06122017 - Oando: Reps probe Adeosun's suspension of SEC boss

AISAGBONHI: Abandoned at 9 months, sent away at 13, now a wealth creator 36

Forced slavery and self imposed slavery in Nigeria 40 and beyond

VOL. 25: NO. 63436

Why I created Ministry of 34 Happiness —Okorocha Libya: 2, 778 Nigerians 21 identified

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Oando: Reps probe Adeosun's suspension of SEC boss See story on page 19

•To investigate allegations, probe TCN •SEC to continue forensic audit at Oando •Shareholders seek transparency

Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s $4.760m houses 10 CBN injects $210m as naira depreciates to N360.5/$ 5 Zenith Bank in Ghana From left: Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia; President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and the Chairman of Zenith Bank Ghana Ltd, Dr. Mary Chinery-Hesse at the official commissioning of the Zenith Bank Ghana head Office.

Mr & Mrs

Atiku to Saraki, Amaechi, Goje, others: Return to PDP and rebuild Nigeria 5

SGF heads 10-man c'ttee for Ekwueme's burial 34

FUEL SCARCITY: Senate to inspect filling stations 10 nationwide

Dangote, only African among Bloomberg's 50 world's most 8 influencial

COLUMNISTS DEAR BUNMI 45 ROTIMI FASAN 32 PRINCEWILL 17 OHUABUNWA 32

SEE INSIDE

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 3

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—5

POCKET CARTOON shouts of ‘Baba oyoyo’ rented the air as the former number two citizen had a difficult time trying to prevail on praise singers to spare him a few minutes to make his remarks.

In the melee, a pickpocket made his way into the crowd but was quickly arrested by a team of security operatives who promptly handcuffed and took him away.

Why I came to Wadata House — Atiku

ATIKU AT WADATA HOUSE—From left: The Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP, Secretary, Senator Ben Obi; Chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former Niger State Governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, during the courtesy visit of Atiku to the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Atiku to Saraki, Amaechi, Goje: Return to PDP and rebuild Nigeria •Governors won't foist national chairman on PDP —Okowa

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor; Festus Ahon & Dirisu Yakubu

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BUJA—FORMER Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, made a practical return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, with a courtesy call on the national leadership of the party and called on former party members, who left the party with him, to return.

Without referring to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku affirmed that no government had performed up to half of what the PDP achieved in its time in government.

Among those who left the party with Atiku were Senate President Bukola Saraki, Transport Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Senators Rabiu Kwankwanso, Danjuma Goje, Aliyu Wamakko, among others, now holding prominent positions in the All Progressives Congress, APC- led government.

Atiku’s call was received with quiver among some of the former PDP chieftains, most of who preferred to be left out of the issue.

The call came as the race for the national chairman of the PDP, yesterday, got on a knife-edge, with the leading aspirants

sweeping across the states in a last-minute rush for delegates.

As the leading candidates swept across the states, party chieftains including governors headed to Abuja for crucial caucus meetings expected to commence today on harmonising positions ahead of the convention.

There were also indications that some of the party ’s presidential hopefuls were also unwittingly gravitating towards one of the national chairmanship candidates (names withheld).

Govs won't foist chairman on PDP — Okowa On his part, the chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has assured that PDP governors would not force a national chairman on the party, contrary to insinuations in some circles.

Prince Uche Secondus, one of the leading national chairmanship candidates, was headed to Abuja last night for the series of meetings commencing today, following a sweep through Taraba, Gombe and Benue States. Another leading candidate, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi after

TAKE HEART - ELLA RANDLE What you tell yourself everyday will either lift you up or tear you down— Take Heart Quotes

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OCUS your thoughts upon the highest possibilities. Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts are manifesting to form what you love or fear and always remember that the joy is in the giving not the credit or accolade we receive.

So learn to give of your time, patience, compassion, tolerance and love. It all comes back anyway.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE When the black ant bites the buttock it becomes wiser not to sit just anywhere anyhow.

going to Ebonyi and Enugu, was last night, canvassing for delegates’ support in Abia with his delegation and is also expected in Abuja today for final consultations with party leaders.

A high-level party source said, yesterday, that the meetings starting today among governors and other party senior officials would be directed towards streamlining the candidates for the various positions and notably, the office of national chairman.

“If we are unable to harmonise, then we will go to the convention ground to determine the leadership, reflective of the PDP as a truly democratic party and not like the APC that has not been able to hold a convention,” the party source said.

PDP presidential hopefuls, it was learnt, are also delicately engaging around the contests for positions in the new National Working Committee, NWC of the party.

Atiku, whose bearing had been speculated to be towards Prof. Tunde Adeniran, and Prince Uche Secondus, absented himself from a scheduled meeting with Northern Elders on Monday night at Ibro Hotel, Abuja. The Northern elders, who had taken position against Secondus, waited for Atiku’s arrival for the scheduled meeting to no avail.

Meanwhile, Atiku was, however, at the PDP national secretariat yesterday, during which he called on those who left the party to return home.

The former vice-president was accompanied by a huge crowd made up of men and women, with a group of young people decked in specially-made T-shirts, with the inscription: ‘Atiku 100%.’

Shortly after being handed the microphone,

In a seven-minute speech, Atiku said he was at the PDP National Secretariat to ‘come and show face,’ having earlier announced his decision on social media a few days ago.

“All that I have come to do today is to come and show my face. Many people have read in the media that I have returned home. This is the home.

“Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate you for a wonderful work which you have been doing to redeem the image of this party, to reform it, rebrand it and return it to its original form.

“I want to assure you of my support and cooperation at all times, to make sure that these objectives are achieved by you and subsequently by your successors,” he said.

He also called on those who left the party at one time or the other to return home without further delay.

Return to PDP and rebuild Nigeria “Let me pay tribute to past leadership of this great party; where ever they may be and to call upon them to, please return home as I have done. It is only by their returning home that we will build a stronger, more united party that can again return to government and continue to deliver the dividends of democracy,” he said.

He lauded the achievements of the PDP saying “I can bet you the records we have achieved so far in governance, no government has yet even done 50 per cent of what we have achieved in government, not to talk of equalling our performance in government.

“We should remember that those of us who founded this party, founded it on the principles of democracy, good governance, unity of this country and the prosperity of its people.

“Now that we have learnt our lessons, I hope that we will be guided by the lessons we have learnt.

And that is to make sure that we build an all-inclusive party, where every part of this country will have a sense of belonging and sense of participation.

“To achieve all these, there must be sacrifices, understanding, and compromises in the process of achieving that. And that is what I speak to members

to imbibe. But as you know, one thing that I will never compromise is the internal democracy process in a given political party,” he assured.

More returnees expected — Makarfi Responding, chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi said with Atiku’s formal return to the party, more returnees were being expected.

“Your Excellency, you have opened the flood gates, and we expect many more high profile returnees and new entrants into the PDP. So, PDP must be prepared for this, and be ready to reconcile and reintegrate in such a way and manner that everybody will be treated and given a level playing field to pursue his or her personal aspiration.

“You have returned in good time, and you should continue to contribute in this reinvention, remodeling of our party so that come 2019, we can reclaim what we can claim is ours because we remain the only truly democratic party in the true sense of the word.

“You will also help us reinvent the vehicle that will take us to Aso rock in 2019. We are not just targeting Aso Rock; we are targeting the federal legislature, the states, both the executive and legislature.

We are targeting the local

governments.

“We want to sweep elections all across the party. As a united party, we have the capacity, and we have the ability to do so,” Makarfi said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Governor Okowa has ruled out any reason for fear by the candidates that the governors would foist a national chairman on the party.

Okowa spoke in a television interview on Channels Television monitored in Asaba.

“In most of the states, the convention delegates are already known, and the party will ensure it gives a level playing ground to all the aspirants", expressing hope that “the party will be more united, following its upcoming convention on December 9.

“I believe that the National Caretaker Committee of the party is doing a lot to ensure that things are put in place, as for the national planning committee that I lead, we were inaugurated this afternoon, and we have held our inaugural meeting.

“We do know that in any elective convention, all kinds of views do come into play but ours as a planning committee is to ensure that we deliver a convention that is credible and in which all the processes are such that will be blameless, we will deliver on a free fair and transparent primary; that is our aim."

Naira Watch CBN injects $210m as naira depreciates to N360.5/$

By Babajide Komolafe

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected $210 million into the interbank foreign exchange market.

Announcing the injection in a statement, Acting Director Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said: “The sum of $100million was offered to the wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment got an allocation of $55 million. The invisibles segment (i.e. tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others) was also allocated $55 million.”

The naira however depreciated to N360.5 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window in spite of 79 percent increase in dollars traded in the window yesterday.

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) showed that indicative exchange rate for the I & E window rose by 18 kobo yesterday to N360.5 per dollar from N360.32 per dollar on Monday.

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

‘Evangelist’ arraigned over N1.1m, fraud

By Chisom Unachukwu

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AGOS—A 44-yearold trader, Ifeanyi Ogbonna, who allegedly stole a car and also obtained N1,150,000 from one Mr. William Aguma, under a false pretence that he is a car dealer, was yesterday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

The defendant, who also claimed to be an evangelist, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on stealing, false pretence and obtaining preferred against him by the Police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Francis Igbinosa, told the court that the defendant, whose residential address wasn’t given, committed the alleged offence at Badagry Area of Lagos sometime in 2015.

Igbinosa said that the defendant allegedly obtained the sum of N1,150,000 from Mr William Aguma under the false pretence of being a car dealer after an agreement to purchase Camry Toyota car from Contonou.

“After the Toyota car was brought to Mr Williams and had undergone inspection, it was discovered to be a stolen vehicle and the car parts were different from what was in the car document.”

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is punishable under sections 314 (1) (a) (3)and 280 (1) of the Criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, granted him bail in the sum of N1million, with two sureties in like sum.

She added that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government and have their addresses, verified.

The case was adjourned till January 16, 2018, for a mention.

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20-yr-old NYSC member quarantined in Benue over Monkey Pox

By Peter Duru

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AKURDI—A 20-year-old National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, member serving in Benue State (names withheld), has been reportedly quarantined for allegedly manifesting symptoms of Monkey Pox. Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo, disclosed this yesterday in her update on the outbreak of the diseases, which was reported in the state a few weeks back.

Dr. Ojabo explained that the NYSC member was alleged to be a close friend of a confirmed victim of the virus in Gboko, who also has a relationship with a Lagos-based driver.

She said the initial victim could have contracted the virus from the transporter from Lagos, who had a close relationship with the lady in Gboko.

The Commissioner said efforts to get the said driver, who had travelled back to Lagos, for questioning failed.

Dr. Ojabo said: “We have

received the report of the blood samples of the suspected victim of Monkey Pox reported a few weeks ago and it is positive even with other viral infections.

“The lady has since been quarantined. We also later discovered that a young man, who is a lover of the victim, and a 20-year-old NYSC member also showed symptoms of the virus and both of them have been quarantined.

“While we were embarking on contact tracing, we

discovered that the victim had earlier slept with her other lover, who is a driver from Lagos.

“We contacted the man on the phone so that we could connect him to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, but he denied ever visiting Benue and other subsequent calls put to his line did not connect.”

Ojabo further explained that another case of the virus, earlier reported in Vandeikya Local Government Area of the state, was discovered to be measles and not Monkey Pox after thorough investigations.

5 injured, 10 tricycles damaged as Keke operators clash with Imo govt officials

Some of the damaged Keke Napep.

By Chinonso Alozie government’s ban on Keke operations.

WERRI—TRICYCLE Vanguard gathered from the operators in Owerri, the protesting cyclists that over 10 Imo State capital, yesterday, tricycles were destroyed by the laid siege on the Imo said government officials, just Government House, protesting as some said they lost some of the injuries inflicted on their their valuables in the process. members by officials of Imo They added that their State Environmental tricycles were “snatched from Transformation Committee, them” and the little money they ENTRACO, trying to enforce had made forcefully collected

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from them.

It will be recalled that the ban order by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, on the operation of Keke, within the Owerri metropolis, had not been stable.

Some of the protesters, who spoke to Vanguard, said: ”We are not happy the way we are treated in this state. The

governor will give a directive and his men will be doing other things.

“Look, some of us have lost our money, others injured while some of us were attacked and our Keke disappeared.

“What do you people want us to do in these times of hardships? The governor has given us till January. Why are these boys treating us this way.”

Buhari’s spokesman’s impersonator jailed 8 years

By Soni Daniel

the SA to the President on Media and Publicity.

The defendant fraudulently claimed to be speaking on behalf of the president and that the name of the professor had been forwarded for appointment in the presidency.

The complainant further stated that the defendant claimed to be searching for a better office for him.

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ANO—A fraudster, who impersonated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and attempted to fleece a Bayero University don of N300, 000 for a non-existent appointment in the Presidency has been convicted.

Christian Efe Oyovweyho, who was convicted by Justice Z. B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court Kano, will spend the next eight years of his life in prison.

The convict was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 2-count charge that borders on conspiracy and attempts to obtain by false means in contravention of sections 8(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The convict’s journey to prison started when the antigraft agency received a petition

Subsequently, the defendant asked the professor to make payment of the sum of N300,000 in order to facilitate his appointment to Nigeria Port Authority, Nigerian Railway Corporation or the Rural Electrification Agency.

Professor Galadanci said he, however, became suspicious of the promise by the convict and consequently reported the matter to the EFCC.

Ex-street beggar becomes gradu Christian Efe Oyovweyho from Professor Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci of the Bayero University Kano that Oyovweyho had impersonated Femi Adesina and that he had also demanded the sum of N300,000 from him.

According to Galadanci, sometime in July 2016, the convict sent him a text message claiming to be Femi Adesina,

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former street beggar, Mr. Abdulsalam Idowu, who sponsored himself through school to become a lawyer, was, yesterday, honoured by the House of Representatives.

The House also commended Miss Aarinola Blessing of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, for attaining an exceptional record in her academic pursuit as it resolved to establish, by law,

a Parliamentary Honours/Award System for recognition of extraordinary achievements by Nigerians.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (LagosAPC).

Gbajabiamila said the motion was intended to reward excellence and encourage citizens, who had elevated the ideals of the Nigerian society.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—7 :Vanguard News

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HOME FROM LIBYA

Nigerians returning from Libya, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTOS: Lamidi Bamidele.

Residents, developers fight over move to build church in estate

By Dapo Akinrefon

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ESIDENTS of Ibeju-Lekki and developers of the Adiva Plainfield Estate located at Sapati were, yesterday, engaged in a free-for-all following the sealing off of the estate by developers.

Trouble started when officials of the Mixta Africa, developers of the estate, were said to have barricaded the its entrance with their vehicles before locking the gate, as residents rejected moves to build a church in the estate.

According to an eyewitness' account, the developer refused entrance to the residents and their children.

This, however, infuriated the residents who confronted the developer.

The timely arrival of the Police from the Elemoro Police Station in Lekki, doused the tension as they prevailed on the officials of Mixta Africa to avert an all-out battle.

The residents of the Adiva Plainfield Estate have been at loggerheads with Mixta Africa, following the decision of the developers to site a church at an area which was designated for other purposes, a move which is contrary to the master plan of the estate as approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning.

According to a resident, Mr. S. I. Bello, locating a church so

close to the residential area was not only against the layout and plans of the estate, but it is going to impact heavily on the facilities which the developers have refused to provide, but were improvised by the residents.

‘Developers provided nothing’

He said: “In this estate, the developers have hands off everything to the resident association.

“They did not provide the amenities which are the minimum requirements of estates of this magnitude. They neither provided power nor did they did provide water; and there is no sewage system and no road

“We improvised everything.

They officially handed the management of the estate to the residents association following constant complains because they couldn’t provide the minimum requirement.

That is the situation here right now.

“Now that we have struggled to provide these ourselves, they want to stretch these same facilities by bringing in a church. Mind you, the residents association also provide the security services; we employ the security firm, now they want to site a church in a residential area, a situation

2 men allegedly beat man, rape his girlfriend

By Chisom Unachukwu

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AGOS—TWO unemployed men, Azeem Akeem, 27, and Opeyemi Okunola, 21, who allegedly assaulted one Daniel Effiong, and raped his girlfriend, were, yesterday, arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court, sitting at Igbosere.

The defendants are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, assault and rape preferred against them by the Police.

The suspects, whose residential addresses were not given, were docked before Magistrate K. S. Abdulsalami.

The prosecutor, Ajaga Agboko, told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence on November 30.

He said the incident occurred at the back of The Palms Shopping Mall, Victoria Island, Lagos, in EtiOsa Local Government Area at about 1.30a.m.

He said the defendants did conspire together to assault one Daniel Effiong by beating him with a stick and inflicting injury on his body with the intention of having unlawful sexual intercourse with his girlfriend.

uate in Political Science, Law; called to the bar According to him, Idowu displayed resilience and hard work, studying Politica Sscience and Law from street begging.

Gbajabiamila said: “Idowu lost his two legs to polio at the age of three, lost his mother at the age of four, started primary school at eight and resorted to street begging to raise money to buy uniforms, books and for feeding.

“He begged for arms from primary through secondary

which will impact heavily on these facilities.

“We asked them to follow the plan which they showed us before selling the houses to us, but they refused. You can imagine the noise pollution they will cause.

“Because of our resistance, now they have chosen to attack us with thugs, prevent us from going in and out of our houses. Is this fair”?

Contacted, the Chairman of Mixta Africa, Mr. Deji Alli, did not pick his calls.

Meanwhile, the Police have asked both parties to maintain the status quo, pending the resolution of the crisis.

school and was known on the streets of Lagos as a beggar.

“From street begging he bought GCE form in 2002, sat and passed the GCE and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, exam and was subsequently admitted to study political science at the University of Lagos.

“While preparing to complete his first degree, he sat for the West African School Certificate Examination and JAMB, in his

determination to become a lawyer.

“He passed the exams, studied law and was later admitted to Nigerian Law School in 2015. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on November 30, 2016.”

OAU student breaks record Similarly, the House commended Miss Aarinola Blessing of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU,

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Abdulsalami granted them N100,000 bail each, with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to Lagos State government with their statement of account.

Abdulsalami added that the sureties must have a statement of account and have their addresses verified.

The case was adjourned to January 15, 2018 for mention. for attaining exceptional record in her academic pursuit.

Gbajabiamila said: “Blessing, 24, who was admitted into OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State, to study Medicine and Surgery in 2011, scored a Cumulative Grade Point, CGPA, of 4.74 in her first year.

“Subsequently, in her second through to the sixth year, she made distinctions in Anatomy, Medical

Truck crushes 2 to death at Idiroko

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — A vulcaniser and his friend, working by the roadside, reportedly lost their lives, yesterday, along Atan-Idiroko Road, when an unregistered truck coming from Oke-Odan, Idiroko, lost control due to speeding and rammed into them.

The Public Relations Officer of Ogun State's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed that the accident occurred around 9.30a.m., yesterday.

Akinbiyi said the truck, with an unknown registration number, coming from Oke-Odan, Idiroko, lost control due to speeding and rammed into a vulcaniser and his friend working by the roadside.

His words: “The corpses have been deposited at the morgue at Kayode Hospital at Atan, Ogun State, while the truck driver is in the custody of the Police in the area.”

Akinbiyi advised motorists and road users to exercise caution on the highways “as we approach the end of the year.”

Biochemistry and Physiology (200L); distinctions in Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology (300L); distinctions in Pathology and Pharmacology (400L).”

He added that she capped it with “distinctions in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mental Health and Dermatology (500L) and Distinctions in Surgery (600L),” an achievement that had been elusive for 28 years in the university.

8—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

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FG insists BUA has no Nigeria, Switzerland, World Bank reach mining lease agreement to return $321m Abacha loot

By Ikechukwu A Nnochiri

BUJA—THE Ministry of Mines and Steel Development insisted yesterday the the BUA Group had no mining lease over site No. 254IML. It was reacting to the company’s claim in a paid advertorial, titled “A cry for Help: Wanton Abuse of Power By a Serving Minister Geared at Sabotaging Operations of BUA Cement.”

But in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Abass, last night, the ministry said it would not join issues with the company.

It stated: ‘’In the records of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, MCO, the BUA Group does not have a mining lease over the contentious site No. 2541ML. Therefore, its mining activities there are illegal. ‘’The Ministry stands by the stop work order issued

to the BUA Group and signed by the Permanent Secretary, dated 17th October 2017. ‘’The letter was issued after thorough investigation confirmed that the BUA Group was, indeed, engaging in illegal mining of marble/limestone at a mine pit located on Geographical Coordinates N07021’ 47.4" E0060 26’ 51.8’, while the Run-ofMine, ROM, is stockpiled at an area with geographical coordinates N07021’ 48.4"; E0060 26’37.2. ‘’Clarification provided by the Mining Cadastre Office shows that the coordinates of the Mine pit and ROM stockpile area fall wholly within the area of mining Lease No 2541ML belonging to Messrs Dangote Industries Limited. ‘’The Ministry had earlier in 2015, issued a stop work order on this same disputed site but the BUA Group disregarded the order."

APC’s Oyegun allays fears of mass defection

By Omeiza Ajayi

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BUJA—National Chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, has reacted to claims by the party’s deputy spokesperson, Comrade Timi Frank, that some top members of the party would soon defect to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the defection of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Oyegun, who noted that APC was an amalgam of who was who in Nigeria, spoke during his investiture as the national life grand patron of Association of Former Chairmen, Councillors and Ward Leaders in Nigeria at the party ’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday night.

He said: “Let nobody fear that the defection of the former vice president is going to lead to a deluge.

If anybody wants to defect, the day you are defecting is the day you bring out your heavy guns, not later like the papers are speculating. ‘’When you stand and they look at your right and left, they say ‘ah this man has done something great’.

So don’t ever be afraid that

there is going to be any massive defection. As a matter of fact, the contrary is the case. ‘’The APC is growing in strength on a daily basis.

Anybody who is anybody is virtually with the APC today. The reality is outside the APC, there is no other party that is truly settled, not even the Peoples Democratic Party PDP is. ‘’They are still fighting about how to get a chairman and the rest of it.

Today, they say money has come to buy the chairmanship position. So it is something you should take pride in... It is just that the remnants of the PDP have found their voice, so they are screaming very loud and we think that the whole country is upside down. It is not. The country is making steady progress and your party is growing on a daily basis.’’

Odigie-Oyegun charged the group not to be deceived by the ‘screaming’ and opposition rhetoric.

While thanking the association for the investiture, OdigieOyegun said the group’s association with the APC had come at the right time as the party had begun preparations for the 2019 elections.

ABUJA——The Federal Government has brokered a deal that will enable it receive the sum of $321million allegedly looted from the treasury and stashed abroad by family of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

Agreement for repatriation of the stolen fund was contained in a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, the Federal Government, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, signed with Switzerland and the World Bank on Monday.

The AGF, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Salihu Isa, disclosed that the MoU, which was signed in the United States of America, was in consonance with Switzerland’s policy of returning all illegally acquired assets currently within its jurisdiction.

The statement further revealed that modalities for the return of the looted funds were set out in the MoU endorsed by three parties, including the federal and swiss governments and the World Bank, at the ongoing Global Forum on Asset Recovery, GFAR, taking place in the United States.

Whereas the AGF signed

on behalf of Nigeria, the Director of the Directorate of International Law who doubles as Head of the Swiss delegation to the GFAR, Ambassador Roberto Balzaretti, signed on behalf of the government of Switzerland, while the Country Director of the World Bank office in Abuja, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, signed on behalf the World Bank.

The statement read: “The MOU stipulates that the restitution of funds will take place within the framework of a project known as the National Social Investment Program that will strengthen social security for the poor in Nigeria.

“The MOU also regulates the disbursement of restituted funds in tranches and sets out concrete measures to be taken in the event of misuse or corruption.

“The chosen solution for restitution is being undertaken by the three contracting parties as a partnership” in line with the objectives of Switzerland’s strategy to freeze, confiscate and return the illicitly acquired assets of politically exposed persons (asset recovery) which is based on the principles of transparency and accountability.

“It also allows the involvement of civil society

in the monitoring of the restitution process.

Furthermore, the return of these funds makes a concrete contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and can set a good example internationally for future restitution cases. ‘’It equally disclosed that the assets which were initially frozen in Luxembourg, were repatriated and confiscated

by Switzerland as part of criminal proceedings brought by the public prosecutor ’s office of Geneva against Abba Abacha in December, 2014."

PROMOTION: President Muhammadu Buhari and wife of the Brigade Commander, Hajiya Amina Yusuf, decorates the Commander, Guards Brigade, from Brigade-General to the rank of Major-General Musa Yusuf at the State House in Abuja.

Dangote, only African among Bloomberg’s 50 world best President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has emerged one of the selected best 50 persons in the world in 2017.

Bloomberg on Monday announced The Bloomberg 50, a new, annual, multiplatform initiative that honours 50 icons and innovators who have changed the global business landscape in measurable ways over the past year.

The first Bloomberg 50 honorees were selected by the Bloomberg Businessweek team after months of input from many of Bloomberg’s 2,700 journalists and analysts around the globe, leveraging the resources of the Bloomberg Terminal, and represent the most influential thought leaders in business, finance, technology and science, politics, and entertainment.

The executives, entrepreneurs, experts, and

entertainers on the Bloomberg 50 all have a quantifiable metric underpinning their inclusion.

“What sets The Bloomberg 50 apart from other lists is that each person chosen has demonstrated measurable change over the past year,” said Megan Murphy, editor of Bloomberg Businessweek. “Readers will find many names they recognize, but will also discover new visionaries— people who are impacting the world in significant ways, and are rapidly gaining the attention they deserve.”

Other prominent honoree on the Bloomberg 50 include – Mohammed bin Salman, Crown prince, Saudi Arabia, a primary proponent of an initiative that would allow women to drive, a decision that is forecast to add $90 billion to the economy by 2030;

Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Inc. and Space Exploration Technologies with a market capitalization of over $50 billion. Elon Musk nurses the ambition to establish human colony on planet Mars by 2022; Jeff Bezos, CEO, Amazon, the biggest global retailer, with a major interest in sending tourists into space in Blue Origin rockets; Masayoshi Son, Founder, Softbank Groups Corp., who engineered the largest ever technology investment fund, $93billion, to fund ridehailing, artificial intelligence, connected devices, satellites, and the integration of computers to humans; Diane Greene, CEO, Google Cloud and the brain behind integrating advances in artificial intelligence and quantum computing to market; Ken Frazier, CEO, Merck & Co., a leader in drug makers market with an innovative drug for

advanced lung cancer treatment.

Dangote who only last week inaugurated his $300 million 1.5 mtpa capacity cement plant in Congo Brazzaville, has remained a top notch in various global ranking.

Dangote said: “I am very delighted with this selection and I see the recognition as a call to do more towards youth empowerment, job creation, better health for the people and economic emancipation of the African continent” As of February 2017, Dangote, according to Forbes Magazine had an estimated net worth of US$12.5 billion. He is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 67th richest person in the world and the richest in Africa, and peaked on the list as the 23rd richest person in the world in 2014.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 9 :Vanguard News

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80 million Nigerians lack access to electricity—World Bank Provides $350m loan for rural electricity projects

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—Despite efforts by the Federal Government to provide electricity in the country, the World Bank, yesterday, disclosed that over 80 million Nigerians have no access to electricity.

World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, revealed this at the 4th Action Learning event on Upscaling Mini Grids for low-cost and timely access to electricity, organised by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, in Abuja.

Benmessaoud, however, said the World Bank had provided a $350m loan for the development of rural electrification projects in Nigeria.

He said the $350m loan was given to government, but noted that a lot of the fund would go to the private sector.

He said: “With regards to the question on the loan, yes, indeed, this is a loan to government.

That said, the Rural Electrification Agency will be the implementing agency for the loan and much of the funds will actually be going to the private sector. ‘’A lot of the funds that go from the World Bank to the government will be provided to the private sector.”

In his speech earlier, during the opening session of the conference, the lead speaker, Cosgrove-Davies, noted that globally, more than one billion people lacked access to electricity.

He said: “Sub Saharan Africa is home to about 600 million of these. In Nigeria, 80 million people are without access and millions more suffer from poor service."

Hate speech, religion, ethnicity tearing Nigeria apart —Gambari

By Chris Ochayi

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BUJA—FORMER Pe r m a n e n t Representatives to the United Nations, UN, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, yesterday, expressed concern at the rate hate speech, religion and ethnicity were tearing the country apart.

He also narrated how former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, released £3.2 million to fund South African’s national party, the African National Congress, ANC, in the post-apartheid era.

Professor Gambari, who spoke at a book launch and

grand reception in honour of former Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Shehu Malami, on the occasion of celebration of his 80th birthday anniversary, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, said: “It is the height of their ascendancy of hate speech, exclusion as well as ethnic and religious fanatics wearing the drab of the politicians and the leaders.

“Whether religious or circular, one is forced to ask the question; where did our road turn? At what point did we begin to allow negative, unpatriotic tendencies define us?"

Strike: Don’t push govt to invoke labour laws, FG warns JAC push the government to

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

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BUJA —THE Federal

Government yesterday warned striking nonteaching staff unions in the universities under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee, JAC, not to

invoke the relevant labour laws against them, if they continued with the strike.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who gave the warning, said the terms of settlement entered into with the unions had been fulfilled.

The minister in a statement signed Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Samuel Olowookere, said the Federal Government not only fully met all the twelve-point condition raised in the Memorandum of Settlement reached with the unions on September 20, 2017, but also complied faithfully with the timelines for the implementation of the agreement .

BOOK LAUNCH: From left—Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar; Wife of the Celebrant, Hajiya Asma’u Shehu-Fodio; Celebrant, Ambassador Shehu Malami; Sarkin Sudan of Wurno, Alhaji Muhammad Indimi; and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, during the launch of the Book, "Shehu Malami: A Prince of the Caliphate" and 80th birthday anniversary of Ambassador Malami, in Abuja yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Reps approve MTEF, pass 2018 budget estimate to second reading

Fix $47 oil price benchmark for fiscal year; retain proposed production of 2.3 million bpd

By Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—AFTER months of consideration, the House of Representatives yesterday approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, for 2018 fiscal year.

This is even as the 2018 budget passed second reading in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

It will be recalled that President Muhamamdu Buhari on November 7, 2017, laid the budget proposal with a revenue profile of N8.612 trillion before the National Assembly.

By this, the document is expected to be committed to the Standing Committees of the House for continuous legislative action.

Recall also that the members of the House started debate on the general principles of the budget last Tuesday without the passage of the MTEF. But the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf, Lasun who presided over the plenary at the time had explained to the members that the commencement of debate on the budget estimate did not automatically translate to its passage.

He said the House would definitely pass the MTEF before adopting the appropriation bill.

“My hands are tied on this

but I will just crave the indulgence of colleagues to go on with the debate. The debate is not tantamount to passing the budget. I will crave the indulgence of the house to go on with the debate,” Lasun had said.

Concluding the debate yesterday, the House unanimously passed the bill into second reading.

Similarly, there was no dissension to the adoption of the MTEF. The motion, when moved by the coordinator of the Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Aids,Loans and Debt Management, Legislative Budget and Research and National Planning and Economic

Development, Babangida Ibrahim, prompted the House to dissolve into the committee of the whole.

In adopting the Framework, the members retained the proposed production of 2.3 million barrels per day by the executive arm of government.

They, however, moved the benchmark from $45 to $47 per barrel for 2018 fiscal year.

The recommendations read thus: “That 2.3 million barrels per day be retained as proposed by the Executive for the 2018 Budget; “That $47 per barrel as the benchmark for the fiscal

adopted. This is in consideration of the current positive outlook in the global oil market and expectation that OPEC and other allied oil partnership countries will sustain oil production “cuts deep” into 2018; “That 305/US Dollar as proposed by the executive for the 2018 Budget be adopted. It is also advised that CBN should adopt measures to close the gap between the parallel market and the official exchange rate; “That the projected at 5.279 trillion for non-oil revenue in 2018 be adopted."

Nigeria’s external reserves hit 39mths high of $38.2bn—Emefiele

A

By Babajide Komolafe

B U J A — GOVERNOR, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, disclosed that the nation’s external reserves have risen to $38.2 billion, the highest in 39 months.

Emefiele disclosed this in Agbara, Ogun State while commissioning Unilever Plc’s 10,000 metric tonnes Blue Band factory.

Emefiele stated: “We have seen reserves move up from the $23 billion I talked about in October 2016, but as I speak today, external reserves are $38.2 billion.”

Emefiele said that the Unilever plant was made

possible by the foreign exchange restrictions placed on the 41 items.

He said: “When the restriction of foreign exchange (forex) for the 41 items came on board about two years ago; before that time, Unilever had a factory producing Blue Band margarine. But margarine was also part of the 41 items. The Managing Director and the executive team of Unilever Nigeria visited me in Abuja and said they wanted us to grant them some form of forbearance. I said there was not going to be any forbearance, but that if he promised to re-establish the factory in Nigeria because as at that time their factory had been dismantled in

Nigeria and taken to another country.

“And he (Unilever managing director) made a promise that between 12 to 18 months the factory would be re-established in Nigeria. Based on that, we granted them some form of forbearance that made it easy for them to import margarine into Nigeria, but we kept monitoring them and we were discussing.

“The entire essence is to say that by re-establishing that factory here in Nigeria, he has created direct jobs for Nigerians in this factory.

He created indirect jobs for Nigerians by virtue of the fact that he buys palm oil which is part of the formulation that he uses in producing margarine."

10 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

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FUEL SCARCITY: Senate to inspect filling stations nationwide Senate summons NNPC boss, IPMAN blames failed roads, Apapa gridlock, rumoured fuel price hike

By Udeme Akpan, Henry Umoru, Mike Eboh & Ediri Ejoh

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BUJA—AS the fuel scarcity noticed Monday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, spread to Lagos, yesterday, the Senate has summoned the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to appear before its Committee on Petroleum Downstream tomorrow, after failing to appear before it yesterday.

It also resolved to commence a nationwide inspection of filling stations to get to the root of the scarcity ahead of Christmas and New Year ’s celebrations.

This came as indication emerged that the scarcity was being caused mainly by bad roads, Apapa road blockage, speculation over fuel price increase and other logistics problems associated with lifting and delivering of fuel from the depots to filling stations.

Investigations in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the nation, revealed that though there were products, lifting were being hindered by bad roads, Apapa blockage and other logistic challenges.

In a chat with Vanguard, the National Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Okoronkwo, confirmed availability of products in the country.

He said “There is no scarcity, just the aftermath of the gridlock at Apapa area led to shortage of product at the filling stations. Tankers are unable to navigate out of the gridlock at the area and that has led to difficulties of the product to get to the filling stations. Marketers will not hoard product if they have to sell. However, I believe the Federal Government is not oblivious to the

The NNPC said rumours that pump prices would increase in the runup to Christmas also contributed to the increased demand for petrol.

“I wish to call on all Nigerians to stop panic buying. We have said times without number that NNPC has sufficient products to cater for the

nationwide inspection of filling stations over recent fears of fuel scarcity in the country.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja after an investigative hearing on the matter, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Senator Kabiru Marafa, who insisted that the

senate would not watch some unpatriotic persons put Nigerians through any form of hardship, particularly ahead of the yuletide, said though the senate had been adjourned to commence budget defence, the members of the committee would take time out to embark on the oversight.

Man’s greatest problem is himself — ADEBOYE

the race on our own. God loves the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Earlier, taking the first message of the day titled ‘God is a Spirit’, Lagos State chairman of CAN, Apostle Alex Bamgbola said: ''God is not just a Spirit, He’s the father of all spirit and those who worship Him must do so in spirit because He has no beginning nor an end.''

The apostle also revealed that on November 5, 2017 while preparing to host the recent Reinhard Bonnke’s farewell crusade, he had a revelation of the rapture, warning therefore that the second coming of the Lord was nearer than anyone could imagine.

The lot fell on the National General, Overseer of the church and member of RCCG Governing Council, Pastor J. O. Obayemi, who thanked God for His wondrous work since the congress started several years and the numerous and diverse miracles wroth on a yearly basis.

According to the National General Overseer, ''Some of the miracles are very often more spectacular than the ones in the Bible, which confirms the Lord’s saying that more miracles would follow this age.''

sensitivity of the season, and NNPC is working assiduously to ensure steady supply of the product to avert such thing as scarcity.”

Meanwhile, the NNPC has assured that there is adequate domestic supply of the product, advising against panic buying.

needs of all consumers,” Maikantu Baru, the NNPC’s group managing director, said in an emailed statement.

While summoning the leadership of NNPC to appear before it tomorrow, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream also disclosed plans by members to commence

By Sam Eyoboka & Olayinka Latona

L

AGOS—GENERAL Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, Monday night declared that the greatest challenge before a man was himself.

Speaking on a topic titled, ‘Victory over self ’ on the opening day of the ongoing annual Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp with a theme, “Songs of victory ”, the revered man of God said victory over self was the most crucial of all victories.

Addressing a mammoth crowd that included the wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Bola Obasanjo, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and his wife, Adeboye said man had many enemies in life but the biggest three of his enemies were death, devil and self—the biggest enemy of them all because it’s within the man.

Drawing inspiration from several Bible passages, Pastor Adeboye said the first two challenges had already been taken care by God and scriptures had testified to that, noting that “overcoming yourself is greater than overcoming a city. The first and biggest victory a man can achieve is victory over self. A man who can control his anger, temper, emotion, and

HOLY GHOST CONGRESS: From left Chief Bola Obasanjo; Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chalrman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter and Pastor Stephen Rathod at the 2017 congress. Photo by Lamidi Bamidele. stay out of sin generally, is a victorious man already,” he stated, maintaining that any man who could not conquer his appetite for sin, could be likened to a city without walls that was vulnerable to attacks.

Stressing that it was possible for man to overcome himself and conquer every challenge before him as God had declared that no challenge that came the way of man that he would not have the capacity to bear, pointing out that God had actually

gone a step further to say He would provide a way of escape out of such challenges.

According to him, anyone desiring to overcome self must at all times endeavour to ignore those criticizing you and proceeded to outline seven reasons why it was not impossible to overcome self.

They include: “If you are truly born again and obedient to the word of God, because the seed of God dwells in you and your salvation is genuine, there will be something that will

always say no to sin. No matter the temptation that a child of God might encounter, there is something that will tell you that you must be holy.

“Jesus Christ overcame and you and I can also overcome. Temptation is not sin but when you yield to the temptation, then you sin. God will not allow any temptation beyond what you can bear to come your way. It is written sin shall not have dominion over you. The power of God will keep. Holy Spirit will help us because we cannot run

Court orders forfeiture of Diezani’s $4.760m houses to FG

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, yesterday ordered that two properties linked to the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Justice Olatoregun ordered that two properties, namely Penthouse 21 building 5, Block C, 11 floor (Bella Vista Estate) Banana Island, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 22, Block B (Admiralty Estate) also in Ikoyi, Lagos, be forfeited to the Nigerian government,

pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Judge made the order while granting an Ex-parte application for interim forfeiture of the said properties, filed and argued before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its lawyer, Anslem Ozioko.

The anti- graft agency in the Ex-parte application marked FHC/L/CS/1793c/ 17, which has Diezani Alison-Madueke, Donald Amagbo, Schillenburg LLC, and Sequoyah Property Limited, as respondents, asked the court for an interim forfeiture order, forfeiting

the said buildings to the Federal government of Nigeria.

EFCC also asked the court for an order prohibiting any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the said assets/ properties, as they were suspected to be proceed of unlawful activity.

The commission further asked for an order authorising it to appoint a competent person(s)/ firms to manage the said two properties.

Ozioko told the court that the application was brought pursuant to sections 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related

offences Act number 14, 2006, and section 44(2)(b) and(k) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

The EFCC in an affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated that during investigation into the ownership of the two properties, YF Construction Development and Real Estate Ltd, and that the firm’s deputy Managing Director, one Mr. Fadi Basbous, volunteered extrajudicial statement, wherein he stated that the two properties were sold at $3.570m, and $1.194 m, and owned by Sequoyah Properties Limited, and Schillenburg LLC.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 11 :Vanguard News

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From left; Brother Olusola Segun; Pastor Abayomi Ogunbekun, Chairman, Planning Committee and Mr. Soji Sanya.

ANNIVERSARY: From left: Deaconess Adefemi Taire, Chairman, Ikeja Prayer Breakfast Fellowship; Pastor Atinuke Oyenuga, Chairperson, National Association of Private School Providers (NAPPS), Surulere Chapter; Mrs Adejumoke Bako, wife of the guest speaker; Bishop George Bako, retired Bishop of Lokoja, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion/guest speaker; Rev Dr Emmanuel Awotunde, President, Lagos East Baptist Conference and Baba Aladura, Dr Israel Akin-Adewo, Secretary, CAN, Lagos State during the 31st anniversary of Ikeja Prayer Breakfast Fellowship (with theme: Be still and know that I am God) held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Photos by Akeem Salau.

Osun commences distribution of Opon-Imo in public schools

Corruption, a shame on Nigerians — AJIBOLA ...As Amosun, Buhari’s aide task journalists on national unity

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — FORMER World Court judge, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), has lamented the level of corrupt practices endemic in the country, saying it has brought shame on Nigerians.

Ajibola made the call just as Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina stressed the need for media professionals to always promote national unity.

Ajibola and others spoke in Abeokuta at a public lecture organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council as part of activities marking the 2017 Press Week.

The event, with theme: ‘Cultivating new media for robust journalism and nation-building’, was attended by media stakeholders, security operatives, civil society organizations and youth associations.

Ajibola said: “We have serious problem of this corruption. It is very endemic. We have it disturbing our situation left, right and centre. It is a shame on our government, it’s a shame on our people, and it is a terrible situation in our country. This is a food for thought. Journalists must come to our aid. They must learn to present us in a better light than we are now involved in.”

While he urged journalists to brace up to tackling the menace, he challenged the media to

pay more attention to the fight against corruption and indiscipline saying the situation is embarrassing to the country.

In his remarks, Adesina, who was represented by the president’s Special Assistant on Digital and New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi, appealed to journalists to desist from sensational and misleading stories for mere monetary gains.

While noting that there cannot be democracy without the press, the presidential aide appealed to journalists to do all in their power to deprive secessionists and terrorists of ‘the oxygen of publicity.’

He also advised journalists to focus on the opportunities new media can offer to reach new and bigger audiences instead

Ogun scales up measures toward child care

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BEOKUTA—THE Ogun State government says it has stepped-up measures in improving the welfare of children across the state aimed at creating a better life for its future generation.

The ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, had a-3day capacity building and Stakeholders’ engagement programme with the theme: ‘No Child should Grow Up Alone’.

At the end of the event which was held at the IBD International Hotel, Abeokuta from 28 to 30 November, 2017, it called for implementation of Alternative Care for children in the state who have lost or at the risk of losing parental care as well

as x-raying the challenges and the steps to improving alternative care measures in Ogun State.

The event was attended by over 98 stakeholders from the Ministry of Women Affairs, the State Judiciary, Police, Immigration, Owners of Care Homes, The Child Protection Network, the Media, among others.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the programme, the ministry noted the gaps in the funding for alternative care of children without adequate parental care.

It also highlighted the relevance of orphanages and children’s homes in the state child care system adding that there is a gap in parenting for many children regardless of care being provided by families of

origin or alternative family settings.

In its resolution, the meeting, stressed the need to strengthen collaboration and networking among all stakeholders providing care for children in the state, to improve the quality of care for children.

This is even as it maintained that there is a need to continue to advocate for improved budgeting and funding for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Family Courts and other parastatals involved in child care and protection, while charging the stakeholders to endeavor to study the Child Rights Law and other guidelines to understand its provisions and roles as contained therein.

of looking at it as a threat.

Adesina said: “If Nigerian journalism is keen to not go the way of obsolescence, then it must step to embrace new Media.

For the ongoing and unending task of nationbuilding, Nigerian journalists must, more than ever before strive to return to the basic principles and ethics of journalistic practice.

“In the age of fake news and hate speech, we must, as Margaret Thatcher memorably put it more than thirty years ago, do all in our power to deprive secessionists and terrorists of ‘the oxygen of publicity.’

“We must ask, at all times, tough questions, about whether or not our social media narratives are not glorifying Boko Haram, for example, or perpetuating ethnic stereotypes. We must strive for nuance at a time when the brevity of new and social media is encouraging the opposite.”

In his address, Governor Amosun noted that the fabric of unity and continued progress of any society largely depend on the vibrancy of journalists.

The governor, whose address was read by Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Dayo Adeneye, said journalism as a profession “divest itself of anachronism and expand its scope for it to properly function as the watchdog of the government.

The practitioners must also begin to upgrade themselves not only in i n f o r m a t i o n management but also on useful tools for effective and efficient performance.”

O

SOGBO—OSUN State government has begun the distribution of e-learning computer tablets for the 2017/2018 academic session to students in the final year in the state public schools.

The distribution of the tablets began in an informal ceremony at Government High School, Osogbo, as the students and teachers were excited to receive the device again.

While it lasted, 30,000 units of the tablets will be given to final year students who will be writing the SSCE, NECO and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examinations – and their teachers, across the state.

The device, nicknamed ‘Opon Imo’ (Tablet of Knowledge), was introduced by the Aregbesola administration in 2013 as a first-of-its-kind stand alone e-learning tablet to aid learning by secondary school

students in the state.

The beneficiaries so far have been final year students in the state.

Since its introduction in 2013, it has served four sets of final year students in Osun public schools. Out of the intended 150,000 tablets, 50,000 copies have so far been produced and distributed every session to final year students and their teachers.

The practice however has been to withdraw them from the students after they complete their final year examinations. The tablets will then be taken for refurbishment and software upgrade and once they are ready, they will be distributed to the new set of final year students.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at Osogbo Government High School, the Principal of the school, Mrs Folorunsho Ladapo, described OponImo as unusual education infrastructure in the state.

S-West PDP: Confusion as two A' Courts give conflicting orders

By Dirisu Yakubu

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Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday adjourned two motions seeking to relist two appeals in the ongoing legal tussle of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West pending before the court till April 12, 2018.

Recall that the Ado Ekiti division of the appellate court on Monday granted an order for a stay of execution of the order and proceedings in a matter seeking the enforcement of an earlier judgment.

Meanwhile, one of the factional leaders, Eddy Olafeso had claimed that the order for stay of execution from the AdoEkiti Division of the appellate court had conferred legitimacy on him, but the Makanjuola

Ogundipe-led exco insists it remains the authentic executive with the legitimacy to participate in Saturday convention owing to the fact that it has a subsisting judgment that is yet to be stayed or set aside on appeal.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Ogundipe said his group executive would attend the convention, regardless of the position of the other appellate court; a claim the Olafeso group is also making.

Specifically, two PDP matters came up Monday at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.

The first, CA/L/863/2016 was said to be between PDP and Pegba Otemolu & others, while the second case CA/L/864/2016 was between PDP and Mr. Adebayo Dayo & others.

12—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

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Notore, new free zone developer, targets $5bn FDI, 25,000 jobs

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EW Free Zone Developer, FZD, Notore Chemical Industries Plc, has the potential of attracting more than $5 billion Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, into Nigeria's economy in addition to creating no fewer than 25,000 jobs, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, OGFZA, has revealed.

Consequently, OGFZA has conferred the Oil and Gas FZD status on Notore Chemical Industries Plc, following the company’s satisfactory compliance with the requirements for a free zone developer licence.

At the licence presentation ceremony in OGFZA’s office in Abuja, the Managing Director of OGFZA, Mr Umana Okon Umana, said government was pleased with the prospect that Notore Oil and Gas Free Zone would attract more than $5 billion in foreign direct investments into the country and create 25,000 jobs with its new status as a free zone developer.

Notore Chemical Industries Plc, a Nigerian

agro-allied, petrochemicals and power company, is located within the Eleme industrial hub of Rivers State.

Mr Onajite Okoloko, Group Managing Director of Notore Chemical Industries, said at the licensing ceremony that the Free Zone Developer Status “ will propel the company and indeed Nigeria, to become one of the largest petrochemical, fertilizer, refining, methanol, power, E&P logistics and hydrocarbon processing hubs in the world.”

He said Notore “is in discussion with a number of international petrochemical, oil and gas logistics support companies as well as leading financial and strategic investors that have expressed interest and are at various levels of negotiations to invest in the project. The fertilizer and petrochemicals component of the project alone is expected to attract $5 billion investments when it comes on stream in the next two years.”

Umana said OGFZA

licensed Notore Chemical Industries Plc to operate as an Oil and Gas Free Zone Developer in line with sections 9 and 10 of the OGFZA Act and sections 32 and 33 of the Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Regulations, 2003.

“I am happy to report that having met the statutory requirements, Notore Chemical Industries Plc has been granted a Free Zone Developer Licence by the Authority within the area so designated under the Act of 1996,” the Managing Director of OGFZA said.

He advised Notore Chemical Industries Plc “to note and comply with continuing obligations of a licensee as provided under section 34 of the 2003 Regulations,” promising an enabling environment for investors in the new free zone.

Onajite said the new Oil and Gas Free Zone had attractions that investors would find hard to resist, including more than 559 hectares of land; a dedicated gas pipeline; 50MW of embedded power plant; more than 2km of shoreline; and 7500 sqm of jetty dock.

Court unfreezes Patience Jonathan’s 16 bank accounts

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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BUJA—THE Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, vacated an order it made on May 30, freezing 16 separate bank accounts linked to wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

Justice Binta Nyako lifted the order that barred Mrs. Jonathan and 10 different organizations connected to her, from having access to the bank accounts containing aggregate sums of $5.8 million and N3.5 billion.

The court took the decision after it heard an application that Mrs. Jonathan and the 10 companies filed to challenge an ex-parte order that granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, interim ownership of funds in the accounts.

The companies that were cited as co-applicants in the motion that the ex-first lady filed through her team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, were the Incorporated Trustees of Ariwabai Aruera Reachout Foundation, Pagmat Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Flinchley Top Homes Limited, Incorporated Trustees of Women for

Change and Development Initiative Nigeria, Transocean Property and Investment Ltd, Seagate Property Development Investment Company, Globus Integrated Services and Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited.

Justice Nyako upheld Ozekhome’s argument that the interim forfeiture order had elapsed and could not be renewed by the EFCC .

The former first lady had insisted before the court that the anti-graft agency obtained the forfeiture order by an improper use of the judicial process.

Mrs. Jonathan and the 10 firms told the court that the said interim forfeiture order, including a subsequent one that was issued on October 18, had since expired, with the EFCC, failing to establish a nexus between the applicants and any act of illegality.

In a six–paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Chinedu Maduba, Mrs. Jonathan and the firms admitted their ownership of the 16 bank accounts.

The applicants told the court that EFCC had, before May 30 when it secured the forfeiture order, also filed a similar application that affected most of the parties, before Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun

of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos in suit number FHC/L/CS/1342/ 2016 with same granted on October 10.

They alleged that EFCC suppressed the fact that it had earlier approached the Lagos Division of court for the same relief it applied for and secured from the court in Abuja.

Mrs Jonathan said though she was not served a copy of the order that froze her accounts, she only became aware of the existence of the forfeiture order from the court in Abuja few days ago during the hearing of a petition she sent to the National Assembly and after some of her co-applicants tried to operate their accounts to no avail.

She argued that the interim forfeiture order had a life span of 90 days commencing from May 30, insisting that the order had long elapsed without any renewal or extension of its lifespan.

“That by reason of these orders, the Applicants have been unable to operate their accounts as the banks who are in custody of their accounts have refused to honour any of the applicants’ instructions ostensibly because of the order of this honourable court,” the affidavit added.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—13 :Vanguard News

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Edo to develop Health Master Plan

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O V E R N O R Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has revealed plans to constitute a council on health which will assist in developing a Strategic Master Plan on Health and to coordinate activities of healthcare service providers in the state.

Obaseki disclosed this when he played host to members of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria, at Government House, Benin City, yesterday.

He said: “The state plans to develop a strategic

health master plan to enable it outline various services offered by health-care service providers. We intend to involve qualified health professionals to assist us develop a master plan in the health sector.

This will transform the health sector and make it more efficient as all elements needed to achieve this are available in the state.”

Obaseki assured that the state government was set to reform the health sector and strengthen it to deliver quality health care services

to Edo people, noting, “The focus for us is to strengthen primary health care service delivery through collaboration with private investors. We also intend to improve secondary and tertiary healthcare service delivery in the future.”

Chairman, Edo State branch of the Institute of Health Service Administrators of Nigeria, Sir. Oyaseh Ivowi, who led members of his association to Government House, noted: “Edo State, which was the first to establish a

state health and hospital management board in Nigeria with a network of hospitals and health care centers and clinics across every nook and cranny of the state, needs to develop a master plan for the health sector.”

Ivowi said the master plan would assist the state monitor various healthcare providers in the state, to provide quality health services and insight to inform siting of health institutions where they are mostly required.

Wike alleges plot to rig 2019 elections with SARS

By Jimitotta Onoyume

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ORT HARC O U R T — GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused the Federal Government of plotting to rig elections in 2019 with the Special Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS. Wike spoke, yesterday, when he played host to the Board of Editors of Sun newspaper, led by the Managing Director of the body, Mr Eric Osagie. He said the restructuring on the security outfit by the Inspector General of

Police, IG, was allegedly to divert attention.

The governor said SARS was operating like a dreaded kidnap gang, stressing that the state government was the first to raise alarm on the alleged illegal operations of SARS. He said: “SARS is being prepared for the rigging of elections in 2019. The time has come for people to resist these criminals in uniform because they cannot kill everyone.

“SARS has not helped in Rivers State. Rather they perpetrate criminal activities."

We've trained 2,324 Deltans under STEP, YAGEP —Eboh

By Festus Ahon

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MEETING: From left: Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State; Obong Paul Ekpo, Akwa Ibom PDP State Chairman and Dr Chris Ekpeyong, former deputy governor, Akwa Ibom State, during the meeting at the PDP Secretariat in Uyo in continuation of Otunba Daniel's nationwide tour ahead PDP's convention, yesterday.

NUPENG to FG: Increasing poverty, hunger may cause social upheaval

By Victor AhiumaYoung

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ORT HARCOURT— NIGERIA Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has decried the high rate of poverty, hunger and suffering in Nigeria, and called on government to urgently find solution to the problems to avoid social upheaval.

NUPENG in a communiqué at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, suggested various ways government could address the problems.

In the communiqué by NUPENG President and General Secretary, Igwe

Achese and Joseph Ogbebor respectively, the union also expressed concern over upsurge in the cases of suicide bombings, kidnappings, ritual killings, communal clashes, herdsmen menace, armed robbery and other security threats across the country.

According to the communiqué, “The meeting-in-session notes that the state of insecurity is a disincentive to investors, national unity and economic development and should therefore be immediately addressed through adequate use of modern intelligence gathering and technological security infrastructure. The NECin-Session further

expresses serious concerns over the obvious unhealthy rivalry among the various arms of security agencies in the country as evident in series of missteps on issues of national security and fight against corruption.

The Council-in-session calls on President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately overhaul the entire national security apparatus for efficiency and cohesiveness to avoid anarchy.

“The current level of poverty, hunger and high rate of unemployment/ disguised employment in the country were of serious concerns to the NEC-inCouncil. They were extensively deliberated upon and all the levels of government in Nigeria

were called upon to urgently address the ugly and unwholesome situation by opening up the economy, establishing cottage industries, helping small/medium scale businesses, embark on massive agricultural projects, and ease the processes of business set up through access to loans at reasonable rates and tax holidays.”

According to the communiqué, “The NECin-Council notes with deep worries the emerging stories of apparent disjointed, uncoordinated and blurred war against corruption by the current administration. The police pension scam is a clear case of corruption within the war against corruption, it stinks to high heavens."

SABA—DELTA S t a t e G o v e r n m e n t , yesterday, said it had trained and empowered no fewer than 2,324 Deltans through its Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme, STEP, and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme, YAGEP, in the last two years.

The state's Chief Job Creation Officer, Professor Eric Eboh, who disclosed this at a briefing in Asaba, said the beneficiaries of the STEP and YAGEP would hold Exhibition and Business fair on December 13 and 14, 2017 in Asaba.

Eboh said the exhibition and business fair would “showcase STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs who were trained and established by the state government under its STEP and YAGEP programme and thereby offer them a platform and ladder for growth and sustenance.”

Saying the event would provide STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs an opportunity to “make vital business contacts; create business relationships with investors and communicate their business vision to banks and business support institutions from within and outside Delta State."

OMPALAN assures on equitable representation

By Gab Ejuwa

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ELTA State chapter of Oil and Solid Minerals Producing Areas Landlords Association of Nigeria, OMPALAN, has pledged to liaise between oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region and the Federal Government to ensure lasting peace in the region consistently bedeviled with restiveness and leadership squabbles.

OMPALAN, Delta State chapter, made the position in a paper at its monthly meeting at Ejeme-Uno, Aniocha South Local Government

Area, Delta State, through its state Chairman, Sir Clement Okonjo, saying, “OMPALAN, is made up of persons of high integrity who hereby guarantee total peace in the troubled Niger Delta region by working as umpire between the communities and the government with a view to fast-tracking g o v e r n m e n t ’ s developmental stride in the area.

“There is no doubt that the region has been grossly depleted following years of oil exploration and exploitation. The people and government can count on OMPALAN for reliable representation."

14 —

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 15 :Vanguard News

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South-East PDP meets ahead of Confusion trails Anambra congress, as convention delegates allege altering of list

By Vincent Ujumadu, Anayo Okoli & Peter Okutu

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MUAHIA—AHEAD of Saturday’ s national convention of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the South East Zonal Caucus of the party met in Umuahia, Monday, to harmonize the position of the zone on issues pertaining to the election of new national chairman for the party.

Speaking after the closeddoor meeting, the zonal national Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Austin Umahi, explained that the meeting was summoned for the zone to have “strategic and specific position, as we cannot enter Abuja like sheep without a shepherd.”

Umahi said: “we should be setting the pace for others to follow, hence the zone needs to know its aspirants, the direction it is going and why the direction was chosen.

“It is very important that as a zone, we meet to iron out some issues, and it was a very good deliberation, very fantastic and attended by governors, Deputy Senate President, National Assembly members, all the state chairmen, all the states working committees and BOTs. “We must know our stake; we have played politics without proper direction and we cannot afford to play that politics again.”

It was learnt that the meeting was for the party to resolve the crisis rocking

Imo State chapter of the party and it was agreed that the meeting would be rotated around the states in the zone as a way to “strengthen the party in the zone.”

Chief Umahi however refused to disclose the positions members from the zone would be contesting for in 2019, saying “when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. For now, we are talking of elective convention and we cannot start discussing anything outside that, which comes in less than a week."

He expressed hope that the zone would expect the best from the convention to be chaired by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

Confusion trails Anambra congress Meantime, despite efforts

to bring sanity into the troubled Anambra State branch of the PDP, ahead of its national convention, confusion still trailed the state congress of the party yesterday, as one of the state chairmanship aspirants, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe rejected the outcome and described the exercise as a sham.

An Awka-based businessman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu emerged the state chairman at the congress held at its state headquarters in Awka, where 21 officials were elected for various positions.

The confusion, however, arose when the delegates observed that the delegates’ list was allegedly doctored, which led to chaos during election.

Also, members of the

National Assembly from the state elected on the platform of the party were conspicuously absent during the congress, with a party chieftain saying that the lawmakers boycotted the state congress to protest the alleged doctoring of the delegates’ list.

In a statement yesterday in Awka, Okelekwe said that the Professor Osita Ogbu-led committee sent by the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, to conduct the congress was sidelined by those he described as "some forces in the state, who hijacked the exercise."

He appealled to the PDP NWC to intervene and ensure that a credible state congress was conducted as provided in the party’s constitution, so as to save the party from the lingering crisis that had been its bane bane in the state since 2003.

WERRI—THE unending drama from the Imo State House of Assembly, yesterday, took another dimension with a two weeks suspension handed over to principal officers of the House.

This was coming after a failed budget presentation by the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, where the lawmakers were said to have requested for a formal report on past budget performance from the governor.

The drama started with a meeting held at the Speaker ’s lodge, along Port-Harcourt road, Owerri, which was said to have

WKA—DR Tony Nwoye, APC Governorship Candidate for Anambra 2017 and a member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, yesterday thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping his word and promise over the 2nd Niger Bridge and Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

Dr Tony Nwoye dropped his appreciation when he received the report about the projects from the team, which he sent to observe the extent of work done so far at the two sites, especially at Umunya-Amawbia axis of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

It will be recalled that during the flag-off campaign of Dr Tony Nwoye Campaign at Onitsha, he made a passionate appeal to President Buhari, who was represented by Vice-

E

CONCERT: From left—Director MTN Foundation, Mr. Denis Okoro; his wife, Elelaonu; Director, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki; and Director, MUSON School of Music, Mrs. Marion Akpata, at the MTN Foundation Muson Donor Concert in Lagos. Photo:Akeem Salau

Speaker locks out lawmakers, appoints new leaders

O

A

President Yemi Osibanjo about the state of the road and what road users mostly Ndi Anambra were passing through . He later followed it up with an appeal to the Minister of Power,Works and Housing, who promised to mobilise a contractor to site.

Dr Tony Nwoye maintained that those projects were dear to traders, common people and Ndi Igbo and were not among his campaign promise projects. He expressed happiness that despite the outcome of the governorship election in the state, work has continued on the road and the contract was given to one of the best companies, RCC. He expressed hope that the company would do a good job on the road and finish it on time.

When completed, he said, it would help to alleviate the suffering of road users who had suffered enough on that road.

Christmas Bonus: Ugwuanyi approves 13th month salary Virginus for workers Comrade Nwobodo stated that the

Imo 2018 Budget saga: Confusion as lawmakers clash

By Chinonso Alozie

Nwoye commends Buhari over 2nd Niger Bridge, Onitsha-Enugu road

lasted not less than an hour.

After the meeting, the Speaker and his loyalists, thirteen in number, rushed down to the Assembly.

After they entered the chamber, others were locked out.

As the sitting was going on, out of the 27 lawmakers, Vanguard spotted about fourteen lawmakers at the gallery observing the plenary session.

The sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Acho Ihim, announced a letter said to have been submitted to him by the All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo State, for the withdrawal of the principal officers and also a resignation letter from the said officers.

The affected lawmakers were the majority leader of the House, Mr. Lugard Osuji, Deputy Majority leader, Kennedy Ibeh and the Chief whip of the House, Mr. Marcel Odunze.

He therefore announced Mr. Uche Oguwuike, as the new majority leader, Chinedu Offor as Deputy minority leader and Arthur Egwim as Chief Whip of the House.

The Speaker also announced a committee, to be headed by the Deputy Speaker, Ugonna Ozuigbo, on the suspension of the members and to report back to the House on 12th of December.

But speaking to Vanguard Osuiji said: I

resigned on personal conviction for the good of the House.”

However, some of the lawmakers who confided in Vanguard said that “With the way the Speaker was going about the 2018 budget, Imo people should hold him responsible when the time comes to give account. We have done our best.

“The speaker is only protecting his position and he forgets that it is not about him alone, it is about Imo people.

“Is it wrong to ask the governor to present a report of three years budget performance? Tomorrow you people will say that we are rubber stamp lawmakers but it is not true."

NUGU—IN keeping with the commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration to the welfare of the workers, the Enugu State Executive Council, EXCO, yesterday approved a 13th month salary for civil servants of the state, as an added boost to celebrate the forthcoming Christmas.

The approval was the outcome of the meeting the leadership of the organized labour in the state and the council, held at the Government House, Enugu.

Reacting to the development, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC,

gesture was unprecedented in the history of the state, considering the nation’s economic downturn that has made it impossible for many states to pay workers’ salaries.

Comrade Nwobodo commended Governor Ugwuanyi for the offer, which he said was a surprise package borne out of his magnanimity and an incentive to the workers to motivate them to discharge their duties efficiently.

The Labour leader urged the state workers to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to increase productivity.

Boundary dispute unsettles Enugu communities

By Dennis Agbo

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NUGU—TENSION is now high in Enugu East local government area of Enugu State, where a boundary dispute between Ibagwa-Nike and EdemNike communities has unsettled the residents of the area.

The Umuanekeode family of Ibagwa-Nike community has therefore pleaded for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention in resolving the boundary crisis.

The family alleged that Edem-Nike with the support of some state government officials from the local government conspired to dispossess the family of a large portion of land worth over N1 billion.

The family’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jude Alum, who briefed newsmen on the matter, said Governor Ugwuanyi had earlier resolved the boundary crisis when he asked for a permanent demarcation of the boundary.

16—Vanguard, WEDNEDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

Why we budgeted N82bn for deep seaport —AYADE

By Samson Echenim

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LCCI WOMEN: From left (front row)— Chairperson, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Women Group, Mrs. Agnes Shobajo; President, LCCI, Dr. Nike Akande, and General Manager, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank and Chairperson, LCCI Financial Services Group, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare, during LCCI Women Group's annual conference in Lagos.

ALABAR—THE Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has said his government is very resolute in seeking alternative ways for generating revenue for the state, rather than depending on Federal Government allocations, saying that this informed the state government’s decision to budget a whopping N82 billion for dredging of the sea for construction of the state’s seaport.

He said: “The hallmark of this administration is the decoupling of the state from over dependence on federal allocation and so this budget will help enable the prestages for the commencement of the deep seaport, as part of economic

infrastructures that fit our dreams of an enterprising economy without depending on oil as a source of revenue.”

Ayade had on November 30, 2017 presented a budget of N1.3 trillion for 2018, breaking the records as the state with the biggest budget in the country's history so far.

Presenting the budget, Ayade said though the money was not readily available, it was expected that with the approval and commencement of signature projects, foreign investors would bringinfundsthatwouldbeused to fund the budget.

The governor, who tagged the budget, “Budget of Kinetic Crystallisation,” reiterated that his administration was determinedtomovethestatefrom a civil service economy to an entrepreneurial economy.

Louis Odion featured in Soyinka’s new book

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GUINNESS/FRSC EMBER CAMPAIGN: From left— Sector Commander, Federal Capital Territory, Federal Road Safety CorpsFRSC, Mr. Gora Wobin; Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, Viola Douglas; Public Education Officer, FRSC, Corps Commander Bisi Kassim; Chairman, Nigerian Union of Road Transport Worker, NURTW, FCT Council, Prince Yerima Usman, and Manager, Sustainable Development and Alcohol in Society, Guinness Nigeria, Titilola Alabi, at the Ember Month Campaign on Responsible Drinking by Guinness and FRSC in Abuja.

AGOS—THE controversy stirred

by Professor Wole Soyinka’s ripping his US green card following the election of Donald Trump as US President echoed back yesterday with the launch of a new book by the Nobel laureate.

The event took place at the iconic Freedom Park, Lagos.

Published by Bookcraft, Soyinka’s latest offering entitled, ‘Green Cards, Green Gods’, dwells on the “media firestorm” that preceded and followed his ripping of his US Green Card in fulfilment of an earlier vow against what he described as the then US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s unprovoked assault on the racial sensibilities of those

outside his white supremacist community, especially African immigrants.

An article written by respected columnist, Mr. Louis Odion, entitled ‘Kongi and Trump’s illegitimate kids’ is among the essays contained in the book by the literary giant.

Personally introducing Mr. Odion at yesterday’s event, the literary icon described the columnist as “one of the few thorough and knowledgeable writers around.”

Odion’s article, which was written in November 2016, is believed to have been selected for Soyinka’s book based on its “depth and range.”

Respected for his courage and inimitable style, Odion is a multiple-awardwinning journalist.

Ajimobi lauds LAEI over support for less privileged

By Fredrick Okopie

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PRIVATE SECTOR ON PIB: From left— Director, Research & Statistics, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Mrs Rebecca Ajibade; Director General, Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association, NECA, Mr. Segun Oshinowo; Director General, MAN, Mr. Ajayi Kadiri, and Engr. Reginald Odia of the Economic Policy Committee, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, at the press conference organised by the private sector on Petroleum Industry Governance Bill in Lagos, yesterday.

AGOS—THE First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, has commended the founder of Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative, LAEI, a Non-Government Organisation, Dr. Ama Onyerinma for her support for the less privileged and the vulnerable, especially women and children.

She spoke at the Gala and Award Night ceremony held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos, as some distinguished personalities were presented with awards of recognition.

Mrs Ajimobi, who was presented with the Founder’s Award, frowned at the various

degrees of havoc the culture of silence has caused on the female folk,andadvocatedforeducation, whichshesayswouldliberatethe women and especially, the girl child.

Mrs.Ajimobi,advisedthegroup not to relent in its efforts in its chosen area of endeavours, but also urged them to continue with empowerment, community development and provision of social facilities to the needy and vulnerable.

In an chat with Vanguard, the Founder/Executive Director of LiveAbundantlyEmpowerment Initiative, LAEI, Dr. Ama Onyerinma, said the dearth of a socialsystemtoalleviatefinancial and social stresses forces people to consider other survival alternatives thereby putting their lives and well-being at risk.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 —17 willingly leave Nigeria with her captors. Traffickers use all sorts of means to get people to submit to them.

It would have been obvious to the reporter that local governments are barely functional in most parts of Nigeria, otherwise how could such monstrosities happen right

T

HE shocking CNN video of African migrants (of which many Nigerians) are being auctioned off as slaves should weigh heavily on our collective conscience. Some see them as fools tempted by the mirage of a better life abroad while others condemn them for falling through the cracks of society and not being “sharp” enough to make something out of nothing by using whatever meagre ressources they have to start a business etc.

I won’t waste time tackling the Nigerian propensity for insensitivity which blames ordinary people for their misfortune and celebrates criminals in and outside politics for being crooked enough to break the law with no consequences.

Beyond the socio-economic factors of migration (which are acknowledged, to be honest, only in passing as we would rather blame people for being gullible than accept anyone could be that desperate), we must attempt to understand the psychology of migrants and to pay more attention to what is happening in Nigeria’s hinterland, the many forgotten villages and towns cut off from major cities where people live almost as if they weren’t a part of this country.

There are far too many parts of this country which many of us from the relative comfort of our city dwellings (in comparison to what the rest of Nigeria has to contend with) neither know nor contend with.

Abject poverty, from generation to generation, a fate unchanged by political parties or seasons, is the lot of the gross majority of our people.

Beyond the ease of victim blaming or the simplistic appeals for Nigerians to stay in Nigeria, without systemic change, that is, without creating first a society where talent and meritocracy ensure success rather than nepotism and the willingness (or the ability) to break the law, people will keep fleeing a country they see as a dead end, no matter the risks.

Also, so long as corruption

Checking out: a murderous fashion

Falling standard of living

•Another set of 270 returnees from Libya arrived the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos ensures gaps in our institutions, there will always be a market for traffickers to establish themselves. We don’t seem to realise just how powerful and well organised the trafficking networks are operating across West Africa.

Foreign media outlets who’ve interviewed migrants are full of tales of kidnap and murder: abduction is one of the many ways people are trafficked and find themselves in situations they didn’t choose.

In other cases, agents promise migrants safe passage to Europe and turn out to be traffickers, buying and selling slaves on behalf of other partner organisations.

One must ask why it is so easy for hordes of people to leave West Africa without alerting the authorities. Have some

Ben Murray-Bruce

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HE advocate of the “common sense revolution” has said a few things of late which are far from “common sense”. He wants the Nigerian Television Authority, the Federal Radio Corporation Nigeria and the VON (Voice of Nigeria) to be sold to lessen government expenditure.

Do NTA, VON and FRCN cost more to maintain than the Senate? Senator’s allowances alone could shore up government revenue, which must have occurred to Senator Murray-Bruce. Is the Senate more productive than the NTA? It’s probably a stalemate. These agencies should be audited and restructured, not sold off. Would Britain sell the BBC? Free

electricity or any of the basic things the formal economy or society should provide individuals. They’re simply living off the grid, outside of everything. It could be 2017 or 1960 in some villages in this country and you almost wouldn’t know the difference.

It’s not just tragic, it’s alarming.

“Checking out” has, therefore, been fashionable for a long time, in fact so much so that the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) used to advertise leaving Nigeria, using the fictional Andrew character which encouraged seeking greener pastures abroad.

A generation of Nigerians, roughly between the 1970s and 1990s mentally “checked out”.

We began to accept corruption and injustice as the norm, aggressively hording whatever opportunities we could, never minding the rest of society, believing that we could continue to be ok so long as we could get government contracts because we knew Mr. X or Y.

government agencies or beneficiaries been historically complicit? A few years ago, Wikileaks published a story on an infamous Northern businessman who was alleged to be close to a certain Northern government. Wikileaks called him “the go to man to bring in girls, drugs and arms or conversely to export them”.

Barely a few years later it was announced that he was marrying a governor ’s daughter. Corruption in Nigeria

We don’t seem to realise just how powerful and well organised the trafficking networks are operating across West Africa

•Senator Murray-Bruce public news and information agencies are a citizen’s right, they exist all over the world.

Murray-Bruce was a former DG of NTA, shortly before he started the Silverbird media group. Perhaps a review of his tenure is in order, to determine how and when the “rot” which took over such agencies began.

has cost us dearly. The CNN documentary on the Libyan slave auction traced its roots to Nigeria. A woman who was able to escape detailed how fear of her family being harmed by traffickers and threats of “spiritual attacks” made her

under the government’s nose?

Many states in Nigeria are failed states, they exist in name alone. They can neither pay salaries nor secure their citizens’ lives and property. The rest of us are complicit through our laissez-faire attitude.

However, history has shown that once injustice consumes the defenceless, it isn’t long till it starts to eat away at those who thought themselves isolated from harm. I must also add that the woman says she was trafficked by a well-known figure in her community: her 'pastor'.

Before we scream about the inhumanity of Libyans towards us, their local agents and “suppliers” are Nigerians, Ghanaians, Cameroonians etc. who trade in human beings with as much feeling as they would sell yam or cocoa.

Risks of migration There needs to be a concerted effort to educate people about the risks of migration and more widely, to educate Nigerians as a whole. There are millions of Nigerians who don’t vote or participate in public life, who aren’t even aware of the debates or questions agitating the middle class.

These are people to whom things like “PDP convention” or “Buhari’s illness” which although they dominate the news in certain circles, to most Nigerians mean nothing. These are people who don’t have ID cards, who live day to day without much knowledge or contact with formalised governance or statehood. They don’t have bank accounts, jobs,

Over time we became too engaged in our own personal struggles for survival, coupled with our defeatist “na so we see am” attitude, to mount any sort of concerted response to the falling standard of living.

Politicians turned Nigerians of all social classes to beggars, now we’re paying for it.

Today, Nigerians are a little less accepting. We voted out a President and voted in a new one, but it’s ironic that after barely two and a half years of APC, some people say “it’s worse than PDP”.

Where were their complaints during the PDP’s 16 years of misrule, when uncountable sums which should have changed all our lives vanished?

We’ve been silent at the wrong times of our history and vocal at strange moments.

We fought the government when it arrested judges even while we acknowledge the judiciary is a huge part of our problem, because it is easily compromised and bribed, allowing thieves to get away with “perpetual injunctions” etc.

When will we stop mentally “checking out” and allowing ourselves to be manipulated and impoverished?

Bailouts

H

OW much more will be paid to states and misused? Who will have the courage to streamline governance?

These are the questions we should be asking in view of 2019 rather than thinking in terms of ethno-religious balancing acts which gets us nowhere.

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

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 COMPLAINTS over alleged excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force have assumed a tumultuous point, with the floating last week of #ENDSARS, a campaign to scrap the squad in the social media.

In September 2016, Amnesty International (AI) followed in the trail of widespread complaints by citizens and published a report accusing the Squad of subjecting its detainees to horrific torture in form of ‘hangings’, beatings, shootings, mock executions and extortions.

Also, last September, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, accused SARS men of being behind the upsurge in kidnappings in the state.

When the #ENDSARS agitation surfaced in the social media, it was a floodgate of personal experiences, as citizens took turns to catalogue their individual experiences at the hands of the tough, armed-to-theteeth policemen charged with the

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

T is no longer news that this government was ushered in with a lot of expectations, as the previous one fell far below standard. The people voted out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP government that had failed to fashion out a way out of the myriads of problems confronting the nation. Not quite long after the All Progressive Congress, APC government took over, the excuses for their inability to perform began to manifest, mainly attributed to the previous PDP government.

I knew that this government will not go far on its promises to the people. My fore sight is based on the premise that, the position you end up with in a race depends on your manner of take-off. President Mangufuli of Tanzania took only one month to impact the medical sector in his country by suspending foreign wasteful official trips and redirecting the fund to upgrading the government hospital.

We have discovered and are still discovering stolen money in all manner of places in Nigeria - sceptic pits, abandoned shops, etc. Why can’t this money be used for specific and generally identifiable projects?

That way, stories about diversion of recovered loots will be put to rest. It is possible to do, with the right will and the elimination of those with criminal tendencies in government.

How can the present administration blame the past government for the absence of basic amenities in the State House hospital, when it has been in office for over two years and funds have yearly been budgeted for that institution? It is even more

Nigeria still needs SARS onerous responsibility to confront violent crimes in our society.

Spokesman of the Police Force, Jimoh Moshood, however, dismissed these allegations, saying the SARS men have been performing “ fantastically well.” He asked members of the public to disregard the “false rumours” adding that the Police always investigate complaints and deal with errant officers.

For the avoidance of doubt, we must bear in mind that SARS, which is one of the 14 units under the Nigeria Police Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department was created to arrest, investigate and prosecute people

involved in violent crimes such as armed robberies, murders, kidnappings, hired assassinations and other forms of extreme criminality.

There is no doubt that some elements among them indulge in excesses that run counter to their true professional calling. In fact, SARS is just another offshoot and mirror-image of the society we all live in, where corruption, bad governance, the quest for quick and easy money and impunity push people to involve themselves in activities that are considered outrageous in civilised societies.

The call for its scrapping cannot

OPINION Of excuses, media aides and others embarrassing, given the delicate state of the President’s health in recent times. The wife complained openly, that they are erecting structures while basic health requirements are lacking. The daughter echoed the same sentiment and till date, we have not seen any step taken to remedy the situation.

The question to ask is this; what have they done with the money budgeted for the State House or National hospital these past two years? It is not acceptable to come up with excuses like the President’s media aides are

It is wisdom to be quiet sometimes instead of making comments to please the (Mr. President) boss; Nigerians are getting tired of this doing presently, for the non availability of basic amenities in the National hospital and to continue to hold the previous government responsible for this failure. Why should they keep referring to the past as the reason for their inability to perform? Is that not why they were elected in the first place? To correct the ills of the past? We must learn from our past, but if we are to make progress, we must forget about the past and stay focused on the present and the future. Excuses do not get things done or bring results, they are only

palliatives to detract inquisitive minds in the short run, but if we must go far, we must let performance speak for us.

If we do not squarely face the challenges and keep finding excuses to give to the people for lack of performance, failure is only few steps away. This is a general principle. It is not limited to politics alone, the only difference is that, in politics one can use different instruments of propaganda and intimidation to deceive and manipulate the people but at the end, the result will surely show.

Politics in Nigeria has become a zero sum game, where the winner gains at the expense of the loser, whereas, the ideal situation is for all to benefit when the better candidate wins an election. In today’s Nigeria, the losers must stay buried and not talk or complain, the victory has made them to become arrogant and over drunk with power to properly channel it’s use. Nobody demonstrates this better than the two men who have been saddled with the media arm of the presidency - Messrs Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu.

We thought we had seen it all when we heard that rats prevented the President from using his office on his return from medical tourism abroad, until Femi came up with the bizarre excuse that the President had to go abroad for treatment because of the past government. What will it cost this government to put in place a first class medical facility in Abuja? How long will it take to make this a reality? I believe it is a matter of priority and focus, no country can claim to be independent when the survival

solve the problem. Rather, it will embolden these violent criminals to come out into the open and have a field day. SARS men put their lives on the line to protect the generality of the population. We need to encourage them, and exploit the channels created by the Police authorities to lodge complaints when there is a need to do so.

The Police authorities should see the #ENDSARS campaign as a wake-up call and take more proactive steps to keep their operatives within their professional lines and rules of engagement.

Whenever bad eggs are identified, they should be appropriately dealt with, while more efforts should be made to upgrade their training, improve their welfare and give them a sense of pride in their jobs.

We must build bridges of friendliness and co-habitation between the Police and the citizenry because both sides need each other.

of her President is in the hands of foreigners.

No country can claim to be independent if basic medical requirements are not readily available to its citizens. It is a big embarrassment in this age (21st century) and time for a country to be totally dependent on foreigners for its healthcare needs. What bleeds the heart is that it is not as though we do not have capable hands to do this but the lack of attention given by successive governments is the problem.

We learnt that in the past, Saudi royals came to University College Hospital, UCH Ibadan for medical check ups but today the reverse is the case. The challenge is priority and focus. Have we considered the chunk of our foreign exchange that is going down the drain in the name of medical tourism, to countries like India, South Africa, Europe and others?

Will it not be more beneficial to us to put our medical facilities in tip top shape, so our doctors will not have to move over to foreign lands at the slightest opportunity? If only the Buhari administration can do something about it. His wife has cried out and the daughter has echoed it, it will be a very good legacy for him to leave behind for Nigerians.

For now, it will be better for President Buhari’s media aides to keep quiet when they have no reasonable excuse to give over certain actions of government. It is wisdom to be quiet sometimes instead of making comments to please the (Mr. President) boss.

Nigerians are getting tired of this. They should be reminded that no condition is permanent.

*Mr. Ikhioya, www.southsouthecho.com Twitter: @sunnyIkhioya

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

— 19

CBN laments failure of banks to lend to SMEs

By Peter Egwuatu & Levinus Nwabughiogu

T

HE House of Representa tives, yesterday, resolved to probe all allegations of corruption in the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, which led to the suspension of its Director-General, Mounir H. Gwarzo, by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, just as the Commission said it would continue with the forensic exercise on Oando Plc activities.

The legislators also asked the parties in the matter between SEC and the Minister of Finance to maintain status quo, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The resolution was sequel to a motion raised under matters of urgent public importance titled, “Need to intervene on the conflict between Minister of Finance and the suspended Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission”, sponsored by Hon. Diri Douye, representing Yenagoa/ Kolokuma/Opokuma of Bayelsa State.

Douye, in the motion canvassed that there were allegations of interference by the Ministry of Finance in the discharge of responsibilities by SEC, particularly the Oando forensic audit matter which was speculated to be responsible for Gwarzo’s suspension.

He stated: “The House notes the conflict between Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the suspended Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Mounir Gwarzo over Oando’s Forensic Audit and corruption allegations.

“The conflict has allegedly lingered for several months between the Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commission, but the matter of Oando disagreement brought it into public domain.

“The intervention by the House will put the matter in proper perspective and foster amicable resolution of the conflict in order to protect the image of the Security and Exchange Commission in the interest of both local and foreign investors.”

Contributing to the motion, Hon. Toby Okechukwu (Enugu State) said that the rot in SEC apparently

$125.85 -0. 90 $1,940.00 -62.00 $14. 96

-0.10

Oando: Reps probe Adeosun’s suspension of SEC boss •To investigate allegations; shareholders seek transparency •SEC to continue forensic audit of Oando

AWARD: From left, Vice Chairman of the Forbes Publishing Company, Mr. Kip Forbes; Award Recipient, Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and Interior Designer and Granddaughter of General Dwight D. Eisenhower(34th President of the US), Ms. Anne Eisenhower during the conferment of the prestigious Dwight Eisenhower Global Award for Entrepreneurship on Elumelu by Business Council for International Understanding(BCIU), at The Cipriani in New York City on Monday. contributed to the collapse of the capital market in Nigeria.

“What is happening in SEC is symptomatic of the collapse of capital market. I wouldn’t know why infractions should be swept under the carpet. The Nigerian people should be told why the infractions of Oando will be swept under the carpet. Nigerians should know why the minister cannot be investigated. Nigerians should know why the D-G was sacked. A total panel of inquiry is needed on SEC”, he said.

Also speaking, Hon. Sanni Kaita (Katsina State) said that the Commission was too sensitive and important to be left unattended.

“SEC is very sensitive and very important to Nigeria and the international community. Should we allow the investigation to go on without knowing what happened?”

Securing the nod of the House when the motion was put to a voice vote, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to investigate all the allegations and report to the House within two weeks.

$14. 71 $62. 70 0. 25 57.53 CURRENCY BUYING

0.06 SELLING

US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL SDR

306 413. 1918 362.7936 310. 944 2. 7102 0.5331 431. 6232 46. 2157 81. 5913 433. 4184

306.5 413. 867 363. 3864 311. 4521 2.7146 0.5431 432. 3284 46. 2917 81.7246 434. 1266

307 414. 5421 363. 9792 311. 9602 2.719 0.5531 433. 0337 46. 3676 81. 8579 434. 8348

RAND

22. 3529

22. 3894

22. 4259

CBN Exchange rate as at 05/12/2017

SEC to continue forensic audit on Oando Meanwhile, the SEC, yesterday, stated that it will go ahead with the conduct of a forensic exercise on Oando Plc despite the suspension of Gwarzo.

The Commission, in a statement, said it has written to Oando Plc yesterday of its commitment to conduct the forensic exercise on the company’s activities.

The statement made available to Vanguard reads in part: “The Commission wishes to assure the general public of its

zero tolerance to infractions in the Nigerian Capital Market.”

Shareholders react Meanwhile, reacting to the latest development by SEC to continue with the forensic audit of Oando’s activities, some shareholders of the company expressed total support for the exercise, provided it is transparent.

Alhaji Shehu Mallam Mikail, National President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, stated: “The immediate action from the newly appointed acting director general of SEC, Dr. Abdul Zubair, to continue with the forensic exercise on Oando Plc is a good one. “We the shareholders of Oando expect the audit to continue as this will address the issues affecting the company. It will also give the Commission the respect it deserves as the headmaster of the market.

“The forensic exercise should be transparent enough to protect the interest of shareholders and the company. The forensic audit will show

that there is no hidden agenda or interest from all stakeholders involved in the matter.

“We want transparency and accountability in our market and that is why our shareholders are supporting the exercise.”

Mr. Boniface Okezie, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, PSAN, said: “SEC is an institution. It is not a one-man entity, so the continuation of the forensic audit on Oando is a welcome development. We shareholders expect the forensic exercise to continue despite the suspension of Gwarzo.

“The suspension of Gwarzo is a different thing from Oando’s audit. There were petitions from some stakeholders bothering on transfer of shares and ownership, so if the Commission has resolved to carry out forensic exercise, it will be in the best interest of the company and the entire shareholders to put the matter to rest.

We want the exercise to be transparent and not to witch-hunt anybody.”

*To introduce framework on SME lending

By Babajide Komolafe

G

OVERNOR, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has lamented the failure of banks to lend to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Meanwhile, the apex bank has commenced the process of drafting a framework for lending to SMEs in the country aimed at improving credit to the sector.

Emefiele disclosed this at a strategy meeting with selected Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and other stakeholders, on enhancing access to credit to SMEs in the country.

Stakeholders at the meeting include the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters in the Vice President’s Office, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, Managing Director, Development Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Tony Okpanachi, and Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Olukayode Pitan.

Emefiele said that the framework would see more of government intervention in the sector, which many believe would result in job creation for the youths in the country.

He noted that the meeting with the DFIs was a result of the failure of lenders to make access to credit a priority. He expressed government’s concern that the citizens were yet to feel the impact of the country’s exit from recession, which he attributed to lack of appreciable growth.

Speaking further, he disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the CBN and the DFIs to come up with programmes that would have Nigeria and Nigerians at heart. The programme, according to him, would be one that would permeate the country in terms of granting access to credit to the rising number of SMEs. In spite of all effort by the Bank to improve certain parameters of the economy, he said lenders had failed Nigerians.

Speakers at the strategy session were unequivocal in their attempt to find solution to the failure of the commercial banks to rescue the situation.

Oando supports development of African focused talent create a positive and lasting conat Lagos Photo Festival tribution. Therefore I encourage

O

ANDO PLC has partnered with the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) to promote African art and socio-economic diversification through the month long Lagos Photo Festival.

Head, Corporate Communications, Oando PLC, Alero Balougn, disclosed this in a statement from the company.

Lagos Photo Festival which held its grand opening at the company’s state of the art head office, in Lagos will run till December 15 across various indoor and outdoor locations. The grand opening included a well-curated selection of over 31 of the most talented African artists, including the New York

Times portfolio review finalist, Elo Osunde and Kadara Enyeasi amongst others. The festival aims to engage the general public with multifaceted stories of Africa through exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions and large scale outdoor prints displayed throughout Lagos.

Calling on for more support of the creative arts, Balougn said: For Nigeria to achieve its economic diversification objective, the principle of subsidiarity must apply. The private sector must acknowledge that the government cannot do it all and we owe it to the country we operate in to

the private sector to expend more efforts in supporting more initiatives like the Lagos Photo Festival as well as other neglected sectors of the economy to achieve a Nigeria we can all be proud of. As a company we believe Africa has a lot of untapped talent, we are inspired by the sector’s ability to thrive with minimal external support. The zeal and passion that can be found in the sector is in line with Oando’s core values and we are honoured by the opportunity to support the industry through the Lagos Photo platform. We are committed to identifying with and supporting Government’s pursuit of the national objective.”

20—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, December 6, 2017

Baby products: Consumers’ apathy leads to reformulation •Unilever, PZ, P&G battle for supremacy Stories by Princewill Ekwujuru uest to satisfy consumers’ demand for more value in baby bath products, such as soaps, lotions and shampoos may have forced leading baby products manufacturers into dynamic product changes.

This quest has led baby bath product manufacturers to intensify their marketing strategies into winning back consumers’ unstable loyalty to their various brands.

The manufacturers have also begun to reformulate and add more skin friendly chemicals to the products.

This is at the backdrop of market insight that showed a sustained rise in child birth, and increased demand for baby products which has continued to rise despite the economic hardship.

Consequently, to remain relevant in their positions, the manufacturers are beginning to adopt critical marketing measures such as repackaging, re-designing of their products shape and size, both in lotion and shampoo containers, especially soaps which comes in different colours, different shapes, including additional fragrance to attract customers.

These developments however has narrowed top contenders to four brands of Johnson’s baby products, produced by Johnson and Johnson Consumer Company, Cussons baby products, made by PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Milton baby products, manufactured by Procter and Gamble, Pears baby products, produced by Unilever Nigeria Plc. Also some imported products have helped to heighten the battle for dominance and control of market share. They include Sebamed, Dr Bronner’s, Pigeon, Chicco, Erbavira baby products among others.

Vanguard Companies and Markets (C&M) look into the competition show that consumers differ widely on their preferences for the baby bath products. Some prefer the soaps for their foaming, while others go for fragrance or colour. Also some are stuck to brand loyalty.

However, C&M findings also revealed that baby soaps, lotions and shampoos sometimes labelled ‘natural’ or ‘gentle’ could be filled with toxic chemicals which are dangerous to child’s health, yet the manufacturers advertise them without warning.

are controlled by Johnson’s and Milton.

Speaking with C&M, Mrs. Okeke Praise, a pregnant mother, who was at the mother and child hospital in Festac Town, Lagos, during the introduction of the repackaged and re-labelled Pears baby products, said she uses Milton, adding, however, “this is the first time I will want to try Pears.”

On why she wants to switch allegiance she said: "I only wanted to know if the price is right and see if it will be of same quality" Another consumer in the same hospital said she has not been using Pears, but signified her allegiance to Johnson’s baby products.

Consumers’ reaction Determining the level of patronage in the market, findings by C&M show that of the number of consumers and distributors spoken to, majority preferred Johnson’s, Cussons, Milton and Pears baby products, with marginal use of imported baby products. A visit to an ante-natal session(s)

Distributors’ reactions A baby product distributor located along LASU- Isheri expressway, Lagos, who refused to disclose his identity, confirmed to C&M from his ledger that there has been a battle between Johnson’s and Milton baby products, withPears in close runup due to its recent re-launch.

Another distributor, Mags

Q

C M Y K

recent reformulation and re-launch of its product range. However, some were not comfortable with the price of the product, which they say is on the high side.

in several mother and child centres in the states of Lagos, Ogun, Enugu and Imo revealed that Johnson’s, Cussons and Milton lead the pack . In Imo state Pears is doing better, though some parts of the market

A bad product may manifest as a reaction in a baby, a situation that shows the baby is allergic.

Seek medical advice, and with time those reactions will go away

Merchants, who plies her trade at Oke-Arin market, also in Lagos, pointed out that demand for baby products is on the rise due to increased number of child births, but noted that of all the products Johnson’s, Milton and Pears, are leading, with pockets of foreign products making in-roads into the market.

A distributor in Ogun state, Anuoluwa Ventures, who gave her name simply as Mrs Amuda, said preference of the brands has to do with choice of the customers, not the price, because parents want the best for their children, but stated that the brands are battling seriously to control the market in the state.

A number of distributors indicated that Pears may be losing its market share, and this, they say, may have formed the

Experts speak An Industrial Chemist, Jude Emegide, explaining some of the chemical components of these products said: “Children are exposed to 27 dangerous chemicals each day through personal care products alone.”

For example, fragrance, he said: “You may love the smell of a given baby lotion, but fragrance is linked to allergies, skin irritation and eczema, and can be toxic to various organs in the body. Avoid products that lists fragrance, perfume or parfum.”

He went on to say that “phthalates and parabens are chemicals linked to endocrine disruption, which can cause allergies, asthma and cancer. This also depends on skin type. “ A marketing expert, who did not want his name in print, and who claims to work for one of the brands, said, “most marketers do not know the composition of the products, but

just market them.” He suggested that if the products contain such chemicals there should be a warning on the pack and container of the brands, television commercials, billboards etc to inform consumers of the presence of those chemicals, just like in the tobacco ads.

Dr. Adeyeye Taiwo, Consultant Gynecologist/Director of Clinical Services, representing the Medical Director of Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo Odofin in Lagos, during the unveiling of the new Pears baby range, agreed that “a bad product may manifest as a reaction in a baby, a situation that shows the baby is allergic.

Seek medical advice, and with time those reactions will go away.” A herb seller located at Iyana Isasi, Lagos-Badagry expressway, Iya Mulika, advised that to avoid the problems mentioned above, nursing mothers should use natural products such as Coconut oil, Olive oil, Shea butter and native soaps. “That is what our fathers used for us, the white man has came with his education and technology and we lost are traditional heritage,” she stated.

Unilever’s response Reacting, Category Manager for Unilever Nigeria Plc, Adetoun Adegbite, who spoke t o C&M denied that the product is losing its market share and stated that, that did not inform the re-launch, but said that the new oil bottle is transparent unlike the old container. “Our focus is not to counter competition, our focus is on consumers, because they want a better looking product and we have answered to their demand, so we are not bothered about competition, we are focused on our consumers, what our consumers want is what we are giving them.”

MultiChoice unveils festive season promo

P

ay TV operator, M u l t i C h o i c e Nigeria, has revealed its festive promotion for consumers across the country tagged #12GoodReasons goody bags.

The promotion commenced with effect from November 24th, 2017 to lapse on 18th March 2018, subscribers on both the DStv and GOtv platforms are expected to win free subscriptions and kitchenware whilst gaining access to new and exciting content at no extra cost. The #12GoodReasons promotion covers the spectrum of DStv and GOtv offerings and gives new and existing customers the chance to amongst other things win big and enter a raffle draw.

Martin Mabutho, the General Manager, Sales and Marketing for MultiChoice

Nigeria, said: “As 2017 draws to a close, we are rewarding our loyal customers and dealers, whilst also providing an exciting opportunity for new subscribers to get on board. For the festive season, you can now pick up a HD decoder and dish with one month compact subscription for just N9, 900. You can also get a DStv HD decoder and dish with two months’ Family subscription for only N10, 900. Our GOtv subscribers can enjoy our ‘GOtv Chop Life’ promo which has something for everyone. New GOtv customers only have to pay N4, 300 and they get a GOtv decoder plus one month GOtv Plus subscription. If you also pay for an additional month’s subscription you automatically enter a raffle draw where you stand the chance of winning exciting prizes, including 1.5KVA generators, a set aluminum

cooking of pots and 6kg Camp gas with Stainless Steel burner”.

Furthermore, from the 29th of November to the 31st of January, DStv Premium customers can enjoy ShowMax, MultiChoice’s Video on Demand service which supplies an extensive catalogue of world class TV shows and movies. DStv & GOtv subscribers will be treated to exciting entertainment content including all the footballing action from the Premier League, Champions League and Spanish La Liga including the highly anticipated “El Classico” match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The kids are not left out with the special Animania channel just for them.

Vanguard , WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 6, 2017 —21

•Illegal immigrants at a detention centre in Zawiyah, 45 kilometres west of the Libyan capital Tripoli. AFP/Getty Images

Libyan slave trade FG identifies 2778 Nigerian migrants •Repatriates 250 weekly

By Udo Ibuot with additional reporting by Fredrick Okopie

T

HE ordeal of Nigerians and other African nationals caught in the web of the new slave trade in Libya has continued to send shock waves across the world. There have been reports of Africans being sold and resold for upwards of $400 with several dying in the process.

While many Libyans regard the thriving trade in slaves as a lucrative business, other African governments, the European Union and the United Nations are moving in, not only to stop the trade but also to tackle the humanitarian crisis associated with it.

The Federal Government said, yesterday, that it has so far identified 2,778 Nigerians trapped in the Libyan detention camps. Of this figure, it said 250 would be repartriated yesterday, as part of the 250 that were being repartriated every week. So far the government said 3,000 have so far returned from the Libyan enclave.

Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman, Tiwatope EliasFatiile, said in the statement that the 2778 were Nigerians identified in detention camps that embassy officials had been

visiting. Those registered in these camps, the spokesman said, were issued with emergency travel certificates.

While the government indicated that the repatriation exercise was a continuous exercise, it noted that it would continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.

A report monitored from CNN indicates that Libya has become attractive for this modern trade in migrants and refugees because of its location as a transit point for Africans who try to reach Europe by sea. The report notes that at least 150,000 people have tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya in the last three years. At least 3,000 refugees have paid the supreme price while trying to make the dangerous crossing.

The Internationl Organisation for Migration, IOM, the United Nations migration agency, has rallied support from European nations and particularly Italy for the Libyan Coast Guards who are particularly ordered to prevent boats that smuggle migrants and refugees from Libya to Europe.

At the moment, IOM estimates that between 400,000 and one million migrants that have found

their ways into Libya were in that country’s detention centres. And from these detention centres have come all the obnoxious reports of robbery, rape and murder of

We didn’t take our bath for two months, and did not brush our teeth; some of us fixed pipes to our private parts to be able to urinate the migrants that have caused considerable concern to the conscience of the world.

A male who returned from the Libyan enclave with one eye narrated his ordeals. He said, “We didn’t take our bath for two months, and did not brush our teeth. Some of us fixed pipes to our private parts to be able to urinate. Some of us have bullet wounds. The Libyans treated us like slaves; in fact more than slaves. I don’t know how to classify the treatment.

“I’m a married man of 35, and graduated from the Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara-Otefe, in Business Administration Department. Most of us are wearing dreadlocks like mad men, but we are not mad. It was the United Nations, UN, that compelled them to release the migrants in secret cells.”

Migrants in secret cells A female returnee who spoke in pidgin English said, “I give thanks to God that we have returned from Libya. Those who say they want to go to Italy by road should understand that it is not an easy journey. I was locked up in an apartment for four days without food or water. I almost died; it was God who saved me.

Those who are listening to me should please stay back and work in the farm. This is better than travelling by road. The Libyan prisons are not meant for human beings.”

Another male returnee said, “Every uniformed man in Libya is building a prison, a private prison. That is what they are doing. They would come to tell our people that they need Manamish. The Manamish would pick you up and free you to go to the town. In the town,

they would lock you up in another prison. It is the business they are doing now. When they lock you up, they would go back to the United Nations, UN, to inform them that they are running a deportation camp, and the UN would give them money.

Thousands of Nigerians were being transferred from prison to prison, but would not be deported even though they would say they wanted to deport these migrants.

“They would arrest Nigerians at sea, and say they donot want them to go to Italy. Later, they would bring the migrants back to Libya and lock them up in prisons, beat, humiliate, and torture them. A lot of Nigerians have been calling on their countrymen to send the money to Libya to free them from those Libyans. They are not official uniformed men, they just wear uniforms. They are called Asima Boys, because there is no government in that place.”

A female who spoke in pidgin English said, “All my hope was that the woman (agent) was taking me to Italy. I never knew she was taking me to Libya to be sold into slavery. The woman in question is from Benin city. She took five of us to Libya only to trade us out for her own gain.

She also sold another set of 20 boys on different occasions. They took the girls to brothels to work as prostitutes. Any one who refused would be beaten to the point of death. They would insert sticks in their private parts if they are adamant.”

22—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

VOL. 2 NO. 16

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

•Stone Castle Hotel in flames, along Orji Road in Owerri North Local Government Area.

•Okpokiri Petrol station along Orji road in Owerri North Local Government Area where gas exploded. Photos by Chinonso Alozie

A week of tragedies, drama in Imo

By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri t will not be an exaggeration to say that at some point, Imo people became apprehensive and did not know what next, going by the happenings.

At a particular stage, the people were enveloped in fear of fire incidents and explosions which claimed lives.

While at the other side of the story, it appears politically the end has come, hearing that for the first time in the history of Imo Satate, since the return of democracy, the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, failed to present the 2018 budget.

South-East Voice monitored the developments in Owerri and discovered that the scenario created a bigger suspicion in the minds of the citizens. They are wondering what the outcome could be.

At this point, some people recalled the ugly story of multiple building collapses in the state in which lives were said to have been lost as well as property worth billions of naira.

Some of the locations of the building collapse were Wetheral Road, Fire Service Roundabout in Owerri Municipal council where an 18-year-old girl, Osinachi Nnabue, among others, were said to have died.

In another development, a three-storey building under construction at Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area, as well as a two-storey building under construction along Owerri/ Aba road among others. The incidents occurred between July and August 2017, with casualties recorded.

At a point, citizens

I

became weary of any storey building under construction.

Concerned citizens began asking the question why standards are disregarded in a construction work. At first, professional bodies in the area of construction started raising alarm over the level of substandard work both in the private and public sectors.

It got to a stage that the people of the state rose up and spoke against the inferior works in the state.

However, the much talked about building collapse fizzled out as soon as the state stopped recording building collapse incidents.

After two months, the citizens were faced with

another set of tragedies resulting from fire outbreaks and explosions.

They all happened in the month of November, in just a week. First, it was an explosion by a truck laden with gas, it was said to have killed over 20 people. The incident took place at the ever busy Owerri-UmuakaOkwudor- Orlu road.

In that scene, an 18seater bus was burnt beyond recognition.

After two days, a gas explosion occurred at Okpokiri Petrol station, a tragedy said to have killed about four persons.

T h e n e x t d a y, j u s t a stone throw from the Okpokiri Petrol station, it

•Scene of the explosion of a tanker laden with gas along Owerri-Umuaka-Okwudor-Orlu road. was another fire outbreak in Stone Castle Hotel located along Orji Road in Owerri North Local Government Area, where the generator house went up in flames and the generators were badly damaged. It also affected some parts of the building.

As the citizens were trying to get over the devastations, what looks like a political battle set in, where presentation of Imo 2018 budget could not hold on the scheduled date.

It was planned for Tuesday, 28 November, 2017; however, to the chagrin of the masses, the lawmakers were not seen in the Assembly complex which suggested that there was a disagreement between

We have been dehumanized, trumatized—Abia Pensioners

• It is ridiculous to pay pensioners N500— Abia Speaker.

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUA H I A — A N G RY Abia State pensioners have taken their protest against the several months of unpaid arrears of pensions to the State House of Assembly, lamenting that they have been traumatized and dehumanized by the state government.

The pensioners have therefore called on the lawmakers to intervene in their matter, saying that pensioners in the state are dying on daily basis as they could no longer afford their medication.

A forthright ago, the pensioners took their protest to the Government House, Umuahia, where the Principal Secretary to

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Emma Nwabuko assured them that the Government was making efforts to pay them.

Dressed in black attire, the pensioners, some of them

looking malnourished and sickly, took off from the SubTreasury on Bande/School Road, did the over four kilometers distance to the

Continues on pg 23

*Protesting pensioners at the gate of the Abia House of Assembly Complex

the executive and the legislators.

The botched presentation of Imo 2018 Budget was followed by a story of suspension of the Clerk of the House, Mr Chris Duru, over alleged 'gross misconduct.' A committee was set up to look into the issues and return a report to the House within a week.

The motion was raised by the Majority leader of the Assembly, Mr Lugard Osuji.

While the people were still discussing the reasons behind the failure of the lawmakers to appear for the budget presentation and the suspension of the clerk, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Acho Ihim, said the Clerk was never suspended and that until the allegations levelled against him (Duru) were substantiated, Mr. Chris Duru remained in his position.

According to Ihim’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Marcel Ekwezuo: “Imo State House of Assembly has debunked the various mass media reports falsely claiming that Clerk of Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Chris Duru has been suspended from office.

“Sequel to the motion which alleged under-performance and non-compliance to certain laid down rules and procedures of the house in the discharge of his duties as basis for the motion. A fiveman Committee led by Honourable Kennedy Ibeh, member representing Obowo State Constituency was set up to investigate activities of the Clerk beginning from 2011 till date to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the allegations against Mr. Chris Duru.”

However, as the events continue to unfold South-East Voice will update you on the development.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 —23

Deportation: My wife, 3 children stranded in India

By Peter Okutu

A

B A K A L I K I -T H E Federal Government has been called upon to widen the scope of its repatriation project to cover not only Nigerians stranded in Libya but also those held in deportation camps in Asian countries such as India and Malaysia.

Speaking with South-East Voice in Abakaliki, a Nigerian who was recently deported from India for having issues with his travelling documents, Mr Chukwudi Onu explained that at least 150 Nigerians were languishing in deportation camp in India.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Onu who is from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State lamented that his wife and three children are still stranded in India following his arrest and deportation in May this year.

“I have been living in India for the past six years, I travelled with my family in December 2011 and on May 15th, I was arrested by Indian Immigration Police

over expired visa, from there to deportation camp where I spent over a month before I was deported to Nigeria.”

Mr Onu said Indian government had become hostile to Nigerians recently, alleging that even those with valid passports were most times arrested and hauled into deportation camp, only to be released after their papers must have been verified.

He noted that so many Nigerians in the camp had been there for over one year without any hope of returning as they had not been able to raise money for their tickets.

“Yes there were over one thousand, five hundred Nigerians, because in my room, I think we were over 60 and they have over 21 rooms. There are places for Pakistanis and Afghanistans, I think I saw one Polish and an Australian, but the population of Nigerians is 20 to one of other nationals.”

Mr Onu explained that his family had been kicked out of their apartment over unpaid bills and could not go

– Ebonyi indigene cries out to deportation camp because of the harsh treatment being meted out to Nigerians.

“My family is staying in an open church, even to raise money for their air tickets is an uphill task for me. I have been reaching out to the government and Nigerian High Commission in India.

Right now, I am appealing to Ebonyi State Government because I am from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area and well-meaning Nigerians to help me rescue my family.”

The deportee said he was worried about the condition of his family as the weather in India presently is too cold, noting that he was paying $800 for their rent from Nigeria until he ran out of cash. He stated that air ticket for his wife and three children from New Delhi to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, would cost a total of $4,000 but would prefer tickets.

“Each ticket from New

132 graduates bag first class in UNN convocation academic curriculum of the university.

By Chinenyeh Ozor

N

sukka: 132 graduates of University of Nigeria Nsukka bagged first class in different faculties of University of Nigeria, Nsukka during the 47th Convocation of the university.

Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, ViceChancellor of the university announced this in Nsukka on Friday during the ceremony, adding that the total number of degrees and diplomas was 7,830.

Ozumba said that the number of first class graduates was first of its kind in the history of the university, adding that the university having two convocations within one year was practical testimony and demonstration of his administration's resolve to improve

THE TEAM SUPERVISING EDITOR: Chioma Gabriel, Lagos (08052201257) EDITOR: Emeka Mamah, Enugu email: emekemamah@yahoo.com

Anayo Okoli, Umuahia Vincent Ujumadu, Awka Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri Peter Okutu, Abakaliki Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Nnewi Nwabueze Okonkwo, Onitsha Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba Enyim Enyim, Onitsha Chinoso Alozie, Owerri Chinenye Ozor, Nsukka Eric Ugbor, Aba

“...holdingasecondconvocationwithinoneyearshows improvement on university curriculum as well as timely release of computer- based results in line with best academic practices,“ he said.

He said the five-point plan ofhis administration include offering quality education and professional programme and building a university that would serve as intellectual and cultural centre for the promotion of new ideas and partnership.

In a remark, Mr Michael Olorunfemi, the ProChancellor and Chairman of UNN Governing Council congratulated the graduating students and urged them to be good ambassadors of their alma-mater wherever they find themselves.

“Today is an occasion to celebrate the successes of our children and wards who devoted themselves to the academic demands. Today is a day to reward their devotions and sacrifices to academics.

“I urge you graduates to be good ambassadors of your alma-mater by doing what is right as well as contributing your quota to improve and make the university the best in the world."

Miss Augusta Ofondu from the Department of Pharmacy was named the best graduating student of the 47th Convocation of the university

Continues from page 22

We have been dehumanized, trumatized—Abia Pensioners House of Assembly on foot where they were received by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu with some principal officers of the House.

Narrating their ordeal to the law makers, their spokesman, Chief Emmanuel Okparanta, lamented that the State Government has dehumanized, traumatized and abandoned pensioners, saying that the pensioners had only received one month pension since this year.

Okparanta also informed the law makers that, retired workers in the State were last paid gratuity 18 years ago, which he said has added to suffering of the pensioners.

They accused Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of not showing genuine concern and interest in the welfare of pensioners in the State.

Okparanta said that Ikpeazu has not taken any serious practical steps to address their issue in spite of previous assurances from him during a meeting with him on September 25, 2017.

Delhi to Enugu is a b o u t N312,000 multiplied by four which is a b o u t N 1 . 2 million but I have been able to raise a b o u t N200,000 by myself.

I am only appealing to the federal a n d Ebonyi S t a t e

*Mr and Mrs Onu and their children hanging out in sporty attires

governments as well as well meaning Nigerians to assist.

I don’t really need the cash, if tickets are bought from any travelling agency, I will send to them.

“I run a restaurant in New Delhi, CJ African Re s t a u r a n t a s w e l l a s Medical To u r i s m Management business to

help those on medical trip with necessary logistics.”

Mr Onu, however, blamed himself for his travail pointing out that he failed to renew his papers because he travelled with a medical visa which required that he returns to Nigeria before applying for a permanent visa.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—24

Why Nigeria must close data divide - NCC

By Emmanuel Elebeke he Executive Vice Chair man of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta has said Nigeria runs the risk of losing the benefits of emerging technologies unless the private sector partners with telecommunication operators in bridging data divide.

Danbatta stated this during his presentation of Leveraging on ICT for Sustainable Economic Development, at the 16th Meeting of the Joint Plan-

T

By Prince Osuagwu When Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, visited Nigeria, last year, one of the challenges he threw at local application developers was to look inwards for applications that wouldsolvethecountry’seconomic problem.

Zuckerberg said the challenge is based on the immense talent and energy Nigerian youth exuded in different innovation camps he visited.

He charged developers to arm themselves with the realisation that the best way to predict the future is to be creative, as there is no problem in the world that does not have an application to solve it.

One year after his visit, it appears the challenge is still fresh in the minds of Nigerian app developers and is spurring them to greater heights.

From Co Creation, CcHub, to Andela, Hotels.ng and a host of others, there are several success stories. These successful start-ups are thriving against the odds of weak infrastructure, epileptic power supply and general lack of funding or investment.

In the face of these odds a lot of new start-ups have also latched on this challenge to do exploit. Some of them are flying Africa’s flag high in the world based on new ideas and presence in the new technology world order.

They are largely part of the estimated 700 active startups tech ecosystem located in Lagos city alone that are bursting with energy and dynamism.

They account the local startup ecosystem valued at well over $2 billion (N614bn) So, it was not any surprise that three Nigerian tech start-ups made the final list of 16 people selected from across Africa for the 2018 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

The shortlist which was announced in Cape Town, South Africa recognises the most talented African engineers from across subSaharan Africa, including innovators working to make malaria and reproductive health tests easier, using dolphin-inspired echo-location for visually impaired people, andrecoveringpreciousmetalsfrom

ning Board and National Council on Development Planning, NCDP, in Minna. He revealed that the total of 37,104 km of fibre network deployed is a far cry from national infrastructure needed to bridge data divide in the country. “The current 21 percent broadband penetration and 90 million teledensity in the country are unacceptable to the Commission as it is working hard to meet the 30 percent broadband penetration target in 2018. ‘‘Even with success recorded

in voice, if not replicated in data, we cannot claim to be successful.

We have 10 terabytes of fibre ready to be deployed but we cannot deploy this capacity due to lacking infrastructure. That is why the Commission is seeking to avoid a repeat of the negative effects of data divide in other countries,’’ Danbatta said.

The EVC, who attributed the paucity of infrastructure in the country to lack of funding, urged banks to support the operators in the deployment of infrastructure to the hinterlands, insisting that

‘that is the only way to go.’

As regards NCC, he said the Commission has been doing a lot in bridging data divide by providing infrastructure in schools and other overlooked areas as well as giving subsidy to the operators through the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF. ‘‘Funding has always been the challenge. You need a lot of funds to roll out infrastructure. We still encourage banks in Nigeria to support operators. One of the things we are doing is to ensure that the infrastructure companies

•Prof. Umar Danbatta are licensed. So, we are putting up advertisement for expression of interest and we have gotten a number of people who are interested."

Start-up ecosystem:

How young Nigerian innovators lead new tech world car parts for re-use in manufacturing.

The Nigerian wonder kids include: Ifediora Ugochukwu who developed anapp called Intelligent meter, iMeter.

The iMeter, an advanced metering infrastructure, gives consumers and power utilities control over how electricity usage The smart meter measures energy usage and connects to cell phones or computers that have the AMI software on them.

Another Nigerian youth engineer, who made the list, is Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu who developed ColdHubs -a solar powered walk-in cold room that extend the shelf-life of perishable foods from

The Africa Prize also recognises process engineering, represented this year by innovations to generate power from the many radio waves that are around us every day two to 21 days.

The other, is Emeka Nwachinemere who developed Kitovu; an online platform that helps rural and remote small holder farmers triple their crop yields and sell their produce.

The three Nigerians and their 14 other counterparts across Africa would be challenged to develop skills that last a lifetime. They will become part of a growing community of talented African engineers

workingtoacceleratesocio-economic development through business.

The shortlist, which represents the fourth group of engineers supported through the Africa Prize, also features several digital innovations.

Among them are mobile apps that grant micro-loans within minutes, an app that makes it easy for musicians to manage bookings and sell merchandise, and another to help commuters book one of the 20,000 trips taken daily on motorcycle taxis in the city of Kigali, Rwanda.

Agricultural innovations also feature strongly. They include sensors that send soil information to farmers’ phones straight from the field, an online platform that helps farmers triple their yield, and a low-tech dehydrator that extends the shelflife of crops tenfold, improving food security.

Africa Prize judge, Moses Musaazi said that “turning engineers into entrepreneurs is vital to unlocking the creative solutions that exist across Africa”.

He added that “the Africa Prize’s support gives engineers the confidence to approach funders, clients and investors, and the knowledge to improve their supply chain and

•Nigerian tech-preneurs

business models.”

The Africa Prize also recognises process engineering, represented this year by innovations to generate power from the many radio waves that are around us every day; and for producing affordable biogasfrommanureforhouseholduse.

Twoeducationalsolutionsinclude an app that hosts a variety of courses, and a mini-science lab that fits

into an ordinary school backpack.

After six months’ mentoring and training, four finalists will be selected from the shortlist. In June 2018 the finalists will present their businesses to judges in front of a live audience, after which one winner will receive £25,000, and three runners up will be awarded £10,000 each.

C M Y K

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—25

OPAN moves to reinstate ethical standards in online journalism

By Tare Youdeowei

T

he place of internet in modern day living cannot be easily dismissed. The level of communication and family reunion that internet has fostered is unprecedented. In the business sector, internet has also played major transformative role.

Twenty years ago, a business opened a storefront, put ads in the local paper, joined a local networking organization and hoped the local

its doggedness, fearlessness and resilience in bringing to light events and news that ordinarily may never be published by the traditional print media. Today, almost everyone runs a news site, blog or digital media.

“At will everyone is an online entrepreneur or about to set up shop without understanding the basic tenets of journalism; truth, trust and fairness. They write poorly, publish fake and disseminate unsubstantiated information, lack the capacity to create original content, plagiarise the works of others, extort and blackmail people with threats to publish stories that are often times fake amongst several other odious practices.

“These have brought damage to the credibility of the genre and threatening to destroy the hard and noble work of the pioneers of this space.” He added

Independent media

•Austyn Ogannah customers needed what they had to offer.

However, all that changed with the inception of the internet. A business is no longer dependent on its local customer base for its survival; it now has a worldwide audience for its goods and services. The internet has changed not only a business’ customer base, but how a business communicates with its employees, and finds and manages the competition.

Same goes for the media industry.

News becomes common, information becomes more accessible.

However, the down side of internet has brought about social vices which need to be checked.

OPAN intervention

That what the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria, OPAN, is advocating in the online publishing business.

The group is gunning for high ethical standards in online journalism in Nigeria so that eroding public trust can be restored.

President and Member of Board of Trustees of the association, Mr Austyn Ogannah, at a recent press conference decried the collapse of ethical standards in the industry and vowed that something must be done to address the anomaly.

While revealing the association’s upcoming annual New Media Conference billed to hold in February 2018, Ogannah highlighted some crucial points, stating that: “At inception, the internet news media was highly respected and revered by the public for

Stating OPAN’s quest to set the online news space aright, Ogannah continued; “There have been growing calls from the public for something to be done urgently to curb this negative trend and responding to the call head-on, the Association has expressed readiness to work with the federal, government to enact an enforceable law that is fair and just and does not impede the independence of the media.

“OPAN’s vision, which is to restore eroding credibility, professionalism and trust once enjoyed by the digital media when it started over a decade ago, is to be achieved by instilling the required high standards of quality, content and professionalism in the internet news media.” He said

OPAN has expressed readiness to work with the federal government to enact an enforceable law that is fair and just and does not impede the independence of the media He noted that OPAN was formed in November 2011 by some discerning professionals who recognized and understood the shift in the mode and means of social engagement, disruptions and changes that was coming which would overlap with current laws and rules guiding conduct and practice and therefore sought to create a self regulatory body that would provide the means-tested standards for users and practitioners to operate by.

NIGERIA:

The national reconstruction plan to survive in IoT world (4)

Director General of Delta State Innovation Hub and former President Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Mr. Chris Uwaje was a guest lecturer at the sixth annual dinner/fund raising party of the Government College, Ughelli Old Boys Association, GCUOBA, recently. The Oracle as he is generally known in the Information and Communications, ICT circles, delivered a lecture on “The critical role of ICT and Innovation in education-imperative for schools.”

Although the lecture focused on how to equip our schools to produce knowledgeable and skilled students who would be 21st century compliant in all ramifications, a cursory look at the paper will expose a deliberate attempt to tip the country off on what is to come with the menacing world of Internet of Things, IoT and most probably, how to live in such a world without playing catch up to the e-ready economies.

Enjoy the lecture.

By Chris Uwaje

….Continues from last time nformation and communication tech nologies (ICTs) have been at the heart of education and economic changes for many decades. ICT sector plays an important role, notably by contributing to rapid technological progress and productivity growth. Firms use ICTs to organize transnational networks in response to international competition and the increasing need for strategic interaction. As a result, multinational firms are a primary vehicle of the ever-spreading process of globalization.

I

CONCLUSION Technophobia” (The Fear of Technology) is a great concern for National ICT Development ecosystem on the one hand, and limited understanding of policy makers and leadership to aggregate capacities and involvement of core IT Professionals in the decision making process of national and State development on the other.

The knowledge Olympiad is here and Nigeria/Africa must step forward to be counted and digitally ready at all levels, if she must survive the emerging critical challenges, traumatic impact as well as secure the opportunities and benefits presented by ‘globalization order’ of the 21 st Century.

Government-to-Government (G2G) process automation is fundamental to the actualization of the objectives set forth in our National Economic Empowerment Development Plans; and the Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. These plans are focused on how Government-to- citizen (G2C) interface can grossly benefit the citizenry.

With over 65 percent of our population made up of youths our resources should therefore be deployed and invested in accelerated and quality youth education development projects.

Trillion-node network To date, the world has deployed about 5 billion “smart” connected things. Predictions say there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020 and in our lifetime, we will experience life with the diffusion of a trillion-node network. Those are really big numbers. How education of things (EoT) are fundamentally deployed today is a barrier to realizing those numbers.

The industry will only achieve the reality of 50 billion connected devices by simplifying how things connect and communicate today.

The loTs is expected to transform how we live, work and play. From factory automation and Automotive connectivity to wearable body sensors and home appliances, the loTs is set to touch every facet of our lives. We will “author” our life with networks around us that constantly change and evolve - based on our surroundings and inputs from other systems.

Uwaje

•Uwaje Greener lives It will make our lives safer with cars that sense each other to avoid accidents. It will make our lives more green with lighting systems that adjust based on the amount of daylight from windows. It will make our lives healthier with wearables that can detect heart attacks and strokes before they happen. There is a long road ahead to the loTs in Africa. But one thing is sure and that is Information Technology, Internet Security Policies and loT Strategies will become the greatest battle field of the 21 st Century for Policy Makers, Leadership, Students, innovators, Users and Stakeholders.

Recommendations •Going forward, I wish to submit the following recommendations for the consideration and adoption of government College Ughelli Old Boys Association.

(GCUOBA): •First, there is need to Retool and transform the Environment of Government College Ughelli with Gamification Models by deploying Innovative and logic-thinking visual Images.

•To ensure the sustainability of the future of Government College Ughelll, a formidable ICT Campus-wide Fibre-Optic Infrastructure Backbone programme should be undertaken.

•It is time to look at the Computer from the inside, rather than from the outside.

Therefore, Coding Class for Software Programming skill acquisition should be introduced and made mandatory for students of Government College Ughelll at all levels.

•Establish special ICT Innovation & Discovery Laboratories and Knowledge Parks for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Technologies - focused on loT and Nano Technologies.

•Ensure that GCUOBA Members Volunteer to sponsor ICT Workshops/Seminars Innovation Classes for GCU and Secondary Schools in Delta State Regions.

•Establish GCUOBA Technology Innovation Competition and Innovation Development Funds in Delta State.

….Concluded

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sam@starteamconsult.com

Is our national security architecture broken?

I AM beginning to wonder how our current security architecture is framed. It looks to me that there are some gaps. Recent happenings within the National Security agencies have left me bewildered because these matters are recurring. My bewilderment has turned into a distress. And I am now beginning to ask questions: what is happening? Who is in charge? Are we safe in this apparent lacuna? Four recent events bear me out.

Ibrahim Magu who has been a recurring decimal in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was nominated as acting Chairman by President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, who is the Commander-inChief( C-in-C)of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which means he is in total control of all security agencies and issues in Nigeria.

When Magu appeared in the Senate, his confirmation was denied, because the Department of State Security, DSS, had written

an adverse report to the Senate, disavowing the integrity and suitability of Magu to hold the office of Chairman of EFCC. I was stunned. Could the DSS not have made this report in confidence to the C-in-C before sending it to the Senate? I therefore expected a serious rebuke to the head of the DSS for what I thought was an embarrassment to the C-in-C. No dice. Rather, the C-in-C renominated Magu. Again and to my utmost confusion, the DSS stood on their report, preventing the Senate from confirming Magu.

And as I write, about two years after he was appointed, Ibrahim Magu continues to function in an acting capacity. And the head of DSS goes about his chores and both he and Magu continue to work for the C-in-C. This situation demands an explanation even as I wait for one.

Then Abdulrasheed Maina who was sacked by the Federal Government for allegedly stealing billions of Naira from the Pension

agency he was hired to manage, was being investigated by the EFCC. He ignored the invitation and walked away through our borders, prompting the EFCC to declare him wanted. Recently, this same “ wanted” man walked through our borders and returned to resume work at the Ministry of Interior on a higher status. The EFCC did not notice. The Police did not notice, neither did the

Both men I understand, have failed to honour the invitation of the EFCC and so the agency raided their homes to arrest them and they met swift armed resistance from the operatives of the DSS and NIA Immigration.

The family allegedly informed the public later that before he resumed, he had been working with the DSS. When some Nigerians raised their voices, PMB sacked him a second time. He quietly walked away out of the country and the EFCC has once again declared him wanted and no one, including the Nigeria Police, the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, and the DSS seem to know where Maina is, how he came into the country and how he left a second time. I

Abdulrasheed Maina: The villain that would be a hero

T

HE more one learns of the stillunfolding saga of the pension scheme scam involving Abdulrasheed Maina, chair of the so-called Presidential Pension Task Scheme, established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to help put things right in the much abused pension sector the more one learns of the intrigues and confusion concerning the reinstatement of this man into the Federal Civil Service, the more the rot in which the country has fallen becomes obvious. Let’s all recall that Mr. Maina was sacked in 2013 for absconding from duty following which he was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for fraudulent activities in the management of pension funds. Rather than submit to the EFCC, he fled abroad. He became a fugitive-offender and was still on the EFCC watch-list when he surreptitiously returned and was reabsorbed into the Civil Service in September 2017.

Since this disgraceful and patently corrupt process was revealed to astonished Nigerians, every one who has been directly or indirectly linked to the act has, like Pontius-Pilate, washed their hands off the matter. From the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Interior Affairs Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, up to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, who Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the Head of Service would in her own account unknowingly reveal had been warned by her personally not to reabsorb Maina - all of these individuals have denied complicity in the matter. The ensuing uproar would force President Buhari to order the sack of Maina while playing innocent. Since his sack, it has been a game of hide-andseek between Maina and the law enforcement agents. The man who came into the country and went around with duly assigned security agents for his protection, suddenly disappeared and we are all C M Y K

expected to believe he could not be found.

The point Nigerians have been making is that those who offered Maina protection after he sneaked into the country earlier in the year should also bring him out from wherever they’ve hidden him. Like a child’s play gone awry, the Maina saga is blowing in different directions and may yet show more people culpable than are willing to admit. The latest in this man’s rolling tale is the recorded video of Maina in an unknown location. In this video, Maina makes more

There is a sense in which it has become clear that everyone within close distance of government now simply fishes for opportunity to defraud Nigerians; surely, Buhari has some explaining to do damning claims that pours cold water on the stories being peddled by the likes of Malami and Danbazzau and even the president that they know next to nothing about how Maina was reinstated. From his account, Mr. Maina had a meeting abroad with Malami prior to his (Maina’s) return to the country. It would seem like this was a deal-making meeting in which Maina negotiated his way back to the country in return for giving out important information about secret account of the pension funds.

What Malami and co eventually did with the money found in these accounts is anybody’s guess.

Going by his parrot-like prattles, Maina is surely ready to demonstrate his innocence.

He boasted of returning nearly N300 billion, specifically N282 billion in cash to the Buhari administration in 2017 alone.

Although he says he fears no man (how ironic for a man in hiding), he wants personal

am getting really dizzy, can someone please help! And recent revelations that the DSS advised AGF - Nigeria’s Chief Law officer to meet with fugitive Maina in the UK almost floored me!

Then enter Ibrahim Idris who is the current Inspector-General of Police, IGP, for whose sake several senior police officers were prematurely retired, to make way for his ascendancy. Senator Isah Hamma Misau, who used to be a senior police officer, has accused Idris of all sorts of crimes and misdeamenour unbecoming of a country ’s number one law enforcement officer. As I write, the Government has said nothing about the accusations except to take Misau to court and I am bewildered that in this era of anticorruption, when we reward people for whistle-blowing, scant attention is being paid to the weighty revelations from a serving senator - not an anonymous whistle blower. Is he in court to prove the allegations or to be punished for the revelations? I am thoroughly confused.

Finally, very recently , the echoes from this national security lacuna became very strident and alarms began to sound in my head. The EFCC wanted to arrest two former heads of our security agencies and they were prevented by force of arms. Former DG of DSS, Ita Ekpenyong is being investigated for offences bordering on alleged theft and diversion of public funds in the arms deal scandal involving former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), while former head of the NIA, Ayo Oke is being investigated on the $43.4 million cash found in

a luxury apartment in Ikoyi Lagos.

Both men I understand, have failed to honour the invitation of the EFCC and so the agency raided their homes to arrest them and they met swift armed resistance from the operatives of the DSS and NIA. And since then till now, nothing official has been heard from either the office of the NSA or that of the C-in-C. I am terribly alarmed and I thank God that I am not alone.

Many notable Nigerians and NGOs have also expressed shock and bewilderment. According to the Deputy Director of SERAP, Timothy Adewale: ”Nothing more fundamentally undermines public confidence in the fight against grand corruption and trust in government than to see State Security agencies, paid for by public funds, apparently aiding and abetting those suspected of engaging in corruption to escape justice.” To be true, my worry goes beyond corruption. So criminals can walk in and out of our country without let or hindrance, perhaps that explains the continued and unchecked menace of the militant Fulani herdsmen many of who according to Governor El-Rufai, come from outside our borders.

Perhaps, that also helps to explain the continued menace of BokoHaram which despite being degraded and technically defeated, still strolls around, perhaps with reinforcement from outside our borders to continue to visit mayhem on innocent citizens.

With our security agencies acting as they do presently, some at crosspurposes, can our national security still be guaranteed? Looks like only God can help!

assurances from the president that no harm would come to him should he return home to testify before the law. Maina goes on to promise that he could in nine months produce N3 trillion for the Nigerian government. The way Maina, an officer of the rank of deputy director, talks flippantly about trillions of naira would make Aliko Dangote look like a welfare case. Yet, this is a man on salary. Feeling self-contented, he openly boasts of gifting the Federal Government trillions of naira. As a parting gift, Maina told the official delegation led to him by Malami where to find a secret account with NI trillion locked away in it.

In nine months, he would make three more of such accounts available, he says apparently as a bargaining chip. This was after he had apparently mesmerised the delegation with his heroic tales of fund recovery. It was the Lagos lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, who to my knowledge first compared Maina to Hamza Al Mustapha.

This observation was on point.

Maina is given to unnecessary histrionics.

He does not only talk too much but also boasts in a manner one associates with people who derive much pleasure and sense of impunity from being close to power.

Clearly, Maina is the lone hero in a drama of his own making. He says one thing, though, we should not discount: that those around Buhari are not honest in their dealings with him. They pretend to be saints, he says. But even Maina who doesn’t claim to be a saint is surely not better than the pretenders around the president. He was invited to help right the wrong in a system.

But he went on to defraud it, allegedly, to the tune of billions of naira. And now he, the hunter, has turned out to be the hunted who is now trying desperately to show himself much wronged than he had wronged Nigerians. It is only meet that Maina would

identify those around the president to be persons far from being innocent or saintlike. This much Nigerians have for long known.

Perhaps, the only person still in doubt is the president, probably because he finds the truth uncomfortable and appears cut off from the reality around him. It is a matter of time, however, before Nigerians get too tired of his posture as a man of integrity.

People may no longer have the patience to continue to make excuses or lower the bar for a man who three times sought the presidency to no avail only to mess up when he was finally successful. The terrible stink fast enveloping the Buhari government makes any attempt to paint the president in a different colour from those around him futile.

Buhari should and must bear responsibility for the misconduct of his selfappointed surrogates and ministerial assistants like Abubakar Malami, Abdulrahman Danbazzau and his extended family members working from inside Aso Villa. It should be obvious to him at this stage that many of these individuals have to go if his government is to regain a little credibility. We are long past the point when he could count on the generosity of spirit with which Nigerians welcomed him into office. He needs to earn the respect that comes his way. The more things appear to change around him and his government, the more they remain the same. There is a sense in which it has become clear that everyone within close distance of government now simply fishes for opportunity to defraud Nigerians. Surely, Buhari has some explaining to do.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—33 :Vanguard News

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PDP Convention: Opuoru lauds Okowa's re-appointment as planning c'ttee head

By Onozure Dania

S

ENIOR Special Assistant to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Political Matters, Mr. Matthew Opuoru, has said that the appointment of the governor by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Caretaker Committee, NCC, to head the party's National Convention Planning

Committee in the elective convention slated for December 9, is “ no surprise, considering the governor's track record, achievements and experience.”

Opuoru, who is the leader of Okere Urhobo Grassroots Political Forum, Warri, in a statement, said that the confidence reposed in Governor Okowa by the PDP National Caretaker

Committee led by Ahmed Makarfi, was a justification of the “excellent and seamless manner Dr. Okowa organised the party's non-elective convention held earlier in the year, which restored peace in the PDP after protracted leadership crisis.”

According to him, appointing Dr. Okowa chairman of the 87member convention planning committee,

which comprises serving and past governors, members of the National Assembly as well as proven political strategists, attests to Governor Okowa's rising political profile and vision.

He expressed optimism that “Okowa’s ingenuity will continue to propel him to greater heights with the positive resultant effect on Deltans.”

ABU Lagos Alumni donates food items to Pacelli School for the Blind

A

HMADU Bello University, ABU, Alumni Association, Lagos chapter, has donated food items and toiletries to Pacelli School for the blind and partially sighted children at the premises of the school located at Ogulana drive, Surulere, Lagos.

The visit was led by the chairman of the association, Mrs. Justina Aladi Ahmadu, who is also the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos State command.

Receiving the items, Principal of the School, Rev. Sr. Jane Onyeneri (HCJM), expressed appreciation, saying: ‘’I feel great, and happy that ABU Alumni has

identified with us and come to share with the blind, there is no better words to use than to say God bless you all.” She appealed to others to wmulate ABU Alumni, noting that the population of the school is 140 children living in the hostels. She also thanked Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who donated a bus to the school.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Alumni, Mrs. Ahmadu, empathised with the children, saying: "We must love and feel for them while hoping for immortality which is the utmost price. Therefore, I call on all and sundry to join hands in putting smiles on the faces of the downtrodden."

Delta govt denies involvement in IPMAN election crisis

By Festus Ahon

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DONATION: Mrs. Ahmadu (5th left); Barr. Abdulsalam (3rd left); Mr. Oladipo (6th right); Rev. Sr. Onyeneri (7th right), with the children and other members of the association during the presentation of the food items in Lagos.

How FG can curb illegal arms importation —Ex-Delta Commissioner

By Emma Amaize & Godwin Oghre

S

APELE—FORMER Commissioner in Delta State, Chief Omolubi Newuwumi, yesterday, said the Federal Government could rein in importation of illegal weapons by Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram insurgents and other illegal arms bearers into the country by studying the make, identification codes and serial numbers of armaments to know the countries manufacturing and selling them.

Chief Newuwumi spoke against the backdrop of a largecache of sophisticated arms and ammunition recently surrendered by exmilitants at Ajakpa axis of Ondo State and a meeting

of stakeholders, today, with President Muhammadu Buhari, to deliberate on how to reduce crime in the country.

He said: “You hear about the large cache of ammunition which some ex-militants surrendered in Ajakpa community in Ondo State. President Buhari expressed surprised at such volume of arms. Ajakpa in Ondo State is in Niger Delta.

“I want to advise the Federal Government to monitor arms and ammunition entering the country and stop the entry of illegal weapons into the country.

“If the government wants to prevent crime, it should monitor the weapons that are entering the country. The weapons have

identification codes and serial numbers that show the countries manufacturing them. If the government knows the countries, it can stop their exporting them into the hands of Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants and other illegal weapon carriers,” he said. .

Newuwumi noted: “The government should be pro-active. The exercise of its proactive action can stop such importation by the citizens from those foreign countries. Nigeria should be proactive in its drive to reduce crime across the country and not be biased in bringing offenders to justice.

“The country’s ability to abort social vices through the execution of un-biased criminal justice is highly predicated on the availability and presence

of experienced, talented and corruption- free police force. If corruption is the bane of the Nigeria Police Force, which is the mindset of most Nigerians, it means that for the government to achieve its social justice target, it must purge the police force of corruption, overhaul and reform the police system.

“For any nation to thrive in democratic governance, an un-biased and corrupt -free police system is a sine-qua-non.

Except the Nigerian Police Force is overhauled and reformed, it will be hard to alter the mindset of the average Nigerian towards it. As of now, the mindset of the generality of Nigerians is that the country’s police force is the most corrupt in the world and an enemy of the society,” he stated.

SABA—DELTA State Government has denied any involvement in the postponement of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, election earlier scheduled for December 1, 2017.

Commissioner for Justice and AttorneyGeneral, Mr Peter Mrakpor, who spoke to newsmen in Asaba, said the state Security Council after its meeting, decided that the election be put on hold after a party pulled out of the exercise while the other went to Court.

He said: “Delta State Government does not have any preferred

candidate.

The government is not conducting an election or has it any plan to conduct the election. Government's role, based on IPMAN's appeal, is to assist to create an enabling environment and that is the position of government. The Security Council met and said the best option is to put the election on hold pending when the matters in Court are resolved. It is not safe to have an election in an atmosphere of acrimony.

“On November 20, 2017, Delta State Security Council met with the two factions of IPMAN, Warri Depot and it was agreed that government should assist by creating an enabling environment for IPMAN to have an election which was fixed for December 1st 2017.”

Host community assures SEEPCO of harmonious working relationship company for the

T

HE people of B e n e k u community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, have assured the management of Sterling Energy Exploration Petroleum Company Limited, SEEPCO, of a harmonious working relationship for the overall development of the community.

Representatives of the community made the pledge during the foundation stone laying ceremony of a 5classroom block being constructed by the

community in line with a General Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, between both parties.

The project, sited at the Ndam Primary School, is part of a subsisting GMoU signed by SEEPCO with the community.

Applauding the company for the project, chairman, Beneku Community Development Committee, Emmanuel Kokonum, described the project as first of its kind in the community, adding that the people of Beneku would continue to maintain a harmonious working relationship with SEEPCO.

34 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

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BIAFRA: Court shifts Kanu’s trial to Feb 20

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

By Omeiza Ajayi

A

BUJA—THE Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, deferred further proceeding on the treasonable felony charge against the ‘missing’ leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu till February 20, 2018.

Trial Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter at the instance of the Federal Government, which notified the court of the absence of its prosecutor, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, who is currently attending a seminar outside the country.

Consequently, the prosecution, in a letter to the court, applied for the case to be adjourned till next year for continuation of trial and to enable those that stood surety for the IPOB leader whose whereabouts has remained unknown, to produce him before the court.

Already, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who was one of the three persons that stood surety for Kanu has applied to be discharged by the court, insisting that he lacks the capacity to produce the defendant for continuation of his trial.

The court had on October 17, ordered Abaribe, a Jewish High Priest, Emmanu El- Salom Oka BenMadu, and an accountant, Tochukwu Uchendu, to produce the IPOB leader or face jail term/forfeiture of their bail bond.

It will be recalled that Justice Nyako had in a ruling on April 25, released Kanu on bail after he had spent a year and seven months in detention, though the court okayed four other pro-Biafra agitators who are facing trial with him- Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie- to remain in prison custody.

To secure Kanu’s release, Abaribe, El-Shalom and Uchendu, on April 28, signed an undertaking to ensure attendance of the 1st defendant who was granted bail on health ground, in court for his trial.

Meawhile, in his fresh application, Abaribe who is representing Abia South Senatorial District, applied for damages against the Nigerian Army.

He is praying the court to compel the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to pay N10million to him for the psychological trauma he has gone through following extra-judicial self-help actions of the Army which he said led to Kanu’s dissapearance.

SGF heads 10-member c’ttee for Ekwueme's burial

A

FORUM: From left: Mr. Festus Akintoye, Honey Comb Confectioneries Ltd, Mrs. Glory Ohamara, MD, Favy Ventures, Distributor, Mrs. Biyi TunjiOlugbodi, Executive Vice Chairman, Honey-Comb Confectioneries Ltd, Makers of Honey Comb Bread and Mr. Michael Godwin, Representing G.T.P, Bread Deports, during the Honey-Comb Confectioneries Dealer and Business Partner Forum and Honouring of Distributors at Dopemu, Lagos. Photo by Bunmi Azeez.

Abaribe equally applied for an order compelling Buratai to offset all expenses he incurred in the cause of the trial of the IPOB leader.

The lawmaker prayed the court to revoke the undertaking he took on behalf of Kanu and discharge him as a surety in the matter.

He told the court that the Nigerian Army had in the course of military operations in Abia state from September 11, visited Kanu’s residence, adding that it was reported in the media that there was shooting and fracas during the visit.

He said Kanu “has not been seen again nor reached on phone by the Applicant, neither is he reported in any news media as seen by any persom, nor made any statement on any issue”.

Abaribe told the court that he “lacks capacity to produce a person stated by the 1st Respondent to be a member of a terrorist organisation, or any person whom the 1st Respondent is reported to be interested in his whereabouts including the aftermath of the military operations in Abia state which commenced about 11th September, 2017”.

Specifically, Abaribe is praying the court for, “An order of this honourable court discharging the applicant as surety of the 1st/2nd respondent, and discharging the recognizance entered into by the applicant, and to discharge the applicant from the entire incidence of the bail of Nnamdi Kanu- the 1st defendant/2nd respondent in charge No. FHC/Abj/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawisi.

However, following a counter-affidavit that was filed by FG, Justice Nyako maintained that Abaribe must firstly produce Kanu before he could be allowed to withdraw as a surety in the case.

In his motion, Abaribe prayed for, “An order of the court compelling the Chief of Army Staff, on failure to produce 1st defendant/2nd respondent, to pay to the court the sum in the bail bond earlier executed by the applicant on behalf of 1st defendant/2nd respondent.

“An order of the court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to produce 1st defendant/2nd respondent before the court and or to explain to the satisfaction of the court the circumstance surrounding his whereabouts."

As well as, “An order of court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to show cause why the Attorney General of the Federation should not be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings against him for his extra-

judicial self-help conducts that have obviously frustrated the proceedings and course of administration of justice and which actions have brought the court to some ridicule and its power appears nugatory as well as placing the applicant in a fixed up position.”

Abaribe predicated his application on the grounds that “Out of patriotic consideration of assisting the judicial process to defuse the overheating already generated in the polity and with full belief that 1st defendant was carrying on his activities within the limits and confines of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the applicant offered to stand surety for him and entered into recognizance and executed the bail bond on his behalf”.

He insisted that only the Nigerian Army could produce Kanu since it was soldiers that had last contact with him.

BUJA—THE Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to plan a befitting state burial for former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme who recently died in a London Hospital at 85.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Deputy Director, Press, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSGF, Mohammed Nakorji.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha who also chairs it eulogized Dr. Ekwueme as a personality, who has served his fatherland meritoriously.

“The SGF assured the family members who are part of the committee that Dr. Ekwueme would be given a befitting state burial.

Peter Obi should maintain dignified silence — OBIGWE

By Nwafor Sunday

T

HE National Coordinator APGA Media Warriors Forum, Evang Chinedu Obigwe, Tuesday advised the former governor of Anambra state Mr. Peter Obi to maintain a dignified silence, noting that an attempt by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem to embellish already known political falsehood would yield no positive result in Nigeria political sphere.

He made this known to newsmen yesterday via a press release he issued.

According to him, “the sycophant responsible for the massaging of Mr. Peter

Why I created Ministry of Happiness because of lack of — OKOROCHA mentorship and guidance.

By Chinonso Alozie is the very reason people There is complete talent

O

WERRI—IMO State governor, Rochas Okorocha, said yesterday, that he observed the people of the state were embittered and therefore, he created the Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfilment, to achieve happiness for them.

A statement by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, confirmed this in a release to newsmen in Owerri.

“The real essence of life is to be happy and to fulfill one’s purpose in life.

Government officials are elected to address this.This

elect their leaders to guarantee their happiness and purpose fulfillment.”

The governor went further to say: “There is no activity of mankind that is not geared towards providing happiness.

“Unfortunately, this vital element of our social lives has not been properly addressed. Governments at different levels have created several ministries and departments to achieve this, yet people are bitter, angry with hate speeches which lead to crisis, war and even terrorism.

“In today ’s world, especially in our country, millions of people are not fulfilling their purpose in life

“He told them that the Federal Government would foot the bill and the evacuation of the body from London hospital”, the statement added.

Other members of the committee are the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; Minister of Information and Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Chris N. Ngige; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Director General, Department of State Services DSS, Mallam Lawal Musa Daura.

Others are the late leader ’s son, Pastor Goodheart Ekwueme; Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Prof.

Osita Chukwulobelu and the Perm Sec, General Services in the OSGF, Dr. Roy P. Ugo, who would serve as the Secretary.

abuse as people no longer engage in life activities suitable to their talents.

“Sometimes in university environments, students are meant to study courses they ordinarily would not like to do.

“This has given rise to why we have people who are favored, do work against their natural will just to survive.

“Happiness and Purpose Ministry therefore, is established for the lost time to correct the policy framework to guide Ministries and Department on what they must do to guarantee the citizens happiness and contribute better to the society.”

Obi overbloated ego used the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State to murder him politically and they are currently plotting to use the forthcoming 2019 general election to conduct his political funeral in Nigeria”, he said.

“My write up is focused on the article that was authored by Valentine Obienyem, the media aide to Mr. Peter Obi, published in page 22 of Daily nation newspaper on 5th October 2017.

“In the article Valentine Obienyem in apparent reference to Governor Obiano alleged that voters were paid 10,000.00 each in some polling stations to vote for a particular candidate.

“Valentine Obienyem’s article is a fallacious moonlight tale of a political aide that is in a desperate search for a damage control antidote to cushion the effects of the political wound sustained by his paymaster in the last November 18 governorship election.

“The best thing for Peter Obi is to maintain a dignified silence because attempting to use embellished falsehood to shore up his already destroyed political image will yield no fruitful result for him.

“My advice to Peter Obi is to call his supporters to order and seek for political restitution for cooking up fallacious stories against Governor Obiano just to pull him down at all cost.''

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—35 :Vanguard News

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No strange disease in Bauchi— Govt

By Suzan Edeh

B

AUCHI State Chairman of Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA, Adamu Gamawa, has debunked reports that 80 children in Tiyin ams Shikato communities in Warji Local Government Area were killed by a strange disease, saying there is no case of an epidemic in the

Lie; about 88 children have died— Resident communities.

At a briefing yesterday, Gamawa said when the agency received the news of the strange disease, a committee was constituted to investigate.

His words: “It was discovered that there was no trace of a strange disease in Tiyin and Shitako communities of Warji local

Government.

“What the committee found was some few cases of malaria fever, which is a normal disease that is treatable.

“When the committee visited the communities, parents were made to bring their children for examination and it was discovered that some of the

HONOUR: From left— Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Chief Oseluka Zikora; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Rector of the institution, Dr. Lateef Ademola; Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, and the poly's Registrar, Alhaji Abdulhamid Raji, during the conferment of honorary Fellowship Award on Governor Ahmed

by Governing Council at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday.

Plateau Speaker assures on open grazing ban, as youths present bill

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

J

OS—THE Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Peter Azi, has said the House will look into the Bill seeking the ban of open grazing with a view to “passing the Bill that will stand the test of time.”

The Speaker gave the assurance when youths from the 17 local government areas of the state, yesterday, submitted a Bill to the state Assembly, seeking a ban on open grazing in the state.

The youths, on the platform of Plateau Youths G17 Peace and Progressives

Forum, said they believed that the ban on open grazing will curb the incessant killings as well as herders/farmers clashes bedevilling the state.

While presenting the bill, the youth leader, Dachung Bagos, told the Speaker and other members of the House that “ we are a peaceful people concerned about Plateau issues. We are seeking what will bring solution to the killings in the hinterland by herders.

“In the last one year, more than 100 people have been killed; schools, clinics, churches and farmlands destroyed by the herders.

We want a ban on open grazing on the Plateau and

sanction for those who will go against the law.”

The group kicked against the proposed government involvement in the ranching policy, saying “cow rearing is a private business, and ranches should be acquired by private individuals not government acquiring five hectares of land in each local government to give to herders.

“It is unfair to use tax payers’ money to run private business. We expect this bill to be passed so that an average Plateau man will have reprieve from the trauma of brutal killings by herders.”

children had malaria, while others had cough which was mild and treatable.”

Gamawa said the committee found out that two of the three children admitted at a hospital called Gwaram in Tiyin community, died of malaria fever.

Resident recounts deaths Meanwhile, Gamawa’s comments have sparked protests by residents of the communities.

A farmer and resident of Kankare village in Tiyin community, Abdullahi Rinkichikin, said the residents were angry over the comments made by the Chairman of PHCDA that there was no strange disease in the local government.

He said: “We are telling the world and whoever cares to know what happened in these communities to come and verify things.

“Today makes it three weeks of this epidemic and we still don’t understand the nature of this disease.

The hospitals here do not have the right treatment for this strange disease.

“22 children died in Tiyin community and have been buried. In Shikato vilage, 30 children died, in Biza village, five children died; in Allah ya yi village, another five children died, while in Cuba Gaji village, three children died.

“In Bujala village, 10 died; in Kashafa, three; while in Aru village, many more children died.

“10 died in Kashafa village; three children died in Aru village, many more children died there.”

He called on the state government to send a highpowered committee to conduct proper investigation into the case to arrest the situation as many more children stood the risk of losing their lives to the strange disease.

Kwara Poly slashes tuition fees by N5,000 after Saraki’s intervention

By Demola Akinyemi

I

LORIN—FOLLOWING the outcry over hike in the tuition fees of Kwara State Polytechnic and the intervention by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, yesterday, announced a slash of 2017/2018 session’s fees by N5,000.

Angry students of the

institution had variously protested the hike in the tuition fees and forwarded same to the Senate President, a development that prompted him to take a public decision on the matter on Monday.

Reacting to the Senate President’s intervention, Governor Ahmed, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Muideen Akorede, yesterday, announced the reduction of

the tuition fees by N5,000.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Kwara State Polytechnic has not only maintained the fees charged in the 2016/2017 academic session, it has also effected a N5,000 reduction in the fees payable in the 2017/2018 session.

“I have taken serious note of the concerns expressed by

stakeholders in the state, including the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, about students, guardians and parents’ capability to pay the specified fees.

“Having considered the above and recognising the current economic challenges facing families in the country, I, hereby, urge management of Kwara State Polytechnic to reduce its current fees by N5,000.”

Glo's Professor Johnbull counsels successful wives

S

UCCESSFUL wives have been counselled to remain humble and behave appropriately whenever fate entrusts them with the family’s financial responsibility.

This is the message in the current episode of the Glo-sponsored TV drama series, Professor Johnbull.

In the episode, entitled ‘Breadwinner,’ the social satire showcases the situation in the home of the Peters, where the head of the family, Mr. Peters, lost his job, resulting in the financial responsibilities of the family shifting to Mrs Peters.

A highly educative episode, ‘Breadwinner’ highlights the role of “bread winner” in the home, and viewers are in for an interesting evening, as Professor Johnbull handles the issue in a witty and entertaining manner.

Professor Johnbull (Kanayo O. Kanayo) in his usual style, advises successful wives to comport themselves

appropriately, adding that love that exists between the man and the woman is what matters most and not who provides the ‘bread.’

Some pertinent questions thrown up (and answered) by the thought-provoking and hilarious episode are: should a woman earn more than the man? Who should be the financial manager in the home?

Should a woman quit a well-paying job to please her husband? Why are men threatened by the level of success attained by their wives?

Airing time is 8.30p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes.

‘Breadwinner’ parades new entrants, Ndi (Angela Okorie) and Jeroboam (Osita Iheme), as well as the regulars—Olaniyi (Yomi Fash-Lanso), Samson (Ogus Baba), Abednego (Martins Nebo) and Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko).

Gaidam budgets N92.182bn for 2018

By Ndahi Marama Differential, among others.

D

A M AT U R U — GOVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has presented N92,182,336,000 as Appropriation Bill for 2018 fiscal year, a 10.4 percent increase over last year’s estimates of N82.6 billion.

The budget, which Gaidam presented on the floor of the state House of Assembly yesterday, tagged Budget of Consolidation and SocioEconomic Rejuvenation, is aimed at meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

While addressing the Speaker of the House, Adamu Dogo and other lawmakers, Governor Gaidam said with the vision and mission enunciated in Yobe State’s Socio-Economic Reform Agenda, YOSERA, in the 2018 budget estimates, his administration proposed to spend N92,182,336,000, which is expected to be generated from the treasury opening balance, internally generated revenue, statutory allocation, Value Added Tax, Ecological Fund, Excess Crude Oil/ Exchange Rate

The governor said N47,447,905,000 (51.5%) will cater for recurrent expenditure and N44,734,431,000 (48.5%) for capital expenditure.

He added that “from a holistic perspective, the 2018 budget will enable us complete all the ongoing legacy projects that our administration is bequeathing to our good people and take on new ones.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Works, Transport and Energy takes the lion share of N17.53 billion to enable government complete the ongoing Damaturu Cargo International Airport and other roads and infrastructure projects across the 17 local government areas of the state.

“We have also allocated N7.85 billion to the education sector, followed by the health sector, N6.6 billion.”

Responding on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker thanked the governor for his prudence and accountability, and promised that the budget will soon be scrutinised to ensure its speedy passage.

36 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

WITH

CHARLES KUMOLU

midweekpersonality@gmail.com

08052140865 (sms only)

AISAGBONHI: Abandoned at 9 months, sent away at 13, now a wealth creator THE axiom that a man’s life is defined by the choices he makes, found practical expression in our today’s story. The import of the maxim manifested in Chief Omochiere Aisagbonhi, President/C.E.O. of Omais Investment Nigeria Limited. At periods when he had not attained the age of consent, life left him with mean choices. Rather than sulking when he was sent out of his home at 13, it was taken as a challenge to build a better future for himself. Hence, his journey to Benin, where he rented an apartment at that age while working as a petrol attendant.

With his eyes on the prize (success), he encountered many troubling phases before he struck gold. Today, he heads a multi-million dollar real estate firm in Nigeria. He has qualifications from the North London University, and Amersha College, England. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Lagos Business School, and School of Health Technology, Pankshin, Plateau State.A widely traveled businessman with business interests, in Europe, North America, UK, and Asia, Omo supports several charity causes worldwide.

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ITH a suaveness that gave him away as an Alist bank executive, he gestured this reporter to a chair as he discussed what sounded like a corporate matter with a female staff.

A quick gaze around the expansive office while the chat lasted momentarily, created the impression of accomplishment about the host. And that was further affirmed by the exquisiteness of the office.

The spectacle easily created the perception that the owner is actually a high-flying professional. His demeanor denoted a sophisticated man, who is contented and at peace with himself.

Interestingly, these observations about him, shone like stars as he beamed disarming smiles at this writer to herald this chat at his Ilupeju office, Lagos.

Okay, the 25 minutes you requested starts now,” he said jokingly as another female staff came into the office with a paper that required his attention.

Having treated that with dispatch, Chief Omo Aisagbonhi beamed yet another infectious smile at this writer.

On that note, what perhaps turned out as another moving story in this column began.

“I was born 50 years ago in Ubiaja, Edo State. In a few weeks, I will be celebrating my birthday. Life was not smooth for me as some people might think.

I attended primary school in the village like every other child,” Aisagbonhi said as he paused to respond to yet another phone call.

My father sent me out of home at 13 Done with the business discussion, he continued his narrative thus: ‘’ I was born at Ubiaja with my father, who had a chemist (pharmaceutical store).

My father was the chairman of patent medicine dealers

association in Esan Kingdom.

My stepmother was a midwife.

We had a chemist in our house.

I was helping out at that stage while still attending school but something happened that made me leave home at the age of 13.

My father sent me out of the house at that age and I found myself in Benin the then capital of Bendel State. My mother was not living with my father at that time because she left me with my daddy when I was nine months old.

Sadly, the man she married did not want any burden. It was for that reason that she did not take me along. I remained with my father and my stepmother in the village until I was sent away at 13.”

Asked what could have necessitated his departure from home at a time he was neither a full grown teenager nor adolescent, he explained thus: “My stepmother died while I was still living with my dad. There were things that happened that forced me to leave home. Leaving home for Benin at that age was the beginning of my struggles and independence. I was left to fend for myself at that age.

I found myself working at different fuel stations in Benin. I was a petrol attendant at many fuel stations in Benin. I knew I was alone and had no option than to become resourceful. I rented my first apartment at 14.

On entrepreneurship skill “My background indirectly prepared me for the challenges I faced in Benin because before leaving Ubiaja then, I used to help out at the chemist shop. So, I will say that it was one of the things that imbibed entrepreneurship skills in me. It will interest you to know that such a background made me to say that I will become a doctor. My dream was to study medicine and become a doctor. But the early challenges I faced did not permit it because I was working at

PERSONALITY ETHICS

•I don’t allow any circumstance to stop my next move •I value people so much and treat them equally •I am a product of faith and grace different fuel stations in Benin to ensure that I saved enough money to train myself in school because my father’s children were in school.

Instead of bemoaning my condition, I worked hard to ensure that I go to school to avoid not being left behind. I told myself that I would not want to be called a failure because I left home. I saw it as a challenge to be the best I can. From the little money I was making as a petrol attendant, I was able to enroll for the West Africa School Certificate examination at the Institute of Continuing Education in BeninCity. I knew early in life that without factoring education into my plans, I may not achieve my dreams.

Started life earlier than I thought ‘’Having started life earlier than I thought, I never looked back on the issue of hard work and ideas. I later moved to the north where I established the first chemist at the National Institute of Strategic Studies, NISS, Kuru.

I was very young then, but I was just determined to succeed.

So, I didn’t consider my age a hindrance to the things I set out to do. At Kuru we had people from the military who often came for professional courses. I had friends there also. But I was running into problems with the medicine sellers’ union there, who were often disturbing because I didn’t have the license to operate a chemist.

• Aisagbonhi There was a time they even arrested me and took me to the police station. The last call I received when we were starting this interview was someone, who helped me then at NIPPS when I was arrested. He was a military officer then. They assisted me to ensure that I was released. When I realised that the troubles were becoming overwhelming, I decided to sell my shop at the rate of N9000 in 1989. I traveled abroad for greener pastures with the money I realized from the sale of my shop. ‘’The most interesting aspect of my life is that I value people so much and treat them equally. At most stages of my life, there were instances of falling and picking.

I never allowed any circumstance to stop me from making the next move. I have always been on the move because of the circumstances of my birth.

My choice was Spain but I did not stay long there because of the language barrier. I needed a place I can easily build a better life and London became the alternative. That was how I left Spain for the UK where I later found myself in the mortgage sector. In the UK, I did what every other migrant like me was doing then which were menial jobs. I knew why I left Nigeria, so, I did not feel bad or diminished doing odd jobs to survive.

My breakthrough in the UK ‘’My breakthrough in the UK was also a product of focus and ideas. I met a Nigerian, who had a council flat but did not reside in it. A friend and I stayed there and were paying him the rent. Even when

Council officials came, they took us as the owners. Since there was no default in the payment, we were given the right to purchase it, which both of us did. Having done that, we bought it and that was how I started real estate business. I refurbished the flat and sold it and made enough money than I could ever imagine.”

After having a strong presence in the UK capital mortgage market, many would wonder why he decided to relocate to Nigeria where the business climate is volatile and vague.

On mortgage sector He gave his reasons thus: “In UK, we were firmly established in the mortgage sector.

When the then President Olusegun Obasanjo visited the UK during his numerous visits to woo investors, he talked to us to come home and invest. We believed in his message that Nigeria was witnessing a new beginning. That was why I returned to the country to invest in the real estate sector which is a familiar turf. Initially, things were fair but the economy is so harsh now. The value of my total assets is not what it was in 2014.

It has drastically depreciated which is a true reflection of the harsh business climate. All these are the consequences of poor leadership. Our leaders made this country what it is and they have been unfair to this generation.

Read full interview on www.vanguardngr.com

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 —37

Omorotionwan's futile efforts against Obaseki's achievements

By Crusoe Osagie

Right of Reply ur attention has been O drawn to the rendition of falsehood by a certain Josef

Omorotionmwan, which was published on page 31 of the Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday November 30, 2017, with the title ‘The Obaseki Administration: Wake and See What?’

While Omorotionmwan’s insidious motive to turn truth on its head is evident right from his faulty start, we are compelled to correct his tirade that was designed to misinform the good people of Nigeria and Edo State and cast aspersions on Governor GodwinObaseki.

To begin with, Omorotionmwan’s intemperate criticismofanadministrationthat has been adjudged transparent, goal-oriented and committed to the welfare of the downtrodden, shows a clear lack of capacity to appreciate the hallmarks of good governance.

His philosophy of good governance must have been formed in the era when public good was subordinated to the interests of a few individuals that converged to exploit the majority of Edo people and shared our commonpatrimonythatoughtto havebeenusedtobuildenduring infra and superstructures for robust socio-economic growth and development.

For the first time in the history of party politics in Nigeria, Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed his 192 Special Assistants from the 192 wards in the state and they were all nominated by their respective wards and screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) party structure in the state.

Integral part of decision making Today,the192aidesareintegral part of the decision making and executionmachineryoftheAPCled government of Edo State. So one would wonder what Omorotionmwan meant by the expression ‘leaving the party behindandplanningtobuythem at the appropriate time’ in his article. It is either his memory has beenheldhostagebysenileforces or he derives pleasure in dispensingfalsehood.

It is ridiculous to even contemplate that APC as presently constituted in Edo State can be bought by anyone.

Against all odds, including the deep pockets of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), members of theAPCdislodgedPDPfromEdo State, not for bread or butter, but because we were committed to theredemptionofEdopeoplefrom acabalthatfoistedpovertyonour people duetotheirexcellentskills for grand looting.

All the organs of the All Progressives Congress-led administration in Edo State are working together daily, to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Edo People.

When Omorotionmwan claimed in his article that: “In scoringObaseki’sadministration abysmally low, we are not unmindful of the fact that all the feats recorded in its favour are easily achievable by any of the 18 local government councils in Edo State,” it is unclear what achievementshewasreferringto.

The ‘Wake and See’ sobriquet

Gov Obaseki of Edo State.

ofObasekiwascoinedbytheEdo peoplewhostillmarvelatthepace at which road and other developmentalprojectsarebeing deliveredacrossEdoState.Could the local council have embarked onaN200billionBeninIndustrial Park project? Could the councils have embarked on a 60,000 metric tonnes Fertiliser and Chemical Plant?

Omorotionmwan’sreasoningis pure treachery to say the least, which must not stand, amongst right thinking men and women.

He claimed that The GovernmentHousehasbecome a trade post for Obaseki’s friends from Lagos and elsewhere.

Omorotionmwan surely hates Edo State and her people so much, that he wishes we do not make progress through collaborations and partnerships with the private sector, bilateral and multilateral institutions that are driving economic growth in other climes.

He wants the OBSERVER Newspapers to remain as it is even when he does not buy copies of the newspaper himself.

He abhors the planned reforms forEdoBroadcastingServicethat will transform the media house into a world-class institution that will make it compete with the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) in educating and mobilising our people towards growthanddevelopment.Itishis desire that we retain near moribundenterprisesastheyare, without injecting a lease of life into them.

All the organs of the All Progressives Congress-led administration in Edo State are working together daily, to deliver the real dividends of democracy to Edo People

Omorotionmwan does not have to turn himself into an uninvited interloper in the relationship between the former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki, over the Central Hospital project in Benin City. Such old tactics of inciting people against themselves does not work even for low intelligent people, how much more, clear

headedandvisionaryleaderslike thegovernorandhispredecessor.

Oshiomhole has reiterated times withoutnumberthatbothleaders (himself and governor Obaseki) are one, share same vision to transform Edo State, though their leadership styles may be different.

Obaseki’s rising profile locally and internationally was earned throughhardworkanddedication to duty as well as his respect for constituted authority.

That he is an astute manager ofmenandmaterialresourceshas been acknowledged even by members of the opposition political parties who have in many fora, owned up to the fact VISIT: From left— Special Assistant to the President on Nigerians in thatonlyanefficientmanagerlike Obaseki could have steered the Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; wife of the Vice President, Mrs state safely through the turbulent Oludolapo Osinbajo; Director- General, National Agency for the condition created by the terrible Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, recessionfromwhichthecountry isnowemergingandstillembark and NAPTIP 's Zonal Coordinator, Lagos, Alani Famakin, during Mrs on delivering ambitious Osinbajo's visit to the agency's shelter at Omole Phase 2, Lagos. developmental projects like he has done in the last one year.

We are however not entirely at sea as to what would have driven Omorotionmwan to such desperate measures of dispensing outright falsehood just to get the attention of Obaseki’s government. He may, like some other indolent actors in the polity, have been hugely disappointed by Obaseki who as a matter of policy does not distribute Edo people’s collective patrimony to the kinds of ‘politicians’whoOmorotionmwan suggested in his piece to have LAGOS EAST ASSEMBLY: From left— Chairman, General been shut out of Government Advisory Council, Lagos East Senatorial District, Otunba Busura Alebiosu; House.

Senator Gbnega Ashafa, Lagos East; Commissioner for Establishment, Pension and Training/representing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos Sterlingperformance State, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke; Secretary of Council, Mr. Jokotola Pelumi, For the umpteenth time, we and member, House of Representatives, Mr. Jimi Benson, at the All wishtoremindOmorotionmwan Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos East Senatorial District General that being a politician does not Assembly and introduction of leaders, at Ikorodu, Lagos, yesterday. renderanyoneincapacitatedand PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. unable to earn an honest living through hard work.

If Omorotionmwan will only acknowledge Obaseki’s sterling performance when he is paid money that he has not worked for, then Obaseki is willing to make do with the approval of the over fourmillionotherEdopeople whotoildailyfortheirlivelihoods.

For the records, Governor Obaseki, in one year, has done whatseveralgovernorscouldnot do in eight years. He has delivered several road projects across the state, the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company is up and running, he has flagged off FORTE SOLAR: From left— MD, Nedcom Oats Limited, Dr. Kenneth the construction of the Benin Okonkwo; Perm Sec, Lagos State Ministry of Energy &Minieral Resources, Industrial Park, the Benin Engr. Bade Adeborode; Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Science and Technical College, Akin Akinfemiwa; Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral 75 mass transit buses have been Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo; Country Director, Yingh Limited, Mr. Jarod procured to change the face of Lee, and Chairman, Real Estate Developers Assocation of Nigeria, Mr. Taiwo intra-state transportation in the Ogunbodede, at the official launch of the New Forte Solar, on the theme state and thousands of jobs have Green Energy Solution, at Nedcom Estate, Lekki, Ajah, Lagos. PHOTO: Kehinde been created in the various Gbadamosi. sectors.

The Edo Development and Property Authority has commencedtheimplementation of reforms that will restore sanity in the state-owned housing estates while several public schoolsareintheprocessofbeing reconstructed in the coming months.Thedesignofthe20new ministadiainEdoStatehasbeen done and on completion, will serveasplatformsfordiscovering and developing sporting talent across the state. Space will constrain me to mention several other developmental efforts for which Obaseki is now fondly called the Wake and See FORUM: From left— CEO, Proshare Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi; CEO, Governor by his people.

Niche Capital, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, and Group Chief Executive Officer, United Osagie is the Special Adviser Capital and President, Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers, IAPM, Mrs. to Governor Obaseki on Media Oluwatoyin Sanni, at 2017 IAPM's forum, themed Protection of Investors Interests andCommunicationsStrategy in a Volatile Global Economy, in Lagos, yesterday.

38 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

C

Camer oon Cameroon Count me out of W orld Cup, En ells sack AFCONWorld Enyyeama ttells Peter side erside winning coac oos coachh Br Broos

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ormer Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah has claimed that Vincent Enyeama told him in a conversation that he is tired of playing for Nigeria and will not be returning to the team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. There has been a clamour for the Lille of France keeper to return to the team after he quit acrimoniously. Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr is open to welcoming Enyeama back into the team as it was obvious the Eagles have a goalkeeping problem.

“I was one of those who spoke to Enyeama when there was an attempt to get him back to the national team and he told me he’s tired of playing for Nigeria.

“So, there should be no Enyeama (going to the World Cup). The players should have the love to play for Nigeria and not the love to play at the World Cup and make history.”

He added Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho should be able to stand, but the choice was up to the coaches.

“Ezenwa appears to be the No 1 now after what he did in the qualifiers, but he is not world-class,” Idah said.

“Uzoho is better than him and I believe the training camp before the World Cup will determine who is really No 1.”

•Enyeama

•Broos

Messi rejects £850k-a-week offer to quit Barca

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ith his previous contract set to expire next summer,

Argentina will top group D, but Nigeria remains a pr oblem— VVer er on problem— eron ormer Argentina midfielder, pitted alongside the West F Sebastian Veron has Africans - fifth time in all their predicted Argentina to go six appearances at the finals, through the World Cup 2018 group stage ‘ without a problem’, but he is unsure of what to expect from Nigeria.

The South Americans were

20 18 W orld Cup: 201 World Iceland set to name ex-Eagles coac coachh assis assisttant manager

N

igeria’s former national team assistant coach Roland Andersson is set to be appointed as Iceland’s assistant coach for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Andersson served in the Super Eagles side under coach Lars Lagerbäck and has been approached by the Football Association of Iceland to join the coaching staff ahead of the 2018 World Cup. However, with Gernot Rohr’s side drawn against Iceland in Group D, Andersson’s appointment is set to be a stunt to help Iceland gain more insight on the Super Eagles. ‘’Roland Andersson will probably continue with us. He was a national assistant coach of Nigeria (World Cup 2010),’’ said Iceland coach Freyr Alexandersson to fotbolti.net. ‘’He is terribly humble, very smart and nothing complicates anything. I learned a lot from him and he is probably the one who taught me the most in

ameroon Football Federation has sacked their African Nations Cup winning coach Hugo Broos.

Just 10 months after he delivered their unexpected African Nations Cup triumph, their first in 15 years, Fecafoot have dismissed the Belgianborn technician for several reasons which included, amongst others, failure to qualify for next summer ’s World Cup in Russia and also his refusal to his refusal to take up residence in Cameroon.

A fall out with several players and his inability to convince “several important players” not to reject their call-ups to the national team before the Afcon in Gabon in January.

“Broos could not lead Cameroon to the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” said a leaked statement, which also listed his refusal to take up residence in Cameroon and a fall out with several players as other reasons for ending his contract.

Despite his dismissal, the former Belgian international remains in contention for the Caf African Coach of the Year award.

being a spy.”

Argentina, Iceland and Croatia are set to battle it out against Nigeria at the highly anticipated global showpiece in Russia.

The Super Eagles will face off against Croatia in their opening game at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16.

In their second match, Nigeria will face Iceland on June 22 and wrap up their group stage campaign against Argentina four days later.

Croatia and Iceland in Group D. “The group in which Argentina is not easy, but it is good that it did not get any big national team,” Veron was quoted as saying by Dnevno.

“Argentina should go through the finals without a problem, and it is good that the quarterfinals do not cross with big teams. That means we have a few games to clear the shape and become even stronger.

“Nigeria is unpredictable.

They always come to us in the group. African players are actually unstable and depend on what they have a day before and how they feel ahead of the game,” he continued.

“Croatia is not bad, it has players in the strong clubs in Europe. Truth, the World have gone through the play, but should not be underestimated.

We are stronger than them, but we should be careful.

“Iceland has no experience at

•Simon

these championships, but they have played well in the Euro and through qualifications. We can not label it as a surprise, but as a growing representation.”

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi faced an uncertain future ahead of signing a new deal last month.

The 30-year-old joined the Catalan giants in 2001, initially coming through the youth ranks before making his impact at senior level where he’s gone on to score a staggering 524 goals in 604 appearances in all competitions, while winning eight La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies and many others.

In turn, seeing him potentially feature in a different jersey next season would undoubtedly have been a strange sight, and according to Marca, Man City did their best to prise him away from the Nou Camp.

It’s claimed that the Argentine icon was offered a whopping €100m signing on fee, along with a salary of €50m-a-year, which works out at £850,000-a-week as they looked to secure an incredible transfer swoop.

The move would of course allowed Messi to seal a reunion with former boss Pep Guardiola, who has guided City to the top of the Premier League table and is impressing in Europe with his side too which arguably would have been an attractive proposal for Messi.

However, the Barcelona legend has since opted to remain at the Nou Camp, where he has scored 17 goals in 21 games for Ernesto Valverde’s side, with the Barca coach enjoying a positive start to life in charge of the Spanish outfit.

City didn’t go after Messi — Guardiola

M

•Andersson

anchester City never tried to sign Argentine star, Lionel Messi before he penned his new deal at Barcelona.

Spanish newspaper Marca claim City offered Messi an eye-watering £70million plus a £44million-a-year salary to come to the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola, who enjoyed huge success with Messi at Barcelona, rejected the claims and says his good friend will finish his career at the

Nou Camp.

“No, it’s not true,” said the City boss. “Lionel Messi signed a contract a week ago, it was never going to happen.

“Lionel Messi started his career at Barcelona and he is going to finish it there.

If he wanted to leave, he would not have signed a new contract.”

•Guardiola

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 39

Tomorrow’s Ballon d’Or award

Zidane relishes Messi, Ronaldo’s rivalry

R •Ronaldo

•Messi

All Set for NCC Tennis League Finals

T

he six month long NCC Tennis League is poised for a fitting climax at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club with playoff for third and fourth places preceding the championship match.

The third place tie scheduled for Thursday and Friday Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 will be between team Ndoma-Egba of Abuja and Team Offikwu, last year’s winners who were dethroned

by Team Civil Defence in the second semifinals.

The championship tie kicks off on Saturday Dec. 9 and ends on Sunday Dec.10 with the presentation of prizes and awards.

Organisers of the marquee competition have promised to make it rewarding and fun for spectators with refreshments and raffle draws for state of the art phones.

“Matches are going to start at 10 am each day -Thursday to Saturday - at the Lagos Lawn Tennis club and matches would usually last through the evening with four matches following each other on the centre court. We therefor expect tennis followers to consider it a picnic where they get refreshments and possibly walk away with a smart phone.”

Godwin Kienka of the ITA which coordinates the event said.

eal Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has helped to make both players even stronger.

Ronaldo and Messi are the two frontrunners for the 2017 Ballon d’Or, of which the winner will be announced on Thursday.

Should Ronaldo claim the individual gong handed out by France Football, he will go level on five crowns with his Argentinian nemesis.

Despite his underwhelming form in LaLiga this season, having scored just two goals in 10 appearances, Ronaldo is still expected by many to claim the prize, thanks largely down to his role in Madrid’s league and Champions League double in 2016-17.

And Zidane expects their two-way rivalry to continue for a while yet.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Borussia Dortmund,

Don’t writ writee of offf Ronaldo—Zidane

A

auri Feeder Football Club of Agege have emerged as the 2017 winner of the annaul Otunba Gani Undet 13 Football competition, after the thrashed the B Unit Football Club of Surulre 2-0 in the final, which took place at the National Stadium , Surulere .

Sponsor of the event, Aare Gani Adams in his speech at the occasion also announced his plan to organize an Under 20 football competition in his capacity as the new Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubalnd.

He also charged the Federal Government to compel multi national companies to invest at least 2% of their

26 schools qualify for zonal stage

A

total of 26 schools have emerged champions at the Local Government stage of the Delta State Principals Cup football competition sponsored

by Zenith Bank.

Although Delta State has 25 LGs, the competition was extended to 26 centres as Ughelli North was divided into two because of its size and

west London club later in the season.

The Belgium international’s £200,000-aweek deal ends in 2020 but he is a target for Real Madrid.

Standard Sport revealed in May that Chelsea had opened negotiations by telling Hazard they want to make him the focal point of the team for years to come.

However, the 26-year-old fractured his ankle in June, delaying any possibility of an agreement in the summer. Chelsea are prepared to offer Hazard £300,000 a week to secure his long-term future, and are confident they can get their star player to stay.

Hazard has scored eight goals in his last 10 appearances but has consistently spoken of his dream to one day play for Madrid.

Recently Hazard gave mixed messages saying: “I am always very fine at this club.

When I feel the desire to leave, I’ll leave.”

•Hazard

Multi-nationals mus ts de velopment mustt inves investt in spor sports development - Aare Gani Adams

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Zenith/Delta Principals Cup:

Hazard in no rush to sign Chelsea deal den Hazard is in no rush to E sign a new contract at Chelsea but will hold more talks with the

Madrid v Dor tmund: Dortmund:

s Real Madrid play Dortmund tonight, coach Zinedine Zidane warned Cristiano Ronaldo’s critics not to write-off the Portuguese star, who is expected to pick up his fifth Ballon d’Or this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored just twice in 10 LaLiga matches this season as a stumbling start

by Madrid has left them eight points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

However, Ronaldo leads the goalscoring charts in the Champions League with eight in five games and Zidane expects that form to soon return on league duty.

“He is so good that when things don’t go as he is used to then people start to talk about him,” Zidane said ‘’He will keep trying until the goals come. Not long ago, only last year, he had a phenomenal season.”There is a long way to go, we are only nearly halfway though the season. Be careful with Cristiano.”

Zidane said: “It’s true, when we look at their statistics, they ’re amazing.

It’s surprising to see the amount of goals they’ve scored, actually.

They’re two great players.

Zidane is not worried about Ronaldo’s lack of form in LaLiga this season, however, adamant that the Portugal star will “come good”.

“I think it [Ronaldo not being

protis to sports development in Nigeria.

Adams however stated that the new Under 20 competition will include tens from all the states of Yorubaland , unlike the under 13 competition which only consisted of teams from only Lagos State .

It was a thrilling and exciting football match as the Mauri Fedders won in each half of the game to the surprise of their host .

A total of thirty two teams participated in the 2017 edition of football competition , which started eight years ago as parts of the activities of the Gani Adams Foundation .

at his best] doesn’t really matter because he is so big,” Zidane said.

“He has big shoulders and when things don’t go right for him, he’s always found a way to put things right.

“It’s normal that people have opinions and talk about him, but people who love Real Madrid, this team, they know what he has done.

“Just last season he had fantastic season. There’s a long way to go yet this season, we’re not even halfway there - we have six more months to go. Be careful with Ronaldo - he’ll come good.”

population.

And so Ughelli North 1 has Marvel International Secondary School as winners while Ughelli North 2 has Ibru College as its champion.

Sapele with over 30 schools participating presented Obule Integrated School as champions and Ogume Government Secondary School emerged champion among 42 schools that competed in Ndokwa West Local Government.

Isoko North and Isoko South presented St Paul Secondary School and St Micheal College as winners respectively. Three other schools, Iwere Collge, Koko, Essi College 2, Warri and Kokodiagbene Secondary School emerged from Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West.

The head of the organizing team for the annual football fiesta, Tony Pemu, told reporters on Tuesday that the draw for the zonal stage would be out soon.

Pemu said: “It has been a tough so far and we went round to monitor and ensure compliance to all the rules especially to avoid cheating.

We suspended some schools caught cheating so that we can have a true winner.”

World Aids Day: Ex Eagles,

Falcons stars excite fans

By Jacob Ajom

F

ans at the Campos MiniStadium were kept on the edges of their seats throughout the novelty match that was part of activities put together by Friends Africa in partnership with Coca Cola Nigeria, in commemoration of the 2017 World Aids Day. The venue was the Campos Ministadium in Lagos.

Numerous ex-Nigeria internationals, including Victor Agali, Emmanuel Babayaro, Gbenga Okunowo and former Super Falcons stars Ifeanyi Chiejine, Kikelomo Ajayi among others thrilled the scanty crowd at the stadium.

One of the teams was a mixture of both male and female players and they sparkled as the players blended seamlessly.

Speaking at the event, Coca Cola Nigeria Manager, Public Affairs and Communications, Amaka

Onyemelukwe who represented the Managing Director, said the company identified with the organisers in order to assist in the creation of awareness against the dreaded disease, HIV/Aids, and to help reintegrate carriers of the virus into the society.

“We are also out to fight against the stigmatisation of victims and give them a sense of belonging,” she said.

The programme, implemented in collaboration with Society for Family Health (SFH), Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, among other partners, was aimed at creating more awareness about HIV/AIDS; promoting acceptance and inclusion rather than stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with the virus; providing opportunity for Lagosians to access free HIV counselling and testing (HCT).

Hundreds, mostly women and youth, took the test to ascertain their HIV status at the mobile HCT centre activated in Campos Stadium.

40—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

“We think this trade must go on. That is the verdict of our oracle and the priests. They say that your country, however great, can never stop a trade ordained by God himself”

I

n mid November CNN broadcast a video showing how black Africans were being auctioned at slave markets in Libya. Since then there has been a global outcry against what many see as confirmation of a gradual decline in global values. However, as noted by the New York Times, the reaction has been muted partly because there is a general consensus that the recent events are due to the hardline policies of the European Union against migration across the Mediterranean sea from Africa. To combat the endless waves of migrants that daily attempt to reach Europe from across the sea, European Countries have assisted Libyan authorities to intercept and return such migrants to Libya where they are kept in detention centres and subjected to numerous abuse.

As alarming as this is, blaming the Europeans is not the solution. To combat this development, African leaders must go beyond rhetoric. To dares it effectively, they must however understand the underlying factors that have brought it about.

Forced slavery and self imposed slavery in Nigeria and beyond situation, previously consented to work for a trafficker, or participated in a crime as a direct result of being trafficked. At the heart of this phenomenon is the traffickers’ goal of exploiting and enslaving their victims and the myriad coercive and deceptive practices they use to do so.

However the difference between slavery as practiced then and the modern variants of it is that while slaves were formerly captured and sold into slavery against their will, people who in modern times end up as slaves do so out of actions taken willingly of their own free accord, either out of ignorance or out of sheer desperation. This is mostly applicable to Nigerians. For

Origin of slavery Slavery is as old as mankind itself as it is referred to in almost all religious and historical texts known to man.

Prior to the transatlantic slave trade in which millions of Africans were shipped across the Atlantic ocean to the Americas, slavery was reported to have been rife in almost every ancient civilization and society including Sumer, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, the Akkadian Empire, Assyria, Ancient India, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, the Hebrew kingdoms of the ancient Levant, and the preColumbian civilizations of the Americas. In the course of the transatlantic slave trade however, Africans who in most cases had been captured by fellow Africans and sold to the Europeans, endured harrowing journeys by sea to various destinations. The slaves were chained and denied of the most basic of amenities such that an estimated 2.4 Million slaves did not survive the journey by sea. Such was the depravity of it all that the king of the then empire of Kongo, in a letter addressed to the King João III of Portugal stated as follows: “Each day the traders are kidnapping our people— children of this country, sons of our nobles and vassals,

even people of our own family.

This corruption and depravity are so widespread that our land is entirely depopulated.

We need in this kingdom only priests and schoolteachers, and no merchandise, unless it is wine and flour for Mass. It is our wish that this Kingdom must not be a place for the trade or transport of slaves…As soon as the captives are in the hands of white men they are branded with a red-hot iron.”

ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE With growing opposition to the trade, the UK Parliament in 1807 passed the Bill that abolished the trading of slaves.

However, not unsurprising some did not welcome the abolition. The King of Bonny was so horrified at the abolition that he reportedly exclaimed that: “ We think this trade must go on. That is the verdict of our oracle and the priests.

They say that your country, however great, can never stop a trade ordained by God himself” Over 200 years later, it appears that the oracles and the priests of the King of Bonny were right after all. It appears that despite the advent of

modern religion in Nigeria as evidenced by the existence in Nigeria of virtually all denominations of the Christian faith and spread of its Islamic counterpart, that the “God” mentioned by the King of Bonny has maintained his ordination of the slave trade. How else can one explain the fact that after over 200 years of its abolition, Africans, and particularly Nigerians appear determined to continue the slave trade in one form or another? As reported by the U.S State Department, modern slavery takes several forms including: “….the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion…using a number of different terms, including involuntary servitude, slavery or practices similar to slavery, debt bondage, and forced labor. Human trafficking can include, but does not require, movement. People may be considered trafficking victims regardless of whether they were born into a state of servitude, were exploited in their home town, were transported to the exploitative

To combat the endless waves of migrants that daily attempt to reach Europe from across the sea, European Countries have assisted Libyan authorities to intercept and return such migrants to Libya where they are kept in d e t e n t i o n centres and subjected to numerous abuse

decades Nigerians have been plagued with the “check out” syndrome by which many Nigerians felt a need to flee the country in pursuit of greener pastures in foreign lands. In the 80s it was so

profound that the authorities came up with a popular TV advertorial admonishing Nigerians to remain in the country and work towards its development. However what makes the Nigerian situation peculiar is not really the fact of migration to other countries, but more of the means and objectives of the said migration. Nigerians have been known to exploit any means available including outrightly illegal ones to migrate from the country.

Nigerians have been known to dare great odds including long and perilous foot crossings of the sahara desert to dangerous crossings of the Mediterranean in unseaworthy vessels. In October 2016, the European Union reported that 22,500 Nigerians had crossed the Mediterranean into Europe between January and September 2016 while in 2015 a total of 23,000 made the crossing. As at October 2016, the UNHCR reported that 3,740 migrants had lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa into Europe and the said figure was just short of the 3,771 reported for the whole of 2015. That Nigerians were part of the dead is without doubt.

Account of two brothers In February 2016, the Sun Newspaper published an account of two brothers who attempted the journey leading to loss of one of them. The publication read partly as follows: “The two brothers from Edo State – Monday and Osas Amanmien – had embarked on the deadly voyage across the angry Mediterranean Sea, intent on hitting Italy where they hoped to make a better living. But the trip turned sour midway, leaving Monday dead. He drowned in the sea following a boat wreck.

Although Osas miraculously survived the disaster, he had to endure one hellish hour, hopelessly floating on an empty keg and being brutally buffeted by the bullish, restless waves. And now, he lives with the eternal trauma of the last words of his brother. Monday had said, in a desperate tone: “My keg dey leak ooo,” before he finally went down. Osas says his brother drowned so that he might live. He recalled that when it became obvious that the boat was destined to go down, Monday summoned courage and seized two empty water kegs beside him. One was good, the other was bad.

He gave his younger one the better keg so that he would be afloat and live while he struggled with the bad keg.

He eventually drowned, Osas said. Not even his dead body was retrieved.”

To be continued.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017—41

42 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 :Vanguard News

Politicians behind #EndSARS campaign — POLICE SPOKESMAN ...As Senate begins SARS’ probes

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—THE Nigeri an Police high command, has accused those it termed “mischievous” politicians of being behind the #EndSARS campaign.

This came as Senate yesterday mandated its AdHoc Committee on the review of the current Security infrastructure of the country headed by Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, to immediately investigate all issues of alleged human rights abuses leveled against the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS, and make relevant recommendations It will be recalled that some Nigerians over the weekend, took to the social media to condemn perceived “careless” disregard for human lives by the operatives of the special anti-robbery squad, SARS. But speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, said the Jega Awosanya Segun, alleged originator of the hashtag, was under investigation.

He alleged that Segun had links to some unnamed politicians, saying “Somebody who had an ulterior motive put up #EndSARS, Nigerians should be mindful because the social media is very porous. We traced the hashtag and traced it to mischievous politicians that are trying to create problem in the system that SARS is a stumbling block for them to achieve objective in the election and we are investigating this. ‘’SARS is not a killing machine as it was created to deal with cases of robbery and any other case the offender carries firearm.

SARS is been doing very very well.’’

Meanwhile, the resolution of the Senate to probe SARS, yesterday was sequel to a point of Order by Senator Isa Misau, APC, Bauchi Central which was later allowed to be a motion where he noted that according to the Police Act and regulation, the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (Force CID) is the highest investigative arm of the Nigerian police.

:@vanguardnews

:@vanguardnews

NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058

Senate moves to probe local content, cost variations of Total Egina oil field

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—THE Sen ate, yesterday constituted an ad hoc committee to local content elements and cost variations relating to the deep offshore Egina Oil Field Project and two related Bonga South-West and ZabZaba projects in which Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUNL is currently the major contractor.

According to the Senate, the probe became imperative because it observed that at inception, the project was estimated to cost $6 billion, but has undergone several cost variations that currently put its cost at over $6.352 billion today.

It said the key component of the Egina Project the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, has been completed and is currently on sea to Nigeria.

The FPSO contracted to the Korea–based Samsung Heavy Industries (with LADOL Integrated Logistics Enterprise as the local content partner) it is expected to arrive Nigeria

from Korea before the end of the year – 2017.

Decisions of the Senate yesterday were sequel to a motion by Senator Solomon Adeola, APC, Lagos West and entitled, “The Legislative Investigation of Local Content Elements and Cost Variations relating to the Egina Oil Field and other related Projects.”

It was co- sponsored by 18 other Senators.

The resolution to set up the Committee was unanimously adopted by the Senators after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The Senate also mandated the committee to as part of the investigation, carry out a public hearing on the project, and ensure that there were no future changes necessitating further variations of the project cost.

The ad-hoc committee to probe the local content, has Senator Solomon Adeola as Chairman, with Senators Godswill Akpabio; Tayo Alasoadura; Gershom Bassey as members.

Other members of the Committee are Senators

Kabiru Marafa; Philip Aduda, Bassey Albert Akpan; Ahmadu Abubakar; David Umaru; Chukwuka Utazi, and Stella Oduah.

Speaking further, Saraki who charged the committee to take the investigation seriously, said that the allegations were enormous and should not be treated with levity, adding “I find it difficult to understand why cost variation will move from 6 billion dollars to 16 billion dollars in 10 years. Why such variations and when will the Federal Government ever get revenue on these fields.

“We allow this to go with the Egina project, other deep offshore will follow the same model and government will never get the revenue. The second issue is to ensure compliance with the local content law. The committee has the responsibility to turn in the report as soon as possible. We do not want the report to linger on.

“Please ensure you are done in three weeks so that by the time we resume we will consider the report and

be able to address other projects that are going on.”

He urged members of the committee to ensure utmost transparency in order to unravel the truth.

In the motion, Adeola, who is Chairman of Committee on Local Content, said various contracts were awarded for various components of the Egina project.

He expressed concern that many of the contractors handling the projects were found to have engage sub-contractors to provide various aspects of the project’s components.

He said that the Egina project was expected to comply with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010.

Adeola stated that the project managers were expected to award required contracts to Nigerian companies, engage local power and provide adequate manpower training and development programmes for the Nigerian workforce.

Buhari decorates Guards brigade commander ...Says army General exhibited a high level discipline

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Abuja commended the Guards Brigade for demonstrating a high-level of discipline and professionalism in the discharge their duties.

Speaking while decorating the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig-General. Musa Yusuf as MajorGeneral, President Buhari said it was instructive that the senior officer displayed a high level of discipline during his two-year stint as Commander.

Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said, “I congratulate the Brigade Commander for his achievements these past two years.

I never received any serious report of indiscipline in your formation that is incharge of my security.

“I hope you will get a command that will complement your experiences in the political headquarters.

‘I congratulate you very much for making it to this new rank at a very competitive time. I know there are so many Generals but when you go to the records you pick the best and place them at very strategic appointments.”

The President expressed

confidence that Major General Yusuf will bring his experience in the field as a former Guards Brigade Commander to his next posting, as directed by the Defence headquarters.

Recounting his days as a military officer, President Buhari said officers earned the respect of their colleagues because of their intellectual disposition and experience in the field.

He said: “An officer is what he is when he gets into the field. Certainly, there was the need for intellectual officers but then

what you do in the field is what earns you respect from those who are under you.”

In his remarks, Yusuf while reaffirming his “unalloyed loyalty and that of his troops to the President and Commander-inChief,” thanked President Buhari for decorating him with his new rank.

He conveyed the appreciation of his troops in Keffi, Nasarawa State and those at Gwagwalada, in the FCT to the President for the renovation of the barracks.

...Seeks Senate’s confirmation of Ojukwu as NHRC’s Executive Secretary approval of the nominee.

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—PRESI DENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday wrote to the Senate, seeking for the screening and subsequent confirmation of Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu, as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC. Buhari in a letter addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki dated 27th October, was read yesterday at plenary.

The President has however appealed for expeditious consideration of the

The letter read, “In accordance with provisions of section of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendmemt) Act 2010, I have the pleasure to present Mr Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu for confirmation as Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission by the Senate.

“While looking forward for usual expeditious consideration, accept, Mr. Senate President, the assurance of the highest esteem.“ Last week, the President had sought the approval of the Senate for the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 43

PDP CHAIRMANSHIP RACE:

The strategies and permutations NOT since the 2001 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP when Chief Audu Ogbeh bested his Benue State compatriot Engr. Barnabas Gemade has the PDP had a truly competitive bid for its national leadership.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

I

N an apparent reflection of the high stakes involved, the leading candidate for the position of national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus was yesterday in Jalingo where he met with stakeholders of the party in his drive to sustain the momentum that he acquired through the overt support of the majority of the PDP governors. A day or so before, he was in rural Jigawa where he met with former Governor Sule Lamido and just before then, he was in Port-Harcourt for a meeting with SouthSouth governors.

However, with the number of PDP governors reduced to 11, Secondus is apparently not relying on their support alone given the competitive drive by some of his rivals, notably, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Chief Bode George among others to pluck delegates from states not controlled by PDP governors or states.

The hot campaign for the chairmanship of the PDP is something that Wadata Plaza has not witnessed in more than 15 years.

Gemade who was the first chairman to emerge after the party came to power in May, 1999 won the position after he allegedly received the backing of President Olusegun Obasanjo to defeat the highly principled and popular choice of the party mainstream, Chief Sunday Awoniyi at the 1999 convention.

Obasanjo it was alleged, claimed that he could not allow a fellow Yoruba man to be party chairman in a government headed by himself, a Yoruba man.

However, when Gemade apparently decided to trudge an independent path and even contemplated suspending Chief Tony Anenih, the leader as he was called in 2001, he was shown the way out.

Gemade tried to resist but with the power of the state behind him, Obasanjo and Anenih, had their way and Ogbeh who had long been forgotten was fetched to become the national chairman of the party.

Ogbeh held on until January 2005 following which he was forced to resign after eating pounded yam and egusi soup with President Obasanjo whose government’s actions in Anambra State he had the effrontery of criticising in a letter that eventually found its way to the media.

Following Ogbeh, the culture of foisting a national chairman on the party became a tradition.

Indeed, the 2001 national convention apparently was the last time that the choice of a national chairman was taken to the convention floor. All subsequent chairmen who emerged came by way of consensus.

Ogbeh’s replacement, Col. Ahmadu

Ali, (rtd.) the former soldier who served as Obasanjo’s Federal Commissioner for Education in his first outing as a military head of state, as party chairman was reputed to have introduced the culture of command and control to the extent that he was dubbed by PDP correspondents as the garrison commander.

All subsequent chairmen who emerged either came by way of the National Executive Committee, NEC and then ratified at the convention floor or came by way of consensus.

The last open campaign for the national chairmanship was in 2012 during the time of President Goodluck Jonathan. President Jonathan for whatever reason decided on Dr. Bamanga Tukur whose independence streak and determination to call the bluff of the party’s governors eventually led to the division of the party and the crisis that catalysed into the party’s loss of the presidential elections for the first time since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

Following that bitter lesson and what party activists consider as the poisonous period of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff between February 2016 and July 2017, party members and chieftains have been evoking the spirit of the founding fathers to root out the impunity that they all agree is the reason the party lost the 2015 presidential elections.

But how far the party members are willing to go in truly giving expression to internal democracy is an issue.

The emergence of Prince Secondus as the leading candidate for the position of national chairman is in the opinion of some, a contradiction to the quest for an end to the reign of impunity. Those with this view allege that he is being

The emergence of Prince Secondus as the leading candidate for the position of national chairman is in the opinion of some, a contradiction to the quest for an end to the reign of impunity

•Secondus

•George

•Adeniran

•Dokpesi

foisted on the party.

“It is a done deal,” one senior party official told Vanguard yesterday as he progressed on a journey for a religious retreat out of Abuja on the claim that Secondus had already emerged.

Besides the majority of governors, a sizeable proportion of the former governors and presidential aspirants are also backing Secondus.

The momentum for Secondus has annoyed some, especially the Southwest caucus of the party who believe that it is the turn of the zone to produce the national chairman.

Indeed, the party’s national caucus was inclined towards the Southwest and had given an indication towards that at the aborted May 2016 Port-Harcourt national convention.

However, following the resolution of the internal crisis by the Supreme Court in July 2017, the choice of the Southwest to produce the national chairman became an issue.

The most potent disadvantage was the claim that the party in the zone has been in perpetual crisis. The claim is that the unending spate of crises could open up the party into an unneeded distraction going into the crucial 2019 general elections that the party is determined to win.

It was only on Tuesday that the issue of the correct zonal executive was determined by the Court of Appeal in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Even more, virtually all the leading candidates from the region appeared to be dogged by one controversy or the other. Chief Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the party who many acclaim to have unrivalled institutional memory of the party became

a soft target by contenders within and outside the zone who questioned his leadership of the Lagos State chapter of the party.

“If Bode George were such a good leader, why is it that the Lagos State chapter of the party has been in perpetual conflict,” one party activist questioned.

Prof. Adeniran who ordinarily should have been an alternative does not have the support of his home governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. An aide of the governor told Vanguard that the state chapter of the PDP was very ignorant of Adeniran’s candidature saying “we are hearing it in the media the way you are hearing it.”

The internal crises in the Southwest have inevitably helped to push the momentum outside the zone where Secondus is forging ahead with the support of the PDP governors. However, as the convention approached, the Secondus camp seems to have been rattled by the campaign of the only major candidate from outside the Southwest, billionaire media mogul, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi.

Dr. Dokpesi is trying to woo members to the fact that he represents the best option for the party laying emphasis on his struggles against the ruling government. Dokpesi has gone to virtually all the state chapters to woo delegates not committed to the governors that he represents the best option for the party back to Aso Rock.

In order not to come second in the contest that is his to lose, Seocndus was yesterday navigating the difficult terrains of Taraba State to make his own pitch for votes.

44 –Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 AQUARIUS; If you take unusual ideas coming to your mind today more seriously, things’ll work favourably for you. The more financially ambitious you’re the better.

PISCES; The Moon in your Star sign favours aggressive approach in a favourable way. Here is a day Artist among you can create master piece. Be stead-fast.

ARIES You’ll have much to gain if you’re more co-operative and embrace creative ideas of your close associates. And it’s good to be friendly, loving and caring.

TAURUS ; Aggressive approach is not what you need at work now, but creative approach. You’ve got nothing to lose if you take good advice from your friends.

GEMINI ; Whatever anybody says about your ambition and desire success will crown your efforts today. The more creative you are the better for your cause. And lovers can make it an exciting and happy day. Show your sex appeal and be loving.

When we take on the attitude of “arriving”, we surrender our growth, productivity and meaningfulness along with the opportunity to joyfully thrive. Lee M. Brower - Attitude.

Kindness and compassion are among the principal things that make our lives meaningful. Dalai Lama Kindness and compassion are among the principal things that make our lives meaningful. They are a source of lasting happiness and joy. Dalai Lama - Kindness.

TERROR MUDA

in “Never say goodbye”

By Kola Fayemi

CANCER; Your ideas are brilliant and if you blend them creatively the sky’ll be the limit. Let people within your home base know that you truly care for them.

LEO; It does not matter who initiates creative idea that lead to success what is important is you should not be left in the cold all alone. The more co-operative you are the better for you. Don’t ignore your magnetic se-appeal.

VIRGO.; Good luck and happiness indicated for you today. But then, the scope of your success’ll depend on how co-operative and creative you are both with your loved one and at work. Prepare to take good advice especially from younger person(s).

LIBRA; Happenings within your working arena’ll give genuine cause to smile and with efforts on your part you’re in for a rewarding day. Take advantage of your sex-appeal to enhance your love life. Experiment with ideas creatively.

SCORPIO ; Creativity may take front in what’s happening within your base of operation and the best for you is to join them. Lovers are fairly favoured.

DUDU THOMPSON

in

“rOLLING hOT’

By A.O. Olaide

SAGITTARIUS ; Tomorrow is your great day. Yet your being creative today can earn you un-expected good result at the end of the day. Be family minded now.

CAPRICORN ; Needed solution to challenges along your career/business lines will come through your being creative. Prepare to take good advice on your finances.

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

Basic characteristics of Capricorn Because they rarely day dream, Capricorn natives are set of practical people. This is because Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - the planet of career, sceptical and material things Although, the spirit of pessimism often times tempt the Capricorn born people, to succeed they will need to develop strong will that is indispensable to achievements of higher order because, series of challenges will come his/her way before he/she finally makes it to the top. Most natives of Capricorn are forced to shoulder many responsibilities early in life. Career building comes first in their priority lists which often leads to enviable career achievements that guarantee recognition. And another name for Capricorn is PATIENCE. Yet, he/ she can appear mean in the business circle. And tell you that seriousness and business are synonymous.

Above all, they are endowed with leadership capacity.

Capricorn ‘s quality is cardinal, element is the earth.

The cardinal aspect makes a natural leader with strong ability for hard work. Natives of cardinal signs crave for action and strongly desire prominence and often times make success of their love of action and desire for importance through relentless efforts.

The earthly connection with Capricorn further confirms innate ability for hard work and practicality .

Saturn is the planet of hard task, delay, depression, frustration, frustration but reward after so much struggles. Being a difficult teacher, Saturn usually takes its natives through many different tasks, challenges and delay. All these are meant to teach them virtues of patience and hard work. However, Saturn usually brings its natives recognition and reward.

The cautious side of Saturn always manifest in all Capricorn born people thus, but it is necessary for them to watch that side of their characteristics as they often push their cautious side too far and most of the time it results to black mood.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

VANGU ARD, WEDNESD A Y, DECEMBER 6, 2017 —45 ANGUARD, WEDNESDA

He doesn't care for us

Why is he always texting in the toilet?

Dear Bunmi, I CURRENTLY live with my boyfriend of 10 months and I never thought he would cheat on me - I know we love each other deeply. But he recently came back from a three- week course where he said he got friendly with a female delegate from another company.

I thought nothing of this but, one night, I caught him in the toilet sending a text message.

He flushed the toilet to distract me, but when I looked at his mobile when he was having a bath, I saw he’d just sent a suggestive text to this woman.

When I confronted him, he swore nothing happened between them - he’s even keen on going ahead with our wedding plans. I feel as if I can’t ever trust him again.

Janette, by e-mail.

be sure he’ll never misbehave again. And the only way to be sure he doesn’t is to find out why he misbehaved in the first place and make sure those reasons don’t come up again. So, why did he text this course mate? Was he bored? Feeling trapped?

Was he flattered by her attentions? Or maybe he panicked that he isn’t

attractive to women apart from you!

You need to have a heartto-heart with your man and not one where you scream at him! Listen to him. Find out what’s really going on in his mind about you both.

Then you’ll know whether you can create a relationship in which he’ll be faithful in future.

You need to have a heart-toheart with your man and not one where you scream at him! Listen to him. Find out what’s really going on in his mind about you both.

Then you’ll know whether you can create a relationship in which he’ll be faithful in future.

Dear Janette, The only way you can trust your man again is if you can

I prefer him as a lover Dear Bunmi, I have this male colleague at work and we are very friendly.

We see and chat with each other every day.

We’re both single and so far, the relationship has been purely platonic - except for once or twice that we have kissed when slightly tipsy.

Lately, I’ve been having fantasies about him. I’m not sure he feels the same way and I’m worried an affair might ruin our relationship.

How do I make the first move without making a fool of myself.

Doyin by e-mail.

When it comes to love, women often call the shots through body language and subtle come-ons. As many men are terrified of rejection, you must be the one to make a move. If you don’t you’ll always regret it, wondering what might have been. And if you keep him at arm’s length, he may one day turn up with a girlfriend.

I’m sure you’ll find this devastating judging by how you now feel about him. So

Dear Doyin, Friendship is believed to be the best possible soil in which love can take root, grow and flourish. By contrast, an affair, which begins like a bolt from the blues, bums out fairly quickly when passion dies and the couple suddenly realises that they have very little to offer each other beyond intimacy.

It is a good thing you bonded well with your male friend and he probably depends as much on your support as you do on his. Someone who know you at work knows the real you; the way you react under pressure. And you know him just as well. You are, therefore, lucky to have found someone who is such a soul mate and whom you also find attractive.

DearBunmi, I AM in my mid-20s and have known my current partner for over three years.

He’s in his late 40s and a widower. He is bald and certainly looks his age. My friends say I can do better than what I’ve got. I really care for him as he’s been very supportive financially but there are times I look at him and wish he was 20 years younger.

Kemi by e-mail.

when next you go out together in the evening, stay alert for any signals that his interest in you is not really platonic and make sure booze is not high on the menu.

Try flirting a little to see if he’s willing to follow your lead. At the end of the evening, you may invite him for a proper drink. If he doesn’t respond as you would like, you won’t have harmed your friendship.

I wish he were lots younger!

Dear Kemi, You care for your man and want to be with him but the message that people close to you convey with cruel jibes or kindly meant advice is that, by being with this man, you’re throwing your

life away. Even though your man gives you a great deal of what you need, recognise that you may find yourself attracted to younger men and that this man may not be the one who one day will become your husband and father your kids.

Have you talked this over with him? The thought that you can be friends and lovers and not life-long partners might ease your current discomfort. There are marriages that have thrived where the husbands are much older. But you don’t even seem happy with the man you have and wishing he were younger wouldn’t change anything.

Dear Bunmi, I am a single mother with a partner that is highly unreliable. In spite of having a young daughter, we don’t see him for days on end. He doesn’t phone to see if we are alright though a lot of his friends see and hear from him regularly.

I haven’t seen him for close to two months now and when he eventually answered my call, he said I should stop pestering him.

Am I crazy for expecting him to keep in touch?

Labo, by e-mail.

Dear Labo, You’re crazy alright for putting up with a man like him. He’s treating you appallingly. It’s obvious he doesn’t care for you or want to be with his child.

There’s also the question of where he stays when he’s away from home. Is he playing away? You need to make a decision - either turn this relationship around by asking your man outright what he really wants or walk away and find someone who really cares.

I need to break off with this old lover Dear Bunmi, I met my boyfriend when I was 15 and we’ve been together for five years.

The problem is, we’re always arguing but I know we love each other.

Unfortunately, I’ve started sleeping with a married friend of my uncle. He’s much older than I am and I don’t know how it happened or why I’m doing it.

He gives me a lot of gifts and money but I don’t love him at all. All I know is that if his wife, my uncle or my boyfriend finds out about this relationship, there will be a lot of trouble. How do I get out?

Lape, by e-mail.

Dear Lape,

You’ll have to be strong and tell your lover the affair is over. Don’t blame yourself too much - he’s behaving badly and you are clearly vulnerable.

Arguments are always upsetting and although you and your boyfriend love each other, there are pressures upon you especially from this dirty old man who thinks he can buy your affection with money.

Very few relationships begun at 15 stand the test of time - people change as they grow up.

If there’s someone you can talk to, then ask for their support in making your relationship work.

He has moved on and it hurts Dear Bunmi, My boyfriend of almost a year has walked out on our relationship. It was a rocky one, to say the least and I’d even called things off a few times. But we always got back together.

This time around, he says he’s had enough of the whole thing. I’ve pleaded with him to give me another chance, but he won’t. I’m absolutely gutted.

Imabong by e-mail.

Dear Imabong, I won’t be gutted if I were you. I’d be delighted. Your boyfriend has finally decided to call a halt to a problem situation. I say good riddance!

You’ve both been unsure about the relationship from the start. And you’ve made each other very unhappy.

You’d be mad to think you have a future together.

I’m sure you are not upset about losing the relationship - what’s there to miss about it? But you are obviously upset the man is rejecting you. You’ll do anything to get him back and so prove you are not a total failure in love.

Seriously though, you should let him go. There are plenty more men out there, most of whom have a much better chance of making you far happier than your current man has.

Share your problems and release your burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

46 —VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Catalan arrest warrants withdrawn by Spain’s Supreme Court Spanish judge has Trump tells Abbas of intention to move withdrawn EuroA arrest warrants for embassy to Jerusalem phone call from U.S. and Jordan’s King Ab- pean ousted Catalan President President Donald Trump dullah on Tuesday, spec- Carles Puigdemont and RESIDENT Donald ture state. The interna- in which he notified the ified the timing of such four other ex-ministers.

PTrump told Palestin- tional community does president of his inten- a Abbas move.

They fled to Belgium a ian President Mahmoud not recognise Israeli sov- tion to move the Ameri“ warned of the Abbas on Tuesday that he intends to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a Palestinian spokesman said, amid a growing outcry across the Middle East against any unilateral U.S. decision on the ancient city.

Senior U.S. officials have said Trump is likely on Wednesday to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital while delaying relocating the embassy from Tel Aviv for another six months, though he is expected to order his aides to begin planning such a move immediately. The officials said, however, that no final decisions have been made.

U.S. endorsement of Israel’s claim to all of Jerusalem as its capital would break with decades of U.S. policy that the city’s status must be decided in negotiations with the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of their fu-

ereignty over the entire city.

Abbas joined a mounting chorus of voices saying the U.S. move could unleash turmoil.

“President Mahmoud Abbas received a tele-

can Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said.

The statement did not say whether Trump, who was also due to talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

dangerous consequences such a decision would have to the peace process and to the peace, security and stability of the region and of the world,” Abu Rdainah said.

month ago after declaring unilateral independence in a referendum ruled illegal by Spain.

Despite the move, the judge said they still faced possible charges for sedition and rebellion.

Exiled son of Yemen’s Saleh takes up anti-Houthi cause

T

HE powerful exiled son of Yemen’s slain ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed on Tuesday to lead a campaign against the Houthi movement that killed his father after he switched sides in the civil war.

The intervention by Ahmed Ali Saleh, a former leader of the elite Republican Guard once seen as a likely successor to his father, gives the anti-Houthi movement in Sanaa a potential figurehead, after a week of fighting that saw the Houthis rout Saleh’s supporters in the capital.

Yemen’s war, pitting

the Iran-allied Houthis who control Sanaa against a Saudi-led military alliance backing a government based in the

south, has brought what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The world body says

millions of people may die in one of the worst famines of modern times, caused by warring parties blocking food supplies.

W/Africa cyber security summit to hold in March 2018 Montgomery, in a state- key trends, and cuttingBy Providence Emmanuel

T

HE West African Cyber Security Summit (WACSS), an international trade fair for the security and safety industry would hold in March 2018 .

The organizer, Afrocet

ment said the summit is scheduled to hold at the Landmark Centre in Lagos.

It would focus on fire and rescue, commercial, homeland and cyber security.

WACSS is a platform to learn about essential market developments,

edge technology.

The statement by the organiser: “Six of the world’s fastest growing cyber security economies can be found in Africa, including Nigeria. Cybercrime is a rapidly growing problem affecting Africa, fuelled by the high levels of poverty.”

Rebellion is considered one of the most serious crimes in Spain, carrying a jail term of up to 30 years.

Spanish Supreme Court judge Pablo Llareno announced the warrant’s withdrawal on Tuesday morning, citing the willingness the Catalan leaders had shown to return ahead of fresh regional elections being held on 21 December.

He said the Europeanwide warrant would complicate the Spanish legal probe, and its removal allows Spain to gain full control over the investigation.

The ministers turned themselves into Belgian authorities after the warrant was issued last month, but were freed after being questioned.

A Belgian judge was previously expected to rule whether to extradite the ministers on 14 December. The five were fighting the move, saying they may not receive a fair trial on their return.Mr Puigdemont has previously said he would return if this was guaranteed.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 — 47

Russia 2018: Dalung asks President Buhari to approve N3bn for Eagles

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

T

he Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has said that a proposal of about N3 billion has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval to enable the team and the technical crew start preparing on time for the competition.

Dalung disclosed this to State House correspondents,Tuesday, after meeting President Buhari in closed-door at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is despite the fact that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF is to get $12.5 million (about N4.5billion) from FIFA for the Super Eagles qualification for the World Cup. Out of this amount, FIFA is expected to release the sum of $2.5 million (about N900m) for the team’s preparation.

This is in addition to the $500,000 (about N180m) already approved for the NFF

by CAF to assist the Super Eagles in their build-up to their sixth appearance at the world’s greatest football showpiece.

Meanwhile, the Sports Minister said that the Super Eagles are in a good frame of mind to beat Argentina in the group despite the fact that the Gernot Rohr-

Super Falcons’ American coach resumes next week

N

igeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick said newly appointed Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum will resume next week to start work with the Africa Women Cup of Nations defending champions.

Pinnick was speaking against the background of alleged neglect of national women’s team. He said the Super Falcons will receive attention, now that the job of qualifying the Super Eagles for the World Cup in Russia has been done with.

“I apologise to them publicly - we have been trying to intensify our efforts in rebuilding the Super Eagles which we have done,” he told BBC Sport.

“Now we have secured the services of a foreign coach from America [Randy Waldrum] who is going to resume next week.

“We have lined up a couple of matches for them and I have apologised to them because the truth is we wanted to concentrate on the [World Cup] qualifiers [for the men] which was quite intense.”

Striker Desire Oparanozie had raised an alarm concerning the lack of preparations for AWCON qualifiers in Ghana, which will also decide the continent’s teams for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. “It’s quite pathetic because the Nations Cup and the World Cup is round the corner and all the other African teams are stepping up their preparations playing friendly games,” she told BBC Sport.

“But we as the defending champions have not really done anything to really show we want to stay up there.

“There have been no matches, there hasn’t been any form of regrouping, no games played - nothing at all.”

tutored team are looked at as the under-dog going by ranking.

He said that the Sports ministry places top priority to the welfare of players and the technical crew, having discovered that welfare had always become the problem of the team.

On the level of preparation of the Super Eagles, the Minister said, “After the groupings, Nigeria falls within Group D and we appear to be the under dog going by the ranking of the teams.

“But I think ranking is more or less a paper job, what is very important is how you will perform and I believe that we are comfortable with the team because having tested Argentina which is a highly ranked team in the group, we can say confidently that with good work, good training, good welfare for the players and team spirit, we will top that group going by the disposition of our national team.

“Some people have been arguing that Argentina did not present their best, but we also have some players we didn’t invite and we also intend to invite them. It is an issue that is going to be determined practically by the level of preparation of the Nigerian team. Don’t forget that the Nigerian team had enjoyed a formidable home support and they are inspired to deliver.

•Tough Draw...Nigeria's Wilfred Ndidi tackles Argentina's Alejandro Gomez during their international friendly in Russia, Nigeria won 4-2.

First Lady, Speaker highlight Ajunwa-Okpara Foundation launch igeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari and N Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara

will be the standard bearers at the launch

Modern Pentathlon: Cameroon, Ghana, others thrill at opening ceremony

ot less than 10 N countries, including Nigeria participated at the opening ceremony of the first edition of Modern Pentathlon Youth Olympic

qualifiers and the Senior African Championship holding in Lagos.

The event which began yesterday after a breathtaking opening ceremony at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere,

Pencilland grabs Travel Agent for Russia World Cup encilland Travels and further to say there will Tours Ltd be a total of 31 teams and P (Flyforvalue) has been 64 matches played in 11 appointed the Exclusive Travel Agent for 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament for the Nigeria Territory.

Speaking at a press briefing Mrs Oluwakemi Soname, the Managing Director of Pencilland Travels and Tours Ltd, said the contract allows Pencilland to bundle the match tickets with other ancillary services like hotel bookings, tours and many more.

“We recently secured the rights from Integral Sponsorship & Experiential Marketing Ltd that is authorised by FIFA to exclusively sell hospitality packages for the global sporting festival in Nigeria” she added.

Mrs Soname went

Russian cities including Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Sochi, and Kazan.

Particularly intriguing is Nigeria’s participation in the global championship.

Many football fans prefer going through appointed agents like us to avoid the hassle of securing the tickets, airline bookings, hotels, meet & greet, local transfers and visits to shopping centres or cultural sites.

Soname said the cost of a package is dependent on the number of nights spent in Russia, the number and category of matches, standard of hotel and other added ancillaries. Bookings and expression of interest can be made at worldcup@flyforvalue.com.

Lagos ends December 11.

Delegates from Cameroun, Ghana, Gambia, Mauritius,, Madagascar, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda among others who arrived Lagos Monday, thrilled spectators with their enthusiasm as they waved their countries’ flags while acknowledging cheers from the equally enthusiastic crowd.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Main Organising Committee.

Chief Francis Ogboro, who is also the president of the Nigeria golf Federation expressed satisfaction over the successful kick off of both events and what the LOC has been put in place to make the event successful.

Ogboro also hinted that a perfect security network has been put in place to guarantee the safety of the athletes and officials.

of the Chioma Ajunwa-Okpara Sports Foundation at the Federal Capital City of Abuja tomorrow.

The Red Carpet event will also witness several dignitaries from the Sports world, the Ministry of Sports and Corporate Nigeria, according to the Director General of the Foundation and former athletics great and the nation’s skipper in the event, Prince Henry Amike.

Amike revealed that the First Lady and the Speaker of the House of Representatives bought into the idea of the Foundation, named after Nigeria’s only individual Olympics Gold medalist till date, because the foundation will focus on developing grassroots talents that will win laurels in all athletics areas for the nation in the future.

The event venue is the pristine Barcelona Hotel in the Federal Capital and a member of the Organising Committee and Chairman of Edo FA, Frank Ilaboya, says after Thursday evening’s event, grassroots athletics in Nigeria will never be the same again.

Nigeria Football Supporters Club fans congress flags off Red Card campaign

ational chairman of the N Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Samuel

Ikpea and an estimated 30, 000 fans are set to make the Red Card campaign a reality to help put an end to escalating deaths affecting Nigerians, other migrants on the Mediterranean Sea and the harrowing experiences in the Libyan slave camps.

The two days event which commences on Thursday, December 7, with an elaborate road show through the streets of Lagos will see captains of industries, footballers and officials of the supporters club is

to raise awareness to many others who are still thinking of going through the same route. The fans congress is expected to have the CEO Football supporters in Europe, Ronan Evain and other Nigerians in attendance.

There shall also be a brief realtime and digitally relayed endorsement messages from CAF, FIFA, UNHCR and other international sports and humanitarian agencies— including special Sports Business and SME Small and medium scale enterprises concept presentations by experts.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017

Sudoku TODAY’S PUZZLE

QUICK CROSSWORD YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

TODAY’S CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Expensive (6) 4 Scorched (6) 8 Interrogate (5) 9 Be without hope (7) 10 Interminable (7) 11 Wood, thicket (5) 12 Female deities (8) 17 Loosen (5) 19 Outer districts of town (7) 21 North African country (7)

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION

22 Farewell (5) 23 Become more distant (6) 24 Header (anag.) (6)

(7) 6 Comprehend (5) 7 County of southwest England (6) 9 Indigestion (9) DOWN 13 Clothed (7) 1 Young swan (6) 14 Canned fish (7) 2 Lively celebration (7) 15 Dairy product (6) 3 City in northern France 16 Take for granted (6) (5) 18 Mixer with gin (5) 5 Bugs, butterflies, etc.

20 Facial hair (5)

How to Play Sudoku Place 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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