PDP WARD CONGRESSES: Senators down tools

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 62264

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

N150

4.8M REGISTERED VOTERS IN LAGOS:

Fashola cries foul •Challenges INEC to show proof

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PDP WARD CONGRESSES:

COURTESY VISIT—Japanese Ambassador visits Vanguard. See Page 5.

Senators down tools

•PDP Senators made themselves slaves to executive— Ojudu By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke •Door open for experienced senators — APC BUJA—THE crisis A between the lead•We'll frustrate PDP-led government — Angry Senators ership of the Peoples

PRESIDENT JONATHAN MANAGING CRISIS ABROAD

Democratic Party, PDP, and senators elected on the platform of the party, over last Saturday ’s ward congresses deepened, yesterday, as the senators refused to deliberate on issues on the Order Paper.

The PDP-controlled Senate had abruptly adjourned plenary last Tuesday following protests by the senators over

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Naira nosedives as anxiety grips investors over falling crude price 9

Mr & Mrs IN SEARCH OF PEACE—President Goodluck Jonathan (L) being received by Burkina-Faso's Interim Head of State, Lt.-Col. Isaac Zida, at the Ouagadougou International Airport, yesterday. President Jonathan is in Ouagadougou to help facilitate the rapid resolution of the current political crisis in Burkina-Faso. Photo: NAN.

COLUMNISTS: Burkina Faso's Sub-Saharan spring •P.17 C M Y K

Hijack of African democracy by mediocres •P.19

Fr Kukah's Witness to Justice •P.19

SYNAGOGUE: I'm yet to be served witness summons — TB Joshua 10

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POCKET CARTOON

COURTESY VISIT—From Left: Mr Onochie Anibeze, Saturday Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Mr Emeka Nkwocha, Advert Manager; Mr Victor Omoregie, Manager, Corporate Affairs; Mr Ryuichi Shoji, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, and Mr Kazuhito Kibana, First Secretary, Economic/Development Cooperation, Embassy of Japan, during a courtesy visit by the ambassador to Vanguard Newspapers Head Office in Apapa, Lagos State, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

PDP WARD CONGRESSES: Senators down tools Continues from Page 1

alleged conspiracy of the Presidency, leadership of the party and the governors to shut out senators in the just-concluded ward congresses of the party and deny them tickets in next year’s elections.

The senators’ decision to boycott their legislative duties, yesterday, was in furtherance of their resolve last Tuesday to frustrate the PDP-led government and give

solidarity to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal over plot by the party to start process for his impeachment.

At the commencement of yesterday ’s session which did not last more than 15 minutes, Senate President, David Mark made a remark on the looming crisis in the House of Representatives after the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day were adopted. Senator

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. Limit your doubts and develop your future.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself. Tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches. First, say to yourself what you would be.Then do what you have to do —Nancy Etcoff

J

UST as the stones in every fast moving stream will eventually become smooth, rounded discs from years of friction and tiny collisions, it seems we human beings are destined to outgrow our suffering simply because we are constantly running afoul of it. Over time, we can’t help but learn to get better at dealing with what ails us.

So each time we butt heads with life — whether it’s in the form of a belligerent customer or a dishonest mechanic — we get a chance to learn something of immeasurable importance.

If you graciously accept the role of student and open yourself up to the wisdom of the enlightened individuals all around you, you’ll be miles ahead of the curve, and your wisdom will be no accident.

Mark in his brief remarks said that as Chairman of the National Assembly, he would do everything humanly possible to protect and defend the legislature.

Presiding over the plenary, Senator Mark in his reference to the Speaker ’s defection and the dust it had generated said: “I am going to do all I can to resolve the current impasse.”

He further said that though it was not part of the policy to interfere in the internal affairs of each chamber, “however, as Chairman of the National Assembly, I cannot fold my arms or pretend that all is well about the current crisis. The matter is already in a court of law, we cannot therefore discuss the issues here.

I want to assure all of you that I will do the needful to protect and defend the legislature at all cost.”

But immediately after his one-minute remarks on the crisis in the House of Representatives, the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba moved motion for adjournment and the motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Ahmad Sani (Yerima) of the APC, though, in the voice vote, the APC senators’ voices saying nay were louder, but they were overruled as usual.

PDP Senators made themselves slaves to the executive— Ojudu

Reacting to abrupt adjournment of the senate, Senator Babafemi Ojudu representing Ekiti Central on the platform of APC, lamented that there were no standards in the Senate and that the opposition senators were at the mercy of the ruling party which was the reason they were forced to adjourn abruptly.

Senator Ojudu said as spokesman of the opposition APC in the senate, he advised the PDP senators to stop crying foul because they (PDP senators) had made themselves slaves before the Presidency and the party and should learn how to remain so.

He said: “If we have our way, we in APC, will come here tomorrow and sit. It should not be about personal interest but about the future of this country. It should be about our people. Now they have seen injustice, they are fighting.

“We saw injustice more than three and a half years ago, we wanted to fight, they didn’t allow us to fight, why must it be that it is when it affects us (senators) that we act? People should have standards. They have now seen that most of them are no longer welcome back in their homes, they have seen that they have made themselves slaves to the executive, and when you make yourself a slave, they will treat you like a slave, and now they have treated them like slaves.

That is the consequence of that.”

He said that the opposition political parties opposed the adjournment by chorusing nay, but the Senate President ruled in favour of the ruling party’s adjournment call.

He said: “We were voted in by Nigerians, we are working for Nigerians, but because they have problems with their party, with the President and with their governors, we are not allowed to work. We don’t want it to be said that we, APC members don’t want to work. We want to work but the system does not allow us to work. The rules as practiced by the majority, do not allow us to work.

“It is unfortunate, we are the minority, we will have our say and they will have their way. We are going to call a meeting of our caucus and we are going to discuss this.

We had even expected that they will call an executive meeting where we would discuss this matter, before they just came in and adjourned like that. Some of us came from our constituencies, far away places

so that we could sit for this week, but we are here, we are not allowed to sit. Suddenly, conservatives of yesterday have turned to today’s radicals.”

fecting our democracy arising from the just concluded ward congresses across the states. Issues that are fundamental need to be addressed in the interest of our democracy.”

Door open for experienced senators — APC

We'll frustrate PDP — Senator

An APC Senator who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, said that what was happening in the PDP was what he described as self-destruction. He said: “You can see from the name ‘People Destroying People’.

The senator who was a member of the PDP before joining the opposition said that the ruling party has senators who were experienced that could help build the democracy, but instead of using them for the good of the country, the party wanted to go for green horns, thereby throwing experience to the dust for the personal interest of the governors.

He added: “The senators played into their hands by playing the roles of houseboys instead of doing the legislative role they were elected for. They have been busy trying to satisfy the presidency. If we do the right thing, the issue of short-changing people will not arise.

“This is an advantage to the APC as the door remains open for the experienced and qualified senators who can be useful to the building of our nascent democracy and improving legislation.”

Explaining why the senate should adjourn abruptly in two days, the Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma-Egba said that meeting of the PDP caucus within two days was an indication that all was not well with the democracy.

He said: “Now, for us to have caucus meetings so frequently, suggests that there are fundamental issues. Indeed, I can confirm that there are fundamental issues af-

A highly ranked PDP senator had told journalists on condition of anonymity that with the alleged conspiracy to deny senators tickets in the 2015 elections, they were going to frustrate the PDP-led government The senator also promised that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF and FSP which was before the Red Chamber would not be considered for approval.

The spokesperson for the aggrieved senators had said: “We are going to show solidarity with the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal. We will not sit again. There will be no consideration of the MTEF (Medium Term Expenditure Framework) and there will be no budget.

“We decided to adjourn and do no business and the APC senators are in solidarity with us. President Goodluck Jonathan has lost the Senate, he has left the PDP structures in the hands of the governors, let the governors also do our job. We are going to shut the government.

“You can see that before sitting we had a meeting.

Either they give us back what they gave to the governors or PDP will lose the Senate. All the things we have been doing to protect this government, we are not going to do them again.

“When we don’t approve the MTEF and the budget, then, the international community will know that nothing is working in this country.

PDP is finished,” the senator stated.

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

APOLOGY

O

N Tuesday, October 4, 2014, we published a story that the former Chief of Staff to Governor Sullivan Chime, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC. We have since discovered that no such thing happened.

We, hereby, retract the story and sincerely apologise to Mrs Nwobodo, who we hold in high esteem.

IG lauds officers over arrest of UK murder suspect

By Kingsley Omonobi

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BUJA—THE Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has commended Police detectives for the arrest of a wanted murder suspect in the United Kingdom, Jeffery Azuka Okafor, who fled to Nigeria after the alleged murder of Carl Beatson Asiedu on August 1, 2009 in London.

A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, said Azuka Okafor, 23, was arrested on September 23 in Asaba, Delta State, after a diligent search.

It said: “The IGP particularly praised the high level of professionalism displayed by the Police operatives as well as the effective deployment of the force's high-tech equipment in tracking the suspect.”

It said despite the fugitive’s frequent change of identity and location, the operatives were still able to keep tab on him without raising any suspicion.

“All the necessary required procedures to enable the handover of the fugitive to the UK authorities have already been concluded,” it added.

He assured the international law enforcement community that Nigeria Police Force would apprehend any fugitive on request and turned such over accordingly.

Ile-Epo Bus Stop, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, flooded after a downpour, yesterday. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

More policemen arrested over Lagos bus conductor’s death

By Evelyn Usman

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AGOS—FRESH facts emerged, yesterday, on the death of the commercial bus conductor allegedly killed by policemen attached to Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway penultimate Monday, with the arrest of four additional policemen.

The arrested policemen included an Assistant Superintendent of Police, a Sergeant and two Corporals.

The latest arrest, it was learned, followed investigation which revealed that the policemen earlier arrested were not members of the team that operated along the route on that day.

Reports indicated that earlier, a Police Inspector, suspected to be the team leader, a Sergeant and two Corporals were arrested in connection with the murder of the 36-year-old bus conductor, Ikechukwu Abasirim.

However, during investigations by the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba, the Inspector (team leader) reportedly exonerated himself from the blame, revealing, however, that he knew members of the team that operated along the route.

Police sources said: “We arrested the Inspector and four other policemen including the driver of the commercial bus which the deceased was attached to.

“But the Inspector told us that the main suspect, one Corporal

Late Ikechukwu Abasirim.

Omage from Edo State, was not his team member. He explained that he (Omage) left his team for another before the incident.

“From our findings, we discovered that Omage was attached to another team headed by an ASP.” Preliminary investigation, it was reliably gathered, further showed that after last Monday’s incident, Corporal Omage and his team rushed to

their office at Cele Bus Stop, where they submitted their light weapons, released the two buses they commandeered for operation to their owners and hurriedly left the office.

Since the incident, Corporal Omage and members of his team had been reportedly out of reach until last Monday when they were picked up alongside their team leader.

As a result of the latest arrest, Vanguard gathered, the policemen earlier arrested in connection with Abasirim’s death had been released. Also released from custody was the driver of the commercial bus, who the deceased worked with.

However, Vanguard gathered that during interrogation, the arrested policemen denied being on duty on that day.

But impeccable police sources revealed that the duty roaster at the police division close to LASTMA’s office at Oshodi,

indicated they were on duty.

In their statement, the policemen reportedly stated that they returned their light weapons at about 1p.m. on that day.

But when the record book was checked, it was discovered that they submitted the weapons earlier, a time considered to be within the time-frame of incident.

Police sources hinted that investigation was still ongoing and that the Commissioner of Police had directed that a discreet investigation be conducted to unravel the circumstances behind the incident and also bring those involved to book: be they policemen or not.

The source said: “Currently, we are yet to carry out autopsy on the deceased. But we have filled the coroner’s form which is awaiting signature of the magistrate.”

Two vigilante members nabbed over plank dealer's murder Vanguard gathered that the spot”.

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—THE Police is currently investigating the murder of a plank dealer, Abudulahi Adedeji, allegedly shot dead by members of a vigilante group at Itere Plank Market, Ajegunle, Lagos.

The two suspects (names withheld) arrested over the matter are members of the vigilante group attached to Ifelodun Ajeromi Local Government Area.

members of the group were on routine patrol when the incident that claimed the life of the father of two occurred.

One of the plank dealers in the market, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The victim is a plank dealer in this market. We were all here when the whole incident happened on Saturday night.

“Members of the vigilante group, who were chasing some hoodlums who have been terrorizing the area shot Adedeji at the back. He died on

One of the suspects, who said they were seven in number that were on patrol that night, told Vanguard, “we were chasing some hooligans in the area when it happened. The other vigilante members fled, while we were arrested by the police.”

Vanguard gathered that the two suspects are currently being investigated by the state Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, while efforts were on to apprehend five others currently at large.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—7

Three-year-old boy, mother electrocuted in Benue

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI— A threeyear-old boy, Terfa Kor, and his mother, Nguwasen Kor, were yesterday, electrocuted in a bush at Lessel town, in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the boy had gone to a nearby bush, around the old Union Bank area of the

town, to defecate when he attempted to pick up a live electricity cable pulled down the previous night by windstorm.

The eyewitness said: “He was electrocuted the moment he touched the cable. His scream attracted his mother, who was standing afar.

“His mother also dashed to where her son was, and ignorant of what happened,

grabbed him and also got electrocuted.”

The source said the death toll would have been higher but for the quick intervention of a passerby, who stopped some onlookers from attempting to rescue mother and child.

The eyewitness said: “Some other women, who did not understand what had happened, attempted to rescue the victims but for a

man who understood the situation.

“He chased them away from the scene with stones, before the area electricity company was alerted and the remains of the mother and child removed and deposited in a mortuary.

When contacted, Benue State Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Superintendent Daniel Ezeala, said he was yet to receive details of the incident.

Frying bean-cakes at Kagadama Market for breakfast in Bauchi, yesterday. NAN PHOTO.

How Okada man allegedly got N5,000 to kill 3-week-old girl— WITNESS

By Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

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AGOS—A prosecution witness, Inspector Simeon Kunamon, in the ongoing trial of the murder of a three-weekold baby, Princess Happiness Moses, yesterday told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere how a motorcycle rider, popularly known as Okada, Ilaya Peters, was paid N5,000 to murder the baby.

Kunamon, who was led in evidence by the state prosecuting counsel, Ebere Agu, testified that the baby’s father, Moses Joseph, who is attached to Nigerian Navy, Amuwo Odofin, paid the defendant and others at large the said sum to forcibly take the baby from her mother, which he threw into the lagoon.

The witness, who gave testimony before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, told the judge how the baby was forcibly taken from her mother, Gloria Yusuf, at about 1a.m. at her residence at 8, Odofin Close, Ajegunle, and thrown into the lagoon.

Kunamon also told the court that Moses organised some thugs on February 2, 2012, to

steal the baby from the mother and deliver to him at Liverpool, where she was thrown into the lagoon in a peak milk cartoon, adding that the deceased baby ’s body could not be recovered.

According to him, trouble started when Gloria Yusuf, mother of the baby told Moses, her lover of one year, that she was pregnant, and that Moses

asked her to terminate the pregnancy, which she refused.

This, according to him, made her to pack out of the house and rented an apartment at Ajegunle, until she gave birth on January 13, 2012, to a baby girl she named Princess Happiness Moses.

He said the baby was killed on February 2, 2012, at about 1a.m., four weeks after the

father of the baby paid her a visit.

The defendant had earlier been arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder preferred against him by Lagos State.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him as Justice Adebiyi adjourned the matter to February 18, 2015.

Another UNIBEN student shot dead

By Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN— LESS than two weeks after a 300 level student of University of Benin, UNIBEN, was murdered at its Ugbowo campus, another student of the university was on Tuesday night shot dead by unknown assailants.

The deceased, simply identified as James, a 300 level student of Vocational and Technical Education, was said to have been killed at Ekosodin, a satellite community of Ugbowo campus of the university.

The corpse of the deceased

student was seen in a whitecoloured police Hilux van at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, when newsmen visited the hospital.

His white T-shirt and lemoncoloured knickers were soaked in blood and his shattered head almost doubled the normal size, indicating that he was shot at close range.

One of the university ’s students, who did not want his name in print for personal and safety reasons, confirmed the incident.

He said James was on his way

home at about 11p.m. after watching a football match at one of the viewing centres in the community, when he met his death.

It would be recalled that Ejiroghene Gbenedio, a 300level student of the Department of Chemistry, in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, was hacked to death at about 7p.m. on Friday, October 24.

When contacted on phone, UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Harrison Osarenren, promised to make enquiries and call back.

However, at press time, he was yet to get in touch.

30 lawyers storm Onitsha court over EFCC's case against colleague

By Austin Ogwuda

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NUGU—OVER 30 lawyers stormed a state High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Monday, preventing an arraignment of their colleague, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The drama started when EFCC officials attempted to arraign the lawyer, Mr. Chike Ononye, before Justice Mbonu Nwenyi over alleged case of stealing and issuance of a dud cheque.

However, the lawyers, numbering over 30, stood against the arraignment and demanded that the case be settled out of court.

One Mr. Ononye, who introduced himself as a friend of the court, claiming to be speaking for members of Nigeria Bar Association present in court, objected to the arraignment and urged the court to grant an adjournment to enable parties settle out of court.

The court adjourned the matter to November 20, while the accused was taken back to EFCC custody.

2 FRSC marshals killed in Kogi prison break

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—IT emerged, yesterday, that two officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, were killed by the gunmen that attacked the Koton-Karfe Prison in Kogi State on Sunday night.

The two officials were said to have been hiding, when the gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram members, found them, took them elsewhere, shot and buried them.

The state Sector Commander, Mr. Godwin Omiko, said the two officials, Olaoluwa Adebayo and Adesina Iyanda, were shot by the same armed bandits that attacked Koton-Karfe prison Sunday night.

8— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Dangote now 23rd richest in the world

BOKO HARAM: Red Cross distributes food, essentials to 51,000 IDPs in North-East

By Soni Daniel, Regional

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IGERIAN business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has retained his position as Africa’s richest man with a $25 billion net worth.

He has held that position for the fourth successive year.

Globally, the influential Forbes Magazine rates him on the list of 25 richest people in the world.

Dangote is ranked 23 up 43rd among the 100 richest persons in the world.

The Nigerian businessman with interests in cement, sugar, beverages and petrochemical is said to be presently the first black man to break into the rank of top 25 richest people in the world.

Mike Adenuga, owner of indigenous telecoms company Globacom, was next to Dangote on the list with a wealth of $4.6 billion, maintaining 325 position in the world, while Folorunsho Alakija, with $2.5 billion, was 687 in the world and Abdulsamad Rabiu ranks 1372 in the world, with $1.2 billion.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates is back on top after a four-year hiatus, reclaiming the title of world’s richest person from telecoms mogul, Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico, who ranked number one for the past four years.

Spanish clothing retailer, Amancio Ortega (best known for the Zara fashion chain) retains the number three spot for the second year in a row, extending his lead over Warren Buffett, who is again number four.

Editor, North

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OVED by the plight of persons displaced by the raging war between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents, the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, has distributed 960 metric tonnes of food and other essentials to the victims scattered in the North-East.

The distribution was on Monday completed to the refugees said to be living in extremely difficult conditions.

“After carrying out an assessment of the situation, the ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross launched an emergency operation to meet urgent needs. ICRC staff and more than a hundred Nigerian Red Cross volunteers distributed 960 metric tonnes of food and other relief items to 51,000 people,” ICRC said in a statement made available to Vanguard last night.

According to the world relief agency, most of those being supplied with food and other essentials are the refugees who fled their homes at Kodunga, Kaga, Gwoza and Damboa and also lost all their belongings.

“Not only did people have to flee their homes in Kodunga, Kaga, Gwoza and Damboa, they also lost all their belongings and their means of earning a living.

They didn’t have enough food and they lacked important basic items,” said Karl Mattli, head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria.

“The additional strain placed on communities by hosting the displaced reached the point where it was more than they could

GOVERNOR AHMED DECLARES FOR 2ND TERM From left; Wife of Kwara State governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed; All Progressives Congress, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Kwara State governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and APC chieftain, Princess Funke Adedoyin during Governor Ahmed's declaration for 2nd term at Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, yesterday. bear,” the ICRC said.

Under the emergency plan put in place, most displaced people, who arrived in Maiduguri in the past few months were settled in government buildings, schools or official camps.

According to the ICRC, some of the IDPs stayed with relatives or host families, with whom they shared scant resources, while others found refuge in informal settlements.

Whatever their living arrangements, the displaced cannot afford to buy their own food and therefore have had to depend on aid provided by the State or on the generosity of others to survive.

“In the short term, the aid we have just distributed will improve significantly the well-being of the displaced,” said Janet Angelei, an ICRC economic-security specialist

AYE honours Tinubu, describes him as exemplary leader

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A G O S — N AT I O N A L Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been honoured with an achievement award and made the patron of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE).

While presenting the award to the APC leader in his Lagos home on Tuesday, Mr. Summy Smart Francis, President of the South Africa-based AYE, which

has over 12 million members, described Tinubu as an exemplary leader in Africa.

“This award is given to entrepreneurs and business people that have made a huge impact on the continent and are known around the globe through their business achievements. ''Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Africa sees you and recognises you. You are an

African Icon,” he said.

In his response, Tinubu called on African youths to save their continent from economic and political stagnation by applying what he called “Common sense Revolution” to all that they do.

The APC chief said conquering fear and rigorously challenging bad government policies were necessary ingredients needed to grow entrepreneurship on the continent.

working in Nigeria.

“The kitchen sets, blankets, soaps, mats, hygiene items and tarpaulins we have provided will meet some of their immediate needs and reduce the burden on the hosting families. The ICRC also distributed about a month’s supply of rice, beans, oil and salt.

One of the IDPs in Maiduguri said that since they fled their homes in the wake of the conflict, it has not been easy for them to eat or have any significant help from any group or individual until the ICRC’s intervention. “ Since fleeing our homes, we had not received any significant help,” said Abdullahi Abuya from Konduga. “Some of us had barely had anything to eat for weeks, but now things are better.”

Health care ICRC said that it was able to upgrade the Mala Kachalla Primary Health Care Centre in Maiduguri in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and to train the centre’s staff.

It also said it built a water tower with a 4,000-litre tank and installed a solar-powered water-supply system. In addition, it has completely renovated the facility ’ s floors, ceilings, doors and windows.

“The centre, which is now fully operational, offers

general outpatient services with a special focus on children under five years of age, ante-natal, delivery and post-natal services, and patient stabilization prior to referral for secondary care,” said Bernadette Gleeson, head of ICRC surgical and first-aid programmes in Nigeria.

Overwhelmed Because of the displaced people arriving in Maiduguri, the centre’s catchment population is now estimated to be in excess of 100,000.

Emergency aid for Nigerians who fled to Niger Civilians fleeing fighting between the Nigerian army and armed groups have recently arrived in the Diffa area, in easternmost Niger.

The displaced, mainly women and children, arrived from the Abadam area and Nigerian villages near Lake Chad. They have lost everything and are entirely dependent on host communities and on aid provided by humanitarian organizations.

At the beginning of October, the ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Niger distributed food to more than 2,000 people in Diffa and to over 3,500 people who have taken refuge on islands in Lake Chad.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—9

Naira nosedives as anxiety grips investors over falling crude price zValue of stocks declines at NSE

By Babajide Komolafe & Peter Egwuatu, with agency reports

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EFLECTING increased apprehension among foreign investors over the impact of falling crude oil prices on the nation’s external reserves and the value of the naira, prices of stocks at the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday declined further thus over taking Zimbabwe as Africa’s worst performing market this year.

Meanwhile, the naira yesterday depreciated by 135 kobo at the interbank foreign exchange, as the interbank foreign exchange rate rose to N167.35 per dollar from N166 per dollar on Tuesday.

Cumulatively, the naira has depreciated by 170 kobo this week at the interbank market. The depreciation of the naira was occasioned by increased demand for foreign exchange courtesy of foreign investors divesting from the nation stock market and bond market.

At the stock market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE All Share Index had dropped for a 10th day market trading, leading to a loss of 13 percent in 2014.

Specifically, the NSE Index slid 2.1 percent to 35,958.38, the lowest since September 2013, as 50 stocks retreated, seven rose and 138 were unchanged.

The gauge is the world’s fifth-worst performer this year after benchmarks in countries including Russia, Portugal, Greece and Austria. The naira weakened 0.8 percent to 167.25 per dollar.

Banks were among the main losers. FCMB Group Plc declined 9.5 percent, the most in more than two years. Union Bank Nigeria Plc, in which Bob Diamond’s Atlas Mara Co-Nvest Ltd. (ATMA) has a stake of about 30 percent, fell 9.2 percent to its lowest level since September 2012.

Banks suffered because of tighter central bank regulations, which have forced some to raise capital, and investors’ concerns about their exposure to oil companies, Seun Olanipekun, an analyst at Investment One Financial Services Ltd., had said.

“The central bank’s measures have restricted the revenue streams of banks,” said Olanipekun. “And the loan exposure to the oil and gas sector is pretty high for most of the banks.”

Zimbabwe’s benchmark gauge is down 11.7 percent.

Nigeria to borrow $945m from World Bank’s subsidiary

SIGNING: From left; James Mugerwa, MD, Shelter Afrique; Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank and Wole Ajimisinmi, Company Secretary, Wema Bank at the signing of the $10 million development finance facility granted Wema Bank for Real Estate and Mortgage financing in Lagos.

External reserve falls apex bank had sold $29.1 billion producers in the Organization in 2014. by $38.3bn of Petroleum Exporting Meanwhile, the nation’s external reserve continued to fall, declining by $339 million in the first three days of this month.

From $38.763 billion on October 29th, the external reserve had fallen to $38.324 billion on November 3rd. Cumulatively, the external reserve fell by $757 million in October, representing the biggest decline since it started rising in June. By extension, the external reserve has declined by $5.51 billion or 11.8 percent in 2014.

The persistent decline in the external reserve is occasioned by increased foreign exchange sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order to defend the naira.

Last month, the apex bank sold $3 billion through the bi-weekly RDAS sessions. As a result the

Countries reduced prices rather

OPEC basket price falls than cut output, with Saudi to 4 Years low Arabia, Iraq and Iran offering Meanwhile crude the decline in crude oil price persisted yesterday, with OPEC members’ average crude price falling below $80 for the first time in four years as Saudi Arabia and other members of the group supplying 40 percent of the world’s oil maintained output amid slowing demand growth.

The OPEC basket, the best measure of what the oil exporters earn per barrel, fell to $78.67 yesterday, the group said by e-mail today. That’s the lowest since October 22, 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

U.S. oil production rose to the highest in at least 31 years amid slowing global demand, helping drive crude into a bear market last month. The largest

the biggest discounts to buyers in Asia this month since at least 2009. The group will meet in Vienna on Nov. 27 to discuss whether to cut output to support prices.

“Saudi Arabia seems to have other aims than protecting the price,” Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt, said by e-mail.

“The Saudis’ attitude might only change if the other members agree to contribute to a cut, the likelihood of which is slim at best.”

Brent futures, the world’s most actively traded crude contract, fell as much as 1.4 percent to $81.63 a barrel in London today.

The December contract traded at $82.14 a barrel at 11:28 a.m.

BUJA—NIGERIA approved borrowing of $945 million from the I n t e r n a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t Association, an arm of the World Bank, for irrigation and drainage projects, Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda said.

The borrowing consists of $495 million for irrigation projects in states including Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara; $250 million for urban water projects in Bauchi, Ekiti and Rivers states; and $200 million to improve drainage in Ibadan, Nigeria’s thirdbiggest city.

The loan, repayable in 20 years, comes at an interest rate of 1.25 percent and a service cost of 0.75 percent, Yuguda told reporters yesterday in the capital, Abuja. With irrigation Nigeria will have capacity for a “yearout year-in farming season,” he said.

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, is seeking to expand agricultural output to reduce dependence on oil exports, which account for more than 70 percent of government revenue.

Agriculture, which employs more than 60 percent of the population, represents about 22 percent of the gross domestic product, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Governors warn police IG against partisanship A

BUJA—NIGERIAN governors yesterday cautioned the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, against police partisanship.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who spoke to newsmen yesterday on behalf of his colleagues, at the end of a National Council of States meeting in Abuja, advised Mr. Abba to always be fair and just while performing his responsibilities.

He said, “I’m clear that the I-G must see Nigeria for what it is; It is a multi-party democracy; he must act according to the police law not

according to the police convenience; these are my personal views, and the fact that he has been confirmed does mean if he doesn’t play according to the rules I have not forfeited my right to revise my position.

“So for now we are unanimous that based on his pedigree that Mallam Abba has what it takes to reposition the police”.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Abba admitted that his confirmation as the new police boss attracts a “huge responsibility.”

“I must tell you this is a happy moment but is also a moment of sober reflection,” Mr. Abba said.

“Reflection on the responsibilities, on expectations; certainly I have to work hard to ensure that I meet up with the expectations of the office.

“Truly Nigerians and in fact all people in Nigeria deserve the best from us so that we make the environment safer and secure.

“I assure you, having reflected on all these we will ensure that we manage all the resources in the charge of the Nigerian police to ensure they are used judiciously for the safety and security of Nigeria.”

Since he was appointed acting Inspector General of Police Mr.

Abba had taken some steps that have drawn criticism and portrayed the police under his command as an appendage of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the presidency.

Last week, he ordered the withdrawal of security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal following his defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress which prompted Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) to write a petition citing three instances where the police had displayed “political bias” since Mr. Abba’s appointment.

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014

APGA petition's Lagos CP over impostor exco

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AGOS—ALL Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Lagos State Chapter has petitioned Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to avert bloodshed in the State over activities of some unscrupulous politicians parading themselves as APGA executives in the state.

In the petition dated October 30, 2014 and copied to INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, and APGA vice National Chairman, South West, Alhaji Tayo Showunmi and jointly signed by Prince Adeshina Olayokun, APGA Chairman, Lagos State chapter, and Sylvester Ezeani, state Legal Adviser, the party drew attention to what it described as illegal and malicious activities of one Mr. Cambell UmehNzekwe and his cohorts who continuously paraded themselves as APGA executives in Lagos State.

Mailexpress, Nigeria's first free newspaper debuts

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AGOS—THE nation’s first ever free newspaper, Mailexpress last Sunday made its debut on the news stands.

Mailexpress is a weekly newspaper (magazine in tabloid form) that will be on the news stands every Sunday morning. Its philosophy is anchored on the social responsibility theory and development media theory.

"In essence, Mailexpress shall promote the virtues of accountability and transparency in governance.

Mailexpress will circulate a minimum of 50,000 copies weekly.

"We shall build on the wide circulation network in order to gain the confidence of advertisers and be the number one choice for advertisers."

Mr. Osa Director is the Editor-in-chief and Managing Director of the paper.

4.8m registered voters in Lagos: Fashola cries foul zSays figure an attempt to disenfranchise majority of Lagos electorate

By Clifford Ndujihe, Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, described the 4.8 million registered voters figure for Lagos State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as questionable even as the electoral body is set to distribute Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, to that number of people in the State starting from Friday, November 7 to 9, 2014, The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, had on October 29, announced the commission’s decision.

Fashola also described the figure as an attempt to disenfranchise majority of Lagos electorate in the forthcoming 2015 general elections as it showed a shortfall of 1,447,845 to the previously released 6,247,845 registered voters announced by INEC in the registration exercise before the 2011 elections.

Meantime, the governor has declared Friday, November 7, 2014, a work-free day for public servants to enable them participate in the first day of the PVCs distribution, which is a working day out of the three days earmarked for collection by INEC. The governor made the remarks in a special state-wide broadcast to residents on the commencement of the issuance of PVCs by INEC in the state,

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held at the State House, Marina, Lagos.

Fashola noted that with the commencement of the process of issuance of PVCs in Lagos, the process for elections has therefore, started saying, election is a process, starting from voters’ registration, to balloting, to announcement of results and to election petition and swearing in of elected persons.

“So for the avoidance of any doubt, elections have started,” he said.

According to the governor; “This obligation has become very important because of the

reports emanating from INEC at a press briefing by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos that the number of voters in Lagos is now 4,800,000.

“This is strange, it is surprising and I believe INEC owes the people of Lagos a lot of answers and very quickly too.

“INEC must explain to us how 1,447,845 voter registration cards disappeared to leave Lagos with only 4,800,000 registered voters.

“INEC has itself attempted to ascribe the disappearance of 1,447,845 registered voters on its

register in Lagos to what it calls “consolidation”; “Business Rule” and AFIS.” “Lagosians demand to know what these terms mean. Are they provided for in the Electoral Act? “Are they INEC’s plans to disenfranchise Lagosians from exercising their rights to choose their own representatives?

“Are they part of a plan to confer an undue-advantage in the next elections to any person or to frustrate the choice of Lagosians as we have seen in other states?,” asked the governor.

SYNAGOGUE: Prophet T.B. Joshua, Pastor of Synagogue Church of all Nations' lawyer, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, at Coroner's Court in Ikeja, fielding questions from journalists on the inability of his client to appear in court yesterday over the collapsed guest house belonging to the church. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor & Bunmi Azeez

I'm yet to be served witness summons —TB Joshua SYNAGOGUE:

AbdulwahabAbdulah, Bartholomew Madukwe & OlalekanAjulo AGOS—THERE was a set back yesterday at the Coroner Court investigating the collapse of a guest house within the Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12, as one of the church’s counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, told the court that Prophet T.B. Joshua and the contractor are yet to be served with witness summons.

The coroner judge, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, had summoned Prophet T.B. Joshua and the contractor to appear before the court yesterday.

Earlier, the General Manager of the state Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA gave evidence on how the agency rescued 131 bodies alive from the rubble of the collapsed building.

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Ojo said: “There is need to make certain clarification. I want to inform the court that as at today no summons to appear before this court has been personally served on Prophet T.B. Joshua.

No witness summon has been served. It was on Friday that the court bailiff tried to serve summons on Prophet T.B. Joshua

but unfortunately he was not around because he was attending to issues of victims that died.

“The bailiff cannot depose to an affidavit that Prophet T.B. Joshua received a witness summon. I do not want it to look as if the prophet was served and he did not come. Prophet T.B.

FRSC has no powers to fine motorists— Court InnocentAnaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has held that the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has no powers to impose fines on erring motorists.

Trial judge, Justice James Tsoho in his judgement in a suit by a lawyer, Mr Tope Alabi, held that FRSC can not turn itself into a court of law by punishing those who commit traffic offences.

The plaintiff had prayed the

court to declare that only a court of competent jurisdiction can pronounce a person guilty under Section 10 (4) and 28 (2) of the FRSC (Establishment Act) 2007 and Regulation 143 of the Nigerian Roads Traffic Regulation, 2011.

The National Assembly, FRSC and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, were the defendants in the suit.

Joshua was not served, he was unavoidably absent. This has to be done personally.

“On the contractor, I do not think the contractor has also been served because this court does not have his name or address. Neither the contractor nor Prophet T.B. Joshua has been served any witness summon.”

However, Magistrate Komolafe held that in line with Magistrate Civil Procedure Rule, Order 5 (Rule 2), Law of Lagos State, 2009, which guides the coroner inquest, a counsel appearing for the church can also receive the summons on behalf of his client.

Also the Magistrate requested the Chief Security Officer, CSO, who he identified to extend the message of appearance before the court to Prophet Joshua.

“That is why I said will you accept service for Prophet T.B. Joshua? Tell the prophet to come or do you want me to ask the DPO at Ikotun to lay siege at the Church?” the judge asked.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 —11

PDP petitions Ekiti CJ over Fayose's case

By GbengaAriyibi

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MEETING: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Mrs Wande Muoyo, Budget and Planning Commissioner, during the Treasury Board meeting on year 2015 Budget in Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo: Wumi Akinola.

DO EKITI—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State has formally petitioned the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, over the re-assigning of the controversial case between the state governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose and a group, the E-11, to the same judge, Justice Segun Ogunyemi.

According to the petition signed by the state Chairman of the party, Chief Idowu Faleye, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, and addressed to Justice Daramola, the PDP alleged the likelihood of bias against the judge.

Osoba, Adesegun, Obadara, others romance SDP zAs party billboards flood Abeokuta

By Daud Olatunji

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BEOKUTA—A strong indication has emerged that, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; the current deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun

Adesegun; three Senators and six members of House of Representatives from the state may have joined the Social Democratic Party, SDP. Vanguard gathered that the three Senators are Adegbenga Kaka, Gbenga Obadara and Akin

Odunsi, representing Ogun East, Ogun Central and Ogun West respectively.

Also on the SDP train were members of the House of Representatives, Kunle Adeyemi, Babatunde Olabode, Olumide Osoba, Abiodun A b u d u , O d e l e y e Kehinde and Bukunola Buraimo.

Confirming t h e development, the Senator representing Ogun Central, G b e n g a Obadara said he and other senators have joined the SDP. Obadara who spoke with Vanguard on the phone yesterday, said: “Yes, I am in S o c i a l Democratic Party. But it has not been made formal, we are in the process of formalising it. In fact, all the Senators and members of the

House of Representatives are also in the party.

“We are out to rescue Ogun State from recklessness and provide good governance. We are not going to run a government of ‘my friends, my school mates and my family.”

Vanguard, however, gathered that Osoba , Adesegun and some members of the National Assembly of his faction, had started consultations and sensitisation visit to local government areas in the state.

About 20 billboards of the SDP, a party with same acronym under which the late acclaimed winner of the June 12,1993 presidential election, late Chief Moshood Abiola contested, had flooded the capital city of Abeokuta.

Reacting to his rumoured defection to the SDP, Adesegun said the defection had not been made public.

When asked to comment on his presence at the SDP sensitisation programme in the state led by Osoba, Adesegun said he would always be in the party where his leader pitched his tent.

He said: “Osoba is our leader, IamtalkingaboutpoliticsinYorubaland.

Nobody can create leaders for us in Ogun State.”

The deputy governor wrote a stinker dated October 24, to the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, stating how his office was being starved of funds.

In the petition,the party noted that going by manner in which the matter was previously he governor, Mr Ayo Fayose and the party, who incidentally are the defendants in the suit may not likely get justice.

The petition reads in part, “We are surprised, however, to be informed that the same judge, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi had resumed sitting over the same case he had voluntarily withdrawn from.

“When we probed why the same judge, whose action caused unmitigated crisis in the state prior to the swearing in of the new governor of the state and a party in the case, we were informed that the National Judicial Commission, NJC, directed him to resume sitting over the case.

“However, our investigation at the NJC proved to the contrary.

Our source at the NJC asked a rhetorical question of when the NJC has become the assigning judge of cases pending before a state high court.”

....As EKSU alumni want cases against him withdrawn

By GbengaAriyibi DO EKITI—THE Alumni Association of Ekiti State University, EKSU, has asked those who have dragged the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose to court for one reason or the other to withdraw their suits against him in the interest of the people of the state.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the national president of the association, Dr Matthew Ayeni, said issues of litigation would adversely affect the state governor, saying this would distract him from the serious job of governing the state The association equally urged the governor to do something about the frequent changes in the name of the institution, saying this is creating identity problem for the alumnus of the institution both at home and abroad.

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Women are more reliable in politics cultural and religious —Obasanjo Journalists, NAWOJ, visited the background, adding that

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By Daud Olatunji

B E O K U TA — F O R M E R President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that women in politics are more reliable than their male counterparts.

Obasanjo said this yesterday, when some national executives and members of the Nigeria Association of Women

him at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, where he was presented with Father of the Nation award.

The former President, however, advised that politics must be played with decency, dignity and honour that women are known for.

He frowned at a situation where African women are not often given chance to exhibit their potentials because of

this should not be so as only men can not build the nation.

He said: “One of the best journalists that ever served me was a woman, and that was the late Mrs Oluremi Oyo. “In politics,women are more reliable than men.

When a woman says she’s with you,you can really take that she is with you."

12 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Oshiomhole sacks Perm Sec, suspends hospital MD over casual staff

By Simon Ebegbulem

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ENIN—FOLLOWING the protest last week by casual workers at Benin Central Hospital, Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, ordered the suspension of the Managing Director of the hospital, Dr. Kayode Iyasere, and the demotion and compulsory retirement of the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Ofure Eboreme.

Casual workers in the hospital protested last week over unpaid salaries after they accused the state government of alleged failure to pay their wages.

But it was gathered that the governor who gave orders six months ago that all casual workers should be regularized, was embarrassed by the protest and decided to deal with the officers for alleged failure to carry out government’s directive.

The crisis was said to have started after government's directive that all revenues accrued in the hospital should be paid into the government's account.

This directive, Vanguard was informed, made it impossible for the hospital to pay the casual workers since they no longer controlled the revenues.

A source at the hospital said: “These casual workers have been very helpful because government has not employed workers for a long time now, and as a result, there is paucity of staff. These casuals help as security, generator operatives, and ward

orderlies. They sometimes help nurses and doctors in the wards.

In fact, the Permanent Secretary, who is a surgeon, has been managing the situation to ensure that the place moves forward.

“Unfortunately for them, they could no longer pay the casual workers because of the new government policy that all revenues be paid into the government account. So they owed the workers and that led to the protest. It is unfortunate that

the Permanent Secretary was affected in this shake up but the man is the one that has been trying to make this hospital work."

However, Commissioner for Labour and Establishment, Comrade Didi Adodo, said the protest was embarrassing to government since “the governor, six months ago, ordered that all casual workers should be regularized. The management of the hospital, including the Permanent Secretary, are

supposed to implement government policies but they failed to do that. The worst of it all, is the issue of monthly payment of N10,000 to the casual workers when the minimum wage is N18,000.”

Adodo added that the governor had already directed that all casual workers in the state should be regularized, while the retired ones should be paid off and “the money to pay them had been released by the state government.

That is why government felt embarrassed by the protest.”

IYC asks Kwankwaso to retract statement on Clark

By Emma Amaize

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S A B A — I J A W Youth Council, IYC, yesterday, called on governor of Kano State and All Progressives

Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to rescind his recent statement describing former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, as senile and

Udu Political Forum drums support for Odibo

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HE people of Udu clan in Delta State, have been urged to support the ambition of Elegbete Moses Odibo, to represent them in Delta State House of Assembly, DTHA, next year.

Udu Political Forum, UPF, which made the call, said Odibo was a worthy son who had made immense contributions to the development of the kingdom in particular and the Urhobo nation in general.

After considering other aspirants at a meeting, in Aladja, the forum, made up of political leaders in the area, gave Odibo a unanimous endorsement for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries coming up later in the

month.

It’s President, Chief Christian Oyibode, said: “Delta State politics of 2015 requires the Urhobo to field their best. With Odibo in Delta Assembly, Udu will return to the mainstream of politics in the state and in the federation.”

Odibo, whose aspiration has roused excitement in the area, submitted his nomination form to the PDP state headquarters on Monday.

Addressing supporters who accompanied him, the former Commissioner for Local Government promised that Udu Harbour market which he helped to attract in 2007, would be completed.

render an unreserved apology or incur the wrath of South-South people.

The council, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, said: “The IYC regards the said statement by Rabiu Kwankwaso as careless, provocative and an insult to the entire people of the Niger Delta region. Chief Clark, even at his old age, is more mentally alert than Kwankwaso, who by his careless and unguarded statement, has clearly demonstrated to Nigerians that he lacks the qualities of a leader.

Clark has contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria and deserves respect from all.

“Contrary to Kwankwaso’s statement that Clark is destroying the age-long relationship between the north and the southsouth, people like Rabiu Kwankwaso with a born to rule mentality are those destroying the relationship between the north and the southsouth region."

Delta 2015: Ofuani, Obuh hail peaceful ward congresses

By Hugo Odiogor

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WO Delta State governorship aspirants have hailed stakeholders and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state for the peaceful and successful conduct of the ward delegates’ congress across the state.

Chief Clement Ofuani and Sir Tony Obuh, in separate reactions to the PDP ward congresses now generating controversies across the country, said the exercises went on peacefully and exemplified the peoples’ confidence in the democratic process.

Ofuani, who was the pioneer Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta State and one of the 22 aspirants who officially indicated interest for the number one job in the state by obtaining the party ’s form, stated that demonstrated spirit of cohesion and unity had confirmed the PDP as a formidable political family in the state.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—13

PDP aspirant in remand over alleged murder zFallout of Edo PDP ward congress

By Simon Ebegbulem &

Gabriel Enogholase

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ENIN—EGOR Magistrate Court in Benin City, yesterday, remanded a House of Assembly aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Nosa Adams, and one Best Ukposis, in prison custody over alleged attempt to murder one Ikpomnwonsa Omoregbe, Victor Omotosor and Eloghosa John, during last weekend's ward congresses of the PDP. This came as Oredo Magistate Court 3 granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 surety for one Rotimi Adams, a.k.a. Shaba, who was alleged to have led suspected thugs that invaded Edo State House of Assembly legislative quarters two weeks ago which resulted in serious bodily injuries to lawmakers and destruction of property worth several millions of naira.

He was arraigned on a fourcount charge of wilful damage of government property and

possession of live cartridges.

He was granted bail by the magistrate, Mrs. Mofe Adebanjo, and the case was adjourned to November 17 for mention.

In the Adams’ case, Magistrate Igho Braimoh, after listening to submissions from counsel to Nosa Adams and Ukposisi, ruled that “ we do not try murder cases and cannot try an attempted

murder case. We cannot try the main matter and we won’t grant bail either. I shall not grant bail. The Registrar of the court, with the police should duplicate the case file and send to DPP for advice.”

The magistrate ordered that they should be remanded in Oko prison till November 19 when the case will be mentioned.

Counsel to Adams, Nosa

Obaizamomwan, had argued that the magistrate should use her discretion to grant the accused bail based on section 118 of the Criminal Code which he said only denied the magistrate the use of her discretion when the offence in question attracted capital punishment.

High literacy level, secret behind Ebola containment —AKPABIO

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O V E R N O R Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has attributed Nigeria’s successful containment of the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease to the high literacy level in the country.

Chief Akpabio, who stated this when the executive members of Nigerian Academy of Education, led by their President, Professor

Uduogie Iwowi, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo, described education as the answer to various issues in the society.

He said: “In the case of sensitization, education is the answer. Take the case of Ebola as an example. The level of literacy in some of the West African countries affected their ability to

control the disease. I want to commend the President and health officials in Nigeria, particularly the academics, who were able to sensitize all Nigerians.

“The level of awareness was very rapid and that was why we were able to curb the pandemic.

Without education a lot would not have been achieved.”

Governorship aspirant snubs Rivers Appeal panel

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT— A frontline governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party, in Rivers State, Mr. Atamuno Atamuno, has said his supporters would not appear before the Electoral Panel of the party set up to consider complaints surrounding the just concluded ward congresses of the party.

The aspirant, who spoke yesterday, in Port Harcourt, said the panel had failed to secure the confidence of those who boycotted the congress, stressing that it was constituted to protect the interests of a particular aspirant.

Atamuno, who expressed hope that the party would resolve its internal crisis, said he was in the race to create a better future for Rivers people.

14 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—15

NDDC takes free healthcare to oil communities S

EVERAL OILP R O D U C I N G communities in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local government Area of Rivers State are benefitting from a seven-day free medical programme organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The programme, which would end Saturday at the Maternity and Child care Centre at Ogbe Ukwu, Ndoni, is being organised in conjunction with Global Hands Medical Foundation.

The Chief Medical Director for the programme, Dr. Titus Antai, said he was very impressed by the massive turn-out of people taking advantage of the free health care, with over 500 patients in attendance within the first two days of the one-week programme.

“We have performed many major surgeries for fibroid, ovarian cyst, hernia, as well as Caesarean sections. We have also performed cataract extraction for some patients with impaired vision,” he said.

Dr. Antai highlighted the benefits of the NDDC free medical programme, noting that it was very useful for the poor and less privileged people.

He said many people in the rural areas found it difficult to access medical services on account of poverty, citing the case of two women whose delivery were delayed because they could not raise money for Caesarian section in a private clinic.

He said: “The people complain that medical services in their communities are very expensive because they are seen as coming from oil-producing areas.

“The private clinics here are very expensive for the people. So, without the free health programme of the NDDC, most of them are more or less helpless.”

Elder Ita Onukak, the Vice Chairman of Global Hands Medical Foundation, said he was pleased that the people of Ndoni and the neighbouring communities came in large number for the free health mission.

Four houses burnt, 2 kidnapped in Port Harcourt community

By Jimitota Onoyume

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ORT HARCOURT — FOUR houses were burnt, yesterday, when youths from a neighbouring community allegedly invaded Afam Uku Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt and allegedly abducted two persons.

Caretaker committee chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area, Mr. David Oyegorom, who confirmed the incident, claimed the invaders stormed the community in his local government in the early hours of yesterday, noting that the timely arrival of security men saved the situation from degenerating into

major violence.

According to him: “About 1a.m., Wednesday, some youths from Korokoro community invaded our community, burnt houses and took away two persons. The structures burnt include churches, people's homes and shops. “ He appealed to youths in the local government not to take laws into their hands, imploring them to allow security operatives handle the situation.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmed Mohamed, also spoke on the incident, saying his men swung into action immediately they got distress call from the area.

VISIT: Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (middle), flanked (from left) by Ikechukwu Isiguzo, National Vice President, South East, Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ; Prince Rotimi Obamuwagun, Deputy National President, NUJ; Sir Emeka Ananaba, Deputy Governor, and Hyacinth Okoli, Chairman, Abia State Council, NUJ, when they visited the governor, in Umuahia.

Enugu PDP ward congresses not cancelled — Metuh

By Henry Umoru

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BUJA — THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP did not cancel the ward congresses conducted in Enugu State or any other state of the country, party spokesman Chief Olisa Metuh, said yesterday.

His assertion followed strong representations by the Sullivan Chime led faction of the party to cancel the congress at a stakeholders' meeting of the party, at the Presidential Villa, Tuesday night. The meeting which was deadlocked was deferred to yesterday night and was yet to commence at press time yesterday.

Reacting to reports that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party planned to conduct ward congresses in Enugu today, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who spoke with Vanguard, disclosed that the

national leadership did not cancel any ward congress in any state including Enugu State.

He also said that appeal panels were set up for members to channel their grievances after the ward congresses.

“No state congress has been cancelled in Nigeria by the National Working Committee.

The NWC has no right to outrightly cancel the ward congresses when it has not received report from the appeal panel. There is an appeal panel, there are guidelines, we expect that people should send their complaints to the panel, it will listen to them and the panel would at the end of the day send the report to the NWC for further action.

There were reports indicating that the PDP, Enugu State chapter, might conduct fresh ward congresses today.

It was reported that the option of conducting fresh congresses was thrown up at the NWC meeting held in Abuja.

Ihonvbere decries high cost of nomination forms

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN CITY—SECRETARY to the Edo State Government and Edo North senatorial aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday, said the amount of money being charged for the purchase of nomination fees by political parties were so high that credible Nigerians might not be able to seek for political powers.

While acknowledging that it could be the only means for political parties to raise funds, the former Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, suggested that the payment of monthly dues by politicians to their parties would be a better idea, rather than paying exorbitant fees for nomination forms, which he said, might prevent Nigerians from voting candidates of their choice

during elections.

Ihonvbere who said he decided to seek the nomination of his party for the Edo North senatorial seat due to what he described as the alleged poor representation of the area in the Senate, said the contest for the Edo North senatorial seat would revolve around the issues of competence, quality representation and respect for the people of the district. He said, “I do not believe the best we can put out is what we currently have. Edo North needs to field someone who understands how things operate in Abuja, a strong and courageous voice who will ensure that the Senatorial district is not short-changed in the distribution of resources. My record of social struggles in the country stands me out ahead of other aspirants in the senatorial race.”

Akwa Ibom ward congress a sham — Ex-Gov Attah

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — FORMER Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has described the ward congress said to have been conducted in the state as a sham capable of truncating the wishes of the people, if allowed to stand.

Attah, who reacted to the conduct of the exercise for the first time since Saturday, told Vanguard that the officials deployed by the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja to conduct the poll failed woefully to abide by the rules of the game thereby poisoning the minds of the electorate and contestants.

According to Attah, the officials issued one set of photocopied result sheets for election in the 31 local government areas of the state rather than using the serialised result sheets for each of the LGAs.

Bubendorff's golden jubilee

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UBENDORFF MEMORIAL Grammar School, Adazi, Awka, Anambra State, will be celebrating its golden jubilee from November 7 to 9, 2014.

The event comes up in the school compound under the chairmanship of Amb. Joe Ayalogu, an alumnus of the school, with the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, as chief guest of honour.

Among activities lined up are a jubilee lecture and launching of a N500m endowment fund.

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

13TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE BY WIMBIZ

From left, Mrs. Adesola Azeez, Deputy Country Head, Deutsche Bank; Chief Leila Fowler, Founder of Vivian Fowler Memorial College/Conference Chairperson; Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, Lagos State Governor, and Mrs. Osayi Alile, Chairperson, Women in Management Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, during the 13th Annual Conference by WIMBIZ, entitled, 'Nigeria Rising ... Accelerating Transformation,' at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Cross-section of participants at the conference.

From left, Dayo George, Area Head, Corporate Affairs; Bisola Adefarati, Area Head of Treasury; Seyi Ashade, Sustainability Manager; Uchechi Havor, Export Manager, and Maureen Adeiye, Area Programme Manager, all of British American Tobacco Nigeria, BATN, at the event.

From left, Capt. Edward Boyo, Managing Director, Landover Airline; Mr. Tunji Adegbesan, Director, Centre for competitiveness and Strategy, Lagos Business School; Mr. Clem Ugorji, Director, Communication, Coca Cola, and Mr. Yemi Idowu, Managing Director, Design Extra.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 17 "This is a sub-Saharan spring and it must continue against all presidents trying to hang onto power in Africa."

T was a Law student, Lucien Trinnou, speaking last Friday in Ouagadougou, that gave this description of the uprising in Burkina Faso, which swept away, Blaise Compaore, one of the most despicable characters to ever seized power in any African country. When Compaore murdered the revolutionary icon, Thomas Sankara, in Octtober 1978, he murdered the hopes of millions of the working people, the youth and poor people, not only in Burkina Faso, but all over the African continent.

This was because in his depth of analyses of the conditions in his country and the continent; in the charismatic and openly transparent leadership as well as genuine commitment to liberation from imperialism, Thomas Sankara embodied the very best values of all the African peoples.

His murder by Blaise Compaore, an agent of imperial powers, was one of those genuinely felt pains by the African peoples and oppressed peoples around the world.

I

Oppressed people Thomas Sankara had belonged to the Union of Communist Officers, along with Henry Zongo, Jean-Baptise Lingani and Compaore. But it was clear that the assassin, Blaise, nursed a different vision of power and in cahoots with Zongo and Lingani, had conspired against Sankara; and determined to wield absolute power, Blaise Compaore would eventually kill the other two to become the sole leader of a country whose soul had been interred along with the hero of the people, Thomas Sankara.

Murder was a central instrument

Burkina Faso's Sub-Saharan spring of Compaore's27 long years in power and one of the most notorious came at the end of 1998, when Norbert Zongo, the investigative journalist, was killed. Zongo's murder became a turning point for the country.

Over the past twenty-seven years, the Burkinabe people and the African continent, witnessed the spectacle of the assassin's desperate search for legitimacy and acceptance. He was a major organizer of insurgencies around West Africa and walking on both sides of the road, he also postured as the regional peacemaker. In recent years, he became one of the greatest collaborators with the Franco-American anti-terror campaigns in West Africa; a role that he milked for his own survival and the deep-seated hope of leaning on, to extend his stay in power.

It became clear that Blaise Compaore had overreached himself and miscalculated the portents. The opposition was beginning to abandon its fractious ways and had found the elusive unity; it was becoming more difficult for Compaore to play one party against other. A vibrant civil society had also evolved in Burkina Faso willing to play a crucial role to stop the assassin's tenure extension plan; and there

was also the important demographic situation: 60percent of the Burkinabe population of about 17million people are under the age of 25. According to a 2013 Gallup Poll, only 5% of the working age adults are employed full time. The educated young people have known no other leader except Blaise Compaore.

While his Western backers had often praised the stability he allegedly presided over and his ready embrace of neoliberal policies, the Burkinabe economy was not creating the jobs to absorb its very frustrated young population. And despite the bluster, Burkina Faso was 181st out of 187 on the UN Human Development Index. It was a combination of all these factors that hastened his cowardly departure. And to underline his role as an asset of imperialism, French President, Francois Hollande, this week Tuesday, told a press conference, in Canada that: "we made sure Compaore was evacuated to Ivory Coast by making available all useful resources".

He departed owing to the determined resistance of the Burkinabe people.Last Thursday, parliament was poised to approve legislation that would have facilitated Compaore's extension

of stay in power for another five years. Tens of thousands of Burkinabe, most of them young people, took to the streets in Ouagadougou, BoboDioulasso and other parts of the country. In BoboDioulasso, Compaore's statue was toppled, while

Blaise Compaore must not be allowed to find the peace and tranquility he denied millions of people

parliament was set on fire, disallowing the complicit parliamentarians from sitting.

Other government buildings were also touched along with hotels, shops and residences of regime supporters.

French diplomatic sources said about thirty people were killed in the demonstrations. It was a shell shocked and drained Blaise Compaore that addressed the nation from a private television station, because the state broadcaster had also been taken off air. He desperately attempted to use the military to shore up his position in what appeared like a coup against the mass uprising; but his time was up! The imperial powers had become willing to sacrifice the assassin and there are even reports that General Olusegun Obasanjo, who was visiting Dakar, Senegal, made a detour to Ouagadougou, to encourage Blaise Compaore to leave the scene.

In the end, he ran with tail between his legs and is holed up in an Ivorian resort. Blaise Compaore must not be allowed to find the peace and tranquility he denied millions of people. Not only that, he must get his day in court to answer for the crimes he committed against the Burkinabe people and Africa, with the murder of Thomas Sankara and Norbert Zongo. He must also explain why he executed Henry Zongo and Jean Baptiste Lingani and several other Burkinabe patriots.

The Burkinabe people have put on notice all other African sit-tight leaders. They have called it a subSaharan spring! Africa deserves democratic cultures genuinely rooted in the aspirations of the African peoples. Last week in Ouagadougou, the people spoke and kicked out one of the most despicable rulers to ever appear on the horizon of leadership in our continent, Blaise Compaore!

Nasir El-Rufai and Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

I

MUST start with some disclosures. I have written very scathing commentaries on Nasir El-Rufai in the past; these were especially during his years as Minister of the FCT. I was always ideologically opposed to his effusive defense of the neoliberal policies of the Obasanjo administration. That much I openly stated, without failing to acknowledge his commitment to duty.

In the years that he has left service, and against the backdrop of the subsequent deterioration in the quality of public service in our country, Nasir El-Rufai's application, vision and achievements have come to be appreciated by a lot of Nigerians.

In the same period, Nasir and I have become closer. We have discussed his years in power and I have come to know his views of developments better. I still have reservations his ideological perspectives but I respect his patriotic fervor and commitment to Nigeria's development.

When I heard a few months ago, that he was likely to run for Kaduna state governorship, I

phoned him to express my support and endorsement.

Kaduna is one of the three cities I live in and it is my family's favourite place. I feel a strong emotional attachment to the city and state. For my generation of Northerners, it remains the capital of the old Northern Nigeria that we were born into and grew up in.

Understanding of history I have always believed that whoever would make success of leadership in Kaduna state, must have an appreciation of its historical place in Nigerian development. It is such a broad understanding of history and a nuanced appreciation of the complex relationships between and within communities and peoples in that state and city that will condition successful leadership. Over the past couple of years, especially after Ahmed Makarfi, Kaduna has suffered very much. That is why I sincerely believe that Nasir El-Rufai will make a good governor of Kaduna.

He understands the intricacies that I have described; he has the intellectual capacity to analyze the issues and he possesses a tremendous team building ability to galvanize the best brains to work. Kaduna today needs a leader like Nasir El-Rufai; I do hope he wins his party's ticket and then goes on to win a free and fair election, to be able to provide the leadership and development that my second home, Kaduna state deserves!

Similarly, Dr. Hakeem BabaAhmed is seeking to go to Senate from Kaduna. Anyone who has read Hakeem Baba-Ahmed or has had the privilege of listening to him, the intellectual and policy wonk rolled up into one, knows that Nigeria's Senate will be eminently enriched by his presence there. I think we must begin to go for the highest denominators in our search for leadership so that we can get the very best of our country, coming to work for its development.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed will certainly be a major asset for Nigeria's Senate if he wins his election.

A month out of Nigeria

I

AM writing these lines from a hotel room in Dubai.

I commenced a month-long vacation on Saturday and in the next four weeks, I will be writing about Nigeria and the wider world from here, Buena Park in California; Dallas in Texas; I will make a stopover in Warsaw, Poland and the move on to England before returning to Dubai on my way back home in December.

I have had a very crowded 2014, including the five-month long National Conference and I have been unable to take the break to rest as well as reflect on life and its tapestry. But even a vacation does not take away that compulsion to take a peek into the entrails of our country. And these are very interesting times in Nigeria: the 2015 elections have become the only issue for our rulers; the country appears to be dangerously listing, like a distressed ship. Huge swathes of the Northeast have been taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents and our army seemed

to have completely abandoned its very rich regimental tradition, as whole battalions run away from a ragtag but ideologically driven insurgency.

It is appearing clearer now, that the country has been conned with all that talk about a ceasefire. It never held; Boko Haram did not respect it and there is clearly a lot of eggs on the faces of many officials of the administration in power: from the Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Barde whose hometown was taken over by the insurgents to Hassan Tukur who told us he was negotiating with a " General Secretary" of Boko Haram that was denounced by the insurgents and President Jonathan, on whose table the buck stops!

Our nation burns, and for all the president's people, what matters is the 2015 elections. Along the way, they are also fighting wars of attrition, including the ridiculous step to strip House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, of security cover. They just don't ever learn!

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is a busy man. We have reasons to assume so. The insecurity in the North-East, the turmoil in his party, and debates about how well he has run Nigeria, should fully occupy anyone.

Our President is different. In what versed Africans would tag, “scratching for cricket when bearing an elephant,” Dr. Jonathan has appointed, rather, imposed Stephen Keshi return coach of the Super Eagles.

The rambunctious authorities around football have acquiesced. Who are they, knowing their worth, to oppose the President? For the crowd around football, the return of Keshi through the presidential residence is another indication that football is possibly part of the President’s “transformation agenda”.

More tellingly, Keshi agreed to retur n under these obscure settings. He knows that he has solid grounds to shield himself from blames, when they arise. We would not forget the President begged him to take the job. Are there insights presidential to these football matters?

We are really living in engaging times.

The appointment of a coach for the national team is a matter doused in such

Our R eally Busy Really President technicality that even experts approach it with perspicacity. What does the President know about the appointment of a football coach? Are there no limits to presidential meddlesomeness?

How does the President often seem to have time for peripheral matters at moments of high demands on his presidential attention? Why do we not see the presidential wand waved with similar alacrity around security, electricity, food, unemployment, and telling parts of our common lives that are going through uncommon hardships? Who should we now hold accountable for the affairs of the Super Eagles?

Some perspectives on the President’s decision would highlight the dangers of his involvement.

The President would determine the terms of Keshi’s engagement.

As the appointing authority, he would be the one to discipline him, if matters ever get to that point. The President would look after Keshi’s welfare; the football federation caters for the Super Eagles, creating more fragmentation in a team that is divided along brash technical and personality lines. The indices for Keshi’s performance are indeterminate, or at best purely presidential.

No justification exists for the President’s involvement, in this manner, in an area he is clearly bereft of technical capacities.

Whether the Super Eagles qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup – really a low, shortsighted ambition for Nigerians – or not, the fact remains that the President has added to the confusion in our football by supervening in a matter so ordinary that it should not under any circumstances have commanded presidential attention.

Nigerians are left wondering if issues like these are what occupy our President while our country drifts with unimaginable momentum.

OPINION

BY MICHAEL EGBEJUMI-DAVID

Y

ES, that was how I first saw the headline too late Thursday October 23, 2014. Another headline screamed at me, “Wife of President Jonathan Resigns.” Well, that almost ruined my evening and I had moderate heart palpitations. I mean, of all the news you don’t want to hear, that was right up there. Mrs Patience Jonathan resigned?

It was only after I had gone through a few lines of the ‘breaking news’ that I realised Mrs Jonathan merely resigned her job as a Permanent Secretary in the much discomfited State of Bayelsa.

For those who might not be aware, since the summer of 2012, Mrs Jonathan has doubled as a Permanent Secretary (of Education, would you believe!) down in Bayelsa. It is one of those things that only happens in Nigeria; so no real need to try and understand it now. Anyway, apparently, the lady’s had enough of whatever it was she was doing – or not doing - and has packed that gig in. Presumably, she wants to concentrate her considerable energies on other things. Fair enough.

I don’t blame Mrs Jonathan. I’d

Mrs Jonathan resigns have done the same thing if I were in her shoes; what with Valentine Day 2015 fast approaching. That day, the Jonathans will be sharing more than a large box of chocolate cake. The President hasn’t put together a campaign committee yet, not to talk of a proper campaign team. Though the signs suggest that the APC is getting ready to blow the presidential contest, nevertheless, in Nigeria, you do not take chances; you do not take anything for granted. So I can understand entirely why Mrs Jonathan would shift her attention away from Bayelsa’s Ministry of Education.

Furthermore, there’s the little matter of the upcoming governorship tussles in Rivers and Bayelsa states. I’m pretty sure Mrs Jonathan would not want another Amaechi in either of those states for a while as she seeks to consolidate her godmama-hood for the greater good.

Moreover, from a distance, Mrs Jonathan doesn’t strike me as one to willingly give up a largesse. So perhaps it is time for Governor Dickson to start to worry. All very interesting.

We continue to ‘watch this space.’

But I have to admit my relief when I realised that Mrs Jonathan had not resigned her post as First and Second Lady (seriously, when was the last time you heard of Hadjia Mrs Sambo?)

In those roles, Mrs Jonathan has provided all of us invaluable social and psychological service. This is not just about entertainment value. It is more than that. It is not for nothing that Nigerians were scored the happiest people on earth. Mrs Jonathan’s contribution in this respect has been significant and continues to be greatly appreciated. Her unique style and often times intentional witticism does help a lot.

Nigeria is not an easy terrain. Look at what the Super Eagles and brother Keshi have done to us. There is NEPA, tipsy policemen, 419ers and women wearing biker shorts as panties just about everywhere you look. I tell you, it’s not easy at all. So it is good to laugh every now and again to keep hope alive and to ensure one’s sanity.

Our stand-up comedians seem to have had it and are beginning to recycle the same jokes. Also, regrettably, our pastors seem to have put divine entertainment on hold for the pursuit

of other gods like private jets, yachts, etc, etc. However, Mrs Jonathan is still going strong and she keeps it fresh. You have to appreciate that.

In fact, the lady spoils us. What more can a people ask for?

You can see why I was petrified when I first set eyes on those frightful headlines. So I am very glad that Mrs Jonathan is still our First Lady.

Inshallah, she will continue to so be for a very long time yet.

And for the records, it is not true that Mrs Jonathan is being lined up as a possible Permanent Secretary at the Federal level having garnered much expertise and valuable experience at the state level, and having straightened out education in Bayelsa State.

Similarly, those shapeless rumours that she resigned to put together an Abamade, home-grown dictionary are mildly exaggerated.

It only remains for our newspaper and online Editors to please watch how they present news to us. Some of those headlines are not good for my heart…

*Mr Egbejumi-David, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014— 19

, Fr Kukah’s Witness to Justice

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T was nearly one year in tran sit before arriving on my desk after the author, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, promised to send it to me. Looking at the amount of intellectual effort and physical exertion that must have gone into the 519-page excellently packaged tome, I decided to delay it further to this, more auspicious occasion, of launching the new logo to commemorate 20 years of myPeople and Politics column here in Vanguard.

Entitled: Witness To Justice, An Insider’s Account of Nigeria’s Truth Commission, Kukah, easily the front-line and most proficient intellectual cleric in Nigeria, recalls his experiences as a privileged member of the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission, HRVIC. Nigerians simply called “The Oputa Panel” because it had as its Chairman, one of the most respected Justices of the Nigerian Supreme Court of all time, the (now late) Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. I call Kukah a privileged member because Justice Oputa instinctively brought him close to the centre of the Commission’s gravity, perhaps fully cognisant that as a compulsive

chronicler and author, Kukah would one day come up with an insider’s reportage. Few people may have seen the panel’s report, but surely, far more people will be eager to read any book written by Kukah, the author of the bestseller, Religion, Politics and Power in Norther n Nigeria (1994),and other works.

In a nutshell, Kukah observes, correctly, that the Commission was essentially the Nigerian military “on trial”. I will add that also in the dock with the military was the Northern political establishment as a prime accused. The Nigerian military up till 1999, especially the segment of it that ruled between 1984 and 1999, fronted for the Northern political establishment, which used it to dominate the rest of Nigeria. This much is evident in the fact that the bulk of the petitioners were from the South and Middle Belt, while the major dramatis personae invited to explain their roles in the saga were mostly Northerners of the Arewa zones. Arewa North was generally cold to the Commission. Kukah, of course, did not quite put it in such earthier terms.

The author portrayed the abuse

Witness To Justice is a look in the mirror; a fine caption; that is all; it is not really a witness to justice; nobody was brought to justice; those who came to look for justice never found it

,

of military decrees, task forces and tribunals to subvert the Judiciary and trample on the rights of Nigerians, groups and cohorts.

They were used to promote impunity and mainstream what Kukah describes as the “child of necessity syndrome”. Besides decrees, the military perpetrated evils such as arbitrary arrests, detentions, tortures, assassinations, annulment of elections and general dehumanisation of citizens, not to mention the exclusion(marginalisation) of sections of the country from the mainstream of the commonwealth based on their roles in the sad and dark events of 1966 to 1970. On the other hand, those who played on the side of the North were integrated into the circle of privilege in the sharing of the oil wealth of the nation.

Meanwhile, the military, which took over power from the civilians on the pretext of restoring normalcy, was putrefying insti-

tutionally. Kukah encapsulates it thus: “On their own admission, the military had become a haven of moral fugitives; the place was reeking with smugglers and witchcraft. Witch doctors became an important component of military intelligence. Although set to destroy one person, these documents succeeded in destroying the military itself ” (p 184).

Between 1984 and 1999, four military officers presided over the affairs of Nigeria. These were: Major General Muhammadu Buhari (1984-85); General Ibrahim Babangida (19851993), General Sani Abacha (late, 1993-1998) and General Abdul Salami Abubakar (19981999). The three surviving military leaders were summoned to testify and answer to the accusations levelled against them and their regimes. While some of their military and security operatives appeared, the threesome refused, hiding behind what Kukah describes as “dry legalism”.

Kukah also illustrates the prominent roles played by those he described as “ethnic entrepreneurs”, such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, Joint Action Committee on the Middle Belt, JACOMB and other Minority groups, in fleshing out their grievances during this assignment.

At the end, Kukah did ask the salient question: Did the Oputa Panel actually reconcile Nigerians? His answer is neither yes nor no. Instead he hangs it by saying in this type of work: “The end is actually the beginning” and any conclusion drawn can only be “tentative” (p. 438). While affirming that the Panel’s assign-

ment was a relevant interrogation of our history, he did admit that reconciliation of Nigerians is a delayed project.

Kukah’s book is a great read, no doubt. It is a product of great mental stamina, and you could see him balancing between all the worlds and publics he reflects. However, Witness To Justice is also full of self-justification. Kukah wants you to see that effort not as a wasted one. I agree: it does not hurt to look in the mirror. Witness To Justice is a look in the mirror. A fine caption. That is all. It is not really a witness to justice. Nobody was brought to justice. Those who came to look for justice never found it. The President Olusegun Obasanjo regime that set up the Panel did not even publish any White Paper on it, putting a question mark on why he set it up?

How can you call it a “truth commission” when the prime suspects and accused persons refused to appear and tell their own sides of the story? How can there be reconciliation if nobody said sorry for their actions? Even Bishop Kukah used such terms as “their so-called cries against injustice” to refer to petitions sent in by some groups. Oputa Panel was a travesty of “Truth” and “Reconciliation” compared to that of South Africa from where Obasanjo copied the idea. Perhaps, Obasanjo used the Oputa Panel to legitimise his regime?

But as a book of records, our history’s mirror in the sun and an eclectic engagement of the work of the HRVIC, Witness To Justice is a very important and useful national document.

Hijack of African democracy by mediocres T

HERE was a Continent, the Dark Kaduna State. Chief Adisa Akinloye was Continent, so-called. The continent hated with passion in his home-base in the had leaders who were accepted at home Yoruba states where he was only and respected across the world. At the remembered for the Scania scandal. Dr. Alex mention of such names as Nnamdi Ekweme was little known outside his homeAzikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano, town before 1979 and in that year’s election, Kwame Nkrumah, people knew them and his choice as Shagari’s running mate added what they stood for. Long after the death of no value to the ticket as it failed woefully to the first Prime Minister of Zaire, Patrice translate into a single constituency victory Lumumba, from that distance, young for the NPN in the Eastern states.

Nigerians were still proudly identifying with Yet, these were the men who called the shots his name. in the NPN government at the centre, no With time, the pioneers left the scene and thanks to the zoning system, which soon

by Nigeria’s Second Republic, the political became an integral part of the process for space was gradually occupied by men of the the subversion of the political system. That fabled timber and calibre without national explains how Chief Olusegun Obasanjo stature and without significant grassroots became Nigeria’s President in 1999, even support. That was when different admixtures when he lost in his ward and polling unit. began to enter into the political matrix, A fundamental premise of the democratic which made it possible for a politician to system is the capacity for peaceful remain a national leader without any home leadership change through the ballot box. base.

What is implied here is the right of the people Essentially that was the beginning of the to choose their next government. It also hijack of Africa’s democracy by mediocres, presupposes that a defeated government will and sometimes, outright liabilities. The automatically relinquish power. Senator hijackers are now with us and they come in Daniel Patrick Moynihan was essentially various forms – in khaki, in right in his assessment that agbada and indolence. The plain American democracy did not truth is that a politician without become effectively valid support must cut corners to operational unit in 1801, remain relevant. Before long, when President John Adams African politics became lost the election to Thomas dominated by men who were Jefferson and he handed over originally rejected by their people peacefully to Jefferson.

The hijackers very and in turn, they could only give But in Africa, it is highly birth to their type – the incessant are now with improbable that a governmilitary interventions that ment in power would lose an us and they followed. election and relinquish For example, in 1979, Dr. power peacefully. That excome in variKingsley Mbadiwe lost his plains why democracy will deposit in a senatorial election in ous forms – in hardly take firm root here then Imo State; Chief Richard because the African political Akinjide lost his deposit in the gu- khaki, in leadership exists for the bernatorial contest in Oyo State; purpose of circumventing the agbada and Alhaji Umaru Dikko lost his electoral process and gluing deposit in a senatorial election in indolence the incumbent to power.

See the theatricals that have forever been playing out in Zimbabwe?

President Robert Mugabe has ruled

Zimbabwe since 1980 when the country attained independence from Britain. The sittight syndrome has been at play here.

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai had tried to give Mugabe a good run for his money. So tough was the struggle that a power-sharing arrangement was arrived at under which Tsvangirai was Prime Minister while Mugabe remained President during the period 2009-2013.

Tsvangirai contested the first round of the 2008 presidential election as the MDC candidate, taking 47.8% of the votes according to official results as against Mugabe’s 43.2%. Tsvangirai’s withdrawal from contesting the second round of an election that he was already winning was based on the spate of violence and intimidation by government supporters, which led to the death of 200 people. Tsvangirai had a ghastly accident on March 6, 2009 when he was going to his rural home in Buhera. His wife, Susan, was killed in a head-on collision. He has now been frustrated out!

With his failing age and diminishing utility, President Mugabe has carefully stationed his wife, Grace, a typist, to take over from him. She will contest the next presidential election due in 2018. Mugabe has equipped the typist with a bogus PhD from the University of Zimbabwe where he is the Chancellor.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mugabe has gone to work, publicly threatening and defaming her visible opponents, including the Minister of Justice, Emmerson Mnangagwa and the incumbent Vice President, Joice Mujuru.

The latest entry into the African hall of shame comes from Burkina Faso. It would be recalled that Blaise Compaore, on October 15, 1987, seized power in a coup in which his former friend, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated.

Twenty-seven years down the line, Compaore walked the country ’s constitution on its head and with the instrumentality of his constitutional amendments, he sustained himself in power.

Again, the thief has every day but the owner has one day. The owner’s day came on October 28, 2014, when hundreds of thousands of Burkina Faso citizens took to the streets to denounce yet another impending constitutional amendment. In the process, protesters set the parliament and other buildings ablaze.

On October 31, 2014, Compaore was forced to announce that he was stepping down. Burkina Faso’s Army Chief, Navere Honore Traore took over power. It was not a tea party. One pertinent question here is where is the democracy in the transfer of power from Sankara to Compaore and now to Traore, all military men?

All the same, it appears Africa Spring has finally arrived? We hope other African leaders are listening.

The checks are many: Non-performing governments could perish at the polls. And if they decide to frustrate the democratic process in order to remain in power, besides the military that is always lurking around, the Africa spring is now also an instrument of last resort.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

In memory of Nightingale, young optician’s lifeline for the visually impaired

BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

T

HE situation is one that will leave any concerned Nigerian truly worried given its far-reaching implication.

Indeed, it came as a rude shock to young optician, Mr. Olamide Oladayo, when he learned of the alarming influx of Nigerians with eye defects into the neighbouring Benin Republic and other African countries due to the outrageous fees charged for eye surgery in their country, Nigeria. But Olamide soon got over the shock and decided to do something about the unfortunate development. He has started the construction of a maternity hospital and eye clinic in the Saki area of Oyo State in memory of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing who died several years ago. Nightingale was a celebrated English social reformer and statistician. She came to prominence while serving as a nurse during the Crimean War where she treated wounded soldiers.

Treated wounded soldiers Oladayo, who is the founder of Florence Nightingale Maternity Hospital and Eye Clinic, said he was moved to take steps to alleviate the rigour and sufferings that Nigerians, especially those in Saki, go through to get medical eye services in neighbouring African countries where they pay about N20,000 or less for eye surgery.

Some opticians in Nigeria are said to charge as much as N50,000 for eye surgery.

The optician explained that the revelation is not an attempt to vilify his counterparts in the profession. He noted that when the high cost of equipment and other logistics are considered, nobody should point any accusing fingers at them. He appealed to wealthy Nigerians to

assist these indigent people to procure eye treatment in view of the importance of the eye to the whole body.

As part of his widow’s mite, Oladayo has conducted free eye test for hundreds of residents of Oyo State, staff of higher institutions like the Polytechnic, Ibadan; Federal College of Education, Oyo; civil servants, staff and teachers under the State Universal Basic Education Board, and many others.

He told Vanguard Metro, VM, that he tried to put his meager resources together to build the hospital which is nearing completion.

Overwhelmed by the capital intensive nature of the project, he has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, governors, senators, business men and women, traditional rulers, international donor agencies, sports men and women, private and public companies and nongovernmental organisations to buy into the vision of bringing comfort to others by contributing to the project.

Oladayo said the project would gulp at least N150 million. He said the project which he started about seven years ago was borne out of the passion he has for people in the area. He is optimistic that it would be completed with the support of people who have the same vision of making life worth living for others.

The vision, he informed, was a product of his trip overseas where he read several selfless services of Florence Nightingale, adding that he intended to keep the memory of the kindhearted woman alive by building a hospital where people would be catered for just like Nightingale did years past.

To him, money is not everything and one should try as much as possible to help mankind in a way that would put smiles on them.

Some opticians in Nigeria are said to charge as much as N50,000 for eye surgery

*The uncompleted eye clinic at Saki. INSET: Olamide Oladayo attending to patients

Insecurity: Assisting the police in style

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

N

IGERIA has a lot of ugly stories to tell about the escapades of armed robbers, kidnappers, baby factory operators, insurgents, child traffickers, assassins, arsonists and a host of other serious crimes perpetrated by criminals.

But for divine intervention, Imo would have joined the league of states that have recorded death and destruction through improvised explosive devices supposedly planted by the dreaded Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram.

The insurgents’ target was the Winners Chapel, Owerri.

This naturally jolted the citizens, particularly the business community, who know that their investments would crumble in the face of insecurity.

One of such worried investors is Mr. Chukwudi Ofoha, the owner of Ibari Ogwa Entertainment Village, Owerri. He recently donated two Toyota Camry cars, fitted with relevant gadgets, to the Imo Police Command.

Handing over the vehicles to the Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, the owner of Ibari Ogwa said the gesture was his own little way

of assisting the Command to save life and property in the state.

“I am moved to make the donation after a thorough assessment of the high level of security achieved in the Command since the new CP took over from the immediate past CP, Mr. Mohammed Katsina,” Mr. Ofoha said.

While saying that there was the need for all hands to be on deck in the fight against crime ad criminals, Mr. Ofoha also reasoned that business can only thrive in a secure atmosphere.

Responding, the CP said that Ofoha’s gesture was a proof that the citizenry were appreciative of the little efforts of the command in combating crimes in the state. He said in the light of many people shying away from assisting the police, the donation of two vehicles by Mr. Ofoha means a lot to the force.

“Patrol vehicles are very vital to the execution of our constitutional duties.

This donation would surely give a boost to the police work in the state and I urge other business men and women to emulate the kind gesture of Mr. Ofoha,” the CP said.

*Chukwudi Ofoha(r) hands key of patrol vehicle to Imo CP, ABDUL Majid Ali

Vanguard, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 21

bank to hold frequent additional dollar sales and lower the limit on banks’ foreign currency borrowing in efforts to prop it up.

“At around 167 to the dollar, it is well outside the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) target band of three per cent plus or minus 155 to the dollar. The last time it was in the target range was in late January.

However, some economists say Nigeria is still a way from being in trouble, with Matthew Searle, Senior African Analyst at Business Monitor International told Reuters that, “It will take some time of relatively low prices before you see foreign reserves really being gobbled up.

“If oil prices fall further to the $60s or $70s a barrel, then the CBN will become the main source of dollars,” and will have to decide for how long it can keep up the fight. At what point it throws in the towel is hard to tell.

Also speaking, Alan Cameron, an Economist with First City Monument Bank Plc, projected that Nigeria’s foreign reserves would likely have to slide to close to $30 billion before a last resort devaluation would be considered.

He further stated that Nigeria still has a pretty big degree of control over how the deficit changes, saying that spending plans will not necessarily be curtailed from here until the election.

“I don’t think they have to cut spending. Even with the oil savings account diminishing, Nigeria has substantial about 80 percent of government revenues. commercial deposits that could also covReuters disclosed that foreign portfolio er any near-term shortfalls,” he added. investors, fearing heavy losses on the curSpeaking in the same vein, Samir rency have pulled out, saying the main Gadio, Head of Africa Strategy at Standshare index hit a 16-month low and the ard Chartered Bank, said, “In Nigeria, yield on government bonds rose 10 ba- there was significant fiscal expansion sis points in yesterday trading. since 2010 as they were used to much higher It said, “The naira has lost around four oil prices, which makes the current price percent this year, prompting the central really problematic.

From left: Bryan Pearson, Managing Director, AfroCET; Richard-Mark Mbaram, Editor-in-Chief, AgroNigeria; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and David Ross, Project Director, Informa during a courtesy visit of Agra Innovate team to the Minister of Agriculture in Abuja.

Naira risks depreciation as crude price nosedives further

By Michael Eboh with Agency Report

T

HE Nigerian economy is on the verge of a potential crisis over the continuous decline in the prices of crude oil, as the price of Light Crude, yesterday, dropped to $77.63 per barrel, 13 cent more than Nigeria’s $77.5 per barrel crude oil price benchmark in the 2014 budget.

With the current decline in crude oil price, analysts are of the view that the naira risks depreciation, trriggering a rise in inflation and a general economic downturn.

Brent crude also dropped to $82.56, from $82.96 per barrel recorded Tuesday.

Analysts told Reuters that the sharp drop in global oil prices has increased the possibility of a potential currency devaluation and budget shortfalls in Nigeria.

USC 188.7 USC 2.85 USD2,890.00 USD +29.00 USC 15.72 USC -0.21

USD 82.85 USD -1.93 USD 76.90 USD -1.88

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

154.78 247.6944 193.4286 160.4104 1.3617 0.2764 228.0521 25.2949 41.2582 25.9816 228.8113

155.28 155.78 248.4946 249.2947 194.0534 194.6783 160.9286 161.4468 1.3661 1.3705 0.2864 0.2964 228.7888 229.5255 25.3771 25.4592 41.3914 41.5247 26.0655 26.1494 229.5504 230.2896

CBN Exchange Rate as 04 /10 / 2014

The analysts are of the view that Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserve and government revenue have recorded significant decline in the last couple of days, in light of the fact that the country relies on oil for only 14 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while crude makes up 95 per cent of foreign exchange and

Stakeholders assess policy developments to boost agribusiness

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

S

TAKEHOLDERS and experts in the agricultural sector will provide candid assessment of policy developments, technological needs and investment/partnership opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural sector at the upcoming Agra Innovate exhibition in Lagos.

According to the organisers, Afrocet and Informa, the experts will use the opportunity to discuss issues affecting the rapidly developing agric sector and sharing insights that the audience can incorporate into their own business strategies.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina will deliver a keynote address on ‘Nigeria’s radical agricultural transformation - policy, technology and investment priorities’ at the event.

Speaking on the exhibition recently during a courtesy call by Agra innovate team, the Minister said: “The Nigerian government and indeed President Goodluck Jonathan, fully supports ‘Agra Innovate Nigeria’ and we look forward to seeing the best of Nigeria’s agribusiness community represented at the event.”

The organisers said that, “Agra Innovate” will offer all Nigerian members of the agricultural sector free access to a vibrant exhibition of agricultural technologists and solution providers from

across the globe. Leading Nigerian companies like Swiss Biostadt, Dizengoff Nigeria and Flour Mills of Nigeria will be demonstrating the new products and services that are helping to improve the sector’s efficiency and profitability. These

progressive Nigerian organisations will be joined by a wide range of international exhibitors like BASF, Bühler AG and Silos Córdoba from countries including Germany, Spain, Canada, Turkey, India, South Africa, the UK, China and the USA.

Skye Bank records N12.3bn third quarter profit Bank Plc has announced its S Third Quarter result with moderate growth in some performance indiKYE

ces.

It recorded a profit before tax of N12.3billion during the period which represents a quarter on quarter growth of 33 per cent%.

With gross earnings of N97.1billion, the bank was able to reduce its interest expense by 15 per cent Year on year to close at N30.3billion compared to N35.7billion as at September 2013.

This is in line with its operational strategy of increasing the volume of low cost funds in its deposit portfolio.

The Bank closed with a year-to-date net loans and advances balance of N576billion showing a 6% increase Year on year. Similarly, customer deposits grew to N801.7billion as against N726.8billion of the previous year while asset size remained strong at N1.1trillion with a 3 per cent year-onyear growth.

The bank said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the growth pattern would be improved on in the remaining period of the financial year.

“Our loan impairment charge increased by 62 per cent Year on year to N7.5billion, being a deliberate policy of aggressive provisioning early in the year to enable a fairly sustained position and avoid high concentration in the last quarter of the year. Non-interest income improved by 15 per cent YoY to N17.6billion compared to N15.2billion of the corresponding period in 2013.

“The deliberate focus on cost reduction organization-wide also paid off with a YoY reduction of 1 per cent, in operating expenses which closed at N46.9billion as against N47.2billion in September 2013, despite the additional N4billion increase in personnel cost during the year. This translated to Profit Before Tax of N12.3billion”, the bank said.

22—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

,

Crowd funding is an effective alternative method of raising finance for people with creative projects to fund their goals

,

Cr owd funding as option Cro for business ffinancing inancing

T

he challenge for the average entrepreneur at the early stage is usually financing to fund business idea or start up. The banks won't give loans, family and friends don''t believe in your ideas enough to lend you the money and even if you sold your belongings to raise the money, you'll fll barely scrape just enough for what you need. The frustration has led many to throw in the towel.

The more viable option for many would-be entrepreneur is usually to save from their earnings. However in most cases unforeseen circumstances have

to the US where $1.5 billion was raised in 2011 via crowdfunding. Major players in crowdfunding include sites like kickstarter.com, indiegogo.com and rockethub.com.

In Nigeria, there are no known laws that guide crowdfunding unlike in U.S, Canada, Turkey, United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe where the practice is heavily guided by legislation. As mentioned earlier, in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, crowdfunding is yet to be fully embraced but a few players are worthy of note. They include 234give.com,

It involves soliciting and collecting relatively small amounts of money from a large number of people

,

prompted many to spend from these savings leading to an abandonment entirely of the dream to start their own business. Many just wait patiently hoping someday something turns up. Few have actually heard of crowdfunding, and the opportunities it provides for the entrepreneur.

Crowdfunding is a collaborative process of financial support from a large group of individuals, usually via the internet, to fund a business, project or idea.

Crowdfunding is an effective alternative method of raising finance for people with creative projects to fund their goals. It involves soliciting and collecting relatively small amounts of money from a large number of people. In Nigeria it has not been fully embraced compared

,

gogoafrika.com and startcrunch.com.

Gogoafrika.com has recently been under construction and startcrunch.com seems to have been in a lull for a very long time.

234give.com seems to be the most healthy and active of them. These are apparently the only three platforms that offer crowd funding in Nigeria, which is relatively poor for an economy that is said to be booming rapidly.

It is important for government to recognise the potential a platform of this nature possesses, pass legislation on it so that it does not get taken over by elements of shady nature and those benefiting from it do so while maintaining best practices.

*Source: M.com.ng

BUSINESS NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES Date Currency 03/11/14 DOLLAR STERLING EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

Buying(N) 154.78 247.6944 193.4286 160.4104 1.3617 0.2764 228.0521 25.2949 41.2582 25.9816 228.8113

Central(N) 155.28 248.4946 194.0534 160.9286 1.3661 0.2864 228.7888 25.3771 41.3914 26.0655 229.5504

Selling(N) 155.78 249.2947 194.6783 161.4468 1.3705 0.2964 229.5255 25.4592 41.5247 26.1494 230.2896

BY YINKA KOLAWOLE, with agency report

G

reater cane rat popularly known as grasscutter belongs to the rodent family and is very closely related to porcupine, almost looks alike except that porcupine is bigger. The spiny fur on the back and rounded nose distinguish grasscutter from true rats. It reaches a length of about 720 mm when fully matured.

Grasscutter is one of the animals that are extremely suitable for commercial rearing for very good reasons.

Within 6 to 12 months, one can make at least one million naira in this business, all things being equal.

Grasscutter farming is highly profitable. The meat is widely consumed all over the West African region and beyond, making it one of the top ten animals whose meat is in highest demand in the market. According to Darlinton Omeh of Wealthresult.com, a marketready grasscutter is sold for between N4,000 to N5,500.

Five hundred grasscuters in a year could earn between N2 million to N2.75 million. The recent outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the West Africa sub region has however affected the demand for the consumption of grasscutter, popularly called Bush meat.

The animal reproduces very quickly and in good numbers.

A fully grown female grasscutter after gestation, carries the pregnancy for 140 - 150 days and deliver about twice a year. Each pregnancy produces average of four to seven young ones per birth.

Sometimes up to ten, that means one female grasscutter could produce 8 to 20 other grasscutters in a year.

It grows big and very fast

How to start grasscutter farming too. Grasscutter is one of the biggest rodents in Africa. A fully mature female or male that is ready for market weighs around 3.5kg for the female and 4.5kg for the male, while measuring 45cm to 60cm in body length. The standing height is between 25cm to 30cm. The body size of a fully grown male is about the size of a nine inches block.

A large number of grasscutters is consumed yearly but most of them still come from the wild through hunters who goes into the bush to hunt for them but usually not easy to catch, making the animal meat very scarce in the market.

Getting started Colony - Grasscutter lives in colony, two mature male don’t live together. Therefore, start with a male and few females together. A colony should consist of one male and three to four females. Your capacity determines how many colony you want to start with. A small farmer may start with one or two

colonies with the arrangement of one male and 3 females in each colony.

Breeding - Grasscutter is kept 100 percent for the meat, it has to grow well and healthy in other to be profitable. To achieve this, a new farmer must lay emphasis on the choice of breeding stock. Each colony must have a very healthy male.

The male is the engine of reproduction, a healthy male makes a healthy stock. While selecting the male, pay attention to the well being, good weight gain in male animals is a very important factor that determines how healthy it is.

In any case, both the male and female stock you are selecting for breeding purpose must be healthy. While a healthy, strong, agile male animal should be selected for breeding programs, if the female is not genetically healthy too, it will also affect the breeding stocks. To ensure that you achieve the best possible result, both has to be healthy.

Grasscutter pen - Grasscutter don’t sleep where they eat. If

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—23

,

Employees who are skilled in conflict management usually approach conflict by engaging with the other person using constructive approaches

& YOU

,

COMMODITIES (05/11/14) Commodity Light Crude

Last 77.64

Natural Gas

4.18

+0.05

+1.28

Sugar

15.62

-0.06

-0.38

Coffee

185.60

-2.60

-1.38

Cocoa

2,866.00

-15.00

-0.52

,

Five hundred grasscutters in a year could earn between N2 million and N2.75 million

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they eat must be separate from where they sleep. Also the production building must be designed to protect the animals from excess temperature and humidity.

The biggest enemies for grasscutter are snakes and soldier ants. Make sure their house are built in a safe place and you must also be wary of human thieves. To protect them from the invasion of soldier ants, you may pour black engine oil around their houses, especially at night during raining season mostly.

The floor should be overlaid with dry soft grasses to protect their feet from being hurt and to provide them soft cushy play ground condition.

Feeding - Grasscutter is a herbivorous animals meaning their source of food is basically from the bush. That is why they are more comfortable in the bush where their food could easily be found. Their major

food is elephant or napier grass. They also love sugar cane and most farmers use sugar cane mainly for their feeding. Others are Guinea grass, Gambia grass and Congo grass.

According to experienced farmers, hygiene and good feeding are the most important factors for successful, profitable grasscutter farming. You can also fatten the male with broiler•fs finisher or broiler starter•fs feed to help attain market weight within short period of time.

Grasscutters don’t like cold environment. The rooms or cages where you keep them must neither be too cold nor too hot. Environment that is suitable for human is considered suitable for grasscutters.

The market - The market is very big. Grasscutter meat (or Bush meat as it’s fondly called) is probably the most desirable animal meet in the market.

Everyone loves it and it sells very fast. Big restaurants use it to prepare high priced delicacies. Full meat of a mature grasscutter goes for N4,500 in the market and the market women who trade on it are always in demand of it.

Most people in the city can’t buy the meat because it’s very scarce, so no amount of grasscutter you produce that can’t be sold within days. It will take combined efforts of thousands of farmers to fill the need of bush meat in the market in West Africa.

Grasscutter is a fast reproducing animal and starts mating within 7 months after birth. It gives birth twice yearly and produces 4 to 7 at a time.

That means if you have 100 females that give birth twice in a year, you would be having 900 to 1,500 in your farm within just a year. Such a number will bring less than N5 million when they are matured for marketing.

% Change +0.58

The consequential cost of conflict to organizations BY ‘UJU ONWUZULIKE

“There’s been a quantum leap technologically in our age, but unless there’s another quantum leap in human relations, unless we learn to live in a new way towards one another, there will be a catastrophe”…Albert Einstein

W

henever an organization employs the right employee; elect or appoint seasoned board of directors, successfully acquire or merge with another company, that organization is simply seeking for synergy and outstanding growth through people. And these expected synergy and desired growth can only be an illusion when organizations are battling with internal conflicts and rancour.This is because team effectiveness, cohesion and open communication that are sine qua non for creating organization’s synergy have been badly damaged by unresolved internal conflicts.

Come to think of it, having individuals or employees (sometimes from merger and acquisition) who probably have not worked together before, and are likely to have incompatible goals, interest, principles, feelings, values and (importantly) different ways of approaching problems) conflicts are bound to happen.

One fundamental truth about conflict that I want leaders, managers, and the collective workforce to know is that conflicts are inevitable – no matter how you look at it.

Being inevitable means that whether people or

organizations pretend that conflict do not exist within them; it will still rear its ugly head out for them to see. It is something that cannot be avoided.

But one might say, if conflicts are inevitable (bound to happen) in organizations, why are we worrying ourselves about it – let it be seen as business as usual. As a matter of fact, some organizations have viewed conflicts to be a new normal. The sad truth is that most employees have not formally learnt how to handle conflict either in school or in

,

you are providing them house you must put this factor into consideration - either cage or house, you must provide sleeping place and dinning and playing place.

They can be breed either in a properly built cage or in a house specially designed for them. Grasscutter is sensitive to good habitat, for a colony (1 male and 3 females), the dimension of the cage should be 180cm in length, 60cm in width and 45cm in height.

Build your cage that way, separate for each colony.

If you are using walled pen or house, make sure you build it in such a way that the place

Change ($) +0.45

Conflicts are inevitable - no matter how you look at it

,

their career. As a result, they lean on their instincts without having the required knowledge for optimal conflict management. In order words they start out their careers unequipped on conflict management issues. One might be tempted to ask: who is to be blamed when organizations lack synergy as a result of internal conflict?

This question makes it imperative for leaders and managers to understand the dynamics of conflicts, how destructive and constructive conflicts can be to the organization - and the need to take conflict with all seriousness that it deserves.

Because some leaders, managers and organizations lack conflict competency, they are unaware of how to use conflict to generate great ideas and ultimately grow their organization. Instead, they

have incurred heavy organizational cost associated with poorly managed conflict like: lowered employee morale, non-performance, increased turnover, wasted management time, higher customer complaints, absenteeism, and even lawsuit. The pains of conflict in organizations can be enormous and stem from our “old” knowledge of viewing conflict as only destructive in nature. But that should not be the case in this dispensation.

Why are some conflicts destructive?

They are destructive because the focus is on finding out who is to be blamed for a problem instead of how to solve it, how to see your idea as the best, and how to outwit the other all to the detriment of the organization.

Unlike constructive conflicts where the focus is on idea, best approach, opportunity, and how to move the organization forward. An example of constructive conflict arises when two managers in the same organization despite their different viewpoints respects each other’s opinion and ultimately vote for the best idea – they do more of what is called “perspective taking”. To drive it home, employees who are skilled in conflict management usually approach conflict by engaging with the other person using constructive approaches.

Points to ponder: It is important for everyone to know that avoiding conflict at all cost will not be the solution in which to resolve conflict. Is your organization a conflict competent organization? In financial and growth terms, do you know the cost of conflict to your organization? How has your organization try to eliminate the cost?

C M Y K

24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

have done is to use the phone to receive the alert, but the transaction has been done by the agent. The most important thing is that as long as there is an agent point in that place, we can serve the customers. Agent network is a very big part of what we are working on.

Banks are also offering mobile payment services similar to those offered by Paga. Do you perceive this as a challenge to the growth of your business?

•Jay Alabraba, Co-Founder, Pagatech

We want to use mobile money to help small businesses —Alabraba Pagatech is one of the first set of firms licensed to provide mobile payment services in the country.

Recently, in addition to attaining the milestone of two million users on its platform, the company introduced a suite of mobile payment services for businesses.

In this interview, Co-founder, Head of Sales and Distribution for Pagatech, Mr. Jay Alabraba speaks on the challenges confronting the industry, Pagatech’s effort to overcome these challenges, and the future of the company. Excerpt.

very big focus for the CBN when you talk about financial inclusion. We want to reach those places and we look for products and services that can meet their needs so that there is a gradual introduction into the system.

When you said the focus of Paga is rural areas, what is your definition of rural areas because many people outside Lagos don’t know about mobile money?

I think you will admit that Lagos, compared to other states

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE has less geographical space that will be considered rural, even Why is mobile money not growing though there are some rural rapidly considering the fact that local government areas in we have over 100 million mobile Lagos. When I say rural focus, telephone lines in the country? yes beyond Lagos, there are local governments where there First of all, there are multiples of are mobile networks. While you mobile lines in the country. I don’t will not see the big billboards of think it is necessary to do a direct Paga in those areas, pay close comparison between number of attention to how they use these mobile lines and the number of services. Typically, we would users of mobile payment, mainly have one or two agents that are because there are some users that there doing transactions. This is have multiple lines. But to answer an important point because as you talk about Paga as a the question directly, I business, we don’t only will say the primary focus on the person challenge that we have in picking up their phone growing the number of to do a transaction, users participating in this there are multiple ways aspect of the cashless you can use Paga. There Nigeria drive would be is another set of awareness. What you customers that don’t find, especially when you consider semi-urban and Any situation even interact with Paga rural locations is that there where value via their phone. They go is less penetration and is being sent to our agent who is their service point in their you will find that the user from one community and they can base, as far as density is, party to is a bit lower. On the Paga another, be it do any transaction that side, what we are doing a partner, be they want to do. If they to address that is that we it a business, want to transfer money to someone else, they do focus on rural and Paga has a basically take their cash semi-urban areas. In fact, role to play to the agent and send about 18 per cent of our and can agents are in areas that improve the the money and the person gets the money. we consider rural and flow of the In that case, all they semi-urban which is a value.

The simple answer is no! There are places where we obviously and clearly would compete with banks and there are more places where we collaborate with the banks to do what we do.

Remember also that certain banks have licences to do mobile payment. When you talk about payment broadly, the question is, is there room to compete and is there room to collaborate? There are places you can extend what we are doing beyond where people do it today. Take for example, you don’t find many banks pursuing collection of payments by small businesses the way that we do.

Banks have branch network.

The largest bank in Nigeria may probable have over 1,000 branches. But Paga alone has 6,500 agents across 32 states in the country. This is a larger service network than all the banks in Nigeria combined today and we continue to grow.

Somehow, there is a gap in what the banks can do presently. But quite frankly, even within our two million users, many of them, I may even argue that half of them, are bank customers, but they find Paga to be a lot more efficient and to be creating a lot more options for them to access their services.

What is the Paga Business suite that was launched recently all about?

As a company, just as we have individuals as customers, we also have businesses as customers. Several of the products we have released would apply to both parties. We have made the move to further clarify what we have as a package for businesses.

Specifically, there are three or four products I can talk about that are within this package. The first one has to do with collections of payments. Paga as a business, when you think about it, is about payments. Any situation where value is being sent from one party to another, be it a partner, be it a business, Paga has a role to play and can improve the flow of the value.

So, when you think of payments, every business needs payments.

So, for collections, we have a suite of products under that collections umbrella. The customers may be offline or maybe online, and there is opportunity to collect through our agents. We have series of products that are coming that would support that kind of payments. We also have a suit of corporate payment tools. You can also call them bulk payment tools. For example, a company may use Paga bulk payments to pay its entire staff members. The payment could go directly to their phones.

Briefs BITS

NDIC bags IADI 2014 award

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has won the 2014 International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) award as the Best Deposit Insurance Organisation of the Year under Category 2 of the IADI Core Principles on Compliance and International Collaboration.

Established in May 2002 with the vision of “sharing deposit insurance expertise”, IADI is a standard setting organisation which amongst others, issues guidance on international best practices in deposit insurance and fosters collaboration among deposit insurance institutions in the world. The association (IADI) has over the years been promoting international collaboration among deposit insurance organisations and recognises commitment to excellence through the presentation of annual wards to deserving member institutions in specific categories.

The NDIC, being one of the founding members of IADI, identifies strongly with the ideals of the association and is therefore deeply honoured by the award out of 77 member institutions across the globe. The Corporation is also the first to win the award in Africa since the association initiated such awards five years ago. In his acceptance of the award, the NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim said that the Corporation considered the award as a wake-up call and a spring board towards improving its deposit insurance services.

Alhaji Ibrahim also said that the NDIC regarded the competition and process leading to the award as an avenue to evaluate the performance of deposit insurance institutions against indices of global best practices.

FCMB, Dana Motors take auto loan scheme to north

F

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, in partnership with Dana Motors, has launched an auto loan scheme in the Northern region. Under the scheme, qualified customers of the Bank would be able to own a brand new KIA car for a low as N47,400 monthly repayment plan.

Speaking at the launch of the alliance in Abuja, FCMB’s Executive Director, Abuja/ Northern Region, Mr. Adam Nuru, described the partnership with Dana Motors, which will enable Nigerians buy cars at affordable rates, as another way of demonstrating the bank’s commitment to offering unique consumer products to the market.

He noted that since FCMB has been acclaimed an industry leader in consumer loan offering and that the new package is a viable alliance aimed at furthering the frontiers of delivering an exceptional customer experience. Mr. Nuru therefore charged the bank employees to go all out and ensure that the alliance achieves its objectives.

Specifically, he advised staff of the bank that in line with the region’s well acclaimed good performance over the years, they should adopt the necessary proactive strategies that will enable the region sell at least 1,000 Kia cars before the end of the year. “Today, our guests and customers are presented with unique consumer offering and how they can benefit from it. The auto loan is another way of identifying with customer aspirations and delivering on our brand promise to our customers.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 25

*These innocent children, victims of Boko Haram insurgency, need your help to continue their education at the internally displaced persons' camp.

Nigeria’s 10.5m out-of-school children set to increase if….

By Ebele Orakpo

N

IGERIA is said to have the highest number of outof-school children in the world according to the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) which has been put at 10.5 million children. This number is threatening to increase if nothing is done urgently to arrest the insurgency in the North-East of the country and assist internally displaced school children in various camps across the region to continue their education despite the situation they have found themselves in.

To their credit, authorities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Damare, Adamawa State where thousands of displaced persons are taking refuge, are doing their best to keep the children in school but lack of basic necessities like blackboards, desks, exercise

books, textbooks and writing materials is threatening to put a stop to the good work.

While taking Vanguard round the improvised classrooms, Mallam Haruna Hamman Furo, Permanent Secretary, Adamawa

State Emergency Management Agency, ADSEMA, said the camp authorities had to improvise classrooms and get volunteer teachers to teach the primary and secondary school children.

“We started with just over 20 children and within a short period, we were able to have a full primary wing and secondary wing. We introduced the school part to keep the children busy and help them continue their

For now, we are using teachers among the internally displaced persons as volunteer teachers

Experts task schools Don calls for

entrepreneurship on World Books online education in varsityPg. 28 research Pg. 27 C M Y K

materials:

education while here. We are inviting professionals in the education sector to take over.

For now, we are using teachers among the internally displaced persons as volunteer teachers.

We also have volunteer lecturers from the American University of Nigeria (AUN) and other higher institutions in the state who come in to render their services. That was how we started.”

Lack of teaching/learning

Also speaking with Vanguard, the acting principal of the school, Mr. Philip Sati Jona said it has not been easy doing the job due to the children’s backgrounds and the kind of condition they have found themselves in. He said most of the children were affected psychologically due to all they had passed through and need psychologists to help out in the school.

“We don’t have sufficient Continues on page 26

Building an elite Nigerian varsity system by 2025 PROFESSOR Ladipo Adamolekun is an accomplished academic, diplomat and author. An unapologetic elitist, Adamolekun earned a 1st class degree in French at the University of Ibadan, a Masters degree in Public Administration at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, and a Doctorate degree in Politics at the Oxford University, United Kingdom.

In this exclusive chat with Vanguard, the Professor of Public Administration and Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) awardee on Rethinking Nigeria’s university education, proffers sure steps on creating elite varsities that would rank among the top 1000 global varsities, the urgent to overhaul

the regulatory framework for the varsity system to reposition them for greatness and reducing the powers of the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, among other issues. Excerpts:

By Amaka Abayomi

F

OR Nigerian universities to be repositioned for greatness, four pertinent issues need to be addressed. Firstly, there is the urgent need to overhaul the regulatory framework for the varsity system.

Secondly, public authorities at the federal and state levels need to designate some existing varsities as elite varsities and equip them with human and financial resources to enable them

Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Building an elite Nigerian varsity system Continues from page 25 join the ranks of world class varsities within a decade.

Thirdly, a fast-track programme for producing qualified academic staff for the varsity system is a necessity in the light of the acute shortages highlighted in the 2012 assessment of the human capital shortages in the varsity system.

Lastly, the debate for free education in public varsities should be abandoned while realistic and transparent financing strategy should be adopted with clearly stated variations between elite and nonelite varsities.

Regulatory framework The overhaul should focus on the Nigerian Universities Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun Commission, NUC, and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB. This is because circulars are emanating from the the buffer roles assigned to NUC NUC interfering in the day-toat its establishment to function as day running of varsities and this a neutral body managing the undermines varsities’ relationship between autonomy.” government and varsities was On JAMB, critical aspects of transformed beyond recognition varsity autonomy is the right to under the military rule. This admit their students and that made the Commission become a right was taken away from them powerful government parastatal by the military that wrongfully with very extensive powers that decided to centralize admission were more centralized and through the establishment of uniformed like the military JAMB in 1976. culture.

The deceptively centralized Beyond what would pass as admission policy is still in force appropriate statutory and and should come to an end in regulating functions such as the next two cycles so as to help administration of government’s restore the central aspect of convention, accreditation of autonomy to varsities; but the courses and collection of quality established basic varsity data and statistics from all admission requirements should Nigerian varsities, the still be maintained.

NUC is, today, involved Designate and select in a wide range of elite varsities activities of which it has The main justification no comparative for recommending the advantage whatsoever. designating and There is strong nationally operating evidence that NUC’s elite varsities is the centralized, strong correlation domineering and between prosperous unified approach stifles countries with strong experimentations and economy and initiatives at the level of representation among individual varsities, and the top global varsities. measures aimed at Nigeria’s ambition to reducing its powers become a prosperous should include country in the league abrogating those that of the world’s 20 enable it to wrongly leading economy in push for uniformity 2020 would require among all public and some Nigerian varsities private varsities Two to attain world class because uniformity and status within a decade excellence are Nigerian as each of the countries antithetical. universities whose economy is Furthermore, there among the top 20 has should be should be an immediate tens of varsities in that end to operational among the league. subordination of top 10 in Today only South varsities to the NUC Africa and Egypt have that result in key officers Africa and two or three varsities in of these varsities would also this super league. spending a significant Therefore, Nigeria amount of time in Abuja rank among must, without delay, instead of working in the top 1000 begin to take the their campuses. necessary steps to Quoting the ASUU world enable some of her President, Nasir Fagge, varsities varsities join this “you will find out that

league. The expectation is that Nigerian elite varsities would be at the cutting edge of research that w o u l d support the industries to propel and sustain our economic prosperity.

Of the 18 elite varsities that I propose, 12 should be federal while t h e remaining six would be from the group of states that constitute the six geo-political zones. Elite varsities should be selected through a competent and transparent process from among the existing federal varsities, making meritocracy important as there should be set criteria for selecting elite varsities.

Thereafter, allocation of special funds for the take off of elite varsities and subsequent annual budgets, which should exceed the average for the other varsities by between one-quarter and one-third, should be enforced.

Adhoc quality assurance panels, with input from the NUC should be established to access the performance of these elite varsities, either bi-annually or triannually, to ensure that they join the rank of world-class varsities.

To compliment the acceptance of these elite varsities, there must be a shift from quantitative emphasis to simultaneous focus on quality and quantity so as to enhance the quality of these varsities to a level that would make the graduates suitable for employment.

Distinguishing characteristics of elite varsities One of the distinguishing characteristics is: blended learning – a combination of faceto-face and online learning resources. Students in non-elite varsities would be able to have access to online courses provided by top-rate teachers in elite varsities, and this horizontal connection between elite and non-elite varsities would help enhance quality across the varsity system.

Also the remuneration package that would reflect diversity, inspired by the dictum that all professors are equal, but some are more equal than others would be in place. Resulting from the enhancement of the quality in the varsities in general and elite varsities in particular, thanks to the horizontal connection, quality education would have cascaded down to polytechnics, colleges of education, secondary and

primary schools through a parallel vertical connection.

One or two newspapers that would be committed to quality varsity education would be publishing varsity guide lead tables using such criteria like entry standard, staff-student ratio, library and computing spending, research assessment policy, and staff and alumni prize winners, among others.

Fast-track programme for human capital development in varsities According to the 2012 main report of the NEEDS assessment of Nigerian public varsities, human capital in these varsities, with particular attention to academic staff strength is very poor, putting the Nigerian varsity system in a crisis of manpower.

Instead of having not less than 80 per cent academics with PhD, only 43 per cent are PhD holders; and instead of 75 per cent of the academics should be between senior lecturers and professors, only 44 per cent are within this bracket.

Weak human capital The staff list of some varsities are very alarming and the fact that the 50 private varsities rely, in varying degrees, on academic staff from public varsities underscores the weak human capital in public varsities as what is insufficient for them is being further reduced by private varsities.

Taking this moon lighting into account, we would record twothirds shortage at the professorial level, three quarter at the senior lecturer level and 80 per cent at the lecturer 1 and 2 levels.

Without question, this shortage

of qualified academic staff is the major explanation for the widely acknowledged poor quality of graduates from these varsities.

Also, the explosion in the number of 1st class and 2nd class upper is no more than the reflection of grade inflations in both public and private varsities, with the latter being the greater culprit. Time against hidden costs imposed by varsity administrators to make up for the inadequacy of funds allocated to them.

Though these hidden charges have been described as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, but the fact is that no public has been able to close its financing gaps through IGR. To close these gaps, there is need for realistic financing strategy that transparently lays out the respective contributions of all relevant stakeholders in the system. A realistic plan that the Lagos State government tried to put in place at the state owned varsity but was reversed some months ago.

Until the budget profiles of these varsities change, efforts aimed at rehabilitating the system to encourage current capital and research expenditure would be abortive. However, policy reforms come with pre-conditions such as the need to have the appropriate mix of scholarship, bursaries and loans that would ensure that no Nigerian who is qualified for varsity education is denied such opportunity due to his/her inability to pay the fees.

Conclusion: If these are implemented, it is expected that by 2025, at least, two Nigerian universities should be among the top 10 in Africa and would also rank among the top 1000 world varsities. This is because it is impossible for Nigeria to desire to be among the top 20 economies with her varsities as far behind as they presently are.

Out-of-school children to rise if….

Continued from page 1 materials for learning; we improvised blackboards just to make sure that the children are learning in spite of everything.

That is why we are trying to give them the best we can. No exercise books, the sitting arrangement is nothing to write home about (actually, the children were sitting on mats); the learning atmosphere is not conducive,” said Jona.

Appeal: “I am calling on the general public and government to come to the aid of these children, give them the needed help so that they will have the right education just like any other Nigerian child.”

The orphans: The ADSEMA boss said they had taken the orphans to an orphanage where they were enrolled in school. The challenge once again is to provide them the basic necessities like uniforms, writing materials etc.

“These are children who lost

their parents to the insurgents.

So we liaised with the Ministry of Women Affairs, to take custody of them but they are under the IDP Initiative. They will be educated within the orphanage home. We will supply their food and medication from here if need be. Their camp leaders will liaise with the orphanage so they could go there at intervals to visit the children and give them some sense of belonging.”

The children were eager to continue their education knowing that it is their only chance to get out of poverty and become whatever they want to become in future. The entire society must rise up to help them achieve their dream otherwise, the cycle of poverty and violence will continue.

Vanguard Learning, on behalf of these children, is appealing to public-spirited individuals and government at all levels to heed the cries of these innocent children.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 27

LEAP Africa set to unveil Social Innovator finalists *From left: Ms Marie-Therese Sojinrin, member, Forum for African Women Educationalist, Nigeria Chapter, Mrs Omotayo Morgan, Interworld Management and Services Ltd at the World Book Digital Products presentation held at Corona Schools Gbagada, Lagos.

By Victor Agi

L

Experts task schools on World Books online research She said: “Take this programme to teacher-training institutions member of the Forum for where the teachers will know that African Women this body of information is Educationalist, Nigeria Chapter, available for them to access onMs Marie-Therese Sojinrin has line, to enrich their knowledge lamented the lack of research when they are going to teach the training for teachers in primary students.

She explained that if teachers and secondary schools She said, “generally, our in training institution are trained teachers are not trained to be and are used to the online research oriented in their research method of enhancing teaching approach, particularly their own knowledge, it will assist the student teachers. When they them when they go to teach in go to the classrooms, they have schools.

On reasons while students fail this myopic view about methods of teaching which is just during examination, Sojinrin lecturing as opposed to pointed out that: "students do not internalise the topics that they teaching."

According to her, "teaching is are taught, they just regurgitate using a host of methods to ensure without being able to expatiate that the students understand on many topics.” According to what you are teaching them. It her, when you just put down a also presupposes that the teacher point and you are not able to would allow the students to use explain, you do not get the full marks that you their initiative in asking should. And questions in class and when a answering whatever student's question the teacher has performance is given to them. But what compared with a do you find? Generally, student across students from privileged West Africa, we homes have access to the find that it falls computer and quit often short of the they have information that expected the teacher does not have. performance.

Because of this, you find Going down that when these students memory lane, ask such questions and the former teachers don’t have the principal said information, they tend to gone are the shut the student down." days when The former Principal of students in Queens’ College said, “I Nigeria come have experienced where; first and second when a student answers in WAEC questions beyond what adding, “Ghana the teacher knows, the It means is having an child is marked down that the upper hand; because the teacher is not and it is because aware of the information teacher our teachers are that the child was giving. cannot not exposing Sojinrin who spoke at our students to the World Books Online explain knowledge held at Corona School, what is in beyond their Gbagada urged schools to text books and take advantage of online the text to beyond what research to develop their the students they know. teachers and students.

By Dayo Adesulu

A

Sojinrin who slammed teachers who are fond of copying text book on the board for students to copy said, “It means that the teacher cannot explain what is in the text to the students. So, there is a need for teachers in training to be exposed to research to enhance the knowledge they have to be able to get the students to be globally competitive.

"We want a situation where a Nigerian student would go to England and be able to compete for various programmes such as essays, debates, projects and win. I tell you one thing from my experience, our students are very intelligent. We are just not using the approach needed to expose them to be globally competitive.

EAP, Leadership Effectiveness Accountability and Professionalism, Africa, a leading non-profit organisation in Nigeria will announce its Social Innovators finalists at the Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) in Lagos, on November 13, 2014.

According to Iyadunni Olubode, Executive Director, LEAP Africa: "The SIP Fellows are faces of social change in Nigeria, a crop of emerging social entrepreneurs challenging the present status quo to advance our communities. The SIPA is bringing together individuals and organizations from six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and hosting them in Lagos to celebrate diversity, creativity and excellence of these young change-makers shaping our society."

Speaking at the event is Mr. Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, who is a tireless supporter of initiatives that motivate, empower and educate Africa’s youth and driving force behind pro-social campaigns that have impacted the social and cultural landscape of urban Africa.

LEAP Fellows initiatives cuts across all sectors such as agriculture, health, education, business and economic development and technology.

Their initiatives and impact have been further enhanced through

the programme where LEAP’s partners worked with the SIP Fellows with a focus on developing these change agents, equipping them to lead and creating sustainable initiatives. Ten out of these Fellows will be announced as finalists to receive Social Innovators Awards for their outstanding contributions at the SIPA 2014. LEAP will also be inducting emerging social entrepreneurs into the new fellowship programme year.

The SIPA in its second edition continues to inspire larger communities of youth in Nigeria and beyond.

Through the SIP, LEAP is promoting youth-led social entrepreneurship by supporting these innovators with training and award to enhance delivery, maximize the impact and sustainability of their initiatives with each project currently benefitting hundreds of families in several communities in Nigeria.

Globally, young people are helping to drive national competitiveness, economic growth, and achievement of social development goals.

In 2013, LEAP identified 20 young Nigerian change-makers who have distinguished themselves by proactively filling the gaps observed in their communities to participate in its inaugural fellowship, the Social Innovators Programme, a programme designed by LEAP Africa.

Answering questions "For example, in the universities, the lecturers will insist that students buy their handouts with the results that the students are not allowed to read genuinely, to use their initiative to answer questions based on what they have read in books and what they have learned. Our lecturers now are not the same; the student is expected to reproduce what they have taught them.

Her words: “|In my write up as a member of the Forum for African Women Educationalist, I sent a memo to the national conference and told them that lecturers in tertiary institutions should be encouraged to write books, not give handouts. “Let them write books and let the books be published so that it will be available for everybody even outside the country and we can show other parts of the world that we have lecturers that are knowledgeable and they also have to share with other countries.

*A class for secondary school students going on at the IDPs camp in Adamawa State

Lagos endorses Chemistry Challenge

A

S the second edition of the PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge sets to commence, the Lagos State Government has, yet again, given its approval to the competition sponsored by PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. Receiving a delegation of the multinational consumer goods company recently, the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the state government had no hesitation in approving the second edition because it was satisfied with the first edition.

Represented by the Director of Science and Technology, Mr Adebayo Ibiyeye, Oladunjoye urged other corporate organisa-

tions to emulate the passion PZ Cussons Nigeria has in growing the knowledge base of young Nigerians.

Assuring the state government of improved standards and motivation of science-oriented Nigerian youths, the Corporate Affairs Director of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti promised more exciting time and prizes for participating students, their schools and teachers.

PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge, which is in three stages, is opened to students in Senior Secondary classes two and three in both public and private schools across Lagos Sate. Entry is free and has already opened.

28 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Don calls for entrepreneurship education in varsity

By Victor Agi & Desmond Okon

C

ONCERNS for Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, were echoed loud at an inaugural lecture held at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos on Wednesday, to preach the gospel and importance hidden in entrepreneurship and the need to entrenched entrepreneurship education and subculture in our society.

In his lecture titled: Finance and Entrepreneurship: Rod and Staff through the valley of Unemployment, Prof. Sunday Owualah who bagged a B.Sc. and M.Sc. honours in finance from the institution said, “Tertiary institutions should be more entrepreneurial in their approach to doing the business they are

established to do.

Education and the type of skill acquired do not only influence entrepreneurial behaviour, but also entrepreneurial pursuit.

After graduating from a particular discipline, one should be able to become an entrepreneur in his area of study.”

He also stressed the need for youths not to ignore the potentials of SMEs. “SMEs are entrepreneurs in their own right and are the popular route to entrepreneurship in both developed and developing economies; there is little doubt that SMEs are veritable source of employment, particularly, survival employment for the teaming population of unemployed school graduates and those pushed out of their jobs from the public and private sectors by retrenchment

and redundancy,” noted the professor of Finance. He added that they are in the forefront of the development of new industries, technologies and market niches.

On what the don described as the trilemma of entrepreneurial education and development vis-à-vis unemployment in Nigeria, he said that “high population growth rate, non-contribution from public sectors and the failure of urban formal and informal sectors to absorb the growing hordes of new labour entrants” are major factors.

These trilemma according to him which have increase unemployment in the country had led to such consequences in our society, ranging from vices as arm robbery, prostitution delinquency, youth restiveness, kidnapping and other forms of violence.

We'll tackle youth unemployment — Jonathan

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

H

AVING observed the high rate of unemployment in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government is determined to tackle youth unemployment in the country. He made the statement in his address at the second day of the graduation ceremonies of the University of Ilorin.

President Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau stated that as part of the strategy to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria, the President has inaugurated a Board for the creation of three million jobs nationwide annually, adding that the

bold step will reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

He also revealed that FG in the current year has released N3 billion through Tertiary Education Fund, TETFUND, and the Federal Ministry of Finance, to revitalise the University as captured by the NEEDS Assessment Report, for upgrade of libraries, laboratories, building of hostels and lecture theatres.

The Minister also noted that FG has instituted the Presidential Scholarship Scheme for innovation and development, to develop a critical mass of professionalism who would serve as catalyst of change and agents of scientific, technological advancement and sustainable economic

development.

Shekarau on behalf of the President commended and congratulated the University for its Notable Achievements, especially in recent ranking as the best University in Nigeria, the 20th in Africa and No 1842 in the world. He said the University’s achievements were the products of the University “focused mission, peace, orderliness and stability on its campus.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali in his address noted that 2013/2014 academic session was academically rewarding and generally successful, adding that working with a dynamic team of serious minded men and women made the achievements possible.

British Council offers incentives in education

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

A

S part of the strategies for participants to get a comprehensive knowledge and participate fully in the fourth coming Education UK Exhibition organized by the British Council, the organizer has promised to offer a free professional development session for every participant that register before November 7, 2014.

This was contained in a release to the media by the project Manager, Education UK exhibition, Sephora Imomoh.

According to her, “the potential participants would have the opportunity to be mentored by a senior representative of a top FCMG company at the exhibition in Lagos and Abuja, scheduled for November 8th and 11th respectively.”

Imomoh added that, “participants in Abuja would also secure an appointment with the officials of the UK Visa and Immigration at the venue.”

She also assured students seeking to study in the UK, that the Exhibition would provide unique opportunity for them.

She noted also that, “It would provide students at all levels the opportunity to meet one on one with representatives of over 50 UK universities, colleges and schools. The event would also provide the students direct advice on the opportunities available to them to study in the UK.” Imomoh revealed that, “the opportunities are wide ranging and our exhibition provides a platform for every student to find a program of study that is tailored to their specific aptitudes and will help them begin their journey to a great future.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 29

Learned people flunk exams in large numbers Seated from right: Engr. Laolu Oguntuyi, Director of Technical and Vocational Services, LASTVEB, Mr. Raul Rosada, Resource Person, Engr. Gasper Olawunmi, Executive Secretary, LASTVEB, Mr. Lanre Ashaolu', Brand Ambassador of Nigerite limited and LASTVEB instructors at the three days workshop held at Nigerite office, Lagos.

LASTVEB partners Nigerite on dry construction solutions

By DAYO ADESULU

T

HE Lagos State Technical Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB, has partnered Nigerite Limited on dry construction solutions to boost the skills of students and instructors in building construction.

Speaking at a three-days workshop organised by LASTVEB/Nigerite in Lagos, the Executive Secretary, L ASTVEB, Engr. Gasper Olawumi said that the workshop is part of LASTVEB industrial partnership with Nigerite, adding that there is no way the technical education can be run without the support of the industry.

According to him, apart from putting together for us structures where we have centre for construction, building technology at the Technical College Ikorodu, Nigerite has gone further to take the instructors out for

training, adding that the construction that we are all used to is wet construction but we are educating our instructors in this workshop on dry construction, which is a new method of construction.

He also noted that the workshop was organized for instructors for them to be able to impact the knowledge acquired on the students in the course of teaching them, adding that they selected ten young trainers for the training who will go back to classrooms to disseminate the knowledge to students in accordance with the partnership with the industry.

On the choice of choosing Nigerite as a partner, he revealed that Nigerite in one of the leaders in building construction, adding that hey are well respected, grounded and they have been into the system, for long.

Engr. Laolu Oguntuyi, the Director of Technical and Vocational Services, Lagos State Technical Vocational Education Board, LASTVEB, term the workshop as “teachers’ industrial work experience schemes”, adding that it is meant for teachers to get themselves abreast with new technology by learning the dry construction of building.

According to him, in dry construction, much water is not needed. It is done in a galvanised form. He also noted that the “innovation will bridge the skill gap of the required skills and acquired skills”. Adding that “in most cases, this skill gap leads to our graduates not being employed because they don’t have the required skills but the acquired skills.

Rotaract Club pledges support for schools, vocational training

By Desmond Okon

R

OTRACT Club of Ikoyi District 9110 has pledged to implement a range of projects geared towards improving education and youth empowerment, through vocational skill acquisition. The club’s new president for the 2014/2015 service year, Rotaractor Muyideen Gbadegesin, revealed this while speaking with newsmen recently.

Throwing light on the range of projects in the offing, Gbadegesin said they include: donation of first aid boxes to schools situated in IkoyiObalende LCDA and environs, facilitation of career talk and donation of exercise books to pupils of Obalende Primary

Muyideen Gbadegesin School. The club plans to donate mathematical sets to JSS 3 students of Boys’ Academy Secondary School, Lagos Island. It also plans to equip the adult literacy school at Falomo, Ikoyi with stationery and conduct a deworming exercise for children in Ijeh community, Obalende.

“In the course of the 2014/ 2015 service year we would also be working with our esteemed partners to facilitate a vocational training programme that would offer youths the opportunity to acquire skills in a range of vocations including; soap and bead making, fish farming and rudiments to start importation business,” the club’s president added.

By December Rotaract Club of Ikoyi, would be partnering with its twin club Rotaract Club of Adentan, Accra Ghana to raise awareness on cancer as part of its international project.

To achieve these goals, the club’s president, said it would be banking on support from corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals.

“

If gold rusts, what then would iron do?” Geoffrey Chaucer, 1342-1400.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 78).

The news that nearly half of those taking the last Bar Examinations, at the Nigerian Law School flunked the examination, which came as surprise to most people was not surprising to me. Like all disaster waiting to happen, but to which very few people, and not those in charge, pay attention, it had been clear to me that we are heading for such a calamity in law and medicine in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Let me quickly summarise before presenting the reasons for this outcome.

Our law students mostly study in universities running unaccredited law programmes; they select their students from among a few brilliant applicants plus a lot of dullards whose parent can pay the high tuition charged (garbage-in-garbage-out syndrome, GIGO) and the students, not just reading law, are totally distracted by social media, Premiership/LaLiga etc, as well as African Magic.

No generation of law students had ever faced such social, institutional and personal handicaps as these young people. I thank God that my daughter went to Law School before Facebook and Twitter and African Magic. Those two and football will ruin our next generations of youths unless together we find a solution to the temptations they present.

I will illustrate shortly with two examples.

ACCREDITED L AW SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA “A picture is worth a thousand words”, according to the Chinese. So, let us begin with a startling revelation contained in the information provided by the NUC website recently.

Hopefully, it has not been altered. From this publication we discover that only the University of Lagos Law School enjoys full accreditation. So students attending all other law schools are, to some extent, on shaky grounds. The NUC website provides no information about why any university ’s programme had not passed muster. But, I am aware of two

which are prevalent: poor faculty and library inadequate library facilities and law books.

Many of our law schools are located in such remote areas as to preclude having good faculty e.g Sokoto, Ebonyi, Adekunle Ajasin, Yobe, to name a few. Good lawyers, especially the financially successful ones are citybound and extremely busy.

Apart from the fact that lawyers are very few in small communities, almost without exception, they hardly pass above the “Charge and Bail” grade. The Agbakobas, Walis, Olanipekuns, Adokies and Falanas of our world are not around and they are too busy to teach. So the students in those law schools are taught by individuals who could not earn a living practicing law in Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Kaduna, or Kano. Furthermore, they are never specialists in any branch of law – criminal, constitutional, tort, maritime etc. It is these dregs of the law profession who teach out future lawyers. GIGO again.

Whatever damage left to be done by poor faculties and poor facilities is overdone by the triple temptations of social networks, football and Nollywood – which have become more addictive than cocaine or amphetamine. On two different occasions, I was delayed at the Lagos and Abuja airports by flights for hours. The first time, it was a young chap sitting by me on the bench provided by Arik.

For more than three hours, he was on his set “meeting” girls and chatting them up. It was when our flight was called and he tried to get up that a fat law book fell out of his back pack. He told me he was in Law School and going for exams. He threw the carry-on luggage up and sat down to more facebook chats until instructed to turn off the set.

The other, a young lady, also in a Law School, wandered between Facebook chats and Nollywood films – while we sweated the three hours delay of our flight “due to operational reasons”.

We might as well face the truth. Nigerian Law School intakes are not better or worse than those who massively fail WAEC or UTME.

30 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

How Nigeria funds international education

By TARE YOUDEOWEI

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ROFESSOR Jide Owoeye, Chairman, Governing Council, Lead City University, has decried the exodus of Nigerian students abroad based on the erroneous belief that the Nigerian education system is poor and there is limited access to higher education, invariably funding the education system of other countries and depleting the Nigerian education system by at leastN155 billion annually.

Giving the minutiae at a public lecture titled; Challenges of Reinventing Quality Education in Nigeria, which was one of the events used to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Government College Ibadan and the 2014 annual reunion of its Old Boys recently, the professor of International Relations provided: “There has been significant growth in the demand for international education by Nigerian students.

Thus, we export hard earned foreign exchange to foreign countries which in fact most often engage our own nationals to teach our students in their countries. By so doing we export not just capital but also jobs to those countries. The British

Council does no other job in Nigeria than active marketing of British universities. These universities come around and give on-the-spot admission to so called JAMB ‘rejects’ especially via foundation programmes in British universities which are better ranked globally than the Nigerian ones that rejected them.

What an irony!

“Nigeria places third on the list of countries with the highest number of students studying overseas. Every year, the British Embassy records a whopping 36,000 student visa applications.

This number is expected to increase with the on-going review of the visa policy.

Meanwhile, there are 71,000 Nigerian students in Ghana paying 5,000 dollars (N64m) per year for tuition only.

This adds up to N155 billion while the annual budget for the entire Federal University System is currently N121 billion Naira.

Wecan see how Nigeria now funds the Ghanaian economy.

Definitely we do likewise for U.K, U.S, Canada and South-Africa.”

Spaces in universities Insisting that it is not lack of education opportunities that is causing the exodus but the false belief that the Nigerian education

system is poor, the Fellow of International Centre for Asian Studies,said: “Exodus of university aspirants to foreign countries was understandable in the past. It is definitely no longer the case now that local institutions are very adequate in number. Currently, there are 118 universities in the country with Federal Government controlling 35, State Government 35 and 48 by private organizations.

University system “JAMB statistics for 2013 indicate that only 42 percent of admission spaces in the university system was filled. Fifty eight percent of the admission opportunities were left yearning for off takers. Out of this, Federal universities only met 60 percent of their admission quota in spite of the free tuition policy of the Federal Government.

Stateowned universities which charges meagre tuition admitted 70 percent of their admission quota. For obvious reasons, the fee paying private universities were able to fill only 28 percent of their quota. In sum, 42 percent of nationally available university

spaces were not filled. Yet the general slogan is that Nigeria is lacking in adequate spaces for higher education.”

Employable graduates: Stating that Nigerian graduates are unemployable is one of the latest fads commonplace among those with scant knowledge of the relationship between educational attainment and employability, Owoeye declared that: ”Entrepreneurial ability and capacity to hold a job has not much to do with level of education as it has with innate skills and talents. The purpose of higher education is to expand the horizon of God given innate skills rather than to manufacture them.

“Nigerian graduates have blazed the trail at home and abroad. Features in a recent British newspaper screamed that the Caribbean Hospital system was going to collapse if Nigerian doctors (home trained) decide to leave. There is no Ivy League university in U.K, U.S, Canada and South Africa that does not boast of a Nigerian graduate in its faculty. Shall we talk about those in the American Space Programme? Definitely there is no scientific basis for such an

assertion that Nigerian graduates are unemployable.”

Standard of education Defending Nigeria’s education system the 58 year oldwho served at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, admonished;”The minimum academic standard at each level of education has never been lowered but instead, consistently pushed higher.

In fact, the entrance requirement into the University of Ibadan though stringent when I entered in 1974, is still not as difficult as it is to enter the same institution today.There is thus a good reason for us to accept that there is in place a standard which is not falling but it is the depressed performance of students when rated against the set standard that gives cause for concern.

“The Nigerian Educational System being a microcosm of the environment, is highly undeserving of the periodic bashing it collects from within and without.

It is my suggestion that we decipher the merits of the system and celebrate it while working assiduously towards replacing sloganizing and politicking with realistic analysis of the nature and scope of its problems with a view to rebranding within the context of available resources.”

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BY FUNMI KOMOLAFE & VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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o fewer than 6.2 million workers or contributors have been registered into the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, since inception, the National Pension Commission, PenCom, has announced.

Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who disclosed this in Lagos at a conference on the developments ushered in by the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2014, organized by the commission for stakeholders in the SouthWest geopolitical region, noted that the scheme as at July, had generated over 4.5 trillion worth of assets.

She recalled that following the enactment of the defunct PRA 2004, efforts were initiated by PenCom to address the myriad of challenges which beleaguered pension administration in Nigeria, both in the public and private sectors.

According to her, prominent among those challenges were lack of transparency in pension administration, un-sustainability due to the accumulation of huge pension liabilities and insufficiency or absence of retirement benefits coverage in the private sector.

The Director-General said, “it is heartwarming to note that within a decade of the pension reform and the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme, modest achievements were recorded b PenCom. Payment of pension under the CPS is now both prompt and consistent since 2007. From a story of about N2 trillion pension deficit under the defunct of Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS, as at 2004, the CPS has accumulated a large pool of investible fund of over N4.5 trillion pension assets as at June 2014. More than 6.2 million contributors have been registered into CPS since inception.

Recently, PenCom hosted the World Pension Summit ‘Af-

MEETING: From left, Oluwatoyin Sanni, Group Chief Executive Officer, UBA, Bismarck Rewane, MD/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives and Director-General of PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, during the PenCom stakeholders meeting, in Lagos.

Over 6.2m contributors now part of CPS, says PenCom rica Special’ in Abuja, Nigeria. The summit did not only provide a platform for exchange of ideas on global best practices in pension administration, but also showcased the achievements of the Contributory Pension Scheme in Nigeria within the last decade.

“However, as it is the case with every human endeavour, the PRA 2004 was not perfect.

Thus, the experience and lessons gathered in the last ten years of implementation of the pension reform necessitated amendments to the PRA 2004.

After an extensive review and stakeholder consultations, a bill for the repeal of the 2004 Act and reenactment of a new Pension Reform Act was forwarded by Mr. President to the National Assembly in April 2013. The Bill went through legislative consideration and scrutiny after which it was passed by the National Assembly in April 2014. Mr. President assented to the Bill on 1 July, 2014, thereby bringing

into effect, the Pension Reform Act 2014. Accordingly, the purpose of this conference is to sensitize our major stakeholders in the South-West geo-political zone, on the new provisions and developments ushered in by the Pension Reform act, 2014.”

Features of PRA 2014

Continuing, Mrs AnohuAmazu explained that “it is worthy to note that the Pension Reform Act 2014 re-enacted the copious provisions of the repealed 2004 Act, which include, inter alia, the establishment of the Contributory Pension Scheme as well as the National Pension Commission as the sole regulator and supervisor of pension matters in Nigeria. There are also new developments introduced by the Pension Reform Act 2014 which include wider coverage for private sector employees and upward review of the minimum rate of pension contribution. PRA 2014 has also re-

viewed upwards the sanctions and penalties against infractions of the provisions of the Act. The application of the CPS by the states and local governments has also received a boost under the PRA 2014, by setting a standard which state governments are required to comply with for the benefit of their respective employees.

The 2014 Act has also made provisions for voluntary participation in the CPS, thereby paving the way for the coverage of the informal sector.

“Furthermore, the Pension Reform Act 2014 has made provision that allows contributors seeking to own their primary homes, to apply part of their Retirement Savings Account balances as equity contribution for residential mortgage, subject to guidelines issued by the Commission. It is our expectations that when it is eventually implemented, this development would assist in bridging the housing deficit in Nigeria.

The commission has also commenced the process of reviewing its Investment Regulations with a view to facilitating the investment of pension funds in bankable infrastructure protocols in the country. ”Before the enactment of the PRA 2014, several states in the federation and particularly states in the South-West geopolitical zone, have established the CPS and are at various stages of implementation.

However, the PRA 2014 has taken states and local government participation in the CPS to the next level by express legislative statement on coverage of employees of states and local governments. I would therefore like to passionately appeal to all the states and local governments in Nigeria that are yet to adopt or implement the CPS to quickly embark on doing to avail themselves and their employees of the numerous benefits of the scheme.

Eko DISCO workers decry deduction of four months pension arrears

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

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ORKERS of Eko Distribution Company, EKED, have condemned management deduction of four pension arrears from their salaries at once leaving them little or nothing to take care of their families obligations among others. The management deducted pension arrears from July to October into the workers’ Retirement Saving Accounts, RSAs, following the Pension Reform Act 2014, that was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, on July 1, 2014.

The workers said management should have spread the deduction over time and not once, to avoid dislocat-

ing them financially and compounding their pains. In a circular dated October 24, with reference number EKED. PLC/CIRCULAR NO 013/2014 titled “Implementation of the Pension Reform Act 2014” and signed by Bode Shogo, Vice President (HR/CS), the company said “this is to inform you that the President has signed the Pension Reform Act into law with effect from JULY 1, 2014. The provisions of the Act have increased the contributions of employers and employees to 10% and 8% respectively.

Sequel to this, management will comply with the law and commence implementation with the October payroll and appropriate arrears will apply with effect from July 2014.” Investigation

revealed at the time of this report, the four months deductions have not been remitted into the workers Retirement Saving Accounts, RSAs. Workers, who spoke to Pension & You on condition of anonymity, decried the action of management, describing it as extreme wickedness.

According to them, “how can you remove four months deduction from one month salary? The ideal thing to do is to spread the deductions over time.

After the deductions, most of us have been left with little or nothing to take of our families and meet other obligations.” Similarly, an officer of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, told Pension & You that the action of the management contravened

labour laws and international best practice which limit deduction from workers’ salary to a level that should discomfort him or her.

According to him, “this action is illegal, unlawful, wicked and impoverishing. In the first place, why did the management wait till October to implement a law which came into effect since four months ago? We have always known this management to be anti-workers, insensitive, wicked and inhumane. Very soon we are going to descend on the management. If they like, they should deploy the entire Nigerian Armed Forces to guard. They can't save them because we are on the side of truth. Everybody knows who they are and what they stand for.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2014—35

BITS Bits Eburajolo blasts unions for not fighting casualisation, other ills

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Union sets up insurance scheme

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HE Delta State chapter of Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, has set up an insurance scheme for its members as part of its efforts to improve their economic wellbeing.

Disclosing this during a sensitization forum for its unit leaders, the state chairman of NCSU, Tony Toki, said the scheme was designed to cushion the effect of hardship being experienced by civil servants and their families upon retirement or death.

Explaining that the scheme was the outcome of an agreement with Fortis Insurance Brokers Limited, Toki said they had put machineries in place to ensure that contributors were not short changed or defrauded along the line.

He said the scheme was designed in such a way that the union would be the facilitator of the payment of benefits to affected members.

zSome protesting workers.

Workers battle employers over worsening anti-labour practices

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

T

HE International Labour Organisation, ILO, defines decent work as work that takes place under conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity, in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage is provided equally for men and women.

Workplace practices outside the above are now commonly known as anti-labour practices. These practices by employers in their drive for profit maximation will soon turn workplaces across the country into a battle field between workers and business owners if feelers from labour movement are anything to go by.

United labour front However, like-minded unions and associations affiliated to IndustriAll Global Union Federation in Nigeria recently gathered to raise their voice against unfair labour practices in Nigerian workplaces.

The IndustriAll affiliates included National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Product Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, Petroleum and natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN, and Chemical and Non Metallic Product Senior Staff Association, CANMPSSA. The occasion was to mark the 2014 World Decent Work Day. Such unfair labour practices are seen as casualisation, outsourcing, contract staffing and other non-pensionable employment and above all, refusal by employers to allow workers form or join unions of their choice. These are now fashionable practices in all private sectors of the economy; manufacturing, construction, banking, telecommunication, petroleum as well as many public sector establishments.

progressive laws were being violated with impunity by employers particularly in the private sector as workers were denied the right to organize.

“Such anti-union employers include Sino PP Limited, a sack manufacturing company in Kano. It engages in open disregard for the law by refusing to honour the judgement of the National Industrial Court, NIC, in favour of the NUTGTWN after 10 years of laborious struggle to organize workers in the factory. As we speak, the Chinese employers variously disregarded court rulings in favour of unionization and face court contempt and mass actions of organized labour.”

Jobs no longer safe

Speaking at the event, Chairman of African Region of IndustriALL Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, said jobs in Nigeria were no longer secure as employers opt for short-term, flexible employment as part of strategies to save cost and boost profit.

He explained that these developments informed the decision of affiliates of IndustriALL global union in the country to use the occasion of the ILO’s decent work day to launch the “Stop Precarious Work Campaign.”

Low income, job insecurity, delayed payments of salaries and pensions, long Social protection still very far hours of work without overtime payment, denial of sick leave and payment for sick According to Aremu, unions have leave, denial of annual and maternity resolved to work together to defend the leave, job insecurity, lack of redundancy rights of members across the country benefits, poor health and safety particularly the right to organise and conditions and non-payment of bargain collectively, saying “we demand compensation for injuries sustained at immediate end to all forms of employment work, poor working conditions, poor that offend human dignity and deny motivation, lack of social protection, arbitrary deduction and nonremittance of pension contributions and taxes, denial We ask employers of labour of rights to join the union and bargain collectively are some of to respect the law and where the effects of casualisation and the law is observed in breach, other unethical employment the Ministry of Labour and practices currently embraced by employers." other agencies of government Aremu, also a Vice-President should enforce the law of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and General Secretary of NUTGTWN, expressed concern over increasing disregard for the rule of law workers access to living wages, social by several private sector employers, protection and denial of the right to join lamenting that violation and open the union. We ask employers of labour to disregard for the law is capable of respect the law and where the law is creating an atmosphere of industrial observed in the breach, the Ministry of anarchy and chaos.

Labour and other agencies of government should enforce the law.

Violation of workers’ rights “To the millions of workers subjected to inhuman and un-dignifying employment, Speaking on the violation of workers’ we are determined to join forces to embark rights, Aremu insisted that Nigerian on unbroken struggle to force recalcitrant labour laws in spite of the need for review employers to respect workers right to join still offer great protection for working the union. It is the basis for our struggle class people. He lamented that the to end precarious work in Nigeria.”

,

OREMOST industrial relations practitioner and President of Shop and Distributive Trade Employers Association of Nigeria, S&DTAN, Mr. Victor Eburajolo, has decried the weakening power of organized labour to fight for members and prospective members.

Speaking at S&DTAN’s Annual General Meeting, AGM, in Lagos, he lamented that labour unions are increasingly unable to fight casualisation and similar employment policies that had now become fashionable in the Nigerian employment system.

According to him, "in places where jobs were said to have been created they could hardly be regarded as jobs, saying “jobs that do not pay well and take care of their employees are not good jobs. Casualization is the in thing and everywhere.

The sad thing is that the unions are too weak to protect themselves talk less of fighting for their members.

If the employers of old were fare, there would be no need for unions."

,

36 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Ediri Ejoh

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HE recent visit of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC team, led by its Executive Secretary, Professor Bem Angwe and his senior officials to the Kirikiri medium security prison, Lagos was yet another eye opener to what is happening within the walls of the prison yards.

It would be recalled that a riot that seemed to remind most Nigerians of the famous ‘prison break’ recently at the Medium Security Prison, Kirikiri, was reported to have been provoked by consistent hoarding of items supposedly belonging to inmates by the Deputy Comptroller of Prison, DCP, Mr. Kayode Odeyemi.

The items were reported to have been brought by philanthropists and other religious bodies who render services to humanity by providing food items and other materials that could help provide relief to the inmates and solve some of the problems that are peculiar to Nigeria prisons, which cannot be met by the federal government.

Giving his own side of the story to the visiting team, the leader of the inmates, Christopher Dibia, popularly called General Overseer, G.O, accused the Deputy Comptroller of the Prison, of “personalising materials and other food items donated by philanthropists who deemed it fit to contribute to the welfare of the inmates.”

Attempted robbery Specifically, Dibia, a renowned leader of the ‘Freedom Chapel’, a Pentecostal fellowship in the prison, convicted of attempted robbery in 2011 on16 years jail term, alleged that the situation became worse on the arrival of the newly posted DCP. “It all began when the current serving Deputy Comptroller was posted to this district, he had to call for a forum to relay his ‘Dos and Don ts’ which we all saw were in accordance to the prison’s book.

“In that regards, we had to submit phones and herbs that were smuggled in to us, but this did not satisfy him. He went further to seize items donated to us, to fill the supermarket that was opened about two weeks ago.

“He didn’t stop there. At the forum he addressed inmates to refrain from buying petrol to power the generator used for instrument, adding that the population of the congregation was over 700. The DCP seized petrol donated to us

Kirikiri prisons: It was a protest, not jailbreak— Inmate •NHRC calls for cell extension by other churches who insisted we had to make the chapel lively for church services.

“On one occasion, I was dragged to the punishment cell, because I alerted him of the intention of the inmates which was to stone him whenever he came to the yard for any inspection and that gave rise to the aggression attempted by the inmates to protest to such injustice that has been going on since the inception of the current DCP. Reacting to the allegation, Odeyemi argued it was in an attempt to carry out delegated responsibility by restricting illegal entry of banned items in the prison yard that provoked the riot.

Odeyemi pointed out that the fracas was triggered by inmates who wanted an opportunity to break the prison rules by indulging in smug-

It is quite unfortunate that what we saw wrong was the shocked- up cells that housed a population of over 56 inmates without provisions for mattresses and fan

What does corruption really mean?

gling of materials like phones, marijuana and other illegal items that could be of help in jail break.

He noted that the inmates that died during the riots are those who tried to escape but were trapped by the barbed wires mounted at the security fence.

According to him, “it started when a man was carrying a box of fan without proper authorization to the church in the prison; I accosted the man and refused him entrance prior proper approval for entering.

“On interrogating him, I was not convinced that he should be allowed into the prison because that is how people smuggle in illegal items in the name of giving charity to the prisoners. No long before that, we started hearing noise and revolt from the inmates which was reported to have been triggered by one inmate popularly called bishop”.

He added that, “close to 50 phones have been seized since my arrival and I thank God I had banned petrol into the prisons otherwise, it would not have been just broken glasses and littered surroundings counted as damages but the whole building would have been set ablaze in their attempt to get back at the officials.”

More so, Odeyemi, noted that during the incident, a total number of 23 prisoners sustained minor injuries and were treated while four were badly injured when con-

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fronting the security guards and are currently in Igbobi hospital and Lagos Island still undergoing treatment.

“It is to the interest of Nigerians to note that no prisoners had escaped from the protest and guns were not fired on the prisoners but rather into the air to scare them from attempting jail break."

Misguided speculation Continuing, Chief warder, Orimogunje Mojeed, also argued that the crisis was fueled by the misguided speculations of the G.O to think that such act can be carried out by the DCP, saying all seized and illegal items are being kept at the store house, and have not been used for personal interest or sold to the inmates from the supermarket at the prison.

Responding, Professor Angwe said, “we are not misguided by the obligation to see that the rights and privileges given by the law are properly and adequately adhered to”, adding, “we have to ensure that the welfare of both the prison officials and the inmates are not trampled upon.

“From our findings, we are at peace with the job carried by the DCP, because where there is no law, there is no sin. We see that there was no misconduct from the end of the DC or his warders but the act is carried out by some group of inmates who do not want to be

controlled as prisoners.

While speaking to journalists, Prof Angwe said there was no jailbreak or riot as supposedly speculated but rather a possible misguided minds among the prisoners sparked off the protest.

However, the NHRC boss put the prison officials to task when he drew their attention to congested facilities. “It is quite unfortunate that what we saw wrong was the choked up cells that housed a population of over 56 inmates without provisions for mattresses and fans and also the cases of inmates whose matter has not been brought for hearing in the court.”

Prof Angwe, however, urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the State to ensure that the Nigerian prison cell is habitable and does not increase the bitterness already in the heart of people who are not yet convicted for an allegation placed against them.

The NHRC Executive Secretary, said, ”Our responsibility as an institution is to promote and protect the interest of all Nigerians.

We are more particular on issues that concerned persons who are undergoing a process of incarceration as prisoners and inmates.

“We have seen that there is the need for the prison inmates to be enlightened on their rights and entitlements as long as they go through the process of incarceration. We will issue a formal report of our findings at the right time.”

Legal Aid Council encourages pro-bono services — Ayorinde—Page 38

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 37

What does corruption really mean?

By Kolawole Olaniyan

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HAT does corruption look like? The short answer is: not what you think it does, at least according to President Goodluck Jonathan who while recently “rethinking corruption” said that: “Over 70% of what are called corruption [offences], even by the EFCC [Economic and Financial Crimes Commission] and other anticorruption agencies, is not corruption, but common stealing.”

This very high percentage suggests that Nigeria may be nearly corruption-free. If this is the president’s proposition, this government has something of a mountain to climb to satisfactorily prevent and combat corruption and impunity of perpetrators in the country.

The ‘over 70% cases of corruption’ that fit as ‘common stealing’ under the president’s ‘definition’ would presumably include dozens of unresolved corruption cases against former governors, unresolved cases of corruption in the petroleum sector especially the case of the missing $20 billion from the account of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), unresolved oil subsidy scam, the unimplemented KPMG report on corruption within the NNPC, unresolved cases of corruption in the pension fund, unresolved cases of corruption in the Universal Basic Education Commission funds, and the unresolved cases of corruption in the capital market. The list goes on!

If these are cases of ‘common stealing’, then what is corruption?

Nigerians would like to know exactly the measurement or empirical data used to come up with such notion of corruption. Clearly, the message being conveyed would seem to be that the country is making progress against corruption. But this idea of corruption is certainly in the realm of feelings and not of legal rules, morality or facts.

Here’s the thing: The term ‘corruption’, probably the most used word (inevitably subjec-tively and controversially, but almost always habitually) in

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

the whole vocabulary of politics, treaties and standards and is derived from the Latin national laws such as the UN verb curruptus, which is Convention against Corruption translated as ‘to and the Corrupt Practices and break’. Linguistically, the word Other Related Offences Act to is used rather pejora-tively and characterise these kinds of censoriously to refer to any of the behaviour are: bribery, following: ‘dishonest or illegal embezzlement (stealing), abuse behaviour, especially of people of office, trading in influence, in authority’; ‘the act or effect of and illicit enrichment (another making someone or something form of stealing). change from moral to immoral The Corrupt Practices Act standards of behaviour’. however uses analogous According to the House of terminologies such as bribery, Lords in Cooper v. Slade, fraud, gratification and other corruption is “Purposely doing an related offences. Offences act which the law forbids as punishable under the Act tending to corrupt” [See 8 [1857] include: wilful giving and receipt HL Cas 746]. In Biobaku v. of bribes and gratification to Police, the court describes influence a public duty, corruption as “acting fraudulent acquisition and improperly.” Thus, there will be receipt of properties, deliberate corruption when “a public officer frustration of investigation fails to carry out his duties by the Independent Corrupt honestly and impartially, and Practices Commission (ICPC), when he is affected by making false returns, making of considerations of false or misleading benefit to himself or statements to the ICPC, another person” [See attempts, and 1951] 20 N.L.R. conspiracies.

30.These definitions All of the above presuppose legal highlighted unresolved prohibition of some cases of corruption would ‘dishonest’ conduct clearly fall under any of as ‘corrupt’, and also the classifications under reflect some the UN convention or the universal moral Corrupt Practices Act. sensibilities, seeming This is a no-brainer, Nigeria to suggest that really. What President corrupt acts are those has ranked Jonathan called ‘common which do not agree is what I very poorly stealing’ with some moral and referred to in my new social norms in book (Corruption and presumably of Transparency Human Rights Law in u n i v e r s a l Africa) as “the deliberate, International’s intentional mass stealing application.

T h e CPI for of public wealth and classifications used resources by senior state generally in many years officials entrusted with its anticorruption fair and honest

management for the common good and achievement of human rights, whether carried out individually or collectively, but with the support, encouragement, or acquiescence of the state, combined with a refusal to genuinely, thoroughly and transparently investigate and/or prosecute the mass stealing and recover stolen assets, which violates the human rights of the economically and socially vulnerable.”

Let me say a bit more about why I think the ‘over 70% thesis’ is at odds with legal rules and credible evidence of corruption and its devastating consequences on the effective enjoyment of human rights in the country. That there is corruption in the country is beyond doubt, especially if it is considered that Nigeria was ranked 144 of the 177 countries on Transparency International’s 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Nigeria has ranked very poorly in Transparency International’s CPI for many years, and the US State Department Country Report for 2012 illustrates the inte-grated problems of corruption, money laundering, poverty and lack of respect for human rights in the country.

But the government would readily dispute this evidence.

The government in fact once said that, “Perception is different from reality.” Yes, the CPI may not be perfect but no index is. Even so, perceptions may provide a pointer as to the real evidence of corruption. In any case, while real evidence of corruption may be difficult to obtain (in part because of the secretive and complex nature of corrupt acts and the fact

that those who perpetrate corruption rarely admit to doing so), its devastating effects across the country are too glaring to ignore.

If it is true that knowledge comes from seeing, most Nigerians will ‘know corruption when they see it’: whether it is in decayed infrastructure, weak and inaccessible health and education systems, crumbling and poorly maintained roads, lack of regular and uninterrupted electricity supply, or rampant violent crime, insecurity (and the slow response to Boko Haram’s abduction of hundreds of Chibok school girls) and entrenched impunity of perpetrators.

As a matter of fact, citizens’ anger at corruption by highranking public officials has never been so intense.

Alleviating poverty It is clear that corruption is the biggest obstacle to alleviating poverty and enjoying human rights in the country. If this government is serious about combating poverty and achieving basic human rights for millions of vulnerable and marginalized Nigerians, it has to publicly acknowledge the prevalence of high-level official corruption in the country. While the country’s many human rights problems can be linked to bad leadership and gross incompetence, high-level official corruption is without question a big part of it.

This kind of corruption fundamentally contrasts with even a minimal notion of the rule of law, and the idea of government as a public trust. As Justice Mark L Wolf, who has made a strong case for an International Anti-Corruption Court stated, “Corruption is an insidious plague that destroys the capacity of government to protect and improve the plight of the people it is constituted to serve.”

It is difficult to imagine a greater breach of trust than when senior public officials entrusted with the peo-ple’s wealth and resources then turn around to use their public entrusted position to steal people’s resources with impunity (basically turning public treasury into a private ‘cashbox’).

To be concluded

38 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Legal Aid Council encourages pro-bono services — Ayorinde Federal Republic of Nigeria, OFR) how would you describe the award and its responsibilities?

The award will encourage me to continue to contribute my quota to the development of the country.

And first of all, I thank the president for considering me for such an award. But like I said, it is just an impetus to galvanise me to continue to contribute my quota to the development of Nigeria.

The NBA election has come recognized not only locally but and gone, what are your expectations from the new internationally.

We encourage the financial executives?

We have a new president and industry, we encourage the manufacturing industry, and we he has a very rich background encourage all other segments of in administration, having been the commercial players in the the principal of a very thriving country to recognize lawyers that law firm for many years. He has provide pro-bono services for the experience on some committees of the bar and he is generally legal aid council.

Indeed, when your firm does perceived to be a forward looking work for us and we actually certify and very exposed lawyer. I expect and recognize you, as a pro-bono that the NBA will look at the provider, your recognition goes standards in the profession, and about with your firm any where would be able to identify and it goes. The thinking before has promote the services that lawyers changed tremendously among provide in Nigeria.

What we are failing to do at the law firms in Nigeria. They now see that when they do pro-bono moment is to project positively the profession. We need a work, there is a reward for it.

Do the SANs get involved in situation whereby, Nigerians and foreign investors have this project?

In fact you will see from the confidence in the bar because pro-bono workshop that took that is what protects their investments when place last year in they come to Nigeria.

Lagos at the City Hall So we must project that most of the what is positive about lawyers that were in the legal profession in attendance were Nigeria. I expect the senior advocates and NBA to do a lot of work they are coming on on that. board. They are How will you react recognising that to a paid advert by the taking up pro-bono NJC condemning the work is also of great attack on Judges at advantage to their Ekiti state High Court firms. Lawyers who and how do you see are also ambitious that incident? about taking the rank Attack on Judges or of silk know that they attack on anybody is also must have a procriminal. Whether bono profile. There I think we you are attacking a are lawyers, “the human rights should avoid judge or whether you are attacking a bus community” who are as much as driver, they are both also finding out that criminal acts. I am working through us is possible surprised that we more structured, so politicizing have not seen any we are engaging them. We are not the Judiciary, arrest or any statement there yet but its the Judiciary from the police because when there is building up. should be an assault, when Recently you were conferred with a isolated from there is an attack, the first port of call is not national award politics the NJC but the police (Officer of the

CHIEF Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986 after obtaining a degree in law at the University College, Buckland, London.

He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2005. He was Pro-Chancellor, Chairman Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State between 2007 and 2011 and currently, Chairman Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. He also attended and participated as facilitator or presenter at several international and local law conferences and seminars. In this interview he spoke on what the Nigerian Legal Aid Council was able to achieve in recent times as well as the challenges facing the body. Besides, he spoke on the attack on a Judge of an Ekiti High Court as well as the alleged involvement of some judicial officers in politics.

Excerpts:

By ONOZURE DANIA AS the chairman of the Legal Aid Council, what is your assessment of the Council so far?

I think before we came on board the work of the council was barely known. What we have done in the last two years is to elevate the awareness level of the council itself. So the last two years has been spent on engagements of all the stakeholders in the justice sector, both private and public.

We have also spent the last 100 days on sensitizing the general public about the existence and the work of the council. Generally, I think the board and the management has done very well in the last couple of years, but it is still a work in progress.

Work in progress The foundation we are trying to lay is not only for the existence of this board, but also something to serve as foundation of the legal council.

Most of the work of the council is on pro-bono, so what are the challenges that the council is facing in that regard?

Now, what we have done with pro-bono is to also take the general thinking about pro-bono from being something you do with no reward. We have established legal aid council probono partner firms. These firms now see that in doing pro-bono work they have reward, which may not be in terms of physical cash or monetary reward. What it does to your law firm, or what it does to you as an individual lawyer, is to show you up as a law firm engaged in corporate social responsibility. So when you are a certified legal aid probono provider, you are

•Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) station.

So you report to the police and investigations are carried out and the culprit are brought before the court. It is a despicable thing that such has taken place and up till now there is no arrest. I think we should avoid as much as possible politicizing the Judiciary, the Judiciary should be isolated from politics.

Isolation of judiciary It is condemnable that there is even that close access to a Judge, it should not be so. The Judiciary should isolate itself, the bar should assist in isolating the Judiciary. How did the thugs get close access to the Judge? It is unthinkable and unimaginable.

Some judiciary officers have been accused of getting involved in politics, what is your view?

Its a big shame that we have not sufficiently isolated the judges from politics and this is the result of such failure. How can a party in litigation or a thug be so close to a Judge?

In the first place as young lawyers, when we started practicing at the Lagos High Court, you cannot meet judges on the corridors and if we hear that a Judge is walking by, everybody disappears. That is the lawyers, not to talk of the litigants, and now we are talking about thugs. Where did they come from? How did they have access to the Judge? I think it should be thoroughly investigated and the culprit should be punished.

Reports had it that lawyers engaged in physical fight while checking electoral ballot in Osun State, what do you make of this?

I saw the footage on television and those persons having this altercation were not dressed like lawyers. If there is a court order

for lawyers to inspect election materials, that inspection in itself is an official function and when you are going for an official function, you don’t wear T-shirt.

I did not see any body properly dressed in the usual lawyers’ attire or wearing suit on what I saw on the television.

But if they are lawyers, again is part of what I have said, we must not only isolate the Judiciary we must isolate our selves, the parties to a litigation matter only to the extent of justice delivery.

You must be completely aloof from over-influence by your client.

That is the way you can give an unbiased opinion about the case you are handling. That was how we were trained. You are supposed to be calm, you understand your client’s case and you present it, you don’t get involved in viscous I don’t believe those people you saw on television were lawyers.

Is it true that your late father who was a Judge influenced your studying law?

I would say partly. My childhood fantasy was to end up as an airline pilot because I felt it was one of the most responsible ventures a man or a woman could pick on. As a Pilot, you are responsible for the lives of so many people, so your training must be adequate, your competence must be adequate. I think airline pilots are very responsible and a very special breeds.

I had always had in mind that I would end up being an airline pilot, it is true; one is always influenced by ones environment growing up in the home of a lawyer and a judge, 90 per cent of the people you see around are lawyers and judges so you tend to end up being like one of them and it happens in all the professions.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 39

We’re implementing recommendations of the Maritime Seminar for Judges — Bello

By Innocent Anaba

E

XECUTIVE Secretary Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, said that the Council has started implementing some of the recommendations reached at the Maritime Seminar for Judges held recently.

Bello, in a chat with newsmen, said that the Legal Department of the Council had set up a committee to look at the communiqué issued at the end of the seminar with a view to implementing same. “A committee was set up at the end of the seminar. It has inter-ministerial responsibilities and they have set up a committee. It has been done to see that certain things are implemented. As you know, the maritime seminar is not just a talk shop. Through the seminar, we have domesticated about two or three conventions, we have also done some administrative changes in maritime sector. It has influenced our judicial decisions also. So, the maritime seminar is a canvasser of thoughts. This committee that has been set up is working to see that decisions reached at the last seminar are actualised.”

Bello added that the board of Nigerian Shippers Council is technical and is being represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, and National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA. “Also there are issue based discussions on the challenges in the maritime sector and solutions to these challenges,” he said.

On the increased jurisdiction of the Council, whether there is a corresponding increment on their financial allocations, Bello said: “We love that the Shippers Council is ready to go on. As a matter of fact, we have made presentation and I am sure it is being looked at. We want to bring more revenue to the government. Through the Customs, we could triple the revenue coming from the ports if given the chance to work. We have started. We will soon make profound statement on issues that we have negotiated.”

Doorsteps of shippers On the position of the Inland Container Depots otherwise called Dry Ports, Bello said: “It is going on. We have just turned the sod for Funtua. The concessionaire will start construction very soon. We have had discussion with Oyo State Government, the Ibadan ICD and many others are in the pipeline. I think the idea has gone down now, it is being accepted. If we have the dry port, it means we are taking shipping to the door steps of shippers. It means that Apapa Port and road would be free from congestion. It means that the economy of the places where these ICD’s are located will boom because there are other industries attached to it. The haulage industry, the warehouses and so on, and the cost of transportation would reduce drastically.

“We are working with customs, what is left now is the legal framework and this has been sent to the President by the

Minister of Transport. The moment it comes out, construction will start. And then these ports will be ports of destination and ports of origin, which means through bill of lading, you can consign cargo to Funtua from Denmark and when they come, they will not be examined at Apapa, they will just be taken by train to Funtua where they will be examined and you see the train is working now. When we are fully done, all these trucks coming, you will not see them littering the roads any more, they will be in the localities of the ports. So, it

•Hassan Bello will solve the perennial congestion at the port. It will be faster and it will reduce transport cost.”

On multi-model transport system in the country, Bello said: “That is what we have been doing. Multi-model transportation is the way to go about it. We are even supported by the United Nations Convention on carriage of goods wholly or partly by sea otherwise known as the Rotterdam Rules, which we crafted together with all the African countries. This is a goods convention which supports multi-modalism it will support intermodalism. That is what is ideal. It is a model where sea ports are linked with the rail s, roads and inland waterways. Now in Nigeria, 80 per cent of the carriage is by roads. That is why we have problem with the roads. So, if we have other means of transport we will use them. The ports particularly, must be linked with many modes of transportation. So, multimodalism is the future and Nigerian is already moving in that direction.”

Talking on the concept of Transit Parks, Bello, said the truck transit park is a Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) initiative for infrastructure change.

“There is much deficit in infrastructure and Nigeria will have to modernise its transport infrastructure. Now, we can’t have trailers or trucks parked indiscriminately.

That is why we said we could have a truck transit park. It is a modern way where we have parking spaces off the main way, where you have fuel stations, gas stations, hostels, shops, everything, the modern way of doing this thing,” he said.

He added: “This is a revenue booster, we have been allocated land in Kogi State, for example, and this is where we will have the initial one. We are also talking with NNPC, which would like to have their retail outlets in these structures. By the end of next year, we hope that one or two trailer parks will be ready. We are working with other agencies of the government like the Road Safety Corps, and so on.

40— Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

of the Boko Haram leaders where we hear them lamenting loss of members or admitting the magnitude of pains they have suffered. If Shekau is to speak, his message is all about the doctrines of his group and what they stand for. He would emphasise that dying in the course of what they are doing is a thing of pride to them.

“But the problem is that we don’t even learn from history; if we are to follow the trend of these announcements, right from the time of Abukakar (the erstwhile spokesman of Boko Haram) period, there wasn’t a time where any persons speaking on behalf of the Boko Haram, be it Shekau or any other Amir would come and talk without reciting some verses of the Holy Quran first. But here we have one coming out to say he is the Secretary of the group and they have decided to ceasefire. It is really difficult to believe; but we all hope for a true ceasefire, anyway”.

These doubts by Borno residents became real barely 24 hours after the ceasefire deal was brokered and announced. It was all a spoof. Barely 24 hours after the ceasefire deal was announced, the terrorists struck Borno again, giving an

Boko Haram...prepared to stop the carnage in the north east?

Why FG/Boko Haram ceasefire deal failed Ahlul Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad (Boko Haram). I have accordingly directed the service IGERIANS heaved a sigh chiefs to ensure immediate of relief when mid last compliance with this month, the Federal Government development in the field.” announced ceasefire deal with An unknown man who claimed the Boko Haram sect. Nigerians to be the Boko Haram secretary, had confirmed the were happy that ceasefire, telling the finally, the siege was VOA Hausa service over especially with that the group had the promise that the accepted the over 200 kidnapped ceasefire.

Chibok girls would The doubts: Even soon be released. at the time when the With the directive to ceasefire was the service chiefs of announced, many the Army, Navy, Nigerians including Airforce and inhabitants of Borno Inspector General of expressed unbelief Police to comply with over its authenticity, the ceasefire giving diverse agreement in all reasons for their theatres of doubts. It was not the operations, the first time a ceasefire media world-wide was brokered and celebrated the many felt it should anticipated peace. not be seriously The Chief of considered.

Defence Staff had We thought Asabe Kwambura, said: “Without any since our last the principal of the prejudice to the Government outcome of our meeting with t h r e e - d a y the president in Secondary School, Chibok,where the interactions and the girls were kidnapped conclusions of this Abuja, these on April 14, at the forum, I wish to girls would nnouncement inform this audience have since been aexpressed her doubt that a ceasefire saying, “we thought agreement has been rescued and since our last concluded between reunited with meeting with the the Federal president in Abuja, Government of their parents these girls would Nigeria and the

By Chioma Gabriel

N

have since been rescued and reunited with their parents. I will be the happiest person in the world to see these girls of mine return home in one piece.

Nothing will supersede my joy but all this will not be possible if the federal government does not follow this declaration with action, honesty and sincerity.

“Many of the parents of these girls are suffering and dying.

Some have died of high blood pressure and post trauma stress disorder. I was in Chibok with the parents and their plight is beyond words. We need to have these girls back; this is another opportunity for us to do so.”

Expressing his doubt, the Coordinator of Peace Ambassadors in Borno State, Ahmed Shehu, said his concern about the ceasefire was its timing.

Nature of present crisis “My concern is on the nature of the present crisis and it’s timing.The timing for the ceasefire is suspicious. Why now; why would they wait for the four African countries to step up the fight before they announce a ceasefire; why would they wait until their capacity and strength be weakened before they announce a ceasefire? For me, there is more to it than meet the eye. It’s suspicious, and I don’t want to sound as a pessimist; (but) it is ill timed and it’s not feasible”.

Chibok school girls...still held by Boko Haram Another resident said that “something is logically wrong with the whole ceasefire issue.

This is not the first time that we are hearing declarations of ceasefire or its proposal by the Boko Haram.

There was a time when some members of the Boko Haram, though unknown, came out to say if we must cease fire, the federal government had to arrest so and so personality and even rebuild their destroyed central mosque in Maiduguri.

The pattern with which such declarations were made was very unique and consistent. But from the tone of the declaration made by the federal government as well as the manner with which the so-called secretary of the group had spoken in the radio, one tends to have some doubts.

“There is doubt because there had never been a time in the life

indication that there was no such agreement, and attacking Maikadiri in Abadam Local Government Area, in northern Borno State, and Sina and Grata villages in Michika Local Government Area in Adamawa State.

The attacks continued from time to time and even more women and girls were abducted, leaving the federal government embarrassed and even stupid.

The latest was the bomb explosion in Gombe State and seizure of Mubi in Adamawa State.

Irked by the worsening situation of things, many Nigerians and groups have expressed dismay and lack of confidence in the federal government and Boko Haram ceasefire deal. The Arewa Consultative Forum in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Continues on page 41

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—41

Why FG/Boko Haram ceasefire deal failed Continues from page 40 Ibrahim, expressed dismay over the latest bomb blast that hit Gombe last Friday.

“The bomb blast in Gombe, the continued killings and seizure of towns and villages in Borno and now Mubi in Adamawa State by insurgents barely two weeks after the announcement that a ceasefire had been brokered between the Boko Haram insurgents and the Federal Government calls to question the sincerity and effectiveness of the ceasefire agreement.

“Despite the assurances given by government that appropriate security measures were being put in place to contain the insurgency including the ceasefire agreement, the situation in the Northeast region was deteriorating and required a decisive action to quell it. Towns like Bama, Gwoza and many others are still under the control of the insurgents despite the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Security challenges “Nigerians are becoming skeptical and no longer had confidence in the assurances being given by government officials regarding the security challenges, since the terrorists had continued to unleash mayhem on the people without adequate counter offensive from the military. The bomb blast that occurred last Friday at the Gombe motor park was wicked, gruesome and condemnable considering the 27 innocent people killed in the blast and also the destruction of property it caused.

It is an irony that, while

Nigerians in the Northeast region are being killed by insurgents and Nigerian territories being seized, our politicians are busy collecting party declaration forms to contest 2015 elections instead of collaborating efforts to contain the insurgency.”

Boko Haram denies ceasefire But in a strange development, Boko Haram denied that they had agreed to a ceasefire with the Nigerian government. A new video obtained by news agency AFP on October 31 showed Abubakar Shekau, (the same man the military claimed they had killed?) describing the Nigerian government claims of a ceasefire as a lie and also saying that the 219 abducted Chibok schoolgirls had been converted to Islam and married off. The presidency had announced that an agreement had been reached to free the missing Chibok girls whose abduction sparked global anger and demands for their release.

Shekau had said in Hausa: "We did not negotiate with anyone…

It’s a lie. It’s a lie. We will not negotiate. What is our business with negotiation? Allah said we should not.''

Shekau in the same video equally ruled out future talks with the Nigerian Government. With continued killings in the northeast in spite of the ceasefire, Nigerian soldiers numbering about 300 fled to Cameroon after Boko Haram insurgents overran Mubi, the second largest city in Borno State.

The Nigerian soldiers fled the north-eastern part of Nigeria and crossed the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The troops fled to the border towns in Cameroon after the Mubi attack.

There have also been mass exodus of residents that Cameroon s t a r t e d screening refugees to p r e v e n t infiltration by insurgents.

Worried by the worsening situation of things, the Bringback our girls Movement expressed shock over the failure of the ceasefire and continued bombardment of the Northeast Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis. communities.

“We are extremely shocked and territory. Has the purported gravely perturbed that the ‘ceasefire’ failed? What explains insurgency seems to be the gruesome reality that after the engulfing more cities within the “ c e a s e f i r e ” North East zone even at a time announcement of the Federal Government October 17, the confidently announced a ceasefire terrorists have been of its counter terrorism war. Let attacking many more no one pretend that we are not communities. How facing the most substantial threat do we explain the to the integrity and existence of escalating number of innocent citizens our country.

What more extreme being killed or taken manifestations are we waiting for hostage after they than the evidence of a rampaging had been informed by group of terrorists carrying out our government of a heinous carnage in Mubi in negotiated truce and Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and détente? Has our Gombe barely two weeks after the F e d e r a l Chief of Defence Staff publicly G o v e r n m e n t , conveyed a stand down order to through the military, our troops who were in the front given a new and countermanding prosecuting the war.

We, like most Nigerians, are at order to our soldiers a loss on what the latest to resume the war development means for our and protect our and counter insurgency war and for citizens the safety of our citizens and territory?”

Repeated failures

Arms recovered from the Boko Haram

From records, it was not the first time that an agreement was brokered between Federal Government and Boko Haram and it was not the first time truce talk with the sect failed. In July 2013, Imam Muhammadu Marwana, who claimed to represent Boko Haram spoke on the Hausa Service of Radio France International, apologising on behalf of the sect’s past murderous activities and announcing a decision to end i n s u r g e n c y.

Marwana made the announcement days after the Federal Government raised a

25-man committee to work out modalities for granting amnesty to the sect, saying in the radio programme that the Minister of Special Duties and chairman of the Peace and Dialogue Committee in the North, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, signed the ‘agreement’ on behalf of the Jonathan government.

It was a failed project

On January 28. 2013, Muhammed Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, claiming to be a Boko Haram commander announced a ceasefire deal on behalf of Shekau, the leader of the sect. He claimed the truce was the outcome of meetings with Borno State government officials and Boko Haram, saying the sect agreed to end insurgency out of concern for women and children who have borne the brunt of activities of the sect. Idris had demanded that the former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, should serve as a negotiator in the talks. But Buhari turned down the request, accusing the PDP instead of deliberately using the purported Boko Haram emissary to portray him as a sponsor of the sect to discredit him politically.

A month later, Shekau repudiated the ceasefire declaration and vowed to continue the deadly attacks. So, kidnapping, suicide bombing and killings continued, an evidence that the sect was not part of any of such ceasefire deal.

Before this time, a ceasefire was attempted in 2012 when the sect nominated Dr. Datti Ahmed, a Kano-based medical doctor and Muslim cleric, and Comrade Sani, to represent it in talks with government but Ahmed, known to be active in the promotion of the Muslim Sharia legal system that Boko Haram is advocating withdrew from the mediation with the government on the grounds of insincerity on the part of government and leakage of the details of meetings to the media.

The same year (2012), the sect pulled out of talks with government representatives in Kaduna following the Has our arrest of one of its senior Federal commanders, Abu Government, Dardaa, whom it had for talks. through the sent Nigerians witnessed military, how negotiations that given a new would have gotten the Chibok girls released order to our early in the year in exchange for Boko soldiers to Haram commanders in resume the its custody failed because the Federal war and Governement did not protect our follow it through. That citizens and negotiation was handled by the Australian cleric, territory?

Stephen Davis.

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

The drama behind Tambuwal’s defection — Akande, House Leader MRS. Mulikat Akande-Adeola was in pole position to emerge speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011 having been nominated by her party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when Aminu Tambuwal wiggled through party and zonal objections to emerge speaker. She was then compensated with the position of House Leader. As the House Leader, she is the fulcrum upon whom the businesses of the House revolve. It was as such not surprising that when Speaker Tambuwal defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, penultimate Tuesday that suspicions about her possible collaboration were raised by some PDP sympathisers.

Mrs. Akande-Adeola, for the first time last Tuesday, opened up on her role in the latest crisis in the House of Representatives and gave her account in the unfolding developments. Excerpts:

By Emman Ovuakpore & Livinus Nwabughiogu

P

RINCIPAL Officers Meeting It is my job as the Leader of the House to move motions for adjournment. But that adjournment that was moved on that particular day was not a usual adjournment. Prior to this, the leadership met the day before at a meeting in the Deputy Speaker’s guest house. The meeting was set for 5 pm.

I was there at ten past five and I met only two members of the leadership. I waited till 6pm.

No other person showed up.

And I left and went back to my house.

At about 6:30pm, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were calling me simultaneously to please come back and attend the meeting. That was after several calls. I picked the Speaker ’s call and he said, Leader, where are you and I said I am in the house. I am not coming back there.

Before the adjournment I am tired, I just got back from a trip. I have been there (venue) for over 45 minutes and he said, please, please, we are all here. Come back. And I said my driver has even left.

He said, ok, I will send you a car and a driver to pick you.

And I even jokingly said ok, if you send the car, I won’t return the car to you. So, when the driver came, I came outside the house and I found my driver outside.

So, I said you came with a jeep? I don’t usually like entering jeeps. I entered my Honda and we both drove back to the venue of the meeting.

Before we adjourned they had asked me to liaise with the Senate Leader to find out how long they will be going for. That is the senate. As you know, we always adjourn and come back at the same time. I liaised with him and the Senate leader told me they will be adjourning on Tuesday to come back on the

November 4th which was the following Tuesday. So I said Ok. When I got to the meeting, I met all the members of the leadership except for Hon. Leo. And I asked where is my deputy? They said he was on his way from the airport. And he later joined us. The only other person who wasn’t there was Hon. Ahmed Murtkar who sent a text that he wasn’t feeling well.

So, nine of us were present at the meeting. And the Speaker said this is a one item agenda meeting about the adjournment that we are going to have.

Leader, what did the senate leader say when you contacted him? I said the Senate leader said they would be adjourning for one week from Tuesday till the following Tuesday which was the 4th of November.

At that point, everybody raised different issues why we cannot go for only one week; ranging from members having problems in their constituency, because of their tickets, they cannot be at two places at the same time.

There will be no time. How many have you seen in the chambers lately? All sorts of reasons were given. And I said what will be the moral justification for us to go that long?

And what will the public per-

There is no way I would have moved that adjournment if we did not agree on this and this you can cross check from all the other members if they want to be truthful to themselves

first, members should go and work on their tickets and that the House will adjourn for the first two weeks, let members conclude all the reports in the various committees. And the following two weeks will be for oversight functions towards the budget. That was what we agreed.

Defection day On that fateful day, we got to the chambers and I got in late.

I came in after them because I wasn’t really looking at my time. While we were in the chambers, if you check the Order Paper, you would notice that there is a particular time for announcement usually. And after the announcement, we went into the Order of the day and nothing was said about whether the speaker was moving or not. At the meeting we had, nothing was said about that.

Meeting with speaker

•Adeola-Akande: I did not know of Tambuwal's defection

ception since we just came back from a long vacation? I raised the issue of the MTEF. I raised the issue of budget. They said no problem. On MTEF, the report can even be laid tomorrow.

There and then, they called the Chairman, Committee on

Finance. But I would not know truly, if the chairman, Finance was on the phone. What we were told after the phone call was that he will present the budget tomorrow.

So, after all the reasoning and everything, we agreed that ok,

Nothing was mentioned whether he was moving or not even though it was in the air, in the media, everybody was talking about it. And since it was not announced at that particular time, I turned to my Deputy and I said, Leo, is the Speaker not moving again?

And he said, he is not doing it again. That’s what he told me.

And I am saying this without fear of anybody.

And not quite 5 minutes, another member came to me and said to me, Leader what is going to happen? I spoke to the Speaker this morning and he told me he is moving today.

And I turned to my Deputy again.

I said Leo, somebody just told me the Speaker said he is moving today. He said hold on, hold on. I want to listen to what the person who was on the floor was saying at that particular time.

And at the end of the session, the Speaker said, Leader move for adjournment. I still turned to the Deputy Speaker and said, is it as agreed? He said yes. And I got up and moved the adjournment. And he said Leo, second and he seconded.

And it was at that point that the Speaker now made the statement about his defection.

I wouldn’t know what the leader has done that is out of the

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—43

Governance: Jonathan should

apologise and quit — Akeredolu CHIEF Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA was the flag bearer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the 2012 gubernatorial election in Ondo State. In this interview, he speaks on the profile of the candidate the APC would need to overcome in the forthcoming presidential election, the preparations of the election management body among other sundry issues. Excerpts:

By Bartholomew Madukwe

H

OW do you see the situation in Borno State where despite emergency rule, more than 200 girls were kidnapped? Is Nigeria safe?

I do not know where Nigeria is going to. Whether we like it or not, we do not have government that knows what it is doing. The PDP government does not know its right from its left; that is why you can see the Chibok girls being kidnapped for over six months.

It is because PDP government does not know what it is doing at all. We are talking about Nigeria. Even if the girls were being taken from one state to another, and they are being moved in the 36 states, the government by now should have reached them. Talk less of being within Sambisa forest and the government cannot reach them.

We are not taking the security of our peoples’ lives and property serious, and the PDP is not. Before the Chibok girls were kidnapped there was emergency rule, so the governors were no longer in charge of security. So they were kidnapped when the security of the state was under the control of the PDP Federal Government.

Acceptance of failure They should accept the responsibility, they should accept their failure and apologise to Nigerians. And if we are in a decent place, the government should have been out of place by now, for this failure.

What is actually wrong?

Everything is wrong. We do not have a government that has focus. The government we have today is lacking vision.

They do not know where they are going and that is the problem this country is having.

We are just floating, we know not where we are going. That is the sad thing about Nigeria today.

Can we say that the people are satisfied about good governance? Has there been reduction in corruption? Do you have light today? They have budgeted billions to procure darkness. Energy is still not stable, industries are flying out of the country.

now using to their advantage.

The only thing we need is somebody who has a strong support.

And a number of us said that for the interest of the party, let the person close to the heart of the talakawas be picked because they are in the majority.

By that person’s name alone APC can have votes that to the bewilderment of PDP in their history will be shocked. So we believe that such person should have a national outlook.

But some people fear that Buhari being a retired army officer would take the country back to dictatorship?

Did Obasanjo take us back to dictatorship? No! And anyway, who says that with the institution that we already have in place, can any individual just rule without respect for the laws? It is only when those ones become corrupt.

Life as a soldier

•Akeredolu: We are just floating as a country We are supposed to be the best in Africa because we have good weather and we are endowed with good human resources. So what will be our reason for remaining in this quagmire? Nigerians must brace up to put an end to this decadent status quo.

Who do you think should contest the Presidential election for APC- Buhari or Atiku?

When government stays too

The list of delegates is the key that will unlock the power struggle between the Chime and Ekweremadu which the chairman of the party will play a great role in determining who becomes a delegate

much in power without impacting on the people positively, I believe a time has come for change. That is minimum consideration why there must be a change.

You know Buhari’s record. I have spoken to several people and they clamour for change.

If Idiagbon were still alive, the people would have said they won’t mind asking Buhari and Idiagbon to come.

But since Idiagbon is not alive and Buhari is still alive, let any other person who has that commitment run with Buhari and we believe there will be a change.

Whether we like it or not, Nigeria today needs help.

Corruption festers and nobody is bothered. Buhari, in his first tenure, tried to fight against corruption. Maybe he will be the one to change the country for good.

However, there is going to be a congress. So APC has not made its choice. But a number of us in APC, have looked at his popularity among the talakawas, the party might be better off if Buhari is lucky to win at the congress.

It is not that Atiku is not good but the party must be certain of one thing. We will not and cannot match PDP naira for naira-kobo for kobo. We cannot match PDP with the power of incumbency which they are

Moreover, Buhari has been off military for over 20 years.

How many years has he lived as a soldier and how many years has he lived as a civilian that you will now think that it is the military that is guiding his decision now.

I believe that the man is ready for a democratic rule. He is as democratic as any other person.

As the 2015 elections draw closer, do you think the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set for a credible election?

I do not have confidence in INEC, my confidence is in the people. If the people are ready to stand by their votes and make sure that their votes are counted, there is nothing INEC can do. There is no amount of election petition that will put an end to impunity by INEC, the people must be able to confront them.

The drama behind Tambuwal’s defection Continues from page 42 ordinary.

It is my responsibility to move for adjournment. There is no way I would have moved that adjournment if we did not agree on this and this you can cross check from all the other members if they want to be truthful to themselves and that was exactly what happened.

So I need people to know because people who know me

have been calling me and asking me: why should you do this or why did you do this? I think this will put paid to all these questions.

Was Tambuwal right not to have confided in her?

I deal with everyone on equal basis and I have a very open mind. I don’t think it would have been put of place for the Speaker to even tell me that Leaders, I am moving tomor-

row. I don’t think that would have been out of place.

The only thing would have been may be to ask him a few questions and all that. We are colleagues in the House. We represent different constituencies.

What is good for me may not be good for me. He has his reasons for doing whatever he has done. But I would have expected that I was told no matter what. So, that is just it.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Why my Tiv brothers should consider an Idoma

Benue:

— Abagu DEACON Dan Abbagu was a former governorship aspirant in Benue State under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2007, but lost the primary election to incumbent Governor Gabriel Suswan. Deacon Abbagu who retired as Assistant General Manager, Security department of the multi-national corporation, Exxon Mobile, bares his mind on the forthcoming general elections, especially as it concerns the Benue State governorship tussle. The politician insisted that for fairness, justice and equity, an Idoma from the Benue South Senatorial district, popularly known as zone C should be allowed to become the next governor of the state.

By Chris Ochayi

Y

OU tried to become the governor of Benue State in 2007. How did it happen?

Yes, in 2007, the governorship of Benue state was actually zoned to Sankara. Therefore I came in there to make sure that we get what belongs to us. There were many of us in the field but eventually we all agreed as a party on the present Governor Gabriel Suswan who is also from Sankara. That was what we wanted and we got what we wanted.

I actively participated in politicking for him so that at the end of it he won that first round and then the second time around also. So that’s it.

So you supported him as somebody from your zone.

Yes I supported him. What I was fighting for was to make sure that my zone got the term of the governor and we all came out.

Any of us could have served in that position. So we all met and agreed on him and gave him our support and he is there.

So what is your take on the Suswan administration in Benue State so far?

I think he has done the best he could do. That is what I could say. He has done the best that he could.

Now with the next governorship contest in view, what are your perspectives?

I think Benue state has provided a very interesting scenario and I hope that they will continue like that until the right thing is done.

You see, in Benue, we comply with zoning system. We have not deviated from it. Last time around like I told you, it was time for Sankara and Sankara did point on Gabriel Suswan to hold the aces.

I could remember at that time, we had to even donate votes from zone C for him to make up the

nomination and I am hoping that this time, zone C will be compensated for this.

So what I am saying in short is, I think zone A, zone B have enjoyed shots at governorship and this time around I am sure the governor himself is thinking towards zoning this to zone C .

But I think the way things are done in Benue State, we have three zones, each of these zones has a senator. So if we have shared the senatorial positions equally, we should as well share the governorship position equally. And if zones A and B have enjoyed it, then I think naturally now, it should be zone C, unless the party thinks otherwise. But if I were in the position to make a choice, I would say it should be the turn of zone C this time.

Are you calling on the party to make this a policy statement as regards the zoning?

I think that is what the party, the PDP should do. I think one of the problems that have been working against zone C is the population. The Tiv population is two times more than them and they will always want to have it by all means because they feel zone C is in the minority.

Well, I don’t think there is an

You see, in Benue, we comply with zoning system. We have not deviated from it

•Abbagu: We should share the governorship position equally issue of minority or majority here.

I think it is an issue of fairness, justice and equity. When you look at it, zone A has seven local government areas, zone B has seven local government areas, zone C has nine local government areas.

So when you are talking about population, how do you measure this population? Because if you are saying that these people with nine local government areas are minority and you are comparing them with people with seven lo-

cal government areas each, I don’t see the sound argument there.

But what I would want to say is that if you have looked at this as people and zoned them into three groups and given each of them a senator, then the issue of minority should not come there.

Because if they were minority, they shouldn’t have had a senator just like the other zones have.

The issue that should be emphasized here is that if we are truly practicing zoning like we

have practiced zoning in terms of senatorial seat, why can’t we practice zoning when it comes to governorship seat.

Some of your Tiv brothers are alleged to have sworn that over their dead bodies would an Idoma person become governor. Is it really an abomination?

Well, you see people are free to make their opinion and I think I am also free to air my opinion.

But I think that these things are done depending on the circumstances.

Whatever the case, I am sure they must have made it due to certain circumstances and those circumstances have changed now. So I think for purpose of good integration, fairness, justice and equity, they could have a change of mind. I am sincerely believing that they could have a change of mind.

And I know we have an amiable governor who thinks very straight and I am sure he will not be against that kind of thing.

So would you now urge the outgoing governor to payback the support he got from Zone C in 2007?

Yes, you might call it that. I think in politics, it is piggyback, it is a piggyback game. So I think if someone donated votes to him at that time, it should be a payback time.

I don’t want to really base it on the payback bases. I want to base it on fairness, justice and equity.

That this thing has been rotating from one zone to another, why can’t we try zone C also? And if we are saying that zone C is too small, then why do we retain it as a senatorial zone?

How Omo-Ojo was endorsed for Reps

C

OALITION of Civil Society Groups and Youths with women from the two local government councils that make up Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State on the platform of Ovia development movement, have endorsed the House of Representatives ambition of Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the Commissioner for Transport in Edo State to represent Ovia Federal Constituency in the forth coming February 14, 2015 election.

The endorsement of Omo-Ojo was announced at a meeting attended by over 618 persons made up of men, women and youths drawn from Civil Society and Non Governmental Organisations.

The communiqué issued by the body and signed by 16 leaders of the groups, appealed to All Progressives Congress leaders and delegates from Ovia South West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas to cast their votes for Omo-Ojo in the interest of Ovia men, women and most

especially the youths who have been sidelined in the state.

“Casting their vote for Omo-Ojo is the most surest way for the APC to win Ovia Federal Constituency seat owing to his pedigree, his empowerment of the youths, men and women in his constituency since his days as the publisher of Midwest Times and Midwest Herald newspapers, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, right to his former position as Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas. He has continued to assist our people with his present office as Commissioner for Transport.

“He has been helping us with the positions he has occupied in the past six years in government.

This is an attestation to a fact that when elected as a Federal legislator, it will be an ample opportunity for him to further raise the bar of empowerment.”

The communiqué also showered praises on the House of Representatives hopeful for his political steadfastness. “He is a

•Omo-Ojo true party man and a foundation member of the progressives in Edo State, having served as the Director to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation in 2007, where he successfully won the media battle before and after April 14, 2007 Governorship Elections in Edo State and resisted all entreaties to decamp to the opposition party.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014—45

Benin Vanguard backs Obuh

RNI drums support for Jonathan’s re-election

B

ENIN River Vanguard for Obuh, has called on Deltans to support the aspiration of Mr. Anthony Obuh to be the next governor of Delta State in 2015, saying he knew how the public and private sectors could work together.

A statement by the Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Okotie, and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Godfrey Mejebi, of the group said Obuh “is someone that can harness the state’s potentials towards becoming great, because he has the immense experience needed to transform the state into an economic super power.”

Oshiomhole's aide faults Itulah on Edo North polls

By Simon Adewale

S

ENIOR Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Prince Henry Okpamen, has faulted Friday Itulah, a member of the House of Representatives, over his claim that All Progressives Congress, APC, would be defeated in Edo Central in 2015 general elections.

Itulah, at a briefing, was quoted as describing as laughable assertion by APC leadership in Edo Central Senatorial District that PDP would be roundly defeated in 2015 elections.

He had insisted that PDP would win Esanland because the people had benefited from the party leadership over the years.

Reacting, Okpamen, who is contesting for Edo State House of Assembly to represent Esan North East Constituency 2, Uromi, said: “The 2015 election in Esanland, particularly in Esan North East, may not only be about party, but more about issues, antecedents and quality of candidate presented.

“I assure Honourable Itulah that we are ready to confront and defeat any candidate that PDP may throw up for Esan NorthEast Constituency 2.”

By Festus Ahon

A

MEETING: From left— HRM King Godwin Igodo, Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council; Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; King Alfred Diete Spiff , Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, and his Bomo clan counterpart, King Joshua Igbugburu, after a meeting at the State Traditional Rulers' Council Secretariat, Ovom, Yenagoa.

Owie blasts OBJ over comments on power sector

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—FORMER Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, yesterday faulted the comments by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who attributed the crisis in the power sector to the abandonment by his successors.

Owie, who described the comments as misleading and untrue, alleged that it was the former President who created the problems in the power sector which President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was tackling.

Owie said: “It is shocking that Obasanjo will not stop playing to the gallery after ruining Nigeria in his years of administration.

How can Obasanjo say that his successors abandoned power sector, when he actually laid the foundation for the crisis in that sector today? What blackmail, what hypocrisy?

“Has the former President forgotten that he wasted 16.5 billion dollars on power during his tenure and that 16.5 billion dollars was never accounted for? Even the Ndudi Elumelu committee that investigated the dirty deals in the power sector was pursued by the agents of Obasanjo in government.

“The former President has no credibility to question the credible leadership of

President Jonathan.

“Jonathan has done better in just four years than Obasanjo’s wasted 11 years in power.

“His first coming as military Head of State was to destroy the public service and in his second coming, the eight years were used in destroying the independence of the National Assembly and attempts to invade the judiciary.”

Marian Ali promises Delta North good representation

M

RS. Marian Ali, a Delta North senatorial district aspirant, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has assured the people of the district of good representation.

She told journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital, that, “my support base is over 90 percent in Delta North because they know I am desirous of serving wholeheartedly.

“I can assure you that any opposition would be defeated and crushed by the collective will of the people of Delta North.”

Ali’s campaign manager, a former commissioner in the state, Mr. Leo Esegbue, said the clamour for her to represent Delta North in the Senate was enormous and that the people have resolved to give her all the support.

Why we support Obuh— OTU NMU EBON

By Gbenga Oke

A

N Agbor, Delta Statebased social-cultural organization, Otu Nmu-Ebon, has identified the humility and administrative competence of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant in Delta State, Sir Tony Obuh, as needed factors to push forward the successes of the outgoing administration.

Speaking when he led a delegation of the group on a

courtesy call on the aspirant, the Coordinator-in-Chief of the association, Mr. Basil Nwokoro, said the group found it easy endorsing Obuh as the next governor of the state.

He said the group firmly believed that Obuh was the most capable person, among the aspirants, who could advance the socio-economic and infrastructure development agenda of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration.

Nwokoro said the group was

convinced Obuh was capable to take the state to new heights given his tutelage under Uduaghan.

Also in the delegation were past coordinators-in-chief and senior members of the association, who expressed their delight that Obuh had agreed to offer himself to the service of his fatherland.

Obuh, in his response, thanked the group for their solidarity and said he decided to contest to contribute to the growth of the state.

S A B A — FOLLOWING the declaration of his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election, Rebuild Nigeria Initiative, RNI, has called on Nigerians to support the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Delta State Coordinator of RNI, Mr. Augustine Ogedegbe, made the call while presenting certificate of return to elected local government coordinators of the group.

Ogedegbe charged the coordinators and members of the group to channel their time, energy and resources into mobilizing support for President Jonathan.

He described Jonathan as the best candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

Bomadi people laud ex-council boss

By Onoja Innocent

B

OMADI—THE people of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State have commended the former Transition Committee chairman of the council, Collins Olorogun, for prudent management of resources during his tenure, before handing over to the newly-elected chairman, Mr. Oluwole Karetimi.

In his handover speech, Olorogun declared that Bomadi council area was free of debt and abandoned projects, as his administration had paid all contractors of inherited and initiated contracts, and that all contracts were completed in his tenure.

He thanked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Senator James Manager and Mr. Nicholas Mutu, for the opportunity given him to serve and the enabling working atmosphere.

46 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Oyegun, Amaechi decry widening gap between rich, poor people

Group tasks Nigerians on Jonathan's transformation agenda

E

zUrge wealthy Nigerians to assist the less privileged

O

By Francis Igata

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—NATIONAL Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC , Chief John Oyegun, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, yesterday in Owerri, Imo State, decried the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the country and urged wealthy Nigerians to assist the less privileged in the society.

They spoke during the distribution of empowerment kits to some physically challenged persons from within and outside Imo State, by Kpakpando Foundation, set up

by Senator Osita Izunaso.

Governor Amaechi, who was represented by his Deputy, Tele Ikuru, said: “God has a way of caring for those who care for others, especially the less privileged in society. I urge all well-to-do individuals to think of channeling some of their God-given wealth to the service of their fellow citizens.”

The governor noted that in establishing the Kpakpando Foundation, Senator Izunaso sought for the well-being of the disabled and not for selfish reasons.

On his part, Chief Oyegun,

N U G U — NIGERIANS have been urged to pray for the smooth transition of government in 2015 to enable the ongoing transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan,succeed.

Enugu State Chairman of the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo, Presidency, NCJS, Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, spoke while inaugurating a Youthto-Youth campaign for Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Addressing newsmen, Anike, who is the Enugu State Commissioner for Inter-Ministerial Affairs, said: “I will mobilize over one million youths of the state for the re-election of President Jonathan as President of Nigeria and Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the Governor of Enugu State come 2015. All the youths should move out enmasse to sensitize others towards the actualization of this pursuit because both men presents answers to our collective problems."

noted that works of charity helps to improve the lives of the less privileged.

While appealing to the recipients to profitably utilise the empowerment materials given to them by the Foundation, Oyegun equally reasoned that

Imo community raises alarm over failed roads Mgbroko to Umuezeala Port Harcourt based road construc-

O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—THE people of Umukabia, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, have raised alarm over what they termed “the hopeless road network in our community.”

A spokesman of the community, Mr. Celestine Ike, lamented that the communities major link roads, UmuelemaiAgbaje-Eke Umuodu-Orji road and adjoining loop from

A

WKA—ANAMBRA Stateowned College of Health Technology, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government area, yesterday graduated, 405 persons who completed their studies in the institution.

Acting Provost of the College, Dr. Robinson Mgbakogu, said at the ceremony that the 22 years old institution had been able to bridge

the middle level manpower gap in the health sector in the state.

According to him, six programmes run in the school namely, Community Health, Environmental Health Tech, Public Health Nursing, Medical Laboratory, Pharmacy and Medical Imaging Technology were set to face accreditation visit by the relevant professional bodies.

remained a death trap.

“People access these roads with extreme caution and difficulty, especially during the rainy season, due to flooding.

Deep craters and deep ponds, which dot several portions of these roads, have made transportation extremely difficult in Umukabia”, Ike said.

He recalled that although the immediate past administration of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, awarded the road contract to a

tion firm (names withheld), “the project was abandoned midway and the situation has worsened this year.”

Ike described as disheartening that the area had remained underdeveloped despite the calibre of prominent personalities from the community, including the former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, his younger brother, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief Johnson Ekpunobi, among others.

Ogwashi-Uku Poly emerges winner of DELHIFEST

O

GWASHI-UKU—DELTA State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, has won the overall best position in the second edition of Delta State Higher Institutions Festival of Culture, Arts and Technology,

Anambra health tech college graduates 405

By Vincent Ujumadu

“being economically self reliant would uplift them from the state of want to being employers of labour.”

Earlier, Executive Secretary of Kpakpando Foundation, Prince Ezennia Ogbuehi, explained that the foundation,

established nine years ago, now had on its roll, over 1,500 persons with different disabilities across the country.

“We cater for their educational, healthcare and economic needs.

Presently, we have 500 members on our scholarship scheme, while we have set up skills acquisition businesses for over 200 members”, Ogbuehi said.

He said: “We are fully prepared and expecting the first accreditation visit by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, to our institution. We believe that the expected accreditation will boost the national and international image of the college and qualify the college to apply for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund."

DELHIFEST, held at SonghaiDelta, Amukpe Sapele, in October 2014. The exhibition, which paraded several higher institutions across Delta State, showcased competition in fashion parade, beauty pageant, cultural dance, art, fabrication engineering, indigenous technology, quiz, among others.

The polytechnic team, led by former Dean, School of Art & Design, Mr. Otemu Akpodiete, put up a very impressive performance in the various competition as the polytechnic outclassed other institutions such as Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, College of Education Agbor, to come top in; Cultural Dance,

Drama, Essay Competition, Fashion Parade, Art & Technology, and Fabrication Engineering, thereby emerging the overall best in the competition.

Akpodiete commended the polytechnic’s management for the encouragement given to the team.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Edna Mogekwu, also praised the performance of the team, saying; ‘’management is ready to propel the team to win more laurels in future outings.’’

DELHIFEST is an annual event for higher institutions of learning in Delta State to showcase their product and creative activities competitively, under the auspices of Ministry of Higher Education and Directorate of Culture and Tourism.

On insurgents' takeover of Mubi I

wonder how 2015 election will look like. The Nigerian government should now know that the Boko Haram menace has sadly gone beyond a problem for the North East of the country. Mr Ikechukwu Adigwe —Worker

I

T is becoming clear that the Nigerian army cannot stop Boko Haram alone without foreign military intervention. The administration should, therefore, do the most honourable thing.

Mr Charles Fredrick — Businessman

W

ITH the way se curity matters in the country seem to be getting heavier day by day, it is obvious that those who advised President Jonathan against former army chief are his enemies. Mr Moweta Tony — Worker

P

ERSONALLY I feel there are so many terror groups now operating under the cover of Boko Haram. Up coming election will bring a lot of politically instigated violence.

Mr Akande Abdullah — Student

S

TRANGELY, when Boko Haram resurfaced in 2010 killing innocent Nigerians, our leaders in government opted for dialogue, claiming it was the only viable option.

Mr Ben Onyekachi —Businessman

B

OKO Haram is out not only to destroy Northern Nigeria but also occupy the whole of Nigeria and implement Sharia in the whole country. No matter what, this country is too big for one person or a group to pocket.

Mr Martin Dickson —Student

Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 47

Rights activists fault Wada over freezing of Kogi LG accounts

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—RIGHTS activists in Kogi State, have condemned both the freezing and auditing of accounts of the 21 local government councils in the state by Governor Capt Idris Wada, describing his action as unconstitutional.

The Executive Director for Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, CHRCR, Abdul Miliki, who spoke on behalf of other civil society groups in the state said the governor acted unlawfully by taking unconstitutional actions.

Wada had weekend frozen the accounts of the local government councils, saying that the state government would take over the payment of local government workers pending the completion of their auditing.

The governor said his action followed series of complaints of alleged payment of local government workers’ salaries in bits since last year.

But, Miliki said the action of the

Kogi jailbreak: Moro gives ultimatum to contractor

L

OKOJA—THE Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, has ordered the contractor handling the new Koton-Karfe medium prison in Kogi to complete the facility within two weeks or risk sanctions.

Moro gave the order on Tuesday in Koton-karfe while assessing the level of damage done to the old facility by gunmen who attacked the prison on Sunday night.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that gunmen armed with grenades attacked the prison on Sunday night, freeing 144 inmates, out of whom 15 had returned, while one died in the process.

The minister condemned the attack and said that the Federal Government had ordered that security be beefed up around the facility and other prisons across the country to forestall a recurrence of such act.

He said “the attack on that prison is most unfortunate, particularly that it came on the heels of a previous attack on the prisons.

“We have gone there and we saw what happened and the attack virtually took the same pattern — use of explosives to break the walls of the prison.

state government contravened Section 125 (2) and (6) of 1999 Constitution, which mandated the Auditor General of Local Governments and not the governor to audit the account of the local government councils.

“It is common knowledge that the Kogi State governor, Capt.

Wada ordered the freezing of the accounts of the 21 local governments in the state and constituted an audit panel to audit them. Reasons had been that the local government chairmen are alleged to be corrupt and could

not pay full salaries of local government staff.

“We are worried that the functions of the Auditor General of the state to audit the local government councils is being taken over by the office of the governor, which amounts to illegality and its unconstitutional.

It is the Auditor General of the state that is mandated to conduct the audit of local governments and submit his report to the state assembly and not the office of the governor. It is the state House of Assembly through its relevant

committees that can act on the report of the Auditor General and can sanction erring local government chairmen, and not the governor,” he said.

Buttressing his argument further, Miliki said “Section 125 (2) of the 1999 Constitution states that, ’The public account of a state and all offices and courts of a state shall be audited by the Auditor General for the state, who shall submit his report to the House of Assembly of the state concerned and for the purpose of the Auditor General or any other person authorized by him in that regard shall have access to all the books, records, and other documents relating to those accounts.''

LAUNCH: From left; Seun Ayeni, Assistant Brand Manager, Baby & Beauty, PZ Cussons ; Mildred Bagshaw, Marketing Manager, Baby & Beauty, PZ Cussons; winning family of Cussons Baby Moment1, Mr and Mrs Collins Uwadia and Sandy Griffiths, Marketing Director, Family Care, PZ Cussons at the launch of Cussons Baby new variants and unveiling the season 2 of Cussons Baby Moment in Lagos.

Why I accepted to run for 3rd time — ADEYEMI

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

O KO J A — S E N AT O R Smart Adeyemi has given reasons why he changed his mind to contest election into the Senate for the third time.

He said that he was pressurised by stakeholders from the his area, who told him that he remained the best choice for the people.

Adeyemi spoke at the state secretariat of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in Lokoja in an interview with newsmen after submitting his intent and nomination forms to the party.

His words: “I accepted to recontest after the seven local government council chairmen from Kogi West Senatorial District and their PDP chairmen came together to purchase the forms for me.

“I have to wait this far because I wanted to be sure that the people wanted me. So, I came to the conclusion that a good percentage of the people want me to contest for the third time.

“Those against me are opportunists who were at one time or the other lucky to have been

offered political appointments and now parade themselves as political leaders. The people know who their leaders are. I know my own leaders, my followers know me and I know my followers. So, make no mistake when opportunists are speaking. Those who are speaking may not be speaking the minds of the people.

“Leadership had evolved over

time. The definition of leadership is no longer in the context that some people think it was 10 to 20 years ago. Nigerians have come to know better. A leader must be passionate about the well-being of the people, somebody who has been an advocate for the wellbeing of the people, somebody who has been courageous enough to advocate for his people.”

APC gov aspirant in Jigawa pledges free education

By Aliyu Dangida

D

UTSE—AN All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Jigawa State, Ubale Hashim Yusuf has pledged to provide free education, as well as accord priority attention to agriculture in order to strengthen the state’s revenue base and boost industrialization, if voted into power in 2015.

Speaking on his declaration, Yusuf said that according the sector priority would lead to industrial development, which would make the state financially independent through gainful employment.

“Today is the dawn of a new era in Jigawa State, since it is the day of reflections on the past, especially the painful political history our state has gone through in the last eight years.”

“We are going to revive the agricultural sector by transforming our old method of farming to mechanized agriculture; where our peasant farmers would produce in large quantities,” he said.

According to Hashim, the amount spent in the construction of an airport, for instance, and other misplaced infrastructural developments by the present PDP administration, could be utilized to boost agriculture so as to attract investors for even development and creation of job opportunities.

NCS begins online voting for NITMA 2014 awards

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HE Nigerian Computer Society, NCS, had begun the online voting for the 2014 National Information Technology Merit Award, NITMA slated to hold in Lagos next week.

Addressing technology journalists in Lagos to unfold activities and rules of the game for the award, President of NCS, Prof. David Adewumi said the event would honour and reward excellence and outstanding contributions in the Nigeria’s tnformation technology industry.

According to him, NITMA would honour those who have

made a giant strides and significant impact in expanding the frontiers of Information Technology in Nigeria.

“NCS awards are not mixed politics. We do not play politics with the awards and we do not limit the awards to a particular group. It is a night of awards to celebrate the best of Nigerian Information Technology creativity and innovation that has fundamentally changed, and is still changing the Nigerian nation. ''Award winners are recognised for being inspiring symbols of the IT community.

“The Nigerian nation has moved forward because of their contributions. It is honour well deserved. Nigeria, not just the IT community, owes them a huge debt of gratitude” he explained.

He said ''NITMA event reinforces the unique values NCS promotes by combining this prestigious long-standing awards ceremony with unparalleled networking opportunities in a highly celebratory environment that will include IT professionals, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, and policy and decision makers in the private and public sectors of the economy.''

48—Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

VISIT: Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (left), in a warm handshake with Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Dr. Nuruddeen Muhammad, during a visit by a delegation of the ECOWAS Parliament to the Minister's office, in Abuja.

TROPHY: Dr. Edna Mogekwu, Rector, Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic (right), receiving a gold trophy won by the Polytechnic during DELHIFEST, from the leader of the team, Mr. Otemu Akpodiete, at Songahai-Delta, Amukpe, Sapele, Delta State.

PRESENTATION: From left, Mr. Tajudeen Quadri, Chairman, Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council; Mrs. Modupe Sahid-Adebambo, Matron, K. Olubukola Fowowe Memorial Children Centre, Ogba, Lagos; Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Rural Development, and Mrs. Elizabeth Ashiru, Director, Finance and Administration, during the presentation of some gift items to K. Olubukola Fowowe Memorial Children Centre, as part of Year 2014 Community Day Celebration.

INAUGURATION: From left, Managing Director, Mr. Tayo Oyedeji; Media Executive, Planning, Miss Bukunmi Adereti; Executive Director, Finance and Admin, Mr. Kola Idowu, and Senior Media Manager, Planning, Mr. Promise Oduh, all of Media Perspectives, during the official inauguration of Media Perspectives School of Media, in Lagos.

COMMISSIONING: Engr. Ernest Nwapa, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development & Monitoring Board, NCDMD, flanked by Matthew Tonlagha, Executive Director FENOG, and others, during the commissioning of 350 Tons HDD multi-purpose drilling rig in Warri.

CONFERENCE: From left, Dr. Segun Ebitanmi, Project Coordinator of Anu Dosekun Health-care Foundation, ADHF; Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, CEO Outreach Medical Service and President of ADHF, and Mr. Ifeanyi Anyiam, Project Manager of ADHF addressing the media, during the press conference by ADHF on 2014 Introduction Workshop Infection Prevention and Control, coming up on December 3, 2014, in Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe

SUBMISSION: From left, Niger State Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Mr. Umar Nasko; Deputy National Organizing Secretary PDP, Mr. Okey Nnaedozie; former member, Niger State House of Assembly, Mr. Usman Idris, and member, National Organizing Committee, PDP, Mr. Sani Musa, during Umar Nasko submission of governorship form in Abuja.

NOMINATION: Prince David Omaghomi and Barr. Barlow, shortly after she picked her nomination form for House of Representatives.

VISIT: Senator Domingo Obende, representing Edo North Senatorial district, chatting with Mrs. Maria Aliu, widow of Hon. Peter Aliu, member Edo State House of Assembly, during his condolence visit, in Benin City. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike

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World Vegan Day

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CTOBER and November are the veg special months. October 1st kicks off the annual Vegetarian month. In between comes the World Food Day on October 16th – which was the topic of last week’s column. There is another special day: November 1st - the World Vegan Day. A good opportunity to look more into what the vegan lifestyle is all about.

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals.

Hakeem Jimo’s

Ve ggie Victory

veggienaija@gmail.com A follower of veganism is known as a vegan.

Interest in veganism increased in the last decade as vegan food became increasingly available in supermarkets and restaurants in many countries, and several top athletes in endurance sports, such as the Ironman triathlon and the ultramarathon, began to practise veganism and raw

veganism. The origins of a vegan lifestlye reach back to last century. In July 1943 a member of the Leicester Vegetarian Society expressed concern in its newsletter that vegetarians were still consuming cows’ milk. In August 1944 several Ve g e t a r i a n S o c i e t y

cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose.” Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fibre, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron and phytochemicals, and lower in calories, saturated fat, cholesterol.

Well-planned vegan diets appear to offer protection against certain degenerative conditions, including heart disease and are regarded as appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle by the American Dietetic Association among many other organisations.

IFC, HealthPlus seek reliable pharma services

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•Venus and Serena Williams switched to a raw vegan diet

members, including Donald Watson, asked that a section of its magazine be devoted to nondairy vegetarianism. When the request was turned down, Watson set up his own quarterly newsletter: the Vegan News.

Watson said later that the word vegan represented “the beginning and end of vegetarian.” World Vegan Day has been held every November 1st since 1994 to mark The Vegan Society’s founding date.

The Society now defines veganism as “...a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and

By Ebun Sessou

N its bid to support in the drive for the delivery of quality pharmaceutical and personal care product, International Finance Company, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed a deal of agreement with HealthPlus Limited and CasaBella International Limited to provide a $5million loan facility to expand pharmaceutical and personal care services in Nigeria.

Speaking on the project, Chief Executive, Officer, Olubukola George said it will support Nigeria's drive for delivery of quality pharmaceutical and personal care products, create more jobs, and contribute towards the improvement of health and wellbeing in the Country.

Under the agreement, the IFC will assist HealthPlus and CasaBella establish a central distribution centre in Lagos and

expand their combined retail business network from 38 to 120 stores across Nigeria within the next three to four years.

"At HealthPlus and CasaBella, our strongest drive is to help people achieve optimum health and vitality by providing quality pharmaceutical and personal care products. Partnering with IFC will help us expand our reach and will give us access to global industry best practices.

"With support from IFC and our other stakeholders, we will be able to achieve our vision of bringing quality health and wellbeing to more Nigerians, she added."

A World Bank health report notes that African health expenditure will keep growing rapidly, with the private sector playing a key role. The private sector will be the key player in the delivery of quality health and personal care services to the urban poor and rural dwellers, she said.

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54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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Abia congress free, fair, PDP insists

By Anayo Okoli

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saying the congresses were conducted by the national party congress panel from Abuja, led

by Tony Okeke.

“What we did was to provide them with what they needed for the congress and there are 184 political wards in the state and there is no way the five member team would have covered the

entire state, as they would not have done it alone”, he said.

He, however, explained that as human beings, a few lapses could not be ruled out.

“The exercise has been done and the congress panel has returned to Abuja with the result of the congresses and in due course those elected as

delegates will be published. I want to advise those who are aggrieved to endeavour to lobby those elected so that they could vote for them instead of causing trouble, after all four years ago some party members lost election and they did no tear the party to pieces so they should emulate them,” he said.

MUAHIA—DESPITE the controversy trailing last Saturday’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ward congress in Abia State, the state chapter of the party, yesterday maintained that the congresses were free and fair.

This came as the party insisted that it did not receive any court order stopping the congresses in the state.

The three senators from the state and some aspirants, including governorship aspirants had openly rejected the ward congresses, saying no congress election was held in the state.

They described what happened in Abia on Saturday as a “charade which had absolutely no remedial features and a shameless caricature of democracy, a cruel stab on PDP’s legacy of internal democracy and a crude mockery of our great party’s assurance of a level playing ground”.

But dismissing their claim, state chairman of the party, Chief Emma Nwaka, said the ward congresses were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of any rancour GRADUATION: Front row, 2nd left, Rear Admiral Sylvanus Chinweuba, who represented the and that the party was satisfied Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral U.O. Jibrin, and the Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral with the outcome.

He also explained that the state A.A. Yusuf (4th from right) during the graduation ceremony of officers, Application Course 13 executive committee of the party and Special Duty Officers Course 8 of the Nigerian Naval Engineering College, Sapele yesterday. was not in charge of the ward,

Politicians, stakeholders in Anambra councils dump zoning

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE pact allegedly signed by politicians and stakeholders in Orumba North and South local government areas of Anambra State eight years ago for the member representing it in the House of Representatives to be rotated have been jettisoned as aspirants from the area are campaigning without recourse to

the zoning arrangement.

It was gathered that all the political parties in the two local government areas endorsed the arrangement to reduce the rancor and alleged domination of one local government over the other. ...

However, no fewer than six aspirants from the two local government areas are presently jostling to represent the area in 2015, disregarding the earlier arrangement.

The incumbent member of House of Representatives for Orumba North and South, Chief Ben Nwankwo, claimed the pact received the blessing of the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who is from the area and regretted the breaking of the accord.

Explaining why the accord was broken, Nwankwo said: “I was the first adherent, first disciple and example of the zoning in 2007

NOA boss tasks media on 2015 general elections

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU—DIRECTOR General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, has called on the media to place national interest above other considerations while reporting sensitive issues affecting the country, especially insurgency and the 2015 general elections.

He spoke at a one-day conference in Enugu organized by the agency for media and civil society groups.

Omeri said: “If the media is adjudged as having made substantial contributions to democracy some may wonder if this roundtable is really necessary. The agency believes that there is still room for the media to improve and enhance

its capacity. For instance, in matter of national interest, where should the allegiance of the media go to? Is it to the Nigerian state or to the master, who pays the piper and dictates the tune? How do we therefore strike a balance between ownership and national responsibility? Should the media report everything and anything about Nigeria even if such reportage is injurious and inimical to the image and good interest of the nation?”

Also in a paper by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu, Dr. Lawrence Azubuike, in a paper titled ‘Nigerian Media and the need for fairness and objectivity in the reportage of Electoral Events’ stated “It is both

a moral as well as a legal duty for the media to be fair and objective not only in the reportage of electoral events but generally in the performance of their functions.''

when no man in Orumba South from any political party contested the House of Representatives position.

However, this was not the case in 2011 when two different political parties, Accord and APGA, fielded candidates from Orumba North in violation of the agreement when it was the turn of Orumba South.

“An agreement so violated has lost its potency because it should not only be obeyed when it suits the person concerned. ''Nevertheless, I must state that the House of Representatives seat, as it concerns Orumba North and Orumba South, sees Orumba as one community and to me, the emphasis should be on efficiency, effectiveness and result-oriented representation and not faces. ''

Senatorial aspirant promises improved services, federal presence

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Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senatorial aspirant in Lagos West and former House of Representatives member, Moshood Adegoke Salvador, has promised each ward in the senatorial district improved services and federal presence in the area of employment opportunity, health, education, housing and roads, among others.

Salvador is of the belief that given a level playing field in the 2015 election, he was sure of clinching the ticket of the party and winning Lagos West for PDP. He posited that his performance at the House of Representatives place him in a vintage position to defeat all the other candidates.

The former Rep said “While I was at the National Assembly, I led a six-member petroleum committee, which put an end to perennial fuel scarcity in the country and the un-interrupted fuel supply being enjoyed today is my effort.”

He said he started the idea of sinking boreholes in the National Assembly. ''The idea of sinking boreholes in all the local government areas in the country came through me when I was at the National Assembly and the task to do this was given to Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority,'' he said.

Apart from this, Salvador said he has provided job through his vocation training centers, thus helping to reduce unemployment problem in the state.

2015: Abia commissioner, Chief of Staff resign, gun for House of Assembly

By Anayo Okoli

U

M UA H I A — T W O cabinet members of Abia State Executive Council, SEC, have resigned to contest election into the State House of Assembly next year.

They are Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo and the Chief

of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Cosmas Ndukwe.

While Ndukwe will contest for Bende North Constituency, Chikamnayo will run for Umunneochi State Constituency, and both of them have since picked forms for the election.

According to Chikamnayo, the people of Umunneochi unanimously agreed that he

should represent them in 2015.

He said he was in the race to bring about positive change in Umunneochi council area, alleging that the incumbent representative had failed to give the people quality representation.

The former commissioner assured of positive impact on the lives of his people, if voted for.

56 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

Jegede relishes Kora vibes at Muson’s Classical Night

By Chris Onuoha

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HE entire hall was filled with people from all walks of life, especially the men who understands the meaning of classic music and has followed it for years as they came to be part of MUSON festival, and apart from that, many also came to see the new artistic director of Muson, Tunde Jegede perform in one of the events for the 2014 festival tagged Muson Symphony Orchestra.

In the beginning, their expectations were high, but after an enthralling performance at the night by the master himself when he led and conducted the Muson Symphony Orchestra as Muson marked its 18 years in business at the Agip Hall, Muson Center, the audience were not disappointed with his appointment, in fact they described it as putting a square peg in a square hole.

To him, it was business-like while performing the solo song, ‘Mineon Ba’ a Griot traditional song with kora (21string harp lute instrument) from the Mande tribe of the Gambia Tunde dazzled and took the audience to a journey of cultural expedition in a contemporary classical thrill while leading the 40 man Muson Symphony Orchestra.

Great accomplishment This perhaps depicts his new appointment as a great accomplishment of his coming of age with Muson and a proof of his mastery of both traditional and conventional instruments forming part of what earned him the position.

The music was so sensual, lullaby inducing, a song for a new bride or better-still a dirge or song for the warriors.

The serenading, the rapt in awe attention, the gaze and spiritual connection with the ancestors emanating from the vibes noticeable on the faces of the audience, all encompassed in this deep invoking masterpiece by Jegede at the Classical Concert night with a resounding ovation that greeted the end of that session.

‘Mineon Ba’, the third song on the line of songs of the night was a cynosure of revolutionary classical moment drawn by him in a medley of rhythmic string sounds. After that it was the

turn of ‘Lamentations’ a song composed by Jegede , followed

by Antonio Vivaldi’s Cello Sonata in E minor, all conducted by the maestro with support from Wura Samba on percussion and the Muson Symphony Orchestra.

Although both songs lulled the audience with less impression but the traditional ‘Mineon Ba’ ignited the classical lover’s passion and yearnings for more. The next piece was ‘Let the Elements

The music was so sensual, lullaby inducing, a song for a new bride or better-still a dirge or song for the warriors

Tunde Jegede performing with his crew during the Muson Symphony Orchestra sing And Dance’ followed by two familiar songs that jazzed up the night, “Water no get enemy’ Fela Anikulopo’s song and ‘Baba Orun Awa’ by King Sunny Ade with Duro Ikujenyo on Piano, Wura Samba on percussion, Jegede on kora, Ebenezer Oyewole on Flute and Muson Symphony Orchestra, arranged by Bode Afolabi and Kehinde Davids.

The second part started with two vocal solos, ‘Mirror of Tears’ song written by Jegede and ‘Una Furtiva Lagrima (A furtive tear) by Gaetano Donizetti done in Tenor by Guchi Egbunine, one of the most brilliant and flexible tenor in Nigeria today. After that, stepped in Ranti Ihimoyan,

another prolific Muson discovery doing ‘How Beautiful are the Feet’ written

by G. F. Handel and ‘When I Am Laid on Earth’ by Henry Purcell done in Soprano and lastly in vocals, John Eclou Lucien doing ‘Besame Mucho (Kiss me a lot) in Tenor.

Final performance The next and final performance of the night was the much expected thriller ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ by Tunde Sosan, Muson’s resident pianist. Obviously Tunde left no stone unturned in wetting the audiences’ appetite who

had longed to feel the much publicized George Gershwin’s spirit come back performance.

The opening was in a slow motion with intermittently blast and drop rhythmic session with Tunde’s highly concentrated dexterity on piano keeping all the symphony orchestra on alert.

The coordination and cohesion of the bassists, clarinets, trumpeters, flutists, and the entire violin crew really showed the true coming of age of the entire Muson Symphony Orchestra. Tunde was marvelously impressive in comparison to New Orleans’ jazz maestro Louis Armstrong the ‘Satchmo’.

My paintings are mostly on life struggles, challenges — Queen

By Prisca Sam Duru

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OOD things they say, come in small packages. This applies well to Queen Tochukwu Nwaneri, a young artist who looks more like a teenage Hollywood actress than a painter.

The Italian born Imo state impressionistic artist, appears ready to transform the society with stunning art pieces which have begun penetrating the market.

Explaining how she began painting Queen noted, “I chose visual art because I have so much passion for it right from secondary school and so far, I’ve enjoyed working as an artist.” The painter disclosed that in order to satisfy her yearnings to become a great artist, “left Lagos in 2010 for Oshogbo and worked as an apprentice at the Nike Centre for Arts and Culture. I gathered experience in textile, batik, tie and dye and wood carving.

I was actually the first female wood carver there and was amazed with what I did. I proceeded to University of Ife where I got a Diploma in Fine and Applied Art. Later, I worked with few artists before settling down on my own. I have a studio at Iyana Ipaja where I work with some artists.” Queen describes herself as an aspiring upcoming artist wishing to use her talent to change the world.

Sadly, the talented artist is yet to receive her father’s blessing to continue with her first love. My father she said, "Has been against my becoming an artist because he believes that it won't fetch me a good living. He prefers I become a lawyer. I cried

up regularly in my Paintings. I still sculpt and carve but painting is my major area.”

She hinted about her plans to hold her first exhibition hopefully, next year but insisted that “First I have to be fully prepared, it could be group exhibition or solo for a start but depending on what the gallery demands. I’m working with quintessence gallery at the moment.”

Interestingly, things are moving smoothly for the young artist, no challenges as she confesses that “Nothing is stopping me at the Painter, Queen with one of her works moment, I’m just working hard to ensure I have several times to be allowed to express my enough body of work to present to the public. talent but thank God for my mother who has My paintings are already selling out there, I been quite supportive.” work everyday, the income is good and makes According to her, “Art is a day by day thing, me comfortable and independent. I hope my I will continue to improve upon my works father will come around and begin to appreciuntil I get to the peak and even when I get ate what I love doing. My works speak for me, there, I will put in same energy if not more people are buying so, all I need is keep imin other to remain relevant to the society. I proving on my skills.” intend to become an art lecturer some day Her early exposure to life outside Nigeria may and also to own an art centre.” have informed her love for works by foreign Most of Queen’s paintings are on life it- artists in the likes of Voka, a Switzerland artist self, especially “struggles and challenges. I who works on spontaneous realism, and love to paint faces and landscapes but when Leonard Hewitt. Back home, Ebenezer Akiola I paint faces, they depict what I feel on the and Ibe Ananaba are top on her list of role inside. Female and children’s faces come models.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 57

BRIEFS

Ebola: WHO appoints new Africa chief

Japan restates commitment to peaceful diplomacy

BY HUGO ODIOGOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITOR

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HEAD of the forth coming 70 years of its investment in global and regional peace, Japan has moved to present its case for restructuring of the United Nations Security Council, to make it more democratic and inclusive in line with contemporary realities, ahead of the forth coming 70th anniversary of the end the second World War. The country’s envoy to Nigeria Mr. Ryuichi Shoji said the country has invested heavily in promotion of global and regional peace in the past 70 years that effort must be made to highlight what the Asia country has done to promote economic and human developments in the world.

Ambassador Shoji was on a courtesy visit to Vanguard newspaper where he met senior editors and outlined the country’s focus on the consolidation of its peace investment rather than dwelling on the history of Japan’s past records of

From Left: Mr Hugo Odiogor, Foreign Affair Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Onochie Anibeze, Saturday Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Ryuichi Shoji, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, during the courtesy visit by the Ambassador to Vanguard Newspaper, Head Office Apapa, Lagos PHOTO; Kehinde Gbadamosi militarism.

The envoy said Japan has paid a heavy price for its past military adventures through its massive Overseas Development Assistance to its neighbours who bore the brunt of such aggression and it has made conscious effort through its pacifist constitution and deliberate policies to ensure that Japan does not threaten its neighbours or use of force in conflict resolution.

According to Ambassador Shoji, Japan deliberately

refrained from building aircraft carriers, ballistic missiles, sub marines, nuclear bombs or bomber jets.

It equally been a signatory to Nuclear Non Proliferation or export of military technology.

Ambassador Shoji said Japan was one of the largest ODA contributor to Africa and Asian nations for over 20years as part of the efforts to compensate the South Asian pacific country for the damages it suffered during the war and to encourage Beijing

toward political openness and market economy.

He said Japan is desirous of seeing the expansion of the United Nations Security council where countries like Nigeria, Germany, Brazil and India could be admitted to play more meaningful role in global and regional peace efforts.

The envoy said Tokyo is making arrangement to celebrate the 70 years of peace and called on neighbours to reciprocate to the peaceful initiatives of Japan.

Blacks emerge senators as GOP win big V

OTERS in South Carolina elected the first African-American to the US Senate from the South since the years immediately following the Civil War. And in the western state of Utah, Mia Love became first black Republican woman elected to the House of Representatives.

Aged 38, Love is the former mayor of the town of Saratoga Springs, Utah. She won a congressional seat that had been held by a Democrat.

In South Carolina Tim Scott, 49, easily won the historic vote after having been appointed unelected to the post in 2012 when the previous senator stepped down.

The son of a nursing assistant who grew up in poverty and later achieved success in business and local politics, Scott has long espoused conservative

T

HE Africa arm of the World Health Organization — which has been criticised for being slow to react to Ebola — appointed a new director Wednesday.

Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti immediately vowed to improve the response of countries worst hit by the epidemic.

Delegates at the UN health body ’s regional committee for Africa in Benin voted for the Botswanaborn WHO veteran to take over from Luis Gomes Sambo, who has held the post since 2005.

The WHO has said that it will look into complaints about its response to the outbreak and that it was overly bureaucratic and too politicised to react quickly to global health crises.

Moeti maintained the organisation was undergoing changes and her first task was to ensure that the first wave of reforms are implemented in Africa.

“I am going to work to improve the capacity deployed on the ground currently in the three countries gravely affected by the Ebola virus so that we can manage to control this epidemic,” she said.

U.S. Intensifies strikes against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

T

HE United States continued its assault on Islamic State militants this week, conducting 14 airstrikes in recent days in Syria and Iraq, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on yesterday.

From Monday through yesterday, U.S. military forces launched three strikes near the key Syrian border town of Kobani as well as one strike north in Sinjar. In Iraq, the U.S. military along with coalition forces conducted 10 strikes near Mosul, Bayji, Falluja, Ramadi and Sinjar, Central

Zambia's Ag. president reinstates sacked officials

A

CTING President Scott, born in Zambia to British parents, reverses decision to fire party ’s secretary amid violence. Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s ruling party’s secretary-general, has been reinstated after his dismissal triggered riots in the capital Lusaka.

The move on Tuesday came after police and demonstrators clashed in protests against acting president Guy Scott, who dismissed Lungu on Monday.

The riots started on Monday night in several places in Lusaka, including the University of Zambia and a government building designated as a place for Sata’s mourners to gather, according to witnesses.

Protesters had descended on the building, Belvedere Lodge, with stones, machetes and other weapons, and police fired tear gas into the venue to clear demonstrators from the area.

The protesters were angry over the decision by Scott to dismiss Lungu, the ruling party’s secretarygeneral.

Another George Bush wins an election in Texas •Mia Love positions and his victory will boost the Republican party’s bid to broaden its appeal beyond white voters.

He is the first black senator elected from the South since Reconstruction, the period after the country’s Civil War, which ended in 1877 with the withdrawal of federal army troops.

And he will represent a state where the first shots

•Tim Scott of the Civil War were fired in 1861, with rebels firing on a federal ship in the port of Charleston.

Scott’s election marks a stunning contrast to the senator who represented South Carolina for decades, Strom Thurmond, a hardline opponent of racial equality who fought for segregation for years.

The Republican Party has made significant

gains in the US mid-term elections, gaining control of the US Senate, the upper chamber of the US Congress previously controlled by the Democrats.

The Republicans also increased their control of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, by at least 12 seats in the polls.

T

HE Bush political dynasty has a new junior member, George P. Bush, who has won an election in Texas for an obscure statewide office, local media reported.

The 38-year-old Bush is the nephew of former president George W. Bush, grandson of ex-president George H. W. Bush and son of former Florida governor and potential presidential hopeful Jeb Bush.

Bush cruised to victory for the post of land commissioner, which administers public lands and oversees lucrative mineral rights for oil and gas in Texas.

Local media projected Bush winning with nearly 60 percent of the vote, way ahead of his opponents.

Bush, a lawyer who has managed an energy firm, is the first of the family’s long line of politicians, dating back to Connecticut senator Prescott Bush, who managed to prevail in his first electoral race.

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 — 61

Wenger slams sloppy Arsenal A

RSENE Wenger launched a scathing attack on his Arsenal flops after they blew a three-goal lead in a 33 draw against Anderlecht that left them still waiting to book their place in the Champions League last 16.

Wenger’s side were on course to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition for the 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta’s penalty and fine strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them in complete control by the 58th minute.

But the Gunners’ creaky defence was brutally exposed by Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the unheralded Belgians score three times in the last 29 minutes through Anthony vanden Borre’s double and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s stoppagetime header.

Pinnick expresses confidence in NFF staff

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RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has reposed confidence in the Management and Staff of Nigeria Football Federation, after a late morning meeting with the personnel on Wednesday.

In a first official meeting he held with the entire personnel of the Glass House, the new NFF President espoused his vision of taking Nigeria football to new heights, and freely expressed his belief that the core of Management and Staff, most of whom he had known for several years, is capable of driving the vision with its abiding and abundant energy, experience and creativity.

“I am a young man with a vision, and that vision I will pursue doggedly. I have known so many of you for several years, some for close to 15 years, and I appreciate your commitment and drive.''

Dankaro House: We’re still waiting on Akpabio – NFF

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

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ORE than one year after the Sunday Dankaro house was inaugurated as the new Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the football house says it was still awaiting the release of the fund promised by the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio to furnish and move into the new office.

Governor Akpabio had made the promise to furnish the house which was donated by the defunct Presidential Task Force (PTF) when he met with the board and management staff of the NFF in Uyo recently.

Liverpool icon amazed at Gerrard’s bench warming

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ORMER Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has admitted he was left bewildered at Brendan Rodgers’ decision to omit Steven Gerrard from the starting XI for the 1-0 Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.

Following the 3-0 defeat to Real at Anfield a fortnight ago, manager Rodgers opted to make seven changes to his lineup from the weekend’s loss at Newcastle United, with captain Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson all left on the bench, and Dejan Lovren not even among the substitutes.

The Northern Irishman fastily denied his team selection was made with a view to Saturday’s home clash against Chelsea, however, telling ITV prematch: ‘I think we’ve got a strong team out for the game.

‘We’re certainly not forfeiting the game in any way, we’ve got nine full internationals playing and two Under-21 internationals, so we’ve actually got a strong team.’

Liverpool put in a better performance than expected with the likes of Javier Manquillo, Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini drafted in to face a team in the midst of an 11-game winningstreak, but Hamann believes the inclusion of Gerrard could have seen them get a result.

•Akpabio The new NFF Secretariat which was commissioned by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo in 2013 has been projected to cost N44m to furnish and the cost was in NFF 2014 budget proposal which was equally approved by the National Assembly.

In a chat with Sports Vanguard Wednesday, General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu said that the federation was yet to propose a date for its movement to the new secretariat because the furnishing had not started as the promised funds were yet to be received.

While commending the government of Akwa Ibom State for the partnership, Amadu assured that work will commence without delay as soon as fund was made available for the furnishing even as he regretted that the building could be facing some dilapidation because it had never been put to use since inauguration.

“I cannot confirm the report until I see the funds made available to us, but I do understand that the governor is committed to furnishing the Sunday Dankaro House.”

Speaking on preparedness of the new Ibom International Stadium to host the forthcoming Super Eagles’ international matches, Amadu said the stadium is of international standard which could match any other stadium anywhere in the world.

NNPC Junior Tennis: 8-year old sobs through entire match

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MMANUEL Chig bu, 8, from the NNPC Tennis Club in Kaduna started sobbing after he lost the first game of his debut match against Arwal Garba from

Kano and kept the act through the entire match he finally lost 2-9.

The eight year old who showed a lot of talent and guts reduced the volume when he won two

straight games to trail 24 but did not attract any sympathy from his much taller and stronger opponent who was also playing his first tournament on the NNPC Junior Ten-

nis Circuit which is currently going on in Kaduna.

Chigbu will next meet Miracle James from Kaduna in the boys Group A round robin match.

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Sports development: Danagogo commends Imoke

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INISTER of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo has commended the government and people of Cross River State for the support shown to sports development in the country and accepting to host the 19th National Sports Festival tagged “Paradise Games – Calabar 2014.”

Danagogo made the remark when he led members of the Main Organising Committee to pay a courtesy visit on the Deputy Governor of the State, Barr, Efiok

•Enyeama

Girard:Enyeama not for sale L

ILLE boss Rene Gir ard has denied that there have been any bids for Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama amid reported interest from Liverpool and Sunderland.

The Reds’ goalkeeping troubles this season have been well-documented, while the Black Cats have had similar problems between the sticks.

However, Girard insists that Les Dogues have had no approach-

es for their number one as yet.

“Vincent has a contract that doesn’t terminate until 2017 and we have no intention of letting go one of our best players,” he told Le Foot.

“The only bid we have received for his services is the one I read from the papers, as Lille as a club we are yet to receive any bid from either Sunderland or Liverpool.

“Every player is available for a certain fee but Enyeama is not for sale,

Ike Uche Continued from BP the crucial qualifying matches in November by head coach, Stephen Keshi.

Uche who has netted 18 times in senior internationals with Nigeria is eager to hit the ground running.

“I had a conversation with Ikechukwu Uche on Tuesday evening and he told me he can’t wait to join the team. He’s very excited by the prospect of playing for the Super Eagles again,” spokesman of the national team, Ben Alaiya has said.

He added that Uche is looking forward to adding to his 18 international goals by scoring in the upcoming C M Y K

game against Congo and South Africa.

“Uche says nothing beats scoring for Nigeria and that he will want to do it again in the matches we will be playing this month.

“He wants to make the fans, his teammates and indeed all Nigerians happy with a great display in the games.

He knows Nigerians expect a lot from him,” he said.

Uche made his Nigeria debut in 2007 and has gone on to amass 44 senior caps since then.

The attacker has been in decent form for his Spanish club, Villarreal this term and has netted three goals in all competitions for the Yellow Submarine.

even if a bid comes in we will smartly turn it down.”

Enyeama penned a contract extension at the

Stade Pierre-Mauroy last year, but reports suggest Lille are willing to sell for around 10 million euros.

120 top stars for Obudu Race

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S many as 120 elite runners will take part in Saturday’s 10th Obudu international mountain race and the 6th African

Lagos Int’l Squash Classics: Nigerian players make quarter-finals Nigeria’s trio of

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HREE Nigerian players will play in today’s quarterfinal ties of the ongoing Lagos International Squash

Classics just as Egypt Air has promised to offer free ticket to winner of the raffle draw taking place during the tournament.

Agbim Continued from BP the Akwa Ibom State capital ahead of the friendly which is organized to open the newly build Uyo Stadium, and Agbim is already excited with the quality of players in the team and is hopeful they can get a good result against the Ghanaians.

“It’s a very good team that we have here and everybody is training hard for the game against Ghana because even though it is a friendly match, we want to win.

“But I must say that I’ve been impressed with the quality I’ve seen in the players and they have shown a lot of promise in the training sessions that we’ve had and I’m very excited about it,” he said The team only opened

camp on Monday, and they are playing Ghana’s U23’s that have been in camp for several weeks but Agbim believes it’s not a problem and posits that they could have a better team than they had at the last CHAN championship in South Africa.

“It’s not a problem whether they (Ghana) have been in camp for that long or not, the most important thing for us is to make the best use of the time we have. But with what I have seen from the players here, we are good and we can have a better team than the last CHAN if we stay longer together,” he posits.

The Uyo International Stadium will also host the Super Eagles’ last AFCON 2015 qualifier against South Africa.

Cobham at the Executive Council Chambers in Calabar, Cross River State on Monday (3/11/2014).

He stated that amongst the states that have stood out in their quest to support grassroots sport development, Cross River State has always been outstanding.

According to him “I can tell you that Cross River State government is one of those States governments that are deeply supporting sports development in this country and we urge them to continue the good work.''

Omolola Ajayi, Udeme James and Londgi Dasbak sealed their places in the last eight of the competition after winning their first round matches on Wednesday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

To berth in the quarterfinal, James had an easy win over compatriot, Dunni Okikiola while Yemisi Olatunji fell to Slovakia’s Linda Hruzikova as she was beaten 11-7, 11-6, 11-4.

mountain running championships scheduled to hold at the Obudu ranch resort in Obudu,Cross River state.

The stars,specially invited to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of hosting the highest paying mountain race in the world will be led by reigning world mountain running champions Isaac Kiprop of Uganda.

‘We also have Philemon Rono of Kenya and Yalew Ganet of Ethiopia,the men and women titles defending champions as well as two other former winners in the mix,’said Patrick Ugbe,vice chairman of the local organising committee and the immediate former Commissioner for Sports in Cross River state.

Ghana U23 coach Continued from BP several youth internationals to face a locally based Super Eagles side in Uyo. The game is expected to climax the official opening of the newly built Akwa Ibom Stadium which will also host Nigeria’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa.

Jabir expects a fiery encounter even though the two sides will not be

fielding their highprofile players.

“We are taking this game very serious because you know when ever Ghana play Nigeria it’s always very intense,” Jabir said.

“You will see that after all the pleasantries are done the two teams will try to win the game.

“The truth is when it comes to Ghana against Nigeria there is nothing like friendly games, we are going for it.”

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Nigeria vs Ghana: More than a friendly — Ghana U23 coach G

HANA U23 coach Malik Jabir says his side will tackle Friday’s friendly against rivals Nigeria with all aggressiveness and is

aiming for a win.

The former Kano Pillars technical director has assembled an 18man squad comprising Continues on Page 62

I’ll score against Congo, Bafana Bafana –Uche boasts R

ETURNEE Super Eagles and Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche is keen to make a goal scoring return to the Nigeria squad after he was recalled for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

•Jabir

(Afcon) qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

The 30-year-old last played for the Super Eagles at the 2013 Afcon in South Africa but he was handed a recall for Continues on Page 62

Nig vs Ghana: Agbim confident

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POACHER: Super Eagles goals machine, Ike Uche beats an Ethiopian defender at the 2013 Afcon.

UPER Eagles c a p t a i n , Chigozie Agbim has praised the quality of his colleagues as they gear up for the International friendly against Ghana’s Black Meteors on Friday at the Uyo International Stadium.

All 24 invited players have been training in Continues on Page 62

•Keshi

•Agbim

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Outcome (6) 5 Soil (4) 8 Drilled (5) 9 Lump (3) 10 Entrance (4) 11 Ran off (4) 12 Tally (5) 13 Smelled (6) 16 Adroit (4) 18 Slap (4) 20 Through (3) 22 Pose (3) 23 Sprite (3) 24 Team (4) 25 Detail (4) 28 Learner (6) 30 Respond (5) 32 Increase (4) 33 Assistant (4) 34 Tree (3) 35 Flavour (5) 36 Trade (4) 37 Be there (6)

DOWN 1 Recompense (6) 2 Dejected (8) 3 Deposited (6) 4 Overlooked (9) 5 Guard (7) 6 Inactive (4) 7 Neat (4) 8 Snake (3) 14 Dry (9) 15 Absent (3) 17 Healthy (3) 19 Final (8) 20 Mine (3) 21 Renovation (7) 26 Demure (6) 27 System (6) 29 Elderly (4) 30 Roster (4) 31 Fasten (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 3, Ideal 9, Salam 10, Calico 11, Pried 12, Ease 15, Mean 17, Dissect 20, Dud 21, Tapir 23, Seal 25, Port 26, Yield 28, Tip 30, Eastern 33, Open 35, Epee 36, Badge 38, Carnal 39, Lanced 40, Newer.

DOWN: 1, Asked 2, Gloss 3, Imp 4, Direct 5, Acer 6, Lad 7, Hired 8, Found 13, Airship 14, Essay 16, Austere 18, Table 19, Pip 22, Route 24, Lie 27, Dangle 28, Torch 29, Pearl 31, Epoch 33, Needy 34, Sale 36, Ban 37, Ear.

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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