MAY DAY RALLY:Labour laments insecurity nationwide

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61873

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

N150

I 'll contest presidential election in 2015 —Buhari •P.9

MAY DAY RALLY:

Sore points of last Saturday’s UTME •P.27

Labour laments insecurity nationwide •Tasks FG on unemployment, corruption •Supports Amnesty for Boko Haram •Jonathan admits lapses in job creation, anti-graft war

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG, CALEB AYANSILE, JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, GABRIEL EWEPU & ALICE FESTUS

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BUJA—ORGANISED Labour, yesterday in Abuja, warned that unemployment, corruption and insecurity

were undermining Nigeria’s stability and continued existence as a nation and demanded decisive and immediate action towards addressing these challenges. Presi-

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS: Is'haq Modibbo Kawu Kingsley Kuku...

•P.17

OCHEREOME NNANNA

Healing Abia’s wounded youth

•P.19

Josef Omorotionmwan After the Edo LG election (1) •P.19

Mr & Mrs MAY DAY—Workers at the 2013 May Day Celebration in Abuja, yesterday. Inset from left: Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar; President Goodluck Jonathan and the President,Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele at the event. State House photos. More pix on Page 46.

•P.56 How insecurity has become national tragedy — Orbih C M Y K

Oshiomhole begged to join PDP but was •P.12 turned down — Metuh

2—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

RETREAT—Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left), addressing members of Constitution Review Committee before a retreat for the members of House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Review of 1999 Constitution in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Labour laments insecurity; tasks FG on job creation, corruption Continues from page 1 dent Goodluck Jonathan on his part admitted that his administration has not done enough on job creation and corruption, among other challenges facing the nation.

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of

Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, also expressed their support for government amnesty programme for the Boko Haram sect and called on the sect to embrace peace and dialogue.

At the national May Day celebration at the Eagle Square, Abuja,

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

What you are interested in will be attracted to you.

Be careful what you attract, and what is attracted to you.

TAKE HEART

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BY ELLA RANDLE

OU never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing.

You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain —Tom Hiddleston These words by Plumb best illustrate those times when we think that life is too challenging; but one must try to remember and be patient with oneself and God. “Well everybody’s got a story to tell. And everybody’s got a wound to be healed. I want to believe there’s beauty here. So, I guess if you’re holding on I can’t let go, I want to believe there’s meaning here.

How many times have you heard me cry out “God please take this”? How many times have you given me strength to just keep breathing?

Standing on a road I didn’t plan, wondering how I got to where I am. I’m trying to hear that still small voice I’m trying to hear above the noise.

Though I walk, though I walk through the shadows. And I, I am so afraid, please stay, please stay right beside me with every single step I take.

How many times have you heard me cry out? And how many times have you given me strength? This much I do know, we must always be patient with God and with ourselves. There is a better plan and a purpose for everyone.

Jonathan, however, noted that in spite of the challenges facing the country, the country is making steady progress in some sectors of the economy to address unemployment.

We are making progress — Jonathan His words: “The Nigerian workers are an important part of our history, that is why we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure practical improvement of welfare of all workers both in the private and the public sectors.

“Since the advent of this administration, our actions and policies have been geared towards placing the country on the path of sustainable progress, where everyone can better achieve his or her dream. That is the thrust of our transformation agenda.

“The transformation agenda is about taking and implementing measures today in order to give our people a brighter tomorrow. It is about creating jobs, creating wealth and ensuring better deal for Nigerians. This is an onerous task and requires the support of all citizens

of this great country.

Central to this transformation, is the creation of a political and stable environment which economic development activities will flourish. To this end, we are strengthening our democratic institutions and confronting the challenges facing our country with great determination and firmness.

“Labour has been in the forefront for the demand of good governance and increased action against corruption and these issues are being vigorously tackled from various fronts.

Prosecutions are being pursued in matters arising from petroleum subsidy fraud. Embezzlement of pension fund and other serious longstanding malpractices have been demystified by this administration.

“Given that some of these perpetrators are senior and junior members of labour unions, greater attention to peer review action on the part of labour will be much more appreciated.

“As a result of our economic policies, there has been significant improvement in our economic fundamentals.

Our economy grew by about 6.6% last year and it is set to grow at a similar pace this year. Con-

sidering the global economic recession, the projected growth of 6.6 is quite significant. We have further reduced our fiscal deficit in the 2012 budget to 1.8% of GDP and cut domestic borrowing. We have rebalanced our spending in favour of capital expenditure, the rate of inflation also dropped to a single digit territory at the beginning of this year at a time many advanced and emerging markets are being downgraded. Our sovereign credit rating has been upgraded.

“We are, however, not unmindful of the fact that the ultimate benefit of this current result must reflect in the lives of the citizens. I agree totally that until we create jobs, until Nigerians can wake up and find food to eat, until Nigerians who are sick can walk to the hospitals and get treatment, the economic indices may not mean much to us.

The challenges facing Nigeria — NLC Addressing workers, employers and government officials, NLC president Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, lamented that there were myriads of issues affecting national development, especially unemployment, insecurity and corruption.

Omar said: "Today, the country is faced by a monumental unemployment problem. Official statistics put the national unemployment rate at approximately 24 per cent. As high as this rate is, it nevertheless camouflages the enormity of the unemployment crisis in the country. If unemployment and disguised unemployment were to be added to the figure, the monumental crisis will become more glaring.

“With an estimated 80 million youths in the total population, 30 to 40 million unemployed youths constitute a veritable army of the hungry and the disillusioned that can undermine the stability, security and peace of any nation if left unattended.

“There is an urgent need for decisive intervention to tackle the unemployment problem.

The signal of strife and insecurity today are warning banners we cannot afford to ignore.

To overcome the problem of unemployment, Nigeria must promote strong industrial policies that recognize manufacturing as a key engine of growth and decent mass employment for the national economy.

“The federal government must urgently initiate a range of measures to revive and project labour-intensive industries like textiles, food and beverages, construction, iron and steel sectors, and others.”

He also decried the level of insecurity plaguing national development and asked the government to step-up strategies to drastically reduce the appalling situation.

According to him: “Today, Nigeria faces severe, comprehensive and total security challenges that threaten its survival. In other word, we have on our hands a clear and present danger that needs an urgent and well thought-out solution if we must continue to remain as a nation. From the North to the South and from the East to the West, the nation is gripped in throes of unprecedented violence.

“Daily, innocent and ordinary people are slaughtered in numbers either in incidents of armed robbery, assassinations, kidnappings, Continues on page 10

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

JTF arrests gunmen, rescue 4 women in Kano

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

K

ANO — The Military Joint Task Force, JTF, in Kano, yesterday, said it had arrested seven gunmen and rescued four women.

Capt. Ikediechi Iweha, the JTF spokesman, told newsmen that the gunmen were arrested in Farawa.

He said the women were rescued in Sheka area, in the outskirts of Kano metropolis.

He said the operation was carried out early yesterday morning, followed a tip-off from members of the public.

He said the operation recorded no casualty as there was no resistance from the gunmen.

Iweha listed some of the items recovered from the gunmen to include one AK47 rifle, 46 improvised explosive devices, two laptops, phones and their accessories.

Suspected Army chief's impersonator, two others paraded

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE —A 30-year-old man, Kenneth Odje, has been arrested for impersonating the former Commanding Officer, 19 Battalion Koko Barracks of the Nigeria Army, Lt Col. C. Okoye, by men of the Battalion.

The suspect said he hails from Otefe Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Lt. Col. Frank Etim who paraded the suspect, yesterday, also paraded one Tosan John, said to have hailed from Mosogar of the same local government, who was arrested for crude oil theft in the creeks of Benin River.

Also paraded was one Christian Udo arrested for kidnapping in Ovwore community in Sapele Local Government Area of the state.

While Odje and John admitted committing the crime, Udo however denied it, saying he was framed up by the executives of Ovwore community who did not understand his mission in the community.

Some civil servants disengaged by Abia State Government last year for being non-indigenes of the state took their protest to the Enugu State Government during the May Day rally, yesterday. Photo: Chidi Nkwopara.

Disengaged Anambra indigenes from Abia cause stir on May Day

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA — THE disengaged Anambra State indigenes from the Abia State civil service caused a stir, yesterday, at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka during the celebration of this year's workers’ day as they knelt at the arena raising their hands in supplication to God to come to their rescue.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, however, promised that his administration was already looking into their plight with a view to absorbing them into the Anambra State civil service.

The disengaged workers, who marched as a group during the march past, wore black attire from head to toe and as they knelt in front of the Secretary to the State Govern-

ment, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, who represented Governor Obi at the ceremony, most of them shed tears.

They were followed by pensioners from Abia State who also wore black outfit.

Some of them who spoke

said life had been terrible for them since their sack from Abia, adding that some of their children had to drop out of school.

Obaze, while reading his speech, said Obi was planning something good for them

and urged them to be patient.

He also said about 148 workers of the state-owned radio and television stations recently disengaged would be deployed to the ministries after determining their status.

Army arrests 2, destroys illegal refineries in Delta

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI— OFFICERS and men of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, Delta State, yesterday, destroyed over 50 illegal refineries located at the deep mangrove swamp forest in the outskirts of Otumara community in Warri South-West Council Area of Delta State.

Led by the Commanding Officer of the Effurun barracks near

Police foil attack on Mubi North LG chairman

Warri, Lt. Col. Ifeanyi Otu, the team undertook the two-hour journey on water accompanied by newsmen.

Commander Otu who described the site as the biggest conglomerates of illegal refineries so far discovered in the state said the destruction of the equipment worth millions of naira and the burning of illegally refined products worth billions of naira were a major break through in the fight against the illicit trade and economic sabotage.

The illegal refineries with a complex network of connecting

hoses leading to different local export terminals were located inside a very narrow windy creek stretching several kilometres from the refining spot.

Meantime, the army has apprehended two men apparently dealing in locally refined crude on their way to delivering 10 drums of diesel to some dealers.

The men, Zion Takeme, 26 and Alex Ebie, 22, however claimed that they knew nothing about the product, that they only running an errand. They refused to name the product’s owners.

...arrest suspect

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OLA — THE police, Tues day night, in Mubi, Adamawa State foiled an attempt to attack Alhaji Sahabo Jauro, Chairman, Mubi North Local Government Area in the state.

The Adamawa State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria, in Yola, yesterday.

Ibrahim said the gunmen, who stormed the chairman’s residence at about 8 p.m, were

repelled by the policemen on duty.

He said: “The policemen on duty shot and injured one of the gunmen, and he was later arrested while the others escaped.”

According to reports, the latest attack was the second time gunmen would attack the chairman’s residence.

In the previous attack, which took place about seven months ago, four visitors were killed by gunmen who also robbed guests of the chairman.

Mr. Oriade Adeoye, a retired Air Force officer, during the Workers Day celebration at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—7

Woman arrested for allegedly killing 2-yr-old boy in Ondo

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE — A MIDDLE AGED woman has been arrested for killing a two-year-old boy, Toluwalase Fadahunsi, in Iju, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The deceased was said to have been killed while sleeping.

The suspect, popularly known as Madam Ajayi, reportedly murdered the boy by smashing a bottle on his head, Tuesday.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased was sleeping on his mother, Mrs Iyabo Fadahunsi’s bed.

Ajayi was alleged to have sneaked into the room where Toluwalase was sleeping to commit the crime.

The boy's cry attracted her mother who rushed into the room to find his him in a pool of his blood.

Before help could come from neighbours the boy reportedly died as a result of the impact of the bottle on his head.

Police kill three suspected robbers in Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT — THE Rivers State Police Command, last night, confirmed the killing of three robbers in Eleme Local Government Area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam, said the deceased were robbing a residential building at Ebubu in the early hours of yesterday.

According to him, the Police got a distress call and quickly rushed to the scene, adding that the robbery suspects were arrested on a motor bike while trying to escape.

He said the robbers while being driven to the Divisional Police station in the area jumped from the patrol vehicle, a situation that caused the police to open fire on them, adding that they were later rushed to a hospital where they were confirmed dead.

The Police spokesman said a locally made revolver pistol with three rounds of live 9mm ammunition and one expended shell were recovered from them.

The mother's cries was said to have attracted neighbours who rushed to the house. The suspect's attempt to escape was thwarted.

She was reportedly beaten blueblack.

The suspect who was later rescued from the angry mob and handed over to the police in Iju/ Itaogbolu said she did not know what she had done nor what made her do it.

Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the incident said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, for investigation.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko (3rd left); Commander, 435 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Sunday Jan Wukangha (left); Commander, NNS Beecroft Apapa, Commodore Odogwu Ezekobe (2nd left); Lagos State Director of the State Security Service, Mr. Ben Olayi (3rd right); Commander 9 Brigade Ikeja Cantonment, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade (2nd right) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (rtd) after the State Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola at the State House, Marina, Lagos, yesterday.

Baga: Accounts raise concerns of cover-up — HRW

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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AGOS — A NON-GOVERN MENTAL Organisation, the Human Rights Watch, HRW, has said that government may be underplaying what transpired in Baga, Borno State.

According to HRW, Baga residents told its officials that soldiers ransacked the town after the Boko Haram militant group attacked a military patrol, killing a soldier.

“Community leaders said immediately after the attack they counted 2,000 burned homes and 183 bodies. Satellite images of the town analyzed by Human Rights Watch corroborate these accounts and identify 2,275 destroyed buildings, the vast majority likely residences, with another 125 severely damaged,” the organisation said.

The HRW also added that it interviewed seven residents of Baga who fled the town on the night of the devastation.

Witness account by HRW A 27-year-old woman who lived in the “Hausa Quarters” of Baga told Human Rights Watch that on the night of April 16, soldiers dragged a man out of a house in her neighborhood and shot him.

HRW also noted that residents recalled hearing some explosions as well as gunfire on the night of

the attack and that a farmer described how soldiers set fire to houses in the “Kampala Ward” of Baga on the morning of April 17.

“Many fled the town. One resident, a 42-year-old-fisherman, told Human Rights Watch that while he was fleeing he saw two men in civilian clothes, whom he assumed were Boko Haram members because they were not in uniform, running while firing assault rifles.

“Residents said as they were fleeing the heavy gunfire, they

saw bodies in the streets and in front of houses,” the report added.

It added that the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which in 2010 opened a “preliminary examination” of the situation in Nigeria, which indicated that crimes committed by Boko Haram members might constitute crimes against humanity, and members of the Nigerian security forces might also have committed serious human rights violations in their operations against Boko Haram.

DSS probes death threat to 4 Kano journalists

BY ABDULSALAM MUHAMMAD

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ANO— THE Department of State Security Service, DSS, has launched a full scale investigation to unravel the death threat to the executive members of Correspondent Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kano.

The development followed a formal petition by the Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel on behalf of others whose lifed came under threat by yet to be identified persons through phone.

The petition entitled ‘’Threat to life” signed by the secretary of the chapel, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu chronicled a graphic details of how an unknown person claiming to be agents of the Department of State Security had intermittently put up calls to officials of the chapel inviting them to the headquarters of the DSS in Kano.

The self-styled security agent had revealed during the conversation with the officials of the chapel that they were working on a petition filed by one Alhaji Musa Ibrahim alleging that Edwin Olofu-led exco is partnering with Kwankwaso administration and requested a verification.

The self acclaimed agent further threatened to whisk any of the executive members away at any public function if they refused to turn up for interrogation.

The petition tasked the DSS to wade in to the matter in the light of the security challenges confronting the state, stressing that ‘a threat of whisking any of us away might mean kidnapping, outright assassination of identified exco members or attack on the family members.

In his response, the Director of SSS in Kano, Mr Bassey disclaimed that no such officer existed within his command.

Man nabbed over wife's death in Lagos

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — OPERATIVES at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department ,SCID, Yaba , Lagos, have arrested a man who allegedly murdered his wife during a scuffle over his alleged affair with his wife’s employee, in Lagos.

The deceased, Endurance Ajisegiri, was the Managing Director of Speech Transition Company Limited.

Vanguard gathered that following the alleged affair with her employee, Endurance left her matrimonial home in Shasha area of Lagos for her parent’s in IbejuLekki area.

Several entreaties made to settle the scores between the couple

reportedly failed, until two weeks ago when a family friend to the Ajisegiris reportedly came to pick Endurance to her husband’s house.

Circumstances under which Endurance eventually died was not clear as at yesterday, but Vanguard gathered that shortly after the mediator prevailed on Isaac to reconcile with his wife, she had to be rushed to a hospital in a pool of her blood, where she was later confirmed dead.

Apparently suspecting there could be more to the mere injury in Endurance’s neck, doctor of the unnamed hospital was said to have contacted policemen at Shasha division, who arrested Isaac.

Although operatives at SCID told Vanguard that Isaac maintained he did not know what led to the death of his wife but they were of the view that she could have been stabbed in the neck with a sharp object.

Sources told Vanguard that a deep cut was noticed close to Endurance’s jagular.

Sources further disclosed that two other persons, Isaac’s mother and his sister had also been arrested over the issue.

Father of the deceased, Mr Johnson Agbobonye, told Vanguard that the only consolation would be for the Police to ensure that his daughter’s death was avenged by rendering justice to his family.

8—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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ECOND Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday, slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for awarding multi-million Naira pipeline protection contracts to Niger Delta militants of Ijaw extraction, describing the action as illegal and selfserving.

Mohammed, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, noted that it was unbecoming of the administration to single out certain virulent individuals and groups from a particular section of the country for undeserving economic and financial gratification and empowerment while others languish in abject poverty and deprivation under a democratic government.

The politician noted with dismay that the Nigerian police and other security agencies whose duties is to protect oil facilities and other national infrastructure, have been divested of such statutory roles ostensibly for the selfish interest of some groups and individuals who committed unmitigated atrocities against the country.

The former National Assembly adviser to President Shagari noted that apart from having no place in the laws of Nigeria, the outsourcing of such security jobs to private armies portended serious danger to the nation.

Mohammed stated that: "By flagrantly subverting the constitution to award mouth-watering pipeline protection jobs to terrorist groups, this administration is merely trying to overreach itself.

This is a dangerous precedent in the annals of Nigeria.

"Any attempt to justify this on any ground will portend great danger for Nigeria and its people and it is important for Nigerians to rise up and speak against the emerging evil.

"As far as we know, trying to glorify or reward terrorism directly or indirectly will have farreaching negative consequences for the country and dent our image as a peace-loving people.

"I am happy that former President Obasanjo has already spoken against the evil of rewarding terrorists with government jobs so as to win their support but let us not forget that trying to corrode

Junaid Mohammed slams Jonathan zAccuses him of giving juicy contracts to Niger Delta militants zSays Presidency intimidating, blackmailing Gov Amaechi democracy will certainly hurt the country in many ways”.

On the face-off between the Presidency and the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Mohammed described the ugly political development as unfortunate and a calculated attempt by Jonathan to witch-hunt and blackmail the governor for daring to have a mind of his own.

He said: "It is disheartening that the Presidency and its allies have resorted to blackmail, intimidation and wholesale abuse of those who disagree with Jonathan ahead of the 2015 election, which they claim they don’t want to talk about.

"I salute Amaechi for the courage to resist blackmail and scaremongering even from his fellow PDP members, whose party, we have always known lacks internal democracy".

Questioning what the governor has done to be persecuted by the Presidency, Mohammed asked Nigerians of good conscience to stand up and resist the attempt by a few elements in the ruling party to muzzle the voice of dissent.

He asked, "what has Amaechi done to be so persecuted by the Presidency? If they believe strongly that Amaechi has broken any law of the land they should take him to court and stop embarking on the persecution of an innocent man, whose only offence is that he is alleged to be planning to contest election.

"They should immediately restore the state’s aircraft to the governor because as far as we know, the man has not broken any law of the PDP or Nigeria to warrant the kind of onslaught being unleashed on him by the Presidency.

"What Jonathan should remember is that nobody occupies the Presidency for life and that some of these ill-advised actions

PUBLIC NOTICE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY AS AN AGENT OF FOREIGN AIRLINES First Business Logistics Limited, of 9A Service Road, by Church of Ascension, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, duly registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, with registration no RC: 723363, wishes to apply as an agent of foreign airlines with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Any objection or representation regarding the registration should be forwarded to the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation House, P.M.B. 21029, 21038, Ikeja, Lagos. Such objection or representation which should contain reasons for so doing should be made within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Management

would certainly hit back. No condition is permanent” .

Obasanjo had at a church service last week condemned

Jonathan’s government for giving out juicy pipeline contracts to Niger Delta militants, saying that it was a form of corruption.

According to him, the job should be undertaken by the security agencies, as part of their core mandate to the nation.

FORUM—From left: Mr Bello Mahmud, Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission; Otunba Funso Lawal, Chairman, Corporate Affairs Commission; and Dr Ausbeth Ajagu, Board Member, Corporate Affairs Commission/Manufacturers Assocation of Nigeria, during the Stakeholders Forum in Victoria Island Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Caverton not managing Rivers govt's aircraft — NCAA

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

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ONTROVERSY sur rounding the status of the aircraft, Bombardier BD 700 Express jet owned by the Rivers State Government was further stoked, yesterday, as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, faulted the claim by Rivers State that the aircraft was being operated through a local operator, Caverton Helicopters.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, had in a statement on Tuesday said the aircraft was being operated through Caverton Helicopters pending approval of importation licence by Minister of Aviation.

She had explained that “ request for licence was filed by the operator on behalf of the Rivers State government and this was expressly stated in the request filed on August 27, 2012 and received in the Minister’s

office on September 4, 2012" The aviation regulatory agency, NCAA, however, said: "Caverton Helicopters was not responsible for the management and operation of the Rivers State government's aircraft, the Bombardier Global Express 5000 with registration number N565RS".

A letter NCAA sent to the Minister of Aviation on April 29 and signed by its acting Director General, Joyce Nkemakolam, said, “Caverton Helicopters was invited for a meeting today, April 29, 2013, they denied having any dealings with this aircraft in question.”

NCAA has, therefore, said it was considering inviting the security agencies for further investigation into the documents used to operate the aircraft in Nigeria.

NCAA further said it was prompted to investigate the aircraft background after the Akure incident and discovered that it had been operating into and out of Nigeria on an adhoc basis, which means that it never had prop-

er documents for it to actually operate in the country.

“After the media reports of what happened in Akure airport, we undertook a due diligence of the status of the aircraft and to our amazement found that the aircraft has been operating into and out of Nigeria on an adhoc arrangement since January 2013,” NCAA said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has said that the delay of the Bombadier BD 7001A11 (Global Express) belonging to the Rivers State Government at the Akure Airport on Friday, April, 26, 2013 was not for political reasons.

The agency explained, “ we maintain that the aircraft’s pilot erred by not filing mandatory documents, that is the manifest as when due, at an airport that was not certified for night flight operations.

"Whenever an aircraft stays beyond 6.00pm, authorization must be got from the appropriate authorities before such aircraft is cleared for take-off, hence the slight delay in the departure of the aircraft.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—9

BY WOLE MOSADONI

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INNA—FORMER Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said he "will surely seek the mandate" of Nigerians in the 2015 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Buhari who lost the 2011election on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, however said he was ready to step down for any other better candidate that may emerge under the new party.

I 'll contest presidential election again in 2015 — Buhari zAPC 'll pick most credible candidate — Shekarau He spoke in Minna, capital of Niger State during the maiden edition of Sam NdaIsaiah Annual Lecture Series, saying that politics should not be seen as a do-

or-die affair.

Buhari, however advocated that the best candidate should always be given a chance in the midst of many.

He said: "Whoever said he

BRIEFING—From left: Catherina Bortolussi, Creative Director, Kinabuti; Mr. Stefano De Leo, Consulate-General of Italy in Nigeria and Maria Martines, National Sales and Pernod Ricard Nigeria, during a briefing by the Consulate-General of Italy in Nigeria. Photo: Diran Oshe.

Deregulation: FG challenges court's decision

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

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HE Federal Government has filed an appeal challenging the decision of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which declared the policy of deregulation of downstream sector unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The high court presided over by Justice M. Bello apart from declaring the deregulation by the government illegal also ordered the government not to fix and publish regularly the prices of petroleum products.

However, in the notice of appeal filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, representing other officials of the government joined in the suit instituted by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, the government is challenging the trial court’s verdict on the ground that the court erred in law when it resolved the question of locus standi raised by the defendants in favour of the applicant.

Joined in the suit filed by Aturu were the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Petroleum Minister and Minister of Commerce and

Industry.

The Federal Government in its notice of appeal dated April 10, 2013, urged the appellate court to hold that the trial court erred in law on the question of the locus standi of the respondent, “when it held that it is clear that under both the narrow interpretation of locus standi and the broader interpretation, the plaintiff was qualified to be accorded locus standi to sue in this matter.”

The government in its five grounds of appeal also contended that the trial judge misdirected himself when he held that “the combined reading of sections 4 and 6 of the Price Control Act and the Petroleum Act leaves no one in doubt that the control of and regulation of prices of petroleum products, among others, is a legal duty imposed on the Government of the Federation.”

It also argued that the court erred in law by declaring that by enacting the Price Control Act and the Petroleum Act, the government has made the economic objective in section 16(1)(b) of

the Constitution in Chapter II justiciable.

The government added that the trial judge erred when it summarily granted the reliefs in the respondent’s originating summons, while he failed to consider and pronounce on all the issues properly submitted before him, adding that failure to do so amounted to a denial of fair hearing.

It, therefore, prayed the Court of Appeal for an order setting aside the judgment of the lower court and dismissing the respondent’s matter in its entirety or striking it out on the ground that the respondent lacks locus standi.

The appellants also filed a motion before the trial court, praying for an order staying the execution of the judgment of the court pending the determination of the appeal against the judgment.

Meanwhile, No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal or the motion for stay of execution.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

wants to contest has a chance.

Let him come out because the more we are, the merrier. But I will be ready to step down if there is a formidable and better candidate.

"It is not about me but for the survival of the party. APC is about ensuring internal democracy. Whoever emerges is the person I will support. Yes I will be ready to step down”.

Also speaking in a separate interview with newsmen, former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau assured that the presidential ticket of the emerging party will surely be given to the most credible candidate of the party.

According him, “it is even too early to talk about or to have a presidential candidate. In APC, we will have internal democracy that will guide the party. Let us have the party on the ground first and it will be followed by congresses at various levels that will produce our candidates and at that point, anybody can contest and the party will support the best candidate that will emerge.

“Let Nigerians know one thing for sure, we are not

talking of just dismantling the PDP. We want a change.

We are not just talking about change in democracy but change in attitude, change in approach, change in character, change in conducting the business of government. That is why our slogan is change.

We are determined to change Nigeria for the better”.

Gen. Buhari, who spoke on “the role of youths in sustaining democratic values in Nigeria,” asked the media to be courageous and carry out their constitutional responsibilities by keeping leaders and those in government on their toes towards serving the electorate diligently.

Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu in his message, noted with dismay that youths were being used to foment crisis in the polity.

He said: “It is regrettable that young people have become most vulnerable to social vices in society today and this was largely due to the lack of adequate parental care and neglect of our core moral values and social norms. This is why we must pay more attention to the training of our children for the good of the society".

10—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Ezekwesili for COPAD confab

Labour laments insecurity

F

ORMER Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, will be a panelist in Concern for Public Accountability and Development, COPAD, conference which aims to improve the deteriorating standard of education and the literacy level in the country.

In a press briefing, COPAD’s President, Mr. Bowo Olagbegi, said it would be wrong for everyone to fold their hands as the future collapses and that bringing education to its right position is very important.

He said: “The COPAD conference is geared towards expanding the discourse with expected practical action plans that will expand our 2010 ‘training the trainer’ programme.”

C-WBN, too

C

ONGRESS WBN, CWBN, a global, faithbased organisation will host a reformation conference in Nigeria as part of its efforts on effecting individual and national transformation.

Regional Coordinator, West Africa C-WBN, Paul Oluseyi-Ogedengbe, said the event will be holding between 23 and 25 of May at the Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to Ogedengbe, the event will be attended by Christians, Christian leaders, including people from all walks of life and those interested in the reformation power of the word of God.

Burial

M

RS Catherine Ojemi of Ilabor quarters, Igbodo, Delta State, 79, I s dead.

Burial ceremonies begin Friday, May 10, with a service of songs at her residence, followed next day with funeral service at same venue at 10.00a.m., then interment.

May 12 is thanksgiving service at the Storm is Over Deliverance Ministry, Ilabor quarters.

late Mama Gisanrin.

Continues from page 5

COMMISSIONING: Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State (right), and Alhaji Abdullahi Abdullamid, Deputy Chief Imam of Ilorin (left), at the commissioning of Al-Muwahedeen Juma't Mosque at Oke-Ose, Ilorin, last Friday.

FG approves N348bn severance pay for PHCN staff A

BUJA—MINISTER of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday, has said that the Federal Government has approved N348 billion as severance package for Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, staff.

Nebo said this at a briefing in Abuja, adding that N45 billion was earmarked for the purpose in this year’s budget.

He added that the short fall would be made up by the Federal Government from the privatisation of PHCN. Fifteen private power investors, who had paid up to 25 percent of the amount on the sale of the companies, received their certificates from the government in April 22. The companies are Kainji, Shiroro, Geregu, Sapele and Ughelli power generation firms.

Other distribution companies are in Abuja, Ikeja, Jos, Eko, Port Harcourt, Benin, Enugu, Kano, Ibadan and Yola.

Nebo told newsmen that there was a metering gap of 2.5 million in the country, adding that due to increase in population, Nigeria needed three million more prepaid meters.

He said that Nigeria needed N77 billion to close the gaps, adding that the country also required 765 MVA supper grid transformers to improve the power sector to world standard.

According to him, government requires N544 billion or 3.4 billion dollars to increase

power generation and part of it will be used to install smart prepaid meters.

Fashola, labour decry insecurity in Nigeria

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

G

OVERNOR Babtunde Fashola of Lagos State, executive members of both Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC of Nigeria, yesterday, led the other workers’ unions in commemorating this year’s Workers Day, with various speakers lamenting the myriad of problems confronting the nation’s industrial sub-sector.

Fashola and the labour leaders agreed that the lapses in the system had prevented the country from moving forward in the

industrial sector.

The theme of this year’s celebration at Onikan Stadium, Lagos Island was 100 Years of Nationhood: Challenges of National Development.

Some dignitaries at the event were Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope Adefulire; Speaker, state House of Assermbly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; representative of the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity; Chairman state NLC, Idowu Adelakun; Chairman TUC, Akeem Kazeem; state Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe and members of the state Executive Council, among others.

... as Imoke donates to labour

G

OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has said that a well-motivated labour will strive to ensure service delivery.

Imoke stated this while presenting two pick-up vans, a bus and other incentives to labour during the 2013 Joint May Day celebration at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

According to the governor, the pick-ups were for the

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, respectively, while the bus was for the Nigerian Pensioners Association.

The governor disclosed that the Ministry of Lands and Housing is developing the cost and estimate for a proposed NLC secretariat in the state, while it has also actively implemented the revised new tax regime, thereby putting additional resources in the hands of the workers.

He said as a state with a high proportion of its workforce in the public sector, it had accelerated the management of the process of promotion.

arson, communal clashes or bombings, sectarian skirmishes and related acts of violence with a telling effect in every facet of our life as a nation. ”The bonds that hold us together are being weakened. Our productive capacity is similarly diminishing. There is a feeling of loss of identity. We are scared and disfigured. As the nation lies prostrate, we are all shocked. But much more worrying is the inexorable loss of humanity, both murderers and their victims.

“As we have stated earlier, the effects of insecurity on us as a people and as a nation is multi-dimensional and grave. Slowly but surely the nation is being shut down, infrastructure destroyed and lives wasted.

There is resurgence of ethnic and regional fervor, displacement, capital fight, increase in expenditure on security and at the expense of other more pressing needs.

Backs amnesty for Boko Haram

“However, we at the congress have an unshakeable faith in the indivisibility and sovereignty of Nigeria.

We believe it has enough space and resources for the expression of our individual and collective dreams and endeavours.

“In the light of the foregoing, we call on the government to muster the necessary will and wisdom to tackle these security challenges. In furtherance of these, we throw our weight behind the on-going efforts to workout an amnesty programme with the Boko Haram sect. For such a programme to be successful, however members of the sect must first and foremost embrace dialogue and negotiations.

“We therefore call on the members of Boko Haram to lay down their arms and step out for reconciliation talks. Nigeria is their country and its dismemberment or destruction, in our view, offers no way forward for any of us,” Omar stated.

President-General of the Trade Union Congress, Peter Esele, called on the Federal Government to overhaul its security network.

“We condemn all the bombings and the other acts of violence in the land.

The security crisis has lasted for too long, be it in the Niger Delta, the West, the East, the North or the Middle Belt. It is simply not good for this country."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—11

Resign if you have political ambition, Fayemi tells civil servants

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

A

DO-EKITI—GOVERNOR Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has advised any civil servant interested in politics to opt out of public service and declare his intention rather than compromising what he called “the hallowed position of trust”.

Expressing dismay at the unabated participation of certain categories of workers in politics, Fayemi warned that such workers shall be held accountable for their actions within the framework of existing regulations in the civil service.

The governor was speaking in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, during May Day celebration.

Fayemi decried the rising waves of corruption and insecurity in Nigeria, pointing out that every facet of the country had been debased by poor governance and bad leadership style.

He expressed disappointment over the Nigeria's criminal justice system, noting that the law was always in favour of the rich at the expense of the poor, pointing out that this portends grave danger to the survival of the Nigerian society since the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

He said: “Recently, somebody stole a phone set and was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment by a court of law. But we learnt that somebody was alleged to have stolen N12 billion pension fund, but

was set free. So, what manner of criminal justice is this?

“I am not saying that stealing of a phone set is good, but the dispensation of justice should

not privileged the rich.”

On why there was no traditional march past this year, the Chairmen of Trade Union Congress, Mr. Kolawole Olaiya and

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, Oyo State NUJ Chairman; High Chief Yussuf Ayoola, Basorun of Oyo, representing Alaafin of Oyo; Chief Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman, O'odua Investment and celebrant; Senator Lekan Balogun, Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, and Mr. Adebayo Jimoh, GMD of O'odua Investment, at the launching of a magazine and a public lecture to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of Chief Alli in Ibadan, Tuesday.

Ondo workers back verification

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—WORKERS in Ondo State, yesterday, expressed support for the ongoing verification of the entire workforce, following discovery of alleged large scale

fraud.

The ongoing exercise had exposed large scale fraud across the 18 local government areas of the state in the area of illegal recruitment, discovery of non-existing workers on government payroll and pad-

Ajimobi promises low cost housing estates

BY OLA AJAYI

I

BADAN—AS part of his administration’s contribution to workers’ progress in Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has promised to construct low cost housing estates for all workers in the state.

The governor also removed the ban placed on graduate teachers’ promotion to level 14.

He said these at the May Day celebration held at Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan, yesterday.

He appealed to workers to join hands with him in making more remarkable progress in the state, saying such co-operation would record tremendous development.

He said: “This is a day to appreciate the immense contributions of our workers’ tireless effort to make the state prosperous and it takes courage for a governor to stand and address the worker because we know we can not please all of you.

“It is in view of this that we promise to work as partners in progress, although we know that the dirt and inadequacy in the state cannot be transformed in a day.

"I am soliciting your support for

other allied unions, said nothing was too high to sacrifice in honour of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka .

us to sit and discuss “In the next few months, the state government will construct low cost housing estates for all the workers and the ban on graduate teachers’ promotion to level 14 has been removed.”

He also lifted the hope of traders saying, “in the next few weeks, we will commission a shopping complex with modern facilities to accom-

modate 3,200 traders. Displaced traders will be the first beneficiaries."

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, Mr. Bashiru Olanrewaju, said the celebration would be incomplete if the government did not find a lasting solution to the problems of unemployment, insecurity, corruption and other social vices.

ding of payment vouchers of workers.

To show their displeasure, workers in the local governments, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Union Local Government Employees, NULGE, did not attend the May Day celebration held in Akure, the state capital, but their President, Ayo Omoregie, attended.

Omoregie, however, declined comment, when newsmen asked him why his members were absent from the rally.

State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mrs Bosede Daramola, expressed the support of the congress for the verification.

Daramola, however, urged the government to pay those workers that have not been paid.

Osun workers endorse Aregbesola for 2nd term

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—WORKERS in Osun State, yesterday, practically handed the second term ticket to Governor Rauf Aregbesola to re-contest the 2014 governorship election in the state.

Posters, banners and leaflets adorned virtually all the roundabouts in Osogbo, the state capital and venue of the May Day celebration, Government Technical College,Osogbo, with inscriptions such as Ogbeni

Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola for Second Term—Courtesy Osun Labour.

This year ’s May Day celebration was a departure from last year, when Aregbesola was booed out of the venue of the rally by workers who described his administration as anti-workers.

In the address to the union, Aregbesola observed that Nigeria’s economy would be one of the most developed and strong if incomes are true reflection of productive activities.

He also described workers as the most veritable instrument in the implementation and success of government policies, adding that income should be ultimately defined in correlation to productivity.

His said: “What is appropriate is a complex decision. It is complex because it is best for worker and employer: that income is earned and it can only be earned if income is a true reflection of productivi— when productivity is the true measure of income."

YDV faults Daniel probe

BY LAJA THOMAS

Y

ORUBA for Democratic Values, YDV, has expressed concern over what it described as renewed aggressive investigation tactics by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, of a number of political associates, staff and aides of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State, despite ongoing trial by the antigraft agency at an Abeokuta High Court.

Publicity Secretary of YDA, Mr. Kola Are, said: “We consider recent interrogation of a number of Daniel’s political associates, staff and aides as deliberate attempt to harass, intimidate and coerce innocent citizens into submission and possibly cripple political and business activities of the former governor.

“We note specifically that Daniel is unarguably the most investigated political office holder in Nigeria in recent time in spite of the fact that affairs of his government had been subject of monitoring and surveillance by the anti-graft agency since 2006 at the heels of his election for second term in office."

We didn't abandon zonal offices — NSC

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

E

XECUTIVE Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, has said that the Council has not abandoned it zonal offices, contrary to insinuation making the rounds.

Bello, who spoke to Vanguard in his office in Lagos, said all its zonal offices were operational. He pointed out that the Council received about 300 complaints every month from the various zones.

He explained that they had to redeploy some officers at the zonal offices, where there are less work due to the seasonal nature of items at the zone.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Oshiomhole begged to join PDP but was turned down —Metuh

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—NATIONAL leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, begged to be a member of the party severally, but his request was turned down, just as it urged him to tell Nigerians how many times he begged.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement, said the Edo State governor, in 2007, contacted the PDP for its gubernatorial ticket to run as governor of the state, but the request was rejected on the ground that if adhered to, the party’s zoning arrangement would be distorted.

Metuh said: "The same PDP, which Oshiomhole went on all fours, begging to join has suddenly become the “party of rogues” because of his desperation to justify the massive rigging and democratic aberration that was called local government elections in Edo State.

"In 2007, Oshiomhole begged to be given an opportunity under the umbrella, but we considered his governorship aspiration an assault on the existing zoning formula in the state and quietly turned him down. Again, in 2012, he once more came, cap in hand, and our great party again rejected him. Is Oshiomhole just realising how bad our party is, when he was all the while begging for membership?”

But reacting, Oshiomhole described the allegations as laughable and ridiculous, querying what was attractive in PDP that would make him beg to be a member of the party.

Reacting to PDP’s statement, Special Adviser to Oshiomhole on Media, Kassim Afegbua, urged Metuh to hide his head in shame for trying to sell what he termed blatant lies to the unsuspecting public. He said: ‘’It is only a party of rogues that can truly possess such dis-ingenuous traits to rake deliberate mud at their opponents to score cheap points. But thank God the people have become wiser and can read in-between the lines those who speak the truth and those who are gifted as liars."

Civil society groups reject Edo LG poll results

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—CIVIL society groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Independent Domestic Election Observers, yesterday, called for the cancellation of the just concluded local government elections in Edo State, describing the exercise as one of the worst elections in the nation’s history.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Coordinator, Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, Dr. Onyike Isaac also called for the immediate sack of Chairman, Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, Mr. Solomon Ogoh, for what he termed his incompetence to conduct free, fair and credible council polls in the 18 local government areas of the state.

Isaac said that 42 civil society groups and other stakeholders were accredited to observe the elections held on April 20, and subsequently, April 24 and 25, respectively, alleging that it was observed that EDSIEC chairman was not prepared and also lacked the professional experience to conduct the elections.

He said: "We recommend the immediate removal or sack of the Chairman, EDSIEC, for inability to conduct free, fair and credible council elections.

Pro-active measures should be put in place to prevent future logistics challenges and appointment of inexperienced persons to man such a sensitive position. Voters register should be revalidated and displayed for two months before the elections.

"Conducting elections in riverrine communities portends certain challenges, which EDSIEC should reflect upon to ensure effective distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials for future elections.

"We strongly posit that elections at local government levels should not be the prerogative of state governments but rather, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should supervise the process and conduct of council elections to minimise electoral frauds at the local level.”

Isaac said that in the course of carrying out their duties, they were denied access to the EDSIEC Chairman, adding, "for obvious reasons, which we believe had to do with the tendency to rig the election in favour of the ruling party, Action Congress of Ni-

geria, ACN, in Edo State.

"Edo State council elections were one of the worst elections ever conducted in the history of Nigeria's democratic process. ‘’We observed with great dismay that the Chairman and the entire staff of EDSIEC were not fully prepared for the elections. They also lacked the professional experience to conduct the elections. The distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials was largely delayed and distorted. We observed a short fall in the distribution of election materials throughout the 18 councils.

In some polling units, result sheets were not supplied.

"Adequate measures were not taken to address the ad-

ministrative and logistical challenges in order to prevent unforeseen circumstances that may affect the expeditious distribution of election materials.

Apparently, the late arrival of election materials was observed throughout the three senatorial districts of the state, which eventually led to late commencement of accreditation and voting in the entire councils.

"Voters accreditation commenced very late about 2: 30 pm and proper voting commenced at 4pm at most of the polling stations visited, while in some places such as Isako Unit I Primary School and Sule Primary School Akpana unit 013 Ivhiefa Akpana accreditation and voting were carried out simultaneously."

BRIEFING: From left: Chief Patrick Aziza, President-General, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU; Senator Pius Ewherido, representing Delta Central Senatorial District and Chief Charles Majoroh, during a briefing by Senator Ewherido, at UPU Complex, Uvwiamuge-Agbaroh.

Photo: Nath Onojake.

No plans to impeach Amaechi —Rivers PDP Chair

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT— CHAIRMAN of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, Mr. Felix Obuah, has dismissed as mere speculations, allegations of plot to impeach Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the state.

Briefing newsmen, yesterday, at the state secretariat of the party in Port Harcourt, Obuah said his cardinal programme was to unite the party to ensure it wins future elections in the state.

He said he will work with the state government to develop the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said: “I have come to unite the party and not to impeach the governor. Our duty is to help the government develop the 23 local government areas of the

state. None of my executive has said we want to impeach the governor.”

Calling on residents to ignore calls to embark on mass protests against the alleged plan to impeach the governor, Obuah said his administration would give

room to all party members to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the party.

“My intention is to unite the party. I can’t work in isolation. PDP is one family.

We should all join hands to move the party forward.”

Obuah said the party would support the state government to achieve its lofty programmes for the people but added that it would not hesitate to disagree with the governor, if he fails to deliver dividends of democracy.

TYM partners Aston to address mgt deficiencies

A

N innovative social enterprise, providing learning platforms for business professionals, These Young Minds, TYM, has entered into a partnership with Aston Business School in the United Kingdom to address the dearth of qualitative management skills in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria and the rest of the African continent.

According to a statement by Alim Abubakre, Founding Exec-

utive Director, These Young Minds, the issue of the lack of sufficient management skills is further compounded by the multiple management challenges facing both businesses and public sector organisations.

He said: “While many of these challenges, including corruption, inadequate infrastructure and a burdensome regulatory environment, are not unique to the

African context, forwardlooking strategic management enables organisations to successfully navigate these risks.”

He noted that continuous capacity development for senior executives in the public and private sector to enhance skill-sets of senior managers will empower executives to manage change and competitiveness.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—13

C M Y K

14—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Barr. Simon Eze passes on

A

PROMINENT legal practitioner in Enugu State, Barr.

Simon Peter Chukwuemeka Eze, has died, aged 71.

A retired civil servant and lawyer, Barr. Eze hailed from IheakpuAwka in Igbo-Eze North LGA, Enugu State.

After his retirement from the Ministry of Justice, Enugu State, he went into private legal practice until his death.

He will be buried in his home-town, Ikolo, Iheakpu-Awka, on Friday, May 3, 2013.

We 're rebuilding Rivers State — Amaechi G OVERNOR CHIBUIKE Amaechi of Rivers State has said that his administration was rebuilding the state’s infrastructure to complement the development efforts of its founding fathers.

Amaechi, when participants of the Senior Executive Course 35 from the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Jos paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, said: “We are only going back to where our parents left us.

"There is nothing we are doing now that King DietteSpiff did not do, but they have all deteriorated.

“So we are going back to where King Diette-Spiff left the state. He built over 200 secondary and primary schools. We even had fish farms but they have all been vandalised or had deteriorated and the land taken over by communities.

"And we are building the monorail project. We have a target of January, 2014 to complete the monorail that will be the first in Africa. Now it is three kilometres and if we have N72 billion we will extend it to seven kilometres,” Amaechi said.

The governor spoke of his administration’s vision and

efforts in education, health, welfare and other sectors.

“The model secondary schools, like the model primary schools are ICT compliant. An Indian company has taken over the sustainability of the project, but government is still negotiating with the due process to provide one child with one tablet.

“We promised our people 160 health centres, we have completed 120, the remaining 40 health centres are under construction. We have hired 400 doctors and making efforts to hire another 200 this year,” Amaechi said.

The governor also said the

I’ll accept Obi and faction back to APGA if... — Umeh

O

BY ENYIM ENYIM

NITSHA — NATIONAL chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh,

yesterday, said he was prepared to accept Governor Peter Obi and his faction of the party if they obeyed the order of Enugu Court of Appeal that reinstated him.

"We are in election year in Anambra State and we have to prepare very well to re-occupy the Awka Government House come 2013 governorship election.

'1000 Nigerians killed extra-judicially since January'

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

Late S. P. C. Eze

wage bill of workers has increased from N2.5 billion to N8.9 billion due to the inclusion of salary bill of primary school teachers, a responsibility undertaken by the local government councils before he assumed office.

On its government's promise of ensuring 24 hours steady power supply, he said: “We believe that by the time all the power stations have been completed, we should be able to have 715 megawatts. So, for the next four to five years, whoever becomes the next governor will not concentrate in building new infrastructure."

AWKA — THE International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, INTERSOCIETY, said yesterday that a research it conducted be-

tween January and April, 2013, showed that no fewer than 1000 Nigerians were killed extra-judicially in the country within the period.

Chairman of board of trustees of the group, Mr. Emeka

Umeagbalasi, said in the report released in Awka, that findings showed that the killings were traced to both lawful and unlawful armed elements within and outside the country’s security forces.

“Obi is not contesting for governorship again. Obi has had it all for the past eight years the party supported him.

He should support the party to live and not to kill it as they are doing.”

He said the Enugu Court of Appeal that reinstated him should be obeyed and advised against going through the back door to quash it.

Umeh said he was the only person that had the power to appoint a legal adviser or counsel for the party.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard , THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

OMLs petition: NNPC writes Senate, clarifies agreement with Atlantic Energy Drilling •Says NPDC still owns oil blocs

BY HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA — G R O U P Managing Director of Nigeria National P e t r o l e u m Corporation, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has described as absurd allegations by Restoration Niger Delta that its agreement with Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept was reached in violation of the Public Procurement Act. Engr. Yakubu, who Mrs. Diezani Alison Maduekwe, Minister of wrote both the Senate Committees on Petroleum and Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, President and Petroleum (Upstream CEO, GE Nigeria, at the Presidential Power Reform and Downstream), Transactions Signing Summit, in Abuja. explained that the strategic alliance agreement NNPC had Development Company we are very mindful of with Atlantic Energy Limited’s cash call the objectives of the Drilling Concept Limited obligations in the Bureau for Public was not in contravention affected OMLs. Procurement and the “Unlike the scope of application of the of the Procurement Act. In the letters, dated divestment of the Public Procurement Act. April 30, 2013, addressed private equity owners’ We wish to state that the Petroleum Strategic to Senator Emmanuel (Shell Alliance Paulker, Chairman, Development Company Agreement entered into Senate Committee on Limited, Total E&P with the Atlantic Energy Petroleum, Upstream and Nigeria Limited and Drilling Concept Limited his Downstream Nigerian Agip Oil does not fall within the Limited purview of the Public counterpart, Senator Company Magnus Abe, Engr. equity interest to ND Procurement Act. Yakubu also explained Western Nigeria Limited “The Nigerian that the Nigerian and Shoreline Nigeria Petroleum Development Petroleum Development Limited) in which the Company Limited is by Company Limited, NPDC entire 45 per cent equity the Strategic Alliance remained the operator interest in the affected Agreement receiving and still owned its 55 per OMLs were divested, funds from Atlantic cent interest in Oil the Strategic Alliance Energy Drilling Concept Agreement simply Limited to finance its 55 Mining Leases, OMLs. He added that NPDC creates an obligation for per cent equity interest in had not in any way Atlantic Energy Drilling the affected OMLs and divested any of its interest Concept Limited to not the procurement of in the OMLs as alleged provide funding for the goods, works or services development of these as contemplated under by the petitioners.

He said: ‘’We refer to assets as opposed to the Public Procurement the petition written by acquisition of equity Act. Restoration Niger Delta, interest in the block.

“Therefore, it is absurd “It is instructive to note to suggest that the dated March 4, 2013, in which the petitioners that the Nigerian Strategic Alliance made the following Petroleum Development Agreement is in spurious and unfounded Company Limited is the contravention of the allegations against the operator and still owns Procurement Act. management of the its 55 per cent interest in “On whether the Nigerian Petroleum OMLs. execution of the Strategic "The company has not Alliance Agreement Development Company divested any of its amounts to discretionary Limited.

“The Strategic Alliance interest in the OMLs as award of equity interest in Agreement entered into erroneously alleged by OMLs 26, 30, 32 and 42 between Nigerian the petitioners. This can as alleged by the Petroleum Development be easily discerned from petitioners, the Strategic Company Limited and the Strategic Alliance Alliance Agreement, it is Atlantic Energy Drilling Agreement attached to not an acreage award, Concept Limited was not the petition. neither a divestment as “On whether the ownership of blocs still a divestment of assets or of the remains transfer of operatorship execution with the Alliance Nigerian Petroleum but simply an alternative Strategic funding agreement in Agreement violates the Development Company, order to meet the Public Procurement Act, NPDC. Nigerian Petroleum

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013— 17

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Energy security He added that: “the peace that currently prevails in the zone is largely because Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who is from that same place, is the President of Nigeria. That is the truth”. But Kingsley was not done: “If we allow anything to hurt the peace in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s economy will be endangered and energy security in Nigeria and even in America will not be guaranteed. The attention and interest of the US in Nigeria must remain stability of the Niger Delta and the easiest way to ensure this is to encourage President Jonathan to complete an eight-year term”. The threat to Americans is clearly conveyed but the Dire Consequences that Jonathan’s boy, Kingsley Kuku is threatening, is actually against the Nigerian people.

According to Kingsley Kuku, the various challenges in the Niger Delta, from resource control, environmental degradation and youth unemployment are still very much on the front burner.

Never mind what the Nigerian state has done for the Niger Delta in recent years, with the 13 percent Derivation; NDDC; Ministry of the Niger Delta and the billions of naira that Kingsley Kuku expends as chair of the presidential amnesty programme. Niger Delta agitators are waiting patiently and will do so “as long as one of their own, Dr. Jonathan remains the President, and I think this is one thing the American government should reflect seriously on”.

He also reminded about how militants reduced Nigeria’s oil output to as low as 700,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2009. This is where the roots of the Dire Consequences, which the chap threatened, are located. Kingsley

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Kingsley Kuku, dire consequences and democracy Kuku might be addressing an American audience, but it was clear that he was delivering the warnings to the Nigerian people.

Whiff of intentions In Kingsley Kuku’s threats, we catch a whiff of intentions within the government and by extension, the danger the Niger Delta political elite currently running Nigeria, represents to the democratic process in our country, and by extension, to the survival of Nigeria itself. The first issue is that democracy cannot be run on the basis of threats of Dire Consequences, if Jonathan does not secure a second term in power. Democracy is about the expression of the free will of a free people. The assumption is that Nigerians freely gave Goodluck Jonathan their votes in the first place; and in turn, we reserve the right to reelect him, or refuse to! The basis of reelection will be performance. The president made promises to the people and it was supposedly upon that basis that he was elected. But Kingsley Kuku

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AST Thursday in Washington, USA, Kingsley Kuku, President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Niger Delta and chairman, presidential amnesty programme, gave us a peek into the mindset of the administration current in power in Nigeria. Kuku, warned officials of the US State Department led by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (Bureau of African Affairs), Donald Teitelbaum, that there would be “Dire Consequences” in the Niger Delta, should Goodluck Jonathan fail to secure a fresh term in 2015. Kingsley added that: “it is only a Jonathan presidency that can guarantee continued peace and energy security in the Niger Delta”.

Never mind that up to this moment, Goodluck Jonathan has continued to live in denial about 2015, his Adviser nevertheless told his American audience that the only game in town was the 2015, and from his standpoint (the chap could not have been speaking just for himself or could he?), it is Jonathan, or all hell will break lose!

Kingsley Kuku told his American hosts, long addicted to the sweet Bonny Light crude out of the Niger Delta, in a mix of tease and threat, that: “I hope the U.S. is aware that with peace and stability in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s economy will remain buoyant enough to empower the Federal Government to contend with terrorism and other forms of insecurity in other parts of the country”. Kuku’s thesis about “terrorism” came about, because the administration he serves apparently thinks the Americans are not singing from its hymn book on the Boko Haram crisis (which the Americans have consistently linked to the socio-economic situation in Northern Nigeria, contrary to the administration’s narrative that it was a Northern “conspiracy against Jonathan’s presidency).

The way out in a democracy (even a deformed democracy as we have in Nigeria won’t be an exception to this rule!) is not to threaten us with Dire Consequences, because we will not be intimidated.

Certainly, not by a Kingsley Kuku

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knows (deep in his heart), that his principal’s performance has fallen far below expectations, even amongst his ardent supporters! He cannot return to the electorate on the basis of his record of performance; carriage as a leader and

Big Brother Jonathan wants to evaesdrop on your communications

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T was the on-line news outfit Premium Times which broke the story; the Jonathan administration, was “violating lawful contracting procedures”, in awarding a $40m contract to an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems, “to help spy on citizens’ computers and internet communications under the guise of intelligence gathering and national security”. When such a system is in place, the over 47million Nigerian internet users will become easy targets for surveillance, intimidation, threats and become prone to death, under the national security project that Jonathan is secretly putting in place. It is instructive that he chose an Israeli firm, because the Zionists have come to occupy an increasingly influential place in Nigeria’s security procurements in recent years. And who better to employ for such a dubious project, than one of the most vicious security states on earth, the Zionist Israeli state?!

The monitoring of the internet communication of citizens has become one of the main contradictions which faces the democratic process in the world today. Hiding behind the need to fight terrorism, many states have gradually eroded the provinces of citizens’ freedoms and strengthened very undemocratic or anti-democratic procedures within national security systems. Jonathan wants to play Big Brother in the Nigerian setting. But there are many reasons why we should be wary of Jonathan’s intentions in the security scene. Security has become the omnibus platform for the appropriation of trillions of naira. Jonathan has ceded Nigerian maritime security to thugs sworn to an active subversion of Nigeria.

These thugs now rake in billions of naira from the coffers of Nigeria. And when presidential advisers are threatening “Dire Consequences”, if Jonathan doesn’t win re-election, in what direction will the security spending lead us? There are ever-expanding conspiracy theories; threats of stockpiled arms and plans for secession. Too many things are just not right and the secret contract with an Israeli firm represents another piece in the jigsaw of portents that should scare all of us!

Democratic forces, patriots and civil society organisations must thoroughly interrogate these security moves while the National Assembly must also ask pertinent questions. The report of the Nigerian Army Corps of Intelligence which investigated the theft of arms from the Nigerian Army and their sale to Niger Delta militants, is available on the Sahara Reporters website. In one of the concluding remarks, it warned of the consequences of political power falling into the hands of groups, politicians and tendencies that do not believe in Nigeria’s continued existence or might be working from within the state apparatus to destroy the country.

That worries me a whole lot when I analyze a lot of the subterranean movements in our political system today.

trustworthiness, to win a free and fair election. Relatedly, the Niger Delta entourage around him has so alienated other Nigerians, making it more difficult to build a pan-Nigerian coalition of support for 2015.

This is the backdrop against which Kingsley Kuku issued the threat of Dire Consequences if Jonathan doesn’t win a re-election! The Nigerian people are being unambiguously threatened to vote Jonathan in 2015, or else! It might surprise the reader that a Presidential Adviser, Kingsley Kuku, will issue the same threats that Niger Delta lumpens have so often done. But the small matter here, is that there is no Chinese wall dividing the lumpen elements from the Niger Delta political elite. One has an umbilical connection to the other. The political elite had financed the subversion perpetrated by the “militants” in the first place. And the interconnectedness entered the entrails of the Nigerian security apparatus, when military officers from the region, abetted the theft of arms from the Nigerian military, for sale to Niger Delta militants! Kingsley Kuku is merely reminding Nigerians that they still have their thugs in waiting; re-elect Jonathan or they will go for the nation’s economic jugular! “The agitators are prepared to patiently await development as long as one of their own, Dr. Jonathan remains President, and I think this is one thing the American government should reflect seriously on”. Remove Americans, and substitute with the Nigerian people, and the Dire Consequences are brought home!

Mindset and contempt for democracy Kingsley Kuku is a presidential adviser but his mindset betrays the worst contempt for democracy. Let Goodluck Jonathan run in 2015; that is the business of the PDP, his political party. But the Nigerian people cannot be intimidated with a gun-to-the-head Dire Consequences. We reserve the right to choose whosoever will run our country in free elections. If Jonathan is found worthy of a second term, so be it. But if the Nigerian people think he does not deserve a second term, and express their rejection of his candidacy in free polls, there are no Dire Consequences that will not be eventually faced off.

Kingsley Kuku should advise his principal, Jonathan Goodluck, to fulfill promises he made to the Nigerian people and broaden the base of his politics away from the tunnel vision of Niger Delta above everyone else and be more presidential in comportment, speech and action; then maybe, just maybe, he might win again in 2015. The way out in a democracy (even a deformed democracy as we have in Nigeria won’t be an exception to this rule!) is not to threaten us with Dire Consequences, because we will not be intimidated. Certainly, not by a Kingsley Kuku!

Kingsley Kuku, Presidential Adviser on Amnesty for Niger Delta.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 THE Federal Government appears to be in a giving mode. Its announced N5.747 billion for disbursement to victims of post-2011 election violence in nine States is another of the series of government ill-thought actions. The move was based on the report of the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu community on the crisis.

Government said the money would be disbursed as follows – Bauchi N1.574b; Sokoto N55.88m; Zamfara N93.25m; Niger N433.37m; Jigawa N208.66m; Katsina N1.973b; Kano N944.82m; Adamawa N420.08m; and Akwa Ibom N43.5m.

The N5.747 billion is initial government expenditure in the crisis that cost lives. After assessment of losses in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa States, government would make more funds available to cover losses in those States. Can other States not protest their exclusion?

Ordinarily, nothing would be wrong in government paying compensation to victims of a crisis. If government is unable to provide adequate security, it pays for its failure. Can this not become business some could explore during future elections?

FG Accepts Responsibility Who caused the crisis? Why has nobody been punished? Why is it impossible to employ provisions of the Electoral Act that prescribe sentences for electoral violence? If the security agencies failed, is anyone being held responsible? What became of suspects arrested during the violence? Can compensation pay for loss of lives?

Government has acted more munificently in this case than common sense would dictate.

What else would government pay for in its efforts to pacify criminals? Why would criminals not be emboldened when the law is not after them? Or are we assuming that the postelection riots were national disasters that deserved the victims receiving assistance from the government?

Private and public properties were destroyed.

The report should have listed the criminals who perpetrated the mayhem. They should be tried and punished. Compensation would make sense then, since the violators would have been deterred. Otherwise, there would be no grounds for punishing arsonists and murderers, no matter the circumstances of their crimes.

Electoral offences cannot be excused while we punish other crimes.

The only good that can come out of government’s latest adventure is that Federal Government is willing to assume responsibilities for victims of crisis. By extension, other areas of our lives could benefit from this exceptional benevolence.

Hundreds of thousands are dying from accidents on badly maintained roads. Is government to pay compensation for the losses? Would it accept responsibilities for its policies that are causing loss of jobs? When would government compensate Nigerians for poor public services like electricity with its consequences?

Government has set a pertinent precedent that would haunt it for a long time.

OPINION

BY JESUTEGA ONOKPASA

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READ with scarcely restrained stupefaction, the sweeping conclusions Mark Onome managed to distil from the contrived premises in his ‘The UduaghanOchei tug of war ’, [The Vanguard of Wednesday April 24, 2013]. According to Onome, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was left with a ‘bloody nose’ when his veto on the Anti-Terrorism Bill was overridden by the Delta State House of Assembly!

Ironically, while I’m writing this rejoinder in defense of the entire House and Speaker Ochei, I actually side with the Governor on the matter. Unlike His Excellency, the medical doctor, I support the death penalty not as deterrence but as a just dessert. However, as an immutable article of jurisprudential faith, the punishment must fit the crime and the lawyer in me cannot see how the death penalty is fit and proper recompense for the felony of kidnapping per se.

Nevertheless, I would have expected any public affairs commentator to be excited by the spectacle of the independence of the legislature and taken for granted that any genuine Uduaghan supporter would be happy that at last those prejudiced analysts who keep accusing him of manipulating the legislature into an underling of the executive arm, have comprehensively been proved wrong.

Perplexingly, Onome preferred to ignore this significant implication of the development and leapt into the disparagement of the entire House with gusto. Not done, Onome went on to solicitously insult his own Governor by

Re: The Uduaghan-Ochei tug of war lecturing him that he would be ‘digging his political grave with his own teeth’ should he allow Ochei succeed him in 2015! What gave a political neophyte like Onome the impression that an intellectual like Uduaghan requires his tutorship on whom to support come 2015, simply beats the imagination.

At any rate when did an action constitutionally provided for become the foundation of allegations of disloyalty? Dr. Uduaghan happens to be a discerning leader easily irritated by sycophancy and unimpressed by bootlicking. Loyalty for the Governor inheres in keying into his transformative agenda for the holistic development of Delta, something Victor Ochei has done with remarkable enthusiasm in his career as member and Speaker of the Delta House. In any case, what was Ochei supposed to do when his entire House had come out, guns smoking, spoiling for a fight with the cancer of kidnapping currently ravaging the state?

He may be their Speaker but they are his bosses and in the manner of a true leader, he led where they insisted he must lead.

On account of a decision all the members of the House collectively took, insisted on, and stuck to, Onome predatorily singled out Ochei for inquisitorial victimisation, mischievously accusing him of being ‘incapable of being influenced, a politician who knows all the answers, who’s every thought is correct and unassailable’.

This is nothing but poorly packaged nonsense. I recall the very first day I showed up at Ochei’s house. A colleague of mine had dropped me off and I found Ochei already out on the steps directing his security detail to ease me in. Once inside, he engaged me intellectually. Far from being interested in discussing politics he came across as more eager to talk about governance, service delivery and the strengthening of institutions, sharing with me, his legislative agenda, philosophy of democratic governance and vision for Delta State. In remarkable detail, he tabled before me, his dream of a Delta of unity and amity where our diversity becomes our strength rather than what the rabble-rousers amongst us rely on to tear us apart.

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hen it was time to take my leave, I proceeded to call my friend to pick me up. As Ochei began to see me off, I made a mental note to get to the door before him and open for myself out of respect for his office as number three citizen of my state. In a cool, yet deft manner, Ochei beat me to the door, opened for me and stood aside to let me pass!

Outside he told me not to bother calling my friend and summoned his driver to drop me off. When the gentleman showed up, Ochei changed his mind, offered to take me to my exact destination himself and nicely did just that! If it is this down to earth fellow, the Mark Onome’s of this

world delude themselves they can sell to Deltans as conceited, they have some hard marketing to do.

At a time when distinguished elder statesmen like Chief E. K. Clark are subscribing to the idea of power shift, it is rather disappointing that perhaps after all, Onome is just another one of those divisive fellows who would deny Delta North the opportunity to give us a Governor in 2015. This should explain his pathological hatred for the frontrunner, Victor Ochei. Thankfully, from any equitable point of view, it is an egalitarian imperative that Delta North should produce the state’s next Governor. This is the only proper political outcome, come 2015, if we are to be our brother’s keepers within the framework of a Delta calibrated by equality, characterised by unity and destined for greatness. The entire idea that a particular section of the state should perpetually retain the exclusive entitlement to the governorship of the state is not a strategy for democratic progress.

Let blood therefore be thicker than water and just as our region, the Niger Delta, a sixth part of Nigeria could produce a president for the country, let Delta North, a third part of our state, with nine local government areas – more than either of the other two zones – produce us a governor in the next dispensation. Our man for the job should be more interested in governance that delivers to the people than in the sort of politics that can only leave them empty-handed. Needless to say, Ochei remarkably fits that profile. *Mr. Onokpasa, a lawyer, wrote from Sapele, Delta State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—19

, plans for the people who will control its future. Every former military ruler alive wants to be elected to rule again. The second generation of our leadership after the founding fathers; people who were brought up in the best care and provision possible with public resources emerged and simply stayed put.

Now in their seventies and eighties, they still strut from one end of the polity to the other, basically causing commotion and refusing to give the next generation a chance to prove themselves. They are all over the place – Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Lawal Kaita, EK Clark, Ango Abdullahi, Atiku Abubakar, just name them.

Meanwhile, the bottom, for decades, has been piling up with young men and women who can’t find employment because the oldies are not yet tired and won’t let go. Young men and women are turning into old men and women without tasting the opportunity to

and chiefs and started fighting oil companies and the Nigerian state.

In the South, violent criminality sweeps the grounds, while in the Muslim North it is Jihadist insurgency.

Kidnapping for ransom, in particular, was born in the Port Harcourt axis of the Niger Delta but soon (as typical of evil) spread to all parts of the South East and South-South. Right now, no part of the country is immune to it. Misguided youth, marginalised in decades of systematic impoverishment, went berserk and are now helping themselves to desperate violent crimes.

In the Aba axis of Abia State a couple of years ago, kidnappers formed mafia rings and whole villages were forcibly sucked into criminality. Aba, a bustling commercial and industrial zone, came under siege. Every individual who seemed able to provide his family three square meals and send his children to decent private schools became a target of kidnapping,

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robbery and extortion. It got to a point where inhabitants of the city started deserting in droves. Banks, factories and telecom companies closed shop. Aba looked, once again, like a Biafran city overrun by the rampaging vandals.

Abia State became the first (and so far the only) state where the armed forces of the Federal Republic had to be drafted to smash the kidnap networks. Before Governor Theodore Orji agreed to reach for the big stick, he had offered amnesty to kidnappers, hoping the balm the late President Umaru Yar ’ Adua applied to calm the storms in the Niger Delta would work. Rather than produce positive result, the “supreme commander” of the kidnappers, Obioma Nwankwo, alias Osisikankwu, started making political demands.

He styled himself as the defender of the political interests of a sec-

After the Edo LG election (1)

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HERE is an innovation to electioneering campaigns in Edo State. Apparently, at the approach of every election, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, puts a basket in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to go to the river and fetch water, with instruction not to return until the basket is full.

As the ACN goes about its constructive campaigns, it gives the PDP something to talk about; and something to keep them busy.

For instance, at the beginning of the 2012 gubernatorial election, it was about the imaginary multi-billion Naira proposed country home of the Comrade Governor; and this time around, they were sufficiently engaged with whether the man was 60 or 61 years old.

In essence, while Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole was criss-crossing the State, showing what his administration had done and what it would still do for the people, the PDP was busy addressing futile but expensive world press conferences; and sponsoring smear tactics and mud-slinging campaigns over Oshiomhole’s age.

Too soon, the whole thing began to boomerang. It began to translate into sympathy for a hard-working administration. The question on the lips of most Edolites was: “When will these loafers leave our Governor alone to continue his good works?”

Unknown to most people, those who sit in judgement also stand in judgement. The Edo State local government elections have come and gone but their memories will linger on.

Presidents may not have a way of knowing some of the things that happen all the time.

There has always been this abuse of the concept of Federal might under which ministers and all those at the corridors of power commit a lot of havoc in the name of the President.

In the particular case of the Jonathan

administration, they inundate the entire place with large cache of the Police, the Army and various colours of security operatives, apparently secured by illegal arrangements, to create confusion at elections. People are left wondering if this molestation is a fair reward from Jonathan for their voting for him across party lines at the April 2011 elections.

Even in the empire of goats, there are traditions. For instance, when you push a goat to the wall, it will resist you. It will fight and bite. Similarly, those without the “Federal might” are quickly reminded of the wise counsel of a great American President, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919): “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”. Regrettably, though, self-help resides quite close to this place.

Opposition parties, led by the PDP, are crying blood. They cannot believe how they are incrementally going down the abyss.

Various press conferences aimed at discrediting the elections have been held.

We have an archetype of the opposition press conferences in the ramshackle concocted by Chief Solomon Edebiri, which bespeaks him as the worst Governor Edo State never had.

His disjointed press conference was as contradictory as it was self-indicting.

Edebiri may be right that what applies to one ward also applies statewide.

He complained bitterly that four of his buses were destroyed at Ewan village in Isi South Ward on the election day. He was registered to vote at Iguogbe, a distance of some six kilometres from Ewan. Reasonable people have sought to know what he and his four vehicles were doing in a place where he was not registered to vote and where he had no business whatsoever. The answer is anyone’s conjecture. Some have said that he used those vehicles to transport his goons, illegal police and soldiers to the place. Some claim that the vehicles could also have been

used to convey thumb-printers from outside the State to execute his manoeuvres for the election.

Whichever way one looks at it, his motives were clandestine and against the laws of the land.

His own explanation was warped and

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Healing Abia’s wounded youth IGERIA sowed the wind serve the nation. Eventually the and is reaping the whirl polity exploded. In the Niger DelN wind. It is a country that has no ta, youth rebelled against elders

There must be a strategic plan for the immediate, mid-term and long term engagement of the youth; their faith in the system they will govern in the future must be restored

tion of the state. But when the Army arrived he was smoked out and annihilated. The army successfully pacified the state and normalcy returned to Aba, appreciably.

Having used the stick, Governor Orji knew he had only scratched the problem of ending violent criminality on the surface. A lasting solution had to be found.

While he launched the Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme, A-YES, on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 in Umuahia, he narrated how one of the young criminals who accepted his amnesty offer made bold to tell him he must urgently address the problem of youth unemployment and poverty or else most of the repentant kidnappers would go back to a crime many of them took up most reluctantly.

The state has come up with a comprehensive package of youth re-engagement in productive economic activities. It spans from capacity building in the various trades and vocations to modern commercial farming. Young farmers are being trained at the Abia Liberation Farm, Ohambele, in Ukwa. There are plans to post its graduates to all 17 local government areas. They will be provided with improved seedlings, modern farm tools, granted loans and given land to take off. Young farmers are being launched into modern agriculture to replace rapidly ageing farming workforce.

Abia, Oyo, Osun, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa are among states known to have started these schemes.

A top official told me that the element of the A-YES most young men prefer is the transport sector.

Government is distributing branded transport vessels such as cars, buses and tricycles.

“Most of our youth have been

While Comrade Oshiomhole was crisscrossing the state, showing what his administration had done for the people, the PDP was busy addressing futile but expensive world press conferences

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absolutely ludicrous: “ANPP officials distributing lunch were kidnapped by Oyegue, taken hostage, beaten up and vehicles destroyed and vandalized”. Ha, ha!

When did the ANPP become the Soup Kitchen of lunch distributors to the extent that four vehicles were on that assignment on an election day? To whom were they supplying the lunch?

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t is possible that under the party’s welfare scheme, they were distributing free lunch to the citizenry, which would constitute unlawful inducement, particularly after the period allowed for campaigns had elapsed.

Edebiri complains that materials were in

broken by poverty and unemployment. They have no patience to go and sit down to learn a trade. They want something they can start and begin earning money immediately. That is why the governor is investing heavily in the transport sector”.

When this programme was launched with some of our biggest music and movie celebrities providing fun and gaiety, about 200 vehicles were distributed for the Umuahia area alone. All the local government areas will be visited with their respective goodies, in a scheme that the World Bank, Bank of Industry and other development partners have formed a rescue coalition.

I hope the Abia State Government will keep their word that the youth empowerment scheme has come to stay as a permanent component of governance in the state.

There must be a strategic plan for the immediate, mid-term and long term engagement of the youth.

Their faith in the system they will govern in the future must be restored. It is the only way to ensure a stable, civilised and progressive society.

Off to Toronto Canada Right now, I am here in Toronto, Ontario Canada, venue of the Canada-Nigeria Investment Summit, which has Diamond Bank PLC as the main sponsor. You will be hearing regularly from me about possibly the biggest investment road show the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has ever staged outside Nigeria since he came to power.

Join me, and cheers!

short supply. Hear him: “Out of 3005 registered voters in Isi South, only 2,500 ballot papers (83.19%) were supplied. In unit 2, Iguogbe which is the ward headquarters and collating centre, a total of 572 voters were registered, while the electoral officer delivered 500 ballot papers (87.41%)”.

Only those intent on ballot stuffing would insist on 100 percent ballot papers. Edebiri is aware that Isi South has never recorded up to 1,000 votes out of its registered 3005.

Available records show clearly that Iguogbe, Unit 2 has never recorded up to 250 votes out of the registered 572, thus rendering his demand for 100 percent ballot papers superfluous and totally dubious!

Worse still, Edebiri accuses Mr. Harrison Oyegue who is the Local Government Chairman of the ACN for advising him to accept and sign for the materials that were supplied.

We see Oyegue’s intervention as reasonable and he should be praised rather than vilified for such intervention. However, why would a former governorship candidate be relying on a member of a contending political party for advice on critical issues?

And this, too, would have been our Governor? You must look the role you want to play. Why would a man who had bargained to govern the more than two million people of Edo State now cut himself to the size of struggling desperately to produce a councillor? How are the mighty fallen! Faced with a similar paradox, our late sage, Senator Chuba Okadigbo, asserted unequivocally: “I would rather dine with Kings and Queens than with local government councillors”. This is instructive.

20—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 — 21

Woo more investors for deep sea projects, shipper tells FG

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SOCIAL HOUSING ALLOCATION: Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide (left); National Director, Millard Fuller Foundation, Mr. Sam Odia and President, Federation of Urban Poor Association, Mr. James Uguh, during the handover of affordable housing allocation to Millard Fuller Foundation/Federation of Urban Poor Association, in Abuja.

Infrastructure Bank to invest $2.5bn on Lagos rail development V

ICE Chairman, Infrastructure Bank, Mr Jonan Kruger, has disclosed that the Lagos light rail project from Marina through Iddo to Agbado will cost about N400 billion

($2.5 billion).

Kruger told newsmen in Lagos that the project, tagged Redline Light Rail Project, would be funded by the bank and managed by Marina Express

Etisalat kick-starts device finance scheme E

TISALAT Nigeria has joined forces with One Credit to empower its customers by giving them the flexibility to pay for choice mobile devices on installments at select Etisalat Experience Centres.

The device finance scheme, which commenced May 1, 2013, presents customers with the opportunity to walk into selected experience centres and pick up their preferred devices with the option of making payments in three to six installments spread over a three to sixmonth period.

Announcing the unique offering, the Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, said: “The device finance scheme is designed to empower our customers by giving them the flexibility and choice to pay in installments. This scheme reinforces our position as the most customer-centric telecommunications brand, as it has always been our desire to help people communicate easily and stylishly without necessarily putting holes in their pockets.”

According to him, the scheme, which is currently operational in six select centres will soon be available nationwide, offering Nigerians the chance to communicate expressively, resonating their lifestyles.

On how people can benefit in the scheme, Ammar said, “To be a part of the scheme, the customer is expected to fill a form on the dedicated One portal at One Credit or at his or her preferred Etisalat experience centre with his or her personal details.

A verification of the customer’s details will follow within 48 hours. The customer will then be notified by One Credit on their eligibility to participate in the device finance scheme. Thereafter, the customer can walk into any of the participating centres to pick up his or her choice device.”

Managing Director, One Credit, Mr. Ngozi Dozie, said his bank “Opted to collaborate with Etisalat on the customerempowerment initiative because of their belief in the leading telecommunications company and a desire to empower Nigerians lead the lifestyles they desire.”

SHIPPER, Mr Dayo Azeez, has called on the Federal Government to woo more investors for its deep sea ports projects to ensure their success. Azeez told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that more funds were needed to speedily bring the projects to limelight.

“Construction of the deep seaport project at Lekki has been stalled in the last three years and the stoppage is due to paucity of fund. There will be more to gain if banks are encouraged to volunteer to fund the projects with assurances of recouping their investments,” he said.

Azeez said that stakeholders in the maritime industry should also be encouraged to participate in bringing the projects to reality.

“Maritime players should not just benefit from Nigeria, but plough something back in return. Those shipping companies making heavy profits in dollars in our country should also be encouraged and compelled to invest in ports construction,” he said.

Azeez said the need for deep seaports in the country could not be overemphasised since existing ports were already congested, noting: “We need more seaports in Nigeria.”

Consortium, a consulting firm. He said that the Redline project would complement the ongoing Blueline rail project. He said that the Redline project was designed to be funded by the private sector to ease transportation problems in Lagos.

Kruger said that the bank has entered into negotiation with the Lagos State Government to ensure that the project was profitable. “The Redline is one of the rail lines that Lagos has designed to solve the traffic problems in the 1.15 134.75 state,” he said.

Mr Adekunle Oyinloye, the 2,322.00 -13.00 Managing Director of the bank, said that the Redline would 17.7 0.21 take-off in Marina and join Iddo to meet the Nigerian Railway corridor up to Agbado.

Oyinloye said that residents 102.34 -1.47 along Ikeja, Agege, Agbada and Ifo could be transported up 93.38 -1.12 to Agbado.

He said issues relating to the CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING rights of way have been DOLLAR 154.75 155.25 155.75 resolved, adding that the state POUNDS 239.6923 240.4667 241.2412 government did well to have EURO 202.3975 203.0515 203.7054 approached the private sector FRANC 165.3489 165.8831 166.4174 to help in funding the project.

YEN 1.5878 1.593 1.5981 CFA 0.2896 0.2996 0.3096 The Infrastructure Bank, which WAUA 232.367 233.1178 233.8686 was opened in 1992, was RENMINBI 25.0993 25.1808 25.2624 initially named Urban RIYA 41.2623 41.3956 41.5289 Development Bank. The bank KRONA 27.141 27.2287 27.3164 was established to bankroll SDR 233.5178 234.2723 235.0268 infrastructure development in CBN Exchange rate as at 01/05/2013 Nigeria.

22 — Vanguard, THURSDAY , MAY 2, 2013

FCMB posts N15.3bn after tax profit ...Declares 1 for 25 bonus

From left: Mrs. Yvonne Isichei, Executive Director, Lagos and West, Keystone Bank; Mr. Rotimi Pedro, Executive Director, Bloomberg TV Africa; Lindsey Oliver of Bloomberg Media Group and Mr. Philip Ikeazor, Managing Director/ CEO, Keystone Bank during a courtesy call by top executives of Bloomberg TV Africa to Keystone Bank.

Zenith Bank targets N2trn deposit base by 2013 … Shareholders decry compulsory electronic dividend payment

BY PETER EGWUATU

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ENITH Bank Plc has promised to make history by hitting the N2 trillion mark deposit base by the year 2013, even as it decried the difficult operating environment experienced in the financial year 2012.

The bank’s shareholders also decried the move by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to impose compulsory electronic dividend payment in the nation’s capital market.

Speaking at the Bank’s 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said, “The year 2012 was quite challenging for the industry, but Zenith Bank consolidated on the steady progress recorded in year 2011. We will continue to improve as we strive to reach the N2 trillion mark on deposit base by year 2013.We are now in a position to surpass our present performance. The operating results of 2012 indicated an impressive performance in all parameters giving credence to the increasing market share and acceptance of our brand by Nigeria and international banking public.”

In his own comment, Chairman, Zenith Bank, Sir Steve Omajafor, commended the shareholders at the meeting for their loyalty and contribution

towards the growth of the bank.

According to him, “Owing to a number of domestic and external factors, 2012 without any doubt was very challenging one for operators in the banking industry. However in line with our track record, Zenith Bank recorded total deposit base of N1.80 trillion for the year under review, representing a 14 per cent increase over the previous year ’s figure of N1.58 trillion. Profit After Tax (PAT) similarly surged by 132 per cent from N41.30 billion in 2011 to N95.80 billion in 2012. Total assets grew by 12 per cent, from N2.17 trillion to N2.44 trillion, while shareholders’ fund rose by 18 per cent, from M372.02 billion to N438 billion.”

Furthermore, he said, “The future of the bank is bright. We thank you our shareholders for your positive comments as it serves as a source of encouragement to do better.”

Some of the shareholders who spoke at the meeting commended the bank for the impressive performance and dividend payment as well as its listing on London Stock Exchange.

Dr. Faruk Umar, Chairman, Advancement

for Rights of Nigerian Shareholders said, “We commend the bank for its results and listing on LSE. This has given our bank more recognition since its shares are traded in international market and we hope for better performance.”

Specifically, Sir Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), who spoke

for his group said, “ We thank you for the impressive performance recorded for the financial year 2012. It is a good one in all ramifications, but the task ahead of the bank is how to manage and sustain success.”

He further warned regulators to be cautious of the kind of policies they initiate, saying, “ We the shareholders will totally resist any attempt

by SEC to impose sanction on any shareholder who fail to comply with electronic dividend payment requirement.

Standard Chartered acquires Absa Bank’s custody business

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TANDARD Chartered has acquired the South African custody and trustee business of Absa Bank. This acquisition builds on the significant investment Standard Chartered has already made in its African franchise. In addition to substantial organic investment, the Group acquired First Africa (a leading African M&A advisory business) in 2009 and Barclays’ Africa custody business in 2010. Last week, the Bank announced the opening of two new wholesale banking corporate offices in South Africa, in Cape Town and Durban.

Custody is a core capability that allows Wholesale

Banking to deepen its core bank relationships with clients, while also generating sustainable income and liquidity in a capital efficient manner.

This transaction will help achieve a step change in the Group’s custody capability across Africa.

Over the past two years the Group has developed a profitable custody model across 21 subSaharan African countries, launching custody operations in South Africa earlier this year.

This acquisition will position Standard Chartered as a leading South Africa custodian.

FIRST City Monument bank Plc (FCMB) has declared N15.3 billion after tax profit for the Financial year ended December 31st 2012, and a bonus of one additional share for every 25 shares held by its shareholders.

The bank has also declared profit after tax of N4.2billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

The audited accounts for the full year ended December 31, 2012 recorded a profit after tax of N15.3billion, an increase of 256% over 2011. Similarly, profit before tax rose significantly by 252.1% to N16.23billion in 2012.

The financial report for 2012 also showed that gross earnings was up by 54.3% from N75.70billion realised in 2011 to N116.83billion, indicating an increasing market share for FCMB. Also, the financial institution’s loans and advances improved by 10.7% to N357.798billion last year compared to N323.353billion the previous year.

As a demonstration of its resilience, the bank’s total assets equally rose to N909billion as at the end of 2012, as against N602billion in 2011.

GIABA to review Nigeria, others MER’s progress

By WILLIAM JIMOH & EDIRI EJOH

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HE Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) said it will review the progress made in the draft Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) by Nigeria and eight other countries as part of efforts aimed at measuring the extent of implementation of its recommendations in the countries.

In a statement by GIABA, the review is part of activities lined up

by GIABA to mark the 19th plenary conference of its Technical Commission to hold from 7th to 10 May 2013 in Accra, Ghana.

In line with the GIABA Mutual Evaluation Processes and Procedures, the follow-up process is designed to assist member states to step up measures to address the identified deficiencies contained in their MERs.

Vanguard, THURSDAY , MAY 2, 2013—23

Stakeholders task CAC Board on service delivery

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

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TAKEHOLDERS in key sectors of the economy have charged the newly appointed Board of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on how the Commission can attain a world class service delivery.

The CAC’s 10-member board is inaugurated three months ago by the Federal Government; it is led by Mr. Funsho Lawal as Chairman, while other members include Prof.

Adedeji Adekunle, and Dr. Ausbeth Ajagu, among others.

The stakeholders drawn from manufacturers, bankers, oil and gas and telecom sector among others, noted that a number of changes have taken place at the commission but there are still many grey areas that needed to be touched.

They cited document frauds, and conflict of names, automation processes, and response time to queries on transactions including process of verifications for annual returns as well as corresponding before taking any action against a company. Dr. Ademola Ajayi, NACCIMA President, commended the Registrar General and the Board.

“There have been positive changes in CAC in recent years. We believe strongly you are going to deliver on customer service delivery,” he said.

According to him, in order to checkmate fraud, NACCIMA can assist the Commission to check companies that have base and a pedigree for honesty before the Commission registers them.

“CAC of today is better than ten years ago,” corroborated Mr. Emmanuel Amadi, Representative of ExxonMobil. “For more efficiency, CAC should engage with people; it doesn’t have to be face to

face; it could be post on the website or letter about changes in policy coming into effect,” he said. In his response, the Board Chairman said: “We want to build CAC of your dream. In the corporate

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RO-CHANCELLOR, Caleb University, Lagos, Prof. Fola Tayo, has called for a position for the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria, IPAN, on the governing board of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. He said that this would ensure improved performance and high quality control of products passing through the agency.

The don disclosed this while delivering the Chairman’s address during the 17th Mandatory Training Workshop of the IPAN with the theme: “The Role of Public Analysts in the Manufacturing Industry” held in Ikeja, Lagos.

Tayo said: “NAFDAC is in a unique position and

having met with the stakeholders in Lagos, the Board would go Ibadan, Enugu and Abuja, to further hear from other stakeholders on how best to meet their expectations.

BRIEFS

LCCI hosts NSE on capital market recovery

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From left: Manager, Promotions of Grand Oak Limited, Mrs. Catherine Akeju presenting Seaman’s Schnapps to Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, Prof. Gabriel Olatunde Babawale while chairman of NANTAP Lagos State Chapter, Ms. Faith Eboigbe watches during World Theatre Day celebration, in Lagos.

LPG Cylinders above 15 years to go – SON

BY NAOMI UZOR

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TA N DA R D S Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has vowed to remove old Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders from circulation,

said it’s Director General, Joseph Odumodu.

“Cylinders above 15 years, which is the agreed period for their revalidation, would be affected,” he warned.

According to him, it has become imperative to tackle the menace associated with the LPG cylinders.

“Aside enhancing safety of lives and property in the

Expert calls for IPAN membership on NAFDAC Board

BY ETOP EKANEM

world, customer is first; Although CAC is a monopolist, yet we don’t want to do as a monopolist; we want to be different; to be sure we satisfy our customers.”

He disclosed that after

we cannot get anywhere without NAFDAC. But I am not sure any member of IPAN is a member of the governing board of NAFDAC. Without IPAN represented on the board of the agency, I wonder how far we can go because IPAN is very important in the process of quality control in this nation.

“Therefore, I want this institute to lobby for a position on the governing board of NAFDCA and you will get it. It will be for the benefit of this nation and so it is a task that must be done.”

Tayo, who was the Chairman of the event, also said that IPAN had become a formidable force in good analytical practice in Nigeria and urged members to take knowledge acquisition serious and make it

continuous to improve their practice.

In his opening speech, the Registrar of IPAN, Prof David Oluleye said the institute’s focus on operations of Public Analysts as shown from the theme of the workshop explains the importance of the Public Analyst in the analysis of food, drug and in related industries.

Oluleye said that the theme highlights the relationship between the manufacturers and the public analysts as joint players in the promotion of standards and quality consumer products.

He said that the institute brought to the workshop the Bank of Industry (BoI) to help bridge the funding gap to assist the establishment of standard analytical laboratories in

Nigeria.

The Group Managing Director, Evans Medical Plc, Mr Bunmi Olaopa said the role of the public analyst was so important that he is authorised by law to carry out analysis and other functions on consumer and health-related products.

Olaopa, represented by the Managing Director, Evans Medical Plc, Mr Adewale Oyenuga noted that integrity was at the centre of public analysts’ practice. He said that the public analysts work in the manufacturing industry in three stages which includes, evaluating the intake of raw materials, checking the process of converting them into products and lastly, verifying the quality of the product before moving them to consumers.

industry, revalidation of cylinders would also boost the LPG business as well as create more confidence in the minds of users on safety.” Odumodu noted that part of SON statutory mandate is to protect lives and property through standards.

He said the requalification exercise would also eliminate most of the sub-standard cylinders from circulation and also lead to the scrapping of old cylinders.

We have been meeting with key sectors of the economy and the operators in the LPG sector especially for industrial safety by ensuring that imported LPG cylinders and those produced in Nigeria meet the requirements of NIS 69: 2006.

While seeking all the collaboration of the stakeholders’ to ensure quality gas is also dispense to the consumers.

According to him, a current situation whereby cylinders are imported or produced in Nigeria and sold to users without any programme for requalification and none for maintenance is no longer acceptable.

HE Financial Services Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, is hosting the Nigerian Stock Exchange today on capital market recovery.

The Annual Business Clinic of the Group will address the theme: “The Nigerian Capital Market: The Outlook” with the leading of the Director-General of The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, who is Guest Speaker, and the Chief Executive Officer, IBTC Asset Management, Mr. Olumide Oyetan, as Analyst.

Chairperson of the Financial Services Group and Managing Director of Resort Development Limited (a subsidiary of Resort Savings and Loans), Mrs. Olajumoke Fashanu who disclosed this, said the time had come for Nigerians to be made fully aware of the state of recovery of the nation’s capital market.

Abblat launches new product

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BBLAT Company Nigeria Limited, makers of popular Yoyo Bitters have launched a new product, Yoyo Sappiro Lemon Ginseng Liquor, which aims at ensuring people enjoy life to the fullest.

Managing Director, Dr. Abiola Oluwatobi, making public presentation of the product in Lagos at the weekend, noted that the premium herbal blend, beyond being an aphrodisiac, is an alcoholic beverage that is fortified with herbs that boost the immune system and beneficial to both male and female.

Yoyo Sappiro, which contains 42 per cent alcohol, among other ingredients, according to him, was a product of painstaking research which spanned five years. “It is a dream comes true.

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Bite Report industrial accidents ministry urges labour

Sustain the struggle until victory, OATUU, others urge workers

A Cross section of Workers Match Pasts, during the 2013 Workers Day Commemoration by The Lagos state Council of Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Theme: 100 Year of Nationhood, The Challenges of National Development, held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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HE struggle must continue until victory is achieved was the thrust of felicitation messages by unions to members during yesterday’s May Day celebration. From the Organization African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, to the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, among others, the message was for workers to remain undaunted in the face of increasing inhuman policies and practices by government and employers.

Struggle not over: In a message by NUEE’s General Secretary, Joe Ajaero, the union saluted the tenacity of purpose of members in the struggle to liberate Nigerian workers and masses from economic slavery, noting that hope was rekindled for a better tomorrow after recalling the sacrifices made by Chicago workers and other workers of the world over one hundred years ago, According to the union “The last few years has been characterized with struggle for the survival of our industry. The campaign of calumny and name-calling orchestrated against us has been unprecedented. While the

use of state apparatus to cow us assumed a large dimension, attempts to burn our National Secretariat was also made within this period. Despite these odds, we have remained resolute in pursuing our struggle against all forms of oppression. God in His infinite mercy has been our strong tower. We salute the courage and resilience of our members for the rare commitment and painstaking efforts of fighting for the emancipation of electricity workers.

“Electricity workers in Nigeria are no doubt hard working and resourceful; given the industrial climate that pervade in their operations. Already negotiations have been concluded while the onus to implement in accordance with the dictates of the agreement reached now lies on Government.

However, new attempts are being made to short-change workers in the Sector. It is therefore regrettable that Nigerian Government is approaching privatization without cash backing.

The Government is equally planning to close down Corporate Headquarters immediately after May Day and embark upon wide scale retrenchment without recourse to agreement reached with the Unions. If this happens, please stay away from your offices until otherwise directed.”

It added “the fact that we are alive to celebrate this workers day calls for joy even with our prestigious award. The era of deceit and inverted impunity is over. This struggle is not over until it is over. Injury to one is injury to all.”

S i m i l a r l y, NUPENG in a message by its President, Achese Igwe and Acting General Secretary, Isaac Aberare, said “We salute the courage and resilience of oil workers despite the

provocations by the employers.

NUPENG assures its members that it will continue to fight and resist the modern day slavery, called casualisation/outsourcing. We will continue to protect our members from intimidation, harassment and fight for better conditions of service. The union will not rest on its oars in the quest to unionise oil workers, as the freedom of association is enshrined in the constitution.

As we celebrate the May Day 2013, we urge the federal government to speed up the turn-around-maintenance of the four refineries in Port Harcourt 1,2, Kaduna and Warri, so that the over dependence on imported petroleum products will be reduced to the barest minimum. We cannot be creating jobs for workers outside the shores of the country, when we have an army of unemployed youths.”

Generating employment It added that “the state of our infrastructures, like roads, and energy should be taken seriously, so that the economy can be turned around, which will generate employment. Be that as it may, we greet our members and Nigerian workers as the struggle continues.”

Meanwhile, OATUU, in its message to African workers, urged workers to join OATUU in mobilizing for the consolidation of democracy, social justice, peace, respect for labour and human rights, promotion of full employment and equality in Africa The message by its General Secretary, Owei Lakemfa, recalled the tragic events in Chicago, United States in May 1886 in which workers were killed, many injured, and some labour leaders hanged. According to him, this action was “meant to discourage trade unionism and destroy the Labour Movement. Rather, it further unified workers, strengthened our unity and has become a symbol for workers solidarity and struggle to improve their conditions of work and life.”

FEDERAL Ministry of Labour and Productivity, called on organized labour in the country to report workplace accidents to appropriate authorities for necessary action prevent regular occurrence.

Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Lagos, Alhaja Nofisat Arogundade spoke at a workshop organised for workers by the Industrial Global Union affiliates in Nigeria on ``safety and health at work’’ in Lagos.

She said that union should ensure that they keep statics of accidents and diseases and report them when they occur to ensure that the incident does not repeat.

According to her “Union leaders’ should have proper documentation. We want the employers and employees to make issues of safety and prevention of occupational diseases at workplace a collective bargaining issues. If the employees or union make complaint to the ministry the issue will be taken up and necessary measures put in place to avoid recurrence.’’

She said it was regrettable that the law on work place accident was weak but it was time for the union to rise up to enable government take proactive step on the issue.

She said that for the wealth and economy of the country to grow and develop, the health of workers should be protected.

Speaking, Oladele Hunsu, President, National Union Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, condemned employers who disregarded minimum safety standard.

He said that workplaces in Nigeria had become a regular scene of accidents and that labour must call for prosecution of such employers, saying “apart from lack of electricity and smuggling, lack of safety at work is also leading to collapse of industries especially in some parts of the country.’’

He called for international health and safety standard because healthy and safe workplaces rest the tripod of respect for the right of workers and urged employers to support legislation and policies by governments to strengthen work place action in the promotion and fight for health and safety.

ILO seeks quick solutions to work-related diseases

INTERNATIONAL Labour Organi sation, ILO, has called for an “urgent and vigorous” global campaign to tackle the growing number of work-related diseases, which claim an estimated two million lives per year.

Director-General of ILO, Guy Ryder in a statement issued in Geneva, Switzerland, to mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, said “Occupational disease impoverishes workers and their families and may undermine whole communities when they lose their most productive workers. Meanwhile, the productivity of enterprises is reduced and the financial burden on the State increases as the cost of health care rises. Where social protection is weak or absent, many workers as well as their families, lack the care and support they need.”

Ryder said prevention was the key to tackling the burden of occupational diseases, and more effective and less costly than treatment and rehabilitation. He said the ILO was calling for a “paradigm of prevention with comprehensive and coherent action targeting occupational diseases, not only injuries.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013— 25

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26—Vanguard, THURSD AY, MAY 2, 2013 THURSDA

Family seeks N2.8m to correct son’s heart defect

BY CHARLYNE IKPE IGHTEEN months after Oluwatofunmi Bello’s birth he was diagnosed to have a large hole in his heart. Medical doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, an urgent life-saving procedure is required to keep Oluwatofunmi alive. Unfortunately, the Bello’s cannot afford the N2.8 million needed for the surgery in an Indian hospital.

However, Oluwatofunmi’s case is pathetic because doctors have said if nothing is done to correct the defect, he may not live to celebrate his next birthday.

A medical report signed by a Consultant Paediatrician/ Cardiologist at LASUTH, Dr. B.A. Animasahun confirmed that Oluwatofunmi has congenital heart disease (Double outlet Right ventricle with pulmonary stenosis).

Narrating their ordeal nine months after he was diagnosed with a hole in the heart ,his mother, Modinat Bello, tearfully recounted: “Our lives have not been the same since the birth of this baby. Everything has turned upside down.”

For her, life became a living hell since the birth of Oluwatofunmi. Taking care of

Unfortunately, we still have not raised even a part of the N2.8 million required.” Modinat, a house wife and her jobless husband are hoping that good spirited Nigerians would come to their aid. “I am calling on Governor Babatunde Fashola, who has been doing it for others to

E

please help my son. Nigerians, please help us,”amidst tears.

If you are touched by this story, kindly obtain more information by calling 08125953197, 08034915660, or send donations to Modinat Bello Abeni, First Bank 2022616133.

New products debut from SKG Pharma

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• Oluwatofunmi Bello his siblings has become a burden to us. “It all started few months after his birth and we noticed he was falling ill too frequently. “We were in and out of the hospital. But the last illness was beyond our imagination and that was when we were advised to take him to the hospital. We took him to a nearby private hospitalwhere we were to run laboratory tests to ascertain what exactly was wrong with him.”

Modinat said they had to take the boy back home because there was no money to run the tests. But as the sickness became worse, they were forced to take him to a General Hospital ‘for a trial’. “At the General Hospital, it was confirmed he has a large hole in his heart and needs an urgent corrective heart surgery, else he will die. “We are giving him some drugs to sustain him till the operation is carried out.

KG PHARMA Limited has unveiled Novalyn Cough Linctus and Novalyn for children and Biophage for treatment of diabetes mellitus. Mr. Okey Akpa, Managing Director of SKG Pharma said natural products were utilised in the preparation of Novalyn Cough Linctus for the effective treatment of cough.

“The new products are in line with this year’s conference theme; “Accelerating Business Growth,” which in essence means that the new products will join other existing products to fast track the market share of SKG Pharma Limited.”

Special guest of honour and President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, urged government to encourage local drug manufacturing companies by patronizing them. “It is a tragedy if these companies are coming up with essential medicines and you are spending billions to import the same thing from other climes.”

He said the business philosophy of SKG Pharma is in tandem with the spirit of the national drug policy because SKG Pharma is one of the top manufacturers of quality products in the country.

In a presentation, Mr. Osita Ezigbo, Product Brand Manager, SKG Pharma, explained that the selling point of Novalyn Cough Linctus, dwells on the richness of purified honey which he said is the first of its kind in Nigeria market.

Biophage on the other hand “is a brand of metformin, an oral anti-diabetic drug. It comes in tablet form and the strength is 500mg used to manage diabetes mellitus.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO again everybody and welcome. When it comes to sexual matters, nothing dominates our weekly discussions and enquiries like male performance issues and penis enlargement. This is of course due to the fact that men are the ones who are expected to perform while women are applauded for just showing up. So today, we have a new penis enlarger and erection enhancer for men called the Penis Enlargement Pump. The Penis Enlargement Pump gives men longer and thicker penises with consistent use and also enables men suffering from erectile dysfunction to get an erection by pumping for a few minutes. The Penis Enlargement Pump gives both instant and longer lasting results.

For female arousal and enjoyment, we have two new products. They are Nipple Nibblers Nipple and Clit Gel and Spot on G Spot Arousal Gel. These are two great products for women that help alleviate common complaints of vaginal dryness, sexual pain and low sexual arousal and they start working within minutes.

The third new gel for women does not arouse, instead it contracts the vaginal walls for tighter and more pleasurable intercourse. It is called Like a Virgin Tightening gel. Just like the other two gels, Like a Virgin Tightening Gel can also be used as a regular lubricant for intercourse or for use with sex toys.

And finally for this week, we have five new movies for couples who want to better their love lives. For sex instruction and improvement of your sex skills, there is the How to Boost Your Libido DVD and the Ultimate Sex Party DVD. For adult viewing entertainment, we have Reckless, Pirates and Cheater. All three DVDs are feature films with the unique ability to appeal to women as well.

Let us now answer a few questions from our readers.

I lost my penile sensation from the head of my penis due to some injuries in the past. Can it be recovered? If yes, how and what will I do? I need your

assistance – George Dear George, I am sorry to hear this. In cases where there is such injury that ultimately leads to the loss of feeling in the penis, it is usually as a result of damage to the veins and nerve tissues of the penis as well. This is a tough one. Depending on the extent of this damage, it may or may not be repairable. I did a bit of research regarding vein and tissue damage and I found that in some cases, simply avoiding sex for a period of time allows the body to heal these damaged tissues. I don’t know how long you have had this problem but you can try avoiding sex for a month or two.

Secondly, the other solution I found is that increasing blood flow to the penis may help. Of course when you talk about increasing blood flow, it means the use of aphrodisiacs like the ones we talk about regularly, examples of which are Xzen 1200 and Sex Voltz. So you can try those too. Remember that in this unique case of yours, there are no guarantees. If the nerve and venal damage you suffered is severe, these solutions may not work. But you have to try first. I really wish you luck. Sorry once again. You can also consult your doctor about this – Uche My husband suffers from premature ejaculation.

But he is too embarrassed to get help. Please what can I get to help him? Thanks – Joke Premature ejaculation is quite common and so are the solutions. You can use a desensitising lubricant or wipe to control it. Lubricants like Max Control Spray will help him or he can use Sex on the Go Desensitizing Wipes to stop it each time you are about to have intercourse. You can see more premature ejaculation solutions on www.zeevirtualmedia.com – Uche Adults in need of these treatments and novelties can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 — 27

learning@vanguardngr.com

Experts make case for use of social media in sustainable human devt

Sore points of last Saturday’s UTME

By DAYO ADESULU, IKENNA ASOMBA & EKEMINI EYOH

Page 29

Covenant Varsity battles for Clinton’s Hult Prize Page 30

Nigerian develops solar cells from weed Page 37

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HE 2013 edition of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was last Saturday held in Nigeria and six other countries. But just like every other national exercise which has great economic impact, it becomes imperative to take stock of the sore points, challenges and prospects witnessed in the examination, which saw about 1.7 million candidates jostle for 520,000 admission spaces in the nation’s tertiary institutions. The examination now categorized into three - Paper-Pencil Test (PPT), Dual-Based Test (DBT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT), saw the PPT and DBT held across 3,168 centres in 378 examination towns in Nigeria and six other countries, including Accra in Ghana; Buea in Republic of Cameroon; Cotonou in Republic of Benin; London in United Kingdom; Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Johannesburg in South Africa. The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will commence on Saturday, May 18, 2013 and end on Saturday, June 1, 2013.

The examination body had said that all hands were on deck to make sure that

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

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he governing board of the University of Abuja has lamented the present condition of the institution as the council said it is determined to remodel the university to be among the six mega universities in the country.

The Chairman, Governing Council of the university, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia in Abuja last weekend, compared the present state of the institution to a local government headquarters.

Dr Ogbemudia while briefing the press after the 7th council meeting noted that the main campus located on Airport Road would have been an architectural masterpiece but regrettably not.

According to him, “this is a major challenge confronting the council and I am glad to say that the 7th council of the university has accepted this challenge.

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*Candidates undergoing biometric data capturing at the University of Calabar, Saturday.

Photo by Stanley Uchegbu

everything went on smoothly as planned and warned candidates to adhere strictly to laid down rules and regulations. It also warned that anyone caught engaging in any form of malpractice would be made to face the wrath of the law, noting that men and

officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies were contracted to ensure adequate security.

How these assurances played out Saturday, leaves much to be desired after the exams

Governing Council laments UniAbuja’s present condition “Of course there are also other challenges; curriculum, staff, external relations etc. We shall do our best to engage the authorities and all stakeholders in these issues.”

It would be recalled that the 25year-old institution held its 7th council meeting on Thursday, 25th April after the council was inaugurated on April 9th 2013 by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i.

Ogbemudia said the board reached so many decisions on the university which when implemented, will transform the school.

He, however, appealed to

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), UniAbuja chapter to shelve their proposed protest today, (last Monday), over government’s delay in releasing the White Paper on the Report of the Special Presidential Visitation Panel on the university.

He stated that university of Abuja will be one of the Federal Government’s planned six mega universities for each geo-political zone of the country adding that given the location of the university, it will be super mega.

He stated, “the location of the university in the country ’s precious capital unavoidably calls public attention Continues on pg 28

which saw 1, 644, 110 of the 1, 735, 720, candidates, including 209 foreigners writing the examination. With about 91,610 candidates expected to write the CBT exam kicking-off May 18, it becomes expedient to take stock of sore points of the last exams, while charting a way forward for the forthcoming CBT exam and subsequent UTMEs, if JAMB would survive the Steve Oronsaye Panel recommendation that it be made an administrative structure to set standards for minimum requirements on how universities in the country would conduct entrance examinations and have its powers divested to conduct matriculation examinations into tertiary institutions, while universities should be allowed to conduct their own entrance examinations.

Sore points A visit to some centres in Ajegunle Lagos such as Express Secondary School, Mokoya Secondary School, Adeolu Secondary School and others, showed that the examination commenced behind

Continues on pg 28

28 —VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Sore points of last Saturday’s UTME Continues from page 27 schedule as officials battled with the challenges posed by the delay in capturing candidates’ biometric data. In other centres across the state, there were also incidences of shortage of question papers, exam malpractice by candidates as aided and abetted by officials, and confusion emanating from students who chose wrong subject combinations during registration.

For instance, there were cases of students who didn’t register Literature-in-English, but want to study Law and other Arts/ Humanities courses. This led to swapping of question papers, which consequently caused delay in centres.

Presumably, candidates like these may not come out tops in the exams.

Similarly, candidates who failed to shade correctly their personal details such as surname, first name, middle name, registration number, centre and candidate numbers may also gnash their teeth when their results are released.

Before now, JAMB had warned candidates not to come to examination centres with gadgets such as phones, electronic scientific calculators, ipads, and other hand-held gadgets, but candidates who were bent on cheating in examination halls didn’t comply with this directive. Investigations revealed that some candidates beat the scanning/detecting machines used by security operatives to prevent candidates from taking these electronic gadgets into the hall.

Some candidates purportedly removed their phone batteries and other hand-held gadgets, to beat JAMB’s scanning/ detecting machines. Similarly, as capturing candidates’ biometric data became a problem, individuals popularly known as mercenaries who sat for the exan on behalf of some candidates, did what is known as superimposition i.e. scanning their passport photograph on the original candidate’s own to beat officials.

There were also cases of mercenaries who uploaded their own passport photographs while registering their candidates, but usually other personal information of the candidates such as names, sex, state of origin, local government, address, age etc, are correct.

On this passport photograph,

especially during admission, the candidates claim that it was error made in cafes during registration. These sore points are perhaps beyond the powers of JAMB to detect.

Also, the examination started in Yewa Junior High School, Dairy Farm, Agege, Ikotun High School, Government Technical College, Ikotun and Igando Community High School, around 10: 00am, an hour behind official starting time. hen Vanguard visited some other centres in the state, some candidates were seen shortly before the commencement of the examination copying supposed answers from their cell phones into small sheets of paper, which they hid in secluded parts of their bodies including their private parts to beat security officers.

Also, some clever ones went into the examination halls with their cell phones making it easy for them to cheat.

Our correspondent at Vetland Senior High School in IfakoIjaiye Local Government Area witnessed officials tackling the challenge of biometric screening of candidates within the scheduled time. The chief examiner at the centre who simply identified herself as Mrs Olajide, had to announce to

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those affected and who had earlier been screened manually to go into classrooms with their examination numbers to settle down. While the exam was going on, she went round to announce that every candidate should ensure they had their biometric screening before leaving the exam hall.

“These are some of the candidates that the machine could not capture their data and we cannot continue to waste time on them. That is why I asked them to go in first while the officials will go round to do their biometric capturing later,” she said.

There was also a situation of candidates not having all their subject combinations in one booklet and there were no leftover question papers across subject combinations.

Some candidates who had economics, chemistry and government as subject combination were affected.

The supervisors at some centres managed the situation by asking affected candidates to switch the question papers with those who had theirs complete pending when they would be ready to do them.

“And we’re able to manage the problem with understanding,” Mr. Yekini Olawale, a supervisor at Yewa Junior High School who teaches at Lagos City Polytechnic, said.

Schools like Excel College,

Ronik Comprehensive School and Ejigbo High School, all in Ejigbo area of Lagos State were observed to have complied with the scheduled time for the examination, even as Kembry School, around Jakande area commenced by 10.00am, one hour after the scheduled time, owing to delay in capturing students’

biometric data.

A survey of the centres revealed that the atmosphere was calm and devoid of chaos contrary to what was obtainable in some centres around the state, where there were cases of change of examination venues, which threw candidates into pandemonium.

At Excel College, a source said that the examination was “okay” and the venue peaceful.

Another source, who revealed his identity as Jerry complained that he found the Chemistry questions “tough”, Physics “bearable”, and other questions “okay.”

Asked about the centre, Jerry said the venue was peaceful and the examination started right on time. Deborah Augustine who wrote her examination at Ejigbo High School said that the centre was serene and devoid of any commotion.

to it, with the natural expectation that it must be a model and reference point in academic excellence, and a piece of beauty befitting Nigeria and its capital. The University of Abuja therefore assumes the status of primus

BY AMAKA ABAYOMI

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Basic Six pupil of JointHeirs Primary School, Shomolu, Lagos State, Master Daniel Bankole, beat 15 pupils to emerge winner at the grand finale of the Amila Painting Challenge held at the University of Lagos last week.

Bankole went home with N250,000 while the first and second runners up went home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively. The other 12 contestants got consolation prizes of N30,000 each while arts teachers of the three best pupils got cash reward of N25,000 each and also the winning schools will get art materials worth N250,000, among others.

In her welcome address, the Manager, Dairy and Food Enhancement, Promasidor, the organisers of the challenge, Mrs. Abiola Inawo, said the competition, which started six months ago, was about making the children to have fun.

One hundred public schools and 100 private schools in the 20 educational districts in Lagos State participated in the first stage of the competition and the pupils were allowed to paint anything of their choice.

AKISCOM launches education endowment fund

BY ETOP EKANEM

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*From right: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, guest of honour; Miss Chikodili Ozoagu, student of Princeton College and Regional winner of Technovation competition, and Mrs Catherine Ugwuji, Principal of the school with other students of the school during the Information Communication Technology Day Celebration organised by Women in Technology in Nigeria held in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Governing Council laments UniAbuja’s present condition Continues from page 27

Primary six pupil wins Amila Painting Challenge

inter pares amongst the country’s universities.”

The council, he said, decided among other things to: create a vision and strategic plan for the university consistent with the law establishing it, programme for the 25th Anniversary; and raise funds for the development of

the university.

Other plans for the university include: engagement and encouragement of responsible trade and student unionism, provision of basic infrastructure and teaching aides, establishment/reconstitution of statutory and ad-hoc committees. The council also

resolved to review internal administration and adoption of best practices, facilities tours of the university ’s campuses; addressing the accreditation problems facing some of the courses and securing the university’s boundary with neighbouring communities and the facilities within.

HE Akwa Ibom State Community, AKISCOM, Lagos, will this Sunday, launch its N100 million education endowment fund and inaugurate its board of trustees at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos.

AKISCOM President, Prince Elijah Ifot, at a press briefing along side Mr Sam Bassey, Chairman, Education Committee and Mr Blessed Ekpeyong, PRO said the event will feature two lectures - Creating first class state from a third world country to be delivered by Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Effiong Abia, and Free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom State: Matters arising, to be delivered by Usen Udoh, Senior Executive, Accenture, Lagos.

According to Ifot, “AKISCOM, under its present leadership, has initiated a number of lifetouching programmes to lift the community to its former glory.

The educational endowment fund is one of such programmes, and we intend to award a N200,000 scholarship to 31 undergraduates which will cover the duration of their programmes.

“The Fund will equip the Community to play a prominent role in advancing the educational needs of our young people, most especially the intelligent but indigent ones because education is an investment that can change the destinies of present and future generations.”

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—29

Experts make case for use of social media in sustainable human devt

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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OT quite long ago, the media was awash with how a young entrepreneur, Miss Cynthia Osokogu, a postgraduate student of Nassarawa State University, Lafia was lured all the way from Nassarawa to Lagos State by her Facebook acquaintances, where she eventually ended up being murdered in cold blood.

It is in recognition of this powerful effect of the social media that communication scholars and experts gathered for the 2nd edition of the Professor Ebenezer Soola Conference on Communication at the University of Ibadan to chart ways on how government and stakeholders can harness it for sustainable human and national development.

Shortly after the four-day conference themed Harnessing the New Media of Communication for Sustainable Human Development, Quadlife had a chat with the former Director, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba, Lagos, Mr. Olujimi Kayode, who co-authored a paper delivered at the conference with Mr. Thanny Noeem, a lecturer at the Department of Public Relations & Advertising, Lagos State University-Adebola Adegunwa School of Communication (LASU-AASOC) on Health Communication, New Media and Human Development.

According Kayode, in recog-

nition of the fact that so many Nigerians, most especially the youths, use the social media, government and other stakeholders in the health sector must seize the opportunity to enlighten the masses about preventive health information.

This, he said would engender human and national development if used efficiently.

“Without wishing away the powerful effect of the social media as a complementary channel of getting health information where there’s no doctor, and aside radio, television, newspaper and magazine, it becomes imperative for

•From left: Prof. Festus Adesanoye of Dept of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan; Alhaji Bola Agboola, FRCN Zonal Director; Prof. Andrew Moemeka (keynote speaker) and Prof. Ebenezer Soola (guest of honour) at the Ebenezer Soola conference in Ibadan. Photo: NAN.

Exercise Instruction: Choose the word that is appropriate from the alternatives in the parenthesis.

1. It takes two to (tango/tangle) 2. The police (rounded off/rounded up) a group of teenagers suspected to be criminals.

3. Professor Iwediran (rounded off/rounded up) the lecture at 5.00pm.

4. A. Thanks for your thoughtfulness!

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government and other stakeholders in the health sector to judiciously tap into the rich potentials available in the social media to inform, enlighten and educate the Nigerian populace on how they could prevent certain ailments which have overtime led to massive loss of lives.

“Government and stakeholders in the health sector must not just see the social media as platforms for unserious people and idle minds, but where health information, especially those that will help prevent certain ailments, can be issued for public good and

consumption.

“If doctors are not readily available, then the social media is the best bet for people to access information about preventive medical information.”

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Andrew Moemeka, a Professor of Development Communication, while the conference was chaired by Mr. Chris Doghudje, doyen of advertising practice in Nigeria, but was represented by Alhaji Bola Agboola, Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Lagos Operations.

B. Don’t mention/Don’t mention it 5. The food is not fit for (humane/ human) consumption.

6. Many people are religious but few are (humane/human).

7. The bride and groom kissed (themselves/each other) on their wedding day.

8. Many Nigerians (descried/decried) the wave of crimes in the country.

9. The number of (fish/fishes) in Ogun River has decreased.

10. Which is the most deadly of all (fish/ fishes)?

11. The Union’s reasoning is based on the (premises/premise) that ‘injustice to one is injustice to all.’

12. You cannot enter the company’s (premises/premise) without a permit.

CORRECTION 1. It takes two to tango 2.The police rounded up a group of

Indomie commences search for 3 heroic children

D

ufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles is set to award scholarship to another set of three heroic children expected to emerge at this year’s edition of the Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria (IIDA), an initiative aimed at supporting kids academically while helping to reduce the growing dearth of quality of education in the country.

The uniqueness of this year’s edition is that three other outstanding children that have performed exceedingly well in their academics would also be rewarded with academic scholarships. The scholarship is applicable to candidates who have passed the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Unified Tetiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Thus, a total of six children would be rewarded at the event.

Speaking at the media briefing, Chief Executive Officer, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Deepak Singhal established that the IIDA initiative is geared towards ensuring that children aside from being celebrated, have access to quality education. Every great nation is dependent on the quality of human resources it produces; thus the need to ensure that responsible corporate organisations work hand in hand with government so as to boost the quality of education in Nigeria.

teenagers suspected to be criminals.

3. Professor Iwediran rounded off the lecture at 5.00pm.

4. A. Thanks for your thoughtfulness!

B. Don’t mention it.

5. The food is not fit for human consumption.

6. Many people are religious but few are humane.

7. The bride and groom kissed each other on their wedding day.

8. Many Nigerians decried the wave of crimes in the country.

9. The number of fish in Ogun River has decreased.

10. Which is the most deadly of all fishes?

11. The Union’s reasoning is based on the premise that ‘injustice to one is injustice to all.’

12. You cannot enter the company’s premises without a permit.

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

30—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

BY LAJU ARENYEKA

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EAM Fudio of Covenant University stands the chance to win USD1 million to start up their social enterprise as at this year ’s Hult Prize competition if they propose the very best idea to change the world. This year’s competition brought together over 10,000 applicants from 150 different countries with solutions to the global food crisis. In partnership with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative, the Hult Prize aims to identify and launch the most compelling social businesses that tackle the crippling issues faced by the billions at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

The 2013 Hult Prize is themed around global food security and will focus on how to get safe, sufficient, affordable and easily accessible food to the 200 million people who live in urban slums – a challenge personally selected by President Clinton. “The Hult Prize is thrilled that Team Ba-

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Covenant varsity battles for Clinton’s Hult Prize bajide of Covenant University has joined the initiative,” said Dr. Stephen Hodges, President of the Hult International Busi-

ness School. “This year’s competition has received a record number of entries, bringing to-

•Team Fudio of Covenant University

gether some of the most talented students to help solve global food security which can benefit nearly a billion people.”

Although the Fudio team did not win at the regional finals held in March, close sources say that they have improved on their programme and are now the only Nigerian team representing the country in the online competition. The leader of the team, Babajide Owoyele while speaking on their initiative said: “Whether or not we get this opportunity to change our country is dependent on the people’s votes, that is why we want to get more and more people to buy into our vision.

"It is our solution to food insecurity in urban slums and it partners with farmers, offering optimized storage systems using the clay-in-clay method with no electricity required in exchange for farm produce at discount rates. FUDIO incorporates local micro-restaurants called “mama-put,” re-branding them with lean production systems and micro-franchising them to produce Safe, Nutritious, Available, Ready & Cheap (SNARC) food.”

Continuing, Owoyele said: “Employing customer loyalty scheme; offering points for patronage, which the customers eventually exchange for clayin-clay pot refrigerators; we build a strong network of customers on the slum."

Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013 — 31

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Vanguard,THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2013—33

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—35

Almajiri in Katsina State goes to school on ‘salary’ from govt

By WALE AKINOLA

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lmajiri, the boy who begs, is not only being taken off the streets of Katsina State, he also goes to school with monetary incentives, according to the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Aminu Kado Kurfi. Kurfi adds that parents in the state are equally being paid stipends to encourage them to send their girl-child to school. The commissioner, who became a Professor of Business Administration in Bayero University at the age of 44, unfolds the goodies in the education sector courtesy of the Governor Ibrahim Shema administration in Katsina State.

You must be brilliant to have become a professor at 44.

I can’t say that I am brilliant, it is the will of God. All my life, since I graduated, I have never worked anywhere other than the university environment. I have never left the four walls of the classroom until I was appointed. I wrote the popular book, Principles of Financial Management, among others.

How did you react to your appointment when you heard of it?

I think it was around July 2011 that His Excellency, Governor Ibrahim Shema, sent for me. I was in Kano because I had been in Kano all my life.

He said I should meet him in his office the following day. We met and he said he was thinking of bringing me on board, education to be precise, and he added that it was a trust because he needed results. He asked my view and I told him that if my service was needed at home, I wish Allah’s guidance. I just heard over the radio the following day that I had been appointed as commissioner.

What is the concept about the girl-child education such that

separate schools are built for them even when some of them still attend the conventional schools?

In this part of the country, we have this problem of the girlchild that some parents are not comfortable having their girls going for higher education.

Part of the strategy to encourage girl-child education was that a new department for the girl-child education headed by a Special Adviser, an equivalent to commissioner, was created.

Also in order to encourage enrollment and ensure that the girl-child continues to be in school even after enrollment, the government introduced incentives for the parents. The state government, in collaboration with the local government established a girl-child school in all the 34 local government areas. They do attend the con-

ventional school where we have the boys and girls but this one is meant only for the girlchild, just to give them that special attention. Majority of the schools that are boarding are for the girl-child.

There is what we call Conditional Cash Transfer. In this scheme, girls from the rural areas are given about N50,000 regularly over a period of time so that they could proceed for their higher education, that is NCE so that on graduation, you are posted to your local government to teach. It was introduced in 2009 and it is still running to date. It is in collaboration with UNICEF. There is another scheme that gives the mother of the girlchild N5,000 every term provided the girl-child attends classes all the time. If you have three girls, you collect N15,000 every term but you must attain

75 per cent attendance.

This action has really stimulated the parents. Now, they are the ones that make sure that their girl-child goes to school, and we have not recorded any drop in attendance.

N5,000 might not make much meaning to you but in the village, it is a lot of money.

If you say you want to encourage the girl-child, what is the concept behind the Almajiri schools?

Before western education came into being, Islamic education had been on. But when western education came in, people thought it was attached to Christianity because, perhaps, it was introduced by the Christian missionaries. Gradually, they began to understand that it had nothing to do with religion. The fact that you are going for western education does not mean you will abandon your Islamic religion.

Some people take these almajiris for beggars but they are not. We are taking them off the streets and putting them in schools. Not only that, they are attended to medically every week as there are ambulances that go to all the schools to attend to them specially.

Remember that the Federal Government is embarking on something similar by building schools for the almajiris.

Beyond the western education they are getting in the schools, they will also be learning and acquiring skills in arts, tie and dye and so on. They are also on some monetary incentives so that they will not only stay in school but to be useful to themselves even outside the classrooms when they graduate.

Virtually all the students in higher institutions in the state are on scholarship, apart from those ones who are in other institutions outside the state that are on the government scholarship. A lot of these students are also studying different courses abroad and their tuition for the duration of their stay which could be between four to six years have been fully paid for.

•Professor Aminu Kado Kurfi

BOWEN graduate out to empower young girls

By LAJU ARENYEKA

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OSIN Taiwo may look like your normal 23-year-old graduate. Dressed in Tee shirts and slacks, he can blend into any crowd. However, after graduating from Bowen University in 2011, Tosin chose a path that not many Nigerian graduates would; he started his own business. He began using his skills as a Computer science

graduate to repair computers from house to house before setting up his company, Afribolt Technologies in Lagos. “I never liked the idea of waking up early in the morning and going to work for someone else when I could do my own thing.”

Now as an entrepreneur, Taiwo is also doing things differently. While speaking to Vanguard Learning,he said: “Even though everyone wants

to make money, that is not the primary goal of our business.

We use technology as a tool to empower the less privileged, especially the females in our society. We noticed that a lot of girls in the rural areas have nothing to fend for themselves after secondary school. Some of them fall prey to peer pressure, and succumb to unhealthy relationships. A lot of them get pregnant and have their futures truncated. But Afribolt is

about changing Africa with technology. And the best way to change a continent is by empowering the women.”

Taiwo also lamented the poor quality of computer education in the country. “Technology is what moves any country forward,” he said, “that is the reason why a country like India is doing better than we are economically. But until we pay more attention to technology education in this country, we cannot go further.”

Osun adopts e-learning, launches computer tablet

BY EKEMINI EYOH

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HE government of Osun will on Thursday May 9, 2013 formally launch the distribution of customized computer tablets tagged Opon-Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) to students of S.S.1 to S.S.3 in public secondary schools in the state. The initiative is reputed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Built to improve learning among secondary school students in the state and also to further prepare them for external and internal examinations, the tablets which are designed in the form of an iPad would be distributed to the students free-of-charge.

Speaking on the state government's readiness to launch the initiative which she described as a milestone in the history of education development and enhance learning in the country, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi LaoyeTomori who also oversees the education portfolio in the state, noted that the Governor Rauf Aregbesolaled government is determined to ensure that students of the State of Osun are effectively prepared to meet up with the high standards needed for them to excel in the world of learning and research.

The tablets, she further noted, “are installed with softwares of all the subjects being offered in secondary schools incorporating different textbooks and lesson notes as well as past questions and answers on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examination Council Examination (NECO), as well as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which will help facilitate the students’ preparedness for these examinations.

“The launch of the computer tablets which will be distributed to senior secondary school students in various public secondary schools in the state is a further attestation to the resolute pursuit of innovation in the state’s education sector, according to the findings of the Senate Committee on Education which recently described the education policy of the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola as the best in the country,” she added.

36 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

UK partners Lagos schools on capacity-building

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

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HE British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter, has said the UK Government is willing to partner the Lagos State Government in building the needed capacity to develop the teaching skills of teachers in the state.

This was disclosed by the Deputy High Commissioner when he paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye in her office.

Commending the Lagos State Government for the strides recorded in the education sector, Carter said; “the level of education in the state shows that Lagosians take education seriously. The level of attendance at the schools is exceptionally high and that is a testament to the role of the state government in promoting education as the best way of preparing young people for the challenges of adulthood and parental commitment to education.

“The Department for International Development (DFID), British Council and my office are committed to working with our

Nigerian partners, especially Lagos State, to help build capacity to enable the senior management in schools make the best use of their skills in developing teaching skills and crucially, to enhance and encourage the role of parents in their children’s education and the work that schools do in providing that education.”

Pointing out that education is

fundamental to the prosperity of any society, Carter said through the DFID, the UK Government is making important contribution to the growth of education in Lagos State.

“In public education, we are helping to build capacity in terms of skills on the management side, improving structure and getting more parents involved in

their children’s education. We are also helping to raise the profile of private education in the state because both sides play vital roles in ensuring that young people not only manage an increasing complex world, but also contribute to the development of that world.”Appreciating the efforts of the UK Government, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, called for more assistance in areas of ICT facilities and technical and vocational education to facilitate better and easier teaching and learning.

*From left; British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Peter Carter; Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye; and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, when Mr. Carter paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner .

ESSO boosts quality of Geoscience studies in varsities

By DAYO ADESULU

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SSO Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) recently commenced the third edition of its Train-the-Trainer workshop, an initiative that aims to improve the quality of geoscience students in Nigerian universities by retraining their university lecturers with the latest in geoscience analysis technology. Participants were drawn from six universities; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Ladoke Akintola Univer-

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sity, Ogbomosho; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye; University of Lagos; University of Ado Ekiti, Ado Ekiti; and University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

The Train-the-trainer workshop - the third in the series - was organised in conjunction with Danvic Concept International, and is part of the EEPNL-sponsored University Assistance Programme (UAP), under which Esso sponsors the construction of Geoscience workrooms equipped with workstations, plotters and

printers in selected universities, and sponsors the training of lecturers and students on the usage of these machines. This effort is complemented by other establishments like Schlumberger, which donates and loads the required software to support the program. Till date, ExxonMobil’s sponsorship of the programme is in excess of N500 million.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, held at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, the Manager, Deepwater Production Geoscience, Esso Exploration and

Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Goodluck Adegbesan, stated that there was a need for Geoscience lecturers to constantly update their knowledge in the field so as to be in tune with current reality in the oil and gas industry.

According to him, the decision of Esso to participate in the training and the retraining of lecturers through the University Assistance Programme (UAP), is to ensure that Nigeria consistently produced quality man-power for the oil and gas sector of the economy adding that the initiative would reduce capital flight, which would ensure that more home-grown Nigerians with requisite skills are employed.

He said: “The world is fast becoming a global village and the use of technology in the quest for oil and gas exploration cannot be over- emphasized. It is, therefore, necessary to empower graduates coming out of our educational system to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the world in the market place. It is our sincere hope and belief that the better the output from our universities, the better impact on

National College PTA donates school bus

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S part of its efforts to make education of children and other official assignments be less stressful in National College, Gbagada, Lagos, the Parents Teachers’ Association of the college has donated a 20-seater bus to the school.

At a presentation ceremony, the outgoing Chairman of the PTA, Mr. Ade Kolawole handed over the keys of the vehicle to the Managing Proprietor, Engr.

Alfred Aina (Jnr.) saying that the gesture was a manifestation of the cooperation and understanding that have existed between the parents and the management of the school. “ We are quite impressed with the infrastructural and academic development of the school since it was returned to the owners by the state government, we are further encouraged by the commitment of the management and the entire staff towards the progress of our children,” he said.

In his response, Alfred Aina (Jnr.) assured the parents that the school will continue to climb higher in quality education and moral upbringing, stressing that the bus will be used for activities that will further boost the corporate image of the school.

Pampers School graduates 5,000

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HE Quality Assurance Director of Pampers Group of Schools, Mrs. Olajumoke Aderonmu, has said that Pampers Private School has graduated over 5,000 pupils within the last 30 years.

Aderonmu, who stated this at a thanksgiving ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the school, said the school which started with seven pupils and one teacher in 1983 has grown to a world class school that has churned out over 5,000 qualitative graduates within the last 30 years.

“30 years ago, on the 23rd of April 1983, in a small building on Johnson Street, Bode Thomas, Pampers Private School was born. Just as we all started life as tiny babies, so also Pampers Private School started with just seven pupils and one teacher,” she said.

“It’s amazing that what started out so small has grown like a mighty oak tree with many branches, in form of Pampers Private School Lekki, Rainbow College Day, Rainbow College Boarding and Quest."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—37

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Nigerian develops solar cells from weed (Mimosa pudica)

By EBELE ORAKPO MIMOSA pudica commonly called 'Touch-me-not', Sensitive plant', 'Humble plant' or 'Shameful plant' because of its reaction to touch, is a weed found throughout the tropics. Apart from its many traditional medicinal uses, a researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Pharm.

Justus Nwaoga, hasdiscovered that the weed has solar properties suitable for the production of solar cell/electricity. Nwaoga spoke with Vanguard Learning in Ibadan recently. Excerpts: ASCINATED by the behaviour of mimosa pudica popularly called kpakorukwu or kpakochuku in Igbo, Pharm. Nwaoga decided to explore the relationship between sunlight and mimosa leaves. “I have always been eager to appreciate the behaviour of Mimosa pudica.

The question has been; ‘why do the leaves collapse when touched, only to open again within minutes in daylight? I look at the plant as a natural solar plant because it opens up in the mornings and closes in the evenings, therefore, must have solar materials in it. The search for knowledge took me to Mimosa locations to find out what happens at nighttime. I observed that the leaves remain folded when bright artificial light is shone on them. It became clear that the plant responds to solar energy, artificial light has no effect on it. I believe that the movement of the leaves when touched, is connected with some form of electrical transmission. It can be likened to the behaviour of other living creatures. For example, when a person is touched unexpectedly, electrical impulses are transmitted to the brain, and the person moves with a jerk,” he said.

Isolating the active material: N waoga subsequently, went to work to isolate the particular solar substance in the plant that responds to sunlight alone. “Nature has shown us that there is something there which is in fact, even more sensitive than the regular solar cell.

"The generation of electrical energy with a solar-sensitive isolate from Mimosa pudica was achieved after series of designs to safeguard the electrical properties of the material.

To convert the mechanical energy observed as spontaneous movement of the leaves to electrical energy, was an uphill task. A strong oxidation-reduction reaction was noticed in the extract, which quickly dissipated any trapped energy. After C M Y K

several attempts, however, it was possible to retain some quantum of electrical energy within the cells due to subsequent isolation of the principal compound," noted Nwaoga.

How it works: “The innovation is based on constructing bio-accumulators using the electrolytes derived from the mimosa plant. Solar cells constructed with the weed extracts and exposed to sunlight were found to accumulate solar energy which was converted to electrical energy,” said Nwaoga who is one of the 10 finalists for the forthcoming Innovation Prize for Africa.

Refusing to give up: "The only meaningful way of demonstrating the electrical potential of the plant isolate was to use the cells to power an electrical circuit after combining the appropriate compound as electrodes. Experiments were performed initially using copper and other metals in turns as electrodes, but these failed. The conventional copper/zinc electrodes also did not work as the mimosa extract powerfully corroded the zinc plate. At that stage, the entire aspiration appeared to have turned illusive. Later, however, with more effort, the chem-

•Solar cell from mimosa extract.

•Mimosa pudica plant, inset is Pharm. Justus Nwaoga

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Mimosa pudica has electrical potential, which is energized by the sun’s radiation

istry of the material was better understood, which guided the generation of steady DC current that lit a 4.5 V lamp.

"With this breakthrough, it was possible to construct a functional mimosa solar panel with the plant extract. The solar panel is designed in such a way that the electrical potential of the cells can be restored on exposure to direct sun rays, after they have been discharged."

Prototype: "I have come up with the prototype which I have presented at so many exhibitions including the 26th European Union Photovoltaic Solar Energy Con-

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ference and Exhibition in Hamburg Germany, and the NUC Research and Development show in Niger State where I came second. Mimosa pudica is now accepted as a new material for solar energy development," he stated.

On whether solar electricity will be cheaper if generated from this plant than from traditional silicon solar panels, he said; “It will be cheaper. About 0.5ml of one per cent concentration of mimosa extract can give you 0.25 volts or more when properly set. Again, some of the imported solar panels even crash or separate due to the intensity of the sun here."

Explaining further, Nwaoga said that there are scientific explanations to show that Mimosa pudica has electrical potential, which is energized by the sun’s radiation. "In conventional electricity, when 'positive' and 'negative' wires touch, there is a spark, and a situation known as short circuit occurs. This interrupts electric current and there may be power outage. A similar process is believed to occur in mimosa pudica. When touched, the flow of electricity is interrupted and the leaves collapse. It may well be that a touch on this plant interferes with the flow of electric charges through the conducting parts and root hairs to or from the leaves. It is believed that the solar radiation incident on the leaf surface releases electrons that result in electric current," he said.

SURE-P swings into action to reduce unemployment rate

BY MUSBAUDEEN SEKONI

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HE rising unemployment rate in Nigeria which led the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to establish Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) has received the attention of applicants as Subsidy Re-investment Programme, SURE-P, stormed Lagos for induction courses for first batch of trainees.

Speaking during the induction in Lagos, the Project's Director of Communication, Dr. Peter Papka who lamented the rate of unemployment in Nigeria said the figures from the National Bureau of Statistics put unemployment at well over 16 million in the age group of between 18-20 years. According to him, the Federal Government is more than ever committed to human capacity development, particularly for the youths, adding that reducing unemployment is key to government's realisation of its Vision 20:20-20.

Papka who enjoined the participants to seize the opportunity of the training to develop their skills towards gainful employment noted that at inception, only 50,000 applicants were targeted, but however disclosed that the number has risen to

over 8-0,000.

According to him, when the scheme was launched in October, 2012, its objective was to create an avenue for unemployed graduates to be attached to firms and organizations where they can work and gain experience for a year with monthly allowances.

He added that the scheme creates an opportunity for inters to go into the firm, learn the technique in a working environment, build their skill within the sector where they have been deployed on the basis of their qualification.

His words: “The scheme would create an avenue to determine whether where you have entered is the sector that is suitable for you. It is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate to the firm that, yes, I have something to offer, therefore, I am worthy to be retained by the firm.

They get to enjoy free labour at government expense, they get to select the best intern to join their organization, and they get a cost free opportunity to render their corporate social responsibility, in addition to the plans to get tax rebate for companies within the scheme.

38 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Nigeria partners Educate-A-Child programme to address challenge of out-of-school children N

IGERIA has entered into partnership with the Educate-A-Child Programme funded by the Qatari Government to work towards addressing the out-of-school children challenge being faced by various states in the country.

Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who led the Nigerian delegation to the high level strategic meeting to accelerate efforts to reach outof-school children in Doha, Qatar recently worked out the partnership after briefing ministers of Education from 17 countries who attended the meeting.

Wike who presented Nigeria’s country report to the ministers and former national leaders, pointed out that the nation has taken critical steps to address the issues of out-of-school children since President Goodluck Jonathan took over governance in 2011.

He stated that the Jonathan administration has the political will to tackle the challenge posed by children being out of school, noting that the funding of infrastructure development, recruitment of teachers and involvement of different stakeholders in access creation

programmes have led to the reduction of the number of outof-school children in the country.

He called on international agencies and other development partners to assist the nation in resolving the challenges posed by out-ofschool children in Nigeria and other developing countries across the world. ”In our country, we have given education the desired priority under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan.

We have the political will to ensure that we create access to quality education for our

children that are presently out of school. We urge all development partners, especially the Educatea-Child programme to invest in our nation to reduce the number of out-of-school children. ”For us, we have invested in the development of infrastructure in the form of the Almajiri schools in the northern Nigeria and selected parts of our country, construction of special girl-child schools and schools for the boy-child who is out of school in parts of southern Nigeria. We look forward to targeted investments to help us develop more infrastructure to cater for more out-of- school children.”

*From left: Mr. Goodluck Adegbasa, Managing Director, Deepwater Production; Dr Aikhiovbare Lambert, Managing Director, Ehimade Nigeria Limited; Mrs Rita Umoren, Managing Director, Government and Public Affairs, Mobil Produccing Nigeria Unlimited, during the Train-the-Trainer workshop sponsored by ESSO in Ibadan.

25 varsities, Geology lecturers storm trainers workshop

By DAYO ADESULU

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O fewer than 25 univer sities participated in this year's five-day workshop which took place in Auchi and Igharra areas of Edo State, as Ehimade Nigeria Limited, the facilitator reiterated its commitment to entrench quality standards in the study of Geology in Nigeria and bring it at par

with global standards. The purpose of the workshop tagged: Train-The Trainer Field Mapping Workshop, is to deepen the knowledge of Geology lecturers in the area of field mapping.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop which was held at the Sage Hotel, Benin City, the seminar coordinator and Chairman of Ehimade Nigeria Limited, Dr.

Wonderland organises train excursion for 800 children

By AMAKA ABAYOMI

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s part of the activities to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day, Wonderland Entertainment has concluded arrangements to organise a one-day train tour for 800 children from private schools in Lagos and Ogun states.

According to the CEO, Wonderland Entertainment, Mr. Tayo Adeyemo, the ride, which will depart from the Alagomeji terminal and pass through Yaba, Shogunle, Mushin, Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Iju, Agbado and turn at Ijoko, Ogun State, will afford the children the opportunity of meeting some Nollywood stars.

“The essence of the trip is to enable them know what railway is all about. It will be a pleasurable ride with games on board, a DJ and the opportunity of interacting with their Nollywood role models.”

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Lambert Aikhiovbare said that there has been a reduction in the number of geologists in the country.

He hinged his decision to embark on training and retraining of lecturers on the need to ensure that Nigeria consistently produces quality man-power for the country ’s oil and gas sector.

According to him, this would reduce capital flight, as it would ensure that more Nigerians with requisite skills are employed as against the practice of employing expatriates who populate the oil and gas sector.

Recalling his earlier days as an employee, he said through dint of hard work and dedication, he was able to rise through the ranks from an employee to an independent contributor. Dr. Lambert Aikhiovbare noted that it currently takes close to three years for a recent graduate to achieve similar status.

He attributed this to the long period of re-training which recent employees have to undergo after graduation from tertiary institutions. The Ehimade Ltd chairman harped on the importance of lecturers acquiring the requisite skills and tools.

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NTIL you make the most of yourself; you can’t get the most out of yourself. Until you get the most out of yourself; you can’t get the most out of life.

Until you know and understand how life works; you can’t maximize life. You can’t maximize life until you know, understand and apply the system of principles that life is based upon.

The universe we inhabit is orderly and well organised. Nothing functions by chance in the universe. If the universe is allowed to function by chance even for a micro-second, there will be chaos and crisis on planet earth. Therefore, the universe is governed by laws or principles; man-made laws and natural laws. Natural laws are divided into physical laws and mental laws.

Success or failure in life is never due to luck or fate.

Peace of mind; financial freedom; loving relationships; sound health; personal fulfilment, do not just happen or suddenly occur in human life. Progress and advancement in human life is governed by mental laws. You can break man-made laws and may get away with it but you cannot violate natural laws and escape the consequences irrespective of whether you agree with it or not; whether you are ignorant of it or not.

The father of all mental laws is known as The Law of Cause and Effect which states, “Everything happens for a reason, whether or not you know what it is; for every effect there is a specific cause.” This means that nothing happens by chance in your life; every experience you have ever had and will ever have and every result you produce in every area of life has specific causes. You are constantly creating your outer world of circumstance through your inner world of thought.

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By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

The basic operating principles of life

Whatever you believe, with feeling, becomes your reality

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Thoughts are causes and conditions are the effects. You are constantly reaping the fruits of your thinking through your circumstance and the results you produce in life.

Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world; your marriage is a reflection of what is in you; your finances is a reflection of what is in you concerning finances; The quality of your relationship is a reflection of what is in you etc. Rather than becoming angry or even blaming someone for the way things are in your life; it is profitable to analyze and examine how your thoughts, feelings, words, actions and inactions have created the condition surrounding you in order to change your thinking, feelings, words, actions and consequently your life.

The Law of Belief says, “Whatever you believe, with feeling, becomes your reality.” Your inward look at yourself and your possibilities; your outward look at the people in your world and your outlook on life creates your reality. Whatever information you’ve accepted about yourself; other people and life forms your belief system and this creates your reality irrespective of whether the information is true or false. And you’ll never rise above your belief system. Therefore, break free from limiting beliefs and adopt empowering ones.

The Law of Expectation says, “Whatever you expect, with confidence, becomes your own self-fulfilling prophecy.” In life, you don’t really get what you want but what you expect; you don’t really get what you ask for but rather you get what you prepare for. And what you expect you will definitely prepare for. What you want; expect and prepare for must harmonize. Therefore, expect the best of yourself. Expect the best of people.

Expect the best of life.

The Law of Attraction says, “You are a living magnet; you invariably attract into your life the people, situations, and circumstances that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts.” Invariably, your opportunities; problems; people and events in your life harmonize with your thoughts. The quality of your life is attracted by the kind of person you are.

Therefore, make these laws work for you and not against you.

Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013 — 39

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40 — Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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Vanguard,THURSDAY, MAY 02, 2013—41

42— Vanguard,

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Beware: Predators all around HI, ONE of the first things I do most mornings on waking up is to check my mails and other messages, just in case something important or urgent cropped up over the night. So I did on Good Friday and saw a link from a friend on my Blackberry (BBM). I’m always quick to check all links just to be sure its not related to the job. I wasted no time in checking this one too because it had a little note from my friend attached to it. She expressed concern about the content of the link and stated that something similar had happened to a young girl in their area in Mushin. My jaw dropped as I read the story from the link. After reading, I shared it with everyone on my list and forwarded the story by e-mail to several other contacts and friends with young female children.

Life as we had it while we were growing up is no longer what it is now. Things have changed. That advancement in technology especially the use of the Internet has turned the world into a global village is no longer news. What is news and worrisome is that we are not prepared for the dangers nor equipped for the challenges that come with these advancements. Predators of all shades abound on the Internet and social networking platforms and they are real in Nigeria.

these Internet predators or fraudsters. From your own experience, how do you think Internet predators can be curtailed? Your contribution might be the saving grace for other unsuspecting Nigerians. Send your contributions to: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com or P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Kirikiri Canal. I’m looking forward to read from you.

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y name is Chinwe. I am 26 years old. I never graduated from the university simply because I was stupid and careless. On my 24th birthday, I received a nice gift. It was a Blackberry phone. I always wanted one. It was like a right of passage. My ex-boyfriend got it for me. He was a student like me. I didn’t have a job and I really never cared to ask how he could afford it. My concern at that point was yes, I had finally arrived! Other girls in my hostel had Blackberries and I would always get pissed when I heard sounds of pings and messages coming into their phones at all hours. I would stare at my Nokia phone and wish I could throw it away but half bread they say is better than none. So, I hoped and even fasted to get a Blackberry phone. Looking back now, if I had the opportunity, I’d have a landline with no Internet activity what so ever.

Anyway, I got the

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His voice was so soothing, he made me do things I never thought possible.

He had gained so much access into my head. I realized later I had done some very sick and twisted things just to please him .

The pathetic story of Cynthia Osokogu is still fresh on our minds while several will remain undiscovered or unsolved. Yet, it would appear that our young people, especially the girls, are not learning anything. We always think that those who fall victims must have made a mistake somewhere along the line.

We are smarter and cannot make similar mistakes. We forget that the perpetrators are also sharpening their skills too and planning new strategies.

The story of Chinwe which you are about to read might seem too outrageous but the truth is that it is happening and anyone may fall victim.

Dear readers, Please do write and share with us if you or anyone has fallen victim or escaped from the clutches or traps of

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Blackberry phone and even got free BIS subscription. At that moment, my life was complete.

No more going to the cyber cafes to check my emails, my Facebook or Twitter connections. I had it all at my finger tips. Life indeed was complete, or so I thought. Before long, I became addicted to my Blackberry and also my social media applications and since I had constant access, I quickly gained enough followers, especially guys. This was because I had a lot of erotic pictures on my timeline. I was popular. Finally, I felt I was the main girl. Everyone wanted to follow me. I didn’t care if it was virtual, only that it felt good checking out my profile and having well over 8,000 followers, more than half of which were guys.

One particular guy caught my attention. Till this day, I don’t know what made him stand out but we got chatting. He sent me direct messages and I replied. He was quiet a gentleman. I can’t remember him ever asking for a nude picture unlike the rest of them. So, this made me comfortable with him. His name was Tobi, he said he was a doctor. I didn’t have any cause to doubt him as he had extensive knowledge and even gave me some medical advice from time to time. We eventually moved from Twitter to Blackberry chat and we chatted all the time. I got so comfortable with him that I gave him my number. That would come to be the biggest mistake I ever made.

Tobi called me every day. On some days he called more than once. At night, he would call and I would lie on my bed and have phone sex with him. His voice was so soothing, he made me do things I never thought possible. He had gained so much access into my head. I realized later I had done some very sick and twisted things just to please him. I would take nude pictures of myself.

I would send him videos of me touching myself in private and send him voice notes of me m a k i n g moaning sounds and simulating orgasms. All this while, we had not met face to face.

But I eventually I played into his hands. I began pestering to meet him in person. At this point, I had lost my mind. I assumed I was in love with him and when my boyfriend at the time broke up with me, I really welcomed it. For me, it meant no more sneaking around.

Tobi eventually agreed to come to Lagos to meet me. All this while, he had made me believe he lived

in Calabar and so, would need to take time off work to spend a weekend with me in Lagos.

When I heard this, I was excited. He told me to book a reservation for him, stating he would pay me back as soon as he arrived. H also said it would make him more committed to the visit and would convince him of my seriousness. I bought it all. He was smart. He was cunning and I was stupid. Oh! How stupid I was. The funny thing was, I had sent him tons of pictures and all I had was just one picture of him. Whenever I asked why he was not sending me pictures of himself, he would claim he wanted to be sure I loved him for himself and not for his looks. Sheepishly, I would try to convince him of my undying love and would try to appease him with more nude pictures of my body.

Spending the night He eventually made it to Lagos and I met him at the hotel. He was tall, handsome and had a wonderful smile. That day, he made love to me over and over and convinced me to spend the night with him. I told him I couldn’t because I had a test the next morning. At this point, I don’t know what triggered his anger. I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t spend the night or maybe I said something else I can’t remember saying, but whatever it was, brought out a very ugly side of him. He called me foul names and kept going on and on about how he always knew I was cheap and he knew I was sleeping with other men.

The same man who had swept me off my feet with sweet words, slammed me on the floor. He told me how he had

shown his friends all my nude pictures and how they had watched the videos and listened to the voice notes. He told me he had made a bet with his friends that I would actually pay for him to have sex with me, just to prove how stupid I was.

Well, you can imagine how I felt.

I was confused and shocked but I attempted to regain any little dignity I had left. So, I tried to mouth him off too. Suddenly, he punched me in the face and I tripped over and hit my head on a stool. The next thing I remember was waking up on the bed, tied up and he was staring at me. His eyes were dark and he had a sinister smile on his lips.

He stood up and walked towards me. I tried to scream and realised my mouth was tapped.

My head began racing. The unfortunate part was that no one knew where I was. He turned me over and told me he was going to teach me a lesson. At this point, I was naked. He rapped me from behind, I mean my anus. The pain was mind blowing. I struggled and he hit me.

When he was done, he brought out a small blade and he looked at me for a minute and said, this scar is going to always serve as a reminder for girls like you always trying to be more than you are. For stupid fools like you. He put the blade to my nipple and cut it off and anytime I think of it, I still feel the pain. It was like nothing I had ever felt before.

He was calm. Like he had done it a million times before. I could feel the warm blood dripping down my mutilated breast as tears of fear and pain ran down my face.

To be continued

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—43

FIRS generates N5trn non-oil revenue

BY OKONKWO EZE

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NITSHA — THE Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has generated over N5 trillion as at December 31, 2012 from non-oil tax revenue windows for the Federal Government.

Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of FIRS, Mr. C. P. Igweh made this known yesterday in a paper he presented at a one-day conference on 'Tax Regulations and Socio -Economic Development in an Industrilizing Nation,' organised by the Faculty of Law, Anambra State University, ANSU, Igbariam Campus.

From right: Mr. Kofi Akyea, marketing executive, Anglophone West AfriAccording to Igweh, the amount was far ca, Moneygram; Mrs. Eunice Anumudu, Federal College of Education, beyond the N1trn generated in 2004 before the Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, one of the winners of 'Moneygram Share the FIRS Establishment Act No. 13 of April 2007.

Passion and Win' promo and Anulika Emelife, Products Unit, Ecobank, at Igweh’s paper was entitled: “Industrialisathe presentation of gifts to winners, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele tion of Nigerian Economy: The Role of FIRS as an apex tax Regulatory Agency.”

He said that the money was realised from company income tax, value added tax, education tax, personal income tax for men and officers of the Armed Forces, residents of

BY TONY EDIKE defections all the way to the National Electoral Abuja FCT and staff of Federal Senate and House of Commission, INEC, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representatives,” he stated. which produced Barrister petroleum profit tax, capital NUGU—A chieftain of Nwoye, who was the Action Barth Ugwoke as the Enugu gains’ tax and national Action Congress of Congress of Nigeria candidate State chairman of ACN, while information technology Nigeria in Enugu State, Dr. in the 2011 Senatorial Barrister Uche Ogbu emerged development fund levy Ben Nwoye, has declared that Election in Enugu East , noted as secretary.

He added that the goal of from every indication, that Nigeria had been facing He accused the Federal FIRS was to continually President Goodluck Jonathan all forms of political and Government of deliberate surpass the nation’s revenue had no clear agenda and vision economic instability as well as plans to deny people their target in all taxes and achieve for Nigeria. insecurity because the freedom of speech through its a ratio of non-oil tax collection This is even as he assured President lacked ideas that recent alleged plans to embark to non-oil GDP by at least that most members of the would enable the Federal on surveillance of phone calls. seven per cent soon.

Peoples Democratic Party, Government tackle the Reacting to money approved Speaking on 'Tax laws and including those in the nation’s numerous challenges. by the Federal Government for socio-economic development Senate and House of He, therefore, pointed out the victims of the violence that in Nigeria - Anambra State as Representatives, would that Nigeria could no longer erupted after the 2011 general a focal point,' Associate decamp to All Progressives continue in current mess elections, the ACN chieftain Professor of Law and former Congress, APC, once the party occasioned by bad governance stated that PDP was afraid of Head, Department of was pronounced. and called on all progressives the next election, hence its International Law and “I will assure you that once and true democrats to embrace decision to approve the money Jurisprudence, Nnamdi the APC is pronounced, you the proposed All Progressive two years after the violence.

Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), will see massive defection from Congress.

Awka, Messiah Umenweke, the PDP, massive defection Nwoye, a renowned human identified multiplicity of taxes from the ward to the local rights lawyer, spoke to as a major constraint against government, to the state House newsmen shortly after the the Nigerian tax regime as it of Assembly and even some Enugu State Congress of the made tax assessment and serving executive members of party, which was observed by

BY ANAYO OKOLI collection difficult. this state, you will see massive officials of the Independent MUAHIA — CRISIS is looming between Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOAU, Umudike, Abia State, and one Ogbuoji also called on of its host communities,

BY PETER OKUTU in that direction could spell doom for the party as it could politicians to focus on deliv- Amaoba Ime Autonomous comABAKALIKI —SENATOR make the All Progressives ering democratic dividends to munity, Ikwuano, over alleged Sonni Ogbuoji, yesterday, Congress, APC, a viable the people of the state and confiscation of land by the unicautioned the leadership of alternative for the electorate impact positively the socio- versity.

The community is claiming Peoples Democratic Party, and other candidates to economic well being of their people at all times.

PDP, in the country to guard champion their campaigns. against the politics of predetermining candidates who would occupy certain political offices, contrary to the wishes TN LINK Forum will event include Nzan Ogbe, by MTN to enrich lives. of the people in the on Saturday, May 4, Special Adviser to Cross River “MTN Link Forum is a forthcoming 2015 general 2013, in Calabar, engage State Governor’s Office, John value-added platform for elections. entrepreneurs and Etim Bassey, an architect and young, budding Addressing newsmen in his professionals within and business consultant and entrepreneurs and hometown, Senator Ogbuji, around the metropolis, also Ekerete Gam-Ikom, a mentor professionals to network and who represents EboNyi South known as 'Canaan City.' and insurance magnate. connect to their dreams. What Senatorial District in the The Forum links young, Patrick Ogbe, the Commissio- MTN does is to bring to them, Senate, called on the party to talented and promising ner for Information and accomplished entrepreneurs take a critical look the entrepreneurs and profession- Orientation is also expected. and role models who they can antecedents and contributions als with accomplished Kola Oyeyemi, the General engage and interact with, to of candidates seeking political entrepreneurs and business Manager, Consumer Marketlearn from them how to also offices in the 2015 elections. icons. ing, MTN, described the forum make a success of their He noted that any mistake The guest speakers for this as one of the many initiatives businesses,” he stated

Jonathan has no clear agenda for Nigeria — ACN Chieftain E

FCTA suspends appointment of 15 district heads

BY LAIDE AKINBOADE

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BUJA — THE Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has ordered the suspension of the appointment of 15 district heads by Abaji Area Council without approval from FCTA. Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, in a letter to the Executive Chairman of Abaji Area Council, Yahaya Mohammed, stated that the 15 district heads were created without recourse to approval of FCT Administration.

She, therefore, directed the Abaji Area Council chairman to suspend forthwith the appointment of the district heads until further notice.

The letter read: “The FCT Administration has equally recognised the separation of functions between the area councils and the state (in this instance, the FCT Administration) on the creation of district heads and community leaders vesting such appointments within the jurisdiction of area council as enshrined in their bye laws."

Community at war with Michael Okpara University over land

2015: APC is a viable alternative if PDP chooses wrong candidates — Sen. Ogbuoji

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MTN Link Forum to host entrepreneurs May 4 at Calabar

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that the university authorities illegally took eight extra hectares of its land and alleged that the university was unlawfully using the military to confiscate the said land.

Already, the community has petitioned Abia House of Assembly to intervene urgently to avoid a possible explosive situation.

The community said its youths were already angry with its leaders, who they accused of conniving with the university’s authorities to take over the land.

In a petition signed by Chief Thompson Orji and O. Onuba, entitled “unlawful encroachment,” addressed to the Speaker of the House, the community said the petition was “to alert you on the clear and present danger existing in our community as a result of unlawful use of the Nigerian military to confiscate our land by the leadership of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Bomadi/UK partnership on Foreign Poly suffers setback

Lagos judges get ICT training, iPads

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HE Foreign Polytechnic Project, a partnership between a United Kingdombased tertiary institution and the Bomadi Vicariate of the Catholic Church, has suffered financial setback in its efforts to complete the permanent site building at Bomadi, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking to newsmen at Bomadi, Bishop of the Vicariate, Most Rev. Hyacinth Egbebo, said the building project had been stalled at the moment because the N15 million needed to complete same could not be accessed.

He appealed to well-meaning sons and daughters of Bomadi Local Government Area, members representing the area at the national and state assemblies, political appointees and the Delta State Government to show support in providing the said sum to complete the project.

He said: “I am appealing to our Senator, House of Representatives member, state Assembly members and political appointees from the area to take up this challenge of raising N15 million.

"If they assist us, they will be opening doors for people because any graduate of the institution is qualified to work in the UK, and our contribu-

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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O ensure easy access to law reports, research materials to make writing of rulings and judgments easy for judges of the Lagos State judiciary, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, has provided iPads for judges in the state.

The judges were, recently, trained on the software, with legal research platform, which includes decided cases, civil procedure rules, Laws of the Federation, amongst other legal resources.

They were also trained on robust case/document management system on the software, which makes it possible for judges to monitor and view their cause list based on the entry of cases done in the case diary.

The event, an iPad training session, was organised by Law Pavilion, a leading law report centre and law software provider in conjunction with Lagos State judiciary at the Judges Recreation Centre, Ikeja.

Speaking on the essence of the training, Managing Director of the company, which is championing IT revolution in Nigeria’s legal practice, Mr. Ope Olugasa, said the training was aimed at deepening the CJ’s vision of employing ICT knowledge to improve the administration of justice.

tion is to ensure that the building site is provided.”

The cleric noted that at the fund-raising ceremony held

recently, where they anticipated generous donations to the institution, only a few people showed support.

Delta LG scribes assure on effective administration

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—SECRETARIES of the 25 local government areas in Delta State, under the auspices of the Forum of Local Government Secretaries, yesterday, expressed their determination to ensure an efficient and effective local government administration in the state in accordance with relevant laws.

A statement by Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Isaac Atikueke and Secretary, Mr. Victor Efurhievwe, after their meeting at Isiokolo, headquarters of Ethiope East Local Government Area, said they were determined to leave a good legacy behind at the end of their tenure in office.

It said: “We are determined to ensure effective and efficient local government administration in the third-tier of government.

"We are aware of the enor-

mity of the responsibility placed on our shoulders and we are determined to work in harmony with our principals, the council chairmen to ensure

HE LEADERSHIP of Host Communities of Nigeria Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Delta Central, has commended Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and Mr. Henry Ofa, Urhobo Commissioner, representing Okpe, Sapele and Ethiope West on the board

of DESOPADEC, for the donation of three buses to the three local government areas.

Chief Moses Irimisose, Chairman of HOSTCOM, Delta Central, who made the commendations, weekend, said the donation of the buses was an indication of better future for host communities.

Irimisose also appealed to

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—GOVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has blamed the nation's security woes on insufficient investment in human capacity development and failure of most critical state institutions.

Dickson, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson, when the DirectorGeneral and participants of Course 35 of the National Institute of Policy and Stra-

other HOSTCOM council chapters such as Ughelli North, Ethiope East, Udu, Ughelli South, Uvwie and Aghara Warri, yet to get their buses to be patient.

He said their commissioners, Mr. Festus Utuama and Chief Ominimini Obiuvwebvi would present theirs to them soon.

tegic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State called on him in Yenagoa, identified the provision of a secure environment as the first responsibility of government.

He vowed that his administration will not compromise in the maintenance of law and order, adding that the current administration had in the past one year made appropriate investments in the provision of law and order.

Dickson said: “Within one year, we have been able to provide this level of security and peace and tranquility that you are going to witness as you go out there to interact with the people of the state.

"But we are not yet where we ought to be. That is why we are working with our partners to see how we can make our waterways safe, so that our strategic assets will be secured and our people, who live along the waterways will also be safe.”

He commended the Director-General and staff of NIPSS for keeping the dreams of its founding fathers alive.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

that the administration of the local government brings the desired dividends to the people at the grassroots whom we are meant to serve.”

Dickson blames security woes on human capacity devt

Host communities laud DESOPADEC

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He added that academic programmes will kick off upon the completion of the university building.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

What's your take on rotational presidency?(5)

I

do not support rotational presidency.

Even if there should be any, I think the Igbo should be given the opportunity to rule as they are in the forefront of the nation’s development.

Furthermore, it will give a sense of balance. — Miss Okoye Precious, Student.

R

OTATING the office of the P r e s i d e n t between all the geopolitical zones will be good if properly done.

However, from what I know about our leaders, greed will not allow the system work out well.— Miss Joy Amos, Businesswoman.

R

O TAT I O N A L presidency will not be in the best interest of Nigerians.

People should be allowed to make their choice by voting and not by bringing one person to rule without going through the voting process.— Miss Nwaofor Chinaenye, Student.

N

O to rotational presidency. We should allow democracy take its course.

Yes, elections are rigged in Nigeria. But I believe that someday INEC will get it right and electorate’s votes will begin to count.— Miss Sandra Anyian, Businesswoman.

T

HERE are so many issues I believe are germane for Nigerians to have a better president. The issue of rotational presidency is not one of them. It does not matter wherever the good president comes from.— Miss Okereke Bukola, Student.

N

O to rotational presidency because it will definitely produce a bad president, and a bad president will lead to a bad cabinet. A good president emerges by the people’s vote— whoever they deem good enough for the job.— Mr. Vitus Efosa, Musician.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—45

Court restrains Edo community Chair from assuming office

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—AN Abudu Chief Magistrate Court in Edo State, presided over by Mr. M.C. Oobo, has restrained Chief Friday Omoragbon from parading himself as the Chairman, Interim Committee, of Oben Community Development Association, OCDA, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court also restrained the defendant from harassing, preventing or obstructing the plaintiff in the suit, Prince West Ogiemwonyi and others in the exercise of their duties, pending the hearing of the substantive case.

In the ruling, the court said the applicants shall enter into an undertaking to pay damages, if at the end of the substantive case, it was discovered that the order ought not to have been made. The court, meantime, promised to give an accelerated hearing to the suit to prevent any party from enjoying undue advantage over the other.

Delta lawmaker empowers constituents

BY SIMON ADEWALE

A

MEMBER of Del ta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday.

Osanebi, has distributed gift items to the people of Ndokwa East, and urged them to be faithful and exhibit understanding assuring that his campaign promises remanied sacrosanct until he redeems them in full.

Speaking at a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, meeting in his constituency, at Ashaka, Osanebi promised to put smiles on the faces of Ndokwa East people as he had always done in the past with the distribution of items, such as cars, motorbikes and cash to stalwarts and party faithful.

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Military pensioners give FG Monday deadline to pay arrears

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI—NATIONAL President of National Association of Military Pensioners, Mr. Benson Eromafuru, yesterday, gave the Federal Government, till May 6, to pay the pension arrears of its members, those of the police and their civilian counterparts.

Eromafuru, in a statement in Warri, Delta State, insisted that the Federal Government had no more excuses to give for its failure to pay the pension arrears, as the exservice men were now set to confront government over the matter.

He said the defence by the Chairman, Military Pensions Board, Commodore Simeon Audu, that the pension of the military pensioners was not captured in the 2013 budget was not tenable and therefore, unacceptable as they have been promising to pay over the last four years. He added that they had confirmed that the said pension was captured in the 2013

budget.

Eromafuru, at the end of a meeting of members of the association in conjunction with ex-policemen and their civilian counterparts in service in Warri, said it was resolved that a nationwide protest was unavoidable.

He noted that the 21-day ultimatum given for the pay-

ment of their pension arrears expires on Monday, May 6, and that nothing would stop them from embarking on violent protest if the arrears were not paid.

He wondered why the Federal Government would pay ex-militants their stipends of N60,000 monthly, while the same government was toying

with the lives of those who fought for the unity of the country.

Erumafuru urged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently intervene and save the impending violent protest, adding that arrangement had been concluded to ensure that the country’s economy was grounded, if the pensioners were not paid.

BRIEFING: From left: President, Centre for Strategic Conflict Management, Dr. Onyike Isaac; Mr. Ali Abacha and Secretary-General of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Transparency and Good Governance, Amb. Muhammed Bn-Ahmed, during a press briefing calling for cancellation of results of Edo local government elections.

Edo raises alarm over alleged PDP plot to NGF beyond mere politics incite students' protest

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State Government, yesterday, raised alarm over alleged plot

by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to recruit thugs masquerading as students to cause disaffection in the state under the guise of bursary awards and scholarships.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, in a statement, said “The ‘students’ held a clandestine meeting at the Students Union Government building og the University of Benin, threatening to mobilise students to agitate on the streets

of Benin after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum to the government to commence payment of bursary.

“We want to state clearly that the payment of bursary is not a ‘birthright’ as the ‘students’ claim and is not compulsory for a state government, as there are many states in the federation, which do not pay bursaries. Some states, which are generally described as disadvantaged in terms of western education, pay bursary to encourage their students to go for higher education.

“To, therefore, equate Edo State, which even the students admit ranks tops on the education scale and has one of the highest number of stu-

dents in tertiary institutions in the country with such educationally-disadvantaged states as Yobe and Zamfara, is comical.

“While the ‘students’ revealed they were hired hands with the way they launched an attack on the person of the governor, we want to state categorically that at no time did the governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, promise to pay bursary to students of the state in tertiary institutions as the state’s resources cannot cope with the burden.

“We, therefore, warn that the government knows the brains behind this move, including some who are supposed to mould the character of the students; they are under close watch by security agencies.”

Delta LG boss denies squandering N25m

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—CHAIRMAN of Ughelli South Local Government Transition Committee, Delta State, Chief Oviri Uto, has denied squandering N25 million belonging to the council.

Addressing newsmen, following a petition against him by some persons under the aegis of Movement for Good Governance, to the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, alleging that Uto squandered the council’s

fund to the tune of N25 million, he said the allegation was frivolous and false.

Urging members of the public to disregard the petition in its entirety, he described those behind the petition as blackmailers, who were out to siphon government fund through blackmail.

He said: “I never spent such amount of money on what the group claimed. All I had spent since I assumed office are well documented and there is no time I sent

N5 million to the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker for tenure extension and I never gave N5 million to the governor for his marriage anniversary.

“On the N5 million they said I spent on environmental sanitation, the said sanitation was not held on January 26, but rather, it was held on three days, that is 23, 24, and 25 of January, before the visit of the First Lady of the state on January 26, 2013.

The N5 million was spent on the three days exercise.”

—Uduaghan

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, was far more than politics as the body was engaged in other activities more beneficial to the people than politics, economically and otherwise.

He has, therefore, called on the media to give adequate publicity to the activities of the body to enable the public understand better that the governors were not using the NGF platform for political purposes, stressing the need for more states in the country to key into the initiative as it would serve as an avenue to share and exchange ideas on how best to improve their economies as well as the economy of the nation.

He spoke in Asaba during the inaugural meeting of the state Peer Review Mechanism, SPRM of the NGF in Asaba.

He said: “The Nigeria Governors Forum is more than just politics. It may be constituted by political individuals but the duties being executed go beyond political matters as the forum carries out other activities beyond politics like this SPRM issue."

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

2013 MAY DAY CELEBRATION ACROSS THE NATION

Cross section of workers during the 2013 May Day rally as part of activities marking the Centenary celebration at the Eagles Square, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

From left: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs Florence Oguntuase, at the Centenary May Day celebration in Lagos, yesterday.

From left: Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and NLC Chairman, Comrade Saka Adesiyan, during the May Day celebration in Osogbo, yesterday.

Workers taking the march past during the Centenary May Day celebration in Gombe State, yesterday.

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From right: Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga and Chairman, Kaduna State NLC, Comrade Adamu Ango at the 2013 May Day celebration at the Kaduna Township Stadium. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

From left: Comrade Charles Oronsaye, Edo State TUC chairman; comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, Chairman, NLC Edo Council; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State Governor; Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor and others during the May Day rally in Benin-City, yesterday. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

From left: Bauchi State NLC Chairman, Comrade Hashimu Gital; Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Saleh; Bauchi State TUC Chairman, Comrade Mohammed Usman and Head of Civil Service, Mr Abdon Gin, at the Centenary May Day celebration in Bauchi, yesterday.

From left: Mrs Ifeoma Nwabodo, Chief of Staff, Enugu State Government, representing Governor Sullivan Chime and Chief Nze Chukwumaife, Chairman, Enugu State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress during the May Day rally in Enugu.

Enugu State. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

Workers union of Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu at the May Day cerebration at Okpara square, Enugu, yesterday. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013— 47

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48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

3,000 youths benefit from SURE-P in Lagos

MAY DAY: Tapgun lauds Nigerian workers

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AGOS—OVER 3,000 youths are currently employed and benefiting under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P and by July, 2,000 more would be deployed.

This was stated by the Lagos State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment, Mr. Joseph Mordi during surpervision of cleaning exercise at the Lagos Mainland centre of the scheme.

Mordi said the SUREP is also in charge of handling the implementation of the gains from the removed fuel subsidy.

“The SURE-P is set to render community services, women and youth empowerment projects and make youths know that they are important”.

According to Mordi, “thousands of youths who are not gainfully employed are placed on the SURE-P scheme and are given a stipend of N10,000 monthly for a period of 12 months till they can stay on there own.”

Mordi said: “With this project, youths can now feel that government has not neglected them, they would feel the impact of government and they would be able to be independent."

Sokoto moves to prevent blockade of water ways

S

OKOTO—THE Sokoto State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Jabbi Kilgori said on Tuesday that government had introduced community-based approaches to prevent blockade of water ways.

Kilgori told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Sokoto that the measures would enable the people to evacuate dirt from water ways to prevent flooding in the state. He said that the measure would also enable people of the state to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water ways.

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BY TAYE OBATERU

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CONFERENCE—From left: Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Madueke; Nigerian Defence Attached' to Canada, Bello; Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Vice President Namadi Sambo and his wife, Hajiya Amina Sambo during the Vice-President's arrival inToronto, Canada for Canada –Nigeria Investment Conference on Monday.

Katsina spends N38.3bn on roads, rural electrification

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

K

AT S I N A — T H E Katsina State government says it has spent about N38.3 billion on roads and rural electrification projects across the 34 local government areas in the state.

The State Governor, Dr. Ibrahim Shema disclosed this, yesterday, when the National Good Governance Team visited the state.

The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Rabiu Ibrahim said that his administration from inception decided to improve on the standard set by the late Umaru Yar’Adua, which explains the zeal, commitment and sincerity with which he steers the affairs of the state as well as the resultant success that has so far been achieved.

Of the amount spent, the governor said that the administration spent N36.7 billion on 32 road projects covering over 500 kilometers and N1.6 billion on rural electrification, which connected over 63 communities scattered in the 34 LGAs to the national grid.

He said that 25 of these roads were initiated by the new administration, while eight others were inherited and completed.

Some of the roads include: Ingawa township roads dualization; asphating of Mando junction - Faskari Yankara roads; Katsina township roads, phase V and Turai Yar ’ Adua Hospital

Road. Others are: connection of Gigiwa, Kazomawa, Garin Labo, Garazawa and Kunduru communities to the national grid.

According to Governor Shema, the achievement was possible because of the introduction of Community Development Committees, CDCs, which he said had effectively assisted the administration for the identification and execution of relevant development projects in the state. ”Right from the begining, he decided to use the record of the last administration to serve as a standard on which he must improve. ”It is the rich information that he collates from the CDCs that enables him to

verify the basic requirments of every community. ”This makes it easy for the state governanment to always get it right in terms of project execution. ”It is a strategy that provides the respective communities in the state with the opportunity to determine the kind of projects that are most relevant to their varying needs, which makes it easier for the state government to provide such projeccts in the right places at the right time,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku commended the governor for keeping the legacy of his predecessor and for linking up the rural communities to the rest the state.

OS—FORMER Minister of Industries, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun has felicitated with Nigerian workers on the celebration of the Workers’ Day urging them to sustain their resilience despite the difficult times.

In an interview with Vanguard, he urged workers to be patient with the government despite the situation in the country, saying the current hardship would be overcome. ”I felicitate with Nigerian workers on this special day for their resilience and I urge them to see themselves as partners in progress with government for the success of the transformation agenda”, he said.

Tapgun commended the Federal Government’s Sure-P Programme, advising that it should be pursued with vigor to create more employment opportunities for the youth.

He also urged government to sustain the efforts towards revamping ailing or dead industries as is being done for the textile sector as this would boost the economy and create more jobs for Nigerians.

Workers in Plateau State converged on the Rwang Pam Township where they had a rally and march past.

Jonathan plans to deal with opposition Northern govs — Arewa group

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

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AGOS—AREWA Peo ple’s Congress, APC, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of having concluded plans to deal with some Northern governors opposed to his 2015 presidential ambition.

APC said that what was now playing out in Rivers State was an indication of Jonathan’s intolerance of opposition views, saying however that, those nudging him to continue with his quarrel with Governor Chibuike Amachi of Rivers

State were his greatest enemies.

APC’s Spokesman, Mallam Abdullahi Usman who made this known in an interview with Vanguard said: "Whoever told Jonathan to continue with his plan to destabilise the Rivers State government does not wish him well. Jonathan has not been able to resolve the problems occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the north. If actually Jonathan wants to contest the 2015 presidency, as they say, does he need to become dictatorial to achieve

his aim?

"The President has lost the whole of the North and he is not likely to make any in-roads into the South West. He is not likely to get all the votes from the South East; so why does he want to add more burden onto himself by creating more problems in the South-South where he hails from?

"In any case, our concern is not about Jonathan and his 2015 ambition, but the undemocratic way he has adopted to deal with all his perceived enemies, especially among the northern governors."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 — 49

Boston bombings: Three more suspects in custody T

HREE additional suspects have been taken into custody in the investigation of last month’s deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon, the Boston Police Department and a U.S. law enforcement source said yesterday.

Officials last month accused two ethnic Chechen brothers of placing homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the finish line of the marathon on April 15.

One died after a gunfight with police three days after the bombing and

the other was captured and criminally charged before being sent to a prison hospital to recover from gunshot wounds.

A U.S. law enforcement source said that two of the suspects taken into custody on Wednesday include

classmates of the younger brother at the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. They are being held by immigration officials for violating the terms of their visas. The source said they are likely to face charges related to

obstruction of justice and with making false statements to investigators.

Police are investigating whether the classmates threw away a backpack at accused suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ’s request after the

bombing, which killed three people and injured 264 others. Last week law enforcement officials were seen searching dumps in southeastern Massachusetts.

EU considers trade action after Bangladesh factory collapse

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HE European Union is considering trade action against Bangladesh, which has preferential access to EU markets for its garments, to pressure Dhaka to improve safety standards after a building collapse killed more than 400 factory workers. Dutyfree access offered by Western countries and low wages have helped turn Bangladesh’s garment exports into a $19 billion a year industry, with 60 percent of clothes going to Europe.

Any action by the EU on Bangladesh’s duty-free and quota-free access would require the agreement of all member states and could take more than a year to implement.

Syria’s Assad in rare visit as rockets hit capital

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YRIAN President Bashar Assad made a rare public appearance yesterday , visiting a Damascus power station, while two bombs exploded near the city center and wounded 15 people, Syria’s state news agency reported.

SANA said the blasts were caused by two improvised explosive devices which went off on Khalid Bin Walid street and the nearby Bab Mesalla Square. It said the bombs were planted by “terrorists,” a term the government uses to describe rebels fighting to topple the Syrian leader.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights however said the Bab Mesalla explosions were due to rockets that fell in the area.

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50—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—51

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52—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—53

Port Harcourt World Book Team in Bangkok

Day Afenmai Masquerades adorned Auchi Kingdom R

ECENTLY, Ikelebe Sports Arena Auchi, the Edo North Senatorial District Headquarters was a melting point for over a dozen Masquerades and casts of traditional troupes at the beacon of the Centre for Afenmai Heritage & Cultural Studies, a creative outfit for the promotion, propagation and documentation of art and culture of the Afenmai people.

The six Local Government Council Areas were represented with two troupes each and it was a colourful edition embellished with heavy thudding strokes of the drums, dexterous and enticing dance steps in addition to an exhibition on sculpturing, skin decoration techniques, and masquerade costume production.

In his opening address, the Founder and Director of the Centre for Afenmai Heritage and Cultural Heritage, Prince Alhaji Usman Abudah, a

L

Ikao Masquerades and casts of traditional troupes at the Centre to unveil the rural based artiste and artisan disciples of the often-forgotten aspect of a

,

The emergence of the centre is to assist in a thorough approach to unveil the rural based artiste and artisan disciples of the oftenforgotten aspect of a people’s past

professional journalist, writer and a disciple in the creative industry, said the outing was to unfold the naturalness of the people through the Lyrical formats in masquerade presentation equally sustained in foot steps and instrumentation: “The emergence of the centre to assist in a thorough approach

,

people’s past and also to document several historical locations that need to be fully put on record in various forms that the government alone cannot pursue due to its other numerous obligations.

He recalled that the centre had in the past, promoted the artistry of Afemai land with the attendance of Coja 2003 in

Abuja with the Ikao Masquerades also with the participation in the Lagos Black Heritage Festival in 2010 with a 45 member contingent, numerous publications on artistic themes in various Nigerian newspapers and periodic clips on festivals on some Nigerian television stations.

The chairman of the occasion, H.R.H. Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, the Otaru of Auchi kingdom recalled the dogmatic efforts of the founder and director of the centre in promoting the artistry of the Afenmai people and called on him to sustain the pursuit. Oba Danesi, the Aidonogie of South Ibie Kingdom also graced the occasion.

The Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole who was the Special Guest of Honour, emphasized the imperative expectation from the people in ensuring that their past should never be allowed to go into oblivion and stressed the state government’s preparedness and willingness to partner with the centre in promoting the art and culture of the Afemai people.

A lecture titled “ Masquerades Don’t Lie: Oshiomhole As a Case Study” was delivered by Dr. John Edemode of the Mass Communication Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi.

Constance Bolivia Osigbemhe Memorial Band added flavour to the entire concept when he played the ever-green tracks produced by his late father.

Macmillan confronts Nigeria's tears, hopes

By PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

TOTAL of 10 schools have been invited to the 7th Macmillan Youth Literary Day 2013, and subsequently, saddled with the responsibility of using their various presentations to illustrate that amidst all fears, failures and frustrations, Nigerians are blessed with skills, ability and mental capacity to rise above the teaming challenges currently confronting the nation, and achieve greatness.

The schools, carefully selected on the basis of age, school ownership, gender, and geographical spread, will perform before a mixed audience as they try to give an artistic interpretations of the Nigerian situation which hopefully, will inject fresh dose of optimism in individuals.

Most interesting about the event tagged, “Nigeria: My Tears, My hopes”, which takes place on the 8th of May, 2013, at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos is that, the schools have been accorded a creative freedom to actualise the theme of the programme under the guidance of the facilitators from Crown Troupe of Africa led by Segun Adefila, and coordinating Director, renowned Dramatist and writer, Ben Tomoloju.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Vice Chairman, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Ltd, Mrs Francesca Emanuel said that “Nigeria: My Tears, My hopes” has been selected to capture the “fact that children and the youths also have an important role to play in the process of nation building and that adults have a responsibility to take the future and expectations of our young into considerations as we navigate through the many challenges that confront us as a nation.”

This edition of the Macmillan Youth Literary Day she pointed out, also affirms the commitment of Macmillan Nigeria Publishers towards developing young Nigerians as well as their preparation for a fulfilling adulthood and productive citizenship.

She explained in relation with the theme of the programme, that “tears may flow over the vices and evil in the land, we believe that we can still pave a new path of hope and optimism, especially for the Nigerian youths.

According to Emanuel, the Literary Day is a part of the “Macmillan's corporate social responsibility, which aims at demonstrating that Nigeria can still realise her noble and glorious destiny...”

AST week , Port Harcourt World Book Capital 2014 team was honoured with a welcome gift from the Deputy Mayor of Bangkok at the opening of a series of special events to mark the launch of the Thai city’s tenure as UNESCO World Book Capital City for 2013.

Bangkok on April 23 rd formally accepted the WBCC baton from the Armenian city of Yerevan which has had a successful run in 2012. UNESCO confers the title of World Book Capital on a city in recognition of its dedication to promoting books and reading.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria was recently nominated as Bangkok’s successor thanks to a bid put forward by the Rainbow Book Club who are working in conjunction with the Rivers State government.

Strategic partnerships The Port Harcourt team has been focusing on promoting the city’s plans for 2014 and networking to form strategic partnerships over the past few days.

Fresh from a successful run at the London Book Fair, they are set to participate in the Bangkok opening events alongside delegates from a number of countries including Armenia, Russia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Singapore and China.

At the event, delegates were treated to cultural displays and literary exhibitions and they witnessed the launch of a number of initiatives that would run throughout the year.

Rainbow founder, Mrs Koko Kanlango also contributed to an international conference entitled ‘Reading for the Future, the Future of Reading’ which took st place on Sunday 21 as part of the inaugural events.

54— Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Edo LG election:

It's a fraud — Orbih CHIEF Dan Orbih is the Edo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview, he spoke on the recently conducted local government election in the state and why the party will not accept its outcome.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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•Orbih: Faults outcome of LG poll Edo people, those in ACN and the PDP. Everybody in the state protested. So, you can imagine how those who voted for him in the governorship election would feel it is these disappointed people in Edo state that are now asking for a change.

Don’t forget that all those people who made the errors in the PDP in the past are now the ones in ACN and the people are not surprised that they are now the ones behind these bad policies; starting from their State Chairman, who was the Speaker of State House of Assembly under the former PDP government to the National Chairman, (SouthSouth) who was Secretary to government of that era, to the Deputy Governor who was a member of the House of Representatives under the PDP. People are now seeing the new face of the PDP in Edo state as those who believe in deepening democracy, who believe in grassroots democracy and using the ballot box to effect a change in the government of the state.

What is your reaction to the cancellation of the election in Esan North- East LGA by

EDSIEC? First and foremost when no election took place on April 20, a lot of our members came out to say that there was no need for us to continue with the exercise, he would do exactly what he has done in the other 14 local governments, but knowing the governor ’s capacity for propaganda, I insisted that since our

,

HAT is your assessment of the recently conducted local government elections in Edo State?

The worst ever conducted by any government in Nigeria. it is more painful that it has taken the ACN government in Edo state close to five years before it even conducted what has turned out to be a sham.

It has completely eroded any confidence that the people have in the government before this exercise. It is bizarre and unacceptable for the government to sit and write the results of the election for Edo people.

But the governor blamed your party for the twice postponement of the election in Esan North-East?

I think that the governor is economical with the truth. He knows very well that like in most local governments that today if local government election is conducted twenty times under a free, fair and conducive atmosphere, he would lose twenty times.

I have stated before now the reasons responsible for this.

After the gubernatorial elections on July, 14 2012 a lot people are now beginning o see the other side of the governor.

Before the governorship election, I came out to inform Edo people that we had it on good authority that the government was going to introduce property tax.

The governor denied this, but immediately after he was sworn-in, he went to the State House of Assembly asking for a law to be enacted to enable the government collect property tax.

That decision shocked the people of Edo State, that decision embarrassed the people. Here was a man who said there was nothing like this, but immediately after he was sworn in he went to the State House of Assembly to ensure that the law was passed to that effect, to empower him to collect the property tax.

You know what followed; a lot of demonstrations by the people, not by the PDP, but by

disappeared into thin air and those people slept there till the following day with no returning officer to enter their results.

As it was during the June 12, 1993 election, all the results had already come in from all the units, it was only left for the returning officer to enter them into his results sheets and announce the winner. So, what happened in Esan North- East can only be compared in Nigerian political history to the June 12 annulment in 1993.

It is alleged that some of your party members never wanted the party to participate in the LGA election. How true?

You cannot blame those who said that we should not participate because from the beginning it was clear that the government was not prepared to conduct a free and fair local government election.

It took the government close to five years before deciding on the fact that there was need to conduct this election.

From the beginning the government put together a team it wanted to dictate to at every turn in the process.

EDSIEC came out with a guideline where it was clear to our members that they were not prepared for free and fair local government election.

It is bizarre and unacceptable for the government to sit and write the results of the election for Edo people

National leader comes from there, he will say, oh the PDP could not even contest the election.

That was why I insisted that let us participate in spite of the fact that he has released the results of the 14 local government areas in the previous election held on 20, April.

Our people came out in large numbers and they won all the wards all the presiding officers were there waiting for the Local Government electoral officer to take the results from them, collate and declare the results. The man

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They ignored the constitutional provisions concerning qualifications to contest local government elections and introduced foreign elements into their own guild lines for qualifications.

They said people should pay N100,000 for chairman and N50,000 for councilors and these are unconstitutional demands by EDSIEC and all these were done to discourage the PDP from contesting the election. Come to think of it, the governor did not pay any

Continues on page 55

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 —55

Edo LG election:

PDP is shedding crocodile tears

— Akpatason

HON. Peter Akpatason, representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives is a former trustee of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and as well as former President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Workers, NUPENG. In this interview he responds to emerging issues on the just concluded local government elections in Edo State. Excerpts: pay attention to such nuisance?

People should focus on what the majority and the generality of the people are doing and saying. That is what is important.

Look at the massive number of the people who voted compared to the few people that were paid to go and protest.

In any case, I keep on saying that you do not beat a child and ask the child not to cry.

Unfortunately, some cry, like in my place, they call such cries, crocodile tears. That is exactly what they are doing in their own case. They are crying even when they ought not to because they are not popular and they could not have won an election in Edo State today. So, there is no need for them to cry.

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

W

HAT is your reaction to allegations by the People Democratic Party, PDP, that the Edo council elections were marred by fraud?

I do not want to speak about what the PDP are saying, but I just want to give you what I experienced.

There was an election in Akoko Edo Local Government Area and my Village where I voted. I spoke with my friends in Etsako, in Owan, in Esan, in Benin and other parts of the state, and they told me the same thing. There was a large turnout of voters.

Agreed, there was a slight delay in the arrival of materials which was aptly explained by the leaders of the state as having resulted from the late arrival of the airplane that brought the materials into the country the evening before the election.

In which case, they could not get a flight to take them from Lagos to Benin and they had to go by road under the protection of Nigerian Police and other security operatives which are under the control of the Federal Government and they delivered the materials directly to Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, which to me showed integrity of the materials. From there, they eventually got to their destinations and were distributed accordingly.

•Akpatason: Lampoons PDP some people believe that anytime there is an election, they must protest, they must make noise whether there is basis for it or not.

That is the kind of thing that is playing out in Edo State. We had a very wonderful process and I am very confident of that process

In any case, I keep on saying that you do not beat a child and ask the child not to cry, unfortunately, some cry, like in my place, they call such cries, crocodile tears

,

We started voting early and stopped voting on good time.

Votes were counted at unit levels and thereafter taken toward headquarters, from there to the Local Government collation centre.

We did not finish collation until 2 pm. That tells you that the process was religiously and painstakingly followed at all levels.

From unit to ward and from there to local government area where the results were declared

by EDSIEC and confirmed before they were eventually announced.

I have not seen a local government election that is freer and fairer than what happened in Edo State.

It is just unfortunate in Nigeria,

,

and what took place, for me was quite credible.

What about the pockets of protest shown on the television?

By now you should have known that in Nigeria it is easier

for professional protesters to be organised by money bags to go and make noise in public even when there is no reason for that.

Those people who have been masters of manipulations, who today have been displaced in Edo State because they have disappointed the people and the people have decided to withdraw support for them, they are looking for every possible avenue to give the world the impression that whatever that is happening in Edo State today does not have their endorsement.

So, they come out to make all sort of noises and hire people to do those protest. But I want to draw the attention of the public to what is happening in Edo state today, which is, where they have five people protesting, there are 1000 people jubilating and celebrating. So, why should we

Can one say in essence that those pockets of protest are aimed at discrediting the doctrine of one man, one vote of Comrade Governor?

Obviously that is their target.

They know that they cannot take it far, they know that at the end of the day, nothing will come out of it, but they just want to dent the image of the people and the resolve of the people to continue to do what is right. They know that one man, one vote is a problem to them anytime.

They are not popular and so, they want to do anything possible to smear that philosophy and doctrine of one man, one vote.

That is what they are trying to do. But I am quite convinced that they will not succeed because Edo people are not even listening to these things that are being amplified by the press. Because those in the state know the truth about how many people that are making this noise.

The mass of people in Edo State are very happy with is happening in the state. There is jubilation everywhere. In Akoko Edo, people are jubilating, the government has started functioning and there are no issues.

It's a fraud — Orbih Continues from page 54 money to collect form to contest the governorship.

It is argued that local government elections conducted in PDP controlled states were all won by the party. So, why the cry?

I can only speak on what had happened in Edo state, I was not in the other states, but elections conducted by the ACN led government in Edo state were not free and fair.

In fact, they did not conduct any election, they wrote results of elections and swore

in people who were not elected by the people.

So, I don’t know what happened in other states you are referring to, I can talk about Edo state because I knew what happened in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 — 56

I N S I D E

Counsel Corner: Between next of kin and intestate — 59

The Supreme Court's approach to exemplary damages (2) — 59

How insecurity has become national tragedy — Orbih

BY INNOCENT ANABA

Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, is Chairman of Midwest Lawyers Forum, MLF. In this interview spoke on his emergence as Chairman of the Forum including the calls for the abolition of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, corruption on the bench, position of the Midwest Lawyers Forum on the 2014 national Nigerian Bar Association, NBA election, among others issues.

Excerpt:

H

OW did your executive emerge?

The executive emerged through consensus in a very peaceful way at the election that was conducted at Effurun, Delta State. It may interest you to know that I did not wish to be chairman but when the position was zoned by the Forum to Edo State, all the chairmen in Edo State that is the Chairmen of Auchi, Ekpoma and Benin Branches of the NBA and other prominent members of these branches held consultations and decided to approach my humble self to take over the leadership of the forum. Other members of the executive were all returned unopposed.

What does the Midwest Lawyers Forum stand for?

It is an umbrella body for all lawyers in Edo and Delta States, which the members formed to protect their collective interest.

•Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN social level, and above all take a critical look at areas where the welfare of members of the forum can be improved upon.

What is the level of cohesion and cooperation amongst the branches that make up the Midwest Forum which spread across Edo and Delta states?

The level of cohesion is good. The fact that we conducted a potentially divisive exercise of electing officers for the forum, recently at Effurun, Delta State, free of any form of rancour or discord, is a pointer to the level of understanding and cohesion

l must tell you that some of the careless and unguarded statements of people who know little or nothing about security issues, have worsened the already bad situation in which we have found ourselves

,

It has been in existence for quite sometimes under the leadership of Chief Albert Akpomuje, SAN, who was on the leadership saddle for a period of 10 years.

What would attract your immediate attention as you assume office?

We have no option but to build on the achievements of my predecessor. Our vision for the forum is to make it relevant for the welfare of its members at all times and in all situations. We intend to change the general perception that the forum is mainly therefore, the purpose of organising its members for NBA national elections. There are things we can do beyond that. We can for instance encourage our rural branches to organise professional related activities such as Branch Law Week to ensure continuing legal education for members, annual bar dinners for such branches, in order to create opportunities for members to interact at a

,

within the group. As I told you a short while ago, all members of my executive emerged by consensus. There can be no greater evidence of cohesion than that.

Would there be likely challenges in running the forum and do you intend to deal with such challenges when they arise?

I cannot envisage any challenge for now.

I am a strong advocate of the philosophy that you do not cross a bridge until you get to it. That is not to say that we shall have a smooth sail throughout. All I am saying is that we have the capacity to surmount any challenge or obstacle that may come our way in the course of attaining our set goals and objectives.

There have been this perceived ambiguity in the relationship between Egbe Amofin in the South-West and Midwest Lawyers Forum. In the unofficial NBA zonal arrangements, can

you clarify the status of Midwest as it applies to zoning of NBA National offices?

There is no ambiguity in the relationship between the Egbe-Amofin and the Midwest Bar Forum as such. There are four unofficial fora in the Nigerian Bar Association. These are the North, East, West and the Midwest Bar fora. The North and the West Bar fora are also known as the Arewa lawyers forum and the EgbeAmofin respectively. These fora correspond with the four regions of the Nigerian First Republic.

There have been silent complaints for marginalization of the Midwest in the Egbe Amofin arrangement. To what extent would you say this is true and how can that be corrected?

Point of correction, the complaint whether silent or vocal was not against the EgbeAmofin. It was more or less complaint to the NBA to redefine the position of the Mid-West Bar Forum in its rotational arrangement for the Presidency of the Association. You will probably recall that after the 1992 Port-Harcourt election crisis of the NBA, the Association went comatose till 1998. In 1998, the national executive committee of the association was revived.

The role played by great bar men such as Chief Thompson Okpoko, SAN and Awomolo (the Chairman of Chairmen) in the battle fought to resuscitate the NBA in 1998 cannot be over stated. It was after the aforesaid resuscitation that the elders of the NBA decided to evolve a rotation formula that will ensure that there will never be a re-occurence of the type of election crisis that rocked the Association to its very foundation in 1992, at PortHarcourt.

Thus in 1998, Chief T. J.O. Okpoko, SAN

of the Midwest Bar Forum became the first person to occupy the Presidency of the NBA. Chief O.C.J Okocha, SAN from the Eastern Bar Forum took over from Okpoko, SAN. Chief Wole Olanikpekun, SAN from the Western Bar Forum took over from Okocha,SAN, Chief Bayo Ojo,SAN from the Nothern Bar Forum took over from Olanikpekun,SAN. Lanke Odoginyo, completed Chief Ojo’s tenure following the latter’s appointment as the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation. Lanke Odoginyo, handed over the presidency of the NBA to Chief Oliseh Agbakoba, SAN from the Eastern Bar Forum. He handed over to Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN from the Western Bar Forum. Akeredolu handed over to Chief Joseph Daudu, SAN from the Northern Bar Forum, who handed over to the current national president, Chief Okey Wali, SAN from the Eastern Bar Forum.

From the history of the Presidency of the NBA which I have just given to you, it can be seen that after the Okpoko, SAN presidency, the Eastern, Northern, and Western Bar Fora of the NBA have occupied the position of national President of the body twice each, to the exclusion of the Midwest Bar forum. This was the genesis of what you referred to, in your question as silent complaints of marginalization by the Midwest Bar Forum.

These complaints were looked into by committee of elders of the bar set up by the national body.

It was that committee that ruled that the Midwest Bar Forum and the Western Bar Forum should be at liberty to contest the Presidency of the bar together.

We have since visited the Western Bar Forum to formally intimate it of the position of the NBA on this issue and to seek their opinion on it. To underscore the importance we attached to the issue, the delegation of the Midwest Bar Forum to the Western Bar Forum (also known as Egbe-Amofin), was led by no less a person than my predecessor in office, Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN. We were very warmly and well received Continues on page 58

EDITORIAL TEAM Dayo Benson (Editor) Innocent Anaba Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013— 57

C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

How insecurity has become national tragedy — Orbih Continues from page 56 by the leaders and prominent members of the Egbe-Amofin such as Chief Aiku, SAN, Chief Olanikpekun,SAN, Funde Adekoya, SAN, Deacon Dele Adekoya, SAN amongst others.

Our discussion with them was cordial and they told us that they do not have any objection to the decision that we should be at liberty to contest the election into the office of the President of the NBA with the Western Bar Forum.

There have also been complaints that regional fora exist mainly for lobbyists for NBA national offices. Do you agree with this assertion?

I do not share the view that Regional fora exist mainly as lobbyists for NBA national offices.

Rather, I am of the opinion that the regional fora exist to protect the interests of their members in all circumstances. Let me quickly add that the rotational arrangement of the Presidency amongst the different fora had brought peace into the electoral process. This is why they are recognized by the NBA albeit informally.

NBA national elections will hold next year. Will the Midwest likely have a candidate for any of the offices? Again, which of the offices will the forum likely sponsor a candidate for?

Part of our mission in the visit to Egbe-Amofin, was to intimate them that a member of the MidWest Bar Forum will contest the election for the office of President of the NBA next year. We made a very strong case for their understanding on this very important issue.

Electoral contest We made the point that EgbeAmofin having taken the Presidency twice on the last two consecutive occasion when it was the collective turn of both the Midwest Bar Forum and EgbeAmofin to take it, equity and fair play demand that the Midwest Bar Forum should be allowed to have it this time around. Even though our discussion on this issue was inconclusive, we shall continue to appeal to them for their understanding; for it will be better for the two fora to agree on an ordered rotation than for a free for all electoral contest for Presidency when it gets to our collective turn.

Now to the second part of the question, I am very certain that a member of the Midwest Bar Forum will definitely contest election for the Presidency of the NBA next year. One of our members Austen Aleghe,SAN has already indicated his interest to contest for the Presidency of the NBA next year. No other member of our forum has indicated his interest for that office for now. At the appropriate time, we shall look at the viability of the candidacy

of all members of the forum that indicate interest in the Presidency and other offices and we shall advise them accordingly.

Outside of Egbe Amofin, how would you define the relationship of the Forum with other regional fora, like Eastern Bar Forum and Arewa Lawyers Forum?

Outside of Egbe-Amofin, our relationship with both the Northern Bar Forum (also known as Arewa Bar Forum) and the Eastern Bar forum is quite cordial.

We have no option but to maintain a cordial relationship since we are resolute in our determination to produce the next president of the NBA. What non-members of the •Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN NBA do not realize is that the NBA is so sophisticated that it is is not wise to advise on issues in impossible for one fora to produce which you are not an expert. l a president for the body without must tell you that some of the the cooperation of the others. careless and unguarded There is need to reach out to other statements of people who know fora and we shall continue to do little or nothing about security so. issues, have worsened the Currently, insecurity has been already bad situation in which we identified as one of the greatest have found ourselves. Suffice to challenges that is facing Nigeria say that we ought to adopt the as a nation. But Edo State must American approach to security have its fair share of violent issues. In America, the people crimes, like kidnappings, armed unite behind their government robberies and hired assassins. As whenever the security of lives and a senior lawyer, how can the law property is threatened by any act be deployed to deal with this of internal or external aggression. problem effectively?

But in Nigeria, we bring politics The problem of insecurity is now to bear on every issue including a national problem and like most security. What is the result of this? things in Nigeria, everybody has Things get worse everyday. become an expert in it. I cannot pretend to be an expert on security Judicial matters, so, there is a limit to what corruption I can advocate. Already, we have enough laws to deal with the For some time, the mantra in problem of insecurity. The fact that the legal profession has been we still have security challenges judicial corruption. Give us a in their present magnitude is picture of what the situation is like indicative of the fact that security in the Edo State Judiciary. is not all about law alone. There Can we get purity from an are socio cultural, religious, impure vessel? Of course not. If political and other factors that Nigeria has been consistent in have direct bearing on issues of maintaining its reputation as one security. The tragedy of the of the most corrupt countries in Nigerian situation is that the world, how then can we have everybody has become an expert a corruption free judiciary? Yes on security issue and therefore, there is corruption in the judiciary must voice opinion on security but like I said elsewhere recently, issues. I want you to know that it I do not subscribe to the view that

the entire judiciary is corrupt. If we continue to say that the whole judiciary is corrupt, we are being uncharritable to many men and women in our judiciary, who toil night and day to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Many of our Judges are doing their best. However few bad ones are polluting the system and need to be cut off like a cancerous growth in the body.

Do you share in the view by a group that calls itself the Movement on the Abolition of Senior Advocates, that the rank has outlived its usefulness?

The rank has not outlived its usefulness. A recruit in the army aspires to be a general one day, a nurse from day one, aspires to be a matron or a chief matron eventually, a ward counsellor today hopes to be a governor or a senator if not the President of Nigeria tomorrow. Even you asking me these question have the ambition of rising to the position of Editor in Chief of your newspaper in future. So if all other professions and disciplines have their various pinnacles to which their members aspire to, why should the legal profession be different. To those who argue that the rank should be scrapped because of what they consider as flaws in the appointment process, they can as well apply the same

argument with other offices and positions in the profession and other disciplines. In other words, we can as well abolish the positions of Judges of the High Courts, Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court because the procedure of appointment to these offices are also not perfect.

To abolish an office or rank including the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria because of the perceived flaws in the appointment process, can be likened to throwing the baby away with the bath water. We shouldn’t do that, rather, we should listen attentively to the argument of those who are opposed to the retention of the rank and reform the process, if need be, from time to time.

Where do you stand on the debate that the NBA national elections should be completely democratized by adopting universal suffrage which would allow every lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar to vote candidates of their choice at national elections?

There is a saying that those who fail to learn from history are condemned to relive its tragedies.

I am sure that most lawyers who went through the agony of 1992 to 1998 when the NBA at the national level died after the PortHarcourt debacle, would rather stick to the delegates system of election which has worked very well since its resurrection. You will recall that the root cause of the Port-Harcourt eruption was the apprehension in some quarters that the election was going to be hijacked by mercenary lawyers, who were alleged to have been hired by some of the contestants at that election. That fear of mercenaries had been largely eliminated under the prevailing delegates system of election. If I may borrow a biblical expression, it will be easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for non lawyer to vote at NBA election under the current system. So, let stick with it.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

— 59

Supreme Court's approach to exemplary Between next of kin The damages (2) and intestate PLEASE be kind enough to educate me on the power of ‘’A WILL’’ and ‘’NEXT OF KIN’’ with reference to the following posers:1what happens where there is A WRITTEN ‘’Next of kin’’ (official) BUT ,NO WILL(Intestate)? 2-where there is NEXT OF KIN,(officially mentioned), intestate, BUT the siblings from other wives went ahead to use the deceased property/(ies) as collateral for Bank loan and the end defaulted in repayment,- leading to the seizures of such property/(ies) 3-IF the above occurs in a State in Nigeria where THE WILL ACTS,1837 is still being used and practised, will the location of such property/(ies) determine the type of LAW that would/should apply and use? 4, Under intestate, can any other family member exercise any RIGHT WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE NEXT OF KIN? Bright-O. A will is the testamentary disposition of a testator and it is ambulatory in nature. In a layman’s language, a will is the expression of the intention of a maker on how his or her property or estate should be administered after his or her death. On the other hand , a next of kin is a person that is called upon in case of any eventuality e.g death of the other party. A next of kin can be a spouse, child or relation. It should however be noted that a next of kin does not necessarily have to be a direct beneficiary of the deceased estate or entitlement.

On your first question, where a deceased dies intestate, what applies is the intestacy law of the jurisdiction where the deceased lived. A next of kin is only called upon and informed of the occurence. In most cases the family applies for letter of administration from the probate registry through their lawyer has prescribed by the law.

On the second question, nobody has power under the law to use the property of the deseased in any manner other than that prescribed by the intestacy law.

Consequently, the action of those who used the deceased property as a collateral for bank loan is null and void and of no effect whatsoever. Since they are not the sole beneficiary of the property, their action is illegal and the beneficiary can file a law suit against them and join the bank as a codefendant. This is so because you cannot give what you don’t have.

On the third question, since the deceased died intestate i.e without a will, the law that applies in this instance is the intestacy law and not the will act.

Lastly, as I stated earlier a next of kin is merely called upon after occurrence of death. So strictly speaking the next of kin does not really have a legal authority in this instance. The best he or she can do is to ensure that necessary steps are taken towards obtaining letter of administration from the probate. On whether any family member can exercise any right without the consent of the next of kin will depend on the nature of the relationship with the deceased.

You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)

BY LAWRENCE ATSEGBUA

T

HE 3rd plaintiff gave uncontradicted evidence that both herself and her husband lived in the premises and had their (1st plaintiff company) office in the premises with the consent of the defendant, that her husband was a Director of the 1st plaintiff company.

There was also uncontradicted evidence that the 1st plaintiff company took a sub–lease of the premises from the defendant. The 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs led evidence that while they were temporarily away from Nigeria, the defendant authorized the ejectment of the plaintiffs and removed the personal effects of 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs without their consent.

The trial judge held that since the 2nd an d 3rd plaintiffs were not Directors of the 1st plaintiff company, they had no right to sue the defendant for trespass, and that the 1st plaintiff who on the evidence might have any issue to join with the defendant was not before the court. The trial court dismissed the claim for these reasons.

On appeal to the Court of Appeal, that Court held that on the evidence before the trial court, the plaintiffs were in lawful occupation of the premise by virtue of the tenancy agreement between the 1st plaintiff and the defendant. The court held that being in lawful occupation, they cannot be ejected by the defendant before the expiry of the tenancy.

The Court of Appeal therefore held that the ejectment was wrongful and the defendant was a liable for

•CJN Mariam Aloma Mukhtar damages. The Court of Appeal held that it could not award exemplary damages because there was nothing pleaded in the statement of claim which brings the case within Lord Devlin’s three categories.. On appeal to the Supreme Court it was held inter alia, (unanimously allowing the appeal) that: (i) The primary object of an award of damages is to compensate the plaintiff for the harm done to him.

(ii) The secondary object of award of damages is to punish the defendant for his conduct in inflicting harm on a plaintiff. This secondary object can be achieved by awarding in addition to the normal compensatory damages, exemplary, punitive, vindictive or retributory damages. (iii) Exemplary damages are awarded whenever the defendant’s conduct is sufficiently outrageous to merit punishment such as where it discloses malice, fraud, cruelty, insolence, flagrant disregard to the law and the like.

In so holding, the Supreme Court disapproved of the decision of the Court of Appeal which appeared to have treated Rookes v. Barnard as binding on the Courts in Nigeria.

The Supreme Court further held that where a plaintiff claims exemplary

damages and is unable to prove the same, he can be awarded nominal damages, where the liability of the defendant to damages has been established.

What then is the position in Nigeria?

Obaseki JSC was in no doubt when he said: The appellant’s case could well be dealt with under and comes within Lord Devlin’s second category. The decision of Rookes v. Barnard does not therefore bind the Court of Appeal in this country. It however has persuasive effect. It is therefore still good law in Nigeria that exemplary damages can be awarded by Nigerian courts when claimed and proved. *Professor Lawrence Atsegbua , Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin.

•To be continued

Court rules tomorrow on EFCC suit against bank

By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

J

USTICE Babatunde Candide-Johnson of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere will tomorrow decide on who is the right person to represent a corporate body in a criminal matter.

The ruling of the court was sequel to the argument canvassed before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, asking it to compel the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Mr Segun Oloketuyi to

appear in court following a criminal suit filed against the Bank and three others.

According to the EFCC, WEMA bank (3rd defendant), Faniran Olubanji Samuel (1st defendant), Ariel Investment Management Limited (2nd defendant) and Adegoke Adeleke (4th defendant) are alleged to face a four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

Justice CandideJohnson had listened to arguments canvassed by counsels representing both parties in suit No-

From left: Mr. Dele Oye, former president of NBA, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu SAN, R. Oguneso SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Director-General NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge SAN and former General Secretary NBA, Ibrahim Eddy Mark at the just concluded 18th Commonwealth Lawyers Conference (CLC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

LCD\89\2012 brought against the bank on whether the Managing Director of WEMA bank should be compelled to enter into the dock for his company, (WEMA bank Plc).

Counsel to WEMA bank, Mr O. Arulogun, SAN, argued that the issue of who was competent to represent a corporate body in a criminal matter was governed by Section 357 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State.

Arulogun submitted that a corporate body involved in a criminal matter was required in law to write to the court and plea guilty or not guilty.

He further argued that the corporate body must state in writing its representative and that the representative needed not be the Managing Director of the bank.

“The corporate body must state in writing who is to represent it in a criminal proceeding.

The representative could be anybody that has been appointed by seal of corporation or the Managing Director of the company” he stated.

He consequently informed the court that one Adekunle Onitiri has been appointed by WEMA bank to represent it in the matter.

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Tough battle awaits Yobo in Lisbon S

UPER Eagles captain, Yobo Joseph and his team mates in Fenerbahce will be in for a tough task in tonight’s Europa League semi final second leg clash with host Benfica if threats from their opponents’coach are anything to go bye.

Benfica boss Jorge Jesus is adamant that his side will bounce back from their 1-0 Europa League defeat to Fenerbahce.

“Everything will be different in Lisbon,” Jesus said.

The Portuguese were nowhere near their best in Istanbul and had already seen their hosts hit the woodwork three times before Egemen Korkmaz secured a 1-0 victory with 18 minutes to go.

Jesus had no

Anichebe but for the moment his Premier League side Everton are his priority.

“Without club football there is no international football and everyone at Everton was with me every step of the way during my injuries and rehabilitation and so I owe it to the club to manage myself correctly,” he explained.

“I didn’t feel that the Nigerian federation was there for me then in the same manner, which was especially disappointing given that I got the injury representing my country.

“But I don’t blame anyone for this nor do I have any issues with anybody from the NFF or Stephen Keshi our coach.

“He has done a fantastic job and is building a team that Nigerians can be proud of.”

A former England youth international, Anichebe switched allegiance and played his first game for Nigeria in March 2008.

He scored on his debut in a 2-0 win over South Africa to help them reach the 2008 Olympics and was then

“We had a very tiring match against Sporting Lisbon at the weekend and we did not arrive here completely ready,” he said.

part of the squad that went on to win silver in Beijing.

Despite the recent setbacks and decision to put club over country, Anichebe has no regret to have chosen Nigeria over England.

“A lot of people ask me if I was sad that I wasn’t part of the Nations Cup winning team but I couldn’t have been happier because it brought so much happiness to Nigerians especially after there has been so much tragedy,” he said.

“I know football cannot take away some of the pain it has caused but it was good for the country.

“I am just like the 170 million Nigerians out there, I am a fan obviously as well as a player.

“If I had gone would I be playing for my club at the level I am now?

Perhaps not, so it worked out well for both sides.

“The time is just not right for me to resume my international career as of yet but I would certainly love to represent my country in the none-too-distant future.”

W

HAT would be the future of John Obi Mikel at Stamford Bridge with a fully fit Michael Essien in the squad? That is the million pound question observers are asking as the Ghana international prepares to return to Chelsea after a seasonlong loan spell in Madrid.

Michael Essien will complete his loan to Real Madrid at the end of the season, and the midfielder is targeting to

“In Lisbon, everything will be different. We still have another game so we remain hopeful of going through.”

Warri Wolves dissociate self from club owners body

W

ARRI Wolves FC has dissociated itself from the club owners association, describing the body as unserious and lacking the focus to key into the vision of the newly-inaugurated premier league body in taking the game of football to Eldorado.

This flak came against the backdrop of the news making the round about Warri

Wolves’ suspension from the body over seeming irreconcilable differences.

In a statement, Warri Wolves said it owes its allegiance to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the organizers of the premier league, the League Management Company (LMC).

According to Wolves, the Nigeria Constitution

Danger for Mikel as Essien returns

•Yobo

Continues from BP

complaints about the final result but was keen to stress that fatigue had been a major factor in his side’s strangely subdued showing.

bench John Obi Mikel, and claim a first team shirt on return to Chelsea.

Essien was shipped out to the Bernabeu from Stamford Bridge last August, following his recovery from a serious knee injury in 2011/12.

His spell in Spain has also seen him play in both full-back positions, and he was at right-back for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund that ended with the German

side heading to the final 4-3 on aggregate.

“I will return to Chelsea with my head up and try to win my place back,” Essien said on teamtalk.com.

“I think my loan at Madrid has shown I still have got it at the top level.”

The loan deal allowed Essien to once again team up with Jose Mourinho, who as Chelsea manager at the time had signed the Ghanaian from Lyon in 2005.

Board member of the Special Olympics Nigeria(SONigeria) Mr Udeme Ufot (left) Chairman. Mr Victor Osibodu, National Director, Mrs Folashade Bolumole and Executive Secretary,Nigerian South African Chamber of Commerce Mrs Toyin Cameron at the Annual Patron's Cocktail of SONigeria in Lagos on 14/4/2013 at Southern Sun Hotel Victoria Island Lagos .PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi

gave entities and individuals the freedom to associate freely without compulsion. They said further: “In the past, the so called club owners were indifferent to the cause of Warri Wolves when the latter, in an informal agreement with decision reached at the zone, failed to honour an FA Cup fixture in Bauchi because of security challenges, and got punished for it.”

Nigerian Army hosts combat spor ts in Kaduna

T

HE Nigerian Army will on May 20th, 2013 declare open a combat Sports championship at the old Nigeria Defence Academy in Kaduna.

The event which is the brain child of the Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika is directed at discovering talents that would see Nigeria return to her lost years of sporting glory.

In line with the directive of the COAS and to make the dream of sports revival come true in the Nigerian Army, the new Director of Physical Training and Sports, Brig Gen Shehu Yusuf says he is determined to make good the promise of the COAS by bringing out the best in officers and men.

The event which is being put together by the Directorate of Army Sports will among other things identify budding stars in various combat sports that would be enhanced through training.

According to Brig Gen Yusuf, the Nigerian Army is determined to revive sports. “We’ve viewed Nigerian sports and seen that the combat sports is where the Nigerian Army has shown proficiency.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—61

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62—Vanguard , THURSDAY THURSDAY,, MAY 2 , 2013

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013—63

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013

Danger for Mikel as Essien returns P.60

S-H-O-C-K-E-R!

Anichebe turns back on Eagles •Says NFF abandoned him E

VERTON striker Vic tor Anichebe has put his international career with Nigeria on hold so he can “manage his body accordingly”.

Lagos-born Anichebe, 25, has told BBC Sport that for the time being, he does not want to be considered for Nigeria.

He had been tipped for a return to the Nigeria squad for June’s World Cup qualifiers and Confederations Cup, replacing the injured Emmanuel Emenike.

“The best thing for me at the moment is to focus on club football,” he said.

•Anichebe

Anichebe has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, including a groin problem on his last appearance for Nigeria in a 2-0 win

EUROPA League Fixtures Benfica Chelsea

vs vs

PUZZLE

Fenerbahce Basel

8.05 pm 8.05 pm

Bayern Batter Barca 7-0

B

AYERN Munich last night demolished Barcelona, 3-0 at the Nou Camp to qualify for the final of the Champions League on a 7-0 aggregate. Barca failed to cancel a first leg four-goal deficit and conceded three second half goals to confirm their exit from the championship.The Spanish giants struggled all through the encounter as their mercurial Argentine forward, Lionel Messi watched agonisingly from the bench.

•FRIEND OR FOE: Michael Essien (r) celebrates a goal with Mikel Obi

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

over Madagascar in 2011.

He insists he is proud to play for his country, Continues on Page 60

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Utter (5) 7 Soak up (6) 9 Because (3) 10 Couch (3) 12 Lesser (5) 13 Excursion 15 Troubled (5) 17 Decline (6) 19 Cheese (4) 20 Guide (5) 22 Vitality (3) 24 Devalued (7) 27 Hill (3) 28 Respond (5) 31 Muddle (4) 33 Ascending (6) 35 Cogs (5) 37 Side (4) 38 Fragment (5) 39 Still (3) 41 Equipment (3) 42 Sweet (6) 43 Permit (5)

DOWN 1 Succulent (6) 2 Convince (6) 3 Sphere (3) 4 Certain (4) 5 Conceit (5) 6 Odoriferous (8) 8 Dandy (4) 11 Inequality (9) 14 Rush (4) 16 Dregs (4) 18 Worry (4) 21 As one (8) 23 Fairy (4) 25 Weary (4) 26 Notch (4) 29 Means (6) 30 Fruit (6) 32 Strict (5) 34 Hut (4) 36 Revise (4) 40 Cask (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1, Club 4, Rip 6, Sofa 9, Par 10, Streamer 11, Oral 14, Hit 16, Order 19, Strained 21, Denim 23, Devalued 24, Drain 27, tin 31, Idea 33, Initiate 34, Inn 35, Code 36, Dim 37, Earl.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 2, Late 3, Beer 4, Remained 5, Part 6, Spoor 7, Oar 8, Frame 12, Asked 13, Aroma 14, Hid 15, Debut 18, Ready 20, Division 22, Man 25, Radio 26, Inane 28, Mind 29, Fire 30, Stir 32, End.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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