THREAT TO RESUME BOMBING IN N-DELTA- CPC, OPC, IYC,others reply Dokubo

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61876

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TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

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THREAT TO RESUME BOMBING IN N-DELTA

RIVERS: Soyinka warns Jonathan

CPC, OPC, IYC, others reply Dokubo

—P.14

•You will recant your outburst after 2015 — CPC •IYC backs him; Arewa youths, Afenifere, OPC react

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & DAPO AKINREFON

A

BUJA—THE Con gress for Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday, dismissed as an empty outburst, the threat by former Niger Delta warlord, Asari Dokubo, that there would be no peace in Nigeria if President Goodluck

Continues on Page 5

COLUMNIST:

•P.19

Mr & Mrs

GAS FLARE AND KEROSENE SCARCITY—Queue for kerosene at the NNPC Mega Filling Station in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday. Photo: By Barnabas Uzosike. Inset: Operational gas flare ignited at a gas well in Opollo-Epie, Yenagoa Local Government of Bayelsa State, yesterday. Photo NAN.

CJN laments high Monguno regains freedom 8 rate of displaced .

G after payment of ransom —P persons •P.9

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 3

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—5

POCKET CARTOON

INAUGURATION—Minister of Tourism and Culture, Chief Edem Duke (L), Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (2nd R)and South African Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize (R) cutting the tape to inaugurate Bayelsa Development Corporation Regional Office in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday. Photo: NAN.

THREAT TO RESUME BOMBING IN N-DELTA:

CPC, OPC, IYC, others reply Dokubo Continues from Page 1 Jonathan was not returned for a second term in 2015.

The party asked Nigerians to "ignore the selfish campaign by the controversial ex-militant to remain relevant in the

political arena, when he is not in any way working for the collective interest and well being of the generality of Nigerians, who are looking for genuine change and leadership come 2015."

The National Publicity

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Leaders need followers, you may be smarter than Einstein, but if no one is following you, you cannot be a leader.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about Lcreating yourself IFE

—George Bernard Shaw

I find Disney’s Mulan, the song titled reflection, very self explanatory about being oneself. The writer has a deep understanding about life and the process of unfolding spiritually towards being a better life.

“You may think you know who I really am but you’ll never know me. Every day it’s as if I play a part. Now I see if I wear a mask I can fool the world.

But I cannot fool my heart. Who is that girl I see Staring straight back at me? When will my reflection show who I am inside?

“Sometimes, we may be in this same situation but the truth is that only through self acceptance can we begin to go with the natural flow of our talents and gifts and yield to life’s abundance.”

In the second stanza, the writer clearly reveals more about self acceptance but it is the very last stanza that holds the key to knowing and being real with oneself.

“There’s a heart that must be free to fly. That burns with a need to know. The r eason why.

Why must we all conceal what we think, how we feel? Must there be a secret me I’m forced to hide?

“I won’t pretend that I’m Someone else for all time When will my reflection show Who I am inside? When will my reflection show who I am inside?”

Remember this saying, that ifyou feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.

Secretary of the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, told Vanguard, yesterday that Dokubo was merely seeking undeserved attention from the Presidency for pecuniary reasons, adding that he would change his position when the time comes.

Although he did not say who will be the President in 2015, Fashakin was categorical that Dokubo will eat his words and line up behind the new administration.

Fashakin said: “Dokubo will adjust the statement when that time comes. It is very easy for anyone to say anything when his stomach is full. When a truly people-oriented regime comes into power, he will adjust to the reality!

“Let no man’s heart fail on account of Dokubo’s boast. Nigeria belongs to all of us and its wellbeing is our collective responsibility,” the CPC spokesman said.

At a news conference in Abuja last Friday, Dokubo had warned that there would be no peace in Nigeria if Jonathan was not re-elected for another term in 2015.

The Ijaw youth also claimed that the relative peace in Nigeria today was because of Jonathan’s presidency and not the amnesty granted by late Umaru

Yar ’Adua and that Jonathan had performed more than any other Nigerian leader contrary to insinuations that he was weak.

He boasted that contrary to claims of his critics, Jonathan had transformed Nigeria in a way no other Nigerian leader had ever done. He, however, did not give the statistics to buttress his claims.

Avoid tribal warmongers — Shettima But the President of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, in a swift reaction asked the President to distance himself from those trying to give the impression that they love him more than other Nigerians.

Yerima said: “Jonathan should remember that most of these tribal warmongers, who are claiming to love him more than others, were working assiduously to frustrate his emergence as President, when some of us in the Save Nigeria Group were working round the clock for him.

“They should not forget all in a hurry that some persons particularly from the SouthWest and the North, stood their grounds against zoning and sup-

ported Jonathan’s emergence as the President.

Why are they trying to appropriate the Presidency to a particular ethnic group today?

"But our sincere advice is that they should encourage Mr. President to work hard and earn the support of the people of Nigeria for a re-election rather than threaten to cause havoc in the country.

“Dokubo should desist from threatening and blackmailing other Nigerians over his kinsman because he does not have the monopoly of violence."

We ‘ll not be pushed aside —IYC Reacting to the threat from the ex-militant, National President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr Miabiye Kuromiema said the Niger Delta people will no longer be pushed aside as second class citizens. In a telephone chat with Vanguard, Mr Kuromiema, who justified the threat by Dokubo, however, warned that Dr Jonathan may be the last president Nigeria will have.

His words: “The case is very simple. When we were outside government, they pounded our communities, killed everybody around us. Now we are in government, they are out there, pounding and making the place ungovernable for the system. What do you expect? What do you expect from us? Are we second class citizens in this country? I think we should wait for that day and see how it plays out.

"My position is very simple: let us wait for that day and see how it plays out but Nigerians should watch out. When I assumed office, we made it clear that Jonathan may well be

the last president Nigeria will have and I repeat that.”

Asari is doing more harm than good to Jonathan —Afenifere On its part, Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, urged the president to caution the ex-militant, noting that he (Dokubo) is doing more harm than good to him.

In a telephone chat with Vanguard, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “People like Asari Dokubo are doing more harm than any good to President Jonathan. For the Ijaw nation that Asari speaks for, they are only located in Bayelsa State out of 36 states in the country and I don’t see how the Ijaws can make somebody the president of Nigeria. Asari Dokubo should know that when they are talking about the election of the President of Nigeria, it is not the election of a militant group, where guns are what wins the presidency. Getting the president of Nigeria is about negotiating with other groups within Nigeria, getting consensus and not threatening.”

Everybody has a right under the law —OPC Commenting on the threat, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said every Nigerian has a right under the law just as he urged that people should be allowed to enjoy their rights.

Dr Fasehun said: “I believe that the constitution is there for all of us to comply with. The constitution guarantees two terms for everybody and I think people should be allowed to enjoy their constitutional rights."

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

House help docked over alleged N8.2m theft

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — A house help, Faith Okon, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court, for allegedly stealing N8.2 million belonging to one Mrs Spiff Stella Muna.

The suspect who is 38 years old, was docked before Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi, and is facing a two-count charge of stealing.

The police prosecutor, Benson Emurehi, told the court that the house help committed the said offence on November 11, 2012, at about 4.30p.m.

He alleged that the defendant stole gold jewelry and earrings valued at N8 million, two HP laptops valued at N150,000 and a cash sum of N100,000, belonging to one Mrs Spiff Stella Muna, at 20, Bush Street, Erengwa Close in Anthony Village area of Lagos.

However, the defendant, who resides at 32, Olorujewujeje Street, Igando, pleaded not guilty to the twocount charge.

Court dissolves 5-yr-old marriage over wife’s busy schedule

I

LORIN — AN Ilorin Area Court, yesterday, dissolved a five-year-old marriage between Alhaji Sikiru Ajibola and Ganiyat Sikiru, over the woman’s lack of time for her family.

Ajibola, 47, of Okesuna Area, Ilorin, had petitioned the court that his wife had failed to play her motherly role to their children under the pretext that she was always busy.

“My wife has made her business number one priority, not minding the future of our two children,” he said.

He told the court that his wife would not take time to prepare food for the children, adding that she buys “junk” food to feed them.

He told the court that the marriage was contracted in 2008 and had produced two female children, aged five and three years.

“My Lord, I want an end to this marriage because my wife is a bad example to my daughters which I do not want them to emulate,” he said.

The defendant did not object to the prayer of her husband, saying that she was ready to go as it pleases her husband.

11-yr-old boy, four others killed in Benue

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI — AN 11-yearold boy and four others have reportedly been killed while eight villages were also sacked, Sunday morning, in a bloody conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Idoma farmers of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

Vanguard gathered from eyewitnesses that crisis broke out in Agatu after some yet-to-be identified persons allegedly killed 11year-old Abdulkadir Mohammed and forcefully took away 10 cows

from a Fulani herdsman.

According to our source, the development forced a reprisal by the herdmen who also invited mercenaries from neigbhouring Nasarawa State to fight on their side.

“The reprisal on Agatu is farreaching because no fewer than eight villages have already been sacked by the invaders. Houses and farmland have also been destroyed. And our fear is that four persons are currently missing and they might have been killed by the invaders,” he said.

Reacting, State Secretary of

Meyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, an umbrella body of Fulani herdsmen, Alhaji Garus Gololo, said: “In Agatu, just after Bagaji by the River Benue, some people suspected to be Agatu indigenes invaded the herdsmen; they killed one 11year-old boy, 10 cows and forcefully took away 360 cows from the herdsmen. As we speak, the herdsmen are chasing after the attackers to get back their cows.”

But in a swift reaction , the lawmaker representing Agatu at the State House of Assembly, Mr. Audu Sule, debunked rumours

that his people attacked the herdsmen, saying: “I cannot say the gunmen are Fulanis. They are hired mercenaries numbering up to 1,500 and they crossed over from Nasarawa State through the river to cause mayhem. They have burnt eight villages so far and now moving towards the local government headquarters.”

Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Deputy Suprintendent of Police Daniel Ezeala said the command was not aware of the development.

PFN, Anambra community bicker over killing of snake

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA— MEMBERS of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and Umuoji community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State are on each other’s throat, following the killing of a snake in the community by the Overseer of the Mercy Throne Assembly, Umuoji, Rev Jude Chubueze.

To the community, Chibueze had committed a sacrilege, adding that the killing of snake in the area is a taboo.

The matter is already before the Anambra State Police command which is trying to mediate between the two parties to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Members of PFN under the aegis of Umuoji Gospel Ministries Fellowship led by Pastor Celestine Ekpunobi, yesterday, described the tradition that forbids the killing of snake as barbaric, adding that such law should only concern the pagans.

Already, the church where the overseer is the pastor had been sealed with palm fronts by the people of the community.

Narrating his version of the incident, Rev Chibueze said a snake stormed his house at night when members of his family were already sleeping. He said the snake was lying where his children were sleeping and when the children started shouting, he ran out with his wife to see what was happening.

He said: “When I got to their

room, I saw a big snake lying with them and I had to kill it and threw it into the nearby bush. The following day, some community members marched to my house and accused me of killing their god. They beat me up mercilessly.

“They wrote a list of items amounting to N54,890 which they said I should buy to appease their god. Being a Christian, I told them that it is against my faith and more over, I killed a snake and not a human being.”

However, Chief Paul Edekobi, one of the community leaders said instead of the pastor doing what he earlier agreed to do with the community by providing the items, he dragged them to Ogidi Police Station where six of the community leaders were arrested.

According to him, what he did was capable of wiping out his entire family if sacrifices were not made to appease the gods.

“We do not want to destroy his property and that is why we used the palm fronts to tie round the church to stop him from worshipping there for now,” Edekobi said.

But the pastor said: “What they are talking about is not tradition;

Physically challenged people from So-Said Charity Home Okota, Lagos at a dancing competition, during a talent hunt for the special ones in Lagos, weekend. Photo: NAN.

Two corpses of ex-militants found in shallow grave in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA — CORPSES of two persons out of the eight killed in the deadly weekend attack at Lobia community along the creek of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been recovered.

The corpses were reportedly

discovered in a shallow grave believed to have been dug by their killers. The development, it was learnt, has heightened tension in the troubled coastal area.

Gunmen suspected to be militants had, Saturday, launched a vicious attack in Lobia community killing eight persons.

It was learnt that Judah, the younger brother to a former mili-

EFCC arraigns provost, bursar over alleged fraud

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI — THE Prov ost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government area of Ebonyi state, Dr. Paul Ajah Onu was, yesterday, arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged financial misappropriation.

Also arraigned was the suspended bursar of the institu-

they see the killing of a snake as a taboo in their world of idol worshipping and not same in Christian faith “If they do not desist from this act, our next port of call will be the court for the enforcement of our fundamental human rights.”

tion, Samuel Atoi. The duo were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit illegal act to wit: money laundering and disguising the origin of stolen funds amounting to over N4 million. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They were accused of illegally transferring N1.5 million, N1.89 million and N1.816 million from three different FirstBank accounts belonging to the college to the accounts of Juliana Ogbaka and Kalejaiye Bunmi at various times.

After the charges were read to

them, the Provost applied for bail through his counsel, J. O. Asoluka but was opposed by the Prosecution counsel, J. A. Ojogbane who argued that he needed time to respond to the defence’s bail application which he said was just served the same day.

On his part, the second accused person, Mr Samuel Atoi regretted the inability of his lawyer to be present in court, blaming it on the late receipt of the summons for the matter and prayed the court to grant him bail.

tant leader, Mr. Reuben Wilson, popularly known as Pastor, was among the victims of the onslaught.

But the family of one of the slain youths, Judah Benaibi Wilson, in a statement, yesterday, by the Head of the Clifford-Wilson Family of Koluama 1 community, Comrade Joseph Wilson, dismissed the claim that the youths were killed during a gang war.

The family insisted that the discovery of the bodies in a shallow grave was a clear evidence that they were set up and murdered by the armed men.

Contrary to the claims of the Joint Task Force code named Operation Pulo Shield that the eight youths were killed during a gang war in the area, search party set up by concern youths of the affected Lobia community discovered the body of two in a shallow grave while others are still missing.

According to the Wilson family, their son, Judah was shot dead by some yet to be known assailants while on a peace mission to Lobia Community in the Southern Ijaw Area of Bayelsa State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—7

US-based couple fail DNA test for twins at Embassy

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — CONTROVERSY currently trails the parenthood of five-month-old twins who were presented at the United States of America’s embassy by their supposed parents for the procurement of visa.

This follows result of a DNA test ordered by the embassy which reports showed that the couple were not the biological parents of the twins as claimed.

Consequently, the couple have been arrested and are being interrogated at the Special Fraud Unit, SFU Milverton, for alleged child-trafficking.

Although investigation, according to the unit, had not been concluded, there were indication that the children could have been bought for N1.8 million somewhere in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Following the discovery, the passport of the supposed father, Mr Adenuga Shoyibo, a Nigerian based in America has been seized pending the outcome of the investigation.

But Soyibo, who claimed to be a USA citizen, maintained that the children were theirs, disclosing that the twins came at a traditional home in Port Harcourt, 15 years after they got married.

He further revealed that he paid N1.8 million to the tradomedical practitioner for the herbs administered to his wife which eventually led to her conception.

But in the course of investigation, Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Mr Tunde

Ogunsaki, was said to have detailed some policemen to accompany Elizabeth to the trado medical home where she claimed the babies were delivered,with a view to ascertaining her claim.

The CP said: “During investigation, detectives travelled to PortHarcourt, Rivers State where the woman claimed she gave birth to the twins in a private small house.

But on reaching Port-Harcourt, the woman claimed she could no longer locate the place, she also stated that she had no antenatal record anywhere as she did not attend any.

“Adenuga Soyibo, who claimed to be the father of the twins, on his own part, said he was also given local herbs that boosted his sperm count that produced the babies.

Both suspects claimed they could no longer trace the woman whom they paid the N1.8 million for the local herbs for the babies delivery. They also could not produce anyone who knew about the conception and the subsequent delivery of the babies.”

Mr Soyibo, however, said he

A

BAKALIKI— A CONSULT ANT Paediatrician, Dr. Pius Chuka Manyaike, with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA, was Sunday afternoon at 15A, Owerri Street, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the state.

It was gathered that his secu-

Court stops Lagos from Akinimodo market reconstruction

BY ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

L

AGOS — A LAGOS High Court, sitting in Ikeja, yesterday asked Lagos State Government to stop construction work on a parcel of land housing the demolished Akanimodo International Market pending the determination of the suit instituted by the traders.

The court which was presided over by Justice Opeyemi Oke, also ordered that the parties maintain status quo on the property.

The market, represented by their leaders, Alhaji Adekunle Agbalajobi and Mr Ademola Oyekanmi, had sued Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State for forceful, unlawful and unconstitutional demolition and destruction of their market, claiming that the forceful eviction has resulted into the lost of N3.8 billion.

Joined in the suit was the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and state government.

At the sitting yesterday, the counsel for the traders, Tunji Ayanlaja, SAN, told the court

By OKONKWO EZE

N

The couple and the twins met the woman, one Mrs Okoro, last year, adding that when the delivery date was near, he arrived the country November 19, 2012 and four days later his wife travelled to Port Harcourt where she was delivered same day and returned to their Ikorodu abode the following day.

He further stated that he did not

go to Port Harcourt with his wife, saying he was too tired because of the journey.

Currently, Soyibo’s travelling documents have been seized pending the outcome of investigation. But the couple were released on bail, yesterday, and advised to be visiting for further interrogation.

Medical doctor kidnapped, guard shot dead in Ebonyi

BY PETER OKUTU

that the state government had started construction on the property but failed to tender evidence to buttress his point.

rity man, identified as Peter, was shot dead by the kidnappers when he tried to prevent them from gaining entry into the premises of the hospital where his boss, Manyaike, was kidnapped.

Vanguard learnt that Manyaike was kidnapped by two gunmen with AK 47 rifles while driving a black colour BMW vehicle into his private hospital, St Marks Children Specialist Hospital, in Abakaliki.

Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo noted that the corpse of the guard had been deposited at the

Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, FETHA, mortuary.

NMA withdraws services Meantime, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Ebonyi Chapter, yesterday, said its members had withdrawn their services in all government and private hospitals in the state.

The state NMA Chairman, Dr Chidi Esike, said in Abakaliki that the withdrawal was due to the kidnap of their colleague, Dr Manyaike.

He said the doctors could not continue to operate under an unsafe and insecure environment.

3 nabbed over fake foreign health insurance certificates

BY EVELYN USMAN

L

AGOS — THE Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested two directors of a travel agency located in Tafawa Balewa Square and an insurance staff, who allegedly specialised in procuring fake Denmark and Germany health insurance certificates and other vital travel documents for unsuspecting members of the public.

Recovered from the suspects were 26 international passports belonging to prospective travellers who already booked appointments or paid visa fees to embassies.

The prime suspect identified as Michael Adeoye, was said to have been issuing health insurance certificate belonging to Elvia and Asa Health Insurance companies based in Denmark and

GUO Motors boss’ kidnap: Court issues bench warrant

Germany respectively to prospective travellers to Europe.

But the bubble burst after SFU, according to its spokesperson, Ngozi Nsintume-Agu, received a petition from the Deputy Consular-General /Head of Visa Operation, Italian embassy, on the presentation of the fake insurance certificates by some Nigerians applying for Italian visa.

“In the course of investigation, it was discovered that Michael Adeoye, a 38-year-old man from Otun-Ekiti, Ekiti State, who works at Nuyork Network Services, TBS, is the mastermind of the crime," Insintume-Agu said.

When approached, Adeoye did not deny the allegation. He told Vanguard that he started the illicit act last year after the health insurance certificate was listed as one of the mandatory documents for travellers.

According to him, “the document was usually downloaded from the company’s website from where I fill the client’s information before submitting on line without paying to the companies in question.

“The cost for procuring the certificate online is 17 Euros but I charge my clients 47 Euros, equivalent of N10,000.”

On how this was possible, he said: “The procedure is called ‘book and cancel.’ All I do is to apply online and the company will release a document where they would ask the number of months you want to apply for.

“The ranges are three months, six months or one year insurance.

After submitting the form, they would give me a policy number.

I would then print it and give to my client who immediately takes it to the embassy.

NEWI — AN Onitsha High Court in Anambra State, presided over by Justice Chudi Nwankwo, yesterday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of five suspected kidnappers of an Onitshabased transport magnet and Managing Director of G.U.O. Transport Limited, Chief G. U. Okeke, who allegedly absconded after they were granted bail by Nnewi High Court and Otuocha High Court respectively.

In his ruling shortly after hearing from G.U. Okeke’s legal counsel, Chris Ajugwe, Justice Nwankwo ordered that the police, with the assistance of the prosecution counsel, should arrest and produce the five accused persons in court during the next adjournment date, for the commencement of trial proper.

Pini Jason'll be sorely missed — Ihedioha

A

BUJA — Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has said departed ace journalist and columnist, Pini Jason, will be sorely missed by the nation, describing his demise as very shocking, sad and greatly unfortunate.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oke Epia, the deputy speaker said he received news of Jason’s death with great discomfiture and sadness, noting that the suddenness of the event took him by an unpleasant surprise and shock from which he is yet to recover.

According to Ihedioha, the late Jason was a brother, personal friend and one whom he had maintained very high regard and admiration for in the many years of elucidating journalism he practiced, adding that his columns provided very well articulated viewpoints and refreshing standpoints on various national issues.

The deputy speaker prayed for the soul of the departed journalist and expressed sincere condolences to his family, the Vanguard newspapers stable as well as the media industry in general.

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

PWC predicts tough future for financial organisations in Nigeria

BY JONAH NWOKPOLU

A

multinational profession al service firm, PriceWaterhouseCooper, PWC, yesterday, stated that financial organisations in Nigeria and other parts of Africa may face difficult challenges in their operations in the years ahead.

According to a statement by the firm on its newly launched African Financial Services Journal, it said the financial services industry was grappling with the severe stresses of a challenging economy, low interest rates, changing regulation, technological developments and pressure on reducing pay.

Commenting on the report, Tony Oputa, a partner with PWC Nigeria said, “across Africa there have been varied responses to the global financial crisis.

"In Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, scrapped the universal banking model prevalent across Africa and instituted a series of reforms that require financial institutions to specialise and manage capital risk in a prudent manner. It is important to consider the complexity of this process, especially under IFRS.” PWC Financial Services Leader for Southern Africa and Africa, Tom Winterboer noted that leaders in the financial services sector were facing a nose diving economy amidst tough economic realities.

He said: “Leaders in the financial services sector are still facing some of the most challenging business conditions of their careers as profitable margins come under considerable pressure amidst the recent economic uncertainty and businesses struggle to come to terms with potentially disruptive changes in regulation and legislation”.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by same firm shows that Africa’s CEOs were contending with very similar issues as their global counterparts, with the majority viewing over-regulation and a lack of skills as barriers to business growth.

The survey which involved interviews with 349 CEOs in the financial services sector in 49 coutries, however, indicated that CEOs in the banking and capital markets sector remain positive about growth prospects, despite recent economic uncertainty of last year with almost 90 percent anticipating increased revenues in the next 12 months and over the next three years.

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI—ELDER statesman and former Minister of Petroleum, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, who was kidnapped by some gunmen last week in Maiduguri after last Friday's prayers has been released.

A ransom of N20 million was said to have been paid while another source said as much as N50 million was paid before he was set free in Kirenuwa, a village bordering Chad Republic in Marte council area, 145 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

A source said Borno State government took the responsibility of paying the ransom.

Governor Kashim Shettima, who visited the elder statesman at his Government Reservation Area, GRA, residence after his release, however, denied that any ransom was paid to secure his release He said, “I am overwhelmed by the release of our father, grandfather, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno and he is in good health. The freedom was as a result of persistent appeal to his captors by good spirited individuals, Borno people and the state government.

"The 92-year-old educationist has spent all his life serving the country and humanity, and he does not deserve inhuman treatment. He has gone through thick and thin during his stay in the hands of his abductors, but at last God has answered our prayers, as he has now regained his freedom”.

He thanked members of the press for the sense of maturity they displayed during the trying moment as they managed the issue with maturity it deserved and called on them to continue in that direction.

He said: “We are all elated and overwhelmed to hear of his release. I congratulate all of us for his release, hoping that God will give him the good health and strength to continue with his humanitarian gestures.”

He added that the abductors were touched by the numerous appeals and they decided to release him unconditionally.

The governor said, “They contacted his family after several appeals from Nigerians for his release. But his family also made an appeal to the abductors to release him.

“They sent words that he should be picked in the morning, so we sent his personal aides with a vehicle to get him home.”

Shettima insisted that no money was given for the release of the elder statesman as he had no money to give.

He said, “Obviously Monguno was a philanthropist, who had spent all he had in the cause of humanity. So the issue of money was out of it because the family had no money to pay. It is just that the abductors decided to release him after numer-

From left: Elder statesman, Shettima Ali Monguno; Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha; and Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima praying after Monguno's release in Maiduguri, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Kidnapped Monguno regains freedom after payment of ransom As Borno Gov denies paying N20m ransom ous appeals from Nigerians.”

He appealed to members of the Boko Haram to lay down their arms in the best interest of the people, as no meaningful development could be achieved without peace, adding that the country's diversity and differences should be our uniting fac-

tor. Shettima called on everybody to be his brother's keeper.

Monguno who arrived his compound at 12 noon in Maiduguri amidst tight security after spending four days in the kidnappers' den, looked traumatised, while sympathizers, particularly women and relatives

were shedding tears of joy.

Unknown gunmen had abducted 87-year-old Monguno after Friday prayers at his mosque in Mafoni, Maiduguri. Monguno was a one time Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as Minister of Defence in charge of the Nigeria Air Force.

DSS parades Sen Etok's phantom assassin I wanted to exploit rift between Gov Akpabio and Etok to make money, says suspect

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH & CHRIS OCHAYI

T

HE Department of State Se curity Service, DSS, yesterday unveiled the identity of the man, who claimed to have been sent by agents of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to eliminate Senator Aloysius Etok, representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of the state.

According to the DSS, the suspect, Adelola Tamunotonye Olaore, alias ‘General Africa’, 29, had called Senator Aloysius Etok and introduced himself as an assassin paid by the governor’s aides to kill him (Etok) because of his refusal to concede the Senate seat to the governor in 2015.

Etok and Akpabio are currently locked in a spat over the senatorial seat. Akpabio had claimed that he was instrumental to the emergence of Etok as a Senator in 2007 and that he would take over from him when

he completes his two terms as governor in 2015, an ambition, which irks Etok.

Etok was recently quoted as saying that the senatorial seat was not vacant, as he would still run in the next election, a development that angered the governor and his supporters and triggered a fierce media war.

Apparently trying to exploit the rift between the two political leaders for pecuniary gains, Olaore, who claims to be an exNiger Delta militant from Bayelsa State, reached out to Etok and asked him to pay him an undisclosed sum of money to spare his life and reconcile him with the governor.

Afraid that his life could be terminated prematurely, Etok quickly reported the matter to the DSS and shouted aloud that the governor was after his life.

In return, the DSS asked him to play along with the ‘assassin” and to invite him to Abuja for further discussion on the peace move.

Etok is said to have lodged the suspect in an Abuja hotel from where he was eventually picked up by DSS operatives on April 29, 2013.

The Deputy Director of Public Relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, while parading the suspect, said on interrogation, the man claimed that he had neither met Governor Akpabio nor any of the aides he mentioned as having sent him to go after Etok’s life.

Ogar said the suspect had also confessed that he had never met the Commissioner for Environment and the Chairman of Etinan Local Government, Kenneth Okon, alias Wayas, who were mentioned as those who sent him to kill Etok.

Ogar averred that, "from the forgoing, Olaore hatched the phantom assassination plot to fraudulently extort money from Senator Aloysius Etok by exploiting the perceived rift between him and Governor Akpabio. Consequently, Olaore will be charged to court soon” .

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—9

CJN laments high rate of displaced persons Says good governance panacea for peace

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A The suspected killers of Major-General Shuwa paraded by the JTF in Maiduguri, Borno State, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

JTF arrests suspected killers of Gen. Shuwa

M

AIDUGURI—THE Joint Task Force, JTF, on Operation Restore Order ORO, said yesterday that it had arrested suspected killers of war veteran, Maj.Gen. Mohammadu Shuwa, in Maiduguri, Borno State.

JTF Spokesman, Lt.Col. Sagir Musa, who stated this in a statement in Maiduguri, said the arrest followed series of investigations by the task force.

“It will be recalled that an elder statesman, retired Maj.-Gen. Mohammadu Shuwa, was shot dead by gunmen in front of his house in Gwange, Maiduguri on November 12, 2012.

“Preliminary investigation by the JTF has identified two key suspected Boko Haram terrorists: Mohammed Ibn Saleh and Abdulkareem Ibrahim, as the masterminds of the killing,” Musa said.

I, Mr. Ugwudike K, the Principal of Boys’ High School, Orba in Udenu L.G.A, of Enugu State, wish to inform the general public that on the 4th day of May, 2011 an impostor came to our school to claim the original certificates of both WAEC and NECO, with certificate numbers: 4003361 and 201828511 respectively, belonging to EZE, CHIBUIKE BETHRAND. Anybody with useful information, should please contact the school authority or Nigerian Police. Diamond Bank Plc and the general public, please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public that the original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. 47/47/21 dated July 22, 1996 for the property situated at Block 31, Plot 18, Isheri-Olofin, Ikeja, Lagos State belonging to Sunday Olumide Oshikoya, ‘M’ is missing and all effort to trace it proved abortive.

The general public should please take note.

He added that a special operation was carried out by the JTF to get the suspected killers.

“Consequently, a special operation was conducted on November 15, 2012 by the task force with a view to arresting the culprits, which led to the death of Ibn Saleh during a shoot out in a house at Bulabulin Ngarnam.

“Similarly, on December 2, 2012, Abdulkareem was arrested with a fatal injury that resulted in his death on December 6, 2012. A member of the syndicate, one Bulama Bur died on December 2, 2012 in an encounter with JTF troops.”

He said that JTF also arrested four other members of the gang.

“Sequel to Abdulkareem’s confession, four other members of the syndicate were identified and three of them arrested between January and March, while one of the culprits is at large.

He said that one of those arrested was “actively involved in the planning and execution of the plan that led to the killing of Shuwa, while the two others played various indirect roles.

“Both have confessed to being members of Boko Haram and equally confessed to carrying out various attacks both on military and civilian targets.”

JTF added that they allegedly extorted about N20 million from late Alhaji Ibrahim Mai Sugar, among others.—NAN.

BUJA—THE Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, yesterday, identified good governance and respect for the fundamental rights of citizenry as a panacea for peace and security in the country.

Addressing Judges and Kadis at the opening of a five-day workshop on Refugee Law at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, the CJN, said it was unfortunate that most Nigerians have become refugees in their own country, decrying that, “these are people forced to flee their homes, ancestral places of abode and places of business due to no fault of theirs.”

She said: “Now, the internally displaced persons are often referred to as refugees in their own country. In the time past, internal displacement was an uncommon phenomenon, especially in Nigeria. Unfortunately, this hitherto uncommon phenomenon has become a common phenomenon almost across

Nigeria.

“This has been caused by diverse inter-communal, political and religious violence; forced evictions and recently, flooding. The devastating effects of flood across the country are certainly still being felt in some quarters.

“It is important for us to bear in mind that all these pose great challenges and call for humanitarian actions on the part of all and sundry and attending to humanitarian needs is not a cheap venture.

“While it is imperative to address the needs and welfare of these vulnerable groups, my view is that it is better to avoid, as much as possible, those situations and circumstances that precipitate internal displacement and refugee crisis.

“This is an arena where the political class must be up and doing and I hold the view that good governance, respect for the fundamental rights of citizenry as stipulated in the Constitution and strict obedience to the rule of law will promote peace rather than internal displacement and refugee crisis,” she added.

The CJN further noted

Ogun PDP denies defection of members

O

GUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has refuted report of the alleged defection of some of its members to Labour Party, LP. In a statement by the State Chairman, Engr. Adebayo Dayo, the party said the report was “the handiwork of some discredited politicians who were looking for credible people to associate with.”

The statement said: “In spite of being in office and control of government machinery, they failed woefully with their Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) experiment the last time. They will fail again. PDP is on ground in Ogun State. A good number of the people of the state are with us”.

The party noted that “rather than some of its members defecting, it is waxing stronger with more and more people coming into the fold daily, especially now that all the issues re-

lating to the leadership of the party in the state have been resolved.”

The party urged its members to remain focused and continue to work for its success “especially now that respectable leaders of the party and our father, exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo and erstwhile Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sen. Jubril MartinsKuye, have resolved to remain in PDP and work for it.”

It advised its members not to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the “ziggy masters”, who are adept at deception, into joining some “mushroom parties”, adding “we should not fail to learn from recent history where those who defected or caused people to defect realised their mistakes too late in the day and did everything possible to return to the fold. PDP is the only national party that can accommodate all of us.”

that internal conflicts and political crisis in West African sub-region coupled with the current military operations in Mali, have engendered human movements from troubled spots to Nigeria.

Meanwhile, in his welcome address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Umaru Eri, stressed that the theme of the workshop, “Addressing the Needs and Welfare of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons”, was carefully chosen taking cognizance of the peculiar circumstances of these vulnerable groups of people.

According to Eri, “As can be seen from recent happenings, the country and the world at large, the commission of acts of terrorism has been on the rise. This has culminated into loss of lives and property. Unfortunately, natural disasters such as flood have compounded the crisis around us in this country.

"Thus, we now have a huge number of persons displaced from their ancestral homes and places of livelihood. These internally displaced persons ought to and must be attended to by all and sundry, especially those agencies of government charged with discharging the much needed responsibility.

“The importance of peacetime against wartime cannot be over emphasised. It is on this premise that I urge you all to rub minds to see how best we can contribute to the development of International Refugee Law. “It is therefore heartwarming that Nigeria has ratified the basic international instruments on the protection of Refugees at the international and regional levels.

"Nigeria has also gone further by enacting the National Commission for Refugees Act, 1989, Cap N21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, mainly to safeguard the interest and treatment of persons who are seeking to become refugees in Nigeria or persons seeking political asylum in Nigeria and other matters incidental thereto.

"This has further been complimented by the establishment of a Commission to address refugee maters in Nigeria.”

10—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

FAAN, Maevis counsel confused by multiple applications

Mali mission: 2 killed in Nigerian Air Force plane crash

A

BUJA—A Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet crashed, yesterday, at Dargol, near Niamey, killing the two pilots, according to a Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

The statement by Brig.Gen. Chris Olukolade, Director Defence Information, said the aircraft was on a non-combat mission when it crashed.

It said the Alpha jet was one of the four based in Niamey as part of the African-led Support Mission in Mali.

Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, JTF’s spokesman, said investigations had begun and two Boko Haram memberss, Mohammed Ibn Saleh and Abdulkareem Ibrahim, have suspected as the brains behind the attack.

Appeal Court faults ruling on dividends suit

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

C

OURT of Appeal sitting in Lagos, yesterday, faulted the ruling of a Federal High Court, which dismissed the preliminary objection of WAC Properties Nig. Limited (appellant) against the winding up petition filed by Royal Exchange Assurance Nig. Plc (respondent) over issues of declaration of dividend.

In a judgment, Justice F. O. Akinbami said the lower court should have looked at the preliminary objection of the appellant instead of dismissing same, arguing that it erred to have concluded that the issue of preliminary objection amounted to a demurrer.

BY INNOCENT ANABA

SYNOD: From right— His Grace, The Most Revd. Dr. Ephraim Ademowo, Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and President of Synod; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Justice Dayo Oyebanji and Justice George Oguntade, Diocesan Chancellors, during the opening ceremony of the First Session of the 32nd Synod of the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at Our Saviour’s Church, Lagos, yesterday.

Fashola makes case for security agents

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

I

N the wake of rising secu rity challenges facing in the country, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged Nigerians to appreciate the efforts by the security agencies to curtail crime and maintain internal security in the country.

Speaking, yesterday, during the 32nd synod of Anglican Diocese of Lagos at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Fashola described insecurity as the greatest challenge facing the country.

Fashola said: “There is need for Nigerians to show care and

concern to our security agencies because people no longer die of diseases but by acts of violence, which showed that insecurity was the current biggest challenge of the country.

“Security agencies in the country lack some basic tools to carry out their duties and they do not get maximum cooperation and care from the public.

"These security agents are humans and need to be treated as such.”

Fashola said the problem of insecurity in the country could only be checked if Nigerians continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of their religious background,

adding that Nigerians should reflect on the state of the nation and how to contribute to the development and progress of the country.

Former Supreme Court Justice, George Oguntade (rtd), who is also the Chancellor of the church, described the state of insecurity in the country as worrisome.

The former Supreme Court judge urged Nigerians to assist government in prayers and deeds, saying “we should not relent in praying for the present administration so that God will continue to strengthen, guide and direct them to perform their duties diligently.”

SON seals Chinese steel firm

BY FRANKLIN ALLI

L

AGOS—STANDARDS Organisation of Nigeria, SON, yesterday, sealed off Hongxing Steel Company Limited at Amuwo Odofin Industrial Estate, Lagos, for producing low quality steel.

Specifically, the company that has been in operation since 2010, is accused of undermining Nigeria Industrial Standards.

At a briefing after the exercise, Mr. Samuel Ayuba, SON’s Principle Standard Engineer, who led a team of

SON’s Inspectorate and Enforcement officers to the company’s premises, said the action became necessary because the company was not producing its 10 millimeter reinforcement bars according to standards for Nigeria steel sector, which is NIS117: 2004.

PUBLIC NOTICE AS TO THE LOSS OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY DTSR 12123 OF MARCH 2007 This is to notify the general public that the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. DTSR12123, for a parcel of land, measuring 1582.397 Square Metres, located near High Court Premises, Okpanam Road, Asaba Delta State, belonging to Hon. (Mrs.) Anyangwu Cordelia got lost in transit.

That the unsuspecting public and other agencies should note and be wary of dealing with any impostor who may be in possession of the said C of O.

F

OLLOWING the apparent confusion of counsel to the plaintiff and defendant, a Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, directed parties in the suit by a company, Maevis Limited against the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to report on May 8 to carry out an audit on the case.

Justice Rita OfiliAjumogobia said there had been “two or three judges” that had adjudicated the case since it was filed, which makes an audit necessary.

Counsel for plaintiff and that of FAAN appeared confused over which applications ought to be struck out and which was due for hearing.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogia had struck out two applications, including the preliminary objection by FAAN, following a motion by its counsel.

When FAAN’s lawyer sought to move an application for extension of time, Maevis’ counsel observed there was a mix-up in the processes he had been served with.

This prompted the judge to direct parties to carry out an audit since counsel appears to have lost track of the case, which had gone through two other judges.

According to her, the audit would indicate which motions or interlocutory applications had been dealt with in other courts.

This, the judge added, would prevent her ruling being functus officio.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SANTUARY OF ETERNAL LIFE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Rev. Dr Duke Imajemito 2. Pst. Imajemito Taiwo Aim And Objective: To preach the gospel Any objection to the registration should be directed to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, P.M.B. 198 Garaki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this Publication.

Signed: Rev. Dr. Duke Imajemito

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 11

Ekiti ACN Chair, 4 others docked over Jeje's death A

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

DO-EKITI—CHAIRMAN of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Ekiti State Chapter, Chief Jide Awe, and four others were, yesterday, arraigned before a Chief Magistrate court in AdoEkiti in connection with the killing of one Ayo Jeje, a former ACN member, at Erinjiyan Ekiti.

Others arraigned with Awe include Faboro John, Aniramu Basiru, Busuyi Falayi and Shefiu Owonifari.

They are facing a four-count charge of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and disruption of public peace, which according to police prosecutor are punishable under the law.

Jeje, who hailed from the same Erinjiyan Ekiti with Awe, was killed by agents suspected to be political thugs on March 30, while planning to decamp to PDP.

what they are expected to do in this matter before the matter starts afresh.”

Administrative bail

The ACN chieftain was, however, let off the hook, as the court ruled that he should be allowed to enjoy the ad-

ministrative bail earlier granted him by the Police, pending the time the charge sheet would be perfected by the office of the Attorney-General and the police authority.

Contempt, adjournment

Meantime, the Police have arrested Mr. Segun Adewumi, a political leader

to the slain Jeje, and Adigun Adesanmi for allegedly taking the pictures of Chief Awe and other accused persons, while the court proceeding was on and the duo are presently being detained at the Criminal Investigation Department of the State Police Command.

The matter was adjourned till May 22, 2013 for mentioning.

Who prosecutes?

However, there was a mild drama during yesterday’s proceeding, as the prosecuting officer, who happens to be in Charge of Legal Department in Ekiti State Police Command, Mr. Femi Falade and the Defence Counsel, Mr. Oso Adetunji, engaged each other in battle of wit on who had the power to prosecute between the police and the state Attorney-General.

Adetunji urged the court to quash the charges until there was a directive from the office of the Attorney-General, citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which had vested the powers to prosecute on the Attorney-General.

However, Police Prosecutor, Falade, pointed out that the power to prosecute case is contained in Section 23 of the Police Act, saying the idea that the police must seek legal advice from the Attorney-General is not statutory or compelling.

Ruling

In his short ruling, Magistrate Richard Adeboye, blamed the Director of Public Prosecution and the Police for engaging each other over who has powers to prosecute any accused person.

He said he expected the matter to be settled administratively rather than bringing it to the courtroom.

The Chief Magistrate averred that it had become a norm in the administration of criminal justice that the police would have to send a duplicate case file of a case of this nature to the office of Attorney-General for legal advice.

He said: “The status quo should be maintained for the DPP and the police to relax their muscles over who has the power to prosecute.

“I expected the parties to do

OYESTECH: From right— Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; his Deputy, Mrs Titi-Laoye Tomori; and Prince Ade Adefioye, Chairman, Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (Technology) OYESTECH, during the graduation and presentation of certificates to OYESTECH trainees at the Government House, Osogbo, yesterday.

High Court judge absolved of plot to kill mother

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULLAH

L

AGOS—JUSTICE Adeniyi Adebajo of a Lagos High Court and three of his siblings accused of attempt to kill their mother, Mrs. Irene Adebajo, has been absolved of any criminality by the police.

The judge, sitting at the criminal division of the state High Court, was accused alongside his two siblings, Gboyega and Wemimo, in several petitions allegedly signed by their mother, and some NGOs to have planned to “as-

sault, brutalise, harass and threatening the life” of the octogenarian to inherit her property.

Investigations also revealed that the petitions were written due to disagreements between the children of the aged woman, Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, who was accused by the judge and others of taking custody of their mother because of her state of health, without the consent of family members.

Sequel to its investigations and interrogations of the respondents, including the judge, police declared the petitions “frivolous and lack-

ing evidence.”

Police, in the final copy of a report issued on its investigations, including forensic examinations carried out on the signatures contained in the petition, noted: “It perceived the petitions to be frivolous and would not be taken serious for want of evidence.”

The report of the examinations of the document signed by the Forensic Document Examiner, ASP R. A. Onwuzu-ligbo dated April 16, indicated that the petitions purportedly signed by the mother of Justice Adebajo may have been authored by two different persons.

Ghanaian jailed 5 months for stealing

BY MICHAEL NWOPOKE

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AGOS—AN EbutteMetta magistrate court presided over by F. J Adefioye, yesterday, sentenced a Ghanaian, Mohammed Daniel, 22, to five months imprisonment without an option of fine, for stealing tricycle parts, valued N550,000.

Mohammed was convicted after he was found guilty on

three count charges of conspiracy, stealing and escaping from police custody.

The offence, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 106 and 285 of the criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Mohammed, who urinated in the courtroom before the charges were read to him, pleaded guilty to two of the charges, even before the court registrar asked him if he was guilty or not.

The prosecutor, Corporal Onaiwu Iyobosa, had told the court during the convict’s arraignment on April 29, that the he had stolen tricycle parts belonging to Mrs. Aromasodun Sariatu, on April 25, at 4, Coates street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

She told the court that the complainant saw the accused when he was stealing the property and invited anti-robbery policemen from Denton police station to arrest him.

Ositelu tasks FG on security

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

A

BEOKUTA—PRIMATE of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, TCL AW, Rev. Rufus Ositelu, has called on Federal Government to take decisive action in tackling security challenges in the country.

Okikiola, who was represented by the Archbishop John Ogunsile made the call while speaking on the state of affairs of the nation during the church’s provincial annual general conference themed It is my turn for testimony galore, held at TCLAW Cathedral, Victory Ground, Ogere Remo, Ogun State.

The cleric noted that the problems facing the nation required proactive measures to avoid disunity and that government should bring to justice those perpetrating evil acts in the northern part of the country rather than granting them amnesty.

Ositelu said: “Federal Government should take immediate action to ensure the protection and security of lives and property in all volatile areas and nooks and crannies of the country.”

Ondo employs volunteer surgeon

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—FOR volunteering as a surgeon in the just-concluded Rural Surgical Mission at Ijare, Ifedore Local Government of Ondo State, a young female doctor, Seyi Olaniyi, has been given automatic employment by the state government.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko announced this while addressing volunteer surgeons from different states in Nigeria, who took part in the third edition of the intervention programme.

Mimiko assured of sustainable partnership with the team to make their mission more beneficial.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

PHCN workers vow to resist privatisation

Rivers Assembly demands redeployment of state Police Commissioner

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—NATIONAL Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, has vowed that unless all labour related issues that affect the staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, were settled, they would resist the Federal Government’s privatization of the company.

An executive of the Central Working Committee, representing the Western Zone (Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and Kwara States), Mr Benson Okorodudu, in a chat with newsmen, warned against the danger of retrenching any staff of the union in the name of privatisation without the settlement of all outstanding issues.

He said: “Such actions would be resisted by the entire workforce in that station of PHCN through the declaration of ‘stay at home’ strike. The Federal Government should obey the collective decisions reached between parties.

“The secret arrangement by the Federal Government to sack about 20,000 workers as rumoured is a pointer to the fact that the government was trying to derail from the privatization process by reneging on the earlier decisions reached with the union.”

Oyaide for burial May 25

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ATE Madam Ebremateme Oyaide, aged 85, of Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta State, will be buried on May 25, in her late husband’s compound, in Erho Abraka.

Funeral rites will start with a service of songs on May 24, at her husband’s compound. Internment will hold on Saturday.

She is survived by Mrs. Rose Onokoko, Sir Festus Oyaide, Mr. Felix Oyaide, Mr. Emmanuel Oyaide, Mrs. Mabel Oyaide-Omonigho, Mr. Sunny Oyaide, Mr. Amos Oyaide, Engr.

Charles Oyaide and Mrs. Emilly Oyaide, among a host of other relations.

Late Madam Oyaide

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State House of Assembly, has called for the immediate redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, saying he was an interested party in the political crisis rocking the state.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amaechree, in a statement, said the House had to postpone its sitting, yesterday, because the state Police Commissioner suddenly cancelled an approval requesting police protection for the sitting.

He said they had uncovered an alleged plot by five members of the House to cause panic and tension if the House had gone ahead with the sitting, adding that the game plan was for security operatives to start shooting sporadically and firing teargas to create a picture of a breakdown of law and order in the Assembly.

Otelemaba explained that the decision to further adjourn sitting sine die was to protect lives and property in

the state.

He said: “Ironically, a request by the House of Assembly for deployment of Police operatives to guard and protect the Assembly complex earlier approved was unceremoniously withdrawn by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command on ‘the orders from above.’

“Consequent upon the above and as your elected representa-

tives, determined to save the democratic structures in the state, lives and property, we are aware of plans to stall the sittings of the House through disruptive and violent acts by five members of the House intended to culminate into sporadic shootings and firing of tear gas canisters by security agencies outside the chambers

ANNIVERSARY: From left: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Comrade Issa Aremu, Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), guest speaker, at the first anniversary of the death of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, killed in Benin City, last year.

Security in Rivers under control ….As youths protest suspension of LG —Commissioner Chair, others

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

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ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State Government, yesterday, said it was fully in control of the security situation in the state.

State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who spoke at her office in Port Harcourt, also dismissed as wishful thinking, speculations in some quarters that the game plan of five members of the state House of Assembly that are loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Mr.

Nyesom Wike was to impeach the governor of the state.

Meantime, Hundreds of youths under the aegis of Grassroots Development Initiative, yesterday, stormed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, demanding the immediate reversal of the suspension of the Chairman, Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Timothy Nsirim, his Vice and the 17 councillors of the council by the state Assembly.

It will be recalled that the elected council officials were suspended by the Assembly recently on account of alleged abuse of public funds and breach of security, while the state government

went ahead to constitute a seven- man Caretaker Committee to run the council.

Semenitari, meantime, said “that a handful of lawmakers in Plateau State were able to cause a declaration of emergency rule in the state was not enough to conclude that such scenario could play up in Rivers State.”

Stressing that the state government had not lost grip of the security situation in the state, Semenitari said the people of Obio Akpor Local Government Area were comfortable with the action of the state House of Assembly.

Oyerinde: Widow, Oshiomhole, Falana, call vailing insecurity in the for corona's inquest country, described late OyBY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—A SENIOR Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana has called on the Osun State Government to re-open investigation into the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, just as he called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to apologise to the people of Edo State and Governor Ad-

under the guise of maintaining law and order.

“We are being inundated with threats of arrests, assassinations, and violence on the persons of the Speaker and 26 members of the Assembly. The name of the presidency had been used by those five members of the House in their unguarded utterances and display of intimidation, therefore, the sitting is postponed.”

ams Oshiomhole on the manner the investigation into the murder of the governor ’s late Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde was handled by the Police.

This came as the widow of the late Oyerinde, Mrs Funke Oyerinde, yesterday, cried out that it had not been easy looking after their four children in the past four years without the husband and placed a curse on the killers.

On his part, Governor Oshiomhole, who lamented the pre-

erinde as irreplaceable and regretted that the deceased never had the opportunity to collect the money he approved for him to travel abroad with his family before his death, describing the killers as cowards who will never have peace in their lives.

Falana, Oshiomhole and Mrs Oyerinde, who spoke in Benin, during the 1st year anniversary of Oyerinde's death, also called for a corona inquest into the death.

We need fresh LG polls —Edo Christian elders

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

E

DO State Christian Elders Forum, ESCEF, has called on the state governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, to conduct fresh local government elections, saying that the recent council polls had thrown the state into confusion.

It also called for the dissolution of the state Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, noting that the recent council elections were the worst in history.

The group, in a statement

by Osa Imuetinyan and Alfred Ojo,President-General and Publicity Secretary respectively, said that any office holder sworn into office on the basis of the recent elections was a product of stolen mandate.

The elders said “It is also our opinion that the recent council elections were the worst election in the history of the state and should, therefore, be cancelled. Office holders sworn into offices on the basis of the recent council elections are products of stolen mandates."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 13

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Abia teachers suspend strike

BY ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA — ABIA State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has suspended its 8-day old strike and directed its members to resume work today.

The teachers had embarked on the strike by refusing to resume on April 29 when schools reopened in the state to press for payment of Teachers’ Enhanced Salary Structure, TSS. State chairman of the union, Mr. Enoch Omeoga, who announced the suspension of the strike, explained that the strike was suspended because of the intervention of Governor Theodore Orji.

Omeoga urged the teachers to resume work today without any delay.

He explained that the union had directed its members not to resume school on April 29, 2013; because government refused to obey the agreement it had with the union to commence the payment of TSS from January, 2013.

Ihedioha, Chime, Abaribe mourn Pini Jason

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — MORE tributes poured in, yesterday, in honour of late Vanguard columnist, Mr. Pini Jason, as Deputy Speaker of the

House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, described his death as a huge loss to the country.

He also lamented the death of Dr. Aloy Aguwa who served as commissioner under the

Barr. Nwabueze Obi, Executive Director, Cabotage, NIMASA and Engr. Andrew Yakubu, GMD, NNPC, at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Texas, USA

government of Ikedi Ohakim.

Ihedioha, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu, read: “The deaths of Dr. Aloy Aguwa and Pini Jason Onyegbadue are best described as sad, shocking and unfortunate.”

Ihedioha described Mr. Jason as “an embodiment of excellence, who contributed immensely to the regeneration and development of journalism in Nigeria.”

In his own tribute, a former member of Champion Newspapers editorial board, Mr. Emeka Omeihe, said Jason’s death came to him as a rude shock.

“He was unarguably one of the great columnists of our time. He will be greatly missed by his team of readers.

Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime, described Pini Jason as a true patriot who devoted his career to the pursuit of national development and protection of the rights of ordinary citizens.

The governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, stated that Mr Jason was an exemplary journalist who had made valuable

contributions to the social political and economic advancement of the country through his witty and incisive appraisal of national issues.

Chime expressed his sympathies to the Management of Vanguard Newspapers and the deceased’s family urging them to find solace in the noble and patriotic values that he fought for all through his lifetime.

Also, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, described Pini Jason as one of the best, and a thoroughbred and erudite professional who straddled the journalism profession with consummate intellectual bent.

He said: "Jason was never tired in dishing out his sharp pen to educate, entertain and alert readers on topical issues in his ever witty column.

“At the worst of times, Jason was there to always point out the folly of Military dictatorship. Ofcourse at the dawn of democracy, he never relented as he continued to objectively criticise, proffer veritable solutions and suggest the best way forward."

Rivers: Soyinka warns Jonathan

N

O B E L LAUREATE, Professor Wole Soyinka, yesterday, took a critical look at the series of events happening in Rivers State over the face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and The Presidency and warned that the situation has reached an unsustainable level.

Prof. Soyinka, in a statement issued, yesterday, entitled: “Cool it, President Goodluck Jonathan,” urged the President to break the culture of executive impunity in Rivers State.

Said he: “The increasing flash points in the nation have reached an unsustainable level, and responsible governance must accept

that it is an urgent duty to diminish, not increase them.

"Even the notoriously short Nigerian memory remains traumatised by recollection of the rape of Anambra that was enabled by the connivance of federal might, and the abandonment of all moral scruples in executive disposition.

“The people of Ogun State were humiliated by the antics of a power besotted governor, with their elected legislators locked out of the National Assembly for upwards of a year. That hideous travesty was again made possible by the abusive use of the police.

"Even a child in this nation knows that the

Why we’re collaborating with the church — Obi

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — GOVER NOR Peter Obi of Anambra State has said that his administration’s decision to collaborate with the church in the areas of education and

health was to bring health services closer to the people Obi spoke while presenting cheques to the Catholic and Anglican Bishop in Anambra State for ongoing projects being executed by the state government in partnership with the churches.

police derive its enabling and operational authority from the dictates of the centre, so there can be no disguising whose will is being executed wherever democratic norms are flouted and the people’s rights ground to mush under dictatorial heels.

“Before the irretrievable point of escalation is reached, we have a duty to sound a collective alarm, even without the lessons of past violations of constitutional rights and apportionments of elected representatives of the people, and their consequences.

“There is an opportunity in Rivers State to break this spiraling culture of executive impunity manifested in both subtle and crude ways - that is fast becoming the norm in a post-military dispensation that fitfully aspires to be called a democracy.

It will be recalled two weeks ago Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, suspended 27 members of the State House of Assembly and declared their seats in the House vacant.

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—15

Look into stalled investigation of Oyerinde's death, NLC tells Jonathan

.Says security agencies know the truth

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament (left) and Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, President of the ECOWAS Commission, discussing before the opening of the 2013 1st Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament, in Abuja, yesterday

Ekweremadu hails ECOWAS Parliament's enhancement roadmap .It should be reformed —Mark

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA — SPEAKER of Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has said that if the recently adopted roadmap for the enhancement of the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament was effectively observed, it would transform the parliament into a full legislative institution.

This came as Senate President, David Mark, called for the reform of ECOWAS Parliament to enable it serve as a true regional parliament like European Union.

Speaking, yesterday, at the opening of the 2013 1st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, the speaker, who also doubles as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, said: “The enhancement of the powers of the community parliament remains on top of the agenda of this Third Legislature.

"I am very hopeful that the powers of the community parliament will be enhanced in the lifetime of this Third Legislature.”

BUJA — NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to look into the stalled investigation of the May 4, 2012, killing of its Deputy General Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, claiming the security agencies knew the truth about his death.

NLC in a statement to mark

Terrorism: Army, police vow to resist incursion into FCT

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

A

BUJA — Nigerian Army Headquarters Garrison and the Police Command in Abuja, yesterday,, said they would continue to work together in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the Federal Capital Territory because of its status as seat of government.

Commander, AHQ Garrison, Major General Obidah Etnan, who pledged the Ar-

my’s commitment to ensuring that Abuja was secure at all times, promised to provide all necessary assistance to the Police whenever the need arose.

According to him, both security agencies are fighting the same cause of ensuring peace and security.

Speaking when FCT Police Commissioner, Olufemi Ogunbayode, visited him in his office, Major General Etnan said: “The Nigerian Police

Force has played a key role in ensuring peace and security in the FCT, especially as it pertains the challenges of insurgency and terrorism that are confronting us today.

“In fact, the security of the FCT and nation at large is paramount to us at both the Army Headquarters Garrison and Police Headquarters.

“With proper cooperation and synergy, I believe the challenges of countering terrorism and insurgency will

Try me in Sokoto, Catholic Church bomber, Kabiru, dares FG ...No, you must face trial in Abuja, court rules

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — THE alleged kingpin of the Boko Haram sect who was accused of masterminding the Christmas Day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, yesterday, dared the Federal Government to take him to Sokoto State for prosecution.

In an application he argued through his lawyer, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, Sokoto, who is answering to a two-count terrorism charge, challenged the jurisdiction of Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to try him.

He also urged trial Justice Adeniyi Ademola to either handsoff the case or quash the entire charge for want of territorial powers to conduct his trial.

According to Ibrahim, “it would be highly unlawful for the accused person to stand trial in Abuja when none of the elements in the charge was committed in Abuja.”

Meanwhile, his arguments were countered by counsel to the federal government, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, who relied on the provisions of section 70(1) of the CPA, sections 251(2) (3), 252 of the 1999 Constitution and section 19 of the Federal High Court Act, to urge the court to discountenance the application by the accused person and continue hearing on the case.

Onuegbu, who also cited the case of Abiola vs FRN, maintained that the case of Ibori relied upon by the accused person, had no bearing with the instant proceeding since the convicted exgovernor of Delta State, hitherto faced trial over charges that bothered on money laundering and financial crimes.

be less problematic to us.

“However, I want to say that information and intelligence sharing is the key to both security agencies checkmating crime and terrorism challenges.

“There must be trust and camaraderie. We should not habour any doubt in our responsibilities to the nation and to our agencies.”

On his part, the police commissioner said that historically, the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Police Force had been an integral part of each other, noting that both agencies had worked well in several internal security operations as well as Joint Task Forces.

the first year anniversary of the gruesome murder of Oyerinde at his residence in Benin City, where he was serving his leave of absence and working with Governor Oshiomhole as Principal Private Secretary, said the security agencies had information about those who carried out the assassination but for reasons Nigerians were yet to be told, preferred to conceal the truth.

In the statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC argued that from the testimonies given to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions by the Police and Department of State Security, DSS, high commands, it was clear the assassins were not only known to the police but that the police had some of the culprits in their custody It said that for reasons yet undisclosed the police were still continuing with the familiar antics of the kind of security agencies that operated during military dictatorship.

The NLC said: “This murder is one that has exposed the absolute contradictions in our security agencies; it is inconceivable that two agencies could write two diagonally conflicting reports on the same crime.

"While the SSS displayed some level of competence and timeliness in their investigation with very few personnel, it is disturbing that the Nigerian Police whose jurisdiction cover crimes of this nature, have shown more than enough negligence to attract appropriate sanctions from the government.

"We believe the police have interests other than serving public interest in this case.

Our search for investors and quest for economic growth will be threatened in the face of not just insecurity but the clear inability of our security agencies to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

"From the testimonies given to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions by the Police and the SSS high commands, it is clear that the assassins are not only known to the police but they have some of the culprits in their custody but for reasons they are yet to disclose, they are still continuing with the familiar antics of the kind of security agencies that operated during military dictatorship."

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE FAMILY OF LATE CHIEF PINI JASON

From right: Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Publication/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard; Mrs. Omasan Amuka-Dudu, AGM, Admin/Legal, and Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, Editor, Vanguard, during a condolence visit to the family of Late Chief Pini Jason Onyegbaduo, yesterday, at his 43, Shomade Cresent, Surulere, Lagos, residence.

Photos: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

From left: Chief George Ofulue (SAN); Chief Mrs Amina Ukiwe and Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo, (widow).

Pini Jason’s death, painful —Ajimobi

G

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condoled with the government and people of Anambra State, Governor Peter Obi, management of Vanguard Newspapers and the family of Mr. Jason Onyegbaduo, popularly known as Pini Jason, over the death of the veteran columnist, at the age of 65.

The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the late columnist as one of the few consciences of the nation, saying that his death was painful.

He said: “Mr. Jason was a fearless writer who never for once hesitated to present issues as they were. He was always on the side of the truth and he never wavered in defending the course of the ordinary Nigerian.”

Governor Ajimobi noted that for several years, Mr. Jason used his column to put government on its toes and offer constructive criticism on government’s programmes and policies with a view to putting it back on track.

From right: Mr. Jide Ajani, Editor, Sunday Vanguard; Mrs. Chioma Gabriel, Saturday Editor; Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo, Chairman, Editoral Board, and Mr. Victor Omoregie, Corporate Affairs Manager.

From left: Mrs. Kenneth Okunbina; Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo, (widow), and Dr. (Mrs.) Gertrude Osueze.

From left: Mrs. Priscilla Onyegbaduo, (widow); Dr. (Mrs.) Gertrude Osueze, and Mr. Billy Ogundipe.

Pini never lived above his means —Widow

BY IKEDDY ISIGUZO, Chairman Editorial Board

T

HE pothole-filled street (it appeared to have been tarred at some point in its life) that led to Pini Jason’s Surulere residence had an unfair share of ponds after the early morning shower. You drove with care or ran the risk of splashing murk on passers by. The other thing more challenging was getting a parking space.

It is a busy close.

Everyone knew Pini’s house, possibly more famous with his passing on Saturday. Visitors expressed their condolences and left. They were not the reason for the jammed street. Like most parts of Surulere, residents have turned garages into offices and extensions of their dwellings.

“You know your friend,” Oby, his wife of 34 years, said. “He would never live above his means. The children have grown. With just two of us, we reasoned there was no point staying in a big house,” she explained the relocation.

Pini had lived on Jalupon Close, which, like the abode where he shared his final moments, is off Adeniran Ogunsanya Street. It was a more appointed place, with

enough space (and again Pini’s spirit) for him to allocate a part to some friends who were starting a consultancy in 1996. He lived there for so long many thought it was his. Anyone who does not pay attention to the new address may head to Jalupon which hosted many high profile guests.

I remember former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, now Secretary to the Government of the Federation, visiting and more. Pini was in touch with the people, his people, Ndigbo, and all other peoples in between. He had a good grasp of issues, ranging from Nigeria’s unnumbered challenges to religion.

His place was an informal centre for the creation of things – ideas, projects and even Ebonyi State.

He was never afraid of flaunting his roots but hardly told anyone about the greater labour of seeing to the welfare of Ndigbo.

His broader approach to national issues was like baking a bigger cake, so that hopefully, Ndigbo would benefit.

Vanguard team When Vanguard team of Sam Amuka, Publisher; Gbenga Adefaye Editor-in-Chief, Mideno Bayagbon, Editor; Omasan Amuka, AGM (Legal & Admin); Chioma Gabriel, Editor Saturday, Jide Ajani, Editor Sunday and Victor Omoregie, Public Re-

lations Manager, paid a condolence on Monday, Mrs. Jason was still in grief.

“It is unfortunate that I am meeting the Vanguard family for the first time under these circumstances,” she said, what was left of her voice was barely audible. She had spent the past three days crying, crying, and crying again.

She thanked the guests, breaking into more tears.

Sombre setting The setting was sombre. Pini’s framed picture from his book launch (a collection of his writings), and an artistic impression of him, adorned the table where guests wrote their condolences. If I was looking for a final proof that Pini was gone, those constituted it. Another proof – burial plans are being discussed, for Pini Jason.

Yet people keep reminding me that they read his column on Tuesday, as if columnists were not permitted to die in the week they wrote. The finality and serendipity of death supply incoherence in abundance. Pini will not write his column today, he will never write again.

“I watched my husband dying. He was helpless. I couldn’t help him,” Mrs. Jason continued. “So, if I was

not there someone would have been telling me the story?” More tears. We were helpless, too. With death, a condolence is respect for the family as well as the deceased. Were we making Mrs. Jason cry?

His former colleagues have not run short of tributes. “We were in Customs together at the Marina. While we idled away waiting for the ships, he was writing for Lagos Weekend,” said Melvin Obriango, more famous as Teacher Oghene in Village Headmaster, a television series that dated decades back. He had known Pini for about 40 years. “I was the master of ceremonies at his wedding and at his book launch. I don’t understand this,” he lamented.

Pini lived a simple life. It was his conviction to please nobody, in matters of his standards, otherwise he would have lowered them a lot. He was dapper, always.

Some mistook this elegance for abundances stashed away from prying eyes. Where are the millions he was supposed to have made from serving in government? How could he have moved from Jalupon to this place? I was relieved that those who castigated his involvement in government, solely on this score, did not know him.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,MAY 7, 2013—17

THE news of the death of Pini Jason came from the radio this morning(Sunday morning) and threw me off balance. I was thrown from the joy of preparations for a communion service in Church, to instant confusion, from preparation for Worship to wondering what life is really about, from assurances from the Word of God, to a confirmation, that we are indeed sojourners in this world. We are immigrants here, passing through to a place, we can only arrive joyfully through great expectations.

Some believe that after death, they may go to Purgatory, others to paradise, many to hell, and many more will go to heaven, because heaven and hell are real and do exist. One thing is certain, life on this planet earth is not the end, we are going somewhere unknown to some, but very clear to others, especially the practicing Christians.

Good fight of faith Bible believers are sure that all their life efforts is to fight the good fight of faith and be able to show themselves approved of God on the judgment day, for it is appointed for man to die once after which there shall be judgment. Our beliefs make our morality which drives our conscience and actions on earth.

Pini believed in what he said and wrote with passion and that is why we miss him sorely. Some say the world is a stage, where they are called to act, play a role as assigned by the ‘Director’ and quit, Pini acted only in things and got involved only in issues he believed, and for that reason acted well, no matter who was angry with his role and position in an issue.

His reader did not have to agree with everything he wrote, some may even think he was biased sometimes, but his passion will cause any reader to be compelled to read Pini, and he wrote with a sense of history that made the difference. Many have said and

The late Pini Jason

Pini de man!

I agree, that he has left a void that may be difficult to fill. His team at Vanguard will feel this more.

With the news from the radio, I announced same in church, and we observed on minute silence in honour of his Soul, and work on this earth, and especially for our nation Nigeria. I called his colleagues and latter read the papers to gather details of what happened.The good thing is that ALL shall die, and be judged.

A prolific writer Chief Pini Jason Onyegbadue, a beloved and true son of Imo State, was reported to have died at 65, on Saturday afternoon at Tale Clinic Yaba, Lagos after undergoing a surgery some days earlier. He was a prolific writer who made his name in journalism in the late 70s while working as a freelance journalist. He later took up a full-time employment at the African Guardian and as well worked for other media outfits, including ThisWeek, where he served as its Managing Editor and then Insider Confidential Newsletter as the Editor-in-Chief.

He was also the publisher of the now-rested Examiner Newspaper but became famous when he took

BY OWEI LAKEMFA

O

N behalf of the working people of Africa, the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, welcomes you to Addis Ababa the historic city it was born exactly 40 years today! Mother Africa gave birth to OATUU in this remarkable country which rejected colonialism and fought off the invading colonialists.

OATUU’s umbilical cord was buried here; so in a sense, this is our homestead, and returning to Addis Ababa, is a pilgrimage; a return to source. Like the African proverb says, a river that forgets its source is bound to dry up. We will never forget our source which is Pan-Africanism; the guiding ideology developed by our founding fathers.

OATUU’s attachment to Addis Ababa is one of the reasons why we decided to return here to mark our four decades of existence, just as the African Union, AU, is returning here next month to celebrate its golden jubilee with the quite thoughtful and appropriate theme of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.

That will be the biggest celebration in Africa this year,

up a column for Vanguard. He took a leave of absence in 2007 to work as Special Assistant (Special Duties) to former Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State.

He returned to writing following the end of Ohakim’s administration in 2011.

Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra State, who spoke from the United States, said the death affected him personally.He described late Pini as one of the finest journalists who earned his living through hard work. General Manager, Publication/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, described him as a Nigerian who dreamt excellence and a wholesome regeneration of our nation.Vanguard Editor, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, said Pini embodied “the best in journalism.”The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in his statement described the late Pini as a ‘very decent man.’ “His attitude to life was always positive. He wrote columns that were set apart by their clarity, thoughtfulness, sound knowledge and commitment to public good. We have lost another true defender of the people’s interests. He will be sorely missed by the Nigerian media family, and particularly his numerous

of the greatest exponents of informed political commentary whose incisive write-ups charted a better course for the nation”. “He spoke truth to power and was quite courageous in his campaign for a better society.”and summing up he said Pini’s death is “a big blow to the media industry.” Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has described him as a consummate writer whose passion for the journalism profession was unmistakable and a source of pride to those who read him every week.Pini, is survived by a wife and several children.

As tributes continue to pour in to his natural, media , and political families, we must not forget that Pini chose to make the difference in his life, by fighting the cause of the good public.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep

,

BY CLEMENT UDEGBE

Pini gave good and positive passion for what he believed to Nigerian society.

Fame can be trusted upon a man, but excellence must be achieved, Pini achieved excellence, thus we could say today that all he did was wonderful!

,

readers.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN, said the death was an irreparable loss.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, has expressed shock on his death and described him as a “gifted writer who used his pen to reform the society in his lifetime and bared his mind on critical issues affecting the polity”.adding that he was “one

streets even as Michangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry…..Whatever role, position, or organization our lot in life is, we should strive to give it our best.”

Fame and excellence Pini gave life and journalism his best, he showed that success for good men is attached to the content of their character and what they give to society. Pini gave good and positive passion for what he believed to Nigerian society. Fame can be trusted upon a man, but excellence must be achieved, Pini achieved excellence, thus we could say today that all he did was wonderful!

A good journalist must and needs to be controversial, Pini had his own fair share of controversy; His last works of note included his exchange with Chief Dele Momodu of Ovation towards the end of last year, where he differed in the criticisms of Malam Lamido Sanusi’s N5000 note called Project CURE, His response to Senator Oluremi Tinunbu Mrs, on her assertion that they (ACN) were progressives, and the APC capsule bit; And his last article published Tuesday April 30, 2013 and titled,” A letter to Yushau Shuaib”, on the travails of the former spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA. I wished that he remained to give us commentaries on the 2015 elections as issues hot up, but God, the author and finisher of our life knows best, and why Pini must go at this time.

May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may his family receive the grace and fortitude to bear the loss. We that mourn, shall do more to learn from his life and the choice he made to stand out without fear or fervor to give all his best! We salute him, and give God all the glory. *Mr Udegbe a lawyer and former Commissioner in Imo State, wrote from Lagos.

OPINION Celebrating OATUU at 40 and by God’s grace the African Labour Movement will be here with the rest of the continent to celebrate.

OATUU, like Ethiopia, rejected enslavement and colonialism; like it, we rejected dictation, accepting to work and collaborate only with those who accept us as equal partners and respect us. We have for 40 years guided and guarded with our souls, the independence of the African Labour Movement and have by our words and deeds, displayed before the international Trade Union Movement and the world, that Africa cannot be the playing turf of any group, institution or power.

Before OATUU was born on April 13, 1973, the African Trade Union Movement was balkanized and shared out like conquered territory amongst the major international trade union centres, very much like the colonialists who sat down at the Berlin Conference in 1884-5, to share Africa as a trophy of conquest.

So, by 1973, there were three central trade union organisations in Africa, the:

- All-African Trade Union Federation, AATUF, based in Accra, Ghana; - African Trade Union Confederation, ATUC, with offices in Dakar, Senegal; and, -Pan-African Workers Congress, PWC, with headquarters in Banjul, the Gambia.

Given the fact that these three organisations represented different trade union tendencies, African workers were split and there was constant internal wrangling. Even then, voices calling for unity by some labour leaders, could be heard. But the turning point was at the African Labour Ministers Conference in Kampala, 1972 when a resolution was passed calling on African trade unions to unite and establish a single continental organisation which will not be blown around like chaff by the ideological winds of the Cold War. Continues on the Viewpoints pg *Mr. Lakemfa, is Secretary-General OATUU.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 THE World Bank, under its concerns for our economy, public health, gender issues, and grabbed headlines again with the news that it was providing additional $120 million credit facility to Nigeria to boost water supply in some of her urban cities. The scheme is romantically called National Urban Water Sector Reform Project. The project is not new. It was presented to the World Bank board in 2004 and approved for implementation the same year. Where is the reform it entails?

Phase one of the project, which ends in September targeted Kaduna, Ogun and Enugu States. It cost US$120 million.

Additional financing of US$60 million was secured, taking the total financial outlay on the project in the first phase to US$200 million.

By granting additional US$120 million for the second phase of the project which closes in 2016, with Cross River and Lagos States as targets, the debt stock on this project would hit US$ 320 million, excluding interests.

If it cost US$320 million to improve water supply in selected urban centres in only five

Where Is The W at er?

Wat ater? of 36 States when would this project be completed round the country? How much would it cost?

We exited the debt trap in 2005, which gave our national economy some breather on projects that are executed yet they contribute little to the people’s welfare. None of the States where the project was executed has any remarkable improvement in public water supply.

The Debt Management Office has warned the Federal Government that the national debt profile may hit US$ 25 billion by 2015.

The water project and more that are underway would grow a new debt burden for Nigeria. It is sad the authorities have low consideration for posterity, not surprising if

we ponder how they treat Nigerians.

Huge debts would be burdens on future generations. Nigerians have almost given up hope on ever having piped, potable water in their homes. A house owner digs his own borehole; he is a private water works. The failure of the water corporations to deliver, sustains the “pure water ” industry, now responsible for employment of hundreds of thousands of people nationwide.

People have become used to producing their own water that they have forgotten governments once provided water through the public water works.

Cabals all over the country who do not want water works to provide services, as they would harm their businesses go to great lengths to sabotage water installations.

The present water schemes constitute unnecessary drain on the national treasury, especially as they have not improved water supply. How do we spend all that money and there is no water?

A government investigation of the water schemes could answer the question. Water is too important to be taken lightly.

OPINION

BY CHIKE MOMAH

C

HINUA ACHEBE was a compelling figure, straight out of a biblical saga.

He was also, rather more prosaically, a friend who was so close, he was like a brother. A few hours after his death was blazed around the world, I received a condolence call from a member of our Dallas, TX Igbo community. This friend asked me if I was sure Chinua and I did not share an umbilical cord. Another person, this time a Reverend gentleman, expressed his condolences in rather more risqué language. “Your friendship with Chinua,” he said, “reminds me of the biblical story of David and Jonathan.”

I would be lying through my teeth if I said I was not flattered by the language in which the two condolences were couched. But while I gloried in the way my friendship with Chinua was perceived by these two gentlemen, two things struck me about the manner their perceptions were expressed.

The reference to Chinua and I sharing an umbilical cord will be easily recognised for what it was: a humorous turn of phrase.

But when the clergyman reached for his Bible in search of relational equivalences, he lighted on one of the most emotional passages in Holy Scripture: David lamenting the death of Jonathan, whose love for him, David sang, “was wonderful, passing the love of women!” The love of women? I ask you!

The clergyman’s biblically inspired phraseology also set me thinking in an unusual direction. I thought about it for a long while, and then – eureka! – it hit me.

Tribute to Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe’s story, the saga of his life, is a story of almost biblical proportions.

He rose so far above his humble birth, and above his innate humility – as a human being, a classmate in school, and a friend – that nothing about him seemed ordinary.

And, amazingly, his stratospheric rise to greatness, fame and universal acclaim was, at least, twice predicted: first, in 1943, by his and my primary school Headmaster, Mr. Okongwu, as sagacious an observer of humanity as you are likely to meet; and, about a dozen years later, by Chinua himself, albeit innocently.

Chinua did not prophecy, in so many words, that he would, one day, be a great man.

But, about two years BEFORE he even began to write his epochal novel (THINGS FALL APART; published in 1958), he wrote the following words to a mutual friend: “Yes, there may be many stars in the firmament, but some shine brighter than others.” My memory, at my fairly advanced age, is like a sieve but, as near as I can remember, those were his exact words. I know this because I saw and read the letter he wrote to the friend, and I was involved in the sequence of events that led to that innocent prediction. The mutual friend, I am happy to relate, also achieved considerable success, in his own right, as a novelist. Glory be!

Headmaster Okongwu’s prophecy was couched in more straightforward and

unambiguous language. In 1943, as I was sweating over my preparations for the entrance examination to Government College, Umuahia (G.C.U. – a boys’ high school), along came my Headmaster. He regarded me for a moment or two, and then uttered his immortal words: “If,” he said, “you do well enough in the exam to gain admission to the school, I predict you will there meet a boy called Albert Achebe, and Albert will make the rain that will drench you!!!!!!” (This was a boy he last saw in 1940, when Chinua was ten years old.) In the upshot, I gained admission to GCU. Chinua also did, on a merit scholarship!

This was in January 1944.

T

he rest is history. In the middle of 1944, our first year in high school, Chinua was promoted, with five other boys, to class two.

First drenching! From then till his high school graduation in 1948, he was the best student in his new class. That same year, he won a merit scholarship (one of only six or seven awarded that year) to the University College, Ibadan (U.C.I.). To study MEDICINE!! U.C.I. was then the only institution for tertiary education in the country. He changed courses at the end of his freshman year, and I caught up with him one more time. This was in 1949. We both graduated, Bachelor of Arts, in the same subjects, in 1953. Throughout those four years, our professors and lecturers, again

and again, let us know that Chinua was, not only the best student in the class, but also the best writer of English. He achieved the best result in our degree examination.

Second drenching!!

I need not belabor the point. More drenching followed, fast and furious! Within five years of our graduation, Chinua published Things Fall Apart. Other novels followed, and success followed hard on success. The inevitable consequence followed. Chinua, force majeure, began to shift out of my orbit. He discovered, as his friends did too, that he had been drawn onto a world stage – to all of humanity, and not just to a narrow circle of friends and admirers.

He was, as I have dared to proclaim elsewhere, the best writer of English that I think I have ever read. He is, for me, its most mellifluous exponent. If the reader disagrees with this spectacular claim, I plead that beauty is in the beholder’s eye. I speak for myself and, perhaps, for a continent. There is no writer, living or dead, who has demonstrated, in greater measure than Chinua, the ability to weave a tapestry of words taken from the Queen’s English and from the proverbs and aphorisms of his own mother tongue, Igbo.

He certainly rose above the British colonial quagmire to which our people were condemned for a century and more, to write the language of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Dickens, Stevenson and, yes, even Conrad, with a mastery that takes the breath away. *Mr. Momah wrote Arlington, Texas, USA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013— 19

The support for the French as detailed above makes very clear the EU and U.S distinction between the war against the Islamist Groups and ECOWAS peace-support military deployment

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ALI is one of the Achilles heels of the territorial arrangements of the global interstate order. And Africa is the region where opportunities for redrawing of the global political map is most fecund. Al Qaeda’s search for a regional space for its global anti-secular antiwesternisation Islamist statecraft is a fundamental interest in the politics of the Malian crisis. The Security Council’s decision on December 15, 2012 to authorise the deployment of an African-led military force to help the government of Mali re-conquer the North occupied by Al Qaeda affiliated Islamists and to reestablish constitutional democracy phrases the stakes in Mali in fundamental terms. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the one hand describes the crisis from the Malian perspective.

“The situation in Mali is critical.

Terrorist organisations threaten the way of life of the Malian people and even the existence of

the state”. The United States on the other hand views Mali in global security terms. Then Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton said the United States cannot permit northern Mali to become a safe-haven for Islamist “state predators” that could eventually pose a more direct threat to US interests. Clinton testifying to a Senate Committee on the September 2012 attack on the U.S diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, called the expanding international campaign against Islamist fighters in northern Mali a “response to a very serious ongoing threat. We are in a struggle but it is “a necessary struggle. We cannot permit northern Mali to become a safehaven” Clinton said. Russia while backing the U.N resolution authorising military intervention in Mali noticed that the insurgents that the French are presently fighting are the same fighters that the West armed in the revolt that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. France in January 11, 2013

in response to the Malian Government request for military assistance launched a war whose policy is “total reconquest” of the strategically important but sparsely populated north of Mali.

The Islamist Occupiers of Northern Mali

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hey have links with Al Qaeda and with Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and are tested fighters with Algerian insurgent experience. They are empowered by huge arms secured from stockpile in Libya. They have transformed the northern region with weapons looted from Libya.

The Mulathameen Brigade, whose members were from six different countries, including nationals of Arab and African and non-African countries, that carried out the hostage taking from Algerian gas plant deep in the Sahara have threatened to organise further attacks if there was no halt to western military involvement in northern Mali where French forces are fighting to end control by Islamist groups. We see with the interest of the Mulathameen Brigade in the military campaigns

Celebrating OATUU at 40 (2)

BY OWEI LAKEMFA Continues from pg. 17

F

OLLOWING this resolution, a conference on the unification of the trade union centres was held in Addis Ababa in April 1973. It was at this historic conference, precisely on April 13, 1973, that OATUU was born. But there were many sceptics, particularly in the international trade union centres who believed that Africans are incapable of uniting and that OATUU would collapse within five years. But here we are, 40 years strong, and growing stronger! To be sure, a few international trade union centres which cannot cure themselves of the domination mentality are still at work trying to wreck the unity of African workers. But they under estimate the commitment and resolve of African workers.

Your Excellencies, Our honoured guests, patriotic labour leaders and workers of Africa, Ladies and Gentlemen, permit us at this point to pay tribute to our founding fathers, some of who are here with us, and from who we shall hear words of wisdom. One person who wished to be here, but could not make the journey, is the founding General Secretary, Comrade Dennis Akumu who established the OATUU Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. But like I said, there are others here, like Alhaji Hassan Adebayo Sunmonu who succeded Akumu.

As you know, the latter leadership

,

which included Comrades Demba Diop, Michael Besha and Mohamed Abuseid has handed over the torch to a new generation which includes Arezki Mezhoud, Ibrahim Abrar Ibrahim, Emmanuel Nzunda and my humble self.

This younger generation pledges to build on the quite strong foundations of our predecessors, and to hand over a far stronger OATUU to the next generation.

The OATUU Journey Since its establishment 40 years ago, OATUU has: *Contributed to the attainment of independence by a number African countries and the destruction of the Apartheid system in Zimbabawe and South Africa. *Made unquantifiable contributions to the economic development and promotion of human rights and democracy in Africa. This includes the attempt at the second re-enslavement of the continent in the name of structural adjustment and other economic deformities. *Been one of the few Pan-African organisations that have been consistent in promoting Pan-Africanism, fasttracking Africa’s economic integration and struggling for true African agenda in various areas. *Campaigned for continuous unity in African trade unions, and the strengthening the Trade Union Movement in Africa and the world. *Championed the struggle against oppression and the suppression of peoples rights across the world, including those in the Palestine and in

,

Will Nigeria-led ECOWAS be a footnote to the French in Mali?

in Northern Mali, that the intent of the U.N Security Council to deploy an African force with international support is being set aside by the geopolitical interests of the West and Islamist groups who have chosen Mali as their base of insurgency.

The Globalisation of Interest in Mali The French on January 11, 2013 launched a military campaign against Islamist fighters in Mali amidst fears that the vast desert country can become a launchpad for international attacks, in Africa and beyond Africa. The U.S started air-lifting French army personnel and equipment using the U.S Africa Command. Britain and Canada rendered logistical support to the French. Belgium and Denmark volunteer needed support to the French. Great Britain lent France two military aircrafts with promise of more help with transport and surveillance.

Northern Mali has therefore become proxy security theatre for the EU, NATO and the U.S outside of the U.N approved Resolution 2085 (2012).

The support for the French as detailed above makes very clear the EU and U.S distinction between the war against the Islamist Groups and ECOWAS peace-support military deployment. The war would be fought and won by the French with the support of the Malian troops and the Nigerian led ECOWAS forces. Benin, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo and of course Nigeria have pledged troops. Nigerian troops are already on ground in Mali. The Islamist occupation Forces presently control Kidal, Timbuktu, Gao, Niafounke, Lere, Nampala.

The French have retaken Diabaly, Douentza and Kona. The course of the war is dictated by the French policy of “total military

A few international trade union centres which cannot cure themselves of the domination mentality are still at work trying to wreck the unity of African workers; but they underestimate the commitment and resolve of African workers

,

Western Sahara. *Developed African workers capacity through workers education, organising, collective bargaining, occupational health and safety, conflict prevention, resolution and management. *Built the Kwame Nkrumah Africa Labour College in Accra which includes a 122-room fully furnished hostel with split unit air conditioners. For the take off of this human development centre, we appeal to all those who have made promises, and our partners, to build the block of classrooms. *Promoted and defended workers issues and interests at the Africa Union, International Labour Organisation and across the world.

I

t has not been rosy, and not all have been stories of success, but whenever we stumbled, we have always mustered the courage to get up and trudge on. Today, we are fashioning out the African workers post-2015 agenda

reconquest” against a war tried opponent with Al-Qeada network.

It is not going to be veni, vidi, vici (we came, we saw, we conquered joy ride). If it is going to be a war won- will it be won by the French with NATO members support? Or will it be won by the French and the Nigerian Forces with NATO and ECOWAS support? Or will it be a French war legitimated by the UN ECOWAS Forces?

Vanguard World News Thursday, January 24, 2013 captioned War in Mali: U.S, Africa disagree with Ban Ki-moon reports as follows: “The planned 3,300 member African force- known as AFISMAwas not expected to be ready until at least September, but France asked that it be accelerated after Paris launched air strikes and deployed 2,150 ground forces this month to halt a surprise Islamist offensive toward the Mali capital Banako. “The capabilities of the armed groups occupying northern Mali have proven to be strong, as they are better equipped and trained than initially anticpated Feltman told the Council.”

The French policy of “total military reconquest” is the NATO, EU and US policy and not the UN Security Council and ECOWAS policy with the more limited goal of securing the territorial integrity of Mali and restoring constitutional democracy of the people of Mali. It is clear that the EU and US support for French is in keeping with Hilary Clinton’s statement “that the US cannot permit northern Mali to become a safe-haven for Islamist rebels that could eventually pose a more direct threat to US interest”.

If the Great Britain are prepared to give France all that it will take to “reconquer all of Northern Mali and to secure the rest Mali, how is Nigerian ECOWAS Mali Policy to be accommodated or harmonised with the French?

which we hope to wrap up a workshop today and tomorrow, as part of our 40th year activities.

Historical gratitude OATUU expresses deep appreciation to all those who have contributed to its staying power and success in the last 40 years. These include various trade union activists and leaders, institutions like the African Union and ILO, and our various partners, including the All China Federation of Trade Unions, ACFTU, which has in words and deeds shown itself as a true comrade of the African Working people, and which has sent a delegation to rejoice with us at this occasion.

We are also full of gratitude to the governments of Ghana, Sudan, Nigeria and Botswana who in the true spirit of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance, give subvention to the OATUU. We call on other African countries to emulate these quartet by also making subventions to OATUU so as to ensure that our continent’s workforce can play their role in building Africa and defending its interests.

And of course our heartfelt appreciation to Your Excellencies, respected dignitaries, labour leaders from all over Africa gathered here for this anniversary. To our veterans and workers, we say a big thank you. We have begun the journey to the next 40 years, and pledge to remain truthful to the trade unions and working people of Africa.

Concluded *Being text of a speech delivered by Mr. Lakemfa, Secretary General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, OATUU, at the 40th anniversary of OATUU in Addis Ababa.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7 , 2013

*Ken Saro Wiwa

KILLING FOR BANANA:

*Celestine AkpoBari, Coordinator of Social Action

Ogoni in fresh struggle S

OCIAL critic and activist, Ken Saro Wiwa introduced non-violent struggle in his native Ogoniland of Rivers State while fighting against perceived subjugation by the larger Nigerian state, especially the vexing manner oil exploration activities almost rendered Ogoni communities almost desolate. He paid the supreme price for his trouble.

This struggle for self-determination soon attracted global attention and recognition. Not even the unending fractures in the MovementforSurvivaloftheOgoni People, MOSOP, the embodiment of the struggle, has been able to quench the fire of the Ogoni resistance. Added to the challenges created by the stalemated 2011 UNEP report on the state of oil pollution in the area, the struggle has prevented oil giant, Shell, from lifting a pint of oil from Ogoniland ever since.

Penultimate week, however, Ogoni publicised to the world the alleged loss of 12 persons to a different kind of struggle it is currently waging against the RiversStateGovernment.The26-page report titled, “Killing For Banana”, recorded these deaths in a chronicle of perceived hostilities, deprivations and economic setbacks some Ogoni communities have suffered following the seizure of cultivated farmlands in the area by the state government.

The compendium was pub-

lished and presented by the Social Development Integrated Centre, SREAC, also known as Social Action, a civil society group, which has been mentoring the Ogonis in their various struggles with support from the Ford Foundation. Among the deaths recorded were two septuagenarians and one female allegedly killed by security operatives.

Security operatives “Killing For Banana” noted that prior to this emergent struggle, the Rivers State Government had been forcefullygrabbingcommunallands in Ogoni for various agricultural and housing developments which they claim have provided no clear benefits for the local populace. But when, in 2011, the State Government sent surveyors to map out 2000 hectares of land in some Ogoni communities for a planned Banana Plantation development, the people felt it was one land grab too many.

According to the government in a Nigerian Tide newspaper report of August 11, 2011, the land was being acquired for a Mexican agriculture investment firm, Union De Iniciativa S.A. de C.V for the construction a N10 billion banana plantation following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties. The land in question traverses Kokokoro Tai and Ueken Tai in Tai Local Government; Luusue Sogho, Zor Sogho, Barakaani Sogho, Akporo Sogho, Teka Sogho, Nuaga Sogho, Khana 1 and Khana 2 as well as

Luebe and Okwale communities in Khana Local Government Area all in Ogoni.

According to the report, the land was hitherto being cultivated by over 30,000 smallholder farmers who stand displaced by the government acquisition. Members of the communities feared that this displacement would adversely impact local food production and livelihoods in both the short and long term. “Best practice requires that land expropriation for public purposes be preceded by careful and inclusive consultation,

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BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI, PORT HARCOURT

community survive on. When their farmlands are taken, it means suicide for our people.

“While affected communities were still organising their response, government sent surveyors, accompanied by soldiers who allegedly brutalised community people who rushed out to see what was happening in their farms or lands. Some were forced to lie down facing the sun as punishment for not staying away from government land,” the reported stated.

But the State Government, citing a May 15, 2011 letter written by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Paramount of Ruler of Sogho Community, maintains that it followed due process in grabbing the land. In the letter, government intimated the recipient of the project of the coming in of its surveyors “to ascertain actual hectares available”. It also solicited coop-

These farmlands are the only inheritance the widows, orphans and aged in this community survive on; when their farmlands are taken, it means suicide for our people

compensation and resettlement of affected communities. For those losing lands, adequate alternatives ought to be provided to ensure continued farming and other livelihood activities,” the report held. But the affected communities say this due process was never followed. Mene (Chief) Abel Turue, TraditionalHeadofaffectedAkporoSogho community said: “The day government agents came to my own village, I met them at the farm.

I asked, what are you doing here?

They said they were sent to survey our land for Banana Plantation ...

The Chiefs, landowners were not informed and these farmlands are the only inheritance the widows, orphans and aged in this

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eration of the people for the project “which will in no small measure employ a huge number of our teeming unemployed youths gainfully”.The government further felt justified by a provisional approval it received the day after forwarding its introduction letter.

The letter was signed by 12 individuals from Soho and Uekeh pledging the release of the land on behalf of all affected communities.

“Howhumanlyacceptableisthat?

Government writes a letter to grab 2000 hectares of land for banana farming. In less than 24 hours, 12 individuals sign a go-ahead letter to the government without the knowledge of several families who own the lands and 30,000

local farmers whose lives depend on the land,” reacted Celestine AkpoBari, Coordinator of Social Action, during the presentation of the report. “That is a nullity. Even some of these signatories do not own a portion of the land being seized by the government,” he added.

The Federal Ministry of Environment in a reply to the protesting communities’ enquiry also confirmed that it did not receive any notice or application for an Environmental Impact Assessment required of a project of that magnitude before consideration for its execution is made.

Small holder families Over the course of the struggle, the communities supported by the NGO are in court.

Among other prayers, the communitiesareasking theRiversState Government to discontinue the acquisition of the land and “redirect its policies towards supporting the small holder farmers in the communities” and “stop further acquisition of land in Ogoni including propose 10000 hectares in Leuku for a new Rison Palm Project.”

Akpobari noted: “It is no coincidence most of the targeted land bears oil wellheads which are idle due to the pending implementation of the UNEP report. We strongly feel some individuals are underhandedly using government machinery to acquire and claim ownership of these oil well heads bearing land for future explorations.

“The continued resistance to the land grabbing will not go in vain.

We are not monkeys to give 2000 hectares of ancestral land to Mexican farmers for banana plantation. We will not rest in the struggle until justice is done”.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 21

Blame crude theft on security agencies — Akpatason

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

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MEMBER of the House of Representative and immediate past President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Peter Akpatason, has said that security agencies in the country should be held responsible for the increasing theft of the nation’s crude oil, saying no theft of crude will be possible without the connivance of security agencies.

Akpatason, who spoke in Lagos, equally advised against further politicisation of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, warning that it was not in the interest of the nation, and argued that the continued procrastination on the PIB would do nobody any good.

According to him, “Crude oil theft is not possible without the connivance of the security agencies. It is just not possible because petroleum tanker is not a small object. It is large enough for anybody to see from anywhere. Barges are not small and ships are not small, but these are the instruments they use in carting crude away.

There is no how you can tell me that without the backing of security agencies, illegal bunkering can take place. It is not possible. It is under the watch, protection and cover of security agencies that those criminals perpetrate their act.

So, you cannot divorce those

who are giving cover from the act of crude oil theft. If you are protecting those that are stealing, you are equally a thief. That is what is happening in the industry. ” “The solution to it is to call

the security agencies to order.

They have a responsibility to discharge to the Nigerian people. They were given uniforms and arms to protect Nigerian interest, but they are using it to protect criminal

syndicates against the Nigerian people. That is what is happening and that is why crude oil theft is on the increase. In anywhere and in any part of this country, there are forces that can stop crude oil theft or oil theft. We have Nigerian Navy in the waters,

they can stop anybody; we have National Security and Civil Defence and other security agencies, they can protect the pipelines, yet, these things are happening because they did not only refuse to stop it, but are in active connivance.”

On PIB, he said “It is a reality that stares us in the face and people must begin to look at it objectively. I am not in a position to speak for multinationals, I am a Nigerian and I am interested in the oil and gas industry where I spent my active working life and I know exactly what is going on there. There could be gang up in some areas, but on a general, note there is lull of activities in the oil and gas industry. We do not have to allow that to persist for too long,” he stated.

FSD to empower women entrepreneurs From left: Adeola Adetunji, General Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Franchise; Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs & Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Franchise and Ravi Chanrai, CEO, Alkem Nigeria Ltd at the Coca-Cola stakeholders dinner, in Lagos.

Lagos disburses N3.5bn to retirees

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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HE Lagos State govern ment has presented retirement bond worth N3.5 billion to 780 retirees of the state. Also, the state government said, so far, 1.3 2,604 retirees have been 140.25 paid N14.5 billion under 2,418.00 +4.00 the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme.

While presenting the 17.52 -0.08 certificates to the beneficiaries in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fasho104.58 +1.73 la said the retirement 95.89 +1.90 savings account of each recipient in the batch, which is the eight in the CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING series, has already been credited with their acDOLLAR 154.75 155.25 155.75 POUNDS 240.7446 241.5224 242.3003 crued rights.

EURO 202.9856 203.6414 204.2973 The governor stated FRANC 165.8806 166.4166 166.9525 that the new scheme, YEN 1.5781 1.5832 1.5883 since inception has betCFA 0.2896 0.2996 0.3096 tered the lives of retiWAUA 232.367 233.1178 233.8686 RENMINBI 25.1376 25.2193 25.3009 rees, affording them the RIYA 41.2634 41.3967 41.53 peace of mind that KRONA 41.2634 41.3967 41.53 should come with a SDR 233.8118 234.5672 235.3227 fruitful retirement, a reCBN Exchange rate as at 06/05/2013 lief from the past expe-

riences which subjected them to untold hardship.

Fashola, who was represented by the Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, said, “Our experience since we began this new scheme indicates that all our retirees are currently enjoying their lives in retirement without the sad and pitiable experiences of the past where those who retired under the old Pay-AsYou-Go scheme were and are still subjected to a lot of hardship.

“There is a clear difference between the Contributory Pension Scheme and the old Pay-As-You-Go system. In fulfilling our avowed commitment to making the scheme work perfectly well, we ensured that both the 7.5 percent contributions by the state government and the 7.5 percent deductions from employees’ salaries are forwarded to the custodial account of the employees nominated Pension Fund Administrators

(PFAs).”

Fashola added that the issue of transparency was no longer a setback as employees received monthly credit alerts while hard copies of quarterly statement of account are made available.

The governor noted that one of the biggest challenges over the years had been dealing with contingencies.

He said, “For example, what happens if more people than anticipated choose to voluntarily leave the service?

Where does the money come from?

“We have taken measures to address this by financing a monthly pension sinking fund. This is in addition to the statutory five percent contributions that go into the redemption fund account. This additional sinking fund ensures that those who have to cut short their service unexpectedly, through illness or other reasons, will not be short-changed.”

F

OUNDATION for Skills Development (FSD) has announced plans to host its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) seminar for women, designed to equip small business with the necessary business skills.

According to a press release, announcing the seminar scheduled to hold on May 9th, in Lagos, Executive Director, FSD, Mrs. Omowale Ogunrinde, said the purpose of the seminar is to equip small business owners, particularly women, with information to grow their businesses, saying it will help more women connect with available resources in the public and private sectors of the economy.

FSD is partnering with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the United States Embassy, UPS, Field of Skills and Dreams, VTE Academy and other organisations on the seminar.

“MSME seminar has impacted several business owners across the country positively with amazing success stories. The seminars feature successful business owners telling their personal growth stories, life coaches, business training consultants and government agencies offering counselling sessions” she said.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

You need NSE for market information and rules

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

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OR eight weeks running, we have been discussing principles of profitable investment in shares. In the first edition published on Tuesday March 5th, 2013, we stated that notwithstanding the crash of the stock market between 2008 and 2009 and the colossal losses suffered by some investors, investment in shares is still profitable. We said that there are however principles that must be followed to make money in the stock market. The first principle is to buy shares with safe money, and we highlighted the dangers of buying with hot or unsafe money. Secondly, you must buy the shares

the complaints received by Investors Forum indicate that the number one reason most people lose money investing in shares is ignorance. Once you invest your money in what you don’t know, the possibility of losing your money is very strong. To help investors, we commenced a series that focus on organisations playing essential roles in the stock market. The roles they play are so crucial such that it is almost impossible for you as an investor to do without their services, especially if you want to be a profitable investor in shares.

These are stockbrokers, registrars, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Central Securities Clearing System

Once you invest your money in what you don’t know, the possibility of losing your money is very strong

,

of good companies, and we highlighted basic features of a good company. The third principle is that you must be an informed investor. You cannot invest profitably in shares without making deliberate efforts to be informed. Most of

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(CSCS). This edition focuses on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE. Like other exchanges, the NSE basically provides the platform for trading (exchange of shares). It has two basic segments, primary and secondary.

The primary is for new shares issued by companies that want to raise money via public offers.

The secondary is for trading of shares already owned by shareholders. In addition to providing these platforms, it set rules for trading of shares, especially relating to pricing in the secondary segment. For example, one of its rules is that the price of any shares cannot not rise

or fall more that 10 percent on any trading day. It also set rules for companies that want to list their shares or want their shares to be traded on its platf o r m s .

Also like other stock exchanges, the NSE has dealing members. These are firms licensed or registered to trade in shares on its platform. They are called stockbrokers. Their primary re-

Top 10 performing stocks

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

A

MONG the top ten stocks that engaged investors’ interest in the previous week are Chemical and Allied Products Plc (CAP), A G Leventis Plc, Wapic Insurance Plc, ABC Transport, Ikeja Hotel, Dangote Cement, UACN Plc, Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Red Star Express Plc. CAP is listed on the building materials sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and it manufactures paints and coatings; as well as fire extinguishers. It led the pack with highest percentage gain. At the end of transactions last week, the share price went up

by N8.10 or 20.93 percent to

close at N46.80 per share. It opened the week at N38.70.

The movement in the share price points to favourable disposition towards the stock by investors. Already, the stock has gained N239.62 percent between January and May 2013. It began the year at N13.78 and rose to Friday’s closing price. The company evolved from the world-renowned British multinational Imperial Chemical Award Industries Plc, which formalised its Nigerian operations in 1957 under ICI Exports Limited.

AG Leventis gained N0.30 or 20.67 percent capital appreciation to close the week at N1.81 from N1.50. The stock has equally enjoyed high patronage from investors, as it rose

from N0.71 at the beginning of the year to N2.08 before declining to Friday’s figure. By focusing on its core markets such as Power, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, FMCG, Logistics and Real Estate - AGL has become one of the major forces in Nigeria and beyond. For over seven decades, the company has provided West Africa with reliable, innovative and affordable products and services.

The third on the list of top ten gainers – Wapic Insurance Plc - is one of the few insurance companies in Nigeria that have managed to cross the two digit region after falling massively during the 2008/2009 capital market crash. The share price rose by 20.42 per-

cent or N0.19 from N0.93 at the begining of the week to close at N1.12. Wapic started the year at N0.50 and rose to N1.55 before dropping to N1.21 on Friday.

Investors that staked their money in the firm have therefore seen 342 percent returns on their investments so far.

ABC Transport Plc followed with 19.40 per cent capital appreciation or an increase of N0.13 to close at N0.80 from N0.67 at the begining of the week. As the sole road transport firm listed on the NSE, ABC has been able to diversify into other related businesses, including haulage and cargo business. This, according to the Managing Director,

sponsibility is to trade in shares on behalf of buyers and sellers. Of course, they can also buy or sell for themselves.

Presently the NSE has about 242 dealing members. This means that before you deal with any stock broking firm, you need to check with the NSE to ensure the firm is a dealing member of the Exchange; otherwise, you may be dealing with a fake stockbroking f i r m .

Trading in shares happens on the NSE every working day, except for public holidays.

At the end of each trading day, the NSE provides a summary of trading activity for that day. This is called the Daily Summary and among other things, it indicates price of the share of each quoted company at the end of the day. Shares that recorded price gain or loss and the total value of all the shares listed on the Exchange i.e market capitalisation are also provided by the NSE. So, if you want to know what is going on in the stock market, especially with respect to prices, and major company announcements e.g periodic financial statement, which are helpful in gauging health of a company, you must be well acquainted with the NSE, by regularly visiting its websitewww.nse.com.ng

Frank Nneji, has reinforced the company’s financial performance. At the close of trading on Friday, investors bought 1.3 million units of the shares.

Hospitality business, Ikeja Hotel garnered N0.13 or 16.88 percent capital appreciation to close as the fifth top gainer in the week. It has also enjoyed as much patronage as other leading stocks in the week as it opened the year at N0.64 and rose to N1.72 before declining to N0.90 on Friday.

Others are Dangote Cement with N26.15 or 16.46 percentage gains, UACN, which rose 15.50 percent or N8.67. The rest are Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holding and Red Star Express that went up by 14.47 percent, 11.53 percent and 11.11 per cent respectively.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 23

INVESTORS SPEAK

Encounters with stockbrokers and registrars

BY JIMOH WILLIAM & HANNAH ISIBOR

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AVID OSO: Some of the brokers are very fraudulent in their operations and dealings. For instance, few years back when I planned to buy shares for my granddaughter, I gave money to my broker but for several months, he failed to issue me a receipt for the shares. In fact I pressurized him for countless numbers of times, and even at a point threatened him before I was given receipt for the shares of my granddaughter shares.

Not all of them are like that, because the broker that bought shares for my wife and I did not keep us so long before the deal was done and since then, we have been enjoying a smooth relationship.

Also I have a problem with the registrar, the company just went through some reorganisation, but instead of registering the share certificate in our name, they posted it and as a result four members of my family have not been able to get their own. This required me to visit the registrar and they kept on saying they will post it and you will agree with me that there are a lot of share certificates like that missing in transit and, if we had not pressurised them, they would not have take any action.

Another point is that the registrars don’t really care about the plight of shareholders. I discovered this recently when I bought Flower Mills shares from one of the brokers.

Unfortunately for the illiterate

shareholders, they don’t know what to do. They are being cheated here and there because they don’t know their rights. They don’t know what to do to get their rights effected when they find themselves in such a situation.

We have what we call unclaimed dividend warrant in many of the companies. There was even a time at Nigerian Breweries Plc when the unclaimed dividend was over a billion naira.

These are little amounts of money that a lot of people are not claiming and when you meet the registrars, they will tell you that it was because the shareholder changed address and did not inform them.

So, the problem with dividend warrant is between NIPOST and the registrars which is not good enough. Presently, the regulators are bringing a lot of solution to this through the introduction of e-divided, which allows investors receive their dividend through their bank account. This eliminates the need to to present dividend warrant before they can have access to their money. But what about those investors that do not have bank account and are living in the villages? what will be their plights?

CHRIS: My stock broker is having problem with the EFCC and as for the registrar, I can’t go and meet them because I thought I can only get to them through my broker. So I have not been dealing with any of the registrars.

I have reported the predica-

COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATIONS I want my Trade Bank refunded I bought Trade Bank shares on the 8th of august, 2005. They refunded the money when the Bank closed down and up till now mine has not been refunded.

(Anonymous) Investors Forum Contact the registrars of Trade Bank i.e Wema Registrars via Plot 30 Oba Akran Avenue Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 01-7732181, 07028380379.

Email: enquiry@wemaregistrars.com How can I reach officials of Aims Asset & Mgt Please help me provide information on how to reach the officials of AIMS Asset and Management. Since I invested for my son, Ike Lawrence, up

till now, nothing has happened (FR Haico Grace: Lokoja) Investors Forum The company is located at 23 Ajao Road, off Adeniyi Jones street, Ikeja. The phone number is 01-2120049, 2120051, 07029523916, 08095988382.

I need First Bank share certificate I bought shares of First Bank Plc, during their public offer years back. The certificate has been issued to me but since then I have not received any dividend.

Investors Forum Contact First Registrars at Plot 2 Abebe Village Road, Iganmu or call 01-773086, 774309, 270178,2701079

David Oso

Gabriel Iwu

Sholanke Gabriel

Fowowe Micheal

ment to SEC but all they said is that they are looking into the matter. This has been the situation for more than three months now.

I always get my dividend any time the companies declare dividend but there was a time when I needed to sell part of the shares because I wanted to use money for another project but due to none availability of my broker, I could not do so.

able for the shareholders. If there is any development as regarding the market, they normally send dividend yearly. I have never had encounter with a stock broker and I never had any problem with the registrar.

All I am acquainted with is that when you change your address there may be problems with dividend posting and they will misplace your dividend warrant. But I will really advise them to put more effort so that their customers will enjoy them.

SHOLANKE GABRIEL: I have all my shares with First Bank Nigeria Plc because that is where I work, and I think I have all the information avail-

GABRAEL IWU: I am new in the market but looking at the

MARKET INFORMATION

SEC disowns Irving Asset & Management Co. Ltd

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has disowned Irving Asset & Management Co. Ltd. A statement issued by the Commission said, “The general public is hereby informed that Irving Asset & Management Co. Ltd and Mr. Adim Jibunoh are not registered by the Commission to perform any function in the capital market. Any person dealing with them in any capital market related transaction is doing so at his/her own risk.

SEC suspends Vision Trust & Investment Ltd over unauthorised sale of investor’s shares

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HE Securities & Exchange Commission on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, suspended Vision Trust & Investment Limited, a stockbroker, and its sponsored individuals from all capital market activities.

The suspension is as a result of the Operator’s sale of 131, 868 and 44, 400 units of UBA Plc shares belonging to the estate of Animashaun Anjorin without mandate. The Operator was given several opportunities to restore the shares it sold without mandate and upon failure/refusal to restitute the Investor, it was suspended from all capital market activities along with its sponsored individuals.

price of the shares when I bought them compared to what they are today, there has been a lot of difference in value. The value of the shares has dropped and that is the reason why I am going to see my broker now to know what can be done about it.

The relationship I had with my broker and registrar during the short period has been a smooth one. Every time I approach them for any matter based on the trend of the share price, they always encourage me to sustain my shares, saying it is natural for such to happen and that has given me the strength to move ahead.

Like I told you, I am on my way to my stock broker because I think I need some enlightenment due to the fall in the price of some of my shares. I have lost about 30 per cent of what I invested.

But even in the midst of all this, my trust in the broker and registrars will make me remain in the market even as I keep hoping that the shares would yield profit in the future. But the fact remains that to be in the capital market takes a lot of inner strength most especially during this period of market dispensation.

FOWOWE MICHEAL: I have problem with Bagco. The registrar, Flour Mills sends my bonus to Fidico, which is a stock broker who I asked to help me sell some of my shares.

So out of the 6,258 bonuses sent to the broker, they took six hundred and when I saw it, I reported to SEC and they said they didn’t see the letter and unfortunately I didn’t meet the registrar.

But now they said that Fidico has bought back that 6000 bonus shares. I had to phone the registrar back whether the claim is true or not. I am an administrator professionally, I have all my shares certificate at home, if not because of the registrar that gave it to them, they would not have had access to sell my shares.

NOTE You can also share your encounter with stock brokers and registrars through vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS Do you have any challenge with your investment in the stock market or with any company (stockbroker, Registrar Company etc), write to vanguardinvestorsforum @gmail.com OR send text to 08157550673. We will INVESTIGATE AND REPLY

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Nigeria to benefit from AGCO’s $80m investment in Africa — Hargrave that we have seen in a couple of states here in Nigeria, those tractors cannot work properly and they cannot find their spare parts, those tractors will fail and we do not want to see farmers in Nigeria with failed tractors.

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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Background I am Mr. Richard Hargrave, Managing Director, Dizengoff West Africa (Nigeria) Limited.

I first came to Lagos in 1978; from 1978 to 1982 we were managing what was then known as JSK. I left in 1982 and came back in 1986 for Sniff Crime Picture Merger. I left and went to America, went to Japan and return to Nigeria in 1997, since then I have been in Nigeria. So, I have been in Nigeria for quite a while and I am enjoying Nigeria a lot.

About Dizengoff Dizengoff was established in Nigeria, 1958, part of Balton CP Limited, a UK registered multinational conglomerate operating across sub-Saharan Africa. We are proud of our reputation for integrity, professionalism, reliability and innovation, and our ability to offer decades of Global expertise twinned with unsurpassed knowledge of the Nigerian market. The company is focused on two fundamental areas, the public and principle sectors such as, telecommunications and radio communications sectors which is the public sector, while the principle clients faces the oil and gas sector. Then the other half of the company is the Agricultural sector which focuses on integrated solutions, mechanizations, tractors implementations, agrochemical, irrigation products, green housing and a lot of other solutions which are focused to achieve one mission, how to help farmers on sustainable basis to mark the increase yields of food sufficiency and this is our fundamental mission in Nigeria.

That is highly compatible with

Hargrave the transformation agenda initiative and policy of government of Nigeria. How do they solve the issues in production of food requirement of the nation? There is a lot of importation of food in Nigeria, which is why we see it necessary to help the country to achieve its aim.

Issue of importation of fake mechanized agric equipment into Nigerian market It became a pain to us that the said tractors are bearing the trade mark of Massey Ferguson, Massey Ferguson is a trade mark designed by AGCO, the world’s largest manufacturer of tractors. We are the sole

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ANAGING Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Dizengoff (West Africa) Nigeria Limited, Mr. Richard Hargrave, in this interview, revealed that Allis-Gleaner Corporation, AGCO, the world largest manufacturers of tractors, is already in talks with the Federal Government of Nigeria and states in the country to help increase mechanization and improve the number and qualities of agricultural support and service centers.

He also stated that AGCO is considering investing about $80 million sub-Saharan Africa, and that Nigeria will benefit from the investment as the country is number one on the company’s priority.

Excerpts:

structure designed to make sure that the right tractors are brought to Nigeria. The right tractor depends on the country you want to use it for, the soil, area and topography you are trying to use it for.

So, there is a special range of tractors specifically designed for each market in the world that meets the need of that market.

These tractors that were imported were produced in Pakistan under a license granted

by Massey Ferguson, but it is a Massey Ferguson produced tractor. It was produced by an independent company in Pakistan, they were specifically manufactured and to be used in P a k i s t a n .

Nigeria is one of the least mechanized agriculture sector markets in the world. You will not achieve your aim to increase your agricultural produce without the proper tools and equipment in your country

appointed importer, distributor and provider of services for the Massey Ferguson’s tractors in Nigeria. It is our responsibility to bring the right tractors into the country, the right sets to buy, to give the spare parts supports and the autos and services support.

Tractors are like the cars we use, you think of a tractor the way you think about a car, if you don’t service it properly, if you don’t protect it in the field the way you are supposed to with the right parts and properly service it, the tractor will break down on number one call. So, we are holding the

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From the clock ranges, the sole types, to the complete scenario, no parts within that tractor are Massey Ferguson parts.

Massey Ferguson has no control or involvement in the production of that tractor. Those tractors are not suitable in the market outside of Pakistan.

The tractors are solely for Pakistan and such tractors sold in Pakistan must be produced by indigenous manufacturers.

There is a limit for such tractors, because they are produced and used in Pakistan, they are not to be exported out of Pakistan.

These are the kind of tractors

Roles of AGCO manufacturing company and Massey Ferguson in Nigerian mechanized farming AGCO manufactures for Massey Ferguson and it is the world’s largest tractor manufacturers. The number one market today that AGCO is focused on is Nigeria. They are actively talking to the Federal Ministry long time ago on how they can help Nigeria increase mechanization. They are talking about how to help in line with the federal and state government policies on how to remold tractors so that they will be fitting for Nigeria, help us increase the number and qualities of agricultural support and service centers.

We are about to build a new agric center in Abuja and the fundamental will focus on tractors. Few years ahead we are going to have another one in East, Lagos.

How much has been invested in Nigeria When we started we had an investment plan in excess of $2 million. I can’t quote AGCO specifically because I know that countries come with their individual businesses, but I know that AGCO put aside $80million investment in sub-Saharan Africa, which I know that Nigeria is number one priority. We hope that in first lap of investment is expanding the number and quality of agric service centers, and this is in line with federal government policy having more farm mechanization centers. The second stage we hope and strive that one day we are bringing the presence of AGCO to you here, because we hope that one day we will be assembling tractors in Nigeria. I know that it will be a long journey but that can happen, we have to a critical maths on the number of tractors the market will absorb.

Nigeria is one of the least mechanized farming countries in the world, measured in about thousand arable lands less than Chad. Nigeria is one of the least in the world, with less then three tractors per thousand hectares which is why Nigeria imports much food.

Briefs Water processor berates NAFDAC on quality control

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

A

N expert in the water pro cessing industry, Mr. Emeka Ike, has lamented the near absence of regulation by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the agency of government entrusted with the task of regulating the sector, adding that the agency lacks the manpower to carry out the task effectively.

He noted that the Federal Government is not doing enough in monitoring the quality of water produced in the country.

He made this known while speaking to Vanguard in Lagos, on the challenges of the Water Processing Industry as Small and Medium Enterprises, SME. “Because we have a lot of competitors in the industry, some of us produce water that contains iron, which is unhealthy.

They just produce and sell because they just got their licence and started producing because government is not monitoring. Government should do more than issuing NAFDAC number. They should also monitor people after issuing operating licence,” he said.

Firm introduces solar car racing to boost technology devt

I

N a bid to champion inte gration, support and encourage technical and scientific success in the field of engineering, an educational institution, Kings Polytechnic has introduced a Nigeria solar car initiative for institutions of learning in the country.

According to a statement by the firm, the annual event is aimed at promoting solar car racing likewise entrepreneurial investment in alternative energy to auto transport in Nigeria.

A solar car uses sunshine for fuel.The photovoltaic cells of the car collects and converts energy from the sun directly into electricity.Thus making the vehicle completely self sufficient.

Mr fred ijewere the propietor of Kings Polytechnic, stated that the vision of the solar challenge Nigeria is to promote educational excellence and engineering creativity fueled by the spirit of friendly competition and teamwork.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7 2013 — 25

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VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 35

RIVERS PDP CRISIS:

It's political persecution --- Dakuku WHAT is your assessment of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s time as governor of Rivers State?

Impressive and spectacular.

He has done very well in most areas of governance. Very few Nigerians will disagree with me that he is among the top three gold standards of this set of governors. He is outstanding in security, education and health, he has done well in roads and power but above all has come to symbolize transparency and accountability.

So, how come he is surrounded with crisis everywhere at the Governors’ Forum, Rivers PDP and with Mr. President. He is said to be too brash?

I am not aware that he is having any problems with the President of the country. You see, in this country, being honest, bold and courageous could lead you into trouble.

Permit me to take the issues one after the other.

Selfish reasons On Nigeria Governors Forum, there is absolutely no trouble. Certain characters allowed themselves to be used for selfish reasons to destabilize an association that has helped stabilize the polity.

Governor Amaechi’s only crime is that he puts a face to decisions made by his colleagues, very often for the interest of democracy and federalism. Some persons also claim that he is too forthright and I don’t know what crime that is called. However, the biggest unsaid problem is the perception by certain persons in the presidency that Governor Amaechi has ambition to aspire to higher office. The attempt to criminalize ambition, if any, is the root cause of the perceived problem in NGF. The second strand is speaking truth to power as can be seen in Governor Amaechi’s comments on sovereign wealth fund, excess crude account, Rivers-Bayelsa oil well issue,

fuel subsidy, East-West road, Adamawa PDP amongst others.

What of the crisis in Rivers PDP? Is there any crisis in PDP Rivers State? There is absolutely no crisis. What has happened is simple to understand.

A party congress was conducted peacefully in March 2012. Nobody raised issues until December 2012 when the interest of certain elements in the presidency converged with certain elements in Rivers State who are incurably ungrateful and who do not fear God, then some characters in the judiciary gave themselves to be used and a controversial judgment surfaced. An Abuja high court gave judgment in an issue it has no business with. One Felix Obuah who never participated in any of the party congress processes started parading himself as PDP Rivers Chairman. The same Felix Obuah has gone about making inflammatory remarks.

If history teaches any les son, it is that these ones too,

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

*Peterside: There is absolutely no crisis

Are you faulting the judgment of the Abuja high court?

I am not suggesting but the facts are clear. Prof. Itse Sagay the respectable legal luminary said that single judgment delivered by Justice Ishaq Bello has the capacity of derailing our democracy.

He clearly said it has no basis in law and portends danger to our democracy. Prof. Wole Soyinka expressed concern that the debasement and manipulation of the judiciary by

Felix Obuah who never participated in any of the party congress processes started parading himself as PDP Rivers Chairman

will be consigned to the dust bin of history very soon. I have watched how a certain colleague of mine from Rivers State sold his conscience and tried helplessly to defend the indefensible on TV camera to prove that the INEC monitored single PDP congress in Rivers State produced any other person other than Chief G. U. Ake as state Chairman of the party.

All members of PDP in Rivers State know who their leaders are and know who the charlatans are. Rivers people are more intelligent than the ignorance being displayed by the characters parading themselves as officials of PDP in the State. Rivers people know them and know their history.

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politicians as exemplified by the judgment of Justice Ishaq Bello can lead to anarchy. He acknowledged the effort of the current Chief Justice of Nigeria to reform the judiciary but recognized the fact that there are dark areas and that this dark area is responsible for the seeming crisis in Rivers State.

These are voices of reason.

What has happened is an attempt to sacrifice the entire democratic project to get to one man who is perceived to be a political opponent. How do you explain a situation where there is a dispute among two persons who live in Rivers State over an event that occurred in Rivers State yet a resolution was reached by an FCT high court? How do you

explain a situation where the congress in dispute took place in March last year and only became a subject of litigation one year after? What does the law say about the law courts entertaining purely intra party matter? These are questions begging for answers. I am optimistic the Court of Appeal will cure this malaise, restore sanity in the system and save our democracy from self destruction by a few desperate folks. The judgment has done a serious damage to our democracy.

What is your reaction to the suspension of some members of the House of Assembly by the new party executive?

It is laughable. It simply shows the degree of ignorance of the characters parading themselves as party officials in Rivers State. They are displaying ignorance of lack of knowledge of the powers of state party officers. Even if we admit that they can suspend elected officials and by extension party leaders, by our law they do not lose their seats in the legislature.

What is your reaction to the Police action at Obio-Akpor LGA headquarters and the expulsion of the caretaker officials of the council?

The use of brute force outside constitutional intendment is a childish display of poor sense of judgment and flawed articulation of application of federal might. This is clearly another blunder. This action makes it difficult for the presidency to deny that they have no hand in the unfolding dra-

ma in Rivers State. How also do you explain the take over or occupation of a local government secretariat by the police without information or consent of the State governor?

This is clearly the height of lawlessness we are each day moving closer to anarchy. It is unfortunate.

Are these forces responsible for grounding the Governor’s plane too?

No comment. Nigerians now know the truth. Every person who has lived in this country can distinguish between political persecution and doing the right thing.

Courageous governor The public perceives the grounding of Rivers State plane as complimentary to the crisis in Governors Forum and Rivers State PDP. If that is the view of the vigilant public, it shows there is desperation amongst certain persons to bring Rivers State and her courageous Governor down at all costs.

Hon. can you in good conscience exonerate the President from all that is going on in Rivers State?

Every man to his conscience and to his God, President is not exception. I am no exception, Governor Amaechi is no exception. Doyin Okupe, the Special Assistant to the President calls what is going on in Rivers State and around Governor Amaechi politics. He too is left to his conscience and to his God.

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

By Theodore Opara

Majestic Jaguar siblings in the eye of auto journalist R E S I D E N T , Coscharis Motors, Dr. Cosmas Maduka, could not hide his excitement at the Jaguar siblings. At a chance meeting with him at his Awoyaya showroom along Lekki Ajah Road, Lagos, the business mogul opened up on the Jaguar brand.

Opening the rear door of the Jaguar XJ model in the posh showroom, Dr. Maduka asked “Isn’t this majestic? Jaguar knows how to finish luxury sedans and the XJ is a typical example of how creative, Jaguar engineers are.

Although Dr. Maduka admitted that Coscharis has not done enough yet to promote the Jaguar brand to the level it ought to be, he described the brand as very unique and sporty.

The brand according to him, has this aura that stands it out anywhere, and the finishing is very catchy.

While I share Dr. Maduka’s view about the Jaguar siblings, I remembered telling him that the taste of the pudding was in the eating and that I needed to drive the Jaguar to confirm all he was telling me about the brand.

The opportunity came when I got the invitation to test-drive the Jaguar models with other Motoring journalists

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from the Sub-Saharan Africa. The test-drive was in Durban, South Africa. We arrived Oliver Thambo airport, Johannesburg.

Freshened up and rested for few hours at the hotel within the airport before proceeding to Durban where the test-drive was slated. The flight from Johannesburg to Durban was about an hour. But unknown to us the testdrive was to start right from the Durban airport.

As we came out from the airport, the Jaguar models XJ and XF saloon were stearing at us. The test-drive was about to kick off and the journalists paired up in a car. One does not need anyone to tell him that the engineers who crafted these cars knew what they were doing.

They were colourful and very attractive.

As usual, the Jaguar/ Land Rover Driving instructors welcomed us with familiar smiles and handed the keys to us.

They told us that we were travelling over 100 kilometres from the Durban airport to our lodge, the Karkloof Spa, a five star resort with game reserve and other head-turning amenities.

Truly a five star resort, Karkloof Spa was simply an epitome of luxury just like the Jaguar siblings.

With 16 luxuriously appointed villas,

surrounded by trickling streams. From the moment you arrive, wildlife abounds with Rhino and Buffalo grazing lazily as herds of wildebeest, giraffe and nyala roaming freely in a well protected and conserved environ-ment.

With over 3500 hectres of pristine, indigenous terrain, Karkloof spa boasts roving river and crystal clear waterfalls.

Nearly 300 bird species

live in the forest and valley.

The rooms were stylishly decorated and tastefully furnished. We guess, Jaguar deliberately brought us here to compare nature and the Jaguar-made luxury.

I was even told that when the Sultan of Brunelli visited Durban, my own particular villa was his abode. It was majestic.

Back to the Jaguar

models. The long drive from the Durban airport and Karkloof Spa was memorable. Driving a Jaguar model, be it XJ or XF is an excitement you can’t forget in a jiffy.

The power is amazing and the comfort is five star. You wouldn’t like to drop the XJ long wheel version if you drive one.

You would wish the road gets longer. The most exciting aspect of the Jaguar XJ is the comfort

the top of the range offers. The seat pampers you like a child in its mother's arms, especially the massager which works on your lower back. The quietness of the interior too is unprecedented, while intelligent stop/start ignition save your fuel in heavy traffic. The XF is available in 2.0 litre i4 turbocharged, 3.0 V6

Continues on page 37

75% of Porsche produced 60 years ago still on the road —Wagner

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ORE Than sixty years ago after the launch of thefirst model of Porsche vehicles, it has been discovered that over 75 per cent of all Porsche vehicles produced are still plying the road.

Mr. Michael Wagner, Brand Manager, Porsche Centre, Lagos told Vanguard Motoring in Lagos recently that the durability of the models has been one of the key points of the brand.

“As I speak with you, more than 75 per cent of all Porsche vehicles produced are still on the road. The attraction of the brand are reliability, performance, and prestige” he said.

The Brand Manager said that Porsche would continue to introduce more exciting models into the Nigerian market having been accepted into the Nigerian market.

Continues on page 37

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 37

Luxury, innovations interplay at Lagos Motor show B

EYOND the ‘truck war ’, this year ’s Lagos Motor show will showcase the latest innovations in the luxury car segment as major luxury car makers have lined up their latest arrivals for the Lagos Motor show.

Vanguard Motoring investigations revealed that luxury car makers are excited by the venue of this year’s show, the Federal Palace Hotel which is a five star hotel on the Lagos Island.

Already confirmed for the show are Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda, Toyota, Kia, Honda, Jeep, Chevrolet, Ssamgyong and Suzuki.

Most of the automobile franchise holders who spoke to Vanguard Motoring expressed the view that the Federal Palace Hotel venue of the event is the right place to display their products, given the fact that most of their customers reside and work around the area.

“The organisers knew the importance of venue to an event like this and I think that is why they picked a venue like Federal Palace Hotel where quality customers stroll in from time to time.

From all indications, Porsche would use the event to show Nigerians why they are the leader in luxury sports car production. The Lagos Motor show will be Porsche first major show since it started business in Nigeria barely a year ago. Porsche has an array of exciting models such as the 911 Boxer, Cayenne sport utility vehicle, Panamera, etc. But the main attraction from Porsche at this year's show will be the Panamera Platinum

limited edition which entered the Nigerian market few weeks ago.

Panemera personifies luxury and sportiness.

Also expected to draw visitors to the show are the Audi and Volkswagen models. The Audi models such as Q7, Q5, A4, A6 and A8 have been dominating their segments around the world.

Volkswagen models like the Jetta, Passat, Taureg which recently under-went facelight will be the cars to watch out for at the show. The motor show too would provide visitors the opportunity to see the latest innovations from Skoda, a brand that has witnessed serious transformation in the last decade. Skoda models have become world class and compares favourably with even Volkswagen models.

Also Korean model, the Kia and Hyundai models have gradually moved into the luxury car segment. The all new Hyundai Genesis, Azera and a host of Hyundai sibling would prove how the Korean automaker have changed from a budget brand, to worldclass brands But the real surprise at the shows will be the all-new Kia Quoris. Kias luxury car of the millennium. The car is a masterpiece and head-turning. Kia will be showcasing other models like the Optima, Rio, Cerato, Mohave, Sorento, Picanto etc. It is believed that Kia has much to show Nigerians with its array of new products in the last two years.

The Japanese are not left out too. Leading Japanese brands, Toyota and Honda are ready to prove their ranking at the

Lagos Motor show.

Toyota’s latest arrivals, the RAV4, Fortuner, Camry, Avensis and Corolla will be paraded alongside Land Cruiser Estate and Prado, Avanza, Hilux, Hiace, Coaster etc.

For Honda, the all-new CR-V, and Accord will lead the Civic, Pilot, Odyssey to the show.

Honda models in the last decade have transformed to near luxury models.

As usual, it is expected

that Weststar Associates, representatives of Mercedes Benz and Jeep brands in Nigeria will steal the show with their array of models. At the last Abuja Motor show, the German automakers outshone all with its

trendy models. It’s joker this year will be new Eclass which is making waves all over Europe and America. Mercedes line up include its range of Saloon and Sport Utility vehicles like the M-Class, G-Class, E-

Class, B-Class and AClass.

The Jeep brand which was reintroduced over a tttt makingthe year ago is beginning to take its place in the Nigerian market. Jeep models like the Grand Chevroke and Patroit.

Hyundai announces first quarter results

H

YUNDAI Motor Company has announced 2013 firstquarter earning results. Despite various unfavorable internal and external factors, its continued sales growth overseas led to a 6.0 percent increase in sales revenue, compared to the same period last year.

For the first three months of 2013, sales revenue rose 6.0 percent to 21.37 trillion won

(auto: 17.66 trillion / finance and others: 3.70 trillion) from a year earlier, thanks to strong sales outside Korea and the addition of a subsidiary, Hyundai KEFICO. However, operating profit and net profit fell 10.7 percent and 14.9 percent to 1.87 trillion won and 2.88 trillion won (including non-controlling interest), respectively, mainly because of increased costs due to a weaker currency and

increased one-time provisions.

Hyundai sold 1,171,804 units globally (Korea: 153,728 / overseas: 1,018,076) during the first quarter this year, a 9.2 percent increase from a year earlier. While its sales in Korea fell 0.7 percent from the same period a year ago, its overseas sales rose 10.9 percent to 1,018,076 units, offsetting the decline in the domestic market.

75% of Porsche produced 60 years ago still on the road Continues from page 36 “We opened for business barely a year ago and we are doing very well as demand for Porsche models have been on the increase,” he said.

Wagner added that even the after sales and workshop have been well engaged within the period as no less than 30 vehicles are serviced daily at the workshop, at Victoria Island which also serves as the company’s head office.

He explained that in order to take the service to the doorstep of their customers, they are now servicing Porsche cars at the Porsche centre on the Lagos Island.

The brand manager however frowned at the influx of grey models into the country saying they would not do well in the Nigerian environment given the dangers associated with vehicles produced for other regions which

find their way to the Nigerian environment illegally.

“Models from other markets will have problem in the country because of the fuel quality and tropicalisation of the engine which are key to the smooth and effective running of the Porsche brand,” he said.

According to him, Grey import is an issue with every brand. It does not translate to huge

savings to the customer rather it deplete his pocket because the car is running on the wrong fuel without tropicalisation, which damages the car easily.

He suggested that the way forward was to ban Grey import as it the practice in many countries of the world to enable the automobile sector thrive in Nigeria.

Majestic Jaguar siblings Continues from page 36 supercharged and 5.0 litre V8 supercharged with ZF eightspeed automatic transmission.

The XJ model is top of the range offering three engine variants including the 5.0 litre V8 supercharged petrol, 3.0 V6 supercharged petrol and 3.0 litre V6 turbocharged diesel. All

the engines come with eight speed automatic transmission with intelligent stop/starts.

The Jaguar models are quite fast. For instance, the 5.0 litre engine version accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds while it takes the 3.0 litre petrol engine 5.9 seconds to hit the same speed. The top speed is 250 km/h.

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

LAGOS IN THE EYE OF VISITORS:

A Megacity on the brink Lagos, Nigeria, has a Bus Rapid Transit system, is constructing improved rail, beautifying its highways, rebuilding the port and developing the waterfront. Yet it has a reputation for crime and mayhem which seems hard to shake. Just how menacing is it?

Uniformed policemen tried to carjack us in a crowded market in broad daylight. Our driver careened through the winding streets to escape, with the help of the crowd and the traffic around us. Here is our escapade in Africa’s fastestgrowing city.

The Lagosian entrepreneurial spirit is on constant display, as in this liqu

BY JULIA VITULLOMARTIN

,

Lagos is not a kind of backward situation but an announcement of the future,” says Koolhaas, adding that it has a “strange combination of extreme underdevelopment and development

W

E had arrived a bit apprehensively in Nigeria, but were intent on seeing Lagos, a relatively new megacity that is expected to grow to 24 million people and become the world’s third largest city by 2030.

The current population of 15-18 million is already overburdening the existing infrastructure.

Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, however, has faith in the city’s strengths, arguing that Lagos, in all its hyper-kinetic energy, has much in common with what he famously called Delirious New York: “Lagos is not a kind of backward situation but an announcement of the future,” says Koolhaas, adding that it has a “strange combination of extreme underdevelopment and development.”

Certainly Lagos has an overthe-top vitality that can be reminiscent of New York, combined with legendary traffic jams of every type of vehicle (it can easily take 3 hours to cross the length of the city). Yet the traffic congestion provides a major entrepreneurial opportunity, enabling vendors to sell all manner of goods to those stuck.

Fela’s Shrine: As New Yorkers and fans of the recently closed (but soon to be on-tour) Broadway show Fela!, we decided to start our visit to what is probably Africa’s most famous nightclub-The New Afrika Shrine. The story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the musician who pioneered Afro-

,

This street market extends upward into the multi-story apartments buildings in which many units have been converted to shops. beat, can be called wild by any terms. Born in 1938 to Yoruba parents-his father was an Anglican pastor, his mother a women’s rights activist-he combined his bold, innovative music with ongoing defiance of Nigerian governments.

Built by Fela’s oldest son and daughter not far from the original shrine, the New Afrika Shrine is a political as well as music venue.

On February 18, 1977, the government sent some 1,000 soldiers to Fela’s commune, which he called the Kalakuta Republic, where they brutalized and assaulted his followers, and beat him so badly he was left with two broken legs.

They threw his mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, from a second-story window, almost surely precipitating her death.

More trouble and rebellion for Fela followed, including an 18-month prison term.

Over a million people attended his funeral when he died in 1997. Femi Kuti’s Afrobeat

music explores fundamental questions, such as why Africa is so rich in resources while its people remain poor.

After his death the Shrine was resurrected-and is now

Built by Fela’s oldest son and daughter not far from the original shrine, the New Afrika Shrine is a political as well as music venue.

Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 7, 2013

— 39

The segregated traffic lanes of Lagos’s Bus Rapid Transit have eased some of the congestion since first opened in March 2008.

uor store tucked in a corner beneath a highway.

Though a major though form of transportation motorcycles are banned from many roads by the government, which seized 3,0000 last week.

Ominous Crime: Sound as its transport policies are, they won’t be enough to catapult Lagos forward out of poverty

New Yorker called its “fearsome reputation among Westerners and Africans alike” for official shakedowns, swarming touts, armed robbers, con men, and corrupt policemen.

We had read about Lagos State Police shakedowns-and the attempts by the muchrespected governor, Babatunde Fashola, to put a stop to them. But our driver said repeatedly that they were a way of life.

Violent crimes

Street vendors take advantage of slow traffic to sell everything from vegetables to paintings. One offered us a refrigerator. run-by one of his sons, Femi.

It is forbiddingly full of “area boys,” vaguely organized petty criminals and gang members. Lagos journalist Onche Bishop Odeh told us not to worry-that these area boys were “pretty well behaved”but it was hard to tell.

Building Infrastructure Heading east-slowlyon the breathtakingly congested Ikorodu Road, we were impressed with the Bus Rapid Transit system, Africa’s first.

Those buses really move, and almost no cars venture into their lane since the fines are steep. The few that do get out fast. Motorcycle taxis (okada),

on the other hand, zip in and out jauntily, though we never saw them slow a bus down.

Lagos is also served by some 75,000 minibuses (danfo) plus a few mid-buses (molue) and shared taxis (kabu-kabu). But even the best BRT wouldn’t be able to solve the megacity’s huge congestion problems.

Instead, Nigeria is building a light- and high-speed rail network, partly financed by the Chinese government, to connect Lagos with other cities. New rail is a bold move, notes Professor Elliott Sclar of Columbia University: “Metropolitan planning for transit has begun to make a difference in East Africa-look at Nairobi-and may pay off in West Africa.”

Indeed, the US Department of State actually warns about “violent crime committed by individuals and gangs, as well as by some persons wearing police and military uniforms.”

As we were driving sedately through a downtown market, the threat materialized: a brown-uniformed policeman came running toward us, hit the car, and yelled at us to park.

Shouting “thieves and robbers,” our driver kept going, as a second policeman came

from the left and tried to pull open my door. They commandeered two motorcycles, eventually forcing us over behind a traffic jam. But a crowd gathered, impeding them as they tried to flatten our tires.

Suddenly the van driver in front pulled to the side, waving us through. The traffic closed behind us, re-establishing the jam, and the cops were stopped. We escaped.

But wouldn’t the police punish the van driver and the others? we asked. No, said our driver, because too many citizens saw what happened.

Just what did happen? It’s not clear-though every Nigerian we asked said the same thing: our driver was right to run. At best the police would have robbed us of $200 as a cash fine-more if they sensed good pickings. They almost surely would have beaten our driver.

What is one to make of Lagos? Ultimately, Rem Koolhaas is probably correct: it is beyond our grasp and surely beyond our individual control.

unless it tackles crime-and what George Packer in the

Alimosho tops mother, child death rate list •Fashola, Ashafa, others, want reduction

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

MEDICAL expert, Dr. A. Akinola, told Lagos top shots that out of the 100 percent Maternal Deaths in the world, Nigeria constitutes 10 percent and that out of every 100,000 women in Nigeria, every 545 die as a result of pregnancy in a year. He explained that; “In 2010, Lagos state Government carried out a survey on the real cause(s) of maternal death, the result revealed that Alimosho Local Government Area tops the list with a total of 826 deaths followed by Ibeju-Lekki LGA with a total of 758.

The lowest is in Lagos Island LGA with a total of 110. Dr Akinola also said that records reveal that in Nigeria today, about 145 women die on daily basis as a result of pregnancy. In a bid to reduce the frightening number of deaths due to pregnancy in Lagos state, the Ministry of Health recently flagged off an annual sensitization programme on the

reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality at Iberekodo Primary School premises, IbejuLekki. The programme will subsequently hold in the three senatorial districts of the state.

On the roll call at the occasion was the Special guest of honour, wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Dame Abimbola Fashola, Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris and the medical expert, Dr. Rotimi Akinola.

Others include: Abike Dabiri, the host Chairman,Ibeju-Lekki, Kemi Suraka, Tola Kasali, former Lagos State deputy Governor, Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Special Adviser on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina among others.

The programme had over 5,000 people in attendance which included political leaders of Lagos East Senatorial District, traditional leaders, pregnant women, nursing mothers, students, among others.

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

He had cut my breasts up real bad that they had to cut them out totally like I had cancer or something. There was no record of who I was, because he had taken my bag which contained everything I had.

I was able to tell the Nurses about what I could remember and also give them my mum’s phone number. The hospital felt so much pity, they actually treated me for free. Hard to believe right? Anyway I was taken home after weeks at the hospital to recuperate. It was tough. I was blind in one eye, I had one breast and a hideous scar of my face.

Talk about your signage, he did a number on me!

How dumb I was. Sometimes, I wish he had killed me because there are fates worse than death and I guess this is one of them.

He was gone without a trace because even the receipt from the hotel was in my name. So, yes

Bew are: Predat or ound(2) Beware: Predator orss all ar around(2) it is happening and anyone may fall victim.

Dear readers, Please do write and share with us if you or anyone has fallen victim or escaped from the clutches or traps of these Internet predators or fraudsters. From your own experience, how do you think Internet predators can be curtailed? Your contribution might be the saving grace for other unsuspecting Nigerians.

Send your contributions to: thehumanangle93@yahoo.com or P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Kirikiri

Well, not a memory because I look at myself in the mirror everyday Who would want to see a nude picture of a woman with one breast, one eye and a stub .

,

Hi, One of the first things I do most mornings on waking up is to check my mails and other messages, just in case something important or urgent cropped up over the night. So I did on Good Friday and saw a link from a friend on my Blackberry (BBM).

I’m always quick to check all links just to be sure its not related to the job. I wasted no time in checking this one too because it had a little note from my friend attached to it. She expressed concern about the content of the link and stated that something similar had happened to a young girl in their area in Mushin. My jaw dropped as I read the story from the link.

After reading, I shared it with everyone on my list and forwarded the story by e-mail to several other contacts and friends with young female children.

Life as we had it while we were growing up is no longer what it is now. Things have changed. That advancement in technology especially the use of the Internet has turned the world into a global village is no longer news. What is news and worrisome is that we are not prepared for the dangers nor equipped for the challenges that come with these advancements. Predators of all shades abound on the Internet and social networking platforms and they are real in Nigeria. T he pathetic story of Cynthia Osokogu is still fresh on our minds while several will remain undiscovered or unsolved. Yet, it would appear that our young people, especially the girls, are not learning anything. We always think that those who fall victims must have made a mistake somewhere along the line. We are smarter and cannot make similar mistakes. We forget that the perpetrators are also sharpening their skills too and planning new strategies. The story of Chinwe which you are about to read might seem too outrageous but the truth is that

Canal. I’m looking forward to read from you.

My name is Chinwe. I am 26 years old. I never graduated from the university simply because I was stupid and careless.

When he was done, he brought out a small blade and he looked at me for a minute and said, this scar is going to always serve as a reminder for girls like you always trying to be more than you are. For stupid fools like you.

He put the blade to my nipple and cut it off and anytime I think of it, I still feel the pain.

It was like nothing I had ever felt before. He was calm. Like he had done it a million times before. I could feel the warm blood dripping down my mutilated breast as tears of fear and pain ran down my face.

Suddenly, he turned around again, this time all I saw was a flash. I don’t know how I survived it but I woke up in a hospital days after. Well, I was awake but my eyes were swollen shut. It took a couple of days for me to open my one good eye and realized the damage he had done.

He had plucked out my eye and cut my face.

,

he had played me from the start.

I didn’t dare go back to school because I am sure everyone would have heard and I was not going to become a statistic. So, I decided to stay home and mind my business. Besides, what do I need an education for? I’d rather stay home because there is no rising from this.

There is no happy ending to this story. This is the simple ending.

I was a victim if a sexual predator and I let him into my life, period. I take full responsibility for that. I was driven by greed and lack of morals. I allowed myself fall into an abyss.

Saying all this doesn’t change anything. It’s a memory I will have to live with for the rest of my life.

Well, not a memory because I look at myself in the mirror everyday. Who would want to see a nude picture of a woman with one breast, one eye and a stub. I have decided to publish my story because with the rise of social media atrocities being committed, every story can go a long way in saving a life. So, while you read, share and help someone back to the right path.

These internet predators are real!

Concluded

Friends Searching Males

•Adewale, 23, resident in Lagos, needs a good girl, aged 17-23 for a serious relationship.

08168467563, 08097619938 •Mitchel, 24, resident in Lagos, needs a rich and single lady, aged 16 +for a serious relationship.08160716479, 08162727171 •Marcus, 27, needs a fun loving and generous lady, aged 29-45, for a relationship. 08168612051 •Prince, 20, resident in Delta State, needs a rich lady aged 27-37, who can take care of his needs.

08132919197 •John, 33, handsome, romantic and resident in Enugu, needs a wife material. 07036430149 •Max, 32, handsome, financially ok and resident in Kaduna, needs a busty and fair complexioned lady, aged 18-25, for a relationship.08098550786 •Prince, 40, responsible, loving, caring, understanding and God fearing, needs a virtuous Christian lady, aged 25-35, who is intelligent, God fear-

ing, caring, understanding, tall, beautiful, fair complexioned and employed graduate, for a wife.

08188753880,07063643479 •A guy, 29, needs a bold and beautiful lady, aged 20-30, for a serious relationship that will lead to •Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08026651636. Cheers!

Giving up on love

BY ONOZURE DANIA

A

re you starting to feel like real love is just not going to “happen for you?” That you are not meant to have the kind of relationship other women seem to enjoy effortlessly? If you have ever, for once felt this way, you feel hurt and hopeless that you will never experience the love you crave and deserve.

You have been disappointed again and again, and you don’t know if you have the strength to keep trying.

Maybe you have had too many bad dates, so you are taking yourself off the market entirely. Or you have stopped trying to “talk things through” in your relationship and have resigned yourself to be without pleasure and affection. Why bother trying when it never works out anyway?

When we have been disappointed by love and relationships, it seems impossible to believe that everything will work out.

But it is this belief itself that actually prevents us from getting what we want and what is right. We are, and do, what we believe. Your negative, internal beliefs come across to a man as defensiveness, controlling coldness, neediness, or “drama.” They eat away at your confidence, your self-esteem, so that you become either closed off or desperate.

Every man feels “lackluster” or worse, you believe that no man will stick around, so you cling desperately to any crumb of affection and attention you get. This is exactly what happened to a friend before she met and married her husband. She went through one dead-end relationship after another and her self-esteem sunk somewhere below floor level. She did a lot of therapy and “self-help” but nothing worked because she was not changing her core beliefs about who she was and how she felt about herself.

Deep down, she did not

believe she deserved the kind of love she wanted.

So she allowed men to walk all over her and with every heartache she proved to herself that she was really unlovable and incapable of a real relationship.

Is it possible, that you too without even being aware of it are actually pushing a man away and allowing your internal beliefs to become self-fulfilling prophecies? Like you, she wondered why there were no good men around. She wondered why she could not be comfortable around a man. She walked around pretending everything was okay. But it was not. That was when she decided she needed to do something to turn things around and she did it.

Do you know how it feels like to almost give up on love? That was the question a friend of mine asked me recently before she narrated her story to me on how she perceived love.

Here is the story she shared with me. She said there was a time in her life when she thought she would never find a good man who would love her unconditionally and completely, whom she will also love in return.

Every time she met an interesting or attractive new man, she would feel hopeful that this would finally be it. But then, he would tell her that she was only really “a friend” to him or he would start flirting with another woman, or he would start to be less and less affectionate until one day he would just walk out of her life. She said that she knows that her bad experiences in love weren’t making things any easier for her, as she was probably settling for a lot of bad behavior from men because she so much wanted to be loved, get married and have a family of her own.

And by accepting the bad behavior and over functioning and treating the man as if he mattered more than her feelings, she wasn’t very attractive to the men she was dating.

In hindsight “

marriage. 08033443347, 08021055310 •Charles needs a lady for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage. 08038182305 •Paul, 21, decent, humble, energetic and resident in Lagos, needs a lady, for a relationship.

08104224385 •Seal, 30, resident in Abuja, needs a lady, aged 35-60, for a relationship.08163243011 •Paul, 28, 6ft tall, handsome, businessman, resident in Lagos, needs a nice looking lady, aged 2628, for a relationship. 08081159176 •Francis, 29, handsome, sexy, from Delta State, needs a lady, aged 20-39, for a serious relationship. 0813930061 •Michael, 24, a student, resident in Owerri, needs a pretty lady, aged 18-23, for serious relationship.

08030934413 •Magnus, 58, a widower, resident in Edo State, needs a lady 40 +, from any tribe, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.08184072451

Vanguard Vanguard,,

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

— 41

YOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 SAGITTARIUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both your personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be family minded.

CAPRICORN: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life more seriously.

AQUARIUS: Although you will need to be as secretive as you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious.

PISCES: People who more influential than you will be willing to support your cause but you will need to make the necessary move. The more self assertive you are the better.

ARIES: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you good opportunities along your career/business lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters of powerful ones.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

F

OR those that know me intimately well, they can identify me with my principles of “anything is possible”. Yes! there is nothing impossible. Even

Do it any way when everybody around me believes otherwise, I do not allow it to weigh me down. Look around you and tell me which notable human achievement has ever

seemed possible in the eyes of cynics? Did the whole Nigerians not say Super Eagles of Nigeria can’t win the 29th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye”

All you need is to believe in yourself.

Have faith in God. Get started. Get along.

Anyway, anyhow keep on going and the Almighty God will perfect your effort.

Do it anyway, today!

By Lanre Kehinde

TAURUS: Think of the best way to improve on your working pattern in order to enhance your career prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will work out fine for you. Be more loving.

GEMINI: Success is boldly printed on your cards today.

Think of both immediate and far future while you are savouring goodies offered you but mother nature.

CANCER: You should not have it tough while trying to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice from some of your friends who are creatively gifted.

LEO: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll earn success and consolidate on your recent progress.

VIRGO: As mercury prepares to go on backward motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. Watch carefully what you agree to do.

LIBRA: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to give you the needed co-operation both at home and within your working arena. This is a good day for lovers.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

SCORPIO: Those of you who are more enterprising will have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative you. Don’t neglect love.

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

What does future have for me Dear Joshua, I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know how the planets lined up when I was born.

And which day of the week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my success come?

Tunde, Lagos.

Dear Tunde, You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. You’ll succeeded earlier than you think.

Your Horoscope Data DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PISCES MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and fulfilment.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 43

Edo Petroleum Task Force advocates stringent laws against oil theft

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—EDO State Petroleum and Gas Monitoring Task Force has called on the federal and state governments to put in place stringent measures against crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals with a view to checking the excesses of perpetrators, who are killing the petroleum industry.

Executive Director of the Task Force, Mr. Chris Okaeben, made the call in Benin City, when he paraded a trailer load of crude oil intercepted by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

He lamented that despite the state government’s efforts in checking pipeline vandalism, “some disgruntled elements" were still frustrating them. “It is very unfortunate that in a country and in a state where we are committed to absolute discipline and rule of law, strict obedience and compliance to rules and regulations guiding the petroleum industry, some miscreants and criminals still indulge in vandalising petroleum pipelines.”

Omoniye remains Patani PDP Chair—Ekiyor

BY EMMA AMAIZE

W

ARRI—CHAIRMAN, Transition Committee, Patani Local Government Area, Delta State, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, yesterday, dismissed the claim, last week, by a faction of the party, that the party’s chairman, in the council, Mr. Godbless Omoniye, had been expelled for alleged misconduct.

Speaking to Vanguard, he said: “There is no crisis in Patani PDP. The claim by some persons that our chairman, Omoniye had been expelled is unfounded. The last time I checked, he is the chairman of the party and nobody has removed him from office.”

Jonathan urges greater cooperation among Africa’s big economies

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

Y

ENAGOA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has called on African countries to close rank and formulate policies that will attract critical investments to the continent.

This, he said, will bolster the economies of the individual countries in the continent and promote stronger sociopolitical ties among African countries.

President Jonathan, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, at the formal opening of the African regional office of Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation, BDIC, in Johannesburg, South Africa, commended the decision of Bayelsa State Government to establish BDIC, noting that it will attract a lot of good things to the state and the country as a whole.

The President, represented by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, however, urged the Bayelsa State governor to put performance indicators in place to regularly moni-

tor and measure the level of success as well as justify the establishment of the African regional office in Johannesburg.

President Jonathan explained that the transformation agenda of the Federal Government has already initiated programmes to diversify the economy of the country and create jobs for its

teeming youths.

He said: “Apart from the nation’s film industry, which had created so many job opportunities for the youths, because of its growing status as the third largest of its kind in the world, government is making investments in critical areas of the economy, such as agriculture, housing as well as developing the

VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION: Mr. Osarodion Ogie, Edo State Commissioner for Works (left) and Mr. Omoruyi Omonuwa (SAN), during a valedictory court session in honour of Justice G. O. Shoremi, at the Court of Appeal, Benin City. Photo: Barnabas Uzosike.

SURE-P: Uduaghan releases N1.6bn to LGAs

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has approved the release of over N1.6 billion to the 25 local government areas in the state for the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, at the grassroots.

State Commissioner, Direc-

torate of Local Government Affaris, Mr. Newworld Safugha, in Asaba, weekend, made the disclosure and urged the local government chairmen “to judiciously execute the projects and programmes in their councils for the benefit of the people at the grassroots in line with the approved proposal.”

Safugha emphasised that “the funds were for the

months of May 2012 to January 2013, totalling N1,693 billion.”

The breakdown shows that Ughelli North Local Government Area got the largest chunk of the release – N90.383 million, followed by Warri South Local Government Area with N85.568 million, while Patani Local Government Area got the least share of N54.098 million.

Orphanage proprietor denies receiving N900,000 for child's adoption

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—THE proprietor of an orphanage home in Benin, Edo State, My Mummy Orphanage, Rev. Osayi Lato, has denied receiving the sum of N900,000 in exchange for a two-month-old baby girl, from an American based in Nigeria.

Rev Lato, in a statement in Benin, said: “The truth of the matter is that I never received any money from anybody in exchange for a baby. The allegation is false, unfounded, baseless and without any iota of truth.

solid mineral sector of the economy, among others.”

Also, speaking, South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma, represented by the country’s Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize, expressed satisfaction with the existing political and economic ties between South Africa and Nigeria, noting the two countries have the potential to provide economic leadership for Africa.

I am fully aware and abreast with the Child Rights Law and Adoption Procedure.”

Lamenting that her orphanage home was closed down by the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs without proper investigation, while she was arrested by officers of the Department of State Security, DSS, detained and later released, she said that the officials of the state government distributed the children to other orphanage homes without recourse to their health condition and management.

She said: “I have never run foul of the law since I began the operation of My Mummy Or-

phanage. We do not sell babies in this orphanage as it is against the Child Rights Law and Orphjanage Policy. It is the Ministry of Women Affairs that is vested with the powers to formalise the process of adoption.”

Narrating the genesis of her problem, Mrs. Lato said “A few weeks ago, a lady named Becky was introduced to me by her relative, who is based in the United States of America requesting for a baby to be adopted.”

She explained to them the procedure for child adoption in the state and that adoption was free.

Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award opens

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

T

HE Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS, has announced the Mohammed Lawal Uwais Public Service Award, being organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA. The Screening Committee, in a statement by Mr. Abdullahi Habiba, said nominations which will close on June 20, should be submitted in 10 copies. Nominees must be from government ministries, departments, agencies, the military, paramilitary and deserving members of the public.

To qualify to apply, a “mominee must have worked in the public service for not less than five years; must have made considerable impact in his or her area of service whether locally or internationally; must in the course of their service to the nation have demonstrated faithfulness, loyalty and integrity; must have unblemished record of service; must have made positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress and well being of the nation, among others."

44—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Oshiomhole assures recalled Edo teachers on 4-month salary

Deltans tasked on 2015 guber

U

GHELLI—SECRETARY of Delta Progressive Movement, OPM, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, has urged Deltans to vote for a detribalised candidate from Delta north as the governor of the state come 2015.

Egbo told newsmen at a meeting of the group in his Ughelli residence that the group had resolved to work with an acceptable candidate from the Delta North, who would promote the interest of other ethnic groups in the state alongside the Anioma.

He said: “I want to enjoin the people of Delta State to work towards supporting a candidate that will build on the legacy of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan."

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has promised to pay four months salary out of six months to the recalled Education Inspectors, principals and teachers, who were sacked six months ago, for dereliction of duty.

The sacked teachers were recalled by the governor in his May Day rally speech in Benin. They resumed yesterday, saying they had learnt their lessons the hard way and pledged to be more diligent in their duty.

The recalled teachers and education inspectors, totalling 60, at a meeting with the governor in Benin, weekend, thanked Oshiomhole for giving them a second chance after staying at home for six months without pay.

Speaking on behalf of the CIE and ZIE, Mr. Steven Omoruyi , who said they were now ready for better service delivery, thanked the governor for his magnanimity.

On behalf of the principals and teachers, Sir Felix Igie, said they had learnt their lesson, adding “we are now better principals and the lesson is enough for others.”

POFON meets

B

ENIN—PL ANTATION Owners Forum of Nigeria, POFON, will hold its emergency meeting today at Obaretin Estate, Preco Plc in Edo State.

In a release by POFON’s Executive Secretary, Fatai Afolabi, the meeting will discuss the rising importation of crude palm oil and review its effects on their operations and prospects.

Pastor Sunny Okakah, who spoke for the Local Government Education Authority and Secretaries said it was only a fool that will allow affliction a sec-

B

ENIN—EDO State Committee on the implementation Subsidy Investment Programme, SURE-P, has so far disbursed the sum of N30 million to no fewer than 3,000 beneficiaries, mostly youths, widows and the disabled.

Also, 2000 beneficiaries are to be recruited before the end of

September this year, with a view to bringing to 5,000, people that are expected to benefit from the programme annually.

Chairman and State Coordinator of SURE-P, Mr. Lucky Imansuen, told Vanguard: “At N10,000 per person, we have given out N30 million to our first set of beneficiaries.

"With 5,000 beneficiaries an-

N

ATIONAL Movement for Justice and Peace has called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to take the path of honour and cancel the just-concluded local government elections in the state or invite political instability.

The movement, in a statement in Benin, yesterday, by its National Secretary, Mr. Okharedia Ihimekpen, described the elections as a mockery of the democratic process.

He said: “Oshiomhole would not have been elected governor had the process been so bastardised, rigged and manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. “The election was a sham.

We all saw it.”

Condemning Oshiomhole campaign of calumny against the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike

nually, that would be N50 million. I am not talking about administrative cost.”

He explained that beneficiaries were paid through the United Bank for Africa, in collaboration with National Directorate of Employment, NDE, saying that no individual, including himself, has access to money meant for the implementation of SURE-P.

Onolememen and other Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders in the state, Ihimekpen said: “Everybody in Edo State knows that

Onolememen does not need to be in Edo State to win overwhelmingly in his Edo Central Senatorial District any day any time."

African Church Primate appeals to Boko Haram

P

RIMATE of the African Church, His Grace, Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, has appealed to members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue with the Federal Government.

He said that the statistical update on the attacks by the group revealed a ‘recurring cancerous ailment’ bent on strangulating the country.

Udofia spoke during the 112th General Conference of the church at Ifako, Lagos State.

The three-day annual event had in attendance Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Religious Matters, Dr. Ibrahimoh Akitoye; the Lay President of the church, Evangelist Olubukunola Okunowo; Chairman, Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area, Toba Oke; bishops of the church, among other dignitaries.

Commending the Federal Government for constituting

a 26-man committee to fashion out a peace deal with the sect, he implored the warring members to reciprocate the gesture and lay down their arms.

The cleric said: “I urge Boko Haram to come into the open, declare their identity and mission to enable government bring them to the roundtable for discussion.”

He urged Christians to pray without ceasing, that God might unmask the identities of the Boko Haram members and grant them the grace for repentance.

Udofia added that "the frequent cases of kidnapping in the country have become a ‘terribly bad wound that keeps festering. No one is safe. No area is free of this dastardly act.

“Should we allow it to become a trade where money is extorted at the slightest opportunity?”

He also urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate the nation’s refineries and desist from importation of petroleum products into the country.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

ity education.

He said: “Thank you for taking time out to come and say all you have said and for appreciating what we have done."

... urged to dissolve Edo council polls

Edo SURE-P disburses N30m to 3,000 beneficiaries

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

ond time.

Oshiomhole said the decision to sack them was a difficult one, but that the least he owed the Edo child was qual-

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

On mobile number portability

I

think it makes sense because you don’t have to go to any telecoms company’s office to do any form of registration or for SIM card swap. With portability, for instance, you can swap networks in the comfort of your home.— Miss Precious Eromosele, Student.

I

T is easier for one to move about with many networks with just one phone. Better than carrying multiple phones and different lines. I just hope Nigerian Communications Commission will make it work to favour every Nigerian.— Mr. Samson Robinson, Engineer.

I

think it is good because the fluctuating services of network providers had left customers having to go about with many phones and different networks.

Although I am yet to port, I still would remain optimistic about its workability.— Mr. Chimeruo Okoji, Sailor.

H

ONESTLY, with the rate of pickpocketing in this country, porting is the best. With it, I doubt if I will need to carry more than one phone since I can easily switch from one network to other network with one SIM card.— Mr. Stanley ChiefRocker, Communicator.

I

feel it is a good idea.

If I am not satisfied with my current network provider, then I can change to another. At least, consumers are being given varieties and not restricted to their current network provider even when it is faulty. It is democratic.— Mrs Uti Theodora, Lawyer.

I

think it is the best thing for GSM users.

One will not undergo the stress of registering another SIM card, when you want to stop using the former network.

But I think it could lead to jam-parking of a network if everybody ports there.— Ms. Akinyokun Comfort, NYSC Member.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7 2013 — 45

46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Anambra 2014: Arthur Eze endorses Ifeanyi Ubah for gov

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA — MULTI-MIL LIONAIRE businessman and philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze, has thrown his weight behind an oil magnet, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, in the lat-

IMSG warns workers against going on strike

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI — IMO State government has warned civil servants in the state against going on strike and threatened to consider those who respond to labour movement’s directive to down tool as having voluntarily retired from service.

This came as the government also suspended the activities of the State’s Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, with immediate effect.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Nkechi Onumajulu, who read the riot act in a five paragraph statement, was reacting to the planned indefinite industrial action called by the Joint Negotiating Council.

“Any public servant(s), who absents himself or herself from work on grounds of this purported strike, would be deemed to (have) voluntarily retired and government will not hesitate in computing his or her retirement benefits,” Mrs. Onumajulu stated.

She also warned Imo workers that the Public Service Negotiating Council had been suspended for some unwholesome activities, including embezzlement.

ter’s quest to become the next governor of Anambra State.

Ubah, the embattled chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Ltd, is campaigning to succeed Governor Peter Obi in March next year on the platform of the troubled All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Though Eze is a card–carrying member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he said his decision to give his blessings to Ubah was because he saw him as the most reliable person to govern Anambra State after Obi.

L

AGOS — NIGERIAN Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, called for the establishment of six standard forensic pathology laboratories across the six geo-political zones as part of efforts to develop that aspect of medicine.

The NMA, whose call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 53rd Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting, tagged “EKO2013”, also urged governments at all levels to improve their commitment to forensic

person the state needed to be in charge.

He said: “Whoever I say that will be governor of this state will be the governor because most of these people you see are not interested in the welfare of the people.”

Governor Peter Obi, who attended the synod, urged Anambra people to pray for the state and for a good person to emerge after him, reminding them that any mistake made during the forthcoming election would be regretted.

Angry mobs set alleged murderer ablaze in Ebonyi

Emmanuel Nwegwe, 40, who allegedly killed his relative, BAKALIKI — AN angry Innocent Onu, 54, with a gun mob, last weekend, burnt at Umunaga village, Uburu, to death an alleged murderer, Ebonyi State over a disagreement relating to a wedding reception venue.

It was gathered that when the suspect, Emmanuel Nwegwe, shot his relative in their family compound, he ran into a nearby forest in the area for safety; but the angry youths who mounted close watch on him barely eight days after the incident, allegedly apprehen- ded and set him ablaze.

In a chat with Vanguard, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo, noted that the youth had no right to take laws into their From left: Herbert Wigwe, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank; Aigboje Aig-Im- hands since the case still under oukhuede, Group Managing Director, and Kunle Ogunba, SAN, Principal Partner, Kunle Ogunba was investigation. & Associates, during Access Bank Chief Executive Officer's Awards, in Lagos

BY PETER OKUTU

A

Three armed robbers docked for stealing N30m

BY ONOZURE DANIA

L

AGOS — THREE alleged fraudsters, Babatunde Olatokunbo, 35; Olasheinde Akinsiku, 40 and Tajudeen Lasisi 40, were, yesterday, arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s court, for

NMA calls for establishment of 6 forensic labs nationwide

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

Eze’s endorsement of Ubah was made during the synod of the Awka Diocese of Anglican Church being hosted by his (Eze’s) community church at Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.

Eze said he had been convinced on Ubah’s genuine intentions for Anambra people and, therefore, there was need to give him necessary support.

He observed that Ubah had consistently used his personal resources to empower many people in the state, including the less privileged ones, adding that such was the kind of

medicine.

NMA President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said: “Though we commend the efforts of Prof.

John Obafunwa-led team of pathologists in the identification of bodies recovered during the unfortunate Dana plane crash last June, doctors are unhappy with the poor support given to the development of forensic pathology in Nigeria.

“We call on government to invest in all areas of forensic pathology, including the establishment of six standard forensic pathology laboratories in the country.”

allegedly stealing N30million belonging to Mrs. Rahab Ashei.

The suspects, who were docked before Magistrate Dan Oni, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

The defendants and others at large, were said to have committed the offence at the Women Development Centre in Agege area of Lagos.

The police prosecutor, Edet

Okoi, told the court that the accused on March 14, 3012, at about 6p.m., while armed with gun and other dangerous weapons, robbed Rahab Ashei of the sum of N30million.

Okoi said the offence committed was contrary to section 5(b) and punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the robbery and fire arms special provisions Act, Cap 398 vol xxii laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended.

However, when the charges were read to them, the three defendants pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery preferred against them.

Their plea was not taken as Magistrate Oni ordered that they be remanded in prison custody, pending the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP. She further adjourned the case to June 16, 2013.

NAPS threatens nationwide protests

BY HANNAH ISIBOR

L

AGOS — THE National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, has threatened to mobilise students for protests in campuses nationwide within the next two weeks should the Federal Government fail to resolve its differences with striking lecturers.

Polytechnic lecturers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP, are currently on strike to compel government to

implement agreements it had with their union.

NAP National President, Fawale Oluwole Jacob, who issued the threat in a statement, also appealed to ASUP not to be too severe in its demands on government, even as he urged the Federal Government to address the lecturers’ demands.

According to him, “If the strike is not called off within two weeks, they will have to mobilise for peaceful mass rallies and campus protests to demand for urgent attention.

“We call on all Nigerian students to participate actively in this movement to rescue our future. The emphasis is on peaceful protests and rallies while refusing to be intimidated.

“While we are yet to understand why we suffer in the midst of plenty considering the fact that Nigeria is among the top ten producers of crude oil in the world, we cannot further accept the inability of our lazy leaders to think outside the box and realise that ‘’education is power."

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—47

AWARD—From left: Chairman, Lagos Chapter Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers, NIME, Dr. Jibril Adeyemo; Receipient of Award for Excellence, Vice President, Primes Sources Ltd, Mr. Johnson Ebere Duru; and National Chairman, NIME, BOOK PRESENTATION—Former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi Mr. Ayo Fanimokun, at the 2013 induction and award of Nige(left) presenting a book to Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (2nd right) rian Institute of Mechanical Engineers in Lagos. while the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (right) and author of the book, Dr. Uthman Kankawi (2nd left) watch at the State Banquet Hall, Ilorin.

SYMPOSIUM—From left: Product Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa, Mr Peter Adegor; Lecturer/Researcher, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Dr Oladapo Okareh; Research fellow, Medical Entomologist, Dr Patricia Nkem Okorie; Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Professor Olusegun Ademowo; and Corporate Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa, Mr Rajesh Agnihotri during a symposium to mark World Malaria day at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

UNVEILING—From left: Mr Joseph Dada, Executive Director, Corporate Services, UACN Plc; Mrs Omolara Elemide, Managing Director, CAP Plc; Mr Odebunmi Tokunbo, Managing Director, WOW Road Show; and Mr Dominic Oladejo, Marketing Manager, Cap Plc, at the unveiling of Dulux Mobile campaign in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

MEMORIAL—From left: Ms Moji Akintunde, Mr. Akintola Akintunde, past president, Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce; Mrs. Tayo Adeneye, Mrs. Fadeke Ogunlana and Mr. Yomi Adeneye at the memorial banquet for Akintunde's father.

MARKET ACCESS—From left: Head, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Bidemi Ladipo; Deputy Director, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, Mr. Monday Ewans; and Head, Regional Sales, South-South/South-East, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enekwachi Aja at the 2013 Etisalat-sponsored market access at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar.

DANCE—From left: Innocent Oboh, Head of Marketing, Intercontinental Distillers; Akin Adeoya, Chairman, Prince of Anthony Hotel; and Chioma Alonge, Brand Manager, Veleta Fruit Wine at the Salsa Sunday Dance in Lagos.

CONFAB—From left: Chief Operating Officer, La Casera Company Plc; Dileeban Ponniah; Group Technical Director, Jotna, Sanjeev Chhetri; Co-winner of N7Million Grand Prize; Chief Collins Ezenwa; Director, La Casera Company Plc, Mr Bankole Animashaun and Managing Director, Jotna, Sushil Ramchandani at the 2013 La Casera conference in Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau.

COURSE—From left: Representative of Minister of Communications and Registrar/CEO, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, CPN, Mr. Sikiru Shehu; President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association, NIRA, Mrs. Mary Nduma; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. Adeola Odeyemi; and Director, Strategic and Partnership, Africa Top Level Domains, AFTLD, Mr. Eric Akumiah, during a course at the Golden Tulip Hotel Festac Lagos.

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Kwara govs wants council of Ulamas

Bauchi SUBEB completes 3,000 classrooms in 20 LGs

I

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has completed the construction of over 3000 classroom blocks in its 20 local government areas in a bid to improve the education sector in the state.

A member of the board, Alhaji Mohammed Isa made this known, yesterday, when he spoke with newsmen on the activities of SUBEB in the state.

He said, “before the end of the year, the board will build additional 300 classrooms and recruit 5000 qualified teachers as part of its efforts to commence the new system of one teacher to 40 pupils in a class room. ‘’This is part of state government’s commitment to provide quality education in primary schools.

"SUBEB has provided text books worth N2.2 billion, built toilets and provided portable water and furniture in all primary schools in the state.”

Sabon-Birni LG spends N165m on infrastructure

S

OKOTO—SABONBirni Local Government Council of Sokoto State has spent about N165 million on the provision of basic infrastructure in the last one year, the Chairman, Alhaji Idris Gobir, has said.

Gobir told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Sokoto on Sunday that the projects comprised water supply, roads construction, healthcare delivery, culverts, classrooms’ construction and modern farming inputs for farmers, among others.

He said that about N100 million was spent on the construction of 10 primary health centres in each of the 10 wards of the area.

APPRECIATION—From left: The Alakija of ikija, Oba Anthony Kayode Alakija appreciating Prince kehinde Odusote, Baba Ijo of St Michael Anglican church, Owu-Ijebu while Mrs Ola Odusote, wife watches during the church service.

PDP wins LG chairmanship polls in Kogi L

OKOJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has won all the 21 chairmanship positions in the Local Government council elections conducted on Saturday, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.

NAN reports that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, however, snatched 10 councillorship positions in five local government areas.

In the results declared on Sunday, ACN got three councillorship positions in Mopa-Muro, two each in Ibaji and Yagba-East and one each in Kabba-Bunu and Yagba- West.

The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, also clinched four councillor ship

positions in Yagba-West, bringing to 14 the total number of wards won by the opposition parties.

The PDP won the remaining 225 of the 239 wards in the state.

Mr Abraham Olaniran, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC, said the duty of announcing results as compiled and collated was in compliance with Section 21 of Kogi State Local Government Election Law, 2004.

Olaniran said the law provided for Local Government Electoral officers to act as Returning Officers for chairmanship and councillor ship elections and empowered them to announce the re-

sults. He thanked the electoral officers for their efforts and sacrifices to ensure success of the elections.

He commended the security agencies for their “very vital” role in the peaceful conduct of the elections.

Olaniran also commended the observers, monitors, NGOs and all those who were directly and indirectly connected with the successful conduct of the polls.

The 21 returning officers, who announced the results in turns at the KOSIEC headquarters, applauded the peaceful conduct of the election and thanked the chairman of the commission for giving them the opportunity to serve.

Bauchi not ready to conduct LG election — DPP

BY SUZAN EDEH

B

AUCHI—THE Bauchi State chapter of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, has said that the state government was not interested in conducting the local government election in the state, contrary to the impression being created by the authorities over the issue.

State Chairman of DPP, Hajiya Sa’adatu Mahmuda made the allegation while briefing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, press centre. Bauchi, yesterady.

Mahmuda said: “Since the inception of the present administration in 2007, it has conducted local government election once. Since then, it has continued to set up caretaker committees which were usually appointed by the government. The State House Assembly has now reduced the tenure of the council chairmen to two and half years which is equal to promoting undemocratic tendency at the grass- roots.

This is unacceptable. It does not show sincerity or seriousness on the part of government.”

She also alleged that the PDP-led government only appointed members of the state electoral body about six months ago, without even having the courtesy of informing the opposition about the development, meaning that it had no intention to conduct the council polls.

According to her, “since political parties are the major stakeholders in every elections they must be carried along in all the preparations of the electoral body but, they are not sincere; they will continue to keep the people in dark.”

LORIN—GOVER NOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for the institutionalisation of a council of Ulamas to moderate preaching by Islamic clerics.

Ahmed said this was necessary to ensure that such sermons were in accordance with Islamic tenets.

A statement signed by the governor ’s Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Abdulwahab Oba said that Ahmed made the call at the weekend at a public presentation of a book.

Ahmed said that the council should be composed of reputable and knowledgeable Islamic Scholars.

Group canvasses use of new media to tackle corruption ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

AGOS—ENOUGH is Enough Nigeria (EIE), a non-governmental organization, is collaborating with Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) ahead 2015 elections, to sensitize Nigeria youths to effectively engage politicians to tackle corruption, insecurity and lack of transparency.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, EIF, said that the "power of new media as a vehicle for a virtual political revolution with emphasis on social and political processes of governance cannot be overemphasized”.

She said: “New media has made it easier for citizens to make their voices heard and force government officials to respond."

She urged the government to consider how to leverage on the use of information tools to ensure that more Nigerians are aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

This she said this is to ensure that elected and appointed officials are accountable to the people.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 49

50 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Russia, China unhappy over Israeli attack on Syria R

USSIA and China yesterday expressed alarm over the regional repercussions of two Israeli air raids on Syria, while Israel played down strikes which its officials said targeted Iranian missiles bound for Lebanese Hezbollah militants.

This is even as oil prices spiked above $105 a barrel, their highest in nearly a month, on Monday morning as the air strikes on Friday and Sunday prompted fears of a wider spillover of Syria’s two-year-old civil war that could affect Middle East oil exports.

Israel, whose prime minister visited China yesterday in a sign of business-as-usual, sought to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday that the air strikes did not aim to weaken him and dismissed the prospects of an escalation.

“There are no winds of war,” Yair Golan, the general commanding Israeli forces on the Syrian and Lebanese fronts, told reporters while out jogging with troops.

Meanwhile, Testimony from victims of the conflict in Syria suggests

Damage is seen in what appears to be a chicken farm following an air strike near Damascus

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Desire Ouedraogo has said security situation in Mali which brought about the intervention of Africa led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) a few months ago is now under control.

He said this during the opening of the 2013 first ordinary session of the Third Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament yesterday in Abuja, where he added that the critical role played by ECOWAS in Mali has

commission is not in a position to further comment on the allegations at this time,” a statement added.

The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the statement was terse and shows that the UN was taken by surprise at Ms Del Ponte’s remarks.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria was established in August 2011 to examine alleged violations of human rights in the Syrian uprising. It is due to issue its latest report next month.

Ashiru laments high number of Nigerians in foreign prisons

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

N

IGERIA’S Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru has expressed worries over the high number of Nigerians in foreign prisons.

Based on the alarming number of Nigerians who are serving jail terms in different prisons abroad, the Minister, who said the situation has turned out to be one big challenge to the ministry, implored all Nigerians, the media inclusive, to join in the

campaign that would put a stop to the nefarious activities of some Nigerians who go abroad to soil the image of the country.

Ambassador Ashiru believes it is high time the people are made to comprehend the severe consequences of trafficking in drugs. “ It is not enough to say that Nigeria has the challenge of unemployment, so I will carry drugs.

There is no country in this world without the problem of unemployment.

ECOWAS President lauds security in Mali raised its regard among we appeal to all parties

BY VICTORIA OJEME, Abuja

rebels have used the nerve agent, sarin, a leading member of a UN commission of inquiry has said.

Carla Del Ponte told Swiss TV that there were “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof ”.

Ms Del Ponte did not rule out the possibility that government forces might also have used chemical weapons.

Later, the commission stressed that it had “not reached conclusive findings” as to their use by any parties.

“As a result, the

its development partners and further pledged the commitment of the Commission to uphold democratic values among member states in the subregion.

Ouedraogo expressed appreciation to the Republic of Chad and France for their intervention alongside other states that contributed to troops to AFISMA while paying tribute to all troops that lost their lives in the intervention efforts. ”The political and security situation in the region in the last few months has been a source of concern. The situation in Guinea Bissau and Togo ahead of elections is disturbing,

to engage in dialogue for peaceful conduct of the polls,” he said.

The president promised to recommend to the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments (HoSG) the need to enhance the powers of the parliament to empower it to continue to assist in the integration process.

The President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator David Mark commended ECOWAS for living up to expectations in upholding stability and peace in the region especially for being vocal and outspoken against undemocratic practices in the region.

Trafficking in drugs is not the way out, and with what the government is doing on economic empowerment, agriculture is paramount now.”

He also stated that, “ Agriculture is the largest employer of labor in most countries, so even if you stay in your village and you are planting cassava or maize, you are cultivating you would make money from what you are doing,” adding that, “We should educate the people that if they go the route of drug trafficking they will end up in prison.

We are signing an agreement with a number of countries to have these prisoners exchanged, but unfortunately, some of these countries law insist that culprits must serve the jail term in the country where they committed the crime.

What we do in the

interim is to ensure that we visit them in their various prisons to give them some comfort, and succor.” For the fact that the Ministry is so much more interested in the welfare of each and every Nigerian in different

countries of resident broad, it maintained an unwavering swift response to a call made in a situation whereby, the interest of any Nigerian is threatened or harassed.

Ex-Italian PM dies at 94

G

IULIO Andreotti, one of the most prominent political figures of post-war Italy, has died aged 94.

Mr Andreotti who led the Christian Democrat party, which dominated Italian politics for decades was Italian prime minister seven times between 1972 and 1992. He was dogged in later years by allegations of corruption and Mafia links.He died at home in Rome. He was reported to have suffered heart and respiratory problems in

•Giulio Andreotti recent years.

Rome’s Mayor, Gianni Alemanno, called Mr Andreotti “the most representative politician” in recent Italian history.

US accuses Assad of chemical weapon use

T

HE White House says it’s highly likely that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, not the rebel opposition, was behind any chemical weapons use in Syria.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says there is certainly evidence that chemical weapons have been

used. But Carney says the U.S. is highly skeptical of claims that rebels put them in play.

On Sunday, a member of a U.N. panel investigating in Syria said there were indications that rebel forces had used the nerve agent sarin.

Carney says the U.S. is

still looking for conclusive evidence about chemical weapons use. He says there’s no timeline for the investigation.

Secretary of State John Kerry was leaving for Moscow on Monday to discuss the situation in Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—51

BYJUDENJOKU

I

N a bid to ensure transpar ency in the procurement of government-owned projects, the Federal Government signed the Public Procurement Act into law in 2007. The Act established the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP as the regulatory authority responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement, harmonizing the existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria.

Six years into the life of the Bureau, construction experts are still clamouring for a transparent procurement system to stem the high level corruption in the construction industry.

President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, Mr Emeka Eleh in a recent chat with newsmen, called for a transparent procurement system to ensure that Nigerians get a fair worth for the huge amount of money invested on infrastructural projects annually.

Eleh whose professional body last month, brainstormed on infrastructure development and the Nigerian economy, explained that although funding is key to the development of infrastructure in the country, such funds must be judiciously expended

k e e s s t r e t p n x e E spar t n n e a tr urem tem c s o r o p em t f t o s y t s s o c n h o i g i t h struc con

Transparent procurement “What we want to proffer is a transparent procurement system that can ensure that our projects don’t cost far more than they should cost. Every available data indicates that the construction of our road projects costs about the highest in the world. Why would that be? It is because of poor procurement. Our idea is that procurement must be transparent to ensure that Nigerians get a fair worth for the money we spend on infrastructural development,” he said.

Eleh’s views were corroborated by a former Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, NIQS, Lagos chapter, Mr. Jide Oke. To him, the major problem facing the procurement of projects in Nigeria is corruption and lack of transparency in contract awards and execution.

Mr. Oke who stated that the Procurement Act was passed into law to check the anomalies of previous years and enable the relevant professionals to play their roles in procurement, lamented that politics crept in and quan-

tity surveyors who are professional cost managers were left out in the Procurement Board.

The Procurement Act was intended to correct issues of the past so that relevant professionals will take care of things as it is done in other civilized countries.

Unfortunately, politics crept in and Quantity Surveyors who are cost experts, were left out of the Board for Procurement. Assuming it was done inadvertently, why is it taking so long to correct?” he queried.

The former Lagos NIQS chairman who noted that Purchasing and Supply experts were rather appointed to the Procurement Board, insisted that only Quantity Surveyors possess the professional competence to do the costing of projects -buildings, road construction works, oil and gas etc.

Billing system “Something is definitely wrong with our system. The right professionals are not in the right positions hence you can never have a billing system that will be transparent. We have shortchanged ourselves for too long a time and that is why money meant for capital projects have found their way into private projects”.

Proffering further solutions to the dearth of infrastructure in the

country, the NIESV President, Mr. Emeka Eleh called on the government to devise a hybrid PPP platform for infrastructural development since it is evident that government cannot do it alone. “One thing that hampers PPP is not because people cannot bring in money, it is not because foreigners cannot bring in foreign direct investments, Nigeria remains a very wonderful place to invest.

Recently, the Vice President of American Oversea Private Investment Corporation OPIC, visited Nigeria and said that Nigeria remains an investment haven for people to bring in money and invest because the

returns are there. But the challenge we have is inconsistencies in government policies. PPPs cannot operate under a government where policies are inconsistent; where one leader will come and nullify what another leader has done; where you cannot have a 25-year contract and it remains 25 years. So, the issue is that there must be a hybrid funding platform where the government can do the ones they can do and the private sector can do the ones they can do. But the key element is that government policies must be consistent,” he posited.

Buttressing the point further , the NIESV President cited the

issue of Bi-Courtney and the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.

“It is still in court; I don’t know who is right or wrong, but those things don’t encourage, it tends to dampen investors’ interests or confidence. What we are saying is that government must come up with a consistent policy, that is why we have the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC. The policy must be consistent and firm so that if you are given a ten year lease, you will know that you have a ten year lease. Why people are shying away is because they don’t know what would happen tomorrow.

Lokoja, 9 others partner UN-Habitat on City Resilience Profiling Programme

BY JUDE NJOKU

L

OKOJA, the Kogi State capital is one of the ten cities selected by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat for its City Resilience Profiling Programme CRPP. The announcement was made last week in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Working through partnerships with stakeholders including international agencies such as United Nations Office for Disaster Risk reduction UNISDR, academic and research institutes, private sector actors, and non-governmental organisations, NGOs, the CRPP will develop a comprehensive and integrated urban planning and management approach for profiling and monitoring the resilience of any

city, to all plausible hazards.

A release by the global habitat group explained that the tools and guidelines developed under the Programme will be tested and refined in: Balangoda (Sri Lanka), Barcelona (Spain), Beirut (Lebanon), Dagupan (Philippines), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lokoja (Nigeria), Portmore (Jamaica), Concepcion/ Talcahuano (Chile), Tehran (Iran), and Wellington (New Zealand). These cities were selected based on the proposals submitted to UN-Habitat against its call for proposals in November 2012, and represent a good balance of geographical and economic distribution, population size, hazard profiles, and commitment to the resilience agenda.

52—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Abubakar seeks direct govt intervention in housing

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

A

GAINST the backdrop of housing shortfall es timated at over 16 million units, a former military President, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has called on the government to provide affordable shelter to the vulnerable and low-income group.

The government, he said, should directly build decent but affordable homes for lowincome earners who may not be able to build their own houses with the meagre salaries.

The former military ruler who was the special guest of honour at the just concluded 13th Lagos Housing Fair, noted that matters of housing are very important to the citizens of any country and the growth of its economy.

His words: “Although, it has been argued that governments need not be involved in direct construction of housing, while this may be true to some extent, I say it will be necessary for governments to intervene through direct construction of housing for the sake of the low income earners. This is a group of people that cannot meet the market value of houses constructed by developers”. He added that apart from providing opportunity to meet physiological needs, housing depicts people’s culture and style as well as provides the people the much needed security.

“As Africans or Nigerians, owing a personal house sig-

nifies a special status. Such a person can then think of other matters concerning his life.

It is however, unfortunate that not many Nigerians have access to a decent accommodation. The rapid growth rate of the nation’s population, which exacerbates the urbanization trend has worsened the housing situation. While our cities and towns experience quan-

titative housing problems, the scenario in the rural areas is qualitative.

Inspte of these challenges, I still believe we can reduce the gap in quality and quantity of our housing situation. Indeed, we can use the huge population which we have to create wealth for the housing sector.

I have since realized that housing development could

have multiplier effects on many other sectors of the economy. For example, when a land is purchased, a deal is struck, money has exchanged hands. Similarly, when buildings are designed and later constructed, the professionals, as well as the artisans make money,” General Abubakar said.

Academy of Engineering identifies strategies for sustainable devt A

S professional bodies intensify the clamour for sustainable national development, the Nigerian Academy of Engineering has called for a strategy that would transfer technology either by domesticating imported technical-know-how or by moving the outputs of technological endeavours from the National Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation System.

The Academy which is populated by top engineers in the country added that a careful analysis of the outputs and potentials of the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation,SETI system should immediately be launched in Nigeria to hasten sustainable national development.

These were parts of submissions made at the 2013 Annual Public Lec-

ture of the Academy in Lagos last week.The theme of the lecture was “Leveraging the Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation System in Nigeria”.

The Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition & Promotion, NOTAP, Umar Buba Bindir, an engineer who was the guest speaker, called for a deliberate programme to use existing technologies to grow viable middle class entrepreneurs in Nigeria. This would require knowledge workers and technology service providers to modify their operations and impacts through a revolutionary programme that would fundamentally lead to the creation of a minimum 1,000,000 technical and managerial jobs using Nigerian engineering, technologies and technical-know-how, most of which are ef-

BY JUDE NJOKU

A

S part of new strategy to deliver its products to customers with greater ease, Eternit Limited, Nigeria’s leading producer of roofing and ceiling products, has unveiled plans to open two business offices in Abuja and Port-Harcourt.

Managing Director of the company, Mr. Dirk Modderman, said in a press statement on Friday that the decision to open the offices was part of a new resolve to properly help Nigerians to get access to building products of high quality in view of the influx of sub-standard products in Nigeria. The firm, he said has a duty to offer customers access to products of the best quality in Nigeria. According to him, the opening of these business offices would help accomplish that.

“The offices will showcase all product brands on display for them to be appreciated by Architects, Engineers, Estate Developers, decision makers and all stakeholders in the Built environment. Eternit has resolved to make its products more visible in the marketplace so that people can easily identify them and thereby find it easier to avoid subs-standard products that have flooded the market. These offices will be dedicated solely to Eternit products and thereby help customers easily access our products,” Modderman said.

Areas of jurisdiction

•Housing Estate in Lagos

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

Eternit set to open Abuja, Port-Harcourt outlets

forts having direct implications on the outputs of the SETI system.

The strategy here should be on ‘building’ the bridge needed to overcome the ‘valley of death’ for technology.

The NOTAP boss declared: “To build the required critical mass of highly skilled manpower, we must be very innovative and resolve to meaningfully partner with technology service providers particularly those that transfer foreign technology to Nigeria. We must use the platform of implementing all capital projects in industry and at all levels of the public sector to build such technical capacities and capabilities that would include quality engineering workshops, test stations, databases and laboratories”.

Giving reasons for the choice of Abuja and Port-Harcourt, Modderman stated that the cities represent the company’s major markets in its area of jurisdiction in the country.

He advised house owners, property developers and builders to embrace the use of high quality products to roof their buildings. According to the firm, the failure of many people to use good products often lead to the high cost sometimes associated with building maintenance in the country.

He said, “We have discovered over the years that one of the reasons why Nigerians continue to spend a lot of money on maintaining their houses a few years after they are built is due to the poor quality of roofing products they use when the buildings were constructed.”

Modderman urged people building their homes and property developers to ensure that products that can stand the test of time and which are environmentally-friendly are used for roofing and ceiling in Nigeria.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 53

ENVIRONMENT WATCH

•Illustration of Lagos-Badagry Road expansion

Action plan on 1,028km Lagos-Abidjan road begins next month —Onolememen

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

HE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS is to begin action plan on the construction of the 1,028kilometers Lagos-Abidjan road after presenting its report at the African Union summit next month Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Mike

Onolememen who disclosed this at the meeting of Ministers of Road infrastructure, Transport, Finance and Justice from Nigeria Benin, Togo, Ghana and Abidjan in Abuja recently.

He explained that the action plan for the construction of the Lagos enroute Benin, Togo, Ghana to Cote D’Ivoire will be completed within two years of its commencement.

Onolememen encouraged his colleagues to adopt a good, implementable action plan and a concrete report for presentation at the UN meeting in Addis Ababa in May. According to him, the presentation will lead to the actualization of the dream of the regional leaders which will usher in a new era in trade and commerce in the region.

Stakeholders laud Nigerite over new building solutions

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the Nigerian real estate sector have applauded Nigerite over its championship initiative in promoting dry construction as a new innovation in the construction industry in the 21st Century. The professionals who attended a one-day talkshop organized by Nigerite on “Innovative Building Construction in the 21st Century” in Lagos last week were of the opinion that the time is now for the building industry to embrace dry construction as the fastest way to bridge the nation’s building deficit.

Commenting on the outcome of the brain-storming session after the talk-shop, Wole Adebayo, an architect and Managing Director of Wole Adebayo & Associates said, “it is the right time for Nigerians to start thinking about a new innovative way of building”, adding that the forum was the best platform towards housing delivery in Nigeria.

Commending Nigerite, Adebayo said, “I think Nigerite is championing a good course and I will also encourage some building materials producers in Nigeria to start thinking along the same line”. while encouraging professionals in the built environment sector to support the

move.

In his own remarks at the forum, Mr. Lekan Ajayi, a mortgage banker with City Mortgage, Lagos was of the view that Nigerians should embrace the idea of dry construction as this is the new building technology in developed societies.

According to him, “Nigerite is doing a great job by putting the forum on innovative building construction together. We should all support dry construction as an alternative to wet construction. This is what is happening in most developed countries of the world and we should not be left behind”.

Similarly, an academic at the Department of Civil Engineer of the Covenant University, Mr. Ogbiye Adebanji said “Nigerite’s drive to involve all stakeholders into the new innovative way of building with dry construction is the best way to achieve perfect understanding and knowledge by all concerned.

Adebanji who attended the one-day forum with not less than twenty students of the University said the forum was educative, interesting and exciting, pointing out that when the new way of building is eventually embraced, it will create jobs for all the professionals in the building sub-sector.

Speaking earlier, Executive Director,

Marketing, Nigerite, Toyin Gbede, an architect said the forum was a follow-up to the earlier one held this year. He stated that the purpose of the event was to encourage Nigerians into accepting a nonconventional building process that will help in solving the question of efficient and international best practice in modern building construction in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the dry construction method being championed by Nigerite is a better viable option than the present conventional wet construction process.

Gbede observed that the initial forum held January this year was done to sensitize and gather the views of all relevant stakeholders on the new way to go, saying that all agreed at the forum then that dry construction is the ideal construction method to consider in this century, more so with the housing deficit and commercial retail outlets staring us in the face.

However, he disclosed that the second forum was to engage professionals on how to address the fears they may have on dry construction method. He said “to a large extent, we are able to achieve the set objective of identifying the fears of various professionals in attendance on issues of availability of materials, skill and technology, perception of end users, maintenance, adaptability and acceptability of the process in totality?"

The Abidjan – Lagos Corridor, according to the Minister, covers a total distance of 1,028km and connects some of the largest and economically most dynamic cities in Africa. The cities include Lagos, Accra, Cotonou, Lome and Abidjan.

“To improve this corridor is the essence of this meeting as directed by the Presidents of the five (5) concerned member states and the report of the meeting would be presented to the African Union Summit coming up in Addis Ababa in May, 2013”.

The construction of the proposed Abidjan – Lagos super Highway will commence sometime next year and will be completed within twenty –four (24) months.

Onolememen said that the meeting was called to prepare, deliberate, and agree on an implementation plan with a clear indication of responsibility for the realization of the dreams and directive of the Presidents and Heads of States of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire.

The countries, he explained, agreed to work together and construct the homogenous corridor that stands out as the most significant segments of the Trans – West African Highways Network.

The participation of the Ministers of Transport, Finance, Justice and Foreign Affairs for Nigeria and other participating countries, according to him, gave credence to the broad coverage of regional road transportation, financing and legal procedure expected at this meeting.

He recalled that ECOWAS in 2006 commissioned a study on the Regional Road Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme in West Africa, and in their final report, the consultant identified the Abidjan – Lagos corridor as one of the highest corridors requiring improvement.

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Americans spend US$11bn on face lifts, breast augmentation

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

T

HE American Society of Plastic Surgeons, ASPS in its 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report has revealed that in 2012, Americans and people living in America collectively spent $11 billion on face lifts, Botox injections, breast augmentations and various other purely aesthetic cosmetic procedures.

ASPS, a non-profit organization, which supports the interests of the plastic surgery industry, found that last year, Americans underwent 1.6 million cosmetic surgeries including procedures such as face lifts, liposuction, and rhinoplasty (nose job).

Beyond this, there were an additional 13 million minimally invasive procedures that also took place, including things like Botox injections and dermal fillers.

According to the report, for the seventh year in a row, breast augmentation was the most popular type of cosmetic surgery performed, with 286,000 operations.

There were also a recordhigh Botox treatments administered, through 6.1 million injections of the neurotoxin Botulinum for enhancing skin and eye appearances of mainly women.

The report notes that an increasing number of men are also getting plastic surgeries, particularly in their chest areas. High levels of estrogen in the environment and food supply as well as sedentary lifestyles have caused many men to develop breasts, for which some of them have opted to receive chest reduction surgery. Every age category of men saw an increase in plastic surgery procedures for a collective total of 1.3 million in 2012.

The cosmetic procedure that saw the most growth overall, however, was brachioplasty, a surgery that involves removing excess skin from the back of the arm. Primarily women with flabby arms are opting for the procedure rather than toning their arms through exercise and proper diet - according to the latest figures, brachioplasty surgery has increased in popularity by 4,378 percent since 2000, when only 300 women received the procedure, while 15,457 got it in 2012.

Malaria is over-diagnosed, over-treated, but...

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

F

RANCIS Abu has never been to hospital to treat malaria. "I think it's a waste of money and time going to the hospital because of malaria.

Whenever I feel feverish, I go to the Chemist shop."

Aldine Give also doesn't trust hospitals. "I decided to be treating my children at home once I notice they are feverish because most times even when you go to the hospital, the doctors will not conduct any

wonder if what they are saying about mosquitoes and malaria is true. For me I see it as natural cause in this part of the world."

How do you identify malaria attack? "The signs are there," says Godwin Effiong. "Once there is feverishness, you don't need a soothsayer to tell you it is malaria." Since he grew up, Godwin has never gone to the hospital for malaria treatment.

"I usually treat at home.

Sometimes I use local herbs or go to the pharmacy. "I have tried many of the laboratory

be more education and awareness about how some of these things should be done," Effiong noted.

These are just some of the typical reactions encountered when Good Health Weekly went on the streets to obtain random views about malaria.

Findings revealed that the typical Nigerian perception about the general causes, diagnosis, control and management of malaria is surprisingly low. From the investigations, it was clear that quite a number

that malaria is over diagnosed because most Nigerians believed that that any fever should be malaria.

Oyibo, of the Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, CMUL, says not all fever is malaria.

"If everybody feels that they have fever and they said they have malaria and they go to take malaria medicines they over treat themselves and when they over treat themselves it could be fatal because there could be other reasons that would have deserved far more urgent treatment if some testing was done first.

Antimalarial treatment

Malaria is caused by a type of microscopic parasite that is transmitted most commonly by mosquito bites. test, but they will give you antimalaria drug."

Joy Igwe believes that because malaria has been with Nigerians for decades it is no longer a threat. "No matter how you try to protect yourself, no one can escape being attacked by malaria. Sometimes I

outfits we have sometimes they even misdiagnose the disease.

Sometimes, they will tell you it is typhoid when actually it is malaria and sometimes you may not have malaria and you will be told is malaria. I think the problem boils down to our healthcare system, there should

of persons blindly treat malaria without testing.

Experts describe this as overdiagnosis and treatment, capable of causing other complications.

Consultant Medical Parasitologist/ Associate Professor, Dr. Wellington Oyibo confirmed

And without testing, people will continue to buy anti malaria medicines and continue to over use them and that is not good."

On the malaria treatment policy, he argued: "What the policy says now is that there must be prior testing before treatment and the communication to the public is that when they feel they have malaria or fever and they feel it is malaria, they should do a test first because that fever presentation could be due to so many conditions and that is the reason for testing.

What government has tried to do is to see that those quality test tools are available and of course they can get the ministry of health here to ask for the quality assured rapid diagnostic tests that they can use. "The country has provided direction on how diagnosis and treatment will go.

Continues on page 55

Teera-Ue, community without health facilities cries out

BY FYNEFACE DUMNAMENE

P

EOPLE of "Teera-Ue", a community in Ken-Khana in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State have cried out over the total absence of health facilities in the area.

The coastal community which is bordered by several oil wells spreading from Kpean Community also decrys the high rate of maternal and child deaths within the locality.

In an encounter, the Public Relations Officer/Chief Security Officer Mr. Ben Kpikah told Good Health Weekly that the people of the community have suffered for long.

“Government appears to have forgotten we live here as there is nothing to show we are part of Khana LGA and Rivers

State. He lamented that the community lacks social amenities such as hospitals, electricity, schools, potable water and roads. "This is how we live. We're about 2,000 in this village. The road here was constructed by Shell and now the road is very bad. We don't have any hospital in this village, no Chemist too. Sometimes people die before they reach hospital in Bori (about 35 kilometres away) or go to buy medicine in Kpean (about nine kilometres away) and come back. The only thing we have is an uncompleted community primary school building built with two classrooms shared by all the students from Primary one to six without enough desks to seat on.

"Please, help us tell government and people who can help that we want water, hospitals, schools, electricity and motorable

• Mr. Ben Kpikah roads. We hereby call on Khana Local Government Council, the Rivers State Government and relevant agencies to come to the aid of Teera-Ue community and provide the people with potable drinking water, roads and health facilities,” he remarked.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 55

Nigerian doctors seek national policy on e-Health

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

F

• Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health Ogun State, Dr. Qudus Yusuff; General Manager, Central (West & East) Africa, Reckitt Benckiser, Ashok Bhasin; mother of the new born baby, Mrs. Bola Adebayo and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, during the presentation of Mortein products to new babies at the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta in commemoration of 2013 World Malaria

Malaria is over-diagnosed, over-treated, but...

Continued from Page 54 There is a national policy on diagnosis and treatment of malaria and government has provided guidelines as to what every healthcare provider should do and that guideline is available at the National Malaria Control website so that they don't work on their individual opinion," he added.

Recently, the Minister of Health, noted that the National programme on Malaria is embarking on Integrated Malaria Elimination involving, testing with Rapid Diagnostic Tests, RDT. He also stated that diagnosis is being scaled up. Millions of RDTs have been procured and distributed to States. In addition, about 137 health officers have been trained in a Training of the Trainers workshop on RDT in Anambra, Bauchi and Niger States. Mass diagnosis campaign was conducted in four LGAs (Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, Ogbia and Yenagoa) in Bayelsa State.

"In our effort to ensure malaria commodity security, over 29,876,905 doses of ACTs and over 15,380,163 units of RDTs have been procured for stag-

gered delivery to states. Capacity has been built in 36 states including FCT on Malaria Commodity Logistic System so as to improve on the quality of consumption data that is

available for decision making.

States specific quantification and gaps analysis has been carried out which provides the tool for advocacy and effective planning.”

100 LASPOTECH students donate blood

BY BOSE ADELAJA

A

T least 100 students of Lagos State Polytechnic have participated in the just concluded voluntary blood donation exercise which took place in the Ikorodu main campus recently.

During the exercise organised in conjunction with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion committee, Nigerians were urged to donate blood voluntarily without expecting financial reward.

A member of the committee, Mr. Solomon Eka, described blood donation as an important exercise in saving lives adding, '' Nigerians should show concern when privileged to do so.''

Eka who enumerated some criteria for blood donation said, ''it is not about the donor's size but their state of health. Before donating blood, the donor must weigh at least 50kg and the blood pressure and blood level must be normal. Also, anybody who is less than 18 or above 65 years cannot participate in the exercise. Nursing mothers and those just recovering from illness cannot donate.'' he said.

At the event, blood identity cards were issued to donors to also grant their familymembers access to blood when they are in need of it. Mrs Sherifat Lawal, also a member of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion committee advised the students to protect themselves from HIV, hepatitis and other transmittable diseases.

EDERAL government has been urged to urgently develop and establish an effective strategy for the implementation of e- Health in Nigeria.

President of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele who made the plea in Lagos, regretted that Nigeria is yet to explore the many benefits of e-Health, which he described as a safe, secure, ethical and cost effective transmission and exchange of health data and information Enabulele, who called for implementation of the strategy through the Federal Ministries of Health, Communications and Technology, spoke during the 53rd NMA Annual Conference with the theme: "e-Health and its potentials for Improving Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria" sponsored by Dettol.

E-health applications Listing common e- health applications to include m- Health, Telemedicine and Electronic Health Records (EHR), he noted that even though some medical institutions in Nigeria are currently embracing e-Health, absence of a National e-Health Policy was making it hard to facilitate a systematic, coherent and sustainable implementation of e-Health in the country.

"Whereas there is overwhelming evidence that developing countries such as India, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have explored the potentials of e-Health in transforming their health systems and economies, Nigeria is yet enthrone a strategic policy for sustained utilisation of e-Health in a way to maximise its alluring and undeniable benefits in the strengthening Nigeria's healthcare system, improving

access of Nigerians to healthcare services in the face of limited resources and acute -on- chronic shortage of medical /health manpower, improving medical education and research, improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services and therefore improving the health and development indices of Nigeria," he remarked.

Chairman, Lagos branch of NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile who commended Reckitt Benckiser, makers of Dettol for its unwavering partnership with NMA, said the NMA had chosen e- Health as part of efforts to making healthcare accessible and better for the common man. "With e- Health, we can have a far wide healthcare accessibility to Nigerians. It is obvious policy makers need to drive it down but we also need to educate ourselves to let our members know that there is a new thing happening. EHealth is not strange because with electronic medical records, wherever you go, that doctor will be able to see your history and know how to continue treatment. " I may not be a specialist in one area but I will sit in my hospital and through e-Health communicate with a specialist anywhere in the world to treat the patient. I can also perform surgery and another surgeon will be viewing the surgery and be directing me. This is why a national health strategy on e- Health is necessary."

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu said with e-Health in place, funds expended on medical tourism can be reduced.

Former Lagos State Commissioner Health, Dr. Leke Pitan who represented Asiwaju Bola Tunubu stated that with e- Health the patient can relate directly, promptly to his personal physician, whose access to the patient is made simpler and faster.

NAFDAC takes anti-counterfeiting campaign to schools

T

HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has engaged secondary school students in its anti-counterfeiting campaign through creation of NAFDAC Consumer Safety Club, NCSC. Disclosing this in Ilorin, Kwara State, NAFDAC Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, said the Club was introduced in schools to inculcate the culture of quality among young people.

"NAFDAC will continue to resist activities of unscrupulous elements in society who acquire wealth at the expense of the

lives of Nigerians," Orhii stated, speaking through the Agency's Deputy Director in Kwara State, Mrs. Phebean Odu. He said the Agency would use the Club as a re-branding tool that would make every young person a change agent at safeguarding the future of Nigeria.

"We shall sustain the fight against counterfeit drugs and substandard regulated products with every legal, technological and social instrument."

Meanwhile, the NAFDAC/ NYSC Community Development Service group has

been inaugurated at the NYSC secretariat, Ilorin.

Odu, who conducted the inauguration, said the aim was to involve corps members create awareness and education in their places of primary assignment about the dangers of drug hawking.

The Assistant Director, Inspection and Monitoring, NYSC, Kwara, Mr. Augustine Udo, appealed to NAFDAC to make jobs available to the corps members to enable them to serve as foot soldiers in the campaign against counterfeit drugs.

• President, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele screening Yaba Local Government Chairman, Jide Jimoh during NMA’s Medical Mission at Makoko, Lagos where over 2,000 people benefited fromfree treatments.

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Malaria Society, TOTAL seek collaboration to tackle malaria

P

•Chosen Vessels Empowerment Foundation, CVEF, mothers of Corona School Victoria Island P.T.A during a walk to create awareness and raise funds to help vaccinate at least 200 girls in one of the adopted schools, Victoria Island Secondary School.

BY CHARLYNE IKPE

RESIDENT of the Malaria Society of Nigeria, Dr John Babajide Puddicombe has called on stakeholders in the fight against malaria to join hands to kick malaria out of Africa, just as Nigeria Total Upstream has pledged to partner with the Federal Government and specialist organisations in the malaria control programme..

Puddicombe who spoke in Lagos said: "If the government and other stakeholders come together to fight malaria holistically, in no distance time, the burden of malaria in Nigeria and Africa at large may not get to zero level but can be reduced to an insignificant level. He identified clean and simple environment as a major factor in the war against mosquitoes which transmits

Chosen vessel targets 200 girls for cervical cancer screening

W

ITH over 300,000 Nigerian women dying of cervical cancer annually, no fewer than 200 girls are being targeted by Chosen Vessels Empowerment Foundation for free cervical vaccination. Already, the Foundation has begun an awareness campaign to raise a total of N4 million required for the vaccination and recently organised an awareness walk in collaboration with selected schools in Lagos and a Seminar tagged: Well – Woman Day. In a chat, President of the Foundation, Pastor, Adebola Atoyebi, said many women do not know the signs, symp-

toms and causes of these ailments. “Because a lot of things are coming up, that is why we actually want to use the little opportunity we have to talk to women about their lives because when a women dies the family suffers, because we have a role to play in the society,” she stated.

“It is sad that many of our women are being ravaged by cancer and because of this we have taken it upon ourselves to go to both public and private schools, talk to our girls with the permission of the school authorities, about keeping themselves pure, not engaging in sexual activity until they are married.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to raise fund as much as we can to vaccinate the girls from public schools. We are collaborating with companies to raise N4 million vaccinate 200 girls in Victoria Island Government school,” she stated. She explained that the WellWoman programme was essentially for the total well being of a woman and the management of the different illnesses like hypertension, diabetes and other things that women need to begin to pay attention to, from the time a woman becomes a real woman, (that is from the time she starts menstruating) until she dies.

malaria. He tsked Nigerians to maintain clean and simple environment as a deterrent to mosquitoes breeding and a change of attitude.

"We actually want to screen and treat as many people as possible for free we also gave free treatment to those who tested positive and they went home with free treated mosquito nets."

On prompt treatment, he said delay could be dangerous. "Once you start having any discomfort in the body, you should try as much as possible to visit your doctor for check up as soon as possible."

In a related event, as part of efforts to eradicate malaria in Nigeria Total Upstream has pledged to partner with the Federal Government and specialist organizations in the malaria control programme.

The commitment came as experts, partners, and other stakeholders from all over the country gathered at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja for the company’s 2nd biennial Corporate Social Responsibility conference with the theme : “Creating Value for our Stakeholders.”

“We shall be involved in the National Malaria Control program with the aim of seeking a comprehensive approach towards the eradication of this pandemic”, noted Guy Maurice, Managing Director/Chief Executive Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria.

Executive Director, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs, Mrs Edith OfiliOkonkwo noted that the overall objective was to articulate in practical terms what the company could do to delight our numerous stakeholders.

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D

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013—57

Nigeria can no longer enjoy World Bank IDA facilities –Country Director

BY EMMA UJAH

A

BUJA—NIGERIA can no longer enjoy low-interest facilities of the World Bank under the International Development Agency, IDA, the Country Director in Nigeria, Ms Marie Nelly, has said.

IDA gives low-interest loan facilities that come with several benefits including 40-year moratorium and 10-year repayment period on every facility taken for development.

The bank’s position as expressed in Abuja, yesterday, followed its claims that Nigeria’s poverty rating has improved significantly enough as to disqualify her from the category of poor countries that enjoy IDA. The reduction in poverty rate per capita in the country was said to have reduced from 64.6 per cent to 62.

6 per cent.

Citing National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, figures between 2003 and 2009, World Bank’s Country Director to Nigeria, Ms Marie Nelly, said that the urban poverty within the same period has equally reduced to 51.2 per cent from 52.2 per cent whereas rural poverty also dropped to 69 per cent from 73.4 per cent.

She added that in adult equivalent terms, poverty rate has gone down to 46.1

Activist flays Kogi LG polls

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

L

OKOJA - A rights ac tivist, Comrade Miliki Abdul, has condemned last Saturday’s local government election in Kogi State, saying it was a charade.

Abdul, who is the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution, CHRCR, said the council poll conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC, was a huge disappointment as, according to him, it did not meet national or international standard.

Reacting to the result of the election which was said to have been won by the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Abdul lamented that "despite several postponements of local government election since 2011, the conduct and its outcome did not meet national or international standard.

per cent from 48.3 per cent and urban poverty slipped to 34.3 per cent from 36.8 per cent while rural poverty dipped to 52.9 per cent from 57.4 per cent within the same period under review.

The Country Director said

however, that extreme poverty was slightly higher at 63.4 per cent in 2010, based on $1.25 per day and that a significant reduction in inequality was essential for Nigeria to meet the Vision 20;2020 target.

5 parties to contest Adamawa byelection—INEC

BY UMAR YUSUF

Y

OLA — INDEPEN DENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Adamawa State said, yesterday, that five political parties have signified interest in contesting the Nassarawo/Binyeri state constituency by-election in the state.

State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kassim Gaidam, who made this known in Yola, the state capital, said that INEC would encourage stakeholders’ meetings for the purposes of knowledge sharing and development of new ideas with a view to solving the electoral problems facing the commission in the state.

Gaidam said the Nassarawo/Binyeri comprised seven wards with a total of 92 polling units and 47,343 registered voters.

The five political parties which had fielded candidates include Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Progressive Grand Alli-

ance, APGA, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, KOWA and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. He spoke during a stakeholders meeting in Yola, pointing out that such stakeholders’ meetings would improve channels of information and deepen the relationship between INEC and such stakeholders on ways of improving electoral activities in the area.

Gaidam further said that the commission’s policy of holding interactive meetings with stakeholders was to brainstorm on activities and issues affecting the conduct of hitch free elections.

On INEC’s preparedness for the bye-election, he explained that everything had been put in place to ensure a hitch free exercise.

He said NYSC members, senior staff of INEC as well as staff of tertiary institutions would be deployed to man polling units as well as collation and returning officers during the election.

2015: Why North won't support Jonathan—Rep

BY TAYE OBATERU

JOS— MEMBER representing Jos South/Jos East Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bitrus Kaze has said the North would not support President Goodluck Jonathan’s ambition to return in 2015 no matter how much he strives to please them.

He said in a statement in Jos, yesterday, that although many of the president’s recent steps such as the release of funds for payment of compensation of victims of the 2011 post election violence, appeared targeted at appeasing the North, this would not make them support his come back bid.

Kaze said: “We are tempted to believe that this gesture could be in furtherance of Mr. President’s attempt to appease the North, who

it must be maintained, will never support his re-election ambition in the long run. If President Goodluck Jonathan is truly desirous of placating the North, all he needs do is to abandon his re-election ambition or better still step aside and hand over power to a far Northerner, nothing else will impress the core North more.”

He faulted the decision of the Federal Government to compensate victims of the 2011 post election violence without extending the same gesture to victims of violent attacks in Plateau State.

Kaze said Plateau State has suffered huge losses in human and material terms but had not been considered for any special allocation to ease the pains of the people despite the support given to President Jonathan in the last election in the state.

58—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

east, members of a non-violent MASSOB are charged to court for treason. Odikwa egwu! (It is very amazing).

Outrageous bills from PHCN in Orile District

•Odimegwu Onwumere, Rivers State

Dear Sir, ERMIT me to use your me dium to call on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN Eko Distribution Zone to save on from the poor services being offered by its Orile District.

For some months now, we have not enjoyed any reasonable service from PHCN Orile District despite the outrageous bills sent to the us (consumers) every months.

The worst affected streets are, Jubrila, Disu Esan, Osho, Alhaji Hassana, Araromi/Ashiata, Alhaji Adebowale, Abu and Obanta. Others include Awe, Adeyemi, Abdul Ramoni Lane, Araromi/Awe, Kuforiji. Sadiku Lane, Akinmolayan Close, Kekere Ekun, Amodu Rufai Close, Tokosi, Savage Street/Savage Lane, Lasisi, Nurudeen/Ashiata and some parts of Bale Street.

Residents of these streets have been suffering as a result of PHCN’s poor service delivery. The problem of outrageous bills started since February 2012 when consumers started getting outrageous electricity bills from the PHCN. In October last year, the Orile Iganmu Community Associations held a meeting with the Distribution Manager incharge of the area to make their feelings known to him. All these efforts however fell unto deaf ears.

The affected residents are tax payers and law abiding citizens who have continued to pay the bills despite the poor services. As a result of the perpetual darkness which the entire communities have been thrown into, economic activities have almost become paralysed. This has also affected the health of most residents.

Despite the blackout, PHCN officials last month, brought a bill of N21,000 to my yard. The church where I worship was given N15,000 to pay for PHCN’s inefficiency. I wonder how they came up with these bills because

Distribution, Orile-Iganmu Unit, Orile-Iganmu and The Senior Manager Distribution, Orile Business Unit, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos.

The affected communities are making a clarion call to our amiable Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, to see the plight of these communities to save us from criminals who are masquerading and PHCN officials to rob us of our money

,

P

The worst affected streets are, Jubrila, Disu Esan, Osho, Alhaji Hassana, Araromi/Ashiata, Alhaji Adebowale, Abu and Obanta

most of the meters being used by the residents are not functional.

We use this medium to call on the Assistant General Manager, Technical Service, Eko Distribution Zone, Marina, Lagos; The Business Manager, Power Holding Company, OrileIganmu Business Unit, Principal Manager, Customer Care Unit, Eko Distribution Zone, Marina, Lagos; The Senior Manager

,

through their outrageous bill.

We appeal to Governor Babatunde Fashola to intervene and save us from criminals who are masquerading as PHCN officials to to extort money from us through their outrageous bill.

•Peter Dele Ojo Orile-Iganmu 08038452507 michaelbabatola@yahoo.com

ting up amnesty committee

If the presidency gives amnesty to Boko Haram, in the nearest future another terrorist group might rise from the eastern part and start demanding for amnesty.

Amnesty should not be used as a tool for finding solution to terrorism. Rather, we must work on the loopholes in our security system. Terrorism must stop.

Uduebor Osaro 08059826021

Still on Boko Haram and amnesty

Anybody or group of people calling for amnesty for the terrorist group, Boko Haram, does not mean well for this country. Ask them the list of their grievances. Is it the one directing the President to become a Muslim by force?

Islamising the northern states, or the one that education is an abomination amongst other senseless demands? That is why the members resorted to bombing churches,motor parks market places and public buildings. Enough of these senseless killings.

Anonymous wrote in from Kano state

Dear Sir,

I

T is hard to fathom that the Federal Government has okayed granting amnesty to members of a terrorist group like Boko Haram. It is an irony that while the government is ready to go on its knees to beg the violent group to accept the amnesty, .the Supreme Courts has okayed the trial of Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and co. of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, a non-violent group, alleged treason. No wonder Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu said in his recent lecture at the British House of Commons that Ndigbo (Igbos) are marginalised in Nigeria. It is appalling that Southeast politicians who are supposed to speak out, appear to have been compromised. If this allegation id untrue, why is it that all the regions now have an armed wing which they use for negotiation.- South West-OPC, South South - MEND, North Boko Haram. But for the South-

to sweep it out of the corridors of power.

Sunday Aloba 08027820443

It is quite unfair, unjust and irritating that President Goodluck Jonathan has succumbed to the clamour to set up an amnesty committee to look into the Boko Haram Islamic sect. In spite of amnesty given to militants in the Niger Delta, some of them (trained exmilitants) are still involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities. Who knows, tomor-

He wants to reap from where he did not sow. No wonder Niger State is terribly underdeveloped with such a governor at the helm of affairs.

Dogo 08074490347

Some top politicians from the north allegedly boasted publicly not to support the Jonathan-led administration; the former first lady should appeal to those politicians to call Boko Haram to order; then the issue of amnesty can be considered

President Jonathan continues to get it wrong. What kind of advisers does he have?

Or is he just taking all these decisions by himself? The pardon granted Alamieyeseigha by the Federal Government has brought great shame to Nigeria.

Dele writes in from Delta state

Turai Yar Adua and Boko Haram’s amnesty It is strange that our respected former first lady is comparing Niger Delta amnesty with Boko Haram. It

,

Amnesty call for Boko Haram

Treason charge against Uwazuruike and co

is like comparing “apple with banana”. Boko Haram sect is the product of greedy northern politicians that threatened to make the nation ungovernable when Jonathan contested the presidency. Some top politicians from the north allegedly boasted publicly not to support the President Jonathan- led administration . The former first lady should appeal to those politicians to call Boko Haram to order then, the issue of amnesty can be considered.

Dedemo 08074490347

Boko Haram and FG set-

,

row it may be amnesty for oil thieves and MASSOB? This is happening in a country where we have unemployed graduates. The Federal Government should set up a Ministry to work on how to reduce the rising rate of unemployment in the country.

Elvis Obire 08079018001

Division in PDP

It is a shame that a disorganised party like the PDP is in charge of the affairs of the country. This is a party renowned for impunity and corruption. Nigerians should unite

Presidential elections

State pardon for Alams and others

State pardon for Alams

Oke-Afa, Magboro community raps Amosun Dear Sir, LEASE permit me to use your widely read newspaper to draw the attention of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to the deplorable condition of the only road that links Oke-Afa, Magboro from Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, and to let the governor know too that the entire Oke-Afa community which population is huge, has been deprived of all basic social amenities such power supply, hospital, pipe borne water and others.

The government’s presence whether at state or local level is not felt in the area that is within the neighbourhood of Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation, (OPIC) land along the ever busy Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. The community is therefore appealing to the governor to extend his kind gesture to Oke-Afa as he is currently doing at the other side of Magboro where he is constructing the major road leading to the various communities at Magboro.

P

Kaycee Adex Oke-Afa, Magboro Ogun State.

and others

The state pardon granted to Diepreye Alamieyeseigha is an act of injustice. There are many Nigerians who have been imprisoned for lesser crimes, while someone who have committed a great offence, just because of his closeness to the president, now enjoys presidential pardon. Such action is highly sentimental.

Henry 08039821540

State pardon for Alams

Jonathan has not contravened any law, either written or unwritten by this action. The essence of pardon is to show mercy to someone who is guilty of an offence. That means his or her criminal actions are forgiven. Everyone knows Alams was convicted, has served his time, so presidential pardon for him is not a bad idea.

Anonymous 08067557715

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS 1.You have to know when to stop and let go of somethings for they say "A stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave" Simon Adewale08056180103, Lagos State .

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayings or proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable. You will be paid N100.00 for every saying published. Address your sayings to: The Co-ordinator, Sayings of Our Elders,Vanguard Media Ltd., PMB 1007, Apapa,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 59

FIFA picks Doue for Kenya, T Nigeria clash W

ORLD footballgoverning body, FIFA has appointed Ivorian official Noumandiez Doue as referee for next month’s 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Kenya’s Harambee Stars in Nairobi.

In a brief on the match transmitted to the Nigeria Football Federation, FIFA named Doue, who became an international referee in 2004, alongside his compatriot Songuifolo Yeo (Assistant Referee 1), Burundian JeanClaude Birumushahu (Assistant Referee 2)

and another Ivorian Denis Dembele to take charge of the game scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The same venue hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier between both countries, when the Super Eagles needed a

win and also needed Mozambique to hold Tunisia in Maputo same day, to qualify for the showpiece in South Africa. In the event, the Eagles won 3-2 while Mozambique pipped Tunisia 1-0 in Maputo to send Nigeria to the World Cup finals.

Next month’s duel is no less important, with the Eagles only ahead of the Group F on goals difference (from Malawi).

•Doue

HE First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan has extolled the core values inherent in the game of golf that she has advised that every Nigerian woman should move closer a golf course and learn how to play the game.

Speaking through the Minister of State, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, Olori Olajumoke Akinjide. at the closing ceremony of the First Navy Officers Wives Association golf championships that held at the Dolphin Golf Club, Navy Town Ojo, Lagos at the weekend, the First Lady who incidentally was the mother of the day said, “it is a thing of joy that more women are breaking into the game of golf, an area hitherto

Patience Jonathan extols the virtues of golf

BY JACOB AJOM seen as an exclusive preserve for men” and saluted the NOWA leadership for initiating the tournament for lady golfers.

Jonathan said the involvement of women golfers was bound to bring into the game “passion, determination and above all, beauty.

“Beyond competition, golf teaches about core values such as honesty, integrity, respect for your opponents, responsibility and sportsmanship.”

The Chief of Naval Staff , Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba promised to lift the Dolphin Golf Club by

taking over the running and maintenance of the club house and the golf course.

It was a gathering of the high and the mighty from the various arms of the Nigerian security network – the Navy, the Army, the Air Force and the Police as all the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police were duly represented.

In the tournament proper, Woman Sergeant Amina Wilfred won the championship while Adams Hassan Queen won the women professional category.

There were winners in various other categories and prizes were given out.

14th Ecobank/Delta State Federation Cup a final like no other

BY PAUL BASSEY

I

PLEAD guilty, that since Delta State Football Association embarked on adding value to its FA Cup ( call it whatever you like ) I have not had the opportunity of witnessing first hand its experiment in a country where football management has been surrendered to governments and their political appointees.

Last Sunday, I flew into Warri to witness the 14th Delta FA final in a week end of Confederations Cup finals all over the country.

My journey to Warri started a week ago. While in Morocco, I got a call from the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission/chairman Delta State FA, Mr Amaju Pinnick to inform me that I have been nominated as the recipient of the Delta FA Football Personality of the year award and that I was to be so honoured during the FA Cup final.

I was humbled. This was not Akwa Ibom or Cross River where I can claim some roots. Yes, I was a CAF Venue Manager during the Nations Cup in South Africa. Yes, I was appointed the General Coordinator for the final of the CAF champi-

ons league, FIFA Match commissioner to two world cup qualifying matches……..perhaps my greatest glory this year is my membership of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, that body that has worked silently and tirelessly to guarantee success for Nigeria’s football.

At our first meeting this year, we took time out to pat ourselves on the back for achieving, among other successes, the Nations Cup trophy. At every meeting, we make cases for improved welfare, friendly matches, camping approvals…..for the national teams and the over all development of the game. A thankless job and sacrifice that has most times cost us dear in terms of personal comfort. That is why I hereby dedicate this award to President Aminu Maigari and the board of the NFF for always respecting and approving our contributions towards the betterment of the game.

I dedicate this award to chairman Chris Green and deputy chairman Felix Anyansi, Deji Tinubu, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, Coach Adegboye Onigbinde, Coach Christian Chukwu, Garba Lawal, Coach Garba Ila, Victor Ikpeba, Barrister Elume-

AWARD WINNER: Veteran journalist, Paul Bassey (r) receives an award from Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd) on behalf of the Delta State FA during the final of the 2013 State FA Cup lu, Jay Jay Okocha ….who said we will not be recognized and appreciated. Bless you sirs!

Incidentally, Victor Ikpeba and Jay Jay are also members of an Delta FA whose achievements speak volumes. Sunday was no exception. Apart from title sponsor Ecobank, I counted 14 pitch panels of companies who, as sponsors and partners, identified with the sports revolution that is going on in Delta State ( ULO Consultants, Arco Petrochemical and Engineering Company, Income Electrix, STACO Insurance, Senforce, Solid works, Brownhill Investments, Nevibex Global Enterprises, A&E Pe-

troleum, First Marine, Al Rosi Consults, Davnotch Ltd, Smutuns Ltd, Waland Services, Tug Boats Ltd, 69 Builders, Mainstreet Bank, Skye Bank, Zenith Bank, Veltrop, Peculiar Consult……)

This was the only match of all the state finals that was beamed live by DSTV, one in which by half time top entertainers Tiwa Savage ( defied rain showers) and Davido came out to thrill an appreciative crowd. As I swayed along, a text message came into my phone “ ….Since I can neither stand nor walk, I can’t be with you fellow awardees today to receive and celebrate this memorable honor. As I remain

in spirit I urge every one of us to pledge to be of assistance to Delta FA and Sports Commission in all its efforts to remain the number one sporting state in Nigeria. Right now, I am enjoying the half time musical show from my wheel chair. Am also enjoying the game.

Please say me well to all the awardees present” quintessential Pa Ojidoh.

Labour of our heroes alive. I wish he was around to physically receive his Evergreen Sports Personality Award.

An administrator par excellence. Brigadier General Oneya was around.

Davidson Owumi was around, Austin Popo, Edema Fuludu, Sunny

and Joshua Kapor, Otieri and many other retired footballers. Also on display was the picture of the Patrick Okpomo Football House, the proposed DFA Secretariat that is being built hundred percent by private sector initiative without recourse to government funding. The foundation of the 150 million Naira state of the art edifice was laid by the NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari while efforts are in top gear to fly in FIFA and CAF officials in August for the opening ceremony of a tribute to one of Nigeria’s greatest football administrators.

Labours of our heroes past.

Even the fireworks at the end of the match did not put smiles on the faces of the players of Atete FC who believed they had done enough not to lose 0-1 to Warri Wolves in a tense match that kept Owumi asking which of the sides was Warri Wolves.

At the post event get together Mr Amaju introduced the Ecobank MD Mr Jibril Aku as “ hard working, ebullient, football loving, indefatigable, passionate…….” The MD whispered to a close associate. “ He is trying to ask for more money ” laughter. Who, will not give? After such fruitful returns on investment?

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Warri Wolves wobble in colourful final

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

H

W

ARRI Wolves were a pitiable sight at the Delta State FA Cup final on Sunday.

They fell short of the standard many expected from a Premier League side. They were so awful that many left the Warri City Stadium calling for changes in the team. But they have been a poor side for years and only exposed themselves more in the FA Cup final that was colourful and attracted many football experts in the country. Jay Jay Okocha, a member of Delta FA was the match coordinator. Another ex international of repute, Victor Ikpeba attended.

He is also a member of Delta FA. Davidson Onwumi, Edema Fuludu and Austin Popo were among the ex stars at the stadium. CAF

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha was co-ordinator of Delta FA Cup final coordinator, Paul Bassey, former NFA chairman and a member of the CAF family, Dominic Oneya attended the match that had Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Victor Ochei as the special guest. Jibril Aku, the MD of Ecobank, the sponsors was there.

Keshi Continues from BP South Africa.

The Spartak Moscow of Russia striker will therefore not be available for selection during a busy schedule in June that will see the Eagles play two World Cup qualifiers as well as feature in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Keshi has said that he will now consider Anichebe, Werder Bremen striker Joseph Akpala and Turkeybased Michael Eneramo to replace Emenike.

However, last week Anichebe said it was not the right time for him to return to the Super Eagles, saying he would rather prefer to focus on his Everton career particularly as he has suffered many injuries lately.

Keshi, who returned to the country on Monday morning, told MTNfootball.com that he was disappointed Emenike will miss the Eagles matches in June.

“I am sad with the injury of my top striker.

I called him the other day to ask how far and he said coach I am out

Adamu calls 18 for African Beach Soccer Championship

but I am with the team.

It’s really sad but that is football for you,” disclosed the Eagles coach.

“I have listed three players as his replacement with Victor Anichebe top on the list and Joseph Akpala and Micheal Eneramo. But I am just hearing that Anichebe has said he would not be available for selection, which is very sad.

“I have made effort in the past to speak with him through Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo and (Dickson) Etuhu but he said he was not ready to play. I will still make effort to reach him, you never can tell, I could be able to convince to have a change of mind.”

Keshi also hailed the return to action of AFCON hero Sunday Mba at the weekend for Enugu Rangers in a CAF Champions League clash in Angola.

“It’s a very good thing, that is all I have been preaching since because the boy needs to be regular in action. He also scored for Rangers which is very good. I am happy for him,” the coach said.

They were all treated to bad football by the players and superb ceremony by the FA led

by Amaju Pinnick. The crowd was reasonable especially on a day and time that Chelsea were engaging Manchester United in England. Good crowd, good organisation but a poor play is the best was to describe the irony.

Delta FA organised an exciting FA Cup final that was live on supersport. They were commended for a great job on the day veteran sports journalist Paul Bassey was honoured with the award of sports personality of the year.

Pa John Ojidoh, John Oganwu, Ignatius Ajuonuma also received

befitting awards. Tiwa Savage and Davido thrilled the fans at half time. The atmosphere was great but the game dull. For a side that is well funded, they needed to give the fans more. Wolves lacked flair, passion and hunger.

They needed a late minute penalty to beat J Atete FC, an amateur side that appeared a better side but lacked the experience to convert the chances they created. Their game was also poor. ‘’I can’t believe Wolves are this bad,’’ Victor Ikpeba lamented. ‘’They should overhaul the team,’’ he added. Jay Jay Okocha said that they lacked passion in

Eagles Continues from BP USA on 29th May for the friendly against CONCACAF champions Mexico at the Reliant Stadium, Houston on 31st May. After the match, the team will return to Germany on 1st June, and fly out to Nairobi in the early hours of 4th June, to arrive in the morning of same day and train ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier the following day at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

On Friday, June 7, the team will fly out of Nairobi to Windhoek, where another 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier is set for June 12.

The day

after the match, the delegation will connect Johannesburg from Windhoek, and fly to Sao Paulo in Brazil for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Also, players and officials of the U-20 National Team, Flying Eagles, will leave for a training camp in Germany on Saturday, 11th May. The team will be there until 27th May when it flies out to France for the Toulon Invitational Youth Tournament. After the tournament on 8th June, the Flying Eagles will return to the camp in Germany, and be there until 17th June, when they are due t fly to Turkey for the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.

EAD Coach of the Beach Soccer National Team, also known as Supersand Eagles, Audu Ejo Adamu has invited 18 players to camp ahead of this month’s African Beach Soccer Championship in Morocco.

The African Beach Soccer Championship, which also serves as the qualifying tournament for this year ’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, will take place in El Jadida, Morocco everything they did on the field. ‘’One boy that played for Delta United more than seven years ago is still one of the stars in Warri Wolves. It means something is wrong somewhere,’’ Elderton Kuejebola, a member of Delta State Sports Commission and an ardent football promoter and sponsor said.

J o u r n a l i s t s , stakeholders and fans thumbed down for Wolves. Etu Moses, club spokesman admitted that the club needed fresh blood but explained that the coaches left some players on the bench.

between 20th – 26th May, 2013.

Invited are old reliables like Isiaka Olawale, Abdul Isah, B a r t h o l o m e w Ibenegbu, Ogbonnaya Okemiri and Victor Tale, and new faces like Danladi Isah, Jerome Parara and Adufu Abutu.

Heartland FC of Owerri’s free-scoring forward Isah Akor is also called.

The team will camp in Badagry, Lagos, with Coach Adamu to pick only 12 for the African championship.

•Adamu Ejo

Meets Maigari today Continues from BP quickly moved to Abuja where he will hold a meeting today with Aminu Maigari, the President of Nigeria Football Federation.

On the day he left for vacation, Emeka Inyama, the media committee chairman of the federation said that Keshi would likely be queried on arrival for not attending a meeting in Abuja but finding time to take delivery of cars promised him by Chief Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom.

It was in the thick of the tension between Keshi and the federation after the Nations Cup controversies. But NFF sources hinted yesterday that “things have calmed down and

Maigari will be holding a useful meeting with Keshi on the way forward for Nigerian football.”

Keshi is also said to be brandishing an olive branch and ready to hold a very peaceful meeting with the federation.

Sylvanus Okpala, one of his assistants was sacked while he was away. The federation said that Valere, Houndunou, another assistant would now be paid by Keshi. Keshi, we gathered, would discuss these matters with Maigari, hoping to amicably resolve the issues that caused the actions.

“He will be telling them of the need to appreciate the fact that you don’t change a winning team,” another Keshi source said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 61

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 — 63

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Eagles get US, German visas •All set for high-profile friendly against Mexico •F/Eagles off to Germany on Saturday

T

HE Embassies of United States of America and Germany have granted entry visas into their different countries for players and o f f i c i a l s of the National Team, Super Eagles, ahead of some important programmes in the summer.

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu on Monday praised the two Embassies for their usual co-operation: “The American and German Embassies have always been very understanding and we salute them for this.

“The Super Eagles have received their entry visas into Germany for the training camp, and have also been issued entry visas into the U n i t e d States for the prestigeous friendly

I’ll get Anichebe back — Keshi •Eyes Akpala, Eneramo as Emenike’s replacements

N

IGERIA coach Stephen Keshi has said he will convince Victor Anichebe to return as he considers replacements for injured Emmanuel Emenike.

Emenike has suffered

another long-term injury after he was sidelined for about two months with a hamstring injury he picked up against Mali in the semi-final of the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Continues on Page 60

•••Meets Maigari today

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has returned to the country after a short vacation in the USA

where his family resides.

Keshi returned Sunday night and Continues on Page 60

•Mba with Mexico at the end of this month.”

The delegation of h o m e - b a s e d professionals and officials will depart Nigeria on the night of 16th May for a two-week training camp in Nuremberg, Germany, and will fly into Texas,

Continues on Page 60

Today’s Fixtures EPL

•Keshi

•Akpala

ON STAND BY: Mike Eneramo may be called up

by Keshi

PUZZLE

SERIE A Roma v

v West Brom v Swansea

Chievo

7.45pm 7.45pm 7.45pm

QUICK CROSSWORD

Sudoku TODAY'S

Man City Wigan

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Obtain (6) 5 Pant (4) 8 Animals (5) 9 Tune (3) 10 Colour (4) 11 Nearest (4) 12 Measured (5) 13 Underpants (6) 16 Sated (4) 18 Pain (4) 20 Lump (3) 22 Ballad (3) 24 Long (4) 25 Swift (4) 28 Relish (6) 30 Headdress (5) 32 Fashionable (4) 33 Inactive (4) 34 Spring (3) 35 Demon (5) 36 Adroit (4) 37 Purloined (6)

DOWN 1 Tattered (6) 2 Sweater (8) 3 Snub (6) 4 Gloomy (9) 5 Widespread (7) 6 Imitated (4) 7 Compassion (4) 8 Amount (3) 14 Anguish (9) 15 Timid (3) 17 Meadow (3) 19 Roundabout (8) 20 Intelligence (3) 21 Loss (7) 26 Gift (6) 27 Consecrate (6) 29 Frozen (4) 30 Argument (4) 31 Append (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

How to Play Sudoku

ACROSS: 1, Asked 9, Hemit 10, Ardent 11, Daisy 12, Real 15, Torn 17, Endured 20, Red 21, Debut 23, Exit 25, Disc 26, Defer 28, Set 30, Rebated 33, Eden 35, Nude 36, Ghoul 38, Decree 39, Repeat 40, Twine.

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Shore 2, Tread 3, Aid 4, Stated 5, Easy 6, Dry 7, Tenor 8, Stand 13, Entered 14, Lucid 16, Reacted 18, Deter 19, Bud 22, Titan 24, Tea 27, Return 28, Seedy 29, Teach 31, Tuned 32, Death 34, Chew 36, Get 37, Lee.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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