NASS dumps Jonathan'ssupplementary budget

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 61875

World Bank, IFAD 7 1 .

P pledge $1.9bn to • boost agric in Nigeria

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N150

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

51 Atiku, & 0 s.5 g Oshiomhole, •P Uduaghan, others mourn Pini Jason

NASS dumps Jonathan's supplementary budget •Reps warn FG against violation of Appropriation Act

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH, OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE BUJA—THERE were indications, yesterday, that the National Assembly (NASS) might have decided to distance itself from further deliberation and approval of the supplementary budget sent to the lawmakers by President Goodluck Jonathan last

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COLUMNISTS:

DELE SOBOWALE •P.34

LES LEBA •P.40

OCHEREOME NNANNA •P. 41

Mr & Mrs

OLU OF WARRI—His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri during his 26th Coronation Thanksgiving Service at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Aghofen, Olu Palace, Warri yesterday. Top right: Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, CAN President, at the service. Below right from left: HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe; HRM, Oharisi III, Ovie of Ughelli and other traditional rulers at the event. PHOTOS: AKPOKONA OMAFUAIRE.

DISCRIMINATORY AIRFARE:

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Nigerians groan as FG fails to react C M Y K

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

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POCKET CARTOON

VISIT—Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State (3rdr); Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga (2ndl); Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu (2ndr) and other Nigerian Delegates watch while an official of Bombardier, a plane manufacturing company in Toronto, Canada, explains to the delegation during a visit to Bombardier factory in Canada.

NASS dumps Jonathan's supplementary budget Continues from page 1 March.

The reason for the rejection of the President's

request, according to informed sources, is that lawmakers do not see

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Good leaders do not pretend to know it all, and they do not try to do everything by themselves, leadership for them is a TEAM sport, they all know they have weaknesses; their teams balance their own strengths and weaknesses. A leader is always willing to lead and be led.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

W

HEN your heart is filled with divine love.

You have everything and that inner glow is always with you. No one can take that away from you unless you allow it— Ella Randle I looked at this beautiful picture and it feel like I just ate my favourite vanilla ice-cream. I seldom do take ice cream for personal reasons but whenever I do, it feels like being in heaven, I’m sure you catch my drift.

My dear niece has a different take on this photo, she says it feels like love, it got me thinking really how our perception is mostly mirrored by what we feel inside. She is a beautiful Soul, always seeing the good in everyone but in reality moments before I took this picture, I blatantly refused to be overwhelmed by stress and challenges springing from every turn. Admittedly, it is hard mastering each process of learning but it can be done. I always find a quiet place to contemplate and get better perspectives on life with divine intention I completely surrender.

I recall, a long time ago, even though I knew better, I was wondering how long...dear God! How long? I was whining, crying and just so much unnecessary worries about things. A dear friend was with me; he got up and brought me a mirror and bucket. Take a look at yourself; see through to you Ella, the real you. He says, what do see? For I see a most amazingly beautiful Soul, a beautiful heart, and if you still feel like crying and whining for all the ‘have not’ and so called ‘injustice’ in your life, here is a bucket, fill it with your tears, I’ ll just bring you another. Surprisingly, I laughed and we both laughed beautifully, a fine way of reminding me how blessed life is for all us. If we are grateful enough to count our blessings.

any new justification to tamper with the budget, which they had passed into law since December last year.

The NASS had on December 20, 2012 okayed a budget of N4.987trn for 2013, slightly jerking the figure by N63bn from the original N4.924 trn, which President Jonathan had sent to them.

But before giving its nod, the lawmakers slashed recurrent expenditure by over N100bn and moved the provision over to the capital vote, a development, which the Executive kicked against.

In the original proposal, Jonathan had set aside N2.41trn for recurrent expenditure, but the lawmakers slashed it to N2.38trn.

Similarly, they increased capital vote to N1.62trn, up from Jonathan's N1.54trn.

The lawmakers set aside the sum of N591.7bn for debt servicing, while N387.9bn was allocated to statutory transfers. They similarly pegged oil benchmark at $79 per barrel as against the government's request for $75.

The disagreement on both sides forced the President to withhold his assent to the budget for about two months raising concerns that the

implementation would suffer usual hiccups noticeable in successive years.

But in a bid to douse tension in the land, President Jonathan on February 26, 2013, signed the budget into law, with an understanding with the leadership of the NASS that a supplementary budget by him would be given an accelerated passage by the legislature.

Pact between NASS and Jonathan Based on the understanding between the President and the NASS leadership, Jonathan on March 20, 2013 forwarded a supplementary budget of N273.5 bn to both chambers of the NASS for approval.

However, Vanguard learnt that nearly two months after the document from the President was received by the lawmakers, no action had been taken to approve the requests made by the Presidency.

A lawmaker confirmed to Vanguard last night that they were not interested in tampering with what they had already passed because they were suspicious that the executive arm was not keen on implementing the budget as passed.

The lawmaker, who is also a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic

Party, said that they had discovered that the request for a variation in the budget was merely to find fault with what they passed and not necessarily to enhance budget implementation.

The source said, "We know that the Executive arm does not want to faithfully implement the budget we passed since December last year and they are merely looking for excuse to discredit our work, which we did with the best intention for the progress of this nation.

"For the first time in a long while, we passed the budget early enough so as to enable them to start early implementation in January 2013 but you can see that, as at today, they are still looking for excuse to delay the budget implementation.

"We are not going to fall into their trap. I can tell you that we are not in the mood to revisit that document. In fact, if we are to look at it again, we would only restore the N100 billion we slashed from recurrent expenditure. That is the only thing we can reconsider.

"As for the President's demand for us to approve money for the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC, that will not happen until he removes the Director General, Orunma Oteh, based on our earlier resolution.

"Looking at the other request, it became clear to us that the President wants to strip us of our statutory rights of oversight and we cannot allow that to happen," the lawmaker explained.

Reps warn FG against violation of Appropriation Act Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has

warned that anybody who violates the 2013 Appropriation Act without a review by the National Assembly would face the wrath of the law at the appropriate time.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra) gave the warning while briefing journalists about the activities of the Green Chamber weekend.

Commenting on the lawmakers’ efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution, he said the next phase in the process which would involve the formulation of bills would still be handled by the House Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review when they meet the Senate’s Committee on the exercise this week.

He also said the House still stands by the clause in the 2013 Appropriation Act which bars budgetary allocation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) until it is reviewed by the House.

The House had passed a resolution last year urging President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the SEC DG for allegedly lacking the requisite qualification to hold the position.

Commenting on the House’s efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution, Hon. Ogene explained that the next phase in the process would entail the formulation of bills based on the wishes of Nigerians during the Peoples Public Sessions held by the House last November.

Said he: “After this stage, the next step would be for the House Committee on Constitution Review to meet with the Senate Committee for the exercise in order to harmonise the work of both arms of the National Assembly”.

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Two arrested over siblings, pregnant woman’s death

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — THE Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said it arrested two persons in connection with the killing of two brothers and a pregnant woman by suspected cult members, last Thursday.

The two brothers, Malik and Mufu Akewusola, were reportedly hanging out with friends on Shitta Street at about 8p.m,when the unidentified gunmen struck.

A pregnant woman said to be relaxing in front of her compound was also hit by the gunmen’s bullets. She was certified dead at an undisclosed hospital where she was rushed to.

Following the incident, plain-cloth policemen were seen weekend, patrolling the area.

Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the arrests, adding that investigation into the killing was on.

Benue Police gun down three robbery suspects

BY PETER DIRU

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AKURDI — THREE robbery suspects were, weekend, gunned down by men of the Benue State police in Gboko East, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Daniel Ezeala, the trio were among the gang of robbers who had been tormenting the residents of Gboko in recent time.

According to Ezeala, the Police had last Friday received a distress call from residents of Gboko East that a gang of robbers numbering about five had laid siege to the the community.

The PPRO said the gang was reported to have robbed from house-to-house at about 2 a.m, dispossessing their victims of cash, phones and other valuables.

He said: “Our men acted on the call and our patrol team covering the community immediately stormed the area and a gun duel ensued.

“Three of the robbers who sustained serious injuries were arrested while the others escaped into nearby bush."

Eight killed in fresh Bayelsa creek attack

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

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ENAGOA — IT was an other black weekend in the creeks of Bayelsa State as eight persons were killed in a deadly attack launched by suspected militants.

Though the circumstances surrounding the attack were hazy, among those killed were five exmilitant youths that embraced amnesty under the leadership of Pastor Reuben Wilson popularly known as General Wilson.

Also killed was Pastor Reuben’s 37-year-old younger brother, identified as Judah Benaebi Wilson and two others.

It was gathered that the armed attack occurred on Saturday night at the Lobia waterside.

The slain youths, it was learnt, were tricked into the creek and shot dead.

Informed sources told our correspondent that due to the prevailing insecurity in the area the communities had formed a vigilance outfit to counter the rampaging renegade militias who recently killed 12 policemen as well as contain the upsurge in piracy in the area.

However, there were conflicting accounts of the incident.

While a version of the report claimed that eight youths were shot dead in a shoot out between two armed gangs, the other version by the families of the dead youths claimed that the victims were tricked to the spot of the killing by some hired hands to the militia group.

According to them, “our brothers were set up by some persons

in the Lobia community. The report we gathered showed that after they were killed, some community people quickly buried two

among them. Others are still missing.”

It was learnt that the suspicious movement of the gunmen on the

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba (2nd left), briefing newsmen on the command's achievement in the first quarter of the year, where he displayed arms, ammunition, cables and other materials recovered from suspects, in Asaba.

Protest as vigilante kills one, injures two in Delta

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI — PANDEMONIUM broke out, yesterday, in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government

Area, Delta State, following the alleged killing of a middle aged man by men of the Ughelli vigilante.

The killing of the young man identified as Avwerosuo Idoro,

Suspected 65-year-old fake ASP arrested

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS — POLICEMEN at tached to Ilemba Hausa division in Lagos State have arrested a 65-year-old man for allegedly parading himself as an Assistant Superintendent of Police to extort members of the public.

The suspect identified as Oshigbemi Marshal, who claimed to be a dismissed policeman with two others at large, reportedly invaded a brothel along Ilemba Hausa Road, weekend, arresting the hotel manager, some staff, commercial sex workers and their male patrons for human trafficking.

They were said to have identified themselves as operatives from the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba.

Eye witnesses told Vanguard that Oshigbemi, a father of 10, led the illegal raid. They were said to have demanded N4,500 from the arrested persons, threatened to take them to the dreaded SCID if they refused.

Some of the frightened commercial sex workers and their patrons were said to have parted with the requested sum after

waters attracted the attention of fishermen who alerted the community development committee executives (CDC).

which they were released, while others begged with N1,500 claiming that was all they had realised that night.

Vanguard gathered that the bubble burst after the bar man who out of curiosity demanded for their van with which to convey the suspects to SCID. A staff of the brothel who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard that Oshigbemi said driver of the patrol van had gone to fuel the car.

But after waiting without any sight of the patrol van, the curious staff was said to have contacted policemen from Ilemba Hausa,who arrived the scene.

“Immediately they sighted the police patrol van from Ilemba Hausa division in front of the brothel, the fake policemen who came for the raid took to their heels. But one of them was arrested and taken to the station” the brothel staff said.

Vanguard gathered that preliminary investigation at the station revealed that the men were not policemen afterall. Oshigbemi during interrogation, claimed he was a dismissed policeman.

In his confessional statement to the Police, Oshigbemi reportedly said he was dismissed from the Police Force two years ago.

Maritime worker dies during fisticuff

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI — A MEMBER of the Maritime Union Workers in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State was, weekend, killed during a physical combat with his colleague over whose turn it was to load passengers.

The deceased who was identified as Mr. Kuku Endurance, 31,

engaged in fierce fight with Mr ThankGod, now at large, after those who were around were tired of settling the serious argument which lasted for over 10 minutes.

According to a dependable source, the deceased who was held by the throat was allegedly strangled to death by ThankGod in the fight which occurred at about 2pm.

28, led to a protest by some youths in the Ughelli metropolis who carried the corpse of the victim to the palace of the Ovie of Ughelli kingdom and the Ughelli Police ‘A’ division, seeking redress.

According to a reliable source, two of the protesters were also allegedly shot by the vigilante in a bid to disperse them, adding that the two yet-to-be identified persons have been taken to the Ughelli Central Hospital for treatment.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the corpse of Avwerosuo Idoro had been deposited in the Ughelli central hospital morgue on the orders of the police. Efforts to reach the leadership of the Ughelli vigilante team for comment on the matter proved abortive at press time.

Giving details of what led to the killing of the young man, the source said: “The compound of Avwerosuo’s father at Akpomedaye Street was used for a marriage ceremony.

“After the marriage, Avwerosuo who took over the late father’s estate called the celebrants to clean up the compound. This resulted in serious argument, which led to a fight between Avwerosuo and a boy suspected to be a relative of the celebrant.

Members of the Ughelli vigilante team came into the matter and Avwerosuo was arrested and granted bail by the police last Monday.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 —7

BY KENNETH EHIGIATOR & HENRY UMORU

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NE year after the Senate asked the Federal Government to get foreign airlines operating in the country to review their discriminatory business and first class tickets to be in tandem with fares charged on the West Coast, especially Ghana, the matter has remained unresolved as the carriers are still having a field day, maintaining their old fare.

The senate, conscious of the fact that it had no enforcement powers, had promised to prevail on government to take action in line with its recommendations to get the airlines to shift ground.

In the heat of the campaign last year to get the airlines to review their fares downwards, Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, had threatened to stop the airlines’ operations in the country, if they failed to do the needful but the Senate Committee on Aviation stepped in, asking her to allow it intervene.

The minister gave the airlines a 30-day ultimatum to slash fares or have their services banned but the senate committee’s intervention came as a saving grace for the airlines.

However, 12 months after the purported intervention, nothing had been heard from the senate, allowing the airlines to continue with the rip-off of travellers in the country.

For instance, British Airways First Class ticket on Abuja-London route remains as high as $9,548.25 for a flight of 5hrs 45 minutes, whereas 6hrs 45 flight on Accra-London routes go for as low as $4,970.55.

Similarly, the airline’s Business Class ticket on the Lagos-London route is almost twice the fares on Accra-London. While Abuja-London is $4,708.80, that of AccraLondon is $2,920.55. Lagos-London reflects same discriminatory tendencies.

For German carrier, Lufthansa Airlines, Abuja-London is $4,244.31 for Business Class ticket, as against Accra-London’s $3,492.24. First Class tickets for Nigerian travellers on this route is as high as $8,242.66, even as their Ghanaian counterparts almost half the fare for a similar destination.

For Emirates Airlines, the situation is not different, as Nigerians pay $8,492.90, while in Ghana, same ticket goes for just $6.821.20.

British Airways had argued persistently that its Business and First Class tickets were high because Nigerians were always ready to pay, saying that seats in those classes of the cabin were always over-booked.

However, some others like Lufthansa Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways had promised to cut down fares but their current fare regime indicates otherwise, as they are still very high Some stakeholders in the industry contend that though fares charged by the foreign airlines were discriminatory, the develop-

Discriminatory airfare: Nigerians groan as FG fails to intervene Senate condemns action; promises to look into the matter ment was accentuated by the propensity of Nigerians to fly First and Business classes as status symbol.

Former Director of Operations of defunct Nigeria Airways, Capt. Dele Ore, said the foreign airlines marked up their fares in the premium classes because of high demand than supply, arguing that the First and Business class of major carriers were always fully booked.

According to Capt. Ore, premium class tickets in Ghana are higher because of the low demand for them.

Ore, who noted that Economy class tickets were even cheaper in Nigeria than Ghana, said Nigerians who fly the premium classes (First and Business Class) do so, in most cases to show wealth and class, adding that the tickets were determined by market forces.

He said: “I thought we had settled this issue before. You see, my brother, what is happening is a case of market forces. We, Nigerians made it possible for the foreign airlines to charge high fares because we like to show class. In Ghana, they dare not charge those kind of fares because nobody will fly the premium class (First and Business Class) “You can see that Economy Class ticket is very low, even lower than it is in Ghana. So the more the demand, the higher the price. I don’t think it’s a thing that can be legislated upon. If government tries to stop Nigerians from flying the premium class, these same Nigerians will say someone is violating their fundamental human rights”.

Establishment of National carrier Also speaking on the issue, aviation expert, Mr. Chris Aligbe, said the fares were determined by forces of demand and supply, adding that the foreign airlines were adamant about their position because they were aware Nigeria had no national carrier to compete with them.

Aligbe, former spokesman of Nigeria Airways, said the only solution to the problem is the establishment of a national carrier to compete with the foreign airlines.

According to him, this is the only thing that can force down high fares and not administrative fiat.

He said: “Fares are deter-

VISIT—From left: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola DavidBorha; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Executive Director, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Peter Obaseki and Group Chief Executive Officer, First Bank Holdings Plc, Alhaji Bello Macchido, during a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja.

mined by forces of demand and supply. The Minister of Aviation has tried her best. the foreign airlines know we don’t have a national carrier, that’s why they are adamant. The National Assembly should have come up with a legislation against such issues.

“Besides, we cannot put a price on what we don’t offer.

That is why some of us are clamouring for a national carrier. The only solution to this problem is for us to have our own national carrier or carriers to compete with these airlines.

That is what the Egyptians are doing with Egypt Air, otherwise, there is nothing anybody can do about this problem. The minister has tried her best to, at least, prick the conscience of everyone.

Reacting, chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, PDP, Imo West, told Vanguard that the Senate had earlier taken a position on the matter, but noted that as lawmakers, they were not responsible for enforcement.

Senator Uzodinma, who noted that the sack of the DirectorGeneral of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren caused the delay in the implementation of resolutions of the Senate, said as soon as NCAA DG nominee, currently being screened by the Senate Committee on Aviation, was cleared, it would no longer be business as usual for the foreign airlines.

He said: "The Senate Committee on Aviation will look into the matter. We condemn that act of discrimination in airfare charges. We have already re-

solved as a Senate, you will agree with me that we can only do that resolution, the enforcement and implementation is not suppose to be done by us.

"However, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, also has its challenges because the Director-General, Dr. Harold Demuren, was removed and now we are trying to screen a new Director-General as soon as the reorganisation is done and the economic regulation department is strengthened, they will be in the position to enforce order.

"We are not going to sit here, fold our arms and watch our people pay through their noses before they travel. Airfares must be at par with what is obtainable all over the world. We will continue to support and protect Nigerian people for our national interest too.”

It would be recalled that the Senate Committee on Aviation last September in its report on the violation of aviation laws and practices by foreign airlines and lapses in the operations of the regulatory agency, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Director of Air Transport Federal, Ministry of Aviation, Mr Hassan Musa, over alleged $14 million fraud in the industry.

NCAA indicted for complicity The senate in the report also indicted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, on the ground that the agency could not give a proper account of the business activities of foreign airlines operating in Nigeria, just as it stressed that foreign airlines engaged in sharp practices

which had resulted in foreign exchange fluctuations causing pressure. on the naira.

In the report, Senator Hope Uzodinma-led committee also indicted the British Airways, BA, Virgin Atlantic Airways, VAA, in the air fare hike scandal, just as it was directed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, should go after the two airlines to recover the excess fare charges on Nigerians.

The report of the panel which indicted the BA, VAA and Director of Air Transport in the Federal Ministry of Aviation, explained that Mr Musa unilaterally granted waiver to Lufthansa Airlines to the tune of $14million without approval from either the Presidency or the Ministry of Aviation.

It would also be recalled that the Senate mandated the committee to investigate the alleged violation of aviation laws by some foreign airlines when Senator Uzodinma moved a motion on the fare disparity and drew the attention of his colleagues to the said violation and other related sharp practices in the industry by the foreign airlines.

However, experts contend that much should not be expected from the Federal Government, especially as it was the Presidency that allegedly directed the Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, to ceasefire on the 30day ultimatum she served the foreign airlines to do the needful or be banned in Nigeria, following the intervention of British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who personally wrote President Goodluck Jonathan appealing to him not to do anything that would rupture the warm relations between Nigeria and Britain.

8—Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Adeboye advises students: Involve God in all your dealings

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AGOS—PASTOR Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, yesterday, urged Nigerian students and National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members to involve God in everything they do to ensure success.

He gave the advice at a special prayer session organised for students and NYSC members at the church’s national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

Adeboye urged them to always put their trust in God, assuring them that He would bless the work of their hands. He stressed that unless God blessed a man, his efforts would remain futile.

He said: “Unless God blesses the work of a man’s hand, he will be labouring in vain; if God is not involved in any activities you are doing, it will be futile.

“When God is behind you, there is always a success story. Anything you touch will become manna.”

Adeboye, however, urged the students and NYSC members to be hard-working and to resist any form of slothfulness.

He appealed to them to obey God in totality, saying “obey all God’s commandments, as the blessing of God upon man is irreversible.”

Transition

M

OTHER of Revd Ebenezer Oyeyemi, General Overseer of Oasis Christian Centre, Egbeda, Prophetess Alice Oyeyemi (nee Babalola-Dada) is dead.

Oyeyemi died on March 17 aged 107.

She is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Interment will be on May 11, after a funeral service at Oke-Odo Senior High School, Ile-Epo, Lagos.

Prophetess Oyeyemi.

Akure monarchs' supremacy war deepens with dethronement, multiple appointments

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—THE supremacy tussle between Obas in Akure, Ondo State capital, deepened as the paramount traditional ruler, Deji of Akureland, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, weekend, directed the dethronement of all monarchs appointed without the consent of the Deji-in-Council.

Oba Adesida, in letter to Alayede Ogbese, Oba Iseoluwa Oluyede, directed him to limit his jurisdiction to

his community and not dabble into other territories under the purview of the Deji.

The Alayede Ogbese had appointed some chiefs including Olu of Agunla, Prince Sunday Salami and Olu of Alayere, Prince Adeniran Aladetoyinbo, as villages heads just as the Deji had also appointed another set of people for the same communities.

The Alayede-Ogbese claimed that since the Deji’s domain does not extend beyond Akure South, he had no traditional or legal right to ap-

PDP to Amosun: We 're getting stronger

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

A

BEOKUTA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State has tackled Governor Ibikunle Amosun over his comment on the state of the PDP, saying that contrary to the governor's insinuation, the party was not dead but waxing stronger.

State Chairman of the party, Chief Dayo Bayo, stated this during a reception for the National Auditor of the party Chief Adewole Adeyanju held, weekend, in Ilaro, Ogun State.

Dayo said Amosun and other members of the opposition party were jittery over the strength of PDP in the state.

Amosun had described PDP in the state as a dead party that posed no threat to his second term ambition.

However, Bayo said: “Despite the insinuation of the opposition that PDP is dead in Ogun State, we are waxing stronger.

"I want to assure you all that with the present structure of PDP, it has come to stay in Ogun State.

“PDP is now one and the oppositions are now jittery. With the ongoing reconciliation efforts by the party, we are sure of victory in the 2015 elections.”

... as Ondo CNPP members sack Chairman

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—SOME aggrieved members of Ondo State chapter of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, weekend announced the sack of the state Chairman, Chief Ayo Isijola.

The state CNPP has been witnessing internal crisis which last week resulted in the leadership of the party sacking the state Secretary, Femi Ajibola and other leaders of the party over ‘anti-party activities.’

Others suspended members include the Treasurer, Mr. Samuel Akinbobola and the Financial Secretary, Victor Ogunbodede.

In a statement by the embattled Ajibola and 11 other members in Akure, they said it was necessary for CNPP to change its chairman in the interest of the progress of the group.

Isijola was accused of ineptitude, planting seeds of discord in CNPP, politics of acrimony, divide and rule, discrimination and financial impropriety.

Ajibola said CNPP had inaugurated a fivemember caretaker committee to take over its affairs for six months after which elections would be held.

point village heads beyond his territory.

Ayede-Ogbese and communities in dispute are in Akure North Local Council.

However, the Deji, in a letter to Oba Oluyede, said: “The Agunla community in this instance is a community under the historical and traditional authority of Deji. The bifurcation of Akure Local Government into two was aimed at administrative convenience of the communities and not to infringe on existing historical and traditional authorities.

“Government steps at making life easy for the citizenry should not be misconceived as altering history and distorting facts but to rather complement it.

"A good reference is the case of Ondo East and West local governments, where the Osemawe exercises his authorities.”

The first monarch referred to the government circular on the issue, which gave him the paramountcy over lands within Akure kingdom.

Govt circular

The circular, directed to all the chairmen of local governments and chieftaincy committees, said: “I wish to refer to our letter reference no CD/C.480/17 of 19th August 1997 entitled Re: establishment of one traditional council for local government created from Akureland, and to make necessary clarifications as follows.

“That whereas the paramountcy of any Kabiyesi does not extend beyond his local government area, his consenting authority over the appointment of Obas and Baales, especially over the areas where he had traditional and historical control is non-negotiable.

“More so, when government has not appointed a recognised Oba over the area.

“For example, the fact that two local government councils have been created out of Akure Local Government does not infringe on the consenting authority of the Deji of Akure prior to the creation of Akure North Local Government.”

Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—9

Probe Fashola's govt, PDP urges EFCC

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe the Governor Babtunde Fashola-

led administration over alleged massive corruption.

However, in a swift reaction, Lagos State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, dismissed the call by PDP, describing it as all noise and no substance.

Enterprise Bank gets ultimatum over sack

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ATIONAL Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Enterprise Bank Plc to implement an agreement reached with organised labour under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, on March 22, in Abuja, or face the wrath of labour.

The union is demanding a reversal of the termination of 18 of members (sales associate) and upholding the agreement signed in Abuja, as it affects the 60 dispatch riders, the exited and existing workers of FSFS. The three nationalised banks, Mainstreet (Afribank), Enterprise

(Spring Bank) and Keystone (BankPHB) signed the agreement and were given one month to implement.

While Mainstreet Bank and Keystone Bank were said to have implemented the agreement, Enterprise Bank was said to have not.

A letter to the Managing Director of Enterprise Bank Plc, dated May 2, by Philip Aboderin, Senior Assistant General Secretary, NUBIFIE, said: “In furtherance to the agreement signed in Abuja, which affected the three nationalised banks, we regret to inform you that if your management fail to address the issues with the in-house union within seven days of this letter, the union should not be held responsible for any industrial action against your organisation.”

A statement by the state chairman of PDP, Mr. Tunji Shelle, said: “Recently, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, had disclosed plans by House Committees to begin probe of ministries in the state.

“This move we learnt has been vehemently opposed to by Governor Fashola and the leadership of the ACN.” Shelle alleged that the state was trying to hide the alleged massive misappropriation of public funds by gagging its officials from speaking to the media, saying “media personnel covering the Government House, including the Deputy Governor’s office, are now forced to swear to an oath of silence.”

It's all noise— ACN

However, Publicity Secretary of ACN, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, told Vanguard: “If you take the words of Lagos PDP seriously, then nothing is safe.

“If you believe Lagos PDP and their millions of pathological lies, then you can believe anything.

“Lagos PDP thinks that Governor Fashola’s ACN can be compared to their PDP that has frittered away millions of naira in the past 14 years, leaving Nigeria plundered, gang-raped and stripped naked.”

Rice growers hail ban on importation

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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OCAL rice growers, under the aegis of Patriotic Rice Association, PRAN, have hailed the decision of the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice through land borders, saying it will curtail losses to Customs estimated at more than N27 billion.

In a statement by Alhaji Habibu Maishin-kafa and

Martins Okereke, PRAN said that nothing short of the closure of the boarders against smugglers would save the budding rice industry in the country.

The group affirmed that the latest move by the Federal Government would stop the activities of smugglers who push large volumes of rice into Nigeria with zero duty, thereby unsettling government’s efforts at making Nigeria self-sufficient

in rice production by 2015.

They maintained that large-scale investments made in the farming and milling industries by private businesses were also in jeopardy, following Customs’ inability to protect the industry from the vagaries of smugglers.

PRAN said the banning should be supported by all Customs officials and by all Nigerians, noting that it was a patriotic measure.

Aguiyi Ironsi Mkt re-opens

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USINESS activities will resume today at the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market, Ladipo, Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State, after it was opened, weekend, by authorities of the local government, which closed it on February 25.

The market was shut down over alleged leadership tussle in the traders’ union and threat to lives of traders and residents in the area and the environs.

Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Olatunde Adepitan, who made the announce-

ment, said all stakeholders’ caretaker committee would be put in place to run the affairs of the union and conduct election within three months.

He said: “The security arrangement hitherto put in place was not working for the entire traders."

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Rivers Assembly reconvenes today

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT—THE Rivers State House of Assembly, will reconvene today with the 32 members in attendance, after the House adjourned sine die some days ago.

Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, confirmed this to Vanguard in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

He said: “This is not the first time we are adjourning sine die. We had met our constitutional 186 days of sitting. We would have proceeded on vacation but because of the love we have for the state, it will not allow us proceed because their might be state functions, our attension may be called upon anytime to reconvene.”

Delta 2015: Mejire urges support for Ochei

BY FESTUS AHON

Why I deposed some chiefs, banished other persons —Olu of Warri W

ARRI—THE Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse II, has explained to the Itsekiri people, why he banished some persons from some communities and deposed some of his chiefs.

He said that the affected persons were banished because they had become incorrigible trouble makers while the deposed chiefs had become agents of destabilisation and no longer fit to remain his chiefs. He charged the Itsekiri people to embrace the virtues of godliness, hard work and honesty at all times.

The royal father, weekend, at Ode-Itsekiri (Big –Warri), the ancestral home of the Itsekiri people, during his state of the kingdom address to mark his 26th coronation anniversary, warned that nobody should resort to crimes but instead, they should follow what was right, proper and just.

He said: “Do not be in a hurry to get wealth and God will not allow your good fortune to pass you by. I have deposed some chiefs be-

cause they had made themselves no longer able to contribute to the unity and progress of their communities. Our people should learn to promote peaceful co-existence in all our communities and deviants should be discouraged and helped to become promoters of peace and goodwill.”

He said because of the hard

global economic situation, he had set in motion a community care initiative that had commenced the training of Itsekiri people in five different communities on selfhelp programmes that will spread to other communities soon, adding that at the completion of the programmes, they will become

self-sufficient and train others on similar skills.

He told the people that in the difficult times of today, education was very pivotal and reminded them that the Itsekiri Education Trust, inaugurated last year, was prepared to take indigent and willing Itsekiri students to any level of education their capacity can take them.

VISIT: The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa (middle), welcoming the Island Club, led by the Chairman, Prince Demola Dada, during a courtesy visit to the monarch in his palace.

Tension as Rivers LG halts swearing-in of APGA councillor-elect

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GHELLI—NATIONAL Chairman of Delta Central Political Forum, DCPF, Chief Ochuko Mejire, has urged people of the state to support the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Ochei, to emerge as the governor of the state come 2015.

Mejire, during the inauguration of a 20-man executive to pilot the affairs of the body, at Mosogar, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state, said the council was the political hub of Delta State politics.

He enjoined people of the area to be committed to the group “since Urhobo cannot play politics of opposition that will not take the people anywhere.”

Also speaking, state Coordinator of the group, Mr. Vincent Egajivwie, said Ochei will serve better if given the opportunity to govern the state in 2015.

He said: “The vision of the forum is to give political support to any governorship candidate that the group is convinced will deliver the dividends of democracy to Deltans."

BY EMMA ARUBI

BY EGUFE YAFUGBIRHI

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ORT HARCOURT— THERE is palpable tension in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, following the refusal to swear in Mr. Sunny Williams, councillorelect for Ward 8 in the council.

Williams, of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, was billed to be sworn in last Friday at Oyigbo council secretariat after winning the third succes-

sive election and still being denied occupation of the councillorship seat since 2011.

The anticipated swearing-in went awry for the councillor-elect and his teeming supporters, who had accompanied him on the occasion, when the Oyigbo council chairman, Felix Nwaeke, suddenly cancelled the event.

Speaking on behalf of his boss, who refused media explanation for his action, Press Secretary to the Chairman, Bobby Oforji, said Nwaeke acted in response to a sud-

den court injunction restraining the swearing-in of the councillor-elect.

He alleged that “Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyigbo got a court order stopping the swearingin" and that his boss had no option but to respect the order until the issues in dispute were determined by the court.

Neither Nwaeke nor his press secretary could, however, tender a copy of the purported injunction or indicate the court which issued same.

Reacting to the development, the affected councillor- elect

said: “This denial has obviously got out of hand. I won an election in 2011. They stopped my swearing-in over some indefensible litigation. In February this year, a rerun was held, I won.

They alleged irregularities.

Match 16, there was another rerun, which I won convincingly again.

“This time, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, rightfully issued a return certificate. What injunction can then stop my swearing-in if I had been issued a return certificate? This is obviously happening to me because I am not PDP,” he added.

Police bar Rivers Chief of Staff, others from entering LG council

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— CHIEF of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha and the Caretaker Commitee Chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Mr. Dike Chikodi, were among those barred by policemen, weekend, from entering Obio/Akpor council.

Mr. Okocha, who made this known to newsmen, said they were in the council in the spirit of the environmental

sanitation exercise in the state on Saturday, but were stopped from entering the council by security operatives.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emma Chinda, was among those stopped from entering the council.

Okocha said: “You can see that the whole place is blocked by police vehicles. The policemen would not let anybody in and nobody should go out. I know that the Police Public Relations Officer had said to us that no such thing existed. That is why I came to see things for myself.

“I was trying to find out the man

who gave the instruction stopping us from entering. The policeman I saw said it was

the Divisional Police Office, DPO, who gave the instruction."

Oyerinde: Rights groups decry failure to uncover killers one year after

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM ENIN—A COALITION of civil society organisations in Edo State, weekend, held a candle light procession round Kingsquare Road in Benin City and Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, secretariat, in honour of the late Principal Private Secretary to Edo

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State Governor, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde.

Oyerinde, who was Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Private Secretary was murdered by suspected assassins on May 4, 2012. His friend, Rev.David Ugolor, regretted that the Nigeria Police had failed to fish out the true killers of the deceased, one year after the sad incident.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—11

Gunmen kill 10 in Nigerian attacks — Police

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ANO — A group of gunmen, Sunday, stormed a village in northeast Nigeria on the border with Cameroon, killing 10 residents in attacks on a church and a market, police said.

The gunmen opened fire on a market square in Njilang village in Adamawa State, killing six people before storming a local church in the same village where they killed four worshippers, Mohammed Ibrahim, the state police spokesman, told AFP. “Unknown gunmen went into the village this morning and attacked a market square where they killed six people and then proceeded to a church where they shot dead four others,” Ibrahim said.

Nine people were wounded in the attacks in the small farming village, 230 kilometres (145 miles) from the state capital, Yola, Ibrahim said.

He said the gunmen crossed the border into Cameroon after the attacks before the arrival of policemen from the nearest police post 30 kilometres (20 miles) away.

He did not say if the gunmen were resident in Cameroon.

Achebe: Nigerians to hold memorial service in London, May 18

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

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AGOS — NIGERIANS in the United Kingdom, will hold a memorial service and cultural reception for late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe on May 18 in London as part of global farewell activities for the literary legend.

Professor Achebe’s body will arrive Abuja May 12, sparking off a series of festivities that will continue until his final interment in Ogidi, Anambra State on May 23.

The programme is being organised by the United Kingdom chapter of Nigerians in the Diaspora in conjunction with his family, the High Commission and the wider literary world. The activities will kick off with a memorial service at All Saints Cathedral, New Cross, London, which will be presided over by the Bishop of Southwark.

Ubaka Alex Achebe, a family spokesman, said: “Apart from the Bishop of Southwark, the Bishops of Woolwich and London will also be there.

There will be several cannons

and vicars coming too, so we are expecting about a dozen clergymen.

“After the service, guests will be treated to an evening of African culture, literature at the nearby Millwall Football Club’s reception hall. There will be cultural troupes from all over Nigeria performing as well as those from Ghana, Kenya, the Caribbean and Congo, and a re-enactment of Things Fall Apart.”

Dignitaries expected include former Commonwealth Secretary General, Emeka Anyaoku; Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, Chi Onwurah, MP; Chuka

Umunna, MP, and the Mayor of Enfield, Kate Anolue.

Also expected are the embassies representatives of Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Côte d’Ivoire. The Anambra Women Group has offered to take care of catering for the day and treat guests to the best of Nigerian cuisine.

Dan Otuonye, the chairman of the Organising Committee said: “We will print T-shirts, women’s head ties and men’s caps, which will be made available on the day. Igbo Youth Organisation will also entertain guests to the best of our culture.”

Patani PDP crisis deepens

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ATANI—THE crisis rocking Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State, was exacerbated, weekend, with a faction, purportedly expelling the party’s chairman, Mr. Godbless Omoniye, over alleged misconduct and mishandling of office.

Chief Ebi Oki, Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Patani PDP, briefing newsmen in Patani, weekend, asked Omoniye to hand over all party documents and property to his deputy.

2015: Rise up against political impunity, Mark tells Nigerian youths

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA — SENATE President, David Mark, has urged Nigerian youths to rise up against electoral or political impunity that undermines Nigeria’s progress as a nation ahead of 2015 elections.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Initiative of integrity icons international in honour of the publisher of Leadership Newspapers Sam NDAIsaiah in Minna, Niger State, weekend, senator Mark argued that the call became imperative against the backdrop of recent political developments in the country.

The Senate President, who noted though the nation’s elections were

not yet a template for perfection, contended that impunity was no longer the order of the day and urged the youths to insist on their rights and be vigilant as well as actively participate in the electoral system.

According to him, “it will help safe guard democracy adjudged as undoubtedly the superior and the best form of government because it is premised on the respect for man as a reasonable being.”

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Senator Anthony Manzo, Mark explained that democracy with its ballot

box was the only political tool that offers Nigerians a fighting chance, because it affords them a viable mechanism to hold those in power accountable.

He said:”Be it e x a m i n a t i o n malpractices, thuggery, rigging, election violence, ballot box snatching, substance abuse, drug trafficking, cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery or banditry, religious extremism and armed insurgency or official corruption- almost all of these deleterious vocations are dominated by youths.

NIMASA lifts blockade on NLNG shipping activities .Petroleum, Transport Ministers, NSA intervene

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

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AGOS — THE unprecedented blockade on Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, NLNG’s shipping activities by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, was lifted, yesterday.

The blockade which lasted 48 hours between midday Friday and yesterday morning, was lifted following the intervention of the ministers of Petroleum

and Transport, Mrs. Diezani AllisonMadueke and Senator Idris Umar respectively and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) NIMASA’s decision to lift the blockade, it was learnt, keyed into Federal Government’s determination not to further encumber one of the sterling examples of government’s success in public private partnership.

NIMASA had last Friday announced its decision to completely blockade shipping activities to and from the Bonny berths of the NLNG on account of what it claimed to be the continued refusal of the company to pay outstanding levies, taxes

and fines over the years.

Sources told Vanguard last night that senior officials of NIMASA, NLNG and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS were locked in a meeting in Ikoyi, Lagos, last night towards finding a resolution to the problem.

As at press time it was learnt that though discussions had commenced, the government agencies and the NLNG were still far from reaching an agreement.

NLNG, it was learnt, was, however, under serious pressure from the authorities to sit down with the government agencies to find a lasting solution to the outstanding issues.

12—Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

President did not buy plane for me, says Oritsejafor

BY SAM EYOBOKA

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BUJA — NATIONAL President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, for the first time, publicly dismissed criticisms that continued to trail his acquisition of a private jet with some critics claiming that the gift may have come from the Presidency.

The founder/senior pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, War ri emphatically declared that President Goodluck Jonathan did not contribute a dime for the jet.

Receiving a delegation of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State chapter in his Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, last Sunday, Pastor Oritsejafor said the private jet was presented to him on November 10, 2012, by church members within and outside the country in commemoration of his 40th year on the pulpit.

There will be no peace if Jonathan is not returned in 2015 — Dokubo Asari .Says Jonathan’s presidency, not amnesty has guaranteed peace in Niger Delta .Stop beating war drums—Northern youths

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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BUJA — AHEAD of 2015 general elections, Northern youths engaged former President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, in a war of words over the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Dokubo had fired the first salvo while addressing a press conference in Abuja as he declared that the Niger Delta region cannot guarantee peace in Nigeria if President Jonathan is not returned in 2015.

He also stated that after Jonathan’s presidency, the region will resume claim to the resources in the oil-rich NigerDelta, saying that they are currently on sabbatical leave.

The Arewa youths, however, responded immediately warning Asari Dokubo to desist from beating the drums of war over the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015.

They said that the choice of

Nigeria’s next president would be determined by Nigerians and not Ijaw militants or pipeline contractors.

Asari Dokubo in the interview pointed out that the reason there is relative peace in the country, especially in South-South geo-political zone currently is not because of the amnesty granted to Niger Delta ex-militants by late President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua’s regime in 2010, but Jonathan’s presidency.

Asari who spoke on a wide range of national issues also said that contrary to the claims of Jonathan’s critics that his administration is visionless, the administration has surpassed the previous ones in terms of provision of social infrastructure.

He said: “I called this briefing because of events that are unfolding in the polity.

Recently, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsely Kuku, made a statement in the United States of America, that the peace being enjoyed in the

Niger Delta will not be guaranteed if President Goodluck Jonathan is not returned as President of Nigeria in 2015.

“This statement has been supported by several groups from the region. Also, the statement has been attracting reactions from several quarters, expectedly from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and others.

"I want to go on to say that, there will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta, but everywhere if Goodluck Jonathan is not president by 2015, except God takes his life, which we don’t pray for.

"Jonathan has uninterrupted eight years of two terms to be president, according to the Nigeria constitution. We must have our uninterrupted eight years of two tenure, I am not in support of any amendment of the constitution that will reduce the eight years of two tenure that Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be president of Nigeria.”

“For very long time, our resources from the Niger

Delta has been used to feed and fund Nigeria, and some people are still feeling that Nigeria is their personal property, and they can manage it the way they like, but those days are gone forever, it can never come back again.

Reacting to Dokubo’s threat, the President of Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, described it as an unfortunate outburst borne out of ignorance and mischief ostensibly to elicit cheap patronage from The Presidency.

Shettima regretted the statement credited to Dokubo, saying that it was wrong for the President to allow the former warlord to be speaking for him, thereby giving himself out as an ethnic Ijaw leader and not the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was popularly elected based on the goodwill and support of the generality of Nigerians.

He said, “President Jonathan should stop these elements from talking as if they alone elected him into office in 2011."

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 —13

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR & DAPO AKINREFON

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the presidency were yesterday engaged in war of words over allegations that the essence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda was to turn him from a democrat into an emperor.

The accusation from the country’s leading opposition political party was, however, amplified by Afenifere, the Yoruba sociocultural organisation, which also accused the ACN of democratic impunity through the controversial tenure extension bill for Lagos local government councils.

While second republic governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, however, sided with the ACN on its claim, the Mass Mobilisation for Transformation, MMT, a

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Jonathan: Presidency, ACN in 'war of words' Jonathan's govt despotic—ACN, Balarabe Musa ACN should remove the log in its eyes — Presidency Afenifere flays ACN over tenure elongation bill in Lagos Councils body working for Jonathan’s 2015 election praised the incumbent as the best president since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

The ACN alleged that the Jonathan's administration was steadily descending into despotism, alleging brazen assaults on personal freedom and manipulation of national institutions for the purpose of denigrating perceived political op-

ponents.

The accusation by the party was immediately responded to by Dr. Rueben Abati, who accused the ACN of standing truth in its head. Abati rebuffed insinuations by the ACN of a face-off between President Jonathan and Governor Chibuke Amaechi even as he insisted that the regulatory institutions were right in their actions against what he described as an unlicensed aircraft.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN had said: “The Jonathan's administration is anchored on a transformation agenda. But the only transformation that we can see is the one from a democratically-elected President to an emperor, a despot.”

The statement said: "If the President is not prevailed upon to change course, Nigeria may be in for another season of anomie, reminiscent of the days of the maximum ruler who took the country to the brink before his sudden demise".

Citing the ongoing faceoff between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the Ministry of Aviation, the party alleged that President Jonathan has shown himself as a leader willing to jettison democratic ideals for personal ambition.

It said: "Like we said before, we are not perturbed by what is happening in the PDP. Our main concern is that the party’s internal crisis is overheating the polity and threatening the country’s hard-won democracy. After the theatrics of the aviation agencies and their parent ministry, the EFCC has suddenly realized that the cost of the Rivers State’s plane was inflated by US$10 million while the police have sacked the Secretariat of Obio-Akpro local government in Rivers State.

"The question is: Who gave the orders for the police to sack the Secretariat, and in the process take sides with the President in the political disagreement with the Governor?

"If the President can go to this length against his own

party man, what will he do against the opposition?

Why is it that a democratically-elected President cannot be challenged by anyone, whether or not he is a member of his party?’’ it queried.

The ACN’s assertions were, however, opposed by Afenifere which claimed that all political parties, including the ACN were guilty of desecrating democratic institutions for personal ambitions.

Responding through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said: “It is the practice of democracy in Nigeria generally and the Nigerian political class is becoming an embarrassment to democratic tenets and it is not just the Jonathan's government. What you find in Abuja, you see in other states at every level.”

Speaking further, he said “I think we should be worried about the practice of democracy in Nigeria and the conduct of political actors at all levels, both federal and state; and not just the Jonathan's presidency.

"All political actors should be held responsible for what is going on. Look at what is going on, they are talking about tenure elongation in Lagos State. We have a democracy without democrats.”

Dr. Abati in his reaction said “Does Lai Mohammed know the meaning of the word, despotism, or is he just throwing the word around for onomatopoetic effect? He and his sponsors are in fact beneficiaries of the openness and freedom that this administration promotes. The paradox is that those who do not allow freedom and equality in their own party or backyard.

"Those who are well known as self-proclaimed Godfathers and closet despots, are the same ones who are now quick to accuse others of despotism. The ACN should start by removing the log in its eyes. President Jonathan is not a despot.

ACN is the real abode of budding despots in Nigeria.

“The transformation agenda which Lai Mohammed tries to pooh-pooh is a well thought-out blueprint on the basis of which this administration continues to serve the interests of the people and move the country forward.

"The evidence of the Jonathan administration’s achievements is visible in many aspects of Nigerian life and society: from agriculture, to aviation, the economy, job creation, power, industry, trade and investment, transportation and others.

"No amount of name-calling or partisan criticism will distract the government’s attention, just in case the ACN assumes that its persistent distortion of the facts will achieve that objective.”

“The ACN’s allegation that there is a disagreement between the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is also wrong-headed and mischievous. Governor Amaechi has publicly stated that this particular allegation is a piece of fiction created by certain persons and the media.

"We insist that President Jonathan is not engaged in any quarrel or dispute with Governor Amaechi. And it is wrong to use the matter of the aircraft that was grounded by the aviation authorities to concoct stories of persecution".

14—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Police declare 24 hour curfew in Wukari

Nigeria hosts parley on proposed Abidjan - Lagos highway •Arc Onolememen charts way forward •Says ECOWAS to start action plans soon

By LEKE ADESERI

ters Lagos-Abidjan road after presenting its report at the IGERIA’s Minister of Works, Arc African Union summit this Mike Onolememen, recently in month.

Abuja, provoked the thoughts of his colArc Mike Onolememen at leagues from Benin Republic, Togo, the Meeting also disclosed Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire on the prothat the action plan for the posed Abidjan - Lagos Highway. This construction of the Lagos enwas as he hosted the inter-ministerial route Benin, Togo, Ghana to committee meeting of Ministers of Cote D’Ivoire will be comRoad Infrastructure, Transport, Finance pleted within two years of its and Justice from those countries and commencement.

Nigeria.

He encouraged his colThe inaugural meeting sought to preleagues to adopt a good, impare the blueprint for the realization plementable action plan and •Works minister, Arc Onolememen of the dreams of the Presidents of the a concrete report for presenaffected countries to improve the Abidtation at the UN meeting in Addis agreed to work together and construct jan-Lagos corridor that stands out as Ababa in May that will lead to the the homogenous corridor that stands the most significant segments of the actualization of the dream of the re- out as the most significant segments Trans-West African Highway Network. gional leaders which will usher in a of the Trans – West African Highways Among the posers from the host minnew era in trade and commerce in Network. ister were: the region.

Besides, he added that the partici•How the ministers could bring into The Minister further revealed that pation of the Ministers of Transport, reality, the dreams of their heads of the Abidjan – Lagos Corridor covers Finance, Justice and Foreign Affairs government to see the improvement of a total distance of 1,028km and con- for Nigeria and other participating the corridor in order to facilitate trade nects some of the largest and eco- countries gives credence to the broad and promote regional integration; nomically most dynamic cities in Af- coverage of regional road transporta•What arrangement could be put in rica namely, Lagos, Accra, Cotonou, tion, financing and legal procedure place to fund the construction of this Lome and Abidjan and covers a large expected at this meeting. highway - Should the funding be by proportion of the West African popuHe stressed that the corridor has Public Private Partnership, PPP, high level problems and obstacles that has over the years hindered the smooth flow of goods, trade and perThe construction of the proposed Abidjan – sons and as such continues to fall beLagos super highway will commence somelow international acceptable standards for a regional corridor in issues like time next year and will be completed within multiple check points, long and cost24 months ly custom procedures, various degree of harassment and extortion and lack through combined contributions of lation. “To improve this corridor is the of adequate equipment in border Member States involved, or through essence of this meeting as directed posts contrary to ECOWAS Texts on donor funding or loans from Multilat- by the Presidents of the five conFree Movement and Inter -State Road eral and Development Partners’ Agen- cerned member states and the report Transport Facilitation cies and; He recalled that ECOWAS in 2006 of the meeting would be presented •What procedure should we put in to the African Union Summit comcommissioned a study on the Regional place to ensure effective operation of ing up in Addis Ababa in May, 2013,” Road Transport and Transit Facilitathe corridor? tion Programme in West Africa, and he said.

According to Arc Onolememen, “the in their final report, the consultant The construction of the proposed participation of the Minsters of Trans- Abidjan – Lagos super highway will identified the Abijan – Lagos corridor port, Finance, Justice and Foreign Af- commence sometime next year and as one of the highest corridors requirfairs for Nigeria and other participat- will be completed within 24 months. ing improvement. ing countries gives credence to the broad Onolememen said that the meeting In his earlier speech, the Minister coverage of regional road transporta- seeks to prepare, deliberate, and of State for Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, tion, financing and legal procedure agree on an implementation plan Dr. Nurudden Muhammad, stated expected at the meeting and on the all- with a clear indication of responsithat Nigeria is committed to its full imimportant regional project.” plementation and the realizability for the realization of the Action plan on 1,028km Lagos- Abid- dreams and directive of the Presition of the objectives in the jan road begins soon highway project in the interdents and Heads of States of NigeAccording to the minister, the Eco- ria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote est of the progress, peace and nomic Community of West African d’Ivoire. security of the peoples of the States, ECOWAS, is to begin action plan region, and urged the other The countries, Onolememen afon the construction of the 1,028kilome- firmed cut across the highway, member states to follow suit.

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24 HOUR curfew has been placed on Wukari town town in Taraba State after a communal clash left 39 people dead, 30 injured and about 30 houses burnt.

The Taraba State police public relations officer, Mr Joseph Kwaji, who disclosed this, stated that the injured persons are now receiving treatment in various hospitals in the town, while 30 persons had been arrested in connection with the crisis.

Kwaji explained that the situation has been brought under control and the town is now relatively calm as more security officers have been deployed in the area.

Crisis broke out in Wukari on Friday during a funeral procession for a third class chief of the Jukun Traditional Council. The violence reportedly started when the mourners passed through a section of the town, chanting slogans which allegedly angered the residents of the area.

The incident comes after a panel was set up to investigate clashes which occurred in the same town in February owing to a football dispute which claimed several lives.

“We have so far compiled a death toll of 39 people while 30 others were seriously injured,” Joseph Kwaji told AFP on Saturday. Local residents told AFP that the death toll could rise. Kwaji who noted that 32 houses have also been destroyed in the violence added that 40 suspects were arrested in the aftermath of the violence.

State information commissioner, Emmanuel Bello, said that extra troops were deployed to the city on Saturday to bolster security. “We have deployed more troops today to Wukari to ensure that the situation, which has been brought under control, is strengthened,” he told AFP. The police spokesman Kwaji said Friday ’s violence erupted when the funeral procession of a traditional chief from the predominantly Christian Jukun ethnic group marched through a Muslim neighbourhood chanting slogans, which Muslims viewed as an act of provocation.

“The state governor has imposed a 24hour curfew on Wukari which is aimed at restoring normalcy in the town” after the fighting, said Kefas Sule, spokesman for the state governor.

Tensions have been on the rise in Wukari since February, when a dispute over the use of a football pitch between Muslim and Christian soccer teams set off sectarian riots that claimed several lives. Friday’s violence came a day after the state government inaugurated a committee to investigate the February violence.

Vanguard , MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—15

OLU OF WARRI'S THANKSGIVING

US outlines N/Korean’s threats

I His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri (2nd right), flanked by Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor (right) and others, during an anniversary thanksgiving service held for His Majesty at Foursquare Gospel Church, Warri, in celebration of his 26th coronation anniversary. PHOTOS: Akpokona Omafuaire.

F North Korea continues with its controversial missile and nuclear tests, it “will move closer” to its objective of reaching the United States with nuclear weapons, according to a Pentagon report.

During recent heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang repeatedly threatened the possibility of nuclear attacks against the United States and South Korea, prompting questions on the progress of its weapons program.

North Korea’s secretiveness has made it hard for Western intelligence agencies to gauge exactly what is going on inside its research facilities.

Many clues have come from the regime’s largescale tests such as the long-range rocket launch in December and the underground nuclear detonation in February.

The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress on Thursday provided an overview of the military

threat posed by North Korea, but it didn’t say how long it believed it would take the isolated, Stalinist state to develop a fully operational nuclear missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

It described North Korea’s ballistic missile program as “ambitious” and said that “the pace of its progress will depend, in part, on how many resources it can dedicate to these efforts and how often it conducts tests.”

Israel targets Hezbollah, strikes Syria

I HRM, Ovie R. L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, the oldest monarch in Delta State (standing), and other traditional rulers.

Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly (left), and Chief Ighoyota Amori.

SRAELI jets bombed Syria yesterday , rocking Damascus for hours and sending pillars of flame into the night sky in what a Western source called a new strike on Iranian missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Local people reported massive explosions and internet video showed the capital’s skyline lit by flashes; Syrian opponents of President Bashar alAssad rejoiced at Israel’s third raid this year, and second in 48 hours, while anger in Tehran highlighted how Syria’s civil war risks spinning further beyond its borders.

Israel, while declining to confirm the strike, stressed its focus was to deny its Lebanese foes new Iranian firepower and not take sides between Assad, long seen as a toothless adversary, and rebels who have won sympathy

from Israel’s Western allies but who also include al Qaeda Islamists hostile to the Jewish state.

It appears to calculate that Assad will not risk forces he needs to fight the rebels by attacking a much stronger Israel.

Venezuela rebuffs Obama on ‘spy’ charges

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ENEZUELA yesterday brushed off criticism from U.S. President Barack Obama and maintained its accusation that an American detainee in Caracas is a spy pretending to be a filmmaker.

During his visit to Latin America, Obama said on Saturday that the allegations against Tim Tracy, 35, were “ridiculous.”

But Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Tor res insisted that intelligence agents tracking Tracy since late 2012 had uncovered

ample evidence he was plotting with militant anti-government factions to destabilize Venezuela with violence.

“When you want to do intelligence work in another country, all those big powers who do this type of spying, they often use the facade of a filmmaker, documentary-maker, photographer or journalist,” he told state TV. “Because with that facade, they can go anywhere, penetrate any place.”

Libyan parliament bans ex-Gaddafi officials from office

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From left— HRM, Orhue I, Orodje of Okpe; HRM, Oharisi III, Ovie of Ughelli and other monarchs

IBYA’s parliament passed a law yesterday banning anyone who held a

Catholic church in Tanzania bombed

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Okpe chiefs.

senior position during Muammar Gaddafi’s 42year rule from working for the new

ANZANIA woman died even as 44 people were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded in a Roman Catholic church in northern Tanzania, a Tanzanian police official said yesterday The woman died in hospital as a result of the bombing in the Arusha church just before Mass, which was attended by

the papal envoy to Tanzania, said Magesa Mulogo, the regional police commissioner of Arusha.

Mulogo said eyewitnesses report that the bomb was thrown from a motorcycle into the church. Mulogo said the driver of the motorcycle has been arrested.

administration, a move that could force the prime minister to step down. Prime minister Ali Zeidan was a diplomat before defecting and joining the opposition in 1980, but the wording of the new law has not made it clear whether or not he was senior enough to be barred from the new government.

“I don’t know, the wording is quite unclear,” said a source within the prime minister ’s office when asked whether Zeidan would have to step down.

It would depend on how the law was implemented, he said.

C M Y K

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 NIGERIA is reputed to have the second highest rate of road accidents among 193 countries and deaths from reckless driving are the third leading cause of death in Nigeria. In 2012, at least 473 persons died from a total of 1,115 vehicular accidents nationwide.

April may go down as the worst month in terms of road accidents in 2013. ·April 3: A luxury bus and a smaller bus crashed on the Abuja-Lokoja Road, 18 died. ·April 5: A petrol tanker set luxury bus and articulated vehicle ablaze at Ugbogui village on Ore-Benin Expressway, 80 people were burnt beyond recognition. · April 6: At Dazigan, 11 kilometres from Potiskum, Yobe State, 20 died in an accident. · April 11: 10 died on the Damaturu-Gashua Road also in Yobe State. · April 14: Seven died on the Abuja-Lokoja Road, a car ran into an articulated vehicle. · April 15: Five died on the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.

By the middle of April, 142 people had died from reported motor accidents, 30 per cent of the 473 deaths recorded in 2012 had been covered in only 15 days! Are we the only ones

Road A ccidents Accidents More Causes F or For Alarm panicking? There could be more unreported cases, and as often happens, some of the injured die without making the statistics.

What inform compilation of travellers’ manifests and payment of insurance premiums? Who collects the money? Why are insurance companies not paying families of accident victims claims? There is no record of any payment for loss of lives and disabilities from road accidents though it is stated that fares include insurance covers.

Put differently, Nigerian roads have become killing fields without protection for their

users. Travellers heave a sigh of relief if they make their destinations. The worrisome trend has tremendous negative impact on the nation’s health system as well as its social and economic aspirations. Who takes responsibility for these?

Are the campaigns of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, effective, going by the recurring carnage on our roads? Are these campaigns substitutes for proper road construction and maintenance culture, maintenance of vehicles, regulation of articulated trucks and petrol tankers, sanctions on owners of vehicles that cause mass deaths on our roads? When bad roads cause accidents, governments that failed to maintain the roads should share in the liability.

Efforts must be made to curb the menace of the tankers and articulated vehicles on our roads. The carnage has to be stopped. All the various agencies that should ensure safer roads should work together to save lives.

Public enlightenment should be intensified.

Our roads would be safer if they are well built, well maintained and a culture of obeying traffic regulations is enforced.

OPINION

BY CLEMENT OMENEOGOR

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OST times, it baffles me why Igbo leaders who had every opportunity to better the lots of their people, but failed to do so will have the audacity to profess themselves true Igbo leaders. This is while those who had done pretty well as leaders to uplift the Igbos remain in the background, working assiduously to do more. Since he left office after eight years as governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has been in desperate search for relevance and recognition ahead the 2015 general elections. For this purpose, he is desperately deploying all strategies, including media hype, rumour mongering and peddling of lies with the name of Presidency, to draw attention to himself.

Latest of such desperation was the recent arrangement by some of his allies in London for him to speak on the plight of Igbos at the British House of Commons.

Kalu’s speech at the event was not only lacking in superior argument, it was all about grandstanding. The idea being to sell himself as the true champion of the Igbo cause. Yet he did not proffer solutions to what he claimed to be the marginalisation of the Igbos in Nigeria. Kalu said: “The implications of this calculated fraud against my people are so massive and go entirely untold. They include unequal allocation of resources, unequal voice at the Federal Executive Council, unequal representation at the National Assembly, unequal participation in the administration of C M Y K

Questionable sermon on the plight of Igbos justice in the federation, unequal participation in the Federal Civil Service and adjunct bodies, and unequal representation in the armed forces and paramilitary organisations.

“It also means unequal representation in the diplomatic corps, ensuring incapacity in showcasing the Igbo culture as part of a pan-Nigerian culture in our foreign missions and embassies; fewer primary, secondary and higher education opportunities for our children. These structural disparities are constitutionally entrenched, thus their grave implications for Ndigbo are beyond the primary questions of inequity and marginalisation.”

But one question the hired audience and journalists at the events failed to ask him was his contributions towards addressing the plight of Igbos while in office as executive governor of Abia State for eight years, and what he is doing now to tackle the problem? So, after throwing his jibes, the audience, which appeared rather gullible, swallowed his speech hook, line and sinker. They did not ask Kalu in what capacity he had come to speak on the plight of Igbos in Nigeria, bearing in mind that since he left office as governor, he has not attended any meeting convened by the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo or Igbo stakeholders where issues

affecting Igbo interests are being discussed.

So how can he be on the fringe and pontificate on the plights of Igbos instead of presenting such to the National Assembly members as they are in process of amending the Constitution? Igbos have not forgotten in a hurry his role in the scuttling of Chief Alex Ekwueme’s presidential ambition in 1999 and 2003 in collaboration with his ex-military godfathers from the North.

People of Abia will also not forget how he left the state indebted, destabilized and underdeveloped.

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hy didn’t the audience at the event ask Kalu why has he not challenged the withdrawal of his certificate in court, instead of resorting to media war? They would have also asked him who wrote the speech he delivered and who has been writing the articles in his leadership series page in his newspaper? It is obvious that Kalu’s greatest problem is that he talks too much and often contradicts himself. He believes he knows everything, more than any other person. That is the reason he is always on the defensive most times because his several outbursts contradict a lot. When he accused security agents of being responsible for a bombing incident and was taken on by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, Kalu went labouring

for defence without facts and figures and evidence.

His position and action certainly cannot help the Igbo cause, rather it will diminish it. The Njiko Igbo platform which he now uses and claimed to have formed to advance Igbo interest in Nigeria was originally formed by Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, the younger of brother of Senator Ben Collins Ndu in 1983 at Enugu and was formally inaugurated at the Prince Palace Hotel, Enugu on Thursday April 20, 1989 at a public event witnessed by many prominent and regular Igbos from all walks of life.

Kalu was never a member of the group, even when he became governor of Abia State in 1999; he never identified or supported the group at any point in time but was smart to register the organisation recently by proxy because Ndu failed to do so from inception.

Prominent Igbos who know about the group, including Yahaya Ndu, are alive today and are quietly watching, aware that Kalu's antics will take him nowhere.

If Kalu is a good student of history as he would want people to believe, he should know that the Igbos have been the beneficiary of not less than 35% of federal appointments made by the President Jonathan administration and his state Abia has also benefitted a lot, courtesy of the cordial relationship between the state government and Federal Government. This was not the case during Kalu’s eight years of governance. *Dr. Omeneogor, a social critic,from Toronto, Canada.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 — 41

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President Jonathan: Amnesty for Boko Haram, a shot on the foot.

FG’s ‘suicide mission'

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HE moment the Sultan called for amnesty for Boko Haram, I knew Nigeria was headed for bigger trouble.

It was a major shifting of grounds by His Eminence, Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad III, the Sultan of Sokoto and the head of the Nigerian Muslim community. His earlier stance in public forums both in Nigeria and abroad was that the sect was evil, and their mission un-Islamic, with strong support for the security forces to decision them accordingly.

With this change of tone, I knew more and more Muslim and northern leaders would join the chorus. It was not long in coming, and it did not come only from Muslim quarters. The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, threw his weight behind the call. The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) followed suit. To cap it all, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) with the respected Alhaji Maitama Sule in their company, visited President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa and tabled their call for amnesty for these terrorists.

Professor Ango Abdullahi, who spoke to the media after the event, went as far as making the usual parasitic call for an “Amnesty Commission” backed by law.

The implication of this is obvious. Every Nigerian amnesty comes with “postamnesty ” bonanza, which will be administered by Abdullahi’s Commission.

It was also a matter of time before the

You cannot say you are granting mercy to someone who has not asked you for it. How can you offer forgiveness to somebody who has not repented of his sins?

Somebody who sees YOU, rather than himself, as the offender? An enemy who believes he has pinned your back to the wall and has you begging for mercy?

opponents of this idea would make their voices known. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bishop Ayo Oritsejafor, called amnesty for unrepentant terrorists an act of “ wickedness”, while the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NORCEF) described it as a “suicide mission”. As if to justify the fears of amnesty ’s opponents, Mallam Abubakar Shekau, the alleged leader of Boko Haram, was quoted as dismissing the amnesty offer, saying it is the federal government that should seek forgiveness from them, a plea which will not be granted until Allah permits them to do so.

For me, that settles it all. That is the end of discussion. You cannot say you are granting mercy to someone who has not asked you for it. How can you offer forgiveness to somebody who has not

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI

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RECENT statement that the All Progressives Congress will probe how the various administrations from 2000 to 2013 managed the nation’s oil revenue appears to be a costly talk for the newly merged party.

APC, a formation of the merger between three main opposition parties - the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance - is battling for registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

APC had stated in its manifesto that it would pursue an eight-cardinal programme which includes the war against corruption, food security, accelerated power supply, integrated transport network, devolution of power, accelerated economic growth, free education and affordable health care.

It said: “We shall negotiate oil deals, unveil the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 49 per cent of the Nigeria Liquefied Gas, query the over N50tn oil revenue which accrued to the Federation Account between 2000 and 2013 and recover billions of US dollars which ministries, departments and agencies failed to remit to the Federation Account”.

Additionally, the opposition party also said it would review public service rules and financial regulations, which encourage impropriety in public finances and move for the removal of the immunity clause in the C M Y K

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repented of his sins? Somebody who sees YOU, rather than himself, as the offender? An enemy who believes he has pinned your back to the wall and has you begging for mercy? An enemy who has thrown fear into the northern traditional and political establishments, forcing them to their knees saying “politically correct” things to save their hides? An enemy who believes he is on the path towards victory? Put yourself in his shoes. Would you do what you are asking of him if the situation was turned the other way round?

There is no logic or even commonsense in the whole thing. What we see is that as 2015 rapidly draws closer, political expediency is beginning to dominate the thoughts of politicians and those who work with and for them. President Goodluck Jonathan is in a tight corner.

On the one hand,if he continues to maintain the hard line stance which he exhibited when he visited Maiduguri recently, he might lose the support of the traditional and political establishment of the North, especially if by this time next year the security situation in the region has not changed.

On the other, if he grants amnesty to Boko Haram to please the North, he will be doing a grave injustice to the thousands of Christian families and denominations, as well as their perceived moderate Muslim counterparts who have lost dear ones, suffered grave injuries and been deprived of their hard earned property.

What conscience would guide the President in setting up and funding an amnesty commission when the victims of Boko Haram terror are yet to be consoled or compensated in any way?

Christians, moderate and patriotic Muslims and the people of Southern Nigeria will feel betrayed and

diminished over filthy politics and Jonathan may begin to lose the support of his home base.

Let us make no mistakes about it: amnesty for Boko Haram, indeed, is a suicide mission. A man like Professor Ango Abdullahi, a baleful political enemy of President Jonathan, will relish giving perfidious advice that will sink him politically. Imagine setting up an Amnesty Commission. What is happening in the Niger Delta should warn us of the danger in it.

Millions of ragged, plates-clutching al majiris from all over the North and surrounding countries will line up to benefit from post-amnesty rehab for Boko Haram. Politicians, mallams, criminals and hustlers will mobilise them and through them smile all the way to the bank, just as the ex-“generals” and ex-“commanders” of the ex-militants of the Niger Delta are doing. After all, the call for amnesty is a cheap copycatting of the amnesty granted to the Niger Delta ex-militants.

Any attempt to stop the programme will have the sponsors of the “repentant” exBoko Haram causing a couple of bomb explosions and gun attacks and the government will once again panic to resume funding of this insane parasitic proposition.

An Amnesty Commission pumping money to “ repentant” Boko Haram members will only end up giving federal government grants to terrorists to procure more arms and bomb making materials to intensify their campaign to Islamise the North. Boko Haram’s stances are clear and unambiguous. It is the northern elite that are attempting to corrupt their mission with misrepresentation of their intentions to deceive and blackmail the federal government.

Shekau’s Boko Haram is simply not interested in the hustling that northern politicians are turning their mission into.

When former President Olusegun Obasanjo turned himself into an emissary of the federal government to appease the family of the slain Boko Haram leader, assassins came the following day and killed the man who spoke on their behalf, Alhaji Babakura Fugu. These chaps have operated with an admirable level of honesty as opposed to the deceitful antics of the politicians who, for their own safety, pretend to be their advocates before the federal government.

Now that Shekau has rejected amnesty, perhaps the politicians will now realise that the game is up and it is time to face the enemy squarely.

OPINION The problem with our opposition parties Constitution, which protects the President, VicePresident, governors and deputy governors from prosecution while in office, among others.

The Peoples Democratic Party administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, have been ruling the country from the period under contention.

The APC also promised to strengthen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and make them independent.

Inasmuch as the people may be desirous of change, leaders of the new party should have realised that human beings are averse to change, especially those that bordered on probity and involving digging into past financial dealings. Even if the proposal is desirable, more restraint should have been exercised due to the sensitive nature of the issue under contention.

From the foregoing, it appears the new party – that is yet to be fully registered - is too early in divulging its strategic plan to the public. At best, APC should have strictly limited its pronouncements to general programmes that will better the lot of the people.

If care is not taken, the careless utterances by the leaders of the APC could lead to the failure of the

opposition to take-over power from the ruling party.

Past efforts at instituting opposition in government failed as a result of a number of factors, chiefly because of the ideological differences between the parties as well as the narrow and selfish agenda of opposition leaders to dominate.

Opposition parties in African democracies are highly fragmented as there are many countries that have many small and weak political parties. This fragmented party system has instead reinforced the power of the incumbents.

According to the International Journal of Human and Social Sciences, in 2001, Botswana had 12 political parties, and the dominant party was the Botswana Democratic Party, BDP, which ruled the country since 1966.

By 2006, Ivory Coast had 130 parties, Senegal 77, and Liberia 200 political parties; Mali had more than 159 parties and in Angola, there were more than 138 political parties in 2008.

Ethiopia had 64 parties in the 1995 election, and in the May 2000 election, there were 65 political parties in the country.

Continues on the Viewpoints pg

* Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

BY TOCHUKWU EZUKANMA

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EMBERS of a terrorist gang that has targeted and bombed civilian centers; murdering and maiming the innocent in droves deserve severe punishment. Therefore, the prospect of an amnesty for Boko Haram rankles and boggles the mind. In its gross unfairness, it disregards the comeuppance of Boko Haram and ignores the pains, sorrow and tears of its victims and their families. Only a spineless and craven government can countenance amnesty for Boko Haram. But the Goodluck Jonathan administration, wobbly on its own weight of ineptitude... cannot defeat a terrorist insurgency. Therefore, it has no choice but to placate terrorism.

In a passionate and unassailable newspaper article against amnesty for Boko Haram, Femi Fani-Koyode wrote: “No one should ever sing the amnesty song again...What do …we tell the families of those slaughtered by Boko Haram?

How do we wipe away their tears and ensure that they are given the justice that they desperately seek”.

I am in total agreement with his submission that justice must

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be done and the tears of the bereaved wiped away (at least, as is humanly possible). An amnesty programme for Boko Haram will neither provide justice nor wipe away tears. Actually, it will reward terrorism. Essentially, it will be tantamount to a triumph of terrorism. If the earlier amnesty for Niger Delta militants provides an instructive precedence, amnesty for Boko Haram will entail buying off terrorists at a colossal cost, millions, and possibly, billions of naira.

So, instead of being consigned to jail serving life sentences or awaiting execution, terrorists will be luxuriating on salaries and splurging on different government grants and attending schools and vocational centers at government expense. To coordinate the distribution of these billions of naira, a new ministry will be established. Who knows what the new ministry will be called – Ministry of Boko Haram?

The Nigerian government cannot effectively fight Boko Haram. It should be recognised that a terrorist is not only a gun slinging, bomb strapping murderous rebel on a stealth mission to bomb, kill and maim but anyone or group of people

The antidote to militancy and terrorism is in a principled and more equitable distribution of the national wealth; there can be no social peace without economic justice

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who by their actions cause terror: death, bereavement, intense fright, dread, emotional tumult and social unsettlement.

Apart from the terrorist acts (brutality, murder of the innocent and extra-judicial killings) of the Nigeria police and other government agents, the embezzlement of a significant portion of the national wealth by the ruling elite feeds on the terror (avoidable death, injury, grief and the distraught) of so many Nigerians. So, the Nigerian government, like the Boko Haram, relegate many families to sorrow, grief and hopelessness.

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he channeling of public funds into personal accounts by the power elite depletes the resources that would

The problem with our opposition parties(2)

BY ADEWALE KUPOLUYI Continued from pg.17

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NTRA-PARTY friction also led to further fragmentation as the cases of the FORD-Kenya, and the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, CUD, in Ethiopia clearly showed.

These conflicts not only further fragmented opposition parties, but also greatly damaged their image and frustrated the hopes of millions of people who overwhelmingly voted for the CUD in 2005.

Hence, the major opposition parties such as the Oromo National Congress, the All Ethiopia Unity Party, the Ethiopian Democratic Union, and the major opposition coalitions - the CUD and the United Ethiopian Democratic Front engaged themselves in very destructive intra-party conflicts that even threatened their own survival.

Many of the opposition parties in Africa are established around individual personalities. These kinds of parties face split whenever another rising star challenges the founder or the leader of the party. This is one of the reasons for the presence of many fragmented political parties in Africa.

Over the years, it is unfortunate that most political parties have no clearly identifiable progressive principles or ideologies to address the needs of Nigerians.

That is where the All Progressives Congress is expected to make a big difference by filling in the vacuum by being ideologically driven and focused in the quest to have stable democracy in the nation.

From the look of things, the APC will have to do extra work in upholding the principle of internal democracy and fair

play.

A similar fate befell the nation in the First Republic when there was the Nigerian National Alliance, NNA, which stood for the conservatives, while United Progressive Grand Alliance, UPGA, hoisted for the progressive but sheer party politics at that time killed the merger initiative.

In the First Republic too, the National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, together with the Northern People’s Congress, NPC, initially formed the government but towards the end of 1962 there was a serious tension between both parties to the extent that some ministers from the NCNC wanted to leave.

Again, during the Second Republic, the party dominated by the Ndigbo race eventually was in alliance with the National Party of Nigeria and both formed the government. And before the end of the first term, there were crises between the two parties, leading to the eventual withdrawal of some ministers.

Governors from the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, met and attempted to form a forum expected to lead to a new political party.

These efforts, however, failed over the choice of its presidential candidate between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

This crack had a further debilitating effect on the parties, especially the PRP and NPP, as the PRP eventually lost important states.

There are many cases in Africa where political parties were formed as opposition, but the leaders of such parties agreed to serve in the cabinet of the incumbent party whenever they are opportuned.

The consequence of the personalistic nature of parties is that they are not likely to become institutionalised as

have been used to enhance the quality of life for the people. Not surprisingly, Nigeria is the only oil rich country that ranks with the poorest and war-ravaged countries of the world in terms of life expectancy, child mortality, pregnancy-related deaths and incidence of poverty. A recent study by the Economist Intelligence Unit that used probable welfare of children and the chance for a safe, comfortable, prosperous life as criteria, ranked Nigeria the worst place in the world for a baby to be born in 2013.

The national health system is in a dreadful state. As such, pregnant women and infants die in droves in Nigerian hospitals.

Nigeria has one of the highest pregnancy-related deaths and infant mortality in the world.

With two percent of the world’s population, it accounts for 11 percent of the world’s maternal mortality and 12 percent of the world’s under-five mortality. The environment is squalid and festering, housing is shoddy and overcrowded and neighborhoods lack clean, drinkable water (just about half the population has access to clean drinking water).

Therefore, many suffer and die from variegated preventable and treatable overcrowding-induced and dirt and water-borne diseases.

Annually, tens of thousands of people are killed and maimed in road accidents. Many of these accidents are attributable to decrepit and dangerous roads and public infrastructure. The roads remain dangerous mostly

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Terrorism and elusive justice in Nigeria

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C M Y

42—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Many of the opposition parties in Africa are established around individual personalities; these kinds of parties face split whenever another rising star challenges the founder or the leader of the party

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organisations. Instead, the party leaders use the party to mobilize sufficient goodwill from the electorates in order to bargain with other party-leaders for the sharing of public goods.

Another chronic problem of the opposition parties in many African transitional democracies is their failure to forward distinct policy alternatives to the voters.

Political parties which are led by single individual leaders usually do not offer alternative policies to the voters, but emphasize the ability of the opposition party leaders to run the government “better” than the incumbent party and the government leaders.

These types of political parties do not offer policy alternatives that will bring about enduring stability. Most of the political parties are short-lived, bereft of long history and experience. Therefore, the voters do not have any chance to evaluate opposition parties’ achievements over time.

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omen and youth are widely underrepresented in many African opposition political parties. This is true not only to the opposition parties themselves, but also to the incumbent parties. Just a few women have been identified with the Nigeria’s merging parties.

In Mozambique, opposition parties

because the funds budgeted for their repairs and upgrade were stolen by the elected and appointed government officials.

An exhaustive enumeration of the deadly consequences of the looting of the treasury by the Nigerian ruling elite is beyond the scope of this article.

Where is justice for the families of those killed by of lawless and trigger-happy security agents and the government’s indirect terrorist acts? Who is wiping away their tears? Justice is most elusive in Nigeria. Irrespective of the perpetrator of acts of terrorism, the Boko Haram or the government, justice continues to elude the victims and their families.

The dilemma of the Jonathan government is how can the government, a purveyor of terror and social injustice, extract justice from the Boko Haram, another purveyor of terror and injustice. It cannot. So, it will inescapably pacify Boko Haram with amnesty. Yet, the pacification of Boko Haram will not ensure peace in the country for long because the impatience of Nigerians with the status quo will breed new militant/terrorist groups. The antidote to militancy and terrorism is in a principled and more equitable distribution of the national wealth. There can be no social peace without economic justice. *Mr. Ezukanma,a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

fielded only few women candidates in the 1994 election compared to the ruling party, FRELIMO, which fielded 130 candidates and by mid 1999, only 11 per cent of the cabinet ministers in Africa were women.

Financing political parties is usually problematic and controversial everywhere in the world. In emerging democracies, foreign funding is sometimes viewed as an attempt to influence the outcome of national elections and the directions of political parties.

In this case, foreign funding is regarded as something that violates the basic principle of democracy. Many ambitious individuals would explore such lapses to establish political parties as a short cut to rapid personal wealth. Foreign funding might be necessary, but it should not be tainted and tied to models from outside.

There are many instances where the opposition parties boycott elections even if the elections are declared “free and fair” just to discredit the incumbents, most importantly when they realise that their chance of winning is very low.

Between 1990 and 2001, almost 30 per cent of all elections in Sub-Saharan Africa were boycotted by at least one opposition party. However, in those elections, which were declared “free and fair ”, the losers often accepted only 40 per cent of the outcome.

Despite the unpleasant African experience, the relevance of oppositions in the entrenchment of a virile democracy cannot be over-emphasized. They remain the veritable yardstick to gauge the performance of governments for better service delivery. They should be vanguards for the establishment of purposeful governance.

Any serious nation that is poised for development must be ready to learn from its past mistakes with a view to forging ahead. Hence, if there is any genuine effort at looking back and correcting what went wrong, such efforts should be appreciated and embraced.

Concluded *Mr. Kupoluyi wrote from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—43

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44 — Vanguard,

MONDAY, MAY 6 6,, 2013

Funding is greatest challenge to pneumococcal vaccination — LADAPO

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

C

URRENTLY, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, Nigeria has the highest burden of infant and child deaths from pneumonia and other pneumococcal disorders in Africa and is second only to India in the world.

Pneumonia is still the world’s biggest killer of children under the age of five and research shows that most cases of pneumococcal diseases are quite preventable and treatable with existing tools, such as vaccines.

When asked to mention the greatest challenge to pneumococcal vaccination in Nigeria, Dr. Taiwo Ladapo, a consultant paediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos, did not hesitate mentioning funding.

“Right now, the greatest challenge to pneumococcal vaccination in Nigeria is funding,” she told Vanguard Health Features. in an interview.

“Although there are general factors that limit vaccination all over the world, such as problem of accessibility, electricity, adequate storage, etc., apart from these, the greatest challenge has been making the funds available. When the right political will is generated, and funds are available, the vaccines will also be available,” she asserted.

Ladapo, a specialist in nephrology (kidney defects), is one of those keenly pushing for adoption the pneumococcal vaccine into Nigeria’s routine immunisation schedule.

An experienced frontline scientist who has done extensive work on immunisation in Nigeria, including effects of the

pneumococcal and measles vaccines, Ladapo has strong conviction that every child deserves to be given the pneumococcal vaccine, irrespective of cost.

“Pneumococcal immunisation not yet in our routine

education campaigns.that would address cultural and traditional beliefs,, as well as dangers and effects of vaccines and their acceptability.

She also talked about Nigeria developing a decisive policy on

•Dr. Taiwo Ladapo immunisation schedule although there are plans to begin that this year (August) “The pneumococcal vaccine is available, but it is not free.

Those who want it now must buy it, and this leaves a window open for continued infection of children whose parents cannot afford it.”

Further, Ladapo harped on the essence of political will, private sector partnership, support from stakeholders, and awareness.

“As much as more awareness is being generated now than before, still, more needs to be done to raise awareness and advocacy. A commendable milestone was the National Vaccine Summit in Abuja which had all the stakeholders in attendance. But we need to do more.

She tasked the media to come up with strong, creative health

immunisation. “Government should come up with a decisive immunistaion policy. The diversity of Nigeria notwithstanding, all the children must be immunised.

“We should tow the line of developed countries where

standardised measures are in place to guarantee that every child is immunised. There should be a body in place to monitor all these. For instance, if a child has not been vaccinated at the age of five, there should be repercussions.

It may take a while, but we will get there, Although Ladapo is worried about Nigeria’s unpredictable political climate, she is optimistic, however, that if the current political momentum is sustained, there will be great advances in Nigeria.

“Evidence has shown there is massive reduction in burden of pneumococcal disorders wherever the pneumococcal vaccine has been introduced and coverage is adequate. For instance, in 1998 when the US introduced pneumococcal vaccine, they were recording 90 deaths per 100,000.

“By 2009, the burden had been cut to 30 deaths per 100,000. If we look at this trend we can be rest assured that where coverage is adequate and vaccines are available, certainly there will be reduction in under-five deaths and this will contribute to attainment of MDG 4.

•The triplets

World leaders pledge to end polio by 2018

A

COMPREHENSIVE six-year plan to end polio through strengthening immunisation systems and vaccinating one billion children has been presented by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, GPEI. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Aliyu Pate, and other global leaders who gathered at the Global Vaccine Summit, held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, expressed confidence about the plan to achieve a lasting polio-free world by 2018.

At the event, close to threequarters of the plan’s projected US$5.5 billion cost over six years was pledged to support efforts towards eradicating all types of polio strains from the surface over the nest three years.

The budget requires sustaining current yearly spending to eradicate polio. It includes the costs of reaching and vaccinating more than 250 million children multiple times every year, monitoring and surveillance in Nigeria and more than 70 other countries, and securing the infrastructure that can benefit other health and development programmes.

Main objectives of the plan include: poliovirus detection/ interruption; immunisation systems strengthening and OPV withdrawal; containment and certification; and legacy planning.

Help save these triplet!

BY CHARLYN IKPE

T

HE survival of the female set of trip lets (above) is currently hanging in the balance because their parents are confronted by abject poverty.

So desperate is the situation that their father, Aroh John, an unemployed young man is crying out to Nigerians and the world at large for help.

Hear his plea: “I cannot cater for this precious gift of children that God has bestowed upon us. Even before their birth on September 12, 2012, we hardly had enough to eat. Life has been terribly difficult since their birth,” lamented John, who said he caters for his family with the stipends he makes from being an

Alabaru (load carrier) in the market.

But for benevolence of those around who donated gifts such as money, pampers and baby milk,he said the triplets would have long starved to death.

“I really need help. I am calling on government and all those with a good heart to come to my aid. I will be grateful for any help rendered no matter how little. I want to take care of my children and I don’t want to be a nuisance. I don’t want to throw my children away due to frustration. Please hear my cry and come to my aid.”

If you wish to assist the triplets, contact 08098457148 or 07035206298 or send your donations to Emmanuel Aroh, Fidelity Bank 6040355804.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—45

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46—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—47

Vanguard CLASSIFIED ENEM—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chiamaka Maryann Enem, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chiamaka Maryann Chukwuka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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AFUN—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwasayo Olayemi Afun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwasayo Olayemi Olusegun. All former documents remain valid. University of Port Harcourt and general public please take note.

Confirmation of Name This is to confirm that the name, Orika Adiela Sonny, refers to one and the same person as Orike Adiela, now wish to be known and addressed as Orike Adiela Sonny. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MUONANU—I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Njideka Mary Muonanu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbo Mary Njideka.

All former documents remain valid. MN Global Ventures Ltd and general public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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All former documents remain valid. Post Primary Education Board, Asaba, UNN and general public please take note.

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48—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

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Vanguard Vanguard,,

MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

— 49

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

PISCES; Provided you don’t allow mid-morning blues to get better off you will eventually live up to expectation at work. Take good care of your health, please.

ARIES; Many of you may be tempted and give in to the urge to gamble either with love or other important issue to the detriment of your cause. Be practical.

TAURUS; This is not the right time to take happenings along your career line for granted. Prepare for important domestic challenge. Keep your family secrets.

GEMINI; You may over inflate your ego to the resentment of people that matter. Watch what you do with money before 12.31pm. Try to be more diplomatic.

CANCER; If care is not taken you would mislead others before 12.31pm while you are close to minor but costly mistakes from 12.31pm. Be wise with money.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

T

HERE is this song I love to sing even when my voice is not friendly, it goes thus “magnify the Lord, oh’ magnify the Lord, the Lord is able”. My friend let me ask you a question: who do you magnify in your

Who do you magnify? life, your problem, your challenges or your God? The truth is that many of us unknowingly magnify our problem. Yet, we

profess to be children of God. If we truly believe in our God, we will magnify Him above every other thing in our life, including our problem. Or don’t

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

you know that each time you place your problem above God, you are belittling Him? Magnify the Lord.

Play down your problem. The Lord is above.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

LEO; After initial confusion before 1pm you find your bearing and assert yourself but you will need to prepare to take care of oppositions that may come up suddenly.

VIRGO; It is important you don’t allow friends mislead you before 12.31pm no matter how genuine their intention. Watch what you do with your health.

LIBRA; Take it easy along your career/business line during the morning period so that costly mistakes will not make things difficult for. Take your social life seriously.

SCORPIO; What may look like a very good advice from younger members within your base of operation may eventually lead to avoidable trouble.

SAGITTARIUS; Miscalculation is possible before 12.31pm that is why you will need to be as practical as possible and refuse to take people for granted throughout.

CAPRICORN; Yes it is good to take partnership related issue seriously but priority attention must be given to money. Watch what you tell others before 12.31pm.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

AQUAIUS; If you take your new ideas too seriously they would mislead you. But taken good advice from your influential friends can prove helpful. As the Moon fluctuates during AM period it is important you practical till after 12.31pm.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Analyse my health please!!!

Dear Joshua, I ma interested in your daily analysis in Vanguard Newspapers. The truth is your daily horoscope column always work for me and now I just cant do without reading my Star in your papers.

My believe is since you can be as accurate as possible writing daily horoscope you are in a better position to analyse my health which is very important to me. I want to know which area(s) of my body should be taken more seriously.

Bolaji, Benin.

Dear Bolaji.

According to your natal horoscope you have gone above danger zones of your life health-wise. But then what you will find here-under will be of benefit. Thanks for your commendation Opposition between the Sun (an indicator of basic self-hood) and difficult Saturn during your birth hour pointed to a very tough beginning in life but luckily for you both Spiritual Neptune in powerful Scorpio and steady Pluto in healthy Virgo were at positive angles to your natal Sun thus, your chances of surviving are more than the delicate ones. More so as your natal Sun and Moon are members of strongest Star signs-health wise.

Certainly Saturn must have brought you a few number of health related challenges raging from skin, bone, sometimes the stomach and importantly headache . Since you were able to survive infancy and middle age you have very good chances of living to a very old age. While the ailments stated here can easily be managed by yourself one important organ of your body that must be managed by medical expert is your HEART because of many placement in heart related Star sign. This is not to say you must have heart problem but here is an organ you in particular must take very seriously.

Yes fever is common in Africa and today fear of STDs is the beginning of good health. STDs are mentioned here because of your natal planets is sexual Scorpio. Mind you nothing fatalistic here, but mere warnings.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

50 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Atiku, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan, others mourn Pini Jason

BY MIKE EBONUGWO, JUDE NJOKU, CHIDI NKWOPARA, AUSTIN OGWUDA, GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE & SIMON EBEGBULEM

N

IGERIANS from all walks of life have continued to express shock at the sudden death of ace columnist, Chief Pini Jason Onyegbaduo, Saturday morning, with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, describing it as “another haemorrhage of distinguished professionals that has befallen the country at large and journalism in particular.”

Similarly, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, described the sudden passage of the celebrated writer as a sad loss, while his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan lamented that he died at a time when his wise counsel and respected foresight on national issues were most needed. In a statement issued on his behalf by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, the former vice president said the late veteran columnist had distinguished himself as a fearless writer that never hesitated to be on the side of what was right, regardless of whether it was pleasing to the ears of the powers that be or not.

According to Atiku, whether you agreed with the late Jason or not, you must not fail to respect his courage of conviction and the bluntness with which he expressed those convictions in his servings in his Vanguard column. The former vice president also commended the extraordinary humility of the late Mr. Jason and the passion with

Pini Jason...a rare gem

Vanguard newspapers.

Pini Jason a quintessential writer — Oshiomhole In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole

,

You did not have to agree with everything he wrote. You may even think he was biased sometimes about what he wrote. But you could never miss the fact that he was very passionate about his passion

which he was committed to his trade. He recalled that the deceased returned to his column writing after serving in the administration of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State, saying that few Nigerians would have demonstrated such humility once they had inhaled the aroma of power.

He extended his condolences to the family of the late distinguished columnist and the

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described Pini Jason as a quintessential writer in a class of his own. “He was a wordsmith who used the right coinages to convey his message which the high and low found endearing. I always looked forward to reading his robust and incisive columns in the Vanguard every week, as he always had something new and refreshing to offer. His death is a big blow not only to the

journalism profession but to all of us, his admirers. I commiserate with Uncle Sam Amuka, the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers who, undoubtedly, has lost a good friend; the entire Vanguard family and indeed every member of the Journalism profession on this sudden loss.

I pray God to grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear the loss and for the deceased to find rest in the Lord’s bosom,” the Governor said..

He was a consummate writer —Uduaghan His Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan described the late Pini Jason as a consummate writer whose passion for the journalism profession was unmistakable and a source of pride to those who read every week. In statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr. Felix Ofou, Governor Uduaghan lamented that the celebrated columnist died when his wise

counsel and respected foresight on national issues were most needed. He noted that it will be difficult to fill the void left behind by the Imo State-born journalist.

Celebrated columnist ” You did not have to agree with everything he wrote. You may even think he was biased sometimes about what he wrote.

But you could never miss the fact that he was very passionate about his passion. His sense of history also made him a compelling read. And I dare say he has left a void very difficult to fill,” he stated.

Governor Uduaghan expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Publisher of Vanguard, Mr Sam Amuka, the management and staff of the newspaper as well as the family of the deceased on the irreplaceable loss.

Ohakim mourns him Immediate past Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,

whom the late Pini Jason served as a Special Adviser, described his death as “a rude shock, especially as we were never told that he was sick.” Ohakim, who made his feelings known in a telephone interview, also lamented that he has lost a very dear friend and brother in Pini Jason.

“I am as shocked as I am totally confused over the reported death of my very good friend and brother, Pini Jason.

He worked closely with me and religiously for the state. His sudden death is indescribable.” While calling him “a rare gem, who did everything to print his name on the sands of time,” Chief Ohakim, however, lamented that Jason died barely three or four days after Dr. Aloysius Aguwa, former Commissioner for Petroleum and Environment, died in a ghastly road traffic crash.

“I recall that I went out of my way to invite quality human Continues on page 51

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 — 51

Atiku, Oshiomhole, Uduaghan, others mourn Pini Jason Continues from page 50

By IKEDDY ISIGUZO, Chairman Editorial Board

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HE phones have not ceased ringing with an annoying ferocity since the news that Pini Jason passed on Saturday. The sad thing about it all is recounting the fact all over - some would just believe it - Pini is gone. On Saturday there were moments when I checked who I shared the news with; in case it was a false alarm. How I wish it was!

There were dramatic moments like when Chuks Iloegbunam, a former Vanguard columnist badgered me with questions as if the answers could change things. “I have just parked,” he was drivPini Jason...a true Nigerian ing. “Who told you? How could he have died? We spoke four days ago, I was to that permitted his gusty appetite for debates. call him. I just didn’t call. Well, let’s be sure of He was passionate about resolving issues which this news.” Much later, Tony Nnachetta, TNT, as he would intellectualise to uncover deeper perwe call him, asked if it was true Pini was gone. I spectives. If you read him often, you would confirmed that. “Why did he die?” I held the phone know the ideas he sold were from solid backpondering an answer only to realise he had cut grounds on his subjects. However, if you raised off the line. His fears confirmed, he had no fur- an issue, he would dissect it on the spot. I often ther words. When I thought the day was over, I wondered where he got his ideas. got a final call from Onuma Kalu, Administrative A voracious reader, Pini cited authorities with Secretary of Ndigbo Lagos. I was waiting for his an ease that ensured his discourses were not condolences, he gave none. “Please confirm to pedantic. There was often something to learn me tomorrow if it is true,’ he said. “It is true,” I from him, whether ancient or modern. “I got to replied. “No, let us wait till tomorrow. You cannot know Pini J in The Guardian. When he eventell me it is true.” tually moved to Vanguard, I kept pace with The pains cut deep as the nation mourns one of him and his engaging column. He was a conits foremost columnists. People have been calling summate writer and commentator of profound to share their times with the man many mainly depth and wisdom. Witty, bold and unsparing, called Pini J. They are unanimous in their ap- Pini J was a versatile commentator with nationpraisal of his craftsmanship. “I cannot forget his alistic fervour. Pini J’s death is a painful loss to anger that seeped through every line in his re- journalism and Nigeria. May his good soul rest in perfect peace with the Pini touched lives through relationships Lord and may God console his family,” Afolabi Adesanhe built in the media. He was widely ya, Director General, Nigepublished. He worked for platforms that rian Film Corporation, said.

More tributes: “What a permitted his gusty appetite for debates loss!

Pini was a very sharp mind, one who did not know how to sponse to the attacks on Chinua Achebe’s There Was A Country,” Paul Bassey, Vanguard sports bend the truth or hide his feelings. His death is columnist said. “I text him after reading the piece another sharp blow on the column of couraand he called; I can still remember his laughter geous, honest newspaper writers. May his soul as we discussed the piece.” Hours after I intimat- rest in peace,” Andy Ezeani of the Indepened my class mate Iheanyi Agada, through whom dent National Electoral Commission, INEC, I met Pini, of his passage, he bravely penned this said. tribute from Texas, where he currently lives. ini belonged to all. Everyone who read “I am heart broken! Jason Onyegbaduo was him shared that intimacy that is unique my mentor and friend. I knew him all my life. He was in the same class as my elder brother at St between the engaging writer and his audiencAndrew’s CMS School, Obizi. He was always es. “This is very sad news. He was a stout denoticeable; his school uniform looked cleaner, fender of peoples’ causes. I never met him in better ironed, crispy. He had a peculiar hair style person but through his writings I feel I know and the brightest teeth when he laughed. And him. May his soul rest in peace,” said Comboy, he was very smart. And then, he disappeared. modore O. C. Medani of the Nigerian We later heard his elder brother who was in the Navy.

Oyatomi Kunle: Editor, it is sad, so sad to Nigerian Navy had taken him to Lagos where he enrolled in the elite CMS Grammar School, Bar- hear of the death of a consummate journalist iga. He graduated with Grade One. Pini later in- and prolific columnist, Pini Jason. Death, where vited me to stay with him in Lagos and look for a is thy sting? May the Lord give his family the job after my graduation from high school. He also fortitude to bear the great loss and grant him extended similar gestures to me during the civil eternal rest. war.

Ladipo Adamolekun: Please accept my “I still remember the joy he showed when I told heartfelt condolences on Pini Jason’s passing. him of my admission to study Journalism at the He was a most valued member of Vanguard Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu. family and will be sorely missed. May his soul He threw one fantastic send-off party for me. He rest in peace. Amen. was always ready to help people; family and Obong Victor Attah:Mideno, it’s such a friends alike. He will be terribly missed. My pity about Pini Jason. He was one journalist prayers go to his wife, Oby, his son and daugh- whose logic was always so persuasive and ters. May God rest his soul.” Pini touched lives whose opinion was not influenced with money. through relationships he built in the media. He May God rest his soul in peace and bless this was widely published. He worked for platforms country with others like him.

,

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P

Pini was a man of integrity —Orji Uzor Kalu Former Abia State Governor and Publisher of Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, also expressed deep sorrow over the death of prominent columnist. In a statement by his Special Adviser, Oyekunle Oyewumi, Dr. Uzor Kalu stated that even in the season when a lot of men of integrity were losing their heads, the late Pini Jason kept his integrity intact and this reflected in his writings.

He described the prominent columnist who died on Saturday, as one of the few consciences of the nation, adding

,

Pini Jason: The Mourning After

beings to serve in my cabinet.

That was how I brought Dr. Aguwa from the United States of America and Pini Jason from Lagos,” Ohakim said.

Continuing, the former Governor said: “It is true I am today, grieving over their death but I have no reason to regret ever bringing them to serve the state. They were very dependable”.

Senator Ayogu who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works said.

Journalism impresario is no more —Delta Information Commissioner Also reacting to Pini’s death, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, described him as a journalism impresario who exhibited a high sense of duty and commitment to his country. In a statement yesterday, Ogeah described the death of the Vanguard columnist as a loss to the journalism profession.

His words: “Every democratic culture is nurtured by the deep insights and analyses of news and political developments by commentators. Pini Jason was one such writer for Nigeria.

His death is a sad loss not only to journalism and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, but the entire country. At this time of Nigeria’s search for a perfect union and enduring democratic culture, Pini Jason’s professionalism, candour and deep thoughts will be sorely missed. I had the privilege of

Pini Jason was not only a detribalised personality, he strongly believed in our Nigerianess and oneness of our great nation

that he excelled in his chosen profession. Kalu said: “Pini Jason’s death is quite lamentable, especially at this time when such intervention as he makes with his column is quite needed. Inasmuch as we cannot decide for God when any man should die, his death at this point in time is quite painful.” Kalu commiserated with the family of Onyegbaduo and wished him eternal rest.

He was one of journalism’s finest — Ayogu Eze Senator Ayogu Eze, who once edited the defunct Platform Magazine with Pini as a regular columnist, said he was shattered by the news of Pini Jason’s death. “It is really shocking and very sad. “Nda Pini” as we used to call him, was one of journalism’s finest.

Above all, he had above average grasp of the issues of the day.

In the field of politics, economics as well as sociology, Pini had the intellectual clarity to comprehend and break very complex issues down, He was always one of the first to write on issues that touch directly on the people; he was a true Nigerian, a true Igboman and a first class professional. We shall miss him very sorely and we pray God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss,”

,

meeting him in 1986 during his time at This Week Magazine through my friend, Nduka Obaigbena and my impressions of him as a writer that valiantly sought a country where justice and equity reign have been reinforced over the years.

I pray for eternal rest for his soul and may the ideals he espoused through his weekly column find a new set of disciples within Nigeria’s media community.”

Mr. Yushau Shuaib, the man whom the late Pini Jason wrote a letter to in his last column published on Tuesday, April 30, also joined to pay tribute to the late columnist. “Pini Jason was not only a detribalised personality, he strongly believed in our Nigerianess and oneness of our great nation. His humility and courage were clearly reflective on the titles and contents of his topics.

I regret my inability to see him in life or speak to him on phone after his literary intervention on the place of activism in civil service, on the one side and whether one could take into writing as a hobby. He was one of those great columnists some of us read and study while we were still in school We couldn’t judge him by the sound of his name because he was truly a nationalist, peace lover, humble and veteran columnist,” he wrote.

52 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

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Youth as a foundation for development

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ERMIT me to go back to Marakech, Morocco, venue of the just ended 10th Africa Under 17 Championship.

There is no gainsaying the fact that leaving Morocco without the cup was painful, very painful.

For those of us who believed that all the Eaglets needed to win the cup was to appear in Morocco, the loss was painful. It could have been devastating but for the group defeat handed to the team by Cote Divoire, a defeat that helped to bring the team down to earth and prove that they were humans after all, despite a string of twenty eight matches without defeat.

In an earlier interaction with the coaches I likened them to the Barcelona of world football and that nevertheless, Barcelona does get beaten!

In mourning the loss of the Eaglets we fail to give credit to the Elephanteaux ( Baby Elephants ) who came to Morocco with three players based abroad while our team was hundred per cent domestic, including five that are still in secondary school. Cote D’Ivoire have under their belt, four Under 17 World Cup qualifications, including the last one in Mexico in 2011 which Nigeria did not qualify. (The Maigari NFF gets credit for qualifying us for this competition for the first time in four years) In Mexico 2011, playing in Group F, Cote Divoire were runners up behind Brazil and in Souleymane Coulibaly produced the competition’s highest goal scorer ( Golden Boot ) with 9 goals in just 4 matches.

This also means that Cote D’ Ivoire also played up to semi final level in the African qualifiers in 2011!

That is the Cote Divoire that we took for granted, a team that emerged from a country where youth football development has become legendary in Africa.

In Cote Divoire, football academies are what they are, regulated, controlled and licensed to operate with specific curricula that has produced stars over time, stars that have gone ahead to mature into prolific world recognized players for the national team, the dreaded Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

You cannot say the same for Nigeria where the NFF is yet to clamp down on the indiscriminate

Yes, sports is not about winning always. You also lose some

,

establishment of mushroom and pathetic contraptions called academies, where unsuspecting children are lured into slavery under the guise of lucrative football career overseas.

I digress It is true that we have won the FIFA U-17 trophy three times, yet I ask, of what benefit to this country?

Let us take the 2009 competition as a case study.

After we were beaten in the final by Switzerland, it was only proper to upgrade such a successful team to the U-20. But FIFA records have it that less than thirty percent of the Silver winning 2009 squad were able to make it to the U-20.

Without dwelling further on this classic case of our ephemeral age successes, I take a lot of positives

NOC congratulates Mitchell Obi

T

HE President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Engr.

Sani M. Ndanusa has congratulated Mr Mitchell Obi on his election as President of AIPS Africa and Vice President of the world body of sports journalists

in far away Sochi, Russia.

Obi, a veteran and versatile Journalist with envious credentials of covering seven World Cup finals, six Olympic Games, two Wimbledon championships and no fewer than 14 African Cup of Nations finals, World

Siasia

Continues from BP

he should be given the benefit of the doubt by giving him a second chance. From then on, it became a matter of Baribote must go.

“Besides, I was the second vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation by virtue of my being the chairman of NPL and as such I deserved to know how the income and expenditure of the Federation were carried out. I went to the account to demand for the statement of account of the football house and this did not go down well with

NFF and the board and the next thing was to gang up against me with an allegation that I have embezzled fund belonging to the Nigeria Premier League.

That is my sin. I have told them that I am ready for probe. I stand to face EFCC because one cannot embezzle money where there is no money.”

The chairman of Nembe City FC said he is not afraid of probe, noting that as stakeholder in Nigerian football, he cannot run away from any action that bothers on his office."

Athletics and Swimming championships among many others has thus become the first Nigerian to get to the height of International Sports Press Association, AIPS. “Certainly, your victory in Russia is a testimony to the confidence reposed in you by Journalists all over the world and it confirms your outstanding leadership qualities and competence, fearlessness, intelligence, diligence

Mayweather Jnr came out of prison to elevate boxing to an art.

To describe this maestro simply as the welterweight champion of the world is to do him an enormous disservice of understatement.

To call him the best boxer on the planet is closer to reality but Mayweather transcends that comparison, also.

See you next week.

Warri Wolves win Delta Federation Cup

W

ARRI Wolves yesterday defeated Atete FC through a controversial penalty converted by Gift Atulewa five minutes from time.The match which

•Obi and your mastery of many languages”, Ndanusa wrote in his congratulatory message.

Klitschko Continues from BP

from Marrakech, including the fact that we have in our hands and for the first time too, a group of players who have more than eight years of football in them, eight years that have to be managed and structured to the advantage of our country’s football.

In taking this position, let me address the issue of the failed test that saw the disqualification of three Eaglets. The MRI Test is a funny development, one that passes you today and fails you tomorrow. The MRI test does tell you how long it will take you to be U-17.( Don’t laugh) Even before the African qualifiers the NFF subjected all the players in camp to the test and it is no more a secret that over 80 percent of the players then put together by Manu and his colleagues failed the test. This led to this new crop of players who no one can fault as far as “ young” is the word in contest.

But the Morocco experience also means that before the World Cup in in United Arab Emirates in October we must subject our boys to a fresh test of MRI scans because I am convinced some of those players cleared in April in Morocco may just fall overboard in October.

I have also read about the coaches talking about working on the team. They have no choice. Apart from the depleted bench, the innocent but devastating inhouse battle for highest goals scorer diadem, the Eaglets need a defender with imposing presence, an attacker who can let fly from both legs outside the eighteen, a midfielder with free kick expertise and a goalkeeper who can manage his defenders and organize his defense line.……..

The Eaglets must learn to continue to listen to their coaches and be reminded again and again about the Cote D’ Ivoire lessons.

Yes, sports is not about winning always. You also lose some. The Eaglets story excites me, it is a clear departure from the past, one in which I will not mind losing a cup as long as I will be guaranteed a future for the sport.

He made a rough, tough challenger with six world titles of his own at four weight levels to his credit look like a lumbering ox.

Robert Guerrero was so massively outclassed that the 117-111 scoring by the three judges also sold Mayweather short.

On my card Mayweather dropped only the second round in a 119-109 masterclass.

was played at the Warri City Stadium was full of exciting moments until the controversial penalty which saw to the defeat of the enterprising Atete FC.

Milo Basketball: Benue, Kaduna teams reach semi/final

P

LAYERS of Benue State and Kaduna proved their dominance by qualifying for the semi-final of the ongoing Nestle Milo Secondary School B a s k e t b a l l Championship at the Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State on Sunday.

In the girls’ category, Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue outclassed Government Model College, Bida 2314 to set a date with host state, Ondo whose girls from CAC Grammer

School Akure qualified as runner up in Group A despite losing their last game 17-19 to Kebbi girls.

Also, Benue boys from St Joseph Secondary, School, Myiman outshined Army Day Secondary School, Birini Kebbi 22-15 to set a clash with Government Secondary School, Maina, Nasarawa State who compounded the woes of the weeping team of the tournament, TCNN Staff Secondary School, Bukuru, Plateau state 32-15.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—53

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54— Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013—55

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013

Today’s Fixtures EPL Sunderland v Stoke LA LIGA Getafe v Real Sociedad

8pm 9pm

Results EPL Man Utd Liverpool SERIE A Udinese AC Milan Catania

0 0

Chelsea Everton

1 0

3 1 3

Sampdoria Torino Siena

1 0 0

Siasia’s sack cost me my job — Baribote F

ORMER Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League, Victor Rumson Baribote has disclosed that he was removed from office because he refused to endorse the sack of Coach Samson Siasia as handler of the national team.

Baribote said following Siasia’s inability to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, he(Baribote) was asked to endorse the NFF’s decision to sack the Bayelsa-born sweat merchant which he refused, “that was the genesis of my sins” which culminating in his removal from office.

“This sin which the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is holding against me led to my removal as the NPL chairman,” he said.

Baribote who is the

proprietor of Nembe City FC, a Premier League clubside, said because of his insistence on the truth and being an apostle of doing things right, NFF felt if he was allowed to continue as NPL chairman and as the second vice president of the NFF, he would rock the boat and

cause disharmony within the NFF leadership.

“When they approached me to endorse the sacking of Siasia, I told them no.

Although, the Super Eagles coach could not fulfill part of the contract he signed. I told them Continues on Page 52

Klitschko, Mayweather win W

LADIMIR Klitschko put on a show for the watching David Haye as he stopped the unbeaten Francesco Pianeta in six rounds in their heavyweight title fight in Mannheim.

The Ukrainian put his plucky yet out of his depth challenger on the canvas three times in total, finishing the job with a punishing right

hand as he won for an 18th successive time.

He knew Haye - back in pursuit of his and brother Vitali’s belts after firming up his bout with Manuel Charr was commentating at ringside, and showed the British hopeful of what is standing in his way if he wants to get a world title back.

Meanwhile, Floyd Continues on Page 52

PUZZLE

On target: Klitschko's right hand did the damage as he outclassed Pianeta

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

The representative of Governor Uduaghan of Delta State, Rt. Hon Victor Ochie, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly (middle) Austin Jay-Jay Okocha match coordinator (right) and Victor Ikpeba (left) at the Delta State FA CUP finals between Warri Wolves FC and J-Atete FC at the Warri City Stadium, Warri Wolves won 1-0 . Photo; Henry Unini

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 3 Enquired (5) 9 Recluse (6) 10 Passionate (6) 11 Flower (5) 12 Genuine (4) 15 Ripped (4) 17 Stood (7) 20 Colour (3) 21 Outcoming (5) 23 Way out (4) 25 Record (4) 26 Postpone (5) 28 Fixed (3) 30 Discounted (7) 33 Paradise (4) 35 Naked (4) 36 Fiend (5) 38 Ordain (6) 39 Reiterate (6) 40 String (5)

DOWN 1 Beach (5) 2 Trample (5) 3 Help (3) 4 Said (6) 5 Simple (4) 6 Parched (3) 7 Singer (5) 8 Endure (5) 13 Penetrated (7) 14 Clear (5) 16 Responded (7) 18 Dissuade (5) 19 Shoot (3) 22 Giant (5) 24 Beverage (3) 27 Revert (6) 28 Shabby (5) 29 Instruct (5) 31 Adjusted (5) 32 Demise (5) 34 Masticate (4) 36 Obtain (3) 37 Shelter (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 1, Recess 5, Leaped 9, Opium 10, Mangle 11, Ripped 12, Debit 14, Sore 17, Dud 18, Here 20, Spear 22, Rated 23, Singlet 24, Piled 26, Peril 29, Acid 30, Leg 32, Date 33, Pedal 35, Twined 36, Palate 37, Egret 38, Regale 39, Defend.

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Remiss 2, Centre 3, Sold 4, Speed 5, Lurid 6, Emit 7, Puppet 8, Dodged 13, Bungled 15, Optic 16 Eased 18, Hated 19, Remit 21, Rid 22, Rep 24, Pastor 25, Living 27, Ravage 28, Legend 30, Ledge 31, Gaped 33, Peel 34, Late.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

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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