MUBI:FG orders military to flush out Boko Haram

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62267

**

ONLINE

www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Gunmen attack Kogi prison, 7 set 145 inmates free

MUBI: FG orders military to flush out Boko Haram Suicide bombers hit Muslims' procession, kill 23 in Yobe GOC relocates to Yola, gets ultimatum to sack terrorists NEMA records 10,496 IDPs in five camps in Yola

By Kingsley Omonobi, Umar Yusuf & Ndahi Marama

A

BUJA SEVEN days after Boko Haram insurgents seized Mubi, the commercial nerve centre and second largest town in Adamawa as well as Vimtim, home town of Defence Chief, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Federal Government, yesterday, gave a marching order to the military to flush out the terrorists from the occupied areas Continues from page 5

COLUMNISTS: Aminu Tambuwal is a traitor P.17

Mid-term polls in America PROCESSION

Members of Shi'ite sect celebrating Muharram, the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) in Bauchi, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

TAMBUWAL: Court restrains 8 FG, PDP from reconvening House PDP makes FG needs $41bn U-turn, to sell annually for forms to Balewa's infrastructure, 9 son, Abiola's wife 9 says Okonjo-Iweala C M Y K

Mixed bag of govs, ide ex-militant s n eI relationships Se

4 P.4

Mr & Mrs

2

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

3

C M Y K

4

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 5

POCKET CARTOON

OBASANJO GETS VOTER'S CARD National Identity Card Management Commission Staff, led by its Director-General/CEO, Chris Onyemenam presented Permanent Voter's Card, PVC, to former president Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday.

Onyemenam (right) presenting the PVC to Chief Obasanjo during the visit, while Ame Udobong, Card Activation Manager, 2nd left and others look on. Photo: Wunmi Akinola.

MUBI: FG orders military to flush out Boko Haram Continues from page 1 immediately.

This happened on a day that more than 23 people were killed after two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers burst into the Shi'ite Muslim procession in Potiskum, Yobe State to commemorate the new Islamic calendar. It was also a day gunmen attacked Kogi prison, setting 145 inmates free.

In Adamawa, to ensure that the terrorists were flushed out from the occupied areas, more attack helicopter gunships and surveillance aircraft were deployed, yesterday, while the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Ni-

gerian Army, Major General FO Alli, whose Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes Adamawa State, was said to have relocated to Yola.

It was gathered that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. KTJ Minimah tasked him to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Mubi and Vimtim were retaken in the shortest possible time.

The Federal Government was said to have given the military the marching order following intelligence reports that the new upsurge in Boko Haram attacks may have been influenced by political motives to ensure that political activities do not take place in the North

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

I

F you insist that you already know the sole cause of your frustration to be other persons and their negative or selfish attitude, you ll continue to be frustrated at the actions of others. To habitually regard yourself, like many do, as the knower, the wiser one, in each of these run-ins is to cling to an unenforceable rule that states, other people must always behave in ways that make sense to me and are sympathetic to my needs.

Such a person might have to wait a long time to find inner peace. By responding to the behavior of others with the mindset of a student instead of a teacher, you develop a habit of self-inquiry that gradually replaces the habit of condemning others for being less considerate or less refined or less aware than you.

You ll learn to look for refinement instead of the limitations, and in doing this, you ll be building a mental toolkit that can handle just about anything.

East zone of the country.

Vanguard gathered that a time frame was given to the GOC and the Commander of the Air Force Strike Group in Yola within which to push out the terrorists.

Air Force helicopter gunships (Mi35 and the Super Puma attack helicopters) have commenced softening the grounds with light attacks preparatory to a massive onslaught, it was gathered.

A senior officer who spoke to Vanguard disclosed that by the directive the Government wanted to prove the insurgents wrong that they can take over Mubi and nothing will happen.

The thinking has created uncertainty among residents of Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

The Federal Government s directive it was further gathered, followed intelligence findings which showed that with the successful derailment of the failed bid of the group to invade and take over Maiduguri, using Konduga and Kawuri as launch pad, they have turned to plan B which is to push for Yola.

Suicide bombers kill 23 in Yobe Meanwhile, on the suicide bombing in Potiskum, the incident was said to have taken place at about 10 am on

Old Market Road. 48 people were injured in the first blast; before the other suicide bomber was arrested yesterday by the police. Speaking on the incident in Damaturu, the Police Commissioner; Danladi Markus in a telephone interview said: There was a Monday morning blast in Potiskum, that claimed the lives of more than a dozen people with the injuring of others, but I cannot give you the exact figure as I am on my way to the scene of the blast, 100 kilometres from the state capital. At this moment, I am travelling to Postiskum to assess the extent of damage to both lives and property.

One of the suspects was arrested at the blast scene, while the military and police rescue teams have evacuated many people to Postiskum hospital for treatment.

Hamza Isa, a resident of Potiskum also said: When the blast went off by 10am this morning, all of us ran in different directions for safety, as the explosion rented the air with deafening sounds before soldiers and policemen rushed to the blast scene near the Old Market.

The security operatives responded with sporadic gunshots to show their readiness to stem any further attack on the town and this

caused panic among traders to flee into various directions, leaving the streets and market empty for over three hours.

Similarly, during last Saturday s nomination of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam at the August 27 Stadium, Damaturu, a disruption threat letter was issued to operatives of security agencies in the state, before yesterday s blast in Potiskum that claimed lives of innocent residents.

Meanwhile, Governor Gaidam has condemned the attack, describing it as heinous, barbaric and unwarranted. A statement signed by the governor s spokesman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego said: Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam has been informed of an attack in Potiskum town on Monday (yesterday) during an annual procession of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, marking Ashurah. The governor notes that those behind the attack are criminals who want to fan the embers of religious discord. He called on all the people of the state to remain calm and vigilant.

Governor Gaidam has prayed the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to those killed in the attack and quick recovery to those who sustained injuries .

The governor, according to the statement, has also directed government hospitals in the area to provide immediate free medical treatment to all victims of the attack.

Mubi attack: NEMA Records 10, 496 IDPs in five camps in Yola Following the recent attacks on Mubi town by Boko Haram insurgents, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ASEMA) have recorded 10,496 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in

five camps situated in Yola south and Fufore, while more people are still pouring into the state capital. Five women were also safely delivered babies in two of the IDP camps.

Making the disclosure while leading a special team to the state, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of NEMA, Mr. Eugene Ezeh said that the agency had delivered adequate relief materials to all the established camps in the state and the new one would be provided with tents.

Receiving the NEMA team, the Adamawa State Governor, Bala James Ngilari, said that the state government had sent vehicles for the evacuation of thousands of displaced persons who were scattered in various locations around Mubi and those that ran into Cameroon to established camps in Yola.

He said: The tragedy has really stressed us, we require your intervention for both short and long term .

He noted that majority of the displaced persons live with their relatives in the host communities, while appealing to them to come forward and register so that they too could benefit from whatever was provided.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Zainab Maina said President Goodluck Jonathan assigned her to assess the situation and assured them of his continuous support up to the time when they would be going back to their homes. She said the Federal Government has been doing everything possible to see the end of the insurgency.

The camps are in Dawarei, Girei, Malkwohi, Nyako Housing Estate, NYSC camp and COCIN Church.

Relief items provided at all the camps include drugs, rice, clothes, mattresses, maize, buckets, mats, soaps, towels, cooking oil and sanitary items.

6

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Panel beater beats LAGBUS staff to coma

Day-old abandoned baby in Lagos dies

By Evelyn Usman

T

HE shrill cry of an abandoned day-old baby

disturbed the quiet ambience of 72 Road Junction, Festac Town, Lagos, last weekend, jolting residents from sleep at about

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A

panel beater has been handed over to the police for allegedly punching a staff of LAGBUS (Lagos State government-owned high capacity commuter bus) unconscious at Idiroko area of Ikorodu Road in Lagos.

The panel beater, identified as Sarafa Rasak, 26, was alleged to have beaten Oladele Oluwatobi, a sales representative and ticketer attached to LAGBUS Asset Management Limited over a disagreement.

The LAGBUS staff, whose nose was broken in the attack, was rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit at Old Tollgate, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to Rasak, an argument began when the bus refused to stop at Anthony. He said he did not beat Oluwatobi, but that he tripped and fell.

Rasak was arrested and brought to LAGBUS office, from where he was handed over to the police.

NYSC member, 2 others jailed for visa scam

I

KEJA AN Ikeja High Court, yesterday, sentenced a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Helen Bando, to one year imprisonment for using forged documents to process an Indian visa.

The judge, Justice Olutoyin Ipaye, also jailed her accomplices, Samuel Obiakor and Segun Alimi, for one year each.

She sentenced the trio after they pleaded guilty to the charge during their rearraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. The defendants had entered a plea bargain with ICPC. According to the deal, each of the defendants will pay a N50,000 fine and will be sentenced to a maximum of six months imprisonment.

C M Y K

4a.m.

As early as 6a.m., curious residents thronged the scene,where the baby, wrapped in a piece of wrapper, was discovered.

However, none of them could attend to the wailing child.

The baby, a male, who was on a cream and dotted brown sleeping suit, was reportedly found lying on his tummy.

One of the onlookers was said to have turned the over, only to discover that ants had invaded the toddler's head, eyes and fingers. His cry was attributed to the ant's attack.

Out of pity, a woman among the crowd, reportedly brought a clean wrapper and cleaned the ants infested areas on the baby, with other onlookers

raining curses on the mother who abandoned and exposed him to the elements.

A visibly angry woman among the crowd screamed: This is callous. How can a mother carry a pregnancy for nine months only to abandon her baby after birth?

The insane woman would have taken this baby to the motherless baby s home. She has sown wickedness and must surely reap same as long as she lives.

By 9a.m., officials of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, who were contacted, arrived the scene and took the baby away.

Vanguard gathered that the baby later died, with the remains deposited in the morgue.

Undergraduate allegedly dupes German of $12,000

By Ifeanyi Okolie

A

30-year-old student of University of Benin, UNIBEN, Kenneth Rukewe Ebule, has been arrested by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly defrauding a German national, Sabine Albert, of $12,088.75.

The suspect, a final year student of Computer and Statistics, was arraigned before Justice E. F. Ikponmwen, of an Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin on a six-count charge bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and possession of fraudulent documents.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect was arrested in a new generation bank recently in Binin, Edo State, when his victim filed a complaint against him to EFCC. The victim was said to have alleged that within two months after he had Internet contact with Rukewe, he fraudulently obtained $12,088.75 from him.

It was gathered that Rukewe allegedly posed as an English businessman, on transit in Nigeria, to Albert.

He gave his name as Bob Albert and told his victim that he had a contract with a Nigerian company worth 1,200,000 and that he needed a loan to facilitate a transaction with the company.

He promised to pay back twice the loan because he was sure of pulling through the transactions. He also told Albert that he was robbed.

Rukewe also falsely told Albert

that a levy of N1,975,861 was imposed on him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for the release of his international passport, and a cheque worth 1, 200,000 Euros and pleaded for a flight ticket to London.

Based on all these, Albert offered to loan him the money and sent it through Western Union.

Investigation also revealed that the suspect had defrauded other German nationals to the tune of $110,975.00 between

May 2013 and January 2014.

When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

In view of the defendant's plea, prosecution counsel, Kayode Oni, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Maureen Morka, informed the court of her application for bail, dated September 9, and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.

Justice Ikponmwen granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must be resident in Benin and must be gainfully employed in Edo State and charged the defendant to also produce his student identity card.

He adjourned the case to November 21 and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, pending the perfection of his bail.

CDHR petitions IG, AGF, others over attack on New Telegraph journalist

By Ikenna Asomba

T

HE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has petitioned the acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, among others, seeking intervention on the attack on Mojeed Alabi, a journalist with New Telegraph newspaper, by thugs allegedly loyal to a politician (names withheld) in Osun State.

A copy of the petition, made available to newsmen and signed by chairman of Lagos State chapter of the human rights group, Mr. Buna Isiak, accused the lawmaker, who is a member of the House of Representatives, of being behind the attack.

According to CDHR, the lawmaker had on October 2, threatened to deal with Alabi for

Mojeed Alabi. portraying him in bad light in an investigative report published in New Telegraph on September 15, entitled Osun: Streams of Dead Projects.

The petition further stated that Alabi was stabbed on October 5, while at an event at Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government Area by a gang on the order of the lawmaker.

The CDHR prayed the IG and relevant authorities; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; National Human Rights Commission, office of Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, AIG Zone 11 in Osogbo, Osun State and Osun State Commissioner of Police, among others, to inestigate the matter.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 7

Gunmen attack Kogi Prison, set 145 inmates free

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA TERRORISTS, last Sunday night, attacked the Koton-Karfe Minimum Prison in Kogi State setting free all 145 inmates in the four cells.

The terrorists, suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect, were said to have arrived the prison around 9p.m., in four Hilux vehicles, raided the prison for more than two hours unchallenged, freed the inmates and vandalized the record office.

The hoodlums, who first overpowered the security personnel at the gate, broke into the prison through the window and vandalized the administrative office.

The Prison Comptroller General, Aminu Suley, who confirmed the story when Governor Idris Wada, and his deputy, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, visited the prison, said the attack was the handiwork of organized external forces.

The Koton-Karfe Comptroller, Omale Ilemona, who gave insight into the attack, said out of the 145 prisoners set free by the terrorist group,12 had freely returned, while one was killed.

He said: Around 9:30p.m., I received a call that the prison is under attack. I called the governor and securities operatives.

But before help could come from sister agencies, the gunmen had overpowered us, freed all the inmates and escaped.

Suley affirmed that the attack was the handiwork of terrorists, who forcefully entered the prison, adding that the attack was possible because the prison was overcrowded.

Blame on judiciary

Suley condemned the judiciary for the delay in concluding cases of awaiting trial inmates and urged the executive to assist the judiciary to hasten up the trial process.

He said: Some of these prisoners are not supposed to be here in the first instance. It is saddening that out of the 145 inmates, only 26 of them are convicted. The remaining 119 are awaiting trials.

Suley was, however, optimistic that some of the inmates would return on their own, either to the Koton-Karfe prisons or any other prisons in the country, to avoid being declared wanted.

In his response, Governor Wada decried the attack of the terrorists and also frowned at the condition of the prison, which he described as an apology.

We've been abandoned Abuja bomb blast victims

By Henry Umoru

A

The governor said: I must say that the condition of the prison is absolutely not conducive.

Though a criminal must be made to face the consequence of his sins, but not in this manner.

I will, therefore, purchase some mattresses and other bedding and send to the prison.

We will also renovate this place as whatever happened to this place has effect on the state.

Wada, who also promised to use his prerogative of power to release some of the inmates, also charged the Chief Judge of the state to do same as empowered by law.

Wada also said he convened an emergency security meeting

by 8a.m., yesterday, to look into the issue but urged the citizenry of the state to go on with their lawful business, assuring them of their safety and security.

Wada later visited the site of the new prison building in the same town and urged the Federal Government to expedite action towards the quick completion of the prison.

DSS threatens journalists

While the visit by the governor was ongoing, the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, in the state, Mike Fubara, vented his anger on journalists, harassing them to hand over their working tools.

The DSS Director snatched

some of the journalists camera, phones and other working tools, saying it was against the law to take picture of prisons.

He said: There is nowhere in the world that pictures are taken of prisons. Even in USA, what you see is only stage-managed building. We cannot allow you to take any picture.

If I see any picture in your story tomorrow, you and your paper will be in serious trouble.

The attack on the prison was the second in two years as the facility was attacked in 2012 and 114 prisoners set free.

The Koton-Karfe Prison was built in 1918, renovated in 1938 and is supposed to accommodate 50 inmates.

BUJA SEVEN months after they were affected in the bomb explosions, which took place in the nation s capital territory and other neighbouring towns, victims of these bomb attacks, yesterday, protested against alleged negligence by the Federal Government.

The victims, who converged on the Millennium Park Fountain, venue of the #BringBackourGirls demonstrations, also claimed that they were abandoned in various hospitals, and left to foot the bills that had accumulated in the course of their treatments.

Among the incidents that affected them are the dual bomb blasts at Nyanya in April, and others in Suleja, Niger State, as well as Emab Plaza in Wuse Zone II, Abuja.

In a swift reaction, Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCTA, Dr. Ademola Onakomaiya, said: There is a mix up here. What they are asking for is not healthcare, but empowerment because if we had not treated them, they will not be able to come here.

Residents flee Zamfara town over killing

By Salisu Maradun

Former Enugu Chief of Staff, Nwobodo, allegedly arrested by ICPC

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU FORMER Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, was allegedly arrested yesterday in Abuja by men of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC. The arrest came on the heel of a recent arrest of five council chairmen in Enugu State, who were nabbed over allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds.

News about the alleged arrest

of Nwobodo was still sketchy as at press time, but competent sources told Vanguard that it might be connected with some fraudulent discoveries in the state.

She was said to have been nabbed at the airport by men of the ICPC. Governor Sullivan Chime was reported to have stormed Abuja, making frantic efforts to intervene.

The arrest of the local government chairmen followed a petition to the Inspector-General of Police by Enugu West Peoples Forum, entitled Looting and

Fraudulent Diversion of Public Funds by Local Government Chairmen in Enugu State.

The petitioners had accused the council chairmen of alleged diversion of N10 million of their respective allocations in the past 10 months, totalling about N450 million.

The arrested chairmen include those of the Awgu Local Government Council, Mr. Nnanna Nze; Aninri Chairman, Mr. Nwabueze Nwobodo; Ezeagu, Chairman, Mr. Emeka Ozoagu; Oji-River, Mr. Onyemaechi Jideofor; and Udi, Mr. Chinedu Iloeje.

G

U S A U FOLLOWING the killing of over 40 people at Gidan Kaso town in Zamfara State and destruction of property, more than two-third of the residents have fled the area for fear of another attack.

When Vanguard visited the town, apart from empty houses and some dead animals, nothing could be seen.

It was also learned that people, and even security operatives, were scared of going into the town.

Some of the residents, according to one of the survivors, Idris Sani, have fled to neighbouring villages, while others ran into the bush.

C M Y K

8

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Emman Ovuakporie & Levinus Nwabughiogu

T

HE raging battle for the soul of the House of Representatives were fought at all fronts yesterday, including the law courts. An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an interim order of injunction stopping the House from reconvening until Friday when a motion ex-parte lodged before it by the embattled Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, will be heard.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who gave the order, further directed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu Azu and five other defendants in the matter, to appear before the court on that date to show cause why the reliefs being sought by the Speaker should not be granted.

The court ordered all the parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion before it, saying the order was necessary so as to preserve the Res of the matter brought before it by the Speaker and his new party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. This came on a day President Goodluck Jonathan directed the 195 PDP members of the House to ensure Tambuwal s removal.

Some aggrieved PDP Reps, it was gathered, have started making moves to elect Bashir Adamu to replace Tambuwal, who dumped the PDP for APC, last week.

Meanwhile, the 160 members of the APC in the House have dared the presidency and the PDP to do their worst, boasting that they have the capacity to handle any situation.

The court order Moving the application yesterday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Sunday Ameh, SAN, told the court that despite the pendency of a substantive suit filed by his clients last Friday, the defendants were still plotting to remove Tambuwal as Speaker of the House.

According to him, the PDP had summoned all its members at the House of Representatives, including the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, with a view to persuading them to reconvene the House for the purpose of discussing Tambuwal s removal as speaker and member of the House.

He contended that Order 5 Rules 18(1) (2) and (3) of the House Standing Rules empowers the Speaker to reconvene the House by directing the Clerk to notify members, saying it will be unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void for the PDP to move to reconvene the House without the approval of the Speaker.

Aside PDP and Mu Azu, other defendants in the suit, which has the APC as the 2nd plaintiff, are the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker of the House, the IGP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Attorney General

TAMBUWAL: Court stops moves to reconvene Reps sitting Jonathan directs PDP Reps to remove speaker Aggrieved PDP Reps may elect Adamu as speaker PDP, Muazu, Ihedioha have propensity to act with impunity

We've capacity to handle anything of the Federation.

Specifically, the plaintiffs had in their motion ex-parte, prayed the court to abort moves by the PDP and its Chairman, to illegally and unconstitutionally reconvene the sitting of the House.

Tambuwal, in the motion filed through the chambers of Mr. Jubril Okutepa, SAN, told the court that since the day he defected to APC, the PDP has continued to perfect strategies with a view to not only ensuring his removal as the speaker, but to also declare his seat as a member of the House vacant.

Alleging that the defendants, have the propensity to act with impunity and in total disregard for due process , Tambuwal insisted that only a quick intervention of the court could stop the evil plot against him.

Besides, he alleged that the defendants, in further demonstration of their unconstitutional conduct , connived with the Acting Inspector General of Police, Sulaiman Abba, and withdrew all the security details attached to him as the Speaker of the House, a development he said has exposed him to bodily harm.

Therefore, the plaintiffs prayed the court among others for an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants/ Respondents herein either by themselves or agents, proxies or otherwise howsoever from taking any steps or further steps to abrogate or diminish or take away or interfere with or infringe the 1st plaintiff s rights and privileges as the Hon Speaker and as a member of the 3rd Defendant/ Respondent pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction before this court.

Why Jonathan wants speaker removed Meanwhile, President Jonathan has directed PDP lawmakers to ensure that Tambuwal is removed from office.

Sources close to the presidency revealed that the president who could not hide his anger told some ranking members of the House at a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Friday night to immediately start moves towards Tambuwal s ouster. He blamed them for allowing the speaker to exhibit such control over them without protecting his interest.

Said the source: We had to apologise to him and promised to

Tambuwal

APC Reps

MEETING: From left; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State; Benue State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship aspirant, Mr. Sam Ode and the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mua'zu after a meeting at the Aso Villa, Abuja...weekend Photo by Abayomi Adeshida. carry out his instructions to remove the speaker. Towards this end, we ve summoned all our members to reach Abuja today (yesterday) unfailingly to attend a meeting with our party leaders.

Look, they are only playing politics. I can tell you that no PDP lawmaker is ready to vote for Tambuwal s impeachment. Even if there would be anything like that, it can t be now.

went to restrain PDP from reconvening the House, advised the Federal Government to concentrate on the economy and leave the leadership of the House alone.

The arrowhead of the lawmakers, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), who addressed the press berated the PDP for resorting to self-help and using the police to withdraw the speaker s security details.

He wondered why the PDP is over-reacting over Tambuwal s defection, who he said exercised his fundamental and constitutional right to freedom of association.

PDP doesn t have the number to remove Tambuwal Nwuke Also lending his voice, an APC lawmaker from Rivers State, Ogbonna Nwuke, said that the PDP lawmakers did not have the required two-third majority to oust the Speaker.

He said: Let me say this to you.

It's not possible for PDP lawmakers to muster two third majority. They don t have it. The only way they We ve the capacity to handle any Why we won t impeach can get that is if some APC situation APC Reps lawmakers decide to betray the Also speaking after the APC Ihedioha briefing, Chairman House On the grand design to party. But that is not possible.

Committee on Finance, impeach Emeka Ihedioha, the PDP meeting Abdulmunin Jibrin (APC, Kano) deputy speaker, the source said it At press time, the PDP meeting said: We members of the APC are is virtually impossible because we can t lose two strong PDP was on-going. Vanguard gathered in shock because when the lawmakers. We ve lost Tambuwal. that one of the issues slated for Speaker officially moved, we had So, Ihedioha remains for now and discussion was automatic tickets thought that there would be some for all PDP lawmakers to enable kind of celebration in the that is not really our challenge. them work towards removing Presidency and of course, the PDP because they have never done Plot to impeach Tambuwal ll fail Tambuwal.

Those expected at the meeting anything to pull the speaker close unless...

However, another PDP included members of of the Board to them. We in the APC worked lawmaker said that even if PDP of Trustees (BoT), National hard on the speaker. We showed heeded the call to give automatic Working Committee (NWC), PDP the Speaker that we are going to tickets to lawmakers as widely Governors Forum, Attorney provide him a home, and reported, the idea to impeach General of the Federation and PDP eventually the speaker moved to caucus in the House. the APC.'' Tambuwal would fail.

And now there is all sort of Reason: none of them is ready Leave us alone, face our scheming going but the most to play politics of impeachment at the moment given the fact that economy, APC Reps advise PDP important thing is that the Also yesterday, APC members speaker has nothing to lose. We every lawmaker has returned to his constituency to fight for tickets. from the court venue where they have nothing to lose.''

Jostle to replace Tambuwal begins Impeccable sources told Vanguard that a four-term lawmaker, Bashir Adamu (PDP, Jigawa) has been tipped to replace Tambuwal.

Also being considered is Usman Kumho, but from all indications he does not have a strong support base to become speaker.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

PDP makes U-turn, to sell forms to Balewa s son, Abiola s wife, others

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA AHEAD of December 6 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where President Goodluck Jonathan, the sole presidential candidate of the party would be ratified, the National leadership of the party, yesterday reversed its decision, saying the Presidential forms were now available for all.

The party, in a two paragraph statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, urged all those who have paid for the Expression of Interest and nomination forms to visit the party s National Secretariat to pick the forms.

Metuh, who insisted that sale of forms for aspirants closes on Thursday this week, said, The Peoples Democratic Party wishes to inform all aspirants to all positions for the 2015 general elections that the deadline for the purchase and collection of all nomination forms has been extended to Thursday, 6th November 2014.

All aspirants who paid for nomination forms, including

the Presidential Form but yet to collect same, should come to the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja with verifiable evidence of payment for purposes of collection of their forms.

Meanwhile, a source told Vanguard on phone yesterday that with this development, son of Nigeria s late prime minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Abdul Jelil, who was denied the forms, would today storm the National Secretariat to get the forms.

It will be recalled that NEC had at its 66th NEC meeting endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the party s sole Presidential candidate of the party, whose candidature would be ratified at the December 6 National Convention.

The party had also said after the endorsement through Chief Metuh that all law abiding members of the party must adhere strictly to the decision of PDP by not picking presidential nomination forms against the decision of the organs of the party.

Following the decision of the party, two presidential

aspirants, son of Nigeria s late prime minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr Abdul Jelil and Mrs Zainab Duke-Abiola were on Tuesday

last week denied the forms against the backdrop that only one presidential form was printed because of the adoption of President Jonathan.

Bureau Chief

A

BUJA THE nation currently needs a $14 billion annual investment in its infrastructure facilities, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has said.

Speaking at the Public Private Partnership, PPP, stakeholders workshop organized by the African Development Bank, AfDB, in Abuja, yesterday, she said the Federal Government could not afford the entire funding requirement, therefore, making private sector investment in infrastructure inevitable.

According to her, To fund infrastructure, Nigeria needs about $14 billion every year, out of which $10 billion should come from the federal level. And this estimate is not comprehensive because it is likely to be higher when the total financial outlay needed to fund the Infrastructure Master plan is calculated.

Currently the country s spending on infrastructure is about $6 billion, so there is a big

gap that needs to be filled. We are talking about something in the region of $8 billion. That is why PPPs are very important to Nigeria at the moment .

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala noted that some of the PPP arrangements of the past were bogged down by certain inadequacies in the frameworks of the deals, making them unable to progress as successfully as anticipated.

She, therefore, stated that there was need for a review of the PPPs in such a way that the government and the Nigerian public could derive the desired benefits under a legal framework that would be fair to all parties.

Past arrangements, she pointed out, were skewed in favour of private investors, leaving the Nigerian government to bear virtually all the risks, with private investors, sometimes, asking for as much as 30 per cent return on their investment.

Her words, We need to improve the PPP model to ensure that it suits the country s needs, delivers clear benefits without leaving us with difficult problems.

One of the problematic areas is the amount of time needed to

Jonathan ended 40 years of corruption in Agric sector MINISTER ...92% of Nigerian farmers now get fertilisers directly

By Henry Umoru

A

PLAUDITS: Chairman, Transcorp Power, Mr Tony Elumelu (right) congratulating the firm's Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi and his team for tripling Ughelli generation capacity in the first year, since take-over, during the board meeting of the company held in Lagos.

Nigeria needs $14bn for infrastructure annually, says Okonjo-Iweala

By Emma Ujah, Abuja

9

complete a PPP project. On the average, according to studies, it takes seven years to complete a PPP project in Africa. This is too long! For policy makers and political leaders who are operating on a four-year term, seven years to deliver a project which they have promised the people is not very attractive.

The difference in time horizon between policy makers and technical partners needed to be reduced. PPPs need to be processed faster. In other words, we need better financial, legal and regulatory capacity to achieve faster results.

Another issue, which we have observed is that there is s tendency to make legal requirements too complicated and load every risk on government to the benefit of investors who walk away with rewards at virtually no risk. Government alone can't bear all the risk. The risks need to be shared to make the project fair and sustainable.

Besides, the rate of return expectation of investors tends to be too high and this is reflected in unsustainably high costs of PPP projects. Sometimes it is as high

as 30%. The consequence is that tolls are too high and the public understandably becomes hostile to the project and this leads to all kinds of problems. ''There is therefore a need to have a right financial and economic framework which will ensure that investment is profitable but also benefit consumers and the economy.

The minister said the country was already utilizing PPPs in projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Onne Port in Rives State, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge, adding, We need much more because our needs are so great .

The AfDB Director in Nigeria, Dr. Ousumane Dore, explained that his organization decided to establish a PPP Hub in Nigeria to assist the nation and others in the West-African Sub-Region in their efforts at attracting private funds to infrastructure investment.

According to him, the bank has access to a team of experts who could assist in drafting necessary legal frameworks and other agreement details for successful PPPs and would deploy them to the benefit of member countries.

B U J A MINISTER of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina disclosed yesterday that 92 per cent of Nigerian farmers now get fertilisers directly, just as he said the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, through its Agriculture Transformation Agenda has ended 40 years of corruption in the agricultural sector.

Speaking yesterday on the third day of the Public Affairs Forum of the Jonathan Administration organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs in Abuja, he explained that transformation in the sector has witnessed a monumental change in the way agriculture and related activities were handled.

According to him, the ministry under the current arrangement has built a national database of 10.5 Million farmers, which has increased the participation in every state of the federation, adding that the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) programme has increased farmers who are now getting fertilizers from 11% before the programme to 92%. He pointed out that 1.3 million metric tons of fertilizer has been delivered to farmers.

Dr. Adesina said, We ended 40 years of corruption in the fertilizer sector. The old system of government direct procurement and distribution of fertilizer was corrupt. ''Nearly 90% of farmers never received subsidized fertilizers. Between 1980 and 2010, over N873 Bln ($5.4bn) was spent on fertilizer subsidies. No more than 11% of farmers received these fertilizers.

Over N776bn was estimated to have been lost to corruption or an average of N26bn annually.''

10

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS:

Appeal Court okays new number plates

NUAHP threatens to join nation-wide strike

ď ŹBars FRSC from impounding cars with old plates

L

By Chioma Obinna

AGOS MEDICAL practitioners under the platform of Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, NUAHP, yesterday, threatened to direct their counterparts in the state hospitals to join the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike, should the Federal Government fail to heed their demands by November 6, 2014.

The union had embarked on strike since October 16 to press home their demands.

The striking union comprises Physical Therapists, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Radiographers, Pharmacists, Dieticians, Medical Social Workers, Psychologists, Medical Physicists, Optometrists, Health Information Managers, Orthotics, among others.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the union s President, Dr. Kayode Faniran also urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to appoint another doctor as the minister of health if he wants to end the crisis in the health sector.

NYSC orientation commences today

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

L

AGOS THE Management of the National Youth Service Corps, Lagos State has directed corps members who registered under the abridged 2014 Batch B Stream 11, Orientation Course in Lagos to report at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Iyana Ipaja, Agege for the three weeks orientation programme which commences today.

This was contained in a release by the NYSC Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi.

According to her, the official opening/swearingin ceremony of the batch which will be presided over by the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, is slated for Thursday, 6, November 2014.

L

By Innocent Anaba

AGOS THE Court of Appeal, Lagos, has granted the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, the permission to go ahead with the new number plate.

Justice Shagbaor Ikegh, gave the ruling in a judgement last Friday which was released to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.

The plaintiff, Mr Emmanuel Ofoegbu, had filed a suit against the FRSC before a Federal High Court, Lagos.

The plaintiff had challenged the October 1, 2013 deadline set for motorists to change to the number plate and the threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

I would allow this appeal in part; for the avoidance of doubt, this appeal only succeeds in part to the effect that regulations 2012 has legal force, and is enforceable from October 1, 2013, the administrative date set by FRSC. The part of the decision of the lower court declaring the regulation 2012 unconstitutional is hereby set aside, Ikegh ruled.

Justice John Tsoho of the lower court had on March 26 described as unconstitutional the threats

by FRSC to impound vehicles of defaulters, including the applicant s vehicle(s) over the redesigned plates.

Tsoho held that although the FRSC had statutory powers and responsibilities, it was overreaching itself by its proposed action since there was no penal law under which same could be executed.

The judge had held that the FRSC could not force upon Nigerians, a hastily conceived policy, without an enabling legal framework.

He said nothing had invalidated the old number plates, describing the plans by the FRSC as dictatorial and an arbitrary use of power contrary to the constitution.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, the FRSC had approached the appellate court, seeking an order upturning its verdict.

FRSC's appeal

The FRSC, in its appeal, had raised four issues for determination whether the trial court was right when it took notice of newspaper publication on the alleged threat to impound vehicles of defaulters.

It also urged the appellate

court to decide whether the trial court was right to hold that the National Road Traffic Regulation, NRTR, 2012 was a hastily conceived policy without a legal framework.

The FRSC had also queried the locus standi of the respondent to

have initiated the suit at the lower court, and whether the court was right to have granted an injunction in his favour.

By October 31 judgment, three of the issues raised by the FRSC were resolved in favour of the respondent, Ofoegbu.

The court, however, upheld the validity of the NRTR 2012, adding that by the provisions of Section 5 of the FRSC Act 2007, the National Assembly had delegated the authority to the agency to so act.

Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-Chief/GM Publications, Vanguard Newspapers (left), and Mr Anthony Obuh, during Obuh's campaign visit to Vanguard Media Ltd, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.

VISIT: From left: Mr. Anthony Obuh, Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Emma Ejiofor, the Onighe of Ubulu-Ukwu, Delta State, and Mr Magnus Onyibe, former , Commissioner of Information, Delta State, during the visit. Photos: Diran Oshe.

SURE-P, FERMA officials dislodge LASTMA men from federal roads

L

Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo A G O S

PANDEMONIUM broke out yesterday at old Toll Gate, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ikorodu Road when officials of Subsidy Reinvestment and

Empowerment Programme,, SURE-P and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, popularly called Federal Task Force, clashed with officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, over control of traffic on federal highways across Lagos State.

Consequently, LASTMA officials often drafted to the axis

were chased away by the federal taskforce officials.

The Sure-P Task Force officers were also seen around Ketu area as well as the old Toll Gate, on Abeokuta road where their secretariat is located.

The sudden appearance of the men in black resulted into chaos as motorists and passers-by ran in different directions.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

My successors abandoned power sector Obasanjo

By Daud Olatunji

A

BEOKUTA FORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the problems ravaging the power sector in the country to his successors, saying, they abandoned the sector.

Obasanjo said he had tried to ensure stable power supply since 1979 when he was Military Head of State and when he returned as civilian President in 1999 but, his successors abandoned the sector thereby making it moribund.

The former President stated this yesterday at a programme tagged First Green Legacy Moment with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Leadership and Human Security in Africa, in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo who submitted that part of the problems facing the country is lack of political will

by Nigerian leaders, warned that power should not be privatised to friends.

He said: Part of our problems is lack of political will on the part of the leaders.What does a leader understands about development, any leader worth its salt should know that power is very important. It is the driver of all development be it social, economic, and even political.

When I was military head of state, I developed the Jebba dam, I developed Shirroro, I started Egbin. Shagari came and completed Egbin and commissioned Jebba and Shirroro.

Between Shagari in 1983, until I came back in 1999, there was no single dime invested in power generation. If anything, the ones that were there were allowed to go down.

A country like Nigeria must be adding not less than two thousand mega watts if we are to be moving on the path of development.

If you will remember, when I came back in 1999, my first Minister of Power was late Bola Ige. I won t say Bola didn t know what he was doing and he said publicly that he would fix the power problems in six months.

After one year, Bola with his capacity couldn t fathom what was wrong with power. It was riddled with corruption. Then we had no money, people have forgotten that in 1999/2000, the price of crude oil was US $9 per barrel. So, I wanted the oil companies; Mobil, Total and they wouldn t go along.

When we started having money, we started the National Integrated Power Plant . When we said the money we had should be invested in power, my successor didn t understand, he stopped it.

If for almost 20 years we did not achieve anything in power generation, then we may not be able to get it again.

Let me give you an example: the population of South Africa is 55 million and they generate 45,000 megawatts. Our population today is about 180 million people and could not generate 4,000 megawatts. And South Africa is an industrialising country and not an industrialised nation.

For us to say that we are industrialising country, we must be generating much more than what South Africa is generating, say 100,000 mega watts. What year will Nigeria get there if we are adding 2,000 mega watts each year?

For us to get to 100, 000 mega watts, I leave the mathematics to you. It sounds very discouraging but that is the reality , he said.

WARD CONGRESS: Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (right), receiving his card from the Congress Committee Chairman, Mrs Cecilia Fayase (middle), and a member of the committee, Mr. Victor Ogunya, during the Ward Congress of Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, at Yaba Ward 7, in Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State.

A

KURE THE crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, reverberated yesterday as aspirants for next year elections said the admittance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko into the party did not follow the party s constitution.

Vanguard gathered that efforts are also in top gear to convince the sacked exco to withdraw the court case they instituted to halt their dissolution by the national secretariat.

Consequently a meting of leaders from both divide will hold in Abuja today or tomorrow since the court case comes up on Thursday.

Meanwhile the aspirants also passed a vote of confidence in the sacked state executives of the party.

Speaking under the platform of the PDP Aspirants Forum in Ondo State, they slammed the National Working Committee of working in favour of the

Governor Mimiko to hijack the party in the state.

Their vice-chairman, Tolu Babaleye who addressed newsmen after their meeting in Akure said: If the minority is imposed on the majority, it may

spell doom for the party in the state.

They called on the National leadership of the party to adhere to the constitution of the party in admitting new or defected members into the party.

He said the aspirants forum embrace the coming of the state governor into the party saying his coming will add value to the party in the state but said the governor s defection is not in accordance with the party's Constitution."

Many states yet to adopt Child Rights Act

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA THE Federal Government has expressed worry over the failure of many states in the country to adopt the Child Rights Act. The Federal Government said it is addressing the issue of the 10.8 million Nigerian children that

TRIBUNAL:

FG

Abeokuta.

Nwaobiala listed the Almajiri schools established in the North, Boy-child education in the South-East and the Girl-child education in North as projects pursued vigorously by the government.

Omisore's petition suffers setback

By Gbenga Olarinoye SOGBO THE ruling on the competence of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP s, candidate at the August 9, Osun State governorship poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore yesterday suffered a temporary setback following the

O

were said to have no access to education through several interventions.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala stated this at the official session of the 60th National Council on Education meeting held in

absence of one of the judges who was indisposed.

Justice Elizabeth Ekpejime, the chairman of the panel, had at the last sitting fixed yesterday for ruling on the motion filed by APC s counsel, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN, challenging the jurisdiction of the panel to hear

Amosun, Ogun REC task politicians on voters' cards

By Daud Olatunji BEOKUTA OGUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Ogun State, Sam Olumekun have called on politicians in the state to sensitize the people of the state to go out and collect their permanent voters' cards.

The duo made the call at a stakeholders forum organised by the commission yesterday in Abeokuta.

Olumekun charged all registered persons to go with their temporary voters' cards to be exchange them for the PVC. The REC assured that those who are yet to get registered or who could not get the PVC should after the distribution exercise go to any of the 236 registration centres in the state to get registered for the card to be able to participate in the coming elections.

A

Ado Ekiti Fed Poly shut over students' protest

By GbengaAriyibi

Aspirants fault Mimiko's admission into PDP

By Dayo Johnson

11

petition against the victory of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

At the sitting yesterday, the panel which was supposed to commence sitting by 9 am could not sit as the Secretary of the tribunal, Mr. Muhammed Aliyu, announced that the sitting will commence by 10am.

A

DO EKITI THE management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti has announced the indefinite closure of the institution.

The decision of the management to close down the school may not be unconnected with the protest staged by the part-time students of the institution over what they described as incessant hike in school fees.

According to the statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti yesterday by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the institution, Prince Ade Adejolu said the management was meeting the students Representatives Council with a view of finding solution to the impasse.

The students were said to be protesting the hike in school fees which was increased from N9,000 to N34,000.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

12

Edo lawmakers suspend hostilities to mourn colleague î šWhen people plotted to betray us, he stood firm Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY MEMBERS of Edo State House of Assembly, were yesterday, thrown into mourning following the death of the lawmaker representing Etsako East constituency of the state, Mr. Peter Aliu.

The deceased emerged speaker pro-tempore in 2010, following the impeachment of the then speaker, Zakawanu Garuba.

The news of Aliu's death came as a shock to many, particularly his colleagues, who felt his failing health had improved recently.

The deceased was a strong supporter of the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and was very visible in the power play in the House between the APC lawmakers and their Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterparts.

The late Peter Aliu, 61, passed on in the early hours of yesterday after a brief illness. He is survived by a widow, Mary, and six children.

Governor Oshiomhole, who was accompanied by other members of the State Executive Council, SEC, including his Deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, to pay condolence on the family, said he had lost a brother.

The nine PDP lawmakers, including the impeached

former Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, temporarily suspended hostilities to pay condolence on the family of their deceased colleague at about 10:30am yesterday.

The governor, who paid a condolence visit to the widow of the late lawmaker, Mrs. Mary Aliu, said: Aliu was my brother. In moments of temptation, he showed courage and good character.

When people plotted to betray us, he stood firm, remained on

the side of fairness, justice and principle. When people brought money, he rejected it in favour of principle. The last time I saw him and we had a conversation, he was more concerned about my political wellbeing rather than his health. His colleagues and I called him our father because Aliu conducted himself as a father to everyone, not because he was old but just a statement of his character, fatherly disposition and his

commitment to bringing everybody together."

On his part, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe, said they would miss Aliu's fatherly role .

He said: I do not know how the advice we got from him can be replaced. His astuteness, respect and political dexterity were unquatifiable. However, God has decided. He knows the best. In everything, He said, we should give thanks and praise unto Him.

CONDOLENCE VISIT: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Mrs Maria Aliu, widow of Hon Peter Aliu, member, Edo State House of Assembly, who passed on after a brief illness during the governor's condolence visit to the widow, yesterday.

LG boss tasks newly elected council officers on challenges ahead

By Daniel Gumm

W

ARRI RE-ELECTED Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Hon. Matthew Edema, has charged his Vice Chairman, Hon. Charlie Etseaghara and the 19 newly elected councillors in the local government to brace up for the challenges ahead, stressing that as leaders, they must not fail their people in rendering purposeful leadership, particularly in the provision of good roads, food security, schools, infrastructure and enrichment of standard of living of the electorate.

He spoke, yesterday, during the swearing-in of the reelected Vice Chairman of the local government, Mr. Etseaghara and 19 councillors at the legislative arm of Warri South Council, Main Secretariat, in Warri.

Edema reminded the newly elected representatives to be magnanimous in victory, stressing that it was time to fulfill electoral promises

now that elections were over.

Commending the state government, leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state and the local government as well as the electorates for a hitch free election, Edema said his administration was poised to offer an alternative to health challenges by launching a regular physical exercise among people living in the area with a view to building on their fitness.

Chief Magistrate Ena Ojudgo had earlier administered the Oath of Allegiance, Public Office,

Secrecy and Oath of Office to the re-elected Vice Chairman of the council, former Leader of Warri South Legislative Arm, Sunday Okiemute Aguweye, ex- Deputy Leader of the Legislative Arm, Richard Pessu, seven re-elected councilors and 10 other councillors who were newly elected.

The re-elected councillor representing Mc-Dermott ward, Romeo Ogedegbe, who responded on behalf of others, promised that they would key into Edema s philosophy of service to

humanity as well as work with him and the PDP leadership with a view to fulfilling their electoral mandate to people of Warri South Local Government.

Cleric predicts end to Boko Haram insurgency

By Festus Ahon

U

G H E L L I GENERAL Overseer of the Ark of Jesus Miracle Ministry International, Prophet Sunny Peace, has expressed optimism that the Boko Haram insurgency was on the verge of coming to an end and urged Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan's reelection bid.

Interacting with newsmen at the headquarters of the church at Oboro town, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, the cleric said President Jonathan would definitely win the 2015 general election.

According to him, the country will overcome the security and economic challenges facing it.

He said: Some people think the country is on the brink of collapse because of our problems but I believe strongly that God is about to do something great for Nigeria and the country will continue to remain one indivisible entity.

God is totally in control.

There is no country that doesn t face good and bad times. This is just our moment of trial and we will overcome it.

He, however, urged Jonathan to take urgent steps to tackle the problem of unemployment bedevilling the country.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 13

PDP plotting to remove Tambuwal Abe

2015: I ll protect interests of all Deltans Obuh

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo

Akinrefon & Charles Kumolu

D

ELTA State governorship aspirant on the banner of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sir Anthony Obuh, has promised to address the fears and anxieties of all ethnic groups in the state, if elected.

Obuh, 57, who led members of his Delta 2015 campaign team to the Lagos headquarters of Vanguard Media Limited, yesterday, said having served Delta State in various capacities in the last 32 years, he had the requisite experience, exposure and acumen to take the state to the next level.

Essentially, he said his driving goal was to leave a lasting legacy in the state.

In a no-holds barred chat with Vanguard senior editors, the Delta North-born aspirant spoke on how he was going to pursue the Delta Beyond Oil programme, tackle insecurity,

create jobs, fight corruption and ensure ethnic harmony in the state, among others.

Stressing the need for an experienced and exposed candidate to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in May, he said: I believe that if someone who does not know what the state needs is voted into office, the state will stagnate for a while.

I believe that there could be continuity on the part of progress so we can improve the fortunes of the state. We have to build more on the solid foundation that we have at the moment. My dream is to help Delta State to grow the more as one of the leading states in Nigeria.

Asked if his aspiration was informed by the belief that his Delta North senatorial district appeared favoured to produce the next governor, he said: I am not hinging my aspiration on the fact that I am from Delta North. I told someone that I want to be seen as Nwobodo (a son of the larger Delta

community). I am running because I see myself as a candidate who will represent all the ethnic nationalities in the state. I am someone who represents the three senatorial districts.

Obuh, who described himself as the best aspirant on the prowl given the feedback from his consultation visits to all the 25 local councils of the state, said his dream was to take the state to the zenith of development, envisioned: I want to take the state to a point where it can be seen as one of the leading states in the country. I want the state to be a point of reference beyond Nigeria. I have been exposed to government and governance. I have been in government for 32 years. I started from the lower cadre learning how policies are formulated and executed. I also watched policies being implemented between the public servants by the political class. My exposure is such that I know what it can take to

implement a sound policy. I also know what leads to failure of policies.

Therefore, I believe that I have more experience than any of the other aspirants. There are so many things that we can do to grow Delta State. The windows are just being opened.

From what we have today as Delta Beyond Oil, it is obvious to us that the lives of the people can be advanced. I want to grow a state that will depend on things outside oil. For instance, tourism is an aspect of the peoples lives that can help us generate the revenue that will sustain our economy. I want to build a state that will be financially independent without dependence on what it will get from the federation account on a monthly basis.

S

ENATOR Magnus Abe has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of plotting to remove the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, for defecting to All Progressives Party, APC, through the backdoor.

Abe, who represents Rivers South-East senatorial district, said the move will fail because the party cannot muster the prescription of Nigeria s constitution.

Senator Abe who stated this in Bera while addressing APC executives from the 17 Wards of Gokana, on the collection of permanent voter cards and continuous registration slated for 7th-10th of this month, said efforts to remove Tambuwal from office would be futile as it would be difficult to get no fewer than 240 members of the lower chamber to endorse his removal as stipulated by the country s constitution.

13TH WIMBIZ ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN LAGOS

From left: Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication; Mrs. Osayi From left: Mrs. Bola Adesola, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Alile, Chairperson, Women in Management Business and Public Service, Bank; Chief (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, Founder of Vivian Fowler Memorial College WIMBIZ, and Chief / Conference Chairperson. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; (Mrs.) Leila Fowler, Mrs. Osayi Alile, Chairperson Women in Management Business and Public Founder of Vivian Memorial Service, WIMBIZ, and Mrs. Ifeoma Idigbe, Executive Director, Benin-Owena Fowler River Basin Development Authority, during the 13th annual conference by College/ Conference WIMBIZ with the theme: "Nigeria Rising: Accelerating Transformation'' at Chairperson.

Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday.

Ms Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller, Vanguard Newspaper (right) and others at the conference.

C M Y K

Cross section of participants at the conference

From left: Uchechi Havor, Export Manager, British American Tobacco Nigeria, BATN; Bisola Adefarati, Area Head of Treasury, BATN; Seyi Ashade, Sustainability Manager, BATN; Osayi Alile, Chairperson, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ); Dayo George, Area Head, Corporate Affairs, BATN; and Maureen Adeiye, Area Program Manager, BATN, at the conference. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi.

14

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 15

CBN to unveil centerary N100 note tomorrow

By Babajide Komlafe

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria will tomorrow unveil a special N100 note to commemorate the Marion s centenary celebrations.

In statement issued by the Director, Corporate Communications, Alhaji Ibarahim Mu azu, the CBN said that the special note will be unveiled by President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the statement, the commemorative note is part of the CBN s contribution to the centenary celebration, which is in line with its mandate of issuing legal tender currency in Nigeria. The choice of the N100 denomination is to mark the centenary celebration of Nigeria and is consistent

with best global practices for Central Banks around the world during the celebration of national events.

Part of the features of the commemorative banknote is the inscription of the theme of the centenary celebration: One Nigeria, Great Promise as a micro-text. While retaining the portrait of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the front, the new note features Nigerian traditional dancers at the back. The commemorative note comes in different dominant colours.

The new note is also designed to incorporate additional security features for digital communication, protection against counterfeiting, tolerance to the tropics and ease of recognition of genuineness.

AWARD: Abia State governor, Theodore Orji (standing, right), receiving an award as the quintessential Igbo Leader, from Professor Chinweike Ezeike, Vice Chairman, Igbo Leaders of Thought, on behalf of Igbo Youth Movement, at Nike Lake Resort Enugu. Watching is Professor Ben Nwabueze, Chairman, Igbo leaders of Thought and Chairman of the occasion.

Enugu PDP crisis deepens as Acting Chairman petitions Muazu

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA CRISIS rocking the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, took a new twist as Acting Chairman, Elder David Aja, petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, asking him to call Governor Sullivan Chime to order.

According to Aja, Mu azu should use his office to prevent Governor Chime from what he described as flagrant breach and violation of our party constitution.

He said in line with the letter from the party s National Working Committee, NWC, he had already put in motion the process for calling a meeting of the State Executive Committee, SEC, for the purpose of appointing a new chairman.

In a petition addressed to Muazu, dated November 3, 2014, entitled, 'Blatant disregard of directives of the NWC and the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party by S. I. Chime,' the acting chairman of Enugu PDP pleaded with Muazu to prevail on Chime to allow him to carry out his functions without any threat to life or harassment.

Also copied in the petition were PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; the National Secretary, Prof. Adewale

Oladipo; Deputy National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe; National Treasurer, Alhaji Buhari Bala; National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; National Woman Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe and others.

The petition read: You will recall that following the resignation of Engr. Vita Abba, as the chairman of the Enugu State chapter of our great party on October 20, 2014, I was, in accordance with the party constitution expected to take over the running of the party until

the State Executive Committee, SEC, meets to appoint a new chairman from the area the previous one came from, pending the holding of an election for a new chairman.

Mr. Chairman, you will recall that in total breach of the provisions of the constitution, the state secretary of the party, Steve Oruruo, purported to summon and preside at a meeting of the SEC on October 25, 2014, where Chief Ikeje Asogwa was illegally appointed the new chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the party.

You will recall that I addressed

a letter to you dated October 27, 2014 wherein I complained about the said illegal and unconstitutional appointment.

Fortunately, the NWC harkened to my call and on October 30, 2014 I received my copy of the letter addressed to the national vice chairman (South East) wherein I was recognized as the acting chairman of the Enugu State chapter of our party, and I was instructed to summon a meeting of SEC within 14 days to appoint a new chairman from the zone where the out-going chairman hails from in accordance with the party constitution.

...Loyalists to Chime react

E

NUGU STATE faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to Governor Sullivan Chime, yesterday, faulted claims

by Mr. David Ajah and his faction that the ward congresses held in the 260 wards in the state on Saturday.

This came as Enugu Professionals Forum, EPF, lambasted the Ajah-led faction for allegedly misinforming party members and the general public.

Speaking, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the faction, Dr. Okey Eze said it was quite lamentable that Elder Ajah, working in concert with his

benefactors, could deliberately misinform our party members and other Nigerians that the ward congresses held on Saturday. This was even as our teeming members knew that no congress took place in any of the 260 wards because the materials did not leave Abuja.

Now, the questions to ask are: if they falsely claim that the ward congresses held, where did they get the materials from when we all knew that the panel members and the materials did not leave Abuja? And if they claim that they held the congresses, who supervised them? Where were the materials taken to?

"We wish to reiterate as our PDP chairman, Chief Ikeje Asogwa said earlier that no congress held in Enugu State. This is common knowledge to the members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party who, I m sure, are looking into the matter.

In its reaction, EPF in a statement by its interim President Nebechi Ugo, said it was very embarrassing that somebody who claims to be leading a faction of the party could come out to say that congresses held in the wards when party members who gathered for the exercise knew quite well that it didn t hold. What point was he trying to achieve?

The group said it was even

more surprising that the party s Secretary of Ward Congress Committee for Enugu State, Usman Shehu Idris, was credited as saying that the congress in Enugu State was peaceful.

For now, our position is to believe that he didn t say what he was reported to have said, or that he was simply misquoted. He should be given that benefit of doubt to challenge that report.

Otherwise, he would be taken to task when he came to Enugu and on which congress he supervised, to come to the conclusion that it was peaceful, as he allegedly said.

The group added that, some people in the party are clearly playing sinister games against the PDP in Enugu State.

Everyone in the headquarters of the party at Abuja knew that both the electoral officers and the materials meant for Enugu never left Abuja on the scheduled day.

The drama at Wadata Plaza where some people tried to hijack the materials and the same failed efforts to take away the materials from a police station in Wuse, Abuja, as widely reported in the media were pointer to the desperation of some Abuja-based politicians."

Our advice is that the party at

2015: I'll make Aba leading industrial hub in Africa Ikpeazu

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA A P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Abia State for the 2015 polls, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has assured of his commitment to turn Aba to one of the leading commercial and industrial hubs in Africa.

Okezie, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Ngwa Patriotic Forum, NPF, Aba, pledged to redesign Aba to serve as a city of economic and industrial excellence.

According to him, I have come to inform this forum that I am in the race for governorship of our dear state to also make Abia proud like the incumbent is doing. The axiom that says get Aba right and get Abia right shall continue to be the pivotal development philosophy and nexus upon which I will hinge my development policy.

Ikpeazu said urban renewal, functional infrastructure, portable water supply, reliable and decent public transportation system as well as urban traffic management system among others, would be his priorities if elected the next governor of Abia State.

He described Aba as a city where indigenous technology excels , and promised to harness the abundant talents in the town with the raw materials available to make the place better than Dubai of United Arab Emirate or Shanghais of China.

16

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

GOV. UDUAGHAN'S 60TH BIRTHDAY DINNER PARTY

Mr Timi Alaibe (left), and Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, at the party.

From left, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of Thisday Newspapers; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State, and Senator Udo Udoma, during the 60th Birthday dinner party, in honour of Delta State Governor, oganized by Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Photos: Shola Oyelese & Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left, Mr. Albert Okumagba GMD/Chief Executive officer BGL Plc; Mr. Chike Ogeah,Delta State Commissioner for Information, and Mr. Eniola Bello, MD of Thisday Newspapers.

Alhaji Adamu Muazu, PDP National Chairman; Aremu Olusegun Osoba, former Ogun State governor, delivering an address; Dr. Evelyn Oputu, former MD, Bank of Industry; Mr. Sam Amuka, Chairman, Vanguard Media Ltd, and Governor Uduaghan.

From left, Mr. Obaigbena, Mr. Jim Ovia, former Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, and Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien

From left, Ms Bunmi Tejuoso, Mrs. Funke Ogeah, and Mrs. Kemi Ofili.

C M Y K

From left, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Ruth Osime, and Nkiru Anumodu.

From left, Mrs. Ikepo Braithwaite, with Mr. & Mrs. B Mbu.

Alhaji Adamu Muazu, PDP National Chairman, and Mr. Ray Ekpu

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

I

T is customary to refer to members of the House of Representatives as honorable. In which case, the appropriate title for the current Speaker might be the Right Honorable Aminu Tambuwal. But the activities of the Speaker over the last four years, capped by his recent defection to the APC, shows that such a title would be grossly misplaced if applied to him.

There is nothing honorable about Tambuwal pretence for the better part of three years that he is a PDP member, when in actual fact he has been nothing of the sort.

There is nothing honorable about the way Tambuwal has despised the Constitution he was sworn to protect. There is nothing honorable about the way Tambuwal has betrayed the trust of the Nigerian electorate, as expressed in the 2011 election. I can find no better or more precise language with which to describe Tambuwal than that he is a traitor.

Tambuwal s treachery Tambuwal is a serial defector. He defected from the ANPP to the DPP, then back to the ANPP, then to the PDP and now to the APC. He is a traitor for defecting from the PDP to the APC without first resigning from the House. He is the representative of a constituency in Sokoto comprising a majority of PDP voters.

They elected him to represent them as a PDP legislator. He has now betrayed their trust by defecting to the opposition APC. His constituents did not elect an APC man to represent them.

Tambuwal has shown that he is not a man of high principles. Nigeria is operating a democratic system largely borrowed from the United States.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives comes from the majority party in the House. That party is the PDP. Tambuwal was elected under the PDP platform. However, he has been operating as an opposition APC man disguised as a PDP man.

The job of the Speaker is to spearhead the legislative programme of the government in the House. A Speaker who is in cahoots with the opposition is, in effect, a traitor to his party and to the government.

That has been the case with Aminu Tambuwal.

If Nigerian voters wanted the House of Representatives to have a Speaker who is from a different party from the President, they would have given the opposition a majority in the House of Representatives. They did not. They gave the PDP, the president s party, the majority.

Tambuwal s shenanigans in

Aminu Tambuwal is a traitor the last four years have been designed to frustrate the express will of the Nigerian electorate.

ACN treachery

Aminu Tambuwal became Speaker by aligning himself with the ambitions of Bola Tinubu and his ACN opposition party. Tinubu claims to be a leader of the Yoruba, but when the PDP zoned the position of Speaker to SouthWest Yoruba, Tinubu decided that the interests of the Yoruba would not serve his political ambitions.

A Yoruba Speaker would provide another focal point for Yoruba leadership apart from the Asiwaju; therefore the ACN decided to frustrate the candidature of their kith and kin, Mulikat Akande.

To do this successfully, they needed a traitor from the PDP who would go against the directives of his party, while remaining a member of the PDP, and challenge the party s chosen candidate to become Speaker. T h e y found that traitor in Aminu Tambuwal.

Political muscle Here is how it worked. Tinubu used his political muscle to convince gullible Yoruba legislators to vote against a Yoruba woman, Mulikat Akande, in a post that was specifically designed by the PDP as a benefit for Yoruba.

He then got these same mumu Yoruba politicians to vote instead for Aminu Tambuwal; a scion of the Sokoto Caliphate with a Hausa/ Fulani agenda.

This is something that could never have happened the other way around. It is

inconceivable that a Hausa/ Fulani legislator would be persuaded to give something that has been zoned to Hausa/ Fulanis to a Yoruba man. To put it bluntly, the Hausas/ Fulanis are not that stupid.

With the Yoruba politicians gullible enough to agree to be sold, yet again, into Northern slavery, it was not difficult to find Northerners from the PDP who gladly joined in this treachery to put another Hausa/Fulani into office as Speaker. Aminu Tambuwal was that choice.

False pretences

There are two quick lessons to learn from this. The first is that as the ACN betrayed the Yorubas with the election of Tambuwal of Sokoto as Speaker of the House, so also are they determined to sell Yorubas into slavery again by their current alliance with the North-West and the Sokoto Caliphate through the APC. As there was nothing in Tambuwal s Speakership for the Yorubas, so will there be nothing for the Yorubas in a North-West APC p r e s i d e n c y.

Yoruba voters really need to shine their eyes.

The other issue has to do with Aminu Tambuwal.

Tambuwal became a Speaker under false pretences.

Although he continued to parade himself as a member of the PDP, he was in actual fact no longer a member of the party.

Nigerians He shunned the party and became a voted for a mouthpiece of the PDP opposition, all the Speaker, but while still pretending that he begot an APC longed to the PDP. the wolf in PDP Clearly, honorable thing for sheep s Tambuwal to do, clothing since he had clearly lost his affection for the PDP,

was to resign from the party.

However, Right Honorable Aminu Tambuwal did not do this.

Violating the Constitution Tambuwal s other disaffected PDP colleagues were more honorable than him; 37 of them defected to the APC. But Tambuwal remained in the PDP in order to retain his job as Speaker. As long as he continued to claim he belonged to the PDP, even though he really no longer liked the party, he could continue to enjoy his rights and privileges as the Speaker. Tambuwal did not care what Nigerians think about him. We voted for a PDP Speaker, but got an APC wolf in PDP sheep s clothing.

Tambuwal s treachery also meant he had to violate the Constitution of Nigeria which, as Speaker, he was sworn to protect. Section 68 (g) of the 1999 Constitution says: A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.

This required the Speaker to declare the seats of the 37 PDP House members who defected as vacant. There was no division in the PDP; its members simply defected to another party. But given that Tambuwal was really an APC man in PDP disguise, he refused to fulfil his constitutional duty as Speaker to declare the seats vacant, in spite of the proclamation of the courts.

He betrayed his duty as a PDP Speaker to protect the interests of the PDP. He denied the PDP seats that rightfully belonged to the PDP. He violated the will of Nigerian voters who elected

17

the PDP traitors.

Tambuwal s defection: Tambuwal s last act of treachery was his outright defection to the APC. He waited for the majority leader of the House to move for adjournment until 3rd December, 2014, before reading his defection letter.

Having long manipulated the system to his selfish advantage, Tambuwal has now discovered that others can also manipulate the system to his disadvantage.

The police have been instructed to withdraw his security detail as Speaker, on the grounds that, with his defection, he is no longer a member of the House and thereby no longer the Speaker. In truth, the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot come from the minority party. Tambuwal has now resorted to the courts. But this is the same Tambuwal who failed to declare the 37 seats of PDP defectors vacant, in spite of a court decision to that effect. People like Tambuwal who violate the verdict of the courts and show no respect for the courts don t deserve protection by the courts.

Verdict of the courts If Tambuwal, as Speaker, can ignore the verdict of the courts; then Jonathan, as President, can equally ignore it. In this dog-eat-dog game that Tambuwal initiated, he deserves no sympathy whatsoever. He will quickly discover that a president has far greater nuisance value than a Speaker. If the president decides to make life difficult for Tambuwal, and I see no reason why not, then Tambuwal is in for interesting times before his demotion to Sokoto Governor s lodge.

He can be thrown out of his government house. He can then take the government to court, but the case might not be decided until June 2015.

Tambuwal cannot have his cake and eat it. He cannot manipulate the system and then go to court to challenge others for also manipulating it. He started this nonsense.

He deserves the repercussions. He should have done the honorable thing a long time ago. Resign as Speaker; and leave the House of Representatives.

If Tambuwal thinks Buhari and Co will give the presidential ticket of the APC to a former PDP man, he should think again. If he thinks Northerners will elect a North-West Sokoto man as president in 2015, he should think again. If he thinks Yorubas will vote a member of the Sokoto Caliphate as president in the current political environment of Nigeria, then he should dream on.

18

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

BLAISE Compaore, 63, was in power for 27 years. If he had got another five-year term next year, he would have spent almost half his life as the ruler of Burkina Faso, one of the world s poorest countries, whose misfortunes have benefitted from stalled leadership.

Angry Burkinabes ejected Compaore from power on Friday, but the chaos that his forced departure is causing is not new. Almost every African country with long-lasting dictatorships remains in ruination after the demi-gods leave.

Cote d Ivoire has not fully recovered 22 years after the death of former President Felix HouphouĂŤt-Boigny, its first president. He ruled for 33 years.

Africans are tired of long-term dictators who have no plans to leave, or at best prepare their relations to succeed them. Benin, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda are some countries whose leaders have sit-tight tendencies.

Compaore should have learnt from Niger s Mamadou Tandja who the army evicted in 2010 following his third-term bid. Senegal s President Abdoulaye Wade lost the 2012 election after changing the constitution to run for a third term.

Dictators Like Compaore Learn Nothing Paul Biya, 80, Cameroun s President, perennially in France tending his health, has been President for 32 years. He was Prime Minister for seven years. Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe, 90, his country s only President in its 33 years, has his wife as possible successor.

Eritrea s Isaias Afwerki (21), Angola s Jose Eduardo dos Santos (35), Chad s Idriss Deby (24), and Uganda s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (28) are among African leaders who refuse to leave office.

If Compaore intended anything for Burkinabes, years of his draconian rule, intolerance of opposition and futile economic policies have

washed them away. Like in Zimbabwe where inflation has hit incalculable heights and there is scarcity of everything from food to fuel, Burkina Faso suffers harsh economic circumstances from poor leadership.

Dangers of Compaore s 27 years of misrule and the decimation of the opposition include the difficulty of finding a worthy successor whenever he signs off. Anyone who could lead Burkina Faso or nursed the slightest ambition to do so has been disgraced, humiliated, jailed or killed.

Dictators in the continent apply the same tactics. Fighting has ensued over who succeeds Campaore, a re-play of the Cote d Ivoire scenario.

There must be more creative ways of rescuing countries that their leaders put in bondage as is increasingly common in Africa. Economic sanctions are not enough, for they tend to hurt the poor more.

Serial condemnations of forced leadership changes, as the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the African Union, AU, often do, would not solve the problem. Burkina Faso, if unchecked, could be on its way to irredeemable collapse.

OPINION

By Bobson Gbinije

Continued from yesterday's pg 18

T

HIS historical submission drew the ire of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II. He said that the Oba of Benin whose dynasty began in the last th decade of the 12 century was an Ife Prince lent to the Bini people at their request after the reign of the Ogiso s ended in Benin. The Ife monarch asserted that Oduduwa descended directly from heaven through a chain to where is today known as Ife in the company of 400 deities. They both however agree that Oranmiyan was the son sent by Ekaladerhan (Bini), Oduduwa (Yoruba) and whose son, Eweka, born of a Benin woman, became the progenitor of all Benin Obas.

It is not the concern of this writer to look at which of the submission is plausible, true or false. But to observe that there is a trend in African history, which is based on a tribal renaissance-a kind of Risorgimento that stimulates a rewriting of history. This is a prevailing situation across Nigeria, nay Africa. Why did the Oba of Benin wait for so long to rewrite a part of Benin history? Is it possible for Ekaladerhan to have trekked such a long distance to Ife by foot and through a thick forest? So nobody accompanied Ekaladerhan? And why would a man or fugitive from justice be called back to come and become a king? How is it possible for Oduduwa to have fallen from heaven?

These are glaring cases of half-truths and deliberate mythologisation of the origin of a people. The case of a golden

Towards demythologisation of African history(2) stool being invoked from heaven for the Osei Tutu of Ashanti and the Ashanti people haven come out of a lake are sheer myths, frills and thrills on the edge of perfidious manipulations. History is supposed to be a pedantic hallmark, a check valve, a vertical and horizontal integrator of a people s life and a factual record of past events. A reliance on the facts of history enables people to understand themselves and strategise for the future. History is a barometric format and a lodestone to the future. It is the intrinsic paradigm, steer man, master, cicerone and conductor of a people s development.

In Warri, Delta State, the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri, have been sunken in fratricidal and internecine wars over the ownership of Warri.

The collective troika have doctored, falsified and even created history to justify their ownership claims. The story is the same in virtually every family, tribe and community, etc, in Nigeria, nay Africa. This is partly so, because the economic, socio-political metamorphosis of a people entails renewed renascence where the elements of pride, power, position and growth becomes issues in the front burner of their discourse. It is so critically crucial to them that they in most cases resort to re-writing of history to enable them to be put in proper and advantageous stead in the comity of peoples, states and nations.

But a history written with such background is always fraught with bias, cocooned in pyrrhonism, silhouetted in the configurations and contours of asymmetrical and nebulous mĂŠlange. They drum up myths, fictitious non- existent and

never-existed dates, heroes and heroines. In the book, A Text Book of West African History (A.D 1000 to the present Day), the author Ola Abiola, not too sure of dates and scenarios wrote: Several hundreds of years in the past there existed in what is today known as West Africa some flourishing kingdoms and empires, whose brand of civilization was comparable to that developed at that time in other parts of the world . What can be more vague, inarticulate and indefinite?

Africa s history is too laced with folklore, unverifiable dates and persons. Great historical submissions like Old Africa Rediscovered by Basil Davidson; The Dawn of Africa History by R. Oliver; A History of Islam in West Africa by J.S. Trmingham; History of the Yorubas by S.Johnson; Africa : Its people and their Cultural History by G.P. Mudock ; The Lost Cities of Africa by Basil Davidson; A short History of Benin by J. Egharevba and A Brief History of the Okpe people by Prince Mebitaghan, etc, all suffer from conflicting dates, wrong geographical setting, halftruths, mythologisation and exaggerations. They are, in most cases, inadvertent because of insufficiency of information; where they exist they are not put in proper perspectives and used in details.

In the preface to his book entitled, Merchant Prince of the Niger Delta, Professor Obaro Ikime said: In the context of Nigerian history, certain names spring readily to mind-Bishops Crowther and Johnson, Kosoko, Jaja, Ovonramwen (Overami) and Nana, the subject of this

study, to mention but a few. Although the names of these and other leading Nigerians of the nineteenth century are freely mentioned in history circles, it is a fact, at the time of writing that in none of them is there any detailed study. The reason usually advanced for absence of detailed studies is the lack of the kind of materials required for biographical surveys. This is largely true. But the absence of detailed studies has meant that even such materials as do exist have not been fully used in existing works . This is an inviolable truism.

But the history of Africa in the Nineteenth and twentieth centuries carries a lot of credibility and dependability index.

Because the art of writing, education, revelations from the Second World War gave a great impetus to nationalism, constitutional developments, religious teachings and independence, which are easily verifiable because of adequate documentation, although with miniscule bias by European and African historians and nationalists.

Our history as is presently written remains an anthology of incongruities and a demonstration of Orwellian duplicity.

We call on the Ooni of Ife and the Oba of Benin to demystify their various histories and let other historians follow suit.

Concluded

*Mr. Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 19

By Sunny Ikhioya

A

COUNTRY that cannot feed itself is doomed. In fact, there are two basic requirements for a country to enjoy absolute sovereignty - the ability to feed itself and the ability to defend itself physically from external aggressions - every other factor is secondary. And it must be made clear that countries that have attained this status did not get it on a platter of gold. This can be seen from the response of the super powers towards our request for armament and the recent South African attempt to play along with the USA and its friends.

They are basic requirements for survival and must be obtained at all cost; no country releases its technological know-how freely; they are either stolen, acquired by force or imitation, espionage or through mutually beneficial collaborations.

It is not for free, had never been for free and will not be obtained freely.

So, Nigerians must brace up. The rise of Nigeria as an economic and territorial giant is a threat to so many foreign interests, both in Africa and beyond. They will pretend to love us but be sabotaging us secretly(see America's and Britain's response to the Chibok girls issue and our battle against the insurgents, it was all sound and fury, calculated to embarrass Nigeria and its leadership).

We must therefore, strive very hard to be independent of food and defence, no matter what it takes; it is a crisis and must be handled as such.

I must give it to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Adesina; he has been doing his best to make that ministry

Food is a defence relevant in the affairs of this country, compared to his predecessors in that office. But with what he has done so far, I am afraid to say that he is just scratching at the surface; we have not begun to address the issue yet.

Agriculture is life, agriculture is big business, agriculture is power and agriculture is defence. Once the people are assured of their food, their minds will be more focussed into meaningful productive ventures, instead of resentments like we see today. The whole industrial revolutions of the 19th century to the cloud technologies we are experiencing today, developed as a result of breakthroughs in researches carried out to improve the way agricultural products can reach the markets without much damage and stress to human lives and at great profit.

The windmills, power machines, pulleys and many others, were developed to improve the cultivation of farm products and from there, extended to other areas of needs transport, housing, textiles, petrochemicals and the whole lot they all developed from researches carried out in the agriculture sector.

Too much labour and efforts have gone into them and so will not be given to us freely. What is to be done?

Basic farming technology is available to every part of the world; each has its own peculiar characteristics. For example, the Chinese use mainly chopsticks to eat; it did not start overnight, it has been developed over time to meet their peculiar needs. We must adopt methods that are favourable to the

By Ugochukwu Ejinkenoye

O

N Thursday, October 16, 2014), the All Progressives Congress, APC, startled decent Nigerians when its national chairman, Mr. John Odigie-Oyegun, announced that the party put the cost of its expression of interest and nomination forms at the cost of N27.5 million in order to separate the men from the boys.

Another way of saying this is to separate the wheat from the chaff!

This statement which almost immediately reverberated across the nation through various blogs and television screens was widely reported in the papers the next day, Friday, October 17. As I write now (about 48 hours after it echoed in Abuja ), neither the APC nor its national chairman has even attempted to clarify the very unwholesome assertion or withdraw it in its entirety. This can only mean, therefore, that the party solidly stands by such an outrageous and unsettling statement by its topmost officer. What a sad, tragic development.

Now, to describe a grown man as a boy is to dismissively imply that he is immature, inexperienced, inadequate or, worse, irresponsible. And so, going by the statement of the APC chairman, the ability to roll out millions of naira is what qualifies somebody to be a man in the party. In other words, even if you are generously endowed with superlative moral, intellectual and managerial abilities, as long as you are not a multi-millionaire or have multi-millionaire friends who can throw the millions on your behalf, you are in the progressive thinking of the APC a mere boy immature and irresponsible, and, therefore, not qualified to contest a responsible position on the platform of the party! For a party that has unduly strained itself to persuade Nigerians that it represents a healthy alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, this is

C M Y K

topography and climate of our country. The nation is blessed with a vast expanse of uncultivated lands; each region having the capacity to bring out unique agricultural products. Let us start by identifying the peculiarities.

Again, I will use the term 'agreement'. Taking agriculture to a higher level can only come through a unity of purpose that food sufficiency is a must for the country which all must key into; from the local government, to state and to the federal levels. There is nothing that the mind conceives that cannot be brought to fruition as long as focus and determination are in place.

Officially, imported rice is banned or come in with very high tariffs, but we know that 95% of rice eaten in

We must, with a lot of aggression, move agriculture above oil investments

this country are all foreign processed and smuggled in. This will not happen if the people are properly sensitized about the damage this is doing to the country.

With the coming of Ebola, we saw how the Nigerian spirit prevailed: assorted, tasty bush meats and other food types that are the favourites of Nigerians were abandoned while the Ebola threat lingered. Even today some people cannot bring themselves to eat bush meat. In the sixties right up to the seventies, rice as a food item, was eaten mainly on Sundays or festive periods. It was not the staple food for Nigerians. But laziness and the cultivation of taste for things foreign have now made it so.

Furthermore, policies that seem to favour the importation of foreign food items to the detriment of our local food production were introduced by our "been to" administrators.

As a result, farming has become very unattractive and a risky venture for Nigerians to invest in.

Agriculture can never thrive in this country without the support of government. The USA and Russia, for example, sometimes run their agriculture at losses, with big subventions to farmers. Food surplus are destroyed; it is better to produce, than not have food to eat. The NNPC has been operating at very huge cost to the government for long and the various governments have been sustaining this institution. The survival of agriculture requires massive investments and it must affect all the chains- the farmers, farming implements/tools,

N27.5m forms: Buhari unravels indeed a most devastating disclosure and there who would readily jump at the horrendous disappointment! What this, opportunity to pay this small change for once again, demonstrates very clearly is you, so just ask, and you would get more that whereas the APC has deployed eager sponsors (potential godfathers) to enormous efforts to tell Nigerians how bad last you a lifetime.

And what happens after the elections, the PDP is, it has been most unsuccessful in its attempt to allay growing fears (and assuming Buhari wins? A re-enactment of conceal the stubbornly reoccurring the Ubah/Ngige saga in Awka, or the indications) that it is, perhaps, even worse Adedibu/Ladoja version in Ibadan? than the PDP. The APC chairman made Indeed, I would really like to see the term progressives completely banned in any this alarming statement when one of the party s presidential aspirants, former head discussion of Nigerian politics so as to save of state, Muhammadu Buhari, came to the it from the egregious devaluation and APC national headquarters in Abuja to debasement it has been so horribly subjected to for some time now collect his expression of by those claiming to represent the intention and nomination face of change. Buhari s own forms. The Vanguard of statement at the event only October 17 quoted Oyegun s helped to compound APC s moral statement in full: crises and confusion of values.

Let me say that the N27.5m This is what he said as reported is to separate the men from the in the Vanguard which captioned boys. It is quite clear. We know the story: Buhari Took Bank Loan you. I don t expect you have To Purchase APC Nomination N27m under your bed. But I Form : expected that there are It s a pity I couldn t influence Nigerians who will vouch for this amount to be put down I you any day and who are The APC always looked left and right in our ready to stand for you any day meetings but I could not read and that is the result that we has been sympathy, so I kept my trap. But have obtained today. most I felt heavily sorry for myself Very sad indeed! If the promotion of money over unsuccessful because I don t want to go and ask somebody to pay for my natural endowments and in its nomination forms, because I turning its aspirants into always try to pay myself, at least helpless hostages to godfathers attempt to for the nomination. N27 million and moneybags is the kind of allay is a big sum, thankfully I have change the APC is proposing personal relationship with the to offer Nigerians, then this growing manager of my bank in Kaduna country is in deeper trouble fears that it and early this morning, I put an than anyone had imagined. early call (and) I told him that very What Oyegun was telling is even soon the forms are coming, so, Buhari that Thursday worse than whether I am on red, or green or afternoon was very clear: there the PDP even black please honour it, are several moneybags out

seedlings, cultivation, milling, storage and preservation, research and development, environmental impact surveys, marketing/ distribution and retailing links and, of course, transportation. Agriculture and agricultural extension services must be put into active works.

Trained agric experts must be posted to all of the 774 local government areas of the country to monitor farmers progress. Banks and big corporations should be made to compulsorily devote certain percentages of their earnings to agricultural development.

Agricultural research institutes must be encouraged to be more active. The challenge of agriculture should be handled like the Ebola scourge; it must be a do or die affair, no expense must be spared.

There must be monitoring units at various governmental levels for quality and quantity of goods produced, and incentives and prizes given to outstanding performers.

We must, with a lot of aggression, move agriculture above oil investments. Food is a defence and we must treat it as such. Government must be seen to be doing it and also, acting it.Our legislators also have roles to play here through their community development programmes and the enactment of favourable laws that will enhance farmers production. We must impose trade restrictions - all nations do it if our farmers are to survive and ensure that the agencies(Customs, Immigration, Police, SON, etc) responsible for implementation and enforcement perform their jobs with due diligence. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

otherwise I may lose the nomination.

Now, Buhari s supporters in the APC have tried to sell him to Nigerians as a man with sufficient principles and courage to bring about ethical revival in the country. But here is the same man pitiably lamenting his helplessness at the very first opportunity presented to him to authentic the very credentials that have been widely advertised as his greatest selling points.

If he could so easily flow with the crowd (in his own party) in a policy he has publicly confessed that he found very objectionable, what is the guarantee that if he becomes Nigeria s president tomorrow, that he would be able to tame any party bigwig who might want to run foul of the law? Would he be able to contain the habitually troublesome moneybags whom his party chairman is advising him to run to for the bankrolling of his campaign? Wouldn t he turn to Nigerians again and begin to mournfully lament: It s a pity I couldn t influence this .

There is also the issue of his discussion with his bank manager in Kaduna. Do the regulations put in place by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to standardise banking operations in the country sanction the kind of transaction Buhari confessed he is having with his bank in Kaduna?

What kind of personal relationship flourishing between him and this bank manager that could warrant the approval of loans for political activities without collateral? Can Buhari s presidential run be rightly described as an investment except in the thinking of the APC which sees nothing horribly wrong in grossly monetizing its nomination forms and handing them over to the highest bidders? And how does Buhari hope to pay back this loan (and the several others he would take as his campaign progresses) if he wins the presidency?

*Mr. Ejinkenoye, a journalist, wrote from Lagos.

20

TUESDAY,, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 Vanguard, TUESDAY

Ajigba: Delta community where rice, not oil, is gold ...Sues for FG s support

By Egufe Yafugborhi

T

has been that the Ministry and the FG are made to believe that the Niger Delta is all about oil activities and restiveness. But years ago I conducted an independent expert investigation and realised that the community founded by my grandparents has great potentials for rice farming. So I engaged 50 youths to kick start the Ajigab Rice Field.

We also have a large piggery and a harvest-to-processing cassava farm. Today majority of those engaged left due to impatience. But the few who persisted have grown in capacity and welfare rewards. Part of the problem though has been that due to lack of capacity to process the rice, we have had to limit our production volume only to the strength of our mainly manual capacity.

Our piggery is doing well with breeding and rearing. For cassava, the one acre farm and the processing unit is shunning out Ajigba Garri brand.

The challenge with rice has been overwhelming because of the c a p i t a l intensiveness of a processing meal.

HE perceived imbalance in the distribution of Federal Government s incentives for agricultural development across Nigeria has been agitating the minds of stakeholders in the Niger Delta who feel as the most shortchanged in the scheme of things.

At the recently held First Ijaw Youth Council World Summit, the subject was the crux of the summit s communiquĂŠ in which stakeholders called on the Federal Government to ensure that the South-South gets its fair share of public distribution of fertilizers, agric loans, capacity building and sundry opportunities to enlarge the scope of economic empowerment opportunities for teeming unemployed youths in the region.

However, in Ajigba, a remote Itsekiri community along the Warri River, Delta State, folks have gone beyond wishful thinking in the agitation to remedy the perceived inequity.

They are taking practical steps. Led by the outspoken activist and Igba of Warri Kingdom, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, the people of Ajigba and neighboring Orugbo, Ugbodede, Inorin and Usele communities in Warri South Local Government Area recently dragged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the area to validate their farming potentials, especially rice farming.

Practical commitment The idea, Chief Lori-Ogbebor told Vanguard Metro, is about proving to the Ministry that Ajigba and its neighbours have commercially viable arable land for With the rice, fishing and other right support, forms of farming with a view to attracting the Ajigba can Ministry s support to compete with wholly tap and maximize these Abakaliki potentials in line with and other rice the current Agric M i n i s t e r s producing commitment to duty . communities She did not stop there.

Part of the problem in Nigeria C M Y K

Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor and Pa Dennis Olubami, Olare-Aja of Ugbodede at the interaction with Federal officials

Processing meal I was compelled to meet the present Agric Minister whose commitment to duty impresses me. The result is the fact finding team of the Ministry s directors coming down from Abuja to verify our claims because we strongly feel we d e s e r v e government support, she said.

Ministry s findings, verdict The Ministry s team led by Dr. Aderiye Adefemi, Assistant Director, Animal Production also included Ikhadeunu Andrew, Chief Agric Officer (Rice value Chain), and Ayeleke Dauda, Agric Officer (Rice Value Chain).

Newly planted rice in nursery (inset) Some members of Ajigba community listening to the visitors After a tour of the farm, the Ministry s experts addressed a gathering of the community at the Ajigba Hall. Ikhadeunu said: I am amazed at the rice potentials in this environmental.

The general feeling is that the creeks in the Niger Delta only support oil exploration and bunkering activities.

It is equally interesting that there are abundant human resources in the able bodied men I see around here to explore the viable rice growing terrain here.

With the right support, Ajigba can compete with Abakaliki and other rice producing communities in Nigeria.

Among its current rice farming support programmes, Ikhadeunu s Assistant, Ayeleke said: Under the rice development policy, interested farmers in Ajigba can get a rice processing plant to deal with the aggregate production within the vicinity. It is private public partnership which the interested cluster of farmers form a cooperative.

The intended rice processing plant cost about N10 million. The farmers are expected to bear just 10% and FG and the partner consultant provide and install the plant. The idea is to encourage a cluster of rice to maximize production without worry over being able to process the harvest.

Processing the harvest Meanwhile, fishermen in the area have been assured of the provision of free fishing nets in the next few weeks. Dr. Adefemi who was also impressed with the Ajigba Farms piggery further informed the people that other agric development benefits including fertilizers and seedlings have been fashioned by the ministry in such manner that a farmer who pays for one gets two at subsidized government rates.

Community s response : Inspired by the Ministry s

enlightenment visit, virtually all community members present on the occasion got listed in the registration of farmers sought by the officials. Each listed farmers also surrendered their phone numbers with which the Ministry can be sharing information and improvement insights with the local farmers.

The occasion also afforded the folks to vent the community s anger with the total absence of government in the development of Ajigba and neighboring communities , according to Pa Dennis Olubami, Olare-Aja of Ugbodede.

The people lamented the absence of school, health facility, market or other social amenities saying the situation was making life difficult for the people. In response, the ministry believes effective harnessing of the agric resources in the area would put the community in the public light and compel government to be responsive to the development challenges.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

From left: Chairman, Troyka Group Mr. Biodun Shobanjo with President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, Mr . Albert Okumagba at the2014 annual Stockbrokers Conference in Lagos.

Trade employers decry cost of fuel importation on economy

By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

E

MPLOYERS in the nation s shop and distributive trade sector of the economy have expressed grave concern over the huge amount of money the Federal Government is using to import refined petroleum products, lamenting that it is slowing down the growth of the economy.

Operating on the platform of Shop and Distributive Trade Employers Association

USC 188.50 USC

0.90

USD2,900.00 USD -46.00 USC 16.01 USC -0.29

USD 85.96 USD-0.28 USD 80.70 USD-0.58

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL 154.75 249.4112 197.0559 163.3868 1.4311 0.2817 229.5359 RENMINBI 25.321 RIYAL 41.2495 KRONA 26.4674 SDR 230.2674 DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA

155.25 250.217 197.6926 163.6926 1.4356 0.2917 230.2775 25.4033 41.3828 26.5529 231.0114

155.76 251.0228 198.3292 164.4426 1.4402 0.3017 231.0191 25.4855 41.5161 26.6384 231.7553

CBN Exchange Rate as 01 /10 / 2014

of Nigeria, S&DTEAN, the body said in Lagos that the continuous importation of refined products was denying the economy of the much needed foreign exchange and the tremendous multiplier effects which domestic

refining of petroleum products would have offered the economy.

Addressing members of the group and guests at its Annual General Meeting, AGM, President of S&DTEAN, Mr. Victor Eburajolo, said the was with

21

mixed feelings because members of the group were confronted with several challenges as some members businesses closed shop while some survived.

He said it was a challenging year, and it underscored the need for members, more than ever before, to be more focus, committed and speak with one voice on issues affecting their businesses.

According to him, the national economy in 2013 as in the recent past was virtually taken over by imports, which limited the capacity to generate the needed multiplier effects and jobs that could impact on the citizens.

Unemployment, according to the National Bureau of Statistics data, thus, rose to frightening overall level of 23.9%; youth unemployment was at 50%; the poverty situation was worsened, currently estimated at 67% and the security challenges regrettably did not abate despite the colossal financial provisions set aside to deal with the scourge.

All through the year, it was a great concern that as an oil producing nation, Nigeria continued to incur bills running into billions of naira on the importation of petroleum products. This persistent development denied the economy of the much needed foreign exchange and the tremendous multiplier effects which domestic refining of petroleum products would have offered the economy. Even though government preached the philosophy of open market and privatization, it lacked the political will to drive the privatization of the nation s refineries to a logical conclusion. The power sector s privatization exercise did hit the home run in 2013. This is not to say uhuru as the sector is still grappling with the problem of operational stability and need to deliver on the expectations of quality power supply to the public.

The President said he was happy the association maintained its focus in 2013 and achieved its objectives.

BUA to increase cement capacity by 5.3 million tonnes

By FRANKLIN ALLI

B

UA Group said weekend, its cement arm will boost the current national capacity by additional 5.3 million metric tonners per annum from the current 30 million metric tonnes.

This is even as the first batches of cement from its $500 million (about N82.5 billion) OBU cement plant which is under construction at Okpella in Edo State, will be available in markets across the country within the first quarter of 2015.

Yusuf Binji, Executive Director Project and Technical, who disclosed this while giving an update on the OBU Cement project, said BUA Group currently has three cement plants- one is Edo Cement, the second is OBU cement and the third one is in Sokoto- Cement Company of Northern Nigeria.

Sokoto cement has an existing production line with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum and it is producing 100 per cent of its installed capacity. BUA is building an additional line in Sokoto with a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum. Right now the capacity of Edo cement plant is 300,000 tonnes, while OBU plant will be doing three million per annum capacity. In all, we are looking at a cumulative 5.3 million metric tonnes capacity.

According to him, when the OBU Cement kicks off operations, thousands of people in the community will be employed, the investment will boost the state s economy and also galvanises the country s self-sufficiency in cement

production which is currently peaking at 30 million metric tons per annum.

He stated that in addition to the acquisition of controlling stakes in both the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (Sokoto Cement) and the Edo Cement Company, BUA Group embarked on the building of a USD 500 million cement plant at Okpella community in Edo in 2012.

The plant is scheduled for completion and commission within the first quarter of 2015 and that is when we are going into commercial production. The commissioning of the plant will commence at the end of February, then after about three months, the products will be available to the market all over Nigeria.

This plant we are building is going to manufacture cement of all grades approved by the Nigerian Industrial Standards, and it is one the many cement projects we are doing in Nigeria. It is a modern plant with up to date facilities. It is technologically advanced and at the end of the construction period, we are going to be producing 3 million metric tonnes of cement per annum.

Sokoto and Edo cement plants are producing 42.5 cement grades while Obu will produce any kind of cement that is allowed by the Nigerian Industrial standards (NIS).

According to the NIS, manufacturers are required to be able to trace back to source and production date for whatever product that goes into the market. So our facilities are equipped with a batch enabling machine.

22

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

,

My ATM card will expire December 2014 and to my surprise, the sum of N1000 and N500 were deducted from my account twice this month (October) for a new ATM card.

INVESTORS ,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

O

N the top 10 performing stocks last week were shares of Evans Medicals Plc, Royal Exchange Assurance Plc, R.T Briscoe (Nig.) Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Continental Reinsurance Plc and Beta Glass Company Plc. Others were Aiico Insurance Plc, PharmaDeko Plc, Golden Guinea Breweries Plc and Fidson Healthcare Plc. Evans Medicals, manufacturers of some household pharmaceuticals like Multivite, Cofta, Amovin, Allenburys Glucose-D and Dequadin Lozenges, among others, led the pack with 12.82 percent or N0.25 price appreciation, closing at N2.20 from N1.95 it started the week at. Evans Medicals had gone to the capital market five months ago to seek additional capital of N1.22 billion through a rights issue of 486.47 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at a price of N2.50 per share. The rights issue, according to the company, was part of the long term strategic plan to strengthen its position and also put it in good stead to surmount the challenges of the evolving pharmaceutical industry, both locally and globally. The proceed was meant to be used primarily to strengthen the company s balance sheet, refinance existing debt in the current loan portfolio and to also boost its working capital. Available financial statement of the company for nine months to September, 2013, showed a declining fortune with its revenue falling to N3.135 billion from N3.479 billion it recorded in equivalent period in 2012.

It also recorded loss after tax of N401.1 million, which was up by N340.5 million from the N60.6 million losses it declared for the third quarter of 2012.

Similarly, the company witnessed a significant rise in its loss before tax as this also shot up by N60.6 million from N340.5 million to N401.1 million. It is being indicted by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, for its failure to file its various quarterly reports and accounts for 2014.

R o y a l Exchange Assurance followed with 7.84 percent or N0.04 price increase to close at N0.55 from N0.51. The underwriting firm was fined N1.4 million earlier this year for default filling of its audited account for the year ended December 31, 2013. Some shareholders of the company had recently called on the management to consider an increase in its capital base to at least N50 billion in view of its upgrade to Other Financial Services sector and the inherent competition.

They also sought restructuring of the company to holding company structure to be comprised of at least five subsidiaries. According to the shareholders, with the group s net assets at N9billion, it is grossly inadequate for the subsidiaries to compete effectively and efficiently in order to produce best results among their peers. months financial result for the period ended September 30, 2014 showed gross premium written of N7.82 billion as against N6.43 billion in 2013, representing 21.6 percent increase. Its profit after tax 2014 N655.91 million as against N380.81 million posted in the same period in 2013, a 72.2 per cent increase.

R.T Briscoe trailed behind by 7.14 percent or N0.06 increase to close at N0.90 from N0.84. Arrangement has been concluded for the company to raise N10 billion to cushion losses incurred in 2013 financial year. The company intends to raise the funds through the issue of debts instruments, preference shares (convert-ible or non-convertible) or ordinary shares or a com-bination of any of these options whether by way of private placement, rights to existing shareholders and offer for subscription. The chairman, Clement Olo-wokande, said the fresh capital raise became necessary due to the rising cost of its operation, disclosing that the total borrowing of the company increased by 14 per cent from N8.9 billion in 2012 to N10.2 billion in 2013, while finance costs increased from N1.3 bil-lion to N1.5 billion, leading to interest expenses of 64 per cent of value added by the company in 2013. The sole company listed in the /auto part retailers sub-sector of the NSE, R.T Briscoe sells and services motor Toyota vehicles and industrial equipment such as forklifts, generators, and compressors. The company further provides property development, project management and real estate services through its affiliated company Briscoe Properties Limited.

Sterling Bank appreciated by 5.83 percent or N0.13 to N2.36 from N2.23; Continental-Re went up by 5.43 percent or N0.05 to close at N0.97 from N0.92; Beta Glass advanced by five percent or N1.00 to close at N21.00 from N20.00; Aiico added 4.94 percent or N0.04 to close at N0.85 from N0.81; Pharma-Deko advanced by 4.82 percent or N0.12 to close at N2.61 from N2.49; Golden Guinea appreciated by 4.55 percent or N0.04 to close at N0.92 from N0.88, while Fidson rose by 4.50 percent or N0.15 to close at N3.48 from N3.33 per share.

Before you choose a bank (3) T

HE last edition generated some comments from readers on the Vanguard website. These comments bothered on customer service and charges by banks. A reader commented, Bank F will charge you for transaction not successful, and for messages of transaction not successful. Bank F is about the worst bank in Nigeria in terms of customer service. Beware of this fact people. In response another reader said, Try Bank U to your peril!

The above are realities in bank customer relationship, which intending customers should be aware of before they choose a bank.

A fact is that some of these service lapses are not systemic in most banks.

It is usually a function of the leadership in a particular branch, or a particular staff responsible for that service.

For example, the Bank F referred to by the first reader is one of the banks known to be making deliberate efforts to improve their customer service. It is perhaps the only bank where the staff and security guards welcome you with You are welcome to Bank F , and when you are leaving, they will say, Thank you for choosing Bank F . In my various experiences in the branches of many banks, I will rank their customer service above average. But alas, the same bank is being rated the worst by a customer. This is not limited to Bank F. Visit the website or facebook

page of other banks, especially the top five banks, and you will read all manner of complaints.

The truth is that you should be prepared to have issues with whatever bank you choose. Be ready for occasional service failures, and unreasonable charges as commented by the

MARKET NEWS

Capital raising by banks to determine tone of equities market

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

C

apital raising exercise being undertaken by Deposit Money Banks, DMBs, in recent time will determine the direction of the equities market in the remaining part of the year, says Mr. Bismark Rewane, Managing Director/CEO, Fianncial Derivatives Comapny, FDC Limited.

Some banks have approached their shareholders to raise fresh capital via rights issue in a bid to meet the regulatory capital requirement.

For instance, Diamond Bank had in July opened application for N50.4 billion capital raising through a rights issue of about 8.69 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N5.80 per share. Only last month, Access Bank plc secured shareholders approval to raise N68 billion through rights issue to the existing shareholders through the issue of 7.640 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N8.90 per share.

In the same vein, United Bank for Africa, UBA plc, said it has commenced the process of raising an undisclosed amount from the capital market, to shore up its Tier 1 capital.

The rights issue, according to the bank, will be on the basis of one new ordinary share for every 10 held as at a date to be announced and subject to regulatory approval.

This, according to Rewane, in the October edition of the company s review of the economy, will increase the supply of banking stocks, which may lead to further decline of the equities market.

As banks offer ordinary shares for sale to the investing public, the supply of banking stocks will increase. This may result in the re-pricing of banking stocks and ultimately a further decline of the equities market, he said.

He further stated that the negative sentiment that characterized trading activities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, in the month of September may remain given the gloomy global outlook for emerging markets. This may ensure prices of equities remain depressed, as investors will exercise caution. However, we expect increased bargain hunting for cheap stocks by discerning investors.

Global and domestic variables will drive the equities market in the month of October and the rest of the year. The

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

,

FORUM

It is a good development that will impact positively on the capital market, so I encourage the Federal Government to look at other areas they could cut the cost of doing business in the capital market

23

,

INVESTORS SPEAK reader on Bank F. When such things happen (unreasonable or illegal charges), visit the bank and complain formally, or call the customer service line of the bank.

Point out the unreasonable charge, and if the bank would not reverse it, you should complain to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The truth is that there are many incidences of unreasonable charges by banks. For example, a customer complained on the facebook page of one of the top five banks, My ATM card will expire December 2014 and to my surprise, the sum of N1000 and N500 were deducted from my account twice this month (October) for new ATM card. The first deduction was on the 17th while the second one was yesterday 29th of October. Is it not supposed to be N1000. How am I going to get my money back? This is a classical example of an unreasonable and illegal charge by the bank. And we promise our readers that we would engage the CBN and the management of the bank about this. However, the above reinforces the need for you to be acquainted with the services of a bank and the charges before you choose the bank.

This would enable you recognise charges that are illegal and complain to the bank or to CBN. (To be continued)

key global variables that will influence investor sentiment in the month include crude oil price, the US FOMC, the Eurozone and Chinese economies, and the crisis in Ukraine. These factors will determine global capital flows and if the trend exhibited in the month of September persists, emerging markets may witness another bout of decline, he added. Reviewing activities for the month of September, he said the sectoral returns on the index on NSE continue to portray the negative sentiment in the broader market. The insurance subindex performed the best as it returned 3.20 per cent in the month being reviewed. This is attributable to the positive performance of Mansard

Insurance Plc and Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc. The industrial and consumer goods sectors also closed the month positive gaining 2.15 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively. The oil & gas sector led the underperformers as it declined 4.09 per cent month-on-month.

This comes because of the correction of some of the overpriced stocks in the sector. Market activity for the month of September under review was relatively high because of the activities of foreign institutional investors who acquired stakes in some listed companies.

From left: Mr. Osita Ede, Head, Mass Market Segment, Diamond Bank Plc; Mr. Uzoma Dozie, GMD/CEO; Aishah Ahmad, Head, Retail Banking and Calix Ita, Head, Monitoring Department, Lagos Office, National Lottery Regulatory Commission at the launch of Season 7 of Diamondxtra draws in Lagos.

Shareholders seek removal of 10% withholding tax on dividend

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

L

ast week, the Federal Government approved the removal of Value Added Tax on all commissions on capital market transactions. This came two years after it was announced by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. In December 2012, while announcing removal of forbearance for 84 stockbroking firms, she had on December, 2012, she said that the FG had consented to waive the 0.075 percent stamp duties payable on stock exchange transaction fees; and to exempt from VAT, commissions as part of measure to support the capital market.

According to her, taxes on stock exchange transactions fees are as high as 12 percent, much higher than in other jurisdictions, and these constitute a major disincentive to invest in the Nigerian capital market.

However, while the removal was effected for VAT, that of stamp duty is yet to be implemented.

The removal, which is effective for a period of five years, according to the federal government s gazette, therefore affected commissions earned on traded values of shares, and that payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, and the Central Securities Clearing System, CSCS. In this interview with Investors Forum, shareholders called for the removal of 10 per cent withholding tax on dividend, even as they commended the VAT removal.

EXCERPT:

Taiwo Oderinde

Adebayo Adeleke

economy for a longer period. We hope that government will go ahead and extend the exemption to dividends because I am not sure this exemption will apply to dividend.

There is 10 per cent withholding tax on dividend. We also wish that there will be a review either downward or complete elimination so that investors will put more money in the economy and thereby create more jobs for the people and they will be helping the government to do what it has not been able to do. If you want people to help you do what you cannot do, you create an enabling environment for them and you make the market very attractive. However, it will impact on the capital market because it will attract more people to invest in that market.

You are likely to see more people participate in our market both locally and internationally as a result of this.

Mr. Oderinde Taiwo, Chairman, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria: To me, it will bring down transaction cost and a lot of people will now patronize the capital market.

Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, National For us in the association, our vision Secretary, Independent Shareholders is to delight and promote an easy culture of investment.

Association of There are a lot of Nigeria, ISAN: It is a bottlenecks, hindrances welcome development where a lot of people because the more are not really able to lucrative and attractive come in or fully we are able to make participate in the capital the stock market, the market. One of the more we are likely to issues we have raised reap the benefit in the for a long time has been long run in terms of this issue of cost of getting more people to transaction. The capital use that medium of market in Nigeria has e c o n o m i c been one of the highest advancement and long cost driven markets in term capital creation. the world. So, this must We have many We have be looked into and impositions, taxes and many addressed. I believe the levies, which removal of VAT and discourage investors impositions, other taxes such as in but when government taxes and dividend payment will is able to give some really encourage both wavers and incentives, levies, the investors and even you find out that which the stockbroking firms investors will take to participate and be advantage of it and discourage active in the market. they will want to put investors their money in that

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Fashola advocates law empowering states to produce, distribute electricity

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

G

OVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has formally commissioned the 8.8 Megawatts Mainland Independent Power Project that will supply constant power supply to both Federal and state government establishments, saying Lagos is capable of providing stable power supply to residents if backed by enabling legislation.

He also charged Nigerians not to accept any excuses for the inability of the government at the centre to provide stable electricity.

Fashola who spoke at the state Electricity Board, Old Secretariat, Ikeja location of the power plant noted that those who promised steady power supply in the past four years have shown that their best is simply not good enough having failed to deliver on the promise.

He described the successful completion of the Mainland Independent Power Project as a demonstration that the present government is one that makes a public commitment and is duty bound to ensure that it stands by it.

He said the 8.8 MW Power plant has been made possible through a Public Private

Partnership between the Lagos State Government and a consortium of Mainland Power Limited, CET Power and Solad Electric Limited.

The MIPP would serve agencies like the Lagos State Electricity Board, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Area F Police Command, the High Court, the

Office of the Chief Judge, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the State Water Corporation, the Old Secretariat complex, the State Ministry of Housing Estate and Eko Engineering Limited.

Others include street lights covering a stretch of 20 kilometres from the Old Secretariat, the Ikeja Flyover, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way,

Agege Motor Road, Ikorodu Road, Jibowu to Maryland, Palm Avenue in Mushin and Ikeja GRA. Fashola stated that as it is currently constituted, the state government has operated within the limits allowed states and has clearly demonstrated that steady power supply is indeed deliverable to the people.

From left: Jeff Corey, Chief Operating Officer, Seven Energy International; Bekeme Masade(Ms.), Executive Director, CSR-in-Action and Prof. Wale Omole, Keynote Speaker at the third Sustainability in The Extractive Industry organised by CSR-in-Action in Lagos.

Centenary: Shell plans N2bn projects in Nigeria S HELL has announced plans to carry out three developmental projects in Nigeria, worth about N2 billion, to mark Nigeria s 100 years of nation hood.

The projects, according to a statement by the company, are a 200-seater library in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a health project at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State and upgrade of athletics infrastructure in five secondary schools in Delta State.

Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, said Shell is implementing the library and health projects exclusively, and funding 30 percent of the cost of the athletics infrastructure upgrade through its share in the SPDC Joint Venture, with the other partners, NNPC, Total and ENI providing the rest of the funding for this project.

He said, The projects show our commitment to a long-term future for Nigeria. We are pleased that the projects will deliver significant benefits to the people, and help boost literacy, healthcare and youth empowerment, in line with our robust programme of social

investments in Nigeria.

Sunmonu formally unveiled the three centenary projects at a road show on sustainable development organised in Abuja

by SPDC, saying that the projects are being overseen by implementing partners, the Port

Harcourt Literary Society, Federal University, Utuoke and Africare, Nigeria.

Speaking on the development, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, represented by the

Group Executive Director, Gas & Power, Dr. David Ige, commended the implementation of the centenary projects and the social investment interventions of Shell and the NNPC/SPDC Joint Venture.

SPOG Petrochemicals deploys SAP Africa ERP solution

By Emeka Aginam

T

HE Energy Resource Group subsidiary, SPOG Petrochemicals has deployed SAP enterprise resource planning, ERP, solution to manage its business processes.

With this development, SPOG is utilising the SAP ERP solution to manage various critical business areas including finance, inventory management, terminal maintenance, plus sales & distribution as well as SAP Business Intelligence.

The latter will enable the company to obtain data-rich business intelligence that will empower its employees with invaluable insights.

Thanks to the extensive knowledge and

professionalism displayed by Earlywatch when it comes to the integration of SAP solutions, we were able to establish and migrate into a very secure and stable SAP infrastructure environment in record time, Asoliye Douglas-West, general manager, Business Solutions at SPOG Petrochemicals, said, adding that, The company s readiness to provide proactive support and maintenance services also gives us the confidence that we could deal with any post-implementation ssues faster, .

According to Adeniyi Adedayo Ogunsanya, Managing Director of Earlywatch, the next phase of the road map with SPOG will include SAP Transport

Management, as well as the IS Oil for Downstream to manage the SPOG fleet along with its terminals (tank farms) and the extension to other subsidiaries.

Helping to deploy SAP ERP in such a short time frame is a tremendous achievement by Earlywatch Nigeria, Dare Adeyemi, channel sales manager (Anglophone) West Africa, SAP Nigeria., said, adding that, Our ERP solution will assist SPOG by helping the firm cut costs, streamline its operations, discover new revenue streams, use its corporate resources and assets more effectively, and accelerate the time frame for bringing new innovative products and services to market.

24

Access Bank wins Best Customer Service Award

A

CCESS Bank Plc has further consolidated its position as a service focused bank by winning the 2014 Best Customer Service Company Award . The award was presented to the Bank by the Nigeria Customer Service Awards (NCSA) at a ceremony held in Abuja.

The Bank won the coveted prize after beating several other contenders in the banking services category. The award recognizes the impressive achievement of the bank over the past year particularly as it relates to the Bank s delivery of superior customer service experience at every of its location across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking on the award, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere, Executive Director, Access Bank Plc, said the award is a product of the bank s investment in people and its processes which ensures that the Bank s customers are treated to excellent customer experience at every touch point.

I want to assure you that Access Bank will not rest on its oars in delivering excellent service. This award will also spur us to meet and surpass our customers expectations and remain the Bank of choice for all Nigerians she said.

Also Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of NSCA, Dr. Aliyu Ilias said the award was instituted to celebrate outstanding excellent service delivery across all sectors in the country.

SON assures SMEs of free standard certification

By Naomi Uzor

S

TANDARD Organisation of Nigeria, SON has assured Small and Medium scale Enterprises, SMEs, of Free of Charge standard certification and urged them to be part and parcel of the development process.

The Director General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said that over 100 SMEs will enjoy ISO 9001 certification for free to enable them play at higher level with the big industries which will help them meet quality and standard, adding that, over 20 million SMEs do businesses in Nigeria and there are government agencies promoting their growth.

He said, "SMEs are very important to the economy. The SMEs are the engine room of the economy, if the SME progresses, it is to the nation s benefit because they tend to expand and employ more people which means that the economy will grow.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Nigeria to save $1bn from efficient use of energy

By Sebastine Obasi

N

IGERIA can save at least $1 billion from the rising energy bills, if the electricity supply in the country is efficiently managed and utilised, an energy expert and Chief Operating Officer, Powtech Power International Limited, Mr. Reginald Ifionu

has said.

Addressing journalists at a briefing in Lagos, to announce the presentation of ES-25 energy saver equipment, Ifionu, said that it costs about $1 million to build a megawatt of electricity. At the country s current generating capacity of 4,000 megawatts, MW, and the ability of ES-25 to save

energy by 25 percent, the country will be saving at least $1 billion from energy efficiency, he said.

According to him, the energy saving equipment is meant to regulate energy consumption, especially as the country is yet to achieve regular power supply one after privatization.

From left: Mrs. Bernadette Eyisi, Executive Director, SIMS Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wale Raji (holding microphone), Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Chief Simeon Eyisi (right), MD/CEO of SIMS Nigeria Limited at the formal opening of Samsung Premium Brand Shop in Lekki, Lagos.

No contract variation beyond 15%

By Emmanuel Elebeke

I

N line with international best practices, variation and augmentations to contracts more than 15 per cent are unacceptable, the Federal Government has said.

The directive was issued in the latest procurement journal released by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP to all procurement entities; including; ministries; departments and agencies of government.

According to the BPP, the idea is to ensure that all the relevant entities involved in the procurement of contracts minimize the resource to variation.

Part of the steps outlined by the agency to be observed in

Experts brainstorm on oil and gas contracting process

By Kingsley Adegboye

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas industry drawn from across the globe who gathered at the just concluded five-day global business and oil & gas management training last week in Lagos, have revealed that Advanced Commercial Contracting Administration has impact on high-level contracting competencies that are most relevant to day-to-day running of oil and gas industry all over the world.

The brainstorming event for contract specialists and personnel involved in the contracting process in the oil and gas sector drawn from Nigeria and outside the country was put together by Global Commercial & Legal Solutions

Academy based in Aberdeen, United Kingdom in partnership with Tabor Energy Solutions, Global Talent Exchange and Crystal Expertise Resources Limited.

The Academy which is equally known as Faculty, comprises eminent commercial contracting experts and senior executives from leading global corporations of oil and gas industry who have extensive international legal, commercial, project and executive leadership experience across many jurisdictions.

The module of the training which was about 60 per cent lectures and presentations, and 40 per cent syndicate sessions dwelt on how participants could get into global projects and contract execution by world class companies in oil and gas

industry.

In his presentation, Dr. Mark Osa Igiehon, a member of the Faculty and an international oil and gas lawyer, said the main objective of the five-day extensive training was to achieve value for money in contract and project executions, adding that the training was also about how to complete contract execution within budget and time.

Also, Dr. Michael Makeyoh Oladun, a member of the Faculty and an expert in global oil and gas commercial contracting, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) noted that the training was about how to avoid costs overrun and possible variations and how to enhance chances for cost savings devices in projects and contracts.

The ES-25 is a high efficiency voltage controller installed in series after the electricity meter has been installed to optimize energy levels by reducing the wasteful energy and convert the same into direct savings.

Energy bills are steeply rising and there is an urgency of usage of various energy conservation retrofits to save energy on different electrical equipment available at home.

The best technique available is to install ES-25 energy savers, which will reduce the energy bills up to 25 percent, he added.

Also speaking, the Managing Consultant/Chief Executive Officer of Powtech, Mr. Goody Duru-Oguzie, said the technology is designed to benefit private, public and industrial concerns.

It is a win-win situation.

The industry wins. The country wins. The populace wins. It is a high efficiency energy saving optimizer which has the capacity to optimize voltage to a desired level and improve the power factor with a low loss impedance technology resulting in eliminating wasteful energy and converting the same into direct electricity savings, he said.

FG varying all federal government contract include: undertaking proper needs assessments to determine scope of projects, and facilitate the determination of price-responsiveness through market survey; ensure that contracts are awarded based not on preliminary designs, but on final engineering designs to prevent cases of inadequate quantities in bill provisions.; ensuring that ongoing contracts are provided for under relevant appropriations and effect prompt payment for contracts executed, goods supplied and services provided according to agreed payment schedule.

BPP said, the directive became necessary as it was in conformity with the recent policy of the federal government on Nigeria that any application for variation requiring more than 15 per cent of the original cost of any contract should no longer be entertained.

However, where variation become inevitable, BPP said all such contracts requiring variations should be submitted to the BPP for review and issuance of due process certificate of No Objection , to facilitate their approvals by the appropriate tenders boards.

25

IHS raises $2.6bn to expand Africa operations

I

HS Holding Limited, Africa s largest independent phone-tower company, raised $2.6 billion in debt and equity to expand its operations on the continent.

Closely held IHS will get $2 billion from existing and new shareholders and a further $600 million through a loan facility, the Lagos, Nigeriabased company said in a statement today. The debt is split between U.S. dollar and naira denominations over 7and 8-year terms.

We are clear in our ambition to play a leading role in the creation of the widest, most efficient and reliable mobile networks in Africa, Chief Executive Officer Issam Darwish said in the statement. The contribution of our investors significantly strengthens our position.

IHS has more than 20,000 towers following acquisitions from MTN Group Ltd. (MTN) and Etisalat Nigeria earlier this year. The company got about $304 million from Wendel SA, which owns about 26 percent of IHS. Other investors in the new round of funding include FFP and Sofina SA.

Naira falls on low supply of dollars

N

IGERIA S naira slipped against the dollar on the interbank market on Monday, driven by tight supplies of the U.S. currency and sustained strong demand from offshore investors selling their equity holdings.

The local currency closed at 165.75 to the dollar, compared with 165.65 on Friday.

A unit of Addax sold $10 million to some lenders, Eni sold $2 million while Royal Dutch Shell sold an undisclosed amount of dollars.

But aggregate dollar flows were seen as insufficient to support the local currency.

Many offshore investors in fixed income assets and equity considered the naira at this level a trigger for their exit from the local market, one dealer said, noting that this had fed the pressure on the local currency.

The naira has been under pressure over the past six weeks from falling global oil prices and a drop in Nigeria s forex reserves, which has led offshore investors to cut back their positions in the debt and stock markets.

26

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

that in many developed economics of the world, the use of spatially enabled information has brought about enormous and sustainable development.

Adeyeye challenged surveyors in the country to pull their resources together to form partnerships.

How are surveyors practising their profession today? Is it still at the level of one man office practice whose pre-occupation is to survey plots for individuals, a practice for which the profession has been known over time and which made the general public wonder the depth of knowledge of surveyors withe respect to their learning and knowledge.

Development efforts

Credible census, elections: Surveyors ask FG to set up mapping commission Adeyeye advises them to form formidable partnerships have been prevented if the the services of surveyors were utilised by the government and PPARENTLY worried by its agencies. unreliable national He specifically pointed to the census figures and the erosion menace which is irregularities that bedevil wiping away some general elections in the communities in the eastern part country, the Nigerian of the country, and claimed that Institution of Surveyors, NIS the scourge would have been has called on the Federal prevented if the services of Government to urgently set up qualified surveyors were a mapping or survey employed by the government. commission.

He stated that satellite The Surveyors further claimed imagery being used in certain that environmental degradation areas can never replace and other related issues such mapping surveys and advised as the activities of the those in government dreaded Boko to take note of this for Haram, would have the good health of the long been solved if country. the Federal The NIS President Government had set stated that proper up the commission mapping or survey of NIS President, Mr. the country is a Bern Omo Akhigbe precondition for who spoke on behalf accurate population of the surveyors at figures and credible The 32nd Olumide elections in Nigeria. memorial lecture in satellite If we want credible Osogbo, the Osun imagery elections in this State capital, called country, we can not on the government to being used achieve this without make use of the in certain proper survey and services of surveyors mapping of the in solving the mirage areas can country. Experience of environmental has shown in this never problems in the country that country. Akhigbe replace manipulation of explained that some mapping elections are of the environmental achieved as a result problems bedeviling surveys of lack of good and this country would

By Gbenga Olarinoye, Osogbo

A

proper mapping of the country.

I can not imaging a situation where you have a Ministry of Environment without a survey department. It is not about creating jobs for our members, but for the economic development of the country, he added. Mr. Akhigbe statd that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan will only be meaningful and achieve the desired result if only government partners with

the Institution.

In his lecture, titled Continuing the Olumide Legacy for a Prosperous Nation, the Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, challenged members of the NIS to play their professional role in combating the scourge of gulley and flood erosion in Nigeria. Represented by his Personal Assistant on Technical Matters, Mr Eyitayo Aluko, an engineer, the Minister stated

This is because the dynamics have since changed.

Professionals such as lawyers and engineers have long realised this. This is why in some law or engineering firms, there may be as many as 20 professionals in each, he said.

For surveyors to impact more positively on Nigeria s development efforts, they need to form formidable teams so as to compete more favourably with the multi-nationals. This approach is strongly recommended for jobs in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

Therefore, surveyors should take advantage of Federal government s local content policy in the sector to improve their skills and earnings , he added.

Late Surveyor Cyprian Theodosius Olumide in whose honour the annual lecture is organised, was the first president of the institution between 1965 and 1971.

FCTA removes bottlenecks in building approvals

By HENRY UMORU

M

INISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed said last week that the Administration approved a total of 69 building plans within an interval of 12 days According to the Minister, the move was to drastically reduce housing deficit in the Federal Capital Territory in line with the Federal government s transformation agenda. The Minister who disclosed this after meeting with some senior staff of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, said his Administration deliberately improved on the approval time frame of building plans in the Federal Capital Territory to further tackle the springing up of illegal structures in and around 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

The 69 approvals given were part of a total 148 building plans submitted within the period 12 days (September 12-24, 2014).

According to him, a total of 73 setting out/ stage approvals were also given by the FCT Development Control Department within the same period under review.

Senator Mohammed further disclosed that in order to improve service delivery to the residents of the Territory, the FCT Administration intends to establish a Physical Document Management Office under the FCT Development Control Department for the automation and tracking of mails/complaints.

He said his Administration would do everything possible to ease service delivery to the resident of FCT. The Minister also revealed that his Administration was looking at the possibility of imbibing the ideals of Green Building, noting that the FCT Administration may sponsor some professional staff of the FCT Development Control to attend the Annual Green Building Convention organized by the United States Green Building Council in New Orleans, USA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 27

Edu takes over at Broll, promises international best practices

By JUDE NJOKU

M

*Olusi community road project in Sangotedo, Lekki

Propertygate partners residents to construct community road

By Kingsley Adegboye

A

LAGOS-based real estate development and investment firm, Messrs Propertygate Development and Investment Plc and residents of Olusi community in Sangotedo in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, have embarked upon the upgrade of Olusi Street, the road which links Lekki-Epe Expressway to the community.

The road project which is an initiative of Propertygate, involves theconstructionofpre-castconcrete drains and kerbs, as well as the grading of the 350 metres road.

The second phase of the project will involve asphalting the entire road which is expected to take place some time next year.

A visit to the road project at the weekend revealed that work is going on at a fast tempo.

Drainage channel While the digging of the drainage channel which is on one side of the road from the main gate into the community is almost manually completed, the laying of pre-cast concrete drains will soon commence.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Propertygate, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi, said the company had already completed part of the road on Kolade Abayomi Street with interlocking paving stones and kerbs to complement the landscape of the area.

Ajayi who noted that it is not just enough to build beautiful houses without infrastructure to complement them, said the firm embarked on the project as its corporate social responsibility to the community. According to him, Propertygate had earlier installed street light fittings to light up the community at night.

The company will do everything possible within its

capacity to uplift our built environment, with a view to making our cities liveable, he said.

Ajayi who said the state government has failed in its responsibility to provide good road in the community even after the company had paid development levies which the government said would be used to provide road infrastructure in the area. He however thanked Governor Babatunde Fashola for giving his company the land upon which Alexandria Quarters was built in Olusi community.

He explained that one of the conditions for the grant was the payment of capital contribution made by the company in addition to infrastructure development charge it had earlier paid to the government. The state was expected to provide primary infrastructure such as roads, drainage, electricity among others within the government Skyview Residential Scheme, Sangotedo, while we as developers were only

expected to service our development tract. It is regrettable however, that we are again shouldering huge financial responsibility in this regard. I therefore appeal to Governor Fashola to help address the challenge of the community in terms of infrastructure needs , Ajayi appealed.

Continuing, he said; When investors eventually believe that you have to shoulder expenses on primary infrastructure, having paid the government for same services, it does not augur well. It reflects badly on government s esteem. We know that our governor knows the implications of the state being perceived as not keeping its obligations in business parlance , he said.

The immediate past Chairman of Hope Estate Residents Association, Mr. Dibia Christian while commending Propertygate for its efforts in the community, disclosed that the residents of the estate have been spending huge sums of money on the road, particularly during rainy seasons.

R Bolaji Edu who assumed office as the new Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Broll Property Services Nigeria, has pledged to ensure that the company is recognised as the market leader not just in retail mall management but in all the other service areas.

I also want Broll to be known for carrying out all its business to international standards and best practice, he said.

Mr. Edu took over from erstwhile CEO, Mrs. Erejuwa Gbadebo, and will have overall responsibility for Broll s operations in Nigeria.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Edu said he was elated to be given the task of leading the frontline property management company. I am thrilled and honoured to be the new CEO at Broll Nigeria. Broll Nigeria is the leading real estate services firm in Nigeria with over 130 property practitioners in Nigeria and asset under management of $6.4bn. Broll Nigeria is a subsidiary of Broll Property Group South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Africa´s leading commercial property services group, founded in 1974 and now with offices throughout South Africa and a growing number of African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Mauritius and Namibia. Broll Nigeria is affiliated with CBRE, the largest property services company in the world as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange with over 44,000 employees and 349 offices in 42 countries, he

Gemstone shopping mall berths in Warri

By DOTUN IBIWOYE

B

OLSTERED by urgent need of a shopping mall in the oil-city of Warri, Gemstone Ultramart has opened a one-stop grocery and general merchandise retail mall in the town.

Built to international standards and established in September 2014, the supermarket is the first of its kind in the state and provides its locale with high quality products at the best prices.

With over 14 departments including, Grocery, Butchery, Households and Bakery, Gemstone eliminates the time and trouble it takes for people to shop for groceries and other merchandise at different stores by providing it in one location.

The mall which sits on two plots of land,

has extension for another two plots to give the people space to move freely and comfortably while shopping.

The manager of the supermarket, Mr. Ebiowei Akpeti who disclosed these facts in a press statement made available to Vanguard Homes & Property, explained establishment of the mall was necessitated by the desire to provide affordable, highquality products to people around the Delta/ Warri locale and create value for customers.

He noted that Warri s status as the economic hub of the Niger Delta region will enable residents to enjoy the services provided by the mall.

Gemstone aims to make life easy for you.

Whether it is for home or business, we have got you covered. We are driven by a desire to provide affordable, high-quality products to people around the Delta/Warri locale and create value for customers, he said

said..

Edu brings a wealth of international industry experience to the company.

Prior to joining Broll, he worked at Aviva Investors as part of the European Real Estate team as an Assistant Fund Manager advising corporate and public sector pension funds on their real estate portfolio. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, RICS. Commenting on the appointment, the Director and Head of West Africa Operations for Broll, Mr Leonard Michau Edu s over 18 years experience in the real estate market would be an asset to the company. We are confident he will make a significant contribution in continuing to build our presence in Nigeria.

Inclusive property services Our ability to attract a real estate executive with his record and knowledge reflects Broll s potential for continued strong growth. We look forward to his leadership in driving and executing on the strategies that will allow Broll to further enhance its position in the industry, he said.

Broll Nigeria was established to provide all inclusive property services at competitive prices to various sectors of the Nigerian economy. The company offers a full bouquet of property-related services, including corporate real estate services and valuations, commercial, industrial and investment broking, retail and commercial consulting, and property, facilities and shopping centre management.

The company was recently ranked number one in the Real Estate Advisors and Consultants category in South Africa and Nigeria respectively at this year s Euromoney Real Estate Survey Awards.

Bolajia

28 Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Family, Lagos agencies tango over ownership, demolition of 5-storey building

By Kingsley Adegboye

D

ESPITE Governor Babatunde Fashola s alleged order to stop the demolition of a five-storey building located at No. 49, Martins Street, Lagos Island, the demolition of the building belonging to Oluwole, Shitta and Talabi Families continued at the weekend.

Fashola s stop demolition order was apparently given to forestall any trouble emanating from the family which owns the sprawling property.

Addressing newsmen at Ikeja weekend, Mrs. Mutiat Hassan and Mrs. Modinat Onimole, both children of the owner of the property, alleged that despite the governor s intervention, the demolition has continued unabated. They stated that in their desperate efforts to stop the demolition, they sent text messages to relevant authorities, including Governor Fashola, to intervene. The duo explained that the governor responded to their message. I have asked them to investigate into the matter, and I am waiting to hear from them, the Governor allegedly replied in the SMS. The aggrieved family members wondered why the demolition of the building should still continue when the governor had an ordered investigation into the matter. As the press briefing was till in session, the siblings got phone calls informing them that the demolition had continued unabated.

Narrating the genesis of the problem, the siblings explained that on October 22, 2014, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA came and sealed off the property. The agency allegedly removed the doors and windows in the building. Another agency of the state - the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, LASURA had earlier on October 17 2014, placed a notice claiming ownership of the property.

Ownership of the property According to the siblings, they went to LASURA and presented to them the title documents of the property which showed that the agency erred. After showing them the land certificate which was obtained in 1942, the agency acted as if the matter had been settled.

But we were surprised to see their sign post on the building claiming that the building belongs to the Authority and the subsequent removal of doors and windows from the building.

When we went back to complain, they told us it was LASBCA that removed the doors and windows

from the building and not LASURA. Throughout this period, neither LASURA nor LASBCA gave proof of ownership of the building to the Family.

The LASBCA boss allegedly informed the Family that her Agency removed the doors and windows because tests carried out on the building showed that it is distressed and would require rehabilitation. By October 24, some family members called our

attention to the fact that some people were demolishing the building. On Saturday, October 25, we called LASBCA GM to complain about the demolition the previous night. But she said she did not give anybody permission to demolish the building. She even directed that we should report the matter to the Police. We therefore went to Ebute-Ero Police Station to report the case.

The Divisional Police Officer Mr. Sina Olunlade went to the

building where he arrested some people demolishing the building but they were later released on bail.

The D.P.O. assured us that the case would continue the following Monday when LASBCA would be invited. He also assured us that the demolition would not continue.

But we were surprised to hear that the demolition was still ongoing Sunday through Monday. We were forced to start

No. 49 Martins Street: The contentious property.

Climate change threatens global health security: UNEP

T

HE rapid propagation in recent years of infectious diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya and even Ebola is one more example of how climate change threatens global health security.

Climatic changes also affect temperatures and regional climates, the conditions on which, for instance, in the continent of Africa, mosquitoes may spread from one region to another, Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) , told Efe news agency Friday in a telephone interview from Nairobi. The UNEP chief spoke ahead of Sunday s release in Copenhagen of the Fifth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Diseases will move as the world warms and we may in many parts of the world indeed see either the return or the arrival of diseases that in recent times have simply not occurred in those regions, he said.

That development, he said, will add extra stress to the health infrastructure, the health system and ultimately the health and well-being of these populations in those countries .

Awareness of the link between climate and health has prompted environmental scientists to forge closer links with international bodies focused

on health, Steiner said. That is why my colleague, Margaret Chan, who heads the World Health Organisation, convened a meeting in Geneva on climate change and health, he said. And her conclusion was that a climate agreement in Paris is not just only a climate change agreement, it is also a global health agreement, because clearly the connection between environmental change arise from global warming and greater health risk factors is very direct in many different respects, Steiner said.

World leaders are due to meet in Paris next year with the aim of producing a new pact on controlling emissions of greenhouse gases to take the place of the Kyoto Protocol.

Besides the effect on climate, carbon emissions also cause direct damage to human health, according to the UNEP director.

Emissions of carbon and other pollutants are responsible for approximately seven million premature deaths every year worldwide , Steiner said. That is more by far more than the combined premature deaths arising from HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.

sending text messages that weekend to the state commissioners for Environment, Physical Planning, GMs of LASURA, LASBCA and the Attorney-General on the issue.

By the following day, we decided to write a petition to the Governor, Deputy governor, Inspector-General of Police and the State Solicitor-General over the case. However, while we were waiting for their feedback, we were called that the demolition had continued on Friday October 31, they further alleged.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

29

30

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

31

32

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

33

PODIUM

The gods protect traders wares in Mfum PAGE 7

Jobless youths make money singing politicians' praises in Bayelsa

VOL. 1: NO. 22

In Sapele, dirt share space with INEC, Ministry of Environment, hospital PAGE 4

PAGE 5

TUESD AY, NOVEMBER 004, 4, 20 14 TUESDA 201

The pedestrian bridge of weeds and dirt at Presidential Bus Stop, along Aba Road, Port Harcourt. PHOTO: Nwankpa Chijioke.

PROLOGUE:

Mixed bag of govs, ex-militant relationships

By Emma Amaize

C

ONTRARY to the widely-held assumption that ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta region enjoy cosy relationships with governors of their respective states, findings have revealed that there is a cold war between them and some of the governors had, in fact, taken steps

to clip the wings of the former agitators.

Some of the ex-militants that want to play politics found themselves on the wrong side of the governors and the bitter confrontation is affecting development in some areas of the state.

As it is, the former agitators would prefer to deal with the Presidency than

their governors, who they claim, neglected them after enticing them to drop their guns and accept amnesty.

Amaechi's stand

In Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi sounded it clear from the beginning that he was not going to fraternize with ex-militants and had kept his word since then.

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, who said in an interview in The Netherlands, some years ago, that he is not a militant, described the governor as a traitor.

His counterpart and leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement,

Continues on Page 2

2

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

PROLOGUE: Mixed bag of govs, ex-militant relationships Continues from Page 1 Ateke Tom, sometime, last year, led many protesters on the streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, asking Governor Rotimi Amaechi to resign.

Some of the ex-militants from the state not sheltered in the amnesty programme, had resorted to political thuggery and were reportedly responsible for the increased violence, including kidnapping in the state.

Uduaghan's wisdom

In Delta State, the general impression is that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and founder of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, were having a swell time.

But the Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, said the relationship between the duo is that of cat and mouse.

Dickson, no deal

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State did not see any reason to pamper the exmilitant leaders.

One of the first things he did, when he assumed power, was to throw them out of government lodges in Yenagoa, where his predecessor, Timipre Sylva, accommodated them after they came out of the creeks.

Imoke s oath-taking solution

Senator Liyel Imoke, the governor of Cross River State, as far back as 2009, compelled politicians in the state to take an oath, estranging themselves from cult groups.

However, politicians, mainly those of PDP extraction, had lately hired ex-militants as thugs, leading to an upsurge in violence in the state.

Akpabio's world

Ex-militants are not in the scheme of things in Akwa Ibom State and Governor Godswill Akpabio is not known to be fraternizing with them.

But ex-militant leader in the state, Mr. Niko Sintei, warned that the peace in the state would be truncated if Akpabio gives the governorship to a non-Oro person.

Oshiomhole s politics of inclusion

Governor Adams Oshiomhole assimilated exmilitants into his government, but in Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West Local Government areas of the state, ex-militants do not only have a say, they often times have their way in who becomes the chairmen of the local governments.

Silent war

Investigations by Niger Delta Voice showed that there is undeclared hostility between most ex-militant leaders and their state governors, except for one or two governors that managed to stay above waters.

Consequently, the exmilitant leaders rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 do not share the same feeling for their governors, most of who are, in any case, leaving office in 2015. They are also against the anointed successors of the governors.

President Jonathan, who had given the ex-militant leaders only a cursory attention all these years, is, however, under pressure by his political strategists to look their way with 2015 around the bend, as they would be useful one way or the other.

In this edition, we take a peep at the politics of exmilitants and their governors, an interchange that has implications for the states in 2015.

No space in Baylesa BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA ONCE upon a time in Bayelsa State, exmilitants, especially their leaders, were held in awe.

They were quartered in the Creek Haven (read Government House) annex, fondly referred to as Super Lodge and they received monthly allowance from the state government.

This was aside the Federal Government amnesty stipends.

They wielded influence in the corridors of power in the state and, to a large extent, called the shots in the politics of their respective local government areas in the hinterland where they once held sway.

Some of them even moved with police escorts with sirenblaring pilot vehicles to the consternation of other road users.

It was, therefore, not surprising seeing the exmilitants rallying support for exgovernor, Timipre Sylva, during his trying moment with the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Presidency in his quest to

Continues on Page 3

Asari-Dokubo (left) and Ateke Tom.

Asari-Dokubo, Ateke, Egberipapa oppose Amaechi in Rivers RIVERS THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT IN Rivers State, the exmilitant leaders are clearly doing battle with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is leading All Progressives Congress, APC, opposition against Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representatives in the state.

Leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, had not hidden his disdain for Governor Amaechi, but he is more interested in what happens at the national level than what Amaechi is doing in Rivers

State.

Sometime ago, Ateke Tom, who is from the same area in Rivers State as the First Lady, M r s . P a t i e n c e Jonathan, flooded the streets of Port Harcourt with posters signifying his intention to run for governor.

But nothing has been heard from him since the sale of nomination forms by the political parties for the governorship primaries started.

Sobomabo Jackrich, alias Egberipapa, is another exmilitant leader that has been actively involved in the politics of the state. Rumours were rife at a time that he was going to contest for the chairmanship of his Asari Toru Local Government Area.

It is not certain if he still has

the aspiration, but he has a platform, Kengema Unity Forum, that cannot be ignored

by PDP when it comes to election-related matters.

Egberipapa s group secured a Federal High Court judgment in Port Harcourt, February 18, which nullified the appointment of Justice Agumagu as acting Chief Judge of the state by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

A governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP, Mr NyesomWike,visited Egberipapa as Supervising Minister of Education in April, to drum up support for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan. The visit echoed the significance of Egberipapa in the emerging political order in the state.

as over-ambitious politicians hire ex-militants as thugs

By Davies Iheamnachor

P

ORT HARCOURT DESPITE embracing the amnesty programme, some of the ex-militants in Rivers have been recruited as political thugs by politicians, who want to assume power by hook or crook, in the state.

Kidnapping, robbery, terrorism, among other crimes, are gradually returning to the state with the involvement of exmilitants in politics, as they see it as an avenue to regain access to guns.

They have continuously indulged in acts that had, on different occasions, heated up the polity, causing undue riots, obstructing and disrupting programmes of opposing groups to favour the political aspiration of their paymaster.

Last year, the ex-militant turned thugs were mobilized to invade the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the bewilderment of the Rivers people. Similarly,

the same boys were used to disrupt a political gathering at a notable hotel in Port Harcourt on September 23.

Worry

A concerned youth leader, who spoke to Niger Delta Voice on condition of anonymity, bemoaned the violence exmilitants have brought into politics in the state.

He said the boys who submitted their guns to the Federal Government were building a new ammunition base with the support of their sponsors, who are desperate to achieve their political ambition.

His words: The ex-militants are now back in the business.

This time, as political thugs.

They are now into obstructing and stopping political activities that are not in favour of their sponsors. Their activities heat up the whole system.

They are causing violence and will increase malpractice in the forthcoming election. There is fear that they will cause

tension at the 2015 polls in the state.

He suggested that the boys be re-orientated before the general election in the state, else the whole thing may end in a war of sort.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Tony Edike Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 3

Calling shots in Edo

It's wait and see in Delta DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI WHAT Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State did in 2007, when he assumed office was to conscript ex-militant leaders and their agreed representatives into a strategic security group: the Delta Waterways Security Committee, D W S C .

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, endorsed some of his lieutenants as members of his group.

Other ex-militant leaders in the state, including Ezekiel Akpasubowei and Aroni Oputu of Deadly Underdogs, were later drafted in to buoy up the group.

Some of the ex-militant leaders, w h o

group and abandoning them to their fate.

However, many thought that all was well between Uduaghan and Tompolo, giving the camaraderie they show outside, particularly with the latest emergence of his younger brother, Mr. George Ekpemupolo, as twotime chairman of Warri SouthWest Local Government Area.

However, the Executive Secretary of Tompolo Foundation and top player in the Tompolo camp, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, told Niger Delta Voice that what exists between the two men was a cat and mouse relationship.

Count Tompolo out of Warri S West polls Alongs i d e other professionals, they were saddled with the responsibility of ensuring safety on the waterways of the state.

Ex-militant leader and founder of the defunct

thought the committee was another money-spinning one, were frustrated at what they saw. They believe the governor played a fast one on them by gathering them into a

First, there is the chairmanship matter that has pitched Tompolo against human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who is representing Mr. Weyimi Omadeli, alias Bobby, the chairmanship candidate that was swapped at the 11th

Continues on Page 8

Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

EDO...

HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN MAJORITY of the ex-militants in Edo State were incorporated into the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole shortly after they surrendered their weapons and accepted amnesty, just as in other parts of the Niger Delta region.

The ex-militant leaders in the state, notably Egbema 1 and Robert Okunbor, were saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the waterways.

They are currently Executive Directors, Surveillance.

About 100 of them are working under the Ministry of Transport in Ovia South West, Ovia North East and Ikpoba Okha local governments, where they are predominantly located.

Their contributions have been useful to the state government and even security agencies, as they help to track down criminals and kidnappers, particularly those who took their victims to riverine communities.

They have also remained relevant in the politics of the state because any aspirant, who is serious about his or her ambition, would normally get the support of the ex-militants, else his ambition is as a good as dead.

Besides, it has been observed that these ex-militants determine who becomes what, particularly in Ovia North East and Ovia South West.

Any aspiring council chairman or councillor may not be able to realize his ambition unless he gets the support of the ex-militants.

In Edo state, many of them are involved in traffic control and in waterways security.

No space in Baylesa

Ex-militants turn political thugs in C'River CROSS RIVER

THE

PEOPLE S PARADISE

By Emmanuel Unah

C

Governor Seriake Dickson.

Continues from Page 2 secure the party ticket for second term.

However, their influence in the politics of the state and the councils have been whittled down by the present administration, which wasted no time in evicting them from the government lodge.

They currently have no role to play in the politics of the state and their local government areas where the governor s men are effectively in charge of affairs.

Though some ex-agitators, led by former leader of the defunct MEND, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, alias Boyloaf, were appointed by the state government into a special task

force, State Centre for Youth Development, to curb criminality in the creeks of the state, security has not improved on the waterways.

Also on the board as Secretary is Mr. Egba Claudius Diekemi. Others are Kakas Amgbare (Sabgama council), Inemo Angalapele (Kolokumo/ Opokuma council), Joseph Dienduomo (Ekeremor council), Pastor Reuben Wilson (Southern Ijaw council), Dini Atoni (Ogbia council), Mangite Asari (Nembe) and Miss Emmanuela Victor (Brass).

Also in the board are Jackson, Toikuma Toboulayefa ThankGod, Omangima Harry, Alfreda Olungwe, Gift Bokiri, Tina Bailbond and Ebiasuode Timipre.

ALABAR THE predominant militant group in Cross River State was the Bakassi Volunteer Force and since the disarming of the members and subsequent participation in the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government, the group, apart from occasional protests for allowances, has been largely inactive.

Many members of the group had melted into the civil society and are acting as either body guards to politicians or as thugs, commonly known as supporters or backing group and usually orchestrate clashes between rival political factions.

Many politicians look up to them for needed security backup in the event of any security breach by opposing groups and giving their role

as security backups, they have had to clash with supporters of other political leaders and aspirants.

Worried by the violence resulting from frequent clashes by the rival groups, Senator Imoke in 2009 initiated an oath- taking ceremony, where elected and appointed officials in the state had to renounce membership of militant and cult groups with the aim of stamping out the growing trend or at best, minimize political violence in the state.

It has largely worked, but lately, with the split in the PDP political family, the clashes are becoming frequent again.

Often, crowds of young men and women are engaged by aides of politicians to join campaign trains and the entourages of incumbent officials or aspiring politicians as they make campaign rounds. During these rounds, clashes occur.

Clashes

Freshly, the Cross River State Joint Security Task Force, known as Quick Intervention Service, QIS,

was invited to quell severe scenes of clashes at a popular hotel, Jorany, located in the eastern part of Calabar, Asari Eso Layout, following clashes by several youths, who were fighting for their benefactors seeking the PDP ticket to represent the Etung/ Obubra Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Several of the combatants sustained injuries in the clashes, which involved the use of cudgels, fists and other offensive weapons. Four of them were arrested.

There was another clash in Ediba, Imoke s hometown in Abi Local Government Area, by two groups of young men, alleged supporters of the incumbent member of the House of Representatives for Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency and the person seeking to replace him.

These clashes are likely to increase as the preparation for the 2015 election progresses.

Most PDP politicians had their hearts in their mouths last Saturday, November 1, as delegates were elected for the governorship, House of Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives primaries.

4

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

AKWA IBOM...

LAND OF PROMISE

By Chioma Onuegbu

Sea level, strange weeds threaten Bayelsa coastal towns

U

Y O E X- M I L I TA N T leader in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Niko Sintei, said he had warned his members not to get involved in the ongoing politicking in the state, and to resist any politician that tries to engage them in violence in the state.

Speaking to Niger Delta Voice in Uyo, Sintei said he gave the warning knowing that desperate politicians always recruit thugs during this political period and use them in creating violence.

His words: I have advised our people that they should not allow themselves to be used by any politician. And that is why we are not involved in politics.

We have observed that the politicians will use us to carry out all sorts of violence, while they send their children abroad.

And I want to advise our politicians in the state that there can only be one governor to take over from the outgoing governor. We cannot have three governors at the same time.

It should not be a do-or-die affair. A good leader will not seek violence. We are saying that all we want this time is that there should be peace in the state.

And to ensure total peace, we are advocating that Oro nation, where 95 per cent of the wealth of the state comes from, should be allowed to govern the state in 2015. In the fear of God, Akwa Ibom

BA YELS A ...

BAYELS YELSA THE GLORY OF

B

Governor Godswill Akpabio.

It's either an Oro governor in A'Ibom or... EX-MILITANT leaders and people should recognize and consider Oro issue.

Even though the area produces what comes into the state as allocation, it has been ne-

glected in terms of infrastructure development and we are saying do not deprive them that right.

The best thing we expect

Akpabio to do is to give the governorship to an Oro person to ensure that peace and justice reigns.

By Samuel Oyadongha

RASS ANXIETY has heightened in more than 50 coastal communities of Bayelsa State over the soaring sea level and strange plants.

The predominantly marshy and low lying state has the longest coastal shoreline in the country.

Among the troubled communities are Brass, which is host to one of the nation s oil export terminal, Koluama 1&2, part of which has been lost to the sea; Ekeni,

Continues on Page 8

In Sapele, dirt shares space with INEC, Ministry of Environment, Central Hospital, others DELTA...

FINGER OF GOD

S

By Brisibe Perez

A P E L E APPROXIMATELY three months after the Delta State Task Force on Illegal Structures stormed Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area, to purge the town of dirt and illegal structures, findings showed that piles of filth have started mounting again at different locations in the town.

Niger Delta Voice checks also revealed that Sapele has no definite dump site at the moment, as the authorities of Sapele Local Government had not acquired a new one after it proscribed dumping of refuse on the New Road dump site.

Badly affected

Worse hit areas are Dafinone Way, Sapele Stadium and Sapele Central Hospital where offensive odour oozing from the pile of waste leaning on the fence of the hospital assaults passers-by. The spot, which is a stone throw from the Ministry

Front of the Delta State Library Board in Sapele. of Environment, leads to the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Ministry of Lands and Survey, Sapele.

Also, at the entrance to Delta State Library Board, located at Orhorho Road, which currently is the only such facility in Sapele, another mass of waste welcomes visitors to the library.

A resident of Orhorho Road, Mr. Toritshe Temisan, while speaking to Niger Delta Voice, said: Even when we try to clear the waste, residents from other areas come in the

middle of the night and empty their wastes here to avoid harassment, because they know that we are on the lookout for them during the day time.

Private waste disposal

Though it is not certain how effective the private waste managers are in their house-tohouse waste collection, a resident of Ugbeyiyi road, Mr. Harlims Ofomola, said some residents of Ugbeyiyi road, including himself, registered with N2,000 and pay a monthly fee of N500 to one of the private

One of the bus stops built by the Delta State Government now serving as an accommodation by two destitutes waste managers, who visit twice a week to offload their waste to approved dump sites.

No dump site

An employee of one of the waste managers, who spoke on anonymity, said: Before now, we use the New Road dump site, but we have been banned by the council to stop dumping refuse there.

For now, we normally dump the refuse at undeveloped areas outside town.

When contacted, the Head of Environmental Department,

Sapele Local Government Council, Mr. Steve Ejewhe, said: The site along the New Road is what is being used as the dump site.

But when Niger Delta Voice visited the site, there were numerous signposts at strategic locations, reading No dumping of refuse here, by the S.L.G. Niger Delta Voice went back to Mr. Ejewhe, who simply said: The management of the Sapele Local Government has not acquired any other place as a refuse dump site.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 5

PODIUM

Jobless youths make money singing politicians' praises in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA EQUIPPED with trumpets, tambourine and drums, and dressed in the traditional Ijaw wrestling attire with bells dangling around their waists to attract attention, you see them laying siege for their prey.

They are unemployed youths and their beat at the moment is Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, secretariat, located along DSP Alamieyeseigha Way, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

144 for the state House of Assembly; 17 for House of Representatives and 14 for Senate, have picked and submitted their forms for the primaries.

I go home with about N35,000

Some of the youths depending on their deftness, it was learnt, made an average of between N28,000 and N35,000 daily

as N150, 000 and after sharing, I go home with N35,000.

Another youth, Ebiowei Jones said: This is the only time we can make money from them (aspirants).

Once they settle down in office, you cannot access them again. So we have to device every means to make them bless us now.

Citizens blast govs over stance on LG autonomy

By Chioma Onuegbu

Laying siege

There, they daily wait for their prey (politicians), who come either to collect or submit their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly primaries.

Politicians love showmanship and the youths praise them to eke out a living.

At least, one said, it is better than going into kidnapping.

From afar, when they see an aspirant, they surge forward as if possessed, blocking him and his supporters, as they raise chorus eulogizing the aspirant.

The fascinated aspirants and their aides would deep hands into their pockets and shower money on them.

No fewer than 165 aspirants, including

from the politicians, many of whom could not be reached on normal days.

A trumpeter, who identified himself as Eladebi, told Niger Delta Voice, it has been a lucrative period for us. We are not only enjoying what we know best, but also making good money from it.

How I wish the exercise will drag on.

On a good day, our group makes as much

U

YO CITIZENS of Akwa Ibom State have condemned the recent move by the Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Jonah Jang factions of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, to stop the National Assembly from adopting the recommendation of the National Constitutional Conference, granting autonomy to Local Governments.

Akwa Ibom State representative, Community Policing Partners for Justice, Security and Democratic Reforms, COMPPART, Mr. Saviour Akpan, attributed the action of the governors to ignorance of what true federalism means and insensitivity to the plight of the citizenry, lamenting that the joint-

account between the two tiers of government have been responsible for poor infrastructure and ineffective representation in most councils in Akwa Ibom, over the years.

Lack of knowledge

His words: The fact that the governors are kicking against autonomy for local government, which is the third tier of government is a clear manifestation that they are ignorant of what true federalism means.

In a functional democracy, it means that the different tiers of government are supposed to be independent of each other to enable each carry out its constitutionally assigned responsibility to the citizenry in a manner that

encourage bottom-up participation of the citizenry without fear in governance.

We must not allow the display of ignorance of the governors on the importance of local government autonomy to give us sleepless nights because our opportunity is in our hands and power belongs to the people. So if the governors are against the autonomy, it means that they are not pursuing our interest but their selfish interest. And Nigerians should not fold their arms and watch that happen.

Shun govs

Similarly, Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, APC, Akwa

Continues on Page 8

6

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Beholdthe124-yr-old Storey building in Ikwerreland

Igwe, who was born January 28, 1953, said his mother told him that the house was built so many years before he was born and that his grandfather died in 1950, about three years before he was born.

Late Igwe was made a chief in the community because of his social class. He attracted the Customary Court to the town and was one of the traditional judges that handled customary issues.

Elder Gabriel Igwe and family.

By Davies Iheamnachor

R

UMUJI BUILT over a century ago, it is the oldest storey-building standing at Mgbuomodu, Rumuji community, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.

It is also believed to be the oldest of its kind in Ikwerreland. Some people are of the view that it should be the oldest of such structures in the state.

Although, none of the people spoken to by Niger Delta Voice in Rumuji could name the exact date the skyscraper was erected by late Chief Aite Igwe, they

said the house could have been erected between 1890 and 1896.

They said it is older than every man in the whole town, including the oldest man in the town, Mr. Amadi, said to be 100 years old.

The people of Rumuji have continually eulogized the effort of Chief Aite Igwe, who was said to have built the first upstairs in Ikwerre.

They said he, Igwe, having worked with the first breed of Westerners that came to the area, was able to utilize his wealth to enrich the history of his people, which many of his kind could not.

The grandson of the late Chief Igwe, Elder Gabriel

Distinctiveness

In the olden days, houses were built according to the social class a person belongs.

But the Orho elu (storey building) built by the late Igwe added another dimension to the types of houses known then. It is the first of its kind.

Elder Gabriel said: I am very happy anytime I see that house, because it reminds me that my own father was the first to live in a house that is decked, which nobody had seen that time.

Then our friends call us people who live in the sky.

Even as old as I am, I am always happy whenever I see that building. They told me that that kind of house was in no other place at that time except in my father s

compound.

People who are building that kind of structures now are only learning from what my father did in the area. You can see that the house they are building now is quite different from this one.

Today, there are air conditioners, which people used to make their own cool.

But that one that my father built is always cool, so it does not need air conditioner. It has natural cooling system.

When you look at the wall, it is so fine. It was neither plastered nor tiled, but its wall looks as if it has tiles.

Notwithstanding that it was built with ordinary mud, it is so durable. It is so strong that you cannot demolish it.

Building materials

You cannot compare today s storey structures with that one built by my father because the materials they used were amazing.

Apart from the fact that it may seem outdated today, the material used for that house cannot be nicely used by today s builders and engineers.

The block used is just redmud, which was molded and burnt before use. The decking and the staircase were done

with woods. They are hard woods, which I do not think can be found anywhere again around.

The zinc used is far better than the ones we have today.

The builders did not use iron.

It was just wood. Yet, till date the building is still very much strong.

Why the building can t be demolished

He said: The building remains the only standing ornament by a legend in the land of Rumuji. If we demolish it, it is the same thing as our father s name has gone extinct and we will not try it.

It is also a taboo to bring down a building in Rumuji land. We cannot attempt to bring it down.

The building will stand so that if our children come of age, they too will see what their great-great grandfather built. Our children will always be happy when references are made to the standing building.

He advised modern builders to emulate the type of technology used in those days, saying the building has stood the test of time and till date, people still live in the building.

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 7

The gods protect traders wares in Mfum

By Emmanuel Unah

M

FUM WHEN a traveller hinted that there was a community in Niger Delta where traders do not pack their wares home after the day s business, but just cover them with waterproofs and other materials, it sounded too real to be true in this evil era.

So this reporter went to Mfum community in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State, located at the intersection that leads to Abakaliki and Igoli, which is 30 and 15 kilometres away, respectively, from Ogoja metropolis, to authenticate the claim.

The strategic position of the community has turned the people of Mfom, especially the women, to traders.

The makeshift stalls, where they sell foodstuff like garri, rice, plantain, cocoyam, banana, fish and bush meat to the thousands of people, who traverse the busy Abakaliki-Ikom Highway, littered the roadside.

It s true MADAM AGADE

A shop owner, Madam Grace Agade, who confirmed the claim to Niger Delta Voice, said: There is a strong spirit that guards the foodstuff and anybody who attempts to steal any item is on his own This is because the person will see what he or she is looking for by coming to this community to steal stuff items meant for sale just because nobody is guarding the items of trade.

If anyone steals from the market, the spirit that guards that market will follow such a person to his house or his destination and instructs him to return the item.

But if he remains stubborn and keeps the item, something will happen within three days.

If he does not die, he will run mad and it is only if his people come to appease the community that the he can be healed of the madness.

items in the market since the road was constructed, several decades ago, adding,

nobody had stolen my items except the incident of last year.

dey survive here and any person wey steal, na him go take him head carry am.

Arson at Edo legislators quarters is taboo, says Benin chief

Spirit arrests gari thieves

She said sometime, last year, some people stole some basins of gari and when the sprit went after them, they had to return the garri and our youths beat them up.

They had to perform sacrifices before they were allowed to go back to their homes.

Another lady, Rose Eddy, said she has been selling food

Switching to Pidgin English, she said: Dem know our community say thief no

Chief Obasogie.

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CHAIRMAN of Edo State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief Eduwu Ekhator, the

Obasogie of Benin Kingdom, has described the recent mayhem at the living quarters of the state's lawmakers, in Government Reservation Area, GRA, Benin, against the wise

counsel of the Oba of Benin as a taboo.

Over 50 armed men had, about three weeks ago, invaded the Assembly quarters with arms and wreaked havoc, spraying over 36 cars with bullets and destroying property worth millions of naira.

Chief Ekhator, who is the Obasogie of Benin kingdom, said it was forbidden for the subjects of the Omon N Oba to go ahead and foment crisis, especially when the revered monarch had sued for peace.

According to him, as members of one family with a common ancestral descent, we must learn to resolve our differences peacefully, however painful and without ever resorting to criminal and lethal action of hurting one another or exposing ourselves to ridicule by the outside world.

Two wrongs can never make a right and in the words of the elders, together we stand, divided we fall.

If we spend more time fighting one another and throwing stones at one another,

what time do we have to defend ourselves and our state from outside aggression or from our common enemy?

It is lamentable that in this age of peaceful resolution of conflicts through understanding and tolerance, we still find time to engage ourselves dangerously with drawn swords and battle- ready instrument of hate and war to peaceful co-existence.

It will be recalled that Omo N Oba had earlier advised both parties to sheathe their swords, lay down their arms and embrace peace.

It is, therefore, expedient to remind the warring parties of the need for peace to reign supreme on this our land of inexhaustible resources and as directed by our royal gather, who is also the custodian of our culture and tradition.

We must tackle squarely the challenge of progress and development of our state together and we must build an enduring legacy of a better tomorrow for coming generations.

8

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

It's wait and see in Delta Continues from Page 3 hour.

He said it had nothing to do with Tompolo and the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the area, Chief Boro Opudu, had explained that the action was taken to avert a looming ethnic crisis.

Bebenimibo said: It should be noted that the issue of Warri is different from other parts of the state. It is a peculiar case and has to be handled in a peculiar way too to avert breakdown of law of order.

You know what led to the Warri crisis.

George Ekpemupolo, a former chairman of the local government, bought nomination form for the chairmanship race; there was no primaries by PDP. It is all selection.

The party chairman described it as political imbalances, which the party failed to observe and they corrected it. That is what happened; Tompolo did not influence it.

Not part of Uduaghan's govt

On the relationship between the governor and Tompolo, he said: Governor Uduaghan has not done anything meaningful to assist those involved in the agitation.

He has not included them in his government; rather, he has been doing things to divide them. I do not want you to be saying that Tompolo is part of his government: he is not.

He said the things the governor would have done to please Tompolo, which is rebuilding of Okerenkoko, destroyed by the military in 2009 and construction of roads in the riverine Gbaramatu kingdom, were abandoned by the governor.

Reminded that the state government recently inaugurated houses built for victims of the crisis, he said: Go there and see whether anything worthwhile has really been done compared to the damage that was done.

The people are still living in makeshift structures.

As far as I know, it has been a cat and mouse relationship, they have just been trying to manage themselves. Tompolo knows that Uduaghan government will end one day and that is 2015. It is not true that he is doing anything for Tompolo.

His words: Tompolo does not want anything from Uduaghan. He only wants development for his people and Uduaghan is not doing that. Imagine, a medical doctor from the riverine area of the state has refused to provide medical services to the riverine people in Warri South-West Local Government.

Niger Delta Voice gathered that the governor s strategy ab initio was to engage the ex-militants and ensure that their capacity to foment trouble was put in check. But he never contemplated giving them space to assume any kind of authority in his administration.

Citizens blast govs over stance on LG autonomy Continues from Page 5

Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Mr. Ibom State, Mr Samuel Nduese Essien, who was one Udobong, said: The National of the Akwa Ibom delegates to Assembly should not even give the 2014 National Conference, governors the room to discuss decried the deplorable state of on the matter again because it the third tier of government is obvious that they are across the country, which he benefiting so much from the attributed to misappropriation of joint account, that is why they council funds by politicians. are kicking against local Essien said: In the past, local government autonomy. government councils were able If the National Assembly fails to carry out tangible to remove the joint account, I development projects that am assuring you that no local touched the lives of the government will be able to grassroots. perform to expectation and that Today, many local councils is why no council in Akwa Ibom are not able to carry out has been able to perform. development projects apart You cannot hold the council s from payment of salaries to their over bloated leadership workforce. responsible In some parts of because what the country, we the governors hear reports of how are giving them political leaders is just like and elders insist stipends, so we on sharing council insist that the funds among Chairman, National themselves and Nigerian Labour Assembly Congress, NLC, in their gladiators. should go the state, Mr. On this note, I ahead to pass Unyime Usoro, want to appeal to the law on said the National and State autonomy for constitution Assemblies across l o c a l should make the the country to pass governments. salaries of a law granting full primary school autonomy to the J o i n t teachers a first local government. account line charge on the This would enable unacceptable consolidation that tier of Speaking revenue of local government to recently in governments carry out its Eket, former

constitutional duties to the grassroots.

N-Assembly should go ahead

Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, Mr. Unyime Usoro, in a telephone chat, said labour unions in the state, particularly the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, received the news about local government autonomy with great happiness because it would improve performance of local government administration.

He said the constitution should make the salary of primary school teachers a first line charge on the consolidation revenue of local government.

Director of Works, Abak Local Government, Mr. Wilson Wilson, also condemned the move to stop the proposal to grant autonomy to local governments.

He said until councils begin to control their finances by receiving their allocation directly from the federation account, they would not be able to achieve anything.

He insisted that it is only when the councils are given full financial and administrative autonomy that the leadership could be held accountable by the people if they fail to perform to expectation.

Sea level, strange weeds threaten Bayelsa coastal towns Continues from Page 4 Fishtown, Foropah, Ezetu 1 &2, Sangana and Agge on the western flank of the state.

Fishing business wrecked

For the natives of these communities, fishing is no longer a lucrative business due to pollution.

It was learned that the fishermen, instead of harvesting fish, were contending with strange weeds, which most times, destroy their fishing gears.

Ebinyon Kuro, a resident of one of the communities, told Niger Delta Voice: This is certainly not the best of times for our people.

You go deep into the sea and instead of coming home with good catch, you return with strange weeds which are destroying our nets.

Group vows to sue Chevron

Disturbed by the plight of the communities, a group,

National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills in the Niger Delta, NACGOND, had threatened to drag oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, to the International Court of Justice over failure to pay adequate compensation to the people in the wake of the company s rig explosion of 2012, which destroyed their environment.

The national coordinator of the coalition, Father Edward Obi, lamented that the palliative promised by Mr.

President when he visited months after the blowout occurred, have not materialized, leaving the people in sorrow and pains.

He said: Daily, the people are dying slowly from the consequence of the blowout.

It caused a mini quake in sea bed, which made fishing activities difficult along the coast line.

All we hear is tale of woes.

The people have almost lost their livelihood. They can no longer fish and expect

anything near their previous catch.

Activist calls on Gov Dickson

Environmental activist, Alagoa Morris of the Environmental Right Action, ERA, who called for urgent action to safeguard the communities, said: This is why we are sending a clear message to Chevron that they cannot run from accountability for their environmental crimes in the Niger Delta region.

He also called on the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, to intervene by setting up a technical committee aimed at seeking proper redress and adequate compensation for the hapless communities that have continued to bear the aftermath of the explosion.

The governor should reignite his initial passion against Chevron's attitude on what he termed environmental terrorism, he added.

34

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

35

36

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Ebola carriers can be infectious without symptoms STUDY

By Jonathan Benson

N

EARLY everything that the government has been saying about how and when Ebola is transmissible is turning out to be false, as evidenced by yet another peg in the Ebola matrix of lies coming undone.

Even if an Ebola carrier is not showing symptoms, admits the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, quietly on its website, he or she can still spread the disease to others.

This is not what the CDC has been saying publicly, of course. The health agency almost violently insists that it is impossible to catch Ebola from someone who is not yet showing symptoms.

Except that it actually is possible, according to a 1999 study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Researchers from the CDC discovered during a 1995 Ebola outbreak in the Republic of Congo that viral antigen was present in nearly all patients, regardless of which acute phase of illness they were presently suffering.

Though the virus was found to be present in different amounts depending on symptom severity, it was still there and still transmissible.

On its website, the CDC still admits this to be true, but for some reason refuses to talk about it on the national news. The contraindicating message being sent to the country is that Ebola

Ebola victim receiving treatment is no big deal -- unless a person is showing symptoms, you are free to eat, drink and be merry without a care in the world!

CDC says Ebola victims can still spread disease without symptoms

But here's what the CDC quietly admits on its website, which changes the game entirely: "Ebola virus is usually detectable in patients' blood at the time of fever and symptom onset, although Ebola virus

Experts worry over gaps in diabetes care

By Sola Ogundipe

W

C M Y K

ORRIED by the gaps in training of specialists to effectively tackle the high prevalence of diabetes and its complications among Nigerians, a group of medical experts under the aegis of the Podiatry Initiative Nigeria, PIN, have initiated a pilot training workshop in Lagos in the area of Podiatric medicine.

The training is to help bridge the training gap and raise awareness on the subspecialty of podiatry or Podiatric medicine, a branch of medicine dedicated to the study of diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity.

Local data of diabetes foot ulcers show alarming amputation rate of over 50 per cent in some cohorts and mortality of up to 40.5 per cent. Data from the International Diabetes Federation, IDF, show that the number of persons with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country even though 80 percent of people with diabetes live in the low and middle income countries. Every six seconds, one person dies of diabetes.

In 2013, there were 5.1 million diabetesrelated deaths and more than 21 million complications. Also last year, diabetes caused at least USD 548 billion in health expenditure which is 11 percent of total spending on adults. Findings show that at least 175 million people with diabetes are undiagnosed while the greatest number of persons with diabetes are aged 40-59.

Disclosing all these to Good Health Weekly in a chat, Head of the team, Dr. Afokoghene Rita Isaivwe, said increase in knowledge of proper foot care in persons with diabetes and training of the physicians looking after them to enable them detect early signs of diabetes foot and properly manage the condition, is key in preventing and reducing the scourge of the diabetes foot in Nigeria.

Isiavwe recounted that in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, diabetes mellitus foot syndrome was responsible for most amputations in the surgical unit (55.14 per cent of all amputations)

Socioeconomic consequences The direct socioeconomic cost of successfully treating the diabetic foot ulcer is about 1000 Euros, whereas average monthly wage is about 46 Euros. The people most affected are at the lower class; persons already burdened by poverty, illiteracy and inability to care for their daily needs.

Unfortunately there is a dearth of podiatry knowledge/practice in the country as there is no Podiatry curriculum currently operating in the medical schools in Nigeria. Much needed information on basic podiatry education is lacking amongst our medical practitioners. This has a resulting negative effect on the care of persons with diabetes foot and outcome

of persons with diabetes foot ulcers, Isaivwe remarked.

Podiatry services needs in Nigeria/Lagos as well as data from the International Diabetes Federation, IDF show that in Africa, Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes and likewise also has the highest number of persons with impaired glucose tolerance.

Prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria was put at 2.2 per cent in 1997. Different studies across the nation give prevalence from about 2.8 per cent to about 6.8 per cent and as high as 23.4 per cent in the oil rich Niger Deltaregion in some cohorts.

In Lagos state, diabetes prevalence was estimated to be 6 per cent by the Lagos state ministry of health in 2011. Studies in Nigeria give a prevalence of as low as 0.9 per cent to 8.3 per cent to as much as 16 per cent in a multicentre diabetes outpatients population study to 19.5 per cent amongst diabetes patients on admission.

A 2005 publication showed diabetes related foot ulcerations accounted for 12 per cent of total hospital admissions in a Lagos based study and diabetes mellitus foot is the second leading cause of diabetes related deaths in Nigeria accounting for 19.5 to 24 per cent of all diabetes mortality.

Also, a study on diabetes mellitus foot ulcer in Midwestern Nigeria showed an amputation rate of 52.2 per cent and mortality rate of 14.3 per cent in a cohort of diabetes patients with foot ulcers.

RNA levels at the time of fever and symptom onset are typically low (near the detection threshold limits) and in some patients may not be reliably detectable during the first 3 days of illness," reads a section on their website entitled "Laboratory Data."

What this suggests, of course, is that a person who contracts Ebola may or may not begin to show symptoms before detectable levels of the virus are present in his or her blood. And if the virus is present, there is at least some risk that it can spread to others, even if the quantity of the viral load is less than it would be when full symptoms are present.

Ebola has been known to spread without symptoms for nearly 15 years Back in 2000, scientists from Europe and the U.S. confirmed that Ebola can spread without symptoms.

Asymptomatic infected individuals were found to carry around the virus for up to two weeks after first being exposed to it, and before showing symptoms, according to results of a study published in The Lancet.

It had been suspected previously that Ebola is capable of transmitting without symptoms, though this study was the first of its kind to actually prove this.

The full extent of how long the virus can persist remains unknown, but based

Free diabetes screening

I

N commemoration of this year s World Diabetes day, free diabetes screening from November 1-30, 2014 at Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, 11c Babatunde Anjosus, off Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. The screening commences from 6am to 8am and 3.30pm to 7pm daily

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 37

How Gov Theodore Orji saved my son Ngozi Abochi Tom

By Chioma Obinna

B

UT for the benevolence of Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, Master Chidubem Godswil Tom who was diagnosed with a hole-in- the- heart three days after birth would not have lived to see his first birthday. Tom is alive today and his family is ready to tell the story over and over.

Tom s mother, Ngozi Abochi had run from pillar to post seeking help to keep her son alive without success. Ngozi had cried to Nigerians through the media for urgent assistance for a life saving operation but help was nowhere to be found.

She and her husband had visited the Abia State government office in search of help apparently due to alleged man - made bottle necks they were not able to succeed until Vanguard published Tom's story.

Luck smiled on Tom when the daughter of the Governor read the story and called her father's attention to it. Immediately, the Governor speedily made funds available for Tom to be taken abroad for further treatments in far away India.

Today, Tom is hale and hearty.

Speaking to Good Health Weekly, Ngozi said: "I'm a living witness to the fact that Governor Orji popularly known as T.A is a man that shares the joy and sorrow of his subjects. For Instance, when my son Tom was diagnosed of a hole- in -the -heart two days after his birth, in our bid to get help, the only place left for my husband and I to go seek help was the spirit world. And then, the story of my boy's illhealth was published in some national dailies.

When His Excellency read the plight of little Tom in Vanguard

Saved by the Governor: Master Chidubem Godswil Tom. Newspapers, he immediately invited us. We went and T. A. paid for the boy's treatment in India. " According to Ngozi the conferment of the Governor a National Honour as the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, did not just come by chance. For her, the honour is well deserved because Abians are

better off under the administration of the Governor.

Ngozi, the Ariam - Eluelu born woman in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State who is based in Lagos, is convinced that the recent award received by the Governor is well deserved.

UN seeks greater collaboration with FBOs

T

HE United Nations is presently exploring ways to increase better collaboration with the inter faith organisation as a means to reducing challenges in the area of security and health.

Acting Health Minister, Dr Khaliru Alhassan who spoke during a side meeting at the United Nations General Assembly noted that Nigeria has benefitted greatly from

Wash your hands, Reckitt Benckiser urges Nigerians

By Bose Adelaja

N

IGERIANS from all walks of life have been urged to improve hygiene practices particularly the culture of regular hand-washing with soap and water, even as the nation has been declared free of the Ebola Virus Disease.

Making the appeal in Lagos during the launch of the Give Life a Hand Campaign on this year s hand washing day, General Manager, Reckitt Benckiser, West Africa, Mr. Rahul Murgai, described the campaign as another innovative solution for healthier lives and happier homes.

He said the company s global antiseptic brand, Dettol, in keeping in line with the spirit of the vision and heritage in Nigeria, initiated the MOMentum campaign in 2014; a pledge to

Anyone observing and following events in Abia state in the last seven years would have seen this honour coming. It is a worthy honour, well-deserved and timely too.

I think it is a way of the President saying well-done to his Excellency, T. A. Orji and other recipients for working tirelessly to keep the nation going.Stories of such humanitarian gestures abound where Orji had rescued Abians from untimely and avoidable death.

Testimonies abounds that today, the health sector in Abia State has witnessed tremendous transformation since his coming into power. This could be seen in the establishment of the stateof-the-art Abia Specialist and Diagnostic Centre in Umuahia and Aba which completed through a Private-Public Initiative, PPI. These investments in the health sector are presently saving Nigeria huge capital flight because a number of medical treatments for which patients would have been flown abroad are now, carried out in those facilities. These facilities can compete with those in developed climes.

The government is presently planning to expand the scope of services offered at the centre.

Also, the renal dialysis and ophthalmology centre initiated by

this administration are billed to take off soon.

About 11 years back, basic infrastructure was practically absent. Those provided by some of the founding administrations had deteriorated completely. Abia ranked high among the states with less than optimal healthcare.

Presently, state-owned health facilities which before Orji were ordinary First Aid Units are now functioning in full capacity. And because the health of Abians is of paramount importance,the Governor picks up hospital bills of indigent citizens of the state especially children and the aged.

Under its primary healthcare services, government has constructed and equipped more than 210 community health centres in different parts of the state. These health centres are provided with boreholes and tricycles to convey patients.

Hospital in each of the senatorial zones in the state has been equipped and up-graded and at least, one hospital in every Senatorial Zone has been transformed into a referral hospital for specialist treatments and diagnosis.

The state government has also acquired the defunct gigantic Alaoma Hospital on Aba Road in Partnership with MEI-CARE of India, with the intention to make it one of the best referral diagnostic centres in the South East. In order to compliment the Federal Government to ensure the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, has built and equipped 165 health centres.

save 10 million lives in helping Nigeria reach its Millennium Development Goals to reduce infant mortality rate.

Marketing Director, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, said the campaign is carefully conceptualised to amplify the key message of this year s Global Handwashing Day, with the theme Choose hand washing, choose health.

Silivrili said regular hand washing is the first line of defence from preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, to the latest menace of EVD. If we want to protect our children from getting sick, the first thing to do is to educate them about washing their hands properly. Promoted on a wide enough scale, hand washing with soap can be thought of as a doit-yourself vaccine because it is easy, effective, and affordable.

Ingraining the habit of hand washing could save more lives than any single vaccine or medical intervention.

A vast change tilting towards hand washing behaviour is therefore critical to meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing two-third of deaths among children under the age of five by 2015, he added.

In the view of Dettol Marketing Manager, West Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Ahmed Wahap, For every #handfie shared via social media platforms, Dettol pledges to educate a child in Nigeria on healthy handwashing habits. The more #handfie shared, the more kids will be educated. The process is open to everyone and is as simple as taking a picture of clean hand(s), and uploading on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram using #handfie, he said

collaborating with interfaith organisations especially in the areas of security and health.

Nigeria already has compounded faith-based groups nationwide into the Nigerian Inter-faith Action Association (NIFAA)-otherwise known as Inter-Faith, which unites leaders in Christianity and Islam in the fight against poverty and disease.

The side meeting was organised by the Centre for Global Health and Diplomacy conference in New York, wherein Dr Alhassan said faith-based groups "can solve the nitty-gritty issues in communities."

Handwashing saves lives

"We believe Inter-Faith is working, and yielding a lot of positive results, what we need to do is to strengthen our partnership with these organisations," he said about the role of faith-based organisations in international health partnerships.

Khaliru said: "We have a lot of contact with religious leaders. We have a powerful Inter-Faith organisation. A lot of ordinary citizens will listen to them more than the government." Nigeria's Inter-Faith engagement of religious communities focuses on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, polio, and poverty impact.

38 Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

HEFAMAA takes battle against quackery to Badagry

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, HEFAMAA, has taken its battle against quackery in medical practice to Badagry area of Lagos. The campaign which is the 6th edition of its grassroots town hall meetings is conceived as a one-stop solution to stop quackery in all its ramifications in the Lagos health sector .

The iniative which commenced in 2013 has been held in Ejigbo LCDA, Ikorodu, Epe and Surulere Local Government areas. Chairman, HEFAMAA Board Dr. Omotayo Bello, said: Aside serving as a platform for enlightening stakeholders and the general populace on the functions of HEFAMAA and its resolve to stamp out quackery, these grassroots meetings also serve as interactive fora that elicits ideas and feedbacks to efforts and policy implementation of Lagos State Government in its health sector .

He said HEFAMAA has also enlisted community members of Badagry to be its eyes and ears at the grassroots level since the quacks and residents live side-by-side in the same community.

HEFAMAA has a specially designed and easily identifiable logo which it allocates to qualified, approved and certified private hospital facilities as part of measures to checkmate activities of quacks and also serve as a pointer to intending patrons.

Bello said suspicious healthcare operators should be reported to HEFAMAA via SMS directly to senior government functionaries listed on the back page of the HEFAMAA handbook.

Among those to be alerted are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina, 08055329229; Chairman, HEFAMAA Board, Dr. Omotayo Bello, 08037164984 & 08074079350, and Executive Secretary, HEFAMAA, Dr. JGG Asuni, 08023513345 & 08181194707. Information received will be treated in confidence.

Bello called for vigilance, warning that there was no provision in Lagos State health personnel training for Nursing apprentices to be trained by private health facility operators. Private health facility operators caught in the act will not only have their facilities shut and sealed, such facilities are liable to N500,000 fine before re-opening.

Employee wellbeing:

Workplace Wellness debuts in Lagos

By Sola Ogundipe

W

ORKPLACE Wellness - a tool for creating awareness and promoting healthy living in the workplace, has been introduced in Lagos.

Geared towards enhancing corporate performance to promote health consciousness and yield better productivity for corporate organisations, the initiative, according to Fola Osasona, CEO/ Principal Consultant, Weight-A-Minute Wellness Company, is a proactive measure in preventing lifestyle chronic diseases and improving workforce health for optimal performance.

Data from the World Health Organisation show that 80 percent of deaths in

L-R: Mr. Clement Nweake, National Surveillance Officer WHO, Lagos State, Mr. Eyo Ekeno, Sales and Marketing Manager, Hygeia HMO, Mrs. Fola Osasona, CEO/Principal Consultant, Weight A Minute Wellness Company Ltd, and Mrs. Anne Oragwu, Vice President, Head, Channels Management, FBN Capital during the Weight A Minute Corporate Wellness Conference in Lagos last week.

developing countries are due to chronic lifestyle diseases such as cancer, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases which claims the lives of its victims in their prime Speaking in Lagos, Osasona stated that employee wellbeing is a leading indicator of future human capital capabilities- and cost- for employers. The business benefits of addressing wellness are substantial, hence the reason for organising Nigeria's premiere business conference on organisational health with the theme, "Employee wellness: Key to corporate Profitability and sustainability".

She explained that chronic illnesses exact a heavy toll on businesses, budgets and economies. "Globally, the lifestyle chronic disease epidemic is growing and this development constitutes the biggest threat to the health, welfare and productivity of the workforce of any organisation leading to associated costs." she said.

Further, Osasona stressed that, by confronting the problem of chronic illness systemically, organizations can generate substantial benefits -in the form of increased productivity and lower healthcare costs by reducing the growing burden of chronic disease - and set in motion positive changes that will reverberate well beyond the workplace.

"A company should be able to measure the return on investment (ROI) of a wellness program in the same way it would measure the ROI of, say, an initiative to upgrade its IT system.

"Chronic illness costs; combating it pays.

Executives have a responsibility to their employees, as well as their shareholders or sponsors, to engage the subject of wellness with a renewed sense of purpose, she asserted.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

FIND it difficult to undress in front of a woman. I think it is a body image issue because I have a small penis. I am interested in penis enlargement but I hear it takes time. Could you by chance know of a quicker enlargement product or procedure? Thank you - Dayo One trick that men with small penises can use to look bigger instantly involves the use of a penis sleeve during intercourse. A penis sleeve is worn like a condom but it is thicker, longer and reusable. It makes the penis look thicker, two inches longer and fuller in the vagina. Ask for the Nasstoys Penis Extender or Stud Extension. You can also use an instant penis enlargement cream to look bigger during intercourse. We have a new one called Mr Thick and it is very good and content is much and long lasting Uche Are there risks involved in the use of a vibrator for a woman and which vibrators do you recommend? Ify A vibrator is a plastic stimulator and when used with a lubricant, there are no risks involved. Are you allergic to rubber or plastic? If you are not then you have nothing to worry about. If you are looking for a really good vibrator to use, go for Marcus the Doctor realistic vibrator or the Misty Sky Vibrator Uche After I complained that I have tried many drugs for my poor erection and nothing worked, you recommended X Again Enhancer and I cannot believe how good it is. At 71 I am having super sex like a healthy young man - Achike That is great. I have heard many good things about X Again that have exceeded my expectations Uche I bought Rhino 5from you and I liked it so much. My wife was so impressed that she wanted one capsule.

Can I give her? James No it is for men only. Get her the Pink Elevate Female Libido Booster instead Uche I don t enjoy sex and I cannot have an orgasm except I masturbate with one of those vibrators I bought from you Julia

Julia sex can be wonderful if t is done right. So I have to assume that you are not doing it right you re your husband. A crash course in adult sex education will help the two of you. I recommend the educational movies What Women Want and Maximizing G Spot Pleasures.

These two movies are designed specifically to aid female sexual enjoyment so they will help you a lot - Uche I experience vaginal dryness and sometimes I fail to get aroused even during intercourse. What type of vagina tightener do I need? Onyinye You don t need a vagina tightener. What you need is an arousal lubricant and I have a good one for you. Ask for the 69 Nipple and Clit Arousal Gel. It is a wonderful and flavoured gel for women that lubricates against vaginal dryness and also awakens the senses through nipple and clitoral stimulation Uche I hear that there is a way to keep my erection strong even after ejaculation. Please I need to know how. It takes me too long to get a second erection after ejaculating - George Yes you can achieve that through the use of a Cockring.

A Cockring has the unique ability to retain blood within an engorged penis in order for a man to maintain his erection for up to twenty additional minutes, after ejaculation. Ask for the Baxter Cock Ring. It is new and it is the best Uche I have heard so much about your products especially X Again Enhancer. Please I need it for me weak erection and premature ejaculation Orji Orji you can call the numbers below on how to get it Uche That s it for today. The names of the people featured here have been changed for their privacy. Adults in need of these treatments can call us on 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. We deliver to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries email us at custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 39

Oyo 2015: Why Ajimobi should start packing now Lekan Balogun SENATOR Lekan Balogun is a respected chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and the Southwest. He is also a reputable High Chief in Ibadan. In this interview, he speaks on the

By Ola Ajayi

Y

forthcoming general elections in the country, the preparations by the PDP to win back the state and addresses rumours that he is backing one of the PDP governorship aspirants in the state. Excerpts:

a function of the potential of the party. PDP is potentially a party to beat in Oyo now that is why we have an array of aspirants.

Some of them are just announcing their interest so as to get something at the end of the day, they are not after governorship seat per se. So, those who are saying look at the large number of aspirants in PDP don t know what they are seeing.

The more aspirants we have, the surer that the party would win.

So, it is not the same with 2011.

You speak with so much confidence, what is your party s chance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)?

Don t you know that APC is gone? They should start packing their luggage and leave the Government House.

OU have been so conspicuous in the politics of Oyo State. How have you been able to combine the complex Oyo politics with the demanding traditional title?

It is not contradictory although, it is very stressful. The pressure and demand on one s time is very incredible. I am coping and I give thanks to God. I am supposed to be the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland for now and there are some traditional assignments I undertake for Olubadan and politics does not leave me out though I am not a politician as such any more. I don t have any political aspiration. Everybody who is involved in politics in this state is more or less my child and that compels a measure of nonpartisanship and a degree of Packing their neutrality. So, every politician is luggage my son or my daughter. Let the gender not take offence. We can They are gone for sure. also produce a female governor.

But, some of your party How feasible is it for a woman chieftains said the same thing in to become Oyo State governor?

2011 but the APC won?

With time, it is possible. We will No, we knew they would win develop them. in 2011 because we messed up But, not in the next eight years? our party in government. We May be not in the immediate didn t lose the election, we gave future. I don t want to place years it to the APC. We chose not to on it. It may not be in 2015. win the election. In Crisis in the PDP 2011, we said we were cost the party the tired of ruling, you take 2011 election, what a bite. But, today, they is the party doing to are gone. In terms of avert a repeat of the performance, we were incident in 2015 better than the APC given the insistence government. It was of some Ibadan internal wrangling that indigenes to cost us the election. produce the If I got you right, are governor amid a you saying the PDP horde of aspirants? then performed better There is a than the APC now? difference between Yes, we did. What you now and 2011. I are looking at is think we have environmental suffered enough. We improvement. Those have learnt our who smile home now lessons. Some crises No, we are the contractors at a are inevitable. knew they very high emotional cost Unless you go would win in to the people and they through it, you won t learn your 2011 because are often outside of this state. I know a couple. lessons. The fact The wife who had her that we have learnt we had shop selling amala had our lesson and the messed up it demolished all in the fact that everybody name of road is tired of being our party in expansion. They had isolated, sidelined government. kids in private schools from the power We didn t lose but they could not afford structure is a big it any longer and they lesson. Everybody the election, withdrew them and put has learnt his lesson. we gave it to them in public schools.

Talking about the The husband and wife array of aspirants is the APC had stroke and one may the beauty of have died. We can democracy. It is also

Balogun: I don t have any political aspiration beautify our environment without paying such high emotional cost for it.

The only man who smiles home is the contractor from Lagos who was sent by their leader. What kind of government are you running? This government is run for themselves and by themselves not for anybody else. It is nice to drive on good roads. I am lucky I have a car to drive on a good road. But, I would be selfish to say that is what the people want.

Is that what the people want? No, that is not what the people want.

Obstruction of the traffic You picked a man who parked his car by the roadside. Where do you want them to park their cars? You asked him to go and pay N20,000. I know a man who parked his truck by the roadside where he was not obstructing the traffic. He was fined N250,000 each for two trucks making N500,000. For God s sake, how much did he buy the trucks. They had to pay. I was involved in that one because I took it up with some government officials. Non-selfish car owners and traders will not vote for them. They are unapproachable, inaccessible.

Teachers are being sacked at will.

Some saw millers who had been there for ages were driven away

and their means of livelihood awarded to a contractor who was hell bent on driving them away from the area with police. They got a court order and the governor was still pestering them in a lawless manner.

Lawless manner Every Sunday, they are there with Operation Burst and the saw millers would say we are not leaving, come and kill us.

Churches in Alalubosa were demolished, lands of some poor people were withdrawn. They are in court. Do you think those people will vote for good roads?

Come off it. This government is gone.

Some PDP chieftains in PDP are said to be hobnobbing with Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu...

I don t comment on rumour, I want information and it is not surprising. The party platform in Nigeria is a hustling platform.

You only look for where your bread will be buttered.

They are not looking at the global interest of the people. If you accept that definition, you will not be surprised they are romancing with Tinubu. It is also said that Tinubu is romancing with PDP leaders in Abuja. There is no pursuit of global interest.

Look at the way politicians in

Nigeria defect from one party to another.

What do you think will be the future of the PDP in South-West come 2015?

The party has every hope of regaining its lost ground in the South-West. I don t have any doubt.

Is it true that you have shown your preference for former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin in the governorship contest?

It s not true. We have been together for a long time, that may be the basis of their projection.

He has been my political son for many years just like others too are my political sons. Would I now say I don t know him?

Ranging from Teslim Folarin, Seyi Makinde, Adebayo AlaoAkala, Kehinde Olaosebikan and others, they are all my children.

It is a fact that I have been a father to Folarin for years. If you see yourself as a father to all, you should be non-partsian. But intellectually, some people cannot see. I love them all even Akala. He may have done some things when he was in government but we have forgotten that. He is my brother.

As a matter of fact, Akala is a very nice person. How do you think then I should behave to them and take a partisan decision?

40 Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Enugu 2015: Twists and turns THE stand-off between Governor Sullivan Chime and Senator Ike Ekweremadu over Enugu West Senatorial seat blew into a state-wide brouhaha during last weekend s ward congresses when allies of the deputy president of the Senate crept into town to put themselves in command of the party structure.

What happens next?

BY FRANCIS IGATA

T

HE Enugu State chapter of the PDP has drawn the battle line for a protracted conflagration with its National Working Committee, NWC, having disagreed with the position of the NWC over who takes over the leadership of the state chapter as acting chairman following the resignation of Mr. Vita Abba.

Thunderstorm had gathered over the leadership of the state chapter of the party on October 25 when at an emergency State Executive Council, SEC, meeting convened by the Secretary, Steve Oruruo, the resignation letter of the chairman, Abba, dated October 20 was read out.

Following the purported resignation, the SEC appointed the managing director of Enugu Housing Corporation, Ikeje Asogwa as Acting Chairman but the Deputy Chairman of the party, Elder David Aja, who was at the meeting, rejected the appointment of the new chairman, insisting that he, Aja should act in that office in line with section 47(1) of the PDP constitution.

However, the party through its Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Ezeh, faulted Aja s position in a release made available to newsmen saying Aja was part of a clique desperately looking for any opportunity to create crisis in the party for their selfish political ambitions, in an attempt to misinform the public and discredit the legitimate process that was followed by the State Executive Committee, SEC, of the party in appointing Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the chairman of the party in Enugu State.

Chime but was frustrated in his attempt as he waited more than five hours before seeing the national chairman, Adamu MuĂ zu.

A statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the PDP-

NWC took the decision at its meeting held on Wednesday, October 28.

Matters were compounded last Friday when the Asogwa/Chime led faction convened an extraordinary emergency meeting of the SEC where it upheld the appointment of Mr. Ikeje Asogwa as the Acting Chairman of the party.

Extraordinary meeting

Constitutional provision He disputed claims by Aja that he did not preside over the SEC meeting where Asogwa was elected as he upheld the appointment on constitutional provision that a new chairman should be appointed from the zone of the former chairman.

However, Aja s rejection of Asogwa s chairmanship was reinforced last Wednesday when the, NWC, nullified the new appointment of State Chairmen of the party in Enugu and Delta State as it directed the Deputy Chairmen of the two chapters to immediately take over the affairs of the party in their respective states.

Before then, Governor Sullivan Chime had sought to introduce Asogwa to the NWC members

Mu'azu

The list of delegates is the key that will unlock the power struggle between the Chime and Ekweremadu which the chairman of the party will play a great role in determining who becomes a delegate

The SEC meeting which was on the prompting of 86 out of the 106 members which represent more than two-third of the SEC membership in the state empowered to hold an extraordinary meeting in line with Article 24(4) of the PDP Constitution, which stipulates that an extra-ordinary meeting of the State Executive Committee shall be held if requested for, by two-third of the members of the State.

In a communiquĂŠ signed and made available to newsmen by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Okey Eze reiterated the point that Asogwa had now been appointed as the new chairman in line with article 47 (6) of the PDP Constitution, which states that where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the Party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of

Ekweremadu election to fill the vacancy.

The squabble from both camps of the leadership set a perfect stage for parallel congresses from the Aja-led leadership and that of Asogwa s.

Speaking to newsmen after the congresses, Acting Chairman, Aja said, after the exercise, field reports I received indicated that the congresses were successfully conducted across the state without any hitch.

As you are aware, the congresses of the PDP in the 266 electoral wards of Enugu State were held today where threeman delegates were elected by our members in the various wards.

The congresses were held at designated centres in the wards and they were very peaceful, successful, and indeed witnessed massive turnout of party faithful. We are happy with the manner our members conducted themselves and this has shown that our great party is marching into the coming elections with every determination to give PDP the needed victory.

The Asogwa-led leadership speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Ezeh said, the state chapter of PDP wishes to state that no ward congresses of the party in Enugu state has officially commenced in the State as at 4.30 pm Saturday.

The state party secretariat has been open and ready for the congresses since 7am yesterday.

No member of the Electoral Panel from the national secretariat of the Party has reported to our party office at N0. 1 Chime Lane, G.R.A, Enugu, the venue officially designated by the national secretariat of our Party for the commencement and coordination of all the congresses and party primaries.

Congresses and party primaries Indeed, Enugu PDP is now copiously factionalized along Ike Ekweremadu camp believed to be backing acting chairman, Aja and that of Governor Chime, led by acting chairman, Asogwa. It is obvious that the contention is who leads the party within the two weeks when list of delegates will be drawn to participate in the State House of Assembly, National Assembly and Governorship primaries.

The list of delegates is the key that will unlock the power struggle between the Chime and Ekweremadu which the chairman of the party will play a great role in determining who becomes a delegate.

As the clock chimes towards the party primaries in Enugu state, the rumour-mill is in overdrive that the Asogwa faction has opened talks with an opposition party should NWC not recognize their own list of delegates to ventilate their political ambitions from the platform.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 41

DR. Odafe Wilson Omene is former Chairman, Ethiope West Council and holds a Ph.D in Marine Studies from the University of Wales. In this interview he says that Delta Central Senatorial District is obliged to produce the next governor of the state on account of alleged disproportionate hold of Delta North on federal appointments and state infrastructure. Excerpts:

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

I

S the principle of zoning binding on the PDP in Delta State?

We have to first ask; why the fuss about zoning? There has never been any arrangement or agreement, either thought about or sealed, that there should be zoning among the three senatorial districts. It is just a smokescreen. From 1999 till date, the records are there to prove that every senatorial district participated in the struggle to produce the PDP governorship candidate since the days of Chief James Ibori.

In 2007, even the present governor got in by sheer political arrangement based on compromises that had nothing to do with zoning because candidates from all three districts participated in the purported primary. North was split with candidates, so was Central. It is not that he had a clear-cut win in the PDP primaries of 2006.

Compromises were made. So it has always been a fight with whoever is strongest coming out as the candidate of the most powerful political party, PDP. But then why do some people in Central so opposed to Delta North producing governor?

If zoning did not apply when we aspired to the office in past elections, why are we begging the question now?

Begging the question The reason we are so upset over this issue is that in the last eight years, we have never experienced this level of disdain in the handling of the political interest of Delta Central. Over the period, federal appointments of persons from Delta State have been tilted to Delta North to the extent that out of 23 high profile appointments, the North alone cornered 18, about 95 per cent.

What has that got to do with the governorship?

It has everything to do with the governorship. You cannot separate the governorship from the totality of the dividends of democracy, which include the lopsided federal appointment of persons from Delta. What constitutes the dividends of democracy?

You have infrastructure, economy, human capital development, social development and any other related factor beneficial to the electorate under a democracy.

Infrastructure wise, we have all major federal structures in Delta cited at Asaba. Some include the CBN Regional Office, Federal

Medical Centre, Federal Secretariat, Federal College of Education and Immigration, all in Delta North. What do you have in Central because we are comparing these two zones now?

Since inception of this democracy, we have only got the Federal University of Petroleum which is still trying to find its feet. For state infrastructure, we have the state secretariat, all ministries, agencies and parastatals, two Government Houses, the best road network, the airport, everything is there in Delta North by virtue of Asaba being state capital. What you get in the other areas are at best mere appendages of the capital city structures. What is the impact on the people? Government is closer to the Delta North people than those from distant zones, who suffer road risks and other dangers if they must go to the capital city to struggle for state opportunities. That is for infrastructure.

Struggle for state opportunities I will illustrate with an instance how all these affect the economy of Delta North differently from that of Central and South. On Nnebisi Road, Asaba, a 100x100 piece of land, probably with a mud house today, controls over N120M. The banks would be in a hurry to snap it up. Before we had a state capital, what was the value of that land? It was under N20,000. Even, given the value of money over time, it is still over 5000 per cent appreciation in economic value of a property that a grandfather probably left for a little boy.

These are reasons the North has no moral justification to be

The only dividend left that Central has uppermost power to fight for is the governorship, through strength of votes

Omene: We've resolved as Urhobo to support our South-South son

Delta Gov 2015: Why Urhobo will not chorus it's Anioma's turn mantra Omene governor for now. When Ibori was governor, could he have changed the fact that he needed to build a Government House in Asaba? The CBN zonal office at Asaba was built under Uduaghan. Could he have influenced it to Abigborodo, his community?

If the appointments you talk about are redistributed to the three senatorial zones would Central concede the governorship to the North?

This is the reason we are so upset. When they had the opportunity to be their brothers keeper with the privilege of being in the corridors of powers of the federal government, they did not remember their brothers from South and Central. Why couldn t they have that magnanimity to say we have had a lot, let us now give some to the other zones if they knew a time like this would

come? They had the influence of being in the corridors of federal power and they utilized it to the benefit of their people and their people alone. The only dividend left that Central has uppermost power to fight for is the governorship, through strength of votes. Now they are bringing in sentiments to also appropriate it. You rather leave me with my majority, which is the only power I have to use for the betterment and interest of the Urhobo man and woman.

Corridors or power It is not far-fetched why the Urhobo are not in the corridors of power. Lies have been told against us, we have been marginalized.

There is a school of thought that the president was told the Urhobo

never voted for him; that they rigged our votes for the president. If you were the president, would you still consider us as important people?

But I don t want to hinge on that because we have resolved as Urhobo to support our SouthSouth son to remain in that seat because we have been marginalized in the SouthSouth. Our region has been bastardised in spite of the fact that we lay the golden egg.

We must support him, but in the process of supporting him, he should be magnanimous enough as the president because the group of people that have given him 807,000 votes could still give him more because there are other Urhobo in Ondo, Lagos, Oyo and all over the place voting.

So if we bring the totality of the votes on the table, you have the fifth largest votes you can ever have.

42

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Prospective voters collecting their PVCs

RED ALERT: Racketeers on the prowl as PVC collection starts in Lagos

By Ikenna Asomba S the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Friday, begins the distribution of Permanent Voters Card, PVC, in Lagos, the State Police Command, has issued a red alert to its operatives across the state to checkmate the activities of criminal elements indulging in the collection of the INEC temporary voters cards from unsuspecting residents, on the pretext of promising to help them (residents) obtain their PVCs without hitches.

This red alert came following the arrest of a suspect (name withheld), Weekend, for allegedly collecting INEC temporary voters cards from some unsuspecting residents at the Igoke Ward B area of Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of the state.

It was reported that the suspect who claimed to be an INEC official, was collecting the temporary voters cards from the residents on the pretext that he would assist them in obtaining the Permanent Voters Cards, when distribution commences November 7 to 9.

Vanguard gathered that the suspect who was first interrogated at the Oke-Odo Police Station before being transferred to the State CID Panti, was caught with over 100 Temporary Voters Cards and INEC forms which he collected from residents.

A

The arrest was also said to have been made possible through the vigilance of one of the residents of the area, who observed many people milling round the suspect, thereafter confronted him and subsequently raised an alarm.

Realizing that the game was up, the suspect claimed to be an INEC official but when asked to produce his Identity Card, he could not.

The suspect reportedly confessed at the Oke Odo Police Station that he was sent

Every eligible Lagosian must see the collection of the Permanent Voters Card, as their civic rights and responsibilities

alongside some other people on a special assignment of collecting the Temporary Voters Cards of residents by a chieftain of the major opposition party in the State in the Ward M1 Ajape area of Agbado Oke Odo LCDA.

Investigations ongoing Speaking to Vanguard, Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of the Lagos State Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, who stated that investigations were still ongoing, however, warned other persons with the intention of repeating the criminal act to steer clear of the state, as the Command has issued a red alert to its operatives.

When asked on the latest development about the arrest, Nwosu said: Yes, investigation is still ongoing on the man who allegedly went about collecting the INEC temporary voters cards from some unsuspecting residents at the Igoke Ward B area of Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of the state. We have warned criminal elements intending to carry-out a repeat of such act to steer clear of the state, because our operatives have been put on red alert to forestall any future occurrence.

The police spokesperson added that Our job as the police is to ensure that there is sanctity in the state, to discourage people from perpetrating electoral

malpractices or even threaten the peace currently being enjoyed in the state.

Blame game: Meanwhile, as investigation is ongoing, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may not be unaware of illegal act to perpetrate electoral malpractices in the forthcoming elections in the state.

Speaking on the incident, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, LAHA, representing Ifako Ijaiye Constituency 1, Hon. Dayo Fafunmi, described the act as illegal and must be condemned outrightly. He said: Every eligible Lagosian must see the collection of the Permanent Voters Card, as their civic rights and responsibilities.

Civic rights and responsibilities Your vote gives you the power of whom to vote for, so, why do you want to surrender that power?

In this vein, people who go about buying or collecting people s voters cards must be condemned. It is a way of disenfranchising the people they collect the voters cards from and also a way of perpetrating corruption and electoral malpractices.

Speaking further, Fafunmi warned residents in the state never to succumb to selling their

temporary or even permanent voters cards to fraudsters saying, As the 2015 election draws near, Lagosians must be wary of fraudsters who come in various guises. They should never sell their temporary voters cards or even their permanent voters cards when they get them.

However, on the recent incident, it is too early to point accusing fingers at the opposition. But one thing I am sure of is no matter the amount of voters cards they buy, they can never win any local government in Lagos during next year s elections.

Dangerous trend Similarly, member representing Alimosho Constituency 1, at LAHA, Hon. Bisi Yussuf, had earlier described the incident as a case of serious fraud especially against the background that INEC has not even started the distribution of the PVC in Lagos.

Yussuf had said that the lesson to be learnt is that everyone has to be vigilant as the election approaches, adding that it is very clear that for parties that are not popular and cannot mobilize they may resort to manipulation which would not be allowed.

He added that the case portends a very dangerous trend which could derail the nation s democracy and wondered why a party would send agents out to coerce people to surrender their temporary voters cards , adding that it could be an indicator of what is happening in several parts of the State and the country in general.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the Spokesman of the Lagos State chapter of the PDP, Mr. Taofeek Gani to react to the incident at press time proved futile, as calls made to his phones were not connecting.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

43

Motorists groan in Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway gridlock

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

M

OTORISTS and other road users have continued to groan under the perennial 24-hour gridlock, experienced on the ever-busy Lagos Abeokuta Expressway by the collapsed section of the Iyana Dopemu Bus-Stop.

This is as those affected have called on the Federal Government, as well as the Lagos State Government to urgently carry-out a complete rehabilitation on all the failed portions of the road, so as to ease the horrible experiences they go through daily on the axis.

Just last week, the State government, through its agent, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, fixed the collapsed section of Alimosho Road, about a hundred meters

by Iyana Dopemu Bus-Stop.

When residents thought solace had come their way, this was not so, as they have continued to lament that the palliative has not curbed the gridlock along the axis.

It will be recalled that during the public unveiling of Alimosho Model City Plan by the state government, experts tasked the state authorities to kick-start an urban renewal scheme, which thrust would include provision of infrastructure as no meaningful development can take place within the area without such projects.

They argued that any feat

without corresponding infrastructure would rather compound the present challenge of development confronting the area.

The 10-year plan 2010-2020 encompasses the old Alimosho local government area, which consists of six identified Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), namely, Ayobo-Ipaja, Egbeda-Akowonjo, Agbado OkeOdo, Mosan-Okunola, Igando Ikotun, and Egbe Idimu.

Sequel to the perennial gridlock in the area, the state government had carried out maintenance work on both

We are appealing to FERMA and other relevant authorities to help us, as we are dying due to the daily stress experienced on this road

Traffic snarl at Dopemu Dopemu and Iyana Ipaja Bridges, between March 15 to April 5, 2014, with the aim of improving traffic movement in the area. Some of the features of maintenance work include: the removal of expansion joints and replacement of the new ones, reasphalting of the road, traffic markings and repainting of the median for easy visibility for drivers at night.

The project necessitated the opening of a median barrier along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway to serve as alternative route pending the completion of Dopemu Bridge.

According to the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the Federal Government gave the approval to open the median barrier and left maintenance work to federal agents in the state.

Consequently, to facilitate seamless flow of traffic then, vehicles approaching Dopemu Bridge from Ile-Zik inward Iyana Ipaja could make a u-turn back

to Dopemu Bridge via the opened median along the LagosAbeokuta Expressway, or take a left turn into Alimosho Road, using link roads back to Akowonjo or Iyana Ipaja road.

The link roads wer: Irepodun Street, Alaguntan, Vincent Street, Akiwowo Road and Cash Street, all of Alimoso Road.

Daily traffic situation Similarly, vehicles coming from Orile Agege and environs approaching Dopemu Bridge can take a right turn through Surulere Road to link LagosAbeokuta Expressway and make use of the opened median into the earlier mentioned link roads.

The daily traffic situation on the axis presently, is caused by a large gully which cut the major road into halves, thereby causing motorists to slow down in order to wade through without resulting in any damage to their vehicles.

According to Mr. Remi

Olalekan, a civil servant who lives in Alimosho, The heavy traffic snarl experienced daily on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is unbearable. There is no time you will drive along this axis that you won t spend an hour or more for a journey that should take just some minutes.

Another resident, Mrs. Abiola Adefuye, who simply described the traffic situation as horrible, however called on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to live up to its responsibilities by fixing the failed portions of the road.

Lamenting that the road has become a nightmare to ply, Adefuye said: We are appealing to FERMA and other relevant authorities to help us, as we are dying due to the daily stress experienced on this road. Armed robbers who disguise as highway hawkers also seize the opportunity to dispossess innocent motorists and commuters of their monies and other valuables.

SURE-P/FERMA taskforce to recover abandoned FG properties

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

A

S residents of Lagos await deployment of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme and Federal Road Maintenance Agency, SURE-P/FERMA taskforce to the state, the agency has finally disclosed that its major responsibility is to recover all the abandoned properties of the Federal Government in the state, and not to cause trouble.

This came, eventhough the agency is yet to receive the approval of the Lagos State Government, who saw the agency as threat to the survival of its own traffic management agency, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. The state government which did not hide its disapproval for the Federal Government agency, six months ago, arrested no fewer than 200 officials of the SURE-P/ FERMA taskforce.

The existence of the agency further sparked controversy between the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over the legality of the agency.

As part of its plan to make its responsibilities public, the agency has began to erect notice boards on Federal roads in the state, informing the public on its mode of operations. This is even as it has commenced expansion works on the existing structures at its headquarters, the Federal Ministry of Works, FMW plaza Old Toll-gate, Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Recruitment exercise Vanguard learned that the agency which commenced recruitment exercise early in the year had recruited over 7, 000 youths for its activities.

As part of the agency s regulations, the task force

officials is said to assist the central government to recover some of its properties in Lagos from illegal occupants.

Other activities of the SURE-P/ FERMA taskforce will be ; to assist the Federal Government to recover and maintaining right of way, control and manage traffic, ensure adherence of residents to road setbacks and enforcement.

Vanguard also gathered that the agency would as part of its first assignment recover the federal government properties in Lagos Island axis of the state which were already occupied by some residents of the state.

Some of the properties which would be recovered by the agency is the 25-storey Independence building, now Defence building. Though the tallest building in the Central Business District, CBD was not serving any purpose for the central government but now serves as home for some who could not afford to secure

apartment in the state.

Explaining the regulations of the agency, a top official of the agency, who does not want his name in print said We would be commencing operation soon.

Our operations would have started before now, but there are

certain logistics which needed to be perfected before operation commences. He added that We are not going out to cause problem for anyone. We have been constituted to take care of the said goals.

Notice defining responsibilities of the taskforce. Inset: Burnt Defence building.

44 Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 organization is to undo whatever President Obama has done, and prominent on its agenda is the Affordable Care Act. The Koch brothers and their counterparts on the left are able to pour in so much money into elections because of a 2010 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that allowed unlimited campaign funding and spending by corporations and unions in a suit brought by Citizens United, a conservative group. The court ruled by a 5-4 majority that had all conservative justices voting in favour of the decision. Since that ruling, the cost of electoral campaigns in the U.S. has soared beyond control. Prior to that, there was a limit to what an individual or group could contribute to campaign coffers.

Mid-t erm polls in Mid-term America T ODAY, Americans go to the polls in their mid-term elections. These elections come two years into the presidency of every American leader, hence the mid-term nature of these cyclical polling. This year, all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representations are up for re-election. Thirty six senators and 36 governors also face the electorate. In states such as Illinois, several political office holders are also facing voters decisions.

One of the prominent features of midterm elections is that they, perhaps understandably, attract less voter turnout than presidential polls. The Pew Research Centre notes that voter turnout in mid-term elections have been dropping since the 1840s when compared to presidential elections.

In 2008 for instance, 57.1 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast their ballot and Obama won the presidency. In the mid-term elections two years later, the turnout was 36.9 percent. This, however, is not to say that mid-term elections are inconsequential. Their outcome can change the balance of power in Washington D.C. and can create a presidency that is deprived of real power.

The current Obama presidency is a good example. Right now, the Republicans control the House of Representatives and no poll has predicted that Democrats are going to gain majority in the House. It is the Senate elections that are dicey. The pre-election composition of the 100-person Senate is 53 Democrats, 45 Republicans and two independent senators who regularly caucus with Democrats.

Contribution to campaign coffers

Now, groups like Americans for Prosperity can accept money from anyone without necessarily disclosing who they are. The only restriction so to speak is that while they can use their money to further the campaign of a candidate of their choice, they may not donate such money directly to the candidate.

Where does all that money go to? Therein lies another interesting part of the electoral process in the U.S. The destination of all that money is largely on political campaign advertising. In Nigeria and other developing nations, election periods are when all thugs are gainfully employed by politicians to do their dirty bidding. In the U.S., you may not find political thugs on the streets, but you can find their equivalent on the content of political advertisements.

This is a civilized way of launching all manners of attacks on your opponent.

Nothing is off limits, from name calling to blatant character assassination and deliberate falsification of information about your opponent. Falsehood is packaged and sold to the electorate in the name of political advertising. You cannot imagine Majority in the innuendoes that go on in the name of the Senate this form of advertising, a process that is oiled by the funds made available by superRepublicans only need to wrestle six packs, as organizations such as Americans Senate seats from the Democrats in order for Prosperity are known. How about issuesto become the majority in the Senate. With oriented political advertising? There is very the control of the Senate and little room for them.

House of Representatives, it Another feature of this midis obvious that the first item term election that will remain a on the Republicans agenda puzzle to anyone unfamiliar with will be to begin the process American politics is that a of reversing all laws passed majority of Democrats are under President Obama. distancing themselves from who First on the chopping block should have been their best will surely be the Affordable weapon: President Obama! If Care Act or Obamacare as it you are a Democrat campaigning is more popularly known. in a more conservative state, you The corollary expectation is would be foolish to have the that the Republicans will try president come down to throw all legislative tricks to his weight on your campaign; prematurely make Obama a Right now, indeed you would even use a lame-duck president. substantial part of your campaign the The outside groups are funds to debunk any association interesting. They are groups Republicans with the president. Why? All your of billionaires who pour in control the opponent needs to do in his or their wealth in elections to her campaign is to link you to House of influence the outcome. These the president and voters who are usually people who Representatives habour morbid hatred for Obama cherish an ideology and are and no poll will do the rest. They will not willing to use their money to even consider the content of your push it through the electoral has predicted political campaign message. process. The Koch brothers that In this mid-term election, are such individuals. The President Obama is a political brothers, Charles and David Democrats are liability to several Democrats Koch, are ultra conservative going to gain seeking votes, simply because is business moguls who dole a man many Republicans and out money to an organization majority in the conservatives passionately love known as Americans for House to hate.

Prosperity. The mission of this

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 45

Edo community inaugurates exco

By Godwin Oghre

I

INAUGURATION: From left

Mr. Lawrence Wilbert, President-General; Boyowa Eyejamuro, Secretary; Mr. Austin Uwanikone, PRO; Mr. Bawo Dickson, Financial Secretary; Mr. David Omonedo, Assistant PRO; Mr. Jemide Temisan, Provost and Mr. Atsedosan Egbiwe, Auditor, members of the executive committee of Ikara community, near Ologbo, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, after their inauguration.

Research institute lauds Reyenieju, Mayaku, Ukuebieyinji

T

HE Institute of Administrators and Researchers of Nigeria, IARN, has lauded the achievements of Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, member representing Warri Federal Constituency; Mr. Daniel Mayaku, member representing Warri South Constituency in Delta House of Assembly, and Mr. Misan Ukuebieyinji, Commissioner for Agriculture.

National Coordinator of the institute, Mr. Otuedon Ometoruwa, in a statement in Lagos, said Reyenieju, Mayuku and Ukuebieyinji were distinguished fellows of the institute, who are indigenes of Itsekiri nation and had meritoriously served the country in their various capacities in government.

He said: From the unique way they have carried out their responsibilities towards uplifting Itsekiri and bringing the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of their people, in Nigeria and in Diaspora.

The unique way and manner they have been carrying out the mandate reposed in them by the Itsekiri is wonderful, and the institution will have no choice than to recommend them again or for higher positions.

I'll consolidate on Uduaghan's legacy EMETULU

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN A governorship aspirant in Delta State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Charles Emetulu, has said he will consolidate on the legacy of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, particularly the Delta Beyond Oil initiative, if given the opportunity to govern the state.

Speaking after the submission of his nomination form, Emetulu, who recently resigned as Commissioner for Power and Energy to contest the governorship election, said his agenda for the development of the state was anchored on the trajectory of public-private sector partnership, rapid industrialization, tourism promotion and prudent economic management.

He also explained that agriculture would be developed to yield dividends as the mainstay of the state's economy, noting that Delta had the potential to evolve as the food basket of the Niger Delta and the country in general.

The aspirant also pledged to focus on youth employment and wealth creation through the promotion of small and medium scale businesses, driven by enterprise, talent and self-reliance.

Emetulu said sustenance of peace and security, adherence to rule of law and consultative leadership would form his vision, if elected.

On the motivation for his governorship quest, the PDP governorship aspirant noted

that he was not seeking power because he hailed from Delta North, as he had a pan-Delta agenda that would address the needs and interest of Anioma, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko ethnic nationalities in the state.

He called for the support of traditional rulers, the political class, men, women and youths across the various communities in Delta, emphasizing that he would initiate policies and programmes to satisfy the yearnings of all.

... as Edevbie assures of all-inclusive govt O

LOROGUN David Edevbie has formally declared for Delta State governorship election, promising to lead an allinclusive government that will create a progressive, secure and prosperous Delta State, driven by a vibrant economy and supported by quality service, equity and justice, if elected.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant spoke during his formal declaration in Ughelli.

Edevbie said: My government will bring development to all parts of the state and ensure that there is

equity in the distribution and allocation of resources and projects. I will create new jobs; take Delta State to the next level and to Abuja where, as a major contributor to the national wealth, we truly belong.

I have the competence, experience and drive to lead Delta State to greater economic heights and prosperity. I ask for your support towards building an all-inclusive government, as I formally declare my intention to contest the governorship election.

I have the competence, experience and drive.

KARA IKARA, near Ologbo, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, has elected its executive committee that will pilot the affairs of the community for the next four years.

Those elected were Mr. Lawrence Wilbert, President-General; Boyowa Eyejamuro, Secretary; Mr. Austin Uwanikone, PRO; Mr. Bawo Dickson, Financial Secretary; Mr. David Omonedo, Assistant PRO; Mr. Jemide Temisan, Provost and Mr. Atsedosan Egbiwe, Auditor.

The committee was sworn in by the OlaraAja (Most Senior Man), Pa Samson Uwanikone, with the assistance of Pastor Orits Egbiwe.

The Elders Council of the community has also been inaugurated, with Pa Samson Uwanikone as the Olara-Aja; Chief John Eyajamuro, Chairman/Spokesman and Pastor Orits Egbiwe as Secretary.

The four-man electoral committee, which conducted the election, consisted of Pastor Egbiwe, who chaired the committee; Apostle Abel Office, Mr. Tony Okekuru and Mr. Gospel Ogbemi.

In his acceptance speech, the PresidentGeneral, Mr. Wilbert, thanked members of the community for their unity of purpose.

He said the task of rebuilding the community would not be his alone, but that of every member of the community who he would call upon to make material and financial contributions.

Ex-militants write Uduaghan on Olejeme

E

X-MILITANTS leaders in Delta State, yesterday, wrote a letter to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan asking him to give Dr. Ngozi Olejeme a chance to succeed him as the next governor of the state in 2015.

The ex-militants, through their leader, Egbene Monye alias Blacky, in their letter written after a general meeting

held at Okerenkoko, declared their preparedness towards Delta State governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The letter read in part: We, hereby, write your Excellency, asking you to allow Dr. Ngozi Olejeme to succeed you because she is a woman of difference and a mother who feels the pains of Deltans and

cares for the people irrespective of ethnic nationalities.

There are women who have ruled successfully as presidents in countries such as, Brazil, Liberia and others. We believe that what a man can do, a woman can do better. So Dr. Olejeme should be given a chance to prove to the whole state that she is the messiah Deltans are looking for.

46

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Lawmaker's 2nd term bid gets boost

L

By Dapo Akinrefon

AGOS THE second term bid of a member of the House of Representatives representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Chriscato Ameke, has received a boost as stakeholders in area bought a nomination form for him.

Ameke, is seeking a second term to the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. The leader of the group, Chief Mercel Anosike, who presented a draft of N2.5 million to Anambra State APGA chairman, Mike Kwento, said their gesture was in appreciation of Ameke's quality representation of the area in the past four years.

He said: Today is a memorable day in the history of the constituents who sacrificed so much to contribute money to pay for the form. This action is because of the dedication, zeal and above all commitment to the constituency in areas of pure and quality representation by Hon.Ameke.

Isheri Platinum Lions' investiture

L

Don't handover Enugu PDP to Chime, Nnaji urges Jonathan

A G O S

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Association of Lions Club, Isheri Platinum District 404B 1, Nigeria, will this Sunday install Lion Omoba Ademola Odunbanjo as its President for 2014-15.

Other officers of the club will also be installed same day, which will also witness fund raising ceremony for an eye Clinic Centre/Secretariat.

The event, to be chaired Mr. Babatunde Ogun, immediate past President, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, will have in attendance, Oba Michael Odunayo Ajayi, Arowotawaya II, the Elerinmo of Erinmo Ijesha, as the Royal Father of the day. Olumide Fatoki, Executive Director, Benchmark Projects Limited, will be the chief launcher.

E

By Austin Ogwuda

NUGU A former National Auditor of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and a claimant to the party s chairmanship in Enugu State, Mr. Ray Nnaji, yesterday, urged President Goodluck Jonathan, not to bother handing over Enugu State PDP structures to Governor Sullivan Chime to avoid losing the state to the opposition.

Nnaji, who recently resumed his eight years legal battle to reclaim the party chairmanship, told Vanguard that the comment of the President asking the national leadership of the party to hand over structures to the governors is more or less a political statement.

"Frankly speaking, not all governors have the firm control of structures in their various states and if that happens, the party might lose to opposition. Like here in Enugu State, people are not happy with the governor.

I am watching the situation because it will result to exercise in futility. I have already gone back to court to claim my mandate as the

authentic and duly elected chairman of the party in the state, he said.

Also commenting over the development, Executive Director of Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, CENTREP, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, said:

If it is true that the presidency has ordered the PDP chairman to allow state governors to control political structures in their respective states, the implication is that many PDP states would witness imposition of candidates by

incumbent governors thus robbing the people of true representation as those that may be qualified at the end of the day to run for election in 2015 would be known stooges of these governors who would want to cover their tracks at all cost.

CSR: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku (right), handing over the keys to Hilux Vans donated by the bank to Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey and Admin Officer, LSSTF, Mr. Degbola Lewis, in Lagos.

Ihedioha seeks divestment of nation's economy

O

WERRI DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has stressed the need to divest the nation s economy to lessen the over dependence on oil revenue.

He spoke in Owerri, Imo State, at the inauguration of the South-East states executives of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, NYPF. Lamenting that Nigeria was still ranked among less developed countries of the world, despite her huge potential, the House Deputy Speaker said: The challenge of our economy is very critical, we should think of how our seconomy would be less dependent on oil. It is very important because that is the only way we can survive as a country. We cannot say that we are a developed country, as we are not where we should be as a nation, but the government is doing enough to ensure that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the comity of nations, especially with the various concessions in the power sector.

Ihedioha also lamented the increasing politics of

blackmail and other desperate activities by politicians ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Our country and politics is suffering from unnecessary blackmail and there is no way we can move forward with this brand of politics, he said.

Also speaking, a former member of the House of Representatives and a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, aspirant for Imo East Senatorial seat, Chief Chris Asoluka, decried the way

politics was becoming an all comers affair.

He admonished politicians to see politics as a call to duty and not a do-or-die affair, saying politics is so sacred to be left in the hands of professional politicians.

So, professionals must be encouraged to take part in state craft.

National chairman of NYPF, Mr. Moses Siasia, who decried that Nigerian youths were not being given the opportunity to impact

positively on the society, said the future of Nigeria laid in the hands of youths.

He charged the country s young professionals to come together and galvanise themselves ahead of the forthcoming elections to take their rightful place.

The South-East chairman of the group, Mr. Chima Anyaso, in his address, stressed the need for positive change in Nigeria, adding that young people must be in the driving seat of the change.

IYC endorses Jonathan's 2nd term bid

L

By Anozie Egole

AGOS A group, Igbo Youth Congress, IYC, has declared its support for President Goodluck Johnathan, in the 2015 Presidential election.

The congress gave the endorsement in Lagos during its executive inaugural meeting.

Speaking at the event, national chairman of the group, Mr. Jerry Ugwu, said members were endorsing

President Jonathan because after going through all other possible candidates vying for the same position, the President was more qualified than others.

His words: Actually, this congress is not political, but at the same time, we have to exercise our franchise by voting in the coming election because, we are bonafide citizens of this great country. We have been taking note of what our leaders are doing with their

positions. And whoever we feel has done well, will get our support and whoever that has not done well, we will not hesitate to tell that person to give way for others to show what they can do. For now, President Jonathan is doing as much as he can as a human being.

"You know. Nobody is perfect and considering the pressure and the security loopholes in this country, you will believe with me that he has been trying as much as he can to ensure that things are properly done in this country."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Transport ministry moves to safeguard motor parks nationwide

PDP to conduct fresh congress in Plateau council

J

OS THE Plateau chapter of the PDP is to conduct a fresh ward congress in Pankshin Local Government, after it failed to carry out the exercise on Saturday, says its Organising secretary, Mr Michael Dachom.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the congresses are expected to produce delegates to form the Electoral College to conduct the party s primary elections preparatory to the general elections in 2015.

Dachom told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos on Sunday that the ward congresses could not hold in Pankshin because of some disagreements among stakeholders over the officials posted to conduct the exercise.

The disagreements dragged on till late into the night and we had to postpone because of the terrain in Pankshin, coupled with the fact that the electoral panel had to move to all the wards, he said.

He said that the congresses would soon be conducted in the area and promised that the party would be fair to all prospective delegates and aspirants to political offices.

Dachom explained, however, that the other 16 local governments had very peaceful and orderly congresses on Saturday.

The congresses were very smooth; the national headquarters did well and sent in materials and personnel on time.

G

VISIT: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (left), and the Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, during a visit to the SGF s office in Abuja to announce Shell s N2billion social investment projects to commemorate Nigeria s centenary celebrations.

Jang, Dariye, 149 others pick PDP nomination forms in Plateau J

OS A total of 151 aspirants have picked nomination forms to contest in the 2015 general election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Plateau, the party s state Organising Secretary, Mr Michael Dachom, has said.

Dachom told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos yesterday that 11 of the aspirants, including the current Deputy Governor, Ignatius Longjan, picked forms

We'll weed out herbalist pastors from Alimosho PFN

P

UBLICITY Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Alimosho Province, Pastor Adebowale Ojo, has disclosed that the most urgent mandate of the PFN is to rid the province of who he referred to as ''herbalists and charlatans, who parade themselves as pastors from the body of Christ.

He said this during the inauguration of the new executives by the Lagos State Chairman of PFN, Bishop Sola Ore at Faith Revival Apostolic Church, Idimu, Lagos, on Friday.

Speaking at the inauguration, with the theme: Understanding the Body, Pastor Ojo decried a situation whereby pastors do all manners of non-scriptural and unholy things, thereby leading people to hell, lamenting that many believers have fallen prey to such herbalist pastors because of the various challenges they are facing.

47

According to him, he and his newly-inaugurated exco members have resolved, as one of their cardinal points, to deal with such fake men of God and chase them out of the province.

His words: Our mission is to build the body of Christ of genuine believers according to tenets of the bible in Alimosho.

We are trying to weed out herbalists who claim to be pastors from Alimosho province. And this we will achieve through spiritual impartation and prayers.

Admonishing the new executives, Bishop Ore charged them to shun ostentatious and unchristian life and devote their lives to preaching the coming back of Jesus Christ and salvation.

He regretted that these days, most pastors value worldly possessions more than saving souls, stressing that though prosperity is not a negative thing, laying too much emphasis on it is what is not right.

for governorship, while 40 others were for national assembly and 100 for state assembly seats.

He said Senators Gyang Pwajok and Victor Lar, as well as former governor Fidelis Tapgun, former PDP state chairman, Haruna Dabin and former speaker, John Clark have also picked the governorship nomination forms.

Dachom said that the rest of the aspirants for governorship seat were a for mer Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof Sonni Tyoden, as well as Messrs Jimmy Cheto, Labar Wuyep, Godfrey Miri and Jeff Nabasu.

According to him, more aspirants may still emerge as the sale of the nomination forms has been extended to Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014.

The organising secretary said so far, 10 persons had picked

nomination forms for the Senate, including Governor Jonah Jang, former Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen, and a member of the House of Representatives, Emmanuel Goar.

Also in the senate race is current Senator, Joshua Dariye, his predecessor, Senator Sati Gogwim and Mr Abbas Dayilim, a former General Manager of Zenith Bank.

Dachom said that 30 aspirants had picked forms for the eight seats reserved for the state in the House of Representatives and 100 aspirants for the 24-member state House of Assembly.

The organising secretary promised a level playing ground for all aspirants, and called for more commitment to ensure victory for the party in the 2015 general elections.

PDP assures aspirants of free, transparent primaries in Kwara

I

LORIN THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara has assured its aspirants for various elective offices in 2015 in the state of free, fair and transparent primaries.

The State Chairman of the party, Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, gave the assurance in Ilorin while speaking with newsmen.

He promised not to manipulate the electoral process in favour of any aspirant.

Oyedepo said the multiplicity in the number of aspirants in the party showed that vibrancy and potency existed in the state PDP. He added that such development was good and healthy in a democratic process.

Oyedepo said that currently 14 gubernatorial aspirants had indicated interest in vying for the governorship position while 11 of them had paid for the nomination forms.

OMBE THE Ministry of transport is to develop a strategy on how best to safeguard motor parks in the country, said the Minister of Transport, Malam Idris Umar.

Umar stated this in Gombe on Sunday while speaking to newsmen shortly after visiting the Federal Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital Gombe, where the victims of Friday bomb blast were admitted as well as the scene of the blast.

I will soon summon an emergency meeting with commissioners for transport to discuss how best to safe guard our motor parks.

Just recently we concluded the National Transport Council meeting; we addressed the issue of safety and security.

But of course even the current level of challenges, we need to probably do more on the level of guarding the motor parks.''

Collection of LGs congress results in Benue begins

M

AKURDI CHIEF Chike Udenze, Chairman, Ward Congress Electoral Panel in charge of Benue, said the panel had begun to collect results of the congresses from local government results in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the distribution of electoral materials for the conduct of the ward congresses in the state started around 4 p.m. weekend.

Udenze told NAN, in Makurdi that the panel had already collected results from eight local governments.

He said majority of the councils were yet to round off the exercise due to its late start on Saturday.

The exercise is still ongoing in majority of the local governments in the state due to the late commencement of the excercise yesterday.

48

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

BRIEFING: From left, 2 Face Idibia, Mr. Tunde Alaran, Producer, K1 Unsual Concert, and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, KWAM 1, King of Fuji, during press briefing on the forthcoming K1 Live Unsual Concert media announcement, in Lagos, in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

COLLOQUIUM: From left, Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Senator, representing Lagos West, Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon; former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during Victory Colloquium/Lecture for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, entitled, Osun Election: A Pathway For Nigeria's Democratic Growth, at Eko Hotels and Suites, in Lagos, weekend.

DONATION: From left, HRM Oba Akinmusayo Akinlade, Halujagbo of Ode Aye Kingdom; Bishop Oluranti Odubogun, Chairman, Chi Foundation; Mr. Jerome Shogbon, member, Board of Trustees, Chi Foundation, CAMPAIGN: From left, Shop Manager, Matori MTN Connect Centre, Lagos, Chinelo Amadi; and Mr. Akin Kuti, Chairman, Parents /Teachers Association of Unity SecNigerian Music Star and MTN Ambassador, Timaya; a customer at the Centre, and Manager, ondary School, Ode Aye, during the commissioning of a water borehole, Youth Segment, Abimbola Gold-Oladipupo, during the kick-off of MTN Surprise Campaign, in donated by Chi Foundation, at Unity Secondary School Ode Aye, in Ode Aye. Matori, Lagos.

DAY-OUT: From left, Mr. Samson Adamu, CEO, Kinatic Sports; Mrs. Temitayo Ade-Peters, Lead CSR and Sustainability, FCMB, and Mr. Dotun Ajegbile, MD/CEO, 1960BET, during Copa Lagos 'Clean The Beach' DayOut, at Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photo: Oscar Ochiogu

AWARDS: Ms. Abimbola Okoya, General Manager, British America Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, BATNF, (midNOMINATION: Dr. Charles Amanze, Imo governor- dle), flanked by Mrs. Veronica Daniel, beneficiary farmer ship aspirant, (left), receiving his nomination form from (left), and Mrs. Hannatu Peter, another beneficiary farmAlhaji Abubakar Mustapha, PDP National Organising er, during the 8th Annual Lead Awards ceremony, where Secretary, in Abuja BATNF was awarded the CSR Company for Agricultural Empowerment, on Victoria Island, Lagos.

v CELEBRATION: From left, Logistics & Contract Management Executive, Devices and Tokens Department, Chioma Iredia; Team Lead, Switching Cluster, Electronic Funds Transfer Department, Benjamin Atseyinku; Unit Lead, POS/ATM Implementation, Devices and Tokens Department, Ayoola Folarin, and Head, Devices and Tokens Department, Michael Popoola, at the Interswitch Cultural Day celebration, in Lagos.

PRESENTATION: Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State (right); Nuraini Saka, Regional Logistics Director, (Lagos and West), Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC, Ltd (middle), and Ifeoma Okoye, Regional Public Affairs Manager, (Lagos and West), NBC, during presentation of reflective jackets to the commissioner to commemorate the recent Horn Free Day, in Lagos State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

49

50

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

51

52

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

53

54 Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Commissioner tasks private sector on integrated modern transportation

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, has urged the private sector in the state to complement the integrated modern transportation policy of the state government by providing ferries for water transportation to reduce road traffic.

Opeifa made the call at the commissioning of the multi-million naira jetty built by Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, as part of efforts to boost intra-city transportation.

The initiative is expected to serve as an alternative means of transportation for residents who, for many years, had been experiencing traffic bottleneck in getting in and out of the council.

Opeifa, at the flag-off ceremony of the jetty, stressed the need for private sector participation by providing ferries that would enable the jetty serve the people.

While addressing dignitaries and residents of the council at the location of the jetty in Oke-Afa, beside the Ikeja bomb blast victims cenotaph, the c o m m i s s i o n e r commended the council chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, who vacated office recently after the expiration of his tenure, for providing the jetty to reduce the problem of transportation faced by residents.

Opeifa added that by creating a water transportation system for Ejigbo residents, Bamigbetan had keyed into the integrated modern transportation policy of Lagos State government, as envisaged by the administration of former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 1999.

C M Y K

ASUU, 3 other unions to Govt: Stop funding private varsities

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and three other unions in the university system have told the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund and the Petroleum Development Fund, PTDF, to stop using public money to fund private educational institutions and associated enterprises.

The three other unions include National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT; Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions, NASU, and Senior Staff Association of Universities, SSANU. The unions, in a communique issued at the end of a five-day brainstorming last weekend, also rejected what they described as ongoing systematic privatization of education and the selling off of public educational institutions.

It said: Education is a public good and cannot be left in the hands of private individuals, who are driven solely by profit motive.

The unions in the communiquĂŠ read by Professor Francis Egbokhaire of the University of Ibadan, further resolved that they would produce a charter on liberating education which would reflect the aspirations, culture, values and realities of the Nigerians within the context of a dynamic world.

The charter, according to them, will be based on a philosophy of education

geared towards public good, national development and equity in place of the existing policy, which promotes selfenrichment and personal aggrandizement.

The unions condemned corruption, lack of

professionalism, poor and opportunistic leadership, unethical conduct and such other behaviour that impinged on the learning environment and the integrity of teaching and research.

They called on members and

THANKSGIVING: From left Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State; First Lady of the state, Mrs Rachael Dickson; Governor Seriake Dickson; Mr. Konbowei Benson, Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly; Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent, the Deeper Christian Life Ministry; and his wife, at the 3rd annual Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day in Yenagoa.

... as FG halts contract variation beyond 15%

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE Federal Government has said that more than 15 percent variation and augmentation to contracts would no longer be acceptable.

According to the government, the decision to reject any such

variation is in consonance with international best practices.

The directive to this effect was issued in the latest procurement journal released by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, to all procurement entities, including ministries, departments and agencies of government.

Part of the steps outlined by

It s wrong to challenge sitting President SEN EBUTE

By Emmanuel Elebeke

P

RESIDENT of the Third Republic Senate, Ameh Ebute, has said Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was right in endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party for 2015 presidential elections.

He stated this yesterday at the unveiling of 2014 Global Leaders of Integrity awards, organised by the publishers of Integrity Magazine in Abuja, where he was inducted into the Integrity Hall of Fame.

Ebute said the party was right in endorsing President Jonathan since he indicated

branches of all unions in the sector to rid education of all social vices, even as they resolved to popularize the resolutions of the summit and work with patriotic organizations and individuals for their actualization.

interest to run for second term in office, noting that denying some other presidential aspirants the nomination forms to pave way for the President to go unchallenged was the tradition of presidential system of government everywhere in the world.

He said: If other aspirants are given access to obtain the expression and nomination forms, then it will be contradictory because the President has been unanimously endorsed by all organs of the party.

Even in America, you cannot challenge the sitting President, when he is interested to run.

That is the tradition of

presidential system of government everywhere in the world.

On the recent defection of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Ebute said: Tambuwal has been working for All Progressives Congress, APC. He is not a threat at all to PDP, because he did not defect to APC yesterday, but many months ago. It did not come as a surprise.

On former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ebute, a legal practitioner, said Obasanjo has the right to stay away from PDP, if he does not like what was happening.

the agency to be observed in varying all federal government contract include, undertaking proper needs assessments to determine scope of projects and facilitate the determination of price-responsiveness through market survey: Ensure that contracts are awarded based not on preliminary designs, but on final engineering designs to prevent cases of inadequate quantities in bill provisions; ensuring that ongoing contracts are provided for underrelevant appropriations and effect prompt payment for contracts executed, goods supplied and services provided according to agreed payment schedule.

BPP said the directive became necessary as it was in conformity with the recent policy of the Federal Government that any application for variation requiring more than 15 percent of the original cost of any contract should no longer be entertained.

However, where variation become inevitable, BPP said all such contracts requiring variations should be submitted to it for review and issuance of due process certificate of No Objection, to facilitate their approvals by the appropriate tenders boards.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

A

BUJA PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo have filed a notice of preliminary objection at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, asking the court to dismiss the legal action challenging their eligibility to contest the 2015 Presidential election.

The thrust of the objection is that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by Mase Daphine Acho, and two others.

According to the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by the legal team of the first and second defendants, led by Mr Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, and Dr Fabian Ajogwu SAN, the plaintiffs lacked the requisite standing in law to institute the action.

They also failed to disclose any sufficient interest to warrant a claim in Public or Private Law. In the particulars of objection, the President s counsel cited the Supreme Court judgment in 1981 in the matter between Senator Abraham Adesanya and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and others, as reported in All Nigerian Law Reports part 1.

The court ruled that to entitle a person to invoke judicial power to determine the constitutionality of legislative or executive action, he must show that either his personal interest will immediately be or has been adversely affected by the action or that he has sustained or is in immediate danger of sustaining an injury to himself, and which interest of injury is over and above that of the general public.

On their position that the facts

Jonathan, Sambo want eligibility suit dismissed constituting the Plaintiffs cause of action were speculative, academic and conjectural as a matter of law, the counsel relied on the Supreme Court ruling in the case between Agip Nigeria Limited and Agip Petroli International and Others decided in 2010 and reported in the Nigerian Weekly Law Report (Part 1187).

The court held that: It is trite principle also that a court should not decide a case on mere conjecture or speculation. Courts of laws are courts of facts and laws. They decide issues on facts established before them and on laws. They must avoid speculation.

The defence team also sought to prove that the plaintiffs/ RALLY: Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, with Alhaji Lawal Ken-Ken (right) of respondents had not disclosed any sufficient interest to warrant the Arewa Peoples Grand Coalition at the rally organised for him at the Kaduna Township Stadium, Kaduna yesterday. Photo by Olu Ajayi. a claim in public or private law.

The particulars of objection stressed that the first and second President and his deputy interest to maintain this action for institute an action, the court defendants enjoy immunity from contended that the plaintiff/ the interpretation of the provisions invariably lacks jurisdiction to civil and criminal proceedings in respondents had on the processes of the Constitution. My Lord, the entertain the said action. Locus filed not shown any private law irresistible answer based on the standi is a condition precedent and their personal capacities.

It relied on Section 308 of the nexus with the defendants with specific facts of the case is in the fundamental to the institution of negative. any matter before a court. A party Nigerian 1999 Constitution regard to the cause of action.

According to the defendants/ prosecuting an action would have They averred: The question which rules out civil or criminal proceedings against the therefore is whether the plaintiff/ applicants, locus standi is a locus standi where the reliefs President, the Vice President, respondents satisfied the test of threshold issue and the root of the claimed confer some benefit on state governor and the Deputy locus standi in public law as laid entire action vis-Ă -vis the such party.

Governor while they remain in by the courts in order to be able jurisdiction of the court itself. It Ruling in a suit filed by Shuaibu to maintain this action. The test argued: In other words, where Lili and Richard Mnenga on office.

In their written address, the is whether they have sufficient the plaintiffs lack locus standi to March 17, 2014, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, of the Federal High Court, Kaduna had declared that President Goodluck, the first defendant, had been wrongly sued in his personal name and therefore struck out his name. She President Jonathan Support other states in the country. was over I also took notice of the also ruled that the plaintiffs lack Group, Enugu State chapter, He said: We had a free and fair three delegates that were elected. the requisite locus standi to initiate applauded the Elder David Aja- congress; it is a legacy to thecredit Everything went very the suit. led executive of the party in Enugu of the leadership of our great peacefully and by this I mean the On March 1, 2013, Justice State for the peaceful conduct of party. It went on very peaceful; I electorate who turnout in large Mudashiru Oniyangi of the High the congress elections. have not heard of any incident. numbers were of best conduct and Court of the Federal Capital Nwodo, who is a former The congress held across the State both the officials and returning Territory Abuja had ruled in the governor of old Anambra State told and in Enugu it was a huge officer were present. Those who matter brought by Cyriacius Njoku reporters in an interview in success. were not successful took with against President Jonathan and Enugu, that the exercise was In the same vein, President gamely with the spirit of sports. others that the latter was eligible very credible and peaceful, not General of the Jonathan Support I took time also to address the to contest the 2015 presidential only in Enugu State but across Group, Enugu State chapter, Chief media at the venue and from the election. That suit had sought for Paul Anikwe, described the ward reported from the two other the interpretation of Sections 135 congress as one of the best wards in Nenwe the exercise and 137 of the 1999 Constitution elections held in the state in recent was very successful. of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. times, stating that it complied with the PDP stipulated guidelines and our council boss ; NCWS, Pls witnessed a large turn-out of party look into the problems of this faithful.

Anikwe, who was a member of woman, Ann Chukuneke, and widows of Onitsha South support the state legislator during the past Lady Ann and her civilian administration in the state, session, seventh synod,

By Chidi Nwokpara specifically warned against stressed that there was no basis administration. rancour, unguarded utterances, A widow and leader of the for any complaint from any WERRI AHEAD of threats, thuggery, rigging, killing, protesters, Mrs. Martha quarters since the congress was 2015 general elections, maiming and other forms of Anozie, said The embattled peaceful, free, fair and was local government boss was conducted by Elder David Aja, the politicians have been urged to violence.

One cannot understand why a widow-friendly and had authentic acting state chairman of resist the temptation of throwing political aspirant, at any level of supported the cause of widows the party, recognized by the NWC. the country into chaos.

Bishop of Egbu Anglican his aspiration, should mobilize Group Captain Joe Orji, while in the area. ''So we are pleading with the commenting on the exercise said: Diocese, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey E. innocent Nigerian youths as thugs state governor, Dr. Willie Obiano I participated fully in the congress Okorafor, who spoke at Zion and arm them with dangerous not to join others in witch-hunting at Central School, Nenwe which Anglican Church, Okpala, Ngor weapons, probably to confront or the woman, who had shown so was the venue of the election. I Okpala Local Council area of Imo even kill fellow Nigerians, campaigns and much affection to the cause of was there from the beginning to State, while delivering his during the end and when the counting presidential address at the first elections , Bishop Okorafor said. widows in the council area.

Nwodo, Orji, pro-Jonathan group hail Enugu ward congresses

F

ORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, yesterday described the peaceful and successful conduct of the Saturday s ward congresses of the party as a sign of victory in 2015 general elections.

Similarly, former military governor of Gombe State, Group Captain Joe Orji and the

Widows beg Obiano to reinstate council boss

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI ABOUT one thousand widows from Onitsha South Local Government besieged the council headquarters yesterday, calling on Governor Willie Obiano to allow the embattled local government chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke, to continue her work as an elected chairman.

The women, who arrived the council headquarters, Woliwo, Onitsha at about 7.00 am displayed placards with inscriptions such as: Order the return of Ann Chukwuneke as

55

Bishop cautions politicians against thuggery, violence

O

56

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Democrats hopeful of Senate control

P

Burkina Faso s military leader mulls Interim Govt

T

HE head of Burkina Faso s military regime promised a consensus leader Monday in talks for a unity government in the West African nation after a violent crackdown on protesters.

The army has stepped into a power vacuum left

by Blaise Compaore, who was forced to resign the presidency last week in the wake of violent demonstrations at his attempt to extend his 27year-rule.

Having named Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as interim head of state, the military has said that power does not interest us . But its takeover has sparked angry protests.

The United Nations, US and EU have joined African leaders in pressing the country s military top brass to hand power back to civilians.

Zida was locked in

negotiations from 10:00 am (1000 GMT) with diplomats at the foreign ministry, while senior opposition figures were to meet later with their parliamentary leader Zephirin Diabre.

The executive branch will be led by a transitional body within a constitutional framework....

This transitional body will be headed by a person appointed by the consensus of all actors in public life, Zida told diplomats.

He gave no timetable for the transition but said he wanted a new regime in place within the shortest possible period.

People look at newspapers bearing headlines on the situation in Burkina Faso and pictures of ousted We re not here to steal power, he told reporters after the meeting.

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida

RESIDENT Barack Obama s final campaign swing of the midterm election season yesterday came down to part nostalgia tour and part test: Did he still have the chemistry with voters who gave him two terms as president to drive them to the ballot box one more time?

Seeking to mobilize his election coalition of young people, AfricanAmericans, women and Latinos, Obama on Sunday made a last-minute push in Connecticut seeking to save Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy from defeat in a neck-and-neck contest two days before the election.

Obama also made a case at the Bridgeport

rally that many Americans are better off today than when he came into office and they shouldn t let critics deter them from voting.

Despite all the cynicism, America is making progress, Obama told the crowd of about 1,900.

Despite unyielding opposition, there are workers who have jobs today that didn t have it before. There are families who have health insurance today that didn t have it before. There are kids going to college today that didn t have the opportunity to go to college before. There are troops in Afghanistan now here with their families because of your vote.

UK shrugs off Germany s concern over immigration

B

ritish Prime Minister, David Cameron s Conservative party yesterday shrugged off German anxiety about its plans to curb immigration from the European Union, saying it would tackle what has become a major public concern regardless.

The British public want this addressed. We are going to do this in a calm, rational way, George Osborne, Britain s finance minister and a close Cameron ally, said after German media reported Chancellor Angela Merkel was uneasy about the idea.

Under growing pressure from the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) ahead of a May 2015 national election and from some of his own lawmakers, Cameron has said he d like to try to curb EU immigration if reelected.

He hasn t explained

how, and any changes would be contingent upon him winning the next election with an outright majority and making good on a promise to renegotiate Britain s EU ties before holding an EU membership referendum in 2017.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

57

58

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

ANIOMA MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

174/176, Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Delta State.

One Voice

A

08122349464

aniomamediaprofessionals@yahoo.com

No 83, Alhaja Agbeke Street, Off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.

ATE, OUR COMMON P ATRIMONY DELT STA PA DEL TA ST

NIOMA MEDIA PROFESSIONALS (AMP), is a non partisan association of front line media practitioners in Nigeria who are committed to the promotion of good practices in the profession, the welfare and self esteem of sons and daughters of Anioma origin in Delta State, Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Our creed is peaceful co-existence with other ethnic nationalities that form Delta state, as we live in a multi-ethnic society.

We are mindful of the need to respect the sensibilities of our neighbours by adopting the ethos of live and let live , not out of cowardice, but mutual respect and a desire to promote peace and harmony in deference to the cultured pacifist character of Anioma people.

We simply believe that silence is golden and that our pacifism has its own eternal virtue as a hall mark of good breeding and noble ancestry.

ANIOMA S CASE FOR EQUITY Anioma which means the good land , is politically classified as Delta North Senatorial district.

Today, Delta North has sent out a strong statement that it has abundant quality human capacity to take the leadership of the state to the next level.

Expectedly, we have seen the gallant entry of Anioma sons and daughters into the 2015 governorship race. Notable among them are: Chief Clement Ofuani, Chief Peter Okocha, Dr.(Mrs ) Ngozi Olejeme, Dr. (Mrs.) Esther Uduehi, Sir. Tony Obuh, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Rt Hon. Victor Ochei, Mr. Gabriel Oyibode ,Chief Johnson Opone, Prof. Sylvester Monye, Prof. Victor Izegbu, Chief Godswill Obielum, Rt. Hon. Sam Obi, Dr. Festus Okubor, Hon.Charles Emetulu, Chief George Ugboma, Chief Mike Uwaka and others who have come into the race irrespective of political partyaffiliations.

We endorse the logic of EQUITY as widely canvassed by the Anioma gubernatorial aspirants and their various supporters across the three senatorial districts of the State.

We believe that this is the TIME for EQUITY and history, moral and social justice support Anioma s quest for the governorship of Delta State.

As a professional body in the media industry the role of AMP is to amplify the voices of these aspirants and give the entire Deltans the opportunity to assess them based on their articulated vision, experience, competence, programmes, character, and comportment, which are the essential criteria to evaluate people who aspire to occupy the highest political office in Delta State.

BORN TO RULE IDEOLOGY Ahead of the 2015 general elections, it seems an anathema for some people from Delta Central to think that Anioma people are aspiring for the governorship seat of the state.

We have therefore watched with equanimity all kinds of vile campaign and odious diatribes directed at Anioma people by some persons mostly from Delta Central, who are promoting the obnoxious ideology that feeds on the wrong notion that some ethnic nationalities own Delta State as their private estate, hence, they erroneously regard themselves as born to rule in perpetuity.

Is this not the power monopoly we all hold against Northern political leaders in Nigeria? Perhaps we need a new definition of hypocrisy and greed.

This has been the basis of their grudge against Anioma people for having the state capital at Asaba,a historical town on its own right as Nigeria s first colonial capital under the British Royal Niger Company long before the 1914 Amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates.

Remarkably, Asaba remains the preferred safe haven and home for all peace loving Deltans.

We condemn these vicious attacks on sons and daughters of Anioma who have the courage to speak against this over bearing disposition.

While we are not holding brief for Chief Peter O. Nwaoboshi, we salute the former Chairman of PDP in the State, for his courage to speak against falsehood and hegemonic propaganda that was unleashed against the consistent advocacy for Anioma governorship bid in 2015.

We call on other Anioma leaders to show solidarity and oneness in the battle ahead.

FACING FACTS Delta State is made up of 25 local governments and the demographic data show that the Urhobos who are predominately in Delta Central Senatorial district have a total population of 1,575,731 (according to the 2006 national census figures), which are distributed into eight Local Government Areas.

Delta North Senatorial District ( Anioma) with nine Local Government Areas has a total population of 1,328,381 while Delta South has a total population of 1,293, 232, which is spread across eight Local Government Areas with the Ijaws, Isokos and Itsekiris as the ethnic nationalities in this area. Anioma ethnic nationality is the second largest demographic group made up of the Aniocha/Oshimili, Ndokwa and Ika people.

We are aware that since 1911 to 2006, our national census figures have been subject of political manipulation, intrigues and controversies.

Consequently, no national census has ever been accepted as the authentic reflection of the demographic representation of the ethnic groups in Nigeria.

VOTING STRENGTH We have also seen the attempt to hood wink the public with false claims on the voting strength of Delta Central which has 586,275, Delta North 458,808, Delta South 584,792.

The figures returned in virtually all Nigerian elections have been seen as dubious, inaccurate and fraudulent.

Most of the electoral figures have always failed integrity test in the face of disputations and litigations.

We therefore caution the proponents of voting strength of Delta Central based on these fraudulent electoral figures of doubtful source to refrain from this campaign of deceit.

The above analysis on the natural distribution of the population in Delta State is to show that no ethnic group can singularly produce the governor for the State. Secondly, the constitutional requirement of 25% spread in two thirds of the state means that even when a single family can deliver 10 million votes, it would amount to nothing if it could not garner 25% in two-thirds of the state.

Thirdly, it is an incontrovertible fact that since 1999, the Urhobos of Delta Central have voted for opposition parties like APP, AD, ACN and DPP and they have failed to produce a Governor on their avowed voting strength.

On the other hand ,the PDP has ALWAYS WON, the Governorship elections with the so called inconsequential votes of the other non Urhobo ethnic nationalities.

This questions the attempt to blackmail the national leadership of PDP, that President Goodluck Jonathan will lose Delta in 2015 election if PDP governorship ticket goes to an Anioma candidate.

We state unequivocally, that this is a blatant LIE. Historical realities have invalidated such arrogant postulations.

We make bold to say that Delta North has demonstrated tolerance and accommodation worthy of emulation and reciprocity in a complex volatile state like Delta.

We believe that Delta Central should reciprocate this gesture as reflected in the Anioma argument for equity, justice and fairness which does not amount to any special concession or a form of an affirmative action.

The hostile political opposition, relentless rebellion and major legal challenges that lasted throughout the tenure of ex -governor James Ibori, and beyond did not come from Delta North.

The extended antagonism against his cousin, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan , did not come from Delta North.

In fact Delta North gave matchless support and loyalty to the successive governments of Olorogun Felix Ibru (1992-1994), Chief James Ibori (1999-2007), and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (2007-till date).

Indeed Delta North stood by Ibori and Uduaghan in good and bad times and has been the stabilising factor in the politics of Delta State.

ANIOMA AND PAN DELTA AGENDA We recognize the fact that when elections come, every ethnic nationality wants to maximize whatever it considers an advantage to its interest.

We understand the Urhobos agitation for governorship because every ethnic group feels a little more assured that their own person is at the helm of affairs.

But the quest of Delta North to produce the next governor of the state is based on the principle of equity, which guarantees equality to all Deltans irrespective of their ethnic origin as we all belong to one state.

Above all, we believe in a Delta State that is devoid of ethnic hatred and divisive acrimony .

We firmly state that Anioma is not a vassal nationality in the present Delta State as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees us an equal stake in the geopolitical entity.

Anioma people are not seeking governorship to be handed to Delta North on a platter of gold. We therefore urge all the aspirants to intensify their process of consultations with the two other senatorial districts.

We urge Delta North aspirants to seek power because they are eminently qualified and whoever emerges victorious among them must build on the strength and experience of those who could not make it. The entire process will require the support of other sections of the state.

At this stage we need to remind the aspirants from Delta North of the time honoured dictum - United we stand, divided we fall.

Only one person will emerge governor. But the over riding interest of Anioma people must be upper most in their minds.

Also, the various aspirants should caution their supporters to avoid smear campaign and concentrate on strategies to showcase them to the electorates.

They should harbour no ill feeling towards their kindred and our neighbours. It is not in our culture to resort to bullying and intimidating other Deltans who for no fault of their own have been compelled to share political destiny through acts of political gerrymandering by the colonial and military oligarchies, who did not take into consideration the feelings of the people whose lives and fate are affected.

We seek a pan - Delta agenda built on the trajectory of egalitarianism, equity and good conscience.

We commend His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for enthroning the culture of peace and tolerance during his tenure as we look forward to his finishing Strong.

ON ANIOMA GOVERNOR WE STAND!!!

Long Live Anioma Long Live Delta State Long live Nigeria

Ifeanyi Odoh National Coordinator

Ken Ugbechie National Pub. Sec.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

59

60

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Battle of the titans: Murray faces Federer in ATP Finals

B

Super Eagles celebrate with the Afcon trophy last year in South Africa

We won t postpone 2015 AFCON T HE Confederation of African Football has reiterated it will not move the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations from January and has given Morocco until Saturday to decide if they will host as scheduled.

Morocco want a postponement because of fears over the Ebola outbreak.

Caf has asked Morocco to clarify their position by 8 November - a deadline also given to any countries who may want to step in as replacement hosts.

The governing body says a final decision will be made on 11 November.

After a meeting in Rabat on Monday, Caf

tweeted that it was unanimous on keeping competition on the dates; namely from January 17 to February 8, 2015 , adding that Morocco has been asked to clarify its final position of Morocco not later than 8 November .

Caf also said it would convene again on 11 November in Cairo, Egypt to take the necessary decisions on the finals.

CAF

Hayatou

RITAIN s Andy Murray has been drawn in the same group as Roger Federer for the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Murray, 27, has won three titles in the past six weeks to qualify for the eight-man season-ending tournament, which takes place from 9-16 November.

The Scot is in Group B along with Swiss second seed Federer, Japan s Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic of Canada.

Top seed Novak Djokovic, Switzerland s Stan Wawrinka, Czech Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic of Croatia are in Group A. The top two players in each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the standings based initially on match wins, although it can come down to the percentage of games won or even world rankings as the final tie-breaker.

Murray has avoided defending champion Djokovic, who beat him at the Paris Masters last week to end his 11-match winning run.

2022 World Cup to clash with Winter Olympics

I

NFLUENTIAL foot ball figures have backed proposals that could see the Qatar 2022 World Cup clash with the Winter Olympics.

Victorious German team

BBC Sport understands that talks at Fifa headquarters in Zurich resulted in support for a tournament held in Jan-

uary and February.

No final decision was taken and, in theory, all options remain open.

Fifa is adamant the

Olympic champion, Sally

tournament cannot take place in June and July because of extreme temperatures in Qatar.

Jerome Valcke, the world governing body s secretary general, said January and February or November and December 2022 are the most likely dates for the tournament, but added there had been a request from the clubs to consider May 2022 .

Fifa president Sepp Blatter and his International Olympic Committee counterpart Thomas Bach have previously agreed that their respective major events should not clash.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in either Almaty, Kazakhstan or the Chinese capital Beijing. No date has been set for the Games, though the 2014 Winters in Sochi ran between 723 February.

sMurray

Federer

Don t lose hope Suarez tells Barca fan

Suarez

L

UIS Suarez has urged Barcelona s fans to keep faith with the team despite back-toback La Liga defeats in his first two appearances.

Stay with us, because we are the first ones who want to turn this around.

Sometimes football is just unfair, Suarez said.

When the ball doesn t want to go in, it doesn t go in."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

61

C M Y K

62

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Ronaldo marvels at C/League Goal of the Week award R

EAL Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo s superb strike against Liverpool has been named the UEFA Champions League Goal of the Week, presented by Nissan, for Matchday Three.

The Portuguese forward ran on to James Rodriguez s deftly chipped pass and lifted a brilliant first-time shot over Simon Mignolet to put the competition holders ahead at Anfield.

Ronaldo is in sensational form and has now

scored 70 UEFA Champions League goals, trailing all-time top goalscorer Raul by just one.

Carlo Ancelotti s team went on to record an impressive 3-0 victory over Liverpool, with Karim Benzema scoring twice to put Madrid in pole position in Group B. Brendan Rodgers Reds are level on three points with Basel and Ludogorets ahead of their trip to the Spanish capital for the reverse fixture today of Matchday Four.

Ludogorets out to make history

B

Allegri: Juve are up to the task

C

OACH Massimil iano Allegri insisted progressing in the UEFA Champions League is not a step too far for Juventus as they prepare to meet Olympiacos in a crucial Group A clash in Turin tonight.

The Italian champions last-16 chances are hanging in the balance after dropping to third in the group, three points adrift of Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos, following respective away defeats to the pair in the past month.

With a tricky away trip

Allegri

to Swedish champions Malmo and a home clash against Atletico still to come, the Serie A champions realistically need a win, preferably with a two-goal cushion, against the Greeks if they are to keep their knockout phase hopes alive.

Juve last made it past the last-16 stage in 2013 when former coach Antonio Conte led the La Vecchia Signora to the quarter-finals where they fell to eventual winners Bayern Munich.\

SUPER FORM ... Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo set to open today against Liverpool

ASLE and Lu dogorets could both move closer towards an unexpected place in the last-16 of the Champions League with victory at St Jakob Park tonight.

Real Madrid are clear at the top of Group B following three successive victories and are again expected to see off the challenge of Liverpool at the Bernabeu, having romped to a 3-0 win on Merseyside a fortnight ago.

The second qualification spot, however, appears very much up for grabs as heading into matchday four, the other teams are all locked on three points.

Sturridge boosts Liverpool squad against Real

D

ANIEL Sturridge raised hopes of playing some part of Liverpool s trip to Real Madrid after flying with the squad yesterday.

The 25-year-old has been out since since the beginning of September after sustaining a thigh injury while on England duty and then a calf problem before making his club comeback.

Liverpool have missed his goals in that two months - drawing increasing attention to the failings of Mario Balotelli - but Brendan Rodgers may have his main striker back sooner than expected.

Sturridge had been ruled out of the Champions League clash at the Bernabeu by his manager, although the player is in the Spanish capital.

Rodgers has missed the goals of Sturridge as well as Luis Suarez who was sold to Barcelona in the summer -

Wilshere misses Anderlecht clash

J

I'M BACK ... Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and can t wait to have his main man back.

It has been a difficult start, not ideal, the Northern Irishman conceded. We can only continue to work well, that s

all you can do. If you work hard it gives you extra confidence, and ultimately confidence will then bring you success. It is certainly something we will strive towards.

ACK Wilshere has been ruled out of Arsenal s Champions League match against Anderlecht tonight through illness.

Wilshere has been nursing a knee injury and has not played since the Gunners beat Anderlecht 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Belgium 12 days ago.

The 22-year-old is now sick and will not be involved in the game at the Emirates although Arsene Wenger expects him to recover in time for Arsenal s trip to Swansea on Sunday.

Wenger has not decided whether to start Theo Walcott, who made his first appearance since January 4 following a cruciate ligament injury against Burnley on Saturday.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Nigeria ll win medals in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 Ndanusa P

RESIDENT of the N i g e r i a Olympics Committee (NOC), Engr Sani Ndanusa has said the performance of the over 650 athletes in the just concluded One Service One Medal (OSOM) Games is a proof that Nigeria will win an array of medals through service men at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan.

Addressing sport writers shortly after the closing ceremony of the Games at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna at the weekend, Ndanusa, who is also Chairman of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, said the high performances of the athletes from the 14 Nigerian services show that each of the services would win medals at the next two Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

He added that the OSOM athletes discovered at the Game would be nurtured through competition to improve their performances and further polish the green horns among them.

GOtv boxing night holds Nov 23

B

Muideen Akanji of Nigeria competes with Zoltan Harcsa of Hungary in the Boxing Middle 75kg bronze medal match on day 10 of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympics at the International Convention Centre on August 24, 2010 in Singapore.

Don t forget past heroes Akpabio

BY JACOB AJOM

F

ORMER Nigeria international, Etim Esin has showered encomiums on the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio for

Keshi Continues from BP to the national team, but insisted that the focus is on the forthcoming Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo Republic and the final game against South Africa, which will be played at the newly constructed Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo. We have the players who can do Nigeria proud in the remaining qualifier games and I know somehow we will make it to the finals and retain our trophy, said Keshi.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, spoke in a similar vein assuring that the team will not fail to clinch one of the tickets for the Morocco 2015 Nations Cup. The entire team is back now and we have

63

to make a statement as the defending Champions. God will see us through, he declared on Sunday night.

Keshi who was axed by the Nigeria Football Federation after leading the team to a woeful campaign in the first round of the qualifiers was last week recalled by President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a sign of reconciliation with some of his estranged players, Keshi has extended invitation to Villareal forward, Ikechukwu Uche, Ogbuke Obasi among others.

It is hoped that the Delta State born sweat merchant would swallow his pride and field the best players Nigeria can boast of against Congo and South Africa.

giving the people of the state and Nigeria in general a befitting stadium that is of the highest quality.

Etim said, Governor Akpabio has done well and I particularly thank him for his visionary leadership as the stadium will enhance the development of sports in the state and empower the youth.

The Chile 87 star however, frowned at the manner former sportsmen and women from the state were being ignored by those handling affairs in state. He pointed out that although the state has been blessed with a glut of talented sports personalities,

Etim Esin tells

they have been grossly ignored, even in matters concerning sports.

We who have represented this state, and Nigeria could be incorporated into the system or recognised as sports ambassadors of the state, Etim said,

Esin

Squad Continues from BP their strength against rivals Ghana who will be represented by their U23 male squad, the Black Meteors.

Keshi has called up 24 players made up of the Nigerian league s goalking award chasers Emem Eduok and Mfon Udoh, the Super Eagles senior team regulars Chigoozie Agbim, Gbolahan Salami, Solomon Kwambe and

Azubuike Egwuekwe to report to camp at the Le Meridien Hotel in Uyo on Monday.

The Ghana side coach

by Malik Jabir, a former technical adviser for Nigerian side Kano Pillars are already in camp with 29 players out of which a squad for the trip to Uyo will be named. Ghana will leave for Nigeria on Wednesday, November 5.

OXINg in Nigeria, is about to undergo a revival. The platform for the long-sought rebirth of the sport, which enjoyed huge popularity up to the 80s is the GOtv Boxing Night, a professional boxing event backed by major digital terrestrial service provider, GOtv. Expected to be in attendance are boxing legends, top officials of boxing regulatory bodies, representatives of boxing clubs and boxing enthusiasts.

GOtv Boxing Night, which holds at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos on 23 November, will feature an eye-catching line-up of six professional bouts.

Marcelo Continues from BP doing a great job. The beginning of the season wasn t great, but now we can t relax, we have to maintain this level. I m feeling good, I have the confidence of my team mates and my coach and that gives me more motivation to help my team.

Marcelo then praised James Rodriguez, who has impressed in the recent matches.

He s a fantastic player. He s very young and has a lot to play for. He s doing amazingly well.

He has everyone s sup-

port and he can only improve and grow.

The Brazilian fullback also heaped praise on manager Carlo Ancelotti, and assured that pressure doesn t affect his team.

Ancelotti tells us everything face to face. He makes us calm when it s time to play or train and play our game. That s key.

Pressure? Real Madrid always has pressure in every league season and we want to improve to be a lot better than last year. We work very hard every day for that.

CAF Continues from BP next week s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying showdown between Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville in Pointe Noire.

Grisha will be assisted by compatriots Tahssen Abo El Sadat Bedyer (Assistant Referee 1), Ahmed Abou Elela (Assistant Referee 2) and Mahmoud Ashor (Reserve Referee) during the match in Congo s Atlantic City.

The African body also

named Aboubakar Alim Konate from Cameroon as Commissioner while Moroccan Naciri Abdelali will be Security Officer.

CAF has also disclosed that the crucial game will start at 3.30pm Congo time, which will be 2.30pm in Nigeria.

Stephen Keshi s 25 man squad for the battle will hit start to arrive the Bolton White Apartments camp in Abuja as from Sunday.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Real must maintain form

R

EAL Madrid s Marcelo entered the press room yesterday ahead of his side s Champions League clash against Liverpool, and was pleased with

Marcelo his team s current situation, as well as his own performances.

It s a pride to form a part of this team , Marcelo said. We re Continues on Page 63

Champions League Matches today Marcelo

2015 Afcon: Congo can't stop us Keshi R

EINSTATED chief coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said that he was honoured to be recalled Continues on Page 63

Zenit Arsenal Basle Benfica B/Dortumund Juventus Malmo FF R/Madrid

v v v v v v v v

S

CAF names Egyptian officials for Devils, Eagles clash HE Confederation of African Football has named

Egyptian Ghead Zaglol Grisha as referee for Continues on Page 63

5:00pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm 7:45pm

names squad to face Ghana

Keshi

T

B/Leverkusen Anderlecht Ludogorets Monaco Galatasaray Olympiakos A/Madrid Liverpool

NO SIR: Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama argues with referee Grisha Ghead during the 2013 Afcon match between Nigeria and Zambia. The match ended 1-1.

UPER Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has named a 24man Team B squad of local players that will face Ghana in an international friendly to commemorate the commissioning of a newly constructed stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The grand opening of the ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, will see the home based Eagles pit Continues on Page 63

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S YESTER DAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Disconnect (6) 5 Account (6) 9 Rushed (5) 10 Swollen (6) 11 Character (6) 12 Started (5) 14 Flat (4) 17 Gender (3) 18 Sweat-gland (4) 20 Assessed (5) 22 Booby-trapped (5) 23 Yearning (7) 24 Passage (5) 26 Class (5) 29 Lazily (4) 30 Marry (3) 32 Fruit (4) 33 Sound (5) 35 Maniac (6) 36 Diverse (6) 37 Not ever (5) 38 Required (6) 39 Guard (6)

DOWN 1 Hesitate (6) 2 Objective (6) 3 Cot (4) 4 Hell (5) 5 Ease (5) 6 Paradise (4) 7 Choice (6) 8 Rotated (6) 13 Refined (7) 15 Insipid (5) 16 Freshly (5) 18 Heaped (5) 19 Refute (5) 21 Expire (3) 22 Beaker (3) 24 Aviators (6) 25 Toboggan (6) 27 Inherent (6) 28 Sown (6) 30 Declined (5) 31 Plunged (5) 33 Weathercock (4) 34 Challenge (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 4, Kudos 7, Recoup 9, Kin 10, Bed 12, Windy 13, Abet 15, Remit 17, Deride 19, Earn 20, There 22, Irk 24, Nascent 27, Lea 28, Eased 31, Opus 33, Attest 35, Water 37, Kill 38, Creep 39, Dig 41, Den 42, Packed 43, Edged.

DOWN: 1, Arrant 2, Accede 3, Cub 4, Kiwi 5, Unite 6, Obdurate 8, Peri 11, Dedicated 14, Tern 16, Mere 18, Real 21, Hampered 23, Knee 25, Seat 26, Task 29, Sticky 30, Delude 32, Swede 34, Trip 36, Aped 40, Gap.

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.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

C M Y K