Naira drops, as BVN paralyses forex market

...towards a better life for the people

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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VOL. 25: NO. 62621

N150

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Saraki unveils chairmen of 65 standing committees

FG to pay oil marketers N413bn subsidy debts >8 Kachikwu

•Dogara asks APC members to accept appointments in good faith

Saraki

>4

Naira drops, as BVN paralyses forex market

By Babajide Komolafe

•We warned CBN on dangers of hurried implementation — BDCs •There's no security threat to submitting BVN to BDCs — CBN

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A G O S — ACTIVITIES at the retail segment of the official foreign exchange market were grounded, yesterday, as end users avoided bureaux de change (BDCs), to avoid submitting their Biometric Verification Number (BVN) for Continues on Page 5

Afenifere leadership: Fasoranti withdraws resignation letter 11 ICAN INDUCTION—New members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)taking oath during the

56th Induction Ceremony for new members in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Why I became a teacher —Osinbajo COLUMNISTS: Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, Late Emir of Borgu, 1938-2015 •P.17 C M Y K

Buhari, look your front •P.19

Senate confirmation, business unusual •P.19

Russian plane may have been bombed — US, UK

51

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NCC may reduce MTN's N1.04 trn fine 14

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015— —3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Kabiru Gaya among others did not retain their positions.

While Paulker moved to the Committee on Establishment; Manager moved to Power; Gaya now heads Works and Abaribe now chairs Committee on Information and National Orientation.

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BUJA—SENATE President Bukola Saraki,yesterday, in a move calculated to assuage the demands of the various tendencies in the Senate unveiled chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 65 standing committees.

Contrary to speculations that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would rub shoulders with the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party clearly dominated headship of the committees with 41 slots or 63 per cent while the PDP got 24 chairmanship posts or 38 per cent

North-Central gets lion’s share

With the breakdown, the North Central zone, where Senate President Saraki hails from has the highest number of the positions. It got 12 committees and with Senate President Saraki as Chairman, Committee on Selection, the zone has 13. It is followed by the North-East, which has 11 chairmen; North-West, 11; South-West, 11; South-East, 10; and South-South, 10.

Compensates loyalists

While compensating his loyalists on the banner of the Like Minds, he also took care of his opponents in the Senate Unity Forum led by Senator Ahmed Lawan.

Members of the Like Minds that got chairmanship slots include former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (Appropriation); Dino Melaye (Federal Capital Territory); Shaaba Lafiagi (National Security and Intelligence); Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Rafiu Adebayo (Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions); Isa Hamman Misau (Navy) and Ahmed Rufai Sani, (Marine Transport) among others.

And for the SUF, we have Senator Ahmed Lawan (Defence); Senator George Akume (Army); Adamu Abdullahi (Agriculture); Senator Barnabas Gemade (Housing); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Women Affairs); Olugbenga Ashafa (Land Transport); Bayero Nafada (Inter- Parliamentary Affairs); Abu Ibrahim (Police Affairs); Kabir Marafa (National Identity and National Population); Rabiu Kwankaso (National Planning and Economic Affairs) among others.

According to the breakdown, the pro- Ahmed Lawan group got 13 chairmanship positions.

PDP senators with juicy committees

Some PDP senators were also given what could be termed juicy committees to chair like Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Duro Samuel Faseyi (Air Force); Uche Ekwunife (Downstream); John Owan Enoh (Finance); George Sekibo (Interior); Ben Murray Bruce (Privatizations); and Olaka Johnson Nwogu (Environment) among others.

Principal officers denied chairmanship positions

Principal officers were given vice chairmanship positions like Bala Ibn Na’allah (Ethics and Privileges and Aviation); Francis Alimikhena (Housing); Godswill Akpbabio (Judiciary, Human

C M Y K

SUMMIT: From left: Mr,Kayode Sote, Principal Partner, Lubeservics Associate; Mr Taiye Williams, Managing Director; Lubcon Limited, and Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya,MD/CEO, CMC Connect Burson-Marteller, at the Nigerian Lubricant Summit briefing in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Saraki unveils chairmen of 65 standing c'ttees •APC chairs 41, PDP gets 24 •Mark rejects appointment Rights and Legal Matters); Philip Aduda (Land Transport); and Olusola Adeyeye (Primary Health Care and Communicative Diseases).

Mark opts out

It was however gathered that immediate past Senate President,

Senator David Mark was said to have opted out of serving as chairman of any standing committee.

Uzodinma, Nnaji, Boroffice retain positions Senators Hope Uzodinma, Gibert Nnaji and Robert Boroffice

retained the chairmanship positions of Aviation, Communications and Science and Technology, respectively, which they occupied during the 7th Senate.

However, Senators Emmanuel Paulker, James Manager, Enyinnaya Abaribe,

DOGARA TO APC MEMBERS: Accept

CCT: Saraki’s trial forces adjournment till next Tuesday

Meanwhile, the Senate will not sit today as it has adjourned plenary till next Tuesday.

Vanguard gathered that the adjournment became imperative because of Senate President Saraki’s appearance at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT with the Senators expected to accompany him to face the case of alleged false declaration of assets as raised against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB. Immediate past Chairman of Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye explained that the adjournment wouldgivemembersoffourcommittees that have been saddled with responsibilities enough time to do their work and present their reports to the Senate, next week.

c'ttee headship

in good faith •Plans to review composition after 2 years

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

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BUJA—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, may have shunned entreaties from members of his party, the All Progressives Congress, to tinker with the list of committee heads which he released with a view to giving the ruling party a comfortable grip on the leadership of the lower House of parliament.

Competent sources close to a meeting of chairmen and their deputies called by Dogara on Tuesday, said the Speaker was adamant over calls by his party to review the list to accommodate more of their members and reduce the influence of the opposition PDP, whose members have been saddled with key committees, normally reserved for the leading party since 1999.

However, Dogara, who called the meeting, reportedly dashed the hope of the complaining APC members by telling them to take the list of committees he had already made public in good

faith, as there was nothing more he could do about the matter.

A source at the meeting told our correspondent that the speaker made it clear to all that the committees were composed to reflect what he called ‘bi-partisan cohesion’ and national interest and was not ready to bend backwards.

According to sources at the meeting, which was held in camera, Dogara told his loyalists that he was not bothered by criticism about the way the committees were composed, as he did not believe any committee was better than the other.

Chides APC members

He also reportedly chided APC members who had rejected committees allotted to them, accusing them of not helping to advance the change mantra of the present administration.

One of the sources, however, said that Dogara assured that he could only tamper with the headship of the committees after observing the performance of their chairmen for two years.

The source said: “Dogara made it plain to all of us that he was not going to back down on what has already been released to the public but pleaded with us to bear with him for now.”

Since the list was made public last month, many APC members in the House have denounced Dogara for giving more attention to the PDP in the composition of the committees and relegating the APC to the background, saying that the plan was ostensibly to empower the opposition and weaken the APC.

PDP power brokers

The list shows that power brokers in PDP who backed Dogara’s emergence clinched major committee posts while the party got 48 percent of the posts leaving the APC with barely 50 percent, something described by House members as unprecedented in the history of the parliament.

For instance, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumini who was the spokesperson for Dogara’s

‘Consolidation Group’ during the tussle for his emergence, was named the chairman of the ‘powerful’ Committee on Appropriation.

Key members of Dogara's group

Other key members of the Speaker ’s group, who got strategic committees were: Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Aviation), Hon. Nnenna Elendu Ukeje (Foreign Affairs), Hon. Kingsley Chinda (Public Accounts), Hon. Muktar Aliyu (Defence), Hon. Tobi Okechukwu (Works) Hon. Herman Hembe (FCT), Hon. Babangida Ibrahim (Finance) and Hon. Zakari Mohammed (Basic Education and Services).

Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas heads the committeeonMediaandPublicity,while Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki chairs the committee on Navy.

Only a handful of the supporters of Dogara’s major challenger, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,clinchedkeycommittees.

There are: Hon. Akinlaja Joseph (Petroleum Resources- Downstream), Hon.JamesFaleke(CustomsandExcise) and Hon. Saheed Fijabi (Telecommunications).

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

AUDIENCE—From Left: Burundian First Counsellor, Myriam Hakizimana; Burundian Special Envoy, Major.-Gen Ndayishimiye Evariste; President Muhammadu Buhari; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Paul Bulus Lolo; Chief of Staff, Mr Abba Kyari and the Burundian Honorary Roving Ambassador, Mr Dieudonne Kwizera, after an audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

Naira drops, as BVN paralyses forex market Continues from Page 1 foreign exchange transactions.

This, however, resulted in sharp increase in demand for dollars at the black market, prompting the naira to depreciate to N230 per dollar from N225.

Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made the BVN a criteria for sale and purchase of foreign exchange by banks and bureaux de change (BDCs) effective November 1.

V a n g u a r d investigation, however, revealed that instead of

foreign exchange end users submitting their BVN to BDCs as mandated by the CBN, most of them moved to the black market for their foreign exchange needs.

This in turn increased demand in the market, prompting the parallel market exchange rate to rise to N230 per dollar from N225 at the close of business on Tuesday.

Confirming this development to Vanguard, Mr. Harrison Owoh, Chief Executive Officer, H.J Trust BDC said that “most of the customers were not willing to submit their

IT'S UP TO YOU

W

BY AYO ADIO

E cannot change the mistakes of yesterday, but we can choose the tomorrow we want. No one ever makes considerable progress looking backwards. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Sometimes good things will fall apart so that better things will fall together — Mack & Angel Hack

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IFE is amazing, but sometimes it’s hard to acknowledge because of all the sticky situations and constant challenges on one’s path. Sometimes you think that something great is happening and then all of a sudden it feels like you are beginning all over again. How come it seems like some people have no problems at all. Do they really? The grass is always greener on the other lawn it seems but life is balanced. We all walk our moccasins; the only difference is our attitude to change and how we adapt to it.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE Never let your hate decide anything.

BVN due to fear of what it might be used for. This has slowed down sales of forex by BDCs because we can’t sell without obtaining the BVN.” An Abuja-based BDC manager, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said that the problem was severe in Abuja, with BDCs having difficulty selling the dollars purchased from the CBN, last week.

“As I am talking to you, most BDCs in Abuja may not take dollars from CBN today (yesterday) because we have not sold the ones we bought last week. The customers do not want to submit their BVN for security reasons. They are patronising the black market, that is why the rate has gone up sharply, and I can tell you, the rate might rise higher if the situation persists."

President of Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, however, blamed the situation on lack of adequate awareness on the part of the CBN before implementing the policy. He said that while ABCON, as a partner in progress with the CBN supports the use of BVN as criterion for foreign exchange transactions, the association had, however, called the attention of the apex bank to the need to delay implementation to allow massive publicity to create awareness among the populace.

“We had predicted

what is happening now, that in the absence of adequate awareness, patronage will shift to the black market, leading to depreciation of the Naira in the market”, he said.

Submitting BVN not security threat—CBN Director, Corporate Communications Department of CBN, Alhaji Ibrahim Muazu wondered why anybody should be afraid of submitting BVN for transactions, adding that there was no threat in giving BVN for foreign exchange transactions.

According to him: “This probably has to do with people with illicit flows, and not for fear of the BVN itself. And for people with illicit flows, they are avoiding documentation, the way they avoid the banks.

“To us, if not for the likely impact on the black market, it is a good development because it means the foreign exchange market is now demand driven. For example, if you go to the banks for ‘Form A’ foreign exchange transactions, it requires more than the BVN. Submitting BVN for transactions is not a security threat. The BDCs cannot access the account details of their customers; they would just have the BVN for reporting purposes.

“The BVN is just an identity; the BDC cannot see your account details.

It is just like asking you

to submit your passport photograph. And the purpose is to make sure that people don’t buy foreign exchange above the limit allowed by the law.

There is a limit of $4,000 per individual per quarter. If one person buys $4,000 from one BDC, and another $4,000 from another BDC, there is no way anybody can verify it is the same person. All these things are supposed to be controlled by the BVN. All we want to clarify is that there is no threat in giving your BVN, it is an identity, in as much as you can give your passport photograph or even utility bills, as required for operation of dormant account.

“It is unfortunate if they are going to the black market and the black market does not have enough supply; but for us if they don’t buy from the CBN, if the CBN dollar is not sold, it would come back to us or there would be no demand for dollars next week, and this means we are conserving reserves.

The only problem is the funding source for the black market will be limited and the price is high. But if I can give my BVN and buy dollars, maybe at N200, why should I go to black market and buy at N250?

So the genuineness of the transaction is clear."

Background to policy The policy of making BVN criterion for foreign exchange transactions should have taken off August 15,2015 but was suspended by the CBN following criticism and warnings on the likely impact on the exchange rate of the Naira, and also to allow the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) provide multiple channels for BDCs to verify BVN submitted by foreign exchange end-users.

The purpose of the policy, according to a CBN circular issued on October 20, was to stabilize the forex

market, stem the rampant cases of forex leakages and illicit money transfers from Nigeria.

The CBN circular The circular stated: “All banks and licensed BDCs operating in Nigeria as well as the general public are, therefore, put on notice that with effect from November 1, 2015, all customers desiring to purchase forex through all available channels in Nigeria must provide their BVN, which shall be validated by the CBN authorised forex dealer through the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System platform before the transactions are consummated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN shall from November 1, 2015, discontinue sale of forex to the BDCs that had not availed it the BVN of all its directors. Any authorised forex dealer that fails to provide the required information in its returns or provides a wrong BVN would be penalised and this may include the termination of the forex dealership authorisation.”

Consequently, on Monday, October 26, NIBSS unveiled a USSD and internet channel for verification of BVN. According to Mr. Oluseyi Adenmosun, the BVN Project Coordinator for NIBSS, BDC operators or anybody can dial the short code *565*1# on their phones from any part of the world for the validation. The USSD code when dialed will pop up a message asking for the BVN and the date of birth of the BVN holder to confirm the genuineness of the BVN. The BDC operators also have the option of using the NIBSS website portal for the validation. The service costs N20 per enquiry.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

ADULTERY GOSSIP:

Man in prison for slapping wife’s friend

By Bartholomew Madukwe

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N Ejigbo Magistrate's court in Lagos has remanded a 44-year-old man, Oluokun Olarewaju, in prison for allegedly slapping his wife’s friend, Miss Christiana Duntoye, who told his wife that she saw him with another woman.

According to the charge, the incident happened at 84, Rasaki Tijani Street, Ikotun, where Olarewaju resides with his family, while his wife’s friend (Duntoye) resides at 75 of same street.

It was gathered that peace fled Olarewaju's family when the gossip started.

Olarewaju’s wife confronted him and accused him of engaging in extra-marital affairs and for suddenly changing his attitude at home.

After much pressure as to the source of the i n f o r m a t i o n , Olanrewaju’s wife allegedly told him that her friend, Duntoye, told her.

During one of their now constant quarrels, Duntoye came visiting and was confronted by the accused, who allegedly slapped her and asked her to leave his house since she tried to break up his marriage.

When the charge was read to the accused before Magistrate A. A. Fashola, he pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate granted the accused N50,000 bail, with one surety in like sum, but he was remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending perfection of his bail conditions.

Robbers sack police station, kill 6 in Edo banks' raid

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—SIX persons, including two policemen and a private security man, were killed, Tuesday night, as daredevil robbers took over Igarra town, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The robbers, who were said to be chanting Islamic songs, invaded Unity and Keystone bank branches in the town and operated for over six hours.

Vanguard learned that the robbers stormed the town in two Sienna vehicles around 6p.m., attacked the police station in the area, where they killed two policemen, before attacking the banks.

Some of the robbers were said to have made straight for the banks, where they used explosives to destroy the entrance to one of the banks.

During the operation, the robbers, who Vanguard learned came from Kogi State, killed a private security man in the bank and three other persons, one of who was said to be a commercial motocycle rider, while the others were customers that were in the bank premises to use Automatic Teller Machines, ATM. The two banks are situated opposite each other along Momodu Ajayi Road in Igarra.

Residents of the area were said to have abandoned their homes and ran into the caves as the robbers turned the area to a theatre of war.

Vigilante men to the rescue

However, brave vigilante operatives in the area mobilized and barricaded their exit route along Ekpedo-Ekpe Road, near the border with Kogi State and killed one of the robbers.

A leader of the vigilante group said: “When they started the operation at Igarra, we quickly mobilized our people from the surrounding villages, because the robbers came through Lampese, Ososo to Igarra and would also go back through the axis, passing through Enwan.

“We barricaded their route and a gun battle ensued.

“They were throwing dynamites and shooting ceaselessly. We killed one of them and arrested another, while many escaped with gunshot wounds. We also

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SUKKA—A middle-aged man at Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, allegedly beat his wife to death over a misunderstanding.

The deceased, identified as Mrs Angela Oyibo, 36, was said to have engaged her husband, Charles Oyibo, 50, in a heated argument. He allegedly pounced on her and gave her the beating of her life.

Vanguard learned that the attack led to her being rushed

to the hospital, where doctors battled unsuccessfully to save her life.

It was learned that her husband escaped to an unknown destination, having discovered that she did not survive the attack.

An eyewitness said the deceased was beaten into a state of unconsciousness, adding that efforts to save her life proved futile.

The eyewitness said: “She was unable to raise her hands and legs; she was totally weak.

“People suspected she may

searching for the armed robbers, who fled towards Kogi.

Some community leaders lamented what they described as the “porous security situation in the area, despite police knowledge of frequent invasion of the town through Kogi.”

One of them told Vanguard: “Policemen took off without mobilizing to face these criminals.

“That means we are not safe.

If not for the vigilante boys, only God knows what would have happened. Maybe they would have killed all of us.”

‘My daughter doesn’t need a lover, I satisfy her sexually’

By Esther Onyegbula

A

44-year-old man from Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, who has been defiling his daughter, has said that since he satisfies the 17-year-old, she does not need another lover.

He added that he sees nothing wrong in his sexual relationship with his biological daughter.

According to the suspect, Emmanuel Udoh, who was arrested at their 2, Ajasa Command Road, Meiran residence in Lagos, “I have had sexual intercourse with her several times.

“It is a normal thing and I do not see anything bad in sleeping with my daughter because I know she will not get pregnant because I do not ejaculate inside her.”

It was gathered that Udoh's ex-wife took custody of their two children after they separated seven years ago, when the victim was 10 years old.

The victim, who lived with her mother, reunited with her

Man beats wife to death in Enugu, absconds

By Chinenyeh Ozor

impounded one of their vehicles.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike, proved abortive as he failed to pick his calls.

However, Vanguard was informed by a police source that Ezike was busy at the scene of the incident yesterday morning.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Stanley Osifo, could not be reached at press time.

Vanguard, however, learned that mobile policemen had joined the vigilante groups in the area to ransack the bushes,

be pregnant, but the doctors that attended to her before she died are in a better position to state her condition before her death.

“None of the people that rushed her to the hospital can tell what the problem with her husband that led to that kind of beating was.”

Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said investigations had since commenced, adding that a manhunt for the fleeing killer-husband was ongoing.

Udoh... she can't get pregnant as I don't release inside her. father when her mother brought her back after she completed her secondary education in September, to enable her further her education.

Trouble, however, started in the evening of September 13, when Udoh asked his daughter to go and have her bath. The victim, who initially refused, went to take her bath when her father insisted.

something to the water as I became very weak while using it to have my bath. That was the first time he slept with me.

“Few weeks later, he beat me up mercilessly and inflicted injuries on my face because I refused to have my bath when he forced me to.

“I refused because I had already had my bath and I did not want him to rape me like he did the other time.”

Her story

His defence

According to the victim, (names with held) “immediately I started having my bath, I became very dizzy and weak.

“I called out for help but neighbours could not hear me because I was weak. It was my father that helped me out of the bathroom and took me inside.

“When I got inside, he gave me gari to drink and, before I knew what was happening, he removed my wrapper and had sex with me.

“I do not know if he added

In his defense, Udoh said: “I beat her up out of jealousy and not because she refused to have her bath.

“I beat her because she received a call from the man who deflowered her after I warned her several times not to. After all, I satisfy her sexually so she does not need a lover.”

Vanguard gathered that the suspect, a driver, who claimed to have re-married after he separated from the victim's mother, said that his wife travelled to the village.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—7

Court dissolves 30-year marriage over drunkenness

By Onozure Dania

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PLATEAU POLY STUDENTS:Plateau State Polytechnic students protesting scarcity of water and lack of electricity in their hostels, in Jos, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Detectives escape lynching, as land speculator raises kidnap alarm

By Esther Onyegbula

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WO policemen attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCID, narrowly escaped lynching by a mob on Monday, after a 42-year-old land speculator reportedly raised a false kidnap alarm to evade arrest.

The detectives got more than they bargained for in Ijede area of Ikorodu, when a mob attacked them after the woman raised the alarm.

It was learned that the detectives had been on the trail of the land speculator, identified as Sumbo Thomas, after a complainant alleged that the suspect sold a piece of land to two different buyers.

Vanguard gathered that all efforts by the detectives to interrogate her failed as she continually refused to honour any invitation from the police.

The detectives then devised a way to lure her out of her hiding to enable them arrest her by posing as prospective land buyers.

Unknown to her that the supposed buyers were detectives from SCID, Yaba, she took the bait and came to the location of the meeting to discuss the terms and conditions for the land sale.

However, trouble started, when her expectations of sealing up the transactions were met with disappointment as the detectives introduced themselves.

She immediately began to shout Egbami, Gbomogbomo (meaning ‘save me from kidnappers’).

As soon as she started screaming, a crowd gathered and attacked the officers, not knowing their true identity and that she raised a false alarm to evade arrest.

Retired soldier rescues policemen

Vanguard learned that it took the timely intervention of a retired Colonel to halt the irate mob, who had gathered with different weapons to rescue the suspect and attack the “kidanppers.”

According to the

complainant (names withheld) “in 2011, Madam Sumbo Thomas sold a piece of land to me at Ikorodu forN500,000.

“In 2013, when I wanted to develop the land, I went there only to discover that she had resold the same piece of land to another person, who chased me out of the land.

“Since then, all efforts to reach her failed as she deliberately refused to pick my calls or respond to my messages, till she was arrested by the police.”

The suspect, who confessed to the crime, is currently being investigated at the SCID, Yaba.

2 students die from initiation concoction

By Kingsley Fanwo

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WO teenagers, who finished their secondary education this year (names withheld), have been reported dead in Kabba, Kogi State, in mysterious circumstance.

Sources told Vanguard that their deaths were in connection with cult initiation by a confraternity in the town.

When contacted, the parents of the teenagers said they were too devastated to speak to the press. They told Vanguard that they did not want the incident reported for fear of police harassment.

A source, who craved anonymity, said the boys died of complications which resulted from drinking a “hard substance,” which was part of the initiation.

He said the boys voluntarily sought to join the confraternity.

The source said: “From what I gathered, one of the boys was given a very hard concoction to drink during his initiation into Eiye confraternity by the leaders of the cult group.

“The substance, which was laden with very hard drugs, led to the death of the poor boy.”

Another account

However, a new twist has emerged in the controversy surrounding the teenagers’ deaths.

Another account has it that

the boy took performance enhancing drugs which overstretched his system and led to his demise.

According to this account, four teenagers were involved in taking the concoction known in local parlance as Sukudie.

He said the teenagers, who resided at Odiolowo CAC area

of Kabba, were rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Kabba, before two of them died.

The two survivors, according to the source, are Ebira boys from Okene.

A source, who does not want to be mentioned, confirmed that the police had launched secret investigations into the case.

... as student stabs prefect dead for flogging him

By Ufuoma Tiveruahor & Lucky Nwanekwu

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AGOS—ACADEMIC activities at Gaskia College, in Amukoko area of Lagos was, yesterday, disrupted after one of the students allegedly stabbed a prefect to death, for punishing him over lateness to school.

The suspect, identified as Saka Hammed, who is currently on the run, reportedly laid ambush for the 19-year-old victim, Saidi Jimoh, at a bush path leading to the school gate.

Vanguard gathered that the deceased, a Senior Secondary School, SSS 2 student, was also the school’s Labour Prefect. Both of them were said to have been in same class (SSS1) last year.

However, while the deceased

was promoted to the next class, the suspect was not, as he reportedly failed and was compelled to repeat SSS1.

Trouble, as gathered, started for the deceased after he directed some students, among who was the suspect, to pick dirt around the school’s premises for coming late to school on Tuesday.

Hammed, popularly known as Ejoh, who saw the punishment as a slight on him, reportedly approached Jimoh, threatening to deal with him.

Angered by the threat, Jimoh as gathered, gave Hammed some strokes of cane.

Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Joe Nwosu confirmed the incident to Vanguard. He said policemen were on the trail of the fleeing suspect.

AGOS—A customary court sitting at Agboyi/ Ketu suburb area of Lagos State, yesterday, dissolved a 30-year-old marriage of a trader, Titi Sulaiman, 45, to Mr. Jimoh Sulaiman, 60, a carpenter, over drunkenness and lack of care.

The court president, O. T. Williams, dissolved the marriage, stating that all efforts to make the two parties reconcile proved abortive as there was no more love in the marriage.

Titi had told the court during her testimony that her estranged husband married her when she was 15 years old in a native law and custom ceremony at Tokuwa Street, Ogaminana, Kogi State in 1985.

She said that ever since, she had been the one catering for the family, with the help of her own family members.

She alleged that her husband always came back home drunk, inflicting all manner of injury on her daily.

Titi said she was seeking divorce due to lack of care from her husband towards her and the children, stressing that his drunkenness was a threat to her life.

She said: “Apart from lack of care, my husband verbally abuses me in public and beats me. It takes the intervention of neighbours to save me. I have been enduring him for the past 30 years; I cannot take it anymore.”

After dissolving the marriage, the court President told the respondent to be responsible for the upkeep and school fees of the two younger children living with their mother and deposit 10 percent( N6,000) of his earnings to the children.

He warned the respondent never to lay a finger on his estranged wife or threaten her life, adding that since the children had decided who to live with, it should remain that way.

He said both parties were free to visit the children, accompanied by another member of the family.

She said the marriage was blessed with five children.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

dropping one litre of petrol in their tanks, they are already calculating how much they are being owed even without processing their claims.

“So, it is our duty to verify and certify their claims, on which basis we make recommendations to Finance to pay them.”

Increase in products supply

AGM: From left, Dennis Ayisire, Company Secretary; Godwin Omene, Director; Chief Joseph Akpieyi, Group Chairman of the Board and Mr Alfred Okoigun,Group Managing Director, all of Arco Group Plc at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola.

FG to pay oil marketers N413bn subsidy debts PPPRA awaiting notification of approval NNPC increases fuel supply to end scarcity DPR sets up 24-hour monitoring team

By Clara Nwachukwu, Sebastine Obasi & Michael Eboh

A

BUJA— THE Federal Government, yesterday, approved the payment of N413 billion to petroleum products marketers being the outstanding payment for subsidy claims, even as marketers insist they are owed about N470 billion.

The development comes as the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, which is responsible for approving such claims, revealed that it was yet to be notified of the payment.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, in a statement in Abuja, also said it has injected additional volumes of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, or petrol, across the country to boost supply of the product and eliminate the long queues that have resurfaced in many parts of the country.

The statement, signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, noted that the payment of the outstanding N413 billion subsidy claims to oil marketers is part of the government’s initiative of zero tolerance to fuel queues nationwide.

Alegbe said: “It is our belief that with the outstanding payment due to oil marketers now assured, the marketers and other downstream players will join hands with the NNPC to guarantee that the nation remains wet with petroleum products all year round.”

PPPRA

recommendations

A top management source at the PPPRA, who spoke with Vanguard on phone, said the agency was not aware that approvals had been given for the payment of N413 billion to marketers.

He, however, admitted: “Although we have made recommendations on what to be paid to the Ministry of Finance, but have not yet got any feedback,” without giving more details into how much was recommended for payment.

When asked to justify whether oil marketers were truly owed N470 billion, as exclusively reported by Vanguard

yesterday, the source said: “Marketers are entitled to their own opinion, just as we are entitled to our own based on the claim papers we have processed.

“What needs to be asked is: at what point are they making the claim because requests are being made on daily basis.”

Marketers told Vanguard that they are being owed about N470 billion in outstanding subsidy claims from August 1, 2014 till date.

But the PPPRA source noted that “sometimes, marketers have only just made orders for supply of PMS, and even without

Meanwhile, Alegbe also said that in line with its drive to ensure zero fuel queues ahead of the forthcoming yuletide and beyond, NNPC is working diligently with other stakeholders for sustainable supply of products. These include its downstream subsidiary company, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, and other downstream players to consolidate the prevailing stability in the supply and distribution of fuel nationwide.

He said: “Apart from increasing the volume of products distributed to stations across the country, inspection team from the PPMC has been commissioned to go round our operational areas to ensure compliance with laid down rules regarding loading and product evacuation across board to eliminate hoarding and other vices detrimental to the free flow of products.”

DPR sets up 24-hour monitoring team

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it has set up a 24-hour monitoring team of petrol stations nationwide to ensure unhindered sale of petroleum products at government regulated prices.

This is in response to reported cases of panic buying in some petrol stations across the country and the reported hike in price of petrol.

Vanguard learnt that some

stations have been selling the product at between N100 and N120 per litre, as against the official price of N87 per litre.

Queues were seen at some filling stations in Ojodu, Ikeja area of Lagos, where motorists said they bought petrol at N120 per litre. An attendant at one of the filling stations, who chose to remain anonymous, told Vanguard that they were told to sell above the regulated price of N87. He did not expatiate.

Also, at Agidingbi and Alausa axis, few queues were noticed, while motorists claimed they bought the product at N110 per litre. A motorist who gave his name as Tunde Alao said he needed to fill up his tank since queues have suddenly resurfaced. According to him, there is uncertainty over the scarcity issue, which triggered the panic buying being currently experienced.

Reacting to the unfolding scenario, the DPR stated that the current stock level of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in depots nationwide is enough to serve the nation appropriately for at least 30 days.

It said: “The DPR wishes to state that the current stock level of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in depots nationwide is about 365 million litres and we are also expecting over 800 million seaborne litres to be discharged before the end of the week.

“This translates to a stock level for 30 days’ supply. To further ensure the supply of products, DPR has fast tracked the grant of product import permits and vessel clearing process to aid rapid stock build up for importers.

“We hereby appeal to all depots and petroleum product retail outlets nationwide to ensure that products are sold at government regulated price as the DPR will not hesitate to enforce necessary sanctions against any erring marketer.

The public is hereby advised not to engage in panic buying as there is adequate supply of petroleum products nationwide.”

First Consultant celebrates Ebola survivor baby delivery Describes baby as a pride to Nigeria

By Chioma Obinna & Gabriel Olawale

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AGOS — IT was celebration galore, yesterday, at the premises of First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos as management of the hospital took time out to celebrate the safe delivery of one of its own, Dr. Ada Igonoh, the female doctor who survived the dreaded Ebola virus in Nigeria.

Igonoh was said to have delivered a baby girl at the Greater El-Monte Community Hospital, California, USA around 12.05 am local time and 3.05 pm California time.

The baby girl weighed nine pounds and one ounce, a little above four kilos at birth.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Benjamin Ohiaeri, said the baby has been certified Ebola free.

Elated Chief Medical Director said the baby is not only a Nigerian baby but a pride to the hospital and the country at large.

“This is the first of first. Last year we were visited with the deadly disease, one year later, by the grace of God we were saved from national calamity and we have every reason to celebrate.”

Describing Dr Igonoh’s case as a divine intervention, Ohiaeri explained that when a person survives Ebola it is usually difficult for the survivor to get pregnant and even when you

get the pregnant it is difficult to carry it and even deliver.

He said research is on-going to give medical explanation to why it is difficult for an Ebola survivor to conceive.

“Ada and her husband have made us proud. We thank God she carried the baby and delivered safely. After the delivery, we were told that the mother and baby were fine and all the tests came out negative.

They are doing fine,” he added.

Ohiaeri further stated that the return of the mother and child will be determined by further medical follow ups.

“Everything about Dr. Igonoh has been divine because she survived the

deadly virus and started taking care of other colleagues and also got pregnant and now gave birth.

It is all divine intervention.”

Dr. Igonoh travelled to California at 28 weeks of her pregnancy for medical monitoring.

Also speaking, the husband, Godwin Igonoh, said he had been in touch with his wife all through and can confirm that she and the baby are fine.

Dr. Igonoh was one of the doctors at the hospital who became infected with Ebola after being exposed to Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian American, who collapsed on arrival at Lagos airport.

She survived the virus alongside three other doctors. A total of eight people in Nigeria, including Sawyer, died of Ebola.

 Read full interview with Godwin Igonoh tomorrow.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—9

Court bars FRC from interfering with Stanbic IBTC operations

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS— JUSTICE Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, barred the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN, from disrupting the activities of Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc. Justice Buba issued this order in an interlocutory injunction restraining FRCN and its officers from “interfering with, or otherwise impeding, obstructing, molesting, harassing or hindering” the plaintiff's operations.

He also ordered the FRCN not to prevent the plaintiff or its subsidiaries “from carrying on with their lawful businesses.”

Justice Buba further restrained the council from inviting the entire Stanbic IBTC Holdings’ board of directors to any meeting in connection with the defendant’s statutory investigation of the plaintiff ’s statements.

The judge said that the orders will subsist “until the hearing and determination of the proceedings.”

While ruling on a motion on notice for orders of injunction against FRCN and the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, the plaintiff said the FRCN had been investigating its audited accounts from August 3, for the year ended December 2014.

According to the plaintiff, “the investigations concern liabilities accrued in respect of franchise fees that owed Standard Bank of South Africa, SBSA, in respect of which applications for registration have been pending with the second defendant NOTAP since 2011.”

The plaintiff said FRCN labelled the franchise agreement as illegal and invited IBTC Holdings’ Chief Executive Officers to appear before it.

Following a meeting on October 16, the council informed the plaintiff that it committed criminal offences and that it would be reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. FRCN then asked the entire Stanbic IBTC board to meet with the council “to know the extent of your board involvement” in the matter.

No statutory or other powers

However, the plaintiff contended that the council had no statutory or other powers to summon the plaintiff’s entire board of directors to a meeting in order to determine their complicity or otherwise in any alleged criminal offence.

While arguing the plaintiff’s application, Prof Fidelis Oditah (SAN) said FRCN had been acting beyond its powers.

He said SEC issued a public notice suspending the plaintiff ’s N18 billion right issue that the commission had previously approved, citing a letter received from FRCN. “On September 15, SEC put on hold the plaintiff ’s application to pay scrip dividends out of its 2014 profits, citing a letter received from FRCN,” Oditah said.

According to him, the council “is not a prosecutor or a court,” that it engaged in a campaign of calumny against the plaintiff.

Oditah argued that Stanbic IBTC’s share price fell from N23 to less than N19 within a week as a result of the development.

Dismissal of application

Meanwhile, FRCN’s counsel, Chief Olusina Sofola (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the application because the invitation had been overtaken by events.

“The day of the meeting has come and gone and they (plaintiff) did not attend. The heavens did not fall. They have not said they are being invited to another meeting.

The meeting did not hold, so what is this court being asked to stop?

MEETING: From left: Head of Financial Inclusion Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Temitope Akin-Fadeyi; Special Adviser to CBN Governor on Development Financing, Mr Paul Nduka-Eluhaiwe, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting on Financial Inclusion of People Living With Disabilities in Nigeria, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN “As we speak, they ’re carrying out their business.

The letter does not run foul of the law. If they feel we acted outside our powers, they should bring an application to challenge our powers. I urge my lord to dismiss their application,” he said.

However, Justice Buba while ruling on the application held that the application had merit.

“There is a strong case for the maintainance of status quo.

There is a case made for the grant of the interlocutory injunction,” he said.

According to the judge, FRCN is aware of the suit, therefore, the best thing was for all parties not to take steps that could “undermine” the case in court.

The judge said: “The whole essence of having a court of law in any civilised society is to ensure everything is done according to law and not

otherwise.

“No court will stop a statutory authority from performing its statutory duties. However, the court must emphatically add that where it is alleged that a statutory authority is acting ultra vires its statutory powers, the courts have powers and are imbued with jurisdiction to enquire into whether it true or false.”

He further held that “the application had merit and is hereby granted.”

SURE-P: Senate asks Buhari to probe Jonathan Rejects proposal to pay N5,000 monthly to unemployed youths

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA — CITING mismanagement of funds, the Senate, yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to begin immediate probe of his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in his handling of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P. The red chamber said it was imperative that President Buhari ask his predecessor to account for every penny spent during the latter‘s administration on the SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes.

This came just as it ruled against the implementation of the N5,000 monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerian youths as the President promised during his campaign.

The advice to probe Jonathan was sequel to an additional prayer moved by Senator Babajide Christopher Omoworare to Senator Bassey

Albert Akpan-sponsored motion, entitled: “Urgent need to curb the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria," which he presented for consideration during yesterday’s plenary.

After the initial recommendations of the motion, Senator Philip Aduda raised an additional prayer, urging the Federal Government to fulfill one of its numerous campaign promises.

“The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised during the pre-election campaign,” Aduda moved.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, rose and seconded the additional prayer. But Omoworare raised the Senate Standing Order 53(6) to oppose the additional prayer.

Bickering between APC, PDP

This led to bickering between senators of the ruling All

Progressives Congress, APC and opposition Peoples Democratic, PDP. The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, however, intervened, after about 22 minutes to bring the bickering to an end.

Saraki asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer, which he latter did.

When Saraki put the additional prayer to voice vote, the shout of ‘ayes’ from the opposition senators signifying their call for strict implementation of the President’s campaign promise was overwhelming but the Senate President, however, hit his gavel for the ‘nay’ shout from the ruling party senators, who were against the implementation of the policy.

The Senate President, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising another additional prayer.

Moves to probe Jonathan

“I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move, Mr. President,” Omoworare said.

When Saraki put the question to voice vote, the ayes response came from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept mute to the nay call.

In the motion, Akpan observed that the latest figures of Nigeria’s soaring unemployment situation by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC) has increased to 8.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2015 and 6.4 percent in the last quarter of 2014.

“The latest statistics as released by the bureau reveals that economically active population, or working age comprising Nigerians within the age range of 15 to 64, is now 103.5 million, increasing from 102.8 million in the last quarter of 2015, while the unemployed labour force now stands at 74 million Nigerian youths. This is truly a calamity,” he noted.

10—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015

Criticisms, abuses keep me on my toes —Ambode

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said he reads and listens to the criticism against his administration by residents on issues affecting their lives and property in the state, saying soon, their worries would be over.

Ambode in a response to residents complaints through his twitter handle, @AkinwunmiAmbode, said he understands that the residents' actions were some of the issues attached to the office that determine the policies and programmes in the state that has over 20 million residents.

His words: “I read and listen to all the criticisms. I try to learn from the positive criticisms and try not to let the abuse get to me because I know that soon enough this will change as our plans and projects unfold.

“It is a challenge and it keeps me on my toes. I also receive a lot of emails. Some complain, some commend and some make suggestions. That comes with the job. Managing Lagos is a difficult task and it is difficult to make everybody happy at the same time.

“It comes with the territory. We know what we signed up for and

we are committed to delivering on our development agenda for Lagos,” the governor added.

One-Day Gov tasks Ambode

The winner of the 2015 Spelling Bee competition, Mr. Ifeoluwa Sonoiki of Ikotun High School, yesterday assumed office as Lagos State One-Day Governor at Alausa, urging the state

Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to initiate policies to improve teacher’s welfare.

Sonoiki made the plea at a short swearing in ceremony held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, which was also attended by the governor and the first Lady, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

Sonoiki also urged the Ambode administration to direct the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA to clear the heaps of

refuse in his school, even as he sought personal support from the government to his family.

Responding, the governor assured that he is committed to keeping a clean environment in all the schools across the state, and that he would swiftly act on the request.

He vowed to personally support the winner, being the first set he would host as Governor.

SWEARING IN: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), congratulating Mrs. Olabowale Toluwatope Ademola, after being sworn in as Head of Service, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday.

Lagos to strengthen arbitration law L

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has reiterated the commitment of his administration to build on the successes recorded in the past in the area of arbitration practice for economic gains that would benefit the people of the state.

Governor Ambode stated this in his remarks at the opening of the plenary session of the Annual Conference of the United Kingdom Chartered Institute of Arbitration (Nigerian Branch) at Abuja on Tuesday.

He said Lagos has the most modern arbitration law in Nigeria that conforms with any arbitration statute in the world, and that his administration is very much prepared to consolidate and strengthen the efforts of the previous administration to create Lagos as a preferred seat of arbitration in Nigeria and the

West African Sub-Region.

Governor Ambode, represented by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, reiterated that Lagos State, being a commercial hub, is the leading destination for foreign investment having accounted for over 99 percent direct foreign investment in the country by the second quarter of

year 2015.

Tasks new HoS, perm secs

The governor, yesterday, sworein the newly appointed Head of Service, HoS, Mrs. Olabowale Toluwatope Ademola and three Permanent Secretaries, charging them to see their appointment as a call to service to the people and state.

Ambode who gave the charge at a brief swearing–in ceremony at the Executive Council Chambers, Lagos House, Ikeja, stressed that the appointments were in line with the practice of his administration to continually select and appoint experienced, dedicated and tested professionals to key positions in the government.

Lagos Assembly calls for repair of Daleko road

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By Ebun Sessou

AGOS—AS part of measures to stem traffic gridlock in Lagos, the state assembly has called on the governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to direct the Public Works Bureau to urgently embark on palliative measures on Daleko road in Mushin area of the state.

Lawmaker representing

Mushin Constituency II, Olawale Olayiwola who moved the motion under matters of urgent public importance said the road has brought untold hardship to the people of his constituency stressing the need for the state governor to urgently find solution to the deplorable condition of the road.

Supporting the motion, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso who represents M u s h i n Constituency I, stressed the need for immediate attention on the road considering its commercial importance to

the state.

Also, Bisi Yusuf representing Alimosho 1, called for a holistic approach to the entire road.

Meanwhile, lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo II, Jude Idimogu drew the attention of the House to the fracas between Okada riders and the Nigerian Police in his constituency leading to the burning of a police van and subsequently led to chaos and breaking down of law and order.

In his ruling, the speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, called on the governor to urgently address the issue adding that lack of fund has delayed some of the projects in the past. He also called on the Commissioner of Police to ensure sanity in Oshodi/Isolo and its environs.

African leaders tasked on intra-trade

By Amaka Abayomi

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ONDON—AFRICAN leaders and governments have been charged to empower their entrepreneurs to facilitate intra-trade as a way of achieving rapid socialeconomic growth and development on the continent.

Nigerian businessman and President/CEO of Baywood Group, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, made the charge at the 2015 UKUganda Trade and Investment Convention, in London, organised by the Ugandan Convention in partnership with Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

Delivering a paper titled “Intra-Africa trade: The key to unlocking Africa’s trade potential,” at the convention, Ibe called for economic, social and fiscal policies in African economies to enable African entrepreneurs compete favourably with their global counterparts.’’

Airtel visits Emir of Argungu

B

IRNIN

KEBBI—

TELECOMMUNICATIONS services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has assured residents of Kebbi State of its commitment towards empowering the people with affordable, quality and i n n o v a t i v e telecommunications services.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Argungu, His Royal Highness Alhaji Suleiman Mera, the Regional Operations Director, North, of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Wole Abu, noted that Airtel recognizes the important role Argungu has played in the development of tourism in Nigeria through its famous annual fishing festival and will continue to support the community with technological interventions that will optimize the tourism potentials of the state.

In his response, the Emir of Argungu,whoreceivedtheteam in his palace, commended Airtel for its innovative bouquet of products and services just as he invited the telecoms operator to be part of the famous traditional Argungu Fishing Festival.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015—11

AFENIFERE LEADERSHIP:

Fasoranti withdraws

resignation letter A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—LEADERS of Afenifere, a socio-political group yesterday unanimously rejected the resignation of their chairman, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and prevailed on him to continue to steer the ship of the group.

Pa Fasoranti has therefore withdrawn his resignation letter, which he tendered last Sunday and agreed to continue to lead the race.

He confirmed to Vanguard that he abided by all the decisions of the group and is ready to continue as the leader of Afenifere.

This made the choice of a new leader for the group which would have happened yesterday at an emergency meeting unnecessary. The meeting called to discuss, among other things, Pa Fasoranti’s resignation held at his country home in Akure, Ondo State.

Step aside decision rejected

But Vanguard gathered that after Pa Fasoranti's opening remarks and informing them of his decision to step aside, there were choruses of ‘No’ from all

present.

It was gathered that the leaders hinged their rejection on the bad blood it will generate and the wrong signal it will send to the race in Nigeria and diaspora.

Vanguard learnt that after the leaders were allowed to speak one after the other, the governor, Dr Mimiko equally toed their line saying that the people of Ondo state equally rejected the resignation of Pa Fasoranti.

Pa Fasoranti according to an inside source thereafter “reluctantly” agreed to withdraw the letter and to continue.

Notable leaders of the Yoruba nation at the meeting include Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare, Sehinde Arogbofa, Korede Duyile along with 23 other leaders from across the six states in the South West.

Yesterday's meeting lasted over four hours.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the group's Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin said after an exhaustive deliberation on the offer of resignation by Pa Fasoranti, the leaders have unanimously rejected his offer to

step aside.

“The leaders of Afenifere have pleaded with Pa Fasoranti to continue as our leader.

“He has graciously agreed to withdraw the resignation letter and to continue as the leader of the group," he said.

Exemplary leadership of Fasoranti

Odumakin said that the meeting noted the exemplary leadership of Pa Fasoranti since he took over the mantle of leadership of the group.

The communique read by Odumakin reads in part that; "Following the offer to step aside by our chairman, the meeting appreciated the selfless work of our Leader, Chief Fasoranti since 2004 up till date.

“Inspite of his old age, he has discharged his responsibility well, is a man of character, he’s somebody that maintains the balance and we appreciate him for that.

“The meeting therefore unanimously resolved to reject his offer to step aside as leader of Afenifere, we have pleaded with him to carry on his responsibility as the leader of Afenifere.

“We are glad to inform you that after listening to the meeting, our leader, Chief Fasoranti graciously

accepted to carry on and has withdrawn his resignation letter.

“The Meeting thanked all Yoruba people, all our supporters and members who have expressed concern, we want to assure them that there is no crisis in Afenifere.

“We enjoin all our members and supporters to remain fully committed to our values in order to move Nigeria forward and we will not relent in our effort to take Afenifere to higher height.

No crack in Afenifere

Odumakin answering questions on the allegation of disloyalty among the members said there was no crack in the Afenifere’s family, insisting that the leadership would continue to uphold the ideals of its founding fathers.

“We want to state that there is no crack in Afenifere and we remain committed to the great ideals of our founding fathers, “ he added.

Odumakin however, noted that there was no plan by the group to choose any leader in acting capacity when the current leader (Fasoranti ) is still alive.

He said that if that will happen it will be an internal arrangement within the group.

FUEL SCARCITY:

DPR seals 50 filling stations in Oyo

I

By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—IN order to check the persistent artificial scarcity of fuel in Ibadan and its environs, the Department of Petroleum Resources, Ibadan field office has sealed up 50 filling stations across the state for selling above the official pump price of N87.

Both independent and some major marketers of the product have been making life unbearable for motorists and other people by selling the product at outrageous prices that ranges from N100 to N140 per litre as against the approved price of N87.

To avoid being sanctioned, most filling stations hide under the cover of darkness and sell the product at odd hours between 10pm and 5am.

They shut their stations during the day saying they were not supplied.

As a result of this, the DPR went roundthemetropolisandsanctioned the erring filling stations.

Panic, as Fayose moves to demolish Ekiti's biggest market

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

DO-EKITI—NO fewer than 2,000 traders at Erekesan market in Ado-Ekiti yesterday rushed to beat the deadline given by Governor Ayo Fayose to vacate the market or face forceful eviction.

This comes barely four days to the planned demolition of the popular market, also known as Oja-Oba by the state government to give way

for a modern one.

Traders at the market which was located at the centre of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital were seen moving their wares out of the market to a temporary one situated about a thousand metres away from the old one.

Sources close to the market revealed that government has also deployed town criers to the market to sensitize the traders about the looming exercise and the need to move out ahead of time in

order to avoid forceful eviction.

Governor Fayose had in a state broadcast on Tuesday night declared that there was no going back on the demolition exercise slated to commence on November 8.

The governor, who said he had already paid compensation to the traders, consequently asked them to vacate the market in their own interest and relocate to another existing market at Awedele area of the state capital.

Ogun monarchs warn new commissioner against ‘fake Obas'

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — FOUR paramount rulers in Ogun State have urged the newly appointed Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Olajide Ojuko to be wary of ‘cunning’ Obas in the state.

The paramount rulers who were the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; the Akarigbo of Remoland , Oba Michael Sonariwo; the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun

Gbadebo urged Ojuko to ensure the harmony of the traditional rulers in the state.

The traditional rulers who stated this separately during Ojuko’s visit to their respective palaces in IjebuOde, Sagamu, Ilaro and Abeokuta urged him to ensure unity and harmony among the traditional rulers in the state.

The Olu of Ilaro said the government should be undeterred in its moves to raise the standard of the traditional institution in the state.

Also speaking at his

palace in Sagamu, the Akarigbo said: “It is a very difficult job, there are vacancies and they would spend three to four years without king, and even if there is king, some will go to court."

The Awujale of Ijebu said: “It is an important ministry that concerns the whole state and has to do with the people around the state.’’

Speaking to journalists after the visits, Ojuko said his visits to their traditional rulers were part of efforts to reposition the traditional institution in the state.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

PDP tackles Okorocha on claims of Rivers, A-Ibom being strategic to APC Warns him to steer clear of Rivers

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IVERS State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, expressed shock over the comments of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, that Rivers and Akwa Ibom states were strategic to All Progressives Congress, APC. Chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Felix Obuah, in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, claimed that Governor Okorocha’s statement was a collaboration of a similar recent pronouncement by the APC Chairman in the state, Davies Ikanya, that the APC-led federal government could not afford to lose Rivers State.

Okorocha was quoted to have told newsmen on Tuesday, after the meeting of APC governors, that the electorate in the two states voted for the APC in the April 11, governorship elections, but were robbed by the PDP. The statement said even though Okorocha did not explain how the APC intended to reclaim the two states, the PDP Chairman warned him and his party “to steer clear of Rivers State as the people were prepared to resist any unlawful means to snatch the mandate given to Governor Wike.”

Obuah advised the governor to engage his time in solving the myriad of problems he had allegedly foisted on Imo people that had allegedly turned Imo

State to a mere shadow of its glorious past.

The PDP called on “the whole world to take note of those to hold responsible for any eventual mayhem that may befall the state and defenceless Rivers people.”

Obuah said: "Okorocha has unwittingly admitted in the first instance, that governorship election after all, took place in

Rivers State, a sharp contrast to the claim of the APC in the state and before the state governorship election petitions tribunal.

"Even though Rivers people are ready to defend their mandate willingly and fairly given to Governor Nyesom Wike, we want Nigerians to take note of the grand plot to cause crisis in the polity and demand

to know whether such witchhunt, forceful usurpation of power and executive lawlessness are what the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari is all about. While we place our trust in God and believe that the truth will prevail in the face of the unprecedented plot against the will of the people, we make bold to say that the Rivers people are waiting and cannot be intimidated.”

EXPO CONFERENCE: From left: Exhibition representative, Oando Oleum Syn Lubricant, Miss Mukoro Serah; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing plc, Mrs. Olaposi Williams; Head Lubricant & Research Manager, Mr. Mohammad Dahiru, during the demonstration and application of Oleum Syn Lubricant to a cross section of Petroleum and Gas Engineering students of the University of Lagos as part of activities introducing the engine lubricant at the OTL Africa Downstream Expo Conference.

Pollution: There’s urgent need to clean up N-Delta —Oshiomhole

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, yesterday, said there was an urgent need to clean up areas polluted by oil exploration and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta to prevent diseases that might be induced by environmental pollution.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to him by the Special Adviser to the President and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigdier-General Paul Boroh (retd), the governor said oil companies did not pollute their environment in developed countries and wondered why “these same companies will come to Nigeria and compromise our waterways, destroy our lands and compromise the environment, creating a challenge. My fear is that the damage we are doing to the environment today, by the time oil dries up, there will be no resources to reclaim the environment. I am sure if nothing is done in the next couple of years, we will begin to see strange diseases including all kind of cancers and environmentallyinduced diseases that will shorten

the average life span of the people that live in the affected areas.”

The governor said people should be discouraged from vandalizing oil pipelines, maintaining that “everything must be done to educate and to enlighten our people to recognise that vandalizing pipelines, resorting to illegal refineries in the crude way they are doing, the damage they are

doing will impoverish our people for a long time and by that time, there would be no oil money to regenerate the land.

We must encourage our young ones not to resort to violence or to vandalizing our pipelines because that would compound the poverty with huge health implications for our people."

Earlier, Brigadier General Boroh said: “I am particularly pleased to be here. I decided to

start my working tour to the Niger Delta in Edo State to bear witness to your joint strength in transforming the ancient city of Benin while retaining its unique pre-historic assets and cultural heritage. I am here to see you as a major stakeholder and political leader in the Niger Delta and I am also here to apprise you with the development of the amnesty programme."

Don't blame Jonathan for Nigeria’s woes —Murray-Bruce

T

By Abiodun Alade

HE senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, has said it is unjust to ignore all the good works of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and blame him for all the country’s woes.

Murray-Bruce argued that there were problems in Nigeria when Jonathan became president in 2010 but he didn’t blame his

predecessors or the military, rather he did his best to fix the challenges confronting the country.

He said: “Jonathan had his faults, but he did achieve great things for Nigeria and it is unjust to ignore all he did and blame him for all the country's woes. There were problems in Nigeria when Jonathan became president. He didn’t blame the military or Umaru Yar ’Adua. He just tried his best.”

According to him, Jonathan had left giant footprints in the sands of time and it would be a waste of time to try to erase them by constantly castigating him.

“No matter what anyone says to the world about Goodluck Jonathan, the world also has its way of getting independent information on Nigeria. Hate him or love him, Jonathan has left giant footprints in eternity’s sands of time," he added.

Rivers gov poll: Wike asks A-Court to set aside tribunal judgment

A

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

BUJA—GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, went before the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to challenge the judgement of the state's Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, that nullified the outcome of the April 11 governorship poll that brought him to power.

Wike is praying the appellate court to set aside the verdict that was delivered against him by the Justice Ambrosa Suleiman-led tribunal on October 24, on the premise that it was “perverse and legally defective.”

In the notice of appeal dated November 3, which Wike filed through his lead counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, he raised 26 grounds he said the appellate court should consider in determining whether or not the verdict of the tribunal was anchored on the weight of evidence laid before it and sound interpretation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Wike told the appellate court that he was dissatisfied with the entire judgement of the lower tribunal.

Cited as respondents in the appeal were the All Progressives Congress, APC, its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The notice of appeal which was sighted by Vanguard yesterday, read: “Take notice that the Appellant, being dissatisfied with the decision of the Governorship Election Tribunal for Rivers State, sitting in Abuja, contained in the judgment of the tribunal coram Hon. Justice Suleiman Ambursa (chairman ), Hon. Justice Wesley Ibrahim Leha (member ) and Hon. Justice Bayo Taiwo (member) (sitting in Court no. 23 of the FCT High Court dated the 24th of October 2015), doth hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal upon the grounds set out in paragraph 3 and will at the hearing seek the reliefs set out in paragraph 4.”

Specifically, Wike prayed the appellate court to allow his appeal and issue an order setting aside the judgment/ decision of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal.

Besides, he urged the appellate court for an order, “striking out or dismissing the election petition filed on May 3, 2015, by Mr. Dakuku Peterside and the APC."

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—13

Edo moves to recover $31m from ex-governor

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—EDO State Government has uncovered $31 million allegedly siphoned from the coffers of the state during the administration of a former governor of the state and directed the Attorney-General to commence legal processes to recover same.

This was part of the decision reached at the end of the State Executive Council, SEC, meeting held in the state capital, yesterday.

Uncovered fraud

Briefing the press at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Mr Louis Odion said: “There is the issue of a fraud that was discovered while turning our books. We found that the $31 million was fraudulently taken from state coffers under a past administration in state. The governor has directed the Attorney-General to commence legal action in that direction. So, in the coming days, the state government will take legal action to ensure that what was stolen from Edo State Government is recovered. When you convert $31 million to naira, it fetches you a whopping N7 billion. You can imagine what N7 billion will do in improving the human condition in Edo State.”

The commissioner, who praised some landlords and companies in the state on the level of their compliance with the land use charge, said Governor Oshiomhole asked him to convey his appreciation and gratitude to the people of Edo State as well as members of the private sector for their voluntary compliance with the Land Use Charge.

Challenge

“He has asked me to single out Coca-Cola Bottling Company for voluntary compliance. I think we need to put this in context. Our challenge as a government is mounting. Every day, our citizens want government to intervene, they want schools to be built, they want roads reconstructed but the truth is that our revenue is dwindling and without deepening the tax base, we won’t be able to deliver. So, when we find corporate bodies and citizens who voluntarily comply by paying their taxes, we view them as partners in progress.

“We have also been directed to put on notice the chief executive officers, CEOs, of some companies, notably banks who have refused to remit what is due to the government. I am speaking specifically with regards to some banks that have failed to remit withholding tax to the state government,” he said.

Oroh throws light

N283.8 million. The company was completed and there was a test run. There was no reason to privatise it and it was sold out at a give-away price which only could have been influenced by

criminal intentions. There is also the one at Ikpeshi, the Solid Mineral Processing Industry.

This company which was also owned 100% by Edo State Government was established by

the administration at N85 million.

This company was sold to a company called Copex Solid Mineral Processing Company owned by the then Deputy Governor for N56 million."

Throwing light on the $31m fraud, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abdul Oroh said, “The $31 million which was stolen from the people of Edo State for the transaction was designed clearly for criminal purposes. This project was called Avrant Cement Company situated at Ekpe, near Ikpeshi in Akoko Edo Local Government Area.

The company was supposed to produce cement to take advantage of the large scale deposit of limestone in that part of the state. The company was registered as Abat Cement Company Ltd and this company LAUNCH: From left: Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet 4G LTE, David Venn; Chief had three shareholders. The Executive Officer, First Nurts Technologies Ltd, Bishop Joshua Ketiku and Head of Marketing, Abat Cement Company had 75% Spectranet 4G LTE, Mike Ogor, at the launch of VIIION SMART BOX in Lagos. shares, Edo State Government had 15% shares and 10% shares were reserved for ‘other Nigerians’.

“Although Edo State Government was given only 15% share, 100% of the revenue invested in the company, $31 million, was taken from the account of Edo State Government. This money was withdrawn from the account of Edo State Government in defunct Afribank. As the money was withdrawn, construction of the company started and all the major structures were in place, 90% completed. Machines were installed but there was no other contribution from any other source for the construction and procurement of these equipments. So everything invested in that company came from Edo State Government.

“It is on record according to the shareholders agreement, those who claim to be first share holders, Abat Holdings were given 75 million shares, representing 75%. The second share holders were given 10 % and the third share holder, the Edo State Government was given 15 million shares representing 15%. The agreement was signed and a former governor signed on behalf of the shareholders. The fruit juice processing company in Ehor was established by the same administration. The cost of establishing that company was N368, 458,195 and was invested in this company by the Edo State Government. The company was owned 100% by the Edo State Government. The materials for the company were imported from England from a company at £310,000.

“The company was now sold, including the land and the three hectares pineapple farm which was also developed by the Ministry of Agriculture for

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVENBER 5, 2015

Stock Exchange probes Oando Plc

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

T

HE NIGERIAN Stock Exchange, NSE, has commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the financial results of Oando Plc which caused upsets at the stock market last week.

In a statement last night NSE said it has invited Oando’s audit committee as well as its external auditors to commence the formal probe into the results saga.

According to the statement ‘’should The Exchange’s continuing review reveal that Oando committed other infractions, The Exchange will mete out appropriate sanctions pursuant to its Rules. It added, “the Exchange has reported the situation to the Securities and Exchange Commission and will involve other stakeholders, as appropriate”.

Annual results Oando, an integrated oil and gas company listed on the Johannesburg and Nigeria stock markets released its much awaited audited annual results for 2014 previous Friday. The company reported a monumental post-tax loss of N183.9billion, the highest loss ever recorded by any NSE listed company.

The company attributed the massive loss to provisions made for the inability of its Joint Venture partners, JVs, to make payments for over-lifted oil, the currency devaluation which led to foreign exchange losses in its downstream division as well as impairment and write-downs on its upstream assets.

Nevertheless, stock market analysts say the inability of the company to efficiently manage shareholders' fund as reflected in bloated administrative expenses, non-issuance of a loss warning and long delays in releasing the 2014 annual reports and first and second quarter 2015 results had also raised questions about regulatory compliance level as well as corporate governance practices.

OANDO Plc’s shares have since tumbled as a result of this development.

Meanwhile NSE said Oando had been sanctioned for violations of its post-listing obligations in accordance with applicable Rules of The Exchange.

C M Y K

36 ministerial appointees storm Abuja for two day retreat

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

LL 36 ministers-designate were last night gathering in Abuja ahead of the commencement of a two day retreat to prepare them for the focus of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The retreat which is being organised by the presidency is being anchored by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and it is expected to hold at the International Conference Centre,

Abuja.

Little information was available on the resource persons for the retreat yesterday, but Vanguard gathered that it is being packaged as a management retreat to prepare the ministers-designate on how to translate the campaign promises of the president into deliverables.

At the opening ceremony which would be open to the press, the president is expected to give specific objectives to the ministers and his expectation from them following which the retreat would

go into a closed door session.

“It is a retreat and those involved would be expected to withdraw to plan on how to translate the campaign promises of the president into action plans and deliverables,” a source disclosed last night.

It will be recalled that the last batch of the confirmed ministerial nominees names was submitted to the president at the presidential villa in Abuja by the president of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Tuesday.

At that ceremony, President

Buhari reiterated his point that not all ministers would have portfolios. It is thus expected that the president would use the opportunity to inform the ministers on reasons why some of them would not have portfolios and the working relationship between those who have portfolios and those who do not have.

It could not be confirmed yesterday on whether the portfolios of the ministersdesignate would be announced during the retreat.

Commuters groan as Lagos-Ibadan expressway is abandoned

H

OPES OF many Nigerians on the LagosIbadan Expressway have again been swept off, no thanks to the seeming abandonment of the allimportant road at the project section of construction giant, Messrs Julius Berger Plc.However, the Ogun state government yesterday started palliative work on the Ogun State axis of the road.The Federal Government had raised the hopes of users of the road when it mobilised Julius Berger to the Sagamu Interchange-Lagos Section of the expressway (and Messrs Ratcon Construction Company, RCC, to the SagamuIbadan Section) during the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Although the arrangement that took the two construction companies to the road – after the concession granted Messrs Bi-

Ogun government providing palliatives to give a temporary relief to the road users on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele Courtney Highway Limited was terminated – was shrouded in mystery, many, although shocked by the action of the government then, had no option than to believe that their messiahs had come in the two companies.

It has now been proved that those Nigerians who were

expecting government’s magic on the road were dead wrong, after all, as work has surprisingly been abandoned at the Julius Berger portion; while RCC continues some skeletal work on its own portion.

Today, the bad portion of the expressway at Ibafo is giving

NCC may reduce MTN’s N1.04tr fine

By Prince Osuagwu & Emeka Aginam

T

HERE ARE indications that the Nigerian Communications Commission may be asked to reduce the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN Nigeria over non compliance in the deactivation of improper registered SIM cards.

This is after the Commission Tuesday, received a letter from the telecommunications company, apologizing for wrong doing and pleading for leniency.

An impeccable source at the NCC told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that the commission was in receipt of MTN’s apology letter but however added that the power to decide what is to be done at the moment was no longer in NCC’s hands.

According to the source, “ I can confirm that the commission has received an official letter from MTN admitting its guilt and pleading for leniency. However, the power to grant the leniency

is no longer entirely on NCC’s hands but that of the presidency.

But there are also indications that the Federal Government may ask us to reduce the fine to an appreciable level.

“If MTN had complied with several directives by the NCC it wouldn’t have been in this mess but I hope they learn their lessons from this. Nigeria is its biggest market. It was surprising that they didn’t anticipate that if things get wrong here, it could affect their other markets. Now, it is alleged that it has lost more than $2.7b from people migrating from its shares to others since this incident. Its a lesson they should not allow to recur” he added.

Meanwhile, according to a report published by online platform, Bloomberg Business yesterday, the South African lawmakers, are planning to meet with the officials of MTN Group Limited to discuss why the company was fined $5.2 billion by the NCC. The report said that the law makers also intend to summon the South African industry regulator

to determine whether MTN is compliant with local rules, with hearings likely to take place next year.

Bloomberg quoted chairwoman of Parliament’s telecommunications committee Nkhensani Kubayi, to be leading the panel.

NCC also recently approved the renewal and extension of MTN’s license for another five years.

With the new development, MTN’s operating spectrum which was issued along with the Digital Mobile License (DML) in 2001 has now been extended to August 31, 2021. The mobile operator’s spectrum license is expected to expire by 31 August 2016.

The licence extension notification was contained in a letter dated 2 November, 2015, and signed by the acting Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umaru Dambatta.

“MTN will, however, be required to pay the sum of $94,225,152.75 as spectrum fee for the five year extension period," the letter read.

many a traveller serious nightmare. The cause of the unending gridlock is a large pothole right in the middle of the road in Ibafo, which nobody is attending to.

It is rather sad that the situation of this busiest road has deteriorated after a long wait for the promised reconstruction.

Meantime, yesterday, concerned about the plight of commuters on the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Ogun State government has embarked on palliative work on bad portions of the expressway.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the ongoing palliative work being carried out by the Ogun State Ministry of Works on the federal road yesterday, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, said; “In the real sense of it and for me there are no federal people, the people plying this road and other affected federal roads within our axis are our people. We are all Nigerians and we are already collaborating with the Federal Government to contribute our on quota to ensure that this road is fixed.”

While explaining that the situation of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has got the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, who, he said, would ensure that work commenced on the road after the rainy season, Governor Amosun added that the Ogun State government had only decided to carry out the palliative measures to ease the suffering of people travelling on the road.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVENBER 5, 2015—15

MASSOB threatens to shut down Anambra over arrest of members

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

N E W I — T H E Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has given the military in Anambra State 48 hours within which to release five of its members allegedly arrested yesterday in various locations in the state.

The regional administrator of MASSOB in charge of Nnewi South Local Government Area, Mr. Tony Nwodo gave the ultimatum while addressing members during an em- ergency meeting and concluded that they “ will shut down Anambra State if the five arrested members are not released within 48 hours.”

Mr. Nwodo named those arrested as MASSOB Utu Area Administrator- Eugene Odoh, and other members of the group who include Friday Nwoye, Sunday Amaechi, Chuma Okonkwo and Ebuka Okolo.

“Eugene Odoh was picked from his shop at No. 2, Chukwurah Street, off Awka Road, Onitsha, this evening.

"They stormed his shop with six Hilux pick-up vans and a Sienna bus. They ransacked his shop and made away with some money.

“They also made away with valuables. His where about and that of four others are yet unknown. The four others were picked from their homes and on the road without any offence.

“We will not take this if they are not released after 48 hours, we will show the military the stuff we are made of, the fact that we are a non violent body fighting to actualize a sovereign state of

Biafra does not mean we will be taken for granted, we have other non violent ways of dealing with violent people like the military are proving to be to our members” he said.

He said the Utu Area

administrator the Military arrested is a peace- maker and was given a traditional title of ‘Nchuanwu Ndigbo (Preventer of Sun for Ndigbo) .

Meanwhile, palpable fear of uncertainty has reportedly

Reps set to probe N2.7bn severance pay to NERC Board

LAGOS — AS part of its contribution to the growth of grassroots sport, Coca-Cola Nigeria through COPA CocaCola initiative has presented football training kits to four communities within Lagos State. They are Agege, Jakande Estate, Oworonsoki and Elegbata communities.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, which held recently at the Jakande Estate Pitch, Jakande Estate, Isolo, Marketing Director, CocaCola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon, said, “Nigeria’s passion for football is unrivalled anywhere else on the continent. Coca-Cola’s involvement in Nigerian football through COPA signifies a perfect harmony between platform and potentials. Through COPA Coca-Cola, young lovers of the game are inspired to live their dreams, while we at Coca-Cola help to create a new face for the sport in different communities.”

..starts probe of DISC OS, Billing Processes

RENOVATION:

VISIT: From left, Alhaji Abdullahi Dalhatu, Director General, Services, Joint Admission and Matriculations Board, JAMB; Ms. Funlola Akiode, Director, Licensing and Authorisation , Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; Ag. Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta; Professor Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar, JAMB; Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs, NCC; Ms. Ayodeji Shofolahan, Director, Projects, NCC, and Mr. Adisa Olujide, Director, ITS, JAMB, during a courtesy visit to the Commission, in Abuja

By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA-THE House of Rep sentatives Tuesday directed its Committee on Power to investigate an alleged approval of payment of N2.7billion as severance pay to Board members of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission ,NERC. Also, the adhoc committee set up by the House on electricity distribution and billing processes has commenced its investigation on DISCOs across Nigeria.

This move by the House fol-

lowed a motion on matters of urgent public importance entitled: ‘need to halt the planned payment of N2.7 billion by the board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to its members” promoted by Rep. Mohammed Gololo.

The lawmaker in his submission said that the Board’s approval to pay its outgoing members the severance package is unconstitutional as it was not authorized by the National Assembly in the 2015 Appropriation Act. He further stressed that the move conflicts with the recommendations of the Na-

Community exhumes, consumes frozen chicken buried by Customs

By Ifeyinwa Obi

T

HERE WAS pandemonium last weekend near the Trailer Park at Ebubu, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State when thousands of youths, women and children descended on a pit where several tonnes of chicken condemned by men of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, were buried. They dug them out and took same home for consumption.

The scavengers came with shovels, pans, basins and buckets to cart home their loot.

The Customs had last Friday, dug a huge pit and buried

gripped the residents of Onitsha over the heavy Presence of both the military and Police personnel who patrol the major roads for three consecutive days now.

Coca-Cola elevates Grassroots Football in four Lagos communities

thousands of cartons of frozen poultry seized at the Onne Ports. Witnesses said the cartons of chicken were brought in six containers and emptied in the pit by NCS .

But news soon spread on the development and early on Saturday, the scavengers came calling. With no security at the site, they dug and opened the pit.

A visit to many homes around the area revealed barbecuing going on as people roasted and fried the chicken.

In one home, a full-length refrigerator was seen stocked to the brim with roasted chicken, while they invited guests to sumptuous meals.

But the development sent an

alarm across Eleme and the neighbouring communities about the danger of eating the condemned chicken.

The Archbishop of Commonwealth Covenant Church, the Most Rev. Moses Kattey, had to put out a message on Sunday warning people against eating the condemned poultry.

“Truck loads of cartons of chicken were buried by government for health reasons.

People have gone there to exhume the meat. Warn your people not to buy frozen or fried chicken in the next two weeks.

They are poisonous. This happened here in Eleme but can be sold anywhere,” the Reverend said.

tional Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, “and thus offends section 42 (1) (a) and (b) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act”.

According to him, the commission has no recurrent expenditure in the 2015 budget, “thereby suggesting that the commission either does not pay any salaries to its Board and staff or pay salaries from funds that have not been paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation”.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also commenced investigation into the activities of the Electricity Distribution Company (DISCOs), as it relates to infrastructure and billing.

The ad-hoc committee headed by Rep Babajime Adegoke has invited the Bureau of Public enterprise (BPE), to review the commercial terms of the sold DISCOs, as well as Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The ad-hoc committee according to its terms of reference is to find out the methodology used in verifying investment claimed by DISCOs, the billing process, evidence/proof that NERC is performing its functions appropriately and in the interest of Nigerian customers, evidence of consumer satisfaction, challenges and problems faced by NERC in carrying out its functions and justification for the proposed tariff increase.

ESUT sacks medical students from hostel

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, has asked medical students residing in its hostel to vacate following the deplorable condition of the facility to enable the authority embark on complete renovation ahead of accreditation.

The students were earlier notified in a letter signed by the College Secretary, Mr. D. K Okpala alerting them of the management's intention to renovate the facility for improved living standard.

The letter read:”I am directed to inform all students of the ESUT College of Medicine that they must vacate the hostels and the college premises before 4p.m. today, November 3.

Students must leave the college with all their belongings... Note that any property left behind in the hostel after 4p.m. will be deemed to have been forfeited."

16—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVENBER 5, 2015

ABIA: Why I’ll

appeal judgment of tribunal —Otti

By Charles Kumolu

G

OVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has said that his decision to appeal against the judgment of the state governorship election petition tribunal which upheld the election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as governor was informed by the desire to get justice for the people of the state.

He also described the judgement as a legalisation of broad daylight electoral robbery by the Peoples Democratic” Party, PDP. Otti in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Jennifer BenOkereke, said the verdict was nothing other than a travesty of justice and rape of democracy.

“It is regrettable that the tribunal has again scuttled our hope and desire for positive change, quality and credible governance in the state,"he said.

Deghele Community dissolves trust executive

By Elizabeth Uwandu

W

ARRI—THE D e g e h e l e community in Warri SouthWest council area of Delta State has dissolved its nineyear old community trust executive with a call for indigenes with interest in contesting for any position to signify by collectng the community forms at Esilokun Guest House, Ajamimogha, Warri.

The dissolution of the old executive was effected on October 30, 2015 by the Olara-Aja(community head) Pa. Samson Amola in-council and the elders and leaders of the oil rich community with the setting up of a five-man electoral committee chaired by Mr. Reson Golly.

Pa. Samson Amola said the date for the election of new trust members is Saturday, November 14, 2015 and the venue is Tsaninomi Hall, Degehele town, starting from 9am.

According to him, Mr. Jefferson Arubi shall serve as secretary to the electoral committee while Honsbira Aghawu, Perere Pemu Arayi and Rebecca Edema are members.

Police parade 16 for alleged robbery, rape in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE Anambra State police command yesterday paraded 16 persons allegedly involved in various criminal activities, including robbery and rape in various parts of the state.

Parading the suspects at the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, at Awkuzu, in Oyi local

government area, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ali Okechukwu, said one of the suspects was one Chinenye Egeonu from Aba, Abia State who allegedly snatched a trailer load of cement belonging to a popular businessman in the country.

According to him, following a tip off on October 3rd, 2015, men of SARS went to Aba and recovered the trailer truck with Reg. No SML 314 XA, and arrested the suspect.

Also paraded were Maxwell Obemana , Chukwunonso Nwosu and Ugochukwu Simon, who were attached to Udide Vigilante Service in Awka, who were allegedly involved in armed robbery and rape of one Amaka , an undergraduate.

Okechukwu said further that members of a gang of suspected bandits who snatched a Mack trailer with Reg No. SMK 575 loaded with 187 Daylong

motorcycles were paraded. They include one Ebuka from Arochukwu, Abia State and Ifeanyi Udeozor from Awgu in Enugu.

Another group comprising Ebube Okeke from Ihiala, Chijioke Okwueso(Okija), Onyedika Kennedy (Enugu) and Ujunwa Ikwuka(Ihiala) were arrested for robbing one Amah Chinyere of Umunamehi , Ihiala of a Toyota Rav-4 jeep with Reg. No KJA852 BC at gun point.

ENUGU: Plot against

Ugwuanyi uncovered

A

VISIT: Emeka Ugwu-Oju, President, South-East South-South Professionals, welcoming Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Vice President, on his arrival, at the Enugu International Airport, while on a private visit to the South East, last weekend.

PLOT by some political opponents of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to stage a campaign of calumny against him and his administration, has been uncovered.

At the centre of the plot is a politician from the state.

It was alleged that the politician who has access to the media has been leveraging on it to launch false reports against the governor.

It was also revealed that the politician enlisted the support of a former commissioner in the state.

A reliable source who was

MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT: Orji takes over at NEITI

as Ahmed bows out •Nigeria risks sanctions over delay in 2013 audit report

By Michael Eboh

O

RJI OGBONNAYA Orji, has been named the Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI as ministerial appointee Mrs. Zainab Ahmed bows out .

Mr. Ogbonnaya Orji, promised to build on the leadership left behind by Ahmed with the support of staff and partners of NEITI, adding that he, along with the management and staff of the organization will work to fast-track the automation process of NEITI and increase the credibility and regularity of its reports.

Speaking during a valedictory session with key stakeholders and partners of NEITI, the outgoing Executive Secretary, Zainab Ahmed expressed confidence in the staff and management team that she is leaving behind, adding that the structure in place can stand the test of time.

She commended the two immediate past chairmen of NEITI’s board for their unrelenting guidance and contributions to the success of NEITI, stating also that the success over the years is a result of the effective oversight provided by the two boards.

She said: “I remain committed to the course of NEITI, I will continue to champion those cause of good governance, transparency and accountability in the management of our natural resources which NEITI is known for.”

Ahmed also stated that NEITI has concluded works on the 2013 audit report of the extractive industry, adding that it is awaiting the composition of the NEITI Board to validate and approve the report so that it can be published.

She warned that the country risk being suspended by the Global Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, EITI, if the 2013 report is not passed before December 31, 2015.

She, however, stated that the Presidency has given assurance of its commitment to the composition of the NEITI Board in the next couple of days.

privy to the plot said that the politician was behind the failed moves to incite Enugu workers against Governor Ugwuanyi as well as the recent series of strange negative editorials in national dailies against the governor over the false allegation by the labour union of free Prado jeeps to the House of Assembly members. The source said the fact that some of the editorials came even after the labour leaders had retracted their uniformed statement and apologised to the governor smacked clearly of calculated plots to smear the governor ’s image and undermine the goodwill he enjoys among the ordinary citizens of the state.

It was also uncovered that the politician recently held nocturnal meeting with his cohorts in his Enugu residence where they perfected the plot to roll out the unrelenting smear campaign.

It was gathered that a huge amount of money was voted for the project and that one of those, who used to benefit when the state was in turmoil, donated the larger part of the funds earmarked for the project, stressing that the governor blocked his source of livelihood.

The source derided the antics of the opposition candidate behind the smear campaign.

It maintained that, like in previous occasions, their plot was bound to fail and boomerang against its originator, as the people of Enugu State have unwavering confidence in the ability of Governor Ugwuanyi to lead the state. stressing that no amount of blackmail will dissuade them from supporting him.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015— —17

I

FELT deep sadness over the weekend when news broke, that the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro died in Germany, at the age of 77. His passing shocked so many people in our country especially those who had very close relationships with him. Bola Tinubu’s tribute was very moving, underscoring the Emir ’s contributions to Nigeria’s political history, but especially since about 2011. Even the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was moved to say, that it’s the writing of recent political history that will bring home, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro’s contributions to our country’s progress.

For me, I feel a personal sense of loss, because we had agreed that I would visit him during the International Gaani Festival that he had elaborately planned for, but was not destined to see. When I last saw him in Abuja, he had actually summoned me to comment on a piece I had written about Kwara state’s history, for my column here. He insisted that I had to write a sequel, after scolding me, for not going to see him in New Bussa, for so long!

Alhaji Haliru Dantoro was one of the titans of Second Republic politics, 1979-1983, in the old

Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, Late Emir of Borgu, 1938-2015 Kwara State. Unlike what operates today, that Kwara state, had many political giants: Haliru Dantoro, Sunday Awoniyi, S.B. Daniyan, Abdul Rahman Okene, Adamu Attah, Ado Ibrahim, etc.

He would play a vital role in building the political relationship between Buhari and Tinubu

Olushola Saraki was Senate Leader and pre-eminent politician, who tried to impose a personal hegemony, resisted by individuals like the late Dantoro.

Haliru Dantoro was a prince, just like Adamu Attah (Ebirra Prince), Speaker Shehu Usman (Fulani Prince from Lafiagi like Senator Sha’abaLafiagi) and his deputy, Israel Moronfoye (a Prince from Irra, the late RasheedYekini’s hometown), and was not willing to become a “political slave” that the Saraki hegemony that had neither royal background nor longstanding historical bona fides, always attempted to impose on Kwara! This hegemony successfully exploited a historical

vacuum and need for a rallying point, to impose political control!

That was very much the central basis of disagreement that Alhaji Haliru Dantoro and other political heavyweights of that epoch had with the Saraki hegemony. It led to acrimonious division of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in Kwara state.

The late Olushola Saraki abandoned the NPN, and entered into an alliance, which brought Cornelius Adebayo of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) to power in the 1983 elections (just like his son, Bukola Saraki did with the PDP, againstAPC, in 2015). After the elections, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, was appointed Minister

of the Federal Capital by President Shehu Shagari, in recognition of his political and leadership abilities.

That government was however overthrown by Generals Buhari andIdiagbon, in December 1983.

General Babangida’s regime eventually “beheaded” the old Kwara State, by removing the Borgu emirate, and joining it to Niger State, a decision that we have remained unhappy about, given historical relationships between the peoples of the old Ilorin Province, including Borgu!

Alhaji Haliru Dantoro was elected a senator during the ill-fated Babangida political transition; and as Bola Tinubu (turbaned Jagaban Borgu) wrote in his tribute, the period brought him into close relationship with Alhaji Haliru Dantoro.

He would play a vital role in building the political relationship between Buhari and Tinubu, which midwifed the change that Nigeria experienced in the 2015 elections that swept away the PDP and brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power.

Nigeria has lost a truly remarkable patriot and bridge builder, with the passing of Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, the late Emir of Borgu. Allah yajikan sarki. Amin.

An evening with Prof. Murray Last: Fish, drinks and all

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HE text came last Wednesday evening as usual, from Jibo Ibrahim: “Fish with Prof. Murray Last at 7. 30 pm”, it said tersely. So a few minutes after seven thirty, I arrived at our rendezvous. Seated were Jibo and his wife, Charmaine; Professor Ebere and our august guest, Professor Murray Last. It was our first meeting, but I have read practically everything that he has written, or as much as I have come across. The most recent being a chapter that he contributed to a very new book, edited by our friend Raufu Mustapha, a professor of Political Science at Oxford University, on Islam in Northern Nigeria. The fish didn’t take too long to arrive and the drinks flowed, but we had started tucking into a multi-directional conversation, soon after Jibo introduced me to Murray Last.

Remarkable intellectual Now, this remarkable intellectual has truly encyclopedic knowledge of Northern Nigeria.

He wrote his famous Ph. D thesis on the Sokoto Calipahate for the University of Ibadan, in 1963. As a matter of fact, Murray Last invented the phrase “SOKOTO CALIPHATE”, because until his doctoral work, and commencing from the British conquest of the Sokoto Caliphate, which started from Ilorin and Bida in 1897, and climaxing in Sokoto in 1903, the British narrative spoke of the “Fulani Empire”, in order to pejoratively reduce it into an ethnic project, rather than what it really was: the most important and most extensive political and religious reformative project in pre-colonial African history!

Murray Last, working within the ambience of the Ibadan History Project, one of the greatest intellectually resourceful historical projects in African history, redefined and re-interpreted the jihad of 1804, as one of the greatest processes in recent human and African history, in doing his doctorate in history, at the University of Ibadan.

Murray Last would go on to do another doctorate in anthropology. And since 1970, has returned annually to a MAGUZAWA village in Katsina state, to study the community. The Maguzawa are “pagan” Hausa communities, who refused to convert to Islam and have retained a code of existence dating back to pre-Islamic life in Northern Nigeria. He has also become a world authority on “Hausa medicine” and those nuanced issues of everyday life in Northern Nigeria.

An evening like we had, allowed a peek into various aspects of life, not in a structured manner, but in an incredibly elaborate manner of discovery;because so many things were talked about and pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of existence began to fit in. For instance, Last revealed that the infamous Sambisa Forest was actually started as a reserve, just to allow a colonial Resident in Borno to have a place to hunt! In the same manner, that the famous Gobirau Minaret in Katsina, was actually constructed in the 1920s, by a colonial Resident.

It was Murray Last who made a detailed study of the Muslim Cemetery records in Kano, and came to the remarkable conclusion that far more people die in Kano on Fridays than any other days of the week! In the Islamic belief system, it is a

blessing to die on a Friday and furthermore, it is the day that is believed the world would end!

The incredible element of his study was that far more women and children die on Fridays than the men; it was also curious that “pious and religious men” don’t seem to die on Fridays!

There was a lot more! For instance, Murray Last noticed the fact that only 70 Fulbe Jihadists rode into Zaria, while the Habe Emir rode out with over 3000 people as the city was incorporated into the Sokoto Caliphate. Professor Ebere was surprised about that fact and wondered why. Murray Last also reminded about the civil war that took place inside Kano that obliged Sokoto to send in troops to eventually suppress the revolt.

In an incredible colonial exploitation of the facts of history, the troops that the Brirish used to conquer Sokoto, the capital of the caliphate, were mainly recruited from Kano! He also pointed out that open spaces and parks in British cities and colonies, are seen as part of civilised existence today, but they had a military raison d’etre: they were created

The incredible element of his study was that far more women and children die on Fridays than the men

as spaces to camp mainly cavalry troops and their horses (that will need to fodder), in order to suppress revolts and uprisings against the ruling classes! There were other far more revealing, even incredibly “subversive” insights, about individuals and episodes, in the history of the past fifty years in Northern Nigeria,

that I am unable to put into this narrative. It was a most incredible night of eating and drinking but above all, of feeding the mind with one of the most remarkable intellectuals who has dedicated his life to the study of the history of Northern Nigeria, Professor Murray Last. Remarkable evening indeed!

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at INEC: Man and Guinea fowls

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INCE the announcement broke of his appointment as the new Chairman of INEC, I have tried to remember how we became friends with Professor MahmoodYakubu. Walahi, I cannot recall, despite my wellknown ability to recall dates and events up to the exact day! But from the time I was the General Manager of KWTV in Ilorin, during the late 1990s, I would regularly drive into Kaduna to see the lady that eventually became my wife.

It became a routine that the first place of call, as I drove into the city, was the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), where MahmoodYakubu was a professor. A very decent, modest and most committed intellectual, he kept in the backyard of his residence a sizeable collection of Guinea fowls, that he was very devoted to.

I would go with him to see his ever-growing collection of birds, and his devotion to them, as much as his devoted service as an intellectual could not have been missed. His example triggered my decision to eventually start a farm that will also keep Guinea fowls too.

The second experience of the man that I never stop recalling was from 2004. There was an

international conference to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Sokoto Caliphate.

MahmoodYakubu was one of the central figures in the organisational work that made the event an incredible success. I was Editor of DAILY TRUST, and the conference offered an opportunity for interviews, including a very extensive one, with the late Professor Ade Ajayi.

The third phase of his work that I recall was as head of the Education Trust Fund (ETF), which he did with remarkable competence. The final one came last year at the National Conference, where I was also a Delegate. I think Nigeria made a truly appropriate choice, to replace AttahiruJega with MahmoodYakubu, as INEC Chairman!

These are two remarkably decent and principled individuals. AttahiruJega supervised my Masters Degree thesis in Political Science and MahmoodYakubu is a historian and a friend that I know will head INEC with the tenderness and firmness that he tends his Guinea fowls! It is a wise choice by President Muhammadu Buhari.

I wish MahmoodYakubu success in a very difficult assignment.

C M Y K

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 THE recent confirmation by the Senate of Prof Mahmud Yakubu as the new National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and five National Commissioners is a welcome relief.

The dispatch with which the Senate screened and confirmed the nominees is commendable, given the constitutional crisis that had loomed.

With the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States just ahead, there were fears that the Commission as it was just before now was legally incapable of conducting elections given the lack of a quorum.

That lapse has now been addressed, though it took the president and his handlers too long to address the issue given the utmost urgency it deserved.

The events leading to the appointments were notably worrisome. The president had appointed Mrs. Amina Zakari, one of the former Commissioners, as the Acting National Chairman despite

Prof Mahmud Yakubu at the INEC allegations of a familial relationship between the two.

It was unwholesome for the president not to allow the public to discuss the candidature of Yakubu before he was suddenly fast-tracked through the Council of State and the Senate. The nation was thus denied the opportunity to assess and approve him as they did his predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega, before he was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

This is also the first time that a sitting president appointed his ethnic kinsman to head the electoral umpire,

thus upsetting the age-old geopolitical and sectional balance that had always prevailed.

Professor Yakubu, however, excelled in the academia and government posts. We are reassured by his distinctive performances at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the 2014 National Conference, which he discharged without accusations of ethnic bigotry or partisanship against him. He must live up to his pledge which he made during his senate screening to be above board.

OPINION Boko Haram and truth about Chibok girls

By Godwin Etakibuebu

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Y December 31st 2015, Boko Haram and its deadly activities would have become history in Nigeria – courtesy of a decisive command from a “no-nonsense and action-packed” President Muhammadu Buhari. He had given the Nigerian Military a deadline of that date to achieve this onerous task of putting an end to Boko Haram existence, and when the commander-in-chief gives a command, obedience to the last letter of the order becomes fait accompli for the officers and men of the armed forces. It means that the military would do everything possible; including laying down of lives across the north-east geographical region generally and in particular the most dreaded Sambisa forest, to produce positive result acceptable to President, Nigerians and the whole world. There shall be such colossal casualties in all fronts.

Yet, l have a burden in my heart about one of the major “local contents” of the insurgency [while it lasted] not becoming a “major and colossal” casualty. May it never be said that at the point of celebrating the overcoming of Boko Haram, starting from January 2016, or thereabout, our girls; those impressive and qualitative daughters of ours, abducted from Chibok town on 14th of April, 2014, are not accounted for. God forbid! May they; all of them, be returned to us as “precious spoils of war” in the name of the Almighty God! At least, this has been the hope built for us by our C M Y K

political leaders, over the period of one and half years that these girls have gone on “a befitting holiday”; a holiday conveniently arranged for them by those who ought to be their legitimate custodians - Borno State Governor and his officials inclusive.

There are many Nigerians who share my thought and burden in this matter and it is not without cogent and genuine reasons. The genesis and the exodus of the girls' voyage into “oblivion” [it is almost the reality in my mind for now] need critical analysis and proper evaluation.

Chibok town was invaded by Boko Haram soldiers [call them insurgents if you like] on the night of April 14th, 2014, and two hundred and seventy nine girls – all students in the rightful custody of the government of Borno State – were conveniently taken away without a single challenge in a manner that agreed with the rules of “pre-arranged” agreement.

It was an episode that pricked the conscience of the international community as the process and procedure of the abduction mocked common knowledge in explanation. There was sharp disagreement on the exact numbers of the girls as no one could give accurate figure, neither the principal of the school nor the Borno State

Total rescue of the Chibok girls was one of the selling cardinal points of his campaign

commissioner for education could. They allegedly arranged and kept the girls in the school; a school premises without fence, security and light, for the purpose of presenting them to write the secondary school leaving certificate examinations.

Others believed that those who masterminded the abduction intended to stir the world Islamic community against then Goodluck Jonathan’s government by presenting the attack as against Muslims of the north hence “the execution in the core north eastern state of Borno”. This however back-fired when the Christian Association of Nigeria was able to identify ninety nine per cent of the girls abducted by names, and as Christians, thereby turning the event in favour of Jonathan and his government when the fact became well known to the world community, this other school of thought concluded.

My real worry is that since the actual number of girls abducted that night is not authenticated and can never be, due to absence of statistical evaluation machinery, whatever the balance of numbers we have at hand today remains conjectural. Public opinion, coordinated by the Oby Ezekwesilli-led “Bring-backour-girls movement”, put the number of Chibok girls presently in captivity at two hundred and nineteen. Though the authenticity of that figure shall always be doubtful since there was no head-count of the girls before they were taken into captivity, this number remains, nevertheless, what we have of our girls still with Boko Haram.

The INEC under Yakubu must quickly settle down and use the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States to reassure Nigerians that the president made the right choice.

After that, INEC must consolidate on the gains of the Jega era and improve INEC’s handling of logistics, which has remained below standard.

Another major challenge for the Commission under Yakubu is the delimitation of constituencies. Since the advent of the Fourth Republic, successive authorities at the Commission have side-stepped this constitutional requirement of redrawing the constituencies perhaps out of fear of the brinkmanship that typically arises from the exercise.

However, given the constitutional imperatives, INEC under Prof.

Yakubu is bound to face that storm and many other storms. Prof Yakubu is well advised to keep his cool, be neutral and objective if he is to successfully navigate the storms to come.

Where are the rest of over two hundred girls? Can any intelligent brain hold to the belief that these girls are being held in one place till date? Are they forcefully married out to the insurgents with “reward” of children already? Worse still, are they dead or alive? We need to know the truth about their true position now and the only person that can tell us is President Buhari for only one major reason. He is the one Nigerian.

Unfortunately the much he has said, indirectly though, did not strengthen my hope about the whereabouts of the Chibok girls.

His answer to a question in a very recent Aljazeera television interview: “We have ideas about where the girls are.

Our main problem is and what we promised to the constituency is that we want to rescue them alive. There is the Boko Haram leadership that wants us to discuss but we have to prove they are bonafide. They have to prove to us that the girls are alive, they are well, and then we can promise, we can negotiate.

We will negotiate if we certify that the girls are alive…”

What he indirectly admitted in this interview is that he is not sure of the state of the girls. Yet, total rescue of the Chibok girls was one of the selling cardinal points of his campaign, preluding the April 2015 general elections. If a man who gains access to world-class intelligence machinery would be that doubtful, where can the faith of the ordinary mortal be anchored? Who shall tell us the truth about the Chibok girls? *Mr. Etakibuebu, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 5,, 2015— 19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Buhari, look your front M

Y people have a saying which I will tell in my “inner” Igbo dialect and then translate. We say: “leruo enya akala nari zuru ife”. When you visit someone and you are about to depart, he will usually tell you: “fare well” or “take care” or “be careful as you go”. In some cases, a departing visitor also expects a parting gift, especially if the gift was the original reason for the visit.

When you tell such a visitor: “take care” without the parting gift, he feels disappointed and will usually consider visiting you a wasted effort. Leruo enya akala nari zuru ife is a reminder that a person who wishes you well gives you something that is more precious than silver and gold. A person who wishes you well will probably also give you a parting gift if he could afford to.

I wish to seize this opportunity to offer our President, Muhammadu Buhari, an unsolicited and unpaid-for piece of advice. I will say it in our Nigerian patois: “Presido, look your front”.

We have entered the sixth month of the four years he was given to

try and fix Nigeria in line with his campaign promises. He was not elected to come and keep drumming how bad the Jonathan administration and the sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was. If Nigerians thought Jonathan and his party were the best for them, they would have renewed their mandate in the 2015 general election. It was because they felt that the former “largest party in Africa” had exhausted its goodwill with the people that Buhari and his party were elected in the first comprehensive democratic regime change in our history.

Since Buhari came back to power, he and his party have told us little else except the “depth of rot” left behind by the dethroned PDP, the magnitude of “looting” perpetrated under Jonathan and the PDP and Buhari’s determination to recover stolen public funds and jail looters.

Meanwhile you look around, and, apart from one or two political opponents such as Bukola Saraki who rebelled against the wishes of Bola Tinubu, you do not see the “looters” who have been

apprehended or put behind bars.

The former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Madueke, who is alleged as the “chief looter” of the Jonathan regime has not even been arraigned for trial in London, where the law actually rules. If anything, what you see is a large number of APC politicians with mindboggling cases of corruption to answer being made ministers in total disregard of the touted “zero tolerance for corruption”, on which he campaigned.

You look around and you ask yourself: where is the Itse Sagay anti-graft panel? Have they gone to sleep? Why has the federal government failed to disclose the identities (and amount) that Jonathan’s former officials and friends “returned” as claimed by Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State? Why hasn’t the

Whatever rot the PDP might have left behind is being exacerbated by the cluelessness, directionlessness and actionlessness of the Buhari regime

Senate confirmation, business unusual

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HE Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires that the President’s nominees for appointment into the top echelon of government – Ministers, Judges, Ambassadors, Chairmen and Members of Federal Executive Bodies – must be subjected to a screening process in what has become known as the Advice and Consent of the Senate.

The Senate confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees has come and gone. We must hasten to say that the Senate did a good job. They lived up to the bidding that it was not going to be business as usual.

In the beginning, it was threatening, particularly when the Senate spokesman, Senator Dino Maleye, spoke in a tone that seemed to suggest that screening was a new creation, unknown to him that screening is even older than parliament itself because the first parliamentarians were subjected to one form of screening or another.

We wondered how the Senate was going to implement the Senatorial Courtesy of having at least two Senators from each State to approve the nomination from that State before it could be confirmed.

The concept of senatorial courtesy has been grossly misconstrued here. In the US, from where the original idea was imported, senatorial courtesy is the practice of accepting the veto of the Senators of the same political party with the President for an appointment in the Senators’ home State.

The Senate spokesman was most vehement that the Senate had resolved to insist on seeing the asset declaration of nominees as a condition for screening them. This is reminiscent of what Elizabeth Prize once described as “Unborn

C M Y K

tomorrow, dead yesterday”. The Constitution requires people who have been given a job to declare their assets at the entry and exit points – not at the stage of application. How would Maleye’s prescription be different from that situation where a Primary Four pupil is required to show evidence of the procurement of all the materials for Primary Five as a condition for allowing him sit for the Primary Four promotion examination? Besides, which aspect of our laws permits a complete usurpation of the functions of the Code of Conduct Commission, CCC, by the Senate?

Luckily, by its dexterity, the Senate has saved Nigerians the agony of these fatal destructions. Like never before, the approach was business-like all through.

The President can withdraw a nomination even when a Senate Committee has reported on it, as happened when the President withdrew the nomination of Ahmed Isa Ibeto from Niger State. But the Senate cannot revoke its consent once it is given.

Those untutored in the legislative process are wont to see the legislators as unserious in carrying out their functions.

The atmosphere that pervades the legislature is one of all work and no play makes the legislator a dull person. The good presiding officer is the one who is

If it is true that the end justifies the means, it is also true that the fourmonth wait was worth it. After all, nothing good comes easy

Jonathan minister who allegedly stole six billion dollars been identified, arrested and put on trial with efforts to recover the money made public? Six billion dollars or over N1.2 trillion can give our economy a massive shock therapy for recovery from depression.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is still high on its triumphal euphoria, and never misses any opportunity to remind us how they defeated PDP. Do you hear Barack Obama of the US or David Cameron of the UK make any reference to the elections that returned them to power in 2012 and 2015 respectively? APC leaders should show some maturity. When a party wins an election it immediately faces the challenges of victory. Election victory is not an end but a means to an end: a platform for delivering on campaign promises.

It is in the interest of President Buhari and the APC to take my advice: Look your front. Start governing. Get to work. Start solving the problems of the country for which you were elected. There is nothing more you can tell us about the “rot” allegedly left by PDP that can justify six months of serious economic decline and rollercoaster ride towards depression.

Instead of the two million jobs per year we were promised (by now about million jobs should have been created going by the APC campaign promises) there have been massive job losses, especially in the banking, media and real sectors of the economy.

The Naira, which Buhari once boasted gained in value when he was elected is under pressure to be devalued to save our foreign

occasionally able to relax the nerves of his colleagues by the interjection of decent jokes into the business of the House.

Occasionally, the presiding officer is able to carry even the nominee along in the jokewhile-you-work process. In 1975, Roderick Hills was being screened for appointment into the Securities and Exchange Commission of the U.S. Senator Williams Proximire (Democrat/ Wisconsin) who was addicted to jogging, so to say, asked the nominee if he would require a government-provided limousine to drive him to work. Hills retorted rather humorously, “I will not but all the same, I will not be jogging to work”.

In the just-concluded exercise, we must commend all the nominees for knowing when to give a direct answer; and when to “jump and pass”. Okechukwu Eyinna Enelamah (Abia State) was offered a long rope to hang himself but he skipped the rope. His opinion was sought on the issue of accompanying nominations with portfolios. He pleaded passionately for the Distinguished Senators to spare him the ordeal of being asked to publicly veto his boss, particularly when anything he said would not alter the equation.

Then came Prof. Anthony Anwuka (Imo State). When asked what his reaction would be if he did not get the required portfolio. He quickly surrendered to the will of the boss, maintaining that he had come to contribute to national development in whatever assignment he would be given.

The Senators were on top of their elements. The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, virtually set the chamber aflame, when he demanded of Lai Mohammed, after full

reserves. Whatever rot the PDP might have left behind is being exacerbated by the cluelessness, directionlessness and actionlessness of the Buhari regime.

This tendency of Buhari and the ruling APC to keep talking about corruption, deep rot and what not, especially when the president visits foreign countries inflicts heavy injuries on Nigeria’s image. Buhari should change emphasis and tell the world his strategies to right the wrongs he met and put Nigeria back on the path of rectitude.

This is what we want to hear, and that is what our prospective foreign partners are waiting to hear. We want a genuine war on corruption, not a manhunt of political enemies and the use of coercion to capture some juicy oilproducing states for the ruling party.

Nigeria is not the only country that has corrupt people. But Nigeria is probably the only country in the world whose president spends primetime damaging its image. Is Buhari really telling “the truth” or merely trying to ensure that the opposition never recovers to challenge him in 2019? If you have a household full of daughters and you keep telling everybody their mother is a thief and a prostitute, you must be ready to take the blame if suitors stay away.

But Nigerians are beginning to lose their patience after waiting for six months. Unless Buhari begins to address the “deep rot” left by past administrations (including his own) his 2019 dreams will be dead even before the date arrives.

interrogation, “Mr. President, why don’t we ask this nominee to deposit one or two publicity jinx on us before he leaves?”

Again, it was all fun when the lot of asking Hajia Buka Ibrahim to take a bow and go fell on her husband, Senator Buka Ibrahim (Yobe State).

One knotty issue that still bothers many is that of “Take a bow and go”. On a broad base, the Senate may have come to term with late Senator Uche Chukwumerije’s early warnings, “Bow and go is antiintellectual and animation of secret society methods”, hence former Senators – Chris Ngige, Hadi Sirika, Udo Udoma, and Heineken Lokpobiri – were not asked to take a bow and go. Rather, each of them delivered what could pass for an inaugural lecture before leaving the chamber.

Strange enough, at the end of every nominee’s screening, he was still asked to take a bow and go. This is an anomaly.

After you have drilled a man for hours, you don’t ask him to take a bow. All you can do is to inform him that you are through with him. It is then left for him to bow or kneel down; or if he likes, he could begin to roll on the floor as a mark of appreciation. It is un-African to ask a person to greet you.

If it is true that the end justifies the means, it is also true that the four-month wait was worth it. After all, nothing good comes easy. With a formidable team behind President Buhari, it is clear that the wheel of quality governance will now move smoothly without any let or hindrance.

20—Vanguard, Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Ilorin/Jebba road of trauma and near-death experiences

By Wole Mosadomi, Minna

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HE Minna- Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa road is considered vital since it serves as the major gateway linking the southern part of the country to the North. The only alternative is the Okene – Lokoja road that connects the federal capital and other parts of the North. No doubt, these two major roads are always busy throughout the year, a reason why the Federal Government has always been tasked to pay priority attention to them.

All things being equal, a journey from Ilorin to Jebba should be about one hour. That is if the road is in good condition. But under its present condition it takes smaller vehicles between three to four hours to travel on the road. But it is a different ball game for heavy duty vehicles as most of them usually end up bogged down on the road and remain on the same spot for three to four days. The experience is usually agonising. It is an experience anyone would dread having no matter how desperate one is to embark on a journey.

Many years ago, it was easy to determine how many hours it would take to make it to Ilorin and back. In fact, many commuters, especially traders, travelled to Ilorin from Minna, transact their businesses and come back to base the same day without much stress.

Traumatising journey That has since become history.

Today one is only sure of the time of departure but certainly not when to return home.

Our correspondent who visited the road recently reports that the journey was traumatizing because of the prevailing chaos.

There was no iota of respect for simple traffic regulations.

Motorists were driving in whatever lane they considered free and suitable.

That was the order of the day for those who considered themselves “smart” enough to escape the agony and “death traps” on the road. Anyone plying the road for the first time certainly will want give it a wide berth after enduring the harrowing experience until such a time when the waiting game of putting the road in order would have been over.

The last Eid el-Kabir celebration was perhaps the worst time to ply the road. Trailers loaded with rams, cows and other C M Y K

*Section of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa road...traumatising for travellers due to persistent gridlock perishable foodstuff like onions, tomatoes, among others, were being transported to the South for the Sallah celebration. With the trailers trapped in the traffic jams for days, several cows and other animals like rams and chickens being transported to distant destinations, especially in the South, died due to lack of food, water and air. At a stage, some of the cows, which were at the point of death, had to be slaughtered in the open and sold

According to him, he had spent three days on the spot without moving an inch; Isah called on the government to come to the rescue of the commercial drivers and commuters by fixing the road

to avoid complete loss.

Similarly during the journey, some of the rams and goats were hurriedly brought out of the various vehicles conveying them to enable them feed and drink water to regain their flagging strength. Those conveying perishable goods like onions, tomatoes, and their likes, started counting their losses on the spot as the goods had started perishing. Discomfort was boldly written on the faces of motorists and commuters.

The chaos was not helped by the complete absence of law enforcement agents and traffic control officials, including the police, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and other relevant stake holders. The belief was that based on past experiences they probably had lost hope of being able to effectively tackle the traffic gridlock. All the drivers, both commercial and private, interviewed on the situation described it as very unfortunate, sad and unbelievable.

Many of the truck drivers, private car owners and commuters, interviewed totally condemned the poor state of the road and called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the road and urgently embark on its repair.

Some of the motorists even

vented their anger on our correspondent while expressing their displeasure on their experiences.

Some of them rained abuses on past administrations at the Federal level for allowing the ever -busy road to degenerate to such a deplorable state. One of the truck drivers who identified himself as Isah Muhammed said he had been stranded on the road for the past four days without any hope in sight of when he would eventually leave the environment.

Contract for total reconstruction He called on the Federal Government to dispassionately look into the road with a view to awarding the contract for its total reconstruction.

Another truck driver simply identified as Isah also decried the deplorable nature of the road.

According to him, he had spent three days on the spot without moving an inch. Isah called on the government to come to the rescue of the commercial drivers and commuters by fixing the road.

A despondent female passenger, Bukola Adeoye, who was travelling from Ilorin to Kaduna for the first time, was short of words when she spoke to Vanguard Metro, VM. “How do you

want me to speak well of this country. I graduated about three years ago but have no job. I am travelling to this part of the country- North for the first time to see if I can get a job and look at the experience I am going through . I am very disappointed and sorrowful. How can you explain this type of situation?”

She asked, while intermittently shaking her head.

Other stranded female traders lamented the huge losses they would incur, because their goods are perishable. The most agonising experience, according to some of the stranded passengers, is the fate of their babies.

The children, they said, have been crying endlessly either as a result of hunger, thirst, heat or stress without an immediate succour in sight.

The saying that one man’s meat is another man’s poison is also playing out here. The villages are cashing in on the gridlock to do brisk business. They sell water and food from questionable sources to the hungry and thirsty commuters who have no option than to patronise them.

Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, FRSC in the State, Nma Magana told VM that the logjam worsened because of the impatience of the motorists.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

— 21

Traffic gridlock: Shipping institute warns of Lagos ports collapse

By Godwin Oritse

T

HE Nigeria Institute of Shipping, (NIS) has warned that the perennial traffic gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway could lead to the collapse of activities at Lagos seaports.

Speaking at the 7th Annual General Meeting and Award Night of the Institute, NIS President, Sir Patrick Egesi, raised the alarm even as he hinted that some landlocked countries may settle for more accessible ports like Tema port Ghana and Cotonou port in Benin Republic in place of the Lagos seaports.

Egesi who is a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA), reiterated that the traffic gridlock in the approaches to Lagos ports poses a serious danger to the economy.

He also called on the federal government to concentrate on developing and dredging the Calabar port in Cross Rivers State for it to be viable. He said the development port in Calabar will further ease traffic in Lagos ports, adding that traffic gridlock has made land-locked nations to prefer to do business with the Ghana port instead of Lagos ports.

The NIS boss pointed out that if the Calabar port is made to be fully operational, it will boost the nation’s economy because according to him, there will be massive job opportunities and it will reduce traffic on the Lagos ports.

“Our knowledge during Tema port visit came handy during our participation at the international conference on facilitation of transit trade for greater economic integration of land locked countries, organised by the Federal Ministry of

BRIEFING: From left: Kayode Sote, Principal Partner Lubeservices Associates; Mr Taiye Williams, Managing Director, Lubcon Limited and Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya,Managing Director/CEO, CMC Connect Burson-Marteller at the Nigerian Lubricant Summit’s 2015 press conference in Lagos yesterday. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU transport in conjunction with its parastatals and the government of Niger Republic where it was clearly

It is going to help the country internally to reduce congestion on roads to Lagos ports

0.95

$3,257. 00

-40. 00

$14. 82

-0.67

50.37

47.79 CURRENCY

BUYING

-0.17

-0.11

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 195.98 196.48 196.98 POUNDS 301.7112 302.481 303.2507 EURO 215.0685 215.6172 216.1659 FRANC 197.8597 198.3645 198.8693 YEN 1.621 1.6251 1. 6293 CFA 0.3104 0.3204 0.3304 WAUA 273.2454 273.9426 274.6397 RENMINBI 30.9283 31.0077 31.0871 RIYAL 52.2558 52.3891 52.5224 SDR 273.9408 274.6397 275.3386 KRONA 28.8253 28.8988 28.9723 CBN Exchange Rate as at 4 /11 /15

C M Y K

us billions of dollars and we are not bothered because of the oil, maybe without oil we maybe a little bit careful to open up our ports.”

He further noted that apart from Niger and other land locked countries in the region, most West African countries prefer other smaller port to Nigeria simply because of the menace of traffic. “They prefer such ports because of the congestion in our ports and that is the reason for the government to ensure that the Calabar port needs to bounce back,” the former NMA boss stated.

DPR to make report on refinery analysis public

By Ediri Ejoh

121.20

revealed that Niger and most other landlocked neighbouring West African countries prefer the use of Tema to Nigerian ports”, he said.

Egesi further said that government should consider Calabar port in particular because in his words, when that port is opened, you will be surprised about the benefit that port will bring to the nation.

“Apart from the fact that it will create jobs for a lot of people, it is going to help the country internally to reduce congestion on roads to Lagos ports. This traffic congestion caused

T

HE Department of Petroleum Re sources, DPR, said it has concluded its analysis on the country’s oil and gas industry, to ascertain the refineries quota required to meet its domestic demand.

According to the regulators, this became imperative in order to encourage the growth of the downstream segment and the industry as a whole.

The Director, DPR, Mordecai Laden, who made this known in Lagos, said that the analysis is on-going, and on completion there would be full awareness of the number of refineries that will operate visa - vis the volume of petroleum products needed for the country’s use.

Represented by the Executive Director in charge of Engineering and Standards, BPE, Mr Olumide Adeleke, Laden, said the issue of making refineries operate seamlessly was paramount to the government, and it is working towards ensuring that such vision comes to fruition.

He lamented that the industry has been battling with problems such as transpor-

tation of petroleum products from one end of the market to another for a long time, adding that the issue has resulted in scarcity witnessed in the country in recent times.

He assures that efforts are being made to provide lasting solutions to the problems posed by non- availability of petroleum products in the country.

“When you talk of availability of petroleum products, you need to talk about transportation of the products vis-à-vis the quantity or volume of the refined products needed in the industry. In DPR, we have done a considerable level of analysis or findings on the refineries required to meet to meet the growing demands of domestic consumers.”

Ladan said transportation of the crude oil to the existing refineries in the country, is a problem, which the industry is grappling with, noting that pipelines, through which crude oil and and the petroleum products are transported among stakeholders in the value chain are old.

He said the obsolete pipelines need to be replaced with new ones as part of efforts to encourage growth of the industry.

He explained that the operating environment is not conducive enough for operators in the oil and gas sector, stressing that the development inhibits its growth. “ The government has to come in, by providing an environment that is conducive for investment. There should be some forms of regulations to stimulate growth in the industry. There is the need to develop a policy in the direction of safety of the environment. The environment should be secured with a view to discourage pipeline vandals, “he added.

Also, the former Minister of State for Petroleum, Odein Ajumogobia, said the issue of knowing the number of refineries needed in the country is crucial to the growth of the downstream sub-sector. He said the country need efficient refineries before it can produce petroleum products that are enough for the country’s usage.

“There was a time the industry recorded 30million litres of fuel per day. All of a sudden, the figure jumped to 47million litres per day, before it came down to between 39 million litres and 40 million litres of fuel per day given by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Knowing how to reach your customers will make a huge difference in how effective you are at reaching them

,

,

How successful businesses determine target market

B

EFORE you can begin marketing your products or business, or even start a business, you will need to know who you are marketing to. Who are your customers?

There are a number of reasons that knowing your target audience is important, including knowing how to tailor your message to resonate with a specific audience and what marketing mediums would be the most effective in reaching that group of consumers.

Without knowing this little detail before promoting your products or services, you’ll be missing out on reaching a huge amount of people who would have been interested in what your company had to offer.

Follow these 5 tips in order to discover what demographic

Less than 30 percent of businesses last more than 10 years

you should be trying to reach.

Look at your products The first thing you need to do is take a look at what your business has to offer to consumers. What problem would your products or services provide a solution for?

Who would benefit from your products or services?

Do your research The next step in discovering your target market is doing research on your industry and competitors. There are many resources available through the Internet to make this search easy for you, but you should be able to get a keen sense of what type of customer would be interested in your business.

Information you should try to collect is demographic info (income, education level, age, sex, and even location if it is a business that may do better in one area than another), buying patterns, and any other information that would be helpful in your search.

Most of this research has already been done for you, but if you aren’t able to find all of the facts you are searching for, hiring a marketing research firm may be the best way to get all of the data needed.

Determine customers’ preferred method of media Although 52 percent of businesses have found a customer through Facebook, according to WebDam, the reality is that the same social media websites will not work for everyone. Believe it or not, there are still plenty of people who refuse to become a part of the social media scene, which may have to do with your target market’s demographics.

After completing step 2, you should have the demographic information needed to make the decision on how to sell your products or services. For example, if you average customer is retired and in their 60’s, there’s a good chance you won’t find them surfing their social media channels. Knowing how to reach your customers will make a huge difference in how effective you are at reaching them.

Network Knowing the right people can be a valuable tool to helping your business grow. Find and meet the right people through trade shows and other networking events, or by simply calling or stopping by local businesses that are related to your industry.

Analyse competition Not only should you evaluate your competitors in order to find out who their customer is and how they are selling their products or services, you should also figure out what makes you different from them.

What do you have to offer that they don’t? While I highly suggest that you refrain from copying any of their marketing ideas, knowing what they have done in the past will give you some ideas.

Unfortunately, according to The Facts of Business Life by Bill McBean, less than 30 percent of businesses last more than 10 years. The primary reason for this is the owner doesn’t know how to plan for business success or simply doesn’t know how to run a business.

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (4/11/15) Currency DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N)

Central(N)

Selling(N)

195.98

196.48

196.98

302.2208 214.1865 197.8397 1.6166 0.3088 272.7294 30.9298 52.2404 28.7087 273.0589

302.9918 214.733 198.3444 1.6207 0.3188 273.4252 31.0092 52.3737 28.782

303.7629 215.2794 198.8492 1.6248 0.3288 274.121 31.0885 52.507 28.8552 274.4522

273.7556

Commod Light Crud

Natural G Sugar Coffee Cocoa

Business plan, sine qua non for success

By Yinka Kolawole, with agency report

M

ANY entrepreneurs who have brilliant business ideas never find the capital to transform their ideas into real life businesses. Most startup businesses fail to attract the loans and investments they need to grow and succeed. More than 80 percent of businesses fail within their first five years. The simple reason is that many of them do not have a plan.

Like most people who travel to an unknown destination without a map, guide or directions, these businesses got lost and never reached their destination (success). A business is not a hobby or playful adventure.

Entrepreneurs who have the discipline to prepare a business plan are two and a half times more likely to get into business. Following are some of the things a business plan will accomplish.

Helps you to focus Writing a business plan helps you to focus and fight procrastination. Investing time and effort in researching your target market, analysing your competitors and estimating profit figures is bound to increase your interest in bringing your business idea to life. A business plan has the power to positively affect your mindset.

Keeps your business accountable A business plan allows you to set goals and track your progress and levels of achievement over time. Without this accountability, your business will always be subject to guesses and impulsive actions and will definitely perform below its best potentials.

People who set Specific, Measurable and Time-bound (SMT) targets for themselves usually perform much better than others. A business plan is the only way for entrepreneurs and businesses to hold themselves accountable using SMT targets. It’s the best way to

eliminate procrastination, reduce the fear of failure and inspire you to take quick and bold actions that will make your dream business come true.

Increases your chances of raising capital A plan is the most effective way to communicate your business idea to other people in a clear, complete and convincing manner. Partners, investors and bankers are more likely to take you seriously if you have a well-written and professional business plan.

Banks and investors actually take business plans very seriously. Because the information it provides helps them to properly measure the risk of investing in your business. Banks and investors take calculated risks; they’re not gamblers. It’s highly unlikely that they will give you their money and hope that your business is successful and turns a profit.

Anybody who’s interested in your business idea wants to see

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 — 23

,

& YOU

dity de

Gas

COMMODITIES (4/11/15) Last 47.65

Change ($) -0.25

% Change -0.52

2.31

+0.05

+2.40

14.84

-0.65

-4.20

121.50

+1.25

+1.04

3,266.00

-31.00

-0.94

that you have taken the time to do a proper and detailed planning. They want to see your profit forecasts. They are interested in your competitive analysis and the quality of experience you have to successfully run the business.

The more information they have, the more convincing your business dream becomes to them.

Whether you’re applying for a bank loan, looking for a partner or venture capitalist to invest in your business, applying for a government loan or grant, or entering for a fundraising competition, you stand a better chance of winning and raising the capital you need if you have a wellwritten and professional looking business plan.

How a plan helped raise $12,600 capital John-Paul, the founder, Small Starter Africa, narrated a personal story about how a business plan helped him to raise $12,600 in capital that he used to start a new business.

“In early 2011, I had an idea to start a business in trading petrol (gasoline) and diesel. It would involve the purchase of a 33,000-litre tanker-load of these products and sell them to customers deep in the country.

I had already found some willing buyers and was sure the business would be viable.

The only problem was, I didn’t have enough capital. I

Nobody would give you their hardearned money without making sure you’ve done your homework

approached the bank for a loan but that didn’t work out. I actually needed $16,600 in capital to start up but I had just about $4,000 in savings at that time. Since I couldn’t go it alone and my bank wasn’t forthcoming, I decided to talk to a few friends about the opportunity and see if they would partner with me. But first, I had to get ready.

Convincing them wouldn’t be easy because of the amount of money involved. I started putting together a business plan that explained my business idea in detail and told the full story. I explained how the business would be run and most importantly, how it would make money.

Good impression “Above all, I made sure it looked neat, attractive and able to make a very good impression. When it was done, I sent out a copy of the business plan to four of my friends. I patiently waited for feedback while my business plan did all the talking and convincing. As expected, they had some questions after reading the business plan.

Surely, nobody would give you their hard-earned money without making sure you’ve done your homework. Because I was the originator of the idea and had disciplined myself to write a detailed business plan, I had convincing answers to all their questions.

When people ask questions and want to know more about something you’re offering, it’s usually a sign that they’re interested and need more information to make up their mind. They gave me the money I was asking for and my idea became a real life business.”

Many entrepreneurs waste time waiting and hoping for capital. To attract capital in today’s world, you just have to be prepared. You need to have a plan.

Organisations were not founded to act as a law court in discovering who is right or not in the Blame Game

,

Is the blame game gaining pr ominence in yyour our organisation? prominence No one wins the blame game ... Carl Jung

M

ORE often than not, it might seem that the easiest way out of troubles or unfavourable situations in our personal or professional lives is to point an accusing finger to someone else.

Interestingly, team members, colleagues, managers and leaders are not left out in this “profession” of blaming others.

Sadly, the Blame Game has succeeded in causing failures in the government arena, businesses and in organisations. This is because; a lot of people have been wired wrongly to first and foremost point an accusing finger to someone when things go wrong, without even seeking for solutions.

We are not responsibility oriented. The bad news is that allowing the Blame Game to blossom in any organisation is not only destructive, but might end up giving us more than we bargained for.

The truth of the matter is that no real result can be achieved without someone taking responsibility for his/her actions.

Achievement of goals This responsibility is bestowed on every one who earns a salary and should be predicated upon achieving the goals of one’s organisation. The rule of the game is not about winning a law suit and punishing someone who has been blamed, but ensuring that we help one another achieve the goals of the organisation.

Everyone has 100 percent responsibility in making sure that organisation achieves its vision.

If there is any virus to fight against in organisations, it should be the “Blame Game Virus”- where people are not taking responsibility of growing their organisation.

The reality is that no organisation (with the current rate of business uncertainties) can attain its rightful position if this unwanted virus is not dealt with. Surprisingly, the leaders, executives and their

BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

Any organisation that encourages Blame Game will end up stifling creativity, innovation and productivity

collective workforce are affected by this debilitating virus, and guess what; organisations are at the receiving ends.

Any organisation that encourages Blame Game will end up stifling creativity, innovation and productivity - the three key ingredients for growth.

Unbelievably, someone in a team might have a solution to something or might have an idea of how best to resolve an issue, but simply because he/ she was not made the team head might decide to do nothing in achieving the desired result.

In a situation where by that particular team’s project did not go well, that same person may be the first to shift the blame to someone else or will decide to proffer solutions when the damage has been done already – probably to “shine” or appear superior to others. Organisations suffer a great deal whenever people have developed the mindset of shifting the blame to someone else when they ought to have helped. Instead of creating blames, we should help one another to create value for the organisation.

The era we are now in the business world is not that of

who is wrong or right, who is to be blamed or not, but the era of helping the weak in your organisation to achieve better results. The truth is that some are weak in some areas and strong in other areas. The idea is to complement one another for the betterment of the organisation that pays our salaries.

Points to ponder: Do we achieve any positive results when we shift or heap blame on people? Instead we create resentment, conflicts, strife, enmity, disloyalty – and all these will hit the bottom-line unfavourably. Remember the idea of fighting oneself. What do we want to achieve by blaming people in the workplace? Is it to preserve our ego or help to grow the organisation? Before you blame someone, always ask yourself, have I done all I can to help out in this situation?

Final note: Whether we like it or not, the Blame Game will end up destroying us and our businesses. Even if the blame is justified – taking action is better at least for the sake of your organisation.

Organisations were not founded to act as a law court in discovering who is right or not in the Blame Game, but were founded to deliver results to all shareholders.

When we take responsibility for our actions and help the organisation to win, everybody wins. Our focus should not be for individuals to win first, because, when an individual wins, an organisation might not succeed.

The reason for the individual winning might be to satisfy his/her ego or selfishness.

From today onwards, let our goal be to move from “creating blames” to having “together we win” mindset.

Like Carl Jung said, “No one wins the blame game”, and I also add that “no one should let an organisation lose the winning game”- then again this is possible when we all take ownership and full responsibility and quit looking at who is to be blamed.

Email: uju@hainescentre.com Mobile: 09091142093 C M Y K

24—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

 Daramola

 Adewole

 Fayemi

 Mohammed

 Onwuka

Previewing Buhari's Education minister •Stakeholders make choices, list agenda for a sector in distress

By Dayo Adesulu

A

LL hands of stakeholders in the education sector were on deck during the ministerial screening exercise by the Senate, as everyone who cares about the education of our country was eager to know whose head the cap of Minister of Education will fit.

At the end of the ministerial screening, many stakeholders who spoke with Vanguard disclosed that Professors Isaac Adewole, Anthony Onwuka, Cladius Daramola, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and Dr. Kayode Fayemi are potential Education Ministers.

On Professor Claudius Omoyele Daramola, respondents said that going by his intimidating curriculum vitae and responses during the screening on burning national issues bedevilling the education sector, stands a chance to perform in the sector.

It will be recalled that while responding to questions posed

by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on what he thinks is the cause of the perennial

Why I became a teacher — VP Osinbajo PG. 25

strikes, among other debilitating issues bedevilling the nation’s tertiary institutions, Daramola, among other things, blamed it on lack of communication between government and staff unions.

He added that poor funding, poor monitoring of government funds sent to academic institutions, poor monitoring of institutions by inspectorate teams, little or no training and retraining of teachers and dearth of history teachers, particularly at basic educational levels, should be look into. On poor enrolment of the girl-child in schools, he hopes to nip, if appointed Minister of Education.

For Professor Isaac Adewole, some stakeholders said that given his exploits and experience in the field of education as an administrator in the university, he would successfully anchor the Ministry.

Professor Peter Okebukola while speaking with Vanguard

on this issue, set the agenda for the would-be Education Minister, pointing out some attributes of a Minister of Education which he described as indispensable.

He said: ‘’For many of us, we believe he or she should either have a qualification in education or an uncommon passion for education and any two of the following three attributes - track record of courage in taking decisions in the interest of the nation even if such decisions are not palatable to a section of the public; a person with good carriage and eloquence; and a person with potential to build bridges among factional interests in the education sector especially among the staff unions in the higher education sub-sector.’’

According to him, if we use the aforementioned five selection criteria as filters, we will find that a number of the ministerial nominees are clearly eligible to be assigned the education

portfolio. These include Professor Isaac Adewole, Professor Anthony Onwuka, Professor Cladius Daramola, Amina Mohammed and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

"If I am to further reduce the filtering criteria to two, I will say uncommon passion for education and courage in taking decisions in the interest of the nation, are the key attributes needed in this season of change."

On agenda for the new Minister, he said: ‘’The Minister should not engage in any socalled “Summit” on Education.

We have had enough of summits. All the summits have ended up with the same recommendations. Now we need action. For the 'change' of the Buhari Administration to be effective and sustainable, we need action in three main areas: improvement in the quality of teachers at all levels of the education system; improvement

For the ‘change' of the Buhari administration to be effective and sustainable, we need action in three main areas: improvement in the quality of teachers at all levels of the education system; improvement in the resourcing of our schools (facilities) and radical change in the quality assurance system at the basic and higher education level Prof Peter Okebukola

in the resourcing of our schools (facilities) and radical change in the quality assurance system at the basic and higher education levels. ‘’In order to improve the quality of teachers, the new Minister should direct NUC, NCCE, NBTE and NTI to produce a blueprint as a collective within two weeks to address the poor quality of NCE and graduate teachers being produced by the institutions under the charge of these agencies.

Emergency meeting Within a month, he should convene an emergency meeting of the National Council on Education to, among other things, review and bless the proposals for immediate implementation.

"As a teacher trainer myself, I see the need to completely overhaul the teacher education curriculum at all levels, temporarily close all sandwich and outreach programmes on education where the bastardisation of training is reigning supreme, institute a 5yearly teacher re-certification system and work with states to improve the welfare scheme for teachers. ‘’Working with states through the National Council on Education, Mr. or Madam Minister should set 2016 as the year of the beginning of massive rehabilitation of schools. Most of

Continues on page 25

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 5, 2015—25

Previewing Buhari's Education minister Continues from page 24

HOME-COMING: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (middle), receiving an award from the ProChancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, University of Lagos, Prof Jerry Gana (right) , while the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello looks on, during the Homecoming Reception & Recognition Awards for the Vice President and five state governors at the university.

UNILAG AWARDS: Why I became a teacher — VP Osinbajo

By Amaka Abayomi

A

CHOICE in life is sometimes made consequent upon life’s encounter. It takes one moment of decision to carve a niche and clear a path for one’s future endeavours.

For the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, his passion for teaching is as a result of an encounter he had with an erudite scholar, Dr. Akin Oyebode, now a professor.

Speaking at the home coming reception and recognition award held in his honour, along side Governors Akin Ambode of Lagos, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra, Mr. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, the Vice President said the University of Lagos has defined his life in so many ways and that influenced his decision to become a varsity teacher.

Osinbajo said “the importance of good teaching can never be overemphasized as that was what made me become a teacher. I remember one evening of 1977 when I walked into a jurisprudence class and that was my first time of meeting Dr. Akin Oyebode, now a professor. He was teaching on the sociological school and did so without any prepared notes, though he later told me he had cue cards which I don’t remember seeing.

“Dr. Oyebode taught the for over one and a half hours on the sociological school of jurisprudence, and by the time he was through, I made up my mind that I would teach law and that is the inspiration that led me to teaching four years later.”

The VP added “the

C M Y K

University of Lagos has defined my life in so many ways and that is why I decided to become a teacher. Even today, the first thing that is known about me is that I am a university teacher.

“This is the great inspiration that should be drawn from varsities which must continue to be places of ideas as the future of communities and the nation depends on the thinking of those in universities.

"For this to be achieved, we have to make these varsities comfortable enough for the great minds to continue to grow and come up with great ideas that would benefit the economy.”

Welcoming the gathering, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, said the awards would serve to motivate students to show them that hard work, diligence and dedication to work pays.

Bello said “Unilag is 53 years and has produced great individuals who have proven their worth wherever they find themselves. The varsity continues to

... by the time Dr. Oyebode was through, I made up my mind that I would teach law and that is the inspiration that led me to teaching four years later

excel in its academic pursuit and all round development of its students. On the 1st of November 1962, the first lecture was held here with a student population of 131. Now the student enrollment stands at 52,779.

“In the face of gradual reduction in government funding of education, occasioned by the decline in oil price, we need to look inwards as the varsity has nobody to turn to but its alumni and friends of the varsity.”

Speaking on behalf of the Governing Council, the ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the gathering is to celebrate the alumni who have achieved a lot in their fields of endeavours.

Veritable vehicle He said “On behalf of the Council, we welcome and salute the awardees. We are proud to say that they all drank from Nigeria’s foremost citadel of learning - UNILAG.” Anambra State governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, advised the students to take advantage of the great brains that are in this varsity.

The Deputy Governor, Abia State, Ude Oko Chukwu, pointed out that Ivory Towers have critical and strategic roles to play in the growth and development of any nation and Unilag has remained a veritable vehicle to drive and grow the development initiatives of the Nigerian nation for the optimum benefits of the people.

Present at the awards were the Vice Chancellor; the Deputy Vice Chancellors; management staff, members of the Governing Council, including the General Manager/Editor in Chief, Vanguard Media, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; President of the Alumni, Dr. Sonny Kuku; among other dignitaries.

our schools are as hopeless as can be in terms of facilities, yet money is locked in UBEC and TETfund, now happily sucked into the TSA scheme, that can be utilised to correct the ills.

Thumbs up for TETFund for its mighty footprints in rehabilitation of our higher education institutions. It can still do better. Managers of our institutions can also do better by being transparent and judicious in the use of funds from TETFund and UBEC. "The third item in the agenda - radical change in quality assurance, is to work towards a merger of NUC, NBTE and NCCE as a Tertiary Education Council. This suggestion is not new. We only need a Minister with courage to work with the President and the legislature to give effect to this popular demand.’’

On his part, Prof Oyesoji Aremu who lauded President Mohammadu Buhari ministerial nominees said it is a balance team; an assemblage of politicians and technocrats.

He averred that the technocrats are professors of huge national and international accolades who are also seasoned adding, ‘’the ministerial nominees meet national yearning and aspiration.’’

Change mantra He is optimistic that the team, may orchestrate the change mantra of the present administration provided the President and his Think tank can appropriate the right portfolio to the screened ministerial nominees.

According to him, two persons that can fit into the Minister of Education are Professor Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, an accomplished gynaecologist and university administrator and Prof.

Claudius Daramola, a distinguished Professor of Sociology of Education. ‘’Either of the two could make a huge success in the ministry,’’ he added. While it may be difficult to say objectively who

’We need to declare a state of emergency in education. A state of emergency and a new mind set towards education will affect budget and general development

the cap of the Ministry fits between the two, Aremu said: ‘’I may somewhat go for Professor Adewole given his experience in the field of education as an administrator in the university.

Although he is more of a health personality given his robust antecedents in the field of medicine, Adewole would successfully anchor the Ministry. ‘’Professor Daramola too is fitting as an educator with bias in Sociology of Education. He is roundly fitted as his profile shows his has held positions of responsibility at the University of Ilorin.’’

He said there are many policy issues the incoming Minister would have to address. Among them, he noted, are: minimum teaching qualification in the country (National Certificate on Education or University Degree in Education); benchmark for awarding certificates and degrees; JAMB issues orchestrating poor academic performance in WAEC and NECO; out-of-school children; safe school initiatives, and industrial harmony in the sector.

Industrial harmony ‘’The incoming Minister of Education should be proactive and assertive in his/her handling of the Ministry,’’ he urged.

Meanwhile, the Vice chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor, Bandele Oye Samuel who chose not to recommend any of the screened ministers, tasked the would be minister to encourage government to give attention to TETFund, NEEDS Assessment and training of teachers.

He said: ‘’The Education Minister should encourage the Federal Government to attention to NEEDS Assessment recommendations, TETFund and training and retraining of teachers. ‘’The minister should ensure, he treats the issue of unionism tactfully in order to give a stable academic calendar to institurions of higher learning.”

In his contributions, a professor of Strategy and Development, Professor Anthony Kila, said that the would be minister should declare state of emergency in education sector. ‘’We need to declare a state of emergency in education. A state of emergency and a new mind set towards education will affect budget and general development,’’he said.

According to him, whoever emerges will only succeed if he or she understands that the sector needs to be seen as in a dire state.

Kila who urged government to equipped schools, give teachers better remuneration, train and retrain teachers said: ‘’No minister can perform this feat without buying into the idea of considering education a priority.’’

26—Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

University of Ilorin @ 40: A Tribute “Can anything good come out of Ilorin?” Dele Sobowale 1980s.

U

AWARDS: From left, Mr. Ola Olabinjo, Executive Director, Heritage Bank; Dr. Ibironke Shodipe, Permanent Secretary, Inter-Governmental Relations (middle), NYSC, Lagos State Coordinator, Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe and 2014 Batch 'C'' five outstanding corps members during passing out parade at its Ipaja camp.

Firm rewards outstanding corps member

By Dayo Adesulu

H

ERITAGE Bank Limited has packaged a N200 million loan facility for young graduates willing to advance their dreams in small scale businesses. The Bank also gave a cash prize to Miss Onwura Onyinye Chima for outstanding performance during the service year that won her the Lagos State NYSC Director’s Award.

Chima, 23, a graduate of Microbiology from Federal Polytechnic, Nekede was posted to Army Children's School, Ojo, Lagos for her primary assignment. While in the school, Cyril Akhanehme, the Lagos State NYSC Co-ordinator said Chima was dedicated, hardworking and diligent.

The facility, according to the bank, is a revolving soft loan which comes with a financial and management advisory to support National Youth Corps members

who upon passing out, demonstrate serious intentions of starting up small scale businesses. Speaking during the passing out parade of the Corps members at the Orientation Camp in Ipaja-Lagos on Thursday, Mr. Ola Olabinjo, Executive Director, who represented the Managing Director of the bank, congratulated the young graduands for a successful service year and commended the NYSC for its commitment to youth development.

Said he: “The country is facing huge challenges and you hold the key to solutions. As you venture out into the workforce or enterprise, you owe yourself and future generations to be the catalyst for change.”

He stated further that the strategic thrust of Heritage Bank is hinged on the future, which translates into creating, preserving and transferring wealth across generations. This, he explained, informed the setting up of a department for the youth by the bank.

Olabinjo emphasised that the idea of the loan became necessary because small businesses form the engine of

the economy. “With a business, you can bequeath a legacy that will outlive you,” he added.

Recently, the bank re-affirmed its business principle to empower more Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, stated that part of the bank’s commitment to empower SMEs was the launch of an SME Clinic that will be geared towards helping small businesses address challenges associated with setting up businesses as well as mitigating the effects of certain business decisions by such entrepreneurs.

Dr. Ibironke Shodipe, Permanent Secretary, Inter-Governmental Relations, who represented the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Oluranti Adebule, at the occasion, commended the Corp members for their service to their fatherland, stating that their role during the last general elections was quite exemplary. He also commended Heritage Bank for its initiative in honing the entrepreneurial skills of young graduates.

ExxonMobil donates e-learning centres to 3 schools in Lagos

By Etop Ekanem

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XXONMOBIL Nigeria, in conjunction with other stakeholders (Aker Solutions, EPC3 Project Manager) and the CAP Project Consultant, Crestsage Nigeria Limited), recently commissioned three elearning centres and donated them to three primary schools in Lagos State under the Community Assistance Programme (CAP) on the Erha North Phase 2 Project EPC3.

The three beneficiary primary schools under the programme are Ansar Udeen Nursery & Primary School, Ebute Metta; Awoyaya Nursery & Primary School and Obalende Nursery & Primary School, Ikoyi.

Speaking at the event, Senior Project Manager, ExxonMobil, Mr Wale Bishi, said the programme is another significant step “we are taking in our quest to improve the quality of C M Y K

education available to our young ones through social investment in critical infrastructure required to equip them with the requisite skills for competing in today’s knowledge economy, especially from their early years.”

On the choice of the three beneficiary primary schools, Bishi said: “We specifically selected these schools located in economically challenged neighbourhoods in order to optimize the impact of the vast array of e-learning resources being donated and commissioned today on their pupils, some of whom may not have any prior contact with the equipment in these centres.

“By availing the young ones in these schools with modern facilities comparable to some of the best primary institutions in the country, we are enhancing their chances of competing on an equal footing with their more privileged counterparts and

empowering them to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian economy in due course.

“Apart from building these e-centres to exact standards, they have also been equipped with such facilities as standard computer tables and chairs, monitors, servers, internet modems for wireless connectivity, e-library and e-learning software and BrainFriend software for effective instruction in relevant local curriculum.”

Also speaking, the CEO of Crestsage Limited (CAP Project Manager), Mr Charles Emembolu, said: As Crestsage’s contribution to ensure sustainability of the project, we trained teachers and pupils of the schools under the umbrella of our affiliate, STEM (Science, Technology, Engr & Maths) Organisation TechQuest. Under this initiative, we have trained about 18 teachers and 60 pupils across the three schools.

“Overall, the six pillars of corporate citizenship and social responsibility of safety, quality, integrity, diversity, innovation and sustainability were met

by Crestsage in the delivery of this

NDERESTIMATING people and institutions can produce some startling surprises. Let me confess that I was a pessimist about the prospects of the University of Ilorin back in the 1980s.

Despite knowing it was there, it just never occurred to me that I would have anything to do with it. I was forced to consider it when one of my dearest in the world, my daughter Onikepo (Nike) Sobowale made two decisions on her own. First, she was going to read computer science. Second, she was going to offer Unilorin as her first choice.

The reader needs to understand why it was difficult for me to know which of the two decisions was the more alarming at the time. I had enrolled her at Adrao International Nursery and Primary School, Victoria Island, at a time when it was the most expensive school in Nigeria. I was not very rich, but my employer was an American multi-national company, which recruited me from the USA for the job. That made me one of the highest paid Marketing Managers in Nigeria. I was determined that my kids would receive the best education money could buy. Later Nike was joined by two younger sisters at the same school which collected enough money from me to buy a Mercedes each year.

She proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, on merit, finished as an “all-rounder” and scored close to 300 in JAMB. She could have selected any university and any course in Nigeria and the admission would have been automatic. But, she chose Computer Science and University of Ilorin – and promptly drove me to consume twelve bottles of GULDER non-stop. Computer Science? Unilorin? How could I go about beating my chest among my friends with these options? It was also an ethical dilemma for me because I left Nigeria for the US promising my Mum to return a medical doctor; then changed course to economics. I had vowed never to interfere

It took a bit longer for the University of Ilorin to demonstrate its true grit with the career choices my kids make. And here was the first one driving me to drink gallons of beer.

My work with two multi-nationals in the US, with large fleets of trucks and delivery vans and sterilized computer rooms, had convinced me that Computer operators were mechanics in airconditioned rooms wearing white coats, instead of those in the Mechanic Workshop which were greasy and grimy. My brilliant daughter was going to join the “white coated mechanics”. Horrors.

Added to that, she was heading for Ilorin, Kwara State which, at the time, for me, might as well be in the Sahara Desert. Called the “Gateway to the North” by many people, it was, as far as I was concerned, a Gateway to Ignorance in the 19080s. And, if there had been Boko Haram then, it would have been Gateway to Hell.

As a born and bred Lagos boy, anything beyond Ikeja was “jungle”.

Even Ibadan was barely tolerated and if she chose University of Ibadan, I would have advised her to keep away from the “natives” (ara oke as we called them).

The vital questions were: should I stop her and why?

Eventually, the principle of non-intervention in career choices of my kids prevailed. I swallowed more beer and away she went without knowing she left a father who spent the first few months expecting and actually praying she would be fed up with Ilorin and return home to start again elsewhere.

Blessed are the ignorant people acting out of partial knowledge.

First, I was totally ignorant of the future of ICT and how it was going to take over all aspects of our lives in more ways than Medicine, Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, and even my own field, Economics could have possibly do. Today, it is virtually impossible to achieve success in any field without a large dose of ICT. So score one for Nike.

It took a bit longer for the University of Ilorin to demonstrate its true grit. I must confess that in the early days when friends ask me which university Nike was attending, I would pretend not to hear the question or change the subject. How could a “real Lagos boy” like me announce that my intelligent daughter was attending a university in the “bush”. The first person to whom I gave the honest answer actually told me, “Dele you must be mad. U.I, Uni-Ife, UniBen, UNN are there and you sent your daughter to Ilorin” – making it sound as if I sent her to the gallows. And, mocking me further, he reminded me that I once said “Can anything good come out of Ilorin?” Sure enough, I said it. And I was ashamed that Nike was at Ilorin.

Nevertheless, life continues to teach all of us lessons we refuse to learn. Among the enduring lessons of history is “Nobody can be certain about the future”. But, most of us, especially adults, think we can predict the future. If anybody had told me that University of Ilorin would be ranked along with the University of Ibadan today, I would have told the person to “go to hell”.

Vanguard, THURSDAY,

NOVEMBER 5, 2015—27

LAUTECH to produce, supply glassware

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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AWARD: From left, Okechukwu Anyanwu, Director, Quality Assurance, National Examinations Council; Olivier Thiry, Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Ayodeji Akinkuowo, winner in the senior category of 2015 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Quiz Competition; Munachi Ernest-Eze, winner in the junior category; Kachi Onubogu, Executive Director, Commercial, Promasidor; and Charles Nzuki, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF; at the prize-giving ceremony held in Lagos.

VC tasks Mass Comms lecturers on new practice

By Williams Covenant & Olatide Faith

T

HE Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, Professor Igbekele Ajibefun, has called on the teachers of mass communication of the University to make efforts to expose students of the Department to new media and best journalism practice.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the Department held at Nelson Mandela Hall last Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor, who was

represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Academic), Prof.

(Mrs.) Oluyemisi Adebowale urged the staff of the Department to keep tab on alumni and also open doors for them so that the name of the University and the nation can be positively showcased to the world.

He said, “I will like to celebrate with the Department of Mass Communication for the attainment of age 10 in this 16-year-old University. This is significant. “Apart from achieving milestones in and beyond this University, the

students are annually and actively involved in burnishing the image of the University as reflected in their numerous publications in the media.

Permit me to urge the staff to keep a tab on alumni of the Department and also open doors for them so that the name of the University and the nation can be positively showcased to the world”.

In his Opening Address, the Head, Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Babatunde Oyinade, emphasised the need to turn the Department into a School or a Faculty.

HE Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, has hinted of its planned efforts to commence the production of glass wares in its department of Science Laboratory Technology SLT and supply same to sister institutions and organizations on request.

Speaking at the 6th induction ceremony for 2013/2014 graduating students of SLT department by the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology NISLT, the ViceChancellor, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin said work had commenced in the newly

completed glassblowing workshop and laboratory complex towards achieving this goal.

He added that apart from being taught the theory and principle of glass blowing technology, “our students now mend and produce glass wares, and some of the products are available at the laboratory for interested organizations to see.

In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Professor Ezekiel Ayodele reiterated that LAUTECH was the first varsity in Nigeria to present students for induction into NISLT five years ago.

UNIZIK lecturer wins UNESCO prize

A

MEDICAL Laboratory Science lecturer in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Dr. Rebecca Chinyelu Chukwuanukwu, has emerged the first prize winner of this year’s UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Summit (UNESCOMARS) which was held in Geneva, Switzerland recently.

Dr Chukwuanukwu, whose area of specialization is Immunology, beat 99 other scientists/researchers from all over Africa who attended the summit. The annual summit aims to bring together young top researchers from across all the countries in Africa to discuss

the generation, sharing and dissemination of research data and to prepare for the road ahead in Africa’s development as an international hub for research excellence and scientific innovation.

This year’s summit focused on building research capacity in health and life sciences with special attention on Ebola and emergent infectious diseases.

Chukwuanukwu’s work was on Modulation of Immune Response to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis during HIV/ Malaria Co-infection. The first prize comes with a prestigious six months fellowship in Merck research and development hub.

13 make first class as Caleb university graduates 291 Corona holds 60th Anniversary

By Williams Covenant & Bolaji Awoyale

C

ALEB university Ismota Lagos state churned out 291 graduands from its 16 academic programs in the three programs at their fifth convocation ceremony held at the school auditorium.

Speaking at the convocation

the vice chancellor Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju disclosed that the university college of post graduates studies will also present its first set of graduate.

He further stated that the most significant achievement of his administration was the insurance of full operation license to the university by the (NUC )national university

commission . The Don stated that the university produced 9 MSC graduates with degree in architecture from the college of post graduate studies . 13 graduands in first class division 113 in second class upper division , 119 in second class lower division , with 41 in third class.

Don charges lecturers on quality research work

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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ROVOST, Federal College of Education, FCE, Okene, Kogi state, Prof. Iyela Ajayi has charged the academic staff of the institution to intensify their efforts in research work in other to give the institution a virile and sound academic standing.

The Provost also call on the students to utilize the academic potential abound in the college to create a better and comfortable future for themselves.

Ajayi who stated this during the maiden edition of the college debate competition held at the auditorium of the institution, said continuous research work would go a long way in broadening the academic prowess of the staff and will help them discharge their academic responsibilities.

C M Y K

Iyela who was represented by the Deputy Provost of the college, Mrs. Cecilia Omeiza said the purpose of the debate

competition was to create further avenues of maximising the academic potentials of the students.

Public Lecture today

A

s part of celebration marking Corona Schools 60th anniversary celebration, it has scheduled to hold Public Lecture today, Thursday at the MUSON Centre, Lagos at 9am.

Speaking on the themed, “Recount Rejoice Refresh”, its Management said the lecture is aimed at discussing the Nigerian educational space and more importantly, the future of global education.

Mrs. Olufunto Igun, Chief Executive Officer of Corona Schools’ Trust Council in a released said: Participants at the event will include Heads of Schools, federal and state education officials, teachers, parents, and international organisations working within the Nigerian education space.’’

According to her, the specific goals of the Public Lecture among others is to; explore global trends and best practices for teaching and learning as well as possible solutions for addressing challenges and constraints, Identify areas of collaboration among education stakeholders and Discover innovative ways to improve learning in the classroom

Don tasks teachers, parents on cultural Olowu resumes at AUN education

By Kelechukwu Iruoma & Chiebuka Enwerem

I

N the bid to develop Nigeria through cultural education and tourism, a professor of Philosophy at University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Prof. Muyiwa Falaiye has tasked teachers, parents and students to teach and imbibe cultural education, stating that it is the only way Nigeria’s indigenous arts and science can be developed and exposed to the rest of the world.

Prof. Falaiye stated this while delivering a keynote address at the grand finale of Olokun Festival at, Badagry, Lagos.

He said, “One of the obvious predicaments of the Nigerian child is the backlash of Westernisation and its crippling effect on the mind. With every western impact on Nigeria, there is a corresponding decrease in the efficacy and transformational power of our culture. As cultural history has shown, our indigenous languages are gone, and with them all the culture and world view they represent. the science and technology they harbour and the traditional values and secrets of survival they hold.

“To extricate oneself from this disoriented state, there is need for proper understanding. retrieval

A

SOUTH Africa-based Nigerian legal luminary, Dr. Oladejo Justus Olowu, has resumed as the founding dean of law at the American University of Nigeria, according to a statement from the Office of Communications & Public Relations made available to Vanguard Learning.

Prof. Olowu worked as Professor of Law and Director of Postgraduate Studies & Research at the North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa, having joined the NWU in January 2010.

He previously worked for Walter

Sisulu University and University of Fort Hare, all in South Africa.

“Withhisimpressivebackground, credentials and experience, all of us at AUN are thrilled to welcome Dr. Olowu as our founding Dean,” said AUN’s President, Dr. Margee Ensign.

On his vision for the new job, Olowu said: “My focus is on how to jump-start our Faculty of Law on a glorious scale. That must be our commitment.”

After his first degree, Olowu proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992.

28—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

BUHARI'S CABINET:

Where are the women?

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru & Johnbosco Agbarakwu

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HETHER a Freudian Slip or not, the assertion by an unrecognised presidential aide that President Muhammadu Buhari is shy around women has again captivated the imaginations of Nigerians on the persona of the president.

Though presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina was quick to disown the supposed aide, and also deny his claim, the issue has refused to die.

However, the facts speak for itself on the issue.

Against the estimated 31% involvement of women at the onset of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011, President Buhari on his part, has started his course with what many see as a miserly 17%. Even worse, the incumbent has proved even more restrained in appointing women into other executive positions.

The president’s supposed disinclination towards the feminine gender was foretold before the presidential election.

Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of President Jonathan had warned women that Buhari if elected would reverse the gains achieved by her husband in lifting the number of women among the nation’s decision

Mrs. Patience Jonathan, wife of President Jonathan had warned women that Buhari if elected would reverse the gains achieved by her husband in lifting the number of women among the nation’s decision makers

makers.

Remarkably, the issue is one that is being discussed in hushed tones among APC members, especially those who supported the president.

Some others, it would seem, would want to live in denial like Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, one of the leading female enthusiasts of the president.

Contacted on the issue at the weekend on phone, Ikeazor sternly fired back charging that the media should rather face issues of priority to

Buhari is looking for qualified women — Anenih ERSTWHILE minister in the Jonathan regime and National Women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mrs. Josephine Anenih says Buhari is not shy

I

T really rankles me when Nigerians trivialise important national issues just to divert attention to them.

The main issue in the conversation about political appointments by the President is that it looks like he is not paying enough attention to ensuring adequate percentage of female representation in government. 16% is still a far cry from 35% in the National Gender Policy or the 50% of the SDGs. “If President Buhari does not like women he would not be the happily married man that he is, and a proud and doting father to his daughters. He is also not a shy man in the presence of women. Women groups who have had audience with

him will testify that he is a very amiable man and an interesting conversationalist.

“He is looking for qualified women and he will find them because they abound in Nigeria.

We will not let him forget his promise to do good to all people.

We will continue to remind him and allow him to take his time to find the women who are really every where. He does not hate women, he is not shy in the presence of women, he likes working with women and he will work with women to achieve his set goals.”

•Wife, children and grandchildren of Buhari (inset): Associates say he relates well with women around him

•Alhassan: Taraba

•Adeosun: Ogun

•Ibrahim: Yobe

•Ahmed: Kaduna

the nation, especially the case of the Internally Displaced Persons.

But not so for Mrs Hauwa Shekarau, Continues on page 29

It is an APC agenda — Rep. Mrakpor MRS. Joan Mrakpor, a member of the House of Representatives and wife of Mr. Peter Mrakpor , the Delta State Commissioner of Justice.

She acquits Buhari but rather blames the ruling APC for estranging women.

I

THINK it is more of an APC thing because even if Buhari coming in has a military background or is a Muslim, as his spokesman said, he has a wife, he has daughters, so I don’t think it is the issue of religion. If you look at his wife and daughters, it does not paint the picture of a sharia man. His daughters look beautiful and they are at liberty with the way they dress, the wife is also beautiful and well attired, and so, I don’t think it is the issue of religion.

If you say he is a military man, but Obasanjo was also a military man, and had women in governance. So, I want to believe that it is more of a party issue than an individual thing. I don’t think President Buhari should take all the blame because it is more of a party thing. President Buhari did not appoint the ministers alone, if the party

had said in our ministerial list let’s include women and youths and if the party had said out of the 36 let us have maybe nine women, nine youths and maybe 18 or so elders, I don’t think Buhari would say no, that I hate women. So, it is more of an APC thing and I see the leadership of the APC more interested in persons than in collective interests. So, I am not subscribing at all to the blame game on Buhari for the number of women in his cabinet.

You will not tell me that Buhari did not meet with the party caucus, you will not tell me that the APC leadership was not in consultation with him in the naming of ministers, you wouldn’t tell me that President Buhari sat down alone to make the nominees or that the leadership was

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—29

SUPER HIGHWAY: Ayade has struck the right chord with Buhari -— Imoke THE immediate past governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke made a rare public outing when he witnessed the groundbreaking of the Superhighway, the signature project of his successor, Prof. Ben Ayade.

In an interview with newsmen on the fringes of the event, Imoke spoke on life after office, his assessment of his successor and how he is spending time with his family.

Excerpts: commending him in all his efforts so far. We pray that he will continue to take Cross River State to greater heights while ensuring that there is social inclusion and that people feel the impact of his administration.

What is your exact view about the recent visit of President Buhari to the state?

We also commend the governor on the August visit of Mr. President. That he was able to bring the President of the country to Cross River State within so short a time after assuming office was a masterstroke.

Most commendably, bringing Mr. President to an opposition state for a significant event like the groundbreaking of that project.

The project is a signature project that, when completed, will have tremendous impact on the economy of the state. It will open access from the seaport in the South to the northern part of Nigeria.

•Imoke: Ayade has started well

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HAT do you make of the governor’s vision for the state and the recent visit of the President to the state?

The governor graciously invited me and other eminent people from Cross River State to receive Mr. President. I am glad because the governor is coming with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He has great vision for the state and we want to support him to realise that vision. In working with him to become the governor, we identified that energy. So, we want all

Cross Riverians to give him that support.

Are you not concerned that the projects he has chosen to embark on may be too daunting to achieve?

The challenges ahead of him are arduous. He must enjoy support and cooperation from the people of the state to be able to realize some of these signature projects.

Of course, while all this is going on, the governor must still run the state at various levels. So, for us, we are not only standing behind him, but also

Commercial corridor Not just for transportation, but a huge commercial corridor that is along the road.

You do really think the road will impact on the economy of the state?

Yes! The people of Cross River State will be the greatest beneficiaries of the project.

The project has tremendous potential, and that is why I strongly

Buhari's cabinet: Where are the women?

Continues from page 28 Country Vice President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), who accuses the president of betraying the support given him by women during the election.

“The past administration has set a record in terms of appointment of women into key decision making positions.

“We expect the new government to even do more but we are getting below 10 per cent and truly it is a complete marginalisation of women and in this 21st century it is

unacceptable,” she said in a statement.

Rep.Ayo Omidiran representing Ayedaade/Irewole/Isoka Federal Constituency of Osun State said there’s nothing the president has done yet to suggest that he hates women.

He’s not shy either because he maintains eye contact with women.

I’ve seen that first hand before and after he became the president.

There are many more appointments he will make in the lifetime of this administration and until he has made them, we can’t accuse him of not carrying women along.”

•Omidiran

The project is a signature project that, when completed, will have tremendous impact on the economy of the state. It will open access from the seaport in the South to the northern part of Nigeria

support it. The visit of Mr. President and his comments were very encouraging.

The President, I must say, was very statesmanly, not just for coming but in pledging support for the realization of the project. I think that is unprecedented.

I think, for us, that is indicative of a president who is truly committed to national development.

Infrastructural projects He is able to identify critical infrastructural projects that have economic benefits and provide the necessary support for the realization of such projects.

Any appeal to President Buhari?

We must give kudos to Mr. President for the visit. And I appeal to him to continue to provide the necessary support and enablement to the governor and the new administration in Cross River State.

I am certain that every Cross Riverian who sees this type of support coming into the state from the federal level will have no choice but to support this administration.

As long as Cross River people are benefitting from the relationship; as long as Cross River State will feel the impact of the Federal Government through these initiatives, then all of us will continue to ensure that we give Prof. Ben Ayade and the Buhari administration the necessary support for the realization of these projects.

We hope that the President will continue to give the needed support for the project to be realized. For the governor, we stand behind him and his team to drive this project to conclusion.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 — 31

C M Y K

32—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Corruption the fundamental root of unemployment, insecurity — Agbaje Mr. Fred Agbaje is a lawyer with over 30 years at the Bar. In this interview, he spoke on the need to amend the 1999 Constitution and why the present administration cannot implement the outcome of the national conference convoked by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Besides, he stated the reasons why graft offences should attract capital punishment among other issues. Excerpts:

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

S

OME Nigerians, including Lawyers, have been calling for further amendment of the constitution especially on issue of corruption. Do you think president Mohammadu Buhari should rely on the report of the national conference convoked by else president Goodluck Jonathan?

In the first place, I am not comfortable with the set up of the confab and its outcome. I want to believe that some honourable Nigerians were railroaded into the conference because they ought to have known that there is no way the government that had less than five months to vacate the sit would be able to implement the report of the National Conference they were invited to participate.

Outcome of the confab We all know that one of the major fundamental philosophies of law is jurisprudence. No government can buy its successor and if such cannot happen, the members of the conference, particular lawyers should have asked themselves how do we expect incoming government after Jonathan to implement the report?

Would they not say they are not party to the confab? Would they not say that the outcome of the conference was not part

•Mr Fred Agbaje

of their manifestoes?

These are t h e fundamental questions t h e participants ought to have asked themselves but because of some personal interest, that was why 70 and 80 years old men were clamoring to become members of the conference. My take is, what is the essence of the National Conference, if the government that constituted it could not implement the report; how do they expect the incumbent government to inherit another man’s liability?

I am not holding brief for the president and how would he juxtapose the outcome of the conference with his political manifestoes no matter how laudable they are.

If he decides to implement the report of the national conference, are they not going to say that he did not mention such during his manifestoes? I don’t blame the president if he distances himself from the report of the national conference because he was not part of the conjugal rites that gave birth to the national conference reports; how do we expect him to inherit a bastard child?

The whistle blowers’ bill has not been passed into law, if it is passed, is it capable of assisting in waging war against corruption?

For effective fight against

Is Federal High Court Superior to Pg 33 Code of Conduct Tribunal?

C M Y K

corruption we need to make Freedom of Information Act which is already in force available in all the states of the federation. All the states must adopt it instead of leaving it at the federal level.

I could remember that some human rights organizations early this year asked the immediate past government of Lagos State to render account on certain expenditures, Fashola’s regime refused to oblige the organizations, they when to court and their defence was that they are not bound by the law.

In other words, we need effective implementation of Freedom of Information Act. Another issue is the amendment of the constitution especially section 15 dealing with all organs of government to join hands together to fight

The fight against corruption should start from the state governors and be extended to the civil service and the legislature

corruption and also section 36 of the constitution dealing with fair hearing should be amended. Cases relating to graft offences, presumption of innocence should not apply because a grade level 17 official who has several houses, fleet of cars and all his children went to school abroad should defend himself or proof his innocence.

Are there other issues that demand immediate attention now?

Another issue is to amend the administration of Criminal Justice system in the states.

Where they operate criminal code should be amended as well so as to renew the new mentality of incorporating antigraft law.

Capital offence The constitution should stipulate it that any graft offence is a capital offence through which the presiding judge will grant bail only on health ground from renowned public hospitals.

I am an insider and I have been defending criminals and I know how the like of some past governors who have allowed anti-graft cases to hang on their neck and they are now senators.

Meanwhile their cases had been on for more than six to seven years. In other words, the society has recycled them

to become lawmakers instead of being in prison.

To make the graft more socially- oriented, we must amend the administration of criminal justice law, the evidence law, section 36 of the constitution particularly making graft offences a capital offence.

Declaration of asset is a mere cosmetic approach of fighting corruption and it is not fundamental.

The fight against corruption should start from the state governors and be extended to the civil service and the legislature.

The present National Assembly is constituted of mainly some state governors who had stolen money and became law makers, they cannot make good law when they know that arraignment is hanging on their neck and they would be the first victim.

Nigeria is at the cross road to fight corruption because those who are supposed to give direction to the Mr. President’s approach to fight corruption will not do it.

The state governors who are eyeing the Senate seat will never support move to amend the constitution to make graft offenders bagged life imprisonment because some of them know they will soon be arraigned. Those who think the condition is so stringent

Continues on page 34

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—33

Is Federal High Court superior to Code of Conduct Tribunal?

By Alaba Okupe I HAD the privilege of reading diverse legal opinions contained in the “Law & Human Rights session” of the th ‘Vanguard’ Thursday, 24 September, 2015 edition on pages 30 & 31. Permit me to contribute my humble opinion on the topic.

T

HERE is a lot of controversy surrounding the functions of Courts in Nigeria especially in a charged political atmosphere such as we usually find ourselves in. As they relate to Courts, the words “jurisdiction” and “power” are used interchangeably as if they mean the same thing whereas they are completely different in their respective meanings.

A Court’s jurisdiction is not to be equated with its power.

Whereas jurisdiction is the right in the Court to hear and determine the dispute between the parties, the power in the Court is the authority to make certain orders and decisions with respect to the matter before the Court.

Orders and decisions This is clearly implied by the provisions of Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution which prescribed the powers of the Courts and in Chapter VII “The Judicature”wherein the establishment and jurisdiction of the Courts have been prescribed in Sections 230; 232; 233; 239; 249; 251; 252; (as Amended) 270; 272; 275; 277; 280; 286.

When a Court has no

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

jurisdiction with respect to a matter before it, the judicial basis for the exercise of any power with respect to such matter is also absent. This is because power can only be exercised where the Court has the jurisdiction to do so.

O p i n i o n / Background of same: Section 6(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the “1999 Constitution”) provides thus:“The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the Courts to which this Section relates, being Courts established for the Federation”.

Under Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution “power” includes “function and duty”.

Under Section 6(3) of the 1999 Constitution- “the Courts to which this Section relates, established by this constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in Sub-Section (5)(a) to (i) of this Section shall be the only superior Courts of record in Nigeria, and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each Court shall have all the powers of a superior Court of Record.”

Under Section 6(5) of the 1999 Constitution- “This Section relates to-(a) the Supreme Court of Nigeria;(b) the Court of Appeal; (c) the Federal High Court; (d) the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory,

Abuja; (e) a High Court of a State; (f) the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h) the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;(i)a Customary Court of Appeal of a State.

Under Section 6 (5)(j) of the 1999 Constitution- “Such other Courts as may be authorized by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws and Section 6(5)(j) supra,

Seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office

refers to such other Courts that the National Assembly may establish by law on matters presumably on the “EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE LIST” by virtue of Part 1 of the SECOND SCHEDULE Items 1 – 68 of the 1999 Constitution. I will later in this write-up revert to the Exclusive Legislative List Section 66 (1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:“No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if“(d) within a period of less than ten years before the date of an election to a legislative house he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

Section 107(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:- No person shall be qualified for election to a House of Assembly if-(d) within a period of less than ten years before the date of an election to the House of Assembly he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct.

Section 172 of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:- A person in the Public Service of the Federation shall observe and conform to the Code of Conduct.

Section 173(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:(2) Any benefit to which a person is entitled in accordance with or under such law as referred to in subsection (1) of this Section shall not be withheld or altered to his disadvantage except to such extent as is permissible under any law including the

Code of Conduct.

Section 209 of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:-A person in the Public Service of a State shall observe and conform to the Code of Conduct.

Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution provides thus:-Code of Conduct” refers to the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution.

The Code of Conduct for Public Officers is contained in Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution paragraphs 1 to 11 & 13 Paragraph 12 provides thus:Any allegation that a Public Officer has committed a breach of or has not complied with the provisions of this code shall be made to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Code of Conduct Tribunal Paragraph 15(1); (4); paragraph 16(2); paragraph 18(1); (2); (3); (4); (5); (6); (7); paragraph 19 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution respectively provide thus:15-(1)There shall be established a tribunal to be known as Code of Conduct Tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other persons.

15-(4) The National Assembly may by law confer on the Code of Conduct Tribunal such additional powers as may appear to it to be necessary to enable it more effectively to discharge the functions conferred on it in this Schedule.

16-(2) The power to appoint the staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and to exercise disciplinary control over them shall vest in the members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly enacted in that behalf.

18-(1) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal finds a public officer guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this Code it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph and such other punishment as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.

18-(2) The punishment which the Code of Conduct Tribunal may impose shall include any of the Continues on page 34

34—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 National Association of Judiciary Correspondents, NAJUC, holds 2015 annual lecture with the theme: “Effective Justice System as Panacea for Change”. Below are personalities at the event.

Corruption is the fundamental root of unemployment, insecurity — Agbaje Continues from page 32

should also realize that corruption has deprived Nigeria of developmental progress, corruption is the fundamental root of unemployment and insecurity we are witnessing in the country today. We need to address corruption seriously and fundamentally through the instrumentality of law and constitution and government must be serious with the institutions that are fighting corruption instead of celebrating individuals so that when the president finish his regime the institutions will continue in fighting the corruption.

What are the legislative reforms you want the lawmakers to address urgently in the National Assembly?

The primary functions of the National Assembly is to make good laws for the governance of the country.

Selfish interests Why doing so, they must not push their selfish interests rather the interest of the Nigerians to ensure that the unborn children do not inherit empty treasury, liability, unemployment and many other problems the country is currently facing. Laws must be made to ensure that Nigeria is a better society; laws must be made to ensure that graft is reducing to the barest minimum.

It is essential that the law makers ensure that the rule of law, sanity, social justice, accountability, equity and freedom prevail in the land.

A retired Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alex Badeh in his valedictory speech alleged that former heads of state crippled the military. Do you think these ex-leaders be investigated by the present administration and why?

If someone said that, it is his own opinion and it is left for the president to now redeem it, there is no need to investigate anything but to strengthen the military.

Previous governments had weakened Nigerian

From left: Ola Agbaje, representing Femi Adesina, SA to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media; Babatunde Fashanu, SAN; Sylva Ogwemoh, SAN and Adeola Olajide, representing Justice Ayotunde Philips.

•Mr Fred Agbaje armed forces and that is why they could not face Boko Haram, instead of telling the truth, the top marshals retired the innocent soldiers. It was when a new government came before the man could open up to say they lacked weapon to fight Boko Haram. Whatever the former military officer said is good because it is an eye opener to the present administration.

Does a sitting judge have the constitutional right to call for the removal of the state governor?

I will not want to comment on the issue because people have

diverse opinion on it, but even trying to exercise the freedom of information, it should be done constitutionally. One cannot say because one has freedom of expression and begins to dabble into matter that does not concern him. If one is ready for such expression, he must also be ready for the consequences because why exercising freedom of expression there are limitations.

Freedom of expression is limited by penal law and libel law and the right not to injure your neighbour, if anyone goes beyond these he should be ready for whatever comes out of it.

From left: r. Gbenga Ojo of Faculty of Law, LASU who delivered the lecture; Monday Ubani, one of the awardees and executive director, Access to Justice, AJ, Joseph Otteh, a discussant.

From left: Sylva Ogwemoh, SAN, representative of the former Lagos Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips; Mrs Adeola Olajide, chairman, Ikeja Bar; Yinka Farounbi, who represented chairman of the ocassion, Lai Babatunde, SAN and DCR, legal, high court, Mrs Bosola Okunuga representing the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade.

Is Federal High Court Superior to Code of Conduct Tribunal?

Continues from page 33

following:-(a) vacation of office or seat in any legislative house, as the case may be: b) disqualification from membership of a legislative house and from the holding of any public office for a period not exceeding ten years and (c) seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office.

18-(3) The sanctions mentioned in subparagraph (2) hereof shall be without prejudice to the penalties that may be imposed by any law where the conduct is also a criminal offence.

18-(4) Where the Code of Conduct Tribunal gives a decision as to whether or not a person is guilty of a contravention of any of the provisions of this Code, an

appeal shall lie as of right from such decision or from any punishment imposed on such person to the Court of Appeal at the instance of any party to the proceedings.

18-(5) Any right of appeal to the Court of Appeal from the decisions of the Code of Conduct Tribunal conferred by subparagraph (4) hereof shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of an Act of the National Assembly and rules of Court for the time being in force regulating the powers, practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal.

18-(6) Nothing in this paragraph shall prejudice the prosecution of a public officer punished under this paragraph or preclude such officer from being prosecuted or punished for an offence in a Court of law.

To be continued

From left: Peter Fowoyo, a judiciary correspondent; Bimbo Akosile, News Editor, Saturday Thisday and Foluso Ogunmodede, Judicial Editor, New Telegraph.

From left: President, Voters Awareness Initiative, Wale Ogunade; former NBA chairman, Ikeja branch, Monday Ubani receiving an award from Dr. Fassy Yusuf, a lawyer and the chairman, NAJUC, Ikeja, Akintunde.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—35

FG to address social security needs of informal workers

Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Lagos State Council, led by state Secretary, Mr. Adetunji Ademisoye (6th from left) at a programme in Lagos.

T

HE Federal Government has called on all Nigerians both in the public and private sectors to support the efforts of the Federal Government at providing social security protection to the vulnerable groups.

The government spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh.

Dr. Illoh who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mr. Felix Ogenyi, made the appeal in Abuja, while declaring open a stakeholders’ meeting on ”Addressing the Social Security Needs of Informal Workers through Cooperative Delivery System."

The challenges of social security in our society today cannot be over looked. A dynamic system to conquer the many constraints to social security delivery can only be attained through both public and private cooperation.

He stressed the need to establish management of social security programmed at meeting the aspiration of people with special needs, households below poverty line, vulnerable and elderly persons.

Dr. Illoh contended that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity had devised means of addressing the social security needs of the informal workers through cooperative system, noting that every member of the society had the right to social security and is entitled to its realization through national effort and international cooperation.

He expressed optimism that the stakeholders’ meeting would create a stronger social protection system which will have all the requisite tools and technology required to deliver and complement the government’s mandate to alleviate the pains of the informal and vulnerable people in the country.

In her remarks, the Director, Social Security/Cooperative Development Department, Mrs. Mojisola Sonubi, explained that over the years, the government at various levels had adopted policies aimed at enhancing the performance of the informal sector, including entrepreneurship development and international financial assistance.

NASU laments rising unemployment, collapsed industries Stories by Victor Ahiuma-Young

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HE employment crisis in the country has been described as a time-bomb waiting to explode with attendant consequences better imagined than experienced.

Many believe government is playing politics with jobs creation by implementing policies that kill jobs and hinder jobs creation.

The unemployment crisis in Nigeria was again brought to the fore by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, in the Research and Projects Trade Group Council, during their 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference (QDC), in Abuja.

In a communiqué at the end of the conference by NASU Deputy President/Chairman of the group, Wakili Tijani and NASU Senior Deputy General Secretary, Emma Okonkwo, lamented: “Worried by the way things are going in Nigeria, where the economy is virtually collapsing and unemployment is assuming an alarming rate, Conference viewed the reality of this ugly situation which is manifested in the various forms of social vices rocking the nation like the increasing rate of bank robberies, kidnappings and assassinations.

“The Conference-in-session noted that the patience of innocent Nigerians is running out fast; as such, it therefore called on Government to, as a matter of urgency, tackle the problems of increasing level of unemployment and poverty before it consumes the nation.

“The Conference-in-Session, having noted the trends of industrial development in the country,

viewed that the nation’s battered economy has not been favourable to the growth and development of industries. It noted that many manufacturing industries have died, while quite many are going through slow and painful extinction and this has caused the sack of many workers which has in turn increased unemployment and crime rate in Nigeria.

“The Conference therefore called on Government to urgently resuscitate the collapsed industries as it will generate more revenue apart from boosting the nation’s industrial base, and creating more jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”

One of the issues that bothered the conferees was food crisis, stressing that “worried by the global food crisis which has had its impact in Nigeria, making our country rank 38th on the 2014 glo-

bal hunger index, the Conference therefore declared that as Nigeria is being faced with hunger crisis, our political leaders must understand that the current soaring food prices holds the most potent security problem as it is virtually an impossible task to govern a hungry, desperate and angry people.

“It posited that the emerging food crisis is a wake-up call to all of us. The Conference-in-Session therefore called on Government to assist farmers by adequately providing them with fertilizers, loan facilities and infrastructures like good roads for easy movement of their crops and processed products, since they are better placed to ameliorate the food crisis. The Conference equally called on Government to encourage and empower our young graduates to take up agriculture as a means of livelihood.”

Neglect of libraries

The Conference equally called on Government to encourage and empower our young graduates to take up agriculture as a means of livelihood

In a similar development, NASU members in WAEC/Libraries and others in Trade Group Council, in a communique at the end of their 6th QDC, in Lagos, by Deputy President WAEC/Libraries and others Trade Group Council, Adegoke M. Adeniyi and the Trade Group Secretary, Damola Adelekun, noted that the Conference-inSession observed with dismay the present deplorable conditions of Nigerian public libraries and National Library of Nigeria due to neglect by Government and decline in individual and organizational support.

It also frowned and disapproved of some state governments concessionning of e-Li-

braries to private operators and other ministries as against its usage by the library boards, arguing that for the country to develop and for the present Government’s clamour for eradication of illiteracy to succeed, urgent attention must be given to resuscitation of libraries in Nigeria.

According to the communiqué “the Conference-in-Session therefore called on all tiers of government to make it a priority by providing adequate funds for this education sector since they are not created to generate revenue but to render services to the populace and also implored the Tertiary Education Fund, TETFUND, to intervene in the pathetic situation of public libraries.”

On funding of examination bodies, the communiqué said: "The Conference-in-Session expressed worries over inadequate funding of education, which is the most important ingredient of development and an effective weapon against poverty. It decried the effect on the education sector especially examination bodies established to conduct examinations and train our youths to be creative.

The Conference-in-Session also frowned at the indebtedness of some State Governments to these examination bodies which denied the bodies the needed funds to effectively carry out their responsibilities. It therefore called on the State Governments that are indebted to WAEC, NECO and NABTEB to as a matter of urgency completely offset their indebtedness without delay in order to strengthen the examination bodies and secure the future of our youths.”

36—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015

BAYELSA GOV POLL: Timi Alaibe vows to back Sylva Says none of his supporters has left APC for PDP

By Samuel Oyadongha

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E N A G O A —F O R M E R Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Chief Timi Alaibe, yesterday said no amount of blackmail would stop him and his supporters from backing Chief Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Alaibe, a leading aspirant for the APC governorship ticket before his withdrawal from the party's primary, in a statement by Patterson Ogon, spokesman of the Timi Alaibe Support Group, said the decision to back Sylva was not personal but that it was collectively taken in the overall interest of the APC and the people of the state.

He noted that “the charade called ‘defection back to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,’ orchestrated by one or two of their former members, should be seen as a comic relief," insisting that “no individual of means who was Chief Timi Alaibe’s supporter has left the APC.” The statement reads: “In the last few days, the political landscape of Bayelsa State has been characterized by unsavoury developments which ordinarily deserved no serious attention. But for purposes of putting the records straight, the platform upon which our principal, Ndutimi Alaibe, sought the governorship of our dear state deems it necessary to alert the unsuspecting public of the activities of some scavenging

opportunists masquerading as political leaders. It might interest the public to know that, from the time of the conceptualization of the governorship ambition by our principal up to the time of his eventful withdrawal from the race, at no time did he display desperation.

“Like others who desired to run on the platform of the APC, Chief Alaibe’s burden was how to extricate the state from the abysmal leadership failure that now holds sway. As individuals, their approaches may have differed even as the routes to the

much-expected destination appeared to be diverse. All the same, their individual visions for the state are now a collective bond that they all cherish and guard zealously under the APC. Therefore, the decision taken by our principal to back the candidature of Chief Timipre Sylva for the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State was not a personal one. It was a collective decision taken in the overall interest of the APC, his teeming supporters and the people of Bayelsa State.

“Since that historic decision to

back the APC, we have witnessed some desperate moves to malign our principal.

We have noted with dismay, the shameless attempts to either paint a picture of insincerity on his part or a deliberate effort to deceive the public that Chief Alaibe’s support for Sylva only came after some imaginary negotiations. We understand why. Not only has that singular decision to mobilize Bayelsans for Sylva created panic in the camp of the ruling PDP in the state, it has simply shown that politics is only for principled minds and men of character."

VISIT: Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, Air Officer Commanding Tactical Command, 81 Air Maritime Group (left) presents a souvenir to Governor Adams Oshiomhole during the former's visit to the Governor in Benin City, yesterday.

SYLVA CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION: APC chieftain, Timi Frank alleges threat to life

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

BUJA—DEPUTY National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Timi Frank, has raised alarm over alleged threat to his life by some individuals in Bayelsa State following his decision to withdraw from membership of the governorship campaign organization of Chief Timipre Sylva.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Frank named a lawmaker in Bayelsa State House of Assembly as the arrow head of the alleged threat to his life.

He alleged that he had received phone calls from the lawmaker since he took the decision to distance himself from the campaign organization constituted on Monday by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the national secretariat of APC in Abuja.

According to him, “He (the

lawmaker) called my lines several times and when I eventually took the call he started raining insults on me, accusing me of trying to sabotage Sylva’s ambition as well as insulting the APC governorship candidate.

The lawmaker said they had had enough of me and that if I were

man enough, I should step into Bayelsa State and see if I would not meet my waterloo. He said that they knew my house in Abuja and that to trace me was no big deal.

After listening to him quietly and he slamming the phone on me, I resolved to quickly bring to the public notice this latest threat to my life as it is serious.”

Frank added that the lawmaker had also sent him a text message insulting him and saying, “I will not watch you insult my boss for any reason.

You can’t have somebody like Sylva in your entire family.”

He called on the state and national leaderships of the party to intervene and avoid further degeneration of the situation.

Delta LG bosses intervene in BEDC, Isoko youths' feud thereby plungimg the areas into decision of BEDC to cut off

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—CHAIRMEN of Isoko North and South Local Government councils, Delta State, Mr. Emmanuel Egbabor and Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, respectively, have urged the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, to sheathe its sword in its feud with some Isoko youths and restore electricity to the council areas.

BEDC, it was gathered, had on October 21, cut off the council areas from the national grid

darkness, over alleged brutalization of its officials by some youths.

At a joint meeting of the council Chairmen with officials of BEDC, traditional rulers, Isoko Development Union, IDU and security agencies at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, Egbabor and Ikpokpo warned the youths against taking the law into their hands, advising them to desist from actions that could hinder the development of the areas.

They, however, frowned at the

power supply to the entire Isoko nation due to grievance with a few youths who did not have the support of Isoko people.

They assured the company of the security of its officials and promised to ensure that residents paid their electricity bills.

In his remarks, Business Manager of BEDC, Ughelli Business Unit, Mr. Pius Azeh, said the decision to cut off power due to unpaid bills and threats to lives of officials and properties of the company.

NIMASA urged to clear wreckage from waterways

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIAN Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has been urged to enforce its rule on the Bonny-Port Harcourt axis and clear the waterways of wreckages.

A member representing Bonny constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Abiye Pepple, in a motion yesterday in the House, said the agency should liaise with other appropriate agencies to clear the waterways of wreckage.

Before adjourning sitting, the Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi Owaji, said the matter was of extreme importance to the state, adding that members should come up with sound position on the issue.

Meanwhile, Owaji has assured communities in the state that the House will always take steps to protect them from abuse by multinational oil firms operating in their areas.

Delta LG boss assures on devt

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OKO—WARRI North Local Government Council Chairman, Delta State, Mr. Francis MakuEyituoyor, has expressed hope of better days ahead in Nigeria and urged indigenes of the council to remain patient with his administration over the execution of development projects.

Speaking in Koko, the council headquarters, the chairman called on the federal government to take pragmatic measures in harnessing the vast solid mineral potentials in the country and to give priority attention to agriculture since income from crude oil export was no longer dependable.

Maku-Eyituoyor assured that his administration was working hard at exploring alternative sources of funds to carry out development projects in the local government area.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—37

Ihedioha blasts Okorocha over comments

ESWAMA denies allegation of abuse, assault

E

O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—THE immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has dismissed the recent media reports credited to Governor Rochas Okorocha that he could have been the current Senate President if he heeded the advice to join the All Progressives Congress, APC. Chief Ihedioha’s media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, described the Governor’s claim as “a blatant lie which could only have come from a man very well known for his penchant for falsehood.

“Although we find the Governor’s acknowledgement of Rt. Hon. Ihedioha’s capacity to chair the National Assembly as a well known fact, we however wish to state that the statement is in its entirety false, diversionary and indeed could only have come from a man very well known for his penchant for falsehood”, Onyeukwu said.

Continuing, Mr. Onyeukwu stated categorically that Governor Okorocha did not visit Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha before the elections to plead with him to jettison his gubernatorial ambition as he claimed.

“The only time Governor

By Francis Igata

NUGU—THE Enugu State Waste Management Authority, ESWAMA, has denied allegations by the Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network, CRRAN, that its staff attacked and injured two security men at a residential house in Enugu while carrying out an enforcement operation.

A statement signed by the Managing Director of the Authority, Mr Dom Okonkwo described the allegations as ‘false and mischievous’ lamenting that two members of its staff were now unjustly facing prosecution on the strength of the allegations.

He said the allegations were part of a smear campaign being mounted by some people in the state against his agency in a bid to discredit it and prevent it from carrying out its lawful duties.

Giving the agency’s side of the story, Mr Okonkwo said that contrary to the allegations, two of its staff who had gone to a residential house at Independence Layout, Enugu, to enforce sanitary laws of the state, were actually the ones that were attacked by two security men working in the house.

The ESWAMA Staff, he said, had upon being attacked, followed standard procedure and reported the incident at the Independence Layout Police Station.

Okorocha visited Chief Ihedioha was in 2013, in the company of Senator Osita Izunaso, to condole with him on the death of his younger sister and there is no way they could have discussed politics during the condolence visit”, Onyeukwu said.

He pointed out that the “massive fraud and massive rigging” that skewed the election in favour of the APC,

would have been unearthed if the election tribunal had considered the petition filed against the declaration of Okorocha as winner of the governorship election.

“Rather than fruitlessly engage in diversionary antics, Governor Okorocha should concentrate on how to address the mounting issues of hunger, months of unpaid workers' salaries and 20 months

CBN states conditions for distribution of N220bn MSMED funds to farmers

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

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NITSHA—THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN yesterday rolled out the conditions for distribution of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, MSMED, fund already earmarked by the apex bank for farmers in the country.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who disclosed this in an interactive session with rice farmers in Awka, Anambra State said the apex bank had set aside this amount for the Anchor

Borrowers programme initiative to diversify the economy by addressing the issue of local production of agricultural products that would help to reduce the nation’s foreign reserve.

Emefiele who was represented by his Special Adviser on Development Finance, Mr. Paul Eluhaiwe, noted that it was in its resolve to achieve a strong and viable agricultural base with more integrated value chains, enhanced food security, fewer imports and higher

Crisis rocks STOAN as GDNL, ABTL sue Shippers Council Terminal, GDNL, which is also

L

By Ifeyinwa Obi

AGOS—THERE are strong indications that all is not well with Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, over the court case instituted against the Nigerian Shippers Council.

The Nigeria Shippers’ Council, NSC; Seaports Terminal Operator Association of Nigeria, STOAN; Shippers Association of Lagos State, SALS, and the Association of Shipping Lines Agencies ASLA,

pension arrears, industrial actions, collapsed economy and comatose state of infrastructure under his watch,” Onyeukwu said.

It should be recalled that Governor Okorocha claimed at a recent press conference that he personally visited Ihedioha and advised him to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, and vie for the Owerri senatorial seat of the party in the last general election.

have been locked in a legal tussle over alleged arbitrary hike in tariff.

It was learnt that some members have asked the association to withdraw the court case against the Shippers Council because they believe they are fighting for the benefit of Nigeria Shippers Council.

The terminal operators who are against STOAN are Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited, ABTL, a subsidiary of Flour Mills and Greenview Development

a subsidiary of Dangote group.

The terminal operators hinged their dissatisfaction on the fact that their proprietors are also shippers who are affected by the charges.They however said that supporting the court case would be fighting against the wish of their proprietors.

In a chat with an official of one of the terminals, he said they disapproved the continuation of the case as it would be to the detriment of some of them who ship raw materials .

productivity that the CBN is providing the funds which would be distributed to farmers at nine per cent (9%) per annum to solve the problem of funding, as a major challenge to farmers in Nigeria.

Maintaining that this plan is in addition to NIRSAL’s capacity building to farmers and bankers, the CBN boss identified mechanisation, input and finance as major hindrances to rice production in Nigeria, even as he pointed out that the programme, which is private sector driven, is aimed at solving the problem of finance.

Ontheconditionsforaccessingtheloan, the CBN boss noted that farmers would eventually be thoroughly trained on the global best agronomical practices.

“The farmer must be a member of a validated cooperative before applying for the loan. We will find out how much it will take to produce one hectare of rice to determine the amount that will be given to each individual. The idea is to enhance efficient management of the resources”, he stated.

Earlier,theManagingDirectorofEbonyi Agro Nigeria Limited and the major offtaker oftheprogrammeinEbonyi,Enugu and Anambra State, Charles Ugwu regretted that the Nigerian nation consumes about six metric tons of rice per annum but produces only 3.5 metric tonnes at about $3 billion US Dollars in a year.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Eagle ts at FIF A U-1 7W orld Cup Eaglets FIFA U-17 World

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his competition is de signed to breed youth of tomorrow that will graduate to maturity. It is not all about winning like we always go after in Nigeria. It is high time Nigeria start choosing the right age to represent the country. Miss Evan Ukogu, Musician C M Y K

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think the lads (Eal e t s ) are good and let us encourage them. I know that there is a device used in detecting age now in FIFA which will make it difficult for anyone to scale through without being caught. Mr Nelson Nwamara, Entrepreneur g

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hope we are really using U-17 and not cleanshaven U-30 short engines. Half of them should be moved to the senior team now. I am beginning to get tired of Nigeria shining at U-17 tournaments and not progressing at the world cup. Mr Ismail Aremu, Worker

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igeria needs to de velop a system that will help our athletes grow by age and become a master in whatever sports of their interest.

Football is a big business, US is investing in it and is growing very fast. Pastor Isaac Akindipe, Clergy

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oach Amuneke did his best to make sure he had the right age for the tournament. And those boys look very young. He may not be technical enough but covers for his limitation in other areas; he is determined and focused.

Miss Chika Dike, Graduate

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here are three to four quality players in his squad that must be fast tracked straight away to the Flying Eagles especially Victor Osimhen full of confidence, technical abilities, mature and balanced in his style of play.

Miss Rose Okonta, Student

38—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015

ABIYE SEKIBO @57:

Nigeria must commence reorientation of its value system now

•Sekibo

*Explains how God healed him of cancer *Establishes cancer foundation LOOKING back on the lessons learned in the past 57 years of his life, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, in this interview, wants Nigerians to live their lives without malice against anyone. He is also emphatic on the need for Nigeria to review its value system in order to achieve a better society for everyone.

By Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

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ONGRATULATIONS for clocking 57. You look refreshingly younger in a country where life expectancy has not been impressive. How does it feel?

I must confess that I feel older than 57. But we can’t thank God enough. At every point in my life, God has looked so favourably on me despite my sins.

He has been so wonderful to me by giving me a wonderful wife, wonderful children and great friends and associates. All I have is appreciation because I have cheated death several times right from when I was young. But God has been there for me. I have had several near-death experiences and somehow God rescued me from them.

And the most recent is that exactly one year ago, I was diagnosed of a cancer of the white blood cells. And precisely on September 29, 2015, my doctors in London confirmed to me that there is no longer a single sign of cancer. I asked myself what qualified me for these miracles that keep happening. That is why I am saying that I have so much to thank God for. I can’t ask for anything else but to thank God. We know that as a medical doctor, you should know much about healthy living, can you avail us the secret of looking this fresh because it is amazing?

People should take life easy. Whatever I set out to do, I put it before God and beg that His will be done at all times.

If what I want comes through, I thank God. If it does not come through, I also C M Y K

thank God because I believe that for everything that happens to anyone, God is aware. I took that from my parents and it has been working for me. I never take things too seriously at the expense of my health. For instance, in politics you can be stabbed at the back and the right thing is to take it lightly. You have to accept anything that happens without bothering too much. Life should be accepted as it comes, but everything should be committed to God always.

I don’t bear grudge against any human being neither do I see people and feel bad that they are breathing the same air with me. When you don’t allow yourself to be burdened by the things you can’t control, you will be fine. You have no control over what anyone thinks about you. So the best thing is to border less. Changing peoples’ mindset about you should be left to God. I am always at peace with myself. That is how I live my life. I don’t have too much to worry about.

Do you have eating habits?

I eat everything human beings eat. It is very interesting. There was a time I went to China and my host took me to a restaurant and I saw things like scorpions being eaten. I saw people eating it and felt I should try it.

Medically, we are advised to eat with moderation because volumes matter.

There are people, who eat a lot of food at a time but that can be overloading the system because that will deposit carbohydrate in the wrong places in the body. I eat with moderation and that is all I do.

You had a thriving medical practice before venturing into politics, how did you find yourself in politics?

I always see myself as a medical doctor, who graduated from the famous University of Lagos. I graduated in 1983 and came back to Port Hacourt in 1984 to do my housemanship at the University of Port Hacourt. I proceeded for my National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, at Ede in Osun State which was then Oyo State. After that, I joined my uncle, the late Senator Tari Sekibo in his private clinic, Saint Michaels Clinic.

We had a lot of oil service companies as our clientele. I used to be the site doctor when the petrochemical plant was being

I feel fulfilled when I come across the people I have impacted positively on, especially those our paths crossed while practicing my profession

built. I also got into the politics of the Nigeria Medical Association,NMA. In 1991, I was a Special Adviser to Chief Rufus Ada-George, who was elected governor on the platform of National Republican Convention, NRC. Under the Interim National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, I became the Special Adviser of the then Minister of Industries until the Abacha coup. I went back to my medical practice by establishing my private clinic, the Precious Life Medical Centre. I was there until politics came knocking on the door again. I joined the PDP from inception. When the party won the election in 1999, I became the Secretary to Rivers State Government under Dr. Peter Odili for four years. We tried our best for our people. I was nominated to represent the state as a minster in Abuja.

After serving as a minister for four years, I went back to my medical practice and again set up Precious Medical Centre in Abuja. Somehow, the fact that I have a profession made me always fall back on my profession after every national or state assignment. Being a medical doctor is my first love.

Looking at your prominence and age, would you consider yourself a fulfilled man at 57?

I think at 57, I can almost say that I have seen it all. By the time I was the Special Assistant to the Rivers State governor, I was in my 30s. I graduated from the medical school at the age of 25. Not long after I entered politics, I moved to the federal level as a Special Adviser to a minster. Before the age of 40, I was operating at that level. And by the time I came back as secretary to Rivers State government, I was in my 40s.

I feel that God gave me opportunities at a very young age and I feel fulfilled, because for every political assignment I was given, I brought my best to it. I feel fulfilled when I come across the people I have impacted positively on, especially those our paths crossed while practicing my profession. When I was a minister, a lady walked up to me with a big girl. She said I was the one that delivered the big girl at Precious Life Medical Centre. It gave me joy. Things like that make me feel fulfilled. I really thank God for giving the opportunity to be part of peoples’ stories.

In retrospect, what where the defining moments in your life and what lessons did you learn from them?

They are many, but the recent one was when I was in the hospital as a patient and not as a medical doctor. I looked backed and knew that the treatment I was going to undertake would either heal or kill me. I was not sure of what the outcome will look like.

And I turned around and looked at my wife and children with the thoughts of appreciation to God. I thanked God for blessing me with my wife and children and felt that even if I don’t make it they will be there to carry on. I realised that there was no single thought of worldly possessions on my mind. All that mattered to me was my family. At that stage, I realised how ephemeral worldly possessions are. There was no thought about political position.

The thought was about the human beings, who I felt will miss me most if I don’t make. At such moments, no matter who you are, you will realise that the people around you matter a lot. Going through life these 57 years, I realised that no matter what someone has, at such critical time, what matters is those in your life. I considered all, who look up to me and thanked God for making Continues on page 40

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015—39 Continues from page 39 them part of my life. Interestingly, when I realised that I have cancer, since I am not an Oncologist I bought some books on cancer.

One of the books I bought was titled: Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies. I read the history of cancer and saw how cancer have destroyed societies and human lives. I told myself that if I survive cancer, I was going to devote part of my time to enlightening the society about cancer. On my birthday, which is exactly one year after I started my chemotherapy for cancer, I will be launching the Sekibo Cancer Foundation. The idea is to start with cancer education. As a medical doctor I know that a lot of the illnesses for which people die in our villages without explanation which we attribute to witchcraft, may have been cancers.

But because there is no enlightenment and as well facilities in those locations, we blame it on native doctors. There is need to start a robust enlighten campaign starting with the rural areas.

The Sekibo Cancer Foundation, will be penetrating the rural areas. We will be starting with Rivers State.

We will educate them and start a screening process in the rural areas.

After then, we will see how much we can bring people to centres where they can get proper treatment. We are hoping that we will get to a point where we can establish a world class cancer centre.

And hopefully we will spread around the country. I think that the kind of treatment I received can be replicated here with a world class cancer centre.

Cancer seems to be on the loose in Nigeria, as a medical doctor, can we know what provoked the situation and possibly how can it be brought under control?

Essentially, cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells in the human body. And that can happen to any part of the body.

The way God created the human body, everything starts with a cell and it is cell division that starts the development of human life.

Any process can go on along that way.

Recently, it was discoverd that a lot of cancers are gene related. They discovered that there are certain kinds of genes that could dispose people to certain kind of cancers. I hope that with the way researchers are going, there will get to a time when every human being will have his DNA fully analysed.

Once that is achieved, we will be able to know what kind of cancers people are likely to have because as long as we live, our body cells will keep dividing.

If we know from the beginning, that people have some genes that can dispose them to cancer, we can begin to target the person to make sure that he does not develop cancer.

There is more knowledge about cancer now, but more research should be encouraged. Also, the question of lifestyle is key and whether we like it or not, the human life has moved from the level of creativity to a higher level of civilization and with it comes a lot of lifestyle changes and some of those lifestyle changes will be disposed to triggering some kind of cell division in the body.

For example, if somebody abuses alcohol on a regular basis, the liver will be challenged and the liver will be struggling to cope with that. In that process, it could trigger cancer of the liver. So that is why we tell people to drink with moderation. So the awareness is going on but we need to further increase the awareness and that is what my foundation will be doing.

Many people do agree that one of Nigeria’s biggest problems is that of

Being a medical doctor is my first love

•Sekibo leadership. As a politician, what can you say about that having played a role in the murky waters of Nigerian politics?

I must say that Nigeria’s problem is 60 percent leadership and 40 percent followership. If we don’t get the leadership right, we cannot get the followership right. Both of them complement each other and we must see where we are coming from. During the colonial era, the British could not have sent us their first eleven to come and govern us, they basically kept the first eleven for themselves, those are the people that went to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and had first class, they kept those to themselves and maybe the third class were sent to us here. Now, if you take a clue from that, you will see that our country today is being run 90 percent by our second or third eleven, those who are supposed to run this country seem to have been shipped out of the country. If you need to achieve something and you picked the ones that failed other than the ones that have first class, you will not get good results.

If you look at those who run our politics, at least 50 percent of them are those who got into politics because they don’t have any other thing to do. Maybe they finished youth service, the only thing is to follow some political bigwigs around and be loyal and because they are loyal, he will eventually be

Our followership is too hungry and that is why they do not worry whether somebody is coming in to govern them

rewarded. So we have a problem in this nation and until we correct it, we will be doing ourselves a disservice. The same thing happens in the civil service.

Other countries groom people to run their civil service. In the United States and United Kingdom, the best brains are pulled into their civil service automatically to come and start policy system that will enable institutions. You cannot build institutions using your second or third eleven, you must get the best and the brightest to run the institutions that matter.

Also, our followership is too hungry and that is why they do not worry whether somebody is coming in to rule them as an armed robber. All they care about is what enters their pocket. This kind of system that we are running breeds corruption.

Having said that, in specific terms, how do we move this nation forward?

First, we need to be accountable in this country and I personally feel that the fourth estate of the realm needs to be up and doing because they are the ones who have constitutional right to hold everybody accountable. In other climes, that is what happens. The press takes the risk to hold the leaders accountable. When in England, the king was beginning to be over assertive and overreach his bound, the magna cater came about because the press said, yes you are the king but you cannot continue to kill us like this. The press in Nigeria must wake to its responsibilities. We have a situation where we are allowing people in authority to get away with anything.

A sitting government lost election in this country because the press aligned with the APC, that is the truth. So if the press knows it has this kind of power, they should be willing and ready to use it for this nation. Also, Buhari is known for his anti corruption stance and the whole world is saying he is the man who is going to fight corruption, let us agree that it is true. If there is a perception of corruption around him, he then cannot be said to be fighting corruption. Until we are able to call a spade a spade, we are not going to move forward in this nation. Whether we like it or not, corruption will either kill this country or we destroy the corruption.

Being a former Minister and someone who passed through the

process of ministerial, many people have argued that sending a list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly without portfolio by President Buhari is wrong. What is your reaction to that?

The truth is that our system is flawed.

I have passed through the system and I can tell you that the system is flawed.

Having borrowed that system from Americans, we tactically didn’t say that the names that are being sent to the Senate for screening should go with their portfolios, we didn’t. So that lacuna has been seized upon by Presidents.

First, it makes it easier for the President to send whoever he wants and get cleared in an easy process because you don’t know the ministry you will be posted to. It also makes it easy for the President to move his ministers around, if you are appointed Minister of Transport today, the President can ask you to move to health tomorrow because you are just made minister, there is no specific ministry attached to it. So that could be seen as making it easier for the President.

If you ask me as somebody who has benefited from this system, what would have been the best for this country, I will say that it is attaching a portfolio to the names on the list sent. That would have been better.

During my screening, I went to see the President, sat with him and we talked generally even though he never told me the ministry I will be heading, we just met because I was going to be a minister. We discussed and Obasanjo told me best of luck, I am sure they will clear you.

On Obasanjo, Odili others I want to use this opportunity to thank all those God used in various ways to make me whom I have become today. Right from my parents, my family, my wife and children, my friends, my political associates and my political leaders particularly my late Uncle, Senator Tari Sekibo, who encouraged me to go into politics, former Governor of Rivers state, Chief Ada George whom I worked under, Chief Ignatius Kogbara, the then Minister of Industry whom I also worked with, Dr. Peter Odili and our father, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo under whom I was Minister. Each of these people had a huge positive influence on me.

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44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

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ONE-DAY GOVERNOR: From left— Company Secretary, GlaxoSmithkline, GSK, Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Uche Uwechia; Lagos State one-day Deputy Governor, Master Faaizi Abdullaidi; one-day Governor, Master Mustapha Sonoiki and GSK Marketing Director, West Africa, Ms. Kerry Alexander, during a courtesy visit to the firm's corporate head office, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

BIU HONOURS OYAKHILOME: From left— Vice Chancellor, Benson Idahosa University, BIU, Professor Ernest Izevbigie; Rev (Dr.) Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy, and a member of BIU Governing Council, Professor John Okhuoya, at the conferment of Doctorate of Divinity on Oyakhilome by BIU.

VISIT: Director General/Chief Executive, Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Juliet Onaeko (middle) and Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu (right) during her visit, in Abuja.

NAFDAC: From left— Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii; Director of Enforcement, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor, both of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and Leader, Pharmaceutical Experts of the Ethiopian Food, Medicines and Health Care, EFMHACA, Mr. Dawit Dilbeto, during a visit to understudy NAFDAC's process in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

LAUNCH: From left— Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa; Marketing Manager, Malta & Apnad, Mr. Uche Onwudiwe, and Ice Prince, at the internal launch of Malta Guinness You Vs campaign in Lagos.

WORKSHOP: From left— Head of Branch, Oyo State, Mrs. Olajumoke Ajibola; Head of Branch, Kwara State, Mrs. Olabimpe Olani, both of National Library of Nigeria; Dr. Adeniji Akangbe of University of Ibadan; Chief Host/ Head of Branch, Lagos State, Bosede Oyeleke; Head, SBN and SSN Unit, Lagos Sate, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, and Head of Legal Deposit Unit, Lagos State, Osuagwu Amara, all of National Library of Nigeria, during a workshop on Bibliographic Control for Stakeholders in Book Publishing in Lagos.

PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

DONATIONS: Executive Secretary, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mrs Omolola Essien (middle) with recipients of cash donation at the local government secretariat.

KNORR COMPETITION: From left—Savoury Category Manager, Unilever, Nnenna Osi-Anugwa; first prize winner, Obikea Davies; Promotions Executive, Temi’ Bolaji; and Commercial Communications Manager, Osaki Edunro, both of Total Nigeria Plc, at the just-concluded Knorr Taste Quest competition in Lagos.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 , 2015—45

Abiye Sekibo: He survived death, notches 57 today

By James Ume

A

T the level of small talk, you could hardly get the better of Sir Dr. Abiye S.P. Sekibo the former Rivers-born Minister of Transport, under the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. But for a scientist who is more at home with analysis and action, this trend of dialogue could pall easily with the witty doctor of human medicine.

His earthiness and folksy charm disarm and readily sucks you into his growing army of admirers. What is the story behind the man who swapped his stethoscope for the Abiye S.P. Sekibo political podium and has certainly proved that both medicine and politics Okrika, Rivers State. He attended the fundamentally address human College of Medicine, University of development?

Lagos. He was doctor in charge of St. Close up, the vibration of energy he emits Michael’s Clinic in Port-Harcourt (1986– is reminiscent of that from an active 1999). He was a director of West African volcano. In a sense, he is one. But this Glass Industry Plc. and Chief Executive dimension could only fairly be applied to of Precious Life Medical Centre. He was his intensity of focus and precision of appointed a Special Assistant to the mission execution. But Sekibo is a man, a Governor of Rivers State, and then doctor who saw and defeated death - from Secretary to the Rivers State Government cancer - between his 56th and 57th (1999–2003). birthday today, when the killer ailment was Between January 1991 and August diagonised and effectively dealt with.

1992, he was appointed Special Assistant Though a scientist, Sekibo, with to the Governor of Rivers State, touching humility and gratitude attributes Government House, Port Harcourt. his survival from that damning life threat Within the same period he was Director, which has claimed the lives of many West African Glass Industry PLC., Trans prominent and ordinary Nigerians, to the Amadi, Port Harcourt. Thereafter, he was Almighty God’s grace. This the essential appointed Special Adviser to the Sekibo.

Secretary (Minister) of Industries, Sekibo captures this landmark life Federal Ministry of Industries, Abuja, experience in words that speak to the between August 1992 and November deeper meaning: “Last year has been a 1992. most humbling and life changing period for me. I was diagnosed with Aggressive Secretary to the Diffuse B-Cell Lymphoma (a type of cancer government of the white blood cells) and started a most harrowing chemotherapy on the 5th He then became founder and November, 2014. I testify that I survived Managing Physician, Precious Life purely out of the unmerited grace and Medical Centre, Port Harcourt, between mercy of GOD ALMIGHTY. 1993 and 1999 and subsequently was “My physician, Prof. David Linch of the made Secretary to the Government of University College Hospital, London has Rivers State by the Chief Peter Odili confirmed that my last blood investigations administration, between 1999 and 2003. done on September 29, 2015 did not show He was simultaneously Chairman, State any sign of cancer cells. My Wife Alali Tenders Board, Governor’s Office, Port and the entire Sekibo family have decided Harcourt. that we go before GOD and his people to Between, 2003 and 2006, he was thank Him for what he has done for us.” appointed Minister, Federal Ministry of This experience so affected his world view Transport by then President Olusegun and perspective on Obasanjo. He was also simultaneously the basic transience Chairman, Interim Board, Nigerian Ports of human existence Authority, within the same period and that he took a also Chairman, Ports Reforms and decision to Concession Implementation Committee, celebrate his Chairman, Presidential Committee on survival with what Port Security and Safety (PICOMSS) and he calls “CANCER Chairman, Transport Sector Reforms SURVIVAL Implementation Committee.

His THANKSGIVING.” Thereafter, Sekibo expanded the Few can fairly earthiness medical operations he earlier founded begrudge Sekibo and became Chairman/CEO, Precious and his family this and folksy Life Medical Centre, both in Port privilege, holding charm Harcourt and Abuja from 2006 till date. today, at the He is also Chairman/CEO of a string Methodist Church, disarm of companies. Some of these include No1 Harbour Road, and readily SEKMARKT SUPERSTORES LTD, Port Harcourt, Abuja; Sagiscorp Global Investments Ltd; sucks you Rivers State.

Greame Properties Ltd, Abuja; Sekoil But beyond this into his Nigeria Ltd, Port Harcourt; Promoter, story of near-death growing The Wine Cellar, SEKMARKT and survival, who is SUPERSTORES Ltd, Abuja and Lagos Dr. Abiye S.P. army of Sekibo? He was admirers •Ume, wrote in from Abuja born in 1958 in

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—47

2015: KOGI DECIDES

Kogi: A vote for Audu is a vote for divisiveness, Wada warns

•Audu

KOGI POLL: Sustain the change mantra, Middle Belt group charges Kogites …Says Kogi alone can’t remain in opposition

By Chris Ochayi

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HE Convener of Middle Belt Progressive Assembly, MBPA, Arch. David Dung yesterday, urged electorate in Kogi State to sustain the wind of change blowing across the zone by voting massively for the candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, for the November 21, 2015 governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu.

Dung, who made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja on the preparedness of the group to participate actively in the electioneering process, said Kogi people, particularly, the youths must take decisive action to avoid the state slipping to opposition.

He affirmed that it would amount to political blunder for Kogi State to remain the only state in the Middle Belt zone being administered by an opposition governor.

Noting that five states in the zone are already under the control of the ruling APC, he thus called on the Kogi people to join hands with the party to ensure Audu is returned in order to halt the political and economic drift in the state.

He was optimistic that an Audu administration will restore the hope of the people in true democracy and good governance, as he regretted that the

over 13 years of cross mismanagement of the PDP has brought the state to a crossroads.

The Convener pleaded with the people to vote out incumbent Governor Idris Wada’s led PDP administration, noting that the state more than ever before requires a tested and trusted hand to turn around its life to enable it to function and compete effectively with other states in the country.

Praising the ex-Governor for his foresight and dexterity to remain in opposition in the last 16 years, Dung said Audu is a tested and trusted politician whose performance and achievements were yet to be equalled by either his successors or any governor within the Middle Belt region since inception of democracy in 1999.

“The facts are on the ground for anybody to see. But sadly, all these infrastructures that his administration put in place between 1999 to 2003 have been totally devastated.”

“I am calling on the electorate and lovers of Kogi State to sustain the wind of change blowing across the zone by voting massively for the candidate of APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, during the forthcoming election in order to liberate the state from the clutches of myopic and inexperienced politicians.

PDP House caucus behind Wada — Kolawole, Majority Leader,

By Kingsley Fanwo

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HE Majority Leader in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Yomi Kolawole has reiterated the support of the PDP caucus in the House towards the re-election bid of Capt. Idris Wada.

Kolawole disclosed this during an exclusive chat with Vanguard at Kabba, Wednesday, saying the PDP in Kogi is united to achieve victory in the November 21 governorship election.

He said the governor, having achieved so much in the last 46 months, should get a second term in office.

“All the PDP members in the House of Assembly are solidly behind our governor and our leader. The governor has performed in the last 46 months

and the only way we can empower him to build on his achievements is to reelect him on November 21.

“After having an efficient Wada, we cannot reverse to the 1992 era of governance by sycophancy and autocracy. We now have a governor who sees himself as a servant and not a demi-god. Capt. Idris Wada remains the man to continue the new trend and culture of leadership that can lead us to the next level”.

Prince Kolawole urged Kogi voters to ensure peaceful polls, regardless of who ever they might be supporting, as the state, according to him, “is bigger than the ambitions of any politician”. He said the House is prepared to work with the security agencies and the civil society to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

•Wada

By Gbenga Oke

G

OVERNOR Idris Wada has warned that a vote for the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate, Abubakar Audu will be a vote for divisiveness and ethnic jingoism which will not augur well for the unity of Kogi people.

In a statement issued by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Wada said in the history of Kogi State, nobody has championed ethnicity and other primordial sentiments as ex-governor Audu did during his four year reign as governor between 1999 and 2003.

He said, “voting the candidate of APC as governor poses a great risk for the unity of Kogi State and going by his recent statement in Kabba few weeks ago where he asked APC members to attack any PDP hoodlum during the elections is a window into Audu’s innermost mind”.

“Add this to his dark past that was characterised by acid attack on journalists and politicians, one begins to wonder whether a man with such a provincial world view can successfully lead a complex, multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multilingual state like Kogi State,” Shaibu said.

He went further, “What Audu did by his statement in Kabba was to incite APC supporters against supporters of the PDP, thereby causing disaffection in a state where people of all ethnic groups have been living together in harmony for years.

Had the APC candidate allowed history to be his guide, he would have known that the state has always voted for the PDP since they voted him out in 2003 and will continue to do so”.

Hunger knows no party — Team Kogi warns against politicisation of bailout fund

By Kingsley Fanwo

A

N interest group working for the re-election of Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi State, Team Kogi has said the people of the state know the forces holding on to the bailout fund approved for the payment of salary arrears of civil servants in the state. Addressing a press conference in Lokoja, Wednesday, the Chief Communications Director of the group, Mr. Olu John said it is unfair to blame the state government for the delay in the release of the fund.

“The bailout fund should not be politicized. This is the time all Kogites must unite to ensure the welfare of our workers are catered for. Salary default is not a political or geographical issue, but the failure of the system. Virtually all the states of the federation are affected by the problem.

“If any APC group must lecture us on how states can avoid owing workers, we urge them to first offer the advice to Osun, Oyo and Kwara States. Almost all APC states are owing workers in their states. Kogi State is paying one of the highest salaries in the federation today and state civil servants are only owed a month’s salary. The problem is with the Local Government employees and teachers, hence the need for the bailout to offset the debt.

“As far as we are concerned, the government of Kogi State has met all the conditions set for accessing the bailout and we hope the Central Bank of Nigeria will refuse to yield to the antics of politicians who are working against the release of the bailout for political reasons. The CBN belongs to all Nigerians. It is a national bank and not a political party. “The APC should join us in demanding for the release of the fund because hunger knows no political affiliation. Having publicly campaigned against the release of the fund at their rallies, APC is trying to dent the good image of the CBN by saying things that will make the Kogi people think CBN is a branch of APC”.

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Nigeria, Ghana to reposition African theatre

By Japhet Alakam

W

HEN he took over as the Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Akin Adejuwon promised to take the troupe to the next level. And in order to make his dream come true, he embarked on series of visits both within and outside the shores of the land. Part of the visit took him to Ghana, where an MOU was signed with the Ghana theatre and last week, the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) hosted the Ghana National Troupe to a workshop to change the way the world sees Africa theatre. The workshop which was held at the Cinema Hall II, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos as part of its effort to improve the existing bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Ghana, and also to forge lasting and mutually beneficial partnership with the Ghanaian troupe produced a

world class drama tagged NaiGha. The Ghanaian delegation which came with 18 artistes and five officers met with their Nigerian counterpart,where both countries presented a play that showed that when it comes to theatre, both countries speak the same language. And the product of the five hours workshop was the play which showed the similarities in both cultures.

NaiGha is a story of a typical

The whole idea is to work together to change the way the world sees African theatre as a whole

• A scene from drama NaiGha, the product of the workshop held at National Theatre Iganmu. Photo: Soibifaa Dokubo African nature of seeking for power at all costs. There was a wrestling match in the market and Iyaloja came and drove everybody away. In the process a thief who happens to be twins stole something and ran away.

The twin brother of the thief was town police officer who has been very hard on people and was also interested in the vacant kingship stool. After that he entered the market and the crowd without even checking the colour of his clothes. The

protagonist was party to his arrest, when they wanted to kill him, he said no, rather let him remain behind bars to witness his coronation. As the coronation was on, the mother appeared with the real thief and he confessed that the would be king paid him to commit the crime.

The Ghanaian contingent also performed a piece titled Fire Storm. The play directed by Grace Adinku centres on an age long tradition of forcing young girls to marry against their wish.

That was the situation, until one

Ekon Nke: Our Stories returns Ibibio youths to the roots

By Udo Ibuot

O

NE of the cultural norms that united both the old and the young in Ibibio society in the days of yore was the habit of narrating folk-tales.

The story telling was always done by the elders at night, when family members would have finished their daily chores of farming, fishing or trading, and had been treated to the day’s sumptuous meals.

Such folk tales always centred on activities of the animal kingdom, with the tortoise depicted often as the obon nkara or the king of tricks. In some cases, narrators of such folk tales went into adventurous tales of life in obio ekpo, the land of the ghosts, among others. These folk tale sessions had unifying effects and helped to sustain primordial ties in Ibibio and many other African societies. Their unifying force, however, waned with the advent of television which offered children a fresh platform with which they could get not only information, but also education and entertainment.

Under a bright moonlight, the family’s elders would sit either under the shadows of a tree or in their verandahs, and would impart one folk tale or the other to the children. The session always began with the narrator announcing Ekon Nke while the audience would reply Nke Ekon Abasi.

This is the scenario that Ini Ubong seeks to re-enact with Ekon Nke: Our Stories. Her ef-

fort strikes at two major centres simultaneously. The first is to reduce the impact of television on the oral history of the Ibibio. Since the advent of television, people of virtually all cultures have come to pattern their views of the world on the basis of what is portrayed on television. Ini Ubong’s first objective is apparently to debunk television portrayals as true representations of reality in Ibibio society. This effort to bring back the excitements that used to prevail during folk tale sessions is certainly bound to reduce the seemingly all powerful effect of television on children.

The second objective is the revival of interest in the study of Ibibio language. As the author has noted, her motivation came essentially from the quest of her little daughter for Ibibio folk tales and especially Iko Ibibio or Ibibio language. The Ibibio people are found in Akwa Ibom State in Ni-

It is also a wake up call to the Ibibio families in the homestead to revive this didactic culture of story telling so that Ibibio culture will be kept alive

versity of Uyo. Each of the chapters has an illustration to further explain the conceptual issues raised in the chapters. Ekon Nke: Our Stories is written in English language but is spiced with Ibibio words and sentences which are further explained in English language.

At the end of the work, there is a glossary of terms where the author takes time off to explain the meanings of all the Ibibio words used in the book.

Ibibio society Title: Ekon Nke: Our Stories Author: Ini Ite Ubong Publisher: Extra Proff Media,Nigeria Year of publication: 2015 Pagination: 190 pages geria’s South South geopolitical zone.

Ekon Nke: Our Stories is developed in ten chapters, with each telling a different story. The story lines begin with Tortoise the chief trickster in the first chapter and flows into Uyai and her ugly husband in the second chapter.

Other tales are Adia ntimo fights the lion, A woman kills her husband, A tale of two wives and the Miracle drum. The other stories are The selfish lion and tortoise, An adventure in a strange land, Terrible birth pangs and the Widow and her garden.

The work has a foreword by Prof. Eno B. Ikpe, the Head of Department of History at the Uni-

She starts by listing the various Ibibio soups such as afan, edikan ikon, ataama, aditan, afia efere, ekpan nkukwo, and moves on to different marital relationships such as, anwaan ima - beloved wife, anwaan usua - hated wife, and many others.

This work is a must read for all young Ibibio people both in Akwa Ibom and in the diaspora as well as students of linguistics who are interested in learning the Ibibio orthography and life in the Ibibio society. It offers a route to understanding of the secret of the joys that upbringing in the various Ibibio villages of yore provided. It is also a wake up call to the Ibibio families in the homestead to revive this didactic culture of story telling so that Ibibio culture would be kept alive. I commend Ini Ubong for the effort to assemble these stories and for bringing back memories of life in Ibibio villages of yore.

Etah returned her engagement ornament to her would be husband. Despite her father’s denouncement, the king banishment, she stood her ground. Together with other young girls they rebelled against the king and their parents. Etah’s position was that women are not slaves and must be respected and loved by their husband.

Speaking on the collaboration, Director of Drama National Troupe of Nigeria, Josephine lgberase who is of the view that the world is now a global village, borders are only temporary demarcation said the collaboration is a continuous one for both countries.

Interesting collaboration “We are going to expand the play, both country will go on tour with it,” she said. “l would like to work with the Guinea ballet, South Africa group, this days one don’t need to live in isolation, arts has become global you have to know what others are doing so that you can improve, that is my dream.”

On her part, the Acting Executive Director of National Theatre of Ghana, Amy Appiah Frimpong, who who disclosed that she has longed to connect with Nigerian community said, “It is an interesting collaboration. When l took up this position as the acting director, l started having conversation with friends about Africa theatre, what it means.,” she disclosed.

The whole idea is to work together to change the way the world sees Africa theatre as a whole,” she said.

Pointing out that, European theatre is segmented on like African theatre.

“It is really hard for them to evaluate what we do because we do not separate dance from drama, and music is all part of it so we need to come together with an understanding of what it mean to have Africa theatre so that the world over will have an impact and theatre will be appreciated the more.”

The Artistic Director of National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Akin Adejuwon, while commending the collaboration, said that his mandate is to project Nigeria theatre to the world.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—49 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS; The Moon placement can force agitation on the minds of some of you but if you keep your head above the cloudy atmosphere you will not have anything to fear.

CAPRICORN; Here is an ambitious day for many of you. The more practical you are about your reasonable desire the better for your cause. Be more family minded.

AQUARIUS; Young-at-heart may be greatly excited today and for the next few weeks; if you take good decision on your love life you will enjoy it.

PISCES; Good luck will knock at your door. Although it is good to plan ahead, you have to take advantage of now that presented good opportunities.

ARIES; Keeping both your personal and other people secrets will do you lots of good today. Then tomorrow is your big day; prepare yourself accordingly

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

S

OMETIMES, success in life is about opportunity and the ability to seize it when it comes. Like the football match, it is

This is your time possible for a team to dominate the play while the other team that takes its chances do the scoring and

TERROR MUDA

ultimately win the match. As it is with football so it is with life. Learn to take your chances in life.

Seize every moment.

in “Scavenger Elite”

D e l i b e r a t e l y programme yourself to succeed. And as you play your role God will bring an opportunity to your w a y. W h e n s u c h oppor-tunity comes don’t let it slip...

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS; Here is a day when your closeness to the influential people can be source of assistance to both yourself in particular and your group in general. And then your love life is getting better. Exhibit maturity.

GEMINI; Take your health more seriously than before.

However that is not to say you have to ignore your responsibilities at work. Respect your senior colleagues CANCER; The influence looks more favourable for you now. You will certainly become more enterprising to the betterment of your cause. Right now nobody can ignore you.

LEO; Those of you who are more observant within your base of operation will have more to gain. Prepare to take good advice from the veterans within your base. Be more loving.

VIRGO; Although your personal ideas are very reliable and capable of bringing success, you will need to be as co-operative as possible to achieve your desire.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

LIBRA; It is important you take your sources of making money very seriously. Both hard work and element of luck will work favourably for you.

SCORPIO; Influence of the Moon will encourage you to become a little bit aggressive; here is a day when your leadership ability will assist many.

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 right?

Dear Joshua, I want to know everything about myself. Many people are looking up to me for one assistance or the other and when I tell them true situation they don’t believe me and some times I wonder if they are not unfair to me, or could they be right?

Dada, Ibadan.

Dear Dada, To you personally, you see yourself as a struggling and hard working person but to the outsiders you are one of the fortunate ones around. And Astrologically you are a lucky person; if you look back, you will agree with the fact that you have been lucky more than three times where others have gone. This is because of your final depositorlucky Jupiter (that is the most influential planet at home when you were born).

Preponderance of planets in cardinal Star Sings during your birth hour pointed to you as a person who strongly desire and deserve prominence. Although you are the emotional person as indicated by many heavenly bodies in water Star Signs, planets in mutable and intellectual related air Signs are indications of your being equally intelligent and adaptable.

As you were born when the mighty Sun (indicator of inner/conscious self) and the Moon (indicator of emotional/ sub-conscious self) were placed in Cancer and Sagittarius respectively, you are mainly a Cancer and partly a Sagittarius born person. And that is to say basic characteristics of the two Star Signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

It is important to guard against over sensitivity which can make you a victim of dupe who knows how to play on kind hearted people’s emotion.

Because of unstable nature of the ruler of Cancer (I mean the Moon) your emotion too is not always stable In fact, you are a mysterious creature to some people who find it difficult to understand the force behind your being confident and joy radiating person one moment but become timid and moody the next.

The reason is the phases of the Moon; new Moon makes you look like a beginner while the full Moon makes you feel your normal self. Thus, you are confident rearing to go during the full Moon.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

50—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Late presentation, high cost mar cancer treatment efforts

By Sola Ogundipe & Chioma Obinna

L

ATE presentation and high cost of treatment have been pencilled down as the No 1 factor responsible for the high mortality rates being recorded from cancer in the country.

Hospital records show that most cancer patients in Nigeria present at the late stages when little or nothing could be done to rescue them from the clutches of the killer disease. for them.

In the views of the Chief Executive Officer/Medical Director, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Lagos, Dr. Chukwumere Nwogu "If you are dealing with stage 4 of the most advanced types of cancer, anywhere in the world, your treatment results are going to be poor and that is a major issue in Nigeria."

Nwogu said early detection and treatment guarantees better outcomes, hence increases the survival rates like in the developed world. The Professor of Oncology said cancer deaths are 15-20 times higher than estimated.

Decrying the state of cancer treatment in the country, he said, presently, Nigeria has no viable cancer registry that is operational, adding that, a lot of cases in rural setting go unrecorded because the people do not have money to even report to health facilities.

"We do have a challenge with ignorance or lack of education on knowledge about cancer. Some people, when they are diag-

BRIEFING: From left:: Associate Professor of Oncology and Assistant Professor of Immunology at Rosewell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Thomas Schwaab; CEO/Medical Director, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Dr. Chukwumere Nwogu; and Board Member, Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Paul Onwuanibe; with Professor of Haematology, Ibironke Akinsete at a media briefing on Understand, Prevent & Cure Cancer by Lakeshore Cancer Centre in Lagos recently. nosed with cancer, even when it can be treated successfully, consider it a death sentence. They don't go to get the appropriate treatment. Sometimes, they may even result to prayer houses."

"There is nothing wrong with being a 'faithful' person, but it is very important that along with our faith we should also seek medical care."

Considering that 30 percent of cancers are preventable, and another 30 percent

treatable if detected early, medical experts are currently focusing on prevention, which is achievable through routine screening.

"Early detection via screening is something we at the Lakeshore Cancer Centre are promoting heavily." he noted.

"Another major reason why death from cancer is high is the exorbitant cost of treatment. Many cancer survivors seek fund for treatment from government, public and private agencies several non-government

organisations, among others. The practice in the country is that affected persons go 'cap in hand' to source for fund, considering that only a few can afford the high cost of treatment.

Nwogu who spoke during the Meet and Greet/ Facility tour of Lakeshore Cancer Centre, Lagos recently, said the centre is committed to promoting early cancer detection, screening and prompt treatment.

According to him, the Centre is an operational facility that is solely dedicated to the prevention, education and treatment of cancer in Nigeria. Lakeshore is affiliated with the Rosewell Park Centre Institute (RPCI) that is located in Buffalo, New York, which is similarly committed to the global eradication of cancer.

On prevention, he explained that there are some general principles that are applicable to cancer, "We know that having a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial. Cologne cancer can be caused by red meats, fatty foods. In general healthy diet and regular exercise is very necessary. Cigarette and tobacco smoking can be the greatest cause of cancer and at such, they should be totally avoided.

"Support group, counselling should be established to help people quit cigarette smoking. There are some conditions that can be detected before it becomes cancerous. Cervical cancer is the most common in Nigeria, but it can easily be detected before it becomes cancerous. When there are changes in the cervix of a woman that is also a good sign to detect cancer. These detections are quite affordable and the government can afford to pay for them all over Nigeria."

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015 — 51

Russian plane may have been bombed — US, UK

•Flights from Britain to Egypt suspended

T

HE United States and United Kingdon intelligence believed that the Russian plane that crashed in Egypt at the weekend may have been bombed.

This is even as the Downing Street also said that the plane was brought down by an explosive device.

All flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh have been suspended on yesterday evening as UK experts assess security at the Egyptian airport.

Number 10 said flights had been delayed as a “precautionary measure” after “more information has come to light”.

Russian Airbus 321 crashed on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board.

“We would underline that this is a precautionary step and we are working closely with the airlines on this approach,” a Number 10 spokesman said.

Aviation experts are travelling to Egypt to make an assessment of the security arrangements at the Egyp-

tian airport and expect to complete an investigation tonight.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said the delays would allow UK experts time to make sure “the right security measures are in place”.

“We can not categorically say why the Russia jet crashed but we have become concerned that the plan may well have been brought down as a result of an explosive device,” he said.

Romanian Prime Minister resigns over nightclub fire

R

OMANIAN Prime Minister Victor Ponta has resigned after some 20,000 people took to the streets to protest over a nightclub fire that killed 32 people.

Friday night’s blaze in Bucharest started when a band performing at the club set off fireworks inside.

Demonstrators called for Mr Ponta to step down, complaining of government corruption and poor safety supervision.

“I’m handing in my mandate, I’m resigning, and implicitly my government too,” Mr Ponta said in a statement.

“I hope the government’s resignation will satisfy the people who came out in the streets,” he added.

In September, Mr Ponta became the first sitting Romanian prime minister to go on trial charged with corruption. He faces allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

He denies the charges and has accused prosecutors of being “totally unprofessional”.

The protesters have also demanded the resignation of the mayor of the Bucharest district where the night-

N Afghan woman has been stoned to death after being accused of adultery in a remote western province controlled by the Taliban, according to local media.

The video of the stoning in Ghor province came out late on Monday and has been widely discussed on social media in Afghanistan with many people appalled by the scenes.

A

Danish national accused of assault for mutilating several women and keeping their removed clitorises in his freezer appeared in a South African court on Wednesday to fight for bail.

Peter Frederiksen, a 63year-old gun shop owner, was arrested in the central city of Bloemfontein in September after his wife told police that he assaulted her and mutilated her genitals.

When police searched Frederiksen’s modest brick townhouse, they discovered more than ten frozen pieces from at least seven female genitals, as well as pornographic photographs of children, investigators have said.

His diaries from 2004 recounting genital mutilation

•Peter Frederiksen sits in the accused dock ahead of his bail application at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s court on November 4, 2015.

on women were also found, along with anaesthetic drugs, surgical equipment, and two pieces of dried female genitals hung on a hook. Frederiksen’s wife, Anna Matseliso Molise, 28, was set to be the state’s key witness before she was

gunned down last month outside her house in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, a two-hour drive from Bloemfontein.

Before her death, she told police she was drugged with laced champagne when she was mutilated.

Dozens killed in S/Sudan plane crash

•Romanian protesters, who took to the streets of Buchrest and other cities demanding for the resignation of the Prime Minister Victor Ponta. club fire occurred and the country’s Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea.

Mr Oprea, the leader of Romania’s junior ruling coalition party, the UNPR, remains in his position.

President Klaus Iohannis

will name an interim prime minister, before launching talks with political parties about forming a new government. Mr Ponta has said he will stay on until an interim successor is in place.

Jeb Bush apologises for French work jibe

U

S presidential hope ful Jeb Bush has apologised to France for referencing their working week to insult a rival.

In light-hearted comments to reporters, Mr Bush said he had done a

Afghan woman stoned to death for ‘adultery’

A

Danish man in S/African court over female genitals kept in freezer

Governor of the province has attested to the authenticity of the video.

Governor Sima Joyenda told Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty Afghanistan that the killing took place in the village of Ghalmin.

The stoning occurred around six days ago after the local tribal council found her guilty of having premarital sex with her fiancé, officials told DPA agency.

“disservice to the French” by using them to mock Marco Rubio’s senate voting record.

“I made the mistake of saying that the Congress operates on a French work week,” he was reported as saying.

He said he had since learned that the French work longer hours than the Germans do.

“So, my God, I totally insulted an entire country our first ally - that helped us become free as a nation!” Mr Bush said, according to Time magazine.

Mr Bush made the original comments during a Republican presidential debate last week.

The former Florida governor asked Mr Rubio whether the Senate ran on French time and if lawmakers only had to show up for three days weekly.

•The wreckage of crashed South Sudan plane, which resulted in the death of dozens yesterday.

A

cargo plane has crashed on take-off near the international airport in South Sudan’s capital Juba, with at least 25 people killed.

There are fears the death toll may climb. A presidential spokesman told journalists there were at least three survivors.

It is not yet known how

many were killed on the plane, or on the ground.

The Antonov An-12 plane was heading to Paloch, Upper Nile State, and crashed 800m (half a mile)

Opposition in Zanzibar to boycott inauguration of Tanzania’s President

O

PPOSITION leaders in

Egypt’s President defends sweeping security laws

P

RESIDENT Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has defended Egypt’s sweeping security laws, insisting he is still taking the country on a path to democracy.

Ahead of a visit to the UK, Mr Sisi told the BBC that Egypt was threatened by extremist groups and feared the collapses suffered by its neighbours.

He underlined that Egypt’s situation was different to that of Europe.

The retired field marshal led the army’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013 following mass protests.

Since then, more than 1,000 people have been

from the runway.

There are conflicting reports on the number of casualties, with Reuters quoting a police officer and a witness saying they had seen 41 bodies.

The AFP news agency quoted a Red Cross official who said 36 bodies had been collected and taken to hospital.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said the plane was carrying 18 people, including six crew members, and three of them - including a child - had survived. He said the passengers were all from South Sudan.

killed and 40,000 are believed to have been jailed in a crackdown on dissent.

Most of them have been supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, but secular and liberal activists have also been prosecuted for breaking a 2013 anti-protest law that gives the interior ministry the power to ban any gathering of more than 10 people.

“We want to carry out the will of the Egyptian people,” he said. “They have been calling for change for four years. We want to honour their choice and will do our best to achieve a better democratic future for them.”

Zanzibar said Wednesday they would not take part in celebrations for the inauguration of Tanzania’s new president John Magufuli, after elections were annulled on the islands.

Several African leaders are due Thursday in the economic capital Dar es Salaam for Magufuli’s swearing in, including the African Union chairman, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and regional heads of state.

Ruling party candidate John Magufuli won Tanzania’s hotly contested presidential elections with over 58 percent of votes, cementing the longrunning Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s firm grip on power.

Samia Suluhu Hassan, who comes from Zanzibar, will become Tanzania’s first ever female vice president.

52 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Grassroot development is priority for Kaduna State —Commissioner

K

ADUNA State com missioner for Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Daniel Amuze Danauta said yesterday in Kaduna that “the empowerment of youths by and with sports is a priority for the

Malam El Rufai government in Kaduna State.”

Speaking at an informal opening of the NNPC Junior Tennis Championship taking place at the Murtala Square, Hon. Danauta said that the impact of

the junior tennis development driven by NNPC, CBN, SNEPCo and others is there for all to see.

“The Kaduna State government will continue to support institutions like the International Tennis Academy which has taken the bull by the horn to ensure that our boys and girls prosper through sports.”

Nigeria, Mexico in titanic showdown Continues from BP losses at the last tournament. “The Mexicans are a very good side and their performance so far at Chile 2015 is an indication that they have a very solid structure back home,” he noted.

“But we are working to ensure that the players are mentally ready for this big match.”

Both teams have met three times at this competition with Nigeria winning two and Mexico winning one.

Their first meeting was at the second edition of the competition in Canada in 1987, which Mexico beat Nigeria 1-0 in a group match.

Nigeria beat Mexico at the UAE 2013 twice, 6-1 in the group stage

Blatter

Continues from BP Saturday.

The 36-foot (11-metre) tall effigy - which shows Blatter carrying wads of cash, the World Cup and a football - will be stuffed with oil-soaked newspapers, packed with fireworks and set ablaze. It was erected in a field on Wednesday with the help of a tractor.

“We let Edenbridge decide who our Celebrity Guy should be this year, and they were pretty clear who they thought it should be,” Jon Mitchell, a spokesman for the Edenbridge Bonfire Society, said.

“Sepp polled 37% of the public’s vote in our online poll - three times more than his nearest rival, David Cameron.

There have been loads of positive comments and likes on our Facebook page already today and Twitter has been really busy, too. It seems we have caught the public’s opinion.”

Blatter has been suspended from Fifa as part of the fall-out from a US Department of Justice investigation into bribery, money-laundering and wire fraud at the sport’s governing body.

The 79-year-old had

and 3-0 in the final.

Sunday’s clash will be a clash between one of the most potent attacks at this World Cup against one of the tightest defences.

The coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led Eaglets are a high scoring side having netted 17 times in the competition, while the Mexicans have a very solid defensive record so far in Chile having conceded just two goals.

Eight-goal Victor Osimhen led attack line have a big task in their hands to get the goals, while Mexico defenders will have their hands full to stop the rampaging Eaglets strike force, who though will be missing Funsho Bamiboye, who is suspended. initially been set to remain in his post until next year, despite a string of arrests of top Fifa officials, until a group of major sponsors issued coordinated calls for him to go. Blatter was suspended a few days later.

Fifa, which Blatter ran for 17 years, is engulfed in the biggest scandal of its history, with 14 football officials and sports marketing executives indicted by the United States.

Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini are both serving 90-day suspensions imposed by Fifa’s Ethics Committee, which is looking into a £1.3million payment Blatter made to Platini in 2011 - a case that is also part of a separate Swiss criminal investigation.

The Edenbridge ceremony sees a leading public figure burned in effigy, after some indiscretion or controversy.

Traditionally, political figures such as Tony Blair have been selected, but sport has provided two effigies in recent years.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong’s exposure as a doper saw him burned in 2012.

*Yakmut

Siasia faces selection headache T

WO weeks of con trasting fortunes for U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has ended with sheer headache on which players he should pick for the pre-Africa U23 Cup of Nations camp in Morocco.

Last week, it was a frustrated Siasia who cried out that his camp was empty due to clubs’ incessant demand for their players to report for club duties. This week, the story has changed as the former Super Eagles’ Head Coach is now faced with the problem of selecting the 30 players who will make his list to Morocco where the team will have a final camping before proceeding to Senegal for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting on 28 November.

All invited 35 home -

No injury worries Continues from BP The Golden Eaglets head coach said on Wednesday from Chile that his charges are gearing up for the big showdown with the Mexicans..

“I’ve always believed that our journey in this championship lies in the hands of God Almighty,” offers Amuneke from the team’s base in Chile.

“It’s God that has taken us this far and we believe he can still do more for us especially with Nigerians standing behind us with prayers.

“It’s our determination to bring something worth celebrating for Nigerians at the end of the championship and the players are committed to doing just that”.

Amuneke said they are focused ahead the semi final confrontation with Mexico. “We are at a very crucial stage of the competition which calls for focus.

“Mexico is a strong side, we already know that a tough game lies ahead of us.

“The good thing is that all the players are looking forward to the game.

“Most importantly, we don’t have any injury concerns in the team, all the players are available for the match. “There could be minor knocks and shocks which are part of the game but the good thing is that none is enough to rule any of the players out of the game against Mexico”, Amuneke said

based players were at the team’s training session on Tuesday evening, with competition intense as all struggled to impress as the list of 30 is soon to be compiled. The session was so charged that Siasia himself had to tell the players to take things easy so as to avoid injuries.

Expressing satisfaction with the players in camp, an elated Siasia said: “For now, all I can say is that I am very happy with what I have seen as the players came back from their club engagements fully refreshed and ready to do the nation proud. The NFF has also responded positively to my cry for the release of these players so we can prepare properly for the big task of picking one of Africa’s tickets for the football event of next year ’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I must confess that selecting the 30 players who will be departing the shores of this country for Morocco is giving myself and my assistants real headache, but this

Chile 1987 and I don’t want to be bothered about that,” said the straight –talking 1994 African Footballer of the Year about Nigeria-Brazil clash of October 11, 1987. “But that said, we can’t afford to lose (at the same venue) to Mexico and this is an important game for us.”

Nigeria and Mexico have only met thrice at the FIFA U-17 World Cup,with the Baby El Tri claiming a 1-0 win in a group phase match at Canada 1987 while the Golden Eaglets had the upper hand twice in 2013, when they walloped the Mexicans 6-1 and 3-0 in the group phase and the championship’s Final Match respectively.

Amuneke reckons that the Golden Eaglets must, therefore, be at their best

is a positive headache which at the end of the day will enable us select only the best that will fly the nation’s flag with gusto.”

Osimhen

Continues from BP way to goal and has great techinique for a big centre-forward. He could also drift to the wings to create space for his teammates.

Manchester City signed Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali and Musa Yahaya was reportedly engaged by Tottenham Hotspur when Nigeria won a record fourth U17 World Cup two years ago.

Mexico coach slams Nigeria, Mali Eaglets have been outContinues from BP

too as he claimed that the two African teams in Chile could not possibly be U-17 players.

Gutiérrez was in charge when the 2013 set of Eaglets beat Mexico twice en-route to being crowned champions in the United Arab Emirates.

And while the Golden

'Eaglets will avoid Chile ‘87 debacle' Continues from BP FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 1987.

Twenty -eight years after what was called the ‘Chile Debacle’ by a section of the Nigerian media, the Golden Eaglets will hoist the Nigerian flag in Concepción yet again for a crunch semifinal match against Mexico at the on –going FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015, with the winner guaranteed a slot in the final match slated for Sunday in Vina del Mar. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said the unfortunate loss by the Flying Eagles 28 years ago in Concepción will be an added motivation to guide the Golden Eaglets against defeat to the Baby El Tri on Thursday.

“Sincerely, I can’t remember anything about

*Siasia

against the Baby El Tri who will be hard pressed to avenge their losses at the last tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Mexicans are a very good side and their performance so far at Chile 2015 is an indication that they have a very solid structure back home,” he noted. “But we are working to ensure that the players are mentally ready for this big match.”

Meanwhile, Amuneke was honoured on Tuesday with an award by the Chiguayante community in Concepcion. The award, according to the organizers, was in recognition of the Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach’s feat in leading a team to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup Chile 2015.

standing at the ongoing tournament in Chile, Gutiérrez suggests that there is much to meet the eye as he posited that the Eaglets aside their physical attributes take decisions that are not expected of true U-17 players.

Gutiérrez also made same accusation against the Mali team that have also booked their place in the semi final.

“It’s the same with the Nigeria team, so with Mali, that beyond their physical development, decisions made by many of their players are not of an U-17 player ’’ the coach told mediotiempo.com.

Despite his fears, Gutiérrez said he believes Mexico can beat Nigeria when both countries meet in the semi-finals on Thursday (12a.m. Friday, Nigeria time), but admitted that it will be difficult. “Sure we can beat them. I think Mexico can have a good result on Thursday.

“In football nothing is written, everyone already knows that the game will be complex.

We will face an opponent with a winning record, but you must play the game, the matches are defined on the field and we have to think that way,” says Gutiérrez.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015—53

Benzema in police net over sex tape

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ARIM Benzema has been arrested after being accused of blackmail related to a sex tape featuring fellow player Mathieu Valbuena.

The Real Madrid and France forward arrived at the police station in Versailles, near Paris, early on Wednesday and was placed in detention, the local prosecutor confirmed to AFP, without giving further information.

Investigators are trying determine the extent to which Benzema was aware of the intimate video featuring Valbuena, which

Benzema found its way into the hands of blackmailers.

According to the source, Benzema mentioned the sex tape to Valbuena dur-

ing a meeting of the French team in early October.

It is thought one of Benzema’s relatives was contacted by the suspected blackmailers with a view to involving the footballer in their scheme, the source said.

Police are seeking to determine whether he was teasing Valbuena when he mentioned the tape, or trying to make him pay the blackmailers.

Benzema, 27, was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer but opted to stay at Real Madrid.

Diack under investigation for corruption

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AMINE Diack, the former IAAF president, has been placed under investigation as part of a corruption and aggravated money-laundering investigation and is suspecting of taking at least •200,000 from Russia Athletics to cover up positive doping tests, French authorities have said.

The news comes on the day it was revealed that French police also raided the offices of athletics’ governing body in Monaco and took away caches of documents.On a sobering day for the IAAF, Gabriel Dollé, the former director of its medical and anti-doping department – making him the most senior antidoping official in the sport until he left the IAAF last year – has been taken into custody in Nice.

Meanwhile Habib Cissé, a senior legal adviser to Diack at the IAAF, was also placed under investigation for corruption by judges acting on evidence provid-

•Lamine Diack hands over the reins of power to Sebastian Coe in August ed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The investigation by French police into the IAAF is believed to centre on the case of the Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova, who last year alleged that two members of the Russian Athletics Federation extorted $450,000 from her in return for covering up a positive test.

“God knows what’s going on there,” the Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko told the news agency Tass on Wednesday. “We’ve

already said that our federation had problems. The old management isn’t working there anymore. Understand that there are a lot of criminal cases going on in the world right now and those are unclear cases.”

Last December the Guardian broke the story that Dollé, whose job was to oversee all anti-doping-related aspects in the sport and to liaise with Wada and other national anti-doping agencies, had left the IAAF after being questioned by its ethics commission.

•William Ndoumbe in jersey No 9 of Lagos Islanders trying to dribble Goke Abiona in jersey No 5 of Oluyole Warrior during the DStv Basketball League held at Landmark Center, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. Lagos Islander won by 93-60, recently. Photo: Akeem Salau

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

Mikel is part of Chelsea’s problem, says club legend C HELSEA great, Alan Hudson has argued that John Obi Mikel was one of the factors responsible for Chelsea’s slump in their current campaigns.

Mikel, lately has been in action regularly following the gross under-performance of first-choice midfield pair Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic.

However, Mikel has failed to impress and it’s perhaps little coincidence that some of his appearances for the Blues have coincided with their poorest results of the campaign.

Mikel was started in the 3-1 loss to Everton, the 2-1 away defeat to FC Porto in the Champions League, the Capital One Cup elimination at the hands of Stoke City and last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Liverpool.

He also featured for 45 minutes in the Blues’ 2-1 loss away at West Ham United.

Hudson, who began his career with Chelsea, and

A

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S

TEVEN GERRARD could be set for a stunning return to Liverpool.

Boss Jurgen Klopp has held talks with the Anfield legend after his season with LA Galaxy came to an end.

It is understood Gerrard, who left his boyhood club last summer, is willing to train with the Reds.

And Klopp would welcome Gerrard’s positive influence on the training ground as he tries to turn Liverpool’s fortunes.

Gerrard, 35, left England at the end of last season to follow in the footsteps of David Beckham at LA Galaxy.

That campaign came to a premature end when they lost to Seattle in the MLS play-off round on Thursday.

played there for six years, believes that sub-par players like Mikel and under performing striker Diego Costa are the chief reason why the West Londoners are struggling this season.

“I think they need a facelift. You can’t carry on with players like John Obi Mikel, you need better players than that in midfield,” Hudson told Reuters.

“They need a clearout of players. Branislav Ivanovic has been tremendous for them but he seems to have hit a brick wall at right back.”

“When they bought Pedro from Barcelona at the start of the season I thought it would give Chelsea more width, with him on one side and Eden Hazard on the other, and they would open their game out a bit.

“They play through the middle too much and rely on Diego Costa up front too much. Costa, in my opinion, is nowhere near as good as people make him out to be.”

Al Ain fans boo misfiring Emenike section of Al Ain fans jeered Nigerian striker, Emmanuel Emenike when he was substituted in the team’s last league game against Al Jazira.

Emenike’s club won the game 2-0 and the defending champions are currently top of the Arabian Gulf League.

However, Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic has risen stoutly to the defence of the striker, who recently quit international football.

“I cannot be happy with the reaction of some people. We won, we played fantastic and some people criticised Emenike,” Dalic said.

“Please, our fans, be patient, give time, give everyone a chance, to me, to my team, to Emenike.

It’s not easy, but we didn’t deserve this reaction, especially after the Jazira game. It was very bad.

“I understand our fans always want a fantastic performance, always five goals. It’s not possible.

Please, support our team and our players will play better. In the last game, in front of 15,000 people,

Gerrard eyes Liverpool return

my players were fantastic. I expect it to always be like this and they support our team.

“The last game we won Emenike was part of our victory. For me, he played very well, did a great job, but only missed scoring a goal. Maybe it was Emenike’s best performance for me. I know everyone expects more goals, expects him to be a replacement for Asamoah Gyan. As I told you on his first day, it’s not easy to replace Gyan.

•Emenike

Gerrard

•John Obi Mikel.... Under fire at Chelsea

Olympic qualifier: Siasia faces selection headache T

WO weeks of con trasting fortunes for U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has ended with sheer headache on which players he should pick for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations camp in Morocco.

Last week, it was a frustrated Siasia who cried out that his camp was empty

due to clubs’ incessant demand for their players to report for club duties. This week, the story has changed as the former Super Eagles’ Head Coach is now faced with the problem of selecting the 30 players who will make his list to Morocco where the team will have a final camping before proceeding to Senegal for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting on 28 November.

All invited 35 home based players were at the team’s training session on Tuesday evening, with competition intense as all struggled to impress as the list of 30 is soon to be compiled. The session was so charged that Siasia himself had to tell the players to take things easy so as to avoid injuries.

Expressing satisfaction with the players in camp, an elated Siasia said: “For now, all I can say is that I am very happy with what I have seen as the players

came back from their club engagements fully refreshed and ready to do the nation proud. The NFF has also responded positively to my cry for the release of these players so we can prepare properly for the big task of picking one of Africa’s tickets for the football event of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I must confess that selecting the 30 players who will bedepartingtheshoresofthis countryforMoroccoisgiving myself and my assistants real headache, but this is a positive headache which at the end of the day will enable us select only the best that will fly the nation’s flag with gusto.”

Meanwhile, the Dream Team will on Thursday at the National Stadium, Abuja trade tackles with newly promoted NPFL club Niger Tornadoes of Minna. The encounter is expected to kick off at 4pm. On Saturday morning, the team will engage C.O.D FC of Lagos.

Trabzonspor boss banned for locking up ref

T

HE Trabzonspor president, Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu, and several members of his board have been given lengthy suspensions after a referee was locked in his dressing room at the club’s stadium.

Haciosmanoglu was angered by Cagatay Sahan’s decision not to award his team a penalty late in last Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Gaziantepspor and ordered Sahan and his assistants to be locked in overnight. They were released when Turkey ’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, intervened.

“I told stadium security not to let the referees leave until the morning, until I arrived, but a very important person called me and asked me not to cause embarrassment in Turkey and around the world,” Haciosmanoglu told the Dogan news agency at the time.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015— —55

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015

FIFA U-17 S/final cracker:

Nigeria, Mexico in titanic showdown Kick-off: 12 a.m.

I

T will be a Titanic bat tle when Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets battle Mexico in a FIFA U17 World Cup semi-final today.

Nigeria are looking forward to successfully defend the World Cup and continue their superior-

Blatter’s effigy to be burnt S

EPP Blatter h a s been afforded the dubious honour of being burned in effigy at one of Britain’s biggest Bonfire festivals.

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society have announced that they will make theFifa president their ‘Guy’ at the ceremony, which takes place on

*Blatter’s effigy

Eaglets will avoid Chile ‘87 debacle –Amuneke

T

HE city of Concepción and Estadio Municipal for that matter has gone down in the history of Nigerian football as the venue where the country’s starstudded U-20 squad of 1987 met their waterloo following a humiliating 4-0 loss to Brazil at the Continues on Page 52

Continues on Page 52

EPL Club tempts Osimhen with one million Pounds

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IFA U17 World Cup leading scorer Victor Osimhen could be the next Golden Eaglet star to hit the English Premier League after a club there offered to pay for the player from Ultimate Strikers Academy starting from a million pounds.

Osimhen, 17 in December, has scored eight goals as Nigeria romped to a seventh semi-final in the U17 World Cup. “An un-named EPL side are willing to splash the cash for Osimhen.

They want to start the

bidding from a million pounds,” a top source familiar with this interest disclosed.

Osimhen knows his Continues on Page 52

•Osiemhen

No injury worries

•Amuneke

Mexico coach slams Nigeria, Mali as age cheats A

P PA R E N T LY stunned by the artistry of defending champions, Golden Ea-

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

ity over Mexico, who were runners-up in the last edition in UAE two years ago.

Amuneke said his team must be at their best against the Baby El Tri, who will be hard pressed to avenge their Continues on Page 52

glets in the on-going FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, former Mexico U17 coach, Raul Gutierrez

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

has accused the Nigerian wonder-kids of doing things no real U-17 play-

er could do with the ball.

He did not spare Mali Continues on Page 52

G

OLDEN Eaglets head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed happiness that there are no injury concerns in his team ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup semi-final clash against Mexico on Friday morning.

Continues on Page 52

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 2 Feeling (5) 7 Demon (5) 8 Of towns (5) 10 Jacket (5) 12 Consume (3) 13 Pointed (5) 15 Gave (7) 17 Led (6) 19 Married (3) 20 Erased (7) 23 Greedy (4) 25 Cupola (4) 26 Coaxed (7) 30 Intelligence (3) 31 Proper (6) 34 Spanned (7) 37 Cash (5) 38 Each (3) 39 Sag (5) 40 Enquired (5) 41 Principle (5) 42 Rate (5)

DOWN 1 Contradict (5) 2 Located (5) 3 Evaded (6) 4 Spoke (4) 5 Feared (7) 6 Subsequently (5) 9 Club (3) 11 Cringed (7) 13 Onwards (5) 14 Sorcery (5) 16 Entrap (3) 18 Dedicated (7) 21 Twelve (5) 22 God (5) 24 Loitered (7) 27 Dance (3) 28 Relegate (6) 29 Accident (5) 32 Managed (5) 33 Not ever (4) 35 Kind (3) 36 Ooze (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Across: 1, Close 5, Clever 8, Enrol 10, Parade 11, Arid 14, Nature 15. Halcyon 18, Pep 19, Van 21, Deft 23, Revel 24, Poor 27, Rag 29, Pet 31, Layette 32, Dealer 34, Lane 35, Eluded 38, Alder 39, Defend 40, Deity.

Down: 2, Lea 3, Search 4, End 5, Clan 6, Exited 7, Repeat 9, Recover 12, Rap 13, Dupe 16, Alto 17, Naval 20, Negated 22, Flat 24, Padded 25, Opal 26, Relate 28, Secure 30, Ten 33, Read 36, Led 37, Eft.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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C M Y K

Thursday Back Page 4/11/2015