Ese: Guilty officers'll be flushed out — POLICE

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62707

Lagos school girls' abduction: Negotiation delays victims' >11 release

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ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Mayhem in Ketu: Ambode slams curfew, shuts market >6

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Tambuwal orders investigation into abduction of 14-yr-old girl in >11 Sokoto

Ese: Guilty officers'll be flushed out — POLICE

By Samuel Oyadongha & Abdulsalam Muhammad

•As Bayelsa govt sets up medical team for freed Ese Oruru ANO — Following K the directive by the •We're relieved, says father Inspector General of

Police that the roles of police detectives and other senior officers involved in the abduction drama of Ese be investigated, the Police Service Commission, PSC , the body tasked with responsibility of punishing officers for offences, has said it will sanction those found wanting in the matter.

“The Police Service Commission will not hesitate to sanction any

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

UNILAG CONVOCATION—From Left: Prof Jerry Gana, Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, UNILAG; Dr Mrs Taiwo Folashade Ipaye, Registrar; Chancellor, His Royal Eminence, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai EL-Kanemi, Shehu of Borno; Prof Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; andProf Rahamon Bello,Vice Chancellor; at the 3rd day of 2014/2015 Convocation ceremonies of University of Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU .

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POCKET CARTOON relieved—Ese’s father

VISIT—Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (right); Ascanio Russo, Managing Director; Babatunde Keshinro, General Manager; both of Grimaldi Ports & Terminal Multiservices Ltd, during a courtesy visit to the Vice President, yesterday.

Ese: Guilty officers'll be flushed out — POLICE Police Officer no matter how highly placed, who is found culpable in the abduction saga of Ese Oruru, who was said to have been abducted and forced into marriage in Kano,” a statement by the commission said.

Cotinuing, the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Public Relations said: “The commission is waiting on the on-going investigation of some police officers on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, and will ensure that any police officer found to have compromised himself either by omission or commission in the saga will be flushed out.”

Commending the IGP for his swift action in rescuing the teenager

and ensuring that she was immediately reunited with her family, the PSC said it would work with the IGP to see that Nigerians, including the likes of Ese, were guaranteed their freedom to life.

Bayelsa govt sets up medical team for Ese

In Yenagoa,Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has revealed that a medical team, including psychologists and other experts, has been set up to support Ese Oruru on her road to recovery.

He made the revelation at a press conference held at the State House, after a closed door meeting with the Oruru

IT'S UP TO YOU

A

BY AYO ADIO

CHIEVING great goals requires a level of competence, such competence can only be developed by attaining a level of commitment.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness can exist only in acceptance— George Orwell

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HEN life takes you in a different direction from your expectations, it is okay to accept the change. Acceptance of an unpleasant state doesn’t mean you don’t have goals for the future. It just means you accept that certain things are beyond your control. The sadness, stress, or pain is there whether you like it or not. Better to embrace the feeling as it is. Nor does acceptance mean you have to like what’s happening. Acceptance doesn’t tell you what to do. What happens next, what you choose to do; that has to come out of your understanding.

The power to choose your next action is entirely up to you.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE It is with tact that you kill a tse-tse fly that has perched on the scrotum.

family.

The governor also commended the media and civil society groups for their “appropriate interests” in Ese Oruru.

He said the state go vernment would support Ese and the family in managing these trying times.

“I told the family that it could have been worse because their daughter may have disappeared forever,” he said.

He promised that adequate measures would be taken to ensure Ese’s welfare.

Dickson said: “This matter has to do with enforcement of the laws of the State. Everything has to be done to protect the girl-child, like Ese’s case has shown.

“This is not a religious matter, but the right of a young girl to grow up with her parents. I want to use the opportunity to assure all that the police and the directorate of public prosecution are working to ensure that this matter is pursued to its logical conclusions.

“There are questions begging for answers.

How come adults who see a minor in far away Kano did not deem it right to return such minor to the lawful custody of her parents?

“We want to know who could have saved this situation but did not. We have set up a team that includes psychologists and others. We are ready to support and stand by Ese, not just now but in the days, months and years ahead.”

Ese’s mum, Mrs. Rose Oruru, thanked the media and all Nigerians again for their support.

Ese’s parents later left the state government house in a black saloon car.

We are

Mr. Charles Oruru, father of Ese, yesterday, at his Opolo residence on the return of his daughter said: “I am very happy the storm is over. I thank God for her safe return and all Nigerians who made it possible for her return. I thank the commissioner of police, the NGOs, the media and other civil society groups.It had been a traumatic experience for us. I was like a fish out of water. I was not sleeping well. It was a real war for our family.”

On the health condition of his daughter he said: “Whatever you read in the newspaper is true.”

Ese and her parents had, in company of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Ogunyawo, and the Executive Director, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, KHAN, Kizito Andah, and some other personalities arrived Government House, where the minor was again shielded from the media by security operatives.

Bayelsa police CP temporarily relocates to mess The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunwayo, has literarily relocated his office to the officers mess, some distance away from the state police command.

This may be in connection with the present quartering of the rescued 14-year-old Ese Oruru in the highly fortified edifice.

Ese, who arrived Yenagoa, Wednesday night, in the company of her mother, Mrs Rose Oruru and security escorts, was driven to the complex where she is currently undergoing counselling as part of her rehabilitation programme.

Though journalists were denied access to the complex, her father, Mr. Charles Oruru, who doned a red and white T shirt, was sighted walking into the restaurant section of the mess from an adjoining room.

The parents of Ese, who were at the mess to keep their daughter company could not be reached on phone as their lines were switched off.

Ese’s Opolo residence calm as classmates speak Also,

the

Opolo

residence of the Orurus, which was besieged, yesterday, by an army of sympathisers, relations, friends and even Ese’s class mates, was relatively calm yesterday as she is yet to return home and reunite with her siblings.

But Patricia, Ese’s eldest sister, expressed gratitude that her sister and mother returned safely home, saying "we cannot wait to receive her back home, having been away for so long.”

Ese’s school mates were not left out in the frenzy of her coming back to Yenagoa as, according to Hattarh Ozikime, “ we are glad that she is back."

Ozikime said on Wednesday night: "I have known Ese for four years now, we became close friends because I wanted to learn mathematics from her and she wanted to learn science subjects from me.

"I was able to meet her mother, her brother and sisters and even knew her house and mother ’s shop. I felt sad when we heard the news of her abduction. I could not believe it. It was really difficult because I didn’t think such a thing could happen to Ese. The fact that she is coming back is a big relief for me and all our friends. We are waiting to receive her back and become best friends as usual."

Another of her class mates, Adama Miebimo, said: “I met her the first day we started school, I happened to share the same seat with her and from then, we became friends. She is very intelligent; her favourite subject is mathematics, English and Integrated Science. She wanted to concentrate on science subjects and said she would like to become a nurse in future.”

Mrs Arise Douye, her teacher said: “I thank God and also very thankful for all who followed this issue this far. "We are waiting to see her and we will embrace her and also do thanksgiving. As for me, I will go to my church on a special thanksgiving for her returning back.”

Police admit negligence in handling Ese's abduction

The Nigeria Police, yesterday, admitted poor hand ling of the abduction of Ese Oruru.

According to the force, the flawed handling of the issue was responsible for the delay in reuniting the teenager with her family.

The Zone 1 command of the force said it failed to follow up with the Sharia Commission in Kano, where the girl was taken in 2015.

Miss Oruru was taken without parental consent to Kano by Yunusa Dahiru, a regular customer of her mother, a food vendor.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zonal command, Shuaibu Gambo, said leaving the state Sharia commission to handle the case after the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, referred the matter to the command in August, complicated the situation.

“Indeed, the emir had sent a team of the Sharia commission members, Ese family and the abductor to our office in August, 2015.

“My predecessor, AIG Tambari Yabo, confirmed the receipt of the letter, as well as the team, from the monarch. But after meeting them, and realizing it was late, he directed that they come back the following morning.

“The following day, when the AIG didn’t see the Sharia commission officials and Ese family, he presumed that they had amicably settled the matter; because he was aware of the fact that Sharia commission had the ability to handle the case. But they had not done so.

“Given the benefit of hindsight, it is evident that there was a failure of communication as the delegation never returned with the girl for onward transportation to her family. And no further report of complaint whatsoever was received in respect of the case again."

6 —Vanguard, FRIDAY MARCH 4 , 2016

Olubadan coronation committee applauds Glo’s sponsorship

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HE coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba saliu Adetunji scheduled for today has received a boost as the next generation network, Globacom has been announced as the sponsor of the epoch making event.

Commenting on Globacom’s sponsorship of the historic occasion, the Chairman, Olubadan Coronation Reception Planning Committee, Prof.

Taoheed Adedoja noted that the company had again displayed its unalloyed commitment to the common good of the nation.

“We are delighted that Dr. Mike Adenuga has not forgotten his foundation which was laid in Ibadanland where he lived and schooled before he became an international brand. We appreciate his sense of belonging to the city of Ibadan and the tenacity of purpose which has marked him out as a true Nigerian in word and indeed,” Adedoja stated.

The coronation is scheduled to hold at the Oja’Ba Square and will be graced by traditional rulers, prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland, and captains of industry.

High point of Globacom’s sponsorship is the exclusive royal banquet organised in honour of the new monarch with eminent sons and daughters of Ibadanland in attendance.

The banquet will hold on Saturday, March 5 at the Ibadan Recreation Club.

Explaining the rationale for sponsoring the coronation ceremony, Globacom, in a statement, said that it remained proud of the cultural heritage of the Nigerian people from all the geo-political zones, adding that it was committed to promoting their cultures through robust support for celebrations of festivals and landmark events with strong traditional values.

The company also added that it was proud to associate with the legendary tradition of unity and stability which is the forte of the stool of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Oba Adetunji, who is the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland succeeds the late monarch, Oba Odulana Odugade, who joined his ancestors last December at the age of 101 years.

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MAYHEM IN KETU: Gov slams curfew, shuts market •100 suspects arrested

By Evelyn Usman, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Monsuru Olowoopejo & Angela Okpe

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AGOS—FIVE persons were yesterday reportedly killed and several others injured during an ethnic crisis which broke at Mile 12 market, along Ikorodu expressway , Lagos, between Hausa and Yoruba traders.

Several shops, two religious houses, including vehicles were also razed by the warring traders, with goods worth several millions of naira destroyed.

However the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said no life was lost .

The violent clash which lasted for hours, forced the state governor to shut down the market . He also placed restriction on movements in five streets where the fights escalated to.

Report had it that trouble started after a commercial motorcyclist of northern extraction knocked a female trader down and attempted to flee but he was apprehended and compelled to take the injured trader to the hospital.

The uproar, created a scene during which other motorcyclists from same region besieged the scene and insisted that the motorcyclists union took responsibility of the injured woman’s treatment, since the rider used to pay his daily dues to it.

This led to a verbal confrontation between motorcyclists and members of the Union, which degenerated into a fight during which members of the union who were Yorubas were reportedly over powered.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Chinedu said; “The union members, some of whom are also traders regrouped and stormed the market chanting war songs. They started attacking the abokis okada (Hausa commercial motorcyclists), who were at the section where they sold tomatoes, beans and pepper. In the process, several shops were burnt. ‘’Three Hausa traders who could not escape were said to have been manhandled.

In retaliation, they started calling their people from Ketu and other neighbouring markets. ‘’This place was a theater of war. Some customers were even injured, while innocent traders had their goods destroyed in the process”.

Another resident who identified himself as Busayo , disclosed that the fight started Wednesday night, adding that residents were forced to flee their homes when the hoodlums started setting houses ablaze.

The incident caused a hitch in the free flow of traffic as the fight spread to the Ketu end, with the warring factions taking over the expressway, smashing vehicles windscreens. Three corpses were said to have been deposited at the

morgue while two others littered both sides of the road.

One of the corpses was said to be that of a trader stabbed to death while escaping.

It took the efforts of the military, mobile and conventional policemen including those attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, to bring the situation under control.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu and other senior police officers were at the scene to stem the tide.

Govt shuts market

Consequently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos

State ordered the temporary closure of the market , as well as the restriction of movements on Oniyanri, Maidan, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2 streets.

Addressing Government House Correspondents at the Lagos House, Alausa, Governor Ambode explained that the decision to shut the market and restrict movements on the streets was to aid security agencies restore calm in the area.

He said “In order to further restore calm, I have ordered that Mile 12 Market be temporarily closed and urged traders, community leaders and other stakeholders to eschew violence; be calm and law abiding.Furthermore, I have also ordered a temporary

restriction of movement in the following streets; Oniyanri Street, Maidan Street, Agiliti 1 and Agiliti 2.

I have just been informed that some miscreants and criminal elements have exploited that dispute to cause a breakdown of law and order within the area. ''These types of clashes do occur from time to time in a multi-ethnic city like Lagos and government has responded appropriately.

“The public is hereby assured that we will not shy away from our responsibilities to protect lives and property and we will deal decisively with those criminal elements who fan the embers of ethnic strive”.

FLAG-OFF: From left: Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode exchanging pleasantries with Chairman, Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru, Executive Secretary of ETF, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, Commissioner for wealth Creation & Employment, and member, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, and Another member, Mr. Dele Martins, during the Inauguration of Employment Trust Fund by Governor at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

EFCC alleges Tarfa bribed another judge

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till March 15, for judgment in a N2.5billion fundamental human rights suit by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa, SAN, challenging his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Other defendants in the suit are EFCC chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, Moses Awolusi, who arrested Tarfa, and Deputy Director Operations, EFCC, Lagos office, Iliyasu Kwarbai.

Tarfe was arrested for alleged hiding two suspects, Nazaire Gnanhoue and Modeste Finagnon, both Beninoise, in his Mercedes Benz Sports Utility, thereby shielding them from arrest.

Trial judge in the matter is Justice Mohammed Idris.

Meanwhile, the EFCC, has further alleged that Tarfa,

allegedly paid another judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, N5.3million between June 27, 2012 and December 23, 2014.

The commission said it uncovered a “network of collaboration and illicit transfer of funds” between Tarfa, Justice Nganjiwa and Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who EFCC alleged Tarfa bribed with N225,000.

EFCC alleged Tarfa paid a total of N5,335,000 to Justice Nganjiwa’s personal account with Fidelity Bank Plc. It said Justice Nganjiwa then transferred N1.6million to Justice Yunusa through personal UBA Plc account, numbered 1005055617.

EFCC said it discovered that Justice Nganjiwa sent bank details of his company, Awa Ajia Nigeria Limited, to Tarfa, adding that the company was incorporated in 2006, with Access Bank Plc account number

0000971931.

The commission said Tarfa was a referee to Awa Ajia’s account, through which money was transferred to Justice Yunusa’s UBA account.

These allegations are contained in a counter-affidavit in opposition to a further and better affidavit sworn to by a lawyer Mohammed Awwal Yunusa in support of Tarfa’s suit.

At the hearing in the matter, yesterday, Tarfa’s counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, said EFCC goofed by stating that a lawyer’s bank account belongs to a judge.

He said the commission ought to admit its mistake when it discovered that it made a “fundamental error.”

“They should give in and apologise to the applicant,” Ayorinde said.

He said that EFCC was making “scandalous” allegations against judges instead of addressing the fundamental rights suit filed by Tarfa.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 — 7

UNILAG CONVOCATION: Buhari tasks varsities on research, technology

By Dayo Adesulu

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AGOS—IN the face of the current sharp drop in oil revenues, President Muhammadu Buhari has tasked universities to rise to the challenge of contributing their own quota to the efforts in diversifying the national economy

and creating opportunities for economic growth.

The President, who is the Visitor to University of Lagos, UNILAG, gave this charge yesterday in Lagos during the institution’s 48th convocation held at the Multipurpose Hall, Akoka, Lagos.

He said that universities must

create opportunities for social development, scientific and technological advancement that will engender economic growth and empower Nigerians.

The President also pledged to implement the over N500 billion allocated to the education sector by his administration in this year’s budget.

2016 AWO BIRTHDAY COMMEMORATIVE SYMPOSIUM: Awo Then and Now Politics , Economics and Education programme held at Efunyella hall Awolowo house Ikenne yesterday.

From left; Mr Remi Olatubora, representing Ondo State Gov; Dr Mrs Oby Ezekwesili; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Gov of Ogun State; Gov Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State; Prof Segun Gbadegesin, Amb Tokunboh Dosunmu-Awolowo and Prof Ladipo Adamolekun. Photo by Shola Oyelese.

OLUBADAN: Controversy as two c'ttees claim sponsorship

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—AS the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji will

be installed today, Friday, a heated argument has ensued between the Oyo State Government and a body which claims to be an advisory

We musn't stifle social media – MIMIKO

By Clifford Ndujihe

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NDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged politicians and governments in Nigeria and in Africa not to stifle the social media because it plays critical roles in governance.

According to him, a vibrant social media is one of the things needed to drive and sustain development in Africa, a continent he said must fasttrack her industrialization to address looming challenges. ‘’Although, politicians are at the receiving end of caustic attacks on the social media, we must resist the attempt to gag the social media. Already, the social media has opened up a plethora of opportunities for the younger generation, who have embraced it whole heartedly, using social media to have their voice heard and their products seen globally. ''We must not hinder such opportunities through bills as the Social Media Bill, we risk C M Y K

alienating a significant part of our population by stifling their rights to express their views and challenge conventional wisdom. ''Rather, our focus should be on supporting the vibrant social media now evident in Nigeria and empower the youth to use the social media in the most effective and responsible manner.,’’ he said.

Mimiko made the appeal, yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the Africa Business Conference, 2016, organized by the Lagos Business School, Lagos.

The address was titled, Africa Rising: Leveraging the Power of a Younger Generation.’’

Stressing the need for African countries to pursue industrialization vigorously, especially in the face of dwindling and crashing prices of primary produce and commodities, he said leaders of the continent must not go to sleep because of predictions of future stability and economic advantages.

committee to the Olubadandesignate over the sponsorship of the coronation ceremony.

This came just as the state government declared a public holiday in the state as a mark of honour for the monarch.

While the state government recognises the committee led by High Chief Lekan Balogun, the anonymous group is claiming the sponsorship, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the governor, Mr. Yomi Layinka has said there is no corporate organisation sponsoring the epoch-making event.

Vanguard gathered that some of the posters, leaflets and bill boards bearing names of some corporate organisations had been destroyed because they were not channelled through the appropriate quarters.

The unrecognised committee was said to have sealed agreement with some corporate organisations without the approval of the state government.'

While making the clarification yesterday, Layinka noted that the coronation committee which comprises representatives from the Olubadan-in-council; Iyalode line and Olubadan designate’s younger brother, Alhaji Ambali Adetunji, is the only recognized body vested with the preparation for the coronation.

Buhari, whose speech was delivered by the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie said: “In the face of the decreased oil revenues, universities must, more than ever before, rise to the challenge of diversifying the national economy.”

This, the universities can achieve, according to him, by evolving other means of supplementing what they receive as allocations and grants from government.

“Research grants, proceeds from product patents and discoveries and other internally generated revenue brighten this prospect,” he explained.

He enjoined universities to be more responsive to their immediate society, while also insisting that the private sector must solicit the services of universities to help them in product development and service delivery.

The grand finale of the 2015 convocation ceremony held at the Multipurpose Hall, Akoka was the installation of Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai ElKanemi as the Seventh Chancellor of the University of Lagos. After the administration of oath in this regard by Professor Julius Okojie, on behalf of President Mohammadu Buhari, the new Chancellor was presented with a scroll containing the law of the University of Lagos.

In his acceptance speech, ElKanemi said:”I stand here before this distinguished gathering to accept with humility and deep sense of history to be installed as the Chancellor of this great University.”

The Chancellor who was visibly elated with the offer said that he was proud to identify with the academic achievements UNILAG had recorded over the years. “I very much share the vision and mission behind establishing the University and happy to be its Seventh Chancellor and preside over this convocation ceremony,” he said.

He assured Buhari, that he will be committed and dedicated to achieve the objectives for which the University was established. He also urged all stakeholders of the institution to continue to collectively promote and sustain the cherished values and acquisition of knowledge and skills which the University is noted for over the years.

The Chancellor who appealed for stakeholders’ continuous and unrelenting support, called for their cooperation in helping the University pursue all its academic programmes peacefully.

He said: “With our collective resolve and support, I am sure that this university would keep standing for the present and future generations and meet its mandate as envisioned by its founding fathers by continuously providing the much-needed leadership and manpower requirements of the nation for many years to come.”

Nonagenarian, teenager to benefit from Mrs Fayose’s programme

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HE wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose has promised to assist a 15-yearold boy, Henry Ayodele who is gifted in artistry and painting when finally reintegrated into the society., Mrs Fayose equally pledged to assist a 90-yearold Pa Lawrence Adebayo , an inmate of Ekiti State Social Intervention Centre,Ado Ekiti to have a healthy life.

The state government could not trace any of the families of the duo, nor the particular towns where they hail from.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while donating food items and beverages to inmates of Ekiti State Children Correctional Centre and Ekiti State Social Intervention Centre.

The governor's wife who was apparently moved by the ordeals being faced by two of them, especially Ayodeji, pledged to assisting him to take to an art that he would be making a living.

She, however, urged mothers to sow the words and fear of God into the lives of their children and wards for them to live up to their responsibilities expected as mothers.

WOMEN’S DAY: Group urges FG to celebrate women

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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N line with celebrating International Women’s Day coming Tuesday, the President of West African Women Association (WAWA), Dr. Beatrice Ubeku, has called on the federal government to celebrate women who have done well.

Speaking in Lagos, Ubeku explained that WAMA and the World Economic Power Chamber of Commerce (WEPCCOM) would tackle gender imbalance in the country in line with celebrating women in Africa.

“The Nigeria government should support the celebration of women who have done very well. And that is what we at WAWA and WEPCCOM want to do on March 8 in Abuja. We want to celebrate women in Africa.

We are going to showcase our women,” she said.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

I'm ready for trial to clear my name, but...

—Dasuki Accuses FG of denying him access to lawyers A

BUJA—FORMER National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), has restated his desire to have free access to his lawyers to enable him defend himself and clear allegations on the criminal charges of unlawful possession of fire arms brought against him by the Federal Government.

Dasuki told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the Federal Government no longer had moral and legal rights to continue his trial, having disobeyed the order of bail granted him since November 3, 2015.

According to his counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), Dasuki premised his prayer on the fact that the government was in contempt of the court in relation to the charges filed against him.

Daudu, while arguing the motion, claimed that since November 3, 2015, when his client was re-arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, after perfecting the bail conditions, he had since been held in custody without trial or reasons made known to him.

The counsel insisted that the order that admitted Dasuki to bail remained valid, having not been reviewed or set aside by the court, and, as such, must be obeyed in the interest of justice.

He claimed that his client could not be lawfully prosecuted by government because his right to prepare adequately for his defence, as enshrined in the bail and the constitution, had been violated, having been kept away from his lawyers.

The counsel also stated that Section 36 of the 1999 constitution presumed his client innocent until guilt had been established against him.

He noted that for now, the provision of the law had been turned upside down by his rearrest without trial since last year.

He said: “We must state here that since his re-arrest at the Kuje Prison after perfecting his bail condition, we have not been allowed access to him. We are at the crossroads and only the court can right the wrong in this matter so that the defendant will have time and facilities to defend himself.

“Investors are watching the court and the situation, especially where government is choosing to disobey a lawful court. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and we must not send a wrong signal to the outside world that we have no regard for the rule of law."

He, therefore, urged the court to prohibit the trial of Dasuki until government did the needful.

However, in his opposition to the application, counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), urged the court not to grant the application because its purpose was to frustrate the trial and restrain the power to

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prosecute a criminal charge.

Okpeseyi claimed that the bail granted the defendant did not prohibit his re-arrest in connection with any other matter.

Okpeseyi also claimed that no

material was placed before the court to show that the government violated the bail order and that there was also no evidence that government was preventing him from defending himself.

Okpeseyi argued that merely looking at Dasuki was an indication that he looked clean, fresh and well-catered for in the custody He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the application.

DOCKED: Former Special Assistant on Land to the immediate past FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Mr. Husani Badeggi, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the FCT High Court, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

We're not owing FG —PTML

By Godwin Oritse

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AGOS— Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited, PTML, yesterday, denied owing the Federal Government any fees, charges or rental.

In a reaction to Vanguard's story on Monday, PTML said it was not indebted to the Federal Government or the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, in the stated amount or in any sum at all.

PTML said it was not a chronic debtor that was contributing to the economic adversity of the country, adding that the company was managed by responsible managers and was credit worthy.

Vanguard had said that Terminal operators in Nigeria were currently indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of $433.4 million, about N86.2 billion, for lease and container throughput fees as at December 2015.

But most of the terminal operators, when contacted, said they were up to date with their payments to NPA. According to Vanguard earlier report, “speaking in defence of Intels, Mr. Sambol Isidore said he was not aware of any indebtedness of Intels to NPA, adding that if anybody was owing, it will be

NPA that would be indebted to Intels.

“As far as our records show, NPA owes us a lot, we have a lot to reconcile with NPA, because I cannot believe that Intels is operating somewhere and is owing lease fee.

“Throughput fee is calculated based on volumes and that was why we kept talking about oil and gas cargo. When they give the lease, assumptions are made over the period of the lease and if all things go well, the accruable lease fees can be calculated."

Also speaking on behalf of Intels, its external media consultant, Mr. Emmanuel Ugorji, said the firm was up to date with payment to NPA as at December 2015, adding that $210 million was paid to NPA last year and that if anything was being owed, it will be for January this year.

He said: “We keep talking about oil and gas cargo, that was the point we were making. Our terminal is for oil and gas. If we do not have the throughput coming into ports, how do we make the money to pay NPA? Speaking in defence of Ecomarine, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke said the firm had paid all its dues to NPA, explaining that the

Compliance and Monitoring Committee from the NPA commended them for being up to date with their payment.

When Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, was contacted for comments, he was said to be out of the country.

Sheriff appoints Amori, others special advisers

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA— NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has appointed Senator Ighoyota Amori as his Special Adviser on Reconciliation and Conflict Management.

In a series of appointments approved by the national leadership of the party, Wednesday, Chief Uche Nnaji was appointed the Political Adviser to the National Chairman, while Senator Saidu Umar Kumo is the Special Adviser on National Assembly Relations.

A statement signed by Prof. Adewale Oladipo, National Secretary of the party, stated that “the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also approved the appointment of Inusa Mohammed as Principal Secretary to the National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff.

The appointments, which take immediate effect, bring to six, the number of appointments made by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff since he took over as chairman of the party.

He had earlier appointed Inuwa Bwala as his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity and Shettima Shehu as Special Assistant on Special Duties.

Alleged N3.9bn fraud: Court shifts Badeh’s arraignment to March 7

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA— THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has deferred till March 7, the arraignment of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was accused of diverting over N3.9 billion from accounts of the Nigerian Air Force.

The court had earlier fixed, yesterday, for Badeh to enter his plea to the10-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

However, the case could

not proceed as scheduled due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Abang Okon, who was said to have travelled out of jurisdiction.

The court has nonetheless communicated the new trial date to all the parties.

In the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/ 46/2016, the EFCC alleged that the former defence chief used the looted funds to purchase choice property within the highbrow areas in Abuja.

The commission equally cited a firm, Iyalikam Nigerian Limited, as the second defendant in the charge bordering on money laundering, corruption and criminal breach of trust.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—9

NNPC returns to profitability July, says Kachikwu Corporation to be unbundled into 35 companies

By Michael Eboh & Grace Udofia

A

BUJA — THE Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday, disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, would return to profitability by July 2016, the first time the company would be making profit in 15 years.

Speaking at the Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum, organized by the Society of Petroleum Explorationists, SPE, Nigeria Council, in Abuja, Kachikwu also stated that within the next one week, the overhaul of the NNPC would commence, which would see the NNPC unbundled into about five companies, while the sub-sets of the NNPC would be unbundled into about 30 companies.

Kachikwu noted that over an average of six to seven months, the NNPC had been able to move from an average loss position of N160 billion every months, but by January 2016, the loss had dropped to N3 billion.

According to him, the corporation is moving in a direction now where by June, July, for the first time in about 15 years, it will be profitable.

He said: “I am happy that we are getting the cooperation of everybody within the system, that is the only way we can guarantee work for those who work there and career paths that are sustainable.”

Kachikwu, who is the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, maintained that the expected return to profitability would be just a tip of the iceberg, noting that when the NNPC and its subsidiaries were unbundled and when the more than 30 companies come on stream with their own managing directors, the country would be able to compete effectively in the global oil industry.

He said: “That is just a tip of the iceberg because by the time these 30 companies are unbundled and the Managing Directors will set programmes, you are going to meet us in an active world. It means we are all going to compete, we are going to make these things work.”

He explained that the overhaul of the NNPC and its subsidiaries, which would be the first in about 20 years, would eliminate titles such as ‘Group Executive Directors’ and replace them with chief executive officers and other people who were expected to take responsibility for their titles.

Benchmark to cut capital expenditure

Kachikwu also disclosed that the Federal Government and the NNPC were concerned about issues of financing and cost and had set a benchmark to cut capital expenditure (CAPEX) by 30 per

cent and operating expenditure (OPEX) by 20 per cent.

He said: “We are achieving those in some areas, in some areas we are not. But at the end of this year, as we get into being able to raise the finances abroad, the sheer reality of oil industry competition would force down those prices. Because the reality is that if you are not able to bring a barrel of oil at a competitive price into the market place, you

are dead on arrival.

Unfortunately also, the market is becoming very much challenged.”

Speaking in the same vein, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, promised that the National Assembly would expedite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Dogara, who was represented by the Chairman, House

Committee on Gas Resources, Mr. Agbedi Frederick, said the passage of the PIB would enhance the restructuring and deregulation of the downstream sector.

According to him, the PIB will enhance competition in all segments, including open access to the pipeline as well as providing a robust tariff mechanism for all players.

N676m job scam: Court grants Moro bail on selfrecognition Orders co-defendants to deposit N100m, produce 2 sureties

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

VISIT: From left; Deputy Editor, Vanguard newspapers, Mr Eze Anaba; Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu; Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, and Personal Assistant to the minister, Razaq Olubodun, during a visit to Vanguard newspapers, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

2016 budget to be passed March 17 —Appropriation c’ttees May retain $38 per barrel benchmark Meet Kachikwu, Finance, Budget & National Planning Ministers today

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE National Assembly Joint Committees on Appropriation, yesterday, assured that the report of the 2016 budget would be laid in the two houses on March 16 this year and passed the following day.

The Joint Committees will also interface with the Ministers of Finance and Budget and National Planning, Kemi Adeosun and Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as well as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Ibe

Kachukwu, today, to reconcile some differences in the budget document.

Also, Vanguard reliably gathered that the Appropriation Committees may retain the $38 per barrel benchmark, considering assurances by stakeholders that the global oil price would appreciate to $45 per barrel within the fiscal year.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, both chairmen of the two legislative chambers, Senator Danjuma Goje and Abdulmumini Jibrin, said the various committees of the two houses had submitted their reports to the appropriation committees, while the two chambers had also done the harmonisation of the budget reports.

They said the meeting today was to engage the executive

and the relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that all grey areas were sorted out to ensure that the budget to be passed will be implementable.

They further assured that they would produce a budget that would make life better for Nigerians.

The budget passage was postponed earlier by the National Assembly due to discrepancies inherent in the budget.

Meanwhile, reliable sources within the committees told Vanguard that though there was apprehension that $38 benchmark, opon which the budget was predicated, was not realisable going by the drop in the oil price, the joint committees decided to retain the benchmark because of the assurances in several meetings with the Minister of Petroleum that the price will soon go up to $45 per barrel.

BUJA — THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail on selfrecognition to former Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who is facing trial over alleged complicity in a N676 million job recruitment scam that led to the death of no fewer than 20 persons across the country.

The court, however, seized the International passport of the ex-minister, who is answering to an 11-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, filed against him.

Justice Anwuli Chikere, who delivered the ruling, granted Moro’s co-defendants, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel-Nwobia, who was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior when the alleged fraud was committed, and a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. F. O Alayebami, bail to the tune of N100 million each.

The duo were also directed to produce one surety each in like sum, who must not be below the level of a Director in either federal or state employment.

The sureties must not only tender a letter confirming their employment, but also depose to an affidavit of means before the court.

They are to also surrender the title deed of their property in any part of the country as well as two of their recent passport photographs.

Whereas the 3rd defendant, Alayebami, is to remain in Kuje prison, pending the perfection of his bail, Justice Chikere held that the second defendant, Mrs. DanielNwobia, who is a nursing mother, should remain on administrative bail until she perfected the conditions.

Justice Chikere maintained that the EFCC failed to adduce valid reasons the defendants should not be released on bail.

The Judge said the essence of bail was to ensure the attendance of a defendant to face trial, saying accused persons are not to remain in prison on the basis of mere allegations.

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

LASSA FEVER: Ebonyi confirms 3 deaths, 49 treated

By Peter Okutu

E

BONYI State Government has declared a state of emergency on Lassa Fever, as the disease has claimed three lives from five confirmed cases recorded, while 49 suspected cases were successfully treated.

The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Bernard Odo, who disclosed this yesterday in Abakaliki, said measures have been put in place to checkmate its spread, especially in the rural areas of the state.

Meanwhile, an indigene of the state, Dr. Ogboji Aaron, was last month reportedly killed by the disease while performing his one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps in Kaduna State.

Professor Odo said the state government would, within weeks, stop the spread of the disease with intensive media campaigns, public enlightenment and immediate treatment of every suspected case.

He stated that the state government had begun immediate construction of a diagnostic centre, which would be completed within three weeks and that relevant drugs, equipment and personnel for the centre would be put in place.

Odo said: “Before now, samples were taken to Edo State for tests, but the state governor has directed that we build a centre here at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, and work has already started on the building. “ In fact work is going on there day and night and it should be ready in three weeks time.”

Man steals from church offering box

By Evelyn Usman

A

member of Saint Peter's Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos, has been arrested for allegedly stealing money from the church’s offering box.

The suspect, identified simply as Kingsley, was apprehended by the church’s private guards Tuesday and N5,000, which he allegedly stole, recovered from him. Preliminary investigation showed that Kingsley had earlier been arrested for same

I need to provide for pregnant wife—SUSPECT offence.

He had gone to church on Tuesday for the regular morning mass.

While other worshippers left after the service, Kingsley stayed behind, waiting for all to go, pretending to be having personal prayer time.

Thereafter, he reportedly went to where the offering box was kept, brought out a glue-coated stick and dipped it inside the

offering box. When he pulled it out, some money got stuck to the stick.

On his way out of the chapel, one of the private security men, who saw him taking the money, searched him and recovered N5,000.

He was subsequently taken to the parish priest, who directed that he should be released on compassionate grounds.

Arrested

However, on getting home, Vanguard gathered an argument over his misdemeanour ensued between him and his wife. He then beat his wife.

The assault on his wife was reported at the Ejigbo Police Division and he was arrested.

During investigation, the suspect blamed his conduct on his inability to take care of his pregnant wife.

15 die in Ondo road disaster

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—NO fewer than 15 persons were roasted alive in an auto crash involving three vehicles, yesterday, along Akure-Owo Expressway in Ondo State, as other motorists watched helplessly.

Four persons, who reportedly survived, were admitted at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owo. Eyewitness account said the accident occurred at about 2p.m., between Amurin and Uso in Owo Local Government area of the state. The vehicles involved are a bus marked FG 357BOT, a Toyota Siena marked LSR 163, and another Toyota Previa bus, whose number plates had fallen off.

Two of the vehicles reportedly had a head-on collision after one of the drivers overtook the other at a sharp bend.

The third car, which was speeding, was said to have rammed into the two vehicles and an explosion reportedly occurred in which the victims were roasted alive.

An unconfirmed report said that the casualties may have been caused by the explosion of some jerry cans containing petrol that were inside the commercial bus.

Vanguard gathered that officials of the state’s fire service and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who raced to the scene, rescued four persons.

BURNING: Scene of the accident, yesterday.

23-yr-old arrested for burgling supermarket with axe

By Esther Onyegbula

O From left— Commander, Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, RRS, ACP Olatunji Disu; Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, and other officers during a visit to the scene of a clash between members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Oshodi.

FFICERS of Lagos State Police Command arrested a member of a two-man gang that broke into a supermarket, with the suspect saying his partner-in-crime’s girlfriend, who works in the supermarket, helped them.

According to the suspect, 23-

year-old Muhamadu Mohamend, “I am from Niger State. It was my friend, Mike’s idea that we rob the place. His girlfriend, who works in the supermarket, was the one that gave him a target.”

It was gathered that the gang stormed a supermarket located around Ilupeju area of Lagos at about 4a.m. with an axe.

According to Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, “the swift response of the police to the scene of the robbery led to the arrest of one of the suspects.

“Although the other escaped, officers recovered all the stolen items and the axe with which they broke into the supermarket.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—11

Lagos schoolgirls' abduction: Negotiation over ransom ongoing Abductors want N10m, school offers N2m

By Evelyn Usman, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Ebun Sessou, Bose Adelaja & Josephine Agbonkhese

L

AGOS—TENSION is still mounting at Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos, following the delay in the release of the three Senior Secondary School girls abducted by gunmen Tuesday night.

This is just as one of the girls was said to have fallen ill in the kidnappers’ den.

Vanguard gathered that an accord on their release was reached between the negotiating parties at the early hours of yesterday. But at 5p.m., there was reportedly no news from the kidnappers on where the students would be picked, owing to disagreement over ransom.

Sources hinted that the ransom was reduced to N10 million by the kidnappers, while the school was pleading with N2 million.

Reliable security sources said

operatives already had leads on the abducted students, but were being mindful of the students’ lives.

Meanwhile, the incident was said to have thrown villagers around the school into panic, with the traditional head, known as Baale of Lugbusi, Chief Michael Omoloju, saying “the school needs a better and effective security.

“They should employ security officials to man the place on a 24-hour basis. We have called on our subjects to be vigilant and report any strange movement to government.”

The villagers have started scrutinising visitors, following reports that some of the kidnappers visited the villages before the abduction.

Lagos Speaker

Reacting to the abduction, Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has condemned in strong terms the inadequacies of security agencies, saying there was need for the creation of state police.

As Lagos Assembly makes case for state police Other members also took turns to condemn the incident, saying if Federal Government allows creation of state police, crimes will be minimised.

Raising the issue Under Matters of Urgent Public Importance during plenary, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, called on the state government to beef up security.

APC reacts

The Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, called for the immediate release of the three kidnapped students, calling on all security agencies to ensure no stone is left unturned in rescuing them alive and arresting the perpetrators.

The party, through the

Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, condemned the kidnap, describing it as callous and inhuman, carried out by criminals who wanted to test the resolve of the present state government to drastically reduce criminality in the state.

He said the act was an attempt to liberalise crime in Lagos, adding that the state is capable of taking on the challenge.

It, therefore, urged the state government to spare nothing to rescue the girls and ensure such acts are not repeated in the future.

WARDC blames insecurity

Against the backdrop of the abduction, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, has said that

insecurity is one of the reasons Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children globally, with about 10.1 million children, who are supposed to be in basic education, not being in school.

In a statement in Lagos yesterday, the Founding Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, described the abduction of three female students as despicable, adding that it highlights a broader problem of safety and security of schools and has a huge impact on the right to education.

She said to forestall a repetition, a minimum standard guideline for safe and secure schools be developed, and a security audit of all public and private schools in Lagos State be undertaken.

Tambuwal orders investigation into abduction of 14-yr-old girl in Sokoto

By Emma Nnadozie, Jimoh Babatunde & Peter Duru

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OVERNOR Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has directed the state’s Human Rights Commission to wade into the alleged abduction of a 14-year-old Miss Patience Paul, on August 12, 2015.

This came as Pan-Idoma group, Opiatoha K ‘Idoma, yesterday, pleaded with the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Inspector General, Solomon Arase, to intervene and ensure the girl was released without delay.

The governor’s directive came against the backdrop of reports of forcible abduction of the Benue-born girl, who was alleged to be held in the palace of the Sultan.

The governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the commission should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and report to him.

The statement read: “On the case of alleged forceful abduction/forceful conversion of 15-year-old Patience Paul from Benue State, in Sokoto State, I wish to make the following statement.

“On Wednesday, March

2, Governor Aminu Tambuwal directed the state Human Rights Commission to undertake a thorough investigation into the allegations and report same to the government.

“In the interim, the Human Rights Commission was asked to present an interim report and update the public with all information as it becomes available.

“In the first 24 hours, the Commission has contacted the Sultanate Council and the state police command for a briefing.

“The Commission has also spoken to the state Hisbah Commission, as well as the person whose phone number was given in the initial allegation made online.

“Despite efforts, however, the Rights Commission has been unable to contact the family of Patience Paul or anyone who will shed more light on the allegations.

“It has now opened a public plea, urging Ms Paul’s family or representatives to contact it for a detailed briefing.”

Idoma group

Meanwhile, a PanIdoma group, Opiatoha K ‘Idoma, yesterday pleaded with the Sultan of Sokoto and Inspector General to intervene and

ensure the girl was released without delay.

In a telephone interview yesterday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the Secretary General of the group, Chief Adoka Adaji, condemned the kidnap and called for the arrest of the masterminds of the act.

Adaji, who berated security agencies for failing in their duties over their inability to trace the missing girl, six months after her disappearance, urged them to be alive to their responsibilities.

The family should come forward—CP

The state Commissioner of Police, Salisu Fagge, yesterday, appealed to parents and relations of the girl to report to his office for police to be able to trace her whereabouts.

The police boss, who spoke with Vanguard on telephone, stated that nobody from the family of the abducted primary six pupil of Mohamed Zako Model Primary School, Sokoto, had reported to his office for action to be taken over the matter.

He said: “As we speak, I have not seen either the brother or the father of the girl. They should come to us. We want to know where the girl is and we want to trace her. Let them come now (5p.m.); I am still in the office waiting for them.”

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Assailants behead community leader in Edo One feared dead in Rivers

By Jimitota Onoyume & Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Chief priest (Ohen-Ogba) of Aruogba community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Pa Clifford Omosomwan, was beheaded, yesterday.

His assailants reportedly gained access to his house through the window at 1a.m., shot him on the head twice and beheaded him.

Family sources said he was partially blind before he was killed.

At press time, policemen were said to have been drafted to the troubled Aruogba community, while the body of the slain priest was said to have been deposited at the Military Hospital morgue in Benin.

Meanwhile, there were

fears last night that a resident of Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, simply identified as Ipalibo, was shot dead by gunmen on Tuesday.

Community sources said Ipalibo, said to be a leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ward 3 in the council, was killed, while the assailant

NDDC marks Int'l Women’s Day

A

S part of activities marking the 2016 annual International Women’s Day, IWD, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is set to inspire and celebrate the achievements of women in the Niger Delta region.

Celebrated globally every March 8, the day is

N1.04trn fine: MTN drops 54% profit in 2015, invests $94m

By Prince Osuagwu

S

OUTH African telecom operator, MTN Group, yesterday, reported a 54.4 percent drop in annual profit for the year ending 31 December 2015. The loss, according to the company, followed the setting aside of nearly 10 billion rand, approximately $643 million, to cover settlement of the N1.04 trillion fine its Nigerian operation incurred for allegedly refusing to deactivate over five million improperly registered subscribers on its network.

The company ’s

disappeared with his corpse.

When contacted, the Police said that they were only aware that he was kidnapped.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ahmad Muhammad said that one person was arrested in connection with the kidnap and was assisting the Police in its investigation.

Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, said the provision was made on the advice of its auditors, in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS. The telecom company said its headline earnings per share came in at 746 cents in the year to end, compared with 1,536 cents a year earlier.

It alleged that the result was a reflection of the difficult operating environment of the business, particularly in Nigeria, experienced during the period under review.

set aside to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations.

It is also known as the United Nations, Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. It is a day to celebrate the social, political and economic achievements of women while focusing world attention on areas requiring further action.

Highlighting women's development as part of the objectives of the commission, the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said: “The NDDC facilitates allround development of the Niger Delta and its people and the mandate for women development is an aspect that is equally given huge priority by the agency and must not be neglected.

“As part of the agenda for women's development in 2016, the commission will mark the International Women’s Day with activities that will help inspire, and celebrate women of the Niger Delta region and their endeavours.”

Nigeria’s non-oil export to hit $25bn in 2025 —NEPC

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—THE Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has said that the nation’s dependence on oil will soon be a thing of the past as the non-oil export revenue of the nation was expected to increase from $2.7 billion to $25 billion in 2025.

Executive Director of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, who disclosed C M Y K

this at a one-day workshop in Benin City, Edo State, said that the increase will help revive the nation’s dwindling economy very soon.

Awolowo, who was represented by Ezra Yakusak, lamented that the fall in the price of oil in the international market had rendered the nation’s foreign exchange almost useless, adding that with the on- going investment in the non-oil sector by the President Muhammadu

Buhari administration, the current economic hardship will soon be a thing of the past.

He noted that the council had developed a ‘zero oil’ plan that will increase by five percent, Nigeria’s total value of world export in the strategic sector in 10 years time, saying, “The zero plan is a coherent agenda to mobilize the public and private resources towards replacing oil as our number one resource of foreign exchange."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—13

Semenitari faults critics over courtesy visit to Wike ...Says her loyalty to APC not compromised

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— ACTING Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has described as juvenile, reports that she compromised her loyalty to All Progressives Congress, APC, when she accompanied the Senate delegation to Niger Delta on a courtesy visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State at Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Semenitari, through her media aide, Mr Bekee Anyalewechi, said that it was unfortunate that some persons could give such interpretation to a genuine, open and official assignment she undertook to the Government House, adding that she only performed a role as chief host to the lawmakers who were on a visit to the state.

According to her, protocol demanded that the lawmakers visited the governor, adding that as a good chief host, it was proper she led them to the

governor.

Anyalewechi said: “As per the claim that Semenitari’s presence at Government House compromised her cordial membership of APC, it is

tantamount to saying that because Governor Wike held his recent thanksgiving service in a church, he has become a cleric.

“We state categorically that Semenitari remains a chieftain

and loyal member of APC. By her current official portfolio, she is the mother of the nine focal states of NDDC. She understands the delineation between partisan politics and public service.”

Labour, rights groups eulogise Eskor Toyo

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—MEMBERS of organised labour, civil society organisations and the academic community, yesterday, converged on Benin City, Edo State, to honour the achievements of the late labour leader, Marxist and academic, Prof. Eskor Toyo.

Prof. Eskor Toyo, who was also a human rights activist, died on December 7, 2015 and

will be buried on Saturday in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

Those who spoke at the event held at the Edo State head office of the Environment Right Action, ERA, described the late Toyo as one of the finest minds, scholars and philosophers the nation has ever produced, regretting that the ideals he stood for did not materialise in his life time.

AWARD: Prof. Afekhide Omoti, Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Edo State presents the plaque of NMA award for Excellence in Leadership and Governance in Edo State to Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) with them is Dr Adewumi Alayaki, Secretary-General of the Association, representing the National President during a visit to the governor, yesterday.

AGIP contractors flay arrest of members in Bayelsa

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—AGIP Indigenous Contractors Association in Bayelsa State has expressed concern over the alleged arrest and detention of two of its members by operatives of Department of State Services, DSS, in the state.

President of the association, Mr Clement Adaminegbe, in a statement in Yenagoa, while lamenting the incarceration of James Angese and Nengi Ikiba in DSS detention, pointed out that since their arrest over two weeks, the DSS had refused to make known to them, the offence they committed, adding that family members of the detainees have not been allowed to take them on bail as it had also refused to charge them to court.

Adaminegbe, who is also the leader of Ijaw All Progressives Congress Support Group, described the detention of the duo as politically motivated, stating that it was not unconnected with their support for a particular candidate in the last governorship election in the state, and accused the Peoples Democratic Party,

C M Y K

PDP, in the state as the brain behind their travails.

He said: “We want to use this medium to plead for the release of our members while also advising security agencies in the state not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to

witchunt members of opposition political parties in the state to avoid throwing the state into crisis.”

State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Macbere Osom, in a chat with Vanguard, denied the involvement of the party in the state, stating that the PDP has no hand in the arrest and detention of the duo.

Mkpat Abasi plans medical mission in Akwa Ibom

By Tare Youdeowei

M

KPAT Abasi, an organization of indigenes of Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom State resident in the United States of America, is set to launch a ground breaking medical mission project in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

The group, a non-profit organisation in Jacksonville, USA, said in a statement that it had decided to donate major medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in Ikot Abasi and Mkpatenin LGAs of the state through its partnership with another US-based non-profit organisation.

The statement by Dr. Joseph Akpan, said that the project would be launched at the Ikot Abasi General

Hospital in Akwa Ibom State, March 14-20.

Akpan, who said that the project is planned through Pro-Health International – a non-profit organization based in Nigeria, and registered in the U.S.A., is expected to feature various medical experts across the country who would perform medical procedures and treatments of all types of illnesses as well as educate the people to save lives.

He said that on September 12, 2009, the group, working with its USbased partner, was able to acquire medical supplies and equipment, a 40-foot cargo container, consisting of 833 boxes/pieces (9,500 kegs) of medical supplies/ equipment, which was dispatched to be distributed to hospitals and clinics in the councils.

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4 , 2016

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS CONVOCATION — DAY 3 Photos by Akeem Salau

From left; Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto; HRH Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos; HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, and Olorogun Sunny From left; HRH Igwe Kris Onyekwuluje; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/ Kuku, President, Alumni Association, University of Lagos.

Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers and Prof Omololu Soyombo.

Cross Section of Lagos white cap chiefs at the event.

Cross section of graduating students.

TRADERS' CLASH AT MILE 12 MARKET, KETU, LAGOS, YESTERDAY. Photos by Bunmi Azeez

Some of the burn buildings.

An injured person in the clash.

Policemen restoring peace, and (below) Some of the arrested hoodlums..

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—15

3 Imo officials in EFCC net over alleged diversion of N2bn bailout fund

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA—THREE officials of the Imo State Government are now telling operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, all they know on alleged diversion of N2 billion bailout meant for the payment of civil servants salaries in the state.

The three men; Dr. Obi Paschal Chigozie, Principal Secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha; Uzoho Casmir, Director of Finance and Iheoma Kenneth, Treasurer, were arrested on Wednesday night.

Their arrest followed an investigation into the alleged diversion of the said money which revealed that the cashier had made cash withdrawal of N456.532 million between September 3, 2015 and October 10, 2015 from the Government House account domiciled in Zenith Bank.

However, it was revealed that, the said amount was given to an aide of the Chief of Staff to

the Governor, following approval and directive by the Principal Secretary to the Governor.

A statement made available to journalists, yesterday by the Spokesman for EFCC, Mr.

Wilson Uwujaren, said the three men would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation into the scam was completed.

The money was given to the state by the federal government

as a loan to settle outstanding salaries of workers, who had threatened to go on strike before the Buhari administration opted to bailout the state along with others across the country.

LECTURE: From left: Oyo State Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Mr Herry Adegbuyi, former HOD, Department of Local Government Studies, OAU, Ife, Prof Isiaka Aransi, National President, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, with his award of excellence, Lagos State Chairman, NIPR, Mrs Ethel Agbeyegbe, and Chief of Staff to the NIPR,President, Mr Willie Ogbidi, during the final year students' public lecture of Department of Local Government Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.

Ohanaeze to visit Buhari with charter of demands

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By Emeka Mamah

NUGU—THE Ohanaeze Ndigbo has resolved to visit President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with a charter of demands.

The resolution was adopted after a meeting of some members at the private residence of one of their leaders in Enugu, yesterday.

Among the issues they resolved to present to Buhari for urgent attention included the reconstruction of the EnuguUmuahia- Port Harcourt Road, the Enugu- Onitsha express road, appointment of more Special and Senior Special Assistants or Assistants as Igbo are not represented in his government, as well as the completion of the Second Niger Bridge to end the ongoing agitation for Biafra Republic.

Apart from these, they also resolved to ask the President to set up the Eastern Nigeria Development Commission, ENDC, to handle the issue of unemployment of Igbo youths which they said was responsible for the continued agitation for the Biafran Republic by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as reportedly requested

by Governor Rochas Okorocha during the reconciliation meeting between the two former factions of Ohanaeze led by Chief Enwo Igariwey and Ralph Obioha respectively.

Okorocha was alleged to have pledged to take “Ohanaeze to the river,” during the reconciliatory meeting of the two factions in Owerri, the Imo State C M Y K

capital about two weeks ago.

Sources close to the meeting told Vanguard in Enugu that other matters which came up included the search for a new chairman of the group following

the end of the tenure of present executive led by Igariwey.

Meanwhile, IPOB members have reacted to the outcome of the Ohanaeze meeting, saying that “some Igbo politicians who

are using IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu (its detained leader) or Biafra to get cheap popularity will fail and advised them to stop doing so with immediate effect.”

DSS arrests Umeh over alleged support for Biafra of DSS at Amawbia at about 9 Umeh. His wife told me that he

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—FORMER National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and its candidate in the Anambra Central senatorial election, Chief Victor Umeh, has allegedly been arrested by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, over perceived support for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. It was gathered that Umeh was invited to the headquarters

.00 am and after about two hours, was taken out of the office in a pick-up van en-route Abuja.

Vanguard gathered that the security officials were said to have received petitions that Umeh was among those supporting the proBiafra agitators whose leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, is still being detained by the security operatives.

A source close to Umeh said: “I am right now at Aguluzigbo, the country home of Chief Victor

was arrested in the morning by men of the security service and taken to their state headquarters.

“But at about 11 am, he was taken from the state headquarters to Abuja in a pick-up van. It was alleged that there were petitions against him that he supports IPOB. We don’t know who may have sponsored the petitions, but there are accusing fingers on some of his known political opponents. Right now, we cannot reach Umeh on any of his mobile phones.”

I never awarded contracts for Locomotive —Ex-Minister RAILWAY CONTRACT PROBE:

By Emman Ovuakporie & insisting that whoever had Johnbosco Agbakwuru evidence linking him to any of

A

BUJA—AS the public investigative hearing on Rail Contract Scam continued yesterday, former minister of Transport, Isah Ibrahim Biu, told the panel that he never awarded the contract for the supply of five locomotive engines by General Electric, GE, in 2010 but was only a party to its commissioning.

Biu also denied having any affinity with any of the companies given the contract throughout his tenure,

the companies should come forward and make it public.

The former minister at a point demanded for the Qur’an saying “I’m ready to take a second oath on this issue to further convince that I do not have any interest in any of the listed companies.”

When asked the question by a lawmaker a second time on his alleged interest in some of the companies, Biu repeated that: “Before I answer this question, I want to be given the Holy Qur’an to swear by it so that I will be on

oath again. I’m saying without any equivocation that I have no affiliation whatsoever with any of the companies given the contracts, and if anybody has any proof to the contrary, let that person come forward and prove me wrong.”

He told the committee that his tenure as minister of transport was short-lived following the death of late President Yar’Adua who appointed him in 2010.

According to him, he was appointed on December 18, 2009 and was removed by Goodluck Jonathan on March 10, 2010.

FUEL SCARCITY:

Ugwuanyi tasks IPMAN on availability of product

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By Francis Igata

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,yesterday, charged the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Enugu State branch, to redouble its efforts at ensuring the availability and distribution of quality petroleum products in the state to satisfy the yearning of the people.

Governor Ugwuanyi spoke while addressing the state executive of the body that paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Enugu.

The governor explained that the charge became necessary in view of the need to stabilize the market price of products in the state and guarantee quality services.

Governor Ugwuanyi during the meeting, frowned at some of the sharp practices by some of the members of IPMAN in the areas involved in constant adjustment of their meters, internal and external diversion of products as well as adulterated gas that would cause problems to consumers.

Others include lifting of products to fictitious and nonexisting filling stations as well as endemic culture and notorious collaboration with corrupt NNPC officials and some of the federal governments staff to fast track their ugly desire to the detriment of the masses.

He charged the body to operate in line with the laid down rules and the law that established their businesses by curtailing some of these negative activities.

Madam Oyima dies @ 105

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ADAM Mercy Oyima Ugwu of AmaguUmuitodo, Obollo-Nkwo in Udenu LGA of Enugu State is dead, aged 105. She will be buried on March, 10, 2016 at Amagu-Umuitodo. She is survived by many children, grand children and greatgrand children, including the Principal of CSS Obollo-Afor, Ugwu Damian O.

Late Mercy Oyima

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4 , 2016

Manufacturing Index on the rise •But operators lament worsening environment

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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ATEST report of manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, PMI, has indicated a slight upbeat in business activities in the manufacturing sector with the February 2016 index rising to 50.6, showing a recovery from 44.6 recorded for January though still significantly below December record of 54.2.

But manufacturing sector leaders who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, at the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector Outlook 2016 said the sector operating environment, rather than improving, is still very adverse. PMI is an indicator of the economic health of the manufacturing sector based on five major indicators: new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries and the employment environment. All developed and significantly developing economies run PMI. The latest Nigerian PMI being reported was developed

by FBNQuest, an arm of First

C M Y K

Bank of Nigeria Plc, in conjunction with NOI Polls, Nigeria’s leading public opinion polling agency.

According to the Index report, however, two of the five subindices were negative in February, while three were positive and the strongest reading was 56 for delivery times, thus leading to gross improvement in the Index.

FBNQuest linked the marked recovery in the output sub-index from 38 in January to 53 to the simultaneous improvement for stocks of purchases from 43 to 52. It, however, noted that “access to foreign exchange did not improve in the month under survey: far from it.” According to the report “it happened that companies of all sizes had been able to rebuild their inventories, which had been run down at the end of the holiday season.

“In these circumstances, we would expect companies to turn to local inputs, where available. Small firms would normally take the lead in this process, given their greater

flexibility in production and their greater challenge in accessing foreign exchange. The fact that the employment sub-index was below water for the third successive month tells us that companies do not see a bright near term”.

Manufacturers list difficulties At the Manufacturing Outlook 2016 organised by B. Adedipe Associates, sector leaders listed threats to continued growth in the sector. Managing Director of Berger Paints Nig Plc, Mr. Peter Folikwe, said corruption and unofficial ‘taxation’, especially on major border highways, has delegitimized formal channels and encouraged the use of smuggling routes undermining local manufacturers’ market share.

Manufacturers’ market share He also noted that delay in budget implementation had spiral economic effects while shortage of imported raw materials and equipment have led to factories shutdown. Other adversities visiting the sector,

according to him, are high cost of obtaining funds, increasing inflation rate, incessant demand

by Nigerians for imported products and raw materials, insecurity in the Northern part of the country, poor infrastructural development, power and road network crises.

Managing Director, Greif Nig. Plc, Kunle Obadina, identified key issues in manufacturing in Nigeria to include infrastructure deficit where he said only 18 per cent of the nation’s 197,000 kilometers of federal roads which takes about 90 per cent of traffic, are paved, tarred or properly maintained, adding that most capital projects were stalled since first quarter of 2015 as most governments lost economic focus in favour of politics.

He also included as factors militating against manufacturers growth to include erratic and poor energy supply where, according to him, 86 per cent of firms in the country still depend on diesel power electricity generating sets to power 61 per cent of their power needs.

He added that the cost of doing business remains a major

challenge, primarily because of poor power supply and deficient infrastructure which he said, has made Nigerian goods uncompetitive.

Acting director general of Nigerian Textile Manufacturers’ Association, Mr Hamma Kwajaffa, lamented the closure of over 90 per cent of textile firms in the country due to the challenges outlined.

According to him both the government and the financial sector operators have frustrated the efforts of his sector in contributing to the economic growth of the nation and threatened the survival of the sector.

Managing Director of Skye Bank Plc, Mr Timothy Oguntade advised manufacturers to be more creative and cooperative in addressing their challenges in the face of obvious shortages in government services.

He explained that the challenge of foreign exchange scarcity which the manufacturers had also recognized as the latest challenge they were facing, was primarily the consequence of Nigeria’s reliance on oil proceeds to finance its imports, noting that now that the proceeds have decreased resulting in difficulties in obtaining foreign exchange for manufacturing inputs.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 —17

Way to go, your holiness!

P

OPE Francis has said that the Catholic Church is not interested in donations from

wealthy individuals who have cruelly exploited their fellow human beings.

“I think,” the Pontiff told a crowd of pilgrims in Rome’s St Peter’s Square last Wednesday, “of some benefactors...that say ‘take this offer for the Church’, and it is profit from the blood of those abused, treated as slaves, workers with poorly paid jobs…[and] I say to these people: ‘Please, take back your cheque and burn it’ [because] the people of God, the Church, do not need dirty

money.”

I am a Catholic myself and have long thought that my Church has a bad habit of turning a blind eye when rich or powerful Catholics misbehave.

Indeed, quite a few dubious characters – whose sins as politicians, businessmen or whatever are no secret to the general public – have received prestigious papal knighthoods and enjoy the privilege of socialising with senior clerics such as bishops

and cardinals.

It is immensely refreshing to hear such an unequivocal condemnation – from the paramount Oga of the Catholic Faithful - of unworthy folks who think that they can buy their way into the Vatican’s good books (and Heaven!) via hefty cash gifts.

You can fool some of the people some of the time. But you certainly can’t fool God or his vicar on earth, the marvelously and fearlessly principled Pope Francis!

*Pope Francis

Accounting for recovered funds T

ALKING about dirty money, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has, in a landmark judgement, held that successive governments, since the return of democracy in 1999, “breached the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability” by not revealing details relating to recovered stolen public funds.

Justice Mohammed Idris then (in response to a suit filed by an NGO called the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project - SERAP - ordered President Muhammadu Buhari to “ensure that his government, and the governments of former President OlusegunObasanjo,formerPresident Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and former President Goodluck Jonathan account fully for all recovered loot”.

The court said that details that should be disclosed include information regarding the total amount of stolen public assets that have been recovered by each government and information about exactly how such monies have been spent.

*Obasanjo

*Yar’Adua

*Jonathan

Detailed information Justice Idris dismissed all the objections that had been raised by the Federal Government and upheld SERAP’s arguments.

Consequently, the court entered judgement in favour of SERAP against the Federal Government; and, according to a report in this newspaper, made the following declarations: …That the failure and/or refusal of the respondents to individually and/or collectively disclose detailed information about the spending of recovered stolen public funds since the return of civil rule in 1999, and to publish widely such information, including on a dedicated website…violates Articles 9, 21 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act; C M Y K

*President Muhammadu Buhari ·[And that]…by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Free-

We keep hearing about VIPs sneakily returning vast sums to the Treasury; but we never know for sure whether these rumours are true or how much is involved

dom of Information Act 2011, the 1st Defendant/Respondent is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff/applicant with up to date information…

Reacting to the court ruling, SERAP’s Deputy Executive Director, Olukayode Majekodunmi, said: “This judgement confirms the persistent failure of successive governments starting from the Obasanjo government, to respect Nigerians’ right to a corruptionfree society…The judgment is an important step towards reversing a culture of secrecy and corruptionthathasmeantthathigh-ranking government officials continue to look after themselves at the expense of the well-being of major-

ity of Nigerians, and development of the country… SERAP will do everything within its power to secure the full and effective enforcement of this judgement.”

IheartilysalutebothSERAPand Justice Idris for their courageous stances and am deeply shocked that Buhari’s administration, which claims to be a valiant champion of the suffering masses and an uncompromising opponent of financial skullduggery, tried to blockthiscaseonvariousgrounds, including a ridiculous (in my opinion) insistence that SERAP lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

Come to think of it, why did the case even have to go to court in the first place? We keep hearing aboutVIPssneakilyreturningvast sums to the Treasury. But we never know for sure whether these rumours are true or how much is involved.

Now that the governments’ lawyers have tried to gag SERAP, they have effectively confirmed that a covert refunding exercise is, indeed, underway. And I must say that allowing miscreants to quietly buy their way out of trouble is an extremely dishonest way of dealing with an issue that should be a matter of public record.

Why do the Federal authorities arrogantly prefer to operate in the dark within this context? Why are they not making more of an effort to win our trust and show us that they are vigorously protecting our interests and being honourable?

Why are the Federal authorities taking the risk of allowing us to suspect that selective justice is taking place behind closed doors?

Why are they exposing themselves to allegations that some lucky miscreants are getting special treatment, while others are being arrested, tried and vilified?

Why do the Federal authorities find it so hard to simply name and shame EVERY thief and to not only tell us how many billions culpritshavecoughedupbutwhat exactly has happened to these retrieved amounts? What do they have to hide?

At a time when most Nigerians are enduring countless stresses because the economy is in appalling shape – I can’t recall things ever being this bad - is it too much to ask that President Buhari shares a few facts and figures that will lift our weary spirits and convince at least some of us that he is on the right track?

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

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 The Lagos State Government’s confirmation that the “unknown disease” that broke out in OtodoGbame rural settlement in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos is actually measles came as a rude shock to Nigerians. Between 20 and 25 children in the isolated community reportedly died of what was described as “suspected febrile rash illness”.

Samples sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba, Lagos and the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), however, indicated the presence of the measles virus.

The admission by the state government that children in the affected community missed out on routine and mop-up immunisations because the Ministry of Health was unaware of the existence of the settlement leaves much to be desired.

Measles is a contagious, vaccinepreventable disorder caused by a virus that lives in the nasal and throat mucus of an infected person. Only humans spread the measles virus; no other animal specie is known to

Deadly Lagos measles outbreak spread or harbour it.

The measles virus that attacks the respiratory tract is one of the most contagious diseases known. Children are especially vulnerable to measles and 330 die from it every day, globally despite the availability of a safe, effective and affordable vaccine.

Measles survivors are often left with life-long disabilities, such as blindness, deafness or brain damage.

It is bad enough that Nigeria did not meet the sustainable measles mortality reduction goal of 90 percent in measles deaths by 2010. The outbreak in Otodo is particularly worry-

ing because a state-wide immunisation campaign had just been conducted.

Although health officials in Lagos have since stepped in and begun mass immunisation of children, all state governments need to step up their efforts and be more proactive to ensure total coverage of their communities.

Governments owe a duty to keep track of people in their territories and provide necessary amenities rather than pass the buck.

In line with the successes achieved in the control of measles

outbreaks all over the world, there is an urgent need to critically examine the factors responsible for the persistence of pockets of measles outbreaks locally.

Lagos and other states that are endemic to measles infections need to fully adopt provisions by the World Health Organization and the UNICEF to implement the fourpronged strategy of improved routine immunisation; providing all children with a second opportunity for measles immunisation through periodic supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs); improved case management and careful surveillance.

The sub-optimal routine immunisation coverage and effectiveness, weak health system, the wide intervals between the catch-up and follow-up campaigns coupled with the low quality of mass immunisation campaigns and the incomplete implementation of the WHO/UNICEF measles mortality reduction strategy, must be urgently addressed as quickly as possible.

OPINION Re: Edo 2016:: Be Beyyond primaries

By Usman Abudah

R

ECENTLY, various newspaper “columnists” have turned themselves into prophets of doom for whoever wouldn’t, perhaps vote ahead for their candidate(s) at their own organised primaries (if this is possible) for the governorship chair presently occupied by Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

This collection of “columnists” to me, is nothing other than a hired cabal, helping the print media fill up pages not booked for advertorials and this of course can’t be blamed on the editors, who can’t naturally be on ground personally to really put things on the scale and deduce who are the realistic politicians who would have the last say amongst themselves who is to be crowned.

Fair, credible and acceptable term has been so battered by those outside Edo State “columnists” who of course claim periodically to be writing from Benin City, Edo State or Lagos.

Let readers of this my re-joinder believe it or not, that all levels of threats within the APC (the ruling party) and PDP (the almost self buried opposition party) will NOT affect the optimistic emergence of the groomed C M Y K

aspirant of the APC to step into Governor Oshiomhole’s vacated office.

REASONS: (a) the inexplicable dogmatic and progressive deliverance qualifies the APC to bring out a focused candidate (b) based on Comrade Oshiomhole’s leadership (c) when a leader performs, the followership has the expected pay back towards continuity I have personally moved around Edo State (a very fulfilled federal pensioner) and would say here openly that my being a director on the board of the state owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) was based on merit as I had asked questions on July 24 last year during the inauguration of the board by Governor Oshiomhole.

He has been there and been watching with an eye of the eagle who would step in after him.

Doesn’t he really know?

“Your Excellency, I request your permission to make an observation”, I said.

“Ask your board chairman”, he replied.

“But we are still in your office”, I insisted.

There was dead silence in the Executive Council hall. He gave up, “yes”.

“Your Excellency, I wish to responsibly request for a promise that when problems of EBS TV/Radio are brought for urgent attention, you won’t start scratching the back of your neck…” there was a disapproving murmuring from those in the hall.

“I mean it. I didn’t lobby nor applied for the appointment”, I insisted.

A brief silence followed and His Excellency promised me.

The board is on, we are working, government is responding, while others are still speaking periodic empty political grammar that has never benefited nor shown anything worthy to serious-minded Edolites.

My re-calling the above is not self ego boasting but to let outsiders know that when the ruling party will pick its flag bearer, realistic and hard-working members of APC will NOT fight, disorganise themselves, because amongst themselves, they also accept the un-questionable leadership of Comrade Oshiomhole.

Naturally, the most noisy elements

of a body chest out restlessly, to catch attention. Certainly we can’t all be so forgetting when the Oshiomhole/ Odubu Ticket issue came up, the situation was even more noisy.

At the end, Comrade Oshiomhole did ask: “Give me five reasons (5) why Dr. Odubu shouldn’t be my running mate?

Not even half of one reason was given to knock him out. Anyway, the 2016 issue is very different from the above recollection which shouldn’t be taken as an encouragement.

I have reasons not to mention a name or names of optimistic contestants, but the glaring FACTUALITY on ground within the APC as a progressive and dogmatic performing government in Edo State, would at the appropriate moment, give Comrade Oshiomhole his merited sign-out ticket, the priority to POINT out from the list of aspirants: he has been there and been watching with an eye of the eagle who would step in after him. Doesn’t he really know?

Who else should step out to say no, not, certainly not these cabal of “columnists”.

The three Senatorial districts of Edo State have an overwhelming member followership in the APC. Yes, good deliverance of governance predicts continuity.

•Mr. Abudah, a journalist, wrote from Benin city, Edo State.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4. 2016— —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

43 years in solitary, yet the struggle continues

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FRICAN-AMERICAN life in the last fifty years can be signposted by seven events which bring to fore, the struggles of a people.

The first is the February 21, 1965 assassination of Malcolm X who advocated black selfdefense, economic empowerment and consciousness.

The second was AfricanAmericans securing the right to vote following the August 16, 1965 signing into law of The Voting Rights Act by President Lyndon Johnson. They won the right to vote, 346 years after the first black slaves were brought to the Northern American colony of Jamestown; 189 years since American independence, and 102 years after President Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves.

The third event, was the October 15, 1966 establishment in Oakland, California, of the Black Panthers Party for SelfDefense by Huey .P. Newton and Bobby Seale. It radicalised many African-Americans and taught them that they can constitutionally and legally defend themselves against state brutality and murders.

The fourth, was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jnr on April 4, 1968. In contrast to Malcolm X, he had advocated a peaceful resistance to oppression, racial discrimination and brutality in the American society.

The fifth incident was the J. Edgar Hoover-led FBI declaration of Angela Yvone Davis in August 1970 as one of the 10 Most Wanted. This was in connection with the teenage High School student, Jonathan Johnson’s armed take-over of a Marin County, California court room. It was a desperate act to free his elder brother, the revolutionary Black Panther and Soledad Brother, George Lester Jackson. When Davis was arrested, President Richard Nixon who had found her guilty before trial, congratulated the FBI for apprehending “…the dangerous terrorist.” But the allWhite jury found her innocent.

George Jackson himself was shot dead by prison officials on August 21, 1971.

The sixth event was the November 4, 2008 election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States; the first African-American to occupy the

White House. The seventh milestone, is the February 19, 2016 release of the Black Panther, Albert Woodfox from 43 years solitary confinement; he had been in solitary since President Obama was eleven years old.

Woodfox was serving a fiveyear prison term in Angola, a former plantation farm in Louisiana named after the African country from which slaves on the plantation had been brought. He was in his second year in 1972 when a prison guard, Brent Miller was stabbed and killed. Woodfox was charged with another prisoner, Herman Wallace for the crime. Both men claimed they were framed up because they dared to establish a chapter of the Black Panther Party in the prison.

Then a bizarre dimension was added when after the murder of

Caging a human being like a wild animal and ensuring he does not interact with other prisoners even for the one hour daily he was allowed to step out of his prison within a prison, was intended to destroy the mind of Woodfox

Miller, a prisoner, Robert Hillary King, another Black Panther, was transferred from the New Orleans Prison and held in solitary confinement for the same crime. King said he was held in solitary for 29 years for “The murder of Brent Miller, even though I was 150 miles away, I had never met the man in my life, I didn’t know him… this is the legal system. A lot of times, a prisoner is convicted on conjecture, by implication. And this is what happened to me.”

If the three men were to be charged for the same murder, there should have been a case of conspiracy, but King had never met nor seen his fellow defendants before until he was transferred to Angola after Miller had been killed. So they became known as the Angola Three.

Woodfox in the American television Democracy Now! programme anchored by Amy Goodman made an analysis why he and Herman Wallace were framed up : “The saddest thing in the world is to see a human spirit crushed. And that’s basically what happened with these young kids that were coming to Angola. And we decided that if we truly believed in what we were trying to do, then it was worth taking whatever measures necessary to try to stop this. So we formed anti-gang squads. And every day, when they would bring these young kids down, we would go and we would offer them friendship and protection. And for a while there, we were able to stop the sexual slave trade that was going on in Angola at the time… a lot of the security people there were profiting from this.”

There was a sustained national and international campaign to free the Angola 3. Robert King

Rev King, the church and our conscience

By Clement Udegbe

T

EN years ago today,the Christian Praying Assembly,CPA located in a quiet part of Ajao Estate, was a bubbling church, where people trooped to pray and seek spiritual solutions to their problems.

Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Rev.King, the General Overseer of the church was said to possess power to cast away demons, see through the secrets of a man's life, and proffer spiritual solutions.

The size of his congregation was impressive, and the power got into his head. Power over people, whether spiritual, financial or political can be dangerous without control, and control cannot come without discipline and humility.

Power without control is nothing as the Japanese say, and that is why we find political leaders who lie, cheat, steal, and gloat in their shamelessness, yet they lose elections, and in other climes end up in jail for their criminal conducts while they were in power.

The leaders of the financial world often for lack of control over financial power, often commit blunders, evade taxes, play games, end up shooting themselves in the foot, and either commit suicide, because they had made the world to believe that had integrity, or end up again in jail.

When it comes to religion, power without control appears to be the surest means to storms of life that leads ultimately to destruction.

From Rev.Jones of Jones town in the Caribbeans of early 1980s, to the present Islamic Terrorist Movements all over the world, The Maitatsines and now Boko Haram in our country, whenever religious power is exercised without C M Y K

control, destruction of either the members of that religion or their Leader is bound to occur.

The reason is fairly simple, the devil roars all over the world seeking whom to devour, and he has three assignments in this world, namely to steal the joy of man, kill man and destroy man on this earth, and because he is the master of lies, he starts with deception. He would lie for example to his victims, by making them see the General Overseer as their ‘God’, and tells the General Overseer that he has power over the lives of his congregants.Once the man accepts that lie, pride sets in, and destruction becomes inevitable, except God shows mercy through intercessory prayers for all victims, which was not the case for Rev. King.

In July 2006, at the peak of growth of his ministry, Rev. King caused petrol to be poured on six members of his congregation, set them ablaze, for whatever reasons, and one of them died a fews days after. The police swooped on him, and his church, and after gathering good evidence, arraigned him for trial before erudite Honorable Justice Joseph Oyewole, who returned a verdict of 20 years imprisonment for attempted murder of other five members of his church, and death by hanging for the murder of the one that died from fire

Until the church purges itself of its spiritual corruption, the rigmarole of Nigeria shall continue unabated

burns.

He appealed the decision, and his appeal failed, so he proceeded to the Supreme Court where the decisions of the lower courts were upheld last week, meaning Rev. King shall die by hanging.

The devil has delivered destructions here and has since moved on to seek out other souls to destroy, for that is his assignment on this earth. Rev. King’s congregation the CPA, needs help, to overcome the lies they are living. They need to see the true light and know the truth so that they may be set free, as that is what Jesus expects the church in Nigeria to do- save the lost!

The fact is that many General Overseers are lost, committing the same offence that landed Rev. King on the hang man’s list, and some even do worse things.

These days, people have developed itching ears.They want to hear that it is their friend, parent or a relation that is their enemy, and they career off with accusations of all sorts, thus, some so called Pastors, have sown seeds of disunity and discord in families, and communities, contrary to the dictates of the Holy Scripture. Rather than keep, protect and tend the sheep, they turn round and devour the sheep!

Some of them have assorted gifts, but their prophecies never edify their hearers except to pour out curses and plant fear in the mind of their congregation. They would tell you the colours of your under wear, the description of your village and house, heap the problem on whomever they want and will not proffer solutions that are scriptural.

When they blow into their microphones and peope fall, I ask myself, many questions; With the power I see around, How come since 1970, we just keep

was freed in 2001, he became a consistent champion to free his colleagues. On October 1, 2013, Herman Wallace was freed and died of cancer three days later .

With the determination by the state to frustrate his release, Woodfox made a no contest plea for lesser charges and was finally freed for years already served. It was on his birthday. He emerged from his six-by-nine feet Closed Call Restriction (CCR) cell with his dignity intact, head, held high and face, focused on the future. He revealed that he survived by not allowing prison to get the better of him, reading books, and having faith in the justness of his cause: “One of my inspirations was Mr. Nelson Mandela. You know, I learned from him that if a cause was noble, you could carry the weight of the world on your shoulder. Both King, I and Herman thought that standing up for the weak, protecting people who couldn’t protect themselves, was a noble cause.”

Caging a human being like a wild animal and ensuring he does not interact with other prisoners even for the one hour daily he was allowed to step out of his prison within a prison, was intended to destroy the mind of Woodfox.

Although he had his conviction overturned by the courts three times he remained an hostage of the conservative American establishment which held him and his colleagues in conditions that amount to crimes against humanity.

There are still prisoners who have spent three or four decades in American prisons, including members of the defunct Black Panthers who are actually prisoners of conscience. The world needs to get them freed.

moving down into deteriorating conditions in Nigeria ?

Can Power without control, yield anything for any nation ?

Can the church help without structures that will keep the church in good faith without blemish as we await the second coming of Jesus?

Can the church, as it is today, protect itself from any aggression and belligerence from another major religion in Nigeria?

Can the church in Nigeria offer that help that is needed now by the Rev.King’s CPA? Is there any structure on ground to legally render assistance to such a deceived congregation, or to help them come to terms with the truth and realities of their situation?

While the church in Nigeria sits and operates in its comfort zones, pollution and corruption creeps into its fold, allowing politics to weaken its base, and forms.

While the church struggles and competes for conformity with the world in every form and manner, the world is determined to judge the church, and condemn it for its loss of voice and power for change.

That is why increasing number of our Pastors preach understanding with the Lesbians and Gays in the society, rather than repentance and deliverance from the demons responsible for such manifestations.

Pedophiles gloat and reign in their criminal conduct among our Law Makers, and no one says a word against them, or brings them to book.

We may declare what we like as war against corruption, until the church purges itself of its spiritual corruption, the rigmarole of Nigeria shall continue unabated.

*Mr Udegbe, a lawyer, can be reached at ceeaai@yahoo.com.

20 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

— 21

Transport minister gives freight forwarders 2 weeks ultimatum to register with CRFFN

By Godwin Oritse

M

MEETING: From left, Prof. Olumide Ayodele, UNIDO Project Coordinator; Simon Armstrong, Senior Industrial Skills Adviser establishment of sector skills councils in Nigeria; Mrs Folusho Samuel, Director, Research and Curriculum Development Dept, Industrial Training Fund, ITF; Dickson Onuoha, Acting DG/ CEO, ITF; Abiodun Solesi, Deputy Director, Training, ITF and Dr Chuma Ezedinma, National Programme Officer, UNIDO, during stakeholders meeting on the establishment of sector skills councils in Nigeria, organised by UNIDO, in Lagos.

INISTER of Transport; Mr Rotimi Amaechi last week in Lagos read the riot Act to the various freight forwarding associations to meet with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and resolve the differences that they have with the regulatory agency.

He gave the freight forwarding and Customs brokers associations two weeks to resolve their differences, even as he threatened that, if they cannot agree with the CRFFN after the expiration of the ultimatum, he will declare that their companies undergo fresh

UNIDO urges OPS to establish skills councils in Nigeria stakeholders in Lagos on the gains of Sector Skills Councils HE United Nations to employers and the overall Industrial Development economy of the country.

Organization, UNIDO, has The meeting was attended by called on the Organized Private over 45 members of the private Sector in Nigeria to move the sector drawn from the Nigeria country forward by investing in Economic Summit Group, skills development.

MAN, Nigeria Employers UNIDO said that the OPS can Consultative Association, do this by taking the lead in the NASME and NACCIMA establishment of Sector Skills including key players in the Councils to improve construction, petro chemical employment and boost the skills and automotive industries, of employees like the ones in cement , Miners Association as the UK and South Africa. well as the cotton, textile and Dr. Chuma Ezedinma, garments industry.

National Programme Officer, Dr. Ezedinma said that SecUNIDO, made the call when he tor Skills Councils globally are addressed the private sector employer- led organisations that covers specific industries in the their respective countries and urged OPS Nigeria $114.30 0.95 to drive the establishment of the $2,878.00 -61.00 councils to reduce the $14. 74 0. 07 skills gaps and shortages and improve productivity and to support employers in $36. 25 -0.41 developing and m a n a g i n g $34. 28 -0.38 apprenticeship standards.

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING In his presentation on Sector Skills Councils, US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 POUNDS 274. 4392 275.1393 275. 8394 Mr. Simon Armstrong, EURO 212. 758 213. 3008 213. 8435 Senior Industrial Skills FRANC 196. 1962 196. 6967 197. 1972 Adviser establishment YEN 1.7137 1.7181 1.7225 of sector skills council CFA 0.3057 0.3157 0. 3257 WAUA 271. 6019 272. 2947 272. 9876 in Nigeria, also urged RENMINBI 29. 9164 29. 9931 30. 0699 the country’s private RIYAL 52. 2388 52. 3721 52.505 sector to come together KRONA 28.5195 28.5922 28.9191 and form the Skills SDR 270. 5388. 271. 229 271. 9191 Councils in various secCBN Exchange rate as at 03/03/2016 tors without delay and

By Franklin Alli

T

C M Y K

not to wait for the government to do it.

According to him, skills is the bedrock of every country’s economy, stressing that “UK has 19 sector skills councils; sector skills Councils are also used in South Africa and Singapore to improve skills and occupational standards but Nigeria has none.”

Fielding questions from the participants on funding, he said that the private sector should pool their resources together to fund the SSCs and they can also approach Federal and State governments for initial seed money support. “In UK government is funding their operation by spending £1.4 million yearly. In Nigeria the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, might use the 1 per cent training levy from employers

UK has 19 sector skills councils; sector skills Councils are also used in South Africa and Singapore to improve skills and occupational standards but Nigeria has none

for this purpose and move to become a Skills Funding Agency,” he said.

Mr. Dickson Onuoha, Acting Director General of ITF, also enjoined the stakeholders to be ready to contribute their quota to realize the establishment of the Sector Skills Councils. “Your organisations have always been in the forefront of the advocacy for socioeconomic advancement of Nigeria.”

He disclosed that ITF in collaboration with UNIDO is conducting industrial skills gaps assessment to identify skills requirements, skills availability and skills mismatch in the Nigerian industrial sector.

Sector skills councils “The supply side of the study is almost concluded while the demand side is still ongoing.

Findings from the supply side of the study show that skills gaps can’t be adequately identified without the establishment of functional Sector Skills Councils,” he said He stated that involving ITF in funding the Sector Skills Councils is not feasible because as he said, ITF has its mandates to achieve and 50 percent of the one percent training levy goes into running our operations and the remaining 50 per cent is refunded to employers.

Participants lauded UNIDO for the initiative but said they want to think deeply about the proposal and would get back to the Organization by the end of this month.

registration with the CRFFN. The Minister gave this directive at the opening of a two-day conference on Improved Ports Efficiency in Nigeria, it was organised by the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON).

Apparently making reference to the deadlock in the collection of the Federal Governmentgazetted Practitioners Operating Fees (POF) by the CRFFN, and the inability of the Council to function effectively since the expiration of the tenure of its second governing council members, the Minister said the Ministry would have no choice than to insist that all freight forwarders should register with the CRFFN. “You must meet with the CRFFN and resolve your differences, we will insist that you register with the CRFFN, it’s the law”, he maintained.

Amaechi told the gathering which had a sizeable number of freight forwarders in attendance that, “let me talk to the customs practitioners, there is a law that you people are breaking and that law has to do with an agency in my ministry”

Regulatory framework “I have met with the Comptroller General of Customs and we are starting a fresh registration of all customs agents and the requirement will be to go and register there before you can became a customs agent” “Myself and the CGC have agreed to meet and all I will tell him is to go and announce to customs agents to go and start fresh registration, because they must comply with the law”, he added.

Speaking further in his keynote address, the minister said that the maritime sector is largely private- sector driven with government providing the appropriate policy and regulatory framework.

Amaechi also reiterated the ministry ’s commitment to partner with the National Assembly to ensure that the four maritime sector bills pending before the upper and lower chambers are passed into law and implemented accordingly.

He mentioned the pending bills as: the Nigeria Railways Authority bill (2015), National Transport Commission bill (2015), Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority bill and the National Inland Waterways Authority bill.

22 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH4 , 2016—23

VOL. 1: NO. 17

FRIDAY, MARCH 4 , 2016

By Ola Ajayi

I

BADAN – Although for the first time, there are aspersions on the unique rancour-free Olubadan succession plan over the ages, it is now clear that irrespective of stiff resistance and litigation by another claimant to the Olubadan chieftaincy stool, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, the most populous city, Ibadan will today, March 4, witness an historic event as it hosts eminent men and women from all walks of life for the formal installation of High Chief Saliu Adetunji as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Before this uproar which erupted after the death of Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1 on January 19, 2016 , the chieftaincy and ascendancy to the highest traditional throne in the city was presumed to be hitch-free.

Though, there is an on-going litigation against the installation of High Chief Adetunji, the Olubadan-in-Council which comprises nine senior chiefs, is unperturbed as it insists that it recognises only two royal lines to the Olubadan stool. They are Olubadan which is also known as the Civil Line and Balogun which is the military line.

The council was further strengthened by the refusal of the State High Court to grant a restraining injunction that Mr. A. G Adeniran, counsel to Seriki chiefs prayed the court to grant.

The prayer was for the court to stop the installation of Olubadan today.

But Justice Mukhtar Abimbola refused to issue the injunction, saying that if the monarch is installed illegally, the court reserves the right to remove him thereafter.

Chief Oyediji who insists that his right is being infringed upon spoke at length on how he felt he was cheated.

But, he was unable to present any written document to back up his claim that the current arrangement is flawed.

He claimed that the Olubadan in council, allegedly failed thrice at the Supreme Court to get the judgment in their favour.

While speaking with newsmen in an emotion laden voice, the old man almost burst into tears when he was trying to give a vivid picture of how a gentlemanly agreement was reached between him and the then Oba Asanike who reigned before the last Olubadan.

He said, “I started my chieftaincy journey since 1976.

They are saying they are wiser but they cannot cheat us. If

Ibadan agog as 41st Olubadan assumes ascends throne today •Chief Adetunji

Brief biography of Olubadan-elect THE Olubadan elect, Oba Saliu Akanmu Ola support Adetunji was born on 26th August, 1928 to the family of Alhaji Olayiwola and Alhaja Suwebatu Adetunji of Adetunji compound, Popoyemoja.

He is by the order of ranking, the highest ranked Chief to succeed the late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1.

He is a famous business magnate who rose from his tailoring profession to become the founder of three foremost

indigenous music recording and marketing companies known as Omo Aje Sound Studio, Adetunji Records and Baba Lane Records.

His company markets indigenous musicians and artistes. He became the Mogaji in 1976 and Jagun Balogun (the first step in the Balogun line) in 1978 and was promoted through the years until 2015 when he became the Balogun of Ibadanland.

anybody wants to cheat me, God will avenge for me. All the chiefs get their monthly salaries through

the same law they have failed to obey. Isn’t that funny?”

Alleging disregard to the rule

of law, which is an indispensable tool in a sane society, said, Chief Adetunji who is the 8th defendant bound by the third and fourth legs of the orders of injunction with absolute disregard for the said orders of the court has presented

No law recognises the Seriki line. As far as we are concerned, there is no committal proceeding against the Olubadan of Ibadan

IN THIS EDITION AFTER 18 YEARS BARRENNESS: Pastor’s wife delivers twins in Ogun •Page 24

Ladipo traders, Owoyemi family face-off lingers •Page 26

himself to the purported kingmakers of the Olubadan of Ibadan chieftaincy and the Governor of Oyo State for appointment as the Olubadan of Ibadan over which he said the appointment has been fixed for today.

Determined to pursue the issue to a logical conclusion, he brandished a copy of the suit entitled, ‘notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court’ and dated February 23, 2016, which he filed against the Olubadan designate.

He said; “Some people think they are above the law and I have the belief that the country is being governed by law . It gives me a lot of concern that some wealthy and famous people have no regard for law. This is very bad. I got a judgment in 1989 during the reign of Oba Asanike and we both signed that Seriki should join the royal line on both sides (Balogun and Olubadan). When they begged us, Muibi Akanbi, Alimi Alaadorin, Oyeranmi and myself were there. 21 of us were in Seriki line then. In 2007, they went to the Supreme Court three times and they failed.”

But responding to his comment on the committal proceeding he filed at the court, the Olubadanin-Council dismissed his claims saying the Olubadan-designate never flouted any court order, therefore there is no committal proceeding as alleged by the Seriki Chiefs.

The council said; “The only person recognised by the law is Seriki. We have no Seriki to be a member of the council. Law does not recognise any other line except the two existing lines. So, it does not matter if anybody got a judgment 10 or 13 years. No law recognises the Seriki line. As far as we are concerned, there is no committal proceeding against the Olubadan of Ibadan”.

The spokesperson for the council, High Lekan Balogun who heads the coronation committee said, “It is pertinent to stress the unrivalled uniqueness of the succession system and ascension lines to the Olubadan stool which recognises two main succession lines-Otun Olubadan and Balogun with all the logical and sequential steps.

“It is also statutory and common knowledge that contenders to this royal stool invariably are rooted essentially in the two approved lines with each line having 22 and 23 steps respectively on its ladder in a promotional system that cannot be circumvented. The two lines are marked with Continues on page 24 C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

OGUN STATE AFTER 18 YEARS BARRENNESS:

twins in Ogun

Pastor’s wife delivers

•Says she would have ended in psychiatric hospital

IT was a jubilation galore for the family of Dr. Tunde Akin Akinsanya who is the Chairman of the Pencostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Ogun state as his wife was delivered of twins, a male and a female recently after being unable to conceive for 18 years.

When Vanguard visited the pastor’s residence located within Sam Ewang State in Abeokuta, many well wishers besieged the house to celebrate with the lucky family.

Vanguard spoke with the mother of the twins, Mrs. Yetunde Akin-Akinsanya, who said she would be 46 years in May added that her marriage will be 19 years old in October.

She sheared her experience with Vanguard. Excerpts:

By Daud Olatunji

H

OW can you describe your 18 years barrenness experience?

It was awesome, let me just use that word. If not God, I would have ended where I don’t want, just like many people have ended up in Aro (psychiatric hospital ) and Hospital due to hypertension and lot more. But, I just told myself that whatever be the case, I will not develop any form of shame, because I know God will do it one day, so that by the time the the children come, I will not be nursing hypertension with the children.

God has been my succour , sincerely, many things have happened and I don’t just want to remember all those moments.

God has made me to forget, I just thank Him for making me to forget all those years. And I want to sincerely appreciate my-inlaws, because they have never troubled me for once, because any time they call me, especially

,the eldest son, he will just say that I know one day I will carry your child and will rejoice with you. And there was no time they threatened me that if I don’t give birth they will send me away or advise my husband to marry another wife. That was why I told my mother -in-law that acted as a mother that I really appreciate them for not tormenting me during those times.

Let us talk about your childhood I was born into a Christian home, Anglican to be precise, my father was a leader in Anglican Church before he passed away five years ago. And one thing he used to tell me then was that whatever will be will be and that has been our faith, I also got born again at Anglican church and since then, God has really been helping me.

How did you meet your husband?

Well, when I was in School of Nursing at Ijebu- Ode, one of

•Mrs. Yetunde Akin-Akinsanya with her twins my friends, her sister-in-law wanted to marry, so she invited us to Abeokuta and then we met and we exchanged addresses. I just know that when I saw him, in my heart , my spirit told me that he is my husband , but, I was making jest of myself asking if it was because he is handsome, I was abusing myself then that I was falling for beauty . But, when he wrote a letter to me, the holy

spirit told me again that the man that wrote the letter is my husband.

As a spinster, what was your opinion of barren women ?

I have never for once believed that I would wait this long, there was a time I told God that God I kept myself till I got married, why should it be me, but, there was no answer. So, seeing people waiting I feel for them. Not until

Taming the scourge of open defecation in Ekiti

I

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

N Ekiti State, the battle against open defecation is fast assuming the proportions of the all out war against smoking in public places.

In Ado-Ekiti, a notorious spot where people engage in public defecation with reckless abandon, aside from the inner city, is the popular Atikankan, a notorious criminal hide-out, in the mornings and evenings, rows of able bodied men and children are seen balancing delicately at the mouth of the canal emptying their bowels into the canal in the full glare of the passers-by.

In the inner-city of the state capital, residents of these areas rare pigs just for one purpose, to clean up their feaces, as toilets are hardly seen in these places.

If the above could be the norm in Ado-Ekiti, a metropolitan city with all the trappings of modernity and civilisation, how much more, one could say of the surrounding towns and villages, whose way of life could be described as very pristine and rustic.

Construction of toilet or latrine

in these places is still being regarded as unnecessary waste of money, especially with the abundance of vast forest, where one can easily empty one bowels without inhibition whatsoever.

Ekiti being mostly rural areas, the tendency becomes as natural as the air we breath!

Little wonder, a recent research by the United Nations’ Children Fund, UNICEF, revealed that Ekiti State, which prides herself as the nation’s Fountain of Knowledge, now tops the chart among Nigeria’s 36 states where

open defecation holds sway.

The international body stated further that the percentage which represents 1.8 million residents of the state out of a total population of 2.7 million are engaged in open defecation.

UNICEF also revealed that over sixty percent of the total population lacked access to safe water and hygienic environment.

It stated further that the percentage which represents 1.8 million residents of the state out of a total population of 2.7 million are engaged in open defecation.

•One of the toilets provided by UNICEF

I started counting years and I see how young ladies handle children. I will just say God, why don’t you give me children, these people are not appreciating it.

But, now I know that God’s timing is the best.

Your first reaction when you were confirmed pregnant?

It was like a dream, I didn’t want to believe it because I have had a miscarriage of a 12-week pregnancy in 2012. Also, my husband was not excited about it, because of the miscarriage, he said he didn’t want to be excited this time around so that, such things will not happen again. He was not excited, so, neither of us talked about it, we just kept it to ourselves.

Was the delay medical or spiritual?

Well, medically we were tested after a year of our marriage and they said nothing was wrong with us. God really helped us, though. Whether it is medical or spiritual, I wouldn’t know ,but ,all I know is that God has done it at the time he thinks it is the best.

How will you describe your husband in those 18 years?

Sincerely, I have accused him severally that he is not bothered about it, but, he will just tell me that by the time he breaks down, I will die, he always told me that he is a man and he cannot just show it to me that it is affecting him that I should just leave him to talk to God privately. He has not showed any reaction or thought about it for once.

But, me, whenever I see my period , I will cry and cry. At times I will trek from work to home and I will cry from work to my house.

But thank God today, I have not remembered such a thing any more.

Ibadan agog as 41st Olubadan assumes throne today Continues from page 23 genealogical significance.

“Since the ascension is strictly rotational between the two major chieftaincy lines according to the 1957 chieftaincy declaration, the next, that is, the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland must ascend the royal stool from the Balogun Line.

Having satisfied all the conditions precedent, the Olubadan-in-Council has appointed the Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Akanmu Olasupo Adetunji as the new and the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan.”

Members of the coronation committee include High Chiefs Lekan Balogun, Femi Olaifa, Tajudeen Ajibola and Abiodun Kola Daisi.

Others are Chief Mrs Yewande Durosaro, representative of Iyalode of Ibadan, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. H.O Ogunesan, President General, Central Council of Ibadan

Indigenes, Chief Wole Akinwande, Chief Bayo Oyero, former President, CCII, Mr Yomi Layinka and the representative of Olubadan designate, Alhaji Ambali Adetunji.

Chief Balogun doused tension when he said regardless of the litigation against the council, Seriki chiefs and members of the council still remain like siamese twins that cannot be easily separated.

It appears that if the Seriki chiefs lose this legal battle, the line may as well bid farewell to the stool because due to the length of time the legal tussle has lasted, they are seriously depleted. Besides, others have left the line and joined the two recognised lines.

Another snag is that it is the Olubadan in council that will approve the promotion of a chief in Seriki line to Seriki who can then join both lines and it is the same Council that doesn’t want a third line other than the two lines.

How reasonable will it be to feed and leave a rattle snake on the roof top while one goes to sleep?

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 —25

LAGOS STATE

Ladipo traders, Owoyemi family face-off lingers

By Monsuru Olowoopejo & Onozure Dania

T

HE face-off between traders of Ladipo Market and Owoyemi family, owners of the property at the Odo-Aladura section of the market, has intensified, after the property owners vowed to reclaim it and collect the N196 million owed by the traders while the legal battle lasted.

Meantime, the traders have accused the representative of the Owoyemi family, Monday Lawrence popularly called Ijoba of allegedly looting goods worth N45 million from the OdoAladura section of the market after the February 18, 2016 clash between the traders, and Monday and his gang.

Twenty eight-year-old, Anene Utazi was allegedly shot during

the fracas that ensued in the market February 18. He was said to have died a week later.

Counsel to the Owoyemi family, Mr. Debo Adeleke in an interview told Vanguard that the N196 million was the rent owed by the traders while the litigations lasted.

His words; “We have four court judgments. The first was delivered by Justice KekereEkun, the second by Justice Okogie, the third at the Court of Appeal and the last was delivered

by Justice Latifat Okunnu three weeks ago.

“We had an agreement on how to pay the debt and how the market would be redeveloped.

We planned to demolish the market in phases. And they promised to pay two weeks ago.

But in a bid not to pay, they often attack us.

“Whenever we try to enforce

the court order, the traders often attack us. And on that day, they came out en-masse to thwart the plan.

“On that day, while awaiting the deputy Sheriff to enforce the judgment, the traders attacked us. We, including Monday Lawrence, who was representing my clients in the market, were asked to withdraw from the scene.

“We don’t know who killed the trader. All their claims are false.

Infact, some of Monday ’s colleagues were also injured.

Monday was not involved in the fracas that led to the alleged killing or looting of the market.”

Speaking to Vanguard, Vice Chairman of Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association, LCEADA, Mr. Jude Chikanwakwo alleged that after Monday Lawrence and his gang shot Anene, they also destroyed

We don’t know who killed the trader. All their claims are false.

Infact, some of Monday’s colleagues were also injured.

Monday was not involved in the fracas that led to the alleged killing or looting of the market

and looted goods worth N45 million from the Odo-Aladura section of the market.

According to him, “On Wednesday, some of the traders left their sales in their safes with

How intrigues again threaten Ondo LG polls

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE – IS the April 23, 2016 Local Government elections in Ondo state jinxed?.

This is the question agitating the minds of most stakeholders in the political firmament of the state.

Cries of boycott by two major opposition Political Parties- the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, created doubt over the conduct of the poll.

Now allegation of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, occasioned by alleged imposition of candidates by the governor’s aides, infighting in the ruling party and other intrigues have characterized the poll which had been in abeyance in the last seven years over court action.

Also, some forces within the ruling PDP which scuttled the chances of the former President, Goodluck Jonathan from winning April 11 Presidential election in the state are at work

again to throw a spanner in the conduct of the council poll.

From the blue, the Dr Olu Ogunye faction which went into limbo after its successful coup during the general elections resurfaced last week spitting fire.

Dr. Ogunye who claimed he is the authentic state Chairman of the ruling PDP is believed to be acting out the script of the business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim asked the state Independent Electoral Commission to throw out the list of the candidates for the April Council election forwarded to it by an “impostor” Hon Clement Faboyede faction.

Some leaders of the PDP who are moles and are still not comfortable with the leadership style and the winners take all attitude of the governor are equally prompting Ogunye to create hiccups in the party.

The cat and mouse drama between the two factions came to the fore early in the month when Faboyede led members of the state executive to the office of the state electoral body to submit a

•Clement Faboyede: Ondo PDP factional Chairman

•Olu Agunloye: Ondo PDP factional Chairman

list of its candidates that emerged after a primaries in which no member of the old PDP was considered for any of the 18 council chairmanship seats.

Vanguard learned that the same old PDP leaders are behind the latest uprising within the party for the unfair treatment

allegedly metted out to them by the governor and his foot soldiers across the state.

They have vowed to scuttle the council polls. But t heir treat seems to be a tall dream as the state electoral body will as a matter of fact do the bidding of the ruling government.

the intention of depositing them in the banks the following day.

On Thursday after the attack, the traders could not find their money aside the goods that were looted.”

Chikanwakwo added that they have written to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni and the Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government, Mr. Jide Bello; to intimate them of the crime allegedly committed on February 18, 2016.

The Chairman LCEADA, Mr. Kingsley Ogunor, lamented that it was pathetic that the counsel, Mr. Debo Adeleke representing the Owoyemi family alleged that tenants owe him N196 million.

But the question is when and how. These were property under litigation between the families.

All claims by the Counsel (Adeleke) were all fallacies.”

Meanwhile the family who runs a Company, Owoyemi Motors and Finance Co Ltd, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, to help them enforce a judgment of a Lagos State High Court which declared them as the lawful owners of Ladipo Auto spareparts Market, Mushin, Lagos.

The company through its lawyer Mr Debo Adeleke petitioned the AIG asking him to assist in the process of recovering the property and evict unlawful squatters and some of the spare parts dealers at the market who were ordered by the court to vacate the land.

In the petition the company alleged that the traders have refused to obey the 1998 judgement of the then judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice K.M.O Kekere-Ekun (now of the Supreme Court) as well as that of Justice O.A. Adefope-Okojie which gave the legal ownership of the land to the company and the Owoyemi Family.

It also stated that the Owoyemi Motors’ ownership of the 5.154 acres of land upon which the market stands was decided on January 23, 1998 by Justice Kekere-Ekun in suit number ID/ 2200/96, while applications challenging this judgment were dismissed as lacking merit first

by Justice Adefope-Okojie and then at the Court of Appeal in suit numbers CA/L/56M/99 and CA/L/232/10.

According to the petition Mushin Local Government and the Odo Aladura Community of Papa Ajao, Mushin are the defendants/applicants in the suits.

On February 3, another attempt by Odo Aladura Community seeking inter alia, a stay of execution of the 1998 judgement of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun through an application dated December 10, 2011 was also dismissed by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

26— Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

OWAMBE •A former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr. Ismael Olalekan Alli; Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Dr. Lekan Balogun; Osi Balogun, High Chief Olufemi Olaifa; and Asipa Balogun, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, at a press conference heralding the coronation of the 41st Olubadan, at Mapo Hall, Ibadan... on Tuesday

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (4th left), in a group photograph with members of the Civil Service Commission, Hon. Wasiu Ayo Odeyemi; Pastor Israel Alagba; Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Adeyinka Taiwo Oyemade; other members of the Commission, Engr. Oladimeji Oshinowo; Hon. Satar Arilesere and Head of Service, Mrs. Ademola Adebowale during the inauguration of the Commission, at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Thursday.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule; Majority Leader, Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade; Principal, Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School,Ven. Olaoluwa Adeyemi; Proprietor & Bishop of Remo Dioceses, Bishop Michael Fape and member, Board of Governor, Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Justice Honponu Wusu, during a visit to the School where three female students were abducted by a gang of armed men at Agunfoye Lugbusi Village, Adamo, Ikorodu, on Wednesday

•Mrs. Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun, Managing Director, Lagos State Parks & Gardens (Laspark); Mrs. Anifowoshe Amidat, Tutor General / Permanent Secretary, Education District 6; Dr. Samuel Adejare, representative of the wife of Lagos State Governor & Commissioner for the Environment; Dr. (Mrs) Titi Anibaba, former Managing Director, Laspark and Mr. Toyin Onisarotu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment/Coordinator Of the park cutting the tape to officially hand over the building of 10 children’s convenience donated by wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday.

THE TEAM EDITOR: Adeleke Adeseri 08054682557 (sms only)

•Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Deputy Director, Anyang Group International Trade Corporation, Li Fushi; and Assistant President, China Railway Construction Corporation, Chen Xiaoxing; during a meeting with the minister in Abuja...on Tuesday

CORRESPONDENTS: Dapo Akinrefon Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Rotimi Ojomoyela Monsuru Olowoepejo

Lagos Ibadan Osogbo Akure Abeokuta Lagos Ekiti

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—27

Majek Fashek, King Sunny Ade, Kcee, others to headline Lagos music festival R

EGGAE music legend, Majek Fashek is due to return to the stage this season, as he joins King Sunny Ade, D’banj, Iyanya and Phyno to thrill music lovers at this year’s Lagos Music Festival.

The music festival is billed to hold at its regular venue, Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac on March 18.

Other artistes on the line up include, Harrysong, Timaya, Tekno, Orisefemi, Olamide, Lil Kesh, Omawumi, Niger Raw,

Ketchup, Wande Coal, Ruffcoin Nwa-Aba, Sound Sultan, Patoranking, Adekunle Gold, CDQ-Shales, Orezi, Pasuma, Marvelous Benji, Rayce, Ycee among others.

Unveiling the artistes at a press parley during the week, “ Limpopo” crooner, Kcee representing Five Star Music, organizers of the annual music fiesta said, this year’s festival promises to be an interplay of music, comedy and inventive

culinary expression.

Unlike the previous editions, Kcee said, this year’s festival which is being organized in conjunction with Golden Tulip Hotel, would not only be mind-blowing, but also, it would create a perfect blend of old and new performers.

The music festival was established about four years ago to reemphasize the importance of Festac town as the capital of art and music in Nigeria, having hosted the Second World Festival of Black Arts and Culture back in 1977.

Juliet Ibrahim hosts The Chronicles of Ushbebe Live D ELECTABLE Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim will be the host of this year’s edition of comedy and music concert titled, “ The Chronicles of Ushbebe Live,” which holds on Sunday, March 13, at Muson Centre, Lagos.

Organizer of the event, comedian and OAP, Justice Nuagbe, a.k.a Ushbebe, under the auspice of his Pride Rock Entertainment disclosed this, during the week.

According to the comedian cum compère, the fifth edition is billed to be a landmark event considering the fact that Pride Rock Entertainment has not reneged on its promise of delivering a world class concert that is devoid of hitches. “We have gone the extra mile to bring the very best

of comedy and music to our fans and we will not compromise on quality. This is the fifth time we will be holding the show and guests should expect nothing but the best.

This is even more so as we have never failed to dish out quality entertainment to our fans,” the entertainer said.

Expected to thrill fans at the show include, comedian I Go Save, Gordons, AY, Helen Paul, Seyilaw, Elenu, as well as Dan D Humorous while music will be provided by 2baba, Yemi Alade, Lil Kesh, Sound Sultan, Tekno, Falz, Reminisce, Ice Prince, Harrysong, Kcee, and Ycee.

DJ Spinall, and DJ big N will be on the wheels of steel, while Veentage Band will be on hand to spice up the event.

My priesthood will always come before music — Catholic priest-turned-singer

By Benjamin Njoku

U

K-based Catholic priest, Fr. Albert Owie Ofere from Diocese of Warri, Delta State who recently delved into music to further win souls for Christ, has said that his priesthood would always come before his love for music.

“I will always give priority to my priesthood before any other thing,” Fr. Ofere reiterated.

Ofere recently released his debut album, “Every Day of My Life.” The album which has a collection of six tracks: God Dey My Side, When I Think, Where Were You, Jesus Lamb of God, God You are Good and “Oghene me Do” is a fusion of Afro pop and gospel music.

C M Y K

He becomes the second catholic priest to delve into music after Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu. As a priest, Fr. Ofere said, “ I love singing and listening to music”, adding “while working in the UK as the Chaplain to the Nigerian Catholics in England and Wales, my love for music developed even more. I like to sing, music is part of the family, it’s always been in the genes.”

Explaining why he decided to do Afro pop, Ofere said, “It’s because many people like to dance to Afro pop music and using it to glorify God would help to win more souls for Him.” Singing was something Fr. Ofere started doing when he “was a

child” He admits that music runs in their family. “My dad was once a choirmaster. His younger brother, Fr. Richard Ofere who is now a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Benin sings a lot too. In fact, he was a choirmaster in the seminary. I never joined the choir but I was occasionally invited to lead some songs or choruses in my seminary choir. As a deacon, I sang a lot in Sacred Heart Cathedral Warri.” Ofere who was ordained in 2001, as a priest, said, he’s not doing music because of what he would gain from it. Rather, “It’s something I love doing.” He also revealed that his priesthood would always come first before his love for music.

ABN TV débuts ....set to organise Miss Nigeria Houston

By Anozie Egole

D

ETERMINED to tell Nigerian story through entertainment and to promote African culture, Paul Arowolo, has unveiled African Broadcasting Network, ABN television in far away USA. According to him, the television is to correct the negative stories people already have about Nigerian and project the country in a good light.

“Over there in US, nobody wants to do business in Nigeria because of the security challenges here in the country. So these television station intends to change those negative impressions people already have about Nigerian. We want to give people the proper information about the country Nigeria. We wants to give Nigerians in diaspora the proper information about the country. The station also intends to promote the diverse African culture especially, Nigerian through entertainment using Nigerian languages.

We intend to extend to other African countries. We are also soliciting the general public to help us with good contents. We are yet to go into news production but will start that very soon, We are also planning to organise Miss Nigerian Houston, on the 1st of October,” he hinted.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Genital assisted device will reduce deaths of mothers — experts

By Gabriel Olawale

By Chioma Obinna

M

R

ESPITE recently came on the way of pregnant mothers as a team of Nigerian medical doctors based in the Republic of Ireland introduced a hand– held vaginal assisted device to major public hospitals across the country.

The device known as KIWI, produced

by Clinical Innovation, United States of America is used to assist women who have difficulty delivering their babies.

The device which is simple, light and mother and child friendly is said to work on the principle of vacuum delivery.

Statistics available have shown that for every 100,000 pregnant women in Nigeria, 576 die due to birth complications, including lack of skilled attendants and poor health facilities. But with the introduction of the device in the country, experts believed that most Nigerian women would not only benefit from the device but it would reduce the number of women dying during delivery.

In an interview with Good Health Weekly during a training session with Obstetrics and Gynaecologists at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Dr. Oluwole Alabi, said the hand-held device is extremely useful compared to the conventional cup delivery machine that requires electricity and quite a number of staff to facilitate delivery.

“The KIWI product has encompassed all the different components of the conventional machine into one single piece. It is a tiny cup and does not require electricity or require a lot of people to facilitate delivery. All you need is an obstetrician that is going to conduct the delivery and someone that will take the baby.

“It is friendly to both mother and child and the obstetrician. The conventional cup causes a lot of lacerations and

TRAINING: Dr. Oluwole Alabi displaying the Kiwi assisted vaginal delivery set during a training for the staff of Lagos Island Maternity. swelling or bleeding for the baby and mother,” Dr. Alabi stated.

On the advantages of the device over caesarean section, CS, he said with the hand held device, many women who have difficulty during delivery would be saved from undergoing a CS. “Any time you are doing CS it’s an operation but people tend to forget that it is a major surgery. God has designed the vagina route as the way for the baby to be delivered but if you now have to go through another route then you are

For every 100,000 pregnant women in Nigeria, 576 die due to birth complications

using another method. CS comes with complications such as bleeding, injury to the bowel, bladder, scarring and infections but if you have a vagina delivery, whether spontaneously or assisted it is better,” he explained.

He further noted that his team was going round some hospitals across the country to impact training to doctors and nurses legally involved in child delivery to ensure that the device is properly used.

Speaking, the Managing Director of Morpharm Advance Trust Limited, representing Clinical Innovation of the United States of America, Dr. Gbenga Salawo said Kiwi was the latest innovation in obstetrics and gynaecology.

According to him, the device goes for an introductory price of N10, 000 per unit and it is very durable.

Although, it could be re-used due to its durable nature but it is designed for single use.

Community pharmacists caution FG on NDDC

By Gabriel Olawale

T

HE Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN Lagos State chapter has implored the Federal government and all its relevant agencies to fast track plans that will lead to actualization of the revised National Drugs Distribution Guidelines, NDDG. Speaking during their Annual General Meeting, the Chairman, Pharm. Biola Paul-Ozieh said the postponement of NDDG implementation has denied the drugs sector in the country of any tangible development.

“Our regulatory authority has not done much, the environment still remains unconducive because of open drug markets.

“Last year when NDDG was to take effect from July 2015 with implementation and sanction, it was later postponed and we have been persuaded that it has the potential of sanitizing the chaotic drugs circulation in the country.”

Paul-ozieh however called on the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control to work towards the actualization of the revised guideline with timelines.

C M Y K

MLSCN reads riot act on illegal labs

MEETING: From right: Vice Chairman, ACPN, Lagos Chapter, Obideyi Olabanji; Chairman, Mrs. Abiola Paul-ozieh; Secretary, Lawrence Ekhaton; Assist. Sec., Pharm. Moyosade Ademola at the 2016 AGM held in Lagos recently.

Raising alarm over the menace of drug misuse and abuse in the country, PaulOzieh said that many youths now regularly misuse cough mixture with Codeine as well as the analgesic, Tramadol.

She, however, called on government to accelerate actions on the closing down

of open drug markets scattered all over the nation. “Unrestricted access to medicines contribute in no small measure to the escalating misuse and abuse of drugs in our society. If there is any benefit from cheapness of some of these drugs being hawked around, in the end it leads to a number various disease and treatment failure.”

EDICAL Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, MLSCN has reiterated its commitment to get rid of all illegal and substandard medical laboratories across the country and ensure that test results from lab are accurate and reliable.

Speaking during inspection activities in Lagos, the Chairman, Agency National Task Force, Dr. Lawrena Okoro said during their first week of inspection in Lagos, 116 facilities were visited out of which 28 were sealed for failing to meet minimum standards, or operating without council approval and four persons were arrested for quackery and impersonation.

“In Ojo area of Lagos, there is a particular premises where a sonographer employed one young boy to be doing all kinds of tests. Critical among the results we found there was the one conducted to access somebody’s state of kidney function, but it’s regrettable that the result issued was only compatible with people in the mortuary,” Okoro noted She said another lab had over 100 patients on its malaria parasite test record this year and all the patients were issued positive result. “We think and believe it is not possible. It is either the person is inexperienced or forging the result,” he posited.

Okoro warned that it will no longer be business as usual has no justifiable reasons to engage in unethical practices. “The task force which is poised to go round the country is already in Lagos, to flush out quacks that have no business being in any medical laboratory,”he said.

Get alert promo: Nigerians laud Astymin

A

S more winners continue to emerge every day in the Astymin Get Alert Promo, ceaseless accolades have begun to trail the Astymin brand from many Nigerians, including winners who emerged and are being rewarded by the brand.

The promo which commenced on the 1st of February to reward Nigerians for their loyalty and support, as part of the celebration of its fifteen years of existence in the country, has seen many Nigerians smiling to the bank courtesy of the promo.

Many of the winners believe that Astymin is not only delivering positively on their health and well-being through its essential amino-acid and multivitamins, it is also putting smiles on their faces by subtly touching their lives where it matters.

One of the lucky winners, Inuolaji Bukola Ajara shared her experience on the Astymin Get Alert Promo and how she intends to improve her business with her prize reward. She said she has been using Astymin with her family after trying it the first time, following doctor’s recommendation. Since then, Astymin had been the regular daily multivitamin for her entire household.

Apparently excited by the reward, another winner, Pastor Mrs Esther Fekumo from Igbalu area of Ikorodu, Lagos said she got to know about Astymin over a year ago.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—29

•Ize-Iyamu: The PDP's Annointed

•Odubu: Deputy Governor

•Uzamere: Keeping them guessing

•Oshiomhole: Outgoing governor •Ogienwonyi: APC contender

•Obaseki: The APC's Annointed

EDO 2016:

Cat and mouse games

THE emerging contest in the two leading political parties in Edo State is laced with much intrigues, shadow boxing and conspiracy theories

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

W

AS there really an impeachment plot against Dr. Pius Odubu, the incumbent deputy governor of Edo State at the beginning of the year? A shadowy group known as Let the People Lead Vanguard, had asserted as such in paid newspaper advertorials blaming those it claimed were bent on frustrating Odubu’s years-long aspiration to succeed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as governor as architects of the plot.

Given the shadowy nature of those behind the allegation, it was not difficult for conspiracy

theorists within and outside the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo State to allege a plot to hit the heads of the governor and the deputy governor together.

The leadership of the APC and that of the State House of Assembly eventually came out to deny the plot. However, if it had ended at that, the assertions of a plot by vested political interests to derail all but one of the governorship aspirants in the APC in Edo State would have been swept away.

Following Odubu, it has now emerged that all those in the inner circle of the outgoing governor are coming under

pressure to pull out of the governorship contest in favour of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the chairman of the administration’s Economic Management Team.

Mr. Osarodion Ogie, the state commissioner of works who is believed to have erected the most formidable political structure within the Oshiomhole camp, with support from many of the governor ’s aides is also believed to be under pressure to step down his campaign.

His campaign is still proceeding apace after the hush-hush attempt made at the beginning of the year to get him out.

Those piling the pressure have largely ignored the about four other major aspirants in the race believing that they are

of no threat, with the notable exception of Mr. Kenneth Imasuagbon, famed as the Rice Man or Ipad Man, who it is believed cannot be intimidated out of the race.

The authorities in the state are believed to be piling more pressure on Odubu and Ogie than the others who they believe could more easily damage the Obaseki project from within

Other contenders in still in the race are former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, former Minister of State (Works), Dr Chris Ogienwonyi and the immediate past candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, General Charles Airhiavbere, (retd).

The authorities in the state are believed to be piling more pressure on Odubu and Ogie than the others who they believe could more easily damage the Obaseki project from within.

Imasuagbon, on the other hand, is believed not to be banking on the governor ’s support and is determined to slug it out irrespective of the governor’s wish. Imasuagbon’s sense of bravado it was learnt flows from the determination of Continues on page 30

30—VANGUARD, FRIDAY,

MARCH 4, 2016

Why we're queuing behind Okowa’s Smart Agenda — Onoriode, Delta PDP treasurer HON. Sunday Eromedoghene Onoriode, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is the immediate past council chairman of Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. He is presently the State Director of Youths Mobilization, the Assistant Secretary and also the Acting Treasurer of the state chapter of the party.

In this interview, he bares his mind on sundry issues pertaining to the Delta State Government and other national issues. Excerpts:

By Godwin Oghre

H

OW do you react to perceptions that resources available to the government do not compare with achievements on ground?

I am not in the House of Assembly, I am a state officer of PDP but to the best of my knowledge, the senator, my governor, Dr. Okowa has done very well. This is despite the economic problems we are facing in the country.

He is a very hardworking governor, not because of his new position but he is someone who has over the years, been from

councillor, local government chairman, commissioner, secretary to state government, senator and now governor of Delta State. So, tell me why will such person not excel? I know he is going to do very well because his experience counts.

You will see at the end that his Smart Agenda will usher in tremendous changes to Delta State.

How smart is Okowa’s Smart Agenda now in its ninth month?

An action without planning is a failure, the SMART Agenda of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is geared towards making Deltans

•Onoriode: Delta is behind Okowa especially the youths, selfreliant, and it is not a thing you just gather them and give them money.

The programme is all about training them, you train them and at the end of the day empower them to be on their own, with that

EDO 2016: Cat and mouse games Continues from page 29 the APC leadership in Abuja to use the party register as compiled during the registration of party members for the congresses.

Remarkably, recent attempts to alter the party register became an issue at a closeddoor meeting between the aspirants and the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who himself was the first civilian governor of the state.

Odigie-Oyegun with his legacy in view was believed to have assured the aspirants of the integrity of the register. It is believed that such assurance may have provoked the backers

of Obaseki to further put pressure on Odubu and Ogie to pull out to ensure that the Oshiomhole political camp enters the contest as a bloc against the competition largely fired by Imasuagbon and others who it is believed could take advantage of the division in the camp of the governor to push themselves through.

Given the apprehension over the alleged discomfort by the palace in Benin over the aspiration of Obaseki, political stakeholders see the renewed pressures on the likes of Ogie, Imasuagbon and Odubu to get off the race as indicative of the governor’s camp to go for broke with Obaseki.

The seeming singlemindedness of the Oshiomhole camp on Obaseki is contrary to earlier suggestions that the governor would come up with a last minute aspirant outside of the declared aspirants as a way of soothing the palace and royal enthusiasts who are said to be uncomfortable with Obaseki on account of incidents involving his family in Benin colonial history.

The same sense of unease is also believed to be reigning in the PDP where it is generally alleged that the party leaders with the notable exception of Senator Roland Owie, have agreed on Pastor Osaze IzeIyamu. The other aspirants

•Edebiri: PDP contender

•Osunbor: Former governor

•Iduoriyekemwen: PDP

they can help employ other youths to work with them.

And the programme started immediately the Governor was sworn-in. The first batch just graduated or got through with training in different field or area of specialization.

Some into farming, welding and fabrication, crafts work, and all left to start on their own with starter-pack.

The essence of the programme is to train in the area where they can excel since government cannot p r o v i d e employment to all of them.

I believe the programme is a laudable one. It is not that of Father

Christmas, it is something you must be interested in. So far so good, the reports are showing that the programme is a welcome development.

How do you compare the Okowa administration with its predecessor?

include Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, Osaro Onaiwu, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Solomon Edebiri. All of them with the notable exception of Senator Uzamere are believed to be appealing to the party leaders to reconsider their options.

Ward for ward and street for street Uzamere, on the other hand, it was learnt, has largely left the party leaders guessing as he has reportedly kept aloof leaving them in a state of unease given his record as the only senator from Benin to have won re-election, albeit on two different political platforms.

The focus on Ize-Iyamu, one of the very prominent PDP leaders, told Vanguard was on the basis of his ability to frontally confront Governor Oshiomhole in the field.

“Ize-Iyamu is the only one among them who can match Oshiomhole ward for ward and street for street,” the PDP leader told Vanguard.

But besides the issue of being dogged, party insiders say the choice of Ize-Iyamu is evidence of the full reconciliation between Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Chief Tony Anenih, who fell out after the House of Igbinedion, as it is called, fell in love with

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa are both members of PDP and cannot compare them because they are operating the policy of the party and by extension, delivering to Deltans their campaign promises, both are goal scorers from time we have known and we are proud of them. You know that there is this concept that no son will want to do lesser than his father, as no younger brother will want to do lesser than his elder brother.

The government of Senator Okowa is fresh and just started but he will definitely do well because he has started very well.

He started with Delta State queuing behind him, he is a product of free and fair primary, free and fair elections and those that voted for him are surely behind him.

How do you react to perceptions that Okowa might move to APC, given the rate the APC is growing in the state?

APC has no impact in Delta State and it has not made any meaningful impact in the state like PDP. For instance, this is my office and you came to see me working, which shows that PDP has a structure on ground but if you go to other political parties in the state, you will see that they don’t have anything on ground, you will see them coming just few months to another election and you call that political party?

Oshiomhole in 2006.

The decision of the PDP leaders to focus on Ize-Iyamu is said to be delighting the Oshiomhole camp which is believed to be working out campaign materials to remind the electorate of Ize-Iyamu preeminence in whatever is regarded as the legacy of Chief Lucky Igbinendion’s eight years in office as governor.

Ize-Iyamu served variously as chief of staff, Secretary to the State Government and at all times as political enforcer in the Igbinedion government.

“Watch out, Oshiomhole will be so delighted with Ize-Iyamu and will put billboards of Igbinendion and Ize-Iyamu together throughout the state to remind them of the past,” a leading political figure in the state told Vanguard.

The focus on Ize-Iyamu nonetheless, Senator Owie and his followers, including a sizeable proportion of the PDP apparatchik in Edo State, continue to project Edebiri, who made a big impression on the electorate when he contested the last time on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Many in Edo State today see the initial outlook in Edo State as an Obaseki vs. Ize-Iyamu showdown. But whether that will be the final outlook in September is another matter.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—31

BAYELSA: Deafening sounds of a re-run election Benson who addressed journalists on the matter maintained that the judgment written by Justice Ejembi was not delivered in an open court. He however said he had filed a suit at the same court challenging the legality of the ruling nullifying his election into the state Assembly. Benson, added that pending the determination of the suit, he remained the authentic Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

THE controversies over an alleged fake Court of Appeal judgement on Southern Ijaw Constituency IV may have been settled and a rerun election fixed for March 5. But the issues preceding the poll have not just confounded stakeholders, but also dramatic.

By Samuel Oyadongha

T

HE rescheduled poll would enable the sacked Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and his rival, Mr. Ebifaghe Orunimighe of the All Progressive Congress APC, to again test their grassroots popularity.

According to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Austen Okojie, the fresh election shall be conducted in all the wards except Olodiama Ward 4 and Polling Units 20-30 in Foropa Ward 14.

Prior to the release of the time table, Benson had repeatedly claimed that the appeal court ruling of December 9, 2015 did not nullify his victory.

Benson had refused to vacate the seat and his position as speaker, insisting that the written judgment was different from the court’s records of proceedings which dismissed the appeal.

He continued to retain his seat and also chaired the House session that received the state’s 2016 Appropriation Bill from Governor Seriake Dickson.

Trouble started in January when the APC demanded the resignation of the Speaker over the ruling. The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, according to the APC, had declared as null and void the election of Benson and ordered

a fresh election in the Constituency 4 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

The Court ordered that the election of Benson was null and void. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Hon. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko and Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adam, said: “It is hereby ordered that fresh elections shall be conducted in all the wards of the constituency within 90days from today except in Olodiama ward four and the polling units 20-30 in Foropa ward four (4).”

“These results from Olodiama ward four (4) and polling unit 20-

Benson had refused to vacate the seat and his position as speaker, insisting that the written judgment was different from the court’s records of proceedings which dismissed the appeal

Former speaker

•Benson: Vying for his former seat this weekend 30 in Foropa ward four(4) shall upon the fresh elections in other wards as ordered, thereafter be duly collated and final declaration/return made.”

However, the APC, in a statement accused Benson of refusing to obey the order which meant that he would vacate his seat as a member of the House before the re-run election. “As I send this message now, the Speaker has refused to vacate the

seat. He went ahead on Friday to receive the 2016 Appropriation Bill as submitted by the governor, Seriake Dickson. We are seeking legal means to compel the court to issue a contempt order against him and get him arrested and evicted from the House.”

But the embattled Speaker dismissed the claim and insisted that his election was not annulled by the court of appeal sitting in Port Harcourt.

••A royal role in govt

By Emmanuel Aziken & Samuel Oyadongha THE inauguration of the new government scribe in Bayelsa State would is expected to bring more than a royal flair to the governance of the state.

I

T was a solemn plea from a royal father who was at the centre of the recent political brinkmanship that nearly tore the state asunder.

Speaking at his inauguration as the new Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, SSG, HRH Barrister David SerenaDokubo Spiff, Ada Spiff IX paramount ruler of Spiff Town (Ada Ama) Twon Brass, charged all Balyesans to put aside the preelection bickering that tore the state apart.

“I have no doubt that if we (Bayelsans) work with the governor, Bayelsa would be bright again” Spiff declared.

HRH Spiff who was brought in just last year to help stabilise the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Bayelsa State as acting

chairman of the state chapter of the party, was last week appointed as the new secretary to the state government, SSG. It was a surprising move, given indications that Spiff had been expected to withdraw from his visible role in the political terrain after the successful re-election of Governor Serikae Dickson.

Spiff who comes from the same local government area as Chief Timipire Sylva, the immediate past governor of the state who was also the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the last governorship election was the subject of attacks on the day of the last governorship election.

The attack left him physically traumatised, and his home vandalised led to his hospitalisation abroad for weeks.

But if anyone was expected to bridge the division that arose from the governorship election, many expect Dokubo-Spiff, to be the one. Besides his royal clout, Dokubo-Spiff has over the last ten years delicately walked at the borders of political re-

Governor Seriake Dickson (right) congratulating Serena DokuboSpiff shortly after being sworn in as the new Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government at Government House, Yenagoa.

engineering both at Bayelsa and at the national level.

One of the country’s leading corporate lawyers with offices based in Port-Harcourt, DokuboSpiff was also one of the leading voices from the South-South at the National Political Reform Conference of 2005. With his inauguration as SSG, he is expected to bring the tact that has guided him thus far into his duties in guiding the operations of government.

He was, however, realistic when he said at the inauguration that the citizenry should not put their expectation beyond the

reality on ground noting that the economy has His words, “high expectation from government in infrastructure and other sectors of the economy is no longer feasible, and then we must have a rethink when placing demand because the money is no longer there.

“No matter the economic policies we pursue, we will not succeed except we are united, the election is over and whatever animosity, bitterness and hatred that ensued during election let’s put it in the past regardless of political party affinity and face the reality on ground and the task of

“I stand by the judgment of December 9, 2015 dismissing the appeal of my opponent. And until otherwise proven beyond reasonable doubt, I remain the Speaker and would preside and rule over the affairs of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly,” he had declared.

On February 10, 2016, the court, ruling on a fresh application filed by Benson, validated its earlier judgment that nullified the election of the former speaker. The court presided over by a new panel of five justices, admitted that the December 9 lead judgment was prepared by Justice Ejembi Eko in agreement with Justices Mohammed Garba and Stephen Adah.

The new justices, who validated the judgment, are Abdu Aboki, Sidi Bage, Samuel Oseji, Ibrahim Bdliya and Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf. With the March 5 election date closer, expectations are high over the likely outcome of the exercise.

moving the state forward.”

The new Bayelsa government scribe reiterated the need for the people to be patient with the governor, describing him as a visionary politician that has all it takes to reposition the state and the Ijaw nation.

He, however, thanked God, noting that during his brief stay as Acting Chairman of the State Chapter of the PDP, he was able to pilot the affairs of the party to victory; adding that when he was planning to return to his profession, the governor found him worthy to serve as secretary to state government.

He assured that his entrance into mainstream governance would open vista of opportunities to stimulate all sectors of the economy in spite of the economic challenges in the country.

Earlier, Governor Dickson had charged the new appointees to use their wealth of experience to evolve a strategy to move the state forward amidst the dwindling allocation to the state occasioned by the economic challenges faced by the country.

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO: Forget about tough challenges you went through yesterday and concentrate on the best way to move forward today. Here is a day when unexpected from your partner can positively lift up part of you.

LIBRA: Those of you willing to embrace hard work and practical approach will have genuine cause to smile for unexpected financial success. Don’t discourage your colleagues with new ideas at work.

SCORPIO: New ideas that cross your mind very suddenly today should be taken very seriously as such can lead to tangible success either now or in the near future.

Family issues and matters-of-the-heart are favoured.

SAGITTARIUS: Your creativity quotient will be enhanced. And you are part of those that can come by new and powerful ideas suddenly today the way your working pattern will be lifted. Try to be as family minded as possible.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

About History

By Richard Eromosele

H

ISTORY is defined as the study of past events.In order words, history is simply the study of actions and

inactions of some individuals.It is the study of what some men and women do in other to shape the world.It is the

TERROR MUDA

story of men and women who dared.History is the narrative of the exploit and conquest of men

in “Scavenger Elite”

and women who are led by their convic-tions.Some people make history, some write it and some read it.If the history of the world is to be written today,where will you be placed?

By Lanre Kehinde

CAPRICORN: Tomorrow will bring you good result in many ways but if you are more co-operative today, you will have genuine cause to smile. This is the wrong time to reject good ideas from your spouse and/or business partners.

AQUARIUS: Good ideas to enhance your working method and considerably enhance your finances will come your way very suddenly; you are therefore advised to go around with pen and paper. Be more family minded.

PISCES: Uranus in your Star at 120 degree angle to Mercury in Cancer will play positive role over your mind and if you take your personal ideas more seriously today, unexpected success will be yours. Be more loving.

ARIES: Your friends may come up with good ideas about your social life the way both your career/business and finances will be benefited. Good suggestions from younger persons within your home and other base of operation should be taken more seriously today.

TAURUS: Both your personal ideas and suggestions from your tried and trusted friends should be taken more seriously today, more especially if such will have direct effect on your finances. Be more ambitious.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

GEMINI: Although you are power house of ideas, there is nothing wrong in your becoming more receptive to others with good ideas meant to enhance both your business and money-making-ability. Be more loving.

CANCER: Mercury in your Star Sign at positive angle to Uranus in Pisces will bring you new ideas very suddenly. Such ideas should be noted in black and white so that you don’t forget what can bring great breakthrough.

LEO: It is good to be as confident and ambitious as you are now but, it is equally important you give in to spirit of co-operation as others can come up with good ideas meant for your success very suddenly.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PISCES RULER = COMPASSIONATE/SPIRITUAL NEPTUNE. QUALITY = MUTABLE. ELEMENT = WATER. SYMBOL = TWO OPPOSING FISHES. GROUP = FEMININE. ZODIACAL NUMBER = 12TH. Mutable aspect of Pisces indicates that people born under it are changeable, by this I mean they change their minds often times. Being a water sign, natives of this Star have very strong intuition and can flow into anybody heart and/or mind.

Neptune as the ruler of Pisces brings compassion and ARTISTIC talent into Pisces born peoples’ creativity quotient. Neptune rules psychic related thing and many of things that cannot be placed above board; Neptune makes most natives of this star sign secretive, hard to understand and dreaming.

Two opposing fishes as joint symbol of Pisces oftentimes responsible for occasional confusion suffer by all natives of Pisces one time or the other. It is truly important for them to learn how to control both their emotion and mind.

Because it is easy for Pisces people to become pessimistic unnecessarily. The reasons are while one of the fishes may head for optimism and day dreaming, the other inclination may be of fear, despondency and timidity. Thus, confusion can creep in and that will be to the detriment of their confidence.

Cultivation of practical nature and adoption of realistic method in all you do will be of great importance. It is equally important for Pisces born people like you to take psychic related things more seriously because they can make use of psychic and/or spiritual related things.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—33

Ogbe-Ijoh warns against repeat of 1996 communal clash in Delta

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

U

DU—CONCERNED Members for Peace in Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State, has appealed to the state government to urgently implement the recommendations of the commission of inquiry set up to look into the land dispute between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities to forestall a reoccurrence of another crisis in both communities.

Recounting the 1996 communal clash between the two communities that led to loss of lives and property on both sides, coordinator of the group, Friday Denighan, while lamenting the renewed hostilities by some youths from one of the communities, appealed to security operatives in the area to be watchful over the activities of the youths.

According to him, "to forestall another crisis in both communities, the attention of relevant authorities is hereby drawn to the continuous blockade and other criminal activities being

perpetrated on the only access road leading to Ogbe-Ijoh town which is the headquarters of Warri South-West council.

“The peace pact signed by

representatives of both communities at Government House, Asaba, on March 3, 2015 should be maintained for the overall development of both

communities.

“But the blockade of the road and toll collection by some youths from one of the communities is an invitation to violence.”

SWEARING-IN: From left: Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Mr. David DokuboSpiff; Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd) and the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Duate Iyabi, after the SSG's swearing-in, at Government House, Yenagoa. Photo: Lucky Francis.

Melaye berated over alleged uncomplimentary remarks about Edo gov's wife

C

By Anozie Egole

HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye, has been berated over his uncomplimentary remarks about the wife of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Mrs Iara Oshiomhole.

Melaye, who represents KogiWest senatorial district, while contributing to a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, which advocated the patronising of products made in Nigeria, was quoted as saying that Nigerians should not emulate Governor Oshiomhole, who, he said, opted not to “patronise made-in-Nigeria women but a foreign one.”

A former aide to Governor Oshiomhole, John Mayaki, in a statement, yesterday, said: “Melaye veered off the radar on the issue of made-in-Nigeria products which for me cannot and should not include made-inNigeria women, if the intention of the initiator of the motion is not to be misconstrued. Iara Oshiomhole is doing well for Nigeria and Edo people and does not deserve the categorization Melaye attempted to taint her with.

“Mrs. Oshiomhole’s We Care Trust, her pet project whose goal is to care for the welfare of children, provides education for the girlchild, vocational training for the youths and empowerment for women has just empowered about 36 individuals across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

She had envisioned a society where, though challenging, resources are equitably and sustainably managed for the benefit of all particularly in a manner that the poor and needy can thrive and succeed.

“I want to call on Nigerians, including my friend Dino Melaye to encourage Mrs. Oshiomhole to do more for the Nigerian child than the confusion he attempted to make between made-in-Nigeria product and made-in-Nigeria

Women. I want to congratulate her for the feat her pet project, “We Care Trust”, achieved on Wednesday just when Melaye was making his uncomplimentary remark.”

Rep flags off free medicare in Delta

A

By Festus Ahon

SABA—A member of the House of Representatives, Chief Evelyn Oboro, has flagged off her free medical services for rural dwellers in her constituency.

Speaking during the event at the Trade Fair Ground, Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, Delta State, Oboro, who represents Uvwie/Sapele/Okpe federal constituency, said that her decision to embark on the programme was informed by the need to make free quality medical services accessible to her constituents, particularly the rural dwellers and indigent persons.

She said that the programme would be accessible to the people of the constituency irrespective of their political affiliations and ideologies, adding, “It is meant for rural dwellers in my constituency who ordinarily would not have access to quality health care services due to financial constraints and other logistic problems.”

Promising that the free medical programme will hold twice

yearly, Oboro enjoined the people to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the programme.

Flagging off the programme, Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to partner relevant stakeholders in the health sector with a view to

providing quality health care to the people of the state at affordable rate.

Describing the free medical outreach as key to the actualisation of his SMART agenda, Okowa said that the Health Insurance Scheme which was under way is to enable Deltans get quality health care service at low cost.

PFN congratulates Adeboye at 74

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—PENTECOSTAL Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has felicitated with the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on his 74th birthday anniversary.

A statement by the PFN National President, Rev Felix Omobude, in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, described Pastor Adeboye as a “beacon of light and a true example of a servant of God.” According to the PFN National President, Pastor

Adeboye has “continued to be a beacon of light, a true example of a servant of God and a leader par excellence.”

Wishing him a happy birthday, Omobude, who himself will be celebrating his 70th birthday anniversary next week, prayed God for the freshness of heaven to be upon Adeboye as “the dew of Hermon.

“The righteous shall flourish like a tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God,” Rev Omobude added.

Runsewe urges tourism practitioners to hold leaders accountable

By Gabriel Olawale

F

ORMER DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, has called on tourism practitioners in Nigeria to wake up to their responsibilities of holding their leaders accountable.

Runsewe, who spoke during the recent National Association of Tour Operators, NATOP ‘s AGM in Calabar, Cross River State, noted that the industry leadership needs total overhauling in view of its lack of presence and poor advocacy for tourism change in Nigeria.

He said that the operators need to keep track of the activities of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, FTAN, the umbrella body for the private sector, particularly at this time when Nigeria needs help to diversify its economy.

The former NTDC boss expressed sadness at the poor attention to tourism in the past two years and wondered why some stakeholders could not challenge and correct the draw back.

Elema joins Edo guber race

A

N entrepreneur in Edo State, Mr. Eddy Elema, has declared his intention to contest the 2016 governorship election in the state on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Elema, who was accompanied during the declaration by the APGA National Vice Chairman, (South South) Ogbushi Tony Eboka and state Chairman of the party, Elder Godfrey Ehimien, said he was in the race to provide a better alternative to governance in Edo State.

Elema maintained that as a promise to the people, he will ensure that moribund industries in the state were revived, saying, “I will work on our roads, urban water distribution, quality education and the right image of our state will be promoted.

“I challenge the people of our state to identify any party that has a progressive manifesto apart from APGA that can provide a better platform where the wishes of the electorate will be placed first.”

34—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

FUEL SCARCITY: NLC threatens to order

ROADS REHABILITATION:

workers to down tools if...

•Wants FG to restore sanity to supply of PMS across Nigeria

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

L

AGOS—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday expressed concerns over the recurring scarcity of petroleum products, especially the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, known as petrol across the country, threatening to ask workers to stay at home should the scarcity persists.

Congress in a statement insisted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, must immediately intervene in the current hardship imposed by the scarcity of products as this might hinder the ability of workers to get to their work stations, calling on government to restore sanity to the supply chain to save the citizens from unnecessary suffering and hardship.

NLC in a statement by its factional President, Ayuba Wabba, said: “Nigerians are yet to be told what the cause of the current scarcity is; we however believe government will not allow any individual or corporate organisations sabotage efforts to restore sanity and good governance in all facets of our society as it is obvious the ongoing scarcity is calculated sabotage by petroleum marketers to sell the products at high prices for more profits.

“Petroleum products, especially petrol is key to our economy as it is what powers commuters, including workers, offices and businesses. The delays motorists contend with in long queues at petrol stations have led to loss of unimaginable man hours which have impacted negatively on our economy. We therefore call on government to strongly intervene by sending out appropriate agencies, especially the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to enforce the

sale of the products as some marketers have been reported to be hoarding the products.

According to the statement: “We restate our call for the speedy reactivation of local production of petroleum products as the country will continue to be held hostage by global economic manipulations

if we remain tied to importation of petroleum products even when we have the resources to produce for local consumption and export.

"While it is regrettable that bad governance, misplaced priorities and corruption has almost killed the petroleum industry, we

believe a serious government can revamp the industry within one year. There are examples of countries, especially neighbouring Republic of Niger, where one of the best refineries were built within a year. Nothing stops this government from doing same."

Oshiomhole urged to introduce effective road taxation system

Anambra vigilance group protests non payment of 8 months salary arrears

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—MEMBERS of the Anambra State Vigilante group, yesterday protested the non-payment of their eight months’ salary arrears by the state government.

The protesters who besieged the Government House Awka, came from various communities in the state.

They blocked the entrance to the office complex of the Senior Special Adviser to governor Willie Obiano on Security Matters.

The aggrieved members who spoke to newsmen , lamented that they were passing through pains given the failure of the government to pay them their

paltry N10,000 monthly salary for the past eight months.

According to Mr. Okechukwu Nweke from Nise community, “When Peter Obi was the governor, he pays us well. But since Peter Obi left office, we have not been paid our salary. Our monthly salary is N10,000. For eight months now we have not been paid. Before we are paid cash but when Willie Obiano came on board he said we were going to be paid through the bank. We agreed but since then till now, no kobo has been paid that is why we have come to protest.”

Another vigilante member, Mr Echezona Onyenwe from Oko community in Orumba North council area, alleged that “few

members who have ‘longer legs’ have been paid but the rest of us were not,” lamenting that “they are treating us like animals; they keep postponing the payment of our salary, telling us cock and bull story.”

Contacted, the Senior Special Advisers to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. James Eze who spoke in the presence of his Security Matters counterpart, Mr Ostar Christopher, dismissed the protesters’ claims, saying “they are few persons who have minor issues with their banks as the government now pays them through the bank and would be corrected shortly.”

Global manufacturers, experts for Lagos MAN expo

L

AGOS—MORE international manufacturing companies have indicated their interests in the forthcoming Nigeria Manufacturing Expo, MAN Expo, coming up between March 15 and 17, in Lagos.

Among the latest companies that want to showcase their manufacturing equipment at the expo are GEA West Africa, Clearpack Singapore, Kautex

Maschinenbau GmbH, Festo Automation, Miele Packaging, Gil Automation, the Bühler Group and Thomson & Grace.

Thousands of Nigeria’s leading manufacturing experts will meet for the third annual Manufacturing Partnerships for African Development, mPAD and inaugural Nigeria Manufacturing Expo (MAN Expo), which will be launched in

response to the government’s commitment to industrialisation and Nigeria’s need to diversify.

The event is enjoying important industry support, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) which are event Patrons, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria are host Ministry and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry are the host Chamber.

B

ENIN CITY—EDO State born business mogul, Mr. Monday Ohuimumwen has urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to maximize the gains of his road rehabilitation in the state by introducing an effective road taxation system.

Making the call in a chat with newsmen in Benin City, Mr. Ohuimumwen said: "Governor Oshiomhole’s administration in Edo State can be considered as one of the boldest in terms of challenging those who have been hoodwinking the progress and development of the state. The governor has also done very well in infrastructural development, especially road rehabilitation, I will say kudos to him.

“But a lot still needs to be done in terms of road regeneration, which is why a toll system that can be used to maintain the roads and expand other areas of development needed to be put in place. In the health sector, we have seen huge investments and gigantic structure, especially in the city centre; in education we have also seen some developments, but the rural populace are not so lucky.

“Are there modern equipment and the needed technology to meet the requirements of patients in the health sector? We hear of teachers threatening to go on strike.TheseareareasOshiomhole’s successor should take a look at. The man has tried."

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Oliseh’s resignation as Super Eagles coach

C

heck all the coaches that have been hired

by NFF, which coach have they paid well? Which coach you don't hear such issue? It is high time federal government asked EFCC to put its eye in the activities of members of the NFF. Miss Chinasa Ukogu, Soloist

W

hen I first heard of Oliseh’s resignation , I just started laughing.

What does he expect?

Oliseh thinks it is easy managing a national team such as ours, besides he is not matured enough to tolerate his employers.

Miss Regina Osakwe, Banker

A

ctually there is nothing much to say about Oliseh’s resignation, it is a thing of choice. But now that he has opened up on why he resigned, will it be fair to describe him as a valliant or villain? Mr Egoh Obokpare, Self Employed

I

t is a pity that Oliseh left just when he was needed most. However, I hold the view that Oliseh nags a lot. From being chased by witches to not receiving support from NFF. At least, he is not the first coach to have resigned. Mr Chyzi Fryszi, Worker

N

o good coach will abandon his national team in the middle of a qualifying series irrespective of the condition of service.

Oliseh has poured mud on himself. His previous achievements do not matter anymore. Miss Rose Okonta, Student

W

hy is the NFF always owing salaries and not planning ahead when it comes to preparation for matches? Oliseh should go, good riddance to bad rubbish. Let us call another coach for the job.

Miss Okereke Afor, Worker

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 — 35

Army discovers Boko Haram bomb making factories in Borno

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN Army troops carrying out mop up operations, search and rescue drills have discovered Boko Haram insurgents’ bomb making factories in Borno State.

A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman, said “Troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B on clearance operations of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists at Kumshe made startling discoveries of Improvised Explosive Device, IED, making factories replete with some equipment.”

Recall that last Tuesday, the Nigerian Army’s 33 Artillery Brigade, it arrested 4 persons suspected to be Boko Haram spies that included one that carried out surveillance on the Madalla church before it was bombed.

According to the army, “The men Victor Moses, Abubakar Shettima, Salisu Mohammed Bello and Umar Sadiq Madaki had been carrying out surveillance mission for the Boko Haram terrorists on target for suicide bombings or attacks. Luck ran out for them when Victor

Moses went to a mosque in Bauchi and pretended that he wanted to be converted to Islam and the people suspecting that he was not genuine, promptly reported the matter.

“On interrogation he confirmed that he was working for an Islamic cleric in Gombe (now at large) and that their point of contact was Abubakar Shetima

based in Jos. “He confessed to casing targets for suicide bomb attacks including that of the Catholic Church Madalla, Suleja, Niger State on Christmas day, December 25, 2011. The accused persons who are currently undergoing further interrogation, were paraded by the Commander 33 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Abraham Dusu at the Brigade’s Headquarters, Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi on Monday.

Commander of the Brigade, Brig-General Abraham Dusu, confirmed that Moses “confessed to conducting surveillance for Boko Haram” from a shop near the St Theresa Roman Catholic Church in Madalla, near Abuja where about 44 worshippers were killed when a bomb ripped through the chuch on December 25, 2011 in what was Boko Haram’s deadliest attack on Christian places of worship.

CONFERENCE: Seated from left ; 9 Brigade Commander, Brig Gen Bulama Biu, Rep of the Corp Commander Education, Brig Gen Charles Bossman, Commandant Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), Maj Gen Joseph Orokpo, GOC 81 Division, Maj Gen Henry Edet, guest lecturer and former GOC 1 Division, Maj Gen Kamorudeen Role (retd), Corp Commander Ordnance, Maj Gen Rasheed Yusuf, Corp Commander Medical, Maj Gen Abimbola Amusu, Director of Training, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Brig Gen Nnamdi Nnorom, Acting Commandant, NAPKC, Brig Gen Adamu Dauda and other senior officers, at the Ordnance Corp Commander’s First Quarter Conference, held at the Headquarters Ordnance, Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos.

Kogi to review MDGs projects

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—KOGI State government has said it review all projects executed by previous administration under the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, now known as Sustainable Development Goal, SDGs. Special Adviser to the governor on SDGs, Mumuni Okara stated this yesterday in Lokoja while speaking with newsmen.

Mumuni who said it became imperative to review such projects, noted that the state government had taken a cursory look at those projects and realised that most of them did not meet the needs of the communities they were cited in.

He also noted that the noninvolvement of the communities at the planning and execution stages had led to unattainable MDGs goals in the past.

According to him: “There is disconnect between the communities and those in the MDGs who planned those projects. Most often, the communities were not even aware of those projects and so don’t use it.''

for 370,000 children malnourished in northern Nigeria — RESEARCH Obsequies Mrs Otutu

A

BUJA—RESEARCH on Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria, WINNN, has revealed that about 370,000 children with severe acute malnutrition in Northern Nigeria required lifesaving treatment.

Dr Mohammed Liman, National Programme Manager, WINNN, said yesterday in Abuja, at a briefing on “Addressing the High Rates of Malnutrition in Northern Nigeria”.

WINNN is a programme funded by the UK Department for International Development, DFID, in collaboration with UNICEF, Save the Children and Action Against Hunger.

Liman said the programme was conducted in Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara and Yobe states, and the rate of malnutrition in the selected states was as high as about 58 per cent.

“As a result of malnutrition, 58 per cent of children under the age of five in these states suffer from stunting, meaning that their physical and mental developments have been impaired. An estimated 370,000 children with severe acute malnutrition in these states will require lifesaving treatment this year, without such treatment, some 70,000 are likely to die,” he said.

He said the group had intervened by providing micronutrients to build immunity, C M Y K

anti worm medications and supplements to pregnant women during antenatal.

According to him, the first 1,000 days informs the level of growth and development of a child.

He also stated that they were engaging traditional leaders in

ensuring that awareness on malnutrition was well publicised, engaging Primary Health Care centres to bring services close to the people.

Liman also said that findings from the research were expected to be implemented at

the national level.

Mr Andrew Tomkins, International Team Leader, Operation Research and Impact Evaluation (ORIE), said only 10 per cent of women in the Northern part of the country deliver in health facilities.

Gaidam approves N20m for water supply to 8 communities

By Ndahi Marama

M

AIDUGURI— GOVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, has approved N20 million for the immediate restoration of water supply to eight communities severely affected by Boko Haram deadly attacks across Yobe state.

This came as Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Kaduna Zonal Branch, donated relief materials for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in various resettlement camps in Borno state.

The affected Yobe communities are Gujba, Buni Gari, Wagir, Mutai, Katarko, Jamtari and Garin Itache.

In a release by the Director of Press Affairs to the governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, yesterday said, “Yobe State Government is working on a comprehensive plan to help people displaced by Boko Haram insurgents to return to their homes. But for the worst affected people going back to their

towns and villages, the first and most basic service they need is access to clean drinking water.

This is why the governor approved this money”.

Meanwhile, presenting relief materials to Governor Kashim Shettima of Bornu State, at the Government House, Maiduguri, yesterday , Vice Chairman of

PENGASSAN Zonal office, Kaduna branch, Abubakar Yusuf Mustapha said, they were in Borno to identify with victims of insurgency and to commiserate with the people and government over the colossal loss of lives and injuries done to innocent civilians as a result of the Boko Haram crisis.

ZIKA VIRUS: FG charged over vector control, surveillance

By Chioma Obinna

F

OLLOWING possible local transmission of Zika virus in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are more active, the Federal Government has been urged to institute proper vector control and effective surveillance throughout the Federation.

Making the call during a special presentation on Zika virus in Lagos, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Professor

Innocent Ujah, said though a serological study carried out on Nigeria showed that 40 percent of the urban population had neutralising antibodies to Zika virus, there was need for an informed policy to combat any outbreak.

According to Ujah: “The virus is contracted from Aedes aegypty mosquitoes and there is need for Nigerians to maintain healthy environment, personal hygiene and sleep on insecticide treated mosquito nets.''

T

HE burial ceremony of late Mrs. Florence Otutu (nee Ogaga) holds tomorrow at her home town, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State.

A statement by the family, said the body would be laid in state at Central Hospital, Warri and thereafter; depart for Ozoro burial service and interment along Hospital Road, by Town Hall The statement by Mr. Godspower Ogaga and Mr. Kerim Amadu, said the funeral service would be conducted by God’s Grace Ministry, adding that entertainment of guests would follow immediately after the interment.

Thanksgiving service would be held on March 6, 2016 at God’s Grace Ministry, 58 Arubayi Street, Okumagba Layout, Warri.

.Late Mrs. Otutu

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

VISIT: The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta (left), and Director General, N i g e r i a n Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Dr. A n t h o n y Anuforom, during a visit to the NCC boss in Abuja

PHARMA TIMES: Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina (middle), being presented with a copy of Pharma Times by the Publisher, Mr. Chris Ukah (left) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. With them is the Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr. Victor Amuta.

MOTHER LANGUAGE: From left— Trade Advisor, Mrs Chindinma Udeze; Founder, Working Moms Africa, Mrs Mary Ikoku; Assistant Head Girl, Imperial Gate School, Lagos, Miss Feyikemi Mutiu; and Mrs Victoria Duru, at the 2016 International Mother Language Day organised

by Working Moms and the school in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

NECA/NLNG: From left— Head, Events Centre, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, Mrs. Florence Osuji; Director, SELA, NECA, Mr. Timothy Olawale; Head, Employee Relations, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company, NLNG, Mr. Nodon Otobo; Director-General, NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo; Finance Director, Pivot Engineering Nigeria Limited, Mr. Richard Ayibiowu, and Executive Secretary, ICCN, Mrs. Olubunmi Oshuntuyi, at the unveiling of NLNG-branded parking lot at NECA House, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday.

PRESENTATION: From left— Proprietress, Mrs. Ify Nwachukwu; Captain of Green House, Olorunfemi Babatemilorun; Chairman, Dr. Chime Nwachukwu, and Chairman, Parents Association, Mr. Gboyega Oloniyo, all of Peaklane International Schools, Alagbole, Ogun State, at the presentation of the Overall Winner's trophy to Babatemilorun, during the school's interhouse sports at Agege Stadium, Lagos.

NESTLE/MNIM: From left— Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dhamesh Gordhon; President, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye; First Vice President, Mr. Tony Agenmonmen, and Registrar, Mr. Sidney Ogodo, all of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, during a courtesy visit to Nestle at Ilupeju, Oshodi, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

HONOUR: Mr. Preye Ekpebide displaying Peace Ambassador of Niger Delta award presented to him by Unique Global Peace Initiatve of Nigeria at Bomadi, Delta State.

HEALTH WORKSHOP: From left— Dr. Kunle Odubanjo; Founder, NORDICA Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi; Founder, NOW Foundation, Bunmi Adeleye; Vaccines Medical Manager, GSK, Dr. Temitope Olowookere, and Olufunke Phillips, during a NOW workshop in Lagos.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 — 37

CRANE COLLAPSE:

Key Republican describes Trump as con man U

From left , Alhaji Kayode Jakande, former Lagos Governor, Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, Mrs Bolanle Ambode,Wife of Lagos State governor and Sen Oluremi Tinubu, during the commissioning of Remi Tinubu's obstetrics and gynaecology centre named after Mrs Abimbola Jakande and Ojo model market after Iyaloja general, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo at Etiosa LCDA, Lagos, yesterday.

S presidential candi date Donald Trump has neither "the temperament nor the judgement to be president", fellow Republican Mitt Romney says.

He accused Mr Trump of bullying, misogyny and dishonesty in a speech in Utah on Thursday.

"Prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished" if Mr Trump becomes the nominee, he added.

Mr Trump has meanwhile mocked Mr Romney on Twitter as a "failed

candidate" who should not advise on electability.

Many senior Republicans are alarmed at the prospect of Mr Trump securing the nomination for November's election.

In the latest attack from top figures in the party, several members of the Republican national security community wrote an open letter describing Mr Trump's "vision of American influence and power in the world" as "wildly inconsistent and unmoored in principle".

"He swings from isolationism to military

adventurism within the space of one sentence," the letter said.

The 2008 presidential nominee, John McCain, has also joined the verbal attack on the Republican front-runner, describing Mr Trump's statements on national security as "uninformed and dangerous".

Mr Trump has sought to present himself as a "unifier", after his victories in seven states on socalled Super Tuesday consolidated his position at the front of the race for his party's nomination.

Pistorius denied leave to appeal conviction From right: Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, Iyaloja-General, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of Lagos State governor, and Sen Oluremi Tinubu at the occasion.

Photos: Biodun Ogunleye

Sen Tinubu calls for more action against infant, maternal mortality

By Charles Kumolu

T

HE lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday, urged Nigerians to rise up against the prevalence of maternal and infant morbidity to ensure that Nigeria is no longer regarded as the second largest contributor to global maternal and infant mortality.

She also called for more health centres in Lagos State, stating that the growing population of the state implies that there can never be too many of such facilities to meet the increasing demand of health care delivery.

Sen. Tinubu who spoke in Lagos at the commissioning of Ambimbola Jakande Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre and Folashade Tinubu-Ojo Model Market, noted that the facilities which were sited in Ajah are parts of the numerous constituency projects she embarked upon in fulfilment of her obligations to her constituents.

In addition, she commended the state governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode for sustaining the state on the path of greatness, noting that he has brought about a new Lagos. She said, ''Today’s twin events mark a milestone in my journey in Lagos Central Senatorial C M Y K

District because it validates my commitment to the upliftment of my constituents. Constituency projects have always been part of the incentive given to us as senators to add value to our constituency. I am glad that today’s two events are a dream come true. ''The idea of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre is to provide adequate medical care for mothers and children. The growing population of Lagos State did not help matters as there can never be too many health centres to meet the growing demand for healthcare delivery.

Healthcare delivery The alarming rate in which women die daily during the process of child birth is of great concern to me, hence my desire to support the government’s effort in providing easy access to healthcare delivery for women and children in particular to reduce the high rate of infant and maternal morbidity. Nigeria bears the burden of some of the world’s most devastating outcomes in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child healthcare. A recent statistics show that one in 13 women die in pregnancy or childbirth.

Neonatal mortality is 37 deaths per 1,000 live births

and infant mortality is 69 deaths per 1000 live births.”

Those at the event include a former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; former Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Wasiu Eshinlokun; Wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode; Sen Olugbenga Obadara; Alhaja Ambimbola Jakande, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and Prince Tajudeen Olusi among others.

In her remarks, Mrs Ambode commended Sen Tinubu for her relentless efforts at adding value to her constituency, describing her as a committed representative of the constituency.

She said: “Since her election into the sixth Senate, Sen Oluremi Tinubu has inaugurated many constituency projects.

This speaks of the high quality of representation of the people. It confirms that our senator is not just there in Abuja, she truly knows where the shoe pinches her people and hows they really feel. ''The essence of constituency projects is to locate the specific needs of the people of an area for direct intervention to complement the efforts of the government at the federal, state or local government level."

S

OUTH African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been denied leave to appeal against his conviction for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Constitutional Court has made the ruling, meaning Pistorius will now be sentenced in April.

Pistorius killed Ms Steenkamp in February 2013 after firing four times through a locked toilet door.

A manslaughter verdict was overturned in December and a murder verdict introduced in its place.

South Africa's National

Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the Constitutional Court found "no prospect of success" in Pistorius' appeal.

The case will now go back to Judge Thokozile Masipa - who cleared the athlete of murder in the original case - for sentencing on 18 April.

Prosecutors are believed to be targeting a sentence of at least 15 years in jail for Pistorius.

This is the end of the road for Oscar Pistorius. The Constitutional Court was his last chance to overturn his murder conviction.

Many in the country felt that judge Thokozile Masipa had erred when she convicted him of a lesser charge, but some still believed Pistorius had not intended to kill anyone, let alone Reeva Steenkamp.

Now a full bench of the country's most powerful judges has ruled that Pistorius' latest bid has no chance of succeeding.

The next step now is for the two legal teams to present their arguments about the length of his sentence - and the state wants no less than 15 years.

ECOWAS team, constitutional court to monitor Benin election

By Tony Lohou

T

O ensure transparency in the Republic of Benin Presidential election holding this Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the country's electoral court will deploy team of electoral observers to monitor the election.

Under the Additional Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, ECOWAS assists member states in their elections.

The mission, which seeks to ensure a smooth and free electoral process will be led by the former Prime Minister of Guinea, Kabine Komara .

The team will compose of 136 observers, including 16 long-term and 120 shortterm. The short-term observers will come from ECOWAS member states, with the exception of Benin, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the Council of Elders of the regional organization and the Community Parliament.

Similarly, the short-term mission will also include

experts from the ministries of foreign affairs and management bodies of elections of Member States and representatives of civil society and the media.

Accordingly, the 16 longterm observers will comprise of security specialists, gender, elections, constitutional law and communication.

In carrying out its mandate, the Head of the Mission will be supported by a technical team of the ECOWAS Commission composed of its president, Kadré Desire Ouedraogo, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, as well the Director of political Affairs of the said Commission, Dr Remi Ajibewa.

The head of the Electoral Assistance Division of the Commission, Francis Oke, and other institutional frameworks will also be part of this team. Observers will be made within twelve departments of the country, in order to observe and follow all pre-electoral operations, election and thereafter post the ballot to vote.

Already, thirty three candidates are vying for the two-round election that was earlier scheduled on February 28, 2016 but was postponed this Sunday because of the delay in the production and distribution of cards voters.

The ECOWAS Commission has said that the election will be conducted in most transparent manner for national and interest.

Meanwhile, Benin Republic Constitutional Court as part of the measures to ensure transparency in the presidential election has deployed two permanent delegates at each of the 13,664 polling stations.

The delegates will observe the electoral process during the voting and report any iregularity at every polling station.

The delegates in addition will monitor voting machine to track the delivery of electoral process instead of centralization and the compilation.

Part of their mandate is also to follow the centralization and compilation of results at each polling center.

38 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Quran Recitation Competition

Jumada Al-Awwal 24, 1437 A.H.

Steadfastness amid worries, trials (2) •Sabr, Shukur and Tawwakul Continued from last week SABR - Patience: here are many verses on patience but let us consider this: And be patient and persevering, for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (Q8: 46).

Sabr means restraining the self from agitation when confronted with undesirables.

It means restraining the self from complaint about hidden anguish.

A schorlar once said: Sabr is to faith what the head is to the body. The body perishes without the head, and so also when Sabr goes, faith also disappears.

As long as a person feels inner anguish over the misfortunes and hardships of life, his faith in God remains deficient. When a person achieves contentment and satisfaction under adverse conditions, his soul reaches a higher station of nearness to God.

T

Forbidden pleasures If a person bears patiently with misfortunes and calamities for some time and seriously endures the hardships entailed during worship, rites and the bitterness arising from the renunciation of forbidden pleasures, and if all this is done for the sake of obedience to his Lord and Provider, it gradually becomes easy for him to bear with the hardships and difficulties.

The soul of a patient person relinquishes its earlier uncontrolled state and he develops an enduring luminous faculty that raises him over the level of Sabr to reach other higher spiritual levels.

Practicing Sabr while enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bil ma’ruf wa nahi ‘anil munkar) makes a person more steadfast and firm.

When Imam Ali (a) was asked about faith (iman), he replied: The structure of faith is supported by four pillars: Patience (Sabr), Conviction (yaqin), Justice (‘adl) and Struggle (jihad).

Then he explained further: Patience comprises of four attributes: Eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). So, whoever is eager

for Paradise will ignore evil temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties and hardships of the life of this world and whoever anticipates death will hasten to perform good deeds.[Al-Amidi, Ghurar ul Hikam wa Durar ul Kalim, hadith # 2897] The levels and degrees of Sabr There are various degrees and levels of Sabr as indicated by the noble traditions and the reward and merit vary in accordance with degree and level.

Imam ‘Ali (a) said, “The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Sabr is of three kinds: Sabr at the time of affliction, Sabr in regard to obedience, and Sabr in regard to disobedience (of Allah). And the third one is superior to the first two kinds. (Al-Kafi, vol. 2, bab al Sabr, hadith #15] The reward of Sabr Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: Whoever of the believers that bears patiently with a tribulation that befalls him, has the reward of a thousand martyrs. [AlKulayni, al Kafi, vol.2, bab al Sabr, hadith # 17] Imam al-Sadiq (a) said: When the believer enters his

grave, salat is on his right hand, zakat on his left, virtue faces him, with Sabr taking him under its shelter.

When the two angels in charge with questioning enter upon him, Sabr says to salat, zakat and virtue, 'Take care of your companion, and if you fail to assist him I will take care of him myself.' [Ibid, hadith # 8] This world is a believer ’s prison. Gather all the strength at your command and be patient and forbearing throughout its ups and downs. With courage and fortitude, stand against adversities and calamities.

Make yourself understand that the agitation and anguish inside you, aside from involving a great disgrace by themselves, are futile in confrontation with sufferings and calamities.

Be happy with God and don’t complain about His irresistible decrees and inevitable ordainments.

During the times of hardships, turn your heart’s attention to the focal point of Absolute Perfection (God) and you will witness its effects in this world itself and your heart will attain such an expanse that it will become the realm of the manifestation of God’s sovereignty.

Richness and contentment will then pervade your heart such that everything related to this world will become worthless to you.

Sabr, forbearance and restraint bring fair, plentiful rewards and have sublime and beautiful forms in the world of purgatory.

To be continued

From left: Head of the late Alhaji Abdul Azeez Abiola family, Alhaji Muhammad Abiola; Overall Best Reciter of 3rd Abiola Qur’an recitation competition, Hafiz Quran category, Imanubillah Uthman; Alhaji Abdullateef Akinsanya and Alhaji Latifat Kukoyi, during the presentation of award to the winners of the competition at Ota in Ogun State.

From left: Widow of the late Alhaji Abdul Azeez Abiola, Alhaja Zikrah Abiola; Alhaja Memunat Muhammad; one of the winners of 3rd Abiola Qur’anic recitation competition, Haafizah Quran, Habeebah Okutimirin and Alhaja Mariam Kekereekun, during the presentation of award to the winners of the competition at Ota in Ogun State.

From left: Alhaji Abbass Iromini, General Secretary Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria; Maulvi Abdul Khalique Nuryar, Missionary in-charge; Chief Oyineche of Rumokini; Dr Mashuud Fashola, Amir, Ahmadiyya and Dr Abdul Ghaniy Enahoro, Naib Amir, South East, during the Inter-religious Peace Conferences organized by Majlis khuddam-ul-ahmadiyya in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ahmadiyya holds free medical campaign in PH

T

Sabr, forbearance and restraint bring fair, plentiful rewards and have sublime and beautiful forms in the world of purgatory

HE Majlis Khuddam-ulAhmadiyya,a.k.a Youth wing, held a 2 - day free medical program for the inhabitants of the Rumoukini Community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The program which held last Friday and Saturday featured free medical consultation to over 400 adults and children as well as tests for diabetes, hypertension, giving free eye glasses and free consultation to all attendees with advice on how

to live a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking at the event, a Community leader, Chief Oyineche thanked the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria for providing the free health services for the Community, noting that the program would help to bridge the gap between Muslims and other members of the various religious groups in the community The Amir Ahmadiyya Muslim

Jama’at Nigeria Dr. Mash - hud Adenrele Fashola stated that there was urgent need for all religious organisations to assist government in the delivery of qualitative healthcare services to the poor. He added that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria will continue to provide such program to further bridge the gap among various religious organisation in Nigeria and also to assist the poor and indigent members of the community.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—39

ASK Y OUR IMAM YOUR On Aqeeqah

Jumada Al-Awwal 24, 1437 A.H.

We ‘ll not compromise standard— Mueenat Int’l School

T

HE Proprietor of Mueenat International Academy, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Alhaji (Dr.) Sakirudeen Tunji Labode, has said that despite his approval to reduce the school fees as recommended by the Board of Trustees, the school will not compromise standard.

The renowned philanthropist who led Vanguard Facing the Kaaba round the school recently stated that he invested several millions of niara in the school mainly to provide qualitative education, and ensure that Muslim and nonMuslim children can compete favourably with their counterparts any where in the world.

“Our goal is to serve as a model and benchmark for others. The e-Library, Standard and Certified ICT centre with internet, Laptops available for students and pupils, fully airconditioned classrooms, laboratories, comfortable hostel blocks , CCTV monitors in the administrative, academic and other state-of-the-art facilities can only be compared with what

is obtainable abroad, yet, our fees are affordable, he stated.

Alhaji Labode who is the President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), a Fellow Certified National Accountant with more than 40 years of Professional Practice experience maintained that apart from being an Islamic school, Mueenat is an international school in every sense considered round the world.

Parents Teachers Association, PTA will be constituted to manage the transport section of the school.

He also disclosed that enrollment and admission process for both day and bording pupils and students are in progress, adding that parents can also use the online portal for registration.

Is it true that when a male child is born, two goats or rams are to be sacrificed and only one when a female is born. I have heard and noticed this among some people in our society, Is it Islamic to do that?

Answer: In the first place, there is no difference between a male and female baby during the Aqeeqah rites. So, the rites are fundamentally the same. After 7 days from the birth of a new baby (boy or girl), the baby’s hair is shaved and its weight is measured and the money equivalent is paid to the poor as charity. It is recommended to sacrifice a ram the same day, prepare food and distribute to neighbours, friends including the poor and needy.

If you have the means to sacrifice more than one ram, merely for sufficiency, it is not out of place but there is no discrimination as to two for male and one for female babies.

Those who practice that may not know, it is our duty to inform them that the Prophet never approved any such thing on the basis of sex difference. Mainly, these rituals are to bless the baby. There is no discrimination in the amount of blessings required for babies.

Five years experience “Our teachers are also selected from the best. Our teachers are well qualified with nothing less than five years experience. Since it has pleased Allah to choose me for this task, we will not compromise standard for anything, not even for money,” he stated.

He added that the school will give free transport to pupils and students who are within the area, pending when the

Mueenat International Academy fully functional e-Library and e-Learning facilities

40—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—41

C M Y K

42 —Vanguard, FRIDAY MARCH 4 , 2016

Vanguard CLASSIFIED NGWUECHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Fidelia Ngwueche, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fidelia Ozochi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Correction of Name I wish to state that my name was wrongly written as Meheux Reggie as in my Ecobank and other accounts, instead of Meheux Reginald. I now wish to be known and addressed as Meheux Reginald. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY MARCH 4 , 2016 — 43

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UVIEBINENE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss U v i e b i n e n e Ogheneochuko, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Lawson Okodase Oku Ogheneochuko. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, NUT, Ughelli South Local Government Authority and general public please take note.

COOKE—I, formerly known and addressed as Cooke Eruvwenure Frank, now wish to be known and addressed as Jeremiah Edewor Frank. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ANIDI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Evelyn Juliana Okuma Anidi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Juliana Evelyn Jehwe.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ITIVE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Itive Kesiena Endurance, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Emoefe Kesiena Endurance. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

A G WA N I H U — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Agwanihu Adipue Marryann Kelechi, Now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogbonna Ojiaku Maryann Kelechi. All former Document remain valid, general public please take note.

JELILI—I, formerly known and addressed as Kolawole Jelili Olabisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Kolawole David Olabisi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ONYENAOBIYA—I, formerly known and addressed as Onyenaobiya Obioma Jane, Onyenaobiya Onyekachi Collin and Onyenaobiya Churchill Obiageli, now wish to be known and addressed as follows: ObidiochaYahannes Obioma Jane, ObidiochaYahannes Onyekachi Collin and Obidiocha-Yohannes Churchill Obiageli. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UMUKORO—I, formerly known as Miss Amughoro Gladys, now wish to be known as Mrs Umukoro Gladys. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name That the names Tamashe Iforo and Okotie David, refer to one and the same person – me, but I now wish to be known, called and addressed as; Okotie David. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name That the names: Oniyeyone Anthony Ololo and Oniyeyone Anthony Mebanghadu refer to one and the same person – me, but I now wish to be known, called and addressed as Oniyeyone Anthony Mebanghadu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OMAKPOKPOSE — I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Endurance Omakpokpose, now wish to be known, called and addressed as; Mrs Endurance Ogodo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHAPELE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tracy Chapele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ugo Chapele Tracy .

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KIRIDI-ALEGBE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tamaradoubra Kiridi Alegbe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Tamaradoubra Alegbe. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OGUNMOLU—I, formerly known and addressed as Remilekun Yetunde Ogunmolu, now wish to be known and addressed as Remilekun Yetunde Ogunmolu-Jimoh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEKUNLE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mujibat Adejoke Adekunle, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mujibat Adejoke A d e k u n l e Obimakinde.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SULE—I, formerly known and addressed as Susan Sule, now wish to be known and addressed as Alumasunya Sussan Ochuwa. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

DELE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dele Yvonne Oghenekaro, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akpojivi Yvonne Oghenekaro.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MOSES—I, formerly known and addressed as Samantha Ima Moses, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Samantha Ima Hermansen.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMONLEREBHE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abigail Omonlerebhe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abigail Oriakhi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADAMS—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Amina Jessica Adams, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amina Jessica Sule-Ejeh. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

URUBUSI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Princess Eronmwon Urubusi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Princess Eronmwon Marcus. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OPHUOGHORI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Jane Ophuoghori, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jane Eguonoghene Esombi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Addition of Name MOTIGA—I, formerly known and addressed as Motiga Dene, now wish to be known and addressed as Fanny Ruth Dene Motiga.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWACHUKWU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Somtochukwu Adaugo Nwachukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Somtochukwu Adaugo Ogbonna. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKWUBIE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Okwubie Precious Priscilla Obiageli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Michael Precious Priscilla Obiageli. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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Reconciliation of Names This is to confirm that the names Amaechi Edith Onyekachi, Amaechi Edith Sarraphina, and Amaechi Edith Onyekachi Sarraphina refer to one and the same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Amaechi Edith Onyekachi Sarraphina.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All formal documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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44—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Vanguard CLASSIFIED OKOROCHA—I formerly known and addressed as Okorocha Sheryl, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Izugbo Chidimma Sheryl. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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The embassy and general public please take note.

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General public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This to confirm that the name Dikiyi Gabriel, refers to one and the same person as Kikiyi Gabriel Ejohwafo, now wish to be known and addressed as Kikiyi Gabriel Ejohwafo. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid.

UNIPORT and general public please take note.

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Ambrose Alli University (Ekpoma) and general public take note.

LAJU—I, formerly know and addressed as Wilikie Elliot Laju, now wish to be known and addressed as Wilikie Elliot Eli. All fomer documents remain the same.

General public take note.

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Financial institutions and general public please take note.

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ADUKU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Veronica Inikpi Aduku, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Veronica Inikpi Ojei.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ADVERT HOTLINE 01- 4544821

What’s going on with other oil producers?

By Feyi Fawehinmi

I

S Nigeria going through a par ticularly unique challenge that requires unique solutions? Not at all.

Every country that relies on oil for the majority of its revenues is going through plenty of pain right now. So what is everyone else doing and how does it compare with the response that Nigeria has chosen?

In one way, Nigeria is going against the convention among oil producing nations at the moment.

From Kazakhstan to Saudi Arabia, everyone is cutting government spending in light of the new reality of $30 oil. When oil prices were high, people in Saudi Arabia were known to travel out of the country while leaving their air-conditioning running.

Electricity was heavily subsidised by the government. That is all ending now as the Saudi Arabian government has cut subsidies on electricity, water and petrol substantially.

Iraq, which is at war with the Islamic State, has also announced spending cuts of 12%. The Kurdistan Regional Government has also announced a hiring freeze as well as cuts to its recurrent budget of up to 70%. Over in Kazakhstan, the government has cut spending by almost $4bn or 10% of the total budget “until things get better”. The Russian government has decreed 10% cuts to its budget this year. It is likely to make further cuts given that its budget was based on oil at $50/barrel.

Courageous decisions

this is mostly the effect of not hiring new people as planned in 2015. In reality, life goes on as normal with government spending the usual billions on buying computers (N7bn), travel (N20bn) and purchase of vehicles (N25bn).

The stated logic behind ramping up spending at a time when oil revenues have collapsed is that the economy needs investment and not austerity at this time. Perhaps. But when oil prices were high, Nigeria spent massively, as evidenced by the doubling of spending on government salaries from N800bn to N1.8trn in just under four years.

Now that oil prices are a third of what they were in those heady days, government spending is even higher. It is difficult to understand how a country can have it both ways. The ideological argument is that Keynesian theory says you should spend your way out of a slump. But the very same Keynes did say that “the boom, not the slump, is the correct time for austerity at the treasury”.

There is no evidence that Nigeria was prepared for this inevitable day of low oil prices. If the cost of paying salaries and allowances of government workers more than doubled when oil prices were high, what is the justification for maintaining such expenses with low prices?

Throwing good money away: All of this brings us to the curious monetary policy Nigeria has chosen alongside its decision to spend its way out of the current slump. Is it possible to maintain a ‘strong’ value for the naira while the main source of dollar revenues for the government has crashed and the same government is increasing spending? It will be difficult, if not impossible, to eat all these cakes and still have them.

The debate around devaluing the naira is usually framed around how much people will have to pay, in naira, to buy one dollar. But people who earn money in dollars have a totally

different perspective on the matter as they would get more naira for their dollars.

And who is the biggest dollar earner in Nigeria today?

None other than the Federal Government.

This has important implications given that the government spends in naira. If the plan is to spend more, then it needs more naira.

Every time the government earns dollars, the CBN converts this at the official rate and gives the government the naira equivalent to spend. We know that the current official rate is N200 to $1 while the black market rate is now over N300 to $1. For every $1bn, there is a difference of N100bn between those two different rates.

This year, the government expects N820bn from oil revenues. At the official exchange rate, this means the government expects to earn $4.1bn or 50% of what it earned in 2015. But we all know that apart from government, no one else who earns dollars will be crazy enough to convert it to naira at the official rate except they are forced to do so. In other words, the real cost of ‘refusing to devalue’ is that the government is giving up nearly half a trillion naira this year.

This is made worse by the fact that the increased spending in the 2016 budget will be made up by massive borrowing.

The finance minister has also strongly hinted that some of the borrowing planned for this year will be foreign loans.

Even Algeria with $150bn in foreign reserves and very little government debt is cutting spending by 9% this year. Prime Minister Sellai said Subsidising “we need courageous decisions for people 2016’. How about stupendously wealthy Qatar with its huge foreign If the government borrows $3.5bn from reserves and gas riches? This year, the World Bank and AfDB as planned, the Qatari government is cutting its it will get N700bn for it. Compared to the spending by just under 8%. The cuts black market rate, that is at least N350bn have affected things like Al Jazeera the government will lose out on. If it costs which has had to shut its operations N4m to build a housing unit, that N350bn in America as a result. Water and elecopportunity cost of the official rate can tricity rates have also been increased build 87,500 housing units across the steeply and fines for wasting water country, which can alleviate the very or leaving lights on during the day suffering the government claims it is have been doubled. trying to avoid by refusing to devalue Among the oil producing nations the naira. of the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is perTo compound matters, the CBN will haps in the worst shape. The govthen sell those dollars to people who need ernment there is cutting spending to make payments abroad at official this year by 10% and that is only berates. That is, not only is the government cause it is dipping into its sovereign losing out on revenues, it is also wealth fund to make up some of the subsidising people who are mostly budget this year. Over in Dubai, the already rich to the tune of N350bn. After government moved to quickly reall, you can get dollars at the official move petrol subsidies in August rate to pay for things like school fees 2015, when oil prices were still above abroad. Surely it is not poor people who $40/barrel. Indonesia, also an oil prosend their children abroad to study? ducer, moved to cut petrol subsidies Now that oil more than a year ago shortly after President Joko Widodo was sworn in. * Feyi Fawehinmi is a qualified prices are a third The Nigerian Alternative? Given accountant and has worked in the of what they were what is happening to other oil producUK’s financial services industry for ing countries, Nigeria is swimming the last decade in banking, asset in those heady against the tide with a budget that sigmanagement and insurance. He days, government nificantly ramps up spending in 2016. holds an MBA from the Manchesspending is even It’s a gamble and gambles are risky. ter Business School and blogs at On the face of it, it might appear like aguntasolo.com and medium.com/ higher the government has cut spending on @doubleeph. He also tweets at salaries from N1.8trn to N1.7trn. But @doubleeph.

Send your reactions to: news@vanguardngr.com

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016—45

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46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016 — 47

Ogba to declare open seminar for State Directors of Sports today

P

RESIDENT of Ath letics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Evangelist Solomon Ogba and first Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee will declare the Sport For All Forum for Directors of State Sports Councils which kickstarts today at the Command Guest House, Apapa, Lagos.

Chairman of the Nigeria Sport For All Commission, Prince Henry Amike confirmed that 30 States had indicated interest for the two-day Talkshop that has assembled renowned international speakers to deliver papers on wide ranging issues on sports. ‘’As at yesterday, we had 30 states ready for the seminar. We may still exceed that number as the remaining state Directors may join their colleagues in the seminar ’’, Amike who assured that the seminar will ‘’impact positively on Nigerian sports’’ added.

Dr. A.K. Amao will deliver a paper titled “Negative use of drug

while Prof. Clement Fasan will deliver a paper titled ‘’Marketing and sports sponsorship. Prof.

Seun Omotayo will deliver a paper on Aerobic and Exercises while Dr. Sikuade Jagun will speak on ‘’Volunteerism in Sports, Nigeria persepective.

Scribe for Sport For All, Augustine Odijie said that NOC’s marketer, Adekoya Taiwo and Nelson Ine will also speak on marketing as it

affects Nigeria’s participation at the forth-coming Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Stakeholders like Dr Rafiu Ladipo, Chief Frank Okonta, Mrs Tayo Oreweme(Liaison Officer, NSC), Tony Oyetayo, Chief Jerry Okaro among others have assured that the seminar will change the face of sports in the states as Directors would transfer the knowledge acquired to their various states.

GOOD HEADS: Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme (c), NFF deputy Sec-Gen, Presidnt of Matchmakers, Shina Phillips and President of SIAO, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo confer at the conference for the Nigeria Pitch Awards.

with Bayo Akinwamide

BET on - 37, 34, 20, 10 TRAIGHT to Goldsands Stadium, www. afcb.co.uk for something special about Bournemouth 20152017, exclusive. English Football 2015-2017 and Bournemouth appearance on away game Coupon No.5 make Jackpot. *** By the multiplication of 3,2,1 respectively, simply have its opponents 6th letter by both angle subtracted, as the fraction added ‘5’ for POINT. Finally, POINT be multiplied for a sure draw automatically. 08035317164

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T h e r e f o r e , C M Y K

S events of the 2016 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games enter the home stretch today, teams have intensified their efforts at aiming for the top of the medals table.

The swimming pool at the Chevron Recreation Centre Gbagada witnessed top class contests yesterday as swimmers struggled to outdo each other in the various events.

In the men’s backstroke event, Obinna Ozorgwu of ExxonMobil won gold while Aleibiri Basil of NCMB placed second to win the

NOGIG 2016: Quest for medals intensifies silver medal and Ayemo Shola of Chevron won the bronze.

In the veterans freestyle (men), Jenakumo O. of PTI won the gold medal, while Fredric Bets of Total and Asemota Omoruyi of Shell won silver and bronze respectively.

Ayemo Shola of Chevron won gold in the men’s breaststroke event, leaving behind Ukachukwu A.(NNPC) and Obini Chima of DPR

for the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Njideka Mbonu of ExxonMobil won gold in the women’s backstroke event.

Osuagwu Inango(Shell) and Onuh Nnenna of NNPC won the silver and bronze. In the women’s freestyle event, Ivan Mramag of NLNG won the gold medal, Aleibiri Basil(NCDMB) won silver and Ebirebenna Tarmison of NNPC took the bronze.

Eagles vow to beat Pharaohs in Kaduna

Vanguard Pools S

A

WEEK34 - Fixtures Saturday March5,2016 appeared Bournemouth at away game Coupon No.5 tie Newcastle as match. That’s ‘C-S =319=16+5=21point/ T h e r e f o r e , 2 1 x 1 = 2 1 b a n k e r.

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Continues from B/Page

ing would stop the Super Eagles from defeating the Egyptians in Kaduna.

He noted that with such assurances from players like John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheanacho, the technical crew is full of confidence that the Egyptians will be beaten very well in Kaduna.

The former Super Eagles striker also disclosed that the NFF has helped him to acquire about six video tapes of the past games of the

Pharaohs, which he is currently studying, adding that the tapes would guide him in mapping out his strategies to beat them in Kaduna. One good thing here is that I have received the full backing of the players. I spoke with most of them and they have assured me of their readiness to die on the pitch to ensure that they beat Egypt in Kaduna. I and the technical director have agreed that these are the list of players we would use to prosecute the two games."

FIFA ranking

ly.

Nigeria’s next opponent are Egypt who the Super Eagles will battle in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) double header first on Friday, March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and later on Tuesday, March 29 in Alexandria, Egypt.

In the world Belgium are still dictating the

pace as the world’s best football nation while Argentina, Spain, Germany, Chile, Brazil and Portugal followed in that order.

The trio of Colombia, England and Austria completed the top best 10 teams in the world.

ceived full assurance from the key players of the Super Eagles of their readiness to ensure that the Pharaoh’s of Egypt are beaten convincingly when they clash on March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

Siasia, while unveiling the list of 42 players invited to camp ahead of the double header AFCON 2017 qualifying match, noted that the players assurances have spurred him to more action, insisting that noth-

Continues from B/Page

2016 MAGIG, 9-weeks interval by 4-times. Began by Fixtures Saturday November31,2015; Fixtures Saturday January2,2016; Fixtures Saturday March5,2016; Fixtures Saturday May7,2016. That by the multiplication of 1,2,4,8 respectively. Simply have CODED-NUMBER multiplied, as that multiplication made subtracted the Date-Matches-Played for a distictive draw automatically. Research, modification by Bayo Akinwamide.

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second in Africa and 36 in the world and Algeria third and 37th in the world.

Other top-ranked Africans in that order are Ghana (41), Tunisia (47), Senegal (48), Egypt (53), Congo DR (58), Republic of Congo (59), Cameroon (61) and Nigeria (62) respective-

Siasia Continues from B/Page

rally round the team and show belief as the Eagles host the Egyptians in Kaduna on Friday, March 25 and play away in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.

The 22 home –boys are expected to hit camp at the Bolton White Apartments, Abuja on Sunday, March 6 before the overseas –based boys arrive as from Sunday, March 20.

“I want to passionately appeal to Nigerians, everybody, to show belief in the team and give us total support. It will not be easy, but if we stick together and present a united force to fight this battle, I believe we will triumph.

“I have absolute faith in the players. Nigeria is blessed with so many talented footballers across the world and I know that those we are

inviting for this match will give everything for the six points in both matches. Personally, I will give everything that I have to offer for us to win both matches.”

The former Nigeria captain, who was in the same position between December 2010 and October 2011, assured that only the best players who “showed ability to run and decimate the opposition” will be given opportunity in both matches.

Regulars Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Olufemi Thomas, Kalu Orji Okogbue, Austin Oboroakpo, Chima Akas, Ezekiel Bassey and Chisom Chikatara are in the home based mix, while Carl Ikeme, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon and Fanendo Adi are among the overseas –based legion.

Onazi Continues from B/Page

nate that we are always in situations like this when we want to qualify for major competitions like the Nations Cup and World Cup.” He, however, remains optimistic, particularly against the Pharaohs of Egypt. He said, “There are no unbeatable teams in the world. We can actually beat them. They are coming to our home first and victory in the match is very important for us. We have to do all we can to beat them and go top of the group because that’s the surest way we can qualify.”

Onazi was mindful of the disappointment Eagles’ non-qualification for the 2015 Afcon caused Nigerians. “I believe this time around we will be matured about it and we know how the emotions were when we couldn’t make it to the last edition of the Nations Cup. We will be very direct and serious about it.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

FIFA ranking: Eagles move one step up

N

IGERIA has moved up one place in the latest Fifa rankings released on Thursday, March 3.

Super Eagles are

ranked 62nd in the world and 11th in Africa.

The three-time African champions occupied the 63rd spot in the world and 12th in Africa for the

month of January.

In Africa, Cape Verde are on top of the ladder and 31st in the world while Ivory Coast are Continues on Page 47

Believe in Eagles – Siasia appeals to Nigerians *Invites 42 players to camp C

*Ighalo

OACH Samson Siasia has invited 22 home –based professionals and 20 overseas –based players for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Pharaohs of Egypt this month.

Siasia, who was named last week as Super Eagles’ Caretaker Coach, passionately appealed to all Nigerians, including the sporting media, to

*Moses

Continues on Page 47

We’ll beat Egypt – Onazi L

*RARING TO GO: Eagles Skipper Ahmed Musa

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

AZIO midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has said the Super Eagles will pick the AFCON 2017 ticket ahead of group leaders Egypt.

The Lazio midfielder maintained the Eagles are no strangers to walking a tight rope during qualifying rounds for major tournaments and

*Siasia

maintained that Nigeria will triumph over Egypt.

In an interview with Africanfootball.com, the Lazio midfielder said, “We will make it to AFCON 2017 by the grace of God. This time, it’s going to be a different ball game. It’s unfortu

Eagles vow to beat Pharaohs in Kaduna

By Jude Opara

S

UPER Eagles inter im coach, Samson Siasia, yesterday revealed that he has re

Continues on Page 47

Continues on Page 47

QUICK CROSSWORD

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS DOWN 3 Enquired (5) 1 Rescued (5) 9 Astounded (6 2 Principal (5) 10 Sick (6) 3 Serpent 3) 11 Cost (5) 4 Severe (6 12 Pitcher (4) 5 Every (4) 15 Pleasant (4) 6 Expire (3) 17 Guard (7) 7 Number (5) 20 Child (3) 8 Heron (5) 21 Domesticated (5)13 Occidental (7) 23 Diplomacy (4) 14 Attain (5) 25 Temper (4 16 Pardon (7) 26 Flutter (5) 18 Relaxed (5) 28 Stray (3) 19 Border (3) 30 Gemstone (7) 22 Doctrine (5) 33 Soon (4) 24 Pull (3) 35 Declare (4) 27 Tape (6) 36 Sphere (5) 28 Premature (5) 38 Bureau (6) 29 Waken (5) 39 Tenant (6) 31 Egg-shaped (5) 40 Inclined (5) 32 Perched (5) 34 Mirth (4) 36 Solidify (3) 37 Newt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Topple 5, Staple 9, Enter 10, Easter 11, Winner 12, Rodeo 14, Clot 17, Lad 18, Hope 20, Hired 22, Waned 23, Rallied 24, Messy 26, Tepid 29, Idle 30, Wed 32, Sole 33, Faded 35, Repeat 36, Panted 37, Tenor 38, Rudder 39, Tendon.

DOWN: 1, Trench 2, Pastor 3, Leer 4, Enrol 5, Sewed 6, Trio 7, Pennon 8, Earned 13, Dallied 15, Lived 16, Terse 18, Hades 19, Peril 21, Day 22, Wet 24, Mirror 25, Sloped 27, Posted 28, Deaden 30, Water 31, Depot 33, Fate 34, Dare.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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