We're ready for polls — INEC

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62336

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Elumelu at the Vatican

Tony O. Elumelu, Founder, the Tony Elumelu Foundation; discussing global education reform with Pope Francis during the Scholars World Congress hosted by the Pope in the Vatican, yesterday.

TONY ELUMELU: The man who dared to be different 53

We're ready for polls — INEC

By Ben Agande

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BUJA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, reiterated its readiness for the forthcoming general elections even as strong pressures were brought on its National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega by contending forces at the National Council of State, NCS, Continues on Page 6

•Consider implications — Security, PDP 60 •What transpired at the Council of State meeting reasons I won't vote Jonathan,

by Soyinka >>11 COLUMNIST:

2015 ELECTIONS: Some specific issues cleverly avoided •P.28

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Mr & Mrs NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING—From left, former Heads of State — Chief Ernest Sonekan, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Representatives, and Senate President, David Mark during the National Council of State meeting held at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Inset: From left: President Goodluck Jonathan, Shagari and Babangida, discussig after the meeting. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida/State House.

NON-REMITTANCE OF N251.6BN:

Forensic audit report indicts NNPC, NPDC

>>8

Tinubu vs Bode George:

It's battle royale

•See pull-out inside

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6—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

POCKET CARTOON have insisted that a clear message should be given to Nigerians that the council was not divided on the issue and that the commission should be charged to go ahead with its statutory responsibility as it deemed fit.

At the end of the sevenhour meeting, Governors Rochas Okorocha, (Imo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Bala Ngilari (Adamawa) were asked to brief the press on the outcome of the council meeting.

CAMPAIGN—From left: Umar Nasko, PDP governorship candidate,

Niger State; President Goodluck Jonathan, and Namadi Sambo, Vice Official statement President, during the presidential campaign rally in Minna, Niger State.

We're ready for polls —INEC Continues from Page 1 to shift the polls by six weeks.

Jega, who, insisted on holding the election as scheduled was, however, countered by service chiefs present at the meeting who, according to sources, told him that they could not guarantee security for the election.

At the end of the meeting, the commission was told to go and conduct its responsibility within its legal framework.

The commission is meeting tomorrow to review the developments, sources said.

However, Mr. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman told Vanguard, last night, that nothing new had come up.

All former heads of state with the notable exception of former President Olusegun Obasanjo were present at the meeting which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Those in attendance included Vice President Namadi Sambo, the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark; Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, governors,

and two former chief justices of the countryJustice Dahiru Musdapher and Justice Alfa Belgore.

As the meeting got underway, Jega briefed the council on his readiness for the election and was said to have confidently asserted the readiness of the commission for the election.

He was, however, countered by the service chiefs who claimed that they could not provide security for the elections.

The service chiefs were said to have volunteered that at least 17 local government areas in Borno State were still under the occupation of terrorists.

In support of polls as scheduled All former heads of state with the exception of President Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan, who reportedly did not comment, were said to have advised that the elections should not be postponed.

President Ibrahim Babangida, it was

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” Fill your mind with life-affirming thoughts and tomorrow will find you farther along the Beauty Way — James Allen STAYING motivated is a struggle, our drive is constantly assaulted by negative thoughts and anxiety about the future. Everyone faces doubt and depression. What separates the highly successful is the ability to keep moving forward.

There is no simple solution for a lack of motivation.

Even after beating it, the problem reappears at the first sign of failure. The key is understanding your thoughts and how they drive your emotions. By learning how to nurture motivating thoughts, neutralize negative ones, and focus on the task at hand, you can pull yourself out of a slump before it gains momentum.

gathered, warned that disrupting the elections would show a negative portrayal of the country and his point was echoed

by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

While the PDP governors urged for a postponement, the APC governors strongly backed Jega on going ahead with the election.

A former Chief Justice of the Federation present, it was learned, also told the meeting that he had consulted all the other living former chief justices and that they were all unanimous that the elections should go on.

Call for polls shift But those who called for postponement, notably incumbent political office holders from the PDP, were said to have raised issues with INEC’s plans. Among the issues raised were that 34% of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs had not been collected and the unreliability of the card readers. The PDP governors, it was learned, argued that the card readers being deployed for the election had never been tested before and that they feared that using them could lead to chaos.

However, the major contention was that security could not be guaranteed and that point was pressed both by the service chiefs and the PDP governors.

As the arguments drew to an end with majority of the members urging that the commission should go ahead as scheduled, the president was said to have asked Jega to go and consult with his commissioners in the light of the discussions.

At this point, Gen. Abdulsalami was said to

Governor Mimiko who spoke first at the press conference stated: “Council of State in a meeting close to seven hours essentially discussed the state of preparedness of INEC. INEC had the benefit of inputs from council members and security chiefs and agencies.

He said: “And based on the very exhaustive discussion and pieces of advice, INEC which is constitutionally empowered on the issue of election on the basis of discussions at the council was asked to brief the nation after consultation with other stakeholders and then the news will be communicated to you”.

Asked if the council agreed to a shift in the date of the election, Governor Mimiko said: “I made it absolutely clear, I am not the INEC chief, INEC will appropriately brief you based on the meeting we just had.

“INEC is going to consult widely with stakeholders and come up with a decision that they will brief the nation soon”.

Mimiko emphasised that “the Council of State is essentially an advisory body. M r.

President in his wisdom has invited INEC to brief us on the state of preparedness based on what INEC briefed and based on perception of council members and security agencies, INEC was properly advised and you will hear from INEC”.

Governor Okorocha, who was seated beside him, insisted that he must speak in order to give a broader perspective on the decision reached by the council. He told State House Correspondents: “National Council of State advised INEC to go and perform its civic responsibility which is to conduct elections. That is what we rose to agree, it was a very challenging moment, and INEC has reaffirmed severally that they are ready, but because of concerns of

security agencies in some few local governments, Council asked INEC to go and perform their civic responsibilities, which is the conduct of elections."

Asked if there was a decision as to change of date for the polls, Governor Okorocha said: “There is no decision as to change of date or postponement at all. But the Council has asked INEC to go and perform their responsibility."

On whether council agreed on the use of temporary voter cards, he said: “The temporary voters cards are being exchanged for the new ones and once you have given out your temporary voters card, that means you don’t have any more. So they are going for the permanent voter cards, and the PVC would be assumed to have been distributed before Sunday that was the essence of the whole exercise, and Jega has reassured us that they are equal to the task, infact, they are more prepared than they were in 2011".

Asked if the report of alleged resignation of Jega was tabled, Okorocha said: “No there was nothing like that discussed”.

He acknowledged that the PDP and APC governors are not on the same page on the matter.

“As usual we will not be on the same page on any issues of this nature. It is normal that some will be for and others will be against, but the truth is that we looked at the constitution of Nigeria, that is the only binding factor when there are issues of disagreement.

The constitution guides every one because that is the fundamental law that guides the whole nation’s policies” .

He, however, emphasised that the APC expects the elections to hold as scheduled.

Governors in attendance were those of Adamawa, Borno (represented by the Deputy Governor), Kano, Osun, Imo, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Anambra and Abia

(deputy governor). Others were governors of Taraba,Niger, Lagos, Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers, Kaduna, Enugu,Ogun, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kwara, Katsina, Ondo, Plateau, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Edo, Delta, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo (deputy governor) Gombe.

The president of the senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives were also in attendance. Others in attendance were the Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed, Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (Ret).

Earlier, before the commencement of the meeting, a mild drama played out when General Muhammadu Buhari initially refused to join the president and other former heads of state in the president’s office as it is the tradition. It took the intervention of the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, the State Chief of Protocol, Senator Mark as well as the Principal Secretary to the President, Hassan Tukur to persuade him to join the other former heads of state.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Governors Forum have expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Council of State meeting.

A communiqué signed

by Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Chairman of the forum expressed satisfaction with the assurance issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the National Security Adviser, NSA on the state of preparedness for the 14th and 28th February General elections.

The Communiqué said: “The Chairman of INEC assured Council that INEC is ready to proceed with elections scheduled emphasizing, in their own words, that ‘our accomplishments are to such a degree that we can conduct the elections. Compared with the 2011 General Elections."

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By Clara Nwachukwu, Michael Eboh & Grace Udofia

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BUJA — PriceWaterHouseCoopers, PWC’s, Forensic Audit Report has indicted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, for failing to remit about $1.48 billion or N251.6 billion into the Federation Account between January 2012 and July 2013.

The report equally discovered that the NPDC, the corporation’s production unit, owed about $2.2 billion in royalty and petroleum profit tax, PPT, while also querying the payment of $3.38 billion to NNPC as kerosene subsidy These were part of the highlights contained in the audit, which looked into allegations of unremitted funds into the Federation Account by the NNPC during the period in review, as presented yesterday in Abuja, by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura.

However, the report failed to state the maximum amount to be remitted by the NNPC and NPDC.

Immediate reaction

While the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, who is also the Chairman of the NNPC Board, has directed the corporation to defray the outstanding $1.48 billion as well as the NPDC signature bonuses and taxes, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the industry regulator whose duty it is to collect these fees on behalf of government, as yet has no defence for its official negligence.

Alison-Madueke’s prompt directive to NNPC is being interpreted as an acceptance of the validity of the PWC report, while analysts insist it is an admission of guilt.

Recall that that the forensic audit is the fallout of former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s explosive revelation that the NNPC had not remitted about $20 billion to the Federation Account, sequel to his suspension from office in March last year.

Sanusi, now Emir of Kano, had told a Senate Committee on Finance that the NNPC had failed to remit $20 billion to the Federation Account out of the $67 billion it realised from crude oil sale on behalf of the Federal Government.

Audit findings

The report put total gross revenues generated from crude oil liftings at $69.34 billion and not $67 billion as earlier stated by the Senate Reconciliation Committee for the review period, while total cash remitted into the Federation Account in relation to crude oil liftings was $50.81 billion and not $47 billion as

Forensic audit report indicts NNPC for non-remittance of N251.6bn earlier stated by the Senate Committee.

PWC, however, recommended that the NNPC and NPDC be made to refund a minimum of $1.48 billion to the Federation Account.

The PWC report also indicted the NNPC for its unsustainable operating model, which it said had made it difficult for it to meet its monthly remittances to the Federation Account.

The report maintained: “The corporation operates an unsustainable model. Forty-six per cent of proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues for the review period were spent on operations and subsidies. The corporation is unable to sustain monthly remittances to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, and also meet its operational costs entirely from the proceeds of domestic crude oil revenues, and have had to incur third party liabilities to bridge the funding gap.

“The NNPC provided transaction documents representing additional costs of $2.81 billion related to the review period, citing the NNPC Act LFN No 33 of 1977 that allows for such deductions. Clarity is required on whether such deductions should be made by NNPC as a first line charge, before remitting the net proceeds of domestic crude to the Federation Accounts.”

Restructuring of NNPC operation model

The report further recommended an urgent review and restructuring of the NNPC operation model, stating that the current model which has been in operation since the creation of the corporation is unsustainable.

The report also queried the transactions surrounding the transfer of NNPC’s assets in eight oil wells divested by Shell, while it indicted the NPDC of failing to remit dividends to the NNPC and ultimately to the Federation Account, as well as failing to pay $2.22 billion, about N377.4 billion for Signature Bonus, Petroleum Profit Tax, PPT, and Royalty.

The report said: “According to NPDC former Managing Director’s (Mr Victor Briggs’) submission to the Senate Committee hearing on the subject matter for the period covered by their mandate, NPDC generated $5.11 billion (net of royalties and petroleum profit tax paid).

Oil Mining Leases

“PWC relied on the legal opinion provided to the Senate Committee by the Attorney General (AG) on the subject of the transfers of NNPC’s (55 per cent) portion of Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) involved in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) divestments

zSays NPDC owes $2.2bn in royalties, PPT zQueries NNPC's payment of N575bn for kerosene subsidy zCalls for urgent review, restructuring of NNPC operations

BRIEFING: From left: Deputy National Chairman, Accord Party, Mr Oke Adeposi, National Secretary, African People’s Alliance, Mr Samaila Sijawa and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement, Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim during a press conference by the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties on this months' general elections, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. which impacted crude oil revenues in the period. The AG’s opinion indicated that these transfers were within the authority of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to make.

“NNPC’s (55 per cent) portions of oil leases (OMLs) involved in the Shell divestments related to the eight OMLs were transferred to NPDC for an aggregate amount of US$1.85 billion. So far, only $100 million had been remitted.

PwC had expected a transfer basis higher than the US$1.85 billion aforementioned.

“NPDC had done a selfassessment of PPT and royalty and had unpaid self-assessed PPT and royalty to the tune of $0.47 billion related to the review period.

“PWC did not obtain any information that suggested that NPDC has been assessed for PPT and Royalty for the review period.”

The report, therefore, insisted that the NPDC should remit dividend to NNPC and ultimately to the Federation Account, based on NPDC’s dividend policy and declaration of dividend for the review period.

$3.38bn for subsidy on kerosene

The report further queried the rationale behind the NNPC’s payment of $3.38 billion (N574.6 billion) for subsidy on kerosene, especially in light of the fact that letters obtained from certain officials of the Presidency and the Petroleum

Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, showed that subsidy on kerosene had been discontinued since 2009.

The report said: “PwC determined from information obtained from PPPRA that $3.38 billion relating to Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) subsidy cost was incurred by the NNPC for the review period.

“PWC also obtained a letter, dated October 19, 2009, written by the Principal Secretary to the President, to the National Security Adviser, confirming a Presidential directive of June 15, 2009, instructing that subsidy on DPK be stopped.

“PwC also obtained a letter dated December 16, 2010 from the Executive Secretary, PPPRA, to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor clarifying that PPPRA had ceased granting subsidy on

kerosene since the Presidential directive of June 15, 2009.

NNPC refutes indictment

But in a prompt response to the audit findings, the NNPC would rather see the report as absolving it from the $20 billion unremitted oil revenue as alleged by Sanusi.

A statement from the corporation read in part: “…PriceWaterhouseCoopers has absolved the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of culpability over the allegation of non- remittance of $20 billion.

“What is due for remittance to the Federation Account is $1.48 billion Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) being signature bonus, taxes and royalties on the assets transferred to the Corporation’s upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company.”

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ELECTION: Shun acts capable of truncating

process, Fashola urges Lagosians

By Evelyn Usman AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, implored Lagosians to shun acts capable of truncating the electioneering process, advising those yet to get their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, to ensure they got them from the designated points, with a view to voting in leaders of their choice.

Declaring open the 2015 annual general conference of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, with the theme 'God shall heal our land’ at the headquarters of the Eternal Sacred Order of C&S, Egbe, Fashola the enjoined electorate to ask questions from relevant authorities if they suspected any foul play during elections.

Represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, Fashola said: “The time has come again when we are given the opportunity to choose those we believe would assuage our thirst at all tiers of government.

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“It is our duty to ensure that our votes count and to make sure that nothing untoward is allowed to prevail before, during and after the elections.. The peace for which the state is known for during elections should be maintained.”

Describing the theme of the occasion as apt, he urged the church to continue to pray for the peace of Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.

In his remark, the Supreme Head of the Church, Elder Solomon Alao, appreciated

governor Fashola over what he described as his ability to impart the dividends of democracy on Lagosians but was quick to add that he should ensure that some laudable projects of his administrations were completed before the end of his tenure.

SESSION: From left: All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, President, Cosmopolitan Women's Club, Mrs. Fatima Tinubu, and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, at an interactive session with the Lagos 2015 governorship candidates, organized by the club in Lagos.

Court directs Shell, others to preserve 45% participating interests in OML 25 percent participating interest in Oil

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has directed Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd; Total E & P Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd to preserve their 45 percent participating interests in Oil Minning Lease, OML 25.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, made the order after hearing arguments presented by Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, counsel to Crestar Integrated Natural Resources Limited, which had complained to the court against the defendants.

The judge ruled: “An order is hereby made restraining the defendants/respondents, whether by themselves, their management, servants, agents, assigns, privies, proxies, fronts or any other person whomsoever called acting under their authority from proceeding or continuing to negotiate or engage

in any transaction or contract calculated or purported to transfer, sell, farm out or

NUGU—THE National Chairman of Non Indigenes Cultural Association, Comrade Peter C.J. Anigbogu, has called on its members nationwide to come out and vote the candidate of their choice who they believe is detribalised and also ready to work with non indigenes in their respective states for furtherance of democracy in Nigeria.

The chairman of the the group who spoke to newsmen in Lagos also urged its members who are yet to collect their Permanent

Minning Lease, OML 25, to any person, authority or agency pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

Group mobilises support for Jonathan

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AGOS—A pro-Jonathan political campaign group, Friends of Godknows Igali Support Group for Jonathan, has continued its mobilisation and sensitisation of various ethnic groups in South West for the re-election of the President.

In continuation of its efforts, the coordinator of the group, Mrs. Veronica Durblen met with women leaders across South

West in Lagos.

According to Durblen: “Women and youths are the main beneficiaries of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda and the re-election of the President for a second term will fully restore Nigeria’s lost glory.

The Niger Delta woman leader urged other women leaders to preach the

ALLEGED VANDALISM: Police

proceedings

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By Innocent Anaba

AGOS—THE police have asked a Federal High Court

Come out and vote, non-indigenes association's chief Voters’ Cards, PVCs to as a urges members matter of urgency do so before

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otherwise charge, encumber, dealing, dispose of or divest the defendants/respondents 45

the stipulated deadline.

Distribution of the cards in Nigeria has lagged ahead of the hotly contested poll on February 14 that will pitch President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, extended its deadline for voters to collect their cards to February 8.

achievements of the president in all markets, homes, in social circles as well as other places and ploitical wards, using the campaign materials provided by the group to educate the electorate before the endofcampaigns.

The group leader also explained the time table for the various zonal town hall meetings slated for the South West geopolitical zone that was initiated by the grouptofurtherpresenttheachievements of the president.

ask court to stay

sitting in Lagos to stay proceedings in the trial of 20 men charged with pipeline vandalism and murder.

The accused, Felix Yayu, Ijou Faya, Yakubu Ebiwei, Augustine Ebiwei, Tamara Dembofa, Owei Atile, Agbara Tiewei, Rufus Godwin, Tiery Koiyetin, Ebis Sobijoh, Ibori Lawrence, Eberebu Ibori, Atinuke Odewale, Fatai Ishola, Ahmed Bashorun, Odewale Waheed, Susan Viana, Tuesday Filatei, Yeiyah Yellow and Ismail

Abdullahi, were also accused of killing nine police officers while involved in oil bunkering at Arepo Area of Ogun State on May 24, 2014.

The application for stay of proceedings prevented Justice Okon Abang from deliveringrulingontheno-caseapplication filed by the defence.

When the case was called, Abang announced that he would no longer deliver his ruling on the no-case submission as he had discovered an application for stay of proceeding in the case file.

Keyamo petitions IGP over continued detention of journalist

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AGOS—HUMAN rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleman Abba, over the continued detention of Emmanuel Fateman, an Assistant Editor and Joseph Jolayemi, a graphic artist with National Waves Magazine.

In a letter dated December 18, 2014, and signed on behalf of Festus Keyamo Chambers

by Festus Ukpe, and Benedicta Obanye, Keyamo informed the IG about what culminated in the detention of the duo since December 16.

2014.

The letter stated: “Sometime in August 2014, Jimmy Enyeh, the publisher of National Waves Magazine, as part of his journalistic duties, uncovered alleged suspicious deals regarding a contract of N650 million awarded to A.A Oil Company Ltd and pursuant to National Waves Magazine’s policy of fair and honest reportage, sought for his side of the story through a letter dated 01/09/ 2014, entitled, ‘Request for reaction on collection of N650 million for unexecuted contract."

NDLEA nabs woman with cannabis

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EFCC dislodges criminal gang in Rivers

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By Ifeanyi Okolie

ORT HARCOURT—A notorious Fraud Syndicate, based in Rivers State, which specialises in swindling unsuspecting members of the public using multi-national oil companies, has been dislodged

by operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Vanguard gathered yesterday, that three members of the syndicate, identified as Nwabueze C. Nwabueze , alias, HRM Ezeugo 1, his wife, Bridget

By Evelyn Usman

AGOS—A 30 year-old businesswoman has been arrested with dried weeds suspected to be cannabis by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

However in her confessional statement the suspect disclosed that she accepted to export the drugs to Dubai in exchange for a visa, adding also that she hid some of the drugs in the luggage of another lady who was visiting Dubai for the first time.

The suspect identified as Ebere Ohakwe Sandra was arrested alongside one Obidike Ugochukwu Maureen at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos during the screening of passengers on an Etihad flight to Dubai.

Nwabueze and Eze Izima Ngozi, alias Engineer Victor, were rubbed, when they allegedly conspired to defraud an Architect, Austin Ilenre Emuan, managing director of Gothic-LenConsortium Limited, to the tune of N16.9million over a non-existing contract.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 —11

60 reasons I won't vote for Jonathan —SOYINKA zUrges Nigerians not to sell their conscience

By Japhet Alakam

the sense of responsibility without that albatross called Chibok. Coming to the fore of our contemplation, I think that why I was being killed on the internet is probably because of this very event because those who began to advertise my death on the internet probably know already what I stand for over the election which is also why all kinds of statements have been made.’’

Soyinka used the occasion to clear the air on statements credited to him about the elections. He said ‘’I have never spoken a word about this election so anything which you read on the internet as interviews or r e c e n t statements is not MEETING: From left: Lagos State Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Chairman, mine. Don’t Chief Francis Akinkawe, President,YCE, Gen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), and believe it. The Assistant Secretary Geneneral, YCE, Prof. Bayo Olateju, during a meeting reason is this, they advertised of the YCE, in Ibadan, yesterday. Photo: Dare Fasube on the internet that I am dead,

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AGOS—NOBEL Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has, distanced himself from internet interview, which claimed he has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election, saying he has 60 reasons why he will not vote for the continuation of this regime.

Soyinka who spoke yesterday during the presentation of 60 finalists of the Vision of the Child Competition entitled: Road to

Sambisa at the Freedom Park, Lagos, also urged Nigerians to search their conscience and be objective before casting their votes for any of the candidates.

Addressing the students from various schools across the country, Professor Soyinka said: ‘’It is impossible to talk of today’s election without thinking of what happened to your colleagues, your siblings, your peers in the village called Chibok. It is not possible to think of the future of this nation in

so why should you believe it?’’

He continued: ‘’I have at least 60 reasons for not voting for the continuation of this present government and those reasons are here. Why I will not vote for this government or encourage anybody to vote for the continuation of this present government is simply because your colleagues, numbering over 200 were kidnapped; we sent them on a mission education, enlightenment, examination, to rub minds with their peers and they disappeared and the government of the nation failed to show leadership. So, anybody who says that I will vote or cast my vote or encourage anyone to vote for this regime must be living in Sambisa forest. ‘’There has been failure of leadership. Our children who you represent today have been betrayed. They were betrayed because no action or appropriate action was taken to retrieve your colleagues who were stolen from under our noses, 10 days before this government even accepted that they were missing."

Clark's wife donates N5m medical supplies to rural women

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BEOKUTA—OGUN Central Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Bisola Sodipo-Clark, yesterday, at the Ofada and Agbado Primary Health Centres both in Ogun State provided several medical supplies for expectant mothers, nursing mothers and their children.

The Chairperson of the National Ear Centre, Kaduna, took time off her busy campaign schedule to make the donations, which were carried out under the auspices of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency of the Federal Ministry of Health.

The programme was coordinated by Dr Garba Mainasara Mohammed, among other doctors.

At the event, medical equipment, such as mosquito nets, vaccines, malaria medication, health-related consultations and advice, were given.

ELECTION: Southern leaders reiterate call

for Jega to resign zAccuse him of acting northern script

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By Henry Umoru

BUJA—SOUTHERN leaders, yesterday, reiterated their call for the resignation of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, accusing him of acting a script for the northern part of the country to declare the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, from the north as winner of the yet to be conducted Presidential election.

According to the leaders, there were plans to rig the 2015 election hatched by the Northern Elders Forum in collaboration with Professor Jega-led INEC. They said “as a responsible government agency, it is only germane that Nigerians, whose tax monies are used to fund its operations, are properly informed on these critical aspects of INEC’s activities. We make bold to say that Prof. Jega has betrayed public trust, respect and acceptance, sublime attributes that are necessary for an impartial electoral umpire.”

The southern leaders on the banner of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly, SNPA, said Jega was

promoting an ethnic agenda by favouring the North against the South, with what they termed an

unholy conspiracy between INEC and the Northern Elders to install a Northern President through rigging.

JONATHAN'S ENDORSEMENT:

Count us out —YCE

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By Ola Ajayi

BADAN—YORUBA Council of Elders popularly called Igbimo Agba Yoruba has distanced itself from last week’s endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Afenifere.

This stance was taken after the council’s National Executive Committee meeting on national unity and solidarity which was held at the Bodija office of

the elders.

The elders’ position is in tandem with that of Afenifere Renewal Group which also condemned the said endorsement by Afenifere.

The YCE meeting was presided over by Major General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd).

The elders who described their association as apolitical said Afenifere was a political party.

12—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

EPZ: Jonathan assures on completion before 2019

By Emma Amaize

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SABA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to complete the $16 billion Export Processing Zone, EPZ, project at Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, before the end of his second tenure in office.

He said that the project was very important to Nigeria as it will generate lots of jobs for the youths while the country ’s economy would get a boost from the investments by foreigners and Nigerians.

Jonathan, addressing members of Delta State Traditional Council shortly after a presidential campaign rally in Asaba, said the project, which will be the biggest oil and gas investment in Africa, was dear to his administration.

He said that the project would be flagged off in the next couple of weeks and appealed to the traditional rulers not to relent in their support for his administration.

President Jonathan informed the traditional rulers that he

was seeking re-election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to complete the projects that his administration had started for the benefit of the country.

The Obi of Owa, HRM Efeizomor II, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers,

described President Jonathan as a performer whose projects have transformed the lives of Nigerians and repositioned Nigeria for faster economic growth.

The Owa monarch explained that with President Jonathan, Nigeria would get a better deal.

Earlier, the Ohworode of

Olomu, in his prayers, said they were satisfied with the first tenure of the President and assured him of their support and that of their subjects.

The meeting took place immediately after the President commissioned the ultra-modern Government House complex in Asaba.

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B R A K A — GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, yesterday, described the February governorship election in the state as a twohorse race, insisting that he was still in contact with the electorate.

Ogboru, who briefed newsmen at his Abraka country home, said: “I will protect the mandate of the people.” He thanked the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, for endorsing him as the candidate of the Urhobo nation.

Noting that the UPU endorsement had given him victory in at least 10 local government areas, he said he was well positioned to govern the state. He expressed the hope that he would get the required spread to clinch the governorship in the election.

Saying that elections were 75 percent free and fair in Delta North and Central, going by past elections, he alleged that elections were often manipulated in Delta South senatorial district. He, however, said machineries were being put in place to check it in the February election.

Insisting that his endorsement has not divided

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives candidate for Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South federal constituency, Delta State, Mr Andrew Orugbo, has promised to ensure that the Delta Steel Company, Ovwian-Aladja, was revitalized if voted into power.

Speaking with Vanguard, Orugbo said that the moribund steel company can provide thousands of jobs if resuscitated.

Urhobo leaders sue for peace

T MOBILE ADVERTISING FORUM: From left: General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN Business, Mr. Ladipo Nylander; CEO, InTarget Mobile Advertising, Mr. Lazarus Muchenje; Ag. Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN, Mr. 'Tsola Barrow; Mrs. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, GM, Enterprise Sales and CEO, Sponge Group, Mr. Dayo Elegbe, at the MTN Mobile Advertising Forum in, Lagos yesterday.

Delta gov poll, two-horse race, says Ogboru

By Festusa Ahon

Delta Steel must work —ORUGBO

the UPU leadership, Ogboru said that some persons were aggrieved because their candidate did not get the endorsement of the Urhobo

apex body.

Calling on the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief O’Tega Emerhor and his followers to join forces

with him, he said politics was a game of interest. He said his interest was to better the lot of all Deltans, adding that he has a pan-Delta agenda.

Why we cancelled Sapele 3,000-man march —GALLOWAY

By Godwin Oghre

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APELE—LEADER of a pro-democracy group in Delta State, Sapele 3000 Man Match, Mr Guy Galloway, has explained the cancellation of a proposed rally by the group, aimed at sensitising and preparing the people of Sapele and environs for the forthcoming general elections, saying it was due to security reason.

Speaking with Vanguard in Sapele, he said: “We got security report that political thugs and hoodlums had planned to take advantage of

INC drums support for Jonathan's re-election

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JAW National Congress, INC, has called on Ijaws and other Nigerians to work hard for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking at his inauguration

Delta PDP group pledges support for Mutu's re-election

By Daniel Gumm

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OMADI—A WING of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bomadi Local Government Area Federated Youth Movement, BLGAFYM, in Delta State, has vowed that there was no going back on the re-election of Mr. Nicholas Mutu into the National Assembly for another tenure to represent the people of Bomadi/ Patani federal constituency.

the rally to cause mayhem. We couldn’t have gone ahead at the expense of the lives of the people we had planned to sensitise."

The group said that its position was informed the development Mutu has attracted to the region to save the constituency from desperate politicians.

President of the group, Francis Akambi, in a statement, said: “At a time when the region is faced with huge development gap, we are taking our message to the electorate and mobilising support for the candidacy of Mutu, who has attracted development to enhance the living conditions of our people."

in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Boma Obuoforibo, newly elected president of the congress, also lauded Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on his “remarkable achievements in the state.”

He commended members of the National Executive Council, NEC, of INC and other arms of the congress for keeping the organisation going after the demise of his predecessor, Chief Tari Sekibo. He praised the electoral committee that conducted the bye-election, where he defeated two other candidates to emerge victorious.

Obuoforibo invited his cocontestants and all Ijaw people to join hands with the NEC to move the Ijaw nation to a higher level, promising to vigorously pursue the creation of Oil Rivers State from east Ijawland and Toru-Ebe State from the west.

HE Urhobo Elders and Leaders Council, ULEC, under the leadership of Chief Cyprian Onephrojire, has frowned at the recent development in Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, and its executive. It appealed to the warring factions to bury their differences for the sake of uniting the Urhobo for progress.

ULEC in a statement, said that it was disappointing that the UPU executive which is supposed to unite the Urhobo nation was now engrossed in a conflict of disunity.

Anioma engineers endorse APC candidate for Delta North

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HE national body of Association of Anioma Engineers, AAE, yesterday, in Lagos, endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Kevin Njideaka, for Delta North senatorial seat in the coming elections.

The association, under the leadership of Mr Justus Osakwe, agreed that Njideaka has all it takes to lead Delta North in the Senate with his wealth of experience.

Osakwe noted that in the past 16 years, only one party has been representing Delta North, adding that it was now time for better opportunities to come to the Anioma people with the APC.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 6, 2015 — 13

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14 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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16—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Seplat acquires Chevron oil assets for N67bn

By Michael Eboh, with Agency Report

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E P L A T PETROLEUM Development Company Plc, yesterday, said it had acquired Chevron Nigeria Limited’s 40 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease, OML, 53 in the Niger Delta for $259.4 million, about N44.09 billion.

The company, in a statement to the international investing community, also stated that it has concluded negotiations to acquire 22.5 per cent interest in OML 55 for $132.2 billion, about N22.47 billion.

According to the statement, the company will be acquiring 56.25 per cent of Belemaoil Producing Limited, a Nigerian special purpose vehicle that had bought a 40 per cent interest in the producing OML 55, located in the swamp to coastal zone of south eastern Niger Delta.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, holds the remaining 60 per cent interest in OML 55, and Seplat’s effective working interest in OML 55 as a result of the acquisition is 22.50 per cent.

“Seplat is paying $132.2 million for its 22.5 per cent interest in OML 55, after adjustments. It has also advanced certain loans of $80 million to the other shareholders of Belemaoil to meet their share of investments and costs associated with Belemaoil,” Seplat said.

Transition

BRIEFING: From left, Mr. Ikechukwu Rowland, Director, Web Technologies of WSI AXON Mr. Bikram Kishor Mukhi, Assistant Manager, International Sales of NETCORE; Chief Edwin Abamwa, Managing Director, Deborah Ogbonna, Email Marketing and Henri Ikwuernesi, Head Business & Franchise Development all of WSI AXON during a press conference by WSI AXON in Lagos.

NDDC denies awarding contract to First Lady

By Jonah Nwokpoku

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HE NIGER Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has denied media reports that it has committed its budget to the 2015 elections, thereby defaulting on payment of staff salaries as at and when due.

The commission also denied that it awarded the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan any contract.

In a statement, the commission

denied that it ever gave her any money for the purpose of the passage of the Commission’s annual budget.

The statement read: “The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been drawn to a mischievous online news item by the Sahara Reporters to the effect that the scarce resources of the Commission have been put at the disposal of certain politicians in Abuja and Port Harcourt, thereby compromising the salary of staff.

“Management hereby rebuts such allegations as unfounded, untrue and sadly fabricated to dent the good image and new reputation of the Commission.

"To say that the Commission is unable to pay salaries is not only laughable but very misleading and perhaps aimed at dragging the Commission into the political battleground.”

On the award of contract to the First Lady, the statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has never given

APGA Abia gov candidate alleges assassination attempt

By Anayo Okoli

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MUAHIA — ALL Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate, in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has alleged an assassination attempt on his life.

Briefing at his campaign office in Umuahia, Otti alleged that some men invaded his house demanding to know if there were soldiers in his home, saying “at 10:58pm, Tuesday, some men numbering 14 dressed in military uniform invaded my country home at Umuru Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State,” According to him, the men were accosted by a mobile policeman attached to him and the leader who identified himself as an Army Captain, said they wanted to

confirm if there were soldiers in the compound.

Otti wondered who sent the purported ‘soldiers’ to his house at such time and for what purpose less than 24 hours after the state government alleged that he was

keeping fake military men.

He denied going about with “unapproved security operatives,” saying it would be unthinkable for him to use security operatives to intimidate and harass people, noting “I

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AMA IZOBO Mary Kogoro, 105, is dead.

Until her death, she was the oldest woman in Aragba Ekpe and other communities around.

She was a devout Christian and community leader.

According to Mr. Isaac Ifite, head of the family, the burial ceremony would be announced later.

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HE FEDERAL Government has awarded a N986 Million contract for the construction of the Greater Oji River Water Project to supply water to every home in Oji River Local Government Area, LGA, of Enugu State.

Deputy President of the Senate and Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, disclosed this during a projects inspection and campaign tour of Oji River Local Government Area.

Addressing his constituents,

cannot be a party to any act that could truncate and disrupt an election, when God has destined that I will win to deliver the people from years of deceit, unemployment, underdevelopment and abject poverty.”

MHWUN members drag president to court over NLC presidency

By Onozure Dania

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BUJA — AGGRIEVED members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN, have dragged the President of the union, Mr. Wabba Ayuba, and four others to the National Industrial Court, NIC, Abuja Division, seeking an order restraining Ayuba from

contesting the presidency of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. The claimants, George Kaiserye, Tubotamuno Abalibo, MHWUN, Akuku- Toru Local Government Area, LGA, of Rivers State Branch and MHWUN Degema LGA Branch, are claiming, among others, that Mr. Ayuba, is ineligible to seek for elective position in the

Ekweremadu attracts N986m water project, canvasses votes for PDP Late Mama Kogoro

money to the First Lady or anybody for that matter for the passage of our annual budget, neither has NDDC ever failed to pay the salaries of its staff as at and when due. The Commission therefore wishes to appeal to politicians and their agents in the media, to steer clear of NDDC and allow the Commission to focus on its mandate of providing a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of Niger Delta Region.”

Senator Ekweremadu said he attracted the Water Project to help address the water needs of the people permanently, noting that it was regrettable that Oji River, which was the source of water for Enugu township had no portable water of their own.

He explained: “We have done many boreholes, but we believe that boreholes cannot solve the water challenge in Oji River. We, therefore, came up with a new project called Greater Oji River Water Project, which will provide

water everywhere in Oji River and environ. The project has been awarded; and we believe that the work will start very soon.”

Also inspecting the ongoing work at the multi-million naira Youth Development Centre at Achi, the Deputy President of the Senate said he planned with an Italian firm to run the facilities at the Centre and similar ones he attracted in Awgu, Aninri, Udi and Ezeagu Local government areas.

National Delegates Conference, NDC, taking place between February 9 and 11, 2015, in Abuja, because his two-term presidency of the union ended in 2013.

Other defendants are MHWUN, NLC; Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity Registrar of Trade Unions.

The claimants are seeking an interim injunction restraining the first defendant whether by himself, his agents, servants, proxies or privies or otherwise, from presenting himself for or otherwise contesting the election into the office of President of NLC at the National Delegates Conference of NLC scheduled to hold from February 9, 2015 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja or at any other date or place, until the determination of the motion on notice in this suit.

However, President of NIC, Justice B.A. Adejumo, directed that parties to the suit be put on notice, and adjourned the case to February 19, 2015, for hearing of the motion on notice.

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HE annual World Cancer Day - February 4 - is set aside by the World Health Organisation, WHO, to raise awareness on cancer, encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment, passed quietly with appropriate speeches that have been recycled over the years. This year, political campaigns seized the spaces, taking the global event lower in our national attention notches. Cancer is a global epidemic, becoming the number one killer of mankind in 2010. One-third of the world’s population would be diagnosed with cancer in its lifetime. It is projected that by 2030, one in every two persons will be diagnosed of cancer in their lifetime.

According to the WHO, over 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually, and about 80,000 die - 240 Nigerians daily or 10 Nigerians hourly.

The Nigerian cancer death ratio of 4:5 is one of the worst globally. Cervical cancer which is 100 per cent preventable kills a Nigerian woman every hour.

Breast cancer kills 40 Nigerians daily (30 daily in 2008). Prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily (14 daily in 2008). These three common cancers alone kill 90 Nigerians daily, due mainly to poor

By Chris Okotie

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T is our lot to run tension-soaked political transition programmes, often marred by violence instigated by the political class. In other democracies, no electioneering is quiet either, but the tension generated revolves around the heated arguments of contenders and the anxiety that the difficult choices they epitomize, in the options they present to the electorate.

In our peculiar circumstance, rather than present sound, alternative policy choices to the voters, our politicians play up the ethno-religious card, which invariably overheats the system, and sets the stage for violence. The campaign slogans we read and hear, rather than define the platforms of the office-seekers to enable the electorate make rationale choices, merely exposes their ideological emptiness.

Rather than throw up great ideas that challenge the status quo, we see hate advertisements directed at opposing candidates.

The campaign of calumny has taken a new dimension in this election, prompting fears that whatever the outcome of the presidential elections, the nation would most likely be on fire. The Abuja Peace Accord was signed to allay such fears; though it committed the contestants to running peaceful campaigns, enforcement of such an agreement is obviously difficult because it carries no legal sanctions against violators of the pact.

We hear President Goodluck Jonathan say

Cancer – Not Beyond Us infrastructure. Nigeria has no Mobile Cancer Centres and no single Comprehensive Cancer Centre; most Nigerians have no access to optimal cancer treatment. A Comprehensive Cancer Centre costs about $63 million, while a Mobile Cancer Centre costs about $600,000. Nigerians spend $200 million annually on treatment abroad, enough to establish three Comprehensive Cancer Centres or to acquire 300 Mobile Cancer Centres. The outcome for Nigerians who seek treatment abroad is often poor because of late detection. Cervical cancer underscores the fact that cancer is preventable.

Cervical screening is painless and takes only about

five minutes.

Pre-cancer changes are easy to treat by an outpatient procedure lasting 15 minutes. Cervical cancer is disappearing in the West but remains the number one cancer killer of African women. The National Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme, a non-governmental initiative, pioneered community-based, mass cervical cancer screening campaign in Nigeria. With limited resources, over 100,000 Nigerians were screened and treated and awareness created since 2007. Its effort significantly contributed to 15 per cent reduction in cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria, from 26 women daily to 22 daily, between 2008 and 2012, WHO said, a significant improvement, given that WHO projected 25 per cent increase in cervical cancer deaths in 10 years.

Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), a private initiative has a short-term goal of deploying 37 Mobile Cancer Centres, one for each state and FCT Abuja; for cancer prevention and early treatment in rural Nigeria. The defeat of cancer is not beyond us, if private and public resources are polled to tackle it.

OPINION Breaking the jinx of transition violence repeatedly that his election is not worth the blood of anyone, but blood is flowing still, despite the Accord. It seems that the agents of destabilization were angry at the Abuja Peace Accord because the ensuing spate of killings, vandalisation, verbal violence, explosive smear campaign and character assassination under the watch of the political class, makes mockery of the Accord.

This is happening because our country has refused to embrace a new paradigm.

Smaller countries like Ghana, Zambia, Botswana and Malawi have run seamless transitions, in which the incumbents were defeated. These nations didn't fall apart.

Here, evil men are promoting the false notion that the nation would disintegrate if the President loses, as if the general elections are not actually about testing the mechanism of peaceful political succession.

Perhaps, owing to long years of Army rule, we seem to have grown accustomed to a garrison mentality. We get worried when things run smoothly; normality is feared as an abnormality because of our chaotic

Elections are not a door-die affair.

Politicians will come and go, but the nation remains

management of public projects.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had four years to prepare for this election. About 12 days to the first poll, it is still saddled with a needless crisis of PVC distribution. As at last week, millions of registered voters are yet to have their PVCs, prompting the President's National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to call for a shift of the general elections. What else is the recipe for chaos?

INEC always claimed that it got all it needed to organize efficient, free and fair elections. Where then is this discordant tune coming from? The call for the postponement of the elections for fear that about half of the voters may be disenfranchised is clearly an embarrassment.

In fact, coming from a key official of the ruling party, who chose a Chatam House meeting in London as a platform to call for the poll shift is worrisome, because it has sent a wrong signal that Nigeria typically, is incapable of organizing crisis-free elections. Thank God, another top ranking western official, US Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry stopped-by some days ago to add his voice to the growing calls, opposing the proposal for a shift of the polls.

If the INEC assured us that the elections would not be postponed, the President ought to have come out forcefully to reassure Nigerians that, whatever problems the Commission is facing

regarding PVC distribution would be decisively overcome with the help of the federal government.

In the absence of that, it is now difficult not to believe the expressed fear of the opposition APC that the call for postponement of the elections is a ploy of the PDP, to enable it regain lost steam, so as to head-off imminent defeat in the crucial presidential elections. Like most of its public relations challenges, Aso Rock didn't handle this well.

Evidence of the PDP's poor public perception management is the President's belated visit to Bornu State in the midst of his campaign, after dithering for months since the Chibok Girls' abduction.

Sometimes, the terrible mistakes in the President's public response to critical national issues, makes one wonder what kind of advisers he has.

Visiting wounded soldiers in Bornu State, the hot-bed of terrorist activities for the first time since a slice of our territory was occupied by Boko Haram in that region is in-defendable.

It demonstrates unwittingly that Mr. President values his re-election more than the pains of his people.

Whatever the case, Nigerian's must avoid violence and conduct themselves peacefully. Elections are not a do-or-die affair. Politicians will come and go, but the nation remains.

*Rev. Okotie, a pastor-politician , wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 6, 2015— —19

Goading Nigeria into 2015 electoral violence

By Clement Udegbe There is a way that seems good to a man, but at the end it leads to destruction ----King Solomon of Isreal.

HIS time in six years ago, if any one told the political juggernauts in the North East irrespective of their party affiliations, that their zone will be boiling by 2014;that they would have over 3000 Internally Displaced Persons; that their girls would be kidnapped, and held against their will for over five months and running, and that Maiduguri would one day be a target of insurgency for destruction, they would laugh it off with a wave of hand.

It was convenient at that time, for political leaders in the north to threaten that the blood of the monkey and the baboon would flow if they lost the 2011 elections, even as obvious and imminent their loss at that election was. Some of them threatened that they would make the country ungovernable if their wishes were not granted

by Nigeria, and so on. Today, the events and trends in our political experience suggest to many, that these men had no foresight, and most of them are still at the helm of affairs displaying the same lack of foresight, and understanding of the enormity of the change that has occurred in the psyche

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of the averagely educated Nigerian in recent times.

It becomes more alarming to notice that the same type of lack of proper assessment of what it takes to keep the peace of a people in the political struggles among leaders, have started creeping into the lexicon of South South Nigeria political stake holders.

One of them in APC, threatened recently, that if they lose the 2015 elections they would form a parallel government. It seems very obvious that these men do not know the implications of what they say, because they have no first hand experience of a civil war. They forget that you don’t throw a stone into the market, because it could hit your own mother; That he who digs a pit, falls into it , because what a man sows against the righteous he shall reap; And that No Nigerian deserves to die for the inordinate ambition of any ingrate in power!

It is therefore in order to save ourselves from these men, who would check out very quickly should they set the nation on fire, leaving us to bear the brunt of their mess, that it has become expedient to look at how they are gradually goading our government into electoral violence in 2015.One dangerous skill our politicians have acquired and perfected is the art of shouting wolf, when there is

The President should ignore the wolf cry of politicians, in the interest of the voting public, and common man, and flood the places with soldiers to give us peace during the elections none within the vicinity, just to stampede and distract the government in power, and to score dangerous cheap political points.

A few cases will help us for example. First, way before the Anambra, Edo, Osun, and Ekiti gubernatorial elections under President GEJ, politicians screamed that they do not need soldiers near polling areas, and the communities during elections. But President ignored their cries, and did the right thing by flooding such states with armed Police and Soldiers during those elections, which enabled the people to choose their leaders in the freest and fairest gubernatorial elections since the history of this nation in those states.

Now, eleven days to the

Presidential elections, the APC have started screaming, and threatening thunder and brimstone if soldiers are used to keep peace during the elections in the hope that they would be able to deceive the President.

But with the President’s experiences of electoral violence in Katsina, the home state of his opponent, Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, all in the north, during his campaigns, it will only be wise to use soldiers to keep the peace during the elections in these states, and other violence flash points like Rivers, Lagos, Imo, and Edo States. These are incidentally, APC states, and make it difficult for one not to link the APC with violence. If a man’s fingers were cut off for pasting the President's poster in a state, what will become of the supporters of the President should he win elections in such a state ?

The President should ignore the wolf cry of politicians, in the interest of the voting public, and common man, and flood the places with soldiers to give us peace during the elections.

Second is the painstaking effort by the INEC and their agents to cause electoral violence using the distribution of PVC cards. While it is true that PVC cards are now available in many states, the problem lies with the advance rigging through its distribution.

In Ajegunle, Ojo and Ejigbo areas, the practice is to ask registered voters who they would vote for, where they say PDP, they would be told that their PVC cards were yet to arrive! This is

Now that Okowa is running with Otuaro RIGHT OF REPLY

By Prince Abugo

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HEN ethnic, sectional primordial sentiments becloud a person from seeing politics as a platform for service, values become desecrated, choice of electorate castrated, competence and content of a candidate’s character becomes watery; politics of bitterness, thuggery, poverty, corruption, encourage festering personal greed. Several educated illiterates pollute our politics and values, and men without conscience defecate on our collective inheritance. The article of Jesutega Onokpasa, published in Vanguard, on Friday January 23 2015, page 18, was tasteless.

Describing the PDP primaries as “bizarre gubernatorial primaries” and saying “their candidate may be popular among politicians but that does not translate into electoral acceptability across Delta” is Onokpasa’s mischief to achieve tribal desire because the 2014 PDP primaries was free and fair unlike previous ones that divided the party for negating internal democratic mechanism.

Onokpasa used tribal sentiments in tainting Okowa by making Otuaro an issue by instigating Isoko, itsekiri and WarriUrhobo against Okowa's candidacy without regard to the fact that a running mate is the chioce of the principal after considering loyalty and compatibility. Isoko nation did not vie for the deputy governor because there were was no contest.

That is why ethnic chauvinist must respect Okowa’s choice because Otuaro’s choice could have gone to a tribe in Delta South. Okowa has regard for all ethnic groups, including Isoko. The claim that “what does Otuaro emergence portend for

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the future political fortunes of itsekiri” is provocative because you cannot love Rome more than the Romans. This statement invokes the sad memories of the 1997 Warri fratricidal war to score political points.

Deltans are behind this ticket despite the activities of ethnic bigots, who use tribalism to score political points. Onokpasa must not drag others into this barren pool of stagnation with the claim that “Isoko have just been told that they are second class citizens…they are not even recognised in Delta South, in passing them over for the slot…they have once more been relegated to the background and treated as mere appendages”.

Onokpasa cannot speak for Isoko nation and other ethnic groups in Delta State. We are not as gullible and unreasonable as he portrayed us we had Otobo, Mafeni, Okpozo, Stella Omu, Gen. Omu, and Gen. Ogomudia, among others, who have occupied several offices; the SSG of the state is from Isoko. We must not bloat the office of Deputy Governor as if that’s the only important office left when Okowa is

If we buy this poisoned chalice then Hitler-style ethnic puritanism that pushed the world to precipice will haunt us; we must disregard this mental drain to bring inclusive leadership to every ethnic group as partners

elected Governor. Onokpasa as an opposition politician used ethnic jingoism to hoodwink electorate in achieving his ethnic agenda. The tribal tirades that “Isoko are left with a straight forward choice; either stay with those who have no regard for them or be pragmatic enough to realign with their Delta central cousins” is deceptive. The Delta central cousins of the Isoko have never supported Isoko aspiration. What has Urhobo done for Isoko to warrant their support as cousins?

Isoko separated from eastern Urhobo because of marginalisation, which continues till date. This ethnic opium fails because a good friend is better than a greedy cousin is. The chairmanship of Warri south-west and a senatorial bid of Uduaghan, which he withdrew from, are no excuses not to support Okowa.

The instigation of itsekiris Isoko, Ndokwa and other ethnic groups against Okowa are tribal centred. The claim that senatorial seat was “captured by the Ijaw in circumstances constituting an utter humiliation of the incumbent Governor” is a poison chalice to instigate Ijaw and other ethnic groups. This castrated mental dehydration can set the state on fire. The PDP as a national party recognises the plurality of the nation hence itsupports rotation of power to give a sense of belonging to others.

The assertion that “in completely cutting of Delta central from the ticket, Delta PDP has merely brazenly bit the fingers that feed it….any governorship ticket in Delta that does not include Delta central either as governor or deputy governor is a recipe for electoral disaster and utterly doomed to woeful failure”, was the main reason of instigating other ethnic groups for Delta central benefit. This mental drain is unfortunate.

capable of causing violence, and must be addressed by INEC, instead of bragging that the cards are there and people should and get them. In Ejigbo, the advance rigging was completed when they had only one registration centre at the Ile – Ewe primary School for about 3000 persons, and the officers closed as early as 4pm after registering just a few people, with the result that thousands were disenfranchised!

Meanwhile, INEC does not seem to have any answer to what will become of voters where the electronic card reader packs up!

Third is the wicked destruction of opponent’s bill boards and posters which appears like a standard practice in APC controlled states in the north, and in the south of Nigeria. It is shameful to observe that one can only find un-mutilated billboards of the President and Jimi Agbaje, the PDP gubernatorial candidate only along Federal Roads. We heard that Advertising Practitioners were warned that their licenses would not be renewed if they served the opposition PDP! The loss of money used for mutilated or destroyed posters and billboards can cause frustration of the opponents which can result in violence.

Appropriate sanctions must be applied against contestants whose supporters are caught in such electoral malpractice.

The goading to violence must stop!

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

Delta central must abandon these landmines if others must win their trust, all are equal as there are no first class or second class ethnic groups. This mentality made the Hausa-Fulani believe they are born to rule. Delta is a multi-ethnic state and Urhobo cannot desire a governor without others. If we buy this poisoned chalice then Hitler-style ethnic puritanism that pushed the world to a precipice will haunt us.

We must disregard this mental drain to bring inclusive leadership to every ethnic group as partners. The defunct Delta province lost its unity and comradeship because Urhobo failed to promote unity and leadership.

That Okowa ticket is “not a Delta North/ Delta South ticket” but “Ika/Ijaw ticket” is cry of a divorced woman who never sees anything good in her former husband. The PDP delegates voted Okowa as their candidate and claiming that “his manner of emergence amount to unfair humiliation of eminently qualified aspirants from Aniocha/Oshimili” is unacceptable.

His claim that: “In the entire Ndokwa nation, it is studiously told it is a second class part of Delta north and should seek its destiny with its brother from old Delta province now made up of Delta central and Delta South” are divisive venoms that are barren. Onokpasa in his verbal diarrhoea never faulted Okowa’s integrity, competence, and pedigree, he knew as others that Okowa's competent to govern Delta State because he cherishes our diversity and believes in our unity as strength. That is why we should support President Jonathan and elect Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor. This is how to tell tribal locust eaters that our diversity and unity cannot be sacrificed on the altar of tribalism.

•Mr. Abugo, a member, publicity/media, Delta PDP Campaign committee, wrote from Uzere, Delta State.

20 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 —21

Nigeria loses N1bn daily to rice importation

By Favour Nnabugwu

T

he Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD and African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, Ambassador Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze, says Nigeria loses N1billion daily to rice importation.

Mrs. Njeze stated this at a oneday stakeholders forum on the establishment of the Nigeria/ ECOWAS rice sector policy and regulation advocacy platform held in Abuja on Wednesday.

She also added that due to the importation of rice, Nigeria has been exporting jobs and financial resources meant for the transformation of the domestic rice sector in the country.

While commending the Competitive African Rice Initiative program CARI for organizing the event, she said the effort would compliment government efforts to end rice importation into the country.

The project is implemented by GIZ, Technoserve, the John Kufuor Foundation and Kilimo Trust and in joint partnership with FMARD, NEPAD, FAO and ECOWAS aimed at resolving the importation of rice into Nigeria and West African sub-region which is close to 50 percent of rice from foreign countries outside the shores of the African continent.

Head of Programs CARI, Stefan Kachelriess Matthess, said as parts of CARI implementation agenda to empower small scale rice farmers in Sub-Saharan African, CARI has contributed 3.3 million dollars to the production of rice in Nigeria,

$164. 15

-0.08

1.54

$49.65 CURRENCY

BUYING

DOLLAR 167 POUNDS 251.9529 EURO 189.4448 FRANC 180.4448 YEN 1.4192 CFA 0.2689 WAU 233.3106 RENMINBI 26.6999 RIYAL 44.4338 KRONA 25.4569 SDR 235.2863

- 2.00

CENTRAL

167.5 252.7073 190.012 181.1202 1.4235 0.2789 235.2951 26.7974 44.5668 25.5331 235.9908

168 253.4616 190.5792 181.6609 1.4277 0.2889 235.9975 26.8778 44.663 25.6094 236.6952

CBN Exchange Rate as at 05/2/15

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constraint in the production of rice in the country was low productivity and poor quality of milled rice as the demand for rice in Nigeria is about five million tones yearly, and the domestic production is less than three million tones which makes the importation of rice into the country more than two million tones.

He stated the need to improve the quality of locally made rice

VISIT: Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo (2nd right); Executive Commissioner (Corporate Services), SEC, Zakawanu Garuba (left); Managing Director/CEO of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Kyari Bukar (2nd left) and Head of Operations (CSCS), Mr. Joseph Mekiliuwa during a visit of the CSCS officers to SEC’s headquarters, in Abuja.

-3.00

$55.70

Kufuor Foundation and Kilimo Trust and in joint partnership with FMARD, NEPAD, FAO and ECOWAS which began 2013 and will run till 2017.

The idea is aimed at reaching 120,000 African rice producers in the four African countries involved.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Kingsley Olusola Olurinde noted that the major

Oil rises toward $55, outlook still fragile

O

-0.75

$2,721.00

$14.37

which is 40 percent of the implementation cost agreed with the private sector of Nigerian partner that will contribute the remaining 60 percent of the implementation cost. Mr. Stefan also explained that the CARI program is been implemented in three other African countries; Ghana, Tanzania and Burkina Faso by GIZ, Technoserve, the John

to internatioal standard , adding that the introduction of dry season production will see rice been produced twice in a year and the introduction of lowland and irrigated rice will see the production of rice increase to six tones/hectare as compared to upland rice which is two tones/hectare.

Manufacturers invest N483bn across sectors despite power challenges — MAN

By Franklin Alli

M

ANUFACTUR ERS Association of Nigeria, MAN, said despite the challenges of power supply in the country, companies under its fold invested a total of N483 billion across the twelve industrial zones in the country during the first half of last year.

MAN, in its Economic Review for the first six months of 2014 released to Vanguard, said: “Despite the unstable supply of electricity coupled with high cost of funds which limited the potential of the manufacturing

sector as at mid-year, nevertheless, an estimated total of N483 billion was invested across sectors; industrial zones and on assets meant to increase manufacturing contribution to the economy.”

“Ogun industrial axis topped the

Our member companies placed priority on investing in plants and machineries and spare parts for retooling

investments with N376.57 billion, representing 78 percent of the total investment in the manufacturing for the first half of 2014. This is followed

by Kano Sharada/Challawa and Oyo/Ondo/Ekiti/Osun zones with N19.8 billion and N19.2 billion respectively. River industrial zone had the least of about N72.3 million or about 0/1 percent of the total investment for the period” said MAN. According to MAN, the investments went into plants and machinery/ spare parts; land and building, vehicles, furniture and fittings as well as new constructions of other infrastructures.

“Our member companies placed priority on investing in plants and machineries and spare parts for retooling; with overall objectives of increasing and improving their productive capacities.

IL rose toward $55 a barrel, yesterday, recovering from part of the previous session’s slide after China took steps to pour liquidity into the world’s second-biggest economy; although traders and analysts said oil’s outlook looked weak.

Crude snapped a four-day winning streak on Wednesday, when the U.S. government said crude inventories increased by 6.3 million barrels, rising for a fourth consecutive week to hit a record high. The market gained support yesterday from optimism that steps by China’s central bank to pour in fresh liquidity would spur demand for energy in the secondlargest oil consumer after the United States.

Brent crude rose 83 cents to $54.99 a barrel having fallen more than a dollar intra-day earlier and settling 5.5 percent lower on Wednesday.

U.S. crude added 60 cents to $49.05. “It will be some time yet before we see any sustained trend reversal in oil prices. There’s no basis for a sustained recovery at the moment,” said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank.”

The market remains highly volatile. Oil began to rise last week from near-six-year lows, in part due to a downturn in U.S. rig activity that could eventually dampen rapid growth in shale oil production, only to tumble on Wednesday.

Other participants said it was too soon to expect a sustained price rise.

“I think prices will consolidate around these sorts of levels before moving lower. It takes a lot of time for fewer rigs to translate into lower oil production,” said Christopher Bellew, a senior broker at Jefferies Bache.”

A workers’ strike in the United States at nine plants, including seven refineries accounting for 10 percent of the country’s refining capacity.

22 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—23

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Interior of Dover Hotel, Ikeja. National Bureau of Statistics said the great potential of the accommodation and food services sector not fully embraced

Accommodation, food services sectors’ potential not well captured — NBS in 2011 and increased by total value of goods and

By Jimoh Babatunde

T

HE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has stated that the great potential of the accommodation and food services sector for contributing to the Nigeria’s economy, specifically in the area of job creation, is yet to be fully embraced.

In its latest data released last month , the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the total number of persons employed in accommodation and food services sector have been on the rise with the total number of people employed in the sector between 2010 and 2012 totaling 374,508.

According to the review of the Nigerian accommodation and food services sector, the NBS noted that globally, the services sector is a multi-billion dollar sector, “however , in Nigeria, the most economically active of the services’ sector’s development is found in the accommodation and food services.

“In 2010, the number of persons employed by the sector was 342,794 but the figure increased by 44,804 or 13.07 per cent to 387,598 in 2011 but reduced by 13,090 or 3.38 per cent to 374,508 in 2012.”

A breakdown based on sex category revealed that in the three years span, Nigerian male dominated with 200,061 employed in 2010, which increased by 33,693 or 16.84 per cent to 233,754 males employed in 2011.However, it declined by 26,482 or 11.33 per cent to 207,272 employed in 2012.

There was a steadier increase in the Nigerian female category, which ranked second highest with 111,201 employed in 2010, it increased by 9,555 or 8.59 per cent to 120,756

7,898 or 6.54 percent to 128,654 Nigerian females employed in 2012.

The review added that regardless of the growth in this industry specifically in the area of job creation, the nation is yet to fully embrace the industry as a major economic player and a source of national income.

“Based on the rebased GDP figures, the accommodation & food services sub-sector contributed about 0.45% of the nation’s

services in 2010 and 2011 and 0.49% in 2012.”

Across the three years, the sector’s gross earnings was dominated by income from accommodation, which totaled at N343,040.23 million in 2010, grew by N7,843.63 million or 2.29 per cent to reach a gross income of N350,883.86 million in 2011.

Marriott Int’l opens Protea Hotel Select Ikeja

By Etop Ekanem

T

HE President and Man aging Director (Middle East and Africa) of Marriott International, Alex Kyriakidis, has revealed that the chain’s growing footprint across the Middle East and Africa is a response to the potential they observed in the region.

Speaking at the official opening of a 117-room Protea Hotel Select in Ikeja recently, Kyriakidis said the Marriott International is currently seeing strong GDP growth across Sub-Saharan Africa which translates into opportunity for our industry.

“Nigeria is one of our key markets and presents tremendous opportunity for us with the existing hotels we have in Lagos as well as the strong pipeline of hotels that are coming up by 2018.”

According to Protea Hotels Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue, Danny Bryer, Nigeria’s rapidly growing economy is prompting the need for more hotels, adding: “Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy with numerous industries supporting ongoing economic expan-

sion.

We consider Nigeria to be one of our most important development markets and we’d like to double the number of Protea Hotels here in the next five years.

We have absolutely no doubt that the hotel will be running at close to capacity within a couple of months.”

Speaking on the hotel management team, Mr. Patrick Ilodianya, the Managing Director of Skye Shelter Fund added: “The partnership with Protea Hotel provides best practices in comfort, health and safety in our hotel and reinforces our commitment to consistently deliver international hospitality standards at the right price.”

On his part, Mr. Obi Nwogugu, CAPIC Fund Manager stated: “We are excited to add Protea Hotel Select Ikeja to our chain of hotels; it complements our objective to develop hospitality infrastructure in under-served markets across Nigeria and West Africa and we are confident that it will meet the global standard of service and comfort demanded by our business travelers.”

24 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—25

I N S I D E

DELTA: When Ogboru, Omo-Agege flex muscle

Page 26

2015 ELECTIONS: Some specific issues clerverly avoided

OSUN GOVERNORSHIP:

Anxiety all over again Page 27

Page 28

Dickson’s choice of a deputy was said to have been strongly opposed by associates of Patience, but with the deed done, there was apparently little she could do in order not to present a divided house in the more contentious fight to stop Timipire Sylva. The appointment of Mrs. Jonathan as a permanent secretary in the state civil service after Dickson’s emergence was one of the acts said to have been carried out to placate the first lady.

However, that it seemed, was not enough as not long after trouble resurfaced barely months after. Associates of Dickson alleged a covert script to stop him from a second term through the use of Dudafa.

As Dickson moved to reinforce his own structures, the first lady last October resigned her appointment as a permanent secretary drawing the battle line between her and Dickson.

Close associates

•Jonathan: Stirring contradicting views in Bayelsa

•Dickson: I won't talk about my boss' wife

Jonathan’s Patience in Bayelsa SACHET water is banned at today’s rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State because of fears it could be used as missile by contending forces in the camp of the president wanting to settle scores at the rally ground. Why is there trouble at home?

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

D

ESPITE the ban on sachet water at the campaign ground, unrepentant troublemakers are said to have devised other strategies of hurling missiles at their foes on the podium.

It was as such not surprising that yesterday, the Joint Task Force, JTF in Yenogoa carried out a show of strength along the major highways of the town with the objective of telling the troublemakers that the authorities were set for them.

While President Goodluck Jonathan remains almost universally popular among his people, a sharp division has arisen among his supporters.

The cleavage is essentially formed by the different allegiances to his wife, Mrs.

Patience Jonathan and one of his closest political disciples, Governor Serikae Dickson.

The trouble between both parties is the common gist among stakeholders.

In various states where she has campaigned for her husband, Mrs. Jonathan has sufficiently worked the crowd to the obvious satisfaction of her husband.

Campaign train So satisfied is Dr. Jonathan with the campaign stumps of his wife that he has recently taken it as a habit that whenever he is called upon to speak that he now almost brings his wife forward to first speak.

However, as the campaign train berths in Jonathan’s home base today, his wife is bound

to be an issue following Mrs. Jonathan’s alleged meddlesomeness in the political affairs of the state.

Ahead of today’s visit, the contending factions in the state chapter had publicly shown their distrust and exposed what was claimed as covert plans to humiliate one another.

There were allegations that the camp of Mrs. Jonathan had recruited men to jeer at the governor during the rally. The allegation was strong enough for those sympathetic to the governor to issue a counter threat warning Mrs. Jonathan not to come for today’s event.

But it is doubtful the First Lady would succumb to that threat especially given her strong political appendages across the state.

Whatever is the cause of the malaise is not known, but some stakeholders trace the

differences to before the emergence of Dickson as governor when he chose his present deputy, Admiral John Jonah over Dr Waripomowei Dudafa, special assistant (domestic matters) in the presidency.

As Dickson moved to reinforce his own structures, the first lady last October resigned her appointment as a permanent secretary drawing the battle line between her and Dickson

A number of associates of the first lady who got appointment in the state through her goodwill followed her in leaving the Dickson government.

The crisis reached a new climax on January 5, 2015 when two close associates of the first lady, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Marie Ebikake, and the Special Adviser on Special Projects, Remmy Kuku were relieved of their appointments. Kuku was also coordinator for Mrs. Jonathan’s NGO activities in Bayelsa.

Days later, Governor Dickson banned the activities of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN in the state.

The group which has been very effusive in singing for President Jonathan’s reelection was banned in the state according to the governor to stop its divisive policies.

“Those claiming to be campaigning for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, but are instead engaged in promoting subversive activities and inciting crisis and division within the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, to move their activities elsewhere.”

Dickson affirmed that Jonathan

Continues on page 26

26—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

DELTA: Ogboru, Omo-Agege show muscle GREAT Ogboru, was this week adopted by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU as its candidate for the Delta State governorship election. Days before the adoption he showed his mobilisation capacity when his campaign train touched ground at Ughelli

By Festus Ahon

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TMOSPHERE of the ancient town of Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State was charged last Wednesday as residents of the area rolled out drums to welcome their two sons, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru and Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege to Ughelli in continuation of their campaign tour of the State.

The people who thronged the Ekiugbo/Warri Road, Market Road, Isoko Road down to the Ughelli Township Stadium, likened the campaign team to a triumphant entry.

As the convoy drove through the town, the people came out joyfully waving their hands, dancing and chanting “Ogboru our Governor; the People’s General” and “Obaisi Omo-Agege; the better Senator in waiting”. Children were not left out as many of them tried running after the convoy to catch a glimpse of the duo of Chief Ogboru and Obais Omo-Agege.

Moved by the show of love

•Ogboru: The Urhobo hope being displayed by the people, Obaisi Ovie OmoAgege who hails from Orogun in the local government area, stepped down from his car to walk some distance with the people in a show of appreciation of their love for them.

Traders left their stalls while motorists and motorcyclists who were not on the convoy voluntarily joined with songs of solidarity and joy as they chanted songs such as “Ogboru na you be our man, na you be our governor; Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege, the awareness politician we salute you.”

The two prominent Urhobo sons were welcomed with cannon shots as they arrived

•Omo-Agege: Left PDP to join forces with Ogboru the Ughelli Township Stadium, which was already filled to capacity with supporters.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chief Great Ogboru while addressing the people said; “I want to assure Deltans that their dignity as a people will be restored when I assume office as in May 2015”.

While urging them to vote for Labour Party, he said the party was the only party that could guarantee the provision of “basic amenities, rehabilitation of social infrastructure like roads as well as security of life and property”. He expressed optimism that the people would be happy when their

Jonathan’s Patience in Bayelsa Continues from page 25 did not need a support group at home.

The “subversive actions” of the group it was learned may have been that the group was besides promoting Jonathan’s re-election also sowing seeds for the emergence of Dudafa as governor in the 2016 governorship election.

The governor ’s open declaration of war was said to have enraged his traducers in the Patience camp leading to allegations of a plot to pelt the governor with sachet water at today’s rally. Dickson is also not helped by the fact that he has not followed the steps of

his predecessors in sharing money a development that has made beneficiaries of such largesse in the past to take position against him.

Contending groups While a number of the contending groups have been faceless, the National Rebirth Initiative led by Mr. Joe Ambakaderimo, which had in the past strongly backed the president warned the troublemakers not embarrass the president.

“We are as such surprised that when it was expected that all hands should be on deck in the

project towards actualising success for the president in the polls, that a few mischief makers are trying to use the platform of the President’s campaign in his home state to pursue this selfish agenda,” Ambakaderimo’s NRI said in a statement condemning plans to use today ’s rally to settle scores.

Meanwhile, Dickson has refused to open up on the issue. In an interview on state radio he was taciturn on the issue saying: “I have a policy of not discussing my boss’ wife.

She is our mother, our sister and our wife and she is entitled to all courtesies and respect due her.”

dream of a better Delta for all was realized.

“There will be crisis if they attempt to rig me out this time because this is the time chosen by God. We are experiencing kidnappings because the government of the day emerged through kidnapped votes and we won’t tolerate that next month,” he warned.

Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege who is the Delta Central Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party in his speech, said; “I strongly appeal to you to vote for Labour Party because it is the best and it is the only party that has your interest at heart. I can assure you that all Deltans will rejoice when Chief Great Ogboru is elected and sworn-in as Delta State Governor on May 29th”.

According to him, “there’s

Omo-Agege said Ogboru was a a successful business man, who was being moved by passion to serve his people

massive poverty in the land which the ruling party has not been able to address but will be adequately tackled by a Labour Party government.

Ogboru is the best person to do this because he will be able to create jobs for the unemployed”.

Successful business Omo-Agege said Ogboru was a a successful business man, who was being moved by passion to serve his people.

“Ogboru is a philanthropist who has been creating jobs for Deltans even in his private establishments”, he added.

“We are not supporting Ogboru because he is an Urhobo, but because of all the governorship candidates, he is the best man for the job who won’t discriminate along ethnicity,” Omo -Agege stressed.

Speaking on his senatorial ambition, he promised give a vibrant representation at the National Assembly when voted in as Senator to represent Delta Central Senatorial District, emphasising that “Labour Party has people-oriented manifesto which will be followed religiously to ensure an equitable spread of the dividends of democracy to all Deltans”.

While appealing to the people to spread the message of hope for all Deltans, he urged to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and vote wisely.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—27

National Council of State meeting in Abuja

From left, Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari,during the National Council of State meeting, at the State House, Abuja. Photos: Abayomi Adeshida.

From left, former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), and Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

From left, Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido, and Kaduna State Governor Alhaji Ramalan Yero.

From left, Rivers State Governor, Chibuke Rotimi Amaechi; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Yobe State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu,

28—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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ITH the Presidential election about one week away, the amusing gyrations of the political gladiators continue unabated. There is little doubt the suffering masses are presumed to be enjoying the macabre daylight dance in the market. The Boko Haram insurgents (murderers) always make their presence felt by the dastardly acts of the female suicide bombers (an innovation in Nigeria).The good news is that the country’s‘ neighbouring States in ECOWAS have promised to help in subjugating the insurgents. The moral question is whether it is right to continue to hurl bombs or maim ourselves when others are offering their lives to ensure our survival as a nation. It would have been better if our helpers found us a united nation.

Inspite of the media efforts in getting the political gladiators to focus on specific issues, the rising tempo of the current debate is on the personalities of President Jonathan and his challenger, Major General Buhari (rtd).

Both contestants are not new to power – through democratic election (Jonathan) and through Coup (military democracy), Buhari. The issue should have been on the use of power and the enjoyments of democratic dividends under PDP government since 1999 and what Buhari and his party will give Nigeria in 2015 and after. So far, the topic has been glibly tackled by the two main parties, thus, deepening the confusion.

It may be necessary at this time, to put a halt to the drift towards deep misunderstanding and confusion.

The main issue is that the economy has been mismanaged since the return of Democracy under the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of which Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is the current leader. Even before the awful disclosure of Professor Charles Soludo (former Governor of Central Bank under Obasanjo), there is clear evidence that the economy has

2015 ELECTIONS:

Some specific issues cleverly avoided not been wisely managed as expected and that the majority of the Nigerian people have not been enjoying “good life”.

What are the facts of life? At present, about 70 percent of Nigerians are living below the poverty line and unemployment rate is above 24 per cent and above 30 per cent among the youths. Significant statistical figures show the value of petroleum products between 1999 and today. The pump price of gasoline (premium motor spirit) commonly called ‘petrol‘ which was N26 in 1999 is now N87; diesel (AGO) sold for N19 in 1999 compared with today‘s cost of N155; kerosene in 1999 was N17 per litre as compared

Inspite of the media efforts in getting the political gladiators to focus on specific issues, the rising tempo of the current debate is on the personalities of President Jonathan and his challenger, Major General Buhari (rtd)

with the present subsidized price of N50, if available. It could be argued that the rise of pump price (by litre) of petroleum product could be attributed to importation of products to supplement short supply from dilapidated local refineries.

The fact that a major oil producer and exporter would become an importer of the commodity it produces in abundance calls into a serious doubt, the ability of the economic management team of the nation.

And to make it worse, subsidy is being paid to the importers of the refined products, product by product while it could be cheaper to refine in neighbouring refineries where a barrel of crude oil would give more than ten different products.

The stench from the saga from oil subsidy, which has caused the nation more than N2 trillion is still on. Mrs. Hillary Clinton, during her visit to Nigeria once doubted the economic wisdom of importing refined oil products by a leading exporter of crude oil, and the economic stupidity of paying subsidy on imported oil.

The question of payments on imports would depend on how strong the currency of the importing nation is.

Commonsense economics would dictate that an import-dependent nation (like Nigeria) would go for a strong currency to overcome the situation if the need arises.

Far from it, the ruling party has proved not to be a friend of a strong currency. Between 1999 and 2015, the value of the national currency has moved from N102 to the dollar to an uncertain figure of N168 and N210 to one dollar. How are the mighty falling. There are different rates for the dollar, the official rates and the parallel rates. Thus, Nigeria will appear to be operating a multiple system of foreign exchange system in its economy, i.e. one rate for the Central Bank, another for interbank and another for the Bureaus (BDC).

Since 1999, the Federal Government, State Government and the Local Governments have relied on oil money for eighty per cent of their revenue. That source of revenue has contributed to the fiscal irresponsibility of the executives and the frivolities of the legislatures all over the country.

Neither the Federal, State nor Local government has shown exceptional ability (except Lagos State) to grow internally generated revenue to match the monthly contribution from oil revenue . Even the Federal Government under the crafty but hard working Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala has started to shout austerity measures at the sign of low oil revenue. In fairness to the duo of Obasanjo and

Iweala, something was “illegally” siphoned from oil money into Excess Crude Oil account - now a likely saviour.

Unfortunately, the funds in the illegal Excess Crude Oil Account meant for “Power” Plants could not withstand the onslaught of powerful States under Yar`Adua and President Jonathan. Much of it had been distributed before the cruel blow to oil bonanza.

The cruel oil blow (to some good omen) will, no doubt, lead to depression in the Nigerian economy which has refused to move from its dependence on oil for its sustenance and growth.

To sustain the 2015 Budget, the Federal Government will certainly deep its hands into what is left of Excess Crude Oil Account, Sovereign Wealth Funds and other savings. Some measures might include borrowings and more direct investments. The problem is with a nation which is noted for frugality and impunity in its attitude to spending money, the future looks bleak. If eighty (80) per cent of revenue is devoted to recurrent expenditure, what is left for education and infrastructural development?

If the Federal Government has not been able to advance beyond President Jonathan‘s refixing the railway system, renovating the airports, creating more universities and schools and reinvesting in agriculture (credits to Jonathan‘s government) in the last four years, then, much is required.

Jonathan‘s supporters are saying Give us another 4 years to complete the job. The battle cry of the Opposition is “CHANGE” perhaps from the dreary past and depression of the future.

But, Nigerians would be interested to know if there would be a radical change from the current fiscal and monetary policies. What will be the appropriate policy on Power and Oil? The ultimate answer is needed on overall strategy for Security and Prosperity. This is the current charge to the Opposition.

How Jonathan is fighting corruption — Ekiyor Dr Chris Ekiyor is currently the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry in Delta State. In this interview he gives a critical appraisal of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as the second war time President the nation has ever had because of the challenges of terrorism in north eastern part of the country Excerpts:

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ERSPECTIVE of the opposition in the country?

Nigeria needs an opposition party that is big and it is good the APC is providing it. The opposition provides the check and balance for sustaining democracy. In the last 16 years we did not have one. But there is one now.

Nigerians want change, infrastructural development. But is our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP providing these things? My answer is yes.

But no government can address

all these problems in twenty years. It’s a gradual thing.

The military with their decrees, created more states, local governments, thus expounded our burden of recurrent expenditure. Infrastructure did not expand with the burden of expenditure. The hospital system failed. I am a medical doctor, the hospitals were nothing to write about then.

During the military the value of our naira dropped, naira was devalued. Obasanjo came as a civilian president, noting much was done to redress the problems, YarAdua came set the template

for rule of law. Then came President Goodluck Jonathan under challenging circumstances. It was a struggle to confirm him as president even when the constitution was there.

President Jonathan and the PDP have done so much in terms of transforming Nigeria.

And nothing much has been said on these things but there is still a lot to be done. You see roads, the East West road is almost completed, universities established in six years, the railway transport system has come back.

Jonathan is the second war time president of the country. He is a civilian, never trained in the military but he is fighting terrorism which is the most difficult war because you don’t know your enemies. Under this war situation he is still performing, design for Niger bridge is on, same with the

Coastal road in the Niger Delta Corruption I have listened to the policy of government on corruption.

Under Jonathan we see a vigorous effort to fight corruption.

We are running a cashless economy already. Once money move under questionable circumstance you are questioned. Most state governments are doing this now.

I am a Commissioner, gone are the days cashier pay contractors and bring the rest to the office of the boss. Everything is cashless now. Investigation takes processes to ensure nobody is jailed wrongly.

Health sector, was bad. But under Jonathan the sector is getting attention. We saw the last strike, how Jonathan handled it.

The President insisted that a technical committee be set up to resolve the rot in the education

•Ekiyor: Backs Jonathan sector. The money was paid to a special account to resolve the challenges in the education sector. The APC is not an alternative to the PDP.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 — 29

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—31

Confessions of a US-based Nigerian artiste

What God told me concerning my kind of music – Rex Suru Just as you could judge a book by its cover, so you could put a tag on many Nigerian artistes of today by the kind of music they do, but not the enigmatic Rex Suru. By listening to him, you get a feel of reggae, then highlife with a breezy Afrobeat temperament but Rex is much more than that.

He would tell you he does Afroroots reggae but when you listen to him confusion sets him because of the spectrum of the beat and sound.

He started his music career in the United States but now back home in Nigeria to re-invent himself.

Weekend Groove recently met up with the debonair musician who spoke about his career, his music and how the voice of God spoke to him about his kind of music:

By Ayo Onikoyi & Juliet Ebirim

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AN we know a bit about you?

My name is Rex Suru. I’m a native Nigerian. I started music in the United States soon after I got there in my junior years in college. I’ve had the inspiration since then and I was determined to follow through. I started producing music in the early 90s and my first production was called ‘Will like to live and not to die’.

Most people loved the music and that gave me more inspiration and belief that this is the path I must follow. Since then, I have produced three albums and I’ve been promoting them locally in the United States, but I decided to bring it back home. I realised that most African musicians in the United States that had a breakthrough started from home.

African music As an African doing music in the United States, it is difficult to break into the American music scene because they have a different style. As someone with an African background, the music will sound more appealing back home.

I realised a lot of great acts are from Nigeria, so I decided to come back home and introduce myself to my people.

When did you start doing music professionally?

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Rex Suru

Professionally, I started in the late 90s and I promoted myself on the streets of San Francisco, Beckley and Oakland. I later took a break and this is my second coming.

What was it like getting your music to be accepted by the United States audience?

The United States is a very good place. I started as an originator of Afro-roots music because I was determined to do only original music. After promoting myself all by myself, I realised that hardwork pays because there was usually a huge turn out of people at my gigs. And it motivated me more. I broke even and I was satisfied with the turn out because they comprised of people from all ages and races.

In 1997, I had a street performance. The then Mayor of San Francisco, Frank Jordan walked up to the stage and said, ‘Rex, we need more of you in this city’. At the early stage, my music was well accepted, but I still didn’t get where I wanted to be.

The lyrics in my music are very great, positive messages and I’ve never swayed. My music was accepted in the United States but I lacked the resources to give it a grand promotion and the push I need. So, these compelled me to come back home. In doing the kind of music I do, what really matters is having a band that sticks with you.

These days, musicians rarely have bands. All they do is go to the studio and do their songs...?

It’s the new generation and they will eventually return to the order of things. In clubs in the United States, you’ll discover that most people don’t want to listen to pre-produced music, they prefer live music.

Acoustics and instrumentals are the core of music.

With the advent of the new generation digital music, it’s rare to get a band because most musicians are not even good at Continunes on page 32

Why I featured Sound Sultan, W4, Cynthia Morgan in my new single —Mcvance

Nse Ikpe Etim, Kalu Ikeagwu, others shine in The Green Eyed

What mobile devices do world leaders use?

32—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Synopsis

What God told me concerning my kind of music – Rex Suru Continues from page 31 playing instruments, how do you hope to get a band in Nigeria?

It’s a big world. Some youths are wiser than their peers. There are some youths in music schools learning how to play musical instruments and most of them are looking for bands to play with.

Most people desire the joy of live music and that’s what we are trying to bring back. I do not think the old ways will just fade away, because a lot of people still yearn for it and I’m one of those willing to provide and revive it.

We appreciate what is currently going on musically in terms of technological revolution, but I believe we have to improve our skills and contribute for posterity, not for the moment.

How did you discover your genre of music?

My genre of music is Afro-roots reggae. Afro in the sense that I’m an African and the roots of my music are based on traditional African rhythm.

Traditional African rhythm All the creative force that comes out of me is a rhythm, the way I talk, laugh, walk etc. Reggae is what I love doing.

What inspired your coming up with this genre of music?

That cannot be explained, it is what it is. One day, I was working in the United States on a scaffold and I asked God that if I could have a band, what would I name it. And I heard ‘Cherubim Vibes’ meaning the vibration of angels, that’s positive vibrations.

Was it influenced by your Cherubim and Seraphim background?

It could be. But what I heard from God on that day was ‘Cherubim Vibes’.

Though I was raised in a Cherubim and Seraphim church as a young boy in Lagos, I’m in a different church right now, though I believe all churches are the same.

I also asked God what I would name my record label when I have one and I heard ‘House of Rhythms production’. Since then, I’ve been using those names in affili-

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ation to my music.

How do you intend to get your reggae based music into the hip-hop hearts of Nigerians?

Reggae never dies. It inspires people, the youths especially.

Why do you think people shy away from playing reggae?

They ‘re not shying away, they only lack the inspiration. Reggae music never dies, it only goes through a transition.

How do you get the inspiration to compose?

Usually, the base is the rhythm and sometimes, I hear sounds. I’ve worked with different producers, sometimes I tell them what I want and at other times, I just let them do their thing. The base is the driving force behind the rhythm.

How do you view the Nigerian music industry?

When I came in 2012, I was challenged with the way things were going. Even though some people might have problems with the lyrics of most Nigerian songs.

Personally, I was impressed and motivated. I thought about what to do to break through and I came up with the song ‘Lagos Boy’. I did a few other reggae songs too.

Most people are of the opinion that Nigerian songs lack evergreen qualities ...?

Opinions vary and I do not condemn anybody, but I appreciate the efforts of Nigerian musicians. We need to motivate and encourage our youths.

These days, there’s lot of sexuality in music, but your music seem to be spiritual, what’s your take on the infusion of sex in music?

A whole family cannot be alike, there are things that distinguish each person.

Posterity sake I can’t ask them not to talk about sex, but I do those songs that evoke the spirituality in them and calls them back.

Which of your three albums is particularly dear to you?

I had to reproduce my first two albums.

Production-wise, they lacked quality but the messages are very important. So now that I have more experience, I reproduced them to improve the quality f o r posterity sake. My last album is perfect and up-todate. I love all my albums.

As a married man, how has doing music affected your married life?

It has in a way. I had problems in the past through music and hanging out with negative people and it affected my first marriage. But this is my second marriage.

My first wife is a good person and I respect her a lot. I respect my current wife even more. Marraige doesn’t really affect my music production, but helps me choose my friends carefully.

It makes me separate my music business from family business. I love my wife very much.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of W at er Wat ater SpongeBob goes on a quest to discover a stolen recipe that takes him to our dimension, our world, where he tangles with a pirate, who has his own plans for the delicious delicacies.

TOP MOVIES OF THE WEEK . WEDDING RINGER ·30 DAYS IN ATLANTA

· ANNIE ·SEVENTH SON

Movie schedule from January 16th - 22nd 2015 SILVERBIRDCINEMAS, VICTORIA ISLAND Sponge Bob :11:00am,2:30pm, Selma :4:10pm,6:40pm,8:50pm, Laggies : 4:50pm Barbie in Prince Power : 11:45,1:05pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:50pm,7:25pm,9:20pm John Wick : 2:10pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 11:00am SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, IKEJA Sponge Bob : 1:00pm,4:20pm Selma : 2:15pm,6:40pm Laggies : 11:20am,1:15pm Barbie in Princess Power : 11:00am,2:50pm The Wedding Ringer : 11:00am,5:15pm,7:15pm John Wick : 8:45p 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, SEC Sponge Bob : 11:40am,1:30pm5:20pm Selma : 12:50pm,3:20pm,5:50pm,8:20pm Laggies : 12:20pm,2:20pm,6:00pm Barbie in Princess Power : 11:20am,12:50pm,2:20pm The Wedding Ringer : 1:00pm,3:00pm,5:00pm,7:00pm,9:00pm John Wick : 46:50pm,8:50pm Seventh Son : 2:10pm,6:30pm,8:30pm Annie : 4:30pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 12:00pm,2:10pm,4:20pm,6:30pm,8:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS CEDDI PLAZA , ABUJA Selma : 1:35pm,6:30pm,8:55pm, Laggies : 11:00am,1:00pm, The Wedding Ringer : 5:00pm,9:00pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Sponge Bob : 11:00am,12:25pm,5:30pm, Selma : 3:30pm,6:00pm,8:30pm Green Eye : 11:00am,3:05pm,7:10pm Laggies : 12:00pm,2:10pm Barbie In Princess Power : 11:00am,2:10pm, The Wedding Ringer : 12:50pm,5:15pm,7:10pm John Wick : 11:20am,1:50pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 11:45am,2:00pm,4:05pm,6:20pm,8:30pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, WARRI Selma : 11:45am,4:15pm,8:45pm Laggies : 10:35am,4:35pm,8:35pm, Barbie in Princess Power : 10:15am, 12:15pm,1:45pm The Wedding Ringer : 12:35pm,6:35pm, John Wick : 2:35pm,8:40pm Annie : 2:00pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 6:40pm SILVERBIRD CINEMAS, UYO Green Eye : 11:40am,1:45pm,3:50pm,6:00pm,8:10pm The Wedding Ringer : 2:00pm Annie : 11:30am,1:45pm,4:00pm,6:15pm,8:30pm Champagne : 12:20pm,2:20pm,4:15pm,6:10pm,8:20pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 3:50pm,6:10pm,8:25pm OZONE CINEMAS SABO YABA Sponge Bob : 10:05am,11:45am Selma : 4:05pm,6:30pm Barbie in Princess Power : 10:35am,5:05pm,9:10pm Laggies : 12:10pm The Wedding Ringer : 3:30pm,7:25pm John Wick : 9:20pm Seventh Son : 11:40am,1:20pm Annie : 10:00am 30 Days in Atlanta : 8:50pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS LAGOS The Wedding Wick : 3:40pm,9:30pm,11:40pm John Wick : 11:40am 30 Days in Atlanta : 4:10pm,8:25pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT The Weeding Ringer : 2:20pm,7:40pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 7:00pm GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS, ENUGU The Wedding Ringer : 4:30pm Annie : 11:20am,3:40pm,6:00pm 30 Days in Atlanta : 7:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, LAGOS The Wedding Ringer : 4:35pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, KANO The Wedding Ringer : 12:05pm,3:30pm6:40pm,8:35pm John Wick : 12:05pm,4:05pm,8:05pm Annie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:30pm 3O Days in Atlanta : 2:25pm,4:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS,APAPA The Wedding Ringer : 2:25pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 8:00pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, PORT HARCOURT Annie : 10:00am,12:10pm,4:50pm The Wedding Ringer : 3:55pm,7:40pm 30 Day in Atlanta : 10:20am,4:50pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS SAMONDA The Wedding Ringer : 10:00am,8:30pm FILM HOUSE CINEMAS, CALABAR Annie : 11:50am,8:15pm

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34 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Women decry lawmakers’ attitude towards GBV in Nigeria

By Caleb Ayansina

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BUJA—NIGERIAN Women have decried the poor attitude of Nigerian Parliamentarians towards addressing Gender Based Violence, GBV, in the country, describing it as ‘insensitive’.

They said their attitudes were demonstrated through the lack of commitment exhibited in the passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill (VAPP-BILL) in to law.

The National President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Barr. Hauwa Shekarau alleged that violence against women had

no meaning to them (some lawmakers), adding that they were foot-dragging on the VAPPBILL, because they were not directly affected.

Shekarau was speaking at a one day sensitization workshop on Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill for 100 Women organised by the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) in conjunction with the IPAS, in Abuja.

The VAPPBILL is to address various forms of violence against persons particularly women.

She explained that section 55 (1), (d) of the Penal Code

allowed in a civilized society.”

FIDA Boss maintained that poor judicial response to perpetrators had even made the Gender Based Violence (GBV) goes worse, as t h e perpetrators g l o r i f y themselves, saying “it is just to pay small money for fine, that is if they do anything about it.”

According to her, “Women are the victims of this violence; it affects the rich and the poor, the highly educated one and the illiterate. It is a global issue, applicable in the Northern Nigeria provides a man to chastise his wife (s), adding that the law had Islamic under tones, but it was not being strictly followed as it was laiddown in Islam.

Shekarau, who is also the Senior Policy Advisor for the Interparty Advisory Council (IPAC),emphasized that “this type of law needs to be reviewed; it should not be

What does it takes to transmit a bill that it took a year for the Senate to take it up? Violence against women has no meaning to our lawmakers

and this necessitated the VAPP Bill.”

She expressed dismay that the bill passed by the House of Representatives on 14 March 2013 took up to a year before it was transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, adding that nothing had been done since the bill passed through the second reading on the floor of the Upper Chamber on 16 October 2014.

All these setbacks, according to her, depict the seriousness attached to the plights of women in the country.

“What does it takes to transmit a bill that it took a year for the Senate to take it up.

Violence against women has no meaning to our lawmakers, because they are not directly affected. “The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 14 March 2013 and transmitted to the Senate, as we were made to believe after the passage, it passed through the first reading on the floor of the Senate on 15 March 2014. The second reading was on 16 October 2014 and since then, nothing has happened.”

She urged women to demand from politicians, who were coming to seek for their votes, their commitment on the passage of the VAPP Bill.

Club empowers market women with free wares N

By Josephine Agbonkhese

O fewer than 15 women traders at Isolo area of Lagos were recently empowered with free wares by the International Inner Wheel Club of Isolo in Lagos.

The exercise which was preceded by an evaluation of the traders’ lines of business, according to Mrs Ronke Solomon, President, Inner Wheel Club of Isolo, was in accordance with the organisation’s theme for the year 2014/2015- ‘Light the Path’.

“Inner Wheel is a philanthropic organisation, solely out to serve the needy. We always look out for ways by which we can assuage sufferings, and this is one we have identified. We are lighting the path for these indigent women to be able to feed their families.

“Already, we have lectured them. This is not the time to buy aso-ebi or whatever but to expand their businesses with the little we have given them,” Ronke said.

Further counselling the women, she said, “With passion on your side, you can achieve whatever you dream of. We can only help boost your capital but the power to grow your business lies solely in your hands.”

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Speaking at the exercise which was in commemoration of the January 10 celebration of the International Inner Wheel’s 91stanniversary worldwide, Ronke recalled that most of the women empowered last year by the organisation had made remarkable progress.

“There is a particular woman who sells slippers and who we only had to empower with N10,000. Fortunately for her, it was during the yuletide. She made a lot of profits and came back testifying that she had been able offset debts, buy clothes for her children and still grow her business,” she said.

“January 10 of each year marks the founding day of the International Inner Wheel in Manchester by Mrs Margaret Golding who has made all of our philanthropic work possible.

Today, Inner Wheel exists in

This is not the time to buy asoebi or whatever but to expand their businesses with the little we have given them

•President, Isolo Inner Wheel, Mrs Ronke Solomon(5th right) and Mrs.Olayinka Ayanwale, executive member(3rd right) with club members and some of the market women at the event in Lagos.

103 countries/geographical areas and has more than 103,000 members. It connects members in various nations, all working to uphold its objectives which include encouraging the ideals of service as demonstrated by the Inner Wheel Club of Isolo.

Worldwide, the organisation is fighting for the advancement of women and children,” Alhaja Olayinka Ayanwale, a foremost executive of the Inner Wheel Club of Isolo added.

Vlisco Group signs A

S part of creating a platform for expanding of garment and textile industry in Nigeria, the Dutch textile and design company, Vlisco Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria recently.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Vlisco Group and the Nigerian government is to collaborate

and support Vlisco Group’s four brands (Woodin, Vlisco, Uniwax and GTP). The Nigerian government in December 2014 approved a major revitalisation and reform of its Cotton, Textiles and Garment (CTG) sector.

According to the CEO of Vlisco group, Hans Ouwendijk, “We commend the Nigerian government for its focus on revitalising this critical sector.

The new policy enables the Vlisco

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 — 35

Durodola presents memories of grandma

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NE of Nigeria’s accomplished broadcast journalists, Funke Treasure Durodola, will present her debut book Memories of Grandmato the public on Friday 30thJanuary 2015 at the

Freedom Park (Old Colonial Prison), Hospital Road, Lagos.

To be reviewed by Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Prof. Aderemi Raji, the public presentation will be chaired by a former Minister of Housing and Urban

More than anything, however, Memories of Grandma is a literary tribute somewhat to the no-nonsense approach to child rearing in the 20thcentury

Development, Hon. Chief Mrs Mobolaji Osomo.

Special guests of honour include: Chief Mrs. Bolajoko Doherty (Proprietress Bola Immaculate Schools, Ibadan); His Eminence, Dr. Samuel K. Uche (Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria); and Dr. Eddie Iroh (Former Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria).

Currently the General Manager of Radio One FM (103.5), Durodola has had a consistently shining career in Nigeria’s media terrain. Over the years, she has worked extensively on health, women, children and youth-related projects.

She has held appointments as Country P& Twith UN IRIN RADIO on a five-project along the West African Corridor.

A Certified Media Trainer and recipient of national and international media awards, including the Nigerian Media Merit Award, Durodola has also been a finalist in the

CNN/ Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Awards.

A Literary Tribute to an Endangered Custom

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urodola is one of the fortunate few who enjoyed that rare privilege of meeting all their four grandparents alive and subsequently bonded with them. But of the quartet, it is Durodola’s maternal grandma who helped to nurture the middleclass town girl into a culturally aware adolescent.

Memories of Grandma are the author’s recollections of a noteworthy childhood lived with her parents in Ijebu Ode and vacations spent in Ode Omu, her maternal grandparents’ rural homestead.

Written from the point of view of a curious teenager, the book shows Durodola’s journey of cultural immersion in a world far removed from the westernized settings of a conventional school and one in which her grandma is the ever-willing tutor and coach.

More than anything, however, Memories of Grandma is a literary tribute somewhat to the no-nonsense approach to child rearing in the 20thcentury, especially in Nigeria’s southwest region, in an era when the disruptive pair of Information Technology and globalization had not reared their heads. That’s the world Durodola was raised in.

‘House of Tara was inspired by my step-mother'

By Esther Onyegbula

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HIEF Executive Officer of Africa’s leading beauty brand, House of Tara iconic for setting up the first make up studio and establishing Nigeria’s first make up school in 2004 was on CNN African Voices, a weekly show that highlights Africa’s most engaging personalities, where she spoke inspiringly about her passion and business.

Inspired by her stepmother’s beauty routine and her work as a makeup artist during her time at the university, she says she was inadvertently drawn to cosmetics, after seeing “ what makeup actually does to a woman in

terms of self-esteem and confidence.”

While talking about her passion for teaching, Tara said: “I am still a teacher, the only thing is that this time, I’m not teaching maths or English. I’m teaching enterprise: I’m teaching makeup artistry as a platform for enterprise.”

Making a difference to young lives is all part of the mission for the 37-year-old cosmetics queen.

“There are certain things telling you that you cannot make it; that you will not make it; that Nigeria is not a place where people make it,” says Tara Fela-Durotoye. “I beg to differ.”

She also revealed that the Tara beauty range was born

out of her frustration at the lack of suitable cosmetics available in Nigeria, “Importers didn’t know exactly what was right for Nigerian women,” she says, “so I want to fill the gap while encouraging pride in homegrown glamor.”

“A lot of the Tara products are named after either beauty icons or beauty philosophies in Africa,” says Tara FelaDurotoye. “For us it’s about sharing the world and sharing our culture to the world.”

Tara also harped on the brand’s achievements, saying; “Today we have about 14 make-up schools across the country where people have been trained to become makeup artists. I can confidently

say that for 80 % of the make-up artists that are active players in the industry today, either working a s entrepreneurs or working within o t h e r beauty brands, a r e trained by House of Tara. And I think for me that is the greatest joy.”

•Tara Fela-Durotoye

MoU with Nigerian government Group to invest in Nigeria and to contribute to the building of a vibrant CTG sector. Nigeria is Africa’s largest consumer market and the opportunity to fully deploy our brands and business models in Nigeria provides a major boost to our growth ambition.” ‘’The MoU is expected to yield benefits for the Nigerian economy in terms of economic diversification and job creation in line with the Government’s Industrial Revolution

strategy. Vlisco Group’s activities are expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs in Nigeria in the medium term.

This will catalyse growth and jobs in Nigeria across the entire value-chain from cotton to fashion’’.

The Director of Actis Fash Sawyerr, also said that, “We applaud the Nigerian government’s focus on revitalising its CTG sector and

diversifying its economy. We believe this significant agreement with Vlisco Group will be highly beneficial to Nigeria, job creation and to the Vlisco Group. We will provide our support to both parties to develop the intended benefits and economic impact across the textile value chain in Nigeria.”

In his opening speech, the Honourable Minster of Industry, Trade and

Investment, Olusegun Aganga, while commenting on the MoU, said, “The Government of Nigeria is delighted to welcome this investment and partnership from the Vlisco Group into Nigeria.

We are determined to rebuild this historically important sector with its job creation impact across the entire value chain from cotton fields to

fashion. We are looking forward to implementing this strategic partnership with the Vlisco Group”.

Hans Ouwendijk also revealed that ‘’The Group will participate across the sector value chain from sourcing of cotton, textile printing, wholesale, retail and e-commerce distribution, garment manufacturing and supporting and promoting Nigerian fashion designers’’.

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36 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 —37

With PRINCE OSUAGWU princeosuagwu@gmail.com 08050498513

What mobile devices do world leaders use?

By Laju Iren IF there were to be a ‘first dog’ in the United States of America, it would be Bo Obama. Bo, a male Portugese water dog, is probably the most ‘googled’ dog on the internet. He is after all the US President’s dog.

In the same vein, mobile devices used by public figures all over the world, are garnering much attention in recent times.

And with the upcoming elections in view, Glamtech spotlights some political figures all over the world and their mobile devices.

President Goodluck Jonathan What mobile phone does Mr. President use? That information might be the exclusive privilege of close aides and family, but it might be safe to say that Jonathan or someone in his family has a soft spot for the apple brand.

Lavish wedding Recall that guests at the President’s daughter’s wedding lavish wedding last year, received customized iPhones.

Perhaps GEJ got a few complimentary iPhones.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari It would seem to an online observer that the difference between GEJ and GMB moves beyond their political parties and ambitions to their preference for mobile devices.

GMB’s most famous picture with a mobile device features the 73 year old General working with what seems to be a Samsung Galaxy note 10.1.

Pres. Barrack Obama Obama is reportedly fond of his dog, Bo. But he is also quite fond of his blackberry.

In 2009, the US President reportedly told newsmen that security agents were trying to “pry it out of my hands.” He eventually settled for an encrypted phone. However, news reports say that President Obama is rumoured to be considering switching to an

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Germany Chancellor, Angela Merkel

Nigeria President, Jonathan Goodluck

Android-based smartphone.

The Wall Street Journal reported models from Samsung and LG are being tested by the White House as viable alternatives to the BlackBerry.

David Cameron

The British Prime Minister is also a Blackberry lover.

Remember the famous selfie of Cameron, Obama, and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at Nelson Mandela’s funeral? That was a blackberry! But it

turns out it wasn’t Cameron’s but the Danish PM’s. Cameron himself has been photographed quite often with his BB, although nothing beats the famous selfie!

Angela Merkel

The German Chancellor’s mobile became the most famous phone in world politics when it emerged in October last year that the NSA had been monitoring the chancellor’s calls.

But she has at least two phones she uses on a regular basis: the one that was allegedly monitored by US intelligence services, a Nokia 6260 Slide, was reportedly used for party matters only. For state affairs, Merkel uses a BlackBerry Z10, fitted with an encryption chip by Secusmart.

38—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Pregnant woman, 7 others die in Onitsha auto crash

By Nwabueze Okonkwo & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

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FREE KEROSENE: Residents of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State scrambling for free kerosene, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

Woman allegedly stabs husband to death in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A 28-year-old woman has allegedly stabbed her husband to death at Akenfa, a suburb in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, following a disagreement.

The deceased, identified as Henry Gagariga, a legal practitioner, was said to be in his early 30s. The incident occurred at the couple’s residence along Ebisam Road, Akenfa.

The woman, whose name was given as Victoria, according to

a security source, is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID. She was said to have allegedly stabbed her husband in the neck with a kitchen knife, following a bitter quarrel over “a minor domestic issue” yesterday.

The couple, according to sources, had co-habited for some years as live-in lovers before legalizing their union in Yenagoa last June.

Gagariga was said to have died in the hospital he was

rushed to after losing a lot of blood. His body had been deposited at an undisclosed morgue in the state capital.

Victoria, daughter of a retired director in the state Ministry of Information, is said to be a staff of Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and arrest of the suspect.

The matter, he said, had been transferred to the State CID.

Suspected cultists kill businessman in Ughelli

By Perez Brisibe

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GHELLI—THE renewed cult-related killings in Ughelli and its environs has taken a twist with the killing of an Ughelli-based businessman at a popular drinking spot at the Ughelli axis of the East-West Road.

The victim, Mr. Michael Onajiyovwi, alias Onamike, who specialized in the sale of electrical parts, was shot at his wife's drinking bar.

Though details of his killing were sketchy, a witness told Vanguard that the gunmen, numbering three, shot him at close range and left immediately without collecting anything.

Confirming the incident, an executive of the Ughelli Vigilante outfit, nicknamed Bakassi, said the incident might be a fallout of the cult-related

clashes that had rocked the town of late.

At press time, attempts to reach the state Police Public

Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, was unsuccessful as calls to her phone were unanswered and SMS un-replied.

Luxury bus kills 11 cows on Akure-Owo Expressway

By Dayo Johnson

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KURE—NO fewer than 11 cows were killed early yesterday by a luxury bus on Akure-Owo Expressway in Ondo State.

Immediately the news filtered to Akure metropolis, miscreants mobilized themselves and removed the cows before dawn.

They hijacked buses and other vehicles plying the road to convey the dead cows to hidden places where they quartered and shared the meat.

Fight broke out among the miscreants over how many people should share each dead

cow and who should take what part of its body.

Eyewitnesses said the bus, marked Anambra KPP 158XA, was heading to Lagos from Abuja when the accident occurred at Sebi Petrol Station in Akure, along the expressway.

The Fulani herdsmen were said to have fled into the bush immediately the crash occurred for fear of being lynched.

It was also learned that the driver and the passengers in the luxury bus fled the scene, afraid that the Fulani herdsmen may mobilize to attack them.

NITSHA—NO fewer than seven persons, including a pregnant woman, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, lost their lives, while about 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident involving a tanker and other vehicles.

The accident, according to an eyewitness, occurred when a fuel-laden tanker, descending Awka Road, had brake failure and rammed into vehicles at Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS/Awka Road traffic light junction.

According to the source, the driver, in a bid to avoid more destruction, crushed a blue Mitsubishi bus, fully loaded with passengers, and then hit four tricycles.

A source said: “The pregnant woman was standing at the bus stop, perhaps waiting for a bus, when she was crushed by the tanker. Others were mostly passengers in the four tricycles that were hit in the multiple accidents” Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Philip Ezekiel, the Inland Town Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Cosmas Eze and the Onitsha Central Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Isa Abubakar, all battled to save lives.

Officials of Fire Service rushed to the scene of the crash to prevent the petrol tanker from exploding.

FAILED KIDNAP ATTEMPT: Gunmen kill man in Bauchi

By Suzan Edeh

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AUCHI—TRADEGY struck, yesterday, as gunmen killed a senior civil servant at a mosque in new G.R.A, Bauchi State.

It was learned that the suspect, known as Babangida Garba, a staff of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, was killed by the gunmen while, resisting their kidnap attempt.

An eyewitness said the gunmen tried to force Babangida into their vehicle, but he struggled with them.

The witness said: “After the early prayers around 6am, gunmen came to the premises of the mosque and waited for their victim.

“The victim struggled with the gunmen in an attempt to resist abduction. This infuriated them and they shot him.”

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Lawal Shehu, said the gunmen stormed a mosque at the new G.R.A, opposite Larema Hotel and killed one Babangida Garba.

He said the 53-year-old staff of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in Bauchi State was killed when he resisted being kidnapped by the gunmen.

The police boss added that a police sergeant attached to the Federal Highway Patrol sustained injuries in the encounter and was now responding to treatment.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015—39

Mammah, the consummate banker bows out (1935-2015) TRIBUTE

Soludo and his missing trillions

By Chuks Iloegbunam

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HARLES Soludo claims to be writing a three-part treatise on “Okonjo-Iweala and the missing trillions”. However, his first installment, which hit the Internet on Sunday, February 1, 2015, is so full of casuistry and subterfuges that, whatever else he subsequently dishes out will equally carry so much fire but very little light. In this connection, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, is advised to repudiate further temptations to waste precious time in dignifying Soludo’s tantrums with the benefit of any response.

Soludo claims to be the mostest, to be the best Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria ever had.

Although he tries to authenticate this wild claim to central banking quintessence, by citing laudatory letters from former Presidents Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, as well as the ocean of tears shed by his personal staff as he was shoed off the CBN in thinly-veiled disguise, the claim, like many others in his self-serving piece, is fatuous, and flies in the face of verifiable facts.

Circumscription of physical freedom One of the men responsible for plundering the Police Pensions Fund to the tune of billions had built a place of worship in front of his residence, and was given to daily distributing N20 handouts to the beggars and hungry folks who, like bees around a honeycomb, regularly congregated in his front for succour. Those unfortunate dregs of society shed copious tears on the day law enforcement officers closed in and carted the pentotting rogue into detention, his physical freedom circumscribed

CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM with handcuffs and leg irons.

Soludo quotes this letter of commendation from President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua: “As your tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria comes to a glorious end, I write on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria to place on record our debt of gratitude to you for your dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty over the past five years. I am confident that your worthy antecedents in the CBN and in prior

appointments in the service of our nation remain sources of inspiration to an entire generation. As I wish you even more astounding successes in the years ahead, it is my fervent hope that you will readily avail us of your distinguished service when the need arises in the future.”

The question to ask is this: If Soludo’s performance at the Central Bank was superlative and unprecedented, why was he denied a second term despite the phalanx of lobbyists he aggregated to that selfish and unjustifiable end? The fact is that, in spite of all his attempts at whitewashing his stewardship at the country’s apex banking institution, a meretricious statue stands in testament to the appalling legacy he left behind.

Demonstration!

Revelations and conclusions Olusegun Adeniyi was the Special Adviser to President Yar’Adua on Communications.

His memoir on the Yar’Adua presidency, entitled Power, Politics & Death: A front-row account of Nigeria under the late President Yar’Adua (Prestige, Lagos: 2011) posits Soludo as the Central Bank Governor under whose watch epical corruption was allowed to blossom in the banking industry. Before going ahead to quote Mr. Adeniyi’s revelations and conclusions on the matter at hand, the point must be made that Soludo has not bothered to controvert or contradict anything written about him in the book which was published four whole years ago.

According to Adeniyi, while the name of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the then Managing Director of the First Bank of Nigeria, was submitted to Yar ’Adua as possible successor to Soludo, the president agonized over giving Soludo another term, given mounting representations to the effect that the glorious pictures the man was painting about the banking industry were incorrect and misleading.

In the event, Yar’Adua settled for Sanusi and shunted Soludo aside, well before the details of the rot the man left behind

became public knowledge. In asking Soludo to leave, the unsavouring effects of his dismissal were cushioned with the presidential letter of “commendation” quoted above and his “drafting” to go contest election for the governorship of

Anambra State.

Soludo himself is not unaware of the diplomatic practice of asking people who will not be missed to proceed to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip. At the CBN, he had Obadiah Mailafia, a Cambridgeeducated social-scientist, as his deputy with responsibility for monetary policy, foreign exchange operations, investment management, research, statistics, and cooperation with international institutions. Dr. Obadiah earned a B.Sc. (Social Sciences) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an M.Phil from the Ecole National d’Administration (ENA-IIAP), Paris. In 1995, he completed a D.Phil at the University of Oxford, specialising in International Economics and Development.

When, for whatever reason, Soludo concluded that Mailafia was standing in his way, he contrived to have the man removed, by presenting his apprehension to President Obasanjo who, post-haste, appointed Mailafia one of his Special Advisers. Mailafia got a sugar-coated letter of commendation for his services to the CBN; he went on to serve as presidential special adviser, only for the stint to end in a matter of months.

In asking Soludo to leave, the unsavouring effects of his dismissal were cushioned with the presidential letter of 'commendation'

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By Ethel Igboeche

ORN on August 15, 1935 into the family of late Mammah Ugochukwu (father) and Late Eunice Akudiye Mammah (mother) of Umukadi, Umuoho Mpam Ekwereazu in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA Imo State, the young Augustine Ugochukwu Mammah; AU Mammah, as he was fondly called, started his early education at St. Patrick’s School, EkwerazuMbaise in 1947 where he demonstrated an exceptional brilliance when he passed entrance examination into National School of Commerce, Oguta in 1954.

On graduation in 1958, he joined the UAC Limited, Jos as a salesman and worked for a few months before leaving for Bank of West Africa Limited (now First Bank of Nigeria Limited) as a clerical staff in July, 1959. His quest for more knowledge made him resign his appointment with First Bank in August 1964 and traveled to England where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from Stockport Polytechnic, Lancashire, England from 1966 – 1967.

Superlative competence In 1969, he secured employment with National Westminister Bank Ltd, as a Credit Analyst before returning home to Nigeria in 1973. Upon his return, he quickly got a job from Cooperative & Commerce Bank (CCB) Enugu as a Manager of the Ogui Road Branch of the Bank. Due to his dedication and superlative competence, he moved quickly through the ranks to become a Senior Manager in 1976, Assistant General Manager in 1985 and Deputy General Manager in 1989 before retiring to private life in 1991 after an illustrious career.

Augustine Ugochukwu Mammah was very active in church activities, he was an excellent family man and a good Christian father, whose commitment to the activities of

the church was well known and worthy of emulation. He was the maiden Pastoral Council Chairman of Christ the King Church, Mpam Owerre, Mbaise-Imo State.

He was also a member of Ahiara Diocesan Pastoral Council for several years. He was a foundation member and chairman Ekwerazu EastMpam Community Bank.

Perhaps due to his distinguished background in finance, his pleasant personality and integrity, he served as Treasurer to many organisations.

In appreciation of his noble role in the Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Station of Maria – Assumpta Cathedral Owerri honoured him by making him a Patron of the Station in 2002.

He was further honoured with an investure as a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM) Mbaise sub council, where he rose to 3rd degree in the order. His prolonged illness cut short his elevation to the 4th Degree before his demise.

A.U. Mammah was quite sociable as he demonstrated his capabilities in the following clubs and associations where he belonged: •Peoples Club of Nigeria, •Prison Club, •Umunna Mbaise Mutual Aid, •Mpam Development Union, Owerri Branch, etc A.U. Mammah was not found wanting in traditional and customary matters.

Though he avoided acceptance of the numerous chieftaincy titles offered him, 30 years ago he did accept the chieftaincy title of Onyechukwu Tere Mmanu of Ohafor Abam by HRH Eze I.J Okorafor-Onyerubi of Ohafor Abam Autonomous Community in Abia State. He was involved in Community Development in the Mpam Community and other places close to home.

Successful businesses

Remarkably, Chief Augustine Mammah empowered so many people as a top notch Banker. Many successful businesses in the South Eastern Nigeria benefited from the patriotic disposition of this humble gentleman. Furthermore, he assisted many people with employment and offered numerous personal scholarships to both the clergy and lay people. In 1966, he got married to former Miss Petronilla Anosike in Manchester, United Kingdom. This couple has remained a positive influence and role model to many young couples today. Their union was blessed with eight children – four boys and four girls (all alive today).

•Augustine Ugochukwu Mammah

40— VANGUARD,

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

By Malam Abudah

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HE recent concluded Qur ’anic Recitation Competition held at Auchi, a muslim growing cosmopolitan town in Edo State, played host to the Muslim Ummah during the Quranic recitation competition which attracted varied levels of people with over thirty states of the federation and also two hundred and fifty-one (251) young males and females Muslim youngsters that competed in the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

Apart from the exciting aspect of the exercise during which various prizes were won ranging from millions of naira to cars hosted by the Edo State Government, the 29th edition followed an earlier edition also hosted by the state in 2009 and facilitated by the Centre for Islamic Studies of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Among the distinguished royal fathers that graced the occasion was H.R.H Dr. (Alh) Muhammad Sanusi II Sarkin Kano, the Emir of Kano.

The physical appearance of this Royal father on the shores of Auchi Kingdom set this writer on a specific search at close quarters to really find out the enigmatic characteristics of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi during the ceremony: protocol wasn’t on my side, but his remarks at the closing ceremony, publicly revealed that the occupant of the Kano Royal Palace is a

Lessons from Qur’anic recitation competition in Auchi thorough bred of his ancestors.

Quoting fluently from the Holy Qur ’an and then unfolding them in an enticing diction, one is not left in doubt that he is a scholar of sound Islamic tutorage, an inspiring motivator in totality of the verses of the Qur’an.

teaching of the Qur’an? It is the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens, any part that is not liberated must be liberated. The Qur’an is the most noble doctrine. We have to fight for the integrity of true believers, the day of silence is

Religious light Hear him: “I am grateful to my brother, the Otaru of Auchi and the governor of Edo State. As we celebrate the participation, it isn’t enough to read the Qur’an, we should know what the Holy Book enjoins us to do, it’s not enough just to memorize it, but should follow and practice it, it’s not an ordinary book, it is a religious light.

We have people killing people somewhere, they are not true believers. Is there something wrong in the

We have to fight for the integrity of true believers, the day of silence is over, our religion must not be distorted

over, our religion must not be distorted. If your enemy comes to attack you and you don’t fight back, God will not help you. Pray, arm yourself and the state must protect you, until we citizens are ready to die, defending ourselves and this is the clear exposition in the Qur’an: you must be conscious and work for the rights and encourage the education of the girl child.

Finally, the doctrine of the Holy Qur ’an must be encouraged further by really being true practitioners and this Thousands of listeners echoed Allahu Ahkbaah. This writer felt a rebirth nostalgia and wondered whether the insurgents wreaking havoc in the North East of the country are really Muslims.

The Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, the Royal father of the day called on the

Commissioning of Oke-Ona Egba Central mosque

Alhaji Fatai Opebiyi (PS) Information, representative of Governor Ibikunle Amosun unveiling the plague while Sheikh Liadi Orusolu, chief Imam of Egba Land Imam Noah Sodeinde, Owu kingdom, Imam Shuaid Akinode Imam, Oke Ona Egba look on.

Sheikh Liadi Orunsolu, Imam of Egbaland cutting the tape while from right Imam Shuaib Akiode, Chief Imam of the Mosque Alh Sawaliu Asubiaro, the donor, Chief Tayo Oluwole and Imam M. Oloni Imam of Ijaye and other watch

What greetings can do in Islam “And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.”(4:86)

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HE Prophet said, “Allah created Adam in his image, sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in height.

When He created him, He said (to him), ‘Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.’ Adam (went and) C M Y K

said, ‘As-Salamu alaikum (Peace be upon you).’ They replied, ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaika wa Rahmatullah (Peace and Allah’s Mercy be on you).’ So they increased ‘wa Rahmatullah’ The Prophet added, ‘So whoever will enter Paradise, will be of the shape and picture of Adam. Since then the creation of Adam’s (offspring) (i.e. stature of human beings) is being

diminished continuously up to the present time.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 74, Number 246) ‘His Image’ means that Adam has been bestowed with life, knowledge, power of hearing, seeing, understanding, but the features of Adam are different from those of Allah, only the names are the same, e.g. Allah has life and knowledge and power of understanding, and Adam also has them, but there is no comparison between the Creator and the created

entire Muslim Ummah to rededicate themselves to the teachings of the Qur’an, pray for peace in the country and commended the Otaru of Auchi for his endless pursuit in propagating the growth of Islam.

Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the Chief Host said, our traditional rulers should remain the pivot of unity of the country: “If we can understand the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and adhere to them, there will be peace in the country.

Unless we keep to the doctrine of the Qur’an, peace will continue to be far away.

Some of our utterances are too challenging. We have to build a country wherein the ordinary and classified people can live together. I call on the political class to learn from our royal fathers the spirit of oneness”, he said.

In addition to the various categories of winners, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole announced prizes for the female and male first position winners, ranging from a car and cash prizes, to textile materials for the entire contestants.

H.R.H Dr. (Alh) Muhhamad Sanusi II, CON, Sarkin Kano was the main personality of the outing as this was his maiden trip to Auchi Kingdom since his ascension to the throne as Emir of Kano.

Pix: Wunmi Akinola

A Cross section of the Imams at the events

thing. As Allah says in the Quran: “There is nothing like Him, and He is the Allhearer, the AllSeer”(V42.11), Allah does not eat or sleep, while Adam used to eat and sleep [More details in Fath Al-Bari, vol.6. page 108,9 and vol.13, page 238,9]. Source: (Tafsir by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, P: 123) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “it is not permissible for a man to forsake his Muslim brother for more than three days, each of them turning away

from the other when they meet. The better of them is the one who gives the greeting of salaam first.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5727; Muslim, 2560). This applies especially if the believer is a relative because forsaking relatives is an even greater sin.

So, if you are in a situation where you have not spoken to a Muslim for more than three days due to an argument or other squabble, ‘Assalamu-Alaikum’ can help you take the first step toward mending that relationship.

‘Assalamu-Alaikum’

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BITS Bits

Forum backs Ajaero for president

NLC election:

Whither ideology?

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FORUM of Southern Nigeria Labour Leadership, has thrown its weight behind the ambition of the Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to become the next president of Congress.

In Communiqué issued at the end of its meeting on Friday, January 23, 2015, at Lafia hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State and signed Comrade Ade Obatoye of NLC, Ekiti State and Comrade John Odigie of Lagos NLC, said “at the end of the meeting, participants resolved that comrade Joseph Ajaero, the National Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and General Secretary, National Union of Electricity Employees, is the most acceptable candidate among the contestant for the position of National President of NLC considering his pedigree, credential, credibility experience and antecedents.

Oshiomhole approves 27.5% allowance for teachers

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OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole has approved the payment of 27.5% Teachers’ Special Allowance and implementation of other demands of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in the state.

Also, the Governor has approved the payment of the November and December, 2013 salaries of over 322 teachers of Ovia North East Local Government Area.

The other approved demands of the NUT which were presented on their behalf by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, include payment of 10% salary relativity increase and the consequential 27.5% TSA there from and payment of financial benefits of the last set of promotions approved for Primary School Teachers; Meanwhile, the Governor also directed the payment of the monthly salaries of workers of Edo Line Transport Company with effect from January, 2015; Governor Oshiomhole directed that full implementation of all the approvals must be done with immediate effect and not later than the last day of January, 2015.

NLC workers during a protest march. (Inset)Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC president

By Funmi Komolafe JUST before the nation goes the polls for the national elections, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, will go to the polls to elect national officers to run the affairs of the central labour organization for four years.

The conference is however not about elections, it only provides an opportunity for the leadership of the NLC to review its activities and set an agenda that would be beneficial to the working class.

However, the NLC in the last four years seems to have lost its ideological focus completely.

Unlike 1988 when the NLC was polarised along ideological lines and its subsequent harmonisation, which produced Comrade Paschal Bafyau, as a compromise candidate, no one is clear of ideological focus of the NLC in the current dispensation.

Thousands of workers are in distress as salaries are unpaid even by the federal government.

Some state governments have not paid their employees for months, yet they mount the rostrum to campaign for reelection.

What has the NLC done in the

With the current state of the economy where the take home pay has failed to take workers home, the leadership of the NLC must be ready to respond to the needs of workers

area of voters’ education? Not much if you ask me.

Rather, what we see are desperate moves to get elected into the National Administrative Council, NAC, of the NLC. There cannot be a better time for Nigerian workers to elect a leader with a vision. A leader who is genuinely committed to the working class struggle.

Workers need a leader who is well informed on issues of economy and politics. How will the leadership of the NLC tackle politicians on the issue of security of lives and property beyond mere press releases?

Many of those who have been killed are either workers in the informal or the formal sector.

These are the issues which require urgent and informed position from the Central Labour Organization.

On January 6, the list of contestants were released and it is clear that the main posts to be contested are that of the Presidency which is being contested by Joseph Ajaero of the

National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Igwe Achese of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Wabba Ayuba of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, MHWUN. The other post to be keenly contested is that of Auditor where eight candidates are vying for three seats. The deputy and vice presidents have been elected unopposed.

With the current state of the economy where the take home pay has failed to take workers home, the leadership of the NLC must be ready to respond to the needs of workers.

Can NLC leaders move beyond demand for increases in wages?

What are the options proffered

by Labour? It has also been that of their 16 posts being contested; only one is being contested by a woman. So where are the women?

Is the non participation of women due to some frustrations by the leadership of the trade unions?

Does it mean that women are deliberately shut out of the election?

Affiliate unions The NLC and its affiliate unions are aware that the International Labour Organization is interested in seeing women in positions of authority in the trade unions. So, wither Nigerian women workers?

Perhaps more disturbing is the allegation that unions have been rushing millions of money into the coffers of the NLC to boost the number of union delegates to conference.

The question should be asked, why these unions have held back their contributions to the NLC. Could this be due to a lack of faith in the out-going leadership?

Are such union leaders rushing to finance due NLC for personal gains? The February 9 to 11 election is one in which workers have to be vigilant. Though representation is by delegates, how were they chosen and whose interests do they represent?

NLC delegates conference, not all about election — Aremu

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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VICE President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has said the National Delegates Conference, NLC, of NLC, holding between February 9 and 11, 2015, goes beyond election of officers.

At a briefing, Aremu said “NLC Delegates Conference is significant to the working class because it features agenda setting, assessment of the state of Congress, proposed constitutional amendments and debate and adoption of Motions

on critical issues affecting the workers namely wages, security of work, employment, pension, health and safety among others.”

He called on the Comrade Abdulwahed Omar-led NLC to keep to the spirit and content of a democratic NLC Constitution and avoid any action capable of creating crisis in the NLC on the eve of the historic 11th Delegates Conference, saying “as a product of credible, free and fair election, the masses of Nigerian workers expect the NLC President to keep to his oath of office by ensuring that the coming election is held in accordance with the sprit and content of the Constitution of NLC. Any action in the contrary

will be deemed unconstitutional unacceptable.”

illegal, and

Free and fair election Aremu urged NLC to obey its own rules, stressing “NLC’s voice demanding for free and fair election in Nigeria cannot be respected if it does not obey its öwn rules. He that seeks equity must do equity and must come with clean hands.”

He recalled that NLC was formed by Nigerian workers in 1978 and has successfully conducted 10 Delegates Conferences.

Of the 10

Delegates’ conferences, three (3) were special Delegates Conferences as fall-outs of military disruption of independent and autonomous democratic union process; 1977/ 78 (Murtala/Obasanjo military regime), 1988 (IBB regime) and 1999 (AbdulSalami regime), following Abacha’s dissolution of the NLC executive in 1994.

The highpoint of the Delegates Conference is election of the new 17 National Officers that include; President, three Deputy Presidents, five Vice Presidents (1 reserved for Chairperson of National Women Commission of Congress), Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Trustee, three Auditors and two Ex-Officio.

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Bayelsa contractors drag Agip to court zSeek N3bn damages for alleged breach of surveillance contract

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—PIPELINE surveillance contractors from Obama, Okoroma in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have dragged Nigerian Agip Oil Company, NAOC, before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, claiming N3 billion as damages for breach of contract.

The plaintiffs are claiming in the suit that Agip reneged on a contractual agreement

entered on May 24, 2014 between parties, by opting out of the contract outside the terms of the contract.

The contract was for a retainership of surveillance services against oil thieves and pipeline vandals on Agip’s pipeline network within the Obama Operational Area in Okoroma, Bayelsa State.

They are asking the court to direct Agip to pay them N500 million being arrears for services rendered, for the period between June 2014 and

October 2014, under the terms of the anti-crude oil theft surveillance agreement.

They also want the court to award the sum of N3 billion damages against the defendants for breach of contract and undue interference. *An order of injunction restraining the defendants by themselves or by their servants or agents, from further interfering or inter-meddling with the lawful commercial transactions or business of the

plaintiffs or however interfere with the payment of their lawful service entitlement.

According to the plaintiffs, NAOC reportedly breached the valid N500 million surveillance contract for the protection of oil pipelines along the creeks within Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, as the oil company reneged on its preexisting obligations to the plaintiffs under the anti-crude oil theft surveillance agreement, after insuring over

70,000 barrel production a day.

They are further contending in the suit that Agip suspended the existing surveillance contract following a directive by Bayelsa State Government mandating oil firms in the state to award security contracts to an outfit owned by the government.

Burutu legislative arm impeaches Majority Leader

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HE Majority Leader of Burutu Local Government Legislative Arm, Delta State, Mr Joseph Alubeze, has been impeached by the House for alleged incompetence and divulging of confidential matters.

The House consequently elected Trust Edumogrien as the new Majority Leader following a motion moved

by Churchill Botu and seconded by Fred Afoegba and was unanimously adopted.

The impeachment was presided over by the Leader of the House, William Elagha while other members said the action was long overdue as the House cannot afford to have a principal officer who divulges official secrets.

Madam WanoghoDuku for burial

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HE final burial rites of late Mama Gold Wanogho-Duku, aged 80, will hold tomorrow at Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

A statement by her son, Prince Efe Duku, Personal Assistant to Chief Great Ogboru, governorship flag bearer of Labour Party, said the funeral service will hold at Orogun Primary School play ground.

She is survived by children and grand children.

Late Wanogho-Duku

46—Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Seplat invests in Belemaoil

MPPP tasks judiciary on parties' ‘excesses'

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EPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc has announced the conclusion of negotiations to purchase 56.25 percent of the share capital of Belemaoil Producing Limited, a Nigerian special purpose vehicle, SPV, that completed the acquisition of a 40 percent interest in OML 55 from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It said the balance of 60 percent is held by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Seplat’s effective working interest in OML 55 as a result of the acquisition is 22.50 percent.

A release said the consideration for Seplat to acquire its 22.50 percent effective working interest in OML 55 is US$132.2 million after adjustments.

The adjustments to the consideration, it said, include a deferred payment of US$11.6 million net to Seplat contingent on oil prices averaging US$90/bbl or above for 12 consecutive months over the next five years.

The company has also advanced loans of US$80 million to the other shareholders of Belemaoil to meet their share of investments and costs associated with Belemaoil.

By Sebastine Obasi

I FUTA: From left— Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun, Bursar; Dr. Modupe Ajayi, Registrar, both of Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA; Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chairman, FUTA/ Akure Partnership; Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor; Professor Adedayo Fasakin, Chairman, and Dr. Femi Oguntuase, Librarian, all of FUTA, after the inauguration of the Implementation Committee of the new School of Health and Heath Technology recently approved for FUTA, in Akure.

Youths protest alleged PDP’s multiple candidates in Anambra

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—YOUTHS have taken to the streets of Awka, Anambra State capital, to protest alleged presentation of multiple candidates by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for National Assembly elections in the state.

The protesters blocked the busy Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, causing traffic gridlock and later marched to the state headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, blocked the entrance and chanted war songs.

The youths displayed placards with inscriptions such as “No to multiple candidates

AFC flags off N153bn Kpone IPP project

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BUJA—NIGERIAN-based Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, has commenced the ground-breaking of the $900 million (about N153 billion), Kpone Independent Power Project, Kpone IPP, in Ghana.

The Kpone IPP project, according to a statement by AFC, is to be implemented by the Cenpower Generation Company Limited, while AFC is the Lead Project Developer, Mandated Lead Arranger and largest equity investor in the project, which reached financial close in December 2014.

Commenting on the groundbreaking milestone, Mr. Andrew Alli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Finance Corporation, said the project would help in addressing the infrastructural challenges in Africa and also boost energy supply in Ghana.

He said: “We are delighted to have reached this stage, which

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represents a truly transformational investment for AFC and a unique infrastructure project for Africa. The project promises to play an important role in addressing Ghana’s future energy needs.”

Also speaking, Mr. Oliver Andrews, Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, AFC, said: “At AFC, we are very proud to take a leading role in this landmark project.

“Once complete, Kpone IPP will become the largest power plant in Ghana, and will account for approximately 10 percent of the country ’s installed capacity. We are proud to play a part in continuing to bridge Africa’s infrastructure divide.”

AFC said the project would be the largest IPP in sub-Saharan Africa, and as a CCGT plant, it would be among Ghana’s most fuel-efficient thermal power stations.

for PDP,” “We say no to fraud,” “Enough of this illegality,” “INEC should speak out now,” among others.

Speaking with reporters, the youths threatened to take the laws into their hands if the relevant agencies and INEC failed to act immediately to correct the alleged anomaly.

According to their leader, Mr. Ikem Maduagwu, if the state government, the police, INEC and other relevant law enforcement agencies fail to address the situation, they would have no option than to cause mayhem in the state.

They demanded that INEC should, within 48 hours, state clearly who the authentic PDP candidates were in the state and formally announce same in news media in the state.

… as PDP blasts APGA

Meanwhile, the state Coordinator of Goodluck/

Sambo Presidential Campaign Organization, Chief Okey Ezenwa, at the inauguration of the presidential campaign coordinators for the 21 local government areas in Awka, said APGA had been riding on the back of President Goodluck Jonathan to woo voters to its side, saying such a thing would no longer be tolerated.

He said: “Our opponents have been going about telling people to vote for APGA for the senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly and vote for Jonathan where his name is written.

“We see this as deceit. They merely want to ride on the back of President Jonathan to win the other elections. We are prepared to win the forthcoming elections in Anambra State in its totality.”

Aba mega mall for commissioning next month

By Eric Ugbor

A

BA—THE first phase of the $300 million mega mall project at Osisioma, Abia State, under construction by Greenfield Assets limited, will be commissioned next month, the Group Managing Director of the company, Mr. Paul Obanua, has said.

Obanua, who disclosed this

yesterday when he received a team from the Nigerian Society of Engineers, led by the President, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, at the premises of the mega mall, said the project would be the biggest in Africa.

He said the mall would be the first in Africa with a dry port of 30,000 square metre bonded warehouse.

M O — M E G A Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP, has called on the judiciary to curtail the excesses of political parties, to save the country’s democracy.

The call came on the heels of what it termed the unwarranted activities of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, resulting from its primaries in the state.

In a statement by the National Chairman of MPPP, Mr. Dare Falade, the party claimed the activities of PDP and developments within it during its congresses and primaries in Imo and other PDP states posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy and political stability in the state.

MPPP, in the statement, said: “As key actors in the politics of Imo State and Nigeria, we observed with great dismay the fraudulent manner in which figures that did not reflect actual valid votes cast in Imo PDP governorship primaries were declared.

“Handing over the party flag to somebody, when the matter over who actually won the primaries is still in court, is a form of impunity which the judiciary must condemn and punish.”

Transition

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ADAM Comfort Agbejimi, 87, is

dead.

Christian wake-keep held yesterday at Elesaade Compound, Oke-Oba, Arowomole, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Funeral service will hold today at Methodist Church Cathedral, Arowomale, Ogbomoso.

Interment at Methodist Cemetery will follow.

She is survived by a sister, many children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Nigerians urged to use votes as ‘Red Card'

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HE Red Card Movement, a youth campaign body that advocates civic responsibility, has asked Nigerians to use their vote as a ”red card” to banish bad leaders from the polity.

Jade Oshikoya, the group’s Team Coordinator, said: “The concept of the Movement is borrowed from football.

“Just as a referee holds out a red card to dismiss players from the pitch for bad

behaviour, the voter ’s card imbues voters with the power to remove bad leaders.”

He said the movement would continue to boost a culture of accountability in all tiers of government via its online platform.

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TONY ELUMELU:

The man who dared to be different

Economic development

Nigerian schools. His Bachelor degree was from Ambrose Alli University and he has a Master of Science degree, also in Economics, from the University of Lagos. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme. Tony Elumelu married Awele V. Elumelu, a medical doctor, in 1993 and has five daughters. He has four siblings including the Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, a member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives.

Career: In his early career, Elumelu made a name for himself when he acquired and turned Standard Trust Bank into a topfive player in Nigeria. In 2005, his corporate reputation as an African Business Leader was sealed when he led the largest merger in the banking sector in Sub-Saharan Africa to acquire United Bank for Africa (UBA). In five years he transformed it from a single-country bank, to a panAfrican institution with over 7million customers in 19 African countries.

Following his retirement from UBA in 2010, Elumelu founded Heirs Holdings, which invests in the financial services, energy, real estate and hospitality,

He serves as chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited, chairman of affiliated company, Transcorp, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate, and is the creator of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, dedicated to catalysing entrepreneurship across Africa.

In his early career, Mr. Elumelu turned the financially distressed Standard Trust Bank into a topfive financial services player in Nigeria. In 2005 he led the largest merger in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa, acquiring United Bank for Africa and UBA today operates in 19 Africa countries, as well as New York, London and Paris.

He is the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africabased and African-funded not-forprofit organisation (NPO) that is dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa.

Elumelu holds the Nigerian national honour, the Commander of the Order of Nigeria (CON).

New African Magazine recently listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in Africa.

Elumelu was born in Jos, Nigeria, in 1963. He has two degrees in Economics from

The future is Africa and together we will create the Age of Africa; the age when Africa will be known in other spheres of human endeavour, when African companies led by African entrepreneurs, can take centre stage in the global corporate arena

•Tony Elumelu

By Omoh Gabriel

‘E

VERYTHING I have today is because of Africa. I was born here, went to school here, I work here and I’m achieving some level of financial comfort here.”

Tony Elumelu is widely recognised as one of the most influential corporate leaders in Nigeria and indeed in Africa and beyond. His two-decade career in the banking sector covered almost all areas of banking and brought him to the top ranks of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), one of the most successful banks in Nigeria and Africa.

His path to success has demonstrated his strategic vision, innovative thinking and hard work. Tony’s vision and success goes beyond Nigeria. He once said “as a child, as a student, as a young professional and now as an entrepreneur, Africa has always been the centre of my dreams, my aspirations and my prayers”.

African entrepreneurs As he said, “the future is Africa and together we will create the Age of Africa; the age when Africa will be known in other spheres of human endeavour beyond crime, squalor, war and diseases, when African companies led

by African entrepreneurs, can take centre stage in the global corporate arena”.

By his career and achievements Tony is an important role model for young men and women across the country and the commitment.

The future is truly in the hands of young people who have the same entrepreneurial spirit, who are equally focused and are ready to work hard and make a difference.

As a business leader, Tony is C M Y K

also an avid supporter of public service and a philanthropist. He has served and continues to serve on many government commitments, giving back to the country in terms of policy advice.

He also helps emerging entrepreneurs, providing them with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and skills.

Tony is a visionary leader with a strategic mind. A visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, born, raised and educated in Africa, Mr. Tony Elemelu has been responsible for creating businesses across the continent, in sectors critical to Africa’s economic development.

agribusiness, and healthcare sectors; all of which help to create economic prosperity and social wealth across the continent.

In the same year, he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded, philanthropic organisation dedicated to the promotion of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship, to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector across Africa.

In 2011, Heirs Holdings acquired a controlling interest in the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), a publicly quoted conglomerate that has business interests in the agribusiness, energy, and hospitality sectors. Elumelu was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Corporation.

Elumelu serves as an Advisor to the USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council (ATIC). He is also vicechairman and a key driver in the formation of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN), and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He additionally chairs the Ministerial Committee to establish world-class hospitals and diagnostic centres across Nigeria, at the invitation of the Federal Government.

Private enterprise In 2012 he was awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger for his service in promoting private enterprise. In 2013, Mr. Elumelu received the Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy from the Africa-America Institute Awards.

He was also named African Business Icon at the 2013 African Business Awards.

In 2003, the Federal Government of Nigeria conferred the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (M.F.R.) on Mr Elumelu. In 2012 he was awarded the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (C.O.N.) for his service in promoting private enterprise.

Elumelu presently serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum.

He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security.

He played a leading role in the formation of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and now serves as its vice chairman.

Tony O. Elumelu is the voice crying in the Africa business wilderness for Africans to look in word and imbibe the spirit of knowledge economy to develop Africa.

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Kogi govt, NUJ mourns death of ex-Vanguard reporter Island Club inaugurates new board trustees

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—KOGI State Government has described the death of the Publisher of Kogi Affairs newspaper, Chief Kola Toluhi, 52, as a very big blow on the journalism profession.

The deceased was a former reporter with Vanguard newspapers.

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi, stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Chief Toluhi, who died in an auto-crash along Lokoja – Okene road Wednesday evening.

Awoniyi said “The government and people of the state mourn with heavy heart the death of the veteran journalist. Toluhi was a colossus, an embodiment of developmental journalism, who knew his onions.”

Awoniyi who said the death had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill, urged the family and colleagues he left behind to take solace in the fact that the late publisher left an indelible mark in the journalism profession.

“I had known Kola for over two decades. I am proud to say he took the journalism profession to an enviable heights that we are proud of in the state and I urge the

members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi State Council, to immortalize the good qualities of the late publisher by being noble and upright in the discharge of their profession”.

Awoniyi prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest, and assured of the state government’s support to the

family he left behind.

Also reacting, the state Chairman of the NUJ, Alhaji Ali Atabor, said the death came as a shock to the council.

“Kola was an epitome of hard work, a true professional, who took the journalism profession to the peak. I pray God to grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

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AGOS—THE chairman of Island Club, Lagos, Prince Ademola Dada, has disclosed that six new board trustees have been added to the existing seven to enable the club function maximally.

Speaking at the inauguration of the new board of trustees, Dada, stated that the tenure of the board is now ten years and the change

LAUNCH: From left: General Secretary, Onitsha Main Market Traders Association, OMATA, Chief Nwabueze Egwuatu; Zonal Head, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Enugu, Mr. Chijioke Mbagwu; Chairman, OMATA, Chief Innocent Agudiegwu; Leader of the Women Wing, OMATA, Mrs. Grace Okonkwo and the Zonal Head, FCMB, Awka, Mr. Chike Okeke, at the launch of FCMB’s Personal Business Account product at the Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State.

is in accordance with the amended Rule 26 (iii) of the clubs’ constitution.

According to him, Chief Sunny Odogwu, Elder Olakunri, Alhaji S.O Babalola, Engr. Samuel Adegbayibi, Chief Alex Duduyemi and Chief Lai Olumegbon were elected into the board following the unanimous approval of the General Meeting of the club on November 13, 2014.

“These distinguished members have joined the Board of Trustees, they comprise the following eminent members: Prof John Godwin, Alhaji Musiliu Olaiya Anibaba, Chief Olusola Faleye, Chief Adebayo Alabi Adejumo, Alhaji Yaya Quadri and Chief Anthony Mogbonjubola Soetan.

“The Honorary General Secretary of the Club, Otunba Diji Vera-Cruz, will serve as the Secretary to the Board. ”The current management committee is working relentlessly to make the Island Club better than it was when the committee came on board about three years ago. I sincerely hope the Board will function normally and meet regularly such that its members will contribute to the progress of Nigeria’s Premier Social Club,” Prince Dada said.

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 — 61

Kanu extols Jonathan’s scorecard in sports •Ex-Eagles captain cites Presidents sports reward disposition F

ORMER Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu has urged Nigerian youths to reciprocate President Goodluck Jonathan’s reward culture in sports, saying such has overshadowed the previous ‘handshake’ where sportsmen who brought honour and glory were not remunerated.

“Every Nigerian sportsman who wins laurels for this country is rewarded with cash, national honour to plan his future.

“This is unlike in the past when ‘Presidential handshake’ was all one gets for his sweat”, Kanu said.

“This is beside the fact that President Jonathan created the enabling environment that aided such feats,” Kanu posited, urging youths to stand behind the President in the coming poll.

The former Arsenal of England, Ajax Amsterdam, Inter Milan forward who spoke in Lagos gleefully recalled that President Jonathan equally recorded laudable feats in the area of infrastructural development and health care.

“The Jonathan administration has done so well in sports just as it has excelled in health care, infrastructure, transport, energy and agriculture.

“My life after football has been largely dominated by business. This makes me to travel a lot so I’m in a position to know that our airports now conform with the best in the World.

“Our roads are now in good shape and so many new ones being constructed and old ones rehabilitated.

“I’ve been able to visit some university teaching hospitals and most of them confirm of this administration’s determination to turn around our hospitals."

INISTER and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo will on Friday meet with the presidents of sports federations in Abuja.

Although no reason was officially given for the meeting, Sports Vanguard gathered from inside sources that it will not be unconnected with the 2015 All Africa Games coming up in Congo Brazzaville in July.

Also the meeting which

Women World Cup: Falcons restless over inactivity

By Ben Efe

P

LAYERS of the national women team, the Super Falcons are getting restless as the Nigeria Football Federation is yet to give them the green light to kick start their preparations for the FIFA Women World Cup billed for June in Canada.

This is just as their major opponents in Group D of the tournament have stepped up their training. The USA have been in camp, working out strategy and playing friendly games.

“It is worrisome that we have not started our preparation is yet to commences,” said Falcons captain Evelyn Nwanbuoko during a chat.

She added that her teammates were getting restless as they were

their displeasure with proceedings when they threw missiles onto the pitch early in the second half, but Ghana continued to boss proceedings and should have added to their advantage with chances for Andre Ayew and Kwesi Appiah around the hour mark.

Andre Ayew killed off any slim hopes Nzalang Nacional had of a comeback when he turned home the third goal in the 75th minute, capitalising on some good work by the hard-running Appiah.

There was a prolonged delay with less than 10

we learnt will not include secretaries of the federations will equally take a look at preparations for the 2016 summer Olympic Games to be staged in Rio, Brazil.

Recall that at the inaugural meeting of the newly elected board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), president of the NOC, Engr. Habu Gumel emphasized on the need for the federations to begin their preparations for the various international assignments.

36 clubs for Abesan Cup draw

•Kanu

•President Jonathan

T

HE 2015 Abesan Cup programme will officially get underway on February 17 with the draw and Press conference.

Coordinator of the event, Tayo Adeyemo said the draws of the competition which began in 1999 is scheduled to take place at Saint Bernadette School, Gowon Estate, Ipaja.

Adeyemo said a total of 36 grassroots clubs from Lagos and Ogun states are expected to take part

in the draw to be coordinated by the tournament grand patron Mrs. Clementian Doregos.

He revealed that the number of participating clubs was increased from 32 to 36 in order to give opportunity for more teams who were eager to participate in the competition which has helped to discover hitherto hidden talents in the country.

Isheri Grammar School wins 3rd Kandaval T/Tennis tourney

D

•Ordega determined to make an impressive outing at the World Cup. However, chairperson of the NFF women committee Dilichukwu Onyedinma attributed

•As fans mar semi-final clash HE Black Stars of Ghana cruised to the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations the hard way.

Although the four-time African champions beat hosts, Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in a tempestuous semi final encounter. The West African neighbours will now face Ivory Coast in Sunday’s final.

Goals from Jordan and Andre Ayew, either side of a Mubarak strike sealed the match for the Ghanaians.

The match was held up for more than 20 minutes following crowd trouble.

The home crowd showed

By Jude Opara, Abuja

M

Afcon: It's Ghana/I. Coast final T

Danagogo meets with federation presidents

minutes to play when a large contingent of Ghanaian supporters moved down out of the stands to place themselves behind the goal their side was attacking in the second half, due to missile throwing aimed at them from home supporters. The match was eventually restarted and completed without further incident.

Equatorial Guinea will now take on DRC in the third-place playoff on Saturday evening in Malabo, while Ghana will face the Elephants of Ivory Coast in the final on Sunday evening in Bata.

the delay to the forth coming general elections. “ We [NFF] are waiting for the General elections and want them [Falcons] to exercise their civic rights.

The NFF considered these factor, not wanting any distractions when they resume camping.” the NFF board member disclosed.

The Falcons are drawn in group D with the USA twice world champions, Sweden and Australia.

Chrisantus Continues from BP midfielder Hélder Barbosa, who takes home 250,000 euros every year.

The 24 - year - old has signed a three - and - a - half year deal with AEK, and that means he would have pocketed 1.4 million euros (equivalent of =N= 310 million) at the end of his contract.

ARE Gbadamosi and Shakirat Adebayo both of Isheri Senior Grammar School, Ojodu Berger, Lagos have won this year ’s Kandaval Inter-School Table Tennis championship tagged Kandaval Cup which held at the school play ground yesterday.

Both students dismissed their

Siasia Continues from BP his decision to include the highest goal scorer at the just concluded Super 6 competition, Christian Obiozor of Kano Pillars and Kingsley Boby-Sokari of Enyimba International of Aba was not because of the absence of goal poachers but, to engender competition among the strikers and bring out the best in them.

The former international also commented on the outcome of the two legged international friendly against the Tunisia Olympic team where his boys lost the first game 5-3 before winning the second tie 3-0.

“I will rely more on the home based players because those playing abroad can easily disappoint you at the last

opponents in three straight set to win the coveted prizes.

While Gbadamosi defeated his opponent, Agboola Martins from Jubril Martins Grammar School, Iporin 11-6, 112 and 11-4 in the boys category, Adebayo sent home her opponent, Grace Kalu from Wesley Girls Senior School Yaba 11-10, 11- 4 and 11-6. minute and if that happens, everybody will be handicapped.

“We have prepared the boys for the qualifiers even as we are aware that there is still room for improvement and we will continue to shape up the team. We have to blend the players that went to Tunisia with those who played the Super 6 competition because we don’t want some of them to think that they have been ignored”.

However Siasia hinted that one area that needs more work is the area of defense, especially, as it concerns proper understanding between the goalkeeper and his defenders.

On the preparations for the qualifier, the Olympic silver medalist said baring any unforeseen circumstances, the team will go for another international friendly, and from there they can head to Gabon.

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62 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRAUARY 6, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Chrisantus seals N310m AEK Athens deal

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ORMER Nigeria y o u t h international Macauley Chrisantus did not agree to a pay cut before finalizing his transfer to AEK Athens.

And it has been

Afcon: It's Ghana/ I. Coast final — Pg 61

suggested that the ex Hamburg youth - teamer will pocket around 400,000 euros at the Greece powerhouse.

The Golden Boot winner at the 2007 Fifa Under 17 championship was to earn 400,000 Euros per season at Turkish club, Sivasspor.

Much is expected from Chrisantus, as he is now the highest paid player at the Yellow - Blacks, ahead of Portuguese

Continues on Page 61

I’ll play Gabon with home-based players — Siasia

By Jude Opara, Abuja HIEF coach of the C national U-23 team, Samson Siasia

•Siasia

INFRINGEMENT: Ghana's forward Kwesi Appiah (R) vies with Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper Felipe Ovono during the 2015 African Cup of Nations semi-final match in Malabo, last night. Ghana won 3-0.

Photo/AFP

•Chrisantus

Women World Cup: Falcons restless over inactivity — Pg 61

says he will rely more on the home based players to prosecute the forthcoming 2015 All Africa Games qualifier against their counterparts from Gabon on February 20 in Libreville.

Siasia told Vanguard Sports in Abuja yesterday that even as he does not know much about the Gabonese, he is hopeful that with the players currently in camp, he will be able to get the desired result from the game.

He equally added that

Continues on Page 61

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

THURS DAY'S THURSDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS: 1 Bombards (6) 5 Ascends (6) 8 Storm (8) 9 Placed (4) 10 Employ (3) 12 Door (5) 15 Sour (3) 17 Puzzle (3) 18 Fairy (3) 19 Runner (3) 20 Normal (5) 21 Meal (3) 22 Fish (3) 23 Pastry (3) 24 Child (3) 26 Jugs (5) 29 Bow (3) 33 Rod (4) 34 Illnesses (8) 35 Respect (6) 36 Performer (6)

DOWN: 2 Openings (5) 3 Sluggish (4) 4 Discolour (5) 5 Drink (5) 6 Purposeless (4) 7 Concise (5) 10 Disrupt (5) 11 Expel (5) 12 Ooze (5) 13 Brownish -grey (5) 14 Cries (5) 15 Frequently (5) 16 Deceit (5) 25 Gas (5) 27 Mammal (5) 28 Annoyed (5) 30 Bizarre (5) 31 Lake (4) 32 Seed (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Pair 4, Pat 6, Bags 8, Stable 9, Squeak 10, Ask 12, Drain 14, Stout 15, Serum 18, Mighty 20, Unable 24, Edged 26, Sense 28, World 30, Dew 32, Safari 33, Actual 34, Fees 35, Son 36, Dash.

DOWN: 2, After 3, Rubbish 4, Plea 5, Tusk 6, Blunt 7, Gradual 11, Sou 12, Dim 13, Net 16, Rye 17, Mug 19, Iterate 21, New 22, Adopted 23, End 25, Doe 27, Snaps 29, Leads 30, Dies 31, Warn

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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