APC planned to Hack into INEC database - DSS

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62315

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

$55BN OIL MONEY:

Some senior citizens You got it wrong, FG behave like motor park replies Obasanjo 14 touts —Jonathan 8

APC planned to hack into INEC database— DSS •We suspect there was an elaborate and well

articulated plan to inflate the party’s membership data as well as hack into INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters registers across the country —DSS

•Can this wishy-washy report stand any

serious scrutiny? Can any serious intelligence gathering agency anywhere else in the world take this report seriously? This is why Boko Haram has continued to strike without any prior knowledge by our allpowerful DSS — APC

RECOVERED FROM APC DATA CENTRE?

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru & Chris Ochayi

A

BUJA—THE Department of State Services, DSS, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of an elaborate plot to hack into the voters registration data base of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It alleged that the purpose was to clone voters and party Continues on Page 5

COLUMNISTS:

Jonathan surrender to Zionist Israeli diktat •P.17

Oregbeni: Where the young have grown •P.19

Mr & Mrs

RECOVERED—Items allegedly recovered from APC office as displayed by DSS in Abuja, yesterday. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Al-Qaeda attacks French newspaper, kills 12 56

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

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POCKET CARTOON

HAJJ REPORT— President Goodluck Jonathan receiving the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar lll and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu during a ceremony to present the 2014 Hajj Report to the President at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

APC planned to hack into INEC database — DSS Continues from Page 1

membership cards to match those in the data base.

The DSS claim was based on what it allegedly recovered from the invasion of the APC data centre in Lagos on November 22, 2014.

The charges were immediately rebuffed, by the APC which described the findings as hogwash, a “disservice to Nigeria and an embarrassment to all intelligence-gathering organizations around the world.”

Revealing the alleged findings from the outcome of its investigations, DSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar, at a press conference in Abuja, said its operatives recovered a computer hard drive containing a video of 21 hacking tutorials during the raids on the APC centre located at 10 Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Ogar, a deputy director, Public Relations in the DSS, said the tutorial video focused on how to become a hacker and steps to take to avoid detection in the process of hacking web servers.

Ogar also alleged that the video explained how to hack into the systems of media houses, with the purpose of broadcasting fake stories or headlines.

She said the DSS also discovered that the APC registered under-aged persons including several infants and babies, foreigners and security personnel as members of the party.

What we discovered —DSS

She said the DSS received actionable information that a building located at No. 10, Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, was being used for cloning of INEC Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by some unscrupulous persons with intent to hack into INEC database, corrupt it and replace same with their own data.

“And that upon receiving the said report, the Service immediately took appropriate steps to investigate same by first seeking and obtaining a search warrant as required by law. This is contrary to claims by the

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude — A.A. Milne

A

N attitude of gratitude can change and literally transform a person’s life. There are four levels of living. People in the lowest rung of the ladder constantly complain. These folks are always griping and complaining. Rather than being sincerely grateful, they’re grumbly hateful. The second level is just a tad higher. These are not people who are constantly complaining; they just never give thanks for anything. They take things for granted.

The third level are those who thank God for the obvious blessings, when things are going good and everything is fine. But the fourth level, the highest level, are those who give thanks always for all things. This is the attitude that will change your life.

APC that the building was accessed illegally.

“On arriving at the building at No. 10, Bola Ajibola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, officers of this Service found that the building did not have the signpost, banner or flag of any company or political party.

“In the course of investigation, the following discoveries were made: A temporary Voters Card; Permanent Voters Card; one of the hard drives recovered from the building contained a video of twenty-one (21) hacking tutorials.

“The tutorial video focused on “how to become a hacker and steps to take to avoid detection in the process of hacking web servers, steps and procedures of system hacking, passwords cracking, decrypting, escalating access privileges, and creating backdoors to servers.

“It also explicitly explained how to evade security of databases such as Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), firewalls, and other measures put in place to deter hackers. The video outlined ways to identify vulnerabilities in systems and how to surreptitiously drop a USB flash drive in a target establishment, which when plugged into any computer, transmits malicious codes enough to gain access into and compromise the entire system of the target organization; and finally, the video explains how to hack into the systems of media houses, with the aim of broadcasting fake stories or headlines,” she said.

Registration of infants, security personnel

Ogar said further: “It was also discovered that the APC registered underaged persons including several infants and babies as members of the party.

We know that Article 9.1 of the APC Party Constitution expressly says: “Membership of the party shall be open to any citizen of Nigeria who has attained the age of eighteen (18) years and accepts the aims and objectives of the Party..."

According to her, the APC registered several security personnel from the Nigerian Army (NA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others, in their uniforms as members of the party.

“Furthermore the APC had multiple registrations of individuals in multiples of 16, 12, and 10; several foreigners were also registered as its members. Also, the APC filled forms without passport photographs, and have books containing names of people with their phone numbers.

“Equally discovered were several envelopes containing passport photographs of various individuals. From the foregoing, that we suspect there was an elaborate and well articulated plan to inflate the Party ’s membership data as well as hack into INEC’s voter registration database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC’s voters registers across the country.”

Allegation is hogwash, embarrassing to intelligence services — APC

Responding last night, the APC in a statement

issued by its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the development was reflective of the synergy between the security service and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to rubbish the opposition party ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Describing the allegations as disingenuous, flimsy, premeditated, partisan and an irritation, the party said: ‘’First the DSS and the PDP said the APC was cloning Permanent Voters Cards at the raided office, without a shred of evidence. Now, after a ‘ p a i n s t a k i n g ’ investigation, the DSS has found out that the APC was only planning to inflate its membership data and then hack into INEC’s database. And this is the outcome of its massive, months-long investigations?

"This would have been funny if it were not from a

primary domestic intelligence agency saddled with a great responsibility. Can this wishy-washy report stand any serious scrutiny? Can any serious intelligence gathering agency anywhere else in the world take this report seriously? With this kind of findings, one can now understand why Boko Haram has continued to strike at times and places of its own choosing without any prior knowledge by our allpowerful DSS. "Even the presentation of the report by a poorlytrained and highlypoliticized spokesperson of the DSS worsened the so-called findings. Why would the spokesperson of a national agency sound like a megaphone for the ruling party, freely castigating the opposition spokesman and a number of uninformed members of the public? Why does she have to go personal in presenting a report that supposedly is in the national interest?

"We have always warned that our democracy is in clear and present danger, not just from desperate politicians, but also from institutions of state that have compromised in their roles and resorted to crass lawlessness. The DSS’ ‘findings’ today have given us another reason to repeat this warning.

"While we are willing to meet the DSS in court, we can confidently say that the ‘confessions’ extracted from the arrested persons, after they were subjected to incredible acts of torture, cannot even stand in any court of law," APC said.

The party recalled that in its statement of December 5, 2014, it accused the DSS of resorting to the use of torture to obtain forced confessions from those who were arrested during the first raid on the party’s Data Centre in Ikeja.

"In that statement, we called the action of the DSS a contravention of the UN Convention against Torture to which Nigeria is a signatory and a violation of the citizens’ fundamental human rights.

"We also said the DSS shackled the hands and legs of those arrested and blindfolded them

while they were being taken to Abuja. The arrested persons remained in chains even at the dark detention cell where they were made to sleep on the bare floor for the 10 days they were detained illegally.

"Guns were pointed at their heads by DSS personnel who threatened to shoot them, while a pregnant woman among those who were arrested was denied access to her drugs even when she started bleeding due to the torture to which she was subjected by the DSS. Now the DSS has confirmed what we said in that press statement.

Is anyone still surprised at the action of countries that are distancing themselves from Nigeria over human rights violations?" it queried.

APC said the impending release of the ‘great findings’ by the DSS after its world class investigations must have been the reason why the agency recently threatened it would arrest any politician who makes inciting comments, adding: "Apparently the DSS needed to silence all so that no one will dare criticize its earth-shaking

‘findings’."

It confirms our claim— PDP

In its reaction to the development, the PDP said the revelation was a confirmation of what it claimed as the sinister plan of the APC to compromise the electoral system.

The party said: “When we alerted Nigerians that the APC is on a sinister mission against this country, some people dismissed us as crying wolf and playing to the gallery. Now that they have been exposed, the world can see that the APC is indeed a party of criminals in desperate quest for power.

“Everyone now knows on what strength a party which lacks genuine followership among the people has been boasting that it will emerge victorious in the elections with threats of violence if it loses."

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Ogun Police parade pregnant fake ASP

By Daud Olatunji

A

B E O K U TA — A N alleged fake Assistant Superintendent of Police, 35-year-old pregnant Funmilayo Balogun, was paraded yesterday by Ogun State Police Command for fraud.

The suspect was reported to have specialized in defrauding car dealers and other unsuspecting victims in Lagos and Ogun states.

Eight other robbery suspects, a murder suspect and an Islamic cleric, accused of abduction and rape, were also paraded.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, while parading the suspects at the Special AntiRobbery Squad office, Magbon, Abeokuta, said Balogun was a serial fraudster, who had duped many car dealers.

He said her last exploit which went sour, happened in October in Abeokuta.

His words: “Balogun, sometime in October, came to Abeokuta, dressed in police uniform, and defrauded a car dealer in OkeIlewo area of a metallic ash Honda Accord Crosstour, worth over N4 million.

“Officers later traced Balogun to her base in Lagos, where her husband, Rasheed was arrested and used as a bait to arrest his wife. The suspect confessed that she had sold the car for N2 million to someone in Port Harcourt.”

The suspect confessed that she had duped many car dealers in Lagos and Ogun states.

She said she was dismissed as a Corporal in 2010 after she was discovered to have forged certificates at Police Academy in Kano, when she went for a course to become a Superintendent of Police.

Fire kills one, razes Warri market

By Egufe Yafugborhi & Perez Brisibe

W

ARRI—FIRE killed a store attendant at the Pessu Industrial Estate wing of Pessu Market, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, yesterday.

The fire, which reportedly started at 11a.m. in one of the

zOnlookers pick burnt chickens Supervisor at one the offices, Chetans Nig Ltd, a skills training centre also affected by the fire, said: “Welding equipment, air conditioners and other office appliances in our centre were all burnt.”

When Vanguard visited the

scene, fire was still blazing in the building as witnesses were seen helping themselves with the burnt chickens.

The deceased, Mallam, was said to have been evacuated for burial by his Hausa relatives at press time.

Parts of Pessu Market affected by the fire, yesterday. PHOTO: Egufe Yafugborhi.

Man beats wife to death in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

A

KURE—A 56-year-old man, Oluwole Oloyede, has been arrested by the Police in Akure, Ondo State capital, for allegedly beating his wife, Morayo, to death over a disagreement.

Oluwole, according to eyewitnesses, beat his wife to

coma. Efforts by their neighbours to mediate during the fight were rebuffed.

The husband was said to have asked the neighbours to mind their business as he was the “owner of his wife and was out to discipline her and teach her some manners.”

The couple reportedly fought for over 30 minutes using

dangerous weapons on each other. At a point, the couple locked themselves in and continued the fight, until neighbours forced their apartment door open.

The deceased was reportedly met on the floor bleeding profusely. She was said to have been rushed to the State Specialist Hospital,

Suspected burglars invade Bayelsa airport, kill guard

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

‘ASP’ Funmilayo Balogun.

stores at the shoreline of the Pessu Market River, also gutted a poultry farm in one of the affected blocks and completely razed some stores.

The victim, simply identified as Mallam, was reportedly sleeping in one of the stores in the market when the fire engulfed the shops.

Fregene Omaweshogua, a

ENAGOA—ARMED men invaded the Bayelsa State Cargo Airport site in the outskirt of Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state and stabbed a security guard to death.

The deceased, in his 40s, a father of three, was identified as Seleke Odudu, an indigene of Ekeremor. The incident occurred at 3.30a.m.

Though the motive for the attack could not be immediately ascertained, sources told Vanguard that

the invaders might have been burglars on a mission to loot the store of the construction firm handling the Cargo Airport project.

The armed men, seven in number, who came in a speedboat, were said to have stormed the Cargo Airport site through the Ikole waterways and headed to the construction firm’s store room, before they were confronted by the security guard.

One of the invaders reportedly stabbed the security guard on the stomach and abandoned him in pool of his blood. The invaders were said

to have retreated and disappeared into the night in their boat.

The badly injured guard was rushed to the hospital by sympathizers, who came to his aid, but was confirmed dead by the doctor.

The corpse of the deceased had since been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre for autopsy.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Bustwat, confirmed the incident, saying “the command has commenced investigation with a view to arresting the culprits and bringing them to justice.”

Akure, where she later died.

The suspect is currently being detained by the police and will be charged to court for murder.

Police spokesperson, Wole Ogodo, said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as detectives complete their investigations.

Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

Three robbers nabbed

In another development, three members of an armed robbery gang said to have been terrorizing the residents of Ode Aye in Okitipupa area of the state have been arrested.

They were arrested after they robbed one Benson Clementinah of cash and other valuables at gunpoint.

Police sources said the suspects were residents of Gbagudu Street, Idepe, Lawoye Street, Ode-Aye and Igoorisa Street, Ode Aye, all in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

The victim identified the leader of the gang that robbed her, when they were paraded by the Police.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—7

Struggling for food at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, yesterday.

PHOTOS: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Preparing Amala at Agege, Lagos, yesterday.

UNIBEN students set Edo govt bus ablaze over property demolition

Over N5m, goods destroyed by fire in Lagos

By Esther Onyegbula

zIf they can produce stay of execution order, I ‘ll resign— Attorney Gen

By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—STUDENTS of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, yesterday, attacked property of the Edo State Government in retaliation to the demolition of property given to the university during the administration of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia.

A luxury bus belonging to the Edo City Transport, popularly known as the Comrade Bus, with number plate ED129BH, and another truck were set ablaze by the protesting students, who

described the action of the state government as unconstitutional.

Students of the university and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have been protesting the demolition of 18 property given to the university during the Ogbemudia-led administration in the state.

The protesters blocked the entire Benin-Lagos Road for over two hours before armed soldiers and Policemen were deployed to disperse them.

The students also took over the Ugbowo axis in continuation of the protest.

It’s gangsterism—UNIBEN

Meanwhile, at a joint briefing, counsel to the university, Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo and UNIBEN-ASUU Chairman, Professor Anthony Monye-Emina, accused the state government of engaging in gangsterism by embarking on demolition of the property, when there was a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, wherein the university was seeking a stay of state high court judgment of December 16, 2014.

However, state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahagbon,

Police nab four suspected assassins

By Esther Onyegbula

T

HE Police in Lagos State have arrested four suspected hired assassins, who were allegedly contracted to kill a Nigerian returning home from London.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects, identified as Salami, 23; Dare, 31; Fatai, 43; and Taiwo, 37, had perfected plans to assassinate a man (names withheld) before they were

arrested through a ‘sting operation’ of the Special AntiRobbery Squad, SARS. According to reports, the suspected assassins, along with their client, went online and printed the victim’s picture, which would be used to identify him on arrival.

It was gathered that to prove that they were capable of handling the job efficiently, the suspects showed the client their arms and ammunition.

However, the suspects met their Waterloo as they were nabbed while attempting to collect part payment for the operation.

“Three guns were recovered, while one of the suspects, identified as Sky, is currently at large with a sub-machine gun.

Speaking to Vanguard, the brain behind the operation, Dare, said: “I was born and brought up in Mushin but I live in Ota. I am from Osun State.

“Apart from Kamuri, Fatai and Afeez did not know the job was to assassinate somebody. They thought it was an electioneering job, because I did not tell them everything.

“I was arrested when I went to collect the advance payment of N300,000 for the job.

“We wanted to use the money from the job for Christmas celebration. I promised to pay Fatai N10,000 for showing his gun to the Chairman (the client). We wanted to dupe the Chairman; we did not intend to kill anyone.”

has challenged the university to produce the stay of execution order, insisting that “they are only trying to misinform the public and politicize the issue.

“There was no stay of execution order. Appealing a court judgment does not mean a stay of execution order. Let them produce it; I challenge them.

“As I speak, the four respondents involved in this case which are the Edo State Government, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the AttorneyGeneral and the Commissioner for Lands have not been served with any court processes since the December 16, 2014, when judgment was given.

“I also want to state categorically that if the University of Benin and their counsel are able to show proof of service of any application for stay of execution of judgment on any of the four respondents, I will resign and go back to my village to farm.”

UNIBEN’s petition

In a petition to the InspectorGeneral of Police, UNIBEN alleged that thugs were used to harass and demolish their property and appealed to the IG to protect the staff of the university so as to avoid break down of law and order.

It stated: “This is a case in which though the High Court ruled in favour of the state government, all constitutionally-guaranteed means of appeals are yet to be exhausted and in which our clients have exercised diligence towards exercising its right of appeal.

“It is a case in which the state government and its proxies know they stand a very slim chance of success on appeal.

Hence they have resorted to intimidation and threat to life.”

A

plank market at Iyana Ishashi along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos State, was gutted by fire in the early hours of yesterday, destroying over N5 million cash, said to have been left in shops, and goods.

Though the cause of the fire is unknown, some of the affected traders suspected that it could have been caused by power upsurge, while others alleged that it was caused by a lit cooking stove which one of the food vendors apparently forgot to put out.

When Vanguard visited the scene at 9a.m., traders were wailing and lamenting their loss, alleging that rescue operations started late.

A trader, Mrs Ladi Adebanjo, said she lost two shops stocked with wood polish.

Another trader, Sikiru Kamori, said: “I lost three shops to the fire. One of them belonged to my mother.

“Apart from the goods that were consumed by fire, we also lost a huge sum of money. Many traders had cash stored in their shops because they do not use banks and would not take money home to avoid robbers.”

The South-West zonal Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed the incident, said that the fire was successfully put out after the sawdust was dampened with water, adding that no life was lost.

8—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Some senior citizens behave like motor park touts —Jonathan

By Ben Agande BUJA —PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, lampooned some unnamed senior citizens in the country for their provocative and divisive statements, saying though these people would like to be seen as statesmen, they behaved more or less like “motor park touts.”

Jonathan spoke when he received the executive and members of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Northern Elders Council, NEC, led by Alhaji Tanko Yakassai at the State House, saying mere occupation of a big office in the past did not confer statesmanship on any body.

He also told the delegation that it was wrong for anybody to accuse him of hating the north, saying some of his closest aides are from the north.

Although the President did not name any politician, there has been no love lost between him and former President Olusegun Obasanjo who had in recent past criticised his administration over alleged non-performance.

Obasanjo on Monday also accused Jonathan of squandering about $55 billion savings in the excess crude account and the nation’s foreign reserve.

On the allegation that he did not like the northern part of the country, Jonathan said those spreading the rumours were unfair to him.

He said that he had been in the forefront of ensuring that the north is treated like every other part of the country as demonstrated by several projects sited in the north by his administration.

He said: “Some people say Jonathan hates the north, I have heard that statement and I used to ask the Vice President, Namadi Sambo: they say I hate the north but you are here. I asked the National Security Adviser and my Principal Secretary the same thing.

"In fact, my Principal Secretary now had been my Principal Secretary since I was the deputy governor. I never knew I was going to come here as Vice President not to talk of President.

But I have known him since I was the deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

“My Chief Detail, Yusuf from Borno State, has been with me since I was a deputy governor in Yenagoa and I see him as a good person and I have carried him along with me. So I had to ask how can somebody wake up and say I hate the north?

You are ordinary motor park tout

I'm a Talakawa (down trodden)

A

Jonathan said: “Some people call themselves statesmen but they are not statesmen they are just ordinary politicians. For you to be a statesman is not because you have occupied a big office before but the question is what are you bringing to bear. Are you building this country or are you a part of people who tell lies to destroy this country to create enmity and make people who ordinarily would have been living together to fight themselves? Are you planning to set the country ablaze because you did not get that particular thing you want?

“At the appropriate time Nigerians will know all of us even though I know most of you know us but the younger ones do not know. Some people are hiding under some big names and creating a lot of problems in this country. Making provocative statements in this country; statements that will set this country ablaze and you tell me you are a senior citizen. You are not a senior citizen; you can never be. You are ordinary motor park tout.

“Because, if you are a senior citizen you will act like one. It is not because of the offices we occupy, it is by divine grace and providence that some of us occupy these offices. But what role are you playing to build this country?”

I don’t hate the North

“I tell Nigerians I come from the down trodden; what you call the Talakawas. I come from that level and I am here today, talking to Alhaji Hassan Adamu because I went to school. And I said the only thing that can liberate an individual or a group of individuals is education. If I did not go to school, I wouldn’t have been here to talk to big people like this.

"This is what I believe in. I don’t play politics with it. It has been my policy that I don’t play politics with education.

“When I came on board I said even though as a country we have the policy on paper, every state must get a federal university. Of the 12 federal universities created, nine are in the north while three are in south.

The only three states that had no federal universities were Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Ekiti. Those who were in charge of the university establishment were not fair. For us to liberate ourselves, we must go to school.

If I hate the north would I have done that?

“We talked about Almajiri’s education and felt we must change the system. Luckily, we initiated it but now some state governments are keying into it because I know that it was education that liberated me.

MEETING: From left: Tony O. Elumelu, Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation; Rasheed Olaoluwa, Managing Director, Bank of Industry; Jim O’Neill, Chairman, Cities Growth Commission, United Kingdom and creator of BRICS; Matthew Bishop, Globalisation Editor, The Economist and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala (middle) after a meeting by some members of the Global Advisory Board of the Foundation’s Africapitalism Institute with the minister in Abuja, yesterday.

My father and grand father were canoe builders

"I would have been a local canoe builder like my father and grandfather. But I am here because of education and I feel if we must liberate Nigerian children, whether they are from Zamfara, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Delta, they must be educated.

“I feel we must enter the north with aggression through education. Whenever we get the statistics of school dropouts, I feel unhappy. The number from states in the north, some are about 50 per cent, some even more. The last was up to 70 per cent. I said no, we must change this statistics. Somebody who hates the people cannot talk about educating the children because the people we are educating are the future leaders of this country.”

Peace and unity

Asking the NEC to continue to work for peace and unity of the country, Jonathan said that countries that are great are those who have been able to over come religious and ethnic divide.

He said: “I was told that even the driver of Tafawa Balewa was a Christian. Our people lived together in those days, why not now that we have even modern ways of life. Our children leave us and go abroad, they stay together and do a lot of things together. But when we come back home we begin to build walls. This is a southerner, this is a northerner, this is a Muslim, this is a Christian; this is a Yoruba man, this is an Hausa man, this is an Ijaw man, this is a Nupe man. Is that the way we

are going to develop our country?

“America is great today because America is made up of various cultural groups, everybody makes America because ethnic lines have been so weakened that people think about America. And that is why America is great today.

Any country that begins to see herself through her tiny tribal enclaves cannot go anywhere.

“If today I’m sick, if the best doctor that can treat me is from Zamfara or Enugu or Ekiti, they will bring that doctor to treat me. They will not ask if that doctor is an Ijaw man, Ogbia or any other tribe.

"And until we get to that level where we begin to use people based on their competences, yes there must be spread in political appointment and so on, but until we get to that level where we don’t discriminate based on primordial privileges that, of course, will be the beginning of our development. And that is what we stand for.

“Today I saw a publication in the Daily Trust showing projects that have been awarded by the Federal Government, the ones for the north-east very small, southsouth very many. I had to make photocopies and distributed to all the ministers and I asked if it is true that projects are skewed by this government?

Because I am a president from the south, I have taken all the projects to the south?

“And I said all the ministers must come up and tell me how the projects are being distributed across the country

and if it is skewed you must tell me why it is so.

"One of the ministers incidentally is from the north, she is in charge of water resources. She said the publication cannot be true because Kashimbila Dam alone, the value is more than the amount quoted in that paper.

“This is to show you how mischievous Nigerians are because you want to paint Jonathan bad.

All of lies that have been told about this government, I promise you that I am working with your son and I will not cheat any part of this country.

“For the people who want to paint us in all kinds of colour, we will explain to Nigerians. They are a lot of documentations we will show Nigerians.”

NEC believes in peaceful co-existence —Yakassai

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Tanko Yakassai said: "The NEC believes in peaceful co-existence and extension of hands of fellowship to brothers and sisters from the other side of the nation.

“Nigeria is passing through political transformation and it is important to all Nigerians and indeed northerners to appreciate the fact that this country was crafted in such a manner that no one section of the country can rule the country without support of the other.

“It is unpatriotic for anybody to instigate people against any person or people because of a temporary gain. Politics of insult, blackmail and castigation of individuals shall not take this country anywhere. We, therefore, believe in peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and by working together shall we move the country forward.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—9

JONATHAN TO JEGA: Every registered

Nigerian must get PVC before Feb polls zThe cards'll be available before elections, Jega assures

By Ben Agande & Emman

A

Ovuakporie

BUJA — CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, has promised that every eligible Nigerian would be provided with his or her Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC, before the general elections next month.

Jega was responding to a request by President Goodluck Jonathan for INEC to ensure that every Nigerian, who registered to vote was provided with PVC to enable him or her vote in the elections.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has invited the INEC and other stakeholders to deliberate on the country ’s readiness to conduct 2015 general elections.

Jonathan spoke while swearing in a new National INEC Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prof. Akinola Murtala Salau, saying no Nigerian should be disenfranchised because of his/her inability to get the PVC. The President said the level of interest shown by Nigerians from all walks of life in getting their PVC was an indication that confidence was being restored in the electoral process.

He said: “Nigerians are getting worried over whether INEC can actually conduct free and fair elections because of the (scarcity of the) PVC. Talking about the PVC, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to obtain their own. If governors are yet to get their voters cards, of course that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get theirs and people are a bit worried.

“But to me I am quite pleased, not pleased in the negative sense, but because of the awareness that has come; that Nigerians want to have their voters cards.

"Before 2011, no Nigerian complained about voters card and that is why when some politicians talk, I just laugh. Nobody cared.

“Some people came on board and sanitised the electoral process but others want to take the glory.

We have to commend ourselves, that today ordinary Nigerians, businessmen, religious leaders are complaining. Nobody talked about that before 2011. So, people should commend us and I am pleased that people are talking about voters cards.

“The chairman of INEC luckily is here. All Nigerians must get their voters cards. We cannot conduct an election where some people will not have the right to vote. People must decide who rules them at all levels not just about presidential elections, at the lowest level of elections conducted

by INEC. "All Nigerians must vote and INEC must do everything possible to make sure that all Nigerians have their voters card because we cannot have a situation where some Nigerians will not vote that day.”

INEC should remain absolutely neutral

He then asked INEC to remain "absolutely neutral" to guarantee a credible election, adding that only people of impeccable character should work in the electoral body.

Jonathan stressed that only people of of impeccable character should work with INEC, adding that the choice of Professor Salau was because of his pedigree.

He said: “The INEC is supposed to be absolutely neutral in its work in order to conduct credible election because the whole world is watching INEC. You (Professor Salau) are coming into INEC at a very critical time with about 40 days to elections.

So you are coming at a critical time and I believe that the chairman needs your services. I believe Prof. Jega would even want to double the number of staff if he has the resources, to make sure that they can cope.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the swearing-in, Professor Jega promised that "every registered Nigerian will get his PVC before the election, God willing.”

Reps c'ttee invites INEC, other stakeholders

“The purpose of this event is to underscore the current burning issues on 2015 general elections and to proffer necessary solutions,” the notice by the House Committee Chairman, Jerry Manwe stated yesterday.

The invitation notice was dated January 8 and signed by the acting committee clerk, Barr.

Oscar Okoro.

Manwe said that the stakeholder would address: INEC’s level of preparedness for February’s general election as well as funding, security issues, franchise of internally displaced persons and other sundry issues arising from concerns by Nigerians.

UNVEILING: President Goodluck Jonathan receiving a customised football from Sports Minister, Mr. Taminu Danagogo (4th left); while Vice President Namadi Sambo (left); Director General, National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye (5th right); former Super Eagles Captain, Mr. Nwankwo Kanu (2nd left); President, Nigerian Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick (4th right) and others applauded during a ceremony to decorate President Jonathan as the Grand Patron and unveil the President's Cup at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

What befell Nigeria will befall you — Boko Haram leader threatens Cameroon

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AGOS — BOKO Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has threatened Cameroon in a video message on YouTube, warning that the same fate would befall the country as neighbouring Nigeria.

According to AFP, the video, which was posted on January 5, is directly addressed to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya after repeated fighting between militants and troops in the country’s far north.

“Oh Paul Biya, if you don’t stop this, your evil plot, you will taste what has befallen Nigeria... Your troops cannot do anything to us,” Shekau said in Arabic.

Paul Biya has been mentioned

by Shekau before but it is the first time that he has directly addressed Cameroon and is the first admission that Boko Haram

has been actively operating in the country.

Shekau, in military fatigues and green rubber boots, spoke for more than 17 minutes in the video, flanked by four masked Boko Haram fighters, two of whom hold the militants’ black flags.

Two others fighters are seen standing on the back of pick-up trucks fitted with heavy machineguns. Shekau fires an assault rifle into the air at the end of his address.

There was no indication when the video — entitled “Message to President Paul Biya of Cameroon” — was shot or where.

It also used the group’s preferred Arabic name “Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati walJihad” or “People committed to

the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad.”

Boko Haram roughly translates from the Hausa language widely spoken in northern Nigeria as “Western education is forbidden.”

In the video, Shekau praises his fighters “inside Cameroonian soil” and calls on Biya to “repent.”

“If you do not, you will see what will come from Allah, the AllPowerful who has control over everything in respect of chastisement and calamity,” he says, waving his right index finger.

“Your troops are nothing. Even Nigerian soldiers couldn’t do anything to us.”

He also calls on the people of Cameroon to “rebel against democracy and shun it.”

Total ends gas flaring in Nigerian oil well

By Michael Eboh

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AGOS — NIGERIA’S gas production, yesterday, received a boost, as Total Nigeria said it has ended gas flaring at its Ofon field on Oil Mining Lease, OML, 102 offshore Nigeria.

According to a statement by the company, the associated gas of the Ofon field is now being compressed, evacuated to shore and monetised via Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG. The company said the flare-out milestone will allow for the gradual increase of production towards the 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day production target through monetisation of around 100 million cubic feet of gas per day, followed later in 2015 by the drilling of additional wells.

Commenting on the development, Guy Maurice, Senior Vice President, Africa, Total Exploration and Production, said the flare-out had brought about a 10 per cent reduction in the group’s exploration and production flaring.

He said: “The flare-out of the Ofon field illustrates our commitment to developing oil and gas resources around our existing hubs in Nigeria.

“This important milestone of the Phase 2 of the Ofon project was achieved in a context of high levels of local content.

“The flare-out on Ofon is also significant for Total’s environmental targets, representing a 10% reduction in the Group’s Exploration and Production (E&P) flaring.

This achievement is a clear demonstration of Total’s commitment to the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership promoted by the World Bank.”

The Ofon field, according to the company, is located 65 kilometres from Nigerian shores in water depths of 40 meters.

The field, the company said, initially commenced production in 1997 and is currently producing about 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).

The company said: “The execution of the project also involved significant local content, including the first living quarters platform to be fabricated in Nigeria."

10— Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

FG clueless about insecurity, power, others —FASHOLA

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said the Federal Government was clueless about the challenges confronting the country.

Fashola made the statement at the commissioning of the

Cooperative Home Ownership Incentive Scheme, CHOIS City at Agbowa, Ikosi in Ejirin Local Council Development Area, LCDA, and the first Solarpowered Primary Health Care, PHC, centre, Epe. He lamented that all Abuja used to say about the country

especially on insecurity and the economy were untrue.

According to him; “First they were ignorant and later they lied to Nigerians. This shows that they don’t know what to do about the challenges confronting this country especially insecurity.

The governor noted that to further complicate the matter,

TOWN HALL MEETING: From left: Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Godwswill Akpabio, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Lagos State PDP governorship candidate, and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship candidate, at the town hall meeting and presentation of the PDP candidates to the Akwa Ibom community in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

the Vice President, Namadi Sambo made wrong and ignorant statement about Lagos, insinuating that people were leaving Lagos due to the high tax regime.

He added; “I don’t think he (Sambo) moved around the state to see how the population of Lagos was increasing daily. Also, they said that we were selling property to residents of Lagos at over N100 million. They are ignorant and they have shown it publicly.”

The governor noted that the State Government designed the Lagos HOMS to address shortage of housing in the state.

Fashola said: “The challenge before the state government was to provide affordable housing for residents of the state.”

The President of Lagos CHOIS, the agency managing the CHOIS City, Brigadier-General Tunde Reis, said that the CHOIS City was a sub-urban community that would provide opportunity for low and medium income earners to have their own houses.

Reis explained that the City will provide houses for 10,000 families in the state.

INEC not ready for Feb polls —LASIEC perm sec

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By Ikenna Asomba

AGOS—FOLLOWING the hiccups that have marred the distribution of Permanent Voters' Cards, PVCs, as well as the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise, the Election Manager/ Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, Mr. Adeyinka Jeje, yesterday, took a swipe on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, pointing out that the electoral umpire is unprepared to conduct the general elections come February 14 and 28, respectively.

Jeje, who in a statement titled: “INEC: PVC, CVR and the 2015 elections,” argued that the three days mappedout for the distribution of PVC and the relegation of subsequent collection to INEC Local Council Offices, has not been managed effectively, arguing that investigations show that just a meagre 30 per cent of eligible voters have collected their PVCs.

Lagos cautions residents over persistent harmattan

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

AGOS—AS harmattan haze persists, Lagos State Government yesterday, urged residents to take precautionary measures as the state is to experience the dry dusty weather otherwise called harmattan for some time to come.

The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who stated this, yesterday, said the weather forecast from the Ministry of the Environment indicated that the maximum temperature expected all through this

week is 31oC while the Minimum temperature of 25oC is expected.

Bello said that the weather is going to be hazy while dusty warm days will be experienced early in the morning and fog is expected in the evenings.

He therefore advised all motorists and other road users to be cautious as visibility will be impaired, reduce speed limits and observe road signs so as to prevent accidents.

According to him; “As our environment becomes dusty and hazy we urge residents to also observe basic health and

environmental precautionary measures such as regular hand washing with soap and water as the weather may cause cause catarrh, pneumonia, asthma, malaria and other respiratory related illness which maybe rampant during this period.

He therefore, warned residents to avoid bush and waste burning during this period as this may lead to fire outbreak as well as ensure that drains around their homes are well cleaned and maintained to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes (malaria causing parasite).

Akpabio presents Agbaje, Udom to Akwa Ibom community in Lagos

By Dapo Akinrefon

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AGOS—GOVERNOR Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, presented the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Udom Emmanuel to AkwaIbom residents in Lagos State.

He also appealed to indigenes of the state to also ensure victory for the President Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14 presidential election.

Speaking at an event held at the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, Akpabio described Udom as a thoroughbred politician who will continue with his giant strides in Akwa Ibom State.

According to him; “I am presenting to you a true son of the soil, Udom Emmanuel.

Many politicians in Akwa Ibom have shown capability, but he is the one God has chosen. I urge you all to give him your maximum

support and encourage your people at home to vote for him.”

While presenting the PDP candidate for Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, Akpabio said he is confidentthatAgbajewillemerge the next governor of the state because he is a grassroots politician who enjoys the support of all.

Agbaje in his address, said if elected, his administration will not discriminate against but give non- indigenes in the state equal opportunity to excel.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 —11

EKITI ASSEMBLY CRISIS: 19 APC lawmakers

seek Reps intervention A

By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—THE embattled Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin has said all the 19 All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmakers in the assembly have formally requested the intervention of the National Assembly over the face -off between them and the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose.

Omirin equally declared the intention of his colleagues to storm the House any moment from now for their legislative business.

The embattled speaker who spoke with newsmen at his Aisegba Ekiti country home yesterday on the crisis in the House, said the APC legislators have no option than to report Fayose to the House of Representatives for illegally stopping them from performing their duties and withholding their salaries and other allowances .

He said it was quite unfortunate that Fayose has no genuine love for Ekiti people for allegedly foisting Hon. Dele Olugbemi, whom he described in unprintable words on the populace as factional speaker.

under the law to stop our salaries.

We belong to different arms of government and he has no reason to act in this most unlawful way,” Omirin stated.

I never requested for Christmas gift from Fayose

Omirin added that he never requested for Christmas gift from the Governor contrary to what the he told the public in Lagos, saying such allegation is petty and flies in the face of common sense.

He said: “I want the CP, Mr Taiwo Lakanu to publish what I wrote in the undertaking whether

I said I was being misled by APC leaders. ‘’I cannot be tele-guided by anybody at 59. My dealings with Fayose since he was sworn in had made me realize that his government was founded on falsehood and blackmail.

“I have tried with my colleagues to reach a truce with him, but each time we made efforts what we used to see was a petition to all security agencies blackmailing us that we were planning to invade the state with thugs and security would be stationed everywhere to stop us.

'Fayose called me on New Year day'

“On the New Year day, Fayose called me to extend his new year greetings and he jocularly requested for his Christmas gift and I quickly replied that he should be the one to give me Christmas gift.

“I found it so funny to read on the pages of newspapers that Fayose said I requested for Christmas gifts. How can somebody whose salary has not been paid for months who never requested for it be asking for ordinary bag of rice as Christmas gift? This is petty and I won’t be part of it.”

WALK FOR CHANGE: From left: All Progressives Congress, APC, Vice Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, his wife, Sherifat, Hon. Ayo Omidiran and others, acknowledging cheers from supporters, during a Walk For Change to mobilize support for Buhari/Osinbajo presidency in Osogbo, yesterday.

Nigerians won't recognise themselves in 4yrs if they vote Jonathan —BUHARI zAs Osogbo welcomes APC vice presidential candidate

By Chidi Nkwopara, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu, Gbenga OKke, Egufe Yafugborhi, Gbenga Olarinoye Emmanuel Una, Perez Brisibe & Chinonso Alozie

C

ALABAR—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned that Nigerians would not recognise themselves in four years time if they allowed the degenerations under the present administration to continue for another four years.

The city of Osogbo, capital of Osun State also yesterday stood still as the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo joined thousands of residents in a Walk for Change procession.

The rally tagged “Nigerians walk for change (Buhari/

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—A former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Water Resources, Adekunle Otun (a.k.a Kope); his elder brother, Alhaji Rasak Otun and Prince Demola Alatishe, yesterday, led hundreds of members of the Dipo Dina Movement, DDM, to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Dina was a chieftain of the defunct Action Congress of Congress, ACN, and a leading governorship candidate of the party before he was assassinated on January 15, 2010.

Over 5,000 members of the group defected to the PDP at a reception programme held at Ijebu-Ode. Speaking shortly after they were received by the party leaders, including the state chairman, Adebayo Dayo, Amosun’s former aide said the APC lied to them that late Dina was killed by PDP.

....APC candidates want INEC to provide PVCs for Lagosians

Contacting Tambuwal

“We have contacted the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on the need to have an interface with us. They are reconvening next week and we will be there to state our position.

I believe something will be done over this illegality.

“Governor Fayose has no power

Amosun's aide, Dipo Dina's group dump APC for PDP

Osinbajo),” drew people from all the adjourning towns and villages who trooped to the streets to join the team on a physical exercise by walking through the major streets.

The team and crowd snaked through streets of Oke-fia, Alekuwodo, Olaiya, Oluode market and ended at the Osogbo township stadium.

Buhari spoke at a campaign stop in Calabar just as Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State flayed President Goodluck Jonathan for failing the test of brotherhood in his alleged failures to address the issues of underdevelopment of the SouthSouth people.

Also receiving Buhari during another campaign stop in Owerri, Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha flayed people of the South East in the frontline of the Jonathan campaign, saying that

their support was without recourse to the marginalisation of the region by the administration.

Buhari on his part accused the Jonathan administration of

lacking in any plans to fight corruption.

Buhari also made a late evening campaign stop in Warri, Delta State ,where anxious party supporters defied the delay to receive the presidential candidate of the opposition party.

Ekiti Assembly sacks 180 staff

A

By Gbenga Ariyibi

DO EKITI—NO fewer than 180 workers of Ekiti State House of Assembly who were said to have been employed irregularly by the immediate past administration in the state have had their appointment terminated by the management of the Assembly.

Some of the workers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity alleged that the factional speaker, Hon. Dele Olugbemi actually told them that they were not properly employed

by the past administration.

The affected workers claimed that the new speaker, Hon. Dele Olugbemi was said to have announced their sack in a statement during the monthly prayer meeting to usher in the new year at the Assembly Complex, Ado Ekiti, on Monday.

They claimed to have been properly employed by the immediate past administration, appealing to the Government to reverse the action in the interest of peace.

L

By Gbenga Oke

AGOS—LAGOS State governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, in Lagos urged the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure over six million registered voters in Lagos state get their Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, ahead of the elections.

The candidates which include Lagos State governorship candidate, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, the deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Oluranti Adebule, Lagos West senatorial candidate, Mr Olamilekan Adeola, expressed concern over hitches in the distribution and collection of PVC’s in Lagos State.

12—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

FEBRUARY POLLS: Delta PDP inaugurates campaign c'ttee zUduaghan, urges delivery of candidates

By Festus Ahon

A

maximum vote to President Jonathan and Sen. Okowa.

“This is not time for negative media propaganda. Use your talents to deliver our candidates. It is going to be a door to door campaign. We have the structure on the ground, we have a lot of achievements both at federal and state levels to market to our people. Let all our leaders who are active at both wards and unit levels be mobilised

to embark on this campaign.”

The governor informed the gathering that the state PDP campaign would kick off on January 13, at the Oghara Township Stadium while the national campaign train which will include President Jonathan will berth in the state on February 4.

Also speaking, Senator Okowa urged members of the campaign committee to take their assignment seriously and

mobilise all Deltans in the state to vote for the party.

He said: “Elections are close, we must campaign vigorously.

We will have rallies to let our people know that we are on ground. A door to door campaign is imperative so as to sensitise the electorate and bring out the votes.”

He harped on the unity and peace of the state and urged the party faithful to embark on issue-based campaign.

SABA—GOVERNOR Emmnuel Uduaghan of Delta State has urged members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to engage in door to door campaign to ensure they garner all the votes in next month's general elections.

Uduaghan spoke, yesterday, in Asaba during the inauguration of the Delta State PDP Campaign Committee.

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Edwin Uzor, performed the inauguration, which took place at Government House, Asaba, with the governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and members of the committee in attendance.

He reminded members of the party that the celebration of the party's primaries was over as it was now time to prepare for the main elections, adding that members of the party should embark on a door to door campaign to sensitise Deltans on the need to vote massively for PDP candidates.

He said: “The celebration of the primaries is over, what is important now is the main election. Let us put what happened at the primaries behind us and come together PARLEY: From left: Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta PDP governorship candidate; Governor as a family to deliver our Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Mr Sam Amuka, Publisher, Vanguard Newspapers and candidates in the February Mr Ted Iwere, at a parley by Senator Okowa with Deltans in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi elections because we have to Bamidele. give 100 percent support and

Omatseye drags APC, INEC to court over primaries

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DELTA State All Pro gressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Delta South, Mr. Temisanren Omatseye, has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to court, over alleged plot to recognise Prince Yemi Emiko as winner of party ’s primaries held on December 8, 2014.

Meanwhile, the Temisan Omatseye Campaign Organisation has called on APC national leadership to declare Omatseye as the winner of the primaries and announce his name as the senatorial candidate of the party for next month’s polls.

Abdullahi Yusuf, Media Assistant / Strategy, Temisan Omatseye Campaign Organisation in a statement, yesterday, said: “The primaries were conducted in a peaceful environment

until an attempt was made to disrupt the process. At the end of that, the police and other security agents present were able to secure the ballot papers and all electoral materials including the accreditation papers used in conducting the elections.

“In addition, members who conducted the poll were taken safely by the police to the Oleh Police station, where it was decided that the election ballot papers be counted in the presence of the INEC officials, the electoral panel, the electoral body, the police and the Department of State Security. After the count, it was thereafter declared in the collated scores that Prince Omatseye had 424 votes; Prince Emiko pooled 181 votes while Dr. Austin Urette had 18 votes.

“It, therefore, is a surprise to the organisation, the electorate and Prince Omatseye,

the aspirant, that a so-called panel headed by one Osita Okechukwu, presented a totally different result from the actual and legitimate result of the primary election.

“It is also surprising to us that the party has accepted these false results, and we have been made to understand and reliably believe that the name of Prince Emiko, who did not win the primaries, and who pooled votes far less than Prince Omatseye, had been forwarded to INEC by the party.

“We wish to inform the general public and most especially, INEC, that any attempt to recognise Prince Emiko as the duly elected candidate for the APC Delta South senatorial district is illegal, null and void and of no effect, as it is clear, unquestionably and evi-

dently so, that the winner of the APC Delta South senatorial district primary election remains Omatseye.”

Okocha cautions youths against political violence

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for the Obio/Akpor federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Chief Tony Okocha, has cautioned against acts of political violence in the area during the general elections.

Okocha, yesterday in Rumigbo, Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, while flagging off his campaign, expressed the hope that he will win the election.

‘Okowa'll reinforce healthcare delivery in Delta'

By Emma Amaize

A

SABA—A member of the 26-man medical committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organisation in Delta State, Dr. Isioma Okobah, has assured that the governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, would strengthen healthcare delivery in the state if voted into power.

Okoba, after the campaign organisation was inaugurated in Asaba, yesterday, affirmed the resolve of the medical team to work with Okowa towards the implementation of his Health Insurance policy that would cover majority of Deltans.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—13

& 0 < .

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Life and times of Ukpabi Asika coming

A

BIG multimedia project featuring a website, two book launches, a documentary and an exhibition highlighting the life and times and activities in and out of office of late Dr. Ukpabi Asika, former administrator of East Central State is to be unveiled soon.

According to Obodoechina Asika, son of the erudite scholar who was the only civilian amongst the soldiers in the realms of Nigeria leadership during and immediately after the Nigeria civil war,”the multimedia project is one of the biggest projects on any known Nigerian leader and has been crafted over the past three years to throw light on the man.

"It consists of a website, a full archive of documents, letters, important policy information and private communications.

PDP'll reclaim Kano, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Sokoto, others, Metuh boasts

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA — AHEAD of next month’s general elections, the national

leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, boasted, yesterday, that it will reclaim all the states it lost to the opposition All Progressives Congress,

VISIT: From left, General Mohammadu Buhari, Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during APC visit to the Olu, in Warri, yesterday.

APC, through defection of governors.

PDP in a statement, by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said besides winning Sokoto, Kano, Kwara, Rivers and Imo states, it had put in place measures that would enable it win additional states, especially Lagos and other states in the South West.

According to Metuh, with the candidates it was fielding for the elections and what he termed, verifiable record of performance and the support of a majority of the voting population, it would win overwhelmingly next month.

He said: “The PDP stands out as the only party that commands genuine followership among Nigerians irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliations. This will drive the voting pattern and reflect accordingly in the results of the presidential, governorship, National and states assembly elections across the federation.

$55bn: ‘You got it wrong,’ FG replies Obasanjo

By Emmanuel Elebeke

T

HE FEDERAL Government, yesterday, responded to the allegations made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, including an alleged squandering of the nation’s $55 billion foreign reserve.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala explained that the former President got it wrong, stating that former President Obasanjo left a gross reserve of $43.13 billion, comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5 billion, $9.43 billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in Federal Government’s savings in May 2007.

It stated that the reserve peaked at $62 billion in September 2008 under Yar’Adua when crude prices rose to $147 per barrel before falling to $31.7 billion in September 2011 as the Central Bank of Nigeria had to use much of it to defend the Naira, following the 2008-2009 global financial meltdown.

The ministry maintained that President Jonathan never in any way squandered the nation’s reserves, but appropriately utilised it in the course of normal transactions required for the development of the Nigerian economy.

The statement read in part: “It is absolutely not true that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan squandered the nation’s reserves. The facts are clear and indisputable. At the

end of May 2007, Nigeria’s gross reserves stood at $43.13 billion, comprising the CBN’s external reserves of $31.5billion, $9.43billion in the Excess Crude Account, and $2.18 billion in Federal Government’s savings.

“These figures can be independently verified from the CBN’s records.

“Secondly, it is a misconception to think that reserves are immutable or cast in stone. The reality is that since May 2007, the reserves have fluctuated in line with developments in the international oil market, rising from $43.13billion at that time,

peaking at $62billion in September 2008 during the Ya r ’ a d u a / J o n a t h a n administration, when oil prices reached a peak of $147 per barrel, and falling subsequently to a low of $31.7 billion in September 2011.

This fall in reserves was largely a result of the vicissitudes of the global economy and oil market which caused the CBN to intervene, using some of the reserves, to defend the value of the naira.

“Thirdly, the excess crude savings which is a component of the reserves, was largely used to cushion the economy at the

height of the global financial crisis in 2008-2009.

“Fourthly, it is true the savings in the ECA would now have been higher but for the fact that a number of governors, against strong professional advice, actively kicked against continuous building up of the ECA and, indeed, pushed for its sharing. It is on record that states even took the Federal Government to court on this matter,.

“In the fifth place, it is also worth noting that the Jonathan administration built the first ever Sovereign Wealth Fund for the nation in which savings are being made for future generations and infrastructure investments."

“This election is beyond propaganda and empty popularity claims in the social media. Nigerians will vote; their votes will count and this will give us victory. This is because we are running on a record of verifiable achievements of our elected and appointed officers at the federal and state levels.

“Our presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and our great party have suffered undue criticisms from misguided quarters. The opposition has tried so hard to taint our image.

They have made efforts to portray us in bad light. They have insulted, abused and maligned us, but we have refused to be defined by their propaganda and deceit. We and many more innocent Nigerians became victims of bad politics by desperate individuals who promote divisions and violence in their selfish quest for power.

“Nevertheless, our satisfaction is that a majority of Nigerians appreciate our sincerity, our achievements and above all, our commitment in sustaining our democracy and the unity of our dear nation in the face of daunting challenges.

"Nigerians appreciate that it is not by chance but through hard work and careful planning that our economy grew to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the largest in Africa.

“It is also to the credit of the PDP-led administration that freedom and personal liberty, essential components of democracy, have been enhanced.

"Today, Nigerians relish all forms of freedom, social justice, and fairness in line with the ideology and manifesto of the PDP."

Why election should hold in the N/East — Babangida Aliyu

.Wants a formal declaration of war on Boko Haram

By Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

N

IGER STATE Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu has dismissed calls that election should not hold in the North East geopolitical zone currently

being ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency, describing the affected areas as the strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He also called for a formal declaration of war on Boko Haram insurgents, noting that failure to do so would make the ongoing war on terror appear cosmetic.

Aliyu in an interview on Channels Television, yesterday, called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to shun calls for election not to be held in the zone.

His words: ‘’If there is no election in any part of the country, there should not be

JUSUN STRIKE: NLC backs financial autonomy of judiciary

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—THE leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has frowned at the attitude of the Federal Government in not obeying the agreements entered into with unions and associations as well as disregard for judicial pronouncements.

The NLC said that it was the

government indifference to keeping to agreement and implementing court judgments on financial autonomy for the judiciary that had led to the ongoing strike embarked by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, that has paralysed court activities.

NLC in a statement by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson in Abuja, yesterday, noted that the

ongoing JUSUN strike was an outcome of government’s disregard for a judicial pronouncement by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Ozo-Eson said: “It is equally a product of a chain of broken promises by the office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, AGF, state governments and other appropriate government agencies.

election entirely. These are areas where the PDP polled more votes in the past. The President has said that there will be elections there.

The INEC chairman has also said so. Therefore election should hold there. I don’t think our constitution has provided that there should not be election there. If people are saying there should not be election there, they should should come up with a solution that will satisfy us.’’

On the state of emergency in troubled areas, he said: ‘’The extreme expectation of the people was that democratic structures would be dismantled in areas affected by the state of emergency.

That should not be so. We have not been able to define the purpose of emergency, if not this is the only time to declare a formal war on the so called Boko Haram.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—15

& 0 < .

16 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

FRSC promises hard time for traffic offenders in 2015

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

WKA—THE Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, has said that hard time awaits traffic offenders this year, warning that it would be a year of massive enforcement and enlightenment campaign nationwide.

Oyeyemi, who spoke while inspecting traffic flow at both ends of the Niger Bridge between Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State, said it would not be business as usual this year, adding that in addition to more frequent public education and enlightenment, there would be increased enforcement on all highways in the country.

He said: “It seemed as if we have been here for entertainment for the past 27 years. The corps will enforce the use of speed limits on commercial vehicles and overloading of goods and passengers in 2015. We are set for the year and the officers and men have been clearly briefed, kitted and inspired for the task ahead. As I am monitoring the situation on the roads, I would still be going to the churches and mosques to appeal to motorists to be doing the right thing.

“When we apprehend offenders, we will not only fine them, but they will also be charged to court and if possible, pay the fine and still go to jail.”

According to him, FRSC is not after fines, but for people to change their driving and road use habits for the better.

He explained that the commission would set up more mobile courts in various parts of the country and appealed to the state chief judges for assistance in that direction.

Oyeyemi, however, said that there was about 14 percent reduction in road crashes during the 2014 yuletide, compared to the same period in 2013, attributing it to improved planning and greater service delivery on the part of the regular and special corps marshals.

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Fr Mbaka’s comment irks Ohanaeze youths

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,the apex Igbo sociocultural group has expressed its anger over Rev. fr. Ejike Mbaka’s New Year message to President Goodluck Jonathan to step down for Major General Muhmmadu Buhari (retd) in the February 14 presidential election.

A statement by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, yesterday described the recent outburst of Rev. Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu against President Goodluck Jonathan as not only vexatious but also inciting.

According to Isiguzoro, Mbaka as a man of God should have steered clear of politics and concentrated on winning souls for God, adding that the cleric does not understand the issues he dabbled into and appeared to be under the prodding of fifth columnists.

The statement reads further:

“His followers expected him to give them spiritual food but he is now giving them a spiritual poison. Does he posses the facts and figures he was dishing out? Why should he blow hot and cold?

way he spoke for himself and not Ndigbo or the Christendom.”

Isiguzoro urged the Catholic Authorities to look into Father Mbaka's political statement to find out his real motive.

ENUGU PDP GOV TICKET: Group warns Jonathan against contempt of court

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Save Enugu Union, SEU, yesterday called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to recognise Professor Onyeke Onyeke as its governorship candidate in Enugu State.

Publicity Secretary of the group, Dr. Ikenna Ezeji, in a media briefing in Enugu, said the demand became necessary in view of President Goodluck Jonathan’s planned visit to Enugu State on Friday.

In a seven-point communique

APGA: INEC confirms Otti as Abia gov candidate

By Anayo Okoli

U

The first lady visited him and showered earthly blessings on him and he voluptuously extolled the Jonathan’s regime only to turn back to incite the polity against him. What kind of contradiction is that? Any

MUAHIA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the name of Dr. Alex Otti as the authentic Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for next month’s election.

There has been controversy over who between Dr. Alex Otti and Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba is the authentic APGA candidate for Abia state.

However, the list of candidates which was pasted at the INEC state office in Umuahia, on Tuesday evening, and authenticated by the legal office of the electoral body in Abuja, shows that Otti would run with Mrs. Uche Eme-Uche as his running mate.

With that, APGA is the only party with a woman as deputy governorship candidate.

Otti’s membership card was given as 179955 based on the information on the nomination form he had filled thereby deflating arguments by some section of the party that he is not a member of the party.

The deputy director of Alex Otti Campaign Organisation, Mr. Nnanna Ngwu said the correction of the mistake has brought huge relief to the teeming supporters of Dr. Otti, saying that the initial absence of the APGA candidate’s name on the list was an “omission” by INEC.

he read after a meeting of the SEU, Ezeji observed that “for the first time, a professor is a governorship candidate in Enugu State. This points to a political appeal to the academia, the youths and masses of Enugu State, who cry for philosophers to be made leaders.

Commenting on the legal tussle over the PDP governorship position in the state, the group wondered why other aspirants that dragged the party to court had not been suspended, whereas Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was suspended for taking a similar action.

“In view of the legal tussles challenging the choice of PDP candidate, it will be a wise step to think towards a neutral candidate. Professor Onyeke, who won the primary election, is neutral, has no factional alliance but desires to uplift his people.

“We are equally using this medium to urge President Goodluck Jonathan not to allow himself to be deceived into taking any action that will amount to contempt of court.

Nobody should be presented with PDP flag on Friday, else it will amount to contempt of court,” the group further stated.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 17

L

AST Tuesday, December 30, 2014, will go down as one of the darkest days in the practice of Nigerian foreign policy.

That day, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, BETRAYED the proud history of Nigeria’s support for the rights of oppressed peoples, long regarded as the central core of our country’s foreign policy since independence in 1960. By courtesy of a last-minute decision to abstain from voting, after earlier assurances, Nigeria helped to defeat a resolution at the UN Security Council, calling for an end to Zionist Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by 2017.

Nigerian “YES” vote would have paved the way to compelling the racist Zionist Israel state to end the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, occupied since 1967. The resolution needed nine votes from the 15-member Security Council but it fell short by a single vote, the promised Nigerian vote. But the Nigerian envoy, Joy Ogwu, at the prompting of Goodluck Jonathan, ABSTAINED along with Britain, Lithuania, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda!

It turned out that Nigeria’s volteface was a result of telephone calls from the Israeli Prime Minister, the utterly reactionary Benjamin Netanyahu and the American Secretary of State, John Kerry. To underline what transpired, Netanyahu said after the vote: “I want to express appreciation and gratitude…to the President of Nigeria, my friend Goodluck Jonathan”.

He added that: “I spoke with (him) personally that (he) would not support this decision, and (he) stood by (his) words. That is what tipped the scales”. Like a typical SLAVE conducting Foreign Policy, President Goodluck Jonathan SURRENDERED to the DIKTAT of the Zionist Israelis. In the process, our nation’s proud history was set to naught and the Palestinians that we first recognized in 1988, and who we had promised to give our vote, were similarly betrayed! The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Montaser Abuzaid told DAILY TRUST that his people and country were shocked by the Nigerian decision: “We respect Nigeria so much because it was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestine State…”

The Ambassador added that:

Goodluck Jonathan surrender to Zionist Israeli diktat “More than a month ago, I contacted the Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs and asked them if they will vote for us and they promised to do so”.

Goodluck Jonathan has been particularly close to the Israelis especially in the security sector.

The Zionists are completely embedded in the Nigerian security system regularly creaming off millions and millions of dollars in all kinds of open and hidden security contracts. And in a desperate effort to smoothen his re-election process, he has been going back and forth to Israel on pilgrimage, as part of effort to manipulate religion. The Zionists have therefore tapped into the desperate desires of the Jonathan administration to further their

Divestment and sanctions

The Zionists are completely embedded in the Nigerian security system regularly creaming off millions and millions of dollars in all kinds of open and hidden security contracts

It has been a cold year in Northern Nigeria

O

VER the last weekend I was back home in Kaduna and I also travelled to Daura, passing through Zaria and Kano.

It was a particularly cold weekend in these different places and for my stay in Kaduna I had to be dressed as warmly as I literally did in London last month.

It was amazing that by early this week, Mouftah Baba-Ahmed was reporting that temperature had dropped to 8 degrees in Zaria, the same as in London!

This is a very cold year in Northern Nigeria indeed and it is looking like the patterns of the world’s weather have become particularly severe. One point C M Y K

own agenda in Nigeria. But Zionist Israel has NEVER been a friend of Nigerian foreign policy nor has the Zionist state been on the side of the African people’s struggles for freedom. It is important to remind our compatriots that Zionist Israel was a STRATEGIC PARTNER of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa, during the African struggle against racism. Israel jointly developed nuclear weapons with its fellow racist regime all through the time that Nigeria was one of the Frontline States in the struggle against colonialism, racism and apartheid. It is also remarkable that Israel has continued policies against the Palestinian people, that major international figures like the former American President, Jimmy Carter and the highly respected Bishop Desmond Tutu, described as apartheid policies.

that most people have missed though is the plight of street kids in many Northern cities. While we wrap ourselves and wear layers of warm clothing, these kids are exposed to the elements.

Their plight has moved Jeedah Modibbo so much, that when she returned home to Kano for the holiday, she decided to organize a fund raising to purchase blankets, caps, socks and cardigans for Kano’s street children. I think such an initiative is very worthy in this very cold period in Northern Nigeria.

These children deserve warmth too.

It is the reason why an international movement for boycott and divestment and sanctions has built up against the racist policies of the Zionist state of Israel. Unfortunately for Nigeria, it is this state that has become so central to Nigeria’s security architecture under Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency.

This is the state that Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency SUPPORTED with its abstention from voting at the UN Security Council last week. Slaves cannot make foreign policy for a proud and independent people.

We have dignity and we respect the rights of peoples to selfdetermination and independence.

Goodluck Jonathan did NOT VOTE FOR ME last week and he DID NOT VOTE FOR NIGERIA! Even the “conservative” Tafawa Balewa government in the 1960s broke diplomatic relations with France after it dared to test nuclear weapons in the Sahara Desert in the 1960s.

The same administration was one of the first in Africa, to support the armed struggle against apartheid, by giving money to the ANC and Nelson Mandela, in the 1960s, at a time that Goodluck Jonathan’s Zionist Israeli friends were actively supporting apartheid! Under the military regime of Murtala Muhammed, Henry Kissinger’s letter directing Nigeria and Africa to betray

Angola’s liberation was rebuffed.

Murtala Muhammed led Africa’s support for the MPLA against the puppets of imperialism, apartheid and Zionism in the FNLA and UNITA. While General Obasanjo nationalised British Petroleum assets in Nigeria to help hasten the independence struggle in Zimbabwe! This is the proud tradition that Goodluck Jonathan’s mentality of the slave abandoned and betrayed last week.

And it was not the first time! In 2011, the African Union opposed the Anglo-American-French and NATO invasion of Libya. But in tune with the mentality of the slave, Goodluck Jonathan betrayed the African consensus and threw support behind the invasion of Libya. Today, Libya has effectively been destroyed. But the consequence has been the massive exportation of arms from Libya to fuel insurgency in West and Central Africa: from Mali, Niger, CAR, South Sudan and Darfur through to the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.

Blinded in the way that only a slave could, Jonathan was eager to be in the good books of the imperialist powers without appreciating the interconnectedness between the various African countries. As the African proverb said, he brought home an ant-ridden faggot and welcomed the visit of lizards of destabilization of our country. By betraying the Palestinian people at the UN Security Council last week and surrendering to Zionist Israeli diktat, Goodluck Jonathan betrayed a major plank of what makes us a proudly independent people!

The insurgency and the 2015 elections

T

HIS week, President Goodluck Jonathan held a meeting with Nigerian security chiefs and governors of the North eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, where there is the rampaging Boko Haram insurgency. At the end of the meeting, it was announced that despite the insurgency, elections would be held in those states in February 2015. That is how it should be! Nigeria must refuse to be intimidated by the insurgency to the point of abandoning the democratic electoral process in those states. We must show that our institutions; our political and electoral processes are central to the content of our nationhood. That the federal and state governments can come together in defense of the electoral and democratic processes deserves the support of all Nigerians. We must not allow the insurgency to truncate the pace and process of democratic development. When people are able to cast their votes and choose who would lead them, it would be a major statement of the intentions of people to build a democratic system.

It is imperative to remind ourselves that in countries with far more serious insurgencies than the Nigerian variant, elections have been held in respect of the democratic processes in these countries.

Afghanistan has held three elections in the years since the war against the Taliban insurgency commenced. Similarly, in Iraq, they have gone to the polls at least three times since 2003, while recently, the Syrian people defied the rebels and insurgents of all hues to hold elections.

The Nigerian people in the Northeast must similarly be assisted to cast their votes.

Political mobilisation Those in the IDP camps can be reached and it is important that INEC has also been making preparations for elections in the Northeast.

I travelled in the region in the last two weeks of 2014. And it was remarkable to see the level of political mobilisation and activity that is taking place in Borno and Yobe, where I visited.

People in these states are warming up for the elections and members of the political elite in these communities are meeting people; holding party caucuses and addressing the party faithful. There are posters of candidates of the different political parties and of individuals looking forward to becoming elected for various positions. The momentum is one that cannot and should not be stopped or be subverted. The 2015 general election is going to be the most important in Nigeria since the 1999 transition to civil rule. The stakes have never been as high at any point in the past sixteen years.

Nigerians are very expectant and more so in the Northeast, where the insurgency has destroyed the basic process of existence for millions of people in communities and states. These people have the fundamental right to exercise their democratic rights as citizens of a democratizing country. It is therefore a most welcome development to notice that President Goodluck Jonathan is meeting with the governors of these states as well as the leadership of the nation’s security forces in order to work out the best ways to secure the country in general and the Northeast in particular, so as to provide the enabling environment to ensure that the people in these states can actively exercise their franchise during the 2015 elections.

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 IT is amazing how Nigerians arrive at their decisions about how they would vote in the elections that are just weeks away.

Neither the presidential nor the governorship candidates are saying why they want to be in office outside the trite line on change. The way things are going, it seems that the candidates are talking about change for themselves, not any of us, on whose behalf they claim they want to be in office.

What does change mean? Would new people in office be change? Would change imply we are going to see governments do things differently? Has any of the candidates indicated how he would be different from the people he is fighting to replace? Are those in office, seeking further terms, showing that they will do better from May 29? Do they need to wait until they win another term to commence changes they are promising? Would the changes we are promised make any difference?

These questions are important as the decisions are made. Candidates in the elections, at various levels, are essentially making their pitches on entitlement to

Can The Campaigns Begin? power at this time. Some are leaning on constitutional provisions for another term.

Zoning has seen some areas produce some contenders as their major qualification for office.

If a particular zone has produced a candidate for that office, it is now the turn of the other. It sounds like, “it is our turn to manage things; nobody should ask questions, for we were quiet when you ran affairs”. These are positions that are not expected to be contested. We are apportioning positions, we are calling the practice democracy and in 16 years, it has

had dividends.

What are the issues in the elections? How would one party ’s victory and not the other ’s address insecurity, North-South divide, religious intolerance, regional poverty, citizenship, issues that are ripping the country apart? How willing are candidates to admit their roles in Nigeria’s appalling state? What are the bases of the electoral promises that are being made in the face of the collapse of oil prices? Is the quest for power so blinding that the contenders do not see challenges Nigeria faces?

The campaigns should start. Candidates should start telling Nigerians, in plain terms, what they intend to do and how the results would improve the lives of Nigerians. We have only weeks to assess the candidates.

Our country is in tension over sundry issues. The speed with which contestants in the elections change camps and deny their role in the despoliation of Nigeria should be a concern for voters next month.

Nigerians need to ask their aspiring leaders deep questions to aid their choices.

OPINION

By Emetuobi Eze

T

HE political parties primaries has come and gone, leaving winners and losers behind. Unlike most other states in the country where there have been in- fighting after the primaries, Abia state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is different. This could be as a result of the free, fair and transparent manner the primaries was conducted.

The government presented a level playing ground for all the aspirants, kudos to Governor T. A. Orji, who exhibited a high level of maturity and wisdom before, during and after the primaries. The PDP aspirants deserved commendations too for the gentlemanly manner they accepted defeat, and quickly close ranks with Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, ho picked the party's ticket.

A visit to Umuebere in Umuobiakwa Village, Isialaukwu Mbato Autonomous community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State revealed that Dr. Okezie is a product of a lawful marriage between late Pa. Ishmael and deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu, a Christian home with high moral standard. Okizer as he is popularly called by his peer group is highly love and respected by his people. He is humble and accord respect to all. A good listener, patience and accommodating, he has

Abia

2015:

Still

encouraged many youths pursue their academic careers by assisting them both financially and morally while many are recipients of his scholarship scheme.

Ikpeazu managerial skills is not in doubt, evidently displayed is the way and manner he handled his previous state assignments.

In revenue generation, he transformed Abia State Passengers Manifest And Safety Scheme (ASPIMASS) as the general manager and turned its fortunes around by making it a revenue generating agency for the government. Consequently, he was reappointed in 2011 because of

Given this track record, it is bovious that with him in the saddle, Abians will not have to depend so heavily on Federal Allocation for development

on

candidate

Ikpeazu

his track record. Given this track record, it is bovious that with him in the saddle, Abians will not have to depend so heavily on Federal Allocation for development.

In the environment sector, he was appointed the Deputy General Manager in Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba Zone in 2013. ASEPA is an agency of Government that oversees the day-today cleanliness of the environment in the state. His achievements is still been commended till date.

Dr. Ikpeazu's academic status is by no means in doubt since he qualified as a doctor of philosophy vey early in life.

He has lectured in various higher institutionss as Head of Department.

At the University of Maiduguri, he served as a graduate – Assistant in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology. He combined lecturing in Calabar Polytechnic and his Ph.D programme in University of Calabar from 1990 --1992.

At the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, he served as lecturer in the Department of Applied Biochemistry where he rose to the position of Head of Department. He has equally lectured in Ebonyi State University College of Basic Medical science and also an External Examiner

to Department of Biochemistry in University of Nigeria Nsukka.

As an Administrator, he has served as local Government transition Chairman at one point, as well as administrative manager with Cash Bond Investment and Credits Ltd. No doubt he is multi-talented and versatile in various aspects of life. I make bold to say that Ikpeazu is not just a product of zoning. Before the primaries, he was seen as the beautiful bride everybody wanted to associate with. He is a grassroot politician.

A visit to his campaign headquarter at 41 Nkporo Lane/Uzuakoli Road Umuahia, Abia State shows that over one hundred independent prodemocracy groups are registered with his campaign organization. These prodemocracy group, have their presence from ward level up to Local Government and State level., their duty will be to complement Okezuo Abia 2015 which is the campaign Organization of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, unlike other candidates from opposition parties who are mere poster and billboard candidates without feasible political structure. *Mr. Eze, a political analyst, wrote from Umuhia, Abia State.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—19

Oregbeni: Where the young have grown

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FTER the very successful carnival organized by the Resident Youth Association, RYA, Oregbeni Housing Estate, Benin City, at which this writer was a Guest Speaker, it has become clear that the good life begins from the grassroots. The Oregbeni Community is situated at Ikpoba Hill on the Eastern flank of Benin City. A community that was once at the outskirts of Benin City in the Greater Oredo Municipality is today at the centre of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. The very interesting history of this community shall be left for another day.

What we find in the paragraphs that follow is a synopsis of the address provided at the peak of the carnival on December 30, 2014.

To the extent that this address is adaptable to every locale in Nigeria and beyond, it is intended for youths everywhere.

Elsewhere, the view is popularly held that the young shall grow. But at Oregbeni, the young have

grown. Our youths have outgrown us. Quite often, wisdom consists in being able to acknowledge the efforts of the young ones who are doing what we have not been able to do.

"For five years running, you have successfully organized this annual carnival. This year, you moved the carnival to a much higher level by partnering with some reputable organizations that exist within the Estate. This innovation is worthy of commendation.

This year’s carnival has been so perfectly organized that it surpasses most of those special centres where we go in search of fun, at very high costs, in America and Europe.

Oregbeni is a land of promise. It has grown in excellence as it has grown in size. In the beginning, this Estate was so detached from Benin City that not many were prepared to buy the superior houses provided by the Bendel Development and Property Authority, BDPA. At the industrial level, this Estate stands out as perhaps the only one

By Akin Oladele

C

ITIZENS of the federal republic of Nigeria, who are worried about the qualifications of General Mohammadu Buhari as a leader who promoted autarky in its extreme form in Nigeria between 1983 and 1985, do have every reason given the emerging facts about his inability to present even the minimum requirement of just a leaving school certificate and or other credentials for pursuing the position of the president of Nigeria, question his moral. The current emerging shocking disclosures brings to the fore how and what qualifications were used to recruit him into the military without a minimum school leaving certificate, where he rose to the rank of a General and even became the Head of state in 1983.

Academic qualification is a threshold issue that cannot be waived for any citizen no matter how highly placed and irrespective of whichever region such an individual comes from except as provided by the constitution. Thus, the question must be asked: Is Buhari or any other citizen qualified to contest election into the office of the president without meeting the minimum constitutional requirement? A perusal of the Nigerian constitution at section 131 unequivocally stated that;“A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if: (a)He is a citizen of Nigeria by birth (b) He has attained the age of forty years(c)He is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) He has been educated up to at least School certificate level or its equivalent.

It is to be noted that section 131 (d) is a specific directional order for all candidates to show proof of education up to a minimum standard not below school certificate or its equivalent. But from what INEC has published, Buhari has not submitted any personal particular of minimum school leaving certificate for the 2015 election and shockingly from INEC documents displayed in all constituencies, he also did not submit anything in 2011 and never referred the umpire then to the Secretary of the Military

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in Nigeria, if not worldwide, that has two breweries. Yes, for some time now, one of the breweries brews profits while the other brews fraud.

During the Lucky Igbinedion-led Administration, this Estate was home to two civil Commissioners – the then Commissioner for Health, the late Barrister/Pharmacist Godwin Oviagele and then Commissioner for Information, Hon. Chris Agbowanegbe.

At the very peak of academics in this country, perhaps unknown to the powers-that-be, there is a school in the Estate that makes Edo State proud – the Oregbeni Estate School.

Until quite recently, when education went awry at the Federal level, this school consistently produced at least two students for the Federal Government Academy for gifted children! This is a height of excellence, which no other school in the State has achieved.

It is instructive that at Oregbeni, what started as a police post in 1985 is today a full-blown Police Division.

That is growth in size and

Do not be weighed down by the problems of unemployment.You must imbibe the reading habit because the moment a man stops reading, he stops thinking

excellence.

Years ago, when we allocated land to a young and up-coming civil servant to build his own house, little did we know that he was going to blossom into the Number One Civil Servant in the State. Today, that Civil Servant, Mr. Jerry Obazele, is the Head of Service, Edo State and he is one of us.

Similarly, very many people who grew up in this Estate are making waves across the world in various endeavours.

Our prediction is that some time, some day, the Governor of this great State will be from the Oregbeni Housing Estate. Can we make it?

Yes, we can. Let your motto be “Aim high and work hard”.

This definitely puts a big burden on you, the youth. We are quickly reminded of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) who advised that “The heights which great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight; but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night”.

You can attain the lofty heights that God has carved out for you but not by playing football all day in this arena, thereby breaking people’s louvers and destroying their roofs; but by working hard.

Football is good but whereas it cannot make all of you great, hard work can.

Cultism is evil and it must be shunned by all means! The Supreme Law of the land, the Constitution, as well as all the decent religions of the world forbid it. As we approach the 2015 elections, you must be determined to redirect your energy towards productive ends and refuse to be used as thugs to disrupt

Buhari: Certificate saga and eligibility question Board as well as previous elections he contested as evidenced in all available INEC records until this current discovery.

If the constitution did not require proof, it would not specify a minimum. To strengthen this claim the extant Electoral Act directs that such proof must be sworn to by each candidate at a Court under section 31 (2) to (5) viz (2)“The list of information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal high court, High Court of a state or the FCT, indicating that he has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office” (3) “The Commission shall within 7 days of the receipt of the personal particular of the candidate,(emphasis here is personal particular and not INEC form given to fill nor court document like affidavit) and publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest” (4) A person may apply to the Commission for a copy of nomination form affidavit and any other document submitted by a candidate at an

That INEC saddled with a statutory duty to promote good knowledge and practices of democracy (Section 1(2) of the extant Electoral Act) published as a candidate whose personal particulars it did not receive within the prescribed time frame by law is most unfortunate

election and the Commission shall, upon payment of a prescribed fee, issue the person with a certified copy of the documents within 14 days” (5) “Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the Federal high court, High Court of a state or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false” (6)” If the court determines that any of the information contained in the affidavit of any document submitted by that candidate is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election” It should be noted that for elections to the office of the president and for the purpose of display of particulars of candidates for all presidential elections, the entire country is taken as one constituency that is the 774 Local government areas of the 36 states including the FCT where these particulars have been displayed. Nigerians who have perused the affidavit of nomination as submitted by General Buhari as published in all INEC offices, as well as the copies of his similar INEC documentations for 2011 clearly revealed that a man who claims to be of integrity has not been true to Nigerians. It can be seen that as indicated in section 31(6) there is reasonable grounds to believe that a false deponent was declared in the affidavit where it indicates that all documents relating to the personal particulars of General Buhari are with the Secretary of the Military Board. First in the INEC Form CF 001 for 2015 filled by General Buhari at section C of the form, the instruction on the form clearly states “Attach evidence of all educational qualifications”, this was not done, yet an affidavit was sworn otherwise. Curiously, he did not refer INEC to this board in 2011 in his records available for anyone who cares to see how Buhari has, in breach of the constitution of 1999, contested elections

the elections.

You must continue to be your brothers’ keepers. A few criminal elements still live in this Estate.

These criminal elements are not spirits but human beings. You must constantly fish them out so that the Estate will remain peaceful for all of us.

Whereas youths in other areas are fighting and killing themselves over land, here you are, very peaceful. There is no land to sell, anyway. Maybe government should return to that era where it participated actively in providing housing to the citizenry instead of abandoning everyone to the heartless Shylocks.

Did I hear you say that times are hard? That is probably an understatement. Times are really tough. But remember that when the going gets tough, only the tough get going. The challenge posed by Ralph Emerson (1803-1882) has not been settled to finality: “Can anyone remember when times were not hard and money not scare?”

Do not be weighed down by the problems of unemployment. I have discovered from very early in life that the best time to acquire more education is during periods of unemployment. Even in the worst of times, no education is useless.

Between regular university degrees and wayside diplomas, I have more than a dozen “cardboards” that will never come near regular employment. You must imbibe the reading habit because the moment a man stops reading, he stops thinking. As we approach the New Year, you must remain resilient and take heart for change is on the way.

Once more, congratulation in this year’s most successful outing".

severally without meeting the mandatory constitutional reqirement and has been treated preferentially. Is Buhari above the law of the land or should we suspend or amend the constitution to accommodate him?

It is common knowledge that military board like any other do not keep or retain original copies of personal particulars of individuals such as birth certificates, passports, and academic credentials of any personnel, especially retired personnel after over three decades. It must also be stated, that INEC erred in law by publishing the name of a candidate without receiving the personal particulars of the candidate within seven days of receiving his nomination forms as indicated in section 31(3). This is indeed a tragedy illustrating what Nigeria has become, that an individual is so powerful that the law has to be ignored to accommodate him. Certainly, INEC printed nomination forms or High Court affidavits are in no way or by any stretch of definitions, the same as personal particulars such as school leaving certificate.

The Nigerian constitution is now finally rubbished and no longer respected. What is even more tragic is the fact that otherwise respected Yoruba political elite like Tunji Abayomi, who knows the significance of the education which our late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo gave to us, that liberated the sons and daughters of Oduduwa are the ones promoting a Buhari who has no minimum school leaving certificate as a Nigerian leader. What a tragedy of a country that an office as important as that of the president that should even require someone who possesses nothing less than a first degree , but even the minimum school leaving certificate we are now being told that is not necessary in the 21st century.

That INEC saddled with a statutory duty to promote good knowledge and practices of democracy (Section 1(2) of the extant Electoral Act) published as a candidate in all its offices the affidavit of a candidate whose personal particulars it did not receive within the prescribed time frame by law is most unfortunate to say the least.

•Mr. Oladele, a political analyst, wrote from Ibadan, Oyo State.

20 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 8, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY JANUARY 8, 2015 — 21

By Godfrey Bivbere

T

HE nation’s ports econ o m i c regulator, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has recovered consignments seized by a terminal operator, just as it reclaimed others alleged to have been declared missing.

One of the terminal operators specializing in Roll-on-Roll-Off (RORO) cargo operations (names withheld) had in September seized some consignments for alleged fraud by some vehicles importers.

According to an online publication, Shipping Day, “the terminal operator in apparent anger had seized other goods which were said to have no connection with the alleged fraud.

“Following this, the company handling the clearance had petitioned the Shippers’ Council for intervention, particularly in getting the terminal operator to release the goods that had no bearing with the alleged fraud.

“After series of meetings with all the parties concerned, the terminal operator was asked to release the vehicles which were declared as having no connection with the alleged fraud.

“However, those who were involved in the alleged fraud were compelled to pay back what were supposed to be fees to the terminal operators.

“An official of the company (names withheld) while commending the Ports Regulator for the release of the seized goods said those who were involved in the alleged fraud, mainly car dealers, have promised to settle the fees owed the terminal operator.

“The company had also

Shippers’ Council recovers seized, missing containers pleaded with the Ports Regulator to assist in getting the terminal operator to unblock the agency’s license so that it will continue to do business.

“Similarly, a firm of maritime lawyers (names withheld), it was gathered, has also commended the Ports Regulator for settling the case of a missing 2x40ft container Numbers:

TRLU5787637/CN0056774 and NYKS2310786390 at one of the terminals in Lagos.

“The firm, it was gathered, had written the Ports Regulator that the terminal operator has settled 85 percent of the conditions stipulated by the Council during the meeting of all the parties in Apapa.

“According to a source, the im-

porter of the containers has since taken delivery after the terminal operator paid N1million as a compensation to the importer to enable him offset the shipping line demurrage.

“Importers and freight forwarders who have problems with shipping service providers at the ports have always looked on to the Shippers’ Council as

Ports Regulator for intervention.

“Equally, shipping service providers had last year said they will rely on the Ports Regulator to protect its interest in the ports, particularly in relation with the responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as the landlord of the ports,” Shipping Day stated.

FORUM: From left: Mr. Robert Perry, VP, Corporate Council on Africa; Mr. Clay Neff, Chairman and Managing Director,

Chevron Nigeria Limited and Mr. Uwa Igiehon, Chief Executive Officer, Greenpark Petrochemical, at the maiden Niger Delta Development Forum, NDDF, hosted in Washington by the Niger Delta Partnership Initiatives, NDPI, a Chevron-supported foundation working to develop new solutions to economic and social challenges in the Niger Delta.

Brent crude oil price dips below $50 a barrel

T

HE price of Brent crude oil has fallen below $50 a barrel for the first time since May 2009.

It fell more than a dollar to $49.92 a barrel in early trading on Wednesday before edging back above the $50 mark.

Slowing global growth and increased supply of oil and gas have pushed prices sharply lower in recent weeks.

The price of oil traded in the United States, known as West Texas Intermediate crude, has already fallen below $50.

Many observers expect the price of oil to fall further as North American shale producers continue to supply increasing quantities of oil and gas, and the oil-producing group Opec resists calls for cuts in production to support prices.

“With no sign that Opec will do anything about over-production, it seems likely that we could well see further declines towards $40 in the coming weeks,” said CMC Markets

analyst Michael Hewson.

Oil industry insiders tell me they think it will be a year or two until prices return to around $80 - $90 per barrel.

A senior oil executive thinks Brent crude will drop to $45 per barrel, while an engineer suggested it could drop further.

Despite this, the Saudi King used a speech, delivered by the Crown Prince on Tuesday, to again insist the oil giant will not cut production, despite themselves having to decrease discounts to Asian customers as the low prices bite.

There are other signs Saudi Arabia may be feeling the pinch a little too hard, despite its large foreign reserves and cheap production costs.

The Kingdom’s main oil company has suspended a major clean fuels plant and several new rigs.

Gulf economies are now budgeting for an assumed oil price of around

$60 a barrel this year but insist that they will continue spending regardless, to build and diversify their economies, incurring a deficit if needs be.

Iraq however is suffering badly. With major security challenges there, they are already budgeting for a huge deficit.

Whilst many consumers and businesses welcome a drop in the cost of fuel, oil producing countries including Russia and Venezuela have been hit as the price of their main export falls.

The oil price has now fallen by more than half since June when the price stood at $110 per barrel.

“All the net exporters of oil are the ones that are suffering at the moment,” said Iain Armstrong, oil market analyst at investment management firm Brewin Dolphin.

“Unless you’re lucky enough to be tied to the dollar, your currency is going to be in big trouble, i.e. just like Russia.”

$176. 15 $1.125 $2,914.00

$14.93

$12.00

$0.06

$51.43 $0.33 $48. 99 CURRENCY

BUYING

$1.06

CENTRAL

DOLLAR 167 167.5 STERLING 254.641 255.404 EURO 198.997 199.593 FRANC 165.608 166.104 YEN 1.390 1.394 CFA 0.293 0.303 WAUA 242.0204 242.745 RENMINBI 26.843 26.924 RIYAL 44.501 44.634 KRONA 25.738 26.818 SDR 239.394 240.111

168 256.166 200.188 166.600 1.398 0.313 243.469 27.004 44.767 26.898 240.828

CBN Exchange Rate as 07/1/2015

22 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 23

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24 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Naira’ll depreciate to N200/$ in parallel market — FDC

By Babajide Komolafe

A

NALYSTS at Financial Derivative Company Limited have predicted that the naira will further depreciate to N200 per dollar at the parallel market.

Meanwhile the naira recorded mix performance in the foreign exchange market yesterday. At the interbank segment, the naira appreciated by 58 kobo as the interbank rate fell to N183 per dollar from N183.58 on Tuesday. The appreciation was occasioned by the huge dollar sales by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the bi-weekly RDAS sessions held on Monday and yesterday where it sold $629.39 million. But at the parallel market, the naira however depreciated by N1 against the dollar, as the paralel market rate rose to N191 per dollar from N190.

“The parallel market rate is expected to cross N200 per dollar as dollar demand pressure persists”, they said in the December edition of the Company’s monthly economic bulletin.

They however noted that “A N200 per dollar rate is only a 15 percent adjustment as against 45 percent devaluation in 2009. Although, projecting the value of naira is currently clouded by several domestic and exogenous factors, the fair value of the currency is expected to be between N180 per dollar and N195 per dollar at the interbank market.

“The naira adjustment by the CBN is timely and the depre-

ciation of the naira has reduced over time because the official rate is closer to equilibrium. A further depreciation of 3-5 percent is also expected at the official market. This is due to anticipated impact of the global oil market spiral on external and fiscal buffers which limits the central bank’s ability to support naira. In addition, if the US changes its monetary policy stance, there might be a reversal of capital flows and an erosion of some of the external reserves. It should be noted that on July 18, 2014, Goldman Sachs forecast that the naira will trade at N165/$ in 3 months, N175/

$ in 6 months and N195/$ in 12 months.”

In a review of the foreign exchange market, they noted that the Naira depreciated across all segments of the forex markets In November. The naira depreciated by 5.93 percent to close at N165 per dollar at the official market, compared to October’s closing rate of N155.76 per dollar. At the interbank market, the naira depreciated by 7.88 per dollor to close at N178.7 per dollar from N165.65 per dollar in October. While the parallel market rate lost 7.02 percent to close at N183 per dollar from N171 per dollar. So far

DONATION: From left: CEO, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Olumide Oyetan; Chief Project Coordinator/Founder, LOTS Charity Foundation, Ms Tolulope Sangosanya; and Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju, at the presentation of cheques to LOTS Charity Foundation in Lagos.

ACCA, University of London launch Masters programme

By Hope Ofobike

T

HE Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA, in partnership with the University of London has launched a Masters programme for ACCA students and members around the world.

The combination of ACCA’s global network of students and members, alongside the University of London’s network of accredited teaching institutions will present a powerful partnership.

Chief Executive Officer of the Association, Helen Brand said: “We are delighted to be the first professional account-

in December, the naira has lost 1.82 percent, 2.74 percent and 2.73 percent to trade at N168 per dollar, N188 per dollar and N183.6 per dollar at the official, interbank and parallel markets respectively.

The volatility in the forex market is expected to persist as oil prices continue to decline. The CBN will continue to defend the naira within the range of N180 per dollar and 185 per dollar at the interbank market.

“Nigeria’s external reserves declined by 5.06 percent ($1.96 million) month on month and closed at $36.8 billion in November from $38.76 billion in October.

ancy body to be able to deliver this type of programme, meaning ACCA now directly offers choice from a complete suite of professional and academic qualifications. ACCA has a long history of working with academic partners and is proud of the opportunities these partnerships offer to our students and members. Consistent with this, providing global access to a prestigious Masters qualification as part of ACCA’s professional qualification will offer our students and members the opportunity to enhance their employability even further.

“Through our strong global relationships, we know that employers in many markets

place a very high value on finance leaders having both a professional and a Masters qualification. We also know ACCA’s flexibility and portability are big factors for students when making their decision about which path to take, and ACCA, and the University of London have just increased that access and flexibility,” she said.

Also speaking on the development, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Sir Adrian Smith said: “The University is pleased to partner with ACCA to offer this pioneering programme to ACCA students and members worldwide.

“This programme fits well

with the University of London portfolio of over 100 international programmes which are offered in collaboration with our internationally renowned colleges in pursuit of our 156 year old widening access mission to learners worldwide.

The programme will support students utilising modern online tools and interactive learning activities in addition to offering a range of learning support available through our well established community of teaching institutions and online tutors. Students successfully graduating from this programme will complement their professional skills with masters’ level outcomes to support their career development.”

The Masters programme will be available from early 2016 and will be delivered through online and local institutional support, in association with UCL.

Access Bank bags IFBA award

By Hope Ofobike

A

CCESS Bank has been recognised by the International Film and Broadcast Academy (IFBA) for its support to the growth of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

The bank was awarded at a ceremony held in Lagos.

Founder of IFBA, Mr. Victor Okhai said the academy provided students with the opportunity to network with film makers and broadcasters from all over Africa and the rest of the world.

Okhai said: “The truth is that the new generation has to take over and so we have to give them the opportunity to compete in the international level. If they are to start doing films today, you will find out that our standard will shoot up.

“Of course, we needed to encourage this sector by creating a platform where talents can be discovered, nurtured and where they can get a springboard to the next level. With what we have done so far, the careers of many of them have exploded. So, for us, a natural partner was Access Bank.”

Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere, who represented the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the partnership with IFBA was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

She said: “For us, it is about partnership and support. Here in Access Bank, we are encouraged to carry out CSR. It is not just as a

bank, we are also encouraged as groups to carry out CSR initiatives and at the end of the year when we have the CEO award, whichever group has the best CSR, the bank will refund the amount spent on the project to the group. We do a lot of things and we don’t make noise about it. We make sure that these projects have a lot of impact.”

According to her, Access Bank believes “in catching them young,” hence the need for the partnership with IFBA. “We have products for children and our partnership with the academy is also in line with our mission of catching them young.” she added.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 25

President Goodluck Jonathan

Professor Peter Okebukola

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau

EDUCATION SECTOR IN 2014:

Dons score govt below average, express mixed feelings in 2015

By Dayo Adesulu

L

IKE any other year, the year 2014 would have started on a promising note for the education sector but for the almost half the year ASUU strike in 2013 occasioned by the Federal Government’s insensitivity to the sector at tertiary level. This, set the tone for the sector in 2014.

Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, Professor Peter Okebukola in his over view of the sector in 2014 said that there were at least 12 defining events in the education sector in Nigeria. He referred to these as the good, the bad and the ugly.

On the good and positive entries in the report card, he pointed out: the improved performance of candidates in the May/June Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by WAEC; increase in access as additional 982,000 were enrolled nationwide in the basic education system and the carrying capacity of the 129 universities leapt to about 1,000,000.

entrepreneurship studies programme in Nigerian universities added that its positive impact showed during the national entrepreneurship fair in December 2014. Moreover, he disclosed that funding for physical development and research by TETFund was above the N80 billion mark during the year.

These six events, he concurred, were blue marks on the report card.

Education report Analysing the “bad” and negative (red) entries in the education report card in 2014, the Pro-Chancellor identified four notable events. The woeful performance of candidates in the November/December Senior School Certificate Examination with more than 50 percent failing to earn

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Pg. 28

Extinction of History from the curriculum Pg. 28 of about 200 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok. ‘’The overall score shown in the education report card at the state and federal levels is far from the pass grade. If I were the class teacher of this student known as Nigeria, I will make the following closing comments on the 2014 performance in education: “You need to buckle up next session.

You were rather too laid back with

Continues on page 26

Establishment of more Polytechnics, CoE, commendable but ...

Out of school children "We also had the establishment of more Almajiri schools to reduce the number of out-of-school children which was put at about 10 million. The curriculum at all levels enjoyed some positive tweaking by NERDC, NCCE, NBTE, and NUC.’’ He said.

Okebukola who noted that NUC’s action was particularly striking in entrenching an improved

five credits in English, Mathematics and three other subjects. He lamented about the poor quality of teachers across all levels of the education system stating that the condition remained generally shameful and unacceptably low.

He said: “Quality of buildings and other teaching-learning infrastructure did not significantly improve and so did the poor reading culture among students not get better.’’

On the “ugly” he spoke in consonance with Professor, Oyesoji Aremu's view on insecurity of our schools. Okebukola maintained that school safety has put Nigeria on the dark side of the world map. According to him, the entry includes the alleged slaughter by Boko Haram of 43 secondary school students in Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in February and the abduction in April

Funding universities on $56 crude

By Amaka Abayomi & Ikenna Asomba

F

OLLOWING the disclosure by the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, of the Federal Government’s intention to establish federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in states where there are none, educationists are sceptical on the workability of such a project, saying government should rather focus on adequately catering for the existing institutions.

Recall that at an interactive session with journalists in Kano late last year, Shekarau said the establishment of these institutions of higher learning by this present administration

was to ensure that each state in the country has a federal polytechnic and a college of education.

“Mr President has two main focuses on the education sector, to increase access and improve the quality of education at all levels and government would continue to pay attention to the education sector in order to improve the socio-economic status of the people.

“Education is the bedrock of any socio-economic and political development, hence the need to equip our educational institutions with up-to-date infrastructure and relevant text books to improve the quality,” the Minister said. Commending the Federal Government for planning Continues on page 26

26 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Education Sector in 2014: Dons score govt below average

From left: Engr. Laolu Oguntuyi receiving a certificate of recognition on behalf of LASTVEB from MOTORMECHS during an award ceremony, in Lagos.

Establishment of more polytechnics, CoE commendable but ...

Continues from page 25 to increase access to higher education, the President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, also pointed out that such a move comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

According to the ASUP President; “while commending the Federal Government for its efforts at trying to increase access to education, we must not fail to remind government that it is important to consider how these new institutions would be funded, how to source for manpower and how they can be made autonomous so that they can be at par with their counterparts globally.

is fond of taking one step forward and three steps backwards. There are 124 federal and state owned Colleges of Education in Nigeria but none of them are degree awarding institutions.

“The concept of establishing Colleges of Education is moribund and outdated. What we should be clamouring for is for these institutions be allowed to award both NCE and degrees to its students. There is also the need to for these institutions to be upgraded in terms of improved funding and better and functional facilities.”

In the same vein, the National President, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Mr. Emmanuel Asagha, said the

Existing polytechnics “These are important issues to trash out because we don’t want these new polytechnics to be like the existing ones that have been long abandoned and are in a state of limbo.”

Pointing out that the idea of establishing Colleges of Education is outdated, the Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, MOCPED, Epe, Lagos State, Professor Olu Akeusola, is rather calling for the upgrading of existing polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

“The establishment of federal polytechnics and Colleges of Education in all the states of the federation would not solve the problems in the education sector as the existing ones are not properly equipped and catered for.

“The problem with the Federal Government is that it

The problem with the Federal Government is that it is fond of taking one step forward and three steps backward

need to establish more Colleges of Education is imperative if the intention is solely to address the gaps in teacher and technical education needs in the country.

He said “It’s a welcome development given the rising proliferation of substandard private Colleges of Education and the threats of their corrupting potentials. “there is the obvious need for more qualified teachers to meet the manpower needs in this critical sector, especially with the increasing demand for tertiary admission spaces which is presently limited in the most preferred tripod (university).

Proper funding “The first evidence of their sincerity and commitment to this ‘huge’ thinking shall be: the comprehensive implementation of the 2012 Visitation report and the 2014 Needs Assessment Report for the existing Colleges; the proper funding and deliberate equipping of the existing ones to meet international standards; and harmonization of conditions of service in all tripods to check against attrition to the Colleges by UTME candidates.

“Others are to deliberately make the teaching profession attractive to give ‘hope’ to entrants; and the critical stakeholders should be carried along to better appreciate how the get it right.

“However, the timing as it was for the 12 new Universities in terms of the somewhat inevitable political goals is worrisome.

Continues from page 25 severe consequences for your future. Work harder in the area of access, teacher quality and facilities.”

Looking into year 2015, his prediction was that no significant difference in performance will be recorded in Education sector over 2014 scores. His words: ‘’In the language of simple mathematics, the graph of performance of education will plateau, that is, will remain flat. ‘’Three factors will account for this stagnancy. One is that the slide in crude oil price will induce a lowering of funding into the education system.

With reduced funding, all those areas in which education has been encouraged to improve its performance- access, teacher quality and facilities, will suffer.

"Second, 2015 is an election year. The first quarter of the year will be eaten up by the electoral process with politicians struggling for their survival and caring little for education.

With many states unable to pay salaries, teacher welfare will suffer and this will take a debilitating toll on curriculum delivery. The second quarter will end with the swearing in of the political actors on May 29 and cabinets put in place by the third quarter.

Graph of education These new Ministers and Commissioners for Education will begin to find their feet in the fourth quarter and the year is gone. This will explain my conjecture for the plateauing of the graph. By 2016, I foresee a spurt (rise) in the graph of education as the sector will blossom again.’’

Meanwhile, appraising the sector holistically in 2014 under review, Professor, Oyesoji Aremu, Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan said: ‘’Below average pass mark and poor performance should be given to the government.

He likened the performance of the federal government to that of last two years preceding 2014. He said that the education sector witnessed a huge bombardment as a result of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East in particular and some other adjoining states to the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The sector, he added, witnessed the abduction of over 200 girls of Federal Government Secondary School in Chibok between the night of

April 14 and 15.

This attack and abduction, he insists have brought untold psychological traumas to the girls, their immediate families and has brought the collective national psyche of the country to all-time low internationally.

Others are Yobe State killing of school children through suicide bombing during morning assembly, forced closure of schools, elongated period of school break due to insurgency, Ebola virus saga and incessant movement of school children to safer schools.

The above cumulative, according to Aremu, affect not only the school-going behaviour of the school pupils, it also has some negative effect on teaching and learning generally.

These, have reflected in the results of WAEC and NECO which were below the expected standards. The last of which revealed 71 percent failure nationwide. What is witnessed at the secondary school level, is a reflection of the decadence in the education sector.

Education sector His words: “The sector, as we usher in the year 2015 demands not our collective sympathies, but our resolve to make schools safe not only for learners and their teachers, but also to make the parents and guardians emotionally at ease while their wards are in schools.

Beyond the safe school project, the government should as a matter of urgency, make the schools absolutely safe and equip the school to truly reflect 21st century challenges. The sector should also be given attention by the political class.

"Emerging countries with strong GDPs like China, Japan, Singapore are devoting a good share of their national budget to education. Even in Africa, countries like South Africa and Ghana are getting it right. The sector, therefore, deserves all the attention that it truly requires."

On her part, Prof Florence Banku-Obi, Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Calabar said: “Last year, Nigeria education sector fared better than in 2013. She gave credit to the government for the special intervention after the ASUU strike.

According to her, a lot of renovations took place in tertiary institutions particularly infrastructural development.

While Banku-Obi is optimistic that stakeholders are looking forward to a successful academic year in 2015, she urged the Federal

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 27

NITAD tasks education stakeholders on security

By Dayo Adesulu

N INDUCTION: From third left, Janeth Iyabo Jolaoso, Vice President, NITAD; Sixth, President NITAD, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi; Eight, Modupe Oyekunle, Guest Speaker; Ninth, Rev Tunde Salau; 10th, NITAD past president, Barr. Femi Kolajo; 13th, Mr. Ola Azeez, Chairman of Members and Mrs. Mofe Akinbanji, Registrar NITAD during NITAD’s 19th AGM and 14th Induction ceremony held at NECA House in Lagos.

Empower populace on health education, environment management —Adesina

By Tare Youdeowei

D

R. Adeiga Adesina of the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, has called for the empowerment of the population on health education and environmental management.

Speaking at the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation, SETPOM, conference held at University of Lagos, Adesina said empowerng the populace will go a long way in preparing them for personal concerns and for social responsibilities.

Stating that the public health concerns highlighted are issues that should not be neglected by government and individuals to safeguard the health of the population, Dr Adesina provided the concerns thus; “Particulate matter is produced from incomplete combustion of fossil

fuels and biomass. It is a concern as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and blood stream and it is dangerous at any concentration.

It is carcinogenic.

"Ground level ozone (O3) emission is an dangerous air pollutant. It causes damages to human health and crops. Air pollution by pollens and spores of plants do cause conjunctivitis and increased rate of asthmatic crisis in asthma patients.

"Cigarette smoking and air pollution from combustion of coal and gasoline contain reactive chemicals that can cause oxidative stress and inflammatory changes in respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

"Pollution from cigarette and high level of air pollution have been associated with altered semen quality and DNA damage in sperm.

“Women whose husbands were working in a fungicide

Kogi govt spends N2.9bn on education — Wada

By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja

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OGI State Government says it has so far expended the sum of N1.64 billion in the upgrade of some of its primary schools.

Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada, who disclosed this at the commissioning of rehabilitated and constructed schools by Oladele Oyelola foundation at Ayegunle Gbede, Iyah Gbede and Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Governments of the state, said the state government equally expended another N1.35 billion in upgrading structures and facilities in selected post primary schools across the state.

Represented by his Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, Wada listed Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College, Okene, Government Secondary School, Dekina, St. Augustine’s College Kabba,

and Titcombe College, Egbe amongst some of the schools undergoing upgrade in the state.

According to him, “as a product of public school, and having enjoyed considerable opportunities that made it possible for me to pursue my academic careers despite the economic status of my parents, I am propelled to improve the physical conditions of public schools in the state to what it was in the past.

“Education is a right and not a privilege. Government will, in 2015, further boost education by committing over N5 billion to the provision of structural, instructional and social facilities in primary and basic schools in the state.”

The Governor described education as the safest way in ensuring sustainable development through the continuous provision of knowledge and skills to the younger generation.

manufacturing plant complained that they were not getting pregnant. Investigation revealed that there was association between the man’s exposure to dibromochloropropane (DBCP) and their low sperm count.

Chronic exposure to acrylamide gel can damage spermatogenia and spermatocytes and this indirectly impairs fertility by arresting spermatogenesis.

“It has been reported that long exposure to pesticides has been associated with developing Parkinson’s disease. Prenatal exposure to heavy metals including mercury, lead and arsenic have been found to be associated with increased brain damage, neurodevelopmental problems, congenital malformations, miscarriages and low birth weight.

Land use charge “Land use change and deforestation can bring people closer to wildlife, allowing previously unknown diseases to spread to humans e.g. Ebola, Lassa and Lyme disease.

"Overcrowding resulting from urban migration, poverty or displacement due to conflict or natural disaster aids disease transmission. Neglect of public health facilities and infrastructure can lead to poor, unreliable and inefficient communicable disease surveillance and control efforts for infectious and vaccine preventable diseases. Poor training of health personnel leads to poor services, to mention a few.”

Proffering prevention and control suggestions, Adesina said; “Commitment of government at all levels is a key to preventing the notable concerns.

This is from the perspective of adequate preparation for emergency, preparedness for natural disasters, paying adequate attention to development of health facilities and training of personnel.

Improve disease surveillance and contact tracing.

ATIONAL Institute of Training and Development (NITAD)has called on stakeholders in education sector to rise up on the security challenge bedevilling school pupils.

This was disclosed during an annual public lecture organised by the National Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) held in Lagos recently. Speaking on: Security, Economy and Education: The Way Forward, Mr Garba Abdu Ganger, a management consultant said all hands should be on deck to tackle the insecurity in the north.

Ganger who lamented insecurity consequence on our economy said the high cost of fighting insurgency in the North-East is telling on human capital and economic development in the country.

He urged the Federal Government s to pay adequate attention to solving it once for all to allow it focus on other national problems. ''Money that ought to be spent on education, economy and infrastructure is being spent on defence, rehabilitation of displaced people, and repairs,'' he explained.

Ganger who averred that insecurity is a major hindrance to development of any country, pointed out that money meant to be spent on national development will be channel curbing insurgents.

He said: ''In 2014, the Federal Government budgeted N32 billion for security. After which the National Assembly approved another N60 billion and another $100 million.

If government had spent

that amount on education, we will not be here today,” The lecturer explained that the cost of insecurity can be direct or indirect. According to him,while direct cost includes medical, legal services, and repairs, indirect cost includes loss of investment in human capital and effect of psychological harm.

Ganger, therefore tasked government to tackle structural violence caused by poverty and marginalization, ensure good governance and re-educate the people.

On his part, Dr Omololu Omoyinmi, one of the lecturers added that Nigeria has to redesign its education system to be futuristic and not historical.

He said the guiding principle of education in Nigeria is equipping every citizen with such knowledge, skills, attitudes and values adding that poverty and insecurity impacts education negatively and threatens education.

His words: “It is the responsibility of government to empower various institutions to respond proactively to security induced situations to keep such situations from getting out of hand.

"Our curriculum is not fine tuned to what the future is, we learn more from what has expired and there is a limit to which history can favour the future, things are so dynamic and for education to actually lead us into the future, learning must be a continuous process.”

Omoyinni who stated that t education has gone beyond classroom learning, noted that there is need for government to review the curriculum from just reading and passing examinations to possessing relevant skills.

ISPON Chairman decries state of marine pollution

By Faith Olatide

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HE Lagos branch chairman of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Engr. Timothy Iwuagwu has lamented the sorry state of Nigerian waters saying that the waters are crying.

Delivering a speech titled “Marine Pollution” at an event in the University of Lagos last week, the retired Marine stated that the effects of polluting the waters come back to harm humans in a very devastating way. According to him, the economic wellbeing and nutritional health of the nations of the world, even landlocked

states, depends to a very large extent upon the safe use of the oceans.

In his speech, Engr.

Iwuagwu described how toxic materials deposited into the waters contaminate the waters and cause different changes to the ecosystem. He also stated that the disposals of waste into waters either chase away the animals there or they are forced to adapt thereby creating new and dangerous species.

He also said the unhealthy disposal of waste into the waters is the reason for some disease outbreak experienced describing how what is released into the waters come back to be ingested by man.

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Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed presenting a new Nissan Ultima vehicle to the Lagos State Co-ordinator, National Youth Service Corps, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, for monitoring and inspection of corps members

Extinction of History from the curriculum:

A pathway to Nigeria’s grave

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

A

man who does not remember the past is condemned to repeat it.

The late Professor Chinua Achebe never lied when he asserted in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria that; “The only thing Nigerians learn from experience is that we learn nothing from experience.”

How can Nigerians learn from experience when they do not want to study the history of the past? History is ubiquitous. There is no country that does not have a history. History is the study of past and present events, which enables us predict the future.

Therefore, history must be studied.

Extinction of history from Nigeria’s curriculum will indeed lead to Nigeria’s grave because history is one inalienable means in nation building by intergroup relations among constituent groups of a geo-political entity.

History fosters unity and cohesion.

If the present young Nigerians never read about the Civil War fought between 1967-1970 and the challenges faced, the lives and properties that were lost and destroyed, they would perhaps want to go into another war due to ethnic crises in Nigeria.

experience, our challenges and most certainly our strides within the continent of the world.”

Who would teach the coming generation the history of our country? Who would tell the story of this great nation when history has been scraped from the curriculum?

Speaking at the 2014 NNPC and Chevron National Art Competition, CNAC held at the Muson Centre, Lagos, Lagos state's First Lady, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, who frowned at the removal of history as a subject from the curriculum said we need to put history back into Nigeria’s curriculum.

Still arguing in favour of restoration of history, she said that the documentation of heroes of a particular field of study which students read about and are challenged is history on its own.

It will be recalled that at a different fore, Professor Ayodeji Olukoju and other stakeholders in the education sector had spoken in favour of the restoration of History as a subject into Nigeria’s curriculum.

"Without history how would we have known that Maiduguri had contact with Spain even before the state of Nigeria came into existence? How would we know

Ethnic crises Professor Kyari Mohammed, the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, MAUTECH,Yola in an interview with Vanguard asserted; “We (Nigerians) have young people who have no idea of their history.

Some sense of historical consciousness and knowledge of history will add substantially to our understanding of ourselves as citizens of Nigeria.”

Recently, in President Goodluck Jonathan’s address during the flag activities, marking the centenary celebrations, he said; “We owe it to ourselves, to past generations and to the future generations to tell our own story, the story of our C M Y K

Without history how would we have known that Maiduguri had contact with Spain even before the state of Nigeria came into existence

how Sakkeatto became Sokoto?

How would we know that the four market days of the Igbo are the same with that of Bini?

The present Oba of Lagos during the last kingship scurried part of his claim to the forgotten Akinsemoyin Dynasty. He had to establish filial linkage to this forgotten Monarch that collaborated with the Portuguese and took Lagos to its acme.

Without history how would we know that what we have and see as Lagos today are all breaths of the Oodua, Bini Kingdom and The Portuguese?

“The word Lagos is Portuguese meaning Lagoon. Eko is Bini word meaning Camp. Bajulaiye is a Yoruba corruption of the Bini name Bazuaye. Today my study and proper knowledge of history worldwide has served me as VISA to audiences around the world. It has won me friends and gotten me out of trouble severally.

I am proud of History and my great History teachers.”

History teachers On his part, Mr. Gold Force said; “I saw this coming while growing up; as I sought to know exactly what led up to the Civil War and what really happened during the war. My father told me his own side of the history having fought on Biafran side.

Yet, there is an official historical account of the 1996 programme and the Nazi-styled extermination of millions of Igbo civilians in the defunct Biafra-via starvation. Therefore, how can the present generation draw useful lessons from the war and prevent another one from occurring?”

“For a nation to scrap the compulsory study of history, which has shaped great nations like USA and Britain into what they are today, is to say the least, the greatest atrocity a nation can commit against its present and unborn generations. How can then a nation know where she is heading to without a sense of where she was coming from?"

Funding universities on $56 crude ‘T

HE price of global benchmark Brent crude against which Nigeria’s oil is priced, continued its decline on Wednesday and settled around $56 per barrel, $9 lower than the country’s budget benchmark price this year.” Femi Asu, PUNCH, January 1, 2015, p 36.

That the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble is no longer in dispute. Nobody, except those in the corridors of power in Aso Rock, habours any illusion that an economic recession is a possibility; the projected 5.5 percent GDP growth might become part of the illusion pervading official economic policy at the moment.

The $65 per barrel, on which the third budget proposal was based, proved deceptive when in less than two days after its presentation the price of crude fell below $60 per barrel. So, as it is, the third budget submitted by the Federal Government is headed for the dustbin.

Public universities Since there is now no budget, and all public universities depend heavily on Federal and State governments’ subventions, it is obvious that our universities are also in deep trouble. The Vice Chancellors, as Chief Executive Officers, Bursars and Council members, now serving, might be facing the most difficult challenges that Nigerian universities have encountered since the harrowing experiences associated with the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.

Then, as now, it was the sudden and prolonged drop in the price of crude oil which created the problems. It is a testimony to our inability to learn from history that 30 years after SAP started, we are back at the point of starting out once again.

Funding universities under uncertainty is a matter that is at once simple and complex. It is simple because everybody can understand that when the size of cake shrinks everybody gets a smaller slice. So, from that standpoint, universities should expect less from governments.

The complexities arise when ASUU and other stakeholders point to agreements they had with governments concerning salaries, allowances, investments in infrastructure etc – all obligations which governments will find it increasingly difficult to discharge. And governments will not only fail to pay the universities; they will not be able to pay everybody. The question now is what will happen, starting in 2015, as

governments grapple with decline in revenue at the same time as financial obligations escalate.

Difficult as it may seem, every university owes it as an obligation to its own stakeholders to attempt to forecast what it is likely to receive from the government(s) sponsoring it, as well as from other donor units. Budgeting, always an inexact exercise, will become even more hazardous this year, and, perhaps, for several years to come. That is however not a reason for abandoning it. As long as the basis for a budget is known, any deviation from the assumption can be quickly incorporated into the implementation plan.

Among the options to obtain more funds, every university, federal or state, must now face squarely the controversial issue of raising tuition fees. For a university like Lagos State University, LASU, which increased, and backed down under protest, as well as others, the issue might no longer be avoided. What would have to be decided is the size of the increase by each university.

Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, by the universities, will need to be revisited.

Somehow, universities must come up with ideas and projects which will provide then with steady and sustainable income which will assist them in reducing the negative consequences of crude price decline.

Crude price decline Sad as it may be, retrenchment of academic and non-academic staff remains another possibility in the attempt by several universities to stay afloat. It is a fact that enrollment for some courses is very low – at all public and private universities. When five or six students select a university as first choice, and not all heading for the same faculty and department, it is difficult to imagine who the lecturers teach. Yet, this is the situation with several Federal and State universities – especially those established in the last ten years. I visited a state university in 2013 where a Mathematics lecturer had only one student to teach in level 200; there was none in 100 or 300.

Obviously, several agencies under the Ministry of Education, example JAMB and NUC, now complaining about inadequate funding to implement their programmes will henceforth find it even more difficult to operate.

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2015

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FG establishes 17 e-libraries

By Chris Ochayi & Funmi Olasupo

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HE Federal Government has disclosed that it has established 17 e-libraries across the country.

The National Librarian, Mallam Habib Jato who gave the statistics at the 50th Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration of the National Library in Abuja, explained that, there are other 10 elibraries making the total of 27of them in Nigeria.

He said the need was born out of the convenience involve in having e-libraries around for easy access to information for researchers, students and individual.

“Having them around make research work and reading convenient for all,because you can use your hand devices to access books via internet.”

According to him, In the 50 years of the existence of the National Library of Nigeria, the organization, through the efficient and effective service delivery has unrelentingly worked hard to satisfy the various information and research needs of elected/ appointed officials, business owners, academia, students and the general public at large.

noted that the Golden Jubilee Anniversarv Celebration is a historic occasion, worth celebrating because it is a major plank of the educational transformation agenda of Mr. President.

The Minister stated that the Library over the past 50 years has successfully provided services such as rendering supporting intellectual efforts in all activities directed at the progress and development of the country.

He said, ensuring availability of Comprehensive Collection of resources, materials and knowledge inexistence in the world and outside the nations boundaries; and have also promoted a free flow of knowledge between the nation and other countries of the world.

“The glaring success of the information and research support services of the organization, are her contributions to democracy, good governance,national development, and human rights and justice in the development of the country.”

Expressing delight, the Liberarian, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and the Ministry for their support and the resources injected for the development of the library system through his transformation agenda.

The development of the on-going Headquarters building from basement floor to the 8th floor and Branches at Bauchi, Calabar, Yola, Gombe,Katsina and Bayelsa, and the volumes of books and other resources that have been added to the stock of National Library of Nigeria, Jato stated that was a huge achievement for the Library.

Represented by the Natinal Librarian, the President Goodluck Jonathan Minister of Education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau

Social Innovators recognised as LEAP Africa promotes positive change in Nigeria

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N its tradition of promoting youth leadership and social change, LEAP Africa hosted its annual awards, the Social Innovators Awards on Thursday November 13, 2014 in recognition of young Nigerians addressing social problems with creative solutions. Each year, LEAP inducts 20 young social reformers into the Social Innovators Programme under the YouthActionNet Fellowship, a global social entrepreneurship fellowship initiated by the International Youth Foundation (IYF).

During the fellowship year, SIP Fellows are equipped with skills to better design and execute their initiatives. At the end of the fellowship year, outstanding fellows are recognized and rewarded. This year LEAP recognized 10 outstanding fellows from 2013 SIP set and inducted a new set of 20 Fellows into the 2014.

As part of his opening remarks at the Awards, Mr. Babatunde Dabiri, Chairman Lagos State Pension Commission and a LEAP Africa Board member had this to say “Social innovators play an important role in our society, it is therefore important to recognize their creativity, diversity and innovation; more

importantly to inspire hope in others to join in this journey”.

The keynote speaker, Alex Okosi, the Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), Africa, spoke on the theme “Africa Reimagined”.

Sharing his personal experience and his motivation for leveraging media as a platform for showing Africa to the world through a different lens, he highlighted new values to guide the audience in creating a new Africa through social transformation.

The social innovators

During the fellowship year, SIP Fellows are equipped with skills to better design and execute their initiatives

recognized span different sectors; agriculture, health, education, business and economic development, and information technology with each initiative affecting communities across Nigeria positively. Chinwe Laura Nwosu, a 2013 SIP fellow and the founder, Laurel Personality Development, an initiative which enables young ladies from low income families become meaningful contributors to society describes the fellowship as an experience that exposed her to possibilities and encouraged her to set standards.

The training she received gave direction to her passion and encouraged her to cultivate a positive culture for her organization.

Another 2013 SIP fellow, Bunmi Otegbade, co-founder of Generation Enterprise (GEN) an initiative supporting the establishment of Nigerian youth in business through a business incubator system emerged as one of the outstanding fellows. He described the fellowship as a year of lots of trainings and social networking. He said that the award was a sign of recognition adding that “as a social entrepreneur, you sell your reputation.

WITH UDEME ARCHIBONG successrecipe2009@gmail.com www.worldlightbearesint.com

Achieving balanced success W

HY are there earthquake, tsunami, flood and other natural disasters in the world? Why have some animals gone extinct? I believe the root cause of these problems is traceable to human activities that have created chaos and thrown the ecosystem out of balance; Mankind has mismanaged the earth.

Nature thrives on balance, organization and order to function effectively. Just as humans are experts in mismanaging the earth and its resources, we are also experts in mismanaging our lives and the resources at our disposal. Many lives are functioning at their dysfunctional state and they think is normal or that is what fate has apportioned to them.

When our life is out of balance, we experience crises and stunted growth in our destinies. True success is wholesome and well integrated and not lopsided. If we become financial giants but we lose our health and our families in the process, we are still far from being truly successful.

As the year is gradually coming to an end, let’s make a commitment to begin next year with the pursuit of living a balanced life that births true success, happiness and fulfilment.

Happiness and fulfilment Life without peace of mind is a horror that sweeps away happiness. Amassing wealth, possession and power without peace of mind is like eating a delicious meal but suffering from stomach upset or indigestion afterwards; the eating of the rich, delicious meal that was meant to be an enjoyable experience turned into a sour experience.

The key that unlocks the door to our peace of mind is living in harmony with principle centred values and eradicating negative emotions such as fear, anger, envy, worry etc from our lives. When we compromise our values and disregard the leading of our conscience, we lose our peace of mind.

A well balanced life is a life laced with health and energy.

To achieve this we must be mindful of the kind of food we eat, what we drink and our lifestyle. Of course, we can’t eat junk foods, fill our stomach with alcohol and our lungs with smoke and engage in unhealthy lifestyle in our youthful days and still expect to be

strong and healthy when we grow old; it’s an illusion.

Adequate nutrition, rest, exercise and clean minds and bodies are essential for good health and vitality. Fear, anxiety and depression can cause illness. Therefore, cultivating positive emotions and a healthy mindset are also pre requisite to health and energy.

Loving and satisfying relationships are another pre requisite to a balanced life. The ability to get along with people, cultivate and maintain long term friendship and intimate relationship is a sterling quality. Almost all the problems we encounter in life arise from relationships issue which disrupt our peace of mind and our general well being.

Health relationships Therefore, develop healthy relationships and deal with people with integrity, respect, consideration and love to enhance the quality of our relationships.

Another important aspect of balanced living is financial freedom. Money worries accounts for the many of the stress and anxiety people face in life. The key word to our financial freedom is management; managing our time, self, talents, opportunities and our resources effectively.

You don’t have to start big to be great but rather you manage the small resources to grow great. Therefore, you must be creative, have clarity of goals and possess the abundant mentality. Remember, money flow through ideas and your learning capacity determines your earning capacity.

To live a balanced life, you must be purpose driven; this is the source of living with meaning. To be truly happy and effective, you must live for a higher cause; you must make a contribution to your world.

A vital ingredient for an integrated life is self knowledge; you must know, understand, love and accept yourself. This is the key to positive self esteem and the foundation of success in life.

Personal fulfilment is the reward when you apply the above principles and also grow towards realizing your full potentials and accomplishing your life’s purpose every step of the way.

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Defunct PHCN pensioners beg Jonathan over unpaid benefits •Mourn 40 dead colleagues

By Daud Olatunji

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EMBERS of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (Electricity sector) Ogun State chapter, have decried their unpaid pension and gratuity by the federal government.

The aggrieved pensioners took to the streets of Abeokuta recently to protest the unpaid gratuity and pension.

Those affected, according to Pension and You investigation, were retired employees of defunct Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, ECN, National Dam Authority, NDA, National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, and Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

During the protest, they displayed several placards with inscriptions such as ‘Pay our pension promptly FGN,’ ‘Jonathan, why are you sending us to early grave,’ We are not slaves nor beggars, it is our right, and ‘Over 200,000 pensioners are in immediate danger of death from starvation’ among others.

They marched through streets around Imo area of the city, chanting solidarity songs and complained that they were owed pensions between four months and one year.

According to them, some of them were yet to be paid their gratuity years after

retirement.

Chairman, NUP (Electricity Sector) Abeokuta chapter, Mr. Abimbola Odubiyi, said no fewer than 40 of their colleagues died in 2014 due to erratic payment of their pensions by the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company, under the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Gratuity and pension He said, “some of are being owed four months pension.

Those in this category got their last payment in May. Some are being owed nine months, for some it is one year. Some who retired between 2011 and 2013

are yet to get their gratuity, talk less their pension. About 40 members have died waiting for their pension, some others are down with various illnesses.”

He lamented that the national body of the union had written three Save Our Souls, SOSs, letters to President Goodluck Jonathan on the plight of their members nationwide to no avail.

Odubiyi appealed to the President to ensure prompt payment of the pension arrears owed the members, and also looked into the issue of those who were yet to get their gratuity.

While he added that

members would want the reclassification of their pension under recurrent budget instead of having it under capital supplementation, he also appealed to the President to prevail on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to ensure that the proceeds of the privatisation of the defunct PHCN were well utilised.

Narrating his ordeal at the premises of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Abeokuta, one of the pensioners, Mr. Afolabi Richard, said he retired from the defunct PHCN in 2011, but was yet to get his gratuity.

“It is almost three years since I retired from the PHCN, I am yet to be paid my gratuity,” he lamented.

Another pensioner, Mr. Razak Olaitan, told Pension and You, that he was yet to get his gratuity since his retirement in 2012. Apart from being denied my gratuity, my pension has not been paid for eight months now,” he said.

High hope for Police pensioners, as PTAD assures

By Peter Duru

T

HERE are indications that a ray of hope is in the horizon for retired Police officers in the country who over the years have been subjected to a life of misery and agony arising from the nonpayment of their retirement benefits and pension by the Federal Government through its agencies saddled with the responsibility.

The police pension scheme has been a subject of national disgrace especially with several allegations of corruption leveled against the agency managing the funds.

While officials managing the police fund were alleged to be feeding fat, retired policemen lived in penury or and in some other cases, some died without their benefits.

In fact, officials were accused of using fictitious police pensioners to siphon the fund while genuine pensioners and their next of kin were sidelined or made to pay gratification to be eligible for payment.

As part of efforts at checkmating this menace, the federal government recently established the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD,for the Police and other paramilitary services.

The PTAD among others is to stem the alarming fraud cases and to address the issues of unpaid of police pensioners who left service on or before the year 2007.

PTAD after inauguration, has commenced the screening of retired policemen and other paramilitary services to ascertain

Peter Ojonoba

Mrs Josepine Ben

Thomas Abar

the genuine pensioners, their benefits among others under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

At the commencement of the exercise in Benue State, over 3,000 Police pensioners were screened in Makurdi the state capital. The screening exercise which also involved the capture of the biometric data of the pensioners was carried out by officials of PTAD. The Director General of PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, who spoke at the venue of the exercise, said pensioners from Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue states were being screened at the Makurdi centre Mrs. Mayshak said, PTAD was set up to address the perennials problems that confronted the Police pension scheme.

According to her, “ we are taking a comprehensive data of all police retirees with the aim of ensuring that every retired

police officer can easily get his pension without problems. Our initial challenge was that we did not have a comprehensive data base of the pensioners, hence the verification exercise to have everyone on our data for easy identification and payment of their benefits.”

Mrs. Mayshak said the verification and data capturing would be done in phases across the country stressing that “we are using the police as launching pad to a broad programme which will cover all the paramilitary services.”

Abar who claimed he was among the 81 police officers who arrested the notorious armed robber, ‘Lawrence Anini’ in 1986, said he had been going through harrowing experiences due to unpaid benefit According to him, “before now,

Police pensioners speak Reacting to the development, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Thomas Abar (retd), who said he left the service in 1987, attested that there was improvement in the payment of police pensioners since the coming of PTAD.

Though PTAD has come, we are still scared, but I must say that the way they are conducting this screening and biometric data capturing, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel for us

some people came to screen us with the promise that they will pay us, but we later heard that the former Director of Pensions embezzled our money and we were all helpless. We all lost hope in the system, because that time some of us had to bribe to get our pension; and sometimes you got less that what you were expected to earn, but we could not complain because we were helpless.

“Though PTAD has come, we are still scared, but I must say that the way they are conducting this screening and biometric data capturing, there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel for us. At least , for the first time the people screening provided us food and other things; they even went to the extent of visiting our sick and incapacitated colleagues in their homes and hospitals to capture their biometric data. It is indeed commendable.”

On her part, wife of a deceased police corporal Josephine Ben, who claimed that her husband died in 2003 and since then his next of kin had not been paid his entitlements, commended the introduction of PTAD, describing it as a perfect arrangement to completely stamp out stealing and outright fraud in the system.

“My husband died in 2003, since then we have made efforts to ensure that his daughter who is his next of kin benefit from his entitlements and pension but to no avail. Surprisingly this people PTAD just announced that we should all come for screening, documentation and commencement of payments.

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BITS Bits

TUC lauds workers’ loyalty

Struggle for emancipation of workers just beginning —AJAERO

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By Victor Ahiuma-Young

RADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has lauded the loyalty of workers to the Nigerian project.

In a message to workers to mark the New Year, President of TUC, Mr. Bobboi Kiagama, said TUC "congratulates the Nigerian workers and unrelenting masses for surviving the myriad of challenges they were faced with in the preceding year. Your bravery, doggedness and loyalty to the project Nigeria in the face of the gross abuse of human rights, insecurity, terrorism, arson, dislodgment and chaotic situation is an eloquent testimony to the fact that our lives are not in the hands of the government nor the Brettonwood institutions and their “perfect” policies.

Truly, in saner environments you all really deserve a national award."

Aremu marks 54th birthday with books launch

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ENERAL Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and a Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, will today, mark his 54th birthday with a book launch.

A statement by Aremu, said "as part of the activities to mark my 54th birthday, arrangement had been concluded to have the annual jogging exercise on the Theme: “Keeping fit for a better Nigeria and greater Africa” between 6am and 10am The fitness exercise is scheduled to take place at the Township Stadium Ilorin.

“As usual, the objective is to get my well-wishers to symbolically celebrate life and set agenda for a rewarding future through fitness awareness.

The highpoint of this year’s celebration is the presentation of my six books of written reflections on Labour and Trade Unions; Good Governance and Development, Industry and Economy; Media and Gender Issues; Africa and Global Affairs; and, Friends, Comrades and Heroes.

The presentation takes place 12 noon at Justice Mustapha Foundation Hall GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State."

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ALL it a gathering of who is who in Labour movement in Nigeria, you will not be far from it.

The occasion was the 50th birthday celebration and a launch of “In the Valley of Struggle”, a biography of the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and a Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero.

At the event that took place in Abuja, President of NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, and General Secretary, Dr. Peter OzoEson, led members of NLC’s National Administrative Council, NAC, National Executive Council, NEC, among others in attendance.

Also, in attendance were former General Secretary of NLC, John Odah, former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agari, some leaders of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, affiliates, operators in the power sector and government officials including Sam Amadi, Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. In his remarks, Ajaero faulted the increase in electricity tariff without corresponding increase in power supply and lamented the abuses and extortions Nigerians were suffering in the hands of new operators in the sector because of deliberate refusal to meter consumers.

He argued that because of government insincerity and hurry to privatize the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, the government refused to ensure that consumers were metered before handing over PHCN’s assets to private individuals.

According to him, “to increase electricity tariff without improvement in electricity supply is criminal. Now, what that means is that already there is power poverty in Nigeria because the world’s acclaim standard is that wherever you have one million people, there must be one thousand megawatts.

“But we have 160 million Nigerians and we are battling with four thousand megawatts and they said the private sector would do it. Now private sector operators have borrowed

From left, NLC President Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar and the celebrant; Comrade Joe Ajaero launching book titled " In the Valley of the Struggle" during Comrade Ajaero's 50th birthday held in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

money to buy, every month they must pay interest on the money they borrowed and they must make some profit.

“The struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers is just beginning. We pray that God gives us more years, we will not disappoint. As long as we live in the service of workers, we will not disappoint Nigerians. We will ensure that Nigeria survives.

“But if you announce austerity measures, you must consider the effect on Nigerians especially the workers and other ordinary Nigerians. What are the workers earning today? The so-called N18.000 minimum wage has been eroded.”

Four days earlier, while speaking in Lagos ahead of the birth-

As long as we live in the service of workers, we will not disappoint Nigerians. We will ensure that Nigeria survives

day celebration, Ajaero said the Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs were reducing their labour force and increasing tariff.

According to him, “they have reduced labour force and increased tariff, they are smiling to the bank, power situation is worsening and they are little or no hand to clear faults and Nigerians are crying.

“We analyzed this in one of our works, ‘Privatization, public disaster private gain’, that is exactly what you are seeing now. The fact that there is no power supply in Nigeria, does not mean that they are not posting profits. These are some of the things we tried to analysed.

“Go everywhere now in Nigeria, there is no supply, but check the profit that they are making, the power situation does not affect it. It is Nigerians that should be talking on this. If you follow trends in the power sector, the unions in the power sector, we have made our points and like we said, Nigerians would speak last.

“I think that Nigerians may soon start to speak but we are not sure they have started speaking. When they speak, we will know.”

Omar, others hail Ajaero Speaking at the occasion, Omar said “50 years is very important in one's life. This is a combined honour; with a book presentation and which is very rare, especially a biography.

Comrade Ajaero is a very up-

right man and very committed to whatever he does. NUEE, is lucky to have him as its general secretary. Members of the union will not forget him in a hurry. It is not about the size of the body, but about the heart.

He has paid his due in area of chosen career. Today, we are celebrating a giant and his achievements at 50.”

On his part, President of NUEE, Mansur Musa, recalled since he assumed office as the president of the union and working with Ajaero, it had been “ struggle, struggle and struggle in the last seven and half years. We cannot be tired of the struggle for the betterment of the life of workers. If you are working with a warrior, you must always be like him.

He has a very large heart. He is ready to serve the Nigerian workers at the highest level today, tomorrow and always.”

Similarly, Amadi described Ajaero as “is a social worker and labour will always need him this time. He fought against privatization of electricity and lost, but won members of his union very good terminal benefits.”

Corroborating Ajaero’s opposition to increase in the electricity tariff, the NERC Chairman quoted page 111 of the biography where Ajaero implored the commission to device a means of monitoring operators to avoid exploitative tariff on consumers among others.

36—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

By Dayo Benson, Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

A

S the ongoing nationwide strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, enters its fourth day, crippling activities in all courts across the country, no doubt, certain suits that are essential to the polity would be affected.

The judgment Vanguard Law and Human Rights observed that as the issue of government’s non compliance with a court judgment granting financial autonomy to the nation’s judiciary lingers, a suit challenging President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to contest in 2015 presidential election would be affected, considering the February 14 date slated by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for presidential election.

On March 1, 2013, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja ruled in the matter brought by Cyriacius Njoku against President Jonathan and others.

The suit had sought for the interpretation of sections 135 and 137 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

In his ruling, Justice Oniyangi held that President Jonathan was eligible to contest this year ’s presidential election. This suit which is currently at the Court of Appeal and other suits challenging Jonathan’s eligibility are being awaited at the Supreme Court for final determination.

Sovereign wealth fund Another suit is the legal tussle between the federal government and the 36 states of the federation, over the dispute arising from the maintenance of the Excess Crude Account and the transfer of one billion dollars from the account to the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF. Although the matter may eventually be settled out of court as the federal government and the 36

JUSUN strike: Justice at a standstill governors have renewed efforts to resolve their dispute.

But where the parties fail to settle out of court, the Supreme Court has fixed hearing in the case for January 26.

The 36 governors had dragged the federal government to the apex court, praying it to decide whether the states had a share in the SWF. The sovereign wealth fund manages the surplus income produced from Nigeria’s excess oil reserves on behalf of the states and federal government.

The 36 governors are seeking an order declaring the proposed creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund illegal and unconstitutional. They are also praying the apex court to issue an order to effect that all sums standing to the credit of the Excess Crude Account should be paid into court or be otherwise secured as the court may deem fit pending

the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The federal government had

challenged the jurisdiction of the apex court to hear the suit, arguing that the matter was not between states and the federation, but a dispute between the states and the federal government which it said ought to have been filed before a Federal High Court.

Meanwhile, the suit challenging Anti-Terrorism Law is among the many cases that the ongoing strike would impede its progress.

Another suit that has Collapse of a six been stalled by the storey guest house ongoing strike is the It will be recalled that the Coroner Inquest, set Federal High Court sitting in up by the Lagos State Abuja was to deliver its judgment last year on the Government to constitutionality or otherwise investigate the cause of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, in a of the collapse of a filed by the Nigerian six-storey guest house suit Coalition for the International Criminal Court, NCICC & 3 belonging to the vs The Federal Synagogue Church of Ors Government (suit No. FHC/ All Nations, SCOAN ABJ/632/13), in which certain

provisions of the Terrorism Act were claimed to contravene some Fundamental Human Rights provisions of the 1999 Constitution and as such unconstitutional and void.

Another suit that has been stalled by the ongoing strike is the Coroner Inquest, set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the cause of the collapse of a sixstorey guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN. At the last proceeding, the Coroner judge, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, after listening to the church’s witness, Mr. Biedomo Iguniwei, an explosives and weapons expert, adjourned to January 6, 2015.

The Coroner judge also ordered the witness to make his report available to the court on January 5, 2015.

In another matter, Justice Chukwu Evo of an Abuja

Continues on page 37

Credibility, security challenges facing 2015 polls C M Y K

—PG.37

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 37

JUSUN strike: Justice at a standstill Continues from page 36 Federal High Court, on January 12, is to continue hearing on a suit against five police officers indicted in the killing of leader of the Boko Haram sect.

Justice Evo had ordered trial-within-trial to ascertain the voluntariness of a statement by Mohammed Ahmadu, a Chief Superintendent of Police who is standing trial along with John John Abang, Muhammed Akeera Yoonus, both Assistant Commissioners of Police; Mada Buba, an Assistant Superintendent of Police and Sergeant Adamu Gado.

Another matter that may be affected is a suit filed by former Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, against the National Judicial Council (NJC). The judgment is to be delivered on January 20, by an Abuja Federal High Court.

Disciplinary control In the suit, Gummi is challenging the powers of NJC to exercise disciplinary control over him by suspending him on allegations of judicial misconduct despite having voluntarily retired from service.

On January 12, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of an Abuja Federal High Court will hear the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)’s address on the constitutional issues raised in the fundamental human rights suit by alleged Nyanya bombing mastermind, Aminu Ogwuche.

Ogwuche is seeking N100 million in damages against the federal government.

Other cases that stand the risk of delay if the strike continues throughout January include ruling on the application by the Attorney General of the Federation to

EDITORIAL TEAM Innocent Anaba ( Head) Wahab Abdulah Ikechukwu Nnochiri Dayo Benson (Supervising Editor) 08056180119 dayobenson@yahoo.com

extradite former managing director of Nigeria Security Minting and Printing Company (NSPMC), Ehidiamhem Okoyomon, to the United Kingdom for alleged bribery scandal.

The presiding judge, Justice Chukwu Evo of an Abuja High Court had fixed January 23 to rule on the said application.

Similarly, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 29 and 30 for continuation of trial of four persons charged with the abduction of constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and the killing of several security officers.

Kidnapping and acts of terrorism The defendants are Kelvin Oniarah Ezeigbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna. They were arraigned on 13 countcharge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and acts of terrorism.

Nevertheless, if the strike continues in February, then the arraignment of three persons suspected to have been involved in the murder of Kaduna-based Islamic preacher, Sheikh Auwal Adam Albani, may be shut out. An Abuja Federal High Court had adjourned to February 3 the arraignment of the accused persons, namely Yakubu Abdullahi (alias Alhaji Bala), Yasir Salihu (alias Dan Birni), Bilyaminu Usman (alias Bilya) and Musa Abubakar (alias Mallam), whose plea could not be taken on December 18 due to absence of their counsel.

However, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola had said the agitation by judiciary workers for absolute financial autonomy for the judiciary was not feasible.

The governor in an address marking the new 2014/2015 legal year noted that the state government had “ never intervened in the independence of the judiciary, but maintained that it would be difficult for the government to release the wholesome money meant for the judiciary for a fiscal year as demanded by workers.”

Fashola, who spoke last September when the judicial workers issued a threat to embark on the ongoing strike said it was not good for the judiciary workers to lock out judges in the name of industrial action.

According to him: “The idea of judiciary autonomy is a welcome development to the

At the last FAAC, the office of the AGF carried out a nominal distribution of funds for all the state judiciaries, but their governors declined

system but in reality, it is not achievable due to the fact that Internally Generating Revenue, IGR, is not paid to the government in advance.

Besides, complete implementation of court judgment on the matter will cause a legal firework because other officials will perceive it as preferential treatment and it will not augur well.”

He contended that because judiciary was a special arm of government attending to issues on fundamental rights of the citizens, “it will be absurd for workers to lock out judges and not allow them to attend important issues.”

Judiciary in the first line charge While stating the Federal Government’s position on the issue, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla had in Abuja on Tuesday said, “The office of the AGF was never a party in that litigation. Without any prejudice, federal government had always been complying with those directives, that is, putting the judiciary in the first line charge.

“At the last FAAC, the office of the AGF carried out a nominal distribution of funds for all the state judiciaries, but their governors declined. We have tried our very best to ensure that state judiciaries get their funds directly from us, so that the judgment is binding.

“The state governments said no to us, insisting that they want to handle the funds themselves and we cannot say no to them. With that, there is no basis for anyone to put the blame on me because I have

done my job and what I ought to do,” he said.

The development had elicited mixed reactions from lawyers. Majority of the lawyers argued that the workers have rights to protest but not to the extent of putting the court under locks and keys.

A lawyer, Okechukwu Geoffrey, said: “It is unfortunate and very painful.

Having come back from Christmas and New Year break, those of us who have spent almost the last savings with our relatives, friends and well wishers, with the hope of recouping, only to come back and face this strike. It is too early for the strike. Don’t they have human sympathy, even if it is not affecting them directly?”

Another lawyer, Chief Morah Ekwunoh, said: “My support, in totality, goes to members of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over their resumption of nationwide strike in their modest contribution towards attainment of our dream judiciary, particularly in the highly critical area of its financial autonomy. No doubt, pains, and not pleasures, accompany the strike, as urgent matters in courts, particularly as they relate to those in custody, will suffer during the interregnum of the strike session, but, at the end of the dark tunnel, certainly exists light.

Independence of the judiciary “Situations, as in the present case, where the Judiciary, through its respective heads, at both federal and state levels, depends only on the whimsical, capricious and misery titration of funds by the executive arm of government, to it for its lifeline, not only completely erode and undermine the independence of the judiciary but, also destroys and reduces to mere rubble and smithereens the much-needed efficiency of the judiciary.”

Sebastine Chuka, a property and corporate consultant said, “the strike was very unnecessary. JUSUN is asking for financial independence and frankly speaking they are under a state. The money should be paid to the states and not them seeking for autonomy.

Autonomy is unnecessary because they are under a state. The court buildings are being owned by the state.”

As the strike lingers, the question that pleads answer is : for how long will justice be at a standstill?

38 — Vanguard, THURSDAY THURSDAY,, JANUARY 8, 2015

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 39

Credibility, security challenges facing Feb polls

By Emeka Umeagbalasi

E

LECTIONS are credible when they are premised on quantitative and qualitative National Register of Voters. The quantitative nature of the National Register of Voters fundamentally means a demographic and electoral arrangement whereby as many as grown up citizens notwithstanding their sex, tribe, religion or socio-economic status; particularly the active segment of the general population (18 to 65 years) are captured and documented using manual and ICT applications for the purpose of voting and electing their representatives in a general election in Nigeria or any part thereof on the basis of free representative democracy.

The qualitative nature of the National Register of Voters means making the arrangement recognisable by an existing law and setting out procedures for its effective management; which include periodic updating and revalidation of the registered voters as well as continuous registration of the non-registrants in the context of addition of eligible registrants and subtraction of dead and fictitious voters.

Elections conducted on the basis of the foregoing become superbly credible if they are conducted under popular participation and citizen and ballot safety and securitization. In the United States, voting and immigration rights remain a major policy of its national government and they are used to measure fundamental performance indexes of successive and present governing authorities in the country.

Appointive public offices We wish to inform authoritatively that out of 17, 500 top elective and appointive public offices in Nigeria, which spread across the three government tiers of Federal, State and Local Government and the three arms of executive, legislature and judiciary; 14, 483 are elective, while 3,017 are appointive. Out of these 14, 483 elective offices, 12, 788 are in the 774 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, while 1, 695 are at the States and Federal levels.

By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, amended in 2011; the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is empowered to conduct elections into 1, 695 States and federal elective seats. This is in accordance with Section 153 (1) (f) and sup Section 14 (1) of Third Schedule of the Part 1 of the Constitution under reference as well as the INEC Establishment

*Nigerians cast vote during an election Act of the Federation 2004 and the Electoral Act of the Federation 2010. By Section 197 (1) (b) and sup Sections 3 & 4 of the Part 11 of the Constitution, States Independent Electoral Commissions, SIECs, are empowered to conduct elections into existing 12,788 LGA elective seats (chairmen, deputy chairmen and councilors).

According to the timetable for 2015 general elections released

by INEC on 1st October 2014, out of a total of 1, 695 State and Federal elective seats, elections will take place in 1, 681 excluding governorship/deputy governorship elections in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Bayelsa States (courtesy of Peter Obi v INEC & Ors 2007: SC). The forthcoming elections under reference are to be held on February 14, 2015 for Presidential & National Assembly (in accordance with Sections 132 (2) & 76 (2) of the 1999 Constitution) and 28th February 2015 for Governorship & State Assemblies (in accordance with Sections 178 (2) & 116 (2) of the Constitution).

Despite bogus assurances steadily given to Nigerians by INEC, the Federal Government and its security agencies to the effect that the 2015 general elections will be credible, credibility challenges facing the important exercise still extensively abound.

Code Provisions: Procedures for proper management of the National Register of Voters are clearly provided for in the Electoral Act of the Federation of Nigeria 2010. INEC’s power to issue notice for a general election is contained in Section 30. The Commission’s mandate to compile, maintain and update on continuous basis the National Register of Voters at National, State and LGA levels is contained in Section 9 (1) (2) (3). Section 10

(1) provides for continuous registration of voters. Section 10 (3) mandates the Commission to make available within 60 days after each year to every registered political party names and addresses of persons registered the previous year. By Section 10 (4), INEC is mandated to certify the National Register of Voters for use in the general elections following issuance of notice for such polls.

Section 10(6) mandates the Commission to include and incorporate the Supplementary Voters List (derived from continuous voters’ registration exercises) in the National Register of Voters and certify same after resolving complaints and objections raised by registered voters within the stipulated time for its use in general elections.

Section 13 (1) (2) (3) provides for right of a registered voter to transfer his or her voter’s card to

Despite bogus assurances steadily given to Nigerians

by INEC, the Federal Government and its security agencies to the effect that the 2015 general elections will be credible, credibility challenges facing the important exercise still extensively abound

his or her new abode.

By Section 13 (4), it is the duty of the electoral officer working in the area where a registered voter is seeking for the transfer of his or her voter’s card to add him or her in the Transferred Voters’ List and transmit a copy of the entry to the electoral officer in the registrant’s previous polling area for the purpose of deleting his or her old data.

Further, INEC’s power to print and issue voters’ cards is contained in Section 16 (1) and Section 16 (2) forbids the Commission from issuing more than one voter ’s card to a registered voter. INEC is empowered by Section 16 (4) to replace any or all voters’ cards for the time being held by voter(s).

Right of a voter to apply in person to the Electoral Officer 30 days before the polling day for replacement of his or her lost voter ’s card is contained in Section 18.

By Section 19, INEC is mandated to display voters’ register for public scrutiny in each of the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

This should be done between five and fourteen days. By Section 20 of the 2010 Electoral Act, INEC is mandated to integrate Supplementary Voters’ List with the National Register of Voters and cause same to be published not later than 30 days before the general elections.

By Section 21, INEC is mandated to appoint Revision Officers for handling complaints and objections that may arise from registered voters and by Sections 23 and 24, penalties including jail terms with fines are provided against those that possess voters’ cards unlawfully and those that threaten eligible registrants to refrain from registering as voters.

Further Information: In the Presidential Election of 2011 held on April 16, 2011, according to the Nigerian Elections Coalition, out

of total registered voters of 73, 528, 040 in the country, only 38, 199, 219 voted. In Lagos State, which has the highest number of registered voters in the country till date; out of total registered voters of 6, 108, 069, only 1, 945, 044 voted in the 2011 presidential election. In other words, 4, 163, 025 registered voters stayed away.

Geopolitically, out of 19, 803, 699 registered voters in Northwest with seven States, only 10, 585, 017 voted. In Southwest with six States, out of 14, 296, 163 registered voters, only 4,613,712 voted.

In Northeast (now ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency), which has six states; out of 10, 749,059 registered voters, only 5, 826, 645 voted. In the North-central zone with six States, out of 10, 584, 017 registered voters, only 5,149, 057 voted. In South-south zone with six States, out of 9, 474,404 registered voters, 6, 339,216 voted; and in Southeast zone with five States, out of 7, 577, 212 registered voters, 5, 082, 321 voted. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), out of total registered voters of 943, 474, only 398, 094 voted.

Presidential election In all, out of total registered voters of 41, 136, 775 in the 19 northern States, only 21, 765, 797 voted in the presidential election of 2011. In the 17 southern States, out of total registered voters of 31, 347, 779; only 16, 034.581 voted.

And in the FCT, out of total registered voters of 943, 474, only 398, 094 voted. From the above, the total registered voting population for 2011 general polls was 73, 427, 028 (post AFIS (figure)-automated finger-print identification software) as against 70, 383, 427 (post AFIS figure), which INEC claims to be the country’s total registered voters till date.

They also show that out of 73, 427, 028 registered voters in 2011; only 38, 198, 472 voted in the presidential election held on 16th April 2011.

Further, according to INEC’s official information, dated 10th September 2014, which was communicated to the leadership of Intersociety, the existing total registered voters in the country remains “70, 383, 427”, while the total number of existing polling units (PUs) for the country is “119,973” ( real figure is 120, 596).

The geopolitical zonal breakdown of the two figures is as follows: Northwest-Polling Units (PUs) 29, 552, Registered Voters 18, 616, 499; North-central-PUs 15, 042, Registered Voters 10, 572, 968; Northeast (troubled zone)-PUs 16,459, Registered Voters 9, 447, 510; Southwest-PUs 25, 672, Registered Voters 13, 188, 854; South-south-PUs 17, 760, Registered Voters 9, 492, 784; and Southeast-PUs 15, 549, Registered Voters 7, 175, 185. The FCT has 562 PUs and 892, 628 Registered Voters.

To be continued

40 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—41

JONATHAN’S FLAG-OFF:

The S-West gamble PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential flag-off campaign in the South-West is expected to bring hope to his second term re-election.

By Dapo Akinrefon

S

UPPORTERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan in the South west zone are expected to work round the clock to garner support for his reelection ambition next month.

But the attempt by Team Jonathan to get bloc votes in the South-West this time around may not be that easy going by changing dynamics and permutation in the politics of the zone.

Though President Jonathan defeated his opponents in the 2011 presidential elections, pundits posit that the president will be fighting the battle of his political life during the February 14 presidential polls.

Interestingly, in 2011, Jonathan polled 2,786,417 votes in the Southwest, the stronghold of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later metamorphosed into the APC. Despite the fact that the ACN fielded a presidential candidate, Jonathan came first in all the Southwest states, except Osun.

The election results showed that he polled the highest vote of 1,281,688 in Lagos State; 484,758 in Oyo; 309,177 in Ogun; 135,009 in Ekiti; 387,376 in Ondo and 188,409 in Osun.

Overwhelming victory Perhaps Jonathan's decision to flag-off his Southwest campaign in Lagos State could be hinged on his overwhelming victory in the state in 2011.

Already, chieftains of the party in the zone led by Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko have resolved to throw their weight around to ensure Jonathan’s success at the polls.

Leaders of the PDP across the South West had gathered in Akure, the Ondo State capital for the inaugural meeting of the National Campaign Council to strategise for Jonathan’s reelection.

It was also an avenue to plan how to deliver the zone to the party in the 2015 general elections. Mimiko declared that Jonathan will not only win the 2015 presidential election but will also garner an unprecedented number of votes from the South West.

He submitted to the leaders

that the region has "a date with history as we approach the 2015 general elections. We need to forge a common front and also mend fences because of the task before us is one that can only be done effectively if we have a unity of purpose and demonstrate uncommon loyalty to the cause of our leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, and our great party, the PDP. “The PDP should not be difficult to ‘market’ to Nigerians despite the propaganda that the opposition has deliberately orchestrated against us in recent times”, the governor added.

Besides, Mimiko said: “It is our responsibility to let Nigerians take pride in the PDP and its pan Nigerian credentials. Our party does not have regional bases, the whole nation is its base and this should definitely be a plus for us.

“With due respect, the choice between the PDP’s candidate, President Jonathan and the opposition’s candidate is very clear. The only change that the main opposition to PDP shouts about is indeed a design to change from democracy to dictatorship”.

Leaders from the South-West states chronicled past ‘sins’ of the presidential candidate of the opposition APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, against elder statesmen and foremost leaders from the region to show that “a leopard can never change its skin” no matter the white washing of the general’s image

Perhaps Jonathan's decision to flag-off his Southwest campaign in Lagos State could be hinged on his overwhelming victory in the state in 2011

•Mimiko: Leading the charge

•Jonathan: Launching out from Lagos •Tinubu: Can he defend his base? in and outside the social media.

As the president’s campaign berths in the region, he is expected to face a herculean task in harvesting the votes of the zone.

Lagos Lagos State remains the stronghold of national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Considered a good political strategist, Tinubu, along with other stalwarts from the state are poised not to allow a repeat of what happened in 2011.

Though there were speculations that an under-thetable transaction had transpired in 2011 which gave Jonathan an edge in Lagos state, Tinubu is set not to take chances this time around.

Coupled with his role which saw to the emergence of Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the APC presidential candidate and running mate respectively, Tinubu has vowed not to take chances in his quest to defeat the PDP at the federal level.

Though Jonathan had a good outing in Lagos in 2011, he may not have it easy this time round following poor perceptions of his performance in office.

Though having sympathy votes in the 2011 polls because of his Christian background, the permutation seems to have changed with the coming on board of Osinbajo, a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Ondo

Governor Mimiko, who has become a force in the PDP since he rejoined the party three months ago has been in the forefront canvassing votes for Jonathan in the zone.

His return to the PDP, has left the party in Ondo State divided with some party members defecting to APC. Mimiko is expected to mobilise to ensure the president has a good outing.

Ogun The crisis that engulfed the Ogun state chapter of the APC leading to the exit of Chief Olusegun Osoba may positively affect Jonathan’s chances.

Combined forces Though governor Ibikunle Amosun’s achievements will give the APC an upper hand, the president’s men in the state, with the combined forces of the PDP, Labour Party and newly registered Social Democratic Party (SDP) will put up a good fight for Jonathan.

Oyo President Jonathan, pundits posit, will have difficulty having an in-road in Oyo state following the crisis that emanated from the primaries of the PDP. Already, some PDP loyalists have jumped ship to other political parties to actualise their political ambitions. The achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi is expected to speak volumes for the APC in the state.

Jonathan is expected to bank on parties like Accord Party, led by Senator Rasheed Ladoja, the Labour Party and the SDP, which have no presidential candidates.

Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who won the August 9 governorship election in Osun state remains a force to reckon with. In 2011, Aregbesola mobilised for the then presidential candidate of the defunct ACN, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the state.

Aregbesola has never hidden his disdain for the PDP, perhaps, this explains why he refused to toe the path of other ACN states that voted for Jonathan in 2011.

Aregbesola’s achievements in the state and the defection of two former governors, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, analysts observe, may affect Jonathan’s chances in the state.

Ekiti The defeat of Dr Kayode Fayemi during the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti-State, has perhaps caused the APC a set back for the presidential election.

Though governorship election will not hold in the state, the victory of Mr Ayodele Fayose will speak much volume for Jonathan’s success next month.

With the introduction of stomach infrastructure, Fayose is gradually winning the hearts of the masses. Jonathan will be banking on Fayose’s perceived popularity to coast home to victory.

42—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

AS the 2015 general election gathers momentum in Ebonyi State, many people are still unsure as to which senatorial zone would produce the next governor of the state during the forthcoming general election.

By Peter Okutu

H

OWEVER, it is clear that the emergence of former Governor Sam Egwu from the Northern Senatorial District and subsequently, the incumbent, Governor Martin Elechi from the Central Senatorial District should have paved way for the remaining senatorial district, that is the Southern Senatorial District to produce their first governor of the state since the creation of Ebonyi State on 1st October, 1996.

The issue of power rotating to the South senatorial district of the state which was before now propagated by Governor Elechi, was a welcome development in every quarter of the state until his candidate, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu failed to emerge as the PDP governorship candidate during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship primaries.

The initiative on power rotation by Governor Elechi has now completely taken a different dimension as he (Elechi) seems to have completely reversed himself on power shift to the south given his personal decision not to support the candidacy of the deputy governor, Engr. Dave Umahi who is the PDP’s candidate and is from the south.

This development made the Governor to solicit the assistance from opposition Labour Party, LP so as to ensure that a southerner do not become Governor in the 2015 general election.

Addressing the leadership of the party that paid him a courtesy

By Godfrey Ugwu

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Primary Election held under the supervision of the King Asara Asara-led PDP National Electoral Panel has continued to dominate discussions in Enugu political arena. The reviews and comments arise mainly from the overwhelming endorsement of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s candidature on one hand and the flawed claim by Senator Ayogu Eze that some “authentic party delegates” elected him in a parallel primary also.

However, Senator Eze’s claims, when interrogated, leave gaping holes and missing links. For

•Elechi: Backed away from the South

EBONYI:

•Egwu: First civilian governor

Unsteady steps

call at his country home, Echialike in Ikwo Local Government Area of the State, Governor Elechi said: “You are aware of what happened to us as;

The initiative on power rotation by Governor Elechi has now completely taken a different dimension as he (Elechi) seems to have completely reversed himself on power shift

we insisted that our laws should be obeyed and all party’s rules of engagement, campaign and election must be respected.

“When things are not done in accordance with the law, opportunities for anarchy will be created as we commend you for being in sympathy with us over the travails.

“We pray we overcome the travails as we urge you to assist us in any way you can while we promise that we will remember you when we get to our own promised land,” Elechi said.

It is a known fact that both political gladiators (Elechi and Umahi) had been working amicably without any reported incidence of acts of insubordination by the deputy governor until the later declared his intention to run for the office of the Governor of the State.

However, some stakeholders have flayed the governor’s action

ENUGU PDP TICKET: example, Eze has failed to controvert the fact that the Enugu State chapter of the PDP and the national headquarters chose the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu as the venue for the PDP gubernatorial primary election and that the INEC, security agencies, and all delegates were duly informed of the venue for the election and they duly attended to perform their respective roles.

He has also failed to prove that the panel from Abuja headed by King Asara did not conduct the election with the official delegates list, ballot papers, and result

as hypocritical especially given insinuations that the PDP governor is believed in some sections to be working in favour of an opposition party.

Reacting, a former lawmaker who represented Onicha West state constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly between 2007 to 2011, Michael Ude Umanta called on PDP members who decamped to Labour Party, LP to return.

In a chat with Vanguard in Abakaliki, the former PDP governorship aspirant debunked insinuations in some quarters that the party was a sinking ship even as he explained that the party was a wide umbrella which could still accommodate both new and old members at all times.

He affirmed that LP does not possess the capability to wrestle power from PDP in the 2015 general election.

He stressed that despite the fact

that the governor might have legitimate reasons for supporting the decampment of PDP members to LP, Ude described such action as anti party, which clearly negates the provisions of the constitution of the PDP. He called on the governorship candidates of the PDP, Engr.

Dave Umahi, All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Julius Ucha and LP Arc. Edward Nkwegu not to face the forthcoming governorship election with passion for their own selfish interest but with the mindset that victory would be for the collective benefit of all Ebonyians irrespective of geographical differences.

However, permutations making round in the state is that the votes that would emanate from the 13 local government areas of the state may be divided among PDP, APC, APGA and LP during the election. A significant proportion of stakeholders nevertheless affirm that PDP would at the end of the day remain a PDP state.

Missing links in Ayogu Eze’s claim

sheets obtained from the party headquarters with which it returned the winner, Ugwuanyi, who was duly issued a Certificate of Return after the exercise. He has not also shown us where the Electoral Act, which he had participated in amending as a senator, empowers aspirants to procure electoral materials (ballot papers, result sheets, return certificates) from the streets and use same to return themselves as duly elected candidates of political parties?

This is why the petition sent to the Commissioner of Police in Enugu by the state PDP

leadership calling for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of Senator Eze for alleged forgery of the PDP Primary Election Result sheet should not be swept under the carpet by the police or treated as a PDP “family affair”.

Furthermore, while it is on record that all the statutory delegates from the Governor and Deputy Senate President down to the local government party chairmen and council chairmen, etc. participated in the primary election that produced Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Eze has also refused to name any of

the chieftains, INEC, etc. that attended his “roadside parallel primary” or who certified and accredited the delegates that supposedly “elected” him.

In other words, Ayogu is now telling us that all that Ekweremadu who had openly endorsed and canvassed support for Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s candidature after his reconciliation with Chime, has to show for all struggle was a miserly 123 number of ad-hoc delegates? And when you subtract 657 ad-hoc delegates

Continues on page 43

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 —43

My trump card against Adeleke

OSUN-WEST:

— Sen Olasunkanmi SENATOR Rasheed Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Osun West Senatorial election.

Akinlabi, a former minister represented the same senatorial district between 2003 and 2007 when he stepped aside for his ministerial duty. His opponent in the election is the former governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke who incidentally took over the baton from him to represent the senatorial district between 2007 and 2011. Ahead of the battle, an inter-denomination service was organised for him in his country-home, Ode-Omu. Senator Akinlabi spoke on his prospects on the sidelines of the service. Excerpts.

By Gbenga Olarinoye

W

HAT informed your decision to make another bid for the Senate?

As you are well aware, I contested for the gubernatorial ticket of my party Osun State last April. But, in the wisdom of our party, it was their overwhelming decision that I should represent the people of my senatorial district in the Senate.

Since, I have devoted my whole life to service of the people, I had no choice than to accede to their request. Let me hasten to say that the Senate is a familiar terrain to me.

My major focus is to attract the dividends of democracy to my district by overwhelmingly bringing federal presence not only to my senatorial district, but in association with my other colleagues to Osun State in general.

Is your party now fully reconciled given that internal bickering was cited as one of the reasons for the loss of the

governorship election?

There is no doubt about it that we had some internal challenges before the last governorship poll. But, internal crisis is not peculiar to our party, the PDP. But, be that as it may, I will not agree with you totally that we lost the gubernatorial election because during the ongoing tribunal proceedings, we have seen a lot of electoral malpractices that were perpetrated by the ruling party in the state.

Final pronouncement Nonetheless, I would not want to make further comment on that because it has to do with court process, which is still ongoing. So, until the court makes final pronouncement, I would not agree with you that our party lost the last governorship election in Osun.

But have you been able to block those loopholes ahead of the February elections?

The governorship election

ENUGU PDP TICKET: Continues from page 42 from a total number of 1008 (adhoc plus about 200 statutory delegates), he is telling us that all that the whole of Enugu PDP stalwarts, including Sullivan and Ekweremadu put together could boast of was 351 delegates. The claims convey a false sense of self-worth and make no sense.

On what basis does he lay claim to “ownership” of delegates almost across board? Is he even the political leader of his Nsukka zone where Ifeanyi also hails from?

It is also false/erroneous to compare the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi/ Ayogu Eze scenerio to the Governor Rotimi Amaechi/ Celestine Omehia scenario or live with the illusion that the courts would make him Governor like Ameachi. In Rivers, both Omehia and Amechi contested the same primary, which Ameachi won.

covers the whole 30 local governments and senatorial districts and senatorial election is about one third of that. I believe God that in my senatorial district, it is certain

•Olasunkanmi

Having put God first, I don’t foresee any challenge. Don’t forget that myself and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Isiaka Adeleke are not too strange to ourselves

and crystal clear that I am going to win.

This is because we don’t have that much internal challenge and the little that we have, we are managing it and we have succeeded in doing this ahead of the election.

What would be your major priority if elected into the Senate?

Your questions are interrelated. My major point of attention would be directed towards women and youth empowerment programmes. I can assure you that I would

Missing links in Ayogu Eze’s claim

However, the PDP refused to hand Amechi the party’s flag and instead backed Omehia.

In Enugu’s case, Eze boycotted the primary election. He went to Filbon hotel to perform a charade, fabricated PDP result sheets where he declared himself winner in a matter of minutes.

The law is clear that the basis to challenge the outcome of a primary election, is that the person must have partaken in it.

The same defect applies to the Sam Onyishi’s suit as he boycotted the primary too. And if Ayogu calls his charade a parallel primary, the Supreme Court has already held in Senator Lado Vs. CPC that when there are claims of parallel primaries, it is the party’s business, not the court’s, to determine which is authentic.

What Ayogu Eze did after the PDP National Panel told him they could only rely on the official list given to them by the party’s

national headquarters for the assignment rather than accept the one he attempted to force on them is like a JAMB candidate saying he would not partake in the official exam of the body because he did not like the questions or the centre. He goes to the roadside or his bedroom, manufactures his own questions, answer scripts, marking scheme, then marks his scripts and declare himself the highest scorer. Then he expects to gain entrance into the university with such “Oluwole” result.

The mere fact that Ayogu Eze went to the Federal High Court, Abuja to obtain a “Certified True Copy ” of the Enugu PDP Delegates list did not confer on him the right to compel the PDP Electoral Panel to use his list and dump the official list from headquarters, especially when the party as a law-abiding legal entity must have taken the law

and the position of the court into cognisance in handing any list to its panel. Besides, Ayogu was not a party to the suit that gave rise to the court verdict on Enugu ward congresses where the adhoc deleates list emerged.

If there were any manipulations, I am sure that the plaintiffs, Mr. Orji Chinenye Godwin, Chiefs Cletus C. Akalusi and Orji C. Orji who filed suit number FHC/ABJ//CS/816/ 2014) on behalf of themselves and all delegates elected on November 1, 2014 would have been the ones crying foul.

Therefore, Ayogu’s claims to the PDP governorship ticket holds no water. It is rather one of the most unexciting comedies of the current democratic process.

•Ugwu writes from OboloAfor, Enugu.

make maximum use of not only the Youth Development Centre, which was established at Odeomu during my tenure as a minister, but also other avenues to empower the people and boost the economy of my senatorial district.

This approach would enable the youths to be useful not only to themselves, but to the society at large.

Standard of living You can only achieve this by empowering them through entrepreneurship schemes, skills acquisitions and other development programmes that would enhance their standard of living by fending for themselves. That would be my major focus when I am elected as the senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Do you foresee any challenges?

I have put God first, which is what we have done today.

Having put God first, I don’t foresee any challenge. Don’t forget that myself and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Isiaka Adeleke are not too strange to ourselves.

Fortunately, both of us have served at different times in the Senate and when the time comes, we shall flaunt our record of service to the electorate and leave them to decide, who they are going to send back to the Senate to represent them.

44—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

DUI: Doctoring under the influence S

O Christmas, New Year and Eid Maulud are over.

Happy new year to YOU. 2015 is already rolling away. Looking back over the last few days of festivities some comments reverb in my mind.

The gateman who persistently says "welcome sir" when I am leaving the premises and the traffic warden that always greet me "good morning sir", with a salute, when I'm returning home at sunset. But it is the words of a good friend that strikes me hardest and has prompted today's article.

On Christmas day I was at my brother-in-law's for his traditional annual party. Live music filled the air. Delicacies for all appetites were in abundance; from jollof to paella, from beef to lamb to goat, chicken and quail. We were there early (on time really).

I moved indoors from the dry Harmattan heat into the cold Icelandic lounge and sat next to a banker friend.

"Perhaps some of those banking millions will flow to a doctor alabere" (doctor of injection), I joked.

doctor@lagospainclinic.com A tray of filled champagne glasses was offered. I took a glass. My friend looked surprised. "I always find it strange when I see doctors drinking," he said. I frowned and smiled simultaneously. He continued. "What if they are called to an emergency and their breath is smelling of alcohol?"

"If you are on call, you don't drink", I said. "I am not on call at this very time."

"Suppose someone calls you now, this very minute, to come and see one of your patients...as an emergency.

Even though you are not on call."

Cash gifts for 1st babies of the year in Lagos

C

ASH gifts of N100,000 each and baby products have been presented to the first two babies of 2015 as part of measures to ensure child survival in the new year.

At the presentation in Lagos by Unilever Nigeria Plc, Wife of the State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola who visited the Isolo and Ajeromi General Hospitals and Ajeromi Maternal and Child Centre, enjoined all parents to build a solid foundation for their chil-

• Baby Onyejieke dren, especially in the first five years of life.

Baby Ogunnoiki was delivered at the Island

Maternity Hospital while Baby Onyejiekwe was delivered at the Isolo Maternity. Both babies

were delivered at 12:01am on January 1, 2015.

Category Manager, Skincare, Unilever Nigeria, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, said “every child has the right to healthy upbringing.

As such, Pears has taken it as a social responsibility to partner various clinics/hospitals across Nigeria to educate mothers on how to take care of their babies during antenatal, post natal and child welfare.

I repeated that I was not on call. I tried to explain that there is only one true emergency in pain medicine (bleeding or infection within the spinal canal) and that I had no patient with such a possibility.

I tried to explain that it is rare to be called for a handson activity when not on call...although it can happen. I tried to explain that doctors, like everyone else must drink in moderation... I tried to explain that if you have to, you could avoid the smelly drinks like beer and spirits and stick with the champagnes and mild wines....

But alas, my friend had a point. There is a legal term in the US called DUI....driving under the influence.

The "influence" could be illicit drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol. During festive occasions as we've just had, television, radio and media are full of warnings on DUI. The roads are manned by extra law enforcement with breathalysers. Alcohol is a major hazard on roads.....and pilots are not exempted.

What about doctors? Doctoring Under the Influence.

There has been much discussion in the medical organizations and literature about physician impairment by alcohol. The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Medical Ethics 9 section E-8.15 entitled “Substance Abuse” states that “It is unethical for a physician to practice medicine while under the influence of a controlled substance, alcohol, or other chemical agents which impair the ability to practice medicine.”

The AMA House of Delegates also offered a policy (H30.960)10 that “(1) urges that physicians engaging in patient care have no significant body content of alcohol and (2) urges that all physicians, prior to being available for patient care, refrain from ingesting an amount of alcohol that has the potential to cause impairment of performance or create a ‘hangover’ effect.”

The former statement does not define what “under the influence” means and the latter does not define what “a significant body content of alcohol” or “an amount of alcohol that has the potential to cause impairment of performance” is.

Neither explicitly states whether any alcohol can be used while on call, but both statements imply that some alcohol can be used. Indeed, the use of the term “urges” implies that physicians have the discretion to make the final decision. With a hesitant sip of the champagne, I repeated to my friend: "I’m not on call!"

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—45

Ex-militant leaders say no to Buhari

By Emma Amaize

W

ARRI—EX-MILITANT leaders in the Niger Delta region, yesterday, denied the endorsement of All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, for next month’s presidential election.

Rising from a meeting of select top ex-militant leaders in Warri, Delta State, they said: "MEND does not exist or represent the generality of all Niger Delta youths and exmilitants and it is just a mere paper hype intended to discredit our son and brother, President Goodluck Jonathan, before the eyes of the public.”

One of the ex-agitators and spokesman of the defunct Niger Delta Liberation Force, “Captain” Mark Anthony, said: “President Jonathan remains the best president Nigeria ever had and we are comfortable with him and his administration.

“Therefore, we back him in his bid for a second tenure to rule and transform Nigeria.

Ex-militants demand inclusion in Bayelsa security outfit

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAG OA—EXMILITANT leaders under the Phase II of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have kicked against the composition of the board of the new Bayelsa State-owned security outfit, Izon Ibe Security Company, describing same as lopsided.

They demanded the reorganisation of the board to include the Phase II leaders for the sake of fairness and equity.

A statement in Yenagoa by the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Ibena Rufus, and chairman, Mr. Stephen Ebisinte, while commending the Bayelsa State governor for setting up the security outfit, noted that most of the board members were political opportunists who have nothing to offer. They said that nothing good will come out of the outfit if their demand for the review of its composition was not met.

The insecurity problem in the nation was created by opposition parties to discredit the Jonathan administration.

We will not fold our arms and allow a non-existent MEND to publicly condemn and discredit President Jonathan.

“We are appealing to

Nigerians to always support and give President Jonathan their votes for the growth and transformation of the nation.”

He warned those who want to turn Nigeria upside down by killing and bombing innocent people “to know that nobody has a monopoly of

killings and we cannot take that from Boko Haram in this 2015 presidential election.

“We are assuring President Jonathan that our unflinching support is always with him and we urge Nigerians to give him their votes in the February polls.”

NEW YEAR: Delta commissioner tasks Nigerians on devt

By Festus Ahon

A

ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE EMBLEM APPEAL FUND: From right: Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Lady Valerie Ebe; state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Glory Edet; the state chairman, Council of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Linus Eyo (rtd); and the Commanding Officer, NAF Detachment, Uyo, during the launching of 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem Appeal Fund, in Uyo.

PDP pledges award of scholarships, bursary to Edo students

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, has assured students of the state origin that it would ensure that they have access to bursary and scholarships if voted into office next year, just as it lamented that whereas the Delta State Government spent millions of naira on bursary and scholarships for 23,621 students last year, Edo State Government did not pay even one kobo.

Edo State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who

made the pledge at the party’s campaign rallies at Fugar and Agenebode in Etsako Central and Etsako East Local Government Areas in Edo North respectively, said a PDP controlled House of Assembly will ensure that a law was enacted to see that the students have access to bursaries and scholarships.

He appealed to the electorate to vote for the party’s House of Assembly candidates to ensure a vibrant legislature that would effectively put a check to the excesses of the state executive, adding that a PDP legislature would enact a law that will ensure judicious

use of resources by the executive.

The party chairman also sued for support for President Goodluck Jonathan by the people of the area in the February 14, presidential election to enable him bring even development to Nigerian.

Earlier, former Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, said that it was time for the party to reclaim power in Edo State, noting that there have been complaints from citizens of the area of total neglect and insensitivity by the present government in the state.

FEBRUARY POLLS: Politicians flay bickering in Delta community

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—POLITICIANS of Ughievwen extraction, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, have expressed worry over the “growing politics of bickering” in the area, noting that the trend has robbed the second largest clan in Urhobo of much needed development.

At a meeting of Ughievwen Political Assembly, UPA, an umbrella to unite politicians in the clan, to speak with one

voice on the elections irrespective of party differences, participants lamented that Ughievwen has also lost its supremacy in political power sharing to less populated Ewu and Olomu clans in the Ughelli South locality as a result of selfishness and rivalry among its political class.

Convener of the meeting, Mr. Johnson Boro, noted that Ughievwen would not have succeeded in the fight for the relocation of Ughelli South

council headquarters to its soil when it was first sited at Agbarho, an Ughelli North community upon its creation in 1991.

He said: “At that time, we had selfless leaders like Dr. Udoro Uwhedjojevwe and Andrew Desi who spoke with one voice on behalf of Ughievwen people to cause the then Federal Government to reconsider the location of the council headquarters in Otu-Jeremi (Otughievwen), our clan headquarters."

S A B A — D E LT A S t a t e Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor, has called on Nigerians to be optimismistic for a better tomorrow by contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of the country.

Ekiyor, in a chat with newsmen, said: “I want to congratulate all Deltans and indeed Nigerians on the occasion of the New Year celebration. It is our expectation that the year will usher in greater accomplishments and growth of our fatherland.

“We should all strive to ensure that our actions and utterances are channelled toward peaceful co-existence and love for one another.

Nigeria is our country and we should begin to preach and believe in Nigeria by keeping the Nigerian dream alive."

....As Delta LG boss greets Bomadi people

B

O M A D I — CHAIRMAN, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Oluwole Karetimi, has commended the people of the council and thanked God for bringing them into 2015.

Karetimi, in his New Year message, pledged his resolve to take the council from the present state to an enviable height through his planned rural development agenda.

He maintained his resoluteness in executing the agenda of urbanizing Bomadi, the council headquarters, with new roads, housing as well as attracting investors, to the area. He said that the Bomadi Town Planning Committee will soon be set up after inauguration of his executive council.

46—Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

‘Nigeria won't disintegrate'

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

WERRI—BISHOP of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Okorafor, has advised Nigerians to ignore speculations making the rounds that the country would disintegrate this year.

Bishop Okorafor gave the advice while delivering a sermon at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Umuewere, in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, during a Eucharistic service in honour of some octogenarians in the church.

“Although there was a prediction that the nation would disintegrate this year, during or after the general elections, we must resist doing anything to endanger our corporate existence,” Okorafor pleaded.

Bishop Okorafor enjoined Nigerians, especially Christians, to pray fervently and advised the electorate not to be biased while casting their votes.

H2H reaffirms support for Jonathan

T

HE House-to-House, H2H, Campaign Organization has said there is no truth in the report that it had turned its back on President Goodluck Jonathan and threw its support behind All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The group rubbished the said report, credited to one Kunle, saying its support for Jonathan remained solid.

Speaking in Lagos, Deputy Director-General of the group, Mrs. Ayodele Olukoya, said: “We have been following the transformation agenda and it is true to its cause.

We do not know how the cheap propaganda came about that we are not for Jonathan any longer.

“We do not have any reason to withdraw at this crucial time.”

Small arms threat to elections, says presidential c'ttee

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country has been identified as one of

the greatest threats to the forthcoming elections.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, PRESCOM, Ambassador Emmanuel

Imohe, who disclosed this at a sensitization forum for the South-East zone held in Enugu yesterday, said the situation needed urgent and concerted efforts of all citizens to tackle.

Describing small arms and light weapons as “weapons

of mass destruction” that continue to fuel conflicts and violence all over the world, Ambassador Imohe noted that the negative impact they could make on the elections could not be overemphasized.

He said the commission decided to embark on a sensitization programme, under the theme Ballot Without Bullets, across the country to enlighten people about the menace and to get them involved in the war against electoral violence that could be fuelled by the weapons.

The PRESCOM Chairman, who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Simon Egede, said the sensitization programme will also help the commission collate ideas and contributions from the people for the formulation of strong policies to tackle the influence of small arms on elections and security in the country.

Chime Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Labour Party, LP, Oyo State governorship candidate, addressing spare parts dealers at Araromi Gate, during his market-to-market rally in Ibadan yesterday. With him is his running mate, Alhaji Sarafadeen Alli (right).

Abia needs 1.9m mosquito nets

By ANAYO OKOLI

U

MUAHIA—ABIA State needs about 1. 9 million long lasting treated mosquito insecticidal nets to fight malaria.

Also, the state has trained 19,000 for the nets replacement campaign which kicked off yesterday at Umuahia North Local Government Area secretariat.

The supervising Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, who disclosed these while

flagging off the nets replacement campaign, explained that the programme was to create awareness on the need to replace the mosquito nets.

Represented by Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, the National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme, the minister expressed worry that the use of the nets has been low in Nigeria in spite of the increased awareness campaign. He urged Abia people to take the issue

seriously if the fight to wipe out malaria must be won.

In his address, Governor Theodore Orji promised that the state government would not relent until malaria is eliminated from the state, and expressed regret that 25 percent of the population does not use the nets.

Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, disclosed that about 1.4 million long lasting insecticidal nets, LLINs, were distributed three years ago.

OHANAEZE: Igariwey should handover—ELDERS

COUNCIL

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Elders Council of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has mandated the leadership of the body, led by Chief Gary Igariwey, to handover the leadership of the body.

The Elders Council said the tenure of Igariwey-led executive expired on January 7, going by Ohanaeze constitution.

A statement by Chief Ralph Obioha, a member of the Elders Council, said the constitution had not been amended and that Article 29 of the constitution stipulates two years tenure for its elected executive.

According to Obioha,”the Igariwey executive shall be

operating illegally with effect from January 7.

“There is no evidence of an amendment of Ohanaeze constitution.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the immediate past General Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief

Nduka Eya, is alive and healthy and has stated many times that no constitutional amendment has been carried out in Ohanaeze.

“This has been collaborated by active leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”

In his address at the forum, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State noted that the threat that the menace of small arms and weapons posed to the elections and security in general was underscored by the frightening fact that 70 percent of illegal firearms in West Africa were in Nigeria.

Represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Anthony Ani (SAN), Chime expressed concern at the ease with which illegal arms were obtained in the country and urged the authorities to intensify efforts at tracking down and eliminating their sources of supply.

Jega

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, noted that the elections could only be judged to be free and fair if it was devoid of violence and electoral malpractices.

The INEC boss, who was represented by Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Osaze Ori, stressed that the commission was also worried about the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the negative effect it could have on the elections, if not checked.

APC asks INEC to disqualify PDP in Enugu

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to bar Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from contesting next month’s governorship elections in Enugu State for allegedly fielding multiple candidates.

This came as APC unveiled

the governorship candidate’s running mate, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, at the party secretariat.

While addressing newsmen at the secretariat, the governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Okechukwu Ezea, said: “Enugu State government should explain what they have used N24.5 billion loan to do.

“We are assuming that the government has taken the

loan to finance next month’s elections. They should come out and tell us what they used the money for. This is a way of mortgaging our future.

“The 9th Mile Road has become impassable under the lame excuse that it is a federal road. It is the height of insensitivity not to work on 9th Mile Road.

“Other state governments have gone ahead to fix federal roads because it is the indigenes of the state that use the roads.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015— 47

Borno Police warn politicians against inflammatory comments M

By Ndahi Marama

AIDUGURI—THE police in Borno State yesterday warned politicians against the use of foul languages which can cause unrest during the electioneering campaigns for the forthcoming general elections.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Clement Adoda gave the warning in Maiduguri during a meeting between police and representatives of political parties.

“There is need to caution ourselves, particularly on the use of foul language during the electioneering campaigns.

Whoever violates this will be prosecuted according to the law.

“We appeal to you to practice politics of brotherliness. Election holds every four years, so it should not disintegrate us but unite us.

Your ambition should not override that of the society.

“Election is a process and not by accident and there are various activities before the elections and this necessitated this gathering.

The essence of this meeting is to sensitize you on the dos and don’t’s during this coming election,” Adoda said, warning that the police would prosecute

any politician who violated the law and tasked the politicians to educate their followers against the use of foul languages during the electioneering campaign.

“Campaign should be based on issues and not on

individuals, so the police will not fold their arms and allow unrest during the election. ‘’Already, we are battling with the problem of insurgency so we cannot afford another problem which can divert our attention from the enemy,” he also said.

Adoda added that the police were ready to provide adequate security during the elections, adding that he had already called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to deploy more personnel to assist the men on ground during the elections.

SOLIDARITY VISIT: A Cross section of Ministers receiving a delegation of the Northern Elders Council, during a solidarity visit by the council at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Don't expect 25% of votes from Zamfara, APC tells Jonathan

G

By Salisu Maradun

USAU—THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State has said that President Jonathan should not expect 25 per cent of the votes as the party would sweep the polls in the state.

An APC stalwart, Alhaji Nabature Nahuce made this known shortly after the inauguration of the local government campaign committees a head of the elections in the state.

Speaking at Talata Mafara during the formal inauguration, Nahuce said that even with the removal of Arabic from the new N100 notes Jonathan has lost the vote of the common man in the state.

According to him, insecurity was also a crucial matter to be worried about in some parts of the north especially, Zamfara which had

several cases of cattle rustlers kiling innocent farmers in the state.

Inaugurating the committee earlier at the north and southern zones in the state, the Director General of Governor Abdulaziz Yari re-election Organisation, and former minister of state for

information Alhaji Ikira Bilbis said that the governor had transformed the state beyond expectations.

He maintained that Yari’s administration had the welfare of the electorates as one of its priorities, adding that, it was the only administration that

Ararume's mandate should be returned —Former Orji's aide

GOV PRIMARIES:

O

WERRI—FORMER Special Assistant to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State on Public Communications, Mr. Ben Onyechere, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State to recognize Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as the authentic winner of the party’s primary election held in the state last year.

Onyechere stated that the result of the last governorship primaries in which victory was allocated to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha was a farce of unimaginable magnitude.

He said: It is a commission if not quickly corrected can result to a band wagon of losses for the party because Imo people are highly politically conscious

Political parties cautioned against use of siren

S

OKOTO—THE police command in Sokoto State has warned candidates of political parties for the general elections against the illegal use of sirens.

The Spokesman for the Command, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani, gave the warning in a statement in Sokoto on Wednesday, following complaints about the use of sirens by some candidates.

The statement stated that “ in

provided fertiliser at the cost of N1000 per bag since the creation of the state.

Bilbis further revealed that the youths empowerment had also received a boost as no fewer than 50,000 unemployed persons had received buses, motorcycles and tricycles from the state government.

Sokoto State, only the governor, his deputy, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, CP, AIG, the Brigade Commander and the Sultan are legally allowed to use the sirens while on movement.

“Anyone outside this exclusive list who uses sirens does so illegally and stands to face the consequences according to the laws of the land.”

The statement also warned

political parties against moving with youths wielding various types of weapons during their activities.

“This act is also illegal and anyone found wanting will be dealt with according to the laws of the nation.

“The youths can be used for campaigns but not to wield weapons and often cause breach of the peace,” the police said.

especially in this case that the level of irregularities that characterized the whole primaries are in the public domain.

“The type of impunity and manipulation witnessed during the election where delegates' lists were churned out from the same source has made history in Guinness Book of Records so much so that as an aspirant, I did not know how delegates from my ward were produced which was the same ball game everywhere.

“It is inexplicable how votes could have been manufactured outside the actual number of voters recorded. The scheme to award victory was a hatchet project simply programmed for the one whose votes were counted last by simply adding 10 votes which could not have been possible if the last aspirant’s votes were counted earlier.”

NANS backs Zamfara APGA gov candidate

By Salisu Maradun

G

USAU—ZONE A of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, has endorsed the governorship ambition of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Abdulillah Shinkafi.

The Zonal Vice President of the association, Comrade Olasunkanmi Kolawole who spoke in an interview with Vanguard shortly after the endorsement in Gusau, the state capital, explained that the endorsement was informed by the fact that Sani was the only person who could lift the state from its present state of under development and ensure a bright future for younger generations.

According to him, the association believed that Sani would improve the education sector without which, no meaningful development could be achieved anywhere in the state, if elected.

He said the main concern of NANS was the development of the education sector, which was now ‘’in a sorry state,’’ in Zamfara.

Rights activist slams Kogi govt on 2014 budget implementation

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—A rights activist in Kogi State, Comrade Abdul Miliki has taken a swipe on the state government over what he described as poor implementation of last year’s budget.

Miliki who is the executive director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution, CHRCR, also said the state’s 2015 proposed budget was poorly conceived and full of “inconsistencies.”

Miliki who spoke in Lokoja yesterday said, “A comparative analysis of 2014 Budget tagged Budget of Reality, which in its self was unrealistic showed that the budget only achieved 18.12 per cent performance on capital expenditure. ‘’This is what was supposed to benefit all the citizens of the state, because not everybody is a public official that benefited from the recurrent expenditure. This by every stretch of the argument represents a total failure of government in 2014.

“It is shameful and unacceptable that Lokoja, the state capital, was not given any facelift in 2014, as no street light was functional; no road built or expanded, despite the unnecessary bond (borrowing) secured and appropriated in 2014.”

48â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

PRESENTATION: The proprietress of Heart of Gold Children Hospice, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, flanked by Funmi Ajunobi (left), and Janet Najomo, both of Vanguard Media Ltd, at the presentation of gift items to the children's home on behalf of Vanguard Media Limited.

LAUNCH: From left, Mr. Henry Okoede, Senior Manager, Business Development, Marketing & Strategy; Mr. Bayo Adekanmbi, Chief Marketing Officer; Ms. Funmi Onajide, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, all from MTN Nigeria, and Mr. Fola Akinmolayan, CEO, NEO2 Analytics, at the launch of 'MTN 2015 Betterme App,' in Lagos. Photo: Emeka Agnam

LAUNCH: From left, Mrs. Derin Osoba, director of the school; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chief launcher. and Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, a literary icon, who reviewed the book, 'Ripples on the Ocean,' during Ocean Crest School, Lekki's launch of the book, published to celebrate the Literary Week in the ....Hon. Dabiri-Erewa, launching the book school, and also to showcase the children's creative skills over time.

THANKSGIVING: From left, frontline industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi; Founder, First City Monument Bank, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Olori Abimbola Balogun, during annual New Year thanksgiving and prayer session, organised and hosted by Otunba Balogun, at the Tunwase Court, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

TURBANNING: From left, Chief Imam Ad-deenul-Yusra, Central Mosque; Imam Tijani Babatunde Kede; Alfa Moshood Lukman, Sheik Abdul Oladimeji, andChief Imam, Osun State Polythecnic, Iree, Alhaji Musbaudeen Orimadegun, during the turbanning of , award on Sheik Oladimeji as an outstanding Muslim leader, and special fund-raising for building of Morkaz Da'wat Li Tahalim-Arobiyat-Wali Islamiyat, in Ede, Osun State.

AWARD: Mr. Dayo Abegunde, Associate Vice President, Computer Warehouse Group Plc, CWG (left), receiving VMware Solution Provider of the Year award from Mr. Emmanuel Adeogun, Nigeria country manager, VMware Incorporation.

LAUNCH: From left, Matthieu Seguin,National Commercial Director, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited; Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi,Marketing Manager, Colas; Patricia Jemibewon, Marketing Director, and Sam Umukoro,Communications Manager, all of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, during the media launch of 'Share a Coke' campaign, at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—49

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Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—53

UNIBEN got three years notice to vacate govt property, —OSHIOMHOLE

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that the state government served authorities of the University of Benin a notice, three years ago, to vacate 18 property belonging to the state government, but rather than vacate, they took the government to court.

The governor added that to fulfill all righteousness, the government waited for the court to deliver its judgment, which it did on December 16, last year, ordering the university authorities to vacate the said property “forthwith” ruling that the 18 property belonged to the state government.

According to him, having waited from December 16, 2014 for the illegal tenants to vacate the property and they refused, the government took steps granted by the court to recover the property in the interest of the people of the state.

Fielding questions from journalists on the issue, Oshiomhole said that as the governor, he has a duty and responsibility to hold in trust and protect all assets belonging to the people of Edo State that were entrusted to the government of the state.

On how the property got to the university authorities, he said: “As I am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was set up, the then Military Governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom, decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with accommodation and so,

....As

Oserheimen Osunbor, disputed the claim of the Federal Government and the University of Benin that these assets from our records were assets of Edo State Government.”

The governor said shortly after assuming office, he was approached by counsel of the University of Benin asking him to sign some documents to transfer the landed property to the university which he declined, saying, “I told him that if UNIBEN needs any favour from Edo State Government, I expect the leadership or the VC to approach the Government of Edo State for such a favour, not to approach us through their legal

adviser.

“I also reminded him that I am aware and it is the truth that salaries of lecturers, academic and non-academic staff had been monetised and even the salary of the VC was now over N1.5 million monthly because the provision for official quarters, car and driver had been monetised and added to their pay. In any event, the official lodge of the Vice Chancellor is within the premises of the University of Benin at Ugbowo and so he is not entitled to hold several other government property. He is not even entitled under the Federal Government policy now to occupy the official lodge of the VC except he pays rent for it.”

APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: From Left: APC National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun; APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and APC Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate, Mr Umana Okon Umana, at the party's presidential campaign rally in Uyo.

ENIN—EDO State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the demolition of the University of Benin property given to the institution by the Dr. Samuel Ogbeudia administration at the inception of university.

The property serving as the official residence of the immediate past ViceChancellor of the university, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin and some lecturers of the university, were demolished by the state government on Monday.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after visiting the site of the demolished buildings, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said: “I saw the destruction of the official residence of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof.

Oshodin, on the order of Governor Adams

Oshiomhole.

“For us in the PDP, we condemn in strong terms the demolition. Government is about service to the people and not about demolition of property.

"It is government’s obligation to protect lives and property. I appeal to Oshiomhole to stop the demolition of UNIBEN property. You don’t need to go to war to prove that you are the governor. We need

peaceful co-existence of all residents in Edo State.

“What happened is sad, barbaric and has brought the state back 20 years and has reminded us of the Stone Age,” he said.

Abe condemns attack on APC supporters in Rivers

S

ENATOR Magnus Abe, All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for the 2015 senatorial election in Rivers State, has condemned the attack on buses conveying APC faithful on their way to the party ’s presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt by gunmen.

He described the attacks as another politically motivated attempt on the lives of the people in the series of onslaught on members of the party and expressed worry over the security of voters

during next month’s polls.

Abe noted that attacks on APC members had become incessant without appropriate response from security operatives to unmask the perpetrators, which according to him, portrays the operatives as insincere and compromised in their sacred service to the people.

He said: “Since the Rivers crisis, security has become political. Every gathering in Bori is preceded by gunfire and open display of banditry as well as terror, yet no one is

A

LL Progressives Congress, APC, stalwarts and friends of Olorogun Otega Emerhor will gather to support his campaign for Delta State governorship race at a support dinner in Lagos.

Otega, an Urhobo, is a Chattered Accountant, banker and insurance expert. He will contest the Delta State governorship race in the February 28, elections.

Those expected at the dinner include APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, APC governors, former governors, senators, top business men, bankers and captain of industries. managed by Red Carpet Protocol.

Egbema Gbaramatu communities canvass support for Okowa, Otuaro

E

Edo PDP condemns demolition

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

some houses were made available to accommodate some of the staff of UNIBEN. “However, they had occupied these property without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars.

“As a result of the decision, my predecessor in office, Prof

Buhari, Tinubu, govs to attend Otega for Delta support dinner

ever arrested or prosecuted.”

Lamenting that the country has become a theatre for insurgency, he observed that a situation where in the North, people are being killed over their religious beliefs, and in the South, attacked and shot over political affiliation, was unacceptable, insisting that the trend if not checked, may degenerate to anarchy.

“I pray that Rivers people do not reach the conclusion that they have no one to protect them except themselves,” Abe added.

XECUTIVE S e c r e t a r y, Egbema Gbaramatu C o m m u n i t i e s D e v e l o p m e n t Foundation, EGCDF, Mr Jude Ukori, has called on the people of Delta State to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his running mate, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, in next month's elections.

Ukori, in a statement, yesterday, in Warri, said the Okowa/Otuaro ticket was perfect, adding that there was the need for all political parties to maintain the existing peace and security in the state before, during and after the general elections.

Ukori assured that Okowa, if elected, will consolidate on the achievements of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

54 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Heritage parade of colours, celebration of culture in Port Harcourt

By Japhet Alakam

Y

EAR 2014 would no doubt go down in history as a year of many major highlights in the entertainment industry. The year started off on a high note with events in different parts of the country: from reality TV shows and cultural displays to company sponsored gala shows and breath-taking performances by notable stars in the music, fashion, movies, sports and other creative industries.

For lovers of the arts, culture and general entertainment 2014 will be remembered as the year in which the country raised and sustained the entertainment tempo from the beginning to the end of the year with numerous events that crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country.

For festival lovers, the list is endless - from the Eyo Festival in Lagos, the Osun Oshogbo in Osun State, the Igue (Ewere) festival in Edo state to the revered Argungu fishing festival in Kebbi State to mention but a few.

International film festivals For Music lovers, there was the Channel O Awards, Headies and the MTV Awards to celebrate the bests of the industry while the Abuja International Film and Video festival and the Eko International Film festivals were held to satisfy the thirst of Nollywood aficionados to celebrate and reward the best players in the industry.

2014 is also a year in which carnival lovers had a field day with the increase in the number of carnivals held in Nigeria.

Some carnivals readily come to mind: The Imo Carnival, Abia Carnival, Abuja Carnival, the Calabar Carnival and of course, Carniriv: The Port Harcourt Carnival, which is touted as the oldest and largest carnival brand on the African continent.

Every year, the people of Rivers State and indeed visitors from far and near converge in Port Harcourt for an annual ritual to usher in the new and 2014 was no exception. Although the people of Rivers State are not new to fun and play, the passion and excitement with which they prepared for Carniriv 2014 will make a captive audience out of a

first time visitor as the carnival got off to a dazzling start with the maiden edition of Miss Carniriv Beauty Pageant held at the Presidential Hotel. After several parades and •Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi lead other government officials during the 14 kilometre elimination stages Garden City Freestyle Parade in the city by the bevy of beautiful girls drawn from the 23 Development Agency (RSTDA) out as they showed class at the route of the parade followed. It International Aquatic Fiesta, an was a day the entire city stood local government areas in the to empower local musicians. state, Miss Port Harcourt, Apart from the Miss Carniriv event that is indigenous to Rivers still for hours. Director General Stephaine Chinda, was crowned Beauty pageant, another major State. The booming cannons from of the Rivers State Tourism as the Queen. event was the Praise Jam which the war boats and aquatic Development Agency, RSTDA, The new Queen went home was combined with the Dance of acrobatics by the different Boat Dr. Sam Dede captured the with a brand new Hyundai Fire Flies for the opening Regattas as the canoeists chanted philosophy behind the heritage Grand car and a foreign ceremony held at the Carnival popular war songs delighted the parade in a few words: “The audience. The next day, the people of Rivers State are scholarship as part of the Rivers Village, Elekahia Stadium.

‘Champions of the Sand Arena’ creatures of culture.

State Government’s foreign study took the centre stage for the scholarship scheme among other Incandescent popular Egelege traditional Creatures prizes. The first and second rainbow wrestling contest. of culture runners up also went home with The evening was set aglow with consolation prizes with other The opening ceremony was a Our culture and indeed that of category winners.

An spectacle to behold with one excellent performance after another when BAMFEST, the every Nigerian, African or outstanding performance from fireworks lighting up the Port Black African Music Festival, Caribbean etc is one that has WAJE, backed by a first class Harcourt skies and enveloping presentation from event the city in incandescent rainbow kicked into full gear. The event endured decades and centuries compeer, Uti Nwachukwu made like glows that lasted for minutes, lasted into the wee hours of the of existence. We therefore go all the evening a memorable one for making the entire spectacle a next morning even when the out to celebrate our cultures by crowd shouted for more. While bringing Port Harcourt to a both the contestants and true Dance of Fireflies! audience.

Lovers of culture witnessed a another round of the Cultural Art standstill every time we observe The next two nights were filled showpiece arts in the Carnival Exhibition plus the finals of the International Heritage Parade and I am happy the 2014 is no with performances by up-andVillage in what was tagged the Egelege and Ekere took place.

However, the night belonged exception,” he said. coming local stars from Rivers Cultural Art Exhibition, where As with everything that has a State who delighted their people from different walks of life to the two veterans – Ras Kimono audience with undiluted music made an instant connection with and Majek Fashek who beginning, the 2014 edition of in line with the vision of the the exhibition. The event later headlined the performance of the Carniriv: The Port Harcourt Rivers State Tourism eased into another cultural evening at the Reggae 360 show. Carnival reached a befitting display aptly called, Ekere – The senior duo was preceded by climax on December 20th when Rhythm of the Tribes. For first performances from other notable the Governor of Rivers State, time visitors, Ekere is the ultimate Reggae stars and young talents. Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, led The much anticipated all participants on the 14 centre stage to experience diverse cultural displays of International Heritage Parade kilometre Garden City Freestyle which brought out the best in Port Parade through select routes in rhythm and dance The traditionalists were not left Harcourt with colourful floats the city. brightening the 14 kilometre

Call for abstracts, papers and panel proposals Lovers of culture witnessed a showpiece of arts in the carnival village in what was tagged the Cultural Art Exhibition, where people from different walks of life connected

F

IRST International conference of the African Studies Association of Africa, ASAA with the theme: “AFRICAN STUDIES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE will hold from October 13- 17, 2015 at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

The organisers therefore call for Abstracts,Papers and Panel proposals from interested members of the public. Abstract and Panel Proposal opens on March 1 - 30, 2015.

Early Registration begins from June 1 to July 31, 2015. While late Registration begins from August 15th - September 30, 2015.

Conference Contacts: include; Prof. Dele Layiwola, Director, Institute of African Studies,

University of Ibadan ;Prof. Olawale Albert, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan ; Prof. Olutayo Adesina, Department of History, University of Ibadan; Prof. Tunde Babawale, Department of Political Science, University of Lagos and others.

The move was initiated on October 25, 2013 when Africanist scholars drawn from different parts of the African continent and beyond, met at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana to establish the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) to be domiciled on the African continent. The formation of ASAA is a response of Africanists on the African continent to this clarion call by African leaders.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 55

Buhari names Atiku, Tinubu in Presidential Campaign Council

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

G

ENERAL Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate has named former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu into his Presidential Campaign Council, the body to drive his campaign.

Reflective of Atiku’s pledge to integrate his campaign into that of the party ’s presidential campaign, veteran journalist and spokesman of Atiku, Garba Shehu has been named as the spokesman of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

Atiku is to serve as vice-chairman (north) of the PCC, while Tinubu is to serve as vice-chairman of the PCC (south), which has Buhari himself as chairman and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as alternate chairman.

Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is to serve as the head of the Policy, Research and Strategy directorate of the campaign, while former chief of army staff, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau was appointed as the head of the security directorate.

Gen. Buhari also named four women, including member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former member of the House, Ms Temi Harriman as members of the PCC. The list of the PCC reads thus: Chairman: General Muhammadu Buhari; Alternate Chairman: Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Deputy Chairman: Chief John Oyegun; Vice chairman North: Alhaji Atiku

...Garba Shehu appointed spokesman Abubakar; Vice Chairman South: Sen. Bola Tinubu; Secretary/Director General: Governor Chibuike Amaechi; Council members – Gen M. Buhari, Prof Y. Osibanjo, Alh A. Abubakar, Mr. S.N Isaiah, Dr. S Jaja, Prince T. Momoh, Chief B. Akande, Chief O. Onu, Chief A. Ogbegie, Chief J. Oyegun, Alh M. Buni, Alh B. Gwagwarwa, Sen O. Izunaso, Sen L. Shuaibu, Chief Segun Oni. Gov R. Amaechi, Gov R. Aregbesola, Gov B. Fashola, Gov T. AlMakura, Gov A. Wamakko, Gov. R Kwakwanso, Gov. I Geidam, Gov. K. Shettima, Gov. A.

Oshiomhole, Gov. A. Ahmed, Gov A. Ajimobi, Gov I. Amosun, Gov. R. Okorocha, Gov. A Yari, Gov K. Fayemi, Chief O. Oyo kola, Sen Chris Ngige, Sen. A Ibrahim, Sen. K. Gaya, Sen. G Akume, Sen. B. Saraki, Sen A. Adamu, Prince A. Audi, Sen D. Goje, Sen A. Yarima, Alh K. Baraje, Hajia Ramatu Tijjani, Jasper Azutalam, Sharon Ikeazor, Hon A Dabiri-Erewa, Rt. Hon A Tambuwal, Hon F. Gbajabiamila, Temi Harriman.

Deputy Director, Operations: Sen O. Mamora; Deputy Director Coordination: Chief Audu Ogbeh; Zonal Coordinators

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole – South South; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola – South West; Senator Chris Ngige – South East; Gov Al Makura – North Central; Gov Kashim Shettima – North East; Gov Aliyu Wamakko – North West; Director, Media and Publicity: Garba Shehu Admin & Finance: Hon Sokonte Davies Contact & Mobilisation: Boss Mustapha Election Planning & Monitoring: T. O. E Ekechi Policy Research & Strategy: H. E Dr. John Fayemi Security: General Dambazau Legal: Chukwuma Ume Youth Mobilisation: Dasuki Jalo Woman Mobilisation: Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani; Fund Raising: Babatunde Raji Fashola.

BIRTHDAY: Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant and Senator representing Lagos West senatorial district, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon flanked by his wife, Aderonke (right) and Alhaja Adedimeji Adams during his 55th birthday ceremony in Lagos.

DRAINED FOREIGN RESERVES: PDP welcomes Obasanjo's criticism ...Says it'll make govt work better; no evidence linking Buhari with Boko Haram

By Henry Umoru

A

BUJA—FOR lampooning President Goodluck Jonathan that the nation’s foreign reserves plummeted under his administration from $60 billion to about $30 billion, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday took a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying as a government, it was not ashamed of anything.

According to PDP, Obasanjo was entitled to his opinion and views as a Nigerian, but his criticisms would make the party and the government better in future.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had on Monday tongue lashed President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of squandering $25 billion crude Oil savings left behind by his administration, adding that late President Umaru Yar’Adua raised the nation’s Foreign Reserves to

$60 billion, but under President Jonathan, the Reserves plummeted.

Nothing links Buhari with Boko Haram Meanwhile, the PDP also said that though the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, may have made some contributions on the dreaded Boko Haram sect whose members have engaged in massive killing and wanton destruction of property, the government does not in any way have evidence against him, just as it stressed that he portends great danger for the unity of the Nigerian state.

The party has also vowed to expose to General Muhammadu Buhari and what he reportedly stands for.

Addressing journalists in

Abuja yesterday, Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi FaniKayode, who was responding to a question on comments by his former boss on the nation’s economy, noted that former President Obasanjo had also condemned the APC leader and former governor of Lagos State as well as Buhari, adding, “First of all President Olusegun Obasanjo also accused former governor Bola Tinubu of misappropriation of funds and corruption in his book, he also accused General Buhari of committing some of the most heinous crimes against humanity over the years; they are contained in his books over the years.

“Coming specifically to the issues you have raised, you used the word misappropriation, I listened to Obasanjo carefully he

never used the word misappropriation. That is a different thing entirely, he spoke about what he believed was the misused or whatever of foreign reserve. He never used the word misappropriation. ''What I will say about that is that our leader and father, former President Obasanjo is certainly entitled to his views and we thank God that we have a president that welcomes the views of everybody about everything and anything.

Fani-Kayode added “They can live in the comfort of that fact that nobody is going to be too hard on them in terms of responses.

We continue to learn from Obasanjo and we continue to believe that he is a loyal party member that he claims to be, we believe that he is a loyal party member. We sincerely hope that what he has said is an attempt to make us better in the future.''

‘Kaduna didn't benefit from debt relief during Obasanjo’s era'

By Emeka Mamah

K

ADUNA—THE Kaduna State government has said that the state was not among those that benefited from the debt relief during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s era adding that it inherited a debt of N37.5 billion when it came on board in 2013.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Sama’ila Aliyu, who spoke in Kaduna yesterday, said the huge debt arose from loans taken by past administrations since inception of the state in 1965.

He said, the debt relief which the country enjoyed in 2006 was loan collected from Paris and London clubs, which the state had never borrowed from.

Aliyu spoke during his post-budget briefing, adding that the state was working assiduously to offset the debt.

“In 2006 there was reconciliation and sharing of debt obtained as far back as 1965 between the new Kaduna State and Katsina State. The actual balance outstanding against Kaduna State was USD84,995,475.13 (about N14. 45 billion).

“These loans do not form part of the debt relief from Paris and London Clubs.

They were loans obtained from multilateral institutions such as the world Bank, International Development Bank, IDA, and the Africa Development Bank, AfDB. “Over the years subsequent administration in the state continued to borrow from these financial institutions for various infrastructural development projects amounting to USD185,968,750.26,” he said.

Also, speaking on the highlight of the 2015 draft budget, Commissioner for Economic Planning, Madami Garba Madami, said recurrent expenditure for last year included N69,647,897,546, while supplementary estimates stood at N960 million just as there was a special virement of N5,632,997,404; approved revised estimates: N76,240,894,950, while actual expenditure stood at N62,521,223,880.34.

56 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 , 2015

Attack on French Newspaper

Thousands gather across Europe as Al-Qaeda kills 12 journalists World leaders react I

don’t understand

how people can attack a newspaper with heavy weapons. A newspaper is not a weapon of war” — Charlie Hebdo editor-in-chief Gerard Biard to France Inter radio.

“This is an act of exceptional barbarism.”

— French President Francois Hollande.

“I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people....

France is America’s oldest ally, and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world.

Time and again, the French people have stood up for the universal values that generations of our people have defended.

France, and the great city of Paris, where this outrageous attack took place, offer the world a timeless example that will endure well beyond the hateful vision of these killers.” — U.S. President Barack Obama.

One of the crowd scenes gathering in Europe in support Hebdo Newspaper

M

Bernard Maris

•Georges Wolinski

Stephane Charbonnier,

Bernard Verlhac

ASKED attackers brandishing Kalashnikovs burst into the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, opening fire on staff after seeking out journalists by name in France’s deadliest postwar terrorist attack.

Clad all in black with hoods and speaking flawless French, the militants forced one of the cartoonists - who was at the office with her young daughter - to open the door.

Witnesses said the gunmen were heard shouting ‘ we are from the Al Qaeda in Yemen’, ‘the Prophet has been avenged’ and ‘Allahu akbar!’ – Arabic for ‘God is great’ – as they stalked the building.

They headed straight for the paper ’s editor and cartoonist, Stephane Charbonnier, killing him and his police bodyguard, who had been recruited to protect him after extremists firebombed the offices in 2011 over a satirical cartoon about the Prophet Mohammed.

A year later, Mr Char-

bonnier famously dismissed threats against his life, declaring: ‘I would rather die standing than live kneeling.’

The militants also killed three other renowned cartoonists – men who had regularly satirised Islam – and the newspaper ’s deputy chief editor.

Despite a shoot-out with armed officers, the gunmen escaped in a hijacked car and remain on the loose yesterday leaving the French capital in virtual lockdown as police and soldiers flooded the streets to join the search.

President Barack Obama offered U.S. help in pursuing the gunmen, saying they had attacked freedom of expression.

But it also emerged that the White House had previously criticised Charlie Hebdo in 2012 over its Prophet Mohammed cartoon, saying the images would be ‘deeply offensive to many and have the potential to be inflammatory.’

Scene of one of the killings

Poster of those to be killed by the terrorists before the attack

“This abhorrent act is not just an attack on the life of French citizens and the internal security of France. It also represents an attack on freedom of opinion and of the press, a core element of our free and democratic culture, for which there can be no justification.”

— German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“This House and this country stand united with the French people in our opposition to all forms of terrorism and we stand squarely for free speech and democracy.

These people will never be able to take us off those values.” — British Prime Minister David Cameron in the House

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 ,2015 — 57

Survivors’ blood is screened for diseases before it is used

Ebola trial drug starts in Liberia A trial of a potential drug to treat Ebola has started at a Medecins Sans Frontieres centre in Liberia.

The antiviral - brincidofovir - is being tested on Ebola patients on a voluntary basis. People who do not consent to it receive standard care.

Oxford University scientists leading the research say initial results are expected in the next few months.

A study involving a similar drug - favipiravir began in Guinea in December.

We are trying a number

of different approaches simultaneously as there is only a short window of opportunity to tackle this virus” More than 8,000 people have died from Ebola during this outbreak, the majority in the worst-affected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

While a handful of experimental drugs, including brincidofovir and favipiravir, have been given on an ad hoc, compassionate basis in the last year, none has yet been proven to work against the virus in scientific human trials.

A huge international ef-

fort - involving the World Health Organization, MSF, drug companies, the Wellcome Trust, and other global health organisations - aims to fasttrack treatments that have been identified as potential options.

Prof Peter Horby, one of the chief investigators at Oxford University, said: “Conducting clinical trials of investigational drugs in the midst of a humanitarian crisis is a new experience for us all, but we are determined not to fail the people of West Africa.

AU says military still weakening Somalia’s al Shabaab

A

military offensive by Somali and African Union forces has pushed al Shabaab Islamists into two dwindling pockets of territory, in the north and south, the AU’s special envoy said.

Al Shabaab, which controlled Mogadishu and southern Somalia until it was driven out of the capital in 2011 has steadily lost territory since. But it still launches guerrillastyle attacks, and was blamed for a car bomb that severely wounded a university lecturer yesterday.

An African Union force, known as AMISOM, and Somali soldiers have recaptured swathes of territory since launching an offensive last year which the AU envoy said had driven al Shabaab from “85 percent” of areas it had controlled.

“When they were hit by AMISOM, the tail went down to the Jubba valley and the head towards Puntland,” Maman Sidikou told Reuters, referring to the regions to the south and north.

Sidikou said al Sha-

baab had its biggest concentration of forces in the fertile stretch of land straddling the Jubba river in the south.

He would not give details of further offensives but said: “Discussions are

ongoing and plans are very much advanced.”

Al Shabaab says the offensive has not diminished its ability to strike across the southern central region to cut off supply routes.

Boko Haram attacks drive 3,000 Nigerians to Chad

O

VER 3,000 Nigerians have fled to Chad to escape attacks in northern Nigeria by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, government officials said Wednesday.

“Since mid-December we’ve witnessed a massive influx of Nigerian refugees in the Lake Chad region” bordering Nigeria, Chadian Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet told diplomats and other international officials in N’Djamena.

Civilians fled their homes on the shores of Lake Chad in northeastern Nigeria at the weekend after a series of Boko Haram raids in

which they seized a military base and several villages.

“To date, we’ve recorded over 3,000 Nigerian refugees and 543 ‘ returning’ Chadians” fleeing “instability in certain neighbouring countries, particularly Nigeria due to Boko Haram,” Deubet said.

“We fear this could lead us into an uncontrollable situation if we don’t take measures in time.

“The problem is both humanitarian, and one of security.

The humanitarian situation is worrying and requires international support, because disease has now broken out,” he said,

58 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

& 0 < .

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015—59

& 0 < .

60 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

& 0 < .

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 61

Idoko gets Kano Pillars job E

RSTWHILE ExecutiveDirector of the Ondo State Football Agency, Mike Idoko, has been appointed into the 14man Kano Pillars CAF Champions League committee.

Idoko, who contributed to making Sunshine Stars a household name in the continentwasnominatedfor the job by the Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Ganguje, who is also the chairman of the committee that included former Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)president, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a former General Manager of the team, Abba Yola and the Kano State FA boss, Sheriff Alan.

Speaking with journalists after the inauguration of the committee yesterday in Kano, Idoko said it is an honortoberecognizedbythe Kano State government, stressing that he felt highly

honored to work with Alhaji Galadima and others, stressing that he would contributehisbest to ensure the committeemeets its target.

“This is great honor, It’s a national assignment to contribute my quotatothequest of Pillars to win the CAF Champions League once again for Nigeria after Enyimba. I am highly delighted consideringthatI started my football career in Kano as a player and years after, the people of the state still see me worthy of an •Idoko assignment."

NFF man applauds Gabros FC N EWLY promoted G a b r o s International Football Club have returned to

•Quadri

the country after a playing tour of Europe.

The club played four matches in Europe and

Quadri ‘s world’s Table Tennis Player of the year F

ROM Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE) came another accolade for Nigeria as Aruna Quadri has been named the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Player of the year at the award ceremony held yesterday.

At the colourful award ceremony held at the Armani Hotel, Quadri claimed two awards ahead of players from Asia and Europe to get standing ovation from the guests that graced the occasion.

The world’s number 30 ranked player was adjudged the best male player beating world number one, China’s Xu Xin and his compatriot, Fan Zhendong, who is the 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medallist as well as Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, who is the 2014 European Team Championships winner and the first Portuguese player to be C M Y K

ranked top 10 in the world.

Also, Quadri’s crucial winning point against Olympics and World Champion, Jan Zhike of China at the 2014 ITTF World Cup was adjudged the best in the Star Point category at the second edition of the award.

An elated Quadri described yesterday ’s award as the best in his career, while acknowledging the support he got globally from table tennis fans.

“This is the best day of my career and I want to thank the organizers for considering me for this. I also want to thank all my fans all over the world for their support because this is unbelievable for me and I promise to continue to work hard,” he said.

For the female star player of the year, China’s Ding Ning, 2014 ITTF Women’s World Cup winner and world number one

defeated Feng Tianwei of Singapore, Kasumi Ishikawa of Japan and China’s Liu Shiwen, 2014 Asian Games champion to the award.

Other awards won at the ceremony include Para male star, para female star,

star coach and fair play star of the year.

The ITTF Star Awards is the official awards ceremony organised by ITTF since 2013. It is the most prestigious award aimed at recognising, honouring and celebrating

the stars of table tennis, the athletes who have made table tennis their passion, career and life. All the nominees for the awards attended the night of glitz and glamour, as athletes dressed up in their finest for the Awards Night.

HAPPY MOMENT...Nigeria's Table Tennis star, Aruna Quadri (m) flanked

by ITTF officials after being crowned World's Table Tennis Player of the Year.

won all. Striker Michael Ohanu scored seven goals in the four matches while Emeka Isaac scored six with the duo emerging as the toast of European clubs.

A member of the Nigeria Football Federation Elections Appeals Committee, Victor Nwangwu has commended the club over the successful tour of Europe, saying the side boosted the country’s image abroad.

The former secretary of Anambra State football Association noted that the club portrayed the country in good light after taking 16 players and three officials on the trip with all of them returning home without anyone absconding.

“It shows all hopes are not entirely lost for Nigeria football despite Super Eagles not qualifying for the 2015 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea”, the former Enugu Rangers ace said.

“This is a big boost to Nigeria’s image abroad.

It shows integrity, professionalism and corporate image of the club as well as good advertisement not only for the club but also that of the country ”, Nwangwu stressed.

62 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

Glo-CAF Awards Special

23-Years of the CAF Awards T

HE annual CAF Awards enters its 23rd edition this year and the Awards Gala will take place for the second successive time in Lagos, Nigeria.

Today, the King of African football will be crowned at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos; amongst the trio of Yaya Toure, winner of the last three editions; Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Super Eagles safe hands, Vincent Enyeama.

From 1992 to 2013, from Ghana’s Abedi Pele to Ivorian Toure, 14 players have laid claim to the most prestigious individual honour in African football.

Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o has been crowned an unprecedented four times 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010, whilst Toure has a hat-trick of titles (2011, 2012, 2013).

Former Senegal forward, El Hadji Diouf won the award twice in a row; 2001 and 2002.

However, the first player to have been named CAF African footballer of the Year on two occasions remain ex-Nigeria captain, Nwankwo Kanu, in 1996 and 1999 before Ivorian Didier Drogba duplicated the feat in 2006 and 2009.

Winners of the prestigious honour have come from either the midfield or attack; and that tradition will either be respected yet again or broken for the first time with a goalkeeper amongst the contenders.

In addition, the 14 players to have been decorated since 1992 had and continue to remain amongst the foremost African ambassadors of the world’s most popular sport.

There are also several others who were closer yet too far, including Ivorian goalkeeper Alain Gouamene in 1992; Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet

C M Y K

•Eto

•Kanu

•Yekini

(sixth in 1993); Nigerian Daniel Amokachi regularly featured among the top ten (10) whilst Chadian Japhet N’Doram was virtually handicapped by the nonpresence of his national team at the final phase of a major continental championship.

South African defender, Mark Fish also settled for sixth position in 1996. Ghana defender Samuel Kuffour also narrowly missed out on two occasions, 1999 and 2001. When the roll call for the laureates is launched, there is one noticeable observation; Nigeria is the country

which has the biggest number of laureates with five awards in total, two for Kanu, one each for Emmanuel Amuneke, Rashidi Yekini and Victor Ikpeba just as Cote d’Ivoire, Toure (thrice) and Drogba (twice).

Patrick Mboma won it once coupled with Eto’o’s four-time feat also gives Cameroon five titles. Diouf is responsible for the only two titles in the name of Senegal. One-time winners include Ghana Abedi Pele, Liberia George Weah (the only African player to have been crowned FIFA World Footballer of the Year), Morocco - Mustapha Hadji, Mali - Frederic Kanoute and Togo - Emmanuel Adebayor.

Another common feature is that all winners plied their trade in Europe at the time of their coronation. For the last eight years, the Awards Gala has been sponsored

by Cellular Telecommunications outfit, Globacom, who have raised the bar of excellence with splendid ceremonies in cities such as Abuja, Accra, Lome, Lagos and Cairo.

•Pele •Hadji

•Amuneke •Ikpeba

•Milla C M Y K

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 — 63

All Stars win Ejide Unity Cup T

HE inaugural edition of the Austine Ejide Unity Cup football competition came to a fitting end on New Year day, with All Stars football club, Agulu emerging victorious.

They defeated Warri Branch 5-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw at regulation time to cart away the giant trophy and cash prize of N500,000.00.

The runners-up consoled themselves with N300,000.00 while third best side, Elephant FC who pounded Ejeagwu Fc 30 in the losers match grabbed the sum of N200,000.00.

The pulsating final was decided at St. Peter ’s Anglican Church pitch, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Cup donor and sponsor, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Austine Ejide, said he was motivated to put the

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competition in place to encourage youths from

the area to take sports as a part of life.

Pinnick Continues from BP Football Federation (NFF) meets today in Lagos with several issues, including that of the future of Keshi to be discussed.

“The chairman technical committee is on with coach Stephen Keshi. And he is going to recommend to the board the decision of his committee. Like I keep saying, contracts are not signed over night,” Amaju stated.

“We make an offer, Keshi

says he doesn’t like it, it goes back to us, we insert the right clauses, it goes to the legal department.

We just want to ensure that we do a thorough job.

“In Nigeria, we have a very peculiar environment and that is why it’s taking this long. We don’t want to make mistakes but to take a right decision that is beneficial to all.”

Keshi’s initial threeyear contract lapsed in July after the country’s World Cup campaign in Brazil.

Enyeama hopeful Continues from BP Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the top prize today.

The Lille FC shot stopper would be hoping to emulate other Nigerians like Rashidi Yekini, Victor Ikpeba

and Kanu Nwankwo who have won the award before.

Last year, Mikel Obi came close to winning the award, however Toure emerged winner for a third consecutive year.

Who wears the crown?

Continues from BP Lagos.

Cote d’Ivoire star Yaya has been in superb form for the past four years and without taking anything away from Enyeama and Aubameyang, he is being tipped to again be the king of Africa after he first won it in 2011.

The Ivorian was pivotal as Manchester city won the English Premier League, featured at the 2014 FIFA World Cup even if Cote d’Ivoire exited in the first round at Brazil and helped them qualify for AFCON 2015.

Yaya will thus equal the record of Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, who has also won the award four times, but the City midfielder wins, he will go a step further by setting a new record of winning it for four straight years as Eto’o only won three of his four awards in a row.

Yaya Toure has made himself the heartbeat of Manchester City to the

extent that if he is not on the pitch or is off form, the team have also been known to struggle.

He is also the main source of inspiration for the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire following the retirement from international football of Didier Drogba.

The energetic midfielder provides assists as well as scores crucial goals for both club and country.

Enyeama has been a consistent performer for Lille and Nigeria, and the best goalkeeper in France for year 2014 is looking forward to create an upset against the Ivorian to end the drought for Nigeria player not winning the award since Nwankwo Kanu achieved this milestone in 1999.

The votes of the 56 national coaches in Africa and their technical directors will decide the winner.

In the female African footballer of the year category, the golden girl of Nigeria football, Asisat

Oshoala look good to be crown as Africa’s best female star for 2014.

The youngster is far and away from rival nominees Cameroon’s Annette Ndom and fellow Nigerian Desire Oparanozie.

She will also scoop the Youth Player Award ahead of Sunday Uchechi and Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who features for the Barcelona reserves but has now installed himself as his country ’s No. 1 shot stopper.

The Rivers Angels striker has done enough to clinch the award as she was the Most Valuable Player at FIFA U20 World Cup as well as the African Women’s Championship in Namibia late last year.

She also won a league and cup double with Rivers Angels in the year under review.

This 20-year-old is the new deal complete with great technique, has an eye for goal and her versatility means she can play both in attack and midfield.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

NFF ‘ll decide on Keshi soon, says Pinnick N

FF president Amaju Pinnick has stated the football federation hope to take the right decision on

2015 Glo-CAF Awards:

Stephen Keshi hence the delay in any announcements regarding the future of the out-of-contract coach.

The executive committee of the Nigeria Continues on Page 63

Who wears the crown?

•As Enyeama, Aubameyang battle Toure

•Keshi

Muhammed Ali out of hospital

Kick-off today 7pm

B

C

OTE d’Ivoire skipper Yaya Toure will battle Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the biggest individual accolade on offer in African football.

The annual award ceremony is scheduled for tonight in Lagos and will be graced by many bigwigs in African football and beyond. The event begins at 7 pm at the International Events Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island,

Continues on Page 63

•Yaya

•Enyeama

•Aubameyang

•Oshoala

Enyeama hopeful S

UPER Eagles and Lille of France goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has revealed

that winning the award will crown all of his achievements in his career as a footballer.

Enyeama, who won the 2013 African Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in South Africa,

was crowned the Goal player of the year for 2014.

He will now be going up against Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure and Gabon striker Continues on Page 63

OXING legend Muhammed Ali has been released from hospital after being admitted for a Urinary problem.

Last month, the former heavyweight champions was hospitalised in what was thought to be a slight problem with pneumonia, but it emerged that he had a severe urinary tract infection.

However, the 72-year-old has fully recovered from the ailment and was discharged to go home on Tuesday night.

His spokesperson, Bob Gunnell said Ali had made a full recovery, further adding that his family thanked everyone for their support.

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

FRI DAY'S FRIDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 1 Mistake (4) 4 Crowd (3) 6 III (4) 8 Thoroughfare (6) 9 Mum (6) 10 Heated (3) 12 Flutter (5) 14 Endured (5) 15 Cheated (5) 18 Plan (6) 20 Emanated (6) 24 Entice (5) 26 Trap (5) 28 Long (5) 30 Damp (3) 32 Fame (6) 33 Crease (6) 34 Employed (4) 35 Faucet (3) 36 Swarthy (4)

DOWN 2 Housey-housey (5) 3 Go first (7) 4 Legend (4) 5 Cream (4) 6 Divide (5) 7 Comfort (7) 11 Individual (3) 12 Owns (3) 13 Spirit (3) 16 Favourite (3) 17 Obscure (3) 19 Admit (7) 21 Agent (3) 22 Checked (7) 23 Fellow (3) 25 Watch (3) 27 Circular (5) 29 Sovereign (5) 30 Departed (4) 31 Excursion (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Pearl 7, Appal 8, Molar Curse 12, Net 13, Dated 15, Elation, Eroded 19, Ewe 20, Descend 23, Seer Down 26, Negated 30, Lay 31, Detest Scraped 37, Money 38, Rut 39, Debit Rebel 41, Saver

10, 17, 25, 34, 40,

DOWN: 1, Spear 2, Paced 3, Eluded 4, Rise 5, Contend 6, Baton 9, Lei 11, Elected 13, Dense 14, Token 16, Awe 18, Delayed 21, Dozen 22, Unity 24, Related 27, Gap 28, Demise 29, Screw 32, Total 33, Sewer 35, Rub 36, Dear.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

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