Move to split Northern Govs' Forum heightens

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61895

Onaiyekan lambasts PDP over crisis in .14 •P Rivers State

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Sale of NIPPs: FG to reinvest proceeds in power sector •P.8

Move to split Northern Govs' Forum heightens •Plot to remove Aliyu as chairman thickens •Gana denies role, still consulting •Two govs want Aliyu to recognise Jang

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

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AGOS—JUST days after the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF was split, the same forces alleged to have spon-

sored the crisis in the forum are alleged to be directing their arsenal at the Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF. The first step aims to entangle the chairman of the forum, Governor

Continues on page 5

Nigeria's debt-GDP ratio stands at 20.77% — DMO •P.19 COLUMNISTS:

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 48

PAUL BASSEY •P.52

Mr & Mrs

WEDDING—President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd-R) in a handshake with the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (L) at the wedding ceremony of the son of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadomhe (R) in Abuja on Saturday. With them are Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh (2nd L); Senate President, David Mark (3rd L)and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John-Kennedy Opara. More photos on Page 41

Fresh facts emerge on Nasarawa killings —P.7 C M Y K

2— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—3

C M Y K

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4 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

NATCOMS tasks Minister on NASERA over base stations

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BUJA—THE Na tional Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, NATCOMS, weekend, urged the minister of communation technology, to order the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, to leave the telecommunications industry alone to bring about good quality service to telecoms and ICT subscribers and consumers.

The association said in a statement by its National President, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, that the agency was overstepping its bounds by sealing base stations.

Ogunbanjo said: “It is rather unfortunate that the National Environmental Standards Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, under the leadership of Dr. Ngeri Benebo is over stepping its bounds once again, disturbing the Telecoms industry by sealing base stations.”

AES 6-star hotel debuts in Abuja

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—AES Luxu ry Apartments Abuja, weekend, made history by becoming the first 6-star hotel to be commissioned in Nigeria.

The luxurious apartment was officially opened at a cocktail party organized for selected guests.

The official commissioning, which took place at the hotel premises, located at Daki Biyu District, opposite CITEC estate, along Jabi area, which is a 15 minutes drive in either direction to the City Centre, or the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, was witnessed by key personalities from both the public and private sector.

Declaring AES Apartments open, the Minister of Culture and Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke noted that, “With what I have seen here today, AES is indeed a “first among equals”.

Jang moves to woo Amaechi’s supporters As ACN, CPC flay Jonathan’s recognition of Jang

By EMMANUELAZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & OLASUNKANMIAKONI AGOS—FACTIONAL chair man of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State has commenced moves towards wooing estranged governors aligned to his rival, Governor Chibuke Amaechi.

The move nonetheless, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday, slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for his recognition of the Jang faction of the NGF. The ACN described the president’s recognition of the Jang faction as a slap on the principle of democracy. The CPC on its part described it as an act of perfidy saying the presidency worked fully to sabotage Amaechi’s victory and followed on by turning the vote on its head.

Jang in a session with newsmen in Lagos, weekend, flayed insinuations he lost the NGF chairmanship election saying Amaechi rigged the polls as he challenged his rivals to show the full length of the video film of the poll which he said would debunk the claim of a free and fair poll.

“Let them show every body going to vote,” Jang said as he was supported by his colleagues, Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Peter Obi of Anambra and Segun Mimiko of Ondo all of whom flayed the poll as deficient in democratic standards.

Governor Jang nevertheless vowed to win elements in his rival’s camp to his side, saying he would not for the sake of the NGF chairmanship lose his salvation in Christ.

Jang said: “I have now started calling them and even my chairman (Northern States Governors

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Forum chairman, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State) who would not pick my calls before.”

The ACN and CPC in separate press statements issued by their respective national publicity secretaries, Lai Mohammed and Rotimi Fashakin, flayed the presidency for last weekend’s endorsement of the Jang faction of the NGF. ‘’President Jonathan is frittering away whatever is left of his credibility by the day. His spokesman said in a statement the day after the NGF election that the President has always shown a willingness to work harmoniously with any leadership freely and independently chosen by the Governors’ Forum for the collective progress

and development of all sections of the country and will continue to do so. ‘’But it is now clear that the presidency’s statement is not worth the paper on which it is written, that in the Nigerian presidency, words do not carry their exact meanings and that the spokesmen for the President speak for no one but themselves. When viewed in the context of similar deceitful statements by the presidency in the past, especially on the health of the First Lady, one can see a growing pattern of a lying presidency, a presidency that likes to hide behind one finger. This is sad, because without credibility, a President cannot govern successfully,’’ ACN said.

The CPC on its part said: “The

deception did not travel for too long. President Goodluck Jonathan’s endorsement of Governor Jonah Jang as the ‘elected’ Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has finally removed the wind off the sail of the rigmarole and denials as regards the source of the contrived crisis in the NGF. “As a Party, we are appalled by the President’s abandonment of the ship of state to cause needless overheating of the polity. The NGF, as it stands, remains a voluntary platform among Nigeria’s governors, with no constitutional function. How the election of the chairman of the NGF captured the animated interest of the President, despite the seeming myriad of issues besetting the Nation State, is still puzzling.”

VISIT: Chief Oris Onyiri, President-General, Egi People's Assembly, EPA (middle) introducing Mr. Ashish Thakkar, Chairman, Mara Group (right) to HRH Eze London Nwobiyebe (left) and others, during the visit of some international investor's to Egiland for the Egi MJG Float Glass project, at Egi, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

FG threatens operators of illegal museums

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BY CALEB AYANSINA

BUJA—THE Federal Gov ernment weekend threatened to shut-down and prosecute operators of illegal museums across the country, as such illegalities could jeopardise the country’s heritage resources.

Director General of NCMM, Alhaji Yusuf Abdallah, disclosed this to newsmen after playing host to members of the House Committee on Tourism and Culture, who were at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja on oversight function.

Abdallah said government gave room for private body or individual to come into the development of museum, but it would not condone a situation where it would it would be done without the commission’s knowledge, calling on the operators of illegal museums to approach NCMM for regular-

ization.

He said: “I call on both the state and local governments that are interested in setting up museums to always get in

touch with the National Commission For Museum and Monument, NCMM, in order for them to be regularised, because

the law that set up the commission requires us to regulate the establishment of museums.

Libel: 10 SANs, 87 lawyers to defend Melaye

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAK-

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WURU

BUJA—NO fewer than 87 civil rights lawyers and 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, have indicated interest to render free legal services to the former member of the House of Representatives, Otunba Dino Melaye, over the suit instituted against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN. The lawyers said their services fall under pro bono services

to tackle the 11-man legal team raised by the AGF in the N10.2 billion libel suit slammed on Melaye who is the Executive Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Network at an Abuja High Court.

But Melaye told Journalists that neither himself nor the anti-graft group had been served the court notice.

He said: “It shows that those in the legal profession have recognized the abuse of office and flagrant disregard for the rule of law by the AGF. Many of the lawyers complained of the conduct of the

AGF and have vowed to furnish this case with additional information and obvious cases of abuse of office by Adoke. ”The bastardization, monetization and commercialization of the legal profession must stop. Conflict of interest must become history. Public interest must be placed above selfish or personal interest in the discharge of official responsibilities in the office of the AGF. The battle to salvage our country from all forms of abuse of office is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

AMIGO SEALED—The popular Amigo Supermarket sealed by the Department of State Service, DSS, following the discovery of a cache of arms in Kano. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Move to split Northern Govs' Forum heightens Continues from page 1 Babangida Aliyu of Niger State in a web of controversies that could lead to his removal as chairman of the forum as

early as this Thursday in a scheduled meeting of the Northern Governors' Forum.

Central to the allegations to be raised against Governor Aliyu is his

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The truth is, we can do great things after we pray, but we cannot do great things until we pray. So the word for you today is, keep on praying.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures — Thornton Wilder

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RATITUDE means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. In addition, behavioural and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.

Two psychologists, Michael McCullough and Robert Emmons wrote an article about an experiment they conducted on gratitude and its impact on well-being. The study split several hundred people into three different groups and all of the participants were asked to keep daily diaries. The first group kept a diary of the events that occurred during the day without being told specifically to write about either good or bad things; the second group was told to record their unpleasant experiences; and the last group was instructed to make a daily list of things for which they were grateful. The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism, and energy. In addition, those in the gratitude experienced less depression and stress, were more likely to help others, exercised more regularly, and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals.

failure to recognize the Governor Jonah Jangled faction of the forum which last weekend received the enthusiastic backing of the Presidency.

The move being directed against Governor Aliyu it was learnt, is being coordinated by two governors aligned to the presidency from the North.

The move against Governor Aliyu is allegedly also being matched with a local crisis to remove the structures of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the same manner the local structure of the PDP was stripped from the embattled governor of Rivers State, Governor Chibuke Amaechi weeks before NGF election.

Gana denies role in fresh plot The domestic move against Aliyu, it was alleged last night, was being articulated by Prof.

Jerry Gana, a former minister and a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP. Gana, sources disclosed, is mobilizing against the governor using as a reason, the agitation by stakeholders in the dominant Nupe zone for another shot at the governorship.

Prof. Gana, however, rebuffed the claim last night, saying that his ongoing consultations with his people were essentially aimed at articulating their feelings on what and where they should go in 2015 as concerning the governorship.

The speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Adamu Usman told Vanguard on telephone that no agitation against the governor had reached him at press time yesterday. Usman is the sixth speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly.

Aliyu is generally regarded to be one of the governors fully entrenched in the Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the NGF. His inclination is despite the fact that he had penultimate Friday presented Governor Jang as the consensus candidate of the NSGF hours before the NGF chairmanship election which Amaechi won.

When Jang, with Governor Godswill Akpabio and 16 other governors claimed victory upon an endorsement allegedly given to him, Jang by the NSGF and the PDP Governors Forum, Aliyu declined to support him.

Aliyu like some other governors from the North and the South have stuck with Amaechi.

It was learnt, yesterday, that in a bid to break the resistance of the anti-Jang governors and Aliyu’s alleged use of the platform of the NSGF to block the endorsement of Jang, some hawks in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had now decided to move against Aliyu’s continued chairmanship of the NSGF. Aliyu has retained the chairmanship of the NSGF for the six years he has been in power. A bid to transfer the chairmanship to Governor Jang was derailed by some core Northern governors following their anger over the crisis in Plateau State that has pitched Jang’s ethnic Beroms against itinerant and local Fulanis.

Two govs want Aliyu to recognise Jang Two of the Northern governors who were in the race for the chairmanship of the NGF, it was learnt yesterday, were driving the process among Northern Governors to remove Aliyu and would allegedly only stop if Aliyu recognises Jang’s chairmanship of the NGF. Meanwhile, at home, the governor it was alleged could soon be confronted with an internal rebellion from within his party, following ongoing consultations by Prof.

Gana on a successor to Governor Aliyu in 2015.

Associates of Governor Aliyu alleged that one of such meetings held in Bida, on May 11, 2013.

It was reportedly held under the cover of a reception for Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Hon Saidu Ndako Idris Kpaki, in Kpaki Village.

Prof. Gana however, rebuffed the insinuations last night and told Vanguard that while he

was sensitizing and listening to his people that there was no plan from the Presidency against Governor Aliyu.

“I have every right as a leader to consult with my people and it is very, very important and it is not every consultation that should be seen as a conspiracy.

“Since 1999 when we brought the PDP, our own people in Zone A have always asked us, where do we go, what do we do? I am a democrat, I like to consult with our people to know exactly how they feel. So, it was a consultative meeting, it was not a conspiratory meeting at all!

“There is no design from the Presidency against Governor Babangida at all. Nothing like that whatsoever.

“It is now public knowledge that the governor of Niger is now more comfortable with the opposition and that is not our fault, he has graced a number of their functions which he is entitled to and we didn’t complain and he was celebrated at the ACN convention in Lagos. He went with the party chairman and with quite a number of members and we didn’t complain, so nobody is raising anything against him from the presidency, he is entitled democratically to do whatever he wants to do.

“There is no plan from the presidency to distabilise Niger State at all.”

Gana said his consultation was essentially on how to convince the Nupe people who are based in Zone A on how and where they should move ahead of 2015 given the fact that they constitute the majority of the population of the state.

“I am thoroughly in PDP and we have to have a strategy,” Gana said yesterday.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

Woman docked for allegedly stabbing daughter to death

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN —A MIDDLEAGED woman, Peace Agbonlahor, has appeared before a Magistrates Court in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State for allegedly stabbing her daughter, Abundance Agbonlahor, to death by using a kitchen knife.

Vanguard learnt that the accused committed the offence on March 23, 2013 along Borehole Road, Ekpoma.

The act, according to the charge, is punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 48, Vol. 11, and Laws of defunct Bendel State of Nigeria of 1976 now applicable in Edo State.

However, the magistrate, Mrs. Margaret Iluobe, declined taking her plea, insisting that the matter did not fall under the court’s jurisdiction.

She, consequently, referred the matter to Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for advice.

Ekhomu urges JTF to intensify hunt for hidden weapons

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — IN view of the military’s position that there could be more arms depots in some other parts of the country, renowned security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, weekend, advised the Joint Task Force, JTF, to intensify its search for weapons of mass destruction to cripple the capability of terrorists to carry out attacks in the country.

This is just as he attributed what he described as extremely porous nature of Nigeria’s land, air and sea borders as means through which dangerous weapons were smuggled into the country, urging border security agents to exhibit more dedication and professionalism in their work to interdict dangerous weapons.

Reacting to last week’s seizure of a large cache of arms in Kano, Ekhomu said aggressive searches and seizures of weapon would greatly limit the ability of terrorists to carry out bombings, shootings, killings and maimings.

Ghanaian, 3 Beninoise offer N520,000 to vandalise pipeline —Task Force

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — OPERATIVES of the Inspector-General of Police Special Task Force on AntiPipeline Vandalisation have arrested a Ghanaian and three Beninoise who allegedly attempted to bribe the operatives with N520,000 to allow them siphon petroleum product from pipelines in Epe area of Lagos.

During preliminary investigation, one of the suspects, according to the officer in charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, confessed that members of Akaraba community in Epe were engaged in the illegal act The suspects whose identities were given as Fufo Soglo (Ghanaian), Christopher Suso, Matilda Idowu and Yovo Itoh, all Beninoise, were reportedly arrested at a police tent in Atlas Cove, weekend.

Ffty-year-old Maltida Idowu who admitted being the group’s treasurer told newsmen that following intensified surveillance around pipeline installations around Epe, some members of the community decided to contribute money to give to policemen to allow them unhindered access.

According to her, “one Chukwuma called me to raise N1 million from members of our community to bribe policemen. We levied ourselves N50,000 each and I decided to do the collection. But at the end I was able to raise only N500,000 from 10 persons while I paid N20,000, thereby totalling N520,000.

When we contacted Chukwuma, he told me to bring the money to the police tent at Atlas Cove.”

The suspects With the money intact, the suspects were said to have gone to Atlas Cove, apparently to have a field day. But they were taken unawares as they were apprehended.

ACP Ibadin said the policemen led by the Sector Commander, Lagos, Onaghise Osayande, a

He is using fetish powers — CP

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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SABA — THE most wanted kidnap kingpin in Delta State, Kelvin, sus-

...two accomplices also in police net

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MUAHIA — THE Abia State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Chisom Ihemebirim from Amuzi Obowo in Imo State, for selling his one and half years old son, Chidubem Chisom for N500,000.

The command also arrested one Abraham Ukaiwe, 27, from Asaga Ohafia in Abia State said to be Ihemebirim’s accomplice in the deal to sell the boy.

Little Chidubem Chisom was said to have been sold to one Mercy Nwachinemere, 45, of Umudi Abayi in Osisioma, Abia State who has also been arrested.

According to the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, little master Chidubem Chisom was recovered from the buyer.

Parading the suspects, Abubakar said his men moved

nological connection, these vandals can siphon over 50,000 litres in less than 30 minutes. We are working with the village heads to sort out members of the community who are actually in the business and prosecute them accordingly."

How kidnap kingpin, Kelvin, tricked Delta police boss

Police nab man, 25, for selling son for N.5m

BY ANAYO OKOLI

Deputy Superintendent of Police, played along with the vandals when they offered to bribe them.

He said: “They got four of them arrested while they were about to handover the N520,000 to them. We recovered valves with 12 different holes connected to it from them. With this kind of tech-

into action following a report by one Kasarachi John, 23, from Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Council said to be the estranged wife of Ihemebirim.

Kasarachi John, according to the Police Commissioner, reported that sometime in February 2013, she had a misunderstanding with Ihemebirim, her husband which made her to leave his house.

According to her, shortly after, in March 2013, she received information that their son, Chidubem Chisom, has been sold by the father, Ihemebirim.

Speaking to journalists, Ihemebirim admitted selling the boy for N500, 000. According to him, he used the money to process documents he wanted to use to travel to Libya or Spain. He also claimed that he used part of it to renovate his house.

pected to be a drug addict, ambushed and killed three officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, Warri, with his gang, 48 hours after he phoned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, begging for amnesty.

Aduba, who thought he was dealing with a remorseful hoodlum called his boss, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, minutes after his discussion with Kelvin ended, March 11, to narrate what transpired and obtain his permission.

Aduba, who spoke during a Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Asaba, Showtime programme, said the IGP was not opposed to granting him official pardon.

Kelvin had promised the commissioner that he would assist the police to smash the kidnap industry in the state and the Inspector General predicated his imprimatur on his surrendering arms and cooperating with the police.

Unknown to Commissioner Aduba, it was a hoax, as the kidnap kingpin, currently on the run, struck two days af-

ter with a gang of nine gunmen and successfully freed two notorious kidnap suspects, identified as Rufus and Frank, from warders, while they were taken to court on March 13.

Aduba said the kingpin had not been arrested since then because information about his whereabouts was in short supply.

Aduba said from his findings, the kidnap kingpin was on drugs and speaks like a human being when he is sane, but once he had sniffed, would behave like a monster.

He attributed the prowess of Kelvin to a shrine in Kokori, known as Egba, which he said most of the people owed allegiance to, stressing that information at his disposal indicated the person that could neutralize Kelvin’s powers was the Ose Egba (chief priest).

He said his initial plan was to blow up the shrine, where Kokori people go to renew their charms, but he changed the idea to see how the chief priest could assist the police in the task of checkmating the kidnap kingpin.

Vanguard , MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—7

Why Ombatse cult killed policemen, DSS operatives

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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LAUSIBLE reasons why the Ombatse cult killed no fewer than 100 policemen and security operatives in Eggon community of Nasarawa State have begun to emerge.

Findings by Vanguard revealed that the fear by the Eggon-speaking natives of the state that Governor Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, is planning to renege on his pledge to serve for only a term of four years, triggered the lethal onslaught.

Competent government sources confirmed to Vanguard, yesterday, that Governor Al-Makura was interested in a second term although he had served notice in 2011 to do just four years and hand over to an Eggon politician, since the area has never tasted the governorship seat in the 16 years of the state’s existence.

According to findings, Eggon, which are mostly Christians and constitute the dominant ethnic race in the state, are found in all the LGAs of Nasarawa State but they feel politically marginalised by successive administrations.

The latest attack by the Ombatse, which is said to have emerged as a ‘private army’ to protect the political and social interests of the Eggon, was believed to have been carried out to send “appropriate message” to the governor that the ‘Eggon time has come’ to take over from him.

Senator Solomon Ewuga, an Eggon politician, who backed AlMakura to emerge as governor on the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, platform in 2011, said in an interview that it was wrong for the governor to repudiate on his vow to serve only a term and give the chance to an Eggon.

According to the lawmaker, “These are the very people who have voted consistently in every election to support or remove one government or the other. The present governor, Al-Makura, is a beneficiary of Eggon vote and not their violence,” the lawmaker pointed out.

“The governor told me he wanted to come back for a second term but I reminded him of his promise to do just one term but he asked me if we had an agreement he was going to hand over to me and I said no but that he had promised the people to do a term during and after his inauguration”.

2015 linked to attack It was not clear last night what steps the Federal Government was planning to take against perpetrators of the evil act apart from the retirement of the DSS director in the state and the redeployment of the police commissioner.

The police authorities, however,

assured that killers of the policemen and the security operatives would be brought to justice. Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba “investigation is on-going, we are unwavering in our commitment to finding the killers and bringing them to justice”.

The Federal and Nasarawa state governments have paid N2 million to each of the families of the slain policemen and security agents.

Further finding showed that there were fears that going after the cult group could spark more trouble in the state and alter permutations for the 2015 poll.

It was learnt that the opposition in the state was keen on fielding an Eggon candidate in the next election to oust governor Al-

Makura from office.

It was learnt that those opposed to the governor’s stay in office beyond 2015, were seriously considering tapping Senator Ewuga to defect from the CPC and join the PDP, which has strong followership, so as to recapture the state.

Alternatively, the anti-AlMakura camp, is said to be looking in the direction of Labaran Maku, the information minister, to challenge the governor in the next gubernatorial contest.

But Al-Makura has defended himself, saying that he has invested immensely in Eggon and should be appreciated.

However, the Chief Priest of Ombatse, Chief Ala Agu, has blamed the governor for the at-

tack, saying that the governor never called him for dialogue before sending troops to kill him for no just cause.

Agu denied killing the policemen, saying that his god killed them before arriving Eggon.

“When the security men came and because they were drunk, my god did not allow them to come to me and they died on the way,” Agu said.

The Director General of the Department of State Service, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, said last week that the service had forgiven those who killed 10 of its men during the failed attempt to uproot the Ombatse cult group last month. Ekpenyong spoke at an event to honour the dead security men in Abuja.

WORLD MILK DAY—From left: Mr. Peter Eshikena, MD/CEO, Friesland Campina WAPCO Nigeria and Prof. Ngozi Nnam, President Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Guest Lecturer at the World Milk Day celebration by the company in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

PDP blasts ACN, CPC...says it'll win more states in 2015

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Peoples Dem ocratic Party, PDP, yesterday, challenged the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and other opposition political parties to conduct primary elections preparatory to the 2015 elections.

While describing leaders of the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress, APC, as day dreaming for saying it will win the presidency, the PDP, however, vowed to win more states as well as the Presidency at the election.

In a statement by PDP National Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP, however, dispelled fears that divergence of views and opinions among its members were capable of frustrating its efforts ahead of 2015, saying that this will rather strengthen the party.

It said it was against the backdrop that it was a reflection of its democratic stance where members have opportunity to air their views and freely canvass their opinions unlike what obtains in the opposition parties where opinions and views of members are muzzled by political godfathers.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, who noted that the opposition alliance will soon be in disarray, stressed that most of those in the ranks will be betrayed and victimized by the godfathers.

Budget 2013: Executive doesn't want Senate to tamper with figures — Gemade

BY HENRY UMORU BUJA—CHAIRMAN, Sen ate Committee on National Planning and Poverty Alleviation, Senator Barnabas Gemade, PDP, Benue North/West, yesterday, gave an insight into the face-off between the Executive and the Senators, explaining that the executive wanted a situation where the figures sent must not be tampered with.

According to him, the controversy which was brewing between the two arms of government, was whether or not the National Assembly has the power to appropriate, just as he said the Federal Government believed that it can decide the level that appropriation should go from one activity of government to the other.

The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, however, noted that one of the reasons why there was budg-

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et logjam, was that the executive arm of government presently believes that the National Assembly does not have the power to interfere with budget appropriation to Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Senator Gemade, however, warned that the position of the executive arm on the powers of the National Assembly on appropriation negates the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Speaking ahead of today’s public hearing on the need to review the Planning and Budgeting Process, Senator Gemade stressed that the controversies surrounding the 2013 Budget amendment were not as straightforward as people would imagine, noting that the issues are complicated.

The Senator argued that the public hearing will be an avenue to speak on the over loaded na-

ture of the Ministry of Finance, as well as the 2013 budget, adding that his committee would examine the appropriateness of the current functions and placement of the Budget Office of the Federation whether it was rightly situated or it was discharging its functions optimally.

He explained that the public hearing came from a motion moved by Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi, which among others, seek to draw the attention of the Senate and the public to the need for a review of the budgeting process and return to the era of long and medium term planning, instead of the ad hoc, annual planning currently adopted by the Federal Government.

Senator Adetumbi had canvassed the position of merging the Budget Office and National Planning after separating the former from the Ministry of Fi-

nance, just as he said the Ministry should concern itself with the management of the nation’s finance and treasury.

Senator Gemade said, “I do not speak for the National Assembly, because I am not the spokesman, but as a senator I will clearly state here that the issues involved in the 2013 budget are very complicated. They are not as straight forward as many people have put it.

“The issue is whether the National Assembly really has the power of appropriation to the extent that they can decide what level of appropriation should go for what activity of government and the executive arm believes that you don’t have the power, all the power you have is to agree with the figures they have put for each activity of government because you are not the one who is going to carry it out".

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

BY MICHAEL EBOH & SEBASTINE OBASI AGOS—THE Federal Gov ernment, weekend, disclosed that proceeds from the sale of 10 power plants across the country would be re-invested in the power sector.

Speaking at a forum in Lagos to herald the flag-off of its investment road show, Mr James Olotu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, owners of the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, said the decision to re-invest the proceeds in the sector was to further boost the capacity of the country’s power infrastructure.

According to him, when collected from buyers of the power plants the money would be reinvested in the sector to boost power supply to all nooks and crannies of the country.

Olotu said: “This will unleash the huge potentials of Nigeria, leading to meaningful economic growth and development".

He disclosed that the Federal Government is to sell 80 per cent of its stake in the power plants, as the remaining 20 per cent will serve to assure buyers of the plants of the safety of their investment and minimal government interference in the daily affairs of the companies.

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Sale to be completed July 2014 Olotu said government plans to complete the sale of the power plants by July 2014, adding, however, that the plants would not be handed over to the buyers until they have been commissioned.

He expressed optimism that when privatised, the plants will be run in such a way as to attract further investment in the country’s power sector, as well as in other sectors of the economy.

He said, “the privatised firms will be run in such a way that will attract further investment in the sector. This is so because the buyers will testify to other potential investors of the transparency of the process and government’s

Sale of NIPPs: FG to reinvest proceeds in power sector commitment to the sanctity of contract among others.

He added that the Board of the NDPHC has considered various strategies available to it, as well

as endorsed and approved recommendations of the consultants to the project and forwarded same to the Presidency who has given the go-ahead.

Also speaking, Arit Mohinddin, Transaction Adviser on Privatisation to NDPHC, said with the investment road show scheduled to kick off in Lagos, on June

MEETING—From left: Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe; Vice President Namadi Sambo; and Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, during the Vice President's meeting with the Prime Minister in Yokohama, Japan, yesterday.

4 and 5, 2013, the government would be wooing both local and foreign investors in Nigeria, London, Hong Kong and New York.

He noted that the road show was designed to attract credible investments which meet the necessary requirements, adding that its intention is to attract as many investors as possible.

The power plants the NDPHC plans to sell are the 750 mega watts Olorunsogo, phase II power plant in Ogun State; 451MW Ogorode power plant in Delta State; 225MW Gbarain power plant, near Bayelsa State; 1,07MW Alaoji power plant near Aba in Abia State and 451MW Ihovbor power plant in Edo state.

Others are the 561MW Calabar power plant in Nsit Nyong, Cross River State; 338MW Egbema power plant in Egbema Ohaji, Imo State; 434MW Geregu power plant in Ajaokuta, Kogi State; 500MW Omotosho power plant in Ondo State and 250MW Omoku power plant in Rivers State.

REMEMBERING DANA AIR MISHAP Adeboye urges Nigerians to pray against plane crashes

BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA

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AGOS—THOUSANDS of Nigerians, yesterday, defied early morning torrential rains in Lagos to attend two programmes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, where the General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye revisited last year’s Dana Air plane crash in Lagos, which claimed 153 lives,

praying against similar occurrences in the country.

Similarly, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola hailed the church for its continuing commitment to social reformation programmes and for leading quietly by example, praying that God will continue to reward the church exceedingly as it toils ceaselessly to change the society.

Speaking at a special prayer session for chief executive officers of organisations at the church’s national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye urged Nigerians to pray fervently that the country should not experience such air mishaps again.

Commiserating with victims of the DANA Air crash, the General Overseer urged Nigerians to offer prayers to God to comfort, guide and support the affected families.

In his words: “Today make it a year that the DANA Air plane crashed in Lagos. Lives were lost during the incidence. Let us pray that there will not be another crash in Nigeria; that Nigeria should not experience such a thing again. It is only the Almighty God that can comfort the affected families. I pray that God should support and comfort those who lost their

loved ones during the plane crash”.

In his message to the various CEOs in attendance, titled: “Unusual worship gives unusual breakthrough” Adeboye advised them to imbibe righteousness, cultivate the habit of appreciating God in all circumstances, explaining that praising God always lead to divine breakthrough.

Enumerating some keys that can open divine doors and make room for breakthrough for the participants, Pastor Adeboye urged them to seek God’s divine wisdom, seek knowledge and a hunger to serve God with all their beings.

At the second service at the rain-soaked main bowl of the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, venue of the sixth EXCEL Convention of the church’s Apapa Family, Pastor Adeboye urged believers in the country to embrace change, declaring that a time would come when nobody will become anything without believers’ endorsement.

Speaking on a topic titled “Be the change”, Adeboye urged Christians to, at least, preach the gospel to one person a day, adding “every Christian is a branch of Christ and a branch looks exactly like the tree. If Christ is the Light of the world, therefore eve-

ry Christian is a light of the world and must show forth that light at any time.”

He commended the leadership of the Apapa Family which has been touching lives in different segments of the nation’s life, and especially for being the first church to float a football club that has graduated to the national league.

In his goodwill message to the leadership of the Apapa Family of the church, Fashola said: “One of the reasons why the EXCEL programme excites and inspires me year on year, is its focus on the less fortunate in our society.

No society is immune from them and yet society often ignores their plights. That is why EXCEL is so meaningful.”

Continuing, he thanked the church for reminding us through EXCEL, of the true role of the Church and other similar organisations in society, as partners in progress and change agents.

“We desire a Lagos that is orderly, clean, safe and secure but do we abide by the simple laws, rules and regulations that will make it so? Do we break the traffic laws when there are no traffic wardens in sight or throw litter out of our car windows simply because no one is watching us? It is the little things we do that bring about great change"".

Vanguard , MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—9

PDP chieftain to Obasanjo: Stop attacking Jonathan

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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SOGBO—FORMER Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, has urged former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to stop further public criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration policies and programmes.

Oyedokun also denied any connection between PDP South-West and Obasanjo’s posture concerning President Jonathan, saying the former president was on his own.

Speaking in Osogbo, yesterday, on the recent developments in the party, the PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, member stated that no matter the inadequacies of the present administration, President Jonathan deserves more time.

He said: “I am very careful while trying to comment about Obasanjo. This is because he is first and foremost a global figure. He is a mentor to many people.

“He is also a former president and, above all, he is a respected Yoruba man.

“But his recent posture on national affairs has become an embarrassment to the nation. His statement back home is also causing a lot of disintegration.

“First of all, his attitude to the Boko Haram issue is not ex-

pected of a statesman, although he made a bold attempt, sometime ago, by going to Borno to discuss with leaders of the sect.

“However, while going there one would have expected that he consulted with other leaders in the North such as former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) to get a better result.

DANA CRASH: From left— Dr. Aderemi Desalu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties; Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duties, and Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, at a briefing on the first anniversary of Dana air crash, yesterday.

Probe me, Oni dares Fayemi F

ORMER Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has challenged Governor Kayode Fayemi to probe the finances of Ekiti State from May 29, 2007 till date.

The former governor, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, in AdoEkiti, yesterday, said that he was not afraid of probe.

He said: “This time around,

52 graduate with First Class at Babcock

BY IKENNA ASOMBA

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O fewer than 52 students, yesterday, graduated with First Class honours at Babcock University, BU, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. 1,059 made Second Class Upper, while 248 made Second Class Lower.

BU’s President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Makinde, said

“He made statements there that disrespected President Jonathan, telling him to use brute force to quench the insurgency. Also his recent utterances outside the country about Nigeria are not expected of a good leader."

1,359 graduands were awarded degrees and diploma, cutting across the nine faculties of the university.

Twenty graduated with Postgraduate Diplomas, 71 with Masters and 41, Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. He said: “1,359 graduands will be awarded degrees and diplomas in Basic Applied

Sciences, Public and Allied Health, Education and Humanities, Babcock Business School, Law and Security Studies, Computing and Engineering Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Agriculture and Industrial Technology, and the Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine, in its Biochemistry programme.”

Fayemi must make real his threat and if he does not, we will go to court to get and order to compel him to do so.

“However, he must not be the one to appoint those who will carry out the probe because the finances of the government during his own tenure must also be probed.”

While addressing Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, supporters in Ado-Ekiti, weekend, Governor Fayemi had said: “With the conclusion of this case, they should be ready to account for how they stole our money, the contracts they used to siphon our money and all the micro-credit money they stole.”

Rep condemns attacks on Nigerians in S/Africa

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BADAN—CHAIRMAN of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Ukeje, has condemned the renewed attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking in Ibadan, yesterday, the lawmaker said that the renewed attacks came at a time when Nigeria and South Africa had shown commitment to fostering closer relationships.

Ukeje, PDP-Abia, recalled how in May both countries signed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, in different spheres of human endeavour.

She said that the agreements should trickle down the citizenry, especially from South Africa and urged Nigerians to remain committed in the knowledge that the government would do everything to protect them.

The lawmaker commended the South Africa High Commissioner, Mr. Louis Mnguni, for his quick intervention and promised to work closely with him until the resolution of the issues.

8,000 property owners get quit notice in Ogun

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

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BEOKUTA—OGUN State government said it had served quit notice on no fewer than 8,000 owners of illegal structures and shanties across the state, and 1,020 owners sanctioned for violating the physical planning laws of the state.

Commissioner for Physical Planning, Adebayo Fari, stated this weekend at a briefing at the Oke-Mosan office of the governor in Abeokuta.

The commissioner, however, disclosed that the ministry had successfully resolved 146 petitions out of 167 received so far, saying that over 4,000 building plans have been approved, while another four have been registered by the government.

Ilaje council provides free health services

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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KURE—FREE medi cal services were provided over the weekend for the aged, pregnant women and children in the oil-rich communities of Ondo State by the Ilaje Regional Development Council, IRDC. The aged people were screened for hypertension and diabetics, while the pregnant women were given prophylactic drugs. The children went home with treated mosquito nets.

The communities that benefited from the free services include Awoye, Molutehin, Gbagira, Igho and Odo-fado.

The IRDC also embark on community-based health education on prevention and management of hypertension and diabetics.

Secretary of the Council, Mr. Adeyemi Abiye, expressed gratitude to Chevron and assured the communities that the council would soon embark on indoor and outdoor residual spraying.

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

NDLEA N25m: Baba Suwe vows to appeal judgment

Pilot phase of Lagos residents' registration begins

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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AGOS—AHEAD of the statewide residents registration exercise later in the year, Lagos State Government will today commence a pilot residential registration for civil servants.

General Manager of Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, LASRRA, Mrs. Yinka Fashola, said, weekend, that the exercise would also allow the state allocate resources evenly to meet the needs of its residents.

Fashola said when the statewide exercise commences, it would be a continuous one and would give residents opportunity to prompt renewal of their information.

She added that about 337 registration centres, including centres located in the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, had been earmarked for the commencement of the programme.

Book launch

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new book, The Big Conspiracy, which reveals the rot in Nigeria’s aviation sector and public life is to be presented to the public today.

The book touches on issues such as the DANA aircraft crash of June 3, 2012.

Authored by Folasade Odutola, a former provost of the Nigerian College of Aviation, Zaria, and an aviation expert with 35 years of experience, over 20 of which in the safety field, The Big Conspiracy seeks to expose some gray areas believed to be responsible for the seeming irresolvable problems facing the aviation industry in Nigeria.

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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DONATION: From left— Mr. Omojola Felix, Project Manager, MTN 21 Days of Y’ello Care, 2013; Mrs. Ukpanah Utoh, Secretary, MTN Nigeria; Mr. Buraimoh Benjamin, SOS Children’s Village Director, and Mrs. Enumah Maria, representatings SOS Village Mothers, at the presentation of gift by MTN to the children of SOS Village, Isolo, Lagos.

Transformation agenda not effective— Employers

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG & KELECHI AZUBUIKE

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MPLOYERS of labour, under the umbrella of Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers’ Federation, CANMPEF, weekend in Lagos, said the implementation of economic policies in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was yet to make the desired positive impact on the manufacturing sector of the economy.

At its 34th annual general meeting, President of the Federation, Chief Devakumar Edwin, said: “A brief review of the business outlook for the year under review shows that despite the Federal Government’s avowed commitment to transformation agenda by espousing economic policies that would engender economic growth in critical sectors of the economy such as ours, policies implementation are yet to make the desired positive impact on the manufacturing sector of the economy.

“The high cost of production, poor sales occasioned by weak purchasing power, liberal import policy, lack of inflow of investible funds due to security challenges, among others, have contin-

ued to impact negatively on the survival strategies of member companies to breakeven.”

“Industries have continued to reel under the yoke of epi-

leptic power supply, poor and uneven infrastructural development, security challenges, multiple taxation and levies by the three tiers of government.”

Lagos Assembly halts demolition of Pelewura Market

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS State House of As sembly has directed the state ministries involved in the planned demolition of Pelewura Market annex to put the exercise on hold pending the outcome of the investigation by the committee set up to investigate the matter.

Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Bisi Yusuff, gave the order during a meeting with the officials of Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands Bureau, and representatives of Pelewura Market Annex, Lagos Island at the Assembly Complex, weekend.

Yusuff also ordered the concerned agencies to dialogue with the traders on where to relocate them to and possible compensation.

He said: “Seven days no-

tice is too short for these traders to relocate to anywhere. We are not in military era where anybody can harass or intimidate citizens.

NAFDAC parades 4 over N59bn fake drugs importation

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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ATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, weekend, paraded four suspects over the importation of counterfeit drugs worth N59 million.

While parading the suspects before newsmen, Director-General, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said he was more embarrassed by people losing their lives due to fake drugs than flimsy claims

Catholic Archbishop cautions FG on amnesty for Boko Haram Haram must first be identified and The Archbishop, who celebrated

BY STARRYS OBAZEI

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AGOS—CATHOLIC Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, has cautioned the Federal Government against planned amnesty for Boko Haram insurgents, saying amnesty was not just about giving out money.

his 54th birthday in Lagos, said: “If there is money to be paid to Boko Haram insurgents, then the sect’s victims, as a matter of justice, must be compensated also.”

Archbishop Martins, who was hosted by the Grand Knights of Saint Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council, said members of Boko

R. Babatunde Omidiran, popularly known as Baba Suwe, has vowed to appeal the ruling of Appeal Court in Lagos, which quashed the N25 million compensation earlier granted to him by a Lagos High Court against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. The Appeal Court had, Friday, ruled that NDLEA had good reasons to detain Baba Suwe, and set aside the N25 million awarded by Justice Yetunde Idowu of a Lagos High Court, to the ace comedian.

Speaking through his lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, weekend, in Lagos, he said the Court of Appeal decision would be taken to the Supreme Court because it was one that could encourage the culture of impunity on the part of law enforcement agencies.

seen to be repentant, before the Federal Government could give amnesty to them.

Touching on other national issues, he wondered why Nigerians had reduced life to the level of exchange for money.

He called the recent baby factory discovered a national disgrace.

of those he described as ‘fake drug abettors’ on failure of technology in identifying fake products.

The names of the suspects were given as Mr. Paul Ogbonna, Mr. Celestine Eruokwu, Mr. Ifeanyi Edeh, and Mr. Ozoemena Odo. Orhii said that Mr. Celestine Eruokwu was a generator dealer, but was arrested for importation of 90,000 doses of counterfeit Maloxine tablets.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—11

Bayelsa tasks stakeholders on Ijaw culture preservation

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BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, weekend, urged stakeholders in Ijawland to work towards the promotion of Ijaw culture to save it from extinction.

Tuodolo, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson at the 2013 World Museum/Culture Day Celebration in Yenagoa, said the Ijaw nation is endowed with rich cultural heritage that could generate income as much as what the state gets from crude oil from the Federation Account.

LIMGE/Shell to commission fire station

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HE Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment, LIMGE, has announced the planned commissioning of its N1 billion, purpose built, and wellequipped fire station in Lagos Island.

The project, which is a key component of LIMGE’s ongoing rebirth agenda for the Lagos Island was facilitated in a ground breaking partnership between LIMGE and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPco, and other institutional partners.

LIMGE’s new target, according to its President, Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo, is to ensure “that no building on Lagos Island is ever gutted by fire again."

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to inform the general public that Mr. Adaga Anthony E., an employee of NNPC died on the 9th of December, 2012 in Makurdi.

That his daughters— Onyeche Adaga (29 yrs) and Aladi Adaga (26 yrs) are his next of kin.

Signed: ONYECHE ADAGA

Okowa should succeed Uduaghan —Ogboru

BY EMMA AMAIZE & FESTUS AHON

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BRAKA—CHIEF Julius Ogboru, younger brother of Democratic People’s Party, DPP, candidate in the 2011 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, has said that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was the best gubernatorial candidate in the state to take over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in 2015.

Senator Okowa is among the leading gubernatorial aspirants from the North Senatorial district of the state and was the first runner-up to the incumbent, Dr. Uduaghan, in the 2006 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primaries.

There was to be a run-off between him and Uduaghan, but Okowa conceded and was later appointed Secretary to the State Government in 2007. Currently, he is the Senator, representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate.

Speaking during the inauguration of D-Peace, a polit-

ical pressure group, championing equity and fairness in the state, at Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government of the state, Chief Ogboru identified Senator Okowa as the most capable aspirant to pilot the affairs of the

state among those eying the governorship seat in 2015.

Pointing out that Okowa has the pedigree and experience to govern the state, he said that having assessed those being touted as

CANONICAL INSTALLATION: From left: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe; Senator representing Cross River State Central Senatorial District/Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, and a former military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Navy Captain Joseph Adewusi (rtd), during the canonical installation of Bishop Joseph Ekuwem as Archbishop of Calabar, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Egerton, Calabar.

Urhobo deserves place in Federal Executive Council —Aziza

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—PRESIDENT- General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, General Patrick Aziza (rtd), weekend, said that the Urhobo nation, as the fifth largest ethnic nationality in the country, deserves a place in the Federal Executive Council.

Aziza, while receiving the leadership of Urhobo Youth Council, UYC, led by Mr. Henry Baro, charged Urhobo

politicians to be selfless wherever they find themselves, noting, “whatever position you are given is because you are from the Urhobo ethnic nationality.

Therefore, you are holding that position in trust and you must be selfless in whatever you do.”

Thanking UYC for its solidarity, he said; “I am further strengthened by your visit. Your group has been very supportive.” On UPU leadership's visit to Arewa Consultative Forum, he explained that the visit was for the benefit of the Urhobo

people, adding, “My leadership of UPU is determined to build bridges across all the ethnic groups in the country for the benefit of the future of our children and to advance the political prospects of the Urhobo.”

Aziza said he will continue to uphold the constitution of UPU, which he swore to do, reiterating that; “I came to unite the Urhobo people; they must be united in the struggle for a better place.”

PDP should pay reparation to Edo people —-Esogban of Benin

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—CHAIRMAN of Benin Forum and Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Edo State, Chief David Edebiri, has called on Edo State Peoples Democratic Party,

interested in governing the state, “I found Okowa to be most eligible in terms of experience, past record of good performance, reach and grassroots connection.”

PDP, to pay reparation to the people of the state for the alleged under-development the state suffered during the over 10 years of PDP administration in the state, or forget about winning elections in the near future.

He said: “Unless the party, in conjunction with the Federal Government, pays back all the money their agents here looted for 11 and half a years to the treasury of Edo State, and if they cannot give us the money they looted, they should give us justice. If the Federal Government can guarantee that there will be justice in the case of those who looted Edo State funds, then people can start listening to them.

“In the absence of the above,

PDP cannot win elections in Edo State for now because those who were alive when they looted this state for over 10 years are still alive. We now have something to compare with, we saw their government and today we are seeing another government.

So, the PDP can't think of coming here to win elections for now, it is not possible.

They should refund all the money they looted as a sort of reparation to Edo State people as held by various tribunals.

“In the alternative, they should give us justice because if we know that those who stole our money are behind the bars that may give satisfaction."

Delta property owners warn against fraudsters

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HE Ogwhorhor family of Ovwian Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, has warned against fraudsters, who are bent on selling other people's landed property.

In a statement, weekend,

by Chief Patience Unukogbon, the family called on buyers to stop going through those outside the family, who claim to be sellers of Ogoode land in Udu. She said, “We advise the general public to ignore any group of persons trying to rubbish the Ogwhorhor family name with false reports or comments and we call on buyers to avoid purchase of Ogoode land from those people bent on destroying the family name for their selfish gains. We also call on security agencies to check the excesses of the team led by one cleric.”

Meanwhile, elders of the Ogwhorhor family and youths have passed a vote of confidence on Chief Unukogbon for accountability, transparency and trust and prayed that God will continue to give her wisdom and strength to manage the family property and continually secure Ogoode land.

12— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 — 13

Community petitions Assembly over face-off with Okpara Agric varsity U

BY ANAYO OKOLI

MUAHIA—THE face-off between the authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State and one of its host communities, Amaoba Ime, in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state, has deepened, as the community has accused the University of violating the order of the Abia State House of Assembly on the land dispute between the university and the community.

Consequently, the community has petitioned the House, protesting the alleged action of the University, which the community, said violated the order of the House, urging the parties to stay clear of the disputed area until the matter was resolved amicably.

The traditional ruler of Amaoba Ime, King O’tuwa 1st, in the petition to the House, alleged that the university was building on the disputed area “though you asked the university not to continue.”

The community also alleged that the university had changed the sequencing of the survey pillars to make room for eight additional hectares in the disputed area, insisting “we donated 171.14 hec-

tares of land, not 179 hectares.

We know the boundary, the boundary was not in contention then and should not be now.”

“Federal Government payment schedule was changed to reflect payment for 179 hectares and signed by Mr. Chukwu.

Authentic federal payment schedule shows that govern-

ment acquired and paid for 171.14 hectares of land from Amaoba.”

The community said that “the university’s action is flaming a very volatile situation that is already on a disaster cliff,” accusing the University of not respecting constituted authority.

Abia State House of Assembly

waded into the land dispute and ordered parties to steer clear of the disputed area. The House Committee looking into the matter, set to resolve the matter had directed the state Surveyor General to appear before it to educate it on the survey plan displayed by the community.

THANKSGIVING: Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Bishop Alexander Ibezim (left), receiving family members and friends of Justice Okechukwu Okeke, during a thanksgiving service for Justice Okeke, who recently retired from service, at St. Jude’s Anglican Church, Adazi-ani, Anambra State, yesterday.

Obinna lauds NASS for passing anti same sex Bill

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI—THE National Assembly has been commended for passing a Bill outlawing same-sex marriage in Nigeria.

Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony Obinna, in Owerri, Imo State, while fielding questions from the citizenry, said “God created us male and female.

We have to respect that identity so that our children, who are being influenced by the toxic wastes from Europe and America, will be insulated from this sort of abomination that led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

The Archbishop, who spoke ahead of a two-day pro-life conference holding in Owerri, lamented that the country had experienced a terrible assault on the sacredness of life imported from

Europe and America.

“In 2009, when the issue of reproductive Bill came into the state House of Assembly, the Catholic Church galvanised the people to defeat the ugly Bill that was aimed at increasing the rate of promiscuity, as well as

legitimise abortion on demand.

Obinna noted that the assaults on the sacredness of life had necessitated the pro-life conference, so that “our people will become more conscientised and begin to defend our children and women from aberration.”

....As PDP chieftain lauds Uba’s A’Court victory

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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WKA—FORMER Chair man of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Chief Bright Nebedum, weekend, described as the triumph of the people’s will, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, decision, upholding Senator Andy Uba as the dully nominated candidate of PDP for the Anambra south senatorial zone.

Chief Nnebedum, said it was not just the people of Anambra

South senatorial zone that are happy with the appellate court’s decision, but all democrats in the state.

“The court’s decision is an affirmation of the wish of the people and the role of the judiciary as the last hope of the people. This will further encourage Senator Ubah to forge ahead with his people oriented programmes. This case was an unnecessary distraction, but now that it is over, he can get down with his projects towards improving the lives of the people. As a

Anambra 2014: Guber aspirant reveals package for aged

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WKA—AS Anambra State gets ready for the 2014 governorship election, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, guber aspirant, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu has that he will introduce a systematic conditional cash transfer if he became governor of the state.

Obiogbolu at the PDP stakeholders meeting at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, said that in the package, aged citizens

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Noting that he was happy that Africans regard life as very sacred, Archbishop Obinna expressed worry that each time these toxic wastes are being moved to Africa, they come in the guise of Christian and religious fashion.

from 60 years and above, who are not pensioners would be entitled to a monthly stipend from the state government.

He said the move would take pressure off the children of the concerned aged persons and provide an enabling environment for aged ones to fully enjoy their old age without anxiety over what they would eat, while their children will have the oppor-

tunity to concentrate on being useful to themselves and the society because of the assurance that they are getting something from the society.

He said: “An average American is ready to die for America not just because he is an American but because the American society is investing heavily on the social welfare of the citizen in which there is allowance for the unemployed.”

grassroots politician, Senator Uba has done a lot for the people and he intends to do more if he gets elected to serve at the highest level.

“His record as governor for 17 days is one of great encouragement. He displayed what leadership is all about. He has all the contact, ideas and vision to turn things round for the best in the state if he gets the ticket of the party in the state.” “ Uba as a mobiliser has raised the bars with what he has done so far in the Senate, so nobody has any doubt about his ability to deliver on his promises. From what he has done in the senate so far, he has shown that he has the capacity to make the difference. Now that the court matters have been dispensed with, we want him to focus on the task ahead.”

It will be recalled that Mr Nicholas Ukachukwu had challenged Uba’s election on the grounds that he was not the duly nominated candidate of the party.

Army holds Chief of Staff confab in Abakaliki today

BY PETER OKUTU

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BAKALIKI—THE Headquarters of 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, is set to host the Chief of Army Staff 2nd quarter Conference 2013 in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the state capital today. The event starts today through till Wednesday.

Colonel Hamza Gambo in a statement for the Director, Army Public Relations, said that the conference, organised by Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja was in line with Nigerian Army annual activities.

Gambo explained that the focus of the conference was to appraise the performances of Nigerian Army formations in combating the current security challenges in their respective areas of responsibility, adding that the forum would also create opportunity to confirm the extent of the implementation of the decisions reached during the First Quarter Conference within the Formations of AORs.

Projects: UNIZIK teaching hospital shops for N2.5bn

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

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WKA—AUTHORI TIES of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi, Anambra State, said weekend, that the hospital was sourcing for N2.5 billion intervention fund to complete some projects at its permanent site.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, said during the commissioning of the Anesthetic machine, installed at the Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha in conjunction with Guinness Nigeria Plc, that with the amount, 50 per cent of ongoing projects at the permanent site of the hospital would be completed to pave the way for movement to the site.

He explained that the hospital was already asking for upward review of funds allocated to it, adding that a formal request to that effect had been made to the presidency through the Minister of Health.

14 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

103, 080 Nigerian children live on anti-viral drugs — UNICEF

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI — THE United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has disclosed that over 103,080 Nigeria children require and live on anti-retroviral drugs to stay alive as a result of their HIV status.

The world body revealed that, out of six million annual new

births in Nigeria, over 56, 681 are HIV positive.

This was made known

by HIV/AIDS specialist at the UNICEF ‘A’ Field Office, Dr. Femi Adeyemi, at a three day Zonal Networking Meeting for Media Practitioners on Public Advocacy and Alliance Building for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, held in Makurdi.

Dr. Adeyemi, who took an overview and update on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in the country, lamented that, of the 2.9 million HIV prevelence rate in the country, 1.7million were women.

He noted that “at the moment the annual figure of pregnant women who are living with HIV/ AIDS in the country is about 56,681.”

While taking a state by state assessment of the HIV/AIDS prevelence rate in the country, he

stresed that the figure ranges from one per cent in Kebbi State, which he said was the lowest in the country, to 12.7 per cent in Benue, which represents in the highest in the country.

Cardinal Onaiyekan lambasts PDP over crisis in Rivers BY: VICTORIA OJEME

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From left: Director, European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr. Luke Okojie; MD/CEO, Mabseed Nigeria Ltd, Dr. Abu Alidu Moses and Deputy Head, Africa Operations, European-American University, Prof. Mike Nwaubani, at the conferment of doctor of science on Dr. Abu Alidu Moses in Lome, Togo.

BUJA — THE Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has lambasted the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the crisis playing out in Rivers State.

Onaiyekan, who berated the party over the suspension slammed on the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said the whole thing does not make sense.

Speaking on the suspension of Amaechi by the PDP and the alleged impeachment moves against him during the Italian National Day in Abuja, Onaiyekan said: “The whole thing does not make sense to me. The only sense it makes, is that this is again, the rascality of our politicians at play.

“When politicians quarrel, they begin to play dirty games on one another. In the process, nobody is thinking of the poor people. I am not sure all this talk has anything to do with service of the people of Rivers State. And it is a pity,” Onaiyekan said.

Onaiyekan further said: “Of course, if PDP wants to impeach him, everybody knows that they can because I am told that all members of the State Assembly of Rivers State, are all PDP, which in itself, is a suspicious fact that all members of a particular House

of Assembly are of the same one party.

“What kind of election did they have?

And what kind of democracy are we talking about? Can you imagine the National Assembly being all of one party and we claim that we are practising democracy? We are joking.

“So, the whole thing has been flawed from the beginning. How it will end, I don’t know.”

On the state of emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, the former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, commen- ded President Goodluck Jonathan, saying, “this was a state of emergency with a difference.”

According to Onaiyekan: “Very often or most of the time, when a state of emergency is declared, the democratic structures are suppressed and someone is appointed to run affairs.

“In this case, the governors have been left in their place as well as the local government chairmen.”

S & P upgrades Access Bank’s long-term credit rating to ‘BB-’

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OREMOST GLOBAL rating agency, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) has upgraded Access Bank’s long-term credit rating to ‘BB-‘from ‘B+’ with a stable outlook.

Similarly, the bank’s long term Nigeria national scale rating was upgraded to ‘ngAA-‘ from ‘ngA’, attesting to its continued adherence to global best practices, sound corporate governance and best-in-class risk management framework.

This is the second consecutive upgrade the bank has received in two years and attests to the resilience of the bank and its importance to the Nigerian financial system and economy at large.

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I’ve fulfilled my promises, support me to do more — Kwara gov

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI

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LORIN— KWARA State governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, weekend, has said he has fulfilled his electoral promises to the people of the state and urged them to continue to support his administration to enable him do more.

The governor, who spoke during his monthly media -chat to celebrate his two year in office, said that despite all challenges Nigeria has done well in its democratic processes when compared with its other peers in African Sub-region.

“Nigeria has fared well and with God we will move higher and higher in the fulfilment of democratic dividends to the people “, he said On the fulfilment of his administration’s electoral promises the governor explained that his administration has built over 200 class rooms across the state while the state government has reduced the school fees of Kwara State University (KWASU) to enable more people have access to quality education.

Governor Ahmed noted that the government has also repositioned all the state owned colleges, while the reconstruction of general hospital across the three senatorial districts in the state have reached about 90 per cent completion.

He said that on the employment generation the state government has provided employment for 3,000 youth jobs in the KWABES bridge programme, noting that the state government has done a lot in the economic and infrastructure development of the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Ahmed has canvassed a complete review of the university education curricula to make graduates job creators rather than job seekers.

Governor Ahmed made the call, weekend, in his address during the maiden convocation of the Kwara State University (KWASU),

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3 3,, 2013 —15

How to treat infected wounds

BY CHIOMA OBINNA NDOUBTEDLY, typical signs of infected wound include swelling, pain, fever, and the presence of pus. But absence of these signs does not mean the wound is not infected, however. According to experts unless a wound is very recent, you should assume that untreated wounds are likely infected or may become infected.

Infected wounds should be treated by a physician or other medical expert. When that is not immediately possible, there are steps you can take to care for the wound until you are able to contact medical personnel.

Good sanitation is very important when dealing with any wound and is a necessary part of infected wound care. Make sure your hands are clean before tending to the wound and use only sterile

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Things you will need: To treat wounds you need sterile gauze, medical tape, antiseptic ointment or solution, clean water for wound irrigation, sterile tweezers and other instrument for removing dead tissue.

Instructions: Wash your hands carefully before treating the infected wound. Be sure to clean beneath your fingernails and use antiseptic soap if available. After sanitising your hands, put on clean exam gloves if gloves are available.

Sanitize the area of skin around the wound with alcohol or an antibacterial solution.

Cleaning areas of skin near the wound site will prevent accidental contamination of the wound by any harmful bacteria present on the skin.

Carefully wash any foreign matter and pus from the wound.

Avoid scrubbing the wound.

Scrubbing may open blood ves-

Pink Pearl takes breast cancer campaign to Abia, Cameroon

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•Treating open wounds as soon as possible after they happen is often the only way to prevent further damage. sels, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. It is better to simply pour water over the wound to wash out debris. If there is dead tissue present and visible within the wound, try to remove as much as possible.

Place antibiotic ointment, or an antiseptic solution, on sterile gauze and apply to the wound. Secure the gauze to the wound and try to keep the bandage clean. Bandages may need to be changed frequently, and at these times the wound should be checked.

Seek professional medical attention for the wound as soon as possible. Infections can get serious very quickly. Even a small wound should be treated seriously if it shows signs of

N the spirit of enlighten ing and empowering the less fortunate African women, Pink Pearl Foundation has taken its campaign “Two Breasts are better than One” to Cameroonian woman as part of activities to mark this year’s National Women’s Day. In a lecture at the event, Dr. Ufuoma Okotete, Executive Director of Diamond Helix Hospital; spoke on the essence of early detection while Mrs. Orode advised that “those already with the disease shouldn’t be stigmatised, rather they should be cared for and loved, all they need is hope’.

In his remarks, Mr. Onye Ubanatu urged the women to spread the word to other

women who weren’t able to attend the event. “Pink Pearl Foundation is a rapidly growing force against cancer, and it shows its determination in reducing rising mortality rate which cancer causes in Africa with each passing day. The foundation continues to save lives and give hope where needed.” The women were taken through a session Breast Self-Examination (BSE) with emphasis on the need for regular mammography tests and checkups. A free breast and cervical cancer screening later followed after the training session.

Of the 175 women screened, 16 were found to have lumps/ mass tissues in their breast while 67 were diagnosed with cervicitis, discolorations or discharges.

infection.

Tips and warnings:

A tetanus shot may be necessary for those who have not had a tetanus shot in the past few years. Make sure the bandage is not too tight and check it frequently. Keep bandages dry Seek medical attention immediately for infected wounds, for large wounds, and for any wound that won’t heal. If there is an increase in swelling of the wound, or you see redness (including red lines) spreading out from the wound, or fever is present, this may be a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention.

Do not use hydrogen peroxide on serious wounds and never use it on deep wounds.

•Participants queuing for a breast cancer screening during Pink Pearl's "Two Breasts are Better than One" campaign in Kumbo, Cameroon

Nigerians patronise private-owned hospitals over govts’ — POLL

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new weekly poll results

by NOI Polls have shown that 79 percent of Nigerians do not have access to health insurance. The poll also revealed that almost 45 percent Nigerians rely on private hospitals/ healthcare facilities for their healthcare needs, with 25 percent Federal Government Hospitals (25percent) coming

a distant second.

However, the Poll identified poor healthcare facilities and the lack of facilities in some instances as the main factors responsible for the high rate of infant mortality experienced in the country.

The latest poll on the healthcare system which held from 2nd week in May, 2013 is expected that the results & findings from the poll will highlight the perceptions of Nigerians and stimulate commentary to proffer recommendations to strengthening the country’s healthcare system. Participants in the poll answered five specific questions to establish the

type of healthcare facility mainly used by Nigerians.

Results showed that almost 5 in 10 respondents (45 percent) use Private Hospitals and Health Facilities; followed by 25 percent who use Federal Government Hospitals. Furthermore, 13 percent of the respondents stated that they use State Government hospitals, and 10 percent simply use Pharmacies/Drug stores. Other facilities used include Traditional Healthcare (3 percent), Local Government Hospitals/Health Centres (2 percent), and Faith Healing Centres (1 percent).

Respondents were subsequently asked: Do you have access to any form of health insurance? From the results, almost 8 in 10 respondents (79 percent) answered negatively to the question, indicating that they do not have access to any form of health insurance. On the other hand, 21percent answered “Yes” to the question. At the geo-po-

litical zones, South-East region has 26 per cent slight majority of respondents that claim to have access to health insurance and female respondents appear to have a slight edge over male respondents with 24 percent when it comes to accessing health insurance.

Respondents that said they had access to Health Insurance were further asked: If yes, what form of Health Insurance do you have? The overall majority of 59 percent stated that they have access to the National Health Insurance Scheme. This is followed by 35 percent who say they have access to health insurance via a private Health Management Organisation paid by their employer; and 6 percent who say they have access via a private HMO, but self-funded.

The North-West has the highest proportion (83 percent) of respondents that benefit from NHIS, followed by the NorthCentral. Also, the South-West has the highest percentage of 51 percent through their employers.

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16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 FOR African leaders the attainment of the Golden age by the African Union, which started of as the Organisation of African Unity in May 1963, was something to celebrate. But it was a celebration that was lacking in highlight of accomplishments on social, political and economic fronts.

It was also a celebration that failed to set forth agenda for the future and perhaps testifies to the limited vision of those who lead Africa today.

Africa is a continent that is well endowed in human and natural resources. It is also a continent that is lacking scientific and technological mindset and aspirations.

For the member states that form the African Union, what has been so manifest in the past 50 years has been tales of woes, arising from wars, natural disasters, poor leadership, lack of development hunger, diseases and mindless exploitation of the continent by external powers, with their local collaborators.

The leaders that gathered in Addis Ababa in the Chinese built headquarters of AU, did not have much to count as their achievement.

The Mo Ibrahim award for leadership in Africa has failed in the past three years, to find a leader in the continent that deserves to be so honoured.

BY NNAEMEKA ORUH

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OADS of critics will arise after reading this essay. Many African feminist critics could come for my jugular. I hope though that they will appraise the issue objectively and address it effectively. On my part,I will try as much as I can to be very objective and underline my points with verifiable facts, and keep it short. Very short. After all, this is only just a road map. One of the most salient points of this year’s Big Brother Africa is the relationship issue in the house. Of course there are two most significant ones: Goldie and Prezzo; Talia versus Keagan/Seydou. This essay is not all about the details of these two relationships. It is about how these relationships clearly underscore the issue of supposed female subsumation in Africa. Supposed, because whenever female subsumation is discussed, it is in reference to the man subsuming the woman.

Nobody ever mentions the woman’s/women’s part.

First, Goldie and Prezzo. Obviously, as a Nigerian, Goldie did have a whole lot of chances of making it to at least the last five/six. Big Brother Africa’s history testifies to this. But, was she able to do that? Clearly, she could not. It was not because Africans would not have kept her in the house if she did try to be entertaining a bit. The major reason was because she lost sight of why she was in the house and made her new focus Prezzo.

And true to type, the self-styled President utilized the opportunity presented to him by the unfocused and unassertive Goldie.

Upon meeting Prezzo, Goldie lost focus and made him her primary focus of entertainment. She washed, cooked, tended to and loved him wholeheartedly. In doing this, she maligned herself from her housemates and also failed to provide the necessary entertainment to Africa. Consequently, she became the most hated housemate to have ever come out of Nigeria since the inception of the Big Brother Africa show. Throughout the entire history of the Big Brother Africa, I do not think that Nigerians have hated any Nigerian housemate more than C M Y K

AU Be Beyyond 50th Anniv er sar Anniver ersar saryy African Union has failed to rise up to the occasion in Mali where France sent its troops to halt the Al-Qaeda backed Islamist from taking over the entire country. The African International Support Mission (AFISMA) has continued to flounder because it has to rely on External funding from western countries. The proposed African standby force remains a mirage while the continent has become a haven for Islamist fundamentalist push for political and economic control. There is also the scramble for resources from Africa by China and Asian countries while the continent remains buffeted by poverty, corruption, bad governance and civil strifes.

OPINION Big Brother and the gender issue in Africa they hated Goldie during her time there. I know that some people will point to the fact that Nigerians still voted for her during her stay in the house, but then, sheer patriotism made that happen. No Nigerian made any extra effort to keep her in the house, and when she was evicted, everybody heaved a sigh of relief.

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he question now is, was Goldie not completely African womanish in her actions in the Big Brother Africa house?

A traditional African would say she was. The nouveau African lady will hesitate and show her “ambivalence”. Exactly how they(the women) subsume themselves and give men all the powers. My assertion here is that Goldie’s obsession with Prezzo led to her “early” eviction. As pointed out above, loads of people all over Africa could not feel her “entertaining” personality, hence she never, at any point, was Africa’s beloved.

Yet Prezzo stayed on to be the first runner-up. As you would see later on, African women decide who is entertaining.

Next up is Talia. Sweet and beautiful Talia. Africa’s beautiful queen. Loved by both male and female. Beloved of Angola and Seydou. Talia had it all working for her when she was Seydou’s loving and faithful girlfriend. In staying true to Seydou, she became the epitome of African beauty mixed with African virtue. Africa loved her; Seydou campaigned for her; and she had a very high chance of dragging the number one spot with Keagan. Then like Eve(not Big Brother Africa’s Eve), she fell. Keagan, dangling the serpent.

Talia, who had continuously professed her love for Seydou and stayed strong. Liked by all the housemates, she was never nominated for eviction. The only time she came up for evic-

The Economic Commission for Africa has no blue print for a continental economic growth while the entire project of economic integration is in disarray with Maghreb nations of North Africa, sponsoring Islamist insurgency in sub-Saharan Africa. The East and Central Africa Economic Commission is struggling to find its bearing while South Africa Development Commission SADEC remains a one man show where South Africa is the dominant power. With sit tight leaders like Yuweri Museveni in Uganda, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Omar El-Bashir in Sudan, Dos Santos in Angola, the African peer review project has gone comatose. All these have left sordid taste in AU’s glass of Champagne.

We therefore call for an urgent review of the concept of leadership at national and continental levels, which will establish the relevance of the existence of a body such as the AU. We urge humanist philosophy of leadership which will enthrone their citizens at the centre of their leadership ethos and vision. This will end this present hunt of African leaders by the International Criminal Court (ICC) which seems to have become political albatross on the neck of African leaders.

tion was when “Biggie’s machine” chose her country. When that happened, Africans showed her love. Sey showed her love by campaigning for her too. But during the last week, Keagan moved in with one thing in mind: seduce her. He succeeded as she fell for that with just a week to go. It seemed that Keagan’s motive was “exterminate the dual opposition of Talia and Seydou”. That done, she lost Seydou’s support. Now, most importantly, she lost the support of African women. I will explain.

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t is quite obvious that majority of the voters/fans of Big Brother Africa, or indeed any reality show are women.

They decide who wins and who does not. While most of them come out in public and try to support Talia, behind, they criticized her actions and withdrew their votes. To them, she had betrayed “African womanhood”. Meanwhile, Goldie, who stayed faithful and was lauded as the epitome of African womanhood by most of the African women(after her eviction of course) was also evicted for being “too in-love”!

My summation: African women are too patriarchal to define what they are agitating for. Their thought processes are so male-defined that they willingly hand over themselves and their sisters to male domination. If the man says, “she is too lovey-dovey”, the African woman accepts and searches for the guillotine. If he says she is a tramp, the African woman asks for public execution!

My purpose in this essay is not to answer questions. What I merely wanted to do is to point out two things; firstly, African women are the architects of their own downfall. Secondly, lack of principle and discipline make African women submit themselves to male domination. Live television has proven this and live television(especially reality shows) reflects reality. I have provided guiding points! Let the debate begin!

*Mr Oruh, a social commentator, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 — 41

OGHIADOMHE’S SON WEDS

From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Groom, Mark Omo with the bride, Omolade, and Senate President, David Mark, at the wedding of Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe’s son, Mark Omo, in Abuja, weekend. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida

From left: First Lady, Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan; wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mrs. Louisa Oghiadomhe and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe

From left: Primate of All NIgeria, Anglican Communion, Most. Rev. Nicholas Okoh (left); Omo Mark Oghiadomhe and his bride, Omobolanle; parents of the newly-wedded bride, Mr. & Mrs. Dele Okeya, during the solemnisation of the matrimony, at the Cathedral Church of The Advent, Gwarimpa, Abuja

From left: Father of the groom, Chief Oghiadomhe with his wife, Louisa and parents of the bride, Mr. & Mrs. Okeya.

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42— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 — 43

Queen Elizabeth II marks 60th anniversary of coronation Q

UEEN Elizabeth II was marking the 60th anniversary of her coronation in private yesterday after indulging in her passion for horses with a day at the races.

The 87-year-old monarch and her husband Prince Philip spent Saturday at the Epsom Derby, echoing the events of a year ago that kicked off her four-day diamond jubilee party.

Queen Elizabeth took the throne on February 6, 1952 upon the death of her father king George VI, but to allow for a period of national mourning, she was only crowned 16 months later in London’s Westminster Abbey.

The queen will be joined by the royal family and 2,000 guests at the abbey on Tuesday for a service celebrating the anniversary.

At the Epsom Downs course, the monarch, an

avid racing fan and a noted racehorse breeder, seemed in good spirits, while Prince Philip followed the action through binoculars.

The queen and her 91year-old husband were marking the actual anniversary day in a lowkey fashion at Windsor

Castle, west of London, where they regularly spend the weekend.

“They are spending the day privately,” a

Buckingham Palace spokeswoman told AFP. “The main focus is obviously on Tuesday’s service.” Queen Elizabeth

and Prince Philip will return to duty on Monday, attending a reception for the Royal National Institute for the Blind at St. James’s Palace in London.

Turkish PM blames opposition for protests P RIME Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Turkey’s main secular opposition party yesterday of stirring a wave of antigovernment protests, as

tens of thousands regrouped in Istanbul and Ankara after a lull and trouble flared again in the capital.

This came as thousands of people were on Sunday occupying Istanbul’s Taksim Square, the epicentre of the worst

demonstrations in a decade against Turkey’s Islamistrooted government which have seen almost 1,000 people detained and scores

Syrian rebels battle Hezbollah in Lebanon

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EZBOLLAH guerrillas fought a deadly battle with Syrian rebels in Lebanon’s eastern border region early yesterday security sources said, in the latest eruption of Syria’s conflict on Lebanese soil.

Sources said at least 12

rebels were killed in the fighting east of the Bekaa Valley town of Baalbek, but the toll would not be clear until bodies were retrieved from the remote and rugged border area. One Hezbollah fighter also died, they said.

Syria’s two-year-old conflict has increasingly sucked in its smaller neighbor, with deadly fighting shaking the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli and rockets hitting the Bekaa Valley and southern Beirut.

Shi’ite Muslim

Hezbollah, which supports President Bashar al-Assad, is fighting alongside his army to drive rebels from the Syrian border town of Qusair, while Lebanese Sunni Muslim fighters have joined the anti-Assad revolt.

wounded. Police used tear gas on protesters in Ankara but the clashes were relatively minor compared with major violence in Turkey’s biggest cities on the previous two days.

Calling the protesters “a few looters”, Erdogan said he would press ahead with redeveloping Istanbul’s Taksim Square, a project which provoked the demonstrations that have widened into a broader show of defiance against his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).

44— Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—45

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46—Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

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Poor quality leadership If anyone thinks the period between 2007 and today has been spent under poor quality leadership Obasanjo is the man behind it all. So, we must watch it when he endorses a candidate, and decide for ourselves if what he wants is what we also want.

What is not too clear yet is whether Lamido will challenge President Jonathan for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2015. House of Reps Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, has also been pussyfooting, goaded on by some northern leaders to run for president. He chose to attend a local event in Sokoto State on Democracy Day. The implications are obvious if Lamido and Tambuwal will contest with the president for the PDP ticket unless, of course, they would be joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and fight from there.

The Governors’ Forum election also exposed some PDP governors from the North, such as Dr. Babangida Aliyu of

Amaechi’s rebel war Niger, Admiral Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano (who is also said to be nursing a presidential ambition) and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State. They, along with Lamido, were the party rebels who, after endorsing Dr. Jonah Jang as PDP’s consensus candidate, switched to Amaechi, thus compromising their positions within the party.

Amaechi is engaged in a brazen rebellion against the president and the PDP. He has become the rallying point of PDP rebel governors and the governors of the opposition APC states. I have often wondered what he really hopes to achieve, after beating the president’s candidate in the Governors' Forum election. For the opposition APC, it is a telling gambit. They have made a great inroad into the PDP. Even if these PDP governors would not join their party, they have unsettled the unity of the ruling party with hopes of gaining more ground. They have won a tactical victory.

Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The president’s camp has also won an unlikely tactical victory. Though its candidate was defeated, the NGF has split into two, with president’s camp holding

,

HAT started like a rumour is now a confirmed conflict. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State and President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from nearby Bayelsa State, are locked in an “exhibition” fight towards the 2015 election year.

The recently concluded Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election which Amaechi won tells a lot of short stories.

For instance, it tells us that indeed, the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, is no longer in the president’s political camp. In fact, he went out of his way to organise an economic summit in his state as the Federal Government staged a classy mid-term Democracy Day in Abuja where it tendered its scorecard for public evaluation.

The Jigawa summit drew a number of people that should have been in Abuja, such as former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo openly said Lamido was the man who should be entrusted with the nation’s leadership. Based on his performance in his state, Lamido is, indeed, a fine material for the presidency.

But Obasanjo is not known for choosing or endorsing candidates in the national interest. His selfish interest is always ahead of every other consideration.

settled the hash of former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa. Chibuike Amaechi is an intelligent man. But he is not a wise man. He is action-packed, but he lacks self control. Power without control is nothing, an old Asian saying goes.

Amaechi has been overwhelmed by the arrogance of power and oil money and he fails to realise how preciously the people of the Niger Delta – and the South East for that matter – value Jonathan’s presidency.

Call it sentiment if you like, but it counts for a lot in Nigerian politics. I don’t see how the Niger Delta and South East will want to exchange Jonathan’s presidency for Chibuike Amaechi's vice presidency! I don’t see how the South-South will like to throw away a position they fought for nearly fifty years. When will they have it again? That is the sentiment Amaechi is going to run against.

Chibuike Amaechi is an intelligent man. But he is not a wise man. He is action-packed, but he lacks self control. Power without control is nothing, an old Asian saying goes. Amaechi has been overwhelmed by the arrogance of power and oil money and he fails to realise how preciously the people of the Niger Delta – and the South East for that matter – value Jonathan’s presidency

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the larger chunk. Secondly, the president, so early in the day, now knows who his enemies are, especially within the PDP fold. He can now deploy his counter measures. But for Amaechi, victory at the NGF polls is at best a pyrrhic one. From now till the day he leaves office, he will never know peace. Jonathan will chase him with venom. It is going to be a fratricidal war. William Shakespeare in Macbeth warned of such conflicts: “the nearer in blood, the nearer bloody”. Professor Jibril Aminu once told me of a Fulbe saying that translates thus: “Why should I harm you?

Am I your brother?”

The principle of contiguity and consanguinity applies closely to the relationship between Rivers and Bayelsa.

Jonathan’s Ijaw people inhabit both states.

In addition, most Bayelsa big shots still live primarily in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Strategically putting it, President Jonathan cannot afford to have the greatest threat to his re-election be from Rivers. He will likely fight Amaechi with the no-brakes vehemence with which he

When the PDP announced their decision to suspend him from their party, Amaechi called on the opposition and “youths” to defend “Rivers State”. As if harkening to the call, a feral Arewa critic of the Jonathan administration, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, pledged to go to Rivers State and “fight for Amaechi”.

I hope reason prevails in both camps. I hope this “war” does not start. We all need peace in Rivers State, just as we need it in every state. But should this “war” start, I look forward to seeing el Rufai actually in Rivers State with his daughters in person trading tackles. That would be a refreshing departure from the past when such individuals incited violence and ducked into the cozy confines of their opulent mansions while the children of impoverished Nigerians attacked one another. I hope the president maintains his usual, matured cool and avoids the counsel of warmongers. There are many ways a Nigerian president can get even and seemingly difficult matters taken care of.

OPINION

BY DANIEL ALAOWEI-GREEN *GENESIS THAT Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark is an enigma is an understatement. That many Nigerians are aware of his true pedigree and launch-pad is an overstatement.

A scion of the Clark family of Kiagbodo town in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Clark is a sibling of Professor John Pepper Clark, Ambassador Akporode Clark and Robert Clark, SAN. Diminutive but highly - assertive, Chief E. K. Clark strolled into national consciousness when he was appointed Commissioner for Education by the then Military Governor of the old Midwestern State, then Colonel Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia. In 1971, in a minor cabinet reshuffle, Chief Clark replaced Chief A. Y. Eke as the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development when the latter was appointed as the Federal Commissioner for Education.

As fate would have it, Chief Clark, himself, later served as the Federal Commissioner for Information.

He was briefly an elected Senator in the diarchy experiment foisted on the nation by the Ibrahim Babangida Administration. When the exercise collapsed on November 17, 1993, Clark virtually consigned himself to his Kiagbodo, Delta State country home neither appearing on the social nor the political circuit. *CLARK, A KING KONG?

E. K. Clark and the season of wolves The militancy in the Niger Delta creeks that had heightened at this period, gave the crucial fillip and platform to Chief Clark’s new-fangled ethnic nationalism as the champion of Ijaw Resurgence and Emancipation with an undertone of gaining state, sub-regional and national relevance. With an anchor in the Presidency, Clark has become the toast of position-seekers, influencepeddlers and political-jobbers while using the unwary militants as bargaining chips. He rattled and harassed ex-Governor James Ibori during his second tenure to no end and continued the process when Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan took over the reins of government in 2007 till date. The Boko Haram insurgency and the imbroglio over Jonathan’s eligibility to contest for a “second term” in 2015, has given the old man enough preoccupation of something to rail and rue about. *NEW TARGETS Time was when Elder Godsday Orubebe was the Acolytein-Chief, Crown Prince and heir apparent to the political (or ethnic?) conglomerate that was being assembled by the self-styled Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

Though his alchemy was/is hinged on the enthronement of ethnic hegemony anchored on myriads of gun-wielding militant groups and fiefdoms led by some leaders with

weird and awe-inducing names and nomenclatures like General Shoot-at-Sight, General Boyloaf etc. Chief Clark’s deft political calculations and stratagems needed the backing of some of these emerging centres of raw power and means of coercion to act his epic script.

Chief Clark’s self-serving ethnic jingoism and Machiavellian disposition towards the uplift of the Ijaw nationality is of recent occurrence and only bloomed within the last three years.

It is trite wisdom that since Orubebe has declared his intention to run for the office of the Governor of Delta State in 2015, it is generally-held that Chief Clark would have allowed the President’s political and media spin doctors to address the issue from the perspective of President Jonathan’s touted moratorium on the self-same political infraction allegedly committed by Elder Orubebe.

It is glaring that instead of being idle, Chief Clark has decided to throw stones into his own domain from the outside not caring whether innocent persons are hit in the process.

Continues tomorrow on pg 18 *Mr. Alaowei-Green, a political analyst, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—47

R

EALISING the importance of knowledge, skill acquisition and job creation, the Kano State government through its Kwankwasiya slogan is fighting ignorance, street begging and other vices through massive investment on education and critical infrastructure.

This writer was recently invited by the duo of Jafar Jafar and Baba Dantiye, Media Assistant and Director, Public Relations respectively to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State.

While still waiting inside the reception hall of the Government House, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his Deputy, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje strolled in. They were on their way to inspect some ongoing projects in the city. They asked a guest and myself to join the team on the inspection tour.

I must admit from the outset that I had close encounter with, and supported former Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau during his eight-year tenure. Due to that affinity, some aides and supporters of the current Governor Kwankwaso have often

challenged some of us to make sincere appraisal and comparisons of the two administrations in the state.

As the convoy moved from sites to sites, youths and the elderly, especially women, trooped out to hail the Governor. Apart from some newly established schools, we also visited sites of an ongoing megacity project aimed at decongesting the old city. The new city is spread in three estates: Kwankwasiya, Amana and Bandirawo with different types of residential accommodations with provision for schools, security posts, commercial and recreational centres. Other ongoing projects include: construction of dual carriage way complete with street lights; fly over bridges; rehabilitation of roads; modern trailer parks and the important independent power plant project which is expected to generate 35 MW of electricity from Challawa and Tiga Dams in Kano. Already the street and traffic lights in the metropolis have become functional through independently generated electricity without depending on PHCN. Rather than talking about past

RIGHT OF REPLY The perils of ‘Area Boy Diplomacy’

BY ADEKEYE ADEBAJO

I

NOTED with interest the response from Amedu Ogbole Ode, the spokesperson in the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (‘Nigeria’s Foreign Policy – in Decline or Robust?’, Vanguard, 13 and 14 May 2013; and The Guardian, May 15 and 16, 2013) to my article ‘Decline of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy’ (The Guardian, May 6, 2013).

It was Gabriel Olusanya, the former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA and former Ambassador to France, who coined the expression ‘area boy diplomacy’ to describe the country’s foreign policy under the autocracy of General Sani Abacha (19931998), as conducted by his often abrasive foreign minister, Tom Ikimi. The Foreign Ministry’s response to my critique of Nigeria’s current foreign policy follows a similar vein, and suggests that some of our national institutions still appear to suffer from the era of military rule in which honest disagreement is treated as high treason.

Debate and disagreement are surely the lifeblood of democratic discourse. Rather than engaging in sober, rational discussion, this vituperative response reflects a defensiveness unbefitting one of Africa’s finest diplomatic services. A critical 900word article should surely not be treated as a seditious 300-page book in a fit of paranoia in which the respondent plays the man and not the ball.

It is important to note that I started the article by praising Nigeria’s past and current foreign policy. I noted that the country played a leading role in the

,

administrations or accusing presumed political enemies for whatever excuses, Kwankwaso is so passionate about education projects in the state with new schools being established, and some created from abandoned structures.

The Governor traced the security problem in the country to ignorance and lack of proper knowledge of religious and moral injunctions. He said parents procreate in dozens as if they were meant for sale and abandon them to becoming almajiranci (destitute beggars) without provision for feeding, clothing and shelter, which he described as ‘un-Islamic.’ “We cannot continue to tolerate begging in our city. Never!” he declared matter-of-factly.

In an effort to discourage child beggars from the streets and ensure their return to schools, the

liberation of Southern Africa; its peacekeepers helped to calm two civil conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s; it was instrumental in building the institutions of the African Union, AU, after 2002; and it currently has peacekeepers deployed in Sudan’s Darfur region, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali.

There are, however, five important points that I made in my article which the Foreign Ministry spokesman has failed substantively to address.

First, I noted that Nigeria’s international voice has become muted. I cited two examples: The fact that Abuja failed to rally support to prevent South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma from assuming the Chair of the AU Commission last year despite its principled and, in my view, correct position that no representative of a large African power should occupy the post.

Mr. Ode’s assertion that “Nigeria did not contest any election with South Africa’s Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma” thus completely misses the point. The issue was not about Nigeria contesting for the position but rather its failure to use its diplomatic clout effectively in defence of a publicly stated principle. I also noted as another example of Nigeria’s loss of influence the way that the United Nations, UN, brushed aside Abuja’s objections to removing Ibrahim Gambari as Special Representative of the AU)/UN hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID), despite the country having the largest contingent in the field. The point was not about Gambari as an individual, but rather that the country could have pushed to have another Nigerian as Special Representative or even

,

BY YUSHAU SHUAIB

,

Kwankwasiya: Taming ignorance and begging in Kano

Rather than talking about past administrations , Kwankwaso is so passionate about education projects in the state with new schools being established

state has reintroduced free feeding, materials and uniforms for pupils in primary schools.

Schools for Quranic and Islamic studies are now established to incorporate Western education and skills acquisition. The curricula is designed in such a way that knowledge acquired would empower the participants and improve their standard of living spiritually and socially so that they could become useful to themselves and the society.

Related to this, the government has created rehabilitation centres for destitute where they could learn some skills rather than prostituting and constituting themselves into nuisance on the streets. The state is working on a law to ban the shameful act of begging anywhere in Kano.

Though the newly established North-West University has fulfilled NUC requirements and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, there are also various skill acquisition institutes for entrepreneurship development to empower people to be selfemployed. Some of the institutes include those deliberately designed for training on fishery, poultry, livestock, farming, filmmaking, and even sports, among others. The most impressive is the Kano Corporate Security Institute which graduates would replace tired but refused-to-retire security gatemen who are indeed very old.

The Foreign Ministry’s response to my critique suggests that some of our national institutions still appear to suffer from the era of military rule in which honest disagreement is treated as high treason

,

as Force Commander (a post held by Nigeria’s General Martin Luther Agwai between 2007 and 2009).

My second point was that Nigeria’s proud 50-year UN peacekeeping reputation has been badly damaged by the quality of its soldiers and equipment, with consistent complaints having emanated from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, DPKO. I would have thought that this would be an issue of great concern for the Foreign Ministry. Quoting public statements by the UN Secretary-General, Ban ki-Moon, praising Nigeria’s efforts to re-equip its troops still amounts to closing the stable-door after the horse has bolted.

We should not underestimate how much damage has already been done by this failure, and it will take much work to repair.

My third unanswered point is that South Africa has become a more strategic actor in global diplomacy than Nigeria, despite our country having impressively spearheaded support for the liberation of South Africa. Even though it has a population three times smaller than Nigeria’s, South Africa is the only African member of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS, economic grouping and the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, and remains the only African country out of 10 global strategic partners of the European Union, EU. These are

On Corporate Security Institute, the Governor said: “The initial idea is to ensure that we have professionally trained security personnel who are strong, healthy, mentally alert young men and women. We cannot continue to have old people doing the jobs while their children and grandchildren are jobless. We want to see indigenes of Kano well-dressed, proud in corporate security outfit doing their job professionally and earning decent living.”

While scholarships are provided to indigenes for foreign studies on specialised fields of medicine, engineering, piloting and other science-based education, the state is working to ensure that additional teaching hospitals could be provided for universities in the state. There is balance in gender representation in the scholarship scheme that encourages female-education, especially in the specialised field of paediatrics and gynaecology.

An average Northerner would rather prefer a female medical doctor to attend to the crucial medical needs of their wives.

On the source of funding, Governor Kwankwaso said the state relies on the Federation Account and its improved internally generated revenue, IGR, to fund the projects. *Mr. Shuaib, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Kofar Dukawuya, Kano City.

issues I would expect our Foreign Ministry to tackle head on rather than citing visits to Nigeria by foreign leaders from Germany, Brazil, Indonesia, Lebanon, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Britain. The fact that Nigeria’s Foreign Minister was also hosted by his American counterpart in Washington is of little consequence and does not really constitute an effective foreign policy. Unless diplomacy is reduced to state visits, bilateral agreements, and air-miles, these banal examples are neither concrete nor substantive achievements. We are, after all, not a banana republic that measures foreign policy success by state visits or agreements signed.

Mr. Ode also appears to have missed the nuance of my fourth point about the loss of influence in Nigeria’s foreign policy: the recent French-led military intervention into Mali. While I acknowledged that the elimination of the militant threat in northern Mali was in the interest of both Africa and the West, I was uncomfortable (as many Nigerians are) with Abuja applauding an old-style neo-colonial French intervention in its West African backyard. If the actions of Boko Haram constitutes the biggest threat to our national security, should we not be engaging in a proper debate on issues such as why some of our largest peacekeeping contingents are deployed in Sudan and Guinea-Bissau rather than Mali and Somalia where militant groups have reportedly trained, and formed alliances with Boko Haram?

My fifth and final unanswered point was that delays in Nigeria’s payment of its UN dues weakens its political credibility, even as it seeks to return to the UN Security Council next year. Any serious country would surely observe the simple rule of “no representation without taxation”. *Dr. Adekeye is executive director of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Cape Town, South Africa.

48 — Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

Why Urhobos are unhappy with the FG – Sen Ewherido SENATOR Pius Akpor Ewherido, erstwhile member of the Delta State House of Assembly and for one year, acting speaker of the House is presently vicechairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.

A philosophy graduate and lawyer, Ewherido has often not shied away from trudging the lonely path in the fight of ideas. It was as such no surprise that he took on the political establishment in Delta State in 2007 when he perceived a manipulation of the gubernatorial primaries of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Today, he is remarkably, the only Senator on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP. Ewherido's convictions even when isolated from the political establishment were not always lost among his people. In 2011 he was elected to the Senate ahead of the PDP candidate, Chief Ighoyota Amori, a patron of the Urhobo political establishment in a keenly fought election. On the heels of his recent 50th birthday anniversary last May, Senator Ewherido fielded questions on life’s lessons, his legislative experience, the loneliness of being the only DPP senator, and of course, the alleged isolation of the Urhobo nation from the Federal Government. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

W

HO was your political mentor, your political god-father?

I’ve never really had a political god-father since I started politics.

Who influenced you into politics?

My father influenced me. My father was very far from politics because my father was a trained teacher who later retired as a school principal. But I think his own experiences in life also taught him to build up his children in such a way that they will have choices that they preferred, not necessarily what he wanted. And he did a lot in terms of educating me on that freedom of choice. As young as when I was starting secondary school, my father had started cultivating the idea of giving me newspapers to read, and he did not only tell me to read them, he would ask me questions on the newspaper that I read.

Political intrigues When I eventually left secondary school, the first copy of Nicole Machiavelli’s book, The Prince that I read was my father’s copy. He gave me that book to read. He just said look ‘Pius, read this book, you don’t have to necessarily implement what is here, but read it again and again, you will understand political intrigues because the way I look at you, I think you will be interested in politics as it will teach you the political lessons that you will need for the rest of your political career.’

Have you implemented the principles from Machiavelli?

No, I have not, but if you read The Prince, one thing it does to you, is to tell you the possible

intrigues that can occur in politics. Even if you don’t implement them, you can scale the loopholes. I mentioned The Prince because it’s a world acclaimed book. If not there are many political books that he brought and gave to me to read.

You have been a legislator at the state and now at the federal level. What is the difference?

At the federal level is a more mature arrangement and the level of freedom and independence is higher at the federal level than at the state level. At the federal level it’s a different ball game. I am in the Senate for instance and it is a place with a lot of very mature minds and very experienced persons and there’s a limit to which you can push people of that level around.

So you agree that governors

dominate or oppress state legislators?

Clearly, you see, I have always said this, until you free the legislature from the financial apron strings of the executive, you can never have true democracy.

You are the only DPP member in the Senate. What is it like being the only senator on the platform of a party?

It’s an interesting experience, it’s not something I will recommend, but it’s an interesting experience.

Sometimes I joke and say “look, I am the chairman of the DPP caucus in the Senate;” people would ask me you are chairman under who? I will say look, since I’m alone I constitute both the chairmanship and membership of that caucus. But it’s an

*Ewherido: State legislative houses should be freed interesting experience, because it also gives room for some level of independent thinking. I believe in making the best out of a bad situation. When you say that I’m the only DPP senator, the view from outside is oh that’s a bad situation, but it’s also a challenge. I love the challenge in it, and by the special grace of God, by the end of my tenure, I’m sure that I will justify that challenge.

Sir there’s been a lot of outcry from your constituency about the perceived marginalisation of the Urhobo nation at the federal level. Do you agree?

Well as it is today, clearly we have no representation at the Federal Executive Council neither are the Urhobo people at the apex of any reasonable parastatal in this country right

now. Of course for a people, it’s a painful experience; and of course, any Urhobo man will clamour for a better arrangement that will guarantee his place in the Nigerian polity, and of course I can’t think differently or feel differently from the way my people feel. We have made several appeals and we have been told that the situation will be addressed.

I think that the situation should be addressed in the interest of our people because whether you like it or not, in Delta state, Urhobo people are the majority group. A situation where all the appointments that have gone to Delta don’t take the Urhobo people into consideration, that situation will not make them a happy people. And they voted Continues on page 49

Imo Governorship: What goes round comes round

WHAT was thought to have been a settled judicial matter concerning the governorship of Imo State may not really be over.

Tomorrow the Supreme Court rules on whether the erstwhile governor of the State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim can exploit a legal loophole to reclaim the crown he lost two years ago.

W

BY INNOCENT ANABA

HEN on April 14, 2007, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, cancelled the governorship election in Imo State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s candidate, Chief Martins Agbaso cried foul, as he felt short-changed.

Although he went ahead to participate in the rescheduled election held on April 28, 2007, he also went to court to challenge the cancellation after he lost the rescheduled election won by Ikedi Ohakim. Agbaso failed to upturn Ohakim’s victory, as he lost at the election tribunal and the regular courts. It was

held that it was out of place for someone, who took part in an election and lost to turn round to say that the organiser of the election did not have the powers to cancel and reschedule the elections.

Ohakim, then candidate of Peoples Progressive Alliance, PPA, though defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, later was the beneficiary of both the rescheduled elections and the various courts’ judgments on the matter.

But as fate would have it, Ohakim is in the position which Agbaso was some years back. In a somewhat similar circumstance, INEC declared the governorship election of April 26 2011 in Imo State inconclusive, hinging its position on the fact that there

were no elections in four local government areas namely Ohaji Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitoli and Ngor Okpala. INEC consequently conducted supplementary elections in four councils on May 6, 2011 and like Agbaso, Ohakim participated in the supplementary elections and also like Agbaso, he lost and cried foul just like Agbaso did then.

PDP, which went to the tribunal on behalf of Ohakim, argued that the supplementary election was illegal because it was held outside the 30 days stipulated by the constitution for the successor of an incumbent governor to be elected. It lost its argument and appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court were also dismissed. Strangely, rather than abide by the decision of the apex court, Ohakim, saw an opportunity to re-argue his case by applying to be joined as a party in a case filed by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN Continues on page 49

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 — 49

Imo Governorship: What goes round comes round Continues from page 48

and its governorship’s candidate in Imo, Chief Ifeanyi Ararume. Ohakim did not join the suit while it was before the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, which dismissed the suit by ruling that the issues raised were post election matters, which ought to have been taken to the election tribunal.

Despite objection to his application to be joined in the appeal, the Court of Appeal in its wisdom allowed Ohakim to join the appeal. Okorocha thereafter, challenged the discretion of the Court of Appeal to allow Ohakim challenge the judgment of the Federal High Court, which dismissed ACN’s and Ararume’s case. ACN and Ararume, dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, consequently appealed to the Court of Appeal, Owerri.

Election petition tribunal Opposing Ohakim’s application, Okorocha argued that Ohakim’s party, the PDP had earlier challenged the subject matter of the suit at the election petition tribunal and lost.

He argued that PDP challenged the decision of the election tribunal up to the Supreme Court and lost, further arguing that to allow Ohakim to challenge the lower court’s judgment on appeal was formulated to afford him the opportunity to pursue two remedies against the same infraction in two courts at the same time.

Okorocha formulated two issues for determination:Whether by the combined effect of S. 233(1), (2) and (7) of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended) and S. 133 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), as well as the relief sought at the lower court by Ohakim in

his appeal, the lower court has jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and grant the relief sought while not sitting as an election petition appellate court.

Secondly, whether the lower court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal by Ohakim, the subject matter and the relief sought having been heard and determined by the Supreme Court on March 2, 2012 in an election appeal No. SC/17/2012 PDP Vs Okorocha and others. However, in a preliminary objection, Ohakim through his legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN asked the apex court to dismiss the appeal.

He said that it was mandatory for Governor Okorocha to first seek and obtain the leave of either the Court of Appeal or the apex court before filing the case, being an appeal against the exercise of the lower court’s discretionary power. He argued that Okorocha failed to obtain the leave of either the Court of Appeal or that of the Supreme Court before filing the appeal.

He argued, “Being an appeal against the exercise of the lower court’s discretionary power, leave of either the said lower court or this court is mandatorily required before filing the appeal.”

Ohakim asked the apex court to dismiss the appeal.

The court, meanwhile is to determine whether a candidate, whose matter had already been heard and decided by the governorship election petitions tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court can reopen such a case and whether such a case constitutes an abuse of court process as the issue that was decided on by the tribunal and Court of Appeal are one and the same.

Why Urhobos are unhappy with the FG – Sen Ewherido Continues from page 48

overwhelmingly for Mr. President. Urhobo people had the highest vote in Delta for Mr. President. You know in politics, when people vote for you massively, they also expect commensurate rewards. So as a representative of the Urhobo people, I will continue to appeal to the federal government to remedy the situation and give our people befitting appointments that will bring down tension in the area.

What would you

describe as the major highlight of your 50 years on earth?

I want to thank God first that I survived up to this point because a lot of things happened in these my 50 years. There were things that would have turned my life around by way of even terminating my life, but God has preserved me.

But thank God, I’m still alive to be 50. I thank God for it. It’s not by my power, it’s by God’s power; and my prayer is that God should continue to preserve me.

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Anambra guber: Ubah to step down from Capital Oil for 2yrs

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & NKIRUKA NNOROM

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HAIRMAN of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, is to step down from running his Capital Oil and Gas Company under an agreement reached with Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, while he pursues his interest in politics.

The agreement, which takes off this week according to AMCON, will see Ubah out of the management of Capital Oil and Gas for the next two years, whether the billionaire businessman is successful in his gubernatorial pursuit or not.

Managing Director of AMCON, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, who disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard, said Ubah willingly agreed to the terms.

A senior associate of Ubah, contacted on the development, refused to comment on the issue.

Ubah is one of the prominent gubernatorial hopefuls in contention to succeed Governor Peter Obi who leaves office early next year. The election to succeed Obi is scheduled for the end of this year.

The agreement between AMCON and Ubah, according to Chike-Obi, is upon the indebtedness of the billionaire businessman to some banks. The debts were taken over by AMCON as part of its intervention.

“We told him to go and run for governorship, but

if you run for governor, you cannot run your company because we don’t want to be seen as sponsoring a governorship candidate. So he agreed,” Chike-Obi said.

“He’s gone to run for governorship. We have taken over the management of his company. We are going to appoint all the executive directors for his company and when he finishes, he can come back and discuss coming back to the company, but he can’t

do it for less than two years. So, we are not partisan,” he said.

On the full terms of the agreement with Ubah, Chike-Obi said: “We gave him two choices. We said to him, ‘We can’t tell you not to run, but you owe us a lot of money. So if you want to run, you will give up the management of the place or we prefer that you don’t run, but go and manage your company so that we get our money back.’”

Delta Attorney-General clears air on death penalty law

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

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S A B A — D E LTA State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN) said in Asaba, Delta State, weekend, that the Delta State Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Terrorism Bill, 2012, passed into law by the state House of Assembly on April 17, this year, by overriding of the veto of the governor, cannot take retroactive effect.

He said that the 60 persons were convicted for kidnapping/robbery by various courts in the state, assuring that his ministry had stepped up prosecution in that direction as well as other matters.

Ajuyah said: “It (antikidnapping law) took effect from the day the House exercised its power (overriding veto). You find that on the Bill, they specified the com-

mencement date. You know the law cannot take retroactive effect. You cannot pass the law now and punish somebody who committed the offence at that time that law was not in existence. It became law when the House exercised its powers.

“Let me make this clarification because of the nature of kidnapping, what it takes and the elements of the offence, we have always found it very convenient to charge suspects for kidnapping and also armed robbery because every kidnapping offence will involve the use of arms, parting with money and all such things. So we are careful.

“I will add that out of five kidnap cases we may have, it may be only one that we may find necessary to charge for kidnapping, depending on the facts of the case and the evidence we have."

Itsekiri in Edo task Oshiomhole on electoral promises

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—ITSEKIRI Oil and Gas Producing Communities of Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, have appealed to the state governor, Mr. Adams Oshimhole, not to renege on the election promises he made to them while campaigning in Ologbo for re-election.

They recalled that during the campaign, the governor promised to give them two positions of Special Advisers and

Special Assistants as well as the constitution of the Ossiomo River Waterways Security Committee, when he commenced his second term.

In a statement after a meeting of Itsekiri Oil and Gas Producing Communities at Ologbo, weekend, the communities lamented that as the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg, they had been deprived of their due benefits with nothing to show for oil and gas exploitation and exploration, while life threatening hazards

had been their lots.

“These naturally endowed communities with oil and gas as their main stay have over 25 oil wells spread across the length and breadth of Itsekiri communities in Ikpoba/Okha area of Edo State. They include Oziengbe and Oredo Flow stations where Pan Ocean Oil Company and National Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, are prospecting for oil and gas. These oil wells, from records, account for one of the reasons why Edo State is being classified as a Niger Delta state,” they said.

Wanyama, Mandela ready for Eagles showdown ivasha.

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ELTIC midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama and South Africa-based Brian Mandela have joined the national team Harambee Stars residential camp in Naivasha ahead of Wednesday ’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.

The two joined the team yesterday morning just in time for the first training session at the Oserian Complex in Na-

Harambee Stars’ head of delegation Hussein Terry said the arrival of the two has boosted morale in the camp.

He also confirmed that David Gateri and Arnold Origi have also joined camp though they are not eligible to play in the Wednesday fixture. Gateri, who is based in South Africa, is injured while Origi, Kenya’s number one goalkeeper is serving a one-match

Obisesan Continues from BP twice.

Obisesan was not the only beneficiary of the friendly weather and cheering crowd as quite a number of the other athletes also recorded their season’s best performances at the meet.

Obisesan’s new record which sent the former record of 61.75m to the athletics archives will only be ratified according to the AFN Technical Director Navy Commodore Omatseye Neisiama, once the necessary dope test is conducted.

Speaking with journalists after her feat, Obisesan gave thanks to God for helping her thus far even as she stated that she hopes to do more in the days ahead.

“I am very happy to achieve this and I know it only means I should work harder to get better results”.

Also reeling with excitement over the new record was the Sports Minister Mallam Abdullahi who told reporters that the NSC will work closely with the AFN to chart the way forward.

Keshi Continues from BP many before the Cup of Nations, and rated nowehere near the likes of Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana’s Black Stars, Keshi’s Eagles overcame an uninspiring start with focus and determination and swept to glory.

“We showed good stuff against Mexico despite missing a number of players and we will even be stronger in Nairobi. I am looking forward to three points on Wednesday,” Keshi said as the Nigeria delegation boarded the plane in Houston to fly back to Frankfurt, Germany at the weekend. He was clearly upbeat following his team’s gutsy 2-2 draw with the Central American champions in a prestigeous friendly on Friday .In Frankfurt, influential midfielders John Mikel

Obi and Fegor Ogude and Russia-based forward Ahmed Musa will join the squad for the flight to East Africa. The team is scheduled to fly aboard a Lufthansa Airline flight to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on Monday night, before connecting an Ethiopian Airline flight to Nairobi, arriving in the Kenyan capital in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Nigeria Football Federation has been working assiduously with the High Commission of Nigeria in Nairobi to monitor arrangements and possible schemes by the hosts, and an NFF advance party flew into the Kenyan capital on Sunday morning.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador Akin Oyateru, was scheduled to fly back into Nairobi on Sunday evening from official assignment abroad.

suspension after picking two consecutive yellow cards.

“Gateri is still nursing a groin injury and his presence with that of Origi has done wonders to lift morale in camp,” said Terry.

Terry has also thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for his gesture of promising cash incentives if Stars gun down the Super Eagles.

President Kenyatta has promised Sh3 million to the Stars if they win while Nairobi Senator Gideon ‘Sonko’ Mbuvi, has pledged Sh1 million for a win and Sh200,000 for each goal scored.

Elsewhere, CAF President Issa Hayatou is expected in Nairobi for the June 5 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi.

Kenyans Continues from BP and being at the bottom of Group F. The record shows that in 11 previous encounters at senior level, Nigeria have won nine and drawn two, with the Kenyans still searching for their first win against the Super Eagles.

Nigeria have scored 29 goals in those matches, against Kenya’s five.

Before their gutsy 1-1 draw with the Eagles in Calabar in March, Kenya had lost all five previous visits to Nigeria by three-goal margins.

Even at U-23 level, Nigeria overcame a 0-0 draw in Lagos against Kenya in a qualifying match for the 1996 Olympic Games, to post a 3-0 win in Mobassa and go on to win Africa’s firstever Olympic football gold.

On Sunday, Harambee Stars’ Belgian coach Amrouche said: “The morale in camp is motivating and every player is eager to wear the country ’s colours. I know it will not be an easy match, but we are determined to give the local fans an opportunity to enjoy and celebrate.”

Yet, Kenya have not won a qualifying match since beating Togo 2-1 in a Cup of Nations qualifier in February 2012.

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

52 —

D

'Did you watch the match?'

,

ID I watch the match? That is the question that came to me again and again, Saturday morning.

My ‘ yes’ answer was followed by ‘…what was the result?’ ‘How did we play?’

Of course I watched the match and I believe millions of Nigerians did (My brother Steve Ukpong rang by 2.15 am to find out the station that was airing the match) that is the passion, the sacrifice, that most Nigerians paid, banishing sleep to be able to see what I have always considered ‘…a mere friendly’.

Before the match, I had repeatedly said that that the Mexico Friendly was welcome since it was meant to prepare us for the crucial World Cup clash against Kenya in Kasarani, Nairobi. (I only pray that having to play that match in far away US and jetting down to Kenya thousands of miles away will not take a toll on the boys) Yes I was condemned to watch the match in the wake of the sudden withdrawals of key players, weakening the squad. Coach Keshi woke up last week to learn that Moses, Mikel, Kalu Uche and Reuben were not going to be available to him. Before then, Nations Cup highest goalscorer Emmmanuel Emenike, dogged by injury had been ruled out of his plans.

Handling a National team is a different cup of tea. Once invitations had been given out and negotiations concluded with clubs, except you had placed a player on a stand by, it becomes difficult calling up a replacement at short notice. Not only have players considered it an insult and an afterthought, others believe they are not psychologically prepared, while some clubs refuse such late requests. That was the fate of our national team gaffer as he faced not only a formidable foe in Mexico, but a test run of a crucial world cup qualifier fast forwarded by our participation in the FIFA Confederation Cup, a potential 8 matches in 29 days needing a surplus of players, even on stand by.

So, did I watch the match? Yes I did and intensely too. The first twenty five minutes confirmed my fears, that of lack of quality in the defense and midfield.

That period, Mexico would have buried us, thank God they did not. Burying us would have generated psychological implications going into the Kenya match. If we could not beat Mexico, then we should not lose either.

That period, Mexico would have buried us, thank God they did not. Burying us would have generated psychological implications going into the Kenya match. If we could not beat Mexico, then we should not lose either

,

As if they heard me, the boys started coming into the match with flashes of personal brilliance that were punctuated by the more experienced and compact Mexican side. The Hernandez goals that exposed our defense, the inability to take advantage of our numerical strength when Mexico were reduced to ten men are some of the issues Coach Keshi should be concerned with before Wednesday.

I will not attempt an individual assessment of the players for morale sake, but I can conveniently say that most of the boys on display did not display National team stuff, what I will call here “Super Eagles material”. To be in the national team you must be above a certain standard in terms of ability and capacity either as an individual or as a team player. Less than five players in that match scored above average.

For crying out loud, we are Champions of Africa, a pride that was nearly dented by Kenya but which we must hurriedly reclaim against same Kenya. I

have heard Mikel Obi will be available, that Ahmed Musa will be called up and the defense line? What about the absence of a leader in the line up, a role that Enyeama tried to play when he came in ?

I have ever had any doubts that we possess the wherewithal to dismiss Kenya bearing in mind that this is only the preliminary matches of the World Cup qualifiers as tougher African battles lie ahead.

I saw the match against Mexico and I am happy the match came along to expose us to the realities on the ground even as we face Kenya in a few hours and Namibia in a few days. Perhaps a victory against Mexico would have been deceptive, giving us a false impression of invincibility. Perhaps this draw will delight the Kenyans, believing we are beatable only for us to strike and before they know what hit them, we are on our way to Windhoek, Namibia…….

Okagbare's rising profile This was another sleepless night, Saturday as I stayed awake to see Blessing Okagbare dare a very ambitious field in Eugene to place second in an IAAF Diamond League event.

At a point, the powerfully built Nigerian thought she had come first, jumping for joy, but when the official result was released, her 10.75 seconds could only place her second behind two time Olympic 100 metres champion Shelley-Ann Fraser- Price who returned a time of 10.71 seconds, while Veronica Campbell Brown was third in a field that included Carmelia Jeter among others.

The Eugene meet also afforded me the opportunity of seeing Qatar’s London 2012 bronze medalist Mustaz Essa Barshim jump to a new Asian record of 2.40 metres. Now, the 21 year old is the hope of the world to erase Javier Sotomayor’s 2.45 metres high jump record set since 1993.

What about Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, yes Burundi who dusted all in 800 metres women with a world leading time of 1.56.72?

Okagbare’s recent successes transports me back to days of yore, when World Athletics was worth watching as Nigerians flooded the circuit. No more. I pray the recent successes of Okagbare will be well managed, advantage Nigeria.

See you next week.

Shocker: Bolt poses with cannabis T-shirts O

LYMPIC sprint king Usain Bolt was blasted by antidrugs campaigners last night — after apparently promoting the use of cannabis.

The 100m and 200m champ posed with clothes made by US firm The Pothead Diaries.

The star, who has admitted smoking dope when he was young, posted a picture of its Tshirts on his Instagram account. According to the Pothead website, the clothing range is a “collection to express your inner pothead”.

It adds: “Celebrate our love for the culture and our involvement in it.

Join us in getting involved with the evolution of cannabis apparel.” But the photo provoked a storm of contro-

versy last night, with even Bolt’s loyal fans attacking the 26-yearold Jamaican, famous for his Lightning pose.

One of his Instagram followers posted: “Don’t think you should broadcasting that. b smart.”

Lucy Rowe, of Skunk Sense, a charity for people affected by the class B drug, also criticised Bolt — a hero to millions.

She said: “I would hope that such a charismatic young man who is very much a role model for young people would have more common sense than to give free publicity to a company which so blatantly promotes cannabis use.”

Addiction specialist Mark Dempster claimed: “He’s using his position to promote

something that can cause not just addiction, but also create mental health problems for young people.”

In 2009 Bolt, worth £32million a year in sponsorship deals, admitted smoking dope as a youngster in Jamaica, but said it was no longer part of his lifestyle.

He said: “When you’re a child in Jamaica, you learn how to roll a joint. Everyone tried marijuana, including me, but I was really young.”

Bolt’s spokesman did not respond to requests for comment. Last night the photo was removed.

Potty ... Usain Bolt in web photo with Tshirts

Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013—53

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Vanguard, MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

Obisesan sets new national record in Ilorin

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Eagles vs Harambee Stars

Keshi turns to God N

IGERIA Coach Stephen Keshi says the African champions have God on their side and will pick up the three points at the end of Wednesday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Kenya in Nairobi.

The 51-year old’s troops surprised the continent by winning the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in February and Keshi believes the team still has divine support as they seek to reach the 2014 global showpiece in Brazil.

“I am not saying anything (about Wednesday’s match) except to say that God is working with us and we will be prepared for this match. The focus is there and we have the determination to get a good result.”

Discountenanced by Continues on Page 51

Kenyans turn to Roho Juu

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HEADER......Mexico’s Diego Reyes (left) heads the ball away from Sunday Mba, during the exhibition match at Reliant Stadium in Houston on May 31.

It ended 2-2. Photo: AFP

PUZZLE

Golden League Meet held at the Sports Complex of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The athletics friendly weather, coupled with the cheering crowd which included Honourable Minister of Sports and the Chairman of the National Sports Commission Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi worked in favour of Obisesan as she broke the national record Continues on Page 51

Kenya won't be easy — Keshi

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE, Houston

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OACH Steohen Keshi would not like to go into any controversy with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He has had enough since the Nations Cup victory. But one can infer that from his remarks and countenance after the 2-2 draw with Mexico here at the Reliant Stadium, that he is not happy with the arrangement of camping in Germany, flying long hours to Houston and then flying back to Germany for a few days and flying from there again to Kenya for this Wednesday’s FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars in Nairobi.

“It is not easy flying long hours to this game, flying long hours to Germany again and then leaving Germany to Kenya, arriving on Tuesday and then playing on Wednesday, not easy at all. It is not going to be easy in Kenya”, Keshi said.

His countenance portrayed some difficult moments for him, especially when the weather in Germany is freezing, despite the fact that it is summer time.

On the match against Mexico, Keshi said that at 2-1 and then playing against 10 men, “my boys thought that the game was over and did not play to wrap up the game. But it is one of those things that you learn from friendly matches. We will go back to analyze it and make amends where necessary”.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

ENYAN football commentators insist that blind optimism, or what is known as Roho Juu in Swahili, will keep the Harambee Stars going and their fans cheering at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Wednesday.

Football writer James Wokabi, writing in the twice-weekly Game Yetu! sports paper, remarked that Roho Juu means Kenyans still believe their Stars can progress to the deciding final fixture of the 2014 FIFA World Cup African series despite having earned only two points from three previous matches Continues on Page 51

EW national record holder in women hammer Queen Obisesan (Middle, in White) acknowledging cheers from the crowd which include the Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Falilat Ogunkoya A new national record of 63.79m in the Women’s Hammer event was set by Queen Obisesan over the weekend at the fourth leg of the SolidWorks/AFN

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Javelin (5) 9 Thoroughfare (6) 10 Placard (6) 11 Finished (5) 12 Cupid (4) 15 Family (4) 17 Relegated (7) 20 Cover (3) 21 Quilt (5) 23 Discharge (4) 25 Pour (4) 26 Dissuade (5) 28 Greeting (3) 30 Fall (7) 33 Saucy (4) 35 Loathe (4) 36 Map-book (5) 38 Rest (6) 39 Cashier (6) 40 Dulcet (5)

DOWN 1 Noted (5) 2 Broom (5) 3 Prosecute (3) 4 Wrote (6) 5 Top (4) 6 Wand (3) 7 Booth (5) 8 Splendid (5) 13 Get (7) 14 Compact (5) 16 Illness (7) 18 Cheated (5) 19 Wager (3) 22 Instruct (5) 24 Beverage (3) 27 Recount (6) 28 Asunder (5) 29 Burst (5) 31 Premature (5) 32 Disparage (5) 34 Mess (4) 36 Donkey (3) 37 Fixed (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: Rascal 5, Teeter 9, Macaw 10, Garret 11, Mended 12, Newer 14, Rift 17, Red 18, Fume 20, Dread 22, Woman 23, Brother 24, Reply 26, Tuned 29, Idle 30, Orb 32, Mere 33, Mined 35, Bridal 36, Roster 37, Revel 38, Needed 39, Tennis.

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Regard 2, Strife 3, Amen 4, Later 5, Tamed 6, Ewer 7, Tedium 8, Redden 13, Western 15, Irked 16, Table 16, Forum 19, Maker 21, Dry 22, Wet 24, Ribbon 25, Place 27, Neaten 28, Debris 30, Oiled 31, Beret 33, Mare 34, Dole.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-8944295. Advert Dept: 01-7924470; Hotline: 01-8737028; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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