BAKASSI:Jonathan ordersreview of ICJ ruling

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61725

N150

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

FLOOD: Man, wife, 2 children die in boat •P. 13 accident

THE NEW SERVICE CHIEFS

Vice Admiral A. S. Badeh, CAS.

Vice Admiral O. S. Ibrahim, CDS.

Lt-Gen. O A. Ihejirika, COAS (retained).

BAKASSI:

Jonathan orders review of ICJ ruling

•Raises eight-man team to evaluate case •Nigerians hail Vanguard newspapers

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR, HUGO ODIOGOR, BEN AGANDE & JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

A

BUJA — AFTER

more than six hours of heated arguments for and against Nigeria’s appeal of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, ruling, which ceded oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, raised an eight-man team to advise

Continues on page 5

N10.6bn subsidy scam: EFCC arraigns 10 more suspects •P. 6 Mr & Mrs President Goodluck Jonathan (right);Senate President, Senator David Mark (left); Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; (2nd left); and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu after meeting with stakeholders on the review of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, ruling on Bakassi Penninsula, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Well spoken

Sweet

& SOUR •P. 17

Donu Kogbara

•P. 43 07059197616

The last 52 years and after

Okah gave instruction for Oct 1 bombing —Witness •P. 7

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 3

4 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vanguard, FRI DAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—5 FRIDAY,

POCKET CARTOON

Jonathan orders appeal of ICJ ruling Continues from Page 1 the Federal Government on review of the case.

Although the terms of reference of the committee were not spelt out, it was learnt that the overall objective of the body was to work towards asking for an appeal of the Bakassi ruling of October 10, 2002 by the ICJ. Jonathan gave the order after a meeting with the Vice President Namadi Sambo; governors of the six South-South states; President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, in Aso Rock. He ordered a review of the case in the light of fresh facts revealed in Vanguard newspaper campaign on the issue.

The eight members are drawn equally from the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government: four from the National Assembly and four from relevant MDAs. No positions were attached to the membership of the team but the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, are to serve on the committee, which also has the chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives

Committees on Judiciary and Foreign Affairs, among others, as members.

The team, it was learnt last night, has been mandated to do all that was possible to ensure that Nigeria files an appeal for a review of the judgement before the deadline expires next Tuesday.

Asembling of relevant papers Already, the team has started assembling relevant papers based on the new evidence, which Cross River State claims to have at its disposal, with a view to making them available to the Federal Government.

Sources at the meeting, which was presided over by Jonathan, told Vanguard that many of those who were in attendance almost convinced Jonathan not to appeal against the ICJ judgement, arguing that it would not bring back Bakassi to Nigeria.

For and against a review Those opposed to Bakassi reclaim had attempted to impress it upon the President that Nigeria had already lost the opportunity to get back the mineral-rich peninsula given the fact that it had not shown sufficient interest in the

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

T

ODAY is all you have, that is why it is called “The Present.” It is a gift indeed, use it well, because each day comes only once in a lifetime!

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

“EVERY day I try to uplift my humanity by being human, doing something beautiful for someone, even a kind thought is a gift of love. A kind deed from you, may not cost much, but this maybe a haven for someone in need. Uplift your humanity and be kind...even kinder.” —E. R.

A

CCORDING to Joy Bell C, a writer, some people feel that spiritual enlightenment is achieved through the denial of oneself; but the truth of the matter is that, even if you deny yourself many things, go and live in a mountaintop, and never mingle with other people, and do not have the opportunity to be there for others through giving of yourself, what then is the use of enlightenment.

True enlightenment comes to a person wherever they choose to serve life. The key factor is attention and awareness. Be good at whatever you do and enjoy doing it. Taking time to reconnect with your inner life is beautiful but an enlightened soul is thoughtful, caring, giving, and endearing being.

Just be kind and if you already have that virtue...Then be kinder.

area.

However, the pendulum is said to have swung in favour of a review when Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State addressed the meeting, saying that leaving Bakassi to another country would expose the state and its people to unmitigated security challenges.

Imoke argued that illegal bunkering and other form of crimes had already become prevalent in the Bakassi area as a result of the prevailing situation there.

Adding their voice to the call for a review of the judgment, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and a member of the House of Representatives, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, reportedly told the gathering that the people of Cross River State were resolute about the review and that they could not say anything to the contrary.

Senate President Mark, however, stunned the audience when he stated defiantly that it was mandatory for the Federal Government to call for the review of the ICJ ruling since the National Assembly had already passed a resolution asking the government to do so.

Mark said the issue at stake was not whether Nigeria would win the case but taking the first step to ask for a review of the judgement based on new evidence and in accordance with the resolution of the National Assembly.

The Senate President said Nigeria could decide to do nothing about the case, ask for review irrespective of the outcome or be prepared for the consequence of not doing anything about it.

Jonathan had summoned the emergency meeting to brainstorm on how best to go about the reclaiming of the controversial Bakassi issue, which his administration had earlier declared as closed.

However, mounting pressure from within and without might have forced him to have a rethink on the issue.

Also at the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who was invited as an observer because of the proximity of his state to Bakassi and Cross River.

A source who spoke with

Vanguard on the issue, last night, said, however, that it was not clear if the committee would be able to produce its report on time and file an appeal with the ICJ on or before next Tuesday.

Team leaves for The Hague Sources said the Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Justice was on its way to The Hague, The Netherlands at press time to begin the process of filing the appeal today. October 10, 2012 is the deadline for the process to be effected, without which Nigeria will forever forfeit the territory to Cameroun.

Facts by Vanguard newspaper Vanguard learnt that the President will raise a crack team of knowledgeable Nigerians, notably historians, diplomats, lawyers, military, and security personnel, the media and traditional rulers to look at the fresh facts that the country will be presenting to ICJ, against the backdrop of the avalanche of information and facts that have come to the public domain through Vanguard's campaign on the Bakassi issue.

The National Assembly and the Nigerian Bar Association took the gauntlet by mounting pressure on President Jonathan to consider the fresh facts that have emerged in addition to series of violation of the Green Tree Agreement upon which Nigeria had shown compliance with the ICJ ruling by withdrawing its troops from the disputed territory. Cameroun had taken advantage of this gesture of peace to send its security forces into the peninsula, thereby enthroning a reign of terror on the indigenous Nigerian population from Efik Kingdom in Cross River State.

A statement from the Presidency said the president had set up a committee to look at the option of reviewing the ruling. Details of the committee members were sketchy at press time but Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, whose institute devoted the 12th brainstorming session in

August 2012, to discuss the Bakassi issue, said President Jonathan as an intellectual, must look into that constituency to select capable hands to represent the country in by presenting fresh facts and remove those who have limited knowledge on the issue.

National interest The NIIA Director General told Vanguard that the President had done the wishes of the Nigerian people who elected him into the Presidency and whose interest he was obligated to protect.

Akinterinwa said Nigeria had not breached any international law and that the country remained faithful to all the treaties it had signed but when the Nigerian people reject any of such treaty, the government was duty bound to reflect the wishes of the citizens.

He said the decision to appeal for a revision was consistent with Jonathan’s avowed declaration to put the interest of Nigerian citizens as the driving force of his administration. He said the way forward was to assure the international community that Nigeria would remain faithful to its treaties, but would always put the interest of Nigerians first and above all interest.

Kudos to Vanguard Former Columbia University Professor of Modern History, Prof.

Walter Ofonagoro was full of praises for Vanguard Newspaper, which he said gave voice and hope to Bakassi people, who were forlorn and despondent about the prospects of being deprived of their home land based on deceitful evidence presented to the ICJ by Cameroun in its Memorandum of Facts which concealed the fact

that an April 1893 International boundary between it and Nigeria was inviolate and was inherited by both countries on their independence in 1960.

He said Vanguard Newspaper encouraged him to go into extensive research on the issue because all his former efforts to get the facts out had been frustrated.

The Co-ordinator of Save Bakassi Group, Mr. Maurice Ekong, said Vanguard had shown leadership in journalism which is unprecedented in modern times. He said Vanguard’s campaign gave hope to the people who took up the battle to expose the lies that were taken to the ICJ and they almost succeeded in making the President abandon the people of Bakassi in the time of need.

Jubilations in Calabar Meanwhile, there were jubilations in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, yesterday over the Federal Government decision to appeal against the ICJ ruling.

The state Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin Ricketts, said the development showed that President Jonathan was a listening president, who was committed to the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Ricketts described the position of the Federal Government as the most welcome development and that it was what the people of the state had been praying for as the judgement had rendered Nigerian citizens of Bakassi extraction destitutes in their land and commended the president for the decision.

The commissioner also commended Vanguard Newspapers for spearheading the crusade towards ensuring that no part of the country was ceded to another country.

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

CBN directs banks to accept voters' card for identification

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

C

ENTRAL Bank of Ni geria, CBN, yesterday directed banks to accept the voters’ card issued by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as means of identification.

The directive was given via a circular titled “Inclusion of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, voter’s registration card as a means of customer identification”.

The circular said: “Further to our circular on anti-money laundering/counter financing terrorism (AML/ CFT), Regulation 2009 on acceptable means of identification for the purpose of account opening and transaction of banking business in Nigeria, it has become necessary as a result of the need to enhance financial inclusion, to extend the acceptable identification options.

“Accordingly, all banks and other financial institutions are hereby advised to accept INEC Voter’s Registration Card duly issued

by INEC, bearing the holder’s particulars such as name, photograph, date of birth and address as a val-

id additional means of identification of natural persons for the purpose of conducting banking business in Nigeria.”

In another development, the CBN has commenced measures for banks to have a common account opening procedure. The apex bank yesterday issued a draft documents for account opening by individuals and corporate bodies. The draft document was communicated to banks via a circular titled, Account Opening Forms.

It stated that, “the absence of uniformity in account opening procedure and documentation for prospective customers has continued to hinder the effectiveness·of KYC requirement in banks and other financial institutions in Nigeria.

"The adverse implication of this on the fight against money laundering and combating of financing of terrorism cannot be overemphasized. The CBN, in conjunction with the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Banks in Nigeria, CCCOBIN, has therefore developed draft uniform account opening forms for adoption by banks and other financial institution".

Infrastructure: FG to grant tax waivers to coys zCoys employing more than 10 staff to get tax relief

BY MICHAEL EBOH & FRANKLIN ALLI

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AGOS—THE Federal Government, yesterday, said it will grant tax waivers to companies that have invested in the development of infrastructure facilities.

Speaking at the Nigeria International Investment Forum, NIIF, sponsored by Access Bank Plc, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Business Council and Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, also disclosed that the Federal Government is considering tax relief for companies employing more than 10 persons.

Aganga said these waivers are part of the new scheme of tax credit planned by government to encourage increased inflow of foreign investment into

the country.

According to Aganga, companies that have invested in the development of infrastructure such as construction of access roads, power plants and water plants are now entitled to tax credit of up to 30 per cent of the cost of generating the infrastructure.

He said: “Another phase of the tax incentives which is targeted at employment generation, provides tax reliefs for any employer that hires above 10 staff.

“The Ministry of Works is currently working hard on the development of trade related infrastructure with a target time of 2014. But before then we have introduced measures to cushion the effect of infrastructure deficiency, one of which provides that any company that has invested in infrastructure will have tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of generating the infrastructure.”

SIGNING—From left: President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; COO, Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake and CEO, Tiger Brands Limited, Mr. Peter Matlare during the signing of the divestment of shares of Dangote Flour Mills Plc, DFM, to Tiger Brands at Dangote Group corporate head office in Lagos, yesterday.

N10.6bn subsidy scam: EFCC arraigns 10 more suspects

BY SONI DANIEL, ASSISTANT EDITOR

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BUJA—TEN more suspects implicated in the fuel subsidy scam are to appear today before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos High Court over their involvement in the large scale fraud.

The new suspects consists of four companies and six individuals who were initially recommended by the Farouk Lawan Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy and subsequently verified and confirmed by the AigImuokhuede-led Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation of fuel subsidy payments.

The suspects are alleged to have fraudulently claimed the sum of N10.6 billion from the Petroleum Support Fund, PSF, using fake documents for fuel not supplied.

The individuals to be prosecuted are Ifeanyi Anosike, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah.

The companies are Anosyke Group of Companies Ltd, Dell Energy Ltd, Downstream Energy Sources Ltd and Rocky Energy Ltd. The arraignment of the 10 suspects was confirmed by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren in Abuja yesterday.

According to the Commission, Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi

Anosike, Dell Energy Ltd, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma are to face eightcount charge on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; forgery and falsification of documents to the tune of N1, 537,278,880.82.

The amount was said to have been fraudulently obtained by the suspects from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of Premium Motor Spirit.

On the other hand, Downstream Energy Sources Ltd, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Limited, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel Morah are being tried on an eightcount charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretence; conspiracy to forge documents, forgery and altering false documents to the tune of N789,648,329.25.

The payments were fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 14, 273, 227 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had in July arraigned Mahmud Tukur, son of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and four others for their alleged complicity in the fuel subsidy fraud.

Also arraigned were Nasamu Ali, son of former chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, and Abdullahi Alao, son of prominent businessman, Alhaji Ab-

dullazeez Arisekola-Alao.

Tukur was arraigned alongside Alao, Ochonogor Alex and Eterna Oil and Gas Plc. before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

The accused persons, who are facing a nine-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents, have however been admitted to bail.

EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, had alleged that the suspects fraudulently obtained the sum of N1.8 billion from the Federal Government between January and April 2011.

He alleged that the accused persons obtained the money from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.

NHF expresses worry over rising cases of heart diseases

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS—NIGERIAN Heart Foundation, NHF, has raised alarm over the rise in risk factors of Cardiovascular Disease, CVD, and expressed worry over imminent cases of heart diseases in the country.

According to the Heart Foundation, incidents of heart attack which used to be five per cent have increased to eight per cent in the country.

Briefing newsmen on activities to mark the 2012 World Heart Day in Lagos, the Chairperson, Organising Committee, Nigerian Heart Foundation, NHF, Dr. Funmi Akinloye stated that sudden heart attack is gradually increasing in Nigerian women, especially those in the middle age.

Akinloye noted that a recent data which showed rising prevalence of risk factors of heart diseases revealed that factors such as hypertension has increased from 10 per cent to 30 per cent while elevated blood cholesterol is now 23 per cent.

Other factors that have risen are diabetes mellitus 12 per cent, alcohol 10 per cent; smoking 13 per cent, ischemic heart disease and eight per cent.

The chairperson regretted that despite the rising incidents of CVD related deaths, Nigeria was yet to adopt strategies that would facilitate the attainment of the global target of CVD reduction by 25 per cent by 2025.

“Although Nigeria is on track but the government is rather slow in action,” she noted.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—7

Senate begins constitution amendment zAs Ewherido seeks devolution of powers

BY HENRY UMORU

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FACT BEHIND THE FIGURES— From left: Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exechange; Mrs Funke Osibodu, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Mr Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director Business Development Nigerian Stock Exchange, during the Facts Behind the Figures of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Okah gave instructions for Oct 1, bombing—WITNESS J

OHANNESBURG, SOUTH-AFRICA— ANOTHER prosecution witness yesterday said Henry Okah gave instructions for the October 1, 2010, twin car bombings in Abuja.

The witness said he was a member of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, having joined the group in 2006.

The third prosecution witness, who simply introduced himself as Stanley at the ongoing trial of Okah at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, said Okah gave instruction for the attacks in Abuja during the independence anniversary celebrations.

Stanley told the court that he was introduced to Okah in 2006 and was instructed to always refer to Okah as “Master”.

He said: “I overheard Okah on numerous occasions discussing the purchase of weapons and in 2007 he contacted me asking me to pass a message to other leaders to do whatever it takes to get him out of jail. His wife, Azuka also planned to kidnap the Angolan Ambassador in Nigeria to bargain for his release,” Stanley said.

He said in January 2010, Okah instructed him to get an empty apartment he wanted to use to assemble car bombs. Answering prosecutor’s question about whether he had knowledge of the October bombing, he

said he knew about it two days before it happened. “A friend, Raphael Danfebo, told me Okah wanted to

carry out the terror attack and gave instructions for two cars to be sent to Abuja on October. 1,” Stanley said.

Okah is facing 13 counts charge of terrorism, planning and financing car explosions.

Jonathan appoints new CDS, service chiefs

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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BUJA—SHOCK and disbelief among officers and soldiers of the armed forces trailed the announcement yesterday of a new Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Ezoba and new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Bade.

The retention of Lt. General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff however did not come as a surprise as the Army Chief was seen as someone who has taken the Army to a new level with unprecedented expansion and operational capability that have ensured that most internal insurrections are kept at bay.

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim who hails from Kwara State, was the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff and his appointment according to Vanguard investigation was based on the fact that the Airforce had produced

two Chiefs of Defence Staff; Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike and Oluseyi Petinrin and it was therefore the turn of the Nigerian Navy in the order of rotation.

Vanguard had gathered that the outgoing CNS was going to be the next CDS when on Tuesday, at the launching of the new Navy Camouflage, the outgoing CDS, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, appeared in the new camouflage, in CDS rank.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Ezoba was until his appointment, the Chief of Administration at Defence Headquarters. He had previously served as the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna . He was one time Chief of Training and Operations at Naval headquarters under the administration of Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim.

Before then he served as the Chairman of the Special Military Task Force set up by Air Chief Marshal Dike to checkmate illegal oil refineries, illegal jetties and activities of illegal bun-

kerers in the maritime environment. He was also the Director of Training at Defence headquarters among many others.

The new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Bade who hails from Adamawa State, was the Air Officer Commanding Training Command in Kaduna, He was the Chief of Policy and Plans at NAF headquarters before his posting to Kaduna.

He has also served as Director of Plans at NAF headquarters and worked as a pilot in the Presidential Air Fleet.

Air Vice Marshal Bade was put as Supervisor of the 2012 NAF Air Expo which held in Kaduna in the first quarter of this year by former CAS, Air Marshal MD Umar though Air Commodore was the Chairman, Organizing Committee.

Last Tuesday, Vanguard had reported exclusively that there was anxiety and uneasy calm within the military and security formations following impending reorganization in the hierarchy of the Defence and Services headquarters by President Goodluck Jonathan.

BUJA—THE Senate has begun the process of amending the 1999 Constitution with the Bill which seeks to reduce the powers of the Federal government scaling the second reading.

The change, sought to be effected by the Bill sponsored by Senator Akpor Pius Ewherido, DPP, Delta Central, wants the devolution of more responsibilities from the central government to the states, as the Federal Government had become too strong.

In his lead debate, Ewherido, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, said with more powers to the states, there will be harnessing of states comparative advantages in the production of goods and services without impediment to promote growth, efficiency and effectiveness.

The Bill, which was referred to Constitution Review Committee, will also eliminate wastages associated with the long command matrix of over centralization as a result of

mutation of directives and replacement with a brief command matrix that promotes promptness and better monitoring of policies within states’ territorial jurisdictions.

Senator Ewherido noted that the Bill will help in the enthronement of discipline and hard work from ‘’swift policy implementation as against the present long command chain from the centre to the peripheries responsible for low productivity and sabotage.”

He said, ‘"devolution of powers would allow the various states to develop and protect their core values, cultures and resources within their spatial sanctity and acceptable global practices.

“This will go a long way in stemming the frequent incidents of insurgencies in various parts of the country, which real motives, even though not readily expressed and admitted, are borne out of religious, cultural and economic calibrated interference from an over-centralized and concentrated Federal Octopus structure".

Tukur condemns Mubi massacre zSays masterminds must be punished

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday said security agencies must bring to book those behind the massacre of 40 students of the Federal Polytechnic and School of Health Technology, Mubi, Adamawa State, in Mubi last Monday.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from Ekiti State PDP, led by Kayode Adaramodu, who came to commiserate with him over the wanton killings in his home state, Adamawa, Tukur condemned the ugly incident where lives were taken, and vowed that if fished out, the perpetrators must face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrence to others.

Tukur said enough was enough of the killings, adding that “every Nigerian must condemn what happened. The killing of these students is unwarranted

and uncalled for. What joy does the masterminds of these dastardly act derive from the deaths and shedding of innocent blood? We are parents, how would the parents of these students that were killed feel? ”You sent your children to school to study and the next thing is that his or her corpse is brought back to you. How do you expect them to feel. It was first the killing of members of the National Youths Service Corps, now they have graduated into going into the campus to kill students.

This must stop and the federal, state governments and security agencies must ensure the protection of lives.”

Consequently, Tukur will be leading a delegation of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, to commiserate with the state governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, today, even as he urged Nigerians to address through dialogue whatever their grievances might be.

8—Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

From left: Mr Crispin Oduobuk, Unit Head, CSR Digital Marketing & Events, Unity Bank Plc; Lanre Fagbohun, Executive Director, Lagos & West, and Halima Ishaq, Unit Head, Internal Communications & Brand Management, at a media interactive session in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola; Photo Editor.

My Oga is the father of my baby, 15-yr-old girl tells court

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA—A fifteen year-old-girl, Miss Udoh Comfort, yesterday, narrated before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, how her guardian, one Mr Francis Ekong, 40-years, forcefully slept with her three times and got her pregnant.

Comfort who came to court with her 6-month-old baby, told the court that the man perpetrated the illegal act when his wife was not at home, adding that Ekong threatened to send her back to the village any day he saw her with any boy.

The girl, who mounted the witness box yesterday, told the court that she confronted Ekong upon discovering that she was pregnant, only for the man to blatantly deny responsibility, alleging that she must have slept with one of the boys in their neighborhood.

She said it was at that juncture that somebody took her to the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Person and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP, a move that culminated to the arrest and subsequent trial of her guardian and his wife.

In a two count charge that was filed before the high court, NAPTIP, alleged that Ekong who resides at Mpape Ajugula Street, FCT, Abuja, “on or about May 2010, caused the unlawful carnal knowledge of Miss Udoh Comfort (F) 15 years old of Akasoko, while she was under your custody and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 as amended.”

Count-2 of the charge

entered against both the man and his wife, reads: “That you Mr Francis Ekong (M) 40 years old and Mrs Margaret Ekong (F) 30 years old of Mpape Ajugula Street, FCT, Abuja, sometime in 2008, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, employed Miss Udoh Comfort (f) 15 years old of Akasoko as a domestic help and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 22 (1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003 as amended.”

Ondo guber: ACN wants CP redeployed norship candidate for

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KURE—THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to urgently redeploy the Ondo State Commissioner of Police to forestall a looming chaos in the state.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the call was made by the ACN Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and the party’s gover-

the state, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, at a campaign rally in Ore. He said the police commissioner has shown his bias in favour of the Labour Party in the state, instead of being neutral as demanded by the sensitivity of his high office.

According to him, unless the highly partisan police boss is removed urgently, the clamour for a free, fair and creditable governorship election in Ondo State come October 20, will be a mirage.

....As Mimiko restates commitment to tackle poverty

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KURE—ONDO State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has vowed not to look back in his effort to help the people of the state wage a complete war against poverty through the caring heart programmes of his government, even as he has been urged to remain focused and not surrender to unnecessary pressure capable

of deterring him in rendering service to humanity.

Dr Mimiko made the declaration at the Chapel of Grace Government House Akure on, Wednesday, during the special church service to mark his 58th birthday.

Appreciating God for His mercy upon his family and the people of the State, Mimiko vowed not to look back in the fight against

poverty in the State, stressing that he would continue to work in accordance with the directive of God. He assured the people of adequate protection before, during and after the forthcoming gubernatorial election, warning the people with the intention to foment trouble to desist from such act as the law enforcement agencies were prepared to deal with anyone caught.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—9

UN blames improper planning for ravaging flood

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI AND MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

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N I T E D N AT I O N S , UN, representative in the country, yesterday, attributed the major causes of flood disasters in Nigeria to improper urban planning even as it urged the Federal and state governments to urgently adopt pro-poor land and housing policy.

UN Habitat Programme Manager to Nigeria, Mr. Kabir Yayi and Governor Babatunde Fashola of

Lagos, made the remarks at this year’s celebration of the World Habitat Day, theme ‘Changing Cities, Building Opportunities’,at the state Secretariat Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

However, Governor Babatunde Fashola has reassured residents that his administration would continue in its drive to ensure a sustainable human habitation.

Worried by the present flooding in the country which is currently ravaging some states, Yayi noted that the inability of the

governments to design measures that would aid proper urban planning as the cities grow led to the chaotic development.

According to him, “It is when cities are well planned that they can continue to provide for needs of the citizens.”

Fashola, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, said that the theme of the yearly celebration is in tandem with the state government ten-point agenda and the pursuit of becoming Africa’s model mega-city.

L-R: Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara State Governor, Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information and Communication, Senator Idris Umar, Transports Minister and Mall. Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister of Sports, during the Citizens' Forum of the National Good Governance Tour, at the State Banquet Hall, Ilorin, yesterday.

Tribunal declares PDP’s Obanikoro winner of Lagos LG poll

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

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YEAR after the conduct of the local governments poll in Lagos State, the state Local Government Election Petition Tribunal yesterday declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP winner of the Ikoyi/Obalende chairmanship election.

The state Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, has declared

Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, as the winner of the poll after the election on Oct.22,2011.

Not satisfied with the result, Obanikoro and his party challenged the conduct of the poll and its result asking the tribunal to declare the PDP winner.

Handing down its judgement yesterday, the five-man tribunal led by retired Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, held that Obanikoro scored the highest number of valid

votes in the election.

It therefore ordered LASIEC to revoke the Certificate of Return issued to the ACN candidate and return same to the PDP. It held that the petitioners had proven to the tribunal that election results were not collated at the unit and ward levels as shown in the LASIEC Forms 9A which were admitted as exhibits.

S-West PDP hails judgment The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has hailed the Lagos State Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal judgment, declaring Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the

PDP winner of the Chairmanship Election In Ikoyi-Obalende Local Govt Developpment Authority (LCDA) held on October 22, 2011.

The party, which saluted the courage of the tribunal judges, who gave the judgment said “it is not a surprise because the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Dolapo Akinsanya has a strong reputation that is known to everybody.”

Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kayode Babade who congratulated Obanikoro, PDP members in Lagos State and the entire people of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA said; “The judgment has once again shown that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) is the real party of election riggers.”

Dismissed policeman, two others arrested for robbery

.As 3 die, 3 injured in auto crash

BY EVELYN USMAN

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HE LAGOS State Police Command yesterday, arrested three suspected members of separate robbery gangs said to have been terrorizing residents of Alakuko and Ebute-Metta areas of the state.

Surprisingly, one of the suspects was a dismissed police corporal.

This is just as three persons lost their lives Wednesday night after an Iveco Truck with number plate AAA 92 XA driven by one Samson John, hit a Hyundai Bus with plate number XU 721 BDG at

Itamaga Junction, Ikorodu.

Spokes person for the command , Ngozi Braide who confirmed the arrest ,explained that policemen from Ebutte-Metta division who acted on tip-off, stormed a make shift building in Ebutte-Metta where they arrested one Chinedu Onwunure. A search conducted round the building according to her, led to the recovery of a double barrel gun with nine live ammunition.

During preliminary investigation, it was gathered that the makeshift building was used as a hide-out and also meeting place before the gang went for operation.

Nigeria needs accountable leaders – Cleric

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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HE CHAIRMAN Board of Trustees of Yaba Baptist Church, Deacon Depo Tade has said that the way forward for Nigeria was the enthronement of a formidable and accountable leadership which must be responsible to the citizens.

Tade who made the remark at the beginning of the 70th year anniversary of Yaba Baptist Church lamented that despite various natural and human

resources that abound in the country, majority of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty.

Tade, however, urged leaders to prudently tap and manage the county resources in the interest of the people, adding that the governors have to develop policies that favour the people.

The chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Dr. Mike Dare said the church has not only been in the vanguard of propagating the gospel of Christ but has also imparted immensely into the society.

Cynthia’s body for collection today

BY ALBERT AKPOR

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AGOS — THE remains of Cynthia Osokogwu, lured into Lagos from Nasarawa State and subsequently murdered by her facebook friends, will be collected today; according to police sources.

The police also said that the pathologist, Prof.

John Babafunwa, of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, who performed autopsy on her, had submitted his findings two weeks ago.

Though result of the corona inquest was yet to be made public, feelers from the TOS Funeral Home, a private morgue where the remains of Cynthia is kept, said that the Agbor, Delta State born former postgraduate student, may have died of asphyxia

and respiratory paralysis.

A police source said parents of the deceased have been contacted on the need to come forward to collect their daughter’s corpse, adding that, “that Cynthia is still in the mortuary is no longer police fault as we are through with whatever we needed to do to get to the root of the matter; I think they have been waiting for a convenient time within which to collect the body.”

Contacted for comments, the Lagos Command police public relations officer, DSP Ngozi Briade who confirmed that Cynthia’s corpse was ready for collection said: “We have been talking with her parents for over two weeks now and I am sure they were taking their time."

10—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Akala suggests community not state police

BY OLA AJAYI,

BADAN — FORMER Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State who was a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, has advised that community policing should be considered instead of state police that is being agitated for.

According to him, the bad effects of state police on governance would far outweigh its advantages.

Akala, who was speaking as a guest lecturer at a monthly public lecture organized by the Ibadan Zonal Station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan, said many politicians would use it to oppress, harass and intimidate their opponents.

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L-R: Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Chief Adebisi Akande, National Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor; his wife, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria, during a visit to the Governor at the Osun State Government House, Osogbo yesterday.

5 private varsity students in $27,000 fraud .21 other suspects paraded

BY OLA AJAYI,

BADAN - THE Oyo State Police C o m m a n d yesterday paraded some students of a private university in Ibadan who allegedly defrauded their victims of over 27,000 dollars.

The students who the police claimed to be students of a university in Ibadan were among the 26 suspects paraded yesterday.

One of the students said he used part of the illegal proceed to buy

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vehicles worth N6.2m.

While parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu said the suspects were arrested for crimes ranging from Internet fraud, armed robbery, car snatching and stealing of jewelry worth N25 million.

He hinted that the suspects were rounded up in different parts of the state.

Five students of the university, according to the police, were arrested in a hotel in Ojoo,

Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Items found with the suspects included five laptops.

He said the suspects allegedly used Internet to defraud people of $10million, 500 dollars, 27, 000 dollars at different times.

One of the suspects whose name was given as Nurudeen Oyeniyi said, “I have told them (police) that I do yahoo yahoo. My two most recent deals fetched me $27,000. The first was

$17,000 and the second was $10,000. I got that from a woman in California (USA ),” said Oyeniyi.

Another suspect whose name was given as Kingsley John allegedly broke into his master’s house and stole jewelry worth N25 million and sold them to a bureau de change operator, in Sasa, Ibadan for N12 million.

Also paraded were three suspects alleged to have been in possession of 14 explosives.

PENGASSAN vows to support PPMC over missing workers

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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BEOKUTA — PET roleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has assured the workers of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company, PPMC, of maximum support should they decide to down tools over failure of government to find their missing colleagues attacked by vandals when they went to repair the damaged pipeline at Arepo, Ogun State, dead or alive.

President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatude Ogun, while speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Triennial Delegates

Conference of PENGASSAN branch of PPMC, described the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, as insensitive to plights of workers in the oil and gas industry.

Ogun said: “The minister that has the oversight over the oil and gas industry does not care about the workers.

Since the minister assumed duties, she has never met with the workers.

"Every entreaty and effort to meet with the minister and tell her our challenges failed because the minister is not ready to listen.

"We, including our sister union, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have also

tried to reach the minister through the Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity and that also yielded no result.”

He also berated the Group Managing Director, GMD of the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, avoiding meeting the two unions, PENGASSAN and NUPENG, since he assumed office some months ago.

Speaking on the topic entitled; ‘Governance and National Security Challenges: The Way Out’, he itemised various security challenges facing the country which included acts of sabotage against the nation’s economy, ethnicity/communal conflicts and boundary disputes, proliferation of arms, corruption, NigerDelta insurgence and militia groups and unemployment.

Akala said: “I wish to state with all sense of responsibility that we as a nation, are not ripe for each state to have its own police force”.

He counseled that the police should be given adequate equipment to perform, and "they would perform."

515 pilgrims depart Lagos for Mecca

By LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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BOUT 515 pilgrims yesterday departed Nigeria at the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj o p e r a t i o n s .

Vanguard gathered that the pilgrims were airlifted by Max Airline to Mecca this morning.

Speaking to journalists, South-West co-ordinator for this year ’s Pilgrimage, Mr. Mubarak Ismail, confirmed that pilgrims were airlifted this morning and added that the operations were going on s m o o t h l y .

Mr. Ismail said “about 515 pilgrims will be boarding Max Airways to Saudi Arabia for this year's hajj and at the moment we are still

expecting more.’’

His assertion was coming few days after the Saudi authorities deported some Nigerians, particularly females, for not having guardians while performing the exercise in Mecca.

One of the pilgrims, Mr. Sikiru Onibudu expressed his displeasure at this year ’s hajj arrangement compared with what was obtainable in previous years.

He further noted that no official organising this year ’s pilgrimage exercise furnished them with the needed information about the situation of things in M e c c a .

However information reaching Vanguard reveals that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be airlifted to join other pilgrims in Saudi Arabia later today.

Ekiti increases elderly social security beneficiaries

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

DO EKITI — Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has vowed to increase the number of beneficiaries of the social security for the elderly above 65 years of age Fayemi made this disclosure at Oke Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government yesterday, pledging to

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increase the 2013 proposed Appropriation Bill for the prosecution of the scheme The governor said the step became imperative following increasing number of qualified persons that are yet to be captured by the programme.

The sum of N100 million is currently being expended on the scheme monthly to pay

N5,000 monthly stipends to 20,000 elders, saying he had received complaints from members of Action Congress of Nigeria that more opposition party members were benefitting from the Scheme than ACN members.

At the occasion where over 300 members of Peoples Democratic Party in Ward 10 in Ikole

Council Area, led by a retired School Administrator, Mrs. Grace Aribisala, defected to Action Congress of Nigeria, Fayemi said the social security scheme in the state cuts across the parties Mrs. Aribisala, who presented the decampees disclosed that Fayemi’s impressive performances forced them to dump PDP.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—11

EDO CAN 2012 PLENARY SESSION: Right Rev. Peter Imasuen, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Edo State branch (left) and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State at the 2012 plenary session of Edo CAN in Benin City, yesterday.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere (right), presenting a letter of condolence to the state Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Sonni Anyang (left), during the funeral service of the Commissioner’s late father, Elder Okon Udo, at Ikot Ebom Itam, yesterday.

Navy, kidnappers in gun battle

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—A gang of suspected armed kidnappers and Navy personnel, yesterday, engaged in a shootout on the waterways in Warri, Delta State, yesterday.

The suspected kidnappers, who were escaping to their den in the creek with a man they allegedly abducted at Udu Road, Warri, opened fire on the navy patrol team on Warri River for daring to stop them.

A Navy officer was feared dead and another injured in the shootout, which forced the Navy to shut the Warri waterways for several hours, disrupting movement of people and goods.

Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy, Warri, Commodore Stephen Bum Kor, told Vanguard, when contacted, that he was hearing of the incident from this reporter.

He promised to get back to the reporter later in the day, if anything came up, but a source told Vanguard that the injured navy personnel was rushed to Central Hospital, Warri, for treatment.

The Joint Task Force, codenamed Operation Restore Hope, it was gathered, was contacted on the incident and they mounted a search for the fleeing kidnappers.

A dependable source told Vanguard: “After the shootout, I saw Navy men towing a Navy boat which was damaged by the kidnappers. The wa-

terways are completely blocked by Navy officers.

There is no movement on the waterways. As I speak with you, I am on the waterways, wanting to leave for Burutu, but there is no movement.”

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen refused to stop for check when they were stopped by the

navy team, and instead, opened fire on the security agents.

Details of the encounter were still sketchy, but Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, who confirmed the kidnap to Vanguard, said the kidnappers trailed the man to where he was erecting

a building and seized him.

He said the kidnappers took their victim to Udu waterside, where they escaped in a waiting boat to an unknown place. Mr. Muka said he was not aware if the kidnappers had any encounter with Navy personnel.

Flood sacks 7,000 in Delta

Olu of Warri charges Uduaghan on project completion

BY EMMA ARUBI

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ARRI—THE Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, has commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for the quality and extent of job so far done on the multi-million naira transWarri-Ode-Itsekiri bridges and access road projects, insisting that the job should be completed by 2013.

Fix Benin-Auchi Road, Works Minister urged

...1,200 houses submerged

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—NO fewer than 1,200 houses had been submerged and 7,000 persons displaced at Abare and Toru-Angiama in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Also, 46 communities across Isoko South, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West affected by the surging flood, are now taking refuge in Ivrogbo, an upland community in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

State Commissioner for Special Duties, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Tonye Timi, who spoke to our correspondent, said over 95 per cent and 50 per cent of Abare and Toru-Angiama, respectively, had been submerged by flood.

He said the victims were being evacuated to the skill acquisition cen-

tre in Bulu-Angiama, hometown of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Basil Ganagana, adding that parts of Patani town had also been submerged by the flood.

Member representing Isoko South Constituency I in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Okiemute Essien, who also spoke to newsmen at Ivrogbor, when he visited the town to address some of the displaced persons in the area and make further arrangements for the evacuation of those still trapped by the flood, said camps, including the community town hall,

had been provided as temporary settlement for the victims.

He lamented the level of devastation, saying that all hands must be on deck to reduce the hardship faced by the victims as well as the danger posed by the influx of people to Ivrogbo.

The lawmaker commended steps taken so far by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, noting that the State Emergency Management Committee, headed by the state deputy governor, Prof. Amos Utuama, had earlier visited the communities.

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—OWING to the poor condition of Benin-Auchi expressway, which had been ravaged by gully erosion, residents of the University town of Ekpoma, in Edo State, yesterday, appealed to the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, to prevail on the

AGBAKWURU

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ALABAR—CROSS River State Government, yesterday, said it had spent N2 billion on the construction of Channel II drain, which is ex-

Calabar, the state capital.

State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbo, who briefed newsmen on activities of his ministry, said his mandate was to construct roads and provide road infrastructure, adding that flood was one

Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, to commence immediate repairs on the road.

Vanguard gathered that the portion of the road at Ekpoma had become a death trap to commuters.

The failed portion at Ekpoma is similar to the one at Agbede, where the road had been cut off by gully erosion.

Delta community holds Ujem day

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MUNYALUM Development Association, UDA, Ebedei, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, will hold its Ujem day/ N20 million fund raising

Flood: C-River spends N2bn on channel pected to address the of the greatest challengdrain problem of flooding in es facing construction

BY JOHNBOSCO

The royal father, who spoke through the Special Project Director, Chief Otimeyin Adams, weekend, after an onthe-spot assessment of the project at Ugbodede and Big-Warri (Ode-Itsekiri), said his major concern was the immediate execution of the “cable stayed bridge that would enable free vehicular movement from Ubeji to the linked rural communities.”

work in the state capital.

Idagbo explained that the state embarked on the channel II drain project with the hope that when completed, the problem of flooding in parts of Calabar would be a thing of the past.

tomorrow A statement by President General of UDA , Mr. Fidelis Ishie and Secretary General, Mr. Thomas Anigara, called on all branches of the group to attend promptly.

The statement called on all sons and daughters of Ebedei community to be committed to the development of the area by donating generously to the body.

A Benin-based businessman Ogbuefi George Ishie is chairman of the occasion.

12 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Bayelsa, FG pledge succour to flooded communities

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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E N A G O A — BAYELSA State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has led a highpowered delegation, including members of the Presidential Committee on Assessment of Flood Disaster Affected Areas, comprising Ministers of Environment, Professor Hadiza Mailafia; Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepke and Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, on tour of communities ravaged by flood in the state.

FLOOD: Residential building of member representing Ndokwa East Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, submerged by flood from overflow of River Niger, in Beneku, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state.

Deal with illegal oil bunkerers, FOC orders Navy personnel

BY EMMA ARUBI

IPP shut as flood wreaks more havoc W in Delta

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—THE multi-billion naira Independent Power Plant, IPP, project at Okpai, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State and no fewer than 100 houses in the host community have been submerged by flood, forcing the authorities to shut the plant.

Vanguard learnt that the plant was shut as flood continued to take its toll on more communities in the state.

Ndokwa East secretariat was swamped, while

Aika, a gas producing community in the area was also sacked by flood.

It was gathered that the royal father of Aika Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Obiechina, who was sacked from his palace by flood, is taking refuge in Asaba, the state capital.

The monarch, who spoke to reporters at Asaba, said the surge had nothing to do with violent seismic operation in Cameroun as alleged by some government officials, pointing out that the Federal Government failed to tackle environmental challenges over

the years.

He said that government ought to have taken measures, such as dredging of the River Niger, to create void to hold more water, as well as build more dams like those built by Cameroon in the 1980s.

He said: “It’s the opening of the dams that had now brought this flooding on us. We are so devastated and everything that the Aika people have, land, crops, houses, had been washed away.

“We have evacuated everybody in the land to anywhere we have found

Ship captain, crew members charged for alleged illegal oil bunkering

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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CONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, charged a ship captain, Musa Mohammed and four of his crew members, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on a four-count charge of alleged illegal dealings in petroleum products.

The accused persons, Captain Musa Mohammed, Otuagoma Freeborn, James Onubi, Hassan Adekunle, Gabriel Edet Inyang and Patrick Chinedu were arrested on board a vessel M.T Takoradi, with 942.200 litres of diesel without appropriate licence required

under the Petroleum Act. The 5th accused person, Gabriel Inyang, was, however, absent in court.

The matter is before Justice Okechukwu Okeke.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Thy were alleged to have, on January 26, 2012, been accosted aboard a vessel M.T Takoradi, within Nigerian territorial waters, with one million litres of diesel on board. The accused persons were unable to give a reasonable explanation about the source of the deisel and without any clearance by Nigerian Navy authorities in charge of authorising vessels conveying petroleum.

It was learnt that Navy personnel, upon suspi-

cion that the vessel might have been involved in acts of illegal bunkering and economic sabotage, arrested and detained the vessel and crew on board.

The court, while adjourning the matter till October 11, 2012, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

space but I have refused to put them in refugee camp because it’s dehumanizing and it’s not the culture of our people."

Also on the entourage of the ministers were the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sidi and the Permanent Secretary, National Ecological Fund.

The delegation visited Sagbama, headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, where Dickson, who spoke in Ijaw, expressed concern over the disaster occasioned by the flood and urged the people to remain calm as government was doing everything within its power to ameliorate their plight.

ARRI—FLAG Of ficer Commanding newly created Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, with headquarters at Brass, Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, has ordered that illegal

oil bunkerers be severely dealt with and brought to justice promptly.

He gave the order shortly after concluding his three days working visit to Navy installations in Warri and Escravos, adding that there will be no escape route for perpetrators.

Vanguard , FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—13

Flood sacks Anambra East/West, renders 1000 homeless resentatives, Chriscato

By OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

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From left; Inner City Mission goodwill ambassador, Mrs Ada Ehi; Chief Operating Officer, Super Screen Television, Mr Dipo Isaacs, and Director, Inner City Mission, Pastor Solayinka Agboola, at a media interactive session in Lagos.

BUJA—A member of the Federal House of Representatives, Chriscato Ameke Ikechukwu, yesterday cried out that his constituency in Anambra East and West had been submerged in flood.

Anambra East and West Federal Constituency of Anambra State appears to be the worst hit by the flood emanating from water released from one of the dams in Cameroon, torrential rainfall and other sources of water in Nigeria.

Flood: Man, wife, 2 children die in boat accident

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—A family of four got drowned yesterday while on their way to a refugee camp at Iggah, Enugu State, after their house at Odeke community in Kogi State was submerged in flood.

This came on a day

chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr. Cornel Onwubuya, presented relief materials worth about N5 million to Kogi State flood victims who fled their state and are currently camping in communities within Enugu State.

Sources said the victims,

including a man, his wife and two childdren, were sailing in a wooden canoe when the goats they were taking along in the boat began to disturb the movement of the boat and in an attempt to calm the goats down, the boat capsized and all the occupants drowned in the flood.

It was also learnt yesterday that a woman delivered

a baby in a boat while fleeing the flood at Ibaji community, while another gave birth at Iggah refugee camp shortly after arriving the camp.

The nursing mothers are said to be in dire of need of medical attention which is lacking in the area just as the aid agencies which could have provided such assistance are yet to arrive at the camps.

The materials donated to the refugees at the three camps yesterday by the local government included 100 bags of rice,4 bags of beans, drugs, 500 mosquito treated nets, 100 bags of toilet rolls , 20 gallons of 25 kg groundnut oil, 75 torchlights with batteries, cartoons of disinfectants, bags of onions , cartons of maggi cubes, 30 bags of salt, cartons of bathing and washing soaps, mats and blankets, trailer load of sachet water, bottled water, among other essential items.

Onwubuya, while making the donation, appealed to the federal government to also come to the aid of the victims, adding that the local government council was in touch with the Kogi State government and its Enugu State counterpart in respect of the plight of the victims.

Retreat

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INCENTIAN Retreat Centre, Ojodu, Lagos, will today end its monthly three-day retreat with a vigil.

The retreat with the theme, No More Spiritual Stagnancy, will feature Stations of the Cross, Adoration and Holy Mass.

The event will be hosted by the Vincentian Fathers with Rev. Fr. Steve and Sister Ifeyinwa ministering.

No fewer than one thousand people have been rendered homeless and are taking refuge in neighbouring communities, making life unbearable for them, while property worth more than N1 billion were reportedly destroyed in the catastrophe.

Relating this in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, the member representing Anambra East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Rep-

Ikechukwu , demonstrated with video footage how several communities within the area were totally submerged in the flood which started on September 1, 2012.

The House of Representative member expressed concern that apart from being rendered homeless and reduced to mere refugees in their fatherland, hunger and starvation had become the lots of the people of his constituency.

Nurses, midwives honour Obi with true leadership award

BY VINCENT UJU-

MADU

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WKA—MEMBERS of the National Association of Nigerian Student Nurses and Midwives yesterday honoured Governor Peter Obi with the Legend of True Leadership in recognition of his contributions to the improvement of health care infrastructure and delivery.

At the ceremony which took place at Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ihiala, the national president of the association, Comrade Dauda Ahmed, said Obi had remained unmatchable

towards the provision of infrastructure in schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the state, both government and missionary- owned, which he described as spectacular.

He said that apart from rebuilding hospitals and the building of a brand new teaching hospital for the state, the governor had built 25 buildings in different Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the state, including those at Nkpor; Adazi- Nnukwu, Iyienu, Onitsha and Ihiala, adding that as a result of the assistance, the schools which all lost accreditation had regained it.

Ex-Delta SSG calls for decentralisation of power

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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APELE—FORMER Secretary to Delta State Government, Mr James Erhuero, has noted that as Nigerians bask in the euphoria of the country’s 52 independent anniversary, the government and people should dialogue on how the country can operate a system of government, where the centre is weak and the component states stronger, as a way out of the socio-economic and political challenges facing the country.

Erhuero, also former Permanent Secretary in old Bendel State, spoke to newsmen in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area, on the recent national honours, bestowed on some notable Nigerians as a mark of appreciation for their selfless service and contribution to the overall development of the nation in their life time.

He said the gesture by the Federal Government was a welcome development that can move the nation forward and promote the culture of work among people.

14—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

VISIT: Fromleft: Godfrey Efeurhobo, Regional Operations Director, South Region, Airtel Nigeria; Prof Offiong E. Offiong, Commissioner for Education, Cross River State; Rajan Swaroop, CEO/MD, Airtel Nigeria; Joseph E. Ebam, Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board and Emeka Oparah, Director: Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Cross River State Government in Calabar, yesterday.

Infrastructural devt: Jonathan pledges more funds for varsities

BY TONY EDIKE

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NUGU—PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pledged that government would continue to provide additional funds for upgrading of infrastructure in the nation’s universities.

The president, who made the pledge at the 52th Founders’ Day lecture of the University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, delivered by Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi, Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, expressed the belief that the funds would be deployed prudently and wisely by authorities of the benefiting universities.

Jonathan, whose speech was read by the Chairman of the occasion and former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to United Nations, Chief Arthur Mbanefo, said for Nigeria to grow as a nation, “ we must improve on the number of Nigerians that have access to good quality education at all levels.

“This was what in-

formed the decision of the Federal Government to establish six new universities across the six geo political zones of the country.

“In addition, the older universities are being

encouraged to increase their carrying capacity, while the first generation universities have also been directed to increase their ratio of post-graduate to undergraduate students."

Abia govt carpets opposition over Aba road comments

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MUAHIA—ABIA State Government has described as selfmockery, those insinuating that the state government was responsible for the poor state of roads in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, In a statement, Mr Ben Onyechere, Special Adviser to Governor Orji on Public Communication, reiterated the state government's determination to continue to provide the people with basic necessities of life, even as it maintained that the present administration would not be stampeded upon with mindless criticisms from oppositions.

He said: "The insinuation by the ragtag projecting itself as opposition that the governor is the reason Aba roads are bad is nothing but

self mockery of their sponsor. It is the same opposition who claims that the immediate past governor built all the roads in Aba and Abia in general, how come all the roads they claim to have been constructed by their mentor go bad at the same time.

"It is the same people who are sponsoring comments against the impending demolition of illegal structures which is the strategy of government to put a final stop to the perennial flooding in Aba. If lawyers protested in Aba against bad roads owned by the Federal Government, which by the way is receiving direct labour attention by the state governor, it is their right to do so because there are also political lawyers every where."

Customs impounds 1800 cartons of imported beer the consignment contra- Abdullahi Inde Dikko,

L

AGOS—THE Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ has evacuated 1,800 cartons of imported Corona beer valued at N6 million from a private warehouse in Oshodi industrial area of Lagos.

Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Dan Ugo, who disclosed this while conducting newsmen round the seized items, said

vened Schedule 3, paragraph 9 of the Common External Tarrif.

Compt. Ugo attributed the giant stride to the intelligence gathering strategy of the command which has enabled the command to record spectacular seizures in the past few months, adding, “these coupled with the support of the Customs top echelon, led by the CGC, Alhaji

CFR, in terms of capacity building, motivation/ remuneration and provision of the necessary logistics, was the reason the command had always excelled."

Meantime, the CAC stated that 1386 cartons of assorted frozen products with a DPV of more than N5 million were seized and destroyed by the command last month.

DAY Vanguard, FRI FRIDAY DAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—15

Southern leaders dare North over Jonathan's impeachment

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

A LAUNCH: From left— Mr. Abiodun Odejayi, Head of Marketing, HandHeld Products; Hand Held Products Marketing’s Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu; Mr. Olumide Ojo, Head of Sales, Hand-Held Products, and Mr. Bolade Oyekanmi, Digital and Content Manager, Hand-Held Products, all of Samsung Electronics West Africa, at the media launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 in Lagos. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

BUJA—ALLEGED plot to remove President Goodluck Jonathan from power took a new twist yesterday as Southern leaders dared the Northerners allegedly behind the repeated impeachment threats against the President to carry out their plot and rock the Nigerian boat.

The leaders, under the

AGF's absence stalls Reps' probe of OPL 245 transaction med Adoke, at the public Mrs Deziani Allison- pers did not reach their

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

A

BUJA—INVESTIGATION into the transaction between the Federal Government, Shell, Agip and Malabu Oil & Gas Limited in respect of an oil bloc, OPL 245, was stalled, yesterday, due to the absence of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Moham-

hearing.

The AGF, who wrote to the House Ad-Hoc Commitee investigating the transaction, said he was unavoidably absent because he had to attend the last minute efforts of the government to review the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, on the ownership of Bakassi Peninsula.

The investigation could also not proceed because the Minister of Petroleum,

Madueke, and Minister of State, Finance, Alhaji Yerima Ngama, who were in attendance, had no presentations.

The two ministers were unable to provide the committee with position papers on the sale of OPL 245 because of some communication gaps.

They argued that the letters the Committee claimed to have written to them requesting for position pa-

desks.

Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, who was expected to brief the committee investigating the transaction was also absent.

Chairman of the Committee, Leo Ogor, said the investigation could not proceed in the absence of the key personalities and documents relevant to the exercise.

aegis of Southern Mandate, in a statement issued in Abuja at the end of its meeting, said it was aware of clandestine meetings by a group of Northern leaders, made up of wealthy, retired Army Generals, politicians and businessmen “to map out new strategies and mobilise funds to intensify a long-drawn battle to ease President Goodluck Jonathan out of office through whatever means.”

Representatives of various southern groups at the meeting included Tito Zuokumor, Onengiye Elekima, Victor Akpe, Ekene Nwachukwu, Zacheaus Odera, Obi Okoroma, Demola Oloruntoba, Tope Ismail and Fadairo Bamidele.

The statement said: “The Southern Mandate hereby declares its resolve to protect and defend the office and person of President Goodluck Jonathan through appropriate and legal means. Let it be noted that no individual, group or region has a monopoly of

coercion, force or ability to create chaos.

“Enough of these acts of disunity, which had been the basis of persistent calls for a Sovereign National Conference to discuss the future of our dear country.

It is either we decide to live peacefully or go our separate ways with a simple handshake. But we are also ready to sink the boat when push gets to shove.”

The group, with representatives from the three southern geo-political zones, said those involved in the move were partly responsible for the heightened massive killings in various parts of the North, in line with their vow to make Nigeria ungovernable under President Jonathan.

They said when that strategy did not yield the desired result, they enlisted members of the House of Representatives, three months ago, to impeach the President, using the plank of an alleged poor 2012 budget implementation.

16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

VISIT: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State (left) and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture, during the minister's visit to Government House, Minna.

Senate calls for PPMC's boss sack over kerosene

BY HENRY UMORU & INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA—SENATE, yesterday, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Managing Director of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company, PPMC, Mr. John Momoh, over the protracted scarcity of kerosene product, saying kero-direct project of the Federal Government, aimed at making kerosene readily available to Nigerians was a failure.

Senate President, David

Mark, speaking during a debate on a bill for an Act to amend the Petroleum Act (2004) sponsored by Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, maintained that those licensed to distribute kerosene to Nigerians should have their licenses withdrawn for failure in their responsibilities.

He said: “The solution to that is that the man who is in charge currently, who is to ensure that kerosene gets to the man on the street and who is not doing it, should be sacked. Let him go.”

Customs officers get ultimatum to vacate PCHN office

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

N

ATIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has given the Nigerian Custom Service, NCS, a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the Central Stores office of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, facility at Alasia, Oshodi, Lagos, allegedly occupied by armed Customs personnel since October 1.

In a statement by the Vice President of NUEE, Lagos/ Ogun Zone, Mbang Ntukubes, NUEE claimed the armed Customs personnel were under the directive of the Minister of State for

Power, Darius Ishaku, and the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Dere Awosika.

The statement said: “The union observes this development as a misnomer, since the Customs operations and that of PHCN are not in any way related. It is equally disturbing because armed men and civilians are not expected to work together.

“We want to equally reiterate that one of the issues that is lingering between us and the government, for which labour was given assurance that it is being looked into, is the incessant deployment of soldiers to PHCN premises.”

Students demand improved security

BY CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA—NIGERIAN students have demanded for adequate security and corrupt-free country, as Bolton White Hotels and Apartments Abuja held students fun-fare to mark the country’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

The students also called on government at all levels not to deny children their fundamental rights to health and education, if Ni-

gerian leaders were truly sincere about the future of youths and the country.

Public Relations Manager of the hotels, Happiness Nwogbo, in a chat with Vanguard, said the event was organised as part of social corporate responsibilities of the organisation to put smile on the faces of Nigerians, particularly young ones, in spite of security challenges in the country.

BRIEFING: From left— Dr. Ikenna Isiekwe, Consultant Orthodontist, LUTH; Associate Prof. Ranti Dacosta, Consultant Orthodontist, LUTH; Associate Prof.

Oluwatosin Sanu, President, Nigerian Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Ifeoma Utomi, Consultant Orthodontist, LUTH, during the briefing on the 6th Scientific Conference of Nigerian Association of Orthodontists in Lagos. PHOTO: Sylva Eleanya.

Explosion rocks Zaria hotel, injures 10

BY LUKA BINNIYAT

K

ADUNA—NO fewer than 10 persons, including commercial sex workers, were injured, yesterday, when a polythene bag laden with explosives went off in a hotel in Zaria, Kaduna State.

The incident took place at Cosmopolitan Hotel, located on Uche Road, Sabo Garin area in the city.

According to Vanguard findings, a man had strolled into the hotel, dropped the bag and attempted to sneak away.

However, some watchful guests, who sighted the bomber, raised alarm and pursued him, but they could not apprehend him.

While the suspect was being pursued, the bag exploded, injuring those around the area.

A manhunt for the lone bomber was said to have commenced in the area.

Confirming the incident, Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawan, said only four people were injured in what he described as a minor blast.

Aminu said: “Our men were able to get to the

scene of the incident immediately we were told and condoned off the area. We were also able to recover some particles

of the materials used for the IED. It was only workers of the hotel that were injured. Investigation is, however, on.”

Taraba House sacks Dep Gov T ARABA State House of Assembly, yesterday, sacked the state Deputy Governor, Sanni Danladi, over gross misconduct following an impeachment process embarked upon by the House weeks ago.

The House, which convened yesterday mainly to take a decision on the embattled Deputy Governor, impeached him after 20 out of 24 members in the House gave their support.

Part of the process that concluded the impeachment was the adoption of a report of the judicial panel that was set up to investigate all the allegations leveled against the Deputy Governor.

Three members were absent at the sitting, while one member abstained from the impeachment process.

It would be recalled that Alhaji Danladi had told the panel that he had gone to court to challenge the integrity of the members of the panel even though he

agreed that he actually committed some of the offences for which he was sacked.

The panel report confirmed that the Deputy Governor agreed to committing the offences for which he was being tried and that his only complaint was against the composition of the panel.

Part of the allegation against him was that he diverted the state government project to his private business.

Excerpt of the notice against him had read: “That by virtue of your being the deputy governor of Taraba State, you had easy access to the office of the Federal Government/World Bank’s Millennium Development Goals projects in the state and other state agencies.

“And in that capacity, therefore, you used your office and influence and caused to be diverted MDGs facilities and streetlight projects to Yaggai Academy, a private school owned and operated by

Yaggai Academy Limited, with you as the altar ego of the company and thereby denying the under-privileged members of the state access to and use of such facilities, and doing so contravenes the oath of office you sworn to.

“That you, Danladi, have demonstrated a clear lack of capacity and or a refusal to properly discharge the functions of your office and so doing, you have created disaffection, disharmony, favouritism and undue interference in the running of the government.

“Instead of working in harmony with your stakeholders in your local council and the state, you have resorted to acts of incitement of the populace against the stakeholders with all the attendant negative consequences.”

The notice, which was raised on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Abel Peter Diah, further accused the Deputy Governor of negligence of duty.

Presidential system best for Nigeria— Lar

BY TAYE OBATERU

J

OS—ELDER statesman, Chief Solomon Lar, has said the presidential system of government remains the best for the country despite its huge cost, because of the checks and balances inherent in it.

Reacting to calls for a return to the parliamentary system from some quarters, he said the presidential system of government, despite being more expensive

to run, guaranteed more stability for democracy than the parliamentary system.

Lar, who was a member of the constituent assembly, which recommended the adoption of the presidential system of government, said the checks and balances in the presidential system made it more attractive than the parliamentary system.

He said the parliamentary system was too fluid such that it could take only

the passage of a motion to remove a sitting government noting that “you can leave your house as a Prime Minister in the morning and return in the evening as a former Prime Minister.”

On the independence anniversary, he said the fact that Nigeria was still one united country after 52 years of independence despite various challenges was worth celebrating.

He, however, called on

Nigerians to rise against corruption for the country to take its rightful place in the world community.

Lar said: “If we remove corruption, the country will be a different place. Let us all stand against corruption. At 52 let us resolve to begin to resist corruption.”

Lar called on Nigerians to be patriotic and resist divisive tendencies, saying they should think first about the country before sectional and other interests.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 17

Sweet & SOUR

Donu Kogbara

E

KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi, said, during a lecture he gave at the Pan African University on Tuesday, that although the post-colonial era is being run

by Nigerians, the system of governance at the centre is still “alien and predatory” like the colonial system.

Fayemi added that the quality, vision, patriotism and competence of Nigeria’s political leadership was critical to the transformation of the African state and the sustenance of good governance.

According to a report in The Nation newspaper, Fayemi said that politics has been reduced to a clash of one exclusive claim of power against another and that operators of the Nigerian state often decide to select a “selectorate” against the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Impartial judiciary Citing the struggle to regain his mandate as an example, Fayemi said only a determined people and impartial judiciary can save the day when the “selectorates” confront the electorate.

He concluded with the following comments: “The Nigerian state has become disdainful of its citizens and the citizens disdainful of the state. Government is no longer treated as a synonym of governance. What is needed is not a customer-based service, but the consultation of the people who are supposed to take decisions as to how things should be done… “…You will all recall a famous exchange between two of our founding fathers. One asked that we should forget our differences and build a strong and united country.

The other insisted that we cannot build a strong and united country without

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State flanked by Director, Centre for Leadership in Journalism, School of Media and Communication, Richard Ikiebe (r) and Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan African University, Prof.

Emevwo Biakolo; at the 3rd lecture of the school

Well spoken recognising our differences… “…The truth about how to save Nigeria and create a new paradigm for public governance lies between the two statements. Whether Nigerians will continue in perpetuity to recognise their differences or forget them forever must be left to the

collective decision of Nigerians.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself! Fayemi - a rare gem and deep-thinking principled brainbox - has always been my kind of government official because he totally understands his responsibilities and knows

that he is a public servant, not a monarch. More grease to his elbow. I feel sure that Ekiti State will benefit massively from his stewardship.

Please put us out of our misery!

Having been abroad for a while, I returned home last week and have been alarmed by the tense, pessimistic

atmosphere.

A few individuals I’ve encountered – mostly lucky beneficiaries of government largesse! – are happy enough.

But most folks say that their existences have never been tougher; and several have gloomily informed me that they would leave for happier shores if they could.

No cause for celebration!

H

ERE is a letter I’ve just received from Ifeka Okonkwo, a regular reader of this page who writes to me often.

DONU, it is really a tragedy that 52 years after our independence, we do not have cause to roll out the drums to celebrate it, due to the glaring fact that we have been subjected to unprecedented suffering from the non provision of the basic necessities of life by the politicians.

This is caused by greed of a ruthless ruling class, their business partners and unscrupulous civil servants who are hell-bent on milking our richly blessed country to death and in the process becoming richer than her!

Are they not buying up our assets in the name of privatization to add to the wealth they have already accumulated for their generations yet unborn? Have they not failed woefully to fix our roads, give us constant supply of electricity and water, provide jobs for our youths, adequate security of lives and property and not to talk of strengthening the purchasing power of the naira? Shame on them!

On Channels news at 10 on September 30, President Jonathan

called for one year of prayers for our country. So we shall pray for our politicians to continue enjoying our common patrimony all by themselves to the exclusion of the rest of us without their making our lives comfortable with the huge resources at their disposal. I wish them all dead. Period!

I’ve noticed that Mr Okonkwo’s comments about our nation’s collective woes have become increasingly rancourous and strongly-worded as his frustrations about various injustices mount. And he is not alone.

Expression of similar opinions Many other Nigerians Vanguard readers who contact me as well as people I meet socially or relate to professionally – are expressing similar opinions.

Most critics of government do not use the kind of feisty - some might say extreme! - language that Mr Okonkwo favours. But the bottom line is the same: They feel as if they are in bondage and trapped in a

huge messy rut. They hate (with a burning passion!) those they blame for their multiple discomforts; and they yearn to be liberated.

They want all of the things on Mr Okonkwo’s wish-list. They want the chronic corruption and scary security problems to be tackled aggressively.

They want wide-ranging infrastructural improvements. They want decent hospitals, schools, airports, etc. They want more employment opportunities.

They want dignity.

They want, in a nutshell, caring and effective leaders who will lift their hearts and put them out of their misery…and a velvet revolution that will make Nigeria a REAL Giant of Africa and provide their children with a better quality of life.

Dear Mr President, are we asking for too much?

Responses to: donzol2002@yahoo.co.uk or to 0802 747 6458 (texts only). PLEASE KINDLY NOTE THAT UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY REQUEST ANONYMITY, YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE PUBLISHED IN VANGUARD, WITH YOUR NAMES AND NUMBERS OR EMAIL ADDRESSES ATTACHED.

18 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

T

HE two days the Senate Committee on Constitution Review has proposed for a public hearing — 11 and 12 October — will not be enough time for Nigerians to be heard on their future. One of the ways to state the importance of the exercise is to extend the time for the public’s contributions to the review.

If the Senate really wants the public’s input, it should understand sensitivities that the various issues raise and the robust debates that reaching a consensus on them would entail. It is not enough for the Senate to propose that the hearing will give individuals and interest groups across the socio-political spectrum the opportunity to make inputs to amending the military-decreed 1999 Constitution.

The democratic aspirations of Nigerians are vast. Thirteen years of various constitutional abdications have widened the public’s expectations and created a barely unworkable polity.

Among the issues the public would have the opportunity to air their views on are the topical subjects of devolution of powers, creation of more states, recognition of the six geo-political zones, role of tradition-

Constitution review — A chance to be heard

al rulers, local government reform, and fiscal federalism.

Advocates of a comprehensive national conference could embrace this window to make their point about how Nigeria could work better. The issues are contentious enough that the Senate should find time to hear the diverse views. Meetings that synthesised regional positions preceded earlier public hearings on the Constitution.

Public views are critical to a workable Constitution. Different parts of Nigeria have different concerns and any Constitution that does not accommodate these issues would not be different from the current one. The issues are salient and deserve attention, particularly on easier legislative and administrative processes that

would address them.

Legislators should focus on a workable Constitution. The national imperatives include devolution of powers, reducing the size and cost of government, healthy internal competition among the federating units for faster national development.

Nigerians would benefit from this exercise if they approach it with a new mindset of fostering national unity through justice and equity. Destructive, sectional tendencies ruined past efforts at amending the Constitution. A lot of consensus would be required for a Constitution that would deliver a stronger, more united country.

The envisaged dispensation must bring out the best in every Nigerian and group.

Dialogues, debates and discussions that would produce a better Constitution cannot be possible unless the participants create a setting that accommodates views and articulates them to ar rive at middle grounds.

We urge Nigerians to use this opportunity well. The exercise is more important than elections. It is about our future and we must bear the future in mind as we consider present matters.

OPINION “Violence is not in the tradition of the Prophet”

BY M. FETHULLAH GÜLEN

M

USLIMS pray each day: “O Lord!

Keep us on the straight path”. It is a prayer to help us move away from the extremes and maintain balance in our lives. We must neither be hostage to our reactionary instincts, nor must we remain completely silent in the face of the systematic defamation of our values and beliefs.

This balance has been upset by the violent response to the insults targeting the legacy of beloved Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). The violent response was wrong and strayed from the straight path.

Muslims should not be indifferent with respect to the attacks on the Prophet (PBUH). On the contrary, they must show the utmost sensitivity and caution. Those insulting Islam might be seeking to depict a negative image of Muslims, and hence justify discrimination, isolation, persecution or deportation. The deliberate instigation and creation of turmoil in the Muslim world is not new. Our sacred values were attacked in the past through cartoons, today it is done

through a movie and cartoons in a French magazine, and tomorrow other means may be used. Muslims must not be beguiled or enticed but instead must speak out to prevent those who are more easily provoked from resorting to violence.

When any negative comment is made about the Prophet (PBUH), however slight it may be, a Muslim should feel deep sorrow. Yet expressing that sorrow is a different matter. Irresponsible actions by individuals damage the image of Islam and destroy the very tradition they are claiming to defend.

Since the rights of every Muslim, as well as God, the Koran and the Prophet (PBUH) are at stake in such a circumstance, one cannot act recklessly.

One should scrutinise the possible ramifications of each and every action, and seek the wisdom of the collective judgment.

The question that we should ask ourselves as Muslims is whether we have introduced Islam and its Prophet (PBUH) properly to the world. Have we followed his example in such a way as to instil admiration?

We must do so, not with words, but with

our actions.

If suicide bombers are the first things that come to people’s minds, how could they have a positive opinion of Islam? How is killing innocent civilians indiscriminately different from the barbarity suffered by Muslims in history? What is the rationale behind attacking an American consulate in Libya, killing an ambassador and consulate officers, who have nothing to do with this wretched movie? If it is Muslims who are carrying out these attacks, it means that they are entirely unaware of what Islam is all about and are committing the biggest crime in the name of Islam.

A Muslim must always be straightforward and consistent in his actions and words. He should respect the sacred values of Christians, Jews, Buddhists and others as he expects his own religion and values to be respected. In reacting, a Muslim should not sway from the proper middle path. Many correct forms of response can be found by appealing to the collective conscience of society and to the international community.

Hate speech designed to incite violence is an abuse of the freedom of expression. It violates the rights, dignity and freedoms of others while pushing humanity towards conflict in an age of horrifying weapons. Instead of falling victim to the instigation of others, we should appeal to the relevant international institutions, such as the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation or the UN, to intervene, expose and condemn instances of hate speech. We can do whatever it takes within the law to prevent any disrespect to all revered religious figure, not only to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

The attacks on the Prophet (PBUH) we have repeatedly experienced are to be condemned, but the correct response is not violence. Instead, we must pursue a relentless campaign to promote respect for the sacred values of all religions. *Mr Gülen is a Muslim scholar in the Sunni tradition and Honorary Chairman of the Istanbul-based Journalists and Writers Foundation. The article was originally published in the Financial Times of September 27, 2012.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—19

H

E may not have performed to the utmost satisfaction of critics who, based on the spate of recent kidnappings in the state, had to draw hasty conclusions that Delta under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has not only collapsed in terms of security of lives and property, but also on infrastructures.

Although, these cynics are entitled to their own opinions, but the truth strongly lies in the fact that such arm-chair criticism cannot take one laudable achievement from Dr. Uduaghan, and this is the fact that Delta is at pace!

From casual discussions to formal ones, I have actually made attempts to administering questionnaires on one project Dr. Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State has got right since he became the executive governor of the state.

Responses were not encouraging as most people spoken to, generally, have become cynical about government and nihilistic that nothing good can come from it whether in Delta State or anywhere in the country.

Severally too, I have discarded the assessment project until I met an old woman whom I offered a ride from Ughelli to Oleh. Mama Rukome was angry that her cus-

tomers didn’t pay for her commodity on time, hence she was stranded at the point I met her. When I probed further, Mama made me understand that she had not for any reason, in the past two years she has been plying the Oleh /Ughelli route trading in “tapioka or kpokpogari” missed the Uduaghan bus.

Meaning Mama has been patronising the Uduaghan transit bus because it provides comfort, it is reliable and above all, it is affordable. Mama Rukome does not bask in this euphoria alone. There are other Deltans who couldn’t hide their joy for the relief the Uduaghan’s mass transit has brought.

If not for the fact that the Delta mass transit was not extended to the riverine areas of the State, the Delta mass transit would have dwarfed other projects as one project Dr. Uduaghan has got right.

Tellingly, security of lives and property has been an enormous challenge to the leadership of this country. It became monstrous soon after the civil war when arms found their ways into the hands of people who, ordinarily, were not supposed to have custody of such weapons.

The smiles brought about by a return to democracy after what seemed to have been an endless wait for it was short-lived.

,

A

gain, the despicable level of insecurity in the country got out of control when the nation’s economy took a dive down the precipice. Some sophistication was injected into robbery and other related crimes. The militant activities of Niger Delta youths and their commercial romance with Lebanese and Russians crude oil merchants gave crime a fillip in the coast of South- South Nigeria. The present Delta State government has demonstrated that it is learning very fast from past security pitfalls. It was an ingenious Dr. Uduaghan who realised quite on time that collaboration with the military would bring about the much deserved safety of lives and property in the state.

Deltans living outside the state can attest to the fact that the secu-

Garlands for Madam First Lady

BY MAGNUS ONYIBE

A

female prime minister of Canada, Kim Campbell lost her lofty position in 1993 after she made snide remarks during re-election campaign about her opponent, John Chretien's deformed mouth which was as a result of Bell's Palsy disease which he suffered when he was young.In the United States of America, USA, first lady, Michelle Obama's approval rating ranks only next to that of former US president, Bill Clinton, who is currently the most popular and respected former US president alive. While Michelle Obama's popularity lies in her humanity and simplicity reflected in her middle class values which represent the ‘American Dream' of becoming great from humble beginnings is rubbing off positively on her husband's fortunes in the forth coming polls, the uncharitable and insensitive comment about an opponent cost Kim Campbell her exalted job as Prime Minister of Canada .

Now, l went into the above preamble to highlight the critical role that health issues could play in the life of public servants and the position that first ladies occupy in the political and private life’s of those who lead or aspire to lead us.

As the existential realities of life dictates, all human beings are susceptible to ailments which only medical doctors or God can cure. Uncharacteristic of the African spirit of being our brother's keeper, the vivacious and effervescent first lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan who was always wooing and cajoling Nigerians to support her husband in the arduous task of governance has remained the butt of many jokes in the social media even while in the hospital in far away Germany, which is a travesty. In a true African spirit, my heart, and l believe the hearts of men and women of goodwill, go out to our dear First Lady for speedy recovery .

Surely, this is not the first time that an ailing occupant of Aso Rock villa would be parodied instead of empathised with in the social media as the late president, Umaru Yar ’Adua, was a victim. Such ir-

reverent attitude towards the ill was the justification for the article,"Killing President Yar’Adua", which l wrote and published in major national newspapers in the wee days of his tenure. Just as l pondered in that article what could be responsible for the seeming heightened insensitivity of Nigerians to the plight of their compatriots, I am still wondering if this strange attitude of lack of milk of human kindness being exhibited by Nigerians could be a fallout of poor communications between Aso Rock and its publics? This assertion is hinged on the fact that in the late Yar'Adua's case, as it is in the present situation with Patience Jonathan,the media, and by extension Nigerians, were not properly apprised of the status of their president and in this instance, their First Lady, which perhaps explains the apparent public apathy.

Comparatively, former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida ,IBB,while in Aso Rock had suffered from what was referred to as ‘Radiculopathy’, a sort of foot disease for which there was outpouring of sympathy from Nigerians when he was hospitalised in Germany.It seems to me that the difference between IBB's good fortune of receiving outpouring of love and the late Yar’Adua and Patience Jonathan's experience of a seeming cold shoulder is poor communications or lack of it because Duro Onabule, IBB's image maker at that time, duly informed Nigerians of the Head of State's ailment and updated them constantly on how he was responding to treatment.On the contrary, our First Lady's hospitalisation and the nature of her ailment has been shrouded in secrecy as neither the presidential spokesman nor the First Lady's media aide has cleared the foggy air surrounding her infirmity.

One of the most loved women in the world, Queen Elizabeth II recently celebrated her 75th year as queen of England and leader of the Commonwealth without her husband,Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was hospitalised at that time.Britons showered their queen with love and saved some for her husband

rity situation in the state has improved. To be fair to Dr. Uduaghan, I think there couldn’t have been anything Deltans had wished for more than peace and security.

If you ask an Itsekiri man, or an Urhobo man or an Ijaw man, what he would like to have in place of peace and security, without hesitation, he will tell you peace and security cannot be traded for anything. This is no thanks to the avoidable communal crises that further worsened the level of underdevelopment in the area. The Uduaghan security initiative has made it possible to drive through Sapele/Warri road and Sapele/ Abraka road on one hand, and the other Ughelli/Kwale/Asaba road without encountering a bloody clash.

We should not whip up sentiments and take undue advantage of the fact that infrastructures in the state are decaying. Also we were all witnesses to the prolonged court case over who was the duly elected governor of the state. That alone was enough distraction.

Quite regretfully though, Deltans had at a time lived in feverish fear.

Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, Oleh, to mention but a few, were towns in the state that were notorious for dare-devil robbery attacks. Last year, August to be precise, Kwale (Utagba-Ogbe) witnessed one of the fiercest robbery attacks on a new generational bank in the whole of Ndukwa nation. Same last year, a youth corp member serving at Oleh was shot dead outside Emore Secondary School where he was attached to for the 12 months

,

BY OKOFU UBAKA

,

Yes, Uduaghan has got this right

Investors cannot invest in an environment deep in crisis; the return of oil servicing companies to Warri is a sure sign that things are getting better in our Delta

Madam First Lady, Patience Jonathan, should be enjoying our sympathy and goodwill in this period of ill health irrespective of the communication gaps in Aso Rock that may be eliciting negative vibes and angst against her

,

whom they were informed upfront of his ill health. Just before the recently concluded summer Olympics in London, the Duke took ill again compelling the Queen to attend the opening and closing ceremonies without her beau and as they were updated daily, Britons once again sent their love to him via flowers.

So you may ask, why such an approach successfully applied in Nigeria and the United Kingdom has become so unattractive to present Aso Rock apparchik? Could it be as a result of ignorance or arrogance on the part of the Presidency that is generating the negative perception and resentment manifesting as non-sympathy for the infirm Madam First Lady?

Unlike Caucasians, Asians or people in the socially and economically advanced societies,Africans revere the dead and empathise with the infirm and weak either because, as traditionalists, we worship deities which are essentially dead ancestors or as people of faith; we have the vision of the Good Samaritan who helped the weak as we are reminded of the Bible stories of pilgrims who encountered angels disguised as the infirm needing help.For these and many other reasons, Africans, and indeed Nigerians, give alms to the infirm and pray for the sick freely in consonance with the Biblical injunction to ‘be your brother ’s keeper ’. This is not the case in the Western world where the pursuit of capitalism has broken the bond

compulsory primary assignment.

Understandably, kidnap cases were even more dreaded than robbery. Both the mighty and the not too high in Delta State were in awe of kidnappers. In some cases, their victims were murdered in cold blood before ransom was paid.

My neighbour and the Managing Director of DeltanLine, Elder Eyone Isaiah, was picked up from his country home one drizzling night in October, 2011. He didn’t regain his freedom until an undisclosed amount of money was paid. But the good thing is that he was released and those beyond the crime are presently in police custody awaiting prosecution.

There have been so many kidnap cases that were foiled by the JTF team in the state. Before this time, it was reminiscent of a “Nightfall in Soweto”. But Dr. Uduaghan has stepped up to these challenges.

Men of JTF are common sights on highways and street corners.

Robbers and kidnapers now know that it is nolonger safe in to carry out their criminal trade in Delta State.

Whichever way it is looked at, Delta has made some considerable progress in the safety of lives and property. Come to think of it, development can only thrive in an environment that is safe. True, investors cannot invest in an environment deep in crisis. The return of oil servicing companies to Warri is a sure sign that things are getting better in our Delta.

*Mr UBAKA a social critic, wrote from Koko in Warri-North LGA

of kinship to the extent that the aged are kept in hospices devoid of family love and affection as opposed to African love which makes offsprings to keep their ageing parents in their homes until their dying days.With such an African disposition, l experienced a rude culture shock while attempting to help a professor who is a paraplegic into an elevator when l was studying for a masters degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusetts,USA. Professor Swatskowski rejected my help by telling me in clear terms to steer clear of his path because he was capable of doing whatever he wanted to accomplish without help.Little did l know then that the disabled in the Western society preferred to prove that there is ability in disability through independence as opposed to the pity we have for them and a justification for the handouts we give or toss at them when accosted on the roads or places of worship.The point of the above illustration is to demonstrate that as African,our natural instinct is to show love and affection to people who are ailing or afflicted.

As such, Madam First Lady, Patience Jonathan, should be enjoying our sympathy and goodwill in this period of ill health irrespective of the communication gaps in Aso Rock that may be eliciting negative vibes and angst against her.

From her antecedent,Dame Patience Jonathan, as her admirers like to refer to her, is a humane person. At the onset of the Boko Haram imbroglio, she awakened Nigerian women to the need to challenge their husbands to stop the carnage because children and women are often the worst victims of such pogrom when they become orphans and widows.

Before she took ill or dropped out of the public scene, she had successfully mobilised wives of African heads of state to Abuja where a foundation for an edifice in their honour was laid.Prior to the Abuja gathering, she had rallied Nigerian women in government and spouses of top officials in authority to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where she charged them not to demure from vying and fighting for the top most positions in government or private sectors of Nigerian economy.

Continues on Monday pg 18 •Mr Onyibe, a former broadcaster and commissioner, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 21

Experts urge core investors to tackle rural power supply problem

FirstRand to invest N39.5bn in Nigeria’s real estate sector

By PETER EGWUATU

By RITA OBODOECHINA, With Agency Report

T

HE immediate past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC, Dr. Ransome Owan,

F

IRSTRAND Limited, South Africa’s secondbiggest financial-services company, has announced plans to invest proceeds of its N39.5 billion ($250 million) fund raising exercise in the Nigerian economy.

The bank said it is considering real estate investment across major West and Southern African market, particularly, Nigeria, Ghana and Angola.

It said the property unit of its investment banking arm raised $250 million to develop real estate in West Africa.

In an e-mailed statement, Michael O’Malley, a Director of Johannesburg-based RMB Westport, said the money will be used to supply the strong demand for high-grade retail and commercial property.

He said, “Nigeria, Ghana and Angola have been earmarked as key jurisdictions in which to develop retail and commercial property. “Over the past decade, African economic output has more than tripled, which is one of the many reasons we believe that Africa today holds the greatest overall investment potential for all frontier markets globally.”

A report said that an increasing proportion of Africa’s population is moving into urban areas as economic growth quickens, with houses and malls being built in major cities including Accra, Abuja and Luanda, the capitals of Ghana, Nigeria and Angola respectively.

Trade between Nigeria, Brazil hits N1.5trn

By PROVIDENCE OBUH

B

ILATERAL trade between Nigeria and Brazil recorded an overall balance of $9.6 billion (N1.5 trillion) in

182.00

-1.65

2,425.00

-50.00

21.53

-0.06

109.08

-2.49

89.22

-2.67

154.78 250.0007 200.1925 165.3632 1.98 0.2848 237.5961 24.626 41.2725 26.8473 238.4386

155.28 250.8083 200.8392 165.8974 1.9864 0.2948 238.3637 24.706 41.4058 26.934 239.2088

distribution model.

Dr Owan noted that the preferred bidders are more likely to be inclined to focus on the urban centers where there is propensity for achieving high returns on investment at the detriment of

From left: National Chairman, Nigerian Association of Industrial Pharmacist (NAIP), Dr Lolu Ojo; NAIP executive member, Dr Adesanmi Popoola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr Dere Awosika Awardee and Dr Olubeyode Awosika at the NAIP dinner and award presentation, in Lagos.

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

has warned that the on-going privatization of electricity distribution in the country may remain a mirage if adequate provision is not made to address the apprehension of rural communities in the new power

155.78 251.6159 201.4859 166.4316 1.9928 0.3048 239.1312 24.786 41.5391 7.0207 239.9791

CBN Exchange rate as at 04/10/2012

2011.

Speaking at the Nigerian Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry rd (NBCCI) 3 anniversary cocktail in Lagos, President of the chamber, Mr. Emmanuel Ibru said that the bilateral trade has all along been in favour of Nigeria, mainly because of the value of its crude oil export to the country.

Ibru said, “The total figure of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Brazil for 2011 stood at $9.6 billion.

Nigerian import from Brazil was $1.2 billion while her export to Brazil was $8.4 billion.”

To correct the unfa-

vorable trade balance against Brazil, he emphasized the need for increased trade between the two countries to achieve a reasonable balance of trade.

According to him, “There is a big potential for the flow of goods and services from Brazil and there is again, the question of making information available to the business community here in Nigeria of what is available in brazil that Nigerians require. Also, Brazilians have a lot of manufacturing and agricultural expertise, they can also export to Nigeria not just the finished product but they can also export the technical expertise to come and help Nigeria set up businesses over here.

“Another thing is joint venture between Nigerian and Brazilian companies. A situation where we are producing here and exporting to Brazil, and then creating employment in Nigeria and the Nigerian economy is getting an advantage not just from there but from the sale of the goods

over there.

“They should give Nigerian manufacturers the enabling environment to produce our goods with a comparative advantage and you find that they require a lot of things, the oil is obvious. If there is a comparative advantage we can attract Brazilian companies to come over here and manufacture here, with that it becomes a two-way thing and not we pushing oil over there.”

H

e added that the Brazilians should consider setting up companies in Nigeria, a huge market that will not only serve the Nigerians but the West African sub-region in general.

On the challenges of the chamber, he lamented that the major challenge of the chamber is the incapability of a direct air link between Nigeria and Brazil, saying, “To get to Brazil from Nigeria is very difficult, so this is challenging in terms of cost, and in terms of travel.

the rural dwellers.

He said this is no time for experiment as electricity supply under the new model could be a security issue if left in the hands of inexperienced operators technical comprehensions that do not reflect the reality of the peculiarity of the environment. ‘’To take electricity to the rural and semi-urban communities however, there is need for the State Governments across the country to take more than mere passing interest in the new electricity distribution model in the overall best interest of the people of their respective states”, he said.

Dr Owan who commended the Bureau of Public Enterprises BPE for a job well done so far admonished the privatization agency to ensure that cynics of the entire privatization process were encouraged to change the pervading apprehension in the land over the sincerity of the government to pick the most qualified bidder in terms of footprint, stakeholder knowledge and size of previous projects handled.

S

peaking in the same vein at a business forum on Wednesday, the Managing Director, Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo noted that current inefficiencies in the power sector have brought about great expectation that the new entrants will address the identified shortcomings and make electricity consumers smile again based on the following criteria: Size of utility experience of the bidders and Experience in rural and urban areas, the need for the state government’s participation; are the Partners familiar with the terrain? Can the shortlisted distribution companies deliver; can they take power to the rural riverine areas?

According to Kemenanabo who doubles as Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Power sector, ‘’We must ensure that we give it to somebody who has a track record of having done it before with great competence, stressing that loss reduction figures should not be a straitjacket yard stick for selecting preferred bidders as against technical experience, size of previous operations and adequate knowledge of the local environment.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Union Bank targets top five position in banking sector

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM & WILLIAM JIMOH

U

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc, UBN, has disclosed plans of becoming the top five most profitable financial institutions in Nigeria, following the completion of restructuring exercise embarked on by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s appointed management.

Making the disclosure in an interactive forum with stockbrokers and management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, the Chief Executive Officer, UBN, Mrs Funke Osibodu, said the bank would continue to strengthen its systems and processes towards the actualization of the set goal.

Specifically, she said the bank would leverage group synergies to transform the strategic subsidiaries, while also improving customer service delivery by adopting best practices and upgrading the infrastructures.

According to her, the bank would institute holistic risk m a n a g e m e n t strategies backed by underlying infrastructure to enable prudent growth.

“We will leverage cashless

and financial inclusion policies to deploy mobile banking products to the unbanked. We will also deepen awareness of the bank’s suite of e-business products to enhance the capacity of our bank to serve the existing customers via alter-

native channels.

“We will utilize shared services where appropriate to reduce operational cost. We will continue to reinforce operational risk management practices, as well as upgrade the IT and physical infrastruc-

tures, including branches to improve customer service delivery,” she emphasized.

She noted that the bank’s deposit base grew steadily throughout the period between 2009 and 2011, instead of depleting, saying that it

From left: Mr Ikeddy Isiguzo, Chairman, Editorial Board, Vanguard Newspaper; Mr Jose Ferreira Filho, Acting Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria and Mr Emmanuel Ibru, President, Nigerian-Brazillian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NBCCI, at the 3rd anniversary cocktail of the chamber in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Lafarge Wapco pays N14bn tax in 11 years— BPE

BY PETER EGWUATU, with Agency Report

T

HE Bureau of Public En terprises (BPE)has revealed that LafargeWapco Nigeria had paid N14 billion in taxes to various tiers of government since its privatisation in 2001.

It also said that the production capacity of the cement firm had reached 3.8 tonnes against the 1.6 tonnes capacity before its privatisation.

The BPE disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement issued after a visit to the company in Ewekoro, Ogun State.

In the statement, signed by its spokesman, Chukwuma Nwokoh, the BPE quoted Lafarge Company Secretary, Ms. Uzoma Uja, as saying that the company had spent N570 million to develop its host communities.

“Soon after privatisation, the company embarked on backward integration which has resulted in job creation with WAPCO now having a workforce of 2,000,’’ she said.

Uja told BPE officials that the foreign investor, Lafarge, a French company, had complied with all the conditions in the Share Purchase Agreement.

She called on the Federal Government to reverse the

waiver on the taxes and duties as this had led to the postponement and abandonment of some projects.

The statement said the cement company also informed the team of plans to supply 30 megawatts of electricity to Ewekoro community, from its 90 megawatts power plant.

It would be recalled that the cement company, in March, declared a dividend of 75kobo per share for its shareholders for its operations in the last financial year.

The company, in an audited result submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange re-

CIBN boss calls for diversification of economy Registrar, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, has stated that diversification of revenue base would engender sustainable economic growth for the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogubunka made the observation in an interview in Lagos.

According to CIBN boss, the country has not fully explored the potential of the manufacturing sector in spite of the nation’s population.

He said that more commitment to the plight of the manufacturing sector would leverage productivity and standard of living of Nigerians.

“Nigerians should intensify productivity in the non-oil sector of the economy to reduce the level of poverty,” he said.

Ogubunka urged government to partner with the private sector to stimulate competition among the sectors of the economy.

He suggested that modalities should be in place for the exploitation of all the nation’s minerals deposits as well as support to mechanised agriculture.

Ogubunka said that agro-allied industries should be established to process farm produce for local and international markets.

“The citizens should focus on a particular facet of the economy and harnessed it,” he said.

The CIBN executive also advised average Nigerians to take advantage of the large land mass to venture into small scale farming.

ported a turnover of N62.5 billion against the N43.8 billion recorded in 2010, an increase of 43 per cent.

was a demonstration of customers’ faith and confidence in the bank.

Osibodu further stated that over 70 per cent of the bank’s branches have started delivering improved performance/ profitability, compared to about 50 per cent prior to CBN’s intervention due to aggressive marketing measures adopted by her management.

Speaking at the event, the CEO, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, advised other quoted companies not to wait until they have good news before coming forward to give information about their organisations.

“When the going is though, let the market know. It is best to let the capital market stakeholders hear first-hand from the horse’s mouth the reason behind every performance be it good, bad or exceptional,” he said.

He continued, “Since Union Bank of Nigeria Plc was listed on The Nigerian Stock Exchange 41 years ago, (1971) it has been a leading force in the banking sub-sector of our market and has remained a worthy example of a strong organisation that continually does its utmost in aligning with on-going compliance with the post-listing requirements of The Nigerian Stock Exchange of which timely and accurate information dissemination is key.

“Despite the recent storm the bank had to weather, it has remained true to its “Big, Strong and Reliable” slogan.”

BAGCO donates borehole to schools

N

IGERIAN Bag Man ufacturing Company Plc, BAGCO, has donated a modernised water borehole to Akinsemoyin Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos.

The company, according to a statement made available to Vanguard, made this donation recently, to further its corporate social responsibility.

The borehole was commissioned by Mr. Abiodun Ogunkoya, the Managing Director of BAGCO. He said that the borehole was donated in order to ease the schools water problem.

Ogunkoya stated further, “The Company knew that water was essential and that was the reason why BAGCO considered it fit to donate a borehole to the school to ease its water problem.”

He promised that the company would continue to give

back to the society where it operates.

In her welcome address, Mrs. Deborah Adewale, Head Teacher, Akinsemoyin Nursery and Primary School, appreciated the contribution of BAGCO towards educational development in Lagos and especially to the school by considering it fit to provide portable water in the school.

She also mentioned other needs of the school which included a mower for cutting grasses, fueling and equipments for the maintenance of the borehole.

Attendants present at the event were Mr. Korede Okusanya, the company secretary, some BAGCO staff, Surulere Local Government Head of School Service and Education Secretary, representative of the school Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Alhaji Sadam and staff and students of the school.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 23

Global crisis to last 10 years — IMF Economist Stories By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE, with agency reports

C

hief Economist, Interna tional Monetary Fund (IMF), Mr. Olivier Blanchard said that the world economy will take at least 10 years to recover from the financial crisis that began in 2008.

Blanchard said that Germany would have to accept higher inflation and a real strengthening of its purchasing power as part of the solution to Europe’s problems.

But even though the focus was on Europe’s troubles now, he said, the United States also had a fiscal problem which it had to resolve.

“It’s not yet a lost decade. But it will surely take at least a decade from the beginning of the crisis for the world economy to get back to decent shape,” Blanchard said.

“Japan is facing a very difficult fiscal adjustment too, one which will take decades to solve. China has probably tak-

en care of its asset boom but has slower growth than before, but we do not forecast any really hard landing,” he added.

Blanchard said that adjustment in the euro zone

required a decrease in prices in the bloc’s indebted southern half and a rise in core countries.

For the European Central Bank to maintain 2 percent inflation for the bloc as a

whole, core states would have to have higher inflation than 2 percent - something strongly resisted in Germany, where 1920s hyperinflation still haunts the popular debate on interest

From left: Chairman, Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Nigerian banks and Chief Compliance Officer, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Pattision Boleigha; Executive Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mrs. Caroline Anyanwu; and Chief Compliance Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Mr. Olusiji Adeyinka at the monthly meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of Nigerian banks at Diamond Bank Plc head office.

rates.

“A somewhat higher inflation rate in Germany should simply be seen as a necessary and desirable, relative price adjustment,” Blanchard said. “Given overall demand conditions and the ECB’s strong mandate to ensure price stability, this is not the beginning of hyperinflation,” he said.

On the debt crisis, Blanchard said that debt reductions were unavoidable but it should be done without stifling growth, walking on a “narrow middle path.”

“If you do it too slow, the market thinks you’re not serious, if you do it too fast, you kill the economy. For each country you have to find the right path of consolidation,” he said.

He said inflation-targeting had serious limitations and using just the main policy rate was not enough.

“You can have an economy in which inflation is stable and low, but behind the scenes the composition of the output is wrong, and the financial system accumulates risks.”

“The way to think about monetary policy in the future is that the central bank has in effect two sets of tools,” he said.

Banks increase capital holdings by $265bn to meet new EU rules urope’s banks have raised Market-watchers had The EBA, which admits that the banks to make sure these banking union that would E an extra €205 billion ($265 feared that to raise the moncredit conditions remained capital reserves are preserved give the ECB not only the billion) in fresh capital since ey requested by the EBA, unsatisfactory, hopes that the over the coming year, when supervisory powers of the December in a bid to meet new rules aimed at strengthening the ailing sector, an EU regulator said Wednesday.

The European Banking Authority estimated in December that of 71 banks it monitors, 37 needed an extra €115 billion in reserve capital to ensure they could survive a serious economic and financial crash. In a report Wednesday, the EBA said the banks increased the reserves mainly by issuing new capital, withholding dividends and reducing holdings of risky assets.

“Banks are now in a better shape to finance the real economy,” said Andrea Enria, chairman of the EBA. Europe’s banking sector is a key link in the continent’s financial crisis because the lenders’ large holdings of government bonds have made them vulnerable to investor concerns about excessive public debt. This has been made worse by real estate loans and assets that were turned toxic by a collapse the region’s property markets.

Banks normally lend to each other on a daily basis to cover a large part of their short-term financing needs, but fears that some banks could fail have dried up that credit market. The result has been a drop in lending activity to the real economy.

Of the €205 billion in new capital, €115.7 billion came from 27 banks that the EBA had identified last year as insufficiently capitalized. Another €47 billion was raised by banks that already met capital requirements but wanted to increase their reserves further. About €18 billion is being put into Greek banks and €24 billion in Spain’s nationalized lender Bankia.

banks would have been forced to rein in on lending to businesses and households, hurting economic growth. However, in its report, the EBA said the banks’ efforts to raise the cash had not changed lending activity.

greater transparency created by its stress tests and its requirements for greater capital cushions will ease fears over the banks and help improve market conditions.

The authority, which performs annual stress tests on Europe’s banks, will monitor

lenders will have to prepare for new, global rules on capital requirements, called Basel III. The EBA’s role as banking regulator is due to be taken over by the European Central Bank. European leaders are finalizing plans to create a

EBA but also the ability to intervene, help and restructure banks directly. That would bypass national regulators, who have in recent years been reluctant to admit the extent of the financial problems afflicting their countries’ banking sectors.

Island dispute: Chinese banks pull out of World Bank/IMF

T

HE impact Japan’s ter ritorial dispute with China has spread to the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings scheduled for Tokyo next week as several big Chinese banks say they’ve cancelled participation in the meetings as well as in the constellation of events taking place alongside. Some of the banks say they ’ve also pulled out of another big financial-industry conference scheduled to take place in the western Japanese city of Osaka at the end of the month.

Most of the banks haven’t given a reason for their last-minute no-shows.

But the withdrawals come amid an escalating tit-fortat between China and Japan, whose government recently purchased a set of islands in the East China Sea that are also claimed by China and Taiwan. China has shown its displeasure by canceling some diplomatic events and sending patrol boats into what Japan considers its territorial waters—with one group going through Tuesday. Some

Japanese companies have reported falling demand for their goods in China and unusually strict inspections as well as processing delays at Chinese ports.

An official at one bank said the island dispute was likely the reason for the pullout from the meetings.

“Quite frankly, it’s JapanChina relations,” said an official at the Tokyo branch of the Agricultural Bank of China Ltd., explaining why the bank was pulling out of both IMF-related events and the Osaka conference, which is sponsored by the Belgiumbased Society for Worldwide International Financial Telecommunication, or Swift, a group set up by financial institutions to handle transactions. The bank is still sponsoring and participating in a meeting of the Institute of International Finance—a global association of financial institutions—that is taking place in Tokyo at the same time as the IMF meeting, another official said.

The moves by the Chinese banks are the latest sign that souring relations between Asia’s two biggest economies are starting to affect the

broader economic realm, and go beyond regional squabbling. The annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank is the largest single gathering of finance and economic officials, nongovernmental organizations and bankers. Organizers estimate some 20,000 delegates will be in Tokyo for a range of meetings and seminars, taking place Wednesday through Sunday.

China has long sought a more important role in such global forums, even as its dynamic economy has been playing an increasingly significant part in bolstering global growth. But some experts warn that letting bilateral spats spill into key economic and financial areas may be a sign China isn’t quite ready to be at the international leaders’ table.

“The point is really about China being a global player,” said Fraser Howie, a Singapore-based co-author of “Red Capitalism,” a book on China’s financial system. “China may rightly demand a seat at the head table, but what signal does it send when they go off in a huff over these types of issues. Such boycotts are pointless.”

China has argued for more say for emerging markets in the matters of both the IMF and the World Bank.

An official at the Tokyo branch of the Bank of Communications Corp. —another big Chinese lender—said it had pulled out of IMF-related events, while a Tokyobased official at the China Construction Bank Corp. said attendees from China had canceled due to “scheduling problems” but that some Tokyo staffers were planning to go. An official at the Tokyo branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd. said it had pulled out of the Sibos conference, and that nobody was coming from headquarters in China for next week’s events in Tokyo.

An official from Bank of China Ltd.’s Tokyo branch said bankers still hadn’t decided whether to attend the IMF meetings.

Organizers for Sibos, scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 1, confirmed that the ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China had officially withdrawn from the exhibition and speaker participation, but overall registrations were still running ahead of target.

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

C

ONCRETE actions to transform Africa’s agricultural sector in Africa was produced as African heads of state, ministers, private sector representatives, the international community and farmers united on the roadmap for increasing agricultural productivity in the continent.

The action plan agreed upon by the leaders formed part of the far reaching decision taken at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Arusha, Tanzania which ended Friday.

The forum noted that support for Africa’s smallholder farmers remains at the centre of all solutions on how to grow income for the African agricultural sector .

Commenting on the success of the forum and the critical next steps, Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA) President and co-chair of the forum, Jane Karuku stated, “The international community is beginning to realize that the smallholder is an entrepreneur, and that farming is a business. AGRF inspired tremendous discussions and developed actionable plans to bring us closer to achieving food and nutrition security. It is critical that we move forward with these real, practical and pragmatic actions at the farmer-level, not at the officelevel.”

“The forumserves as an important incubator for innovative solutions to

Tanzania President, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation flanked by Kofi Annan, chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) ; Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and others at the 2nd AGRA forum in Arusha, Tanzania.

African leaders agree on concrete plans to drive agriculture growing the African agricultural sector,” said Yara President and Chief Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum, Mr. Jørgen Ole Haslestad. “By gathering public- and private-sector leaders to collaborate across borders and industries, we are

optimistic that the ultimate result will be a more food secure future.”

T

he AGRF action areas focused on four major themes: rethinking publicprivate partnerships, revolutionizing agricultural

New Nigerian cassava tested to resist devastating viruses

By ABDALLAH EL-KUREBE with Agency reports

P

LANT scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new Nigerian cassava preferred by consumers and farmers that is resistant to the two major virus diseases in Africa and now billed to test the cassavas resistant on the African soil.

According to a release, researchers at ETH Zurich led by a Professor of Plant Biotechnology, Wilhelm Gruissem and his senior scientist, Dr. Hervé Vanderschuren, “Gene technology has been used to develop a new cassava variety that is resistant to the feared cassava brown streak virus.

The virus infects the edible starchy roots and turns them brown, which makes the roots unpalatable for consumers,” they stated.

The researchers used the Nigerian TME 7 cassava variety, also known as “Okoiyawo,” that is naturally

resistant to cassava mosaic disease, which is caused by another virus that is severely impacting cassava production all of Africa. The virus said to have originated from East Africa, is threatening to spread to Central and West Africa thereby becoming threat to cassava, which is one of the most important crops in tropical countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Explaining that it is difficult to control the whitefly, even if African farmers could afford to buy insecticides, Prof.

Gruissem said: “This resistance is not changed by the new resistance to the brown streak virus. The brown streak virus is most likely transmitted by the same silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) that also spreads cassava mosaic disease. This tiny insect sucks on plant juices, and in doing so transmits the viruses into the cassava plant. The silverleaf whitefly population has hugely increased in recent decades.”

“This is posing a greater

threat than ever to the growth of cassava. This is why it is much more efficient and more environmentally friendly to protect cassava against viruses using genetic modification,” he emphasized.

finance, making markets work, and building the foundations for rapid growth in agricultural productivity.

Examples of the specific actions that were collectively decided include: Leverage catalytic finance: Develop structures that incentivize financial institutions to lend/invest in agriculture, especially in poor, socially-excluded smallholder farmers; and develop effective models for interaction and coordination between the various players in the financial system.

Reinforce capacity for regional trade: Regionalize commodity trade and harmonize trade regimes. Remove trade barriers across countries and share knowledge and market

information across borders.

Innovate in staple food chains: Encourage regional economic communities to develop plans that address the bottlenecks that inhibit regional markets from working effectively, such as infrastructure, transport and corruption.

Active engagement by the private sector with parliamentary select committees: The private sector and members of parliament from African country governments must work together in anonpartisan way to accelerate government investment in agriculture and introduce policy and regulations that motivate the private sector to invest in agriculture.

Senators laud IITA’s efforts at improving crop productivity

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IGERIA’S senators have commended the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for excellent scientific research, which has resulted in increase in agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for farmers.

Also the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike wants stronger ties with IITA to help serve Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general.

Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture who paid a courtesy visit to IITA were unanimous that research and development efforts by IITA were major factors that have made Nigeria a global leader in cassava, cowpea and yam production. “I must commend the work that you are doing to improve agriculture… We are impressed and

glad with the role you are playing— not just in Nigeria but also in Africa,” the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said.

Senator Bwacha, who was received by the Deputy Director General (Partnerships and Capacity Development), Dr Kenton Dashiell on Tuesday, called for more support and attention to international agricultural research, adding that such efforts were needed to further advance the dissemination of technological innovations at the research centre to farmers.

Dr Dashiell thanked the senate delegation for the visit to IITA. He pledged that IITA would continue to play the role of improving food security in tropical nations with the aim of increasing agricultural productivity, creating wealth and, more importantly, reducing poverty.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 25

26 —VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

INDOMIE SUPER PROMO:

First set winners emerge

By Bukola Abdulwahab

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From Left: Chief Olabintan Famutimi, Chairman Tricontinental Group, Chief Funso Abiri, Abuja Coordinator of NAMEBIS (Nigeria-America Business & Investment Summit), Professor Ade Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the US, being presented with the official package of NAMEBIS

by Chief Olabintan Famutimi, in Atlanta, America, the venue of the NAMEBIS summit.

How Star TV show turned orphans into millionaires Stories by PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

W

hat are the odds of two orphans teaming up in a group-based game and emerging millionaires at the end of the competition? Well, the odds turned out to be in favour of both Daniel Etuk and Godwin Nzekwe. The two were part of the troika that won one million at the end of the fourth edition of the 2012 Star TV Game Show. Stephen Onyeabor made up the trio.

Etuk, Nzekwe and Onyeabor, who made up Team C, left the other teams trailing throughout the games. By the time Teams A and B had completed their third games respectively, Team C had garnered more points, even before stepping forward to partake in the third game.

This made their participation in the third game a mere formality.

Etuk, an indigene of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, holds an OND in Electrical Electronics and is a Video Editor. He is the third of the seven children of his late parents. Etuk described himself as an introvert who decided to go to a bar to have a couple of drinks with a friend out of boredom.

After drinking Star, his favourite beer, he took part in a raffle draw which earned him a spot on the TV Game Show. By sheer providence, he found himself in the team that won the grand prize at the fourth edition of the TV Game Show. The N1 million grand could not have come at a better time for the orphaned Duke. According to him: “I plan to get married on the 10th

of November, in two months time, and the N1 million Naira will go a long way in making my wedding a reality.” He also referred to his fiancé as a source of inspiration and courage who kept prophesying greatness to him.

Nzekwe who has also lost both parents, is a final year student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, studying Petroleum Engineering. He was hanging out with his friends at

a bar, drinking Star lager beer, when he qualified to participate on the TV Game Show.

He believes he won as a result of the talented teamates he was paired up with. Nzekwe said: “I wish my parents were alive to see me win this N1 million.”

He plans to use the prize money to promote his musical career.

The 27 year old, who is the last of his late parents’ nine children, is an aspiring rapper and dance hall musician.

he first Set of Winners in the ongoing Indomie Super Millionaire Promo has emerged at the inaugural draw in Lagos.

The opening draw produced 7 lucky winners of the star prize money of N1Million each while several others won lofty prizes such as; I Pad, Refrigerators, Laptop, Plasma TV sets, Washing Machines, Blackberry Phones, Cooking Range, Music Systems, Air Conditioners, Microwaves and numerous others won cartons of Indomie as consolatory prizes.

The first draw which took place at the head office of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Nigeria’s No.1 noodles brand -Indomie Instant Noodles located in Surulere was witnessed by the representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers, Mr. Ikechuckwu Ameachi and other members of the media to ensure transparency and credibility.

Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Marketing Officer for Tolaram Group Owners of Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Pawan Sharma disclosed

that the company invited all relevant stakeholders to witness the draw to ensure transparency and authenticity of the promo to continue to uphold the company ’s goodwill.

Sharma disclosed that the electronic process of the draw has been tested and verified to be very effective which ensures that all entries are captured and have equal chance of winning thereby giving all participants the opportunity to win in the Promo. He stressed that the electronic draw also makes the draw process very easy to carry out as it only requires a tab of a button on the computer which will randomly throw up the entries and will select a winning entry once the stop button is clicked.

At the end of the first week draws, 7 participants emerged as lucky winners of the N1 Million star prize each, while other prizes are 1 Apple I pad, 2 Refrigerators, 4 Laptops, 4 Plasma TV, 4 Washing Machines, 5 Blackberry Phones, 5 Cooking Range, 5 Music Systems, 5 Air Conditioners and 5 Microwaves while several others won cartons of Indomie as consolatory prizes.

Some of the lucky millionaires and the other consolatory prizes winners who were contacted via telephone during the draw.

Eur o Global ent er empranillo wine Euro enter erss with TTempranillo

E

uro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited, makers of Czar Ice, Sabrina Gin, has introduced Tempranillo Wine into the Nigerian market.

The introduction the company said was to increase its range of wines and spirits available to consumers, whilst the introduction also doubled the number of foreign wines packaged by the company in the country.

Speaking on the new wine, Mr. Felix Aighobahi, Sales Director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited said, “This year has been an eventful year for us as we have launched some new products that we very proud of.

Tempranillo is one of such products. It is a vintage product meant for those who appreciate quality wine at all times. It is enjoyed by wine lovers all over the world and we believe that Nigerians will appreciate its rich flavour at a very affordable price.”

Tempranillo Wine, one of

Spain’s most famous wines, is the latest addition to the Amphora range of wines. It is a full-blooded red wine made from black grapes in northern Spain. It is low in acidity and sugar content and is blended with exotic fruits to make it savoury. The product is a vegetal and vibrant wine that contains only 11% alcohol but tastes lighter than most other wines. It is imported in barrels from its parent country and bottled in Nigeria by Euro Global Foods and Distilleries

Limited.

Mr. Aighobahi said that Euro Global Foods and Distilleries will always lead in its industry by providing quality and affordable products to Nigerians. He announced that his company has seen its market share in the beverages sector increase tremendously in the last one year as a result of the quality of its products and its commitment to ensuring that these products are readily available to distributors and dealers

across Nigeria.

Mr. Aighobahi disclosed that his company plans to make smaller sizes of Tempranillo wine available to consumers in the coming months in addition to the current 75cl size that it is entering the market with.

Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited is a member of Sona Group of Companies, a conglomerate with interests in various sectors of the Nigeria economy.

La Casera thrills Osun consumers

B

uilding on the success of its Apple Story Campaign, the La Casera Company is taking the experience to the doorsteps of consumers of its ever popular La Casera Apple flavour drink as the Southwestern State of Osun.

In a four hour-Apple Story Experiencial show held at the Osun State Polytechnic,

Iree, huge crowd of students and consumers alike were thrilled to the dexterous move of the dancers and football jogglers on offer,even as free samples of La Casera Apple Drink were handed out.

The audience also had a chance to win prizes in various dancing and joggling competitions that were organized by the La Casera

Apple Story team.

Those present commended La Casera for the experience, whilst requesting for more. Miss Bose Awoniyi, a student of the polytechnic and winner of the female category of the dancing competition was also grateful to La Casera for providing a platform for her to showcase her skills.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 27

VISIT — Customs Officers’ Association (COWA) FOU ‘A’ chapter led by its Chairperson, Mrs. Ochanya Dan-Ugo visited Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care, Yaba. Here, Mrs. Dan-Ugo, Mrs. Durowoju, Directress of the home and other COWA members with their gift items, during COWA’s visit to the home October 1.

HANDING OVER — CAC FOU 'A' Compt. Dan Ugo on behalf of the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs hands over overtime power equipment at Ikorodu Lighter Terminal to the Hon. Minister State for Power, Arc. Dairus Ishaku..

FOU hands over NIPP equipment to minister carttons of * Seizes 11,800 ,800 car impor t ed beer

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HE Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, Compt. Dan Ugo has officially handed over the instruments of possession of NIPP equipment which had been in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service as overtime cargo to Hon. Minister, State for Power, Arc. Dairus Ishaku on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde CFR. While handing over the documents to the minister, the controller remarked that the “Nigeria Customs Service under the present CGC will continue to partner with the Federal Government in her efforts to revive the power sector. He applauded the Federal Government for demonstrating capacity to deal with the power situation in the country through the various programmes and policies which has resulted into significant improvement in power generation.

Receiving the documents, the minister thanked the CGC for the safe custody of the equipment and promised to ensure that the equipment would be distributed to the three areas of Generation, Transmission and Distribution to boost electricity supply.

The minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr. (Mrs.) Deere Awosika MFR, mni and other top officials.

Meanwhile, the FOU, Zone ‘A’ in September, evacuated a total of 1,800 cartons of imported Corona beer valued

at N6,000,000 from a private warehouse in Oshodi industrial area.

Compt. Dan Ugo, made this disclosure while conducting the media round the seized items. He further stated that the said consignment contravened Schedule 3, paragraph 9 of the Common External Tarrif.

In the same vein, the CAC also reported that a total of 1,386 cartons of assorted frozen products with a DPV of N5,821,200 were seized and destroyed in the month of September.

COWA visits Children’s Home

T

HE Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) FOU ‘A’ Chapter, visited the Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Centre in Yaba, as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Presenting the various items such as bags of rice, vegetable oil, toiletries and medicaments to the home, the chapter chairperson Mrs. Ochanya Dan-Ugo, who represented the National President Hajiya Sa’adiya Abdullahi Dikko, stated that the visit was in furtherance of the objectives of COWA to promote the wellbeing of its members and other less privileged in the society. While welcoming visitors to the home, the Head teacher, Mrs. Foluke Abiodun Durowoju, took the visitors round the home where children and adults with various degrees of physical challenges were kept.

28 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

must stand up to election riggers in 2015, as that is the only way they can alter the destiny of the nation and put it on the path of economic prosperity!

Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene ohwevwoufuoma@ymail.com , 08127029122

Leadership, Nigeria’s greatest albatross N a few days from now, Nigeria will be 52, and ordinarily having passed the golden age there ought to be a lot to celebrate as a nation but quite unfortunately and ridiculously, this is not our lot.

At independence in 1960, the nation held so much prospect and possibilities of becoming one of the leading and biggest economies of the 20th century.

This was even when agriculture was the mainstay of the economy.

After 52 years of nationhood and fierce anticipation of becoming a continental and global socioeconomic and political power, the Nigerian nation has no significant achievement or milestone to point at and as if that is not bad enough, our leaders don’t seem know or have a clue where we are headed as a nation. Nigeria as a nation can best be contrasted with a rudderless ship. Without doubt, leadership has been Nigeria’s greatest albatross and the truth is until the country gets a leader who is driven by the desire to strive for the greater good, we will continue to grapple with our daunting socioeconomic and political challenges. Every successive government has come

President suspends the printing of N5,000 note

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has at last proved to Nigerians that he is a listening President by halting the proposed introduction of N5,000 note by the CBN. He also resisted all subtle attempts by unscrupulous oil thieves to further inflict pains on Nigerians in the name of oil subsidy removal.

Joe 08033061810

FG, N-Assembly pose for war over N5,000

Why would the Federal Government go ahead and grant approval to the CBN to proceed with the introduction of N5000 without inputs from the National Assembly? The executive arm cannot take some decision without seeking the opinions of the NASS and approval from the peoples representative.

Anonymous writes in from Abuja, FCT.

Proposed N5000 note

by CBN

It is high time the Federal Government considered sacking Mallam Sanusi Lamido

over his planned introduction of printing N5000 note with more than N40billion that should have been channeled into other areas that will benefit the masses. NASS should stop this wastage and Nigerians should stand up and say NO to N5000 note.

Jacob 08024840076

consistent with egalitarianism and service to humanity, economic prosperity will continue to elude the nation. The situation has been made worse by the fact that Nigerians are continually denied the right to chose leaders of their choice, a development that has encouraged complacency, corruption and non accountability.

But while the Nigerian ruling class continues to take the citizens

The nation is no doubt facing grave moral crisis, particularly among the sociopolitical class. Today, corruption is endemic in every aspect of our national life

,

for granted, they must realise that there is a limit to which they can push the people and when it gets

sues like state creation and state police among others which have been generating ripples. NASS should please put a stop to the wastage of the country's money by not allow CBN and FG to spend more than N40 billion just to print N5000 note when we lack several infrastructures.

Anonymous 080348931024

EFCC and Ibori’s $15million bribe

Sometimes I feel very sad over the situation in our dear country. Firstly, it was widely published by the print and electronic media that an alleged

,

I

with the promise to fight corruption and put the country on the path of economic prosperity. Ironically they’ve all left, leaving the system more corrupt and economically disadvantaged than they met it.

The nation is no doubt facing grave moral crisis, particularly among the sociopolitical class.

Today, corruption is endemic in every aspect of our national life; is it in the executive, legislature, judiciary or the once respected and revered civil service and our traditional institutions, they all ooze of barbaric corruption. The question is: how much longer can we continue like this as a nation?

Nations like Malaysia, Singapore, with whom we got independence at about the same time, are already developed and fast emerging global economic players. Analytically, it quite right to say their is a correlation between good governance and purposeful leadership when one considers the visionary leadership of Lee Kwan Yew, which transformed Singapore from a third world economy to an economic miracle within a spate of three decades. The fact remains that until the Nigerian ruling class reevaluate their values such that become

,

Dear sir,

It is high time that the Federal Government considered sacking Mallam Sanusi Lamido over his planned introduction of N5000 note with more than N40billion that should have been channeled into other areas that will benefit the masses

,

National Assembly's resumption

The National Assembly should please tackle the issues of the proposed N5,000 note by the CBN and also the amendment of the 1999 constitution , including serious is-

$15million was given to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to stall Chief James Ibori’s trial and prosecution by undisclosed/ un- identifiable agents of government. However, Chief James Ibori allegedly denied the allegation then, and Nuhu Ribadu allegedly became a

to that point, there will be no hiding place. The uprising and revolution in the Gulf and the Arab world is a fallout of the citizens distraught and disenchantment with the ruling class, and if the Nigerian ruling class thinks such is impossible here, then they must have a second thought. “A hungry man is an angry man and he who is down fears no fall”. Nigerians cannot continue to live in grinding poverty and dire deprivation in the midst of plenty. Is it not shameful and barbaric that in spite of our vast wealth and resources most Nigerians still go to bed without food; they don’t have access to quality health care system, education, pipe borne water, good roads and other relevant infrastructures? As we attain 52 years of independence, rather than celebrating and dishing out national awards to questionable characters, the Nigerian ruling class ought to be ashamed of where we are as a nation. They have indeed failed the nation. The time has come for ordinary Nigerians to take their destinies in their hands. They

lair. As it is often said that darkness cannot triumph over light, the case come up again and some persons have come forward to show that they are the rightful owners of the alleged fund. Now, the undisclosed and unidentifiable persons can now be disclosed/ identified. Why is it that those who claimed to be the owners cannot be prosecuted? Why do we delay on every of our probe cases? What are the justifications for President Jonathan’s corruption free crusade in Nigeria?

Basikoro 08135049983

Ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun

It is an unfortunate development that our leaders can cede Bakassi to Cameroun. Nations develop military power.

The whole armed forces is established to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

No nation cedes his territory, except in war and in peace time.

John writes in from Calabar, Akwa Ibom State

Revisit the traffic laws Dear sir,

I

have always admired Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s style of governance but some of the laws/measures he is churning out these days are very draconian in nature.

The traffic law which he recently signed into law and is using every forum to sell, is one of them. I also detest the arrogance the Governor displays when addressing such issues. He tells those who are uncomfortable with his policies to leave Lagos.

If all of us leave Lagos, who will be there for him to govern? I implore Fashola to take a second look at the traffic law with a view to giving it a human face. If he fails to do that, many people will take their vehicles off the roads for him and his uncultured LATSMA operatives.

Gilbert Jude Lagos Island

IBB and state police

IBB and other advocates of state police should as well adocate for state armies .

Rod Simeon 07037421476

Delta state and mass failure of students in public schools

It has been observed in Delta state that some teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the state lack commitment to their duties.

This has led to mass failure of students in standard examinations like the West African School Certificate, WASC and NECO examinations. The Commissioner of Education also contributed to it, for his inability to supervise and monitor teachers with his inspectorate team in the public schools. Government is not helping matters because it has failed to address teachers' welfare.

Ufuoma 08106391365

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.If you do not want lizards to visit you, do not bring home firewood that contain ants.

Francis Uzoaru(07025716475), Nitel Headquarter, Abuja, FCT Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 , 2012—29

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

Controversy trails AGN election

.Ibinabo assumes office as president

T

here seems to be no end to the crisis rocking the Actors Guild of Nigeria(AGN) as the recent election of ex-beauty queen, Fiberesima Ibinabo as the new President of the guild has continued to generate a lot of heat within the industry.

Ibinabo was sworn-in as the 7th and first ever female president of the guild amid tight security last Saturday, after she was declared winner of the keenly contested presidential election by the Secretary of AGNEC, Rachael Oniga.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, which held at the guild’s office in Surulere, Oniga disclosed that Ibinabo carted away a total of 97 votes, beating the former Secretary-General of the guild, Emeka Rollas, who she

said got only 86 votes and actor, Steve Eboh (10 votes)to clinch the top position.

But in a swift reaction, Chairman of the guild’s AGNEC, Mr Ayo Emmanuel, who was conspiciously absent at the swearing-in-ceremony, later declared Emeka Rollas as the winner of the election.

Ayo claimed that Rollas got 81 votes to beat Ibinabo, who according to him, scored 76 votes.

He also pointed out some irregularities, saying that the result of the Ondo and Niger state chapters of the guild were suspended for manipulations just as the Abuja chapter was also suspended for multiple voting. . Continues on page 30

Mikel Obi floats record label C

HELSEA and Nigerian midfielder, It was gathered that the artists John Obi Mikel has made foray on the label have already cut into music with the setting up of a label their album and full promotions named Matured Money Minds. are in the pipeline to promote To prove his seriousness the and make then rub shoulders Champions League winner with with the biggest artistes in the Chelsea last season, has signed on music industry in Nigeria. The four acts, Splash, Kido, Edgar and acts include: Charass, Kido, Charass.

Edgar, and Splash. Mikel’s With the help of his younger brother younger brother, Patrick will be Patrick Obi, the 25-year-old football in full control of operations. star has set up his Matured Money Minds (MMM) entertainment label and has already signed a couple of music acts Mikel who has a relationship with PSquare, is hoping to take music promotions in Nigeria to another level.

Mikel was born in Jos, a City that has produce great acts like P-Square, MI and Ice Prince.

“Mikel had always showed his love for music. Setting up a label is just a confirmation of his desire to contribute to the growth of the industry Mikel and the crew in Nigeria,” said a source.

INSIDE 2Face gets royal beads from Benin monarch

•Ibinabo

I love my boobs —Mary Lazarus

Lead us into temptation Oh Galaxy Note 10.1 !

30—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

NGT resurrects Michael Jackson, Fela Kuti as memories of the t was a fun-filled weekend re re-ignited by we ds en departed music leg in the second episode participants who featured of Nigeria’s Got Talent. auditioning in Port Episode two featured the which had 18-yearrri, Harcourt, Enugu, and Wa ael who brought pop ch Mi r he rap og ore old ch ‘Moonwalk’ back to life legend, Michael Jackson’s the King of Pop’s dance with a dramatic display of asking for more. nce moves that got the audie the semi-final round; Michael has made it to ap pe lla ba nd gro up joi nin g the 4-m an Ac ve pe rfo rm an ce tha t ssi pre ‘Im pu lse ’, wi th im e from the Judges. secured a 100 percent vot Princess Daniel, fully ky.

Others were not so luc attire spiced up with adorned in her cultural scent of the Fela’s stage traditional make-up remini o-beat moves inspired ‘Queens’ and gyrating to afr fai led to ma ke an uti

by Fe la An iku lap o-K s, neither did the duo impression on the judgewho tried to mimick the nicked-named ‘The Lees’ e’s Karate moves. martial-art icon Bruce Le was the 26-year old At the Enugu camp, it code’s crib cracking Pin upcoming comedian, MC Ob am or Mc Ca rth y ’s old ar-ye 17 d an es jok nd leather (football), that mesmerising skills on rou ers including the fiery oth earned both and a few ce in the next round, in fire eater from Warri a pla star prize. pursuit of the N10 milliont skills and talents that Commenting on the vas y as unearthed by the abound all over the countr

I

However, amid the prevailing controversy, the guild’s Board of Trustees(BoT) has thrown its weight behind the election of Ibinabo.

A statement by the Acting National President of AGN, Emmanuel Oguguah, the board overruled the chairman of the AGNEC cancellation of any state chapter for the interest of peace, unity, free and fair election.

The board explained that “this is because agents of candidates were directed not to sign the result sheet if they do not believe the election was free and fair, it was a right they chose to exercise that day in Abuja, Niger and Ondo state chapters of our noble guild without hindrance.”

Directing the Acting president of AGN, Ogugu to liaise with the President-elect for the official swearing-in cum inauguration of the new executives, the board said “since the announcement of the 2012 national election result in Abuja and Lagos, the guild has been thrown into confusion as to who won the national election.”

“The BOT members chose to take our time to get to the fact of the matter; this is because the board cannot be seen to willingly err in their decision. After going through the reports of the AGNEC and the chairman’s reason for cancelling some state chapters' votes and that of the AGNEC adhoc representative in Niger, Ondo and Abuja, we reached the following conclusions: *That Ayo Emmanuel is a respected member

•Fela

•MJ

talent show, the celebrity judges trio of Dan Foster, Kate Henshaw and Yibo Koko unanimously agreed that Nigeria is just about to make history yet again on the world stage through this reality TV show which is sponsored by Airtel Nigeria.

For Olu Akanmu, Airtel Chief Marketing Officer, “Airtel is using the NGT platform to lay another solid foundation for excellence among our youth .

of our noble guild, and that he based his decision on the petitions that reached him on those state chapters, *That he requested that other members of the AGNEC come into Abuja for a meeting which failed due to lack of funds, *That he therefore chose to cancel the troubled states from the total votes reaching him till it is proven otherwise. *We hereby state that he should have had patience till he could make direct or face to face contact with the state AGNEC adhoc representative in Niger and Ondo states just as he did with Abuja.

That Abuja chapter had three voters mutilated and the agents agreed to let it pass, is wrong and is enough room for the AGNEC chairman to cancel it. *That Niger and Ondo states’ votes and reports did not prove the petition and need not be cancelled. *That human error lead to the double announcement in Lagos and Abuja;We hereby over rule the chairman of the AGNEC cancellation of any state chapter for the interest of peace, unity, free and fair election, this is because agents of candidates were directed not to sign the result sheet if they do not believe the election was free and free, it was a right they chose to exercise that day in Abuja, Niger and Ondo state chapters of our noble guild without hindrance. *That since the state AGNEC adhoc stated that election in their area was free

S.Africa agog as DISCOP content market holds he Los Angeles-based organizers of and thematic channels, as well as disT the annual DISCOP Africa television tributors of international digital broadcontent market and coproduction forum, casting and content management soBasic Lead has announced that over 1000 non-exhibiting and exhibiting delegates representing 700 companies from 85 countries are expected to take part in Africa’s industry gathering dedicated to the production, programming and distribution of multiplatform, television content.

The seventh edition of Discop Africa will take place from 31th of October through 2nd of November at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg and will feature an exhibition showcasing African and major international suppliers of popular and highquality film, series, animation, comedy shows, formats, sports content, documentaries, educational programming

Movie of the week

Amina: A woman’s journey to self-discovery

AGN-BoT backs Ibinabo’s presidency Continued from page 29

Synopsis

lutions providers.

The 3-day market will welcome content acquisitions and programming executives representing African broadcasters, Pay-TV platforms, mobile networks, broadband-based TV services, airlines and closed-circuit networks.

Over 100 South-African companies and associations are expected to attend the 2012 edition of the content market.

This new edition will also reinforce Discop Africa’s relevance as a marketplace for independent television content producers operating in Africa.

‘Amina’ is the first British movie starring Nollywood’s most bankable actress and Ghana’s biggest male star. Written, produced and directed by Christian Ashaiku, an innovative Nigerian born London based filmmaker; Amina tells a deeply emotional and dramatic story dealing with the themes of love, loss and redemption. Relayed in flashback, Amina is about the life of a gifted young woman (OmotolaJalade-Ekeinde) who, devastated by a series of life changing events suffers a total breakdown and finds herself incarcerated in a mental hospital. Only one person can help Amina, her doctor (Wil Johnson), but he must overcome his own demons before he can help Amina confront her past.

Shot completely on location in London, Amina is being described by UK industry insiders as possessing real crossover potential and a film that can elevate and redefine Nollywood to become more widely recognized within mainstream cinema.

Christian Ashaiku said in a statement. The movie due to premiere on Wednesday, October 17, at Empire Cinema in Leicester Square starred the likes of Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, and Van Vicker alongside top British movie stars Wil Johnson, Vincent Regan and Alison Carroll a.k.a Lara Croft.

Movie Schedule

Movie Schedule from October 6th -8th SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, LAGOS Ted 10:30am , 3:10pm Resident Evil: Retribution In 3D 11:30am, 1:30pm,6: 00pm, 8;10pm, 10:10pm.

Savages: 10:30am, 1;00pm, 10:30pm Safe: 3:25pm, 3:15pm, 7:05pm, 8:50pm Single & married: 3:20pm, 5:50pm Step up 4: 1:30pm, 3:30pm.

Bourne legacy: 10:30am, 1:05pm, 3:40pm, 6:20pm, 8:55pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, ABUJA Ted 12;40pm, 2:50pm, 4:00pm, 6:10pm, 10:20pm Resident Evil: Retribution 1:30pm, 3;30pm, 5;30pm, 7:30pm,10:30pm.

Finding Goodluck 1:50pm, 6;040pm Savages 12:50pm, 3:40pm, 6:20pm, 10:10pm.

Total Recall 12:10pm, 4:30pm, 8:40pm, Bourne legacy: 12:20pm, 3:10pm, 6:10pm,10:00pm .

Single&married: 11:10am, 4:00pm, 8:50pm Step up4 11:30am, 1:40pm, 3;50pm, 6:00pm, 8:30pm In the Cupboard: 2;20pm, 6:30pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Resident Evil: Retribution 3:00pm, 7:10pm,10:10pm.

Single& married: 11:30am, 4:10pm, 8:50pm Total Recall 12:20pm, 6:40pm.

Finding goodluck: 2:40pm, 9:00pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Resident Evil: Retribution 2:00pm, 4;30pm,6:45pm,8:50pm.

Savages 12:30am,3:10pm,5:50pm,8:30pm Bourne legacy: 12:50am, 3:40pm, 6:20pm, 9:00pm Step Up 4 1:20pm, 3:30pm,8:10pm Ted: 12:00am, 2:20pm,4:40pm, 6:55pm, 9:00pm.

Single&married: 12:20pm, 1:40pm, 6:30pm.

SILVERBIRD CINEMAS UYO Resident Evil: Retribution 12:10pm, 5:00pm, 7:05pm Udeme nmi: 11:40am,2:15pm , 4:20pm, 6:55pm.

Total recall: 3:45pm, 6:30pm.

Think like a Man 3:25pm Mirror Mirror 4;40pm, 6:45pm OZONE CINEMAS LAGOS Ted 7:20pm, 9;30pm.

Resident Evil: Retribution 12:10pm, 4:15pm.

Savages 6:15pm,8:50pm, (8:10 Monday only) Stepup4 2:50pm, 11:05am Safe: 1:10pm, 4:50pm, 6:45pm Bourne legacy:3:15pm, 6:00pm, 8:45pm.

Single & married: 11:15am, 2:55pm.

Madagascar 10:15am.

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS Safe 2:50pm,5.00pm,7.05pm,9.10pm,11.15pm Single and Married 2:55pm,8.05pm Resident Evil: Retribution 3D 12:35pm, 5:00pm, 5:10pm, 9:25pm STEP UP 4 in 3D 10:20pm, 2:45pm, 7:10pm GENESIS CINEMAS PORT HARCOURT Single and Married 9:35am,7.50pm,9.25pm Resident Evil: Retribution 9:45am, 11:40am, 1;35pm, 9:30pm Finding Goodluck 7.00pm, 7:15pm Step UP 4 12;25pm, 2:25pm,5:25pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS ENUGU Single and Married 2.30pm,7.00pm,9.05pm Resident Evil: Retribution 10:00pm, 1:50pm, 6:50pm Finding Goodluck 10.05pm, STEP UP4 12:35pm,5:10pm.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—31

People Chika Ike relocates business to Lagos

Off-Camera

2Face gets royal beads from Benin monarch A

frican queen crooner, Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Face has received some gifts in form of royal beads from the Benin monarch, Oba Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa.

2Face has become a pride of the black continent since going solo especially with the release of his ‘African Queen’ single some years ago, which found its way into Hollywood.

Despite his controversies in dealing with women, the Idoma, Benue State-born artiste has been soaring higher each passing day.

Announcing the gift on the social network, 2Fcae tweeted, “Oba of Benin just gave me some royal beads. I’m so exited and honoured! One love to Benin kingdom.” A royal blessing for the Africa’s star.

•Chika Ike

T

here is no doubt that sultry actress, Chika Ike has set plans in motion to expand her business interest. After successfully setting up her Abuja-based boutique, “Fancy Nancy Collections” last year, the actress is on the verge of

•2Face

•Bukky Wright

Bukky Wright’s son, OJayy debuts in music I

t was first, Zack Orji’s son, Leo’ nel who debuted in the nation’s music scene amid accolades. Now, son of another Nollywood star, Bukky Wright, Olugbenga Amu-wright a.k.a , OJayy has followed suit.

The 19-year old singer has released his first official single titled “Never Let You Go” online. The brand new smash hit single features DJ Puton, and is already making waves online. Produced by fast rising teenage music producer, Hammed Bombata popularly known Hameed On The Beat, WG learnt that the single is a fusion of hip-hop, Afro pop,drum and bass.

Overwhelmed by her son’s achievement, Bukky Wright C M Y K

tells whoever cares to listen to download the songs from iTunes.

Speaking on why he chose to be a rapper, OJayy who is studying Biological Sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said “I love rap because its just like poetry, I am able to fully express myself by putting words together.”

According to him, “I grew up listening to rap music, and people should listen to my music because I believe I have something to offer that is different from what we already have around. After guidance from DJ Zimo, DJ Humility, and my mum (Bukky Wright), I think I am ready to start my career.”

NGO partners FEMAN for widows’ gala Nyt A

tter tal Organisation be s n Non-Governmen ow id W ca cy fo r kn ow n as Ad vo WEF) is partnering dation (A of Empowerment Foun n As so ci at io n ia ic us M e ale al m fem Fe n umbrella body of allition of Nigeria(FEMAN),a ia for this year ’s ed musicians in Niger , ho ld in g on th e 25 th of wi do ws ’ G al a N yt s.

November, in Lago t, AWEF said, as one of its In a joint statemen “it is our desire to host ar, projects for each ye fun and excitement toshow of t gh ni a to em”. widows love and care for th them how much we e of FE M AN , M au re en Al so , re pr es en ta tiv song in the 90’s titled”I hit Ejezie who had a “partnering AWEF on this id sa ” ne back to love Palmwi “our way of giving laudable event is widows who are dear to our humanity especially of the hearts” a successful hosting However, to ensure tis te s, co m ed ia ns an d ar ev en t, to p fe m al e cated interest to make it a di in ve ha actresses for widows. night to remember

Cyndy O drops new single

U

p and coming singer, Cyndy O has just stormed Lagos music scene with a passion she describes as unbeatable.

The young singer whose real names, Uche Cynthia Onouha, apart from being armed with a few singles which she believes would add freshness to the scores of music being played around, finds a unique selling point in the dearth of female singers in the country.

Already, she has just dropped a single titled ‘Adamaramma’, which she is certain would serve as a •Cyndy springboard. The new single features Stormrex.

The Imo State graduate of Mass Communication has been doing music professionally for five years but only recently invaded the Lagos music scene.

Giving her reasons for relocating to Lagos, Cyndy O said, “I believe Lagos is the centre of Excellence so I needed to be here to make a mark.”

opening a branch of the boutique in Lagos.

A source close to the UN Ambassador screen goddess disclosed that Chika decided to open the Lagos branch because of her customers who have been yearning for proximity of her boutique in the centre of excellence.

Those in the know confirmed that the launch will be colourful as some Nollywood stars have already signalled their interest to grace the occasion just as they did a year ago, when she launched the same in Abuja.

WG also learnt that Chika, who is now one of the mostsought-after Nollywood actresses, is putting finishing touches to her newly acquired property in high brow area of the FCT, as she is set to move into it this month.

Nigar Raw floats records label M

BY IYABOAINA

usic Sensation, Ukeje Okechukwu Edwards, a.k.a Nigar Raw has joined the league of superstars who are proud owners of record labels as he floats his own label called ‘’Raw deal record.’’

The Abia State born rapper confirmed this development to WG, when he was contacted during the week. He disclosed that about three up and coming acts have been signed under the label.

Explaining why he established the record label, the spiritual Konji music crooner said he has a desire to provide a platform where emerging acts can actualise their dreams.

Raw, however, recalled how he started out, saying that “as a young act then, he was always performing at various local talent shows and before he was groomed at the popular ‘’Star Quest’’ competition.

He said ,“I have been building my career since I was a little boy, because singing had always been what I wanted to do; it’s my biggest passion and singing brings me joy.”

•Nigar Raw

32— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

GROOVE INTERVIEW

Every part of my body is sexy

•Mary Lazarus

—Mary Lazarus Mary Lazarus is a regular face on television when you talk of soap operas in recent times. She started her career as a model in 2002 after her secondary education. She has done a couple of jobs . Apart from modelling, she is also a fine actress. In this interview, she speaks on how she selects her roles, her jobs with MTN, GLO, Reltel, Vmobile, Samsung, Maltonic, Lasma, Lawma and her future plans among other issues.

Has acting been rewarding for you? cting is satisfactory to me and like the saying goes, you always get satisfaction doing what you love doing. Acting to me, is wonderful and l have always said that whoever I will marry in future must not stop me from acting or the relationship will suffer a setback. Though, it’s full of ups and downs. My passion for it keeps me going in the industry. I’m always looking ahead for the positive returns it offers.

Did you at one time abandoned acting for business?

I never abandoned acting for business at any time.

Acting is my business and I do it with all my heart. Even though, I once worked with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services and Briscoe Toyota for some time. But l am now all for my acting career.

What was it like combining acting with business?

It wasn’t easy combining the two and that was the reason I left the other work to concentrate on my real joy and love. Today, l believe l am more focus and my fans are happy.

A

Y

our face is not regular on TV, yet you are ver y successful. How are you coping?

Quantity makes you known,

quality makes you stand out.

I always try to make sure I do jobs that offer me qualitative satisfaction and give me peace of mind, not the ones I can’t defend at the end of the d a y .

Tell us about your role in Mnet produced TV series, Tinsel?

I got into Tinsel through auditioning. I guess I proved myself worthy of the role. I must confess I’ve enjoyed every bit of it with great cast and crew!

We noticed you are also a model and you did one of the latest MTN educational projects. What was the catch for you on that deal and how much was the advert worth?

I have been modeling for MTN for five years now and my recent TVC with them wasn’t my first and all the pay has been really attractive.

What are your beauty tips and what attracts men to you?

I’m a workaholic, a very hardworking lady because of that I try to eat well, catch my fun when it is necessary and live a stress free life. I think

what actually attract guys to me is my smile and openness and like my friends would say that my smile goes a long way. hat was your childhood like?

My childhood was very great. I have a twin brother called Joseph Lazarus with whom I am extremely close to. We enjoyed our childhood together because we did everything virtually together. As expected of any twins. We fought, played, and laughed together. We did all these things together except sleeping with each other. My parents are very lovely people, though initially my dad wasn’t in support of my going into acting until recently when he realized I was doing what I loved to do.

What is your best food?

I love good food oh! I love Chinese rice and sauce and any kind of drew soup (ogbono, ewedu or okro) Semo is on the list also.

W

,

BY FLORENCE AMAGIYA

They say different strokes are for different folks. Every individual has what appeals to them, so I guess those women who go for body jobs have reasons for it.

,

Recent gist tells us that it is trendy to do boobs jobs in the industry, have you done yours, since You just returned recently from United Kingdom or is there a particular thing you went to do there?

Boobs job ! I admire people that have actually done it, but I love my boobs the way God has created them and for your information I went to UK for my holiday, What is your view on women who do body-enhancing jobs?

They say different strokes

a r e f o r different f o l k s .

Every individual has what appeals to him or her. So, I guess those women who go for body jobs have reasons for it. My judgment here doesn’t count. As for me, doing it… that’s left to my personal decision and l am not even going to talk about it.

What would attract you to a man?

His first approach is a determining factor. Then, every other one can be worked on.

Are you in any relationship right now and may we share some details?

I would rather not discuss my private life here oh! Let’s leave as it is until you hear that I am married!

So when is the wedding bell ringing?

There’s time for everything, God makes the decision, watch out! But very soon by God’s g r a c e .

What have you regretted since choosing acting as a career?

I have lost my privacy, yet I try everyday to watch my back. It is never easy, but it is a c h i e v a b l e .

Which part of your body do you consider sexiest?

I’m a complete package!

Every part of my body is sexy.

Would you take up a role that involves you having sex on set?

Every job has its hazards, so I won’t say yes, neither will I say no. I would be extremely smart in my decision, considering I’m a principled

and Godly person.

Who are those people you admire in the industry?

A lot of people have being strong sources of inspiration to me. Some of which are Biodun Aleja,Wale Adenuga, Lekan Ayinde, Ese Atiyota,Paul Igwe, Tunde Olaoye,Faruk Lasaki, Moji Amaka and Elvis Chuks to mention a few.

At the moment what are you doing?

Well, I am still an actress, and a model. Event planning is my newest business.

Before you take up a role what do you first consider?

What effect it would have on my future and what importance it would be to my career growth. I also put my fans into consideration; they’ve made me so far. So I want to be sure I am not placing frowns on their faces.

Yeah, my fee is also of major consideration, I value my worth and quality a lot.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—33 With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com

converted to editable text.

The pen is h i g h l y responsive and relatively comfortable to use. Yet the r e g u l a r standard pen, also fits and even on trial appeared better on the screen than the capacitive stylus. This means that y the time Samsung losing the E l e c t r o n i c s , stylus may not manufacturers of incapacitate Galaxy range of tablets, ran the user, after through the features of its all. latest Galaxy Note 10.1 Galaxy Note 10.1 The note launched in Lagos, mid-week, runs on a fast many users who were already 1.4GHz quadhaving one brand of tablets, core processor notes and e-readers or the and 2GB of other from competition, were already giving in to the other 10inch tablet offers at the RAM which seems more than any what other tablets possess. temptation of switching over. moment.

Quite truly some quality When you remove the stylus There’s built-in GPS, Bluetooth time and massive creativity professionals, from the bottom of the Note and also Wi-Fi direct for sharing were utilised in making the c r e a t i v e 10.1, a shortcut bar appears photos and other files with device and Samsung is d e s i g n e r s , where you can launch, compatible devices. displaying the beauty with a lot students and Samsung’s S Note app or the nother feature which of swagger. It described the even others like web browser, video give the device some functionality player, email Gallery and device as new concept that journalist some which allows polaris office. All the apps can distinction is the Smart Stay enhances productivity, reason to be the stylus pen to scribble on be opened on the screen functionality. When reading an creativity and learning confident in their jobs. the screen with ease. capability. simultaneously without article or browsing the web for The two most unique features Judging from the features, hassles. But the S Note app instance, the Galaxy Note 10.1 he screen responds appears the best of all the extra detects the users face, eyes and the device could turn a user of this device are the split to your fingers as apps Samsung preloads on its the screen will remain on from a passive consumer to an screen functionality which active creator. From Note gives room for multitasking usual, but also works like a devices. It allows the user to without intelligently putting taking to multi-tasking, photo (writing or surfing the net while Wacom tablet when you write write notes, sketch and even itself off after some hours or editing and drawing, the new watching films for instance) and with the pressure-sensitive write formulas. The Text and minutes as many tabs device gives business the professional handwriting stylus. That, really, is what no equations can afterwards be traditionally do.

The device was built with all classes of people in mind. For the business professional, it allows for frequent memos, detailed documentation or meeting presentations while encouraging work on the move.

Incidentally everything done on this Note can be sync to the PC. But the beauty of LG robot For the creative designer, With its slim profile and feature, it technology is that it can easily vacuum under beds, tables, intuitive and creative thinker as cleaner has a solution to chairs, sofas and more. well as the artists and every problem it digitizing professional, the The LG Hom-Bot comes with a smart creates. It takes 2-way camera. The dual cameras, design software for mobile use, only creativity and located on the top and below the robot gives a big leverage. deep thinking to enable a faster and smarter cleaning For Students, doing online discover and that is process. assignments, digital learning what renowned social media and other The device was also designed with Electronic company, a docking style charger with auto multimedia works are made LG, just did last charging function which shows battery simple as a simple tap on the week with the introduction of and timer settings for hassle-free note opens a world of a robot vacuum cleaner into the charging. information to enrich oneself.

Nigerian market.

Yet the Journalist, has a stake, The slim design of the 90mm tall LG rdinarily house wives are According to the company, the Hom –Bot vacuum cleaner enables it taking advantage of the not supposed to be allergic to Hom-Bot vacuum cleaner was to fit under furniture and between sofa ultimate performance of the cleaning the home. But in an upward developed to enable householders cushions in order to clean hard to HSPA+21 and double speed mobile world, house chores are who crave for a cleaner home reach points in any home.

Wi-Fi which burns with faster becoming tiring to women, who have experience but lacks the time, internet, downloads, to report Another unique feature of the to catch up on entertaining experience a new level of cleaning. back to the office no matter vacuum cleaner is the 3 fully automatic programmes on TV, check out who’s LG Hom-Bot vacuum cleaner uses cleaning modes that ensure effective where. The device, according on twitter or facebook and in other advanced technology in cleaning of cleaning of home non-conventional to Samsung is slightly above a occasions are busy chatting away with floors independently, allowing people living spaces.

N100.000. friends on Blackberry Messenger. to focus on things that matter most.

Now, can you blame the man The zigzag mode is great for large Also for career ladies who have to With its ultra-quiet design, the LG areas with few obstacles like bedrooms who after the presentation, always sleep with their strap watches Hom-Bot vacuum cleaner operates at and bathrooms. vowed to give away his other if they must beat hold-up to meet just 60 decibels, making it possible for tab to his grandmother in order Using the Camera, the robot can office resumption times, cleaning is users to work, watch TV or chat on the detect how to get around the obstacle to get the new device? done perhaps, once a week. phone. to clean the other side.

Lead us into temptation Oh Galaxy Note 10.1 !

B

A

T

Behold the robot cleaner: … as LG releases independent hot-bot vacuum cleaner

O

34— Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

By AYO ONIKOYI E-mail: sayonikoyi@gmail.com

How Dep. Gov. OrelopeAdefulire fluffed her lines

E is m n u d o k je a M e h T and the Oniruss become in-law T

he Majekodunmis and the Onirus are two powerful families who have a lot in common. While the Onirus are known for their royal lineage the Majekodunmis belong in the class of the nobles but both families are renowned for their power, wealth and style. So, when Olatorera Majekodunmi walked down the aisle with Adedapo Oniru on Saturday at the Chapel of Christ The Glorious King, at the Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex, Abeokuta it was glamour galore all the way and the two families made sure they lived up to their names.

The fathers of the couple might have names that ring high and big in the society, with the father of the bride, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, being a democrat, a medical doctor and a philanthropist, and the father of the groom, Otunba Alaba Oniru, being the managing director at Oniru Royal Family Property Company Limited and the

next in line to the reigning Oba Oniru of Iru land, the couple are not entirely riding on their wings as they have made names for themselves too.

The bride, Olatorera Majekodunmi, shot into limelight when she was nominated in the Future Awards in the category of Best Use of Advocacy in 2008 and the groom also has a flourishing career as an executive partner at HDS Real Estate. The couple are said to be dating for sometime now and if the word of a close friend to the couple is to be taken seriously “ no one expected them to be elsewhere but the altar” It was a day to remember for the couple and their families as notable names graced the event. Roll call includes former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,Governor Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba and a host of others.

Wale Saranda in-law losses father

T

hough, he lived a good life, ‘goodbye, proud world, I’m going home’, was the countenance of Pa Ayodele Falowo the father of Ashabi Temitope Adesina,the beautiful wife of city business man, Chief Adewale Adesina. When he bade the world goodbye, on the 29th of August,at the Lagos State University, College of Medicine, Teaching Hospital, Ikeja .

After his health has been deteriorating for a while,Pa Falowo,who shared an exceptional closeness with his daughter and her husband, succumbed to death at age of 80.Although, Ashabi and her hubby , popularly, known as Wale Saranda, on the social scene, were shaken to bonemarrow by his death. Like the saying, ‘grief never mend broken bones’, the sociable couple, has started preparing for the burial, they are now planning to give papa a befitting burial. SP was reliably informed Pa Ayodele Falowo, will be buried in Ijebu Ode, on *Wale Saranda the 13th of October.

very government functionary knows it isn’t a mince meal to make speeches, especially when the matter is far afield from their routine calls of duty.

We have seen a couple of ‘Banana peels’ stuff that got out of hand and of course anyone could be just within the shooting range as the amiable, hardworking Deputy Governor of Lagos state found herself in such water last weekend at the grand finale of Maltina Family Dance, Season Six at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Looking as glamorous and splendid as a true royalty and in fact the second most powerful person in the state, the Deputy Governor couldn’t have cut a more perfect picture as the Special Guest of Honour, who was billed to hand out the prize money to the winners and it was all very kosher until the number two citizen of Lagos hit the Nigerian Brewery Plc crew below the belt and even had a couple of them stopped in their tracks and gulped with discomfort.

It was nothing really, it was just a missed line but when one weighs the magnitude of

praising ‘Malta Guinness’ which is a product of Guinness Nigeria Limited, an arch competitor of Nigerian Brewery Plc, instead of ‘Maltina’ it becomes clear how uncomfortable the Nigerian Brewery crew must have felt. The Deputy Governor had said “on behalf of Nigerian Brewery Plc the maker of Malta Guinness I present...”

Nonetheless, that did not take the shine out of the event which was a spectacle of glamour, glitz and merriment. At least the Green Family who emerged the

winner with a brand new Toyota Avensis car and six million naira to the good has something to cheer for, for a very long time.

Dep. Gov. OrelopeAdefulire

Okpoama kingdom warms up for King Banigo’s coronation

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kpoama Kingdom in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state is building up tempo and gathering momentum for the forthcoming coronation ceremony of the new Amayanabo, King Ebitimi Banigo, who ascended the throne after the demise of King Justice Kesiye St. Sagbe, Okpo XX. Already, the town is beginning to wear a new look in anticipation of the coronation which comes up, from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th with the actual crowning taking place on Saturday 27th October .

If the presentation of Staff of Office to the new king which held last year November is anything to go by the coronation is expected to be nothing short of carnival.

And the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the coronation, Chief Johnson Berebofa, has made no pretence of what the kingdom set to achieve

with the coronation, stating that “The significance of the coronation is the opportunity to share with the world the proud history, cultural heritage and traditions of this ancient oil and gas rich kingdom at the Southernmost tip of the Niger Delta” He also said the coronation will be the first of its kind in the modern era and as a kingdom in pursuit of global excellence…that is, to attain world-class status in everything it engages in, as to be ranked amongst the w o r l d - b e s t kingdom, the kingdom will t h e r e f o r e showcase its potentials as the prime tourism destination of the Niger Delta, oil and gas and industrial cluster and its vision of a global green community.

His Royal Highness Ebitimi Banigo is a graduate of H a r v a r d

University, USA, where he obtained a B.SC in Economics and Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). He was the Minister of Science and Technology between 1999 and 2000. He was also the group chairman of Allstates Trust Bank PLC amongst many other interests.

*King

Ebitimi

BBanigo

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HE concept of mahram in Islam can be viewed in two ways; the aspect of genealogy and that of protection for women. The aspect of genealogy has to do with those who have close consanguinity, like husband, brother, step brother and close family members, a male companion for a woman who cannot marry her. The other aspect has to do with protection for a woman on a journey that is said to be more than two to three days. Siblings, parents, uncles, step brothers and cousins could serve as mahram because of their close relationship. Thus, mahram for a woman is someone who, due to closeness of relationship, is forbidden to be married. So, a relative who is called mahram would be honored to care for and protect the woman on a journey from possible abuse. It is generally believed that women feel safe and comfortable in a long journey, accompanied by their own kin. In fact, that is one of the bases for mahram. It is not an evil assumption about the woman and her manners, as

email:

Mahram: Who gets the blame?

The government of Saudi Arabia long time ago determined Mahram as one of the rules for Hajj, where Muslim women who wish to perform Hajj or Umrah shall be accompanied by a mahram. The issue of mahram therefore is not new to Muslims neither is it new to those in charge of Hajj preparation. But the sudden episodes where over 1000 pilgrims were deported last week was very disturbing. Even as at press time, reports reaching us indicated that some pilgrims were

,

It will benefit nobody that fellow Muslims who are anxious and spiritually ready to perform the once-in-a-life-time rites are turned back for mahram which many did not prepare for

,

some non-muslims insinuate, but it is to take care of her reputation, dignity and safety. It is to protect her from the desires of those who have diseased hearts, and of course to make her comfortable. A hadith says: “It is unlawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the last day that she travels the distance of one day and one night without a Mahram accompanying her”. (Sahih al-Bukhari, no.

1038). There are several hadiths that elucidate on the need for protection of women on a journey.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 35 ported and we are pretending to be working.

The deportees are also not absolved of blame. Many of them, unfortunately, viewed and looked at mahram as solely state’s obligation or the commission’s duty to provide protection for those Tel: 08098097290 undergoing the hajj from their isholaism@yahoo.co.uk states. That is why many of them treated the issue of mahram with kid gloves while some resorted to arrangee matching at the point of entry.

The existence of this regulation or its enforcement should not be allowed to create undue apprelife-time rites are turned back for hension and anxieties for intendmahram which many of them did ing pilgrims; something drastic and urgent needs to be done to not prepare for.

Secondly, the Hajj commission stop this embarrassment. Nigewhich should have tidied up eve- rian pilgrims should be seen as ry aspect of the requirment de- being law abiding right from the cided not to give the policy the point of boarding, through out the treatment it deserves, hence we exercise and landing. This is unwere wrapped in this mess. It doubtedly the function of the comalso shows that the Hajj Com- mission and the various state pilmission and Boards have not grims boards. Since the Saudi aubeen living up to their expecta- thority is bent on implementing tion as regards the preparation, the policy to the latter, then the lectures and seminars for intend- Commission and the various ing pilgrims. What else is the job boards should appropriately of a commission if not to guide guide intending pilgrims on the intending pilgrims on the rules. various policies of the Saudi govEven at the point of boarding, it ernment relating to hajj. Every shows that we are not in tune with act towards assisting an intendthe policy of the Saudi authority ing pilgrim to achieving a hitch on the issue of mahram until af- free hajj is also an act of ibadah. ter about 1000 pilgrims were de- May Allah forgive us all.

instructed to return to the country for same reason. How did these pilgrims procured their visas in the first place? What is the involvement of the Hajj Commission in all of these and in a bid to ensure a hitch free exercise, how did they treat the issue? Even after the Saudi government issued a statement a few days ago, some pilgrims were still being detained in Jeddah as at Wednesday. The statement which reads in part says: “In spite of all of this, a Nigerian flight with female pilgrims unaccompanied by their

male guardians also arrived Jeddah Monday...” It furthers states that “Hajj visas could only be issued to female pilgrims after the names of their guardians (mahram) should arrive with them on the same flight, otherwise, the inclusion of the names of their guardians (mahram) will be of no use.”

We have never had it so bad in the history of hajj exercise. Those who have gone however noted how emergency arrangements of adoptive mahram take place in order to gain entry. But is that right?

Basically, there is no argument against the policy of mahram but what is mind-bugling is the way it was carried out as well as the manner with which our officials handled the matter. One is that the Saudi authority who hitherto relaxed the policy should have given adequate information on its preparedness not to leave any stone unturned in implementing the policy this year even at the point of visas procurement. Our women as well as those from other countries were in the holy land last year and there was no report of any kind of deportation as a result of mahram; at least, not this alarming number. Is it that the Saudi government decided to be tough this year or that pilgrims suddenly became heedless of mahram policy? If the Saudi decided to be tough this year, at least there should have been adequate information and ways of guiding intending pilgrims since it is an act of worship. It will benefit nobody that fellow Muslims who are anxious and spiritually ready to perform the once-in-a-

Etiquette of visiting Madinah

By HARUN RASAQ

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any Muslim from different parts of the world including Nigeria use the period of Hajj to visit Madinah.

Although, the authentic saying of the scholars is that: “visit to Madinah during Hajj has no connection whatsoever with Hajj”, still no serious Muslim would intentional miss the opportunity of visiting Madinah during the yearly ritual to Saudi Arabia. The prophet (s.a.w) said: “One salah in my Mosque is better than a thousand salah in any other mosque except Al-Masjid alHaram (the Sacred Mosque) in Makkah. (Bukhari no.1190) Madinah is the second holy land of the Muslim (after Makkah), the beloved land to Prophet (s.a.w) and believers, the city that was specifically chosen for the Hijrah (migration), residence and resting place of the Prophet (s.a.w). The virtues of visiting Madinah can be found in many authentic hadiths of the Prophet (s.a.w).

The etiquette of Madinah include following: To visit Madinah with good intention

(of worship) and not wrong intention (of shopping or tooth design as common with many Hujaj from Nigeria); to keep in mind that Madinah is sacred city where worshippers are encouraged to always involve in righteous deeds such as performance of salat, recitation of Qur’an, making azkar, du’a (prayer), salat on Prophet, sadaqah, ta’aliim, da’wah assisting others, spreading salutations etc; must not involve in act of sin; must persevere and must not harm anyone; to make Du’a for dead ones in Madinah; and to observe the following ethics: Purify yourself, make ablution and men should apply perfume, wear nice clean dress, walk to the mosque in full submission and humbleness to Allah, Pray for the Prophet more frequently, on arriving at the Prophet’s mosque, enter the Mosque with salutation and with your right foot first saying: “Bismillah, wasalat wasallam ala rusulu llah, Auzu billahil adhiim wa wajhihil kariim wa sultaanil qadiim minash shaitanir rajiim. Allahuma ftah lii abwaaba rahmatik”.

Ogun Community gets new monarch

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From left: Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad, Chief Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture and Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Special Duites, during the 52nd Independent Anniversary Juma'at Prayer, held at Lagos state Secretariat Mosque, Alausa Ikeja recently. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

HE Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo (Okukenu IV) has installed property merchant, Chief Jimoh Adebayo as the new Baale of ImeduNla Mowe, Ogun State.

Although the community had been ruled by nine Baales in the past, Chief Adebayo is now the 10th officially installed traditional ruler of the ancient Egba community. Speaking on the installation, which was held at the Community Primary S c h o o l , I m e d u Nla,Mowe,OgunState, Chief

Adebayo said: “It is an honour to serve my community and by extension, my people. My choice as the new traditional ruler of my community is a testimony to God’s abundant and enduring goodness in my life which cannot be bought with money. I see my ascension as a challenge to cater for the needs of my people and to work tirelessly to promote the development of the community, the wellbeing of the people as well as their yearnings and aspiration,” the new Baale said.

36—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

BAKASSI: UN should organise a plebiscite Prof Walter Ofonagoro in this segment argues that Bakassi, having not been transferred to German Cameroons before the outbreak of war in 1914, never became part of Southern Cameroons; and remained Nigerian till date

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Results of the voting in plebiscite districts in southern Camerouns

of Adamawa, and Bakassi, which were not included in the Mandated Territories of British Cameroons.

Based on Cameroon’s claims, unrefuted by Nigeria, the Court was misled into assuming that the pre-war borders of Cameroon as reflected in the Agreements of 1913, were intact at the time of signing the Mandate Treaty in 1922; and that therefore “Bakassi was necessarily comprised in that Mandate”, and that “Great Britain had no powers unilaterally to alter the boundary."

Territorial changes But, as Professor David E. Gardinier stated in his article “The British in Cameroons” presented at the Yale University Conference of Spring 1965, with all the territorial changes that took place in Cameroons between February 18, 1916 and July 20, 1922; with France transferring her recovered territory from Cameroons back to French Equatorial Africa; and with Germany no longer on the scene, “the Cameroon, the fate of which the (Versailles) conference decided was the German territory with its pre-1911 frontiers”.

Could we expect Britain to keep the territory extorted from her by Germany in the pre-war days intact for Cameroon to inherit in 1960, when France, with whom she shared Cameroon, and took the smaller share, was revoking previous territorial cessions? On May 7, 1919, the Supreme Council of the League of Nations, comprising Woodrow Wilson of the United States, Lloyd George of the United Kingdom, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Vittorio Orlando of Italy, decided to exempt Togo and Cameroon from the Mandate System; and asked Britain and France to make joint recommendation to the League of Nations on the future status of Cameroon and Togo. During the period, 1916-1922, the League had no power to decide what Britain and France did with Togo and Cameroons, because the League

did not exist before 1919, and when it did come into existence, it ceded power to Britain and France on May 7, 1919, to decide what to do with these two territories.

It was during this period that Britain took the decision to retain Bakassi in Nigeria; and it did not need the permission of the League to do so. It was Britain herself that drafted the terms of her mandate over Togo and Cameroons, and although the Mandate authorized her to administer British Cameroons “as if” it was part of the Southern Provinces of the Protectorate of Nigeria, that Mandate did not include Bakassi.

Britain simply treated the 1913 Agreement as dead, once the war broke out in 1914, and so Bakassi remained Nigerian long before the signing of the Mandate Treaty on July 20, 1922.

In practice, Britain ran Southern Cameroon as a separate province, and never integrated her with any Nigerian province.

Bakassi, having not been transferred to German Cameroons before the outbreak of war in 1914, never became part of Southern Cameroons; and remained Nigerian till date.

Additional territory British actions in its sphere of Cameroons prior to signing the League Mandate in 1922 are better explained by Viscount Milner, the Colonial Secretary, in his memorandum of May 29, 1919, entitled “Cameroons and Togoland” as follows: “we shall not indeed, have added much to our possessions in West Africa, either in the Cameroons or in Togo. But the additional territory we have gained, though not large in extent, has a certain value in giving us better boundaries and bringing completely within our borders, native tribe which have hitherto been partly within British territory and partly outside it.”

It is in this light that the restoration of Bakassi to British terri-

tory, and the non-revival of the Anglo-German Agreement of March 11, 1913 were effected.

Bakassi simply remained British, and Britain was interested in picking up bits of territory here and there to give her territory of Nigeria better and more natural boundaries. These were reflected in the Report by His Majesty’s Government on the British Mandated Sphere of the Cameroons for the year 1923.

The ICJ was therefore misled

by Cameroon into believing that the Cameroon of 1922 had the borders of the Cameroon of 1914.

Consequently, the ruling of the ICJ in Paragraph 212 of the judgement, regarding the status of Bakassi in Nigeria during the Mandate period, was made in error. The Mandate simply covered whatever portions of CameContinues on page 37

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tice. Cameroon was economical with the truth in discussing her history during the inter-war years, 1914 to 1919, and claimed that “between 1913 and the end of the First World War, the above-mentioned agreements was not called into question”.

The agreements referred to here, refer to the Anglo-German Agreements of March 11, and April 12, 1913. The above claim is clearly false. It completely ignores the defeat of Germany in February, 1916, by the combined forces of Britain and France, the subsequent partition of Cameroon by these two powers, and its effect on the pre-war boundaries of Cameroon, after France had recovered its pre-1911 territorial concessions to German Cameroons, and Britain recovered its pre-1913 territorial cessions to German Cameroon in Borno, Adamawa, and Bakassi.

The Nigerian legal team did not challenge this statement. Cameroon further stated that “pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Versailles and then of the United Nations Charter, Cameroon was placed successively under the Mandate and Trusteeship Systems, the Mandatory Powers and thereafter, the Administering Authorities being in both cases, France and the United Kingdom. These two regions embodied international recognition of the frontier between Cameroon and Nigeria, and Cameroonian sovereignty over Bakassi Peninsula”.

This statement was not challenged by NiPROF WALTER OFONAGORO geria. It is a half-truth.

It is true that the two ment Articles XVIII-XX of the regimes of France and Britain besaid Agreements. The other trea- came Mandatory Powers over ties mentioned in the Cameroon Cameroon in 1922, but that did claims, need not detain us here, not necessarily confirm Cameas they deal with areas north of roon’s pre-war borders. In fact, Bakassi and the coast. We need between 1916 and 1922, these not look at all the other treaties powers shared Cameroon among mentioned in that petition be- themselves, three years before the cause; none of them had anything League of Nations came into the scene, effectively reducing her to to do with Bakassi.

Back to the League of Nations: her pre-1911 frontiers. It was durLet us return briefly to the League ing this period, that Britain recovof Nations. Cameroon held it aloft ered her former territories such at the ICJ, like the sword of jus- as Dikwa Emirate of Borno, parts

Continues from yesterday HE Nigerian legal team ac cepted Articles 1-17 of the Anglo-German Agreement of March 11, 1913, but rejected Article 20, which purportedly gave Bakassi to Cameroon. Nigeria and Cameroon even bound themselves before the court, to accept Articles 18-20 of the said Agreement, but neglected to bind themselves by Article 21, which sends the boundary left from the mouth of the Akwa Yafe River, thence to Rio del Rey River and the sea.

Experienced geographers are aware that a smaller river like the Akwa Yafe can never overwhelm two bigger rivers like the Cross and Calabar Rivers at their mouth.

The greater force of the other two rivers could never allow the Akwa Yafe River flow west into the full force of the two bigger Rivers.

Thus, from 1917 to 1975, it has not been possible to find the Akwa Yafe flowing west to the Calabar and Cross River direction.

They even ignored Article 25 of the said Agreement which enforced Nigerian sovereignty over the Cross River Basin, but were anxious to execute and imple-

In practice, Britain ran Southern Cameroon as a separate province, and never integrated her with any Nigerian province.

Bakassi, having not been transferred to German Cameroons before the outbreak of war in 1914, never became part of Southern Cameroons; and remained Nigerian till date

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—37

Results of the voting in plebiscite districts in southern Camerouns

Continues frompage 36 roon were presented to the League as Mandated Territories

by Britain and France, in 1922.

That Cameroon did not include Bakassi.

Production of older treaty It is not by drawing post-independence maps, and arranging to have them in Cameroonian colours, that Cameroon can take Bakassi, it is by Cameroon producing a treaty older than that of April 29, 1885, and April 14, 1893.

In any case, the treaty of March 11, 1913 is a legally invalid treaty, and it cannot survive on the catalogue of misrepresentation and concealment with which it has been presented to the Court.

Nigeria accepted all the agreements pleaded by Cameroon, which were 1. The Anglo-German Treaty of March 11, 1912, and the 2. Yaoundé I and II Agreements of August 14, 1970, and April 4, 1971, and 3. The Maroua Agreement of June 1, 1975.

Nigeria failed to tender the British Admiralty Chart of 1885, and the German Admiralty Chart of 1889-90 which showed Bakassi as Nigerian territory, and Rio Del Rey as the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon. Even in the map of oil concessions in the Bakassi Area, presented by Nigeria at the ICJ, the portion of the old 1893 boundary from the Archibong Creek to the sea coast at Bakassi, through the Rio del Rey, has been erased!

Nigeria’s legal team never even cross-examined Cameroon on her claims at the ICJ. Yaoundé I may have been a blunder committed by the Head of Federal Surveys in Yaoundé when he agreed to adopt the 1913 Anglo-German Agreement of March 11, 1913, without seeking advice so to do.

That is probably why the learned Professor T.O. Elias gave his advice on September 3, 1970, to the

effect that given the commitments already made, Nigeria had no chance of winning the case based on that treaty. It did not mean that Cameroon had a case. They never did.

What we see is Nigeria and Cameroon combining to conceal the Rio Del Rey Treaties, in order to replace them with the “Ngo/ Coker” line, the so called ‘line of compromise.’ Nigeria did mention the Treaty of April 14, 1893 briefly, but described it as mere administrative arrangements! Yet they presented the Treaty of November 15, 1893, which dealt with some interior districts, as a real treaty. The reader may compare both and form an opinion.

Violation of Berlin conference decisions Cameroon also mentioned the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, in justifying her claim to Bakassi.

Actually, her claim to Bakassi was a violation of the Berlin Conference decisions. Legal instrument No.128 of 1885 was invoked by Great Britain and Germany in both Agreements No. 260 of April 29 – June 16, 1885, No. 270 of July 1, 1890, and No. 273 of April 14, 1893, binding themselves never to seek any territory beyond their respective boundaries.

For the British in Nigeria and the Germans in Cameroon, that boundary was the Rio del Rey. By going beyond the Rio del Rey boundary to try and acquire the Bakassi Peninsula, Cameroon has been in violation of the stipulation of the General Act of the Berlin Conference, 1885. Furthermore, the Berlin Act also stipulated that “henceforth, the validity of a new deed of possession (a treaty) shall be dependent upon certain forms, such as, “a simultaneous notification so as to enable other powers to recognize the act or to state their objections,” and “for an occupation to be considered effective, it is moreover, desirable that the occupier should manifest, within a reasonable

delay, the will and the power to exercise his rights within it, and fulfill the duties which it entails.”

Germany was conquered in the World War, and expelled from Cameroon before she could fulfill the second part of the Berlin Act requirements listed above.

She could not, therefore, sustain a claim to Bakassi under the Berlin Act, especially because Britain occupied her share of Cameroon for seven years, 1916 to 1922, before signing the Mandate Treaty in 1920. The league was not in charge of Cameroon during those seven years.

The Plebiscite of 1961 Another issue raised by Cameroon in that memo is the idea that Bakassi voted in the Plebiscite of 1961. Southern Cameroon, as a UN Mandate, underwent a plebiscite before joining French Cameroon at Independence. It is necessary, therefore, for the UN to organize a plebiscite to enable the Bakassi people to decide whether they want to stay in Nigeria for their future, or stay with Southern Cameroon that voted to join Cameroon in February, 1961.

The Nigerian legal team also made this demand at the ICJ. The 1961 plebiscite was organized by the UN Plebiscite Commissioner, and he had reported that Bakassi people voted in Victoria, Southern Cameroon, a very distant place from Bakassi. The nearest Cameroonian Division to Bakassi is Kumba, not Victoria; and

since Britain administered both adjoining colonies, they must have had very good reasons for leaving Bakassi people in the voters register, for both Federal and Regional elections, in Nigeria. In the Electoral Districts Proclamation, 1958, L.N. 115 of 1958, is published a Schedule of Electoral Constituencies covering the entire Federation of Nigeria.

For the Eastern Region, the following constituencies ought to be of interest in terms of the status of Bakassi Peninsula in Colonial Nigeria. Bakassi villages were included in Eket West, Eket East and Calabar District Council Areas, (Constituencies No. 265, 264 and 262 respectively). The same colonial power acting as Mandatory Administrator, just across the Rio del Rey boundary, had no difficulty placing polling districts in all 26 constituencies of the Southern Cameroon House of Assembly, in which Bakassi people of Nigeria had never been represented since 1954.

Results of the plebiscite The ICJ believes that since the plebiscite held in Southern Cameroon, and Bakassi is supposed to have been part of Southern Cameroon by virtue of the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty, and Nigeria voted in favour of approval of results of the plebiscite, and the transfer of Southern Cameroon to the French Cameroon, then Bakassi must surely have voted!

It is of course much easier for the

Continues next week

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Bakassi: UN should organise a plebiscite

UN Plebiscite Commissioner to produce documentary proof that Bakassi residents voted in that election. Not just the far-fetched suggestion that they all trooped to far away Victoria, to cast their vote.

In Paragraph 233 of the ICJ judgment, the court noted the lack of any provision for Bakassi people to vote in the Plebiscite of 1861 on Bakassi peninsula: “It is true that the Southern Cameroon Plebiscite Order in Council, 1960, makes no mention of any polling station bearing the name of a Bakassi Village.” Since it is a fundamental obligation of the UN Mandate (unlike the League of Nations which had no such requirements), that the subjects of the Mandatory Powers be given an opportunity to determine their future, and the people have just found out from the ICJ in the Hague, that they have been Southern Cameroonians since 1913, but only administered in Nigeria “as if” they were Nigerians, then the Court has to ensure that a plebiscite must be organized for them, to decide whether they want to go with Cameroon, or remain with Nigeria. It is the next logical step.

It is necessary, therefore, for the UN to organize a plebiscite to enable the Bakassi people to decide whether they want to stay in Nigeria for their future, or stay with Southern Cameroon that voted to join Cameroon in February, 1961

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 38

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 39

40 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

LAUNCH: From left— Mr. Ken Spann, MD/CEO, WaveTek Nigeria Limited; Mr. Joseph Aborowa, Chief Financial Officer; Nehita Fashe, Assistant General Manager, Sales, and Mr. Dapo Onawole, General Manager, IT Service, at the announcement of WaveTek into the Nigeria ICT market and unveilling of the new logo in Lagos. PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez.

74-yr-old, bizman in prison over forgery

BY CALEB AYANSINA

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BUJA—TWO businessmen, including a 74-year old man, brought before Karu Magistrate’s court in Abuja, have been remanded in Keffi Prison in Nasarawa State over allegation of forgery of land documents.

Sunnie Motilewa, 51, of Mclowe Property Ltd Gudu, Abuja, and Usman Mohammed, 74, were alleged to have connived with one Bashiru Mohammed, now at large to forged land documents in respect of Plot 96 Cadastral Zone CIO Wumba District, Abuja, belonging to MAI ULU Nigeria Ltd of No. 5 Lebanon Road Kano, Kano State.

They were arraigned by the Police on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and forgery contrary to Sections 97 and 364 of the Penal Code law.

Police Prosecutor, Albert Okara, told the court that

the accused persons forged the documents of the said land with intention of selling the property to deprive the rightful owner of the plot.

However, the accused persons denied the allegations, but their lawyers could not prevent them from being sent to prison, as leave of court sought

by Ayodele Babalola, counsel to the first accused, to make oral bail application was turned down by the court based on the gravity of the alleged offences.

Presiding Magistrate, Shuaibu Ahmed, in his ruling, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody and for their lawyer to come for their bail application by way of motion.

The case was adjourned till November 19 for prosecution to open his case for hearing.

Seminar on women health holds

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public seminar on women health and the use of the Home Doctor Machine and Happy Woman, will hold tomorrow at the town hall opposite Divinity College, Idimu, Lagos.

Manager of the Lagos office of Baye Company Limited, organisers of the seminar, in a statement made available to Vanguard, disclosed that the free health

seminar is aimed at boosting the health awareness of women and would help to lift them into more productive ventures.

He said: “We are carrying out our usual responsibility of creating awareness among the public on the issues that could boost the health of the general public and indeed the productive work force.”

2nite Club opens in Enugu

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NUGU—A new night club, 2nite Night Club, last weekend opened at the upscale Toscana Hotel premises, Independence Layout, Enugu.

In a statement, the club Manager, Vitalis Umeh, assured fun-seekers in

Enugu and its environs of maximum satisfaction going by the state-of-the art equipment at the club.

The club, which will feature special guest artistes on weekends, has Flavour of the N’bania hit as a Director and Brand Ambassador.

RELAUNCH: Mr. Gbenga Alo, National Sales Manager; Aare Fatai Odesile, Marketing Director, both of Grand Oak Ltd; Mr. Tokunbo Jegede, GM/CEO, Orange FM, Akure, and Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, Category Manager, Grand Oak Ltd, at the relaunch of Dark Sailor Rum in Akure.

Egbema/Gbaramatu youths reach agreement with Chevron

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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GGRIEVED youths of Ebgema and Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Warri, Delta State, have halted their plan to shut Chevron Nig. Ltd. facilities in their communities over alleged non-employment of their graduates and indiscriminate sack of indigenes.

They said the temporary suspension was due to pleas from monarchs, elders, the state and Federal governments, and Chevron’s top management.

Operating under KOMBOT Employment Front, the umbrella body representing Ebgema and Gbaramatu graduates, the youths had a fortnights ago threatened to shut Chevron facilities in Egbema and Gbaramatu Kingdom.

A statement by Messrs Ojusin Innocent, Bebenimibo Alex and Nimi Peter, Chairman, Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the group, respectively, said it was taking seriously the pronouncement made

by Chevron’s top management during the discussion with its delegation on September 25.

The oil firm was said to have stated categorically that the group’s demands

would be looked into and amicably resolved within two weeks.

The statement said: “We therefore, reduce our Defense Advisory System, DAS, from Severe (Red) to High (Orange) and advice

our tactical committees in the various communities of Egbema/Gbaramatu Kingdom to stay action for now.

“We know that recruitment is ongoing, while we are waiting and our patience has limits.

“Any resolution by Chevron falling short of our demands will be vigorously and vehemently resisted, as we will and shall not shift grounds on the immediate employment of our successful graduates.”

Tax defaulters in Edo risk jail term

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ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has warned that the state government will no longer treat tax defaulters with kid gloves, saying tax offenders in the state risk jail term.

The governor said while the poor and low-income people were willing to pay their tax, those who could easily afford to pay preferred to flout the tax law.

Governor Oshiomhole gave the warning, yesterday, while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the

plenary session of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, at the St. Mathews (Anglican) Cathedral, Benin City.

He said: “In Edo State, we have tried to emphasise that we must re-invent the concept of tax. We must properly manage the taxpayers’ money. Today the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, is on strike over the issue of tax.

“The tax issue is a Federal law not made by me.

Those people who believe that working in sensitive

places is an excuse to evade tax need to rethink.

“It is very fashionable in Nigeria for people to spend N50 million on weddings, N100 million on birthdays and even much more to celebrate the dead. But for such persons to pay even five percent as tax, he is not ready to pay.

“In such a situation, it is better to send them to prison. Just to remind them that the prison is not meant for only the poor; the prison is meant for those who break the criminal law.”

40 PhD students get N12m in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—DELTA State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Asaba, yesterday, disbursed N12 million as scholarship award to 40 doctorate students of the state origin.

Speaking during the

presentation ceremony, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Higher Education, Mrs Itoku, who represented the commissioner, said the state government was conscious of the fact that the responsibility of the educational aspiration of

Deltans rest squarely on her shoulders.

She said the beneficiaries were getting N300,000 each, adding “it had become expedient for the state government to invest heavily in its education sector, which is the bedrock of growth and development.”

Farm cities: Mimiko promises improved budgetary allocation

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OVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has said his administration would make more budgetary provision available towards enhancing the capacities of youths engaged in agriculture at the Epe Farm City in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Mimiko gave the assurance, Wednesday, during his visit to the farm city, where about 200 graduate youths are engaged in fish and poultry farming.

The state government, in a bid to reduce youth unemployment, established three farm cities at Ore,

Auga-Akoko and Epe, covering the three senatorial districts, with accommodation provided for the youths.

Mimiko told the youths: “I want to let you know that there is no alternative to agriculture as an avenue for mass employment and we are

very much committed to this.

“Although there may be initial challenges here, I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to make your stay here convenient. We are going to expand this place next planting season and enhance your capacity.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—41

We’ve deviated from the vision of our founding fathers — EK Clark Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, elder statesman, teacher, lawyer, administrator, Ijaw National leader and leader of the South-South Peoples Assembly. In this interview, the former Federal Commissioner for Information and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria bared his mind on Nigeria at 52 among other national Issues. Excerpts:

HIS reflections on Nigeria at 52 First, let us give thanks to the Almighty God for bringing us to this age. We are 52, that does not mean that we have not made progress, every other country that is 52 now must either be in front of us or behind us. We should thank God, Nigeria still exist as one indivisible country today. During this period of 52 years, we had some obstacles on our way, we fought the civil war for about three years and at the end of it all, we are now a united country.

It is very difficult to see people who have fought war come together as one.

But today, we are one country and so we should thank God for that. It is also true that during these 52 years, we started with true federalism initiated by the three founding fathers -Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sir, Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Federation of equality They came together and decided to form a federation of equality, where each region was allowed to move at its own pace; a federation where proper financial arrangement was made, which today people call fiscal federalism; that is whatever you get in your area, you keep part of it and because others are your brothers, you give them a share from the balance and they too will share with you.

That was why late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello had the cocoa and groundnut with other products to their advantage. The price of Cocoa and groundnut were very high at the time while the price of palm produce was very low and that was the only thing produced by their brother, the Eastern Region until 1956 when oil was discovered.

As I said, Tafawa Balewa, the Prime Minister of Nigeria had to send a telegram to the Premier of Eastern Region that they had now joined the club. But today people say that oil found in Nigeria whether it is from the back yard of Chief Edwin Clark belongs to the whole country. We are not saying no, if it doesn’t belong to us, we won’t be sharing in it; but what we are saying is let us have true federalism whereby you produce in your area and contribute to the coffers of the Federal Government. That is what we are saying. That is what is happening in America; that is what is happening in

many other places but today you go to the oil producing areas, there is no evidence that oil is being produced in the area.

Recently, during Focus on AIT, Gbenga (the presenter) rolled out the names of those who have been granted oil licences and oil blocs and there is nobody from the oil producing community.

Today, people think that I have oil bloc.

I have not even lifted a gallon of kerosene. But now they are talking about over a hundred marketers, how many of them come from oil producing community? very few, one or two of them. All the others come from areas that don’t produce oil. That is not the Nigeria that our founding fathers envisaged. They wanted a state where things were properly organized.

In 1956, Awolowo gave free primary education, Zik could not do it because he had no money to do it, but he was not jealous of Awolowo. Sardauna could not do it. In 1959, what did they do?

Television came to the West but we in the Mid-West were not cocoa producers, we were not contributing to the

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BY HENRY UMORU

•Clark which is not the real constitution.

So today, at the age of 52, we still exist, but there is need, if we are to move forward, we must have a national conference. I am opposed to Sovereign National Conference because of its implications. In 1982, our neighbour, the Republic of Benin tried it and the government was overthrown because the sovereignty rested with the people and that is why many governments don’t want it, Let us have a national conference where every ethnic nationality will be involved. The

My greatest headache about Nigeria today is corruption. At every place in this country, there is corruption to the extent that a few wealthy people in this country have more money than the nation

economy of the place, television was not extended to Benin. That was the situation, when Cocoa House was built in Ibadan, Western House was built in Lagos and Ibadan became the industrial area.

Today, the Yorubas are the most sophisticated, the most educated and economically they have it because there was true federalism in place then.

When in 1953, Hon. Anthony Enahoro moved the motion for independence, the Sardauna of Sokoto said, no that he could not and that led to the Northern Conference in 1959 because he thought the regions were moving at their own pace, Will you have that today? That was the secret of the success of Nigeria.

But in 1966, the Army struck and since then, we have been having all sorts of military regimes taking over from one another. Today we are practicing the type of federalism imposed on us by the military, through a military instrument,

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attendance should be worked out in consultation with the people. It is wrong for the National Assembly to arrogate to itself that they alone can amend the Nigerian constitution or write the constitution for Nigeria. They haven’t got that power. One, most of them were not properly elected and two, there is corruption. But if you have a national conference, the result of the national conference can be given to the National Assembly to enact into law to form a new constitution. It is not possible to write a new constitution now. 1963 constitution had what you call true federalism. So, what we need is to amend the constitution with the consent of the people through a national conference.

His greatest headache about Nigeria My greatest headache about Nigeria today is corruption. At every place in this country, there is corruption to the extent that a few wealthy people in this country have more money than the

nation; they have been talking about people who have been lifting oil, who have blocs, what improvement have they done to their society? Nil. Where is the money they have been stealing? Today they say they have Ministers who cannot care for their own country, they care for themselves, they float companies with which they award contracts to themselves, the evidence of these contracts you don’t see them anywhere right from 1999.

How do you have a president of a country in his tenure of office, who owned part of a company? Today, the Transcorp company which they have now bidded, they are bidding for power plants, today they are mentioning Obasanjo, Babangida, so many other people. The former Minister of Power was made to resign, if these people who governed this country are now the people bidding for these companies what has the Minister done wrong? All he needed to have done was to declare his interest because Obasanjo was in government when he bought over two million shares of Transcorp. It is only in this country that human beings are bigger than the law.

Most of the judges are corrupt, some of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria are living larger than life which is not in conformity with the legal profession.

Young lawyers are suffering. So corruption is the bane of this society.

Look at the oil cabals; look at the amount of billions of naira that were paid to them. People were demonstrating don’t remove subsidy, what has come up today, people were claiming billions of naira without importing one gallon of fuel. So the secret has been known and I thank the President for having the courage and wisdom to prosecute some of these marketers and some of them are even party leaders.

The EFCC and ICPC cannot kill corruption because some of them are

Continues on page 42

42—Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

We’ve deviated from the vision of our founding fathers — EK Clark

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Continued from page 41 involved in corruption and I have asked for special courts. I have written an open letter to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, he replied that the problem he was facing is from the prosecution. Lawyers who will file 170 charges against one person and yet they cannot relate them together.

You see former governors parading themselves in the streets of London like celebrities, some of them who have been charged to court, today, are senators in the National Assembly. So, you have governors perpetrating all sorts of evil.

On if he had been talking to President Goodluck Jonathan on the issues This is not a personal affair that is why I am talking to you.

If I am so close to him, I should be able to go to him, even if I am close to him, I should say it out to people in this country to hear. What has Lamorde done, you said you were investigating a governor who produced fraudulent budget to the House, what did you do?

This matter was referred to you by Mr. President, you said you invited the nine principal officers of the House, they refused to come meanwhile the governor was boasting that he has already settled with the EFCC. So, there is corruption everywhere. But I am happy that the present CJN will not tolerate nonsense. I have had an audience with her; any judge that is corrupt; she will deal with the judge. All the SANs, the Nigerian Bar Association should reorganize itself to see that they control

There is need for government to take the bull by the horn whereby the government will have the political will to deal with anybody whether in government or not

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*Clark should be loyal to him and work for him. That is the type of government we want.

On worsening insecurity This thing has been with us for a long time. Armed robbery, people who assassinate or mafias, they are in other parts of the world, but the ability to deal with them is the most important thing. Boko Haram, we don’t know their faces but Nigerians know they are Nigerians, if they are killing and the government is also killing, I don’ think it makes sense. But the government is seen as being unable to deal with Boko Haram, but I think within the next few months or so we will see the end.

If the president finds that any

It is Lord Lugard that amalgamated North and South, but we have not sat down to say these are the basis of our existence. We want a country where nobody will be superior to the other, a country of equality; the basis of equality should be spelt out

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those SANs who are only out for money, that is not the style of Rotimi Williams, Fani Kayode, etc.

There is need for the government to take the bull by the horn whereby the government will have the political will to deal with anybody whether in government or not. Any Minister who is not carrying out his job should be shown the way out. A situation whereby ministers are being recommended to the President should be discouraged.

President should be expected to pick his ministers, who C M Y K

of the security agents is not doing well, nothing should stop him from removing him.

Nobody is sacrosanct and if the president takes this path, I think Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past.

Like I said, Northern leaders should speak out against Boko Haram and the governors should do their duty in their various states. The federal and state governments and other leaders of Nigeria should deal with the issue.

Whether he agrees that Boko Haram is as a result of injustice and lack of fairness to the North?

If there is injustice, who created it for the people? We have talked about a number of people who are lifting oil, who have oil blocs. How many Northerners have benefited from it? They have no schools, youths are begging for food, the Almajiris. I told you of Awolowo, Sarduana and Zik. I think if the Northern states want to move with other states in the South, they should introduce free and compulsory primary education.

Compulsory primary education The establishment of Almajiri School is not the duty of the Federal Government. When I was commissioner for education and I discovered that my area was educationally backward, I went to the governor and explained to him, he said please do what you think is right. I said all the female students from primary, secondary to university, should have free education. All the boys who entered the university, you have scholarship.

I built schools, there was only one grammar school in my area, I left about 11 grammar schools, some of them were the best.

So, nobody can do things for you. The farming people used to farm is no longer there, everybody is coming to Abuja to collect money from the Federation Account.

Message to Nigerians at 52nd independence anniversary I have already said so, Mr. President was elected by majority of Nigerians because they have confidence in him.

Therefore, they also demand a lot from him, he should not

allow a few opposition or individuals or group of people to intimidate or harass him. He should be focused to see that what he planned for the people, the transformational agenda is achieved. He has used one year to make the planning and now is the time for execution. Any minister, who is not doing his job for one reason or the other should be sent out. Two, he should place the interest of Nigeria at heart, he should be focused. There are many Nigerians, who believe that between now and 2015, he will achieve a lot.

And to the Nigerian people, this country belongs to all of us, that Jonathan is the president of Nigeria is a message to us that no matter whom you are, you can rise to the highest position of your country.

Therefore support Mr. President, be patient with his schemes. We should love ourselves and we should not allow religion to divide us.

In America, you have all kinds of people living in America, and today you have a black man as the president of America in the person of Obama. The black American is ruling America, the whites, the blacks have all agreed to support him. Let us have that belief in Nigeria.

What is the guarantee that a national confab will yield desired given pasts attempts?

There was no Conference set up by Abacha as such, it was directed by the military, they did a report and that report will be dotted to suit the convenience of the military and that is why we have the 1979 constitution and the 1999 constitution as military instruments. So as far as I am concerned, those were not national conferences at all.

But the conference summoned by Obasanjo in 2005 was different. At that time, he had a purpose, each state was represented by six members; I was the leader of the SouthSouth delegation and we were

about 80 including others nominated by the Federal Government. We later discovered that it was a conference deliberately set up

by Obasanjo for his third term purpose and when that was not achieved, what was the result?

We walked out because we felt that our views were not listened to. Most of the Northerners want the status quo to remain, nothing changed in Nigeria because it suits them. The South-East was neither here nor there. So, we decided to walk out.

But I can assure you that if the president today who has no other interest, in 2011, he was able to say one man one vote, nobody should die for him because of election, so, if that president today in consultation with leaders of the various ethnic nationalities convene a national conference purposely to look into the constitution of Nigeria and into the basis of our existence, why we should live together, we have never had that conference.

Amalgamation of north and south It is Lord Lugard that amalgamated North and South, but we have not sat down to say these are the basis of our existence. We want a country where nobody will be superior to the other, a country of equality; the basis of equality should be spelt out. If you have your religion, I have my religion, we must stay as one.

Will you spearhead the call for national conference now?

That is a very simple thing because the North never wanted a national conference, the West wanted a sovereign national conference, we wanted a national conference, the East wanted it. Recently,the 17 Southern States met in Uyo in Akwa Ibom, so, we too agreed to meet, so we said we want a national conference, the three regions in the South, the Northerners have also agreed on having a national conference to discuss everything and whatever the physical aspect of Nigeria, electoral system, religion and so on. So, now that we have agreed, it is very easy after independence celebration for the leaders to meet with the president.

In fact the leaders of the Southern Nigeria which we now call Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, have a constitution of our own, we are out for the unity of Nigeria, to build bridges, we are not against anybody but it appears that the only way we can relate now is for the three regions in North and South to meet so that we can fashion it out. So, very soon, we will meet with Mr. President and these issues will be canvassed and he has already said that there is need for national dialogue.

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INCE Nigeria became an independent nation in 1960, attempts have been made at various times, through different means, by many political parties and some individuals to catch the shifting and chameleonic animal called, “The National Unity”. The goals set by the country`s founding fathers for political stability and economic prosperity had become so elusive that it had created justified pessimism in the minds of the people about its realization.

Every Independence Anniversary had become an occasion to recount losses and missed opportunities of Nigeria to become great and economically prosperous among the nations of the world, considering the abundance of human and material resources. The political differences and its ethnic madness that led to the civil war could not be cured by the slogan of reconciliation and reconstruction policies of the subsequent years. Rather, the creation from 12 to 36 states which we have now could hardly satisfy the desires for more states among states‘ mongers.

Like Oliver Twist, the more they get, the more they desire.

It looks as if there will be no end to states creation until every tongue has a state of its own.

If as I have noted before, some existing states abhor domineering majorities and repressed minorities, and some states contain some different nationalities compressed into one and forced to co-exist. It is also recognized that the Idomas, (tribe of the Senate President, Senator David Mark) would want a separate state ‘from their masters, the Tivs of Benue State‘ and that the Igbos in their comfortable

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The last 52 years and after enclave of South Eastern zone would prefer an additional state in the name of equity and justice. It is surprising that none of the protagonists of the extra state creation has referred to economic viability since all states appear to be funded by the Federal Government. The justification seems to be resided in the concept of sharing the national cake.

It looks as if there will be no end to agitation for states‘ creation every year until the ghost is laid to rest at a future National Conference. Perhaps a way could be found from the suggestion of a contributor who suggested that “all multi-ethnic states should be dissolved and reconstituted into ethnic culturally homogenous units to avoid inter ethnic tensions and violence, this way, the territorial integrity of each ethnic nation is known and respected.

Some of us might not like this idea, but take a critical look at what you know as countries in Europe and you will find out that they are more ethnic nations with “political space” As you don’t hear the

Spaniards clashing with the Portuguese, Welsh against the English or Italians fighting the Greeks simply because their ethnic borders are well defined and respected.”

The writer (Andrew Miatede) suggests some states that could make up Southern Nigeria as (1) YORUBA (including the Itsekiris, Ilajes and their relatives in Kwara and Kogi States) (2) IGBO (including the Aniomas, Ikwerres, Igbankes, and all Igbo groups in Rivers and Delta States) (3) URHOBO/ISOKO (4) IJAW (including their territories scattered all over Ondo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and possibly Lagos) (5) CALABAR (Akwa-Ibom and Cross River people) (6) EDO (Benin, Esan, Afemai, Uwan, Etsako) (7) OGONI . God bless the various ethnic nations of the ‘Union”. Perhaps, if the Northern region is similarly divided into their ethnic formations, it could be possible to evolve a United States of Nigeria where ethnic stability and prosperity would be assured. This suggestion

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—43 could be set against other under dubious electoral laws suggestions to ensure political and were being sustained by stability of the country. technical legal points rather The above is made without than by expressed wish of the prejudice to the idea of a people. It is assumed that any national dialogue reported to electoral law that excludes the be favoured by President right of an individual to stand Goodluck Jonathan and based for any elective post as a on the co-operative ventures of candidate is neither just nor Nigerian people in tackling democratic. If the right of an various problems of Nigeria. Independent Candidate is Actually, as a father of the sustained in the electoral nation, President Jonathan has review, the citizen would be stated clearly that the problems assured of right representation of Nigeria would never be in the National Assembly. tackled alone by one person or Another point which should a single party but by all be looked into is the phrase of Nigerians. I have also stated “substantial compliance” with before that in the 1930s when electoral law. In an election, to Britain was faced with political me, you are either a thief or a uncertainties and economic saint. As noted in the Bible, instability affecting the Pound, James 2:10-11 “For whosoever the formation of a National shall keep the whole law, and Government came in handy. yet offend in one point, he is In my earlier suggestions, the guilty of all. For He said, Do duties of a genuine National not commit adultery, also, do Government would be not kill. Now, if thou commit no economic reconstruction, adultery, yet, if thou kill, thou political restructuring, and art become a transgressor of the creation of mass employment. law” It is the belief of some It is my belief that a national analysts that electoral laws discourse handled by a should be amended to ensure national government would be that all electoral successes free of political rancor and fear (including that of the of majority/minority President) are clear and would syndrome. not wait for the decisions of Lower courts and the Supreme Court when elections are Reasonable completed. conclusion If the arguments above are If, as it is being rumored, political in nature, it is not that President Jonathan is economic factors count-less in accessible and listening and building of a modern Nigeria. well disposed to the idea of a The assumption is that any national conference, the easier government working for it would be to discuss, argue political stability would not the economic and come to a reasonable neglect necessities.

The current conclusion about the future of economic problem is based on Nigeria.

As in the past, and until our inability to produce enough today, it is not clear whether it food to feed the nation and is safe to leave the amendment enough commodities to satisfy of the present (1999) domestic demand. The Constitution to the National answer lies in widening the Assembly heavily dominated by sources of production under the members of the same party friendly fiscal and reasonable (PDP). The contention is that monetary policies. many legislators were elected

Insecurity: Hold states, local governments responsible — Shagaya

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

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ORMER Minister of Interior, John Shagaya has faulted state and Local governments in the country for failing to effectively handle the security problems in their domains.

Speaking in an exclusive chat with Vanguard in Lagos, Shagaya said the security situation in the country, especially in the northern parts, were peculiar to their environment and as such, the states and local governments were better placed to deal with them.

His words, “I will challenge the state governors and chairmen of local governments who I believe have absconded from their responsibilities of handling situations very local and peculiar to their own environment and rather are pushing it to the Federal Government of Nigeria.” “I think the third arm of government has more to do in this regard. So local government chairmen and state

governors, considering the funds some of the state governors are spending in the name of handling security, they have not done enough. They may be doing their best but their best is still not yet good enough from most Nigerians point of view, considering the facts that very important lives of innocent citizens have been lost in crisis they are not responsible for, so we need to do more.”

On the issue of state police, Shagaya, who is the Chairman of Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited, said he was in total support, as the country was greatly under policed. He pointed out that during the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) administration when the issue came up at the Supreme Military Council (SMC), he recalled that he stressed the need for state police back then.

“My stance and position was that the number of police by the recommendation by the United Nations (UN), is one or two police men to 100 Nigerians,

*Shagaya and considering that they are not up to half a million (policemen) in a population of 150 million.”

“If the responsibility is shared between the state and federal governments, the state will take the brunt and burden of some of the challenges. When

that debate was going on under IBB ruling council, there was this avocation that yes; the state should be able to control from the rank of Constable to the rank of an Inspector. Meaning that they serve within the community, their immediate constituency where everybody knows everyone else.”

Speaking on the security situation in the country, the former minister challenged Nigerians to work together as one. He noted that the armed forces alone could not effectively deal with the situation since they were just about two million.

He said that “Nigeria being a country of 150 million people, the security challenges in the country is the responsibility of all Nigerians, of all citizen, especially when we consider the fact that the armed forces put together, the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Police, the Federal Road Safety Corp, Civil Defence and all Paramilitary put together, would not make up to two million, which

is a very negligible percentage to be able to cover the entire country . “So, I believe very strongly that Nigerians, especially in some northern states where these challenges are more prominent, should join hands with government to handle these challenges.”

He also commended the armed forces for their efforts in dealing with the security challenges in the country; especially considering the fact the some of them had lost their lives in the cause of duty.

“I will also want to commend the armed forces and all other security agencies who are taking risk, some have lost their lives while facing these challenges. They are doing very well but they can still improve, since the challenges are not stagnant, they are dynamic. So we want the Federal Government to give them all the support in terms of equipment and or service material to make them perform better,” he concluded.

44 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012—45

How the military destroyed Nigeria— Eya •Says Igbo haven’t had a fair deal in Nigeria Chief Nduka Eya, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is an educationist, elder statesman and a patriot. In this interview with Vanguard, he bares his mind on the numerous problems confronting Nigeria since independence and says that there is still hope for future generations. Excerpts:

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N Nigeria’s journey, so far, as an independent nation We thank God; a young man or woman born 52 years ago should be a family person with children, looking forward to grand-children. So on that score, God has been kind to Nigeria and I think God loves Nigeria. Let me talk about Ohanaeze which I am the secretary first before I take on other issues.

The Igbo have had a very rough deal in 52 years in Nigeria unlike any other ethnic group in this country. Forty years after the war, the Igbos are still groaning to be part and parcel of Nigeria, a country they contributed so much to building, and they live in any part and regard it as their home, yet now and then they are being chased like rats.

The war came as a result of these chasing around and the people said, ‘okay, leave us alone so that we can go and manage our own affairs.’

Gowon and his group said he was doing police action but it turned into a war. They dragged us back, we gave up and we came back fully as Nigerians.

Yet they don’t accept us as Nigerians. Do they want us to fly in the air?

Collective interest of Ndigbo The collective interest of Ndigbo is that we are Nigerians, whether Nigeria breaks up today or tomorrow, Ndigbo remain Nigerians.

These are people, who go to Zamfara, Sokoto, Bauchi, Katsina, Lagos, Ilorin, etc, settle there, use their strength and struggle with their entrepreneurship spirit to develop the place, build houses there more than they build in their own home towns and yet people don’t accept them, what have we done to Nigeria?

Their collective interest this time around is that key position that is the presidency of Nigeria should go round all groups in Nigeria and that’s why the Igbo supported the South-South and President Goodluck Jonathan.

How did we come about this great literal question? In 52

years, one section of this country through the barrel of the gun ruled us for 38 years, doing things the way they liked without consultation, passing decrees, creating states and local governments as it pleased them. So Kano has 44 local governments while we in Enugu have 17, Anambra has 21. Added, the whole of Igboland is not up to what some two states have. And yet we all own this country. We are saying that, enough is enough. We are part of this system and if you don’t want us to participate, let us go our separate ways.

Governance means equity, fair play and justice.

Fair play and justice The Igbo have not been given fair play and justice. This is what we are crying for. And when you put the rulership from 1960 down to the present, the South-South has not even been there at all. That’s why we said, those who have not been there should, particularly when the man, by divine mercy, was already sitting there.

And some people who have ruled us for 38 years clamoured for the man to go so that they will come back. That is why

Karibe White constitutional review. The recommendation was given to Abacha who had gun and they pushed it away and promoted this decree, this constitution which was a military decree.

Why didn’t he put the recommendation of six zones?

We are saying we don’t even want zone any more. Those six zones should now be regions because historically Nigeria had four regions as Northern Nigeria, Eastern Nigeria, Western Nigeria, and MidWest Nigeria. Those ones worked better.

The University of Nigeria, the first five million pounds used in building the university came from the Eastern Nigeria Marketing Board. So why are we strangulating ourselves because there is oil? So why we are saying six regions is that it will stop the rat race for creation of states and local governments.

We are saying go back to the regions, but this time six -.

South East, South west, Southsouth, in the south; North-East, North-Central, North-West in the North. There should be two federating units - the federal government and the regional governments.

We have fought a war, we

,

BY TONY EDIKE

The Igbo have had a very rough deal in 52 years in Nigeria unlike any other ethnic group in this country. Forty years after the war, the Igbos are still groaning to be part and parcel of Nigeria, a country they contributed so much to building

we supported the SouthSouth and this South-South is where the golden egg is laid.

The position of Ndigbo is after Jonathan who is from SouthSouth, the next will be SouthEast in an unbroken succession. All those from the North who have aspired, we say it is the turn of the South-East because with six months in power, we are the least.

Will this zonal argument work for Nigeria?

The zonal issue did not start today, it started with Justice

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know what war means. We don’t want anymore war. We want to sit down and run this country. So we are saying if you go to your region, and you get the federal money between the federal and the region, if you want to create 35 states in your region go ahead and do so and fund them. Similarly in local government, if the North Central or North East gets its own money and decide to create a million local governments, they should do so and fund it with the regional fund. These

*Eya

people will not agree, they said they will not agree.

They cannot say they will not agree because when they cheated us beyond level they accepted region, why won’t they accept region now?

This country is one we have accepted but it must be one in fair play, equity and justice.

Anything outside that, there will be crisis. God loves us too much otherwise this country would have broken up.

In the 1950s when we were talking about self-government the West was ready and we ourselves (East) were ready.

And the British were using the North against the rest of us.

Azikiwe, in his wisdom being a Pan African, said, ‘no these people are our brothers let us wait for them.’

Honestly, if Zik had said let’s go on our own, we would have gotten self independence, probably this nonsense will not be happening now. B u t people are blaming him but it was his vision at the time. So he was doing a good thing to unite us. Now those who stopped, struggled with their sweat and set up these things are the most maltreated.

Any hope for future generation given the challenges we are facing?

We have hope. Let young people learn. Look at what is paining some of us; I was pioneer Registrar of Federal Polytechnic Idah with late Chukwujekwu as Rector and late Nwadialor as Bursar.

Ahmadu Ali brought us specifically to create a good institution. If you go to the polytechnic, I have a street named after me, Nwadialor has a street named after him, Chukwujekwu also has and that is recognition.

Now I was brought to that institution through the University of Nigeria where I

was seconded to be Permanent Secretary under Chief Jim Nwobodo of the old Anambra State in 1979. Why did I need to leave my job? It is because of this government of injustice, unfair play and inequity, because the Anambra North then was nowhere. By the time they created Anambra and Enugu State the people left were drivers and messengers.

That is why we have to go to schools to bring teachers to fill the civil service. If we were fair, they should have a balance. So I was brought out for a balance. I came in as Permanent Secretary and I stayed there for eight years.

Then I was appointed by the military as Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State now three states.

Permanent secretaries We did our best. When we came, we found what was called GRA – Government Reserved Area built by the Colonial Masters. Why reserved? They are occupied by permanent secretaries, top officials of government, who at 1.30 am the governor may call and say, ‘look I have a problem can we go together, give me a paper by morning?’ He knows where everybody lives. He goes there and you do a paper and by 4 o’clock you will wonder how it happened.

The example is that when the military came, I was Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance in the then old Enugu State and as I was going home I heard the news at about 9pm that I had been changed, I turned back and went to the office, wrote my handover note and left it for my secretary so in the morning I will come and sign it. She was full of wonders.

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY,

OCTOBER 5, 2012

Health Mission provides succour for 11 indigent patients

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

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LEVEN indigent patients comprising three adults and eight children diagnosed with benign jaw tumours and cleft lip and palate, recently benefited from the Free Surgery Mission outreach held by the HEWS Foundation, HEWSF, in collaboration with Bowen University Teaching Hospital, BUTH, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

They were part of 26 patients screened and found eligible for surgery among those mobilized from the nooks and crannies’ of Ogbomoso town in Oyo State and its environs as far as Kwara and Ondo States.

The surgeries were carried out with a blend of six benign jaw tumours and five cleft lip and palate , in line with HEWS Foundation goal of “helping poor people live healthy lives, get good education, decent shelter and gain the power to lift themselves and others out of poverty”.

Four of the patients who required extensive care taken care of by one of the volunteer surgeons in his hospital of residency in Ondo State. Highlights of this Free mission was the two cases of Cleft Lip and Palate surgeries carried out on two, onemonth-old babies, Pelumi Ganiyu and Zainab Saheed Yekeen from Ile Ekerin, Iseyin and Ile Balogun, Oko of Oyo State respectively. These surgeries were carried out before the median 10 weeks period in which such surgery is normally undertaken for new born babies, to guide against the likelihood of infanticide given known incidents of such cases among neonard cleft patients.

Repeated phone calls One of the two cases was a suspected case of infanticide as repeated phone calls and attempts to reach the parents proved unsuccessful before and at the onset of the mission. Owing to HEWS Foundation intervention, a staff of BUTH was sponsored to bring the child and her parents to benefit from the free surgery. On the last day of surgery, an adult female of about 22 years, Miss Aminat Babatunde with a complete unilateral cleft lip deformity, walked in for the first time and was directed straight to the theatre. After due examination, she was operated upon.

As part of HEWS Foundation strategy of building a knowledge-based communitynetworth of healthy and well spirited citizens, the mission also provided an avenue for the collaborating institution, BUTH, to gain access to the volunteering service of consultant surgeons and benefit from the knowledge sharing aspect of the mission through exposure and hands on experience of the relevant medical personnel at the

• Limota Adamu

• Rebecca Oyekunle theatre throughout the three days of surgery. A seminar for more than 50 medical personnel and students within the hospital and environs was held by the visiting team. The novel partnership between the Foundation and BUTH was geared towards the provision of free surgery, due

• Eniola Oladoye

• Joseph Ezekiel to the prevalence of benign jaw tumours, but focus of the Mission was broadened to add cosmetic effects that will in no small measure bring smiles to faces of the beneficiaries. Cleft lip and palate is one of the commonest congenital deformities all over the world with a statistics of one in a

• Azeez Muritala thousand life-births. Factors that contribute to its occurrence are traceable to genetics, and the environment. A parent with this problem can transfer it to his or her unborn offspring. As regards environmental factors, primary and secondary smoking of cigarettes, ( by an expectant mother or anyone with her residential and office space), in addition, poor intake/non usage of Folic Acid tablets can lead to having a child with these deformities amongst others.

Challenges faced by this group of people ranges from facial deformity, inability to feed appropriately, speech defects, recurrent respiratory tract infection and stigmatisation as well as psychological and physiological challenges. Fortunately, help is now readily available as more gov-

ernment hospitals and foundations such as HEWSF are in partnership to help correct the deformity through surgery. HEWSF also earmarked a micro credit grant of N90,000, for parents of two beneficiaries. Fifty thousand naira will be disbursed to Mrs. Ada Ogayi, a mother of five, to start up an hair dressing business while Muritala Ganiyu will obtain N40,000 for expansion of his vulcanizing business.

Key participants of the BUTH free surgical mission were Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, and Dr. Obitade Obimakinde, a Maxillofacial Surgeon, both of University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Others were Dr. Olufemi Ogundipe, Maxillofacial surgeon, Federal Medical Centre, Owo; Professor T. O Olagbemiro, Vice Chancellor, BUTH. The HEWSF management team led by its Founder/President, Mr. Remi Adeseun, was also on ground. A month earlier, HEWSF held a similarly successful free surgery mission in collaboration with the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. The Foundation's goal is geared towards "helping poor people live healthy lives, get good education, decent shelter and gain the power to lift themselves and others out of poverty”.

Child survival: Unilever commits 15m Euros to Nigeria, 4 others

By CHIOMA OBINNA HE Unilever Foundation has made a three-year, 15 million Euros commitment to support Save the Children's biggest ever global campaign, EVERY ONE, which is working towards eradicating mortality among children and mothers in Nigeria and four other countries, in support of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals Four and Five.

Explaining the partnership, Chief Executive of Unilever, Paul Polman, said: "Our partnership with Save the Children will deliver transformational change that will impact millions of lives around the world. Today, over 6.9 million children die before their fifth birthday each year - that's one child every four seconds," "We have an ambition to double the size of our business whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our social impact; looking after the future generations is an intrinsic part of our vision, and it is also our responsibility."

Speaking, Deputy Chief

T

Executive, Save the Children International, Janti Soeripto, said: "Unilever's support will bring us a step closer to ensuring that a health worker is within reach of every child, life-saving vaccines are available for all, and children have enough as well as the right food to grow up healthy.

Combining our global reach and joint ambition we can achieve long-lasting change for the world's most vulnerable children."

He further explained that the

partnership would involve improving access to health workers and life-saving vaccines, and ensuring children in need are reached with high-impact health and nutrition programmes. "It will also provide a platform to catalyse a global movement and generate the public and political will for a global breakthrough on child survival. The partnership encompasses programme funding, consumer outreach, cause-related marketing and

employee engagement; and will focus on the priority countries of Nigeria and other benefiting countries. The Unilever Foundation will be helping Save the Children reach over 2 million children and their mothers by 2015. In Nigeria, the Unilever Foundation will support Save the Children's work to improve the lives of mothers and their babies in Jigawa and Lagos through quality care and support at the time of birth and immediate postpartum period.

Drug Abuse: NAFDAC, NYSC take campaign to Oshodi Motor Park

W

ORRIED about the dangers inherent in drug abuse, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC last week took campaign against drug abuse to commercial bus drivers and motorcycle operators in Cappa, Oshodi area of Lagos.

Drug abuse and alcoholism is one of the most prevalent issues the youth is facing currently.

Unfortunately, it does not affect individual alone but also everyone around him or her including the society at large.

According to experts, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances such as diazepam, bromazepam, cocaine, pethidine, and morphine became

drug of abuse when not used for medical purposes. Statistics have also shown that substances such as codeine containing cough, syrup, rubber solution, gum, alcohol, cannabis, among others are commonly abused in Nigeria.

Addressing the gathering during a sensitisation Campaign against Drug Abuse and Alcoholism for Commercial drivers and Motorcycle riders in Cappa, Oshodi, in Lagos last week, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii called on corporate bodies and Nigerians to join the war against drug abuse.

Orhii who noted that said NAFDAC was committed to ensuring that the eradication of drug abuse as well as ensuring that the use of Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are

limited to medical and scientific purpose only.

Enjoining members of the NYSC to join the war on drug abuse pointed out that, findings have revealed that the sale and use of cannabis, alcohol and alcohol based herbal mixture is a common occurrence at the nation’s motor park.

He regretted that most commercial bus drivers and okada often smoke cannabis and/ or drink alcohol and alcohol based herbal mixtures before embarking on their journey to energise them and also keep them awake for a long time.

A practice, he said, leads to impaired mental function such that the ability of the user to make accurate judgement, especially when driving vehicles or riding okada is affected.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 47 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues.

However you will not be wrong if you take matters-of-theheart more seriously now. Be more loving.

LIBRA; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

SCORPIO; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

SAGITTARIUS; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as co-operative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm CAPRICORN; You may be in position to minimise the pressure of yesterday. And you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

AQUARIUS; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

O

UR elders say ‘a man does not wake up in the morning and start pursuing rabbit’. In other words a man does not start the day with some level of unseriousness.

For a good morning portends a good day.

How is your morning?

If I may ask you, how is your morning like? What are your programme for the day? Or do you just wake up as a matter of course without a well laid out goals for the

TERROR MUDA

day? No objective, no direction, wherever the wind blows you, there you go? Haba!

You can’t afford to live your life this way. You can’t be a victim of anything goes.

in “Never say goodbye”

Define your day. You can do this by charting a programme of action for your day, daily. This you can do a day before the day of execution. Some even plan weeks and months ahead. You can.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

PISCES; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

ARIES; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during midmorning and early afternoon periods.

TAURUS; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

GEMINI; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

CANCER; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm.

LEO; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

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,

Are they compatible?

Dear Joshua, Kindly analyse horoscopes of two young lovers willing to share the rest of thie lives together. I am concern because one of the is my own son. However I want you to leave out their birth dates.

Sambo, Umuahia.

Dear Sambo, COMPATIBILITY GUIDE What will follow here-under are analyses of their horoscopes , so that they will know each other very well vis-à-vis strong and weak points of each other. By this you will decide if actually what you are looking for is in the relationship.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE LADY SUN SIGN = AQUARIUS; SUN IN 13TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS. MOON SIGN = CANCER ; MOON IN 3RD DEGREE OF CANCER MERCURY IN IST DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN ZERO DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES JUPITER IN 29TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. URANUS IN 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. NEPTUNE IN 2ND DEGREE OF CAPRICORN PLUTO IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF TAURUS. SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SCORPIO. ANALYSIS OF THE CHART SUMMARY Here is a gentle person who cares so much for both her extended family (especially her mother) and her personal family.

She can be highly emotional, although highly intelligent too THE WEAK POINT She can unexpectedly burst into tears whenever she fails to control her husband. And if she does not result to weeping she can many times force this man to turn violent to the detriment of too many things. She in particular will many times become jealous for no reason and can be difficult to manage by this man.

Although she loves freedom, she will want to be in firm control of the man’s freedom. Issues of control and freedom must be clearly defined before final marital rite, or else serious trouble would be the result.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE MAN SUN SIGN = TAURUS MOON SIGN = ARIES; MOON IN 20TH DEGREE OF ARIES. STELLIUM SIGN = SAGITTARIUS MERCURY IN 22ND DEGREE OF TAURUS. VENUS IN 1ST DEGREE OF CANCER. MARS IN 25TH DEGREE OF TAURUS. JUPITER IN 8TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. SATURN IN 29TH DEGREE OF LIBRA. URANUS IN 7TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

48 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Obama still ahead as Romney wins debate •Most tweeted event in US political history

By UDUMA KALU with agency report

P

RESIDENT Barack Obama is still ahead in national polls even as critics across media and snap polls declared Republican challenger Mitt Romney the winner in their first presidential debate.

In the first of the three debates Wednesday in Denver, Colorado, ahead of the Nov 6 poll, commentators suggested Romney’s performance was energetic and poised while the president seemed subdued and occasionally testy.

Several noted that Obama did not mention Romney-founded Bain Capital exporting jobs to India and China nor his rival’s controversial quote that “47 percent” of Americans were “moochers” even once, according to a compilation by the Political Bulletin, a news aggregating site.

Though neither candidate was seen delivering a knockout blow, many agree with CNN that Romney “dominated” the debate, it said citing a CNN survey which found 67 percent of viewers calling Romney the winner, the highest by any candidate since 1984.

For 90 minutes, Obama and Romney sparred over their visions for the future of America. At times they were wonky when it came to a discussion about taxes and Medicare. There were moments when the candidates were forceful in picking over the details of each other’s policy proposals, going toeto-toe over some of the finer points.

“Mitt Romney was on offense. President Obama was on defense. And when you’re on offense in a presidential debate — and aren’t mean-spirited or harsh — you prevail,” writes Fred Barnes in The Weekly Standard.

Some Democratic allies of Obama conceded the president had a weak showing at the University of Denver. “I had one overwhelming impression,” James Carville, the strategist behind Bill Clinton’s victory in the

•President Obama shakes hands with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at Wednesday’s debate.

1992 presidential election, said on CNN Wednesday night. “I did everything I could not to reach it, but it looked like Romney wanted to be there and President Obama didn’t want to be there.”

Obama and Romney will face each other in two more debates, with the next being on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., where voters will be able to pose questions in a town-hall style format.

Meanwhile, an average of recent polling on the presidential race by a top political analytical site, ‘The RealClearPolitics’, showed Obama ahead 48.9 percent to Romney’s 45.4 percent.

RCP’s electoral map shows the Obama/Biden ticket leading in states totalling 265 electoral votes, just five short of the 270 required for victory in the 538-member Electoral College. Romney/Ryan ticket had 191 votes while 82 were too close to call.

Meanwhile, a CBS poll showed 46 percent calling Romney the winner to Obama’s 22 percent.

Immediate television reaction too favoured Romney with NBC calling Romney “energetic”, “aggressive” and “crisp”.

Obama, on the other hand, appeared “listless and flat and uninspired”, as ABC put it.

Romney “took the offensive ... forcing President Obama to defend his record in a series of sharp exchanges,” wrote the Washington Post while Obama “appeared on the defensive at times over

his record”.

“If Mr. Romney’s goal was to show that he could project equal stature to the president, he succeeded, perhaps offering his campaign the lift that Republicans have been seeking,” said the influential New York Times.

USA Today said the president “sometimes seemed annoyed and defensive” while Romney “was energetic, focused and relentlessly on message”.

The social media also rates Mitt Romney over Obama. Twitter and Facebook are churning out judgments after the presidential contest Wednesday night. Twitter announced shortly after Wednesday’s debate that it had been the most tweeted event in US political history, topping this year ’s Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

With 11.1 million comments, Wednesday’s debate was the fourth most tweeted telecast of any kind, coming in just behind the most recent Grammy awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards and the Super Bowl, according to William Powers, director of the Crowdwire, an election project of the social analytics firm Bluefin Labs.

The consensus on social networks was that Romney ’s debate performance had breathed new life into his recently sliding campaign.

The debate, focused on domestic issues, was a numbers-heavy discussion of the economy, debt and entitlement reform.

Clinton fires up New Hampshire voters

F

ORMER President Bill Clinton took to the campaign trail in New Hampshire on Wednesday, lending President Barack Obama some firepower in a battleground state that has recently warmed to the idea of a second term for the incumbent.

Hours before Obama takes on Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Denver in the pair’s first nationally televised debate, the 42nd U.S. President fired up a rally at the University of New Hampshire-Durham.

Clinton cast a positive light on Obama’s economic record, drew sharp policy differences with Romney, and highlighted what he suggested was a tilt by the Republican Party away from policies that had been reliably bipartisan for decades.

“The Tea Party strangled the Republican Party so much that oxygen stopped going to the brain,” Clinton told the standing-room-only crowd, estimated at 1,675, in the college gymnasium.

Clinton struck similar notes to his speech at the Democratic Convention in Charlotte in August and drew sharp distinctions between Obama and Romney on the issues of student loans, health care, the 2008 auto bail-

•Bill Clinton out, and tax policy.

“Trickle down economics doesn’t work. It doesn’t add up. Arithmetic works better,” he said.

He also jabbed Romney’s comment, made at a fundraiser in Florida and secretly recorded, about the “47 percent” of

Turkey kills Syrian troops in retaliatory strike

T

URKEY stepped up retaliatory artillery strikes on a Syrian border town yesterday, killing several Syrian soldiers, while its parliament approved further military action in the event of another spillover of the Syrian conflict.

Seeking to unwind the most serious cross-border escalation in its 18month-old crackdown on dissent, Damascus apol-

Libyans protest new govt

M

ORE than 100 Libyans have stormed the headquarters of the Libyan General Conference in Tripoli to protest against the formation of a new government.

The protesters said on Thursday that the list of new cabinet members presented the day before by Mustafa Abushagur, the prime minister, are not representative of Libya.

The demonstrators entered the premises and aired their grievances to representatives of the legislative assembly, the first elected authority after four decades of rule under slain leader Muammar Gaddafi, witnesses said.

Between 100 and 150 demonstrators from the western town of Zawiyah walked into the hall where congress meets, forcing the cancellation of a session to study the nominations.

“After we heard the list, everyone in Zawiyah was angry. Some even began protesting in Zawiyah’s main square last night,” said Nuri Shambi, who

Americans who do not pay federal income taxes and were dependent on the government.

“The guy with a tax account in the Cayman Islands is attacking other people for not wanting to pay income tax? I mean, you’ve got to give him credit,” Clinton said.

travelled 50km to Tripoli to voice his anger.

“Abushagur said he would form a coalition government, that he would look at experience.

Zawiyah proposed candidates for oil minister, but he’s brought in someone who is not well known.”

ogized through the United Nations for shelling which killed five civilians in southeast Turkey on Wednesday and said it would not happen again, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said.

Syria’s staunch ally Russia said it had received assurances from Damascus that the mortar strike had been a tragic accident. But Turkey’s government said “aggressive action” against its territory by Syria’s military had become a serious threat to its national security and parliament approved the deployment of Turkish troops beyond its borders if needed.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the fundamental aim of parliament’s mandate was as a deterrent.

EU regulators want nuclear safety

R

EGULATORS and operators should act now to improve safety at nuclear power plants, the EU energy commissioner said on Thursday, following inspections across the European Union.

The stress tests, carried out in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, found safety improvements costing between 10 billion ($12.90 billion) and 25 billion euros were necessary in European plants, a draft seen by Reuters showed this week.

“Nearly everywhere

there is major potential for improvement,” Energy Commission Guenther Oettinger told reporters.

“We therefore think that we should talk together with operators and regulatory authorities to act rapidly so that the highest possible standards can be guaranteed very soon.”

One of the lessons of Fukushima was that two natural disasters could strike at the same time and knock out the electrical supply system of a plant completely, so it could not be cooled down.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 49

50 — Vanguard,FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Vanguard CLASSIFIED IDEMUDIA—I, formerly known and addressed as Idemudia Regina Imuentinyan, now wish to be known and addressed as Peter Ojo Imuentinyan. All former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, NECO and the general public please take note.

EZENWA—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Maureen Chinaeme Ezenwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maureen Chinaeme Diala. All former documents remain valid.

National Assembly Three Arm Zone, P.M.B. 141 Garki Abuja and general public please take note.

ASHIMI—I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Ashimi Kareem Adeleke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Oluwasegun Adeleke Adeola. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ADEYEMO—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemo Deborah Temitope Tosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okewole Deborah Temitope Tosin. All former documents remain valid. Kwara State College of Education, Nigerian Breweries and general public please take note.

Reconciliation of Name This is to certify that Mrs. Deborah Ada Oguche and Mrs. Theresa Ada Oguche refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Theresa Ada Oguche.

All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Agriculture (SGR) Dept. Abuja and general public please take note

PRINCE —I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Okpala Chima Prince, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Okpala Chimaobi Okechukwu. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

Reconciliation of Name This is to certify that the name(s) Romanus Eze Odo and Romanus Eze Chukwuma refer to one and same person.

I now wish to be known and addressed as Romanus Eze Chukwuma. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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General public please take note.

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Nigeria Immigration Service and general public please take note.

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Confirmation of Name This is to certify that the name(s) Ulasi Nkiruka Esther, Godwin Nkiruka Esther and Anene Nkiruka Esther refer to one and the same person. I now wish to be known amd addressed as Anene Nkiruka Esther. All former documents remain valid.

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Vanguard,FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012— 51

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Naval ratings go gaga in Lagos ••Stab viewing centre owner over N100 fee

By DONALD ARJI & ADA ONWUNALI

T

HE unprofessional conduct and flagrant abuse of rights of others christened ‘bloody civilians’ by some military men in the country was recently brought to the fore in Lagos after some naval ratings allegedy attached to Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos went haywire and unleashed terror on a hapless viewing centre owner. The man was said to have been stabbed with a bayonet for daring to ask for a fee of N100. The outrage took place at 21, Taiwo Street, Olodi Apapa, during a crucial foreign football match.

The centre owner simply identified as Sheye who hails from Osun State was reported to have demanded a fee of N100 from one of the ratings who of course, was in mufti; but this was reportedly turned down by the rating on the ground that other viewing centres around the area collect N50. A mild argument reportedly ensued during which the rating bolted out with a promise to be back with his colleagues to “teach Sheye a lesson.”

Unwarranted pummelling It was gathered that minutes later, the rating resurfaced in company of another colleague who was also in mufti, dragged Sheye out and started beating him. Other viewers who watched the unwarranted pummeling were said to have taken to their heels moments after the assailants identified themselves as naval officers. They were said to have used military belts and other tools of destruction found on the ground on the hapless Sheye who was later stabbed on the left side of his abdomen.

An eye witness who pleaded anonymity told Crime Alert that the unruly behaviour by the ratings took place on September 18, 2012 at about 7.30pm. He said: “The incident happened in my presence and I watched the unprofessional conduct of these boys who later

Sheye on the sick bed

introduced themselves as navy officers. Though I had heard of the notoriety of some naval ratings before, I hadn’t the opportunity to watch it until that day. I remember it was about 7.30pm that day and there was a football match going on and I was at the viewing centre with other viewers watching the match.

Suddenly, a young man of about 27 walked in and the owner of the centre, Sheye gently went over to him to demand for a N100 gate fee.

“The man questioned why Sheye should be collecting N100 when others in the area were collecting N50. This led to a minor argument which prompted the man who we later got to know as a naval rating to leave with a threat to be back to teach Sheye a lesson. Initially, we thought it was one of those empty threats; but midway into the match, the man accompanied by another man of the same age stormed the centre and ordered everybody to stand, put off the TV set and brought out their ID to identify themselves as naval officers. Thereafter, they dragged Sheye out and started flogging him with their military belts.

We could hear Sheye shouting for help. When they were through with the beating, we later went to the scene to behold Sheye in the pool of his blood while his assailants had left because nobody could muster the gut to get closer to them when the beating was on. But at the other end of the street, we were made to

believe that one of the ratings had been rounded up by irate youths and taken to Tolu Police Post where he was detained.

Sheye was rushed to Femi Hospital which is located along Baale Street near

Tolu bus-stop” Frantic efforts to get the identity of the rating while in detention at Tolu police station was rebuffed by the policemen on duty on the ground that they were not prepared for any

confrontation with the Navy. When Crime Alert visited Femi Hospital, the doctor and owner, Femi Ekanade, confirmed that when Sheye was brought to the hospital, he was soaked in his blood adding that he had to work on him immediately by ‘arresting’ the bleeding and promptly stitching the opening on the left side of his bowel which was occasioned by the stab. He also confirmed that Sheye was responding to treatment as at the time of this report.

However,though it was not possible to get the identities of the ratings, Crime Alert gathered that a senior naval personnel attached to the same Naval Dockyard, Lt. Commander B.L. Akanbi visited Sheye in the hospital and presented three post-dated cheques of N80,000.00 for his treatment and also assured the family that the culprits will be severely dealt with the military way.

52— Vanguard,FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

Information on UAE Visas

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

A

PART from national citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, who do not require a visa to visit the UAE, but to produce their GCC country passport or ID Card upon arrival at the point of entry, other foreign nationals seeking permit should note that obtaining UAE visa is dependent upon several diverse factors such as their nationality, purpose of intended visit and intended duration of stay and so on.

Residents who are not nationals of GCC, but have a high professional status such as company managers, business people, auditors, accountants, doctors, engineers, pharmacists, or employees and are working in the public sector, are eligible for a non-renewable visa for a duration of 30 days, upon arrival at the approved ports of entry, including their families, drivers and personal staff, being sponsored by them.

The UAE visa rules and regulations as stipulated, may change from time to time, and as such, applicants are advised to make extra effort to visit the regional UAE embassy or consulate for complete and accurate visa prerequisites information and also check with the airline you intend using to fly to the UAE, even as the consulate promises to keep up to date with providing applicants with well informed website.

Sponsorship: It may vary slightly depending on nationalities, but ideally, a fewer nationalities require a sponsor for their visit and in some cases, the sponsor normally applies for the visa on behalf of

the applicant.

Accredited sponsors: An applicant can decide to have a hotel or tourist company apply on his behalf, mainly for visas under the category of tourist visa, valid for 30 days, a Service visa, valid for 14 days and a visit visa, which is valid for 30 days.

Airlines and may be airlines handlers can apply for their crew members, at most for a 96-hour transit visa, while other Organizations that are based in the UAE can only apply for visit visas and service visas. Subject to guidelines, relatives or friends who are already resident in the UAE may be allowed to apply on behalf of an individual who intends to acquire a visit visa.

Documentation: The first step is for the applicant to provide a well completed visa application form, passport copy, and a letter which will specify sponsor, either from the Country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its diplomatic mission. Also, the applicant is expected to place specification on the type of visa he or she requires and its classification. For instance, the applicant may be seeking to have a short term, long term, multiple entry or complementary permit. It is imperative for the applicant to ensure that his or her passport is valid for at least 6 months, presenting a very clear passport photograph.

Application remarks: Applications have to be fully completed and if possible, the information provided must be in typed letters, and also, applicants should allow sufficient time of at least 48 hours for the visa to be processed and possible issued.

Winners of INDIAFRICA Biz Venture emerge

By DOTUN IBIWOYE, VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

A

T the inaugural INDIAFRICA business venture competition organized by the idea works in collaboration with the Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs Government of India, three innovative and enterprising young people emerged lucky winners. INDIAFRICA, a shared future which was launched in Nigeria in August 2011 at Lagos Business School is “a unique people to people and youth outreach programme that brings Africans and Indians together through competition, creative exchanges and collaboration”.

The finals which held last September at the City Hall, Lagos, featured presentations by 9 teams from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and India. Results were decided by a 9 member Grand Jury that included Jahman Anikulapo, Editor of The Guardian on Sunday; Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School; Ini Onuk, Sustainability Expert and CEO Thistlepraxis Consulting and others.

In a colourful ceremony held last week

at the City Hall, Pilonam Kumari from India with her idea of a solar powered harvester: Zubaida Bai also from India with her novel health-care venture and Kennedy Kithake and Kola Bayole of South Africa, for their interesting education venture, and Bhiraw Kumar Mandal of India for his innovative hydrogen based energy solution emerged first, second and joint third place winners with cash prizes of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 respectively.

Pilonam Kumari and Kennedy Kithake also earned a trip to Davos 2013 as the top ranked Indian and African winners.

In her address, the Chair of the jury Enase Okonedo, Dean Lagos Business School stated that the competition “Is expected to harness entrepreneurship and the opportunities that exist between India and Africa .

Joint Secretary Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Ms. Riva Ganguly Das described the initiative as a successful “ Public-Private partnership bringing the youth of Africa and India closer in an innovative and enterprising relationship.”

US Consulate remodels for quality visa services

By VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU & PRISCA SAM-DURU

T

HE United States Consul General, Jeffery Hawkins, has disclosed that the Consulate in Lagos is putting in over US$30 million for the renovation of its offices to meet the increasing demands of applicants in the country.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Hawkins said the Consulate has been experiencing a lot of constraints while trying to ensure that both Nigerians and Americans receive standard consular services which is reason for the urgent need to remodel by putting up additional structures as well as

employing the services of more Senior consular officers.

He said: “I am proud that so many eligible Nigerians want to go to US which is increasing the demand for visas and at the same time, causing unnecessary delays. It is absolutely vital that we remodel the consulate to provide quality services to Nigerians who are interested in promoting trade, education and business between Nigeria and the United States.

Nigeria is a very rich and important nation to United States. We, therefore, have a commitment to ensure that the bi-national relationship between US and Nigeria remains tight and progressive.”

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 53

54 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012

T

WO days after the final of the 100m for women Dr. Emmanuel Udughan, the Governor of Delta State was on line to the Nigerian camp at the London Olympics.

Nigeria had gone to the Olympics banking on only one athlete for a possible gold medal. That was how bad things had gone for a country of over 150 million people. Only Blessing Okagbare could be referred to a world class athlete going by her bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics and the progress she had made in the in the run-up to the Olympics.

She had run some good races, beating the best in the world in Crystal Palace (10.99 seconds) and in Monaco (10.96 seconds) just one week to the London games. Expectations were high. Many dreamed Olympic medal from this Delta athlete. But on the day it mattered most Blessing raced to a place at the back and not in front. Pity she said she had a cramp.

Nigeria’s dream crashed with her. This pained Uduaghan. He had supported Blessing and other athletes as part of his contribution to Nigeria’s participation at the Olympics. He paid some Olympic bound athletes training grants, he hosted an athletics event in Warri largely to prepare them and personally encouraged and motivated the athletes.

And when Blessing crashed in the 100m final Uduaghan called to still inspire her and boost the morale of the Nigerian contingent. No other Nigerian leader showed the kind of interest Uduaghan demonstrated before and during the London Olympics.

It was after chatting with Blessing that he nursed the idea of a sports summit. It was borne out of his sheer passion for sports. It was borne out of sheer patriotism for motherland.

He watched on television as Nigerian athletes crashed in all events. Track and field produced some finalists. Other sports failed woefully.

“What is happening to Nigeria’s sports?” the governor asked this reporter on phone shortly after the chat with Okagbare. “I think that Nigerians don’t know how deep the rot in our sports is,” he continued. “We are no longer developing athletes and the problem started when the federal government took over schools. Sports in schools died thereafter. I think that what we can do is that after the Olympics, you could invite some of your colleagues and, together with Amaju (Pinnick), you people should bring some experts, let’s gather in a room, brainstorm, discuss our past in sports, the present and proffer solution

Sports summit: Why Uduaghan took the initiative!

Delta is the leading state in sports in Nigeria and there’s nothing wrong in leading Nigeria out of the doldrums. that can reshape our future. It is important we do this to help our country move forward in sports because the world has left us behind.” thanked the governor for his interest in Nige ria’s sports. I reminded him that there had been so many reports in the past but the problem has always been implementation. It is a Nigerian problem, I told him. He hissed and said “ you people should go ahead and come out with a brilliant report. I will personally take it to the President for study and possible implementation. It will be our contribution to sports development in Nigeria. It is not good to give up because we failed in the past.

In sports you never give up. Let’s see how we can get sports back to schools and develop a good structure and system that will produce great athletes again.” This sounds a script for the summit.

I returned from the Olympics and Amaju Pinnick, the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission reminded me of the challenge Dr. Uduaghan had thrown to us. The plans for a sports summit that will suggest the way for a new direction for sports in Nigeria started. And the next time the governor spoke on the Olympics he was congratulating people who went to the London games for not winning a medal. He was being satirical.

He said that if Nigeria had won a medal or two the deplorable state of sports in Nigeria could have probably been covered up and Nigerians would not realise that it was time some drastic measures were taken to rescue the industry. He is passionate about the way forward for Nigerian sports and regretted that the way the National Sports Festival is cur-

I

rently organised does not help the growth of sports and actual development of an athlete.

And so on October 30, 2012 at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Delta State government will host a sports summit that will not delve so much on the wrongs of the past but on the way forward. It will not be aimed at anybody but issues that can make our sports grow. The governor does not intend to malign or attack anybody including those who have failed woefully in the administration of sports in the country. His interest is on the way forward and that’s what the summit intends to achieve. I’m making this an issue because I have feelers that the National Sports Commission is scared that the summit will descend on them with utmost alacrity and tear them apart for Nigeria’s failure. know that the National Sports Commission has failed Nigeria. But why did they fail? Was it entirely their fault when money is always released a month or two to events like the Olympic Games?

And since it is the tradition here to release money late why have they not devised a means to work the system? Is it the National Sports Commission that stopped sports in schools in Nigeria? But why have they not tried to liaise with the ministry of education to reintroduce sports in our schools and set up a structure that will monitor schools sports with a view to nurturing the talents so discovered? What have they done with regard to policies that can change sports in Nigeria? But must all blames go to the NSC and Sports Ministry?

I don’t think so. The summit will not be a success if it delves into what is already known by all. Most Nigerians know why we are not doing well in sports.

The summit will try to emphasize on what should be done and the way to do it.

The summit will suggest a way for the sports ministry to plan even under current financial regulations and fiscal policies of government. The summit will draw the experience of countries that have shown the way in sports. The summit will parade quality resource persons from home and abroad. The summit will involve the sports ministry and NSC. The summit is just Delta’s contribution to sports in Nigeria. Delta is the leading state in sports in Nigeria and there’s nothing wrong in leading Nigeria out of the doldrums. The summit is being driven

by Uduaghan’s passion for sports and not the spirit to witch-haunt anybody. Those who run our sports should embrace it as it is for national interest and not targeted at them although President Jonathan has spoken of an overhaul of the sports sector. I believe that this should be to correct the system and not to attack individuals. And this is what the summit will crave to achieve.

I

GODWIN KIENKA!

This man has served sports all his life – as a player, coach, instructor, tennis umpire, organiser, author etc. I have a chapter from his book that will interest you. I will serve you this soon. Watch out.

Go v’s Cup F utures 1 ser ober 1 5 Gov’s Futures servves of offf Oct October 15

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

HE main draw of the 12th Governor’s Cup Futures I, sponsored by Etisalat and FCMB, serves off October 15 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, with women’s singles world number 92 Nina Bratchikova of Russia being the star attraction of the $80, 000 prize money tournament.

According to Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Pius Akinyelure, the Russian, who was born on June 28, 1985 and coached by Pedra Pereira, had entered for the competition, which she won in 2009. Her entry for the singles, has raised the stake of this

year’s edition. Bratchikova started playing tennis when her parents took her to a tennis school.

The LOC boss said that

all the players in the main draw would share $80, 000, with the men’s and ladies singles winners getting the most cash.

They would also rake in ATP and WTA ranking points, which are precious to their tennis career.

Obudu LOC unveils new route for 2012 race

T

HE Local Organising Committee for the annual Obudu international mountain race says it will test run the new 12km route marked for the 2014 world championship with next month’s race at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu,Cross River state.

This decision, according to Patrick Ugbe,a member of the LOC and Youth and Sports Commissioner in the state is in compliance with Gov-

ernor Liyel Imoke‘s order that all rules governing the organisation of the 2014 world championships must be observed in this year’s international mountain race and the African mountain running championships.

“His Excellency wants us to host a world championship that will portray the state and Nigeria in good light and wants ithe LOC to use the international mountain race this year and next to improve

our organisational abilities’,says Ugbe adding that the new route marked for the 2014 world championships will be used for this year ’s Obudu international mountain race. ‘ The new route was marked a few weeks ago by officials from the World Mountain Running Association led by one of its council members from Turkey, Erhan Basoglu”, revealed Ugbe.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 — 55

Andy’s ho wler gif ts howler gifts France s/final tic ket tick

Why Delta is hosting sports summit Continues from B/P has been very supportive.

He spends resources to camp these teams and host the various qualifiers. Kano and Kaduna States have equally played similar roles as their contributions to sports in the country.

Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick said yesterday that the people and government of these states should all be commended for the assistance they have rendered to national football.

He said that it was in the same vein that Delta State opted to host a sports summit in Abuja to chart a new direction for sports development in Nigeria.

The event comes up on October 30 at the Hilton Hotel. The summit, he said, was the idea of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was scandalised by the failure of the Nigerian contingent to the London Olympic Games and felt that Del-

ta could complement the efforts of the sports ministry and the National Sports Commission in developing sports in Nigeria.

Amaju put his words this way: We want to sustain the momentum of change in our sports direction because it’s no longer news that sports is a great unifying factor in Africa and if well organised can be a huge foreign exchange earner. The good thing is that we have the potentials to be a great sports country. How can these potentials be tapped for the good of the country? That’s the question the summit will intend to answer. Nobody should feel slighted or intimidated by the noble efforts of His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

We are not indicting anybody but trying to complement the efforts of the sports ministry. Delta State is encouraged to do this because of their leadership position in sports in Nigeria especially in the past 12 years. Out of

Continues from B/P

Flamingos’ goalkeeper,Andy Gift and Jiroro Idiki of Nigeria battle with Delphine Cascarino of France during the FIFA U-17 q-final game the six National Sports Festivals held in these years Delta has won four, providing and grooming athletes for the country and making visible impact in all national competitions. It is not, therefore, out of place for such a state to also want to provide this quality summit that might herald the much deserved change in our sports. Governor Uduaghan has been pivotal to the success of Delta in sports and he has special relationship with our elite athletes and he does a lot to motivate them. But he feels that for Nigeria to be outstanding in sports there has to be

mass participation from the grassroots to the elite level and wants the summit to come up with a report that can make this possible.

I think that everybody should rally around him on this. We are all witnesses to what Governor Rotimi Amaechi did for the Task Force on World Cup, even chattering a plane for their runs. Today, Cross River State hosts two national teams just like Kano and Kaduna States have also hosted teams. The summit is Delta’s contribution to sports Development in Nigeria and should be supported by all.”

Nigeria appeared dangerous on the break but the French were controlling possession and the play. Kadidiatou Diani was next to test Andy, with the No9’s header from Declercq’s cross sending her sprawling to her right.

It was Nigeria in fact who had the ball in the net first, with their No9 Yakubu heading between Romane Bruneau’s legs, but Chinwendu Ihezuo had long been flagged offside.

The night took a turn against Nigeria when captain Adielomon received only the second red card of the tournament for her second yellow of the night. Her stand-in Halimatu Ayinde almost snatched the game on 84 minutes though, but she slid her shot into the side-netting when baring down on Bruneau’s goal.

With time up, Sandie

Toletti, Ugochi Emenayo and Declercq exchanged efforts before Sarah Nnodim put horribly wide. It fell to Romanelli to tuck home the winner.

Obuh confident Continues from B/P “So far, we have been preparing, having played in the first leg.

Whatever we must have observed in the first leg is what we will use as our preparation for the second leg,” Obuh said. “ Anybody that is a Nigerian, once he satisfies us, has a room toplay for the Flying Eagles. ''I believe the crowd will be much this time around because in football, you know the more you qualify to play the next game, the more people become interested in you.

“I’m sure that the crowd will be much than what we had during the Tanzania game,” he said.

VANGUARD, FRIDAY, OCT0BER 5, 2012

Why Delta is hosting sports summit — Pinnick was chairman of Presi-

G FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi devoted time and resources to ensure Nigeria qualified for the last World Cup in South Africa. That was one way he contributed to Nigeria’s football. He

dential Task Force then.

Cross River State currently hosts the Eagles and the National U-17 team in Calabar and Governor Liyel Imoke

Continues on Page 55

•Uduaghan

Andy’s howler gifts France s/final ticket T

HE first penalty shootout of the FIFA U-17 Women’s Cup in Azerbaijan, saw Marion Romanelli strike the winning spot-kick for France, who defeated Nigeria to reach the semi-finals after a 0-0 draw as the African side fell at the quarter-final stage for the second tournament running.

Goalkeeper Gift Andy’s howler ultimately cost Nigeria the ticket to play in the semifinals.

Ghoutia Karchouni almost punished the Flamingos early on when they fell asleep during a

short corner, but Gift Andy saved her curling shot. Aminat Yakubu then reminded France that they must stay on their toes, bursting down the right to cross, but it was well cut out.

A touch of brilliance almost brought Cousin the opener, her neat touch nutmegging Victoria Adelomon, but she could only fire straight at Andy. Griedge Mbock Bathy then missed a free header at the back post from Lea Declercq’s corner with Andy stranded.

Continues on Page 55

Obuh confident of vict or a victor oryy o ovver Amajit Amajita

J

OHN Obuh, the Head Coach of the Flying Eagles, says the team is poised to prevail against the Amajita of South Africa on Sunday in Ilorin.

Obuh, in an inter Continues on Page 55

•Obuh TODAY'S

PUZZLE

CRYING BABIES.....Nigeria’s Sarah Nnodim and Oluchi Ofoegbu cry as their assistant coach consoles them after France defeated Flamingoes on penalties in yesterday’s quarterfinal match at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Getty Images) YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Fume (5) 7 Form (5) 8 Distribute (5) 10 Creek (5) 12 Fish (3) 13 Stadium (5) 15 Rambling (7) 17 Discover (6) 19 Particle (3) 20 Built (7) 23 Couple (4) 25 Face (4) 26 Compartment (7) 30 Seated (3) 31 Flag (6) 34 Manage (7) 37 Sluggish (5) 38 Sicken (3) 39 Scope (5) 40 Tree (5) 41 Equal (5) 42 Fracture (5)

DOWN 1 Quota (5) 2 Backbone (5) 3 Threaten (6) 4 Leg joint (4) 5 Purified (7) 6 Dense (5) 9 Permit (3) 11 Flow (7) 13 Adjust (5) 14 Moral (5) 16 Decay (3) 18 Quisling (7) 21 Camp kettle (5) 22 Gleam (5) 24 Cattle thief (7) 27 Ban (3) 28 Puzzle (6) 29 Brag (5) 32 Tell-tale 33 Charm (5) 35 Pinch (3) 36 Den (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Askew 7, Zeal 8, Innate 9, Light 11, Sop 13, Rod 15, Crew 16, Has 18, Pale 19, Watched 20, Peal 22, Ripe 23, Lectern 25, Iota 27, Ewe 28, Undo 30, Cry 31, Tip 33, Broom 36, Meddle 37, Apex 38, Tutor

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Tenor 2, All 3, Keg 4, Wit 5, End 6, Stool 10, Heat 11, Sceptic 12, Penalty 13, Radiant 14, Develop 16, Haste 17, Scare 18, Per 21, Lea 24, Ewer 26, Order 29, Dived 32, Ode 33, Bet 34, Opt 35, Mar.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place 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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