36 ministers not compulsory - BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62620

Peterside (Stambic IBTC)

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Stanbic IBTC: FRC didn't follow due process, says CBN 8

Obazee (FRC)

DMO warns of looming debt crisis in the states 8

36 ministries not compulsory— BUHARI The constitution certainly said there must be one member of the cabinet from each of the states, but the constitution did not say I must have 36 ministries — PRESIDENT BUHARI

False declaration of assets:

See Inside C M Y K

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BUJA—ANXIETY among the 36 ministers-designate heightened, yesterday, after President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated that the nation’s economy can not support 36 ministers with portfolios.

The tension among the ministers-designate was

Court okays ex-NSA, Dasuki for medical treatment abroad 9

Mr & Mrs CONFIRMED MINISTERS—President Muhammadu Buhari (right) receiving a list of confirmed ministers-designate from the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

COLUMNISTS: Why we don't speak Igbo at our meetings —Ohanaeze

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Charles Kumolu, Gbenga Oke & Levinus Nwabughiogu

Continues on Page 5

Saraki goes to Supreme Court See story on Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

There must be justice: Political

subversion and the N-East •P.17

She ignores me now she's had our baby •P.31

Dear President Buhari, you do not have to appoint 36 ministers! •P.19

Of unfit soldiers and obese legislators •P.19

2— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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4— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

engaging the President on his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

VICTORY—Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State (middle), flanked on the left by his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu and on the right by the state PDP Chairman, Sen. Emma Nwaka celebrating with the governor after the tribunal affirmed his victory in Umuahia, yesterday.

36 ministries not compulsory— BUHARI Continues from Page 1 also being compounded by the dithering on the inauguration of the new federal cabinet.

No date has been scheduled for the inauguration of the cabinet, and many of the ministers-designate, Vanguard gathered, are hanging around Abuja for the call from the Presidency to assume office. High ranking presidency officials kept mum on when the new cabinet would be inaugurated.

President Buhari, who last week said that some ministers would not have portfolios, during his visit to India, reiterated that point, yesterday, as he affirmed that he would not shy away from saying that the economy cannot support 36 ministers with separate portfolios.

The

President’s assertion, however, received mixed reactions from some former ministers and other political stakeholders, yesterday.

Among those who spoke on the issue were Senate President Bukola Saraki; the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh; former labour leader, Chief Frank Kokori and three former ministers, Chief Don Etiebet, Chief Segun Babatope and Chief Ken Gbagi.

Economy and 36 ministers with portfolios

Speaking when he received the list of confirmed ministerial nominees from Senator Saraki at a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa yesterday, President

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO OTHING in life is more satisfying than sharing bread with the hungry and helping the needy. That is a sure path to true happiness. It's up to you.

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TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Happiness is largely a matter of choice — Marlena Bielecka

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HAT makes you happy? If you’ve asked yourself how to become a happier person, this is already a good sign. Happiness is not something that happens to us by chance? Being happy is an achievable and learnable skill,which requires constant work on your attitude and it depends on how you interpret your life situation.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

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HAT we can't reach the stars never keeps a wise man from trying.

Buhari said: “If I can remember, there must be a member from each of the 36 states.

That was why I limited the number of my nominees to that number, 36. The Senate worked extremely hard, and they have passed all the nominees. I think there was some enthusiasm in some parts of the Presidency today that portfolios were to be given to the 36.

“The constitution certainly said there must be one member of the cabinet from each of the states, but the constitution did not say I must have 36 ministries."

Dismissing speculations in some media outlets on the portfolio to be assigned to the ministersdesignate, the President said: “I think that the economy as I have seen it now since my sitting here for the last four months, was so much battered. Although some people are saying I am giving bad publicity and scaring away investors.

Any investor who is interested in investing in Nigeria will want to know more about the economy more than ourselves.

“But I am confirming to them that we are truthful, that we need them to come and help us help ourselves by getting in i n d u s t r i e s , manufacturing and services. They know our needs. The economy of human resources, I believe, will make them eventually come and help us. I assure you that we will follow the

constitution and all the 36 will be sitting in the cabinet as the constitution stipulates.”

Ministers without portfolio not new — Saraki

Speaking to State House Correspondents after his meeting with the President, Saraki said the designation of ministers without portfolio was not something entirely new to the nation. His words: “Well I think before you had ministers of state in the past, I don’t think there is anything new, there were ministers for special duties which really didn’t have portfolios. I think the key issue is being in cabinet, is being part of the government and those that would have the responsibilities of ministering are those that at the end of the day would do that.

“We have the challenges of revenue drop, challenges in trying to boost revenue and create jobs and you know we have some of these issues which we really need to address.

"I think that it is time for us to address them and these are some of the issues we looked at as a Senate, that it is time for us to give support to the executive to move the country forward.”

Asked why he had to deliver the names personally to the President, Saraki said he had other issues besides presenting the list of ministers to the President. He, however, robustly denied

Mixed reactions trail Buhari's assertion

There was, however, mixed response from some former ministers and others on the President’s assertion that some ministers would not have portfolios.

While Etiebet, Metuh and Kokori accepted the President’s stance on not assigning portfolios to all ministers, describing it as his style, Babatope said it was not ideal while Gbagi said the measure would not save any money as envisaged by the President.

Metuh, who again questioned the rationale of the president’s motive in ascribing his action to a battered economy said: “It is his style, and it is his prerogative. We are not struggling for space with him, and the constitution does not require him to assign portfolios to all 36 ministers.”

Chief Etiebet, who served as Minister of Petroleum in the Sani Abacha regime and until recently a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP said: “There is nothing wrong with Buhari running his government with a lean cabinet if he can achieve his aims. He is the President and has a herculean task of saving this country from collapse. I believe the buck stops on his table and not on any minister’s desk.”

He was supported by erstwhile SecretaryGeneral of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Chief Kokori who said: “It was like that in the past. In the First Republic, we had ministers without portfolios. They were like ministers of special duties. There are so many jobs to be done, and they can be assigned to do any of them by the President without necessarily having portfolios.

“Buhari knows what he is doing because the rot in the system is not quantifiable. As it is, we should watch him and see what happens. It will not be fair to condemn the move without seeing if it will work or not.”

Former Minister of Transport in the Abacha regime and present member of the PDP BoT, Babatope, however, disagreed saying: “I think we have much to quarrel with Buhari over what he said. If he decides to do that, we have to accept it as his style but it is not the ideal thing. This is not the first time such will happen in Nigeria. Let us watch and see how it works. It is from watching that we will know whether he is doing it in the interest of Nigeria or not. We saw this in the past. For us in the opposition, our duty is to watch so as to hold the government accountable and we have been doing that in the interest of Nigeria. If it succeeds, we will give him kudos.”

On his part, former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Gbagi said: “I expect his advisers to guide him on this to avoid going contrary to the positions of the constitution. How will having ministers without portfolios make any difference on the cost of governance? Whatever the President decides to do, he should ensure that we have ministers as stipulated in the constitution because the absence of ministers is taking a toll on governance.”

Buhari declares open three-day retreat for ministerial designates

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare open a three-day retreat for the confirmed ministerial nominees later this morning. The retreat which would run from today through Friday would hold at the presidential villa in Abuja. It is believed that the exercise would herald the inauguration of the ministers.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

APOLOGY

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UR story with the headline Blogger in prison over publication on bank boss, published on Page 10 of November 3, 2015 edition Vanguard newspapers, erroneously alluded that GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, and his wife are divorced on account of the malicious and false publication by the blogger Desmond Ike-Chima, who has been remanded in prison by the Federal High Court.

This is not true as we have since found out that both of them are still happily married.

We regret the embarrassment the report has caused the person of Mr. Phillips Oduoza and wife and do hereby tender our unreserved apology.

— Editor

Father of 5 electrocuted in Osun

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—A middle-aged refrigerator repairer and father of five, identified as Moshood Majoko, was yesterday morning electrocuted in Osogbo, behind Ilesa Motor Park, Osun State.

Sources said that the deceased was, as he usually

did, assisting his community in electrification work and was up a pole when power was suddenly restored to the area.

He was said to be working on a line that overlapped along Zone C, Road 7, Ago Ayo, when the incident occurred.

According to an eyewitness, before climbing the pole, Majoko had told his wife to

bring hand gloves, but did not wait for her to return before he set to work.

Vanguard gathered that when the deceased was electrocuted, he fell from the pole and was immediately taken to a hospital where he later died.

Some residents of the community said the deceased always helped in electricity-

‘Good Samaritans’ abduct siblings in Calabar

F U E L SCARCITY:

Q u e u e s return as fuel scarcity hits L a g o s , y e s t e r d a y.

P H O T O : K e h i n d e Gbadamosi.

By Emma Una

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3 arraigned over kidnap, N300,000 fraud

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—A 45-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Shado, and two others, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court for alleged kidnap.

The other defendants are Edwin Ubba, 43, businessman, and John Agba, 47, a civil servant.

They were docked before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful confinement, kidnap and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Molo, told the court that the defendants and others, who are still at large, committed the alleged offences sometime in August 2008.

He said the incident took place at E4, Satellite Town, Ijegun area of the state.

Molo alleged that the trio unlawfully confined and detained one Jude Odionu against his will and also fraudulently obtained N300,000 from one Onyeka Odionu, under the pretence of treating Jude Odionu’s mental illness.

Magistrate Komolafe granted the defendants bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum; the sureties must show two years tax payment and verified addresses.

The matter was adjourned till November 17.

related work with the permission of the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC. Reacting, Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Osogbo region, Miss Kike Owoeye, said the company had been enlightening residents on the need to report faults.

Man kills girlfriend for rejecting marriage proposal in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—ONE Miss Onyinyechi Okegbulam of Egbu in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State has allegedly been killed by her boyfriend for refusing his marriage proposal.

A source, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that the girl was shot in the head at close range by her supposed boyfriend in the village.

The source recalled that the deceased was, last Saturday, lured out of her family home by the boyfriend at about 7p.m.

“Some people, who were close to the scene of the crime that night, reported that as soon as the boy saw the girl

approaching him, he fired at her,” the source said.

Another source claimed that soon after shooting the girl, the young man tried to smuggle Onyinyechi’s lifeless body into his car but scampered for safety when a woman raised alarm, which attracted several people to the scene.

‘He paid for the girl’s education’

Another story, however, had it that the boyfriend was responsible for the entire educational expenses of the girl, who later ditched him.

A resident of the area said: “We heard that the boy picked the bills for the girl’s education, but that the girl later abandoned the boy and opted to marry another man.

“We have even heard that the marriage has been fixed before the boyfriend struck.”

The 22-year-old Onyinyechi was, until her untimely death, a final year student of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a deputy superintendent of police, could not be reached at press time, a reliable source in the state police headquarters, Owerri, confirmed that police had waded into the matter.

The police source said: “Police have started investigating the incident and the late girl’s parents are cooperating with us. Police will get to the root of the case.”

Police recover 8,500ltrs of petrol from accident scene

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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EN of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Pipeline Vandalism have arrested a 35year-old driver, Phillip Isaac, for being in possession of 8,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS (petrol), loaded in 170 50litre jerry cans, allegedly siphoned from a Nigeria

National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, pipeline at Arepo, Ogun State.

Vanguard gathered that luck ran out on the suspect when his Volvo truck, with number plates XU 819 KSF, used in transporting the products to Ijebu-Ode in the state, ran into a ditch on Shagamu-Ore Expressway and somersaulted.

The operatives, who were on a patrol, were said to have arrived the scene when the jerry cans were being offloaded into another truck.

Sources said that the driver of the truck confessed during interrogation that he loaded the truck at Arepo, currently being secured by soldiers deployed to check pipeline vandalism and militancy.

ALABAR—TWO men, who assisted two nursery school children, Etido Asuquo and Ntia Asuquo, cross the road while they were returning from school, Monday afternoon in Calabar, ended up abducting them.

The children, aged five and three years, respectively, were students of Holy Child Convent Primary School located at 5, Efut Abua Street, Calabar South Local Government Area.

A young man, Edet, told Vanguard that the children were taken away by two men, who disguised as ‘good Samaritans’ to assist them cross the road, but ended up putting them in their car and sped off.

He said: “I saw some men standing at the school gate, while I was at my shop. I saw the men trying to assist the children to cross the road.

“At first, I thought they were parents of the children, but later in the evening news broke out that two children were missing. That was when it dawned on me that the children were taken away by the two men.”

The distraught mother of the kids, Nyeti Etim, 28, a widow, said yesterday afternoon that she had not been contacted by the people who abducted the kids.

She said: “I do not know whether the kidnappers would demand ransom or they had an ulterior motive for their mission.”

Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Asari Eta, said the incident occurred around 12p.m., adding that the school had contacted police.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—7

25 families homeless as fire razes buildings, supermarket in Lagos

By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Franklin Alli, Ufuoma Tiveruahor & Lucky Nwanekwu

Black market dealer’s hoard caused fire—Eyewitnesses

As two escape death in building collapse

Woman arranges friend's gang-rape

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AGOS—NO fewer than 25 families were rendered homeless yesterday, following a fire outbreak that engulfed three buildings in Lagos.

The popular Ebano Supermarket in the highbrow Lekki metropolis, some shops and the popular Idumota Market, are among the affected structures.

Two of the affected buildings were located in the denselypopulated Ajegunle area of Lagos, one of which was the palace of the Baale (traditional ruler).

However, no life was reportedly lost in any of the incidents. But properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The Ajegunle inferno was said to have been caused by petroleum products stored in one of the buildings by a black market dealer. Some occupants of the affected buildings sustained varying degrees of injuries during the ensuing stampede.

Reports said an explosion occurred at 1, Freedom Street, at about 10.30a.m., while a welder, simply identified as Israel, was constructing an iron cage for the storage of petroleum products.

Efforts to contain the fire failed as it reportedly engulfed the entire building and spread to 171, Orodu Street.

By Faith Ake

The building that collapsed at Olagunju Street, Magbon, Badagry (left). Baale's house, one of the two buildings razed by fire in Ajegunle (below). Idumota fire (bottom).

AGOS—POLICE in Lagos have arrested a 20-year-old lady, who admitted to setting up her friend to be gang raped after a misunderstanding between them.

The victim (names withheld) was reportedly ambushed by six armed men, suspected to be cultists, at about 8p.m., around Olaosebikan Street in Somolu area of Lagos.

The gunmen, said to have earlier propositioned her, which she rejected, took turns on her for over four hours inside an apartment at Elewure’s House, around Bajulaiye Compound, where she was taken.

The suspected cultists, it was gathered, accused the victim, a computer operator, of accepting a member of a rival cult group as a lover.

The victim, who gave the names of the suspects (withheld) to policemen at Alade Division, said two of them saw her off to a street close to hers, from where she walked home.

Police frees suspect

Fuel dealer escapes

The black market dealer, whose identity could not be ascertained, escaped on noticing the wreckage.

When Vanguard arrived the scene, the fire was still raging, with occupants in mourning.

One of them, a pregnant woman, was said to have collapsed.

An eyewitness, who simply gave his name as Saidi, blamed the tragedy on the welder, pointing out that if the jerry cans filled with petroleum products had been moved away from the spot, the spark of light from the welding machine would not have ignited.

Residents told Vanguard that fire service officials who arrived the scene to contain the situation, left for more water.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Had the owner of house on 171, Orodu Street been alive, this incident would not have happened because he would have kicked against the sale of petroleum products.

“The woman, who caused all this, has been warned several

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times to change business, but she did not heed the advice.

“Only last week, a prophet who came to warn that danger was looming and that everyone should beware of fire outbreak.

This woman was cautioned again. But she got more products because of the rumoured fuel scarcity.”

were also received at “Oko-Baba in Ebute Meta area of the state and Ebano Supermarket at Lekki at about 6.05p.m.

“Two fire trucks were deplored to each of the locations. At about 6.20p.m., another call about fire outbreak was received at OjuOlobun, Idumota, where some shops were affected.”

We received 4 different distress calls— Fadipe

Building collapses

Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said when they received the distress calls, fire trucks from Illupeju and Isolo were drafted to the scene.

Also at the scene were policemen from Ajeromi Ifelodun Division.

Fadipe said that distress calls

Meanwhile, two unidentified construction workers narrowly escaped death yesterday, when an uncompleted building, where they were working, close to St. Triumph Primary School at Olagunju Street, Magbon, Badagry, suddenly collapsed.

The incident, as gathered, occurred at about 12.45p.m.

The building was said to have

been marked by officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, which ordered that work should stop.

But the developer allegedly ignored the directive.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Michael Akindele, said: “LASBCA had marked the building for ongoing construction to stop.

“Two construction workers were injured and treated by LASAMBUS officials at the spot.

The primary school beside it was not affected. Investigation is still ongoing to ascertain the cause of the collapse.”

Rasaq Fadipe told Vanguard that the Fire Station from Badagry responded to the incident.

Vanguard gathered that one of the suspects was arrested at a hotel located off Bajulaye Street, but was released.

It was gathered that during investigation, the victim’s friend, identified as Vera, allegedly masterminded the incident and was arrested last Saturday.

Police sources hinted that Vera admitted to the claim, saying she did it out of bitterness.

The police source said: “She said it was after an argument that she threatened to deal with the victim. A few days later, the victim was raped.

“The victim will be invited here tomorrow (Thursday), where both of them will sit face-to-face, during the interrogation section.

“We are also on the trail of the suspected rapists.

Thereafter, they will all be charged to court.

Currently, the victim is in good condition after undergoing treatment.”

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

By Clara Nwachukwu & Nkiruka Nnorom

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AGOS — THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has condemned in strong terms recent sanctions approved by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, against the board and management of Stanbic IBTC Holding, SIBTCH, saying the council did not follow due process.

The FRCN had, amongst others, sacked four directors of Stanbic IBTC, including its Chairman, Mr. Atedo Peterside, for alleged infractions, while also calling for the withdrawal of its financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014.

But in a five-page letter, dated, November, 2, 2015, and signed by the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, which was obtained by Vanguard, the apex bank also said the FRCN action was capable of eroding investors’ confidence as well as causing financial instability in the system.

After a careful review of the issues, apart from bluntly turning down FRCN’s request to take disciplinary action against StanbicIBTC, the CBN also advised the board of the embattled bank to discountenance the FRCN’s sanctions.

The CBN said: “In the light of the foregoing facts, which clearly show that FRCN did not follow due process, the bank regrets to inform you that it is unable to accede to your request to take disciplinary action against SIBTCH. Indeed, the CBN does not see any reason to advise/ compel SIBTCH to obey the sanctions metted to it by the FRCN.” The letter was addressed to the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, FRCN, and was entitled: Re: Regulatory Decision in the Matter of Financial Statements of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc for Years ended 31st December 2013 and 2014.

The CBN letter with reference number: GVD/GOV/CON/DGF/ 93/113, also read in part: “We are seriously concerned that such a drastic regulatory decision could be taken on an entity under the regulation and supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without any form of consultation with the bank, especially as the CBN is responsible for promoting safe, stable and sound financial system. Yet, such a regulatory decision and the manner of the announcement is not only capable of eroding investors’ confidence but also inimical to the financial system stability.”

To underscore the implications of FRCN’s action on Nigeria’s financial system stability, the CBN further noted: “Indeed, the FRC’s action has already precipitated a fall in the value of the shares of Stanbic IBTC by about 18 per cent since the announcement of the Regulatory Decision.”

CBN observations

The CBN in a 13-point observation faulting the FRCN’s

actions also observed as follows: Contrary to the allegation of the FRCN that Stanbic IBTC (SIBTC) did not obtain approval from the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) for the payment of affiliate software license, our review revealed that the bank actually obtained the necessary approval from NOTAP to pay affiliate software license from the Standard Bank South Africa (SBSA), for a period of three years covering June 2012 to May 30, 2015. The remittance from June 2015 to date is still awaiting approval from NOTAP.  With regards to the allegation of non-disclosure of intangible assets in SIBTC’s 2013 and 2014 financials, we note that the bank adequately recognised the software as an intangible asset in its 2011 financials and sufficiently disclosed the disposal of the software in the 2012 financials.

Consequently, the said software could not have been reported as an intangible asset in the succeeding years 2013 and 2014. ·With respect to the allegation of lumping several expense items under “Others”, we are of the view that the items were not material enough to appear as line items in the Income Statement and that the non-disclosure of the items did not materially affect the true and fair view of the financial statements. We agree with FRCN that SIBTC erred in the classification of some line items. However, the identified misclassifications did not understate or overstate its assets and liabilities, neither did it increase nor decrease its income or expenditure, such as would have caused a material misrepresentation of the financials. SIBTC used its judgment to capture the donation of M275 million under “Others” because it was of the opinion that it was not a charitable donation but a mandatory contribution towards the victims of terrorism in the country. For the avoidance of doubt, this contribution was agreed at a Bankers’ Committee Meeting, with the share for each bank clearly spelt out. Therefore, we agree with SIBTC’ s position, as presented.  Contrary to FRCN’s conclusions, our review of lAS 37 and lAS 32.19 indicate that SIBTC had an obligation to accrue the relevant provisions toward the settlement of the franchise and management fees as agreed between it and SBSA. Without prejudice to the foregoing financial issues, the CBN is concerned about the apparent failure of the FRCN to follow due process as laid down by its own FRCN Act and Regulations, in arriving at the Regulatory Decision. In this regard, the bank wishes to make the following observations: ln conducting investigation into possible breaches of the FRCN Act and/ or the

LAUNCH: From left, Mrs Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami, Head, Sponsorship & Events, FirstBank Nigeria Limited; Prof. Linus Asuquo, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo; Prof. Comfort Ekpo, Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo; Mr John Iyioha, Group Head, Retail, Akwa Ibom/Cross River, FirstBank Nigeria Limited; Prof. Enefiok Essien, VC Designate, University of Uyo and Mrs Regina Ekpat, Deputy Registrar, University of Uyo at the launch of the FirstBank Endowment in Petroleum Engineering at the university.

Stanbic IBTC: FRC did not follow due process—CBN Says action capable of causing financial instability Regulations, the FRCN is required to give the Entity concerned sixty (60) days from the service of Final Notice to restate its accounts where both the Panel and Entity agree on the need for restatement. In this case, our understanding is that FRCN called a meeting with the board of SIBTCH at 11.00 a.m on the 26th October 2015. But rather than holding the meeting, FRCN went ahead to convene a press conference at 8a.m on the same day to announce its sanctions against SIBTCH. Our review further indicates that both FRCN and SIBTCH did not agree on a need for restatement of the accounts before the sanctions were announced. According to the FRCN Act, an entity is only punishable under the Act upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction. Yet, in issuing the

Final Notice, the FRCN had already meted out some punishments to the affected entity, without any conviction by a court.  While FRCN may, following approval of the minister, review applicable fines, there is no power for compounding offences and imposing penalty in lieu of conviction as was done in this case. Both the FRCN Act and the Regulations provide for the outcome of the investigation to be made known to a registered professional or a public interest entity and a right of appeal to the Technical and Oversight Committee before resorting to prosecution. In this case, however, there is no evidence that time was allowed to elapse for the appeal process before the imposition of sanction.

The Regulation provides that if the Entity fails to accept FRC’ s position at the end of a Notice period, the Council shall institute legal action against the entity, rather than mete out sanctions. Yet, in this case, sanctions have been meted out without evidence that legal action has been fully exhausted. A combined reading of both the Act and the Regulations shows that there are three types of sanctions that may be imposed for contraventions by Entities.  These are: lmposition of monetary penalty/fine; Imprisonment for a term of years; Deregistration of a professional or issuance of a Warning Notice. There is however, no authority for suspension of registration of a professional as was done in this case.

States’ bail-out, temporary solution to debt crisis — DMO Says economy requires N5trn annually to diversify

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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AGOS — AMIDST the weakened revenue inflow from federation account, the Debt Management Office of the Federation, DMO, has said that the recent bail-out funding to state governments was only a temporal solution to their debt crisis, warning that unless the governments change their fiscal strategies

they would return to trouble.

The Federal Government had in the wake of President Muhammadu Buhari’s assumption of office in June this year ordered a special distribution of $2.1 billion (N440 billion) to the various states as well as additional special loan of between N250 billion and N300 billion to each states from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. DMO also created a loan

restructuring for 23 highly indebted states owing 15 banks a total of N700 billion of which N575.5 billion was restructured

by DMO between August and September 2015 to give relief to the states.

Director General of DMO, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, stated that there is still serious revenue gaps giving the continued decline in oil

Continues on Page 43

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—9

Court slams EFCC over fresh charge against Oronsaye

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BRIEFING: From left: Mr Lookman Animashaun, Head of Engineering, Med-View Airline; Alhaji Muneer Bankole, MD/CEO and Captain Geoffrey Ogbogu, Head of Flight Operations, during the Med-View Airline press briefing to announce the commencement of its Lagos-London flight, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Court okays ex-NSA, Dasuki, for medical treatment abroad Ex-gov Haruna signs undertaking, quizzed

Varies bail condition As ex-gov Boni Haruna signs undertaking, quizzed

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA — THE Abuja Di vision of the Federal High Court, yesterday, gave the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), the nod to travel abroad for medical treatment.

In a ruling yesterday, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi hinged his decision to give Dasuki three weeks medical leave abroad on his “deteriorating health condition.”

Justice Adeniyi dismissed fears by the Federal Government that the former NSA, who is facing a five-count charge bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms and money laundering, could go into hiding once allowed outside the shores of Nigeria.

The Federal Government had, through the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, opposed Dasuki’s application to be allowed to go for medical checkup abroad.

The DPP told the court that the government had already commenced a fresh investigation on another money laundering case involving the erstwhile NSA, saying the application was only aimed at frustrating his trial.

Besides, the Federal Government contended that the National Hospital in Abuja is well equipped to handle whatever ailment Dasuki is suffering from.

However, while dismissing Federal Government’s objections, yesterday, Justice Adeniyi held that “every citizen has a right to choose the medical facility he wants to be treated in, whether in Nigeria or abroad.”

Placing reliance on decided case law in Abacha vs State, 2002, 5-NWLR, the court further held that ill-health constituted a special circumstance that a court

should take notice of to exercise its discretion in favour of an accused person.

Justice Adeniyi said the Federal Government failed to persuade it with the argument that Dasuki is currently a subject of a fresh criminal investigation.

He said: “Presently, this court is seized of only the amended charge against the defendant which involves allegations of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms, to which the prosecution deposed an affidavit that it has concluded all investigations.”

On his international passport On Dasuki’s application for the release of his international passport and Federal Government’s opposition on the ground that it was the only document he surrendered to secure bail on self recognition, the court dismissed the argument by the Federal Government as “misconceived and not tenable in law.”

The court stressed that the fact that the accused was on September 1 granted bail on self recognition, meant that there was no condition attached to his release.

Maintaining that every accused person, in line with section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, ought to be presumed innocent until proved guilty, the trial judge said his decision to grant Dasuki’s request was also fortified by a decided case law in Ibori vs FRN, which he said was on all fours with the instant case before him.

“Accordingly, the application of the defendant succeeds and I hereby make the following or-

ders: “An order is hereby made by this court releasing the applicant’s international passport to enable him to travel abroad for three weeks for medical treatment owing to his deteriorating health condition.

“The Deputy Registrar of the Federal High Court is hereby directed to release the international passport to the defendant.

“It is also ordered that the defendant, upon his return to the country, should surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar Litigation, within 72 hours upon his return.”

Court varies bail condition More so, Justice Adeniyi, yesterday, relied on section 1 75 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and varied the bail it earlier granted the former NSA to include that he should provide a surety.

The court directed that the surety must sign a written undertaking to guarantee that the accused person will return to Nigeria after his medical treatment to face his trial, “failing which the surety will take the place of the defendant pending when he makes himself available for trial.

“Alternatively, any of the lawyers to the defendant can enter an undertaking to produce him on the trial date.”

The matter was subsequently adjourned till November 26 and 27 for trial, even as Justice Adeniyi ordered the Federal Government to ensure that its witnesses are in court that day.

Meantime, shortly after the ruling, yesterday, the former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, signed undertaking to take the place of the ex-NSA should he fail to return to the country after three weeks to continue his trial.

Mr. Haruna was later invited for questioning by the Department of Security Services, DSS, over what transpired at the court according to a security source.

Specifically, Dasuki was in the charge before the court, alleged to have kept in his possession, funds that were proceeds of an unlawful act, an offence the Federal Government said was contrary to section 15 (2)(d) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The Federal Government alleged that he was on July 17, 2015, at his house situated at 13, John Khadiya Street, Asokoro, Abuja, found to be in possession of various range of firearms without requisite licence, an offence punishable under section 27 (1)(a) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004.

He was further accused of retaining $40,000, N5 millon and another $20,000 in the same house and same date, contrary to section 15 (2)(d) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The Federal Government told the trial court that the ex-NSA had on July 16, 2015, at his residence at Sultan Abubakar Road and Sabon Birni Road, Sokoto State, retained another $150,000 and N37.6m, being part of proceedings of unlawful act, contrary to Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering Act 2011.

Meanwhile, the court will on the next adjourned date rule on whether or not eight witnesses that are lined up against him should be allowed to wear masks.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA — JUSTICE Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, slammed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for engaging in what he termed “shoddy investigations and untidy trial of cases.”

Justice Kolawole said he was disappointed that the antigraft agency chose to amend the charge it preferred against the former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, barely 24 hours to the commencement of fullblown trial on the matter.

“This is a very untidy manner of handling criminal prosecution and goes to further buttress the observation that the Chief Justice of Nigeria made recently to the effect that criminal trials in this court are delayed by the fact that the prosecuting agencies always resort to arresting accused persons first before investigation, rather than properly investigating cases before rushing to court.

“The question any reasonable person will ask is whether while the allegation in the former charge was being investigated, issues that formed the crux of this new charge were not there?

“Indeed I am deeply concerned that the state only realised 24 hours to hearing, that it needed to bring an amended charge.”

The court had originally fixed yesterday for the EFCC to open its case against Orosanye who was hitherto answering to a 24-count criminal charge alongside his alleged accomplice, Mr. Osarenkhoe Afe. Meantime, at the resumed sitting on the matter yesterday, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Adebisi Adeniyi, notified the court of the intention of the commission to file fresh charges against the accused persons.

Adebisi told the court that the agency has amended the charge from 24 counts to 35, saying additional 11 fresh allegations were added to the original charge against the accused persons.

Besides, EFCC, through its lawyer, told the court that it has also increased the number of accused persons in the matter from three to six.It said the new accused persons comprised of some corporate entities that the former HoS and his accomplice allegedly used to divert public funds.

10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2015

Firm sues PDP, Alli, others over presidential campaign debt

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BRIEFING: Dr. Cristopher Kolade (2nd right), Sir Remi Omotosho (left), Mrs Tutu Adeleke (2nd left), and Mrs Kemi Nelson, during the briefing by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in Nigeria, CECP,) on the launching of Photo: #GivingTuesday Ng activities running from December 1 to15 in Lagos and Abuja, at Eko hotel in Lagos, yesterday.

Biodun Ogunleye.

INSECURITY: Lagos to revoke

abandoned buildings approval

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE Lagos State government has said it will henceforth revoke approvals earlier issued to owners of abandoned buildings in the state to avert their conversion into criminals’ hideout.

This came barely a month after the state government warned owners of such buildings to occupy them or face sanctions.

Briefing newsmen after the monthly State Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said that action taken by the government and the security agencies in the state was to ensure reduction in crime rate.

He said that the security agencies have raided abandoned buildings in the last one month to rid them of miscreants who had converted them to their hideout.

His words: “If you go to Falomo, one of the areas that we identified last month, that was once occupied by miscreants it has been rid of the bad elements. ‘’Some uncompleted buildings in other areas have been raided, including Ebutte-Meta. They are now free of miscreants. The state government is working to get owners of abandoned buildings where approvals issued earlier would be revoked.’’

Aside this, Owoseni warned that armed robbers terrorizing the state will soon be crushed by the security operatives, even as he debunked the insinuation that the police lacked the capacity to combat crime in the state.

The commissioner noted that the security operatives have

changed their tactics against the robbers.

According to him, the state government has declared zero tolerance for criminal activities, adding that the problem of traffic robbery will soon be a thing of the past.

On the meeting, he said; “We looked at the security challenges we are facing in the state and the need to rededicate ourselves and commit our personnel to them. As we approach the Yuletide, we want to ensure that we are able

reduce the crime rate in the state.

We want to reassure residents of Lagos that the government is committed to their safety.

“We have appraised the activities of the security agencies in the state. We concluded that within the past few weeks, we have seen the reduction in some of the incidents.

And we do not want to rest on our oars. We have decided to recommit ourselves and be more visible on the roads. And ensure that enforcement is decisively carried out.”

He debunked the insinuation that the police had been overwhelmed and lacked the capacity to combat crime, saying, ”We have not been overwhelmed in personnel or equipment. You have seen increased presence of police on the roads. If we are overwhelmed, you will not see those personnel on the roads; if you go on the Eko Bridge now, or Third Mainland Bridge, you will find out that we have increased police presence there.”

EMISSION SCANDAL: CPC issues

7-day ultimatum to Volkswagen

By Abdulkwahab Abdulah

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AGOS—VOLKSWAGEN Nigeria has been given seven-day ultimatum to provide information on the status of its vehicles in relation to the emissions cheating software, which has reportedly affected 11 million cars worldwide.

The ultimatum was handed down by the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, sequel to a petition written earlier by the SocioEconomic Rights Accountability Project, SERAP, calling for caution over emission cheating software.

The CPC, in a letter to the automaker dated October 26, 2015, signed by its Director General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said; “The attention of the Council has been drawn to some publications wherein Volkswagen has admitted the allegation that certain illegal “defeat device”

software was installed in Volkswagen vehicles to cheat emission test.

Expressing fear on the development, Atoki noted, “the resultant effect of this on the environment and quality of these cars is of great importance to the CPC. “The publications also indicated that Volkswagen had admitted that

vehicles with 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 litre EA 189 engines are all affected, (i.e. Golf, Beatle, Jetta and Passat models),” it added.

Around11millionvehiclesworldwide manufacturedbetween2009and2015, including5millionVWcars,2.1million Audi, 1.2 million Skoda, 700,000 Seat and 1.8. million vans, are confirmed to have been built with these so-called “defeatdevices.”

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

AGOS—ALMOST a year after the former President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated in a general election, the campaign process organised to actualise his re election is now a subject of litigation.

Silicon Concepts Limited, one of the companies that provided electronic campaign services during the electioneering process has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and two others before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, demanding a sum of N70 million as balance of payment for the services it rendered to the party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, PCO. Joined as defendants in a motion on notice filed by the plaintiff in a bit to recover the said funds are Dr Ahmadu Alli and Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, who were sued in their capacity as the Director-General, PDP presidential campaign organization and Director, Finance, of the organization respectively.

Apart from asking for the order of court for the payment of the fund, the company prayed for a leave of court granting Dr. Tony Akabuno, a technical partner and consultant to the company to be listed as witness against the defendants during the trial of the case.

However, the defendants through the statement of defence from the third defendant denied plaintiff’s claim, stating it never owed the N70 million demanded, adding that the plaintiff company never executed the contract awarded it in any way.

ECOWAS directorate canvasses regional business important initiative that has house establishment enormous potential to upscale

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By Naomi Uzor

AGOS—THE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Private Sector Directorate, yesterday, noted that several years after regionalism, intra-regional trade in ECOWAS remains at about 12 per cent but that the ECOWAS Business House, EBH, has the potential to

shore this up significantly.

Speaking at the technical meeting on EBH, held at NACCIMA house, the technical team which consists of private and public sectors from Nigeria, Benin, Cote d’ Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal, came to the conclusion that the EBH is a very

trade and business in the region and should be established without further delay.

According to the team, any EBH may commence operations as for profit or not for profit, which is easier but ultimately it must graduate to profitability as a private sector initiative and that it should be established as a multilateral structure starting with the countries that are ready.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2015—11

Afenifere to pick Fasoranti's successor today A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—LEADERS of Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba socio political group will today meet in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the country home of its former chairman, Pa Rueben Fasoranti on the choice of a new helmsman.

All things being equal a new chairman will today take over from Pa Fasoranti who resigned three days ago, citing old age.

The group is also expected to chart a new course for the Yoruba nation after looking critically at the alleged disloyalty and other internal wrangling within the group.

Vanguard gathered that those expected at the meeting are core leaders of the group as far reaching decisions on the way forward are expected to be taken.

A leader of the group, who spoke on condition of anonymity, with Vanguard said that the outcome of the meeting will be made public and all insinuations about the resignation of its leader Pa Fasoranti, laid to rest.

Confirming today's meeting

Contacted, Secretary General of the group, Asiwaju Sehinde Arogbofa, tacitly confirmed today's meeting.

Arogbofa, however, said the public will be informed appropriately.

He said; “The meeting is strictly for members of the group only.

We will make our decisions known to you after the meeting.”

The scribe also assured that the resignation of Pa Fasoranti will not affect the struggle of the Yoruba race.

Pastor Samuel Orogun passes on

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ASTOR SAMUEL Bamidele Orogun of Idogun, Ondo State is dead.

He died after a brief illness on Saturday, September 19, 2015.

There will be a Christian wakekeep/service of songs on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at C.A.C. Ajewole Zonal Hqtrs., Osogbo, Osun. Funeral service/interment holds the following day at C.A.C. Idogun District Hqtrs. and Orogun’s compound, Ugbe, Idogun, Ondo.

Late Pastor S.B.Orogun

Pa Fasoranti remained incommunicado yesterday as one of his children said he was not prepared to talk to the press.

She said that the leaders of the group would soon make pubic the next line of action of the Socio political group.

Former chairman

indisposed

Another leader of the group who spoke in confidence said that the former Chairman is actually indisposed and on medication.

His mobile telephone remained switched off since Sunday after his resignation was made public.

Pa Fasoranti in his resignation letter said that “Considering my

age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as leader of our great organization, Afenifere.”

PUBLIC HEARING: Deputy Governor, Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd right); Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam (2nd left); Deputy Speaker, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye (left), and Chairman, House Committee on Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Nureni Adebisi, during a public hearing on Osun Land Use Charge Bill, at the House of Assembly complex, Osogbo, yesterday.

Oodua Invesment shares N150m dividend among owner states A

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

DO-EKITI—THE Odua Investment Company Limited has paid a dividend of N150 million to the five owner states of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.

Although Vanguard could not ascertain how much other states received, Ekiti State got N30 million from the money.

In a statement yesterday in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Governor Ayodele Fayose said the payment of the dividend after about six years that the conglomerate failed to give anything to the owner-states was commendable.

Meantime, the Ekiti State government, yesterday, charged those in the building industry to always use standard measures and quality materials in putting up structures, in order to guide against building collapse in the state.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole, who handed down the warning during a chat with Vanguard, said this becomes necessary to guide against negative effect of rainstorm on weak houses.

He listed the affected

professional to include: architects, town planners, contractors, bricklayers and carpenters among others.

He also cautioned them against accepting building construction jobs in forbidden sites such as those located close to water channels or canals.

He noted that some of the houses usually affected by rainstorm or flood were either too old, wrongly designed or located near where they will be

susceptible to disasters.

“We will not fold our arms as government and watch people ignore all known safety regulations in the siting of structures in any part of the state.

“This administration is putting these measures to pro-actively pre-empt the springing up of slums through haphazard and illegal building construction across thorough fares, set back or water ways,” he said.

Fayose apologises to teachers for underpayment

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DO-EKITI—GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose yesterday apologised to primary school teachers in the state over the mixup in the payment of their last month’s salary.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said; “Even though the mix-up was from the State Accountant General’s office but as the state governor, he takes responsibility.

“I want to apologise for the inconsistency and problems encountered in crediting the accounts of some primary school teachers, it was after my broadcast

few days back that I got a lot of text messages from some teachers that were affected.

“I sincerely want to apologise, I have gotten to the root of the matter, I have found out that there were mix-ups here and there, the accounts were credited and later withdrawn for carelessness in the accountant general’s office, for whatever it is I take responsibility, I apologise and want to assure you all the lapses will be corrected.

“My teachers at the primary school level,thismoneywillbecreditedtoyour accounts between now and Wednesdayunfailingly.Myapologies.”

LAND USE CHARGE:

Osun Assembly holds public hearing

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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S O G B O — FOLLOWING the dwindling revenue allocation from the federation account to Osun State Government, the State House of Assembly yesterday held a public hearing on the Land Use Charge bill with an assurance to maintain a level playing field for professionals involved in the bill that would soon be passed to law.

The Speaker of the house, Hon. Najeem Salaam, apparently speaking on memoranda submitted by concerned professionals in the bill sued for understanding saying that the essence of the public hearing was to enable professional bodies and the people of the state make their contributions in the legislation process.

Professional bodies like Nigeria Institution of Surveyors and Valuers, Nigeria Institute of Town Planners and Architects while presenting their memoranda in response to the bill expressed diverse views and concerns on the bill.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Land, Physical Planning and Urban Development in the state, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Wale Ojo said cemetery, burial grounds, churches, palaces, retirees, pensioners, old people and other non-governmental organisations that are nonprofit oriented should be exempted from paying any charge.

But the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors and Valuers said religious bodies that own schools and other institutions that are profit oriented should be taxed.

Speakingonbehalfofthebody, Prof. Bioye Tajudeen advised the House of Assembly to re-visit the bill with the aim of involving the services of professionals that would bring a turn around to the state’s economy.

The public hearing held at the premises of the Osun state house of Assembly in Osogbo also had in attendance traditional rulers, marketmenandwomen,artisans, landlords,lawyersamongothers.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his speech appealed to taxable people of the state to pay their taxes in order for the government to continue numerous projects it has embarked upon in the state.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Shell failed to clear Nigeria's oil spills —Amnesty International, CHRD

By Sebastine Obasi, with

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Agency report

HEAD of November 10, marking the 20th anniversary of the death of renowned environmental activist and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Amnesty International, AL, London-based human rights watchdog and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, yesterday in a report, accused Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, of failing in its legal obligations to clear up oil spills it caused in Nigeria’s oilrich Niger Delta region.

The report titled, Clean it up: Shell’s false claims about oil spills in the Niger Delta, documents ongoing contamination at four oil spill sites that Shell said it had cleaned up years ago.

AL said the report was published to mark the 20th anniversary of the execution of the environmental activist and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Saro-Wiwa, who campaigned relentlessly against damage caused to the Ogoni area of Rivers State, was executed by the Sani Abacha junta on November 10, 1995.

“By inadequately cleaning up the pollution from its pipelines and wells, Shell is leaving thousands of women, men and children exposed to contaminated land, water and air, in some cases for years or even decades,” said Mark Dummett, Business and Human Rights researcher at Amnesty International.

“Oil spills have a devastating impact on the fields, forests and fisheries that the people of the Niger Delta depend on for their food and livelihood. Anyone who visits these spill sites can see and

smell for themselves how the pollution has spread across the land,” he said.

The report also highlighted the failure of the Nigerian government to regulate the oil industry.

According to AI, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, the government’s watchdog, was under-resourced and continued to certify areas visibly polluted with crude oil, as clean.

“As people in Nigeria and around the world remember Ken Saro-Wiwa and the eight other Ogoni leaders who were executed in 1995, Shell and the government of Nigeria cannot ignore the terrible legacy of the oil industry in the Niger Delta.

For many people of the region, oil has brought nothing but misery,” said Stevyn Obodoekwe, CEHRD’s Director of Programmes.

AL said the findings of a 38 page report were based on research conducted in the Boobanabe, Bomu Manifold, Barabeedom swamp and Okuluebu areas of Niger Delta’s Ogoniland region, between July and September this year.

According to AL , spills in those areas dated back several years.

The report stated that AL researchers found waterlogged areas with an oily sheen, “patches of oil-blackened soil at several locations” and, in some cases, pollution “spreading into neighboring land and

waterways”.

Consequently, AL said SPDC should change its approach to the way in which it cleans up after oil spills and urged the government to publish detailed information relating to such operations.

When contacted, the spokesman of Shell, Precious Okolobo, said: “Without having access to the report it is difficult to respond to these issues in a thorough manner.

Implementation of the UNEP report is part of a wider programme of remediation, pipeline protection, community engagement and social investment activities being undertaken by the SPDC JV with its government, community and civil society partners in Ogoniland."

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ORT HARCOURT—FIVE civil society groups, yesterday, in Rivers State accused Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa, Lagos, of impounding a sculpture made in living memorial of Ken Saro-Wiwa.

According to Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Friends of the Earth, Social Action, Environmental Rights Action and Home of Mother Earth Foundation, the sculpture was seized on September 8, and all efforts to get it released had been fruitless till date.

The group said the sculpture was on display in several places in the United Kingdom before it was shipped into the country.

A statement by Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Friends of the Earth, Social Action, Environmental

By Festus Ahon

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SABA—AS part efforts towards boosting the standard of education in Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, inaugurated a sixman committee to organise an education summit to be held in the first quarter of 2016.

Inaugurating the committee, which the former Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, as Chairman, and Mr Vincent Magboma, as secretary, Okowa said the education summit became necessary to check the falling standard and noticeable deficiencies in the present education system in the state and the country in general.

Other members of the committee include: Chiedu Ebie, Jude Sinebe, Mrs Pat Ejeteh, Professor Mary Edema, and Mr Jackson Ekwugum.

Construction firm dragged to court over alleged failure to pay N3.9m rent AGM: From left: Mobol Nnang, Teamlead, Commercial Banking, Heritage Bank; Mr. Charles Beke, Chairman, Rivers/Bayelsa, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria; Gloria Anwana, Teamlead, Public Sector, Heritage Bank and Chief Nabil Saleh, 2nd Vice Chairman, Rivers/Bayelsa, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, during the 31st Annual General Meeting of the Association/1st Nigerian Made Exhibition, sponsored by Heritage Bank, in Port Harcourt. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Rights groups accuse Customs of impounding Saro-Wiwa's sculpture

By Jimitota Onoyume

Okowa inaugurates c'ttee on education summit

Rights Action and Home of Mother Earth Foundation said the sculpture was to draw attention to the environmental challenges faced by Ogoni arising from pollution of their area.

According to the groups: “This statement is issued to draw public attention to the seizure by the Nigeria Customs Service of a “living memorial” to Ken SaroWiwa donated by Platform friends and colleagues in the United Kingdom - to the Ogoni people.

The memorial is a sculpture made in remembrance of the struggles of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni environmental rights activists who were sentenced and killed by a military tribunal in November 1995. It calls attention to the environmental degradation and

economic deprivation, in which the Ogoni people live, despite being naturally blessed with enormous deposits of crude oil.

The people of Ogoniland continue to fight for remediation of their lands and compensation after the devastation caused by oil multinationals such as Shell.

“After being on display at various places in the United Kingdom for 9 years, at the request of Nigerian partners, the sculpture was shipped from London to Nigeria via Lagos Port. On arrival in Lagos, it was impounded by Customs officials on September 8, 2015, who claimed that it had ‘political value’, due to Saro-Wiwa’s words which are inscribed on the side: ‘I accuse the oil companies of practising genocide against the Ogoni’. The sculpture also displays the name of Ken SaroWiwa on a white steel banner, and the names of the other 8

Ogoni men on sculptural barrels, currently stowed inside for transportation purposes.

Every attempt to get it released to the Ogoni people has proved abortive. No further reason has been given for the continued seizure of the gift to the Ogoni people.

Similarly, a box of flyers and reports commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwa, sent by friends Platform in the United Kingdom through DHL, was also seized for no justifiable reason by the State Security Service. To date the box has not been returned. We have submitted letters of appeal to the Customs boss, Col Hameed Ali (retd), upon receipt of the letter by his Personal Assistant, we were assured that the sculpture would be released.

That has not yet happened."

By Festus Ahon

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S A B A — FOLLOWING alleged refusal of a construction firm, to pay its rent, a Warri-based business woman, Mrs. Victoria Oteheri, has dragged the firm (name withheld) to the High Court sitting in Ughelli, Delta State, seeking the payment of N3.9 million rent for the period between the January 2012 and May 2015.

She is also seeking payment of N13.4 million as assessment of damages allegedly done to the property, a six flat storey building at Amekpa Street, in Ughelli metropolis, which the firm allegedly rented in 2005 to house its expatriate workers.

In a statement of claim prepared on her behalf by her solicitor, Mr. T.C Ubini, in the suit no UHC/63/ 2015, the claimant explained that the company had taken possession of the property on June 1, 2005, after agreeing to lease it for two years for N1, 728, 000.00 at the rate of N72, 000.00 per month.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—13

Tension in Bayelsa over looming clash between Dickson, Sylva's supporters

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—BARELY a month to the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, fear of possible violent clash between supporters of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who is seeking reelection, and Chief Timipre Sylva, his All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, counterpart, now pervades the state.

But for the timely intervention of security operatives, there would have been a clash at Swali market when APC supporters came face to-face with the governor’s men.

Tension mounted when APC governorship candidate, Sylva/ Igiri campaign organisation and officials of Bayelsa State Sanitation Authority, met while each camp trooped out to evacuate heaps of refuse scattered across the state capital.

The APC supporters had trooped out in their hundreds as early as 7am to converge at the Sylva/Igiri campaign organisation head office, before proceeding to the refuse receptacles backed by bulldozers and trucks to evacuate the wastes.

The APC operation tagged “Sylva Cleans Bayelsa,” first port of call was the refuse dump close to the Kpansia market on the Isaac Boro expressway, a development that caused serious gridlock on the usually busy road.

The Syla/Igiri APC train later moved to Community Secondary

School, Kpanisa, while the state government, through its Environmental Sanitation Authority, also deployed its bulldozer and trucks to evacuate the receptacles.

The state government's team was sighted evacuating the receptacle close to Okaka Primary School on the Melford Okilo expressway.

However, the atmosphere was tense at the Swali market area when the APC train came face to face with the Governor Seriake Dickson’s convoy on

“Community-to-Community meet the people” tour.

But security operatives reportedly prevented the situation from degenerating into a clash between the supporters of the APC and the PDP. The APC exercise which was led by the Directors of Publicity and Mobilisation, Chief Nathan Egba and Selekaye Victor-Ben, had hundreds of APC women and youths engaged in evacuating refuse from Kpansia, Swali and Opolo areas of the state capital.

While Nathan Egba described the Keep Bayelsa Clean exercise by the APC as strategic and means of saving the state from epidemic, Selekaye Victor-Ben said the evacuation was a show of care by the APC against the perceived failures of the PDP to keep the state clean.

It was however alleged that some of the women involved in the exercise were attacked at the Tombia dump site, resulting to accusation and counter accusation from APC and PDP camps.

MEETING: Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade (left) and the President and Representative Director, Japan Gas Corporation (JGC), Mr. Koichi Kawana, during a meeting in Tokyo to discuss plans for a modular refinery in Cross River.

Edo LG pensioners, Oshiomhole's media aide bicker over payment

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—LOCAL Government Pensioners Association, LGPA, in Edo State, yesterday, traded words with the Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, over the payment of pensions to local government pensioners.

While the Edo State LGPA, claimed the law establishing Pension Boards made it mandatory for the federal, states and local governments to jointly fund the Local Government Staff Pension Board, LGSPB, Afegbua insisted that the state government had nothing to do with the payment of councils’ pensioners benefits as they were not its employees.

LGPA, in a statement by its state president and Secretary, Mr. J.U.Obakpolo, and Mr. T.E.Uwagboe, respectively, in a response to an earlier statement credited to C M Y K

Afegbua, argued that by the provisions of Section 210 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, state governments were mandated to take charge of pensions in their states.

The body contended that it was the “state government that collects local government allocations from the federal government monthly as well as controls all parastatals including the Edo State Local Government Staff Pension Board.

It also argued that it was the responsibility of the state government to pay the

pensions as it was responsible for constituting any board of inquiring into the affairs of each local government when the need arose.

However, reacting to the claim, Afegbua, said that

his statement on the issue was to set the record straight that the state government had nothing to do with the payment of councils’ pensioners benefits because they were not its employees.

He said, “They should channel their protests to the appropriate quarters. If they are saying that Governor Oshiomhole should intervene, that can be noted and not that the state government should pay their pension arrears.

They are not our employees. The Edo State government cannot for instance go to the Federal government to pay the pension arrears of its pensioners."

Buhari’s war against corruption, not selective —Ikpomnwen

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—FORMER Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikpomnwen (retd), has described as damaging distraction, the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption is selective, urging the leadership of the party to shut its mouth in shame.

Ikponmwen, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, said: “I think all those accusing the President of selective justice, such as the PDP, that he is only dealing with perceived opponents and people of rival parties, are just detractors. It is an unacceptable and damaging distraction which Nigeria cannot afford at this time. I believe that the best for Nigeria now is Muhammadu Buhari. The most outstanding quality that made Nigerians go for him is his incorruptibility and transparent life pattern.

He obviously is the man who can change Nigeria by infusing selflessness and transparency into all facets of Nigeria's life both public and private.

“The PDP should shut its mouth in shame. It had opportunity to move this country forward over one and a half decades, but did not do it. Rather, a cabal grew within the group, growing in misrule that worsened from day to day and leaving nothing but anger and frustration to Nigerians. We have started moving forward even by mere presence of a leader that is known to be genuine and committed to the progress of this country."

14— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015— 15

C M Y K

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVENBER 4, 2015

Chemical explosion sets 3 buildings ablaze

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

N E W I — A chemical depot located at Nkpor junction in Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra State, yesterday evening set three buildings: a fivestorey, three-storey and another ablaze when the chemicals stored in drums in the depot caught fire and exploded.

Properties estimated at several millions of naira were lost to the inferno despite the efforts of men of the fire service who were on hand to stop the fire.

Two of the affected buildings were Summer Hill Clinic and a residential home located near it. It was gathered that because the three buildings were clustered in one place, the inferno was able to affect them easily.

Contacted, the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Hassan Musa confirmed the inferno started from the chemical depot, however he said no life was lost and no body had been confirmed injured.

Mrs Christiana Ohiaeriaku for burial

M

RS. CHRISTIANA Ohiaeriaku, a devoted Christian, who died on October 2, 2016, aged 85, will be buried on November 12, 2015, at Mr. Augustine Ohiaeriaku’s residence in Umunabochi, Umuhu Okabia, Orsu LGA, Imo State.

Service of songs will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Umuhu Okabia.

She is survived by five children, 20 grand children, among whom is a Vanguard reporter, Kelechukwu Iruoma, and four great grand children.

Late Mrs. Ohiaeriaku

Tribunal affirms Gov Ikpeazu’s election want to be declared winner”, and In his reaction to the judgment, give him the impetus to develop dismissed the petition, saying, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu thanked the state faster. “the petition failed and is hereby God and the entire people of Abia “What happened today was dismissed” but awarded no cost state for their support for him, that the tribunal affirmed our MUAHIA—ABIA State against the petitioner. saying that the judgment would victory because we were Governorship Election declared winners Petition Tribunal sitting in since May. I thank Umuahia has affirmed Dr. Okezie God for the victory Ikpeazu of the Peoples and Abia people for Democratic Party, PDP, as their support. properly elected during the April Victory today is 11 governorship polls. victory for Abia and Delivering judgment that lasted victory for service. two hours in the petition brought “There is no before it by Dr. Alex Otti of All victor, no Progressive Grand Alliance vanquished, as it is APGA, chairman of the three man a victory for all. I panel of Justices, Justice Usman want to call on Bwala said that the petitioner those who lost to failed to prove beyond reasonable come forward and doubt, the allegations of join hands with us criminality and over voting in to develop the state three local government areas. to an enviable According to Justice Bwala, the height”, the petitioner ’s prayer for the Governor said. cancellation of the results of the But in his election in three local government reaction the areas of Osisioma, Obingwa and N a t i o n a l Isiala Ngwa North based on the Chairman of grounds that the returning officer APGA, Dr. Victor for the election in the state had Oye described the earlier cancelled them but later judgment of the reversed himself was not tribunal as what the substantiated. party had long The tribunal also faulted the expected. petitioner for praying that he be “We never declared winner of the election expected to get which result he said the returning judgment from the officer cancelled, saying it was CONFERENCE: The Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator members of the contradictory.

Ike Ekweremadu, receiving the Nigerian national flag, during the opening tribunal,” Oye “The petitioner cannot ask for of the 15th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference, said. cancellation and at the same time in Accra, Ghana.

By Anayo Okoli

U

Abia House launches investigation into alleged Fulani Republic in Ohafia •Pardons suspended member

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—THE Abia State House of Assembly has ordered an investigation into the reported putting up of a sign post with the inscription “Fulani Republic” near the 14 Brigade Army Barracks, Ohafia Council Area of the state.

The House also recalled its former Minority Leader, Sir Abraham Oba, who was suspended about three months ago following the position of his

party on the N30 billion bonds the government wanted to secure.

The investigation by the House followed a petition brought by the member representing Ohafia South constituency, Chief Uchendu Ifeanyi, which drew the attention of the House to the alleged “Fulani Republic” sign post mounted by Fulani herdsmen.

According to Uchendu, the said sign post “posed threat to peace in his constituency ”

because it created the impression that the herdsmen had taken over that portion of land where they grazed their cattle.

The committee, which had Chikwendu Kanu representing Isiala Ngwa South Constituency, as Chairman, was charged with the responsibility to establish if the said “Fulani Republic” land was part of the Army land and how the Fulani came into its alleged occupation.

The committee is to submit its report next Wednesday.

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Enugu ...sells at 110 per litre

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—MOTORISTS in Enugu State are gnashing their teeth following the sudden hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirt,PMS,otherwise known as petrol which now sells at N110 a litre against the Federal Government’s approved pump price of N87 per litre.

This development has occasioned long queues at major filling stations where PMS is sold at N87.

Although the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, has repeatedly assured Nigerians of

adequate supply nationwide, checks revealed that the increase started two days ago.

When Vanguard roved around Enugu metropolis, major filling stations that had PMS witnessed long queues while most independent marketers were out of supply. Further checks revealed that some independent marketers shut their gates to motorists during work hours while they open to black marketers in the evening who dispense at suffocating prices to stranded motorists.

At one of the major filling stations located on Rangers

Avenue,a motorist,Mrs. Uche Levi lamented that N1,000 which used to purchase more than ten litres of PMS for her vehicle could barely afford eight litres following the prevailing situation.

“The situation has been like this for long now. Look at the queue. I have spent one hour here because they sell at approved pump price. If you go to other independent marketers, it sells for N110 or more. The quality of the PMS is also a source of worry. We try to buy from major marketers because there is quality control here."

Activities of Fulani cattle herdsmen in some Abia communities had become a source of great worry to the people because the cattle cause huge damage to crops and farmlands in these rural communities where the breeders illegally and brazenly colonize as grazing grounds and dared the land owners for a showdown when challenged.

Besides the damage on crops and other farm produce, the aggressive nature of the Fulani cattle guards was more of concern to any community they invade.

They were always armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons, including AK47, charms and deadly daggers and machetes and were ready to attack the farm owners at the least provocation.

There had been reports of clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in some Abia communities of Uzoakoli in Bende Local Government Area, Ebem and Akanu in Ohafia and Umuchieze in Umunneochi.

In Ozuakoli for instance, a man popularly known in the areas as Ajambele sometime in the past received a deadly attack when he confronted Fulani cattle herdsmen, who invaded his farmland with their cattle and he met the cattle destroying his farm in the Over Rail area of the community.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 17

“A reformer should be exempted from the suspicion of interest, and he must possess the confidence and esteem of those whom he proposes to reclaim”Edward Gibbon.

T

HIS is one of the reasons why reformers fail: perception is indeed everything. I’ve mentioned before that those who speak for President Buhari do him no favours: from his spokesmen to the impromptu zealots and sycophants who make such strange and absurd claims as the President’s “shyness” around women.

It is evident that those in charge of his communications strategy are destined to commit the same errors as the likes of Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe whom they once criticized. By merely reacting to events and onslaughts by the opposition, by refusing to determine and lead the conversation towards certain salient truths about power, corruption and the way governance has been practiced in Nigeria, those who are supposed to be aiding the President by marketing his agenda to Nigerians (in order to carry them along) are failing their country and their president.

There is a propaganda war at hand and its byword is “witchhunt”. However, there is something greater at stake, greater than the disjointed rants and final spasms of an expiring political faction or even class, who sees its livelihood compromised by change.

A war is coming. A war because most Nigerians now believe that predatory politics is the norm, that selfish political action can benefit them and that some are simply less deserving of any advantages. It should be every media and communications practitioner’s aspiration to fight the war against the root cause of terror and insecurity in Nigeria: greed and social injustice, the acceptance that rent-seeking is a communal business within which we all gleefully consent to be trapped.

Public office holders The idea that in truth, corruption profits only public office holders is one we must teach: it is neither obvious nor clearly understood by the masses who hail their despoilers and write folk tales, modern myths in their defense. Thomas Jefferson, 3rd US President, wrote in 1784: “mankind soon learnt to make interested uses of every right and power which they possess, or may assume. Public money and public liberty will soon be discovered to be sources of wealth and dominion to those who hold them; With money we will get men, said Caesar, and with men we will get money. They should look forward to a time when corruption in this country will have seized the heads of government, and be spread by them through the body of the people; when they will purchase the voices of the people, and make them pay the price”.

The price Nigerians all over this country are currently paying is Boko Haram.

The former governor of Borno

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

There must be justice: Political subversion and the North-East

Nigerian people. Remnants of rebel armies in Chad and Niger have been formenting political instability in those countries (Chadian President Idriss Deby was himself brought to power by one such rebel group in the early '90s) for years and are responsible for banditry in the North. The so-called Fulani herdsmen who often trgger volatile situations in the Middlebelt are probably not even Nigerians, in which case, who knows if the men who reportedly recently kidnapped Olu Falae are citizens of this country. But it is most disheartening to see how political greed, voter apathy or disinterest, a lack of education and empowerment have seemingly enabled some powerful groups to covertly decide Nigeria’s future without much input from the masses.

In any society, when things go awry, fingers are first pointed at the media. Who educated the voter on his choices? Who told him he had a choice at all?

Rather than joining politicians to analyse or support real or imagined witch hunts, Nigerians need to start asking questions.

Alleged terror sponsors

•Ali Modu Sheriff state, Ali Modu Sheriff, allegedly once said that the criticisms leveled against him meant nothing because most of the residents of his state were illiterates. The

In other climes the Senate would have demanded an immediate enquiry into his allegations that top Nigerian politicians and military personnel were sponsors of the Boko Haram sect

•Olusegun Obasanjo...former President Chad basin’s oil reserves cannot be exploited on the Nigerian end due to the Boko Haram menace.

They can, however, using 3D oil drilling technologies be garnered

by Chad. As far back as 2002, then governor Mala Kachalla said conflicting border claims in the lake Chad region between Nigeria (Borno State in particular), Chad and Cameroon meant Nigeria was losing island villages to its neighbours.

Island villages which like in the Bakassi case, are rich in petroleum resources. The alarm was also raised regarding the Sambisa forest where years later the Chibok girls would reportedly be held,as it had been identified as a hideout for Chadian rebels, arms and child trafficking.

Governor Kachalla’s recommendations, made to the presidential committee on national security, including aerial surveillance and immigration reform, were seemingly ignored or in the usual Nigerian fashion, haphazardly implemented.

The rest is history. But the interesting question is why President Obasanjo and his successors would allow Nigeria to lose both oil-rich Bakassi and the huge potential revenue and resources from the lake Chad basin which extends through Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states, the very states hardest hit by Boko Haram. In the Nigerian political game, there is only one set of winners and one set of losers, the latter being the

De-marketing Nigeria

A

NOTHER week, another set of strange claims. I have often said that many of our politicians inherited the current system from their military big brothers. Most know or care to know little about democracy and its real workings.

It’s also pretty ironic, given the horrendous, planted stories about him, that a former military man, President Buhari, is the one to defend freedom of information by explaining why the electorate, deserves to be informed.

How can revealing salient truths be seen as sullying Nigeria’s name or “demarketing” the country like the PDP’s spokesman claims? “We ask how can any reasonable investor still have the confidence to invest in a country where the

President himself continues to alert that his country reeks of corrupt people and that the government is broke to the extent it cannot pay cabinet ministers?”

Olisa Metuh says.

The question Nigerians should be asking is: who made it so? Who created this situation and why are they still walking free? The Nigerian treasury has been consistently plundered and the problem with Nigeria is the unwillingness to call a spade a spade: can’t we all agree that stealing is corruption no matter who is found guilty?

There is always an excuse why a spade shouldn’t be called a spade but instead be considered a wheelbarrow when it is in someone’s interest for the truth to be subverted or for it to remain

hidden. Wheelbarrows masquerading as spades and engaging in goat and yam politics might just be the ones who are in fact de-marketing Nigeria.

•Olisa Metuh

What did then President Jonathan mean when he said there were Boko Haram sponsors in his government, in the military?How is it that alleged terror sponsors and former Nigerian presidents, are rumoured to have interests in Chadian oil companies tapping into oil on Nigerian soil? If it is true, is this not treasonous, an act of grand larceny and sabotage against the Nigerian state and people?

Who would willingly destabilize a region for financial gain? And if there are some out there who know of this, what will it take to bring them to heel? Are over 13,000 deaths worth protecting a few individuals?

What ever happened to the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, reports? In other climes the Senate would have demanded an immediate enquiry into his allegations that top Nigerian politicians and military personnel were sponsors of the Boko Haram sect.

What happened to the Usman Galtimari panel report that recommended Goodluck Jonathan should investigate politicians who own private militias used in the 2003 elections, some of whom became today’s insurgents, recruiting the “illiterates” Ali Modu Sheriff seemingly derided?

May the protection of violent, politically connected persons end with this new presidency.

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

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 AS the deadline for the ongoing military operations to clear the North East of the menace of Boko Haram Islamist terrorists draws nearer, the Federal Government is set to empanel a national conference to generate ideas, strategies and momentum for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the nation’s embattled frontier.

The conference, tentatively set for , December 7 2015, according to the Presidency, will involve stakeholders from the government, private sector and international partners.

It is expected that the North East Marshall Plan (NEMAP), which will be designed to tackle the immediate and long term strategies for the restoration of the broken human and infrastructure of the North East, will gulp over N200 billion.

It is noteworthy that the nation is preparing, well ahead of time, to help its embattled citizens wracked by violent insurgency which has claimed

North East rehabilitation plan nearly 20,000 lives and displaced over two million people, to their feet as quickly as possible, rather than leaving them to their own devices when, hopefully, the enemy is defeated.

We, however, hope that a thorough job is done in ending the insurgency first before rushing to award contracts. The insurgents must be decisively flushed out and prevented from infiltrating the law abiding populace or else the returning internally displaced persons will not have the protection they need to settle down and rebuild their lives.

It does not make sense for people to go back to their communities only to live in fear of suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks.

To keep the insurgents at bay, an effective strategy for maintaining vigilance and communal partnership with the security agencies must be put in place. We must banish the notion that only the law enforcement agencies can protect us from insurgents.

Everybody has a role to play. Perhaps, it is time to give the much talked about idea of community policing a chance.

No one can police a community more than members of that community.

While we wait for the laws to be amended to accommodate community policing, we suggest that the existing “Civilian JTF” networks, which have usefully partnered with the troops in the North East campaigns, should be strengthened.

The reconstruction efforts should focus mainly on restoring broken socio-economic amenities such as schools, healthcare facilities, markets, motor parks and road networks.

Particular attention should be given to farmers and small-scale businesses to rejuvenate economic activities.

The people must be kept gainfully employed to avoid an upsurge of violent crimes which usually come at the end of most wars and conflicts.

The conference to rebuild the North East should be a comprehensive package to ensure that insurgency never comes back, while the people victimised by the conflict are fully reactivated.

OPINION

In Nigeria, education is both a debt and death sentence

By Hassan Taiwo Soweto

T

HE Education Rights Campaign, ERC, applauds the victory of South African students over attempts to impose a steep rise in registration, tuition and accommodation fees ranging from 8% to 12%. Playing active role in this important struggle is the Socialist Youth Movement, SYM, – the ERC’s sister organisation in South Africa that also campaigns for free and democraticallymanaged public education as the ERC does in Nigeria.

The #FeesMustFall protests started as a spontaneous movement from below of angry students who could not tolerate the pro-rich policy of university managements and the government any longer. After ten days of struggle, the African National Congress, ANC, government of Jacob Zuma was forced to agree to 0 % fee increase in the year 2016. Although the demand for free education remains unachieved yet, this concession is no doubt a humiliating defeat of a government whose prorich policies have contributed to making South Africa one of the most unequal countries in the world.

This victory in South Africa should serve as an inspiration to students all across Africa and especially in Nigeria where education is gradually being turned to the preserve of the few rich through anti-poor capitalist policies of underfunding and commercialisation.

Just like South African students, Nigerian students have a lot of reasons to declare a national boycott and mass protests on the scale

of the sort of nationwide mobilizations of students were known for in the 80s under the then vibrant National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. Now despite over more than 10 years of economic boom when Nigeria made millions of dollars from daily crude oil sales (with the exception of the decline during the 2007/2008 global economic crisis), funding to public education declined while fees increased. The result is a big financial burden on working class parents who have to suffer untold hardship to scrape together money to pay high fees at the beginning of every academic session. Apart from those who face automatic exclusion and do not even bother to make the effort to apply, thousands more drop out of school after their first or second year when their poor parents’ savings suddenly run dry, there is a sudden increase in fees or family members lose jobs or fall sick. For instance, after the Babatunde Raji Fashola-led Lagos

In Nigeria education is gradually being turned to the preserve of the few rich through anti-poor capitalist policies of underfunding and commercialisation

State government in 2011 jerked up fees at the Lagos State University, LASU, from N25, 000 to an alarming N350, 000, the full-time students’ population of the university dropped from about 20, 000 to around 12, 000 over the course of the next three years. It took a massive struggle involving students, education workers and groups like the ERC and the Joint Action Front, JAF, for the fee hike to be reversed in August, 2014.

As a result of government pro-capitalist policy of turning public education into a profitmaking venture, funding of essential facilities in tertiary institutions are being cut. While grants given to faculties and departments are never enough to cover their most basic overhead costs, essential facilities like hostels, water, electricity supply and medical clinics are rarely allocated enough funds.

Government’s mantra is that universities and tertiary institutions should find creative ways of improving their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, through increasing fees, application for grants from donor agencies and private bodies and setting up profit ventures like “pure water” and bottled water business, distance learning programmes, etc. While the idea that tertiary institutions should engage in business and other ventures aside their core objectives often lead to wastage of time, energy and resources on activities that have no correlation to improving quality of education in the respective institutions, this practice also exposes students and members of staff to horrible welfare and working conditions.

In fact, so terrible are the conditions of study in

Nigeria that students are dying in droves across thecountryduetothenegligenceandinadequacy of functional facilities and relevant personnel.

But while attention has rightly been focused on the terrible conditions of hostels where students live like pigs without any good sanitary provisions and the lecture theaters, libraries and laboratories which are often denuded of the relevant materials for learning, it is only recently that the reality has begun to dawn that so underfunded, underprovisioned and understaffed are the health centresthattheyhavenowturnedtodeathcentres into which many students have gone, never to return.

Many of the health centres are so understaffed that while a doctor or nurse is attending to a patient, over 30 others are waiting on the queue.

The drug dispensary units are often without the most essential drugs such that many asthmatic students and students having similar ailments are known to have died at the health centres.

Under the pressure of cut in allocations and the need to ensure that only properly registered students benefit from medical attention, the institutions have now adopted a ridiculous policy that authorises medical personnel to withhold treatment unless an identification is produced bystudentsinneedofmedicalattentionregardless of their state of consciousness. This has led to at least five deaths this year alone. Examples are Mayowa Alaran at the University of Ibadan, Kel at the University of PortHarcourt, Oluchi Anekwe at the University of Lagos, Akintaro Raphael at the Polytechnic Ibadan and Maria Atere at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. They were all neglected at their respective institution’s health centres and died in the process.

* Mr Taiwo Soweto, National Coordinator, ERC, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Of unfit soldiers and obese legislators T

HE fortunes of the Nigerian Army have of late been going down precipitously. A military force that was for a long time the pride of the country, and was deservedly celebrated for its peace keeping skills across the continent and beyond, has suddenly descended into disgrace. To be sure, the responsibility for the illfortune of the Nigerian military as a whole and the Army in particularly lies with the military. It is the outcome of the aggravation of the unhealthy introduction of politics into what ought to be an essentially professional calling. If the military’s entry into politics was at some point justified, if not inevitable, its continued stay in politics, in fact the determination of some within its hierarchy to engage in politics even while in uniform and at the expense of the demands of their profession, downgraded the status of the Nigerian military as a fighting force.

Having tasted the forbidden fruit of power, the military resisted the urgency to return to the barracks. It became a game of musical chairs as one group

of armed adventurers misnamed soldiers plotted the ouster of another via coups that were often bloody and retrogressive in outcome. At least two of the last three regimes that Nigeria had and that were able to stay the course before the return to civilian rule in 1999 have been credited (or is it discredited?) for the destruction of the military, by their deliberate policy of keeping it under-resourced and ill equipped. Those individuals that functioned either as Chief of Army Staff and/or head of state in the series of regimes that were in power between 1985 and 1999 have a lot to answer for the state of our military today.

The damning admission by the last Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Goodluck Jonathan, the man whose hometown was sacked by Boko Haram- Alex Badeh’s admission that the military found it hard fighting the insurgency forces in the North East because it had not been equipped for long is a strong confirmation of the responsibility the military bears for its fall into something of a ragtag outfit. The President

would also repeat Badeh’s comment on the neglect of the military on different occasions during the campaigns for the March 28 polls.

Following the rot that had taken over the military at the top, it was no surprise that it became anything but a fighting force. The increase in the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents that peaked with their declaration of a caliphate only served to further humiliate the military, especially the Nigerian Army that had no answer to the wanton attacks of the insurgents. Reports of soldiers sent to the war front virtually barehanded deserting their posts were to further throw cold water on any hope of the military routing Boko Haram.

With very little by way of weaponry to prosecute its operations in the North East, our military personnel were reportedly forced into the cowardly position of destroying their own equipment. They would rather feign injury or actually took themselves out of action by inflicting injuries on themselves than take on Boko Haram. From this time on the systemic rot in the military had begun to manifest its long ignored effects on individual members of the

A lot of the human rights abuses for which our military has been culpable are not unconnected to the poor mental and physical state of our soldiers

Dear President Buhari, you do not have to appoint 36 ministers!

O

NE of the qualities that recommended, even endeared, President Muhammadu Buhari to a majority of the electorate over and above former president Goodluck Jonathan in the last election was that of resoluteness. His first coming as military head of state had left no one in doubt that his mind, once made up, can be as unbending as his steely spine. His character profile said simply: Buhari means what he says and says what he means. In general, this is an admirable quality, especially in a leader, but it can also prove to be a flaw, as candidate Buhari learnt during the campaigns when some of his less carefully guarded statements — borne of righteous indignation at the barefaced robberies misnamed elections in at least two of his previous tries for the presidency — were hurled back at him with glee by his opponents.

But that enviable characteristic, it would appear, has deserted the president in the matter of the number of ministers to appoint into his cabinet. Convinced, as we all are, of the crying need to reduce the size of government, Buhari would prefer to appoint only 18 ministers. But the constitution, he says, ties his hands. Specifically, Section 147(3) which enjoins the president to “appoint at least one Minister from each state.” It is a well-intended but woolly-headed offering to the Moloch altar of federal character enshrined in Section 14(3) of the constitution.

Here it is in all the glory of its purblind vision: “The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall

be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.”

The president who wishes, however, to appoint only 18 ministers, laments that he “cannot work outside the constitution” as “there must be a cabinet representative from each state.” But is the president truly hamstrung? Actually, no. All that Buhari needs is the political will to do that which is not only rationalbut also constitutional. Section 147 which purportedly fetters him begins thus: “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may

To appoint 36 ministers when no more than 18 are needed is simply to worship the letter while profaning the spirit of the constitutional goal of fairness and national sense of belonging

military. Many would be courtmartialled while others would be dismissed as a consequence even if they could hardly be blamed for the situation in which they had found themselves.

With its new found vigour under a new set of commanders, the military has in the last few months been able to turn back the hand of the clock in its North East operations. Of this there is no doubt. It is therefore not surprising that the Nigerian Army is beginning to take a close look at its personnel as it has announced a plan to clamp down on unfit soldiers. By unfit the military refers to that segment of its personnel that has lost the bearing of a soldier either because it has grown too fat or generally lacks the mental fitness required in the profession. The effect of the long years of neglect of the military was not just limited to a palpable lack of hardware. No less affected was the training of military personnel for fitness. But for their uniforms, many of our soldiers don’t look the part of soldiers. Their fierceness is only a put-on to harass civilian members of the public. Some are either too fat to look smart or too anorexic they appear underfed.

Soldiery is not just a matter of name. Nor is it a matter just of uniforms alone. There is a lot more by which to identify a soldier. The physical and mental fitness of a soldier is far more important, arguably, than simply providing them with weapons and pushing them into battle.

Fitness is required to properly and maximally use available weaponry. The military cannot overlook this aspect. A lot of the human rights abuses for which our military has been culpable are not unconnected to the poor mental and physical state of our soldiers. A trigger-happy soldier

or police officer cannot be said to be mentally or physically fit.

Soldiers who engage police officers or, worse yet, civilians in public brawls and set fire to police stations cannot be considered mentally fit. Such need to be retrained for mental fitness. As should be legislators, like those Peoples Democratic Party senators, that staged a walkout in the Senate following the confirmation of Rotimi Amaechi as minister-designate.

As Nigerians we need to be concerned about the appearance of those who speak in our name even if many of them got into office by fraudulent means. The concern is not that our legislators dress poorly or in the wrong clothing. On that score many would do better than models paid to catwalk. Most are expensively overdressed in fact. But they very often appear drowsy where they don’t look distracted or lost in thought. Their minds could be on anything and anywhere but the issues at stake in the National Assembly. Many of these legislators as those who staged the walkout look physically –and to the extent of that- mentally unfit. Those who don’t look obese appear lethargic in their long robes. Many of them could have been taken for sumo wrestlers.

This bad physical state may be responsible for the frequency with which many of them can be observed either snoozing or sleeping in their seats. Their situation is compounded by their eagerness to go on recess ever so often. But like other Nigerians our legislators in Abuja and elsewhere need to be mentally and physically alert, even if only for them to be able to do a little of the job for which they are overcompensated.

be established by the President.” In other words, Buhari is free to decide the number of ministries, and so the size of his cabinet. If fair representation in government is the goal, then that is more perfectly taken care of by the legislature which, lest we forget, is an arm of the government! In any case, the mere appointment of an individual from a state does not in any way guarantee fairness to every individual or group inhabitant of that state. For instance, the Isoko people have never had a minister appointed from their midst in all of the 55 years of Nigeria’s independence!

My good friend and comrade, Jiti Ogunye, has brilliantly exposed the fallacy of the thinking that the constitution binds the president hand-and-foot to a prescribed number of ministers in his article entitled “Must Nigeria have at least Thirty-Six Ministers of the Federation?” published by the online newspaper Premium Times (26 October 2015. I commend it to the president, particularly as he seems to base his desire for a leaner and justifiable cabinet more on an inability to pay the salaries and emoluments of 36 ministersin the face of the current fiscal crisis — “There use[d] to be forty two ministers but I think we can barely keep half of that now because we cannot afford it” — than on the sheer absurdity of a narrow and backward interpretation of the constitution.

What the constitution enjoins is fairness in the appointment of any number of ministers that a president might deem necessary for effective governance and the realisation of the manifesto or programme for which he was elected. With 36 states and counting, a literal interpretation of Section 147 only

produces a very costly absurdity. Such as impelled the president to contemplate appointing ministers without portfolios but who would nonetheless “sit in the cabinet because that is what the constitution said and we can’t operate outside the constitution.”

No, I repeat, the constitution does not insist on that. At the very least, it is ambiguous, leaving the way open for a liberal and preferable interpretation.

As every sophomore law student knows, the Golden Rule of statutory interpretation is to be preferred where the literal or strict constructionist approach would lead to absurdity; or when the intention of parliament — which as a rule cannot be absurd or deemed against equity, natural justice and good conscience —cannot be easily discerned; or, where discernible, it would be impossible to implement. To appoint 36 ministers when no more than 18 are needed is simply to worship the letter while profaning the spirit of the constitutional goal of fairness and national sense of belonging. It is to perpetuate the unacceptable status quo. And it is to prolong the material and moral vandalisation of the nation of which President Buhari speaks so passionately. He must now bring his fabled resoluteness to bear on the problem.

That would be a true measure of the change we all yearn for and which he swears to uphold without fear or favour.

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Stingy and selfish Arabs

By Ebele Orakpo

IDPs to Buhari: We want to go home •Task him on his December deadline promise •Receive donations from APAAC

By Emmanuel Elebeke, Abuja

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N T E R N A L LY Displaced Persons in Kuchinggworo camp, Abuja presently have one burning desire: To return to their various ancestral homes from where they were dislodged by the rampaging and murderous Boko Haram insurgents. And this is why they have tasked President Mohammadu Buhari to keep his promise of ending insurgency in the wartorn north eastern part of the country for peace to return to the area.

The IDPs who made the appeal when the Advertising Practitioners Association Abuja Chapter, APAAC, visited the camp to make donation of some relief items to them, said they were willing to go back home once it is safe to do so. They argued that it would be unwise for government to expect them to leave the camp when peace is still in abeyance.

They, however, urged the government not to renege on its promise of ending the Boko Haram onslaught by December this year.

Making the presentation, the Coordinator of APAAC, Mr. Chris Tion, said the their visit was informed on the need to lessen the pain and agony of the IDPs in various camps in the country.

“The insurgent attacks have resulted in the army of IDPs in various camps across the country. As a responsible organisation, we felt that it is nice we show concern to these IDPs, especially the camps in Abuja, which government does not recognise officially. We felt that we should reach out to them and give them some relief, ” he said.

Some of the items donated by the APAAC include food items, clothing and shoes.

The group was well supported by Tommy Tommy Food Industries, Nnewi, with lots of

*Some IDPs queuing for relief items at their Abuja camp eastern noodles.

“We have also visited different IDP camps before coming here. We saw them in conditions that almost made them subhuman,”saidthe APAAC Coordinator. He called on relevant authorities to act fast in rehabilitating the IDPs since their conditions are not human and friendly.

“The earlier government takes action by taking them back to their original communities the better. The environment is so unhygienic; if there is an outbreak disease, it could result in a calamity.

“We urge everybody to

It is true that most of the donations made to us are not getting to us; the leaders sell some of the food items to food vendors and those that care to buy

support the lessprivileged in the society and hope that government which has the primary responsibility of securing lives and property will act fast so that this kind of disaster will not repeated in the future.”

In her remarks, the representative of NEMA, Mrs. Chinwe Opara, commended APAAC for the visit and urged other corporate organisations to emulate APAAC .

“We appreciate this kind gesture of APAAC to these people. We know government cannot do it alone; that is why we are encouraging corporate entities and individuals to come to their aid so they can meet up with their CSR.” She, however, assured on government’s determination to rehabilitate the IDPs and take them back to their original states.

“Government is trying to relocate them, but we cannot force them out; we are trying to encourage them to come out in their own volition to indicate interest of going back to their home communities or original camps set out for them. We have no official camp in Abuja, but have about 30 set up by government in the North East. We will keep on encouraging them.

“With the mandate given to us by government through the inter-agency committee on proliferation of IDPs, we will, any moment from

now, before the end of this month, begin to profile all the IDPs in Abuja,” she stated.

Leaders selling relief items Meantime some of the IDPs yesterday made a revealing and disturbing accusation against their leaders whom they accused of selling some of the items donated to them by well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations.

One of the IDPs, who pleaded anonymity, said the act had been the case since the beginning of the camp. According to him, the leaders, especially from the Gwoza camp, usually take advantage of the distance of IDPs camps to hoard their share of the donations and sell them to food sellers and sometimes to the real owners when they are faced with food scarcity.

His words: “It is true that most of the donations made to us are not getting to us. They sell some of the gift items to people.

For instance, the Bauchi people usually do not come out during the sharing. Some are collecting while some are not collecting.

“What the leaders do is that they sell some of the food items to food vendors and those that care to buy.

Some IDPs too sell theirs after collecting their share when they need money.”

“

THE world as know it seems to be ending oo.

Haba, everyday is one wahala after another. It used to be one week, one trouble. Now, it is one minute, two troubles. It looks like the Holy Bible is being fulfilled right in our day. When you think it cannot be worse than what we have witnessed, a more terrible event takes place,” said Monica, a commuter in the Lekki-bound commuter bus as the discussion centred on the Syrian refugees that drowned, especially the little innocent boy that was washed ashore.

“My God, I wept when I saw that photo. It was heartrending. Any real human being would be touched by that photo. An innocent little child died a horrible death for no fault of his.

That was what made Europe throw open their doors to receive the refugees,” said Agnes.

“Exactly! But some do not really want to take so many and I don’t blame them because they too are struggling with bad economy,” said Eddy.

“But why go all the way from Middle East to Europe? Why didn’t they go to their neighbours like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, Oman,, Bahrain, Kuwait and UAE?” asked Monica.

Replied Ameh: “Ah, I think they would want to get as far away as possible from their region because they may be afraid that the evil ISIS will eventually get to those seemingly safe countries.”

“So are you saying that Europe is safe? The truth is that if we go by what the Bible says about the endtime, there is no safe place on earth except in God,” argued Monica.

“What I think is that their neighbours were not willing to take them, probably because they fear that terrorists may move in with them disguised as refugees,” said Eddy.

“So the Europeans are the fools? There is no excuse for refusing to help someone in need when you have the wherewithal to do it. Abeg make we leave that matter,” said Agnes.

“I don’t believe their neighbours are afraid.

They are simply selfish and stingy, especially Saudi Arabia which I heard has over 100,000 unused airconditioned tents with kitchen and bathroom facilities that can accommo-

date three million people.

What stops them from accommodating these helpless people? Instead, they allowed them to go and drown in the ocean, trying to find refuge in Europe. To me, that is the height of wickedness,” said Monica.

Said Ameh: “That is not even the end of the story.

Some Arab leaders had the guts to criticise Europe for not doing enough to help the refugees; can you beat that?”

“I no blame them at all.

I believe we should all do what we can to help one another. No single human being has it all. We all need one another. As the Igbo would say, you cannot be shorter than me and be taller than me at the same time. It is impossible. I read somewhere that a line in a good-bye letter found in the pocket of one of the Syrians who drowned while fleeing to Europe after all the other countries rejected them, went thus: “Thanks to the sea who welcomed us without a visa... Thanks to the fish who will eat on my body without asking me what’s my religion, or political status.....” said Eddy.

“Oh dear! So touching,” said Agnes.

“The Europeans started having a second thought when the Saudi government offered to fund the building of 200 mosques for the refugees in Germany. They did not offer to help the countries that received the refugees in the area of food and shelter, education etc, but to build mosques for them,” said Monica.

Replied Agnes: “And you want to tell me they have no sinister motive?

So the issue is not that they are selfish and do not want to help their brothers in need. I see a grand plan to spread to Europe.

That is evangelism. Make Europe shine their eyes oo.”

“I thought of that too but there is no way you will see the condition of those refugees and refuse to lend a helping hand. Europe should be vigilant; watch the refugees like hawk to ensure terrorists don’t take advantage of their kindness to attack them,” said Eddy.

“I heard there were black Syrians among them who claimed they were fleeing from Boko Haram. You can’t beat our people,” said Ameh.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

— 21

Local engineers propose concrete road construction

By Franklin Alli

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LAUNCH: From left: Operations Manager, Travelbeta.com, David Asuku; Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Onyeka Akumah; HR Manager, Miss Toyin Omotosho and Chief Technology Officer, Wale Ayorinde, at the official launch of online travel booking company, Travelbeta.com, in Lagos.

NNPC discontinues OPA, adopts direct trading of Nigeria’s oil

By Michael Eboh

Group Public Affairs Division, HE Nigerian National Mr. Ohi Alegbe, stated that Petroleum Corporation, replacement of the OPA with NNPC, yesterday, said it has the more efficient DSDP was at enshrining discontinued the Offshore aimed transparency and eliminating Processing Arrangement, the activities of middlemen in OPA, and has replaced it with Direct Sale-Direct Purchase the crude oil exchange for product matrix.

(DSDP) programme.

To this end, the NNPC The NNPC, in a statement by disclosed that the call for its Group General Manager, commercial bids issued to the 44 shortlisted bidders, made up of 120.15 1.35 34 international firms and 10 $3,293.00 -2.00 i n d i g e n o u s companies have $15.43 0.32 been withdrawn.

According to the NNPC, the Direct Sale-Direct 49.76 0.97 P u r c h a s e alternative allows 47.10 0.01 for the direct sale of CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL crude oil by NNPC as well as direct DOLLAR 195.98 196.48 196.98 purchase of POUNDS 303.1811 303.9546 304.7281 EURO 215.872 216.4227 216.9735 petroleum products FRANC 198.5211 199.0276 199.534 from credible YEN 1.6242 1.6284 1. 6325 international CFA 0.31 0.32 0.33 refineries.

WAUA 273.0915 273.7883 274.485 The NNPC further RENMINBI 30.9225 31.0018 31.0812 RIYAL 52.2502 52.3835 52.5168 explained that it SDR 273.9408 274.6397 275.3386 came to this KRONA 28.9359 29.0097 29.0836 informed position after the evaluation CBN Exchange Rate as at 3 /11 /15 exercise of prequalified bidders

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C M Y K

revealed that most of the 44 companies earlier shortlisted for the next stage of the tender process only had affiliations to refineries abroad, a situation which introduces toll on the value chain.

It added that if allowed to subsist, the development would in turn constitute a significant value loss to the Federation by way of accruals.

The NNPC said, “In this regard, only bona fide owners of refineries identified in the ongoing OPA Tender Evaluation process will be further engaged. The identified refineries will be subjected to due diligence and analysis by NNPC appointed consultants

The identified refineries will be subjected to due diligence and analysis

by NNPC appointed consultants

to confirm suitability in line with international best practice.”

The NNPC, had last month conducted the public opening of bids tendered by a total of 101 Nigerian and multinational companies competing for the award of Offshore Processing Arrangements, OPA. In the OPA, the NNPC undertakes to allocate a dedicated volume of crude oil for refining at offshore locations in exchange for petroleum products at a preagreed yield pattern.

Speaking at ceremony, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had noted that the Corporation had taken the pain to make the process leading up to the award open to public scrutiny to demonstrate before all members of the public that NNPC has nothing to hide.

“At the end of this exercise, we must be able to engage companies that are known to everybody and not shrouded in mysteries. We must have terms that are very transparent and comparative to terms anywhere else in the world where OPAs are being done,” Kachikwu said.

OCAL engineers under the umbrella of Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NISTRUCTE) have called on the Federal and State government to switch over to the use of concrete for road construction.

The engineers made this submission in Abuja during the 28th edition of their annual conference with the theme: Structural Engineering Excellence in an Environment inundated with collapse.

President of the Institution, Engr. Samuel Ilugbekhai, said “concrete pavements have been found durable and last longer than bitumenous roads” According to him: “The time has come when Nigeria should step up the use of concrete for roads especially now that the country has increased its potential to produce cement at lower prices and even exporting to other countries.’

He regretted that the country’s dilapidated roads have become death traps and the economic cost to the nation is becoming too high.

In his speech also, Vice President of the Institution, Engr.

Eddy Atumonyogo, stated: “Concrete pavements are very good because they last longer and can be used for busy roads, especially in the state capitals.

Speaking in the same vein, the Deputy President, Engr.

Oreoluwa Fadayomi, said concrete pavements have been in use all along but that the difference now is that the conversation may shift to adopting it to replace bitumen totally.

Engr. Aliyu Aziz Abubakar, a Vice-President of the Institution said the viability of concrete pavements should be looked at as the country’s manufacturing sector now produces cement that exceeds the average national need.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Sea Dredge Construction Company Engr.

Ayo Folorunsho said concrete roads are the future and the way to go, even though the cost may be high on the short run, it will be economical in the long term given the increasing capacity of cement companies in Nigeria.

He said more people die from bad roads than collapsed buildings, urging the country to take the issue of concrete pavements more seriously.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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Government buy-in into insurance will assist strategic agencies of government to benefit from opportunities of risk mitigation provided by the insurance industry.

NAICOM to institute insurance committee

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HERE are indications that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, is putting modalities in place to institute an Insurance Committee for the sector just like the Bankers Committee of the banking sector.

According to Vanguard investigations, the Insurance Committee when instituted is expected to serve as a platform for regular interaction between the regulator and operators and any decision emanating from such interaction will be binding on insurance practitioners.

The Bankers’ Committee is a regular and compulsory meeting between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all the managing directors of commercial banks operating in Nigeria.

An insurance operator who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “For the first time, the Commissioner for Insurance will institute an insurance committee similar to the Bankers Committee. With such in place we expect to see more positive engagement and change in the industry because we will have a platform where our regulator sits with us the operators and we take decisions together and everyone ensures that all agreements are implemented. The Bankers Committee is what gives bankers the edge over other sectors because they sit with and engage the Central Bank of Nigeria,

With such in place we expect to see more positive engagement and change in the industry CBN. At such meetings, ideas are analysed, sometimes they are given to committees to go and study and report back and where decisions are taken, the CBN then ensures that they are implemented for the overall interest of the banking sector.

“So I believe that with positive engagement with the regulator through the insurance committee, the insurance industry will witness significant change,” the operator stated.

Recall that in 2013 the Insurance Industry Consultative Committee, IICC, was inaugurated

by Mr. Fola Daniel, Commissioner for Insurance then. However, the objectives of the IICC is to represent the industry’s voice in national and global discourse; guarantee a collective medium for dialoguing; provide a clearing house for vital industry policies; engender a firm anchorage for insurance industry growth agendas; constitute a powerful lobby group for governmental relations, and act as a veritable tool for conflict resolution.

Membership of the IICC consists of representatives of NAICOM, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, Nigeria Insurers Association, NIA, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers NCRIB, Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria, ILAN, as well as distinguished elders and leaders of the insurance industry.

The IICC meets quarterly to deliberate on emergent issues and to foster its objectives. The committee is chaired by the sitting President of CIIN. C M Y K

,

INSURAN Why MDAs need to set up insurance units Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

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S part of the change mantra of the current administration, there is need for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, of government to tap into the benefits of insurance through creation of insurance units and subsequent and regular purchase of insurance covers for staff and assets.

Accordingly, experts are of the opinion that government buy-in into insurance will assist strategic agencies of government to benefit from opportunities of risk mitigation provided by the insurance industry.

President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mr. Kayode Okunoren said that such action will further grow the insurance industry in Nigeria.

Recall that the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, called on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, of

government to set up insurance desks or units in their various offices and that the insurance desks should be manned by qualified insurance professionals to handle the insurances of their assets.

Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive of NAICOM, Mr. Mohammed Kari who made the call advised that such move is necessary by all MDAs of government to ensure compliance with the provisions of extant laws in all their insurance activities.

Kari said that advising the government and all its agencies on insurance matters is one of the key functions of the Commission and was prepared to offer this service to ensure adequate insurance and protection of all government assets by virtue of the provision of Section 7(F) of the NAICOM Act 1997.

Meanwhile, Okunoren stated that such dedicated insurance desks should be manned by qualified insurance practitioners.

Okunoren said, “The prudential disposition of the current administration would not be complete without adequate attention directed at engaging the insurance industry, in order to return the economy to vibrancy.”

According to Okunoren, there is need for government to address the bugging challenge of late payment and non budgetary allocations by some MDAs for insurance placement, adding that other large nongovernmental organisations need to also create insurance desks that would be manned by qualified insurance professionals.

Accordingly, NAICOM charged all MDAs to explore this window of opportunity by ensuring that they comply with the provisions of the law in all its insurance activities.

He pledged the full support of NAICOM to MDAs in the insurances of assets and liabilities.

On the way forward, Group Managing Director of Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Mr. Bode Akinboye said,

CONFERENCE: From left: Director, Lagos/West Directorate, Royal Exchange General Insurance, Mr Benjamin Agili; Coordinator, Foundation for Youth Education, Mr. Patrick Ajogwu; Mrs Ram- Edozien Olalade, Angus Memorial Senior High School; and Head Counselling/Learner Support Unit, Distance Learning Institute (DLI) University of Lagos, UNILAG, during the 8th Annual Royal Exchange Leadership Conference for Secondary School Prefects in Lagos State.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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CE & YOU

— 23

The prudential disposition of the current administration would not be complete without adequate attention directed at engaging the insurance industry, in order to return the economy to vibrancy

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Dearth of local technology companies hampers insurance growth —Oshin

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TRAINING: From left: Mr Willemstad van den Andel, Consultant to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); Mr Matthias Tempi, Consultant to UNIDO; Mrs Tas Nilgun, UNIDO’s Project Manager; Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr Juliet ChukkasOnaeko and Mr David Tommy, Country Representative of UNIDO at a four-day skills training programme organized by UNIDO and ITF, in Abuja.

We expect to see bigger companies, stable institutions that are innovative and ready to give much more to the customer in terms of service delivery and at the end of the day we expect to see increase and growth in premium income

“Our regulator should continue to lead the way by having regular positive engagement with government. We expect that government will walk its talk by being the number one insurance compliant customer in Nigeria and enforce particularly the compulsory insurances, then enforce regulatory issues with operators to ensure that market conduct is ethical and sustainable.

“Based on that, we expect to see bigger companies, stable institutions that are innovative and ready to give much more to the customer in terms of service delivery and at the end of the day we expect to see an increase and growth in premium income that will perculate into other sectors through renewed investment activities and helping to address unemployment and enhance economic growth generally.

anaging Director of Custodian & Allied Insurance Plc, Mr. Wole Oshin has said that the absence of local technology companies that can create technology platforms peculiar to the Nigerian environment has continued to impede business growth in the country.

Oshin who stated this at the Professionals Forum of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, in Ogun State, said that the situation whereby no major local company can create such technology for Nigerian businesses is a major challenge to the insurance sector.

Oshin said, “The challenge in information gathering in Nigeria is affecting business growth and it as a result of this that most available statistics in Nigeria is always two years behind. There is no reason why we should not be able to get quarter on quarter data. There should be statistics that enables us to come up with adequate and proper pricing of risks.”

He said that when foreign companies are contacted to build IT platforms for Nigerian companies, the foreign companies do so at their convenience to the disadvantage of Nigerian businesses.

Oshin cited other challenges confronting the insurance sector to include negative perception which still persists; information technology below par; industry-wide data gathering and document management is poor which invariably affects proper product pricing and development; as well as industry is highly fragmented and competitive, thereby affecting the pace of growth in overall market size.

Others are challenges in the enforcement of compulsory insurances; scarcity of human capital in certain specialized areas e.g. Actuaries as well as rise in fraudulent claims.

On opportunities, potential and gaps in the sector, Oshin said that the industry has recorded a year-on-year turnover of 18.4% and 17.4% compounded average growth (CAGR) between 2007 and 2013 respectively; the Life business contributes 25% and growing with a potential to surpass the general business within 10 years; shift in focus to retail business would largely unlock hitherto uninsured risks through product channels such as mobile phones and retail outlets as well as the bottom of the pyramid and low income mass market holds a huge potential for the industry albeit in the medium to long term e.g. agricultural insurance.

DIN initiates platform to promote financial inclusion S

INCE the launch of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy in October 2012, there has been a rapid scaling up of initiatives by a wide range of players aimed at improving access to and uptake of formal financial services in Nigeria.

As a result, increasing attention is being paid to financial literacy in clear recognition that it is a crucial component of increasing financial inclusion.

Against this background, the Financial Literacy Excellence Awards (FiLEX) is being launched by Development Initiatives Network (DIN), one of Nigeria’s leading development sector organisations, to support effective policy and market

responses on financial empowerment.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Bola Fajemirokun, DIN’s CEO, stated that the FiLEX Awards aim to showcase and

celebrate leadership and innovations that have improved financial literacy in Nigeria.

She stated that for the winners in the three Awards

categories, the FiLEX Awards will be a prestigious platform for demonstrating their strong commitment to delivering brand or social values relating to the empowerment of financial consumers in Nigeria particularly given the rise of digital finance, that is, the cashless revolution.

The FiLEX Awards she noted will celebrate leadership and innovations that have improved financial literacy in Nigeria.

Nominations for the Awards, which can only be made online at

www.filexawards.com, opened on 30th October 2015 and will close on 30th November 2015.

Winners will be announced in December 2015 and the winners will be presented with their Awards at the inaugural FiLEX Awards Conference in January 2016, which will be attended by high-level government representatives and major corporate and civic leaders.

DIN has been working on financial literacy issues since 2006 and pioneered advocacy for a National Strategy to systemize activities in this field.

DIN is an affiliate of the International Network on Financial Education.

Send comments & enquiries to insuranceandyou@yahoo.com

24—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

By Prince Osuagwu

DIARY Cyber Security in Banking Conference, 2015 Indaba Hotel, Johannesburg October 21 – 22, 2015

Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2015 Cape Town, South Africa November 8-12, 2015

Preview Cloaking device can save soldiers from explosions

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researcher at a Defense company in Boeing has filed a patent for a sci-fi-esque cloaking device that would protect soldiers from intense shock waves generated by explosions.

The device works by stopping shock waves using a veil of heated, ionized air such as “shield” to dampen the force of explosion. It doesn’t build an invisible wall of force, but rather makes shock waves bend around objects, just as some high-tech materials bend light and make things invisible.

C M Y K

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RMED with a whopping $1.2 billion specifically mapped out to turn around the fortunes of first National carrier, NITEL and its assets, new owners, NATCOM may be planning to pip existing operators to market leadership at launch.

This is as the operator which plans to roll out services before the end of the year, under the brand name nTel, revealed that it was going to launch services on the fourth Generation, 4G platform. Existing operators are either on 2G or 3G platforms.

However, the telecommunications company also said it was ready to share infrastructure with existing operators to reduce its Capital expenditure, CAPEX. Rural telephony: Meanwhile, in a unique fashion, the operator revealed exclusively to Hi-Tech, that it has made an unprecedented investment towards rural inclusion, acquiring no fewer than five satellite companies which it intended to strategically deploy to complement other infrastructure that will carry services to the rural areas.the local satellites companies according to the operators would be deployed across the country to strengthen backbone network infrastructure.

Network infrastructure Although, it is not particularly cost effective to use satellite to propagate services, the company said that why it was not bothered was that the satellites now belonged to them and would help reduce the bottlenecks around right of way when deploying services with fibre optic.

However, the company warned that it was not a plan that would take off with the snap of the fingers as its DNA supports consistency and strategic planning before services are dished out to Nigerians.

In a press conference last week in Lagos, to herald its launch, Managing Director of the company, Mr Kamar Abass, told Hi-Tech specifically, that in relation to rural telecom opportunities, his company had two option: “one of the strategies is to build ultra low base stations.

These are base stations that cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to make and to equip. These compare to $200,000 to $250,000 for urban base stations. The ultra low cost base stations have a cost of operation of around $1000 a month or less compared to the $4000 to $5000 or more for the urban set up.

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Telecoms mast

Telecom sector to witness fresh mobile competition NATCOM acquires 5 satellite companies to boost rural telephony •Plans to pip existing mobile operators with 4G launch •Rolls out nTel services before year end The other option is to use satellite coverage; and I know that social Organisations like Facebook and others, are sponsoring satellites to deliver broadband to rural communities.

We are talking to companies in both domains to explore the opportunity of gaining access to the 40 million Nigerians who are living far away from traditional macro network sounds”.

Abass also revealed a lot of other plans the company has to make triumphant re-entry to the juicy Nigerian market.

Real 4G is here: “NTEL will launch a pure play 4G LTE mobile service, the service will offer high speed data, high definition voice and video, the first phase of network roll out will begin with 800 sites, increasing to 2000 sites

as we move on.

Data centre: We are also building tier 111 data centre which gives us opportunity to have double layer redundancy because with the capacity of this

One of the strategies is to build ultra low base stations.

These are base stations that cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to make and to equip

Data centre we are only allowed to have not more than 24 minutes down time in a year.

However, we are ready to collocate with existing infrastructure by other operators and that helps to reduce our capital expenditure, CAPEX”.

The operator which legally acquired NITEL, its mobile arm MTEL and other assets last year, says it was aware of the massive investments existing operators have made and their strong holds in the market but promised to give a fight that would make it difficult for anybody to dismiss it in the history of Nigerian telecom development”.

Fixed network service Abbas also said the company would roll out successful fixed Continues on page 26

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—25

Why your business should go for mobile ‘Appy-ness’

By Laju Iren

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IG businesses are smart.

That’s probably how they became big. Many of them have Chief Technology Officers who not only have many years of training and experience but are paid the big bucks to use technology as a gateway to economic success. It is no surprise then that many big businesses have mobile apps available to their customers.

But as a small business owner, your budget might not even have room for an intern, how much more a CTO? But the amazing thing is that you don’t need a CTO to tell you to develop an app for your business, and you don’t need a huge budget to develop an app. In actual fact, if your business constantly relates with customers in the main stream

and is open to even more customers, building an app is the way to go.

The reasons are endless.

Nigeria has over 160 million mobile phone lines in operation. It is also a haven for smart phones, eighty four percent of which are connected to the internet. This means that more and more people can have access to your goods and services than ever before.

Having a mobile app does wonders for your brand, giving it more prominence and credibility.

To get started, put all your ideas down on paper, answering the most important questions. What good or service does your business provide?

What is the target market of your app? Would you like to limit the app to existing customers or would it be open

to potential customers as well?

Would you like the app to have a community? What exactly do you hope to achieve with your app? What features in the app would be beneficial to your business? Be sure to put down everything you have in mind.

Next, speak to an app developer you know to discuss the workability of your ideas. In case you don’t know a developer, there are lots of reliable sites that can help with your app.

Another thing you must do is have a database of your already existing customers. People who already know your business are more likely to use your app than

How ICT impacted MDGs in 15 years R

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globally are said to be using the internet of which 2 billion are from developing countries.

Internet penetration Globally, the ITU study showed that 3.2 billion people are using the internet and expected to do so by end 2015, out of which 2 billion are from developing countries.

For every internet user in the developed world, the report said there were about two in the developing world.

However, about 4 billion people from developing countries are said to have remained offline, representing 2/3 of the population residing in developing countries.

Of the 940 million people living in the least developed countries (LDCs), only 89

million use the Internet, corresponding to a 9.5 per cent penetration rate.

Specific achievements in the last 15 years of ICT growth Mobile cellular subscriptions The report postulated that by end 2015, there will be more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions, corresponding to a penetration rate of 97 per cent, up from 738 million in 2000, an indication that global internet penetration grew 7 fold from 6.5 per cent to 43 per cent between 2000 and 2015.

Mobile broadband In a similar trend, mobile broadband is said to be the most dynamic market segment; globally, reaching 47 per cent penetration in 2015, a value that increased 12 times since 2007.

pay you for the opportunity to do business with you. Beyond that, reward customers for downloading and using the app.

$1bn set top box manufacturing plant coming soon in Nigeria

By Emeka Aginam

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By Emmanuel Elebeke ECENTLY, the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda was held in New York with a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly.

The summit was also meant for governments to make their final assessment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which global leaders agreed upon in the year 2000.

It is evident that in the past 15 years, the ICT revolution has not only impacted on the MDGs but driven global development in an unprecedented way.

According to ITU study on ICTs, the report indicated that ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society.

Experts say technological progress, infrastructure deployment, and falling prices have brought unexpected growth in ICT access and connectivity to billions of people around the world. For instance, statistics have shown that in 2015 alone, there are more than 7 billion mobile cellular subscriptions worldwide, up from less than 1 billion in 2000. Out of this number, 3.2 billion people

those who do not. Be sure to make your app free. You’re more likely to improve your ratings on google, android and apple stores when you do.

Besides, why should people

OMMITTED to fast track digital switchover and bridge the digital divide in the country, Media Concepts International, MCI, a Set Top Box, STB, manufacturer licenced by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. in partnership with South Korea, KAON will commence building of a massive N197 billion ($1bn) manufacturing plant in Abule Egba, Lagos State.

KAON is the the world’s number three set top box manufacturer from South Korea MCI is one of the thirteen indigenous companies licenced by the NBC for the manufacturing of STBs in the country.

The STBs will be used to convert analogue television sets to show digital channels at the homes of millions of Nigerians.

The construction of the manufacturing plant, according to the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer, Media Concepts International, Mr. Babatope Michael Agbeyo during the signing of Memorandum of understanding in Lagos is expected to begin in January 2016 and will be completed by the end of December with manufacturing activities taking off thereafter will kick off.

He said that the manufacturing plant is expected to employ over 1000 technical staff that will be trained on local assembly in the first instance and full manufacturing of set top boxes locally. Nigeria’s digital switchover (DSO) driven by the private sector will lead to production of set-top boxes and viewing of digital channels by TV viewers in line with the directive of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Already, MCI and South Korean firm, KAON had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a N197 billion ($1bn) Set Top Box (STB) manufacturing plant, the first by any company in Nigeria.

This development is expected to help Nigeria to realise its digital switchover milestone of June 2017.

Agbeyo told Technology journalists during the briefing that Nigeria will be the hub for local manufacturing of set-up boxes for other African countries. Stating that the price will be regulated by the NBC, he said that MCI will make the product for Nigerians, adding that DSO is a reality.

“We cater for about twenty six million TV household in Nigeria.

Local production of set up box is a technology transfer. It will create jobs. It will not be capital flight. We we will producing is what is available in the international market. The consumers will get value for their money.

“The site for the plant will be ready by January. We are importing technology. The plant will cost not less one billion dollars, ($1 billion)”he said.

26—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Double honours for MTN ...as NCC renews digital mobile license •Subscribers express brand loyalty

By Prince Osuagwu & Laju Iren

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ESPITE the constraints and huge burden the N1.04 trillion fine by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC may have brought to MTN Nigeria in the past two weeks, there are two cheery sets of news that just might make the telecommunications operator Y’ello again. One is that the same Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has approved the renewal, and consequent extension of the tenure of its operating spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands.

With this renewal and extension, MTN’s operating spectrum which was issued along with the Digital Mobile License (DML) in 2001 (with an original expiry date of 31 August 2016), has now been extended to 31stAugust, 2021.

The second is that many of the operators’ subscribers across Nigeria have expressed the willingness to stick by its network despite the burdens of the fine on its operations.

Many of the subscribers who spoke to Vanguard Hi-tech, expressed brand loyalty, saying regardless of the fine, they would stick with the MTN through thick and thin as long as the telecoms giant remains constant in its delivery of quality service.

The commission imposed a whopping sum of $5.24 million on the telecoms operator, penultimate week, over what it described as non-compliance in the deactivation of improper registered subscribers. In a latter development however, MTN revealed that the commission has in a letter dated November 2, 2015, signed by the acting Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umaru Dambatta, extended its operating license.

MTN quoted part of the letter to have read: “MTN will, however, be required to pay the sum of $94,225,152.75 (ninety four million, two hundred and twenty five thousand, one hundred and fifty two dollars, seventy five cents) as Spectrum fee for the 5 year extension period.”

Recall that in February 2001, pursuant to one of the most trans-

ess Telecom sector to witn fresh mobile...

Continues from page 24 network services because it has the right platform to make it thrive.

According to him,the problem with others who have the license but have not been able to roll out the service was because they operate on 2G platform with a lot of subscribers squeezed into the small pipe the spectrum provides.

He promised to make a total turn around of the case because nTel was going to operate on the 4G platform which is spacious since it has no subscriber at the moment.

For him, “research findings of respected institutions like Pyramid and OVUM have stated that there is still space in the Nigerian market. According to these agencies, between 200 to 230 million SIMs will be added to the market by 2019. This is an over 100 million increase from today’s figures as published by the NCC.

Innovative and modern service NATCOM will position itself smartly to harness the market by providing Innovative and modern service offerings as yet not seen in Nigeria. Roll out plans have been concluded and network equipment are currently being built for NATCOM by Ericsson and Huawei with a view to rolling out mobile services before the end of the year”.

The last statistics recorded by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that mobile operators in the country added 2.1 million new subscribers in June 2015.

According to the report, the total number of mobile subscribers had risen from 144 million in May 2015 to 146 million in June 2015. The stats revealed that GSM networks remained the key drivers of the Nigerian telecommunications industry as other operators contributed minimally to the surging growth of the subscriber base.

According to the report, subscriptions to fixed networks increased from 181,625 in May 2015 to 182,643 in June 2015; however, this is lower than the 187,028 subscribers recorded in June 2014. The total number of subscriptions to all telecommunications network in the country had risen from 146.56 million in the month of May to 148.8 million in June. This compares with 132.19 million in July 2014.

Meanwhile all telecommunications networks added 16.59 million lines or 12.54 per cent within the one-year period even as CDMA subscriptions increased marginally from 2.02 million in July 2014 to 2.11 million lines by the end of June 2015.

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parent mobile license auctions in the world, the NCC issued Digital Mobile Licenses, DML, to three pioneer mobile operators. The licenses were bundled with spectrum in the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands.

Amongst other authorisations, MTN also holds a Unified Access License and a 3G Spectrum License through which it provides a full bouquet of digital services to its esteemed customers throughout Nigeria. An excited Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, speaking on the extended license said: “We view this extension as

We view this as a demonstration of confidence in MTN’s capacity to continue to provide innovative services to its customers

. a demonstration of confidence in MTN’s capacity to continue to provide ground-breaking and innovative services to its customers, and another milestone in the evolution of the Nigerian communications industry.”

Subscribers’ loyalty Apparently corroborating good luck, MTN subscribers across the country have expressed confidence in the network saying the fine would not make them move to another network. Some of them who spoke to Vanguard said that as long as they are getting preferable services from the network, the fine makes little meaning to them.

One subscriber, who gave his name as Mr. Akin Akintayo, said: “Interestingly, the fine will not in any way affect my patronage of MTN because I am sympathetic to the brand. I feel the penalty given to the company is too grevious.

What offence could they have committed to attract a 1.4 trn dollar

MTN service centre

fine? The only reason I’ll ever leave MTN is if there is a collapse in the network’s services that will be obvious to all.”

For Mr Christopher Akponome, another MTN subscriber, the situation is similar. “I don’t really know much about the fine and the circumstances surrounding it,” he said, “all I know is that I still use MTN and will continue to use it because I’m alright with the services.”

Mrs. Ogochukwu Mba ia another subscriber who says she is only interested in the quality of service provided by the company and nothing else. Her words: “I’m indifferent about the whole thing. The most important thing is the service." If I see that they are having issues with the services provided on the network, then I can leave. But as long as I can call, text, browse and do everything else without hitches, I’m fine.”

SlimTrader receives million-dollar boost from Interswitch

By Juliet Ebirim

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LIMTRADER, one of theleading e-commerce solution providers for businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, has received a US$1m investment from Interswitch, an Africafocused integrated digital payments and commerce company that facilitates the electronic circulation of money as well as the exchange of value between individuals and organisations on a timely and consistent basis.

The additional funding provides the clearest sign yet of the power of SlimTrader ’s flagship e-commerce platform, MoBiashara as it expands into the hospitality sector. With the funds from Interswitch, SlimTrader will now be able to ramp up operations and help more hotels expand their market reach.

The investment comes from the Interswitch e-payment Growth Fund, a new US$1m fund intended to serve as a catalyst for innovation and disruptive business concepts within the African payment industry. The Interswitch fund collaborates with entrepreneurs and start-up businesses developing innovative products and services that empower Africans to participate in the emerging payment ecosystems currently

From left: Yemi Adegoke (SlimTrader), Femi Akinde (SlimTrader), Mitchell Elegbe (Interswitch) and Jonah Adams (Interswitch) at the event.

transforming businesses on the continent.

According to Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Managing Director of Interswitch “SlimTrader is a dynamic and ambitious business dedicated to growing Africa’s e-commerce sector. This makes them an ideal candidate for investment from the Interswitch ePayment Growth Fund. We are committed to encouraging innovative ideas in the digital payments and commerce space in Africa and are excited to be working with SlimTrader to expand MoBiashara services into the hospitality sector.”

With massive potential in the African market, over 1500 hotels across sub-Saharan Africa used SlimTrader ’s online hotel management platform –

MoBiashara for Hotels to increase visibility and sales. The platform allows hotels to manage their offline and online reservation with major exposure through strategic channel partners such as TripAdvisor and hotelnownow.com.

Speaking on the new investment, Slim Trader’s founder and CEO, Femi Akinde stated, “We remain committed to our mission of unlocking the potential in African businesses. This funding puts more hotels a click away from their own free property management system, website booking engine and channel manager; connecting them to multiple local and international online booking sites. We see this as transformational to the subSaharan Africa hospitality industry.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—27 —27

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28 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Wuraola golf tourney: Large entries overwhelm organizers

By SOLOMON NWOKE

O

*Eaglets

FIFA TSG commends Eaglets T

he FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) saddled with the responsibility of ‘monitoring international matches and identifying latest footballing trends’ has applauded the tactical savvy of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led Golden Eaglets after they easily reached the semi finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 with aplomb on Sunday. Desmond (Desi) Curry, Member of the TSG had sought out Amuneke

ahead of their trumping of the A Selecao of Brazil at the Estadio Sausalito to explain briefly his seemingly obstructive tactics which have confounded opposing teams at this tournament.

The team, according to TSG’s elderly man from Northern Ireland, has brought to bear a new trend with varied styles and deployment of players when ‘having or not having the ball,’ hence the need for clarification.

“Sincerely, we (TSG panel) have tried to understand the

Lyon looking to shake off C/League troubles

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eturning to the Champions League after a three-year hiatus was expected to be a challenge for Lyon. Yet things weren’t expected to go this badly for the seven-time French champions.

With just one point from three matches, Lyon is last in Group H going into tonight’s home game against leader Zenit St. Petersburg at the Stade Gerland.

Hubert Fournier’s side will be eliminated if it can’t beat the Russian side and Valencia C M Y K

wins against Gent in the group’s other match.

Following a superb season marked by Alexandre Lacazette’s emergence as a top striker, Lyon has been struggling this term. The players hired during the summer have yet to gel with the rest of the squad, Lacazette is going through a confidence crisis and Fournier has been dealing with a spate of injuries. As a result, Lyon is lagging 10 points behind

tactics you are using but it is confusing,” Curry told Amuneke matter-of-factly. “I have done some of your matches here but it is unusual to see a Number 10 (Kelechi Nwakali) playing deep as much as we have seen your player here.

“This is a new trend and we are going to include some of your explanations in the Technical Report of the championship because the tactical approach of your team stands out,” he noted. The TSG was Paris SaintGermain in the league with its future on the European stage in tatters. With just two wins from its last eight domestic league games, Zenit’s chances of retaining the Russian title are slipping away. But the side has a knack of hitting good form at just the right time in Europe.

Top of Group H with three wins from three games, Zenit will advance to the knockout stages with another victory against Lyon today.

introduced 49 years ago by FIFA at the 1966 FIFA World Cup England and current Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh was on the panel at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. “Our (TSG) main goal is continual improvement of the game,” notedJean-Paul Brigger, head of FIFA’s technical division while revealing the identities of TSG for Chile 2015.

*Milicevic

ver 200 golfers from across the country and some neighbouring West African States have signified interest to participate in the th 12 Elizabeth Wuraola Ojo Memorial Golf Tournament billed for this weekend at the Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.

Organisers have promised that this year’s edition would be the best ever, as the the sponsors, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) have put in place mouth- watering incentives for the golfers and especially for the women with a special prize for the Amiable Woman Of The Tournament.

This platform is to further extol the virtue and vision of the deceased for the game of golf,” according to the sponsors, the prize is symbolic of the amiable nature of the departed woman of substance.

According to Bayo Aderinto, manager Marketing and Promotions, Smokin Hills Golf Resort in charge of the tournament, Elizabeth Wuraola memorial tournament is one of the biggest events in the Nigerian golf calendar.

He said, “ the tournament is one of the biggest events in the golf calendar. The momentum is high as there have been serious pressure from golf enthusiasts from across the country and even from some West African countries like Ghana wanting to play in the tournament, but the championship is only limited to invited golfers. We are expecting 100 golfers while already over 200 golfers have indicated interest to play at Smokin Hills Golf Course, “In line with the desire of Chief Michael Ade. Ojo OON to make this year ’s tournament more of women because the person in whose memory the tournament was instituted was a woman, out of the 100 golfers expected to play at the tournament, 20 are women as against five invited last year. Again, out of the total entries those that cannot be accommodated in this tournament will be given preference in other events to be organized by the club. “ We are grateful to the contributions of the founder of the Smokin Hills Golf Club, Chief Ade. Ojo OON for moving the golfing capital to Ilara Mokin in Ondo State”.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 29

Chelsea, Mourinho in need of a win against D/Kiev

Barcelona welcome BATE without Messi

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ose Mourinho could use a win. Chelsea has lost its last three matches, including its sixth of the Premier League season on Saturday against Liverpool. The team’s next game is against Dynamo Kiev today in the Champions League. ‘’It’s a big game,’’ Mourinho said. ‘’It’s a game that we cannot lose.’’

Because of the team’s struggles, many have speculated that the players are working against Mourinho.

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, however, wrote on Twitter that he was not involved any revolt. ‘’I am extremely happy at Chelsea and have an excellent relationship with the manager,’’ Fabregas wrote. ‘’There may be certain individuals from the outside trying to destabilize this club but I strongly believe that we will bounce back and come good again.’’

Elsewhere in Group G today, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts FC Porto.

Here are some things to know

*Chelsea about today’s matches: The pressure is intensifying around Mourinho, and it shows.

After the English champions lost to Liverpool, leaving them in 15th place in the standings, Mourinho answered every question during a television interview with, ‘’I have nothing

LLTC to host 2015 Quadrangular games

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he 2015 Quadrangular Games have been slated to hold between November 15 and 21 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The games which is open only to the four premier social clubs in Lagos involves the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos Country Club and the Apapa Club. Ikoyi Club are the defending champions.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Prince Bowo Olateru Olagbegi said in Lagos yesterday that this year’s games would introduce a

number of innovations that would make a lot of difference from previous editions.

“The games will, for the first time, witness cultural nights which will showcase our rich cultural heritage,” he said, adding that children from the four clubs will compete among themselves thereby making them part of the fun which the week-long event represents.

Sports to feature include Tennis, Table Tennis, Squash Racquet, billiards and snooker, Chess, Tug of War, among others.

CAF officials, others for VCN Sports soccer final

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op Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA Official Paul Bassey, will lead some Nigeria ex-football greats like Victor Agali, Austin J.J Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Tajudeen Disu, Etim Esin and Henry Nwosu to the legacy pitch of the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos on Saturday Nov 7, 2015 for the grand finale of the second edition of the VCN Sports Limited U-15 soccer challenge C M Y K

involving Fortune Football Academy and TAO Football Academy.

Other special guests expected at the occasion include the immediate past chairman of the Surulere local government council, Hon Tajudeen Ajide, Chief Martin Muoghara, Chief Casmir Emenim, Chief Idowu Egboje and former Super Eagles goal keeper trainer, Joe Erico popularly referred to as “Jogobonito.”

to say.’’ With Dynamo visiting, Mourinho needs to galvanize a squad which has already lost nine times in all competitions this season.

Another loss today would

leave Chelsea with a difficult task to progress to the knockout stage of the Champions League and could see his second spell as manager at Chelsea come to an end.

arcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium will be fully decked out in party mood as it welcomes BATE Borisov, not least because it is celebrating 10 years since Lionel Messi scored his first Champions League goal.

A decade after an 18-year-old Messi netted the third of Barcelona’s five goals against Panathinaikos on Nov. 2, 2005, the club is the defending champion, having won four European cups since.

A knee injury has sidelined the Argentine star with in-form attacking duo ofNeymar and Luis Suarez charged with supplying the fireworks against the Belarusian club.

Fears that Barcelona would lack finishing power without Messi have proved unfounded, with six wins and one draw in the eight matches played since Messi’s absence and the team sharing 24 points with Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish league.

Wounded B/Munich hope to restore pride against Arsenal B

ayern Munich will be looking to avenge its first defeat of the season when Arsenal visits the Allianz Arena for the reverse fixture in the Champions League today.

Arsenal beat the Bundesliga leader 2-0 in London last month, putting itself back in contention for a knockout berth after losing its opening two games in Group F. Greek champion Olympiakos hosts Dinamo Zagreb in the other group match, where a win for the home side would firmly boost its chances of qualifying for the second round.

Here are some things to know about the games: After making a blistering start to the season with 10 straight wins in the Bundesliga improving the record they had set themselves in the 2012-13 season - Bayern dropped its first league points of the campaign in a goalless draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday.

Pride was the biggest casualty, with Bayern’s players complaining about Frankfurt’s defensive tactics despite being under intense pressure for a period during the second half.

While defeat to Arsenal was

written off as a freak occurrence - ‘’I can’t explain it,’’ said coach Pep Guardiola - Friday’s draw *Lewandowski was an altogether different matter.

Bayern looked tired, short of ideas, far from secure at the back, and wasteful up front.

Another poor performance will have alarm bells ringing in Bavaria.

Arsenal has a good record in Munich, where the side is unbeaten in its last two visits following a 1-1 draw in March 2014 and 2-0 victory in March 2013.

Including playoffs, Arsenal has won seven and drawn two of its last 12 away games in the Champions League.

Another win today would pull Arsene Wenger’s side level with Bayern on six points.

Today’s Champions League Fixtures AA GENT BARCELONA B/MUNICH CHELSEA LYON MACCABI TEL AVIV OLYMPIACOS ROMA

V V V V V V V V

VALENCIA BATE BORISOV ARSENAL DYNAMO KIEV ZENIT FC PORTO

8:45PM 8:45PM 8:45PM 8:45PM 8:45PM 8:45PM DINAMO ZAGREB 8:45PM B/ LEVERKUSEN 8:45PM

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, NO VEMBER 4, 2015—31 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA NOVEMBER

I regret sleeping with my boss Dear Bunmi, ’M A secretary and made an irrational decision nine months ago to sleep with my boss. He was years older but extremely sophisticated and sex with him was good.

So was sex with my husband.

My lover is happily married, so what we had was a fling.

But why was I attracted to another man when I love my husband? My boss has since been promoted and he now heads a branch office. The affair is more or less dead.

But why did I have it?

Does it mean my marriage is doomed? Please help.

Abah, by e-mail.

I

She ignores me now she's had our baby Dear Bunmi, FTER TRYING for a baby for three years, my wife and I now have a fourmonth-old child.

As much as I love our new daughter, I didn’t expect our marriage to be affected in the way it has. We used to be extremely close and were very much involved in each other’s lives, but now I barely get involved in the scheme of things. I don’t just have a rival for my affection, I feel replaced - it’s almost like she stopped being my wife once she became a mother.

For us, sex is almost nonexistent. This I xpected, but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how much she’s gone off it, Whenever I initiate sex, it’s rejected and it’s like she hates me for even thinking about it. Is this how it’s now going to be? I

A

don’t want to live my life like this.

Audu, by e-mail.

Dear Audu, Yours is a common problem.

After childbirth, you believe you should now have your wife back whilst she wants her life back!

This is why the overriding emotion most women feel for their partners in the early weeks and months of parenthood is resentment.

Her life is now utter chaos while yours seems (to her anyway), sort of the same. There you are, feet up on the couch, channel surfing as usual with probably a chilled drink in front of you. She walks past with baby in one arm and dirty washing in the other; you laugh at a cheesy comedy on the box and she hates you, When she staggers wearily out of bed to

Was I used and dumped?

Dear Bunmi, HERE’S THIS man I’d had a crush on for ages but he hardly noticed me.

About two weeks ago, he suddenly appeared at our table during a friend’s birthday party.

The friend warned I should stay clear of him as he was a loser. Yet I jumped at the chance of a lift from him. He saw me to my flat and we had sex. It was after he left that I realized he didn’t leave his number though I gave him mine. It’s two weeks now and he hasn’t called.

I thought he liked me, so

T

why haven’t I heard from him?

Dupe, by e-mail.

Dear Dupe, I doubt you’ll hear from this man again because all he was interested in was sex. If you hadn’t been so desperate to hook him, ou’d have realized that. Having sex with someone soon after you met them doesn’t suggest you’re looking for a relationship. In future get to know a man properly before having sex with him. Then you’re in a better position to judge if you two could become an item.

breast-feed and you roll over and contentedly snuggles back into your pillow, she hates you a little more!

On top of this, your penis eagerly prods her in the back may-be on the one day she could sleep; she hates you so much you’re lucky she doesn’t turn around and rip it right off, with her bare hands! Running side by side to her anger is an overwhelming love for this new life . She used to be besotted with you, now she can’t take her eyes off her child. Be rest assured that all the caressing, squeezing and kissing hasn’t disappeared, it’s just directed at the baby - and it doesn’t switch off during sex when you have it. Lots of women say they find it completely impossible to stop being a mum - one part of her is always listening, always alert to her child.

Here’s the good news though: it gets better. You both just need time to get used to being three, rather than a cosy twosome. You can help speed this process by assisting her as much as you possibly can with the chores and the baby - especially if you don’t have any house help. The more you help out, the more energy and love she’ll have left for you.

Sleep is more precious to her than sex right now, so the more sleep you can help her get, the more sex you’ll get. Be rest assured that this phase shall pass. Help her out and in six months or so, both of you will be in a much happier place.

My man's dad smacked my bum Dear Bunmi, KNOW I get on well with my boyfriend’s family.

We’ve been an item for a few years now, but at a recent party, his dad tried to kiss me after giving me a playful smack on the bum. We’d all had too much to drink but I told my boyfriend about it right away. In the morning, I didn’t make an issue of it as it looked as if both father and son had forgotten about the incident.

Thinking it was a one-off, I put it all behind me but sometime later, he made another pass at me. This time, we were both sober and I was indignant. He apologized and promised it would never happen again. I was stunned by his behaviour to say the least. I

I

know I should have mentioned it to my boyfriend but I was too shocked to think straight. How should I handle this?

Uju, by e-mail.

DearUju, Honesty might be the best policy but I don’t believe it applies here. Telling your boyfriend now would achieve nothing. He’s bound to be terribly hurt, leading to a fullscale warfare within the family, father versus son, husband versus wife; even boyfriend versus girlfriend. It must be horrible trying to fend off the advances of a drunken old leech and even though you should alert your boyfriend again that his dad is not to be trusted, the fact he did nothing

the first time should be a restraint.

For now you should keep quiet and see if your boyfriend’s dad can keep his promise.

If he can’t, you’ll have to say something - either to him or your boyfriend. Then again, if you tell your boyfriend, it may come down to being your word against his dad’s and who will be believed. No son likes to doubt his father. You need to confide in someone you know you can trust. Getting it off your chest might help you put it behind you and move on. Don’t forget however, to give this old git a final warning. Tell him if he does it again, you’re going to tell his son and wife.

Dear Abah, To be faithful “till death do us part” might be a wonderful idea, but there is plenty struggle - and slip-along the way. While an affair isn’t pleasant, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a dreadful marriage.

Sometimes, we’re tempted simply because we want something new. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re not

happy with what we have nor is an affair anyone’s fault.

It’s impossible to make a partnership affair proof. No matter how loving, sexy or beautiful you are, everyone is prone to temptation at some stage.

This doesn’t mean your partner is no longer in love with you. Most of the men who admit to having affairs claim to be happier in their marriages than other men who say they had never had one. Women are more likely to cheat on their men if they’re not happy at home, but that still doesn’t mean they don’t love their partners.

Your fling seems to be a momentary and stupid lapse of judgment and thank goodness your boss is no longer around to make your fling marriage - threatening.

Some marriages even end up stronger after an affair. You love your husband and this guilty conscience that’s tearing into you means you won’t make the same mistake again.

Most of the men who admit to having affairs claim to be happier in their marriages than other men who say they had never had one. Women are more likely to cheat on their men if they’re not happy at home, but that still doesn’t mean they don’t love their partners. Your fling seems to be a momentary and stupid lapse of judgment...

I need the will-power to leave him Dear Bunmi, I have been seeing my Ghanaian boyfriend for four years and I told him we should be living together by now. I later asked him for commitment but he says she can’t tell what’s going to happen in future. We don’t live together and because of work, we only see each other at weekends.

Recently, we got talking again about the future and he said one day he’ll go back home to get married and have kids- and I’m not in the picture. I’ll soon be 30 and it seems I’m wasting my time on a relationship that is going nowhere. My head tells me to

leave him but l love him to bits.

What do you think?

Jade, by e-mail.

Dear Jade, After four years, your relationship certainly should have developed into something more permanent.

The fact that it hasn’t and that he doesn’t include you in his long-term plans, suggests that he sees your relationship as little more than a dalliance.

Tell him you need more than he is prepared to give you, and get out now. You’ll get over him with time.

This will leave you free to start a new relationship that might be more fulfilling.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

32—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2015

assembly plant in Itu LGA as well as the Low Energy Display (LED) manufacturing plant at Itam. The Ibom deep sea-port project is on course and several substations were built to improve electricity supply. The state has invested heavily in skill and manpower development by providing training for a thousand youths in oracle technology.

Youths have also been sent to Israel to acquire skills in agriculture while another set will be sent for power sector training. The list continues with the groundbreaking ceremonies of a fertilizer Map of Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State Gov Udom Emmanuel plant and the Daar Communications broadcast a clay refining factory; and governorship election must take complex at Abak. At the same place in 18 out of the 31 local construction of Ikot Udom Road time an electric meter assembly with 15m span bridge in Ibiono government areas in the state. If and clay processing plant are Ibom Local Government Area, it is true that “all politics is local,” underway in Onna LGA. among others. then the fate of the state will Important to note is the Work has also resumed on the depend on the candidate who is underlying ideology of Dakkada dualization of Eket-Ibeno Road able to effectively appeal to the - the call for Akwa Ibomites to rise simple, mundane and everyday just as urban renewal projects in the cause of moral within Eket and Oron townships concerns of the electorate. The transformation and spiritual reare ongoing.

In addition to these, principle presupposes that most birth which the Governor the construction of a second people will not decide who to launched and is very popular runway at the Ibom International vote for in local elections simply with the people. The foregoing Airport and construction of three as a means to act on feelings is merely a glimpse at the collapsed bridges and internal about national politicians. The achievement of Mr. Udom roads in Obot Akara Local emotional tie of the people to the Emmanuel in his first 100 days Government Area are projects Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in office. Clearly, Mr. Udom that are quietly transforming the cannot be ignored. Their intense Emmanuel has brought his more face of Akwa Ibom.

Progress has desire for progress is also a factor not been that will urge them on to vote for confined to continuity in the governance of construction of the state. Fortunately, a closer roads and look at Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s bridges alone. career in the private sector will The state reveal that he is well placed to government provide a purpose-driven a l s o leadership in his new commissioned assignment as the governor of the water Akwa Ibom State. reticulation Mr. Udom Emmanuel served and headas the secretary to the Akwa Ibom works in Ifa State Government after which he Atai and Idu assumed the role of governor of Uruan, in Uyo the state in May 2015. By and Uruan September 2015 when Udom L G A marked 100 days in office, the respectively long list of his accomplishments while an ultrahad become a testimony to the m o d e r n good judgement of the Akwa gynaecology Ibom electorate. Under him, the ward named state government started work on after Dr. 137 kilometres of road building, (Sister) Ann some of which include: w a s dualization of Uyo-Etinan Road; commissioned construction of Etinan-Ndon Eyo in the 78-year Road with two bridges and spur; old St. Luke’s construction of Ikot Ebekpo-Ikot Hospital Anua.

Ebidang Road for easy access to T h e government also renovated male and children wards in the hospital.

The governor that Efforts to industrialise Akwa Ibom needs in the state and the coming days of p r o v i d e q u a l i t y lean resources from employment to the federal purse is the people saw t h e one that has a revitalisation of mastery of expertise Peacock Paints including financial and provision o f management infrastructure for the car

Akwa Ibom and the question of progress

By Adewale Okoya

E

VERY human being desires progress.

Sometimes, the desire is an individual one. At other times, it is collective. When it is collective, it can be for the family, the village, an ethnic group or any other coalition of people with shared hopes and future. Thus, over the decades, it became well established that the desire for progress among the people of Akwa Ibom is a keenly felt one.

Anyone who is familiar with the collective history of Akwa Ibomites within the agglomeration of the peoples of Nigeria should easily recollect that a conscious effort was made to redirect the orientation of the people away from the occupation of domestic servants in the homes of wealthy Nigerians to more respectable professions.

The resounding success of the effort can be clearly seen in the enviable status of many proud sons and daughters of the state who are leaders in their own rights in every sphere of life in the Nigerian nation today.

Providentially too, in the midst of this effort, the fortunes of the state took a turn for the better as it joined the ranks of oil producing states and later became a major beneficiary from the 13 per cent derivation fund reserved for oil producing states in the sharing formula of revenue from the sale of crude oil by the Federal Government every month. In the pursuit of progress, the bounty was utilized by successive administrations to transform the state from the backwaters to a powerhouse in the Nigerian federation.

Powerhouse in Nigerian federation Uyo, the capital of the state, has most graciously evolved in the last 28 years from a glorified village to a modern metropolis with perhaps the most modern road network in Nigeria. If the pace of development was at snail speed during administration of successive military regimes, it accelerated in 1999 under Obong (Arc) Victor Attah and turned into a gallop from 2007 when Senator Godswill Akpabio assumed office as governor of Akwa Ibom State.

By May 2015 when Senator Akpabio completed two terms of four years each in office, he had started the march towards industrialization of the state by concentrating on the construction of the infrastructure backbone needed for the state’s development.

But the struggle for power in the state is threatening to unravel the dream of turning Akwa Ibom into a destination of choice for Nigerians and tourists from across the world. The Justice Sadiq Umar-led Akwa Ibom State Governorship Tribunal has ruled that a rerun of the April 11

than 23 years experience in managing the investments and life savings of diverse customers to the service of the people of Akwa Ibom State. He is more than qualified and equipped to fulfill the yearnings and expectations of Akwa Ibomites for progress. Mr. Udom Emmanuel was educated at the University of Lagos where he graduated in 1988 with a 2nd Class Upper Degree in Accounting. He also studied at the Leeds Metropolitan University where he graduated with M.Sc in Corporate Governance. He is highly-regarded within the financial services industry as a leading authority in corporate governance and related issues.

Mr. Umana Umana, on the other hand, is an establishment man who worked in the public service for decades. His track record in the public service is not easily verifiable. This is why Akwa Ibomites will do well to ensure that the person who occupies the government house in Uyo as governor is one with the relevant training and experience to manage the resources of the state and utilize them in the best interest of the people. The governor that Akwa Ibom needs in the coming days of lean resources from the federal purse is one that has a mastery of expertise including financial management and not one that will use the office of the governor as an avenue to provide compensation to career politicians for their long years in the system.

ABA: Traders cry to Abia govt over failed Ngwa Rd VOL. 1 NO 48

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

-PAGE 3

•Igbo chiefs at a meeting.

Why we don't speak Igbo at our meetings —Ohanaeze

BY CHINENYEH OZOR

E

NUGU — THE umbrella association of all Igbo cultural unions, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has given reasons for Igbo language not being spoken at Igbo gatherings by Ndigbo.

Former National Secretary of Ohanaeze, Professor Ben Nwabueze, SAN, who spoke, lamented that Ndigbo do not speak the Igbo language to themselves because most of them were promoting their various dialects instead of speaking the central Igbo. There are as many Igbo dialects as there are communities.

Nwabueze, who spoke at an Igbo language programme organized by the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, for secondary school students in Enugu, said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo once decided that its meetings and activities would C M Y K

be conducted in Igbo, but this did not work because there were several Igbo dialects spoken in various parts of Igbo nation unlike Hausa or Yoruba which had acceptable central language.

“We once said at an Ohanaeze meeting that all our meetings would be conducted in Igbo because we realized that our language was dying, but this did not work. The first day we decided that we must speak Igbo in our meetings, the late governor of Anambra State, Chief C. C. Onoh spoke his own brand of WAWA Igbo.

“Onoh spoke at length and most people did not understand what he was saying. Every other person spoke his own dialect and at the end, nobody spoke Igbo again at Ohanaeze because none of us understood one another’s dialect,” he said.

Also contributing, the former Registrar of the West African

Ndigbo do not speak the Igbo language to themselves because most of them were promoting their various dialects instead of speaking the central Igbo.

There are as many Igbo dialects as there were communities.

Examinations Council, WAEC, and now traditional ruler, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, blamed the inability of Ndigbo to speak Igbo on the missionaries who established schools in Igbo land.

Ike said that when he went to the then Government College, Umuahia in the present Abia State, it was an offence to speak Igbo in the school premises.

“When I went to Government College, it was an offence to speak Igbo in the school then. When I left the college, I travelled overseas for further studies.

Writers should publish their books in both English and Igbo languages …,” he added.

Also speaking, the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said that Igbo language should not be allowed to die.

On why Ndigbo do not

speak their language, Ekwueme said that this was because, “English language is a predator to Igbo,” just as Hausa is the predator to Angas, spoken by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon’s people.

“Gowon’s father was the leader of his people in the Anglican Church. The Bible was first translated to Angas language, but nobody read it because Hausa is predator to Angas. Igbo Bible is not read because English is the predator to Igbo.

“The Hausa Bible which was translated after the Angas Bible is widely read, but that of the Angas did not sell,” he said. John Okafor, aka Ibu, an actor, also lamented that the average “Igbo child cannot tell you where he comes from.

He will tell you that his/her father has not told him the name of his village. This is not good. We must speak our language,” Ibu said.

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

•Doctors performing eye tests on drivers

•Mr. Callistus Nwocha,beneficiary of rechargeable remote controlled standing fan.

PMT conducts free eye tests on over 4,000 drivers

•PMT MD, Mr. Amaechi Ezegwu

...splashes N2m on customers, drivers/staff as part of CSR

BY FRANCIS IGATA

E

NUGU — THE management of a leading road transport company,Peace Mass Transit,PMT,has conducted compulsory free eye tests on over 4,000 drivers in its vehicle fleet responsible for conveying 24 million Nigerians yearly,to various locations in the country.

This came as the company, as part of its Cooperate Social Responsibility,CSR,policy, doled out N2 million on its esteemed customers, drivers/staff for their outstanding patronage and services respectively in its annual CSR scheme designed to appreciate their contribution towards uplifting the company.

One hundred customers drawn from various locations nationwide received a rechargeable unit, remote controlled, standing fan worth N9,000 while 100 staff smiled home with the same household appliance.

Founded by Dr. Samuel Maduka Onyishi, the company had since 2009, entrenched an annual one-week exercise of customer appreciation and drivers training aimed at boosting customer relations and imbuing the culture of safety for drivers manning the buses in its fleet.

South East Voice checks revealed that the exercise serves as a feedback mechanism to the management as it strives to expand its business frontiers to West Africa and other subSaharan countries.

C M Y K

MD,DIRECTOR Operation/ maintenance speaks In a chat at his office,the Managing Director,PMT,Mr. Amaechi Ezegwu noted that the customers who benefited from the company largesse were products of a painstaking exercise conducted to ascertain the degree of patronage on the company.

According to the MD,”its our way of saying thank you to our customers for their dedication

According to the MD,”its our way of saying thank you to our customers for their dedication and patronage over the years.

and patronage over the years. Its an annual ritual but this time,we want to give customers something tangible they can see and feel in their homes. We have been performing the CSR through free rides that benefit customers, donations to orphanages and the vulnerable, scholarships to students in tertiary institutions among others.

“We are dedicated to improving our customer care policy in such a manner that we can access the company services through the exercise to enable us know areas where to give attention to. It also goes to trigger optimal performance from drivers and staff bearing in mind that a gift awaits deserving personnel at the annual exercise. Its has injected

staff/drivers efficiency in our operations.

On the free eye test for drivers,the Executive Director,Operations and Maintenance,PMT,Mr. Timothy Chidubemu explained that the eye test was a mandatory exercise which every driver in the company must undergo to ensure optimal vision being that the drivers convey over 24 million commuters yearly, to their various destinations across the country.

“The policy of the company is hinged on commuter safety. We conduct free eye tests on our drivers annually to ensure that they do not suffer from visual impairment. As you know,the ember month is here. Over 2,000 buses in our fleet will be on the road this period. Issues of bad weather and deplorable conditions of roads needs a driver that does not have any form of visual impairment to navigate through these challenges.

BENEFICIARY ELATED Mr. Callistus Nwocha who benefited from the rechargeable remote standing fan vowed to continue his patronage of PMT adding that the gesture served as a tonic to spur improved patronage anytime he is to travel to locations across the country.

Anambra community asks gov to remove monarch over communal land sale

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

T

HERE IS tension in the sleepy community of Urum in Awka North local government area of Anambra State following the demand by the people of the area that their traditional ruler, Igwe Benedict Nweke be removed by the state government for allegedly selling their communal land and appropriating the proceeds to himself.

The issue had lingered for some time and prominent people in the area had attempted resolving the matter amicably to no avail. To express the way they feel about the matter, hundreds of people from the community stormed the Government House, Awka, to lay their complaint to Governor Willie Obiano.

Their allegation was that the royal father allegedly sold the over 800 plots of communal land

valued at millions of naira, thereby denying them their inheritance. But the traditional ruler denied the allegation, saying that the land in question was revoked by the Anambra State government many years ago following the inability of the people to develop it.

The protesters, who were driven to the Anambra State capital in several buses, displayed placards some of which

•Protesters

read, ‘The future of our people is bleak with the sale of this land’, ‘We have no other source of sustenance’, ‘Igwe don’t sell our common heritage’, and ‘We say no to land fraudsters’.

The people also accused Igwe Nweke of using iron hand on them and urged the state government to strip him of the title as the traditional ruler of Urum community.

They demanded investigation

into what they described as the fraudulent acquisition of their Ochiokwa farmland by the state government through the chairman of Awka North local government area, a private Estate Surveyor and Valuer and Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, with the connivance of Igwe Nweke.

The statement, which was signed by the President General of the town, Mr. Dominic Umeadi, the patron of the town, Professor Ephraim Aniebona, among others, urged the state government to nullify the land acquisition and recover the public funds allegedly paid to those involved.

But Igwe Nweke dismissed the action of his subjects, insisting that he never sold any land belonging to his community.

According to him, the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, of the said land was revoked by the state government, thereby paving the way for government acquisition.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 3

Community asks for rehabilitation of link road

By CHINONSO ALOZIE

O

WERRI — RESIDENTS of Agwa Community in Oguta Local Government Area and Amakohia- Ubi Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, have called on the Imo State government to reconstruct the road linking the two communities.

The road which they said was strategic to both economic growth and social relationship of the two communities, needed urgent attention as its dilapidated condition was hindering the people's socioeconomic growth.

South East Voice learned that the impassable nature of the road had made it impossible for them to reach out to one another as in the past.

The road served the people of Izombe, Obudi, Ngbala, Nwaorie, Mbano, Umuopo communities among others who travel through it to Amakohia-ubi Community as well as Umuoka, Umujam, Umuike, Obiokwu and other Agwa areas.

Other local markets in the respective communities such as the Orie Obudi market in Agwa and the Eke Amakohia in Amakohia-ubi Community have almost been closed down completely due tolack of patronage by nearby residents

•A lorry stuck in muddy water on the road to the market

•Youths hired to bail out water to enable vehicles access the market.

ABA: Traders cry to Abia govt over perilous Ngwa Road

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

A

BA — TRADERS at the Ochendo Modern Market, located at Ngwa road, Aba, Abia State have sent a Save Our Souls, SOS, message to the state government over the dilapidated state of the road leading to the market.

The market popularly known as ‘’good morning market’’ is the major hub of the tomato, onion, fresh pepper and vegetable business in the city.

South East Voice gathered that whenever it rained, some traders and residents engaged youths who use buckets to scoop flood water from the road and throw it into the gutters to enable vehicles access the area.

The section from Ngwa road by East junction to the market can best be described as a journey through hell, even as truck drivers dread it.

A cross section of the traders who spoke to South East Voice, lamented that the situation had adversely affected their businesses as customers find it difficult to access the market, whenever it rains.

The problem of the traders was worsened by the failed state of most of the roads which serve as alternative routes like Etche, Danfodio and Pepples, among others.

Worst hit in the situation are trucks bringing in goods from the Northern parts of the country which often fall into the flood as a result of its poor state. Most truck drivers C M Y K

following the poor state of the road.

South East Voice observed that due the poor road network, the people of the area now visit one another on bicycles which have become the only means of transport.

One of the stakeholders in the area Deacon Jacob Onuigbo from Izombe Community who spoke to South East Voice on the condition of the road, said that the only way the government could get the people of Agwa to like it was to provide basic social amenities such as good roads, water and electricity as they have always felt marginalized and neglected.

He said, “if our government steps into this road and begins construction the present situation of these villagers will start changing for the better.”

Onuigbo further regretted that the retrogression so far recorded in the area is due to the bad state of the road adding that the situation could have been averted, if the government had listened to the cries of the people and rehabilitate the road.

Speaking also, Elder Linus Amadi, a community leader, said that he trekked to Amakohia- Ubi Secondary School to take part in sporting activities, as a boy through the Agwa road, pointing out that it was no longer possible for children to go to the same school these days from the community due to the poor road network.

prefer offloading goods at a safer location to avoid their trucks getting stuck in the muddy water.

A trader who sells tomatoes at the market, Mrs. Ngozi Ejike said, “We have continued to record losses because of the dilapidated condition of this road; you know we deal on perishable items like vegetables and tomatoes which will get rotten if not sold on time. This rainy season is usually a bad period for us because even trucks bringing in goods find it difficult to access the road. We are appealing to the state government to urgently repair this road to end the suffering of traders and residents.”

Worst hit in the situation are trucks bringing in goods from the Northern parts of the country

Another trader, who simply gave her name as Ojiugo, said; "Sales have been low as our customers no longer come to the market due to the dilapidated state of the roads in the area. You can see that the condition of the road has worsened. The government should come to our aid before businesses collapse.”

•Road Linking Agwa and Amakaohia-Ubi Community.

4 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Osakwe Industrial Cluster operators protest poor electricity supply

the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Connections and Disconnections Procedure for Electricity Services.

“What EEDC does is that any time it feels like, it disconnects us for us to come and beg, so that it will give us all sorts of conditions, because the people know we need the light and must come to see them for electricity to be reconnected.

They have been doing it, and

By CHIMAOBI NWAIWU

N

NEWI — SMALL scale industrialists at Osakwe Industrial Cluster, comprising those at Ezeiweka Road and Ekene Dilichukwu Polythene Producers and Allied Products, off Ezeiweka Road Awada Obosi near Onitsha are grumbling against poor electricity supply as well as what they described as unjustified disconnection of the cluster from electricity supply by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC. The industrialists who embarked on a peaceful protest over the issues shut down their businesses in the cluster and ordered all their workers to trek to Awada Obosi area where the Ogidi Business Center of EEDC was located to register their grievances against the general disconnection, even when majority of them were not owing electricity bills.

The protesters also, hired over 50 busses to convey the over 11,000 business owners and their workers to storm the EEDC Business Centre at about 9am and disrupted vehicular movements in the area.

The presence of the business owners and workers, mainly youths, between the ages of 18 and 30 years set, to lose their jobs due to poor power supply, elicited the sympathy of other passers-by and residents of the area as the joined the protesters in solidarity by chanting antiEEDC songs.

They also carried placards some of which read, “Osakwe Small Scale workers dey work, EEDC dey chop; EEDC has got us angry we will not take it; we will not agree, President Buhari withdraw EEDC license now; EEDC Managing Director: is it the way industrialists are treated in your country; EEDC refund us the N2 billion we used in buying transformers; We own wires and other electrical installation we use in installing light EEDC, what is your contribution?”

Others included, “Governor Obiano you have provided security, do not allow EEDC to drive youths back to crime” “President Buhari save us from the hands of EEDC that is bent on killing our businesses.”

Addressing his members at the EEDC office later, the Chairman of the small scale industrialists in the cluster, Mr. Johnson Okolo said they were not informed by EEDC that they were going to be disconnected, as stipulated in C M Y K

•Osakwe industrial cluster operators and workers during the protest at EEDC Ogidi Business Office.

•Mr Johnson Okolo middle with T shirt addressing the cluster operators and newsmen.

UNTH has performed 108 open heart surgeries so far —CMD

T

HE UNIVERSITY of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, has so far, performed 108 open heart surgeries since the services resumed in 2013 after 10 years of being suspended.

The Chief Medical Director, CMD, of the hospital, Dr Christopher Amah, made this known said that such surgeries would henceforth be performed regularly to reduce medical tourism abroad and save foreign exchange for the country.

According to him, the latest surgery was performed in the hospital on one Chiaha Chinyere, 25, adding that it started at about 8.35 am and ended by 11.32 am.

Chinyere was treated for mitral-valve disease, MVD, leading to the replacement of his mitralvalve, MVR. Amah further said that the hospital started performing open heart surgeries with mainly foreign doctors pointing out, however, that “these days 80 perc ent of the team of medical personnel are Nigerians.”

The foreign doctor, Vikram Aerra Parlapelly who led the team that treated Chinyere was assisted by a doctor in the hospital, Nwafor Akpan with other Nigerian nurses.

Other patients, who were recovering after their open heart operations in the hospital, told South East Voice that the symptoms included swollen

legs, inability to climb upstairs and fast breathing.

Those who spoke on their hospital beds included John Okafor, 59, (from Onitsha), Peter Ibeneme and Rose Nwafor, 57, from Arondizogu, Imo State.

However, the CMD further said that the cost of an open heart surgery was about N2.5 million but stressed that those assisted by Rotary International paid only N300,000 while others who came through the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, paid N1.5 million.

On water and electricity in the The hospital hospital, Amah said started performing that 13 new borehole projects were started open heart out of which seven had been completed. surgeries with He also said that mainly foreign the two sets of 350 doctors pointing KVA transformers dedicated to out, however, that were the cardiac unit in “these days 80 perc the hospital as ent of the team of electricity was not expected to go off medical personnel during delicate operations. are Nigerians.

now they resorted to disconnecting the whole cluster instead of the few individuals that are owing them.

“So we are here today to register our protest against such intimidation and disconnection of those who are not owing. Since they want us to work here in their station, we will do so and they will pay us. We are not here for violence, but for EEDC to employ us. Let us see if they can employ over 11,000 of us here.

“EEDC officials are protecting their work illegally and in the process, killing our businesses.

They want to terminate our jobs, and we know that before they do that, they must have made provisions for where we will work in their offices and so we are here to work for them. They must pay us our wages.

“There are rules for disconnection, and if we are not part of Nigeria where the rules apply, let them tell us, they are supposed to write us and it is our duty to fish out the debtors and ensure they pay, but because they see us as their slaves they did not care. They have been treating us inhumanly like slaves, but today we refuse to be their slaves anymore but their employees,” he said.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Cluster Mr. George Chukwu said that the EEDC was owing them over N2 billion for purchasing the transformers in the cluster as EEDC did not contribute anything towards buying the transformers, wires other electrical materials or even their installation as well as maintenance even as they collected their bills.

“EEDC is owing us over N2 billion, they are claiming that we are owing them N700 million, they should pay us our N2 billion first or they will deduct the N700 million from N2 billion and give us the balance. We are here today for them to go and reconnect our light,” he said.

Mr. Nnamdi Ezeji while addressing the protesters said Osakwe Industrial Cluster was the largest employer of labour in all the industrial clusters in Africa and has provided employment for teeming Nigerian youths and hence should not be treated like slaves.

Efforts to speak with officials of the EEDC staff at the Business Center proved abortive as they locked themselves inside, watching the protesters through their windows. Two members of staff of the EEDC, who later ran back into the office when sighting a television camera man locked themselves inside the building.

The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Roberty Deckerman declined comments on the issue when South East Voice called on the telephone, saying that he had not been briefed. Deckeman promised to call the Ogidi office to know what happened before commenting, even as he stressed that EEDC always took “customers’ complaints very serious. “We love them and try as much as possible to satisfy them by solving their problems, I will find out why they engaged in that mass disconnection,” he added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 5

Owerre-Ezukala cave, waterfalls remain abandoned 5yrs after FG’s take-over •Barr. Ekejiuba

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA — WHEN the Federal Government announced the takeover of the Ogba Ukwu Cave and Water Falls, now known as OwerreEzukala Cave and Water Falls, in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State in 2010, there were wild jubilations all over the place as both the natives, the local government council and the entire state believed then that the central government’s presence had been attracted by the cave.

The community, the local council and the state also had the impression that within a space of time, the area would be bubbling with life as tourists from all over the world would be visiting the cave from time to time and patronize their local products and boost their earnings.

However, there is nothing yet on the ground to justify the euphoria that greeted the announcement of the take- over by the Federal Government.

Up till this moment, the cave has remained as bushy as it was during the celebrated handover ceremony, five years ago.

The community had in 2010, formally handed the cave over to the Federal Government, through the then Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, Otumba Olusegun Runsewe, OON, as part of the activities marking its annual cultural festival. During the ceremony, the community had noted that the essence of handing

THE TEAM Supervising Editor: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) Editor: Emeka Mamah - Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com) Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

•Ogba Ukwu Waterfall over the cave to the government was for proper refurbishment, marketing and promotion to attract tourists to the area.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of Mbido Igbo (Origin of Igbo) Associations, Mazi Okafouzu Ugochukwu, said that both the federal and Anambra State governments had concluded arrangements to promote the cave and the community’s festival to a national festival to serve as a tourism centre within the South East geo-

Eziobodo community mourns leader, Pa Okenwa

I

NDIGENES OF Eziobodo community, Obinagu-Uwani in Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State are trooping home to mourn the demise of their leader, Pa John Okenwa Egbo, a.k.a Okalu Igbo, who died, recently.

A statement from one of the mourners resident in Lagos, Afam Mba, said there will be a

Austin Ogwuda, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi

Francis Igata, Enugu Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

Ater visiting Ogbunike and other caves in the South East zone, the previous year, the team settled for Ogba Ukwu cave as the best tourism site in the zone.

political zone, adding that the takeover of the cave was based on the recommendation of a 12man fact-finding team that visited the South Eastern states in search of a natural site that should be promoted internationally.

Okafouzu further said that after visiting Ogbunike and other caves in the South East zone, the previous year, the team settled for Ogba Ukwu cave as the best tourism site in the zone.

However, the cave has

Late Pa John Egbo

massive return of people from the area in recognition of the positive contributions of the octogenarian to the growth of the community.

According to Mba: “Late Pa John Okenwa Egbo was born in the year 1934, and he travelled to Equatorial Guinea where he worked with the white man.

Papa speaks three different foreign languages. After several years of sojourn, he came back to Nigeria in 1960, got married and started farming in Ndikeli Onwu, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“He was the community leader of Eziobodo in Obinago -Uwani Akpugo in Nkanu West local Government Area of Enugu State for 14 years. He was also the Chairman of the famous and ancient Umuegboani clan till his death.

"In his life time, Papa was known for his straight forwardness, fearlessness, honesty and sincerity. He was a

custodian of tradition and believes in the tradition of Okalu Igbo na ihe mere (the one that tells people that something happens) "Papa was also the leader of Oganga cultural group, a famous Nkanu traditional music. He died on June 11, 2015, at the age of 81.”

Activities marking his burial will kick off on Thursday, November 5, 2015, with a wakekeep at his residence, Okenwa be Nnona’s family compound while interment and funeral ceremonies follow the next day.

He is survived by wife, children and many grand children, including Engr. Paul Chijioke Okenwa, the Chairman, Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria, Alaba International Headquarters and the President, Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association.

remained undeveloped and abandoned; a situation which has been generating angry reactions from the indigenes.

Among them include an Onitsha – based rights activist and lawyer, Jezie Ekejiuba, who cautioned Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State against what he termed as discriminatory policy of his administration, as it concerned the Owerre-Ezukala Cave and Waterfalls.

Ekejiuba, who is the president of the Voters Rights International said that as a native of Owerre– Ezukala his rights to freedom from discrimination had been flagrantly violated by the discriminatory actions of the state government, in connection with the community’s cave and waterfalls.

“Sometime in July 2015, this year, I discovered to my greatest shock that Owerre-Ezukala Cave and Waterfalls which is reputed to be the biggest in the West African sub-region has been deleted from the official website of Anambra State Government under the sub-title: Tourism in Anambra State… “ Earlier in March this year, the Government of Anambra State signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with a project partner for the development of Ogbunike Cave into a world-class Theme Park and Resort at the cost of N250 million, while completely feigning ignorance of Owerre-Ezukala Cave and Waterfalls.”

Ekejiuba noted that during former Governor Peter Obi's administration, contract sum was awarded for the development of Agulu Lake via construction of a five-star hotel complex which was still on-going under Obiano’s continuity agenda,.

He added: “The policy of deleting Owerre – Ezukala Cave and Waterfalls from the official website of Anambra State Government Tourism site and favouring Ogbunike Cave and Agulu Lake with development projects while completely neglecting Owerre-Ezukala Cave and Waterfalls which is the biggest tourist site in Anambra State is the highest degree of discrimination against me and my fellow citizens of the border community of Owerre-Ezukala.”

In his own complaint, the National Treasurer of OwerreEzukala Development Union, Anayo Emejue described the cave as one of the oldest within a beautiful terrain with water falls and natural swimming pool and privileged tourist centres in Africa.

Emejue stated that Nollywood actors had often besieged the centre for shooting films and trainings, adding, “however, we the people of Owerre-Ezukala especially the town union are passionately appealing for the tarring of the access road leading to the cave, extension of the recreational facilities in the cave especially the natural swimming pool and provision of indoor games and relaxation points.”

He also mentioned electrification of the appurtenances to the cave through street lighting, completion of the Nollywood village, construction of a guest house and a pavilion at the arena, among others.

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Bishop Ikeakor commissions microfinance bank in Amichi

By OBIALUNAMMA NWADIOGBU

E

KWULOBIA — THE Anglican Diocese of Amichi in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, weekend, has commissioned its Sure Anchor Microfinance Bank Ltd, established by the diocese.

Commissioning the project, the Bishop of Amichi, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor said the church embarked on the banking project to encourage the culture of banking habit in the lives of the rural populace and discourage the attitude of living without saving for the rainy day.

He also noted that the bank

would encourage the rural dwellers, who were predominantly farmers by giving them “soft and micro credit loans for small and medium scale business enterprises with the hope of achieving economic boom in the area.”

While assuring them that ATM machines would be installed in no distant time on the bank premises, the prelate also asked them to open accounts with the bank, promising that it would not fold like other banks that collapsed in the community.

“This bank is offering to provide savings and credit facilities and assist you to grow your businesses and improve your standard of living. So, this is not Anglican Church bank alone, but for

•Bishop E.O. Ikeakor commissions the Sure Anchor Microfinance Bank at Amichi.

While assuring them that ATM machines would be installed in no distant time in the bank premises, the prelate also asked them to open account with the bank

everybody within and around Amichi.

“I also want to let you know that you have nothing to fear about folding as we have experienced personalities as members of the Board of Directors and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will be monitoring our activities, having granted us the banking licence.

In his remarks, the Chairman Board of Directors, Dr. Ugochukwu Nzewi , who was visibly elated for the landmark achievement, noted that the Sure Anchor Microfinance Bank would offer the following services: regular savings, daily contribution scheme, micro loans among other services.

The Managing Director of the bank, Uchenna Udensi commended Bishop Ikeakor for his efforts in bringing development to the door steps of the people of Amichi, adding that the promoters of the bank were worried because the absence of banks in Amichi community exposes indigenes to the risks of carrying cash to neighbouring communities.

“It also exposes them to the risks of keeping money at home, risks of financial planning difficulties in their various businesses and the hardship of travelling far before they receive money from people living outside Amichi,” he said.

Anambra legislators laud Oko Poly on infrastructure, discipline

BY ENYIM ENYIM

T

HE ANAMBRA State House of Assembly Committee on Education at the weekend lauded the rector federal polytechnic Oko, Prof.

Godwin Onu over the infrastructural transformation of the institution in the last five years.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Vivian Okadigbo who led other members of the committee on an over sight function to the Polytechnic said they were impressed with the development agenda of the management of the polytechnic, adding that the rating of the polytechnic has continued to soar under the present leadership.

Speaking after the inspection of over 22 buildings started by the current administration, Okadigbo said “I want to thank and commend you for doing this much in the polytechnic.

Federal Polytechnic, Oko is rated very high today in the country and it shows that you have done wonderfully well.

When you look round the school, you discover progress. You discover development and you discover transformation”.

“This Institution should be one of fastest growing in the country, it takes sacrifices to achieve this much result within these few years and I urge you not to relent.

C M Y K

From left, Chairman Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Vivian Okadigbo, Rector Federal Polytechnic Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu and some members of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Ikemefuna Uzoezie and Beverly Nkemdiche during a facility tour of the polytechnic after a courtesy call on the Rector at the weekend.

She further commended the rector for the revolution in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and the human capacity development in the polytechnic, adding that with such infrastructure both physical and human in place, the institution will continue to soar.

The Chairman pledged the support of the State House of Assembly to ensure that the polytechnic continues to move from strength to strength, adding, “we are here to partner with you and if there is any way we can assist you do your duties better; do not hesitate to inform us. We can assist in terms of bills and motions. And we shall not because your institution is a

federal one abandon you because over 80% of students and staff of the polytechnic are from this part of the country”.

The Rector Prof. Godwin Onu in his response described the visit as historic, adding that it

The Chairman pledged the support of the State House of Assembly to ensure that the polytechnic continues to move from strength to strength

was the first time any committee from the Anambra State legislature was coming to his polytechnic and therefore commended the leadership of the committee for the gesture and familiarization with its constituencies.

According to the Rector, “on behalf of the polytechnic community let me commend the entire leadership of the House of Assembly. I want to also commend the state governor for his leadership qualities.

Leadership is not an easy thing.

For a long time now Anambra State has witnessed a great deal of security and people are free to go about their businesses and sleep with their eyes closed. I want to commend the State government for giving us security and other dividends of democracy. There are challenges of course. Roads are collapsing but more importantly we implore the House of Assembly to find ways of bringing the Federal Government to look at the collapsed federal roads in the South East. In the State, the government should make efforts to decongest some of the roads, especially the Eke-Awka market road.”

On the state of affairs at the polytechnic, the recto noted that the Institution complements the efforts of the state government in providing security by introducing novel courses and programmes aimed at clearing the streets of unemployed youths.

He said that plans have been concluded by his polytechnic to introduce the National Innovative Diploma and National Vocational certificate which is aimed at enrolling in schools those who could not meet up with admission challenges of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board and added that the programme was designed to make the graduates employers of labour.

In a vote of thanks, Hon Ikemefuna Uzoezie praised the polytechnic management for the warm reception, adding that since they started such familiarization tours they have not received reception they received at the kind of polytechnic.

He also commended the members of the school management reminding the rector that it was because of dedicated members of staff that he was able to attain such feats in terms of development.

He urged the school management not to lose sight of the place of education in development of nations urging further that they should not relent in their good works.

Hon. Uzoezie expressed delight with the rate of development and transformation in the last three years since he visited the polytechnic, pledging his support and that of the members of their committee to contribute positively in further transforming the polytechnic.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 7

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — OHUOHIA OBIIBERE community in Ikwuano Council Area of Abia State by all standards qualifies as a typical government neglected rural community. It lacks virtually all public amenities.

The only road to the agrarian community is in a horrible state. In fact, on a rainy day nobody dares leave the community to any other part of the state, unless the person wants to be trapped on the way. Though the contract for the road was given to Niger Delta Development Community sometime in the past, the contractor did less than two kilometers and abandoned the road. So a trip to this community is almost a journey to hell, especially during rainy season.

The only visible government presence in the community whose indigenes are mainly based in Gabon, in Central Africa, is a secondary school, Ambassador ’s Model College, which was attracted to the rural community by Chief Sam Onuigbo, now the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, when he served in the American Embassy in Nigeria.

Granted that it is now a State Government owed

school, much is still required to upgrade it. Though it is located less than 50 kilometres from Umuahia, the Abia State capital, but due to the deplorable condition of the road, a journey from Umuahia to Obuohia ObiIbere takes over three hours to make. This has dire economic consequences on the people as the farmers from the area no longer convey their farm produce to Umuahia and surrounding communities to sell and make money. Ask a commercial driver that you are going to Ibere, and he will give an exorbitant bill as his transport fare and brazenly tell you that if you are not ready to pay you forget it. You can’t blame him because any vehicle that takes a trip on the road suffers collosal wear and tear.

Because of abject neglect the community suffers, members of Youth Corps who accept to serve there are adored and highly cherished by the community. They are loved and treated very well.

In fact, it is said that the rural women in the community usually provide with food stuff they use. Besides, in appreciating them, Chief Sam Onuigbo organizes sendoff and welcome get together for each batch of Corps members that serve in the community and welcomes new ones to the community.

According to residents of the

•Outgoing and incoming Corps members being hosted by Chief Sam Onuigbo.

Lawmaker, community fete Corps members community, the corp members were treated this way to encourgae them to remain in the community and serve “because once you are posted here it is like you are cut off from the rest of the world. So we try as much as we can to make them feel at home and be happy and help to teach our children in this school”.

For Chief Sam Onuigbo, whose efforts brought the school to the community around 2001, it is paramount that the youth corp memebers who serve in the community feel accepted, loved and cared for.

According to him, the zeal to establish the school was

According to Chief Sam Onuigbo, the zeal to establish the school was fired by the quest to ensure that children from the community acquire education in a less painful condition unlike what he suffered during his time.

fired by the quest to ensure that children from the community acquire education in a less painful condition unlike what he suffered during his time. He said the establishemnt of the school has helped to “ammeliorate the pains of our people who used to trek very long distances in their quest to acquire education”.

For both the corp memebrs and the management of the NYSC in the State the gesture of the community is a welcome development and an encouragement for corp members to remain in the community and feel accepted.

How Abia lawmaker marked 55th independence anniversary with motherless babies, prison inmates

By UGOCHUKWU ALARIBE

A

BA — MEMBER representing Aba North/ Aba South federal constituency of Abia State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossy Prestige, on October 1, 2015, marked the country ’s 55th independence anniversary with inmates of the Nigerian Prisons, Aba and five motherless babies homes in the

city.

The visit which started at JoyRita Motherless Babies Home along Aba - Owerri road, Abayi, took Prestige through the Seventh Day Adventist Motherless Babies Home, Ogbor Hill; Ngwa Road Motherless Babies Home; Father Basil Motherless Babies Home at Tenant road and Nwamaka Motherless Babies Home, Faulks road before the Nigerian Prisons.

Items donated to the

•Hon.Prestige and wife, admiring a baby during the visit to a motherless baby home.

C M Y K

motherless babies’ homes and the prisons included bags of garri, rice, toiletries, diapers, beverages, and cash to support the upkeep of the inmates, respectively.

Speaking with South East Voice on why he marked the anniversary with the prison’s inmates and motherless babies, Prestige said that he had been involved in such activities even before he became a lawmaker, stressing that he decided to use the opportunity to assure the inmates that they had not been forgotten by the society despite their circumstances.

While receiving the items in

the respective babies’ homes Mrs Ann Ibekwe (Joy Rita) Mrs Geraldine (Nwamaka), Rev. Fr. Basil Ejike Obi (Father Basil), described the lawmaker as a defender of the downtrodden and prayed God to bless him the more, assuring that the items would be used for the benefit of the babies.

At the Aba Prisons, Prestige was received by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of the area, DCP Stephen Ugba who took him round to inspect the classrooms, skills acquisition workshops; carpentry and tailoring sections as well as the barbing salon.

•Hon.Prestige and Wife with the Aba Prisons officials

The law maker who was visibly touched by the infrastructural decay of infrastructure and inadequate accommodation for the inmates and prison officials promised to present the matter on the floor of the House of Representatives.

He further lamented that most of the inmates were awaiting trials because they don’t have money to hire lawyers to pursue their cases in various courts and then promised to establish a free legal aid unit in his constituency office, where he would engage the services of experienced lawyers to render legal services to those who cannot afford legal fees.

Presenting the gift items and cash to DCP Ugbah, Prestige said he made the donation to enable the prison inmates join other Nigerians in celebrating the country ’s 55th Independence anniversary and promised to make his visit to the prisons a yearly exercise until the end of his tenure.

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Participants laud Enugu police medical team on community service

By CHIAKA OPARA

E

NUGU — RESIDENTS have lauded the medical unit of the state police command for offering free eye check for over 300 participants to mark this year ’s World Sight Day at the police headquarters in Enugu.

During the exercise, police opticians examined participants and gave solution that would go a long way to prevent sudden blindness and other related problems.

This was even as the command has also, organized through its Police Public Relations Department, the first ever programme aimed at bringing school pupils and children closer to the police However, according to the state Coordinator of the Police Medical Unit, Dr. Ituko Ogie, the programme was aimed at creating awareness on blindness and vision impairment.

Ogie however, said that this year ’s programme with the theme, Vision for All was unprecedented in the history of the command.

She stressed that the aim was to reach out to the members of the public as part of the police command’s

Free eye check for a patient community service.

Earlier, the state Police Commissioner, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed said that the free eye check was among the laudable programmes initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to reach out to the members of the public through the Police Force’s Medical Services Unit under the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Grace Okudo and enjoined the

residents and members of the police community to make effective use of the one day free eye check to discover the status of their eyes since they were important organs of the body.

One Mrs Ogechi who participated in the programme told South East Voice that she was happy to check the status of her eyes during the exercise.

A father of four, Patrick Eze, also praised the police for

organizing the programme, saying it had afforded those who could not afford such services the opportunity to check the status of their eyes.

Meanwhile, tagged: 'School Children/pupils Handshake with the Commissioner of Police,' the state police Spokesman, DSP Ebere Amaraizu, said the event was to bring children and pupils closer to the police with a view to making them appreciate their police and arouse their interest towards enlisting into the service in future.

Amaraizu also said that the programme was aimed at dispelling fears and negative thoughts created in the minds of some of the children by their parents and guardians about the police and who used such thoughts to threaten their children/pupil just to instill fear in them to do the right thing, not minding that they were leaving wrong and negative impression about the police in the minds of such kids would eventually grows with the perception that their police was frightening one and perhaps unfriendly.

Those in attendance at the programme hosted by the Police Commissioner, Adamu

Mohammed included head teachers, principals as well as other top government officials. The programme would further be run in batches so as to cover all the schools in the state.

State Police Commissioner, Abubakar Adamu Mohammed said that the free eye check was among the laudable programmes initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to reach out to the members of the public through the Police Force’s Medical Services Unit

ELECTRICITY: Umahi directs EEDC to reconnect Afikpo communities

BY PETER OKUTU

T

WO MONTHS after electricity was disconnected in the whole of Afikpo North Local Government of Ebonyi State, following attacks on the personnel and facilities of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, the state Governor, Chief David Umahi, has appealed to the distribution company to restore electricity to communities on or before Monday next week.

Umahi spoke at the Government House, Abakaliki when the management and board of the EEDC led by their Chairman , Chief Emeka Offor paid him a courtesy visit, noting that, the people of the area had shown remorse over the attacks by their youths on EEDC facilities and personnel.

He also expressed satisfaction with the humility demonstrated by Chief Offor in handling the disagreement between the state government and the electricity distribution company, over billing.

According to the governor, the government was being billed N35 million monthly instead of N18 million.

“Ebonyi people have suffered so much in the hands of the EEDC over the issue of metering,” he said and enjoined the company to supply meters to consumers in the state without further delay.

He however, promised that his government would give the company 100 percent cooperation in recovering the debts owed by some individuals, and institutions hitherto paid for by the state C M Y K

government.

Umahi said that the government had procured 25 transformers for Abakaliki Urban, and urged the company to refund the cost of the transformers and all other funds invested in the sector.

He assured that the government would

One of the electricity supply facilities

Gov. David Umahi

pay for any electricity consumed saying, “if we consume electricity, we must pay”.

The governor appealed to the people of the state to pay their bills and to continue to be patient with the company as it had promised that the problem of metering would soon be over.

He stated that the government would soon meet with the Chairmen of Local Government Areas to work out ways of protecting EEDC facilities across the state, from vandalism and theft, adding that a bill to that effect would soon be sent to the state House of Assembly for its consideration.

Earlier, Offor had said that his team was in the state to solicit the support of the government in the operations of the company and to resolve all areas of disagreement between them.

“From today onwards, we will make sure that we do things together as partners in business,” he added, assuring that the EEDC would not engage in anything that would defraud the government.

He further said that the company would by December, roll out its plan for metering in the state.

The EEDC boss then appealed to Umahi to assist the company by talking to the people on the need to protect EEDC facilities against theft and vandalism.

"Ebonyi people have The Managing Director suffered so much in the of EEDC, Mr. Robert hands of the EEDC over Dickerman, assured the the issue of metering,” governor that electricity supply would be restored Governor Umahi said, and in Afikpo North area enjoined the company to before Monday next supply meters to week.as well as improved consumers in the state power supply to all parts of the state. without further delay

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 —33

SMEs are the bedrock of every economy — Iyalode Alaba Lawson Chief Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson, MRF, is always an interviewer’s delight. The Iyalode of Egbaland and Yorubaland, this dynamic educationist and entrepreneur abhors gender stereotype. This is crystal clear in the operation of her 37-year-old group of schools: Lawson International Private School, Alaba Lawson Royal College and Alaba Lawson School of Advanced Studies, all in Ogun State.

Her exploits as Iyalode and in the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, where she is currently 1st Deputy National President, also speak volume of her leadership skills. Alaba who hopes to emerge the first female President of NACCIMA by 2017 is Chairperson, Nigeria Business Women Group, NAWORG, the women’s wing of NACCIMA and Chairman, Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State.

We were with her at the Ogun State capital and in this interview, she speaks on access to loans and NAWORG’s upcoming exhibition for women entrepreneurs amongst sundry issues.

By Josephine Agbonkhese

W

HAT do you really wish to be remembered for in

life?

Let me be remembered for education; training of the young ones. That is what gives me fulfilment. You see, I started school businessin1977withthreechildren but today, we have a crèche, kindergarten, nursery, primary school, college and then a centre for advanced studies.

How do you combine being an educationist with the Iyalode title which requires you steering commercial activities in your environment?

For any journey God prepares you, He gives you the ability. I cannot explain it. My foray into education was by divine will. It came when I met some pupils conversing at Queens Park in London. Immediately, I shelved every ambition of becoming an actress and registered at the St.Nicholas Montessori College of Education. My testimonials signed by two great white educationists got me excited about the great things I would do with that training back home. My school is 37-years-old now and we will be 40 in 2017. We hope to mark it in grand style.

You began with three pupils, to what extent has this number C M Y K

grown?

You just need to see for yourself. I am mother and even grandmother to most of my present pupils because 70% of them are children of those that started the school.

In 2017, you may emerge the first female President of NACCIMA. Do we expect your tenure to champion policies that will ease women entrepreneurs’ access to finance?

I have started that already.

Presently at NACCIMA, we are working on the review and monitoring of policies guiding access to loans. This we are doing at the Federal House of Assembly and also planning what we call the ‘Legislative Alert’, a sort of lobby which will help government know when loans are not serving their purposes due to policy.

But by the time I emerge president, you’ll all hear me all over the world, pushing forward the women agenda and championing the cause of women entrepreneurs.

That’s one of the reasons behind the Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition 2015 coming up at the MKO Abiola Trade Fair Complex here in Ogun State in December. It’s an initiative of NAWORG and through it, we want to show the world what women entrepreneurs can do.

Oil price is crashing all over the

•Iyalode Alaba Lawson

world, making the urgent diversification and overhauling of our economy a necessity; how can women come in?

We can come in through various means, particularly through our various SME platforms. You see, all over the world, SMEs are the bedrock of the economy but government has a role to play to ensure continuous growth for SMEs. It has to provide the enabling environment and that brings us again to policies. We however do hope that with this new government, both at the Federal and some of the state levels, these policies, particularly on access to loan, will be reviewed.

Obvious business On diversification, we are now looking at women going into agriculture because it is obvious businessshouldnolongerbestrictly buying and selling. A nation that could feed its people is wise because everything revolves round agriculture; from the cloth you wear (cotton) to the food you eat, as well as its production.

Talking about women in agriculture, as a traditional title holder, what are you doing to help rural women beat customary laws that deny them access to lands?

My association involves the grassroots as well. About land, what we do is parley with local governments to help them access lands to work on within their

community. For farmers among them, we secure the backing of government at the state level to make sure there is no hitch over the land at any point. We meet once a month and meet with grassroots women once in three months to listen to their challenges and see where we can come in. They have their own periodical meeting. Also, when there is an emergency, they know how to get across to us.

As the Iyalode of Egba and Yoruba lands and as one who resides amongst her people, what landmarks has the Ogun State government achieved for women entrepreneurs?

Ogun State has done extremely well because it gave the Bank of Industry, BOI, 500 million naira for it to add its own 500 million naira to make 1billion naira, to give to entrepreneurs. Personally, I have witnessed so many women

One of our members told us how she went through hell just to access BOI loans. They asked her for 35 documents and it took her one year to get them

entrepreneurs grown considerably and employed one or two persons, through this financial support. And it may interest you to know that thesewomenarereallypayingback this loan. Above all, the loan is being disbursed at single digits interest, through the Ogun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Has this loan been quite easy for the average woman to access?

Yes, and that’s because it is a state initiative, and the state really monitors to make sure the fund gets to its women and other male entrepreneurs as well. Unlike what obtains with the usual loans, like some of our members would testify.

Purchase of equipment One of our members told us how she went through hell just to access BOI loans. They asked her for 35 documents and it took her one year to get them, and after that, she was directed to another company within BOI, where the interest was raised to 24 percents instead of 7% on nine-ten digits. Not only that.

Instead of giving her the money, the money was used to purchase equipments for her business. You can imagine having equipments without working capital? She still cannot go into production but already, interests are accumulating.

So, you see, we have to look into policies and make sure those that are to implement do the right thing.

That’s where the monitoring team must come in.

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

not only show my disappointment in the conduct of the election but also my concern over peace in my state. It is not about taking sides with PDP or APC, it is about the truth.

But the Labour Party in the State has disassociated itself from your statement praising the tribunal’s judgment, on the premise that you are on suspension?

To the best of my knowledge we have freedom of speech and right of opinion in Nigeria. My statements have always been my opinion and until recently, my party has always fallen in line with my thinking.

Do you see yourself doing better than you did earlier should you partake in the anticipated re-run as LP candidate?

I am yet to take a position on the role to play in the rerun; but even if I do partake, it’s really not about me. It’s about the decision of the people. They all know the political players in the state.

They all know the possible after effect of a PDP or an APC victory.

Peaceful Rivers State

•Princewill

I wonder why PDP is losing sleep over Amaechi --- Princewill TONYE Princewill, Labour Party governorship candidate for Rivers State at the 2015 general election, in this interview, among others, shares his views on the Election Petitions Tribunal judgment nullifying the election of Nyesom Wike as governor of the state.

By Ayo Onikoyi

W

HAT is your reaction to the judgment of the tribunal on the Rivers State governorship election?

Any lover of true democracy and justice, who witnessed what happened will not be surprised with the judgment.

I belong to that group. The elections were neither free nor fair nor credible, so they can’t stand honest scrutiny. The APC won the case for all of Rivers State, kudos to them. In 2007, I fought PDP to a standstill and the same people in the APC today were the beneficiaries of my fight. It is not about persons or political parties. It is about the state. I did not say I am celebrating the judgment. I said I am not surprised by it. But in Rivers politics, the analog politicians cannot understand the difference.

But you confused people by not contesting the results that declared Wike as winner, so won’t your support of the judgment raise questions?

Why? In my post-election statement in April, I clearly highlighted my displeasure in the outcome of the elections. I said, it is no longer in doubt that the election in Rivers State was neither free nor fair nor credible. I added that rather than the jubilation of a victory or the recriminations of a defeat, I and my team prefer to keep

searching for peace. I lamented on the bloodshed and just wanted it to stop.

No matter how much we find justice, if so many people in Rivers State are killed, who will be left to lead? This did

Politics is not war. There must be a winner and a loser. I am comfortable with either, because I am not desperate to be Governor; PDP and APC are. How that will produce a peaceful Rivers State, I am yet to find out. If Rivers People want unity, peace, a Government they can reach and believe that their votes will count, I believe my style of I know politics will have a Amaechi; and I b e t t e r know his chance.

What can abilities. He you say worked about the controversy seriously for surrounding the APC and if the Senate he missed the screening a n d VP slot and the confirmation SGF slot, why Hon Rotimi Amaechi should PDP f o r lose sleep if he ministerial appointment? becomes a We ’ v e

waited so long for this, and are eager to see the difference it will make. And like I always say, President Buhari is the president, whether his administration is moving the nation fast or slow, we should focus more on helping him, than pulling him down. I know Amaechi; and I know his abilities. He worked seriously for the APC and if he missed the VP slot and the SGF slot, why should PDP lose sleep if he becomes a minister?

I was praying we don’t disgrace ourselves before the world. I am glad we did not totally disgrace ourselves. I am not sure his inclusion did the President any huge favours in perception ratings, but perception is subject to the individual and so we will leave each to their own. PDP gave us Wike.

APC has given us Amaechi. Rivers people are watching. I believe though that with the right motivation, cross party support and a little prayer, he can be a useful tool in Buhari’s cabinet.

Do you regret not defecting to the APC way before the 2015 elections?

Why should I? The ideology of the APC at that time was, “Bring down Jonathan”, and I was on a totally different wavelength. So, regretting is not a possibility. I am also happy I left the PDP. You can’t mistreat a man with a mandate and expect him to stay silent and clap for you. Not me. I have supporters. I have a caucus and I do not act alone. We listen and we learn.

Of course we make mistakes. That’s why pencils have erasers.

What is your take on the ongoing anti-corruption campaign?

The anti-corruption campaign was the foundation of the Buhari campaign, so it is expected that a lot would be happening in that area. So far, so good, but it is yet to enjoy the confidence of all sides. The reason for this is obvious.

Not a lot of APC people are in the dock.

I suggest we stay tuned, there is still plenty time for that.

No man who is just settling in will fight on too many fronts. Besides it is for the agencies charged with these responsibilities to do their work, unless there is evidence to show, the Presidency is interfering, let us await the results.

minister?

How Alamieyeseigha death temporarily hindered us — Dickson Campaign

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Stories by Samuel Oyadongha

HE Restoration Campaign Organisation of Governor Seriake Dickson has advanced reason for near low key campaign activities by the Peoples Democratic Party citing the recent demise of the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

Director of Media and Publicity of the Restoration Campaign Organisation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, stated this during an interactive session with newsmen in Yenagoa.

He said though the campaign organisation led by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi, the PDP and the Governor, Seriake Dickson are meeting and getting endorsed by the various stakeholders in the state ahead of today wards and local government campaigns, the decision to embark on low key and

strategic campaign was due to the love and respect for late Chief Alamieyeseigha.

According to him, the decision to suspend the earlier scheduled campaign was to honour the late pioneer civilian governor of the state.

“Alamieyeseigha was the closest to the Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and as a true Ijaw son, we appreciate him for that,” he said.

Obuebite said though the decision may have effect on the scheduled campaigns, “no matter how it hurts, we will engage in a quiet and effective campaign with verifiable achievements based on truth.

“The only thing Alamieyeseigha want PDP to do is to win second term for him.

He was a fearless leader and want us to stop them (APC) from leading us into another era of holocaust.”

BAYELSA DECIDES He, however, announced that the Restoration Campaign Organisation and the PDP have fixed today (November 3) as the date for the commencement of campaign activities in the 105 wards of the state and the local government areas.

“We are telling the people that Governor Dickson is the best thing that has happened to Bayelsa. This is a government that cannot take from state account and help itself. All loopholes created for fraudulent spending have been blocked,” he said.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 35

2015: KOGI DECIDES

•Wada & Awoniyi

Mopamuro people assure Awoniyi of total support

By Kingsley Fanwo

I

T was a sort of triumphant home coming for Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, the deputy governor and governorship running mate of the PDP on Monday when the people of Mopamuro Local Government Area trooped out to receive him and the governorship candidate, Captain Idris Wada at a rally at the Baptist Primary School field, Mopa.

Addressing his people at the rally, Awoniyi highlighted the numerous achievements of the Wada administration especially in rural development and healthcare delivery, assuring the people of consolidation if Wada is re-elected.

“I thank the people of Mopamuro for this great show of solidarity. I know your resolution to give PDP your total support on November 21. I also assure you of greater days ahead for our people as we consolidate on our

achievements in the past four years. I am your son and I am sure you will march out on November 21 to endorse this administration”.

Also speaking at the rally, former Political Adviser to the governor, Hon. Eric Fiki assured the audience that all PDP leaders are united behind the reelection project of Capt Wada. He said the victory of the governor is inevitable.

A ranking member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sunday Karimi thrilled the audience with his Yagba oration, saying the PDP is not ready to be in the opposition in Kogi State.

He charged the Mopamuro people to vote massively for the party.

The rally was graced by eminent party leaders such as the immediate past governor of the state, Alh. Ibrahim Idris, Prince Olusola Akanmode, Hon. Ojo Nathaniel, Hon. Kolawole and Rt. Hon. Momoh Jimoh, among others.

I have applied for bailout to pay you, Wada assures workers

By Kingsley Fanwo

G

OVERNOR Idris Wada has assured workers in the state that he has applied for the Federal Government bailout to enable him pay workers in the state.

Governor Wada spoke in Mopa during the PDP rally in the town where he said that he has fulfilled his promises to the people even as he sought the support of the people for a second term in order to complete his ongoing projects and start new ones.

Assuring that he will soon secure the bailout fund in order to offset salary

arrears of civil servants, he said: “I was surprised when some people said we didn’t apply for bailout. If we didn’t apply for bailout, why did the Federal Government publish the amount approved for our state?

“I am aware that some people are plotting against our access to the bailout fund for political reasons. But I want to assure you that President Buhari is a man of integrity who would not yield to the antics of those working against the interest of the Kogi workers. Our President is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

•Ozigi

Quality Education is Possible in Kogi—Ozigi, PPA Guber Candidate

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HE governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, Enesi Ozigi has promised to ensure improved quality of education if given the mandate to govern the state from January 2016.

Addressing a support group in Okene, Tuesday, the business mogul said he has a blue print to rebound the education of the state in order to empower Kogi students to favourably compete with their counterparts anywhere around the world.

According to him, it has become imperative to embrace the use of Information and Communication Technology in the educational sector. He said every school in the state will have the benefit of an ICT Centre under his administration.

“We have been paying attention on the mundane without looking at the education of our children. School infrastructure are in shambles while teachers are owed salaries running into several months.

“I owe the current generation of students in Kogi the best education we can offer because our future as a state rests on the level we can attain educationally in the next twenty years. With what is on ground now, we have not started yet.

“I am not sure our government is aware that the University Matriculation Examinations and Post UTME are now conducted with the use of ICT. That they have failed to put these in schools is scandalous against a generation that must be equipped to compete.

“Our government will ensure that every secondary school in Kogi has an ICT centre for training. We will prepare Kogi students for any examination around the world. We owe them a legacy of educational excellence”.

Ozigi also promised to ensure prompt payment of teachers in the state as well as expose them to modern techniques of teaching, saying the return to the glory of the classrooms will ease out the pandemic examination malpractice that is prevalent in all the schools across the state.

He called on all lovers of quality education, excellent healthcare delivery and infrastructural development to vote PPA on November 21 in order to liberate the state from corruption and cluelessness.

Stop blaming Audu, pay workers their due — Youth group chide Wada

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By Marie-Therese Nanlong

OUTHS from Kogi State residence in Jos, the Plateau State capital, under the aegis of Kogi Liberation Group have tasked their State Governor, Idris Wada to find a way of accessing the bailout funds and settle workers’ salaries instead of blaming his woes on the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu.

The youths urged the governor to search himself and find out why he is unable to access the funds like other

states and remedy the situation rather than putting the blame of the delay in release of the fund on Audu.

In a statement issued in Jos yesterday and signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Malami Ibrahim and Press Secretary, Ogu Idegu they said, “Governor Wada should be ashamed for his failure to secure the fund approved for the state just as he has failed in providing dividends of democracy to citizens of the state since assumption of office.

“The bailout fund was approved for all the 36 state governors by the federal

government and most of the governors have successfully processed theirs and have already taken care of the welfare of their civil servants.

“From our findings from the CBN headquarters, Gov Wada has not satisfied CBN on why Kogi State deserves the N50.8 billion which is the highest amount requested by any state governor. Meanwhile other governors have been able to justify the release of their funds and they have be given without delay by the

same CBN. “In a manner to prove that Gov Wada has no concern for the welfare of civil servants, the government neglected the process at CBN and chose to concentrate on his campaign for his second term election at the expense of the state’s civil servants.

“Rather than Gov Wada accepting the delay as his own failure just as he has failed in governing the state, he decided to politicize his own incapability as governor by putting the blame on Audu and the CBN governor.”

36 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Succour for Palmgrove residents as Rotary holds medical camp

By Chioma Obinna

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ESPITE recently came the way of the less privileged residents of Palmgrove area of Lagos as Rotary Club District 9110 in collaboration with Rotary Club of Palmgrove Estate, held a Family Medical Camp which offered free consultations, diagnosis and treatment for malaria, cancer and diabetes among others.

For Janet Biodun, one of the 300 beneficiaries of the programme, it was a dream come true as her little daughter who almost died the previous night was treated and given drugs. Janet confessed she wouldn’t have been able to afford the treatment but for the medical camp.

“I prayed to God all through last night to keep my daughter and He answered my prayers” she told Health & Living amidst tears.

According to Janet, her little daughter had developed fever a day earlier but there was no money to take her to the hospital.

Sadly, she was not able to control the fever with paracetamol.

“I was in deep thought on what next to do when a neighbour who came to sympathise with me said there was something going on here. I decided to bring her here and we were treated free of charge.”

Poverty

In a recation to the crowd already at the medical camp before 10am, President, Rotary Club of Palmgrove Estate, Pradeep Pahalwani noted: “One thing is that these people cannot afford treatment in a clinic or hospital settings and that captures the objective of the family camp.”

He said the camp had shown that poverty remains a major factor why many people do not take their health seriously.We have seen people with undetected hypertension, diabetes and these people are walking and going about their daily

about their health. “Apart from treatment, we are educating them on how to take care of their health. For children and pregnant women after treatment we ensure they go home with treated mosquito nets.”

GAIN lauds new MNCH guidelines in Nigeria

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MEDICAL SCREENING: Beneficiaries during Rotary Family Health Camp. activities without any sign. This is a time bomb. They feel they are healthy because they are still moving about. These diseases can be nipped in the bud and easier to manage if detected early. “Today we are doing this in collaboration with Rotary District 9110, Lagos State College of Health Technology as an NGO to fill in the little gap from our own side and compliment what the government is doing.”

Speaking, the incoming President of the Club, Tarun Sanghvi, said the objective

Poverty remains a major factor why many Nigerians do not take their health seriously

of the medical camp was to promote good health among the less privileged.

“Today we are carrying out free consultations, diagnosis for malaria, typhoid, breast and cervical cancer screening, free checks for hypertension, blood sugar, HIV testing and counselling, Body Mass Index, and eye tests among others.

Gratitude: Expressing gratitude to paramedics from the Lagos State College of health technology, he noted that most of the tests being offered free today can cost up to N100, 000 in the hospital.

The doctor in charge, Dr Ajit Kumar, said most people presented with uncontrolled blood sugar and high blood pressure as well as eye-related problems. At least 300 were registered.

Kumar, an Internal Medicine specialist lamented that most people lack information

HE Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), has described the new food fortification guidelines for flour and allied products recently launched by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, as a panacea to the country’s maternal newborn and child health challenges.

GAIN Nigeria Country Manager, Dr Francis Aminu said in Abuja, that the new guidelines have effectively reviewed the levels of folic acid, zinc and vitamin A inclusion in flour and flour products to meet acceptable international standard.

Aminu said the development will help to reduce the worrisome trend of irondeficiency anaemia in millions of underfive children while the inclusion of folic acid in micronutrients premix will reduce problems of birth defects in Nigeria.

He said substantial compliance to the new standards will help eradicate substandard products, stressing that GAIN will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement and sustain the revised standards for flour with a view also, to improving social awareness campaigns and consumer awareness on the benefits of fortified foods.

The SON, in partnership with GAIN and the National Fortification Alliance (NFA), recently launched the new fortification standard in Lagos.

Also unveiled were four new certification logos: the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, the SON Certification Assessment Programme, the Nigeria Industrial Standard Quality Mark, NIS and Nigerian Quality Award, NQA.

Why people die suddenly T

ODAY, as a follow up to last week's article on cancer pain, I wanted to talk about certain cancers start that in a place (the primary) and are carried by various methods to another place ( thesecondary), especially bone.

I was going to say how these cancers can present confusingly as low back pain. Sometimes when these patients are investigated with scans, the cancer may be missed or overshadowed by disc problems. The back pain is then attributed to the disk problems and treatment directed towards that.

My plan today was to identify these major culprits as breast, prostate, lungs, kidney and thyroid cancers.Back pain can also be referred pain from other cancers. Referred meaning: the pain comes from one location but is carried by nerves to another location; in this case the low back.

Today I wanted to explain that such referred low back pain can come from bowel, pancreatic, stomach cancers.

Low back pain can also be referred pain from cancers of any of the female pelvic organs.

However, today, I will not say a word about low back pain and cancers. I want to discuss SUDDEN DEATH; those seconds or minutes when life ceases; those seconds or minutes where immortality is preceded by a gasp, a yell, an unsteady gait, a fall...or just silence.

Which writer was it that said "death comes like a thief in the night...." ?

Death, indeed, is an inevitable part of life. From the minute we are born, our cells start to die. Skin and blood cells are replenished after weeks. Hair grows and falls off. So do nails. As we grow, repeated inflammation and

doctor@lagospainclinic.com regeneration kills cells which in turn kills tissues which then cause organs to fail.

What causes sudden death?

Sudden death by natural causes is almost always due to problems with the heart and the blood vessels.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) One in 500 people have some form of HOCM which causes the walls of heart muscle to thicken and lose their pumping power.

Approximately 1 percent of people with the disorder die suddenly each year, usually because of a too-rapid heartbeat-and many of them are young and unaware they even have heart issues. HOCM is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people younger than 30. If you hear of an athlete falling dead on the field, this condition often takes the blame.

Faulty heart wiring Another group of heart issues affects the electrical system that controls and synchronizes its beats. Rare but serious conditions such as Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome, and WolffParkinson-White syndrome scramble

the signals that direct the heart to beat normally.

You might not have any signs until your heart's lower chambers, the ventricles, start quivering instead of pumping properly-and you keel over.

Brain aneurysm About 3 to 5 million Americans have one of these abnormal bulges in the wall of a brain blood vessel.

Most show no symptoms. About one third of the aneurysms eventually rupture-an event that proves fatal about 40 percent of the time.

Don't ignore a sudden, severe headache-especially if it occurs with strange symptoms like a droopy eyelid, double vision, or a single dilated pupil. That might signal the aneurysm pressing against nerves in your brain.

Aortic dissection Doctors aren't sure exactly what causes these rips, but they can trigger blood to flow where it shouldn't-or even a complete rupture of the aorta, which typically proves fatal. Aortic dissection occurs in only about two in every 10,000 people, but most are men ages 40 to 70.

Sudden and excruciating pain in your chest or back is the main sign of aortic dissection.

Pulmonary embolism Half of people with these blood clots in their lungs have no symptoms at all. But for 100,000 Americans per year, the clots block blood flow, jack up blood pressure in the lungs, and work the heart so hard it can't keep up.

In fact, sudden death serves as the first symptom of a pulmonary embolism about a quarter of the time.

Why, as the title asks, do people die suddenly?

What and how, I can answer. Why, is for God only.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2015—37

Oshiomhole assures Edo Central on fulfilment of campaign promises

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

INAUGURATION: From left: Chairman of the occassion, Prof Nick Ezeh; Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke; Enugu State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Executive Chairman, Enugu Sports Club, Mr. Obum Arum and wife, Ifeoma, during the inauguration of 2015-2016 Executive Committee of the Club in Enugu.

Reps probe JTF over burning of illegal refineries Invite NNPC, AGIP, NIMASA, others

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA—THE House of Representatives, yesterday commenced investigation into the activities of the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta, over burning and destruction of equipment seized from operators of illegal refineries.

Consequently, the ad hoc committee raised for the purpose, headed by Sule Nasir Garo, (All Progressives Congress, APC, Kano), summoned the leadership of JTF, management of the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, as well as the affected communities, to submit memoranda.

One of the aims of the House resolution is to bring an end to the despoliation of the Niger Delta environment through the burning of equipment confiscated from illegal operators of refineries.

Others invited by the committee included the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment, to intimate the committee with the steps taken to

forestall further pollution of the Niger Delta environment.

While setting up the committee, the House noted that communities in the Niger Delta “routinely suffer from the effects of wanton burning and destruction of oil tools and equipment sized from operators of illegal oil refineries which are usually done without recourse to international best practices.”

The House also said the actions of the JTF “have greatly polluted the environment and waters in the area and in the process, destroyed farm lands and killed fish, thereby jeopardizing farming and fishing, which are the mainstay of the people of the Niger Delta area.”

The committee was also mandated by the House to investigate the fire outbreak in Azuuama Community in Bayelsa State on July 9, 2015 which was allegedly caused by the use of dilapidated infrastructure and equipment by Nigeria Agip Oil Company, and resulted in the death of 14 persons.

It was also mandated to investigate the activities of AGIP “with a view to ensuring that it carries out improvement of its facilities to forestall any such further incidents in the future and also determine the circumstances that led to the death of the 14 persons in Azuzuama Community.”

Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital records medical feat in surgery

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—FEDERAL Government-owned Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, has recorded a medical feat after it successfully carried out medical surgery on hips and knees replacement on some of its patients.

The hospital's surgical team leader, Dr. C.O Nwokike, who made these achievements public yesterday during the hospital’s quarterly seminar, presented graphic details of how the surgery which lasted over nine hours in the case of the knee replacement, was carried out.

He told the audience which included the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Sylvanus Akhalufo Okogbenin, and other senior management staff, how they succeeded in the operation despite constraints of lack of modern equipment.

Nwokike explained that when the total hip surgery was carried out, it took almost the same effort to avert errors, saying at the end of it all success was recorded.

Earlier, Professor S.O. Abbah, a consultant in Public Health and

Professor J.E. Onuminya, a consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, expressed delight over the achievement.

Supervising Physician in charge of the Ubiaja Comprehensive Health Centre, donated by Senator Odion Ugbesia, to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, as an

extension of the hospital, Dr. A. Ajekwene, told the audience that the hospital had been developed to an enviable height.

He said that the confidence the host community and adjoining communities had on the Health Centre spoke volumes because of the hospital's quality service delivery.

Those present at the event were the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Sylvanus Akhalufo Okogbenin; Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Wilson Ovienria; the Director of Administration, Mr. Tony Edeko and the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Christopher Afusin.

Bayelsa moves to save Izon language from extinction Employs teachers to teach Izon in primary schools

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N AG OA — B AY E L S A State Government has employed 30 teachers to teach the Izon language in primary schools in the state to save the language from extinction.

Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolo, announced this yesterday in Yenagoa, during the formal presentation of Izon language books to the management of schools in the state.

Tuodolo, who explained that

several books had been written in Izon dialects to actualise the government’s determination of preserving the language, said the move was informed by the deficiency in effective communication of Izon language among the various age groups in Ijawland.

According to him: “A situation where Pidgin English now takes the place of the Izon language from individual families is a danger signal which, if not decisively handled now, may lead to the extinction of the language.

In order to revive the language,

Governor Seriake Dickson's administration embarked on the training of Izon language teachers, 30 of whom passed out successfully and were automatically engaged by the state government.”

The teachers, he said, specialized in the teaching of Epie/Atissai, Nembe, Ogbia and Kolokuma which formed the Izon traditional language.

Tuodolo said the state government had met all the requirements of the National Council for Education for Izon to be taught in primary schools.

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured the people of Edo Central senatorial zone that he is committed to the development of the area as promised during his electioneering campaigns.

Oshiomhole, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, at the 11th Esan Economic Empowerment Workshop, at Igueben, said the theme of the Workshop, Esan Cultural Values and Practices, could not have come at a better time when the state cultural values were being debased.

While advising Nigerians to go back to their traditional values as they were not inferior to those of the colonial masters, he said, “Our everyday life is tailored around our culture and values and if properly followed, we will all grow up to be responsible citizens. We are all the same, we are from the same source. Our common ancestry is traced to the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

So, we should be our brother ’s keepers.” He then commended the Esan people for their support to his government.

In his address, chairman of the Association of Esan Professionals, Mr. Matthew Egbadon, commended Governor Oshiomhole for the invaluable support the association had received from his government in the executions of its various programmes.

He also commended the governor for the developmental strides his government had made in Esanland and called on him to do more for the people of the senatorial zone before the expiration of his tenure.

During the summit, two prominent Esan sons were honoured and they were the late Dr. Christopher Okojie, a former Minister in the First Republic and Secretary for Health during the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, and Chief Igberease Umuoburie, an Esan musical legend and folklorist.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Ugwuanyi extends ban on collection of traffic fines

JUSUN STRIKE:

Anambra CJ moves to decongest Police cells

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By Francis Igata

NUGU—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has ordered the indefinite extension of the one month ban on the collection of fines for traffic offences by officials of government in the state.

A statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Louis Amoke, stated that the governor ’s directive was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the State Executive Council meeting of October 30, 2015 which was presented by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udeuhele.

The statement disclosed that the governor opted for the extension to enable the state more time to conclude its plans to streamline the activities of enforcers of traffic laws in the state as well as understudy the models of traffic operations in Lagos State and other states across the country.

The earlier ban expired at the end of October; hence the directive to extend it indefinitely.

It would be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi in a swift response to the persistent complaints of extortion and incessant harassment of road users as well as visitors to the state had ordered the immediate suspension of the collection of fines for traffic offences in Enugu Capital Territory for a period of one month.

The governor stated that such practice was inimical to his administration’s efforts to sustain the peaceful and serene environment of the state and his promise to

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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N E W I — FOLLOWING the strike by the Judicial staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, that has lasted for three months so far, the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi has set up a mobile court to help decongest the police cells now filled with suspects.

Making this disclosure to newsmen, the provost of Idemili branch of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Pat Agbata, said: “It is now three months since the judiciary went on strike in the state and it is affecting us and our clients.

“We live based on what we get from the court.

Suspects are languishing in police cells because there is no fair hearing on their matter.

Based on that, a mobile court has been set up to decongest the police cells and they started about a week ago in Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi.

That of Awka was at the CID headquarters, followed by Onitsha and t hen Nnewi and theywerebeingpresidedoverby the administrative magistrates in the zones.

“Those with capital matters were sent to prisons and others with minor offences were not given fair trial because lawyers were not there to defend them," he said.

provide good governance to the people of the state and make their lives better.

He also frowned at the N25,000 fine being collected as punishment for a traffic offence, stressing that “a

situation where for example, a civil servant who may be earning about N25,000 a month, is asked to pay the same amount as punishment for a traffic offence” was totally unacceptable.

The statement further noted that the governor was committed to the full implementation of the directive and a reform programme that would guarantee an accident-free and orderly transportation system in the state.

Ikpeazu engages investors for markets redevelopment

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By Jacob Ajom

MUAHIA—THE ongoing efforts to redevelop and reposition markets in Abia State got a fillip when the state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu approved the formal engagement of foreign and local investors for select major markets.

This was in fulfilment of his preelection promise to, among other things, “transform Abia State into a functional private sector-driven economy; create better opportunities for her citizens; improve the quality of their lives and shape the state into a hub for regional entrepreneurship through good governance, appropriate developmental and environmentally sustainable policies.”

Subsequently, the Abia State Markets Development Committee, ASMDC, the state’s special purpose vehicle for engaging various stakeholders to remodel, upgrade and manage existing markets for viable economic activities, has commenced a rigorous process of evaluation and shortlisting of local and foreign investors for the redevelopment of select markets in the state.

The ASMDC had earlier requested for the expression of

interests and proposals from interested, qualified and competent investors/developers.

The investors will be selected after completion of the evaluation of their proposals and due diligence to ascertain the

pedigree, integrity and ability of the potential investors/developers to undertake the massive infrastructural re-engineering of the select markets in the state in line with Governor Ikpeazu’s vision.

College of Education Umunze ends crisis with host community

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By Enyim Enyim

NITSHA—THE age-long conflict between the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze and their host community was yesterday resolved at a crucial meeting between both parties.

For several years, the community and the past management of the college had been at loggerheads over the right of the community in the institution.

The crux of the matter had been that indigenes of the area were not being offered admission as a catchment area; unemployed youths from the area not being employed by the insitution; contracts not being awarded to qualified indigenes and lack of collaboration with community

vigilante for provision of security and non regular meetings with community to avoid crisis.

The community had also demanded that N98 million compensation be paid them by the federal government for the possession of their land as well as the relocation of the college from the temporary site they leased for 10 years to the permanent site that is near completion.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the traditional ruler of Umunze, Igwe Promise Eze said the crisis was all over because the Provost of the institution, Prof.

Josephat Ogbuagu agreed to address and implement their demands.

He praised the Provost for making sure that the college was upgraded to a degree awarding institution.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On PDP senators walk out over Amaechi's confirmation as Minister

T

he PDP as a party is full of double standard.

The party quickly forgot what happened in March with Obanikoro’s nomination as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So it is now that they are starting their own walk outMr Dan-Asabe Alu Nyatse, Administrator.

P

DP seems to forget so soon, the Obanikoro’s confirmation, despite the opposition. Can someone tell me where is former senate president, David mark? Maybe he should remind his colleagues. Mr Etayokhai Nasiru Oshiokhai, .Businessman.

T

he standard for judging the APC must not be what the PDP did or did not do but the standard that it set for itself during its campaign “Change” for which 15 million Nigerians voted while a little more than 12 million voted for the PDP. Mr Austine Okoro, Worker.

W

hat goes around comes around.

They are all bird of the same feather. The last time APC staged a work out because of Obanikoro , now the PDP is paying back by staging a work out because of Amaechi. Miss Ezenwanyi Chimezie Ezembu, Broadcaster.

I

am not a politician but PDP forgot too soon that similar thing happened on the floor of the senate during screenig of Musiliu Obanikoro and yet he was confirmed. Revenge is what happened now.

Mr Peter Jatau Barde, Self Employed.

A

PC has not changed anything but simply degraded the whole system into an open batching of Nigerians. If the Court case goes against Ameachi, would the APC shun the court?

That is just my view.

Mrs Morayo Simeon, Self Employed.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 , 2015—39

GOV POLL: Police warn striking Kogi workers against blocking of highways

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA — AS the date for theKogi State governorship election draws nearer, the police headquarters has warned striking workers protesting non-payment of salaries and allowances to desist from blocking highways and causing obstruction and danger to travellers.

In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting ACP Olabisi Kolawole, the police threatened to deal decisively with law breakers who put public peace at risk.

The statement read: “Information available to the Nigeria Police indicates that workers’ leaders in Kogi State are planning to block highways leading to and out of Kogi to advance their labour disputes with state government.

“While the police recognize and respect the constitutional rights of labour force in Kogi to peaceful assembly and lawful protest in furtherance to their dispute with their employers, the Nigeria Police wish to state categorically that extending their protest to blocking highways/ roads in the state in a manner that will cause major traffic and security threats, is not only overreaching the extension of their grievances but also intolerable.

“As such, the Nigeria Police, hereby, warn striking workers in Kogi State to desist from hatching such provoking plans and restrict themselves to due legal and labour procedures that will not in anyway, cause discomfort to innocent citizens.

“Failure to adhere strictly to this warning, the Force will mobilize maximally, to deal decisively with anyone or group trying to threaten the security or public peace under any guise of protest, and will not hesitate to bring such persons or group to justice.”

It will be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, last week ordered the deployment of additional manpower to Kogi and Bayelsa states to ensure crime free elections in both states.

The Police leadership also

L

OKOJA — MOPAMURO Local Government chapter of Accord Party has adopted the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Capt Idris Wada, ahead of the November 21 guber polls in Kogi State.

This came as the Media and Publicity Committee of the Wada/ Awoniyi Campaign Organization dismissed ongoing rumours that the recently reinstated council chairmen across the 21 local government councils in the state were planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing a PDP rally in Mopamuro, leader of Accord Party in the local government area, Commodore Folusho Daniel (retd,) said the decision of the party was occasioned by the transformation agenda of Wada’s administration and the need to ensure fairness in power distribution in the state.

According to the former instructor with the National War

By Peter Duru

M

AKURDI— IN a bid to boost its dwindling revenue profile, Benue State government is to set up a Tax Appeal Tribunal to try all defaulting tax payers in the state.

Executive Chairman of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, Mrs. Mimi AdzapeOrubibi, made this known, yesterday, at a town hall meeting with executives of traders associations and market unions in Makurdi, the state capital.

She said though all the legal framework for the establishment of the tribunal had been put in place by the government, the move to set up the panel was put on hold to allow the board enough time to sensitize the people on the existing tax laws.

DONATION: From left: The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani (left) presenting a cash donation of $3,000 to Alhaji Abdulkareem Albashir, a former Vanguard columnist, to enable him purchase an artificial limb at his Kinkinau residence, Kaduna.

Photo: Olu Ajayi.

Simba Group wins award

North-East: Stakeholders demand strengthening of disaster mgt structure

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M

AIDUGURI— STAKEHOLDERS in the troubled North-East of the country have called for the

strengthening of disaster management structure in managing humanitarian crisis in the region, following the

Accord Party adopts Wada for second term in Mopamuro LG •Council chairmen not defecting to APC— PDP

By Kingsley Fanwo

directed the deployment of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, to compliment the Safer Highway Patrol to ensure proper policing of the length and breadth of the nation’s highway.

Benue to establish tribunal to try tax evaders

College, it is pertinent to work for Wada’s emergence in order to allow him complete ongoing projects across the state.

He said: “As a party in Mopamuro Local Government Area, we have considered the two candidates and come to the conclusion that Wada is the better candidate of the two. He is a leader that is humane, humble and genuinely committed to the development of the state.

“As an advocate of power rotation, I believe Prince Abubakar Audu lacks the will and capacity to effect power rotation in 2020. The PDP has shown a better framework for the actualization of power rotation in the state.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Secretary of Accord Party in the local government area, Mr. Emmanuel Remi Owotunse, said the decision to work for the success of PDP in the governorship election was reached after series of meetings to arrive at a popular decision.

Council chairmen not defecting to APC — PDP

Meanwhile, the Media and Publicity Committee of Wada/ Awoniyi Campaign Organization has dismissed ongoing rumour that the recently reinstated council chairmen across the 21 local councils in Kogi State were planning to defect to the opposition APC. In an exclusive chat with Vanguard in Lokoja yesterday, chairman of the committee, Prince Bode Ogunmola, said the rumour underscored the desperation of the opposition party to spread falsehood for political gains.

Ogunmola said: “The recent reinstatement of the council chairmen has been a nightmare to the APC who are desperate to use falsehood to win the sympathy of the electorate that has continued to reject their candidate since 2003. Falsehood and unintelligent propaganda won’t save Prince Abubakar Audu from another defeat on November 21." “ The reinstated chairmen have

insurgency challenge facing the area.

The stakeholders, who made the call at the just concluded two-day engagement forum in Maiduguri, Borno State, said there was the urgent need to strengthen the existing disaster management structure in the country.

In a communiqué jointly signed by representatives of the Office of the VicePresident, International and Local NGOs, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as security agencies, the forum agreed that coordination of humanitarian efforts by the lead government agencies needed to be developed to fit into the overall coordination mechanism of the country.

They also noted that State Emergency Management Agencies and LEMCs were not effective and visible during emergencies and needed to be strengthened to work better.

The stakeholders harped on the need for better management of communication in emergency situations, just as they recommended the need for regulations as well as standards for monitoring, evaluation and transparency.

BUJA — SIMBA Group, one of Nigeria’s foremost companies in the power and alternative energy sector, was recently conferred with the Nigeria Energy Award in the Commercial Category at the just concluded 2015 Nigeria Alternative Energy Award in Abuja.

Speaking on this achievement, the Marketing Manager, Wandel International Nigeria Limited (a subsidiary of Simba Group of Companies), Rajneesh Gupta, expressed the company’s gratitude to the organizers of the event for recognizing the efforts being made by both individuals and private organizations to the development of sustainable energy and power sector in Nigeria.

Gupta noted: “We are very honoured to have received the Nigeria Energy Award commercial category in this year’s Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo. This award clearly demonstrates the company’s commitment for a better environment and its effort in promoting clean, affordable and equitable energy sufficiency in Nigeria through its luminous range of inverters, static UPS and batteries, along with its innovative and high performing renewable energy solutions under its brand name of Simba Solar.”

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

HONOURS: From left— Chief Uko Umana, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and Senator Ita Enang, all honorary degree graduands, at the 21st convocation of the University of Uyo.

KNIGHTS' INVESTITURE: From left (front row)—Noble Grand Master, Knights of St. John, Sir Peter Eloji; Bishop of Enugu Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev Calixtus Onaga; Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria, Sir Anselm Okafor, and Spiritual Director, Enugu Grand Commandery, Very Rev Fr. Clement Obasi, both of Knights of St. John, at the Noble Degree investiture in Enugu.

SOUTHERN SUN GOLF: From left—Head, Client Coverage, Stanbic IBTC Nigeria, Anton Marais; GMD, SO&U, Udeme Ufot; General Manager, Mark Loxley, and Deputy General Manager, Cliff Shiridzinodya, both of Southern Sun Ikoyi, at a briefing on the 5th annual Southern Sun Golf Day tournament in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

NIMN ON BAYELSA POLL: From left— Registrar, Mr. Sidney Ogodo; Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Tunde Oyeyode, and President, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye, all of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, NIMN, during a briefing on opinon poll on Bayelsa election by the institute in Lagos.

PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

SHOPCITY:

From left— Executive Director/Manager, Shopcity Supermarket, Aramide Aikpitanyi; Associate Pastor, The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Olakunle Soriyan; MD/CEO, Shopcity Supermarket, Bright Aikpitanyi, and Kingsley Arida, MD/CEO, DOOH Int’l Ltd, at the commissioning of Shopcity Supermarket in Ifako, Gbagada, Lagos.

MEETING: From left— Special guest, Mr. Georgi Umunna; Guest Speaker,

Mr. Tony Ojobo; MD of NICCI, Mrs Nkechi Alli-Balogun, and President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN, Mr. John Ehiuguese, at PRCAN's monthly breakfast meeting in Lagos.

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DONATION: Senior Project Manager, Mr. Wale Bishi (left); Manager, Media and Communication, Mr. Chukwudi Egbuta, both of ExxonMobil Nigeria (2nd left); Mr. Charles Emembolu of Crestsage Ltd. (2nd right) and others, during the handing over of three e-learning centres to Ansar Udeen Nursery & Primary School, Ebute Meta; Awoyaya Nursery & Primary School and Obalende Nursery & Primary School, Ikoyi by ExxonMobil in Lagos.

OATH-TAKING: From left— President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Olorogun James Omeru; Dr. Oghenerukevwe Omeru; Chief Omeru; and NIESV Assistant Publicity Secretary, Sir Charles Ebiai, at the oath taking of foreign-trained medical and dental graduates, organized

by Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Abuja.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—41

SOUTH EAST ROADS: APC

Forum sends SOS to Buhari

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE South East candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, during the last general elections under the aegis of Forum of SouthEast Assembly candidates, have sent Save a Our Souls, SOS, to President Muhammadu Buhari to do something on the deplorable condition of federal roads in the zone.

Rising from a meeting in Awka, yesterday, the executive committee of the forum listed some of the roads to include ObaArondiuzogu-Okigwe; Onitsha-Enugu expressway and Enugu AbaPort-Harcourt expressway, among others.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states. The participants argued that if the roads were rehabilitated, they would help to boost economic activities, ease transportation and evacuation of commodities and reduce the frequent road mishaps in the zone.

Rivers, Akwa Ibom states strategic for APC —Okorocha

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has said in clear terms: “Rivers and Akwa Ibom States are very strategic to the APC”.

Okorocha, who made this known

while fielding questions from journalists in Owerri, also claimed that the electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC. “Rivers and Akwa Ibom States are very strategic to the APC. The electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC but their votes were stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,

through various forms of electoral malpractices”, Okorocha said.

Although he resisted the temptation of disclosing the strategies his APC political platform intends to use in sacking PDP in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, Chief Okorocha however said that plans were on to actualize the target.

Answering another question, Okorocha said he stands vindicated, following the eventual victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the last general election.

“I appeal to Ndigbo to avoid unnecessary bickering and antagonism with the North, West and other parts of the country, so as to brighten the prospects of a president of Igbo extraction in future”, Okorocha said.

Amaechi: PDP senators disown last Thursday’s sitting

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—The face off between the parties over the Senate confirmation of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a minister continued in the Senate yesterday as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senators disowned the exercise.

In an open display of their disapproval of the confirmation, PDP senators refused to endorse the Senate Votes and Proceedings of last Thursday when Amaechi and 17 other ministerial nominees were confirmed.

The development came as President Muhammadu Buhari COMPETITIONS: From left, Akinboyewa Tobi, Anani Mayowa and Bello Omotolani, winners of the dancing competitions, at the Glo Slide 'n" requested the Senate to approve a $200 million loan from Bounce concert, Ikeja edition, at Water Parks Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, World Bank for Lagos State.

Following the motion for the adoption of the votes and proweekend. ceedings of last Thursday moved by Senator Isiaka Adeleke, APC, Osun West, a request by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki to Senator Peter Nwaboshi, PDP, Delta North to second the motion was flatly rejected.

Nwaboshiretorted:“MrPresident, demonstration were instantly arrest and detention of Nnamdi halted by Ralph Uwazuruike’s am sorry I will not be able to second dispersed by the police with Kanu, director of radio Biafra. deviation and lust for wealth. This this motion because I was not there”. teargas with some of them In a statement, the MASSOB singular arrest will cause more With PDP senators apparently not claiming to have lost their factional spokesman said “we see diplomatic harm for Nigeria willing to second the motion, Senator Saraki beckoned on another APC handsets. the arrest as part of the price to image than good.

But government officials in the pay for our non violence struggle.

“Before Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, senator, Ibrahim Gobir, APC, Sokoto State refused to be drawn into the No agitation is complete without he has succeeded in rooting the East who eventually seconded the motion against the practise of havmatter. An aide of Governor arrest, detention and prosecution. Biafra struggle in about 78 ing senators from different parties Okezie Ikpeazu who pleaded It shapes the minds of activists, countries including Biafra land move and second motions to adopt anonymity said that the drawing sympathy from internal through Radio Biafra, votes and proceedings.

The drama continued at the point government was not aware of any and external observers; it also international tour and secret protest and pleaded that the shows that Nnamdi Kanu and diplomatic build-up. MASSOB of the voice vote on the adoption of government be left out of the Radio Biafra have become a factor warns government to quickly the votes and proceedings. While APC senators thundered aye, the controversy to face governance of reckoning in Nigeria. release Nnamdi Kanu now or face PDP senators shouted nay. In the which he said Ikpeazu was “The arrest and detention of an eruption of Biafra world wide end, Saraki who presided ruled in settling down to do.

Nnamdi Kanu by DSS will assist demonstration and protest which the favour of the aye, a decision that But Comrade Uchenna Madu, immensely in reviving the will endanger the already finally affirmed the confirmation of the spokesman for a faction of consciousness and sympathy for battered image of Nigeria before the ministerial nominees.

Following the Senate session, the MASSOB swiftly condemned Biafra actualization in higher the International communities."

PDP senators entered a caucus what he called “the cowardly dimension which was temporarily meeting where they reportedly reviewed their actions during the confirmation process of the ministerial nominees.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has sought the Senate’s approval of a BAKALIKI—THE cordial press conference on the same day After other proceedings, the relationship that exists disagreed with the House member representing Ezza South $200 million loan request from the World Bank for Lagos State. between Ebonyi state House of insisting that the House cannot Constituency, Hon. Chris Usulor The request was subsequently reAssembly and the Executive arm summon his commissioners rose to remind the House about ferred to the Senate Ad-hoc Comled by Governor David Umahi without going through him or the commissioners that were mittee on Local and Foreign Debts may have soured following the direct the executive on how to run summoned since it was not with a mandate to treat and report back in two weeks. insistence of the House members the state saying " they should captured in the order paper.

In another development, the Senthat three commissioners of rather resign as lawmakers and Immediately, the Speaker ate sent a nine-man delegation to Umahi’s cabinet should appear take up the duties of the ordered the Sergeant at Arm to AdamawaStatetocommiseratewith before it over what it termed executive.” bring the commissioners inside government and victims of the reobnoxious taxation imposed on The House on Tuesday the chambers but it was cent bomb blasts in the state.

Thiswassequeltoamotionmoved the people of the state without the convened a plenary to receive the discovered that none of the approval of the House. three Commissioners it commissioners honoured the to that effect by Senator Ahmadu Abubakar,APC, Adamawa South.

But Governor Umahi during a summoned. invitation.

Reactions trail arrest, detention of Radio Biafra boss

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—REACTIONS have continued to trail the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra which has been broadcasting and hyping the struggle for the emergence of a Republic of Biafra from the Eastern part of Nigeria, a struggle being championed by the Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. The Federal Government has for long without success been trying to nail the radio station and the promoters.

Members of the MASSOB and IPOB were die-hard listeners of the radio station and adore those behind its operation.

So when the news of the arrest of the main man behind Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu broke, members of IPOB and MASSOB spontaneously trooped to the streets and embarked on protests in some parts of the Eastern part of the country, notably in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Rivers and Delta States with security operatives chasing after them.

In Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, a group of women who gathered to embark on

On why his administration was yet to appoint commissioners and special advisers, the Governor said it has enabled him save money for the state, for capital projects.

“If I appoint them now, they will start demanding for imprest, traveling allowance, hazard allowance and this is outside their monthly pay. This has enabled me save some money for the state, for capital projects”, Okorocha explained.

Asked why all public taps in the state have dried up, the Governor said he preferred sinking water boreholes for communities instead of procuring chemicals, maintaining machines and other facilities.

Ebonyi House to issue warrant of arrest on 3 commissioners

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42— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVENBER 4, 2015 — 43

ALLEGED FALSE DECLARATION OF ASSETS: Saraki begs

S-Court to stop CCT proceeding

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—BARELY 48 hours to the commencement of full blown-trial on the 13-count criminal charge that was entered against him by the Federal Government, the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki, yesterday, approached the Supreme Court, begging it to arrest the proceeding of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT. Saraki, is praying the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which had on October 30, okayed the criminal charge against him.

He urged the Supreme Court to halt further proceeding on the allegation against him pending the determination of the appeal he formally lodged before it yesterday.

In the appeal he filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr. J.B. Daudu, SAN, a copy of which was sighted by Vanguard, last night, Saraki, specifically sought for: “An order staying further proceedings in Charge No: CCT/ ABJ/01/2015 between Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki fixed for hearing on November 5 and 6, 2015 pending the determination of the appeal

pending before the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated October 30, 2015.”

In his seven grounds of appeal, Saraki prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the entire proceedings of the CCT and the charges preferred against him before the tribunal by the Federal Government.

He contended that the appellate court panel led by Justice Moore Adumein, erred in law when it affirmed the competence of the

proceedings of the CCT, which sat on the appellant’s case with only two members as against the three provided for in the provisions of Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.

Saraki’s lawyer, Daudu, also faulted the majority decision of the appeal court where it held that there was lacuna regarding the quorum of the tribunal.

He argued that the application of the Interpretation Act to hold that two out of three members of the tribunal could validly sit “is to circumvent and reduce the

number prescribed by the constitution for the due composition of the CCT.” He also faulted the majority decision of the appeal court where it held that the CCT was a court of limited criminal jurisdiction and that the charges were validly initiated by a Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. M.S. Hassan, in the absence of a substantive Attorney-General of the Federation.

Saraki also challenged the decision of the appeal court which held that Saraki had been

CONFERENCE: From left, Chairman, Publicity Secretary Committee, Four Square Gospel Church, Pastor Benson Osieme; National Secretary, Rev. Ikechukwu Ugbaja, and Chairman, Diamond Jubilee Convention Committee, Dr. Muyiwa Afe, at a press conference to announce the Church’s Diamond Jubilee celebration, entitled, 'Greater Things,' in Lagos.

States’ bail-out, temporary solution to debt crises — DMO Continues from page 8 revenue and distributable funds from the federation account, a situation which, according to him, mean that the bail-out funding can only contribute to short term fiscal stabilization of the states, adding that measures for long term fiscal stabilization are necessary to guaranty solvency of the states.

Addressing capital market operators on the fiscal stabilization, Nwankwo said at the backdrop of the current poor revenue inflow, a sustainable fiscal measure should involve a diversification and industrialization of the economy and activation of opportunities in the agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals and petrochemical sectors.

He stated: "Every state should work towards dependence on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, while considering Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, funds as exceptional inflows.”

Capital market operators express worry

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However, while acknowledging the ingenuity of the DMO’s states’ bank loan restructuring, many capital market operators at the quarterly lunch meeting of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, AIHN, yesterday expressed worry at the bail-out portion of the states’ fiscal stabilisation funding.

Managing Director of United Capital Investment Banking, Mr Kayode Fadahunsi, said "the states’ debt crisis was not averted, it was just postponed.

The resources, the debt fund cannot be tied to any revenue yielding investments or projects and the bail-outs did not tie the beneficiaries to productive application of the funds.”

While agreeing to these concerns, Nwankwo argued that there is a regulatory authority for that, adding that fiscal responsibility act provides good grounds for citizens, the civil society groups and professional associations such as AIHN have responsibility to check abuses.

Also, Mr Ayo - Oluwa Aderibigbe of FBN Capital Limited lamented of lack of transparency in the states’ debt profile and management,

adding that "hitherto the debt profile of the states was unknown until DMO’s deal.”

On lack of information and transparency on states’ debt profile, Nwankwo said DMO has data of all states’ debt though the details may have a few gaps, adding: "DMO is a one-stop-shop for Nigeria’s debt profile.

Other observers complained that the Federal Government’s bail-out programme poses a moral hazard in public finance where it was possible for profligate politicians to always expect bail-outs which encouraged them to misuse public funds.

Economy requires N5trn annually to diversify Giving details of what was required for a stable public finance, Nwankwo said the role of infrastructure such as power, roads and railways are critical to support a globally competitive industrialization.

In this connection, he stated that a $25 billion (N5 trillion) investment was required per annum over the next five to seven years to make this happen.

According to him, there was

need for an articulated system of motivating the private sector to play their role of providing their 48 per cent share of the total investment requirement.

He also identified the need for the public sector to map out a strategy for marshalling huge investment capital along with the need for regional alliance among states for joint projects to achieve fiscal and economic viability.

At the federal level, he advocated a deliberate counter-cyclical, counter-tidal, reflationary policy as imperative with robust macroeconomic programming for achieving growth, jobs and prosperity According to him, "with appropriately structured financing, Nigeria should be able to programme a trajectory of long-term fiscal stability and self-sustaining growth "Needless to say, having squandered the opportunity provided by easy oil money over several decades for physical and human capital formation, we have no option now than to prospect for relatively harder financing.

This economy can boom remarkably within three to five years.”

properly served with the charges, at a time when his legal team only filed motion for conditional appearance before bench warrant was issued against him by the CCT. Daudu argued that the court of appeal erred in law for refusing to hold that the tribunal violated the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which he said ordered the tribunal to appear before the court to show cause why its proceedings against Saraki should not be halted.

According to him, the appeal court erred in law when it held that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was applicable to the proceeding of the tribunal.

It will be recalled that the appellate court had in two-to-one split decision, dismissed Saraki’s appeal against the ruling of the Justice Umar Danladi-led tribunal.

Whereas the duo of Justices Adumein and Mohammed Mustapha dismissed Saraki’s appeal and ordered him t o submit himself to the CCT for trial on Friday, another member of the panel, Justice Joseph Ekanem, held that the 13-count charge was incompetent, even as he discharged the accused person.

EFCC arraigns Suswam over N3.1bn fraud today

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

FTER SEVERAL days of extended interrogations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will today arraign the former Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, for money laundering and embezzlement.

The arraignment of Suswam, who ruled Benue State from 2007 to 2015, follows the filing of a nine-count charge largely bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.1 billion against him at the Federal High Court Abuja on October 2.

Suswam and his former finance commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia were alleged to have diverted the proceeds of the sale of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd. The offence is punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 20111 as amended in 2012.

44—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

FG’s indebtedness to oil marketers now N470bn

By Clara Nwachukwu & Ediri Ejoh

T

HE Federal G o v e r n m e n t ’ s outstanding indebtedness to oil marketers has risen to N470 billion, arising from a backlog of unpaid subsidy claims since August 1, 2014 till date.

This is even as the marketers say they require in excess of $2 billion dollars to pay off their foreign suppliers, otherwise they will not be able to continue to import more petroleum products into the country.

Marketers, who spoke to Vanguard in confidence yesterday, lamented that government has not been able to fulfil its promise to offset all outstanding marketers’ claims between October and second week in November. This is just as the promise by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to assist marketers in accessing dollars to pay off their foreign suppliers has also not yielded fruit.

One of the marketers said:

“We had another meeting with the Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo) two weeks ago and he promised that they would pay us. Right now I can tell you that no marketer has any money or line of credit to import even one litre of fuel.

“The last time any marketer was paid claims was July 31, 2014. Since August 1, 2014, no marketer has received anything.

The total outstanding claims between August 1 and now are about N470 billion.”

Besides, he added, “Even if they paid all the N470 billion, it will still not be enough to pay off our foreign suppliers because the dollar value of what we require to offset matured debts is over $2 billion. The CBN Governor promised to help us, but nothing has happened.”

90 workers sacked

Another marketer also disclosed on telephone that the situation is so critical that in the last one week, two oil

marketing companies have sacked 90 workers, adding that others are laying off secretly on daily basis, thereby compounding an already saturated labour market.

“If marketers continue to lay off workers, soon the unions will soon swoop down on us and begin another crisis.”

Sealing outlets selling above N87/litre

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday called on the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to swing into action and shut down any retail outlet selling Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, above the official price of N87 per litre.

The call comes as long queues resurfaced in the Lagos metropolis on Monday, and other areas in the country, with many outlets taking advantage of the scarcity to sell petrol

above the government approved pump price.

NNPC’s spokesman, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, in a telephone conversion with Vanguard, said: “There is supply of petroleum products from the NNPC and as such there should not be scarcity.

However, DPR should shut down any outlet found selling this product above the regulated price of N87 per litre.”

NNPC said last week, it had deployed 306 truckloads or about 10 million litres of petrol to some northern states.

The long queues of motorists waiting to buy the scarce product have led to traffic gridlocks along some of the major roads in Lagos, even as motorists lament the arbitrary hike in fuel prices.

Vanguard investigation showed that petrol stations along the Badagry area, Agbara and its environs sold fuel at between N100 and N120 instead of N87 per litre.

The Director, DPR, Mr. Mordecai Ladan, in a statement, against the backdrop of the purported resurgence of fuel scarcity in some parts of the country, warned oil marketers against products’ diversion, hoarding, pump manipulation and selling products above government approved prices.

According to Ladan, any marketer found to be underdispensing or selling products above the government regulated prices shall be suspended for a minimum of two months.

He said: “Marketers caught diverting or hoarding the products for profiteering shall be sanctioned with a fine of two million naira and have their operating licence revoked and be prosecuted for national economic sabotage.”

Ladan also said the DPR is collaborating with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, to ensure that defaulters are sanctioned accordingly.

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Managing debts amid alarming debt profile

By Charles Kumolu

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HE announcement of a bailout package for states that could no longer meet their statutory financial obligations,

by President Muhammadu Buhari came as a big relief to Nigerians who were already bearing the brunt of the financial crisis in Nigeria.

But hardly had the euphoria triggered by the prospects of receiving the funds from the Federal Government fizzled out, than stories that some states had embarked on borrowing moves amid alarming indebtedness, started emanating.

For most Nigerians, applying for loan when the current debt profile of most states is very scary, amounted to a misplaced priority. A few others with deep knowledge of the economics of governance, however, hold a different opinion.

State governors who have initiated such borrowing moves maintained that they have no option than borrowing on account of the quantum of debts they met on ground.

Other reasons adduced for the borrowings according to checks by Vanguard Features,VF, include the need to improve on the infrastructure and pay backlog of civil servants salaries.

Economic development The merit of these reasons notwithstanding, concerns have been raised about the rate and manner some state chief executives are going about fresh loans. According to those who raised eyebrows on the development, more debts would be incurred at the expense of economic development.

Many discerning commentators have actually queried the rationale behind borrowing at a time when the revenues accruable to the states have plummeted.

Rivers

For example, the borrowing of N30 billion in two tranches within one month by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, raised an outcry in the state.

The State House of Assembly had approved the Governor’s request to secure a N10 billion

state as well as dredging of Aba River.

Other developmental projects include the establishment of industrial clusters, a modern hospital in each senatorial zone as well as other developmental projects.

Like others, controversies trailed the decision in Abia with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, condemning the approval of the loan.

Ogun

loan from Zenith Bank in the first week of assuming office and another 20 billion weeks later.

The House approved the loan after deliberating on the Governor’s request letter read

by Speaker Ikuinyi Ibani.

According to the letter, the fund would be used to rehabilitate roads and some other projects.

The State chapter of All Progressives Congress ,APC, described the development as a plot by Governor Wike to plunge the state into an abyss of debt and economic servitude.

Benue

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on assumption of office, announced plans to borrow N10 billion to pay workers salaries.

Part of the money, according to him, will be for the smooth take -off of his administration.

This will involve the purchase of cars for the legislature, commissioners and special advisers.

His words: “When we applied to the State Assembly for approval to borrow the money, we gave details of what it was intended for. I said it was going to be used to pay two months salaries because on the average, we expend N3.7 billion on the payment of monthly salaries”.

VF gathered that the opposition in the state has since accused Governor Ortom of mismanaging the N10 billion he borrowed.

Niger

The Niger State Government was not left out in the borrowing spree as the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello wrote to the State

In Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun in June, said he would borrow additional loans to complete on-going developmental projects across the state.

The Governor stated this during his ‘’Work-inProgress” assessment tour.

The opposition in the state had questioned the borrowing, alleging that the state would be left in debt after Amosun’s tenure.

But the Governor justified the borrowings, stating that he borrowed money earlier and repaid substantial part of it when due.

Justification of borrowing

House Assembly asking for an approval of N1.85 billion loan to pay workers salaries.

According to him, the inability of the local government councils to

mobilise enough money to pay workers salaries and arrears led to the borrowing.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Marafa Ahmed, read the letter from the Governor requesting for a loan that will make up for the shortfall in the 25 local councils’ 2015 budget.

Plateau

Concerns have been raised about the rate and manner some state chief executives are going about fresh loans; according to those who raised eyebrows on the development, more debts would be incurred at the expense of economic development

In Plateau State, the Governor said there was need to borrow money to address insecurity and financial challenges facing his state.

He had said there was urgent need to get a loan because the debt he met on ground was more than N104 billion. According to Governor Lalong, borrowing became inevitable in order to meet up with the state’s financial obligations.

Abia

The story is also the same in Abia State where Governor Okezie Ikpeazu got the nod to borrow N30 billion from commercial banks, The N30 billion loan was meant to be channeled into construction and rehabilitation of roads and building of bridges across the three senatorial zones of the

Given the furore generated by these borrowings, many Nigerians have questioned the role of the Debt Management Office, DMO, which is mandated to, among other things, prepare and implement a plan for the efficient management of Nigeria’s external and domestic debt obligations at sustainable levels compatible with desired economic activities for growth and development.

In the light of these misconceptions, DMO tried to clear the air about the country ’s debt profile and management. The agency which was established by the Debt Management Act of 2003, convened workshops in Enugu,Lagos and Kaduna for the civil society, media and students.

At the events attended by VF, the message was simple: to further the understanding of Nigeria’s debt profile and management among every segment of the Nigerian society.

Prominent among the questions that came up during interactive sessions was the rationale behind current borrowings in the face of mounting debt profile.

The Director General of

Continues on page 49

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015—49

Director General of Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, some Directors of the agency and members of the media at a workshop organised by the DMO in Lagos.

Managing debts amid alarming debt profile Continues from page 48 DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, who responded to the posers, noted that borrowing is an acceptable practice in governance. He was however quick to state that it is unconstitutional for any state government to borrow funds externally without approval by the Federal Government.

At each fora, he pointedly stated that DMO is not responsible for the disbursement of money neither is it saddled with the duty of knowing how the money is spent.

Public debt knowledge: In Lagos, Nwankwo said the DMO found it imperative to reach out to all stakeholders in the country because public debt management knowledge should not remain mysterious, rather it should be democratised.

Such, he said, would help online publishers who are in a position to monitor, shape and influence the thoughts of the people to become wellequipped with information and data of public debt management.

Nwankwo explained that DMO has built a long standing tradition where they create platforms for interactions with various groups. “We started visiting institutions of higher learning to interact with students to ensure that they have adequate knowledge of debt management in Nigeria,” he said.

Continuing, Nwankwo said:

“This is because we looked at the job, not from the angle of just earning a living only, but to use our job in a way to contribute to nation building.

We are concerned with the future of the country, especially the youths, and how we can help them to reach their full potentials.

“We also have a long standing tradition of interacting with editors of traditional media, such as newspapers, because as the world is evolving, new stakeholders are evolving; so we are committed to monitoring these stakeholders and interacting with them, thereby democratising public debt knowledge.”

The debt matter is not just the quantum, what is important is how these resources are deplored to encourage growth, development, generate employment and reduce poverty

Available to corroborate the position of the DMO boss, were some Directors of the agency, who presented various papers aimed at deepening the understanding of public debt management.

The Director, Market Development, Mrs. Patience Oniha, highlighted the processes involved in the Issuance of Eurobonds in the International Capital Market, ICM. She said that the aims for issuing the Eurobond were to diversify the sources of borrowing. ‘’Nigeria’s activities in the International Capital Market, ICM, anchored by the DMO have been very successful in terms of subscription recorded and other objectives for their Issuance,” she noted.

Head of Portfolio Management, Mr. Dele Afolabi, also explained the processes and procedures for borrowing either from bilateral or multi-lateral sources.

Procedures for borrowing On her part, the Director Strategic Programmes, Mrs A’smau Mohammed, highlighted the benefits of establishing Debt Management Departments, DMDs, in all the 36 states and the FCT. Going down memory lane, she recalled that after the exit of Nigeria from the Paris and London Club of Creditors in 2006, the DMO in a bid to guard against relapse into un-

sustainable debts, came up with the initiative of ensuring that the sub-nationals became sustainable.

To her, the DMO has made a formidable impact in institutionalising debt management practices at the sub-national level.

That, she said, is in addition to the existence of a comprehensive and up-todate domestic debt data of all the states, and FCT which is being published annually.

At a similar event in Kaduna which was convened for students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the DMO explained that despite the nation’s huge debts, the economy had remained resilient and diversifiable.

In his remarks, Nwankwo explained that the states accounted for 18 per cent of the domestic debts while the Federal Government accounted for 82 per cent.

Misconceptions about debt management: He explained that the decision of bringing the students together arose as a result of the need to address some isconceptions about debt management in Nigeria.

Nwaknwo noted that before now, the DMO had engaged the students by visiting their various schools with same message, adding that the need to deepen such information necessitated the workshop in Kaduna.

He added that the students were assembled to sensitise them on how to monitor how such borrowed funds are

spent.

Nwankwo said: “Presently Nigeria owes domestically, about N11 trillion and externally about N11 billion dollars. Let me emphasise that the debt matter is not just the quantum, what is important is how these resources are deplored to encourage growth, development, generate employment and reduce poverty.

“It matters whether what you borrowed you are in a position to pay back, to service it as and when due. And in Nigeria’s case, I want to assure you that Nigeria’s debt remains sustainable.

“As you know, based on current global economic problems, particularly the collapse of oil prices, all of us should be aware that this is having significant impact on economies all over the world.

“But even at that, I can assure you that the Nigerian economy is very resilient because the government is in control, and Nigeria will continue to remain sustainable.

“The debts figure is the total debt of the federation, including all the states governments, and the domestic debts of the Federal Government and all the state governments. So, the debts I mentioned is comprehensive; it is the total debts of Nigeria.

Total debts “Let me emphasise to you that Nigerians should congratulate the government and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who in spite of the shock occasioned by the very drastic fall in the oil revenue, have continued to maintain a healthy reserve, and have continued to stabilise the Naira exchange rate,” he said.

Dr. Chuka Ifediora of the Marketing Consultancy Department of University of Nigeria, UNN, gave what was akin to a pep talk to the students on the subject.

He was emphatic on why the students should mainstream what they learnt at the forum, in order to disseminate the information to their peers.

Of particular note, was his call on the students to avoid being used by any one or group to propagate wrongful message about debt profile and management in Nigeria.

Making their contribution, a representative of the students unions, Salahudeen Lukman, advised both the state and Federal governments to ensure that all funds borrowed for development of the education and other critical sectors of the economy were judiciously utilised in order to ensure growth and development.

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NOVERMBER 4, 2015

End of road for one chance swindlers in Aba •Three suspects arrested

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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OR those who thought that ‘one chance’ robbery incidents take place only in Lagos, this is an eye-opener.

Members of a three-man gang who specialized in swindling unsuspecting traders and business people going to the Ariaria International Market and Alaoji Motor Spare Parts Markets, Aba, Abia State, met their waterloo, penultimate Thursday when they were nabbed by soldiers in the city.

Crime Alert gathered that the gang operated between Osisioma Ngwa Motor Park to Ariaria Junction on the EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway where they trailed traders and individuals going to the two markets, particularly those who prefer boarding cabs along the expressway to using the motor park.

Female victims The gangsters, Udo Mba, an indigene of Amavo-Ukwu, Osisioma Ngwa LGA, Ifeanyi Enwereji of Obuda Village, Aba South LGA, and Phillip Nwulu of Rivers State, were arrested when one of the female victims they were alleged to have swindled identified them and raised alarm which alerted passers-by who swiftly went after them.

Recovered from the gang were a blue coloured Peugeot 504 car with registration number Oyo AA 851 EGB, suspected fake US dollar bills and other items.

Nemesis Crime Alert gathered that members of the gang who were already waiting for their wouldbe prey, on sighting the girl drove off, but luck, however, ran against them when their car ran into a ditch on the expressway.

According to sources, before the gang could get out of their car to escape, a mob caught up with them and was trying about to lynch them when a group of soldiers of the 144 Battalion stationed at Ngwa High School, Aba, stormed the scene and rescued them.

Victim’s account: Speaking with Crime Alert, the victim who simply gave her name as Miss Chidinma, a cosmetics dealer at the Umuahia Main Market, said she came to Aba to buy goods at the Ariaria International Market and boarded a taxi at Osisioma Ngwa Junction, where she fell victim to the gang who swindled her of N15,000 and other items.

Her story: “It was about last month when I came to Aba to buy goods at the Ariaria International Market. When our bus stopped at Osisioma Junction, I entered their car because I was in a hurry and wanted to shop as fast as I could and return to Umuahia before evening.

“The driver drove off with a male passenger and later picked another woman on the road. I didn’t suspect anything.

We got to a point where the woman brought out dollars and waved it at my face. At a point, I lost consciousness and didn’t know what I was doing but I can remember they said that I should give them money to buy chemical which they would use to produce more money.

“I declined but later told them that I had N15,000 on me. After that, they promised to pay me back the money. The two male passengers who I suspected were members of the syndicate, left and the woman later left leaving me alone in a particular place that I can’t remember.

This is how I lost N15,000 to them. A good Samaritan helped me back to Umuahia because I had no money left with me.”

How they were caught Luck, however, ran out of the swindlers when Chidinma returned to Aba, penultimate Thursday and met the gangsters at the

•The suspects same spot she boarded their cab at Osisioma Ngwa Junction on the expressway She continued: “Armed with

We got to a point where the woman brought out dollars and waved it at my face. At a point, I lost consciousness and didn’t know what I was doing but I can remember they said that I should give them money to buy chemical which they would use to produce more money

the ugly experience I had the last time at Osisioma Ngwa Junction, I was on my way to Ariaria Market to make purchases. Immediately I alighted from the bus at Osisioma Ngwa Junction, I saw them (gang) at the same place where I entered their car on that fateful day and immediately they saw me, they drove off, but I started shouting and people who were around pursued and caught up with them. After the crowd beat them to a pulp, they even confessed to the crime and pleaded for pardon, promising to turn a new leaf if they were granted pardon.”

One chance business Crime Alert investigations revealed that there has been an upsurge in ‘one chance’ swindlers along the expressway, where commuters are being dispossessed of their money and other items. The ‘one chance’ business is said to thrive mostly during the ‘ember ’ months when there are many commuters on the

road.

According to a bus driver plying the Osisioma Ngwa Junction–Alaoji flyover route, Uchenna Williams, “most of the victims of the ‘one chance’ swindlers have been traders and individuals who are always in a hurry to get to their destination by boarding cabs on the expressway.

“Many people have fallen victim to this ‘one chance’ taxi drivers along this expressway.

We have always warned them to board cabs or buses at the motor parks, but they seem to always be in a hurry. Many of the victims have been heartbroken after they were swindled by the gang. People should be careful of the type of vehicles they board because we are now in ‘ember ’ months when the swindlers and other criminals thrive.”

Commanding Officer of the 144 Battalion, Lt. Col. Kasim Umar Sidi, could not be reached at the time of filing this report, but a soldier at the unit said the suspects have confessed to the crime and would soon be handed over to the Police.

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US detects heat flash around Russian jet before crash

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US infrared satellite has reportedly detected a heat flash at the time a Russian passenger jet went down in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, a US official has said, as the investigation into the deadly plane crash continues.

The official said yesterday that the US intelligence community believes that it could have been some kind of explosion on the plane itself, either a fuel tank or a bomb.

The same satellite imagery ruled out a surface-to-air missile attack, the news channel reported.

“The speculation that this plane was brought down by a missile is off the table,” the official told NBC News.

The jet crashed on Saturday, killing all 224 passengers and crew on board.

Investigators are examining all possible causes as part of an

Egyptian-led probe into the disaster that also involves experts from Russia, Airbus, and Ireland, where the aircraft was registered.

Analysts have dismissed claims that the jet was shot

•Russian President, Vladimir Putin welcoming Syrian President Bashir Al-Assad to Moscow recently.

Russia says keeping Assad not crucial

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USSIA says it is not crucial for Syria’s President Bashar alAssad to stay in power, saying it is up to the

Late Saudi King Fahd’s ‘secret wife’ wins £25m payout Ms Harb claimed to have secretly married the king in 1968 before he ascended to the throne.

The case could now go to the Court of Appeal.

Judge Mr Justice Peter Smith said Ms Harb’s claim that the king’s son Prince Abdul Aziz, had met her at London’s Dorchester Hotel when the king was seriously ill two years before his death in 2005 was “credible”.

•Janan Harb, WOMAN who says she was the “secret wife” of the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has won a multimillion-pound claim at the High Court.

Janan Harb, 68, alleged one of the king’s sons had agreed she would be looked after “for the rest of my life”.

The court ruled she was entitled to more than £15m, plus the £10m value of two homes in Chelsea, west London.

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N Indian court has sentenced an Uber taxi driver to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a female passenger last year in Delhi.

Shiv Kumar Yadav was also convicted of criminal intimidation and kidnapping.

The 26-year-old woman was taken to a secluded

Syrian people to decide, the Russian foreign ministry has said.

When asked if saving the Syrian leader was a matter of principle for Russia, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “Absolutely not, we never said that.”

“We are not saying that Assad should leave or stay,” she added.

Russia is supporting the Syrian government with air strikes on rebels.

Ms Zakharova said on the Ekho Moskvy radio station that whether Mr Assad stayed or stepped down was not critical for Russia, but that it was up to the Syrian people to decide his fate.

Turkey detains supporters of rival politician

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URKISH police have arrested 44 people suspected of having links to an exiled Islamic cleric accused of seeking to overthrow the government.

Top bureaucrats and police officers were among those held in a crackdown on

India gives taxi driver life term for Delhi rape

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down by a group affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) if it was flying at a cruising height of 9,000 metres, but did not rule out that a bomb might have been planted on board.

area and raped after booking a journey home with Uber in December.

Delhi later banned Uber and several other webbased taxi firms for many months, accusing them of failing to carry out adequate driver checks.

The company apologised for the incident at the time and acknowledged that it “must do better”.

supportersofFethullahGulen, thestate-runAnadoluagency said.

Mr Gulen is a rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose AK party regained its majority in Sunday’s election.

European observers said violenceandmediarestrictions marred the polls.

On Tuesday, left-wing magazine Nokta said two of its editors had been charged with plotting a coup in the government’s latest move against opposition media outlets.

Cevheri Guven and Murat Capan were arrested over a magazinecovercriticisingthe electionresultsthatread:“The start of civil war in Turkey.”

An Istanbul court later ordered that the magazine’s latest edition be withdrawn from the shelves, accusing it ofincitingthepublictocommit a crime.

Adichie wins top women’s fiction honour

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H I M A M A N DA Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun has topped a list of the last decade’s winners of the Baileys Women’s Fiction Prize.

She won the “Best of the Best” award as part of the celebrations to mark 20 years of the annual £30,000 prize.

Nigerian author Adichie won in 2007 for her story, her second novel, set during the Biafran War of the 1960s.

Adicihie said she was “grateful and happy ”, adding: “This is a prize I have a lot of respect and admiration for.”

The 38-year-old novelist continued: “Over the years it’s [the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction] brought wonderful literature to a wide readership that might not have found many of the books.

“I have a lot of respect for the books that have won in the past 10 years and also for the books that have been shortlisted - I feel I am in very good company.”

Other winners of the Baileys Prize from the last decade include Zadie

Smith for On Beauty, Rose Tremain for The Road Home and Eimear McBride for A Girl is a Half-formed Thing.

The winner of Best of the Best of the prize’s first decade in 2005 was Andrea Levy ’s Small Island, which won the main title in 2004.

Established in 1996, the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction - first known as the Orange Prize for Fiction -

is awarded to the best novel of the year written by a woman. Baileys took over Half of a Yellow Sun which tells the story of the Nigerian war through the eyes of three characters: Olanna, a young woman who abandons her privileged lifestyle to live with her university professor lover, the shy English writer Richard and the poor village boy Ugwu.

•Chimamanda

S/African prosecutors appeal Oscar Pistorius murder verdict

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OUTH African judges have heard an appeal on whether athlete Oscar Pistorius should be convicted of murder instead of culpable homicide.

The Paralympian was transferred to house arrest last month after serving one year of his five-year term for killing his girlfriend Reeva

Steenkamp.

Pistorius, 28, shot her her through a locked toilet door in 2013 but insists he thought she was an intruder.

No date was set for the judgement that could see Pistorius return to prison.

Pistorius and his family did not attend the hearing at South Africa’s Supreme

Zambia raises interest rates to 15.5%

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AMBIA’S central bank has pushed up interest rates from 12.5% to 15.5% in an effort to curb soaring inflation.

Consumer prices nearly doubled in October to 14.3% from 7.7% in September as Zambia’s currency weakened sharply.

Zambia’s kwacha has halved in value against the dollar this year as lower copper prices have hit Africa’s secondbiggest producer of the metal.

In October the country held a national day of

prayer to try to counteract its economic crisis.

The increase in Zambia’s benchmark lending rate was the first by the southern African nation since November 2014.

“In arriving at our decision the committee took into account the inflationary outturn.

Keeping inflation expectations anchored in single digits is critical,” central bank governor Denny Kalyalya said.

The kwacha rose around 0.6% against the dollar followingtheannouncement.

Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.

Ms Steenkamp’s mother, June, was present, as well as some women activists of the governing African National Congress who said they came to show solidarity with her.

The proceedings were broadcast live on television.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel outlined the state’s case for the verdict to be changed to murder from culpable homicide, or manslaughter.

The five appeal court judges did not consider the facts but the application of the law, in a highly technical case.

What is on everybody’s lips is what Pistorius’ lawyer Barry Roux was overheard saying at the end of the hearing. “I’m going to lose”, he is reported to have said in a conversation with Mr Nel while their microphones were still open.

But the context in which he made the comment is unclear so it would be wrong to conclude that he conceded victory to his rival.

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54— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Yakmut meets Mikel in London over Eagles crisis

By Jude Opara, Abuja

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ESPITE denials by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), that it was not aware of any investigation by the National Sports Commission (NSC) into the sudden retirement of some Nigerian players from the Super Eagles, the NSC yesterday confirmed that it has already commenced the said investigation.

Director General of the NSC, Mallam Al Hassan Yakmut told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the Commission has started an underground investigation into the issues to forestall further untimely exit from the national team.

He stated however, that investigation does not warrant the involvement of security agencies especially at the early

stage.

The former national athlete who said that he was in London where he met with some Nigerian players also disclosed that he had discussions with managers of some Super Eagles players as a way of finding an end to the disturbing development.

Yakmut confirmed that he met with Super Eagles player, Mikel Obi as well as Nigerian born Jordan Ibe after watching the English premiership game between Chelsea and Liverpool at the weekend.

The NSC boss equally stressed that the commission will continue to maintain a very cordial relationship with the NFF, because it will continue to carry out its role as the supervisory body over the federation as well as for other sports.

Women AFCON: Super Falcons face Guinea, Senegal test

By Ben Efe

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•Mikel

•Digging...Desire Oparanozie in action during the FIFA women world cup in Canada. Can the Super Falcons return to winning ways in 2016.

FRICAN women champions, the Super Falcons will face Guinea or Senegal in the second round qualification for the 2016 Women Africa Cup of Nations billed for Cameroon.

Guinea and Senegal will play in the first round qualification matches and the winner of the tie, will play Nigeria to determine who gets the ticket to Cameroon.

Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa and Cote’d Ivoire are the other nations that drew bye into the second round. The first leg of the preliminary round matches are billed for the weekend of March 4-6,

while the second round qualifiers will be decided in the weekend of April 810 Nigeria won the 2014 edition in Namibia, without losing or draw a single match in the tournament. They beat Cameroon 2-0 in the final to win their ninth AWC title.

But the Falcons were demystified at the 2015 All Africa Games, where they failed to win a medal losing three matches in a row. This was after they failed to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio Brazil.

However, one of the Super Falcons players said online yesterday, that there was still hope for the team.

Klopp has fired up Liverpool, says Ibe

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IVERPOOL manager Juergen Klopp has helped instil a never-saydie mentality among his players to believe a game can always be won regardless of the situation, winger Jordon Ibe has said.

The charismatic 48-yearold German took over from Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked after just eight Premier League games this season, last month and has set about adjusting his squad’s approach to adversity.

Klopp won his first league game as Liverpool manager on Saturday against champions Chelsea, the Reds fighting back for a 3-1 victory after conceding with-

in the first four minutes.

Ibe, who has made 12 appearances for the club this season, said the game against Chelsea was the perfect example of how Klopp had already influenced the squad.

“It was one of the most important things the new manager has said — we need to be a team who can be 2-0 down and know there is still time for us to get a goal,” Ibe told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

“It could be in the last 10 minutes, so it’s just about having a mentality that is like ‘it’s now up to us to go and get two goals and then a third one’.

“All we have to do is start preparations early. We expect that a new coach will be employed and that should happen soon, so that the team can get organised again,” said the

defender.

Midfielder Ngozi Akobi also called on the Nigeria Football Federation to get the team going in the off season. “In my opinion I think the solution is to re-

group during the off season after the super 6, the Nigeria Football Federation should try and organise two to three weeks camping when there are no competitions."

Enyimba players keeping a level head—Ikhana

•Ikhana

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NYIMBA are in good stead to win the Nigeria Premier League on Sunday, if they can get a result against visiting Warri Wolves

But coach Kadiri Ikhana stated that his players are not carried away, they are keeping a level head until the job is done.

Enyimba,movedsixpoints clear of Warri Wolves at the top of the table on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 victory against Abia Warriors in Umuahia for their 19th win of the season.

“It has been a good season and everyone’s cooperation has really made the team so tick. We are still working very hard because it is not over yet ,” Ikhana said.

“No one has won the Nigeria Premier League yet. We have to keep our feet on the ground to see that we are not dethroned from the top of the table.

“Until our last game we won’t celebrate yet because as it stands, anything can still happen.

But then, we have great hope and we will continue to remain positive till we are crowned champions.

“And after that, we will focus our attention on how do well in next season’s Caf Champions League,” he concluded.

Capello backs Arsenal to do well in UCL

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•Ibe “It was great for the team to come back from 1-0 down because it is difficult to do that and beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

ORMER England man ager Fabio Capello believes Arsenal can be one of the surprises of the Champions League this season as the summer signing of Petr Cech from Chelsea has boosted the confidence of the whole side.

The Italian boss, who according to The Sun is one of the main candidates to replace Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho if the Portuguese boss is sacked, believes the Gunners are one

of the strongest team in Europe alongside Manchester City, Bayern Munich and the three La Liga giants, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Capello won the Champions League in the 199394 season during his successful spell at AC Milan.

And the former Real Madrid boss believes that despite Arsenal starting the tournament with defeats against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos, the north

•Alex Iwobi London side are one the strongest candidates following their impressive 2-0 win against Bayern Munich.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 — 55

Mourinho expects to see out deal J

OSE Mourinho has declined to reveal if discussions had taken place with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over his future, instead he decided to point to his lengthy contract.

The embattled Blues boss is under pressure from all angles - not least to retain his place as manager amid a miserable run of results.

Mourinho said: “I don’t have to answer you if I was with the owner or not.”

Asked how much time he thought he had, Mourinho, who signed a new contract until June 2019 on the eve of the season, said: “Four years.

In this case, three years and seven months.”

Mourinho’s problems are piling up after he was given a one-match stadium ban and became the subject of a personal legal claim from former first-team doctor Eva Carneiro.

His side have lost nine of 17 games in all competitions this season ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League Group G clash with Dynamo Kiev.

He was subject of the first managerial vote of confidence in Roman Abramovich’s 12-year ownership on October 5, but Chelsea have one win in five games since, against a free-falling Aston Villa.

Shevchenko tips Messi to beat Ronaldo

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L-R: Mr. Godwin Kienka, Director International Tennis Academy, Prof. Umar Danbatta , Acting Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Sani Ndanusa, President Nigeria Tennis Federation and Mr. Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations NCC at the semi-final match of the maiden NCC Tennis Championship in Abuja, Sunday.

Atletico scoreless in Astana

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TLETICO Madrid and Astana played out a drab and rather uninspiring goalless draw in their Champions League encounter.

Fernando Torres had perhaps the game’s best chance in the first half while Atletico also hit the woodwork more than once, but they rarely looked like unpicking the dogged hosts.

Astana meanwhile made much of the running in the first half and got at the Atleticodefencewiththekind of regularity that should have

Ronaldo Continues from BP have had a strained relationship during the Chelsea manager ’s turbulent three-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The former Manchester United star has made no secret of his attitude towards Mourinho and revealed last year that his compatriot created a ‘bad atmosphere’ during his troubled reign.

And it appears their relationship reached breaking point during a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash with league rivals Valencia in January 2013.

Mourinho was left incensed at Ronaldo’s failure to track back during the second half of the game, where they were winning 2-0, and the pair were involved in an exchange of words after the match.

In the new book Cristiano Ronaldo: The

Ballon d’Or:

Biography, written by Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, it has been revealed that a furious dressing-room confrontation occurred.

As quoted in the new book, Balague wrote: ‘Mourinho, whose blood was no longer boiling by the time he reached the dressing room, reminded Cristiano of the reason for the instruction on the pitch: “If they get a goal against us…”

‘The player, unable to contain his fury, got up from the bench where he was changing and began shouting, “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me! How dare you say that to me?!”’

As written by Balague, there have been suggestions that a number of Real players - some of whom were present during the confrontation wanted their team-mate

concerned Diego Simeone but created few real chances and ran out of steam in the second half.

Simeone made three changes from the side that drew with Deportivo La Coruna, bringing in Guilherme Siqueira, Saul Niguez and Torres for Filipe Luis, Yannick FerreiraCarrasco and Jackson Martinez.

Jan Oblak was the first goalkeeper really tested, clutching on to Dmitri Shomko’s well-hit drive, while most of Atletico’s threat to defend more.

But the argument following the 2-0 victory in the Copa del Rey, where they went on to reach the final but lost out to rivals Atletico Madrid, intensified to the amazement of the team.

The journalist added: ‘The situation escalated to the point where Cristiano had to be held back (some sources say

by Casillas, others say

by Arbeloa and Khedira, or even Sergio Ramos) to prevent the pair from coming to blows.

‘Ronaldo took what should have been understood as a tactical comment as a personal attack. The relationship between Mourinho and Ronaldo would never be the same again.’

Mourinho also revealed last year that his relationship with Ronaldo is ‘non-existent’ since he left Madrid and returned to Chelsea in 2013.

came from corners, and the haphazard way in which Astana goalkeeper Eric dealt with them

N D R I Y Shevchenko believes Lionel Messi is ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Ballon d’Or running, and no player comes close to the Barcelona-Real Madrid pair.

“Ronaldo and Messi are favourites again, of course. The last five years they have evolved into superlative players, the quality of football they produce is fantastic,” he acknowledged.

“I think Messi, having won the Champions League, is in pole position to win the Ballon d’Or. There are still a lot of games to play and I’m sure he’ll score between 50 and 70 goals this season.

“It’s hard to see [anyone competing with Messi or Ronaldo]. Eden Hazard had a great

Mexico Continues from BP Chile 2015 with eight of the 14 goals by the Golden Eaglets as they romped to their seventh U17 World Cup semis.

“Nigeria are a very good team and we will prepare ourselves better to face their excellent attack,” said coach Arteaga after his team set up a mouth-watering rematch with the four-time world champions.

Mexico beat Germany and Chile on their way to the last-four.

The North Americans were worthy 2-0 winners

Continues from BP

over Ecuador on Monday night to advance to the semi-finals.

Arteaga said his team acquitted themselves very well against the South Americans.

“The match went as we expected, very tight between two teams with the same level. But my team have managed to stay very calm and very well composed in this game with impeccable behaviour,” he praised.

“My players were good tactically, physically and mentally.”

Siasia

towards our preparations,” Siasia said.

“We don’t have a plan B right now. We need to get out of this place and make sure we go over there and focus very well and prepare.

“Even though things are not working well as we want it to be but we have to do the best we can to make sure we qualify for the 2016 Olympics football tournament. We have to qualify. We are bound to qualify.

Siasia also revealed that his team still lacks the goal scoring instinct despite playing quality football but he assured that area would be improved on before departing for Senegal.

“We are trying to play good football but we still need to improve. The last game we played in Port Harcourt everybody excited and very happy about how we played even though our biggest problem is scoring,” he continued.

“That is the area we need to work on. To bring in new players will be a difficult job again for us to make sure that these guys can blend together like we did the last time.

“Hopefully the ones that will come in will try to catch up on time so that we can play well, not only to play well but to score goals too,” he concluded.

Nigeria U23 did not qualify for the 2012 Olympics staged in London.

season with Chelsea and won the Premier League. He’s not had a good start but I’m sure he’ll be back. He’s one to consider for the next five or six years. I’m sure he can win it.”

•Messi

Sanusi Continues from BP Federation (NFF) says it is anxious to present the trophy to President Muhammadu Buhari.

General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammade Sanusi told Sports Vanguard that the federation was looking forward to a possible repeat of history when in 1985 Nigeria won the first edition of the championship in China under the regime of President Buhari.

Sanusi while reacting on the impressive run of the Coach Emmanuel Amuneke led Golden Eaglets, said even as the NFF did not give any special target to the team it is however hoping that they will successfully defend the trophy they won last week.

“What we told the boys is to respect and not to fear their opponents . I am not a soothsayer but I knew we were going to defeat Brazil because we played and defeated them at the Suwon invitational tournament in South Korea. Also we beat Argentina who almost play like Brazil in a friendly match. “History is about to repeat itself when in 1985 General Buhari then as a military Head of State received the U-17 trophy.

Again, it will happen that as a civilian president he will receive it because even as we know that Mexico will not be easy. The Golden Eaglets will be equal to the task.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Ronaldo nearly ‘came to blows’ with Mourinho in Real Madrid

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RISTIANO Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho were once involved in a heated exchange in the Real Madrid dressing room where they almost ‘came to blows’, a new biography has revealed.

Ronaldo and his former Real boss are believed to Continues on Page 55

•Mourinho

Siasia wants Morocco camp for U-23

U

23 coach Samson Siasia believes preparing for the African U23 championship in Morocco will be a right step for his team as they aim to pick a ticket to Rio 2016.

The Dream Team VI will face Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B when Senegal 2015 kicks off on November 28.

“Anything apart from going to Morocco for the

•Ronaldo

Mexico plot Eaglets’ fall M

•Siasia camping exercise will be a big disappointment Continues on Page 55

Yakmut meets Mikel in London over Eagles — Pg.54

HOT SHOT: Oshimhen

EXICO U17 team coach Mario Arteaga has revealed they will stop the rampaging Nigeria attack led by Victor Osimhen when both teams clash on Thursday in the semi-finals of FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

Kick-off for this World Cup showdown in Concepcion will be Thursday midnight Nigerian time.

Osimhen has been the most lethal striker at Continues on Page 55

We’ll present U-17 trophy to ongoing FIFA U-17 Buhari — Sanusi World Cup between

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

HEAD of the semi finals of the

Nigeria and Mexico Thursday night, the Nigeria Football

Continues on Page 55

Today’s Champions League Fixtures

•Buhari

AA Gent Barcelona B/Munich Chelsea Lyon Maccabi Tel Aviv Olympiacos Roma

v v v v v v v v

Valencia BATE Borisov Arsenal Dynamo Kiev Zenit FC Porto Dinamo Zagreb B/Leverkusen

8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm 8:45pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S PUZZLE

YESTERDAY'S ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Shut (5) 5 Talented (6) 8 Enlist (5) 10 Show (6) 11 Parched (4) 14 Character (6) 15 Peaceful (7) 18 Vitality (3) 19 Vehicle (3) 21 Adroit (4) 23 Spree (5) 24 Needy (4) 27 Tease (3) 29 Favourite (3) 31 Baby-clothes (7) 32 Trader (6) 34 Thoroughfare (4) 35 Escaped (6) 38 Tree (5) 39 Guard (6) 40 God (5)

DOWN 2 Meadow (3) 3 Seek (3) 4 Finish (3) 5 Family (4) 6 Left (6) 7 Reiterate (6) 9 Regain (7) 12 Knock (3) 13 Cheat (4) 16 Singer (4) 17 Marine (5) 20 Denied (7) 22 Even (4) 24 Cushioned (6) 25 Gemstone (4) 26 Tell (6) 28 Obtain (6) 30 Number (3) 33 Peruse (4) 36 Guided (3) 37 Newt (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Ledger 5, Melt 8, Eased 9, Arc 10, Turn 11, Aged 12, Atone 13, Horrid 16, Lees 18, Emit 20, Ate 22, Set 23, Rip 24, Tier 25, Clip 28, Cuttle 30, Magic 32, Heat 33, Bask 34, Kin 35, Sited 36, Disc 37, Stance.

DOWN: 1, Loathe 2, Decorate 3, Entail 4, Fantastic 5, Member 6, Edge 7, Tidy 8, Era 14, Described 15, Sip 17, Eel 19, Mistaken 20, Aim 21, Erratic 26, Packet 27, Seance 29, Shed 30, Mass 31, Cad.

How to Play Sudoku

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lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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