Reputation of Nigeria's military at stake — US

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62225

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

CAPTURE OF BORNO TOWNS BY B-HARAM:

Reputation of Nigeria's military at stake — US •Says failure to stop insurgency not an option •We need foreign assistance in areas of equipment — CDS •Security situation deteriorating — Sen. Saleh

By Emma Ujah, Kingsley Omonobi, Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA — THE United States of America warned yesterday that the reputation of Nigeria’s military was at stake while the future of the country and her children was in jeopardy following the capture of some towns in the north eastern part of the country in the last few weeks by Boko Haram terrorists.

This came as Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh,

Continues on Page 5

350 make-shift dwellings razed in Lagos fire 7 Alex Badeh, Chief of Defence Staff

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader

Donu Kogbara

Chief Tom Ikimi....

Feedback •P.17

Ebola outbreak

Ebola outbreak in Port Harcourt could spread wider and faster than in Lagos, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has warned.

This is just as the US denied allegations that it declined to assist in controlling spread of the deadly virus in the country.

•P.8

B-HARAM: FG gets ultimatum to prosecute Sheriff Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana has given the Federal Government seven days to prosecute former Borno governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff for allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram or face his wrath.

•P.9

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

COLUMNIST:

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

EBOLA: Nation's land borders remain porous — Vanguard investigations 10 72-yr-old Dutch loses N40.6m to love scam A 31-yr-old internet fraudster, Adio Opeyemi Michael, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for defrauding a Dutch woman, 72, of N40.6m

•P.6

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

INAUGURATION—President Goodluck Jonathan (C) flanked on the right by the Chairman, National Council on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, Vice President Namadi Sambo and on the left by the Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and other members of the Council shortly after the inauguration of the Council at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Reputation of Nigeria's military at stake— US Continues from page 1 revealed that for the country to win the war against terrorism, there was the need for diplomatic lobbying for foreign assistance in areas of equipment.

Also, yesterday, the Federal Government assured that no Nigerian Soldier would die in vain, even as a retired general, now a Senator, Ahmed Saleh said the battle against insurgency was far from being over, saying “what we are seeing is a complete deterioration of the situation."

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Amb. Linda ThomasGreenfield, who expressed deep concerns of her

country on the activities of the Islamic sect in the country while participating in the International Conference on Security in Abuja, declared that failure was not an option.

The militants on Monday reportedly took Bama, 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the Borno State capital, Maiduguri, where 10,000 youths, former soldiers and police gathered on Thursday, vowing to push back the advance. Multiple testimonies from residents, who have been fleeing Bama all week, contradicted military claims that soldiers still held the town.

“The truth is that Boko Haram fighters are in

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BY PASTOR ITUAH

Do something well.

Whatever you do consistently perfectly for long enough you will know how to do it and do it excellently well; it will prosper you and consistently perfect your life.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Life speaks to us all the time...we just need to be more aware of its messages...being aware brings about a better grasp of happenings and situations in our lives — Take Heart Quotes

A

ND from Deepak Chopra comes meaningful understanding on how to live life more beautifully. He surmised that when you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities... in which it becomes possible to achieve the spontaneous fulfilment of our every desire.

These co-incidences are synchronicities and require gaining access to a place deep within yourself. When a coincidence arises, don’t ignore it. Ask yourself, what is the message here? What is the significance of this? You don’t need to go digging for the answers. Ask the question, and the answers will emerge. They may arrive as a sudden insight, a spontaneous creative experience, or they may be something very different. Perhaps you will meet a person who is somehow related to the coincidence that occurred. An encounter, a relationship, a chance meeting, a situation, a circumstance will immediately give you a clue to its meaning. “Oh, so that’s what it was all about!”

firm control of Bama,” said one resident, Muhammadu Mai Tumatur, who escaped to Maiduguri.

“They have occupied the military barracks and the palace of the emir and they have hoisted their flags in both places.

There is not a single soldier in the town. The gunmen are in control.”

Hundreds of soldiers abandoned their posts, some crossing the border into Cameroon, although the military said they had not fled but were conducting “tactical manoeuvres” that crossed the frontier.

Before the capture of Bama, Borno’s second largest town last Monday, the militants had seized Gamboru Ngala, Buni Yadi in Yobe State and Madagali in Adamawa, with Nigerian troops seemingly unable to match their firepower.

Other towns reportedly taken over by the terrorists include Gwoza, Banki, and Bara.

The US envoy, however, warned that Boko Haram constituted a serious threat to Nigeria and her neighbours and must be viewed in that light, as according to her, the claimed capture of towns

by Boko Haram indicated a “steadily worsening” security situation.

Failure not an option — US Her words: “We are very troubled by the apparent capture of Bama and the prospects for an attack on and in Maiduguri, which would impose a tremendous toll on the civilian population. All of these developments are deeply dis-

turbing, and increasingly dangerous with each passing day. The reputation of Nigeria’s military is at stake. But more importantly, Nigeria’s and its children’s future is in jeopardy.

Failure is not an option”.

Ms. ThomasGreenfield said Washington would soon announce the launch of a major border security programme, which will include Nigeria and its neighbours — Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

She added that the stakes were high after experts warned that the government risked losing control of the northeast and the violence could spread across borders.

There has been a controversy over whether or not the military forces were able to successfully repel the insurgents which seized Gwoza and declared it a caliphate. It was reported that the insurgents have been targeting Maiduguri, the state capital which is only about 70 kilometers from Bama, leading to the imposition of a curfew in the ancient town by the military.

Bama residents said heavily armed militants were roaming the town and had until now spared civilians.

One of them, Mustapha Tor, said a “large number” of troops were in Kawuri, 20 kilometres away, although they had not mounted a counter-attack. Most people had left because of previous atrocities, he added.

“We know what they did in Gwoza and Gamboru Ngala, where they told

residents they could stay but later turned and killed them,” Tor said.

In Maiduguri, youths, local hunters armed with home-made guns and bows and arrows as well as former soldiers and police, promised to fight the militants and end the insurgency.

The state co-ordinator of the civilian vigilantes, Mallam Abba Aji Kalli, said: “We are optimistic that with our gora (sticks in Hausa) and other local arms, we will raid all terrorist hideouts and kill them when given permission by the federal government.”

We need foreign assistance on equipment—CDS Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh has revealed that for the country to win the war against terrorism, there was the need for diplomatic lobbying for foreign assistance in areas of equipment.

But the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Mohammed Saleh said it was impossible for the military to win the terror war with the present obsolete equipment and the alleged fraud in Ministry of Defence and the armed services.

Senator Saleh said that after the Gideon Okar coup of 1990, during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, the military was systematically and comprehensively disarmed which now makes it impossible for the army to effectively confront any external aggression.

Speaking at the National Assembly Joint Committee on Defence yesterday, the Chief of Defence Staff said that since the declaration of state of emergency in the three North East states of Borno, Adamawa and

Yobe, the Armed Forces had been engaged in a sustained operation against the terrorists.

According to Air Marshal Badeh: “In the last one month, troops have sustained on-going offensive operations both in and outside7th Division areas of operation to shape the theatre, establish fighting positions and limiting Boko Haram freedom of movement within the area of operation.

“Significantly, troops are currently carrying out unlimited offensive operations aimed at denying Boko haram freedom of action and from achieving its aim to isolate and control areas around Maiduguri.

“Additionally, the involvement of the international community, which led to the establishment of the joint planning committee on May 12, 2014, the initial mandate of the joint coordination and planning committee which is championed by America and Britain was the fusion of intelligence for the rescue of abducted Chibok girls.

“But this gradually is being extended to other aspects of the operations.

I want to state here that the military is highly engaged in operations in view of achieving favourable outcomes.

“Moreover, the continued attacks by the terrorists justify the imposition and extension of state of emergency because there is no alternative.

Let me just say that Nigerians need not lose hope in the military but continue to support her in a bid to defeat the terrorists.

“Secondly, all other elements of national power should contribute more in support of military operations. Right now, the element of national power we are using is the military. Other elements of national power are not Continues on page 52

6—Vanguard , FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

18 Alao-Akala supporters injured in auto crash

By Ola Ajayi

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B A D A N — EIGHTEEN loyalists of the former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State, yesterday, escaped death by the whiskers when the bus they were travelling with was involved in an auto crash.

The supporters of the former governor were going to the venue of a rally where Alao-Akala declared his intention to govern the state for the second time when the accident happened.

Though there was no reported fatality, Vanguard gathered that some of them were seriously injured.

The people were said to be part of thousands of people who were mobilised to participate in the formal declaration at an event centre on Old Ife Road, Ibadan.

According to an eye witness, the 18-seater bus crashed at Amuda Ojere area on Ojoo-Iwo road of the city.

The bus was said to be seriously damaged.

How 72-yr-old Dutch lost N40.6m in romance scam

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS— A 31-year-old internet fraudster, Adio Opeyemi Michael, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for defrauding a 72-yearold Dutch woman of •200,000 (about N40.6 million) in a romance scam.

The suspect, who is a native of Owu Local Government Area of Ogun State, was said to have met his victim, identified simply as Jeanet De Jonge, on Netlog dating site and pretended to be a 41-yearold American citizen working as a chef in a Nigerian restaurant and needs a wife.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, while confirming the report, told Vanguard that the suspect’s profile actually attracted Jeanet and she eventually began sending him money through Western Union and Money Gram.

He further disclosed that the suspect collected various sums on the pretext that he

Adio Opeyemi Michael was going to use the money to perfect his travel plans and obtain the required documents that would enable him travel to Holland to join or visit Jeanet. But his

inability or refusal to honour the invitation from Jeanet prompted her to write a petition to the EFCC. Sources at the EFCC told Vanguard that operatives of

the anti-graft agency used information provided by the victim in her petition to track and apprehend the suspect.

Meanwhile, the suspect in his confessional statement said: “She was sending me money monthly, ranging from $800 to $900 from June 2012, through Western Union Money transfer and Money Gram to the extent that Western Union blocked her access.

"So, she requested that I should go to London to enable her send more money there. I contacted a friend in London called Osas Odiah, who was supposed to receive the money and dispatch same to me in Nigeria.

"She first sent •2,000 to my friend’s account in London and he didn’t remit the money to me. I later opened a Keystone Bank Forex Trade account through which she sent me money."

According to Wilson, the suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.

Police nab suspected kidnapper of DELSU lecturer's wife

By Emma Amaize

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SABA—THE Delta State Police Command, yesterday, announced the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Chukwuemeka, aka Hawkins, who abducted the wife of a lecturer at Delta State University, Abraka, Mrs.

Roseline Okolie and one Chief Patience Anigala, sometime ago.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Delta State Police Command, DSP Celestina Kalu, in a statement, said: “On August 31, operatives of Special Anti-kidnapping Squad

Gridlock on Yar'Adua Road, Central Area in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.

based in Obiaruku received a distress call that robbers were operating at Amai axis.

"Based on the report, operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene and trailed the hoodlums to Utagba-uno community and arrested one Chukwuneku, aka Hawkins.

“Items recovered from him

included one motorcycle, two single and one double barrel guns and two handsets.

"The suspect has confessed his involvement in the kidnap of one Mrs. Anigala Patience and the recent kidnap of Mrs. Roseline Okolie, the wife of a lecturer at Delta State University Abraka.

“The suspect is helping the police in investigation while efforts are on to track down other members of the gang.”

In a related development, she said: “On August 29, at about 4.30 pm, one Hon. Tony Anuku reported at the Special Anti-Kidnapping office Asaba that four armed men invaded his house at Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State and took away his Honda CRV with number plate EPE 459 AX, jewellery and other valuables.

“On receipt of the report, operatives swung into action and with the aid of tracking device, recovered the stolen vehicle at Owa-Oyibu axis.

“Donald, Paul and Oseji have been arrested in connection with the crime and they are undergoing investigation, while efforts are on to track down the principal suspect, one Israel, currently on the run.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—7

Fire destroys 350 make-shift buildings in Lagos

Applicant docked over car theft

By Onozure Dania

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—AT least 350 make-shift buildings were, Wednesday night, engulfed by fire in Ajah area of Lagos, barely 16 hours after the Ijeh Police barracks in Lagos went up in flames, rendering 24 families of policemen homeless.

The fire was said to have been caused by an explosion from a power generating set at about 10.45p.m.

Vanguard gathered that one of the occupants of the buildings located in an area known as Kuramo Jakande, was pouring petrol into his generating set that was on, when the explosion occurred.

The occupant, with an undisclosed identity, was said to have raised an alarm that attracted his neighbours who tried to contain the fire.

But their efforts failed as the fire was said to have spread to other plank buildings. Eye witnesses said a bed-ridden occupant would have been burnt to death but for the prompt action by the residents.

Two fire trucks from Eti-Osa and Onikan stations, according to the Lagos State Director, Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe were initially drafted to the scene to contain the inferno.

But the occupants were said to have snatched the water hoses from the fire men in a bid to direct the water to their respective sections. Their action also resulted in attack on the fire servicemen who resisted them.

According to Fadipe, “ when our men arrived the scene with two trucks of 10,000 litres each, the occupants were struggling to take the hoses from them, wanting to direct it to their respective sides. Each of them wanted our officials to start work from their end, thereby rough handling our men. We later brought a third truck from Sari Iganmu.

“No casualty was recorded in the incident. However, the fire spread rapidly because the makeshift buildings were constructed with planks.

"This is not the first time an incident of such will occur there. It has happened several times. But we were able to put out the fire at about 3.30am, thereby

Scenes of the fire inccident preventing it from spreading much."

A mild drama, however, played out at the scene, after the fire had been put out, as the affected occupants reportedly started taking

ownership of the portion they would rebuild. In the process, those who occupied the burnt portion engaged others laying claims to them in verbal confrontation.

AGOS— A JOB applicant, Kehinde Olatunbosun, who stole a mechanic’s car worth N700,000 was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate's court presided by Magistrate O. Ope-Agbe.

Olatunbosun, 25, and a resident of Block 53, Flat 6, Jakande Housing Estate, Lekki, Lagos is facing a twocount charge bordering on false pretence and stealing of a motor vehicle preferred against him by the police.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Uagbale Oje, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on August 21 at 9, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Oje said the defendant received a Honda Civic car with number plate KTU374AZ from a mechanic, one Gabriel Abioralor, and issued a dud cheque of N700,000 as payment to GIC Consolidated Intergrated Services, Abioralor ’s company.

The prosecutor said the serial number of the cheque was 47983119 and that after the complainant realised there was insufficient funds in Olatunbosun’s account, he tried calling Olatunbosun’s mobile phone to no avail.

Oje further added that the complainant tried other unsuccessful means to reach the defendant until he reported the matter to the authorities who arrested the defendant in his home.

Earlier, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

NUPENG strike: Fuel scarcity worsens in Warri

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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Bad portion of Lagos- Abeokuta Road by Ile-epo, Oke Odo, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe.

ARRI —THE effect of the strike embarked upon by the Warri Zone of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, since last week, continued to bite harder on residents of Warri and environs as all petrol stations were closed to business yesterday.

The scarcity unsettled motorists and other fuel users who had lost directions as to where to refuel their vehicles and power generators.

The situation got critical yesterday as staff of a filling station in Warri beat up a NUPENG official, Israel Udumebraye, who led a monitoring group of the union to stop sale of fuel at the filling station.

Trouble started when the

NUPENG group met the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, franchise filling station along Airport Road dispensing products in defiance of NUPENG’s order for all members to join the strike over the union’s disagreement with Chevron Nigerian Limited.

Udumebraye, whose clothes were torn following his molestation, said in an attempt to explain their mission to the fuel station staff, the manager in charge ordered the staff to deal with anyone involved in thwarting their business for the day.

It was gathered that the development would have deteriorated but for the quick intervention by military personnel in the neighbourhood.

8—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Ebola outbreak in P/Harcourt could be worse than in Lagos — WHO ...Scare as patient is abandoned at FMC, Asaba ...US denies allegation of non-assistance ...2 patients at P/Harcourt Ebola centre; Wife of late Enemuo stable

By Jimitota Onoyume, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Austin Ogwuda, Luka Binniyat, Gabriel Olawale & Mayen Etim

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HE Ebola outbreak in Nigeria’s oil city, Port Harcourt, could spread wider and faster than in the financial capital, Lagos, the World Health Organisation has warned, even as the United States of America denied allegations that it declined to assist in controlling spread of the deadly virus in the country.

Warning of dire consequences emanating from arrival of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD in Port Harcourt, the global health body said the arrival of Ebola showed “multiple high-risk opportunities for transmission of the virus to others”.

Of the 255 people currently under surveillance for signs of the disease, the WHO said 60 were considered to have had “high-risk or very high-risk exposure.”

It lamented that until the Port Harcourt case was announced, the Federal Government had indicated that the virus was contained in Lagos.

Further, the WHO said the series of events from the trip by the ECOWAS official to the oil city was worsened by the infection of Dr Ike Enemuo who was taken to hospital on August 13 after his symptoms worsened but before that had “numerous contacts with the community”, including visits from family and friends to celebrate a birth.

“In hospital, members of his church visited “to perform a healing ritual said to involve the laying on of hands”, while “the majority” of staff treated him before his death, the WHO said.

“Given these multiple high-risk exposure opportunities, the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Port Harcourt has the potential to grow larger and spread faster than the one in Lagos,” it added.

US denies allegation of nonassistance In a related development, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield denied the allegation that the US was not forthcoming to assist Nigeria, claiming that her country was ever ready to assist Nigeria, especially with the trial drugs.

“That is not correct; I think the Centre for Disease Control has proactively supported all the countries in the West African region in dealing with the situation. It is not about Zmapp.

There were six doses of Zmapp available; they were all used.

“What is important is how to control the spread of the disease, and, that is exactly what is being done here in Nigeria; and efforts

are being made to have the same kind of success in Liberia,” the American official stated.

The US envoy spoke during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu in Abuja, and said that the US and Nigeria were working assiduously to contain the virus in the country, noting that the efforts had been very successful.

“I commended the minister and his staff and the government of Nigeria on how effectively they have been working to deal with the Ebola outbreak here in Nigeria.

“They are taking the right steps to control this. And, they are having great success here. I appealed to the minister to assist neighbouring Liberia, SierraLeone as they also grapple with this terrible outbreak.”

Rivers confirms 2 patients at Ebola centre Meanwhile the Rivers state Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker said only two patients, a positive patient and a probable case, were at the Ebola treatment centre in the state.

The Commissioner, who spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt said one of the patients, sister of the late Dr Iyke Enemuo was a confirmed Ebola case, adding that test results of the second patient, also a female would be released later in the day.

“Unfortunately, we lost a patient at the treatment centre in Port Harcourt. The patient at the Good Heart hospital with Dr Enemuo died. She was a cardiac patient at the Good Heart hospital before Dr Enemuo was admitted there.

Her condition was complicated by Ebola. Dr Enemuo’s wife is stable.

Anything you don’t hear from me or the Minister of Health, discard.

Mrs. Enemuo is stable. “Next week we will complete the 21 days on them to be sure if they have the virus”, he said.

Parker said remains of the late Dr Enemuo had been buried in Port Harcourt in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

It’s Dengue Fever in Kaduna, not Ebola, says deputy gov The 19 year-old Law undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, suspected to have Ebola and under quarantine at the ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria is free of the virus after all.

Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, told our Kaduna correspondent that the student is suffering from Dengue Fever.

Bajoga, who is the Chairman,

VISIT: President Goodluck Jonathan (6th left) flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Chairman Body of Benchers, Chief Thomas Okpoko (3r) while the Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (2r); Minister of State FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide (l); Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Wogu (r) and other members of the Body watched during an audience with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.

Kaduna State Ebola Prevention and Control Committee said, “just as I told you about my doubt on the Ebola issue, I am happy to inform you that the result of the sample of the patient’s blood taken to a Lagos laboratory, came back this morning. The young man was negative of the Ebola virus. He however, tested positive for Dengue fever. I am told it is a very bad type of fever, but it is no where close to the Ebola virus.

“May I reassure our people that we are ever ready to contain any outbreak Ebola. And for now, and I pray forever, There is no single case of Ebola in Kaduna State. We are waiting for more brief on the Dengue fever and we shall act in the best interest of the public,” he said.

Scare at FMC, Asaba Asaba, Delta State capital was hit by the Ebola scare yesterday when a woman suspected to be infected with the EVD was abandoned at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba.

It was gathered that the suspect allegedly came in through the Asaba International Airport and was immediately rushed to the hospital but dumped in front of the emergency unit of the hospital.

Medical staff and patients took to their heels on sighting the patient as she was reported to be vomiting blood.

At the time of this report the woman was still lying outside the emergency centre vomiting blood.

A senior staff of the hospital told our reporter that it could be a suspected case of Ebola until tests are run.

“The problem is that FMC is not one of the isolation centres

in the state. We are not equipped so what do you expect? Nobody wants to die,” he stated.

However, the state government has dismissed the claim by some individuals, especially traditional medicine practitioners and spiritual healers that they have found cure for the disease.

“These claims are completely false, untenable, dangerous and represent a threat to public health.

It is hereby restated that there is no known cure yet for the EVD. The media, especially television and radio broadcast houses should refrain from promoting any claim of cure for EVD by any unorthodox medical practitioner.

Any jingle and promotional programme claiming to have the cure for EVD should no longer be broadcast,” State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chike Ogeah said in a statement.

Lagos orders pipe-borne water for 600 public schools As part of measures to prevent the likely spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, pandemic among pupils and students, Lagos State Government has directed the state water corporation to connect 600 public secondary schools to its mains supply of pipe-borne water.

State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, gave the directive at a sensitisation exercise on the Ebola virus for principals and head-teachers of public primary and secondary schools as well as proprietors of public schools in the state.

She also advised education stakeholders to inculcate in students the basic universal precaution of frequently washing their hands in the fight against

the virus.

Oladunjoye who spoke through her Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, said: “As a responsive and responsible government, the state government deemed it fit to put together this sensitization exercise in order to guard against the spread of the virus particularly, among our pupils and students.

And for us to achieve overall success in containing the virus, it becomes imperative for us to organize this sensitization programme to educate ourselves so that whatever knowledge we garner can be used to stop the spread.”

“The lecture by our experts in the health sector on Ebola Virus Disease will go a long way in strengthening your knowledge base about the dreaded disease and assist us in taking care of the children under our care,” she stated.

8 possible treatments, 2 vaccines for Ebola – WHO Eight experimental treatments and two vaccines for Ebola were on the table yesterday as 200 health experts met to discuss how to end the world’s worst-ever outbreak of the killer virus.

No fully tested and approved treatments or vaccines exist for Ebola, which has killed more than 1,900 people in West Africa since the beginning of the year.

In a working document for the closed-door meeting, the the World Health Organisation listed eight potential therapies, including the experimental drug ZMapp, which has been given to a handful of front-line health workers who have contracted Ebola, three of whom have recovered, and two of whom have died.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 9

BOKO HARAM: FG gets 7-day ultimatum to prosecute Sheriff

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

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AGOS-BASED fiery lawyer, Femi Falani, has given the Federal Government seven days to prosecute the former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff, for allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram or face his wrath.

The human rights lawyer made it clear that he would personally apply for an order or mandamus for Sherriff and others to be investigated and be prosecuted after the expiration of the week-long ultimatum.

The senior lawyer said he was miffed that Sherriff had used his closeness to the Presidency the security agencies have failed to investigate and prosecute him and other sponsors of terrorism in the country since the directive was given in 2012 by the same Presidency.

He alleged: “Owing to the connection of Alhaji Sheriff with the Presidency the security agencies have failed to implement the directives of the Federal Government which were handed down since May 2012.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, insisted that Sherriff could not extricate himself from the activities of the group, having been identified with individuals who played key role in the formation and spread of the virulent group.

Falana, who decried Sherriff ’s denial of noninvolvement with the group, said there was enough evidence from the reports of committees raised by the Federal Government on the sect to prove that the former governor had a hand in the dastardly activities of the group.

The lawyer chided the former

governor over his claim, saying that he should explain to Nigerians the basis of the appointment of Alhaji Buji Foi, a Boko Haram leader as the Commissioner of Religious Affairs in Borno State.

Falana said it was curious that Buji Foi, who resigned from the Sheriff government and joined the Boko Haram sect,was extrajudicially killed after his arrest by the soldiers.

He also said that as the Chief Security Officer in Borno State at the material time, the exgovernor should open up on the circumstances of the extra judicial killing of Muhammed Yusuff and his father-in-law, Alhaji Kuba.

The lawyer pointed out that before the latest revelation by Stephen Davis, the Goodluck Jonathan Administration had set

up the Ambassador Usman Galtimari Panel to investigate the genesis of the insurgency in the North East, which traced the origin of Boko Haram to politicians, who used them as thugs for political purposes.

Quoting one of the recommendations of reached by the Presidential Panel, Falana wrote: “The Report traced the origin of private militias in Borno State in particular, of which Boko Haram is an offshoot, to politicians who set them up in the run-up to the 2003 general elections. “The militias were allegedly armed and used extensively as political thugs.

After the elections and having achieved their primary purpose, the politicians left the militias to their fate since they could not continue funding and keeping them employed. With no visible means of sustenance, some of the militias gravitated towards

religious extremism, the type offered by Mohammed Yusuf.

Recommendation

It recommended that the government should direct the security agencies to beam their light on some politicians who sponsored, funded and used the militia groups that later metamorphosed into Boko Haram and bring them to justice.

Comment

Government accepts this recommendation and directs the National Security Adviser to coordinate investigation of the kingpins and sponsors to unravel the individuals and groups involved.”

In 2006, Sheriff told the whole world that he was not bothered by criticisms of his administration for non-performance because less than 5 per cent of Borno people were literate.

UNVEILING: From left, Representative of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Agu; Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga and national president, Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Kunle Awobodu unveiling a prototypeof the new cement bag during in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

How INEC'll check poll violence in 2015, by Jega

By Ediri Ejoh

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AG O S — N AT I O N A L CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, enumerated reasons elections are violence-prone and outlined the measures the commission has put in place to make the 2015 elections violence-free.

Optimistic that the elections will be peaceful, free and fair, Jega, who spoke at a public lecture organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in Lagos warned politicians to conduct themselves properly and desist from acts that could cause violence.

Represented by the Lagos State

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, the INEC boss in a paper titled: ‘Curbing Electoral Violence in Nigeria: The Public Relations Dynamics,’ identified causes of electoral violence in the country as bad attitude of politicians, weak regulatory framework, attractive nature of public offices, citizens’ poor knowledge and ignorance of civic education, lack of internal democracy, monetisation of the electoral process, politicians attempts to corrupt electoral officers and voters, thuggery and insecurity among others.

Speaking on efforts to check rigging and violence, he said measures are being put in place to curb any form of violence that

could erupt. He said the commission has made a compilation of an authentic voters’ register with the voters’ biometrics, embarked on massive voter education programme to increase citizens’ awareness of the electoral process toward reducing their level of electoral ignorance.

We are working on “improvement of security through partnership with security agencies at all levels, risk mapping of the country into low, medium and high risk zones with the view to ensuring adequate security during every electoral event, set up communication policy guidelines to bridge the gap between INEC and the citizenry leading to regular engagements with critical

stakeholders to discuss issues of the forthcoming general elections.”

Other measures include establishing of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) comprising chairmen/secretaries of all registered political parties to foster better relationships among them, production and circulation of printed guidelines and memorandum of understanding for political parties toward regulating the activities of the political parties and improved standards in the production of Sensitive Electoral Material (that is serial numbering and colour coding of ballot papers and result sheets as well as security coding of ballot boxes).

Qatari bank acquires N36bn AMCON’s stake in Ecobank

By Ligali Abdul-lateef

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ATAR National Bank, QNB, the Gulf’s largest bank, has acquired the stake of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, in Tr a n s n a t i o n a l Incorporated, ETI, amounting to $200 million (about N32 billion), which represents 12.5 percent stake in the bank.

No value for the transaction was given in QNB’s statement, which stated that the 12.5 percent stake would consist of current outstanding ordinary shares and the conversion of QNB’s convertible preference shares.

Based on Ecobank’s share price of N20.01, the stake is estimated to worth around N36.25 billion.

The transaction was concluded yesterday when the Ecobank shares were transferred to QNB at N20.01 each. This, according to Thomson Reuters data, makes the Gulf ’s state bank the second-largest shareholder in Ecobank after South Africa’s stateowned Public Investment Corporation.

AMCON acquired the stake after Ecobank merged its Nigerian operations with failed lender Oceanic Bank, which AMCON helped to recapitalise, before the Ecobank takeover. With the sale, AMCON, the second-largest shareholder in Ecobank, has divested its stake from the bank.

QNB has said it wants to become the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa by 2017 - it is currently second in terms of assets, behind South Africa’s Standard Bank.

The bank’s chief financial officer, Ramzi Mari, told Reuters in February it was looking for acquisition targets in Turkey, Morocco and subSaharan Africa to help achieve that goal.

It is the second acquisition the Qatari lender has made in the last two years in Africa: in March 2013, it completed the purchase of Societe Generale’s Egyptian business for $2 billion.

10 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Ikorodu road expansion 90 per cent complete —LAMATA

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS — LAGOS Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, the agency handling the on-going expansion works on Mile 12-Ikorodu Road, yesterday, dismissed claims that the road could not be completed before the end of the year, saying, “the project will be completed and handed over as planned.”

The expansion process of the over 50-year-old road originally constructed by the Federal Government commenced in 2012, after the state government mobilised the contractor to site.

Managing Director of LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, who disclosed this at fifth stakeholders’ forum on the expansion works, in Majidun, Ikorodu, added that over 90 per cent of the expansion works had been completed so far.

Mobereola, who was represented by the Director of Public Transportation, Mr. Olugenga Dairo said: “The main project is the one everyone sees — the expanded road — and this will be completed at the end of this year. The project will be delivered to the residents of Ikorodu at 100 per cent.”

On the strategies adopted by the agency, the Managing Director explained: “We have deployed enough resources as we can on the project, to ensure that the expansion work is delivered as planned."

EBOLA: Nation's land borders remain porous — Vanguard Investigations

By Lawani Mikairu & Godfrey Bivbere

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FFORTS BY Nigeria to contain the out-break of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the country, may come to nought as Vanguard investigations revealed that peoples move seamlessly through the nation’s land borders without screening for EVD. Though travellers at the airports are screened at the point of entry, nothing of such takes place at the land borders.

A visit to Seme border shows free movement of immigrants across both the Nigerian and Benin Republic sides of the border unhindered.

To worsen the threat, security operatives and others at the Seme border were seen performing their duties without protective gear like handgloves or infra-red thermometre guns.

Though officials of Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, and Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS were seen wearing gloves and Port Health Control, PHC, kitted and armed with instruments believed to be infrared thermometre guns, they were not using them.

Most times, those wearing hand gloves and having other instruments were seen idling without putting their instruments into use.

However, officials of the PHC, NIS and NCS insisted that they were doing everything to ensure that victims of EVD did not come into the country through Seme.

One PHC official told Vanguard that they had instruction only to concentrate on passengers coming into the country in organised vehicles.

According to the official, most of those moving in and out of

the country were Seme residents who cross the border daily.

He said every passenger or student coming into the country was made to fill a form which gives details of names, address, phone number, email, among others, to help track anyone suspected to have the virus.

Officer-in-charge of PHS at the border, Emmanuel Onile, told Vanguard that he was not permitted to speak on the issue and directed Vanguard to Ikeja where the director of PHS, Lagos State, Dr. Alex Okoh, has his offices.

However, a senior official of PHC attributed the easy crossing at the border from both sides to the fact that residents of Seme lived on both sides of the border (Krake Seme and Ponji Seme).

This, according to the official, was also supported by Economic Community of West African State, ECOWAS, treaty of free movement.

Personnel The official explained that “all their personnel at the border are well trained and equipped to detect anyone suspected to have high fever. Because we are working in collaboration with other security agencies, the NCS at the border made available space close to its clinic to serve as holding bay in case anyone is suspected to be a victim.”

Similarly, Customs Area Controller, CAC, of Seme Command, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, told Vanguard that the service provided its officials of engaged in inspection of cargo with hand gloves for protection.

Egbudin explained that they were on the look out for bush meat being imported into the country, but stressed that so far they had not found any.

On the contrary, air travellers are mandated to undergo screening exercise at the points

ASSEMBLY: From left – All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain, Pa Ayo Fasanmi; Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; National Vice Chairman (South West Zone), Chief Pius Akinyelure, and former National Chairman (South West Zone) Alliance for Democracy, AD, Oba Olatunji Hamzat, during the First All Progressives Congress South West Assembly at Premier Hotel Banquet Hall, Ibadan, yesterday.

of entry in line with government's directive that all passengers passing through or arriving Nigeria through all the international airports must be screened.

The Federal Government had made it mandatory that all passengers passing through or arriving Nigeria through all the international airports must be subjected to screening.

Screening This is aimed at preventing passengers from affected West African countries from importing EVD into the country after the unfortunate case of the Liberian-American, Mr. Patrick Sawyer.

Port Health officials have been deployed at all international airports to do the screening of passengers and are seen screening incoming passengers.

Speaking on the screening, Director of Port Health Services, member of the Incidence Management Centre, IMC, for the EVD and head of the committee on points of entry, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, said it was now mandatory for pilots to declare “any event in the air in case one of the passengers vomited or had diarrhoea or was bleeding or was sick or had high fever, or whatever event that occurs in the air; and also the passengers were mandated to declare their health status before disembarking.”

On the ground screening at the airport, Gwarzo said the Federal Ministry of Health, had specially trained personnel at the airports that screen passengers' temperature with handheld infrared devices, and plans were on to procure equipment that could mass screen passengers’ temperatures.

According to him: “On a daily basis we screen travellers. Right now what we are doing is to use a hand-held device, which we call infra-red thermometer. It can point a laser-guided ray to the forehead or temple of a person and from a short distance we can check the temperature without touching the person.

"So as every passenger is passing by we check the temperature and if we see your temperature is high we pull the person aside and do further evaluation.

“A passenger is pulled aside when his temperature is above 37.5 degrees Fahrenheit and taken to the isolation room of the Port Health officials at the airport for further evaluation and possible transfer to a medical facility for proper laboratory test and medical examination and analysis by medical doctors.”

Gwarzo also explained that manual screening of passengers had been challenging, saying,

“this is cumbersome because we have to do it manually, one by one and we are also in the process of acquiring equipment that can mass-scan people as they are passing immigration. We are also introducing new regulations.

"In the past, aircraft on arrival at the airport were asked to declare “its health situation,” which is called the “general declaration.”

"Pilots, as they land, hand over health report aboard the plane to the Port Service staff. As soon as they are okay with the report, they declare the aircraft safe to open its doors in Nigeria for people to come out. But right now because of the Ebola issue, events can occur in the air even after the health status of the aircraft has been declared.

"The pilot is mandated to declare any event in the air, in case one of the passengers vomitted or had diarrhoea or was bleeding or was sick or had high fever, or whatever event that occured in the air. The pilot is mandated to report that to us and also the passengers are mandated to self declare.

“We want every passenger to declare his or her health status by filling a form. The form is so detailed enough to track somebody even several weeks after in his/her home-town.

Responsibility It is also the responsibility of the Ports Health Authority at the airport to ask airlines to give them the manifest of passengers on board any flight that had a suspected case of Ebola virus.

This is to enable them monitor all those that boarded the flight.

Passengers and airlines have expressed satisfaction with the precautionary measures by the Federal Government at containing the spread EVD. A Nigerian passenger, from Gabon, who identified himself as Albert, said that he was aware of Ebola out-break and so he decided to submit himself to the screening.

“It is very good measure and it is also good that Nigerian government is trying to do something because of Ebola virus” he said.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the screening was part of measures put in place by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to contain the spread of EVD. He added that government would ensure that airlines at the point of departure would ensure that those infected by the virus were not brought into the country, saying “That means that airlines have to set up their own measures to ensure that those with Ebola are not brought into the country.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—11

LECTURE: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (3rd right), Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission,TREM, and Programme Convener, Dr. Mike Okonkwo (4th left), his wife, Bishop Peace Okonkwo (3rd left); chairman of the occasion, Professor George Obiozor (left), Guest Speaker, Professor Akin Oyebode (right), winners of the essay competition organised by Mike Okonkwo Educational & Youth Initiative, MOEYI - 1st position, Miss Patience Brown of Apapa Senior High School, Apapa, Lagos (5th left), 2nd position, Miss Nwaigwe Amarachi of St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Lagos (5th right), and the 3rd position, Master Akinwande Akinboluwarin of Greater Tomorrow International School, Arigidi, Akoko, Ondo (4th right) - and others, during the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture with the theme, 'The Power of Your Vote: A Catalyst for a Stable and United Nigeria,' at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, yesterday.

Vote out bad politicians, Fashola, others tell Nigerians

By Sam Eyoboka & Olasunkanmi Akoni

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HEAD of the 2015 general elections, eminent Nigerians including Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, former Nigerian ambassador to the United States, Ambassador George Obiozor and renowned Professor of Law, Akin Oyebode, yesterday, in Lagos, called on Nigerians not to take their voting power for granted. They were also urged to vote out non-performing office holders or inept party in the forthcoming general elections.

Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, among others, spoke in the same vein, insisting that Nigerians must avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the general elections to make positive change towards the development of democracy in the country.

They spoke at the 15th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, with the theme, 'The power of your vote: A catalyst for a stable and united Nigeria.'

Opportunity

Speaking, Governor Fashola warned that unless the country's value system changes, things might continue the way they were currently, saying, “when you look at the result of our elections, you

will struggle to see that (less than) 35 per cent of registered voters come out to vote.

"Another opportunity now beckons, it is a one in four years opportunity. Whether you like it or not, election has started already because permanent voters’ cards are being issued. Are you busy at work, stay at work. Those who wish things to happen stay away from them, those who want things to happen, get involved with them.

Someone will probably collect your card or return it if it was not used.

“What is happening in February 2015 is balloting out of the whole process of election. After balloting, disputes are resolved and when all that is finished, it is to return the valid candidates and remove the unsuccessful candidates.

"Election is a process and it has begun. When you pick a coach and he does not give you result, what you do is sack the coach.

When I employ a driver and he drives me badly, what I need to do is sack him. So, we are your servants, you should not be struggling the job with us. If you think we have not done the job well, sack us.

“In all the places where democracy is practised, it is all about ideas. The idea of a united Nigeria, can we take that away as what we want. In the few times we have had constitutional

conferences and we have focused more on our laws and our constitution rather than ourselves.

What are the values and ideals with which we want our nation to run? What is the Nigerian idea for the Nigeria ideal? Good law will do nothing if bad people operate them. Also, with the most badly drafted constitution in the hands of men and women of goodwill, a lot of good can be achieved.

"We should ask ourselves what kind of Nigeria we want. Our value system really is the problem. What is our sense of right and wrong? Is it right only because he is your kinsman or is it right all the time.”

Oyebode blasts political class

Oyebode, in his paper, charged Nigerians to vote out the ruling parties both at the federal and state levels if they were not performing, saying, “we just cannot continue to have more of the same and expect to make progress.”

He lambasted the political class for failing to deepen the ideals of democracy, saying, “politics in Nigeria is like obscenity. While the false democrats are singing the tune of one-man, one-vote, they are also busy violating the electoral rules while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is helpless.”

He condemned myriads of faceless media campaigns and solidarity rallies currently running in the media, contrary to the date allowed by the Electoral Act, and INEC’s arbitrary increase of polling units and failure to prosecute electoral offenders to restore public confidence.

Ethos

The professor of law, while arguing that the nation’s founding fathers could be considered as having imbibed democratic ethos, “today’s

practitioners of the art possibly continue to advertise their discomfort with the tenets of ballot box democracy and more often than not, evince characteristics of desperados — intolerance of dissent, blackmail and abuse of opponents, naked and crude diktat, a winnertakes-all mentality, obdurate lust for power, jumping the gun, faceless media campaigns, among others. So much so that our political lexicon has since encompassed concepts like ‘do or die,’ ‘no vacancy’ and ‘carry go.”

Oyebode said the people had lost confidence in the political system, necessitating their demand for “stomach infrastructure, because they know once you win election, they will not see you again until four years.

"Nigerians do not care about ideas any more. They would say ‘na idea we go chop.’ They are hungry. That is why in my own State, Ekiti, the people said ‘governor, you have done well with infrastructure, but it does not leave food on my table.’ That is why, unbelievably, a highly cerebral and intelligent man lost to a populist pretender.

“When I ran into him at an “amala” (yam flour food restaurant) joint in Abuja, I said, Mr. Governor-elect, how did you win that election? He said it was the hand of God. That is the situation we have with our democracy today.”

Chairman of the occasion, who is also the former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA Ambassador George Obiozor, in his opening remarks, said “Clearly the organisers of the lecture series understand the precarious nature of Nigeria as a nation and they obviously also recognise the tragedy of nations where ideas, skills, justice and professional competencies are routinely disregarded or relegated to the background in the ordering of national priorities.”

No guber ambition for now — Bankole

By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA — FORMER Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday, told leaders of Peoples Democratic party, PDP, in the state, that he had no governorship ambition for now, contrary to expectations.

While addressing party members at the party’s Secretariat, in Abeokuta, after he paid a courtesy visit to the state PDP executives, Bankole hinted that the PDP had been mobilising members across the state for the forthcoming Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, distribution by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as part of efforts to boost PDP political chance in 2015 general elections.

Speaking on PDP's loss in 2011, Bankole said: “We are not the only party with issues, we have learnt our lesson in a very hard way, especially with the results of the last elections in 2011.

We don’t wish that to happen to us, that is why some of us are going round the state to make sure that we reconcile as many members as possible.”

Vanguard, however, gathered that the former speaker was at the party secretariat to interface with the party leaders ahead of the 2015 governorship election, despite the claim by the state party chairman that the party had not “anointed any candidate for governorship.

The source told Vanguard in confidence that, the party leadership had chosen Bankole to be the party lag bearer, but, did not want to impose him on the party.

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

DESOPADEC donates 18 seater bus to Patani HOSTCOM

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GHELLI—THE Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has donated an 18 seater bus to the Patani Local Government Area chapter of the Host Communities of Nigeria, Oil and Gas, HOSTCOM, Urhobo ethnic nationality.

The commissioner representing Ethiope East and Ughelli North Local Government Areas on the board of the commission, Chief Ominimini Obiuwevbi, noted that the donation was to promote peace in the host communities, which he said was in line with the peace and security agenda of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state.

He said that the governor had “performed exceedingly well and he is finishing strong,” reiterating the determination of the commission to give the Urhobo people in Patani Local Government Area a sense of belonging in the commission’s scheme of things.

“We, the Urhobos do not leave our brothers behind.

We have brothers in Okere and Agbarha in Warri South and we carry them along.''

Pa Okolie dies at 86

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HE death of a p r o m i n e n t community leader and ex-banker, Ogbueshi Michael Okolie of Asaba, Delta State has been announced.

A statement by the son of the deceased and former commissioner in the state, Olorogun Ngozi Okolie said that his father whom he described as a friend and dependable patriot died after a brief illness at the age of 86 yrs Burial arrangement will be announced later.

Late Pa Okolie

Amaechi urges monarchs, clergy to join fight against Ebola

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— CHURCH leaders and traditional rulers have been urged to educate those around them on how best to curtail the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, who gave the charge at a meeting with them in Government House, Port Harcourt, said they ''should let those around them know that Ebola is not a death sentence'', adding that early detection could help remedy the situation of the patients.

“Ebola is not a death sentence if properly managed.

If you think you are Ebola positive and you run away, you are living in self-denial, so we want our pastors, Imams and traditional rulers to pass on this message.

“First, don’t heal them for us, don’t touch them for us, just call us, we will come there and in six hours after examination of the person, we will get the result and treat the person accordingly. We are doing that to curtail the spread of Ebola in our communities, so that we can be free to do our normal businesses. But for now, don’t

live in fear, don’t panic. If you suspect a case, please call the Ebola line.

“We are discouraging people who have Ebola from going to Churches. You know why?

Church is a place that you have a large crowd of people. If you touch one person or two persons, you are contaminating the environment and the people,

and they may get infected. If you suspect any body, don’t stigmatize the person, call the Ebola line, we will come there, they will examine them. We have the machine to test them and within six hours, we will get the result whether a person is Ebola positive or negative.

“You don’t need to run away when you have Ebola. When you run away, you will infect your family members. That

means they can also possibly die, but if you report to government, government will take you in, we will feed you and feed you well, hydrate you and doctors will treat the symptoms if they come.”

Amaechi urged the religious and traditional leaders to immediately report suspected cases of Ebola virus using the available Ebola help lines: 08167733939, 08033124314, 07036321076 or the state’s emergency line 112.

His Royal Highness, Eze Gospel Ugwa of Isiala Isuamawu Autonomous Community, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State (left), receiving his staff of office from Governor Theodore Orji. He was coronated the Isiawu 11.

...As Delta govt tells people to disregard cure claims by herbalists

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ELTA State Government has asked the people of the state to disregard claims by some traditional medicine practitioners and spiritual healers that they have the ability to cure the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Chike Ogeah in a statement, yesterday, said “These claims are completely false, untenable, dangerous and represent a threat to public health. It is hereby restated that there is no known cure yet for the Ebola Virus Disease.

The media, especially television and radio broadcast houses should refrain from promoting any claim of cure for EVD by any unorthodox medical practitioner.

“Any jingle and promotional programme claiming to have the cure for EVD should no longer be broadcast.

“Traditional medical practitioners and spiritual healers are hereby warned to desist from making any claim of cure for EVD. Anybody that makes sure claims again will be considered a threat to public health and arrested by the relevant security agencies.

''The World Health Organisation, WHO and health agencies in Nigeria have made it clear that observance of strict hygiene and health rules to stave off contact with the disease remain the best option.

“Experts have also advised that regular washing of hands with soap, avoiding contact with infected persons and avoiding eating bush meat not sufficiently cooked will protect everybody from being infected with the disease.

“Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Ebola Virus Outbreak Preparedness and Response Committee to superintendent efforts at preventing an outbreak of EVD in Delta State.''

Bayelsa community youths protest over varsity admission, disrupt examination

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A — AGGRIEVED youths from the home community of President Goodluck Jonathan in Otuoke of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, yesterday barricaded the entrance into the Federal University area over alleged refusal of the institution to employ and give admission slots to indigenes of the community.

The protesters who stormed the temporary campus of the university about 8a.m., disrupted the examination for the pioneer and 200 level students of the institution.

Vanguard learnt that the

youths called off the protest following the intervention of armed Policemen, operatives of the Joint Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield, the Ijaw Youths

Council, IYC Ogbia chapter led

by Mr Osaanya Osaanya, the Ogbia Clan head of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Chief Wilson Obi and the Chairman of the Oloibiri Clan Youth Assembly, Ifiola Moses.

Cleric counsels Christians on patience

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HE Primate of International Communion of Churches, Archbishop S. G. Onibere, has urged Christians not to be in hurry in life, noting that those who cannot wait usually get it wrong.

The primate spoke at the consecration and installation of Rt. Rev. Gimbright Adaigho, Bishop of Jesus is Lord Mission International Incorporated, Ozoro, Isoko North Local

Government Area Delta State, as Archbishop. Adaigho is the first from the council to be installed as archbishop.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony were Rt. Rev. V. Orikoro, Rt. Rev. M. Okaro, Mr. Steve Yabanet among others.

Adaigho, the newly-installed Archbishop, attributed his achievements to God and commended the primate and clerics for their support and prayers.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—13

NASU shuts UNIUYO over sack of security operatives U

By Tom Moses

YO—ACADEMIC and administrative activities at the University of Uyo, UNIUYO, Akwa Ibom State were yesterday grounded following a three-day warning strike embarked upon by the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU of the university.

Vanguard gathered the strike was as a result of the refusal of the institution’s authorities to respond to the demands by NASU for the recall of two security officials sacked last year in the wake of violent students protest that engulfed the school.

It will be recalled that Engineering students of the institution had on June 12, 2013, embarked on a peaceful protest to press home their demand for affordable transport policy for students shuttling between the Old Ikpa Road campus to the main campus at Nwaniba for lectures.

To stop the protest, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Comfort Ekpo, the students alleged, took an unpopular stance by inviting the Police to quell the protest.

The peaceful demonstration however, went out of control as the police started shooting the students with live bullets,

leading to the death of one student, while many others were injured, including some non-teaching staff and four members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and the President of Students Parliament, who lost their lives in a ghastly auto accident along Obot-Akara, as they were rushing to Uyo to intervene in the crisis.

The Vice Chancellor’s office and other administrative offices were torched by the angry students.

Consequently, the school was shut for some months.

But following the reports by an independent panel set-up by the Vice-Chancellor, two senior security officers became the scapegoats and were sacked summarily.

It was gathered that it took

several agitations by NASU and other affiliate unions on the campus for the management to commute their sack to premature retirements.

Armed with placards with various inscriptions, the workers said they were shutting down activities for three days as a warning for management to fully reinstate their members or risked full industrial action.

INTERACTIVE SESSION: From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator Thomson Sekibo, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Hon. Bashiru Adamu and a member of the Committee, Hon. Umar Bature, during the interactive session with the Service Chiefs in Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

UVP seeks Jonathan, Oboro's re-election in 2015

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By Festus Ahon

GHELLI—THE Urhobo Political Vision, UPV, has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan and the member representing Uvwie/ Sapele/Okpe federal constituency in the l House of Representatives, Chief Evelyn Oboro for a second term in office.

National Chairman of the group, Mr Kingsley Agaya, in

a chat with Vanguard said only credible persons would be elected into political offices in 2015.

Agaya described Chief Edevbie, Mr Tony Obuh and Mrs Ngozi Olejeme as good materials for the 2015 governorship in Delta State, adding “They are all credible but the most credible will emerge governor at the end of the day.”

Extolling the leadership

NASS aspirant pledges quality representation

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—A House of Representatives aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Owan federal constituency, Alhaji Tanko Ileogben has assured the Owan people that he was in politics to serve them and offer qualitative representation to the area.

The businessman and philanthropist, who spoke at Sabongida – Ora and Afuze the administrative headquarters of Owan- West

and East Local Government Areas of Edo State respectively, said that he was in the councils to formerly declare his intention to represent the people in the National Assembly.

Ileogben told the people of Owan federal constituency that he intends to prove them youth empowerment, employment and free medicine to improve the people standard of living as well as invest in agriculture and infrastructural development.

quality of Chief Tom Amioku, he said; “We are satisfied with the leadership quality of Amioku and his support and loyalty to President Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.”

Meanwhile, the group has described the death of General Patrick Aziza (rtd) as painful and shocking.

Agaya said that the death of Aziza was a monumental loss to the Urhobo nation, adding that the Urhobo nation will miss him (Aziza).

“Aziza brought love and unity to Urhobo; he united us and did his best to build the bridge of unity with Urhobo and other ethnic groups in the state.”

Estate agent denies report on community protests

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AGOS—A community leader and an estate agent, Chief Tesilimi Almaroof, yesterday described as mischievous and misleading, a newspaper publication allegedly linking him with the protracted crisis over the ownership of landed property at Unity Estate in Igbogbo Baiyeku Local Council Development Area in Lagos State.

Almaroof said he knew nothing about the allegation by the residents of the area that some land grabbers popularly called ‘Omo Onile’ were harassing them.

“The allegation was an attempt

to tarnish my hard earned reputation by my enemies,” he said.

The residents had alleged among others, that the land grabbers, who were frequently led by a man said to be a painter, hadbeen tormenting the community, demanding certain money from them after the initial payment to some land speculators.

The aggrieved community members had protested to the Lagos State House of Assembly over the crisis, but absolved Almaroof of involvement in the crisis.

Monarch dismisses Ebola cure report in community

T

HE MONARCH of Akumazi in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, Agbogidi Obi Stephen Osagie III and the Akumazi Progressive Union, APU, have advised residents to ignore a recent publication insinuating that the traditional healers in the kingdom have the cure for the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD. APU in a statement by its President General, Chief Solomon Chukwuma, endorsed by the monarch, said following the assertion by a 300 member strong Traditional Healers’ Association, THA, of Akumazi extraction that the dreaded Ebola has a cure in Akumazi, “there is no cure yet for the virus in Akumazi.”

DELTA GUBER: Group endorses Uduehi for gov

A

GBOR—IKA Political Force, IPF in Delta State to endorse a former Permanent Secretary in the default Bendel State, Dr Esther Uduehi for governorship race in the state.

Chairman of the group, Mr. Michael Nwaeke in a statement, announcing the endorsement, after its meeting in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state, said: “After a careful examination of all the candidates who have indicated interest in the Delta governorship race, we have found Dr Uduehi worthy in character and performance to be the governor of the state."

“Dr Uduehi, former Presidential Adviser to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and presently a chairman of a federal board has all it takes to be the governor of Delta State."

14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—15

BOKO HARAM SPONSOR: Ndigbo wants FG

to set up probe panel zSays allegation against Ihejirika ' figment of the imagination of Stephen Davies'

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AGOS—LAGOS State chapter of Ndigbo has called on the federal government to set up a high powered panel of inquiry to investigate allegations levelled against former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) to the effect that he was a sponsor of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

According to the group, findings of the panel will lay to rest finally the allegation.

The group in a statement by its Director of Communication and Strategy, Chuma Igwe, also condemned the allegation, saying it was a figment of the imagination of Stephen Davies, the Australian who made it.

The statement read: “The apparently procured, choreographed and orchestrated interview on Arise Television on Thursday, August 28, in which a certain Stephen Davies, an Australian of the ilk of many white mercenaries prowling the African continent, accused General Ihejirika of being a sponsor of Boko Haram, is most condemnable.

“In the said interview, Mr Davies did not adduce or suggest any single evidence to support his accusation.

Curiously when in the same

breadth he said he has knowledge of the sponsor of the Abuja Nyanya bombings he refused to name names.

“Most tragic in this choreographed defamation of an illustrious general, is the i n t e r v i e w e r ’ s unprofessionalism in failing to demand evidence from Ihejirika’s accuser, Mr Stephen Davies. General Ihejirika has

since denied this allegation.

“Given the lack of evidence, the nature of delivery of the allegation and the character of the accused general, Ndigbo Lagos believes Ihejirika’s traducers are playing dirty politics.

“General Ihejirika will be remembered for being one of the most outstanding Commanders

Nigeria has had. He is not only an accomplished tactician but also a strategic leader of a fighting force. In his time he not only decimated the fighting capability of Boko Haram but also built enduring military institutions to permanently checkmate insurgency in Nigeria."

DINNER: From left: Divisional Head, Corporate Banking, First City Monument Bank, FCMB, Mr. Ola Olabinjo, Executive Director, FCMB Capital Markets, Mr. Tolu Osinibi, outgoing Finance and Control Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc., Mr. Martin Kruegel, Managing Director, Nestle, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon, and FCMB's Executive Director, Service Management and Technology, Mr. Nath Ude, at the send-forth dinner organised by the Bank for the out-going Finance and Control Director of Nestle Nigeria in Lagos.

Jonathan assures diaspora Nigerians of voting during elections

U

S—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has again pledged to ensure that Nigerians in the diaspora vote during general elections in the country.

The President, who reechoed his initial pledge at the World Igbo Congress in the United States, said the issue of diaspora voting was one he was committed to and would use everything within his powers to bring it about.

He said: “It has been proposed several times in the recent past (and I believe it is among the recommendations of the national conference) that Nigerians in diaspora be constitutionally enabled to vote in their countries of residence.

“This is a cause I am committed to support and champion with all the wherewithal of my office; and I am fairly certain that working together we can bring this to reality. Your vote for whoever you want must

not be denied.”

He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to take interest in what was happening in the country, especially with regards to the quality and pedigree of those seeking their mandate.

The President noted that the federal government had consolidated democratic cultures in the country, adding

that the government had done a lot to improve the electoral process.

“We have done a lot to improve the electoral process and imbue confidence in the people and in the system. We hope that the peaceful expression of the will of the people which has been laid down in recent elections will continue to prevail in all

others to come,” he said.

The President charged the Igbos on unity, noting that without it, they would not actualise their potentials in the politics of Nigeria.

He said: “What should be the position of the Igbo in today’s fast moving world?

What is most desired for progress and for rapid development?"

Why we went into power business, by Emeka Offor

A

By Vincent Ujumadu

W K A — T H E chairman of Enugu ElectricityDistribution Company, EEDC, Sir Emeka Offor, said in Awka yesterday that the reason he invested in power supply business was not because of money to be made from it, but to develop the South East geo-political zone.

Speaking at the customer consultative forum organized

by EEDC in Awka, Offor explained that if there was uninterrupted power supply in

the zone, people from the area who had been investing in other parts of the country would also invest in the area and provide more employment opportunities for the people.

According to him, there is the need for the people to protect power facilities by ensuring that vandalism was reduced to the barest minimum.

He said: “Let us take this investment seriously. If there is any shortcoming, let those

in charge know so as to rectify the problem instead of vandalizing the facilities.

Consumers should also ensure that they do not pay money into wrong hands because doing so would not help the company to expand.”

Giving an overview of the business, the Managing Director of EEDC, Mr. Robert Dickerman, said 65 percent of electricity consumers in Anambra State were illegal, which he noted, was a major drawback to the improvement of power supply in the area.

ALLEGED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: Sen

Nwaogu, LG boss trade words

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA— T H E Tr a n s i t i o n Committee Chairman of Isialangwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, Mr. Ginger Onwusibe, has denied the allegation by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu that he attacked her convoy last week.

But Senator Nwaogu, who represents Abia Central senatorial district in the Senate, said in a swift reaction that she wouldn’t want to join issues with the LG council boss.

Rather, Onwusibe alleged that it was the senator who ordered the policemen attached to her to attack his convoy.

He alleged that he and some PDP leaders in the council, and his political structure, Otawike, were on ward tours when they were blocked by Senator Nwaogu’s convoy on the express road to Aba and attacked him.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Umuahia, Onwusibe said the “position of the senator is a blatant falsehood and a failed attempt to misrepresent an act orchestrated by her in order to paint a sorry picture for herself.”

He said: “The statement credited to her is at best an after thought and un-becoming of a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who like Caesar’s wife should be above board.”

But Onwusibe said that the “action of the senator on that fateful day was such that could lead to breakdown of law and order, if not checked and worthy of condemnation by all well meaning members of the public.”

Flanked by the member representing Isialangwa North in Abia House of Assembly, Mr. Martins Azubike, and some management of his council and leaders of the Otawike group, he said the senator’s convoy did not have any reason to stop as there was access for them to continue towards Aba.

16 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

IMO 2015: Emulate APC, Ejiogu tells PDP aspirants

O

WERRI—THE Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Special Duties in Imo State, Sir Jude Ejiogu, has called on the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, members in the state to emulate the simplicity of aspirants of the All Progressives Congress instead of heating up the polity with unguarded comments.

Sir Ejiogu gave the advice on Monday, while responding to questions from newsmen at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, during the arrival of APC governors, including former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for the Progressive Governance Third Lecture Series in Owerri.

According to the Chief of Staff, PDP aspirants are known for noise making rather than using political instruments in their disposal to better the lives of the people and warned them to desist or continue to be embarrassed.

Sir Ejiogu while describing the APC lecture in Owerri as part of measures aimed at repositioning governance in Nigeria, also stressed the need for all hands to be on deck in supporting the vision of the rescue mission administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha in the state.

On the development in the state, Sir Ejiogu described it as unprecedented in the history of the state and suggested that PDP should instead of devising frivolous means of attacking the government for no just cause, it should cover her face in shame for disappointing good people of the state under 12 years it held sway.

The Chief of Staff further expressed happiness on the milestone the All Progressives Congress has recorded in less than two years it was formed.

My redeployment intended to humiliate me —Ex-Enugu Dep Gov E

By Tony Edike

NUGU—THE impeached Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, reacted to his redeployment to the State Civil Service by Governor Sullivan Chime, saying it was intended to either insult or humiliate him.

He confirmed that a letter of redeployment was delivered to his residence on Tuesday posting him to the office of the Secretary to State Government, SSG, as Deputy Director and directing him to handover to the new Deputy Governor on or before Monday, September 8, 2014.

Onyebuchi, who spoke with newsmen in Enugu yesterday, described the redeployment as a joke, saying if those behind it had consulted their records, they would have known that he had formally resigned from the civil service before he contested the governorship election along with Governor Sullivan Chime in 2007.

and before I became commissioner.

“While I was serving as a commissioner, I took a leave of absence that enabled me serve out my appointment as a commissioner. Preparatory to my nomination to run for election as deputy governor in 2007, I formally disengaged from the State Public Service both as civil servant and as a commissioner and that is what made me eligible to contest election because it is known that you cannot contest election while holding a public office in Nigeria.

“We all know that you cannot ask for leave of absence to join a political party and you can also not ask for a leave of absence to contest election because to

contest election you must belong to a political party. So, I never applied for a leave of absence to contest election as a Deputy Governor because that will be against the law.

I never applied to anybody for reinstatement

“Having left office as a deputy governor, I never applied to anybody for a reinstatement as a civil servant because I have disengaged from the civil service. They tend to forget that if I did not resign before my nomination, that means that my name was still in the nominal roll of the civil service and that will also mean that I was not qualified to contest the

election.

“But they are aware that I contested election in 2007 and also contested in 2011 and if I was still a civil servant, either on leave of absence or in whatever capacity, it means that the ticket and the platform under which I contested with my boss, the governor, was faulty and invalid but I do not believe it was so because the opposition and those who lost the election would have used it as basis to appeal against our election.

So it is very clear that the report of my posting or redeployment is either a joke or something intended to make mischief, either by a way of insult or humiliation.”

On his redeployment to Civil Service

“When I got the information, I felt it was a joke or something just intended to insult and humiliate me. I can’t imagine what they intend to achieve by this. After serving as deputy governor for seven years and three months, I will go back to office as a civil servant on Level 15.

“I know they have not forgotten that I left the civil service as Permanent Secretary

AWARD: From left: Mr Eze Anaba, Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Kehinde Gbadamosi, winner of Photo Journalist of the Year by Nigeria Media Niteout Award 2014, and Mr Fred Odueme, AGM Brand, Vanguard Newspapers, during the presentation of the Award to the Management of Vanguard Newspapers, at Vanguard headquarters, Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

N50m goods perish as fire razes market in Onitsha

By Nwabueze Okonkwo.

O

NITSHA—TRADERS at the Bright Street section of Onitsha Main Market are now counting their losses, following last Tuesday night fire that gutted goods worth millions of naira at the market.

The fire, according to a source, started at about 9.45 pm on the first floor of one of the storey buildings and destroyed some warehouses which were allegedly stocked with rice, chemicals and other spiritual materials worth over N50 million.

The source, however, noted that the inferno did not affect other shops located on the ground floor.

One of the eye-witnesses, Mike Okongwu, said when the

fire started at that odd hour, a vigilante man guarding the area saw smoke coming out from one of the shops when it became unbearable, he alerted the chairman of the street traders, Ifeanyi Chukwudum (Ifetex), who immediately contacted the

police for a dispatch of some policemen to the scene.

At the scene of the incident, fire fighters from Onitsha Main market and their counterpart from Okpoko Fire Service Station were on ground to contain the inferno from spreading its tentacles.

The Fire Officer, Okpoko Fire Service Station, Ogbaru Local Government, Mrs. Mary Affah, said her men arrived the scene about fifteen minutes later on receiving a phone call over the fire outbreak, even as she noted that the cause of the fire incident was yet unknown.

Senator donates buses to youths, women to the representatives of the youths and women in Lagos youth and women leaders leaders in the district in the

L

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

A G O S — S E N AT O R Gbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East senatorial district in the Senate, yesterday, donated two 18-seater buses to the youth and women leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the district.

Ashafa presented the buses

across the five local governments and 11 Local Council Development Areas in Lagos East senatorial district at Encounter House, Magodo.

According to him, the gesture came as a result of a series of meetings with the leaders recently.

Senator Ashafa noted that the difficulties faced by both

discharge of their leadership roles was quite unbearable, adding that it was high time something tangible was done about it.

“This is a gesture that was done unconditionally, it is necessary because of the activities of the party, especially at this crucial period when series of activities have been lined up for the party leaders."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 —17

Chief Tom Ikimi...

Feedback

C M Y K

All quarrels are personal rather than ideological and there are no sufficiently articulate defences of certain liberal or conservative positions.

People jump from one party to another because of personal interests rather than principles.

Hypocrisy is rampant. Members of our political parties pretend to be carbon copies of each other in a fundamental moral sense; and all show up in church or mosque every week and all enthusiastically backed the same sex marriage ban, even though some of them are not strangers to same sex couplings.

I often wonder whether Nigerian political parties will ever become more sophisticated than they currently are…and evolve to the point where there are clear differences between them

,

thing.

Interestingly, Ikimi’s detractors didn’t seem to have a problem with his decision to dump APC per se and didn’t say whether they were for or against APC. What these detractors had a problem with was the fact that Ikimi not only chose to cling to a political arena in which he hasn’t been able to find a stable sanctuary (so why not give up?!) but chose to return to a party he has spent the past few years fighting (will the PDP trust him after such a long absence?).

Nigerian political parties

By the way, I often shake my head sadly and wonder whether Nigerian political parties will ever become more sophisticated than they currently are…and evolve to the point where there are clear differences between them.

At the moment, they are like football teams that are essentially similar in outlook and have no plans beyond trying to recruit the most high-profile players.

There are no intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking debates about capitalism or socialism or welfarism or free market economics or whatever.

•Chief Tom Ikimi

Meanwhile, they all think that it is absolutely fine to give incompetent bed mates and cronies of either gender top jobs, while superior candidates languish in the shadows and unemployment queues.

Nigerian politicians only complain about lousy appoin-

tees when they don’t get a chance to foist their own lousy appointees on the rest of us.

In fact, Nigerian political parties are far less sophisticated than football teams because football teams are genuinely interested in performance and focus on the skills

of the players that they try to lure out of competitors’ camps… …whereas Nigerian parties are always recruiting/appointing/protecting spent forces or morons or crooks who have no value to add to national development.

Readers responses

A

nyway, here are a handful of the letters I received from readers: 2348082687937 E.A I think it’s time for Chief Tom Ikimi, Tinubu and Buhari to leave the political scene.

They have ruled before and should leave the upcoming generation to rule.

2348060804471 Ifeka Okonkwo Donu, our politicians do not retire from politics even at their seventies or eighties because of the abundant goodies that accrue to them when they eat in the corridors of power. It is no wonder that they jump from one party to the other whenever they are sidelined and can’t achieve their ambitions.

2348023018952 Vincent DK, thanks for your piece on

cross carpeting grandees. After attaining the age of over 70 years, one expected Chief Ikimi to retire from active politics. His antecedents show

,

AST week, I commented on Chief Tom Ikimi, the veteran politician who started off with the PDP, then crosscarpeted to a rival party that eventually became the APC…and then recently decided to ditch the APC to rejoin the PDP. I said that while Ikimi may have legitimate grievances against the APC, which he has accused of dishonesty and of disrespecting him, I felt that he had reached an age (he is in his 70s) at which zig-zagging from one party to another party and then back to the original party was undignified and difficult to justify.

I expressed the opinion that he should have exited from the political stage when he got fed up with the APC. And I didn’t say this last week, but if I’d been in his shoes, I would have resisted the temptation to cross-carpet yet again and would have stayed home and written a spicy memoir about my bad experiences.

Alternatively, I’d have disappeared from public view and derived pleasure from having more time to read, relax, travel and hang out with family and friends.

Why must Nigerian grandees work and hustle until they drop dead?! Even when they are seriously rich and do not need salaries or perks or the dividends of governmental corruption, they regard retirement as a curse and insist on trying to retain relevance or on lobbying for slots that should go to younger people.

I normally receive an eclectic mixed bag of reactions to the contents of this column, with some folks supporting a particular viewpoint or individual, while others oppose the same viewpoint or individual.

I therefore expected some Vanguard readers to either sternly tell me off for querying Chief Ikimi for re-joining PDP…or to just simply describe him as a jolly decent fellow who had made a totally understandable political choice.

But, much to my amazement, there was no support AT ALL

,

L

for Ikimi’s position!

Many Vanguard readers contacted me to comment on the Ikimi issue. And most wholeheartedly agreed with my attitude towards his crosscarpeting.

But while two respondents abused me because they think that I’m a fanatical Amaechi acolyte who always writes from a biased pro-APC perspective (even though I occasionally criticise Amaechi/APC and say nice things about Mr President and other PDP stalwarts!), NOBODY who has recently gotten in touch with me has said that he/she feels that Ikimi has done the right

I think it’s time for Chief Tom Ikimi, Tinubu and Buhari to leave the political scene; they have ruled before and should leave the upcoming generation to rule

,

that he plays politics of stomach infrastructure. He has now gotten back the bitter pills that he served to APC members in Delta State during the Delta Central senatorial bye

election.

2348150665846 Comm Godwin E Bless you, Donu, for your piece on the wandering Chief Ikimi. Are you aware that Ikimi was a founding member of the All Peoples Party, APP, from 1998 until he was intimidated into defecting to PDP in 2001 because of charges relating to his management of ECOMOG and the construction of his Abuja residence?

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

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

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 WHEN President Goodluck Jonathan pledged to elevate the Dr. Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu and the Dr. Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri international cargo airports, the people of the South East Zone were overjoyed. The reason for this was obvious. Since the end of the civil war, which was fought on their soil nearly fifty years ago, there has been a systematic neglect of federal facilities and institutions in that area.

This resulted in massive movement of people from that zone to other parts of the country in search of economic opportunities.

The Enugu and Owerri airports have benefited immensely from the transformational agenda of the president. They underwent massive facelift, just like twelve other airports around the country under former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah. A new runway was added to the existing one, which made it possible for international flights to begin operating at the airport.

Unfortunately, progress appears to have been stalled, as little effort is being made to ensure that the airport’s cargo handling operations are fully activated. There are no warehouses for the

Cargo facility for Enugu Airport cargo operations, and there are no cargo handling companies such as the Nigerian Aviation Cargo Handling Company (NAHCO) and the Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO). Due to lack of progress in putting the cargo facilities in place, the enthusiastic upsurge of commercial activities that heralded the arrival of international flights in August 2013, has gone down.

Unless the right steps are urgently taken, the good intentions of creating a cargo function for the airports at Enugu and Owerri might go the way of the Onitsha Seaport, another federal amenity which was completed and launched with pomp and colour by the Jonathan

administration, only to be left as a mere window dressing rather than an economic asset to the people.

The South East Governors’ Forum ended one of its recent meetings with a call on the federal government to complete the cargo facilities of both airports to enhance economic activities in that part of the country. The agitation for the establishment of federal presence in the former theatre of the civil war is to boost economic activities. It is not just for facilities to be set up for mere beautification.

The Nigerian economy will be the better for it if we consciously eschew political bias and spread development evenly among the six geopolitical zones of the country. Even development of Nigeria should be treated as a right for all Nigerians, rather than something for some people to lobby and beg before they are given tokens.

The leaders and people of the South East and all Nigerians should demand for their fair share of the federal commonwealth. Grumbling in silence is no longer an option.

OPINION

By Mercy Ozuobi

E

VEN when some hired armchair critics have failed to see anything good in the present government in Abia State since Governor Theodore Orji parted ways with his predecessor, the government's investment in the education sector has continued to yield abundant dividends. For instance, despite the poor results of this year's West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, exams, Abia State, just like last year, emerged the overall second best in the country with 58.52 per cent performance. Having achieved the feat for two consecutive year is a clear indication of the giant stride recorded by the Abia government in education.

States like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and others with many expensive private and public schools and enormous resources have not achieved this feat in recent time. So where does this leave the doubting Thomases who have been criticising and demonising the state government’s achievements ahead of the 2015 polls? It is time for them and their paymaster to bury their heads in shame because the State performance in WAEC examinations in the last two years is unprecedented since the creation of the state.

The state did not witness such sterling performance during the era of the immediate past administration in the state when special centres took precedence over development and investment in public schools.

For those of us who are witnesses and beneficiaries of the present government’s C M Y K

Education:

Abia

aggressive and massive investment in the education sector since 2007, the state performance in WAEC examination did not come as a surprise. The state will do more than this in the years to come when the government interventions would have fully materialised.

It could be recalled that when the present government came into office in 2007, the education sector was in shambles. Apart from low motivation on the side of the teachers due to stunted promotion, owing of salary arrears and lack of good teaching environment, the worrisome state of public schools across the state was nothing to write home about. There was divide and rule approach in the state civil service orchestrated by the immediate past government. The situation was very pathetic, appalling and daunting.

But despite all these challenges, the present government, on assumption of office, took the gauntlet in addressing the age-long rots and challenges that had bedeviled education sector in the state. Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, a product and beneficiary of the public school system, leaves no one in doubt of his government’s commitment to see that education is improved in the state.

The government increased the monthly subvention of all the tertiary institutions in the state. The State Scholarship Board that has been moribund was reactivated.

With the reactivation of the Scholarship Board, the regular bursary disbursements to indigent Abia students was resurrected

and

the

WAEC

and beneficiaries have continued to enjoy it till date. The Board also reactivated the Overseas Scholarship Scheme through which it has granted bursaries to over 40 students of Abia State origin studying in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Asia. Students of Abia origin currently in Nigeria Law Schools across the country were recently paid bursary by the state government.

Apart from that, the Governor instituted a private scholarship scheme known as Ochendo Scholarship Scheme which took off with 25 undergraduates in various disciplines within the country as beneficiaries. The project which was strictly private has the respected Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji as its Board Chairman. One of the beneficiaries of the scheme, Mr. Solomon Odochi Chibuzo of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology Abia State University Uturu, emerged the overall best graduating student of the university in 2013 with CGPA 4.8. He was rewarded with automatic employment by the university authorities. That is how the poor boy, through the Ochendo Scholarship Scheme, became empowered.

The government also increased the fleet of buses in its Free-School-Bus Scheme for students in secondary and primary schools and had also repackaged the scheme to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.

Teachers’ salaries and allowances are being paid regularly and as at when due. The same

result goes with their promotions and entitlements that accompany it which hitherto were stunted. That is why since 2007 teachers in the state have no reason to go on strike, rather they have continued to do their work happily and wholeheartedly.

The government embarked on massive rehabilitation and construction of standard classroom blocks, offices and other facilities in schools across the state. Presently many of the rehabilitation and construction works at the schools have been completed.

They include construction of classroom blocks at Nde Ebe Primary School Abam, Arochukwu; construction of many administrative blocks at a school in Okeikpe Ukwa-West; construction of administrative blocks and borehole at Ogbor Central School old Umuahia.

At Isikwuato High School, three classroom blocks and a toilet were constructed. The same facilities were also constructed in Community School Umuobala, also in Isikwuato council area. Also not left out were Leru Secondary/ Primary Schools Leru in Umunneochi council area where several classrooms were constructed.

With the completion of works in the schools, the state government returned most of them to their original owners to manage, even it has continued to pay the teachers' salaries till date. *Mrs Ozuobi, a teacher, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014— —19

ABOTAGE is defined as a S deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity or

corporation through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. It is often carried out by enemy combatants, enemy groups, extremist groups, rebel organisations, subversives, underground extremists, etc. A saboteur is also described as a person who destroys or damages something deliberately, a person who performs sabotage.

The categories of saboteurs cannot easily be exhausted as they range from economic, political, social to almost every sphere of human activity. I am interested here in military and political saboteurs and Nigerians at this time of our nation building.

Saboteurs have been part of life and the leadership struggle for ages. Military coupists are called saboteurs if they fail, but when they succeed they become heroes and valiant men.

Saboteurs are a bad dream for any leader and one of the worst challenges any leader could face in any situation. This is more so for the military where obedience, faithfulness, and commitment to the course of the command is demanded by training and all aspects of military life. The course of a

good war campaign or onslaught can be completely reversed against the attacker, or destroyed by sabotage. The saboteur for whatever his purposes or intentions may be could either mislead the war plans and execution into wrong strategies or leak the plans to the enemy; either way, sabotage spells doom for the fighting forces and their commanders. It leads to unexpected war casualties in terms of lives and materials, and brings huge discouragement and fear to the troops in any war campaign whether in fighting conventional wars , insurgency, or guerilla war fares.

Nigerian military have shown themselves to be good professional combatants in many international wars, including the Second World War, the Congo, Sierra-Leone and Liberia conflicts, to name a few. But their inability to effectively contain the Boko Haram insurgents gives wellmeaning Nigerians cause for concern. The attitude and confidence of the Haramites suggest that they have some form of knowledge that boosts their morale.

Two Igbo proverbs will help me here. The first says that when a masquerade dances on the road, someone in the bush is beating the drums for it, and the second is that when a child

Something must be wrong with the unity of purpose of our military that they cannot use their air and land power to contain these insurgents; I think it is sabotage

,

is asked by his father to go and steal, he pushes the doors down instead.

Before Chibok, the news was that our military were containing the situation on the North East, especially in Borno State. But soon there were calls by some rich and powerful individuals in that zone threatening to drag the then Chief of Army Staff to the ICC. Subsequently, one thing led to the other and he was retired, and yet some of these men still think the former Chief of Army Staff is their problem.

T

hey brought campaigns on the television and social media against our military, and the result is that today, we have the Chibok girls embarrassment which has been on for three months and running. As if that was not enough, the Haramites recently

Wole Soyinka, may he never live long

By Taiwo & Kehinde Oluwafunso

I

T was a night of radiant quality stars, in December 2010, at the State House, Banquet Hall of the Ghanaian Government, Accra,Ghana, where Professor Wole Soyinka was awarded the Millennium Excellence Award and Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize, alongside AshaHagi the Somalian activist and woman of courage.

Others equally honoured that night were Bishop Desmond Tutu, the fiery clergy from South Africa; Ismail Se Ragel Din, an international scientist of note from Egypt recognised for Scientific Research in Africa; Amaechi Ndili from Nigeria, for his contributions to Entrepreneurial Excellence in Africa; CyprilRamaphosa,the South African major investor and trade unionist, recognised for African Economic Development; Lord Paul Boateng, a member of the House of Lords in the UK, honoured for Action For Africa; James Wolfensohn, from the US, for sustainable development in Africa.

Also, to everybody’s surprise, Colonel Muammar AL – Gaddafi, the late maximum ruler of Libya, emerged a recipient of one of the awards for his contributions to African Unity; but Gaddafi never showed up, he was only represented by one of his top aides.

We were rocking on a boat of splashing colours into the night, especially when celebrities and heavies from all continents gathered in a place to celebrate the best of our world. Our own Asiwaju Bola Tinubu led the likes of Mr. BabatundeFashola, Governor of Lagos State; OgbeniRauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to the event. Mr. Kunle AJibade of The News Editorial Board, Jahman Anikulapo, formerly of the Guardian

Newspapers; our very good friend, Makin Soyinka; MrAkeem Bello, S.A. to Gov. Fashola on media; Mr. Kunle Abimbola of The Nation Editional Board were present too. Interestingly, we, my twin brother and I, sat next to Glo’s Chairman , Dr. Mike Adenuga’s table, another complete gentleman, who had come like others to honour Professor Soyinka, a towering figure in the art world, a man of fine reputation, whose performance in the African literary space has been very explosive.

Known and easily spotted for his magnificently snow white hair and benevolently soft and cherubic face, he is indeed a family man of great look and good attitude, a great international literary jurist, an African that can never be forgotten in a hurry, a priceless asset to Africa. He is so famous that street galleries, with arts’ hustlers in charge, adorn our public spaces with his portraits.

When it was Professor Soyinka’s turn to receive his award for African Cultural and Traditional Preservation, a storm of bubbles filled the hall. With the swiftness of a jungle lion, Professor Soyinka mounted the stage, looking like a starlet in white attires.

This proved to be a day of fulfillment for all proud sons and daughters of Africa. The late PresidentAttah John Mills of Ghana had this to say about Soyinka after the award ceremonies: “If Prof. Wole Soyinka is not tired now at his age we can’t afford to be tired”.

His usage of English Language is legendary; if you must take up Wole Soyinka, you must first take into cognisance that he easily disarms his opponent with his command of English Language. We tend to love him more when people call him Kongi, the Lion; these are not his real names, but have become strongly synonymous with Professor

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By Clement Udegbe

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Saboteurs and Nigeria

took over the Gwarzo LGA in Borno State after killing their Emir! Something must be wrong with the unity of purpose of our military that they cannot use their air and land power to contain these insurgents. I think it is sabotage. People may write and talk politics, but could it be that sabotage is among the reasons that prevented the Commander-inChief of the Nigerian Armed Forces from visiting Borno State till date? He must have some information which we do not have, and no right thinking Nigerian would want our President exposed to any booby trap.We pray that something be done to flush these Haramites from Nigerian soils.

Political sabotage will involve deliberate actions aimed at weakening us through subversion, obstruction, disruption or destruction. The political and economic saboteurs of Nigeria first ensured that we do not have regular electric power supply, then they killed the Nigerian land phones system. They knew that without electric power our industrial take-off will be very difficult to achieve. For them, we must depend on imported goods to survive, and without industrial production, high unemployment would hit our youths, thereby weakening them, and making them pawns as cultists, thugs and political jobbers. They know too well, that the future of this nation lies in our youth, and where the youth development and empowerment is obstructed and disrupted, there will be no bright future for the country. This is sabotage of the goodwill of the people by the political class.They

Prof. Soyinka has been our idol right from our childhood days; facing up the skies and eaglespread, we read his poems to ourselves on grass coated fields of our secondary school in Ibadan

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Soyinka over the years. In the midst of several violent and retrogressive African regimes, Soyinka was awarded the Nobel Prize For Literature in 1986, the first African to be so honoured.

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n 1994, he was designated (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador for the Promotion of African Culture, Human Rights, Freedom of Expression, Media and Communication.

He endured imprisonment for 22 months as Nigeria backslided into a 30-month gruesome civil war, surviving only on the jailers’ food.

A man of dogged determination, his writing always captures the picture of a continent on the brinks; through his writing he preaches that love is never found in the theatre of cruelty, that religious fundamentalism and fanaticism could be very alcoholic.

What makes us cry oils the wheels of his creativity. A man of large heart, he remains the symbol of political resistance in the flesh of undemocratic government. Even the hostile political climates of other nations of South America and Europe had so many times become the focus of his (writings) work.

Soyinka looks very different from every each one of us; he must have come from a revolutionary planet yet to be identified by man, he has continued to be a beacon of

cross-carpet between parties at will, support whatever that leads them to power, collect federal allocations and use them with impunity to do so little, without accountability. The ease of defections between the ruling PDP and the opposition APC means that there is only a very thin line of ideological difference between the two parties. In some states, with elections around the corner, armed robberies are now on the increase, insecurity is very high and politicians are not concerned even as some of them sponsor cultism and politcal thuggery.

When the report of robbery is made, the politicians will trade blames without helping the police or the people to get the culprits prosecuted. Why do politicians need thugs? Except to truncate the destinies of these youths and sabotage the will of the people?

Our leaders need to be very firm in the handling and dealing with the use of thugs in politics in this era and age. Politicians using thugs should be black listed and disqualified by the INEC, no matter their position in the party.

This is one way to reduce the sabotaging of the will of the people through the wrong use of the youth whose lives have been disrupted by bad leadership.

What greater sabotage to the plan of God for a people, than for a few persons to corner the common wealth of the people, and divert same into private bank accounts and investments around the globe?

*Mr. Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from Lagos.

hope to men, women and children bound in straps of oppression around the world.

Soyinka is like a musical note of highpitched rhythms cleverly inspiring generations after generations, up to this present generations, after eight decades running. There are these dynamism, charisma and beauty surrounding his personality, becoming myths always and leaving this sense of satisfaction at the foothills of our eyebrows whenever we see his portraits.

As twins, Prof. Soyinka has been our idol right from our childhood days, facing up the skies and eagle-spread, we read his poems to ourselves on grass coated fields of our secondary school (Community Grammar School, Akanran) in Ibadan.

Thirty years later,Prof. Wole Soyinka on a certain happy day spoketo us on phone.

Talking to Prof. was a dream fulfilled; though poets ourselves, we drank from his own still waters of poetry to nourish our writing talent at infancy.

Let us share with you our experience one afternoon in Abeokuta, where Soyinka hails from. We were paying a visit to Chief DotunOyewole, the scientist of Abeokuta, a mentor to us, with his twin brother, the late Chief Femi Oyewole (the famous Oyewole twins). Dotun Oyewole is presently 94 years; his wife, Madam LapeOyewole, who died last March at the age of 84, said something about Prof Soyinka, that touched us so much.

“We were classmates with Wole. But suddenly, he was promoted from Primary 2 to5, leaving us all behind; we envied him, as we were not happy about the whole development. The news spread like a wild fire, without knowing it is pointing only to his future glory as seen today."

Continues on Monday on pg 18 *Taiwo and Kehinde Oluwafunso, representatives of Panafest, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

When NSDCD-Police face-off almost foiled arrest of petroleum vandals

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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N alleged attempt by some police men to prevent operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, from arresting five suspected oil pipeline vandals almost resulted into a bloody fracas. That was on Friday August 22, 2014 when its Director General, Dr. Ade Abolurin, led his Anti-vandals Squad to Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

They came in response to the reported incidents of vandalism in the area which has put the entire community in fear. Residents were said to had taken various steps in the past to curtail such activities without much effect.

The team which was constituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation with Dr Abolurin as Chairman, has been on assessment tour of the country and to dispose forfeited items used for vandalism of critical infrastructure. But no sooner had the men arrived the community than five vandals were caught in the act. They were caught on the water with two big Cotonou boats and several jerry cans containing petroleum products and were im-

The inspector was alleged to have ordered his men to prevent the NSCDC team from carrying on with its mission

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mediately arrested by the squad.

However, one of the suspects was said to have put a distress call across to some policemen who raced to the scene in an unmarked commercial bus, popularly called danfo, armed with guns. As Vanguard Metro, VM, later gathered, they were led by an unidentified inspector.

According to eye witnesses’ account, the police had then queried the mission of the NSCDC squad in the area. But unimpressed by the explanation given, the inspector was alleged to have ordered his men to forcefully prevent the NSCDC team from carrying on with its mission. Tragedy was, however, averted as no life was lost as a result of the confrontation. The NSCDC team was then ordered to steer clear of the territory on the account of the claim that it was under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria PoC M Y K

Operatives of the NSCDC Anti-Vandals Squad during an operation. INSET: An operative battered during an encounter with police men Meanwhile, the National ther investigations. lice and that other law enforceto various quarters, but, to our In March 2013, two members ment agencies are permitted astonishment, they come here Public Relations Officer for of NSCDC were sent to their NSCDC, Okeh Emmanuel, has to operate in the area for any to parley with the vandals and early graves when a patrol reiterated the Corp’s mandate nobody hears anything again,” team of the Anti-vandals Squad to fight oil theft, illegal he alleged.

During VM’s visit to Isawo bunkering and vandalism of was allegedly ambushed by Division, she was referred to public infrastructure. He add- policemen from Isawo division.

This is beside the reported the State Police Public Relations ed that it is intensifying efforts killing of two operatives of the to partner with all and sundry Officer, but a senior police officer who pleaded anonymi- in order to win the war. Okeh squad, Gabriel Adaji and Inty said investigations were on- also said government has nocent Akegbe, who were felled stepped into the matter for fur- by police bullets in 2013. purpose. In spite of this, the going. squad refused to set free the five suspects who are presently facing interrogations.

During VM’s visit to Isawo last Wednesday, some residents business tools and equipment. called on government to take BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI state also received financial This is our own effort to ensure more decisive action in checkgrants. that unemployment is considmating the activities of vandals According to the lawmaker, erably reduced to the barest VER 1000 indigent Lagos in the area. A mother of two, residents presently have the empowerment programme minimum in our society and Madam Adunni Arogundade, cause to sing the praises of the was to reduce the level of un- this shows that our party, APC, said she lost her husband to employment in the society by feels the plight of the Nigerian attacks by vandals in year 2013. lawmaker representing Lagos encouraging the promotion of people. ‘’My husband, a vulcaniser, East Senatorial District, Senavocational skills among his tor Gbenga Ashafa.

They are “What we are promoting was carrying out his duties constituents. ”Before now, we among our party members tosaid to have benefited from a when he was felled by stray have done a general empow- day is to discourage our peobullets from law enforcement mega-empowerment proerment programme throughout ple from seeking white collar agents,” she informed, amidst gramme sponsored by the law the five local governments and jobs that are unavailable. I bemaker.

The event which took tears.

11 LCDAs across the Lagos lieve that if every individual place in Iberekodo Primary A community leader, who East Senatorial District. In Epe can rely on their skills rather does not want his name in School, Ibeju-Lekki, saw the and Eredo, on March 8, 2013, than certificates, this would go print, alleged that the vandals beneficiaries going home with to be precise, over 300 women a long way to reducing the unsuch items as deep freezers, vuloperate with the active of conbenefited. canizing machines, hair dryers, employment level in the socinivance of uniformed men. ‘’I “Also, there has been in place, ety. I know a lot of graduates barbing kits, power generating don’t think the government can a weekly empowerment pro- that are now professional phostop the vandals because law sets and sewing machines. gramme since March 2013 tographers, fashion designers About 500 women in the Ibejuenforcement agents also come where men, women, youths who are doing well without Lekki Local Government Area here to collect their own share and various associations bene- using their certificates.” he of the proceeds of vandalisa- and Lekki Local Council Develfited from our distribution of said tion. We have sent distress calls opment Area, LCDA, of the

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For over 1,000 Lagos artisans, traders, joy comes from lawmaker

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 21

Pirates attack tanker of f Ivory Coast

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From left: Conference Director, CSR-in-Action, Elsie Unuane-Ordor; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa, and Executive Director, CSR-in-Action, Bekeme Masade, during a fact-finding visit of CSR-in-Action on local content development in preparation for its Annual Sustainability in the Extractive Industry Conference (SITEI) coming up in October.

NACCIMA seeks delay of new automotive policy take-off

By NAOMI UZOR

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he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on the Federal Government to delay take off of the new Automotive Policy to March, 2015.

In a chat with newsmen in Lagos on

198.20

-6.25

3,184.00 -35.00 15.64

-0.18

102.06 1.72 94.42

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1.54

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR 154.73 STERLING 255.8461 EURO 204.1043 FRANC 168.0752 YEN 1.4745 CFA 0.2921 WAUA 234.1846 RENMINBI 25.1646 RIYAL 41.2558 KRONA 27.247 SDR 234.942

155.23 256.6728 204.7639 168.6183 1.4792 0.3021 234.9413 25.2464 41.2558 27.335 235.7012

155.73 257.4996 205.4234 169.1614 1.484 0.3121 235.6981 25.3281 41.3891 27.423 236.4604

CBN Exchange Rate as 03 /09 / 2014

the state of the nation, National President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, said the delay has become necessary to enable stakeholders resolve the lingering controversies generated by the policy and reach a consensus on how to effectively implement the policy for the benefit of the sector’s investors and the economy at large.

“Having reviewed the lingering controversies between government and auto industry stakeholders on the implementation take-off date of the new auto policy in Nigeria, the chamber wishes to add their voice by expressing some concerns on the short moratorium period given on the effective take-off date of the policy. If implemented in July 2014, it will not only constrain them to operate optimally but also negatively affect sustainable transformation of the economy as it would lead to fall in demand of imported used vehicles. This will invariably affect negatively the transportation sector; erode the welfare of the citizens by reducing their purchasing power; breed unnecessary monopoly due to privilege/insider information about the government policy; result in increase in unemployment, low income, inflation, amongst others.

According to him, “To ensure that the good intention of government on this policy initiative becomes a reality if well harnessed and implemented

and probity brought to bear in the overall interest of all stakeholders, the citizens and the economy, we counsel that there is need for the Federal Government to “put its house in order” before commencing full implementation of the policy.

This is because it is capable of further encouraging diversion of cargoes to neighbouring countries if it is not halted to allow for sufficient moratorium period given to auto industry operators/stakeholders.”

He said, “NACCIMA believes that the implementation of the sharp increase in import duty on fully built vehicles to 70 per cent (35 per cent duty + 35 per cent levy) from 22 per cent (20 per cent duty + 2 per cent levy) will place the cost of vehicles beyond the reach of about 90 per cent of Nigerians, increase the cost of transportation by at least 50 per cent, increase inflation level and create huge gap between demand and local supply capacity of automobiles due to infrastructure challenges,” he said. “ Today supply stands at a pathetic 45,000 units while demand stands at 800,000 units per annum), smuggling activities from neighbouring countries will boom, especially from Cotonou Port with imported vehicles still dominate the market place (since we have about 1,400 illegal entry routes, over 80 poorly manned borders and an yet to be fully-equipped Customs structure, etc),” he added.

rmed pirates robbed petroleum products tanker near Ivory Coast’s port of Abidjan, a maritime agency and a private security advisor has said.

“This is an indication of the increasing mobility of Nigeria-based gangs.

The raid on the tanker came just a day after two failed pirate attacks that occurred just hours apart in waters off Nigeria’s southeastern coast” the same sources stated.

Reuters reported that pirate attacks in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a significant source of oil, cocoa and metals for world markets, have almost doubled from last year, jacking up insurance costs for shipping companies.

The vast majority of the region’s maritime robberies and hijackings are believed to be carried out by criminal gangs based in Nigeria, and the security advisor said this was likely the case with the three incidents last week.

According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a piracy watchdog, the attack occurred at 9.15 p.m. (2115 GMT) on Aug. 27 around 45 nautical miles southeast of Abidjan, one of West Africa’s busiest commercial ports.

“Twelve armed pirates with guns boarded a drifting product tanker.

They took hostage all crew members, stole ship’s cash, crew cash and personal effects and escaped,” the IMB report stated.

The attackers destroyed the vessel’s navigation equipment before leaving the ship, but no crew were injured and the tanker was not damaged.

A private security advisor who monitors West African piracy confirmed the attack, however a senior Ivorian maritime security official said he was not aware of the incident.The first known hijacking of a vessel in Ivory Coast’s territorial waters occurred late in 2012. Similar attacks were reported in the months that followed, but there has not been a successful hijacking off Ivory Coast in over a year, maritime officials there said.

The country’s defence minister said earlier this year it was adding around 40 new vessels to its depleted navy to confront an increase of criminal activity off its coast. Some of those ships, including a 33-metre French-built patrol boat, have already entered into service.

Unlike along the Horn of Africa, however, international navies are not actively engaged in counterpiracy missions in the threatened regional waters off Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Eterna grows profit by 48%, as cost improves

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

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From right: Mr. Sunil Sawhney, Managing Director, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc; Mr. Norden Thurstow, Head of Marketing (3rd right) with some 2014 Aquafina Elite Model Look Nigeria finalists during their visit to the Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Ijora Plant, Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

terna Plc has posted 48 percent growth in profit after tax for the half year ended June 30, 2014, even as the company achieved a 73 percent reduction in cost of sales.

Specifically, the company recorded profit after tax of N974.366 million as against N658.941 million in the same period in 2013, while the cost of sales was reduced to N12.687 billion from N46.413 billion in the previous year.

The company also achieved eight percent improvement in the distribution and administrative expenses as the figure fell to N571.071 million

FIRS tasks MDAs, corporate bodies on tax compliance

By EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

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he Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, and corporate bodies to comply with the relevant tax laws.

Acting Executive Chairman, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, made the call at the Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum, organised by the FIRS to engage key business leaders, top government functionaries in MDAs and corporate chieftains on how the Service could improve non-oil tax collection, yesterday, in Abuja.

The Service CEP led by McKinsey and Company is an initiatives aimed at improving non-oil tax revenue. Alh. Mashi also solicited the support of stakeholders towards a robust tax system for the entire country.

His words, “you have a major role to play in ensuring tax compliance by making sure you comply with all relevant tax laws, which require you to deduct and remit Withholding Tax, WHT, and Value Added Tax, VAT, promptly from payments made to contractors and service providers as well as Personal Income Tax from your employees.

“In this regard, you should assist your staff in complying with annual filing requirements and also in processing Tax Clearance Certificates, TCCs, through officials’ channels, so that your employees do not patronize

touts or obtain fake TCCs”.

According to Alh. Mashi said that taxpayers that Tax Clearance Certificate, TCC and Taxpayer Identification Numbers, TIN are free for all companies and individuals who have paid their taxes—

including Federal Civil Servants.

“Continue to assist us with relevant data and information on taxpayers, should we require such and also verify with us any tax documents, which your contractors provide

especially TCCs``, he charged the MDAs.Mashi said that FIRS regular engagement and interaction with taxpayers and stakeholders at different fora was design to deepen understanding of stakeholders ongoing reform processes in

Union , Diamond Banks support IFRS media training ' By PETER EGWUATU

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nion Bank of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc have in partnership with Businessday Training Division trained financials journalists on the road map to adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by the federal government of Nigeria.

At the opening session, Ogochukwu EkezieEkaidem, Head of Corporate Affairs and Corporate Communication of Union Bank said that the bank was excited in cosponsoring the workshop because it considers financial reporting as critical for stakeholders to understand so that they would be guided in taking informed decision. She pledged the bank’s continuous support and commitment to promoting excellence and professionalism in journalistic practice in Nigeria.

The one day training workshop which held in Lagos had selected financial journalists drawn from print and electronic media. It was meant to equip the participants with knowledge of the IFRS requirements so that they can report and inform the public with accurate details about companies‘ financials as stipulated by the law.

The participants were guided by professional accountants on the new standards and format of the IFRS, required to be adopted by all companies operating in

Nigeria. These areas include property, plant and equipment, inventory, revenue, employee benefits, extractive industries as wells as the tax implication of the IFRS conversion, among other issues.

In his remark at the workshop, Head Media, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Mike Omeife, stated that Diamond Bank is committed to enhancing journalists’ job of reporting financial matters that would further help in boosting the economy.

According to him “Diamond’s wide network of correspondent banks means you can reach suppliers all over the world. This allows us to service transactions originating in foreign countries and as a domestic bank’s agent abroad.”

On its West African expansion project, he said “ In 2010, we activated our West Africa Monetary Union(WAMU)license and expanded operations into CoteD’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo. With a growing network of offices across West Africa and a rapidly expanding workforce, we are altering the financial land scape facilitating major deals and syndicated loans.”

“Diamond’s unique unified license allows us to create a synergy of service throughout the Francophone region, enabling efficient, cost effective and seamless banking across borders” he added.

from N617.523 million in the preceding year in 2013.

The shareholders’ fund grew to N8.085 billion from N7.042 billion. However, the revenue for the period dropped by 71 percent to N13.979 billion compared to N47.856 billion in the previous year.

Addressing shareholders at the last general meeting, the chairman, Mr. Fola Adeola, had said that the company would continue to introduce and implement innovative strategies that will improve its profitability without compromising product quality, service delivery or debasing any of our core values.

He stated that the company had confronted the challenges relating to high interest regime and energy cost, as well as depreciating Naira by being more innovative to ensure that shareholders’ value is sustained, saying, “We believe that our business will continue to thrive in 2012 and beyond despite anticipated challenges.”

According to him, the company increased its retail outlets through the acquisition of a petroleum products filing stations at Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“We also entered into a long term lease for branding and sales of petroleum products at another filling station in Yola, Adamawa State in the year under review.In the current year (2013), we have acquired a large parcel of land in Calabar, Cross River State for the construction of a mega petroleum filling station, warehouse and office space.

“We have also leased a fully built filing station at Mile 1, Port Harcourt. All these efforts increased our retail presence and have provided opportunity for advertising and brand visibility,” Adeola said.

“We have been innovative and determined in ensuring that all our assets are optimally utilised to improve cash generation and continuously support our financial baseline.

At the end of the financial year, we recorded profit after tax of N1.2 billion; representing growth of 68 percent compared with figure of N722 million profit after tax recorded in the previous year.

“It is important to note that this is the first time that the company has turned a profit in two consecutive years in the last 10 years, confirming that the turn-around has begun,” he added.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 23

African farmers urged to adopt ‘Climate-smart approach’ ... as AGRA releases 2014 report on agric

By JIMOH BABATUNDE

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igeria was able to avert major food crisis aftermath of the 2012 flood in major parts of the country that affected many farms, but countries in the horn of Africa are not that lucky with the ravaging droughts with devastating effects on crops and livestock production. These are effects of climate change that are already posing challenges to the production food and abilities of some countries in the continent to feed the growing population of the continent.

Speaking at the presentation of the 2014 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR) prepared by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), former President of Ghana and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kufuor, said one of the key sectors that is already and will increasingly be affected by climate change is agriculture.

“Rapid and uncertain changes in rainfall patterns and temperature regimes threaten food production, increase the vulnerability of African smallholder farmers, and can result in food price shocks and increased rural poverty.” He noted that even the low-input smallholder agriculture of sub-Saharan Africa, is both a ‘victim and a culprit’ relative to climate change.

The agricultural sector in Africa today is dominated by smallholder farmers that make their living from growing crops and keeping livestock on small plots of land. Outputs levels are generally low and insufficient to feed their families throughout the year and generate any sizeable income.

African farmers’ output are constrained by inherently low soil fertility, poor access to inputs such as improved seeds and fertilizers, and insufficient transport , storage and marketing infrastructure that limits access to output markets among other factors.. As the continent strives to feed its growing population, climate change will continue to present further complications to millions of people for whom achieving food security is already problematic.

The smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the climatic, economic shocks and major weather shocks. Ms. C M Y K

From left: Dr. Ademola Braimoh; Dr. David Ameyaw and Dr. James Kinyangi at the press briefing heralding the launch of the 2014 African Agriculture Status Report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) held at the Africa Union building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Jane Karuku, President of AGRA said “Smallholder farmers are the mainstay of food production across subSahara Africa. As climate change turns up the heat, the continent’s food security and its ability to generate economic growth that benefits poor African, most of whom are farmers, depends on our ability to adapt to more stressful conditions.”

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mall scale family farmers across Africa, already struggling to adapt to rapidly rising temperatures and more erratic rains, risk being overwhelmed by the pace and severity of climate change, according to the 2014 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR). Though the former Ghanaian President said although developing countries, especially those in Africa, are likely to bear the brunt of climate change, none of us will be immune to its impacts. “It is time we acted together and be reminded that, when it comes to the devastating effects of climate change, we all swim – or sink – together. This is not the time to play the blame game. “ The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa brought together over 100 African scholars to prepare a report that provides the most comprehensive review to date of how climate change will affect Africa’s smallholder farmers and highlights the most promising paths to producing more food, even in the midst of challenging growing environments.

The 2014 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR), which focused on Climatic Change

and Smallholder Agriculture in Sub-Sahara Africa, was presented at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) during the week in Ethiopia.

The 2014 Africa Agriculture Status Report as presented to over 1,000 scientists and government officials, NGOs and other stakeholders shows that climate change is already taking place, and it is affecting the growth and potential yields of staple food crops and cropping systems, as well as

the volatility and vulnerability of the dominant farming systems.

Dr. David Ameyaw, a director in AGRA and one of those who worked on the report, said “farmers across all regions of sub-Sahara Africa already are contending with an increase in average temperatures. Further increases of between 1.5 degree C and 2.5 degree C are expected by 2050. “Scientists predict severe drying across Southern Africa, while other

parts of sub-Sahara Africa are likely to become wetter, but with farmers facing more violent storms and frequent flooding.”

Another member of the team, Dr. James Kinyangi explained that the compelling need to deal with the challenges posed by climate change offers an opportunity to transform the way food systems use natural resources, improve agriculture’s sustainability and promote poverty reduction and economic growth.

Speaking on the threat and opportunities, he said climate change affect both the average length of the growing season and rainfall variability as well as altered growing conditions in certain areas making it difficult to grow basic crops. Dr. Kinyangi disclosed that the new research reported in the report maps the regions at highest risk for more ‘failed seasons’ as rained become more erratic.

“But more threatened are Southern Sudan and a belt of farmland running from Southern Cote d’Ivoire across Ghana and Nigeria. The role of soil fertility and plant nutrition in strengthening the vigour of farming systems and make them less vulnerable to climate change is explicitly addressed in the report. In addition, the possibilities and limitations of the various farming systems are illustrated and analyzed.

Dr. Ademola Braimoh of the World bank added that more productive, resilient and lowcarbon agriculture requires major shift in the way we manage land, water, nutrients and genetic resources.

Fertiliser usage in Africa remains low — Hebebrand A ddis Ababa — The Director General, the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), Charlotte Hebebrand, has disclosed that fertilizer use in Africa remains startlingly low compared to other regions, with average use at around 10 kg per hectare, a tenth of the global average. “Yet African leaders have pledged in the 2006 Abuja Declaration to bridge this gap and increase fertilizer use to 50 kg/ha by 2015, a goal which has only been met in very few countries.”

He made this known at the launch of a new campaign, by the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) to promote the importance of fertilizer access for African farmers as a means of bridging the current agricultural productivity gap on the continent. The campaign is being spearheaded by the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) in collaboration with the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) and six other agricultural development partner organizations.

Speaking during the launch Wednesday at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), conference in Addis Ababa, Charlotte Hebebrand said “As the voice

of the global fertilizer industry, IFA will continue to dedicate time and resources to raising awareness on fertilizer’s role in reducing the yield gap and driving African agricultural development.”

The campaign calls for six key actions to help the African continent to address this challenge, namely: Facilitate local production and imports of fertilizers; Provide better access to credit, finance and insurance; Invest in infrastructure which connects farmers to input and output markets.

The other key actions in the campaign include developing mobile technologies; training more extension workers to work with farmers and to disseminate best practices based on the integration of both organic and mineral nutrients and balanced fertilization, such as the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Framework and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) An expert session at the AGRF to launch the campaign demonstrated the broad consensus from all actors on the importance of efficient crop nutrition for agricultural development but also for poverty eradication and broad-based economic development.

24—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

National Automotive and Shippers Councils to re-fleet cargo trucks

BY G0DWIN ORITSE

T

HE National Auto -motive Council (NAC) and the Nigerian Shipper Council (NSC) are set to re-fleet cargo carrying trucks and phase out the old and rickety ones currently in use at the ports.

In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers ’Council, Mr. Hassan Bello disclosed this at recently concluded members night of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping saying that the reason behind the re-fleeting project was bring about standardization in the trucking sub-sector.

Bello said that the Council has opened discussions with the National Association of Tr a n s p o r t Owners (NATO), Association M a r i t i m e Tr a n s p o r t O w n e r s ( A M AT O ) , Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

He explained that standardization of the trucking sub-sector of the maritime industry will not only decongest the port access roads, it will lead to

improved Truck Transit Time at Ports.

Besides, the Council boss also disclosed that

the entire project will include installment of Electronic Gating and Call System.

He said “We are trying to bring them together so that there will be a semblance

From left: Head of Operations and Assistant to MD of Intel’s, Marko Miskovic and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shoppers Council, NSC, Hassan Bello, during a tour of oil and gas facilities in Onne, as the commercial port regulator.

N

DOSIMILI people of Delta State have cried out to the Niger Delta Development Commision, NDDC, to save their communities from being taken over by the River Niger and the Ase Creek through the construction of shoreline protection.

The group made the apply in Lagos after a town hall meeting, stated that Ndosimili communities such as Utchi, Okpai, Ase, Umuolu, Abala, Aboh, Ashaka and several others are ravished by erosion. A statement signed by the group’s President, Capt.

Francis Adone and Publicity Secretary, Paul Orie, noted that “The NDDC was particularly enjoyed to build shoreline protection in the west bank of River Niger and the Ase Creek

Confirming the development, President of the Association Maritime Transport Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi told Vanguard that a private investor is championing the re-fleeting project but with support from the Shippers’ Council.

Ogungbemi explained that the trucks will be given the operators on hire purchase and repaid back over a period of time.

He also said that these trucks will not be put to use until the truck park being constructed at the Trade fair Centre along the Lagos Badagry Express way is completed He disclosed that the major constraintth slowing the down the the movement of trucks into the park was construction of entry and exit points at the park adding that the use of the current entry point into the trade fair centre will create another problem for other motorists”.

We must help Shippers’ Council to succeed – Chamber of Shipping

BY G0DWIN ORITSE

T

HE Nigerian Chamber of Shipping has called on all stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry to support the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in its

new role as economic regulator of the nation’s port industry.

Speaking at members’ evening of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping,held at the Civic Centre in Lagos, President of the Chamber,

Chief Adebayo Sarumi said that the Council must be encouraged to ensure fair play between providers and consumers of shipping services Sarumi also said that the Chamber of Shipping will need to, more than ever

Ndosimili indigenes seek NDDC help for shore protection to halt the menace of land,” noting that these meeting, Paul Enebeli,

BY G0DFREY BIVBERE

standardization, a semblance of accountability and a semblance of responsibility.”

erosion threatening Ndosimili communities such as Utchi, Okpai, Ase, Umuolu, Abala, Aboh, Ashaka and several others.”

They also called on the Delta State government and the NDDC to consider Ndosimili communities in the provision of health care facilities, potable water, electricity and roads in the 2015 budget.

They charged Ndesimila parents to encourage their children to take education very seriously as that is the only way out of poverty.

They urged “Ndesimili Development Union to double its efforts in building synergy among all categories of Ndesimili people including elected politicians and other public office holders.”

They similarly decried “the near absence of infrastructure in Ndesimili

are factors retarding the socio-economic development of their communities.

Earlier on, the guest of honour at the town hall

President General of Ndokwa National Union, NNU, advised the leadership of NDU to move closer home so that their activities can be felt.

Maritime security, safety workshop underway

I

N a bid to find last ing solution to the port security that has come under heavy threat, a firm, DIddan and Associates has concluded plans to host a maritime security and safety workshop.

The symposium will put some of these issue in the front burner by bringing together key stakeholders in the Maritime industry, the Oil & Gas sector and government security agencies within and outside the country.

According promoters of the work shop, Mr. Lucky Aghomii “ in the face of rising terrorism, piracy and other maritime crimes on our wa-

terways and approach channels within and our nation, the symposium share new techniques in tackling security threats in the maritime industry.

This timely event, Aghomi said promises to provide a platform to deliver solutions to some of these challenges facing the industry and the nation at large.

Diddan & Associates Consulting Nigeria Limited is a fully Nigerian company, founded with the aim of providing innovative, value–added, high quality and cost effective solutions to business needs, through maritime support services.

before, come up strongly as a relevant pivot in the quest to build a virile and economically viable industry.

He recalled that the Chamber of Shipping was at the forefront of the advocacy to make the Nigerian Shippers’ Council the economic regulator of the Ports.

NSC, as an umpire in economic regulation of the Ports must be encouraged to ensure to be fair to all operators He said “The Shippers’ Council was handed down the hard-won responsibility as the economic regulator of the ports so early in your tenure and I know that has greatly altered the visage of the NSC for good.

“Please be assured that you have my prayers to succeed and make good of the position you deservedly occupy today for success in the effective harnessing of the huge potentials of the Ports and the Nigerian maritime domain.

“The growth and development of the maritime industry is measurable and can be attributed to that resilience and drive to move on, overcoming institutional, socio-political and economic bottlenecks.

“The new Governing

Council under my watch will seek ways and means of contributing more constructively towards clearing bottlenecks.

“Determinedly, we shall work out and effect useful strategies, synergies and syndications towards ensuring “My request then and which I reiterate now is for all hands to be on deck so that we can move the Chamber of Shipping, the Maritime Industry and indeed the Nigerian economy forward.

“This stemmed from the understanding that the Shippers’ Council was best suited and attuned to executing this regulatory function in line with its statutory responsibility of protecting the interest of Nigerian Shippers in particular and the economy in general.

“The Chamber of Shipping also believed that the Shippers’ Council would guarantee proper discharge of its regulatory function.

These are our continued expectations and I encourage my knowledgeable Executive Secretary / Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bello to be so guided in this onerous assignment.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 25

I N S I D E

C/River Central: Ndoma-Egba, Enoh in epic battle for senatorial seat

Confab: There’s money to sustain 18 new states — Orji, first Milad

Page 28

State of the nation: Some controversial issues Page 27

Page 26

I

F the challenges and unresolved hitches that trailed ongoing distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are anything to go by, having credible general elections in less than six months time may be a tall dream.

By Clifford Ndujihe

T

HE matter is worsened by the wind of insurgency and insecurity blowing across the North eastern parts of the country, a region that has over 12 million voters.

Without the PVC a prospective voter will not be allowed to vote at the elections, the INEC has said.

Last May, the INEC began the distribution of the permanent voters’ card. The first phase of the distribution took place in 10 states, namely: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Abia, Benue, Kogi, Zamfara, Kebbi, Taraba and Gombe. The exercise lasted for three days- May 23 to 25.

The second phase began in 11 states on Friday, August 15 and ended on Sunday, August 17.

The states are Bauchi and Yobe, (North East); Jigawa and Sokoto (North-west); FCT and Kwara (North-central); Ebonyi and Anambra (South-east); Ondo and Oyo (South-west); Delta and Cross River (South-south).

Thus, 15 states are yet to benefit from the exercise. Even among the benefitting states, most would-be voters are yet to get the prized document. A deluge of criticisms trailed the exercise. Many people could not find their names in the voters register. Some had to travel long distances to their polling units and yet could not get the card. Some who found their names in the register had the problem of their PVC not being available.

The challenges Many stakeholders are afraid that using the PVC for the elections may disenfranchise would-be-voters.

Reason: INEC may not complete the distribution of the cards before the elections.

About 73 million voters are expected to get the cards. The

•Jega

2015: Voters’ card,

insecurity as threats INEC’s Technical Committee had approved the printing of 40 million cards for the first phase How to collect PVC

at the cost of about N2.6 billion.

The electoral commission claimed that the first phase of

the exercise was successful. Mr. Kayode Idowu, chief press secretary to INEC Chairman,

Permanent Voters Card

The distribution officer: •Takes custody of the PVC cards •Pastes the register of voters for display at the Polling Unit (PU) and makes sure it is on display for the period of the distribution.

•Checks and confirms that the prospective voter is in the distribution register of voters.

•If the name of the prospective voter is found on the distribution register of voters, he/she shall search through the PVC cards for his/her PVC. •Requests prospective voter to thumbprint and sign the PVC collection section of the distribution register of voters.

•Retrieves the TVC from the prospective voter and hands over to prospective voter his/her PVC. •Where the prospective voter does not have a TVC, the prospective voter is made to sign an attestation form and affix his/ her passport photograph.

• If the prospective voter is suspected to be under-age, his/ her PVC shall be retained at the LGA office.

Features of the PVC •Smart card -based Voter ID; •Stores voter’s information such as bio-data, biometrics and facial

image; •The card technology provides adequate security features to reduce vulnerability to counterfeiting •The PVC shall be used for identification and authentication of voters during elections Who is eligible to collect PVC? A person is eligible to collect PVC if he/she: •Has registered before •Is in the register of voters displayed •Has a temporary voter card (TVC) •Has lost his/her TVC but his/ her identity can be confirmed.

•Is physically present at the collection centre because there shall be no collection of PVC by proxy.

Where to collect PVC •PVC distribution will be at the Polling Unit.

•Those who are unable to collect their PVC during the specified period (8am to 4 pm at the PU) shall, therefore, collect theirs from the INEC office in the LGA

Why INEC introduced card The electoral umpire said it would use the permanent voters’ card for the 2015 elections to guard against the challenges that trailed previous elections in Nigeria.

The INEC Commissioner for Operations,MrNuhuYakubu,said recently that the card will ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015. How? The card has anti-rigging features because it is a smart card, similar to a credit card which has a chip imbedded in it.

The chip captures one’s biometrics and data like finger print, photograph, address, photograph and telephone number, among others. “It transmits signal. That is the kind of card that the commission is going to use during 2015 elections,” he said.

In like manner, INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology Mr. Chidi Nwafor, said that the introduction of PVCs would make the elections credible. He said the cards would erase the problems of identification and authentication.

Professor Attahiru Jega, reportedly said 71 per cent of those targeted in the first phase got the cards and promised that the commission would improve on the success in subsequent exercises.

Idowu’s views were not shared by other stakeholders such as the political parties, civil society organisations and the citizenry, who claimed that getting the cards was cumbersome. Some of them said apart from their names not being on the register, the INEC appeared to be hoarding cards. If those who had not relocated could not get their cards from their polling units what about those, who had relocated from one state to the other or even towns?

The INEC expects those who are 18 and above and could not take part in the 2011 voters registration exercise to do so now. Incidentally, the five days the commission allowed for registration have been described as too short especially given that logistics problems trailed the exercise in the 21 states it has been held so far.

Before the distribution of the PVC, the INEC gave guidelines for easy collection of the cards.

In spite of the guidelines an avalanche of hitches dotted the exercise.

There were complaints that INEC officials did not report for the distribution in designated centres.

Get your cards by December or forget polls – INEC Reacting to these complaints, the INEC said it was making efforts to address them and urged would be voters to ensure they get their cards before December 2014 if they want to vote in the 2015 polls.

The Director of Voter Registry in INEC, Emmanuel Akem gave the assurance during a one-day Town Hall meeting on the continuous voter registration and distribution of Permanent Voters Cards, on Monday.

Akem, who said that the observations and complaints by prospective voters were being addressed, assured that voters that just registered would have their PVCs in 30 days His words: “All potential voters must have collected their

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

•Egba

•Enoh:

C/River Central: Ndoma-Egba, Enoh in

epic battle for senatorial seat THE battle field is the Cross River Central Senatorial District.

The bone of contention is the Senate seat and 2015 is the time for the onslaught. The leading gladiators are Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, the Senate Leader and Rep. John Owan Enoh (chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation).

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru WITHOUT doubt, NdomaEgba and Enoh have played prominent roles in ensuring that Cross River gets more than a fair share in the sharing of the national cake.

Indeed, they are both prominent political players at the senatorial, state and national levels and impacted immensely on the lives of thousands of people across the state and are still fired up for more service to the people.

Now, both men have embarked on underground moves to claim the seat. NdomaEgba is seeking to hold the seat for a record four terms while Enoh wants to cross over from the lower chamber to the upper chamber in 2015.

Incidentally, Enoh, like Ndoma-Egba has been in the National Assembly since 2003.

Senator Ndoma-Egba has become a vocal voice in the Senate whose opinions on

critical issues count while Enoh, who represents Obubra/Etung has been one of the main men in the Speaker Waziri Tambuwalled House of Representatives.

Factors that ‘ll shape election Expected to be one of the fiercest in the political history of the state, the principal factor that may shape the voting pattern of delegates at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and election proper include the endorsement of the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and linkages and political leadership of the wards and chapters of the PDP in the district.

For Instance, in Ikom, the home town of Senator NdomaEgba, the Council Chairman, Pastor Ojong Ayiba Ayiba and majority of the wards and chapter executives are on the side of the Senate Leader.

In neighbouring Etung wh ere Hon. Enoh comes from, the indication is that Enoh will have the upper hand. The council chairman, Dr Inok Kuti, and the chapter executive of PDP are his diehard backers.

However, Senator NdomaEgba is expected to make an impact because of the presence of Governor Imoke’s former Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sanday Onor, former Security Adviser to Governor Donald Duke, Mr. Bassey Okim and Hon. Olar.

In Obubra, a prominent politician, Mr. Egbe Jabengo, after the fractious council primaries defected to NdomaEgba’s camp and would ensure

that votes like those of his sister, Charity who is the PDP Chapter Secretary go to the Senate leader. This is alongside the votes that will be garnered by Chief Ernest Irek and Dr Chigbe.

But people like Dr Kieran Mfam, the Council Chairman and the Chapter Chairman are said to be behind Enoh.

In Boki, if the reception that Enoh got at Wula and Abo villages two Sundays ago when he stormed the place is anything to go by, it is going to be a fierce battle. Though Senator NdomaEgba has people like the softtalking and humble Victor Abang and Jones Tangbang as

foot soldiers, he will have an uphill task winning in Boki.

For now, nobody knows the position of the former State Chairman of PDP and former Nigeria Ambassador to Mali, Chief Soni Abang, who together with his supporters is a strong force in the area.

In Yakurr, the Council Chairman, Ikpi Ikpi Akpama who is an acolyte of Hon. Bassey Ewa, the House of Representatives member for Abi /Yakurr Federal Constituency, who has a working relationship with Enoh, will ensure Enoh makes a strong showing here. Though

people like the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Akin Ricketts, Etim Ayimobi and Abu Eyo Abu are on the side of Senate Leader that is if there is no express directive from Imoke to the contrary. But for now, investigations show that the votes may swing on the side of Enoh.

Also in Abi, the home town of the governor, what will define the votes here depends on whose side he gives his support and also on who the grand master of Cross River politics, Elder Bolaji Anani will tilt to.

Interestingly, the Abi political family comprising of Eko Atu, Alex Egbuna and others may harbour divergent ambitions and political differences but the respect they have for the duo of Imoke and Anani often makes them bury such differences before they escalate unlike in other places.

Though many groups have in the past, some in the open while some clandestinely thrown their weight behind one of these aspirants, but it can never be understated the fact that in a delegate election, the target should be the people who will be allowed entry into the arena to cast votes not the mammoth crowd.

In addition to the delegates listed in the PDP constitution such as the governor and his deputy, political appointees like commissioners and special advisers, state PDP chairman and executive, former members of the state executive, the local government chapter chairmen, secretaries, youth leaders, women leaders, and treasurers, and at the ward level the chairmen, three additional delegates will be elected in each ward to join the rest in the voting.

The aspirants therefore will do well by targeting these ‘special” people to beef up their votes.

ot er s’ card, insecurity as threats 2015: V Vot oter ers’ Continues from page 25 PVCs before December 2014, those that did not collect theirs will not vote in 2015. We had technical support deployed to the field to deal with the breakdown of machines during registration. This, among other measures, is being taken for the success of the exercise.”

Akem stated that although the CVR had not commenced in the local governments, they would start the exercise as soon as the three phases of the exercise were concluded across the country.

Confirming these complaints and challenges, the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, in a statement by Emeka Umeagbalasi (board Chairman), Uzochukwu Oguejiofor (head,

Campaign & Publicity Department) and Chiugo Onyekachi Onwuatuegwu (head, Democracy and Good Governance Programme) said: “Borrowing from previous exercises such as the ones conducted in Anambra State in 2013, INEC has mountainous challenges ranging from administrative to personnel and machines. Administratively, the Apex Electoral Commission must lower its stringent conditions imposed on the target audience (registered voters and unregistered eligible voters).

“For instance, asking those that lost their voters cards to obtain ‘police extract or court affidavit’ or both, etc can be very frustrating and has the capacity of discouraging them from obtaining their legitimate voters

cards. Another area is the issue of limiting the Continuous Voters Registration, CVR exercise to electoral wards/ collation centres only.

“This will deny hundreds of thousands, if not millions of unregistered eligible voters the opportunity of being captured in the exercise under reference owing to far distances and other artificial bottle necks. In Anambra State, for instance, rural dwellers will have to travel about five kilometers or more to locate their wards/collation centres usually located at LGA headquarters or conspicuous community facilities. This is totally cumbersome.

“Also the three days mapped out by the Commission for the PVC exercise is grossly inadequate."

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 27

JOSEPH Orji, PhD, was the first military administrator of Gombe State. He retired from the Nigerian Air Force as a Group Captain. He was a delegate at the recently concluded 2014 national conference on the platform of the Federal Government. In this interview, he explained why the confab's recommendation for the creation of additional 18 states is necessary.

Excerpts:

Confab: There’s money to sustain 18 new states — Orji, first Milad of Gombe

By Levinus Nwabughiogu WOULD you say that there is now greater love and peace between the North and South after the conference?

Yes, I should say so. First of all, the opportunity presented by the conference enabled the peoples of Nigeria, north or south, east or west to come together.

The conference offered all of us the opportunity to talk and listen to one another because the greatest problem we have in this country is not having a forum where we really talk as people with various views or problems as it were. Concisely, this conference achieved that.

Everything we discussed we had consensus on them and they were for the general good of Nigerians because we needed to get away from the old past where we were affixed and that afflicted us with a lot of pains, hatred, not working together and stagnated development.

So, I should say that the conference did just that by allowing us to come together, understand ourselves and by the time we were finishing, we had understood the Nigerian problems properly. Again, we were all willing to see Nigeria in a new state.

Does that mean you do not see aggression and animosity rearing up again?

This conference addressed principally and succinctly that the federating units have to be states. It also tried to look into areas of serious concerns with respect to the local government administration. The system was brining a lot of tension in the country with many people nursing some grievances, saying that states and local governments were created arbitrarily.

So, something radical had to be done about the local government administration and structure. This conference also addressed that in a manner everybody was happy with. For instance, by our own recommendation, the local government has ceased to be a federating unit.

They have no business going

•Orji to Abuja to ask for federal allocation. At the end of the day, modalities for sharing allocations are going to be limited to the

federal government and states.

These areas were areas that created a lot of frictions. Lastly, for many years now, many ethnic

nationalities have perpetually remained under the tutelage of major tribes and as a result, many of them have no hope of ever attaining any higher positions in politics. Some have even been denied social rights as we observed.

Typical example is North east where we also discovered that ethnic minorities are at the receiving end. Some complained that their children were not even allowed to be admitted to study some subjects like medicine, law and engineering in the University of Maiduguri when they are part and parcel of the state.

They were discriminated against even in employment.

Some major tribes will be there to boss you even if you are senior. An example of that was narrated where somebody who was 12 years senior to somebody he taught in the university became his boss in the ministry.

So, he had to resign and went away. Many of them suffered a lot of humiliation and it cut across many of these ethnic nationalities. So, you need to stabilise the system by making those people feel that they are part and parcel of this country.

State creation was what we used

2015: My mission to the House of Reps MEMBERS of the 74 Community Development Associations, CDAs, in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos, as well as leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, religious leaders in the council area recently declared their support for the aspiration of the incumbent council chairman, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan to contest for the House of Representatives in Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II, in 2015. In this interview, Bamigbetan explains his mission to the House of Representatives. Excerpts:

By Olasunkanmi Akoni ON projects he would pursue if elected This declaration is endorsed

by APC and community leaders which demonstrate that it is a community interest and decision. They asked me to represent them in the House of Representatives.

And after that decision and endorsement, I have to officially come out and accept the responsibility.

If given the onerous responsibility to represent them, some of the programmes include, quarterly town hall meeting, introduction of free school buses for students, free uniforms for indigent pupils and students, quarterly donation of drugs to health

centres and intense lobby of state, federal and international agencies to attract projects and programmes to the constituency. I shall ensure and engage all critical stakeholders, such as community leaders, party leaders, traditional rulers market leaders, CDAs among others for consultation as often as possible for advice and wisdom on how best to serve the people better.

On why he is running after serving Ejigbo people as council chairman for six years?

The reasons for my aspiration are not farfetched. One is that, recognizing that the human and material conditions of living in the constituency demands urgent and sustained improvement. Recognizing the

to address it so that most of the ethnic minorities, by our own recommendations are going to be free and they are pleased with us.

Do you think that the creation of 18 additional states will eventually sail through?

Why not? What is it that is making it difficult? In the conference also, we dealt with the legal requirements for states creation. We modified the law so that it becomes less cumbersome to do this. And again, if this is what will bring stability to this country and make everybody have a stake in the Nigerian project, why not? Some argued also that it was senseless recommending 18 states but they didn’t understand. It was not senseless. It is full of wisdom and we have the money.

The conference also dealt structurally with how to conserve resources and the money will be there to run it.

There is no state in this country that does not posses a lot of solid minerals and we have that potential. Give anybody a state, they will own it. They are happy and will work to ensure that the state is sustained.

— Bamigbetan

need to mobilise the people to develop the critical mass required for the effective engagement of the authorities at state, federal and international levels to realise the aforesaid objective.

Moreso, the current level of representation has not really lived up to the critical emergency that the condition of these communities demands.

Also, Ejigbo area has never produced a candidate to represent the constituency from time immemorial at the House of Representatives. Since, 1999, we, the Ejogbo people have always voted for candidates brought up from other areas and now we think that we should be given the opportunity and privilege this time. Isolo has been the only community producing candidates for the position.

How ready are you for the challenges ahead considering the infrastructural deficiencies of the area?

Thank God, I am not coming out from the blues, I know where the shoe is pinching our people. I have been around in the council for 70 months. And

•Bamigbetan moreso, I am a journalist, I am a part of this process and I know with the right person in the office, we will be able to advance the reasons development must come to this constituency. I have a profile; I have operated at the national level as a student union activist and also as journalist and I know all these will work for me and this is the right time.

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 NIGERIA is an interesting country where “everything goes” and where all things are possible even as the events look clumsy. Amidst claims and counterclaims about the loss of Gwazo and Bama, the gallant security forces are fighting ferociously to maintain the Nigerian territory against the onslaught of the Boko Haram insurgents.

The general sympathy goes to the gallant security forces, which, out of their duty, turn their guns against other Nigerians in a disastrous patricidal conflict. It is reminiscent of the sad but unnecessary Biafran war. The vital question is: Are the Boko Haram insurgents Nigerians?

The invasion of Nigerian territories by these foreign terrors, to many patriots, calls for a more serious approach than what is the present position – a bitterly divided political class. It would have been a different case, many wise people attest, if the forces at the war fronts (the insurgents seem to be shifting grounds) are solidly backed by a united nation.

But unfortunately, the selfish but crafty politicians have set their minds and hearts on the alluring prospects of 2015 and not being disturbed by the prediction of doom by the Cassandras of this world.

The other day, the happy band of party surpporters mustered more than four million signatures to advise President Jonathan to seek re-election in 2015.

That was in addition to the more than one million signatories of supporters in the South-Western zone of the country.

The problem with the appealing sycophants is that none of them suggested the mobilization from their groups those to follow the President to Chibok (Sambisa Forest) in a return visit to the earlier one by the parents of the abducted girls. However, President Goodluck Jonathan, now wiser by experience, has accepted the adoration with his infectious smile and grace. He would certainly not want to sacrifice the integrity of his country (which he promised to keep in 2011) to the uncertainties of 2015, even if the political

State of the nation:

Some controversial issues atmosphere appears to be very bright.

The Opposition too, considering Nigerian slippery political terrain, may not be sure of victory.

My insistence on a more inclusive federal government or a genuine national government has provoked some reactionary responses from my readers.

Some saw my call for unity at this period, (with the 2015 elections less than six months away) a diversionary tactics, while others think it is now too late to expect Nigerian politicians to think positively, even when the unity of the country is threatened.

Many political analysts have attributed some of Nigeria’s problems to sad misunderstanding of the principle of multi-party system in a democratic environment. Political parties are expected to offer different approaches to government in terms of ideology and methodology. The choice is left to the people to make a final choice. In Britain, voters are left to indicate their preference between Tory (Capitalism), Liberal (Capitalism with a dose of mixed economy) and Labour (Reformed socialism but with heavy doses of social services).

The present British Government is made up of Tory and Social Liberal parties.

It is often said that a country (and its people) would get the type of government it wants. The prevailing circumstances would dictate the type of government each country would prefer. During the economic depression of the 1930s, Britain opted for a National Government to defend the Pound. The National Government was also able to tackle the ranging problem of mass unemployment through government intervention in the economy through the adoption of Keynesian new Economics.

In the Nigerian politics, as it is being currently practiced, no party is different from the other in its political and economic operations. The federal, state and the local governments are based on government and the opposition principle, i.e. the party with the highest number of legislators would form the government, leaving the other parties in opposition to lick their wounds. The resultant political horizon is a bitterly divided class of oppressive majority and often rebellious minority.

After the military coup of 1966 and the counter coup that followed immediately, Nigeria blundered into Biafran bloody contest between 1967 and 1970 with undeserved devastation and unjustified agony. If Biafra (former Eastern Region)

was denied right to exercise its sovereignty, what is left today for these gallant people? These people have become supporters of any ruling power block since after the war, forming the visible but back-bone of the present administration of President Jonathan.

The Opposition is strongly rooted in the North-West, North-East and SouthWestern zones of the country. What happens if there is a change of political fortune in 2015?

The victors of 1970 did not understand how to exercise power in a multi-national or plural society; there is little evidence that the present leadership and innocent backers have learnt sufficient lesson from the past events to evolve the necessary consensus on national issues. It is absolutely clear that insurgency is quite beyond the capacity of a single party.

The shameful exhibition of traits of disunity would continue to strengthen these enemies of the country who appear to be waxing stronger every moment.

The economy If the political parties have not seen the need to work together in the real transformation of the economy as opposed to the paper macro-economic stability with increase in GDP and increase in unemployment, the practice of tough monetary policy should be discarded. It is not necessary for a poor economy.

A “cheap money” (low interest lending interest rate) policy would release funds to all capital starved SMEs, provide funds for private housing developments and rural reconstructions by local governments. Such a policy would lead to industrial expansion, thus impacting positively unemployment.

The argument of the Central Bank that if surplus funds in the banking system to operate freely as basis for bank‘s credit.

The volume of loans would have been so fast and the purchasing power so expanded as to precipitate a boom and consequent inflationary disaster. This should not happen in a well managed situation.

Imposition of candidates as threat to democracy

By Oliver Okpala INTERNAL party democracy is a key ingredient of any democratic system of government. This is because democracy ought to begin from the parties and how they choose their candidates for the election proper. If the candidates are chosen otherwise than in line with tenets of democracy, then the political space would be tainted and no true democracy can be said to be in existence.

A key ingredient of internal democracy is the avoidance of imposition of candidates on the party. Every candidate interested in an elective office should be given the opportunity to test his popularity within his party by a democratically – conducted primaries which will produce the most popular candidate for the election proper.

Anything short of this is a total detour from democratic norms and principles.

In Nigeria, imposition of candidates on the party by some influential leaders has become the rule rather than the exception. This practice has spelt doom for many political parties and even their candidates whose political ambitions had been truncated undemocratically in preference for some sacred cows. It can be said that imposition of candidates is as old as Nigerian democracy. But this spate of imposition assumed disturbing dimensions with the advent of republican democracy in 1999.

Political godfathers and party tin gods went practically low wire as they picked

and chose favoured candidates and godson at will without any concern for the good and progress of the party. Such godfathers prefer their loyalists and criminals to popular candidates.

The imposition came to a head in the last general elections and thereafter as party members, who felt shortchanged during party primaries left in droves to other parties. It is important to note that imposition of candidates cuts across all the political parties. Recent experience has shown the tendency of this evil practice to cause the disintegration of political parties and to breed bad blood and discontentment in the rank and file of the parties. This practice is a threat to democracy as it does not give room for party members to have a say in the choice of candidates to stand for the main election.

Another dimension to the imposition syndrome is the practice whereby certain candidates who feel shortchanged in one party crossover to another party only to be given the opportunity to vie for elective posts or offered plum jobs over and above hardworking and loyal old party members. This also breeds frustration and bad blood in the system. It sounds in breach of the fundamental rights of party members to deny them the right to elect candidate of their choice.

The bane of our party politics since 1999 is impatience on the pact of party godfathers and members to allow democracy to flourish in the parties.

There is nothing interracially wrong with a party member deciding to pitch his tent with another party in order to realize his ambition or to identify with his personal ideals and manifestoes.

But it is only prudent that such persons who cross over to other parties should exercise patience, bid their time and understand the party before taking a short at an elective position. It is indecent for someone who just joined a party to be handed over the mandate to represent the party in an election without regard to those members who have been loyal, committed and steadfast to the party.

The spate of imposition across Nigeria political parties dampen the morale of members. It is a practice that is capable of shaking the belief of members in their party and in its internal mechanisms. It is a direct affront to democracy which reduces the game of polities to a process of sheer selection, godfatherism, favouritism and particularism. No doubt, this is a total threat to our fledgling democracy.

The present development where certain politicians abandon their parties midstream only to join other parties and seek governorship or other positions almost immediately is indecent. It should be completely discouraged.

Indeed, such persons who durmp their parties and seek elective positions in other parties can best be described as political self-seekers who are mere

politicians of fortune. They will definitely cross over to another party should they fail to realize their ambition.

Similarly, where the legislature has impeached a governor, deputy governor or speaker, it is in bad taste for the speaker to aspire to the position of governor. Decency, wise counsel and good judgment dictate that such a speaker who presided over the impeachment of a governor should keep away from vying for that position immediately in order to give the legislature he led some measure of credibility.

This new practice should be checked or else our legislatures will embark upon impeachment spree all over the country to enable the head of the legislature transmute to a governor.

This can spell doom for our democracy.

Not only does this practice shortchange our democracy, it threatens our national stability.

It is dangerous to national security.

It is worse than insurgency, which has gulped a considerable chunk of our national budget. In a democracy without democracy, there will be no government to fight insecurity and insurgency. There will be breakdown of law and order. Let us protect and preserve our democracy for our posterity. *Prince Oliver Okpala is a political analyst.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—29

By KEHINDE AJOSE & ANU TELLA

E

niola Akinbo popularly known as Niyola discovered her affinity for music at age 8 when she attended a Funmi Adams concert with her father. But right now she has become one of the leading divas in the music industry. A true enigma, Niyola is a bundle of mysteries with many sides to her persona.

In this encounter with Weekend Groove, The EME First Lady opens up on her person, music as well as setting the records straight on a number of issues:

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an you tell us how it all started?

I actually had no idea that I could sing. I just like to sing.

Each time I did my chores I would sing and dance while at it and the whole time my Dad was actually noticing. So we had a convention in church that year and I said I was going to sing and my Dad said he wanted to take me somewhere because my sister was always performing for her school and won awards.

So one of the concerts he took us to was the Funmi Adam’s concert back in the days, there I saw young people like me performing and I saw Funmi Adams herself. That was where I decided I wanted to sing.

Then he started giving me books that taught me how to write songs.

How did you get into EME?

I wish all my ar tist es artist tistes were as successful as Wizkid — Banky W C M Y K

Well, I have known Banky from way back when he first returned to Nigeria. We were friends and we always had conversations about the quality of music that came out from Nigeria and the kind of music that we really wanted to do. That day, I was just at the EME’s house to do a remix of a song. I was trying to feature Skales in one of my songs called “Unpredictable”. So I saw Banky at the EME’s house and we got talking, then he asked me “Where have you been, what have you been doing, what happened to that song you tried doing?”

I told him I have been busy but now is the time to come back. He said we should work together and address the ills and challenges of the society, because back then if you were an artist you would be seen

as a school drop out or someone who had no ambition and then it was worse as a female because they feel you don’t know what to do with your life. So we worked on it together, he knew where I wanted to go with my music so I agreed to work with him.

Would you say you are satisfied with where you are right now looking at how far you have come?

It’s a work in progress, that’s all I can say. Everything we do in life can be better.

Who is Niyola behind the camera?

It’s really hard to put that in words because there are many sides to me. I can be very playful, very reserved. I can also be outspoken but the basic is, I like acquiring

New music sensation Double K debuts with hot single

•Niyola...

Everything we do in life we can do better. knowledge and impacting it.

What stands you out from others?

I am very passionate about women. There are over 50 million women in the world but God created me to affect the life of people in one way or the other. If I had to do things with my songs I would do it from a woman’s point of view. Beyond singing I would love to do stuffs that will stay relevant years after. Like Sade Adu, King Sunny Ade, Onyeka

How to run a successful e-store

Onwenu, their songs are timeless. Those are the types of songs I would love to do.It’s not just about being beautiful or having a nice voice,the important thing is being able to reach out to people.

How would you describe your kind of music?

I can do any kind of music but my trend is RnB pop.

What is your definition of sexy?

I think sexiness is something that is innate than physical. It’s something that is inborn. Sometimes it’s the physical things that make people say you are sexy, but I don’t agree because it’s more of something from inside. It could be the way you talk, your charisma, the way you walk, it doesn’t neccessarily have to be about all the

Continues on page 30

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Synopsis Being mrs elliot

I am still discovering myself Continues from page 29 endowments. It could be the fact that you are soft-spoken or intelligent that would make people consider you as sexy. It really depends on who is trying to describe sexiness. To me, sexiness should be feminity without actually trying too hard. If you are a woman and you are wearing a sack, you should still be able to portray sexiness if you have it.

Are you satisfied with people classifying you as sexy?

I don’t have issues with that. I know that I am sexy and I am not ashamed of it. It’s who I am and I embrace it, though that’s not all that there is to me.

Do you believe sex sells?

For me, it depends. For instance, you want to sell a car and you use a beautiful woman or a good looking guy, that’s cool. It doesn’t mean you have to expose excess skin to back up what you are pushing in order to attract attention before people get idea of what you are talking about.

So in that context sex sells.

Whats your style?

I go with my feelings. I like to look fashionable and still be comfortable.

Sometimes, I wear earnings before leaving home and I take them off when I feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes, I wear heels and other times flat shoes. I only do what I really want to do because at the end of the day it’s what you show they will take. Don’t let people tell you how to live or how to dress or look.

Can you tell us about your car crash experience?

I was driving to the studio with my producer and I was just ascending the Oworoshoki bridge that leads to Anthony, when some guys came from behind and knocked me over and the car somersaulted and went under the bridge. It was a miracle we both came out with no scratch because the car was totally damaged.

Have you ever any wardrobe malfunction?

Yes, many times. There was this one

time my shoe snapped.

I managed to put it together. I can also be handy at times.

In recent times there has been this rumor that you have something beyond

had

business relationship with Banky, can you clear that?

There is nothing to clear. People can say whatever they feel like saying and apart from that I don’t discuss my personal life with people.

So what has music done for you?

Music has opened many opportunities for me to meet people, as well as go to places I will ordinarily not go. It gives you access and there is hardly anything you can do without people noticing.

Now you also have to be extra careful.

Sometimes you wantto do stuffs and your manager goes like”What are you doing?”. (Laughing) You did a cover for Beyonce’s Drunk in love?

Yeah.

Tell us about it.

Well, I didn’t think of it myself. I have actually listened to the song before, a friend of mine later suggested I do the cover, but I said no cause I don’t even know the lyrics of the song. Back then I used to have time to listen to lyrics of songs, but now I don’t. So one day I was in the car and Toolz played Titanium and somebody did a cover of it and I thought that was beautiful and I said maybe I should do Drunk in love. I went into the studio I called TK and we worked on it. I was reading the lyrics from the internet as I was recording it.

I played the first one I did for Banky and he said it was okay, don’t change anything it’s good to go. It wasn’t even planned. I didn’t know it would get the kind of response it got.

What has music not done for you?

Like I said at the beginning, life is a journey so it’s a work in progress. I am still discovering myself.

Can you pose nude?

It depends on what you call nude.

There are stuffs you could wear and it would create this illusion of nudity. Yes, I could do that, but I wouldn’t be totally nude for any amount of money in the world. What you call nudity might not be my definition of nudity. For some, wearing a bikini means you are nude. It all depends.

How would you rate the industry in Nigeria?

It’s growing. It’s a lot rewarding now compared to back in the days. But we still have the issue of publishing, which is a serious one.

People can’t really make money from their intellectual properties. We haven’t been able to work that out. It’s a work in progress, hopefully in another five years, it will be better than what it is today.

Is there anything you would like to change from everything you have done?

Nothing. I think what makes me who I am today is my mistakes and every decision I made, good or bad.

They all contributed to who I am today.

What part of your body gets the most attention when you go out?

(Laughs)I don’t know. Some say my eyes, my lips, and someday my entire body. But for me,it’s my eyes because they are expressive.

On what occasion do you cry?

Sometimes when I am happy and sometimes when I am sad. I could watch a movie and cry. Not cry, but shed tears.

The movie is produced by Omoni Oboli which has the following casts Omoni Oboli , Majid Michel, Ayo Makun (AY,the comedian), Lapacious Bose ,Seun Akindele.....

The movie Being Mrs Elliot revolves round two women, in a simple twist of fate, find their worlds colliding with each other. Their lives are turned upside down as they meet two men, who are on a different path in life until unusual circumstances bring the women into their lives.

In a maze of deception, lust, pain, jealousy and intrigues their lives are rearranged in ways that they did not foresee as they try to make sense of finding love in unusual places.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK •LUCY •DELIVER US FROM EVIL •HERCULES •SINGLE MARRIED AND COMPLICATED •CHEF

Movie Schedule from September 5th to 11th •VICTORIA ISLAND Being Mrs Elliott : 2:05pm,6:35pm,8:20pm Lucy : 2:20pm,6:20pm,8:20pm,10;15pm Deliver us from Evil : 2:00pm,6:30pm,8:50pm Single Married and Complicated : 11:50am,4:15pm Hercules : 12:20pm4:15pm,8:35pm 22 Jump Street : 11:50am,4;20pm •SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Being Mrs Elliott : 1:00pm,7:20pm Lucy : 11:05pm,5:30pm,9:05pm10:50pm Single Married and Complicated : 3:20pm Deliver us from Evil : 2:10pm,9:30pm Hercules : 11:25am,5:25pm,9:15pm •SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Being Mrs Elliott : 11:50am,2:00pm,6:20pm,8:30pm Lucy : 12:00pm,5:30pm,7:20pm,9:20pm Single Married and Complicated : 1:40pm,6:00pm,8:20pm Deliver us from Evil : 11:20pm,1:50pm,4:10pm,6:30pm,8:50pm Hercules : 1:45pm,5:40pm 22 Jump Street : 11:30am,1:40pm,3:50pm •SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Being Mrs Elliott : 12:00pm,2:10pm,6:30pm Lucy : 7:00pm Single Married and Complicated : 2:00pm6:35pm,8:50pm Hercules : 3:20pm 22 Jump Street : 11:50pm,4:25pm, primate2 •SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Being Mrs Elliott : 12:00pm,2:10pm, 4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40pm Lucy : 6:15pm Single Married & Complicatd : 11:20am,1:40pm,4:00pm,6:20pm,8:40pm Deliver us from Evil : 11:30am,1:50pm,4:10pm,6:30pm,8:50pm 22 Jump Street : 8:20pmm • SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Being Mrs Elliot : 11:50am,2:10pm,4:30pm,6:50pm Deliver us from Evil: 11:30amm 1:50pm,4:10pm6:35pm, Single Married and Complicated : 11:40am,2:00pm,4:20pm,6:40pm Akan : 12:30pm,2:40pm,4:45pm,7:00pm •OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Being Mrs Elliott : 2:15pm,6:55pm,9:00pm Lucy : 1:30pm,3:15pm,5:00pm,6:45pm,8:30pm Deliver us from Evil : 4:40pm Hercules : 1:45pm •FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS Being Mrs Elliott : 12:20pm,4:l0pm,8:00pm,10:05pm •FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,HERITAGE MALL, IBADAN Being Mrs Elliott:11:35am,12:15pm,1:00pm,3:1‘0pm,6:35pm,8:40pm • FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA Being Mrs Elliott : 1:35pm,2:55pm,6:45pm,8:50pm •FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR Being Mrs Elliot : 12:30pm,4:30pm,6:30pm,8:30pm Single Married and Complicated : 2:35pm Deliver us from Evil : 11:40am,1:50pm,4:00pm,6:10pm,8:20pm • KADA CINEMAS, BENNI Being Mrs Elliott : 11:00am,1:30pm,4:00pm,6:30pm Deliver us from Evil : 3:15pm,7:30pm

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—31

New music sensation Double K debuts with hot single

I wish all my artistes were as successful as Wizkid — Banky W

E

MPIRE Mates Entertainment boss Banky W has said he is proud of his former protege, Wizkid who grew under his EME and expressed profound desire for all his other artistes to be as successful as the Star Boi. In a recent chat with Channels TV, Banky said he has no grouse with Wizkid for going to form his own record label Star Boi, saying it is indeed his desire for artistes to grow big enough to form their own record labels “I signed Wiz and he blew up. Now he is doing ‘Star Boi’ (music label) and that is a good thing. It’s not a bad

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thing... The interesting thing is to allow an artist to renegotiate. Wizkid has earned the right to sit at the table to do what he wants to do and I hope all my artistes are as successful as Wizkid.” he said.

Clearing the air on any animosity between him and the Caro crooner, the Samsumg Africa ambassador opined, “”I think that people tend to make things a little more negative than they are...

Every label executive prays for their artistes to grow to the point when they want to set up their own label and they have the ability to do so. It is a natural progression in music.”

I wouldn’t have been anywhere near success without my wife — Okey Bakassi

By ANOZIE EGOLE

A

ce comedian cum actor, Okey Bakassi, has come out to tell his success story, saying his wife has been the big reason behind his success.

The actor turned politician, marked his 13th marriage anniversary with his loving wife Zizi, penultimate Monday and took to his Instagram page to send a message to his wife who is in Canada with their three kids for holiday.

His mes-

sage reads, “It is 13 years today that I have been married to my childhood sweetheart and best friend.

We thank God for a productive and happy partnership. Happy anniversary my rib, Zizi, let’s do another 13 years. I love you more”. When asked to talk about his wife, he said, “she has been my childhood friend.

She is very supportive of my career, I love her and I doubt if I would •Okey Bakassi with wife have been where I am now if not for the support of my wife.

I will be joining her and our kids in Canada this month for her birthday which will be coming up on the 21st of this month.

We will celebrate it over there,”. He said.

HE music and entertainment scene in Ni geria is set for a blast as the hottest musical act in town, Double K makes their debut.

With a single Kumanatale, currently ruling the airwaves in Lagos and beyond, this dynamic duo are no doubt, set to redefine the music scene especially the hip hop, Afro pop and dance hall genre in the country.

Double K-coined from the first names of the two childhood friends that formed the group, Kunle and Kola, is one group that is geared to wow music buffs in the country with their immense talent, scintillating dance steps and good looks.

The talented twosome, both born in Lagos Island, developed a love of music at an early age, with Kola, the other half of the group taking it to another level while in secondary school when he teamed up with other like minded school mates who loved music. Then, a few years ago, they began playing professionally and formed Double K. On the song, Kunle stated: “Well, it is a slang that we put together whose meaning we don’t want to give out right now because there is a prize on it.”

For the duo, their music is their priority for now and they are working extremely hard to ensure they get to the top of their game soon.

As Kunle stated on their dreams and aspirations for the group: “Well, I hope Double K will be a household name in Nigeria and beyond. I hope we would achieve a lot in the sense that we would be No.1 in Nigeria. I want our music to be popular.” The musical video shot by ace director Clarence Peters is expected out soon!

•Double

Ivie Okujaye’s Make a Move now on IrokoTV A •Ivie Okujaye

C M Y K

FTER a successful cinema run ‘Make a Move’ is currently showing on IrokoTv .‘Make a Move’ the first production of AMBO winner Ivie Okujaiye, tells the story of two sisters that had to survive the death of a father, a cruel step-father and a nonchalant mother blinded by love, dance was the only means of escape, even that was not without opposition, when

push came to shove and life was at stake, something had to give.

The movie which had first week appearance in the cinema about three months back and has received rave positive review, aside from Ivie and Adebayo giving what stakeholders call performances of their lives, Beverly Naya treats the audience to scintillating sultry dance steps that further gives credence to the fact that

she is one of the next big thing in the entertainment industry.

The movie which recorded good box office figures, has been described as a breath of fresh air in Nollywood, aside Tina Mba, Wale Adebayo(Sango), Majid Michel, almost every other member of cast are fresh faces in Nollywood, which is a deviation from the norm in the present day Nollywood.

32 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—33 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513 Olympus PEN E-PL7

How to run successful e-store O

sales.

ne of the greatest advantages of the digital age is its ability to put money in your pocket, or even more your bank account. From Jumia to OLX, there are thousands of examples that show how e-commerce opens up a whole new world for your business.

After Sales Services

Be known for a particular product

Websites like ebay.com and alibaba.com offer buying and selling functionalities where customers can buy or and sell items. This type of ecommerce is called Business to business, B2B. Other websites like slot.ng offer ‘buy-only’ functionality where customers can only shop for mobile phones and other gadgets on the site. ecommerce sites often specialize on a particular type of service or products.

Ebay.com for example specialize on offering it’s users the opportunity to tradein their used items. If you have a used phone one of the best place you can re-sell it online quickly is ebay.com.

Identify your selling point

Most e-commerce sites have a niche product or service they offer. You should ensure you have one thing that differentiates you from others.

To have customers shop at your online store, ensure you have one thing they will always come to your store for.

Have a good customer service,

and make sure you have a refund policy whereby you allow customers to return an item that they bought but which didn’t meet their requirements. Make sure you state clearly on your website what your refund policies are.

Customers to know under what conditions goods can be returned after purchase.

Go the extra mile

To make sure your store stays on top of the game make sure you have product available at all time, offer special incentives like coupons, Christmas offers, or other offers whenever there special holidays or festivities.

Create awareness

It is advised you open an account for your online store on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, LinkedIn. All these social sites allow you to pay to promote your brand or site

to it’s members. advertising your product you have to create a targeted campaign by selecting the demography (age, gender) of the people you want to see your advert.

If using Google you can even choose the behavior of your potential customers. Example, you can target what your potential customers search on the internet. You can also choose the geography (location) you want your customers to come from. You can choose to advertise your goods or services to Nigerian only.

Use Cash Delivery Service

On

In countries like Nigeria where e-commerce is fairly new it’s advisable you also add an option for your customers to pay cash on delivery COD. Do make sure you have a method of verifying a genuine customer before embarking on COD

When marketing online it’s advisable you have a physical address where you can offer after sales service.

One of the reason slot.ng remains the best mobile phone store in Nigeria is because they have a physical office address all over Nigeria where customers can walk in after sales and have SLOT staff attend to them should they want to replace or repair their gadgets.

Even after the sale is made, be sure to keep in touch with customers.

Customers love the fact they can talk to someone, if and when the need arises. Also, a robust web host is h i g h l y recommended.

When purchasing a domain for your e-commerce site make sure to host your website with a reliable web hosting provider.

— NIGER AZU. O n l i n e M a r k e t i n g Specialist

Can LG’s door-in-door refrigerator end food wastages?

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esearch has shown that food kept in the doors of refrigerators don’t last as long as those kept in other compartments of the fridge.

The reason is obvious, when the doors are constantly opened; the temperature in that compartment fluctuates.

C M Y K

However, as a result of space constraints, it is nearly impossible to avoid storing that compartment.

LG Electronics newest refrigerator hopes to deliver users from this predicament. The sideby-side refrigerator into the Nigerian market, along with easier access and bigger capacity.31cu.ft, LG’s biggest refrigerator offers consumers the ultraconvenient double layered door system; the Door-inDoor, and significantly more food storage space. , It’s proprietary Inverter Linear Compressor helps deliver efficient performance with outstanding energy savings.

We are extremely proud to

be launching this product, as it acts as an example of LG’s continuous hard work to satisfy its consumers’ needs and demands,” said . Hyunwoo Jung, General Manager,Home Appliances Division, LG Electronics West Africa operations. “The new LG refrigerator’s such as the in-Doorand its larger capacity, especially caters for our Nigerian customers as entertaining house guests is a much loved custom in Nigerian society.”

LG’s innovative Door-in-Door feature a smaller, auxiliary access point to a fresh storage compartment mounted on the main door ’s rear side. As well as providing easier access to food and drinks consumerusemore frequently, the in-Door featureprevent cold air escapingwhen the entire fridge door is opened.

Opening only a small section of the door also helps keep food inside fresher, while the inner compartment ensures that the fridge makes full use of all available space.Furthermore, better organization is made possible with the adjustable moving basket feature, enabling users to easily adjust the height of the compartments according to their needs. specifically to store more food at a time, the new 31cu.ft refrigerator is LG’s biggest to date.

Olympus debuts with selfie pro camera

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AMERA brand,Olympus has re leased a professional camera,PEN E-PL7, which targets the selfie-shooting crowd.

The stylish mirrorless camera simply boasts features to make shooting and sharing selfies easier, including a dedicated Selfie Mode, a 180-degree downward flip LCD, and built-in Wi-Fi. Being an addition to the Olympus PEN line-up, it uses a 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds, Live MOS sensor, paired with a TruePic VII image processor. It also spots a three-axis image stabilization system, to help reduce the blurs caused by camera shake.

The PEN E-PL7 has an ISO range of 200 to 25,600 and is capable of sequential shooting at 8 fps, or 3.5 fps with continuous autofocus with tracking. And it's no slouch when it comes to that autofocus either, as the contrast detection AF system uses 81 points and is said to be Olympus' fastest ever. The camera can also record Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps.

Delphi Boot camp redirects youths to ICT N a bid to ensure that Nigerian Istudents compete favourably with

their peers from other parts of the world, Delphi Academy, in collaboration with Intel Semi Conductor West Africa Limited, recently organised a two-week training programme on Information Communication Technology (ICT) development.

Tagged: “Spark 2014 Two-Week IT Boot Camp, the training, which lasted from August 11 to 22, focused on channeling the ideas and interest of teenagers into IT. The Chief Executive Officer of Delphi Technologies, Mr. Adedipo Olagbegi, said having worked with Airtel and Etisalat and acquired 15 years experience on the job, he decided to come up with idea to train the students.

Olagbegi, who said that his experiences have helped him to come up with the curriculum that was used to teach the students, added that the IT Boot Camp is a non-profit making organisation.

34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

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besity is a disease that causes more harm than good. It is one thing to be a good cook but it becomes a different issue entirely if all you feed your family is junk food. Eating healthy is not about dieting, staying thin or depriving yourself of foods you love. Instead, it is about you feeling good about yourself, feeling energized and having stable moods. Most people feel starvation or fasting is the best way to loose weight.

Ironically, it causes more harm than good because your immune system is down the body becomes open to different ailments.

Here are some tips to creating a tasty, healthy meal.

Set yourself up for success In setting yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy meal in baby steps instead of one big change.

Approaching these changes gradually enables you plan a healthy diet in small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes steadily, you would achieve a healthy diet sooner that you would know it. Stop being concerned with counting calories; instead, focus on finding foods you love. Changing every thing at once makes you cheat during meal times so start small. Nobody is asking for perfection, so you don’t have to completely stop eating foods you love to achieve a healthier diet. The long term goal is to reduce the risk of terminal diseases and other illnesses. Every

5 Steps to healthy living healthy food choice you make matters a lot. Taking in lots of water and doing exercise helps you stay hydrated and allows you make healthy food choices.

Moderation is the key.

People generally have this misconception that healthy eating is all or nothing; the key player to any healthy diet is moderation. You can only eat what your body needs and not over stuff yourself. Satisfaction is what counts and over feeding yourself.. We all need a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber,

vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body. The goal of healthy eating is to develop a diet that you can maintain for life, not just a few weeks or months, or until you’ve hit your ideal weight. So eat in smaller bits.

It’s not just what you eat, it’s how you eat Healthy eating is more than just the about more than the food on your plate, it is how you think about food. Do you see it as nourishment which should be slowly eaten and savored or is it something that should be rushed

in between meetings? Meal times should be set and strictly adhered to. Cut down on eating in between meals. Breakfast should be eaten as it is the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast helps jumpstart your metabolism. Eating late at night should be avoided at all cost.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables Fruits and veggies as they are fondly called make a solid foundation of a healthy diet. This is because they are low in calories; which mean they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Anti oxidant in fruits and vegetables protects the body against certain types of cancer.

Limit sugar and salt intake If you succeed in planning your diet around fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and fats, you should cut down drastically on salt and sugar.

Sugar causes you to be hyper active and could add to health and weight problems. Too much salt added to our meals or already processed foods can result to high blood pressure. So, be careful when eating, whether you are at home or not.

Lagos youths launch D-patriot face

By ANINO AGANBI

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-patriot face was recently launched in Lagos by youths who saw the need to have a broad base and viable youth organization. The goal of the organization is to participate actively in the political happenings in Lagos state and ensuring that credible people are given support in all levels of governance in the state and country at large. Dpatriot face is being implemented with the aim of demolishing the imposition of candidates in all cadres. There by saying no to candidates imposed by God fathers, so efforts would be put in place through the media and social media to sensitize the general public that only free and fair elections will be acceptable.

Lukman Olajide (coordinator) said that’ if perchance our candidate is not elected

for the primaries, members of the patriot face have no plan to decamp from APC to other parties but instead, we would support which ever candidate wins the primaries as long as it is free and fair’.

It is with this in mind that the group has chosen Sen. Ganiyu Solomon , a graduate of political science, University of Lagos , who they see as a man of the people to run for the primaries election in Lagos state. He is an active member of the rotary club, humanitarian and philanthropists has

*Cross section members of the patriot face received several awards both home and abroad on account of his contribution to humanity and the nation at large. Apart from his political aspiration, he runs a foundation which over the

years has provided assistance in skills acquisition, educational development, micro credit, health care and poverty alleviation scheme irrespective of his political career.

WTEC boosts girls’ participation in ICT with technology camp

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIAAGBONKHESE

N

o fewer than 30 schoolgirls were recently engaged in a 2-week intensive technology camp by the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, W.TEC, in Lagos.

The camp which was the 7th in W.TEC’s annual Girls’ Technology Camp series was supported by MainOne, General Electric-GE, Adobe Youth Foundation and Laureates College. The practicalbased camp saw the girls participate in

technology workshops on Scratch Programming, Coding using Raspberry Pi kits, Mobile Application Development, Website Development, Computer Assembly, Digital Video Production, Blogging, Digital Advocacy and Photography.

The girls also participated in career talk sessions, team-building exercises and excursions.

According to Oreoluwa Somolu, Executive Director, W.TEC, the camp “is a technology education and mentoring program designed to

inspire secondary school girls between the ages of 11 to 17, to become more confident in creating digital content and developing technology.

“Its long-term goal is to increase the number of Nigerian women and girls using and creating technology productively for learning, professional and leadership activities.”

Oreoluwa further disclosed that successful participants of the camp would be inaugurated into W.TEC’s Technology Club for Girls; a club

jointly supported by WeTech, Intel and Oracle, where they will participate in year-long workshops to enhance their technology skills.

Expressing gratitude to sponsors of the 7th edition which came to an end in pageantry, Oreoluwa said: “MainOne provided us with high-speed internet services and also hosted the camp at its data center for one day, during which the girls learnt about telecommunications and MainOne’s operations.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 —

Electoral reforms needed for affirmative action - Hon. Nkoyo Toyo, Member, House of Representatives In every country where an increase in governance has happened for women, the party list was used. So, we’re trying make the 35% affirmative action a reality through subsidiary legislation; not through the constitution. This is because we need electoral reforms for it to ever happen.

We have to go away from elections that are based on majority to the proportional representation system which makes use of party list. In a party list, a party comes up with the list of all its candidates and then goes to election as APC, PDP, or whatever. So, when you’re voting, you’re not voting the individual but the party, which will in turn ensure women comprise 35% of the list created for positions. Now, it is left for voters to look at the party list and decide to vote for whatever party.

2015: What hope for women in politics?

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA-AGBONKHESE

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hile the Nigerian constitution vetoes in clear terms any form discrimination on the basis of gender, the representation of its women in government has suffered great opposition. This is in spite of reports of women in several Third World countries speeding-up developmental processes for their nations. Since the 2011 general elections which unfortunately saw women vacate political seats gained in 2007, Nigerian women have looked forward to 2015 with optimism. Now, with the 2015 general elections only five months away and womenfolk, as it seems, not satisfied with appointive positions, how prepared are they for this much anticipated contest, particularly as their male counterparts have long begun flexing muscles against one another? Can the popular 35% affirmative action be smartly employed? Some seasoned politicians and activists bared their minds and suggested pathways to an increased representation of women in governance come 2015. ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Idea-driven campaigns important

- Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Member, House of Representatives To succeed in 2015, women politicians must disabuse their mind of the notion of finance being the key to winning elective positions. Agreed, people want you to pay a lot of money to contest elections. But my own approach was: “If you don’t want to vote for me, don’t vote for me. But I know I am going there to work for your development”. That worked for me because I cannot steal simply because I want to help my people.

So, women must let their campaigns be idea-driven and also be proactive and relevant in their political parties so that they are not undermined. That way, we can have more women in elective positions.

35

Internal democracy needed in political parties -Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, activist Efforts at getting more women in elective position have not yielded tremendous results because there is no internal democracy in the political parties and this has continued to prevent women from having equal political opportunity.

Though the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has tried to improve on appointive positions for women, it is yet to meet the 35% affirmative action. This was why women delegates at the national conference identified the urgent need for gender mainstreaming and full implementation of the 35% affirmative action. There are, however, efforts going on right now at different levels, engaging political platforms and demanding that political spaces be opened up for the inclusion of more women to contest in the 2015 elections.

*Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Quota system very essential

-Oby Nwankwo, activist

*Hon. Nkoyo Toyo

Nigeria must adopt quota system if the affirmative action must be implemented, especially as we look forward to 2015. In Uganda for instance, seats are specially reserved for women and only women contest for those sits. The Justice Uwais report recommended a proportional representation but that was unfortunately ignored. In Cross River State however, twinning system has been implemented to ensure that if, for example, the governorship candidate is a male, the deputy is a female. That way, more women will come on board.

It’s sad to hear that out of 360 seats at the lower house in the National Assembly, we have only 24 women! Out of a Senate House of 109, we also have only four women! This is in spite of the 2006 National Gender Policy raising the affirmative action to 35% which we still do not have!

*Oby Nwankwo

*Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Systemic approach vital -Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, activist

W.TEC Executive Director,Mrs Oreoluwa Somolu-Lesi ,Miss Sakinah Ibrahim and MainOne representative Mrs Bunmi Ogun during the presentation of the Overall Best W.TEC Girls Technology Camp Participant award (Miss W.TEC 2014)

*Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi

There is a need for us to have a common agenda as women, and behind this agenda there is also the need to have the will to move beyond mere discussion. Look at the national conference for example; there were 92 women out of the entire 492 delegates and women are supposed to comprise over half of Nigeria’s population!

We have had round-table discussions, open discussions, and I think it is high time we engaged in a more systematic way as we approach 2015, to be better represented in governance. We need to engage political parties and government because even the National Gender Policy declared 35% affirmative action.

36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY FRIDAY,, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 37

NTDC promises to increase domestic tourism volume ... Gets traditional backing

By Jimoh Babatunde

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HE Nigerian T o u r i s m D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation’s domestic tourism promotion is already leveraging on every available platform in the country with the c o r p o r a t i o n ’ s participations in the Sango festival, Osun Oshogbo festival and the Igbo-Ukwu new yam festival among other festivals.

Explaining while she is so dogged about domestic tourism, the Director General of the Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo said tourism is a principal export for 83 per cent of developing countries and it is the most significant source of foreign exchange after petroleum.

“We are committed to promoting domestic tourism, as its market has a very high revenue and job creation potentials.

Tourism industry contribution to GDP is valued at approximately N1.3trillion with a 2.6 per cent contribution to total employment at 1,636,500 jobs. ”According to available data, Nigeria recorded a total 4,037,808 tourist arrival in 2013 while $649,468,486 forms their expenditure. As a result, I am committed to taking Nigeria tourism to greater height by increasing domestic tourism revenue, expand domestic tourism volume by at least 30 per cent and entrench a culture of tourism among Nigerians.

She added “I will continue to collaborate in a sustainable partnership with the private sector operators to harness tourism resources and make Nigeria destination hub of Africa, and further grow the tourism value chain to enhance revenue generation in the country.”

Her effort was lauded recently by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and the Idu II of IgboUkwu, Idu (Dr.) Martin Ezeh.

During the 2014 World Sango Festival held at the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, palace, the

first class Oba described the role of the DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission, Dr (Mrs.) Sally Mbanefo, in the promotion of culture and tourism in the country as historic and a model for public office holders.

The monarch said: “I have keenly observed your activities since you assumed office as the Director General of NTDC over a year ago, and I can say unequivocally that you have done so well.”

Oba Adeyemi added that: “It is very commendable that Mbanefo matches her words with deeds.

She envisioned domestic tourism and here she is, attending Sango Festival.

She was in Ile-Ife for Olokun Festival and in Idanre for Mare Festival and she will be leaving for Osun Osogbo Festival.

Thus, so far, she has displayed a robust sense of responsibility at her duty post. I commend you, Sally Mbanefo, on behalf of the Oyo Mesi and the entire people of Oyo.” While assuring the NTDC boss of his supports, the Monarch said that Oyo town will like to partner with the NTDC to market the numerous traditional festivals in the town, most importantly, Sango Festivals, to attract both local and foreign tourists, and create wealth for the people in the state and the country at large.

During a visit to the palace of the Idu II of Igbo-Ukwu, HRH Idu (Dr.) Martin Ezeh before the Iri Ji Ndi Igbo 2014 (National New Yam Festival 2014), the traditional ruler lauded the strides of the NTDC boss at promoting domestic tourism and cultural festivals in the country. ”Dr Sally Mbanefo is a blessing to Nigeria, and in particular the Nigerian tourism industry. If men and women of vision and passion for nation building like our daughter, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo are at the helms of affairs of every sector in Nigeria, the nation will not only express her appellation as the Giant of Africa, but also as the Giant of the whole world. This is because we have the resources, what we only

need are men of vision and patriotism to manage the resources for the benefit of all,” HRH Ezeh disclosed.

The Odogwu of Ibusa and Director, of Centre for Igbo Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka, Dr Tony Nwaezeigwe, who corroborated the submission of the Igbo-Ukwu monarch on the efforts Dr Mbanefo at promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, culture and tradition enjoined the NTDC boss to make a policy that will make the Igbos understand and appreciate their culture and tradition. ”Foreigners are coming to appreciate what we have, in terms of culture and heritage, hence we should never allow those inestimable virtues to go into extinction. Thus, I plead with our government to make Igbo language and history a must in the academic curricular, thereby protecting our language, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaezeigwe submitted.

In her speech, Dr Mbanefo noted that the Igbo nation is a people who are blessed with everything that make a great nation, adding that the human material resources that are found in Igboland are enough to make Nigerian tourism Africa’s destination hub.

Dr Mbanefo appealed to the Igbos to come together as one and give Igbo-Ukwu New Yam Festival a global outlook like the Sango Festival, which according to her has been exported to over 40 countries.

She also enjoined the traditional rulers to intensify efforts at creating an enabling environment for domestic tourism to thrive in their community, while pledging the commitment of government to support and strengthen the festival in order to serve as a veritable channel to promote and market Nigeria’s rich culture.

The NTDC boss charged Igbo parents and guidance to ensure that the speaking of vernacular in their homes is encouraged as a means of communication which according to her “is a strong tool in promoting our cultural heritage.”

38 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Belleciane Fif onsi Houn vènou becomes Fifonsi Hounvènou new Miss Benin

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Unionists threat en 20 14 school threaten 201 year ayi ear,, blame President YYa

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F nothing is done by the government regarding claims of the World Teachers Union, the next 2014-2015 school year will be severely disrupted.

The four stations and union confederations that had suspended their strike in April announced this at a press conference at the Labour House.

The next school year may be jeopardized if the government insists on its option of inertia and contempt. No social truce will be granted and it would be a shame, said Nöel Chadaré, Secretary General of the Confederation of Independent Trade Union Organizations, COSIBenin.

Pascal Todjinou, Secretary General of the General Confederation of

Workers of Benin, CGTB, adds: “The main thing for us is that the dialogue is established early. Do not expect the day of the school year and ask us to come so we can talk." For unionists, there is still time for the government to address the issues not yet satisfied with their platform of demands.

The cancellation of fraudulent contests and the rise of the minimum guaranteed salary (minimum wage) to 40,000 CFA francs are only a small part. The settlement of temporary teachers, the issue of 25 per cent and cases of Pierre Agossadou, former Commissioner of the central city of Cotonou and Placide Azande, Prefect of the departments of Atlantique and Littoral still valid.

Todjinou attrributed the

A

expected for this operation, estimnated at about 2 billion FCFA, although the administrative documents were forwarded since August 6, 2014.

Preparations underway at COS / LEPI Our investigations indicate that the Board of guidance and supervision of LEPI has already taken the necessary steps to achieve “additional recording” phase.

Officers who will be deployed in the field have been trained, while kits to be used during the operation have been “oiled” by technicians.

Additional recording It must be remembered that in the first realization of LEPI in 2010, the political parties of the opposition, the Union fait la Nation, UN, made up mainly of the PSD, the PRD, the MADEP, the RB had advised their activists not to be recorded.

At the time, the officers had returned in some localities of Benin. Other Benin citizens, for one reason or another, could be also recorded. All these people had been invited in March 2014, during the audit

whether in local outfit, in police uniform, evening, beach or whatever at the expression, it is the passages of the candidate number 10 who convinced the jury of the evening.

Originally from Oueme department, Belleciane for the little we can remember her, likes reading and traditional dancing. As

Benin Republic paresident, Boni Yayi disastrous results for various examinations season to the facts of teachers’strikes, noting that it depended completely on the government. "The various ministers who have not entered the real dialogue in their respective sectors, are they not all held to the government?" he added.

Beninoise se or vvo oter sett ffor erss registration FTER the phase of participatory audit in Benin Republic's electoral roll, one of the important phases is complementary registration. According to the new timetable established, this phase should be launched in a few days, instead of missing the big meeting of November 30, 2014.

While the COS/LEPI (Institution in charge of the electoral roll’s correction) has already made all the arrangements, the government of Boni Yayi is expected to accept responsibility if the funds are not released within the agreed period.

The Council of guidance and supervision of the LEPI (Institution in charge of the electoral roll’s correction) chaired by the Member of Parliament Sacca Lafia, according to our investigations, has already made arrangements for supplementary registration.

This, according to the established timetable must begin next week, at the risk of distorting the meeting of November 30.

Meanwhile the government has not released the money

HE 2014 edition of the national beauty pageant, ‘Miss Benin’, had its final stage, Saturday, August 23 in the Red Room of the Palais des congrès de Cotonou.

Twelve candidates, all admirable as each other, were looking for the throne. After the parade, Belleciane Fifonsi Hounvènou, candidate

participatory to register.

Complementary registration consists in taking the picture and fingerprints of these Beninoise, and all those who have this year reached the ages of 12 to 18 years. Approximately 2 million Beninoise citizens are expected.

Other institutions and Beninoise turn to President Yayi By the side of the COS/ LEPI, everything is ready.

There remains only the release of funds expected from the government of Boni Yayi . The Chairman of the COS/LEPI, Sacca Lafia, during the meeting he had with the Centre of Catholic Christians for Governance, said the paperwork for the request for funds were despatched since August 6, 2014. This means that the current Minister of Economy and Finance, Komi Koutche, is already in possession of the file and should be diligent in concert with the President Boni Yayi, who promised, that the municipal elections will be held before the end of the year 2014; which means they have to unlock in time, the amount of about 2 billion FCFA for the additional recording, and the rest 2 billion FCFA, days after the other phases of correction.

from Oueme Department won the precious crown.

Aged 22 and measuring 1.72 m, she weighs 50kg.

Belleciane Fifonsi Hounvènou is the one to whom now return the loads of beauty ambassador of Benin. From the different parades on Saturday,

projects during her mandate, she has opted for the awareness of the people of Benin on the profits to be gained from the wealth of culture and tourism.

According to the beauty lady of the year, she plans to support orphans and create a programme for

pregnant women in difficult circumstances.

Belleciane will be supported by four candidates, namely, Madina Adjoa Cynthia from the department of Atacora, Sandy Fifamè Degboe from Mono’s department, Manuela Elvira Nononsi from the Hills’s department and Gloria Diane Gnonlonfoun from Littoral’s department.

They are, in the order named, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st runner. And to have had the chance to be elected, she will benefit, as his official predecessors of a car with a market value of at least $13 million and a driver paid by a ACMB during her term. Fifty thousand per month for nine months for the fuel needs.

A check of CFA 2,000,000F. She benefits too from trips when need be and above all when she’ll represent Benin at some cultural events abroad and a year of beauty treatments.

Student in the Department of Linguistics at the Faculty of Letters, Arts and Humanities at the University of Abomey, Belleciane succeeded Sèna Nadia Dossa who was Miss Benin 2013.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—39

The Nigerian equation and the imperative of national ideology

By Yusufu Ameh Obajei

sincere. To be his friend, be N the immediate prepared to aftermath of his argue and give statewide engagement f r e s h , with the people leading up insightful point to his election as the second of view civilian governor of Akwa different from Ibom State, Obong Victor his.

As Attah had enunciated his governor, he vision in a published and insisted on widely distributed seeing every handbook Come Let’s Build written matter Together. In it, he lucidly addressed to marshalled the him. philosophical thrust and A voracious developmental initiative of reader, he his incoming government. would devour This approach was novel. them by the As the title suggests, this Ex-Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom bushel, make was an invitation to the notes where people, every citizen, to take ownership of the necessary or invite the writer to elucidate on the government and be involved at whatever level points raised. Connecting with the people was, in its socio-economic and political engineering. therefore, made easy. Quite a number of people After all, this was a breath of fresh air of open believe Attah is not a good politician in the democratic engagement and power must return Nigerian mould. to the people. Perhaps to understand the They may not be wrong because he says it as workings of the mind of Obong Attah with it is, looks straight in your eyes and tells you relation to service to humanity, it is necessary to how he feels. No pretentions, no insults no selffsituate this novel approach to governance within righteousness. What he cannot say directly to the context of his earlier engagement, even as a you, he will never say behind you; he is your practicing architect, with almost every friend after all. administration in the state since its creation in Former President Obasanjo, a customary 1987. political sparing partner with Attah, while Every previous administration, which was in addresing a group of senior citizens during an the main military, had the benefit of a profoundly official visit to Akwa Ibom, confessed his detailed and practical working document from admiration for Attah in spite of their Obong Attah to launch out. disagreements. Obasanjo had said, “madam In some cases he would be invited to assist (referring to Attah’s late wife, Alison) no vex oh. informally in providing both the road map and But make I tell you, if I be woman, the only practical steps for actualizing such initiatives. person I for marry for my life na this your This was to culminate in his designing the master husband. I like am.” plan of both the entire state and also the state In the heat of the resource control imbroglio, Attah, a devout Christian of the Catholic faith, mobilized the Attah believes in and works towards entire Akwa Ibom State in a the development of the human capital, solemn assembly of prayer and fasting to seek the Almighty’s that every person has something to intervention in the positive offer humanity resolution of the contentious onshore/offshore oil dichotomy that had capital, Uyo. From that antecedent, Obong Attah completely eroded the state’s revenue base. as governor of the state, had prepared himself Not everyone would agree, but people of the intellectually, physically and spiritually for the state were happy that by their supplication, a job.

He had spent his early years in Uyo and had political and judicial resolution had been the opportunity to traverse the state and savour achieved which guaranteed an even enhanced its tropical allure. And so as a development revenue profile as the highest revenue earner practitioner, his vision for development and in the country. Paradoxically, Attah’s government enthusiasm to accomplish same came to him did not benefit from the massive funds flow.

A man at peace with himself and his Creator, naturally. he will always admonish – do the little things that matter to the greater number.

Construction Show gratitude to those the Almighty has used engineers to add value to one's life by saying thank you Humane and compassionate, Attah believes with a smile. For wittingly or unwittingly in and works towards the development of the offending a fellow man, always say I’m sorry, human capital, that every person has something and demonstrate it. In soliciting assistance or to offer humanity. As governor he demonstrated cooperation from someone, always say please, this by assembling qualified but largely untested and mean it.

Today, the imprints of his bold steps speak construction engineers and challenged them to volumes of a man passionately devoted to rebuild the dilapidated streets that dotted Uyo. service to his people and having successfully Whilst some did well, others did not. Yet he led the state’s team and also admirably piloted further challenged them the second and even the affairs of the most important committee of the third time in the belief that the Julius Bergers the just conducted national conference, the of this world didn’t just become the giants they people of Akwa Ibom roll out the drums today to are overnight. By this initiative, three things honour this leader with unquenchable quest for were achieved - capacity building for sustainable excellence.

Ubok Udom Akwa Ibom steps forth development, greater sense of self worth and for recognition of one of Nigeria’s finest good projects delivered at lower cost. statesmen.

Witty an humourous, Obong Attah relates with •Akpaso, a former media aide to Attah is of everyone he meets with avuncular familiarity Image Matters in Lagos irrespective of age and status in life. No airs, no

By ISE AKPASO

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,

pretentions; just simple, approachable and

,

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NTRODUCTION: The success of our democratic institution depends largely on our understanding and reevaluation of the Nigerian Equation as well as the development of a clearly defined National ideology.

In 1946, the three regions that emerged were known as Northern, Eastern and Western regions accordingly. The leaders of these regions were driven by the spirit of freedom, integrity, credibility, accountability and competitiveness, in order to ensure that the entity called Nigeria remains united, indivisible, prosperous and truly great among the comity of Nations.

But soon after, the colonial policy of "divide and rule”, the growing political intrigues, suspicion among regional champions, the fear of regional domination and the struggle to control the pendulum of power of the Nigerian entity, gave birth to regional philosophy of survival of the fittest.

The North identified "political power” as the instrument of survival of the North and the means of achieving personal, regional and national greatness.

The East came up with the idea of "monetary wealth” as the means of realizing personal, regional and national greatness.

The West saw "education” as the fundamental tool for achieving personal, regional and national greatness. Thus the stage was set for an endless battle of survival of the fittest, with each region holding on tenaciously to its concept of the national equation of "political power” for the North, "wealth” for the East and "education” for the West, as the means of having a fair share of the perceived national cake Armed with these regional ideologies, the leadership of the regions mobilized their people to

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Obong Victor Attah: Honour for the quintessential stateman

ideological peg or foundation for any other sectarian ideology.

Indeed, it is from there that all other ideologies, whether personal, regional or institutional can hang the ideological net, without being tossed here and there, or torn into pieces by the stormy wind of politics of survival of the fittest.

It is on this note, therefore, that one must proceed to examine more critically the subject matter

Map of Nigeria of this presentation, namely, the Nigerian Equation and the categorical imperative of National ideology. Having said this, we can now move on with the development of the subject before us: The challenge of the Nigerian equation The challenge of sustainability: Although, people were eager to identify themselves with their regional ideologies of power for the North, wealth for the East and education for the West, the sustenance of the Nigerian equation has not been easy.

For the North in particular, even though it enjoyed many years of political power, it could not make full use of the opportunity to transform the North or the country as a whole. This was largely due to two main factors, namely, ethnic bigotry and religious fanaticism. The feeling and enforcement of ethnic superiority complex in a multiethnic society erodes confidence and loyalty to a given course.

While the early leaders of the North tried to balance the relationship of minor ethnic

The leadership of the regions mobilized their people to invest in all kinds of agricultural, educational, economic and socio-political interests, to consolidate their grip on regional autonomy and authority

invest in all kinds of agricultural, educational, economic and sociopolitical interests, in order to consolidate their grip on regional autonomy and authority, as well as having substantial control over national leadership and resources.

This struggle has endured to our generation and there are no visible signs that it will end very soon as long as we remain unprepared or unwilling to do justice to the missing link, the development and enthronement of a definitive national ideology.

Therefore, the main objective of this discourse is to call attention to some of the challenges posed by the Nigerian equation and to suggest the fact that only a profoundly viable National Ideology can serve as an

,

groups and the major ones, subsequent leadership betrayed the trust in favour of the dominant tribes and thereby weakened Northern solidarity and the spirit of arewaism. Thus, the Northern grip on political power began to fade away like the brightness of the light from the sunset.

In addition, religious extremism based on half-baked understanding of the meaning of religion and its value for human life and society divided the North further along religious sentiments. In most cases, we have allowed religious indiscretion and fanaticism to dictate appointment into various leadership positions and responsibility assignments.

To be continued

40— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Ahmadiyy a w orld leader giv es Ahmadiyya world gives panacea for global peace ...bags World Peace Award T

HE World leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, has advocated for universal human rights and justice as a panacea for global peace.

Speaking at 48th annual conference of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK, held at the Oakland farm, UK, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad also took the same message of peace to the British Parliament, UK, Capitol Hill, USA, and the European Parliament in Brussels.

According to him “the world

extremism as well well as terrorism.

He said those people perpetuating religious conflicts do not understand the essence of religions which emphasis and promote unity among mankind as well improving moral standard of the people.

The leader of the Ahmadiyya community said the best model of the founder of Islam, the holy Prophet Muhammad, who preached love, kindness, humility, transparency, honesty and hardwork among other good virtues.

The struggle for supremacy of world powers and the spiralling threat of extremism are playing havoc with the world as it lurches perilously from one crisis to the other.

,

has become increasingly divided and restless with hostilities and conflicts everpresent in spite of all the achievements and progress of the past century. The struggle for supremacy of world powers and the spiralling threat of extremism are playing havoc with the world as it lurches perilously from one crisis to the other. In such a scenario, where political solutions appear to be lacking, does religion has anything to offer?”

Religion, in his words, is often accused of being the reason rather than the remedy for injustice and unrest and is deemed incapable of providing robust solutions to the complex challenges of the modern world. So, can religion respond to the challenge and enable mankind to achieve peace in the world today? Can it deliver peace that is desirable, achievable and sustainable? Can it inspire real progress in the real world Can it offer real hope?” the world leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remarked.

The spiritual leader of the Jamaat stressed that the call became imperative against the backdrop of global misunderstanding among religious groups and

,

While condemning acts of terrorism under the guise of religion,the Islamic leader appealed to everyone “to understand and appreciate the fact that humanity is one and life is precious, on no account must human beings destroy themselves with lethal weapons, when they can embrace dialogue to iron out their differences.”

Using the exemplary characters of Ahmad Muslims motto of “love for all Hatred for none, as example, Hazrat Masroor admonished religious leaders to show good behaviors, in their conduct and eschew bitterness or hatred among themselves.

Meanwhile, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, was honoured with a world peace award for his exemplary leadership and contribution to global peace.

The award was presented by Mr Peter, at the 48th annual Islamic conference of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, UK, on behalf of a Singaporean global peace awardee, Dr Bhupendra Kumar Modi. B. K. Modi is the global Chairman of Spice Global, an Indian conglomerate headquartered in Singapore.

He was appointed by the United Nation as Coordinator

for the Indian subcontinent for the Millennium World Peace Summit. Modi became a citizen of Singapore in 2012 and ranks 23rd in the Forbes list of Singapore’s richest people.

Hazrat Masroor Ahmad has also written letters to world leaders, urging them to inculcate a true sense of justice and peace in international relations to avoid regional conflicts from engulfing the entire world.

The letters noted that “the rise of atheism and religious extremism has seen God relegated from modern life but there are emerging voices that are advocating with clarity and conviction that it is only by turning back to God and His teachings that mankind can truly tackle the root causes that are undermining world peace”.

Other Peace Initiatives In 2004, the leader of the Ahmadiyya community launched the annual National Peace Symposium which is attended by nearly one thousand people including ministers, parliamentarians, faith leaders, diplomats and other dignitaries.

In 2009, he launched the annual ‘Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace‘. This is an international peace award for an individual or organisation that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment and service to the cause of peace and humanitarianism.

In the same year, he initiated national peace campaigns comprising of distribution of leaflets promoting the need for peace through greater understanding. In the UK this leaflet has reached four million homes and is increasing day by day. This was supplemented by an international awareness campaign that featured adverts on buses, billboards as well as a large number of interfaith & peace symposia and exhibitions of the Holy Qur’an.

In 2012, in light of the growing global tensions, His Holiness wrote a series of letters to world leaders calling for the peaceful resolution to world conflicts.

He catalogued his peace campaigns in a book In this book, World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, where he warned the world of the fast approaching dangers and how it can avert disaster and chart a course to peace.

World Head, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V presented with a peace price by Mr Peter from Singapore

•Participants at the Ahmadiyya London conference

•Dr. Mashuud Fashola, Amir, Ahmadiya (Nigeria) at London conference

Ogun pilgrims charged to be good ambassadors

P

ILGRIMS for the 2014 Hajj exercise from Ogun State have been charged to shun all acts that could tarnish the image of the state and the country while in Saudi Arabia.

Chairman of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Isiaq Yusuf who gave the advice yesterday during the 2014 Hajj workshop excise for intending pilgrims, urged them to always adhere to the tenets of Islamic religion and be good ambassadors during the exercise.

Yusuph stressed that though the slots allocated to the state by the national hajj commission was not increased from what obtained in the previous year, noting that successful 1,212 pilgrims should count themselves lucky to be part of this year exercise.

He stated that air lifting of pilgrims from the state will commence early this September after the flag off by the National Hajj commission, adding that all flights will now be routed to the city of Madinah instead of city of Jeddah.

“You must count yourselves to be lucky to be part of this years Hajj exercise because of the stringent directive by Saudi Arabian authorities to reduce number of pilgrims globally, so by this you must continue to uphold the tenets of Islam and ensure you are good ambassadors while the exercise lasts”, he said.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—41

Oladejo chides Quran teachers on use of cane

T

Ho w tto o prepare ffor or Hajj e cise How exxer ercise

BY HARUNA RAZAQ

T

HE importance of adequate preparation for Hajj cannot be overemphasized because it minimizes physical discomforts and rigours associated with the journey as well as helps to save time and lot of money involved in in the Hajj exercise so as not to go in vain. Therefore, in order to achieve adequate preparation for Hajj, an intending pilgrim must start preparation as early as possible, to avoid last minute rush, since getting information for Hajj through the officials and obtaining document, medical checks etc., consume a great deal of time. Four to five months ahead of the actual date of departure is not too much to prepare for Hajj.

Furthermore, in addition to how to achieve adequate preparation for Hajj, an intending pilgrim must do the following among others. (1) Must have met the conditions of Hajj such as (i) Islam: be a practice Muslim (that is, must have been performing the first four pillars of Islam. It must be noted that, Hajj is not meant for non-Muslim, like wise unserious Muslim that involve in acts which nullifies Iman and who is not ready to make sincere taubah (repentance) before embarking on the holy

journey. Unfortunately, with experience of the writer, it is disheartening that a number of people that embark on Hajj more importantly from Nigeria in recent time lack this vital requirement, heedless of the fact that faith is one of the conditions of the validity of deeds and its approval in Islam etc.

He must make necessary provisions for the Hajj: Consciousness and fear Allah in

correct Istikhara before embarking on the journey.

Seeking adequate knowledge on how to perform Hajj and Umrah ritual is important.

This could be done through reading of books, attending seminars, be familiar with all Hajj and Umrah aspects such as recitation of Talbiyya, du’a (invocation), place of rituals, and adabs such as etiquettes of travelling, etiquette of

HE CEO of Radamaj Limited, Alhaji S. Oladejo (a.k.a La aola wala quwata) has identified the frequent use of cane and other corporal punishments

by Arabic and Islamic teachers in Madraza as one of the reasons why children become dispassionate about learning the Quran.

Oladejo made this known while fielding questions from Vanguard during the Qur’an graduation ceremony (Walimatul-Qur’an) of two of his children, held in Iju, Lagos recently.

He stated that learning arabic should be made attractive for the younger ones, advising Islamic teachers to employ more passive means and modern attractive methods of learning so as to encourage the children in learning.

“They have to make it more

friendly, although, it is a bit better now because those days, the sight of long cane would make a child become disinterested in learning the Quran. That is why they coined the dictum in yoruba parlance that (kewu soro ke).

He however enjoined parents to provide the wherewithal for their children to learn Quran, adding that good Islamic knowlege remained a necessary spiritual foundation parents needed to bequeat their children.

He chided muslims on spending in the cause of Allah quoting from Quran: “If you loan Allah a goodly loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. And Allah is Most Appreciative and Forbearing.

Q64:17”

Ogun State pilgrims during the final seminar/workshop organized to sensitize them on issues concerning the 2014 Hajj exercise in Abeokuta yesterday. his actions and speech must override every other thing. He must perform the exercise for Allah’s sake and all expenses must be paid out of money obtain through hallal means. He must make sincere taubah before embarking on the holy journey as well as learn how to be patient and forgive others. He should perform

boarding any means of transportation; entering a town; with holy land of Makkah and Madinah among others. Paying all outstanding debts and returning all the articles left with you to their owners; fulfill your promises to others and correct all wrongs; writing of wills among other things.

•Adam Oladejo (left); Rashidat Oladejo (2nd right, both graduands) and their parents, Alhaji and Alhaja S. A. Oladejo during the Walimatul-Quran of their children held in Iju, Lagos, recently.

Oladosu w arns Muslims on selection of par tner warns partner tnerss

...as UIMGA holds post-Ramadan lecture

D

R. Habeebah Oladosu of Department of Arabic and Islamic studies, University of Ibadan has said that parenting in Islam starts from the choice of a partner, since without a partner, no one can become a parent.

In a post-Ramadan lecture tagged: Parenting in Islam: The challenges of the 21st century, organised by University of Ibadan Muslim Graduates Association held at the university Central Mosque recently, Dr. Oladosu emphasized that conscious Muslims must be careful in the selection of partners, adding that the selection of a partner goes a long way in determining the type of values that would be inculcated in the products (children) of marriage.

She admonished the men folk to be co-operative and

supportive of their spouses as they play more roles in marriage than their men counterparts. She observed that a woman plays the role of a mother, a wife and a guardian in a family set up.

The Islamic scholar appealed passionately to leaders in the country to respect the rights of every Muslim, particularly those of the womenfolk, adding that most of the human rights entrenched in the United Nations Bill of Human Right are sourced from the Glorious Qur’an and Hadith.

She therefore appealed to all and sundry to support the education of the girl child in all ramifications while also identifying peer pressure, individualism, modernity and over indulgence of children as some of the factors militating against proper parenting in the 21st century.

“Again, adherence to social media, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc is doing great havoc to proper upbringing of children nowadays,” advising parents to be observant of the level to which their children are attached to such distractive and destructive mechanisms.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President of the Association Dr. Saka Adewumi, stated that the Post-Ramadan Lecture was an annual programme designed by the Association to articulate and sensitize Muslims in the country about the lessons learnt during the Ramadan period.

He equally appealed to Muslims across the country to collaborate with the Association in its quest to assist more indigent Muslim undergraduates.

•Mr Bilyamin Olugbaye (right); Alhaji S. A Oladejo (2nd right) and friends during the Walimatul-Quran of Master Adam and Miss Rashidat Oladejo held in Iju, Lagos, recently.

•Mrs Tunrayo Oladejo (middle) and friends during the Walimatul-Quran of Master Adam and Miss Rashidat Oladejo held in Iju, Lagos, recently.

42 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Umuahia parle parleyy and def deftt mo or Senat e leader ship movves ffor Senate leadership

By Desmond Nwogu

F

OR the unsuspecting, the recent meeting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the South-East geo-political zone had the illusory motive of championing the cause of the Igbos.

Specifically, it called attention to two recent developments which include the promotions in the Nigeria Police Force and the distribution of polling booths which put the South-East at a huge disadvantage.

On the surface, this appears to

other attendees including Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, real patriots who, at all times, would pursue any programme that will benefit the South-East and Nigeria, there were others whose sole and motivating presence was to begin the process to dislodge Senator David Bonaventure Mark as the President of the Senate.

As it eventually turned out, those not privy to the secret agenda of the camp were taken aback when one of the speakers, against the flow of the discussion, mooted the idea that the SouthEast zone must push to have the senate presidency as part of the

The plot now is that pressures must mount so that the senate presidency must go back to the South-East in 2015 with the imminent reelection of President Jonathan be a welcome move, especially going by the concerns and condemnations that have trailed the two decisions by the Police Force and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

But beneath these expressed opinions which were in tandem with the angst in the zone were the real but hidden reasons for the meeting.

Quite unknown to the host Governor Theodore Orji and few

bargain to support President Goodluck Jonathan. That was after Ekweremadu had spoken about the need to position the zone to get a juicy position and not to be shortchanged after the 2015 polls.

Such high-wire machinations and conspiracies which played out at the meeting were as confounding, especially because it did not fall into any known structure of the Peoples

Democratic Party, PDP, w h o s e chieftains and some Abujab a s e d politicians were in attendance. It was neither a c a u c u s meeting of the party nor the National Senate president, David Mark Executive Committee meeting of the zone. It was not Those who could not come to conveyed at the instance of Col. terms with the strange topic now Austin Akobundu, the chairman being muted were disgusted that of the party in the region, nor was a parley which was called to it held in Enugu, the historical review the position of the zone in capital of the South-East that has the present scheme of national hosted such meetings. politics was being turned into an To make matters even more exercise to promote one man’s astounding, it was Chief Olisa ambition. But how will they Metu, the national publicity achieve this goal? The plan is to secretary of the party who briefed start early to pursue the the press at the end of the meeting argument through media and not the host Governor articles, interviews and other Theodore Orji, the chairman of platforms that the tradition since the South-East Governors Forum the return to democracy in 1999 or the zonal publicity secretary of has always been that the country’s the party.

President and the President of the Thus, not a few curious glances Senate usually come from the were exchanged when one of the same geo-political zone of either speakers ended his contribution North or South. by recommending that the zone They are to call attention to the must support the man who has fact that the South-East produced been at the leadership level to go the Senate presidency throughout back to the Senate in 2015. the eight-year presidency of Chief

Olusegun Obasanjo, a southerner from Yoruba land. The argument is to be vigorously canvassed that Senator Mark was chosen during the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s presidency as a northerner and only retained his job due largely to the death of President Yar’Adua and the need to ensure stability during those trying times.

The plot now is that pressures must mount so that the senate presidency must go back to the South-East in 2015 with the imminent re-election of President Jonathan.

Strategic warfare The fear is that as elections draw nearer and as the National Assembly comes to the end of its legislative year, a showdown may erupt between the deputy and Mark, an old war horse in strategic warfare and a combatant by training, especially as the latter is favoured to make it back to the National Assembly to continue with his sterling leadership of the Senate.

On the surface, Mark’s calmness, humility and simplicity may have been misunderstood by the sponsors and the promoters for the gavel to change hands, but as those who know him intimately always vow, this Idoma-born politician bares his fangs when people try to undermine him. But will he fight back this time around? Only time will tell.

•Nwogu sent this piece from Umuahia

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—43

Statistics by experts show that by2040, Nigeria’s population growth would have quadruplewithout commensurate amenities and employment to sustain it

Nigeria: Population explosion looms except... — Expert

By Gabriel Olawale AN expert in population issues has warned of dire consequences of uncontrollable population explosion in Nigeria, saying that if not checked, it will create more problems than expected in future.

Speaking on the issue in Lagos, Country Director, DKT International Nigeria, Mr. Dimos Sakellaridis, said in the event that if Nigeria’s population continues its growth without check, a time would come when the massive population would be unmanageable.

“Nigeria currently has an estimated population of 174 million people and with the current growth rate, the population will be 450 milluion by 2050.

“A major concern about this rapidly growing population is the fact that jobs, national infrastructures, social services, housing, health care facilities are not also growing at an equally comparable rate or at a faster rate like her population growth rate does.

Growth in population

Well researched statistics by experts show that by 2040, Nigeria’s population growth would have been quadrupled and without commensurate amenities and employment to sustain it, it would not augur well. The reason is because poverty would have increased and there wouldnt be enough

work and food ‘to go round.

On the other hand, if people lived well, there wouldn’t be insurgence because poverty which drives people to extremes would be greatly reduced.

“If you compare Nigeria with developed countries like Italy, a Catholic dominated country or even the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is a Muslim

country, you will understand that these countries have maintained same population for several years and this has caused them to organise their lives better and provide for their people. China has taken care of their own population problems by policies that work for them.

Implication To make it worse, the

prevalence of HIV and other forms of STDs has not helped matters because the indiscriminate procreation of babies as a result of unprotected sex leads to all forms of social problems which affect the nation and the world at large.

When asked how DKT intends to prevent the population from increasing astronomically and affecting our society, the Country Director stated, ‘It is to devise the most effective family planning methods like we have done at DKT International. The family planning landscape will be served better by having many players offering a wide range of products and services at different price points through various channels. If products are widely available, accessible and affordable and the consumers are well educated and informed, it will go a long way in addressing many of the inequities and gaps in the family planning space.

Team work Many think it is government’s problem alone but it is not. All hands must be on deck to reduce the explosion of the world’s population and the other risks that follow it including the spread of HIV AIDS and DKT international is at the forefront of this battle to control the world population to a manageable limit as commensurate with the wealth available.”

NAFDAC swoops on fake products in Katsina

O

PERATIVES of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC stormed the New Central market and the old market in Katsina as part of the on going nationwide mop-up of banned and illegally imported regulated products.

The operation targeted protecting and increasing the consumption of vitamin A fortified food led to the uncovering of imported and unregistered products.

Assistant Director (Enforcement) and leader of the team, Mr.Bitrus Fraden, said NAFDAC was only carrying out its routine responsibility to ensure compliance with guidelines against importation,stocking and sale of banned food products.

“If we are unable to stop them at the (nation’s) borders due to a number of factors, we are duty bound to stop them from in-side and that is what we are doing.

It is part of our mandate to ensure that what is on sale even inside the markets should be with approval of NAFDAC,” he, said.

He said penalty for offenders was not disclosed yet because the Agency plans to trace the products to source, before disclosing the punishment.

Mercy Home for cancer patients opens at LUTH

T

HE mood was exciting like a carnival as women and men in their yellow jackets from across the nation besieged the premises of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, last week .

They were men and women of the International Association of Lions Clubs Multiple District 404, Nigeria, who graced the formal commissioning and handover of a N30 millionCancer Centre built by one of their own.

The event was evergreen in the lives of these Nigerians andof fulfillment for Lions’ former District Governor, Lion Stella Agbogun.

A rare gem and supporter of the less privileged who believes that fulfillment can only be achieved by the number of souls an individual touches, Elated Agbogun who was also a former staff of the LUTH, relayed what she described as fulfillment of a dream to serve and assist in solving problems and putting smiles on the faces

of the needy especially cancer patients.

Agbogun was quick to tell the gathering that nothing compares to the fulfillment she receives from putting hope and

smiles on the faces of the needy, especially cancer who litter the nooks and crannies of LUTH in need of a place to lay their heads.

Narrating her motivation, she

•From left: CMD, LUTH, Prof Akin Oshibogun with Lion Chief Stella Aground, District Governor 2012/2013 District 404b, Nigeria during the commissioning of the LCIF Mercy Home at LUTH last week.

said: “One morning, as I was on my official round to the radiotherapy unit of this great hospital, I met a woman and her son discussing, the woman was weeping profusely, while the 17 years old son, tried to pacify her, even in their joint helplessness and utters desperation.

“It was their first visit to Lagos, the woman had been slated for admission, they had no relations in Lagos, they did not have enough money and they came all the way from Cross River State. I settled the boy in an open space under the labour ward where relations of patients hang out,” she recounted.

Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Professor Akin Osibogun who described as an honour bestowed on the hospital said the Mercy Home was a dream come true. Osibogun who said the commissioning was with mixed feelings with the outbreak of Ebola in the country.

Congratulating the initiator of the project, he said “We will not abandon the facility but ensure that it is approriatey utilised.”

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

TAURUS; Monetary Venus makes an ingress into your Star sign with good luck to you. Financial success is closer to you than you can imagine. Give it a big push.

GEMINI; Here is a good day when influential personalities around you will be willing to assist you but you will need to take the initiative. Take good advice.

CANCER; This is your day. The more ambitious you are along your career line the better for you.

And friends are willing to give the needed supports.

LEO; Your mind is truly active and if you’re more practical about it success’ll crown your efforts.

Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

VIRGO ; Coming of monetary and loving into a positive angle to your Star sign is a big plus. On a day like this the more ambitious you are the better.

It’s good to be loving

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

Of Income And Expenditure

I

NCOME is the money we earn while expenditure is the expenses. In order words, expenditure is the things we spend our money on.

One of the basic economic problems

man is saddled with is how to keep expenditure below his income. In other to meet up with this challenges, some of us keep postponing

TERROR MUDA

doing certain things we ought to have done now, hoping that we will do it when our finances improves. But the reality is that we will

in “Never say goodbye”

never have enough money to spend as our income will surely rise up to our expenditure.

We will never earn enough income to match up with our expenditure but we can earn enough to creatively cater for our need.

By Lanre Kehinde

LIBRA; The more willing you are to listen to your partners and/or spouse the better for you today.

Friends are trying to convince you that the are reliable.

SCORPIO; The more push-full you are along your career/business lines the better. Embrace new method at work. Don’t neglect your love life.

SAGITTARIUS; Here is a day you are not meant to ignore new ideas that come suddenly. It’s good to take matters of the heart more seriously. Listen to your spouse please.

CAPRICORN; Monetary and romantic Venus is joining mighty Sun at positive angle to your Star and bringing you good influence. Be more ambitious.

AQUARIUS; Although your being co-operative can enhance your scope, your personal ideas and initiative are guarantee for a bigger do.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

By Andy Akman

PISCES; Those of you who are more consistent will have more to gain. Good ideas on monetary issues will enhance your finances. Be more family minded.

ARIES; Entrance of monetary and romantic Venus into a positive angle is meant to enhance your finances. The more willing you are to take good advice the better. Be loving.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who’s in me?

Dear Joshua, According to my birthday, my Zodiac Sign is Aries but I am not as aggressive as many books have described an Aries born person. Why? I want you to tell me more about myself.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Yussuf. Lagos.

Dear Yussuf, Generally, people born when either the Sun, the Moon and/or any other important heavenly body (especially when they cluster— that is, when they are more than two) in Aries, they are categorised as member of aggressive and daring group of the Zodiac.

Yes, you were born under Aries star and basic characteristics of Aries star sign are highly pronounced in your inner-self, however, naturally, many other planetary positions have greatly modified mighty Sun’s placement in your chart.

Less than 50% of push-full influence plus the conjunction of Venus and Mercury are pointers to an Arian personality being high modified. Two important influences mentioned in this paragraph may not allow raw aggressive approach to manifest comprehensively.

Because, they are meant to make you less aggressive and more loving. Sometimes lover of diplomacy who will attract what he wants rather than staging a war just to press for his right.

But then, combination of the aggressive traits of Aries in your inner self and more amiable influences together with the distribution of the planets through quadruplicate and triplicate (that is quality and element) within the Zodiacal constellations, they are indications of your being a person with balanced personality.

More importantly, however, is the placement of Saturn in Capricorn as the only planet at home when you were born. It always induces you to give priority attention to your career/image/public standing and justice.

And as your natal Sun and Moon were placed in Aries and Gemini respectively, you are mainly an Arian and partly a Geminian. These characteristics of the two said star signs are highly pronounced in you.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—45

EBOLA: Hospitals reject patients with fever in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI — AN ugly dimension has been introduced to the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, as some hospitals in Imo State are said to be rejecting patients who come in with complaints of fever.

An aggrieved parent, Mr. Marcel (surname withheld), who

stormed Vanguard office, yesterday, complained bitterly that some of the hospitals he visited refused to attend to his sick children.

Marcel gave a list of the hospitals he visited, stressing that all of them rejected to attend to the ailing children.

“What type of country is this?

Why would our hospitals refuse to attend to patients that present feverish conditions? I do not really

know where we are heading to in this country?” Marcel fumed.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika, said: “There is no directive from the state government to that effect. Much as the state government does not control how private hospitals clinics operate, or the type of patients they accept or reject, the administration believes that doctors ought to treat all patients.”

The commissioner, however, recalled that government only advised private medical facilities to promptly report patients with symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, to the appropriate quarters.

“It is wrong for any hospital to reject the sick for whatever reason. Thank you for raising the issue and I would like to assure you that government would set a machinery in motion to probe the matter,” Dr. Ihejirika said.

Gunmen abduct bizman in Aba

By Eric Ugbor

U

NIDENTIFIED GUNMEN, suspected to be kidnappers, have reportedly abducted a businessman in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

The businessman, who was simply identified as Mr. Benson, according to reports, was kidnapped, Monday, at about 9:30p.m. near Abia State Teaching Hospital’s permanent site on Ayaba Umueze road in Osisioma Local Government Area.

Report has it that the yet-to-be known gunmen kidnapped their victim in his ash coloured Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle.

While information about the incident remained sketchy at press time, the family members of the victim could not be reached for comments.

When contacted, the State Police Chief, CP Ibrahim Adamu, said that the victim’s family was yet to make official report to the police, adding that attempts made by his men to reach the victim’s family yielded no fruit.

“We also heard about the man’s abduction. But as I am talking with you now, the family members of the victim are yet to make official report on the incident to the police. ”I have sent my men to find details about the man, where he lives and his family and that has not been possible yet.”

DECLARATION: Former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State and his convoy, blocked on his way to the venue of his 2015 guber declaration, at Agodi Gate area, of Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube.

Ebonyi signs $1.14bn contract for construction of IPP

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI — EBONYI State government, yesterday, signed $1.14 billion contract with foreign partners for the construction of the state's Independent Power Plant, IPP. The project, with the capacity of 2,700 megawatts, is expected to be completed within two years.

At the ceremony which took place at the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Abakaliki, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the project would boost industrial revolution of the state and the South East and enhance the development of other sectors

of the economy.

The proposed power plant, which is jointly owned by Hodges and Bakers Field and Ebonyi State government at 80, 20 per cent share, would be constructed by a Korean firm.

The plant is to be located at West Bank of Cross River in Oferekpe/ Akahuwhu Inyimegu in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, described the plant as the single largest power plant in the country.

Professor Nebo promised that the Federal Government would give the state necessary assistance to ensure that the project was

actualised and commended Ebonyi State government for its visionary leadership.

Governor Martin Elechi said the project would increase the income stream of the state by N40 billion every year to accelerate the development of the state.

He commended the Minister of Power and development partners for their cooperation to ensure the realisation of the project.

Chief Executive Officer, Ebonyi Independent Plant, Mr. Terry Moreland, and the representative of the firm constructing the project, Mr. KES Sion, assured of their commitment to ensure the completion of the plant.

Abia workers have N1.46bn with FMBN —Ogunjobi, bank chairman

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA — IN a bid to have their own houses, Abia State civil servants have contributed about N1.46 billion into the coffers of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN. This was disclosed, yesterday, by the Chairman of the bank, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, while commissioning the South East C M Y K

office of the bank located in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

According to him, Abia State is participating actively in National Housing Fund Scheme.

He expressed satisfaction that FMBN was also fulfilling its part of the agreement.

Represented by the director representing the South East zone on the board of the bank, Dr. Godwin Duru, also announced that the bank had so far paid

N47.2 million to retired contributors in the state.

Ogunjobi also disclosed that the bank had financed two housing estates development projects to the tune of N1 billion, including Ehimiri Housing Estate.

The loans, he explained, were advanced to Abia State Housing Corporation and Property Development and Slogani Properties Ltd for the construction of combined 380 housing units.

Ogunjobi said that a new estate project by City-Point Global Investment Ltd for the construction of 500 housing units at Cedar Estate was also being considered for approval by the management of the bank.

He commended the mutual beneficial relationship between Abia State and the bank and commended Governor Theodore Orji for his interest in ensuring that the workers owned houses.

Man drowns in river, floats days after

By Eric Ugbor

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MIDDLE-AGED man, identified as Mr. Moses Uzoma, has reportedly drowned at a river which serves as a boundary between Abia and Rivers states.

Though the account of what could have prompted his drowning remained sketchy at press time, sources have it that the body of Uzoma, a native of Omoba in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area was, however, found floating on the water some days after he had died.

A source said the body of the victim was later buried at the bank of the river after his immediate family members were contacted.

Members of the victim’s family could not be reached for comments.

When contacted, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu, said he was yet to be informed of the incident.

It was gathered that a 20-year-old man, identified as Ugonna Ike, in June also drowned in the same River while excavating sand.

The deceased, a native of Uratta in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, was said to have gone with one Osinachi Okezie to fend for their daily bread before he drowned in the river after every effort made to rescue him failed.

In another development, a man, identified as Chigozie, has been reported dead after he slumped and died in a night vigil.

The incident, it was gathered, happened in a new generation church at Umachara Akpa Mbato village in Obingwa Local Government Area.

Sources have it that the victim slumped twice while the vigil was ongoing, before he eventually died.

Pastor of the church, whose name could not be immediately ascertained at the time of the report, was said to have been arrested by the police, while the body of the victim had been deposited in an undisclosed hospital in Aba.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Comrade Akren passes on

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OMRADE DERE Akren, is dead. He died after a brief illness in Warri. According to a statement by the committee of friends, he will be buried tomorrow, at his home town, Ogbododiri in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State.

Until his death, he was a devout Christian. He is survived by the widow, four children and an aged mother.

Late Dere Akren

Lagosians tasked on traffic management

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AGOS—LAGOS State Law Enforcement Training Institute, LETI, has said for the perennial traffic gridlock in Lagos to be properly managed, residents must actively support the law enforcement agents.

Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Transport Education, Dr. Mariam Masha, gave the advice during a Special Traffic Control Programme at the Mile 12 Area of Lagos.

The event put together

by LETI in partnership with the Special Traffic Mayors, STM, took place in Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout, Mile 12, Iyana-Iba Roundabout, and Ajah Roundabout.

According to Masha, “if things must move, everyone has to play his part. This is a sacrifice by traffic mayors and this sends a message to all Lagosians to get involved not just in traffic management but everything that carries civic responsibility.

“The traffic mayors are supporting the LASTMA officials and working with them to control the traffic."

BOKO HARAM: Borno monarch urges Civilian JTF to be law abiding M

By Ndahi Marama

AIDUGURI—SHEHU of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ibn-Garbai Elkanemi, yesterday, called on members of the vigilante youths, popularly known as ‘Civilian JTF’ to be law abiding in the course of discharging their civic responsibilities.

This came barely 24 hours after the Shehu declared three days alms, fasting and prayers among all religious faiths in the state to restore peace to the state and the country in general.

Members of the 'Civilian JTF' who are complimenting efforts of the security agencies in the fight against insurgency were at the Shehu’s palace seeking for his support and cooperation, as the vigilante youths resolved to enter Sambisa and other hideouts of terrorists to hunt Boko Haram sect and bring an end to the ongoing crisis.

In the last three weeks, some communities of Damboa, Gamboru Ngala, Bama and Banki towns came under

serious attacks by terrorists leading to the killing of many civilians and the displacement of thousand others from their houses.

This prompted the 'Civilian JTF' to mobilize and to seek

Shehu’s prayers and advice for them to hunt the terrorists.

Addressing over 10,000 'Civilian JTF,' local hunters, retired soldiers and other paramilitary men at the palace, the traditional ruler

commended the effort of the 'Civilian JTF' in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, and appealed to them to always follow the directives of the military and other security agencies while discharging their duties.

VISIT: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (left), and Programme Director, GIZ, Mr Daniel Werner, during a visit to the Governor in Minna.

Abuja EDC assures customers of improved, transparent billing

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By Boluwaji Obahopo

OKOJA—THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has assured electricity consumers in its zone of a transparent and fair billing for the services rendered.

Team Leader, Client Relationship and Customer Services of the company, Dr. Halidu Balami, gave the assurance while briefing members of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

The State House of Assembly in a letter dated August 28, 2014, and addressed to the

Lokoja Business Manager of the company, invited the AEDC to appear before it to “shed light on issues related to billings and payment of electricity bills by electricity consumers in Kogi State.”

According to Balami, “most of the problems experienced by

the power consumers is due to the fact that we inherited five different vending platforms after privatization in November last year. But the platforms have already been audited and the AEDC will soon migrate to a new efficient one to support flexible e-payments, such as through POS, internet, as well

ADAMAWA GUBER: Gulak hopeful of emerging as September 1, 2014, as Adamawa PDP candidate

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OLA—FORMER Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Presidential Matter, Alhaji

Ahmed Gulak, has expressed hopes that he will repeat the feat he attained in the state-wide ward congress election held on

Delta Commissioner lauds Okada, Keke NAPEP operators on scholarship to members

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SABA—DELTA State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Benson Igbakpa, has commended the state commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association for awarding educational scholarships to its members across the state.

Igbakpa gave the commendation, during the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries in Asaba.

Igbakpa also lauded the state Chairman of the association, Chief Obi Nzete and its members, for bringing stability and peace to the union, praising them for keying into Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Human Capital Development Agenda.

as SMS (electronic wallet), in the next eight weeks.

He also listed inadequate, weak and obsolete infrastructure resulting in epileptic power supply, unwillingness by some customers to pay for electricity, and vandalism as some of the post privatization challenges the company facedwith.

He said the stability and peace they enjoyed was as a result of the governor’s love and support for the union.

He enjoined them to continue to queue behind the governor to show their support and solidarity.

Responding, Nzete urged members of the union to shun vices that could put the image of the state in bad light.

The scholarship scheme cut across persons in the tertiary institutions, among others.

Some of the beneficiaries include Mr. Andrew Obodo, Obosi Anthony, Emese Sunday and Michael Paul, among others.

A total of 29 persons from the three Senatorial Districts of the

state benefited from the two million naira (N2,000,000.00) scheme.

State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, prepares for its state congress/ primaries on Saturday.

Gulak won the well contested Ward congresses with a total of 65% beating his closest rival, Alhaji Anwalu Bamamga Tukur to the second spot with 15%.

Both the Acting Gov. Umaru Fintiri and Hon. Idi Hong scored 10% each, while the former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu got less than 3%.

Group urges action to free Boko Haram captives captivity, safe and alive without

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By Olayinka Ajayi

OLLOWING LINGERING Boko Haram attacks and forceful conscription of innocent citizens in Borno State, a coalition of civil society group, Action Team Against Conscription and Kidnap, ATACK, has called on Nigerians to pressurize President Goodluck Jonathan to rescue the Chibok girls and others under any form of

further delay.

At a briefing in Lagos, Convener of the group, Debo Adeniran, however, lamented the failure of the military to bring back the abducted Chibok girls after several months.

He said: “Cameroonian soldiers who under 48hours rescueed the wife of their Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, abducted by the same insurgent group, shoewdthatrenewedcultureofresistance to oppression of any kind can be used to guarantee the safety of every Nigeria.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 —47

MTN advises entrepreneurs on business plans, technology

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ENIOR manager/ segment of MTN, Mrs. Saidat Lawal, has said many entrepreneurs experience decline in their products and services in the markets, because they fail to design business plans and neglect technology.

Lawal who spoke at a programme tagged, “Mtn Link Forum”in Lagos, said for any business to yield returns, entrepreneurs must align their business plans along side technology to enhance greater productivity.

She said the success of brands in the market depended largely on how visible and viable business plans had been developed, adding that networking is another sensitive tool used to induce a medium for advancement by firms.

Also speaking, Ayo Olashoyin, CEO of Tavia Organisation Company, encouraged young entrepreneurs to see technology as an emerging means of operation, "because it helps improve and develop the quality of products or services."

Olashoyin admitted that technology had finally become a way of life as it adds value to organisations over time.

RCCG holds youth empowerment programme

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HE Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, through the foundation stone zonal youths is organising a programme entitled: “Empowerment for Change” aimed at empowering the youths to earn a living through Information Technology, among others.

The programme which started on August 30, runs through September 6,13, 20, 27 and ends October 11 at the zonal headquarters, Ipaja, Lagos.

During the programme, participants will be taught web designing, photography, cake making, graphic designing, event decoration, satellite dish installation, beadmaking and wire works, C.V writing and job interviews tips.

Dr Olumide Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Solid Life Foundation, Programme C o o r d i n a t o r , Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Ikeja, will be special guest.

C M Y K

2015: No automatic ticket for incumbents —Kwara APC

By Demola Akinyemi

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LORIN — THE ruling party in Kwara State, All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared that there is no automatic ticket for all occupants of its elective offices in the state in the 2015 general elections and urged aspirants to declare their political ambitions without delay.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari.

This declaration might not be unconnected with the ongoing agitation by the kinsmen of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed from Kwara South, who have been rallying support for him to influence the political leader in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki, to represent him as a candidate of the party in 2015 gubernatorial election.

Various interest groups have been throwing support for the

second term ambition of the governor.

Nevertheless, some other politicians in the APC family in the state, such as the current Speaker, Abdulrazaq Atunwa, who contested the last primary with the governor; Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister of Sports, who allegedly lost his ministerial position because of his loyalty to Senator Saraki; Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former acing national chairman of PDP, who pioneered the breakaway of PDP and the current spokesman of House of Representatives, Hon. Zakareh Mohammed, are also interested.

The APC spokesman in state noted that “the resolution was reached at an expanded APC State Executives Council (SEC) meeting presided over by APC Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

“We urge all aspirants seeking

elective positions in the 2015 general election to declare their political ambitions as the APC will soon kick off the process of direct primary elections for all aspirants in Kwara State.

"There will be level playing field for all aspirants. All aspirants would be subjected to transparent, fair and credible primary elections.

"The APC believes in internal democracy and the forthcoming primary elections will afford our party another opportunity to prove to Kwarans and Nigerians that our unity as a party is bound by internal democracy.

"The good people of Kwara State will be part of the entire process. Our party will present best brains that will continue to steer the ship of Kwara State in the path of sustainable peace and development.”

Women Affairs ministry, foundation partner on humanitarian activities

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BUJA — The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and BodyEnhancement Foundation, are collaborating on all the Foundation’s humanitarian activities.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, who received the foundation during a courtesy visit to her ministry said she had set up a committee comprising four major sectors — rehabilitation, welfare, women and child affairs— within the ministry to work with the foundation.

The minister was full of praises and appreciation for the foundation’s activities and pledged full support of the ministry and that of all state Ministries of Women Affairs.

On her part, Modupe Ozolua of Body Enhancement Foundation expressed appreciation for the minister, the Permanent Secretary and Directors for the warm reception and commitment to helping the underprivileged.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina (left) and Modupe Ozolua of Body Enhancement Foundation during the visit.

Dutch investors set to boost Nigerian economy

By Lawani Mikairu

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BUJA — Nigerian economy will get a boost from dedicated Dutch investors as they planned to inject billions of Euros into the Nigerian economy.

This iscame as they registered to attend the maiden NigeriaNetherlands Economic Forum holding in The Hague, Netherlands from September 15-17, 2014.

The forum is organised

by The NetherlandsAfrican Business Council in collaboration with KLEEF & VTS Nigeria, under a private sector initiative.

The forum which is themed “Bridging the Dutch and Nigerian private sectors” aims at creating a platform for the Dutch and Nigerian private sectors to strengthen the already existing economic relations as well as promote new and sustainable business interests for both countries In a statement issued in Abuja by the NABC Chapter President in Nigeria, who is also the promoter of the forum, Chief Cliff Ogbede, the summit is to showcase Nigeria as a new frontier for investments, particularly given the fact that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa with impressive growth forecast.

According to him, "it is also to encourage Dutch/ Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises to take advantage of the new Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) which is in excess of about 700 million euro, earmarked by the Dutch government to support Dutch."

MTN Foundation donates patrol vehicles to Kwara govt

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN — MTN Foundation has donated five fullyequipped and branded security patrol vehicles to the Kwara State Government as part of the third phase of the MTN Foundation’s Security Support Project, MTNSSP. Executive Director, Corporate Services, MTN Nigeria, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, donated the

vehicles to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin.

Goodluck noted that the MTN Foundation would continue to support Kwara State by deploying high impact projects such as the MTNF Rural Telephone Project, Disability Support Project, Restructured Schools Connect Project, Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme, Learning

Facility Supply Project and the Emergency Relief Initiative.

He said the support services became necessary because at MTN, ”we are passionate about improving the quality of life in Nigeria and contributing to its socio-economic growth.

"Thus, we constantly seek out opportunities where we can contribute to the development of the communities where we operate."

Responding, Governor Ahmed commended the foundation, assuring that "the vehicles would be put to optimal use to secure the lives of the people and most importantly to make life better for others and ensure that Kwara State as a state of harmony will continue to reflect that in everything it does. I look forward to a lot more mutually beneficially relationship.”

48—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

BRIEFING: Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (2nd left) addressing pressmen on what he knows about Boko Haram, while Mr. Peter Biye (left), Peoples Democratic Party, Borno PDP chieftain, Alhaji Bakari Yerima and Alhaji Sheriff Mala (right) watch at Transcorp Hotel, Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

FORUM: From left; Dr Jimoh Abubakar, Director, Special Duties; Mrs Titilope Owolabi, Director, Evaluation and Research Directorate, both of NAFDAC; HRH (Prof) Thomas Omonoleabhie, National President, National Association of Traditional Medicines Practitioners (NANTMP) and Mrs Stella Denloye, Director Laboratory Services NAFDAC at The NAFDAC 2014 Africal Traditional Medicine Day in Lagos.

Photo by Biodun Ogunleye.

CARITAS/INVESTIS PARTNERSHIP: From left; Michael Walsh, Senior New Business Consultant, Investis Ltd; Adedayo Ojo, CEO, Caritas Communications & Caritas PR; Adam Malik, Director, Investis Ltd and Oluwaseun Adesida, Chief Operating Officer-Designate, Caritas Digital after a Strategic Partnership working session to mark commencement of operations on the Caritas/Investis alliance at Investis Head Office in London, United Kingdom.

TRAINING: Participants at a short-term Skill Acquisition Training Programme of the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, at Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, Lagos.

INSPECTION: Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed (3rd left), Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr Amuda Kannike (4th left), Secretary to the State Government (2nd right) and other government officials inspecting the Ohan Bridge, along Alapa area, Kwara State.

SUMMIT: From left: The Head, Business Banking Group Collections of First City Monument Bank FCMB, Mr. Francis Ademuyiwa; MD, I.Contact Communications, Mr. Larry Ajiola; the MD, Rivers State Micro Finance Agency, Mr. Innocent Harry; FCMB’s Head of Liability Products Management, Mr. Opeyemi Ojesina; the Bank’s Team Lead, Retail and Commercial Banking, Mrs. Christine Chris-Kalo and Corporate Affairs/Media Relations Officer, Mr. Rafiu Mohammed, at the 2014 International Entrepreneur Business Summit held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

HOUSING SUMMIT IN ATLANTA: From right: Executive Vice President, Real Estate Lawyers Association of Nigeria, RELAN, Adekunle Omotola; Nigerian Consul-General, Ambassador Godfrey Teneilaide; RELAN executive member, Folabi Kukoyi; MD, Fernab Properties, Abiodun Aguda and Itaken Dagogo-Zak at the summit on Nigerian Housing and Infrastructure Development organised by the Nigerian Ambassador, Atlanta, USA.

TECH TRENDS EVENT: From left; Tani Fafunwa, MD, Resourcery Plc; Tawnda Gumbo, transitional leader, Deloitte Nigeria; Funke Alomooluwa, MD, ChamsAccess; Kamal Ramsingh, Director, Africa tech leader, Deloitte Consulting; Andrew Alli, CEO, African Finance Corporation, at the 2014 Deloitte tech trends event in Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 —49

NCAA to sanction airlines over non-payment of salaries

Current insecurity'll fizzle out before general election —Group

By Lawani Mikairu

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By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA — A GROUP, Destiny 2015, has expressed optimism that the current wave of insecurity will fizzle before the general election next year.

The founder of the group, Prince Bodi Ererebo, who is also the Ozudubi of Ijaw Nation, made the assertion at the formal inauguration of the group in Abuja.

According to Ererebo, the current wave of terrorism would be crushed before the end of the year, given the strident effort by thePrsident Goodluck Jonathan administration to contain insurgency and move the country forward.

The Ijaw leader also expressed hope that the Chibok schoolgirls, who were taken since April, would be successfully rescued and handed over to their parents in no distant time.

Ererebo said at the event, which also raised funds for the group, that insecurity would not posed any problem to the 2015 election.

He said: “I can tell you that between now and December the security problem will be solved.

Also by the middle of next month we are hopeful that the Chibok girls will be released.”

He also noted that there will be free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

Responding to allegations that President Jonathan’s administration is not combating corruption, he said: “People will have one thing or the other to say about Jonathan. But I can tell you that Jonathan is handling the issue of corruption better than any other government.”

Noting that the president is qualified to contest in 2015, Ererebo said: “Destiny 2015, therefore, boldly calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to speedily heed the call of multitude of well-meaning Nigerians, for him to seek his constitutionally granted second term."

VISIT: Minister of State for Power, Mr Mohammed Wakil (left) and Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, Mr James Olotu during a courtesy visit to the minister in his office, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

ADAMAWA GUBER:

Tukur warns against imposition of aspirants from opposition party •Tasks politicians on fair-play, equity, justice •Urges delegates to vote wisely

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By Henry Umoru

BUJA — AHEAD of tomorrow’s governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where the party’s candidate would emerge for the October 11 gubernatorial election, former National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has warned the leadership and members of the party against imposition of aspirants from the opposition political party on the people.

Tukur who urged delegates to tomorrow’s primary election to use their votes in getting the right person to be the party’s flagbearer, stressed that Nigerian politicians must ensure the enthronement and sustenance of equity and justice in their political crusade and dealings.

Addressing the delegates at a one-day sensitisation seminar organised by the party’s state executive in Yola, Tukur, whose first son, Awwal, is one of the 14 cleared aspirants for the primaries, warned that any attempt to exclude fair play, equity and justice in the nation’s political dealings will have catastrophic effect on our resolve to use democracy as the country’s choice of government.

It will be recalled that the PDP recently granted waiver to former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; erstwhile Military Administrator of Lagos and Borno States, Brig.

Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa

(rtd) and 2011 ACN governorship candidate for Adamawa State, Marcus Gundiri.

In a statement by his spokesman, Prince Oliver Okpala, Tukur noted that equity and justice remained the bedrock for the consolidation of democratic structures and ideals, noting that it was such vices of exclusion of equity and justice that have given room for acts of dictatorship and imposition in our political structure and parties.

Warns against imposition of candidate

Tukur warned that acts of imposition of candidates on political parties was absolutely adverse and negative to democratic principles and ideology, adding that democracy must be seen as an avenue through which people choose and decide who will rule or govern them in elections that are free and fair.

According to him,one of the cardinal policies and principles he introduced and fought for as the national chairman of the party was election instead of imposition, discipline, equity and justice.

He urged electorate to stick to the exercise of their constitutional rights by always using their votes to vote- n people they want and vote out people they do not want.

Tukur traced the history of PDP formation of which he is a founding member while submitting that the founding fathers formed the PDP

as a party for the people by the people and for the people.

Vote wisely

According to the statement, “he warned of the dangers of imposing people from opposition parties against the interest of consistent and loyal members of the party who have suffered for the party for the sake of being the flag-bearers of their new party on executive or legislative elections.

“Dr. Tukur finally urged the delegates to always use their votes wisely as their votes were not for sale and any act to make their votes a mercantile affair will be inimical to internal democracy of our political parties and political dispensation.

“A former Federal Minister of Education, Dauda Birmah, who also addressed the delegates commended Tukur for his efforts and struggles for the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in our country.

“He remarked that Tukur was one of those who fought for the democracy we enjoy today even at the risk of their lives.

“The Deputy Chairman of the state PDP executive, Jingi Rufai, who spoke earlier also thanked Tukur for his services to the nation and the PDP. "The Deputy Governor of former Gongola State who served as Deputy Governor to Tukur, Mr David Barau described Tukur as a detribalised Nigerian who has no place for tribe, ethnicity or religion."

AGOS — THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has issued a stern warning to airline operators who are defaulting in the payment of their staff salaries.

The warning was issued after the management of NCAA held a meeting with culpable airlines.

According to Mr Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, “at the meeting, the management expressed serious concern over the nonpayment of salaries by the airlines. It viewed the development as detrimental to the continuous growth the industry has witnessed in recent times.”

Ndubuoke also said the warning became necessary when consistently the “financial health reports from the airlines were indicating gaps in financial stability.

“As far as the NCAA is concerned, the issue of non payment of staff salaries is critical to safety. The moment an airline cannot meet its financial obligations, it is believed that the staff morale will be down."

IoDs to hold convention, exhibition

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HE Institute of Directors, IoDs Nigeria will hold its 2014 convention and exhibition at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, FCT on Thursday October 23, 2014.

The main theme of the conference is “Imperatives of good governance in promoting investment opportunities.”

The topics to be addressed during the convention are Imperatives of good governance in investment opportunities for true national transformation by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Olusegun Aganga and Ethical imperatives of good governance in Nigeria by Chairman, Centre for Business Integrity, CBN, Dr. Christopher Kolade.

Others are Social and environmental imperatives of nation’s building by Director, Environment, Social and Government Department, IFC, Washington DC, Morgan Landy and Essence of corporate governance in attracting investors by Chief Executive, Global Corporate Governance Forum, USA, Phil Armstrong.

50—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

APC leaders blame economic woes on PDP

By Ola Ajayi

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BADAN—LEADERS of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South-West zone yesterday converged in Ibadan, alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had brought more economic woes and frustrated genuine attempts by the progressive forces to bring hope to Nigerians.

They said this at the first APC South West Assembly, with prominent chieftains of the party including governors of Oyo and Osun states, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the National Vice-Chairman (South-West), Pius Akinyelure in attendance.

This came as Governor Aregbesola warned that PDP was desperate to take all the states in the South West presently governed by the APC. Aregbesola said, “PDP is determined to take our states from us. They are ruthless opposition that will do anything to deny our people of their democratic choices. If we understand this early enough, we will see the need to stop them on their track.

But, if we underrate them, we will record loss.

Speaking on his victory at the polls, he said, “The actual winners, those who defeated the opposition in Osun, were the ordinary men and women, particularly women who refused to be intimidated. They came out even in their most dreadful form.

For the first time, security operatives put on masks in broad daylight in their thousands, shooting. But women came out to perform their duty. They sang against them and sent signals to them that they would not tolerate terror.

“Quickly following the women in the determination to exercise their rights were school children who always sang that people should vote for Aregbesola. It was unbelievable. They deflated the ego of the people that wanted to dominate and terrorise us. Yes, our men worked but the determination of our women and the children including artisans, drivers were high and politicians must acknowledge them. We must let people know that this is what they must do. They must refuse to be cowed, that they should vote and defend their votes. They deserve accolades for the victory of our party in the State of Osun. I will never forget them.

Women that one would think wrongly are the least in a struggle like this.”

However, South West APC leaders speaking through the National Vice-Chairman (SouthWest), Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, said, “ we cannot deceive ourselves about the economic

and political woes of the ruling PDP that dim the stars of yesteryears, becloud the rainbows of today and diminish the hidden potentials of our great nation. I doubt if Nigeria has ever been faced with such a perilous future in the annals of our history as much as currently witnessed and experienced today.

“On the economic front, Nigeria has been dragged into

the red light district of global affairs. On the political front, there are fears about the future considering the odious attempt to eliminate the basic principles of democracy and the lowest common factor of representative government.”

Akinyelure alleged that the PDP was promoting a retinue of rogue regimes that negated the fundamentals of the egalitarian political heritage of the South West democratic space.

“In Ekiti for instance, we witnessed the monetisation of

votes and the blatant institutionalisation of violenceusing state machinery. We are aware of the flagrant cases of human right violations perpetrated by some of the nation’s security apparatus. This is different from the several masked gun men that stormed the State of Osun before and on 9th of August. I must say without any contradiction that the APC leaders in Ekiti and the State of Osun fought a gracious fight.

They fought a battle nurtured by ideas and ideology”, he said.

DINNER: From left; Ivan Menezes, CEO, Diageo Plc; Philip Odozua, Managing Director and Chief Executive, United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc); Seni Adetu, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), at the Dinner in Honour of Ivan Menezes at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos.

IPMAN invites EFCC over alleged missing N500m

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — T H E Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mosimi depot, Sagamu, Ogun state has disclosed that it will invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the alleged missing of N500 million from the association’s account.

The newly-elected Chairman of the association, Adeleke Dada disclosed this in Abeokuta, shortly after the inauguration of the new executive members of the association.

Dada, while alleging that the association lost about N500 million during the last administration, claimed that a lot of what he called unnecessary levies were collected by the past leaders.

But, in a swift reaction, the former Public Relations Officer of the association, Peter Awosanya cautioned the new leaders against the action.

While alleging the past leaders, Dada said “they misappropriated about N500 million during their tenure because they made about N10 million per month from all of the unnecessary levies which are illegal collection which were not accounted for.

“We are going to call on the

Economic Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) to probe them because they embezzled the unnecessary levies that were paid to them,” he said The new Chairman also said the last administration was responsible for the hike in the price of fuel in the state.

He said “during the fuel scarcity period, government did not increase the price of petroleum, it was their administration that increased the price in their own capacity to the rate of N110 per litre which is very wrong, the government didn’t tell them to increase it.

“We had enough of the product in Mosimi depot so, whenever there is scarcity, they used that opportunity to hike the fuel price so as to enrich their pockets which was not good on the masses,” Dada said.

He, however promised that the newly elected officers will put an end to the atrocities done by the last administration.

“Now that we are on board, there will be a lot of differences because we will have to sanitise the whole system. People have been denied a lot of things and which we are ready to put in the right place.

“We have to save ourselves from

this cabal that has grouped themselves to be somebody when they are actually nobody, It starts from all the members all the way to the masses especially in Ogun state,” he said.

When contacted over the allegation, the former Public Relations Officer, Peter Awosanya described the move as a welcome development, cautioning the new leadership to tread softly, saying, there is need to allow peace to reign.

Ogun APC crisis: Councillors suspend Chairman

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ogun State deepened yesterday as 12 councillors allegedly suspended the Chairman of Ipokia Local Government Area of the state, Isiaka Aderohunmu.

The councillors accused the Chairman of the council of embezzling five million Naira belonging to the council.

But, in a swift reaction, the embattled Chairman said he was yet to receive any such notification.

The legislators, in the letter signed by all of them after an emergency meeting held yesterday announced the suspension of the chairman, accusing him of various acts of misconduct.

According to the lawmakers, the chairman had in the last two years ran the affairs of the local government council like a private estate, hiring out equipment of the council to people they describe as his “cronies”.

He was alleged of unilaterally signing projects, which exceeded “stipulated amount” without recourse to the council, “contrary to Ogun State Local Government Law, 2002 section 87(2).

“Another reason for the suspension is the fact that the chairman has refused to avail to legislative arm of the council the statement of account on the revenue and expenditure of the council which ought to be done on monthly basis.

PDP sets up Ilorin West LGA Exco

I

LORIN—LEADERSHIP crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ilorin West local Government area was put to rest on Wednesday with the inauguration of Alhaji Yusuf Olugbon 17-man executive council.

PDP chairman in the state, Iyiola Oyedepo, who swore in the executive at the party state secretariat charged them to exhibit unity of purpose on all their decisions to build a solid, formidable party.

“You should be conscious of the fact that Ilorin West local government was central and key to the electoral successes of PDP and exercise power of your office

with fairness and decorum”, Akogun said.

The chairman therefore directed the new LGA chairman to go ahead with the inauguration of Ward executives in the local government.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ilorin West has been embroiled in crisis as a result of differences among political gladiators from the local government.

NAN gathered that such political gladiators from the local government struggling for the soul of PDP in the area include Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Prof Oba Abdulraheem and Hajia Muinat Sagaya.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—51

Ebonyi debunks rumours of Ebola outbreak

By Peter Okutu

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Women Selling Fish On Amasoma Road At Tombia In Yenagoa, yesterday. NAN PHOTO:

Ebola outbreak impacts rice shipment from Asia L

By Godwin Oritse

AGOS—THE outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVB, in some countries in Africa is beginning to have an impact on the shipment of rice and other agricultural products from far away as Asia, with Thailand’s rice industry being the first to experience a serious impact.

Africa is a major market for Thailand’s rice, but the industry is finding it difficult to meet demand.

Exporters in Bangkok say Africa consumes nine million tons of rice annually and twothirds of it is imported. But they are currently unable to ship much of their crop to West African ports.

However, seafarers are running away from West Africa on account of the disease. Confirming this, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association; Vichai Sriprasert said dry bulk vessels cannot find crews to man their ships because of fears of possibly contracting the deadly Ebola virus, “Merchants in West Africa are trying to build up stocks to meet the requirements during Christmas sales. They have to buy now in order to

have enough stock. But if we cannot find enough vessels to go there this would jeopardize the whole trade situation,” said Vichai.

So far this year, Thailand, has shipped more than 3.3 million tons of rice to Africa-a pace far ahead of last year ’s total shipments of 3.75 million tons. The top destinations, in terms of volume, are Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Cameroon, Mozambique and Nigeria, in that order.

Not being able to ship rice quickly during this peak season is creating a bottleneck,

with Thai exporters’ warehouses already filled.

Vichai said that is creating a chain reaction in the rice industry all the way back to the farmers.

“We cannot release the rice out of the warehouse and also cannot buy rice from the millers. And the millers’ warehouses are also filled up.

If they cannot sell to exporters they also cannot buy from the farmers. The price of rice from the farmer also has to drop because not too many people can afford to buy. There’s no place to

keep the stock,” explained Vichai.

Asia’s rice could become even more in demand in weeks and months ahead, with the Ebola outbreak expected to become worse before it improves.

The U.N’s Food and Agriculture Organization warns food in countries affected by the deadly virus has become more expensive.

The FAO says some African farmers cannot reach their fields and food imported by ship and air is now unlikely to arrive as often.

BAKALIKI— EBONYI State government yesterday debunked the report in some quarters that an Ebola patient was receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA. The report, which many had considered to be true, threw the state into a state of panic and confusion as calls were being made by concerned individuals to confirms its authenticity.

In a statement, state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sunday Nwangele, described the report as false, stressing that modalities had been put in place to checkmate the disease.

He said the patient whose ailment was described as Ebola was untrue as the patient was being treated for peptic ulcer and not Ebola.

“The case of Ebola in Ebonyi as being peddled is a false alarm. it is rather a case of Peptic Ulcer. I want call on everybody in the State and Nigeria to disregard the alarm. There is no Ebola Virus Disease in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. “ M e a n w h i l e , government of Ebonyi State, through the State Ministry of Health, the Rapid Respond Team & Treatment Committee are

by His Grace ready to handle issues of Ebola Virus Disease in Ebonyi State, while enlightening the entire public to comply with universal precautions as already established."

Ondo govt sends cremation bill to Assembly

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By Dayo Johnson

KURE—ONDO State government has forwarded to the State’s House Of Assembly for legislative considerations, a bill to provide for the disposal of bodies by cremation as parts of efforts to control the spread of contagious diseases among residents in the state, the.

Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade while speaking with newsmen in Akure yesterday

said the bill was part of government’s efforts to prevent spread of contagious diseases in the state.

Akinmade said the bill was necessitated by the need for a law to provide for the disposal of bodies by cremation of persons who died of contagious disease to prevent the spread of such disease and others who may so wish to be cremated.

Giving details of the bill, Akinmade said at approval,

the Commissioner for Health shall have power to establish or permit the establishment of such number of cremation as may be required in the state for the disposal of human remains by burning in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Akinmade added that no cremation shall be constructed within a distance of two hundred meters of any house or within fifty metres of any public highway.

An application for cremation he said may be made to the consenting authority, by the next-of-–kin of the deceased person in accordance with the written instructions of the deceased.

The Commissioner however said that cremation become compulsory where a person dies of a deadly contagious disease or where there is a reasonable cause to suspect that a person has lied ofacontagiousdiseaseandtheremains mayproveharmfultothepublichealth.

52—Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

membrance Day Celebration planning committee in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila noted this year’s celebration will be especially significant because the Armed Forces have shown tremendous commitment and passion towards uniting the country and keeping it as one indivisible entity.

Represented by Alhaji Babayo Shehu, the Perma-

nent Secretary said, “We are celebrating the heroic sacrifices made by these men and women in restoring and defending the sovereignty of our nation.

This also includes those who have sacrificed their lives in the development of the armed forces and the country at large like those gallant officers and men that lost their lives in the fight against insurgency in the North Eastern axis of the country”.

I'll focus on safety, security at airports —CHIDOKA

By Okey Ndiribe

MEETING ON SECURITY—Nigerian participants at the 3rd session of the Regional working

group of Nigeria-U.S. Bi-national Commission on Security in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Reputation of Nigeria's military at stake— US Continues from page 5 being engaged sufficiently.

“There is also the need for diplomatic lobbying for our foreign partners to provide more assistance in areas of equipment and whatever they can give us.”

Security situation is deteriorating —Sen. Saleh But a member of the Senate Joint National Assembly Committee on Defence and an All Progressives Congress Senator from Kaduna Central, Senator Ahmed Saleh appeared to have dashed the hope of the military winning the war against terrorism even as he said that the situation was getting worse on daily basis.

Senator Saleh, a retired general said: “What I am going to say is based on my experience as an insider. Our duty here as senators of the Federal Republic transcends the extension of state of emergency. Our duty of oversight should ensure that high standards must be maintained in addition to acquiring all necessary equipment required to maintain a strong force.

“When the Chief of Defence Staff was appointed in January this year, the service chiefs made a categorical statement that

within three months they will crush Boko haram.

But unfortunately, what we are seeing is a complete deterioration of the situation, so it is incumbent on us to find out why that deterioration. We have heard about our soldiers’ mutiny, it is also our responsibility to find out why that is happening.

“For us to understand why that is happening, we need to go back to the Babangida (Gen. Ibrahim Babangida) era. After the 1990 Okar coup, the Federal Government of Nigeria systematically and comprehensively disarmed the military.

“All the tanks, all the artillery guns were disarmed and locked up. All the aircraft were parked in Ilorin and other places, flying stopped, training stopped to ensure regime security, not national security.

“All the good officers of the Nigerian Army were hounded out of the military. There was over concentration of power at the centre which was the army headquarters. Prior to that, General Officers Commanding, GOCs, used to have training and manouvre grants.

“They had the power and responsibility to train their troops and battalions and to ensure an efficient logistics and service support system. All that stopped. Everything was from Army headquarters, everything was from Air

Force headquarters, everything was from Naval headquarters.

“The attendant result was decay. Training was no longer going on at the battalion level, soldiers lost their skills and since then, no additional military equipment was purchased for the Nigerian Army. Even things as little as machine guns were in short supply, ammunition was in short supply.

“An individual soldier’s professional skill was to be a matchman, to shoot and hit his target but can he do that if he has no ammunition? We have a duty to rebuild this army, to rebuild the armed forces, and unless we understand these basic facts, we are not going anywhere.

“Also, after some time the fighting doctrine of the Nigerian Army was changed. We were essentially brought up by the British. That means we knew how much materials we had, the tasks before us and so on. But along the line during the Obasanjo (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) regime, General Obasanjo brought Americans here and our doctrine approach was changed to warfare.

“I make bold to tell you that up till today nobody understands that. I know it is a strategic concept of warfare but in Nigeria we are applying it to the operational and tactical level. It has created a lot of confusion within our army.

“Apart from that, our involvement in foreign operations and the kind of training we give to our soldiers for operations was a kind of defensive posture.

You don’t kill until you are killed, you don’t attack until you are attacked.

“That also helped to change the orientation of some of our soldiers. Then again, I must mention here (alleged) fraud within the Ministry of Defence, fraud within the military service systems themselves has contributed a lot to diminishing our fighting capability.

“Further to that again, we have the issue of our combat service support.

Because of (alleged) fraudulent activities, we monetized everything.

Our supply services, our medical services are completely inefficient and are unable to support the fighting in the North East now. Right now, I stand to question how our soldiers are being fed.”

Our soldiers won't die In vain — FG Meanwhile, the Federal Government vowed yesterday that it will do everything within its powers to ensure that the heroic sacrifices being made by members of the armed forces prosecuting the battle to flush out Boko Haram insurgency from our country as well as protecting the territorial integrity were not in vain.

Making the disclosure at the inauguration of the 2014 Armed Forces Re-

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BUJA—THE Min ister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, yesterday, declared that the ministry will pay more attention to the security and safety of the airports and passengers rather than remodeling of airports as his predecessor did.

Chidoka stated this while inspecting on-going projects at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He, however, expressed regret that ongoing construction work at the airport was disrupting passenger operations.

He further stated that in the next four to six months, the new terminal would be ready and this would drastically reduce the suffering that passengers are going through.

He urged Nigerians, who would pass through the airport, to be patient because of ongoing rehabilitation, adding that there was bound to be traffic.

According to Chidoka: “We expect that Nigerians should please appreciate and understand our challenges at this time, but we are going to open up more communication channels and signages to show people what is about to happen.”

FAA Category One status Commenting on the FAA Category One Status, he said it provides for an opportunity to review the whole safety of the nation’s airport op-

erations.

Said he: “But more importantly, we are making sure that there is an alignment between safety in the air and the security of passengers and the terminal buildings and of course the passengers' comfort.”

Chidoka continued: “So with that in mind, we are having a total review of our security system in all the airports and I have ordered them to make sure that they meet the global best practices.”

Chidoka further stated that the ministry wants to make the passengers to travel in a more convenient manner.

“We don’t want to compromise the security of the airport. Our major strategy is to begin to look at the safety component of our work. While we want to make the passengers to travel in a more convenient manner, we don’t want to compromise the security of the airport.”

Commenting on measures the Ministry had put in place to prevent persons infected with the deadly Ebola Virus Disease from entering the country he said: "Although the Ministry of Health was taking the lead in the fight against the sub-regional epidemic, we are providing the necessary infrastructure to make sure that what happened with the index case of Mr Sawyer coming into Nigeria does not repeat itself and more importantly using the testing technique as the ministry of health has ordered to ensure that it does not spread across the country”.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—53

Leather Centre 'll boost job opportunities in South South region — Owan LG Boss

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE Chairman, Owan East Local Government, Barr. Jimoh Ijegbai, has said that the establishment of NILEST Leather Cluster Liaison centre at Afuze in Owan Local Government Council, Edo State, will boost economic activities and job creation in South South geo-political region.

Ijegbai who spoke during the official inauguration of NILEST Leather cluster, Liaison centre, in Owan East LGA, Afuze, Edo State, said the NILEST leather cluster in Owan LGA was the first of its kind in the state and the only leather centre in the South South region of the country.

He said people expressed doubts on the realization of the project when the proposal was made but expressed gratitude to the management of the leather centre for considering the area worthy in siting the factory.

Boko Haram: Shettima consoles with Bama refugees

By Ndahi Marama

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AIDUGURI—Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State who has been on foreign trip since last week was forced to cut off his trip and return to Maiduguri following the recent Boko Haram attacks on Bama town.

Governor Shettima who arrived Maiduguri, yesterday, through a chartered flight along with his entourage went straight to the Government Girls Secondary School, Yerwa, and NYSC orientation camp where the internally displaced persons are currently taking refuge.

He sympathized with the people who were forced to flee their homes following the Monday morning attack in Bama town by the terrorists.

Although the situation in Bama has been brought under control by the military and 24 hours surveillance by the joint military and civilian JTF has been initiated, the standing committee on Boko Haram insurgency relief

materials and assistance set up by the state government has since swung into action to cushion sufferings of the internally displaced people.

Shettima informed the displaced persons that he had met with President Goodluck Jonathan on the security situation in Bama and other areas of the state as well as other service

chiefs, and there were assurances that the Federal Government will continue to intervene and provide adequate military personnel and weapons to overcome the insurgents.

He also assured them that the state government will continue to cater for them adding that sufficient funds have been released to the committee set up

Lagos APC to PDP: Don't play politics with LASU fees

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HE All Progressives Congress, Lagos Chapter, yesterday, said the state government took a hard decision to reverse the LASU school fees in the overall interest of 25million Lagosians so that Lagos PDP will not continue to use it to score cheap political points.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, the Party said the government reversed a robust decision meant to facilitate, and speed up the building of a world class university that befits the

status of Lagos so that villains will not turn out to be heroes overnight.

The statement said, “PDP Lagos thinks they have found something tangible to help them sell a useless product called PDP in Lagos but they have found nothing as the rug has been removed from under their feet.

Their PDP keeps almost 60 per cent revenue allocations and starve the 36 States including Abuja and the 774 Local Government.

“Their PDP sells our crude oil

2015: Group seeks support for Obuh

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S the political clock continues to tick towards 2015 general elections, a political pressure group, Canvassers for Good Governance, CGG, in Delta State, has announced its support for Mr. Anthony Obuh's gubernatorial aspiration. It also asked all governorship aspirants in the state to queue behind Mr. Obuh since he is presently the most acceptable Peoples Democratic Party aspirant in the state.

The group which made this known at Sapele during its monthly meeting stated that having assessed those who have expressed interest in taking over from Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, it arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Obuh was the best suited and equipped to lead the state.

According to Comrade Ehis Nwaokologo and Olorogun Emmanuel Enaphien, CGG's Chairman and Secretary respectively, Mr. Obuh ranked high in terms of experience, integrity, accessibility and human resource management.

by the state government under the chairmanship of Alhaji Usman Jiddah Shuwa for their welfare and feeding. Similarly, the standing committee on Boko Haram insurgency relief materials and assistance set up by the state government last year has also swung into action to cushion the sufferings of the IDPs.

L-r: Vice president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ali S. Madugu, MD/CEO Bank of Industry, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa and Vice president, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, during the presentation of paper to participants of senior Executive course No. 36.of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos

and decides how much to keep, and how much to declare to Nigerians, and even the money they declare as earnings from sales of crude oil, they steal a large chunk of it. Nigerians are yet to know the truth about the missing US$20billion they kept aside for 2015 elections. Their PDP has been raising the fuel price since 1999, they have raised school fees in Federal Universities and other federal institutions. They have raised PHCN tariff several times without supplying electricity. Their PDP has raised import duties, they have raised fees even to secure driver’s licence, they have raised fees to secure even our Nigerian passport, and they have raised the price of kerosene, used by the common people. We can go on and on.

“We live in a country where villains become heroes overnight, and heroes running the risk of becoming villains. We live in a country where the ruling party creates massive poverty in the land and turns around to use our money to bribe the voters every four years in the name of politics of stomach infrastructure.

Governor Fashola of APC has cleaned up Lagos State, and secured the State for Nigerians and foreign investors. APC has raised the bar for politics of ideas in Nigeria, we have been doing things differently in Nigeria, and we have proved that Nigeria is not a basket case.”

Shettima sets up task force on Borno power outages

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OLLOWING the lingering power outage in Maiduguri and some parts of Borno State in the last two months, Governor Kashim Shettima has set up an emergency task force on restoration of electricity in the state with the mandate of deploying any available legal means aimed at quick restoration of electricity supply.

Managing Director of the newly established Borno Energy Development Company, Engr.

Umar Zubairu who spoke with newsmen, yesterday, said the task force which has Engr. Ibrahim Ali, the Chief of Staff, Abubakar Kyari and a staff of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Imamuddeen Talba, as members, has since commenced high level talks with stakeholders in the power sector.

Zubairu said at different times

between last Monday and yesterday, the task force was at the headquarters of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Abuja during which a technical meeting was held with directors and other key officials. He added that the task Force was also at the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, and met with the Director, Transmission Service Provider, Engr T.O Uwah, before holding another meeting with Mr Nestor Divina who is head of technical operations and also acting Managing Director of Yola Electricity Distribution Company which supplies electricity to Borno. The meeting with Yola DISCO, he noted, had in attendance, the company’s secretary, Mohammed Bala.

In all the meetings between the Borno Task Force and the power stakeholders, Malam Umar

Zubairu, said options were analyzed on ways by which electricity could be restored in the immediate, short and long term.

Zubairu noted that the task force had found from its technical sessions that the power outage was as a result of the destruction of 132 KV line in Damboa, which couldn’t be repaired due to security challenges in that axis, adding that the Task Force equally discovered that 330 KV line from Potiskum through Damaturu, had one tower destroyed while there was also a problem with movement of a heavy duty transformer for 330 132 KV due to access road to transformer site.

He explained that while the transformer weighed 90 tons, the road leading to its site wasn’t designed to withstand such machine.

On the way forward, the Managing Director said, Governor Kashim Shettima has given the Task Force the go ahead to commit the State Government to immediately begin technical works through the Borno Road Maintenance Agency to reinforce and stabilize the road to access the heavy duty transformer so it can be installed on the 330-132 KV line.

He said the governor has also directed the task force to conclude technical partnership with the power stakeholders on ways for repair of the tower on the 330 KV from Potiskum-Damaturu axis, adding that the task force has been mandated to involve the Transmission Company and Yola DISCO on installation and transmission of power using 20 megawatts generators.

54—Vanguard,FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Oshiomhole’s strides'll earn APC electoral victory —-Bello-Osagie

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN CITY— House of Representatives member, Mr Rasaq Bello-Osagie, said, yesterday, that Governor Adams O s h i o m h o l e ’ s achievements will guarantee success for candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the general elections in Edo State.

He said while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will battle to explain why they allegedly ran the state aground in the 10 years of their tenure in the state, the infrastructural developments such as roads, hospitals, schools, bore holes and others which the Oshiomhole administration had put in place will speak for the APC. Declaring his intention to run for a second term in office, he promised to grant scholarship to indigent students in his constituency in his second term, adding that he facilitated several projects to meet his constituency needs.

Omo-Agege seeks Clark’s support

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GHELLI— F O R M E R Secretary to Delta State Government, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has solicited for the support of Chief Edwin Clark in pursuance of his 2015 gubernatorial ambition.

Omo-Agege who spoke when he paid a consultative visit to Chief Clark in his Kiagbodo country home, said, “I am in the governorship race not because I am an Urhobo man. We know that there is the Anioma agenda and there is the Urhobo agenda.

I do not subscribe to any of these. I am running because of my own agenda, which is the panDelta agenda.”

Soliciting for Chief Clark blessings, Omo-Agege reiterated that he would tackle the problem of insecurity and unemployment plaguing the state through the establishment of Community Security Marshalls, adding “Able bodied youth who are unemployed would be employed and paid livable wages as is obtainable in the civil service.

Oil landlords seek inclusion in management of HOSTCOM fund

By Festus Ahon

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GHELLI—NATIONAL President, Association of Families of Oil and Gas Producing Communities, ASFOGAPCOM, Mr. Joseph Abinogun, has called on the Federal Government to include Oil and Gas landowners in the management of the proposed 10 percent Petroleum Host Communities Fund.

Abinogun, in a statement, also called on the Federal Government to give them the right to provide security and surveillance for oil and gas facilities in their areas.

Berating stakeholders in the oil and gas industry as well as government intervention agencies for allegedly conniving with oil companies to trample upon the rights and interests of landowners, he decried the long neglect and sidelining of oil and gas landlords by government and oil companies.

The statement said, “The time has come for government and its intervention agencies to proactively engage and include oil and gas owners in their policies and programmes. No doubt, this is a reliable way of addressing the challenges of unemployment, youth restiveness and insecurity in the Niger Delta.

It will also stimulate a healthy business environment for operators and stakeholders.”

Abinogun called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum “to use their good offices to initiate policies that will activate the provisions of the Petroleum Act as well as the Local Content Act as it affects the oil and Gas Landowners as an indispensable stakeholders, whose rights and interests must be protected by relevant government agencies/parastatal in Global Memorandum of

Understanding, GMoUs as well as other relevant transactions in line with global best practice.

“As we know, the crux of the proposed 10 percen Petroleum Host Communities Fund is to make stakeholders at the grassroots active participants in the oil and gas industry especially in the area of security of oil and gas facilities. As a result, nobody can provide better security to oil and gas installations than we, the landowners. We should rightly be

The principal staff officer, PSO, to theIG, Mr. Austin Iwah, being decorated by the IG, Mr. Suleiman Abba, assisted by DIG Chafe as his wife admires

We'll give ruling PDP a big fight in 2015, says Delta PDM

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By Austin Ogwuda

SABA—MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM in Delta State, yesterday, held their congress that saw the emergence of Chief Frank Igwebuike as the state chairman of a 20-man executive, supervised by the Returning Officer, Mr. Samuel Shuaibu at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba.

Meanwhile, the state Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, said it had barred four political parties in the state from participating in the forthcoming local government elections.

Igwebuike, who was returned as the Chairman of PDM told reporters shortly after the congress that “the die is cast. We are repositioning to ensure that we make serious impact both in the forth coming council elections and other elections especially the governorship. Just watch and see. We are not just talking for talking sake, we are strategising and our grass roots sensitisation is paying off. It is going to be a big fight for the ruling PDP.” Meantime, DSIEC has said that it has barred four political parties from contesting in the

considered because we are the party adversely impacted by oil and gas exploitation and exploration activities, as we have not only been displaced and uprooted from our native settlements but have lost our fishing and farming rights as well as other economic rights as peasants and rural dwellers without adequate compensation in line with current economic realities.”

council elections, coming up in October 25 this year.

Chairman of DSIEC, Mr. Moses Ogbe, who disclosed this during a train-the-trainers programme organised for the commission by International Foundation for Electoral System,

IFES, said that 15 political parties out of the 26 registered political parties in Nigeria registered for the polls but only 11 political parties met the commission’s guidelines to contest in the polls.”

Alumni tasks FG on unity schools

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EMBERS of the Alumni Association of Federal Government College, FGC, Azare, in Bauchi State have decried the current condition of unity schools across the country and urged the Federal Government to take necessary action to stem the declining standards.

The 1994 graduates of FGC Azare, who made the call during their first reunion held in Abuja, particularly noted with concern the rising downward slide in the values of the unity schools in the country.

Chairperson of the organising committee of the first reunion, Ada Chukwuma, who addressed newsmen at the end of the forum, stated that the group resolved to demand the immediate reversal of the downward trend of the unity colleges by the Federal Ministry of Education.

She noted with regrets the dilapidating state of FGC Azare, especially the school’s perimeter fence and gates, which she said the alumni was committed to rehabilitating. She said that the forum, among others, reviewed and considered various other options members could explore collectively to help their alma mater.

Ada Chukwuma recalled with nostalgia the bond of friendship, love and camaraderie between her and her schoolmates while they were students in FGC Azare, notwithstanding the religious, ethnic and cultural differences that were obvious.

She, however, noted with concern the rising insecurity across the country, which she said has dealt a bid blow to the peace and harmony that had thrived in Nigeria in the past.

Karetimi emerges Bomadi PDP chairmanship flagbearer

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ELTA State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, has announced Chief Oluwole Karetimi’s as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairmanship flag bearer for Bomadi Local Government Area in the forthcoming council elections in the state.

The announcement has laid to rest, the wrangling over the outcome of party’s primaries.

Other candidates announced by the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Sylvester Magbebor, include; Mr. Sunday Zifere, All Progressive Congress, APC; Mr Sunday Egbaseimokumor, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. It also pasted names of councillorships candidates from PDP and other parties. Mr. Bobra Bass and the Bomadi Youth Council chairman, Mr. Godbless Keneke, who spoke to journalists on the development, said the names released by DSIEC has doused political tension in the area and helped to clear doubt about the true PDP chairmanship candidate (Karetimi) for the council polls. They urged youths from the council to avoid being used as political thugs and come out en-masse and vote for candidates of their choice.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014—55

OIL THEFT: Naval chief threatens

EU laments

conniving officers with sanctions

of 100m Euros investment in Nigeria

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA — THE Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, has threatened to visit the full wrath of the law as contained in the revised armed forces statutes on any officer of the Navy caught conniving with multi-national oil companies to defraud the nation through oil theft.

Disclosing that oil companies were neck-deep in the oil scam taking place in the Niger Delta, the CNS said some oil companies deliberately left their oil well heads open, which should be sealed, uncovered for years for ulterior motives, saying this was where the crude oil was being siphoned.

Jubrin, who spoke when he summoned executives of oil companies to a meeting in Abuja said: “I can say without fear of contradictions that some oil companies are deeply involved in these unwholesome acts and this we must address with all seriousness.

“It has become worrisome, that we have not been able to check this menace, and that is why it has taken me seven months to summon this meeting which I said must be attended by the chief executive officers of the oil companies themselves though what I am seeing now are their representatives which I am not happy about.

“I have decided to stop pointing fingers, but now to mention the names of the companies involved in this oil theft because if the oil wells are properly sealed with the required manifold, it is only an expert that can open it and this crime is denting the image of the country.”

He warned that the Navy would soon start arresting and shutting down oil companies whose oil wells were still left open, not sealed with manifold.

“To prevent these measures, the Navy and the oil companies will work out the details on how to tackle the menace together and find a lasting solution,” the CNS added.

Responding on behalf of the oil companies, the representative of Exxon Mobil, Olabani Olubiyi, said the Navy had performed creditably in checking the menace of oil theft and would continue to advocate for more platforms for them.

Recall that only on Tuesday, Vice Admiral Jubrin announced that the crude oil theft in the Niger Delta had reduced from 2.6 million barrels to about 900,000 barrels.

Speaking when the GMD of NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, visited him, he said: “In January for instance, we had about 2.6 million barrels of crude oil theft but in June, based on the record we have here, it has dropped to about 900,000 barrels.”

WORKSHOP: From left, President, NUTGTWN, Oladele Hunsu; General secretary and Vice President, NLC Issa Aremu, and Executive Director, Human Rights Monitors, Barr. Festus Okoye, at the sensitisation workshop on Ebola Virus Disease, in Kaduna. Photo: Olu Ajayi

Jonathan sees workable economy with inauguration of National Council on MSMEs

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said the inauguration of the National Council on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, marked a turning point in his administration’s desire to build an economy that works for all Nigerians.

He stated this when he inaugurated the council which is chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

According to President Jonathan, “the creation of this council is a testament to the commitment of this administration to all inclusive economic growth.

“Our commitment is to meet the aspirations of our people and in doing so ensuring rapid economic development, benefiting all our citizens, north, south, east or west.

“Our focus will remain to build an economy that works for all Nigerians, and the MSME council that we are to inaugurate today is essential to achieving this goal.”

The President emphasised the

centrality of MSMEs in the development of the nation, pointing out that they were the veritable tools for job creation.

“The growth of MSMEs is one that is very important in any nation that aspires towards selfsufficiency. MSMEs are the innovators, the wealth creators as well as the employment

generators.

“Every MSME today has the potential of growing to be a corporation tomorrow and that is why we are now backing the initiative with the creation of this council,” he said.

President Jonathan underscored the need for fair and equitable distribution of wealth in

the country, noting that this was the only way to ensure economic growth in the country.

“I repeat, we must ensure that this economy works for all of our people, that we indeed become a land of opportunities for all and a land where hopes become reality regardless of who you are, where you hail from or whatever belief."

non-recognition

By Funmi Olasupo

A

BUJA — THE European Union, EU, which has spent over •100 million Euros) on various intervention programmes for human and infrastructure development in Nigeria, has expressed worries over the lack of recognition of her activities by Nigerian government.

The non-recognition of these efforts by the p o p u l a t i o n notwithstanding, the EU said it will not deter them from continuing to intervene in the critical areas of human development which the people of the 20-member EU have tasked the Union to pursue on her behalf.

The Managing Partner, African Communication Sari, Dr. Ben Norby Bonde made the disclosure yesterday, during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja.

“I am aware that the intervention of the European Union in Nigeria since it started operations in the country is over •100 million Euros, in spite of the low recognition of this effort the EU is prepared to do more,” Ben told the reporters.

The communication expert and consultant to the European Union expressed worries over the silence in the media over the activities of the EU whose 20 country membership was under heat from their respective countries on their relevance in Africa and Nigeria in particular, noting there are several projects in which the EU had supported the country in various respects.

15 health firms scale N400m NHIS recapitalisation hurdle Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

F

IFTEEN HEALTH M a i n t e n a n c e Organisation, HMOS , have been re -accredited after scaling the N400 million capitalisation requirement set by the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. The NHIS had issued an August 31, 2014 deadline for HMOS to raise their minimum capital base to N400 million in order to remain in business.

It was learnt that seven others were given provisional accreditations.

Consequently, 55 of the firms that could not raise the requisite funds have been delisted.

Essentially, HMOs are private or public incorporated company registered by the NHIS Scheme solely to manage the provision of health care services through Health Care Facilities accredited by the Scheme.

The NHIS had contracted Price WaterHouse Coppers (PwC) to conduct an audit of the existing HMOs with a view to ascertaining the level of their fitness to drive the NHIS initiatives.

Those re-accredited registered included InvestCorp Medical Limited, Total Health Trust,

Healthcare International, United Healthcare International, Managed Health Care Services, Premium Health, Maayoit Healthcare and Defence Health Maintenance.

Others were Royal Health Prepaid Medicare, Prepaid Medicare, Health Partners, Oceanic Health, Princeton, Royal Exchange Healthcare and Salus Trust.

Executive Secretary of NHIS, Dr. Femi Thomas confirmef that the assessment report found some HMOs unhealthy and were given six months “to do the needful”.

He said:”Yesterday, we announced the results and the HMOs that didn’t meet up have

been delisted automatically, so they will have to make up whatever deficiency they have before we register them.”

He said the development was “Part of quality assurance that will ensure that only HMOs that are healthy will help us to drive our programmes. So it is going to add value to whatever we are doing and that is the way forward.”

Other HMOs which were issued provisional accreditation by the NHIS included Doma Healthcare, Avon HMO, Reginix Healthcare, Redcare Health, Well Health Network, and Bupar Healthcare.

56 — V anguard Vanguard anguard,, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 BRIEFS

Murdered US journalist’s family speaks

T

HE family of US journalist Steven Sotloff have spoken publicly for the first time since a video of his beheading was released by militants.

They said that the reporter gave his life to covering the suffering of people in war zones, but was “no hero”.

Mr Sotloff “tried to find good concealed in a world of darkness”.

Vice President Joe Biden said that Islamic State militants who killed him and another US man, James Foley, would be pursued “to the gates of hell”.

Investigators to issue initial report on MH17 crash

D

Demonstrators take part in a protest march against the 2014 NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, yesterday. Photo: AFP

UTCH investigators will issue a preliminary re port Tuesday on the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down in eastern Ukraine in July.

The Dutch Safety Board said its report will be based on the sources available.

More investigations will be conducted before a final report is issued, the board said in a statement on its website. The final report is expected within a year after the crash.

The Boeing 777 fell from the sky on July 17 near the Ukraine-Russia border. Of the 298 people killed, a majority were Dutch.

It’s unclear who shot it, but the U.S. and Ukraine have accused pro-Russian separatists operating in the region of downing the plane with a missile.

Ukraine, rebels to agree on ceasefire today

RUSSIA: France faces huge bill over warship

•As NATO slams Russsia

T

T

HE North Atlantic T r e a t y Organisation,NATO, at its summit in Wales, has said it “stands with Ukraine” in the face of Russia’s “destabilising” influence.

Nato also called on Russia “to pull back its troops” from Ukraine and end the “illegal” annexation of Crimea.

UK government officials say fresh EU and US sanctions will be announced against Russia today.

Separately, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and rebel leaders said a ceasefire could be agreed on today.

Some 2,600 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian troops and rebels. Ukraine’s military says 837 its soldiers have died since the conflict erupted in April.

In a statement delivered

by Nato Secretary-Gener-

al Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the alliance also called on Russia “to step back from confrontation

and take the path to peace”.

Nato’s partnership with Ukraine was “strong” and

the alliance was “determined to make it even stronger”, including developing the ability of Ukrainian and Nato forc-

Al-Qaeda opens new branch in Indian subcontinent

A

L-QAEDA leader Ay man al-Zawahiri has announced the formation of an Indian branch of his global armed group that he said would spread Islamic rule and “raise the flag of jihad” across the subcontinent. In a video spotted in online “jihadist” forums on Wednesday by the SITE terrorism monitoring group, Zawahiri said the new force would “crush the artificial borders” dividing Muslim populations in the region.

Al-Qaeda is active in Afghanistan and Pakistan,

where its surviving leadership are thought to be hiding out, but Zawahiri said the group would take the fight to India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“This entity was not es-

tablished today but is the fruit of a blessed effort of more than two years to gather the mujahedeen in the Indian sub-continent into a single entity,” he said.

Islamic State kidnaps 40 men in Iraq

I

SLAMIC State mili tants kidnapped 40 men from a town in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk yesterday, dragging the men into cars before driving off, residents said.

Residents of the Sunni

Journalists gathered outside the home of Mr Sotloff’s parents yesterday in Florida.

Muslim town of Hawija said by telephone they did not know why the men had been taken, from a district on the edge of the town. They added that Islamic State, which controls Hawija, had not faced any resistance from its inhabitants.

Islamic State has seized hundreds of Iraqi and Syrian soldiers as well as members of other insurgent groups, journalists and civilians.

Some have been sold for ransom and others have been killed.

The group launched a lightning advance through northern and central Iraq in June, declaring an Islamic caliphate. With the help of U.S. air strikes, Iraq’s army and Kurdish forces have been able to push the fighters back from some areas.

HE decision to suspend delivery of a Mistral naval assault ship to Russia risks costing France at least 1bn euros (£800m), officials say.

French President Francois Hollande said Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine meant conditions were not right for delivery of the helicopter-carrier.

He later said “a ceasefire and a political settlement” should be in place before the deal could go ahead.

Russia was expecting two Mistral ships - the first one in October.

A French diplomat earlier said the contract was suspended until November, and the delay “could cost us 1bn euros”.

Iraq strikes kill top IS members

A

senior Islamic State military commander in Iraq has been killed in an air strike on the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi state media report.

Iraq’s defence ministry also said a top aide to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed in a strike on Mosul, but neither death has been confirmed. Separately, IS fighters were reported to have kidnapped 40 men from a town in northern Iraq on Thursday.

The group has taken over swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months. Iraqiya TV quoted defence officials as saying Abu Alaa al-Iraqi, head of the IS military council in the city of Tal Afar, had died in an air strike.

British researchers ‘missing’ in Qatar

T

HE UK Foreign Office is looking into reports that two British men in Qatar who were investigating the treatment of migrant workers have gone missing.

Krishna Upadhyaya, 52, and Gundev Ghimire, 36, have not been heard from since Sunday, the organisation they were working for said.

The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) said it suspected the men had been detained.

But it said Qatari authorities had denied having any information.

The men, both of Nepalese origin, had been in Qatar since 27 August, GNRD, a Norway-based nongovernmental organisation, said.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 —57

The life and times of Pa Samuel Babatunde Johnson, 1925-2014 TRIBUTE

Recognising Ebola virus disease in young children

By Adenike Grange

E

BOL A Viral Disease, EVD, is now universally known to be a deadly disease that affects young and old, men and women, rich and poor, military and civilian without any discrimination whatsoever.

The signs and symptoms of EVD include persistent fever, general malaise, severe diarrhoea, vomiting, peculiar body rash, spontaneous bleeding into any part of the body and finally exhaustion.

It is important to note that fever, cough and diarrhoea are the three commonest symptoms of illnesses in young children under two years of age.

These children, because of their immaturity and low immunity are prone to infections of all types including bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections. About eighty percent of children seen in the children’s emergency ward are suffering from infections of various types and their complications.

This is why we must be cautiously vigilant when managing sick children.

On the one hand most of

Prof. Adenike Grange

explain how such a small child could have become the first person infected.

It is, therefore, imperative that the child health worker takes a good history paying particular attention to the possibility of exposure of the child to infected persons or infected animals.

It will also be of help historically to eliminate the presence of common childhood vaccinepreventable diseases if the child has not been fully immunised against those diseases.

Thus, the importance of getting children to be

The regular use of insecticidetreated bed-nets and appropriate management of the environment will also reduce the possibility of malaria as a differential diagnosis, even though common problems must always be considered first. the childhood illnesses that are encountered on daily basis will be those that have been routinely managed with variable success rates.

This well-known pattern of presentation is likely to mask the odd child that may present with Ebola. It is noteworthy that the first case of this disease in West Africa was traced back to a two-year-old who died in December, 2013 in Guinea.

The report was published in The New England Journal of Medicine by a research team studying the outbreak. It would appear that no one could

immunised cannot be over-emphasised under the circumstances. The regular use of insecticide-treated bednets and appropriate management of the environment will also reduce the possibility of malaria as a differential diagnosis, even though common problems must always be considered first.

It must be emphasised that most cases of acute illnesses that present as emergencies are not caused by Ebola so there is no need to panic or neglect the children especially if they are unable to express themselves.

In such cases, the key to diagnosis lies in the history given by the primary child carers who are usually the parents, but then the carers must be encouraged to be truthful. There is no gainsaying that many patients do not respond truthfully to questions that are designed to assist the health care providers to make the correct diagnosis.

Correct diagnosis They sometimes falsify the addresses of their residences, their ages, movements and social practices.

In this predicament that we find ourselves, we are pleading with parents and other primary child carers to speak the truth always because it may save their lives, the lives of members of their families, friends and others who may be their casual contacts.

Accurate and relevant history taking for all is one of the tools for saving lives and containing this contagious and lifethreatening disease.

Finally in a broader context, Government and all stakeholders must be commended for the prompt and vibrant response that has been demonstrated since the unfortunate emergence of Ebola in Nigeria.

•Professor Adenike Grange is Consultant Paediatrician and former Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

By Kehinde Adegbolahon

B

ORN in 1925 in the ancient town of Owo in Ondo State, Pa Samuel came from the Sashere pedigree, noted for discipline, courage, industry and forthrightness. It’s no surprise then that he naturally gravitated towards the teaching profession, where he spent the bulk of his active working career, putting in close to three decades in about six different schools, including St. Judes Primary School, Ebute-Metta, where he contributed immensely to nurturing the next generation of future leaders.

At this stage of his life, Papa was noted as a disciplinarian, a natural teacher, a benevolent friend and a reliable confidant in most of the local communities where he served. Much later, he decided to explore career opportunities in the business world and got engaged with the famous Leventis Group, where he worked actively for a number of years and replicated a confirmation of his outstanding character – discipline, punctuality to work, honesty, loyalty and industry.

In the most important aspect of his life, Pa Samuel was a man of faith. He started out early in life as a nominal Christian but grew rapidly in the Lord and was able to demonstrate the fruit of the spirit as a counselor, a motivator and an evangelist who continually preached heaven to all who cared to listen.

He was of the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Makoko, where he joined the Council of Elders alongside notable personalities as Dr. D.K. Olukoya – now

Late Pa. Samuel Babatunde Johnson of the world renowned MFM Ministries.

As an active member of the CAC, Pa Samuel belonged to the Light of the World Society, a demonstration of his evangelistic inclination. He was a pillar of encouragement to people in distress and would constantly remind them of the ultimate destination, which is heaven.

His deep conviction about the Christian faith made him take a bold step to adopt a new name that honoured the God he served and dissociated him from the lesser and impotent gods of his fore fathers. His natural surname was Awogbaila but his adopted Christian surname was Johnson.

Although Papa was the only child of his parents, he had many children, whom he nurtured to carry the same traits he was well known for. Among them is the Assistant General Overseer of the MFM, Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahon, who is a testimony of the glory and power of God. Papa has answered the call of his Creator and will be remembered for his gospel of heavenly focus, his fortitude in righteousness, his discipline in industry and his loyalty in friendship. Adieu Papa!

•Pastor Kehinde Adegbolahon contributed this on behalf of the family.

58 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

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LONGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Longe Olayemi Abejide Olanrewaju, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fadeyi-Akinfolahan Olayemi Abejide Olanrewaju. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OYEDEMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyedemi Oreoluwa Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obisesan Oreoluwa Mercy. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LONGE—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abigail Adesina Moyinolorunlogo Longe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abigail Adesina Moyinolorunlogo Olagbaye. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Immigration Service and general public please take note.

AW O T U N D E — I , formerly known and addressed as Miss Awotunde Ganiyat Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ashade Esther Olubunmi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

60 — Vanguard,FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

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Agenda for the new NFF

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HE authentic President of the Nigeria Football Federation (they should revert to Nigeria Football Association) would have merged yesterday in the election held. It has been put off.

As I write today(Tuesday, September 2, 2014) Amaju Pinnick, was strongly on the card to succeed Aminu Maigari.

I know that I may be repeating myself on the issues I want to raise now having written on them before.

However, I know how forgetful Nigerians are. That’s why people who raped our economy and contributed in making Nigeria not to reach its potential in development are still being recycled in government.

Even the media besiege them to air their views on the state of the nation. Pity!

It’s the same in sports. Only last year, the Eagles caught global attention when they refused to fly the plane Fifa had dispatched to fly them to Brazil for the Confederation Cup over match bonus. It was an international disgrace. President Goodluck Jonathan sent money to them. That did not inspire any success.

They failed in the competition.

At the World Cup proper, the team went on strike over World Cup grant that Fifa was yet to pay Nigeria. It was another international shame on Nigeria. President Jonathan sent a Presidential jet to Brazil with $2.8m. A friend joked that the effect of the Dollar overdose made them crash to a very beatable French team. We never learn from the past.

Have I not warned that money can only inspire victory if used well to develop and prepare athletes for competitions and that huge sums of money on match days will not transform to victories? And I warned from the perspective of a one time athlete and not as a journalist.

How many times have I cited past experiences to support my argument? What happened in the 2010 World Cup when we increased the match bonus from $5,000 to $10,000? Did we not lose in the first round?

Was it not our worst World Cup finals outing in spite of the increased match bonus and a crazy $350,000 pay to Lars Largaback? Can you give $1m each to Enugu Rangers players and that fires them to beat Chelsea or Barcelona? Can you put down $10m for Ogo Egwero or Obinna Metu and ask any of them to beat Usain Bolt?

I’m recalling all these to guide the new NFA board.

They have no choice other than to plan for development and not go to match venue and promise the players heaven on earth. But I’m not saying that they must not motivate players. No. They must do so but they must be guided by reality and must in turn guide the Presidency or government against the money game that has always failed us.

I advise the new board on the following: COACHES The federation should engage competent coaches for all the national teams. The coaches must have reasonable contracts, which must be respected by all parties. The coaches must, on their own, make

Coaches must not engage in the management of individual players as this breeds corruption

the national teams competitive for every player to earn and deserve his place. Players must merit their places in the national team. Coaches must not engage in the management of individual players as this breeds corruption. Coaches must focus on the national leagues and must have the quality to train and develop players professionally.

THE FEDERATION

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he federation must embark on serious revenue drive with their marketers to ensure their purses are big enough for their programmes especially youth development.

It must work in serious liaison with the League Management Company (LMC) to improve our league. The league should be the bedrock of our football and all coaches must be made to pay attention on the league.

Standards must be set and only clubs that meet the standard for the premier league should be registered.

Training of referees and coaches should be part of the federation’s priorities.

Youth Development, The League, Marketing and Competition should be the major departments and be prioritized in the order that I have just written.

The federation should not lose sight of the damage referees are causing our league. It should address

US Open.... US Open.....

MTN Football Academy bubbles

Djokovic prevails over Murray W ORLD No. 1 Novak Djokovic wore down old foe Andy Murray in a typically grueling encounter under the lights at Flushing Meadows , to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open.

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In a repeat of the 2012 final, which Murray won, the pair combined for some stunning long rallies before Djokovic pulled away for a 7-6 (1), 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory to set up a semifinal against Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Serena sweeps into S/final

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FTER a bad-as-canbe start, dropping the first three games, Serena Williams quickly turned things around and stretched her US Open winning streak to 19 matches to get back to the semifinals.

Considered the best server in women’s tennis, the No. 1-seeded

Williams was broken twice in a row at the outset on Thursday, before taking complete control for a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 11th-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy. ‘’I don’t feel like I was doing too much wrong,’’ said Williams, a five-time champion at Flushing Meadows.

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the problem by ensuring security to protect the referees and suspending or disengaging the corrupt ones. Clubs that offer bribes to referees must be sanctioned too.

The federation must begin to grade all coaches in the country for the purposes of classification.

It should have a small scouting unit that will monitor all leagues, select and recommend players to coaches of all categories even as those coaches must also move around for scouting.

It must implement the Code of Conduct for all the national teams and ensure players do not have issues with bonuses midway into tournaments.

The Code of Conduct states partly that the federation must inform the teams on their entitlements before camping for every competition and that players must accept the terms or decline invitation so that nobody begins unnecessary agitation when concentration should be on how to succeed.

The federation should approve allowance for coaches to travel to league venues to monitor our league matches and select players. Right now, you rarely see national coaches in league venues.

The federation must ensure that national coaches do not manage individual players to check biases.

We have seen some players who do not merit to be in the national team being invited while some good ones are left out. Coaches must rise above sentiments and personal interests in the management of national teams. The federation can ensure that.

On youth development, the federation must insist Premier league clubs own youth teams, which should play a league in a format that will not be weighty on the purses of the clubs. The format can be discussed and agreed upon.

The federation must pay the wages of coaches as at when due and must, therefore, offer what they are capable of paying.

The federation must check age cheats in our youth teams so that we have real development and not where we shine at youth level but consistently fail to make impact at the senior level.

The federation should consider coaches who are good in youth development for the age grade teams.

Talents of coaches differ and the federation must have a competent Technical Department and Technical Committee capable of noting this and assigning coaches accordingly. They must also ensure sound decisions on technical matters that will develop the game and also help the coaches to produce good teams.

The federation should ensure that they have good rapport with the National Sports Commission and they should earn the respect of government and people of Nigeria by really developing the game and not just participating in competitions. The federation needs vision, large heart, passion and transparency to take Nigeria’s football to the level all will appreciate. I wish them good luck.

•Djokovic

HE Academy that marks the last camping for finalists in the ongoing MTN Football Scholar Season 4 is currently bubbling with 21 starlets, who made it from the preliminaries to the final stage.

This year edition of MTN Football Scholar which commenced in April with auditions in six cities of Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu Abuja, Akure and Lagos saw the organizers combing the nooks and crannies of the country to bring together thousands of not just young football talents but also kids who have the academic capacity to have a place in an American University.

At present, the 21 successful candidates

from the initial auditions, trials and camping in this year ’s edition, where they passed through rigorous and effective trainings in both football and academic works are in the camp to undergo further preparations for SAT examinations s and acquire more soccer instructions to qualify them for an America scholarship.

Meanwhile, the youngsters have continued to express their optimism in the project as well as their joy for the opportunity provided by the telecommunications company to have a qualitative education while fulfilling their dreams of becoming a soccer star.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 61

African qualifiers begin after troubled Maigari insists on September elections build-up P

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HE 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group qualifiers begin Friday after a build-up dominated by the deadly Ebola epidemic and Fifa threats to ban defending champions Nigeria.

Guinea, a West African country at the epicentre of the Ebola crisis, have been forced to move a home fixture against Togo to Morocco.

And only a late u-turn by the Ivory Coast government allowed Sierra Leone, where the virus has claimed hundreds of lives, to play in Abidjan.

Nigeria start the defence of a title won in Soweto last year by hosting Congo Brazzaville in Calabar, but could be barred from playing South Africa next week.

Fifa want controversiallyelected Chris Giwa removed as national football federation head and former incumbent Aminu Maigari reinstated

by September 8 or a worldwide ban will kick in.

Other dramas included Rwanda being barred over a dual-identity player and Mali wanting a fixture moved from Algeria after Cameroonian Albert Ebosse died there when struck by a rock leaving a pitch.

The qualifiers offer topranked African team Algeria a chance to build on a great 2014 World Cup, forcing eventual champions Germany into extra time before ending gallant 2-1 losers.

RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, has announced that elections into the executive committee of the NFF will hold before September 25 after an extra ordinary congress on September 18.

Maigari said, “We are going to hold the election before September 25 and the Extra-Ordinary Congress will hold to ratify the roadmap as requested by FIFA”.

He has also appealed for calm and assured Nigerians that normalcy

All set for Ikoyi Club Tennis Challenge

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•Emenike

Real enemies of Nigerian football 'll soon be international football. issue is already being exposed — Giwa The embattled president addressed.

BY JUDE ABUJA

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OPARA,

MBATTLED President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Giwa yesterday assured Nigerians that the real enemies of football in the country will soon be exposed.

Giwa said this while inaugurating two committees including the committee that will investigate why the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) boycotted last week’s league matches and the committee that will find out why the League Management Company (LMC) told the clubs not to play league matches last

will soon return to the nation’s football administration and stave off the hanging threat of suspension from the Federation of International Football Associations (NFF).

The NFF president further dismissed insinuations of crisis in the nation’s football administration, pointing out that only five persons have been trying to cause confusion within the ranks.

“It is important that we remain calm and don’t take action or make comments that will aggravate the situation,” he said.

week. The committee on the league is also to administer the league till the end of the season.

He also assured all Nigerians that the country will not be suspended from

who equally acknowledged the receipt of a letter from the world football governing body, FIFA mandating him to vacate office before 7am on September 8 said that the

“We have received the letter from FIFA but I want to assure Nigerians that the country will not be suspended from international football''.

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the deadly Ebola virus that has killed hundreds in Guinea.

The 30-year-old striker will be making a return to the national team after being out since he fell out with former coach Dider Six 18-months ago.

Adebayor who has picked form with his team in the English Premeirship has been busy training with his

colleagues Lome.

“We know Guinea is a tough team, but we shall try to take the advantage that they are also playing away from home,” Adebayor said.

He also made it clear that featuring for the national team is always a great feeling because a player represents all the people in his country.

HAIRMAN of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Section, Ede Osemwengie said yesterday in Lagos that all was set for the first National Tennis Challenge sponsored by the section.

The challenge matches will feature Mumuni Babalola, winner of the 2014 CBN Senior Open Championships and Clifford Enosoregbe winner of the 2013 Dala Hard Court Championships who defends the title in Kano in November.

The ladies’ contest will have Ronke Akingbade, winner of the 2013 CBN Championship squaring up against emerging young tennis

star and runner-up at the 2012 CBN Senior championship, Sarah Adegoke.

“We (Ikoyi Club Tennis Section) want to start contributing our own small quota to the development of tennis in Nigeria” Mr Osemwengie said.

Adding, “we hope that the challenge contest, which will be annual by God’s grace, will serve to motivate other players to strive to win tournaments to qualify.”

Mr Sunday Thomas, the captain of the section explained further: “We have the Masters Championship that will feature the top eight players, men and women, in view. This should serve as a test run.

Ilaboya’s dad burial for Adebayor leads Togo against Guinea Sept. 20

OTTENHAM Hotspur talisman Emmanuel Adebayor is expected to make a return to the national side as he leads Togo in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Guinea in Casablanca on Friday.

The Group E game is being played on a neutral ground because of fear of

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HE burial rites of Chief Ilaboya Oiseomaoje, father of ace sports broadcaster and Vice Chairman, Edo FA, Frank Ilaboya, comes up on September 20, 2014, the family has stated.

The interment of Chief Oiseomaoje, who died at the age of 96, will be preceded by a wakekeep on September 19,

at his residence in Ule Uantioje Quarters, Uzebba, Edo State.

The late Oiseomaoje is remembered for his giant strides in Uzebba, where he touched the lives of people, he came in contact with.

He is survived by many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Vanguard Kirikiri Warriors battle SportsDay for soccer gold N

IGERIA’S best read N e w s p a p e r, Vanguard will today at the National Stadium in Lagos, battle SportsDay in the soccer final of the 2014 NUJ/Med View Games.

The Kirikiri Warriors, as the Vanguard are called by their teeming and vociferous fans around the media world, have been playing the best football ever seen at this edition of the NUJ Games, which in turn has made them the clear favourites to pick the mother of all gold medals.

SportsDay are the defending champions of the competition.

And after romping into today’s final, courtesy of two wins against Lagos Information and Tell Magazine, yesterday, the Kirikiri Warriors say they are battle-ready to scoop the gold.

With an array of talented youngsters in their squad, Vanguard’s Kirikiri Warriors boast of the most compact and effective team in the ongoing competition.

Parading the likes of captain fantastic in goal, Joseph Sunday, who has made breathtaking saves to deny Vanguard’s opponents goals in previous matches, to prolific striker, Eghagbaifo Orowemru, who has banged in three goals in the competition, the Vanguard squad reek of star quality, a fact that has catapulted them to the final.

The likes of Yesun Esumaje, Lucky Enuesike, Marrtins Obigho, Onyebuchi

Continues from BP signs that he has a future with the team, with smart play when given the ball in front of goalkeepers. But the man who stole the show on the evening was Elkanemi goalkeeper, David Obiaozor, who was having his first training session with the team. He dived, parried and clutched balls to the delight of hundreds of fans who turned out to watch the team’s C M Y K

Herbert, Ebrugba Emmanuel, Godspower Mark, John Ofuyaekpone, Akeem Salau, Monday Emakoleyi, Sunday Win and midfield powerhouse Kenneth Ehigiator are all within torching distance of writing their names in the golden history of the NUJ media Games.

A tip of what to expect today was shown by the Kirikiri Warriors during yesterday ’s quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Lagos Information and Tell respectively.

In the pulsating encounter with Lagos Information, Vanguard held their nerves to win 3-2 on penalties, after the match had ended goalless in regulation time. It took the cat-like saves of goalkeeper Sunday to send the Kirikiri Warriors into the penultimate round, where they faced Tell, in another mouth-watering duel, that saw the magazine boys winning 2-0.

But sensing foul play in the manner of the defeat, Vanguard protested to the organising committee that Tell used ineligible players to defeat them.

After an exhaustive probe, the organisers found out that Tell truly used mercenaries to aid their victory over Vanguard.

Tell were duly punished for breaching the rules of competition, with Vanguard being awarded the full points and three goals and a

Emenike training under very clement weather in Calabar.

After the session, Coach Keshi raised a fresh alarm about some impostors who have been using his name on facebook pretending to be Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. “I have heard about people posing as Keshi on facebook and I want to say because of this type of activities by

place in today’s grand finale.

The Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, venue of the match would witness media bigwigs from Vanguard.

Already, Deputy Editor Eze Anaba charged Newsroom to transfer to National Stadium to chant down SportsDay and bring back the trophy to Kirikiri.

With Innocent Anaba, Prince Osuagwu propelling the Warriors with double bonus, SportsDay would no doubt be added to the list of Vanguard’s casualties

THE WAY TO PLAY — Non playing captain of Vanguard's Kirikiri Warriors, Tony Ubani gives a tactical talk to the team while NUJ Chairman, Innocent Anaba watches with keen interest. Photo: AKEEM SALAU

Ferguson hosts top European coaches A HOST of the world’s top bosses have joined forces for the annual managers’ meeting held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

On Wednesday and Thursday, former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson chaired the 16th Elite Club Coaches Forum meeting as UEFA’s coaching ambassador while president Michel Platini was also present.

Ferguson was pictured sharing a joke with former nemesis Arsene Wenger, while Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was also snapped at the event.

However, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers did not attend the gathering.

The meet-up is often

deviants, I never set up a facebook account.

He continued: “I don’t have a facebook account, but I have my email and phones which is even restricted because people will be looking for ways to use this new wave of technology to dupe people. I call on relevant security authorities to put a stop to those parading themselves as Stephen Keshi on facebook”.

exclusive to bosses whose sides are in European competition this term, which would

exclude Van Gaal.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho attended the meeting as well as

former Stamford Bridge bosses Andre VillasBoas, Rafael Bentiez and Carlo Ancelotti.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 — 63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

Congo fly in today for AFCON clash C ONGO are expected to fly into Nigeria today after they kept the NFF in the dark over their travel plans for most of the week.

Nigeria had to

Emenike, Obiazor sparkle in Eagles training

complain to CAF about the hide-and-seek game of the Congolese after they could not get any information from them as regards their arrival and other logistical details ahead of Saturday ’s AFCON qualifier in Calabar.

Congo were reinstated to the competition after

Rwanda were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

Meanwhile, Greecebased defender Bernard Itoua Onanga arrived late in Pointe-Noire and he is now stuck with administrative formalities like entry visa to Nigeria.

Inside Sports Vanguard

…As Keshi raises alarm over Facebook impersonators

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UPER Eagles only training session on Thursday evening at the UJ Esuene Stadium, was one that stood some players out, though all the stars, 22 of them are fit to start according to Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

Hotshot, Emmanuel Emenike’s rising profile in front of goalkeepers was obvious as his powerful runs, crosses and blistering goals came to the fore even as he played on the side of the possible against the probables in the training session. New boy, Christian Ighodaro Osagunna, also showed Continues on Page 62

Team photo: A host of Europe’s elite coaches gathered at UEFA’s headquarters in Switzerland (including Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique in white trainers)

Vanguard Kirikiri Warriors battle SportsDay for soccer gold — P.62 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Staunch (4) 4 Sleep (3) 6 Gala (4) 8 New (6) 9 Character (6) 10 Newt (3) 12 Fragment (5) 14 Soothe (5) 15 Oarsman (5) 18 Colonnade (6) 20 Sick (6) 24 Doctrine (5) 26 Advantage (5) 28 Tine (5) 30 Fish (3) 32 Pillar (6) 33 Loath (6) 34 Border (4) 35 Still (3) 36 Shout (4)

DOWN 2 Pick-me-up (5) 3 Make-up (7) 4 Naked (4) 5 Gasp (4) 6 Deadly (5)\ 7 Ground (7) 11 Charge (3) 12 Ocean (3) 13 Seed-case (3) 16 Married (3) 17 Tease (3) 19 Reply (7) 21 Devil (3) 22 Theft (7) 23 Silence (3) 25 Mineral (3) 27 Ooze (5) 29 Of noses (5) 30 Jealousy (4) 31 Final (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Asked 7, Vague 8, Creel 10, Gaped 12, Era 13, Aster 15, Rebirth 17, Poured 19, Fig 20, Delight 23, Aged 25, Tall 26, Defamed 30, Mat 31, Doctor 34, Devotee 37, Chest 38, Cat 39, Drake 40, Muted 41, Eaten 42, Heart.

DOWN: 1, Lasso 2, Auger 3, Seared 4, Ewer 5, Freight 6, Death 9, Err 13, Appal 14, Tuned 16, Big 18, Debated 21, Taste 22, Alert 24, Demoted 27, Fat 28, Docker 29, Recur 32, Cheat 33, Osier 35, Vat 36, Erne.

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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