We'll beg Nigerians for patience —BUHARI

...towards a better life for the people

**

VOL. 25: NO. 62399

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

ENUGU ASSEMBLY CRISIS: N145.2bn subsidy provision in 2015 budget, I can't be impeached, says Okonjo-Iweala 8 15 Chime boasts

STATE OF ECONOMY:

We'll beg Nigerians for patience —BUHARI •Empty treasury awaits us —APC governors •How FG ruined our economy —Okorocha

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A

B U J A — PRESIDENTELECT, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has said that he is

Continues on Page 5

MTN/Visafone deal:

‘Why this acquisition 'll bring monopoly' •Pg25

100 Bishops watch as Cardinal Arinze Ordains Isizoh Bishop See Inside BUHARI MEETS APC GOVS/GOVS-ELECT—Front row from left: Govs Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa); AbdulFattah Ahmed (Kwara); Abdullahi Umaru Ganduje (Kano); National Chairman APC; Chief John Odigie Oyegun; Vice President-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; President-Elect; Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; Gov. Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Speaker and Sokoto Governor Elect, Aminu Tambuwal; Kebbi Governor-Elect Senator Abubakar Bagaudu Atiku and Deputy Governor-Elect, Ngeri. BACK ROW: Governor Kashim Shettima (Borno); Muhammad Bundow Jubrilla (Adamawa); Kaduna State Governor-Elect, Nasir ElRufai; Governor Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Governor Mohammad Abubakar (Bauchi); Plateau State Governor-Elect, Simon Lalong and former Governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi when the President-Elect met APC governors and governors-elect, yesterday in Abuja to kick-start the new government as May 29 hand-over date approaches. Photo: Sunday Aghaeze.

COLUMNISTS: Baltimore riots: Parallels between Xenophobic irruption, So now what becomes institutionalised diplomatic farce and of the Niger Delta? •P.19 injustice in Nigeria and America •P.17 Goodluck Jonathan•P.19 C M Y K

My daughters prefer their step-mum •P.40

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Senate finally passes VAPP bill

Anglican Bishop tasks Buhari on balance

B

ISHOP of the Anglican Diocese of Ughelli, Rt. Revd (Dr.) Cyril Odiboroghene Odutemu, has called on President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to ensure a balance of political patronage among the various geo-political and religious realities in Nigeria.

He said such balance would give Nigerians a sense of belonging in the distribution of political offices, stressing that it would be serious disservice to humanity if the heads of the three arms of the government come from one religious group.

He spoke while presenting his address and charge to the third session of the 6th Synod of the Diocese of Ughelli, at St Luke’s Church, Ewhu.

Bishop Odutemu, who is the President of Synod, stated that government must “make deliberate efforts to spread the key offices of the nation around the six geo-political zones at the federal level and all senatorial districts at state level, party and religious affiliations notwithstanding.”

Aisha Buhari, others for 7th AWLC summit

T

HE 7th African Women in Leadership Conference, AWLC, on African Women Transcending the Globe, Breaking Barriers, will begin tomorrow.

Expected to be declared open by wife of the President-elect, Aisha Buhari, this year’s edition, which is hosted by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Joke OrelopeAdefulire, according to Mr. Elisha Attai, Founder, African Women in Leadership Organization, “is designed to empower African women to take up leadership roles and reach heights that once seemed impossible.”

According to him, the conference will draw participants from across the continent.

By Sola Ogundipe

A

BRIEFING: From left— Dr. Yewande Adeshina, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Health; Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, and his Information & Strategy Counterpart, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, at a briefing on the activities of the health ministry to mark the 8th anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, yesterday.

RICE IMPORT SCAM: FG owed N36bn, says Minister

By Emman Ovuakporie & Gabriel Ewepu

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, said yesterday that the alleged rice import duty scam that was widely reported to be N21 billion was actually N36 billion, which needed to be paid into federal coffers.

The minister, who disclosed this at a public hearing of the Adhoc Committee on Rice Quota and Duty Payments on Rice Imports Quota and Duty Payments, however denied granting any waiver to a rice importing company, contrary to allegations that certain foreign rice investors enjoyed the minister’s relief in duty payment liabilities.

Adesina said he was the one that first raised the issue of monies owed the Federal Government by the importers, which is to the tune of N36 billion even though he was not in a position to receive the monies.

This is barely 24 hours after Olam Nigeria Limited, a leading rice investor in the country, told the House of Representatives that out of its N3 billion import liability debt, the Agriculture Minister had written to notify them of 50 percent relief.

However, Adesina, who appeared before the committee yesterday, said he had been transparent and that no company is above the law, adding that any company that owes the Federal Government

any amount must pay.

He said: “I raised the issue that allocations were made to certain companies and they have to pay. At the time I issued the statement, I told the Customs that the amount owed the Federal Government was N36 billion. I do not know when the hunter has now become the hunted.”

However, former AttorneyGeneral, Mike Anodoaka, who is a rice miller, said some companies are killing Nigeria by their antics.

Andoaka said the minister tried his best to promote the local rice producers initially,

but “the problems started when the minister alleged that some companies are not paying their duties. These companies are behaving as if they own the country.”

Committee Chairman, Leo Ogor, said the committee was not drawing conclusion on the allegations until it had extended the principle of fair hearing to all actors in the matter.

He said Customs should not heed any interference from the political class in overlooking what is owed the Federal Government as part of the import duty.

FTER a 13-year sojourn in the National Assembly, the Violence Against Persons’ Prohibition, VAPP, Bill 2014, was finally passed yesterday by the Nigerian Senate.

It took the Senate exactly 22 minutes to pass all 46 clauses contained in the bill.

The approval gives legal teeth to enact a law to eliminate, or reduce to a minimum, cases of sexual, domestic and indeed all forms of gender-based violence in the country.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who took charge of proceedings for at the day’s plenary, described the passage as “an achievement.”

His words: “It is the primary responsibility of the executive to protect the lives and property of its citizens, especially against violence, while ours (the legislature) is to enact laws to support such responsibility.”

A clause-to-clause consideration of the bil, which started on April 14, suffered initial hiccup following observations that Clause 1 of the bill had issues with the term of imprisonment for underaged sexual offenders.

Oil-based wealth can’t endure next decade, says don

By Princewill Ekwujuru & Providence Obuh

L

AGOS—DEPENDENCE on oil and oil-based computations of national wealth is not likely to endure for the next decade, hence the need for marketing professionals to open new markets aimed at intangibles.

Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu, a faculty member of the School of Media and Communication of the PAN-Atlantic University, PAU, stated this at the annual marketing edge national summit in Lagos, noting that oil would soon become a commodity of the past.

Bel-Molokwu was the guest speaker at the summit where he delivered a paper entitled A New Roadmap for Marketing in the Age of

Global Oil Glut.

He reminded marketing professionals of the challenge posed by oil in world economies, saying the changing façade of economies as a result of the nuances and fluidity of oil has, for more than a decade, sustained an atmosphere of challenges, fears, uncertainties and a surge of innovation and creativity.

He said: “The new orientation to marketing has at its heart the need to absorb the shock waves of recession and value shrinkage occasioned by a realization that dependence on oil and oil-based computations of national wealth will not likely endure for the next decade.

“New energy sources, new production processes, new oil

fields in hitherto non-oil locations can only intensify the glut.

“Face it, it is not just that oil prices are falling, or that more oil is being found. The reality is that soon, very soon, oil will become a commodity of the past.

“So it behoves marketing experts to take on the need to open new markets in the direction of serious sale of intangibles, no longer the effortless sell that is oil.”

According to him, it has become increasingly difficult to reach and convince customers in the face of quantitative and qualitative challenges of rapid demographic and psychographic changes.

“These changes in the human persona were brought about largely by unprecedented technological advancement,” Bel-Molokwu added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—5

POCKET CARTOON

BREAKFAST MEETING—President Goodluck Jonathan (4th R); Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations (PACIR), Chief Emeka Anyaoku(4th L) and other members of the council, after a breakfast meeting with President Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: NAN.

We'll beg Nigerians for patience —BUHARI Continues from Page 1 currently at a loss on how best to tell Nigerians that his promise of turning the economy around quickly upon assumption of office on May 29 may not be feasible after all.

Buhari premised his fear on the perception that the economy has been battered by the outgoing government of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

We'll inherit empty treasuries – APC govs

This was even as governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said empty treasuries may be awaiting them in their respective states.

The governors cried out that most state governments had gone bankrupt and, therefore, cannot pay workers’ salaries.

According to them, it was obvious that they were going to inherit huge debts which may delay speedy progress in their respective states.

They were, however, silent on APC states like

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it —Confucius

E

VEN the nicest of persons do have their limits and would probably slip up when bombarded with a boatload of challenges, seeing the goodness in another requires our patience and understanding, people have their off days. Anyone who has experienced this, knows how hard it can be, dealing with everything else. Be calm and find the equanimity from within. The next time someone is rude to you, think about his/her reasons for being disrespectful. Could it be that they had gotten into trouble at work? Perhaps received a bit of disturbing news.

But remember this, if you fill yourself with positive energy of light and love, you’ll have a much easier time seeing the good in people. Start with being grateful for your life. Be thankful that you have a family and friends who you can laugh and cry with.

Be grateful that you have another opportunity to live a good life and that you have the ability to see the good in others.

Seeing the good in people is an admirable trait and something we should all aspire to have. Not only will it make your life more fulfilling, it will also give you the power to influence how other people think and react. Hatred only begat hatred but love…charity, hope and gratitude, these are the virtues to imbibe.

Lagos, Edo and Osun, which are currently the most indebted in the country.

Buhari and the governors expressed the fear when the governors paid him a congratulatory visit at the Defence House, Abuja.

Buhari to plead with Nigerians for patience Buhari, who recalled what the regime of late General Sani Abacha did to establish the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, however said he would plead with Nigerians for their understanding and patience even as he reiterated his commitment to restoring security.

He said: “The expectation is too high and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day. For this to be corrected, please, give the incoming government a chance.

“Here, I will like to recall what happened during the Abacha regime which led to the emergence of PTF. The Abacha regime was a military regime and it thought that the only way was to increase the prices of petroleum products. But they were not taking Nigerians for a ride. They would have said that if Nigerians decide to riot, they have the guns and so they can have their way.

“They decided to tell

Nigerians that they were going to increase prices of petroleum products and the money we get, we will put aside for development. That was how PTF came.

“So, this time around, under this system, to bounce back with the issue especially with the backlog of salaries which are of immediate concern to individuals and states, I think we should look for a better way to address the issue and think of how to persuade people to give us a chance to organise the economy immediately and get something to pay salaries. The people will give us a chance to stabilise the economy.”

Decayed infrastructure Buhari who also lamented what he likened to destruction of social infrastructure especially in education, however, assured that his government would ensure that the country is improved in all ramifications.

Buhari also thanked the governors-elect, reechoing that the formation of APC as an offspring of the merger of the legacy parties earned them victory at the polls.

He said: “The decision to merge was a good one because this helped us.

At every step, there were many road blocks.

During the merger, APGA and DPP wanted to come in, but we felt that if they are allowed

to come in at that time, it will be used to frustrate the merger and so we asked them to stay action until after the merger. So we advised them to just be observers.

“We decided that the nine major people that were leading the Legacy parties should lead us to the first major convention where the new party will then elect its new leadership. These nine people were the national chairmen, the national secretaries and the treasurers.

"The next step was what earned us respect. I had thought that all INEC Commissioners were our enemies and they said, ‘no, take the documents for the registration back because you need presence in all the geopolitical zones of the country.’ There were lots of efforts by the PDP to frustrate our emergence as a party.”

How FG ruined our economy —Okorocha Addressing journalists after their indoor meeting with Buhari, chairman of APC governors, Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, said the outgoing government had ruined the economy.

According to him, the fact that the Federal Government has not paid April salaries was an indication that the economy was not healthy.

He said: “One of the issues that became of concern to all of us is the state of the Nigerian economy which is really in bad shape. We have come to notify the incoming president of the challenges ahead of him.

"As it stands, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries and even the Federal Government has not paid April salary and that is very worrisome.

“By May and June, the salary will be in cumulative of three months. With the huge expectation from Nigerians and people who have voted us into power, we wonder. We are hoping that the president-elect will do whatever that is humanly possible to bring about a bailout not only in the states but the Federal Government, at least for people to get their salaries and turn around the economy.”

Okorocha, who secured his re-election as Imo State governor, called on Nigerians across party leanings to rally round the president-elect to achieve his aims.

Why APC govs visited Buhari According to Okorocha, their visit to the Defence House was to congratulate Buhari and get him to familiarize with the new APC governors-elect.

His words: “We came here to pay a courtesy call on the presidentelect who will be sworn in on the 29th of this month as the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to familiarize ourselves, both the new governors and the governors-elect.

“We have seen the reason to work together and support Mr President-elect and we have also called on all our brothers in other political parties to come along with us to build the Nigeria of our dream.

"In a nutshell, we have come to congratulate Buhari on a well deserved victory knowing that this victory, the change we have all been waiting for must only be dedicated to ordinary citizens of Nigeria, who stood up and voted accordingly."

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Pupils, teachers flee as mysterious grave appears in school

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—FEAR has gripped residents of Upper Uwa and pupils and staff of Iguodala Primary School, after they discovered a grave dug in one of the classrooms in the school, Monday morning.

The staff and pupils, who saw the strange grave, took to their heels, screaming, which attracted members of the community who rushed to the scene.

This led to closure of the school Monday morning.

The community leaders informed the police and authorities of Oredo Local Government Council.

Pupils refused to attend classes yesterday, forcing security agents to storm the school, but to the surprise of the crowd that gathered, nothing was found inside the grave.

Shocked acting Headmistress of the school, Mrs Ilongwo Georgina, said the pupils had refused to come to school, wondering “how can someone dig a grave and not put something inside?”

72-yr-old cleric murdered in Benin

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—AN unknown gunman has killed a 72-year-old cleric, Reverend David Memeh, at his Government Reservation Area residence in Benin, Edo State capital.

It was learned that the late Memeh, who worshipped at the Foursquare Gospel Church, was shot twice after the gunmen gained entrance into his residence through the window to his room and took away phones of the victim and his wife.

Wife of the cleric, Deaconess Alice, said her husband, who fled from his room to hers, begged the assassins to spare his life.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, said they had begun investigation into the matter.

10 remanded in prison over Ejigbo pepper sodomy

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

L

AGOS—AN Ikeja High Court, yesterday, remanded in prison custody nine men and

a woman charged in connection with the torture, attempted murder and sodomy of three females accused of stealing pepper at Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

The defendants are Isiaka Waidi, 61; Saheed Adisa, 29; Lateef Tijani, 37; Ahmed Adisa, 65; Azeez Akinosun, 36; Jimoh Busari, 50; Adekunle Adenuga, 38; Oloruntoyin Dauda, 46; Buhari Yusuf, 22 (female); and Abdullahi Haruna, 20.

In an amended charge, the defendants were accused of

PARKED: Airport Road, Abuja, Monday. NAN PHOTO.

33-yr-old truck driver kills friend z‘A fight started when I woke my friend from sleep to eat’

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—A 33-year-old trailer driver, who reportedly stabbed his friend to death on Monday night at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, has confessed that his action was a mistake he regretted.

It was learned that the suspect, identified as Tunde Azeez, allegedly stabbed Lukmon Ayedun with a broken bottle at 8:42pm during a brawl.

Vanguard learned that trouble started when the suspect purportedly bought food from a vendor, woke his friend from sleep to eat.

His actions provoked Lukmon, who reacted by hitting Azeez and a fight ensued.

Suspect’s account

Azeez, a father of one from Ogbomosho, told Vanguard: “I did not kill him deliberately. All I did was wake him up from sleep so that he could eat with me. I did not know it would make him angry or degenerate to a fight, let alone lead to his death.

“What actually happened on that fateful day was that I went

to buy food from a nearby food vendor at Amuwo Odofin.

When I came back my friend Lukmon was sleeping.

“So I woke him up to eat. He got angry and gave me a blow.

I was surprised, so I asked him why he was acting so weird and if he was alright.

“As if that was not enough, while I was asking him what was wrong with him, he broke a bottle and stabbed me on my left hand.

“Immediately, I took a bottle, broke it and stabbed him on his head.

OPC intervenes

“Afterwards, I ran to call Sir K, an Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Commander and others to intervene because Lukmon was still holding a bottle, making attempt to stab me again.

“When Sir K and other people came to intervene, they decided to take us to the hospital because we were bleeding terribly from the injuries.

“He fell off the motorcycle and died on the way to the hospital.

“For goodness sake, I do not have any reason to kill him;

inserting a stick into the vagina of Nike Salami, Juliana Agomo and assaulted one Ajoke Agomo by stripping her naked, beating her up and rubbing pepper all over her body at Oba Morufu International market, Ejigbo.

The charge

According to the charge, the 1st defendant (Waidi) and 5th defendant (Lateef) unlawfully obtained N50,000 from one Fima Agomo with intent to defraud by falsely pretending that the said money would be paid to traders in the market, whose pepper had been stolen.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye on a 19-count charge of unlawful assembly, trial by ordeal, assault occasioning harm, causing grievous harm, maliciously administering poison, deprivation of liberty, conspiracy to commit felony, attempted murder, sexual assault by penetration, obtaining money by false pretense and neglect to prevent a felony.

One of the charges read: “Isiaka Waidi, Ahmed Adisa, Adekunle Adenuga, Azeez Akinosun, Jimoh Busari, Buhari Yusuf and Abdullahi Haruna, on February 11, 2013 at Oba Morufu International Market Ejigbo, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, did unlawfully attempt to kill one Nike Salami by beating her up, rubbing pepper all over her body and supervising the insertion of a stick and an obnoxious substance into her vagina.”

Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Idowu Alakija, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

‘Not guilty’

Tunde Azeez. we have been friends for over four years before this unfortunate incident.

“I am married with a child and from Ogbomosho in Oyo State. I am a truck driver and started driving in 2010.

“I do not have a house. I sleep inside the motor garage at night. My wife and child are in the village.”

Vanguard learned that the case is currently being investigated at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba Lagos.

However, when the charge was read in Yoruba and Hausa languages to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty.

Subsequently, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody, pending their bail application, noting that the applications by the defence counsel were served prematurely.

The prosecutor (Alakija) then asked the court for a short time to enable her reply to the applications served her on March 18, adding that the proceeding at the magistrate court would be terminated to enable speedy trial.

After listening to the parties, the judge ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned till May 21 for hearing of their bail application.

The incident, which is popularly known as Ejigbo 3, took place in February 2013.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—7

Two arraigned for mugging woman at ATM

By Onozure Dania

L FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Hungarian cyclists hold up their bikes during a protest ride organized to promote cycling as one of the most environment-friendly forms of travelling at Margaret Island, Budapest. AFP PHOTO.

Two mothers, 25-yr-old boy shot dead, as Benin cult war rages

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

E N I N —S U S P E C T E D cultists went on rampage Monday evening in Benin, Edo State capital, killing two mothers when they attacked the homes of some of their targets.

This came as a youth leader in the state, Mr. Tony Adun, alias Tony Kabaka, who raised an alarm over the spate of cultrelated killings in the state,

Rainstorm wreaks havoc on Dan Anyiam Stadium

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—TRAGEDY was averted, yesterday in Owerri, Imo State capital, as a rainstorm blew off the roof of Dan Anyiam Stadium and G r a s s h o p p e r s International Handball Complex.

Vanguard investigation revealed that apart from the students of Rochas Foundation College, Owerri, who are representing the state in the Nestlé/Milo Secondary School Basketball Championships, there were other people in training at the time the rain started.

It was also gathered that when the rain, which was accompanied by violent storm increased, the trainees and their coaches scampered into nearby shelters.

The rainstorm also destroyed public and private buildings, billboards and cash crops.

called on the state government and the state House of Assembly to urgently set up a task force against cultism in the state to check the excesses of the perpetrators.

No fewer than 25 persons, according to him, have been killed by cultists in the state in the past two weeks.

The armed men were said to have stormed Virginia Junction

by Murtala Muhammed Way, at

about 8pm in search of their target, said to be a 25-year-old boy.

They were said to have gone to the store belonging to the mother of their target, but when they queried the woman about the whereabouts of the son, she was said to have told them that she had not set her eyes on him for over two weeks.

The armed men were said to have gone to the residence of

the boy and found him at home.

They killed him, went back to the woman’s shop and shot her dead.

In New Benin area, the gunmen shot their target's mother as they could not find him.

Over 10 persons have died in the past week in the renewed cult war, to which the police command in the state is yet to find a solution.

2 INEC staff arrested in Abia with card readers

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—A HEAD of Department at Abia State headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and another staff (names withheld) have been arrested by Zone 9 Police Headquarters, Umuahia, for allegedly being in illegal possession of seven card reading machines.

The two staff were said to have smuggled the card readers out of INEC office and were taking them to unknown destination when they were stopped at the commission’s gate.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Professor Selina Oko, confirmed the incident and expressed surprise that his staff could remove such sensitive material from the commission’s strong room without permission.

The REC explained that they were caught by the security at the commission’s headquarters on Monday evening as they were trying to drive out with the materials.

She said the AIG Zone 9, Usman Gwarri, sent his men to arrest the suspects, who she said were now under investigation by the police.

She said: “The police should conduct proper investigation and take the right action. I am in charge and they are taking things out without my permission.

“Even I, as the REC, do not take sensitive materials away from the office except it is demanded by my chairman in Abuja.”

The AIG Zone 9, Usman Gwarri, however, said it would be too early to conclude what

they wanted to do with the card readers or to establish any case of crime until investigation was concluded.

Mr. Mike Chidi Ahiabike, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Head of Intelligence and Surveillance, said the party had been monitoring the INEC staff and security personnel since election results were declared.

He alleged that the suspects were working for a particular polictical party.

AGOS—TWO men were, yesterday, docked before a Tinubu Magistrate's Court in Lagos for mugging a woman and stabbing a man with a knife at an Automated Teller Machine, ATM, spot.

The defendants are John Luka, 21, and Bulus Amos, 23.

They are facing a threecount charge bordering on conspiracy and assault occasioning harm, preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Livinus Okeke, told the court that the defendants committed the offences at 12.30p.m. on May 2 at the ATM of Union Bank, Ojomu Market, Lekki, Lagos.

Okeke alleged that the defendants tried to steal money from one Miss Pauline Ogebe, who had just finished making use of the ATM and that Mr. Unity Osayuwame, who saw the attack, intervened, but was stabbed.

Okeke added that Osayuwame and Ogebe raised an alarm which alerted passersby, leading to the defendants' arrest.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate L. A. Owolabi granted the defendants bail in the sum of N40,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Owolabi adjourned the case to May 25 for mention.

Two die as cults wage supremacy war in Calabar police to scare the cult gangs also clashed on Idang Street,

By Emmanuel Una

C

ALABAR—TWO persons were killed last weekend on Iboku Street, near the popular Ambo Street, in Calabar South of Cross River State.

They were suspected to have been killed in the evening of Saturday by rival cult members in a fight for supremacy in the neighbourhood, An eyewitness, Effiong Sampson, who lives in nearby Ikom Street, said the two died as a result of gunshots by the

away.

It is commonly thought that secret cult and crimes were prevalent in Calabar South area of Cross River State, leading to pockets of crimes and armed robbery.

Police spokesman in the state, Hogan Bassey, said they were aware of the cult clash which led to the death of the two, who were not immediately identified.

Bassey said they were doing everything possible to track down the perpetrators.

On Sunday night, another set of cult groups, the Scorpions and the Black Cats,

near Ibesikpo, where they shot sporadically into the air.

However, another dangerous gang which dominates the area, the Idang Boys, challenged them for invading their territory, and succeeded in scaring them away.

Two months ago, Idang Boys were alleged to have killed one of their members, Eteka, who was accused of tormenting the Ambo, Idang and Ibesikpo neighbourhoods, even after signing an undertaking not to operate in the ‘home neighbourhood,’ which he was accused of breaching.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

N145.2bn subsidy provision in 2015 budget, says Okonjo-Iweala zAdds: 70% of us have high BP

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

A

BUJA — THE Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, yesterday, put to rest fears of immediate removal of fuel subsidy, as she confirmed that N145.2 billion provision was made for it in 2015 budget.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, she said: “I want to clarify that there has been some misinformation that has gone around in the media about the fact that the National Assembly passed the 2015 budget without provision for fuel subsidy. It is not true.

"It is important that you note that the National Assembly approved provisions of N100 billion for PMS (Petroleum Motor Spirit, otherwise called petrol) and N45.2 billion for kerosene subsidy. So, it is not true that they passed the budget without provision for subsidy.”

How that budgetary provision would meet the needs would be a challenge for the incoming Gen. Muhammadu Buhari administration in the months ahead.

Managing tough cash flow

The minister emphasized that managing the economy since the crash in oil prices had been very tough for her team which had to adopt various strategies to keep the economy running.

She said: “As you know, I have been honest with you since the current economic problems started. I would like to repeat: we have serious challenges, things have been tough since the beginning of the year and they are likely to remain so till the end of the year. We have serious challenges but we also have strengths and if we do the right things we can keep a steady course and emerge out of the current situation.

“As a result of the 50 per cent decline in oil revenues, the country has faced a difficult cash crunch and the Federal Government has focused on keeping the economy stable and the government running through a series of measures.

We have front-loaded the borrowing programme to manage the cash crunch in the economy.

“In January we had a deficit in terms of the money we had and the expenditure we had to carry out. So we had to borrow to add to what we had. In February, it was the same.

transfers and SURE-P) was increased to N722.20 billion, from N663.67 billion (an increase of about N58.57 billion). This comprises an increase of N37.77 billion in MDAs’ capital and N20.80 billion for MDGs under capital supplementation.

IPPIS capital (N5 billion) was completely removed from the Appropriation Bill, while capital development of National Institute for Legislative Studies was increased by N4 billion (from N2 billion to N6 billion), and N1 billion was provisioned for a new project, National Assembly Clinic The provision of N20.78 billion for SURE-P capital spending was retained.

Fiscal balance

TOWNHALL MEETING: From left: Marcelo Difranco, Deputy High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission, Lagos; Adegbite Tobalase, Coordinator, General Studies, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State; Prof. Martna Oguntuase-Atere, Dean Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University; Olu Babatunde, Country Manager, West Africa, Robotel Incoporated, and Yanick Demers, Executive Director, Robotel Incoporated, Montreal Canada, during the Robotel's townhall meeting with stakeholders, in Lagos.

"In March, we were able to have more internally generated revenue that enabled us to offset but in April, we had to borrow to cover up some gap. This is how we have been managing the economy on a month-by-month basis.”

Okonjo-Iweala said the Federal Government had already utilised more than half of the budgetary provisions for borrowing in the year, in the first four months to pay salaries and provide funds for overheads.

Govt borrows N473bn to meet up with recurrent expenditure

She said: “Of the N882 billon budgetary provision for borrowing, the government has borrowed N473 billion to meet up with recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads. No capital release so far.

“Traditionally, the first part of the year witnessed low revenue because tax receipts come in from the middle of the year. This has compounded the challenges caused by the steep drop in revenues due to the oil price fall. As a consequence of the revenue challenges, there has been no capital budget release so far this year but we have kept the recurrent expenditure going.”

...keeps the economy stable

Okonjo-Iweala, added however, that in spite of the cash flow challenge, government has managed to keep the economy stable to the point that the Nigerian economy which is projected to grow by 4.8 per cent this year, according to respected analysts, is doing much better than many other oil producing countries.

“One positive feature despite the clear challenges is the fact that food prices, though inching up, are still quite stable. Also, inflation is still in single digit. This has helped reduce some of the pressure that Nigerians are going through.”

The budget provides for N882 billion borrowing for this year, which was a rise in the trend compared to the N570 billion of the previous year.

Budget highlights

z The National Assembly passed a budget of N4.493 trillion (up from the N4.425 trillion proposed by Mr. President). This represents an increase of N67.43 billion. z The NASS passed a benchmark oil price of $53 per barrel ($1 higher than the budget proposal; generating an extra revenue of N54.25 billion for FGN). zIt, however, retained the oil production volume of 2.2782m bpd and exchange rate of N190/$. While other components of non-oil revenue were also retained as proposed, FGN

Independent Revenue was raised by N39.294 billion, from N450 billion to N489.294 billion. z Gross Federally Collectible Revenue increased by N169.845 billion, from N9.61 trillion to N9.78 trillion, as a direct result of raising the benchmark price.

FGN Budget Revenue: N3.452 trillion, up from N3.358 trillion.

Expenditure

The aggregate expenditure passed was N4.493 trillion, N67.43 billion higher than the proposed aggregated expenditure of N4.425 trillion.

Debt Service: Debt service remains unchanged at N943.62 billion.

Statutory Transfers: Statutory transfers was increased by N9.34 billion, from N366.28 billion to N375.62 billion.

Niger Delta Development Commission budget was increased from N45.78 billion to N46.72 billion (an increase of N940 million), while UBE increased from N67.30 billion to N68.38 billion (an increase of N1.08 billion.

NASS allocation was raised

by N5 billion, from N115 billion to N120 billion.

Human Rights Commission was raised by N316 million, from N1.2 billion to N1.516 billion.

Capital expenditure

Aggregate capital expenditure (inclusive of

Fiscal deficit decreased from N1,067 trillion to N1,041 trillion (a decrease of about N26.11 billion). Fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP decreased from 1.11 per cent to 1.09 per cent.

Okonjo-Iweala, 70% of staff have high BP

Meanwhile, Dr OkonjoIweala, disclosed, yesterday, that the task of managing the nation’s economy has given her, the Minister of State, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Anastasia Daniel-Nwaobia and about 70 per cent of the ministry’s staff high blood pressure.

She made the disclosure, while commissioning a new clinic and a crèche in the ministry, in Abuja.

According to her, “70 per cent of my staff have high blood pressure. This goes to show the amount of stress we go through. All three of us here (referring to herself, Amb. Yuguda and the Permanent Secretary) have high blood pressure.

“Minister of State has high BP and you are on medication.

Perm Sec has and I have. The amount of stress in the ministry is unbelievable. Many times we are in the office until 1 am, looking for ways to push out money to make payment. Many people don’t know this. We now have a clinic so that people can go and check when they start having headache before someone collapses.

“I want to, on behalf of myself and my high blood pressure colleagues, say that I am happy to commission this clinic.

Minister of State, please forgive me for letting out the secret, you know how I talk, I am very open.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary said: “It sounds unbelievable, the three of us are on medication. At times, we have to be in the office as late as 1 am looking for how the country will get money to finance her activities.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 9

PDP crisis: Jonathan orders ceasefire zAs Bode George insists on Mu‘azu’s resignation zEtiebet, Babatope, Shelle sue for peace zPDP was taken over by Mrs. Jonathan, Fani-Kayode, Fayose —Tsav

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Wahab Abdullah, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

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AGOS — PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has intervened in the open war between his aides and the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The President’s intervention during a closed-door meeting with the NWC members followed strident calls for the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and other NWC members for purportedly leading the party to its first defeat in a presidential election.

The president’s intervention was, yesterday, matched by calls from senior party members who also called on the warring members to pull away from the acrimony that has seen NWC members openly blame the President’s handpicked campaign managers for causing the defeat of the President in the election.

The call for ceasefire nonetheless, the crisis continued to smoulder with Chief Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the party calling for the resignation of Mu‘azu from office.

Besides, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State stuck to his guns on the demand for the resignation of the NWC members, an assertion that drew the sharp response of a senior official of the NWC who reproached Fayose for biting the very fingers that fed him in his time of need.

At the meeting with the NWC members on Monday night, the President had, according to sources, called on the party officials to keep the peace, saying that two wrongs do not make a right. Apparently to appease the party officials, the President promised to investigate the rumpus with a pledge to sanction his aides that may have erred.

The President’s plea for peace was matched by a number of stakeholders, including some members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, such as Chief Bode George, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Chief Don Etiebet, the Lagos State chairman of the party and a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav.

The president’s plea forced the national chairman,

GROUND-BREAKING: Mr Joseph Dada, Executive Director, Corporate Services,UACN; Mr Hakeem Ogunniran,Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company Plc; Mr Murtala Aliyu, President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Mr Larry Ettah, Chairman, UACN Property Development Company Plc at the groundbreaking ceremony of James Pinnock Place, Lekki Phase 3, Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau.

Mu‘azu, to withdraw a statement in which he had alleged that presidential aides were determined to destroy his legacy through their open conflict with the party officials.

A senior official of the NWC, however, replied a swipe by Governor Fayose earlier yesterday in which he reiterated his call for the dissolution of the NWC. “It really hurts, I mean it hurts for Ayo Fayose to ask us to resign, considering the risks we took to ensure that we gave him a level playing ground to contest even when some members thought that he had no right being in the race," the NWC official said yesterday.

Mu’azu can’t be a judge in his case —Bode George In his reaction to the crisis, yesterday, Chief George, a former deputy national chairman of the party said: “Playing politics has to do with maturity. After any election, there is a way it is being done that any party that lost, the managers of the party will honourably bow out.

"There should be civility in anything being done but in the meantime, you cannot be a judge in your case. That is legitimate, that is

sensible. All the noise about people collecting money here and there, to me it should not be so.

“You do not wash your dirty linen in the public. Do you think the All Progressives Congress, APC, do not have their filthy linen? With what they (PDP leadership) have done, they are sending shivers into the spines of Nigerians.

"We are going to readjust ourselves and strengthen all the structures from the wind that just blew us. You do not go to the marketplace and start describing the name and house of your father.

“The position we arrived at, at the Ado Ekiti meeting was the consensus of the party leaders after thorough deliberations which recommended that the National Working Committee should step aside for an independent group to reshuffle the party. If they found out that they (NWC) still need to be there, they will be recalled.

"I am shocked about the reactions of the people which now became an issue on the pages of newspapers. Which party in the world that is existing without internal wrangling? It is natural and normal.”

We’re waiting for outcome of BoT

meeting — Babatope In his remarks, Chief Babatope said: “I am not personally interested in the tantrums that are being thrown at each other by presidential aides and the National Working Committee of the party. I believe the BoT should be meeting in about two weeks where some of these major issues will be thrashed.”

Babatope, who is a member of the BoT of the PDP, said: “I am only interested in what the outcome of the BoT meeting is and not this tantrum being thrown around.”

PDP govs don’t mean well — Etiebet On his part, Chief Etiebet said: “I have nothing to do with the PDP so I cannot comment on their actions. It’s just a good feeling that all leaders are singing my song which I kept singing since last September that the PDP Governors Forum’s actions would spell doom for the party at the polls.”

Blame game can’t help our course —Shelle, Lagos PDP

chairman Speaking on the current controversy in the party, the Lagos State chairman of the PDP, Mr Shelle said: “I just don’t want to be part of the controversy.”

He, however, urged the leadership of the party not to play the blame game.

Shelle said: “The blame game cannot help our cause.

We should start putting our house in order to be able to get rid of those that stole our mandate through conspiracy by the compromise of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Police.

"We as a party only played into their hands. We will bounce back because the socalled APC is PDP in another form. Those who sold out are, however, advised to bow out of office before they are exposed.”

PDP was taken over by Mrs. Jonathan, Fani-Kayode, Fayose —Tsav Similarly, a retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Tsav, said: “When the PDP was formed with pomp and pageantry some years back, its members boasted that it was the largest party in Africa. Some at a point boasted that it would rule for 60 years and beyond. Things went right, and everything flourished in the party.

Everybody went for the umbrella but today, the situation has changed and the umbrella is leaking profusely not only from torrential rain but from the rays of the tropical sun.

“Most of the founding fathers have left the party in anger ranging from lack of internal democracy to encouraging illegality. The situation was worsened by the departure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is an institution himself.

"The party was taken over

by Mrs Jonathan, Gov. Fayose, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode among others. Imagine the First Lady inciting people to be violent during the campaigns. She also brazenly insulted the people of the North and a former Head of State without due regard to the party chairman, who is from the North. Fayose and FaniKayode also engaged in the hate campaign against the opposition. The opposition was focused and never left the substance to pursue the shadow.”

10 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

LASU to remain shut until unions, students agree – GOVT

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo

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AGOS—THE Lagos State government yesterday, said that the crisis-riddled Lagos State University, LASU, will remain shut until the unions, students and management agree on how to maintain peace on the campus.

Hundreds of LASU students last week embarked on a peaceful protest to the governor’s office calling for immediate reopening of the institution.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Fatai Olugoga, who made the disclosure in Ikeja, warned that government would no longer tolerate indiscipline by students, lecturers and other stakeholders of the institution.

However, Olukoga said it is wrong for the students and staff to demand for the sack of theVice Chancellor, since his appointment was based on merit and followed due process.

New FAAN rules delay passengers at Lagos Airport

By Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe

P

ASSENGERS in their hundreds were yesterday stranded at the various bus-stops along the Ikeja-Airport road due to shortage of airport shuttle buses because of the new rules introduced by Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian, FAAN. FAAN had instructed the drivers to replace their old buses with new ones and the operators have been finding it difficult to purchase new buses.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the shortage of the airport shuttle buses was as a result of the phasing out of the old shuttle buses and replacement with new ones which began on Monday, May 4th 2015.

Tribunal grants Agbaje’s request to examine election materials

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—LAGOS State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday granted prayers of the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state’s gubernatorial poll, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, to inspect election materials and other items used in the April 28th governorship election.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Siraju, who granted the prayers after the plea of petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Clement Onwenmunor, also urged counsel to make use of the tribunal’s authority in requesting for materials and not file ex-parte motion.

Agbaje, through his counsel, had requested the tribunal to allow him certify documents used in the said election.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Lagos State National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, Justice Sylvanus Oriji, warned lawyers that the tribunal would not allow delaying strategies.

The warning came during the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, which has as members Justices K. Dabo and Kadi Yusuf at Ikeja.

Oriji noted that election petitions were delicate and sensitive to handle because they must be heard and determined within 180 days as specified by Section 285 (6) of

COMMISSIONING: From left: Prince Segun Oniru, Commissioner of Waterfront and Infrastructure; Justice Toyin Abdulahi, representing Chief Judge of Lagos State; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, cutting the tape; Mr. Olasupo Shasore, President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration; Ms. Megha Joshi, Executive secretary, Lagos Court of Arbitration and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Commissioner of Works and infrastructure, during the commissioning and hand-over of the Lagos Court of Arbitration International Centre for Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), at the Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, yesterday. Photo by Bunmi Azeez. the 1999 Constitution.

According to him: “It is now established that any judgment delivered by an Election Tribunal in an election petition after 180 days from the date of filing is a nullity.”

The judge implored the lawyers to give the tribunal the necessary cooperation at the pre-hearing conferences and throughout the hearing of the petitions.

“Without your co-operation, it

will be difficult for the tribunal to succeed in its onerous task to conclude all the pending election petitions within 180 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

“In this regard, the tribunal will not tolerate any action or omission (or strategy) aimed at delaying or frustrating the expeditious hearing and determination of the petitions,” he said.

Oriji urged the lawyers to be

guided by the rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners and show respect to the Bench and their colleagues while conducting their matters before the tribunal.

Advising the media to report the proceedings of the tribunal accurately, Oriji said they should contact the tribunal’s secretary when in doubt and maintained that the tribunal would discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.

Lagos spends N535m as WAEC registration fees

By Amaka Abayomi

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AGOS—THE Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka

Oladunjoye, has said that the state government has paid the West African Examination Council (WAEC) N535,047,000 for the examination and

administrative fees for 42,995 SS3 students who are currently sitting for the May/June 2015 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination

Court fixes May 21 for Multichoice tariff case

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed May 21, 2015 for ruling on the preliminary objection by Multichoice Nigeria Limited,

challenging the suit by some Nigerian subscribers, who are praying the court to restrain the company from increasing subscription fees on the Digital Satelite television, DStv, being operated by it.

Resident Doctors down tools in UCH

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E D I C A L appointments, consultation and treatment for Out -Patients have been grounded at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan following an indefinite strike by the Association of Resident Doctors at the hospital.

The deplorable state of infrastructure at the UCH and employment matters informed the industrial action by the

doctors who form greater percentage of physicians at the hospital.

The strike has greatly affected the Out-Patient Department of the UCH as sick persons and their relatives could not access medical care from doctors.

Some of the patients who groan in pains expressed disappointment at the development saying such has added more to their pains.

Osasuyi Adebayo and Oluyinka Oyeniji, both lawyers and plaintiffs in the matter, had filed the class action on behalf of themselves and all other DStv subscribers across the country, praying the court to restrain MultiChoice from implementing the 20 per cent increment on DStv subscription rate which began on April 1, 2015.

They also want the court to compel the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC to regulate the activities of MultiChoice so as to prevent what they described as arbitrary increment in subscription rates.

They also want an implementation of the pay-perview scheme in Nigeria, whereby subscribers would only pay for programmes they watched, as was being done in other parts of the world where MultiChoice operated.

(WASSCE) in the state.

Speaking at the 2015 ministerial press briefing in commemoration of eight years in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, the Commissioner said the state government’s commitment to the provision of quality education that is accessible to all informed the massive and sustained investment in the sector.

Giving the breakdown of achievements in the period under review, Oladunjoye said the introduction of screening tests for students to ensure their preparedness for external examinations has yielded positive results leading to improvements in WAEC results from 17.4 percent in 2011 to 45.8 percent in 2014.

“Bearing in mind that quality teaching and learning can only be attained in a conducive environment, government established four new secondary schools, procured 10,000 pairs of dual desks and benches to public secondary schools, rehabilitated the hostel block at the Lagos State Civil Service Junior Model College, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, and constructed a new boys’ hostel for Badagry Senior Grammar School.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 11

Fayose tackles PDP’s CWC, says he only got N30m for polls

S’Court fixes hearing on Omisore’s appeal for tomorrow

By Leke Adeseri, South West Regional Editor

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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DO EKITI—EKITI State governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday accused the Alhaji Adamu Muazu-led National Working Committee, NWC of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , of selling the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 28 and April 11 general elections.

President Goodluck Jonathan lost to General Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election.

The governor also challenged the NWC to provide evidence of money released to him to prosecute the last elections.

“Only N30 million was received for the last two elections and to the glory of the Almighty God and support of Ekiti people, we won all elections outright,’’ Fayose boasted.

Although he demanded for the mode with which money was released to him by the NWC, authoritative sources said he got N2 billion ecological fund meant to prosecute the elections.

About the CWC’s lacklustre performance, the governor said; “How do we explain the PDP losing so scandalously in Bauchi State, despite the presence of the National Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Minister and the state governor?

“I am even more particular about the National Chairman because he sold the party to the opposition. I have cogent evidences of his unholy alliance with the opposition before the elections and if they go any further, I will expose all his underhand deals.”

Fayose insisted that his call for the dissolution of the Adamu Mu’azu-led National Working Committee (NWC) was in good faith, and in the overall interest of the party.

“I have no apology on my position on the NWC because their responsibility as party leaders does not take away their failure in the last general elections,” Fayose said.

Fayose insisted on the dissolution of the NWC. He said: “In saner climes, when a war commander leads his troop to an embarrassing defeat, such commander does not need anyone to tell him that he needs to leave the war front for

O

BRIEFING: From left; Mrs Wunmi Obe; Mr Tunde Obe, both singers, and Mr Anthony Anifite, Manager, DicotyleDon Entertainment Limited, during the Press Briefing by the Obes on the release of the Fifth Studio Album featuring the 2face, 9ice and Dammy Krane, at 32 Community Road, off Folawewo Street, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja. Lagos. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi. another commander to take over.”

While describing the attack on his person by the NWC as unfortunate, the governor said it was sad that the NWC members, especially the National Chairman were refusing to allow new people to manage the party after managing it into its first national electoral failure.

“I want to say it again that I have no apology for calling for the resignation of the NWC members, especially the National Chairman. After all, someone resigned his position as the National Chairman for Mu’azu to assume office.

“Lastly, let me say it categorically that they can only attempt to destroy this party for the moment, not for ever. Sooner or later, they will all fade away and PDP will rise again,” the governor said.

Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, reiterated his commitment to the PDP, pointing out that if it remained only him in the party, he would continue to defend its cause.

“If it remains only me, I will continue to defend the cause of this party because some people are born to stand up at difficult times, and I believe I am one of such people born to stand up for the PDP at this difficult time,” he said.

No excuse to owe Ekiti workers — APC

Meantime, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State has said Governor Fayose has no reason for non-payment of workers’ salaries, noting that all excuses for the delay are stunts of an insincere administration out to fleece Ekiti money for personal benefit.

Publicity Secretary of the APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, said yesterday, that what Ekiti workers were experiencing in nonpayment of salaries was a systematic defrauding of the state.

He asked workers to reflect on their experiences while Dr Kayode Fayemi was the governor and ask themselves how the former governor was able to pay them regularly while at the same time servicing debt and implementing capital projects but

Fayose could not do either of the two, even when he is not servicing any debt since the last six months.

Wondering why the governor could not pay salaries, Olatubosun said: “Governor Fayose has not paid one kobo of Ekiti debt since he assumed office. He sought moratorium of six months within which there would be no deduction in Ekiti federal allocation. That means Fayose saves N500 million that Fayemi was paying in debt when he was the governor, therefore, the weather-beaten tale that Fayemi left a huge debt behind is boring and unconvincing.

“The Federal Government had refunded N22 billion that Fayemi spent on federal projects. Another N2 billion Ecological Fund had been paid. ‘’Fayose denied payment of Ecological Fund until we obtained FOI Law to expose his lie. He quickly owned up and two weeks later he announced that he had awarded contracts on ecological disasters across the state where the whole N2 billion was spent.

“We are asking Ekiti people to point to any ecological project in their communities to prove the governor right.”

Kashamu sues EFCC, NDLEA over extradition plot’

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and senatorelect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, has dragged the Chairman, National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency and 11 others to court over an alleged plot to extradite him to the United States of America to face trial on alleged drug-related offences.

Kashamu, who instituted a fundamental rights enforcement action before a Federal High Court in Lagos,

is seeking a declaration that the move to abduct and forcibly transport him to the the US amounted to a violation of his right to liberty, freedom of association and freedom of movement as protected by sections 35, 40 and 41 of the Constitution He alleged that the plot was a further move in the political designs of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that he (Kashamu) was denied the opportunity of enjoying the mandate given him to represent his Ogun East Senatorial district in the Senate.

SOGBO—THE Apex Court has fixed hearing in an appeal filed by the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the August 9th governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore for tomorrow.

In an appeal notice issued by the Supreme Court, dated 30th April 2015 and dispatched to all the parties concerned, the court maintained that it would begin the hearing of the appeal.

Omisore appealed against the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, which affirmed the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Court of Appeal had on the 2nd April, 2015 not only dismissed Omisore’s petition for lacking in merit, but went ahead to dismiss it on the ground that the petition was abandoned in gross violation of paragraphs 18 (1) of the first schedule to the Electoral Act,2010 as amended.

The State Election Petition Tribunal had earlier dismissed Omsiore’s petition on February 6th 2015 challenging the victory of Governor Aregbesola at the August 9th Governorship Election in the State for lacking in merit.

APC chieftain, Bamiteko passes on

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State yesterday announced the passing away of its Ekiti North Senatorial Chairman, Mr Abiodun Bamiteko on Friday, May 1, 2015. He was aged 61.

Late Bamiteko was born on December 24, I954. He attended University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo university where he graduated with LLB Hons in 1983 and was called to the bar in 1984. He was a legal practitioner of note.

He ventured into politics and was the PDP senatorial candidate in the 2001 rerun election for Ekiti North Senatorial District. He served as commissioner for Local Government under the administration of Segun Oni between 2007-2010.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

FG downgrades Asaba airport

By Favour Nnabugwu

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, downgraded the Asaba Airport due to alleged failure of Delta State Government to install safety measures for the security of passengers using the airport.

The Federal Government said its decision followed futile attempts by the state government to understand the importance of safety at its airport, thus violating the compliance with safety standards as stipulated in the Nig. CARs Part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3 in respect of the airport runway and its associated facilities as well as adequately trained personnel.

Minister of Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, in Abuja, said the downgrading of the Asaba airport takes immediate effect as the airport would only be allowed the operations of Dash 8-Q 400 aircraft or its equivalent until all the safety measures were guaranteed.

According to him, “The downgrading has been carried out in the public interest

Akpabio lauds A-Ibom Varsity Chancellor at first graduation

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HE Emir of Kazure, Alhaji Naijib Adamu, Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University, has been applauded for the success of the institution as the first set of students recently graduated from the institution.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, when the Emir paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office Uyo, said: “Your presence in the state and as Chancellor of the state university has underscored a lot, which has contributed to the success of the university since its inception five years ago.

“You have always been a success and that’s why the university has been successful today and your presence signifies a bond of brotherhood between you and the state government.”

The governor thanked the University's Governing Council for the success of the institution, assuring the people of the state that the governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel will continue with the educational strides of the present administration.

because the Federal Government places very high premium on the safety and security of aviation passengers and would never compromise set standards for whatever reason.”

The minister assured that the airport would revert to its previous status as soon as all the safety concerns were adequately and satisfactorily

addressed.

“It has therefore, become a matter of serious concern that despite series of meetings with and assurances given by the operators of the airport, the Delta State Government, no concrete steps had been taken to address the issues which are capable of compromising the safety of flight operations and, of course, the passengers.”

It will be recalled that the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, had raised safety concerns over undulations on the airport’s runway, lack of the required strip, perimeter fencing, drainage, as well as lack of adequately trained technical personnel.

CONVOCATION: From left: Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe; the state governor-elect, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, at the first convocation of Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpadem, Mkpat Enin, on Saturday.

Delta Speaker, Police dare workers over PSAN strike

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE strike embarked upon by workers of Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday, suffered a setback as the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Alkali and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Peter Onwusanya, allegedly ordered the breaking of the padlock used in locking the Assembly complex gate by the aggrieved workers.

The House of Assembly workers, under the aegis of

Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PSAN, Delta State Chapter, had Monday, embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid allowances and other labour related issues.

Peeved by the locking of the complex gate, which prevented the lawmakers from gaining access to the complex, the Speaker alerted the police authorities which immediately ordered the forceful opening of the complex.

Onwusanya argued that the

action of PSAN amounted to labour intimidation as it failed to explore dialogue and as such erred by locking the gate of the Assembly even against elected lawmakers.

Reacting to the development, factional chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state, David Ofoeyeno, mobilized other affiliated unions, who joined PSAN members at the entrance of the complex, where they parked their buses and blocked the two entrances to the Assembly complex.

PDP faults Rivers Commissioner on payment of workers' salaries “We recall that only on May 4,

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HE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has expressed shock at the comments credited to the state Information Commissioner, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, that the Rivers State Government was not indebted to workers in the state.

State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obuah, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, said that the commissioner's claim was an insult on the sensibilities of the civil servants who have been subjected to untold hardship as monies meant for their salaries had been diverted to the funding

of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP draws the attention of Mrs. Semenitari to the plight of workers at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, who for the past three months are yet to get their salaries.

“PDP challenges the Information Commissioner to ask workers at the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, RIVCAS, who have been praying and fasting for months over government’s refusal to pay their salaries.

2015, athletes who will be representing Rivers State in the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Calabar, staged a protest to the Government House to demand payment of allowances of several months unpaid salaries.”

It adds that Semenitari should talk to lecturers and teachers in the employ of the state government, workers at the ministries, as well as their counterparts at the parastatals, institutions and agencies of government and hear about the last time they got paid by the government.

APC group wants House of Reps speakership zoned to S-South

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By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN—LEADERS of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South South, yesterday, called on the national leadership of the party to zone the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South South in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.

The leaders, under the aegis of South South Equity Forum, in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Sir Harrison Omagbon and 19 others in Benin, Edo State, endorsed Mr Pally Iriase, the former Secretary to Edo State Government and a ranking member of the House for the position.

Congratulating the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, they charged him to ensure that the South South and South East were not marginalized in the zoning of positions “because we still have elections in 2019.”

Citing the constitution which stipulates equity among the geographical zones in the country in the sharing of positions, the group said: “As a matter of necessity, if the Senate presidency goes to either the North East or North Central, the speakership should go to the South South. While the South West has the Vice President, invariably, the Speakership should come from the South South since the South East has no ranking member.

“In the spirit of give and take and in the interest of inclusive governance, and by every standard, considering the economic importance of the South South geo-political zone, as the goose that lays the golden egg has to be factored into the distribution of high political offices."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—13

DELTA POLLS: Don't go to tribunal, Ogboru, Emerhor urged

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA—FORMER Commissioner on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Johnson Boro, has advised Chief Great Ogboru of Labour Party, LP and Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, against dragging the state governor-elect, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, to the tribunal over the outcome of the just concluded governorship election in Delta State.

Boro, in a chat with Vanguard, in Asaba, yesterday, said such litigations at the tribunal or court would distract the governor-elect.

“Dr Okowa, having won the election, should be allowed to concentrate on the task of governance,” he held.

Congratulating Okowa and his deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, on their landslide victory, Boro said: “Okowa's victory is an act of God, therefore, he should be given the needed support by all stakeholders.”

In a similar development, former Commissioner for Local

Government Affairs, Olorogun Ebenezer Okorodudu, yesterday, congratulated Okowa and his Deputy, Otuaro, on their victory at the April 11 poll.

Okorodudu, who spoke with newsmen, said the victory of

the duo was a testament of the love of Deltans for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, adding that “Dr Okowa is a man Deltans trust. He has been in government since 1999 and he performed creditably in all the

assignments given to him in the past.”

Urging Deltans to give him the needed support, he expressed hope that Okowa will build on the legacies of former Governor James Ibori and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

ART PROGRAMME: Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya (2nd left) explains a point as HRM Okorefe, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor and HRM, Ovie R.L. Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom listen, during the Harmattaan Art programme at the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation in Agbarha-Otor. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Workers give Edo LG boss three-day ultimatum over unpaid salaries

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—WORKERS of Egor Local Government Area in Edo State have given a three-day ultimatum to the council chairman, Mr. Victor Enobakhare, to pay their five months salary arrears or face the consequences.

The staff, who were at the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to protest their unpaid salaries and later to Government House in Benin City, accused the council chairman and treasurer of being insensitive to their plight.

Spokesperson for the workers, Abdul Giwa-Osagie, decried what he described as the nonchalant attitude of the council boss to their welfare.

“We have not heard anywhere that monthly allocation was not received in our council, yet we have not been paid since December.

When the allocation comes, they deduct teachers’ salary and pay them, we don’t know why ours is different.

“A few weeks ago, the governor suspended a council chairman over non-payment of salaries. We are asking the governor to also suspend Egor chairman for the same reason,” he said.

Reacting to the development,

the vice chairman of the council's NULGE, Mrs. Osana Issac, disowned the protesting workers, saying, “they are not staff of the council.”

Mrs. Isaac, however, admitted that the council was owing workers five months salary, but attributed the development to shortfall in

the Federal Allocation to the council.

She said that the council had begun negotiations to pay staff arrears.

Deltans in FCT hail Uduaghan on performance

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By Chris Ochayi

BUJA—DELTA State indigenes resident in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, said yesterday that the outgoing Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s government had laid a solid foundation for a more prosperous Delta State, just as they tasked the in-coming administration to sustain the Delta Without Oil Initiative to enable it meet the youths employment challenge in the state.

Coordinator of the group, Elder Patrick Fufeyin, who addressed newsmen in Abuja, noted that the outgoing administration recorded tremendous achievements in the last eight years.

The drive for a ‘Delta Without Oil’ was an initiative of the outgoing administration of Uduaghan, mainly designed to run the economy of Delta State without oil on the account of depleting resource.

He said: “The Gas Revolution

Industrial Park, GRIP, and the deep sea port, in Ogidigben and Gbamaratu respectively, which the administration influenced to Delta State, among other achievements, remain a springboard to the economic

revolution of the state.”

He added that the group had concluded arrangement to forward a development proposal on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, designed to help the new administration create employment in the state.

DTHA Deputy Majority Leader gets certificate of return

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—DEPUTY Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Johnson Erijo, was yesterday, presented with his certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as member-elect, Isoko South constituency II , following his victory at the April 11, House of Assembly election.

Erijo, who was not presented with certificate of return alongside his colleagues last week, was presented with the certificate by the Director Legal,

INEC headquarters, Abuja, Mr Ibrahim Bawa, on behalf of the commission’s Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega.

Noting that the delay in the presentation of the certificate of return to Erijo was unfortunate, Bawa explained that the delay was due to some legal issues that had been sorted out. He thanked Erijo for his patience and his commitment to due process.

Receiving the certificate, Erijo thanked God for his victory at the poll and constituents for the confidence reposed in him.

RIVERS LG POLLS: APC conducts chairmanship primaries

By Davies Iheamnachor

A

HEAD of the local government elections slated for May 23 in Rivers State by the state Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has conducted its chairmanship primary election.

The primary election was conducted yesterday in the 22 local government areas.

Vanguard gathered that the election was successful in all the councils, although there was misunderstanding among the party members in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, which resulted in a split in the party delegates for the election.

It was gathered that the party had earlier settled for a candidate who was to be presented yesterday, but another candidate who claimed he had already bought his form for the election insisted that the election must hold.

Bayelsa Assembly memberselect receive certificates of return

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday in Yenagoa, presented certificates of return to 22 Bayelsa State House of Assembly members-elect.

Presenting the certificates, state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Baritor Kpagih, charged the legislatorselect to be good representatives of their constituencies, expressing concern that Bayelsa remains the only state with outstanding election in two state constituencies.

Kpagih said: “It is sad to say that Bayelsa is the only state in the country that still has outstanding election in two out of the 24 state constituencies. I urge you to keep preaching the gospel of peace in the two councils where elections are still inconclusive.”

14—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY:

US applauds Nigerian Media

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

T

HE US Consul General, Jeffery Hawkins has applauded the Nigerian journalists on their reporting ethics during the Nigerian general elections, saying that the media has proven its worth to shaping electoral processes.

In his opening remarks at this year’s World Press Freedom Day Programme held at the Public Affairs Section, PAS, of US Consulate, which focused on the performance of the Nigerian news media covering the 2015 elections, Hawkins said that the media and the Nigerian people effectively played constructive roles in ensuring successful and largely peaceful 2015 elections.

President Obama’s congratulatory message to Nigerians over the elections, read: “The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria’s commitment to the tenets of democratic principles,” the CG, who appeared delightful, commended the news media in offering a satisfactory platform to politicians during the campaign season.

Also, speaking at the forum, the President Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Femi Adesina, who lectured the forum on the ‘Influence of media owners on fair and balanced reporting and commentaries in 2015 election coverage, faulted the influence of newspaper owners to credible reportage.

According to him, owners of newspapers constitute the boundary to which a reporter can go.

He pointed out that although there were several hate speeches, advertorials which ordinarily may cause ripples in the society, they could not do much to averting them.

His words: “One major issue in the elections reporting, were hate speeches, which could not have been if the newspaper owners did not endorse them.

"Although the media became polarized, the owners' influence were much, as they set rules on how far journalists can go.

Only a few journalists can go against that position.”

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From prison, ex-MINT boss, Okoyomon, begs A-Court to stay his extradition to UK

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Security, Minting and Printing Company, NSMPC, Mr. Ehidiamhen Okoyomon, who is currently in prison custody, yesterday, begged the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja to stay his extradition to the United Kingdom to face criminal charges.

He was remanded in prison on Monday by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

A District Court in the UK had earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Okoyomon who was declared wanted over his alleged complicity in a bribery scam that involved officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the NSMPC and Securency International Pty of Australia.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in Nigeria, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, told the Federal High Court that the said crime was allegedly committed between 2006 and 2008.

On the strength of an extradition application and the accompanying proof-of-evidence that was adduced before the court by the AGF, Justice Chukwu, ordered the federal government to within 30 days, extradite the accused person to the UK. The plea of the ex-Mint boss to be allowed to face his trial in Nigeria was refused by the court which observed that he is equal a British citizen.

Furthermore, Justice Chukwu

noted that the accused person, all through his submissions, made no attempt to refute the corruption charge that is pending against him in the UK, even as the court ordered that he should remain in prison custody until the extradition process is perfected.

Specifically, the court held that the 1931 Extradition Treaty between United Kingdom and America became applicable to Nigeria in 1935, hence “it is an existing law based on the meaning of Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution”.

The judge maintained that the London Scheme on Extradition was duly domesticated in the country by virtue of Section 12 of the Constitution.

Among exhibits the court admitted into evidence against Okoyomon included an affidavit that was deposed to by one Tapan Debnah, a solicitor with the Serious Fraud Office, SFO, of England, which was sworn before a Westminster Magistrate Court.

The affidavit gave a summary of the allegations against the accused, the punishment prescribed for the offences and the jurisdiction of the court to try the matter.

The AGF, through his lawyer, Mr. M.S Hassan, equally tendered the Certified True Copy of the charge against the former MINT boss, the warrant of arrest issued by a District Judge in the UK, an investigative report on oath deposed to by one Brenda Smith White before the Westminster Magistrate Court, a photograph of the accused person for easy identification, as well as a letter notifying the accused of his success in his application for

British citizenship.

Hassan told the court that the UK government earlier notified the accused in advance of all the documents that will be used in his prosecution, stressing that Okoyomon would be given fair trial considering that he is also a British citizen.

Meantime, Okoyomon has asked the Court of Appeal to set

aside the order for his extradition to the UK for trial.

In a Notice of Appeal he filed through his lawyer Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), Okoyomon insisted that Justice Chukwu erred in law when he ordered his extradition to the UK despite the absence of a treaty between Nigeria and UK government.

VISIT: From left, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku; Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Zonal Business Head, Public Sector, North West, Ecobank Nigeria, Sani Shuaibu Adamu, when Ecobank Nigeria Management paid a courtesy visit to the Emir, in Kano

Reps set to consider Petroleum Industry Bill next week

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

BUJA—THE House of Representatives is to commence consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, next week.

Deputy speaker of the House, Rep Emeka Ihedioha who disclosed this at yesterday’s plenary announced that clean copies of the report of its ad hoc committee on the bill has been circulated to lawmakers.

Vanguard recalls that the ad hoc committee led by the House Chief Whip, Rep Ishaku Mohammed Bawa, PDP, Taraba had presented the report, in March 2015 after almost three years of its assignment.

The committee had scrutinised the whole 363 sections and annexures of the original bill and made some amendments and recommendations.

The 23-member ad hoc committee had held public hearings in the six geopolitical zones, including the Federal

Capital Territory ,FCT, which afforded stakeholders and general public the opportunity to make contributions to the law.

The original bill covered salient areas such as establishment of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, incorporation of National Gas Company, establishment of

petroleum directorate and National Asset Management Company as well as imposition of new tax regime such as Nigeria Carbon Tax. In the report, the committee recommended the “complete removal” of section 191 of the bill that gives the president

discretional powers to grant petroleum licences and lease and instead proposed biddings for the award of licences.

Vanguard recalls that the 7th Assembly killed the PIB at the very last minute of its existence in June 2011.

Jonathan's earned Nigeria international respect —Anyaoku

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA—FORMER Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has said that by conceding defeat even before the presidential election result was fully announced, President Goodluck Jonathan has earned for the country “a great deal of international respect and admiration.”

Addressing State House

correspondents after the final meeting of the Presidential Advisory Committee on International Relations with President Jonathan, Chief Anyaoku said Nigeria and Nigerians owe the out-going president a huge debt of gratitude.

Chief Anyaoku, who is the chairman of the committee said: “We had an excellent valedictory meeting. It is the last for our council, it is the last we are meeting with the outgoing President.

“We told him that our nation, Nigeria, owes him a huge debt of gratitude for what he has done in terms of the success of the elections, and above all, in terms of the gesture of picking up the telephone and congratulating the Presidentelect even before the final results of the elections were announced.

"That singular act has earned our country a great deal of admiration and respect abroad."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 15

By Francis Igata ENUGU—ENUGU State governor, Sullivan Chime boasted, yesterday, night that the state House of Assembly cannot impeach him.

Chime, who addressed newsmen at Government House, Enugu, said the Eugene Odoled faction of the State House of Assembly and 13 others who, he described as clowns, allegedly demanded money from him, adding that the fight was all about money.

Chime was reacting to the directive by the 14 of the 24 members to the Clerk of the House, Christopher Chukwurah, to serve an impeachment notice on him (Chime) earlier yesterday.

However, in a swift reaction, Speaker Odo said Chime lied, wondering why a person occupying an exalted office of governor would tell bare-faced lies.

Governor Chime had stressed that the assembly men were fighting a lost battle as he would not be impeached since there were processes that would lead to the impeachment of a governor which the faction would never achieve in their bid to remove him.

Asking newsmen not to water down his harsh words for House members, he said: ‘’The office of governor is not like that of the Speaker that you can blow siren to the office and go home on Okada (commercial motorcycle). ‘’They (assemblymen) are not aware of the constitutional provisions relating to impeachment. Let me use this word stupid. I have been hearing all sorts of things as reasons for their recent attacks on my lieutenants, heads of departments and commissioners since last month or so.

“They called them and were questioning them on all sorts of things that happened even in my first tenure. Their dream impeachment will never see the light of day. ‘’I want my defence to see the light of day. The Office of Governor is a very serious office.

You do not just wake up one morning and you start thinking of impeachment. The section of the constitution that deals with impeachment is 188. It deals with how the governor or deputy will be removed from office.

“At least one-third of the House is required to sign a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the holder of the office.

So, the House has 24 members.

Eight of them are expected to sign that notice.

“Under subsection two, the Speaker is expected to have received the notice of allegation, cause a copy of that notice to be served on me within seven days.

"After they have gone through that hurdle; within 14 days of presentation of the notice to the Speaker, the House is enjoined to pass a resolution, stating that the allegation should be investigated. I am referring to subsection three.

“The Speaker must get the House, to resolve through a motion, the resolution which must C M Y K

CHIME BOASTS: I can't be

impeached

.He lied; he's a frustrated being – Speaker Odoh

MASSOB faction disowns leader

By Vincent Ujumadu

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Presidential candidate and Chairman, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie (2nd left), and Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari (middle), and other leaders of UPP party, during their visit to the President-elect, in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan be supported by two-thirds of its members. That is sub-section four.

And it must be by all members of the House. So all this talk about suspension of House members is nonsense. So long as you are a member, you must be part of this.

“So, two-thirds of all the members, in our case, is 16. I am (not) quite sure they know what they are doing. I do not know the stage they are in now. Is it the stage of presenting the allegation or what? The constitution requires two-third to pass the resolution.

"Nobody has served me the notice of allegation. By their own showing, they are 14 members including the Speaker who should not be counted. So they are 13. That is why they have not activated anything.

“They need 14 days to get the notice of allegation from its members. When that happens, they will require another seven days to pass the resolution. If they are successful, the Chief Judge will be enjoined by the Speaker to constitute a seven-man panel and submit its report within three months. So, I am not quite sure if they are investigating me or the incoming governor. Because before they even set up the panel, I am out of this place.

“That is the stupidity and folly of what they have set out to do.

They are all looking for money which I do not have. Fourteen of them cannot activate this process.

No Chief Judge will listen to them. The allegation of forgery in the 2012 budget of N12 billion is false. The supplementary budget of 2012 was revised. Money was re-allocated for certain projects and no extra money was incurred.

I am not quite sure they know the meaning of forgery. The allegation of forgery came to me as a rude shock.

“The N11billion loan they are talking about was approved by the House in November last year.

The resolution approving the loan was dated November 13, 2014.

The resolution authorized me to borrow the money from United Bank of Africa, UBA, to re-finance part of the loan from Guarantee Trust Bank, GTB. “I excitedly endorsed the resolution and passed it to the Commissioner for Finance. It is

the same bunch of clowns that are now going round telling the world that few weeks to my exit, I am going around borrowing money when they had approved it. We had immediately drawn down the money. What went wrong was that UBA later said that they needed an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO. “We issued it to them and they said, that they needed the House of Assembly to endorse that also.

We told the bank that it is the executive that will pay the money that they do not need the House endorsement of the ISPO. And that was resolved.

"Somewhere along the line, the House felt that the administration was coming to an end, that it was time to make money out of it. The House leadership came requesting for money. The leadership of the House came to me shamelessly and asked me to give them money. That it was the agreement of the House. The Speaker confirmed the House’s stand. I told them I will not be part of it. Whatever they are doing is all about money.’’

Odoh reacts However, reacting to Chime’s allegations against his members, calling them criminals and frustrated, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Euguene Odoh said: “Chime is the most frustrated human being on earth.

He is using the Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature to intimidate us and withdraw our security personnel. ‘’Why should a man who is occupying an exalted position of governor lie? Chime is lying. Let him tell the people of the state whether I have asked for any contract from him since I became the Speaker of the House of Assembly. Let him tell the world the personal demands we have made from him. ‘’We are not indigents. There are several ways of making money in government. Let him (Chime) tell the world whether he has approved any special travel abroad or any personal favours for me. If we were greedy, we would have approved the loan for him and asked for our share. ‘’He said he paid us half salary

in February out of pity. That shows the impunity we are talking about. Is it a personal favour to pay us our salaries. Is it his personal money? What he is saying is that he deliberately denied us our rights. ‘’In a democracy, the Legislature has the responsibility to make laws while Executive implements such laws. Is he saying that because it is the responsibility of the Executive to pay us salaries that he is now doing us a special favour? He should stop lying to the people...”

Ugwuanyi brokers truce The two factions of the assembly men, one led by Odo and the other led by Chinedu Nwamba met, yesterday, at the residence of the governor-elect,Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and resolved to sheathe their swords for two weeks.

Hon. Michael Onyeze, representing Igbo-Eze North 1 constituency who spoke on the peace meeting said,”no outsider instigated the crisis. It emanated as a result of misunderstanding between the Executive and Legislature. The governor-elect has provided a platform for peace and reconciliation.

“Ugwuanyi has agreed to wade into the matter, that is why we are giving him a chance. All of us desire peace. Once he calls us within this period we'll answer.

We have agreed that the House will be under lock and key unless there is an emergency.

“Government will not be shut down. We are not carrying out legislative duties within these two weeks."

At the time of going to the press, the Chief of Staff to Chime, Victor Atuonwu had requested Odoh to surrender government vehicles in his possession as ‘’former Speaker,’’ but the Speaker resisted, saying that eight members of the House cannot pass a resolution over-riding the resulution of 14 members.

It was said that Atuonwu asked Odoh to relinquish possession of his official vehicles after attempts by the Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the governor to retrieve the vehicles failed.

WKA—A FACTION of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has disowned one Ndubuisi Igwekani who recently claimed to be the leader of the group with headquarters at Okwe, Imo State.

MASSOB Director of Information, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said in statement in Awka, yesterday, that the position of a new leader was still vacant, adding that the organization was yet to shortlist anybody to replace Chief Ralph Uwazurike who was removed as the leader of MASSOB by the faction.

The statement read: “We are still consulting with other progressive Biafran groups at home and in the Diaspora. MASSOB does not want to commercialize the position of the leader.

"It is not something one can just wake up and start issuing statements and claiming to be the leader of MASSOB without consulting or intimating other executive members."

Enugu indigenes in Anambra back Ezea for ministerial slot

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA—AS the tussle for appointments of the All Progressives Congress, APC, members into the Federal Executive Council, FEC, positions in the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari hots up, Enugu State indigenes resident in Anambra State have thrown their weight behind the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State, Mr Okey Ezea, for appointment as a minister from the coal city state.

The group, which converged on Onitsha, under the aegis of Enugu Concerned Citizens Forum, ECCF, noted in a press statement, yesterday, that considering what Ezea had contributed in building the party to run for governor on its platform, he deserved the ministerial position.

16—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

We trained 5,000 on early child education, says ENSUBEB chairman

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N U G U — CHAIRMAN of Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, Ms Nneka Onuora, has said the board trained no fewer than 5,000 teachers on early child education within two years.

Onuora told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Enugu that the feat was part of efforts to overhaul the sector and make it functional.

The chairman said that the training covered up to primary three, adding that the mandate was to train up to the secondary level.

According to her, since I assumed office in June 2013, we are faced with myriads of challenges, including delayed payment of salaries and we are faced with a confused board.

“There are other issues such as non-motivated teachers, dilapidated infrastructure, poor morale of workers and lack of instructional material and supervision of schools.

“It is reflected on our teachers and that is why we decided to go back to the basics,” she said.

She said the education sector over the years had been neglected by successive administrations.

The ENSUBEB chairman said that many public schools in the state were in dire need of rehabilitation, instructional materials and desks.

She said the board had distributed 365 pseudopodia tables to public schools in the state, while 500 other projects, including renovation was ongoing in various schools.

BRIEFING: Cross section of leaders of pardoned war veterans' social association after the press briefing and meeting, calling on the Federal Government to pay their approved pension arrears, in Enugu, yesterday.

Police arrest 5 over attack on Benue royal father

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—BENUE State police command has arrested five persons in connection with last weekend’s attack on the residence and palace of the Chairman of the Makurdi Council of Chiefs and Ter Makurdi, Chief Sule Abenga.

The Benue state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Austine Ezeani, yesterday told Vanguard in a telephone interview that investigations into the matter was still ongoing.

He said the command had drafted a detachment of Mobile Police officers to the residence to forestal further attacks on the

ELTA STATE Council of Traditional Rulers and other recognized traditional rulers had expressed their profound gratitude to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and his deputy, Professor Amos Utuama, for their unprecedented contribution towards the welfare of traditional rulers in Delta State.

The rulers stated that despite the current wave of industrial, economic and social development, "the tenet of our culture and communal living

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to the root of the matter in order to ensure that peace reigns.”

Vanguard recalls that last Saturday morning, aggrieved youths in the town sacked the palace of the paramount ruler of Makurdi town, over the alleged involvement of one of the Chief’s sons in series of alleged criminal activities in the town.

FG cautions board members on VCs' function ..As it constitutes 16 universities and 4 polytechnics' councils

By Laide AkinboadeOriere

A

BUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday, warned members of newly constituted governing councils of 12 universities, 4 polytechnics and National Library of Nigeria not to hijack the constitutional roles of management of the institutions.

The Minister of Education, Malam ibrahim Shekarau, stated this in Abuja while inaugurating the governing councils.

He decried issues of interference in the management of their respective institutions, stressing that council members wee suppose to be more concerned with policy issues.

He also warned against the embezzlement of funds and that council members should compare

notes with government policies to help in decision making.

Shakarau said: “The councils of institutions are constituted according to the extant laws establishing them. ‘’The councils so constituted at the pleasure of Mr. President shall have four years tenure for the universities and three years tenure for the polytechnics, from the date of inauguration, provided the councils are not found

IMSG's not owing Imo teachers

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—THE Imo State government has dismissed reports that it was owing teachers 13 months salary arrears.

Reacting angrily to the news report on behalf of the state

government, Governor Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the authors made the news item look so real.

“The truth of the matter is that the Imo State Government is not owing the primary school teachers 13 months arrears of salary. The primary school teachers in the state have

WELFARE: Delta traditional rulers thank Gov Uduaghan

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palace.

Ezeani said: “the Area Commander in charge of Makurdi, has also initiated peace moves among residence of Welfare Quarters, where the palace is located in order to find lasting solution to the crisis.

“Though investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and I can assure you that the police will get

should not be put away or regarded as obsolete."

They unanimously made the statement during their meeting in their secretariat complex in Asaba, recently.

The Chairman of the Council, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, noted that previously their meetings were irregular as a result of paucity of funds, but in Governor Uduaghan’s magnanimity, they can now meet regularly.

They commended Uduaghan’s

administration for the priority given to the traditional rulers, noting that during his tenure, five per cent of local government allocation was approved for them as well as the recent provision of Toyota Land Cruiser (SUV) as official vehicles to members of the council, amongst other numerous benefits.

The royal fathers also used the occasion to express implicit confidence in Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta Governor-elect and his deputy, Kingsley Otuaro.

always received their salary as at when due,” Onwuemeodo said.

He alleged that those behind the false report, in their effort to make it look real, had also claimed that the governor made the pledge while addressing the workers in the state during the Workers’ Day celebration.

Onwuemeodo noted that it was interesting to note that both the report published in the newspapers and the one in the social media had any by-line.

“None of the reports in the newspapers and the one in the social media had no by-line. In other words, the report was fictitious,” Onwuemeodo said The governor’s media aide claimed that the false report was authored by Imo Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, adding that they did it as part of their anger after the party’s abysmal outing in the just concluded governorship election.

wanting on issues of accountability, transparency and due process. However, a council can be dissolved by the visitor at any time.

“The councils shall exercise their powers in accordance with the laws and statutes establishing each university or Polytechnic.

Government constitutes governing councils of institutions for the purpose of governance, good management, growth and development. ‘’The councils will, therefore, be free to discharge their functions and exercise their responsibilities accordingly.

“Let me reiterate that effective governance neither entails nor necessitates interference of councils in the day-to-day running of institutions.”

The minister also said the members should ensure that funds allocated by government were judiciously utilized and also come up with ideas that would generate more revenue outside government allocations.

The 12 universities include Federal University, Lokoja, Lafia, Kashere, Wukari, Dutsin-Ma, Dutse, Ndufu, Alike, Oye-Ekiti, Otuoke, Birnin-Kebbi, Gusau, and Federal University, Gashua.

The polytechnics are Federal Polytechnic of Oil & Gas, Bonny, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, and National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi.

The Governing Board of the National Library of Nigeria was also constituted.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 17

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S we sit and watch our leaders bicker over cabinet positions and appointments, in other climes, more fundamental issues are being argued. The idea of institutionalised racism and the plight of African-Americans in a society built on prejudice and white supremacy is not a new one.

Police brutality, the criminalisation of an entire population, has led to protests and increasingly violent riots, most recently in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The idea that in industrialised, modern societies apparently built on ideals of justice and freedom, some citizens still feel marginalised or are considered by others as “second-class” is interesting for us operating in a society where rather than race we use ethnicity and poverty as a tool to discriminate, disenfranchise and oppress entire segments of our population.

Equity and Justice for all in the United States are principles enshrined in the US Constitution. In fact, its preamble speaks of the “general welfare” and ensuring “the blessings of liberty” which is ironic because at the time, slavery was still thriving and black people were only regarded as “three-fifths” of a person.

Many of the Founding Fathers of America (e.g.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both brilliant men) were slave owners, the Constitution was therefore not written with black rights in mind.

But they existed in a different time that allowed discrimination, our time does not or rather, should not continue to allow the unjustified shooting and killing of innocent black men by police officers. But, no matter how much I sympathise with those who suffer injustice of any kind, I am not an American, my attention is required elsewhere as there are still too many basic and fundamental injustices to attend to here in Nigeria.

Fundamental injustices But the situation in America offers an apt comparison. Both societies are obsessed with race/ethnicity: our Constitution makes grand statements about peace and “consolidating the unity of our people” hence why it is mandatory in Nigeria for cabinet positions to reflect “federal character ” by including one representative for each state, allowing bloated, inefficient governments rather than promoting competence which would give the people the true representation, through development, they deserve.

It is easier to find cosmetic solutions to ethno-religious diversity than to deal with the complexity of inclusively balancing such variety and in America, the post-racial society C M Y K

tprincewill@yahoo.co.uk

Baltimore riots: Parallels between institutionalised injustice in Nigeria and America is revealing itself to be a myth.

Certain people have wealth and others do not: it is perhaps the way of the world. But when the have-nots also happen to be of a particular ethnicity or religion (which is sometimes

In both Nigeria and the US, the middle class is in sharp decline whereas the “super rich” have never been richer

different from the majority), as we have seen with insurgency in Nigeria, trouble is never far away. The global economy has pushed our social preferences towards allocating resources based on individualistic, competitive rather than cooperative outcomes where we hope not only to ensure our personal success but to also diminish the prospects of others.

In both Nigeria and the US, the middle class is in sharp decline whereas the “super rich” have never been richer.

In America, wages have stagnated over the past 40 years.

It is not easy to get up to date statistics for Nigeria but I would be surprised if ordinary Nigerians were getting richer.

In fact, like in America, ordinary people are working much more and much harder but getting paid less (the exchange rate and

current value of the Naira should support this theory).

Like in America, our government and financial system adore and embrace passive assets, or “unearned income”, not attributable to labour but rather to ownership and monopolisation which do not create wealth for the majority: real estate, stocks, private jets, oil wealth, have not been allowed to work for the greater number of people.

Policymakers in America, the IMF and the World Bank Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the like are so enamoured with, are recipients and agents of such a system which favours primarily rich, White interests.

So it is no surprise that this self-serving ideology has created nightmarish scenarios all around: the global financial collapse in 2007 and systemic social violence against minorities, trapped in cycles of

Buhari’s alleged AIT ban

W

E Nigerians never seem to plan for the future or realise that our actions (especially wrongdoings) might have repercussions: the impunity we have accepted from our leaders also extends to the private values and morals we no longer expect from each other.

So, General Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to forget the “hate campaigns” from the presidential elections which were carried out by both state-owned and private media, who operated as if all truly is fair in love and war (it is not, there are rules, laws which guide modern day warfare, in the interest of all and even the game of love has family courts to protect the innocent). Going into politics does not mean one surrenders the right to privacy or humane treatment but the system itself, in Nigeria, allows and encourages people to act without common decency.

Where are the bodies in charge of regulating the media and communications? Where is the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, responsible for ethical advertising practice? Will they check or fine anyone guilty of misleading statements and

National Broadcasting Commission, NBC? Hate speech is intolerable, especially from journalists whose impartial reports mould opinion and no amount of money from politicians should compromise this. Media ethics are something the new ministers for information and communication should focus on to save some Nigerians from themselves.

•Muhammadu President-elect

Buhari,

poverty. In our country, the consequences of blindly copying America are much more dire: we are trapped (in a way, much like ordinary Americans) feeling like we are doing better (Nigeria has successfully done three democratic hand overs, our economy is the largest in Africa) whereas the deep structural imbalances keeping us from lasting peace and prosperity remain. Nigeria and in some ways, America, is rich on paper: the rich get their money through passive incomes (political appointments and contracts for us, stocks and asset management for them) and ironically, government spends less on lower-income earners than it does on those who can afford to stand on their own two feet.

Why does the Nigerian government sponsor people to go on pilgrimages then claim it cannot afford scholarships?

Why is the Nigerian presidential fleet so large if there are over 10 million children out of school?

Political representation If the American story is one of race, class and neglect as the New York Times called it, ours is simply one of plunder. But in both cases, alienation and poverty are at the root of the problems currently encountered. Political representation in America has ceased to create upward mobility and wealth for those at the bottom.

In Nigeria, I wonder if it ever did.

Much like America, it is not simply private individuals who take advantage of the poor, it is the state itself, federal policy that strips the poor of their prospects. Violence in Nigeria and America is a fact citizens live with and I am sickened by our collective lack of response: what has been our response to the ordeal of the women the military rescued from Boko Haram?

We are born into a system where we surrender everything to those who already have it all. Baba, this change must not be just on paper: Nigerians are ready to assist our leaders to do right by us. That is, those who earn money from wages not connections. We are ready to take it back from the rent-collectors and profiteers.

Osinbajo’s reforms

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Going into politics does not mean one surrenders the right to privacy or humane treatment exaggerations, as is their mandate? What about the

HE Vice-Presidentelect, P r o f Yemi Osinbajo, says wealthy Nigerians will be made to declare and reveal the source of their wealth.

I hope the APC is ready to put serious, wellmeaning Nigerians in charge of the National Orientation Agency so that these welcome social reforms will have lasting consequences: it is not just politicians who must change their attitude to wealth, ordinary Nigerians must also be re-acquainted with the values of hard work, honesty and contentment.

•Prof Osinbajo

Tabia Princewill is a strategic communications consultant and public policy analyst. She is also the co-host and executive producer of a talk show, WALK THE TALK which airs on Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 THE rapidity of the increasing open verbal exchanges between officials of the departing government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari should worry anyone interested in appropriate decorum for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – a creation of the Constitution and distinction between the office and its occupant.

Both sides set up teams for a successful transition from a government run by one party to another party, just like the election that produced the new government. The meetings hardly began before the teams started accusing each other openly. Jonathan’s team alleged that Buhari’s group was behaving like “a parallel government”. Jonathan’s people must realise they are on their way out, the in-coming government retorted. The grounds for the confrontations were set well before the elections, when the All Progressives Congress, APC, raised an alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government was looting the treasury in its final days. They provided no scintilla of evidence to justify

For Smooth Handover such grave allegation.

It is understandable that this being the first time that we are witnessing a transfer of power from a ruling party to a victorious opposition, friction could exist. Even in more advanced democracies, it sometimes happens.

Maturity and patriotism are needed to handle the issues. Each side must accord utmost respect and courtesy to the other. The insults should cease with the campaigns.

President Jonathan’s gamely concession of the election, we believe, has set the tone for the new attitude to politics in Nigeria. It is possible that some are inclined to ignore the significance, even importance, of Jonathan’s action. He should not be reminded, at every

turn, that he was defeated. Many politicians fear the humiliation from defeat, which may explain their temptation to cling to power at all costs. Some African conflicts result from such undemocratic conducts.

In a democracy, positions change with voters’ decisions. Those who gloat in the euphoria of victory may next suffer the bruise of defeat. It is only when our politicians learn to be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat that lessons of the 2015 elections could have fuller meanings.

With Jonathan’s tenure expiring on 29 May, the in-coming APC presidency should focus on the enormity of the tasks ahead of it, particularly, fulfilling its campaign promises of changing Nigeria for the benefit of its peoples.

There is no point dissipating energy on empty squabbles and creating unnecessary distractions from the tasks ahead. Nigerians expect both sides to part ways nicely, always bearing in mind the need to continue to accord the highest office in the land the dignity it deserves, and extending same to its legitimate occupant.

OPINION Understanding the imperatives of the IPSAS reform initiative

BY AUSTIN NWOYE

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AST week, precisely April 28, 2015, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, was represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, at the launch of IPSAS Accrual Accounting Manual in Nigeria. He was to capture the significance of the event by describing the development of the Accrual Accounting Manual “as a pivotal milestone and deliverable towards the implementation of IPSAS in Nigeria’’. He also stated that the Manual being launched has been developed as a comprehensive guideline for the practice of IPSAS compliant Accrual- Accounting in public sector entities across the Federation. He added that it had been carefully put together to meet the needs and aspirations of all officers involved across the three tiers of government.

The Vice President then urged all the stakeholders to comply fully with the adoption of the Manual, accept and embrace it for use as it comes on board by January 1, 2016.

Before July 10, 2010, the standard accounting practice in Nigeria left much to be desired due to observable lapses in financial reporting among public sector entities, a development that put a big question mark on issues bordering on transparency and accountability in government financial transactions. The situation, however, took a turn for the better when the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee, FAAC, approved the setting-up of a technical sub- committee to chart the road map

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for the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards, IPSAS, by all tiers of Government. Since then the process has been nurtured to the point where the Manual is presently ready for use. It is note -worthy that the development and launch of this IPSAS Accrual Manual was facilitated by the resilient, leadership of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, who also doubled as Chairman, FAAC IPSAS Committee.

Mr Otunla’s contribution in this regard was acknowledged and appreciated by the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Damladi Kifasi, who commended him(Otunla) and the subcommittee members on IPSAS for putting together such Manual and also advised all Treasury Officers to be above board in their duties.

The question most uninformed readers are bound to ask is: What is IPSAS, and why do we need to adopt it in Nigeria? Well, those in a position to know will readily tell you that IPSAS is an internationally acceptable form of

The successful deployment of these reform initiatives clearly define Mr Otunla’s tenure as one who made a difference when it mattered most

reporting across the globe that enhances accountability and comparability. We have also been reliably informed that the adoption of IPSAS in Nigeria will enhance transparency and accountability in financial reporting.

But it has also emerged that there is a lot more to do to harness its operational benefits. This is because development requires more investments in human capital, rural-urban integration, reduction in poverty, creating jobs and wealth as well as provision of health care.

These developmental activities require increase in capital expenditure. To finance such expenditure, we have been told, reform like this must be put in place to generate and collect revenue due to government. Reform is 10% design and 90% implementation. It requires a great deal of boldness and these imitatives have helped save funds that were previously paid to ghost workers to the tune of over N150 billion and have also flushed out over 50 thousand ghost workers from the payroll.

It is also on record that the reforms succeeded in averting attempts to divert or misappropriate funds in MDAs, thus forcing a premature short down which resulted in the delayed payment of salaries by some MDA in December 2014. This indeed is a clear proof of what has been achieved.

Remarkably, the IPSAS is one of several Public Financial Management, PFM, reform initiatives introduced and being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Finance under the auspices of the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, OAGF. The other

key ones include the e-payment, Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS; Treasury Single Account, TSA; Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, IPPIS; Modernisation of Internal Audit and Cash Management System.

The e-payment or e – collection, it must be noted, is part of Treasury contribution towards increasing government cash flow at a time of severe cash squeeze. It is expected to drive the current policy on TSA and GIFMIS. The TSA came as a response to improve the cash management capabilities of the Federal Government of Nigeria. It came into being in April 2012.

GIFMIS is a sub-component of the ERGP which supports the public resource management and targets anti-corruption initiatives through modernising fiscal processes using better methods, techniques and information technology.

As for the IPPIS, the objective is to create a centralised database system for Nigerian public service with single, accurate source of employee information that provides integration with other business applications to aid government manpower planning and decision making.

The successful deployment of these reform initiatives clearly define Mr Otunla’s tenure as one who made a difference when it mattered most, and therefore he truly deserves all the accolades being showered on him for his outstanding performance. He is one who painstakingly devotes energy to ensuring that the government financial system gets better for the benefit of all, both in the private and public sectors. *Mr Nwoye, a financial expert, wrote from Abuja

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—19 —19 Send Opinions & Letters to: opinions1234@yahoo.com

Xenophobic irruption, diplomatic farce and Goodluck Jonathan

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UST when the number of days he has left in Abuja could be counted off one’s fingers or reeled off without much thought, President Goodluck Jonathan finally did what any leader who is in control of his turf does: takes the hard decisions. He ordered the suspension of the permanent secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The PS, Danjuma Sheni, allegedly recalled the Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, or caused to be released statement to the effect that President Jonathan had recalled the country’s High Commissioner to South Africa, without clearing from the president. It is a little hazy what actually transpired. What is known from the entire episode is that Ambassador Sheni was in the centre of what is now said to be the unauthorized recall of Nigeria’s High commissioner to South Africa following the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African immigrants in South Africa.

In the wake of these horrendous attacks, images emerged of how nationals from other parts of Africa, their property and businesses, were made targets of vicious hate attacks, leaving many to wonder what could justify such treatment. Many countries supported and worked hard for the liberation of South Africa from apartheid rule. Nigeria for one was declared a frontline state by the Murtala Mohammed regime, as a sign of its total commitment to the liberation struggles in South Africa. Nigeria’s oil revenue went into fighting apartheid and many young South Africans had their higher educational training in Nigeria on Nigeria’s bill. It was therefore with righteous anger that Nigerians called for reprisal action from Nigeria against South Africa that has major business interests in the country.

In spite of these calls there was no evidence of Nigerian casualties.

Even now, there haven’t been any reported cases of deaths. Yet the images of people being kicked

around, thrown on the floor as their businesses were set alight were enough to fuel real anger. Given its usual lethargy in responding to such cases or coming to the rescue of Nigerians in circumstances like these, Nigerians were quick to call on Abuja to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa even as they wanted the government to respond vigorously to the outrage from South Africa. It didn’t sound strange, therefore, when news went out that Nigeria had recalled her High Commissioner in South Africa.

Perhaps, it was the response from the South African government that Nigeria overreacted to the attacks by recalling her High Commissioner, or the realisation that only a few Nigerians were indeed affected in the attacks that got Abuja reflecting again. But it was soon being bruited that Nigeria had not recalled her High Commissioner. Some other reports had it that the Nigerian High Commissioner had truly been recalled. The report went back and forth until the presidency, through Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesperson, finally weighed in with the information that

Some of these minders do very often cry more than the bereaved and only a perceptive leader can be alert to their more devious ways

So now what becomes of the Niger Delta?

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HIS question which agitates the minds of an ever larger number of citizens in the Niger Delta ought to underline every domestic policy consideration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari,as he gets ready to assume office,and of the leaders of the victorious All Progressives Congress. The voting pattern in the election that saw to Buhari and APC making history as the first opposition candidate and party to defeat a sitting president and the ruling party may have led to other geo-political regions assuming centre-stage in the inevitable jostling for political appointments and relevance. For obvious reasons, however, it would be a grave error to mistake the current calm in the creeks for the Niger Delta’s acceptance of its political annihilation to go with its economic expropriation and environmental despoiliation. If any sociopolitical issue poses a highly inflammable problem and a potent pitfall to President Buhari’s vision of change, it is the still simmering anger of the Niger Delta. And not merely from any so-called “gang-up of the North and South-west” to deny their son a second term, as some aggrieved indigenes claim.

I believe it is not necessary to spell out the reasons why the Niger Delta crisis is the National Question in microcosm and any sensate adult who needs to be told why is a sworn enemy of Nigeria. Happily, Buhari does not need to be reminded of the place of that simmering wetland in the political economy of the nation.

Simply put, our economic security, and arguably, our corporate integrity, depends on that harried region’s peace and tranquillity. Perhaps, it is too soon to ask him for his Niger Delta “Marshall Plan,” a comprehensive programme of

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transforming that seething swamp of anger and resentment into a hub of infrastructural and human resource development, a glittering belt of petrochemicaland metallurgical investment and job creation that would drive Nigeria’s industrial revolution.

It is not too early, however, to ask that the Niger Delta be—to use the political language of the times—"adequately represented” in the change government.

If the geo-political regions flexing their muscles over the zoning or sharing of key public offices are staking their claims on their votes, the Niger Delta can make an even more compelling claim: its resources, the veritable oil that keeps the wheels and joints of the creaky nation lubricated and able to function at all. At any rate, a democracy presupposes differences in voting patterns and requires healthy dissent. And citizens must have

In a clamorous multiethnic society such as ours, further bifurcated by two foreign religions, who gets what in the allocation of political benefits,especially now that every region cries marginalisation, is as vital to the sense of participation

President Goodluck Jonathan knew nothing of the purported recall of our High Commissioner.

But before this clarification which took a couple of days in coming, the embarrassing confusion of a government and its Foreign Ministry that are working at cross purposes had been allowed to linger for too long. It was the second time in as many months since the Jonathan Administration would be thrown into such embarrassing cul-de-sac. Shortly before the presidential election in March, Nigeria found herself in a dirty diplomatic spat with Morocco over a purported phone exchange between President Jonathan and the Moroccan monarch. While Morocco said there was no phone discussion between both leaders and all but called Jonathan a liar, Nigerian diplomats insisted there was a phone call. These went on for days before Reuben Abati confirmed no such discussion took place between President Jonathan and his Moroccan counterpart.

What both diplomatic incidents showed is the soft underbelly of the Jonathan Administration, the very problem many Nigerians and outsiders have observed about the Administration’s incoherence and the fact that there are simply too many power centres within the Jonathan presidency. Jonathan had allowed himself to be a victim of too many of his subordinates who probably have such little respect for his leadership ability that they erode his authority and take upon themselves tasks clearly meant for the president. Certain female ministers in the outgoing government were so deluded by their sense of importance that they clearly arrogated to themselves power they do not have. They took decisions without recourse to the

the assurance t h a t irrespective of the general verdict,their individual or group interests would not be adversely affected.

Moreover, there is always the question of winning hearts and minds, of making those who voted against the winning party review their decision. As it happens, I was recently involved, behind the scene, in formulating a strategy for wooing the South-east which, quite curiously, voted wholesale for the PDP, thereby denying itself what it would have had on a platter: speaker of the House of Representatives or president of the Senate. Yet, as I pursued my thoughts on what ails the East and what must be done as a remedy, I couldn’t escape the irony: an indigene of the Niger Delta, from a region with the same voting pattern as the East and an arguably stronger case of marginalisation— labouring on ways in which that other group’s interests may be protected nevertheless.

As if to bring the irony home, I began to receive queries along the lines of my title: “So, na wetin Niger Delta go get for this government?” As an activist first and foremost, it was not a question I wished to entertain, knowing what informed it: the aforementioned zoning or sharing of political offices currently exercising the ingenuity of the winning party. But then it dawned on me that in a clamorous multi-ethnic society such as ours, further bifurcated by two foreign religions, who gets what in the allocation of political benefits,especially now that every region cries marginalisation, is as vital to the sense of participation and involvementas the monthly allocation from the federal purse. There is a reason, after all, for that

presidency and were not in the least embarrassed about this.

The Pricewater Coopers report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation shows some instances of this brazen and unauthorised use of power. The PWC investigation that was informed by allegations of corruption in the activities of the NNPC and the alleged disappearance of billions of unremitted oil fund was stalled by failure to release vital information

by NNPC officials. Thus, what should have been and was touted as a forensic audit of the NNPC is now revealed to be a watered down version of the real thing, no thanks to the stonewalling tactics of NNPC officials. This latest incident is a sad reminder of how the president’s men and women have inserted themselves between the president and Nigerians, acting in a manner that is at the very least disrespectful to the authority of the president.

Yet, this kind of interference in presidential responsibility, of the disconnect between a leader and his minders, can happen with any leader not alert to what his subordinates might be up to. We’ve already seen it at work in the supposed order of President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari, barring the Africa Independent Television from covering the activities of the president-elect. Buhari has since issued a statement denying making such an order. He attributed the order to his ‘overzealous’ minders. This cannot be put down simply to a blameshifting game. Some of these minders do very often cry more than the bereaved and only a perceptive leader can be alert to their more devious ways at appropriating authority they do not have.

awkward enshrinement of federal character in the constitution. But while the Niger Delta might be calm now, thanks to President Jonathan’s timely and laudable acceptance of defeat that defused the tension which threatened to unleash mayhem and fulfil the cynical prophesies of the end of Nigeria in 2015, the boiling rage of the region caused by mindless exploitation and environmental degradation since 1958 requires the most astute and beneficial handling, else we may just have merely postponed a looming catastrophe. I wouldn’t urge any specific policy step yet—for instance, whether or not to discontinue late President Yar’Adua’s amnesty programme which saved the oil sector and so the economy from total collapse— but I would suggest an immediate engagement by Buhari with genuine leaders of the Niger Delta.

I cannot, of course,say what will become of the Niger Delta, not being a soothsayer.

But I can urge my interlocutors to be optimistic. Beyond Buhari’s avowed commitment to change, I was glad to note that it was at the very top of his list of problems requiring immediate attention and regarding which he sought the cooperation of the National Assembly in his speech at the induction of newly-elected parliamentarians. His own phrasing is apt: “Devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which must be attended to.” The Niger Delta waits with great expectations.

20 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Credit to private sector hits N12.6trn •As banks grant more loans to Oil & Gas

By Omoh Gabriel

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REDIT to the Private sector in Nigeria in the second half of 2014 rose by 16.6 per cent to N12.6 trillion from N10.830 trillion as at June 2014 the CBN has reported. The apex bank in its Financial Stability report said that “the upward trend in the amount of credit extended to the private sector continued during the second half of 2014”.

According to the CBN: “Available data indicated that total credit to the various sectors of the economy grew significantly by 16.62 per cent to N12.62999 trillion, compared with 7.86 and 13.88 per cent growth recorded in the preceding half year and the corresponding period of 2013, respectively.

The oil and gas sector continued to attract the highest share of total credit as it accounted for 25.70 per cent, compared with 24.33 per cent in the first half of 2014.”

The Oil and Gas attracted a total credit facility of N2.635 trillion in the first half of 2014 and this rose to N3.246trillion as at December 2014. The manufacturing sector accounted for 13.15 per cent of the total credit, the same level as in the preceding half year. In the first half of the year under review, the sector was advanced a total

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sum of N1.424 trillion which rose to N1.661 trillion as at December 2014. Available data with the CBN indicated that Agriculture, forestry and fishing category accounted for 3.96 per cent of the total credit to the private sector with a total credit facility of N415.88 billion in the first half of 2014 and close the year with a total credit from the banking system amounting to N500.26 billion, indicating a 0.12 percentage point increase over the 3.84 per cent recorded in the preceding half year.

Loans and advances to General household consumer goods/ $132.35 0.5 hospital amounted to N1.232 trillion as at $2,950.00 2.00 December 2014 a 9.75 percentage of the total 12.75 0.24. loans and advances granted to the private sector by banks.

According to CBN $68.03 1.58 data, Information and Communication 60.89 1.96 attracted a total credit of N894.7 billion while CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL General Commerce had credit facilities of DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 N1.093 trillion from the EURO 217.9324 218.4884 219.0443 FRANC 209.8052 210.3404 220.6203 financial system. The YEN 1.6274 1.6315 1.6357 public sector on the CFA 0.3141 0.3241 0.3341 hand had credit WAUA 273. 6742 274.3724 275.0705 facilities of N795.4 RIYAL 52.2625 52.3958 52.5291 billion and Real Estate KRONA 29.1901 29.2646 29.3391 had credit facilities of SDR 274.2236 274.9232 275.6227 N588.06 billion. Credit to the other sectors showed that CBN Exchange Rate as at 05/ 05 /15 Construction had

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PenOp remits N260bn to retirees

By Princewill Ekwujuru

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Oil and gas sector

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N593.65 billion, Finance and Insurance N494.66 billion, Transportation and Storage N363.17 billion, Capital Market N228.46 billion while the Power sector secured N493.52 billion credit facility. Others are Professional, Scientific and Technical activities N154.52 billion; Education N88.46 billion; Administrative and Support Services activities N72.36 billion and Human Health and Social Work Activities N44.59 billion; Mining and Quarrying N17.27 billion and Arts and Entertainment Recreation 12..6 billion.

The CBN said that the structure of bank credits in the second half of 2014 indicated the continued dominance of loans and advances of shortterm maturities, although with a slight improvement over the

The structure of bank credits in the second half of 2014 indicated the continued dominance of loans and advances of shortterm maturities

position in the preceding half year. It said that credits maturing within one year accounted for 49.59 per cent, compared with 56.6 per cent at the end of the first half of 2014.

The medium-term one to three years and long-term , three years and above, maturities stood at 19.50 and 30.91 per cent, compared with 16.80 and 26.60 per cent, respectively, at the end of the first half of 2013.

The increase in the proportion of credits with both mediumand long-term maturities the apex bank said may be attributed to the effects of various policies of the CBN to de-risk the real sector and encourage banks to grant loans of medium to long-term maturities.

“Similarly, deposits of less than one-year maturity constituted 96.31 per cent of which 73.69 per cent had maturity of less than 30 days, compared with 95.60 per cent at end-June 2014. Further analysis it said “showed that the medium and long-term deposits constituted 2.69 and 1.00 per cent, compared with 3.40 and 1.00 per cent at endJune 2014, respectively.

“Notwithstanding the slight improvement in the proportion of credits with medium- and long-term maturities during the second half of 2014, the dominance of short-term maturities in deposits of banks continued to be a major constraint to their capacity to grant long-term credit.”

HE Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, PenOp, says it has remitted N260 billion of the contributory pension fund to retirees from the inception of the scheme till March 2015.

The Association made this disclosure at the 2015 May Day celebration in Lagos, where it also urged all employers and workers alike to join in the scheme to secure a future for them (selves) when they retire.

Speaking, Executive Secretary, PenOp, Susan Oranye, said the contributory pension scheme, which has existed for about 11 years, has recorded its successes.

According to her, “they (Pension administrators) have paid almost N260 billion to retirees from the inception to March 2015. As at last year, we had 5.5million contributors in the contributory pension scheme, it has gone up to 6.4 million and we have just ended the first quarter.”

Speaking about workers in the informal sector, Oranye pointed out that the informal sector contributes to bulk of the Nigerian economy which she said cannot be ignored, adding that there has to be a framework that caters for the uniqueness of the informal sector.

Informal sector In this regard, she assured that the National Pension Commission and PenOp are collaborating and working on a framework that will accommodate the informal sector, so that everybody who work will have the opportunity to set up a retirement savings account. The framework is being discussed among the operators, stakeholders and the National Pension Commission.

Oranye said the essence of PenOp’s involvement in the May Day celebration is to celebrate the Nigerian worker, celebrate the hard work that Nigerians go through every day and to encourage them to prepare for the future. “As you work very hard today, you must remember that there will be a time when you can’t work as hard as you work today. When you retire and your salary stops coming in, you will still need to cater for some other needs. That is the essence of having a pension,” she explained.

She further explained that it is 8 percent of the worker’s basic salary, housing and transport and the employer is required to match it with 10 percent of that same emolument and that goes into employee’s account.

22 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

According to experts, over N60 billion micro insurance opportunities are untapped by insurers in the country

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CIIN repositions for greater service deliver

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N a bid at repositioning for greater service delivery and to revitalize its impact and relevance in the Nigerian financial services sector and that of the insurance industry in particular, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), has set in motion a Strategy Advisory Exercise to identify key issues bordering on the growth and advancement of the insurance industry in the country.

Also, the exercise will articulate actionable solutions and delineate key strategic imperatives for the Institute within a workable framework in the next five years and beyond.

At a two-day retreat in Lagos, facilitated by KPMG, certain key economic agenda that could aid the growth and engender relevance for the insurance industry in Nigeria were x-rayed particularly at the advocacy level which has been considered one major area that the Institute should concertedly work towards in entrenching an enduring insurance culture amongst Nigerians at all levels.

The Retreat also provided a platform for participants to incubate ideas that will chart a new course for the Institute in its resolve to achieving the status of a mega Institute. The retreat had in attendance chief executives of insurance

The exercise will articulate actionable solutions and delineate key strategic imperatives for the Institute within a workable framework in the next five years and beyond

companies in the country, stakeholders from allied sectors of the industry, financial services and a cross section of members of the Institute’s Governing Council.

Mr. Kola Ahmed, Director General of the CIIN said that the Strategy Advisory Exercise is necessitated by the CIIN Governing Council’s continuous commitment to the actualisation of the Institute’s statutory responsibilities as enshrined in Act 22 of 1993 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the chief of which is the determination of the standards of skill and knowledge to be possessed by practitioners for the ethical and professional delivery of insurance services in a dynamic and peculiar Nigerian business environment.

Business environment Ahmed also expressed the Institute’s appreciation to the Management of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, for bringing into fruition the hosting of the retreat in the history of the Institute’s life cycle.

He urged other chief executives in the industry to borrow a leaf from Sovereign Trust by actively supporting the cause of the Institute from time to time in ensuring that the vision of remaining a relevant professional body amongst the comity of professional bodies in the country is sustained in an enviable manner.

Chairman of CIIN’s Media and Publicity Committee and Managing Director of Sovereign Trust, Mr. Wale Onaolapo reiterated the company’s commitment to upholding the Institute’s ideals of promoting knowledge, trust and efficiency amongst practitioners of the Insurance business both within and outside the shores of the country.

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INSURAN How to accelerate microinsurance penetration

By Rosemary Onuoha EARTHQUAKES, floods, drought, disease, crime, all tend to hit the poor hardest.

Vulnerability and poverty go hand in hand, but micro insurance holds out the promise of breaking a part of the cycle that ties them together.

Unfortunately, with over 50 underwriting companies operating in the Nigerian insurance sector, only a handful is engaged in micro insurance.

Micro insurance is said to be the protection of low-income people against specific perils in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved.

According to experts, over N60 billion micro insurance opportunities are untapped by insurers in the country.

Microinsurance cannot be delivered under the existing products, process and procedure of the commercial underwriters. Hence, if a greater percentage of the population is to benefit from insurance, experts are of the view that a new approach must be adopted.

Managing Director of Riskguard Africa Limited, Mr. Yemi Soladoye said that micro insurance remains the panacea for poverty eradication, but unfortunately, the conventional insurance companies have established themselves in the wholesale market because according to them, they are not

ready for the peanut premiums in micro insurance.

Soladoye said that the growth of micro insurance in Nigeria has been stunted because big insurance players have refused to embrace it, adding that there is the popular impression among Nigerian underwriters that retail insurance is only for life or composite companies even as most of the underwriters appreciate the benefits of retail insurance but the cost of establishing one, the low expertise in the segment and the long gestation period is posing a problem.

Accordingly, as part of measures of meeting some of the challenges in micro insurance, Managing Director of Industrial and General Insurance Plc, Mr. Rotimi Fashola said that there is need for the federal government to

Government and its agencies have been paying lip service to the importance and benefits of insurance, without serious patronage and support

support the quest for accelerated insurance penetration and density in Nigeria through micro insurance and takaful insurance.

Rotimi said, “To enhance the development of these forms of insurance, there is need to enact laws that will guarantee government subsidy because the insurances are for the benefit of the poor who cannot afford conventional insurances.

Without Government subsidy, agricultural insurance would be unable to play its role in the development of farming.

“Moreover, micro insurance will play very important role in poverty alleviation programme of the federal government by guaranteeing compensation to the poor who are perennial victims of flood, fire and other natural disasters.

“As a matter of necessity, government should cultivate the habit of seeking the input and contribution of insurance professionals and experts to relevant government policy decisions. It is also important that insurance practitioners are considered for appointment into the governing boards of companies, parastatals and agencies where risk management considerations are relevant,” Fashola stated.

Lamenting governments lack of interest on the insurance sector, Fashola said “Government and its agencies have been paying lip service

VISIT: President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu (middle); Mr. Manolis Kyriacou, Senior Regional Executive of LIMRA Mediterranean & Middle East (right) and Carla Baldivia, Operations Manager of LIMRA for Europe, Middle East & Africa during the 2015 business trip of NCRIB members to Malta.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

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CE & YOU

While we all hope that, “nothing will happen to me,” relying on hope to protect your future earning power is simply not a good idea

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5 insurance policies everyone should have Protecting your most important assets is an important step in creating a solid personal financial plan.

The right insurance policies will go a long way toward helping you safeguard your earning power and your possessions. Policies to consider are:

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MEMBERS EVENING: From left: Deputy President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr. Kayode Okunoren; President, Mr. Ayodapo Shoderu and Managing Director, Prestige Assurance Plc, Mr. Balla Swamy at the April Edition of NCRIB Members’ Evening hosted by Prestige Assurance. law on ‘no premium, no cover’. contracting insurance, certainly to the importance and benefits According to Fashola, some in breach of some of the of insurance, without serious insurances, government parastatals or compulsory patronage and support. There because of the government enterprises are funded without is hardly sufficient budget budget system, he stated. allocation for insurance. Many provision for payment of Fashola however, charged the insurance policies contracted insurance premium by incoming administration of by the MDAs in the past were government and its agencies. not renewed, thus leaving the Muhammed Buhari to take Therefore, when insurance assets exposed to risk, damage insurance serious because it has services are patronised, and losses without insurance the capacity to become the payment of the premium protection. Many of the engine of growth of the becomes an issue, a clear parastatals are no longer economy. negation of the provisions of the

CRe launches engineering risk

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ontinental Reinsurance Plc has announced the launch of its new specialist subsidiary, Continental Property and Engineering Risk Services (CPERS).

The firm was established to meet the growing demand for specialist engineeringinsurance risk advisory services currently driven by Africa’s infrastructure and construction boom.

Speaking on the need for establishment of the new firm, Executive Director, Continental Reinsurance, Mr. Lawrence Nazare said with

property services

Africa’s investment in infrastructure, rapid urbanisation, projected economic growth, rising middle class, focus on regional integration and improved governance in many of Africa’s 54 nations, investing in construction on the continent is on a strong upwards trajectory.

He said the demand for specialist engineeringinsurance skills is also increasing.

“It is imperative for Africa’s development, for African reinsurance companies to

and

provide the required specialist insurance skills and expertise to support efforts to bolster the retention of African reinsurance premiums in the continent,” he stated.

He said for this reason, Continental R e i n s u r a n c e . has strengthened its core engineering capability by enhancing existing offering.

According to him, historically, foreign reinsurance companies have provided the requisite engineering-insurance advisory skills .

Siblings charged in insurance fraud scheme

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MACON insurance claims adjuster and her brother have been charged with multiple counts of insurance fraud stemming from their allegedly stealing more than $79,000 from filing false claims, authorities said.

Arleatha Martin, 42, of Macon, and her brother, 36year-old Christopher Lorenzo Battle of Locust Grove, are each charged with seven counts of insurance fraud, seven counts of theft by deception and three counts of identity theft, according to the office of state Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.

Martin, who now works for Geico, was an adjuster in a Macon office working for Allstate Insurance in 2011 and 2012 when she allegedly used her position as a supervisor to produce fraudulent accident claims in Battle’s name.

She is accused of issuing settlement checks to Battle’s business, and the siblings split the money, said Glenn Allen, a spokesman for the commissioner’s office.

In one claim, Martin allegedly filed documents saying three of Battle’s children had been injured in an April 2011 school bus accident in Douglas County. A check was issued for $6,375 for the children’s injuries.

Investigators determined the children weren’t on the bus at the time of the crash, Allen said.

Martin was arrested Friday morning and was being held at the Bibb County jail on $57,850 bond, according to jail records. Battle was booked into the county jail. His bond also was set at $57,850, according to jail records.

ONG-Term Disability Insurance The prospect of long-term disability is so frightening that some people simply choose to ignore it. While we all hope that, “nothing will happen to me,” relying on hope to protect your future earning power is simply not a good idea.

Instead, choose a disability policy that provides enough coverage to enable you to continue your current lifestyle, even if you can no longer continue working.

Life Insurance: Life insurance protects the people that are financially dependent on you. If your parents, spouse, children or other loved ones would face financial hardship if you died, life insurance should be high on your list of required insurance policies.

Insurance policies Think about how much you earn each year and the number of years you plan to remain employed, and purchase a policy that will replace that income in the event of your untimely demise. Factor in the cost of burial, too, as the unexpected cost is a burden for many families.

Health Insurance: The soaring cost of medical care is reason enough to make health insurance a necessity. Even a simple visit to the family doctor can result in a hefty bill. More serious injuries that result in a hospital stay can generate a bill that tops the price of a oneweek stay at a luxury resort.

Injuries that require surgery can quickly rack up five-figure

costs. Although the everincreasing cost of health insurance is a financial burden, for just about everyone, the potential cost of not having coverage is much higher.

Homeowners Insurance Replacing your home is an expensive proposition. Having the right homeowners insurance can make the process less difficult. When shopping for a policy, look for one that covers replacement of the structure and the contents in addition to the cost of living somewhere else while your home is repaired.

Keep in mind that the cost of rebuilding doesn’t need to include the cost of the land, since you already own it. Depending on the age of your home, and the amenities that it contains, the cost to replace it could be more or less than the price you paid for it. To get an accurate estimate, find out how much local builders charge per square foot and multiply that number by the amount of space you will need to replace. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of upgrades and special features. Also, be sure the policy provides adequate coverage for the cost of any liability for injuries that might occur on your property.

Automobile Insurance Some level of automobile insurance is required by law in most places. Even if you are not required to have it, and you are driving an old clunker that has been paid off for years, automobile insurance is something you shouldn’t skip.

If you are involved in an accident, and someone is injured or their property is damaged,you could be subject to a lawsuit that could possibly cost you everything you own.

Accidents happen quickly and the results are often tragic.

Having no automobile insurance or purchasing only the minimum required coverage saves you only a tiny amount of money, and puts everything else that you own at risk. In addition to the policies listed above, business owners need business insurance.

GAINERS FOR EQUITIES

LOSERS FOR EQUITIES

24 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 —25

DIARY zICT Africa Cape Town, South Africa July 15-16, 2015 z eLearning Africa 2015 Lagos, May 20-22, 2015

Preview Harmony Rehab Robot

MTN/Visafone deal

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HE Harmony Rehab robot exoskeleton improves rehabilitation treatment by allowing the patient to practice with both arms at once.

The harmony is the first two-armed, robotic exoskeleton that can provide full upper-body therapy for patients with spinal and neurological damage.

The device attaches to the patient’s upper body, where its 14 different axes provide a wide range of natural movements.

The Harmony can be adjusted to fit the patient’s size, and its array of sensors constantly gathers data that allows the exoskeleton system to chart progress and modify the force and torque to best suit the patient’s needs.

C M Y K

‘Why this acquisition'll breed monopoly’ •Has CDMA taken final bow-out?

By Prince Osuagwu

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HE dwindling fortunes of Nigeria’s Code Division Multiple Access, CDMA subsector of the telecoms industry last month worsened when news filtered that MTN Nigeria, a GSM transnational had advanced acquisition plans for the last CDMA operator standing, Visafone.

Although it was a matter of

I N S I D E

‘50% of tech interventions in schools fail’ PAGE 26

time for extinction to happen on the CDMA sector in Nigeria, considering the challenges which bogged down their operations, it was also surprising that Visafone could go so soon, particularly when it just obtained approval for additional spectrum two months earlier.

It wasn’t as though survival was anywhere near for the operators, going by the statistics. While their GSM counterparts have continued

How Google’s digital tools improve travelling experience PAGE 27

to smile to the banks on account of robust sales and large subscriber base, the CDMA operators could only boast of less than two per cent of the Nigerian telecoms market share.

Data released by the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, shows that the four telecoms operators; MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat have dominated the market controlling 98.07 per cent of the market.

What new biotechnology law means to Buhari’s administration PAGE 28

As at February this year, they currently have a combined active subscriber base of over 140.2 million out of the total 142.5 million active mobile subscriptions in the country compared to the CDMA and the fixed wired/ wireless segments which boast of a paltry 2.1 million and 183,270 active lines, representing less than two per cent market share respectively.

According to the data, while MTN had added on the over 58.3 million subscribers, Globacom, on the over 26 million; Airtel's subbscriber base hovered around 25 million and Etisalat had added on on the over 19.8 million mobile subscriptions on their networks as at the third quarter of last year, the CDMA operators were losing ground tremendously.

Continues on page 28

26 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Rack Centre bags ICT Infrastructure company’s award

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ACK Centre, one of Nigeria’s Tier lll design certified Data Centres, recently received the ICT Infrastructure Company of the Year.

The company clinched the award at the Beacon of ICT BoICT award night held in Lagos last week.

According to Mr Ken Nwogbo, the Editor-In-Chief of Communications Week, organizers of the event, Rack Centre was so honoured, because of the company’s world class service delivery, and its relentless focus on technology leadership.

Extolling the qualities of Rack Centre, Nwogbo said: “Rack Centre is a quality carrier neutral facility, that intends to keep raising the bar for data centre providers in Nigeria with a string of firsts; first to be Tier lll design certified, first carrier neutral Tier lll site and now the first Tier lll data centre to sponsor and establish an Internet Exchange Point” Receiving the award, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ayotunde Coker said: “Rack Centre is delighted to be honoured with this award

by Communications Week, for our relentless pursuit of quality and industry leadership.”

‘50% of tech interventions in schools fail’

By Laju Iren

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-LEARNING seems to be the next best thing. Apple is making iPads that kids in kindergarten can use; primary and secondary schools that have the money to spare are taking no prisoners as far as Information and Communication Technologies, ICTs are concerned and tertiary institutions are investing more and more in creating ‘wireless’ campuses.

It would seem that as long as the intentions are right, nothing could go wrong in the union between education and technology.

However, for the Principal of Olashore International school, Mr. Derek Smith, this position is not entirely correct. Smith, whose school is dogged in its quest to be one of the most technologically advanced schools in Africa ironically says that if technology is not correctly applied in a learning environment, it could leave students worse than it met them.

Smith, who has observed technological interventions in schools in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Nigeria, told reporters at a briefing last week: “From my observations, half of the technological interventions in schools fail. In fact some make the learning situation worse.”

SOCIETY & SOCIAL MEDIA

By Agbolade Omowole @iamagbolade

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IRAL contents on social media work in similar way biological virus spread in a human body. In fact, it has been tied to the popular notion that ideas spread like virus. If you want to make a concept trend on social media, do follow these steps.

Break the news: A 2010 study found that 52% of people who view news online forward it on through social networks, email or post. One the best way to make a topic trend is to break news on Twitter. Most times, because most persons are hearing it for the first time, if they find it interesting, they will share it with their followers which will lead to several retweets.

Upload a video: If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video may be worth a thousand pictures. Therefore a video is worth ten thousand words.

Sharing a video on Facebook makes it go viral.

Tell a story: Most persons like to hear a story. Share an emotional story from your life’s experience that you know people

“Although I have a lot of respect for the technology, it is important to note that educational institutions that plan to adopt technology must focus on the learning. The important thing is the learning not the tech.

To focus on the learning, schools must embark on vigorous research, invest time and resources, train staff adequately, and be ready to embark on a step by step process.

Training staff and equipping them in the area of ICTs is extremely important because teachers generally do not like change. It is necessary to take time out to familiarize teachers with technology. I have seen situations where the school provides the students with laptops, but the laptops gather dust because the teacher does not have one” added Smith.

Olashore’s plan to empower all its students with iPads has

not escaped the attention of industry stakeholders in both technology and education. The school is currently entering into partner ship with Apple through Core Group Africa, the authorized exclusive distributor for Apple in Nigeria.

Research information When the plan is fully implemented, the students and teachers will be solving complex problems and discovering latest research information simultaneously with the teachers in real time.

However, the iPad roll out will not be done in a hurry.

According to Smith, the plan to give all students iPads will be fully completed by 2021. Giving reasons for this, he said: “We already have an eighty-five percent success rate in the West African Senior School

Certificate Examinations, WASSCE. I’m not going to just put iPads in the hands of my senior students at once and jeopardize the results because assessment is not fully up to date with technology. What we will do is to begin with the class seven and let it evolve from there.”

Evolution seems to be the key word when it comes to using technology in education. The Olushore way is to move beyond using technology to enhance education to using it as a spring board to transform education.

Letting a student type an essay assignment on his computer is enhancement, but getting the same student to use ICTs to make a PowerPoint presentation, upload it online and share with other members of the global village is the very definition of transformation.

As the evolution of eLearning continues, the Chairman, Board of Governors at Olushore, Prince Bimbo Olusore, pin points a valuable lesson. His words: “Nigeria can no longer wait and be playing catch up with technology or keep waiting for technology transfer. We have to leapfrog to catch up and get our young Nigerians prepared for the new technology driven world.”

10 ways to make your contents Beacon of ICT Awards: Glo voted best telecoms go viral on social media

even play the devil’s advocate on social can connect with. Make your media. Playing the Devil’s Advocate story as detail as possible. means that you take the unpopular side Make your post emotional: of a controversial topic and show an Most people will share an argument for it. If you decide to play devil’s emotional story. Experts suggest advocate, you must be 100% sure of your you should tap into people’s facts, and approach the topics in a way emotions triggered by high that you do not step on other people’s energy responses caused by toes. feelings of awe, anger and Use a hook. A hook in this context refers anxiety. A recent research to a phrase or sentence that will revealed that contents that immediately grab the attention of the evoked high arousal emotions reader. Ensure the first line is catchy. Grab positive or negative is more viral your reader’s attention and sustain it. than content without Challenge assumptions, emotion. and prove them wrong.

Longer content is better.

Share new ways of doing In a study of the New York things differently. People Times most emailed list, Contents are looking for new data showed that longer If you can twist content is more likely to get that evoked information. a popular belief for instance, shared. some persons will probably high arousal Make your post share it. practical. Use a list of 'how emotions Write what people want tos.' Practical contents can to read. It is much easier to positive or be implemented easily. study what people are People will most likely negative is interested in reading and share a practical post on write about it in a practical, more viral Facebook than one which guide than to than content step-by-step is not. write what you feel like Be controversial. Every writing and force it down without journalist knows that people’s throat. Write about emotion controversy sells. You can what is popular today.

company

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HE 2015 edition of Beacon of ICT Awards which held last weekend in Lagos declared that second national carrier, Globacom, was the best telecommunications company in the country.

Globacom won in three categories including awards for Best Telecoms Company of the Year, Undersea Cable Company of the Year and Most Innovative Mobile Player of the Year.

Speaking at the event, organizers of the award and Publishers of CommunicationsWeek, stated that Globacom emerged the best telecoms company after a three-month online poll conducted between December last year and March 30, 2015, in which over 900,000 respondents participated.

According to the organizers, ‘’Globacom was voted the Best Telecoms Company of the Year because of its revolutionary role in the industry. Glo has continued to invest in new technology to boost service delivery.”

Presenting the award to Globacom, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, said that the company had since pioneering per second billing and remained a Beacon and pride of Nigeria in the telecoms industry.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 27

How Google’s digital tools improve travel experience

By Emeka Aginam

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HE use of information communication technology, ICT has in no small measure, changed the socioeconomic fortunes of people all over the world.

Using Google digital maps in navigation is a good example of where technology has played a crucial role in improving travelling experience.

However, the difference between a good and bad travel experience lies in the traveler’s access and use information to plan.

From selecting a travel route to buying tickets and selecting activities, information plays a key role in deciding the objectives that will ultimately be used to describe the trip.

A recent trip to Madrid, Spain, “the land of the rabbits” was done on the instance of Google, as part of activities aimed at demoing the power of its digital and mobile tools to create more enjoyable and stress free travel experiences.

However, 65 Journalists were selected from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (the EMEA region) to experience Madrid using Google digital maps.

Before embarking on the trip, I had to test the Google Now app by asking it a question “OK Google, when does my flight leave?”Within seconds, the app accessed my flight reservation and created a travel card, announcing that Lufthansa German Airline will be leaving Lagos to Frankfurt in the next three hours. It even went as far as telling what time I had to get on the road to be able to arrive early at the airport.

By the time we arrived in Madrid, the rules were very simple. All the participating Journalists had to navigate their way around several pre-selected spots located in a predominantly Spanishspeaking side of Madrid using only a Motorola Nexus 6 device. This can be called the Google’s version of the famed Guilder Ultimate Search.

Experience

One thing was clear. Madrid using the Nexus 6 android smart device had retooled all participating Journalists who explored the hidden gems in the city Madrid using Google digital maps launched 10 years ago .

The city tour aimed to use location based services and data buried in Google Maps to locate interesting facts and places as the participants engage in the search for unique historical places in Madrid.

The Google tools which have revolutionized the world of digital maps with more than one billion user across the globe have become the de facto interface between the the physical and the digital world, helping people to locate their destinations without asking anybody the location where they are going or navigating.

For one thing, the latest features in Google Maps make it easier to navigate, and to avoid heavy traffic. The apps also automatically show you congestion on the route, among others.

This is just one way Google is trying to make travel easier for users, with a number of new apps and updated tools.

Challenging and exciting

At the end of the tour, it was an exciting

Before embarking on the trip, I had to test the Google Now app by asking it a question “OK Google, when does my flight leave? and challenging experience for the participating journalists who were

armed on how best to use Google app calendar, Voice search, Street view and Business view, Google maps, Google translator, Google photos, auto backup, among other useful tools one can use for smart living.

Accordingly, the tools can also help the users know weather condition and especially traffic situation affecting most African countries especially.

The exploration of Madrid lasted for more than four hours on the first day which commenced on Sunday, April 25, when the participating Journalists were divided into two groups.

Each group had searched for the hidden gems in the city of Madrid including the oldest restaurant in the world called Botin established in 1725, former medieval commercial heartland, statue paying homage to the capital ´s hard working road sweepers, classical Madrid Traven founded in 1908 where the locals hang out to drink vermouth in town, among others historical places.

Vodacom Business Nigeria wins two at BoICT 2015

By Maximilian Anosike

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ODACOM Business Nigeria has received yet more awards, adding ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre) and Cloud Services Provider of the Year at the BoICT Award 2015.

The awards were received by Vodacom Business Nigeria’s Director Legal Services; Nkechi NewtonDenila, in Lagos, at an event that brought together leaders in the industry to celebrate the success and achievement of individuals and organizations in the telecoms industry over the past year. ”We are happy to have received the Cloud Services Provider of the Year and ICT Infrastructure Provider of the Year (Data Centre) Awards. This is testament to our commitment to provide worldclass and innovative services leveraging on our local expertise and global track record to support business growth in Nigeria. Our gratitude goes to our customers whose businesses are driving the Nigerian economy and the men and women at Vodacom who work round the clock to enable these businesses,” said Nkechi NewtonDenila, Director Legal Services; Vodacom Business Nigeria.

Local software can sustain economy if encouraged, says Alao

By Prince Osuagwu

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ASKING in the euphoria of winning two awards at the Beacon of ICT awards at the weekend, Executive Director, Sidmach Technologies, Mr Alao, said the local software industry could sustain the economy if appropriate support comes from both government and the private/public sectors.

Alao’s Sidmach won the indigenous software company of the year while he clinched the ICT personality of the year award.

Organizers of the event said that while

Alao merited the award for his resourceful leadership and excellent mentorship of indigenous software programmers, his company was honoured for doggedness and prompt p[rovision of ICT solutions that address specific customer needs in today’s highly competitive business environment.

Speaking to Hi-Tech on the award, Alao said: “This is the second time that the ICT award is given to my company.

About two years ago, we also received this same indigenous software of the year award. Today we are happy that

AWARD: Hassan Alao, Executive Director and winner ICT Personality of the Year; Funmi Lawal, Marketing Manager and Henry Azolukwam, Software Solutions Manager during the presentation of Indigenous Software Company of the Year at the Beacon of ICT Award to Sidmach Technologies Nigeria Limited.

we again received the award for best indigenous software. I give credit to the team for being the brain behind the successes.

“There are a lot of things we have improved upon since we first won the award two years ago. Starting from our logo, if you look at our banner two years ago and now, you’d realize that it is not the same. There are a lot of improvements; a lot of transformation has taken place in Sidmach.

“Beginning from this year, we are refocusing on our business, we are bringing in some professionals to also help to make sure that we remain the number one IT company in Nigeria. We will continue to do that. In the last few weeks we have also engaged professionals in HR and marketing that will help us to remain on top. We are doing all these to make sure that we are on top”.

He also noted that indigenous software companies are not being patronized. “That is something we are hoping the new government can help us with. Patronage of indigenous software companies is very essential because the brains are here in Nigeria, the resources are here. The tools are with us. Most of the things we do at Sidmach technologies are done by the team. We have a highly dynamic team.

We don’t need to bring software from India because they also started the way we started. The government should encourage us” he added.

28—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

What new biotechnology law means to Buhari’s administration management before the release, handling and use of GMOs; covers all genetically modified organisms/Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and products thereof including food/ feed and processing and covers socio-economic consideration in risk assessment.

By Emmanuel Elebeke

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HE impact of the new biotechnology bill otherwise called biosafety bill, which was recently assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, into law cannot be over emphasized.

This is because the law is coming at a time the issue of biosafety regulation in Africa is rapidly gaining momentum as more African countries are embracing genetically motivated organisms, GMOs. Many see the signing of the bill into law by President Jonathan as a milestone in the domestication of modern biotechnology in Nigeria, what science experts also say is a giant stride that will allow the country to join the league of countries advance in the use of this cutting edge technology as another window to boost economic development in Nigeria.

With the adoption, it is expected that the 3 million jobs promised by the incoming President annually will be a walk over, given that the technology has the capacity of creating more employment, boost food production that will put a smile on the faces of farmers and elevate hunger if given good attention by government.

According to the DirectorGeneral/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, the National Biosafety Act is crucial in the management of Modern Biotechnology in the country.

She said modern biotechnology has been identified as an important tool that can help countries to achieve food sufficiency/food security, industrial growth, health improvement and environmental sustainability.

While the Biosafety Act will give the legal framework to check the activities of modern biotechnology locally, she said the Act would also give legal backing to imported GM crops into the country as well as providing avenue to engage Nigerian scientist s/experts from different fields to identify and pursue solutions to our local challenges.

According to her, the biosafety law also recognizes the complex issues to be addressed by Central Authorities in the judicious application of modern biotechnology and bases the deliberate release of GMO on Advance Informed Agreement (AIA).

Other legal implications The biosafety Act defines offences and Penalty for violation of the act; contains powers to authorize release of GMOs and practice of modern biotechnology

Benefits Apart from multiplier effect on food production and job President-elect Muhammadu Buhari creation, the new activities; confers the power to biotechnology law experts say carry out risk assessment/ has the capacity for improving environmental protection and conservation through production of stress tolerant planting Apart from materials for re-vegetation, reafforestation, soil binding for multiplier effect on erosion control as well as food production genetically enhanced organisms for bioremediation of oil polluted and job creation, sites. the new It can also guarantee improvement in plants and biotechnology law animals yields as well as has the capacity for nutritional values; it ensures improving production of new breeds/ varieties of animals and plants; environmental reduces in the use of pesticides protection and and ensure reduction in farming land area with higher yields, conservation

facilitates Job and wealth creation, leads to better health facilities.

With the adoption of this technology, there is high expected for promotion of bioorganic fertilizer and industrial growth through feedstock development; promotion and development of biopharmaceuticals production, Stem Cell technology, biometrics in Nigeria and biodiversity conservation among others.

Immediate Benefits to Nigeria Following the signing of the bill into law, experts say Nigeria can without delay commercialize Bt-cotton, Bt-maize, herbicide tolerant (HT)-soya beans, which are already in South Africa, Burkina Faso and Egypt.

This they said, can lead to increased yield productivity to ensure food security and industrial growth, especially in the ailing textile industries.

TruTalk Win-a-Home promo:

MTN rewards bizlift retailers with N15 million house

By Prince Osuagwu

I

N line with its strategy of building relationships with its channel partners, MTN Nigeria, has unveiled a reward scheme tagged MTN TruTalk Win-a-Homepromo, with a N15 million house as the star prize.

The promo is targeted at MTN bizlift retailers who sell physical and virtual airtime across Nigeria. The promo is borne out of the need to reward its over half a million retail vendors across the country for their loyalty and support since inception of the business. To win, retailers are expected to migrate to MTN TruTalk by dialling a short code after which they can register their first 11 numbers by dialing on the network.

Retailers are also expected to get a minimum of 20 customers every month to migrate and register their own first 11 on the TruTalk platform.

Speaking at the launch, Sales and Distribution Executive, MTN, Omatsola Barrow said it was time the company did something special for the vendors in appreciation of support received over the years. “We know the importance of relationship and our Retailers are our most important customers, which is why we decided to do something special for them with the TruTalk Win-a-Home promo. With this promo, Retailers can win the star prize of a home worth N15 million or its cash equivalent, among other mouth watering prizes.”

‘This acquisition may breed monopoly’ Continues from page 25 Industry concerns While the statistics make Visafone acquisition less surprising, the concern of industry observers seems not to be what the future holds for CDMA operation in the country but what would become of the telecom sector when more power is added to the operators who already wield much power.

Deduction from opinions of industry professionals who spoke to Hi-Tech on the issue are, for instance, that MTN’s acquisitions of Visafone will give it access to 800 MHz spectrum band which will enable it provide 4G LTE services and apparently places it in enviable position of being the only GSM operator with access to this spectrum and thereby increase their chances of becoming a monopoly in the industry.

The NCC in 2013 declared MTN dominant in both the retail mobile voice and wholesale leased line markets following the 2013 Dominance Determination and imposed specific obligations meant to ensure it balances competitive behaviour and also ensure the sustenance of long term competition in the telecommunications industry.

But the regulator however did not declare any operator

dominant in the mobile data market where MTN’s operation of Visafone network, should fall.

Yet industry analysts feel that the acquisition and possible access to valuable sub-1GHz spectrum to provide 4G services would be to the exclusion of other leading operators and may clearly give it an unfair advantage, which will be impossible to replicate in the short term by any operator.

Perceived imbalance There are three major reasons that are alleged could create that perceived imbalance. One is that the 800 MHz spectrum band is characterized by the presence of sub-optimal licensees who have largely been inactive over the last 8 years. For the few who have remained active, their performance has been suboptimal and most lack the financial capacity to deploy services and thus can hardly compete effectively.

Secondly, that it may look unlikely that the regulator may want to re –farm the 800MHz spectrum to make it available for other operators to deploy services, considering that the current licence holders in the spectrum band have been unable to meet their roll-out obligations.

Another reason is that the

700MHz band which is due for re-farming, in line with Internation Trade Union's digital dividend objectives, is currently being held by the Broadcasting industry and may not be available for release before 2017.

An industry practitioner and a Lagos based value added provider, Engr Andrew Ndem, said while the deal may be healthy to salvage a dying CDMA sector, there could be reason to apply every caution in finally consummating it.

He said: “while I will always give kudos to MTN for its giant strides in this economy in general, I am however concerned that should this acquisition give it access to sub 1GHz spectrum to the exclusion of other leading operators, it will therefore provide it with an unfair competitive advantage in the data market where it can easily deploy its size and profitability to further entrench dominance in the market.

“This may stifle other late entrants and their ability to compete. Again, given that it has already been declared dominant in the transmission market, its ability to control both spectrum and access at prices they dictate to industry and consumers makes this an unhealthy state of affairs, and poses a grave threat to the viability of the industry.

This scenario, if it eventually plays out, will potentially leave the sector with one dominant player in both the retail voice and data markets”.

For him, “the Nigerian subscriber may ultimately pay for this in the form of higher tariffs, poor quality of service levels and little or no incentive for innovation due to the lack of competition in this market segment”.

Regulatory scrutiny Meanwhile, there are suggestions that the situation requires close regulatory scrutiny in line with what obtains for dominant operator in any market.

The regulator is further challenged to review the acquisition to ensure that it does not give any operator unfair advantage in industry which may be detrimental to the growth of a viable and healthy telecommunication industry in Nigeria.

There are also suggestions that licensees in 800MHz spectrum band should form active collaboration and partnerships between current and other leading operators in the industry who have established the ability to deploy telecommunications services and meet their licence obligations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 29

30—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Diaspora Nigerians lament brutality and killings

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

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HE search for greener pastures and perhaps, sound education, has seen many Nigerians travelling abroad even at their peril. It is sad to know that many Nigerians in the diaspora are being brutally murdered and maltreated and at the same time deprived of their earnings as was the case in the South African xenophobic attacks, where a good number of Nigerians' shops were looted.

However, an ongoing investigation into the many killings of Nigerians in different countries of residence abroad has

revealed that Nigerians are dissatisfied with the alarming reports of the increasing deaths of fellow countrymen abroad, to which many have lamented poor display of diplomatic responsibility.

Speaking on the worrisome issue, a concerned Nigerian, Mr. Lawrence, said that living abroad has become dangerous. He noted, “There is no law in any country that entitles the citizen of any other country to subvert the right of any Nigerian or even kill any Nigerian unless such death is judicially procured, hence we need a drastic step from responsible Nigerian authorities to stop such needless killings of

Nigerian in different countries of abode abroad.''

He urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman, House Committees on Diaspora and justice and human rights to map out strategies that will ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora are properly monitored to avoid many cases of killings and maltreatment adding that Nigerians should stop leaving their home country to turn slaves abroad.

A source, however, said he was disturbed that in Malaysia, many Nigerians are currently in danger and according to reports, there is no help in sight coming

from officials of the Nigerian embassy in the country.

Providing further notes, the source, a merchant in Malaysia, who simply identified himself as Samson, said the situation many Nigerian find themselves is not worth reporting as it will further

expose the inefficiency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other responsible Nigerian authorities.

His words, “I am still disturbed that a few days back Nigerians were being killed in South Africa, and then comes the execution of about four Nigerians in Indonesia, living many more on the waiting list and some dying in mysterious ways.”

8 more Nigerians face execution in Indonesia— Diaspora Group

By Prisca Sam-Duru

A

GROUP, United Nigerians In Diaspora, UNID, has called on the Federal

Government to prevail on the Indonesian government to stay action on its plans to execute eight more Nigerian citizens for drug related offences.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, the group’s president, Mr. Paschal Okolie, condemned what it described as the poor attitude of the government towards the recent execution of four Nigerians in Indonesia.

His words: ''Considering that the next batch of execution will take place in no distant time in Indonesia, we urge the good people of Nigeria and our government to rise up with the entire world to stop further executions of Nigerians.

Enough of the killings.

Nigeria should leverage on the strong bilateral relationship it has with Indonesia and negotiate to stop the execution of the eight waiting to be killed. In as much as we totally condemn drug trafficking and wish to sensitise intending traffickers on the consequences that awaits offenders, we also condemn capital punishment especially since it has not been able to quell the issue of drug trafficking in Indonesia.”

Okolie who gave names of those awaiting further execution as, Michael Titus Igwe, Kingsley Okonkwo, Uchenna Onyewuru, Eugene Ape, Hunphery Ejike, Obinna Nwajiagu, Benjamin Onuoha and Ikenna Abanukwu, said, ''Nigerian Embassy in Indonesia is longer concerned with passport renewals than the welfare or security of Nigerians.

Those Nigerians killed were not giving fair trial, there is language barrier which made it impossible for them to defend themselves properly, Nigerian embassy did not even send representatives to court to assist them, so they were left at the mercy of Indonesia which was bent on killing them.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 —31 a troubled nation we did stand as “upon a rock environed by a wilderness of sea”, waiting for the surge of the ocean’s tempests to make of us a sumptuous meal; but just when we were hovering around the precipice, when it seemed almost as “far from help as Limbo is from bliss”, just then Tinubu, in a league of amity with our nation’s greats, alighted right in the firmament of our political woes”; for the inevitable to happen, -a battle long foretold between the army of ‘good’ and the forces of ‘evil’; between ‘change’ to a libertarian today and tomorrow and ‘continuity’ of the impunity and arbitrariness of old.

TRIBUTE TO TINUBU:

A Parody of Shakespeare

By Mohammed Adamu

H

IS name is now as household as the “ report of fashion in proud Italy”. He is a leader of leaders; and a true leader at that; because he commands not from the rear, but he braces, with his chest the heat and the chill of all battles. He is the veritable “Knight of the Garter” of our contemporary politics; “valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, such as is grown to credit by the wars; not fearing death nor shrinking from distress, but always resolute in most extremes.” Time has proved that where “your ‘good’ word cannot advantage him, your slander never can endamage him”.

He is petit and unassuming as ‘modest as the dove’; as ‘temperate as the morning’; “for patience, he will prove a second Grissel”; his words are “bonds and his oaths are oracles”; his ‘truth’ is as the ‘truth’ of Martin Luther; it is ‘Marching on’; his code of battle as mosaic as Malcolm X’s: to “Forerun woe with woe”. His is “courage mounted with occasion”; and although he is not the warmongering muckraker, yet he is one ready always “to parley or to war ” -as the occasion demands. That is the stuff that ‘courage’ is made of: namely that although great men should not be “mutinous in peace” yet when the occasion demands they should be no less “bold at war”.

Voice in the wilderness He did once assert that the ruling political dynasty was a deeply rooted evil-iroko tree; hard put to uproot except it is axed ‘limbs’, ‘trunk’ and ‘torso’!

And now he has proved to us himself that every ‘obstacle’ has odds to which it must yield; and that “many strokes, though with a little axe will hew down and fall the hardest timbered-oak”.

Little did we know he was a prophet of his own time; - a voice in the wilderness of our troubled democracy, prophesizing the looming fall of a ‘behemoth’.

He is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju and the Jagaban; once ‘Leader of the Opposition’; now the great ‘masquerade’ himself daring to be opposed – if any the courage have! “The blood stirs more” they say “to rouse a lion than to start a hare”; but who dares to rouse a lion must have more than a mortal’s measure of blood! Tinubu is the Hannibal of our time; the scourge of the ruling political dynasty – now in its inevitable throes of death. For device and tactic, he has proved another Hercules; for “grim aspect” and

Annals of our history

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for knitted brow in moments of battle, he is the Hector of our age. Thus Tinubu is Hannibal, Hercules and Hector all in one!

It is said that “When ‘Fortune’ means to men most good, ’She’ looks upon them with a threatening eye”. Tinubu did not, yesterday, walk the paved or gilded roads to the hill station of today’s renown; he has braved the dry and dusty weathers of Fortune’s threatening stare; and in reward of which both “Nature and Fortune have now joined to make him great”. He is now the “theme of Honor ’s tongue, Sweet Fortune’s minion and her pride”; but more than else he is today, “among the groove of his rank, the straightest plant”.

“Small curs” they say, “are not regarded when they grin; but great men tremble

Tinubu did not, yesterday, walk the paved or gilded roads to the hill station of today’s renown; he has braved the dry and dusty weathers of Fortune’s threatening stare

when the lion roars”. They are right Tinubu, you are truly a Lion in a rare den that is uniquely yours; but they are dead wrong, you are not ‘The Lion of Boudilon’; that is a den too small for a Lion with your kind of Mane! The Asiwaju is more suited to ‘The Lord of the Nigerian Manor ’ –that is a befitting ‘den’ truly your size.

“Strong reasons make strong actions”; or so the Great Shakespeare would say. Once

Let the annals of our history bear witness, that in that battle the Jagaban “stirred as the time”, you were “fire for fire”, you “threatened the threatener and you outfaced the brow of bragging horror; you put the dauntless spirit of resolution; you glistened like the god of war when he intendeth to become the ‘field’!

And behold when the jagged fields of battle are emptied; they attest to the deeds of great men: “blood hath bought blood; blows have answered blows; strength matched with strength; and power confronteth power. And the Jagaban, being last on the field, has become the Lord of it!

Many had “cowardly fled” the battle ground, “not having struck one strike” at all; but you

said to the enemy loud and clear: “A crown or else a glorious tomb; a scepter or an earthly sepulcher”. It was that courage of conviction; that steadfastness in the face of danger that stands you, today above all mortals.

And now your sacrifice has become a prologue to a beautiful symphony of liberation. Happily a ‘crown’ it will be and not a ‘glorious tomb’; a ‘scepter’ you will have and never an ‘earthly sepulcher’.

In sixteen years it had been ‘nay, nay, nay; they would ‘not let my people go’; yet in just one moment of electoral ‘truth’ right at the twilight of the month of March, they sang, perforce, another tune: ‘aye, aye’ they said in shame! And the Commander-In-Chief said: ‘I yield, I yield, I yield’; “Oh wonderful when the Devil tells the truth”, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

The Progressives will now sit on the throne of our own democracy, a feat purchased with the illiberal blood of antidevelopment reactionaries; the evil Party “that was wont to conquer others” but which hath now made “a shameful conquest of itself ”. And behold Asiwaju, the ‘David’ with the crooked sling. He plucked the eye of vaunted pride; leaving almighty Goliath a giant heap of human debris aground.

‘Might’ which was once ‘right’, now gives way to ‘right’ which now is ‘might’. All thanks to the Jagaban, •ADAMU is an Abuja-based Public Affairs Analyst.

32 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

CAF Confederation Cup play-off: Warri Wolves ready for AC Leopards

W

ith Warri Wolves drawn to play AC Leopard of Congo in the last match before the group stage and with the first leg away from home, the Managing Director of the team, Davidson Owumi has said they are cock eye sure of making it to the group stage.

Owumi who spoke immediately after the draw which was conducted by the General Secretary, CAF, Hicham El Amrani said the God that started the good work will not abandon them at this stage, moreover, they will work hard to see that they do not disappoint the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who has been a

driven force behind the team.

According to Owumi, the team is ready to face anybody in the continent and hopefully, they will overcome. “ We are cock sure of qualifying for the group stage and that has been our dream.

Our God that has been helping us will not disappoint us and with the Governor behind us like he has been doing, we will scale through.

We will have to double our effort this time around and we know, we will get there.”

On his part, Coach Aigbogun said they have always prepared for any of the team and the most important thing is for the boys to play well.

Heartland pile pressure on Onuh

C M Y K

Neuer wants to show Messi who is boss B

ayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has said that he will show Barcelona forward Lionel Messi who is the “boss” when the two teams lock horns in the Champions League semi-final first leg match here today.

It will be Neuer and Messi’s first meeting since Germany triumphed over Argentina in the World Cup final in 2014.

“I have a lot of respect for Messi and for everything that he has achieved. He is very humble, but it’s crucial to show authority when we meet on the pitch and show him who’s boss. I did the same in the World Cup final and this worked out pretty well,” Neuer was quoted as saying.

Neuer said he aims at a repeat performance of the World Cup final and hopes to make good use of his considerable physical presence.

“We will be looking to do the same today. It is vital to obtain a position of dominance and instill respect. We have to make good use of our physical presence, our character and show a certain ruthlessness,” he said.

Bayern wrecked Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the Champions League semis when the two sides met two years ago, but Neuer believes the current Barcelona side are a better team than the 2013 vintage and it will be a tough encounter.

“The game against Barcelona is a final before the final.

Our goal is to make it to the showpiece in Berlin. We dominated Barcelona in both legs in the semi-finals two years ago, but the situation has changed,” he said.

Danagogo commends Basketball Devt in Nigeria

T

he management of Glo Premier League side, Heartland FC has given its head coach, Erasmus Onuh an ultimatum of getting 10 points from their next five fixtures this term or face the exit door. The decision of the management came after its emergency meeting held on Tuesday in Owerri over the lacklustre performance of the Naze Millionaires.

Heartland have suffered two home defeats this season in the Premier League, and the club’s faithful are currently livid over their recent performances.

The management of the club revealed that Sunday’s 0-3 home defeat to visiting Sunshine Stars is unacceptable.

The club’s spokesman, Cajetan Nkwopara said after the management meeting on Tuesday that Onuh has been communicated to on the latest development. “We have given coach Erasmus Onuh an ultimatum of getting 10 points from our next five games or face the consequences.

“The management are livid with the current performance of the team, and this forced them to make this decision,” Nkwopara said.

BARCA V B/MUNICH:

•Onuh

T

he Honourable Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has commended the President, Nigeria Basketball Federation, Mr. Tijani Umar for adopting modern scientific ways in the development of basketball in Nigeria.

Mallam Yakmut, who represented the Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission made the remark yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 11th Nigerian Women Basketball League sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc. He observed that the NBF President was working round the clock to ensure that the African trophy won by Nigeria in 2014 would be successfully defended in Congo, Brazzaville this year when Nigeria’s contingent will duel with other African contenders.

According to him “I wish to express the Commission’s gratitude to the President for dissipating a lot of energy in

•Umar ensuring that Nigeria defends the cup won by Nigeria last year”.

Delta SWAN tasks Okow

T

he Delta State Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigera rose from a crucial meeting held in Warri last week and congratulated the Governor-Elect, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on his victory at the polls and also charged him and the incoming administration to look into the affairs of the Sports Ministry and correct most of the excesses and anomalies going on there.

VOL. 1 NO 31

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

•Catholic bishops

100 Bishops watch as Cardinal Arinze Ordains Isizoh Bishop

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

O

NITSHA - NO fewer than 100 Catholic Bishops and Archbishops from within and outside the country weekend attended the consecration of an official of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious in the Vatican City, Monsignor Denis Chidi Isizoh as the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese. The consecration ceremony was performed by the Prelate emeritus of the InterReligious Dialogue, Francis Cardinal Arinze.

Performing the ceremony at the Basilica of the Most Holy C M Y K

Trinity, Onitsha, Arinze charged Isizoh to use his good offices, as a Bishop ‘’to build the body of Christ for His Church to remain in the unity together with the Order of Bishops under the authority of the successor of Saint Peter the Apostle.’’

Arinze also charged the newly consecrated Bishop to guide the holy people of God in the way of salvation as a devoted father and sustain them with the help of his fellow ministers, the priests and deacons, adding that he should equally guide the faithful by remaining the repository of faith as well as incorruptible, as handed down by the Apostles and preserved in the Church

Arinze also charged the newly consecrated Bishop to guide the holy people of God in the way of salvation as a devoted father and sustain them with the help of his fellow ministers, the priests and deacons

everywhere and at all times.

In his homily, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN and Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, reminded the new bishop that having been admitted into the fold, he had been entrusted with the task of bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel with the ministry of the Spirit and Justice.

Kaigama also reminded Isizoh that the title of Bishop was one of service, not of honour and therefore should strive to serve others rather than lord it over them, which is the precept of the Master Jesus: “ that the greater should behave as the least and the ruler as the servant.”

Vice Chancellor of Continues on page 5

ALSO IN THIS EDITION Activities of FFulani ulani herdsmen worry SouthEast people PAGE 3

Chidozie Anyaonu still missing 1yr after his masquerade was shot, taken away PAGE 4

Owerri: The garbage capital?

PAGE 8

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Chamber laments the deteriorating condition of facilities in Onitsha Port

BY CHIMAOBI NWAIWU & NWADIOGBU OBIALUNAMMA

T

HE Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, has lamented the deteriorating condition of facilities in Onitsha River Port, which had been abandoned for three years after commissioning.

The President of ONICCIMA, Dr. Tim Anosike, spoke during the 27th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the chambers in Onitsha, Anambra State. Anosike regretted that the Federal Government had been unable to fast-track the operations of the port through the functionality of its facilities while searching for its concessionaire in the last three years.

“Concerning the Onitsha River Port, this Chamber continues to maintain a strong reservation against the noncommencement of activities at the port, almost three years after its official commissioning.

“As a result of this ugly development, all the state-ofthe-art facilities installed in the port have been deteriorating and rotting away.

“Is it not, therefore, better for

the government to fast-track the operations of the port while searching for the concessionaire?

The President of ONICCIMA, Dr Tim Anosike (middle) speaking “Otherwise, the huge investments in the port will, while his been flanked by Deputy President of ONICCIMA, Mr very sadly, become wasted Uche Apakama (right) and the traditional ruler of Awka, Igwe without anything in return,” he Gibson Nwosu (left) during the AGM said.

On the 2nd Niger Bridge, Anosike lauded the Federal The Chamber boss noted that Government for the commencement Their Anambra State government of the project as well as setting aside presence investment on security was yielding fund for the 40-month duration of the positive results, thus, making the construction work. “While the gives clear state the investors’ destination in the Chamber expresses her gratitude to assurances of country.

President Goodluck Jonathan over He also said that the improvement continuous this milestone, we also hasten to in the security situation in the state had led to improvement in night-life request that nothing should be done security of to derail or delay the project. activities, especially in the life and commercial city of Onitsha.

“We urge the contractors to be more serious and strictly stick to the property of “Returning the joint military/police standards and other terms already the citizenry check points to the flush-points identified for the project,” he added. across the state, particular in Onitsha

Way ffor or ward ffor or polio–free socie ty xper ts orw society ty,, b byy e exper xperts

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA- ANAMBRA State has been polio free for the past eight years, but the state government and its agencies are not relenting to ensure that the disease did not return. As part of the sustenance effort, the state has religiously

observed the immunization programmes and recording impressive participation by the various segments of the society.

Recently in Awka, the state government assembled stakeholders of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency from all the local government areas of the state and other stakeholders

Anambra communities rejoice over ordination of Ekwe as new Bishop of Niger West

BY CHIMAOBI NWIWU

C

OMMUNITIES in Anambra East and West comprising Aguleri, Umuleri, Anam, among others, were in joyous mood, weekend, following the consecration of Ven. Capt.

Johnson Nwaohalama Ekwe as the new Bishop of Niger West.

Ven. Ekwe is said to be respected because of his track

record of working in a place where others dreaded probably because of his profession as a former soldier before his elevation as bishop.

Bishop Ekwe replaces the out- going Anthony Nkwoka, who retired from ther position based on age.

Speaking to South East Voice Bishop EKwe said the area had a difficult terrain because of its geographical location.

“I do not believe that any place has a difficult terrain

Obiano with his wife who are also from Aguleri and the Niger West communities crowd that came to receive and support their new Bishop at their back C M Y K

and environs, is very important for sustained security of lives and property.

“Their presence gives clear assurances of continuous security of life and property of the citizenry,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 23-member executive committee had been elected to run the affairs of ONICCIMA, which was one of the most vibrant chambers of commerce east of the Niger for the next two years.

Those elected and sworn-in at the 27th AGM include Mr. Uche Apakama, President; Mr. Donatus Ebubeogu, 1st Deputy President; Chief Augustine Ibeme, 2nd Deputy President; Chief Kelvin Obieri, Vice President, Finance; Chris Ukachukwu, Vice President, Industry, Trade and Commerce; Mr. Odikpo Anyadufu, Administration; Mr. Sunny Nwachukwu- membership; Mr. Okechukwu Anene, Public relations; Chief S.O.P. Okeke, Legal Adviser I, and Mr. Ejike Efobi, Legal Adviser II. Council members also swornin were Lady Adaora Chukwulozie, Messrs. Nathan Ofoma, Obinna Ofurum, Ikenna Anene, Emmanuel Ndukwu, Chuma Umunna, Uche Ibekwe, Madu Okoye, B.C Eze, Tim Anosike, Rob Emeka Eze and Professor P.J.C Nwosu.

because of challenges. I have had many difficult challenges because of my military carrier which lasted up to 28 years. I have gone round the country and by Gods grace I do not think Niger West Diocese is exceptional.

“If God is there then there must be a way out, the moment Jesus is in operation, every struggle will seize. I believe I have not sent myself here. He sent me here and if He has sent me He will use me to do whatever pleases Him here.

“I know God has already made way there, a man of God called Kenneth Copland made a statement and I quote: there are no dry places but we have dry people. So, since the Lord has anointed me to be in this place He will make a way, where we think there is no way.

I believe it is the best place to be now. All we need in our new task is cooperation of the people and that cooperation is what we are asking for the new government that will come into the country. Leadership is from God, my duty as a Bishop is to pray for the people and the government” he said.

responsible managing the European Union Support to Immunization Governance in Nigeria, EU-SIGN, to brief them on ways of sustaining the progress recorded in the battle against polio.

The state director of Primary Health Care, Dr. Chinonye Okafor said there is need for proper orientation of the communities on issues concerning polio, rather than wait for the disease to occur before commencing treatment.

Speaking on the expected role of the communities on immunization, Okafor said they are expected to be part of the planning of immunization programmes.

He said: “Community representatives in the village health committees and ward health committees should always be invited to be part of the planning. Similarly, sensitization and mobilization activities should be part of the contribution of the leadership of each community through their traditional rulers, town

union executive, church leaders, and town announcers.

“The community leaders are also expected to report any observed lapses in the immunization activities and report adverse events following immunization to ensure prompt response by health workers. They can also donate refrigerators and data tools and provide labour for the evacuation of wastes and if need be, provide occasional feeding allowances for the immunization teams.

“Community leaders need to be carried along in the immunization activities and should properly be educated on their expected roles and responsibilities.”

According to Okafor, the active involvement of communities should be of necessity because immunization coverage was still low, health services were largely curative rather than being preventive and there is lack of transparency in the provision of services resulting in lots of wastages.

•Health official immunizing children against polio

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 3

U

MUAHIA-THE activities of Fulani herdsmen in some communities have become a source of great worry to the people of the South East zone.

The people are worried that Fulani herdsmen have continued to kill, maim and rape women in most of the routes where they pass with their cattle for grazing wondering why the security agencies turn blind eyes to complaints from victims of robbery and rape committed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Investigations by the South East Voice showed that the suspected Fulani herdsmen had maimed and killed villagers in Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Imo States among others in last few months without any of the security agencies arresting the culprits.

It was revealed that most of the herdsmen carry sophisticated weapons like AK 47 and Pump Action double – barreled riffles as they moved about with their cattle and could attack, rob or maim people at will.

BY ANAYO OKOLI & In Abia State, there had been FRANCIS IGATA reports of deadly clashes between the herdsmen and people. communities in Ozuakoli, A community leader in Bende Local Government Area Ohafia, Chief Kalu Eze Kalu and Ebem and Akanu in Ohafia who spoke to South East Voice and Umuchieze in on the issue, expressed concern Umunneochi areas among that the South East Governors’ others.

Forum, SEGF,had not The clashes were occasioned articulated any policy aimed at by allegations by the rural saving their people, despite farmers that the herdsmen take what was happening in their cattle into their farms for neighbouring states like Benue grazing where they damage and Plateau and Nasarawa, crops. where some tribes had been Also, in most of the places completely wiped out by the where the Fulani herdsmen Fulani herdsmen, who claim had settled, they had always ownership of lands in places colonized such areas by where thy were strangers. claiming ownership, leading to ‘’They are always armed with violent clashes with the rural dangerous weapons, including people.

AK47 riffles, charms, daggers Besides farmlands in rural laced with poison and communities where the machetes and are ready to breeders illegally colonize as attack the farm owners at the grazing grounds, least provocation. the aggressive nature of the ‘’In Ozuakoli, a man Fulani herdsmen is also said popularly known in the areas to be of great concern to the as Ajambele was attacked last

•Fulani herdsman’s cattle grazing

Activities of Fulani herdsmen worry South-East people year when he confronted Fulani cattle breeders when he met their cattle destroying his farm in the Over Rail area of the community. ‘’The cattle breeder was said to have used a sharp dagger to rip open Ajambele’s stomach with his intestines gushing out.

He was rushed to the hospital where he luckily survived. ‘’The cases of invasion of farmlands in Ebem and Akanu communities nearly resulted in bloodbath but for the wisdom of the leaders in the community who reported the matter to the authorities. ‘’The case was so serious that the Abia State government had to intervene to restrain the youths in the communities from retaliating. It set up a peace committee that quelled the then imminent crises,” he said and prayed the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, to assist in bringing the alleged criminal activities of the Fulani herdsmen under control.

...Veronica’s finance remains a shadow of himself

H

ER finance (name withheld), had remained a shadow of himself since the incident as he had been unable to understand the circumstances under which his heartthrob was killed.

Still weeping profusely, he told South-East Voice that, “we had planed the traditional marriage for January. All sundry arrangements had been made. She was coming home to prepare herself for the DDay. “She came all the way from Lagos. She had made her journey home only to be killed just about three poles away from her house.

“We spent over N700,000 trying to save her life. One of pellets was stuck in her brain.

After spending the money we still lost her. Her parents are still in hospital following the shock they received over the gruesome murder of their daughter in her prime.”

In another incident at Eke C M Y K

community, Udi Local Government last March, suspected Fulani herdsmen, killed Tamgbo Ogueji, a member of the traditional rulers’ cabinet. The deceased, aged 85, was allegedly shot in his house in the early hours of the day over an undisclosed issue he had with the herdsmen.

President-General, Eke Town Union, Mr. Anthony Enu, said the community was irked even as the youths were still restive.

Enu said: “Last year, the same Fulani herdsmen killed two of our brothers, Matthew Aniugo and Chiagha Chigbo, in their farms.

“We have reported the matter to the police. We are calling on all relevant authorities to prevail on these Fulani herdsmen to ensure justice for our people.”

There were similar stories in Imo, Anambra, especially among the communities living along the coast of the River

•A victim of Fulani herdsman’s shooting spree. Her fiancee is now a shadow of himself, after Fulani herdsmen shot and killed his heartthrob, whom he was planning to wed soon

Niger, where there had been several clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

In almost all these cases, security agencies hardly make any arrests how much more bringing the offender to book.

Anger trails Fulani herdsmen activities in Enugu.

Also in Enugu State communities have been grumbling over the alleged inability of security agencies to curtail the criminal activities of suspected Fulani herdsmen who had robbed, raped and killed some of their victims apart from destroying their farm lands.

From Agbakwe, Ette, Akpakume, Ebe, Opanda, Nara, Ibagwa, Ukana, Oruku, Isi -Ogbo communities where activities of herdsmen have been pronounced, farmers in the area literally live in fear of

engaging in farming activities as the herdsmen have forcefully acquired massive farm lands belonging to the people for grazing activities and settlement.

In Nkpologu community, Uzo - Uwani Local Government Area last December, suspected Fulani robbers killed one Veronica Ezugwu, 23, who hailed from Agum village in the area.

Ezugwu was returning to the village for her traditional marriage and the New Year when she was shot inside a commercial bus by the suspected Fulani robbers who were operating in the area.

She later died at the Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu where she was rushed to in January, having sustained severe gunshot wounds during the attack.

Community bemoans blighting by oil exploitation

BY ANAYO OKOLI

through a spillage which hit the community resulting in the destruction of farm crops and farmlands worth millions of Naira.

The community reported the incident to Shell which was said to have investigated and thereafter drafted one of its partners, Oil & Gas Millennium to take over the process.

The community through its Youth Secretary, Comrade Promise Nwosu, said nothing serious had so far done for the benefit of the community since then.

UMUAHIA—FOR the rural people of Umuokwo community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State the natural endowment of oil and gas on them is now more of a curse than blessing.

This is due to abject neglect they suffer as a result of exploration activities by some companies. Umuokwo people lament that they bear oil and even gas with little or nothing to show for them in terms of improved standard of living.

The community hosts four oil well Locations 1, 3, 4 and another Location 1.

However, oil exploration ceased for a while when the oil dried up, due to what the community blamed on the desperado of Shell BP, the company operating in the area to exhaust the oil deposit in the community in one fell swoop.

But exploration activities started again in 2002, when it was discovered that oil had A dilapidated structure in the community returned to wells

4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Enugu Govt spent N800m on medical equipment, drugs in 8yrs — Gov. Chime E

NUGU - THE Eighth Council on Health Meeting has ended in Enugu with the state government saying that it spent N800 million on procurement of drugs in the last eight years of Governor Sullivan Chime’s administration.

Stakeholders that attended the meeting included the World Health Organisation, WHO, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF; the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS; National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA as well as the Nigerian Medial Association, NMA among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Chime, represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr George Eze, said that 34 health facilities and 21 health staff quarters undertaken by his government were constructed to provide adequate security for both staff and patients.

Chime also said that his administration rehabilitated over 89 health facilities in the state and asked his successor, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi, to give the same priority to the health sector in a bid to boost health related Millennium Development Goals, MDGs. His words, “Health has remained one of the priority sectors of the state deriving from the service delivery area of our four-point agenda. Our investments in the health sector have no doubt yielded the expected democracy dividends to our people, particularly the women of child bearing age

• Sullivan Chime and under five year old children across the state.

“It is my belief that the outcome of the council meeting will provide the stakeholders the opportunity to identify and outline the key health sector development agenda for the incoming administration in the state.”

In his goodwill message, the immediate past Executive

Health has remained one of the priority sectors of the state deriving from the service delivery area of our four-point agenda

Secretary, NHIS, Dr Femi Thomas, said the Federal Government had spent N2.8 trillion to guarantee access to the national health scheme.

Thomas said that 96 per cent of federal civil servants, representing over 3.5 million people and their dependants, were currently beneficiaries of the scheme and commended the Enugu State government for adopting the scheme. He also urged other state governments to key into the programme.

In his speech, the Enugu State Coordinator of WHO, Dr Onyinye Emefiele, called for improved funding of the sector for better health care delivery to the people of the state.

Emefiele further advocated for a compulsory health insurance policy for both income and nonincome earners in the country.

Also, the Chief Field Officer, UNICEF, Mr Charles Nzoki, said the organisation would continue to support the state in the area wide health coverage.

The South-East Zonal Coordinator, NPHCDA, Dr Ngozi Nwosu, expressed regrets that Enugu State dropped in the percentage of its immunisation plus coverage in the last quarter.

She then called on the state Ministry of Health to step up efforts towards maintaining the lead in the immunisation programme in the zone.

The state Chairman of the NMA, George Ugwu, called for the urgent passage of the antiquackery bill into law to help in the fight against the menace in the profession.

Prof. Laz Ekwueme, traditional ruler of Oko

Chidozie Anyaonu still missing 1yr after his masquerade was shot, taken away

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA- APRIL 19, 2015 made it exactly one year since the 35-year-old Mr. Chidozie Anyaene from Ezioko, Oko in Orumba North local government of Anambra State got missing after he was allegedly shot and taken away by soldiers during last year’s Afia Olu festival in the town.

Chidozie was inside one of the masquerades when he was shot by people suspected to be soldiers brought into Oko community by the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Laz Ekwueme. The traditional ruler allegedly drafted the soldiers to stop masquerades from performing during the festival in line with the standing order banning masquerades from performing in the community, in view of security challenges the community was facing.

But in defiance to the royal

Oil palm tree: The abandoned mone moneyy spinner

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI-IMO State situated in the rain forest zone of the country is famous for agricultural produce, especially palm oil, cassava, maize, coco yam, yam and numerous others.

However, precisely before the 30-month civil war in the country in 1967, planting and harvesting of palm oil produce, not only enjoyed prominence in the then Eastern Region, but also formed the mainstay of the region’s economy.

This gave birth to the establishment of numerous palm plantations and institutions of higher learning including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, by the administration of late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, the Premier of the Eastern Region. Revenue from palm oil was used in the establishment C M Y K

of the UNN, then.

In the same vein, countries including Malaysia, which sourced their oil palm seedlings from the country then, adopted the region’s agricultural policy, for replication in their home countries.

Today, the story is quite different as revenue from the sector had continued to sustain the economies of such countries, even as Nigeria’s economy is now depended on

The palm fronds and products are used in feeding domestic animals like goats, erecting local perimeter fences, as well as production of brooms and local soaps, among others. .

one economy- oil.

The oil palms have multifaceted economic values, such as production of red oil which is rich in various vitamins just as the palm kernel which is extracted from the palm nut, equally has its allied products like palm kernel oil and cake used in the manufacture of poultry and fish feeds.

The palm fronds are used in

•Palm tree plantation

•A masquerade scene

feeding domestic animals like goats, erecting local perimeter fences, as well as production of brooms and local soaps and detergents. Beyond this, very tasty local wine is extracted from the trunk of oil palm trees, while the trunk is used for roofing houses. These and many other uses of the palm tree, makes it a serious money spinner.

father’s ban, masquerades still performed during the festival and it was during the performance that Chdozie, who was carrying one of the masquerades, was shot, taken away and has not been seen since then.

Chidozie’s father, Mr. Linus Anyaene, a security staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, said weekend that he is yet to come to terms with the sudden disappearance of his son and pleaded with security operatives to tell him if his son is alive or dead.

The victim’s father said the past one year has been traumatic, adding that the burden could be lessened if he was told in clear terms that his son had died. As it is, he added, it is difficult for the family to take any decision on whether to arrange for a funeral ceremony or to continue waiting indefinitely and hoping that his son would one day return from wherever he has been in the past one year.

According to Anyaene,” though I was not there when the incident happened, I was reliably told that after shooting my son, the soldiers put him in their Hilux van alive and drove off.”

As a man who is used to tradition, Anyaene said he could not blame his son for joining his age mates to perform the masquerade which, according to him, has been an age-long festival that ushers in the planting season in the community.

He added: “Afia Olu is a festival that has been here since our forefathers. My great grand fathers and my own father performed it. It is used to mark the beginning of planting season.

Our neighbouring towns of Amaokpala and Ndiowu did theirs. Why was it different in Oko?” “After that incident, I went from place to place in search of my son without success. At some point, I was told that soldiers took him to Enugu Army barracks.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 5

NAFDAC, 42 schools to fight against fake, counterfeit foods, drugs in Anambra

BY OBIALUNAMMA NWADIOGBU

E

KWULUOBIA-MORE than 42 secondary schools in Anambra State have been mobilized by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, for the fight against fake and counterfeit drugs and food products.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said that the students were being mobilised through the NAFDAC Consumer Safety Clubs, NCSC, in secondary schools, “which as a catch them young programme,” was yielding the needed positive results as hundreds of schools had key-in into the programme nationwide.

Orhii spoke during an annual award ceremony organised by NAFDAC for secondary schools competition for members of NCSC at Onitsha, Anambra in the state.

He noted that the agency was moulding a future generation that “is not only empowered to be upright but demand uprightness from others.”

According to him, “It is however important to emphasize that the membership of NCSC is just for

the purpose of participating in annual competitions, it is an opportunity for you to make a positive difference in all aspects of life.

“As NCSC members, you have the responsibility to assist in information flow on NAFDAC’s regulatory activities, and promote the fight against fake and counterfeit products.

“Programmes have been outlined to keep NCSC members active for the rest of the year. This would be posted on our website periodically.

“We will also continue to strengthen your capacity through publications,

“These students are our foot soldiers within their schools, localities, neighbourhoods and immediate families, and we want NAFDAC, its activities and regulations to be house-hold names...

100 Bishops watch as Cardinal Arinze Ordains Isizoh Bishop Continues from page 1 Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Uli, Anambra State, Prof. Fidelis Okafor commended Pope Francis for appointing Isizoh to assist the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke in the onerous task of leading the flock in the Archdiocese.

Responding, Bishop Isizoh thanked all the participants for attending the ceremony and urged them to continue to pray for him, adding that since the Pope graciously nominated him as an assistant, as requested by Archbishop Okeke, he would remain loyal to Okeke and be dedicated in the Lord’s Vine yard.

•Cross section of the congregation during the consecration

•NAFDAC Co-ordinator in Anambra, Dr. Christiana Esenwah (middle) with students’ winners of the prizes in this year’s competition held in Anambra State newsletters and symposia among others, so as to ensure that you will indeed become change agents.”

The Coordinator of NAFDAC in Anambra, Dr Christiana Esenwah, noted that NAFDAC would soon establish the NCSC club in additional 10 secondary schools in Anambra before the end of the year.

“These students are our foot soldiers within their schools, localities, neighbourhoods and immediate families and we

want NAFDAC, its activities and regulation to be house hold names...

“We encourage these students to be part of what we are doing by helping in our pharmacology-surveillance especially in Anambra; by reporting to any NAFDAC office or official anything that they find going wrong in their neighbourhoods on our regulated products,” Esenwah said.

The winner of NCSC Seniour

Secondary Schools Competition for 2015 in the state was Master Victor Okechukwu from Federal Government College, Nise, assured that he would inculcate the NAFDAC message in other students in his school.

“I would also join actively to fight against fake and counterfeit drugs and food products that have led to the death of many people in Anambra State,” he said.

...two shops sealed over fake product in Aba

By FELIX OGBONNA

I

N a bid to rid markets of fake and adulterated products, officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has sealed two shops at Cemetery market in Aba, Abia State.

The raid which was carried out

by NAFDAC officials from Lagos state also saw two traders nabbed for allegedly dealing on fake “Instant cold water starch” product while thousands of cartons of the fake product worth several millions of naira were confiscated.

Briefing newsmen after the raid, Chief Regulatory officer, Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement, NAFDAC, Lagos, Uche Chidi Uzoma said his agency raided the market because of the report of the adulteration of the product, which is manufactured by Cormart, Ilupeju, Lagos.

He disclosed that they found the stocks of the adulterated products in the two shops at the market while the owners were also arrested and brought to their office for interrogation.

“We seized about 100 cartoons of the fake product and we are going to send them for laboratory analysis to confirm

the status and from there, we take it on. Once the product is confirmed to be fake, those arrested are going to be prosecuted of course with the approval of the management”.

He added that more arrests would be made as the Agency had spread its drag net to ensure that the fake product in other markets was confiscated.

Territory Manager, South South/South East, Cormart Nig. Ltd., Olawale Rasaq Omosanya, said the company came to know about the faking of their product in August, 2014.

Omasanya who lamented that his company has lost millions

of Naira due to the activities of these adulterated products dealers, said his company alerted some security agents who in conjunction with NAFDAC, arrested some people who were retailing the fake products in Aba and upon interrogation; the arrested traders took the security agents to Onitsha where the alleged importer was arrested.

One of the people arrested for dealing on the adulterated products, Mrs. Ifeadikachi Mbamaonyeukwu, said she never knew that the product which she said her husband used to buy at a slightly cheaper rate was fake, stressing that she could not differentiate between the original and fake products.

•Sealing of one of the shops by NAFDAC officials

6 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

N13bn investment in poultry farming coming for Anambra

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA- ANAMBRA State government has stepped up efforts aimed at turning the state into the nation’s agricultural base with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with a private investor, Lynden Integrated Farms Ltd, for the establishment of commercial poultry farm in the state. The investment is to gulp about N13 billion.

The first phase of the project will entail the setting up of 200,000 broiler houses with 8 pens, 93,000 layer houses with 3 pens, 33,000 pullets house with 1 pen, 2000 birds per house slaughter house and a feed mill.

It is expected that by the time the farm goes into full production in three years’ time, its production capacity will double such that the broiler and layer houses would be able to

accommodate 400,000 broilers, 186,000 layers and 66,000 pullets.

Equity ratio in the investment shows that the company has 90%, the state government 6% and 4% for the host community.

Governor Willie Obiano said during the signing ceremony in Awka that the proposed poultry farm, which will be located on a seven hectares of land at Igbariam, will generate no fewer than 250 jobs during construction and 200 permanent jobs, as well as 2000 indirect jobs subsequently.

According to the governor, the ultimate objective is to ensure that Anambra becomes the main supplier of eggs in the South East geo –political zone in the next few years.

“At the moment most of the day-old chicks sold in the South East are brought from the South West,” the governor said, adding “We want to change that so that all the dayold chicks sold in this area

•Governor Obiano and officials of Lynden Farms during the signing of MoU in Awka should come from Anambra State.’’

Obiano said his plan was to approach agriculture in two

The farm has the capacity to position Anambra State as the center of excellence in poultry farming in the South East and South South geo – political zones

areas namely, creating a favourable and sustainable environment for commercial agriculture to thrive and rolling out programmes that will upgrade the class of machete and hoes -wielding farmers to adapt to the use of new implements and improved seedlings.

“We have mapped out specific areas where cassava, rice and maize will best and established cooperatives in those specific areas. We plan to play to our full strength in agriculture,” the governor further said.

Chairman of Lynden Integrated Farms Limited, Mr. Clem Nwogbo said his company plans to develop a two-phased modern integrated

poultry production and processing farm with day-old chicks and subsequently upgrade its facilities.

He explained that the farm has the capacity to position Anambra State as the center of excellence in poultry farming in the South East and South South geo –political zones and commended Governor Obiano for creating the enabling environment that has encouraged investors to flock to Anambra State.

Nwogbo further assured that the company would adopt best practices in poultry farming favourable to small scale farmers and support educational initiatives for the benefit of the host community.

Enugu primary school levies pupils illegally, parents threaten court action duty of pupils to construct toilet facilities for school owners and asked both the school Headmistress, Mrs Ogechukwu Nnamani and the Management Base Committee, MBC, of the primary school to stop the alleged illegal levy.

Although the Enugu State government claimed to have introduced free primary and juniour secondary education, there were several levies which made mockery of the policy.

Only recently, the state Ministry of Education introduced an N800 compulsory levy on •Enugu State Commissioner for students for alleged Education, Prof. Uchechukwu Okolo online checking of their internal results.

BY CHINENYEH OZOR In an interview with South East Voice at Nsukka, Eze SUKKA: The General lamented that the levy would Overseer, Highway to increase the burden on some Grace Assembly Church, parents especially those who Nsukka, Enugu State, Rev. have up four to five children in Chikamadu Eze has the school and consequently threatened to sue the lead to a situation whereby authorities of the Model children of school age would Primary School 1V in Nsukka, be out of school as a result of over alleged illegal imposition their poor background.

Eze said that, “If the of N1,300 on the 600 pupils in the school for the construction headmistress of the school Mrs Nnamani and the committee of toilet facilities.

Eze warned that it was not the she set up to that effect insist

N

C M Y K

on the levy, I will take them to court. The headmistress imposed the levy to increase the burden of some parents. I am not fighting my own war but for the poor ones.’’

He said that one of the reasons why some parents send their children to public school was because certificates of public schools were recognized everywhere unlike the private schools, lamenting deliberate efforts by officials to discourage poor parents from educationg their children. ‘’The economy is not bouyant.

Some families manage to have food on their table, while some people are busy imposing illegal levies in public schools when the state government had pronounced free education at

I have four of my children in the school, where will I get N5, 200.00 to pay for them

primary and post primary schools in the state. Model primary school 1V has an existing toilet facility which only needed to be drained and kept clean for the use of the children in the school.

Also, other parents and guardians of pupils in the school including Mrs Stella Ani, Mr Sunday Ugwu and Mr Comas Ugwuoke told South East Voice at separate interviews that they opposed the N1, 300 toilet levy as it would bring more financial burden to them.

They further said that they were not consulted before the decision to impose the levy was taken. ‘’I have four of my children in the school, where will I get N5, 200.00 to pay for them” Ugwuoke said.

The Headmistress of the school, Mrs Nnamani, said that the decision to impose the levy on children was taken during a general meeting of the Parents Teachers Association of the school. ‘’I did not wake up and impose the levy but because I am the headmistress, people are now calling me names for nothing” she said.

Mr Malachy Ezugwu, who is the financial secretary at Model 1V MBC, also confirmed the imposition of the N1,300 levy

per pupil but noted that it was agreed at a general meeting of the committee set by parents whose children were in the school.

“It was agreed in SBMC meeting. I am surprised that some parents now oppose the idea that the money was too much, meanwhile about 161 out of 600 pupils have so far paid the levy,’’ he said Dr Ejike Asadu, education secretary Nsukka Local Government Area, explained that School Management Base Committee, SMBC, replaced Parent’s Teachers’ Association, PTA, in schools adding that they had the right to assist any school in their capacity as deemed necessary, provided it was in accordance with the education curriculum.

Asadu, however, assured that no pupil would be punished or sent out from the school because of the levy as it was not imposed by the government but parents of children to assist the school.

The Enugu state Commissioner for education, Prof Uchechukwu Okolo, said he had received a report on the matter adding that he full investigation had commenced investigation to ascertain what exactly happened at the said primary in Nsukka, and declined further comments until the he had completed his investigations.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 —7

E

NUGU—Barely weeks to the May 29 handover date, residents in Enugu State are expectant that the incoming administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would impact positively on the people in order to alleviate their sufferings.

South-East Voice spoke to a cross section of residents who charged Ugwuanyi to focus on key sectors of education, health, workers welfare and employment.

Education

M

r. Okey Agbo, a resident said,”the standard of education in state has declined drastically.

At the tertiary level, Enugu State did not fair well under Chime which accounted for the withdrawal of accreditation on the Institute of Management and Technology,IMT, four years ago, by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE. ‘’The institution was then notorious for admission racketeering, outrageous turn out of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members, marks-for-money, harassment of female students by male lecturers among others.

“At primary and secondary school level, the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB is currently facing a N3.6 billion contract scam probe by the state House of Assembly. The contract was for prefabrication and renovation of 500 schools in the state.

“The incoming government should check the activities of lecturers in the tertiary institutions in the state. They have entrenched this money-formarks syndrome or payment in kind by female

•Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

Amaechi Ukwuani

May 29: Enugu residents expectant on Ugwuanyi

BY FRANCIS IGATA students.

Health owever, Mr Amaechi Ukwuani, lamented the practice by most public, private and missionary hospitals which demand money from patients in times of emergency before medical attention.

According to Amaechi,”I had a terrible experience when my pregnant wife was to give birth. She was to be operated upon. The missionary hospital demanded for an outrageous amount of money before she will be operated. The incoming administration should check such excesses to enable those in critical condition access medical attention.

H

Workers’ welfare

M

r. Chkwumaife Nze, out-going Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Enugu State chapter, appealed to the incoming administration to

negotiate with the union for enhanced salary and allowances of workers in the state.

Nze spoke against the backdrop of subsisting suit filed by the out-going Governor Sullivan Chimeled administration against the union over the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage.

He said,” the minimum wage is not what one can settle in court but what you negotiate with labour. We are expecting enhanced salaries and allowances from

The idea of engaging auxiliary teachers in the state should be jettisoned by the incoming administration. It should employ experienced teachers who will boost standard in the education sector

the incoming administration.

“The incoming administration should look into the backlog of arrears of gratuity owed primary school teachers, Water Corporation and Daily State staff among others.

“The Housing scheme which is in place now should be expanded to enable more teachers benefit.

“The incoming administration will do well if it reduces the high school fees paid by students in tertiary schools to enable the children of workers access education which is the hallmark of any government tackling poverty, insecurity and unemployment.

“The idea of engaging auxiliary teachers in the state should be jettisoned by the incoming administration.

It should employ experienced teachers who will boost standard in the education sector.”

Employment

N

dubisi Eze, who was visibly close to tears as he spoke to South-East Voice regretted that the out-

O

•President-elect Muhammadu Buhari

•Okey Agbo going government did not do enough to create employment for teeming graduates being churned out from the many tertiary institutions in the state.

He said,”I know somebody who participated in the Songhai graduate initiative drawn from the 260 communities in the state.

The government had prior to their trip to Porto Novo, Benin Republic for the six months training, promised to engage them in the agricultural sector in line with the spirit of the initiative. Today,that participant is a Tricycle operator. They abandoned them to their fate after wasting all the money.”

Old Anambra State gov, Akonobi reveals how Buhari saved him from drowning at NDA training

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO

C M Y K

•Chukwumaife Nze

NITSHA - GOVERNOR of old Anambra State, Col. Robert Akonobi (rtd), has revealed how the President- elect, General Muhammadu Buhari saved him from drowning while training at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in 1962.

Akaobi who spoke at Nnewi said, “Buhari was my course mate in the military and we were together in the present NDA, Kaduna.

During one of our trainings in 1962, Buhari helped me to swim across a river. Buhari is a kind hearted man. He knew how to swim but

I did not know. Ordinarily, Buhari would have said that I was on my own and allow me to get drowned in the river or fail my training examinations because that was the two options left for me then.

But he did not. ‘’He helped me to swim across the river and I did not drown, neither did I fail in my training examinations.

“Buhari calls me Bob. With Buhari at the helm of affairs, all we need is to have some measures of control and Nigeria will get back to the right track.

During his brief stay in 1983, everybody saw how Nigerian became a disciplined and incorruptible nation through his War Against Indiscipline and Corruption, WAIC and we were almost back to the economic track before he left office prematurely.’’

8 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY,

MAY 6, 2015

WATER SCARCITY:

Ebonyi community drinks from same pond with animals

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI-DESPITE the initiative by the outgoing administration of Chief Martin Elechi to ameliorating the scourge of water scarcity in Abakaliki, the state capital and the environs, the aim was not achieved as water is as scarce as gold in the state.

The state government had launched two mega water schemes at Oferekpe and Okawu in a bid to ease the problem several years ago.

However, even as Chief Elechi would hand over the reigns of government to his successor, Dave Umahi on May 29, the problem is far from being solved as most communities are still being ravaged by the menace of lack of portable water across the state.

These communities most hit include Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area of the state where the indigenous people drink water from the same pond with animals not minding the recent cholera outbreak in the state.

In an interview with South East Voice, a community leader from Mgbo Agbaja, Mr. Fidelis Ogbaga explained how they had suffered as a result of water scarcity adding that the scourge had even led to crisis among relatives and friends as to who would fetch water first from the nearby pond.

“The state government sunk a borehole for us at Mgbo Agbaja Health Centre which served the whole village but it developed fault and resulted in acute water scarcity. Right now, for my family to even see water to drink let alone wash is a problem. ‘’Since the bore-hole got spoilt in December, we have been using the same pond water with animals.”

Another resident and teacher at Agbaja Comprehensive Secondary School, Mkpuma Agbaja, Mr. Sunday Igboke complained that the issue of water scarcity in the area had made students attend classes late, a development he said had affected their academic performances.

It was gathered that Fulani herdsmen take their cows to drink from the pond which was the only source water in the area.

Igboke then urged the state government to begin immediate construction of C M Y K

boreholes across the locality.

Also, within the Abakaliki metropolis the popular Aqua Rapha sachet water from Enugu State which formerly sold for N80 for bag of 20 sachets had astronomically increased to N120 per bag.

Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, in collaboration with the Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa, SUWASA, has called on state government to ensure it tackled the issue of water scarcity currently ravaging the state.

USAID made the call in Abakaliki during the end of a project workshop held at the International Conference Centre in the metropolis.

•A woman fetching water from a dirty pond

The United States Agency for International Development, USAID, in collaboration with the Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa, SUWASA, has called on state government to ensure it tackled the issue of water scarcity currently ravaging the state.

A d d r e s s i n g participants, the team leader of SUWASA which was an Ebonyi State project, Mr Adedayo MarkAdeyemi said the state government had spent billions of naria in the construction of three mega water plants in the three senatorial zones of the state but failed to adopt a clear cut policy in the management of the

schemes adding that this poor attitude of government had affected water supply in the state.

Reacting, the state Commissioner for Public Utility, Mr. Ben Okah urged the group to continue to support the activities and polices of the government in the area of water supply noting that the incoming administration would continue from where the present one stopped by ensuring that water got to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Owerri: The garbage capital?

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

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WERRI, by sheer providence, enjoys the enviable status of the capital of Imo State. Before Owerri attained its current status, it was clean, serene and peaceful. The natives multiplied these qualities through their spirit of accommodation. Today, several hospitality establishments and relaxation centres have sprang up as a result of these qualities.

People have since made Owerri their prime destination.

The influx of new residents into Owerri engineered a number of other things, including increased crime rates, over stretched

•Owerri garbage

source of potable water and massive generation of refuse in the municipality.

With the exception of the late Chief Sam Mbakwe and Chief Ikedi Ohakim administrations, no other administrator, military or civilian, ever thought it wise to tackle the menace of refuse in Owerri. None thought of the health hazards associated with filthy environments.

While Mbakwe adopted the Sulo mechanism of collecting and disposing refuse in the municipality, Ikedi Ohakim started the Clean and Green policy. Apart from effectively keeping Owerri clean, the Clean and Green also initiated and carried out the

planting of lush grasses and ornamental trees in strategic roads in the city throughout the four-year tenure of his

The problem is that allowing refuse to mount in the city is a direct way of inviting varying diseases of unimaginable proportion

administration. Pedestrian walk ways were also created in the town.

Today, the story has abysmally changed. Owerri has sadly returned to the filthy days of the past years. Since the present administration came on board, in 2011, the monthly clean-up exercise was inexplicably dropped. The drains in Owerri are blocked.

The streets have also become filthy and smelly.

The major roads, especially the entire stretch of Douglas Road, have been taken over by road side traders and hawkers.

The small space that remains of the roads, have been taken over by shanties, commercial vehicle drivers, tricycle operators and refuse. The situation in all the markets in the municipality is not better as food stuff sellers battle with big house flies per second.

All the people that spoke to South East Voice on the state of the city, called for a positive change of attitude to refuse collection and disposal. They were also worried about the health hazard associated with filth.

“The problem is that allowing refuse to mount in the city is a direct way of inviting varying diseases of unimaginable proportion. Much as the government can do better in this regard, our people must also learn to imbibe the culture of promoting healthy environment”, a market trader that identified himself simply as Ikechukwu said.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 33

Enrique ready for tactical surprises from Guardiola

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•Iniesta

Guardiola’s return special, says Iniesta B

arcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says former boss Pep Guardiola’s return to the club today will be a special occasion for everyone.

Guardiola brings his Bayern Munich team to the Camp Nou for a Champions League semi-final first leg clash and Iniesta, speaking in an exclusive interview with UEFA.com, told of his feelings for his idol.

“Pep was always one of my two idols, alongside Michael Laudrup. I was playing in the final of a junior tournament in

1999 and it was the first-team captain’s job to give out the cup – that was Guardiola and I was the captain of our team.

“That was our first meeting.

As time went by, we experienced some really great moments together.

“Today ’s game will be special for everyone because the memories are always there. It’s a very interesting tie between two very strong teams.”

Iniesta went on to tell what makes Guardiola different and what is so special about him for the players.

Lewandowski could make comeback in protective mask

Star Superfans show: Barca fans humiliate Chelsea fans

O

ne club that over the years has figured out how to get the better of Barcelona more often than not, is Chelsea. Sadly, a resounding reversal of this status quo was the case during episode four of the Star Superfans game show, which aired last week on cable network, Africa Magic and AIT. Barcelona FC fans made up of Joshua Iheanacho, Yusuf Olanrewaju, Monday Obazee, Nwana Alex and Chigozie Nwachukwu, who competed as the Shining Stars team mercilessly thrashed Chelsea fans team, the Amazing Blues

made up of Chigbogu Paulinus, Agbowa Ugochukwu, Okwudili Okafor, Akinmosu Ibrahim and Owhofactor Esere. The game show had the two teams trying to outdo one another with their display of passion and knowledge. At the end of the 30 minutes, Shinning Stars won the competition, beating their rivals by a humiliating 4-0 scoreline.

The victory fetched them a whopping sum of N1m while the Amazing Blues team went home with the consolation prize of N100, 000.

wa The sports writers in a nine point communique issued at the end of the meeting called on the Governor elect to urgently tackle the menace of flooding at the main bowl of the Warri City stadium which continues to cause the state and the country great embarrassment and recalled that the flooding denied the state the hosting right of the FIFA U-17 Championship in 2009.

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•Barca Fans

uis Enrique insists he is prepared for any surprises Pep Guardiola may spring when Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

Guardiola, who won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during a golden spell as Barca coach from 2008 until 2012, is returning to the Nou Camp for the first time as an opposition manager.

The pair are good friends from their time playing together at Barca and for the Spanish national team but go head-to-head for the first time as managers.

And Enrique is ready for the tactical battle when the German champions visit today.

“Having seen Bayern and knowing Pep, there could well be changes and surprises which can make things complicated for us,” Luis Enrique told a news conference. “During the season, though, we have been overcoming problems that the opposition have thrown at us and even though it is Bayern and Pep, we will try to do the same again.

“I don’t think that Pep will have many doubts about what he will face. He knows the players and he knows how I was as a player.

B

ayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski said he hoped he could play with a face mask in today ’s Champions League semi-final, first leg in Barcelona after being included in the squad on Tuesday despite last week’s serious facial injuries.

Bayern , however, will be without Sebastian Rode, who had missed Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen due to a nagging muscle injury.

The midfielder stayed behind along with longterm injured Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber and David Alaba.

Poland striker Lewandowski fractured his nose, upper jaw and suffered a •Lewandowski concussion in their German Cup loss on penalties to Borussia Dortmund last week He made a comeback in training on Monday, wearing a face mask and made the squad as Bayern look to make their fourth Champions League final in six seasons.

“It is okay. I have to see if it’s possible for tomorrow but I have no fear,” Lewandowski told reporters prior to the team’s departure. The 26-year-old, who joined from Dortmund last season, had been in sensational form in recent weeks, scoring nine goals in his last 11 matches for the Bavarians, who last week secured the Bundesliga title.

“He’s feeling pretty good,” said teammate Thomas Mueller.

“He certainly does not look sick.”

34—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Roli Uduaghan

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AMA Taraba might have missed the mark, but not outgoing First Lady of Delta State, who accompanied her beau to the Silverbird Man of the Year gala, where he had got the coveted trophy. The been-theredone-that outgoing governor, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan who was named the Silverbird Man of the Year 2014 drove his audience crazy when he introduced his better half as the real governor of Delta State, and clips are being shared out of control.

Aisha Al-Hassan

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XPECTATIONS by Nigerians that history would be made at this year ’s general election with the country getting its first female governor ever has been dashed, and blogosphere is in mourning.

At the end of collation of votes for Taraba’s supplementary election, Ms. Al-Hasan got 13,599 votes to trail the Peoples Democratic Party’s Darius Ishiaku, who garnered 53,120 votes.

When the votes earned by both candidates in both the April 11 and April 25 elections are added, Mr. Ishiaku’s cumulative ballots came to 360,318 to the APC’s candidate 275,985.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has officially declared the PDP candidate winner of the election.

As far as blogosphere is concerned, she’s still the female hero of the 2015 elections.

Sheryl Sandberg

S

OCIAL media was awash the husband of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg who died from accidental blunt force trauma while exercising, according to Mexican officials.

The tech veteran was vacationing in Mexico with his wife and two children, and died Friday at age 47.

Goldberg was found lying beside a treadmill in a gym of a private suite in Punta Mita, an exclusive vacation retreat with hotels and residences just north of Puerto Vallarta.

Goldberg was found alive by his brother Robert and was rushed to a hospital where he died. The office was considering the death an accident.

A memorial service for invited guests is being planned for Tuesday on the campus of Stanford University, not far from where Goldberg and his family live in Menlo Park.

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

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HE brand new princess, second child of Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, broke blogosphere across the globe last weekend. The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, royal officials said Monday.

Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles after the newborn’s grandfather, Prince Charles. The middle names honour Queen Elizabeth II, the infant’s 89-year-old great-grandmother, and the

C M Y K

late Princess Diana, William’s mother.

The princess is fourth in line to the throne after Charles, William and her older brother Prince George. The baby weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces (3.7 kilograms).

The couple had kept the world guessing about the name until after both sets of grandparents got a chance to visit Kensington Palace on Sunday to meet their granddaughter.

On Monday, bells at Westminster Abbey pealed and gun salutes were fired across London in honour of the newborn princess. Dozens of deafening volleys were fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London.

Cynics on the Nigerian blogosphere think the baby has too much of our attention.

Ini Edo

I

T is no longer news that big screen sexy siren Ini Edo’s celebrated marriage hit the rocks at some point last year, after continuous denials from both parties in the past.

But it appears the players seem not to have moved on, as fans have continued to discuss causes of the breakup of blogosphere such that if they are given a hundred naira for each opinion expressed, they both should be as rich as Central Bank already.

Patti Boulaye

V

ERY active on social media has been legendary British Nigerian artiste Patti Boulaye, who thrilled her teeming fans last week by releasing links to some of her old music.

Shared albums include “You Stepped Into My Life” and “Magic”, of the video of which she said, Oh my! I was so young and I don’t even remember singing this live.

Apparently, she is doing this as a prelude to a show she is hosting in London: Patti Boulaye, Up Close and Personal.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—35

Women entrepreneurs are stable and creative — Oluwasanya

By Anino Aganbi

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N the bid to improve natural skin care products, Mrs. Victoria Oluwasanya has gone a long way in taking the old and blending it with the new. The growth of any economy does not lie on importation but on self growth.

This has spurred her to not only carve a niche for herself but to also encourage a lot of people to use natural products thereby improving the Nigerian economy.

Despite being the Chief Responsibility Officer for DAlpha Des Ltd, the makers of sheer cocoa range of products, she is also a member of NACCIMA Business Women's Group (NAWORG) and National Network of Shea Cooperatives (NNSC).

The Role of Women in SME Development………

Women are contributing to SME development, adding value by venturing into manufacturing from raw materials to finished products.

Women entrepreneurs are stable and creative.

People say what we require is access to entrepreneurfriendly funds, access and opportunity to compete with internationally, training in business management and entrepreneurial culture, etc.

Working with Sheer Corporation for so long, how has the journey been?

We started D-Alpha Des in 2009 but the vision for this has always been with me even when I was outside the country.

Affordable prices

•Oluwasanya

products, I had to think of better ways to improve creativity.

The journey has been great because I enjoy what I do. It is

Rebranding and repackaging One thing I have realized is that you gave to change with the times and that was where the idea of rebranding and repackaging came up.

The sheer cocoa is a division of D-Alpha Des which I am in charge of. As an SME owner, I started small. I actually started by giving out products as gifts to people. I wanted to know what peoples reaction would be to these product's.

In the process of giving them out, people came back to request for more. Initially, I didn't think it was going to be a big part of my business but as people started patronising me and requesting for these C M Y K

science, we have enlarged our range by adding other enhancing oils.

Branding your products to improve the Nigerian market………

We are working to meet international standards as well. We look at what is available, what are people bringing in here? How are they branded? We look at their packaging and not just the content.

The problem here is that while I have a vision of the ultimate, I want to see of where I want sheer coco to be. The problem I have now is that of having to adapt using what is available locally to package our products.

If we get to the stage where we do not have to import most of our products, it will make us competitive.

Challenges……………

Government must provide conducive environment for local SMEs to compete in international markets. When you produce based on high rate of interest, your own power and other production infrastructures, how do you compete with products from nations where everything works to support international competition?

I have attended international trade fairs where people literally ask for Ghanaian Shea and black soap when they could see that I represented Nigeria with my own products.

One thing I have realized is that you gave to change with the times and that was where the idea of rebranding and repackaging came up

something I have passion for.

What improvements have been made in commerce over time?

The improvement which I really love is in the area of social media because it has helped commerce a lot.

People call from all over Nigeria and this is because I have a website.

If you Google key words like sheer butter or black soap, it is likely that sheer coco will come up and so there is demand all over. I give credit to the internet because it has really helped commerce.

This becomes encouraging for owners of SMEs like myself.

Somebody outside Lagos recently contacted me that she wanted to distribute our products which is encouraging and that is

because we are online. The online platform has actually helped respect commerce.

What processes do you pass through during production?

I work from the scratch. I work with the local people from where we get our raw materials. In my factory we bring in these raw materials and produce them in line with standard requirements.

We put these raw materials together; after they may have gone through different processes, they are ready to be packaged and put out in the market.

We make sure we get the right packages for our products and labels. We also expanded our range of sheer butter to relieve pain by adding eucalyptus oil and other ingredients. In combining nature with

The reason is because Ghanaian government supports its SMEs within and outside its borders. They are able to sell at affordable prices and thus enjoy massive patronage across Africa and everywhere else.

Most women entrepreneurs operate cottage industry and shouldn't be expected to operate from a large expanse of land and separate water supply from what they use for domestic activities.

Also, in China for instance, their small industries operates in smaller spaces than ours yet we don't get approval easily.

All these have increased costs, time and money and have adverse effects on small organizations in Nigeria.Government must harmonize the multiple tax system to favour local manufacturers.

There are too many taxes to pay to different levels of Government.Generating power supply is also a very big challenge for any business.

In having big machines that cannot run on small generators, I have to get a very big generator.

For someone who is running a small cottage industry, it becomes a big issue. You find out that electricity supply runs very low and you need power to run these equipment.

36— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—37

Don’t be deceived, Ibori’s spirit is leading us in Delta — Amori, Senator-elect CHIEF Ighoyota Amori a big player in the politics of Delta State was political adviser to Governor James Ibori and subsequently, Senior Political Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Despite obstacles put on his way by the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Amori emerged to claim victory in the Delta Central Senatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He subsequently helped to galvanise support for Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to emerge governor of the state against the desire of the UPU. In this interview, he discusses recent issues flowing from the politics of Delta State. Excerpts.

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South South

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HERE were assertions that your bid for the Senate almost led to fisticuffs with one of your former political sons, Chief Ovie OmoAgege. Is it true?

I do not think there was anytime when myself and whoever was my opponent tried to exchange blows. I know we had disagreements and it is very robust for democracy for people contesting on different party platforms to have disagreements, it could lead to exchange of words, but I don’t think it degenerated to having fisticuffs.

Umbrella body We disagreed on issues that had to do with our position on collation of results at the Collation centre, which is quite normal and after that, we equally embraced ourselves and we have been living our normal lives.

The Urhobo Progress Union was against all the PDP candidates in Urhobo land in the last election, you were banned, unbanned and banned again, how did your overcome the offensive?

First, it is our belief that UPU is an umbrella body that belongs to every Urhobo child and it is actually not a political party.

There is no qualification for you to become a member of UPU as long as you are born Urhobo, either paternally or maternally, that is what qualifies you to be a member of UPU, and in UPU, people are free to associate themselves with different political parties, which we did from the very beginning.

So we never, and till date, did not believe that the UPU is a political party.

We concede to the leadership, that its executive members can support whoever they want to support, but how far they can carry out that support to fruition

is the issue. We did not have any problem with them having sympathy with certain political party other than the PDP or certain persons, but this is a God appointed time, we are all God’s children and He decides who to crown at any time and for those us who are in PDP, against the wish of some persons in UPU, God has crowned us and we thank God for the crowning.

All the PDP members that went into the election won, I won my election clearly, Hon Monday Igbuya won clearly, Hon Evelyn Oboro won clearly, Miss Erhiatake Ibori won her election clearly, all of us banned or sanctioned by UPU won clearly.

So the ban was a blessing in disguise, so we thank God for what He has done for us. For UPU, we don’t have any problem with them at all, knowing that as Urhobos, we are all members of UPU, we are all stakeholders.

As an active player in the politics of the state, can you tell

Ibori may not be physically here but he is here with us.

Okowa is an apostle under Ibori, Ighoyota Amori is an apostle under Ibori, James Manager, an apostle under Ibori, Peter Nwaoboh was also an apostle under Ibori

•Amori: Okowa is universally accepted in Delta us what politics without Ibori has been like in Delta?

First, there is no doubt that Ibori’s absence created a vacuum because we lost his physical leadership, but I will tell you categorically that even though he is not around, Ibori is around. We have lost only his physical presence but his political presence, leadership presence is still very much with us.

So his absence is felt but probably we would have done better than we are doing now, but from what we know, we have lost nothing. Ibori is still very much with us, of course, his daughter just won election into the state House of Assembly. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Senator James Manager, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, we are all members of the Ibori political family, he has lost nothing, everything that is good politically today, you can trace it to Ibori. Let nobody deceive you, he laid the foundation that we are building on today.

Of course, you know we are all his political apostles, even though he is not around, the apostles are very much around and completely in-charge, it would be difficult, extremely

difficult to displace this dynasty that has been properly established, laid on a solid foundation. He is a political rock of Gibraltar.

In what way did Ibori contribute to the emergence of the incoming governor?

Ibori may not be physically here but he is here with us.

Okowa is an apostle under Ibori, Ighoyota Amori is an apostle under Ibori, James Manager, an apostle under Ibori, Peter Nwaobohs, apostle under Ibori, anybody that has won election today in the state are all James Ibori’s apostles.

Okowa's victory So if Okowa emerged as governor, oh, one of Ibori’s apostles/disciples has emerged.

So the hand of Ibori is everywhere, his hand is in my victory, it is in Okowa’s victory, Nwaoboshi’s victory, his daughter ’s victory, Igbuya’s victory, his hand is in the election of the members of the House of Assembly in the state and all of us in the National Assembly.

Let nobody tell you that Ibori is away, Ibori is just away, but politically, spiritually and otherwise, he is very much with us.

Of course, we are waiting for him to come back very soon.

Given the mixed feelings by some Urhobos against the emergence of Okowa from Delta North, what should the incoming governor do to win the hearts of the Urhobos?

Let me correct an impression, there is no mixed feeling among the political class as far as Okowa’s emergence as governor of the state is concerned. If you look at the result generally, Okowa won and won convincingly in the Central Senatorial district, that shows acceptability.

He may have lost two local government areas where his opponents come from, which is expected because they are from there, that is why he lost, but generally in Urhobo land, he won, Okowa won everywhere.

So there is no question of Urhobo people having mixed feelings, all I will just say is that as a governor, he has to carry everybody along because he derived his winning vote from all the senatorial districts. To whom much is given, much is expected, they have given you their votes, they have given you their mandate, you have to ensure that they live to their expectations by being fair to the senatorial districts. And I can say that he is too knowledgeable and experienced not to know what to do.

38—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

KOGI: PDP still alive

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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HE setback suffered by therulingPeoplesDemocratic Party,PDP,inKogiStateinthehands of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections was the first of its kind since the PDP took the baton of leadership of the state in 2003.

The APC Presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) polled 264,851 votes to defeat PDP’s President Goodluck Jonathan who got 149,987 votes.

The APC also won all the three Senate seats and six out of the nine House of Reps seats, while PDP managed to get three.

TheoutcomeoftheMarch28polls was a reversal of the trend of elections in the state since 2003 when PDP, at various elections, dominated winning the three senatorial slots and virtually all nine HouseofRepresentativesseatswith the exception of one in 2003 and two federal seats in 2011.

The PDP also has 20 of the 25

state House of Assembly seats in the outgoing legislature.

The reversed trend jolted the PDP family. The APC celebrated its victories in anticipation of more victories to come. Many APC supporters, relying on the pockets of defections witnessed in the state in the run up to the 2015 general

The PDP also has 20 of the 25 state House of Assembly seats in the outgoing legislature

elections, when two former speakers led PDP defectors to APC in January, had hoped for a chance to level up with the PDP. Not even the best optimists in the opposition camp expected the almost total sweep that the APC had at the March 28 polls. The shock was real.

Returning to drawing board ImmediatelyafterthePresidential Election, pundits began to ask if the PDP would recover at the House of Assembly election. The recovery rateoftherulingPDPseemsinstant.

The leadership and followers, still nursing their bruises, quickly withdrewtothedrawingboard.And two weeks later, the PDP turned the tables against the APC, winning majority of the seats in the state House of Assembly polls. It won 12 of the 25 seats, the APC got seven seats and the remaining six were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. State Chairman of the party, Hassan Salau quickly reacted boasting that the State PDP has ‘bounced back.’

Why losers in Akwa Ibom should now embrace Udom – Udonsek Chief Sunny Udonsek, Obong Uforo 1 of Ibibio land is a strong PDP stakeholder in Onna local government area and Akwa Ibom state in general. He is among few recognised politicians in Onna who contributed immensely to the successful election of governor-elect, Udom Emmanuel during the just concluded 2015 general elections. In this interview he expressed his opinion on why he supported Udom Emmanuel, his expectation of the President-elect, and other issues . Excerpt:

By Chioma Onuegbu

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HAT do you say about allegation that the governorship election in the state was massively rigged?

They are mere speculations and it is normal in every political contest. But my question remains that if those people saying that the governorship election was rigged had won will they be saying that the same thing today that the election was rigged?

Akwa Ibom State is a PDP state, and even if the conduct fresh election in the state for over ten times, PDP will still win. So I will advise those that lost out in the elections to shelve their grievances, they should be able to come together in the spirit of patriotism and join hands with the winner, Udom Emmanuel to move Akwa Ibom forward, in the

overall interest of the people of Akwa Ibom. We are one people with a common destiny, so instead of all these talks here and there we should come together to see

Every responsible government should be able to carry everybody along in the system. My advice is that nobody should be left out because the state is for everybody and Akwa Ibom is one

how we can develop our state, our people. In every contest there must always be a winner and a loser. And I want to also advise that the incoming administration, all contestants that won the elections should be able to accommodate everybody irrespective of ethnic and party affiliations, that way all these agitations and grievances here and there will stop. Every responsible government should be able to carry everybody along in the system. My advise is that nobody should be left out because the state is for everybody and Akwa Ibom is one.

How do you feel about the APC taking over government at the centre?

Well when you want to look at what is happening in the world today for instance in the United States of America, there are two major political parties in the system. Although I never expected the PDP to lose the presidential election, but one can always expect anything to happen when it has to do with is politics. Politics is a game, where you must have a loser, and a winner, so it is either you lose or you win. Two major political parties

Continues from page 39

•Wada: Recovered after presidential loss Has PDP really bounced back?

Salau’s statement has generated debate on whether or not the PDP has actually bounced back.

The joy of the PDP was cut short when results of the six inclusive constituencies were announced.

The party won two out of the six rerun election bringing its total number of seats to 14 as against APC’s 11.

Two out of the four they lost were from the governor’s base in Dekina 1 and Dekina 11. With that, the joy of holding comfortably to the House of Assemble was eroded as it failed to get its expected 17 seats needed to have two-third majority in the House.

Governorship test: Political pundits are however saying the only way to know if the PDP has bounced back will be at the governorship election later in the year.

Political analyst Some political analysts are predicting that subsequent elections will not be the same for APC. To them, the pattern the March 28 polls followed would not be continuing as the APC would have to contend with PDP’s strength at the grass-roots The onus is on the PDP not to gloss over the outcome of the March 28 elections. Instead the party should focus on the state assemblypolls,whereitwasobvious that the local content took precedence over the Buhari Tsunami.

However, the two parties are believed to have a 50-50 chance of dominating the politics of the state as of now. The APC now has the national strength but the PDP still controls the state till 2016 and controls the grass-roots (local governments).

Father of all battles: As it were, PDP and APC stand in pole positions to tango ahead of the next governorship election in the State.

The first term tenure of the

incumbent Governor Idris Wada expires on January 27, 2016. Based on the current strengths of the two parties, the governorship polls provide a level playing field for one to prove its superiority over the other. It is left to be seen if the opposition will bring PDP’s 13-year dominance over Kogi State to a halt.

Incidentally, PDP took the leadership from the opposition in 2003, when Alhaji Ibrahim Idris defeated the then incumbent, Prince Abubakar Audu of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP. Ironically,Auduisstillafactor in the current governorship race.

He is the undisputed leader of APC in the state.

Undisputed leader His Lokoja residence hosts APC meetings where all the decisions and strategies were mapped out in the run up to the 2015 elections.

But Audu’s undying governorship ambition will play a huge role in the determination of the governorship election. This is because of the many tendencies involved in the formation of the present day APC. There are many factors involved; those who came into the fold from the defunct ANPP, ACN and defectors from PDP. If Audu decides to throw his hat into the ring once again, as he has done since the creation of the state in 1991, it is feared that it would be difficult for any other aspirants in the APC to stop him. Audu was governor between 1991 and 1992 during the aborted Third Republic.

He was re-elected governor in 1999 and ruled until his loss to Idris in 2003.

The young Turks in APC are however clamouring for a young, vibrant candidate, preferring that Audu continues in his role as party leader and statesman. Meanwhile, how the various factors in APC and indeed the electorates in Kogi react to Audu’s candidature will either make or mar APC’s challenge at the governorship polls.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—39

I've opened the way for non-indigenes in Lagos —Oghene, Rep-elect OGHENE Egho, from Delta State was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the last National Assembly elections. He speaks on the import of his victory in this interview.

By Charles Kumolu

W

HAT is the implication of your election to the House of Representatives given that you are not an indigene of Lagos?

This victory is for Nigerians and generations unborn. If Oghene Igho can make it here in Lagos, any other Nigerian can make it in any part of the country no matter where the person comes from. Non indigenes have been living in Lagos for years.

In Lagos Island we have Brazilians, Ghanaians and people of other nationalities, who have become indigenes of Lagos State. I came to this community about 40 years ago.

My first son who is now 30 years old was born in Lagos just like his younger ones. I have been part of Lagos in the past 40 years.

Property and investments All my property and most of my investments are here in Lagos. The house that my children know as family house is here in Lagos. I spend over 99 percent of my time here in Lagos. I only go home once in a while.

So, if I am that rooted in Lagos, the noise about indigene and non indigene should not come up. My victory is a testimony to the fact that Lagos belongs to everyone because it is a cosmopolitan city like New York and London.

Yoruba people are holding important political positions.

Same applies to New York and other cosmopolitan cities where people of different nationalities contest and win elections. The indigenes should know that we all need ourselves to be the best we can.

The non indigenes who contribute to the socioeconomic development and status of Lagos, also have the right to aspire to represent the state at any level. Therefore, this victory is important to the future of non indigenes in Lagos, it is a victory that will further cement the relationship between the indigenes and non indigenes

in Lagos.

What was your magic wand?

I owe the victory to God and my supporters. However, people should not forget that I am old in politics. I contested councillorship election in Lagos in 1987 on zero party basis and won. I defeated three other indigenes to win a seat into Badagry Local Government legislative arm.

I performed so well that I was made the pioneer Supervisory Councillor for Finance and Development when Ojo Local Government Area was created. So, I am not new to politics in Lagos State. When the defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, was formed, I contested election as the state publicity secretary which was zoned to Badargy Division and I won.

That was why I was the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the NRC during the administration of late Sir Michael Otedola. I have also served on the board of some parastatals in Lagos State. I have been on ground in the state for a long time.

Another thing that won for me is that I don’t forget my friends. I always carry everyone along. My campaign coordinator in the last election is an Awori man. He worked for me because he knows that I am part of this community.

Having been around for a long time, I don’t see myself as a non indigene. I am a Lagosian and will ensure I don’t disappoint my people in the House.

When I came in as councillor there was no market at Ijegun in Satellite Town, I ensured that the market was approved and

This victory is for Nigerians and generations unborn. If Oghene Igho can make it here in Lagos, any other Nigerian can make it in any part of the country no matter where the person comes from

•Oghene: Lagos is my home the market is there today.

Unfortunately, some people who voted for me had their

shops locked up by the market authorities because they voted for the PDP. That is sad but it

tells you that some never thought this victory would be possible. The Agboju market and Agboju Police station were also courtesy on my efforts at the Council. Chief Femi Davies, a former chairman of Badagry Local Government can attest to this.

What is the reaction of indigenes to your victory?

It has been positive. They are happy that their inputs into my campaign resulted in victory.

They have been supportive and happy that someone like me is going there to represent them.

When you are accessible to the people, they don’t entertain fears that you may become distant from them when you get to the House.

The depth of their love for me informed my thank you tour, which was put together to appreciate them. I have made extensive thank you tours to all the communities in my constituency.

Are you not jittery that your party, PDP, is going to be the minority in the National Assembly?

I am not bothered about that.

Whether I am in the majority or minority does not matter, what matters is how well I represent my people.

Why losers in Akwa Ibom should embrace Udom —Udonsek Continues from page 38 in this case are the PDP and APC, so the expectation was that it is either going to be the PDP or the APC and what made the outcome of the presidential unique is that the APC won, and the ruling party in the spirit of sportsmanship conceded defeat. However I am assuring you that the PDP will bounce back.

The PDP will still remain the strongest party in this country and in Akwa Ibom state. As a stakeholder I believe so much in the ideologies, policies and programmes of PDP and I know that PDP will spring back again come 2019.

How do you see effect of Buhari win on subsequent elections in the country?

You know in every system, you have unstable class of human beings, and you have those that are steadfast and very, very stable.

Subsequent elections I can tell you that most PDP supporters and members in Akwa Ibom PDP are stable and we strongly believe in PDP, that is why you saw what happened in the election- the Presidential and subsequent elections, the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the people voted massively for the PDP and we won virtually everything and that is how it has always been since 1999.

I cannot talk for other states but all I am saying is no matter the government that is now going to be at the centre that Akwa Ibom state will continue to remain a PDP state, so the few people that defected to opposition parties in Akwa Ibom state are not stable human beings. But I know that true PDP members are still in majority in this state. The senators, House of Representatives members from Akwa Ibom State are all PDP

•Udonsek

members and when the new government finally takes over I don’t see how that will affect Akwa Ibom. So long as we have effective representation up there, they will be able to lobby and get what we want. It is all about lobbying, to get what you want, so we have nothing to lose.

As strong supporter of Udom Emmanuel were you at any point skeptical over his victory at the poll?

Never! There was never such a time I doubted that UdomEmmanuelwillnotwinwiththelevelofpreparation we made. Everybody saw it that the PDP was in control, people knew that Udom Emmanuel was in control, that he was going to win.

The reality was on ground. And as Chairman Board of Trustees of Newbreed Organisation for sustainable Development, we worked tirelessly to make sure that Udom Emmanuel is sworn in as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State come 29 of May 2015.

40—V ANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, MA Y 6, 2015 40—VANGU ANGUARD, WEDNESDA MAY

He's reneging on his promise of commitment

My daughters prefer their step-mum Dear Bunmi, MY husband left me and my two daughters for another woman. As soon as he got a posting to a new state from his company, he took her with him.

Obviously, he wanted something different - his new wife is young and hip - always wearing trendy clothes and daring make-up. My two girls who are aged 15 and 13 are hurt by this move and everything I do is wrong, while everything their stepmother does is perfect.

They’ve started being hostile to my new boyfriend, insinuating that he’s trying to take their father’s place. They even hinted they would prefer to live with their dad. I feel so betrayed. Their father left us and chose to live far away, but I’ve always tried to make sure the kids have the best possible relationship with him. What else should I do?

Nnoli bye-mail.

Dear Nnoii, Your ex-husband has married a woman who not only seems like a peer to your

daughters and is, therefore, more relatable but also doesn’t have the responsibility of disciplining them— she's more of a big sister than a stepmother. You, sadly, are now in charge of a distasteful tasks like getting them to do their homework and obey your rules. You can understand why impressionable children could have their heads turned by this hip woman. But that doesn’t make it right.

Why not sit down with your

Why not sit down with your ex and tell him that you don’t want to be in competition with him and his new wife for your daughter’s affections

ex and tell him that you don’t want to be in competition with him and his new wife for your daughter’s affections. Explain that you want - and expect him to support you in your role as their mother, just as you support him in his role as their father. Presenting a united front to the girls would be the responsible thing for him to do.

If he’s intoxicated by the power that comes from his wife’s attractiveness to the kids, you’ve got a real problem.

Luckily, you’re not at that point yet.

In addition to talking to your ex, you need to stand your ground with your girls - your job isn’t to be their friend but a steady, predictable force. You need to do whatever is necessary to mould them into the young adults you want them to become. Don’t back off.

Let them realise there are appropriate consequences for disrespecting you. They don’t have to like you today, but they do have to respect you for years to come. Be rest assured that things will work out in time.

Why do my parents still spoil my ‘Mama’s Boy’ brother?

Dear Bunmi, My elder brother is 34 and lives at home with my parents, who have pampered him all his whole life. This has always made my blood boil, especially now that one of his casual girlfriends has a child by him. My parents have no financial help from him and watch his son while he sleeps off hangovers. It’s doubtful if he makes anything from the contracts he lies he’s after.

I am a professional man, happily married to an accountant and have three lovely children. My parents take pride in my accomplishments yet expect nothing from my brother. Why won’t they encourage him to provide a life for himself and his child? And why are they afraid to be proper parents to him? I’m losing respect for them - they need help!

Elijah by e-mail.

Dear Elijah, Any rational person would understand your frustration, but the truth is that this really isn’t any of your business.

That doesn’t mean you should stop caring about

what’s going on with your family, but you need to have reasonable expectations about your need to control, and in this case, it is zero! I can assure you that since your brother has a child now, your parents are subject to ‘emotional extortion.’ At this point, your brother has a tremendous leverage over them. If they were to ask him to leave - and you don’t know if they’ve already tried - he might make them believe that

by kicking him out, they’ll be kicking out their grandson too. If your brother is guilt tripping your parents, they’re stuck.

It’s not unusual for the ‘good’ child to get less attention and love from parents than the bad one. It’s justifiable that you want to be heard. So, go ahead and tell what you wish they would do if you haven’t done that already. But the minute you finish explaining what’s on your mind, you need to let go.

Toy boy’s humiliation Dear Bunmi, A while back, I got together with a 28-year-old man I met through a friend. He’s a very good-looking man and the sex was mind-blowing. I am 39 and married with three children. It was my friend through whom I met this guy that told me he would soon be getting married. As you can imagine, I was devastated.

When I asked him, he simply cut off all contact with me. I’m really hurting. How could he do that to me?

Monalisa, by e-mail.

Dear Monalisa, What has this toy-boy of yours done to you that you haven’t done to him? He was only having fun, dating a woman years older than he is, and so were you.

Or, did you think any permanent relationship could come off it? If you are serious about this fling, it means something is seriously wrong with your marriage and you need to address this urgently.

Dear Biuimi, My boyfriend and I were having an affair when he was living with his older girlfriend in her house. Some months ago, they split up and he now lives in a flat he bought. He always said things would be different between us when he was unattached but they aren’t.

We go out more, sleep together more and he tells me he loves me - then he denies we have a proper relationship.

He still insists we sneak off to meet well away from our neighbourhood and he makes sure no one knows about us.

I’m not interested in living together but I want us to see each other openly and be a proper couple. When I told him this, he said I should go and find someone else. I love him and can’t believe it’s turned out like this. Why doesn’t he want the world to know we’re together?

Bibi, bye-mail.

Dear Bibi, Your boyfriend is wise not to go straight from one fullycommitted relationship into the next. And remember, he was having an affair with you and affairs are fun because they are naughty and dangerous and have to be kept secret. That’s almost certainly why he wants to keep your relationship under wraps and why he wanted out when you asked to be seen openly as his girlfriend.

If you’re to have a chance with him, you must back off and give him some time, in the hope that he’ll realise he wants you as much as you want him. It looks as if he broke off with his long-term partner because of his feelings for you. So your future seems hopeful, as long as you don’t force the pace.

Should I leave him for his dad?

Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend and I have been courting for about a year and I stay over at his house for the weekends. His parents are divorced and my boyfriend lives with his father. His dad is not interested in remarrying but has a string of girlfriends. My boyfriend works in a bank and often goes to the office on Saturday morning to catch up on some paper work. As soon as he leaves however, I sneak off to his dad’s side of the house and we always have great sex. The man’s prowess is unbelievable and he has taught me a lot on how to really enjoy sex.

Whenever I ask my boyfriend to try some of these things his dad taught me, he becomes wideeyed and wants to know when and from whom I learned such

‘perverted’ acts. I’m having the best of two worlds as my boyfriend’s dad is very generous to me. If it comes to choosing between him and his dad, I’m afraid I would go for the dad any day. Should I tell my boyfriend?

Juliana, by e-mail.

Dear Juliana, Why don’t you ask his dad how he would feel if you were to throw over his son for him? You‘re obviously playing with fire and sooner or later, you will get burnt.

The only person I feel sorry for is your boyfriend. If you’re as randy as you’ve made out in your letter, then you should cast your net further afield - it would be a shame to hurt a family that shows you nothing but hospitality.

Is he going off sex?

Dear Bunmi, When we first met, we used to make love all of the time and this continued when we married. My two pregnancies hadn’t stopped my husband but now it seems as if I'm lucky if we make love twice a month. Is this normal? We are both in our thirties and I believe we should be making love more.

Oluchi by e-mail.

Dear Oluchi, Love-making is obviously a powerful bond between a couple but after years of being together, familiarity often

erodes it. The quickest way to bring your sex life back to where it was is to change the time, place and position of the way you make love. This shouldn’t be done all at once, of course.

Time is the easiest element with which to begin a sexual revamp. Try initiating sex when he least expects it, instead of waiting for your man to do that. That way, sex doesn’t become routine.

Getting away once in a while helps too and changing your normal sexual position can turn him on instead of off sex. Good luck!

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 41

C M Y K

42—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Bayelsa monarch, others protest abandoned N4bn shore-protection contract

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—INDIGENES of Agge community on the Atlantic fringe of Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, yesterday, led by their 90-year-old paramount ruler, HRH David Isiayi, protested against alleged abandonment of a N4 billion shore protection contract awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in the community.

The community located on the Atlantic shore is on the verge of being washed away by the surging ocean.

It was learned that the shore protection contract was awarded to an indigenous contractor, (name withheld), to sand fill and reclaim over 2. 9km of land washed away by erosion in the community.

The monarch and the aggrieved indigenes of the community led by the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Steven Fiopare, accused the contractor of engaging in illegal sub-letting

Ex-militants task Buhari on documentation of Amnesty Phase III

By Ochuko Akuopha

O

L E H — E X M I L I TA N T S , under the aegis of Justice Group, have appealed to the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to address the lingering problem of their nondocumentation and integration into the third phase of the Amnesty Programme.

The former militants, in a statement by their leader, David Owhegbe, alleged that the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has been “playing games” with their documentation and integration into the programme.

“We have written series of letters to the Amnesty office over the matter and they wrote to us that we should go to the Joint Task Force, JTF and when we wrote to JTF, they directed us to the amnesty office. We then drew the attention of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to our plight but he also directed us to the Amnesty office,” he said.

of the contract to another company, and abandoning the contract site over alleged nonmobilization by NDDC. Indigenes of the community lamented that despite their peaceful disposition to the contractor to work and save their community from extinction by the surging ocean, the contractor attempted to move its equipment away from site but was stopped.

The aggrieved Agge natives, armed with placards, some of which read, “JTF should not be used, don’t intimidate Agge people,” “NDDC, Beks, Kariala come and finish the job you

were paid for,” and "Agge project money should not be used for politics,” said they will not release the heavy duty equipment belonging to the contractor unless an assurance for completion of the job was given by NDDC. Lamenting the plight of his people, the royal father said: “The situation in Agge is threatening our existence as a people. The ocean has claimed half of our homes and people. I have ruled the community for over 41 years and the deceit and failure of the company awarded the contract to do the job is a shameful act. We don’t want to

die, we only want the awarded contract completed.”

Also speaking, the Agge Community Development Committee, CDC, chairman, Steven Fiopare, said that the community had over the years, lost people and houses to the ocean surge noting that the initial dredging work by the company had added to the problem of the community with incessant erosion of homes.

He said: “We are in a big problem. Houses are being washed away daily by erosion.

If the high tide comes, many indigenes will disappear and homes washed away.”

CONVOCATION: From left: Prof. Sam Oyovbaire; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Prof. Victor Peretimode, Vice Chancellor, Delta State University and his wife, during the university's convocation at Abraka, weekend. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

Ijaw oil communities warn anti-DESOPADEC bill agitators

Urhobo youths warn against hijacking of Delta APC structure from Emerhor

By Perez Brisibe

U

G H E L L I — U R H O B O youths under the aegis of Urhobo National Youth Council, UNYC, have vowed that they will fight any group or individuals bent on hijacking the structure of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State from the party’s governorship candidate in the April 11 election, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

The group in a statement by its National President, Mr. Monday Oyeghe, said: “In a bid to get appointments from the incoming administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), it is comical the way some politicians are trying to hijack the APC structure which was built by Emerhor for their selfish benefits."

Delta Accord boss demands re-ordering of election time table

By Festus Ahon

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—IJAW oil p r o d u c i n g communities in Delta State, yesterday, warned that they will resist any attempt by any person or group to prevent the direct payment of their share of the 13 per cent derivation fund, as proposed by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, in the new bill on the restructuring of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. In a statement by Bishop Samson Amagene and other leaders of the communities hosting flow stations in Ijaw land, they said: “We do not want to be put in a situation where we would have to give another ultimatum to close flow stations on our land, as frustrating the government’s effort in getting the money directly to our people is capable of causing fresh crisis in the state.

“It is clearly God’s doing that

Governor Uduaghan has acceded at last to the request of the Ijaw oil producing communities to pay their 27 per cent of the 13 per cent derivation fund due to the state to them,” adding that the governor earlier refused the request in

2013 when the former chairman of DESOPADEC, Chief Wellington Okirika, led a delegation of the Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko and Ndokwa oil communities to press for direct payment.

EPZ CONTROVERSY: We're autonomous, Kpokpo community insists

W

ARRI—A FRESH controversy surrounding the location of the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ, now called Delta Industrial Gas City, is brewing, as the people of Kpokpo, one of the host communities of the $16 billion project have denied insinuations that they are part of Ugborodo, insisting that Kpokpo is an autonomous community in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

The people have, meanwhile called for the immediate resignation of the Ogidigben Interface Committee Chairman and the incorporation of Kpokpo

people in the Delta Gas Industrial City Project, saying: “It is the only recipe for peace and realisation of the legacy project.”

In response to statement credited to Chairman of Ogidigben EPZ Interface Committee, Austin Oborogbeyi, that Kpokpo is part of Madangho and as such does not have a separate Olare-Aja (community head), the people of Kpokpo, through their present Olare-Aja, Prince George Fregene in a statement, said that Oborogbeyi’s comment was a misrepresentation of “facts and historical evidence on the true identity of Kpokpo.”

A

S A B A — D E LT A State Chairman of Accord Party, Mr David Ashikodi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct governorship and state Assembly elections before presidential and National Assembly elections in subsequent elections.

Ashikodi, while fielding questions from newsmen in Asaba, said the current order of conducting presidential and National Assembly elections first was harmful to the growth and development of democracy in the country.

He also noted that conducting presidential and National Assembly elections before others also was creating a band wagon effect that was inimical to the germination of democratic principles and ideals in the country.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 43

NAF gives free medical treatment to 2,000 persons

Uneasy calm reigns in Imo over unpaid salaries

By Chidi Nkwopara

...distributes 1,000 treated mosquito nets

O

WERRI—UNEASY calm now pervades the ranks of civil servants in Imo State, following the nonpayment of their salaries in the past two months.

At the time of going to press, staff of the judiciary, including serving High Court Judges, are owed two months salary arrears.

Strong feelers from the judiciary revealed that “the executive arm of the state government is not in a hurry to implement the recent High Court judgment on the independence of the judiciary.”

Although it was not clear what sort of agreement the state government entered into with the state branch of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, that led to the suspension of the protracted industrial action, Vanguard, however, gathered that the unionists were getting a bit restive over their unpaid salaries.

The situation is not different

By Evelyn Usman

A

S PART of activities to mark its 51th anniversary, the Nigerian Airforce Logistics Command, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, gave free medical treatment to over 2,000 residents within Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area.

Alimosho Local Government Area and neighbouring communities also benefited from the gesture, which also saw the Command distributing over 1,000 treated mosquito nets to pregnant women and nursing mothers.

A sanitation around old Ewu Road, Mafoluku, where a blocked drainage channel was cleared, was also carried out by officers and men of the Command.

Speaking at the event, the Air officer Commanding, AOC Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi Shehu, described the gesture as part of the Airforce's corporate social responsibility as well as a clear indication of civilmilitary relation.

He said: “We are here to extend our hands of friendship to the communities that live with us. This is a yearly event and what you are witnessing today is part of the series of event lined up to celebrate our 51st anniversary."

in Imo Newspapers Limited, publishers of The Statesman newspaper, as workers in this establishment are owed about 17 months salaries.

Similarly, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Imo State University branch, are similarly spoiling for war with the institution’s management over unpaid salaries.

An inside source told Vanguard that the aggrieved

lecturers have given the university management up to tomorrow to clear the arrears of their two months salaries.

Vanguard recalls that Governor Rochas Okorocha, while addressing the May Day rally, lamented that 98 per cent of the state allocation was consumed by politicians and civil servants, stressing that only two per cent was left to service other sectors.

Okorocha expressed sadness

I laid solid foundation for democracy in Abia —Gov Orji

By Anayo Okoli

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Monday, said he has laid a solid democratic foundation upon which his successor would build, saying he was unfortunate to inherit nothing from his predecessor.

Orji, who spoke while commissioning the High Court complex in Umuahia, maintained that his administration laid a solid

foundation for good governance in the state.

The governor said he believed his administration had made a positive impact on the state through its many foundational and legacy projects.

He said the governments coming after him would not be bogged down in building similar institutional frameworks, but would rather focus on other important aspects of government and development.

The govrnor noted that when

Lab directors ask President Jonathan to reject Yayale Ahmed Committee Report

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

N

NEWI—THE Guild of Medical Lab Directors of Nigeria has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to implement the report of the committee headed by former Head of Federal Civil Service, Dr. Yayale Ahmed, if he must sustain the peace currently existing among medical workers.

The Federal Government had instituted the committee, following repeated cycle of acrimony emanating from different salary grades for different group

that after paying the monthly earnings of workers and political appointees, nothing was left to service other sectors.

“About N4,123,000,000 is spent on the monthly wage bill of workers and political appointees. ‘’This throws the state off balance, especially when we remember that the nation’s economy has fallen drastically, which has in turn affected the federal allocation to the state,” Okorocha said.

of professionals in the medical field, which gave medical doctors some air of superiority over others.

National President of the Guild, Dr. Fabian Chukwuezi, made the call while addressing newsmen, yesterday, in Onitsha on the need for the medical family to work harmoniously for the benefit of the patients, the general public and the medical profession and its allied unions. ‘’Yayale Committee report was an indirect way of repeating the failed health bill that denied them of their regulatory status, that was what Yayale report

metamorphosed into. ‘’Even the Health Act of 2014 which was quite clear with imputes of all the professions, Yayale report violated that one too,” he said.

Chukwuezi, who is also a member of the Governing Board of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, MLSCN, said implementing the report was tantamount to putting wool into the eyes of others not to know that the report was almost an attempt to compromise or mitigate power already given to others to regulate and practise their professions.

he assumed office, there was little or no institutions that supported democracy or durable infrastructure that served the need of the people, such as a befitting judiciary, public information building, workers’ secretariat and Government House.

To change the situation, Orji said he embarked on the building of the basic institutions which made democracy thrive.

Governor Orji extended his hands of fellowship to the opposition who, according to him, "sees nothing good in his government," insisting that there were many projects on ground for the good of the state.

Governor Orji also presented a brand new jeep to the Chief Judge of the state, Theresa Uzokwe, and commended her for being patient.

The governor assured that he would fulfil all that was due her.

In her remarks, Justice Theresa Uzokwe expressed gratitude to the governor for the High Court complex, and noted that it was the first time any government in the state was providing such structures for the judiciary in the state, saying they ranked the best in the South-East.

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

What would you say about the fuel scarcity?

T

he falling prices presented the Federal Government the best opportunity to deregulate the downstream petroleum sector. Government needs to do away with subsidy, which is clearly a drain-pipe for our already overstretched resources. Mr. Ralph Nwoke, Lawyer

F

uel problem will not stop in this country except we shift our consumptions to other close substitutes and make fuel less demanded. First, let us solve the elecricity issue before going into others. -Emma Martins, HR practitioner

I

think it is all about political problem, but some people may be seeing it as economic problem. The fuel scarcity issue is because of the hand-over. The scarcity may continue till the hand-over is done. Mr. Martins Onuigbo, Anti Cult

B

eyond the rhetoric of blame trading, there does not appear to be any meaningful effort to stem the present tide. There is urgent need for the government in power to redeem itself, even if its time is short. -Miss Hope Macaulay, Event Planner

W

hy is Nigeria experiencing fuel scarcity? We all are waiting for a new day that will give us a change. I believe the new government is not yet working, and the outgoing government is finding it difficult to continue paying the subsidy. -Miss Rose Okonta, Student

T

he present excruciating bite of fuel scarcity ravaging the country at the twilight of this administration is only symptomic of its poor riddled leadership. It should be resolved quickly. -Mr. Eyinna Okpani, Graduate

44 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Igede people beg FG, Benue over OtukpoOju-Uwokwu road

Group wants Delta polls annuled, lauds APC for bringing change to Nigeria

By Obialunamma Nwadiogbu

W

E

KWULOBIA—THE Igede Development Association, IDA, yesterday urged both the federal and Benue State governments to reduce the hardship of the people in Benue by constructing the 93kilometre Otukpo – Oju road.

President of the association, Anambra State chapter, Mr Patrick Akobo, made the call while speaking to newsmen in Onitsha in the state.

Akobo said that the road would shorten the distance between the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones and Abuja as well as other parts of the north central areas of the country.

“The road linking Otukpo and Igede people is a major road beneficial to Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State (on the right) and Cross River State (on the left). ‘’It would be an easy access for the three states mentioned to get to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and provide easy access for evacuating farm produce from these three states to the northern parts of the country through Abuja, while the six million people, who are predominantly farmers, already trapped due to bad and inaccessible road would have a way of moving out to other parts of the country.

PRESENTATION: Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (with mic) flanked from left; Justice Theresa Uzokwe, Chief Judge of Abia state displaying her car key; Sir Emeka Ananaba, Deputy Gov, and Prof. Mkpa A. Mkpa, SSG during the presentation of a brand new car to the CJ in Umuahia.

Niger govt sacks political appointees, dissolves state Boards M

INNA—THE Niger State government has announced the termination of the appointment of political appointees and dissolution of State Boards with effect from May 1.

A statement issued on Monday in Minna by Alhaji Saidu Kpaki, Secretary to the state government, said the measure was aimed at ensuring smooth transition and proper handing over to the new administration.

It urged the affected appointees, who are heads of establishment to hand over to the most senior civil servant in such establishments.

“Category of officers entitled to

13 tanker vessels wait to berth at Lagos ports as fuel crisis worsens

By Ifeyinwa Obi

A

S the fuel crisis hits Lagos and many states, there are at least 13 tanker vessels that are currently awaiting berth at Lagos ports.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in its Shipping Position showed that the affected vessels came more than two weeks ago but still declared as awaiting berth.

Most of the vessels came with premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as fuel, while four others came with base oil and kerosene.

Some of the vessels have been awaiting berth since March 29, according to the Shipping Position.

The tanker vessels that came with fuel include Msk Elizabeth, Port Brussel, Formosa Falcon, Atlantic Leo, Sea Horizon and Port Steward, British Tenacity, Elux Lucis and Eternal Sunshine.

Other vessels that came with base oil and kerosene include Atlantic

Andaman, Loulou, Nkanas and Eagle.

No tanker that came with fuel has anything less than 30,000 mts, while those with base oil and kerosene have between 4,500 mt to 5,000mt of the products.

The Shipping Position showed that three other vessels had discharged fuel about two weeks ago, while two others discharged kerosene and diesel.

Fuel crisis has made life difficult in Lagos, Abuja and many other states for about two weeks now.

The Federal Government had last week released N156bn as payment for the oil subsidy, which the marketers described as not enough.

However, it is expected that the fuel crisis may ease this week with the payment of the money to the oil marketers who were suspected to have delayed the discharge of the products at the Lagos ports until payment is made.

severance gratuity who have vehicle loans and have not served up to two years minimum to qualify for the severance are to return such vehicles.

“They should also return any operational vehicle in their care to the Transport Officer,

Government House for proper documentation,” it said.

It said other officers assigned operational vehicles should also return such vehicles immediately and ensure due clearance.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, however, reports that the termination did not affect personal aides to Governor Babangida Aliyu.

‘APC'll win Kogi gov election'

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Ibrahim Linco Ocheje has predicted a resounding victory for the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Ocheje said his prediction was hinged on the result of the Presidential /National Assembly elections which the APC won as well as the recent state House of Assembly election in which the party produced 11 out of the 25 seats.

“I told you earlier that APC has come to stay but PDP leaders said their party would bounce back, the word bounce back means that they had gone out and they just want to come in. But with the last election, there was there anything like bouncing back?”

Ocheje further said the areas APC won election was where more than two- thirds of the state population resided, adding that it was enough signal that the party would win the governorship election.

“APC won Ankpa 1 and 2, Dekina 1 and 2, Okene, Lokoja/ Koto, Olamaboro, Ofu and Ajaokuta. Can we compare the voters in Ofu with Yagba West and East put together? In Mopamoro how many votes are there? And Ogori/Magongo has a local government with one house of

assembly member but Wada’s election recorded 3000 voters in the entire local government,” he said.

Ocheja also claimed that the state Governor, Capt. Idris Wada did not understand the political terrain well even as he was surrounded by too many fake politicians.

“The result shows that the people he is working with are not in touch with the yearning of the people. Last time I advised him to join the APC before it was too late. Changing his cabinet is something else because what the cabinet members needed they have achieved but has the governor achieved what he wanted from them?”

ARRI—AN Itsekiri pressure group, the Iwere Progressive Forum has called for the invalidation of the recently conducted elections in Delta State, claiming the polls was a shameful process that was massively rigged by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. In a statement released to newsmen in Warri, the group through its convener, Mr. Elijah Egberekomi, described the elections as an irreparably skewed process intended by the PDP to keep pillaging the resources of Delta State for another four or eight years.

Egerekomi accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the military and security agencies of conniving with PDP to subvert the electoral will of the people by the massive irregularities that marred the elections.

He said what the PDP was currently celebrating amounted to jubilating over the proceeds of a heinous electoral crime, and vowed that the party would fail to retain a stolen mandate this time around.

While commending Olorogun Otega Emerhor, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC in the state for heading for the tribunal to reclaim his mandate, Egerekomi assured him that progressive-minded people across Delta will not relent in their struggle in assisting him in bringing change to the state.

According to him: “APC was rigged out by desperate politicians in the PDP determined to hold the state down while continuing to pocket our resources.”

While heaping praise on the APC for the victory of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, he further urged all Deltans to be steadfast in prayer for the salvation of the state, assuring the people of the state that the change they seek will come sooner or later.

Lagos IYC lauds non-indigenes on presidential election

T

HE Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Lagos chapter has commended the Igbo and other non-indigenes in Lagos State for their support and for coming out enmass to vote for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the March, 28, 2015 presidential election.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the Lagos IYC, Mr. Boma JohnBull, the group said: “We appreciate the effort, the partnership, the synergy and the collaboration

the Igbo and other nonindigenes in Lagos demonstrated in support for President Jonathan.

“The Ijaw will advocate the continuous synergy and understanding that would take us to greater height and we promise to reciprocate in some manner when the time comes.”

He further appealed to everyone to accept the outcome of the presidential election as the will of God.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—45

C M Y K

AIRTEL/OANDO MOU: From left— Godfrey Efeurhobo, Chief Sales Officer, Airtel Nigeria; Olaposi Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing, and Babatunde Olaniyan, General Manager, Commercial Law, Airtel Nigeria, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between Oando and Airtel in Lagos.

VISIT: From left— Pastor Segun Babatope, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President-elect; Pastor Jerry Asemota, Church Secretary, and Pastor Philip Oluwi, during Professor Osinbajo's visit to the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos.

GOOGLE NEXUS: From left— Susan Cadrecha, Communications Senior Associate, Google, Maps; Oktay Ucar, Turkish journalist; Gareth Evans, Manager, Public Relations, and Claudine Beamont, Communications and Public Relations, both of Google, doing a demo with Google Nexus 6 smartphone at the just-concluded exploration of Madrid using Google tools event held in Madrid, Spain. PHOTO: Emeka Aginam.

AIR FORCE ATTACK MALARIA: Air Vice Marshal Abdulahi Shehu, Air Officer, Commanding Air Force Logistics Command, Ikeja, Lagos (right), distributing treated mosquito nets to preganant women and nursing mothers at Ewu Road, Oshodi/Isolo Local Governemnt Area, Lagos State, as part of events to celebrate Nigeria Airforce's 51st anniversary, yesterday.

PHOTO: Eveleyn Usman.

SUNLIGHT: From left— Sunlight Alarambara radio characters, Boluwaduro Adeseko, Abidemi Olukuewu; Sunlight Bubble Man; Nollywood actress and Sunlight’s Sisi Oge, Mosun Filani Oduoye; and Omolola Kazeem, at the Sunlight Owambe party in appreciation of loyal consumers in Ibadan.

ST. MULUMBA: From left— Lady Monica Eigbe, Metro President, Ladies of St. Mulumba, Lagos Metropolitan Council; Charles Mbelede, Metropolitan Grand Knight, Lagos Metropolitan Council; Lawrence Okonofua, Supreme Treasurer, Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, and James Famure, Metro Chancellor, at the investiture and admission ceremony of members into the 3rd degree cadre in the order of the Knights of St. Mulumba at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

ON SPEAKERSHIP SLOT: From left— Mr. Harrison Omogbon, Chairman, South South Equity Forum; Mr. Thomas Okosun and Mr. Gabriel Oiboh, at a briefing on zoning House of Representatives speakership to SouthSouth geo-political zone.

DELTA NLC: From left— Mr. David Ofoeyeno, Chairman; Mr. Johnson Oyawiri, 2nd Vice Chairman; and Mr. Innocent Ofuonyeadi, State Secretary, all of Delta State Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at a briefing in Asaba, Delta State. PHOTO: Nath Onojake.

46 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Journey to Europe...for better life or death?

SUICIDE TRIP TO EUROPE: Uncovering fatal attraction among Nigerian migrants

By Charles Kumolu

M

UMMY, Festus is likely to be among them,’’ Promise Okorodion casually told her mother upon learning about the migrant shipwreck in the coast of Italy.

Seeing that her statement prompted a worried change on her mother ’s countenance, Promise added: ‘’ Mummy, you are wasting your time over that senseless boy. It would even be good if he is one of them; that should at least be the reward for his stubbornness.’’ ‘’How dare you talk about your cousin in that manner. He is still one of us in spite of the choices he is making,’’ Mrs. Grace Okorodion responded.

Irked by her mother’s obvious sympathy for Festus whose whereabouts has been unknown since January 2015, Promise said: ‘’I don’t really wish him dead, but I want him to have a bitter experience that will jolt him back to his senses.’’

Not bothered by her daughter’s indifference to what had become of Festus, she added thus: ‘’We will keep praying for his safety anywhere he is, even though I am not supportive of the path Festus has chosen.’’

Going by his surname, Okorodion, one would think that C M Y K

22-year-old Festus hails from Edo State, but his paternal state of origin remains unknown.

Reason: His mother, who is an indigene of Uromi in Edo State had him before wedlock as a teenager.

After his birth Festus was left under the care of his maternal grandfather in Kaduna who cared less about him given the fact that he was a product of an illicit relationship. Since the child’s mother was also indifferent to his upkeep, Festus

Many youths in Edo, Delta and southeastern states have become enamoured of travelling to Europe by road in search of the better life; now such movement is referred to as ‘’See Morocco, See Spain’’ in the local parlance

was already an Alajamri (street urchin) in Kaduna at age 11.

Absence of enthusiasm It was in this state that a relative who came visiting from Edo State in 2002 saw Festus and decided to take him back to his maternal home in one of the prominent communities in Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.

Upon arrival little Festus was received into Mrs. Okorodion’s family as their son. He was promptly enrolled into a primary school which he never attended while in Kaduna. Since he was wholly accepted by his maternal relatives, Festus attended secondary school like any of the Okoriodion lads. Having completed his secondary education, efforts were made to secure admission for him at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma or Federal Polytechnic Auchi; but Festus was less interested about furthering his studies.

Due to this obvious lack of enthusiasm for further studies, Mrs. Okorodion suggested he learned a trade or vocational skills. None of these appealed to Festus. All that mattered to him was to travel to Europe by road.

Such choice did not sound surprising to the Okorodions given that travelling abroad is a common aspiration in their locality. However, the fact that other young persons in that household were in tertiary institutions made Festus’ choice worrisome to the Okorodions.

Unknown to them, Festus had concluded plans to escape from home in order to realise his ambition. So while Mrs. Okorodion was away to Lagos for the Christmas holidays, Festus left home on January 15, 2015 without telling anyone. Till this moment, his whereabouts remain unknown. Inquiries from his friends, suggested that he may have travelled to Europe en route Libya.

Police station: Worried by the development, Mrs. Okorodion reported Festus disappearance to the Police. At the station, she noted that the Police also inferred that Festus may have travelled out in line with the craze in that part of Nigeria.

Notwithstanding, an agitated Mrs. Okorodion in a telephone conversation with Vanguard Features,VF, expressed the fear that she could be held responsible should anything happen to Festus. ‘’I am bothered because I know

that my husband’s family is likely to accuse me of sending the boy away. He left my restaurant with a huge amount of money and no one saw him again since that day. Please, I am hoping that you will inform us if he is listed as one of the Nigerians affected in the current migration crisis in Italy,’’ she said.

Perilous journey to foreign countries His case is not in isolation.

Festus is one of the growing number of youths who daily embark on the perilous journey to foreign countries by road, especially from that part of the country.

Findings show that many youths in Edo and Delta states have become enamoured of travelling to Europe by road in search of the better life.

Though this has been the case for a long time, it has now become a fad to the extent that such movement is referred to as ‘’See Morocco, See Spain’’ in the local parlance.

Some of the youths are jobless while others, like Festus, are driven by personal desire to make quick money given the

Continues on page 47

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 —47

Uncovering fatal attraction among Nigerian migrants Continues from page 46 perception among them that going to Europe is the quickest way to make money.

The news that some Nigerians were among the 12 migrants thrown overboard by Muslim cotravellers in the Mediterranean while sailing to Italy, attests to the alarming trend.

The International Organisation for Migration ,IOM, in a piece titled: Migrant Arrivals by Sea in Italy Top 170,000 in 2014 observed that Nigeria accounted for 9,000 migrants out of the 170,100 that arrived Italy by sea in 2014.

While most migrants from troubled spots in Africa make the dangerous sea trips as a result of crises in their countries, those from Nigeria often point at poverty which VF found not to be as pervasive as they claim.

It is believed that more than 70 percent of Nigerians live below the national poverty line.

But among countries in subSaharan Africa like Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Gambia and Ghana where some of migrants hail from, Nigeria boasts of the highest GDP, which is $2,700.

Official figures Official figures for 2013 released by the National Bureau of Statistics, put the country’s GDP at $503bn (£307bn). The figure nearly doubled previous estimates and well ahead of South Africa at around $350bn.

Since this implies that the country is the largest economy in Africa following booming sectors like telecoms, banking and the Nollywood film industry, the frightening number of people embarking on the dangerous journey’s to Europe, comes as a sharp contrast.

What is the attraction?

Faced with this situation, many are eager to know what could possibly be the attraction in these trips that are often made aboard poorly equipped vessels.

Mr. Elvis Osemokha, founder of Save Our Heritage Foundation, a Benin based nongovernmental organisation that campaigns against human trafficking and dangerous migration to Europe, told VF, that poverty remains the remote cause. However, he argued that the level of poverty in the country does not call for such risky journeys to Europe.

Narrating the experience he has had with returnees and intending migrants, he explained thus: ‘’Migrants are of various categories. We are dealing with economic migrants in this circumstance. We all know that the living conditions in Nigeria are harsh. No one should deny the fact that the poverty rate in Nigeria is not alarming. Our people are poor C M Y K

and there are very poor people.’’

Continuing, he said: ‘’In the course of my job, I found out that some who embarked on such journeys lived below poverty line.

But the condition in Nigeria has not got to the level that will make our citizens embark on such trips of no return. So, for me the attraction is the hunger for better life. And I have seen that among some returnees that we have rehabilitated. Some told me that if conditions had been good in Nigeria, the choice of going to Europe by sea would not have been made.’’

Premium on wealth acquisition But a lecturer in the Department of Sociology in one of the private universities in the South-South, Dr. Jerome Onyenebadi, has a contrary or slightly different perception of what the attraction could be.

Onyenebadi sees the problem as a social crisis that comes at every stage of civilisation, noting that the world had often grappled with the challenges posed by migration. ‘’Things should be viewed with empirical lens. Without that understanding the underlying causes of a problem becomes difficult. There has never been a time when migration was not an issue because the society has perpetually been at war with itself. That is why I disagree that poverty is strictly responsible,’’ he said, adding thus: ‘’My argument should not be construed to mean that living conditions in Nigeria are favourable. Rather these youths are pushed into embarking on such trips by so many factors prevalent in our society.’’

•African migrants wait after they disembarked in the Sicilian harbor of Augusta last week circumstances.’’

Also, peer influence, get-richquick syndrome and acute unemployment rate were further discovered as other reasons for such trips which have become common among indigenes of Edo, Delta and most South Eastern states For instance, the propensity of travelling to Europe by any means is usually found in three out of every five unemployed youths from the aforementioned areas. Even some who are employed but not gainfully so also embark on this search for the proverbial golden fleece, VF gathered.

Now that these fatal journeys have assumed an epic proportion it is the wish of many that

Edo, Delta and South Eastern states Onyenebadi said the reasons cut across social, economic, religious and cultural needs. ‘’We live in a society that places high premium on wealth acquisition. The churches preach materialism instead of salvation; you are only recognised in your community when you are wealthy, not minding the source of your wealth, while the entire societal fabric is materialist. In most cases, parents encourage their children to embark on such voyages even when they are aware of the risk. In this kind of society everyone wants to make money; that is why we are here today.’’

He added thus: ‘’ In 2014 the United Nations Development Programme said the richest tenth of Nigeria’s population have an income 25 times more than the poorest tenth. That tells you the level of social inequality in this country. Vulnerable citizens are bound to make unthinkable choices under this

Some who embarked on such journeys lived below poverty line; but the condition in Nigeria has not got to the level that will make our citizens embark on such trips of no return

the Federal Government goes beyond adhoc responses and address the fundamental issues behind it. ‘’We expect the Federal Government to provide the social services that will create a better life for every Nigerian. That will help reduce the rate drastically among our people. We are also not relenting in our campaigns against fatal journeys, ‘’ Osemokha told VF. During a recent trip to Benin, VF came across car stickers with the warning message: ‘’Travelling to Europe by Road is Dangerous, Don’t Dare It.’’ The awareness campaign was found to be courtesy of NGOs like Osemokhas’.

On his part, Onyenebadi wants the government to in addition to performing its primary function as enshrined in section 14(2b) of the 1979 constitution, enter into workable bilateral agreements with transit countries so as to discourage the trend. ‘’In my humble submission, if our government performs the primary function of government as outlined in the Constitution which is ensuring security and welfare of the citizens, people will think less about going to Europe or anywhere. We have just elected General Muhammadu Buhari as president. To whom much is given, much is also expected in return. So, it is expected of him to make our living condition better than it is now,’’ he added.

However, checks showed that government had not really folded its arms and watched the issues snowball into a crisis. For instance, government had, a few years ago, launched several initiatives with some countries in Africa to discourage this deadly passage to Europe. One of such countries, it was gathered, was Morocco which used to be the exit route to Spain before migrants discovered the Libyan route.

Blessing Mberu and Roland

Pongou in their 2010 piece, Nigeria: Multiple Forms of Mobility in Africa’s Demographic Giant, said government was also working working with IOM on the matter. ‘’The government is currently working with the International Organisation on Migration, IOM, to facilitate the voluntary return and reintegration of Nigerian migrants living illegally in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy.

Government has also launched campaigns on the dangers of illegal migration and has supported linking the IOM programme to its povertyeradication strategies,’’ the duo stated.

Minimalist approach On the global scale, the IOM had in its response to the latest migration crisis called the European Union to go beyond what it described as minimalist approach in the 10-Point Plan on Migration, announced a fortnight ago, which focuses primarily on stemming the arrival of migrants and refugees on its shores. ‘’As a paramount principle, the safety, protection needs, and human rights of all migrants and refugees should be at the forefront of the EU response. EU leaders must look beyond the present situation and work closely with transit and origin countries both to alleviate the immediate plight of migrants and refugees and address in a more comprehensive way the many factors that drive them to resort to such desperate journeys by sea. Enforcement alone will not solve the issue of irregular migration, but could increase the risks and abuse faced by migrants and refugees,’’ the IOM said in a statement posted on it website on April 24, 2015.

48 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2014—49

SPECIAL PROJECT PUBLICATION

ITPC shall remain committed to better bi-national relationships with Nigeria — Indonesia Trade Director The Indonesia Trade Promotion Center’s Director, Mr. Nino Wawan Setiawan, while ventilating new ideas to strengthening Nigeria-Indonesia bi-national relationships, especially in the key sectors of both countries’ economies, expressed that improvement and expansion of both countries exports and imports are quite vital to progressive economic growth for the two countries.

In this interview, Nino who was expressive in disclosing ITPC’s interest to solidifying trade relationship with Nigeria pointed out that the Indonesia-Nigeria business gathering is one among the many intended platform to consolidating business partnership between Nigerian and Indonesian businessmen, adding that his country will ever remain committed to efforts towards better binational relationships with the Nigerian government. Excerpts:

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

T

O what extent can you describe bilateral trade relationship between the two countries?

I can say that bilateral trade relationship between Indonesia and Nigeria is very cordial because both countries have some similarities in terms of natural resources in agrocommodities and oil and gas and Ministers of our two countries have met, have had discussions and bilateral agreements and have agreed that technical teams from the two countries will come together and put together a strategic plan for both Nigeria and Indonesia. This plan will be implemented very soon.

Current level of trade The Minister for Trade has said “One of the major things that we want to do in the nearest future is how to work out a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Nigeria and Indonesia so that we can increase the current level of trade and investment in both countries. Hopefully, this will come into effect very soon”. In 2014 total trade relation between Indonesia and Nigeria hit US$ 3.9 billion.

This is a 7.45 % increase if we compare with 2013. But the trade relation is still deficit for

Indonesia, and that is why we are here to encourage Indonesian Export to Nigeria.

What is the mission and vision of Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre in Nigeria?

Our mission and vision is to ensure development, improvement and expansion of export of Indonesian Products in Nigeria, West Africa and the world as a whole. Also, we intend to link and hook up potential traders from the two countries.

We understand you assumed office earlier this year. As the ITPC’s Director, what are your plans for increasing trade between Nigeria and Indonesia?

One way I intend to do this is by organizing business gatherings such as this, invite Indonesian stakeholders from various sectors of the economy to Nigeria for a ‘Business to Business’ meeting with their different products. Meetings such as these create an extensive awareness of how standardized, durable and cost effective Indonesian products are. Interestingly there is another upcoming event, which is the annual Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) in Kemayoran, Indonesia.

This Expo is one of Indonesia’s largest annual B to B export products Expo. It features both quality and competitive products of world class standard which have met with the global market. We also plan to make Indonesian

•Mr. Nino Wawan Setiawan House in some countries in West Africa as trading gate between Indonesia and West African Countries. We in ITPC Lagos are ready to facilitate all trade relations between

Nigerian and Indonesian entrepreneurs.

What does ITPC intend to achieve through the Indonesia-Nigeria business gathering?

What ITPC intends to achieve through this Indonesia – Nigeria business gathering is introducing Indonesia in general to the world of business in Nigeria, to reconcile manufacturers directly to importers or distributors, to build a large business network in Nigeria.

Business network

Nigeria – Indonesia trade volume currently stands at about $3.9 billion. This is a 7.4% increase if compared with 2013

It is also a business activity aimed to promote more about the products made in Indonesia to the business communities in Nigeria. And lastly, to publicize, promote activities of the Republic of Indonesia in Nigeria and also to look for potential investors from Nigeria.

What is the volume of nonoil trade between Nigeria and Indonesia and what is the volume of oil imports from Nigeria by Indonesia?

In 2014, Nigeria – Indonesia trade volume currently stands at about $3.9 billion. This is a 7.4 per cent increase if compared with 2013. Total nonoil and gas trade between Indonesia - Nigeria stood at $668 million or increase 13.6% if compared with 2013 while oil imports from Nigeria by Indonesia is USD 3.2 billion or increase 6.2% if compared with 2013.

This condition still made deficit for Indonesia, because Indonesia imported so many crude oil from Nigeria. To make it balance, we must improve our non-oil export to Nigeria significantly. Our Minister gave us target to increase our total export to 300% in the next five years.

Is there any issue that I have not mentioned that you would like to comment on?

Yes, I would like to use this opportunity to invite business executives in both the public and private sector, government officials and entrepreneurs to the 30th Trade Expo Indonesia which will come up on 20 -25 October, 2015 in Kemayoran Indonesia.

50 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015—51

Tirta Ayu Spa not just Indonesian by name, but in substance

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

I

T is pleasantly surprise that Tirta Ayu Spa has won the hearts of a good number of Nigerians, because many Nigerians are becoming more conscious of the importance of being healthy and fit.

Tirta Ayu Spa, a nature inspired wellness outfit in Nigeria, with a leading traditional Javanese herbal spa in Asia, is committed to providing the Nigerian populace with the best of tension-relieving therapy.

Tirta Ayu Spa, which franchise is owned by BGV Limited has most of its spa treatments and products peculiar to the Tirta Ayu brand.

According to the company’s director, Mrs. Iyadunni Gbadebo, Tirta Ayu Spa is committed to ensuring effective treatment to help individuals reduce stress and anxiety as well as improve energy and alertness.

Gbadebo said she hooked up with the franchise because it has standard and of good quality, stressing that having a spa is completely healthy and relaxing to a stressed body. She noted that the

company has a wide range of clientele, who are middleaged to the older men and women.

The company which is a major sponsor of the Indonesia-Nigeria business gathering is said to be reputed for providing traditional Javanese herbal treatments, and it is like a little piece of Indonesia in Lagos,

Nigeria.

Iyadunni further disclosed that almost all the therapists are Indonesian, but on the inside is more Nigerian.

The company which is located off Admiralty Way, at Lekki Phase 1, in Lagos is intending replicating its expertise in other major cities across the country, in addition to extending authentic

•Clients receiving treatment at the Tirta Ayu Spa

Javanese Spa treatments with a blend of ancient therapeutic remedies and modern day Spa ritual for healthy living

& total wellbeing to patrons.

“Through the healing hands of our superbly trained therapists, we shall consistently provide you only the best blend of natural ingredients with the purest natural oils, herbs & spices to relax & rejuvenate you”, Gbadebo added.

52—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Reps reject removal of fuel subsidy

By Emma Ovuakporie

A

SUMMIT: From left: Mr. Lanre Adisa, MD, Noah's Ark Communication; Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu, Chairman, Lead Consultant, Sef Patri Services Inc, and Sir Steve Omojafor, Chairman, STB-McCANN Group, Guest Speaker, during the Marketing Edge National Marketing Summit 2015, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

BUJA — MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, rejected a motion seeking the removal of fuel subsidy regime by the incoming Gen. Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The motion promoted by Rep Sunday Karimi, entitled: “The recurring crisis of fuel subsidy” was killed by the lawmakers.

He called for a “permanent solution” to the

Sambisa forest onslaught: Rescued women, children now 1,000

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA— WITH about three weeks to the May 29, 2015 time frame given by the military to totally clear Sambisa forest of the remnants of the Boko Haram

terrorists, Vanguard, yesterday, gathered that the number of women, young ladies and children rescued by special forces has hit 1,000.

Military sources disclosed that consequent on the

pursuit of the terrorists and the sustained air and land bombardments, the terrorists have become tired of running away with many of the women particularly the younger ladies still in the possession.

The attempt to continue

running with the ladies is made worse by the fact that the limited vehicles and trucks in their possession with which they have been ferrying the women and girls, have become a problem following the bursting of their fuel supply source.

lingering nationwide fuel scarcity while urging the Buhari administration to “muster the necessary political will” to end the fuel subsidy regime.

“As we speak, PMS sells in most places at the rate of N120 and N150 depending on where it is available which is against the official pump price of N87," Karimi said.

Speaking in support of fuel subsidy regime removal, Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, said the regime had become a drain in the country’s economy and urged that government redirect fuel subsidy votes to other priority areas.

Ogor (Delta/PDP) said: “How long will we continue to spend money we don't have? How long will we allow oil marketers to hold us to ransome?

When will our refineries work? The money that we spend on fuel subsidy can be channelled to other

crucial areas.”

Speaking in opposition to the motion, Rep Osai Nicolas Osai (Delta/PDP) said the motion’s timing was wrong and belated as the outstanding subsidy payment causing the fuel scarcity had been dealt with on Monday at a meeting between the finance minister and oil marketers.

“I disagree with this motion, because it is coming very late and standing on a very weak premise. The issue involved has to do with subsidy payment.

“The Minister of Finance and marketers were in a meeting which ended yesterday (Monday) and that matter has been resolved. So the House would be wasting resources and energy in trying to dabble into this matter."

When the motion was put to a voice vote by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, the lawmakers rejected the motion.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

C M Y K

— 53

54—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 By

Sam

@gm yoboka e . m a s

Eyoboka o m ail.c

RCCG trains administrators, accountants for greater productivity

D

ETERMINED to equip its workers to effective use of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and improve workplace capacity, the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), recently held its annual empowerment programme for administrators and computer secretaries working •Prayers offered for Ethiopian Christians killed by IS with the mission across the

By Sam Eyoboka country, reports with Agency reports O L AY I N K A HE World Council of LATONA. Churches (WCC), an The 4-day ecumenical fellowship of programme churches representing over 550 with the theme, million Christians in over 120 “Leveraging on countries in collaboration with social media the Roman Catholic Church, has platform for taken a clear stand against recent workplace effiviolent attacks against migrants ciency and efin South Africa, reaffirming fectiveness”, churches’ positions against was meant to racist, ethnocentrist and deepen the xenophobic acts of violence. mission's Noting the special vulnerability strides towards of migrants and migrant workers, paperless ada statement issued in Geneva by ministrative the General Secretary of the procedure and WCC, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit electronic manL-R: Pastor (Mrs.) Oretayo Adetola; Pastor Johnson Odesola and Pastor 'Rotimi urged leaders in South Africa, as Adegborioye agement inforat the empowerment programme recently. well as in other countries in the mation and region, to pro-mote the under control and promote the land, gathered dozens of communication system.

In his message to the parobservance of human rights at all observance of human rights and members of Geneva’s Ethiopian times. adherence to the standards and community, as well as rep- ticipants, the Special Assistant The WCC general secretary norms as contained in inter- resentatives of international and to the General Overseer on Administration and Personnel, commented that “The spasm of national human rights instru- ecumenical organizations. violent attacks against migrants ments,” stated Tveit.

The WCC general secretary Pastor Johnson Odesola, rein South Africa has a special “We are in solidarity with all the joined the Ethiopian Orthodox minded the administrators poignancy, in light of South affected individuals and their Tewahedo Church in mourning that information dissemination Africa’s historic leadership in families, and call for their the Ethiopian Christian vict-ims. is one of the key functions in fighting against racial dis- protection, restitution, and for the While condemning the violence, corporate administration and crimination and exclusion. criminal accountability of those he said such incidents highlight that effective information manresponsible for the attacks the “urgency for us to commit agement can contribute to the Discrimination ourselves in Christian solidarity, overall objectives of the straagainst them,” he added. tegic operations of the mission and exclusion In a related development, a as well as in dialogue.

“Together with Ethiopian in this information-driven prayer service paying tribute to “The victims of these attacks the Ethiopian Christians killed by churches and people, we mourn age.

He added that the prorepresent the same neighbouring the Islamic State (IS) last week the departed. We remember the countries and people who stood was organized in Geneva, biblical premise of Matthew 5:4: gramme was meant to sharpen with the marginalized majority Switzerland, by the WCC and ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for the management skills of the of South Africans during the dark the Ethiopian Orthodox they shall be com-forted,’” Tveit workers to enable them remain relevant in the RCCG said. days of the Apartheid era,” Tveit Tewahedo Church.

Ambassador Kebret said, system and in response to the The event was attended by the observed, asking; “where is the recognition of that African WCC general secretary, Rev. “Ethiopian nation is deeply growing emphasis on elecsolidarity, and the commitment Tveit and Ambassador Negash shocked and horrified to hear the tronic solutions in business Kebret Botora, Permanent Rep- heinous crimes committed operations all over the world. to the philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’?”

According to him, the mis“We urge the South African resentative of Ethiopia to the against our Ethiopian brothers. government to demonstrate United Nations Office at Geneva. The manner in which they were sion, "in view of the global The memorial service cond- massacred vividly demonstrates mandate, cannot afford to slow leadership to bring the situation under control and promote the ucted by Abba Hailegiorgis, head the common danger that down in taking advantage of observance of human rights and of the Ethiopian Orthodox humanity currently faces from information and social media adherence to the standards and Tewahedo Church in Switzer- cruel acts of violence.” norms as contained in international human rights instruments,” stated Tveit.

“We are in solidarity with all the affected individuals and their OUNDER of the Daugh 16:15, she stated that every families, and call for their ters of Destiny, a non-de Christian’s mandate is to protection, restitution, and for the nominational fellowship, Apos- spread the gospel and not fight criminal accountability of those tle Busola Jegede has stressed against one another, emphasisresponsible for the attacks the need for Christians leaders ing that no kingdom progresses against them,” he added.ship in to work together in unity in the in disunity. fighting against racial discourse of their kingdom activi“Without collaboration, it will crimination and exclusion.” ties, reports PRISCA SAM- be difficult for mini-sters to “The victims of these attacks We urge the DURU. fulfill heavenly mandate as rerepresent the same neighbouring South African Apostle Jegede who spoke in corded in the bible. It is discountries and people who stood Lagos at the 2015 DOD women heartening that integrity has government with the marginalized majority conference themed, “Empower- been driven to the back as most of South Africans during the dark to ing women for global impact”, ministers of God no longer live days of the Apartheid era,” Tveit enjoined God's people to col- what they preach and consedemonstrate observed, and he asked, “Where laborate with each other rather quently discouraging people is the recognition of that African leadership to than engage in unhealthy com- from following the Lord.” solidarity, and the commitment bring the petitions which have left so Jegede also advised women to the philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’?” many followers of Christ dis- to be kingdom crusaders and “We urge the South African situation couraged. enlargers. "May I warn you government to demonstrate under control Taking her text from Mark that women liberation is not leadership to bring the situation

XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS:

WCC urges South Africa to demonstrate leadership T

technological changes. There is a growing pace of technological changes and on how organizations can access and harness developments in new technology.

“Globally, the world is a village that has leveraged on the dynamic effect of modern ICT. Presently, RCCG has its footprints in over 184 nations of the world and has to be coordinated centrally by the headquarters, domiciled in Lagos and the Redemption Camp,” Odesola stressed.

He therefore encouraged the participants to strive to enhance quality and pursue excellence at all stages of their work with continuous improvement, stressing; “now is the time to promote best practices and strategic fits in our automating or paperless activities in an effective and efficient manner.”

Computer secretaries The president of Administrating Officers and Computer Secretaries in RCCG, Pastor Fashola Oluwaseun, said the conference, for the past five years, has been impactful, explaining that there has been lot of improvement in the work place among the administrators and computer secretaries.

Some of the participants hailed the event, saying it thoroughly exposed them to various programmes which will help them in discharging their duties diligently and stress-free.

One of the participants from Cotonou in Republic of Benin, Mr. Lawal John said: “The conference has been impactful, because it is educative, informing and very rich."

Mr. Adebayo Oluwaseun from Lagos Province said: “This conference has been wonderful. The four days we spent here have not been in vain because I learnt a lot of new things, especially on the social media which will influence my work effectively as an administrator."

Christians should work in unity—Apostle Jegede

F

biblical and so, should not concern any Christian woman. The Bible says that every woman must be submissive,” she stated. Also speaking, Rev. (Mrs) Obii Pax-Harry of UKbased Arise Missions and Nehemiah Company, stated that Christian women must come out of identity crisis if they are to move forward. The Church she noted, “should move ahead of the world so as to understand God’s plans for Nigeria, because you must understand your city and country otherwise you cannot make global impact as a Christian woman."

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 55

Lack of gas infrastructure, bane of improved power supply — NNPC

By Clara Nwachukwu & and Warri axis has been down security for our people to go in Sebastine Obasi, Houston, Texas due to vandalism. It has taken there and access the pipelines.

R

ESPITE for improved power supply in the country is not immediately forthcoming as Nigerians would have to wait a longer time as the gas infrastructure needed to provide gas for power generation is not yet ready.

This is either because the power plants that will absorb the gas are not fully ready as they have not been connected to the gas sources or the existing pipelines that will supply gas to the plants have been vandalised.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, United states of America, the Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, said although Nigeria can currently boast of 2 billion cubic feet of feet of gas daily, all of that cannot be in use due to inadequate infrastructure.

According to the GMD, who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Gas & Power, NNPC, Dr. David Ige, “Cumulatively in the country, we are producing about 2 billion cubic feet of gas per day. Some of the gas we have available is probably stranded because some of the power plants are not ready. Over the next couple of months, we will see an increase in off-takes. For example, we have got gas at Gbaranubie power plant, which hopefully, should be commissioned shortly.

“We have gas at Omoku, which is awaiting the power plant. We have gas at Egbema. When you bring all these gas volumes together, we have close to 2 billion cubic feet per day.

But not all of it is in active generation today, either because the power plant is not ready, or the gas evacuation is not ready.”

The GMD also said that on the Western side of Nigeria, where the power plants are ready, there is a shortage of 400 million cubic feet of gas, which is expected to be reduced significantly before the end of the year, as some of our projects come on stream.

Explaining the level of work done on the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline, Dawha said it is almost completed.

“We expect that within the next three months, the project will be done. We have completed and commissioned Lagos to Oben. We have completed Emure, all the way to Itoki. The bit that is left now is from the Benin end all the way to Emure. That is progressing very well. The expectation is that before the end of August this year, the pipeline would have been completed and would have doubled the capacity to 2 billion cubic feet per day, which should be the biggest pipeline in Africa,” he said.

He also blamed the recent drop in power supply to challenges currently beingexperienced in the sector. “We are having quite a lot of issues in the power sector. For the past three months, on the Escravos – Lagos pipeline between Escravos and Ogidi

us this long to repair that “It was only after the elections pipeline because the elections that people could access the meant that the Joint Task Force, place and work is going on there JTF, could not provide adequate now. With the loss of that pipeline

at the moment, we are losing close to 120 to 150 million cubic feet of gas daily in the last eight weeks. In addition, the Trans Forcados Pipeline was attacked about three weeks ago.''

CERTIFICATE OF RETURN: Osun State House of Assembly member-elect, Obokun State Constituency, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (left) receiving his Certificate of Return from Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, during the presentation of certificates to elected candidates at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Media Centre, Osogbo.

OTC 2015: Enthusiasm remains high despite tough times

By Clara Nwachukwu

D

ESPITE the gloom and doom brought about by the recent crash in global oil prices, enthusiasm and level of participation in the 46th edition of the Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, which opened Monday at the Reliant Park, Houston Texas, USA, remain high.

Turn-out of visitors and exhibitors to the conference are quite significant, even as exhibitors deliberately try to prune costs.

But in the case of Nigeria, which had often been criticised to be a jamboree for the visitors and exhibitors alike, the impact of the current crisis occasioned by the oil price falls, devaluation of the Naira and the impending change in government at the Federal level became quite noticeable as not to be described as a jamboree anymore.

For instance, there is no government representation either from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources or the agencies and departments, MDAs, under the ministry in this year’s conference, while the Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Joseph Dawha, was represented at the opening of the Nigerian Pavilion.

Other than the Group Executive Director, Gas & Power, Dr. David Ige, who represented Dawha, the only top ranking officer from the NNPC, was a former GMD, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, currently the Chairman, Brass LNG.

Significant changes

Drastically reduced is the number of visitors or exhibitors from Nigeria to the 2015 OTC, as according to the Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. Emeka Ene told Vanguard, “Those without any serious business will not be attending this year’s OTC.” The opening ceremony, which

was usually characterised by a lot of fan fair and crowd milling everywhere was not the case anymore. Even the size and location of the Nigerian Pavilion in the main exhibition arena was significantly reduced.

The OTC, which is reputed for its collaboration, innovation and networking, did not quite cut it for the Nigerians given the absence of top government representatives.

Such international fora, usually offered opportunities for those seeking attention from government to meet with the delegates without much protocol.

Forum to showcase Kaspersky endpoint security for business today

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NE of the Information Technology providers in the country and a Partner to Kaspersky Lab, Zenith Technology Limited will today host Kaspersky Lab Partner event targeted at showcasing the advantages of Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business to prospective enterprise clients.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, according to the Product Manager, Zenith Technology, Olamide Odeneye offers a complete security solution, designed by the world’s leading security experts.

The forum slated to hold first week in May 2015 at The Sheraton Hotel, she assured would give the participants the opportunity to meet and discuss with industry leading experts and existing enterprise clients of the solution here in Nigeria.

She explained that Kaspersky End Point Security is the industry ‘s first security platform, built from the ground up.This makes it easy for customers to see, control and protect their work environment.

According to Olamide, Kaspersky boasts a comprehensive list of technologies all working together from the same code base and further assisted by the cloud-based Kaspersky Security network(KSN) to give customers the world-class protection needed.

“IT professionals remind us everyday that their occupation is becoming increasing difficult and they need a new, uncomplicated way to deal with these changes and threats. Kaspersky’s new suite of business solutions can make their job easier.

Lawmakers remove Niger Assembly speaker

By Wole Mosadomi

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INNA—SPEAKER of Niger State House of Assembly, Usman Adamu has been removed from office and a new speaker sworn in to replace him.

Adamu, however, insisted that he was still the speaker of the state House of Assembly, while the leadership of the House remains the valid leaders of the House.

It was gathered that the removal of speaker was to pave the way for the impeachment of the state governor, Dr Muazu

Babangida Aliyu.

He spoke in an interview with newsmen shortly after his removal, describing the processes leading to his removal as illegal and unconstitutional.

However the trouble in the House started as early as 7:30am, when over 200 armed policemen and other security agents were drafted to the Assembly complex.

The security agents who took positions at strategic corners of the House and prevented some members from entering the complex.

Some members of the House who defied the armed security men at the gate forced their way into the assembly complex after damaging the key and the chain used in sealing the gate.

The ensuing rowdiness which lasted for over an hour later led to a House session with 19 out of 25 members in attendance.

Hon. Gana immediately nominated the speaker temporal, Hon. Isah Kawu as the new speaker house, Hon. Bello Ahmed (Agwara) Deputy speaker, Hon. Yusuf Kure(Paikoro) Majority leader, while Hon. Sa’adatu Kolo(Mashehu) Chief Whip.

56 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 , 2015

British polls: Undecided voters hold the ace

By Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affairs Editor

B

ARELY 48 hours to the British general election, prospects of a hung parliament looms large with non of the three political parties in a district position.

The stiff challenge from the Labour Party led by Ed Milliband has raised the prospects of no clear winner in the general election that comes up tomorrow.

The ruling coalition of conservative Tory Party and Liberal Democrats is running a neck to neck tie in public opinion poll and there are fears of a repeat of the same scenarios which took place five years ago.

The month long campaign has been dominated by issues of Britain’s stay in European Union, the global tide of migration, the threat to United Kingdom as a political unity after the failed referendum led by Scottish National Party. But the economy remains the dominant issue in the run up to the election.

Britain has made a slow recovery from the economic recession and this has portrayed Prime Minister David Cameron in dim light and has become a hard sell to the electorates.

Five years after the hung parliament that produced the political alliance between the Tory Party and Liberal Democrats, the partners have been characterised by infighting between David Cameron and Nick Clegg. But the alliance has been useful in saving years. The Tory Party in the past 5years.

There are spirited efforts by the political actors to appeal to the undecided voters whose vote will swing victory to any of the parties. But so far, the Scottish National Party SNP is expected to increase its presents in British Parliament from six to 50 seats, while the United Kingdom Independent Party UKIP has also become visible with its anti-EU position.

The Labour Party favours the British being part of Europe and The Tory Par-

•David Cameron ty has continued to hedge on the issue. The leader of UKIP Nigel Farage does not stand the chance of becoming a Prime Minister, but he has been very hard on issues of immigration.

Tomorrow ’s election comes five years after the last election served up a hung parliament, eventually delivering a Conservative-led government with the Liberal Democrats as junior partners.

Cameron's edge Cameron, for all his limitations,remains the favourite to win. The British political landscape has taken a pummelling since Cameron ended Labour’s 13 year rule in 2010. The decision by the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition with the Tory party has been costly especially as it has to share the blame of austerity programme which has created political crisis for Clegg. The Party has lost its membership in millions and but its poll ratin gs dropped to single figures.

The Labour Challenge

Miliband’s Labour Party is in a virtual dead heat with Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives ahead of Thursday’s vote. Since Britons choose the party and lawmaker they want, and don’t directly elect the head of govern-

•Nick Clegg

•Ed Milliband

ment, Miliband could end up running the country, even though he often looks as if he’d rather be anywhere but standing in front of a television camera.

If Labour wins, it would mean a significant shift to the left for Britain after five years of Conservativeled austerity.

Miliband, whom critics call “Red Ed,” has promised to slow budget cuts, increase

•Nigel

•Nichola Sturgeon

taxes on the wealthy and protect the rights of lowpaid workers.

“It is only when working people succeed that Britain succeeds,” Miliband, 45, said in introducing the Labour Party programme. “Because I believe the wealth, the success, the future of our country does not simply come from a few at the top.” Miliband, the son of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazis, learned his politics at home.

His father, Ralph Miliband, escaped from Belgium and served in the Royal Navy during World War II. Working days and studying nights, he earned a doctorate and ultimately be-

came one of Britain’s foremost Marxist academics. Ed’s mother, Marion Kozak, immigrated to Britain from Poland.

SNP threat After the defeat of the SNP in the September 18

The British political landscape has taken a pummelling since Cameron ended Labour’s 13 year rule in 2010

referendum vote, Nicola Sturgeon has replaced SNP Scottish first minister Alex Salmond.

Scotland is proving to be a boiling point for Britain’s political pollsters There are current polls putting the SNP well ahead of the Labour party at Westminster level for next The SNP holds six Scottish seats to Labour’s 41 but there are indications that SNP could get as much as 50 seats.

UKIP's anti-EU The rise of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) looks set to provide another intriguing narrative to general election. The UKIP has a strong anti-European

Union and anti-immigration policy and has made impressive inroads into British political space.

UKIP has continued to poll in the young voters and they have edged the Liberal Democrats, as many members of the British electorates fancy its image as an anti-EU party. Nevertheless, the three main Westminster parties are unpopular and struggling with their images. as United Kingdom battles with its future in Europe, the poor economic performance, social discontent in UK, homeland security and economic troubles across the whole European Union and Eurozone, the Middle East to Russia and China.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 , 2015 — 57

Niger evacuates 4,000 Nigerian refugees from Lake Chad island N

IGER has evac uated thousands of Nigerian refugees sheltering from Boko Haram fighters on Lake Chad’s Karamga island, a military official told Reuters on Tuesday, as the armies of four west African nations battle to quash the Islamist militants.

A regional governor in southern Niger said last week that the refugees should leave after Boko Haram fighters killed scores of the country’s soldiers and civilians during a dawn ambush on the island on April 25.

The executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency in

Yobe state, Idi Jidawa, said that 4,000 displaced Nigerians were in the process of being sent home.

Lake Chad’s islands, which lie in dense swampland, have been used by Boko Haram to mount surprise attacks on the bordering countries: Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

The group, which is fighting to create a caliphate in west Africa, has killed thousands and uprooted 1.5 million people from north eastern Nigeria, many of whom have found relative security in neighboring countries including Chad and Cameroon.

10 migrants die as Italy struggles to provide Shelter

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TALIAN authorities are battling to find shelter for the brimming number of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea where ten of them have been reported dead No fewer than 7,000 migrants have been rescued in the past four days as they sailed on dozens of flimsy vessels Reports yesterday said nearly 5,800 migrants were plucked from boats off the coast of Libya and 10 bodies were recovered in less than 48 hours, Italy ’s coast guard said, in one of the biggest rescue operations this year.

Two weeks after nearly 900 boat people drowned in the worst Mediterranean shipwreck in living memor y, the flow of people desperate to reach a better life in Europe has accelerated as people smugglers take advantage of calmer seas.

Seven bodies were found on two large rubber boats packed with migrants and rescuers plucked from the sea the corpses of three others who had jumped into the water when they saw a merchant ship approaching, the coast guard said.

Separately, authorities

in Egypt said that three people died when a migrant boat attempting to reach Greece sank off its coast.

Thirty-one people were rescued.

Italy ’s coast guard has coordinated the rescues by its own navy and coast guard, a French ship acting on behalf of the European border control agency, merchant ships, and one vessel run by the privately funded Migrant Offshore Aid Station.

•Hundreds of displaced children in Central Africa Republic

Central Africa groups vow to free child soldiers

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EADERS of armed groups in striferavaged Central African Republic agreed yesterday to release thousands of child soldiers and to end underage recruitment, UNICEF said.

The United Nations children’s agency described the news as a “major step forward” in the country, where it estimates 6,000 to 10,000 children to be held by

various armed factions.

“The Central African Republic is one of the worst places in the world to be a child, and UNICEF is eager to work with local authorities to help reunite these children with their families,” UNICEF representative Mohamed Malick Fall said in a statement.

The children involved includes those serving as combatants, those used

Bill Clinton praises Liberia’s progress on Ebola

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ORMER Presi dent Bill Clinton said Monday he was pleased to see Liberia’s progress in the fight against the deadly Ebola disease, and urged residents of the West African nation to support those who survived.

Clinton spoke during a visit to Liberia while on a nine-day tour of Clinton Foundation projects in Africa with his daughter, Chelsea. The two met with survivors and health officials.

“With five days away for Liberia being officially declared Ebola-free ... I think you’re going in the right direction,” he said. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf nodded.

The last confirmed pa-

tient in Liberia died on March 27. If no new cases are identified there by May 9, the country could be declared Ebola-free, though some experts warn no country will be safe until the entire region wipes out Ebola.

The virus, spread through direct contact with an Ebola patient’s blood or other bodily fluids, has killed more than 10,800 people mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone during this largest outbreak ever.

Clinton praised Liberia’s post-Ebola recovery plan and called for a global support, pledging backing from his foundation.

He said when all the Ebola bans are lifted, “I

want to say to all the people of Liberia you can redeem your suffering” by accepting those who came down with and survived the epidemic.

“Don’t’ be afraid... they should be embraced and you should go forward together.”

Earlier, in a meeting with Liberian officials and health care workers, Chelsea called for a moment of silence for people who died from Ebola.

She praised the “generosity and great pride” of Liberian health care workers and doctors who combatted the disease and “to re-echo what my father said” called for the rebuilding of the health sector of Liberia.

for sexual purposes and those working in roles such as cooks and messengers.

The agreement to release them was signed this week during a reconciliation forum in the capital Bangui, backed

by UNICEF and its partners with the aim of restoring peace to the

country, which plunged into violence after a 2013 coup.

More than two years of conflict in the deeply poor and landlocked nation has led to “one of the world’s worst — and least visible — humanitarian crises,” according to the UNICEF statement.

Burundi’s court backs presidential third term bid

B

URUNDI'S consti tutional court says it has approved President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term.

The statement came on yesterday as dozens of protesters marched in the capital Bujumbura to say they would “never accept” a campaign they call illegal. Police also fired tear gas at protesters as they approached the US embassy.

Nkurunziza’s announcement that he would stand in a June 26 vote has plunged Burundi into its worst political crisis since its ethnically fuelled civil war ended a decade ago.

“The renewal of the presidential term

through direct universal suffrage for five years is not against the constitution of Burundi,” a constitutional court statement said.

Agathon Rwasa, a leading opposition, the the ruling was a “coup”.”Their decision is nothing but a coup against the Arusha accord, and the current constitution,” Rwasa said, referring to a peace agreement that ended ethnic conflict in nearby Rwanda.

“It is a clear message to the people that they count for nothing, and that only Nkurunziza and his friends count in this nation.”

58 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

F/Eagles can win the W/Cup – Garba

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

C

HIEF Coach of the national U-20 team Manu Garba says his team can win the forthcoming FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) slated to hold later this month in New Zealand, if everything goes according to plan.

Garba who spoke to Sports Vanguard from Germany where the team is currently undergoing a training tour ahead of the championship said he has the right quality of players that can handle any team at the tournament.

He however insisted that to achieve the desired result, all the players must be ready to play with high dedication and adhere

strictly to instruction from the technical bench.

The coach who also won the FIFA U-17 cadet championship in 2013 as well as the African Youth Championship (AYC) this year said; “we are going to New Zealand to win and if everything goes as planned, it will not be a difficult task because we have the players that can give us the desired result. All we need from Nigerians is their constant prayers and hopefully, we will not let them down.”

On the anticipated arrival of Man City youngster Kelechi Iheanacho and Spain based Isaac Promise, Garba insisted that there will be no automatic shirt for any player hence they must prove that they are better than the boys already in camp.

Dangote Continues from BP a stake in the club five years ago before talks with the owners fell through, he said. Since then his wealth has grown more than sevenfold.

“I still hope, one day at the right price, that I’ll buy the team,” Dangote, 58, said in an interview as he traveled on a plane owned by one of his companies between the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and the Nigerian commercial hub of Lagos on May 1. “I might buy it, not at a ridiculous price but a price that the owners won’t want to resist. I know my strategy.”

Arsenal is one of England’s most successful clubs, having won 13 top flight league titles in the country, the most after Manchester United and Liverpool.

Arsenal Holdings Plc., the owner, trades on the ICAP Securities & Derivatives Exchange, or ISDX, and is valued at 988 million pounds ($1.49 billion).

A successful bid would make Dangote the first African owner of a club in a league where billionaires including Russia’s Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea, and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, who controls Manchester

City, have acquired teams.

Stan Kroenke, worth $5.6 billion and owner of the National Football League’s St. Louis Rams, holds 67 percent of Arsenal, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Red & White Sec Ltd., controlled by Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri, owns 30 percent.

Dan Tolhurst, a spokesman for the London-based club, declined to comment as did Rollo Head, a spokesman for Usmanov in London. Tomago Collins, a spokesman for Kroenke in Denver, did not immediately respond to e-mails requesting comment.

Dangote has interests in sugar and flour and controls Dangote Cement Plc, Nigeria’s biggest publicly traded company.

He is investing $11 billion in a 650,000 barrel-a-day oil refinery near Lagos and as much as $2.5 billion in gas pipelines running to the city from Nigeria’s oilrich Niger River delta region.

His wealth has fallen by $2.7 billion this year, the sixth-most globally, according to the Billionaires Index.

Dangote, who ranks 55th on the index, said he’s too busy with existing projects to mount a bid

Bet9ja pays out huge winnings

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AFRICAN CHAMPIONS: Flying Eagles players display their AYC trophy.

They are set to conquer the world in New Zealand.

•••Eagles frighten Brazil F

IVE-TIME U20 World Cup champions Brazil have now.

“We have $16 billionworth of investments in the next few years,” he said. “Right now I want to take my own business to a certain level. Once I finish on that trajectory, then maybe” an offer will follow.

Limited Success Most English Premier League matches are broadcast live in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, by Supersport, a satellite television channel owned by South Africa’s Naspers Ltd. Arsenal won the FA Cup, England’s main knockout tournament, last year, its first major trophy since 2005, and is in the final of the same tournament this year.

Over the last decade London rivals Chelsea have won the English league four times as well as the European Champions League and several other trophies.

Arsene Wenger, who has managed Arsenal since 1996, has been criticized by fans including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame for the team’s limited success in the last decade. Dangote said he is often too nervous to watch their games.

While Wenger has managed the club well from a financial standpoint, he “needs to change his style a bit,” said Dangote. “They need new direction.”

admitted they expect African champions Nigeria to cause them some problems at the tournament in New Zealand.

Brazil open their U20 World Cup campaign on June 1 against the Flying Eagles in New Plymouth.

“Nigeria always cause us problems,” Gallo said. “They’re a strong team, technically good with good players,” remarked Brazil coach Alexandre Gallo.

The two teams last clashed at this tournament in 2005, when the group game ended in a draw.

Gallo also commented on his team’s other first round opponents, Hungary and North Korea.

“Hungary have a typically European style – direct football, tall players. North Korea don’t have very technical players, but they close you down a lot, they have speed and counter-attack intensely,” he said.

Brazil placed fourth at the South American

qualifiers and will begin training camp on May 16 when they fly out to Australia.

Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira and Real Madrid forward Jean Carlos have been named on a 26-player provisional squad.

However, there was no space for 17-year-old Fluminense midfielder Gerson, Corinthians boy wonder Malcom and Santos striker Gabriel, 18, as Gallo opted for more experience following a forgettable campaign in the South American qualifiers.

Other interesting names in the squad are Marseille prospect Alef, Atletico Paranaense’s prolific attacking midfielder Marcos Guilherme and Fluminense trick machine Kenedy.

“We called up committed players who have experience representing their country and have their careers shaped,” explained Gallo. “We need players who are fully focused on our targets.”

Mourinho Continues from BP with a two-year contract extension, reports the London Evening Standard.

The 52-year-old’s agreement runs until 2017 but it is understood the Blues are in advanced talks to prolong his stay at Stamford Bridge.

According to the report, Mourinho is already the highest paid manager in the Premier League on around £8.5m per season and the new agreement is believed to include an increase which could yet make him the game’s top earning manager.

N line with its tradition of rewarding her customers passion, KC Gaming Networks, the parent company of Bet9ja has paid out huge winnings to winners across the country.

According to the company ’s CEO Ayo Ojuroye, “ We paid out millions to our customers last weekend line with our promise to pay promptly. We had people winning big in Lagos, Enugu, Owerri and other parts of Nigeria with as little as N100 stakes on multiple games. Our unique betting bonus gave them the opportunity to win big as you can see in the instance of the customer from Owerri who staked N100 for himself and his friend and won N8.9million on each tickets, making a total of close to N18 million and the other gentlemen who staked N100 on their tickets and won N7.8 million each.

NNPC-Shell Cup hits q’final stage

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HE 2015 NNPCShell Cup has entered quarterfinal stage nationwide with the qualifiers expected to battle for semifinal places on May 8.

Four centres have been picked by the organisers to host the last eight games. The Cetres are Sagamu, Ogun State, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Minna, Niger State and Kaduna, Kaduna State.

The quarterfinalists emerged from the zonal preliminaries played nationwide between April 27 and May 2 across various centres in nine zones.

From the Sagamu centre, three teams are to vie for a semifinal slots. They are Calvary International School, Port Harcourt, Rochas Foundation College, Owerri and National Grammar School, Nike, Enugu.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 59

Mayweather: I’ll give Pacquiao a rematch W

BC/WBO/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. told ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith in a text on Tuesday that he would be open to the idea of a rematch after Manny Pacquiao recovers from his scheduled shoulder surgery to repair a tear in his rotator cuff.

“I will fight him in a year after his surgery,” Mayweather texted Smith.

There is a lot of controversy following Pacquiao’s twelve round decision loss to Mayweather last Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The controversy revolves around Pacquiao entering the fight with a pre-existing right shoulder injury and not disclosing that information to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The NSAC is going to conduct an investigation as to why Pacquiao and his team failed to disclose the injury on the pre-fight questionnaire that was completed at the weigh-in.

Mayweather is returning in September, which he says is going to be the last fight of his career. But another fight with Pacquiao would take him beyond that.

Pacquiao’s recovery after surgery could keep him out for the rest of the year.

The MGM Grand’s new arena will open up next April, which falls in line with the 60th anniversary of Rocky Marciano’s retirement and allows the 48-0 Mayweather (provided he fights in September) the ability to move past Marciano’s 49-0 record.

Effenberg jabs Guardiola F

PUNCH FOR PUNCH... Mayweather (l) slugs it out with Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Suarez is a street footballer •Reina warns Bayern

•Suarez

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EINA played alongside Luis Suárez at Liverpool and knows him very well.

The former Reds keeper knows exactly what kind of player Neuer will have to deal with on Wednesday when he steps out onto the Camp Nou pitch: “I know Luis personally and wherever he goes, his personality will help

him get on well with his teammates and create a bond. He’s a cracking lad”, he says of the Uruguayan.

Pepe Reina only has good things to say about Suárez and was just getting started with his shower of praise: “He’s a player who I like especially. He’s a street footballer, a bright spark, who always pushes the limit to get an edge.

He’s a born winner. I liked playing with him at Liverpool because he never gave up”, he recalls from his time at Anfield alongside Barça’s star signing for this season.

Enrique: I love the word ‘triplet’

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•Enrique

UIS Enrique preferred not to see the clash between Bayern and Barça as a duel between him and Pep Guardiola.

The ‘Azulgranas’ manager also played down the importance that Bayern’s injured had for the game at the Camp Nou. The Barça boss felt that the game was between two clubs, not two men: “We are not looking at this as how to beat Pep, but how to beat one of Europe’s greats, which is Bayern.”

Luis Enrique also didn’t think that the high number of players that Bayern have out through injury will affect their game.

“I think that Bayern have a powerful enough squad to make up for any absent players. Their danger remains the same”, he said.

Although he didn’t as yet want to start thinking about titles, he assured that “I love the word ‘triplete’”, referring to the chance of winning the league, the cup and the Champions League this season.

The keeper is all too familiar with his Uruguayan friend’s strengths: “He’s a great finisher. In a tight space, he’ll pull off a move that only he can

think up at the time.

Although we’re not just worried about Luis; Barça have lots of great players - like Messi for example, who’s not bad either.”

ORMER Bayern Munich skipper Steffan Effenberg has criticised boss Pep Guardiola’s style of football.

“Bayern always have 65-70 per cent possession and they want to be attacking constantly, but that didn’t work out in last year ’s Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid in both legs, home and away.

“You’ve got to trust the players, who have spent the whole week before the game preparing and working on tactics.

“Apart from that, Guardiola leaves himself open to problems with the fourth official if he’s always in the technical area.

“It shows the amount of pressure he puts himself under and that’s detrimental to the team.

“No Coach of Bayern Munich can ever desert the club,” he insisted.

Pacquiao faces prosecution for perjury

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ANNY Pacquiao faces a potential lawsuit after failing to disclose a shoulder injury before his defeat

by Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao will spend up to a year on the sidelines as he prepares to undergo surgery on his torn rotator cuff, an injury he suffered in training.

But the Filipino star could also be guilty of perjury after signing a pre-fight questionnaire without revealing he was hurt.

A copy of the document and although it shows that Pacquiao was taking several painkillers, the word ‘No’ is marked next to the question: ‘Have you had any injury to your shoulders, elbows, or hands that needed evaluation or examination?’

By signing the document, both Pacquiao and his adviser Michael Koncz ‘hereby swear under penalty of perjury, that the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge’.

Under chapter 199 of

•Manny Pacquiao pictured on Monday with his arm in a sling as he prepares to undergo surgery. the law of Nevada (NRS), ‘A person who, in a declaration made under penalty of perjury, makes a wilful and false statement in a matter material to the issue or point in question is guilty of perjury or subornation of perjury, as the case may be, which is a category D felony and shall be punished.’

The punishment for a crime of this nature is between one and four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 (£3,305).

Pacquiao could also be fined or banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The commission’ chairman Francisco Aguilar said that the state attorney general’s office will look at why the injury was not declared.

‘We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances,’ he said.

‘At some point we will have some discussion.

As a licensee of the commission you want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date information.

60 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

We know Pep too well – Messi L

IONEL Messi believes former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola will not leave anything to chance when he takes his Bayern Munich side to the Camp Nou for the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight.

However, despite winning 14 trophies in a stunning four-year spell in charge of Barca between 2008 and 2012, the four-time World Player of the Year doesn’t think his inside knowledge of the Catalan club will be a big advantage to the German champions over the two legs.

“He was with us for a long time and we had the luck to win many titles and experience important moments. He is a coach that studies everything,” said the Argentine yesterday.

“It is the same for both sides. Pep knows us very well and we know what he asks of his players. It is 50-50, we both know each other very well.”

Barca also have revenge on their minds, though, after Bayern inflicted their heaviest ever European defeat in a 7-0 thrashing at the same stage of the competition two years ago.

“We need to prepare for the game knowing what it means playing in a semi-final of the Champions League and against a great team.

“That semi-final hurt us a lot, but a lot of time has passed since. We come into the game differently, as do they, and it will be a different tie to that one.”

Guardiola is expected to get a hero’s welcome on his first visit to the Camp Nou in the opposition camp after 15 years at the club as a player and coach.

However, Messi is confident sentiment will be left to one side once the game starts and a place in the final in Berlin on June 6 is at stake.

“It is normal that there is a homage for what he meant as a coach because he won everything here and gave a lot to the club.

Once the game starts that will be left to one side and the fans will support the team to try and win as normal.”

McClaren turns down Newcastle job

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•Barcelona Star, Messi sandwitched by Bayern Munich defenders in a Champions league match.

CAF Champions League: 3 Algerian clubs in same group A

LL three Algerian clubs in the Champions League have been drawn in the same group, the first time in history such an incident has occurred.

Holders Entente Setif will face compatriots USM Alger and MC Eulma in Group B, with Al Merreikh of Sudan completing the pool.

The top 12 performing

countries in the continent usually provide two clubs.

But because Entente Setif won the competition last year, Algeria had a rare third entry in the competition.

The draw for the groups was conducted at the Confederation of African Football headquarters near Cairo on Tuesday.

TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the only club to qualify from outside the Arabic-speaking north of the continent, were drawn in Group A, alongside Smouha (Egypt), Moghreb Tetouan (Morocco) and Al Hilal (Sudan).

The group phase begins in late June with the top two from each pool advancing to the two-legged semi-finals

in September and October. The final, in October and November, will also be played over two legs.

Draw: Group A: Smouha (Egypt), Moghreb Tetouan (Morocco), TP Mazembe Englebert (DR Congo), Al Hilal (Sudan) Group B: Entente Setif (Algeria, holders), USM Alger (Algeria), Al Merreikh (Sudan), MC Eulma (Algeria)

TEVE McClaren turned down the chance to become Newcastle United manager for the final three matches of the season.

The Derby boss was approached after Newcastle’s 3-0 loss to Leicester on Saturday but the Magpies have decided to stand by John Carver.

McClaren has told officials at the Championship club that he will not leave for Newcastle this summer, BBC Radio Derby reports.

Carver did not offer to resign over the weekend, nor was he asked to.

Senior players held talks with Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley in the past 24 hours, and they accepted they must come together as they try to secure the relegationthreatened club’s Premier League status.

The Magpies, in 15th place, are only two points above the bottom three after a run of eight consecutive league defeats, their worst form since 1977.

•McClaren

Ujah signs for Werder Bremen

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•E.S. Setiff player (l) is blocked by a TP Mazembe player in a previous encounter

UPER Eagles forward, Anthony Ujah has ended speculation about his future by signing a four - year contract with Werder Bremen which will start running at the start of July.

This season, the attacker has played a key role in Cologne’s bid to avoid the drop , with 10 goals in 30 appearances .

Werder Bremen will pay a minimum of four million euros to snap him up from Cologne.

Anthony Ujah began

his career in Europe with Lillestrom before his move to Germany, where he has represented Mainz 05 and Cologne.

His contract with The Billy Goats would have expired on June 30, 2017 if he had not terminated the agreement.

Meanwhile, the German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, officials said the Nigeria striker is a great signing for them.

The club’s director of professional football and

scouting, Rouven Schroder said Ujah, who played his 100th game in all competitions for Cologne, was signed due to his qualities which will suit Bremen”s style.

“Anthony has a great profile, plays with a lot of passion, a lot of power, is very diligent and strong in the air,” claimed Bremen’s director of professional football and scouting, Rouven Schröder.

“We’re convinced that Anthony Ujah fits to our style of play.”

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 61

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62 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015 — 63

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Mourinho to Kick-off: 7.45p.m. — Page 33 become highest paid manager in the world

Arsenal players celebrate

Why I want to buy Arsenal Football Club – Dangote

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HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho is set to be rewarded for the club’s title success

A

Continues on Page 58

•Mourinho

•Dangote

FRICA’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said he still wants to buy English Premier League soccer team Arsenal even after he was rebuffed by its owners in 2010.

Nigeria’s Dangote, an Arsenal fan worth $15.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, discussed buying Continues on Page 58

F/Eagles can win W/ Cup – Garba — Pg.58 •••Frighten Brazil — Pg.58 QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 4 Twenty (5) 7 First-rate (6) 9 Fighting (3) 10 Through (3) 12 Belief (5) 13 Excuse (4) 15 Readjusted (5) 17 Come (6) 19 Cupid (4) 20 Round-up (5) 22 Fish (3) 24 Frightened (7) 27 Stretch (3) 28 Wear (5) 31 Likelihood (4) 33 Inborn (6) 35 Flinch (5) 37 Sapient (4) 38 Yielded (5) 39 Finish (3) 41 Moo (3) 42 Company (6) 43 Booth (5)

DOWN 1 Coma (6) 2 Scatter (6) 3 Skip (3) 4 Secure (4) 5 Hamper (5) 6 Allocated (8) 8 Fairy (4) 11 Respect (9) 14 Region (4) 16 Appear (4) 18 Part (4) 21 Submissive (8) 23 Ogle (4) 25 Related (4) 26 Sketched (4) 29 Loathsome (6) 30 Team (6) 32 Expand (5) 34 Crooked (4) 36 Hero (4) 40 Parched (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Almost 5, System 8, Estimate 9, Near 10, Sob 12, Glade 15, Get 17, Air 18, Err 19, Eat 20, Adder 21, Ace 22, Has 23, Inn 24, Doe 26, Purge 29, Tot 33, Shoe 34, Abridged 35, Writhe 36, Enimity.

DOWN: 2, Lasso 3, Omit 4, Trail 5, Speed 6, Sane 7, Evade 10, Spend 11, Bathe 12, Grasp 13, Alder 14, Eerie 15, Grant 16, Trent 25, Other 27, Usage 28, Gorse 30, Overt 31, Vent 32, Edam.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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