades, who rallied round Buhari.

No Nigerian had attempted the presidency as many times as Buhari. None has had the patience, perseverance and resilience to bear the indignity of three losses. Many of those who voted for Buhari might not have been born when he began his draconian rule in 1984.

Stories of those days made no impression on a new generation of voters, who wanted answers about their future. They opted for a man who many remember more for the stiff stubbornness of his military orientation than what he did for Nigeria . His 20-

month sojourn that ended in August 1985 was really short for anyone to have known what he would have done with Nigeria.

The milestone is the transition from a sitting President to a President-elect.

More explicitly, a sitting Nigerian President has lost an election, something unimaginable, though we saw it happening across ECOWAS – Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire. It could deepen our democracy; it could make governments more accountable.

Concept of resilience It could create a place for the opposition in our politics.

Buhari also illustrates in our times the Japanese concept of resilience – you fall seven times and get up eight times.

Many expected him to keeping falling down.

The epitaph to this story would be about a general, who subjected civilians to his horsewhip, thrown out by his colleagues and returning to subject himself to the dictates of civil rule, including a motley crowd of 469 members of the National Assembly who would subject his moves and moods to scrutiny.

50—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

2011 and 2015:

•Tinubu

•Obasanjo

•Amaechi

•Atiku

By Dapo Akinrefon Asiwaju Bola Tinubu HE former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is considered a master political strategist who guided Buhari’s aspiration to a success at the party ’s national convention last year.

Tinubu was able to ensure that not only did Buhari get the block vote of the Southwest, but also ensured that many states outside the region that did not have governors in the contest supported Buhari.

After the nomination convention, Tinubu together with likeminded party members was able to weave a formidable campaign machine that put Buhari to victory.

Reflective of Tinubu’s imprint in the victory was the fact that Buhari in his last three runs never made an impression in the Southwest, a region he swept last weekend with victories in five of the six states.

Despite the lures and lashes from the opposition, Tinubu stood firm in an unwavering support for Buhari that proved crucial in achieving victory.

T

Governor Chibuke Amaechi Governor Amaechi ably steered the Buhari campaign in such a way that brought the old candidate into reckoning in ways he never had been before. The governor’s input was there in the transformation of the general in his dressing and approach to campaign.

The governor was in direct control of strategy and deployment of personnel at the campaign headquarters. He was also believed to be involved in the indirect talks with some major political players who helped to ensure the victory of the general at both the nomination convention and the general election.

Senator Bukola Saraki Senator Bukola Saraki who served as governor of Kwara State before going to the Senate was also instrumental to the victory. His deployment of political and other resources not only helped in the general’s sweep of Kwara State, but also in forming bonds with other major political players in the country.

•Kwankwaso

•Rochas

•Buhari

Buhari’s victory: The men who made it possible The significance of Muhammadu Buhari’s victory is underlined by the fact that this will be the first in the history of Nigeria’s electoral process when an incumbent president is defeated. It was no small feat that was achieved by some of the country’s most prominent political figures.

Former President Obasanjo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is perceived another influential personality to Buhari’s ascendancy to Aso Rock. President Obasanjo’s behind the door counsel and patronage of Team Buhari was an open secret. He demonstrated so even in the days before

the election was postponed last February when he went on an international circuit to launch his recently released book, My Watch.

He also met with market leaders in his Abeokuta office where he gave them counsel on how to vote.

However, the most strategic role President Obasanjo may have played is believed to have been in bringing international focus on Nigeria in such a way that put the defeated president in a cul de sac on allowing his subordinates to manipulate the results.

Atiku Abubakar Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may not have been seen regularly on the podium pushing for Buhari, but he was a main backer in terms of resources.

Once he lost the ticket to Buhari, Atiku pushed his structure including his savvy media team headed by Mallam Garba Shehu to Buhari’s use. The team proved to be a torn in the flesh of Candidate Goodluck Jonathan.

APC GOVERNORS All the APC governors without exception backed the general. Though two of them, Al Makura in Nasarawa and Adams Oshiomhole in Edo were not able to deliver their states to Buhari, but the efforts they made was undeniable. Oshiomhole was especially a thorn in the flesh of Camp Jonathan in the last few days.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—51

Buhari’s men:

Those who'll shape the new govt

•Fayemi

•El-rufai

•Tanimu

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

T

HE Muhammadu Buhari administration is expected to be shaped by some Nigerians who in the recent past helped to project the president-elect into the formidable political phenomenon he turned into.

One of the major criticisms his critics threw at Buhari during the campaigns is that he does not know how to take charge as his subordinates were wont to dominate or take the shine off him.

The example was made of the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, who as chief of staff Supreme Headquarters, supposedly directed the affairs of the military government between 1984 and 1985.

Responding to the criticism during a session with some of his closest aides, the general was quoted as saying that so long as he had delegated a duty to a subordinate that it did not matter to him what glory came to the subordinate so long as the duty he asked him to do was being done.

At 72 and going to 73, Buhari is not expected to change much. As such, many of the men and women who helped to enthrone him in power and a handful of other technocrats who would be recruited could become more visible after the inauguration.

Among the men and women who could be expected to shape the structure and style of the Buhari administration would be those who projected him. They include:

•Osinbajo Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Undoubtedly, the main man behind Project Buhari, Tinubu is not expected to take a position in government but would largely determine the political colouration of the new government. Tinubu’s role, however, is expected to over time fade as the new government takes shape.

It had been guessed in some quarters that Tinubu could have made a dramatic step into the government as Senate President by contesting the Senate seat won by his wife last weekend, but prospects of such are now remote following his earlier nomination and support for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Even though he would be the number two man, the prospect of him playing Tunde Idiagbon to Buhari would be highly

unlikely. Pastor Osibanjo would, however, remain in the inner caucus of the Buhari administration and would be influential in setting the administration’s goals in social justice and justice administration, areas in which he has much experience in. The incoming vice-president would also be expected to play a leading role in the administration’s economic goals as the chairman of the National Economic Council and the National Council on Privatisation.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi After two significant terms as governor of one of the nation’s most noticeable states, Amaechi refused to take the path of many of the outgoing governors in seeking a Senate seat. Rather he took the politically significant step of marshalling the campaign to oust his onetime friend, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan from the presidency.

The energy, verve and vision he brought into the campaign helped to remake the image and impression many people had of the general.

Against the allegation by many of his local political rivals that he was fuelled by a personal ambition of becoming vice-president to any northerner, Governor Amaechi’s seeming altruism came to the fore when even when he was bye-passed for the position of vice-president soldiered on in leading the campaign against his SouthSouth “brother.”

The gist among many in Team Buhari is that Amaechi would end up becoming the Secretary to the Federal Government or Chief of Staff to the president. That is if he does not become funny and stick to his idea of taking a year off from public service to study.

One of the major criticisms his critics threw at Buhari during the campaigns is that he does not know how to take charge as his subordinates were wont to dominate or take the shine off him.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is one of the intellectual backbones in the reconstructed Team Buhari.

Though he is in a good position to win the governorship of Kaduna State, especially after Buhari’s victory, he would whether he becomes governor or not be an inside member of Team Buhari in Abuja. If he loses in the governorship election, El-Rufai could get a post in the federal cabinet, and the guess could be the FCT portfolio.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

The immediate past governor of Ekiti State was the head of the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the Buhari Campaign and is expected to move into the administration in a similar policy formulating position.

Dr. Tanimu Yakubu Dr. Yakubu who worked as Chief Economic Adviser in the Umaru Yar ‘adua administration and was reportedly an influential member of the cabal during the sick days of the late president could return to public light in the same office. The plan to appoint him as director of policy during the campaign was stoutly resisted on the allegation that such an appointment would remember many of the days of the cabal.

If he is not brought into government, then his wife and human rights activist, Hadiza Bala Usman who was a founder of the Bring Back Our Girls group could then play a leading role in the next government.

52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

BUHARI: Fourth time lucky

By Clifford Ndujihe

W

ITH his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of weekend’s presidential election, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is fourth time lucky.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate landed the Nigerian prime office after a 12 year struggle and four successive attempts.

He started his presidential journey as a 60-year old in 2003, running as the standard bearer of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) with the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, as his running mate. He was roundly beaten in that first outing by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner, who was gunning for a second term on the plank of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He polled 12,710,022 or 32.19 per cent of the votes cast while Obasanjo had 24,456,140 votes (61.94 per cent).

Buhari alleged irregularities and challenged the matter up to the Supreme Court without recording any mileage.

Major hurdle In 2007, Buhari was on the prowl again. He re-secured the ticket of the ANPP and chose late Second Republic House of Representatives Speaker, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke as his running mate. This time, his major hurdle was a fellow northerner from the same North-West Zone, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP. In that election, Buhari got about half of what he got four years earlier. He polled 6,605,299 (18.72 per cent) while Yar’Adua ran away with an unassailable 24,638,063 (69.82 per cent) victory.

Undaunted, General Buhari ran again in 2011 using his new party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He chose the Southwest born pastor, Dr Tunde Bakare as his vice presidential candidate. He ran a good race against President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. He got 12,214,853 (31.98 per cent) of the votes to Jonathan’s 22,495,187 (58.89 per cent).

After challenging the results of the 2011 polls to no avail, Buhari, who was then 68 years said he would not run for the presidency again.

However, following strident opposition to President Jonathan, clamour for power shift to the North and what

After challenging the results of the 2011 polls to no avail, Buhari, who was then 68 years said he would not run for the presidency again

•Buhari

some of his supporters described as ‘popular demand,’ Buhari, once again joined the presidential fray for the 2015 contest. Buoyed by the backing of former Lagos State

Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a couple of leaders from the North, SouthSouth and South-East, Buhari was able to get four parties – Action Congress of Nigeria

(ACN), some members of All Progressives Congress (APGA) ANPP and CPC to merge and form a mega party, APC, the vehicle with which he won the presidential poll at 72.

Sights and sounds at Campaign Headquarters

By Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

The mood at PDP headquarters

T

HERE was an eerie feel ing at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Goodluck Jonathan campaign headquarters yesterday. The party that was for the first time under pressure of defeat in federal elections

Quite unlike the suspense that hung on the faces of staff at the PDP secretariat, staff at Buhari’s headquarters wore a remarkable calmness with much expectation hanging over them

President-elect, Buhari flanked by party chieftains at a campaig rally and party men were at a loss.

The hitherto buzz and business that normally pervaded the two offices were conspicuously absent.

Except men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Police, Halogen Security which is a private security outfit, only a hand-

ful of PDP staff were seen sitting in a group apparently discussing the outcome of last Saturday ’s elections.

Each time they saw any one come into the premises, the question was, ‘how was the election?’ The normal response was, ‘We hope the president is coming back.’

Though some members of the National Working Committee, NWC like the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon, were at the National Continues on page 53

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—53

Jega: The misunderstood umpire

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

P

ROF. Attahiru Jega’s calm response to yesterday’s interruption of proceedings by Elder Godsday Orubebe was a reflection of the inner resilience of character of the nation’s chief electoral umpire.

Where some would have simply maximised the advantage - at that point being about the most powerful man in the country- to openly humiliate someone who had openly questioned his reputation, Jega listened to the former minister ’s poisoned tirade before calmly reducing the former minister to the level of a truant.

Yesterday morning’s drama staged before the eyes of the world and Jega’s relaxed response may have in fact underlined his eminent qualification as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It is an office almost all his predecessors have left with

tattered reputation largely on account of the difficulties in satisfying the extreme partisan demands of politicians. Jega was of course not immune to such hostilities. Just a few months ago, he was under the scathing condemnation of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC over his stubborn refusal to use the card reader for the Osun and Ekiti elections.

Tongue lashing That tongue lashing was followed by the recent spate of attacks by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over his insistence to use the card reader for the 2015 elections.

Jega,’s nomination as chairman of INEC in 2010 was in the path of President Goodluck Jonathan’s pledge to reform the electoral process. He was nominated to the commission alongside a number of other civil rights activists who had in the past played notable roles in trying

Sights and sounds at Campaign Headquarters Continues from page 52 Secretariat of the party, but they did not stay too long.

The trio subsequently called on the Deputy National Chairman where a postmortem on the election was carried out.

Later yesterday evening, the party ’s image maker, Chief Olisa Metuh brought life when he called on journalists for a press briefing where he expressed the party’s optimism that Jonathan would win.

President Jonathan’s campaign image maker, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode also echoed Metuh even as he warned against any move to rig the president out.

Though there was tension all around, Fani- Kayode’s staff busied themselves with literature review, analysis and other duties.

APC: Relaxed atmosphere The delay in the release of

the results did not dither supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate from being radiant. Besides their shinning faces, even the Muhammadu Buhari campaign headquarters had yesterday received a makeover preparatory to a remarkable celebration.

The building was adorned with ribbons.

Quite unlike the suspense that hung on the faces of staff at the PDP secretariat, staff at Buhari’s headquarters wore a remarkable calmness with much expectation hanging over them.

Vehicular traffic into the headquarters was also high just as it was at the APC national secretariat where staff besides the expectation sometimes showed expressions of irritation at the dithering procrastination in the release of the results.

Many, however, comforted themselves by saying that it was too late in the day for any fraud to be perpetrated.

•Jega to right the wrongs of the society. Jega in particular, had won national renown as national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and led the union in many triumphant struggles.

His appointment as the national electoral umpire, it appeared, was the greatest platform to put his years of activism to maximum benefit,

albeit by righting the many wrongs that had held the nation’s democratic process in captivity.

Jega’s efforts as INEC chairman were, however, not without controversy. The registration of voters in 2010 cost as much as N80 billion and the voter’s cards were not delivered until four years after.

His attempt to create an additional 30,000 voting points

was characterised by much controversy leading to its abandonment. And then, the card reader!

The card reader, however, proved to be one of the most decisive innovations that helped to check the excesses of the political vagabonds.

Whether he gets a second term or not, the Jega led INEC has successfully led Nigeria pass a historic point.

Orubebe’s last fight I

By Jude Opara, Abuja

T was a show of confusion yesterday at the Abuja International Conference Centre (ICC) when a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to win the 2015 presidential election.

The confusion started immediately after the commission reconvened for a continuation of the release of results by Collation Officers when Orubebe called for an observation, and when he was recognized, he began by calling for the INEC chairman to send a committee to investigate the claims of his party that results from some northern states were manipulated.

“We have lost confidence in what you are doing, you are very selective, you are partial and selective, we don’t believe in you any more. You have compromised, we will not take it from you.

We will not allow you, we will not allow this, Nigerians will not allow this, we will not allow this until something is done.

“Jega is partial, we will not take it, let Jega set up a committee to go to Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna to investigate our objections with the elections there as he did to River State where the APC raised an issue. Jega has nothing to say here, he has nothing to say, let him go back to his office” said an angry Orubebe who even refused to allow Jega to explain what happened.

•Orubebe The former minister also seized the microphone and sat on the ground even as he warned everybody including the security agents present not to come close to him. However when the drama which lasted for about 20 minutes subsided, the INEC chairman who sat calmly throughout, simply told Orubebe to always be mindful of his conduct in public especially as a former minister of the federal republic.

“Mr. Orubebe let me say that you must be sure of the comments you make and as a former minister of the Federal Republic, you must know how to conduct yourself in publuc”. Jega told Orubebe.

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Buhari: Not an easy way to victory

By Chioma Gabriel

V

ICTORY did not come easy for Nigeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. Being the strongest rival to incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the presidential election was keenly contested. From the onset, his acts as a former military dictator appeared to have posed a challenge but it was a challenge he stooped to conquer.

This was his fourth time out after 2003, 2007 and 2011 against a president from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). However, it was the first time that he is heading an almost united opposition, which greatly increased his chances, although his credibility has taken a few knocks.

General Buhari got so many knocks on the campaign fronts on issues that bothered on his first time tenure as a military Head of State. Following a coup against an elected government headed by Shehu Shagari, Buhari led the country from January 1984 until August 1985, during which he proclaimed a war against indiscipline at which time almost 500 people were jailed for corruption and wasting taxpayers’ money.

Controversial past The dark side of his days as dictator came up against him during his campaigns but Buhari played down his controversial past, making the best instead from his image as a hardliner, especially at a time when increasing number of Nigerians have the impression that the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan was just sitting out the country ’s problems rather than tackling them head on. He said he could not change the past but promised good for the future.

At the wake of his fourth presidential aspiration, rumours came up linking him as one of the sponsors of the dreaded Boko Haram terror group. But that was soon laid to rest when in June 2014, his convoy was attacked in the city of Kaduna, an act that bore all the hallmarks of the terror group. Buhari has repeatedly said he would destroy Boko Haram.

Before his emergence as the presidential standard bearer of the All Progressives

Congress, APC, the odds appeared to be against him given the formidable politicians in the contest.

Buhari won at the primaries, thus, paving the way for him to confront the incumbent president Jonathan.

Buhari had to join forces in his All Progressives Congress (APC) with several influential politicians who many Nigerians claimed have different ideas about corruption.

After his rally in Kano, Buhari said he was concerned by the “scandalous level of unemployment” of millions of young Nigerians, the poor security situation in the country, the extent of corruption “and the lack of concern by the government for anything other than the retention of power at all costs.”

But at the time it was expected for him to face his campaign proper, the issue of his qualification surfaced with the allegation that he did not obtain a secondary school certificate. Instead of focusing on the issues of his campaign, the retired General found himself explaining the issues of his certificate instead. At first, the general ignored the issue and it was not until top officials of the party became concerned that he caused his former secondary school to

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose was especially on the attack sponsoring several front page advertisements that portrayed Buhari in the negative

release his statement of result. Not that was even enough to satisfy partisan critics who sought several opportunities to question what was released, but the general ignored them.

The APC candidate had hardly sighed in relief when another scandal over his health started. His opponents alleged, he has a terrible disease condition and might not be fit enough to be president. According to them, Buhari has health issues and may not last more than a year in office before dying.

According to such critics, should Buhari win, he may not be able to complete a single four-year tenure due to his health condition as he continues to manage his health secretly.

At a point, some allegations said Obasanjo and Tinubu have conspired to do with Buhari and Osinbajo, what Obasanjo did with Yar’Adua and Jonathan, foisting a sick Yar ’Adua on Nigerians knowing his health condition.

APC, Obasanjo and Tinubu were accused of plots to make Osinbajo another Jonathan.

Medical attention In mid January he was reported in the media of plotting to sneak out of the country to the United Kingdom for medical attention, prompting his campaign office to robustly deny the allegation.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose was especially on the attack sponsoring several front page advertisement that portrayed Buhari in the negative.

Even when Buhari finally proceeded to London and delivered a lecture at Chatham House that was well received, Fayose alleged that it was a decoy for appointments at a hospital located at Cavendish Street, Cavendish Square, W2 London West End, London.

General Buhari dismissed the report, saying “I am in London with Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State for a short working visit. I just finished talks with the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in his country home. I would be having another meeting with the Awujale of Ijebuland soon.

Apart from this, I am also visiting some friends. As you

•President-elect, Buhari can hear from my voice, I am hale and hearty with some of my friends around me.”

The rumour of his ill-health and trip to London for medical assistance was widespread to the extent that in an attempt to deflate the rumours, his publicists, trusted aides and wife all joined the fray.

In response to questions on her husband being hospitalized, a national newspaper quoted his wife, Aisha Buhari, to have said “He’s home, well and sound.

No, he’s just come here to rest.

He’s just here to have a rest, at least few days’ rest, before he goes back to the business.”

Better health condition One of Gen Buhari’s trusted allies who doubles as Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso also denied the reports, saying Gen Muhammadu Buhari is in a better health condition than President Goodluck Jonathan

and is therefore, fit to rule Nigeria.

His campaign office also issued a statement detailing his visit to London, stating that “General Buhari would hopefully give a talk at the prestigious foreign policy hub, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatam House in London, the spokesperson for his campaign.”

The statement added that wide speculation by supporters of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), that Buhari was actually ferried out to receive medical attention because his health was failing was false.

It was under these speculations, allegations and counter-allegations that General Buhari concluded his campaigns, leaving his fate in the hands of Nigerians.

The rest is history as the common place saying goes.

Today, he has finally conquered, making history as the first candidate to defeat a sitting president.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015—55

passed on in the 1990s.

A graduate of Public Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mrs. Buhari subsequently trained in beauty therapy and is an alumnus of the Carlton Institute of London

and the Academy Esthetique Beauty, Institute of France, Dubai.

A professional make-up artist, besides being an entrepreneur, she had in the past also helped to advocate women empowerment through

capacity building.

An indication that Mrs. Buhari would be a hard political fighter came after her husband was attacked by Boko Haram when she called for the resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan from office.

The man Osinbajo P

•Aisha Buhari: Incoming First Lady

AISHA: Brain and beauty in the villa

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

S

HE has been General Muhammadu Buhari’s secret, 26 year secret. Few would have believed that the taciturn, austere General Buhari had a soft, smiling and sweet woman at home.

She was finally unveiled to Nigerians as the campaign unfolded, and to some extent, also got her own campaign bruises. While her husband suffered the pains and knocks from the hard hitting PDP campaign, Mrs. Buhari’s pains were not just that her man was under attack, but she at one time during the campaign came under physical attack of hoodlums in Ilorin, Kwara State.

What manner of style Mrs. Buhari would bring to her time in the villa would undoubtedly be dictated by her husband.

Given that the general finally

unbuckled to expose his wife to the rudiments of the campaign, it would not be a surprise if he allows her to perform the perfunctory duties of the wife of the president.

However, suggestions to the flamboyance that has lately been the culture of recent presidential spouses would not be expected.

Presidential spouses Mrs. Buhari is, however, no stranger to high society, having been born into the family of Nigeria’s first minister of defence, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, after whom the road to Nigeria’s second State House in Lagos is named.

The 44 year old was born on 17th February 1971 and married Buhari on 2nd December 1989 following the general’s divorce from his first wife, Safinatu who herself

ROFESSOR Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), 55, the vice-president-elect, until his election was a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The former Lagos State Attorney General had been a senior partner in the Law firm of Simmons Cooper Partners since 2007 Born on March 8, 1957 in Lagos, Yemi Osinbajo’s tertiary education was at the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics where he obtained the LLB and LLM degrees respectively.

He was appointed the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in 1999 and reappointed for a second term in 2003.

During the period of his public service, he commenced the Lagos State justice reform project.

A prominent feature of that project was the establishment of the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights (DCR) which provides free legal services and legal representation to indigent citizens of the state.

This initiative gave a voice to many who would otherwise not have a way to access their rights.

Conduct and discipline Prior to that appointment, Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, was the Head of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

Between 1988 and 1992, he was the Special Adviser to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also served as a staff member of the United Nations and Member of the United Nation’s Secretary General’s Committee of Experts on Conduct and Discipline of UN Peacekeeping personnel around the globe.

He is currently an Ethics Advisor to the Ethics Committee of the African Development Bank and is a non-executive Director of Citibank.

Prof. Osinbajo is Co-founder and Board Member Convention on Business Integrity and the Justice Research Institute Ltd. He has

•Yemi Osinbajo: VP-elect also authored several law books. In 2007, Prof. and his

He is currently an Ethics Advisor to the Ethics Committee of the African Development Bank and is a nonexecutive Director of Citibank

wife Oludolapo founded “The Orderly Society Trust”, a nongovernmental organization that is dedicated to the promotion of Christian ethics and orderliness.

He is a resident pastor at the Olive Tree House of Prayer for All Nations, Banana Island, a parish of the RCCG. He lives in Lagos with his wife,Dolapo Osinbajo, who is a grandchild of Obafemi Awolowo with three children.

56—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

PDP played foul in Anambra, APGA alleges

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R. Tai Obasi, the media aide to All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Anambra South senatorial district candidate, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has said that “in an unprecedented show of brazen arrogance and crude display of force, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate and the party took rigging to another level.”

In a statement yesterday, Obasi alleged that the PDP candidate came with armed soldiers and policemen, and openly used dollars as inducements to earn the cooperation of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials, then intimated those that showed resistance.

He said they influenced the results in their favour and attacked one Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, who tried to resist them, adding that Obiejesi would have died from gunshots if his car was not bullet proof.

FG to deploy drones, planes for maritime security

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HE Federal Government has concluded plans to deploy drones and aircraft to complement efforts of the maritime security agencies.

The operations of drones will be linked to the automated agencies and a dedicated internet platform will be created to monitor activities at sea.

Speaking at a meeting in Lagos, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Maritime Matters, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said there were satellites that cover the entire waterways.

He added that Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was developing another automation that has satellites components,”but these drones and aircraft will help the authorities to get reports about happenings at sea and also to curb illegal activities.”

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Dr. Hassan Bello, said the political will of government was important towards the growth of the maritime sector.

INTERCESSION: From left— Bishop Solomon Kumolu; Rev. Emmanuel Oguntoshin, Lagos State Vice Chairman, Christian Asociation of Nigeria, CAN; Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chairman Lagos State CAN; Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Chairman South-West Chapter of CAN; and Archbishop Michael Fadeyi, Chairman, Bishop Forum of Christian Ministers, at the intercessory prayers for peace in Nigeria, organized by CAN in collaboration with coalition of Christian NGOs in Lagos.

We'll show difference between APC, PDP—AMAECHI A

BUJA—FOLLOWING the victory of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the justconcluded presidential election, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Director-General of the party’s campaign organization, has said APC would make a difference in the governance of Nigeria.

He added that where Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, failed, APC would succeed having learned from the outside.

The National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on his part, said the integrity of the presidential candidate, General Mohammad Buhari(retd) won the vote for APC. Both men spoke at the national secretariat.

Amaechi said: “We will be magnanimous in victory because the challenges are much. It is not only about celebration of victory, it is about seriousness of governance and we must show the difference between us and the current government.

“If we say there was incompetence, we must show competence. If we say there was corruption, we must show that we will not be corrupt.

“If we say that people were denied of their basic rights, we must protect their rights. If we say there was impunity, we must govern by the rule of law, and once we show that, Nigerians will see the difference between us and the current government.”

When asked to explain what the victory meant to him, Amaechi said: “Quite a lot. As the Director-General of the campaign, it is good to me.

“I will begin to tell my children that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the opposition party was able to root out the government in power and the party in power by presenting a different picture of what life looks like; for giving the people the courage to confront the current government and confront what was going on.

“They do not go to market as Nigerians do. They have money and can eat the kind of food they want and Nigerians

are hungry.

“Boko Haram was not about religion alone, but there was poverty and hunger and we have to deal with education and unemployment in the North and also in the south, and to also make people realize that religion is not an issue in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “Buhari’s strong personality, character and integrity, his anticorruption stance for which he has been known for so many years, helped to make this victory easier for us.

“Buhari made our victory very easy. He is a major factor in the land mark victory.”

PDP alleges fraud Eti-Osa

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HE Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Eti-Osa Federal Constituency 1, Mr. Tony Omotesho AkalaBakare, has expressed dissatisfaction over election results released by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The results were released by the Electoral Officer in charge of the zone, Mrs. Ogungbemi, who declared the candidate for All Progressives Congress, APC, Prince Jide Akinloye, winner over PDP’s Mr. Tony Akala-Bakare, with 7,000 votes.

In a statement yesterday, Chief Press Secretary of the Campaign for PDP, Mr. Israel Akintola, argued that elections were inconclusive at over 10

polling stations, just as he alleged that the exercise was characterized by irregularities and massive rigging.

The statement said: “We discovered that the rigging was effected at different polling centres and when there were issues of concern, we raised alarm.

“The card reader used was brought forward and we later discovered 20 registered voters from the card reader.”

Akintola, however, said that when calls were made to the INEC official for EtiOsa council area, she gave excuse that INEC was short of materials and that the election went well.

Okowa, Otuaro tickect ‘ll stabilize Delta —OKONTA

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HE National Coordinator of Delta Professional Association for Positive Change, DPAPC, Chief Fred Okonta, has urged all Deltans in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to support the Okowa/Otuaro governorship ticket as it will stabilize and enhance rapid development of Delta State.

Chief Okonta, a former Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Abuja District Society, said in Abuja that fairness and justice, which the ticket represents, were key imperatives of good governance.

He said: “It is the belief of the group that Delta State stands the chance of experiencing rapid development like other areas of the world, if its huge resources are properly harnessed through effective leadership.

“Dr. Okowa, a seasoned senator and medical doctor with an enviable pedigree would bring these to bear if elected.”

He appealed to all relevant stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 57

OBJ, Anyaoku, IBB, Atiku, others congratulate Buhari

By Our Reporters

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MINENT Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday congratulated former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the presidential election.

This is one of the best elections — Anyaoku

In his own reaction, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth said, ‘’the way the country as a whole has behaved in this election shows that the democratic cultures is beginning to play out and my hope is that future elections will be even better improved on and it will be better than this one. This is one of the best elections the country has had in a long while.

The impression that this election has given to the international community is commendable. Also going by what the international observers said, they have commended Nigeria on this election and we remain hopeful that future elections in the country will be well run and even better organised.

Obasanjo to Buhari: You must eradicate corruption, reposition military

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in his congratulatory message which he personally signed and issued in Abeokuta shortly after Buhari was declared winner of the election, said his government must reposition some national institutions such as military, security, power among others which according to him had been damaged.

According to Obasanjo, “I hasten to congratulate you on your success and victory in the presidential elections of March 28, 2015. Your success and victory after three previous unsuccessful attempts must be great object lessons for you and for all politicians, particularly in Nigeria.

“For me, the totality of 2015 elections hold many lessons for our democracy and democratisation process which are both maturing.

“On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention.

“I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.

“With so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured you and me, you will have a lot to do on institution

reform, education, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agribusiness, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.

“Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead. I am also sure there are men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform and redirection that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress”, he said.

Buhari deserves this victory — Babangida

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida in a statement yesterday, commended General Buhari for remaining very consistent, resilient and courageous right from 2003 till date adding that his victory ‘’ has no doubt broken the barriers of ethnicity and religious inclinations; two sensitive issues that undeservedly dominated the campaigns’’.

Babangida also hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for conducting a free and fair elections.

In his statement Babangida said, ‘’I have just finished watching the proceedings of the declaration of results of the March 28, 2015 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the emergence of my friend, professional colleague and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect. Let me, therefore, formally congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress for this well-deserved victory. ‘’This victory to me conveys two significant statements on our political history and evolution.

First; that incumbents can be defeated in any democratic process if the people’s aspirations are not fulfilled.

Second, that there is good reward for perseverance and hard work. General Buhari has been very consistent in pursuing his political aspiration. In fact, he reminds me of President Abraham Lincoln of the American fame, who was very dogged in pursuing his political aspiration and enriched the contents of democracy in America. ‘’General Buhari lives true to his military calling by remaining very consistent, resilient and courageous right from 2003 till date. This enviable feat to me further enriches our democratic process and matures us into the top echelon of nations where

COMMISSIONING: From left Mrs Titilope Owolabi,Director, Drug Evaluation & Research, National Drug Law Administration and Control, NAFDAC; Mrs Stella Denloye, Director Laboratory Services, NAFDAC; Dr Paul Orhii, DG, NAFDAC; Mrs Yetunde Oni, Director, Administration & Human Resources and others during the official commissioning of NAFDAC warehouse by the NAFDAC boss in Lagos. Photo by Biodun Ogunleye. democracy has taken firm root.

That President Jonathan has indeed conceded defeat and congratulated the President-elect is also cheering news. ‘’Let me also congratulate other presidential candidates of the other political parties, especially Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for putting up a good fight in the elections. I wish to also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission, for conducting such a free, fair and transparent election despite all the initial hitches and challenges. The beauty of democracy is that it is an on-going process that gives room for improvement, provides opportunity to make amends, and affords the people the opportunity to make a statement with their ballots during elections. ‘’With this election and its outcome thus far, Nigeria has once again recorded another milestone in her march through the enviable ladder of democracy.

Our leadership role in Africa will further be enhanced by the way and manner we manage the gains of this process. But I trust that the President-elect will live up to the expectations of many Nigerians that crave for change; and lift Nigeria to greater heights. ‘’I wish to implore the Presidentelect to reach out to other contestants in the spirit of one Nigeria, as he settles down for the task of leading this nation in the next four years. Your victory has no doubt broken the barriers of ethnicity and religious inclinations; two sensitive issues that undeservedly dominated the campaigns. I am confident that this victory will usher in a new perspective in our political history and development’’.

Atiku congratulates Buhari, hails Jonathan

In his own congratulatory

message, former vice president, Atiku Abuhakar said, ‘’my hearty congratulations to His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, for being elected the next president of our beloved country, Nigeria. You have led our party, the All Progressives Congress to an unprecedented victory within two years of its official formation, and in so doing, written the most important chapter of our democracy. ‘’The great Nnamdi Azikiwe once wrote that “history will continue to vindicate the just.”

Your victory in the polls, with votes from across the length and breadth of our country, bears witness to the acceptance of not just our party, the APC, but also your ideology of justice, fair play and zero tolerance for corruption as the bedrock for national rebirth. ''Dear GMB, the journey has just begun. Millions of Nigerians have put their trust in you, because they were not satisfied with the status quo. You represent the hope of a new generation of Nigerians, and you cannot afford to fail them. Our party has made a promise of change to our young people, to secure and rebuild our country, create jobs and opportunity, and improve citizens’ welfare. We will stand behind you to ensure we keep those promises, just like we did during these elections. ‘’Our country needs a new direction. We have voted for you, and our party won the election, but when you assume our highest office, you must become the president of not just the APC, but all Nigerians, including the people who did not vote for you.

We look up to you to heal the fractures of our country, and unite this country like never before.

To President Jonathan, I want to specially thank you for

conducting a historic election.

Your party may have lost the elections, but you have won the admiration of the world by not interfering with the wishes of Nigerians. History will be kind to you. It is my sincere hope that we will all come together as one country, to build the Nigeria of our dreams.

Buhari, Jonathan need each other —Tanko Yakassai

On his part, second republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai said ‘’the presidential election has come and gone like in any country and there must be a loser. The important thing is for Buhari and Jonathan to know that they still need each other because both of them are of equal strength. The difference is just about three million votes.

Buhari’s victory, bad weather for political godfathers

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State on his part argued that the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari is victory against political god fathers and PDP arrogance.

According to him, “We congratulate the President elect, he has shown that democracy and change requires rugged, long distance runners and here change is here. Inspite of what happened, this is a victory for Nigerians and democracy. It is now time for the President elect to immediately begin to address us specifically and produce calendar on how to address the rot that he has inherited and start the process to work, stabilize and then work for sustainable growth and development.

“So we congratulate all Nigerians and the President, we also congratulate the President and also appreciate the President for conceding defeat.''

58 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 , 2015

Syrian donors pledge $4bn at UN crisis meeting

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Iran nuclear talks: Ministers to issue general statement N

UCLEAR talks between six world powers and Iran could go on past midnight (22:00 GMT) deadline, US officials have said.

Representatives are reportedly preparing to issue a general statement focusing on points of agreement, which would be enough to allow for a new phase of talks on a comprehensive deal.

But there is no sign that the most contentious issues have been resolved.

The world powers want to restrict Iran’s nuclear programme in return for relief from crippling sanctions.

The so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - are seeking to ensure Iran could not assemble a nuclear weapon in less than a year.

The Iranians insist that they have no such ambition.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers met several

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, third left, chats with U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, as U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, second right, takes a note while waiting for the start of a meeting on Iran’s nuclear program with other world leaders at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday. times at Lausanne’s Beau-Rivage Palace hotel yesterday morning in a high-level push to meet the self-imposed deadline to agree a political framework agreement by the end of the day.

Russia’s top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, announced that

prospects were “very good and promising”, and said he was returning to the talks after leaving for another engagement on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon, a senior US official said the meetings might go beyond the deadline “if we are continuing to make progress, including

into tomorrow, if it’s useful to do so”.

The BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher, who is at the talks, says there is no sign that the most intractable problems have been resolved.

Officials told the Associated Press that there were plans to issue a “framework understanding”, accompanied by documents outlining more technical details.

This would be enough for all parties to continue negotiations in a new phase aimed at achieving a comprehensive accord by 30 June, our correspondent said.

Meanwhile, three of the major outstanding issues will include: Length of restrictions: Iran’s nuclear activities would be strictly limited for at least 10 years.

After that, Iran wants all limits to be lifted. The P5+1 says they should be removed progressively over the following five years.

ONORS at a UN conference in Kuwait have pledged $3.8bn (£2.6bn; •3.5bn) for victims of Syria’s civil war.

The pledges came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon warned that the Syrian people were “ victims of the worst humanitarian crisis of our time”.

Donors have previously been criticised for not making good on similar pledges, but the UN says donors have been better over the past year at delivering.

More than 200,000 Syrians have been killed in four years of armed conflict.

More than 11 million people have been forced

Ban Ki-MoonB UN Secretary General from their homes as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other, as well as the Islamic State militant group.

‘Biggest humanitarian catastrophe’ The funds promised at the Kuwait conference nearly equal the combined total of $3.9bn promised at the previous two conferences, the AFP news agency says.

Iraqi forces take back Tikrit from ISIS, official says

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RAQI forces battling to wrest Tikrit from ISIS are now in control of the city, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday on Iraqiya TV. Al-Abadi, who is also the top military commander, said on state television that the city was liberated.Tikrit had been under ISIS control

since June.

The push into Tikrit comes days after a series of U.S.-led airstrikes targeted ISIS targets around the city.

The airstrikes made it possible for the Iraqi forces to move through the city. Troops reported finding dozens of roadside bombs and booby-trapped buildings as they combed the city.

Uganda prosecutor in al-Shabab bomb case shot dead

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OAN Kagezi, the top Ugandan state prosecutor in the trial of 13

S/Africa braces for Marikana massacre report

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HE official report into the police killing of 34 South African miners in 2012 has been submitted to the office of President Jacob Zuma, with rights

groups demanding that its findings are published immediately.

The president’s office said yesterday that Zuma, who is currently

South African President, Jacob Zuma

on a state visit to Algeria, would prioritise the consideration of the report on his return.

Earlier in the day, Phuti Setati, secretary of the Marikana Commission that published the report, said he had no influence over when or whether the Farlam report would be published.

The shooting at Marikana, a town outside Rustenburg in the North West province in South Africa, was the worst violence witnessed in the country since the advent of democracy in 1994.

Evidence presented at

the inquiry tarnished police claims that they acted in self-defence when they gunned down the striking miners.

In the days before, 10 other people were killed in other violence around the platinum mine including non-striking miners, security guards and two police officers who were hacked to death.

Lawyers for the dead miners’ families blamed the killings on a bout of police revenge, and accused officers of a cover-up.

men accused of a deadly alShabab bomb attack, has been shot dead in Kampala.

Ms Kagezi was targeted on her way home by motorbike gunmen, officials say.

The trial of the men, accused of links to the 2010 Kampala suicide bombing which killed 76 people, has been suspended.

Last week, the US embassy in Uganda warned of a possible “terrorist” attack.

Ms Kagezi, the senior principal state attorney, headed the directorate of public prosecution’s antiterrorism and war crimes division.

Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango said: “They were trailing her on a motorcycle.

They shot her dead.”

Ms Kagezi was taken to the main hospital in the capital but died on the way.

Her children were with her in the car but weren’t harmed in the shooting, according to a statement by the Ugandan Information Minister Jim Muhwezi in the Daily Monitor.

The BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says some Ugandans are now wondering whether Ms Kagezi was given enough protection.

Libya removes Omar al-Hassi as prime minister

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IBYA’s legally i n s t a l l e d government, the General National Congress (GNC), has removed Omar al-Hassi from his post as prime minister.

Omar Hemidan, the

spokesman for the GNC, said yesterday that the decision was the first step for dialogue among Libya’s warring factions.

The GNC operates out of the capital Tripoli while the UN-recognised

government, the House of Representatives (HoR), was driven out of the capital last year and has been confined to the small eastern city of Tobruk.

In an effort to address the country ’s political

crisis, delegates from the rival administrations have been meeting at UN-brokered talks in what has been described as one of the last chances to stop the country from plunging into a full-scale civil war.

Defendants in the 2010 bombing trial attending court last Thursday

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 —59

WDU matriculates 2014/2015 batch

By Simon Adewale

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ESTERN DELTA University, Oghara, Delta State, has matriculated about 350 new intakes for 2014/2015 academic session, at its eight matriculation ceremony, with a strong warning from the Vice Chancellor, Professor Austin Asagba, to the newly admitted and old students ,to shun cultism and societal vices.

Professor Asagba encouraged the students to pay their tuition fees on time and face their studies seriously, noting that any student found to have less than 70 per cent lecture attendance would not be retained.

The ceremony was attended by academic, nonacademic, and principal staff, including the Registrar of the institution, Mr. G. Egbri, students' guardians and other wellwishers.

The announcement by the VC that all the courses run in the institution's three colleges had been fully accredited by the National University Commission, NUC, received a great applause, as he tasked the students to take advantage of the school’s ambience, study hard and become better leaders of tomorrow.

Phebean Adeosun for burial

POLLS: Anambra govt, PDP trade words

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA — GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State and the state branch of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have started trading blames over the outcome of the National Assembly election which the PDP cleared.

PDP had won the three senate seats and nine House of Representatives seats in the state.

But briefing reporters yesterday in Awka, Obiano, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information,

a temporary victory in Anambra State.

He said: “That the result of the senatorial elections as announced by the REC in Anambra State does not by any stretch of the imagination, express the will of Ndi Anambra and therefore stand out as a monumental electoral injustice on our people.

“Therefore, APGA hereby rejects in its entirety, the results of the senatorial elections in Anambra State as they are in total violation of the sovereign will of the people and stand out as a travesty to our clamour for social justice and equitable representation in national politics.

“It is our considered view that a timely intervention by INEC in Anambra State will help avert a break-down of law and order.

However, we appeal to Ndi Anambra, all APGA members and lovers of democracy to remain calm and law abiding, while we try to redress these injustices.”

But briefing reporters on the outcome of the election, Emeakayi, who was the former state chairman of PDP, said APGA should realize that the people had never supported the party as a political party, adding that their support had always been for former Governor Peter Obi and others who were in APGA and now in PDP. Emeakayi said PDP has rejected the result of the election for Anambra East/ Anambra West and Ayamelum/ Oyi Federal constituencies declared for APGA candidates.

....I won Anambra South seat, Ndukwe insists ...urges INEC not to issue Certificate of Return to Uba

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monumental electoral injustice on the people of the state and called on INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state to urgently look into the complaints of his party, with a view to ensuring immediate redress.

He alleged that the March 28, 2015, National Assembly elections in Anambra State were massively manipulated by agents of the PDP across the state who, he said, brazenly overwhelmed INEC officials, electoral agents and presumably independent observers to achieve their objective, which he described as

VOTING: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe, casting her vote, during the presidential and National Assembly elections, at Ikot Edeghe, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.

By Vincent Ujumadu & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

Late Chief Adeosun HIEF PHEBEAN Adeosun, who passed on, aged 87, on February 24, 2015, will be buried April 9, 2015, after wake-keep on April 8, Service of Songs by United African Methodist Church, Ebute-Metta (West), and Women Fellowship Organisation on April 6 and 7 respectively, at her residence, 511 Road, BClose, House 4, Festac Town.

Late Chief Adeosun was survived by children, grand children and great grand children.

Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did not by any stretch of the imagination, reflect the expressed will of the people.

This came as chairman of election operations committee of PDP in the state, Chief Ken Emeakayi, advised the state government and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to accept defeat in the face of total rejection of the party by Anambra people during the election.

Onyima described the results announced by INEC as a

WKA — THE senatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Anambra South in Saturday’s election, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, insisted yesterday, that he won the election for the zone convincingly, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to issue certificate of return to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Addressing reporters at Oraifite in Ekwusigo local government area, the former vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said from the results recorded on Form EC8A1in all the polling units, it was clear that he won overwhelmingly.

He said: “The people of Anambra South senatorial zone voted massively for me in all the seven local government areas, but it is so disheartening that some

people decided that the wish of the people should be thwarted.

“Everybody knows that the result of every election comes from the polling unit. Unfortunately, because the card readers did not work, voting started late end stretched into the night. And because there was no light, there was no collation at the ward level and everything had to be taken to the local government collation center.

“That was where the security agents joined members of the PDP in rigging the election by intimidating the INEC ad hoc staff.

“Form EC8A is there to prove it because you cannot get a different thing in the field and then announce a different thing as the result. It is not done. I think in the course of time, my people will have the leader they voted for.

“No proper collation was done anywhere in Anambra South Senatorial zone. There was wide spread of falsification of results and inducement. Corpers were influenced and even when the Retraining Officer refused to announce the doctored results, the PDP stalwarts had to force another INEC officer to announce the falsified results,” Dr. Ndukwe

alleged.

He said his mandate must be given back to him.

“I, therefore, call on INEC not to allow this charade to stand by not issuing certificate of return to PDP because there were irregularities of the highest order,” he added.

According to him, it is even surprising that Andy Uba was announced as winner in Nnewi when the collation of four local government areas, out of the seven in the constituency, had not taken place and wondered the basis on which he was declared the winner.

Okorocha congratulates Buhari

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI — GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, has congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari for emerging victorious at the presidential election.

Okorocha, reacting in a terse statement through his media

aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, commended Ndigbo for subscribing to the mantra of change.

While describing Buhari’s victory as divine, Okorocha also commended Nigerians for subscribing to change for better.

“By virtue of Buhari’s victory, Ndigbo and Imo people in

particular, can now appreciate the wisdom behind his decision to be part of the merger that saw the emergence of All Progressives Congress, APC,” Okorocha said.

The governor was of the view that it would have been disastrous if in the new order, the Igbo were nowhere to be found.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL1, 2015

Falcao equals Colombia´s all-time scoring record

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ANCHESTER United loanee Radamel Falcao may be struggling at club level but he is having no trouble on the international stage after matching Colombia’s alltime scoring record in an international friendly against Kuwait.

Falcao converted a second-half penalty in Colombia’s 3-1 victory over Kuwait to take his international tally to 24 goals in 56 appearances,

•Falcao

the same amount as former striker Arnoldo Iguaran.

Monday ’s result in Abu Dhabi capped a successful international period for Falcao, who scored three goals in two matches, having only managed four in 22 appearances at Old Trafford this season.

“I am happy to have scored but the most important thing is the victory for the team,” the 29-year-old said afterwards.

“Today, we played a good team in the shape of Kuwait who created several chances and that helps us prepare for similar situations in future matches.

“These wins will help to build confidence for the Copa America [hosted by Chile and gets underway on June 11 with Colombia drawn alongside Brazil - who edged them in the World Cup quarter-finals last year - Peru and Venezuela].”

Falcao - on loan from Monaco - returns to Manchester with fourthplaced United preparing to host lowly Aston Villa in Premier League action on Saturday.

Keshi Continues from BP that despite the willingness of the Nigeria Football Federation to offer Keshi a fresh contract, the board is bitter over a recent interview the coach granted Hot FM, an Abuja-based radio station in which Keshi was alleged to have called the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick a liar. The board members are therefore, insisting that the coach must tender a public apology to the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick and the executive board for calling them liars.

Keshi had in the interview, which was copiously reported by various news organs alluded that the NFF boss was saying he had been given a fresh contract, when nothing like that had taken place.

In the celebrated interview, Keshi said, “Amaju (Pinnick) never

told me anything and I don’t know what he is talking about. He and I have not spoken in over two months, so I don’t know what he’s talking about.

“How can Amaju (Pinnick) call himself the President of the Federation (NFF) and he is lying to Nigerians?

Is that how he wants to govern Nigerian football? How? I don’t get it,” Keshi told Hot FM. “That explains why he will sign a code of conduct,” our source said.

There has been a frosty relationship between the coach and his employers since the new board was sworn in September, last year.

Keshi had described his new contract as “a slave contract” and wanted several clauses in it removed.

He has also publicly complained about unpaid salaries and

Battle of Lusaka: Siasia banks on home based players

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

time does not fall within the FIFA free window.

According to him, the coach is well aware of the importance of the encounter hence he is not leaving anything to chance.

“I can confirm to you that the Coach is taking this very encounter

very seriously because we played a barren draw here in Abuja, therefore we must either win in Lusaka or at least play a score draw to progress and that is why the intense training you are seeing here. The boys are being properly drilled to toughen them for the task ahead’’.

HEAD of the make or mar second-leg encounter for the qualification for the 2015 All Africa Games between Nigeria and Zambia, Chief Coach of the National U-23 team, Samson Siasia has revealed that he will not be relying on the foreign based players for the fixture.

The Dream Team IV as the team is fondly called must win or at least pull a score draw against the Zambians to have any hope of booking their place in the championship after pulling a barren draw in the first leg played at the Abuja National Stadium.

Siasia who spoke through the media officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro said he has decided to rely more on the home based players because he does not want to be disappointed by the foreign based players who may not be available because their clubs may not want to release them as the

won the trophy in 1980 and the last triumph in Tunisia ‘ 94 among others.

Definitely, General Mohammadu Buhari has a tall order ahead of him if his predecessor’s track record is anything to go by.

Luckily, the President-elect is not a fresher when it comes to governance. As a former Head of State(under the military), Buhari welcomed the 1985 allconquering Golden Eaglets from China with the first FIFA/JVC U-16 World Cup. That the team is known today as Golden Eaglets was a coinage by General Buhari when he received the team at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Nduka Ugbade who captained that

historic team is currently an assistant to the national U-20 coach, Manu Garba. He was also part of the crew that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE. Buhari’s love for sports has not been loud, but it is on record that he made a surprise appearance at the Abuja National Stadium when Nigeria hosted Brazil in an international friendly. It was during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime when Buhari was in the opposition.

No one can say, for sure, where the retired General would position sports in the scheme of things as throughout his campaign for this election, not a word was said on sports.

The President-elect

bonuses. Other national team coaches have also been ordered to refrain from discussing with the media matters outside their technical work, ranging from salaries and other administrative issues.

Apart from the public apology which the board is asking of the former Togo coach, they are also insisting that the coach goes abroad for a refresher course so as to brush up his knowledge of the game.

“Keshi has been asked to go to England to understudy Allan Pardew, the Cr ystal Palace manager,” a top NFF source told us. We were not told what informed the choice of the former Newcastle United coach as the man Keshi should understudy.

The source who pleaded anonymity, disclosed further that the directive was in line with the new administration’s drive

for high standard in all facets of Nigerian football.

“You could recall that when the new board came on board, the first thing they did was to send two batches of referees to the UK. Another group of coaches and exinternationals followed not long afterwards.

They were there for a match-reading course.

So, it is not surprising that they have asked Keshi to go to the UK and brush himself up for the task ahead.”

It was however, said that the former Togo coach was yet to respond to NFF’s offer, so, it remains unclear whether he would accept the offer or not.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) won’t make an announcement on the fate of out-ofcontract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi despite confirming a new deal has been

approved.

“Keshi’s contract has been approved by the NFF board’’, NFF president Amaju Pinnick said last Wednesday.

“All that is left now is for him to sign it. As we speak Keshi has not put pen to paper.”

But it was gathered from sources close to the negotiations that the new approved deal is yet to be completed as the NFF claims distractions due to the country ’s presidential election.

“He was supposed to be given the approved deal last Friday but the NFF officials were nowhere around as they all travelled to their various states to vote,” a source said.

However, the waiting game will not be for long as our source said, the delay was out of respect for the counting of the presidential poll.

“All talks are on hold until after the election

Buhari Continues from BP

•Siasia must however note that sports form a very critical sector in the life of the nation. Those who actively engage in sports are the youth who are the future of the nation.

Sports today is more that just a pastime. Sport is a multi billion dollar industry which can offer employment to millions of our youths.

The sports sector deserves the best brains.

Seasoned brains that can turn the fortunes of our sports around. Sports is practical and results are the only determining factor that influences team selection, appointments. The President-elect must therefore avoid considerations other than excellence in making appointments to the sector.

drama,” the source said.

The election results have been announced and some analysts are speculating that things may fall apart for Keshi who was backed by President Goodluck Jonathan. ‘’The wind of change is blowing everywhere and those in the Glass house are apprehensive too’’, a source said yesterday after the results of the Presidential elections were announced.

The Big Boss, as Keshi is called, has been in charge of the Super Eagles since 2011 but despite winning the 2013 AFCON, many have been calling for his dismissal.

The poor results that have trailed the AFCON victory have not helped Keshi. The call for his sack reached a climax when Nigeria failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 — 61

Messi tops list of Europe’s best forwards ….Ronaldo comes 29th

C

IES Football Ob servatory h a v e compiled the best-performing players in five positions this year, crunching the numbers by focusing on shooting, chances created, take-ons, distribution, recovery and rigour.

The rankings throw up unexpected results with Manchester City’s Gael Clichy crowned the best full back and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil the joint-top attacking midfielder with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

Ronaldo has scored just six goals in La Liga this year after winning the Ballon d’Or in mid-January, and rival Messi has swept the Real Madrid forward aside with 19 as Barcelona sit top of the table by four points.

Messi, with the top score of 100 in the rankings, is followed by Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben (92), Wolfsburg’s Bas Dost (77) and Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez (71).

Then come the Barclays Premier League’s top scorers. Chelsea’s Diego Costa (61) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane (57) have 19 goals apiece, and rank fifth and sixth as a result.

Kane shares sixth spot with Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus (57) as he continues to surprise at White Hart Lane, having earned his senior England debut against Lithuania.

FULL BACKS

1. Gael Clichy, Man City (100) 2. Marcelo, Real Madrid (75) =3. Marcio Rafinha, Bayern Munich (72) =3. Wendell Nascimento, B Leverkusen (72) 5. Pablo Zabaleta, Man City (70) =6. David Alaba, Bayern Munich (69) =6. Jordi Alba, Barcelona (69) 8. Layvin Kurzawa, Monaco (68) 9. Dusan Basta, Lazio (67) 10. Juan Bernat, Bayern Munich (65)

•Suarez

• Messi

TOP 10 FORWARDS 1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona (100) 2. Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich (92) 3. Bas Dost, Wolfsburg (77) 4. Luis Suarez, Barcelona (71) 5. Diego Costa, Chelsea (61) =6. Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur (57) =6. Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund (57) 8. Lucas Barrios, Montpellier (56) 9. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dortmund (55) 10. Christophe Mandanne, Guingamp (54)

•Marcelo

CENTRAL/DEF MIDFIELDERS

•Diego

TOP 10 CENTRE BACKS 1. Emir Spahic, Bayer Leverkusen (100) 2. Martin Demichelis, Man City (89) 3. Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund (79) 4. Chris Smalling, Man Utd (76) 5. Thiago Silva, PSG (71) =6. David Luiz, PSG (69) =6. Stefan de Vrij, Lazio (69) 8. Marcos Rojo, Man Utd (68) 9. Konstantinos Manolas, Roma (64) 10.

Neven Subotic, Borussia Dortmund (64)

•Pogba

•Ozil

ATT A CKING MIDFIELDERS TTA

• Ronaldo

C M Y K

1. Eden Hazard, Chelsea (100) 2. Mesut Ozil, Arsenal (100) 3. Jesus Navas, Man City (86) 4. Kevin de Bruyne, Wolfsburg (85) 5. Shinji Kagawa, Borussia Dortmund (84) 6. Marek Hamsik, Napoli (79) 7. David Silva, Man City (77) 8. Maximilian Meyer, Schalke (73) 9. Roberto Pereyra, Juventus (72) 10. Javier Pastore, PSG (72)

•Luiz

1. Nuri Sahin, Borussia Dortmund (100) 2. Paul Pogba, Juventus (96) 3. Fernandinho, Man City (94) 4. Lucas Biglia, Lazio (89) 5. Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund (87) 6. Marco Verratti, PSG (85) 7. Clement Chantome, Bordeaux (84) 8. Xabi Alonso, Bayern Munich (79) 9. Bastian Schweinsteiger, B Munich (78) 10. Arturo Vidal, Juventus (77)

62— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL1, 2015

Pacquiao is reckless, makes a lot of mistakes

I’ll punish him when we meet in Las Vegas, vows Mayweather •Mayweather described Pacquiao as a solid but reckless fighter •Undefeated American vows to take advantage of Pacquiao’s weaknesses

F

LOYD Maywaether Jnr is ready to capitalise on Manny Pacquiao’s weaknesses when the pair step into the ring for their $300m showdown in Las Vegas on May 2.

The undefeated American described Pacquiao as a ‘solid’ but ‘reckless’ fighter, who makes a lot of mistakes and insists he will be ready to take advantage at the MGM Grand.

Mayweather has often been labelled as a boring and he relies on his defnsive skill to outbox opponents rather than come out on the front foot and he says he will try to nullify the threat of Pacquiao.

‘A lot of guys do a lot of things wrong, but they are still successful,’ Mayweather is qouted as saying on mlive.com. ‘So I want to know what he [Pacquiao] does right, so I can take that away from him, so I can take that arsenal away from him.

‘What I do, when I’m facing a guy, whatever he does good, I take that away from him, so he has to resort to doing something different.’

‘I just want to look good for myself. I want to look very impressive.

I’m pretty sure he’s going to bring his Agame, and it’s all about excitement.

I got here somehow, some way. He’s a solid competitor, but very reckless, and he makes a lot of mistakes,’ Mayweather continued.

‘But he’s been successful. Remember what I said – you’ve got guys that make a lot of mistakes but still are Mayweather successful.’

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will go toe-to-toe in Las Vegas on May 2

Undefeated Mayweather trains for the $300m fight against Pacquiao

Ali roots for Pacquiao against Mayweather M

UHAMMAD A l i ’ s daughter says that the former h e a v y w e i g h t champion is rooting for Manny Pacquiao in the forthcoming fight against Floyd Mayweather.

Rasheda Ali told TMZ Sports: “My dad is Team Pacquiao a l l t h e w a y. ” S h e added: “My dad really likes Manny.

He’s a huge fan of his.

“He knows Manny ’s a great C M Y K

fighter but it’s more about what he does outside the ring.

He’s such a charitable person.”

The welterweight world championship unification bout, scheduled for 2 May in Las Vegas, will be the richest ever with a purse upwards of $250m (£170m). The winner will be presented with a million-dollar emerald belt.

Ali will not be attending but Rasheda said he

would be watching it live at home.

“There’s no question he’s going to order it.

It takes my dad way back to when he was fighting,” she said.

Pa c q u i a o a n d A l i have been friends for years, she added, with the Filipino boxer and politician a guest at the older man’s 70th birthday party in 2012. “My dad stood for things,” she said.

“Mayweather … I don’t think there’s a comparison.”

Muhammad Ali

‘Team GB will not enter football teams for 2016 Rio Olympics’

G

REAT Britain will not be represented in the football competitions at next year’s Olympics after the FA formally withdrew its proposal to enter teams for the Rio de Janeiro Games following a lack of support from the other home nations, according to reports on Monday.

The FA’s director of football services, Jonathan Hall, wrote to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs confirming the news on Monday, having failed to receive their unanimous backing, it is claimed by, among others, BBC Sport.

Jim Boyce, the Fifa vice-president who will step down from his position in May, had previously said that Great Britain would only be allowed compete if there was agreement from all home nations. However, both the SFA and Welsh FA expressed disquiet over the FA’s proposals this month. The other home nations had feared a united British team could risk their independence within Fifa and insisted that entering a team at London 2012 was a one-off due to it being a home Games.

Five Welsh players were involved at London 2012 for the men’s team and two Scots featured for the women’s team despite concerns from their FAs. Both teams were knocked out in the quarter-finals and prior to that the last time a British side entered the Games was 1960.

This month Trefor Lloyd Hughes, the Welsh FA president, had said of the FA’s plans to enter a team: “I am absolutely gutted with the English FA – very, very disappointed. I’m livid about it. England seem to want to run everything and take over the whole game. But we will not let that happen – the dragon on Wales has still got flame coming out of his mouth. We are not going to be bullied.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL1, 2015 — 63

Neymar to replace Ibrahimovic F

• Neymar

Int er e ore Inter eyye Ok Okore I

•Okore

NTER are being linked with a summer swoop for Aston Villa central defender Jores Okore.

According to The Sun, the Danish international has caught the eye of Coach Roberto Mancini.

The 22-year-old joined Villa from Nordsjelland in July 2013 and his con-

tract runs until June 2017.

Okore has scored one goal in 18 Premier League games this season.

The Nerazzurri, despite his agent’s protestations to the contrary, are seeking a replacement for Nemanja Vidic.

Ger vinho out ffor or 20 da ys Gervinho days

R

OMA will be with out winger Gervinho for three weeks as he’s suffering with a hamstring injury, the club has confirmed.

The Ivorian international is one of Rudi Garcia’s key men, with seven goals and four assists in his 30 games across all competitions this season.

However, after going off injured while representing his country, the Giallorossi have confirmed that they will be without the former Arsenal man for three weeks.

“Medical tests carried out on Gervinho have revealed a Grade I hamstring strain,” a statement on Roma’s official website announced.

“The forward, who will begin a recovery programme tomorrow, is expected to be out of action for around three weeks.”

•Gervinho

B •Cruyff

C M Y K

RENCH newspa per Le Parisien claims Paris Saint-Germain are seeking to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and see Barcelona’s Neymar as the answer.

The Swede’s contract with the Ligue 1 outfit expires in 2016 and Laurent Perrin, a journalist with the publication, believes Neymar is in pole position to succeed him.

“Neymar is PSG’s No 1 target,” declared Perrin, who says the Brazilian is not the only target for the French club.

“If Messi made himself available then PSG would not hesitate to go after him. Leo will be 29 years old in 2016 and knows that the red carpet would be put out for him and it would be filled with gold.''

Arsenal, Juve battle for Dybala

•Dybala Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini says the fight for Paulo Dybala is between Juventus and English side

Morata: ‘I’ll play for free to win Champions League J UVENTUS striker Alvaro Morata says he would ‘give anything’ to win the Champions League this season - ‘I’d even play for free’.

The Bianconeri are in the Quarter Finals of the competition, and will face Ligue 1 side Monaco for a place in the last four.

“It will be far from easy, given the teams which are still in the competition,” the Spaniard told Corriere dello Sport.

“At this stage of the competition there are no opponents who can be taken lightly, anyone can beat you, so we have the utmost respect for Monaco. It would be a mistake to think we start as favourites.

“It takes a little bit of luck to win the Champions League, you can never make too many calculations.

“Maybe you concede a goal which you don’t expect and it changes the dynamic of the game, or you have a player sent off on your team.

“To win it? I’d give anything, I’d even play for free, as long as we win.”

•Morata

Juve negotiate for Dzeko

I

Cruyff slams Dutch football

ARCELONA leg end Johan Cruyff has taken a swipe at the football being played by his native Holland, describing it as something

that “hurts your eyes”.

“Everything must be changed as soon as possible because this kind of football hurts your eyes.

Arsenal.

The outspoken patron had already confirmed that he was in negotiations with the Bianconeri, and has expanded on those comments, saying the Gunners are in the running too.

“Juventus and Arsenal have already made offers,” Zamparini told Radio Marte. “[Pierpaolo] Triulzi, the lad’s agent will be in Italy on Friday. I’m asking for more than •40m.

“Dybala would prefer to stay in Italy, but the among the British teams, Arsenal are the first choice of the lad because of the way [manager Arsene] Wenger’s team plays.”

“We are not making an impression anywhere and I ask myself when the alarm bells are going to start ringing,” he insisted.

•Dzeko

T’S reported that Ju ventus are in negotiations with Manchester City to try and bring Edin Dzeko to Turin.

Calciomercato reports that the Old Lady’s general manager Giuseppe Marotta met with officials from Manchester City at a conference of the European Club Association, and Dzeko was discussed.

It is not yet clear whether or not the 29year-old will be allowed to leave.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, APRIL1, 2015

•Pinnick

Eagles job: Fresh hurdles for Keshi •NFF puts deal on hold T

HE last may not have been heard on the purported return of Coach Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach, for there appears

Ali roots for Pacquiao — P.62

•Ali

to be fresh hurdles in the way of the 2013 Afcon winner Sports Vanguard exclusively gathered Continues on Page 60

Messi dusts Ronaldo again — P.62

•Messi

Gen. Buhari and sports

BY JACOB AJOM

W

HEN the history of President Goodluck Jonathan is written, a lot of chapters will be dedicated to his numerous achievements in sports. It was during his regime that Nigeria won her first Africa Cup of Nations in 19 years, remarkably, outside the shores of the country.

Before then, Nigeria

Continues on Page 60

•Buhari

ALONE — Keshi

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Fashionable (4) 4 Skill (3) 6 Box (4) 8 Erase (6) 9 Information (6) 10 Fighting (3) 12 Custom (5) 14 Huge (5) 15 Imprisoned (5) 18 Strict (6) 20 Foolishness (6) 24 Lukewarm (5) 26 Endure (5) 28 Species (5) 30 Poem (3) 32 Elder (6) 33 Greet (6) 34 Present (4) 35 Ballad (3) 36 Shout (4)

DOWN 2 Animal (5) 3 Rift (7) 4 Afresh (4) 5 Rip (4) 6 Cut (5) 7 Ancient (7) 11 Imitate (3) 12 Owns (3) 13 Sailor (3) 16 Obtain (3) 17 Immerse (3) 19 Intense (7) 21 Delve (3) 22 Perfectly (7) 23 Aye (3) 25 Finish (3) 27 Din (5) 29 Before (5) 30 Spoken (4) 31 Notice (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Harry 7, Stood 8, Stort Power 12, Aft 13, Steer 15, Fearful Tended 19, Fit 20, Defiled 23, Reed Dear 26, Recover 30, Sot 31, Demure Awaited 37, Vital 38, Air 39, Drain Order 41, Level 42, Ebbed.

10, 17, 25, 24, 40,

DOWN: 1, State 2, Hoped 3, Adored 4, Reef 5, Started 6, Lotus 9, Off 11, Refined 13, Stern 14, Enter 16, Ail 18, Demoted 21, Debut 22, Creel 24, Desired 27, Cot 28, Revile 29, Award 32, Mined 33, Raven 35, Aid 36, Drab.

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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C M Y K